ORD. II.] 20. A. CRISTA GALI.I. 401 



Rliinanthus Crista galli Linn., Willd. Sp. PL 3. 188. /7. 



Dan. 981. Engl. Bot. 637. Schk. t. 1G9. 

 Mimulus Crista galli et Alectorolophus, Scop. Carn. n. '751. 



im. 



Geographical Distribution. 



This is properly a northern plant, which grows in Europe 

 as far as the North Cape (70°), in Iceland, Siberia, Kamts- 

 katka, and North America ; as far as Hudson's Ba)-, and 

 scarcely passes, towards the south, beyond the 44° or 43^ ; 

 for Tauris, Transylvania, and the South of France, appear 

 to constitute the most southern limits of its distribution. 



Uses. 



I am not acquainted with any useful property of it. Orr 

 the contrary, the rattle is a hurtful weed in our meadows, 

 and is not eaten by any animal. Its seed, mixed with 

 meal, gives it a dark appearance, and makes the bread indi- 

 gestible. 



CLASS XV 



Order I. 



This Order is called that of the SiUcuhsn', or siliclo-bear- 

 ing plants, because their fruit is almost as long as broad, 

 (96.) Yet here, as every where else, there are transitions. 

 Farsetia R. Br., on the one side, and Brmja Stcrnb., and 

 Nasturtium R. Br., on tlic other, arc so nearly related to this 

 order, that we may sometimes call their fruit a Silicula, some- 

 times a Siliqua. Several of these silicles are fruits of another 

 species, nuts, in particular, which do not burst, as in Bu~ 

 nias, Crambe, Cakilfy Succovia, Monch. But, as the plants 



. C c 



