m 
CLAiSS MONCECIA. 
tins order. The top or panicle consists of staminate flowers only, 
and of course never produces corn ; Hiq. jnstillate flowers grow in 
a spihe inclosed in a hush ; each pistil produces a seed called 
corn I the pistils are very long, forming what is called silk. 
This genus belongs to the natural order Grarainege. 
27 6. Order TetrandHa^ three stamens. — We here meet with 
the mulberry (Morus) whose leaves furnish nourishment to the 
silk-worm. The white mulberry, Moeus alba^ is the species 
which is chiefly used for this purpose. This plant is classed 
with the bread-fruit and flg in the natural order Urticacese. 
Order Pentandria.,flme stamens — contains the genus Amakan- 
TPius, in which is a very common weed, with some analogy to 
the pig-weed, not only in natural properties, but in being digni- 
fied with a name which forms a striking contrast with its mean 
appearance. This genus, however, contains some elegant for- 
eign species ; one of which, Amaeanthus melancholicus., has re- 
ceived the whimsical name of Love-lies-bleeding ; probably from 
the circumstance of its long, red flower-stalks drooping and 
often reclining upon the ground. Another species, called 
Prince's-feather, is always erect. The Cock's-comb is a well- 
known plant of this genus ; the" flowers form a crest at the apex 
of a flattened peduncle. In some countries the Globe Ama- 
ranth is used for adorning the churches in winter, the colored 
bracts retaining their hue for a long time. 
277. Order Polyandria., many staonens — contains many of 
the most useful and beautiful of our forest-trees, forming the 
natural family Amsntaceoe. Fig. 154 represents a branch of the 
Corylus (Hazle-nut) ; at a are the aments^ or c?it- 
Vm^., formed of staminate flowers ; at 5 is a bract, 
or scale of the ament with adhering stamens ; 
at c are the pistillate fljowers surrounded with 
scales ; at <^ is a pistillate flower, having two 
styles. The oak, beech, walnut, chestnut, birch, 
&c., bear their staminate flowers in nodding 
aments; their pistillate flowers are surround- 
ed w^ith scales for calyces. The stems of these 
plants are w^oody and exogenous ; such stems in- 
crease in diameter by new wood being formed 
around the old ; the new wood is formed from the 
cambium which flows downward between the 
wood and bark. Fig. 155 shows a portion of the 
trunk of an oak, supporting the stem of a twining 
plant (Celastris scandens^ the stafi'-tree). As the 
oak is a dicotyledonous tree, its trunk is annually 
increased by new layers which are developed between the bari 
276. Tetrandria— Araaranthus.— 277. Order Polyandria- -Amentaceifi. 
