YNOPSI 
THE subjoined notes will be useful to readers who desire more information 
of a scientific and technical nature thau is embodied in the sketches that 
accompany the plates, To arrange them otherwise than in accordance with 
the arrangement of subjects in the body of the work would appear au incon- 
gruity ; and as each note is complete in itself, the lack of scientific sequence 
is probably of no consequence. It is impossible, indeed, in such a work as 
the present, to follow any system, unless it be that of the butterfly, which 
probably knows but little of botany, but appears to be perfectly happy in 
going from flower to flower. 
WALLFLOWER, or CHEIRANTHUS. ‘The English name 
refers to the habit of the plant as an inhabitant of walls and rocks; the 
Latin uame implies that it is in an especial mauner a nosegay or “ hand” 
flower. N.O., Cracifere. Linnman: 15, Letrvadynamia.—Vhe cruciferous 
order is one of the most natural as well as most important of the great 
tamilies of the vegetable kingdom, as it includes the cabbages, cauliflowers, 
cresses, mustards, turnips, colzas, horse-radish, sea-kale, and an immense 
uwnber of ornamental plants, of which the candytuft, stock, wallflower, and 
arabis are familiar examples. Many of the plants of this order are characterised 
by a volatile acridity and a pungent flavour; they are stimulant and anti- 
scorbutie ; none of them are poisonous. Most of them are annual or biennial 
herbs ; some are perennial and sub-shrubby; all have alternate leaves 
without stipules: the flowers are hermaphrodite, regular, and consist of a 
calyx of four pieces and a corolla of four petals clawed at the base and 
arranged opposite each other in the form of a cross; hence the term ‘ cruci- 
ferous.’’ The stamens are six in number, tour of which are longer than the 
other two. The stigma is two-lobed. The ovary is superior, with two cellx 
separated by a partition to which the ovules are attached. The fruit isa 
silique, or a silicle, dry, one or many seeded, and usually opening in two 
valves, The seeds are without albumen, but in many instances contain oil, 
which is removed by expression for commercial purposes. ae 
ACONITUM, most probably from cove, the place where it was 
first found. N.O., Ranwneulacee. Linnman: 13, Polyandria ; 2, Trigynie, 
—The ranunculus or crowfoot family consists of herbaceous and half-shrubby 
plants, with leaves alternate, divided, and widened at the base, where they 
