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tv-:K?

LETTERS
O N

T H

ELEMENTS

BOTANY.
F

ADDRESSED TO
the

JSy

celebrated

J.

j.

A LADY.

ROUSSEAU,

TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH,

WITH NOTES,
AND TWENTY-FOUR ADDITIONAL

LETTERS,

FULLY EXPLAINING THE SYSTEM OF LlNNiEUS.

By

THOMAS MARTYN,

B.

D, F. R.

S.

PROFESSOR OF BOTANY
JN

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

THE SECOND EDITION,

WITH CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

LONDON:
PRINTED

FOR

E.

WHITE AND

AT Horace's head, FLEET-sTR^tT.

MjDCCjLXXXVUo

:;f/.

SON,

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2010 with funding from

University of

Ottawa

http://www.archive.org/details/lettersonelementOOrous

THE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

XX THEN
^ ^

Botany*

me,

to

and

me

me

them

a fcond

more

I then thought that they

rit}

the

pleafed

fimplicity

give

over

RoufTeau's works

edition of

and that

if

themfelves

prefented

firft

turning

in

Elementary Letters on

the

laft

complete

their elegance

enough,

to

make

attentive perufal.

had confiderable me-

they were difembarrafTed from

the chaos of fifteen quarto volumes, and tranflated into

fuch of

Englifh, they might be of ufe to

my

fair

countrywomen and unlearned

countrymen

as

with natural

hiflory.

amufe

themfelves

Lettres Elmentaires fur la Botanique a

L***.
*>

wiflied to

Melanges, tome

ii.

Madame

de

page 53F, &G,

Colletion complete des Oeuvres de J. J. Roufleau.

Geneve, lySz.

c?

When

TRANSLATORS

vi

When

the

ceived that

PREFACE.
was

tranflation

by the ingenious author,

without

fervice,

This
that

ner,

I
it

executed at

which

is

it

per-

only being

laid

could be of

little

the

raifing

have attempted
is

foundation

the

done,

fuperftru:ure.

not flattering

tfiyfelf

man-

in RouiTeau's

all

inimitable, but merely with the

defign of being ufeful.

What
enable

books can you recommend, that

me

of Botany

to acquire a
?

competent knowledge

a queflion

is

you with
for

any point, will

the learned I car^

works of Linnaeus alone

readily anfwer, the

have occaiion

all

or, if

the knowledge

you

refer

books can give you\

citous to relieve thefe

you

they are deficient in

to

where you may have every

*=

has very fre-

that

To

quently been alked me.

will furnifli

may

But

other

authors^

fatisfadion

am

not very feli-

learned gentlemen

Thefe writings of Linnaeus are

that

from

Phihfophia Bota-

nka, that inexhauftible mine of elementary knowledge

Genera

Plantarum

Vt'getahilium^

which

is

Species

PianUirian

and

an epitome of the two

Syjema

aft".

iheir

preface*

translator's
embarraflment

tlieir

know how

enough, and

As

inextricable

find themfelves bewildered in

pleafure than any

them

fit

gularly

difcourage

would
fo

If I

other.

down, and iludy

fo

from a fludy

difguft

more capable of

perhaps,

is,

an

labyrinth of unintelligible term?,

and would only reap

that

them

to fend

Linnaeus's works, they

of

tranllation

would only

of

were

refources

themfelves*

help

to

to the unlearned, if I

to the

have

they

vI

their

affording

Vv^ere

bid

to

grammar

re-

dry and forbidding an outfet might

the

enter

greater

number 3

few

and

the temple through a veflibule

unpromifing an appearance.

A language

however mull be acquired ^ but then

it

may

and the tdium of

it

may,

be done gradually

in

fome meafure, be

at

the fame

relieved

time a fludy of fads, and the

This feems to have

philofophy of nature.

been RoufTeau's
*

by carrying on

idea,

and

have endeavoured

In Lee's Introdudion, Rofc's Elements, &c.

not

translator's

viii

not to

lofe fight

of

preface.

my

in

it,

continuation of

his eight ingenious letters.

Let an unlearned perfon then

who

de-

is

firous

of acquiring fome knowledge

of Bo-

tany,

begin

flowers,

by taking

whofe

parts

few

are

plants

with

fufficiently vifible,

and examine them patiently

by the defcriptions and charaders
which are
given in the

following pages.

fome
will

by

You may perhaps

plants

names

their

a friend

who

If in

lily.

will

or

have patience

tribe

mentioned

is

in

examination,
not explained

the index,

you

recourfe to the Didionary,

the In^

troduclion,

letters,

you have not

of your

any term fhould occur, that

may have

if

you

ftow you the flower of a

the courfe

in the page, or

or if not,

be unfortunate indeed

know

with

the
to

Elements.

go through

plant

explained in

or

If

the

you can

flrft

fcvcn

two of each natural

them 3

to

maftcr of the dafliflcation in

make

yourfelf

the ninth and

tenth

TRANSLATOR
tenth;

and

whofe

charaders

follou'ing

myfelf
after

you

fliall

naeus's
lators

am

in

will

find

plants,

the

they occurs

as

you

in

given

are

letters,

that,

ix

examine the obvious

to

that

PREFACE.

tvv^enty

litde

flatter

difculty

determining any plant w:hich

happen

meet

to

by Lin-

with,

charaders, as delivered by his

:

whereas

if

confident you

tranf-

you had begun with them,

would have been difcou-

raged from proceeding.

Good

plates, or figures

be of confiderable

affidance

Curtis's Flora Londinenjls

of the

Britifh

accompanied

plates

efpecially as

fyftem

a great

mofl

he has

with ample and accuwell as Latin.

number of

of vegetables,

alfo

of Mr.

will fufHce for

Miller's figures to his Gardener's

ary, exhibit

thofe

defcriptions in Englifli as

rate

Mr.

natives

his

of plants, will

&c.

Didion-

the mofl re-

tra/flated

from the

13th edition of Linnasus's Syftema Yegetabilium, by a

botanical fociety at Lichfield.
is

now

alfo tranflated

The genera Plantarum

by the fame hands.

markable

'translator's

There

Inarkable foreigners.

of fuch help

fo very

beyond the purfe of

beg leave

is

indeed no want

but the misfortune

^ :

thefe books are

far

preface.

to

expenfive,

all

that

is,

to

as

be

but the opulent.

againft thefe letters

proteil:

being read in the eafy chair

at

home

they

can be of no ufe but to fuch as have a plant

hand

in their

nor do they pretend to

thing more^ than

to

initiate

their ignorance of the

fuch

any

from

as,

learned languages, are

unable to profit by the works of the learned,

in

the.

Botany
f

principles

firft
is

Catefby's

Befler's

Hortus Malabaricus.

Hortus

nature.

you

Plantarum

Dillenius's Hortus

Rheede's

Rumphius's Herbarium Amboi-

Flora Auftriaca and

Plantx

Hiftoria

Eyftettenfis.

Florum Imagines

Trew's

Jacquin's

Martyn's

Carolina.

Oeder's Flora Danica.

Elthamenfis.

Ehret's

vegetable

not to be learned in the clofet

Rariorum.

renfe.

of

rariores.

&

hortus

Blackwell's

Plantae

rariores.

Vindobonenfis.
Herbal.

Hill's

Surinam and European

Vegetable Syftem.

Merian's

Plants and Infects.

Allionii Flora

Pedemontana.

Flora Roflica; and Scopoli's Flora Infubrica

are

Pallas's
all

very

fine works, but coft an immenfe fum to purchafe them.

muft

TRANSLATORS

PREFACE.

go forth into the garden or the

tnuft

XI
fields,

and there become familiar with Nature herwith that beauty, order, regularity, and

felfi

inexhauflible variety

which

the ftrudure of vegetables

to

ful fitnefs

its

work of

every

us a juft view of

In

be found in

we

perceive in

far as

our limited

end, vvhich

and

to

and that wonder-

creation, as

underflandings,

is

obfervations, give

partial

it.

fcond edition a few miftakcs are

this

corrected, and

fome improvements

the principal of thefe

foot of the

page to fome authors

figured the

plants.

this

preferred Curtis and Miller

me,

the

who have

purpofe I have

when

thefe failed

have had recourfe to the Flora Danica,

&c. and
rard,

made

a reference at

is,

For

are

have ufually referred to old Ger-

or Morifcn,

fuch

as

and

live

do not

or both,

pofTefs the

for

the fake of

more fplendid works,

remote from public

libraries.

THE

CONTENTS,
INTRODUCTION. A
Botany

progrefs of

fhort hiftory of the rife ai)d

particularly of

Nomenclature and

Syftematic Arrangement,

Letter L The

Botany

true ufe of

the

main thing

to

be learnt, "not mere names, but the vegetable ftru6ture

component
explained
til,

of a plant, p.

parts

the parts that compofe

21 frudtification

a flov/er

corol, pif the Peri-

ftamen, exemplified in the Lily, p. 22

carp, p.

23 calyx,

p.

24

ous Tribe of Plants, p. 25

charater

of the Liliace-

Botany a ftudy of

obfer-

vations and fads.

Letter IL

Double

examinations

flowers to be avoided in botanical

analyfis

example of the

of the Stock-gilliflower, as an

tribe of

vifion of the tribe into

culofe, p. 31

III.

by nature,

p.

Botany not

33 analyfis

cautions to bring the

the pulfe tribe, p.

the Silique, p. 37

p.

28 di-

orders, Slliquofe and Silito be

examined with

aglafs

necefTary for a botanifl, p. 32.

diftindlioh of flowers

in

two

fmall flowers

other inflruments

Letter

Cruciform flowers,

to be ftudied

by books, but

of the Pea flower,

p.

into regular and irregular

embryo

to maturity, particularly

35 Legume

thefe

ail

34

pre-

diftinguiflied

from

have flowers of the Pea

ftruture, called Papilionaceous.

Lettei^

CONTENTS.

xiv

Letter

Reafon why two ftamens are

IV.

fliorter

the other four in Cruciform flowers, p. 41

the bafe of the filaments
flowers, p.

42 Labiate:

Nettle, p. 43--Perfonate

and Toad-flax,

Analyfis of the

White DfeadSnap-dragoa

in

way of

diftinguifhing

p. 46.

Letter V.

Glands very fmall,

fcience of words, but that

The

of Vegetables

firft

p.

47-~Botany not a

which teaches the

ftru<Slure

thing to be learnt,

is

to fee, and to exercife the underftanding, p. 48.

how
Dif-

pofition of the fructification in the umbellate tribe, p.

at

Ringent

Comparifon of the Labiate and

p. 45.

Perfonate flowers j with the true

them,

glands

ufe of them, p. 42.

exemplified

than

divifion of flowers intolnferior

and Superior,

p.

50

4g

defcription of the flower and fruit of Umbellate plants,

p. 51

-proper

in the Elder, p.

53 in

of umbellate plants
diftinguifliing

and Chervil,

56.

p.

VL The

of plants to be

by

60

two

Jarets, p.

63

feiftions I.

Radiate.

p.

54

great

us

iri

umbellate and other natural tribes

known by

up of

their habit, p.

59

corrected

fru6tification Stru6lurc of

Common

flofcules or florets,

forts, florets

fimilitude
aflift

Diftinlion of Fool's Parfley

flowers exemplified in the

made

zre of

3.

an analyfis of the

Compound
p.

Eryngo,

to

charader inftanced

fecondary characters to

them

Letter

Rule

character of the tribe, p. 52.

avoid miftakes in afcertaining this

p.

62

Daify,

which

properly fo called, and femi-

thefe divide the

Semiflofculous

whole

flowers.

Diftindlion between

tribe
2.

into three

Flofculous.

Compound and Aggregate

CONTENTS.

Receptacle the

gregate or Capitate flowers, p. 64

moft

Compound

eflential part of a

Strudure of a Floret,

cate
floret,

p. 68.

'The ufe of

69 and of the change

ers

mpfk adapted

in the

p.

the

67

exemplified

double imbrir
and of a Semi-

down

to the feeds, p,

form of the calyx.

Flow-

for examination, p. 70.

Botany a fludy of

J^ETT^R VII.

flower

The Calyx

in the Dandelion, p. 66.

XV

curiofity only, p.

71

many refpeds,
we mufl look in

nature changed and disfigured by us in

p.

72 for the

fields

children of pure nature

and woods.

Fruit

however though en-

trees

The different

grafted retain their botanical charafters.

fruits are

Pear

but varieties.

Apple Quince Cher-

Plum Apricot Almond Peach^Ne(n:arine

their charadlers and th^t of the
to which they
ry

clafs

all

belong, p. 74.

Letter

VIIT.

The manner how

to form an

Siccus, or colledion of dried plants.

The

Hortus

ufe of

it,

to

put us in mind of what we have once known, not to

give us a knowledge of plants

we have

never feen be-

fore; which can only be had, by gathering

them and

examining them ourfelves.

Letter IX.

The

fkill

cut plants that are

der to this he

of a Botanift confifts in finding

unknown

mud learn

but preferves the natural

The
p=

Clafles

in

the

to him, p,

a fyftem

85.In

which

tribes

or-

is artificial

hitherto

explained,

Syflem of Linnaeus explained,

86,

Letter

CONTENTS.

xvi

Letter X.

Genera and

not to be determined

fpecies

without a regular arrangement,

The

p. g8.

Orders in

Two

the fyftem of Linnaeus explained.

tables of

the charalers of the ClafTes and Orders, p. lOg.

Letter

Explanation of generic and

XI.

radters of plants

Canna,
Letter

fpecific

begun i'^/ijwWna Hippuris,

p.

cha-

115

117.

p.

The

XII.

examination of plants facilitated by

the clearnefs and order of arrangement; and by pro-

ceeding regularly from generals to particulars,

The

firft

order of the fcond clafs, p. 120

Jafmine,

Veronica,

iig.

thrown into great fubdivifiions inftanced

orders

in the

p.

p.

p.

121

Privet,

Diandria

Phillyrea, Olive, Lilac

122 Butterwort

Vervain Rofemary

Sage, p. 124.

Letter XIIL

Com

of Grafs
p. 128.

the flowers

have

Moftly belong

clafs, p. 129.

the conftituent parts,

General charadter of the whole tribe

Cat's- tail, p. 133

p. 134..

all

to the fcond order of the third

four fubdivifions, p.

its

tail,

the moft ufeful and

more than 300 fpecies

and GrafTcs

pleafant tribe of plants, p. 127

Canary-grafs, Fox-

132.

varieties

Melica, Aira, p, 135

from

Brome, Oats and Oat-grafs, Reed,

Wheat,
p.

150

Barley,

Club-rufh, Cotton-grafs

Rufh,p.

152 Sugar,

Letter XI V.

p.

p.

151

&c.

Ric,

143 Vernal,
Bog-rufh, Cyperus,
p.

Cat's-tail, Bur-reed,

Sedge

153.

Oiher plants of the

I

and fituation,
Poa, Fcftuca,

p. 135,

Darnel, Dog's-tail,

Cinna Soft,

foil

Briza,

third clafs

Iris,

Letter

CONTENTS.
Letter XV.

The

XVI

fourth clafsAggregate flowers

Teafel, Scabious, p.

159 Stellated

Plants

-General

habit a leading circumftance, but not to be finally

de-

pended upon, p. Ib3-Madder, Sherardia,

Galium,

W oo'iroof,

164 Plantain,

p. 165
By a careful
known plants, a facility acquired indeteaingfuch as are unknown, p. 166
Common

p.

examination of

plants

and why
p. 167
168-Pondweed, p. 169,

preferred to rare ones,

Ladies mantleDodder,

p.

Letter XVI. The fifth chfs-Pentandria and the firft

der Monogyaia. The natural order of Precise,
p. 7
1

Primrofe, Oxfiip,

Cowfiip,

General diredions

for

p.

or1

Polyanthus, p. 172
examination of plants,
173 Dodecatheon or Meadia, Cyclamen, p.175

Marfh

the

i76~Water

Trefoil, p.

Violet,

p.

177

Another natural order of Afperifoli or rough -leaved,

p.177 Turnfole, p.179 Moufe-ear

Gromwell,
p.

p.

181 Cerinthc,

Buglofs.

Comfrey,

Borage, Buglofs, p. ,82 Viper's

i83-Ipoma,

186 Polemonium,

p.

p.

rSs-CampanuIa,

Caution not to be
Natural order of Lurid^,

189.

mifled by vulgar names.

190 Verbafcum or Mullein,

Thorn- Apple, p. 192 Henbane,

p.

p.

Scorpion-grafs,

Hound's-tongue,

Campanaceae or Bell-flowers Convolvulus

or Bindweed, p.
p.

180

p.
p.

191 Datura or
193 Tobacco,

194-- Deadly Nightfhade, p. 196

197 Winter Cherry, Nightfiiade,

Mandrake,

p. 199 po202 Capficum, p.

ShrubsHoney fuckle, p. 204 Buckthorn,
203.
Berry-bearing, or Black Alder, p. 206 Alaternus,

p.

tatoe,

p.

201 Egg-plant,

p.

Chrift's.

CONTENTS.

xviii

Chrift's-thorn,

Diofma,

Coffee,

of Peru, p. 211

Piumeria, p. 216

Crefted Amaranth or

Natural Order oContortae*

Cock^s-comb, p. 212.
Periwincle, p. 213

Ceflrum,
Lychnidea,

208

p.

Specious plants

209.

p.

10 Marvel

p. 2

207

p.

Oleander, Cape Jafmine, p.15

Jefuit's barkAfclepias, p. 217

Stapelia, p. 21 8,

Letter XVII.
ety of

p.

Ne6lary what

Oleraceous
Glafswort,

222

224

223

Goofefoot,

it

tribe

Hemlock

how

to diftinguifh

from Water

it

Leffer

The Um-

how

Chervil,

from Garden Chervil, p. 228

Beet,

Globe Amaranth,

Centaury, Yellow Centaury, p. 227bellate

the vari-

fcond Order of the

Gentian, p. 226.

225

p.

ufeand

its

plants

p.

Elm,

The

forms, p. 221.

Clafs

fifth

p.

its

to diflinguifli

Water

Parfnep,

230

CrefTes, p.

Wild Chervil, or Cow-weed,

Chervil,
Rough
232 Umbellate plants ufed
234 Angelica,
food,
233 Carrot, Sampire,
236 Fennel, Car235 Coriander, Parfnep,
Smallage,
raway,
237 Earth238 Cow-Parfnep,
nut or Pig-nut, Ferula,
The
Order SuShepherd's-needle,
23g.
Hemlock,

p.

231

for

p.

p.

p.

p.

p.

Cleri,

Parlley,

p.

p.

third

p.

mach,
Gelder

Wayfaring-tree,
Roft.',

ParnafTia.

p.

240.

Laurufiinus.

The

The

LtTTF.R XVIlI.
plants,

p.

Order Thrift,

Hexandria

243

other genera

fifth

all

Marfli Elder,

Flax, p. 241.

Momgynia

of them not in

Order

fourth

I i

this Clafs

aceou s

fomc

divided into three

mixed with them
Trai. Ananas, p. 244

fections from the calyx,

defcantia.

CONTENTS.
defcantia.

Snowdrop,

2.

Amaryllis, p. 247.
Valley,

Barberry,

Calamus aromaticus. Rat-

Order, Trigynia Dock,

Rice.

p.

Third

252-Meadow

Saffron.

Fourth Order, Water Plantain,

Letter XIX.

Heptandrla,

Willow Herb,
tian,

p.

p.

261-Black

Bay, Acajou or Cafhew,

Flowering Rufh,

p.

p.

p.

Spurge

259.

berry-tree,

270
Pink, China Pink,
Stellaria,

p.

or Fraxinella,

p.

262
264

p.

267

268 Arbutus or

Straw-

Second

p.

Saxifrage,
Carnation.

272 Third Order Arenaria,

Order Sedums
p.

Order

Sweet- William,

Cucubalus, Silene,

Lychnis,

Emean-

ibd^Decandria, the tenth Clafs.

269
Dianthus,
p.

Bindweed.

263 Rhubarb,

Order Dittany

firft

275

Tree Primrofe,

very fmall one, p.

Dionsa Mufcipula, Rue,

p.

Crefs,

258 Mezereon,

p.

dria, the ninth Clafs, a

Fourth

the

257-Indian

Order Yellow perfoliate Gen26o~Third OrderBiilort, Knot-grafs,

p.

p.

the

p.

all

2^6 -^ O^andna,

Second

Buck-wheat,

The

p. 254.

the fmalleft of

Claffes Horfe Chefnut,

eighth Clafs,

246

p.

Second Order, Digynia

Rufli.

Laurel

NarcifTus, p.

248 Lily of the

Aloe, p. 250 Plants

3.Tulip,

249 Hyacinth,

p.

not liliaceous
tan,

245

p.

xix

p.

or

274.

Spatling Poppy.

Stone-crops,

Cockle,

276.
s

Letter XX. The eleventh Clafs, Dodecandria

Number of ftamens from 12 to 19 Firft
Order,
p. 278 Afarabacca, Purflain, Looftrife,
p. 279
Second Order-Agrimony,
ly

p.

280 Third OrderDyer's-

CONTENTS.

XX

Dyer's-weed or Weld, Sweet Refeda,

phorbia or Spurge, p. 2S2

p.

281 Eu-

Laft Order Houfeleek,

p. 285.

Clafs Icofandria con^iUs

Letter XXI.

Rule

and Ihrubs, efpecially Fruit-trees

guifli

it,

287 -Cadlus,

p.

thiftle, Indian-fig, p.

Second Order

288

trees

to diftin-

Torch-

Melon-thiftle,

Syringa, Myrtle, p 290

Crataegus,

Mountain A(h,

much of

291

p.

Third

Fourth

Service.

>rder--i

Order Apple,

Pear, Quince, Medlar, Spirasa, Ficoides or Fig- marigold,

p.

294

diftincl

292- Laft Order

p.

Clafs

Polyandria

from the former,

p.

Rofe,

Reafons

295

Strawberry,

why

Poppy,

is

it

kept

29)

p.

Caper, Tea-tree, Lime, Water-jily, Ciftus, p. 297

plants

Multililiquous

Columbine, Hellebore,
Eaflein and

Ranunculus,

p.

p.

Garden Anemonies,

p.

302

Fourteenth Clafs Ddynama. Claf-

fical charaler. Firft

VerticilL^te plants

Order

Gymnofpermia,

p.

306

Ground Ivy, Mint, Lavender,

Bugle, Betony, Cat-mint,

3^7
Black Horehound, White Horehound, Wild

Teucrium,
p.

p.

303.

Letter XXIL

308

Pe^ny, Larkfpur, Aconite,

298 Tulip-tree,
300
3O1 Pafque-flower, Wood

Hepatica, p.

Magnolia,

Anemone,

p.

Thyme. Garden Thyme,

Bafil,

p.

31O

Self-heal,

Scutellaria.

p. 311

Angiofpermia,
Yellow-rattle,

p.

Baum,

Dittany of Crete,

309

Marjoram,

Baum

of Gilead,

Second Order

Broom-rape, Rninanthus,
Eye-bright,
313 Toad-flax

p.

312

p.

remarkable

CONTENTS.
remarkable change in

gon,

Three-leaved Toad-flax,

Fox-love,
p.

this plant,

317^

3(6

p.

Acanthus.

Trumpet
Plants

p.

314

Snapdra-

Figwort,

315

p.

xx

- flov^er,

CataJpa,

named from eminent

perfonf, p. 318.

Letter XXIH.
fical

Fifteenth

CMsTetraxnamia. Claf-

320

charafter,

Firft Order^iliculofe.
p.
Honufty or White Satin, p. 321 Candy-tuft, Scur-

vy-grafs, Horfei^di/li,
liquofe

Radifl,

322

p.

Eryfimum,

Second Order

Winter- crefs.

Si-

Sauce-

p. 32 i Stock, Wall-flower, Rocket, Arabis

Cabbage, Turnep, Colefeed, Woad, Sea
324
P

alone,

Colev/ort,. p.
p. .326

325~-Cardamine, Multard, Charlock,

-Water-crefs, Fiixweed, p. 327.

Letter XXIV.
ieafons.

rader.

Plants

to

be examined at differenC

Clafs Monadelph'ia^

p. 329
Claffical chaFive Orders- their chara^erand that
of

the genera, p.

330 Hermannia,

p.

Rofe, Mufk,

Letter XXV.

p.

Geranium,

332

33iMarlh-;VJa]low, JVIallow,
hock, p. 342 .Uthaea Frutex,
P-

p.

p.

341 Holly343

_ China

344.
Clafs feventeenth-i^/W^y^/^.

ders four, from the

number of ftamens,

mitory Milkwort,

p.

Or-

345.Fu-

346 Order Decandria-Papilionaceous flowers, p. 347- Charader

of the Order, p. 349-Spanifh Broom,

p. 350
Common
p.

Broom,

White Spanifh Broom,

Prickly

Cytifus,

p.

351

Portugal Broom,

Dyer's

Weed,

Needle
Furze,

CONTENTS,

XXll

PurzCj

Common

finger,

Jupiter's beard,

Kidney Bean,

Furze, Reftharrow, p. 352-^Ladie

Everlafling Pea,

Painted

Vetch or

358.

p.

Bean,

So
Colutea,

Laburnum,
361

360

p.

rlet

Acacia, Caragana,
p. -^64

Liquorice,

p*

Heart-clover,

Chfs

pillars.

357
Sena,

Bladder

Colutea,

362

Baftard

p.

363 Scorpion

Sena, Indigo,

French

Honeyfuckle,

365

p.

Saintfoin, Trefoil, p.

p.

Herbaceous

Cytifus,

p.

Yellow

Sweet. Scented

Lady Pea, Tangier Pea,

Tare,

354

p.

356

p.

Vetch,

Vetchling, Crimfon Gra(s

Pea,

Lupin,

353

p.

366

Lotus, Lucerne,

Hedgehogs,

Snails,

Poyadelpha^ p.

369

367

p.

368 Cater-

p.

Citron, Orange,

Lemon, Shaddock, p. 370 St. John's Wort, p. 372

Tutfan, Majorca St, John's
St. Peter's Wort, p. 373
Wort, Chinefe Hypericum, p. 374.

JyETTR XXVT.
ers>

Firft

Order

Polygamia

How

Goat's beard.

zoncra,

p.

379 Sowthiflle,

tinguifh plants of the

378

p.

Endive,

p.

Way-thiillc,

Cotton-thiflle,

Burdock,

383 Kupatorium,

Second
p.

385

p.

Order Polygamia

Southernwood,

p. 3"^^

Salfafy, Scor-

Way

381

382

p.

Double

to dif-

380

p.

TliifHes,

Artichoke,

Bidens,

Superflua.

p.

384.

Tanfy,

Common Wormwood, Ro-

man Wormwood, Mugwort,

low and White

Lettuce.

fame natural Clafs,

Hawkweed, Succory,

iEqualis,

to diftinguifh a

277
from a Compound Flower,

p.

Compound Flow-

Clafs Syugenefia or

37.

p.

Sea

Wormwood, Yel-

Xcranthemum,

Evcriafting, p. 386

Celt's-foot, Butter-bur, p. 38S

Groundfel,
Ragwort,

CONTENTS.
Ragwort,
rod, p.

389 African Groundfel,

Elecampane, Fleabane,

p.

3Q0

pard's banc,

xxni

Golden-

Aller,

p, 393
French and African Marigolds, p.

Ox-eye Daify, Corn Marigold,

mum,

Feverfew,

p. 397.

Third Order

p.

Leo394.

395 Chryfanthe-

p.

Camomile, Milfoil,
396
Polygamia Fruftranea. An-

Perennial

nual Sunflower, p. 398

399 Sweet

Sunflower, Jeru-

p.
400
Common Knapweed, Great KnapBlue-bottle, p, 401Mountain Blue-bottle,

falem

Artichoke,

Sultan, p.

Great Centaury,
weed,

Carduus benedidus,
Order

Polygamia

OrderPolygamia
Sixth

Star-thiftle,

NeceiTaria.

402

Fourth
Fifth

Segregata. Globe-thiftle, p.

OrderMonogamia.

Sweet

404 Panfies,p. 405

Violet, p.

p.

Marigold.

Violet,

Balfamine,

403
Dog

WM

Balfam, p. 406.

The

Letter XXVII.
Chara6ler.

408Its

p.

the
p.

Firfl

genera,

41 1 Pyramidal,
p.

Satyrium

blade. Spiral,

p.

p.

411

Orchis.

Butterfly,

412. Male, Female,

Frog,

p.

416

421 Order

422 Order

Letter XXVIII.
Character,

p.

p.

413

Ophrys Tway-

4i8--Fly, Bee, Spider,

p.

Lady's Slipper,

cia.

tribe,

4i4--Broad-leavcd, Spotted, p. 4i5~Sweet.

Lizard,

flowcr, p.

Ch(s . Gynandna.

DIandria. A Natural
41c Leading charalers of

charader, p.

principal

Dwarf,

twentieth

Order

Polyandria Arum,

The
p.

427

twenty-fiift

429 Sedge,

p.

419

Paflionp.

425.

CUCsAfmoe-

Order Triandria

a natural tribe called Calamarij. Cat's-tail,

Bur-rced, Mays, p.

p.

Pentandria,

contains
p.

428

43c Trees

in

Order

CONTENTS.

XXIV

Birch, Alder,

Order Tetrandria

433 in Order

berry, p.

Cork,

Ilex,

Beech,

p.

Oak, p. 434
Chefnut,
435 Walnut, p. 436
Hornbeam, p. 438 Hazel, Plane,

Order Monadelphia: Pines,

Herbs

p.

in

Order Tetrandria: Nettles

genefia

Amaranth,

Palma

Cucumber,

Letter XXIX.
Chara6ler.

p.

p.

455

The

twenty-fecond Clafs

can Cedars,
jiefia

p.

Charader.
Pellitory, p.
p.

p.

p.

p.

Enneandria

p.

457Yew,

p.

The

p.

459.

ChkPolygaml,

Valantia, p.

462 Atriplex, Maple, p. 463

461

Senfitive,

464 Order Dioecia: Three-thorned Acacia,

465-Order

Trioecia

Or-

Savin, Ameri458 Order Synge-

456

twenty-third

Order Monoecia

Poplars,

Dog's Mercury,

Juniper,

451

453 Order Pentan454 Order Hex-

Rufcus, Alexandrian Laurel,

Letter XXX.

Me-

Dloecta,
p.

Order 0tandria

Black Bryony.

Order

Willow,

Hemp, Hop,

der Monadelphia:

448

44g.

Order Diandria

Spinach,

andria

446 in Orin Order Syn-

Gourd, Pompon, Squalh,

Order Tetrandria: Mifleltoe,

dria:

p.

in

Order

the natural tribe of Cucurbitaceae, p.

Spirting Cucumber,
lon,

445in

p,

Chrifti

443 Cyprefs,

Firs, p.

Arrow-head, Burnet,

Monadelphia

der

441

p.

442

Order Pentandria
Polyandria

Larch,

p. 444.

Box, Mul-

p.

437

in

439
Cedar,

p.

431

p.

Polyandria

Aftij

Fig, p. 466.

Letter,

CONTENTS.
Letter XXXI.

The

thenedary, and

different forms

probable

its

fulcra, and ciicumftances

fpecific differences, p.

that

KXf

and ftruaure of

ufe,

46 Of the

p.

affifl

in

afcertaining

482.

Letter XXXII. The twenty-fourth

Ch{s^CryptO'
gamia, p. 484 Firft OrderFerns,
p. 485--HorfetaiJ,

Adder's -tongue,

ing-Fern,

Hart's-tongue,
p.
^p.

Moonwort,

Spleenwort,
p.

487

Ccmn-.on

hairy
filky

486 Flower-

Fern

Polypody,

488 true Maidenhair.

489 Wolf's-claw Mofs,

denhair,

p.

or

Male

Brake,
Fern,'

Second OrderMoffes,
Bog-Viols, Golden Mai-

- hygromtrie

490
Mnium, p. 491-^
Bryum, apple-form, pear-form,
brown Bryum,
Hypnum, p. 492
Third Order -^Alg or

Flags.

yiva,
Fungi.

p.

Marchantia,

Fucus,

p.

Conferva,

Agaric,

Puff-ball, p.
499.

p.

493

Lichen,

p.

4*^0^4

p. 497-Fourth Order-498~Boleius, Morel, Truffle.

INTRODUCTION.

THE

of Botany is,
from its very birth it has been
looked upon merely as a part of medicine.
This was the reafon why every body was
employed in finding or fuppofing virtues in
plants, whilft the knowledge of plants themfor how could
felves was totally neglecfted
the fame man make fuch long and repeated
excurlions as fo extenlive a ftudy demands ;
and at the fame time apply himfelf to the fedentary labours both of the laboratory, and
attendance upon the fick; which are the only
methods of afcertaining the nature of vegetable fubftances, and their effeds upon the
human body ? This falfe idea of Botany, for
principal misfortune

that

a long time, almoll: confined the (ludy of

it

and reduced the vegenumber of interrupted

Even thefe were very ill ftudied, belinks.
caufe the fubflance only was attended to, and

to medicinal plants,

table chain to a fmall

not the organization. How indeed could they

be much interefled in the organical flrudure
of a fubflance of which they had no other
idea but as a thing to be pounded in a mor^

tar

INTRODUCTION

tar ?
Plants were fearched for, only to find
remedies; it was fimples, not vegetables, that
were looked after. This was very right, it
will be laid; may be fo. Hence neverthelefs
it follows, that, if m.cn were ever fo well acquainted with remedies, they were very igno-

rant of plants

and

have here

this is all that I

advanced.
Botany was nothing ; there was no fuch
fiLidy;
and they who plumed themfelves
mofi upon their knowledge of vegetables had
no idea of their ftrudure, or of the vege-

Every body knew by fight

in his neighbourhood, to
which he gave names at random ; enriched*
with wonderful virtues, which he took it
in his head they poffefiTed; and each of thefe
plants,
changed into an univerfal panacea,
table

conomy.

five or

fix plants

was alone

render all mankind

plants, transformed into

fufficient to

Thefe
and ointments, quickly difappeared

immortal.
bcilfams

and foon made room

new comers,
times

in

attributed

felves,
it

order

for others,

to diftinguifii

fame

the

to

effects.

which
themSome-

was a ncv/ plant, decorated v/ith an-

cient virtues: fometimes old plants, under

new

names, fufiiced to enrich new quacks. Thefe

plants had a different vulgar name in every
province
and they who pointed them out for
ihcir drugs, at moft gave them only thofe
names by which they were known on the
thus, when their reIpot where they lived
,

cipes

travelled into

o>her countries,

it

was
no

INTRODUCTION.

no longer known what plant they fpoke of j

every body fubftituted another after his own
fancy, without regarding any thing elfe, but
giving it the lame name.
Such is the whole
art that the Myrepfufcs, the Hildegardifes,
the Suardi, the Villanqvs, and the reft of the
docftors of that time, employed in the ftudy

of thofe plants which they

and it
would be difficult perhaps for any body to
know one of them by the names or defcriptions which they have given them \
At the revival of learning, everything difappeared to make room for the works of antiquity ; nothing was then either good or true
but what was to be found in Ariftotle or
Galen. Inftead of fearching for plants where
treat of;

they grew, men ftudied them only in Piiny

and Dfofcorides; and there is nothing fo frequent in the auihors of thoft; times, as to find

them denying the exiilence of a plant, for no

other reafon but becaule Diofcorides has not
mentioned it. Thefe learned plants however muft be found in nature, in order to
'

Myrepfas's book

Hildegardis

is

entitled

JniiJotarium

was a lady and an abbefs

parvum,

fhe flou.'ifhed

about 1180, and wrote, among others, a tretiie entitled

Leguwinum^ Fruuum, Herbarum, i^c.
Suardus's
book is entitled Antidotariwn^ and was printed at V^"nice
Amoldus de ViUanova put together Rep.men
155 1 fol.
Sanitatis Salerni^ printed in 1482, 14B4, 490, ^491,
'493 ^505 ^5^9? ^^* ^"^ was author of many other
medical and medico-botanical works.
He is laid to
have died in 1313.
Phyjica

make

INTRODUCTION.

4
make
of

ufe of

them according to the precepts

They beftirred themfelves

their mafter.

therefore,

they

themfelves to fearch, to
obferve, to conjed^ure; and made every effort
to find, in the plant which they chofe, the
characters defcribed in their author; and fince
fet

commentators, and pra(flitioners,

fcldom agreed in their choice, twenty names
were given to the fame plant and the fame

tranflators,

name

to tu'enty

taining

thai:

his

plants

own was

every

man

maiii^

the true ore, and

not being that of DiofcoriFrom this con^

be profcribed.
flid indeed it followed at length that more
careful refearches were made, and fome good
obfcrvations, which deferved not to be forgotten ; but at the fame time fuch a chaos of
7io?nenclature, that the Phyficians and Herborifts no longer underllood each other: there
was no poflibility of communicatin^ their
mutual lights; nothing remained but difputes
of words and names ; and even every ufeful
inquiry and defcription was loft, for want of
being able to decide what plant each author
had fpoken of.
Real botanills however began to be formed : fuch as Clufius, Cordus, Cfalpinus, Gefncr ^ ; good and inilrudlive books on this

that

des,

all

the

ought

reft,

to

fubje^5t

we follow the order of birth, th*e arrangement

have been Cordus 1515, Gefner 1516, Csefalpinu5 151g, Clufi^iS 1526: if we range them fiom the dates
of
^

If

fliou d

INTRODUCTION.

iubjed began to be publifhed, in which already appeared fome traces of method ^.

And it has certainly been a lofs that thefe
pieces have become ufelefs and unintelligible
by the mere difcordance of names ^. But
thefe authors, beginning to unite fpecies and
icparate genera, according to their own manner of obferving the habit and apparent flructure, occafioned new inconveniences, and a
frefli obfcurity ; becaufe each author, regulating his nomenclature

created

new

by

his

own method,

genera, or feparated old ones,

the charaders of his

own

as

So that
genera and fpecies were fo jumbled together.
required.

of their publications, they {hould ftand thus Cordus

1535, Gefner 154.0, Clufius 1557, Caefalpinus 1583.
fome traces of method only in the celeIndeed
<=

brated

work of Caefalpinus

He who

firft

invented a

complete arrangement of plants, and (tands unrivalled as

He to whom every fucceeding
the father of method
fyftem-monger owes fo many obligations
Though
among them all Ray alone confefles it. What Roufleau
affirms is true only of the excellent, the illuftrious Gefner ; the other two thought nothing of arrangement :
No, nor the Bauhins, nor any other, till Morilbn and
!

Ray.
If Rouflfcau means to fpeak here concerning; the
works of the forementioned authors, this is not true.
The treatifes of Gefner and Clufius are everywhere referred to, even by Linnaeus, and confequently their noThe principal work of Vamenclature is well known.
lerius Cordus is Gefner's Hiftory of Plants, which he
Caefalpinus's book is now become
publifhed in 1561.
<^

rather a matter of refpei^able curiofity than ufe.

as

INTRODUCTION.

as to leave fcarcely

any plant without

names

that defcribed

authors

as

it

as

many

which

-,

made the ftudy of the nomenclature as tedious, and often more difficult, than that of the
plants themfelves.
At length
peared

the

who

two

ilhiflrious brothers

alone have done

more

ap-

for the

advancement of Botany than all the reft towho preceded, and even followed,
them, till Tournefort. Rare geniufes whofe
vaft knowledge and folid labours, confecrated
to Botany, render them worthy of that
immortality which they have acquired.
For,
gether

till

this part

of natural hiflory

falls

into obli-

vion, the

names of John and Cafpar Bauhin

will live

along with

it

in

the

memory of

mankind ^
Each of

thefe men undertook an univerfal

hiftory of plants : but what more immediately
^

relates to our prefent purpofe is,

that they
each of them undertook to join to it a Synonymy, or exadl: lift of the names that every
plant bore in all the writers which preceded
them. This labour was become ablblutely

neceftary to enable us to reap any advantage of their obfervations ; for without that
it was aimoft impoffible to follow and
diftinguifli every plant

John

1613.
1624.

iti

among

fo

many names.

was born at Lyon, in 154.1, and died

Cafpar was not born nil 1560, and died
in

the elder

The

INTRODUCTION.

7
un-

The eldefl in a manner executed this

dertaking in three volumes in folio, printed
after his death; and he has given fuch juft
defcriptions of the plants, that we are rarely
deceived in his fynonyms ^
The brother's plan was yet more exteniive, as appears by the firft volume which he
published, and from which we may judge of
the immenlity of the whole work, if he had
found time to execute it ^; but, excepting
this volume, we have no more than the titles
of the reft in his pinax^j and this pinax,
the produce of forty years labour, is flill the
guide to all thofe who ftudy this fubje:,

and wi(h

to confult ancient authors

'.

The
^ Chabraeus
was the editor, and Francis Louis de
GrafFenried, of Bern, was at the expenfe of the publicaThis woric derives no excellence from the paper
tion.

The plates are fmall and poorly executed ;

or print.
they belonged to Fuchfius, and were purchafed by the
bookfeller for this purpofe ; the editor has not unfrequently put them in wrong places. John Bauhin's Hiftory however has great intrinfic excellence, for the number of plants well defcribed, and a judicious compilation
of whatever had been done before his time.
It is enPlantarum Univerfalis Au6^ore Johanne
2ic. Ebrod. 165 1."
g Theatri Botanici, pars I. Bafil. 1658 and 1663, fol.
^ Pinax Theatrici Botanici feu index in Theophrafti,
Diofcoridis, Plinii & botanicorum, qui a feculo fcripferant, opera, plantarum, fere 6000 nomina cum fynonymiis Sc difFerentiis. Opus XL annorum Bafil. 1623 &
1 67 1. 4to.
^
The judicious, the indefatigable Haller, from
whofe
B4

titled *' Hiftoria

Bauhino Archiatro,

INTRODUCTION.

The nomenclature of the Bauhins being

formed only from the titles of their chapters,
and thefe tides ufually comprifing feveral
words, hence came the cuftom of giving, as
the names of plants, nothing but long ambiguous phrafes, which made this nomenclature not only tedious and embarraffing, but
pedantic and ridiculous.
I own there might
have been fome advantage in this, provided
their phrafes
had been better conllrudled;
but being compofed indifferently of the
names of places whence the plants came, of
perfons who fent them, and even of other
plants to which they fancied them to bear
fome fimilitude ; thefe phrafes were fources
of new embarraffment and frefli doubts, becaufe the knowledge of one plant required
that of feveral others to which the phrafe
whofe judgment there
Bauhin,

that

he

lies

emulated

no appeal,

fays

of Cafpar
Botany,

his elder brother in

that he was laborious in collecting, and knew a greater

number of plants, being more enriched with them by his
fcholars and friends, but that his judgment was lefs
acute ; that he admitted too many varieties for fpeciesj
that he has repeated the fame plant under different names ;
that he was lefs accurate than his brother in his defcriptions, lefs acquainted with the natural clafies, and unfortunate, as well as himfeif, in being obliged to divide his
Bibl. Botan. I,
time between Anatomy and Botany.

384.
Haller fays alfo of this parmhile fratrum that for their
unwearied diligence they well delcrved to lead the way
in a new age of Botany; and accordingly he puts them
at thehe^d of the Colle^ores in his fixth book.
p.

referredj

INTRODUCTION,

and whofe names were not better

determined than its own.
In the mean time dilknt voyages were incefiantly enriching Botany with new treafures ;
and, whilfl the old names already overloaded
the memory, it was neceflary to invent nev/
ones inceflantly for the new plants that were
referred,

Loft in this immenfe labyrinth,

the botanifts were obliged to feek a thread to
extricate themfelves from it; they attached

difcovered.

themfelves therefore at laft ferioufly to method ; Herman, Rivinus, Ray \ feverally

but the immortal Tourpropofed their own
the prize from them
away
carried
nefort
vegetable
all^; he firft ranged the whole
kingdom fyftematically "^ ; and, reforming
-,

^ The order (hould have been Ray, Herman, RiviRay publifhed his firft work in 1660, and his menus.
thod in 1682*. Herman began to write in 1687, ^^^
Rivinus publifhed the firft
printed his method in 1690.
part of his method in 1690. Morifon had before publifhed his in 1669, and comes next after Casfalpinus.

great

chafm between 1583 and 1669

and the fcholar

far inferior to the mafter.

it
Tournefort firft pubiifhed his fyftem in 1697
Linnaeus's
till
faihionable,
generally
and
was fpecious,
1

fuperfeded

it.

may be feen in note ''. Tourbe

faid to have been the firft comnefort's
plete regular arrangement ; though how it could ever be
ufed to good purpofe, without any charaders or defcripn

How

far this

is

true

however may

tions of the fpecies,

do not underftand.

Ray however drew up

tables for Bifliop

Wilkins in 1667.

the

INTRODUCTION.

10

the nomenclature in part, combined it by his

new genera with that of Cafpar Bauhin but,
far from freeing it of its long phrafes, he
either added new ones, or loaded the old ones
:

with additions, which his method obliged him

The barbarous cuftom was then
to make.
introduced of tagging new names to the old
ones by a contradictory gui quce quod, making
of the fame plant two difHn; genera.

For

inftance

folio

minus

orientalis

Dens Leonis qui Pilofella

Doria qu Jacoba

villofo.

limonii folio.

Titanokeratophy-

ton quod Lithophyton marinum albicans ?'

Thus was the nomenclature loaded. The
names o the plants became not only phrafes
but periods. 1 lliall cite one of Plukenet's, to
*

prove that

do not exaggerate.

'*

Grameii

gramen

**

myloicophorum carolinianum

*'

*'

altiffimum, panicula maxima fpeciofa, e

fpicis majoribus compreffiufculis utrinque

feu

molendariam

**

pinnatis

*'

modo

**

volutis mucronatis pungentibus.'*

blattam

referentibus,

compofita,

quodam

foliis

con-

Ahnag,

137".

would have been

over with Botany, if

this pradice had continued; the nomenclature
being now abfolutely infupportable, could no
It

all

longer fubfid in this flate; and it was become

neceffary either that a reformation (hould be
made, or that the richeft, the moil lovely, and

See Linnaeus's Critica, and Philofophia Botanica.

the

INTRODUCTION.

If

of the three parts of Natural Hiftory fhould be abandoned.

At length Linnaeus, full of his fyftem, and
the vafl ideas which it fuggefted to him, form-

the

eafieft

ed theprojedof new-moulding the whole

which every body felt the neceffity of,

but no one dared to undertake. He did more,
he executed it; and, having prepared in his
Critica Botanica the rules by which it ought
to be conduced, he determined the genera of
tafk

plants in his Genera Plantarumy and afterwards

the fpecies in his Species Plantarum''

a manner, that, by keeping
that agreed with

thefe

new

all

-,

the old

rules,

in

fuch

names

and

new

he eftablifhed at length a
clear nomenclature, founded upon the true
principles of the art which he had fet forth.
He preferved all the ancient genera which were
truly natural ; he correded, limplified, united,
or divided, the reft as their true charaders required.
And in forming his names he followed, fometimes even fomewhat too fcverely, the
rules which he had laid down.
cafting

all

the

With refped

reft,

to the fpecies, defcriptions

diftindtions vv^ere nccelTary to determine

and

them

phrafes therefore remained always indifpenfa

The

firft

1735; the

fketch of Linnaeus's fyftem was publifhed h\

edition of Syftema Vegetabilium in 1784:

laft

the Critica Botanica in 1737

the firft edidon of the Genera the fame year, and the laft in 1764: the firft edition
of the fpecies in 1753, ^^^ fcond in 1762 and 176?. See
Dr. Pulteney's excellent account of the writings of Lin:

naeus.

blc;

INTRODUCTION.

12

ble; but, by confining himfelf to a fmall nutiber of technical words, well chofen and well
adapted, he made good fhort definitions deduced from the true charaler of the plant, banifhing rigoroufly all that was foreign to it.
For this it was neceflary to create a new language for Botany, that would fpare the long
periphrafes of the old defcriptions.

Complaint

has been made that the words of this language

This comare not all to be found in Cicero.
plaint would be reafonablc, had Cicero written
Thofe words
a complete treatife of Botany.
however are all either Greek or Latin, expreflive, fliort, fonorous, and even form elegant
It is
conftrudions by their extreme precifion.
in the confiant pradice of the art that we feel
all the advantage of this new language, which
is as convenient and necefiary for Botanifts as
that of algebra is to mathematicians*
Hitherto Linnaeus had indeed determined
the greateft part of known plants, but he had
not named them^ for defining a thing is not
naming it, a phrafe can never be a true name,
He pronor can it come into common ufe.
invention
of trithe
defedl
by
this
againft
vided
vial names p, which he joined to the generical

By
ones in order to diftinguifli the fpecies.
every
is
plant
name
of
the
this contrivance
compofed only of two words, which alone,
names appear firft in the Pan
but they were brought to perfc(Stiori in
the hrft elition o the S^eciei PlatitarujUj publilhed four
P

Thefe

Siccicus

fpecific or trivial

of 1749

years after.

when

INTRODUCTION.
when

J^

chofen with difcernment, and applied

with propriety, often make the plant better

known than the long phrafes of Micheli and
To be flill better and more reguPlukenet.
with it, there is the phrafe,
acquainted
larly
which doubtlefs mufl: be known, but need not
be repeated every time v/e have occafion to
fpeak of the object.

more pedantic or ridiculous,

when a woman, or one of thofe men who refemble women, are afking you the name of an
Nothing

is

than to be under
the neceffity of anfwering by a long file of Latin words that have the appearance of a magical incantation j an inconvenience fufficient to

herb or

a flower in a garden,

deter fuch frivolous perfons

from

charming

ftudy offered with fo pedantic an apparatus.

However neceiTary or advantageous this re-

was wanting than

profound knowledge to execute it
with fuccefs, and the reputation of this great
naturalift to make it be univerfally adopted.
It met with refinance at firft, and meets with
This could not be othervvifej his riit ftill.
vals in the fame career look upon this adoption
as a confeflion of inferiority which they do
not like to make; his nomenclature feemed io
much of a piece with his fyflem, that they
could not well be feparated.
And botaniftsof
the higher order, who think themfelves obliged
through pride not to adopt the fyflem of any
other, but each man to have his own, will not
ficrifice their pretenfions to the progrefs of an

form might

be, nothing lefs

Linnseus's

art

INTRODUCTION.

14
art for

which the

profeflbrs

have rarely

a difin-

tereflcd fond nefs.

National jealoufies alfo oppofe the admiffion

of a foreign fyilem. People think themfelves
obliged to fupport the famous men of their own
country, efpecially after their death; for even
that felf-love, which made them fcarcely bear
their fuperiority whilft they were alive, is ho-

noured by their glory after they are departed.

The great convenience however of this new
nomenclature, and the utility of it, which practice has made known, have caufed it to be
adopted almoft unlverfally throughout Europe,
fooner or later, and even at Paris M. de Juflleu
has eftabliflied it in the royal garden; thus preferring the public utility to the glory of newinoulding the whole, which the method of
rsaturai families, invented by his illuftrious
Not that the nouncle, feemed to require
menclature of Linnseus is without its faults, or
<i.

gives no handle tocriticifm;

perfed: one

but,

till

more

be found, in which nothing is

far better to adopt this than to

(liall

wanting, it is
have ivone, or to fall again into the phrafes of
can even
I
Tournefort or Cafpar Bauhin.
nomenclature
will
better
ic2rcc\y believe that a
in future have fuccefs enough toprofcribe this,
O which the botanifls of Europe are at prefenc
and, having now the
ib v.'holly accuflomed
double tie of habit and convenience, they will
;

"

M.

The

however
method.

royal garden

Jullieu's natural

is

certainly arranged

by

renounce

INTRODUCTION.

I^

renounce it with ftill more unwillingnefs than

In order to bring
they found in adopting it.
an
author muft be found
about fuch a change,
with credit enough to efface that of Linnaeus 5
one to whofe authority all Europe would be
willing a fcond time to fubmit^ which appears to

me

not likely to happen.

For

if his

fyftem s however excellent it may be, fhould

be adopted by one nation only, it would throw

Botany into a new labyrinth, and do

it

more

injury that fervice.

Even the labour of Linnaeus, though immenfe, remains ftill imperfed:, inafmuch as it
does not comprehend ail known plants, and is
not adopted by all botanifts w^ithout exception
for the writings of fuch as do not fubmit to it require from their readers the fame
labour to fettle the fynonyms, as they were
forced to take for thofe which preceded it.
are obliged to Mr. Crantz, notv^^ithftanding his rage againft Linnaeus, for having
adopted his nomenclature, though he rejedted
his fyftem.
But Haller, in his large and excellent work on the Sv\ifs plants % rejels both;
and Adanfon does morej for he makes an entire new nomenclature, and furnilhes no infor',

We

He

fhould rather have faid nomenclature or language.

of no great importance what fyftem we adopt, lo that
we all agree to talk, the fame language. That of Linnaeus will probably fland the teil of ages, whatever maybecome of tne fexual fyftem.
Albert! V, Haller Hiftoria Stirpium
Indigenarum Helvetiae inchoata.
Bernai 1768 folio, in three volumes.
'

It

is

mation

INTRODUCTION.

maton whereby we may refer it to Lnnus's.

Haller always quotes the genus, and frequently
the fpecific chara(flers of Linnus, but AdanHaller attaches himfon never quotes either.
felf to an cxadl fynonymy, by which, even
when he does not add Linnaeus's enunciation of
the fpecies,

we may

find

it at

lead indiredly by

But Linnaeus
and bis books are abfolutely null and void for
the relation of the fynonyms.

Adanfon and his readers, becaufe the lat-

ter gives no information whereby we may conned them ^ So that we are compelled to choofe
between Linnus and M. Adanfon, who excludes him without mercy; and to throw all
Or
the works of one of them into the fire.
clfe we mull undertake a new work, which
will be neither fhort nor Cofy, to conned thefe
nomenclatures, which offer us no point of
union,

Linnsus indeed has not given a complete

fynonymy. For plants known long fmce, he
has contented himfelf with quoting the Bauhins and Clufius, with a figure of each plant.
For exotic plants lately difcovered, he has cited
one or two modern authors and the figures of
Rheed, Rumphius and fome others, and has
gone no farther. His undertaking did not re-

him a more extended compilation,

audit is fufficient that he has given one certain
information with regard to every plant which
he names ^
quire of

Roufleau means to fpeak here of the Species Planta'

and what he fays is in general true of that. But
in his Flora Lapponica, SuecicOy &C. he has given a much
*

rii?/i,

more

extenfive

lynonymy.

Such

INTRODUCTION.
Such
after

is

this

reader of

IJ

Nowthe prefent ftate of things.

every
afk
would
I
account of it,

common

fenfe,

how

it is

poffible to

attach one's felf to the lludy of plants, and at

the fame time to rejet that of the nomenclature

It is jufl: as if a

man would make him-

felf fkilful in a language, with a determination

not to learn the words of it.
The names, it is
true are arbitrary, the knowledge of plants has
nonecefiary connexion with the nomenclature;
and it is eafy to conceive that an intelligent
man might be an excellent botanift, without

knowing

by its name. But that

one man alone, without books or any afiiftance
from communicated information, fhould become of himfelf a very moderate botanift, is a
ridiculous aiTertion to make, and an enterprife
a fingle plant

impolTibe to execute.
The queflion is, whether three hundred years of ftudy and obfervation fliould be loft to Botany, whether three
figures and defcriptions
be throv/n into the fire, whether the
knowledge acquired by all the learned, who
have confecrated their purfe, their life, their
time, to diftant, expeniive, painful, and dangerous expeditions, fhould be ufelefs to their fucceffors, and whether every one fetting out from
nothing, could arrive by himfelf to the fame
knowledge, that a long feries of enquiry and
ftudy has fpread over the mafs of mankind? If
not, and the moil lovely part of natural hiftory merits the attention of the curious, let

hundred volumes of
fliould

them

tell

me how we

(hall

manage

to

make
ufe

l8

INTRODUCTION.

ufe of the knowledge heretofore acquired, if

we do not begin by learning the language of

the writers, and knowing to what objeds the

names employed by them belong. To admit
therefore the ftudy of botany, and to rejedt that
of the nomenclature, is a moffc abfurd contra-

didion.

Letters
ON THE

ELEMENTS

BOTANY;
O P

TO

LADY.

LETTER

I.

Dated the 22d of Auguft, 1771.

THINK

your ideaof amufing the vivacity

of your daughter a little, and exercifing
her attention upon fuch agreeable and varied
objects as plants, is excellent j though I ihould
not have ventured to play the pedant fo far as
to propofe it of myfelf.
Since however it
comes from you, I approve it with all my
heart, and will even affill you in it; convinced*
that at all limes of life, the ftudy of nature
abates the tafte for frivolous amufemtnts, prevents the tumult of the pafiions, and provides

the

by

mind

anourifhment which is falutary,

with an objed moft Vv^orthy of its

vv'ith

filling it

contemplations.

You

L E T T E R

20

You have begun

I.

with teaching your daughter

the names of the common plants which you

have about you J this was the very thing you
The few plants which (he
fhould have done.
knows by Oght are fo many points of comparifon for her to extend her knowledge: but they
You defire to have a little
are not fufficient.
catLilogue of the n^oft common plants, with the
marks by which they may be known. I find

fome

ditiiculty in

doing this for you

that

is,

in giving you thefe marks or characfters in

writing, after a manner that is clear, and at
This feems imthe fame time not diifufe.
the
language
peculiar to
ufing
poffib'e without

the fubjedj and the terms of that language

a vocabulnry apart which you cannot
underftand unlefs it be previoully explained to

form
you.

Befides, merely to be acquainted with plants

light, and to know only the'r na-i es, cannot but be too infipid a (ludy for a genius like
yours; and it may be prefumed that your daughI proter would not be long amufed with it.
preliminary
nofome
have
you
mould
that
pofe
tions of the vegetable ifiu^ture or org?.nization
of plants^ in order that you may get fome real
inform.ation, thou<>h vou u^ere to take only a
few lieps, into the mod beautiful, and the
richeft (^f the three kingdems of nature.
have nothing therefore to dp yet with the nomenclature, which is but the knowledge of a
I have always thought it poffible
herbariii.
to be a very great botanilt without knowing fo

by

We

much

L E T T E R

21

I.

one plant by name and, without wifhing to nvake your daughter a very great botanift,
I think neverthelefs that it will always be ufeful to her to learn how to fee, whatever (he
Do not however be terrified at
looks at, well.
the undertaking: you will foou; know that it
There is nothing either
is not a great one.
complicated or 4ifficult in what I have to proNothing is required but to have
pofe to you.

much

as

patience to begin with the beginning.

After

you may go on no f^riher than you choofe.

that

We

now

getting towards the latter feafon, and thofe plan;s which are the moll fimBefides,
ple in their itruclure are ah'eady pad.
are

expedl you will take fome time to make your

However in
obfervations a little regularly.
you
in a iltuaputs
the mean while, till fpring
tion to begin and follow the order of nature, I
am going to give you a few words of the vocaI

bulary to get by heart.

perfect plant

is

compofed of

a root,

of a

branches, of leaves, flower, and

Botany, by fruit, in herbs as well
as in trees, we underiland the whole fabric of
Y^ju know the whole of this althe feed.)
ready, at lead enough to underlland the term;
but there is a principal part which requires an

ftem with

its.

fruit, (for in

examination more

at large

mean

iheJruSi-

Let
jicatim, that is, \\\QJlower and i\\z fruit.
firfu.
comes
which
flower,
with
the
begin
us
In this part nature has inclcfed the luminary of
her work; by this Hie perpetuates it, and this
Jfo

is

commonly

the moil brilliant of

C3

all

parts

L E T T E R

12

of the vegetable, and always

I.

leaft liable to

va-

riations.

Take

you will eafily find

it opens you fee
at the top of the ftem an oblong greenilh bud,
which grows whiier the nearer it is to opening ;
and when it is quite open, you perceive that
the white cover takes the form of a bafin or
This is
vafe divided into feveral fegments.
it is by
as
called the corolf and not the flower,
^:

a lily

It ftill in full

I believe

Before

flower.

the vulgar, becaufe the flower

is a

compofition
is only the

of feveral parts, of which the corol

principal.

The
you

corol of the lily

When

eafily fee.

is

it

not of one piece, as

withers and falls it

feparates into fix diftind: pieces,

fetah.

of

fix

Thus

the corol of the

petals.

pieces like this

A
is

corol,

which are called

compofed

lily is

confifting of feveral

called a polypetalous corol.

of one piece, like the bellIf it were

flower'' or bind-weeds % it would be called
But to return to our lily.
monopetalous.
You will find exadly in the middle of the
corol a fort of little column rifing from the
bottom, and pointing diredly upwards. This,
taken in its whole, is called the piftil or
all

pointah taken in

its

parts,

it

is

divided into

LUlumcandidum of LinntEUS, or any of its congeners,

or alnnoft any of the tribe of thefe v/hich are callrd liliaceous flowers, arc, for the greater part, eminefitly beau-

tiful,
^ Campanula rotundifolia
^

Convolvulus fepium

&

Ltnnai.
arvenfis, 5cc.

Ltnnai

three

L E T T E R

23

I.

the fwoln bafe, with three blunted

2, a thread
placed upon this, called the y?y/^; 3, the
ftyle crowned by a fort of capital with three

threes

i,

angles, called the gerf?i or cvary,

notches

this capital

fix

is

called the ftigma.

and the corol you find

entirely
feparate from each
other bodies

Between the

which

other,

piflil

are called

Each

the fiamens.

ftamen is compofed of two parts, one long

and thin, by which it is faliened to the bottom of the corol, and called \e filament
the other thicker, placed at the top of the
Each anther
filament, and called anther ^,
is
a box which opens when it is ripe, and
throws out a yellow duft, which has a ftrong
-,

fmell

this

\% ,2X\e

pollen ov farina.

Such is the general analyiis of the parts

which conftitute a flower.
As the corol
fades and falls the germ increafes, and becomes an oblong triangular capfule, within
which are flat feeds within three cells. This
capfule, confldered as the cover of the feeds,

takes the

name of

pericarp.

The parts here mentioned are found in the

flowers of moll other plants, but in different
proportion, fituation, and number.
By the
analogy of thefe parts, and their different combinations, the families of the vegetable king-

dom are determined and thefe analogies are

connected with others in thofe parts of the
:

The old

called

Englifh

name of

anthera

is

fummit

Grew

h feme t.

C4

plant

L E T T E R

24

I.

which feem to. have no relation to

them. For inftance, this number of fix flaplant

fometimes only three, of fix petals or

of the corol, and that triangular
form of the germ, with its three cells, determine the liliaceous tribe ; and in all this
tribe, which is very numerous, the roots
are uJi^s of fome fort or other.
That of the
irsens,

divifions

lily is

fguamoti sJ or

compofed of fcales ; in the

number of oblong folid

Afphodel, it is a
bulbs conneded together^; in the crocus
and hffron there are two bulbs, one over the
other ; in the colchicum ^ they are placed fide

by

fide

5.

The

which

I have chofen becaufe

and alfo on account of the
fize of the flower and its other parts, is deof the conftituent
ficient however in one
parts of a perfel flower, namely the calyx,
which is that outer green part of the flower
nfually divided into five parts or compofed of
five fmall leaves; fuftaining and embracing
the corol at the bottom, and enveloping it
is

it

"

lily,

in feafon

As

in

the peony,

by fome tuberous
f

potatoe,

&c.

Thefe

are

called

roots.

Or meadow faftron.
He mignt have added

folid like the turnip

that fome of thefe bulbs are

others compofed of cents, one over

Linnaeus does not allow them

another, as in the onion.
to be roots; and indeed it is only their bcinw underground
He names them
that led former Botanifls tocall them fo.
Hybernacula^ ivinter gons or buds ^ into which the whole
plant retires during the cold feafon.

entirely

L E T T E R
entirely

before

you may have

The calyx which
other flowers, is want-

opens,

it

remarked in the
accompanies almofl:

25

I.

as

rofe.
all

ing in the greater part of the liliaceous tribe;

as the tulip, the hyacinth, the narciilus, the
tuberofe,
&c. and even in the onion, leek,
garlic,

they

&c. which
appear

You

are alfo liliaceous,

very

different

at

though

firfl;

light.

whole
tribe the flems are fimple and unbranched,
the leaves entire, and never cut or divided;
obfrrvations which confirm the analogy of
the flower and fruit in this family, by that
of the other parts of the plants.
If you
beftow fome attention upon thefe particulars,
and make them familiar to you by frequent
obfervations, you are already in a condition
to determine, by an attentive and continued
infpedion of a plant, whether it be of the
and this without
liliaceous tribe or not;
will

perceive

alfo

that in this

knowing the name of the plant

that this is not a mere labour of
but

fludy of

worthy cfa

''.

You

the

memory,

obfervations and fads

naturaliil

*.

You

will not

fee

truly

begin

^ If it (hould happen to be fpring when the

reader
takes up this letter, he may examine the fnow-drop, crocus, daffodil, narcifl'us, crown imperial, tulip, lily of
the valley, hyacinth. Sic. always taking care in the

garden to avoid double flowers. See Letter 11.

liotany is frequently, but we (ee here how unjuftly, reprefented as a fcience which depends wholly
upon the memory, as if it were nothing but to get the
names of ten thouiand plants by heart.
'

by

LETTER!.

26

by

telling

ftill

lefs

your daughter

when

in

the

all this at

fequel

once

you

(hall

and
be

myAeries (^f vegetation but

her by degrees no more
than is fuitable to her age and fex, by directing her how to find out things of herfelf,
rather than by teaching her^.
Adieu, my
initi^ited

in the

you

unveil to

will

-,

dear coufm ; if all this trafh be agreeable lo

you, I am at your fervice.

^ Rouffcau takes every occafion to inculcate this fundamental lcfil)n of education ; and indeed it cannnct be
See Letter V,
iicuicated too often.

27

LETTER
The

OINCE

the

firft

though

lb

already

to diftinguifh

by

i8th of 0lober, 1771.

you underftand

couiin,

llightly

II.

fo

v/ell,

lineaments

of

my

dear

plants,

marked,

as to be able
the liliaceous family

and fmce our little botanift

amufes herfelf with corols and petals, I am
going to fet before you another tribe, upon
their

air;

which (lie may again exercife her little

knowledge ; with rather more difficulty I
own, becaufe the flowers are much fmaller
and the foliage more varied, but with the
fame pleafure both on her fide and on yours;'
at lead if you have as much deHght in following this flowery path as I find in tracing
it

out to you.

When

the

firfl

rays of fpring fhall have

enlightened your progrefs, by (hewing you

in the gardens hyacinths, tulips, narciffufes,
jonquils, and lilies of the valley, the analyfis
of all which is already known to you, other
flowers will foon catch your attention, and
require of you a new examination
fuch are
:

iocks'

'

and rockets"^. Whenever you find them

Cheiranthiis incanus Linnaei.

^ Hefperis matronalis Linnaei.

at

Of if thefe are not

hand, wall-flowers, cabbage, turnip, cole-feed, muf-

Jard, charlock, radifii,

&c.
doiibie,

L E T T E R

28

II.

double, do not meddle with them, they are

you

our
no longer be found
among them ; fhe refufcs to reproduce any
thing from mongers thus mutilated
for if
the moft brilliant part of the flower, namely
disfigured;
fafhion

or, if

nature

plcafe, diefled after

will

the corol, is multiplied, it is at the expenfe

of the more elTential parts, which difappear
under this addition of brilliancy.
Take then a fingle flock gilliflower, or
it is vulgarly called, and proceed to
the anaiyfis of the flo .ver
you will perceive

ilock,

as

immediately an exterior part, which was

wanting in the liliaceous flowers, namely the
This confifls of four pieces, which
calyx.
we mufl call leaves, leaflets or folioles, having

no proper names

to exprefs

them

by, as

we

have that of petals for the pieces which compofe

the coroi.

Thefe four pieces

monly unequal by pairs

two leaflets oppofite and
iize,

and two others

but larger,

where they

is,

are

com-

there are

equal, of a fmaller

and equal,
towards the bottom,

alfo oppofite

efpecially
are fo

that

rounded,

very fenfible protuberance

as to

or

exhibit a

bump on

the

outfide.

In this calyx you vAU find a corol compofed of four petals.

