Part 13

The well known Sweet-smelling Violet belongs to this order, which otherwise contains no plants of importance, except one, the Cephaelis Ipecacuanha, which produces the well-known emetic bearing that name.

9. DROSERACEÆ (Drosera rotundifolia) Sun-dew.

The Sun-dew is so called from the globules of a sort of viscid liquid excreted by the hairs of this plant while in sunshine, and looking like dew; some species of this order have their leaves so irritable that an insect alighting on them causes them to shut up and catch it, hence the name "Venus's Fly Trap" (Dionea muscipula) which is given to an American species.

10. POLYGALACEÆ (Polygala vulgaris) Milk-wort.

The Polygala Senega, or Virginian Snake-root, is a member of this order; it is celebrated in America for the cure of the bite of snakes, and is used here as an expectorant. The Rhatany, a very powerful astringent, is also of this order.

11. CARYOPHYLLACEÆ (Lychnis dioica) Bachelor's Buttons. (Dianthus caryophyllus) Common Pink. (Stellaria media) Chickweed.

There are upwards of a thousand species of this order, but none are of much importance; they form however many of our most beautiful ornamental garden flowers, of which the Carnation, Sweet William, and several others, are familiar to all.

12. TILIACÆ (Tilia Europæa) Lime Tree.

The Lime Tree grows often to a great size, is a fine handsome tree, commonly found in our plantations, has heart shaped leaves, and flowers generally in corymbs; it is very general in tropical climates, and produces a fine close grained wood.

13. HYPERICACEÆ (Hypericum perforatum) Perforated Hypericum.

Many species of Hypericum are cultivated in our gardens, and form handsome flowers; the well known plant called Aaron's Beard (Hypericum calycinum) is a member of this order, and is remarkable for the long runners which it throws out forming fresh plants at intervals. It is often suspended in pots, from which these runners descend in a very graceful manner.

14. MALVACEÆ (Malva sylvestris) Common Mallow. (Althæa officinalis) Marsh Mallow.

The Marsh Mallow has been much esteemed as a demulcent medicine, and an ointment is made from it for external use; but one species of this order, the Gossypium, is one of the most important plants in the whole world, producing that most useful article, cotton, so largely grown in America, and for which the slave population are chiefly employed. The fine white hairs surrounding the seeds and filling up the pod is the part picked out and preserved, it forms the cotton-wool of commerce, of which some eight hundred millions of pounds' weight are used annually! employing a million and a half people, in England alone, and furnishing clothing to hundreds of millions. It is grown in India, which is supposed to be its native place, and will probably be grown to a much greater extent when railways and canals shall have made a more easy communication from the interior of that country to the sea-board.

15. GERANIACEÆ (Geranium pyreniacum) Meadow Geranium.

Many species of this order are indigenous, and when cultivated produce some of our most beautiful garden flowers, as the Geraniums, Pelargoniums, and Erodiums. The Geraniums are those species which have five irregular petals and ten stamens; they are the most characteristic of the order.

16. LINACEÆ (Linum usitatissimum) Common Flax.

The Flax plant is another of those insignificant plants which, from certain properties they possess, have become the greatest boons to mankind; the stalks of the Linum usitatissimum, soaked, bruised, and prepared by combing, &c., form the flax of commerce, from which all our linen fabrics are made. The manufacture of flax is one of the oldest arts known, the ancient Egyptians formed their mummy-cloths from this article, and a piece of one of these cloths, bleached and placed side by side with some of the present date, would hardly suffer by the comparison, but the rapidity of its manufacture, and the price at which supplied, are doubtless very different in the two cases.

The value of the linen manufacture of Great Britain is between seven and eight millions yearly.

The seeds of the flax plant (Linseed) are used to crush and produce the linseed oil of commerce so extensively used in the production of paints and varnishes, and the cake is used as food for cattle.

