resembling a tobacco pipe. The stems are scaly, but without leaves; the whole plant is perfectly white, and looks as if made of wax; it is sometimes called Indian-pipe. You must look for this in shady woods near the roots of old trees, in June or July.

Rhododendron, or, as it is sometimes called, mountain laurel or rose-bay, an evergreen with large and beautiful oval leaves, is found growing on the sides of mountains, or in wet swamps of cedar; it flourishes beneath the shade of trees; the pink and white flowers appear in large showy clusters, and continue in bloom for a long period; they have a 5-toothed calyx, a 5-cleft, funnel-form, somewhat irregular corolla, stamens 10, sometimes half the number, capsule 5-celled, 5-valved. At Fig. 134, c, is a flower of the genus Ledum, which is found in the same family as the Rhododendron; it has a very small calyx, and a flat, five-parted corolla.

Connected by natural relations to the two genera above mentioned, is the American laurel, (Kalmia,) a splendid shrub, sometimes found ten or thirteen feet high. On the Catskill mountains, it is said to have been seen twenty feet in height; the flowers grow in that kind of cluster called a corymb; they are either white or red; but this fair and beautiful shrub is of a poisonous nature, particularly fatal to sheep who are attracted towards it; one species of the Kalmia is on this account called sheep-laurel.

This is a

Among the plants which have a place in this part of the artificial system, is the DIONEA muscipula*, or Venus' fly-trap. native of North Carolina; the leaves spring from the roots; each leaf has, at its extremity, a kind of appendage like a small leaf doubled; this is bordered on its edges by glands resembling hairs, and containing a liquid that attracts insects; but no sooner does the unfortunate insect alight upon the leaf, than with a sudden spring, it closes, and the little prisoner is crushed to death in the midst of the sweets it had imprudently attempted to seize; after the insect, overcome by the closeness of the grasp, has expired, the leaf again unfolds itself. Although we may account for this phenomenon by attributing it to the irritability of the plant, we have only removed the difficulty by adducing a cause which itself remains to be explained. We shall in a future lecture make some remarks upon the irritability, or, as it is sometimes called, sensibility of plants.

Order Digynia.

This order contains the Hydrangea, an elegant East Indian exotic; a species of this plant, a shrub with white flowers, is said to have been found on the banks of the Schuylkill river.

The Pink tribe, of the natural order Caryophylleæ, is composed of plants belonging to this class, some of which have three styles, others have five, but the greater part have two, and therefore belong to the 2d order. The exotic genus Dianthus, containing the carnation, and other garden-pinks, and sweet-william, is a great favourite with florists, who gravely tell us what varieties we ought most to admire; as if fashion, and not nature, were to regulate our emotions. The seed of the carnation often produces a different kind of flower from its parent. A writer on the culture of flowers, observes, that a florist may consider himself fortunate, if, in the course of his life, he should be able to raise six superior carnations;-but the hope that such success may crown his labours, he thinks a sufficient stimulus to continued exertions. Such contracted views of nature and of the pur

*See Appendix, Plate iii. Fig. 6.

Mountain-laurel-Kalmia, or sheep-laurel-Dionæa-Pink tribe.

suits most ennobling to man, are too contemptible to need a comment. To degrade the beautiful and innocent employment of cultivating plants, by rivalries to produce a flower that may claim to be distingué, shows that the serpent still lingers in Eden. Let the flower-garden be a retreat from low and grovelling competitions, the promoter of innocence, of benevolence to man, and devotion to God.

Order Trigynia.

We here find the genus SILENE, one species of which is called the catch-fly; another, the nocturna, or night-blooming, is,

"That Silene who declines

The garish noontide's blazing light;
But when the evening crescent shines,
Gives all her sweetness to the night."

Another genus, the sandwort, is the

The corn-cockle (Agrostemma) is very common in corn-fields; although troublesome, and regarded as but a weed, it is a handsome pink-like plant, bearing a purple blossom. In its generic character it differs little from the genus which contains the pink, except in having five pistils instead of two, on which account it is placed in the fifth order.

Here is also found the Sorrel, (Oxalis,) which produces the oxalic acid, similar in its properties to the acid obtained from lemons; it is poisonous, and not known as a medicinal article, but is important in the arts.

Order Decagynia.

In this order is the Poke-weed, (Phytolacca,) a very common plant, found on the borders of fields and road-sides; the fruit consists of large, dark berries, often used by children for the purpose of colouring purple. The young shoots are tender, and are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus. The flower of this plant presents us with 10 stamens, 10 styles, a calyx with 5 white sepals resembling a corolla, a berry superior, (above the germ,) with 10 cells, and 10 seeds.

