Part 25

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.