Linnean System of Plants. 61 



the name of paddy-bird given to a beautiful little Javanese 

 bird that feeds upon it. 



England produces but one plant of the second order, and 

 that formerly belonged to (and by some botanists is still 

 ranged in) the genus J?iimex, of the third order. This genus 

 contains the docks and sorrels ; but the mountain sorrel being 

 deficient in the number of pistils, and in some other respects 

 differing with the other species, has been placed apart, by the 

 name of Oxyria reniformis. We have ten British species of 

 i^umex, of which the common and the sheep sorrel will be 

 likely to puzzle the young botanist, if he be not aware that they 

 deviate from the rest of the genus, in having their stamens and 

 pistils on separate plants. This circumstance would probably 

 rank them in another class, but that they so entirely agree 

 with the rest of the genus in other respects, that it is thought 

 better to keep them together, and warn the young student of 

 the variation, than to part plants which Nature has so closely 

 allied. These irregularities will sometimes occur, and the 

 young botanist will find them noted under each class and 

 order to which they belong. The whole genus i2umex may 

 appear strange at first sight, on account of a tubercle (Jig, 1 2. a) 

 (in some species pretty large) which destroys the 

 outline of the flower. Some of these tubercles 

 appear like little rubies, and add much to the 

 beauty of the flowers. A curious peculiarity 

 in this genus is a joint near the base of each 

 flower-stalk. If a person attempt to pluck one 

 flower from the cluster (in any of the species), 

 he will find a small part left on the common 

 stalk ; if he continue this round an entire 

 whorl, it will become more conspicuous, every flower leav- 

 ing the part of the stalk below the joint (b). The common 

 sorrel {R. Acetosa) is much used in Lapland for curdling 

 milk, which the natives of that country seem to seek every 

 possible mode of doing. The few other British plants of this 

 order are rare; the best known is the common meadow- 

 saffron (Colchicum autumnale), remarkable for the slow 

 ripening and deep lodging of its seeds. The flower breaks 

 forth in the autumn, in appearance very similar to the crocus, 

 from which it differs chiefly in the number of the stamens and 

 pistils. Its tube is remarkably long, proceeding directly from 

 the bulb, in which the germs are embedded, and remain under 

 the earth during the winter. In March or April the fruit 

 ripens and shoots forth from the ground, upon a fruit stalk, 

 the leaves appearing at the same time. The flowers, like 

 several others which are not accompanied by leaves, are 



