THEIR ATTRIBUTES AND NAMES. 
109 
viscid fluid, by which insects alighting on them are retained, while 
the leaves slowly close over and secure them. It is therefore 
called an insectivorous plant. 
Caryophyllacece. —This order comprises the pinks and the chick- 
weeds. Of the former the silenes or eatchflys are named from a 
gum-like juice just below the leaf-axils, often holding small flies 
and other insects fast. The chickweed derives its name from the 
partiality most birds have for it. The well-known ragged Robin 
is a familiar example. The stitchwort or satin-weed takes the 
former name from its supposed curative power for a stitch in 
the side, and the latter from the satin whiteness of its flowers, 
from the shape of which it also derives the name of starwort; in 
Cheshire it is called breakbone, from its snapping off at the joints, 
also all-bone. 
Malvacece. —The Mallows, of which throughout the world there 
are over 1000 species, all agree in containing a large quantity of 
mucilage. It is extracted from some species by boiling the roots, 
and is employed medicinally in allaying both external and internal 
irritation. The extract of marsh-mallow is much used in Trance 
for sore throats. 
Tiliacece. —-From the lime, or linden tribe, we get bast from the 
under bark of lime, and jute from another plant. 
Geraniacece. —The Crane’s-bills are so called from the resemblance 
of their seed-vessels to a crane’s beak or bill, the best-known 
example being the herb Robert or stinking crane’s bill, a very 
common plant, distinguished by its elegant pinkish flowers, red 
stem and leaves in autumn, and unpleasant smell; it is supposed to 
have got its name ‘ ‘ herb Robert ” from having been used in Germany 
to cure a disease called Ruprecht’s plague, after Duke Robert of 
Normandy. From this or some other species of Geranium the 
geraniums of our greenhouses have been derived. Another genus, 
from which the pelargoniums have been obtained, is JErodium , 
which has been named heron’s bill, pick-needle, and stork’s bill; 
in it the seed-capsules become spirally twisted when ripe, often 
then springing a considerable distance from the parent plant. They 
are furnished on the inner side with long elastic bristles, and being 
hygrometric they uncurl when moistened. A twisted capsule, if 
moistened and laid on a sheet of paper, will, in its efforts to 
straighten itself, soon crawl an inch or more from the spot on which 
it was laid. 
Balsaminacece .—Of the Balsams one species is known as Impatiens 
noli-me-tangere (or touch-me-not), being so called from the valves 
or outer divisions of the seed-vessel acquiring a very elastic power 
as the seeds approach maturity, and, when touched, curling up into 
a spiral form with such force as to spring several feet away from 
the parent plant; in some districts this is known as “ quick-in-hand.” 
Oxalidaceee. —The oxalis or wood-sorrel is a very elegant little 
plant, common in this county, with delicate drooping clover-like 
leaves, folding together at night, and delicate white or lilac-veined 
flowers; it is supposed by many to be the plant which was used by 