17. ACERACEÆ (Acer campestre) Maple Tree. (Acer pseudoplatanus) Sycamore Tree.

This order contains the Maple and Sycamore, fine trees, not only ornamental, but producing wood much in request, moreover the Acer saccharinum or Sugar Maple of North America is used to produce sugar, which is obtained from its sap.

18. RUTACEÆ (Ruta graveolens) Rue.

Rue is a well-known shrub with small pinnate leaves, and possessing a strong and very disagreeable odour; this depends upon the volatile oil which is contained in the glands with which the leaves are dotted. It has been, from time immemorial, used as a medicine. Another member of this order, the Buchu (Diosmia crenata), is also used medicinally.

19. OXALIDACEÆ (Oxalis acetosella) Wood Sorrel.

The Wood Sorrel is very acid, and from its juice is made the salt of sorrel (which is bin-oxalate of potash), used to get out ink and iron stains from linen, &c. This is supposed to be the true Shamrock.

This completes the orders of Thalamifloræ, which, with the following sub-class, Calycifloræ, contain all our star-like flowers, or those in which the corolla forms a whorl or open ring of petals. The third sub-class contains those chiefly in which the flowers form cups or bells.

ORDERS OF CALYCIFLORÆ.

1. CELASTRACEÆ (Euonymus Europæas) Spindle Tree.

This order consists of shrubs or small trees growing in the temperate regions of most parts of the world, and some of the species, as Celastrus venatus, are said to be poisonous; the seeds of the South African species are used to express oil from.

2. RHAMNACEÆ (Rhamnus catharticus) Buckthorn. (Rhamnus frangula) Black Alder.

Buckthorn berries afford a juice which, when made into syrup with sugar, is a popular purgative medicine; the juice precipitated with lime produces the green pigment known to artists as "sap green." The "French Berries" used as a yellow dye-stuff are procured from a species of Rhamnus.

3. FABACEÆ, or } (Cytisus scoparius) Broom. LEGUMINOSÆ } (Pisum sativum) Garden Pea. (Faba vulgaris) Garden Bean.

The plants producing pods or legumes are among the most important of the orders of this class, giving us very many useful and nutritious plants, which, for the most part, are climbers, as Peas, Beans, &c. The Tamarind and Cassia trees belong to this order, also those which produce gum-arabic, catechu, logwood, and indigo. There are between six and seven thousand species of the Leguminosæ.

4. ROSACEÆ (Rosa centifolia) Hundred-leaved Rose. (Fragaria vesca) Wood Strawberry. (Rubus fruticosus) Bramble. (Pyrus communis) Pear Tree.

This important order yields us our most beautiful flower, the Rose, of which there are a great many varieties, among which the Dog-rose--that beautiful ornament to our hedges--deserves to hold a conspicuous place, also the Sweetbriar or Eglantine. The rose is used in Turkey and Persia for obtaining that most valuable and delicious perfume, "Otto of Roses." It is made by distilling a portion of water from several quantities of fresh roses, until it becomes saturated with the volatile oil. This water is then exposed to the open air, and, in the cool night time, drops of the otto collect on the top, from which it is carefully gathered, and the same water again distilled from a fresh quantity of roses. Besides the Rose tribe, this order contains some of our most valued fruits. The Apple, Pear, and Strawberry belong to it, also the Almond.

5. LYTHRACEÆ (Lythrum salicaria) Purple Loose-strife.

The Purple Loose-strife is indigenous to England, bearing a purple flower, and is also found in Australia. There are several varieties of this plant; an Indian species, Lythrum Hunteri, bearing a red flower, has been used by the natives as a red dye.

6. ONAGRACEÆ (Epilobium angustifolium) French Willow.

This order contains some very beautiful flowering plants, as the Evening-primrose (Enothera biennis), Fuchsia, &c. of which there are a great many varieties; they abound plentifully in America, of which country the Evening-primrose is said to be a native.