I fay nothing of their
colour, becaufe that makes no part of their
charader.
Each of thefe petals is fadened
to the receptacle, or bottom of the calyx, by
a narrow pale part,

which

is

called

unguis,

or

L E T T E R

IL

29

or the tail of the petal, and this fpreads out

over the top of the calyx into a large, flat,

coloured part, called lamina, or the border ".

In the centre of the corol is one pifti,
long, cylindric, or nearly fo ; chiefly compofed of a germ ending in a very lliort ftyle,

and

that

which

oblong fligma,

terminated by an

is bifid,

that

is

to fay, divided into

two

which are reflected on each fide.

you examine carefully the refpedive pofition of the calyx and corol, you will fee

parts,

If

that each petal, inftead of correfponding ex-

adly

each leaflet of the calyx, is, on the

contrary, placed between two
fo that it anfwers to the opening whicn feparates them
and this alternate pofition has place in all
flowers which have as many petals to the
to

-,

corol as leaflets to the caiyx.

It

You
the

not

remains
will

And

fl:ock,

as

all

in thofe

now
flx

in

fpeak of the ftamens.

of them in the flower of
to

the liliaceous flowers, but

equal, or elfe alternately unequal, as

;

but you will perceive two oppofite

to each other, fenfibly Ihorter than the other

four

which

alfo feparace

feparare them, and which are

from each other in pairs.

I fhall not enter here into a detail of their

ftrudure and poiition : but I give you notice

"

wonder

that Roufleau fays nothing of the regular

ftructure of this corol, the petals generally Itanding wide

from each other, and forming

a figure

crofs of the order of St. Louis,

fomething

whence

lilce

the

thefe corols arc

called cruciform^ or crofs-Jhaped,

that

LETTER

30

IL

you look carefully you will find iht

reafon why thefe two ftamens are fhorter
than the other four, and why two leaflets of

that

if

the calyx aFe

botanifts fpeak,

two more

To

more protuberant, or, as the

more gibbous, and the other

flatted.

lyfed

of our ilock^ you

loon as you have anabut wait tiil the corol

as the fruit ripens.

When

the

finifli

mull: not

hiflory

abandon

it

as

the flower,
withers and falls, which it does pretty foon^
and then remark what becomes of the pifti,
"compcfed, as we obferved before, of the germ,
The germ grows
the (iyle, and the ftigma.
coniiderably in length, and thickens a little
it

is

ripe,

it

be^

comes a kind of flat pod, called JUiqiie,

This filique is compofed of two valves,
and the cells are
each covering a fmall cell
When the
feparated by a thin partition.
:

feed

is

ripe,

upwards

the valves open from the bottom

give

to

it

pafage,

and remain fad

Then you may

fee the
along each fide of
the partition ; and you will find that they ars
faftened alternately to right and left by a
fhort pedicle to the futures, or each edge of

to the fligma at top.

flat

round

ranged

feeds

the partition.
I am very

much

afraid,

my

dear coufin,

have fatigued you a little with this

but it was neceflary to
charader of the nuefl'ential
give you the
merous tribe of crucijorm flowers % which
that I

long

defcription;

See note

".

forms

LETTER

IL

31

forms an entire clafs in almoft all the fyftem

of botanifts and I hope that this defcription,
which is difficult to underftand here without
:

a figure, will

you

become more

when

intelligible,

have gone through it with fome

attention, having at the fame time the object
before your eyes.
The great number of fpecies in this clafs ^
has determined botanifts to divide it into
fhall

two ferions,

in

which the flowers

fedly alike, but the

per-

are

pericarps, or feed-

fruits,

veflels, are fenfibly different.

The firft order comprehends the cruciform

flowers with a filique, or pod, fuch as the
flock, thofe

mentioned in note

"",

and the

like.

The

fcond contains thofe whofe feed-vef2ijlicley

that is, a fmall and very fhorc
fel is
pod, almoft as wide as it is long, and differently divided within; as whitlow-grafs, mithridate-muftard, baffard-crefs, Szc. in the fields ;

and

fcurvy-grafs,

horfe-radiffi,

honefty, &c. in the gardens

vefTe

of the

laft is

very large,

candy-tuft,

though the
it is ftill

i.;'

a filicle,

becaufe the length exceeds the breadth very

If none of thefe are known to vou, I
prefume at leaft that you are acquainted with
the Jhepherd's-purfey which is fo common a
weed in kitchen gardens. Well then, coufin,
this fhepherd's-purfe is of the cruciform tribe,
and tjlicle branch of it, and the form of the
little.

filicle

286 Species.

In the 17th clafs, diadelphia, or

and in the 19th 1247 ^peck,s

VTo brotherhoods 695,

LETTER

32

triangular''.

filicle

is

fome

idea of the reft

By
till

IL

this

they

you may form

fall into your

hands.

But

it is

time to

let

you breathe;

I will

only

therefore give you a hint at prefent that in this

clafs,

many others, you will often find

much fmaller than thofe of the flock,

and

flowers

and fometimes fo fmall that you cannot examine their parts without the affiflance of a
glafs *; an inftrument which a botanift cannot
do without, any more than he can without
a needle, a lancet, or penknife, and a pair of
good fciifars. Prefuming that your maternal
zeal may carry you thus far, I fancy to myfelf a charming pidure of my beautiful coufin
bufy with her glafs examining heaps of flowers,
a hundred times lefs fiouriihing, lefs frcfli, and
lefs
till

'i

agreeable than herfelf.

Adieu, dear coufin,

the next chapter.

The young

filicles

or

little

botanift fhould be

pods

differ

much

advertifed

in their

that thefe

form: fome are

and round or oval others are fphericai or fpheroidal,

and that of ftiepherd's-purfe has a form peculiar to itfelf.
' This of the fmallnefs of the parts in
many flowers
is an objedlion that every idle novice makes to the Linnsean fyllem, ever trembling led any thorn or obftacle, be
it ever fo minute, fiiouid occur in the flowery path; the
difficulty however will in great mcafure vanifn, if he will
but have patience to go regularly on his way.
flat,

-,

33

LETTER
The

SINCE

III.

26th of May, 1772.

you continue, dear

coufin, to pur-

fue with your daughter, that peaceable

and delightful fludy which fills up thofe
voids in our time that others dedicate to
idlenefs, or fomething worfe, with interefting
obfcrvations on naturerf* I will refume the interrupted thread of our vegetable tribes.
My intention is to defcribe fix of thefe
tribes to you firfl:, in order to render the general ftrudlure of the charaderiflic parts of
plants familiar.
You have already had two
of them
there are four remaining, which
you muft fiill have the patience to go through,
and after that, quitting for a time the other
branches of that numerous race, and going
on to examine the different parts of the fructification, we {hall manage fo, that without
knowing many plants perhaps, you will at
leaft never be in a ftrange country among
the produdions of the vegetable kingdorn.
But I muft inform you, that if you will
take books in hand, and purfue the common
nomenclature; with abundance of names, you
will have few ideas, thofe which you have
will be confufed ; and you will not follow
properly either my fteps or thofe of others ;
but will have at moft a mere knowledge of
words.
',

LETTER

34

III.

words. I am jealous, dear coufin, of being

your only guide in this part of Botany.
When it is the proper time I will point out
In
to you the books that you may confult.
nothing
read
patience
to
the m.ean time have
but in that of nature, and to keep wholly to

my

letters.

Peas are, at prefent, in full frudification.

Seize ihe moment to obferve their charaders;
they are fome of the mod: curious that BoOne general divilion of flowers
tany affords.
is

into regular and

irregular.

The

firll;

are

they whofe parts all fpring uniformly from

the centre of the flower, and terminate in the
circumference of a circle. This uniformity
is the reafon why when we view flowers of
this kind, we do not difiinguidi an under
from an upper part, nor the right from the
left

fuch are the two tribes which

already examined.

But you

will

we have

fee at firft

the flower of a pea is irregular,

that you eafily diflinguifh the longer part of
the corol, which fhould be at top, from the

fight

that

which fhould be at bottom ; and you

know very well, when you hold up the flower
to the eye, whether it is in its natural fituation or not.
Thus in examining an irregular
flower, whenever we fpeak of the top and the
fhorter,

we

bottom,

fuppofe

it

to

be

in

its

natural

lituation.

The

flowers of this tribe being of a very

particular Ikudure,

you mufl not only have

lverai

LETTER
and

feveral pea flowers,

to obferve all

iively,

another,

m.

difle:

their

parts

but you muft alfo purfue

grefs of the frudification from the

ering to the maturity of the fruit.
Firfl:

you

will find

35

them

fuccef-

one

after

the profirfl

flow-

monophyllom calyx

one of an entire piece, ending in five

very diftindt points, the two wider of which
are at top, and three narrower at bottom.
This calyx bends towards the lower part, as
does alfo the peduncle, or little ftalk which,
fupports it
this peduncle is very fmall and
ealily moveable , fo that the flower readily
avoids a current of air, and commonly turns
its back to the wind and rain.
Having examined the calyx, you may pull
it oflF, fo as to leave the reft of the flower
entire, and then you will fee plainly that the
that

is,

corol

is

polypetalous.

The firft piece is a large white petal, covering the others, and occupying the upper part
of the corol; it is c?i\\t Jiandard, or banner
muft make ufe neither of our eyes nor
of common i^n^Qi if we do not perceive that
this petal is defigned to protedl the other parts
of the flower from the principal injuries of
In taking off the ftandard, you
the weather.
will obferve, that it is inferted on each fide

We

by a little procefs into the fide pieces, fo that

cannot be driven out of its place by the
wind.

it

The

ftandard being taken off expofes to

view

LETTER

36

view thofe two

fide

III.

which

pieces to

hered ; they are called the wings.

ing thefe off you will find them

ad-

it

In
ftill

tak-

more

flrongly inierted into the remaining part, fo

that they cannot be fepa rated without ibme
effort.
Thefe wings are fcarcely lefs ufeful
in protedling the fides of the flower than the
ftandard in covering it.

Taking

off the

wings you difcover the

lafl

this is that which covers

;
and defends the centre of the flower, and
wraps it up, efpecially underneath, as care-

piece of the corol

fully as

envelop

the three other petals

the

upper part and the fides.

This laft piece,
which on account of its form, is called the
boat or keel, is, as it were, the flrong box
into which nature has put her treafure to
keep it fafe from the attacks of air and
water.
When you have well examined this petal,
draw it gently downwards, pinching it flightly
by the keel or thin cage, for fear of tearing

away what

it

contains.

am

be pleafed with the myfiery

the veil is removed.

The young

fruit involved

certain
it

in

you will

reveals

when

the boat or

a cylinkeel, is conftruded in this manner

dric membrane, terminated by ten difiindl
threads furrounds the germ,* or embryo of the
Thefe ten threads are fo
egume or pod
many filaments, united below round the
:

germ, and terminated each by

2

yellow anther,

whofe

LETTER

III.

37

whofe fanna covers the fligma which terminates the ftyle, or grows along the fide of
it
this ftigma, though yellow with the meal
which fticks to it, is eafily diftinguiflied by its
figure and fize.
Thus do thefe ten filaments
form alfo about the germ an interior armour,
to preferve it from exterior injuries.
If you examine more curioufly, you will
:

find that thefe ten filaments are united into

only in appearance ^
For in
the upper part of this cylinder there is a piece
or flamen which at firfl appears to adhere to
the reft, but as the flower fades and the fruit
increafes, feparates and leaves an opening at
top, by which the fruit can extend itfelf byopening and feparating the cylinder gradually;
which otherwife, by compreffing and ftraitening it all round, would impede its growth.
If
the flower is not fufficiently advanced, you will
not find this flamen detached from the cylinder; but put a fine pin or needle into two little

one

at the bafe,

holes

which you

will fee near the receptacle,

at the bafe of that ftamen,

and you will

fooii

perceive the flamen with its anther feparate

from the nine others, which will continue al-

ways to form one body, till at length they fade

and dry, when the germ becomes a legiwie,
and has no longer any occafion for them.
This legume is diilinguifhed from the fili^
que of the cruciform tribe, by the feeds being
' In many fpecies however
the cylinder
the ten filaments are really united into one.

is

entire,

and

fafiened

LETTER

^8

III.

faftened to one fide only of the cafe, alternately indeed to each valve of it;

to the

fame

fide.

You

vi^ill

but

all

of

them

underfi:and this

diflindtion perfedly if you open the pod of a

pea and of a fiock at the fame time, taking care
only to have them before they are quite ripe,
that, when the pericarp is opened, the feeds
may continue fafiened by their proper ligaments to their futur^^s and their valves'.
If I have mademyfelf well underfi:ood, you

comprehend, dear coufin, what afi:onifhing precautions have been heaped together by

will

nature to bring the embryo of the pea to maturity; and, above all, to prote(ft it, in the midft

of the greateft rains, from that wet which is

fatal to it, without inclofing it in a hard (hell,
which would have made it another kind of
fruit.

The

tion of

all

tcvft

that

Creator, attentive to the preferva-

beings, has taken great care to pro-

the frudification of plants from attacks

may

injure

it;

but

he feems to have

doubled his attention to thofe which ferve for

the nourifiiment of nian and animals, as does
the greater part of the leguminous or pulfe
The provifion for the frudlification of
tribe.
peas

is,

in

different

proportions,

the

fame

In doing this you will alfo perceive that the legume is

or has one cell onlyj whereas you remember
And if you take
that the lilique was faid to be bilocular.
a ripe legume you will find that it opens by tlie upper
*

unilocular,

luture, oppofite to that to which the iVeds are fafienei';

v/hereas the lilique opens irom the bo. torn upwards by

both lu lures.

through

LETTER

III.

39

through this clafs. The flowers have the

name of ppiionacecus, from a farcied refemblance of them to the form of a butterfly
Jlandard or
(papiJio)'y they have generally
banner^ ivjoivings, and a boat or keel that is,
But in fome genera 'he
four irregular petals.
2^

-,

boat

is

divided longitudinally into

two

pieces

by the keel 3 and thefe flowers

Ave petals: others, as clover'',
all their petals united, and though papilionaceous, are however monopetalous flowers.
The papilionaceous or leguminous plants
form one of the mofl: numerous and rfeful
almoil: adhering

have
have

in reality

Beans, peas, lucerne, faintfoin, CK^ver,

lupins, lentils, tares or vetches, indigo, liquorice, kidney-beans, &c. ali belong to it:
he
charader of thefe lafl: is to have the boat ipitribes.

rally twiiled,

which at firfl: might be t^ken

There are alfo fome trees

for an accident.

belonging to

commonly
true acacia
ilirubs.

itj

among

other;

called acacia, but

",

and many

vi^hich is

tha:

which

is

But of thefe more hereafter.

coufln, 1 wifli

Adieu,

well to every thing that you

love.
*

not the

beautiful flowering

Tri folium pratenfe L'mna'i.

Robinia Pleudacacia Linnai.

40

LETTER
The

IV.

19th of June, 1772.

LET

US talk of plants, my dear coufin,

whilft the feafon for obferving them inYour folution of my queftion convites us.
cerning the ftamens of cruciform flowers is

perfedly right, and (hows that you have underflood me, or rather attended to me; for you
have nothing to do but to attend, in order to
You have accounted very well
underftand.
for the fwelling of the two leaflets of the calyx,
and the relative fhortnefs of two of the ftamens, in the flock, by the bending of thefe
two ftamens. One ftep more would have led
you to the primary caufe of this flrudure : for
if you afk once more why thefe ftamens are
thus bent, and confequently fhortened? I anfwer that, you will find a little gland upon
the receptacle, between the ftamen and the
germ^ and it is this gland which, by throwing
the ftamen to a diftance, and forcing it to take
a round, neceffarily fhortens it. Upon the fame
receptacle are two other glands, one at the foot
of each pair of longer ftiimens; but being on
the outlide of them, between thefe flamens
and the calyx, they do not oblige them to
bend, and therefore do not fhorien them: fo
that the two pair of Itamens ftand higher than
the two fingle bent ones; not becaule they are
longer.

I
i
'

L E T T E R

ly.

4r

longer, but becaufe they are flraight.

Thefc
foiir glands, or at leaft veftiges of them, are

more

or lefs vilible in almoft all cruciform

floweis, and are much more diftin: in fome

than in the f> nek ^. If you alk me wha t the

glinds are for ? I anfwer that, they are one of
thofe inflrumcnts deiiined by nature to unite
the vegetable to the animal kingdom, and to

make them
But laying

circulate from one to another.

thefe inquiries afide, in which wc

too much, let us, for the preour tribes of plants.

The flowers which I have hitherto defcribed
to you are polypetalous.
I ought perhaps to
have begun with the regular monopetalous
flowers, which have a much more fimple flructure, but it was this very fimplicity which difcouraged me.
They conditute rather a great
nation than a (ingle tribe; fo that to comprehend them all under one common mark, wc
anticipate

a little

fent, return to

muft employ characters fo general and fo

vague, that whilft we feem to fay fomething,
in eifed

we

any thing. It is betnarrower bounds,

which we can mark out with more precifion.
Among the irregular monopetalous flowers,
there is a tribe whofe phyfiognomy is fo marked, that we diftinguiih the members of it eaiily
by their air. it is that to whofe flowers Linfcarcely fay

ter to confine ourfelves within

naeus has given the

'

As

radiih,

in arabis

&c,

name

turrita,

of ringent,

becaufe

cabbage, muftard, charlock

*

they

LETTER

42

IV.

they are cut into two lips, the opening of

which, whether natural, or produced by a (light
compreflion of the fingers, gives them the air
of a gaping mouth. This tribe is divided into
two branches one o labiate or ringent flowers,
properly fo called, and the other o perfonafe or
:

mafked flowers: the Latin vfo perfona

figni-

common

to all

fying a mafk.

The

charader

the tribe is not only a monopetalous corol,

cut into two lips, the upper one called the
cafque or helmet j the lower one the heard', but
alfo four ftamens, almofl: in the fame row, diftinguiflied into two pair?, one longer, and the
The infpedion of the objecii
other Hiorter.
itfelf will explain thefe charaders better to you

than can be done in writing.

Let us begin with the labiate flowers. For
an example I fhould willingly give you fage,
but
which is common in almoit all gardens
fl:amens,
which
of
its
the Angular ftrudure
has occafioned fome botanids to feparate it
from the aflTociates, to which it naturally belongs, induces me to look for another inftance
^ in the ^johite dead-nettle ^, which notwithftanding its name has no affinity with nettles,
properly fo called, except in the flbape of the
This plant is fo common every where,
leaves.
and continues fo long in flower, that it cannot
:

""

mull

Rofemary, with fome few others not

known,
two ftamens

fo well

alfo be avoided, becaufe there are only

to the flower.
*

Lamium album

Linnsei.

Curtis

II.

45.

be

LETTER
be

difficult

for

you to find

IV.

43
it^ Without

flopping here to confider the elegant fituation

of the flowers % I will confine myfelf to their
The white dead-nettle bears a moflrudure.
nopetalous labiate corol, with the cafque or
upper lip arched in order to cover the reft of
the flower, and particularly the ftamens, which
keep all four of them very clofe under cover
You will eafily difcern the longer
of its roof.

and in the midft of

of the fame colour, but diftinguifhed from them by being forked at the
end, infl:ead of bearing an anther like the
ftamens.
The beard or lower lip bends back,
and hangs down, fo as to let you fee the infide
of the corol almoft to the bottom. In this
genus the lower lip is divided lengthwife in
the middle, but that is not general in this
pair

and the

them the

fliorter pair,

fl:yle,

tribe.

If you pull out the corol, you will take

the ftamens along with it, thofe being faftened
by the filaments to that, and not to the receptacle, whereon the piftil only will remain.

how the ftamens are faftened

other flowers, we find them generally
attached to ihe corol in monopetaious, and
to the receptacle, or calyx, in polypetalous
In examining

in

The

largenefs of the flowers alfo

makes

it

proper for

examination; but if the fmell fhould be any objedlicn,

there is ground-i/y, the other lamiums, betony, horehound, baum, felf-heal, baum of gilead, &c.
*

Called vcrticillate,
1

fiowers

LETTER

44

IV.

one may take

without the ftamens.
From
this obfervation we have an elegant, eafy, and
pretty certain rule to know whether a corol
confifts of one piece or feveral, when it is
difficult, as it fometimes is, to be certain of
it immediately.
The corol, when pulled off, is open at bottom, becaufe it was faftened to the receptacle, fo as to leave a circular opening by which
the piftil and what furrounds it may grow up
within the tube.
That which furrounds the
piftil in this dead nettle, and all the labiate
tribe, is the rudiment of the fruit, confifting of four embryos, which become four
feeds that are naked
that is, without any
pericarp or covering
the monophyllous calyx divided into five fegments ferving this

flowers

fo that in the latter cafe

away the

petals

-,

purpofe, fo that the leeds, when they are

ripe, are detached, and fall to the ground
This is the charader of the labifeparately.
ate flowers.

The

other branch

or

fedion,

that of the perfonate flowers,

is

which

is

diftinguiflied

firll:
in having the two
not ufually open, or gaping, but clofed
and joined % as you may fee in the fnap-

from the former;

lips

* There are
too many exceptions to this to form a
general charader, if under the idea of perfonate flowers
we include all the plants in the fcond order of Linnaeus's
14th clafs, as RoufTeau feems to do.

dragon.

LETTER

IV.

4S

dragon
a flower not uncommon in gardens;
or for want of that in the toad-flax, a yellow
flower with a fpur, fo common in the coun^',

at this feafon s
But a more precife
and certain chara:er is, that inflead of having four naked feeds at the bottom of the
calyx, like the labiate flowers, thefe have a
capfule or cafe inclofing the feeds, and not
opening till they are ripe, in order to difperfe them.
To thefe chara61ers we may
add that the greater part of the labiate plants
are either ftrong fmelllng and aromatic, as
marjoram, thyme, bafil, mint, hyflxDp, lavender, &c. or elfe ftrong fmelling and {link-

try

ing, as the dead-nettles,

hedge-nettle,

cat-

mint, black horehound

&c.
Some few
only having little or no fmell, as bugle, {t\fheal, and hooded willow-herb : whereas moil
'^,

of

the

plants

with

perfonate

flowers

arc

not odorous, as fnap-dragon, toad-flax, eyebright, loufewort, yellow rattle, broom-rape,

ivy-leaved toad-flax, round-leaved toad-flax,
fox -glove % &c. I know of none that have
a ftrong fmell in this branch but the fcro-

Antirrhinum majus Linnaei. Mill. fig. torn, 42.

Curtis I. 47.
Antirrhinum Linaria Linnaei.
It
flowers later with us. Mofl: of the perfonate tribe flower
>

'

late.
"*

Here, and in

fome other places,

liberty of putting plants better

have taken the

known among

us, inftead

of thofe which RouiTeau has given.

Some of thefe have the mouth of the corol gaping.

phularia.

L E T T E R

46

IV.

which fmells ftrong,

Here I am not
without being aromatic.
or

phularia,

figvvort,

name any but fuch plants as may

perhaps be unknown to yoa ; but you will
able to

get

gradually

whenever you

acquainted
fee

them,

with

them you

will be able

and
by

yourlelf to determine what clafs they belong

to. I wlfh you would try to fettle the branch

or fedlion by

its

phyfiognomy

and that you

exercife yourfelf in judging at fight,

would

labiate or perfonate.

whether

a flower

exterior

form of the

guide you

is

corol

choice,

in this

may

The

fuffice

to

which you may

by pulling out the corol,

and looking at the bottom of the calyx ;
right, the flower
for, if you have judged
which you have named labiate will fhow you
four naked feeds, and that which you have
named perfonate will {how you a pericarp
the contrary would prove that you was miftaken ; and by a fcond examination of the
fame plant you would prevent a like mifHere, dear coufln,
take another time
verify afterwards

'

buflnefs cut out

is

not

fail

for feveral walks.

to provide

I inall

fomething for thofe that

will fucceed.
advice will apply in all the other natural
this paffage it is clear that by labiate
flowers RouiTeau underftands all that are included in the
iirft
order j by perfonate flowers all that are in the
iecond order of Linnseus's 14th clafs: but many of the
f

This

claffes.

From

flowers in the fcond order are labiate.

47

LETTER

V.

The lthofjuly,

1772.

COMFORT
having
for not

yourfdf, my good coufin,

deteled the glands in

the cruciform flowers.

Great botanifts, and
quick-fighted ones too, have not been more

happy. Tournefort himfelf makes no mention of them.

They are very vifible in but
few genera, though we find veftiges of them
in almoft all
and it is by analyfing foniQ
of the cruciform flowers, and always obferv
ing inequalities in the receptacle, and
then
examining thefe inequalities, that we find
;

out that thefe glands belong to moft of

the
genera; and fuppofe therefore by analogy
that they exift in the others, where
we do
not diftinguifh them.

comprehend that you may not be pleafed

takmg fo much pains, without knowing
the names of the plants which you
examine.
But I own fairly that it did not enter into
my plan to Ipare you that little chagrin. It
1

at

pretended that Botany is merely a fciencc

of words, which only exercifes the
memory,

IS

and teaches the names of phnts.

For my
I know not any
reafonable fiudy which
IS a mere fcience of
woras and to which
of thefe fliall we give the name
of botani/l,
part

-,

to

L E T T E R

him who
when he fees
to

has a

name

or

V.
a phrafe ready

knowing
him who,

plant, but without

any thing of its ftrudlure ; or to

being well acquainted with this ftrudure, is
ignorant neverthelefs of the arbitrary name

which the
If

we

this or that

plant has in

give our children

nothing

country ?
but aft

amufing employment, we lofe the beft half

of our defign, which is, at the fame time
that we amufe them, to exercife their underflandings, and to accuftom them to attention.
Before we teach them to name what they
fee, let us begin by teaching them how to
This fcience, which is forgot in all
fee.
forts of education, fhould make the moft imI can never repeat it
portant part of it.
often enough ; teach them not to pay themfelves in words, nor to think they know any

thing of what

mory.
However,

merely

is

not to

laid

up in

play the

their

me-

rogue with

you too much, I give you the names of fome

plants, with which you may eafily verify my
defcriptions, by caufing them to be fhown
For inftance, if you cannot find a
you.
white dead-nettle, when you are reading
the analyfis of the labiate or ringent flowers,
you have nothing to do but to fend to an
herborift for it frefh gathered, to apply my
defcription to the flower; and then having
examined the other parts of the plant, in the

manner which

(hall

hereafter point

out,

you

L E T T E R

V.

49

you will be infinitely better acquainted with

the white dead-nettlej than the herboriil: who
furnished you with it will ever be during his
whole life in a little time, however, we (ball
Jearn how to do without the herborifl: : but
firft we mud uniih the examination of our
And now I come to the fifth which,
tribes.
-,

at this time, is in full frudification.

Figure to yourfelf a long Rem, pretty

with leaves placed alternately upon
it, generally cut fine, and embracing at the
bafe branches which grow from their a/a \
From the upper part of this ilem, as from a
ftraight,

centre,

grow

feveral pedicles or rays,

which

fpreading circularly and regularly, like the

ribs of an umbrella, crown the llem with a

kind of bafin, more or

open s.
Someof void in the

lefs

times thefe rays leave a fort

middle, and reprefent, in that cafe, more
exactly the hollow of a balin
fometimes alfo
this middle is furniflied with other rays that
are (horter, which rifing lefs obliquely form,
with the others, nearly the figure of a half
fphere with the convex fide uppermoft.
Each of thefe rays is terminated not by a
flower, but by another fet of fmaller rays,
crov/ning each of the former exadly as the firft
crown the flem.
Here then are two fimilar and fuccefllve
:

JIa

is

the

angle formed by a leaf or branch wiih

the ftcm.
s

The

figure

Is

that of an inverted cone,

orders

L E T T E R

50

V.

one of large rays, terminating tficJ

ftemj another of fmaller ravs, like the othersj
each of them terminating the great ones ^.
The rays of the little umbels are no farther fubdivided, but each of them is the pedicle to a little flower, of which we ihall

orders:

fpeak prefently.
If you can frame an idea of the figure
which I havejud: defcribed, you will underftand the difpofition of the flowers in the

of umbelliferous or umbellate plants :

umbella being the Latin word for an umbrella.
Though this regular difpolition of the
be llriking, and fufliciently
frudification
confiant in all theumbeilate plants, it is not
tribe

however which confl:itutes the character

of the tribe. This is taken from the ftrudure
of the flower itfelf, which muft therefore be

that

defcribed.

But

it

clearnefs,

is

expedient, for the fake of greater

to give

you in

this

place a general

diftlndion with regard to the relative difpofition of the flower and fruit in all plants ;

a diflindiion which extremely facilitates their

methodical arrangement, whatever fy flem you

adopt for that purpofe.

The

for inftance,
^

number of plants, as the pink ',

have the germ inclofed within

greater

Linnseus

fet the partial

calls the firft the univerfal

and the fcond

umbel.

^
Orjalniine, rofemary, fiige, borage, primrofe, plum,
cherry; all the ringent, cruciform, iniJ papilionaceous

tribes; all the

compound

flowers, &c.

the

L E T T E R

V.

51

the flower; thefe are called inferior JlowerSy

as inclofing or being below the germ.
Many however have the germ placed below
the flower, as in the role ^
for the hip,
which is the fruit of it, is that green tumid
body which you fee under the calyx, and
this with the corol crowns the germ, and does
not envelop it, as in the former cafe
fuch
are called fuperior flowers^ as being above
the germ.
-,

The
flower.

umbellate

The

plants

has

corol

have
five

fuperior

called

petals,

frequently the two outmofl:

petals of the flowers at the extremity of the

regular, though

umbel

are larger than the three others.

The form of

thefe

different genera, but

it

petals
is

varies

in

the

ufually cordate or

They are very narrow next

the germ, but gradually widen towards the
end, which is emarginate, or flightly notched ;
or elfe they finifh in a point, which being
folded back, gives the petal the air of being
emarginate.
Between each petal is a ftamen, and the
anther generally flanding out beyond the
corol; the five flamens are more viiible than
the five petals.
1 make no mention here of
the calyx, becaufe it is not very diftindt in
the umbellate plants.
heart-fhaped.

Scabious,

honcyfuckle, currant,

goofcberry,

Ihow-drop, narcifTus, hawthorn, pear, apple,

elder,

&:c.

From

L E T T E R

52

V.

From

the centre of the flower arife two

each furnifhed with its (ligma, and
fufficientiy npparent; thefe are permanent, or
continue after the petals and ftamens fall off,
flyles,

to

crown the

The

fruit.

is an obmiddle,
opens
the
in
;
and is divided into two naked feeds fattened to
the pedicle, which with an art that merits our
admiration, divides in two, as well as the fruit,
and keeps the feeds feparately fufpended till

mofi: ufual figure of this fruit

long oval

when

ripe

it

they fall.
All thefe proportions vary in the different
genera, but this is the moft common order. It
requires a very attentive eye to diftinguiOi accurately objeds fo minute without a glafs; but
they are fo deferving of attention, that we cannot regret the trouble of it.
This then is the proper charader of the umA fuperior corol of five petals,
bellate tribe.
five ftamens, two ftyles, upon a naked fruit
compofed of two feeds growing together.
Whenever you find thefe charaders united
in one fructification, be fure that the plant is
of this tribe, even though in other refpeds it
Ihould have nothing in its arrangement of the

And if you fliould

order before laid down.
find all this order conformable to my defcription, and fee it however contradidted by the
examination of the flower, be fure that you are
deceived.

For

inftance, if

it

fhould happen that after

having

LETTER

V.

53

having read my letter you fliould walk out

and find an elder in flower I am almolt certain that at firft fight you would fay, here is an
In looking at it, you would
umbellate plant.
find a large or univerlal umbel, a finall or partial umbel, little white flowers, a fuperior corol,
and five ftamens; it is certainly an umbellate
plant, fay you.

But

let

us fee,

let

of

five

us take a

fiov/er.

In the

firfl

place,

inftead

petals,

find a corol divided into five parts indeed, but

all

of one piece.

Now

late plants are not

the flowers of umbel-'

monopetalous.

There

are

five Itamens, but I fee no flyles, and I more

often fee three ftigmas than twoj more often
Now the umbellate
three feeds than two.
plants have never more or lefs than two flig-

mas, and two feeds to each flower. Laflly,

the fruit of the elder is a fofc berry, and that of
The elder
the umbellate tribe dry and naked.
umbellate
plant.
an
then is not
If now you go back and infpe6t with more
accuracy the difpofition of the flowers, you
w^ill fee that the elder has the ilrudure of the

Though
umbellate tribe only in appearance.
the principal rays proceed from the fame
centre 3 the fmaller ones are irregular, and the
flowers are born on a feccnd fubdivifion: in
fhort, the whole has not iic order and regularity which we find in the umbellave plants.
The arrangement of the flowers in the elder is
Thus by making a blunder
called a cyme.

fometimcs.

54

LETTER

fomtimes,

we

V.

learn to fee with

more accu-

racy.

or nothing
and yet it is
one, becaufe it has all the charaders of the
frudincation.
If you were by the, fea fide ^,
you would eafily know it by the blqifl: colour
of the leaves, by their pricklinefs, and by the
fmooth membranous confiilcnce of them like
parchment. But this plant is uncommon in
other iituations, is rough and untradlable, has
not beauty enough to make you amends for
the wounds it will give you in examining it;
and though it were ever fo beautiful, my little
coufm would foon be difgufted at handling fo
ill-humoured a plant.
The umbelliferous tribe is numerous, and

Eryngo,on the contrary, has

little

the air of an umbelliferous plant,

fo natural, ihat

it is

very difficult to diftinguilh

they are relations, whom we often

the p-enera
take for each other, on account cf their great
To affift us in diftinguiihing
refemblance.
:

them, principal differences are noticed which

are fomctimes uieful, but which we muft not
depend upon too much. The focus of the rays
both m the larger or univerfd,and in the Imalier
it is
or partial umbel, is not always naked
This
f:>nietimes furrounded with fmall leaves.
j

fet oi fm^.li leaves

When
fal

'

ic

is

umbel,
Ervngo

or folioles

is

called involucre.

placed at the origin of the univernamed the univerfai involucre;

it is

is

alfo very

common

by road

fides in

France,

but not with us.

and

LETTER
and when
is

named

at the origin

V.

of the

the partial involucre.

T9

umbel, it
This gives rife

partial

to three fedions of umbellate plants.

1. Thofe which have both involucres.
2.

Thofe which have

partial

involucres

only.
3. Thofe which have neither.
There feems a fourth divifion wanting of
thofe which have an univerfal involucre only;
but there is no genus which is conllantly fo.
Your aftonifhing progrefs, my dear coulin,
and unwearied patience, have emboldened me
fo much, that not regarding your fufFerings, I

have ventured to defcribe the umbellate plants,

without fixing your eyes upon any model,
which muft needs have rendered your attention
much more fatiguing. I am certain, however,
that, reading as you do, after you have looked
over my letter once or twice, an umbellate plant
in flower will not efcapeyou; and at this feafon you cannot fail finding many, both in the
gardens and the fields.
Moft of them have their little flowers white.
As the carrot, chervil, pariley, hemlock, fool's
pariley, angelica, cow parfnep, water parfnep,
burnet faxiirage, pig nuts, cow weed, &c. "".
Some, as fennei, dill, parfnep, have yellow
flowers ; there are fome few v/nh reddifh flowers, but none of any other colour.
">
Here, and in other places,
Hudlbn's Flora.

fet

down

the

names of

Here,

LETTER

5^

Here, you will

V.

me, may be

good ge-

neral notion of umbellate plants; but

how will

tell

vague knowledge enlbre me from confounding fool's parfley with true parfley or
chervii, which you have mentioned all together? The m-eanefl: kitchen-maid will knowmore of this matter than we with all our learning.
You are right. But however if we begin with obfervations in detail, we (hall foon
be overwhelmed with the number of them; our
memory will abandon us, and we fliall be loft
all this

the

whereas

we make in this vaft region;

we begin with knowing the great
we fhall feldom be loft in the by^

ilep

iiril

if

roads well,

ftiall always find our way again without much trouble.

Let us, however, admit an
exception in favour of the utility of the obje^ft,
and let us not expofe ourfelves, vvhilft we are

paths, and

analyfing the vegetable

kingdom,

to eat fool's

parfley with our meat, or in our foup,

through

mere ignorance.
This plant, which

weed

gardens,

is

fo

common

in

of the umbellate tribe, as well as

parfley and chervil.
It has a white flower as
well as they ", it is in the fame fedion with
the latter, among tbofe which have the partial,
is

" The flower of parfley is yellowifl"!.

But the flowers
appear yellow in many ot the umbellate plants, from the
gtrm and anthers being fo, though the corol is white.
Kcujfeau.
The germ and anthers alfo are frequently large
in proportion to the fjze of tliefe minute flowers, and the
corol eafily falls oft", efptcially with wet.

and

L E T T E R

V.

and not the univerfal involucre

them

in its foliage that it

is

S7
It

is

fo like

not eafy to mark

But here follow

the difference in writing.
charaders fufficient to prevent you from being

mi (taken.

You mud

confider thefe plants

when they

are all in flower; for in that ftate only they

The fool's
proper charader.
parfley (thufa cynapium) has under every
partial umbel an involucre of three narrow,
long, pointed folioles, all placed on the outer
part of the umbel, and hanging down ; whereas the folioles of the partial umbels in the chervil furround it entirely, and grow equally on
every lide : and as to pariley, it has only a few
have

their

fliort folioles,

line almofi: as hairs,

and

diilri-

buted indifferently at the bafe of both umbels.

When

you

very certain

are

parfley in flower,

you

your judgment by

flightly

its

of the fool's

will confinm yourfelf in

bruiflngandfmelling

foliage^ for the difagreeable

venomous fmell

you to confound it with

which have both rather a
Very certain at length, not to
pleafant fmeil.
make a miftake, you will examine thefe three
will

no longer

fuffer

parfley or chervil,

plants together and feparately in every

and

fliate,

in all their parts, efpecially in their foliage,

which accompanies them more conftantly than

the fiower; and by this examination compared
and repeated, till you have acquired certainty
at fight, you will be able to know and diftinguifli thin

without the

leaft

trouble.

Thus
does

58

LETTER

V,

does ftudy bring us to the very door of practice ^ after which the latter confers the facihty

of knowing things.

Take breath, dear coufin, for this is an unconfcionable letter; and yet I dare not promife
you more difcretion in the next; after that
however we fliall have nothing before us but
You deferve a
a path bordered with flov/ers.
garland for the cheerfulnefs and perfeverance
with which you have condefcended to follow

me

through thefe briars, without bein? dif-

couraged; at their thorns.

59

LETTER
May

VI.

the 22d, 177

O'

THOUGH

there is ftill, dear couGn, a

great deal wanting to complete our idea

of the five former tribes of plants, and I have

not always known how to adapt my defcriptions to the underftaiiding of our young botaniftj I flatter myfelf however that 1 have
given you fuch an idea of them, as to enable
you, after fome months herborization, to render the air, port or kahit of each tribe familiar
to you
fo, that when you fee a plant, you may
conjedure nearly whether it belongs to one of
thefe five tribes, and to which; provided always that by an analylis of the frudtification,
you afterwards fee whether you may not have
been deceived in your ccnjeclure. The umbellate plants, for inftance, have thrown you
into fome embarrafTment, from which however you may eafily efcape when you p'ieafe, by
means of the hints which, I hive fubjoined to
my defcriptions. In Ihort, carrots and parfneps are fo common, that nothing is eaficr in
the middle of lummer than for the gardener to
fend you one or other of them in flower out of
^

the kitchen garden,

Now

from the mere

view of aa umbel, and the plant which bears
it.

L E T T E R

6o

VI.

you mufl acquire fo clear an idea of the umbellate tribe, that you will rarely be deceived
at firit fight, whenever you meet with one.
This is all that I have hitherto pretended, for
we hive nothing to do yet with genera ai^d
fpecies j and I repeat it once more, that it is not
the nomenclature of a parrot which 1 wiih you
to acquire, but a real fcience, and one of the
it,

fciences that

moll: delightful

before

it is

poffible to

go on therefore to our fixth tribe

It may
take a more methodical road.

cultivate.
I

perhaps at firft embarrafs you as much, if not

more than the umbellate plants. But my deiign at prefent is nothing more than to give
you a general notion of it, efpecially as we have
W plenty of time, before the generality of
thefe plants are in full flower; and the inter-

employed, will fmooth thofe difficulagainft which we have not ftrength to con-

val, well
ties

tend.

Take one of
this feafon,

every body
at

it

will

thofe

cover

all

knows by

well, for

by

be furprifed

its

little

flowers which, at

the paflures, and

which

the name of Jai/y, Look

appearance, I am fure you

when

I tell

you, that this

which is fo Imall and delicate, is realcompofed

of between two and three hundred
y
other flowers, all of them perfed: ; that is,
flower,

having each its corol, germ, pillil, flamens,

and {ccd in a word, as perfecft in its fpecies as
Every one
a flower of the hyacinth or lily.
of thofe leaves which are white above and red
;

underneath.

LETTER

VL

underneath, and form a kind of crown round

the flower, appearing to be nothing more than
little petals, are in reality fo

and

many

true flowers

every one of thofe tiny yellow things alfo

which you fee in the centre, and which at firft

you have perhaps taken for nothing but ftamens, are real flowers. If your fingers were
already exercifed in botanical diflTcdions, and
you were armed with a good glafs, and plenty
of patience, I might convince you of the truth
of this; but at prefent you muft begin, if you
pleafe, by believing me on my word, for fear
of fatiguing your attention upon atoms. Howyou
one of the white
ever,

to put

at leaft in the

way, pull out

from the flower; you

will think at firfl that it is flat from one end
to the other; but look carefully at the end by
which it was faftened to the flower, and
you will fee that it is not flat, but round and
hollow in form of a tube; and that a little
thread ending in two horns iflues from the
leaves

tube; this thread

flower, which, as

is

the forked flyle of the

you now

fee, is flat

only at

top.

Now look at thofe little yellow things in

the middle of the flower, and which as 1 have
told you are all fo many flowers; if the flower
befufliciently advanced, you will fee feveral of
them open in the middle, and even cut into
feveral parts.

Thefe are monopetalous corols which expand, and a glafs will eaiily difcover in them
the

62

LETTER

V.

the pftil, and even the anthers with which it

Commonly the yellow florets
is furrounded.
towards the centre are ftill rounded andclofedo
Thefe however are flowers like the others, but
not yet open for they expand fucceffively from
-,

the edge inwards.

you by the
fmall
fo

is

enough

poffibility

to

fhow

that all ihefe

both white and yellow, may be

is a con-

diftind flowers; and this

fiant fact.

thefe

eye, the

affairs,

many

This

little

You

perceive, neverthelefs, that all

flowers are prefTed, and inclofed in

a calyx, which is common to them all, and

In confidering then
is that of the daify.
the whole daify as one flower, we give it a very
lignificant name, when we call it a compound

which

jower.

Now there are many genera and fpecies

of flowers formed, like the daify, of an aflem*

blage of other fmaller flowers, contained in a
common calyx. This is what conftitutes the
propofed to treat, namely that of the compoimd fiowers.
Let us begin by avoiding ail ambiguity with
iixth tribe, of

which

regard to the word flower, which we may do

in the prefent cafe by reftraining it to the compound flower, and giving the name o Jlojciiles

or florets to the little component flowers; but

in the midft of this verbal preciflon let us not
forget that each of thefe florets is a genuine
flower.

You
daify:

have obferved two forts of florets in the

the yellow ones, which occupy the
middle
2

L E T T E R

VI.

iniddle or difk of the flower,

63

and the

little

white tongues or ftraps which furround them.

The former are fomething like the flowers
of the Hly of the valley, or hyacinth, in miniature
and the latter bear fome refembJance
to thofe of the honeyfuckle.
fhall leave
to the firft the name o floret i
and to diiiin:

We

-,

guifli

rets

the fcond
for

in

we

reality

fliall

call

they have

them
a

femi-fio-

little

the

of monopetalous flovv'ers gnawed oiF on

one \^i and having fcarcely half the coroi
remaining.
Thefe two forts of florets arc combined in
the compound flowers in fuch a manner, as
air

to divide the

whole

tribe

into three fedionSj,

very diftind from each other.

The firft fedion confifts of thofe which are
entirely compofed of femiflorets, both in the
middle and circumference; thefe are called

and the whole is always of one colour, which is generally yellow.

Such is the common dandelion, the
lettuce and fowthillle ; the fuccory and endive, which have blue flowers; the fcorzonera, fallafy, &c.
The fcond fedion comprehends the jlofciiloiu flowcrsy
or fuch as are compofed of

femi-flofculous flowers^

only: thefe are alfo commonly of

one colour; as immortal flowers, burdock,
florets

Linnaeus

alfo calls thefe lguats flowers,

from Ugula

ttrap.

worm-

LETTER

64

V.

wormwood, mugwort, thiftles, and artichokcj

which is nearly allied to them it is the calyx
:

we

and the receptacle

yet young, t)efore
The
the flower opens, or is even formed.
choke, which we take out of the middle, is
an aflemblage of florets which are beginning
to be formed, and are feparated from each
other by long hairs fixed in the receptacle.
that

of this
that

we

The

fuck,

whilfl

eat,

it

third feiflion

of both

thefe.

that the florets

and

flower,

They

is

is

of flowers compofed

are always fo arranged

occupy the

centre of

the femi-florets the

the

circumfe-

The
rence, as you have feen in the daify.
flowers of this felion are called radiate.
Botanifls have given the

name of

ray to the

which compofe the

cirof femi-florets
cumference ; and of dijk to the area or centre of the flower occupied by the florets.
This name of diflc is fometimes given to the
furfiKe of the receptacle in which all the
In the
florets and femi-fl.orets are fixed.
radiate flowers the difk is often of one colour,
and the ray of another ; there are, however,
genera and fpecies in which both are alike.
Let us endeavour now to fix in your mind
The common
an idea of a compound Joiver.
fet

blow at this ieafon ; the flower is

you lliould take one in hand, feeing fo many little flowers aflembled, you
might be tempted to take the v^hole for a
compound flowtr. You would however be
miftaken;
I
clover

is

in

purple

if

L E T T E R

V.

Why in

what? fay you.

aflemblage of many
an
pofingthat
in

ifhiftaken;

ers

to

fufficient

is

flower

whereas,

conftitute a

befldes

thil,

parts of the frudification muft be

them
in

and no one hive

it,

two

thefe

and

fo that every

all;

parts

receptacle.

6
fapflow-

compound
one Or two

common

to

one mull: have a part

its

own

common
The flower

in

little

feparately

the calyx
of the clover

are

indeed, or rather the group of flowers,

which

has the appearance of being but one flower,

feems at firft to be placed Upon a fort of
calyx ; but remove this pretended calyx a
little, and you will perceive that it does not
belong to the flower, but that it is fan:ened

below
then

it

flower

it
;

it.

This

calyx only in appearante ; but in

belongs to th foliage, not to the
and this fuppofed compound flower
a

is

reality

to the pedicle that bears

only an aflfemblage of very fmall leguminous or papilionaceous flowers, each of which

has its diftlnd calyx, and they have nothing
common to them but their being fafteUed to
the fame pedicle.
Vulgarly all this is taken
for one flower ; it is a falfe idea however, or
if we mufl: look upon it as fuch, we mufl: not
at lead call it a compound, but an aggregate
or capitate flower, or a head of flowers 3 and
thefe terms are fometimes fo applied by bo^
is

tanical writers.

This, dear coufln, is the mofl: Ample and

natural notion I can give you of this nu-

merous

^6

LETTER

V.

nierous clafs of compound flowers, and the

I
three fedions into which it is lubdivided.
the
frudificanow come to the ftradure of

and this perhaps

character of it
the
determine
will bring us to
with more precifion.
The moft eflential part of a compound

tions particular to this clafs,

flower is the receptacle j upon which are

placed firfl: the florets and femi-florets, and
then the feeds which fucceed them. This
receptacle, which forms a difk of feme extent,
makes the centre of the calyx, as you may fee
in the dandelion, which we will here take as

The

an inflance.

monly divided
bafe, that

it

calyx in this tribe

into feveral parts,

may

clofe,

is

down

comto the

open again, and turn

does during the progrefs of the

The cafrudification, without being torn.

back, as

it

formed of two rows of

folioles, inferted into each other; and the folioles of the outer row turn back and curl
lyx of the dandelion

is

downwards towards the pedicle,

folioles of the inner row continue

the

whilfl:

ftraight,

to

furround and hold in the femi-florets eompofing the flower.

One of the moft: common forms alfo of
the calyx in this clafs is the imbricatCy or that
which is made up of feveral rows of folioles,
laying over each other like tiles on a roof.
The artichoke, blue-bottle, knapweeds, and
fcorzoneras, may ferve as inftances of imbricate calyxes.

The

L E T T E R
The

VI.

67

and femi-florets inclofed within

the calyx are placed very thick upon the difk
or receptacle in form of a quincunx, or the
Sometimes they
checks upon a chefs-board.
touch each other without any thing interpofcd between them ; fometimes they are
Separated by partitions of hairs, or fmall fcales,
florets

which continue

faft

to

the

receptacle after

You are now in the

the feeds are fallen.
way to obferve the differences of calyxes and
receptacles : we will go on then to the ftructure of florets, and femiflorets, beginning
with the former.

floret

monly

is

monopetalous flower, com-

regular, v/ith the corol divided at top

into four or five

parts.

The

five

filaments

of the fl:amen3 are faftened

to the tube of
they are united at top into a little
round tube, which furrounds the piflil, and
this tube is the five anthers united circularly
into one body.
This union of the anthers,
according to modern botanifis, forms the effential charadler of compound flowers, and
belongs -to their florets only, exclufively of
this corol

all

others.

flowers

oufes

If therefore

upon the fame

and

teafels,

you

diflc,

unlefs

as

the

find
in the

feveral

fcabi-

anthers

are

united in a tube round the pifdl, and the

corol fliands upon one naked feed ; fuch
flowers are not florets, nor do they forrh
a compound flower. On the contrary, whenever you find in a fingle flower the anthers
F2
thus

L E T T E R

68
thus

united,

fingle

fred,

and a
this

fuperior

flower,

V7.
corol

though

fole,

on
is

a
a

genuine floret, and belongs to the compound

tribe ; for it is better thus to take the character from a prccife ftrudure than from a
deceitful appearance.

The

piftil

has

the

ftyle generally

longer

than the floret, above which it rifes through

the tube formed by the anthers,
[t is mofl
frequently terminated at top by a forked

two curling horns of which are

very vifible.
The piflil does not reft upon
the receptacle any more than the floret, but
ftigma, the

both upon the germ, which ferves them as a

bafe, and grows and lengthens as the floret
withers, becoming in time a longifli feed, remaining faftened to the receptacle till it is
ripe: then it falls, if it be naked, or the wind
wafts it to a diftance if it be crowned with
an egret of feathers or hairs, and the receptacle remains quite naked in fome genera, but
is furnifhed with fcales or hairs in others.

The

ftrudure of the femiflorets is like that

florets ; the ftamens, the piftil, and
the feed, are arranged almoft in the fame
manner; only in the radiate flowers there are
many genera, wherein the femiflorets of the
ray are apt to be abortive, either beeaufe they
have no ftamens, or beeaufe thofe which they
have are barren: in fuch cafes the flower
feeds only by the florets in the middle p.

of th^

Sunflower.

In

LETTER

VI.

69

la the whole compound clafs, the feed is

always feflile, that is, it bears immediately
upon the receptacle without any intermediate pedicle.

the

down

But there are feeds in which

or egret which crowns them is

and others in which it is faftened

by a pedicle ^ You underftand
that the ufe of this down is to fpread the
feeds about to a diftance, by giving the air
more hold upon them.
felTile';

to the feed

To thefe irregular imperfed: defcriptions

fhould add that the calyx has generally the
property of opening when the flower expands ;
of clofing when the florets fall off, in order
to confine the young feed, and to hinder it
from falHng before it is ripe j and laftly, of

opening again and turning quite back to give

a larger area
flze as they

to the

grow

feeds

which

increafe in

You mufl often have

feen the dandelion in this ftate, when children
gather it, to blow off the down that forms a
ball

ripe.

round the reverted caly^^

Tq

underftand this clafs well, you mufl

follow the flowers from before their expanfion to the

maturity of the fruity and in

this fucceffion you will fee transformations
and a chain of wonders, which will keep
every fenfible mind that obferves them in a
continual admiration.
One flower proper
full

for thefe obfervations

is

the funflower,

"3

Thiflles, artichoke.

Lettuce, dandelion.
i''

which

is

LETTER

70
is

VI.

radiate; as are alfo ox-eye, Chincfe after,

and many others, which

are the

the borders in autumn.

that there are thirties for

ornament of
have already faid
the flofculous, and

fcorzonera and dandelion for the femi-flofAll thefe are large enough
culous flowers.
to be dilTecfted, and ftudied with the naked

much.
more
I will not trouble you
upon the tribe or clafs of compound flowers.

eye, without fatiguing yourfelf too

at

prefent any

I tremble already at having abufcd your patience too

much by

been clearer

them

fhorter

if I
j

but

avoid the diflculty

nefs of objeds.

details

which would have

had known
it

is

how

to

impoffiblc for

arifing

make

me

to

from the fmall-

Adieu, dear coufm.

71

LETTER
HERE,

VIL

dear coufin you have the

names

of thofe plants which you fent me laft.

mark of interrogation to thofe
vt'hich I had any doubt of, becaufe you had
not tiken care to put the leaves v^^ith the
I have put a

fiower, and they are often neceffary to determine the foecies, efpecially to fo flendcr a
botanift as I

am.

When you arrive at Fourmod of the fruit-trees in

you will find

and 1 remember yon requefted fome
j
At prediredlions from me upon this article.
fent I can only give you fome hints upon the
fubjel, becaafe 1 am very bufy ; and yet I
would not have you lofe the feafon for this

rire

flower

examination.

You

mull: not,

my

dear friend,

give

more

importance to Botany than it really has ; it

is a ftudy of pure curiofity, and has no other
real ufe than that, which a thinking fenfible
being may deduce from the obfervation of
nature and the wonders of the univerfe.
Man has changed the nature of many
things to convert

them

better to his

own

ufe

blamed ; but then

it is neverthelefs true that he has often diffigured them, and that when he thinks he is
fludying nature in the works of his own
This error
hands, he is frequently miftaken.
in

that

he

is

not to be

F4

is

Letter

fi

vil

found above all iii civil fociety ; but k

has a place aifo in gardens.
The double
flowers, which we admire fb much in our
borders and beds, are but monftcrs, deprived
of the power of producing their like ; a power
with which nature has endowed every organized being.
Fruit-trees are fomewhat in
the mc cafe, by being ingrafted
you may
s

-,

plant the pips or feeds of pears and apples of

the beft forts, but they will produce nothing

but wildings.
To know then the pear and
the apple of nature, you muft not look for
them in orchards, but in woods. The flefh
or pulp is not fo large and fucculent, but
the feeds ripen better, multiply more, and
the trees are vaftly bigger, and more vigorous.
Eut I am entering on a fubje that
would carry me too far : let us return to
the orchard.

Our
ferve

fruit -trees,

all

diflinguifh

the

though ingrafted,

botanical

them

and

it

chara(5ters
is

by an attentive

confideration of thefe charad^ers, as

by the transformation of the

pre-

which
well as

graft, that

we

afcertain there being but

one fpecies of pear,

for inftance, under thoufand different names,
by which the fhape and tafte of their fruits
has caufed them to be diftinguilhed in?o fo
piany pretended fpecies, which are at bottom,
but varieties
nay more, the pear and apple are only two forts or fpecies of the fame
:

kind or genus, and their only charadteriftic

difference

LETTER
jdifFerence is, that the ftalk

VIL

73

of the apple enters

into a hollow in the fruit, and that of the

pear is faftened to the narrow part of a fruit

In the fame mana little lengthened out .

ner the different forts of cherries are nothing
all the
but varieties of the fame fpecies
but
are
plums
one fpecies of pluni; nay
the genus of prunus or plum contains three
principal fpecies ^ the pium properly fo called,
the cherry and the apricot, which alfo is
only a fpecies of plum.
Thus when the
learned Linnaeus, in dividing the genus into
-,

enumerated the domeftic plum,

and the plum apricot*;
the plum
ignorant people have laughed at him, but
obfervers have admired the juftnefs of his

lis

fpecies, has

cherry,

arrangement.

The

belong moftly to a numewhich has a charader not difficult

fruit-trees

rous tribe,

the ftamens, which are many in

number, inilead of arifmg from the recep-

to feize

tacle, are faiiened to the calyx, either

Nor

common

imme-

this always confiant, fome pears having the

{hape of the apple.
It is extremely difficult to

is

permanent differences between fruits,

diftinguiihed by every body at firft fight.
find any

which are

We may

add,
purols of the pear are white, thofe of
the apple red on the outfiJe : the appie alfo has a firmer
pulp, and none of thofe tubercles which fome forts of
pear have : and, laftiy, the leaves of the pear are very

however, that

t[ie

fmooth ; thofe of the apple more rounded, lefs ferrated,

an4 villous underneath.
'
Prunus dorneftica. PrMnus Crafus. Pruiius Arme^iaca.

diately

LETTER

74

VIL

with thecorol, which is polypetalous, and confifts commonly of five petals.

The following are charaders of fome of the
diatey, or

principal genera.

The

pear,

comprehending

alfo

the apple

and the quince, has the calyx monophyllous,

divided into five fegmentsj the corol of five
petals faftened to the calyx, about twenty ftamens, all faftened likewife to the calyx. The

fruit, as

and there are fiveftyles. The

every body knows, is fiefhy, and has

five cells

containing the feeds.

germ

inferior,

is

The

genus plum, comprehending the apri-

cot and cherry, as was before obferved, and

alfo the laurel, has the calyx, corol, and ftamens nearly as in the pear. But, the germ is
fiiperior, or

one

ftyle.

flefhy,

within the corol; and there is but

The fruit is rather watery than

and contains

a ftone.

including the peach and

the plum, but the germ
Ike
nearine, is almoft
has a down upon it, and the fruit, which every
body knows is fucculent in the peach, and dry
in the almond, inclofes a hard ftone, which is
rough and full of cavities".

The genus almond,

All this is very roughly fketched out, but I

hope contains enough to amufe you for the
Adieu, dearcoufin.
prefent.
Befides thofe

mentioned above,

this clafs,

called ko-

Jandria by Linnaeus, contains other fruits, as the pomgranate, fervi^e, medlar, rafpberry, flrawbexry, &c.

IS

LETTER

VIII.

April the

THE

nth, 1773.

earth, dear coufin, begins to put

on

its green robe, the trees to bud, the

flowers to open ; fome are even already paft j
an iiiftant of delay would be the lofs of a whole
year for Botany
I proceed then without far^
:

ther preamble.
I fear

we have

hitherto treated our fubjedt

by not having applied

our ideas to determinate objeds it is a fault
which I have been guilty of, efpecially in the
umbellate tribe. If I had begun by fetting one
of them before your eyes, 1 fhouid have fpared
you a very fatiguing application to an imain too abftrad: a way,

ginary obje:, as well as a very difficult defcription to myfelf, and fuch as a lingle look would
have fupplied. Unfortunately, at a diftance
to which the law of neceffity reftrains me, I

am

not able to deliver the objects into your

but provided each of us can but fee
;
v/ith the fame eyes, we fhall underftand one
another very well, when we relate what we fee.

hand

The whole

difficulty

is,

that the

indication

mud come

from you 3 for to fend you dried

plants from hence, would be doing nothing.
To know a plant well you mufl: begin with
feeing it growing,
A hortus Jtccus^ by which
Latin

LETTER

76

Latin term

may

we

VIII,

call a colle(ftion

ferve to put

us in

of dried plants,

mind of

the plants

we

have once known; but gives us only a poor

knowledge of thofe which we have never (ecn
You therefore muft fend me fuch
before.
plants as you wifh to know, and have gathered
yourfelf; and it is my bufinefs to name, clafs,
and defcribe themj till by comparative ideas,
become familiar to your eyes and your underftanding, you arrive at clafTing, ranging, and
naming, by yourfelf, thofe which you fee for
the firit time: and this is the fcience which
diftjnguilhes the true botanift from the mere
herbarill:

here

is

or

nomenclator.

to learn

My

dtfign

then

you how to prepare, dry, and

or fpecimensof plants, in fuch

preferve plants,
a manner as that they

be eafily known
I propofe to you
and determined.
Here is a deal of
to begin a bortus Jiccus,
bufinels preparing at a diftance for our little
botanift: for at prefent, and for fome time to
come, the addrefs of your fingers mufl fupply

may

In a word,

the weaknefs of hers.

Firft, here is fome provifion to be made;
namely, five or fix quires of gray paper, and
almoll: as many of whjte, of the fame bignefs,
pretty llrcng and well fized, without

which

the fpecimens would rot in the gray paper,

the plants or at leafb the flowers would lofe
their colour, and this, of all the parts, is that

by which they are moft eafily known, and

which it is mofl pleafant to fee in a colleflion

LETTER
Ie6lion of dried

plants

"".

VIII.

were

It

^7
be

alfo to

wifhed that you had a prefs of the fame fize

with your paper, or at leaft two pieces of board
well planed, between which you may keep
your papers and fpecimens, prefTed by ftones
or any other weight, with which you may
When you have made
load the upper plank.
thefe preparations, you muft obferve the following rules, in order to prepare your plants
fo as to preferve them and know them again.
The precife time to gather your plant is

when

in full flower, or rather

it is

of the flowers begin to

fall,

which begins

the fruit,
pearance.

It

is

when fome

to give place to
to

at this time,

make
when

its

all

apparts

of the frudification are vifible, that you muft

endeavour to gather the plant in order to
dry it.
Small
earth
*

brown

may
make

may be taken whole with

which muft be brufhed, that no

plants

their roots,

remain.

ufe only of

paper,

unlefs

If the earth
what we vulgarly

have red,

commonly

is

call

wet,

it

whiteo-

called blot-

ting paper, which is preferable to all others, becaufe it

I change the fpecimens at leaft
is the moft abforbent.
once a day, feparating thofe which dry quick, from others
that are more fucculent, and therefore both require more

time, and more frequent changing: always fhifting them

into very dry papers. When the fpecimens are well dried
and quite ftiff, I lay them by in large ftrong white or carSome particular, plants require more attentridge paper.
tion to preferve their colours, and others lofe their coloors
with all the care we can take,

mud

mufl

either be dried,

that

VII.

may be

it

bruflied,

root muft be wafhed ; but in this

or
cafe you (hould wipe it well, and dry it before you put it into the papers, without which
it would infallibly rot and injure the plants
elfe the

You

need not however preferve the

they have fome remarkable
for in mofl: plants the branchangularities
ing fibrous roots are fo alike, that it is not
worth the trouble. Nature, which has done
fo much for elegance and ornament, in the
form and colour of plants, in whatever ftrikes
near

it.

roots,

unlefs
-,

|!*

LETTER

yS

our

has deftined the

fight,

roots entirely

to

ufeful functions ; becaufe being concealed

within the earth, to give them an agreeable

flrudure, would have been to hide the light

under a bufliel.
Trees and all great plants can only be had

but then that fpecimen fhould

be fo well chofen, as to contain all the conftituent parts of the genus and fpecies, that
it may fuffice to know and determine the

by fpecimcns

plant from

whence

ficient that all

It is not fufit is taken.

the parts of the fructification

are diftinguifhable,

which would be enough

to determine the genus ; but the character

of the foliation and ramification alfo muft:

be fufiiciently

vifible

that

is,

the origin

and form of the leaves and branches, and

even as much as may be fome portion of
the main ftem itfelf ; for as you will fee in
2

the

LETTER
the fequel

this

all

alike

ferves to

79

diftinguifh the

fame genus, which are perthe flower and fruit.

If the

fpecies of the
fedlly

VIII.

in

branches are too

thick,

they

may be made

by cutting them with a iharp knife

underneath, as much as may be,
without cutting and mutilating the leaves.
There are botanifts who have the patience
to flit the bark, and draw the wood out fo
nicely, that when the bark is united again,
the branch feems to be entire though the
thinner,

nicely

wood is gone by which means there are

none of thofe inequalities and bumps, which
fpoil and disfigure a coUelion, and give a
bad form to the plants. Where the flowers
and leaves do not come out at the fame time,
or grow too far diflant from each other, you
:

will take a

little

branch

in flower,

and ano-

ther in leaf, and placing them together on

the fame leaf of your book, you thus have
before you different parts of the fame plant,

you a complete knowledge

plants where you find only the

fufhcient to give

of

it.

As

to

flower being either paft or not

yet come, you muft wait with patience till
leaves,

the

they fhow their faces, to be fully acquainted

with them,
plant being no more certainly
to be known by its foliage than a man by

his clothes.

Such is the choice that you fiiould make

in what you gather
you muft have a choice
as
alfo
to the time -in which you do it.
:

Plants

LETTER

8o

VIIL

Plants gathered in the morning before the dew

is off, or in the evening when it is damp, or
in the day-time when it is wet^ will not keep.

You mull

abfolutely choofe a dry feafon, and

and hotteft time of the

day, which in fummer is between eleven in
Even
the mornin? and five in the afternoon;
on
moillure
them,
leaft
you
find
the
then, if
you muft not take them, for they will certain-

eventhen, the

drieft

ly not keep.

When

you have gathered your fpecimens,

you muft bring them home as fooii as you
can, quite dry, to put and arrange them in
your papers. For this purpofe you lay down
at leaft one flieet of gray paper, upon this
half a (heet of white paper, and then your
all the parts of
and flowers, are well

plant, taking great care that

it,

efpecially the leaves

opened, and laid out in their natural fituaIf the plant is a little withered, withtion.
out being too much fo, it will generally
fpread out better upon the paper, with the
But there are rebellious
fingers and thumb.
up
ftart
on one fide, whilft yoii
plants which
To prevent
are ranging them on the other.
this inconvenience, I have leads, halfpence,

and farthings, which

I place

upon thofe

parts

I have juft put in order, whilft I am arranging the reft, fo that when I have done,
my plant is almoft covered with thefe pieces,
which keep it in its proper fituation. Then
you place another half fheet of white paper

that

upon

LE
upon the

T T E R

VIII.

8i

it with your band, to

keep the plant in the pofition you have given
it, bringing your left hand that prefes gradually forward, and at the fame time taking away the leads, &c. with your right;
then put another fheet of gray paper upon

preffing

firfl,

the fcond

v'hite

paper,

ling the plant, left

it

all

the while pref-

lofe the

pofition

you

have given it: upon the gray paper place

another half fheet of white, as before ^ upon
this another plant arranged and covered like
the former, till you have placed your whole
harveO:, which ought not to be too numerous
at once; both that your taik may not be too
laborious, and that your paper may not contrad: too much humidity during the drying;
Vv^hich would infallibly fpoil your plants, unlefs you haftened to change the papers with
the fame attention as before; this however is
what you muf} do from time to time, till your
fpecimens have taken their benr, and are ail
very dry.

Your pile of plants and papers thus arranged, muft be put into the prefs, without
which your
even ; fome

plants
are

for

will

not

prefiing

be

and
more,

fiat

them

others lefs;
as well as

changed,

experience will teach you this,

often the papers fhould be
without taking unnecefliry pains.

how

when your plants are quite dry, put

each of them feparately into a Iheet of paper,
one upon another, without other papers beLaftly,

tween

LETTER

82

VIL

tween, for which there is no occafion, and

you will thus begin a hortus jiccuSy which
will continually incrsafe with your knowledge, and at length contain the hidory of
the vegetation of the country.
all
Take
care always to keep your collelion very clofe,
and a little prcfled
without which the
plants, however dry they might be, will attracfl: the humidity of the air, and again get
out of form.
Now the ufe of all thefe pains is to arrive
at a knowledge of each particuhir plant, and
to underfland one another well when we talk
of them.
For this purpofe you muft gather two
fpecimens of each plant: one larger to be
-,

kept,

other fmaller to ftnd me.

the

You

muft number them carefully, fo tlat both

great and little fpecimen fhall always have
When you have a dozen
the fame number.
or two of fpecies thus dried, you will fend

them

me

to

in

parcel

little

by. the firft

I will fend you back their

names and deicriptions
by means of the
numbers you will know them in your col-

opportunity.

