35^ Introductory View of the 



from eleven to twenty stamens, affixed to the receptacle. The 

 twelfth class, Icosdndria, has twenty or more stamens, affixed 

 to the calyx ; and the thirteenth class, Polyandria, has from 

 twenty to a thousand, affixed to the receptacle. 



The eleventh class, Dodecdndria^ has six orders, distin- 

 guished, as in the former classes, by the number of pistils : in 

 the first order, Monogynia, we have two British plants, asara- 

 bacca, the pulverised leaves of which act as a powerful snuff; 

 and loosestrife, iy thrum (from two Greek words signifying 

 black blood, in reference to the colour of the flowers) Salicaria 

 (willow-like ; from salix, a willow), a very handsome plant, 

 not unfrequently cultivated in gardens. Among the more 

 important exotics is the mangosteen (Garcin/a Mangostdna), 

 the fine fruit of which is equally delicious, refreshing, and 

 salutary. In the second order, Digynia^ we have but one 

 British plant, agrimony, formerly much used in medicine ; 

 and of late years a principal ingredient in most of the com- 

 pounds called British tea. The sweet mignonette, so general 

 a favourite, is a species of jReseda, a genus belonging to the 

 third order, Trigynia, We have a British species, called wild 

 mignonette ; but it is deficient in the principal charm of the 

 exotic plant, its fragrance. Another British species is used 

 for dyeing yellow. The common house-leek, frequently seen 

 on the walls and roofs of cottages, is in the sixth order, 

 Dodecagynla, 



The twelfth class, Icosdndria, has three orders : the first, 

 Monogynia, includes the plum, cherry, apricot (Prunus); 

 the peach, nectarine, almond (^mygdalus), the pomegranate, 

 the clove tree, the allspice tree, the myrtle, the syringa, and 

 the extensive and very curious genus Cactus ; of which many 

 of the species are interesting, and some singularly beautiful. 

 The second order consists of plants furnished with from two 

 to five pistils (the number varying, not only on the same 

 species, but sometimes on the same plant), and is styled Di- 

 Pentagynia, It comprehends the apple and pear in all their 

 varieties (Py rus) ; the qumce, the medlar, the hawthorn, and 

 that large and brilHant genus, Mesembryanthemum, &c. &c. 

 The order Polygynia is possessed of the raspberry, blackberry, 

 &c. (jRubus) ; the strawberry (Fragaria), the beautiful genus 

 jRosa, &c. 



The class Polydndria was formerly divided into seven 

 orders. Sir J. E. Smith recommended that they should be 

 reduced to three ; the pistils being so variable in number as 

 to cause much confusion to no purpose. In his English Flora, 

 therefore, he has thrown several orders into one, which, the 

 number five mostly prevailing, he calls Pentagynia; but 