7. MYRTACEÆ (Myrtus communis) Myrtle.

The Myrtles are, for the most part, inhabitants of the warmer climates. They are shrubs or trees, and sometimes of great size and beauty; the flowers and leaves of many species are odorous. There are upwards of fifty species of Myrtle, and they are found in most of the warmer parts of the Old and New Worlds.

8. CRASSULACEÆ (Sempervivum tectarum) House-leek. (Sedum Acre) Stone-crop.

The species of this order have, most of them, thick succulent leaves. The Sedums, Stone-crop, and House-leek, are among the most common, growing in dry, earthy matter, on walls or housetops; they, nevertheless, are full of a milky juice. The juice of Houseleek mixed with cream has been a long time a popular remedy for various external complaints, but, like most popular remedies, does neither good nor harm.

9. GRASSULARIACEÆ (Ribes rubrum) Red Currant. (Ribes grassularia) Gooseberry.

The Gooseberry and Currant are members of this order. They are useful plants for the kitchen-garden, and afford a grateful and wholesome fruit, although unripe gooseberries (eaten raw) are extremely unwholesome, as the acid they contain is the "oxalic."

10. SAXIFRAGACEÆ (Robertsonia umbrosa) London Pride.

These are plants growing, for the most part, in mountainous regions, and in the crevices of rocks. The London Pride and Hydrangea are the best known, the latter producing very large corymbs of flowers. They occur in temperate climates in most parts of the world.

11. APIACEÆ, or } (Foeniculum officinale) Fennel. UMBELLIFERÆ } (Conium maculatum) Hemlock. (Apium graveolens) Celery. (Petroselinum sativum) Parsley.

Contains many of our useful vegetables, as the Carrot (Daucus Carota), Parsnip (Pastinaca), &c. The Celery also, and many of our aromatic seeds, are produced by the Umbelliferæ, as Anise, Carraway, Dill, Coriander, and Fennel. Some members, however, are poisonous, as Hemlock (Conium Maculatum), and Cow-bane or Water Hemlock (Cicuta Virosa).

ORDERS OF COROLLIFLORÆ.

1. CUCURBITACEÆ (Cucurmis melo) The Melon. (Elaterium agreste) Spirting Cucumber.

The Cucumber (Cucurmis Sativa), the Melon (Cucurmis Melo), both esteemed as delicacies, are of this order. Also the numerous tribe of Gourds (Cucurbita), as the Pumpkin, Large Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Squash, &c., also the Vegetable Marrow. Gourd-shells form the most common vessels for holding liquids, in many parts of Asia.

2. CORNACEÆ (Cornus Sanguinea) Dogwood.

These plants are chiefly shrubs or trees, growing in most temperate regions, and especially in America. The Cornelian Cherry (Cornus muscula) produces a berry somewhat resembling a cherry. Some species are used in America as a tonic medicine.

3. CAPRIFOLIACEÆ (Sambucus nigra) Elder Tree. (Viburnum tinus) Laurustina. (Caprifolium perfoliatum) Honeysuckle.

This order contains few plants of any importance. The Honeysuckle is a very favourite ornamental plant, and the fruit of the Elder produces the Elderberry-wine so much used on Christmas Eve, with toasted bread, in many parts of the country.

4. GALIACEÆ (Galium cruciatum) Cross Wort. (Rubia tinctorum) Madder.

The root of the Madder is one of our most important "dye-stuffs," producing the most permanent reds and browns used in dyeing. It is a native of the south of Europe and of Asia. Animals fed upon madder are found to have their bones tinged of a red colour.

5. VALERIANACEÆ (Valeriana officinalis) Valerian. (Cetranthus ruber) Red Valerian.

Valerian is indigenous, growing by ditches, and bearing a pink flower; the root is used in medicine, and has a most disagreeable odour. Several species are cultivated as ornamental garden flowers; there are about 125 species.

