192 
ORDER MONOGYKIA 
Along with the Potatoe, the Stramonium, and the Atropa, we find 
the Mullein, ( Verbascum ,) which you must have seen too often 
to need any general description of its appearance ; but though its 
natural characters may have so far attracted your attention that 
you know a mullein from every other plant, you may not have 
examined its different parts with a view to scientific arrangement; 
we will tell you that it has, like all the Luridae, a five parted 
calyx, wheel-shaped corolla, with five unequal divisions. The 
stamens are declined or turned downwards, bearded, or hairy. 
The capsule is two-celled and many seeded. The leaves are 
oblong, acuminate and decurrent , or with their bases extending 
downwards around the stem ; they are downy on both sides, 'the 
flowers are arranged along on their stem in such a manner as to 
constitute what is called a spike. The botanical name of the 
common mullein is Verbascum thapsus , a species smaller and 
more delicate than the common mullein, is often found in woods; 
this is the Verbascum blattaria. 'this genus is less active in 
its medicinal properties than most others of the lurid family ; 
it is said to possess anodyne properties, and to be intoxicating 
to fish.* We cannot at present enumerate all the plants of this 
extensive natural family ; but as you proceed in your analysis 
of plants, you will do well to refer them to their natural orders, 
and thus you will in time become familiar with the natural, as 
■well as artificial classes. 
Having remarked upon the natural families Asperifolice and 
Luridce, we proceed to consider some other genera of the class 
Pentandria. 
In the family Lysimachi, are several genera with wheel-form 
corollas; the most important genus in this family is the Lysi- 
machia, or Loose strife, an herbaceous plant very common in 
June and July ; several species of it may be found along the 
banks of little brooks, and low meadow grounds. 
The racemosa, or cluster-flowered loose-strife is from cue to 
two feet in height ; it bears a profusion of fine yellow blossoms, 
in a lax or limber raceme. It sometimes bears bulbs in the axils 
of the leaves, and small branches. These bulbs, like the roots 
of the crocus and onion contain the rudiments of a plant. 
The St. John’s wort, Hypericum, a very common and numer- 
ous family, is in this same natural order. 
The first order of the class Pentandria, contains besides the 
plants we have enumerated, the morning glory, (Convolvulus,) 
the honeysuckle, and the genus Ribes, which contains the cur- 
* Smith. 
Mullein — Flowers with wheel form corollas. 
