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NEW-YORK FARMER AND 



unmn, are enneandrous plants ; — also the Sassafras, a 

 species of Lavrtis, and the Rhubarb, whose root is 

 extensively used in medicine, and its leaves for 

 culinary purposes, particularly for pies. 



X. OF THE CLASS DECANDRIA. 



The decandrous plants are numerous and interest- 

 ing" Many leguminous productions are found in this 

 country, — as the Sappan wood, Casalpiniasappan of 

 the W. Indies — the wild Locust, or Cassia fistulu — 

 the Loo-wood, Hamaloxylon campeachiai urn — and 

 Mahogony, Swietenia nwhogoni of S. America. 



One of the most singular decandrous plants, is a 

 native of N. Carolina, the Venus flytrap, Dioncamus- 

 cipulu, growing wild in the swamps, and now cultiva- 

 ted in all parts. Such is the remarkahle nature of the 

 leaves, which are furnished with long rigid fibres bent 

 upwards, that when a fly or other insect touches 

 them, they immediately close, and capture it be- 

 tween the two halves of the leaf: — this effect is ow- 

 ing, perhaps, to a property of irritability, similar to 

 that observed in the sensitive plant. The splendid 

 sheep Laurel, of our country, the lovely Kalmia, the 

 pride of the American Flora, is also decandrous ; 

 and there are five species of the latter, which for the 

 delicacy and elegance of its blossoms, are not to be 

 surpassed by the productions of any other country. 



The Coroiia is shaped like a salver or wine glass, 

 its upper part or limb having at the bottom five exte- 

 rior knobs or projections ; the anthers are at first bent 

 down in their filaments so as to be lodged in the in- 

 terior cavities, corresponding to the knobs. The fam- 

 ly of Pinks, Dianthns, is also included in this class. 



XI. OF THE CLASS DODECANDRIA. 



Of the dodecandria, the Mangostan Gaiciniaman- 

 ostana, is a remarkable example. The Garcinia 

 ambogia produces the gum from which the yellow 

 ■olor called gamboge is obtained. The Purslane 

 Portulaca, although so common now with us, is sup- 

 posed to have been introduced. The House-leek, 

 Sempervivum, is also a foreign plant of this class. 



XII. OF THE CLASS ICOSANDRIA. 



One of the first of this division is the Cactus, or 

 prickly pear of our country. What at first sight 

 might be taken for leaves, are only the broad flat- 

 jointed stems, one growing at the top of another. — 

 The place of the leaves is supplied by thorns, which 

 grow on the sides in fascicles, and are very small 

 like bristles. The C. opuntia bears a beautiful yellow 

 flower, which is succeeded by a succulent fruit of a- 

 greeable flavor. Tt ere are several remarkable spe- 

 cies of Cactus, particularly the wonderful night-bloo- 

 ning C. grandijlortus, which bears a most magnifi- 

 ent flower of a foot in diameter. 



The Crrerry, Prums cems«s„ £he PlTTm, P. do- 



meslica, the Peach, Amygdalus persica, the Almoin! 

 A. communis, the Apple, Pytvs mains, the Pear, 1'. 

 communis, — all theso are valuable fruits of foreign 

 growth, that have been introduced into our country . 

 and they thrive exceedingly well. We have bowei - 

 er, wild fruit of these kinds — the Crab apple, J\Iahn>- 

 Coronacia, which if cultivated, would, without doubt 

 in time, produce a very excellent fruit; — our wild 

 Cherry, Prumis tirginianvs, is a pleasant fruit even in 

 the wild state; the Chickasaw plum, P.chicusa, prom- 

 ts to be a valuable addition to our stock of garden 



: 



iuit. The Blackberry, Rubas, the Raspbnny, Ji. <>- 

 doralus, are delicious fruits. This class also iucludt^ 

 the delightful Strawberry, Fragaria. 



XIII. OF THE CLASS POLYANDRIA. 



The Poppy belongs to this class. From this plan' 

 is derived the opium, which is so generally used in 

 medicine for its soporific effects. It is obtained b 

 wounding the capsule while yet green, from whi 

 issues a milky juice that hardens. 



This class is rich in elegant flowers. The beauti- 

 ful Nymphaea, or water Lilly, which adorns our fresh 

 water streams and lakes, is remarkable for the long 

 petioles of its leaves. The singular Sarracwiia, or 

 side saddle flower, a swamp plant, with a leaf like a 

 wine glass, capable of holding water ; the delightful 

 W. India plant Mammta amcricana ; the fragrant Or- 

 ange, Citrus uuranliuin ; the Shaddock, C. decumarr. 

 the Tea tree, so remarkable for its refreshing bever- 

 age. There are three varieties of this plant, the Thrir 

 viridis, T. bohea, and T. cochinchiniensis. 



The different kinns of green tea are all the pro- 

 ducts of one tree. The difference in the quality o1* 

 the leaves is owing entirely to the different season.-- 

 in which they are gathered. The young leaves ar« 

 of the better kind, and the larger or outside leaves in- 

 ferior The black tea is of a different species from 

 the green, and the qualities are, in the same manner, 

 owing to the different seasons of gathering. 



There is no tree, which, in tho elegance of the flow- 

 er and leaf, can exceed the common forest tree of N- 

 America, called White wood. Tulip tree, Liriodai- 

 dron tulipifera. The flower is of a greenish yellow, 

 resembling in form the tulip, and the leaf of a pecul- 

 iar shape, unlike any other plant. It. is three lobed, 

 with the middle segment truncated or cut off square- 



Our swamps are also variegated with the splendid. 

 Magnolia glauca, with its large snow white flower, 

 and its green leaf, with its und°r side of a silver hue. 

 Several other magnificent species of this genns are 

 'bund in the U. States, or are cnltivated in our gar- 

 dens and green houses ; in particular the M. macro* 

 phylla, produces u flower of extraordinary magnitudci 

 Another plant of this class, remarkable for its lurge 

 size, is a species of ftctirmbimrt, frre frovte? of wlfich 



