160 
CLASS OCTANDRIA. 
(Erica cincreci) has bell-form flowers, small and delicate, with the 
colour pink, or varying into other colours 3 the flowers intermixed 
with the delicate green leaves produce a fine effect. The kind of 
soil necessarjr to the growth of the heath, is the peat earth, so com¬ 
mon in England and Scotland, in which countries this plant abounds; 
thus S-cott says of his Lady of the Lake, 
“A foot more.light, a step more true, 
Ne’er from the heath-flower brush’d pie dew.” 
In the Highlands of Scotland, the poor make use of the heath to 
thatch the roofs of their cottages 3 their beds are also made of it 
The field in which this plant grows is termed a heath or heather. 
“ The Erica here, 
That o’er the Caledonian hills sublime, 
Spreads its dark mantle, where the beds delight 
To seek their purest honey, flourishes ; 
Sometimes with bells like amethysts, and then 
Paler, and shaded, like the maiden’s cheek, 
With gradual blushes; other while, as white 
As frost that hangs upon the wintry spray.” 
The Daphne is a rare plant 3 one species is called the Lace-bark 
tree, from the resemblance of its inner bark or liber to net-work or 
lace. This bark is very beautiful, consisting of layers which may 
be pulled out into a fine white web, three or four, feet wide; this is 
sometimes used for ladies’ dresses, and may even be washed without 
injury. Charles I. of England, was presented by the governor of 
Jamaica with a cravat made of this web. The plant is a native of 
the West Indies. 
The Nasturtion ( Tropceolum ) is a very commonly cultivated ex¬ 
otic. It has not a Regularity of parts 3 the divisions are not four or 
eight, which we might expect from its eight stamens, but the calyx is 
either four or five-parted, and the corolla is five-petalled. The fruit 
consists of three seeds 3 these are used for pickles. “ The generic 
name ( Tropceolum) signifies a trophy-plant; this alludes to its use for 
decorating triumphal arches, or to the resemblance of its peltate 
leaves to shields as w r ell as its fiow 7 ers to golden helmets pierced 
through and stained with blood.”* 
Order Trigynia. 
This order contains the Buckwheat, ( Polygonum ,) which was 
classed by Linriceus in the same natural order as the dock, pigweed, 
&c., “having flowers destitute of beauty and gay colouring.” The 
genus is extensive, containing many plants which are considered as 
common weeds. The fagopyrum is the true buckwheat 3 the meal 
obtained by grinding its seed, is much esteemed for cakes 3 these are 
called slap-jacks in New r -Engiand, in England, crumpiis. The Po¬ 
lygonum is variable in its number of stamens 3 the seed is a triangu¬ 
lar nut. 
Order Tdragynia. 
We here find the beautiful plant, Paris, which is said to have been 
named after a prince of ancient Troy, remarkable for his beauty. 
In every part of the flow 7 er there is the most perfect regularity 3 the 
numbers four and eight prevailing in the divisions. It has 8 stamens, 
4 pistils, 4 petals, 4 sepals, a 4-sided and 4-celled pericarp, which con¬ 
tains 8 seeds, and 4 large spreading leaves, at a little distance be¬ 
low the flower. The colour of the whole is green. The plant is said 
to be narcotic. It is a native of England. 
* Sir J. E. Smith. 
Lace-bark tree—Nasturtion—Second order—Third order—Fourth order. 