-,

and

lelion,

wherein,

This
rapid

is

after that

the certain

a progrefs

from your

in their

preruir.e,you

wav
as

natural flate,

examined them.
make as fecure and

firft

to

you can,

at

diftance

gni.le.

P. S. 1 forgot to tell 570U that the fame

papers may ferve over and over again, provided

LETTER
vided
well.

you

VIL

83

care to air and dry

that
I fhould alfo add here,

take

mufl be kept in the

of the houfe, and rather on the
hortiis Jiccus

the ground-floor.

them
your

drieft

part

firfl

than

LETTER

IX.

March

Have

the 25th,

1774.

your packets very fafe,

and cannot but admire the neatnefs with
which you have arranged your plants the
care you have taken in having all the parts
necefiary to determine both the genus and
and the brilliancy
fpecies in your fpecimens
Ail this
of colour in moft of the flowers.
the
female
better
how
much
{how
ferves to
fingers are adapted to fuch operations than
I am pleafed alfo to hear that our
ours.
little botanifi: had fo large a (hare in laying
out and drying thefe plants, which I fhall
carefully preferve as a memorial of the inBut what
duftry and adroitnefs of both.
received

all

-,

-,

me

the moll: pleafure is, to fee that you

have remarked with fo much fuccefs in general, to which of the natural clafTes your

gives

plants belong: fo that I

you have profited by

paid a due attention to

am

my
my

well

lefibns,

convinced
and have

letters.

What
for

reward, dear coufin, can I give you

your unwearied patience and perfeve-

following me through fo much

when your curiofity muft
abftradt matter,
needs have been piqued, and your defire of
being acquainted with the rank and names of
the beautiful objeds which you gathered,

rance

in

arranged,

LETTER
arranged, and dried, with fo

IX.

much

85
afFedlion,

muft have been awakened ? I have now, in

fome degree, endeavoured to content you, by
the paper which accompanies this, containing
the names of all the plants in your packets,
placed after the numbers which you have
put to them in your collection fo that to the
common objedts which you knew by rote,
you are now enabled to add a confiderable
number, whofe acquaintance you will value
more, becaufe you know them, upon thorough
You have therefore fo many
examination.
more points to reft upon ; but this is not
you cannot be a botanift till you
fufficient
are able to help yourfelf, to caft me off entirely, and to find out a plant with which
you are unacquainted. All this, however, will
and as
ftill require fome time and patience
you remember that you are not to take any
more fteps in this kingdom than are agreeyou are
able, you will inform me when
:

-,

tired.

Such information I propofe now to convey

and having initiated you
to you by degrees
by fliowing how you may determine the
clafs of fome plants, 1 will now open the
whole myftery, and inftrud you how to
To do this
determine the clafs of them all.
you muft learn a fyftem ; in which however
you are not to expert that all vegetables are
:

arranged in natural claiTes, fuch as I have

Jiitherto explained to you, but after an arti-

ficial

LETTER

26

IX.

method, the crder of nature not being

ficial

points yet unveiled to our mortal eyes.

in all

Your pains however will not have been

thrown away; becaufe I promilb you that
our

artificial

fyftem fnall preferve the natural

which you hive Audied

tribes

fo well.

Do

not fuffer yourfelf to be terrified at the

word fylem. I promife you there fhall be
little difficulty in it to you who h^v ; patience
and as little par.d^ of hard
and attention
-,

words

my

as pofiible,

only allowing

x\\t.

to

name

and orders \ The fyftem I propofe to you is not the French one by Touriiefort, which is very beautiful, and has great
I
merit 3 but the Swediih one by Linnaeus.
prefer this, becaufe it is mod complete, and
clafl'es

nioft in fafhion.

You

are fo

well acquainted with

all

the

of the frudification, that

what the ftamens and
Linnaeus
has
piftils are.
founded his claiTes
upon the former, and many of his orders
upon the latter of thefe. But at prefent the
conftituent parts

you need ndt be

cl ailes

will

told

furnifh

you with

fufticient

em-

ployment.
I

fuppofe you take a plant in hand that

The

Englifli

ftudent will find great advantage in

msny elementary books, explaining all the

in his own language.
Now alfohe has Linnaeus's
of vegct.ibles and genera tranflated.
And flud-

pofleffing

terms,
fyftem
ibn's Flora Anglica connects the Englifh ramps wiih
thofe of Linnaeus.

is

LETTER

^7

IX.

you have to
or
complete
fee is, whether the flowers are
perfed-, that is, have both fl:amens and piltils: if fo, view the flamens well, in order to
difcover whether they are entirely feparate
from the piftil and each other from top to
bottom, or united in fome part or other ; if
they are feparate, of the fame, or an indeterminate length, and lefs in number than
s

in full flower

the

iirft

thing

twentv, then the number alone will fuflice to

determine the clafs ; and thofe which Have
one fl:amen will belong to the firil clafs entitled monmidria ; thofe with two ftamens to
the fcond, diandria j thofe with three to the
third, triandria, and fo on to the tenth, en-

Thefe are Greek names,

titled decandritu
and fome of them not (hort ones iince however they] are only four-and-twenty in all,
you will indulge me fo far in time as to
have them by heart.
The flowers for examination {hould be gathered as nearly as
poifible in their natural ftatej for many of
thofe which are cultivated in gardens undergo range transformations, and either
lofe the ftamens and piftils entirely, or acquire an additional number.
The firft clafare not
fes, which have but few
ftan^iens,
fo liable to chan^^e
as thofe which have
o
:

mmy.
dalles

Thus
already

the

mentioned

nor in the fourth

fifth,

number

pentandria,

clals,

is

the

three

not variable

tetrandrta.

Ibme plants

in

have

In

the

more
than

L E T T E R

S8
than

IX.

proper quota of ftamens to the

when cultivated in gardens;
a very numerous clafs, and it is no

their

flower, at leaft

but this

is

wonder if we find fome few irregular among

To fecure you in fome meafure
fo many.
miftakes on this and other occafions,
muft obferve, that nature in general, carries a certain proportion through all the parts
of the fame work; and therefore if you have
a flower which has a calyx divided into five
fegments, and a corol confifting of five petals,
or divided into five parts; if you count fix

againfl:
I

or

fcvtn

itamens, be lure

and take the pains

to

all

infpec^l

is

not

right,

fome other
you d-

flowers of the fame fpecies, before

I
dare affirm fuch examination
termine.
will convince you that your flower belongs
to the fifth clafs, pe7itaiidriay in which the
In the
natural number of flamens is five.

hexandria, whofe beautiful flowfix fl:amens, I do not obferve fo con-

fixth clafs,
ers

have

one might expecft in

the objets of culture; you will however frequently count
more than fix fl:amens in the flowers of the
The flowers of the clafs heptajidria
tulip.
ftamens; but you will
fliould have feven
often find thofe of the horfe-chefnut pecfiderable a variation

plants

that are fo

as

much

As you will alfo fome

cant in this relpe:.
flowers in the three following dalles, octandria, which has eight, enneandria which
has nine, and dccandria which has ten fla-

me ns.

LETTER

IX.

89

names all imply. With a little

however to the proportion of the
parts, and by a repetition of your examination
where any doubt arifes, you will find thefe
mens,

as the

attention

ten ciafTes eafy to determine.

No

fiowers being known at prefent that

and regularly eleven ftamens,
conftantly
have
the eleventh clafs in the fyfiem of Linnaeus

which have twelve; and is

But the getherefore entitled dodecandria.
nera which have this precife number being

contains thofe

few; and, as I obferved before, the number

being uncertain when the ftamens are many;
all plants are included in this clafs that have
any number of ftamens from eleven to nineteen inclufive, provided they are difunited.
All plants that have more feparate flamens than thefe belong to one of the two
Here then you muft take
following clafles.
in anotlier confideration,

of the ftamens,

to

befides the

number

determine in which of

two clafTes you are to fearch for your

This confideration is, \ht jituation of
the ftamens; which in the clafs icofaridria^
is either on the calyx or corol, and in the
thirteenth, polyandria, on the bafe or receptacle of the flower.
This difference of fituathefe

plant.

only to be attended to in thofe fiowers which have many fi:amens; for you will
frequently obferve in the fifth clafs that the
monopetalous flowers have the fiamens growing- out of the corol ; but this circumitance
has
I
tion

is

LETTER

CO

IX.

has nothing to do in determining their clafs

The twelfth clafs has its name icojandria^
from the flowers in it having ufually twenty
llamens or thereabouts, at lead: in the greater
part of the genera: this circnmftance however is not to determine the clafs ; but all
plants which have many ftamens, that is,
more than nineteen, faftened either immediately, or mediately by means of the tails cf
the petals, to the calyx, are to be referred
to the clafs icofandria.
To affift you farther
in diftinguilhing the flowers of this from
thofe of the following clafs, it may be remarked that the calyx in this is m.onophyllous or all of one piece, and concave; and
the corol is fixed by its tail or fmall end into
the calyx, inilead cf the bafe or bottom of
the fiower, as it generally is in the other
clafTes.

When

on the contrary you

find

more than

nineteen detached Itamens in the fame flower,

xvith a piftil or piitils, and fituated on the
bafe or receptacle of the flower, that plant

mud

belong to the
many (lamens,

ing
Vary in
\\\

clafs pclyandria^

and

the

number from twenty

the different

genera.

figmfy-

flamens

may

to a thou find

Thefe

alio

either

hnve a polyphyllous calyx, that is, conjifling

of feveral folioles, generally five, or none at
all; though fomctimes it falls, off, as in the
poppy, when the flower opens.

\Ve

LETTER
We have

hitherto fuppofed

IK.

you

gi
to find ali

the ftamens of the fame length, or nearly fo;

or if not, P.ill we prefume that you have not

reguUr and determinate proNow on the conportion in theif kngths.

trary we fuppofe you to take up a flower which
has an appearance of regularity in its whole
flrudture; and, that on an attentive examination, you difcover four flamens, not all equal
in length, but ranged in one row, and the in^

found

a certain

ner pair (horter than the outer one.

This
plant will probably belong to the fourteenth
clafs the name of which is dtdy?ia777ia, fignifying that two of the ftamens are ftronger than

Here you will immediately peryou are got among your old acquaintance, for it w^ill itrike you that all the
flowers which have the charader juft defcribed
are either labiate or perfonate, and therefore
that you was miltrefs of the clafs didynamia,
before you knew that it had this Greek name \
All then that 1 need fay to you is, that Linnaeus makes the eflential characfter to conflft,
in the proportional arrangement of four ftamens above expreffed, accompanied with one
pillil, and invefted with an irregular monopethe others.

ceive that

talous corul.

There
with

yet another chfs of thefe plante

proportional flamens, which though
is

See letter IV,

you

LETTER

92

you do not know

IX.

by the dreadful long

name tetradynamia, is however one of your
firfl:
acquaintance under the gentler appellation of cruciform flowers ^
Thefe you re-

member have
other two:

it

four ftamens longer than

this is the claflical

the

charadler, and

hence its name.

For the other diftindlive
marks by which this clafs is readily known
at firfl: fight, you have them at your fingers ends.

You

now

of all thofe
clafTes which have the ftamens free, feparate, difunited.
If a flower that has both
ilamens and piflils fliould prefent itfelf, in
are

which you

pofTeffion

in

ftamens united at botto one of the three

clafTes: and if on the contrary they are
united at top, that is, the anthers form one
body, it will belong to the nineteenth

tom,
next

it

find the

certainly belongs

clafs.

In the fixteenth clafs called monadelphia,

the filaments are united fo as to form one
regular membrane at bottom, whilft they
are

diflindt

at

Of

top.

this

chara6ler you

have a clear and convincing inflance, in that

very common plant the mallow.
In fome
others however of this clafs the charader is
not fo evident, and without a careful infpecthe very bottom, you
be tempted to give them to ano-

tion of the flowers to

might

eaiily

See

letter II.

ther

L E T T E R

IX.

93

Obferve then farther, that the

flower has always a calyx, and frequently a
double one: that the corol confifts of five
heart-fliaped petals: that the receptacle of
ther clafs.

the fruit, as it is called, or the column to

which the feeds are faftened, projets above
them in the centre of the flower that the
germs furround this in a ring: that all the
:

flyles are united at

with the
into

many

as

and that

bottom and form one body

but are di-ided

receptacle,

thefe

threads

as

there

germs grow

capfule divided into as

into

many

are

at

germs:
of

a kind

cells as

are piftils, or confifling of the

top

fame

there

num-

ber of arils, which are lonfe coats covering

each feed feparately, and not eafily falling

from
In

it.

the

feventeenth

clafs,

diadelphia^

the

bottom; not however

Thefe flowers
into one, but two bodies.
alfo have but one piftil ; the fruit is a /?gume or pod and if I add that the flowers
are papilionaceous, you will immediately difcover that this is another clafs with which
you are perfectly acquainted, and with the
form of whole flowers you was fo much defilaments are united at

-,

lighted

^.

In the eighteenth clafs the filaments are

united in three or more bundles, and the
name of it is poiyadelphia. The union being
*

See

letter III,

generally

LETTER

94

the bottom

generally at

IX.
only, without ex-

tending up the filaments, and the flowers

having no diftinguifhing character, you muft
pull out the rtamens, in order to be certain
The
that the plant belongs to this clafs.
names of the three laft-mentioned clafles fignify literally one, two, and three brotherhoods.
of the filaments being joined
at bottom, they are free and diftindt, but
the anthers are connedled together, fo as to
form one body, then your plant will be found
But the flowers in
in the clafs fymgenefa.
the above-menand
this clafs being fmall,
tioned circumfl:ance not being the flrft that
If inftead

an examiner of flowers, it muft

be added that they are compound and this

will

ftrike

-,

one word

is

fuflicient to

overcome the whole

with you who know thefe flowers

at flrft flght, and have fo frequently difl^ecfted
the florets and femi-florets which compofe
difficulty

them %

Though

in

the four

laft clafl^es

the

fta-

mens have been in fome fort united; yet

both in thefe, and in all the former, they
have been found detached from the piftil, io
at leart as that the one may be taken off from
But what if a
the plant without the other.
flovv'er

*=

(hould occur

See Letter VI.

to

you

in

Syngenefia fignifies

which you
congeneration,

or union of the anther.

are

LETTER
are unable

to

contrary that
piftil itfelf

do

this,

the

Then,

IX.

95

but you find on the

grow upon the

ilaniens

I anfvver,

a dais entitled gynandria^

it

which

belongs to

the twenthe fyftem of Linnaeus, and derives

name from this peculiar circumibnce, by
is

tieth in
its

which it ftands infulated as it were, and

detached from all the others.
From the fingular pofition of the piflils in this clafs, arifes
a iingularity in the appearance and ihape of
the flowers in moft of the genera; and fome^
times the receptacle is lengthened out in
form of a %le, and bears both flamens and
pilVils

upon

it.

Hitherto you have been concerned with

fuch plants only as have flowers which I call
complete or perfed:, becaufe they have both
flamens and piftils.
But a plant perhaps
may have occurred to your obfcrvation, in
which you have found thefe parts always
in feparate, diiiin; flowers.

l\

this cafe I beo-

two words, and to call thofe

which have the flamens only jimniniferom^
and thofe which have the pifiils only pijiilliferous flowers.
Now when you find ih^c^
leave to coin

and thefe only on the fame

that
firfl:

tree or
clafs

in

tree or plant,
belongs to the twentythe arrangement of Linnseus,

plant

by him monoecia^ a term fignifying

one houfe: the flowers of different kinds
being produced in tlie fame habitation, or
on the fame mdividual plant. Whereas in
called

the

LETTER

90

the following

clafs,

IX.

thefe ftaminiferous

and

are not merely feparate

are always found on
other,
but
each
from
piftilliferous fiov/ers

diftinft

plants

of the

fame

fpecies,

and in

other refpeds fo alike, as not to be diftinThe

guifhed when they are out of flower.
name of this clafs therefore is dioecia, lignifying two houfes, and implying that incomplete flowers only are found in different habitations, or on feparate trees or plants, never

on the fame.
There remains now only one

poflible cafe

arrangement of conto
Suppofe you
fpicuous flowers, which is this.
find fome flowers that are complete ; and at
the fame time others which bear onlyftamens
or piftils, on the fame plant with the complete flowers, or on different plants of the
fame fpecies. There is a clafs, namely, the
twenty-third, provided for the reception of
fuch plants, and it is entitled pohgamia^ from
provide

for,

in the

this variety in the flowers.

For plants with inconfpicuous flowers, as

being of lefs confideration, there is only one
clafs provided ; and that is called cryptogamia, from the circumftance of the frudificabeing concealed, or not obvious to
tion
For the flowers in the mod perfe<fl:
our eyes.
of thefe are hardly to be diftinguifhed without a glafs, and in many not even with it ;
nay, the niofl: acute obfervers have not deteded flowers

in

them

all,

though

in

all

probability

LETTER
probability there

IX.

97

no vegetable without them.

They will be eafily known from plants with
confpicuous flowers, by their fingular ftrudture;
as you will readily acknowledge when
I inform you that the objeds of this, the loweft
clafs of vegetables, are ferns, mofles,
fea- weeds,
and fungufes and therefore when we talk
of
inconfpicuous flowers, we do not mean to include fuch as are deflitute of a magnificent
corol, but fuch only as have not the
fl:amens
and piftils vifible to the naked eye. But you
are too good an obferver to require fuch
adis

monitions.

By

this time you are doubtlefs

fufliciently fatigued, as well as myfelf,
with
all this dry matter^ and what is
worfe,

you

have not learnt to find out one plant: but patience; we are in the way, and have
made
great progrefs, though we are not arrived
at
the end of our journey.
We will foon make
another long ftage, unlefs you tell me you have
enough, and in that cafe I promife to trouble
you no more with this trafli; for if it does not
amufe and even intereft you, throw it at once
into the

fire.

98

LETTER

t.

May

the

ift,

1774.

PRESUMING,
already
flowers,

dear coufin, that you have

examined abundance of fpring

and determined

inftrudtions contained in

their clafles,

my

upon the

laft letter,

I fhall

proceed in this to give you the charaders of

If you
the orders, or divifions of the clalTes.
were to proceed at once to the examination of
the fpecies, all would be confufion; juft as if
you attempted to eflimate a vaft mixt multitude, fluduating in tumultuary diforder: but
if you have patience to make a regular progrefsj to throw this multitude into large bodies,
to fubdivide thefe into fmaller ones, and thefe
again into others fo fmall as to command them
well with the eye, you have at length a regular

army, which you can number, arrange, and

will now didifcipline at your pleafure.

We

our twenty-four regiments into their

Here I think you will
refpedive companies.
not find fo much difficulty as in the cirffes:
vide

for

the

orders

in

the

firll:

thirteen

clafTes

upon the 7mmber of the

the chief of your tafk here
wili be to learn fo many new terms, which
are formed by putting gynia inftead of andria

are founded wholly

piitils,

fo that

to

L E T T E R
to the*

Greek words

X.

99
numbers:
two piflils;

fignifying the

monogynia, one plflil; digynia,

fo on.
After the firft thirteen clafTes we no longer
ufe the piftils for the purpofe of fubdividing
In the clafs didynamia
the clafles into orders.
it would be nugatory, becaufe you have obferved that all the flowers of the ringent
zs

and

and no more. Here

to another circumwell.
extremely
For
flance which anfwers
we find that mofl of the plants which have
a labiate flower have four naked feeds at the
bottom of the calyx; and that the perfonate
flowers are fucceeded by a capfule containing
many fmall feeds: hence arifes an elegant,
commodious, obvious, and natural divifion of
the fourteenth clafs into two orders, gymnofpermia and angiofpermia-, the firft containing
all the ringent flowers with four naked feeds
ripening in the calyx: the fcond fuch as have
tribe have

then

one

we have

piilil,

recourfe

the feeds contained in a bilocular pericarp, or

feed-veflfel of two cells, and faftened to a receptacle in the middle of it.
In the next clafs, tetr adynamia^ the flowers
have alfo one piftil and no more. Here again
it is found convenient to take the fruit for the
fubdivifion of it into orders.
Thefe are called
jilkulofa and Jiliquofa, from the form of the
fruit, which we C2\\ Jtlicle znJiUque', having
only the word pod current in our language,
which will not fuflice to diftinguifh thefe

from

LETTER

100

X.

from each other, nor from the pod in the

leguminous tribe. The plants of the firft order then have a Jtlicle or fhort roundifh
pericarp; thofe of the fcond
fid que or ob"^

long narrow pericarp: both are bilocular; but

the rtrudlure has been already fufficiently explained K
In the 1 6th, 17th, and i8th clalTes it is

from the numHere then is no fort of difber of ftamens.

ficulty; and, what is very pleafant, you have no
new terms to burden the memory.
found

beft to take the orders

The

chief difficulty, with refpe(S to the or-

ders, lies in the

divilion of the

Q\2iis

fyngenejia,

compound

Tournefort's

flowers inKoJlofciilouSy

and radiate was pretty and obvious; but Linna&us's is abftrufe and difficult-

femi-flofculousy

I will explain
as I can.

You

it

to

you however

as clearly

are perfe: miftrefs of a

com-

pound

flower, and the different forts of

of which it is comp.ffd s.
I muft
next inform yoti, therefore, that whst yoa
know by the name of compound, is called
by Linnaeus a jlnfculom flower ; and that he
calls the florets, tubulous flofcules, and the
femi-florets, ligulate flofcules; this being premiled we may ufe the language of Linnsus
or Tournefort as we pleaf.
Now if you ex-

florets

amine thefe

flofcules nicely,

'

you

will difco-

See letter II.

Se letter VI.

ycr

L E T T E

X.

lor

vcr that they have fometimes both flamens

and

piftil ; but you will fee that others have

ftamens onlyj others again a piftil only: and
laftly, fome have neither ftamens nor piftil.
The tirft of thefe I call perfeB^' flofcules ; the

itQQXJaminiferons, the third pi/iiliferousy and

All thefe variathe fourth neuter flofcules.
tions are to be found both in the tubulous

and
and mufl be well attended
to, becaufe on thefe variations, affifted by the
form of the florets, Linnus has founded the
four firfl: orders of this clafs.
Folygamia qualis is the name of the firfl
order.
Folygamia is the family name, w^hich
this has in common with all the orders except
the lafl:; it is ufed only in oppofltion to mono^
gamia, and implies that there are many florets
inclofed within one common calyx; which is
your idea of a compound flower. The peculigulate flofcules

liar

name

cequalis fignifies equal,

regular, or

and implies that the whole flower is

regular, and that all the component flofcules
therefore, whether tubulous or ligulate, are
alike; and indeed they are not only fo, but
likewife perfed, or all furnidied v^rith flamens
and piflil; and therefore each followed by a
feed.
If thefi flowers have any ligulate flofcules, all the refl: are fo ; if any tubulous flofcules, all the reil are fo likewife, except in one
alike,

genus, v/hich has radiate flowers.

* Perfeifl at leaft in appearance, if not

always really

fo.

la

LETTER

102

X.

In the fcond order, pokgamia fuperflua, all

the florets of the diik, centre or middle of the
flower are perfect ; thofe of the ray or exterior
both of them produce
part piflilliferous
feed.
Mofl: of the flowers in this order are
radiate^ and then they are eafily known by
the circumftance of having fertile feeds both
in the diik and ray: but there are fome
which have tubulous florets only, and appear
:

like

the

diflc

of a radiate flower,

as

a daify

would look when fpoiled of its white femiflorets y

whence Pvay called them difcoid
flowers: in thefe however, on an attentive
infpedion, you will difcovtr that fome of the
outer ones are deficient in ftamens at leafl, if
Thefe are by much the
not in corol too.
largeft orders, each of them containing almoft double the number of genera, that are
in the three remaining orders of compound

flowers taken together.

The

third order of thefe

compound flow-

or of the clafs fyngenefm, is entitled fruftranea.

The charader of the order is, that
ers,

the florets in the

diflc

or

centre are

perfecft,

and produce feed; whilfl thofe of the ray are

imperfecft, and therefore abortive or fruftrate,
whence the nanie. This is a very fmall orcontaining only eight genera; of v/hich
and the eighth,
which however is a numerous one, has capitate flowers like the thiflies, but difi^ering from
them in having either neuter or abortive
der,

feven have radiate flowers,

florets

L E T T E R
next the calyx,

florets

blue-bottle;

in

X.

common

the

in

as

103

which the neuter

flofcules

much

by being

diftinguifli themfelves

larger

than the others 5 but on examination they

are mere corol, and nothing elfe.
In the fourth order, necejfaria, the florets
in the difk or middle are apparently perfect,
but are not really fo, and therefore produce

no

perfe: feed; whilft the piftilliferous flof-

cules in the ray or outfide of the flower are

All thefe have radiate flowers, except

two genera, wherein the exterior fertile

fertile.

in

have fcarcely any corol.

In the fifth order, polygamia

florets

there

is

common

fegregata,

calyx, as in the foregoing

orders; but belides that there

including
der a partial one,

this or-

in

is

one or more
which are thus feparated from each
other in a manner difl'erent from the reft of
the orders: and hence the name,
^y this
florets,

compound

order the
gate

flowers;

fuch

approach

as

the

the

teafel,

aggre-

fcabious,

&c. but then thefe have not the charader

of the clafs fyngenefia in the union of the
anthers.

The

flxth

or

jimple^ not

ftance

is

order

Lift

monogamia, becaufe

it

compound

is

entitled

flowers,

with

which circum-

abundantly fuflicient to
provided you attend

this order,

time to the

Amply

confifts of plants

difcri r.inate
at

the lame

claflical character.

We

LETTER

104

We

have

now,

dear

X.

coufin, happily, I

hope, pafTed the fool's bridge, and are arrived

fafely on the other fide, where the way is plain,
and we fliall foon get pleafantly to the end of
our flage. In fhort, the orders of the three
following claiTes, gynandria, monoecia, and dio^
eaa, being founded upon the flamens, and
taking their names from the foregoing clafles,
according to the number, and union or difunion of the ftamens in the refpedive flowers;
there is nothing new to be learnt in any of
thefe.

The twenty-third clafs indeed, polyga?nia,

has three orders, ariiing from the triple mode
in which the three forts of flowers may be
arranged ; either on the fame plant, on two
diftind plants, or on three.
fedl

When

the per-

and imperfed flowers are on the fame

plant, the order

is

entitled monoecia.

When

the perfe(5t flowers are on one plant, and

the imperftf; ones on a fcond of the fame
fpecies, the order is then entitled dioecia.

And when
plant

',

the

perfe(5l

flowers

flaminiferous ones on

are

on one

fcond, and

ones on a third, all of the fame

then fuch plant belongs to an order
called trioecia, flgnifying three houfes
the
three forts of flowers having three difliincl hapiftilliferous

fpecies;

-,

bitations.

The

laft

clafs

having no flowers whofe

by the naked eye; and
cryptogamia : having alfo

parts are difcernible

therefore

called

many

L E T T E R
many

X.

05

we are uncertain what

many in which we cati

genera in which

the frudification

no

is ;

:
the characof the orders can no longer be taken
from the ftamens ii d piilils. Fortunately the
plants of this clafs have a very particular flructure, fervine very well both to afcertain the
claffical chara(ft-er, and the divifion of it into
four Orders ; which are called I. Filices, or
Ill ^lg^, or
Ferns.
II Mufci, or MoiTes.
Sea-weeds ; and, IV. Fungi, or Fungufes.
The ferns modly have their frudification
upon the backs of their leaves. This, when
examined by the microfcope, appears to confift of a fcale arifing from the leaf, and opening

difcern

fructification at all

ters

on one fide; and under that, fome little balls

on pedicles, furrounded by an elaftic ring: in
due time the balls burft, and throw out a fine
Linduft, which is fuppofed to be the feed.
and the
naeus makes the fcale to be a calyx
:

globules are probably fo

many

capfules

or

pericarps.

The mojjcs have fmall threads growing out

of the bofoms of the leaves, terminated by a
fmall body, the whole refembling ftamens :
accompanied by little fhorter threads fuppofed to be piftils, fometimes on the fame
plant with the former, and fometimes on
another.
The firft of thefe Linnaeus took
for anthers, and actually called them fu ;
but he fufpedted them afterwards to be cap*

ftileSf

LETTER

io6

X.

and fuch they turn out to be, by a

narrower infpedion with greater magnifuies,

fiers.

Of

the algce

we know

too

little

about

the fruification to give a regular charader

of the order, which includes not only the
fea- weeds, but the liverworts, &c. thefe have
been rangsd by others among the moTes.
latter there are little bod -es vilible
enough, which are taken for ftaminiferous
and piftillifcrous flowers, diftindt from each
other; but experiments are yet wanting to
On the forafcertain thtm with precifion.
mer are little bladders, fome hollow with
hairs within, others filled with a gelly-Hke
fubftanccj and thefe are fuppofed to be the
flowers and fruits.
If the fungufes have any fru^-ification it
imagined to be underneath, in the gills,
is
But 1 will not detain you with
pores, &c.

In the

of vegetable nature, in which

you will take no pleafure till you have imbibed an etithufiaftic pafTion for Eotany.
After the clafs cr)ptogamia Linnaeus has
thefe

dregs

given the palms, in a twenty-fifth clafs, or

I prefume
appendix, without any chara^iter.
he has thus thrown them into the rear of his
fydem, partly becaufe he could not have
ranged this proud fet of trees according to
laws, without tearing them from each
other; and partly becaufe they have not been
his

examined with

fufiicient

accuracy; you will

fcarcely

L E T T E R

X.

107

have an opportunity of examining

this natural clafs, the moft remarkable chara(fters of which are, that the ftaminiferous
fcarcely

flowers

are

diftin:

on the fame

from the

piftilliferous,

or different individuals; except

which has complete or peraccompanied by fl:aminiferous

ones on the fame individual; all proceeding from a fpathe or fheath, and growing
upon a fpadix '\ So that thefe trees belong
in one genus,
fe:

flowers

to the three

laft clafTes

of confpicuous flowers

in the artificial fyflem.

Thus, dear coufin, we have accomplifhed

our fcond fliage. And this letter not being
of fo unconfcionable a length as the former,
I have accompanied it with two tables; one
of the claffical chara:ers, and another explaining thofe of the orders: that after reading my diffufive explanation, you may have

the whole under your eye at once; and thus

perhaps at one view form a better idea of the
arrangement of vegetables into clals and orders, than you could do from many de-

Th^ fpadix

the receptacle in this tribe, and has no

In another place, Linnaeus, in diftributing vegetables into nine nations, affigns the firft to the
palms, calling them Princes of India, bearing their fructiHcation on 2i fpadix, within z fpathe
flowing; remarkable for their prodigious height ; diftinguifhed by an unvaried, undivided, perennial trunk; crowned at top by an
evergreen bufti of leaves ^ rich in abundance of large,
*

is

Englifli Hufne.

-^

fine fruit.

tached

LETTER

io8

tached pages
ipecific

or

^,

We

are not

individual

on the borders,

X.

yet arrived at
information, but we

convince you in
my next letter. In the mean time you have
fufficient employment for your eyes and attention, without doors as well as within: for if
you had taken up this trafh of mine only in
your dreffing room, you would long fmce have
thrown it into the fire j if it meets with a
better fate, I owe it merely to the beautiful
objeds which your fair hands have cropt in
Always give the prethe garden and fields.
ference to the latter where you can, both for
the fake of exercife, and having your plants
Adieu, dear coufin;
in their natural ftate.
continue your kind indulgence to my prate,
are

as I fhall

* See Curtis's beautiful explanation of Linnaeus's SyfAnd an Illuftration

plates.

tem of Botany, with coloured

of the Syftem of Linnaeus, by John Miller; who has

given a plate of one genus in every clafs and order. Lend.
1779, oilavo.

The

Outlines of LiNN^us's Syftem of Vegetables.

[To

face page ic8

'A

A. Plants with confpicuous Flowers.

r>-Ti
with Stamen and Filtil.
B. I. All complete, or furniflied
Piftil.
C. With Stamens feparate from the
D. And feparate from each other.
E. All of the fame length, or not proportionably longer than each other.
F. In which the number only is to be confidered.
One Stamen.
I. MoNANDRiA.
Two Stamens.
II. DiANDRiA.
Three Stamens,
III. Triandria,
Four equal Stamens.
IV. Tetrandria.
V. Pentandria. Five Stamens.
Six equal Stamens.
VI. Hexandria.
Seven Stamens.
VII. Heptandria.
Eight Stamens.
VIII. Octandria.
IX. Enneandria. Nine Stamens.
X. Decandria. Ten Stamens.
From ii to 19 Stamens inclufivc.
XI. Dodecandria.
F. In which the fituation is alfo to be confidered.
About 20 Stamens on the Calyx or Corol.
XII. IcosANDRiA.
Twenty Stamens or more on the receptacle or bafe of the Flower.
XIII. PoLYANDRiA.
E. Some Stamens proportionably longer than others.
XIV. DiDYNAMiA. Four Stamens, two longer. One Piftil. Flowers ringcnt.
XV. Tetradynamia. Six Stamens, four longer. One Piflil. Flowers cruciform.
D. Stamens coherent at bottom only, or by the Filaments.
XVI. MoNADELPHiA. Filaments united into one body.
XVII. DiADELPHiA. Filaments in two bodies. Corol papilionaceous.
XVIII. PoLYADELPHiA. Filaments in 3 or morc patccls.
D. Stamens coherent at top only, or by the Anthers.
XIX. Syngenesia. Anthers united, 5 Filam. diftindl, I Piftil, Flowers compound,
C. With Stamens growing out oUhe Piftil iifelf.
XX. Gynandria. Stamens on the Piftil inftead of the Receptacle.
All incomplete; or which have Stamens only, orPiftils only.
XXI. M0N0ECIA. Each fort of Flower feparate, but on the fame Plant.
XXII. D10ECIA. Each fort of Flower, on diftindt Plants only,
B. 3. Flowers of the firfl: fort, together wiih one or both of the fcond fort.
I
,

."

I
'

'

XXIil. P0LYGAMIA.

A. Flowers inconfpicuous.

XXIV. Cryptogamia. Flowers

XXV. Palms. Flowers born on a

very fmall, invifible, or not yet difcovered,

Spadix, and within a Spathe, moftly incomplete.

109

Sketch and Explanation of the Orders

in the Syftem of Linnseus.
I.

Monandra- One Jlamen,

One piJiiL
1. Monogynia.
2.

II.

Digynia.

Diandria.
1.

T!wo piJHls,

Two Jamens,

2. Digynia.
3. Trigynia.
III. Triandrla.
1.

One pijitL

Monogynia.

'Two piftils.
Three pijiils^

T^hree ftamens,

Monogynia.

2. Digynia.

One

piftiL

Two piftils,

Three pifiils,
Four equal ftamenS
Monogynia. OneptftiU

3. Trigynia.

IV. Tetrandria.
1.

2. Digynia.

Two pijiih.

Four piftils^
3. Tetragynia.
V. Pentandria. Five ftamens,
1.

2. Digynia.

Two pijiiis.
Three

3. Trigynia.

4. Tetragynia.
5. Pentagynia.
6. Polygynia.
VI. Hexandria.
1.

One piJliU

Monogynia.

2. Digynia.

3. Trigynia.

Fourpiftilsi

Five pijils.

Many pijiiis.

S^/a:

Monogynia.

piftih,

equal ftamens^

One

piftiL

Two piflils.
Three pijiih.
4. Tetragynia.

LETTER

no

4. Tetragynia.

VIL

X.

Fourpifiils,

Many pijitls
5. Polygynia.
Heptandria. Seven Jiamens.
ti

Monogynia.

3. Tetragynia.
4. Heptagynia.

Four pijils,

Seven piftils.
Right Jlamens.

VIII. Odlandria.
1.

One pijiiL

Two piftils,

2. Digynia.

One piftiL

Monogynia.

Two pijiils,

2. Digynia.

Three pijih,

3. Trigynia.

Four piftils.
4. Tetragynia.
Enneandria.
ftamens,
l^ine
IX.
1.

Monogynia.

One piftiL

Three piftils,
Six piftils.
Hexagynia.
3.
X. Decandria. Tenftamens,
2. Trigynia.

1.

Monogynia.

2.

Digynia.

One pifiiL

Two pijiils,

3. Trigynia.

4. Tetragynia.
5. Pentagynia.

Three piftils.
Four piftils.
Five piftils.

Decagynia. Ten piftils.

Dodecandria. Twelve ftamens^ (from
6.

XL

to 19.)
1.

Monogynia.

2. Digynia.

One piftiL

Two pijiils.

Three piftils.
3. Trigynia.
Five pifiils.
Pentagynia.
4.
5.

Dodecagynia.

Twelve

piftils.

Twenty ftamens,
XII. Icofandria.
calyx or coroL)
I.

(on the

Monogynia.

LETTER
1.

One

Monogynia.

X.

Ill

pjil,

'Two pijils.
Digynia.
Three piflils.
Trigynia.
3.
Five pijlils,
4. Pentagynia.
pi/iils,
Many
Polygynia.
5.
2.

Many JuJitens (from 20 to

XIII. Polyandria.
1000, on the receptacle.)
,

1.

One

Monogynia.

pijiiL

Tivo pijih,

2. Digynia.

Three pijils,
3. Trigynia.
Four pijlils*
4. Tetragynia.
5. Pentagynia.

6. Hexagynia.

FZ-u^ pijlils.

Six

piftils,

Many pijlils.

7. Polygynia.

XIV. Didynamia.

Four Jlamens, 2

/^g*^r

^^

2j}jorter,
1.

Gymnofpermia.

2.

Angiofpermia.

F(?2/r

fiaked feeds.

Beeds inclofed in a pe--

ricarp*

XV. Tetradynamia.

Sixjlamens, /[.longer and

2 Jhorter.
1.

Pericarp generally roundijh,

Si lieu lofa.

with the Jlyle

called a

petjijtent or continuing^

lilicle.

Pericarp 'very long and

narrow t called a iilique or pod.
XVI. Monadelphia. One brotherhood', or Jila^
ments all co?intBed,
2. Siliquofa.

1.

Tria;.dna.

2.

Pentandria.

3.

Odandria.

4.

Decandna.

l^hree Jamens.

FiveJia^nens.
Ez^/'/

li aniens,

Tenjiam:ns,
5. Endecandria

LETTER

ili'

ndecardria.
6. Dodecandria.

Eleven J aniens,

5.

7. Polyandria.
XVII. Diadelphia.

X.

Twelve Jlamens,
Majjy Jiamens.

Two

brotherhoods

or fila*

two bodies,
Five jianiens
1. Pentandria.
2. Hexandria.
Six Jlamens,
Odandria.
Jiamens,
Eight
3.
Ten Jiamens,
4. Decandria.
Many brotherhoods:
XVIII. Polyadelphia.
filaments in three or mote parcels,
Five flamens.
1. Pentandria.
Twelve Jlamens,
2. Dodecandria.
Twenty
Icofandria.
fiamenS,
3.
7nents in

Many Jiamens,

4. Polyandria,
Syngenefia.

XIX.

Congeneration,

Anthers

united,
1.

2.

Polygamia ^qualis.
All the Jlofcules
the
jiower regular,
and
whole
i
perfect
Polygamia fuperflua. Perfe6i fio/cules
in the dijk

ray

piftilliferous fofcides in the

both producing feed,

Flofcules in the
3. Polygamia Fruftranea.
and
perjel^
producing
feed : in
diJk
the ray imperfeB^ and without feed,
Neceflaria. Flofcules in apPolygamia
4.

pearance perje6l in the dtjky producing

no feed: piflilliferous Jlofcules in the
ray producing feed,
5.

Polygamia Segregata.

ManyJioriferous

calyxes contained in one

andjorming
6.

Monogamia.

common calyx

one flower,

Flowers not

compoundy
as

LETTER

X.

113

as in the other orders, but Jimpk, as

in all the other clajfes,

XX.

Gynandria.

Stamens

growing

on

the

piftih

Diandria.
2. Triandria.
1.

'Two ftamens.
T^hre eft aniens,

3.

Tetrandria.

4.

Pentandria.

5. Hexandria.

Four ftamens,
Five ftame?is.
Sixjiamens.

Odandria. Eight [lamens,

7. Decandria. Ten jlamens,
8. Dodecandria.
Twelve ftamens,
6.

9.

Polyandria.

Many

XXI, Monoecia. One

Jiamens:

Imperfed flow
ersfeparate on the fame plant,

1.

Monandria.

2.

Diandria.

houfe.

One ftamen,

Two ftam e 12s,

3. Triandria.

Three ft.amens.
Tetrandria
Four ftame?s,
4.
Five fiamens,
5. Pentandria.
6. Hexandria.
Six Jiamens,
Sevenfiamens,
7. Heptandria.
8. Polyandria.
Many fiamens,
Filaments united in one,
9. Monadelphia.
10. Syngenefia.
Anthers united,
1 1 Gynandria.
Stamens on the pifiil,

XXII. Dioecia.

Two

houfes ,

Imperfel flow-

ers on diflin individuals,

1.

Monandria.

2. Diandria.
3. Triandria.
4. Tetrandria.
5. Pentandria.
I

One fiamen,

Two

ftamens,

Three fiamens,

Four fiamens,
Five

fitaniens,

6.

Hexandria

LETTER

114

X.

Six/tamens,
Hexandria.
Eight
Odandria.
fiamens,
7.
Nine fia jnens,
8. Ennendria.
Te-njlamens,
9. Decandria.
-10. Dodecandrla.
7wehejamens,
6.

Many

11. Polyandria.
12.

Monadelphia.

ftamens.

Filaments united in one.

Anthers united.

13. Syngenefia.

14. Gynandria. Sta?nens on the pijtil.

XXIII. Polygamia.

Perfedl flowers, accom-

panied with one or both fl)rts of

iin-

perfe flowers,
1.

Monoecia.

2.

Dioecia.

FerfeSi aiidimperje^ flow-

ers on the

fame plant,

P erfeB flowers

and imperfeB o?i

on one plants

another,

F erfe5t flowers on

3. Trioecia.

ftamitiijerus flowers on

one plant ^

a fcond, and

pijiilliferous flowers on a third.

XXIV. Cryptogamia.
1.

Filices.

2.

Mufci.

Ferns:

Frulification feciet.

bearing feed on the

back of the leaves*

Moffes : having imperfeBfl'jWers diftifi^f and the feedi in a capfule^
often covered with

3. Alga.
tin5l,

a veil.
Havi?Jg imperJeB flowers difand the feeds either like a meal

on the leaves or inclofed in bladders,

4. Fungi

XXV.

Having

no difccrnible flowerSy

but feeds in the gills, pores, cups, &c,

alms.
Flowers on a fpadix,
Pal mas:
in a pat he or fl: eat h : generally fla~

miniferous and piflilliferous diflirM,

"5

LETTER

XL
June the lOth, 1774.

AT

length, dear coufin,

am

going to
put you in the way of examining plants
by yourfelf, and determining the genus and
fpecies, as you have before done the clafs and
order.
You have been already initiated in
my firil letters; but now 1 fliall proceed in
more form, and prcfent you with one plant
or more of each clafs.; explaining to you as
we go along feme others of the natural
clafTes; which form, or are contained in the
artificial

ones.

The firft clafs, Monandria, in the Syflem

of Linnsus is a very fmall one
compriling,
as you have feen already, in the fcond table
which I fent you, but two oi-ders.
There
are alfo but eighteen genera in it, and fortyVery few of thefe plants are
four fpecies.
natives of Europe j and the Indian forts are
not eafy to be. met with, at leafl in flower,
-,

in the beft hot-houfes.

There

mon

in

is

however not very uncom-

a plant

ponds,

ditches,

and

flow

muddy

called Ilifpuris, which is of this

and of the firfl order. It has a fingle
jcjinted ftalk, and at each joint is a dozen
leaves or more, placed all round in a whorl,

ftreams,

clafs,

which

is

form that Linnasus

I

calls Verticillate.

LETTER

ii6

XL

To

each of thefe leaves, clofe to ttie

ftalk, belongs a little flower, conlifling of a

late.

Ibmen and

and nofor it has neither calyx nor

thing more
You will find the flamen fitting on
corol.
the germ terminated by a bif;d anther j and
behind this is the ftyle which is very (hort,
and terminated by a fligma tapering to a
This will be amply fufficient for you
point.
to determine the Hippuris^, which perhaps
may not grow near you; and if it does, you
muft not hazard wetting and dirtying your(ingle

piftll,

one

feed,

-,

muddy

ielf in a

abundant

in

ditch.
Since therefore it is
the moat of the neighbouring

abbey, I have incloJed fome fpecimcns of it

in my tin pocket cafe, which may ferve after-

home your

and
with fo
neceffary a thing. If you are not ftruck with

wards

to bring

cool, if

you

plants

frefh

are not already provided

the beauty of the Hippiiris, you will at lead

I
efteem it for its modeiy and fimplicity.
afk
in
return
for
my
tin
have one favour to
box and its contents, which is, that when-

name, you will

pronounce the middle fyllable long, and not
ever you call this plant by

fhort, as

many do

its

for I

am

foiici^^ous

to

I do not know that this plant has been

noticed
enough to ha\e a common name in En_Iifli. ;n the

boiks It is called Female Hcrfe-tail or Mare's Tail, Figured in Curtis, Flora Londinenfis. Falcic. I\ Plate I.
.

pronounce^

LETTER

XI.

117

I have
pronounce, as well as think, like you.
between
faid nothing here of the diftin^ion
genus and fpecies, becaufe there is only one
fort of Hippiiris, I mufl: however inform you,
once for all, that we invariably take the
chara(5ters of the genera from the p^rts of
frudlification ; and thofe of the fpecies from
the other parts of the plant, particularly the

leaves.

There is another plant of this chfs and

order, which your gardener may pofTibly have
in the hot-houfe.
1 dare fay you know it by
the upright growth, rt-edy appearance, and
Perhaps you have already
fine fcurlet flowers.
found fome difficulty in determin"ng the clafs
and orderj for there is no filam nt but tne
anther grows to the edge of a kind of petal,
which Linnus calls the NeBary: the iiyle
aJfo, which is lance- lliaped, grows to the fame

The

petal.

coro!

is

cut inro

fixth reflex-d;

capfule or

of thiee leaves: the

parts, five erec^, and the
feeds are contained in a

caly>c co:.fifls
fix

the

vefTel

of three

cells,

are

round

and very hard; whence this plant has the

name of Imif an Jhot Linni^us calls it Canna.
Thus much for the Genusy of which there are
L-nthree fpecies ut ieait; fome make five.
.

has diftinguilhed his three fpecies thus.

1
Canna indicaj by its ovate leaves, fbarppoinred towards both erds, and marked wuh

nasus
".

This

is

hgurei by John Miller, in his llIurtraMons

of the btxual Syilcm.

I 3

nerves.

L E T T E R

ii8

2. C. anguftifolia,

nerves.

dianfiot, by

its

XL

Narrow-leaved

lit"

lance-fhaped, petioate leaves,

glauca. Seawith nerves.

3.
green Indian JJjot, by its lance- fliaped petiolate
Yours will
leaves fmonth or without nerves.
laft has
firft
the
of
fpecies,
che
two
for
be one
This order contains feveral
yell)W flowers.
interefting plants, fuch as ginger, cardamom,
grain of paradife, Arabian coftus, turmerick,
galangale, cc. all which, with Canna, belong

marked

alfo

S clta??imea, from the

which when tacked to

to a natural trihe en Qd

Latin word fcitiim,

edulium implies eatables of a pleafant tafte.
They have not only the fame place in the
fyftem, but they agree farther in
artificial
having their feeds enclcfed in a velTel below
the receptacle, as you perceive plainly it is
in the canna: the divifions alfo of the calyx,
corol,

and feed

vefTel, are ufually three.

Short flights are beft, till you have tried

your wings. My next may polTibly be a little
longer,

if

few days;

you give

me

leave.

Adieu

for a

1^9

LETTER

XII.

June 17th, 1774.

YOU

have ftarved a week, dear coulin,

upon the meagre fare of my laft I
can now promife you more variety, having a
The fcond
larger range and better choice.
and
genera,
has
diandria^
clafs of plants,
35
265 fpecies.
Linnaeus has done every thing in his power
to facilitate the invefligation of plants; and
nothing contributes more to this than the
clearnefs and order of his arrangement, and
his leading on the ftudent by regular fteps
Thus, after
from "generals to particulars.
you have fettled the clafs and order of
your plant, you perceive that each order,
when numerous, is thrown into feveral great
divifions, before you are prefented with the
This fliortens your ingeneric charaders.
:

quiry confiderably; for, in the hril order of

this clafs, inftead of having the charaders of
thirty-five genera

choofe out of you have

to

means only eight or nine, or perhaps no more than three, or even one. That
you may underfland this the better I v/ill give
you Linnasus's fubdivifion of the firil: order of

by

this

this clafs.
I

DiANDRIA

LETTER

I20

XII.

DiANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
I.

Flowers

inferior,

monopetalous, regular:

8 genera.
inferior,

2.

monopetalous,

with feeds inclofed in a

lar,

irreguvefTel:

genera.
inferior,

2^
lar,

monopetalous,

irregu-

with naked feeds: 9 genera.

inferior, pcrntapetalous:

4,

fuperior:

genus.

3 genera.

your pknt happens to belong

divifion, it is determined at
fourth
the
to
once and in all the reft your fearch is much
So that

if

facilitated

though by no means one of

the moft numerous, you will not be at a lofs,
In this

either

clafs,

your garden or in the

fields, for

ex-

amples.

You

are well acquainted

iafmine.

Take any one

with moft forts of

them, and you

of

perceive immediately that it belongs to

Comthe firft diwfion of the firft order.
can
meet
as
you
the
fpecies
pare as many of
with in flower, and you will find that they all

will

agree in the characflers of it.

But other circumftances are to be found in
them all, called generic cha?'a5fers : thefe in
It is not neceflary to be more particular with the
Englifh reader, fince the botanical fociety at Lichfield
have publifhed a tranflation of Linnaeus's Syftem of Ve''

getables.

the

LETTER

XII.

121

that the corol is mothe prefent cafe are

nopetalous, falver-fhaped % and the border
divided into five fegments : the anthers fmall,
and lying within the tube of the corol : the
:

feed-veffel a berry of two cells : and the feeds

covered with an aril or loofe coat.
Having feen in what all the Jafmines
agree, to determine the clafs, order, with its
divifions, and genus ; now attend to the circumflances in which they differ, to fettle the

For

fix fpecies.

fufiice,

this

the leaves will nearly

thus:

lobes diftind.

1.

Leaves pinnate, oppofite

2.

Leaves pinnate, oppofite: lobes confluent*

Jafmme

officinal.

y, Catalonian.
y, Azorian.
3. Leaves ternate, oppofite.
and fimple, alternate:
ternate
4. Leaves
branches angulate
y, JJjrubby,
ternate
and pinnate, alternate,
5. Leaves
acute: branches angulate. y.dwnrf.
pinnate,
ternate and
alternate,
6. Leaves
branches round.
obtufe
y. fweet:

fcented.

The

three

firil

have the corol white; in

c If the reader be at a lofs for the meaning of

terms,
there is no want of books to confult ; fuch as Lee's and

P.ofe's

Introdudions, Berkeuhout's Didionary, Milne's

Initutes, &c.

the

122

LETTER

the three

laft

it

is

yellow.

XIL
If you inquire

after your favourite Arabimi jafmine, it belongs to another genus, Nyilanthes, becaufe
it has the calyx and corol divided into eight
fegments.
The Cape jafmine is of another
clafs, the fifth ; and of courfe has another
name, Gardenia,
Several other trees and flirubs belong to

lame firft divifion.

Privet, Phillyrea,
Oli've, and the Lilacs.
Thefe have all a quadrifid corol ;
and are diftingui/hed by their
fruit, which in privet is a berry with four
feeds
in phillyrea a berry with one feed ; in
this

',

olive a drupe-^ in

capheart-fhaped

the lilacs a biiocular

The common

fuie.

lihic

has

leaves; a circumftance fufficient to diftinguifli

it

from the

leaves.

As

Perfian,
to

which has lance-fhaped

the diiferent colours of

the

in the firft
white, blue, and red,
they form but varieties
colour being rarely

flowers

permanent

enough

to

conftitute

fpecitic

differences.

In the fcond diviiion is a genus, named

from a female faint, Veronica : it is a very
numerous one, containing no lefs than iorty
fpecies.
Here therefore Linnaeus has done
with the genus, as he did before with the
order
he has thrown it into three principal
divifions from
flowering.
the manner of

1.

2.
3.

Such as bear the flowers in fpikes.

Such as bear them in racemes or bunches.
Such as Droduce them fingly.
This

LETTER
This genus

is

eafily

petalous, rotate, or

XII.

known by

123
the

mono-

wheel -fhaped corol,

di-

vided into four iegments, the lowefl of which

is narrower than the reft ; and the bilocular,
heart (haped, flatted capiule.
One fpecies is very common

among

buflies,

of paftures. Its beautiful

have doubtlefs attraded your
notice, and in falling off too eafily, have
given occaflon perhaps to many a leiTon on
the (liort duration of our enjoyments, or the
fleeting nature of female charms, to your
If it be not already pad:
lovely daughter.

and

in the edges

blue

flowers

flowering, for

May

its

is

feafon,

you will

belongs to the fcond diviflonj

find
or even if it be, the oval, wrinkled leaves, indented about the edge, and fitting clofe to
the ftalk, together with the weak trailing
flems, unlefs upheld by the bufhes, will fo
clearly point out this humble plant to you,
that you cannot well be miftaken
If this fpecies however is out of blow, you
in dry paftures or
will certainly find another
heaths, efpecially upon old ant-hills
it may
perhaps have efcaped you ; the flowers being
fmall, and of a pale colour 5 not however
without their beauty, on a nearer furvey.
that

it

'^.

'^

This belongs

to the

firft

divifion

having

Wild Speedwell or GerVeronica Ohamaedrys.

mander. Curtis, Lend. I. 2.
Veronica officinalis.
Officinal Speedwell.
Curtis,
*

Load.

lil. I,
I

the

LETTER

124

XIL

the flowers growing in fpikes, coming out

chiefly from the fide of the plant, at feme
difl;ance from the main fl:em ; the leaves are
along the
oppolite, and the fl:alks trail
ground. It has the trivial name of oflicinal,
bccaufe an infafion of it is fometimes ufed
medicinally.
Other fpecies are common by the fides of
ditches and brooks, whence they have the
name of Heater Speedwell^ or Brooklime : thefe
are of the fcond divifion : and three fpecies
^'

of the third

divifion

corn, in the fpring

know

are

abundant among

?.

how

but there is a
connexion between this clafs and the fourPinguicida or Butterwort has a perteenth.
Some fpecies of Vervain have
fonate flower.
two ftamens, others four of unequal lengths ^
among the latter is our common or cfficinal
Vervain , whence fome authors have reI

not

it

is,

''

moved
niary^

it

to the

clafs didynamia.

and others, have

^ge, ,Ro/-

labiate flowers,

and in

refemble the plants of the

that they Ihould naturally
be placed there ; but having only two liamens, the artificial fyfi:em ranges them in
Sage feems to form the conthis clafs.
every refpedl fo
fourteenth

clafs,

Veronica Becabunga. Curtis, Lond. II. 3. is one

of thefe.
s Veronica arvenfis Curtis, Lond.
agreftis.
II.
2.
'^

Curtis, Lond. I. i. hederifolia.

^ Curtis, Lond. 1. 41.

Curtis, Lond. II.

i.

LETTER
ncfling link between the

XIL
two

125

clafles;

for in

this genus are rudiments of another pair of

The ftrucftamen?, but without anthers.
ture cf the ftamens in the fage is fingular,
and merits your obfervation. The two filaments are very (liort, but two others are
faitened to thefe tranfverfely by the middle ;
and at one end of theie lail: is a gland, at
the other an anrber.
This circumftance
diftinguiies the gt.us from all others, and
is called its efllntnti character.
If you compare the flowers of fage and rofemary together, you will find them agree in mofb other
particulars ; but rofemary has not this charad:er
it has very long filaments, bending
towards the cafque or upper lip of the
:

corol.

The genus

Salvia or Sage has no

lefs

Our common garden

fifty-two fpecies.

than

fage

',

cf which there are feverai varieties, has the

fiowers growing in fpikes, the fegments of
the calyx acute, and the leaves of an oblong
ovate form, entire, and very flighrly notched
about ihc edges.
There are tvvo forts com-

monly

Europe

noi very unlike

each other; but rath.r cla?ys than Jagesi
You will be at no lofs to kn <w them when
you fee them. To diilinguiih them from

v/iid

in

'%

Salvia officinalis Z.z^/.

^ Salvia

prareiifts

&

verbenaca

but the laUer only

is

common uiLn^land.
each

126

LETTER

X[I.

each other obferve that Meadow Clary'^ has

the leaves oblong- heart- fhaped, and notched about the edges ; the upper ones embracing the ftalks ; the flowers grow in
ahnoft naked whorls, and the upper hp of
has
the corol is glutinous. The Wild Clary
the leaves ferrate, linuatc, and fmoothilh :
the tube of the corol very fmall in comparifon
with the calyx, which opens wide.
But enough for our fcond excurfion, efpecially as I propofe that we fhould take a
"^^

third very foon.

Salvia pratenfis.

^ Salvia verbenaca.

127

LETTER

XIII.

June the 24th, 1774.

H AV E
I

left

fpoiled

haftened this

letter,

dear coufin,

mower fhoiild have

The brilliancy of the

the induftrious

our harveft.

perhaps have quickened

his fteps : but at the worft, he will have left
you fome gleanings about the hedges.
prefent

feafon

will

tribe

which

The

now recommend to
the moft known and

your examination, is
general of any ; it is the moft pleafant to the
eye, and of the moft extended ufe, fince it
furnifhes man with the beft portion of his
nouriftiment, and at the fame "time is the
whole fupport of many among the beafts,
and of a large proportion of birds. The
moft rigid critic cannot accufe us of miffpending our time, when we are engaged
in the contemplaiion of fo ufeful a tribe of
plants as that

which contains

fpecies of corn

The former
care and

all

the different

and graftes.
being larger, requiring more

culture,

becaufe they

are

annual,

and being immediately neceftary to the fupport of man, and the animals about him, in
this and many other countries
the fpecies
are univerfallv known and diftineuiflied.
But
-,

this

is

not the cafe in

garly forms one fingle

the latter
idea

and

grafs vula

hufband-

man

LETTER

128

XIII.

man when

he is looking over his inclofure

does not dream that there are upwards of three

hundred

fpecies of grafs, of

which

thirty or

forty may beatprefent under his eye.

They
have fcarcely had a name, befides the general
one, till within thefe twenty years ; and the
few particular names that have been lately
given, are far from having obtained general

ufe

fo that

knowledge of
tribe of plants

we may
this
is

fairly

moft

yet in

affert

common and
its

infancy

that

the

valuable

".

Let us not however give more importance

to Botany

quietly with

than
our

it

has

really

own

but proceed

The greater
know that grafs

bufinefs.

part of the world fcarcely

has a flower; or if they are ihown it, will
coldly aflc, Is this all ?
And yet grafs not
only has a flower, but every conftituent part
of it J which is more than we can fay of a
tulip, and fome others, that have engrofled
almofl: all the attention of mankind : nay,
" The late excellent Mr.
Stillingfleet firfi: dire(Sle3
the public attention to grajfes ; and that moft refpelable
and ufeful inftitution, the Society of Ar.ts, &c. has done
all in its power to promote an innprovcment in the culture

but without great effei.. Nor can much be exceconomical gardens or public farms are inftituted, for the pi-rpol'e of experiments in this and other
parts of hufbandry. Ic is not enough to tell men of a good
thing, and inftruct them how it may be don^i ; but they
muft actually fee it put in execution, and be eye-witThis has lately been done by
nefles of its good cffedts.

of them

pelled

till

particularly by Mr.
fome public-fpiiited gentlemen
Coke, of Norfolk. See Toung s Annals.
;

there

LETTER

Xlir.

129

fuch a variety in the parts, difpofition,

and manner of flowering, that we have fufthere

Is

ficient

marks

in thefrudification to diftinguifli

above forty genera.

If you take up a fpike or panicle of grafs,
you may perhaps be difappointed in your expectation of difcerning the ftamens and other
parts ; be aflured then that the flower is not
yet open, and continue your fearch till you
find one with the parts expanded, the flender filaments hanging out, and large, oblong,
double anthers playing freely about with the
flighted motion.
You will immediately perceive that your grafs having three of thefe
ftamens, muft range under the third clafs,
triandridy provided the flower has a piftil as
well as flamens.
Searching a little farther,

you

will eafily deted;

two

feathered, reflexed

each terminated with a feathered fl:igma : you are at no lofs therefore to determine
that your grafs belongs to the fcond order
(digynia) of this third clafs.
Having thus fettled the clafs and the order,
you will proceed to the other parts of the
flower.
The negleded chaff you will find
to be double
the outer generally confifting
of two leaflets ; one large and gibbous, the
other fmaller and flat , the inner confiding
alfo of two parts or valves, which you may

flyles,

call

petals,

former

is

for

the

flower has even

this is

calyx.
its

the

Nay

neSiary

corol,

and the

this

defpifed

which

is

a liitle

oblong

LETTER

130

XIII.

oblong body compoftd of two

fmall

{o

as

to require

leaflets,

but

to difcern

a glafs

it

Grades have no pcricat^p^ but one

well.
naked feed, with the (liape of which we are
it
is oblong, and draws to
well acquainted
Thefe chaniflers
each
end.
a point towards
you will find common to every grafs you examine, and alfo to every fpecies of corri ; or
however with very few exceptions : this then

called

is.

the

dajjical

As

charaBer.

grow frequently two

thefe

more
fmall flowers
clofe together, you have only to feparate a
in your
fingle flower to avoid confufion
or

examination.

of plants does not agree in

only, as above
the parts of
The whole appearance, the genedefcnbed.
of growth, is the fame in
manner
the
ral air,
A fimplicity of iirudture runs through
all.
Every one has a fnnpie,
the entire clafs.
unbranched, fl:raight, hollow flem, ftrength-

But

this tribe

frudification

There
ened with knots at certain intervals .
leaf
each
to
fingle
knot,
has
a
but
is none
inverting or fheathing the flem to fome diftance, and then fpreading out into a long
narrow furface, of equal breadth all the way,
approaches the end, when it draws
it
till
ofl:"

gradually to a point

p.

bly entire in every fpecies

-,

It

is

alfo invaria-

and without veins

Linnaeus names it culnms.

Linnaeus calls this fort ot leaf linear,

or

LETTER
branching

cr

veflels,

XIII.

being

131

marked

only

longitudinally with lines parallel to the lides,

nerve or ridge that runs the whole

There is another curious cirlength of it.
cumftance, almoll: peculiar to this tribe of
-and to a

plants,

and

common

to

them

namely,

allj

that the body of the feed does not fplit into

two

lobes, but continues entire % till it has

accompliihed its purpofe of giving the young
plant its firft nouridiment, and then rots
away
this you may eaiily obferve as corn
:

or you

fpringing up;

is

may fow

a little

which you have for your

in your window, and
thus make the obfervation at home.
But
though I may indulge you for once, you know
Canary

grafs-feed,

birds, in a garden- pot

do not encourage this idle domeftic m.anof obferving the operations of nature.
You mufl go abroad and vievv^ her feated on
her native throne
and in her court you have
I

ner

this

advantage,

which you

will

find

in

no

you are gathering health whilft

you pay her homage.
If you are now miilrefs of all the circumflances in which this tribe of plants agree,
you may proceed to thofe in which they differ,
and thus feparate them firil if^to their
genera, and then into their fpecies.
But
the genera being numerous it may not be

other, that

Such plants

are

called mofiQCotyledcnous

the others

dicotyledonous.

inconvenient,

LETTER

132

inconvenient,

we

as

throw the whole

did

XII.

once

before,

to

into fome general

fubdivilions; and that we can eafily do from
the manner in which the flowers are produced
either in a panicle or fpike ; and
tribe

fingly, or feveral

together.

get four fubdivifions

Flowers fingle
Flowers two together
Flowers many together

1.

2.
3.

Thefe

Hence we

ftiall

are moftly

14 genera.
2 genera'.

gei.era.

pan'c'cd
in all the
flowers are irregularly difpofed, or wanderhig, as Linnaeus calls them.
:

4. Flowers in a fpike, with a fubulate recep-

tacle

Including wheat,
is in

rie,

^ genera.

and barley.

Oat

the third divifion.

Your pot of Canary

feed, if you do not

the plants to verify what I told
you before, will ferve for an inftance of the

pull

firft

up

all

When

divifion.

perfedtion,

you

will

it

arrives at

obferve that

a ftate

the

of

two

leaves oi the

calyx are flatted, boat-(haped,

along thrm, and are
equal in length ; the corol is lefs than
the

have a keel

running

calyx, and incloied within it.

This is the
charader of the genus.
It
is
fpecihcally
dilHnguiihed by the form of the panicle
refembling a fpike, and being ovate, the

chaffs

LETTER

XIII.

133

chaffs being turgid and hairy, but the keel

fmooth.
It is an annual grafs
is found wild
in the Canary Iflands, whence its name of
Phlans Canari enfis, and is cultivated in Europe for the food of Canary and other fmall
:

birds.

Whilft your Canary-grafs is growing you

mufl go out in feaich of other inftances of this
firft divifion J for I muft abfolutely infifl; that
you ranfack the neighbouring meadows and
paftures before the furious fey the has levelled
all

their honours.

Meadows of

good quality abound in Foxis indeed one of the earlieft,

tail gro.fs
as well as the mofl excellent, for hay and feeding
This genus is an exception to one of
cattle.
the general charadcrs for though the ca^yx has
a

\ which

two

valves or leaves, the coroi has but one.

You

by the cylindric
fhape and hoary appearance of the panicle,

will readily difcover the fpecies

which from

its

form you

will take for a fpike,

the erednefs of the llalk, and the corols not

being bearded.
Caf s-tail grafs ^ IS another of thefe; the
fpike has not the fmooth hoary appearance
of the lad, but feems rough, and is known
at firfl fight i)y the truncated and forked termination of the calyxes, which are ajfo linear,

and

fit

clofe to the item.

The

corol

Alopeurus pratenfis Linnaei. Stillingfl,

Phleutn pratenfe. Lin. Scheber t. 14.

t.

is

(hut

2.

up

LETTER

134

np within
is

The

the calyx.

XIIT.
fhape of the fpike

cyHndric the keel of the

and the
grafs

is

ftalk

is

The

erect.

fometimes four

meadows,

ch.^ffs is

inclies

long in

dryer, poorer foils,

in

cihate

fpike of Cat's-tail

moid

decreafes

it

dwindles to half an inch;

and even lefs in hard barren ground, fuch as
way fides and heaths. In thefe laft it cannot
raiie itfelf upright; and the roots, not being
able to fpread themfelves freely, grow knotty
and bulbous. I mention thefe circumftances
that you may be awareof the changes wrought
in plants by foil and fituation; and not fupin

length,

pofe that

until

new

it

fpecies prefents itfelf every

time you meet with thefe and other flight

If you tranfplant from the heath
variations.
a dwarf, crooked, knobbygarden,
into your
rooted plant, I dare engage that the (lem will

become ereO,

the

that

fpike

will lengthen,

and ;he bulbous root change to a fibrous

It is not however always eafy to fay
what is a fpecies, and what a variety only.
A great deal of obfervation and experience

one.

is

neceflary in

many

cafes to determine this

Moft varieties indeed are

with prccifion.
produced by culture, or a change from their
native foil and fituation: and, when they
regain
their

'

natural

their
priftine

Set with

form

little

flatc,
if this

will

return

to

were univerfally

hairs like the eye-laflies.

LETTER

XII.

135

would be no difficulty to
the fpecies from the variety.
But
fo,

there

when

times happens that

duced

a variety,

afcertaiii
it

Ibme-

accident has pro-

continues permanent, and

it

having once tafted

poliflied

fituation,

fufes to return to a rtate of nature:

our

retefl:

is not a certain one.

fcond divi(ion of the grafles having
only two genera, the diflindion is ealy: they
are known from the reft by having two

therefore

The

growing together; and from each

other by the rudiment of a third flower between the two others, in the Melica of which
there is no flgn in the Aira,
Of the third divifion you will find abundance of grafl^es fufliciently common: Bn'za
flowers

Foa

or ladies hair,

or

meadow

grafs, Feftuca

or fefcue, Bro?ue- grsifSj oats with all the oatgraflTes, and the reeds.
Thjs genera are thus
dilfinguifhed;

Briza,
Corol cordate: valves turgid,
Corol ovate valves rather fliarp, - Poa.
Corol oblong valves pointed,
Fejhica,
valves bearded below
:

the point,
,

beard
at

Bromiis,

wreathed

bent,

Corel woolly

or

the bafe: awnlefs,

K4

Avena.
Arundo.

