494 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Flowers solitary, rising from the axes of the leaves. Sepals 

 3 to 5, equal, or one in the form of a spur. Petals 3 to 5, 

 equal or unequal, entire or fringed. Stamens 6 to 8 or 10. 

 Fruit consisting of three loosely united nuts, each containing 

 one seed. 



This family consists of about 50 species, exclusively natives 

 of North and South America. 



Indian Cress, commonly called Nasturtium (^TropcBolum 

 minus and T. majus)^ natives of Peru, are well known garden 

 plants, of which there are many varieties. The fruit forms a 

 common pickle. 



Canary-bird Flower (Tropceolum peregrinum). A favourite 

 arbour plant with cottagers, native of New Granada. T. 

 Lobbi, a native of Peru, a species with round shield-like 

 leaves, is a showy green-house creeper, of which there are 

 several varieties. T. tuherosumj also a native of Peru, has 

 tuberous roots like small potatoes, for which it was once sup- 

 posed they would become a substitute, but their taste is not 

 pleasant. In Bolivia, however, they are said to be made 

 agreeable by some process of cooking. 



The Balsam Family. 



(B ALSAMINACE^ . ) 



Succulent stemmed annuals, erect or trailing. Leaves 

 alternate, simple. Flowers solitary, generally axillary. 

 Sepals and petals 5 each, unequal, one of the latter forming 

 a hollow or projecting cucullate spur. Stamens 5. Fruit a 

 5-valved roundish or long capsule, with numerous seeds, 

 bursting when ripe with elastic force. 



Above 100 species constitute this family, all, with few ex- 

 ceptions, belonging to the genus Impatiens^ principally natives 

 of Ceylon and India, growing in cool moist situations. /. Noli- 

 me-tangere, Touch-me-not, is a native of this country, found 

 on the banks of the Thames. They are ornamental garden 

 plants, some being hardy enough to flower in the open air, 

 while I. latifolia and /. Hookeri assume a shrubby character 



