CLASS MONADELPHIA. 173 



LECTURE XXXIII. 



CLASS XV. — MONADELPHIA. 



"We are now to considei the brotherhoods, as the names of the '5th 

 and 16th classes signify; Monadelphia, meaning one, and Diadel- 

 phia two brotherhoods, in allusion to the manner in which the fila- 

 ments are connected in one or two sets. The orders in these classes 

 dejiend upon the number of stamens. 



In the class Monadelphia, we include all 

 such plants as have their filaments united in 

 one set, forming a tube at the bottom of the 

 ^, corolla ; in thisrespect, this class differs from 

 the preceding- ones, where the stamens are en- 

 / tirely separate ; here you will observe that the 

 anthers are separate, though the filaments are 

 joined. We caiinot in this class, as in the two 

 preceding ones, point out any prevailing form 

 of the corolla. The mark of distinction here, 

 is in some cases rather doubtful, the filaments 

 being sometimes broad at their base, and yet 

 not entirely connected. 



You will recollect, that the orders depend 

 upon the number of stamens. We have no 

 first order here, for the character of the class is, filaments united, 

 and one filament could not possess this requisite of union. 



Order Trlandria. 



This is the first order in this class; the name, yon will recollect, is 

 the same as that of the third class, signifying three stamens ; but here 

 they are united by their filaments, forming a tube. We find in this 

 order a handsome plant, called blue-eyed grass, {Sisyrinchium;) 

 the three filaments have the appearance of being but one ; the co- 

 rolla is tubular and 6-cleft, style 1, capsule 3-celIed ; it belongs to the 

 natural order Iridce. The Mexican tiger-flower, genus Tigridia, is 

 a splendid plant of this artificial order, and the natural order Iridce. 

 Its spotted flowers have given rise to the name which it bears. 



Order Pentandria. 



The fifth Order next occurs ; this presents*us with the passion- 

 flower, (FassifJora,) a climbing plant peculiar to the warm countries 

 of America. ^'Its immensely long, and often woody branches, attain 

 the summits of the loftiest trees, or trail upon the ground, adorned 

 with perennially green or faUing leaves, sometimes palmate or lobed 

 like fingers, at others appearing like the laurel. They sustain them- ' 

 selves by means of undivided tendrils; and send out a succession of 

 the most curious and splendid flowers, of which no other part of the 

 world offers any counterpart."* Of this o;enus a number of species 

 produce fruits of ^reat excellence ; this fruit in South America is 

 called Purchas. Sixty species of Passiflora are collected at the Lin- 

 na^an garden near New York.f The generic characters of the pas- 

 sion-flower are a 5-parted, coloured calyx, 5 petals inserted upon 

 the calyx, 5 stamens and three pistils, the nectary, a triple crown of 

 filaments. The very singular appearance of this flower in the ar- 

 rangement of its stamens in the form of a cross, and its triple crown, 



* Nuttall. t See Prince's Horticulture. 



The brot'ierhoods— Monadelphia— Orders— Order Trlandria— What is said of tho 

 Passion-flower- Generic character and name. 



