CLASS DIA\DRIA. 
137 
Linnaeus called it Ammomum. It belongs to the Natural Order 
CanniB, which embraces several genera of aromatic plants. The 
distinguishing marks of this natural family are an herbaceous stem, 
very broad leaves, a germ with three corners, and a hliaceous flower 
which is beautiful and fragrant. 
The red valerian (Valeriana rubra) having but one stamen would 
belong to this class, but as other species of this plant have three sta- 
mens, this species is carried with the majority into the class 
Triandria. 
Order Digynia, 
Contains an American plant, blitum. At Fig. 121. c, is a flower of 
this genus ; its calyx is deeply three-parted ; it has no corolla ; the 
germ resembles a berry, and is crowned by two styles, which give 
the plant its place in the order Digynia. 
CLASS n. DIANDRIA. 
Order Monogynia. 
Fig. 122. This, though more extensive than the 
preceding class, is somewhat limited. We 
can however, without difficulty, find exam- 
ples for its illustration. 
The lilac (Syringa) is cultivated in all 
parts of our country, and is exceeded in 
beauty and fragrance by few ornamental 
shrubs. The corolla is salver form, or with 
a tube which spreads out into a flat, four- 
parted border. You might, at first view, 
suppose the corolla to consist of several 
petals, but if you attempt to pull them out, 
they will all come off" together, and you will 
plainly perceive there is but one piece, or 
that it is monopetalous. In flowers of one 
petal, the stamens are generally fastened to 
the corolla ; where there are several petals, the stamens are mostly 
attached to the receptacle. You will perceive in the lilac the two sta- 
mens standing opposite to each other, and fastened to the corolla. 
The form in which the blossoms are crowded together, forming a 
large bunch, is cafled a thyrse. 
Fig. 122, a, represents a flower of the lilac ; at &, is the same, cut 
lengthwise to show the two stamens. 
The hlac, although so common with us, is an exotic ; the species 
most cultivated are the vulgaris or common, which has heart-shaped 
leaves, and the persica, or Persian, with narrower leaves. 
The Jasmine, of which twenty-eight species are said to have been 
discovered, is an exotic of this class. The prim or privet {Ligus- 
trum) is found growing wild in some parts of New England ; 
though, in general, it is seen but little in the United States, except 
when cultivated. In England it is planted for fences; as it grows 
rapidly, it soon becomes useful for this purpose, and with its green 
leaves and white flowers, gives to the farms an air of neatness 
and taste. 
The Sage, (*SaZr/*a,)on account of the form of the corolla, belongs 
to the natural family of the ZaZ)/<2^e flowers; these are, mostly, placed 
in the class Didynamia, having four stamens, two long and two 
short; but in some cases, the labiate flowers have but two stamens; 
this circumstance, according to the rules of classification, separates 
Valorian— Blitum— Class Diandria — Lilac— Jasmine — Sage. 
12* 
