8 
family; that the principal economic value of the plants was as 
producers of material for the manufacture of fabrics, as cotton, 
which is the hairy covering of the seed of species of Gossyjpium, 
The leaves of some furnish dye, as, for instance, those of the Holly- 
hock are said to yield a blue dye like indigo. Erom the seeds oil is 
obtained, particularly cotton-seed ; the seeds of others are used as 
culinary vegetables. The outer envelopes of the flowers are in some 
cases flesliy and sharply acid, and then they are utilised for jam, as the 
well-known Eosella {^J^ihhcus mhdariff(t). Very many of the plants 
of this order yield from their bark val uable fibre, and the Avood of 
several is useful and not without beauty. The medical man finds in 
this order also some properties to aid him. A few of the uses of the 
plants of the order might be stated to the children to obtain their 
attention, after Avhich one or two of the characteristics of the order 
might be mentioned, as : that it consists of herbs, shrubs, and trees ; 
that the leaves are alternately placed upon the stem or branches ; that 
they are for the most part toothed, lobed, or much divided ; that the 
hairs are most frequeiitly stellate — that is to say, that they res(3mble 
little stars ; that the flowers usually contain both sexes ; that it is 
seldom that the male (stamens) are met Avith in one bloom and the 
female (style) in another; that the stamens are often numerous and 
more or less united in a column, the filaments becoming free towards 
the top, and each bearing a l-celled anther, which contains the pollen 
or impregnating substance ; that the style, sim])leat the base, branches 
at the top into as many branches or stigmas as there are cells in 
the fruit ; that this latter may be dry or even berry-like, may 
separate into little finiitJets or keep entire. Having said these few 
words about the order, it may be avcII to revert to the plant of which 
it was supposed a specimen had been brought to the teacher — 
namely, Hlbisotis lieierophylltis. The pupil might he told that the 
name Hihisens was called the generic name, and in botanic language 
agreed with his or her name of Jones or Smith, as the case might 
be; and tliat the second name Avas called the specific name, and 
agreed AAuth the Christian name of 'William, John, Mary, Ac. ; that 
the name Hihiseits Avas an ancient name of the MalloAA^ ; that this 
genus is distinguishable from its allies by the style, bearing 5 branches 
at the top, or haviug 5 radiating stigmas, corresponding to the 5 
cells of the ovary or young fruit. The bracteoles or circle of 
appendages at the base of the flowers 31*6 also 5 or more ; these are 
either free from each other or are united, and form a sort of cup. The 
species which is supposed to have been brought for examination — 
namely, H. hcterophylins — it may he well to now dissect or notice more 
particularly. It will be observed that upon the young growth, besides 
the conical prickles with Avhieh the whole plant is covered, there is 
a close cottony covering of luiir ; and upon more closely observing this 
it will he found to be composed of minute stars. Thus the botanist 
speaks of this matter as a stellate tomentum. Now observe the 
leaves ; they Avill be found to he of various shapes ; some much lobed, 
others not lobed at all. This feature suggested the name heterophyllus, 
various-leaved. It Avill be observed that the edge is uneven ; they are 
said to be serrulate, or resembling tbe teeth of a fine saw, or crenulate, 
with rounded, not sharp, teeth. Notice the position of the flowers; 
they are axillary — that is, they are situated iu the upper angle formed 
