94 
ON PLANTS IN RELATION TO ANIMALS. 
the uses of plants were often discovered, though by means 
we should now consider not altogether philosophical. 
It is curious to note that the Chelidonium is found about 
the homesteads of North America, having been there intro¬ 
duced as with us. This plant was probably brought to us 
from Asia, but has doubtless been taken to the States from 
England. The common name of Celandine , given to our 
only species, belongs truly to the Ranunculus Jicaria, in 
which we have another plant renowned for its uses by 
signature. 
The Fumariacese are classed as a suborder, consisting of 
two genera, which may be described as follow : 
2. Corydalis. — Cory dal or exotic Fumitories. —Flowers 
spurred; fruit a narrow pod containing 
several seeds. 
3. Fumaria. — Fumitory , or Snakeherb. —Flowers spurred. 
Fruit a small, roundish, green nut, 
with a single seed. 
2. These are well known for three forms : 
Corydalis solida, bulbous, corydal. 
„ lutea, yellow ditto. 
„ claviculata 3 white, climbing, ditto. 
They are found only in gardens or about garden walls ; 
are perfectly innocuous herbs. They seem to have been 
introduced for their curiously-shaped and prettily-coloured 
flowers ; but in these days of carpet bedding they will only 
find a place in the garden wilderness. 
3. Of these Dr. Syme has figured no less than seven 
forms, namely, Fumaria palddiflora, Borcei, confusa 3 
muralis, micrantha, officinalis , and Vaillantii. We, however, 
agree with Bentham, who classes them all under the head 
of F. officinalis , or common Fumitory, from whom we quote 
the following: 
a Common in cultivated and waste places in Europe and 
Central Asia, disappearing at high northern latitudes, but 
carried out as a weed of cultivation to many parts of the 
globe. Abundant in England and southern Scotland, hut 
decreases much in the north. FI. all summer and autumn. 
It varies much in the form of the leaf segments, in the size 
and colour of the flowers (white or red), in the size and shape 
of the sepals, and in the precise shape of the nuts ; and 
several distinct species are generally admitted, but they run 
so much one into another that there is every probability of 
their being mere varieties.”* 
# *' Handbook of the British Flora/ p. 75. 
