9 
by the attachment of the leaf to the stem ; the pedicels are said to be 
short. The pedicel is the stem of the flower. The bracteoles are about 
10, are linear (having parallel margins) rigid, not ciliate (without fine 
hairs) along the margin, as in some other species of Hibiscus. The 
calyx or cup of the flower will be found to be deeply divided into lance- 
shaped lobes, and covered with starry hairs, or, as it is called, stellate 
tomentum. The corolla is composed of 5 petals, white, with a purple 
base. The capsule is ovoid-globular and densely setose — bristly or 
eiiky-hairy. The seeds will be found glabrous, or without any woolly 
or hairy covering. If it is required to say more about this plant, it 
may be pointed out as a producer of strong fibre, which at one time 
was employed by the aborigines for making twine for their nets, and 
thus is now often known as the “ Kurrajoug.” The tender shoots 
have also a pleasant acid flavour, and are much relished by stock. 
As in the first, we have supposed a plant of the Mallow^ Family to 
Lave been brought to the teacher for explanation; and these plants are 
placed in the first class, Dicotyledons, so called because the young 
plants have two or more seed-leaves or seed-lobes, which are called 
cotyledons, from their frequent form being cup-shaped. A\^e wdll now 
suppose that a grass is the plant to be examined, say one most 
frequently to be met with in our pa.stures aud of simple construction — 
a Fospnluvi. It may be pointed out that the family of Grrasses, or the 
order Gramineie, as it is termed by the botanist, will be found placed 
in the second class, Monocotyledons, the young plants having hut a 
single seed leaf. The flowers of grasses are, like many other plants, 
hermaphrodite, that is to say, the two sexes, stamens and styles, are 
both in the same flower; or they are unisexual, tivat is to say, the 
sexual organs are in separate flowers. The number of stamens in a 
flower is usually 8, but are sometimes reduced to 2 or 1 ; and in 
others lliere arc found 6 or more. The aulhers at the end of the 
thread-like stalk are said to be versatile, because being so slightly 
attached to the top of the fitament or thread they readily swing to 
and fro. The styles are 2 or rarely 3, and are free or united at 
the base into a 2 or 3-branehed style, the stigmatic portion being 
usually feathery. The fruit is a small seed-like nut, or utricle. The 
outer envelopes of these flowers are called glumes, the inner scales 
are the palea and lodicules ; but in some grasses one or both of these 
two last-mentioned organs may be wanting. Grass-stems are usually 
hollow between the nodes or joints. The leaves sheath 1he stem at 
the base, and these sheaths are split open from the base opposite the 
blade, and often end within the blade in a scarious (thin, dry) or 
ciliate— that is, eyelash-like — appendage. Tliis appendage is called 
the lignia. Probably no order of plants is of equal value to man 
Bome of the products are grains, fodders, oils, material for furniture 
aud building, &c., &c. 
As we began by supposing that a specimen ot Paspulum had been 
“brought, w'C will consider the species w'as jP. scrohieulatum, and a few 
of the characteristics of both genus aud species may as well be noticed. 
It is not always possible to give the meaning or derivation of botanic 
names, but whenever this is convenient I would advise its being done. 
In the present instance it is considered that the name Paspaluin was one 
used by the Greeks for the Millet, aud scrobieulatuin was given to the 
species because of the furrowed uneven surface of the outer glumes. 