6. DIPSACACEÆ (Dipsacus fullonum) Teasel.

The heads of the Teasel were formerly used, to an enormous extent, for carding cloth, and were cultivated largely in some parts for that purpose--wagon-loads of them were brought to the cloth-dressers--but their use is now, to some extent, superseded, the process called "teaselling" being frequently performed by machinery.

7. ASTERACEÆ (Tussilago Farfara) Coltsfoot. (Helianthus annuus) Sunflower. (Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum). Ox-eye Daisy.

The members of this family have a star-like inflorescence, as the Sunflower, China Aster, &c.; the centre part or eye, being composed of undeveloped florets, is frequently, by cultivation, almost lost, forming florets which are added to the ray.

8. CAMPANULACEÆ (Campanula rotundifolia) Hare-bell. (Campanula media) Canterbury-bell.

Comprise the various "Bells," which form of inflorescence is characteristic of the Corollifloræ. There are about 500 species of this order, the flowers of which are for the most part of a blue or purple colour; the Hare-bell is also known as the "Bluebell of Scotland."

9. ERICACEÆ (Calluna vulgaris) Heather. (Erica cinerea) Grey Heath.

The Heaths are, for the most part, social plants, growing in great numbers on waste ground, and giving great beauty to scenery. The Heather gives a peculiar aspect to the hills of Scotland. Humboldt observes, "It is curious that, out of more than 300 species of Erica, one only should be found throughout the whole American continent."

10. GENTIANACEÆ (Gentiana campestris) Field Gentian. (Menyanthes trifoliata) Buck Bean.

This order contains no member of great importance; the Gentian-root, much used as a tonic, is the product of the "Gentiana Lutea."

11. PRIMULACEÆ (Anagallis arvensis) Pimpernel. (Primula veris) Cowslip. (Primula acaulis) Primrose.

These well-known and beautiful flowers form ornaments to our meadows, hedgerows, and gardens; the Oxlip, Polyanthus, and Auricula belong to this order, of which many varieties are produced by cultivation.

12. CONVOLVULACEÆ (Calystegia sepium) Bindweed.

The Bindweeds are gay and beautiful flowers, and besides being used for ornamental purposes, many of this order have medicinal properties of great importance. The Jalap root is from the Convolvulus Jalapæ, which comes from Xalapa, in Mexico, of which name Jalap is a corruption. Scammony, another medicine much used, is a resin procured from a species of this order.

13. BORAGINACEÆ (Borago officinalis) Borage.

The members of this order have most of them rough hairy leaves, they contain a certain amount of nitrate of potash in their juices, and it is this which gives them the peculiar taste which has gained for them the name of "Oyster plants;" the common Borage has been used as a remedy for coughs.

14. LINIACEÆ, or } (Salvia officinalis) Sage. LABIATES } (Thymus vulgaris) Thyme. (Mentha viridis) Spear Mint.

The name Labiates has been given from the form of their infloresence, which is generally "Labiate" (having lips); they frequently possess aromatic properties, and are mostly of a strong smell. Although not commonly used as food, yet most of them are employed to flavour it, as Mint, Thyme, Sage, and many more.

15. SOLANACEÆ (Atropa belladonna) Deadly Nightshade. (Solanum tuberosum) Potato. (Capsicum annuum) Capsicum. (Hyoscyamus niger) Henbane. (Nicotiana Tabacum) Tobacco.

A great many members of this order are poisonous, among which the Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) is the most virulent, there are also Henbane and Tobacco, both strong poisons; but, to compensate for this bad character, the order contains one of the most useful vegetables used in Europe--the Potato. This is the tuber of the "Solanum tuberosum." The following account of the introduction of the Potato into England is from the "Penny Cyclopædia":--