The

LETTER

136

XII.

The

BrizaSi of which there are five forts,

pretty grafles; infomuch that one of
veiy
are
them is cultivated in gardens for its beauty
and fingular appearance. They flower early

month of May, grow in a loofe

panicle, the foot-ftalks of which are fo (lender
as to be moved by every wind; whence they
have obtained the name of faking grajjes.
By thefe circumftances, and their general air

in

the

different

from

their

neighbours,

other

you

The three
fail of knowing them.
which you are likely to meet with are

cannot
forts

thus diflinguiihed:
1.

Spicula3" triangular: calyx longer than the

flower.

2.

Spiculaj

flower.

Little Briza,

ovate:

calyx

fcond

js

the fort

meadows, and the

in

the

Middle Briza,

3. Spiculae cordate: 17 flowers.

The

than

fhorter

Great Briza,

which

third

is

is

that

common
which

cultivated in gardens: in this the flowers

is

grow

raceme rather than a panicle.

The Meadow-gyaJJes are numerous, there
being no lefs than 33 forts regiflered by Linn^us, and feveral of them are thrown abundantly from the lap of nature; for perhaps
they are the bed of all the grafles for

in a

"

Thefe

are the little afTemblages of flowers, or ulti-

piate fubdivifions of the panicl or whole.

paflures,'

LETTER

XIII.

137

paftures, the quantity of their produce being very great, their quality excellent both
for green and dry food, and their verdure
moft frefli and pleafant But we are not
hufbandmen, dear coulin. Botany is our purfuit.

There

are four forts of

Poa

which I
in moft meadows
by the names of i. Great, 2.
:

row

leaved, and 4. Annual.

in a loofe branching panicle.

very

common

fhall diftinguifli

Trivial,

3.

Nar-

They all flower

The ftalks of

the firft fort are generally ere6t, and throw out

runners: the leaves arc rather blunt at the
end, and the membrare at the bottom is Ibort
and blunt: the fpiculae are ovate, and on (liort
foot-ftalksj the flowers growing clofe toge-

moft commonly five in number. Every

The fcond fort
is fmooth.
is diftinguiflied by the leaves being (harper at
the end, and having the membrane at bottom
long and pointed: the fpiculs conflft of two
or three flowers, very feldom four. The whole
of this fpecies is rough. The third has the
ftems more ered:: the leaves ftiarp-pointed and
rpughift, but fmooth where they fheath the
ther,

part of this grafs

is more ere(fl than the others ;

the fpiculaon longer foot-ftalks, with from one

ftaik: the panicle

to fix flowers,

which

Lond.

1.

Curtis,

2.

Curtis, Lond. II. 6.

3.

Morifon's

4. Curtis,

II. 5.

hift. f. 8.

Lond.

are hairy at the bafe.

I.

t.

5. f. ig.

6. StiUin^fl.

t.

7*

Thefe

LETTER

138

XIII.

Thefe three are perennial. The fourth is annual, and fmaller than the others; extremely
univerfal, and in flower thegreateft part of the
has a very loofe Spreading panicle
growing all on one fide \ the lower branches
of it often coming out in pairs: the fpiculae
vearj

it

producing 3 or 4 flowers: the flalk is oblique

and comprefled.
I muft give you one caution in examining
thefe and the rdl: of the panic'ed graflfes, which
that you fhould take them at the time
is this

when they are arrived at full maturity; that

is, when the panicle is completely expanded,
and the flowers fhow their llamens for, at
thefe
different periods of their exifl:ence,
grafles put on fuch various appearances, that
they have deceived many eminent botanifts
To
into forming feveral fpecies out of one.
have the hiflory of a plant complete, we ought
to examine it every day during the v/hole time
of its growth. What a work would fuch a
but the
hiftory of ten thoufand plants form
:

book of nature

is

inexhauflible.

The
lefs

genus Fefluca or Fcfcue gn^fs, though

numerous than the laft, yet contains 19

fpecies.

Sheep's

felcue""-' \s

a well

known

grafs,

always to be iound in dry paftures, and Iheep

commons.
cle,

It

has a

growing on one

cloic;

contra6led

fide; the fpiculic

pani-

having

This is what Linnaeus calls Paniculafecunda*

^ ^educa ovina. Stillin;ifl. t. 8.

"

from

LETTER

Xlir.

139

of the flovi^ers
are very iliarp pointed, but feldom properly
awned; the culm is rather fquare than round,
almoft naked, and the leaves are fetaceous \
Another Ftfcue', extremely different from
the former, grows in watery places, ponds, and
It has a loofe panicle of a confiderditches.
able length, but little branching, growing on
one fide the branches of the panicle arc fometimes fmgle and fometimes double; the fpiculs
are round, linear, and awnlefs, almoft an inch
long, and prefTedclofe to the ilalk; varying in the

from

3 to 6 flowers; the valves

9 to i2. The leaves are

not round like thofe of the laft, but flat ; and the

numberof flowers from

culm

is

very long, procumbent, branching, and

flatted.
The feeds of this being large and
fweetifh are gathered for the table in Poland

and fome other countries, and appear there

under the name of Manna.
In this grafs we have another inftance of
the changes wrought by foil and iituation.
Three fpccies having been made out of one,
until experiment dcteded the truth, and informed us that the feeds of x\\q Jiote Fefcue
fown in a dry foil, become the firfl; yt-v fpikcd,
and the fcond meadow Fefcue-grafs. Nay
/^///Felcue, a fourth fpecies, has fo

common

in

with the

Very narrow,

Fdjucafiuians-^

lafi:,

that

it

many marks
is

matter of

like thofe of rufiies.

flote

Fefcue,

Curtis, Lond.

I, 7.

doubt.

LETTER

I40

XIII.

doubt whether this alfo may not be a variety

only ^.
The Bromes are very nearly allied to the
They arc diftinguifhed however
Fefcues.
by being all bearded, and the beard or awn
fpringing from the back, or below the tip
of the chaff: whereas the Fejcues are often
beardlefs; and when the flpwers have a beard,
it is

an elongation of the chaff

No

grafs

more common

is

B'

tuxts\2iv\ Field

erne grafs.

unbranched panicle: the

itfelf.

in
It

fpiculsB

many

paf-

has a Ipofe
are

ovate,

obtufe, and the beards are

an annual plant: and varies fu
much as to have obtained the name o pclyjnorj)hus or
The two principal
many-formed.
varieties ^ are. i. that which has a foft down
all over the panicles, leaves and ftalks; with

the flowers
flraight.

are

It is

all

over; with

hanging down

Between
the

the fpiculce

which

imooth
thinner, and not

larger, heavier fpiculse; 2. that

is

much, but often rather ereclt.

two other varieties, i. with
downy, and the panicle alniofl:
fo

thefe are

leaves

fmooh; 2. with the lower leaves only a little

downy, and the panicle quite fmooth. Other
connecting links may eafily be remarked by
thofe who are induilrious in hunting after
varieties.

SeeHudfon Flora Anglica, edit. 2. p. 47.

Bromus mollis & fecalinus Linncei. Mr. Hudfon,
after Scopoli, has very judicioufly made them one, under
the c polymorphus Curtis, Lond. I. 8. figures the mollis
^

Morilbn

figures this in

t.

7.

f.

18

and fxalinus

in

f.

16.

There

LETTER

Xin.

141

There are three very large fpecies of this

genus, to be met with in woods and hedges,
but feldom in paftures ^. They have great,
Barren Brome
branching, nodding panicles.
but the Giant and Wood Bromes
is not very tall
-,

are three feet in height.

Their

fize,

added to

the character and

of the genus, mark them
out Co well, that you will not eafily miftake
air

*
when you fee them.
You will get an idea of the Oat graces from

the corn of that name, which having the parts

of fructification larger than in the grafTes, gives
you aii advantage in the examination. Bearded
Oat grajs, vulgarly called IVild Oats, is alfo well
known as a dreadful weed among corn. Tel^
low Oatgrafs is common in meadows and paftures ^ it is a neat pretty grafs; and will difcover itfelf to you by the finenefs and yellownefs

of

panicle.

its

The

charaders of the above mentioned

fpecies are thefe:

Two

3.

flowers

fmooth,

in

and

one calyx: the feeds

one of ihem bearded.

Cultivated Oafs.
Three
2,
tiowers in one calyx: hairy at the

and

bafcj

all

of them bearded.

Wild

Oats.

Panicle

3.

calyx

loofe:
',

and

Oat grajs
*

*=

all

three

flowers

in a

of them bearded.

fliort

Te/low

Bromus fterilis, Curtis I. 9. giganteus & nemoralis.

Avena fativa, fatua & flavtfceus zV/,v^/, Curtis, Lor.d.

III. 5.

The

LETTER

142

The

woollynefs

of

the

XIIL
flowers

in

the

Reed

will fhow you this genus as foon as

unfolds its panicle.
It is a grafs, though
vulgarly not regarded as fuch, becaufe it is
not ufed for the fame purpofes with the
it

graifes.

to us,
ufes to
ture.

be

That however makes no difference

whofe province it is not to regard the
which plants are put, but their ftrucU hufbandmen will not admit Reed to

a grafs,

idea of grafs

they take in other plants to their

which we exclude, fuch as Clover,

Lucerne, Saintfoin, &;c.

they confider grafs as

The
an

reafon

is,

that

herb adapted to

feed cattle: whereas naturalifts define it to

be an herb which has generally three fta-

niens and two pillils; always an unbranched,

knotted, hollow flem, and iimple linear
leaves.

Though you
the Reed

^^

nodding

its

a diliance;

it

acquainted with
perhaps rather by feeing it
large panicles in the water at
are perfedly

is

or elfe by the ufe

gardener makes of the long

which your

light

Aems

hedges to guard his tender plants,

its

You

fruLtiiication.

difpleafed to be

told that
fpecies,

the loofenels of

its

than by

will not therefore

from the other

it

is

which

for

be

diftinguiihed
are

lix,

by

panicle, and by having five

flowers growing to?etber.

You are now arrived at the lad divilion
*

A:u;do phrj^mitis Linmeu

of

LETTER
of corn and
frudificatioa
called.

XII.

143

containing thofs whofe

always in a fpike properly fo

gralTes,
is

Ofthefe,

Secale or Rie, has

two flowers included

fame calyx.
I'riticwn or Wheat, has

in the

feveral flowers in

one

calyx.

Ihrdeum or

Barley,

has

containing

lucre,

invo

a fix-leaved

flowers

three

and

the flowers finapc.

LoUu?n or Darnel, has a one-leafed involu-

containing

cre,

that fiovver

flower

leafed

only

but

compound.
has

Dog's-tail grafs,
involucre,
lateral

Cynoftirus or

pound

one

one-

and a com-

flower.

In Rie, the exterior valve or chaff of the

The
corol ends in a long beard or awn.
flowers are fefljle, and there is frequently a
third betwen thefe, which is lefs and pethe filaments hang out of the
dunculate
:

flower.

Our

culivated fpecies'^

is

known by

the rough hairs upon the chafl^.

In Barley alfo the exterior valve of the
The flowers are
corol ends in a long awn.
The filaments being fiiorter than
feflile.
the corol

do not hang out,

c-

and

therefore

Secale cercale Linncei,

Barley

LETTER

144

Barky
as

XIII.

not liable to be damaged by rain

is

Rie and Wheat.

There

are four forts of Barley.

The

comnmi^ diftinguiflied by its two

rows of erecSl beards ; all the flowers being
perfe(5l and bearded.
2. The long-earedy having the grains regularly ranged in a long double row^, lying
clofe over each other; and flowers on the
fides, without piftils or beards.
Thefe two
fpecies have the chaff very thin.
3. Sprat Barley J with fhorter, broader ears,
longer beards, the grains placed clofer, and
This alfo has
the ftraw fliorter and coarfer.
imperfed: flowers on the fides of the ear.
4. Winter or Square Barleyy very diftindt by
having fix rows of grains equally ranged, all
furnifhed with ears, and perfed;.
The grain
of this is large.
Befides thefe fpecies of corn, the genus
Wall Barley grafs ^
contains feveral grafles.
very common by way-fides, and under
is
and Meadciv Barley grafs ", which is
walls
1.

very like

it,

and a fhorter
dows.

only that
fpike,

it

The common

Hordeum vulgare.
Hordeum diftichon,

called
f

zMo bear and

this lad

is

Hordeum zeocriton.
Hordeum hexalHchon ;

2.

4.

big.

Hordeum murinum Linnai,

hift. t. 6,

moid mea-

in

name of

I.

3.

has a longer flalk,

found

is

Fl. dan.

t.

629.

Mor,

f.

4,
Hordeum pratenfe.

Mor.

hift. t. 2,

f.

6.

Rie

LETTER

XIII.

145

Re-gr/s ; and indeed it refembles Rie more

than Barley. I have feen it cultivated alone ;
but the fort v^^hich is generally fown, and
vulgarly called Rie-grafs, is in reality Ray*

which will be announced to you preThefe two forts, though apparently

fo alike, an^d thought to be but varieties by
many, are however very didinguiihable the

gra/s,

fently.

Wall

Barley-grafs having the imperfed: late-

bearded, and the intermediate

involucres ciliate ; whereas the Meadow Barley-grafs has the fame flowers beardlefs, and
ral

flowers

the involucres very narrow, like brillles, and

rough.
In Wheat the exterior valve of the corol is
fometimes bearded, but not always. There
is

lame
frequently im-

hang

out, but not fo

are generally three or four flowers in the

calyx, and the middle one
perfect.

much

The

filaments

as in Rie.

Common Wheat has four flowers

1.

in

one

calyx, the chafls are fmooth, turgid, imbri-

fometimes it has fliort beards, but more

hence and from the colour, &c.
are feveral varieties which huibandmen notice, and we have nothing to do with.
cate

often none

Wheat y has alfo four

flowers together, and agrees with the former
2.

Su7?imer 0 Spring

in the other charadlers, except that

it is

always

bearded.
I.

Triiicum hybcrnum.

2,

Tritlcum* ftivum.
3.

Gray

LETTER

146
3.

Gray Wheat has

XIII.

villous, turgid,

imbri-

containing four flowers.

and nodding ; the
long,
and
drop
off when the
very
are
beards
grain is full grown : the chaff being villous
ail over, gives the ear a gray appearance.
4. Cone Wheat has villous, turgid, imbricate chaffs ; and the ear of a pyramidal form,

cate, obtufe chaffs,

The

ears are large, heavy,

ending in aflender point

and rough.
5.

the beards are long

two flowers only in

naked, and have very

Polonian Wheat has

each calyx, which are

long awns ; with the teeth of the rachis or
receptacle of the

fpike bearded.

The

ears

are long and heavy.

has four flowers, but two only

produce any grain; the outer ones are abortive, as the lower ones are in every ear: the
outer chaff of the perfed flowers has a beard
about an inch long. The flowers are more
conical, and the grain is lefs than in wheat :
6.

Spelt

the chaff alfo

Few

is

adherent.

more univerfal than one

genus it is known by the name
of Dcgs-grajsy and generally execrated by
hufbandmen under the name of Couch^ or
plants are

grafs of this

Triticum turgid urn called alfo Gray PoUardy Duck'

znd Fuller's IVheat.
4. Not noticed by Linnaeus.
5. Triticum Polonicum.
6. Triticum Spelta.
I do not knowthat this fort is
ever cultivated in England,
3.

hill,

^ichj

LETTER

XIII.

147

but a corruption of ^ick,

It well deferves
the ancient term for living.
this appellation, for it runs prodigioufly at
the root, and, like Hercules's hydra, the more
you hack and cut it the farter it propagates

^ich, which

It

itfelf.

is

from the

diftinguiflied

is

feveral

fpecies of corn by the fmallnefs of the car

and the grain, and alfo in being perennial;

of corn are annual: from

the other graffes of the fame genus, by
having many flowers, about five generally to
one calyx, and thofe not bearded, but very
fharp-pointed at the end '\
There is another

whereas

all

forts

which has about four flowers in a

is bearded
This grows in woods

fpecies,

calyx, and

'.

and hedges.
Before I quit this genu^

mud:

obferve,

not known, with

to what country
we are originally indebted for the feveral
fpecies of corn, or whether they now grow
a Angularity,

as

that

it

is

any degree of certainty,

wild in

One

any.

from Africa;

firft

fays

others,

that

>JVheat

came

with more pro-

Europe from
Linnsus affirms that Rie grows
naturally in Crete ^
and Spring Wheat, with
Sprat Barley (Hordeum dijtichon) in Tartary ;
bat upon what authority I know not. A
bability,

that

it

travelled

into

the Eaft.

-,

t.

Triticum repens Linnai.

I. f.

8.

The number

Fl. dan. 748. Mor. hift.

of flowers varies from 3 to 8.

Hudfon.
^

Triticum caninum Linna'u Mor.

^ It

is

bift. t, I.

f.

2.

laid alfo to be wiid in Siberia.

late

LETTER

148

XIII.

found barley and oat in

weeds among the bullies,
but he does not pretend to determine whetraveller alfo

late

growing

Sicily

like

ther they grew there originally wild, or

whe-

ther they were ftray dcferters from the fields

where they had been cultivated

Loltiun or Darnel gr afi is an exception
'.

to

the general charader; for it has only one

chaff or leaf to the calyx.
The reafon of this
is, that the fpiculse are lefTile, and in the fame
plane with the culm, which by this pofition
is enabled to perform the office of the deficient leaf of the calyx in proteding the

This fmgle chaff contains

feed.

of

ers,

the

genus one

is

two common
perennial

'^^

feveral flow-

fpecies

in

this

the other annual'',

'
Voy?ge en Sicile, &c. Laufanne, 1773. Diodorus Siculus from the report of others, and Pliny allert that, grain
grew in the Leontine fields, and other parts of Sicily (pontaneoufly; but this was only during the reign of Ceres,
Ariftotle alfo fays (de Mirabil. Aufcult.) that there is a
wild Wheat ill the neighbourhood of A'lount i^tna. The
paflage in Homer's Odyfley is well known ;
" The foil untiird a leady harveft yields,
" With Wheat and Bailey wave the golden fields."

Wheat, Barley, Vetches, Sefame, he.

rofup, to be wild in Babylonia,

are faid, by Bebttween the Tigris and Eu-

phrates.

Lolium pcrenne Lhina:i. Fl. dan. 747. Alor. hift.

This is the fort which has been long culti2.
vated in England under the name oi Ric grafs^ which is a
"*

t.

2.

f.

corruption of Ray-grafs\ and that is derived from the

French Tvray, a name given to the fcond fort, from its,
quality of aftedling the nerves, fomething like drunkennefs : which makes it to be reputed a dangerous weed
among 'Vheat.
"

Lolium tcmuleatum

Lnncs,

Fl. dan, 160,

The

L E T T E
The

XIII.

Pv

149

found naturally in meadows,

The diftincpaftures, and by way-fides.
marks of the fpecies are, that the
tive
firft

is

fpiculs in the

longer

are

iirfl

lyx,

and the flowers

the

fcond,

which

than the ca-

beardlefs
a

is

whereas in

among

Vv^eed

the

ipiculas are only of equal length

with the calyx, and the flowers have (hort
beards. Sometimes however it happens that
the flowers of the perennial fort have little
beards, and thofe of the annual none
but
you may always know them, not only from
their duration and place of growth, but be-

corn, the

caufe the fcond

is larger in every refpecl^

the Italk higher, the fpike longer ; the fpiculas alfo are much more remote, fo that
they do not touch each other, as they do in
the firft.

Cynofurus, or Dogs-tail grafs,

tacle, involucre or bra6te

was the

The

mentioned of this divifion.

of the genus is taken from
each calyx, which Linnus

lafl:-

chara:er

a lateral leaf to

the recepthis gives the fpike

calls

an air by which the genus is eaflly known

from all others. There is an elegant fpecies %
very general in parks and on commons, and
founcf alfo in other partures,
bradts pinnatifid,

which has

or toothed like a

the corol does not open, but

Cynofums

lingflecr,

t.

criftatus Lin,

clofely

thefe

comb

invefts

Crefted Dog's-tail,

Stil-

1.

the

LETTER

150

XHI.

the feed, which therefore does not fall ; the

fpiculae have from three to five tlowers, are
turned the fame way, and do not fit
all
clofe

the fpike

common

flalk

of

one pedancle fupports f^metimes

two or three of
is

or

the receptacle,

to

thefe fpiculae.

The

ftalk

very ered and Aim, and the leaves are nar-

row and fmcoth.

There remain

fome

ftiil

militate againft the artificial

therefore not to be found in

which

grafles

fyitem, and are

the third clafs

of Linnaeus's.
But as we are not bound to
follow him ftrvilely, we will rather follow
nature,

who

Earli' r

is

than

grafs, called

a better guide.

mod

r^us has named

yellovvnefs

of

of

its

it

flowers a

the reft

from thence Vernal

Grafi'^.

Lin-

AntJjoxanthumy from the

fpike.

pref:rnt to introduce

it

to

This will ferve at

your acquaintance,

you have an opportunity next fpring to

examine the flowers more minutely. It has
obtained the epithet of odoratum from the
fweet odour which it communicates to hay.
This genus ftands alone in the fcond order
until

of the fcond clafs.

Each calyx fuftains but
one flower j each valve of the corol has an
awn, one bent, and proceeding from the bafe,
the other almolt from the top: the two fila-

ments

are

very long

and the two

fl:yles

are

filiform: the chaff of the corol adheres to the

p

Curtis, Lond.

I.

4.

Stillingflect,

t.

1.

feed.

LETTER
There

feed.

are

151

XIII.

three fpecles of the genus

ours is diftingoiihed by the fpike being of

an oblong form ; and the flowers growing on
fhort peduncles, and being longer than the
beards.

There

one fpecies of grafs, called

CtJinay in the fcond order of the firft clafs.
But in the firft order of the twenty-third
clafs are feveral genera; of which the Hokus
or Soft grafs is moft likely to come under
your oblervation. This, and all the others
have fmaller imperfe(ft flowers among the peralfo

is

'^

circumftance which conftitutes

They have all bivalvular
chaffs for calyx and corol: three ftamens, two
piftils, and one feed: together with the whole
port or air of the plants we have beenjuft
confidering circumftances which plainly defe: ones; a

them of

that clafs.

nominate them

graflTes.

Holcus differs from

neighbours, in having two

one calyx, which

is

flowers inclofed

beardlefs;

its

whereas the

outer valve of the corol generally has a beard.

The imperfed flowers have neither corol, pif-

nor feed; but only three ftamens within

The two
the bivalvular chaff of the calyx.
common wild fpecies are thus diftinguiihed :
til,

Meadow

Soft grafs 'has villous chaffs: the per-

fedl flowers are beardlefs; the imperfcl

a bent
^
'
'

awn. Creeping Soft grafs

'

have

has fmoothiih

Polygamia Monoecia.
Holcus lanatus Lin. Curtis, Lond. IV. 11.
Holcus mollis Lin. Schreber. t. 20. . 2

chaffs;

LETTER.

152

XII.

chaffs: the perfect Bowers are beardlefs, but

the imperfec have a jointed awn.
They are
very much ahke, but the calyx is more acute

in this than in the former,

any of the

The

or indeed than in

grows in pafthe
tures;
fcond in corn-fields and hedges.
Since it is not uncommon to find incomfpecies.

firft

among

which
are perfet, in many of the grafi^es, which are
ranged by Linnaeus in his third clafs; you will
perhaps aik me why he has not either put them
alfo in the twenty-third, or elfe ranged them
plete or imperfedt flowers

To

together in the third.

all

thofe

queftion I

this

cannot return you a better aofwer, than that

the impsrfecft flowers feem not fo confl:ant and
regular in the one as in the other; or perhaps
are to be met with only in one fpecies of the
genus.

We have now run through

are

many

the grafles : there

other plants very nearly allied to them ;

as Schoejius

ner?.,
firfl:

or

Bog

or BuI'uJIj^

riiJJo

all

rufi, Cypcrus, Scirpus Club

three very

order of the third

reed,

numerous g-

Eriophorum or Cotton-grafs^
and

all

the

clafs.

Can ces

6cc. in

the

Cafs-tail, Biir^

or Sedges, in the third

have the
growth, the leaves, the appearance
of grafsj they have alfo three flamens: but the
ftalk ir filled with a fpongy fubftance, and the
flower is deftitute of petals.
Finally the
RiiJ}:es and fome few others, in the firif order
of the fixth clafs, have a fix-leaved calyx, a

order ot

manner

the tvventy-firll.

hefe

of

hexapetalous

LETTER

XIII.

5J
llamens, and

hexapetalous corol or none, fix

the feeds in a triangular capfule.
all this while that
I have not told you
Sugar is a grafs of the iirft divifion, which
perhaps you did not expeift.
But if you are
not tired, dear coulin, I am; fo adieu for the
'

prefent.

<

Saccharum oiHcinarum. Lira

154

LETTER

XIV,

July the

YOU

ifl,

1774.

are not to fuppofe that, becaufe the

letter

lail

was engroffed

wholly

by

Grafles, the third clafs therefore of the fyfteni

In truth there are
contains no other plants.
genera,
and fix hunfeventy-fix
than
no fewer
dred and eighteen fpecies, in the three rders

taken together. You fee however that though the grafles do not occupy
the whole, they make a very large proportion of it.
There are fome very beautiful genera in the
firft order of this clafs, particularly the Ixia
Thefe with
and Irisy or Fleur^de-lys '\
Crocus, Gladiolus, Afitholyza, and a few others
not eafily met with, agree in having a
Spathe or {heath inftead of a calyx; a
corol of fix petals, or at leaft cut into

of

this clafs

fix

that

parts;

three

generally

trifid;

is

and

trilocular capfule

ftigmas,

triangular,

or

one

trivalvular,

to inclofe the feeds:

they

have alfo long, narrow leaves, fomething refcmbling thofe of grafs Linnasus calls them

Corrupted into Flower-de-luce.

Evfjorm

LETTER
or

Enjform,

XIV.

fword-Jhaped^,

155

Thefe plants

are very nearly allied to the liliaceous tribe %

and are indeed enrolled in it by the generality

of authors who have aimed at framing a

natural arrangement.
Take any fpecies of Iris, either the blue^
or white ^ forts, which you have fo abundantly
in the borders of your fhrubberies, and plantations

wet

or elfe the yellow

one,

common

in

and ufually called jag. In the

firft place you
will obfe^ve,
that whether
the flowers are open or clofed, each has its
own (lieath, feparating it from the others.
The corol at firit feems to confift of fix petals,
but you will quickly fee that the parts are
places,

united at the bafe

the three outermoffc

of thefe parts or petals are bent downwards,
and thence are caWt falls
the three inner
all

-y

and have the name o flond-'

In the centre of them are three other
pe als, as they feem to be; but in reality
they are the fligma thus divided into three

ones

ftaijd eredt,

ards.

and under each divifion you will de-^

tect a lingle flamen lurking, with the filament bent along with the iiigma, and terminated by a large oblong, flatted anther:
parts

Hence

ther,

in his Natural Orders he has kept thefe togewith the addition of fome others, under the title

of Enjatcs.
See letter
<=

^ris

Iris

'

iris

I.

Germanica

L'lmiai.

Floientina Linnesi
pfeudacorus Linncei.

Curtis,

Lend.

III. 4.

for

LETTER

1^6

XIV.

germ you muft fearch below the

and there you v/ill find it a green
oblong body ; which, when the flower is
faded and alien, becomes in moft fpecies a
opening by three
three-cornered capfule,
valves, and having the feeds ranged in three
have not yet noticed a fet of
cells.
fmall bodies forming a villous line along the
middle of the reflexed petals ; but this you
for

the

fower,

We

perceive

is

not

common

to all

the fpecies,

your blue and white Iris having it, but not

your yellow flag
cannot therefore be a
it
:

mark of

the

^enus.

However

it

may

ferve

the purpofe of fubdividing it, or furnifliing

a fpecihc charader.
When you have finiihed

with the frudtification you will remark that

the leaves are very narrow in proportion to
their length ; and that they are not unaptly
termed eiifiform from the fimilitude of their
Ihape to that of a broad-fword.
If you can
pull
the
have
heart to
one of thefe fine plants
oat of the ground, you will fee that the
roots are not fibrous, but oblong, and flefhy :
I guefs
till

however that you will take

the autumn,

when

my word

the gardener will

be

removing fome of them, or at leaft expofing

their roots, when he digs his borders.
You may diftinguiih the /p/iie or Germany
the white or Florentine
and the yeiloiD or
The two firlf
marJJj Iris, fpecihcally thus
have the corols bearded
the-firfi: and tiiird
have feveral flowers upon the fiem ; the
,

-,

fcond

LETTER

XIV.

157

fcond has only one or two flowers, and the

peduncles are not fo long as in the firfl: j the
third has the corols beardlefs, and the inte^
rior petals lefs than the divifions of the ftigma?.
But why all this parade, fay you,

when we know them by

their hues ; blue,

Truft not too much to
What if an Iris were
colour, fair coufin.
to prefent itfelf with blue flowers, and. only
one or two on the flem, or without beards;
or with the flowering flem fiorter than the
leaves, would fuch be of the fame fpecies,
merely becaufe the corol is of a blue colour ?
No furely: and we pay more refped: to thefe
circumftances than to colour, not becaufe v/e
efteem them more, but becaufe they are more
certain and permanent.
The Chalcedonian Iris ^ has flems two
feet and an half high, fupporting one very
large flower ^ the three ftandards are very
broad and thin, with black and white flripes;
the three falls are of a darker colour
this is
one of the bearded forts.

white, and yellow

Among

handfome fpecious plants,

[et us not forget the humble Perjan Iris ',
feldom riflng three inches from the ground,
thefe

but beautiful in
s

They

fpecies
tips

are

all

its

colours,

fragrant in

its

from fome other

ftanding up fuperior to the

three diftinguifhed

by the flowering

ftaik

of the leaves.
^

Iris fufiana

L'mnai.

Iris Perfica

Limai.
fcent.

LETTER

158

XIV.

time when few

dubious
beauties dare truft themfelves to
One or two flowfkies and inclement air ^.
the ftandards are
ers come out together
of a pale flcy blue; the falls are of the fime
colour on the outflde, but the lip has a
yellow ftreak running through the middle,
and on each flde are many dark fpots with
one large deep purple fpot at the bottom :
they have no beard. The leaves are hollowed
like the keel of a boat, and are about lix
inches long. You will be glad to entertain
this pretty dwarf, when there is little elfe
fcent,

and flowering

at

amufe you in this way befides CrocuflTes

and Snowdrops.
I have fent you this little nofegay of handfome flowers, to make you amends for all
the dry ch :fF and hay with which 1 fatigued
you in my lafl:.

to

February.

This

is

figured in Curtis's

Magazine, n.

i.

159

LETTER

July the 8th, 1774.

CONSCIOUS,
nofegay of

dear

my

XV.

coufin,

that the

was too fmall to

have haded to fend you
laft

employ you long, I

the fourth clafs, which

is

rather

more nume-

rous than the third in the genera, of which

it contains eighty-five
but far lefs fo in the
;

fpecies, there

being no more of thefe than

three hundred and ninety.

You will have feme examples in this clafs
of aggregate flowers, the general nature of

which

explained to you before ; but you

will be perfel miftrefs of it I am perfuaded, when you have confidered the flructure of the 'Tea/el and Scabious,
Thefe and
all qthers of this natural order have monopetalous corols, fucceeded by one feed, to
whicl^ they are fuperior.
number of
thefe are included within one common calyx, as in the compound flowers, from
which they differ, in having the ftamens
four in number, and totally diftindt, with a
calyx proper to each little flower; they
might however eafily be confounded with
compound flowers, if the general form and
appearance only were attended to.
I

In

letter

VI.

The

LETTER

i6o

XV.

The two

genera of I'eafel and Scabious

agree in having the common calyx polyphylThe firfl:
lous, or condfting of many leaves.
on
the
flowers
betv/een
the
recephas chaffs
tacle, or common bafe of them all ; the form
of which is conical. The fcond has thefe
chaffs in fome fpecies, but in others the
receptacle is naked j the form of it is convex : it is remarkable for a double calyx to
flower, befides that

each

little

mon

to the whole.

The

which

is

com-

leaves of the calyx

are very long in the Teafel, and in feveral

rows in the Scabious.
Such are their principal generic diftlncCommon Teafel is feparated from its
tions.
congeners, by its feffile leaves, which are
ferrate or toothed

about

the edges.

The

conical head of the Teafel is furnifhed with

v/hich in the wild fort "^ are
ftlff beards,
flraight, but in the cultivated hooked ". This
difference did

not feem to Linnicus confi-

derable enough to make them fpecifically

Haller, Jacquin, and others, are
opinion ; and it is now genedifferent
of a
rally allowed that the cultivated Teafel is of
a fpecies diftind from the wild one.
Of Scabious there are no lefs than thirtyThe genus divides convenifour fpecies.
as have the coros of the
fuch
into
ently

diftint.

w Dipfacus
^

fylveftris.

Curtis, Lond. III. 9.

Dipfacus fullonum Lin.

httle

LETTER
little

XV.

i6r

flowers divided into four, and fuch as

have them divided into

fegments of the
firft there are fourteca, of the fcond twenty
fpecies.
Of our three wild forts two are in
the firft divifion, and one in the laft.
The

common

five

Scabious is a large, tall plant;

the ftalk is hairy the lower leaves are fometimes almoft entire, fometimes they, as well
field

as the leaves

upon the ftem,

are pinnatifid.

The

outer flowers are larger, and have the

corol deeper cut than the middle ones, and

the outer fegments are alfb largefl:: they are

of a pale purple colour.
The other fpecies with quadrifid corols is
becaufe it has a (hort
tap root, which appears as if the end were
bitten ofl^. The ftalks of this are not {o high,
nor are they branching as in the firft: they
generally fend out two fliort peduncles from
the upper joint, oppofite to one another,
each terminated by one fmall blue flower, as
is the principal flalk by one larger j the little
component flowers are not irregular as in the
The leaves are Ample and entire,
former.
(except fome on the middle of the ftem,
called

Devii's'ii^,

which have a few

oblong and draweach end. This fpecies

grows in paftures and woods, and flowers
later than the firft, which is common in corn
ing to a point

fields,

teeth,)

at

and not uncommon

in paftures,

Scabiofa arvenfis Lin. Curtis, Lond. IV. 13.

Scabiofa fuccifa Lir.. Curtis, Lond, III. ic.

SmaU

LETTER

i62

XV.

be.'kies having quinqucSmall Scabious

corols, is diftinguKhed from the two
fid
others by having the leaves next the ground
ovate and notched about the edges, vvhilfl
thofe upon the ftem are pinnate ; towards
the bottom the pinna3 are broader, but in
there are about
the upper ones very narrow
eight pair of thefe, and the terminating lobe
The aggregate flower is produced
is large.
on
a long peduncle, the outer little
finglc,
flowers larger, and very irregular, as in the
It is
firfl fpecies, of a pale blue colour.
common in paflures, efpccially where the
foil is chalky.
Before you are got thus far, I am perfuadcd your own mind has luggefl:cd to you
that a plant with dark purple flowers, and
a ftrong fweet odour, which your gardener
fows every year in the borders, is of this
The name o Siveet Scabious has not
genus.
led you, who are not governed by mere
names, to fuppofe this, but the evident fimi"^y

An accurate examination of the flower will confirm your fufpicion ; and you will find it to be one of thofe
which have quinquefid irregular corols j the
receptacle ot thefe is oblong ; the common
litude in the ftrudure.

calyx confifl:s of twelve linear folioles, of the

length of the aggregate flower, and bent
back the leaves are finely cut'. The colour
:

^ Scabiofa columbaria Lin. Fl. dan.

'
Scabiofa atropurpurea Lin,

t.

314.

of

LETTER

XV.

163

of the corol varies from black to pale purand variegated, and fomctimes the
main flower is furrounded by a fet of very
fmall ones on {lender peduncles, a^ in the
Hen and Chicken Daify ; but all thefe are
confefTedly no other than feminal varieties :
though novv' fo common with us, this plant
ple, red

Us

originally

This

from the

Indies,

comprifes another natural order

of plants, entitled Stellated, from the manner in which the leaves grow upon the ftem,
feveral together in fets one above .another,
radiating like the points of a ftar, as it is
clafs

commonly

reprefented.

mud: oblerve to

you, that though in this cafe, and in -many

others, a clafs or order takes its name from
an obvious or (Iriking circumftunce .in its
itrudlure, yet it does not
follow that all
plants which have that flru<$lure are to be
looked for there, or that this is the only or
even principal reafon of their being kept
together.
When a plant of this or that
general appearance prefents itfelf, you may
reafonably prefume that it ranks in this or
that order ; but outward appearances muffc
not carry you beyond prefumption, a-nd it
the flruclure of the frudification that
is
muil determine you at laft ^
5 See what was faid
upon this fubjecl with refpefl to the
Elder in letter V.
ufe and practice is
I muft add that
neceflary to give the proper ta6l in natural objels as well
as works of art
the fimilitudes and analogies that ignorant petfons find being ufually truly ridiculous.
:

la

L E T T E R XV;

164

In the Stellated plants the (Irudture is this:

the calyx is extremely minute, divided into
four parts, and permanent : the corol is monopetalous divided into four fegments ; the fta-

mens

are four in

number

the

germ

is

double,

and below the flower; the fly le is bifid j the

fruit is globofe, and contains two feeds. The
ftalk

is

quadrangular.

All the genera of this order refemble each

other fo much, that fome authors have re-

duced them into one.

Madder has a bell(haped corol, fucceeded by two berries with

one ^t in each. Sherardia and Woodroof^
have funnel-fhaped corols: the firft has a
little crown to the feeds, the fcond has them
globofe, without any crown.
Galium has a
two roundiili feeds.
This laft genus has twenty-fix fpecies, twenty
of which have the fruit fmooth in the re*
maining fix it is rough. The number of leaves
falvcr-ihaped corol, and

in each ftar or whorl, together with the fhape

of them, gives the principal

fpecific diftinc-

tions.

White Galium y or White Ladies Bedjlraw ,

has four leaves in a whoi 1 towards the bottom
of the ftem, and fix narrower ones higher
up.
Great Ladies Bedjlraw'', has cij^ht, a
little

'

'

notched about

the

edges,

Curtis, Lond. IV^.

Galium paluftre Lin. F!. dan. 473.
Galium MoUugo Lin, Mor. hiit. l. 9. t.

Afperula odorata,

ovate in
15.

22.

f.

i.

form>

LETTER

XV.

165
form, and terminating in a point or
little
hook.
Tellow Ladies Eedflraw ^ has alfo
eight leaves,
but they are very narrow,
^nd furrowed; the flowering ftalks
are
very fhort, and the corols are
yellow.
The

grows

iirft

moid meadows, and by

fides; the fcond in hedges,

among

mon

the bufhes; the third

in paftures,

on

river

and on heaths
is

very

com-

and by way fides.

Thefe three all have fmooth feeds.
The
common Galium \ known by the name of
Goo/e-grafs or Cleavers, every body
knows to
have rough feeds, by their (ticking
to the
balks,

clothes as we pafs i^ear the

hedges.
The
leaves alfo are roqgh, lance
ftaped, and eight
number. The flowers of all the
fpecies,
and indeed of the whole tribe, are very
fmall,
but the plants ^re known at firft
fight

by
^

their air.

The Plantains are alfp of the firft order

of
this clafs Tetrandrla : they are
numerous, for
there are twenty-four fpecies of
them. As a
great

number of

a fpike or

pne of them

fmall flowers

grow together

oblong head, you muft feparate

to

examine the

tification diflinaiy.

You

parts of the fruc-

will then find that

each of thcfe fmall flowers has a

quadrifid
calyx and corol, with the border
or the lat-

ter

reflexed:

the filaments arc

* Galium veram Lw, Mor. hift. f.

9.
Galium Aparine. Curtis, Lond.
II.

^3

t.

remarkably
2l. f i

9.

long:

LETTER

i66

long: and the feed-vefTel

fule,

XV.
is

a bilocular cnp-

opening horizontally^ and placed above

the receptacle.

The Great

^ and Ribwort

"

Plantains

are

known to you-, the firft fo

common by way fides, and the fcond iti
pafture grounds.
The Great Tlajitatn is difdoubtlefs well

by its ovate,, fmooth leaves, and

its round, naked,
flowering flalk
terminated by a long fpike of flowers laying clofe
over each other ^.
Hoary Fiant ain ^ is nearly
tinguiihed

>'

allied to this,

but the leaves are longer, and

white with" hairs i the fpike is cylindric, but

fliortcr and thicker than in the firft.
Ribwort
Plantain has the leaves lance fhaped, a fliort,
naked, ovate' fpike^ the fcape angulate, and
twifled.
This, and the other fpecies have
the leaves marked lengthwife-, wdth very pro-

minent

ribs or nerves.

By fubmitting

to examine thefe plants,

which you was already 'acquainted with, you

will

acquire a facility in difcovering fuch as

you have too much

are Grangers to youj for

fenfe to defpife

them becaufe they

are

com-

mon,

or deftitute of beauty: in confidence of

this,

have been ftudious to

felel rather

^ riantago major Lin. Cuitis, Lond. If. ii.

* Plantago lanceolata Lin. Curtis, Lond. 11. lO.
y This Liiitucus calls fcupus, from its relVmblance to
..<:..>
the fliatc vf a column.
^Imbricate.
^
riantago media Lin. Curtis, Lond. IV, 14. .' *
"*

fuch

LETTER

XV.

167

fuch plants as you may readily meet with,

and are proper for examination, than thofe
If you
that are moft rare and valuable.
v.^ere in the neighbourhood of a famous botanic garden I might be nicer in my choice,
and at the fame time prefent you with greater
variety, but perhaps after all I might not be
more ufeful, or you more amufed: at lead I
ihall hope for the continuance of that indulgence a little longer with which you have
J

hitherto honoured

me

^.

But to return to our bufinefs; there is a

plant of this fourth clafs and firfl: order, which

muft not omit prefenting to you, were it

but for the name's fake.
Ladies Mantle has
a calyx of one permanent leaf, divided into
eight fegments, four of which are larger, and
four fmaller^ it has no corol; and only one
little feed to each flower.
There are three
I

fpecies of Ladies Mantle,

2.

The

firft

is

Alpine, and

3.

known by

its

The Common,
Five-leaved. The
i.

The

fimple,

lobate leaves,

nicely ferrated about the edge, and divided

into
*

from eight

to twelve greater parts

be-

who live in or near London, or

occaflonally to the great city, will be happy to pro-

Students in Botany

come

by Mr. Curtis's excellent garden, at Lambeth, where

number of plants is arranged and named, fo
that he that runs may read.
I. Alchemilla vulgaris. Lin. Mor. hift. f. 2. t. 20. f. i.
Mill. fig. pi. 18.
2. Alchemilla alpina, Lin,
3. A. pentaphyllea Lin.
fit

fo great a

fore

LETTER

i68

fore the leaf expands

XV.

folded or plaited at
each of thefe divifions; and hence the name.
The flowers grow in bunches, are inconfiderable in point of fize, and alfo of colour, for
having no corol they are only green, or what
botanifts call herbaceous.
It is an humble,
but an elegant plant, and grows in high pafit is

common.

tures, but not

Alpine Ladies Mantle

gant than

is

much more

ele-

with its fliining filky leaves,

which are digitate, and indented at the end :
this,

the folioles or component leaves vary in number from five to nine. The third fpecies is
very uncommon it is a fmall plant, quite
:

fmooth, with
folioles

live

digitate leaves, but each of its

divided

half

way

into

feveral

fmaller ones.

The

fcond order of this clafs has a fingular

plant, Cufcuta or Dodder.
It is without
leaves, has a ftalk flender as a thread, which
would trail along the ground did it not lay

hold on fome plant ftronger than itfelf for

fupporti not content with fupport, where it
lays hold, there it draws its nourifhrnentj and,
at

length,

in gratitude

for

all

this,

flranr

this
acI imagine
befpeak your affedion for
JDodder ".
If you will be at the pains of
difembarrafFing a poor fufFering bean of its

gles

count

its

entertainer.

will

not

* Cufcuta Europasa Lin. Fl. dan. 199.

The divifions
of the calyx, and corol, and the ftamens, are fometinies
five ; hence Ibme place it in the next clafs.

entangling

LETTER

XV.

169

entangling ftalks, you will fee that the flowers come out in feffile knots; that each of
thefe has a calyx divided half way into four
parts ; that the corol is of one petal divided
into four fegments at the edge: and that
This
the feed-veflel is a bilocular capfule.
parafite, as Linnaeus juftly calls fuch plants,
faftens

itfelf

about

beans,

nettles,

clover,

flax, &c. and feeds upon them by means of

innumerable teats or glands which it inferts

into the pores of

The

its

fupporter's bark.

Pondweedsy

which

common,

are

many,

and

an inof the third order. If your own

fifh-ponds are kept too clean to furnifli thefc
plants, you may probably procure them from
fome of your neighbours; or, if they were
worth the carriage, I could fend you abundance from our moat. You will know them
by the leaves laying flat upon the water; and
by the ftem's puihing up a fpike of inconfiderable flowers, that have no calyx, a corol of four
deciduous petals, four germs terminated by
obtufe ftigmas, without the interposition of
any fl:yle, and becoming in time four roundish
fufficiently

will

ferve for

ftance

feeds.

The broad leaved ^ fpecies is one of the mofi:

common, and is known by its oblong ovate
leaves. Perfoliate

leaves

Pondweed has

embracing the

ftalk,

heart-fiiaped

and grows

Potamogeton natans. Lin. Miller

Lin. Fl.dan. 196.

in run-

illuftr.

* Peifoiiatum.

ning

LETTER

170

XV.

Curled Pond weed ^ has lancenotched about the

leaves,
(haped,
edges, and (landing alternate upon the flem :
this is found both in running and ftagnant

ning waters.

waving

waters.

But of thefe enough don't hazard getting

If
wet, or catching cold, in fearch of them.
any of thefe plants which I have hitherto recommended to your notice, elude your fearch,
or have paiTed their ftated time of flowering
before you find them, note them down for next
year
fo adieu, dear coufin.
:

Crifpum Lin. Curtis, Lond.

17^

LETTER
March

XVI.
the 25th, 1773.

MY

indifpofition of laft autumn has

given you ample leifure, dear coufin,
to make yourfelf miftrefs of the general arrangement of plants, and of the lirfl: four
Since it is your earneft
claies in particular.
defire, I have refumed my former prate as
early as poffible, that nothing may efcape us

We

have now a large clals to

with,
containing more than a
the
vegetable world, for it has
tenth part of
two hundred and fixty-one genera, and one

this feafon.

encounter

hundred and five fpecies.

It
includes, as you may fuppofe, feveral natural
orders, and feme fpecies are even now ready
thoufand

live

for examination.

We

open the year, by your leave,

with the Primrofe, which has its name from
being one of the firfl: flowers that blow.
This, with fome others that refemble it,
form a natural order, entitled, for the fame
will

reafon, Precice

^ ,

and agreeing in having a

monophyllcus, quinquefid, permanent calyx;

a monopetalous, quinquefid corol ; and a
capfule for a feed-vefiTel, fuperior or inclofed
within the calyx. The charaders of the
s

Praecoces, early.

genus

LETTER

172

XVI.

genus are, an involucre under the flower,

or knot of flowers 5 the corol funnel -(haped
or falver-lhsped, with the tube cylindric,
and open at the top ; the ftigma globofe :

The fpecies ^ is difthe capfule unilocular.

its
pentagonal calyx, its cylintinguifhed by
dric oblong capfule, and the wrinkled furface, and indented edges

of

its

1 he

leaves.

three principal varieties, if they are but variThe

eties, are thus commodtoufly feparated.
flem,
naked
a
on
one
has
flower
Trimrcfe
'

and the corol falver-fhaped. The Oxjlip^

has feveral flowers on one naked ftem, and

The

the corol falver-Jfhaped.

Ccwjlip

has

many

flowers on a naked ftem, and the

The yellow of the
funnel-{haped.
corol
two flrft is very pale the corol of the Primthat of the Oxflip
rofe is much the largeft
two others : the
the
a middle fize, between
fimple unbranched flowering flem of the
-,

-,

weak, and rather a peduncle than

a ftalk; the fcape of the Oxfltp is fometimes
near a foot high, and ftrong; that of the
Cowflip is generally lower and weaker. I do
not know whether I dare to tell you that
all the beautiful lorts of Polyanthus, by you
prized fo much, are but an accidental vari-

Primrofe

is

Comprehending Primrofe,

Oxflip,

Cowflip,

and

Polyanthus.
'

^
'

Primula acaulis Lin. vulgzrls Hudfon. Fl.dan. 194.

Primula vulgaris |i. UuJf. FI. dan. 434.
Primula veris Lin. & Hudf, Fi. dan. 433.
ety

LETTER

XVI.

ety of this fpecies, which is certainly

difpofed to vary even in its wild flate.

173

much
Thus

the Primrofe has fometimes two flowers together, or changes to green, or to red, or
doubles its corol ; the Oxflip fcmetimes has
very few flowers, and they nearly as large
as a

Primrofe

and the Cowflip has frequently

much refembling a fmall

Polyanthus.
See now by how many fleps you arrive at
a knowledge of thefe plants.
You iirft determine their clafs and order, by feeing that
they have five ftamens, and one piflil ; having ftill an hundred and fifty-five genera to
encounter, you next fettle what fubdivifion
of the order they range under; and finding
that the corol is monopetalous, inferior, and
fucceeded by a vefiel inclofing the feeds, you
are reduced to feventy-three genera.
Next
you difcover that they are of the natural order
of Precia, which leaves you but ten genera
You are now got within fo
to choofeout of.
fmall a compafs that it cannot be very difficult
to afcertain the genus, the f'>ecies which are
red flowers, then

ten in number, and the fubordinate varieties.

I do not make all this parade, in order to
enable you to dilcover a plant which you

was perfedly acquainted with beforehand,

but to rtiew you how you are to proceed
wi'h a plant you do not know, from this
inftance of one which you do,
2

Or

174

LETTER

Or you may

take

it

XVI.

thus

You

have a

in flower, which for the prefent we

fuppofe you to be unacquainted with.
You firft examine the ftamens and piftils ;
and by the number of thefe you determine
your plant to belong to the fifth clafs and
You next confult the fubdithe firfl order.

plant
will

and find it belonging

to that which has monopetalous inferior corols,
with the feeds inclofed in a veflTeL
Seeing farther that your plant has a monovifions of that order,

phyllous calyx cut into five fegments, that

the corol is alfo divided in the fame manner
this added to the foregoing circumstances
fliows you that it ranges under the natural
order of Preci^
Here remarking an involucre under the flowers, the tube of the
corol cylindric, and open at top, and the cap:

fule unilocular or one- celled,

at

length

that

your plant

is

you

are afliired

of the genus

Primula, But finding that the leaves, infl:ead of being wrinkled, are perfedtly fmooth,
flefliy, and either entire, or (barply notched
about the edges, you are well afllired that it
is a diftin: fpecies; and upon inquiry difcover it to be the Auricula ""j the elegant, the
powdered Auricula, fo much efleemed by
tiorifts, and fo various in the fize and colours of its corol, when in a fl:ate of cultivation.
^ Primula Auricula Lm.

All

ij

LETTER'

XVI.

175

All the other plants of this natural order

arc pretty, if not fpecious.
Meadia, perverfely altered by Linnsus to Dodecatheon ",
is an American plant, bur flowers well and
early in our climate.
It has a rotate or wheelthe ftamens fit upon
fhaped corol, reflexed
the tube ; and the capfule has one cell only,
and is oblong. This is fufficient for the
complete detedion of the plant, iince there
is
only one known fpecies.
The leaves
however are fmooth
the flowering flems
are naked, eight or nine inches high, and
fuflain many flowers, each of v/hich has a
long flender peduncle, which is recurved fo
that the flower hangs down
the corol is of
a beautiful light purple.
If you have not
this plant already in, your garden, procure it
againfl: next fpring ;:ypu will be pleafed with
the flirudture and appearance of it.
Cyclamen refembles Meadia in its wheelfhaped reflexed corol, but the tube is glo:

-,

-,

bular, and remarkably fhort, with the neck

prominent J the ftigma, v/hich was obtufe in

The feed-vefl?el is
is acute in this.
roundifh and flefliy, inclofing feverai angular feeds: Linnaeus calls it a berry covered
that,

with a capfular
fpecies pr

There are feverai

of Cyclamen ; for it is

lliell.

varieties

doubtful whether they are pofltiveiy

The mod commpn has
or not.
*"

n
.

Curtis's

Magazine, 12. Mill.

* Cyclaiti^;

fig. p!.

diflinc^:

heart-

174.

iiuropaeum Lin,

fhaped

LETTER

170

fliaped angular leaves,

The

the middle.

fore thefe, riling

v/hen they

fall,

XVV

marked with black in

appear alone, beimmediately from the root :

the peduncles twift up like
flowers

a fcrew, inclofing the germ in the centre,

and lay clofe to the ground among the leaves,

which grow very thick together, and proThe common colour

tea: them all winter.
of the corol is red, but it varies to purple
There is one fort which has
and white.
the leaves purple underneath; and another
which has the veins only purple, and the
upper fide veined and marbled with white :
The
the flowers white with a purple bafe.
Perfian fort has leaves like the

laft in

colour,

but quite entire about the edges, the flowers

with a bright red or purple
All thefe, and other differences, v'hebafe p.
ther fpecific or not, make a mofl agreeable
variety, and are very beautiful.
There are two wild plants of this natural
order which I muft recommend to your inThey grow in
fpedion for their beauty.
the water, and therefore you mufl procure
them by another hand.
large, pale purple

Marfh

Trefoil or Bog-bean'^ will difcover

you immediately by the corol being

all over j it is funnel-rtiaped, with a
and the border divided beyond
fliort tube,
the middle J the colour white, and red on the
itfelf to

frifiged

V Miller's fig. pi.

Menyanthes

115.

trifoliata Lin,

Curtis,

Lend. IV. 17.

outfide

Letter
outfide

the ftigma bifid

a capfule of one cell.

in

xvi.

and the feed-velTel

The

fpecies

is

diilin-

and
from Its fituation, it has the name of Marfitrefoil, and becaufe each of the component
guifhed by

its

ternate leaves; whence,

of the fize and fliape of a bean-leaf,

The flowers grow"
it is alfo called Bog-bean.
in a loofe fpike at the top of the ftem.
Water Violet ' has a falver-fhaped corol npt
fringed, the tube longer than in the laft,
the colour white or faint purple, with a yellow eye : the ftamens are placed upon the
tube of the corol ; the liignia globofe ; and
the feed-veflel a capfule of one cell, as in
the laft.
The leaves are wholly immerfed
in the water, and finely pinnate ; the flowerflem is naked, and riles five or fix inches
above water ; towards the top are two or
three whorls of flowers, and it is terminated
with a clufl:er of them ; the whole forming
a kind of conical fpike.
Another natural order of this clafs contains the plants Qntie y^Jperifolia or roughleaved.
Thefe are not fo beautiful as the
lafl: j but
you are by this time become too
good a naturalift to be led away by gaudycolours or fpecious appearances.
Though
roughnels of the leaves and fi:em is a general
charader of this order, yet it is more neceffary that the following character fhould be
leaves

'

is

Hottonia paluftris

Zm.

Curtis, Lond.

ii.

found

LETTER

lyS

XVI.

found in the frudification. The calyx is of

one leaf divided into five fegmcnts, and
the corol is monopetalous, dipermanent
vided alfo into five fegments, tubulous, and
extending below the germs : the fiv*e ftamens
grow from the tube of the corol : and there
are four naked feeds to which the calyx
We may remark farferves as a capfule.
:

ther, that the leaves are placed alternately,

or without order on the ftem; and that the

before they open, is retrain of circumcannot be much

there
ftances to direct you,

fpike

of flowers,

With

flexed.

fo

ample a

knowing when you meet with

tribe of plants ;
rough-leaved
one of this
efpecially as they wear the fame drefs, and
have a ilrong family likenefs.
Out of eighty-three fpecies, which this
order contains, you may perhaps know fome
of the folio vv'ing, and from them you will
have an idea of the reft. Heliotrope or
Turnfole, Moufe-ear Scorpion-grafs, Cromwell, Alkanet, Hound's-tongue, Pulm.onaria,
Comfrey, Cerinthe, Borage, Buglofs,
difficulty

in

and Viper's Buglofs.

If

you examine the

corol of thefe plants, you will obferve that

fome of them have five fcales in the tube of
others have none y this circumit, whilft
ftance, together with the fliape of the corol,
will furnifli the principal generic diftindtions..
Cerinihe, and
of the corol
tube
Viper's Buglofs have the

Thus Cromwell, Pulmonaria,

2

naked

LETTER

XVI.

179

naked ; the reft have the five fcales. Heliotrope

and Moufe-ear Scorpion-grafs have falver(haped flowers ; Gromvvell, Alkanet, Hound'stongue, Pulmonaria, and Buglofs, have funnel-fhaped flowers ; in Comfrey and Cerinthe
the corol is ventricole, fwells or bulges out
towards the top; Borage has a rotate corol;
and in Viper's-Buglofs it is an irregular kind
Heliotrope has the
of bell-fhaped corol.
the
top
the
tube is not clofed
fcales; h-^t
of
by them, as it is in the Moufe-ear ScorpionAlkanet, Hound's-tongue, Comfrey,
grafs,
Hound's-tongue has flat feeds fixed
Borage.
to their ftyle by their inner fide only.
Pulmonaria has a pentagonal or prifmatic calyx.
Cerinthe has only too hard, fliinins: bilocular
{Qcds.
Buglofs has the tube of the corol
bent.

Common

has the leaves ovate, entire, wrinkled, and covered with a nap; the
lower fpikes of flowers are Angle, and the upper ones double.
The colour of the corol
white, with a greenifh eye, and fometimes
Turffok

This

an annual plant.
Periivi Tu?mJo!e has a (hrubby ftem ; the
leaves of a long ovate form, wrinkled and
rough, on fliort petioles; the flowers are produced at the end of the branches in fliort
fpikes, growing on clufters, the peduncles
light red.

is

'

'

HeliotropiumEuropaeumZ/;^.
Heliotropium Peruvianum Lin, Mill.

fig. pi.

144.

divide

LETTER

i8o
divide

again

two or three

into

into

XVI.

fmailer

of pale blue
peculiar odour.
fpike

ones,

and thcfe
fuAaining a
which have a

others,

each

flowers,

Moiife-ear Scorpion-grafs

'''

is

common

both

dry paftur s and heaths, and by the fides

O ditches and flreams; in the former it is
hairy, in the latter fmooth, with the flowers
much larger, and extremely beautiful when
{ecn f :ficlently near, of a moft elegant blue
with a yel'ow eye. Linnaeus diftinguilhes this
fpecies by the fmooth nefs of the feeds, and by
the tips of the leaves being callous.
There are two forts of Gromwell wild.

in

The

common
and

Gromwell

true

corruption
is

from
it

found

"^j

Gray

feds dry
chiefly in

which name
Mulet,

is

not very

foils, efpecially

woody

is

places, or

chalk,

among

You

will know it by its whitifli,

hard feeds; which latter quality gwe occafion to the Latin name, from
Or if it is not
the Greek, Lithofpermum'',
far enough advanced to fhov/ the feeds, obferve that it is a much larger and
more
branching plant than the next; the leaves
the flowers are fmall, and
are lance-lLaped
from the alee of the leaves
con e out finale
't>'

bufhes.

{h'lniugy ovalj

-,

"

f.

Myofotis fcorpioicles Lin, Curtis, Lond.

Lithoipcrmum
I. Gcr. bCQ,

officinale Lin.

Mor.

hift.

III. 13.
f.

11.

t.

31.

^ S tone- feed.

ori

LETTER

XVI.

i8i

peduncles; the corol is white or yellowifh, with a greenifh tube.

Corn Gromivell is a common weed among
corn, and differs from the former in its
wrinkled, conical feeds; the leaves alfo are
ovate, and fharp-pointed; the flowers are
chiefly on the top of the flem among the
leaves ; the corol is white, with the tube
Both fpecies have the cofwelling at top.
rols fcarcely extending beyond the fegments
of the calyx; and both have the roots tinged
with red, whence the latter has the name of
Ballard Alkanet.
Hound' S'tongue^' \s a large plant that grows
common by the hedges and way fides; it has
a flrong fmell like that of mice in a trap.
The corol is of a dirty red, or the colour of
blood that has flood fome time. It is diftinguifhed from the other fpecies by the
itamens being fliorter than the corol; the
leaves broad lance-fhaped, nappy, and fitting
clofe to the flem without petioles.
Comfrey ^ is common by water fides. The
leaves are large, long, hairy, and ending
in a point
from their bafe on each fide
runs a border down the flalk*.
From the
upper part of the flalk come out fome fide-

on

fliort

'^

'^

Llthofpermum arvenfe Lin. Fl. dan. 456. Mor.

Ger. 610.
y CynoglofTum
*

is

7.

Lond. JV. 16.

Zm^/. Curtis, Lond. IV. 18.
what Linnsus calls decurrent.

Symphytum

* This

f.

officinale Z/. Curtis,

officinale

branches.

LETTER

i82

XVI.

branches, with two finaller leaves, terminated

by loofe bunches of nodding flowers ; the
corol of a yellowifh white, in fome places
purple.

Of

Cerinthe

there

two

are

fpecies only,

diftinguifhed by the larger fort* having obtufe,

open corols

corols.

The

the

lefs

"

leaves of the

having (harp, clofe

are fea-green

firft

with white; it varies with prickly

and fmooth leaves, with yellow and purplifh
red corols.
It grows wild in Italy, the fouth
of France, Germany, and bwiflerland. The
fpotted

fcond

has

more

large, the corol

found naturally

uncommon

{lender

fmall
in

ftalks;

This

and yellow.

the Alps.

calyx

the

Both

is

are not

in gardens.

Borage^ is an annual plant, which comes up

in your kitchen garden, without the care of
The whole plant is rough; the
the gardener.
The
leaves are large, and broad lance-lhaped.
flowers come out in loofe, naked bunches, on
long peduncles, at the end of the ftalks: the
calyx, with the corol fpreads out quite flat:
the colour of the corol is a fine blue, which
fometimes fades to white, or changes to red.
Biiglofs
'

way

fides.

is

Is

common among
a very

corn, and by
rough plant, with blue

corols veined with white.

* Cerinthe mnjor Lin. Mill. fig. 91.
Cerinthe minor Z(/7.
^ Borago olicinalis Lin. Mor. hift.
Ger. 797.
*

Lycopfis arvenfis Lin.

FL

f.

ii.

t.

26.

i.

i.

dan. 435. Ger. 79.

Viper'i

LETTER
Vlper\ Buglofs

*^

is

XVI.

much

183

larger

plant

than this, with a large handfome fpike of

blue flowers.
The ftalk is very ere6t and
fpotted: the leaves lance-fhaped, the lower
ones petiolate, the upper ones fefle.
It is
common among the corn in fome countries;
alfo in

fome

by way-fides, and on

paftures,

walls.

You

will

find

fome

plants of

this

fifth

order which have a bell-haped

corol of one petal.
If they have a permanent
calyx divided into five parts, and a capfule
clafs

and

firfi:

for a feed-veflel, they belong to a natural or-

der entitled Campanacece ^

Three very large
genera \ befides fome others, belong to this
order.

The genus Convolvulus^

all

others by

its

is

diftinguifhed

from

large, fpreading, plaited

co-

marked with ten

notches, or flightiy quinquehd; two ftigmas;
and a capfule wrapped up in the calyx, genera. ly bilocular, with two roundhh feeds.
From this genus I will feledt two wild
with

rol,

the edge either

Echium

Bell-flowers.

Convolvulus, Ipomaea, and Campanula the firft has

the fcond twety-two ; and the third fixty;

vulgare Lin. FI. dan. 445, Ger. 802.

:

fixty-four

iiX Ipecies,
s

near

So
;

called
this

from twining round any thing it comes

however is not common to all the

property

fpecies.

and

LETTER

i84

and two cultivated

fpecies,

XVI.
for

your exami*

nation.

Small Bidweed^, which is fo common a

weed among corn, has fagittate leaves acute
both ways, and one flower upon a round long
The weak ftalks trail on the
peduncle.
ground, unlefs they meet with fome other
plant to fupport them; the corol is either
white, or red, or variegated 5 and if the plant
came from India it would be cultivated for
the beauty of the flov/er: I do not however recommend you to grow ford of it, for
'

it

creeps intolerably at the root.

a: well
bthrd;
or
cut
off
truncate
but
as the laft,
the flowers come out flngic alfo, but on j'quaie
This is a much larger, ftri.ngcr
peduncles.
plant than the other, riflng in hedges or
amor g buHies and fhrubs, ten or twelve feet
the corol is very large and always pure
high

Great Bindweed^ hasfagiuate leaves

white; immeiiately under the calyx

is

u l^rge

two leaves, "l t'.e

two leaves, but they

heart-flrjaped involucre of

former Ipecies has thefe

are very narrow, and in the middle of the pedujxie.

Purple Blndweed\ an annual fpecies cultigardens under the name of

vated in flower
^-

'
^

Convolvulus arvenfis Z/?2. Curtis, Lond. II. 13.

Shaped like the head of an arrow.
Convolvulus fepiuni Lin. Curtis, Lond. I. 13.
Convolvulus purpurtus Lin. Lhret. pi6t. t. 7. f. 2.

Co?2vohulus

LETTER

XVI.

185

has heart-(haped undiConvolvulus major^

vided leaves, the feed veflels hanging down
after the flower is gone, and the peduncles
This if fupported will climb to
fwelling.
the height of ten or twelve feet.
Though

the moft ufual colour of the corol is purple,

yet there are varieties white, red, and whitifh
blue.
'Tricolor

Bindweed

or as

"\

called.

Convolvulus minor ,

fmooth

leaves, a

climbs, and the

The

corol

is

weak

has

it

is

vulgarly

lance- (liaped,

falling ftalk, that never

coming out

flower

fingly.

blue with a white

white or variegated.

a beautiful

eye; but fometimes all

This is alfo annual. Its native country is
Portugal.
The former is wild both in Alia

^nd America.
This genus
plants

as

contains

Scammony

",

feveral

remarkable

Turpethum or Turbith^

and Jalap.

Ipoma has rather

a funnel-fhaped than a

campanulate corol; a globofe ftigma, and a

trilocular capfule* ; but the plants that range
under this genus being natives of the Wefl:
Indies, and confequently requiring much heat
to raife and preferve them, may probably not
come within your view; and therefore I fhall
not enlarge upon them,
"

"

Convolvulus tricolor Lin.

Conv. Scammonia. L'ln, Mill.

* See Mill,

fig.

fig.

iC2,

21 4.

In

LETTER

i26

XVI.

In Campanula you will of courfe expetfl to

but
it is worth your obfervation that the bottom of
it is clofed with five valves, concealing the receptacle, and that the flamens take their rife
from thefe valves. The ftigma is trifid. And
find a campanulate or bell-fhaped corol

the feed vefTel

is

a capfule,

below the flower,

and

at the top of
having
each a hole, through which the feeds are fcatYou fee by this time how
tered when ripe.
curious and how various the ftruiture of the
By thus examining
parts of frudification is.
them one with
comparing
them fmgly, and
another, you will in time grow an eminent
botanift, and acquire a facility in determining
the genus, fpecies, analogy and connexion of

three or five cells,

vegetables.

There

is

a little BtU-flower that

grows

fre-

quent in dry paftures, and on almofl: every

heath and common, with its nodding blue
The bocorol anfwering well to its name.
tanifts have confpired to call it round-lea'^ced
for what reafon perhaps you will
Bell-flower
"-,

wonder, fince you will difcover no leaves upon

the flem but what are linear, or very kng, narrow lance-fhaped: if however you take a young
plant, or at lead one in full vigour, and fearch
among the grafs clofe to the ground, you will fee
thefe leaves, which are not fo properly round as
heart or kidney fhaped*. This fort flowers the

Campanula

Kalkr,

rotundifoliaZ/;;;:^/. Curtis,

Lond.IV.

