SIWOFSIS. is 



family of roses. In this same section occur the medlars, sorbs, and haws. 

 In other sections of the family we find the peaches, cherries, and plums ; and 

 again in others, the strawhemes, raspberries, and blackberries, and mixed 

 variously with these are true rosaceous plants that do not produce edible 

 fruits. For example, the spirfeas, potentillas, and agi-imonies are rosaceous 

 plants ; but they do not commend themselves to our attention in so striking 

 a manner as the pears, plums, cherries, and peaches. p. 29. 



ESCHSCHOLTZIA. Named in honour of Dr. Eschscholtz, an 

 eminent botanist. N.O., Fnpmvrnme. LiNNiEAN : 13, Foli/andria ; i, 

 Teti-agijnia. — The poppyworts are mostly herbs, but a few are sub-shrubby ; 

 all contain a milky narcotic or acrid juice. The leaves are alternate, more 

 or less divided, usually widened at the base, and half clasping the stem ; 

 flowers hermaphrodite, usually regular ; calyx with two or three pieces, 

 which fall as the flower expands ; corolla of four or five petals, much crumpled 

 before expanding ; stamens indefinite in number ; ovary distinct ; fruit a dry, 

 many-seeded, spherical, or cylindrical capsule, or an elongated pod opening 

 by two membranous valves. A small but important order, compnsing the 

 poppy, great celandine, bocconia, sanguinaria, platystemon, etc. Most of 

 the members of this order possess decided chemical properties, and are more 

 or less poisonous. The poppy is the most renowned in this respect from its 

 production of the powerful narcotic opium, a great blessing and also by 

 misuse a great curse to the human family. p. 33 . 



PELARGONIUM, ivamjyejanjos, a stork, in reference to the form 

 of the fruit before the seeds separate. K.O., Gcrmiiarea;. LiNNiEAN : 16, 

 Monodeiphia ; 4, Sepiandria. — This order is of great extent and importance, 

 and deserves careful study. The order may for present purposes be divided 

 into three sections — the Pelargoinums, or stork's-bills, which have irregular 

 flowers ; the Geraniums, or crane's-bills, which have regular flowers, with 

 ten stamens ; and the Erodiums, or heron's-bills, which have five stamens. 

 The showy plants of our gardens are pelargoniums, and mostly natives of 

 Southern Africa. The British species of the order are true geraniums or 

 erodiums, one of the loveliest being the blue geranium {G, prdtctise) of our 

 wet pastures and sheltered valleys. All the plants of this order are herbs 

 or soft-textured shrubs ; many have velvety fragrant leaves ; and the flowers 

 usually consist of five pieces, which in the pelargonium are of unequal sizes, 

 but in the geranium are all of the same size. The fruit is dry, sometimes 

 awned, owing to a feathery growth of the styles, and this structure favours 

 their transport by the wind. The order has no place in tropical vegetation ; 

 but many of the species are found in the warmer temperate climes, and most 

 of them affect open prairie lands where they are fully exposed to solar light. 

 In their properties they are astringent and balsamic, and a few are of import- 

 ance in the arts. Their exceeding beauty and almost endless variety entitle 

 them to the highest consideration of the garden botanist. p. 37. 



POPPY ANEMONE. The generic term Aiieniniie, or wind; 

 flower, is from anemos, the wind, or from the river Anemo, that flowed past 

 the city of Ravenna, where probably anemones grew abundantly in ancient 

 times. In its relationship s the anemone comes near to the ranunculus. One 

 of its peculiarities is an involucre of three pieces usually distinct from the 

 flower, and there is no pore or nectary as in the ranunculus. p. 41, 



