OF MW-Vi'KK. 



orders are tin' Rani m i lace.e, which constitute about l-38thof the 

 flowering plants ; the Cruciferjb, l-l.")ili ; the Lbouminos^, l-26th ; 

 Rosaceje, L-25th ; (Jmbellifers, l-39th ; Composite, L-9th; Eri- 

 . 1. 34th ; Labiatj?, I 32 I ; Scrophulariace^, [-39th. Of 

 nionocotyledonous plants there are but three large tinier-,, eiz., Or( hi« 

 DACE4S, which form about I -89th of our flowering plants; CyperaceA, 

 1-Oth, and Gr' l-l-Jth ; which proportions vary but little from 



the ;.. .'the whole Flora of North America. 



We have omitted the botanical description of the different orders, 

 genera, and species, as it would have extended our article beyond the 

 limits of our pages ; the reader, moreover, is supposed to be furnished 

 with Torr m \ » T -" \fanual" Wood 



or Beck's "Botany" with the aid of which he will be i .bled 



to identify any gn is. The student in his walks for exei 



and the country pi >r in his daily rides, will find an abundant 



source of amusement and mental recreation, in studying the various 

 plants which may be presented to their observation. 



DIVISION [,— FLOWERING OR PHENOGAMOUS PLANTS. 



CLASS L— EXOGENOUS PLANTS. 



StjicLASS I.— POLYPETALOUS EXO ".ANTS. 



NATURAL ORD 



Rakukculacrs, Juss. — (Tin: Cbow Foot Tribe.) 



The plants belonging to this order are generally acrid and caustic, 

 though they vary in their physical properties. In some of them we de- 

 tect a peculiar acrid principle, of a volatile nature, dissipated by heat, 

 or by simple drying; neither acid nor alkaline ; in others, as the Ace- 

 llitum and Delphinium, the active ingredient is an alkaloid, highly de- 

 leterious even in minute doses. In some, the only marked properties 

 are those of the pure bitters, as in Coptis (Gold Thread) <$• H 



Clematis, (Virgin's Bower,) three species in the state. Ocinio- 

 lbuca ; Virginiana; and Verticu The Viro. has been 



considerably employed as an emetic, diaphoretic, and alterative. Most 

 of the species have a somewhat acrid taste, and are vesicant; ex- 

 ternally as its, and externally and internally in the treatment 

 of chronic rheumatism. An infusion of the bruised leaves and flowers 

 forms a good lotion for the removal of spits and freckles from the skin, 

 and a decoction of the root is useful as a purge in hydropic case--. 



Anemone, Linn., live species. Nemorosa, Linn. Cvlindkica, 

 Gray. Virginiana, Linn. Multifida, Poir. Pennsylvania, L. 

 The medicinal properties of Anemone are similar to those of the 

 Clematis, only more active. The yemorosa acts as a poison to cattle. 



