ORDER MONOGYNIA. 
201 
in the 6th class and 1st order, even though this should place a 
very humble plant by the side of the most gaudy flower. 
The genus Scilla is an exotic, containing the squill, a medici- 
nal plant, and the hare bell of English poets ; the latter is Scil- 
la nutans, or nodding ; it abounds in the woods and glens of 
Scotland, and has a soft and elastic scape. Thus Scott says of 
the Lady of the Lake ; 
“A foot more light, a step more true, 
Ne’er from the heath-flower dashed the dew ; 
E’en the slight hare-bell raised its head 
Elastic, from her airy tread.” 
The flower which we term the hare bell is the Campanula 
rotundifolia ; this is very common near water-falls, and upon 
rocks in other situations. The barberry, (Berberis,) is found 
common in New England ; its stamens possess an unusual de- 
gree of irritability; they recline upon the petals, but upon touch- 
ing the base of the filaments by any substance, they instantly 
spring towards the pistil. 
You may have observed that although we have remarked up- 
on the beauty of some flowers to be found in this class, nothing 
has been said of their utility ; the truth is, that their beauty, as 
is too often the case with external beauty, constitutes their chief 
merit. When we compare the advantages which the world de- 
rives from the costly race of showy tulips with the utility of 
the humble flax, we feel that though we may admire the one, 
reason would teach us to prefer the other. You may from this, 
deriye a moral lesson, which may suggest to your minds some 
truths, applicable to human beings as well as flowers. 
The genus Convallaria presents many delicate and interesting 
species. The flowers of some are funnel-shaped, and such are 
usually called Solomon’s seal. The garden Solomon’s seal is 
very common. This name is supposed to have been taken from 
certain marks on its roots, resembling the impressions made by 
a seal. It has been much celebrated for medicinal properties.* 
The lily of the valley belongs to the genus Convallaria; its co- 
rolla is bell-form. 
* Gerard, a very ancient botanist, has the following curious passage. 
“ The root of Solomon’s seal stamped, while it is fresh and greene, and ap- 
plied, taketh away in one night or two at the most, any bruse, black or 
blew spots gotten by fals, or women’s wilfulness, in stumbling upon their 
hasty husbands’ fists, or such like.” 
The Genus Scilla — Hare-bell — Barberry — Flowers of this class more re- 
markable for beauty than utility — Genus Convallaria — Solomon’s seal — 
Lily of the valley — 
