rsu FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



■of an indefinite number of sepals ana petals, with many stamens and 

 stigmas. The fruit is succulent, many-seeded, and in most cases wholesome 

 and agreeable to the palate, though, generally speaking, tame and insipid. 

 In Mexico the fleshy cactuses are eaten by cattle, being first bruised by them 

 with their hoofs to subdue the formidable spines. In the Galapagos, land- 

 -tortoises subsist in great part on these plants. The insect that produces 

 cochineal subsists on an opuntia, which was formerly largely grown for the 

 ^purpose, but is perhaps now, in great "part, superseded by aniline dyes. 



p. 85. 



ALTHEA, from altheo, to cure, in allusion to the emollient properties 

 of the mallows and their kindred. N.O., Malvacem, or Mallows. Linn2EAn: 

 16, Monadelphia; 8, Polyandria. For notes on the order, see under 

 " Malope," in synopsis. P- 89. 



BEGONIA.— See synopsis. p. 93. 



MYOSOTIS, from mys or mils, a mouse, and otis, an ear ; in allusion 

 to the shape of the leaves. N.O., Boraginacea, or Borageworts. Linn^ban : 

 5, Fentandrw; 1, Monogynia. — It is important to note as characters of the 

 borage family that the stems are round, and the leaves alternate, whereas in 

 the labiates that come so near to them the stems are square, and the leaves 

 ■opposite ; moreover the flowers of borageworts are regular, while the leaves 

 are not furnished with resinous dots, and their properties are emollient rather 

 than aromatic. The plants of this order are mostly natives of temperate 

 i-egions of the northern hemisphere, very rare in arctic, and quite unknown 

 in tropical countries; The " coolness " of borage, for which it is employed in 

 flavouring beverages, may be attributable to the presence of nitre. There 

 are not many useful plants in the family, but we must remember that the 

 prickly comfrey (Symphitam asperrhnum) has acquired importance in late 

 years as a forage plant, and the young leaves of the common comfrey 

 (8. officinale) have some repute as a substitute for spinach. p. 97. 



PANSIES, Viola tricolor. N.O., Violacem. — Calyx of five sepals, 

 ^produced at base. Petals five, unequal, the lowest produced into a spur ; 

 very variable in colour. Stamens five, filaments very short ; anthers 

 ■connate, two of them spurred, on inner broad surface of filaments. Style 

 single, clavate ; stigma large, capitate. Ovary one-celled, with three 

 parietal placentas. Fruit capsular, three-valved. Stipules very large, 

 foliaceous, deeply divided into linear lobes, crenate. Leaves oblong, deeply 

 •crenate. Stem weak, angled, branching freely.— Cultivated fields and waste 

 ground. May, June, July, August, September. Annual or biennial. Very 

 Tariable. «_ 20^ 



