CLASS DlffiCIA. 



1G3 



Fio;. 150. 



CLASS DTCECIA. 



The class Dicsciii (two housos) has staminatt' 

 and pistillate Uowers on separate plants. T!ie 

 distinction with regard to the orders, as in the 

 preceding class, is derived from the number of 

 stamens. 



There are no plants of the lirst order, or Vvitii 

 one stamen. 



Order Dlandria. 



/ff'H /f^ '^'^^ ^*^ Order contains the willow, (salix,) 



III II I \ft which has long and slender aments. bolii. of 



ll j*f «# staminate and pistillate flowers, tlio two kind;; 



being on separate trees. 



The order Triandria contains the fig, (Ficus,) remarkable for cod- 

 it^ining the flower within the fruit; this is botanicalJy considered as 

 a juicy receptacle, within which are concealed the mumte flowers 

 ai.d seeds. The fig is pecuhar to warm countries. 



Tetkandria contains a parasitic plant, the Mistletoe; only one ;-pe- 

 cies is indigenous to this country. The Druids* considered this j^iant 

 as sacred to the sylvan deities. Tradition relates, that where Di-u- 

 idism prevailed, the houses were decked with this plant, thLi; Die syl- 

 van spirits might repair to them. 



The order Pentandria contains the hemp, hop, &.c. Fig. 150 rep- 

 resents the pistillate and staminate flowers of the hemp, (Canna- 

 bis saliva ;) at a, is the barren or staminate flower, containing live 

 stamens, and having its calyx deeply five-parted; the corolla is 

 wanting. At b, is a fertile or pistihate flower with its calyx openisig 

 laterally ; e, shows the same flower divested of its calyx; the seed is 

 a nut, v/hich is crowned with two styles. The hemp belongs to the 

 natural order Urticece, (from Urtica, a nettle ;) the fibres of l^ts stems 

 are manufactured into cloth, cordage, and thread. The ho)) produ- 

 ces its fertile flowers in large cones formed of membranous, imbri- 

 cated scales ; these flov/ers have a peculiar odour, which is said to 

 produce a narcotic eifect upon the brain. The use of the flowers of 

 the hop to produce fermentation in beer are well know^n. This 

 plant contains a small portion of the nitrate of potash, (saltpetre.) 



Hexandria contains the honey-locust and green-brier. 



OcTANDRiA has the poplar, (Popdlus,) similar in natural charactei- 

 to the willow. 



MoNADELpniA, or the I5th order, contains the red-cedar and theyew. 

 which belong to the cone-bearing family, with the pine and cypress. 



We have "now completed our remarks upon two classes which 

 have imperfect flowers. Our review of these has been brief, when 

 compared to the many interesting facts which presented themselve.-;, 

 in association with the various important plants whicli we have 

 passed in rapid succession. 



* The Druids, it is supposed, derived their name from drus, n Gneic word, signify- 

 ing oak, as it svas in groves of this tree that the priests ceh braiul their mysterious 

 rites, and sacrificed human victims to their sanguinary deities. 



-Hop— Order Hexandria — Oc;tP n- 



Class DicEcia— Willow— Fig— JMistletoc—Hemp- 

 dria— Mon adelph la . 

 \7 