21.

* Linnseus.
latter

LETTER

XVI.

1B7

'

of the lummer, and all the autumn, till froft puts an end to it; and freRmnpion ?, which
quently has a white corol.
latter part

was formerly
in fallads,

is

cultivated for

now

fo

much

its

roots

to eat

neglected,

that

your kitchen garden perhaps may

its wild Hate it is by no means
it ; and in
common. This has upright flalks, two feet
high ; the leaves undulating, thofe next the
not furnifh

root fhort,

lance-flbaped,

inclining to oval

towards the upper part of the flem, and clofe

to it, fmall bell flowers are produced, with
a blue or white corol.
Peach-leaved Bell-flower 1 is abundant in
your flower borders, both blue and white;
but fince your gardener has obtained the
double forts, he has probably defpifed the
fingle ones fo much as to have deflroyed
them, and at the fame time to have deprived
you of the power of determining the genus:
you will however know this to be a Campanula by its air
and you will determine the
fpecies by the leaves, which are ovate near
the root, and on the ftalk are very narrow
lanced-fliaped approaching to linear, flightly
ferrated about the edge, fit clofe to the Item,
and are remote from each other,
I remember your hail chimney ufed to be
adorned in fummer with the pyramidal or
-,

Campanula Rapunculus Linnai.

Campanula Perficifolia Llnnai.
Jeeple

LETTER

i88

XVL

JieepIeBdl-ower'y flrutting out like a hus

by means of a frame or little flicks. This
ferrated
has fmooth, heart-fbaped leaves,
about the edge; thofe on the flem lanceiliaped: the flems are fimple and rufh-like:
the flowers come out in feflile umbels from
Such are Linnaeus's fpethe fide of the flem.
cific

charaders.

There

the Giant T^hroatworf^ wild, but

not common, in bufliy places and hedges :
is

known by

its

flrong,

round,

Angle

flalks

its long ovate leaves, inclined to lance-fliaped,

flightly ferrated or toothed like a faw on

towards the upper part of the

flalk the flowers come out lingly upon fliort
Pray remark, that after thefe are
peduncles.

their edges

turn downwards till

the feeds are ripe, and then rife up again.
Great Beil-foiver^, vulgarly called Canterthe

fiided

feed-veflTels

hiiry

Bells,

like

places.

fl:aiks,

The

is

much more common

in

the

This has ftifl", hairy, angular

putting out a few fhort fide-branches.

leaves are like

and deeply

ferrated

thofe of nettles, hairy,

on their edges: towards

the upper part of the flalks, the flowers come

out on fliort trifid peduncles, and have hairy
calyxes.

'

*
'

f.

Campanula pyramidalis L'nmcsl.

Campanula latifolia Lin. \. dan. 85. Ger. 448.
Campanula Trachelium Lin. Mor. hift. f. 5.

t.

3.

28. Gcr. 448.

Snall

LETTER
Small Canterhury

Bells'^

paftures, efpecia'ly in

places

is

it

grow

will

XVI.

189

common

.is

chalky

in

Jn dry

foil.

very fmall, and in a moill ibii

to the height of two feet.
The

and unbranched ;
thv.- lower leaves are broad, and pedunculate;
long, narrow, fitting
thofe on the ftalk
clofe to the ftalk, and even embracing it :
towards the top of the ftalk, from the al(^ of
the leaves, tivo or three flowers come out
together, and a larger bunch terminates it :
ftalk

is

angulate,

hairy,

the flowers are

Venus' s

feffilc.

hooking-glafs ^

is

Campanula,

weak, low and very branching ftalk ;

the leaves oblong, and a little notched; the
flowers folitary, and the feed-veftels of a
prifmatic form.
Corn-bell-Jlower^'' very much
refembles this
but the ftalk is ftiiF, and
with

-,

branches little j the leaves are more deeply

notched, and waving; the flowers come out
in parcels, and the calyx is longer than the

This is a common weed among corn.

Thefe two have fcarcely bell-ftiaped corols,
any more than another plant of this Campa-

corol.

nulate

order,

Jacob's Ladder
"

Greek Valerian

which has the

Campanula glomerata Limiai,

Get.
'

entitled
"",

corol rather

]\or.

t.

4.

f.

43.

4.49.

Campanula fpeculum Lin.

CiiTipanuUnybiiJa L/;7. Mor.

Polemoniunx caeruleum Lin.

10/6.
*

or

t.

2. .'jI.

F\. dan.

Ger 439,

255.

Gcr.

rotate.

LETTER

io

XVI.

with the tube fhorter than the calyx,

with five valves, into which the
Hamens are inferted, as in Campanula : the
ftigma alfo is trifid, as in that, and the feedrotate,

but clofed

velTel

a trilocuiar or three-celled capfule,

inclofed within the

flower.

flances that diftinguifh

two

fpecies are, that

this

but

The circumfrom the other

the leaves are

pinnate,

the flowers eredl, and the calyx full as long

as the tube of the corol ; in which you fee
it recedes a little from one character of the
genus. It is blue, and cut into five roundifli
fegments.
I fcarcely need caution you not
to be mifled by names, which being ufually
given by ignorant perfons, are very fanciful
or erroneous.
Thus here, you may as well
fuppofe Polemonium to have an afiinity with
a ladder as with valerian: indeed the fame
circumftance of the pinnate leaves probably
gave occafion to both names.
I am almoll afraid to prefent you with a
fef of plants, which from their lurid, dufky,
difmal, gloomy, appearance, are kept together
Thev have alfo
under the title of Lurid.
mofl of them a difagreeable fmell, which, with
their forbidding look, will deter our young
coufin from examining them, flie not being
yet fufiiciently tinctured with enthufiafm to
go on in fpite of luch circamfi.^nces. Indeed
1 would not wifli her to be too bufy with
fome of thefe injane roots that take the realo?i
fnjoner^

LETTER

XVI.

191

and which I can never collel and

examine myfelf, without their affeding my

prtfcnery

You will confider that nature has

head.
kindly given us notice in general of approaching danger, by means of our fenfes ; and accordingly fome of thefe lurid plants are
highly poifonous ; moft of them are fo in fome
degree, though foil and climate may mitigate the poifon, and even render them wholefome.
I
will feled fome of the leafl difagreeable in fmell and appearance; or if they
are otherwife, will

it

circumftances of five
thefe plants agree in

the

fides

one

announce

pif^il,

calyx, divided

more

or

lefs

Beftamens and
a permanent

to you.

deeply into five

monopetalous corol divided alfo

into five fegments, tubulous, irregular
the
feed-vefTel bilocular, and either a capfule or
fcgments

-,

a berry, inclofed v/ithin the flower.

Of

Verbafcum, or Mullein^ there are feveral

one very common, and another

fpecies wild,

not

uncommon.

are,

that

Their general charalers

is
rotate, and flightly
irregular; the Ilamens unequal in length, bending down, and generally clothed at bottom
with a coloured tnnge ; the fligma obtufe,
and the capfule bivalve, and opening at top.
the

corol

The common
Hoary Mulkin
y

hift.

y,

Great or
which grows moflly under
fpecies

Verbafcum Thapfus
f,

5.

t.

9.

f.

I.

Lmnau

the

is

Fl

dan- 631.

Mor.

Ger. 773,

banks

LETTER

192

XVI.

It is a biennial plant 3
banks or hedges.
its root, and a
fet of
forming
the firft year
broad leaves, extremely woolly on
larp-e,
both fides, and fpreading on the ground,
wiih fcarcely any petioles the fcond year
a fingle Rem, fometimes five
it fends up
with decurrent leaves on it,
height,
feet in
woolly as the radical ones ; and on the top a
clofe fpike of yellow flowers, which have
an odour not difagreeable.
The other which I hinted at is the Black
Midlcm'^y growing in fimilar places, abundantly in fome, but by no means fo extenfively.
It has not fo high a ftem ; the fhape of the
lower leaves is that of a heart much lengthened out, and they are petiolate the leaves
on the ftem ovate, fliarp-pointed and feflile ;
of them are pale green on the upper,
all
and hoary on the under furfacej and are inThe ftalk is termidented about the edges.
nated by a long fpike of yellow flowers,
formed by fhort cluOers or jpiculce on the
:

-,

The corol is
of the principal ftalk.
yellow, vviih the filaments fringed or bearded
It has the name of black, I
with purple.
prefume, merely becaufe it is not white,
fides

'

like the other.

Datura, i^ramomum^ or

Tlhorn Apple, has

the calyx tubulous, fwelling in the middle,

the corol. funfive-cornered, and deciduous
;

Verbafcum nigrum Lin* Mor.

hift. f. 5.

t.

9,

f.

5.

nel-

LETTER-

XVL

^j

hel-fhaped, fpreading out gradually very wide

long cylindric tube, into a pentangular border with five plaits
the cap-

from a

fuie

quadrivalve, or opens into four parts.

flowers of thefe are large, and rather

is

The

fpecious, and the Capfues are remarkable fot

their fize.

The common Thorn Apple

has fmooth
and fmelling difagreeably i the flowers come out from the
firfl: divifions, and near the extremities of the
branches; the Corol is white, and each an""

leaves, irregularly angular,

gle of it ends in a long point; the capfule is

ovate, covered with flrong thorns, and grows
eret.

Another

fort^,

cultivated

fometimes

ia

has purple flowers ; it has

which are douter and taller
than thi'e of the lad ; the leaves are alfo
larger, and more angulated and notched ; the
capfule is larger, but much like that of the
common fort. One of them, having the capfule armed with very drong fpines, has the
flower

gardens,

alfo purple flialks,

epithet o fierce\

Henbane^ is a very common plant, and

has often done mifchief to fuch as will not
fuffer their appetites to be correded by their
You will agree with me that the
fenfes.
2

"

*
^

Datura Stramonium Lm. Ger. 349.

Datura Tatula Lin.
Datura ferox Lin. Mor. t. 2. f. 4.
Hyofcyamus niger Lin. Ger. 353,
'

/hiell

LETTER

194

XVI.

to deter any perfon from

cannot however difpei fe with
your examining the flower, which is really
beautiful on a near view.
The corol is
funnel-fliaped, and obtufe ; of a pale yellowiih colour, beautifully veined with purple.
The ftamens are of different lengths and
bent; and the capfule is involved in the
calyx, is of an oval form, and covered with
a hemifpherical Id, which by failing off
announces th^t the feeds are ripe.
finell

is

eating

fufficient
I

it.

The common

wild fpecies is diflinguifhed

its fmuate leaves, embracand by the flowers fitting clofe
whole plant is covered with

from the others by

ing the
to

it.

ftalk,

The

long

hairs,

fetid

juice

from which exudes

the

clammy,

leaves are very large,

and
and the flowers come out
in a very long fpike, rather on one fide.
It
grows on banks, dunghills, and way-fides
about villages, and is a biennial plant. There
are other forts, but neither wild nor much
j

remarkably

foft;

cultivated.

You who

have fuch an averfion from

tobacco in all the ways of ufing it, will net
be difpleafed at finding it in this lurid
order.
Notwith/ianding it is fo generally
taken, the oil of it is the flrongelt of the
vegetable poifons.
It is a plant however neither unornamental for your garden, nor
dangerous, or even difagreeable to examine.

The

generic characteis are, that the

ellcntial
I

corol

LETTER

XVI.

195

is funnel-fhaped,
the border plaited
ftamens a little inclined
the ftigma
notched ; the capfule ovate, marked with a
furrow on each lide, bivalve, and opening

corol

-,

the

-,

from the top.

Common or broad-leaved Tobacco is diftinguifhed by its broad lanceolate leaves,
which are about ten inches long, and three
and an half broad, fmooth, ending in acute
""

and

points,

fitting clofe

corols are of a
five

or

There

acute points.

perhaps

to

the

of

is

ftalks

and

bright purple,

-,

the

end in

a fort like this,

Oroonoko
Tobacco, which is a larger plant, the leaves
more than a foot and half long, and a foot
broad; very rough and glutinous; the bafe
embracing .the ftem : the corols are of a
pale purple.
a variety

it,

called

Another fpecies, called Englifh Tobacco ^,

might eafily be midaken for a Henbane, if
you did not remark the regular form of the
corol, and the want of a lid to the capfule.
lower plant than the others^ the
leaves are ovate, entire, and on fliort peIt

is

tioles.

The

flowers

come

out

in

loofe

bunches on the top of the

flalks; the corol

Spreading out into five obtufe fegments, of a greeniih yellow colour.
Though this has the epithet of Englifh, you

has

e
^

a (hort tube,

Nicotiana Tabacum Unnctl. Mill.

Nicotiana ruftica Linnet.

%.

185. I.

are

LETTER

XVI.

are not to fuppofe it to be an European

plant, for it is a native of America, as well
as all the other fpecies, which are at lead

feven in number.
the fame plant fliould come to have
the gentle appellation of Bella-donna, and the

How

tremendous name oiAtropa^^ feems ftrange,

we know that it was ufed as a wafh
till
the Italian ladies^ to take off pimples,
and other excrefcencies from the fkin ; and
are told of its dreadful effels as a poifon.
Linnaeus has joined them, making Atropa the
generic, and Bella-donna the fpecific or tri-

among

principal charaders which

the corol
genus
are thefe
he gives of the
vial

is

The

title.

bell-(haped

the filaments

grow from the

bottom, but at
diverge from each other, and are arched
bafe of

it,

are clofe

at

feed-veiel

is

calyx, which

Our

a globofe
is

berry, fitting

top
the

on the

large.

are fix fpecies of the

branching plant, with ovate,
entire leaves, and large flowers coming out
among the leaves fingly, en long peduncles;
the corol is of a duflcy brown colour on
the outfide, and of a dull purple within;
the ftaliis have a tinge of the fame colour,
as have alfo th leaves towards autumn.
The berry is round, of a fliining black when
ripe, and not unlike a black cherry in fize

genus,

From

fort,

is

for there

a great

Jtropos, the

gured by Miller,

pi.

name of one f

the

fttries.

Fi^

62.

and

LETTER

XVI.

197

and colour; it contains a purple juice of a

mawkifli fweetnefs, and has frequently enticed children

to

tafte

known however

it

at

their peril,

fame poifonous
effeds follow from eating the young flioots
of the fpring boiled, as from the crude berDeadly Nigbtfiade is rareries of autumn.
it
ly cultivated, and not common wild;
uncultivated
lanes,
and
fkulks in gloomy
have

places,

/bme

but

is

the

too frequent near villages

in

countries.

You

have heard of the Mandrake's Grcan^

of fhrieks, like Mandrakes torn out
** of the
earth:" fuperftition having endued
this plant with a fort of animal life, fatal
to whoever pre(umed to deftroy it, by digIt v/as famous, as Opium
ging up the root.
now, for procuring lleepj whence Cleopatra
calls for Mandragora, " that flie might fleep
*' out
the great gap of time her Antony is
" away." And the vile lago boarts that
** not
Poppy, nor Mandrgora, nor all the
" drowfy fyrups of the world, {hall ev^r
** med'cine Othello to that fweet
fleep which
*^ he had yefterday."
Since Mandrcike gn;ans

and

**

and fhrieks when injured, it mud

a human form^ and accordingly

r.eeds
fich

have
have

been carried about for fife, ntwitiflndinff

the danger that attends the piocuring it; but
this is cunningly cvoidect by tying a doo- to
the root, and thus making the blind fury of
the poor Mandrake fall upon the innocent

dog.

LETTER

198

dog

XVL

Thefe pretended Mandrakes, are faid to be roots of

Angelica or Bryony, either cut into form, or
compelled to grow through earthen moulds
put into the ground for this purpofe: they
were ufed in magical incantations; and though
thefe are now pretty much out of fafhion,
yet I have had them very gravely offered
me for fale. Linnus formerly made this a
diflintft genus from the laft, but on (econd
thoughts he has made it a fpecies of Atr^pa ^,
diflinguirhing it from the others, by its having no flems except the fcapes which fupport
a {ingle flower.
The root is like that of a
Parfnep, fometimes forked ; next the ground
there is a circle of large, broad leaves ; the
fcapes or naked flaiks that fupport the flowers,
are but about three inches long; the corols
are Ave cornered, and of a greenifh wJiire (>t
purplifh colour; the berry is as
rge as a nutmeg, and of a yellowifh green. 1 he root and
leaves are ftinking, and the whole plant is
poifonous, though, in fmall dofes, it is ufed
inftead of

the

aggreflbr.

medicinally.

Another genus of
is P.hyfalis-y

corol

is

fame natural order

this

the charaders of

thers are

connivent

or

are thefe

-the

bend towards each

other; and the feed veiTcl

^

it

wheel- fliaped; the filaments and anis

Atropa Mandragora. Mill.

a berry inclofed

fig. pi.

173.

within

LETTER

XVL

199

a large
within the calyx, which grows to
Winter-Cherry ^,
inflated, coloured bladder.
under
of which you have fuch abundance
The
your fhrubs, is a fpecies of this genus.

are
diftinguifhing marks are, that the leaves
in
double or conjugate, that is, come out
or but very
pairs, are entire about the edges,
and fliarp pointed; the
{lightly indented,
ftalk
at

and a

herbaceous,

is

bottom.

troubiefon^ie;

The

roots creep fo

the ftalks are

high; the leaves are of

have long petioles: the
iingly from the al of
peduncles; and- have a
with the calyx, leaves

This

plant,

fiderable all

little

branching
far as to be

only about a foot

and
flowers are produced
the ftalks on {lender
white corol, which,
various

and

fhapes,

ftalks

are hairy.

which is fo humble and inconthe fummer, attrads your notice

autumn, by its great inflated calyx turnberry

ing red, and difclofing the round red

in

within

it,

the

about

fize

of

fmall

cherry.

But the principal

order

is

genus of this natural

the Nightfiadcy or Solanum,

whence

fome authors have entitled thefe plants Solafpecies

nace. There are no lefs than torty-flx
both
of them; of which 1 fliall feled, as ufaal,
fome wild and cultivated forts, fuch elpecially as are either moft important, or moft
likely to be within
*

your reach.

Phyfalis Alkekengi.

You

LETTER

^00

XV.

You will eaiily know the genus by its

wheel-fliaped corol ; by its large anthers clofed
in the middle of the corol, and feeming to
form but one

body^

and by

bilocular

its

berry.

Some

of the fpecies have prickly flalks and

leaves; others

modious

are

unarmed: hence

partition of the

com-

genus into two fub-

diviQons.

A fhrubby, tall fort, from the Madeiras,

without any fpines or prickles, has long beeri
an inhabitant of the green houfe, which it
Jidorns with its fplendid red berries all the
winter
the gardeners know it by the name
of Amomiim Flinii-y and it is often called
Winter Cherry ^-^ fach is the dearth of diftintive names, and fuch the confulion arifing from the want of a regular language,
:

like that which Linnasus fjrii introduced into

Botany.
The leaves are lance-fliaped, and
have a waving edge
the flowers grow in
imall umbeis, clofe to the branches ; the
corol is white; and the berries are as large
as a fmall cherry; generally red, but fomeimes yellow.
Another llirubby fort, without fpines, is
the Woody N^ghtjhade, or Bitter-jweet ""^
which grows commonly wild in moid hedges.
'

Solanum Pfeudocapficum t,\n.

Linnaeus calls them rpand.
P Solanuin Dulcamara Lin, Curtis, Lond.
'

I.

14,

Th

LETTER

XVI.

2or

the
lower leaves knce-fliaped, the upper ones
fometimes trifid: the flowers are in bunches,
or branched cymes, coming out from the
al of the leaves j the corol revolute, purple,
marked with two fhining green fpots at the

This has a climbing, fiexuous

ftalk:

and the

bottom af each fegment^

berries

red.
is alfo unarmed, but
an
herb, and annu-al.
fhrubby.
It
leaves are on long petioles, and being

Garden NightJJjade
not

The
of

",

is

hang down.
of an ovate or I'homboid form, with

a foft texture, are inclined to

They

are

long points, angulate and notched about the

edges: the flowtrs grov7 on a kind of nodding
umbel ; the corol is white, and the berry is
black.

It is a

common weed on

gardens, and other richly

It varies

dunghills, in
cultivated places

with yellow and red berries

and in

the form of the leaves.

Potatoe is of this genus, as you will be
convinced, if you compare the ftrudure of
the flower, with that of the other fpecies.
Linnsus charaderifes it by thefe diftintlons

herbaceous and unarmed, the

and quite entire, the peduncles
the corols are either purple or

that the Aalk

is

leaves pinnate

fubdivided

white, and the berry

"
?

is

large.

Solanum nigrum Lin. Curtis, Lend. II. 14,

Solanum uberofum Lif7. The Englifh name

is

evi-

dently a corruption of the Indian Batatas,

XomatQs

'

LETTER

^02

XV.

Tomatos or Love-apple p is another fpecies

of Nightdiade, which is alfo admitted to the
table, and eaten with impunity, in fpite of the

neighbourhood in which it is found. This

has an unarmed, herbaceous ftem, which is
ill

very hairy; the leaves alfo are

cut

',

but
and the flowers are born on fimple unpinnate,

branched bunches

the corol is yellow, and

;
th fruit or berry is large, flatted, and deeply
furrowed.
Melogena or Mad Apple i is alfo of this
genus it is cultivated as a curiofity for the
largenefs and fhape of its fruit; and when
this is white, it has the name of Egg plant-,
and indeed it then perfedly refembles a hen's
Ihe ftem of
,gg in fize, fhape and colour.
this is herbaceous, and without prickles ; the
leaves ovate and nappy; the pedunc es pendulous, and growing thicker towards the top,
',

and the calyxes unarmed.

purple, and the fruit varies

The

three

laft fpecies

The
much

recede a

corols are
in colour.

little

from the

charader of the order; for the Potatoe and

Tomatos have many cells to the fruit, and
this has but one.
The prickly forts of ^olanum are natives of
hot countries, and moft of them are brought
to us from theSpanifh Weft Indies: they will
not therefore commonly fall under your obfervation.
P
*

Solanum Lycopcrficum L'ln

Solanum Melongena Lin.

^
V
Capjcum

LETTER

XVI.

203

Pepper is alfo of this

and ufe lies in the
fruit, which Linnaeus calls a dry or juiceand others a capfule or pod.
lefs
berry,
together with the rotate
circumftance,
This
form of the corol, and rhe anthers being
connivent, make up the tfential charaders of
Linnseus has only five fpecies,
the genus,
o le annual % with an herbaceous item, the
woody ftems'. Others
reft perennial with

Cafficu7n, or Guinea
lurid order; its beauty

make nmny more

fpecies

from the

different

fruit ; which indeed varies much

both in fhape and colour, and intermixt with
the white flowers and green leaves, makes a
pleafing variety: but LinnaEus does not allow
the form of the fruit in this genus to be per-

form of the

manent enough
ferences

They

to

coniHtute

fpecific

arc all very hot,

dif-

and hence

have the names of Bell Pepper, Hen Pepper^

Barberry Pepper, and Bird Pepper, The Bell
Pepper, which has large, fwelling, wrinkled
fruit, with a fle(hy tender ikin, of a red colour when ripe, is the only fort fit for pickling.
Cayan Pepper is made from the laft,
whofe fruit is fmall, oval, of a bright red,
and much more pungent than the reft. Moil
forts of Capficum come from both Eaft and
Weft Indies. Though they are ufed in hot
countries fo univerfally with their food, yet
'

Capficum annuum.
Capficum baccatum,finenfe, grofium

& frutefcens.

LETTER

^04

XVI.

the ripe fruits thrown on the

ftrong noifonie vapours,

fire

will emit;

which oecafion

vio-

lent fneezing, coughing, and often vomiting,

who are near; and mixt in fnuff will

have the fame effeds to a violent and dangerous degree: fo that thefe plants, though not
ftridly poifonous, are however worthy a place
in thofe

in the lurid tribe.

'

In this

firft

order of the

fifth

clafs are to

be found feveral well known /hrubsj among

which the Honey-fuckle is eminent. Of thefe
the Italian \ and Wild"^ fpecies are the prinThey are diftinguilhed by the. firft
cipal.
having the upper pairs of leaves connate, or
fo joined as to form but one, and the ftalk

running through the middle of them: whereas in the wild Honey-fuckle they are all diftin:. The Dutch or German Honey-fuckle of
the gardens is fuppofed to be a variety only of
this, though it is much ftronger, and not fo apt
to climb. The Woodbind has indeed very {lender trailing branches, twining round the boughs
of trees, and climbing to the very tops of

them.

Trumpet Honey-fuckle
rican j

it

agrees with

^ is

North Ame-

the Italian in

having the

upper leaves connate; with the Woodbind in

but differs from
its llender trailing branches
:

"

Lonicera Caprifolium Linnai. Hort. angl, t.

Lonicera Pcnclymenum Lin, VVoodbi;id.

Jjond. I. 15.
^ Loiiicera fcmpervirens

/</.

5.

Curtis,

Riv. mon. 116.

both*

LETTER

XVI.

20^

both in the whorls of flowers being naked

or void of leaves, and the corols being almoft:
regular; the leaves alfo are evergreen, and the
corols are bright fcarlet

on the outfide, and

yellow within.

There
find

are other

among

fpecies,

which you will

the irubs, differing in appear-

ance, and receding fomething

in

character,,

from Honey-fuckles properly fo called. Thefe

have always two flowers only coming out
together; whereas in the former the flowers
grow in whorls or heads many together.
Fly Honey-fuckle ^ has the two berries that

fucceed the two neighbouring flovv^ers diftind; the leaves are entire and hoary; and
the corols are white.
Red-berried upright
Honey-fuckle has the two berries joined together; the leaves lance-fliaped and fmooth ;
the corols are red on. the outfide, but pale
This is not fo tall growing a plant
within.
""

as the other.

The five recited fpecies agree in having a

monopetalous irregular corol, except that in.
the Trumpet Honey-fickle it is almoil: re*
gular; in the genuine iioney-fuckles the tube
long.
is remarkably
The feed-veffei in all
is a berry growing
below the flower, and
inclofing feveral feeds; though the lail has
only two.
"^
-

Lonicera XyJofteum Lin. Mil!, fig. 167. i.

Lonicera alpigena i/??. Mill. fig. ly^ar-ni..!

'

^'"fK*e

LETTER

2o6

XVI.

The numerous genus of Rhamnus^ containing twenty-feven fpecies, is alfo of the firft
order in the clafs Pentandria: thefe are either
thorny, prickly, or unarmed.
Buckthorn is
one of the firft; having thorns terminating
the branches, the ftem ered:, the leaves ovate,
and the calyx cut into four fegments : the
berries have four feeds in them, and if you
wet them and rub them on white paper,
they will ftain it of a green colour.
I mention thefe two circumftances, becaufe they
who gather the berries for fale are apt to
mix others with them 5 and I know you will
be interefted in them, when I inform you,
that the fine green colour % which you ufe
in your miniature painting,
is made from
If you fhould have the curithefe berries.
ofity to fearch the hedges for them, in order to make this paint yourfclf, yoa muft
not be furprifed if you do not find them on
every Buckthorn fhrub; for all the flowers
are incomplete, fome plants having them with
flamens, others with a piftil only and the former of thefe are never fucceeded by fruit.
Berry-bearing Alder is one of the unarmed
It grows in woods, is a black lookfpecies.
ing fhrub, with bunches of inconfiderablc
>'

"

',

""

Rhamnus

catharticus Lin. Fl. dan. 850.

Duham.

50.

Ger. 1337.
*

Verd de

Rhamnus Frangula

vefle.

X;. Fl. dan. 278.

Duham.

100.

Ger. 1469.

herbaceous

LETTER

XVL

207

herbaceous flowers, with a quinquefid corol,

fucceeded by black berries containing four
the leaves are ovate, fmooth, and quite
feeds
:

entire.

Another of the unarmed

divifion

is

the

Alatermu^t foroierly fo fhorn and beclipped in hedges, and covering of walis; but

now

feen

chiefly

among

other

evergreens,

The leaves are extaking its natural form.

notched or ferrate
generally
tremely fhining,
about the edges: the flowers have a trifid
ftigma, and are incomplete, like thofe of the
Buckthorn: the corol is quinquefid, and the
berry

has

three

feeds.

There

are

feveral

of Alaternusy differing in the fhape

of the leaves, and depth of the ferratures;
they are alfo fometimes blotched or varieThis fhrub is frequently confounded
gated.
from v/hich it may be knowa
Thilyrea^
with
at all times by the pofition of the leaves,
varieties

which
that:

is

alternate in

when

the

you perceive

this,

and oppolite ia

two ihrubs are in flower,

more effentiai diftinc-

other

tions.
is
one of the
has
double
prickles,
prickly divifi -n.
the
under ones r^;flexed; and is another inftance
of irregularity in this genus, the germ being

Paliurus or

Chrifl' s-thorn

'^

It

trilocuiar,

furrounded by a menibranaceous
^

Rhamnus

Rliamnus Paliurus Lin%

Alaternus Lin,

rim

LETTER

2o8

XVI.

rim, and crowned by three ftyles.

It hjrs
weak ftem requiring fome fupport;
the flowers grow in clufters, and are of a
greenifh yellow colour: the corols are quinpliant

Being very common in Paleftine, it

fuppofed to be the thorn with which our
Saviour was crowned.
quefid.

is

The common

charafler of

all

thefe

is,

that

only a calyx or corol, with five fmali

fcales, one at the bafe of each divifion, bending towards one another, and defending the
there

is

ftamens; the feed-veflel a roundifh berry,

divided within into fewer parts than the eorol
or calyx.

Currants and Goofeberries ^, the Ivy ^ and

the Vine f, are alfo of this order MoTiogynia-,
but being fo well known to you and every
body, I will not dwell on them, having
already run out this letter to io great a
length.

Some other trees and ihrubs are lefs known,

becaufe they are the growth of hotter climes.
Such is the coffee s, originally of Arabia,though now common in both the Indies.
It

is

known by

its

falver-fhaped corol, with

it; and
below th
covered with

the ftamens growing upon the tube of

by

which
containing two

its feed-veffel,

jBower,

is

a berry,

feeds,

Ribcs Linnat.
Hedera Helix Lin.

^ Vitis vinifera Lin.

Coftea Arabica Linnai,

an

LETTER

XVI.

209

This tree does

an aril or detached coat.
not grow above fixteen or eighteen feet
high; the leaves are large, of a lucid green,
lance-fhaped, and waving about the edges.
The flowers are produced in clufters, clofe to
the branches; the corols are quinquefid, of a
pure white colour, and a very grateful odour.It is an evergreen, and at all times makes
y

beautiful appearance.

Ceftrum or Baftard "Ja[mine is a flirub or

the Weft Indies, and therefore requires a
flove to keep it alive in thefe northern counIt has a funnel-fliaped corol; the filatries.
ments have a little procefs in the middle; and
the feed-veflel is an unilocular berry, containOne fpecies '', has clufters
ing feveral feeds.
of herbaceous flowers on Ihort peduncles,
fmelling fweetly in the night.

with leaves of a

lively

And

another^,

green, and great con-

fidence, has cluflers of white flowers, fitting

clofe to the ftalk, fmelling

fweet in the day

time.

Diofma

is

lanx,

having

inferior, or

is

from the Cape

phathe coro!, which

a genus of (lirubs

Good Hope.

of

five

Thefe

are of another

petals to

germ

alfo is crowned with five

becomes three or five united

*
\

The

inclofes the feed-vefi^el.

neftaries,

and

capfules, con-

Ceftrum nodurnum Lin. Dill- elth. t. 153. f. 185.

Ceftrum tliurnum Z/. D:ll. elth. t. 154. f. 186.

taining

LETTER

2IO
taining

each

one feed,

XVr.

with an

The flowers
involving it.
cleg nt i white, and of an

are

elaftic arzl

fmall,

but

agreeable fpicy

odour.

Other foreign trees and (l^iriibs of this

clafs and order are, the Iron-'woGd tree ^, the
Phylica!, the MangO'tree\ and fome others:
but fince it Is not probable that you will
meet wiih thefe, 1 have not troubL-d you
with their charatflers, or any account of them.
There rem in fome fpccious plants to be
noticed, which are commonly cuhivated in
Such are all
flower gardens for their beauty.
the fpecies of Ly^rZ^r/Vt'^'^ ; whch you will
know by their falver-ihaped corol, with a bent
filaments of unequal Lngth;
their
tube
J

fligma^

their

their

trifid

their

three-celled capfule,

They

prifmatic calyx;
with one feed in
plants;

the

corois of moft of the fpecies are large,

and

each

Cvll.

are

perennial

of a purple colour; and the leaves are lanceThey are the produce of North
fhaped.
America.
Upon the fird difcovery of the New World,
America v/as vauntingly called, every
as

was reprefented as wonderful.

Stranc^e fcories were related of the
plants and animals they met with, and thofe
thing found there

Sideroxylon.
Mangifera ndic
* Phlox Linncei See Mill. %. 205.
^

'

"Lin.

which

LETTER

211

XVI.

which were fent to Europe had pompous

names given them.
-One of thefe is the
Marvel of Peru, the only wonder of which
is

the variety of colours

appertains

to

this

in

the flower.

It

and order, and has

clafs

the following generic marks the corol is

funnel-rtiaped, the ftigma globofe ; and there
is a globofe nedary incloling the germ, which
There
afterwards hardens to a kind of nut.
are three fpecies

of Peru",

fird,

which has

the
fo

common Marvel
much variety of

thefc
colour in the flowers of the fame plant
produced plentifully at ths ends of the
branches, and in hot weather do not open
till towards
evening; but when it is cool
covered weather, continue open the greateft
part of the day.
Secondly, that whofe root
',

are

Was fuppofed, though erroneoufly,

to yield

the Jalap ; the ftalks of this are fwollen at

the joinrs, the leaves are fmaller, and the
flowers fit fingly, clofe in the alee of the
leaves
they are not variable, but all cf a
purplifh red, and not much more than half
the fize of the others
the fruit alfo is very
rough. \i\ the Weft Indian iflands, where it is
very common, they call it four o'clock Jiower,
:

Thirdly,

the long-flowered Marvel f Peru ^,

whofe'' corols are white, and have remarkably
"

'

Mirabilis Jalapa Lin,

Mirabilis dichotoma Z;. Mart. cent,
Mirabilis longiRora i.i.

t,

i,

long

LETTER

212

XVI.

they have a mufky odour, and

keep clofe i"hut all the day, expanding as
they grow in bunches like
the fun declines
the firft Ibrt, and the feeds are rough like the
this differs from both the others in
fcond

long tubes

having weak flalks that require fome fupand thefe, with the leaves, are hairy
port
and vifcous. This fpecies is from Mexico,
and has not been long known.
J

The
place

Crejied
is

it

plete,
raifleis

It

alfo

Coclis-combf

to this

in

inferior flowers
a:e

called

which the head of flowers

ranges in the divifion of incom-

from the form

o-rows.

Amaranth belongs

commonly

that

and the generic cha-

the exterior calyx

confifls

of three dry, coloured leaves, within which

is a corol or fcond calyx, confiding of five
fharp-pointed leaves : that there is a
fmall rim furrounding the germ, from which
the filaments take their rife ; and that the

ftiff,

a round capfule, opening horiis

three feeds.
containing
and
zontally,
There are many fpecies 3 but that which
is fo much efleemed for the variety of form
and colours in its fine creft of flowers, is
diftinguiOied by oblong ovate leaves ; round,
The
iriated peduncles ; and oblong fpikes
colours are red, purple, yellow, white, and
variegated ; and fome are like a fine plume
You mull: not however
of fcarlet feathers.
feed-veifel

'i.

C'.'lofia criftata

L\n.

confound

LETTER

XVI.

213

confound thefe plants with the Amaranth or

Prince's Feather, which you will find in a
place fardiftant from this.

One

natural

order

more

fhal!,

if

you

conclude your labours, and my prate,

its
name from
It has
for the prefent.
this circumftance of the divifions oT the corol being turned or bending in the fame
direction with the apparent motion of the
But befides this fingularity, the flowfun.
ers of this order have a one-leafed calyx divided into five fegments ; a corol of one
petal ; and a fruit confiding of two vefiels,
In moH: of the ge^
containing many feeds.
The corol s
nera thefe fruits are follicles ^
in the greater part 2iQ Juiinel^faped and are
furniflied with a remarkable neclary.
pleafe,

'

-,

The common Periwincle, which covers

the ground and creeps about the bottoms of
the hedges, in many parts of your plantations, may ferve you very well for an example of this order. It has a falver-fliaped
corol, fucceeded by two ered follicles which
contain feeds that are called naked or fimple, to diftinguifli them from thofe cf fome
other genera, which are wins^ed.
You will
obferve alfo that the tube of the corol forms
'Contortae L'm.

This is a dry feed-vefTd, of one cell and one valve ;

the feeds lie loofe in a down, and the ihcil opens on one
fide to let

them

efcape.

a pentagon,

LETTER

214
a

pentagon

that there

at

top

are

two

XVI.

nor will

it

efcapc you,

one over

large (ligmas,

the other.

not allow that the little running fort \ and the upright one with larger
Without ( nflowers "j are difiincft fce^ ies.
teiing into any controveify on a matter not
eafy to fettle; >ou know them afunder not
Linngeiis

v^'il!

only by their fize, but by the (laiks of the

hi'il lying on
the ground, and the leaves
being narrower, and (harp- pointed towards
either end, that is lance- fliaped, and on very
ftalks of the fil^.ort petioles J whereas the
cond are upright, and will climb a little,

and the
ovate,

leaves

are

hollow

at

(ha-per pointed at the

the

and
and on

bife

end,

longer petioles.
1 here is a third fort, called Upright Periwincie^, ior which we are obliged to the
lllai-d of Miidagafcar, i^nd of courfe it requires the I roietion of a flove, in our colder climates, it has a (iifF, upright, branching
V. oody
the leaves are of
at butt m ;
an obiorg ovate ihapc, fmooth and fucculcnt,
and iting prettv ch fe to the branches;
from the alee of ihefe come out the flowers,
on very (hort peduncles, generally fingle,
but lometimes two together: the tube ot

flalk,

''

Vinca minor Lin. Curtis, Land. III.

Vinca major i-;?;. Cuitis I-'OnfJ* |V.
Vinca lofea Xm. Mill. fig. 186.

16.
19.

the

LETTER

XVI.

215

long and (lender, the brim very

flat, the upper furface of a brigh' crimfon
or peach colour ; the under of a p:de flcili
colour : and thc-e is a condant fucceiTion of
thefc beautiful flowers from February to
0(5lober: the corol is fometimes whi e.
The Oleander ^ is one of the moft beauThe genus has
tiful plants of this tribe.
two ereit follicles, like the laft ; but the
the corol

feeds

is

i.iclofed

them

in

are

downy;

there

a (hort crown alfo terminating the tube of

the corol, cut into narrow fegments, and
the diviuons of the corol are oblique to the
tube.
This (hrub grows to the height of
eight or ten feet; the branches come out
by threes from the main ftem ; and the
leaves a'fo come out by threes froin the

is

branches, on very fhort petio'es, po-nt upwards, are very ftifF, and end in fharp points.
The flowers come ouc in bunches at the
ends of the branches ; the corol is of a
bright purple, varying to crimfon or white.
It grows wild in feveral countries about the
Mediterranean Sea, but with us is generallykept in tubs, not being hardy enough to
fultain the feverity of all our winters.
But the moi^ admired of this tribe is the

Cape

"Jalmic'',

i^ear the

which

flrft

difcovered

Cape of Good Hope by the fuperior

*Ncrium Oleander
"

was

Gardenia

Lin.

florida Lin.

Figured in Miller's
Mill.

P4

fig.

illuftr.

i8o.

fragrancy

LETTER

2i6

XVI.

fragrancy of its flowers.

The divifions of
the calyx are uniform and vertical, and the
feed-veffel is a two or f.ur-celled berry,

helow the flower. The branches come out

by pairs ; and the leaves are oppofite, clofe
to the branches, of a fhining green, and thick
conliflence
the flowers are produced at the
ends of the branches ; the corol is of one
:

many fegments, of
has fometimes three or four rows,
and then it is as large and as double as a
rofe : the anthers are inferted on the tube
wiihout filaments. The colour of the corol
petal only, but cut into

which

it

white, changing as it
colour j and the odour
is

decays to a
is

that of

buff-

Orange

flowers or Narcifl"us.

There is another plant of this order of

twifled corols, called alfo a Jafmtne, with the
addition of Re, but of a very different genus
from the Jafmines, properly

fo called.

P/z/-

men'a or Red 'Jafmine has two rcflexed follicles, with the feeds flat, winged and imbricate.
1 here are fuur or five known jpecies,
all natives of the Spanifh Weft Indies, ex-

The

which comes from Senegal.

cepi

one,

fort

mod known y

has oblong ovate leaves,

with two glands upon tl:e petioles

it grows
to the height of eighteen or twenty feet
the
ftalkb abound with a milky juice, and towards the top put out a few thick fucculent
:

Plumeria rubra Lin, CatefL,

car. 2. 92. Ehret.

t.

10.

branches

LETTER

XVI.

217

branches ; at the ends of which come out

the flowers in clufters, {haped like thofe of
the Oleander; of a pale red colour, and
Thefe being
having an agreeable odour.
never fucceeded by the fruit in our northern
climes, you will not be able to difcern the
generic charader.

The famous

Jefuiis

Bark

is

from a

and order % approaching

this clafs

of
cha-

tree

in its

the natural tribe of Contort : to

which alfo belong fome plants of the fcond
order of this fifth clafs, becaufe they have
two piftils : fuch are the Periplocas, the Cyto

racters

nanchums^ and the numerous genus of Afclepias, containing twenty-feven fpecies.

Of
this laft, you have the common Swallow-'wort,
or I'ame-poifon^y whofe root is fuppofed to be
it has a {hort
a powerful antidote to poifons
upright ftalk; ovate leaves bearded at the
bafe, white flowers growing in proliferous
umbels
and each of them fucceeded by
:

'',

two

long, jointed foliicles, incloling feveral

comprefled feeds, crowned wiih a foft white

This is a native of the fouthern
countries of Europe, and is very hardy.

down.
Other

fpecies

are

much

larger,

growing

to

the height of fix or feven feet.

Some creep
very much at the root, and become trouble^
a
^

Cinchona officinalis Lin.

Afclepias Vincctoxicum Lin,

That

i5,

the large

iinr.bels

Fl. dan. 849.

have fmaller ones ifluing

frpm them.

fome

LETTER

2i8

XVL

Others coming from the

parts of America, reand
heat
to
preferve thtm.
care
Some
quire
have white, others purple, orange or red
Some have the leaves oppofite, others
corols.

fome

g rden.

in a

Cape,

warm

or the

fjme again they are

; in
wbiUl others have their edges relied
Many of the fortci are very handfome.
back.
They all agree in the following circumflances, which therefore form the generic
that the fegments of the corol
charader
have them alternate

fiat,

that five ovate, hollow n <ftabottom

in a fl:iarp fpur, involve
ries, ending at
the ftamens and pirtils; ^nd that each flower
is fucceeded by two follicles, inclofing many
are bent bctck

downy

feeds.

remarkable

plant of this
mentioning
it.
tribe, that I
This ha'^ a very large wheel-lhaped corol,
divided beyond ihe middle into five fegments,
broad, flat, and fl:iarp-pointed.
Vv'bich are
The nedary is a double iiar, one of them
Stapelia

is

fo

not omit

mufl:

furroanding, the other covering the fl.imens

and

pifiils.

flat,

downy

There

Two

are three

ing naturally at

follicles,

inclofing

many

follow each flower.

feeds,

known

the

Ipecies, all growCape of Good Hope,

having fucculent branches, as thick

1 he three forts
at leafi: as a man's finger.
indentures
by
the
on the
didingulflied
are
^des of thefe leaflcfs branches i which in

and

all

the

LETTER
firfl: "

in

acute points

points eredt
fingly on

219

fpread open horizontally, ending

the

In the

XVI.

firft

iind

in the fcond
in the third

have their

obtiife.

fpecies the flowers

fhort peduncle

from

come out

the fide of

the branches towards the bottom: the corol

is greeniih on the outfide, but yellow within,
having a purple circle round the neflaries,
and the whole is finely fpotted with purple,
The branches of the
like a frog^s belly.

fcond fort are much larger, and Aand more

erel ; they have four longitudinal furrows,
and the indentures are on the ridges between
them. The flowers are much bigger than
thofe of the lafl, of a thicker lubflance,
and covered with fine purplifh hairs
the
ground of it is a greenidi yellow, reaked
^nd ciiequered with purplifli lines.
But the great Angularity of thefe plants is,
that the flower when fully open has a fetid
fmell fo perfcdly refembling that of carrion,
that the common flefh fly depofits her eggs
in it, which frequently are hatched into
Jittle worms, but never proceed any farther^
or become flies.
A rare inflance this, of an
animal miflaking its inflinl.
:

<=

Stapelia variegara Lin.

Bradl. fucc. 3.
fig. 258.

t;

22.

Mill.

Stapelia hirfuta Lin.

Stapelia mammillaris Z,/.

Burm.

afr.

t.

ii.

Having

220

LETTER

Having by

XVL

time fufficiently fatigued

you, I leave you, dear coufin, to meditate
on this irregularity in the operation? of naand once more heartily bid you
ture,
this

adieu

2il

LETTER

XVII.

May

the

ift,

1775.

AM

not furprifed, dear coufin, at your

being folicitous to know what the nectary is, which I mentioned feveral times in
my laft. But I am not difpofed at prefent
to fatisfy your curiofity any farther, than to
inform you, that it is an appendage to the
corol, and that there is a juice in it, probably of ufe to the plant, certainly ferving
for the food of bees, and numberlcfs other

infeds.

on

It

is

a perfect

Proteus, and puts

of forms than the

Another time I may per-

a far greater variety

fon of Neptune.

haps enter more deeply into this matter ;

but at prefent we will go flraight on
our way.
You will have great pleafure when I inform you, that the fcond order of the fifth
made up of the
clafs ^ is almofl wholly
of plants 2, which you are
already fo v/ell acquainted with
there are
however fome, which the circumftances of
having five flamens and two piftils, bring
into the fame divifion of the arbitrary fyftem,
though they are not naturally related to

Umbellate tribe

them.
f

few of thefe

v/e

will examine,

Pentandria Digynia Lin,

See letter V,

before

LETTER

222

we

before

XVI.

enter into a detail of the XJmbeU

late tribe.

Many

of them have incomplete flowers,

or are deficient in the corol ; and may be
found among the Oleraceous plants in the
natural orders of Linnaeus, by other authors
called ^petaloiis.

Such are ail the Qoofefoots^ of which there

are no lefs than twenty fpecies, moft of
them growing common on dunghills, and in
wafte places, and having no beauty to attradt
They are known by their fivefive-cornered calyx, inclofing one
leaved,
round, flattifli leed, fhaped like a lens.
One of the moll refpedable fpecies is the

your notice.

Efigli/h

Mercury or

^llgood'^j

growing

fre^

quently in vvaOe places, and by walls and

and cultivated in fome places as
way-fides
The leaves of this
a fubfiicute to Spinach.
are ttiangular, quite entire, waving,
and
having the under furface covered with a
kind of meal j the flowers grow in compound fpikes, which are cieflitute of leaves,
;

and fpring from the

alee.

very

nearly allied to thefe in its

chara6i:ersj but it is diftinguifhed by having

Beet

is

a kidney-diaped feed,
fubftance of the calyx.

wrapped up
In

its

^Chenopodium Bonus Henricus

III. 17.

wild

in

the

ftate,

on

?w. Curtis,

Lond.

Gcr. 32,

the

LETTER

XVI.

223

the fea-coaft, and in fait marfhes ', it has

two flowers coming out together, the llalks
are weak, and lie moftly on the ground, the
leaves are triangular and oblique or vertical;

the divifions of the calyx are equal and not

toothed at bottom, and it flowers the firft
The garden
year of its riflng from feed.
^
fort
has many flowers coming out together,
the ftalks ere<fl, the leaves oblong lancefliaped, thick and fucculent ; the divifions
of the calyx are toothed at the bafe, and it

does not flower

till

the fcond year.

fometimes has pale green leaves, and

fmall roots ; fometimes dark red or purple
leaves with h^rge, purple roots fhaped like
but thefe are not generally fuppoled
a carrot
to be diilind fpecies.
The Ghjfworfs are al fo of this Oleraceous
They are diflinguifhed by having a
tribe.
feed,
fpiral like a Icrew, covered with
large
a kind of capfule which is wrapped up in
There is one fort that grows
the calyx.
wild in the fait marfhes', which has a
herbaceous ftalk that lies on the ground ;
terminating in
awl-fhaped, rough leaves
fpines ; the calyxes ed^ed, and fitting clofe
and a trifld ft y le
in the al
It

Another

fort

which grows wild

in

warmer

Beta maritima Lin.

^ Beta vulgaris Lin.
^

^ailfla

Kali Lin. Ger,

117.

countries

LETTER

24
countries'",

has

alfo

XVIL

herbaceous

fpreading
larger plant than

flemsj but it is a much

the other, and the leaves have no fpines.
Thefe or any of the forts yield the cauftic
alkaline fait, which is fo necefl'ary in that
moft elegant and ufeful manufacture of glafs^
but this is the fort g^inerally ufed.
The Globe Amaranth " is cf this clafs and
order.
Its fine round head is compofed of
many flowers, which have a Inrge, boatfhaped, flat, coloured calyx, of two leaves ;

a corol divided into five rude, villous fegments; a cylindric nectary, divided into
five parts at top ; a ftyle cut half way into

two

and a capfule opening horizontally,

j
and containing one feed. India is its native
country the ftalk is erel and annual ; the
:

leaves are lance-fhaped, as are the branches,

and peduncles, which are long, and naked,

except that a pair of fhort leaves grows
dole under each head of flowers, which
always comes out fingle.
The calyx and
corol being dry and chafi^y, will retain theii
colour feveral years, and hence their name
O Amaranth 0[' incorruptible. Bright purple
is the ufual colour, but fometimes the heads
are brilliant white, or filver-coloured.
The
name muft not lead you to fuppofe this, any
more than the crcjied Amaranth, to be of the
"

Salfola

Soda Lin.

Ggmphiena

globofa L'm, Mill.

fig. pi.

21.

fame

LETTER

XVL

225

fame kind with the true Amaranth * When

you are told that the Eilm is of the fame
clafs and order, and alfo one of the incomplete tribe, as having no corol, you will
probably refle<fl that an artificial fyftem is
very different from a natural arrangement:
and in this you are not miftaken; but then
you muft confider, that an artificial fyftem
is the only one that can enable you to find
out the genera and fpecies of plants, which
the art I propofe to inftruil you in. Few
know that the Elm has any flower,
becaufe it is inconfiderable in fize and appearance, and comes out in an early incle-

is

perfons

ment

feafon

abounds

however

this

tree

They have no

their appearance.

in

before the leaves

in flowers,

fucceeded
furrounded by a
is

ferent forts,

make

corol,

a quinquefid calyx: the flower quickly

and

reality

but

paflTes,

by one feed covered and

flat

membrane. The difthe names of Rough

known by

Witch Elm, Smooth-leaved Witch Elm, Witch

Hazel, Englijh Elm, Dutch Elm, Upright
Elm, &c. are fuppofed to be varieties of one
fpecies P; and all h^.ve douby-ferraed leaves,
unequal

at

the bafe.

The

Gentians are alfo of this clafs and

and of that fub-diviflon which has
monopetalous inferior corols. They are dif-

order,

See Letter
p

Ulmus

XXVIII.

campeftris Lin>

Duham.

Q^

t.

jo8.

tinguifhed

LETTER

226

XVIL

from the other genera of this

fubdivifion, by the capfule, which is oblong,
round, and fharp-pointed^ has one cell, and
having within two
opens by two valves
receptacles, each adhering lengthwife to one
of the valves. The form of the fruit is conftant; whereas the figure and number of
tingui(l"ied

parts in

the fiower vary in the different fpe-

Great part of the

cies, which are numerous
fkill and fagacity of the botanifl: confifts in
feizing thofe parts which are confiant in all
'^,

the fpecies, for the generic characters, and in

writhis confifts the great merit of LinncEUS
ters before him having either taken all parts
indifcriminately, or elfe the fame part inva;

riably for this purpofe.

The

fpecies have either four or five petals,

and the latter have either funnel- fli aped

corols,

approaching to belUfliaped; hence

a threefold divifion of the genus.
The principal of the genus is the Great
Tellow Geniian\ which has a fingle ftalk,
three feet high, covered with leaves that are
large, ovate, marked underneath with nerves
meeting at the tip; the lower ones petiolate,
There is but one fiower
the upper felTile.
to a peduncle, but they grow round the ftalk
the calyx refembles a double
in whorls:
fpathe: the corol is rotate, cut into five it^or

1
'

elfe

Thirty-nine.

Gentiana lutea Lin, Mill.

fig.

139. 2.

ments

LETTER

XVIL

227

nients^ the colour yellow irregularly dotted.

The

root

is

very large, and remarkably bit-

it communicates the bitternefs fo much

J
to the whole plant, that it remains always
untouched by the cattle in the mountainous

ter

paftures of

Germany and

Swifferland,

where

grows naturally.

it

ThQ

Leifer Centaury^

of this genus, and

dicotomous llalk, and
is

by its
funnel-fhaped corols divided into live
fegments
they are of a bright purple colour, but often fade to white.
I'his plant
varies
height
and
much
in
accordis annual,
ing to the foil, from three or four inches to
This is extremely iDitter as well aS
a foot.
is diflinguiilied
its

-,

the other.

There

are feveral beautiful little Gentians,

with flowers of the fineft blue that can be

imagined, growing wild in the Alps.
One

of them is frequently cultivated in gardens,

under the name of Gentianella ", and is lingular

for

flowers

having its fine beil-fliaped azure

than the whole plant be-

larger

fides.

Tellow Centaury"^

genus

is

alfo

naturally of this

but has been removed to the eighth

Varying fometimes aa far as eight.

Gentiaoa Centauriuna Lm. Chiroilia Centaui'iutn
Curtis, Lond. IV^ 22.
" Gentiana Acauiis Ltn. Jacquin auftr. 2. t.
135.
^
Chlora perfoliata Lin, See letier XIX.

(Xj-

clafs

LETTER

228
clafsj

firft

now under

with the

title

XVTL
of Blackjionia^ and

that of Chlora,

But methinks you are languifliing to be

on ground you are better acquainted with.
And indeed you are already fo well verfed in
the nature of the umbellate tribe, that

am

perfuaded you will find little difficulty in deMany

termining the genera and fpecies.
generally
known,
either
of thcTii are very
for their ufe in medicine or the kitchen,
Mofh
or elfe for their poifonous qualities.
of thofe which grow on dry foils have
roots that have an aromatic pungent fmell

and

tafte;

whilll thofe

which grow

in moiffc

places or in the water, s s many of them

do, are in a greater or lefs degree poifonous.

You have

long fince been able to

guifh true Parfley and Chervil

dillin-

from Fool's-

There is ar^other wild plant that

Parllcy^.
grows upon banks and by way-fides, called
Hendock-Chervil'^i

which has been miftaken

for Garden-Chervih, and has produced bad

effects, when put into fonps : it is not how-

ever fo dangerous, becaufe it does not grow

wild in gardens, and we mull go out of

our way to poifon ourfeives: on another account however it is more dangerous, becaufe
it is not only of the fame divifion, as having
^ See letter V.

Lond. I. ig.
Scandix Cerefdium Lin. Jacquin auftr. 4. t. 390.
Scant] ix Anthrifcus Lin. Curtis,

partial

LETTER
partial

XVri.

229

involucres only, but alfo of the fame

genus; and therefore hable to be miftaken

for the true Chervil, even when in flower,
which FoolVParfley cannot be. They have
both a radiate corol, petals notched at the
end, the flowers in the middle often incomplete and producing no feed, and the fruits
However, notwithof an oblong fhapc.
ftanding all this fimilitude of charader,
they are eafily to be dilinguiihed both in
Hemlock-Chervil is a
and out of flower.
much lower plant; the flalks are fmooth
indeed, and the leaves finely cut, but they
the divifions much fmaller and
clofely placed, and the green much deeper
than in Garden-Chervil \ the corols alfo are

are

hairy,

uniform, the feeds ovate, and very rough.

Garden-Chervil is a tall, genteel, fmooth
plant; the umbels come out on the fldes
of the branches, and lit clofe to them; and
the feeds are long, narrow and (hining.
After all, I am perfuaded that when you
have an opportunity of comparing thefe
plants together, as you eafily may, the
gardener furnilhing you with one, and the
other being fo common in a wild ftate, you
will v^onder that any perfon fhould ever have

two

confounded them. Here you fee we have

an inftance of an umbellate plant, growing
on dry land, that is poifonous; you are not
therefore to conclude that all thcle are
wholefome.
0^3

LETTER

230

XVII.

wholefome, any more than that every water

fpecies

We
fiop,

poifLjnous.

is

have another

of

in (lance

fatal

confu-

not in two plants of this tribe^ but in

one of

with another of

this,

a different clafs;

pamely of the Creeping

Parfnep %
with Water Crefs % which belongs to the
fVater

cruciforrn
trefs

flowers.

You

of both tribes, that

Jihould miftaks

are
is

it

them when

fo

well

mif-

imppffible yoif

but

in flower;

when Water-Crefles

not the tipie

is
are eaten, and this plant

this

is

fo different in its

flowering fl:ate, that I am perfuaded an eater

pf it would think himfelf impofed upon, if
he were then fhown it for Water-Creffes.
When they are both young they are really
not unlike j and fince they frequently grovy
together, the one may fomctimes be gathered

though I mull confefs that I

have not met with the miftake more than
twice, and that only in a Angle piece among
a confiderable quantity: however, the leaves
of Water Parfnep are of a light green ; the
lobes pr fmal) leaves compcflng the whole
winged or pinnate leaf are longer and narrower, ferrated on the edges, and pointed at
whereas thofe of Water-Creffes
the end
for the other;

^
f.

Slum nodiflorum

Lin.

Fl. dan.

t.

247. Mor.

hift.

f.

9.

5.f. 3.Ger. 256.

?

fiift,

Silirnbrium Nafturtium Lin. FI. dan.

1".

3.

t.

4.

f,

8,

t.

69Q. Mcr.

Ger. 257.

have

LETTER

XVII.

231

tindure of brown upon them, the lobes

are roundilh, and particularly the odd lobe
at the end is very large and blunt, and
they are none of them regularly ferrated,
but have only a feu^ indentures on their

have

edges.

The

charaders by which you will know

the Water Parfnep when in flower are
thefe
it has both an univerfal and partial
involucre, the flowers are all fertile, the
petals are heart-fliaped, and the feeds are
This fpecies is difovate and fl:reaked.
tinguifhed from the others by its pinnate
leaves, and the umbels of flowers fitting

clofe to the ftem, in the alee.

Another poifonous herb of great fame is

the Hemlock
A tall plant, three feet high
and more, eafily known by its purple-fpotted
''.

has both involucres, the univerof three, four, five, or feven broadifli
It

fl:alk.

fal

the partial of three or four

broad leaves only, on one fide of the umrefiexed leaves

both

bel j
all

in:

fertile

''

its

The

fliort.

flowers

irregular without, regular

The

heart-fliapcd.

fpherical,

rnurked with

The common

ridges.

are

very

the petals

almofl:

by

fpecies

fmooth flreaked

large,

abundant,

Coniutn

maculatum

with-

fruit

is

notched

difiinguiflied

feeds.

of a

L'm.

is

five

are

The

leaves

dark green

Curtis,

Lond.

but

I.

17.

Ger 1061.

0^4

fiiining,

LETTER

232
(hinlngy

triply

pinnate,

fions obtufely indented;

XVII.

with the
it

has

divU

laft

many umbels

with numerous fpreading

grows wild on ditch banks, in fliady
about dunghils and church-yards and

of white flowers
rays.
lanes,
is a

It

biennial plant.

The

waters afford other poifonous herbs,

Water-Hemlock % Long-leaved Water-HemHemlock Water Dropwort^, and Com^

mon Water Dr opwort^'. but let us quit thefe
ill-omened plants, and proceed to others more
innocent, and more within your reach.
Two umbellate plants you will be fure to
find under every hedge, called Wild Chervil^
and Rough Chervil^; they are both of the
fame genus, but of a different genus from
Garden Chervil. They have partial, but no
univerfal involucres; thefe are of five leaves,
concave and bent back; fome flowers in the
middle drop without leaving feeds ; the petals are bent in and heart-ihaped; and the
fruit is oblong and fmooth.
The firft, vuU

as

lock^i

Phellandrium aquaticmn ^/k, Mor.

Ger, 1063.

hift.

f.

9.

t.

7.

f.

7.

Cicuta virofa Lin. Fl. dan. 208. Mor. hift. f. 9. t. 5.

Ger. 256.
' Genanthe crocata L/?z. Philof. Tranfaft. for 1747.
f
Genanthe hftulofa Lin. Fl. dan. 846. Mor. hift. f. g.
t. 7. f. 8. Ger. ic6o.
s Chaerophyllum fylveftre Lin, Curtis, Lond. IV.
25.
Ger. 1038.
Chaerophyllum temulum Lin, Mor. hift. t. 10. f. 7.
Gtr. 1038.
^

f.

4.

*>

garly

LETTER

XVIL

233

Cow-weed or Cow-parjley, has a

fmooth ftreaked ftalk, and the joints fweHing

garly called

but a

The

fcond has a rough ftalk,

The firfl is rethe joints more tumid.
little.

and
markably leafy, and the leaves very large,
and generally fmooth, except the nerves.

The fcond has hairy leaves, not fo large, nor

fo much divided; the umbels ufually nod,
and the feeds are deeply ftreaked. Both fometimes have a leaf at the origin of the univerfal
umbel: both have a ftrong frnell, and approach in their qualities to the forementioned
plants, but not enough to denominate them
poifonous.

Some of

this

tribe are ^o generally ufed in

food, that they are

univerfally

known, and

feems impertinent to fay any thing

to you about them; and yet you may have
eaten the roots of Carrots and Parfneps, the
ftalks of Angelica, Cleri and Finochia, the
leaves of Parfley, Fennel, and Sampire, the
feeds of Coriander and Carraways, without
knowing one of the plants when they are preHowever, when you meet
fented to you.
with any of thefe in flower, you afcribe
them immediately to the umbellate tribe.
Carrot, Sampire, and Angelica range among
thofe which have both involucres
Coriander has a partial involucre only; and the reft
have neither one nor the other.
Carrot"therefore

it

-,

Daucus Carota

powers are

fertile.

Lin.

In the cultivated fort

Fl. dan. 723.

Mor.

utnb.

t.

2.

all

the

Ger. 1028.

has

LETTER

234

XVII.

has a large winged involucre fome flowers

the middle drop without feed, and the
The outer flowers
fruit is fliff with brilles.
are very irregular: and the whole umbel, as it
approaches a ftate of maturity, takes a hollow
:

in

The leaves are

form, very like a bird's neft.
rough and hairy. The garden Carrot differs
little from the wild one, but in the fize and
tendernefs of the root.
Sampire^ has the umbel not flat, or hollow
like the laft, but hemifpherical, the flowers
all

alike

and

fertile,

ovate, flatted.

The

the petals
flalks

flat,

the fruit

are fucculent, the

compofed of three or five dieach of which has three or five fmall,

leaves pinnate,
viiions,

thick, lance-fliaped leaves; the corols are yelThis herb ftrikes its roots deep into the

low.

crevices of the rocks, and hangs down; growing chiefly in places difficult of accefs, the

herb gatherers are tempted to fubftitute another plant', which they obtain without trouble
on the beach, bat which has none of the
warm, aromatic quality of the Sampire. Thofe
who live on the Baft coaft muft wonder what
by calling the occupation of a
is meant
Sampire gatherer, dangerous trade^ when
they obtain it walking at their eafe on the
But theirs is a roundilh,
flat fandy fl:ore.
jointed, tafl:elefs flalk, with a tough firing
^
1

Crithmum maritimum

Lin.

inula crithmoides Lin, Golden Sampire,

running

LETTER

XVII.

23^

running through the middle of it"^, inftead

of a flat leaf, with a pungent tafle. This
Marfli Samplre ranges in the firft order of
the firfl clafs, and is burnt to make kelp for
Here you fee what conthe glafs- works.
fufion of names we have again, and how
difficult it muft be to obtain the plant you
want, without knowing fomething more of
It is generally true of
it than the name.
objeds much in requeft, that where people
have them not, they fubftitute others, to
which they give the fame title, whether they
have the fame qualities or no 5 by which if
they do not injure themfelves or their neighbours, they at

leaft

and unexperienced

miflead

the incautious

naturalill.

Angelica has large globofe umbels,

all

the

the
flowers in them are regular and
petals are inflexed, or bent upwards at the
end^ the fruit is roundi(h, cornered, or furfertile,

rowed,

and terminated

with

two

reflexed

(tyles.

The cultivated" and wild Angelica are

allowed on ail hands to be diftindt fpecies.
They have both pinnate leaves ; but the
firft has the odd lobe
at the end divided
genejrally into three parts
the fcond has
:

Marfli Sampire,
europa L'm.
Glafiwortor Saltwort.
" Angelica Archangelica Liu. Fl. dan. t. 206.
^ Angelica f)lveft.risl,/w?<sr/.
Mor. hill. f. g. t.
'
per. 999,
*"

Salicornia

called

alfo jointed

3.

f,

2.

all

LETTER

236

XVII.

the lobes equal, lance-fliaped, and ferThe firft is a much

rated about the edges.
larger plant in all refpeds, the lobes of the
ovate than lanceleaves broader, rather

all

the fcond,
ihaped, and the corols greenifh
has a thinner and lefs fucculent ftem, fcarcely
any univerfal involucre, and the corols tinged
:

with

red.

no proper univerfal involucre,

though there is fometimes one leaf, as in the
Wild Angelica ; the partial one confifts of
The flowers in
three leaves, and is fhort.
the middle produce no feed; the petals are
bent inwards, and heart-fliaped ; the outer
The fruit is fpherical, as you
ones large.
The calyx of each little flower is
know.
Coriayider has

evident in this than in the other umThe divifions of the leaves

bellate plants.

more

ground are broad ; thofe of the

they and the whole
upper ones narrow
plant are fmooth, and have a flrong rank
next

the

fmell, like bugs?,

Farfiiep'^ has all

flowers fertile and

and bent inwards;
furrounded
flatted, and

the

regular, the petals entire,

the

fruit

oblong,

with a membrane. The leaves are Amply

The garden Parfnep differs not
pinnate.
fpecifically from the wild, which has hairy
leaves, whereas thofe of the firfl are fmooth
-,

*
1

Coriandrum fativum L'm. Ger. 1012.

Ger. 1025,

Paftinaca iativa Lin.

but

LETTER
but fmooth nefs

The

is

XVII.

common

effe:

plant is alfo

cultivated

237
of culture.

of courfe

much

and the roots fucculent and efculent

yellow corols.
have
both

larger,

Fennel' has likewife all the flowers ferand regular; and the petals entire and

tile

bent inwards,
nearly ovate,

as

in

flatted,

the

lafl:

the fruit

and ftreaked.

is

DiII\

which

is alfo of this genus,

has the fruit
furrounded with a membrane, and more
flatted than that of Fennel,
'weet Fennel is
but a variety of the common fort, though
the lobes of the leaves are longer, more
and not fo denfe as in that : the
{lender,
feeds are longer and much fv^'eeter.
Fino^
chia is probably another variety^ though a

much humbler

plant,

fwelling

much

in

breadth and thicknefs jufl above the ground.

leaves of all thefe are very finely cut.
Carraway^ has no proper involucre, but
a fingle leaf at the origin of the univerfal

The

umbel
the

',

the middle flowers

petals

are

'

f.

I.

Ger.

bent inwards, and

the feeds are of an oblong

Anethum Fo-^niculum

2.

without leed

keeled,

notched at the end ;

ovate form, and flreaked.
Par/ley"^ and Smaliage,

t.

fall

Lin.

or Ccleri"^, are of
Mill,

illuftr.

Moris,

f.

9,

t.

9.

032.

Anethum graveolens Lin.

