XLVIIT. ROSACES. 239 



A large proportion of these are natives of temperate climates north of the equator. 



Properties. A highly important order, whether we regard its delicious fruit, its medicinal products, or 

 the beauty of its flowers. None of its species (excepting those of the Almond tribe) are unwholesome. 

 An astringent principle characterizes the family, residing chiefly in the bark and the roots. The roots of 

 the blackberry have been used in medicine as an astringent ; those of Gillema, as an emetic ; Agrimo- 

 nia, as a vermifuge. The petals of Rosa damascena, yield the well known fragrant oil, called ottar of 

 rose. The Almond, Peach, &c., abound in prussic acid, a deadly poison, residing chiefly in the kernels. 

 Of the Rosaceae, as ornamental flowering shrubs, it is scarcely necessary to speak. 



13 



FIG. 44. 1. Potentilla arguta, flower and leaf. 2. Vertical section of a flower with the petals removed, 

 showing the perieynous disk, stamens, ovaries, &c. 3. Enlarged ovary and style. 4. Mature ovary. 

 5. Section showing the seed and funiculus. 6. Vertical section of a flower of Fragaria, showing the peri- 

 gynous stamens, the ovaries, &c. 7. Enlareed carpel. 8. Fruit, consisting of the enlarged receptacle 

 with the achenia external. 9. Perigynous stamens of Rubus Idaeus. 10. Fruit, the fleshy carpels aggre- 

 gated. 11. Section of the fruit. 12. Flower of the apple tree. 13. Vertical section of a rose, showing 

 the distinct carpels in the calyx tube. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



< Sta. 5. Sillaldia. 24 

 ( Leaves $ cauline. ( Sta. 00. Potentilla. 12 

 Waldsteinia. 16 

 Dahbarda. 

 Dryas. 

 Geum. 

 Fragaria, 



._ . Comarum. 



, Compound fruit (116, 14, a) of many aggregate drupes. . Rubm. 

 < ( Lvs. simple or pinnate. Spirea. 



(2 10-seeded ( Leaves trifoliate. . . Gillenia. 



f 3 50. LFolLicles { l-aeeded. Shrub with simple Ivs. (Fls. double.) Kerria. 

 t globose. Fr. glab. not glauc. Cerasiis. 

 $ Fruit glabrous. Prunus. 

 ( nucleus smooth, . . . . ( compr. ( Fruit pubescent. Armeniaca. 



. i only < < Fruit fleshy. . Persica. 



\ f naked, tFruit a drupe ; ( nucleus perforated and furrowed. \ Fruit dry. . Amysrdalis. 



i Stamens 14. Lvs. palm. Alchemilla. 

 < Stamens 4. Lvs. pinnate. Sansruisorba. IS 

 < Pet. 0. f Stamens 20 30. . . Poterium. 19 

 < Carpels 14. \ Petals 5. Stamens 1215. . 



: I but enclosed in its tubes. ? Carpels numerous. Petals 500. Sta. 00. 

 i Pome with 1 5 l-seeded cells. 

 < Pome with 35 2-seeded cells. 



adherent to $ Petals roundish. ..( Pome with 5 many-seeded cells. . 

 the calyx tube. (. Petals lance-obovate. Pome with 5 double cells. . 



fnot \ comp. . ? all radical, 

 caudate. ( Leaves simple, 

 and caudate with $ Petals 8 or 9. 

 j recepta'cle I the persistent style. I Petals 5. 

 j on a juicy ^ which is sweet and eatable in 

 ' Achenia I receptacle i! but insipid in 



Agrimonia. 



Rosa. 



Crat&gus. 



Pyrus. 



Cydonia. 



20 

 10 

 6 

 7 

 8 

 Amelanchier. 9 



