162 
CLASS POLTANDEIA. 
228. OMer Polygynia^ mcmy pistils. — ^The rose tribe re- 
sembles the apple tribe in the appearance of the blossom, but 
the fruit, instead of being a Pome, consists either of mits 
containing one-seeded achcenia.^ as the rose ; or of berries, as 
the strawberry. The leaves have two stipules at their base. 
The rose, unchanged by cultivation has but five petals. We 
have few indigenous species of this genus ; among these are 
the small wild-rose, the sweet-brier, and swamp-rose. 
a. Red and white roses are remarkable in English history as emblems of the 
houses of York and Lancaster ; when those families contended for the crown in the 
reign of Henry the Sixth, the white rose distinguished the partisans of the house 
of York, and the red those of Lancaster. Among the nations of the East, particu- 
larly in Persia, the rose flourishes in great beauty and is highly valued. The 
Persians poetically imagine a peculiar sympathy between the rose and the nightin- 
gale. The Blackberry (Rubus) has a flower resembling in general aspect the rose , 
there are several species of the Rubus, one which produces the common black- 
berry, another the red raspberry, another the black raspberry, and another the 
dewberry. One species, the odoratus, produces large and beautiful red flowers, 
the fruit of which is dry and not edible. The Strawberry belongs to the same 
natural and artificial order as the Rose, The gathering of strawberries in the 
fields is among the rural enjoyments of children. The fruit of the strawberry is 
not properly a berry, but a collection of seeds, or achsenia, imbedded in a fleshy 
receptacle. Icosandria furnishes us with a variety of fine fruits. A great proper 
fon of the genera to be found in this class are natives of the United States. 
CLASS XII. POLYANDRIA, MAl^Y STAMENS. 
229. In this class we find the stamens separate from the 
calyx, and attached to the receptacle or top of the flower- 
stem, called also the tJialamus and the torus. The number of 
stamens varies from twenty to some hundreds. This class does 
not contain many delicious fruits, but abounds in poisonous 
and active vegetables. Few plants with the stamens on the 
calyx are poisonous ; but many with the stamens upon the 
receptacle are so. 
230. Order Monogynia.^ one pistil. — We 
find here the May-apple {Podophyllum)^ very 
common in moist, shady places, where great 
numbers may be seen growing together ; each 
stem supports a large white flower, and two 
large, peltate, palmate leaves ; its yellow fruit 
is eaten by many as a delicacy ; the root is 
medicinal. The Side-saddle flower {Sarra- 
eenia) is a curious plant ; distinguished by 
radical leaves with a hollow urn-shaped peti- 
ole, at whose apex is articulated the lamina, 
fitting on like a lid. This cup appears to be a 
secreting organ ; it is called an ascidiumj (from asMdion.^ a 
small sack). Such a leaf is said to be calyptro-morphous (from 
228. DifFeronce between the rose and apple tribe — a. Rose. — Blackberry — Strawberry tr,.~ 
229. Cla.=!s Polvanilria. — 230. Podopliyllura — Sarraceiiia. 
