POLYGYNIA. MANY FEMALES, THE order POLYGYNIA* contains the genus Myosurus, which is nearly allied to Ranunculus, in the class Polyandria. To this order, also, the genus Zanthorhizat be referred. But neither the stamens nor styles of this shrub are uniformly the same, in all specimens, may CHARACTER. Of a class so immensely extensive as is the class Pentandria, it is extremely difficult to convey a correct character in the few words, which I allot to the subject. The great order of Asperifolia, or Rough-leaved Plants, which constitute Linnæus's forty-first order, belong to the first order of Pentandria. These Asperifoliæ, so named by Mr. Ray, because many of them are rough, being beset with hairs, are Echium, Heliotropium, Pulmonaria, Lithospermum, Onosma, Symphytum, Borago, Lycopsis, Asperugo, Cynoglossum, Anchusa, Myosotis, and some others, All the genera which I have mentioned, are introduced by Mr. De Jussieu into an order which the French botanist denominates Borraginea. DATURA, Hyoscyamus, Nicotiana, Verbascum, Cestrum, Strychnos, Capsicum, Solanum, Physalis, Atro Polygynia, from woλus, many, pa, Ellisia, Lycium, Ignatia, and some others, constitute a part of Linnæus's twenty-eighth natural order, to which he has given the name of Luride*. This is a very natural order. Beside the plants which I have enumerated, it contains Digitalis and some other genera, which do not belong to the class Pentandria. It cannot be denied, that some of these plants have somewhat ominous, or forbidding, in their appearance. But I think this remark does not apply to Verbascum (Mullein), or to Digitalis (Fox-glove). Nor must it be supposed, that all the Luridæ are poisonous. THE class Pentandria likewise contains a number of genera which constitute the thirtieth of Linnæus's natural orders, the order Contortaet. Rauvolfia, Pæderia, Carissa, Cerbera, Gardenia, Allamanda, Vinca, Nerium, Echites, Plumeria, Cameraria, Tabernæmontana, Ceropegia, Pergularia, Periploca, Cynanchum, Apocy. num, Asclepias, and Stapelia, are the principal plants in this order. Most of these genera belong to Mr. De Jussieu's natural order, called Apocinea. All these ge nera are furnished with that particular species of corolla which is called the corolla torta, or contorta, the twisted corollat. This has the edge of one petal lying over the * Lurida, from the Latin, luridus, pale, wan, livid, ghastly, dismal, &c. The Latin writers speak of lurid Aconite, lurid teeth, and the lurid border of the moon. Dr. Johnson says this word, which I cannot but think very expressive, is not used. It is however, employed by Thomson, by Collins, and many other good writers. Thus, Thomson, in the following lines: "Behold, slow settling o'er the lurid grove, "Unusual darkness broods." "While vengeance in the lurid air, SUMMER. 1. 1103, 1104. *Lifts her red arm, expos'd and bare.".... Collins's "ODE TO FEAR." ✦ Contortæ, from contorqueo, to twist together. See Part I. p. 136. n. 16. next petal, in an oblique direction. It is observed, by Linnæus, that very few of these Contortæ are natives of Europe, whilst, on the contrary, India abounds in them*. North and South America are also rich in these species of plants. Some fine species of Cynanchum, Apocynum, and Asclepias, are natives of the United-States. MANY of the plants of the class Pentandria are high. ly important to mankind. Menyanthes, Spigelia, different species of Convolvulus (Convolvulus Jalapa, or Jallap), Datura Stramonium, or Jamestown-weed, Hyoscyamus (Henbane), Nicotiana (Tobacco), Chironia (Chironia augularis, called Centaury in the UnitedStates), Solanum (Nightshade), Atropa (Dwale), Ignatia amara, or St. Ignatius's Bean, Cinchona (Cinchona officinalis, or Peruvian bark, &c.), Psychotria emetica (Ipecacuanha), Triosteum perfoliatum, Gentiana lutea, and other species, Heuchera americana (Alumn-root), Conium maculatum (Hemlock), Ferula Assafetida (Assafétida), some species of Rhus, or Sumach, and several others, are all articles, and most of them important, of the Materia Medica. I AM almost induced to assert, that, in a medical point of view, this is the most important class in the sexual system. But it must not be forgotten, that the Poppy, which furnishes us with opium, belongs to another class. THE great natural order of Umbellata, or Umbelliferous Plants (the forty-fifth order of Linnæus), is entirely made up of Pentandrous vegetables. I shall here enu * Prælectiones, &c. p. 404. merate the principal vegetables of this order: Eryngium, Sanicula, Heracleum, Oenanthe, Caucalis, Artedia, Daucus, Laserpitium, Ammi, Hasselquistia, Conium, Bunium, Athamanta, Bupleurum, Sium, Cuminum, Ferula, Crithmum, Bubon, Ligusticum, Angelica, Sison, thusa, Coriandrum, Scandix, Chærophyllum, Phellandrium, Imperatoria, Seseli, Cicuta, Smyrnium, Carum, Thapsia, Pastinaca, Anethum, Apium, and Pimpinella. These vegetables enter into Mr. De Jussieu's order Umbellifera: the second order of his twelfth class. THE genera Rhamnus, Ceanothus, Celastrus, Euonymus, Buttnera, Viburnum, Sambucus, Rhus, Cassine, and some other vegetables, both in this and in other classes, constitute Linnæus's forty-third natural order, Dumosa*. The great naturalist asserts, that all these vegetables are endued with a malignant quality t. It is true, that the greater number of the Dumosa possess active or deleterious qualities; such are some species of Sideroxylon, Rhus (Sumach), Rhamnus (Buckthorn), and others. Celastrus scandens is said to be an active vegetable. But it has not yet been proved, that all the Dumosa possess the qualities ascribed to them by Linnæus. The fruit of the Callicarpa americana (which belongs to the fourth class) is esculent. The leaves of the Ceanothus americanus (New-Jersey-tea) have been found a good substitute for the teas of China and Japan, that are in general use. The fruit of some species of * "Dumus & Nemus sunt synonyma, i. e. sylva fruticibus constans, non magnis "arboribus." Linnæi Prælectiones, &c. p. 499. + "Omnes hæ (Dumosa) conveniunt qualitate maligna. Vel purgant, vel omnino "deleteria sunt, ut Sideroxylon Capensibus; nec recedunt ab ea qualitate Sambuci, 66 quæ tetra aut virosa, ideoque sudorifera, baccis & floribus primario," &c. &c. Prælectiones, &c. p. 504. Viburnum are esculent, and entirely innocent; and we know not that a deleterious quality resides in other parts of these vegetables. Without entering further upon the consideration of this subject, it will be sufficient to observe, THAT NO ASSEMBLAGE OF VEGETABLES, HOWEVER NATURAL, CAN BE SHOWN TO POSSESS ONE UNIFORM ASSEMBLAGE OF LIKE PROPERTIES. Nature seems to have been fond of introducing into her most active and deleterious families of plants, species and individuals that are innocent; and, on the other hand, into her most inert and most innocent families, species and individuals possessed of active or poisonous qualities. Some of the Umbellata are extremely deleterious, whilst others are altogether innocent. The same remark applies to the Contorta, and to many other natural orders. A REALLY NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF VEGETABLES, BY WHICH I MEAN AN ARRANGEMENT THAT SHOULD BRING TOGETHER, UNDER PARTICULAR CLASSES OR ORDERS, VEGETABLES AGREEING NOT ONLY IN THEIR STRUCTURE AND APPEARANCE, BUT ALSO IN THEIR PROPERTIES, WILL NEVER BE ACCOMPLISHED. A belief, however, in this position ought not to deter us from industrious researches after a method much more natural than we yet possess. This should be the "ultimus finis Botanices." THE United-States abound in vegetables of the class Pentandria. Some of the genera of all the orders are natives of this great tract of country. Of some of those genera, the American species are very numerous. FOR an illustration of the class Pentandria, see Plate XI. See, also, Plate xxv. D |