"Queen Elizabeth, in 1584, granted a patent 'for planting and discovering in new countries, not possessed by Christians,' and, under this sanction, some ships, principally equipped by Sir Walter Raleigh, sailed with him to America. Thomas Harriott (afterwards known as a mathematician) who accompanied the adventurous squadron, transmitted to England the description of a plant, called Openawk by the natives of that part of America, which the courtier-like gallantry of Raleigh had named 'Virginia.' Harriott described the Openawk as having the roots round, and 'hanging together as if fixed on ropes, and good for food either boiled or roasted.' Girarde in his Herbal a few years subsequently, distinguished the plant by a plate, and not only confirmed the assertion that it was an indigenous production of Virginia, whence he himself had obtained it, but supplied some curious details of its qualities, and of the various modes in which it might be dressed for the table. But the Potatoe had been known in Spain and Portugal at an earlier period, and it is from the latter country that we most directly derive the name by which we know it. This is easily shown; although the natives of South America called the plant by the name 'Openawk,' those of the South, more particularly the inhabitants of the mountains of Quito, called it 'Papas,' which the Spaniards corrupted into 'Battata,' this again their neighbours in Portugal softened into 'Ba-ta-ta' (da terra), to which 'potato' is a very close approximation."

This plant, the tubers of which for a long time were a luxury obtainable by the rich only, now yields the support of the poor, and furnishes the cheapest food known; the peasantry of Ireland almost subsist upon Potatoes, and the poor of most parts of Europe find it indispensable to their living.

16. SCROPHULARIACEÆ (Digitalis purpurea) Foxglove. (Veronica officinalis) Speedwell.

Some of the members of this order were formerly considered useful in scrofulous complaints, especially the Scrophularia nodosa, a common plant growing by the sides of ditches, and whose tuberculated roots were considered to resemble scrofulous tumours, and therefore to be the natural remedy for them. The Foxglove is used as a medicine and is highly poisonous.

17. LENTIBULARIACEÆ (Pinguicula vulgaris) Butterwort.

This order includes the Butterworts, which are herbaceous indigenous plants, growing in ditches and wet places; they are divided into the Pinguicula and the Urticularia. The example given is the most common and characteristic of the order.

18. PLANTAGINACEÆ (Plantago lanceolata) Plantain.

The common Plantain or Way-bred is found by roadsides, the leaves form a sort of star on the ground, from the centre of which a tall stalk arises, forming a "spike" of flowers. The seeds of plantain are much in request by bird fanciers, cage-birds being fond of them. The leaves were once in great repute as a styptic, or application for stopping the bleeding of wounds.

19. PLUMBAGINACEÆ (Armeria maratima) Thrift. (Ilex aquifolium) Holly.

The most characteristic of this order are the two examples given, especially the Holly, which is universally known and admired for the decorative uses to which it is applied in our churches and houses at Christmas time.

ORDERS OF MONOCHLAMYDEÆ.

1. SANGUISORBEÆ (Alchemilla vulgaris) Ladies' Mantle.

Some species of this order, especially the Greater Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), were once much cultivated as food for cattle, but it is now superseded by other plants, especially Sainfoin.

2. CHENOPODIACEÆ (Beta vulgaris) Beet. (Spinacia oleracea) Spinach.

The most important species of this order is the Beetroot, employed in France for the production of sugar. Its variety, Mangold-wurzel (Beta altissima), is also extensively used as food for cattle.

3. POLYGONACEÆ (Polygonum Fagopyrum) Buckwheat. (Rumex obtusifolius) Dock.

Some foreign species of the Oleaster are extremely fragrant, and others, especially those of India, produce a fruit of a pleasant taste and is there eaten. The Sea Buckthorn (Hippophæ Rhamnoides) is the only English species.

5. THYMELACEÆ (Daphne pontica) Spurge Laurel.

Some species of this order are cultivated in gardens and are very fragrant, others partake of a poisonous quality; the Daphne mezerium, the bark of which is very acrid, is used in medicine, and forms one of the ingredients in the celebrated compound decoction of Sarsaparilla.

6. CORYLACEÆ (Castanea vesca) Sweet Chestnut. (Quercus pedunculata) Oak. (Corylus avellana) Hazel Nut.