CLASS XII. ICOSANDRLt . 
(twenty STAMINA, oil males.) 
The plants of this class furnish most of the eatable fruits ir i 
esteem; none are noxious except the cherry-laurel* The 
flowers bear the following character % 
1st* A calyx of one leaf, and concave^ 
2d* The corolla fastened by its claw& into the inner side 
of the calyx** 
3d* The stamina^ twenty or more., inserted also into the 
inner side of the calyx or corolla. 
0bs„ As the number of sfarnlna in this class is not Emitted, great attention must 
fee had to • the above character, to distinguish it from the next class (polyandridj 
where the stamina are inserted into the receptacles 
This class contains five OrderSo 
ORDER I, MONOGYM IA* ' 
(one iemale.) 
N° Of • ^ Species in? 
Genera. Growth* species.? Native of Britain. 
Calyx above . 
1 Cactusf s 24 W. Indies, Mexico 
2 Calyptranthe$ s I 
* When the corolla is inserted into the calyx, it always consists of many petals; 
and the calyx of one leaf. 
-p The cactus pitdjaya (one Of the erect cereicses in California) grows with a tri¬ 
angular stem* but the branches are said to be fluted, and it bears a most delicious 
fruit.—The cochineal animals (coccus infectoriusj are supported on a species of the 
cactus 9 called cactus cochenillifer } and from cochineal the* best carmine is ex¬ 
tracted. (See celeranthus and quercusj . The flower of the cactus gra?idiflGrus (one 
of the creeping cereuses) is said to be as grand and beautiful as any in the vegetable 
system: It begins to open in the evening about seven o’clock, is in perfection about 
eleven, and fades about four in the morning, so that the same flower only continues 
in perfection about six hours. The calyx, when expanded, is about a foot in 
diameter, of a splendid yellow within, and a dark brown without; the petals are 
many, and oi a pure white ; and the great number of recurved stamina surround¬ 
ing the style in the centre of the flower, make a grand appearance, to which may 
be added the fine scent, which perfumes the air to a considerable distance. It 
flowers in July. 