Carum Carui Li?i. Mor. umb.
"Apium Petrofeliiiuin Lin.
' Apium graveolens Liima:i. Fl.
*
*

f. 8.

t,

8.

Ger.

934.

dan. 790. Moris,

Ger. 1O14.

the

LETTER

23S

the fame genus.

XVII.

They have

a fort of involucre, generally of one leaf; all the flowers

the petals equal, and bent inwards ^
fertile
the fruit fmall, ovate, and ftreaked.
They
;

have both winged leaves, with the lobes linear on the ftalk in Parfley, wedge-fhaped
in Smallage, of which Cleri is only an improvement from warmer countries. Our wild
Smallage however, which is common by
ditches and brooks, cannot be rendered efculent by culture.

Earth-nut or Tig-nut ^
whofe roots are
like a fmall potatoe and eatable, has both
involucres, the lefler ones narrow as a hair
the flowers in a clofe umbel, all fertile j the
corols regular, with heart-fhaped
petals ;
and the fruit ovate. It grows, not uncommonly, wild on dry paftures.
Ferula'', in the dry ftalk of which Prometheus brought fire from heaven, has both in""^

-,

volucres;

all

heart-fhaped

the

flowers

fertile,

the fruit oval,

with three fl:reaks on each

lofty and large a plant as
the

name of

Ferine i-giant

-,

flat,

fide.

the petals

and marked
It

is

fo

to have acquired
the lower leaves

fpread two feet, and are fubdivided into very

long, narrow, fimple lobes; the flalk is hollow, jointed, and will grow ten or twelve
feet high: when thefe are dry they have a
^ Bunium Bulbocaftanum Ltn, Curtis, Land. IV. 24.
Ger. 1064.
*

Ferula communis Lin,

light

LETTER
light dry pith,

which

XVit

239

readily takes fire

the people of Sicily ufe

a fpecies of Ferula that

it

and

tinder.

as

It is

produces the

Jjfci

fida y,

Cow-Parfnep"
not

fo

gigantic

is

though
has two

a very large plant,

as

the

laft.

It

involucres, but as they are very apt

drop

to

off, you may eafily be deceived in that refped. The corol is very irregular, bent in
and notched. The fruit is ovate, notched,
with a membrane
ftreaked, and
flatted,
round the edge. In moft of the fpecies, the
middle flowers fall feedlefs ; but in our common one all the flowers are fertile the
leaves are winged, and the lobes pinnatifid.
This plant grows common in meadows and
:

paflurcs.

Shepherd' s^neede or Vemis's-comb'^

re-

is

markable for long proceiTes or beaks terminating the feeds, and giving it the appearance of Geranium, when in fruit.
It is of
the fame genus with Chervil, and is a common weed among corn. But of thefe umbellate plants enough.

Of
have
trees

the third order of

ruflinus,
y

Caffines, Elder,

fifth

clafs

Bladder-nut,

Ferula Afla fcetlda Lin. Kcenipf,

amn.

Heracleum Sphondylium Lin. Mor.

I. Ger. 1009,
* Scandix Pe^en Lin. Mor. hift, f. g.
^

f.

this

we

and hrubs; as the Varnlfliand Sumach, Wayfaring trees and Lau-

feveral trees

t.

hift.

t.

cc.

536.

if.

9.

f,

t.

i.

16.

Ger.

040.

The

LETTER

240

The

firit

their

five

are

known by

their inferior flowers,

of
one
feed
in it.
berry with

leaved calyx,

and their

petals,

Vrgmian

XVI.

Sumach^

their corol

five

common

among

is

and known to you by the

your
young branches being covered with a velvetrefembling both in colour and
like down,
texture a flag's horn when firft budding;
the branches are crooked and deformed ; the
leaves are winged, with fix or feven pair of
and
lance-{haped lobes, fliarply ferrated,
nappy beneath. The flowers are produced
in clofe tufts at the ends of the branches,
and are followed by feeds inclofed in purple,
fhrubs,

woolly, fucculent covers, which give them

their autumnal hue, when the leaves fade
firft to purple and then to feuilleraort colour.

and LauWayfaring-tree^y MarJh- elder

fupehaving
genus;
one
are
all
of
rufltJius^i
"^^

rior

flowers, a five-leaved

calyx, a corol di-

vided into fivefegments, and a berry inclofing

one

feed.

The firft has heart-fhaped leaves very

much veined, ferrated about the edges, and
The fcond has lobate
white underneath.
leaves,

"

with glands upon

the petioles; the

Rhus typhinumZ/w.
Viburnum Lantana Lin. Duhamel, t. 103. Ger. 1490.
Viburnum OpulusZ;'/;. Fl, dan. 66i.Uuham. t. i(>.

Ger. 1424.
*

Viburnum Tinus
I

Lin.

flowers

LETTER

XVII.

flowers round the outfide of

with

barren,

the

corols

241

cyme are
larger than

the

much

The

Gelder Rofe is a remarkable variety of this, with the flowers growing

The
in a ball, and every one of them barren.
the others.

third has the leaves ovate,

the veins underneath villous

green.

and
;

entire,

this

is

with

an ever-

The fourth order is a very fmall one,

of which Parcomprifing only two genera
najjia
This grows wild in wet meais one.
dows, and on the borders of marflies, but
not very common.
It is eafiiy known by its
calyx divided into five parts ; its corol of
five petals i five heart-fhaped nelaries, furnifhed with hairs, upon the top of which are
little ballsy a large ovate germ, without any
ftyle ;
but four ftigmas ; and a capfule of
one cell and four valves. It has a fingle
ftalk, with one heart-fhaped leaf on it, embracing the fl:alk, and one flower only ; the
-,

""

corol

is

Of

white.

the

Fentagynla, is Thrifty
has the calyx of one

fifth order,

Flax, &c.

Thrift^

and dry, like chaff ?; a

and one feed crowned
w^ith the calyx.
Thefe are the charadlers
of the genus, which has twenty-two fpecies.
leaf,

entire,

plaited

corol of five petals

Common
*
*

Mill,

Thrift has a threefold involucre or

illuftr. Fl.

Statice

Armeria

dan. 584. Ger. 840.

i///?.

Mor.

hift.

f.

J5.

t.

i,

f.

29.

Ger. 602.
*

Scariofe,

common

LETTER

242

XVII.

calyx, and the flowers growing in

around head, upon the top of a naked ftalk;
the leaves, which form a clofe tuft near the

common

ground, are linear.

The

from

corols are red, of

colour to a
bright fcarletj varieties occafioned by foil
and fituation ; for this plant is found both
on fait marfhes and mountains. Thrift was
much ufed formerly for edging the borders

different fliades,

pale

flefli

flower gardens, but it is now almofl entirely out of date.

Flax has alfo a corol of five petals 3 but
the calyx is five-leaved, and the capfule
opens by five valves, having ten cells within,

in

in

no

each of which is one feed. There are

lefs than twenty-two fpecies of Flax
:

that whofe ufe is foextenfive^ is

from the reft by the calyx and capfule being
pointed, the petals being notched, the leaves
lance-fhaped, and alternate upon the ftem,
and the ftalk unbranched. On the top of
this are four or five flowers, with beautiful
diftinguiflied

It is an
blue corols, very apt to fall off.
and
half
high,
a
foot
annual plant, about
In the garden it will grow
in the fields.
fix inches higher, and branch a little where
it ftands detached.
Both the ufe and beauty of Flax will in-

tereft
m:fion,

you ; fo I leave you with this impreland bid you once more adieu.

Linum

Ger. 566,

ufitatiflimum Lin,

Mor,

hift. f. 5. t.

26.

f.

i.

243

LETTER
May

WE

XVI.

the 15th, 1775.

are returned, dear cou fin, to the

point from which we firfl fet out*,
the liliaceous tribe of plants being included
in the firfl order of the fixth clafs, in the

Syftem of Linnaeus. Thefe fuperb and beauflowers have gained fo much on the
efteem of the curious in Europe, that they
have fpared neither trouble in fetching them
from the farthefl: parts of the Eaft, nor extiful

penfe in cultivating them at home.

Hence
they are fo generally known, that perfons not
at all verfed in Botany readily find them to be

of the fame family.

You certainly are at no
lofs to determine their general relation and
analogy, from the hints which were thrown
out in the firfl: letter, and the experience you
have fince acquired.
It remains therefore
only to be acquainted with their generic and
fpecific characters; to which end 1 fliall prefent you with fome that may be mofl: within
your reach
were I to fee every liliaceous
plant before you whofe beauty merits your
:

attention, I fliould almofl exhauft the tribe.

Two

cautions you are to obferve

* See

firfl,

that

letter I

the

LETTER

244

XVIII.

the whole liliaceous tribe is not confined to

the clafs //^x /W^/rt*, th(3ugh the far greater
part of it is; ffcondly, that other plants, few
indeed in number', are to be found in the

fame order.

You remember
you

are not

had no calyx;
whole
important part of the

that the Lily

howevi

to fuppofe that the

of this
circumftance that occafions a
threefold fubdivifion of the order, into fuch as
have a calyx; fuch as have a fpathe or flieath,
covering the corol whiirt a bud, but torn and
forfaken by the corol when It is expanded ;
and laftly, fuch as have the corol quite
naked.
You would not perhaps have fufpefled at
firft fight that the Ananas or Fine-Apple is of
this tribe.
It is almofl the only genus capaThe flower has a trible of mifleading you.
a
corol
of three petals, a
fid, fuperior calyx,
fcale faftened to the bafe of each petal; the
tribe

is

defli ute

flower.

It is a

of berry. The fpecies ^ is diftinguillied by its long, narrow, pointed leaves,

like thofe of Aloes, ferrated on the edges, and
fet with tender 4^ines; and by the fruit being
terminated with a bufli of leaves, commonlycalled the crown, which being planted takes
fruit

is

a fort

* See Letter XIV.

*
Eighteen genera out of 65. The whole clafs has
eighty-one genera and fyur hundred and feventy- three
fpecies.
^

Bromelia Ananas

Ehrct.

t,

i/>7<e/.

Comm.hort.

1. 1.

57.

Trew

2.

root.

LETTER
root,

and produces another

XVIII.
fruit.

differences in the fruit, proper to

245

There are
be remarked

by thofe who cuhivate this luxury but they

more than varieties of the fame fpecies, and therefore
do not concern us as
-,

are no

botanifts.

Tradefcajta or Virginian Spiderwort^ is

another of the liliaceous tribe furnifhed with
a calyx, which in this is three-Jeaved^ the
corol alfo has three petals, and the capfuc has
three cells.
It is remarkable for having the
filaments fringed with purple jointed hairs.
The fpecies common in gardens is diftinguifhed from feven others, by its fmooth,
eredl ftalk, and by the flowers growing in
clufters at the top of it.
Thefe are of a fine
purple, and blow in fucceffion moft part of
the fummer, though each flower continues
open but a day. From the number of parts
in the frudification, and its enfitorm leaves,
this plant will range in the fame natural order
with Iris and its congeners "".
Of thofe which have a fpathe or jheath
inftead of a calyx, there is the modeft, the

humble, the early Snow-drop''', that comes

one of the fird of the year to falute us, and, no
lefs white than the fnow itfelf, is frequently
covered by it.
This is diitinguifhed by its

Tradefcantia Virginica Lin. Mor. hift. f. 15. t.

See letter XlV.

2.

f,

4.

Called Enfata by Linnaeus.

" Galanthus nivalis Lin.

fuperior

LETTER

246

XVIII.

fuperior corol of fix petals, of

which the

in-

ner ones are Shorter by half than the others,

and notched at the end. More needs not to
be faid of a flower fo univerfally known.
There
Narcijfus is another of this divifion.
are many fpecies, all united by thefe cha^
radiers
a fuperior corol of fix equal petals^
and a funnel-lhaped nedlary, of one piece,
within which are the flamens.
The mod
known fpecies, are the common white Nar-^
djus the Daffodil"^, the Polyanthus Nar^
cijjus'^j and the Jo?tquih.
The firft and fcond,
in a natural ftate, have only one flower
:

from the fame fheath ; the third and

fourth have feveral: the firfl; has the nedtary
or cup in the middle of the flower, wheelihaped, very (hort, chaffy, and a little notched
at the edge: the fcond has a large, ere:,
curled, bell-fhaped cup% fometimes as long as
the ovate petals of the corol: the third has a
bell-fliaped, plaited cup, truncate at the end,
and one third of the length of the petals 5 this
has flat leaves, whereas the fourth has them

burfl:ing

fubulate,
alfo

long, and narrow like a ruflij

'

efleem

/,/. Ger. 124.

Naiciffus I'Icudonarciflus Lin. Ger. 138.

Narciffus poeticus

q Narciflus
"

The

has a fhort beli-fhaped cup.

this

'lazettaZ/.

Narcifiub- Joiiquilla Lin. Curtis, bot.

Daftodilli<-s fill their cups with tears

come before
March.

mag. 15.

Daffodils that

the i'wallow dares, and

take the winds of

iu

LETTER
in
is

which

247

thefe flowers have been always held,

the occafion that a great

number of beau-

have been produced from the

v^irieties

tiful

XVIII.

The Dutch

plain iimple parents.

catalogues

have no lefs than thirty varieties of Polyanthus

NarciJJus: and in the other three the cup is

changed into petals by culture. The

petals of the iirft are white, and the cup
yellow: the petils of the fcond are naturally
pale brimrtone, and the cup yellow: the
petals of the third are either white or yellow, with orange -coloured cups: and the
entirely

fourth

is all

yellow.

There is no genus of plants in the whole

round of vegetable nature more fuperb and
beautiful in

its

known by

its

fix petals;

its

its trifid

flowers than the

Amaryllis

fuperior, bell-fhaped corol of

ftamcns of unequal length; and
fligma.
Befides feveral oih^r fpecies,

either lefs obvious, or

leii

beauti.ul,

you will

"yacohea Lily\ which produces

fii d
but one, or at moPc two c^f its large, deep red
flowers, from the tame fheath; thf three under petds arc larger than the others, and
wich the ftamcis and pilHl are bent down-

here the

wards: the whole flower ftands noading on

one fide of the (talk, and makes a moft beauappearance, efpecially in the fun, when
appears to be powdered with gold dull.

tiful
it

Amaryllis fcrmofifiima Lin. Mill.

fig. pi,

23,

The

LETTER

24S

The Mexican
generally

Lily"^

from two

to

XVIII.

has

feveral

flowers,

from

burfting

four,

the fame fpathe; the corol is bell-fhaped and

regular, the three outer petals are reverfed
or reflexed at the tip, the three inner ones are
ciliate at the bafe^ the ftamens and piftil are
bent downwards.
The flowers are large, of
a bright copper colour, inclining to redj and
the ftyle is red, which is unufual: the bafe of
the corol is of a whitifli green.

The

Guernjey Lily

has alfo

many

flowers

fame fheath, the corols revolute, or

rolled back, and the ftamen ?nd. piltil up-

in the

The

right.

lour,

corols are ot the richtf!: red co-

powdered with gold.

fuppofed to

is

This

have come

fine flcw-^^r

originally

fiom

Japan.

The Tulip and fome others which

now prefent to you, agree with the
having
Tulip""^

naked,

unprotected

unbounded

in the cultivated

in

fl:ate

corols ^.

C\

Lily

1 he

the variety of colour,

of

its

gaudy flowers,

has an inferior bell-fhaped corol of fix petals, and, no ftyle, but only a triangular ftigma, fitting clofe to a long, prifmatic germ.

The
"
''

fpecies

is

difl;inguiflied

by

its

fhort lance-

Amaryllis Belladonna i/. Mill. pi. 24.

Amaryllis farnienfis Lin. Douglas monogr. Ehret.

LiiinDeus has fplit the liliaceous tribe, in his natural

orders, \wX.q ihe Enjata betbrc-menti-ned; tiie Spaihccea
juft gone thicugh; and the Coronaria into which we now
^''

enter.
^

Some

alfo of his

Sarmentacea belong to this tribe,

Tulipa Gefneriana Lin,

ihaped

LETTER
(leaped leaves,

and

Italian Tulips

jthe

its

XVIII.

249

upright flowers, from

whofe flowers nod a

little,

have longer and narrower lance-fhaped leaves,

yellow corols never varying in colour, ending
in acute points, and having a fweet fcent. The

common

colour of the Eaftern Tulip, in a

of nature, is red.
This when broken
into flrii es by culture, has obtained the imaginary value of a hundred ducats fora fingle
ftate

root,

among

How

the

different

Dutch
is

florifts.

the fweet, the

elegantly-

modeft Lily of the valley^, from the flaunting

beauty of the Tulip! The pure, bell-fhaped
corol,

divided at top into

fegments,
and the feedas in mofl: of this
vefl^el is not a capfule,
clafs, but a berry, divided however into three
cells, in each of which is lodged one ^^^
this berry, before it ripens, is fpotted.
I doubt
not but that you have often fearched for it in
vain, becaufe this plant feldom produces its

which

is

are bent

back

flx

a little:

is, that it runs very much at

fo much that way, as
increafes
and
the root,
I have
almoft entirely to forget the other.
covered
wiih
trads
it,
in
the
large
feen
remote receflfes of woods, without a Angle
berry; and the way to obtain them, is to
imprifon the plant within the narrow cir-

fruit:

the reafon

fylveflris Z-m.Fl.dan. 375.

Convaliaria majalis Lin. Fl. dan. 854. Ger, 410,,
This is one of the Sarmentacea in the natural orders.
y

Tulipa

cuit

250

LETTER

cuit of a

pot,

running

by

when by

at the root,

the red berry.

it

This

XVIII.

preventing

from

it

will take to increafing

fpecies

is

diftinguifh-

ed from Scio77ioits-feal, and others of the genus, by the flowers growing on a Jcape or

naked

ftalk;

take their

it

has only

immediately
The Hyacinth is one of
plants of the florids.
In
wherein you feldom fee it,
and cut into fix fegments j
rife

two leaves, which

from the root.
the
tiic

mort:

favoured

natural

the corol

is

flate,

fingle,

and tbcresre three

pores or glards, at the top of the germ, exuding honey. The fnecies from whence; all

the fine varieties take their rife% has the corols funnel- fhaped, divided half way into fix
fegments, and fwelling out at bottom,
^i his
mufl: not be confounded with the Wild Hyat:inth

or Blue-belts of the

"which has

loi

European woods

^\

ger, narrower tiowers, not fwel-

ling at bottom, but rolled back at their tips ;

the bunch of flowers is alfo longer, and the
top of it bends downwards. This is frequently
found with white corols.
Aloe is a remarkable, beautiful, and numerous genus, dillinguiflied by its ereft corols,
with a fpreading mouth, divided into fix fegments, and exuding a nectaieous juice at
bottom : the filaments are inferted into the
receptacle,
Linnaeus reduces them to ten
Hyacinthus oricntalis Z,/w. Mill. fig. pi. 148.
Kyaciiuhus non fcriptus Lin. Curtis, Lond.
Ger. III.
'

II. 18.

fpecies.

LETTER
fpeces, but there are

XVIII.

many

251

very diftindl vari-

They have
not fpecies, under each.
leaves, and the fpecies
all thick fucculent
may be feparated either by the forms of
thefe, or by the forms and manner of growth,
eties, if

of the flowers.

you

If

fl:iould

hear of the Great American

Ake' flowering any where in your neighbourhood, you will find that it differs from th
Aloes, properly fo called, by the eorol being
fuperior, or fitting on the top of the germ,
and the filaments being longer than the corol.
In the firft circumflance this differs from almoft all the liliaceous tribe, which have the
germ inclofed within the corol. I (hould advertife you, that you muft mount a ladder or
fcaffoid to examine the flowers, for they grow
on a ftcm that is f:)metimes twenty feet in

You know

height.
years
try

the truth

it

it

once

plant flowers

this

is,

flowers in a

a vulgar error that

only in a hundred

is

that in

its

own coun-

few years from

its

birth;

our cold inhofpitable climes, it takes

many years to produce its vaft: fl:em and numerous flowers, but the term of its life; with
us is uncertain; after having flowered, it
produces a number of off-lets, and dies.
This is not the cafe in the Aloes properly
fo called, and in them the flowering ftem
js produced
from the fide of the heart or

but

in

Agave Americana Lin,

central

LETTER

252

XVIIL

central leaves, whereas in this

it

iflues

from

the very centre, where you obferve that the

lie very clofe over each other before
they expand.
Of plants not liliaceous belonging to this
lird:
order of the fixth clafs, there is one
ilirub, the Ba?'berry^ and feveral plants, deficient in the corol, as the Calamus Aromatic
ns 01 Zweet Riip^ the Ratfan^\ and all the
fpecies of Rujh^.
leaves

The

almoft the only plant to be

found in the fcond order of this clafs. It
has the exacft form and ftruture of the GrafTes,

Rjce^

differing

is

from them only

in

the

number of

ilamens.

In the third order is the Dock, a numerous and prolific genus, containing thirtyene fpecies. It is known by the calyx of
three leaves, the corol of three connivent
petals, and one triangular feed.
Thefe plants
will not attract you by their beauty.
Their
Howers are more numerous than coniider^
able.
Bloody Dock' has the valves of the
iowers quite entire, one of them bearing
a feed, and the leaves are lance-fliaped and
^

Berberis vulgaris. Mill.

Acorus Calamus Lin.

Ger.

fig. pi.

Mor.

63. Ger. 1325.

hilt.

f.

8.

t.

13.

f.

Calamus Rotang Z/;/. Rheed. malab. 12. t. 64, 65.

Juncus Lin. See letter XIII. at the end.

Oryza

4,

6?..

Rumex

fativa Lin. Catefb. carol, 1. 14. Mill, illuftr.

fano;uineus Lin,

hollowed

LETTER

XVIII.

253

Curled Dock^ has

hollowed next the petiole.
the valves entire and graniferous; the leaves
lance-fhaped, weaving about the edges, and
Fiddle-dock'^ has
fharp-pointed at the end.
the valves notched about the edges, one of
them ufually graniferous, and the leaves next
the ground {haped like the body of a violin.

The

great

Water Dock

has the valves entire

""

and graniferous, the leaves lance-fliaped and

The

comnrion Blunt Dock^

has the valves notched and graniferous; the
leaves oblong, hollowed at the bafe, near
which they are notched, andobtufeat the end.
Common Sharp Dock"" has the valves oblong,
entire, very fmall, the outer one graniferous^
the leaves oblong and hollowed at the bafe,
Two combut drawn out into a long point.
mon fpecies differ in one remarkable circumftance from all the reft; for they have the
fharp- pointed.

ftaminiferous and piftilliferous flowers on feparate plants, and therefore flriilly belong to

but they are evidently, as you will confefs upon examination,

of the fame natural genus with the Docks.

the twenty-fecond clafs

Rumex crifpus Lin. Curtis, Lond. IL 20. Ger. 387,

Rumex pulcher Lin. Mor. hift,
5. t. 27. f. 13.
^ Rumtx Hydrolapathum Hudf. Ger. 389.
Rumex obtufus Lin. Curtis, Lond. HI. 22. Ger. 3S8.
^ Rumex acutus Lin. Curtis, Lond. IlL 2i, accord^
'

ing to him, fanguine us

('.

is

only a variety of

this.

Thefe

LETTER

254

XVIIL

and Sheep's Sorrel

the firft growing in meadows and paftures,
the fcond on dry fandy grounds; the firft
with oblong, arrow-head leaves the fcond
with leaves fhaped like the head of a halberd.
Thus you have the means of diftinguilLing
eight fpecies of Dock.
Meadow-Saffron " is alfo of this order, and
clearly of the liliaceous tribe ; its refemblance
Like that it
to Crocus or Saffron is obvious.

Thefe

are the Common^?

'^^

-,

has a fpaihe for a calyx 2l corol divided into

fix parts, with the tube extending down to
the bulb; and a trilobate capfule, of three
So that were it not
valves and three cells.
that the one has three ftamens with one ftyle,
and the other fix ftamens with three ftyles,
Meadowthey would be of the fame genus.
Saffron has flat, lance-(haped, ered: leaves,
and flowers of a light purple; the firft coming
out in the fpring, the latter in the autumn.
Of the laft order of this fixth clafs arc
the Water 'Plantains, eafily known by the
calyx of three leaves, the corol of three petals, fucceeded by feveral comprefled capfules,
Great Water Flaneach containing one feed.
-,

tain
p

is

common enough

Rumex

in

Mor.

Acetofa Lin.

wet places, and

hift.

f.

5.

t.

28.

f.

i.

Ger. 396.
^

Rumex

Acetofella Lin.

Moris,

t.

28.

f.

11,

12.

Ger. 397.
'

Colchicum autumnale /w. Ger. 157.

Alifma Plantago Lin.

Ger. 417.

Fl. dan,

561, Mill,

illuftr.

on

LETTER

XVIII.

255

on the banks of rivers and brooks it is diftinguillied from its fellows by its ovate (harp:

and its obtufely triangular

fruits. This is one of the plants in which you
cannot err; if the differences of all were fo
ftrongly marked, your trouble would be diminiihed, but then your genius and fagacity,
dear coulin, would not have fo much room
pointed leaves,

for exercife.

2S^

LETTER

XIX.
June the

iflr.

1775.

NATURE

feems to have no delight in

feven; the feventh being
containing no
the fmalleft of all the claffes
more than feven genera, and ten fpecies. Of
thefe I {hall feledl only one for your obfervaIt is
tion, which fhall be the ^(5r/^-C^^/'.
of the firft order, and thefe are the principal
charaders of the genus
a fmall calyx, of one
leaf, nightly divided at top into five fegments,
and fwelling at the bafe a corol of five petals,
inferted into the calyx, and unequally coloured a capfule of three cells, in one or two
of which only is a feed. Linnaeus fays that
though no more than one feed generally comes
the

number

-,

to perfe^^ion, yet there are

capfule.

But

two

in the

furely the third cell

is

young
made

not

for nothing; and therefore I fliould fufpet

that in Afia, the native clime of this fine tree,

the capfule contains three nuts. The form of

the Horfe-Chcfniit is grand, the pyramids of
flovv'ers beautiful, and making, with the large
digitate leaves, a fine whole.
The eighth clafs has forty-four genera,
and two hundred and feventy-three fpecies.
*

i^fculus

Hippocaftanum L'm. Mill,

illuflr.

Indian

LETTER

XIX.

257

Indian Najurtum or India?! Crefs " is one of

the calyx is inferior, of one leaf cut
into five fegments, and terminated by a fpur;
the corol has five unequal petals, and is fucceeded by three dry berries, in each of which
theie

one

is

The

feed.

greater fpecies''

is

mod

common in the gardens, and is known by

the leaves being divided at the edge into five
lobes, and being peltate, or having the petiole
faftened to the middle of the leaf's furface ;
the petals are blunt at the
whereas in the fmaller fort'""
The corols of
iliarp-pointed.
and of a fine orange colour.
'Tree Primrofe, a Virginian

common

end in

this

the petals are

both are large,

plant,

now

fo

the European gardens, has a calyx of one leaf, cut into four fegments, a corol
of four petals, and a cylindric caplule of four
in

containing naked feeds.

The broadforf, which is mofl: common, has
fiat, lanced-fliaped leaves, and a hairy fialk :
the corol is of a fine yellow, fhut ufuallv
during the day, but expanding in the evening;
cells,

leaved

whence fome call it

Our European
allied

to

this,

Isightly Primroje.

IFiliow-herbs

differing

calyx of four leaves, and

one

is

fort

common

only

downy

in

are
in

having

feeds.

old gardens

Tropaeo!um L'ln,
Tropaeolum majus JLln.
^ Tropasolum minus Lin,
* Oenothera biennis Lin. Fl. dan, 4.6.

nearly
a

There
called

"

xMi!]. illuilr.

French

LETTER

258

French Willow^',

XIX.

with narrow lance-fhaped

leaves inclining to linear, irregularly fet

upon

the ftalk ; irregular flowers, and ftamens

The hairy fort^ growing combent down.
mon in wet places, by ditches, hedges, and

and vulgarly known by the names

of Codli?is and Crcam^ or Gcojeberry FooU from

flreams,

the fmell of the leaves when ilightly bruifed ;

has lance fhaped leaves, ferrate about the
edges, running down the ftalk, the lower
the liamens of this and of
ones oppofi^.e
all our common fpecies are upright, and the
:

petals bifid.

Four cf the filaments

are Ihort,

and .the other four rife to the top of the tube

of the corol, each four forming a regular
fquare.

.1

do not know whether

it

is

gene-

but this year I could fcarcely find

any but what had been gnawn by infed:s; lo
that if I had not known the. plant well, I
{liould have been puzzled to determine even

rally fo,

the

clafs.

The

flowers

are large,

fpecious,

and of

a purple colour.
The heath genus contains no lefs than feventy-iour fpecies of lowly {hrubs, which are
by no means deltitute of beauty, though the
commonnefs of one fpecies renders it con-

temptible*.
ters

They

all

agree in thefe charac-

calyx of four leaves,

inclong the

Epilobium anguftifolium Li.i. Curtis, Lond. II. 24.

Epilobium hirlucum Lin. ramoium Hur/f, Cuf;is,
Lond. il. 2<
E'en the wild hea:h difplays its purple dies.
y

germ

LETTER
germ

a corol of

fegrnents

one

petal,

259

cut into four

the fiiarnen^s inferted into the re-

ceptacle^ the anthers bifid

four

XX.

and a capiule of

cells.

Common
that

vafl:

from

it,

is

Tleaih^

trads

which

is

fo general a plant,

of land take their

names

di(iingui(hed by the anthers being

terminated with an awn, and \y\ng within

the flower, the ftyle appearing beyond it,
the corols bell-fliaped, and not quite regular,
the calyxes double, the leaves oppofue and
fhaped like the head of an arrow. Fini^leaved Heath^ has crePted anthers hjm^^ within
the corol; the flyle hardly ifTues from it ^
the ftigma is capitate ; the flowers erow
many clofe together; the corols are ovate
and of a bluifli colour; the leaves are produced in threes ; and. the bark is afh-coloured.
Crojs-leved Reath^ has the anthers as iw the
firft ;
the ftyle lies within the corol ; the
flowers grow in a head ; the corols are ovate ;

and the leaves are produced in fours

this
grows in the wet and boggy parts of heaths,
The foreign
and is a handfome fpecies.
:

forts, not being commonly met with, I fhall

not trouble you with them.
Mezereon, which you value for vifiting you
at a time when you have very fev/ viiitors,

^
*=

Erica vulgaris Lin.

Fl. dan. 677. Ger. 1 380.
Erica cinefea Z,/;?. Curtis, Lend. il. 25. Ger. 1382.
Erica TeualixZ/, Curtis, Lond. I. 21. Ger. 138!.

S 2

and

LETTER

26o
and
the

for

alfo

clafs,

and

pleafant odour,

its

of the

foregoing.

monopetalous,

XIX.

firft

It

of

is

this

order, as well as

has

no

but

calyx,

funnel-lhciped corol,

all

inclof-

ing the (tamens, and the border cut into

four fegments : the fruit is a roundidi berry
This fpecies'^ is difcontaining one feed.
tinguiflied from the reft of the Daphne genus

by

its

fTile

growing by threes from

and by its lance-fhaped

flowers,

the fame joint;

The corols are peachdeciduous leaves.
coloured, deeper red, or white, and the berred, of the laft
ries of the two firft are
yellow.
There is a fort^ not uncommonly wild
in woods, and (hady hedges, which is an
evergreen, and has the flowers coming out
by fives, from the alee ; the corols are of a
yellowirti

fhaped.

green,

This

is

and the leaves are lancerather

difmal plant in
time of flowering,
a

refped of its fituation,

and colour of the corols ; nor has it the flime
it
is
agreeable fcent with the Mezereon
not however without its value, as an evergreen, and flourifliing under the deep fhape
of trees. Both fpecies are very hot and caudic
which,
in
their nature ; notwithftanding
berries.
of
the
birds are greedy
Te/ioiiJ perfoliate Gentian^ is now removed
:

Daphne Mczereum Z/. Fl. dan. t. 268. Ger. 14O3.

Daphne Laureola Lin. Spurge Laurel. Ger. 14O4.
Chloia perfoliata Lin. Ger. 547,

from

LETTER
from

the

right

fmooth

XIX.

261

Gentians, to the fcond

order of this clafs, becaufe the number eight
prevails in the ftamens, calyx, and corol :
the
in other circumftanccs it agrees with
It is
genus in which it formerly ranged.
found in paftures, on a chalky foil, and is
eaiily known by its yellow corols, and up-

The

other

perfoliate ftalks.

has a large genus con-

order

third

taining twenty -leven fpecies,

befides

common

other

among which,

plants,

are

Bijort^

Knot-grafs^ Buck-wheat, and Black Bindweed.

Bijiort^ has a iingle, undivided ftalk, ter-

minated by one fpike of flowers ; and lancefhaped leaves, generally hollowed at the bafe,
running along the petiole, or forming a
membrane along each fide of it, and waved.

The

root

large

is

and turns and

Knot-graj'
places that

for the lize of the plant,

twifts in the
is

are

ground.

common weed
The little flowers

a very
trod.

ia

are

produced from the alee of the ftalks, which

are herbaceous, and trail upon the ground ;
the leaves are lance- fliaped, and being of
difi^erent lize and breadth in diflferent foils,
have given occaflon to the forming diflinctions,

which

are but varieties.

Buck-wheat'^ y which makes a pretty appearPolygonum

Biftorta Lm. Curtis, Lond. I. 22. and

66. Ger. 399.
*
Polygonum avicularc Z/;/. Curtis, I. 27. Gtr, 561.
^ Polygonum Fagopyrum Liru Ger.
8g.

Mill,

fig. pi.

S 3

an ce

L E T T E

202

P.

XX.

ance when cultivated, has heart arrow-fhaped

though weak,
upright,
flallc
leaves, the
fmooth and unarmed, and the angles of the
feeds equal
Black Bidiveed^ is r,ot very unlike this j

but the leaves are heart-ihaped, the ftaik

angular and twining, and the flo.vers obThe anthers alfo are purple j and the
tufe.
bafe of the petioles is perforated beneath
This is not an unfrequent weed
with a pore.

among

corn.

All the fpec'es agree in having no calyx",

a corol divided into five fegments, that might
and one naked,
eafily be taken for a calyx
;

angular feed.
The ninth clafs has not fo many genera as
the feventh, but it has many more ipecies"^, and
among them feveral very remarkable ones ;

Bay, Cinnamon, Gaffia, Camphor, BenSafTafras, all comprehended under

and
zoin
one genus"; Acajou or Cafhew Nut, and
Rhubarb. The Bay genus has the following
cbarader no calyx, but a corol refembling
a calyx, and divided into fix parts in molt
a nedary of three glands,
of the fpccies
each terminated by two brifiles, furrounding
the germ. ; the filaments in three rows, with
two round glands near the bafe of the three
as the

Polygonum Convolvulus

f^

Twenty-eight

"

Laurus.

and only

Z,?.
fix

Curtis, Lend. IV. 29.

genera.

that

LETTER
that form the inner

row

XIX.
;

263

the fruit an oval

or plum, inclofing a nut.

{irt^p^

known by its lanceis

evergreen leaves ^ the corol
recedes from the general charader in being
It vaquadrifid, or cut into four fegments.
of
ilamens
the
number
ries alfo in
from eight

The

true

fhaped,

Bay

veiny

and it recedes from the clafs

j
having incomplete ilowers on feparate
Linnasus however has kept it here
plants.
becaufe it has the ellential charaders of this
genus, particularly the glands on the inner
You will fcarcely have the good
filaments.
fortune to meet with the other fpecies, at
to fourteen
in

leall;

in flower.

Acajou or

Cafieiv"^

we know

chiefly

by

the nut, which grows at the end of a fleiliy

as large as an orange, and full of an
acid juice; this Linnus calls the receptacle.
Between the two Hiells is a thick, black

body,

inflammable oil, with which you may mark

your linen, for it will not waili out.
It alfo
makes the iineft black varnifh, I need not
caution you againfi: putting this nut into
your mouth to crack it. The oil is very
caudic, and will raife blifters in the tongue.
If it ihould ever be your fortune to fee this
Laurel is known only to modern
ranges in the clafs Icofandria under Primus,,
Alexandrian Laurel is a Rufcus in clafs

Laurus

nobilis.

times, and

XXIL

Anacardium occidentale

i/;/,

tree

LETTER

264

you

tree in

flower,

calyx

five-leaved

petals

is

five reflexed

XIX.
obferve

will

that

the

that the corol confifts of

and that there

whence Linnus

are ten

put it into
thefe
being conclafs
but
one
of
the tenth
5
flantly without an anther, he afterwards removed it to the ninth. More recent obfervations however have afcertained that the
Anacardium has perfect and flaminiferous
belongs
flowers on diftin: individuals
it
therefore to the fcond order of the twentyfilaments,

firft

third claf-, Polyga?nia Dioecia.

Thefe are of the firft order, Rhubarb is

there being no
of the fcond, Trigynia
plants known of this clafs with two piftils.
The characters of this genus are, a flower
without a calyx ; a corol of one petal, divided into fix fegments; and one large
that
of the
triangular feed, much like
No lefs than four fpecies have
Docks''.
been fent over and cultivated at different
times under a notion of their being the true
Of thefe the Rhapon^
Tartarian Pvhub.rb.
migrated from the apothecary's
tick'' has
(hop into the kitchen, the petioles of the
;

leaves

being

tarts.

The

much

heart-jliape, with

They

namely the
'

efteemed for making of

leaves are fmooth, of a roundifh

are both

the petioles thick, reddifli.

placed in the fame natural

of the Olcracea,

order,

fifth di\'if)on

Kheum Rhaponticum Un,

a

little

LETTER

XIX.

265^

channelled on their lower part, but

the flower ftems are red,
flat at the top :
three feet high, and are
to
grow from two
terminated by thick, clofe, obtufe fpikes of
white flowers, coming out in June. This

little

grows wild near the Pontic, Euxine or Black

Sea.

There

good teflimony for the three

Rhubarb ; and I think
not improbable but that they may all be
is

others being the true

it

Tartary for their roots.

of thefe''
longer leaves than the
pontic, running more to a point,

One

cultivated in

has

waved on
upper

their edges, a little hairy

and

lide,

the petioles are

on

Rha-

much
their

they appear much earlier;

not fo much channelled on

and are plain on the upper;

they are alfo neither fo red nor fo thick
the
brownifli
pale
colour^
flower flem is of a
about four feet high, dividing into feveral
loofe panicles of white flowers, which appear
their under fide,

May.

in

Another

has very fmooth, fhining, heartfhaped leaves, not running out fo much
to a point as the fcond, but more than
the firft ; they are very broad towards the
bale, and a little waved and indented on
their edges
the petioles have fcarcely any
channels, and are flat on their upper flde ;
^

Rheum Rhabarbarum Lin,

Rheum compadum Lin. Mill. %.

pi.

2i8.

they

LETTER

266

are pale green,

they

XIX.

and almoft

as large aa

The flower-ftem is
thofe of the firfl fort.
five
high, the upper
green,
or
fix
feet
pale
part dividing into fmall branches, each fuftaining a panicle of white flowers (landing
erect,

and appearing the

latter

end of May.

fourth fort, called Falniated Rhubarb''^

differs greatly from the others, and is known
immediately by its palmated and very (harp-

The flower-ftem is red, and

pointed leaves.
high the flowers are ia
feet
fix or {'even
Whatfoever may be the cafe
loofe panicles.
there is the mod unfpecies,
other
the
wiih
doubted evidence of this being the true Tar:

Rhubarb.
There is one wild plant of this clafs,
which is of the third order, having fix
It grows in the water, and having
ftyles.
handfome rofe-coloured flowers, v/ith long

tarian

^lowering RiiJJo^ \
the flowers are produced at the tnd of a
naked flalk, in an umbel. They have no
calyx, but a three-leaved involucre, a corol
of fix petals, and fix capfuies of one valve,
gaping on the fide towards the centre of the

narrow

leaves,

is

called

umbel and containing many

The

tenth

is

Rheum palmatum

feeds.

much more
Lin. Mill,

illuftr.

confiderable

Philof. Tranf.

1765.
^

(Jan.

Butomus umbcllatus Lin.

604, Mill, illuftr. Mor. f.

Curtis, Lond. I. 29. Fl.

t. 5. f. penult. Gcr. 29.

12.

clafs,

LETTER
claf?,

having

hundred and

XIX.
fpecies.

order being very numerous,

made

commodious

none

and the

five
firffc

Linnaeus

has

of

into

fiibdivifion

fucb as have corols of

petal, or

and

The

genera,

ninety-five
diirty-fix

267

many
firft

petals,

it

of one

of them he has

fubdivided again into fuch as have irregular

and fuch as have equal corols. Mofl of thofe
with irregular polypetalous flowers are very
nearly allied to the papilionaceous tribe,

with which you are already acquainted. Of

theie the mofl known are the Judas-tree, LoFlower-fence, Brajtktto, all the nufpecies o CaJJla^ Balfam of Tolu-tree^

ciift-treey

merous
moitiy the produce of
and Nickar-tree
South America and the Wefi Indies,
^%te
y

Dittany or Fraxinella^ is alfo of this fubdivifion, but not of the papilionaceous tribe.
This elegant flower is known by its fiveleaved calyx ; its corol of five fpreading petals; the filaments fet with glandulous points;
it is fucceeded by five conneded capfules,
containing two feeds covered with a com-

mon

ariL

There is only one fpecies of Fraxhiella,

varying in the colour of the flowers, which
ere either pale red fi:riped with purple, or
elfe v/liite.
It has pmnate leaves, fomewhat
refembling thofe of the A(h.
The whole
''

Difiamnus albus Lin. Mill.

fig. pi.

123.

plant

LETTER

263

XIX.

plant emits an odour of lemon peel, but

when bruiied has a balfamic fcent.
Among the plants with regular or equal
polypetalous corols, you will find Logwoody
Melia or the Bead-tree^, Guaiacutn, Rue, and
Dio?2a Mujcipida, lo curious for that feniitive quality of the leaves, by which it en-

upon them.
diftinguiihed by thefe generic cha-

traps infeds that light

Rue
racters

is

calyx divided

concave petals

into

five

parts;

ten honied pores at the bafe

of the germ, which is raifed on a receptacle

punched with the fame number of pores;
and laflly, a capfule cut half way into five
parts, confifting

of

five

within, and
do not give you

cells

If I
containing many feeds.
a caution refpediing the common Rue " of
the gardens, you may probably be puzzled
in examining its flowers ; for there is only

one flower on a branch which will anfvver to

in all the rert you are
the generic charad:ers
to fubtracl one fifth from every part of the
This circumflance is not pefrudification'.
culiar to Rue, but is found in fevcral other
plantsy, and has been made an objedion
by fome to the Linn^an fyftem. 1 he illuf;

trious

author has extricated

himfelf from

Ruta graveolens Lhu Mor. hifl, f. 5. t. 14. f. 3.

As in Cinchona, Myrfme, Euonynius curopa^us,
Theaum alpinum, Herniaria fruticofa, Gentianx 23
27. Linum Rudiola, &c.
the
^

"

LETTER

XIX.

269

the difficulty by forming his charader upon

the principal or primary flower, as he calls
There
and announcing the anomaly.
it,
are other plants, which in all the reft, add a
fifth to the number of parts in the primary

flower^

Garden Rue
partly

by this

is

fpecifically diftinguiHied,

circumflance, of having the

and partly by the

There are fome
leaves beino; decompounded.
common garden
differences in this fpecies
Rue has the component lobes of the l.eaves
wedge-fliaped, and the ftamens longer than
iide flowers

quadrifid,

the corol ; another, alfo frequently cultivated

has narrower lobes, the flowers in longer,
loofer bunches, and the flamens equal in
length with the petals, the feed-vefl^el is alio
fm aller i a third has the lobes of a linear
fhape.

ndromedaSfRhododejdronSyKahnias. Arbutus,
and a few others, have regular monopetalous
The charaders of the laft are a very
corols.
fmall calyx divided into five parts ; an ovate
corol pellucid at

the bafe

and the

fruit

berry, v/ith the feeds lodged in five cells.

Strawberry-tree ^ is known by its woody

flem,
edges,

fmooth leaves ferrate about the

and the cells of the berries having

its

Such as Adoxa Mof^h.^tdUna^ Curtis, Lond. L 26.

ard lome otheis.
- Arbutus Unedo Lin. Mill. fig. pi.
48,

feveral

LETTER

2*70

XIX.

feeds.
Some of the other fpecids
have weak procumbent ftems^; and fomc
have only a fimple feed to each cell s You
are well acquainted v*'ith the Arbutus, by
the ornament which it affords to your plantations in the latter months, with its lucid
leaves thick covering the plant ; and its
bunches of flowers of this year, accompanied by the red round berries of the laft.
But let not the firft order of the tenth
clals occupy too much of your time, fince

feveral

there are four other orders contained in it.

In the fcond yot have all the Saxifrages^
forty-two in number ^ ai^reeing in a calyx

divided into five parts; a corol of five petals

a capfule of one cell, filled with many
fmall feeds, and terminated by two beaks
;

formed of the perfiftent llyles.

Of tbefe.
Pyramidal Saxifrage is efteemed for adorning halls and chimnies. with its beautiful
pyramids of whice ilowers; which ir w'll
do for a long time. There are f-veral va'^

of

but they have all {tiff tonguewith a cartilaginois ferrate

border, and colleded into feveial rows clofe
to the ground.
From the midil of theic
rieties

fhaped

**

it,

leaves,

Arb. acadienfis, alpina & uva urfi;

A. alpiiia & uva uiii.
Saxifraga * Cotyledon Lin. Mill.

fig.

243. FJ.

d. n.

241.
ifiues

LETTER
the

ilTues

ftalk,

XIX.
the

fuftaining

271

panicles

of

flowers.

Another fpecies^ was alfo formerly much

out at windows and balconies in
fmoky towns, and hence with its being
really beautiful, had the names of London
Tri de and None'fo-pretty^ at a time when
few plants were generally known. This has
oblong or roundifii leaves deeply notched on
the edges fpringing from broad, flat, furrowed
fliown

They furnear two inches long.

flowering flalk, which itfelf is
deftitute of leaves,
of a red colour, fliiF,
flender, and hairy. The corols are white dotted

petioles,

round the

with

red.

Common White Saxifrage^

great quantities

in

flowers early and

among

the

grafs.

The

bottom leaves are kidney-ihaped, hairy, and

on pretty long petioles the Aalks are hairy,
and in good ground a foot high, branching
out from the bottom, and furniflied with
a few fmail leaves, m (hape like the others,
:

but fitting clofe to the ftem the flov/ers terminate the ftalk in fmall cluifers ; the corols
are white, and large for the fize of the plant:
if any doubt remains concerning it, puii it
up, and you will find that the roots are like
:

^
*

Saxifraga umbrofa Lin. Mill, fig 14.1. f. 2.

Luu Mill, illuftr. Curt'S, Lond.

Saxifraga granulau

30. Gsr, 84

T.

grains

LETTER

272

grains of corn,

poor ground

XIX.

and of a reddifh colour.

this plant

is

very

fmall,

la

and

has only two or three flowers, fometimes but

one,, on a (impie, unbranched flem.
Thefe, with moft of the other fpecies, have
upright ftems, but there are three which have

weak trailing ftalks. Of thefe there is one

which has much refemblance to a mofs, when
it is out of flower; and, from the manner
of its growth in a thick tuft, it has acquired
The
the Englifh name of Ladies' Cuflnon .
leaves are linear, fome entire and others trifid:
the little flower fl:ems are three or four inches
high, flender, erecft, and almofi: naked, terminated by fmall flowers of a dirty white.
The genus Dianthus, of this fcond order,
is numerous, as well as the laft, comprifing
twenty-two fpecies, which agree in having a
cylindrlc calyx of one leaf, furrounded at the
bafe by four fcales; a corol of five petals;

and

a cylindric, unilocular capfule, for a feed-

veflTel.
Many of the fpecies are beautiful, as
Sweet William^ y the noble Carnation\ the
Pink^, with all its numerous varieties, the
the China Pink^ dillindt from the former:

feveral

alfo of the lorts,

Saxifraga

which

hypnoides Lin. Fl. dan. 348. Mor.

26.
^ Dianihus barbatus Lin.
* Dianthus Caryophylliis Lin.
Mill.
12.

^
^

t.

9.

wild in

are

hift.

f.

Dianthus plumdrius Lin.

Dianthus chincnfis Lin, Mill.
I

fig.

fi^. pi.

I2i,

81.

f.

2.

many

LETTER

XIX.

273

rnany parts of Europe, though adorned with

and more modefl iu

their pretenfions, are not however without
their beauty. The Carnation is acknowledged,
on all hands, for a worthy leader of one of the
iinefl natural orders, entitled from the Latin
lefs

fplendid

name of

flowers,

this

fragrant flower

When we

plants.

flower, the beauty of

ment of

Carycphylleous

confider the fize of the

its

colours, the arrange-

and above all the finguJarly rich and fpicy odour that it exhales,
we cannot withhold that tribute of admiration
which will ever be given it, unlefs by obtruding itfelf too frequently on the eye, its real
beauties

The

its

parts,

become

at

length difregarded.

leading feature, in diltinguifliing the

fpecies of this

genus,

the injiorefcence

is

or

manner of flowering.
fome others have aggregate flowers
Sweet

tion,

Pink,

flowers on

China Fink^
the

fame

flalk,

William and

Carna^
;
have many
not however in

&c.

but folitary or feparatej fome few

have one flower only on a flem ; and two or
three have fhrubby flalks.
The other circumftances that difcriminate the fpecies are,
that the fcales at the bafe of the calyx in the
Sweet William are of an ovate-fubulate form,
and as long as the tube of the corol ; in the
Carnation and Fink they are fubovate and
very fhort 3 in the China Fink they are fubulate, as long as the tube, and hang loofe.
The Sweet William has alfo lance-fliaped
herds,

leaves.

LETTER

274

XIX.

Carnation and China Pink have the

The Pink has the corols
notched:
pubefcent at the bafe, and the petals deeply
For ornament and beauty you will gacut.

leaves.

petals

from your parterre ; butas

a botanift you will take them from a wall,
or a dry untilled foil, where their fimplicity
and the clearnefs of their natural charaders
will make you full amends for the want of
fplendour.
You would not always choofe to
be among full dreiTed people at a ball, or in
but fometimes to take a
a drawing-room
walk,
rural
and entertain yourfelf with plain
ther thefe flowers

country manners.
In the third order, befides fome others,
there are four genera containing many fpecies
which have a good deal of fimilitude. They
are however thus well diftinguilhed.
Arefiaria and Steliaria have a capfule of one
cell; Cticubahis 2Ln Silne^ a capfule of three
cells : of the two former the firft has the
petals entire, the fcond has them bifid
of
the two latter, in both of which the petals
are bifid, the fcond has a crown compofed
of a fet of minute petals, in the centre ;
whereas the firft has nothing of this, or is
naked.
Arcnaria and Btellaria have alfo a
five-leaved calyx; in Cucubalus it is much
:

inflated,

have

and in

Siiene'ii is fwelling.

five petals in

All four

the corol.

Spading

LETTER

XX.

275

uncommon weed
You will
among corn and in meadows.
know it by the almoft round and much inSpatUng Poppy "^

is

not an

flated calyx, beautifully veined,

lo as to

have

the appearance of a fine network thrown

the corols are not
over it, and quite fmooth
entirely naked, and are pure white;
Sedicms or Stone- crops are found in the
They are known
fourth order (Pentagynia),
by the general prevalence of the number five
a calyx cut into
in all parts of the flower
five fegments, a corol of five petals, five
nectariferous fcales at the bafe of the germ,
and five capfules not to mention the twice
five flamens, and five ftyles, which form the
charaders of the clafs and ordei*. Many of
them are not uncommon in a wild iiate,
particularly a fmall trailing fort with yellow
;

trifid cyme^ and ovate,

blunt, fmooth leaves, imbricate and alternately adhering to the ftalk:" other fpecies have

flowers growing in a

and fome red corols.

They grow
on walls, or in very dry foils.
Cockle"^ which is fo common a weed am.ong
corn, has a membranaceous, one-leafed calyx;

white,

chiefly

Cucubalus Behen Lm.

f.5.

t.

20.

f.

I.

Fl.

dan.

857. Mor.

hift.

Ger. 678.

" Sedum acre Lin. XA'^ali- pepper. Curtis, Lond. I.

32.
Ger. 517. album 3 Ger. 5 2.
" Agroftemma Githago Lin. Curtis, Lond. III.
27.
Ger. 1087.
.

a corol

LETTER

276

XIX.

a corol of five obtufe, undivided petals, anc

The fpecies
an oblong capfule of one cell.
the
roughnefs
the plant;
of
is diftinguifhcd by
the length of the fegments of the calyx, and

by the

Of

petals being entire

and naked.

Lychnii there are feveral fpecies agree-

characters.
An obof one leaf; a corol of
five petals flightly bifid ; and a one-celled capfule of five valves.

ing

in

thefe

common

long, fmcoth calyx

Scarlet

Lych}iii\\

commonly

cultivated in

gardens, has the flowers growing in bunches,

fo that the whole forms nearly a fiat furficc
at top;

the colour of the corol

a very high

is

fear let.

Catchfy^, fo called from the clammy juice

exuding from the fi:alks under each pair
of leaves, glutinous enough to entangle fmall
fliesj is known by the petals being almoft enthe leaves
tire; the colour of them is red
:

are

long, narrow,

and

grafs like,

efpecially

of this and
the lower ones.
The
the foregoing are ufually double in the gardens, and therefore ufelefs to you in ycur boflowers

tanical refearches.

There is a fort of hychnis commonly wild

by water- fides and in moid meadows, called
Ragged^Robin^ Meadow- Pinks, Wild-lVilliams
or CuckoW'Jiuwer^ which has red jagged peP

Lychnis chalcedonica Lin.

Lychnis \'ircariaZ/>;.
L)chis flos cuculi Lin, Cuiiis, Lond.

J.

33. Gcr.

600.
tals,

LETTER
tais,

XIX.

277

generally cut into four partsj and roundidi

month of which has five teeth

capfules, the

turning back.

commoQ

There

in paftures,

alfo

is

another no

lefs

called IVhite Lychnis or

White Campion\ which differs edentially from

congeners in having the piftils feparate
from the llamens, and on dift.in(ft plants. I
its

leive you, dear coufin, with this irregularity,

and wait a day of

leifure to

purfue our botani-

cal career.

Lychnis dioica Lin, Fi. dan. 792. Ger, 468,

278

L E T T E R

XX.

June the lOth, 1775.

N^OTHING
red,

dear

difficult

has hitherto occur-

your determinathe number of the fta-

coufin, in

tion of the clafTes,

raens alone having fufficed for that purpofe.

But no plant being yet difcovered with eleven ftamens, among thofe which have them

expeded
which
have
twelve j
to contain thofe plants
but here the number is found to be by no
means conftapt, and Linnsus is obliged to
diftindV, the eleventh clafs fliouldbe

take into his clafs Dodecandria, all fuch plants

as have from twelve to nineteen ftamens inclufive.
Nor is the eleventh clafs, with all
this latitude, an eafy one for a novice to de-

termine; the number of liamens in fome cafes

being fewer than twelve, in others more than
nineteen, or elfe coming out in parcels at difIt is not very numerous, conferent periods.
taining but thirty- three genera and one hun-

dred and fixty-four fpecies.

Of the firft order, the moft

known

or the

nioft remarkable are Afarum or Ajarabaccuy

the Mangojieerii Winter' i Barky Purjlain, Looje-

Jrije,

Browuea^ which has naturally eleven ftamens,

^he fixteenth clafs, Momdcl^hia,

is

of

^[arabacca

LETTER
a calyx

Afarahacca has

XX.

279

cut half

way into

three fegments, and litting on the top of the

llyle

no corol : and a leathery capfule, of fix

and crowned at top.
There are

cells within,

the

Canadian^

the

Virginian^
lad is diftinguiihed by two kidney-fliapcd leaves, ending
three fpecies

and

the

which

European"^^

bluntly.

bihd calvx inclofing the

germ: a corol of five petals: and a capfule
of one cell, in which the receptacle is loofe;
in fome fpecies it opens horizontally'', in
others it is trivalvular: the numb:;r of flaFicrjlain

mens

varies

has a

in

the different

Fiirjain cultivated

The

fpecies.

for fallads '^

is

a native

of

the hot parts of America j it is known by

its wedge-fliaped leaves, and the flowers fitting dole to the flalk; and it is one of thole
Vv^hich

have the capfule

opening

horizon-

tally.

has the calyx cut at the QdgQ

and inclofing the germ :
the corol of fix petals, inferred into the
calyx: the capfule bilocular, and containing
many feeds. Purple hoojejirife'^ is a handLcofeftrife

into twelve portions

forae

plant,

ponds and

',

r?dorning

ditches

Afarum europasum Lin.

^

banks of
its

fine

rivers,

fpikes of

Fl. dan. 633.

C ipfula ciicumfciHa.

^ Portulaca oleracea
*

the

with

Lythrum

L'ln.

Salicaria

Lin.

Curtis,

Lond.

III.

28=

Ger, 476.

purple

LETTER

$8o

XX.

purple flowers; the leaves grow in pairs,

and are lance-(haped with a hollowed bafej
fometimes three leaves come out together

from the fame point, and the

flalk

is

hex-

only an accidental vato the charader

of the clafs, in having twelve ftamens; but
there are fome which have but ten, nay even
only fix ftamens.
ill the fcond order are only two genera

but this

angular

riety.

Our

is

fpecies anfvvers

Heliocarpiis^ an

American

plant, little

known;

and Agrimony^ an European, and fufficiently

This has a fmall quinquefid calyx,
fitting on the top of the germ, fortified with

common.

another
a corol of five petals, inferted into
the calyx, and one or two roundifh feeds in
the bottom of the calyx.
The number of
ftamens is verv uncertain in this eenus: fome
fpecies having twelve, others ten, others feven.
Common Agrimony^', which is found in woods
and by hedge fides, has interruptedly pinnate
leaves on the Italk, with the odd lobe at the
end petiolate; the feeds are fortified with
bridles.
The outer calyx grows faft to the
inner; and the ftamens vary in number from
twelve to twenty.
The third order has alfo only two genera,
but they are numerous; Refeda having twelve,
and Euphorbia no lefs than fixty-nine fpecies.
Ko genera are more difficult to determine
:

y Agrimonia Eupatoria Lin. Fl. dan. 588. Mjll,

Qer. 712.

illuftr.

than

LETTER

XX.

281

than thefe; the number and form of the parts

varying in the different fpecies.
The effential
charadter of the firft confifts in the trifid
petals, one of them melliferous at the bafe;
and in a capfule of one cell never clofed but
always open the calyx alfo is of one leaf, cut
into feveral narrow fegments, two of which
gape more than the others, on account of the
melliferous petal; the (lamens are from eleven
:

number.
Dyers-weed or Weld'^ grows common
barren paftures, dry banks, and on walls ;
to fifteen in

is

it

the ufe of the dyers

leaves are lance- fhaped, and entire, ex-

alfo

The

in

cultivated

for

cept that they have one indentation on each

fide at the bafe 5 and the calyx is cut into

The corol alfo has three

four fegments.
petals; the upper one melliferous, and divided
half way into fix parts; the oppofite lateral
and fometinies two fmail
entire petals are added below.
Dyer's-weed
is a biennial plant, producing the firft year
a circle of leaves clofe to the ground; and
the next a ftalk terminated by a long loofe fpike
of yellowilli flowers;

petals

are

Siveet
leaves,

trifid

Refeda or Mlgnionettc^

fome of which

has oblono-

are entire,

trifid; the calyx of the flower

is

and others

large, equal-

Refeda Luteola Lm, Fl. dan. 864. Ger. 48g.

is thought to be the plant with which the ancient
Britons dyed their bodies.
> R^icda odorata Lin, Mill. fig. 217,
='

This

ling

LETTER

282

Jing the corol in

XX.

The

fize.

flowers are pro

duced in loofe fpikes, on long peduncles; are

of an herbaceous colour, and much efteetned
for their agreeable odour, like that of frelh

Rafpberries.

Euphorbia has
times of
cies, in

and fome-

corol of four,

five petals,

fome fhaped

glandulous in moft fpelike a

crefcent, or

dented about the edges, in a few thin

inas

membrane; commonly placed as it were

on the outfide of the calyx, which is of
fine

one

edge into four, or in

pans, and ventricofe or fwellfiamens are twelve or more,

leaf, divided

fome

into five

ing out.

The

at the

The

jfiuing forth at different periods.

vefiel is a capfule

of three dillin:

feed-

cells united,

with one roundiih feed in each cell, and on the

cutfide fmooth, rough or warted in the diffeThis genus being fo numerous,
rent fpccies.

fome fubordinate

dillindtions

are

neceffary:

and accordingly LinnsBus has divided it into

The firff contains the Etipbor/even fedions.
fo
called; or fuch as have a
b'ue properly
fhrubby, angular, fpiny ilem, generally void of
The fcond contdins the (hrubby fpeleaves.
In all the other fedlions,
cies without fpines.
the ffems are dichotcmous or divide always by
pairs, and the il^jwers are born in a kind of
um.bel: which, in the third fection, is combifid \ in the fourth, trifid\ in the fifth,
and in the
guadrifidy in the fixth, qiiinqucfid

monly

-y

leventh muitijid.
Several

^.

E T T E R

Several fpecies of the

differently that acrid
infpiirated

is

XX.

firft

283

felion yield in-

milky juice, which

when
En"

fent us under the title of

The flowers are of little beauty,

and thefe plants have been noticed rather for
the fingularity of their form, and the ftriking
difference of their ftrudure from the plants of
Europe, than for any charms that they poffefs.
The fpecies fuppofed to be that from whence
the ancients had the drug % is known by a

phorbium.

triangular, jointed

ftalk:

the

we now have

fpecies

from

has a quaand the

drangular (lem, and double fpines
fpecies which Linnus fuppofes ought to be

which

it is

laid

if^,

multangular with double fpines.

Meduf's-hea' is of the fcond fedion.
The ftalks are clofcly covered with tubercles, lying over each other, and from the fides
of thefe fpring many branches which are frequently fo entwined as to give the idea of a
The ends of the branches
parcel of ferpents.
have narrow fucculent leaves readily dropping
off, and a fet of white flowers.
The niants of the other fedions are commonly known by the name of Spurge, and
are mod: of them wild in the different parts

ufed%

is

J.

'^

"^

*
f

Euphorbia
Euphorbia
Kuphorbia
Euphorbia

antiquorum Lin. Comtn. hort.

i. t.

12.

Comm. hort. 2. t. 1O4.

officinarum Lin. Comm. hort. i.t. ii,
Caput Med ufse L/. Comm. hort. i. t. 17.
canarienfis Lin.

of

LETTER

2^4

XX.

Two fpecies are common

of Europe.
weeds in kitchen gardens: one of tbem^
belongs to the fourth fedtion, or thofe which
the fubdivifions of thefe
have trifid umbels
:

dichotomous
the involucella or braes
are ovate; and the leaves are quite entire,
or without any notches about the edge; they
are ovate in form, and attached to the ftalk
are

each petal alfo has two

little horns ; the other ^ is of the fixth fecjon, having quinquefid umbels; each prin-

by

ftiort

petioles

cipal divifion fubdivides into three; the ijivo-

ihaped, as in the former; the

and ferrate about
wedge-lhaped,
leaves
the edges; and (he petals are round and
A third fpecies', common in woods,
entire.
is of the lall: fedion, with multifid umbels:
whereas
it is a larger plant, and perennial ;
the involucellce are
the others are annual
round and perfoliate ; the leaves are very
are

lucellce

are

blunt at the end.

Spurges having little beauty, they are feldoin

cultivated in gardens.
One of the mofl com-

mon
tion,

'

is

biennial

fpecies,

of the

fifth

with the leaves oppofite and quite en-

Euphorbia Pcplus. Petty Spurge. Curtis, Lond.

35. G<.r. 503.

''

I.
_

r.uphorbia heliofcopia. Lin.

Load. I. 36. Gcr. 498.

Kuph. amygdaloides Lin,
f,
IC. t. 1. f. 1. Gcr. 500.
'

fec^

Sun Spurge.

Wood

Spurge.

Curtis,

Mor,

hift.

tre.

LETTER

XX.

2:^^

called Broad-leaved Spurge, or Catapu^

tire,

Its native place is

Italy,
and the
it grows three or four {e.tt
fouth of France
high J the flowers are of a greenifli yellow,
and the capfules being very elaftic, the feeds
are thrown to a conliderable diftance.

tia^.

fcond is perennial, and of the laft fedion';

the involucellce are heart-fhaped ; the petals

formed like a crefcent

and the capfmooth; fome of the branches arc
barren, and others bear flowers and feed ;
on the firfl: the leaves are narrow and
fetaceous; on the fcond they are lanceare

-,

fules are

fhaped.

There

is

a genus"" of this clafs

number twelve prevails

Having twelve ftyles, it is of

the

The

cagynia.
parts

the corol

and the flower

fules,

calyx

in all the partf.

the order L)ode^

divided into twelve

confias of twelve

is

containing

is

which

in

petals

fucceedcd by twelve cap-

many

fmall feeds.

Common

Houfeleek^ is one of thcfe, which, though fo

fucLulent a plant, flourirties on walls and roofs.
The edges of the leaves are fet with fliort
fine hairs

and they do not grow

form, as fome other fpecies do,

Euphorbia Lathyris Lin.
Euphorbia CyparifTias L'ln.
^ Sempervivum, nearly allied

globular
but fpread

in a

^
^

tenth
"

to

the

Sedums

in

the

Lond.

III.

clal's.

Sempervivum

i. Mill,

illuftr.

te6lorurn

Lin.

Curtis,

Ger. 510.

Open.

286

LETTER

XX.

From

the centre of the heads of leaves

round, red, fucculent flower-ftalk,
about a foot high, which at bottom has a few
narrow leaves, and at top divides into two
or three parts, each fupporting a reflexed
Though
range of flowers, with red corols.
the natural number in this genus be twelve ;
nayet you will find it to vary exceedingly
ture being lefs confiant in larger than in

open.

arifes a

fmaller

numbers.

With

this

Ihort llcetch,

adieu, dearcoufin, for the prefent.

287

LETTER

XXI.

June the

21

ft,

1775*'

OU

have already, dear coufin, taken'

an imperfe: view of the twelfth clafs,

__

as

far

as

it

relates

to

fruit-trees

you are

not however to fuppofe, either that all thefe

trees range in the clafs Icofandria, or that
no other but them are to be found there.
No lefs than twenty-nine genera, and two

hundred and ninety-four

fpecies are included

in this clafs, a confiderable portion

is

trees

or

(hrubs^

many

of which

herbs however are

found among them.

To
the

diftinguifh this clafs and the next

rert,

and from each

other,

from

remember

always that it is not the number, but the

fituation of the flamens which furniflies the
claffical chara(fter.
Jri
the next they arife,
in
the other clafles, from the
as generally
receptacle ; but in this they fpring eiilier
diredly, or with the parts of the corol, fromthe ealyx, which is of one leaf, and not flat
but hollow ^ the corol is mofl frequently of
five petals.

Of the firft order, Cacus is a very confiderable genus, compriiing the Mtlon-tbiftles^
lorch-thijiles or Cereujes, and the Opuntias
or Indian Figs,
Thefe all agree in a calyx,

In

letter

VII.

whole

LETTER

288

XXL

the bcttjm, but yet confiding of

rows
of leaves, and placed on the top
feveral

whole

at

of the germ : in a corol which is double,

and in
or formed of feveral rows of petals
:

having a berry containing feveral feeds

one cell.

The

Melon-thiftks

are

roundifli

without cither leaf or ftalk. The

fiem without
ihijles have a long

bodies,

Torch^
leaves,

in many fpecies is f.rong enough

fupport itfelf; but in fome trails along
the ground, or is fupportcd by trees thefe
called Creeping Cereufes.
Opuritias
laft are

which
to

are

compofed of

flat

joints

conneded

to-

gether.

remarkable for a ftrudlure

different from that of other plants ; but
fome of the Cereufes are much efteemed for
the beauty of the flowers, which are perhaps
the more noticed, becaufe they are the lefs
expefled from plants whofe appearance is
Thofe of the Great-Flowfo unpromflng.
ering Creeping Cereus p are near a foot in
diameter, the infide of the calyx of afplendid yellow, and the numerous petals of a pure
white : hardly any flower makes fo magnifia
cent an appearance, during the fliort time of
its duration, which is one night only; for it
does not begin to open till feven or eight

Thefe

>

are

all

Cadtus grandiflorus Lin, Mill.

fig. pi.