We have completed our review of the first groups of classes, or those which depend upon the number of stamens; in our next lecture we shall consider the two classes which depend on the number and insertion of the stamens.

Plants in the order Trigynia-Order Pentagynia-Describe the Poke-weed.

Fig. 135.

a

b

LECTURE XXX.

CLASS XI.-ICOSANDRIA.

HAD we followed the classification which has, until recently, been admitted by writers on botany, we should have met with the class Dodecandria, from Dodeka, 12, and andria, stamen; it was not, as you might infer from the name, confined to 12 stamens, but contained from 10 to 20, without any regard to their insertion. This class produced much confusion in the science; for it is found that plants having more than ten stamens, frequently vary as to their number; there being no difficulty in distributing all plants of this class in the two next, it has, by consent of most botanists, been left out of the system; and the plants which it contained, are arranged under Icosandria, if the stamens are on the calyx, and Polyandria, if the stamens are inserted upon the receptacle. The manner of insertion is always the same in the same genus, and therefore there can be no confusion with respect to determining the classes upon this principle. You will observe, that this omission of one class, changes the numbers of the remaining classes; as Icosandria, which was formerly the twelfth, is now the eleventh, and so on with the other classes. It is on account of these changes, that we wish you to learn the classes by their appropriate names, as Monandria, Diandria, rather than to confine yourselves merely to the numbers, as 1st, 2d, &c. Besides, the name of each class is generally expressive of its character, and will, when you understand its derivation, convey to you the idea of this character, which, by the number alone, could not be done; for example, the term tenth class, conveys no idea but that of mere number; but the classical name Decandria, from deka, ten, and andria, stamens, reminds you of the circumstance on which the class is founded.

The name Icosandria, from eikosi, 20, and andria, stamens, seems not, however, exactly well chosen to represent the eleventh class, which is not confined to twenty stamens, having sometimes as few as ten, and in some cases nearly a hundred stamens. An American botanist has proposed to call the class Calycandria, from calyx and andria, as the insertion of the stamens on the calyx is the essential circumstance on which the class depends; this change has been approved, but the old name is still used. Thus, with respect to the name given to the great American continent, all allow it should have been Columbia, after Columbus, its discoverer; but when once custom has sanctioned a name, it becomes very difficult to overcome this authority.

Order Monogynia.

We meet here with the Prickly-pear tribe, (Cactea,) in which the Cactus is the most important genus. Jussieu included in this natural order, the currant and gooseberry; but Lindley has formed them

* Darlington.

What is said of the class which is omitted in this part of the system ?-Why is it important to learn the appropriate names of the classes, rather than their numbers ? -What name has been proposed as a substitute for Icosandria ?-The Cactus tribe.

into a separate order, called Grossulaceæ, from Grossularia, the gooseberry. The species of Cactus are very numerous; among the most splendid is the night-blooming Cereus, (CACTUS grandiflorus,) having flowers nearly a foot in diameter, with the calyx yellow, and the petals white. The blossoms begin to expand soon after the setting of the sun, and close before its rising, never again to open. Another species, (speciossissimus,) with flowers like crimson velvet, is still more superb than the grandiflorus. The different species of this genus are distinguished by a diversity of common names; when they are of a round form, they are called Melon thistles; when more cylindrical and erect, Torch thistles; when creeping, with lateral flowers, Cereuses; and when composed of a stem resembling flattened leaves, Prickly pears.

Plants of the Cactus tribe are mostly destitute of leaves, but the stems often appear like a series of thick fleshy leaves, one growing from the top of another. The beautiful die, called cochineal, is obtained from an insect of this name, which feeds upon the Cactus cochinillifer. The Cactus opuntia, or true prickly pear, is found native in the United States.*

The family Amygdala of Lindley, comprehends the peach and almond of the genus Amygdalus, with the plum, cherry, and pomegranate. These, which were placed by Jussieu in his order Rosacea, or rose-like plants, seem very properly separated. The characteristics of this tribe are a calyx 5-toothed, petals 5; stamens about 20, situated on the calyx; ovary superior, one-celled. The fruit a drupe. Trees or shrubs. The leaves and kernel contain prussic acid.t

PRUNUS is the genus which contains the various kinds of the plum, cherry, and sloe; this genus, according to ancient writers, was brought from Syria into Greece, and from thence into Italy. The Roman poets often notice its fruit. We have several native species of it.

