164 
CLASS POLYANDEIA. 
merce. The juice which issues from incisions in the green cap- 
sules is dried in the sun, and made into cakes. The narcotic 
property of opium renders it highly valuable as a medicine. 
232. The genus Citrus contains the orange, lemon, lime, 
citron, shaddock, &c. Oil abounds in the leaves and rind ol 
the fruit. The lemon, lime, and citron are distinguished from 
the orange by their oblong form, their adherent rind, and a 
protuberance at the apex. The oil of lergamot is obtained 
from the rind of a small fruit of this genus. The Citrus is 
subject to an abnormal separation of the carpels, which pro- 
duces what are called horned oranges, and Jmgered citrons, and 
in some cases to a multiplication of the normal number of car- 
pels, in which case an orange is formed within an orange. 
Jussieu placed this in his order Aiorantia^ or golden fruits, 
now called Aurantiacece. The fruit is a berry with a thick 
coat ; it furnishes cit7'iG acid. 
233. Order Dipentagynia. — ^The four orders following Mono 
gynia are, as in the preceding class, united into one, called, as 
before, Dipentagynia, having from two to five styles. We 
find here some plants of a poisonous nature, as the larkspur, 
monk's-hood, and the columbine ; these belong to the natural 
order RanunculacecB^ the type of which is the ranunculus or 
crow-foot. The pseony {Pceonia^ a large and showy flower, 
which in its simple state has five sepals, five petals, two or 
three ovaries, each crowned by a stigma ; carpels the same in 
number as the ovaries, each containing several seeds : this 
flower is remarkable for becoming double by cultivation. 
234. Order Polygynia. — ^The Clematis virginiana is a com- 
mon American plant ; the stem supports itself on shrubs and 
trees by means of its long petioles, which serve as tendrils. 
At Fig. 143, is a flower of the Clematis ; h represents its 
receptacle with numerous styles proceeding from it, and the 
petals and stamens separated from tlieir insertion upon the 
receptacle. The Hellebore {Helleborus) is an exotic much 
spoken of by classical writers. Hippocrates, one of the most 
ancient physicians, remarked upon its qualities ; it grew about 
Moimt Olympus, and was early known as a very poisonous 
plant. The Magnolia and Tulip-tree are among the most 
splendid trees of North America. In some cases these trees 
rise to the hight of ninety feet before sending oif any con- 
siderable branches ; the spreading top is then clothed with 
deep-green, oblong-oval leaves ; they have large and fragrant 
white flowers. The class Polyandria contains many valuable 
medicinal plants, but few important fruits. 
232. Genus Citrus— 233. Order Dipentagynia— Natural order RanunculaceiB— Pffiony.- 534 Or/Jef 
Polygynia — Clematis— Hellebore — iVlagnolia. 
