284 Bell Flowers. 



thinnest parts of the sides of the fruit, in the fork of the three 

 principal ribs, that these valves are produced, and that nature 

 provides for the escape of the seeds ; the rending takes place 

 upon the final drying of the sides of the fruit, when every 

 par! becomes stretched so tight that any weak portion must of 

 necessity give way. As the stretching takes place with uni- 

 formity, and as the skin at the forks of the ribs is always more 

 tender than any other part, the opening of the valves will, 

 consequently, occur with the same invariable certainty as the 

 formation of the seeds. The whole tribe is as harmless as it 

 is beautiful ; the roots of some species are eaten under the 

 name of Rampion, the leaves of others are used in salads, and 

 the bells afford an abundant supply of honey to the bee. The 

 stems and roots abound in a milky juice, which, though in this 

 case innoxious, is usually a symptom of poisonous properties, 

 and which in the neighboring lobelia tribe, indicates the pre- 

 sence of the most fearful venom. The Harebell is an herba- 

 ceous and deciduous plant, perennial in its duration, and pro- 

 pagated by seed. It has a round, small, erect stem, bearing 

 one or more flowers. It frequents damp rocky woods, and 

 flowers in June and July. 



" Biue-Bcll ! how gaily art thou drest, 



How sweet and trim art thou, sweet flower ; 



How silky is the azure vest, 



How fresh to flaunt at morning's hour." 



Tyas tells us that this beautiful flower, from the richness of 

 its color, has been made the emblem of Constancy. 



This genus is in the class, Pentandria ; order, Monogynia 

 and the name of Campanula, which signifies a little bell has 

 been given to it from the resemblance which the corollas of 

 its species bear to that instrument ; its characters are : calyx, 

 generally five cleft. Corolla bell-form, closed by valves at bottom 

 bearing the stamens. Stigmas three to five cleft. Capsules 

 corresponding three to five celled. Campanula Pbrsicifolia 

 — Peach-leaved Bell-flower, which is, according to Phil- 

 lips, from whom we take the description and cultivation of the 

 remainder, frequently called the Paper-flower, from the deli- 

 cate yet stiff texture of the corollas, ranks among the most 