90.

o'clock

LETTER

XXL

289

o'clock ia the evening, and clofes before funrife in the morning, unlsfs it is gathered and

kept in the {hade, by which means I have

prevented it from clofing till about ten. This
noble flower opens but once; but when, to
the grandeur of its appearance, we add the
fine perfume which it difFufes, there is no
plant that more deferves your admiration.
When it is not in blow, you will know it
by the creeping ftem, marked longitudinally
with about five prominences.
Another fpecies of Creeping Cereus
is
more common, but fcarcely lefs admirable
for the beauty of its pink-coloured flowers,
which the plant produces in greater quantity ; they are alfo of longer duration, for
they not only boldly fhow their face to the
fun, but will even keep open three or four
"^

When

not in flower, this fpecies

its very ilender branches,
fpines,
covered with
and marked with ten
prominencies.
But you are well acquaint-,
ed with this fine plant, which requiring
little heat, forms one of the principal ornaments of your drefling rcom, in the month
of May.
There are many fpecies of Opuntia^ Indian
Figi or Prickly Pear, all natives of America, and kept rather for their Angularity than
their beauty, having no leaves, but a flat
days.

it is

diftinguifhed by

is

Ehr.

Caus
t.

flagelliformis

Llyi.

Ehret. pid.

t.

2.

Trew.

30.

jointed

LETTER

290
jointed

flalk,

with knots

fet

The

or both.

briftles,

which the
only one

infeCt

that

joints^

the

joints,

with

is

XXI.

of that

unarmed

common
brtifhes

cf

Ccchi?icl

name

of

feeds,

this

fort

prickles,

Fig',
is

on
the

has obiong

has

roundilh

bridles,

but

no

prickles.

In this fame order you will find the SyThe natural number in the calyx,
corol, and capfule is four^ but fometimes it
rhiga^.

five.

is

The

cumbers, and
ers, like thofe

tinguifh
others.

edges of

this

The
the

of the leaves like cuthe odour of its white flowof the orange, fufficiently difwell known fhrub from all
flight indentations about the
leaf feparate it from another
tatle

which has none.

too will you find your favourite
Myrtle, which has a calyx fitting on the top

fpecies,

Here

of the germ, and generally cut into five fegments; a corol of five petals; and a berry
for a fruit.
Some fpecies however have a
quadrifid calyx, and then the corol has four
petals
others have an entire undivided calyx.
The Common Myrtle "", of which there
are many varieties, has the flowers comingout fingly, and an involucre of two leaves
upon the peduncle.
:

1/;^.. Dill. elth. t.

'

Ca6lus cochlnillirer

CaiSliis

Philadc-lphus coronarius L'm.

"

Myrtus Cvinmunis Un, Mill.

Opuntia L'm. Mill.

fig. t.

fig.

297.

f.

383.

191.
184.

In

Letter

xxi.

291

In the fcond order there is only the

Crafagtis, a genus comprehending feveral
fpecies of Hhoruy and alfo two trees, the
Aria or White Beam Tree'-'' and the Maple-

The generic charadlers are,

leaved Service *.
a calyx cut into five fegments, and fitting
on the top of the germ ; a corol of five peand a berry containing two feeds.
The firll of the trees is readily known by

tals;

with very
and unequal ferratures about the edges ^ but particularly by
the hoarinefs of their under furfaces:, the
fcond, by its leaves cut into many acute
angles like thofe of the Maple; the divifions
are five or feven ; and the lowed: lobes ftand
wider than the others.
Cockjpur Haw^
thorn ^ has the leaves ovate, and fo deeply
ferrate, as to be almoft lobate.
Virginian
jizarok"^ has oval leaves, wedge-fhaped at
the bafe, {hining and deeply ferrate.
Co?}imon Hawthorn or White-thorn % whofe flower has obtained the name of May^ from the

the

ovate

fhape

of

prominent tranfverfe

month

in

leaves,

cut

v/hich
into

thofe ferrate.

the

leaves,

veins,

appears,

it

three

principal

True Axarole

''

has

obtufe

parts,

and

has leaves like

^ Cratsegus AriaZm. Mill,

"
y
t.

illuftr. Gcr. 1327.

Crataegus torminalis Lin. Ger. 147 1. Fl. dan. 798.
Cratregus coccinea Lin. Mill. fig. 17g. Aug!, hort,

13.

f.

I.

Crat. Cruf-galli Lin. Mill. fig. 178. 2.

Cr. Oxyacantha Lin, Fl. dan.
634. Ger. 1327.
Cr. Azarolus Lin,
^

the

LETTER

292

buf

XXI.

paler, and with

and fruit are alfo
much larger. All thefe you will And in
your plapitiitions as you will alfo two trees
that are in the third order, under the genus SorbuSy viz. the Mountahi Jljh^ and the
Service^ ; both which have pinnate or winged
leaves, like the Afli ; fmooth on both fides
in the firft, but villous on the under furface in the fcond; thefe alfo have the
lobes broader, and not fo much ftrrated.
Their common characters are a quinquefid
calyx, a pentapetalous corol, and an inferior
berry with three feeds.
The fourth Order (Pentagynia), befides
the Apphi Pear, and ^ince, comprehended
under one genus, Pyrus^ has the Medlar
with many other fpecies of trees or (hrubs
in a fcond '^j and all the flirubs called
Thefe genera agree in
Spircea, in a third.
a quinquefid calyx, and a pentapetalous corol ;

the foregoing,

broad lobes:

the

larger,

flowers

the germ is inclofed within the flower in the

the fruit
laft ; but is beneath it in the reil
it is
diftindion
in
Pyrus
is the principal
a
;
:

Pomum

in Spiraa a
in Mefpihis a Berry
of Capfules,
This order boafl:s a large and fplendid
genus of herbaceous fucculent plants, called

itt

Sorbus aucuparia Lin. Mill, illuftr. Ger. 1473.

Sorbus domeftica Z?. Edw. av. t. ii. Ger. 1474.
germanica. Medlar. Ger. 1453.
Mefpilus Z/>;.

FicoUcs

LETTER
Ficot des

or

XXI.

Fig Marigolds

^.

Fifty

293
fpecies

con fen t in a quinquefid calyx on the

top of the germ; a mulcifid corol of narall

row

and

linear petals:

ficfhy capfule di-

vided into cells correfponding with the

ber of

flyles,

and

containing

many

numfeeds.

Though mod

of the fpecies have five flyles,

yet fome have only four, and others have ten.
This large genus is fubdivided into three feetions, from the colour of the flowers, which
being flriking and permanent, may here very
well furniili luch a diftindion, though it is in
moft cafes a circumftance not to be depended

The

on.

corols

then,

which

are fpecious,

very large, and double, are in the

whitey in
yellow.

leaves

firfl

fediion

2nd in the third

different forms of the fucculent
almofl of themfelves, fufficient

the fcond red,

The
afford,

fpecific diftindions.

The

moll:

known

is that which is
more commonly
This has ovate, alternate, wav-

fpecies

called Di7?iond FicoideSy or

Ice Plants,

ing

with white corols; but it is

regarded for the fingularity of being covered with pellucid pimples, in the
fun appearing like cryiialline bubbles.
Egyptian Kali^, efleen^ed for making the bed
leaves,

chiefly

I
*

8
t.

Mefembryanthemum
Mefembryanthemum

cryftallinum Lin. Dill. elth.

221. Bradl. fucc. 5. t. 15. f. 48.
Mefem. nodiflorum Liv. Mor. hift, 2, f. 5. t. 33. f. 7.

180,
>

L'7.

f.

pot-

LETTER

294

XXI.

of this genus

pot-a{li, is nlfo

has alternate,

roundifli, obtufe leaves, ciliate at the bafe,

and

white ccrols.

Of

order of this clafs the B.ofe

known j and, were it
is a genus
lefs fo, would hold the firft rank in the adthe

lail

u:^.iverfally

The diflinctive chamiration cf mankind.

raders are, a quinquefid calyx; a pentapetalous ccrol; and a kind of pitcher-fhaped,
formed out of the calyx, terminated by the divifions of it, and containing
feveral oblong, rough feeds, growing to the
calyx on every fide.
The fpecies are didinguifhed by the g'obofe or ovate form of the
fruit, by the iuatioii of the fpines on the

flcfhy

berry,

diierent

fruits

of

parts

The

cence, &c.

with

befet

the

the

fhrub,

Sii-ect-B/ ir'

crooked

infioref-

globofe
the

has

and

f^Mnes,

leaves rubiginous or rufty underneath.

Dog-roje or
but fmooh,
ftalk

Wild Bn'ar^~
as

are

alfo

however and the

has

ovate

The
fruity

the peduncles; the

petioles are fpinous,

coloured and bilobate^,

and there are twociiiate brades, oppofite each
other, to every flower.

the petals

are

biLiili

with all its various fruits,

conllituting only one fpecies ^ is of this
order.
Here, though the corol has only
StrSvDha'r\\

Rofa rubiginofa L'ln. Fl. dan. 870. Ger. 1272.

Rofa canina Lin, Fl. dan. 555. Ger. 127O,

97.

Fra^aria
'^

vcica,

L'ln.

Pvlor. hift.

f.

2. t. 19.

f. i.

Ger.

five

LETTER

XXI.

295

ve petals, the calyx is cut into ten fegments, alternately larger and fmaller, and
the feeds are difperfed over the furface of
a roundifh, pulpy receptacle, vulgarly called
Thefe are the generic characters.
a berry.
All the eatable Strawberries increafe by runnersj and by this circumftance they are fuf"",
ciently dirtinguiflied from the barren fort
which not only has a dry juicelefs recepbut never throws out any of thefe
tacle,

runners.
thirteenth clafs, Polyandria, has many
flamens to the flowers" as well as the foregoing, but fpringing from the receptacle,

The

Thefe two claifes

along with the piitil.
united would have formed too large a clafs
for commodious examination j a difficulty to
be avoided certainly in
can:
one,

befides,

are

their

other,

the

fjrm and
that

it

fo

qualities,

(o

fant to the palate,

where we

contained

the

in

both in

different,

from thofe of the

dif:ordant,

pity

or to

to

unite

pleawhich are
and wholefume to the confo

the lame clafs fruits

in

cafes

would have been

beings

intermix

plants

general

in

all

and herbs deflruaive to the human

frame from their poifonous qualities; as many
of thofe in the clafs Polyandria are known
ftitution

to be.

^ Frap;aiiafterilisl/;;. Curtis, Lond. in. 30. Ger. 998.

F rem 20 to 1000.

"

In

LET

296
the

In

XXI.

order (Moncgytiia) you

firft

Poppy^

the

find

T E R

which

is

will
dif-

fufficiently

by a calyx of two leaves ^ a

of four petals ; and a one-celled capfule, crowned with the iligma, under which
it opens with many holes, to give exit to
Of this genus,
the numerous little feeds.
"^

tinguiOied

corol

four fpecies have rough, and five have fmooth

The common Cor?i Poppy p , the
capfules.

and which yields

the Opium ^; the Welch Poppy 5 and the
Oriental fort, now introduced as an ornament
fpecies ufed in medicine,

to the flower garden

The

',

are

all

of the latter

has the capfules almofl:

fialk
covered
with hairs, and
globofe; the
lverai flowers
of a fine high
fuftaining
fcarlet 5
and the leaves pinnatifid and cut.
The fcond has the calyx fmooth, as well
divifion.

as the capfule,

the

ftalk

firft

the leaves cut and embracing

which is cultivated in the

that

has white corois, and oblate fpheroidal

heads as big as an orange, with white feeds :
the garden fort has purpiifli corois, very dark
at the bafe, with fmaller oblong heads and
this varies much in colour, and
black feeds
has foinetimes very large and very double
fields

*
P

'

falls off fpontancoufly when the 0ower expands.

Papaver Rhs-as Lh:. Curtis, Lond. Ill, 32. Ger. 371.
Papaver fomtuferum Lin. Blackw, t. 483. Gcr. 370.
Papaver orientale Lin.
Tourn. icin. 3. t. 127^

This

Comm.

rar.

t.

34.

flowers.

LETTER

XXI.

29/

then refembling an immenfe CarSome perfons are of opinion that

nation.
the field and garden Poppy are different fpecies ; Linnaeus makes them but one : I have
given you the diffrences, but do not take
iiowers,

upon

me

decide.

The

capfules of the
Welch Poppy^ are oblong; the ftalk fmooth;
to

the leaves winged and cut

and yellow.
leafy

flalks,

red flower

the corols large

The

Oriental Poppy has rough

fupporting one large, fingle
the leaves are winged ; and ferthe edge.
All the fpecies of

about
Poppy have a flrong difagreeable fmelL
The Caper ^ is of this firft orders fo is
the Tea-tree, and the Lime "
the Water^
Lilies,
both yellow and ivhite"", fpreading
their broad leaves on the furface of flowmoving ftreams and ftagnant pools, and raif^
ing their ampla^ many-petalled corols above
Here alfo is the numerous and beautiful
it.
genus Ciftus, known by a calyx of five
leaves j two of which are lefs than the other
three ; a corol of five petals ; and a capfulc
rate

-,

for a feed-veffel.

Of

thefe there

are forty-

nine fpecies, mofl: of them fhrubs, but fome

herbaceous ; the corols purple, white or yel-

low
[

^
*

"

"
;^

in the different forts.

Papaver cambricum Lin, Dill. clth. t. 223. f. 290,

Capparis fpinofa Lin,
Tilia europsea Z/.
Fl. dan. 553. Ger. 1483.
Nymphara lutea Z/. Fl. dan. 603. Ger. 819.
Nymphaea alba Lin. Fl. dan. 602. Ger. 819.

Peony

LETTER

29?
Teeny

is

the

of

fcond

XXI.

order,

which

Is

fmall one 3 the charaders of the genus are

a calyx of five leaves, a corol of five petals,
or three germs, crowned immediwith ftigmas, without the interpofition
of any flyles.
This, and feme plants of the following
orders,
are fcridly united by one natural
bond, under the name of Miiltifdlqu or
having a fruit compofed of
Many-podded

and

tw^o

ately

',

feveral pericarps joined together.

They

agree

in having either no calyx, or at

one very apt to fall off; a polypetalous
corol, and ftamens exceeding the petals in
number. Of thefe you are acquainted with
the Lark/pur and Accnite^ belonging to the
third order ; the Columbines to the fifth, and
Hellebore to the lafl-.
None of them have
and they have all a corol of
any calyx
the nedaries form the principal
five petals
This in Lark/pur
diftindion of the genera.
is
bifid,
fefile,
and continued backwards
into a horn or fpur.
Aconite has two re-

likewife
leaft

-,

Cohunhine has
curved, pedunculate nedaries.
five of thefe horn-fhaped nedaries, between
the petiils.
Hellebore has many fhort, tubunedaries,
placed in a ring round the
lous
outfide of the ftamens, each divided into tv.o
lips at top.
Larkjpur has alfo either one
capfule or three , and the garden fpecies
"^

Delphinium Ajacis

Z,/;;,

is

LETTER
difiinguilhed

is

ftem

from

the

by

299

unbranched
which has it

fimple

its

wild

XXL

one-',

have the neiary of

one leaf ; in Bee Larkfpur ^ and the reft it is
of two.
Acofiite has the upper petal arched 3
and three or five capfules. You have one
fpecies common in your flower borders and
plantations, with long fpikes of large blue
flowers, called Monlzs-hcod- \ this is one of
the fpecies that have three capfules to a
flower; and the leaves are multifid, with linear divifions, broadeft at top, and marked
with a line running along them. Wholefome
fubdivided

thefe both

Wolfsbane^, as

it

is

called, has five capfules,

and the flowers are fulphur-coColiunbim has five diftind capfules :

the common forf^ has bent nedaries
in its
wild ftate the flowers are blue, the petals

five ftyles,

loured.

and the nedaries very prominent ; in

the garden you obferve not only a variety of
colours, but that the petals are excluded,
and the neclaries much multiplied. Hellebore
has fometimes more than five petals to the

fhort,

Delphinium ConfoliJa Lin,

Fl.

dan.

683. Ger.

IC83.
^
^

Delphinium elatum Z/. Mill. fig. 250. f. 2.

Aconitum Napellus Lin. Mill, illuftr. Jacq.

auftr.

4- 381.
''

Aconitum

Anthora

L'ln.

Mill.

fig.

pi.

12.

Jacq.

auftr. 4. 382.
" Aquilegia
vulgaris Un,
Gcr. IC93.

Fl. dan. 695. Mill, illuftr,

corol

LETTER

Soo
jcorol

and always

to each
feeds,

The

flower;

fixed

feveral

called

winter-flowering
winter Aconite^ ^

drops

its

petals

on the

copfules fucceedlng

thefe contain

the future

to

XXI.

it

fpecies,
is

many round

of the

capfule.

commonly

the only cne that

bears one yellow flower

T^rue Black Hellebore

or Chriftmas Rofe^ has one or two large white
flowers upon a naked fta!k, and flelhy pedate leaves. Stinking Black Hellebore or Bear's^
joot^ fuflains many greenifh flowers on one
ftalk, and pedate leaves on the ftem, but
none towards the root. This is not uncommonly vi'ild, and you will find it flowering
during winter under the trees in your plantations.
Caution your poor neighbours againft
being too free in giving thtir children this
plant againft worms; for in too large a dofe
it is certainly dangerous.
Indeed all the
litting

leaf.

herbs juft now defcribed are more or lefs

poifonous : Aconite is known to be highly fo.
The laft order of this clafs, Polyandria,
contains aifo the Tulip-tree, which has a tri-?
phyllous calyx, fix petals to the corol, and
many lance-lhaped feeds lying one over
another, and forming a fort o jlrobile. This
tree is remarkable for the fhape of its leaves,
having the middle lobe of the three truncate,

Hellcborus hyemalis Lin. Curtis, bot. mag. 3.

Helleborus niger Lin. Curtis, bot. mag. 8.

Plelleborus foecidus Lin.

'

Blackw.

t.

57. Ger. 976.

or

LETTER

XXr.

or cut tranfverfely at the end.

are large

and

bell-fliaped

-,

with green, yellow, and

30t

The

flowers

marked
Here
fpots?.

the petals
red

which have

a calyx
but a corol of
the fruit is a Jlrobile or fcaly
nine petals
cone of bivalvular capfules, covering a clubfhaped receptacle, each capfule containing
alio

are the Magnolias,

of three leaves like the

laft,

roundifh feed, like a berry, hanging out

by a thread.
It is to be lamented that
thefe fine trees, fo beautiful both in leaf
and flower, will not bear all the rigour of
a

our climate.

two numerous genera,

much efleemed among the fjorifts the AneThis order

boafts

The

has no calyx ;
a corol of two or three rows, with three
petals in each row: and many naked feeds,
retaining each their flyle.
You are now too
far advanced in the Icience, to need a caution againft taking the fine flowers of your
beds, upon which the gardener fo much
values himlelf, in order to examine the corol
of the Anemone
they are the children of
art, not of nature, which we are fludyin^.
The early Hepatica^ is of this genus j and
is known by its three-lobed
entire leaves.
7none

and Kanimcidus.

firfl

-,

s Liriodendron Tulipifera Lin.

Trew. hr. t. lo.
Catefb. car. i. t. 48.
^ Anemone Hepatica L'm.
Curtis, bot, mag, 10. Fl,
dan. t. 610.

It

LETTER

302

the only fpecies

It is

like a calyx
leaves,
is

for

it

XXI.

which has any thing

has

2i

perianth of three

which being remote from the

rather an

involucre

Pafque -flower

'\

than

called

(o

flower,

The

a calyx.

from

its

flowering

about Eafter, is alfo of this genus it adorns

fome of our dry chalky hills with its beauand though
tiful bell-fhapeJ, purple flowers
it has no calyx, properly fo called, yet the
:

-,

flower-ftalk has

and the
Tiate

leafy muitifid involucre

leaves are doubly winged, or bipin-

Each plant bears but one nodding

flower i and after that is pad, the top of the

plant is hoary with, the tails, which adhere to the feeds. Another wild fort is the
Wood Aiemone^, bearing only one white
or purpiidi flower on a plant ; the leaves
arc compound, with cut lobe.'?; and the feeds
are pointed, but without tails.
The garden
Anemones, which are fo ornamental to the
flower-garden in the fpring, are only of
two fpecies, notwithftanding the great variety of their colours
red, white, purple,
blue, with all the intermediate fliades, and
innumerable variegations of them.
Art, to
;

Anemone

Pulfatilh Lin.

Ger. 385.
^ Anemone nemorofa Lin,
Fl. dan. 549. Ger. 383.

Relh. Fl. cantab. p. 20S,

Fl. dan. 153.

Curtis,

Lond.

II.

-^'i,

in cra fe

LETTER

XXI.

303

increafe their beauty, has rendered

large and double

but we can

them

flill

very-

diftin-

guilh the fpecies by their leaves, which in

one' are decompounded, dividing by threes;
the other"^ digitate

in

and the

feeds

are

ni>e

ftalk

is

in both

tailed,

leafy

fpecies.

rival genus of the Anemone is the

Ranunculus^ which differs from it in having
a calyx of five leaves, and a corol of iive
petals: but the diftingaifhing mark of this
genus is a honied gland juft above the bafe

The

Of forty-four
of each petal, on the infide.
fpecies many are wild ; and fome extremely
common in moft parts of Europe, under the
name of Butter-flowers y Butter-cups^ and
Three forts particularly, which
King-cups.
at one feafon cad a yellow veil over our
meadows, are generally confounded and looked upon as one. However \q bulbous'' has
the calyx

bent

back

to

the

flower-flalk,

whereas in the creeping^ and acrid^ it is

open or fpreading in the iirft and fcond
the peduncle is furrowed ; in the third it
:

^'

Anemone

coronaria Z/.

Mill.

fig. pi.

31.

" Anemone hortenlis Lin.

Ranunculus bulbofus
Curtis, Lond. I. 38.
L'ln.
Gcr. Q5.
Ranunculus repens hln. Curtis, Lond. IV. 38.
Ger. 95:.
P Ranunculus acris Lin. Curtis, Lond. L 39. Ger 95 f.
**

is

LETTER

^04

XXr.

round, without any channelling befde

this, the leaves are very different upon infpedlion; and the firfl: has a bulbous root,
the fcond throws out abundance of runners
which ftrike root Hkethofe of the flrawberry,
and the third is a taller, genteeler, laterBut not the meadows only
flowering plant.
are filled with Ranunculi-, the woods % the
corn-fields', the waters', have alfo their ihare
is

of them.
moifl:
is

fo

One

meadows
diflin:

fpecies,

very

from

which flowers

early in
its

the

fellov/s,

botanifls have not fcrupled to

form one by

in

fpring^

that

remove

it

fome
from

has
a calyx of three leaves only ; but, to make
amends, a corol of more petals than five it
has heart-fliaped, angular, petiolate leaves,
one flower on a fl:alk,and tuberous or knobby
But the Perjian Kanunculus"^ is the
roots ^
great rival of the Anemone, in the flowergarden, for the beauty and variety of the
this genus,

to

for

itfelf :

it

large, double corols

which

are fo

changed

1 Ranunculus aurkomus Lin.

Curtis, Lond. II. 41.
Ger. 954'
Ranunculus arvenfis Lin. Fl. dan. 219. Ger. 951.
Ranunculus
fceleratus, hederaceus, aquatilis, &c.heCurtis, Lond. II. 42. Ger. 962,
fceleratus.
l^ln
aquatilis.
deraceus, iV. 39. Ger. 830. Fl. dan. 321,
Ger. 829. Fl. dan. 276.
'
Ranunculus Ficaria Lin. Lefler Celandine. Curtis,
Lond. 11. 39. Ger. 8l6.
* Ranunculus afiaticus Z/. Mill. fig. 216,

by

LETTER
by

that

art,

XXL

you muH: have recourfe,

fpecific

diftinlion,

to

the leaves

ternate,

and biternate,

the lobes

cut.

The

branching
iimple.
tanift,

305

ftalk is
at

ere^r,

bottom

the

and

trifid

round, hairy, and

radical heaves are

With all this employment

and amufement as a florid,

you, dear coufin, for the prefent.

for the

thefe are

-,

as a
I

bo-

leave

3o6

LETTER

XXII.

July the

AVING

ift,

1775.

now finidied more than half

we are arrived at a fet

our courfe,

of natural

clafes,

with which you are io

well acquainted, as to find no difficulty in

affigning the proper place to any plant belonging to them.

The ftrulure of the flowers in the fourteenth clafs was explained at length in the
fourth letter: but the proper and effential
character of

the having four ftamens,

in pairs j the inner pair
longer than the other, whence the name JDidynamia-y and one flyle
all included within
all in

it

is,

one row, and

an irregular monopetalous orringent corol.

This clafs has only two orders; which
are not founded upon the form of the flower,
as you might be led to fuppofe fi-om what
was faid in a former letter ; nor upon ihe
number of the ftyles, as in the foregoinodalles, becaufe none of the flowers have
more than one; but upon the circumftance
of having four naked feeds, bofomed in the
calyx; or \, many fixed to a receptacle in
the middle of a pericarp: the firll of thefe
is

called Gymnofpermia,

the fcond Angiof-

permia.

This

LETTER
This

clafs

XXII.

307

contains one hundred and

two

genera, and fix hundred and forty-three fpecies ; and each order forms a natural one

including the Verticillate plants, fo

in which the flowers
grow, in verticilii or whorls : they alfo agree
the

firft

called

from the manner

in producing the leaves by pairs,

ing the

flalks

fquare.

The

priling the Ferjonate flowers

and

fcond

hav-

in

com-

or fuch as have

moilly a perfonate corol, but always a pericarp, or velTel inclofing the feeds.

The
Ivy^

is

generic charader of Ground

at the fame time beautiful and ex-

elTential

tremely diftincrive, each pair of anthers forming an elegant little crofs, one above the
other.
The leaves are kidney-Oiaped, and
notched about the edges.
In this genus, in
HylTop, Mint, Lavender, Bugle, Betony,
Dead-Nettle, Cat-Mint, Savory, Horehound,
&c. the calyxes are pretty regularly quinIn Thyme, Bafil, Self-heal, Marquefid.
joram, Baum, 6cc. they are bilabiate.
In
Mi.t the corols are hardly ringent^ the filaments are ftraight and didant. Lavender has
the corols, as it were, turned topfyturvy, that
which is the upper part in moll others bethe
ing the lower in this, and vice verfa
calyxes alfo are fupported by 2. braBe i and
ths ftamens lie within the tube.
Teucrhim
has no proper upper lip, but the corol is flit
;

Glecho.na hederacea Lin,

Ger. 856.

X2

Curtis, Loud, I. 44.

^uit

LETTER

3o8

XXI.

Bugle
quite through for the ftamens to pafs.
lip
corol
the
remarkably
upper
of
has the

much

(horter than the filaments j our

is
known by its
wild fpecies
Befmoothnefs, and increafing by runners.
tony has the upper lip of the corol flattifli
and rifing, with a cylindric tube the kgfhort,

common

'''

-,

ments of the calyx are prol(3nged into narrow

points like awns ; and the filaments
extend not beyond the neck or opening of
Wood Betony'^ is diftinguilhed by
the tube.
fpike, and by the middle itg~
interrupted
an

thin

ment

of the lip being emarginate, or having

Cat-mint has the middle divi-

one notch.

of the lower lip crenate, or ilightly

notched; the edge of the chaps refiexed;
and the ftamens clofe. The flowers of the
wild fpecies^ are in a fpike, confining of
a fet of whorls on fhort peduncles ; the leaves
are heart-fhaped, bluntly ferrate and petioIf you have any doubt concerning this
late.
plant prefent it to pufs, and fhe will inform
you by the carefTes which flie beftows upon
with Marum and Valerian ;
it, in common
firft
which
not growing wild, and the
cf
the
fcond being fo very different a plant, fl:ie
Black Hore~
cannot lead you into an error.
have
both
a calyx
White
Horehoimd
hound and
fion

^ Ajuga reptans

"

Betonica

L'ln.

officinaiis

Curtis, Lond. II. 43. Ger. 631.

Curtis, Lond. JII. 32.
Lin.

G.c r. 714.
y

t.6.

Nepcta Cataria Lin,

f. I. G^r. 68z.
2

Fl. dan. 580.

Mor.

hift.

f.

11.

marked

LETTER

XXI.

309

marked with ten ftreaks j but the upper lip

of the corol, in the former, is arched and
the latter

crenate

bifid.

Common Black

in

flraight,

and

linear,

Horehound'-

is

known

by its whole, heart-fhaped, ferrate leaves,

the corols are
and fharp-pointed calyxes
red.
Commbi White Horeboimd^ has the divilions of the calyx ending in fetaceous hooked
the corols are white, and the whole
points
plant has a white appearance from the nap
that covers the ftalks and leaves.
:

Of

with bilabiate calyxes, T^hyme has the opening of the tube

Wild T^hyme^ that fmelis
clofed with hairs.
fo gratefully, and adorns dry fheep paftures
with its red flowers, is known by thefe flowers
growing in a head 5 by the diviflons of the
the leaves ovate, flat,
calyx being ciliate
blunt at the end, dotted with little glands,
and ciliate at the bafe; and by its creeping
flalks.
Garden T^hyme^ is an eret plant,
v/ith its ovate leaves revolute, and the flowers in a fet of whorls, all together making
the fcond divifion

-,

Of

a fpike.

this

as there are alfo

involucre of
^
t,

9.
^

f. I.
^

hift.
^

of the other.

many narrow

Ballota nigra Z/w.

f.

14.

there are feveral varieties,

leaves

an
immediately

Bafil has

Blackw. 136. Mor.

hift.

f.

ir.

Gcr. 701.

MarrubiuiTi album Lin.

Blackw. 479, Moris,

t.

9.

Ger 693.

Thymus
t.

17.

f.

Thymus

Serpyllum Lin.

Curtis, Lond. II. 47.

Mor.

I.

vulgaris Lin.

under

LETTER

3 TO

under
is

XXIL

whorl of flowers.
Marjoram
by an in'voliicre compofed
coloured, imbricate braces, form-

the

diftinguifhed

of ovate,
ing

all

bile.

together a fquare kind of fpike or /roWild Marjoram^ has the fpikes

rounded

at

conglomerate,

the corners,

together forming a panicle

all

-,

and

the bra6tes

longer than the calyxes.

You will find this
wild under hedges, and among bufhes.
That
which is in the kitchen garden, under the
name of Pot Marjoram", differs not greatly
from the next the fpikes are oblong, aggregate, and hairy
the leaves heart-fhaped, and
nappy ; the fiem woody, and the flowers
white.
Sweet Marjoram^ has ovate leaves,
:

-,

blunt at the end, and roundifli com pad:

Winter Sweet Majjoram'^
pubefcent fpikes.
has long, aggregate, pedunculate fpikes, and
the brades the length of the calyxes.
The
corols of this are white^ of the other red.

Dittany

oj Crete^ has the fmall purple flow-

ers colleled in loofe,

imbricate bractes

nodding heads, with

the flalks are pubefcent,

and fend out fmall branches from

by pairs j the leaves are round,
thick, and fo woolly as to be quite white :
purplifh,

their (ides

^
f.

Origanum vulgare

t.

3. t.

Fl.

Lin.

Ger. 666.
O. Unites. Bocc. imus. 2.
Oiiganu;n Majorana Lin.

IX.

dan. 63S.

Mor.

hifl.

12.

t.

38. Ger. 664.

Origanum heracleoticum Lin.

(Jriiianum Dictanuius Lin.

tl IC

LETTER
the whole

plant

has

XXI.

311
aromatic

piercing

This is the celebrated

fcent, and biting tafte.
plant with which Venus cured the wound of
has a dry, chafFy, angular
calyx, flattifh at top; the upper lip riling:
the cafque of the corol is a little arched, and
the lower lip is
deeply notched or bifid

iEneas^

Baum

middle lobe heart-fliaped.

trifid, with
Common Garden Bnum^ has the flowers
growing in fmall loofe bunches from the
wings of the ftalk, in whorls, and the pediThere are
cles are fimple or unbranched.
wild, that
growing
genus
this
two plants of
Dracocepkalum
have the name of Calamint^
diftinguirhed principally by the great inis
of
flation, or wide opening of the chaps
the corol ; the upper lip alfo is arched,
Of this genus is the very
folded, and obtufe.
fine fmelling plant vulgarly called Baum of
Gikad'^y which has compound leaves, conferfifting of three or five oblong, pointed,
the

rate lobes

iliort fpikes

and flowers coming out

:

in thick,

the corols are pale blue.

Self-

known immediately by

its forked filabelow the

inferted
anthers
ments, with the
the iligma alfo is emarginate or bifid.
top

heal

is

MelilTa Calamintha

Virgil 7Eneid.XII._
MeliiTa officinalis Lin.

&

Nepeta

L'ln,

Blackw.

t.

166,

167.
n

II.

Dracocephalum canaricnfe

Z,/w.

Mor.

hift. f.

11,

t.

fig. laft.

Wild

LETTER

3T2

XXII.

(o common in paftures, has

the leaves of an oblong ovate form, ferScutella^
rate about the edge, and pe'iolate.

Wild Sef-hea]''

all

abundantly diftinl from all the other

genera of this order by its fructification i
ria

is

for the

calyx

is

entire

at

the

mouth, and

pad, clofes w^ith a kind

of lid fo that the whole bears a refemblance
to a helmet, whence the names of CaJJdt
Skull-cap, and Hooded PViHow-berb : and the
feeds being hereby inclofed in a kind of capfule, this jenus forms the conneclino: lijik
between this order and the next. The fpecies common on the banks of rivers,
by
ditch fides, and other watery places , has
lance-fhaped leaves, hollowed at the bafe,
notched about the edge, and wrinkled on
the furface ; the flowers are blue, and proceed from the ala, or angles formed by the
leaves or fubdiviflons Vv^ith the main flem.
The corols in all the genera of the firfl:
order, with very few exceptions, are openmouthed, Labiate, or Rir:ge?2t, properly fo
called.
In the fcond order, which you are

after the flower

is

now going

to

furvey,

many of them

are

Ferfonatey or Labiate, with the lips clofed

feme however have open

"

Prunella vulgaris Lhi.

bell-fliaped,

wheel-

Curtis, Lond. IV. 42. Ger.

632.

Scutellaria galericulataZ/.

Curtis, Lond. III. 36.

per. 477.

fhapedj

LETTER

XXII.

31^

To

have feeds
and
hence the name of the order Angiofpermia,
In mod: of the genera the calyxes are quinqueiid; in fome however they are bifid, in one
trifid, in many quadrifid, and in two multifid.
Of thofe with bifid calyxes, you have the
Orohanche or Broom-rape \ which has an open
divided at top into four fegments,
corol,
and nearly regular; there is a gland at the
bafe of thegerm; and the capfule is unilocular
and bivalvular. The common fpecies p has a
pubefcent flalk, abfolutely undivided; the
lingular feuiilemort hue of this plant is alone
iliaped,

or irregular corols.

inclofed in a Pericarp

fuiBcient to betray

Among

it

is

to

common

you

to all,

at firif fight.

fuch as have quadrifid calvxes, are

Rbin?this, Tellow Rattle or Cock's-comb,

and

Eyebright : thefe have Per/onate corols: the

firft has the calyx fwelling; and an obtufc,
comprefied bilocular capfule.
The wild fort %
common in moill meadows, is known bv the
fhortnefs and compreffed
lip

form of the upper

of the corol; the colour is yellow; the

is very large, and, being an early flower-

calyx

ing plant, this part grows dry before the

time of mowing, and makes a cradling or
rattling found undtr the icythe.
Euphrafy
cr Bytbrightj once celebrated as fit " to
P

Orobanche major

Z;;z.

Curtis, Lend. IV. 4^. Ger,

1311.
'1

f.

I.

Rhinanthus Crifla-galli Lin. xMor.

Gcr. 107 1.

hift.

f.

11.
*'

t.

23.

purge

LETTER

314
purge

**

XXII.

the vifual ray," has the calyx cyanthers fpinous at the bafe of

lindric; the

one of their lobes; and the capfules of aa

oblong ovate form, and bilocular. The ofiicinal fpccies"" has ovato-linear leaves, fliarp-

ly indented

about the edges.

growing
heaths; and the corol, on
ble, neat plant,

It

an

is

hum-

in dry paftures

a near view,

and
very

is

eleorant.

In the
lyxes,

largefl:

you will

compriiing

the Antirrhinum genus

forty-feven

perfonate,

is

fedion, with quinquefid cafind

prolonged

fpecies.
at

the

The

corol

bafe into

bag or fpur; and the feed veffel is a bilocuOf two fpecies formerly menlar capfule.
tioned to you, Todfx^ has linear leaves inclining to lanceolate, growing many togethe flowers grow
ther, upon an ereft llalk
;

terminating the Item ;

the
corol
is hairy within,
the under lip of
the chaps are orange-coloured, but the reft
is of a pale yellow, and it ends in a long
It is now in flower, or will foon be
fpur.
clofe

in

feffile

fpikes,

Accident has produced a ftrange variation in this planr, by changing the corol
from perfonate wiih four didynamous flamens, to regularly pentapetaious with five,
fo.

>

Euphr^iHa officinalis Lin. Mor.

hift. t.

24.

f.

I.

G:r.

063.
*

Anilrrhinum Linsria Lin. Cunis, Lond.

I.

47.

Ger

550.

the

LETTER

XXIL

315

of the plant remaining the fame^

Varieties partaking of the nature of two fpecies are not uncommon ", but as they are
generally found among annual plaats, and
iiever produce feed, they are lod almofl: as
Whereas
foon as they come to perfcdion.
this being perennial, and creeping much at
the roots, has been preferved as an example
Sfiapdraof monllers in vegetable nature.
calyx
leaves
of
the
rounded
the
has
gon^'
reft

tTie

growing

flowers

top, the

at

in a

and

fpike,

of thefe
are red with white or yellow mouths, or
entirely white, or elfe white with yellow

the

fpurlefs

corols

mouths

the

-,

leaves

the

colours

are

lance-fliaped

and

of Antirrhinum
are wild on walls and in corn fields
and
feveral others are not uncommon in gardens: as Three-leaved Toadflax "^i an annual
plant, having ovate, fmooth, gray
leaves,
Several

petiolate.

fpecies

-,

generally

ternate,

as

fometimes only in
fpikes

fhort

in

and are (haped

flax,

only

the

at

name

the

pairs: the

the

tubes

of the

top

like thofe

of

implies,

flowers

but

grow
ftalks,

common Toad-

are

not

fo

long

they are yellow, with faflron-coloured chaps.

Two or three perennial fpecies, with hand*

This

tia in the
"
''

is

defcribed at length under the

firft

name of Pek-

volume of Jnn. Acad.

Thefe are called Hybridous plants, or Aiulcs.

Antirrhinum majus Lin. Mill. fig. t. 42. Ger. 549.
Antirrhinum triphyllum Lin. Bocc. fie. t, 22.
1

fome

LETTER

3i6

XXII.

fome fpikcs of blue flowers, and fome of

them fmelling fwcet % are ufually in large
borders,

among

flowering {hrubs,

and other

perennials.

Scropkularia or Figwort is another of thefe;

the coiol is of the topfyturvy kind, almoii:

form
the two upper diviand ere^ft; the two iideones fpread open, and the fifth below is
In many fpecies, under the topreflexed.
globular in

its

-,

iions are the large!!

mofl:

divifion,

there

is

fiow'er

Two

is

the

in

a little

flap

by

fucceeded

fpecies

are

chaps of the corol,

refembling a lip
the
a

lufliciently

woods and hedge-rows

capfule.

bilocular

common

one

with the angles

in
of the flem blunted, and heart- fhaped leaves,
much prolonged at the tip, and marked
with three rifmg nerves the other by river
iind in other watery places ^ with a
fides,
membrane running along the ftalk at the
angles, and heart ihaped leaves blunted at
Thele plants have a dufky Hiade
the end.
their green, and their flowers
over
fpread
y,

are of a dull red.

one of the mofl fhowy of our

wild plants, has an open corol, divided inFoxglove^

' Antirrhinum purpureum, repens & monTpeflulanurn,

&c. Lin. ]. Riv. mon. 82. 2. Dill. ekh. 198. t. 163.

f.

IQ7. 3y

Dill. ekh. 199.

Scrophularia nodofa
Ger. 7i6.

f.

r, t. 8. f. 3.

t.

86. Ger. 715.

S.crophularia

L'ln.

aquaiica

Blackvv.

t.

87.

Mor.

Lin. Fl. dan. 307.

hift.

Bbckw.
to

LETTER
four fegments

to

at

top^

XXII.

't^j

and fwelling out

below, fliaped like the fingers of a glove 5

Wild or
the capfule ovate and two ceiled.
is
diilinguilloed
by
having
purple Foxglove^
the leaves of the calyx ovate and acute,
with the fegments of the corol obtufe, and
the upper lip entire: the infide of the
cofol is- beautifully fprinkled with fpots refcmhling eyes ; and the leaves are large and
wrinkled: red is the colour of the flower in
its wild ftate ; when cultivated in gardens it
varies to white and yellow.

Bignonia has a cyatbiform calyx, narrow

at bottom, and fpreading wide at top; a
bell-lhaped corol, fwelling out below, and
divided inio five fegments at rop; and a twoceiled Jilique for a
fc d-veficl, containing
dole
over each other.
winged leeds laying
The Trumpet -Jower^\ with its trailing branches,
that put out roots from the joints, to acquire
fupport and nourifhment from trees, in Virginia and Canada, its natural places of growth,
has pinnate leaves, the lobes of which are
the large trumpet-diaped flowers are
cut
The Catalpa " is a large
orange coloured.
tree
with leaves remarkably fimple, and
heart-fhaped: the fiowers are produced ia
:

*
t.

Digitalis purpurea L'ln. Curtis,

74. Ger. 790.

^
Bignonia radicans Lin.
<=

Lond,

T\lill. fig. pi.

Bignonia Catalpa Lin Duham. arb.

car. 1.

t.

I.

48. Fi. dan.

65.
i. c.

41. Catefb.

49.

great

3i8

LETTER

XXII.

branching panicles; they are of a

dirty white, with a few purple fpots, and
faint ftripes of yellow; but, what is mod
remarkable, they have only two perfed liamens, with fmall rudinients of three others;
the calyx alfo is not barely quinqueiid, but
divided quite to the bottom.
ylcanthus, the leaves of which are faid to
have given the firft: hint of the elegant Corinthian capital, is alfo of this order, but of
ihat fedion which has bifid calyxes: it has an
irregular corol, without any upper lip ; the

great

lower one has three lobes; the anthers are

villous, and the capfule is two-celled.
I cannot help remarking to you, fince it
has llruck me, that the greater part of the
genera in the principal fedion of this order,
is dedicated to the memory of eminent botanifts.

Here

ftands the great Linnaeus

him-

felf; the celebrated Arabian Avicenna; thofe

fathers of the fcicnce Gefner, and Columna; of
Italy, Crefcentius, Tozzi, Vandelli, Durante;
the illuftrious PVenchmen, Eignon, Barrelicr,
Ruellius, Cornutus, Dodart; Celfius Toren,
Brovall, Swedes; Buchner, Bontius, Volkamer, Loefel, Beficr, Hebenilreir, Lindern,
Gmelin, and other Germans; Ovied'^ the
Spaniard; and of England old venerable Gerard,
in more modern times. Lord
profeflbrs of Oxcontemporary
two
Petre and
The illullrious, the
ford and Cambridge.

Millington, and,

indefatigable Baron Haller, occupies a fedion

alone.

LETTER

XXII.

319

well merits, being himfelf an

This plan, of confecraring newly difhofl.
covered plants to perpetuate the memory of
perfons who have been eminent in thefcience,
alone, as he

Ladies have
well imagined.
had this honour, as. well as the men ; and I
have no doubt, dear coulin, but that you will
one day merit a nich in this temple.
appears to

me

320

LETTER

XXIII.

AugufI: the 4th,

1775.

BEFORE
rangement

any idea of fyfiem or arhad gone abroad, every fcientific eye perceiving a fimilitude between
the
Cabbage and Turnep, the Stock and Radifh,
in the frudification, there was an univerfal
agreement among authors to place thefe
plants, and others like them, in the fame
fedion or divifion of their books, and to
treat of them all together.
You have already feend the nature of this fimilitude, and
at no lofs in claffing the Cruciform tribe: you have only to learn that
the fifteenth clafs (Tetradynamia) in the
fyftem of Linnaeus, contains the fame plants,
as you have been accuflomed to call Crucifonn-y and to recoiled: that it has this long
name from four of the ftamens being more
powerful or longer than the remaining two^
the circumftance on which Linnsus founds
the charaderof the clafs; and which diflin-

have long been

guiflies

from the

fixth, wherein the {i^

itamens are of equal length, or at leiifl not of
it

that regular, proportional inequality

that
difcover in the clafs now before you.
*

In

we

letter II,

It

LETTER

XXIII.

will fuffice to examine

It

genera, and

fpecies,

numerous % and

which

therefore

321

few of the

are not extremely

my

prefent letter

will not extend to that frightful length that

fome of the former have done.

The

Siliculoje

or ftiort-podded order leads

fubdivided into two fedions;

the way, and is

firfl containing thofe which have the filice entire, and the fcond fuch as have the

the

From the firfl fubdiHonefty for your obfervation, becaufe it is common in gardens,
and has larger parts than mod of thefe
filicle

vifion

notched
I

flowers.
flat,

fhall

The

at

top.

felecft

filicle

is

oval,

entire,

quite

and ftands on a pedicle; the valves are

equal to the partition, paralleland flat: the

leaflets of the calyx are bagged.
The brilliant whitenefs of thefe liliclss has occafioned
this plant to be called White Sattin-, and
from the fhape of them it is named Lunaria
and Moonwort, Linnseus mentions but two
fpecies j the a^inuaH differing from the ^/V;zma/o in having larger flowers of a lighter
purple, and the pods longer and narrower :
they have both heart-fliaped leaves, indented on their edges, are a little hairy, and
end in acute -points 3 the lower ones are on
long petioles, but the upper ones flt clofe
to the fl:alk.
"
^

The

genera are 32, and the fpecies 287.

Lunaria annua Lin. Mill illuftr. Befl. eyft. y.i.
Lunaria rediviva Lin. Befl. eyft. 7. f. 2.

it

Of

LETTER

322

Of

XXII.

the fcond fubdivilion

or Iberist

known by an

the two

outer petals

others.

is

the Candy-tuft

irregular corol, with

larger

B.ed Candy-ttift^

is

than the two

an annual her-

baceous plant with red flowers growing in a

kind of umbel i your gardener fows it in
patches about the borders of your flower
garden ; it has lance-fliap.ed leaves drawn to
a point: the lower ferrate, the upper ones
quite entire
the flowers of this are fometimes tvhite, and then it is confounded with
.the bitter fpecies', which however has the
leaves not fo iharp-pointed, and with only
few indentations; the flowers aifo grow in a
raceme, and the plant is more branched.
In this fubdivifion alfo ranges Scurvy-grafs
and Horje-radifi, agreeing in a heart-fliaped
turgid, rugged filicle, the valves of which
are gibbons and obtufe.
Officinal or Garden
Scurvy-grafs^"- has a branching ftalk ; the
lower leaves roundifli and hollowed next
the petiole; the flem leaves oblong and fubfinuous: the white flowers are produced in
Englijh
clufters at the ends of the branches.
Sea Scurvy-grafs^ has longer leaves, and all
of them finuate. HorJe-radify'\ which few
:

Iberis umbeliata Lin. Riv. tetr. 225.

amara Lin. Riv. tetr. 12. Ger. 26^.

Cochlearia oflicinalis Lm. Fl. dan. 135. Ger. 401,
'
Cochlearia anglica Z,/.?. Fl. dan. J29. Ge;. 401.
Cochlearia Armoracia Lin. Mor, hilt. f. 3. t. j.i^ 2.
^

Iberis

Ger. 241.

befldes

LETTER

XXIII.

323

befides botanifls obferve in flower, has the radi-

leaves

cal

and notched about

lance-ihaped,

the edges, the flem-leaves galhed.

The fcond order, containing the Cruciform flowers, fucceeded by 2. Jilique or long

pod, is alfo fubdivided into two ie:ionsi in

the firft of which the leaflets converge at
top, in the fcond they gape,
RadiJJ:, EryArabis,
Cab'
Jimum, Stock, Wall-]lowerf Rocket^
bage^ T^urncp^ &c. range in the firll fcdion :
Woad^ Sea Coiewort, Cardamine, Mujlard,
Charlock^ 14'^ater^Crefs^ Sec. in the fcond. J^^has a cylindric, jointed, torofe or fwelHng
iiiique ; and one pair of glands between the
fliorter ftamens and the piflil, with a fcond
pair between the longer ftamens and the cad/JJj

lyx.
Firyjimum has a columnar filique, witii
four equal fides.
Of this there are feveral
wild fpecies as firft, the common'^, growing
by road fides, well diftinguihed by it? run:

cinate

leaves,

and

filiques

prefifed

clofe

to

with lythe
rate leaves,
outmoft lobs roundillij and
fpikes of yellow flowers, growing by ditch
fides: and thirdly, thegarlick-fmelllng, called
thence Sauce-alone and from the ufuai place
of its go^x, Jack-by-ihe-hedge'^y has heartthe ftalk:

fecondly, Winter-crefs"

Eryfimum officinale Lin. FI. dan.560.Ger. 254.

Eryfimum BarbareaZ/,Mor. hift. t. 5. f. 11, 12. Ger.

"
"

243P

Eryfimum

Alliaria Lin.

Curtis, Lend. II. 4S. Ger.

794-

fil

aped

LETTER

324

XXIIL

fhaped leaves: the flowers are white, but the

fmell betrays it at once.
Stock and l^^alljlouer have two leaflets of
the calyx gibb' us at the bale; the germ has
a glandular tocihlet on each fide j and the
The two fptcies are thus
ffCGS are flat.
diflinguifhed. Wall-f.-wcr'^ has acute, Imooth
has
Stock
leaves, vviih angular branches.
'

obtufc

hoary

truncate at

leaves,

top:

filiques

flatted

v.'ith

both have

fliruhby ftems,

and lance-fhaped entire leave?. The Annual

or Ten-week Stock differs in having an herbaceous flaik, the leaves fomewhat toothed,
the petals notched, and the flliques cylin'

Rocket has the

petals obliquely bent ; a gland on each fide
within the Sorter fl:amens; the fligir.a forked,
with the parts converging at topj and the

dric

and acute

at the end.

and upright.
four glands, within the leahas
Arabis
Some
flets of the calyx, like refledled fcales.
of the fpecies are wild " and the Alpine
common in many gardens :
fort ^ is now
filiqne fliff

Cheiranthus Cheiri Lin. Mor.

f.

3. t. 8.

f.

15.

Ger.

456*

Cheiranthus incanus Lin, Mill,

Ch.iranthus annuus Lin.

Hefperis Lin.
Arabis ihaliana, Curtis, Lonc^.
but the
rita Lm. Jacq. auftr. t. 1 1

illuftr.

II.
laft

49. ftrifla, Turhas glands as in

Brajpcn.
*

Arabis alpina Lin Fl. dan. 62.

thp

LETTER

XXIII.

325

the leaves of this embrace the flalk, and are

toothed about the edges; it bears white flowCahbage^^, Turnep"^,
ers in loofe coryuhs,

&c.

Colefeed"^,

agree in having the glands

the leaflets of the
the tails of the corols hardly

all

difpofed as in the Radilhj

calyx are eredt

-,

fo long as the calyx; the

filique

is

roundifh,

a little flatted on each fide, with the valves

ihorter than the partition^ and filled with fe^
veral globofe feeds.

Of the fcond fedion, WoacI has a lancefhaped, bivalve, one-celled filique, containing
one feed only, and deciduous; the valves are

The

cultivned for
notched and
petiolate; the ftem-leves fagittate or fhaped
like the head of an arrow, and embiacing
large
the flalk; and oblong fillcles.
It is
plant, with corymbs of fmali yellow flowers.
Sea Colewort has a globofe filique, or rather
dry berry, which is deciduous, and contains
one feed; but its moll: remarkable character
is, that the four long filaments are for'<ed at
the end, and the anthers are born on the
outer forks.
Our fpecies has the flalk and
leaves fmooth.
boat-fhaped.

fpecies

dying % has the radical

leaves

.1

""

^ BralHca oleracea Lin.

*

Brafllca

Br.

^ Ifatis
t.

Lin.

Lin. Blackw. 246. Mor. hifl.

Ger. 49 1.
Crambe maritima Lin, Fl. dan. 316. Ger. 315.

15.
^

Rapa Lin,

N a pu s

f.

tindtoria

ic,

f.

3.

I.

Cardamine,

LETTER

326

XXII.

Carda?nne, Ciickow-fiower or Lady's Smock,

the vulgar name) has the calyx:
(forgive

two glands, one on each

little ;
fliorter ftamens, and the
between
the
lide
calyx; and an elafHc filique, the valves
rolling back with force when the feeds are
mature, and thus throwing them off to fome
There are many fpecies wild, but
diffcance.
gaping a

which is common in moift meadows,

and on the banks of brooks ^ has pinnate

that

leaves
folioles on the radical
ftem-leaves
lance-fliaped.
the
on
roundifli,
The allulions to the whltenefs ofthecorols
will not always hold, fince in fome countries
leaves,

the

they are purple.

Muftard has the tails of the corols ftraight,
and the glands as in the Cabbage genus,
to which it is very nearly allied 3 differing
from it only in the circumflance firll: mentioned, and in having the leaflets of the
the filique indeed is diffecalyx fpreading
rent; being torofe and rough, with the partition ufually very long; but this is referved
The wild fpecies,
for the fpeciuc diflinction.
a weed fo common among corn, and genehas many-angled,
rally
called
Charlock",
torofe,
fmooth filiques, longer than the
:

Cardamine

pratenfis Lin. Curtis,

Lond.

III. 40.

Ger.

259'

%.

3.

Sinnpis arvcnfis Lin. FI. dan, 753.

f. 7. Ger. 233.

Mor,

hift.

f.

3.

two

LETTER

XXIII.

327

two-edged beak.

Black ov common Muflard^

prefTed to the raceme
or common bunch of the frudiiication. White
Mujard^ has the filiques hifpid, terminated
by a very long, oblique, fword-fhaped beak.
If you fufFer fome of the plants which your
gardener fows for fmall failed to grow up
and flower, you will find it to be the laft
has fmooth

named

filiqnes

fpecies.

Common

Muftard

is

much

growing four or five feet high j

the lower leaves large and rough, like thofe

larger plant,

Charlock does not grow

of the Turnep.
more than two feet in height; the leaves,
which are alfo rough, are fometimes jagged,
and fometimes

entire.

Water-Crejs is of a numerous genus, there

being twenty-nine fpecies of Sifymbrhwi,
'"The corol is ipreading as well as the calyx in
this genus; and the filique gapes with ftraightThe fpecific charaders of Wateri(h valves.
Crefs^ are, fliort, declining filiques, and pinnate leaves, with the lobes a little heart-fhaped.

The

flowers are white, and

There
not
is

is

another fpecies,

uncommon on

Sin?.pis

nigra

this

L'ln.

in a

called

corymb ?

Flixweed^\

dunghills, where rubbifh

thrown out, by way

vated places;

grow

fides,

and in

unculti-

decompound pinnate

has

Blackw.

t.

446. Mor.

t.

3.

f,

r,

Ger. 244.
*
f

Sinapis alba Lin. Blackw. 2g. Ger. 244.

Sifyiiibrium Naffurtium Lin. Fl. dan. 690. Ger, 257

XV U.

See more in letter

Sifynibrium Sophia Z?. Fl. dan. 528. Ger. 1068.

leaves,

LETTER

328
leaves,

ing

lefs

and very
than

corols, the petals be-

fniall

the calyx:

long and {lender,

filled

the fihque

is
very
roundiih
ly cut as Ronr.aa

with fma

feeds: the leaves are as

Wormwood

XXIII.

fin

1,

and the fmall yellovv flowers

corymbs, at the top of

are produced on loofe

the

ilalks.

The

feafon,

dear con fin,

wane, and a journey

of bufinefs, obhges
pletion of

me

is

mufl:
to

now

in

its

make on

afFirs

ave ths

com-

my

plan to another fummcr.

If
health arc then grant' d me, I

and
with plea fuie refume the tm. loyment
wh.ch you honour with vour ^ tien lion. In
the mean time you and your fair daugher
have en -Ugh to amufe you for the autumn,

leifure
fhall

and even till winer confines yoa to the

arrangement of your
fummer's labours
within.

329

LETTER

XXIV.
June

OME
)^

the ift, 1776^

necefTary occupations, dear couiln,

me from

refuming my
bad wifhed
But

have prevented

uili. fo foon as I
the fpri g has not been unproritably employed by you, in the examination of fuch
plants a were paft flowering, before vou
received my former letters.
You have done

plealing

well by marking in your pocket-book, the

names of ali

thofe

which have

either

wholly

efcaped your icarch, or have prefented theox.

felves fo

you

in

flate

unfit

for

complete

examination.
You are not fo unreafonable
as to expect that all nature fliould be open
to your view at once.
On the contrary, I
am charmed with your patience and affiduity,
in awaiting the proper feafons of flowering
and fruiting marking the times which authors have fet down ; and repeating your
examinations in order to view plants in their
different fites, when they fometimes put on
appearances fo different, that to a lefs informed eye they might feem to be diflindt
;

fpecies.

We are

now

of which.
you have had no previous information in the
introductory

arrived at a

clafs,

defigned to give you a

general knowledge of the mof]: natural.
The
letters,

clafs

LETTER

330

XXV.

Monadelphia however is a natural, as

The union
well as a moft beautiful one.
of the filaments at bottom into one body,
or brotherhood as it were, is the leading
charadler, and the occalion of the name.
You will recollel that hitherto the ftamens
have been ever free and difl:in(ft frcm each
other, how many foever you rnay have found
in a fingle flower; you will alfo recollect
having been informed, that in the fixteenth
and fucceeding clafTwS, they are united, either
at top or bottom, into one body or more.
In this, as I obferved before, the filaments
next the receptacle, fome
all join belov/,
higher than others ; all of them, together
v/ith the anthers, being flill entirely feparate
clafs

at top.

If then

has

five,

you have met with a plant which

ten,

or efpecially

and you have not been able

many

ftamens,

to afiign

it

place in the fifth, tenth, or thirteenth claiTes,

examine it a little more attentively, and
conlider whether it has not a peculiar port

or flruciure,
ral tribe.

It

it
to be a natuperhaps have a permanent
you may be
is alfo double

announcing

may

but if it
;
almofl certain that
corolof your flower
caty>i

it

ranges

here.

The

may perhaps have five

heart-lhaped petals,, the fide of one embracing- or at leaft touching that which is next
to

it,

in

a direlion

apparent motion.

contrary to the fun's

filaments perhaps,

The

connedc4

LETTER
.connected at

XXIV.

bottom only, whether

331
flightly,

or for a confiderable portion of their lengths,

are gradually ihorter as they recede from the
middle; and the anthers are incumbent, or
lie along over the top of them.
You find
the receptacle of the fructification prominent
in the centre of the flower ; the top of this
receptacle furrounded by erecfl: germs formall
ing a jointed ring
the ll^yles united below into one body with the receptacle ; but
difiinguiflied at top into as many filaments as
there are germs: thefe germs becoming a
capfule confiding of as many cells as there
and frequently conare pidils in the flower
In each
fiding of as many conneded ^ri/s.
:

of thefe
If

cells

lurks a kidney-fiiaped feed.

you have not already divined

this riddle,

take the flower of a wild Mallow, an Althaea,

Lavatera, or other plant refembling thefe;

by the charaders jufl: laid down,

will have a perfect idea of the clafs
From the circumfliance of the'
Moiiadelphia,
receptacle fl:anding up in the middle of the
flower, like a column, thefe have alfo the

examine
and you

it

name o columniferous plants.

The orders are five, taken from the number of the ftamens, which you remember
jdetermined
plafies

that

the

clafs

but being

purpofe,

may

in

the

firll

thirteen

now no

longer ufed for

ferve very well for the

pthcT.

The

LETTER

332

The

XXIV.

was formerly taken for dircrimiThis being found infnfnating the genera.
ficient, fucceeding nomenclators had recourfe
fruit

but Linnaeus has, fjr this

purpofe, wifely adopted the calyx, which is
always prefent, and is remarkable for its
The illuftrious Swede
ilrudure in this clafs.
has ever fiiown great fagacity in feizing that
part of the plant which is moft conilant, and
of permanent
furni(l:ies the greatell choice
to

the leaves;

variations,

whereon

to

found the

effential

charaders of his genera and fpecies'.

Not having taken the piftil for the diftinction of the orders, that part remains to
Accordalliil: us in charaderifing the genera.
ingly in the firfl order of this clafs, in which
the flowers have five ftamens, two genera
have one, and two have five flyles: the
number of cells in the capfules ferves to comThus Hermanra
plete the generic charader.
has five ftyles, and a five-celled capfule
to which we may add that the five petals of
the corol are rolled fpirall}' in a direcftion conthe fun's apparent motion j and
trary to
that their tails have a little membrane on
each fide uniting to form a cowled tube.
Though there are many fpecies of this genus,
:

yet periiaps none of thciii

felves to

fore

your view.

ro a

We

may

them-

offer

will proceed there-

favourite genus, that ranges in the

fecund oruer, or that which has ten flamens

'

Gen?ra 35, and

fpccics

256,

in this clafs.

mean

LETTER

XXIV.

333

mean GeranlutUy which, out of its eighty-.

two fpecies, will furnilh you ample matter
I

for examination,

efpecially

as

know you

many of them.

Before you determine the circamftances in which they

differ,
let us fee in what they all agree;
this is in having one ftyle terminated by five
ftigmas; and a fruit compofed of five grains,
and beaked; whence its naiiies of (premium
may add that the calyx
and Cra?i(]/IjilL
is fingle and five-leaved, as well as the corol;
that
the filaments are alternately longer
and (horrer, but all fhorcr than the corol ;
and very fiightly conncted in thofe which
have a repular corol; that the ftvle is lonper
than the Ibimens, and permanent ; and that
each of the five feeds is terminated by a tail
cultivate fo

We

or av/n, aiiiiuiig to form

tlie

when

becomes

the

feed

is

ripe

beak, and vv^hich

and

fpiral,

thus detaches the feed from the plant.

The African fpecies, of which we have fo
m^ny from the Cape of Good Hope, have
the five parts of the calyx united at bottom ;
the petals unequal; and feven only of the
filaments furnifiied with anthers ; the flowers

grow many together

in

a kind

of umbel;

the feeds are naked, with a feathered awn,

and the leaves grow alternate upon the ilalk,

which

is

lliruhby.

In this third fedioii you find,

others,
the Fulgid^, with a
'^

Geranium fulgidum Z/.

among many

Dill. elth.

fiefliy
t.

130.

fiem,f.

137.

putting

LETTER

334

putting out
three-parted

much

ment

XXIV.

but few branches; the leaves

and gafhed, the middle fegfrelarger than the others
;

quently falling off, fo as to give the flalks

an appearance of being dead during the fummer; the flowers are produced on ihorC
footftalks, in a fort of double umbel, each
fuftaining but two or three flowers, remarkable
for their deep
fhining fcarlet colour.

The
be at
were
are

well knov/n Scarlet^,

leaft as
it

not

almofl

much

efteemed

more common.
except

orbicular,

which woLild
the FuJgid,

as

The
that

leaves

they

are

hollowed next the petiole 5 they are notched

about the edge, but not galhed or lobate;
their furface is downy; and they llain the fingers if handled roughly, whence the trivial
name of inqninam or flaining. This is a much
loftier plant than the lafl, growing as high as
eight or ten feet; and fends out abundance
of ered: branches
the flowers in the umbels
are numerous, and are produced on very long
:

pedurcles.

The Papilionaceous^', {o called, becaufe

the corols have fomething the appearance of
butterriy
or pea-blofTorn flowers, the two
upper
*

125.

petals,

which

are large, turning

Geranium inquinans
t".

Lin. Mill,
151, 151. Mart. cent. 3.

Geranium papilionaceum
155. Mait. cent. 15.
''

Z/'.

illuftr.

up

like

Dill. elth.

Dill. elth.

t.

128.

t.

f.

the

ri

LETTER

XXIV.

355

the banner or (tandard in thofe flowers; ihefe

are finely variegated, but the three

under petals

being reflexed and

but on a near infpedion ; the flowers are many
the leaves are large, angular,
in each umbel
rough, and ftand on long petioles.
The Hollow-eved^ has roundifh leaves
fmall are Icarcely oblerved,

contraded on the

fides fo as to f!and

indented

the edges are fliarply

and produced

are large,

the corols are purple

flature,

in large loofe
it

is

hollow;

the flowers

umbels;

a plant of large

and very hairy.

There

another fort, or variety, very like

has leaves of a thicker fubflance,
3
the
and divided into feveral acute angles
branches are not fo irregular, and the bunches
of flowers are not fo large.
The Horfe-Jhoe is perhaps the fpecies mofi
commonly known of all the Africans; the
dark or purplifh mark, in fhape of a horfe-llios
is

but

this

it

upon the

leaves,

fhows

ye at

light

but

firft

this

it is

Geranium

to the

not abfolutely per-

manent; for WQ have varieties without it;

we muft have rfecourfe therefore to the form of
the leaves, as a more certain diftindion
they
:

are orbicular, hollowed next the petiole, di*

vided on the circumference into feveral obtufe

fegments, each of which

Geranium cucullatum

is

flightly indented,

cowled. Dill. elth.

Z/V/.
156. Mart. cent. 28.
* Geranium zonale /, Corrm. prjEl, 51. t. i.
n

129.

t.

f.

This

LETTER

336
This fort
produced

is

very brinching:

in

large, clofe

duncles, aiid

high

XXV.
the flowers are

umbels, on long pe-

vary from a light purple to a

fcarlct.

The

Vine-leaved^ has ovate, afcendin^ pubcfcent leaves, having the fmell of Baum,

when rubbed; the flovv^ers grow in a dole

head, on long peduncles, rifing much highef
than the branches; they are fmall, and pale
blue.

The

Rofe-fcented'^

waved and villous ;

grow in clofe heads ;
blue:

the branches

has alfo lobate leaves,

like the laft, the flowers
they are of a purplilli
very

are

weak: and the whole

irregular

and'

weaker and ^I'ows

is

than the former

the leaves vv^hen
rubbed, fmell like dried rofes.
The plants of the fcond fedin have
many things in common with thofe of the
firftj but differ in
being herbaceous, and
having the leaves oppofite.
Of thefe the
'
Odorous is remarkable for its powerful fcent,
fomething ^like Anifeed: this has a very
fliort flelhy flem, with long branches, and
heart-fhaped
leaves
extiemely fhort: the
flowers are produced from the fide of long
proflrate fl.alks, upon flender peduncles, three,
four, or five together; they are white, and

taller

very fmall.
P
'i

'

Geranium vififolium Lin. Dill. elth. t. 126. f. 153.

Geranium capitatuni Lin. Riv. pent. 326.
Geranium odoratiflimum /,?. Dill. elth. t. 131. f. 138.
I

The

LETTER
The
and

337

feffile

calyxes,

has
Wtght'fcented^
one-leafed fcapes
and almoft as finely

bifid

hairy,

XXIV.
the leaves

are

divided as the

and

carroty the ftalks are about a foot high,

have two or three fmaller leaves that are

fefTilej hence arife two or three naked peduncles, terminated by an umbel of yellowifh flowers, marked with dark purple
Linfpots, fmelling very fweet after fun-fet.
naeus has taken his trivial name from the dulnefs

o'f

The

the colour in the flower.

third fedion contains fuch

have only

as

ing;

five

five-leaved calyxes,

down.