The pomegranate (PUNICA) is a shrubby tree, which is a native of Spain, Italy, and Barbary, and flowers from June till September. The Greek writers were acquainted with it, and we are told by Pliny, that its fruit was sold in the neighbourhood of Carthage. It is cultivated in England and in the United States; not for its fruit, which does not come to perfection so far north, but on account of its large and beautiful scarlet flowers, which render it an ornamental plant. At Fig. 135, u, is the flower of the pomegranate, (Punica granatum;) b, represents the stamens of the same, as adhering to the calyx.

The genus AMYGDALUS contains the peach and the almond. The latter is a native of warm countries, and seems to have been known in the remotest times of antiquity.

Order Di-pentagynia."

The four following orders in the class Icosandria, are included under one, called Di-pentagynia, signifying two and five pistils.

We find here an important natural order, the Pomaceat or apple tribe. This is included in Jussieu's Rosacea, or rose-like plants; but although the flowers of the apple genus have a strong resemblance to that of the rose, the difference in the fruit seems to render

*For illustrations of this family, see Plate i. Figures 2, 5, and 7. † Now known in chemistry as hydrocyanic acid.

So called from Pomum, an apple.

Family Amygdala-Prunus-Pomegranate-Amygdalus-Order Di-pentagynia.

resembling a tobacco pipe. The stems are scaly, but without leaves; the whole plant is perfectly white, and looks as if made of wax; it is sometimes called Indian-pipe. You must look for this in shady woods near the roots of old trees, in June or July.

Rhododendron, or, as it is sometimes called, mountain laurel or rose-bay, an evergreen with large and beautiful oval leaves, is found growing on the sides of mountains, or in wet swamps of cedar; it flourishes beneath the shade of trees; the pink and white flowers appear in large showy clusters, and continue in bloom for a long period; they have a 5-toothed calyx, a 5-cleft, funnel-form, somewhat irregular corolla, stamens 10, sometimes half the number, capsule 5-celled, 5-valved. At Fig. 134, c, is a flower of the genus Ledum, which is found in the same family as the Rhododendron; it has a very small calyx, and a flat, five-parted corolla.

Connected by natural relations to the two genera above mentioned, is the American laurel, (Kalmia,) a splendid shrub, sometimes found ten or thirteen feet high. On the Catskill mountains, it is said to have been seen twenty feet in height; the flowers grow in that kind of cluster called a corymb; they are either white or red; but this fair and beautiful shrub is of a poisonous nature, particularly fatal to sheep who are attracted towards it; one species of the Kalmia is on this account called sheep-laurel.

Among the plants which have a place in this part of the artificial system, is the DIONEA muscipula*, or Venus' fly-trap. This is a native of North Carolina; the leaves spring from the roots; each leaf has, at its extremity, a kind of appendage like a small leaf doubled; this is bordered on its edges by glands resembling hairs, and containing a liquid that attracts insects; but no sooner does the unfortunate insect alight upon the leaf, than with a sudden spring it closes, and the little prisoner is crushed to death in the midst of the sweets it had imprudently attempted to seize; after the insect, overcome by the closeness of the grasp, has expired, the leaf again unfolds itself. Although we may account for this phenomenon by attributing it to the irritability of the plant, we have only removed the difficulty by adducing a cause which itself remains to be explained. We shall in a future lecture make some remarks upon the irritability, or, as it is sometimes called, sensibility of plants.

Order Digynia.

This order contains the Hydrangea, an elegant East Indian exotic; a species of this plant, a shrub with white flowers, is said to have been found on the banks of the Schuylkill river.

The Pink tribe, of the natural order Caryophyllea, is composed of plants belonging to this class, some of which have three styles, others have five, but the greater part have two, and therefore belong to the 2d order. The exotic genus Dianthus, containing the carnation, and other garden-pinks, and sweet-william, is a great favourite with florists, who gravely tell us what varieties we ought most to admire ; as if fashion, and not nature, were to regulate our emotions. The seed of the carnation often produces a different kind of flower from its parent. A writer on the culture of flowers, observes, that a florist may consider himself fortunate, if, in the course of his life, he should be able to raise six superior carnations; but the hope that such success may crown his labours, he thinks a sufficient stimulus to continued exertions. Such contracted views of nature and of the pur

* See Appendix, Plate iii. Fig. 6.

Mountain-laurel-Kalmia, or sheep-laurel-Dionæa-Pink tribe.