BALSAMINE.E. 75 



decumbent stem, bearing umbels of flowers with peduncles shorter 

 than the petioles of the leaves. In Berkshire County ; this spe- 

 cies has probably been confounded with the preceding. 



ORDER 124. TROPiEOLE./E. Nasturtium Tribe. 



A small order, whose species are natives of South America. 

 One is commonly cultivated in our gardens, for use and ornament. 



Tropjeolum. L. 8. 1. 



T. majus. L. Nasturtium. The calyx and corolla both of 

 an orange color ; flowers irregular and spurred ; a running vine, 

 easily trained, and running several feet, bearing fleshy or leathery 

 sulcate nuts, often pickled. In hot climates it is said to be a 

 shrub ; in the colder, is a vine; was carried from Peru to Europe 

 in 1684. Admired for the flowers, leaves, and fruit. It is called 

 Tropceolum from the fancied resemblance of its flower to a 

 banner of triumph, — a trophy. If a branch of the plant is placed 

 in a phial of water, it will grow and run for weeks, and sometimes 

 blossom, and may thus be extended over a room. 1 1 species of 

 this genus are found in South America. 



ORDER 126. BALSAMINEiE. Balsam Tribe. 



This order bears irregular, 1 -spurred flowers ; stamens 5, 

 hypogynous, or under the ovary ; fruit capsular, with 5 elastic 

 valves, by which the seeds are thrown about when mature. Some 

 are said to be diuretic, and some emetic. Only 2 species in 

 North America, and few on the globe. 



Impatiens. L. 5. 1. 



J. pallida. N. Touch-me-not, or Jewel Weed. Stem 2 

 feet high, branched, smooth, succulent, with rhombic-ovate leaves ; 

 spur recurved, on the shorter petal; flowers pale-yellow, 3-4 

 on a solitary peduncle ; blossoms in August ; grows in wet grounds 

 and damp waste places ; its capsule bursts with great elasticity, 

 when ripe and dry, and the plant is hence often called Snapper, 

 and, from its pendant flower, Jewel Weed. 



