Part 26

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.

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parts for that purpose--wagon-loads of them were brought to the cloth-dressers--but their use is now, to some extent, superseded, the process called "teaselling" being frequently performed by machinery.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.