X FAMIlIAIi GARDEX FLOWEUS. 



S, Octandria ; 1, Mo)iogij)ii.a.—Th\?> great order is very clearly defined in its 

 leading characters; it furnishes but iQw '^ useful" i)lants, but comprises 

 many of the most beautiful tliat are known to us. They are shrubs and 

 underslirubs ; none are strictly herbaceous ; nearl}'' all are evergreen, tlie 

 exceptions to this rule being for that reason cousijicuous. The flowers vai'v 

 much in form, but are usually composed of a four or five cleft cal^'x and a 

 four or five cleft corolla, wiiich is tubular or camj^anulate, rarely fully ex- 

 panded, even in the rhododendrons, but in the heaths is distinctly tubular (:.\ 

 pouched. The order comprises the ericas, rhododendrons, azaleas, kalmia?, 

 gaultherias, arbutus, andromedas, clethras, and meuziesias — names suggestive 

 of the liberal contributions to the garden of the Ericacetu. The bilberries come 

 near to the heaths, but differ in the situation of the ovary ; and the epacrid.'- 

 also come near, but differ in the character of the anthers. The gaultheria 

 produces an edible beny, and the fruit of the arbutus may Ije said to be 

 edible, though few human palates can relish it as do the thrushes and 

 blackbirds. p. 41. 



MAG-NOLIA, named in honour of Professor Magnol, of Montpelifr. 

 N.O., ^[iigiioUace(i\ Linnjean: 13, T'ohjauflria ; 6, FoJi/gyn'ia. — In this 

 grand order are many fine trees and shrubs, with alternate coriaceous leaves 

 and flowers, mostly three -divided, the fruit consisting of numerous carpels, 

 often collected in a cone upon a lengthened axis. Amongst the allies ol 

 the magnolia occur the winter barks, the tulip trees, the famous aronii- 

 dendron of Java, and the curious trochodendrou, which has neither calyx 

 nor corolla.. p. 4.'i. 



SIEBOLD'S PRIMROSE differs from the typical primrose in 



some important pLirticulars, and comes nearest to I'niinila coriuHoldc-^. p. WK 



ALPINE WALLFLOWER illustrates in a very pleasing 

 raanner the characteristics of the cruciferous or brassicaceous fauiilv '>f 

 plants. j,_ r,;:;^ 



LAMIUM, from laimos, the throat, tlie form of the corolla suggestnig 

 tlie name, as the "lips" suggest the term hih>nl,\ ;is generally descriptive. 

 l^.Q.^Lamwcea'. Linnjean : W.D'uhjuam'w- ; 1, 6'//^/^^/",s/;rr/^i /.—The dead- 

 nettles represent a fragrant family, for amongst the labiates occur the balm, 

 sage, thyme, mint, lavender, niarjoram, and other spicy herbs. The features 

 are characteristic; they have square stems, oi:)positc leaves, labiate or two- 

 lipped flowers, a four-lobed ovary, and four stamens, two of which are longei 

 than the others. Not a single poisonous plant is known in the order ; man\' 

 of them are valued for their refi-eshiug and stimulating properties, and have 

 considerable commercial importance in consequence. p, ,')7 



COiN'V'OLVITLTJS, fi-om Lat. nmrolro, to entwine. N.O., Vun- 

 rolrnJacerp. Lixn.t.an : .), l'r>ili.iiidru( ; 1, MoiaHi'iuui. — 'H.Qvh^, shrubs, and 



