CLASS DIANDRIA. 



137 



Linnaeus called it Ammomum. It belongs to the Natural Order 

 CaniKB, which embraces several genera of aromatic plants. The 

 distinguishing marks of this natural family are an herbaceous stem, 

 very broad leaves, a germ with three corners, and a hliaceous flower 

 which is beautiful and fragrant. 



The red valerian (Valeriana rubra) having but one stamen would 

 belong to this class, but as other species of this plant have three sta- 

 mens, this species is carried with the majority into the class 

 Triandria. 



Order Digynia, 



Contains an American plant, butum. At Fig. 121, c, is a flower of 

 this genus; its calyx is deeply three-parted; it has no corolla; the 

 germ resembles a berry, and is crowned by two styles, which give 

 the plant its place in the order Digynia. 



CLASS n. — DIANDRIA. 

 Order Monogynia. 



This, though more extensive than the 

 preceding class, is somewhat hmited. We 

 can however, without ditficulty, find exam- 

 ples for its illustration. 



The lilac (Syringa) is cultivated in all 

 parts of our country, and is exceeded in 

 beauty and fragrance by few ornamental 

 shrubs. The corolla is salver form, or with 

 a tube which spreads out into a flat, four- 

 parted border. You might, at first view, 

 suppose the corolla to consist of several 

 petals, but if you attempt to pull them out, 

 they will all come off" together, and you wiU 

 plainly perceive there is but one piece, or 

 that it is monopetalous. In flowers of one 

 petal, the stamens are generally fastened to 

 the corolla; where there are several petals, the stamens are mostly 

 attached to the receptacle. You will perceive in the lilac the two sta- 

 mens standing opposite to each other, and fastened to the corolla. 

 The form in which the blossoms are crowded together, forming a 

 large bunch, is called a thyrse. 



Fig. 122, a, represents a flower of the lilac ; at b, is the same, cut 

 lengthwise to show the two stamens. 



The lilac, although so common with us, is an exotic ; the species 

 most cultivated are the vulgaris or common, which has heai~t-shaped 

 leaves, and the persica, or Persian, with narrower leaves. 



The Jasmine, of which twenty-eight species are said to have been 

 discovered, is an exotic of this class. The prim or privet (Ligus- 

 trum) is found growing wild in some parts of New England ; 

 though, in general, it is seen but little in the United States, except 

 when cultivated. In England it is planted f©r fences; as it grows 

 rapidly, it soon becomes useful for this purpose, and with its green 

 leaves and white flowers, gives to the farms an air of neatness 

 and taste. 



The Sage, (<SaZvia,) on account of the form of the corolla, belongs 

 to the natural family of the labiate flowers ; these are, mostly, placed 

 in the class Didynamia, having four stamens, two long and two 

 short; but in some eases, the labiate flowers have but two stamens ; 

 this circumstance, according to the rules of classification, separates 



Valerian— Blitum— Class Diandria — Lilac— Jasmine— Sage. 

 12* 



