aii FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 
COMMELINA. Named after J. and G. Commelin, Dutch 
botanists, N.O., Commelinacee. Lixnean: 3, Triandria; 1, Monogynia. 
—The Commelinas, or spiderworts, are of comparatively small consequence, 
so far as we know, in the vegetable world. They are herbs with herma- 
phrodite flowers, which are arranged in two sets of three pieces; the fruit is 
a capsule. Some of the plants of this order are edible, and those known in 
gardens which produce tuberous roots are sweet and agreeable. From the 
flowers of Commelina communis ultramarine is prepared. Be 
COLUMBINE, or AQUILEGIA. The familiar name is 
from columba, a dove, the botanical name from agui/a, an eagle; in both 
cases a fancied resemblance to a bird supplies the name, and it cannot be 
called far-fetched. N.O., Ranunculacee, LINnEan: 13, Polyandria; 4, 
Pentagynia,—See under ‘** Aconitum.” p. 93. 
JASMINUM, a Latin form of the Eastern name of the plant.—See 
under ‘‘ Jessamine.”’ ps 97. 
BROWALLIA. Named after Bishop Browallius. N.O., Scro- 
phidariacee. UINNzan: 14, Didynamia; 2, Angiospermia,—See under 
** Mimulus.”” p- 101. 
EVERLASTING PEA, or LATHYRUS. N.O., Legu- 
minosed, or Fabacee. LINN®AN: 17, Diadelphia ; 4, Decandria.—See under 
“‘ Sweet Pea.”’ p. 105, 
BEGONIA. Named in honour of M. Begon, a French patron of 
botany. N.O., Begoniacea. Linnean: 21, Monecia; 9, Polyandria.— 
These are interesting plants to the botanist no less than to the horticulturist. 
To discover their alliances has greatly perplexed the masters of classification, 
hut Lindley made the best guess in associating them with the cucurbits, as 
the observant eye will soon discover after having had the clue revealed. The 
manner in which the male and female flowers appear side by side, and the 
disposition of stamens and stigmas, as well as the whole process of reproduc- 
tion, the winged ovary being a very fair though very distant representative 
of a gourd, aftord ready aid to the student in the determination of relation- 
ships. Lindley remarks (‘‘ Vegetable Kingdom,”’ 318) :—‘ The discovery of 
Mr. Hartweg of begonias scrambling up trees and shrubs to the height of 
twenty-five feet, renders the resemblance almost complete.’’ The bégonias 
are herbaceous plants for the most part, but the order comprises plants of a 
more robust growth than the begonias of the gardens, but of trees and 
shrubs in any proper sense of those terms there are none. The order belongs 
wholly to the new world, being unknown (except as exotic) in the old, 
although the conditions requisite to the growth of begonias appear to be 
complete in many parts of Africa and Asia. All the plants of this order 
have au acid juice, and the roots are astringent and bitter. The leaves are 
alternate, and unequal at the base, often very richly and variously coloured : 
the flowers are white or pink, the female flowers being distinguished by the 
lobed spiral stigmas and the winged fruit. p. 109. 
