BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
87 
the Lime-Tree, though inconspicuous from their small size and colour, which is a greenish-white, are remarkably 
sweet, and very attractive to bees. The wood is soft and light, but very durable ; and from the ease with 
which it may be cut with a knife, it is generally used by carvers. Thus, the highly decorated frames of 
pictures, the wreaths of flowers which often ornament the door-cases and chimney-pieces of old mansions, and 
the beautifully cut wooden toys from the Tyrol, are all made of the wood of the Lime-Tree. The inner bark, 
which is remarkably tough and strong, separates readily into layers, and is woven into those large garden mats 
which are found so useful in protecting delicate plants from the cold during winter, and which are called bast- 
mats from bast being the Swedish word for bark. The family of Linnaeus are said to have derived their name 
from a gigantic Lime-Tree, that tree being called in German, Linden , and in Swedish, Linn. This genus is 
placed in the Linnaean class Polyandria, and order Monogynia, from its flowers having numerous stamens, and 
only a single style. The flowers possess a great deal of mucilage, and they are used in France, in making a 
Ptisan, which is considered very efficacious in stopping the progress of a severe cold. The name of Tilia is said 
to be derived from a Greek word signifying a feather; and it is supposed to allude to the long, feathery 
membrane or bract which partially encloses the cymes of flowers. 
CHAPTER XVII. 
THE ACER FAMILY. (Acerine^e, Juss.) 
Character of the Order. —Calyx divided into five, or occasion¬ 
ally from four to nine parts. Petals equal in number to the lobes of 
the calyx, inserted round an hypogynous disk. Stamens inserted upon 
an hypogynous disk, generally eight, not often any other number- 
always definite. Ovarium two-lobed ; style one ; stigmas two. Fruit 
formed of two parts, which are indehiscent and winged ; eacli one- 
eelled, with one or two seeds. Seeds erect, with a thickened lining to 
the testa. Albumen none. Embryo curved, with foliaceous wrinkled 
cotyledons, and an inferior radicle.—Trees. Leaves opposite, simple, 
without stipulae. Flowers often polygamous, sometimes apetalous, in 
axillary corymbs or racemes. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c. —The only genus in this order which contains British plants, is Acer. 
GENUS I. 
THE ACER. (Acer, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Flowers polygamous. Calyx of five lobes or parts. Stamens seldom five, generally seven or nine. Leaves simple. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There are only two kinds of Acers which are natives of Britain, viz. the Common 
Maple, (A. campestre, Lin.,) and the Sycamore, (A. Pseudo-Platanus, Lin.). The Common Maple, is a dwarf, 
hedge-row tree, with small leaves and erect flowers, totally devoid of beauty; but the Sycamore is of majestic 
height, with large handsome leaves and drooping racemes of flowers, which though not ornamental in their 
colour, which is of a greenish yellow, are remarkable for their light and elegant appearance. The seed-pods of 
the Sycamore are well known by children, w T ho call them keys in some parts of England, and cocks and hens 
in others. The botanical name of this kind of seed-pod is, however, Samara. The embryo has two very 
long, thin leaves, which are most curiously folded up so as to lie within the small space enclosed in the 
seed. These leaves appear above ground when the seed first begins to germinate; but they fall off on the 
appearance of the true leaves, which are of quite a different shape. There are several varieties of the Sycamore, 
