132 Bell Flower. 



anciently constructed in honor of a victory. The genus com. 

 prises several species which are familiar both as ornamental 

 and culinary plants. Under the name of Nasturtion, or Indian 

 Cress, the present species is cultivated very generally, f or \U 

 sake, not only of its showy and curious flowers, its graceful 

 and perfectly shaped leaves, but of its fruit, which, when 

 pickled in salt or vinegar, forms an excellent pickle, used as » 

 substitute for capers, to which it is decidedly superior. The 

 flowers possess the same pleasantly pungent flavor with the 

 fruit, and may be used as a salad. The cultivation of the 

 Nasturtion is attended with no great difficulty. Trained over 

 a frame work, it grows luxuriantly, and produces its showy 

 flowers all summer. The only care necessary is not to tie 

 the stems to the frame too tightly, since their softness and sucu- 

 lence renders them liable to be easily bruised. A curious fact 

 was first observed, in regard to the flowers of this plant, by 

 the daughter of Linnaeus. During the evening they emit spon- 

 taneously, at certain intervals, sparks, like those from an elec- 

 trical machine. This phenomenon may be witnessed on a 

 warm cloudy summer evening to the best advantage. 



There are about a dozen other species, all of which are na- 

 tives of Peru. They agree with the Nasturtion in their prop- 

 erties, and are used for the same purposes. One species pos- 

 sesses a tuberous root, which is eaten in Peru, and another is 

 in common use as an anti-scorbutic medifcine. 



CAMPANULA— BELL FLOWER. 



Natural Order, Campanulacese. Linnaean Class and Order, Pentandria, 

 Monogynia. Generic Distinctions :— Corolla, campanulate, funnel-shaped, 

 or broadly tubular ; stigma, three to five cleft ; capsule, inferior, open- 

 ing by lateral pores. 



C. divergens. Plant, pilose ; stem, panicled ; radical leaves, sub-spatulate, 

 crenulate ; cauline leaves, sessile, lanceolate, acuminate ; peduncles, many 

 flowered, diverging ; lobes of calyx, acuminate. — Plate 21. 



Campanula signifies a little bell, and is a remarkably ap- 

 priate name for the plants which in its generic application it 

 includes. The species are very numerous, amounting to nearly 