The

Geraniums

of the flamens anther-bear-

and

hanging

fruits

corols of thefe are lefs irregu-

and the feeds are naked, terminated by a

hairy awn.
Of this fedlion we have fome European
fpecies, as Hemlock Cranejhill^ common in
fandy foils this has a branching ftalk, pinnate leaves, with the pinnae gafhed and obtufe,
and many flowers on a peduncle. Very Hke
this is Mtijk Cranejbill''^ but it is a larger
plant, mucii lefs common, and eafily known
by its mufky odour.
The divifions of the
lar;

Some

of this
remarkable for the largenefs of.

leaves are pinnatifid,

fedtion
'

Geranium trifteZm. Corn.

can.

Geranium cicutarium

Curtis, Lond.

945'
"
-

are

fpecies

"f

L'ln.

t.

no. Breyn.
I.

cent.

51. Ger.

Geranium mofchatum Lin. Ri\^. pent; iiO. Ger.

Geranium arduinum, gruinum, ciconium L'xn.

94.1.

their

LETTER

338

and

their beaks,

furnifli a

XXIV.
good idea of the

name of

the genus.
the three remaining

In

fe<flions,

the

all

ten filaments are topped with anthers ; the

calyxes are five-leaved ^ the corols regular;

and

termiIn the fourth fecnated by a fmooth awn.

tion, the flowers are conjugate; that is, there
are two always on every peduncle: the
the feeds covered with an

aril^

plants are perennial.

Some ot the largefl and handfomeft of the
European forts range in this fedion ; as Spot-

ted Cra?je/hilh\ with the peduncles and leaves

alternate, the calyxes a little awned, the petals

waved, and the item

ered:.

The

leaves

divided into five or ix lobes, laciniate

edges;
tioles,

on

are

their

thofe near the root fit on long pethe upper part of the ftalk

but on

they are

feffile.

purple.

There

The
is

flowers are of a dark

a variety

of this with light

purple corols.

Meadow

the leaves divided

feven lobes, cut into feveral
acute fegments; they are wrinkled, and rather peltate; the petals are entire, and of a

into

fix

Cra7ieJhiU'' has

or

fine blue.

The Geraniums of the fifth fedlion differ

from thofe of the fourth only in being anMofl of the common European forts
nual.
"
*

Geranium phrcum Liii. Ger. 945.

Geranium pratenfe. Curtis, Load. IV. 49. Ger. 942.
are

LETTER
are of this divifion

by

its

The

hairy,

leaves

XXIV.

339

Herb Robert y known

as

ten-angled

pointed,

are doubly pinnate,

calyxes.

with

the

end lobes confluent; they are generally hairy,

the ftalks red, and the whole plant has a
Shining Cranefhill^ has
flrong hircine fmell.
the calyxes pyramidal, angled, elevated and
wrinkled; the leaves rounded and five-lobedi
the whole plant is fmooth and fhining; the
ftalks are red.

The common Troves-foot or foft Crane/bill^

has the peduncles and floral leaves alternate;
the petals bifid or rather obcordate ; the calyxes awnlefs, but ending in a (hort point ;
and the flem rather ere6t. The ftipules are
alfo bifid : the leaves are very foft, kidneyfhaped, divided half way into five or kv^n
parts, and each of thefe lobes trifid and blunt.
This is very common, efpecially in fandy foils.
Another ^ very

more

partially

more

proftrate.

like

it

in

many

but

refpedls,

has entire petals,

Icarcely longer than the calyx; and the flem
diflributed,

hong-jialked Crajiejbill " has

peduncles longer than the leaves, which are
y

Geranium Robertianum Lin.

Curtis, Lond.

I.

52.

Mor,

t,

15.

Ger. 939.
'^

f,

Geranium lucidum Lin.

Fl. dan. 218.

6.

Geranium molle L/>z. Curtis, Lond. II. 50. Ger. 938.

Geranium rotundifolium Lin. Blackw. 58. Vaill. par.
t. 15. f. 1. Mor. t. 15. f. 2.
Geranium Columbinum Lin. Vaill. par. t. 15. f. 4.
Mor. hift. f. 5. t. 15. f, 3.
^

*>

*=

divided

LETTER

340

XXIV.

divided into five multifid lobes acute at the

end; the calyxes are awned, and the arils
The peduncle is very long, and
are fmooth.

the

lobes of the

leaves

are

doubly

trifid.

'Jagged Cranejhill^ has the leaves divided into

five parts, and each of thofe into three acute
fegments ; the petals are of the length of the
calyx, and notched, and the arils are villous:
this has the leaves

more and

finer cut

than any

of the others.

Of

the

laft

fedion, with one-flowered pe-

we have a handfome
common, with orbicular

duncles,

fort

not

leaves,

wild,

but

divided
into five or feven parts, and each of thofe into
three
the flowers ftand on long hairy peduncles, the corols are large, and of a deep purple %
Many more fpecies are known to the
curious; but I have only fcleded fiich as the
fields, the garden, and your little confervatory
:

are mofi likely to furnilh you.

In this clafs we find a Angular plant which

has naturally eleven fiamens; a number which
you did not And among the clailes. Having
the Monadelphic charader, it here forms the
order Ejidecandria^ and fiands alone.
Being a
plant

little

The

laO:

known,

confiderable in

I infifl;

no longer on

order Folymria

is

much

number of genera and

Geranium dlfTeifliim Lhu Vill. par.

Geranium fanguineuni Lin, Bloody

it'.

the

mod

fpecies.

t. 15. f. 2.
Cranefbill. Ger.

945'

'

Brownea coccinea Lin,

You

LETTER
You have here
fo much ufed in

XXIV.

Silk-Cotton

the

T'r/Z'

341
Cotton

^,

our manufadiires, the numerous genus of Sida or Indian Mallow^ Althaa

or Marjh-Mallow, Alcea or Hollyhock, MalThe two firft,
low^ Lavatera, Hibifcus^ &c.
with Sida and Hibifcus, have one pidil only;
Sida and Bombax have
the reft have many.
a iingle calyx, but all the others have it double.
The exterior calyx in Cotton and Lavatera is
trifid; in Mallow confias of three leaflets; in
Alcea is fexiid; in Hibifcus odond; in AlLavatera, Mallow, Alcea
thaea novemfid.
and Althsea agree in having many feeds in a
ring round a column, each covered with its
proper aril.
The feed-veffel of Hibifcus is a
capfule compofed of united cells including

many feeds.
The officinal' fpecles of Mar/h-Mallow is
known by its iimple downy leaves, hoary to the
and very

foft to the touch ; they are annot divided to the bottom, and
therefore fimple.
The flowers are like thofe
of the Mallow, but fmaller and paler.

fight,

gular, but

Of Mallow
which

is

many

fpecies
that
has an ereft herAve or fsven-lobed acute leaves.

fo very

baceous rtem j

t.

there are

common ^,

Bombax

Goffypium Lin.

Althsea officinalis Lin. Fl. dan. 530.

19.
^

f.

12.

Malva

Lin.

Mor.

hift.

f.

5.

Gcr. 933.
fylveftfis Lin. Curtis,

Lond.

11,

51. Ger. 930.

with

LETTER

342

XXIV.

with both petioles and peduncles hairy.

Dwarf

has a proftrate Hem ; orbiculate leaves

hollov/ed next the petiole, obfcurely five-

Mallow
lobed

'y

the fruit-bearing peduncles declining.

This is every way a fmaller plant. Vervain

Mallow"^ has an eredl ftem, rough with
bunched expanded hairs, many-parted roughidi
leaves, the lobes of which are obtufe and indented ; the flowers large, and light purple.
Another wild fpecies called Mufi. Mallow ^ is
but has the radical leaves kidney-form and gaihed; the ftem leaves fiveparted, and the diviiions finely cut into narrow fegments the flowers have a mufky fmell,
and the ftem has Angle eredt hairs fitting
on a prominent point. Cape Mallow" has an
arborefcent ftem ten or twelve feet high, and

very like this,

the leaves five-lobed and hollowed

The whole
ude

plant

is

hairy,

at

the bafe.

and thefe hairs ex-

a vifcid aromatic juice.

The

flowers are

deep red, and fmaller than thofe of the common Mallow. The trivial name informs us
country, and confequently that
in need of piotedion from you.
The giganiic, the g-^udy Bolhjhock

of

its

genus Alita: there are

1

Malva

93^" Malva
"

hift.

many

lotundifolia Lin. Curtis,

Akea

it

ftands

is

of the
with

varieties

Lond.

III.

43. Ger.

Lin. Ger. 930.

Malva molchata Lin. Curtis, Lond. IV. 50. Mor.

f.

s.t.

Malva

i8.f.4.
capenlis Litj. Dill. elth.

t.

169.

f.

206.

double

LETTER

XXIV.

343

different colours, as white,

double flowers, and

red of all hues from pale carnation to almoft
black, and yellows of different fhades; but
there are only two fpecies p the firft having
roundi{h leaves, cut at the extremity only into angles j the fcond palmate, cut deeply
or feven fegments, like the fig-leaf
Of the fiiif there is a dwarf variety with
variegated flowers, much efteemed, and called

into

fix

Chinefe HoiiykocL
The fhrub vulgarly named Altha Fnitex
a very numerous genus, comis an Hibifcus
prehending no lefs than thirty- fix fpecies,
mofl: of them inhabitants of either India, and
-,

not generally

known

The ltha

here.

a nativs of Syria,

and

bears the rigour of our climate, though

very late ere it produces its flowers.

The

Frutex'^

however

is

it is

characfers are, an arborefcent or

and wedge-fhaped leaves, divided
flem.
v/oody
at top into three lobes, and flianding on fhort

fpecific

beil-fhaped, and
purple with
bright
pase or
of various colours
dark bottoms, white with purpie bottoms, variegated V ith dark bottoms, and yellow with
the fame thefe flowers being large, gay, and
numerous, make a handfome appearance, and
give the completefl: idea of the claflical cha-

The

petioles.

flowers are

rader.
p

Alcea rofea Mill,

illuftr.

Hibifcus fyriacus Lin.

Sc ficifolia

Cam.

hoit.

t.

!/
3, 4.

China

344

LETTER

XXIV.

China Rofe afo, notwithftanding its name,

is no Rofe, but an Hibijcus\ with a woody
ilem, and ovate, fharp-pointed leaves, ferrate
about the edges: the colour, fize, and appearance of the flowers, when they are douMe,
gave occaflon to the name of Rofe-, they frequently appear on Chinefe paintings and
paper, and are certainly very ornamental.
The Mujk plant' of the Weft Indies is another fpecies of Hibifcusy its kidney-fliaped
The
feeds have a very ftrong fmell of Mufk.
bark of fome fpecies is formed of fibres
^

One of them
flrong" enough for cordage.
is cultivated in the Weft Indies for its pods,
which they put into their foups. But all this

we have
'

'

nothing to do with

as botanifts,

HibifcusRofa Sinenfis Lin. Rheed. mal.

Hibifcus Abelmofchus Lin. Mer. Surin,
Hibifcus vitifolius & Sabdariffa /</.
Hibifcus efculentus Lin. Sloan, jam.

2.

t.

t.

42.

i. t,

133.

17.

f.

3.

345

LETTER

XXV.
June the 4th, 1776,

FTER
ed,

__

a {lort excurfion we are returndear coufin, among your old ac-

quaintance; and you have only to apply to

the term Diadelphia, which is the name of
the feventeenth clafs in Linnseus's fyftem, all
the knowledge you firft acquired from the
letter on Papilionaceous flowers % and which
you have iince increafed lo much by your obfervation rad experience.
You have admired
the fingulariy admirable and beautiful liructure of thcfe flowers, in which all the plants
of this clafs agree you will now not be difpleafed to accompany me in an enquiry into
their generic and fpecific differences.
The
number of genera in this clafs is ^j, of fpe:

The

orders are four, taken from

the number of ftamens, which in the firft
order is five, in the fccond fix, in the third
cies

695.

and in the fourth ten. In the order

Tentandria however there is only one genus;
in the order Hexandria two
and in the order
05landria three; fo that you perceive the lafl
eight,

(Decatidria) abforbs the far greater part of

the clafs ; and what you have learnt of Papiiir Letter III.

onaceous

LETTER

346

XXV.

onaceous flowers belongs indeed principally

to this order.
are only

Of

the three

orders there

two genera, which you

opportunity of obferving
if

firft

will have an
and we will btgin

you pleafe with thenn.

Fumitory has two filaments, each of them

terminated by three anthers

fical

has the clafchara:er therefore, and muft be of the

This genus

order Hexandria,
a

this,

it

two -leaved

calyx,

has,

befides

ringent

rather

than a papilionaceous corol, the upper iip

however anfwcring to the banner, the lower
lip to the keel, and the bifid chaps to the
wings : the bafe of each lip is prominent,
but the upper one the moil 3 and one fila-

ment is inclofed
which you will

in each.

readily

Common

meet with

Fumitory'-''

as

weed
weak,

your kitchen garden, is known by a

branching ftem, multifid leaves dithe
viding into three, and the lobes trifid
flowers growing in a raceme, and each being
fucceeded by a round or rather obcordate
in

diffufe,

one-feeded pericarp.

Milkwort has eight filaments, each terminated W'ith an anther, and all united at bot-

tom

appertains therefore to the order

it
The ch^raders of
Oclnndria of this clals.
the genus are, a five-leaved calyx, with two
of the leaflets like the wings of the papilio:

liaceous
"^

flower,

and coloured

Fiimaria ofRcinalis Lin.

the banncj.

Curds, Lond.

II. 52.

Ger.

of

LETTER
of the corol

is

cylindric

XXV.
;

347

the legume

cordate, or inverfe-hearted,

is

ob-

and two-celled.

Many

of the fpecies have a beard, creft, or

pencil-formed appendage to the keel^ thofc
which have none are called beardlefs : and
hence a commodious fubdivifion of this large
the laft are fubdivided into fhrubby
genus
and herbaceous; the herbaceous again into
Of thirty-eight fpefimple and branched.
cies we have one only wild, and that is common on dry paftures and heaths ' it is of the
crefted divilion, and bears the flowers in a
raceme ; the ftem is herbaceous, limple, and
:

procumbent, and the leaves are linear. This

is a lowly plant, with pretty flowers
blue,
red or white.
There is a beautiful fpecies
in the green-houfe, from the Cape, with a
fhrubby ftem 3 oblong, fmooth leaves, blunt
at the end; and handfome flowers, large,
white on the outfide, but bright purple
within ; the keel crefled, and (haped like a
half moon.
Senega^ root, fo famous among
the American Indians as an antidote to the
bite of the rattle-fnake, is from a fpecies of
"^

this genus.

The
examine

plants of the order

we

are obvious, not only

are

pilionaceous flowers, but by their

*

Polygala vulgaris Z/.

3,4, &564,
y

Fl. dan.

now

to

by their pa-

compound

5i6.Ger. 563.

2,

5.

Polygala myrtifolia Z/;/.

Mil), illuftr.
Polygala Senega Lin,
Mill. Diet.

leaves.

LETTER

348
leaves,

which

XXV.

in the greater part are pinnate,

but in others trifoIn fome genera the pinnate leaves

liate'.
have the lobes in pairs only'', but it is more
common to have them terminate in an odd
obe^ Many of this pulfe tribe have fiems
too weak to fuftain themfelves, they fly
therefore to fome ftrcnger plant or other
prop for fupport, and they are furnifhed
with the ncceifary means of helping themfelves, either by twining their ftalks about

winged, cr

feathered,'

or elfe by
and embracing their friend
throwing out flender threads, like the vine,
called ciafpers or tendrils^ by which they lay
faft hold^
'i,

Moil of

thefe plants having fruits that are

quadrupeds or birds,
produce flowers in great abundance, and
ciofe bunches; in fome of the genera they
grow in a kind of umbeK, much like thofe
of the fcond order of the fifth clafs. I men-

cfculent

As

either to us,

in Trifoliyrn or Trefoil,

which has

its

name from

this circumftance, Lotus, MecJicago, Erytbrina, Genifta

or Broom, Cytifus, Ononis, Trigonella, Phaieolus or
Kidncv Bean, Dolichus and Clitoria.
O'robus, Pifum or Pea, Lathyrus or Everlafting Pea,
Vicia or Vetch, Ervum and Arachis.
Hcdyfarum, Glycyrc Biierrula, Altraga'.us, Phaca,
Indigo,
Galega, Coiu-
or
Indigofera
Liquorice,
rizaor
*>

tea,

Amorphi and

Pifcidia.

Phafeoius, Dolichos, Clitoris, Glycine.

Pifum, Lathyrus, Vicia, Ervum.

Lotus, Coronilla, Oniithopus, Hippocrepls,

Scor-

piuU.

tion

LETTER

XXV.

349

tion thefe circumftances, not as claffical chara<3:ers, but as leading features that may give

(hrewd fufpicion, rather than a certaia

When you find a plant endued
thefe fubordinate characfters,
fame
of
with
you, I am certain, will not determine it at
no, they will only lead
once upon them
you to a more flridl examination. Pinnate
or trifoliate leaves, weak twining or climbing flems, no not even papilionaceous flowers will fatisfy your difcerning eye, till you.
have feen the union of the filaments at bottom. If you can procure any fpecies of So"
phora ^, you will be convinced of this ; for
without fuch caution you would infallibly
have been milled; this genus agreeing vv^ith

you

aflurance.

the pulfe tribe in every

refpeft,

except

in

having the ten filaments dillin:.

The proper character of this cafs you
know is to have the filaments in two diftincSt
bodies; and the charader of the Ctr Decandria is to have nine filaments united at bottom into a membrane furrounding the germ,
and a tenth fingle, filling up the opening

which

is left

when

It

for the p^erm

to

difeno^ap^e itfclf,

has arrived at a ftate proper to pafs

into a pod or legume.
I muft advertife you

however
6

gfnia.

that this

is

not

ftridlly true

of

all

the

genus of the clafs Decandr'ia and the order MomAnagyris, Ccrcis, he. have alio the fame ap-

pearance.

genera

LETTER

50

XXV.

genera; there are no fewer than eighteen

out of fifty, which have all the ten filaments
conneded, fo that the germ cannot grow
into a legume without tearing afunder the
membrane formed of the filaments. You
muft not therefore be deterred from fetting
down a plant as of the Pulfe tribe, and of
the clafs Diadelphiay when you find the ten
filaments united into one, inclofed within a
papilionaceous flower, and furnifhed with
Of thofe
the other marks of the clafs.
which anfwer regularly to the clafiical charadter, fome have a pubefcent iligma^, and
the reft are diftinguifhed by their legumes,
as we fliall now fee, that we are going
to

examine

their

diftin6live

marks

more

narrowly.

You will obferve in this clafs fome trees,

and many flirubs with papilionaceous flowers,
as Common'' and Spanijlj^ Broom, both of a
genus in which the ten filaments are all
united, and form a membrane adhering clofe
to the germ the ftigma grows along the upper
fide of the top of the ftylc, and is villous;
the calyx is continued downwards, and is
marked beneath with five little notches at
the tip.
Sp?ifj Broom, with fome other
:

^ Colutea,
Dolichos, Orobus, Pifum,
Phafeolus,
Lathyrus, Vicia.
*
Spartium fcoparium Lin. Fl. dan. 313. Blackw. 244.
Ger. 131 1.
^ Spartium junceum Lin,

fpecies.

LETTER
fpeces, has

are ternate,

XXV.

limple leaves, in the

or three-lobed.

trefoil

mon Broom however

there

is

351
reft

they

In Com-

mixture of

In the fir ft alfo the leaves are lanceboth.

fhaoed, and the ru(h-like branches are oppoand produce the flovv^ers from
lite, round,

In the fcond the

the top, in a loofe fpike.
branches are angular, and the flowers come
out fingly for a confiderable length towards

They are large, and of a bright

the top.
yellow in both fpecies. There is alfo a
Spanifh Broom with a white flower^; which
has leaves like the other, but the branches
flriated, and the flowers in fliort fpikes or
clufters on the fides of them; they are fucceeded by large oval pods containing one
feed, whence the trivial name.
Fortiigal
Brooms with trifoliate leaves and yellow
flowers, differing little from ours
and a fort
with prickly branches, thence called Prickly
:

Cytifus

"^.

We have fome wild fhrubs of an humbler

growth, fomewhat refembling thefe, but of
another genus called Genifta-, the charaders
of which are a two-lipped calyx, the upper
lip two-toothed, the lower three-toothed ;
the banner of the corol oblong and refleded
downwards from the piftils and ftamens ; the
piftil deprefling
the keel, and the fligma
Spartium monofpermum Lin.
" Spartium Ipiaofum Lin.
'

involute.

LETTER

352
involute.

Dyer's iveed,

XXV.
called

alfo

Wood'*

waxen and Bale Broom"", which grows in

paftures and headlands, has fmooih lancefliaped leaves, and eredt, round, flreaked
branches.
Needle Furze or Petty Whi}i,
which you will find wild on heaths, has
lancc-(haped

fmall

armed with

long,

leaves,

Hender branches

fimple fpines

the flower

have no fpines, and have

five or fix flowers in a clufler at the end of
them the colour of the corol in both fpecies is yellow; and you would at firfl: fuppofe
that the former was a iipartium, and the latter a Furze, or of the genus JJleXj which
however differs from both in having a
two-leaved calyx, with the legume fo iLort
as fcarcely to emerge from it.
have
only one fpecies, than which nothing, as
you know, is more common on all our heaths
it has the three difl^erent names of Furze,
Gorfe and JVhins % in diff*erent parts of the
branches are

flaort,

We

kingdom,
a lowly

kind of fhrubs,
with purple flowers,
growing on commons, barren paflures, and
headlands of corn fields; they have the name
from the flrength and matting of the roots,
v/hich circumllance has induced the Dutch
RejUjtTOivs are

or rather underfhrubs,

"

'

Genifta tin^loria Lin. Fl. dan. 526. Ger. 1316.

Getiifta angiica Lin. Fl.dan. 619. Ger. 13-O.
Ulex cujo;ius Ltu. Fl. dan. 608. Ger. J319.

to

LETTER
fow them on

to

linder of filaments

without any

XXV.

353

their fea banks.

The cy-

is

quite entire at bottom,

in this genus 5 the calyx is parted into five linear divifions ; the banner of the corol is ftriated ; and the legume,
a fedtion of which is a rhomb, is turgid and
fiflure,

We have two forts, one 1 with prickly

fmooth branches, and the flowers in a raceme,
but coming out fingly the other' with villous leaves and branches, but without fpines;
the flowers in a raceme, but generally two tofeffile.

gether; both have ternate leaves, except that

towards the top they are fimple.
In AnthylUs the calyx is turgid and includes the legume, which is fmall and
roundifti, containing one or at moil two
feeds.
The only fpecies we have wild is herbaceous, is called Ladies-Finger or Kidneyis not uncommon in chalky pafhas unequally pinnate leaves, and a
double head of yellow flowers, but this latter

Vetch*, and
tures

it

is not confl:ant.
The leaves are pubefcent, and confifl: of three or four pair of
lobes ; except two under the umbel, which

charader

are digitate.
There are feveral floweringihrubs of this genus; as that which is generally called Jupiter s beard or Silver bujh ^
"3
Ononis fpinofa Hudfoni.
Common, fmooth or
prickly Reftharrow. Blacicw. t. 301, Ger. 1322.
' Ononis
Hairy Reftharrow. Ger,
inermis Hudfoni.

1322.
*
*

Anthyllis Vulneraria Lin. Rivin.

Anihyllis Barba Jovis Lin.

t.

18, Ger, 1240.

from

LETTER

354
from the fplendid
which is owing to
covers them; they

XXV.

vvhitenefs

of the leaves,

nap or down that

a fine

are equally pinnate:

the

tlowers are produced at the extremity of the

branches, in fmall heads, and are yellow.

Lupms^ which

well

are fo

known

in

the

two -lipped ca-

being coriaceous or leathery.

The commork

garden,

agree

in

flower
lyx; in having five of the anthers round, and
five oblong, and in the (bell of the legume
ivhite''

fort,

which

is

cultivated as a pulfe ia

mofl of the fouthern parts of Europe, has the

flowers growing alternate, without appendages^.
the upper lip of the white corol is entire, 'the
lower three-toothed: the feeds are orbiculate
There are three forts with blue
and-fiatted.
flovi'ers: the Pej^ennial", which is the only
one that is not annual, with alternate, unappendaged. flowers; the upper lip of the corol
This is an
notched, the lower one entire.

American

plant:

the digitate leaves are

com-

pofed of ten or eleven lobes, whereas thofe of

the former have no more tl"kan (Qw,n or eis^ht:
the flowers grow in long loofe fpikes, and
The great bliie"^^ with alare pale blue.
ternate appendaged flowers; the upper-lip
This
two-parted, the lower three-toothed.
Lupinus albus Lin. Rlv. tctr.
Lupinus percnnis Lin. Mill. fig.
^ Lupinus hirfutus L'ln,
"

70. i,

has

LETTER
nas

flrong

with

covered

flem,

brownifh down;

XXV.

^ss
a

loft

the leaves have nine,

teil,

or eleven hairy, fpatulate lobes: the flowers

are in whorls, forming a fort of fpike; they
are large, and of a beautiful blue: the pods
are very large, and have three roundifh co'.TiprefTed feeds, very rough and of a purolifh
brown.
Narrow-leaved or tall blue Lupin '^y
has the flowers alternate and appendaged or
pedunculatCj the upper lip of the corol twoparted, the lower three- toothed
the lobes of
the leaves are linear.
The Varied y is not
very different in appearance from this: the
flowers grow in half whorls, and arc appendaged; the upper lip is bifid, and the lower
flightly three-toothed: the corols are light
blue or purple.
It is fhorter than the laftj
the leaves have fewer lobes, and ftand on
ihorter petioles.
The Hairy ^ has the flowers
:

whorls and appendaged, with the upper

two-parted, like the Great Blue Lupin;
which it much refembles in fl:ature and appearance; but the corols are flefh- coloured
with the middle of the banner red, the
lower lip is entire; the plant is hairy all
over, and the leaves are iance^fhaped, and
in

lip

little

*
y

^
*

obtufe

at

the

end.

Lupinus anguftifciius Lin, Riv,

Lupinus varius Lin.
Lupinus piiofus Li?!.
Lopinus luteus Lin. Riv. tetr.

a 2

The Tellow

tetr.

IS

LETTER

356

XT'V,

efteemed for the fweetnefs of its flowers :

they grow in whorls and on peduncles 5
the upper lip of the corol is two-parted,
the lower three-toothed.
Thus have you a
hiftory of the whole genus of Lupin ; for
thefe are all the fpecies hitherto known :
and as you may cafily have them growing

is

you may compare them

together,

and

at leifure,

afcertain all their agreements

how

we do
might we

could

ences:

clearly

but remember

and

differ-

every genus,

in

diftinguifh the fpecies?

culture

that

charaders,

fictitious

this

may produce

which millead unwary

botanifls.

In

the genera hitherto examined, the

all

have made one body

bottom;
your
confideration, nine only are united, and the

filaments

in the

tenth

reft,

is

which

free,

I fhall

now

at

offer to

according to the proper chawill begin with fome

We

radter of the clafs.

genera, diftingulflied (as I mentioned before)

by a pubefcent ftigma. Phafeolus or Kidney
Bearif in having the keel with the ftamens

and

ftyle

vious

fpirally twifted,

charader,

ciently

from

fpecies

have

two roundilh

that

all

congeners.
outer calyx,

its

an

poffeffes

difcriminates

one obit

fuffi-

Some of

the

confifting

of

which may more probra5ies,

Lathyrus or Ever-

leaflets,

perly be called

Pea has a flat yle, villous above,

growing broader upwards: in this it differs
from the Fea^ which has a triangular ftylc

iajting

keeled

LETTER
above

keeled

XXV.

both genera
of the calyx

have the

357
two

fliorter than the

are very
other
refpedls,
other three, and, in
Some fpecies of Lathyrtis have
nearly allied.
one flower only on a peduncle : of thefe we
have two wild ones ; one with yellow flowers,
fupporting itfelf among the corn by leaflefs

upper d

vifions

tendrils,

and

having

broad ftipules fhaped

:
the other with

like the head of an arrow

crimfon flowers, long narrow leaves difficult

to be diftinguifhed from the grafs among
which it grows, and fmall, Tubulate or awled
The firft is called Tellow Vetchftipules.
ling^-, the fcond, Crimfon Grafs Vetch". Sweet
Scented Pea^y with fome few others, has
two flowers on every peduncle ; each tendril
has a pair of oblong ovate leaves, and the
legumes are rough. The banner of the corol
is dark purple, the keel and wings light blue;
but there are varieties j one all white, and
another vi^ith a pink banner, wings of a pale
called
this
is
blufh, and a white keel
T^angier Pea\ another
Painted Lady Pea.
of the bijorous fedion, has the two leaves
-,

alternate,

lance-fliaped and

pules moon-fhaped.

The

fmooth

flowers

the

fti-

grow on

have a purple banner,

with wings and keel of a bright red, and

ihort

>

*=

peduncles

Lathyrus Aphaca Lin. Mill. fig. pi. 43. Ger. I250#

Lathyrus NiiroliaZ,m. Ger. 1249.
Lathyrus odoratus Lin. Comm. hort. 2. t. 80,
|-<athyrus tingitanus Lin. Jacq. hort, t. 46.

Aa

are

LETTER

^5^

are fucceeded
lajiing

Pea^

many

flowers

is

XXV.

by long jointed pods.

lafl divifion, having

produced on one peduncle
:

this has alfo conjugate leaves,

ing in

Ever-^

of the

pairs, furnidied

that

with a

is,

grow-

tendril

or

form of the leaves is elliptic or

oval i and the ftems, which clin:ib very higli,
have membranaceous wings on each fide
between the joints ; the flowers are red.
There is a variety of this in the gardens,
with broader leaves, larger and deeper coloured flowers.
There is another fort not
very different from this^, having fword-fliaped
leaves; and a third'', growing in woods, bogs,
and wet meadows, which has many-leaved
tendrils, and lance-fhaped flipules
the lobes
are fix ; and there are from three to fix flowers on each peduncle ; the corol is blue,
with the greatefl part of the wings and keel
white.
One fpecies of this fe(5tion', with
yellow flowers, two-leaved tendrils which
are extremely fimple, and lance-fliaped leaves^
clafper^ the

common

very

is

in

pafl:ures,

hedges, and

woods.
Vetch or 'Tare is fuficiently diftinguiflied
by having a ftigma tranfverlely bearded on
f

Lathvrus latifolius Lin.

Ger. 1229.
Lathyrus fylveflris L'nu

Mill.

fig.

pi.

160.

Mill,

illuftr.
s
f.

2.

t.

2.

f.

Fl. dan.

325. Mor.

hift,

4.

Lathyrus j>aluftr!s Lin. Fl. dan. 399.

Lathyrus pratenfis Lm. Curtis, Lond.
T23I.
^

111.

44.

Gen
^b?

LETTER

XXV.

359

The fpecies, which are

the under fide.
eighteen in number, may be ranged under
two divifions, the firll comprehending fuch
as have flowers in bunches on peduncles; the
fcond, thofe which are axillary, or have the
flowers fitting almoft clofe to the ftem, and
coming out from the angle which the
form

leaves

vi^ith

Of

it.

the

firft

divifion

have q Tufted^ and Wood Vet ch^ wild:

both having flowers in bunches many together, but in the flrft imbricate^ in this
alfothe lobes or component leaves are lancefhaped and pubefcent, and the flipules en-

we

in the

tire

the

fti

and

fcond, the lobes are oval, and

The

pules flightly toothed.

feveral

divifion.

wild

The

forts,

firft"^

cultivated,

are of the

has

eredl,

fcond

feffile

le-

gumes, moilly two together ; the leaves are

Of the
retufe, and the llipules blotched.
others, SpringVetch''^sN\{\c\i
lated to the former, has

is

very nearly re-

however the legumes

the lower lobes retufe, the

;
upper ones narrow, and almoll linear; the
lobes are from four to ten ; and the ftipules
Bvjh Vetch''
are fpotted, as in the former.
has about four ered" legumes growing toge-

generally fingle

Vicia Cracca Lin.

Fl. dan. 804.

Mor.

hift.

f.

?..

r,

Vicia fylvatica Lin. FJ. dai>. 277.

Vicia fativa Lin.
Fl. dan. 522. Mor. t. 4. f. 11.
Ger. 1227.
Vicia latliyroides Hudf Fl, dan. 58. Ger. 1227.
Vicia dumetorum Lhi. Riv. tetr. 50.
'

""

ther

LETTER

360

XXV.

ther on fhort pedicles : the lobes of the leaves

are ovate, and quite entire; the fize of the
lobes decreafes towards

the end of the leaf:

it
hedges.
Bean"^ is placed
by Linnaeus in the Vetch genus ; and very
juftly, fince it agrees with them in the charalers of the frudification, and differs only

ramps

The

in

in having a ftouter ftalk that fupports

itfelf,

is rot furnilhed with tendrils.

Its native place cf growth is fuppofed to be
not far from the Cafpian Sea, on the bor-

and therefore

All the different forts of

ders of Perfia.
Bean, are in reality but varieties from the
fame original flock : you underftand me to
fpeak of Beans properly fo called, in exclufion of Kidney Beans and others, which are
not merely fpecifically different, but alfo of
another genus.
Of the fame fedion, with pubefcent
fligmas, is a genus of well known fhrubs
called Colutea : diftinguifhed by their quinquefid calyx ; and inflated legume, opening
from the bafe, by the upper future; the
Engliffi name of Bladder-Sena is taken from

the latter character.

Common Bladder-Sena'^
has an arborefcent ffem, and inverfely hearted
leaves. It grows twelve or fourteen feet high ;
its winged leaves have four or five pair of
grayifh

lobes

the alay

the

two or
p
1

flowers

three

come out from

together on flender

Vicia FabaZ/ff.
Colutea arborefcens Lin.

peduncles

LETTER

XXV.

361

peduncles 5 they are yellow with a darkThis grows

colouied mark on the banner.
wild in the fouthern countries of Europe.
There is another, which comes from the
Eaft, and has flowers like this, only of a
brighter yellow ; differing in being a much
lower fhrub, and in having nine pair of fmall
oval, entire lobes to each leaf.
third
about the fame height with the fcond, but
with branches flill more flender, ccmes from
the fame country: the leaves of this have
five or fix pair of fmall heart-fhaped lobes ;
the flowers are fmaller, and of a dark red,
marked with yellow. It is a doubt whether
thefe be fpecifically different from thefirfl"*:
there is however one from JEihiGph, with
fcarlet flowers, which is very diftinl': for
it is a low, weak Ihrub, with leaves compofed of ten or twelve pair of oblong-ovate,
hoary lobes : the flowers are long, owing
to the length of the keel, for the banner
is fhorter than that, and the wings are miYou will ealily fuppofe from its counnute.
try, that it cannot fland the cold of a fevere
winter with us j it does not (brink however
from a mild one, in a dry foil and warm
fi|:uation.
There is alfo an herbaceous fpecies% with fmooth linear lobes to the leaves j
but this is an annual plant of little beauty,

and therefore
'

f
?

rarely cultivated.

Figured in Comm. rar. t. ii. and Mill. fig. loo,

Colutea frutefcens Lin. Mill. fig. p]. 99.
plutea berbaceaX/. Comm. hort, 2. t. 44.

There

LETTER

362

XXVJ

There are feveral other flirubsof the Peaas

the different fpecies of
bloom tribe
This
Cytifus, of wich Laburnum'' is one.
hanging
flowers
in
yellow
large
is known by
and three oblong-ovate
racemes,
fimple
There is a variety with
lobes to the ieaves.
:

narrower leaves, and longer bunches of flow-

more common

in fhrubberies than

the
iirfl, which is a larger tree and comes to excellent timber; but this makin^^ a better
appearance when in flower, is preferred in
Sejfile-leaved Cyti^
ornamental plantations.
called
vulgarly
Cytifus feamdiis Clufi,
fus",
has the flowers in fbort, eret racemes, at
the ends of the branches ; each flower has a
little triple brade at the bafe of the calyx;'
the leaves on the flowering branches are
ers,

fcffile,

but

the others

The

are petiolate.

flowers are of a bright yellow, and the pods

E--je?'green
are (hort, broad, and black.

has the flowers coming out hngly

fide of the ftalk, with very hairy,
the
trifid, obtufe, oblong, fwelling calyxes
Halks extremely hairy} the leaves alfo hairy,
The flowers are
underneath.
efpeciaily
Cytifus""

from the

pale yellow;

^n rough.
"

"

Cy.ifus
Cytifus

and

the

All thefe,

Laburnum
feirilifolius

/,/;/.

narrow,
of the

pods long,

and the

refl:

Jacq. aufr. 4.

t,

306.

Liu.

^ Cyiifus hirfutus Lui.

fpecies.

LETTER

XXV.

363

agree in n two-lipped calyx, the

fpeces,
upper lip bilid, the lower three-toothed ;
and a legume att-enuated at the bafe; and
The leaves
pedicled, with feveral feeds in it.
are ternate.

has a quadrifid calyxj an expanding, reflex,, roiindifli banner; and a gibbous,

elongate kgume, containing feverai feeds.
i?o^//2/^

The

which

you

admire for its long

racemes of fweet-fmelling white flowers,
hanging down like thofe of Laburnum, is
of this genus: I mean the Baflard Acucia"^,
called in North America, its native country,
tree

Locij-tree,

The

leaves are pinnate, confift-'

ing.of eight or ten pair of oval lobes termir

nate^ by an odd one j all entire, and fitting
the (lipules are armed
clofe to the mid-rib
with ftroHg, crooked thorns and the flowers
come out flngly, or only one on a pedicle
The Caragana^, a Siberian
in the racemes.
fhrub, has leaves abruptly pinnate, that is,
winged not terminated by an odd lobe, or
compofed of four or five pair of oval lobes
this has no fpines, and the yellov/
only
flowers come out fingly from italce.
There
are feveral other trees and (hrubs of this ge
nus; but thefe are the mod: known.
Coronilla is another genus of flirubs, com:

=*

>

Robin'a Pfeudacacia Z/. Seba mus.

Robinia Caragana X/;z.

I. t.

15.

f.

/,

prehending

LETTER

364

XXV.

prehending however fome herbaceous plants.

They all agree in a two-lipped calyx i th
upper lip two-toothed, the lower having
three little teeth ; the fuperior teeth conjoined ; in a banner fcarcely longer than -he
wings ; and in a very long, ftraight legume,
contra(fted between the feeds, and, inftead of
opening by the futures, falling off in joints.
Scorpion Sena"- is a fpecies of this genus

common among

it is
immedifhrubs
of
its yelately known, by having the tails
low corols three times as long as the calyx ;
two or three flowers come out together upon

very

long peduncles from the fides of the branches,

which are flender, and angular: the leaves
are pinnate, and compofed of three pair of
the legumes
lobes terminated by an odd one
pendulous;
the
taper,
and
flender,
are long,
:

There

feeds cylindric.

the open

The
arc of

this

beautiful

our climate.

air in

plants

fevtral

are

but too tender to bear

flirubs of this genus,

from which indigo

clafs;

is

made*

and many of the kindred

genera refemble them in quality as well as

Scorpion Sena

outward form and charadler.

in

particular,

it

is

faid,

will yield

dye

nearly equal to indigo, if the leaves are fermented in a vat in the fame manner as is

* Corontlla Emeriis

JaJigofcra Lin.

Lin.

Mill.

fig.

Mill.

fig.

132.

34.

pradifcd

LETTER
pradlifed with thofe plants

XXV.
-,

365

and you remem-

complaining perhaps, that the yellowof the Lotus would turn blue in
drying unlefs you took care to keep them
feparate from other plants, and to change
ber

flowers

them

often.

Liquorice is alfo of the fame clafs: it

has a two-lipped calyx, with the upper lip
divided into three parts, and the lower abfolutely fimple and undivided > the legume
is ovate
and comprelTed, with very few
The fpecies which is
kidney-fhaped feeds.
cultivated for the fake of its roots ^ has
fmooth legumes, no ftipules, and pinnate
leaves confifting of four or five pair of lobes,
terminated by an odd one, which is petiolate.
It is a lofty plant for an herbaceous one, the
llalks being from four to five feet high
the
flowers come out in xq. fpikes from the alee,
:

and are pale blue.

Hedyjarum is a moft numerous genus, containing no fewer than fixty-feven fpecies, all
however confpiring in having the keel tranfverfely obtufe, and the legume jointed, with
one feed in each joint. The genus is fubdivided into four fedtions, from the leaves; which
conju^
gate; in the third, ternate; and in the
I fliall prefent you only
fourth, pinnate.
two fpecies, and they of the laft fedion.

in the

firft

are fimple

in the fcond,

Glycyrrhiza glabra Lin*

One

LETTER
One

XXV.

from Italy into the gardens; and the other from a wild flate ta

tranfplanted

The

one.

cultivated

which

Honeyfuckle^

is

firfl

is

French

the

diflinguifhed

from the

and by

its

jointed,

prickly, naked, ftraight legumes;

its

pinnate

by a difFufed

reft

ftalk,

leaves point it out to be of the fourth

fedion; they have five or {1% pair of lobes,
terminated by an odd one; and from their
bafe comtfs out a long peduncle, fuftaining
The other is
fpikes of beautiful red flowers.
the Saijtjoi/^-y the charaders of which are
an elongated ftem; the wings of the corol
equalling the calyx, and one-feeded prickly
legumes: this has alfo, of courfe, pinnate
It adorns the chalky hills with its
leaves.
beautiful fpikes of red flowers; and contributes largely among many others of this
For this the
clafs to feeding of cattle.
Trefoils are molt juftly celebrated; there are
forty-fix fpecies of them, all having the flowers growing in a head; and the legume very
fhort, fcarcely emerging from the calyx, not
opening, but falling off entire, and containing but one, or at moft two feeds.
Though
this be a genus eafjy diftinguifhed
by its
habit, yet the chara^lers are by no means
confiant, and perhaps there is not one com-

mon
*
*

t.

2.

to

all

the fpecies.

^Vkite 'Trefoil^

Hedyfarum coronarium Lin.

Hedyfarum Onohrychis Lin. Jacq.
Ger, 1243.

'

"

auftr.

t.

com-

38. Rivin*

monly

LETTER
monly

called

Dutch

perennial ftem;

XXV.

367

Clover^, has a creeping,

the heads umbelled; and the

Purple
legumes covered and four feeded.
trefoily HoneyI'uckle Trejoii, or Red Clover^" has
the flowers growing in globular fubvillous
fpikes, girt with oppolue membanous ftiand the corols all of one petal. There
pules
;

are

many

Yellow

wild fpecies of this genus; but the

Trefoil, cultivated under

or that of Nonefuch,

is

this

name,

of another genus, as

we

fhall fee prefently.

Lotus has a tubular calyx; the wings of the

corol clapping clofe together upwards longi-

and an upright cylindric legume.

The wild fpecies is called common Bird's foot ^^
and is diftingui(hed by its decumbent Hems,
many flowers growing together in deprefled
heads; and exacftly cylindric, fpreading legumes. The corols are of a bright yellow.
Lucerne^ is of the genus Medicago, the
charader of which is that the keel of the
corol bends down from the banner, and that
the legume is flatted, and fpiral or wreathed
The fpeciflc chalike the fhell of a fnail,
the flem is eredt and fmooth;
racfter is this
the flowers grow in a raceme, and the legumes are contorted: the colour of the
tudinally;

Trifolium repens Lin. Curtis, Lond. IL 46. Ger.

1185.
.

s
*

ri folium pratenfe Lin. Rlackw. t. 20. Ger. 1185.

Lotus corniculatusLz";;. Curtis, Lend, IT. 56.
I

Medicago

fativ Lin*

Mor.

hift.

f.

2. t. 16. f. 2.

corok

LETTER

368
corols

Is

blue.

the name

The

XXV.

fpecies cultivated

undef

of Trejoil or Nonefuch"^ has

the

procumbent j the flowers in oval fpikesj

and the legumes kidney-form, with one
feed only in each; the corols are fmall and
yellow.
In a cultivated ftate the flems draw
each other up, and lofe, in a great meafure,
their natural procumbency,
as
does alio

jftems

Bird's-foot

'Trefoil,

when

it

has other plants

&c. There is a
Medicago called polymorphous or
many-form} y from the variety of appearances
it puts on, or from the
change of figure
in the pod.
We have one variety very
common wild"", called Heart-Clover from
the form of the leaves, which are alfo generally fpotted: each head confifl:s of four or
five little yellow flowers ; the legumes are
globofe, fpiral, and covered with very diverging fpines: and in the garden you have
the vegetable Snails''^ with large, fpiral,
globofe legumes, naked,
or not covered
with fpines ; and the Hedgehogs , whofe legumes are clofely armed with long fpines
Thefe all have the
pointing every way.
about

it,

as in grafs-fields,

fpecies of

Medicago lupulina Lin. Curtis, Lond.

Ger.

11. 57.

1186.
*

Medicago polymorpha Lw.

^ Medicago polymorpha arabica Lin.

Curtis,

Ger. I igo.
Med. polym. fcutellata Lin. Mor. hift. f.
Med. polym, intertexta. Mor, f. 7, 8, 9,

Lond.

III. 47.

2,

t.

15.

f.

4.

ftem

LETTER

XXV.

369

flem difFufe; the ftipules toothed, and the

legumes fpiral. This clafs has alfo its vegetable Caterpillars^ but they are of another genus p.
I fear you will think I have already made
this letter too long.
However, as it may be
fome time before you hear from me again;
as the next clafs is a very fmall one, and
completes the fet of plants with united filaments, I will trefpafs on your patience whilfl
I go through it.
The Clafs Polyadelpbia, then, comprehends all fuch flowers as have the filaments
united at bottom into more than two parcels.
The filaments are in bunches, or pencilled, as one might call it, fince they arc
colleded into
hair
this

bodies

refembling a

camel's

you were not to attend to

charader, you might eafily fuppofe thefe
pencil.

If

plants to belong to the clafs Polyandria, for

they have
pulfe tribe

no firiking appearance, like the

and fome others, announcing them

immediately to range under

this clafs.

There are four

mensj Chocolate'^

firft,

orders, taken
is

in

the

from the

fta-

Pentaiidriai

a genus called Monfonia in the fcond; Citron

comprehending Oranges and Lemons

whole number of
^

fpecies

is

Scorpiurus. Riv. tetr. 210.

Lin. Sloan, jam. 2.
t.

26. and 63, Cateil). car. 3.

B b

The

only fixty-five.

Theobroma Cacao

rlan, furin.

the

in

third; and eight genera in the fourth.

t.

t.

160.

Me-

6.

Tbq

LETTER

370

XXV.

beautiful, odoriferous. Well known,

efteemed genus of Citrus has
defervedly
and
a fmall calyx five-toothed at
thefe charalcrs

The

top ; a corol of five oblong petals ; about twenty

flamens, placed cylindrically about the germ,

with the filaments conneded rather flightmore, fometimes into

ly, fometimes into
fewer parcels one piftil, and, for a fruit, a
berry generally nine-celled, with a bladJ

dery pulp, in which the feeds are lodged.

You will have pleafure in examining at
leifure the three elegant fpecies of this genus, and in regaling your fenfes, whilft
When they
your mind imbibes infirudion.
are in
diately;

fruit,

you

difiinguifli

but when they

are

them immenot, you will

find that the Citron' has the petioles linear

or all of a fize, like mofl other petioles;

whereas the Orcngc, hemoriy and shaddock,

have the petioles winged in fliape of a heart;
fo that the main leaf feems to grow out of a
Linnaeus makes the Orange
fmaller one.
and Lemon^ to be of one fpeiies, and to be
diftinguilhed by pointed leaves from the Shaddock\ which has them obtufe, and emarnot to menginate or notched at the end
tion the great fize of the fruit, the flowers
:

of this grow

more

in racemes,

which

are alfo

Citrus Medic:! Z/.Virg. gcorg. edit. Mart. p. 135.

Citrus Aurancium Z-//7. iVJill. illultr.
Citrus decumana Lin. Rumph, amb. 2. t. 24. f. 2.

a little

little

LETTER

XXV.

371

nappy or woolly.

dare

prefume

that you are by this time fo great an adept in

Botany as readily to admit, in fpite of the
information of your tafte to the contrary,
that the Seville and China Oranges rnay be
varieties of the fame fpecies, owing all their
Neither perhaps do
difference to climate.
you find much difficulty in perfuading yourfelf, that
the large and generous Lemon
may not be fpecihcally different from the
little,

fome

round,

four

Lime

notv/ithftanding

and the
on the branches of the latter. But I
much doubt whether you will be able to
perfuade your fair daughter to admit that
little

difference in the leaves,

fpines

the auftere, long, pale Lemon, is not a fpetotally diftin from the round, deepcoloured Orange, the flavour of whofe juice
fhe enjoys with fo much delight.
1 will
confent that fhe iliould enjoy her incredulity,
cies

at leaft if (he can diftinguifli thefe trees

when

they are deftitute of fruit.

The pofition of
the ftamens informs you that this genus is of
the order Icofaidria,
The genus Hypericum, in the laft order
(Polyandria) of this clafs, has many more
fpecies than all the other genera put togeSeveral of them are wild, and feveral
ther.
others are commonly cultivated among fhrubs:
they are not however all ihrub?, for many
fpecies are herbaceous.
All plants do not
exhibit the claflical mark, in this or any
Bb 2
other

LETTER

372

XXV.

clafs, with equal evidence;

genus the numerous llamens will

other

in

this

eaftly

fe-

from the receptacle in pencils or parand thus evidently fliow what is their

parate
cels,

Being thus cerproper place in the fyftem.

tified that your plant does not belong to the
clafs Polyandria^ but to this ; you will ealily
diflinguilh it from its congeners, by its fiveparted calyx including the germ; by its corol of five petals ; by the abundance of ftamens, ufually forming five fquadrons ; and
by the feed-veflel being a capfule, divided
into as many cells as there are ftyles to the
flower: thefe are either one, two, three, or
five in number; and hence a fubordinate divifion of the

genus into four fedlions

there

however only one fpecies with one flyie,

and there are only two fpecies with two ;
and
the far greater number have three
among thefe are all the European ones.
has two chaConimo St. Jolm's wort

is

""

remarkable that it cannot well be

as foon as they are underflood
for it has an ncipital or two-edged llem,
that is, roundiih, or a litde flatted, and running out longitudinally into two little edges
or metnbranes oppofite to each other: and
its obtufe leaves are punctured all over their
when held up
as to appear,
furface,
fo
rafters fo

midaken,

"

Hypericum perforatum Lin.

Curtis,

Lond.

I.

57.

Gcr. 539.

againft

LETTER

XXV.

373

if they
againfl;
the light, as
had been
pricked with a pin.
Another wild fort not
near fo common, growing in moid: hedges,
and woods, and called Saint Peter's ivort^'
it is about the fame fize
has fquare ftalks
with the other, but does not branch fo much
the leaves are fhorter and broader, and have
none of the pellucid dots which are fo remarkable in the former, l^r ailing Saint John's
-,

wort^^

is

folitary

axillary,

'Johns
ing in

'wort'^

fi:ems

filiform

trate,

found on dry

a pretty little plant,

paftures and heaths

is

it

has two-edged, prof-

fmooth leaves

-,

Saint

growwith columnar

an elegant

woods and heaths

and

Upright

flowers.

fpecies,

fmooth, heart-fhaped
leaves; and ferrated calyxes with the teeth
fl:ems

ftem-clafping,

glandular.

The two mod common

among other flirubs, are \q

forts,

cultivated

Jlifiking firubby^

and Canary^ St, John's worts. They have

both a rank fmell, refembling that of a
goat, which however, in fome circumftances,
and at certain dillances, feems to be fweet,
both alfo have
at leall to fome perfons ;
three
^

piftils

but the

is

firfi:

Hypericum quadrangulum Lin.

much

lower

Curtis, Load. IV.

52. Ger. 542.

^

Hypericum humifufum Lhi.

Curtis, Lond. III. 50.

Ger. 541.

Hypericum pulchrum Z/>?.

Hypericum hircinum Lin.
^Hypericum canarienfe r;:.

Curtis, Lond,

"

I,

56.

Bb

Comm.
3

hort. 2,

t.

68,

plant.

LETTER

374

XXV.

the ftamens longer than the

whereas in the fcond they are
Gardt^n Tut fan ^ is evidently of this

plant, and has

corol

fhorter.

genus

piftils,

it

one of thofe which have

is

five

the ftems are low, fimple, herbaceous,

the leaves fmooth, and
;

and quadrangular

the roots creep extremely, and

PFild Tiitfan, or
the flowers are very large.

quite entire:

Tiitjan Saint John's ivort

called alfo

Park-

a (hrubby two-edged ftem ; three

and a berried fruit, or foft coloured
are fmall,
pericarp: the flowers of this
and the flamens extend beyond the corols.
It grows wild in woods, ar.d fometimes in
Of the more rare and tenmoill hedges.
der forts, the Mjorca Saint John's wori^
ail over
is very diftinguiihable by the fears
the flender red branches ; the leaves alfo
are rpand or waved on their edges, have
fmali protuberances on their under lurface,

ieaves,

has

piPnls,

bafe embrace the flalk. : the

at the
flowers are large, with the ftamens a little
shorter than the ccrol, and five piflils. Laflly,

and

Chinefc Hypericum^
havirig one

piflil

which {lands alone,

as

fhrubby
ftamens longer than the
one of the moll: beautiful
only, has a

fletn,

coloured calyxes,
corol,

"*

**

and

is

Hypeiicum Afcyron Z//Z. Gmel. fibir. 4. t. 6g.

Hypericum Androfacnium Lin. Curtis, Load.

Ill,

4H. Gc-r. 548.

'Hypcn-um
*

balcaricum Z/.

Hypericum irionoijynum

Mill.

L'w,

fig. pi.

iVIill,

54.

ftg.pl. 15.

f.

2.

of

LETTER

XXV.

375

of this genus, fo gay with its yellow corols,

and abundant crop of ftamens.
With this large harveft, IJeave you, dear
coufin, till I ihall have found leifure to prepare the extenfive and moft difficult tribe of
compound flowers, for your infpedion.

376

LETTER

XXVL

Auguft the 24th, 1776.

THOUGH

this letter, dear coufin, will

arrive late in the

you

in time for

part

of the

compound
the autumn

examine the

to

You

which blow
are

will be

greater

or

^yngenejia,

clafs

flowers,

it

far

feafon, yet

tribe

of

chiefly

in

well aware that

the

efl^ential charadler of this clafs, is the union

of the anthers. You are perfedl miftrefs of

the ftrudure of a coi^pound flower, and of

And
the difl^erent florets that compofe it^
the feveral orders into which the
laflly,
divided are familiar to you, and the
is
clafs

Very
foundation of them well underftood'".
little therefore remains to premife, before we
proceed to ihe examination of the genera
and fpecies.
Thib is by

much

the mofl:

numerous of

the natural clafl^es^ ^ and therefore it fhould,

to
probability, be more difficult
all
in
and
fpecific
diflincgeneric
iufficient
find
fuch however
tions here than in any other
:

'

See letter VI.

See letter X.

The number

of genera being

116, and of fpecies

i?47-

has

LETTER

'

XXVI.

377
has been the fagacity and induftry of Linnaeus, that I hope you will not find any
great difficulty, even in the two firft orders, which contain above two thirds of all
the genera.

To

the invedigation, in the firfl

Polygamia JEqualiSf it is fubdivided
into three battalions, ealily diftinguilhed by
The firft conthe mofi: obvious charadlers.
tains the flowers compofed wholly of ligufacilitate

order,

which

the

Semiflofculous
the fcond contains
flowers of Tournefort
and the third,
the capitate or headed flowers
late

florets,

are
:

the difcoid flowers.

So that there are no radiate flowers in this order: the flou^ers of the

wholly made up of fuch florets as compofe the ray of thefe: in the two
other fecflions there are none of thefe ligulate corols or femiflorets, but the compound
flower is wholly made up of tubulous cofe:ion are

firft

or florets properly fo called

in the
fcond fe:ion thefe are long, and the calyx
bulges out at bottom, as in the thiftles ; in
the third, the flowers refemble a Daify or
other radiate flower, with the ray pulled off.
The calyx, the receptacle, and the crown
of the feed will in general be found fufliclent
to furniili the generic diftindtions in this
prder ^.
rols,

Thus
^

gm,

The

calyx

is

fingle, or

Andryala^ Tragopogon

fimple in Seriola^ Geropo-

calyclcd, cr furnilhed

with

a fcond

LETTER

378

Thus
by

its

T^ragopogon or

fimple

feathered

XXVI.

Goaf s-beard

i%

known

naked receptacle, and

down and thefe three

calyx,

Itipitate

circumftances are fufficient to diftinguifh this

genus from all others; provided you have
by the rules already
firft affured yourfelf,
laid dovv'n, that your flower is of the com-

pound

tribe, that each flofcule has the anunited into a cylinder, which the piftil, terminated by two revolute ftigmas, perforates ; and that the corols are all ligulate :

thers

for thus

is

it

order, and

felion.

you have any

natural

that

you come at the clafs,

I cannot fuppofe that

difficulty

compound

diftinguidiing

in

from

flower,

double

one, the creature of art and culture, though

the fimilarity may miflead thofe who are not

accuftomed
tain that

to obfervation; becaufe I

if

you have the

am

cer-

doubt, you

leafl

of leaflets at the bafe in Cichoreum^ Picrh^

Prmanthcs^ Lapfana^ Hyojeris ; in the
The receptacle is villous in Scolymus^ Cirelt imbiicate.
thrcvm^ Catananche^ Seriola^ Hypocharis^Geropogon ; in the
reft it is n'aktd, that is, has neither hairs nor chaffs beScoly?tius, zn Lap[ana hz\e no paprwecij the floCculcs.
in Seriol, Jndryala, Crepisy Prenanthes,
ptn or down
A:.9,itca^Ueraum, Sonchus^ the down is iimple; in Hy2 fecord

fet

Crpis^ Chondrilla,

pcchttris^

Gcrof^ngon^ Trogopogon^

Lcontodouy

Picris,

Scor-

Tonera^ Chondnila^ it is featiiered ; in Cichoreum the crown

of the feed is five-tonthcd, in Catananche fiveawned, in

Hrjiris crowned with a calycle.

down
t.fie:

fiis

that

clofe to the
is,

feed,

has a ftcm

In

in others

intcr^iored

Come genera
it

is

this

ftiped ox jVipi-

between

it

and the

feed.

will

LETTER

XXVI.

379

will pull out a flofcule, in order to fee

ther

it

has a feed, ftamens, and

piftil,

wheor

is

But to return to

only a mere flat

Tellow or Comjnnn Goafs-beard'^
our plant.
which grows wild among the grafs in meadows, is dirtinguifhed by entire upright leaves,
and by the fegments of the calyx at lead
Toequalling in length the outer flofcules.
wards noon you will not eafily find this plant,
becaufe the flowers are then always clofed :
after the flower is pad. Goafs-beard is very
apparent, on account of the large globe formed
by the down of the feeds, till the wind has at
length torn them from the receptacle, and
petal.

wafted them feparately to diftant places.

Salfafy ^, which your gardener will furnifli you with from the kitchen garden, has
the fegments of the calyx much longer than
the flofcules, and the peduncles fwell out remarkably under the flower ; which is large,
and of a fine blue.
Another plant of this tribe which you may
alfo have from the kitchen garden, is the
ScorzG?eray of a genus nearly allied to the
lad; agreeing with it in having a naked
receptacle and a feathered flipitate down,
but differing from it by an imbricate calyx,
with the fcQS Jcariofe, or black as if parch^

Tragopogon

pratenfe Lin.

Mor.

hift. f. 7. t. 9. f. i.

Gcr. 735.
^

Tragopogon porrifolium Lin. Mor.

c.

g,

f.

5.

Ger.

735, Fl. dan. 797.

ed

LETTER

38o

XXVI.

The cultivated fpecies

ed on the edge.
ftem,
and entire, ftem-clafphas a branching
ing leaves, flightly flawed on their edges
the
tlowers are of a bright yeilow.
Sowthijle and Lettuce agree in a naked receptacle, an imbricate ca!yx, and a fimpie
down to the feed. But in the firft: the calyx
is gibbous, or fwelling at the bafej; in the
fcond it is cylindric, with membranous
dges
the firft has a fefle down ; in the
fcond it is ftipitate, and the feeds are poliihed.
You will always find it ufeful, where
you can, thus to bring together and compare
plants of nearly allied genera, in order to
confider well their fmiilitudes and differences, and to give you a readinefs in making
thofe minute but important diliinlions, fo
'

necefl'ary to difcriinination

wherein

in

natural

tribes,

feems alike to the untutored

eye, as the Iheep of the flock to the ordinary paffengerj whereas the fliepherd knows
each by its proper marks, and calls them all
by their names.
Of the Sowthi/ile'^^ that vulgar weed of
the ktchen garden, there are many variethe rough and the fmooth ; with laties;
cerate leaves and limple ones, &c. which I
mention, only that you may not be led tQ
fearch
^

"*

all

for

tlitm, as diflinct fpecies

in rca-

Scorzonera hifpanica Lin.

Sonch'^3

ulei:;dceus

Lin, Curtis^

Lond.

II. 58.

Ger.

592.
lity

LETTER
ity

thefe

differences

are

XXVI.
owing

381
merely to

accident and fituation.

Hieracium or Hawkweed is a numerous genus of this order and fedion; the calyx is
ovate and imbricate, the receptacle naked, and
There are many
the down fimple and feilile.
one ", which is
fpecies wild in this country
and
banks and in
a large plant, on walls
woods; with a branching ftem, the radical
leaves oval and toothed, and a fmaller leaf
on the ftalk: and another, very common indeed in dry paftures, called Moufe-ear Hawk^
weed", from the long hairs upon the leaves,
which are ovate, and abfoiutely entire; this
fort throws out runners, and the flowers come
There are other
out fingly on naked flalks.
fpecies, vulgarly called Hawkweeds, which
range under other genera, as the Crpis^ which
differs from Hieraciumy in having the calyx
only calycled, with deciduous fcales.
1 (liall conclude the firfl: fedion with Suc;

cory or Eidive;

which has the calyx

calycled,

between the flofcules on the receptacle, and the crown of the feed moftly
five-toothed and obfcurely hairy.
Wild Succory^ has runcinate leaves, and generally
a few chaffs

" Hieracium murorum Lin, Mor, hift. f. 7. t. 5. f.

54.
Ger. 304.
" Hieracium Pilofella Li?i.
Curtis, Lond. IV. 54.
Ger. 638.
p Cichoreum latybus Lm. Curtis, Lond. V. 56. Gtrr.

284.

two

LETTER

382

XXVI.

flowers coming out together

Enfolitary,
peduncled
flowers,
and
enhas
dive'^
Both
tire leaves, only notched about the edge.

two

feffile

have flowers of a fine blue^ but the firft is

perennial, and the fcond only biennial. Curled
Endive, though differing fo remarkably from
its parent in the leaves, is but a variety of
the

lalf.

The
this

greater part of the fcond fedion, in

firft

order of the nineteenth clafs,

is

occu-

pied by the Thirties, a moll: untradtable genus,

not at all adapted to the delicate fingers of our
The calyx is all imbricate with
lovely Flora.

thorny

fcales;

afunder,

and

how

fhe

will

tear

this

to difcover that the receptacle has

between the feeds: yet thefe two circumftances form the chara(fl:er of the genus;
and fhe muft obferve that there are fome plants
commonly called ThiJlleSy which are not of the
genus Cardiius.
For inftance, the Common
iVay-Thijile' not having fpines to the fcales of
hairs

the calyx, which alfo is cylindric in fliape,

whereas in the Cardui it bulges out at bottom,
and the receptacle being naked, is not a Carduus in Lin nanus's idea, but a Serratula.
So
likewife Cotton-Thijile

ed

reccpraclc,

Cichoreum Endivia Lin.

Serratula arvenlis

f.

14.

Ger.

honey-comb-

on

account

of

Indeed the genus would

32.

having

feparated

is

that circumftance.

t.

'

Lm.

Fl. dan. 644.

Mor.

hift.

f.

7.

173.

Onopordon Acanthiutn

Lux,

Mor.

t.

30.

f.

I.

Ger.

149.
I

have

LETTER

XXVI.

383

have been too vaft and unmanageable, without an attention to thefe marks, which might
fometimes have appeared otherwife too minute.
You have perhaps even heard it faid
that the Artichoke^ is nothing but a Thiftle.
It differs indeed very little; having a hairy receptacle, only the hairs being ftiffer. it may
be called briftlyj and the ftrudure of the
down being the fame: they differ principally
in the calyx, for the fcales in the Artichoke
are fcariofe or ragged, iiefhy, and terminated
by a channelled appendicle, emarginate and
a charade r which you may examine
pointed
If you would fpecuat your leifure at table.
being fo large,
which
the
flowers;
blue
late on
will give a good idea of florets; at the fiuiie
time that it is alfo an excellent inftance of the
order Polygamia- /Equalise and the Capitate or
fc^ion of it; you mull prevail on your
gardener to let fome heads ftand long after the
time that they fnould be cut for the table.
The Burdccky whofe heads fometimes faften themfelves to your clothes as you pafs,
the fame divifion with the Thiilles
is in
the globofe form of the calyx, together
with the hooked tops of the fcales which
compofe it, are the effential characters of
The common wild fpecies " has
the genus.

HeaM

"

Cynara Scolymus Lin.

Ar(5lium Lappa /. Curtis, Lond, IV, 55, Ger. 809.

very

LETTER

384

XXVI.

very large woolly heart-fhaped leaves, pctiolate,

Of
fome

and unarmed.
the third fedion, with Difcoid, or as
call them, na^ed difcous flowers, few

The

banks of rivers and ditches

will furnifh a fpecies of Eupatorium\ a
ufually there
large plant with digitate leaves
leaf,
each
which are
to
lobes
are three
hairy, and fharply ferrate, the middle one
the largeft; fometimes the fide lobes are
wholly wanting, and the leaf becomes fimple:
the ftalks are lofty, rough, and quadrangular;
and bear large bunches of fmall purple flowers on their tops, with about five florets in
each calyx.
The charaders of the genus are
an oblong, imbricate calyx, a naked receptacle; a feathered down, and a very long
are at hand.

ftyle,

divided half

way the

length.

The fame fituations will produce you the

Bidens ; which has alfo an imbricate calyx:
but the receptacle is chaffy; the corol is
with one floret alterthe feeds are crowned
and
;
with two eredl-, rugged awns, which being
hooked make the feeds adhere to any thing
have two wild
that comes near them.
fpecies, the /r/)f(^"', fo called from its trifid

fometimes

furnillied

nately radiant

We

Eupatorium cannabinum Lin Fl. dan. 745. Mor.

hift. f. 7. t. 13. f. I. Ger. 711. Common Hemp-Agri^

mony.
^ lidens

tripartita

Lin.

Water Hemp-Agrimony.

Curtis, Lond. IV. 57. Gcr. 711.

leaves;

LETTER

XX VL

385

feeds, and leafy calyxes:

with lance-fhaped, Itemclafping leaves, nodding flowers, and ereft
feeds.
The corols of both are yellow but
thofe of the laft, which is the leaft common,
are mod: fpecious.
The fcond order of the clafs Syngenefia,
entitled Polygamia Siiperfiua^ being fcarcely
lefs numerous than the firfl, is fubdivided
into two fedions, the firft containing the
difcoid, and the fcond, the radiate flowers :
there is only one genus in this order with

leaves;

and the

with ered
nodding'',

-,

femiflofculous flowers.

Of

with difcoid flowers,

you have the "Tcmfy which you find to have
an imbricate, hemifpheric calyx ; the corols
of the ray, or on the outfide trifid ; the
others quinquefid ; the feeds naked, being
only flightly edged j and the receptacle naked.
Sometimes in this genus there are no imperfed flowers. Our common T^anfy^^ which not
only the kitchen garden, but dry, upland
paflures will furnifh you with, has bipinnate,
the

firfl:

felion,
;

or twice- feathered leaves, which are gafhed,

and ferrated about the edges.
Southernwood'' t the Wormwoods and Mugworthy all range under the genus Artefnijiai
Bidens cernua Lm. Nodding Water Hemp-Agrimony. Curtis, Lond, III. 55. Ger. 711.
Tanacetum vulgare ///. Fi. dan. 871. Mor. hift.
'

y^

i.

6.
*

t.

I. f.

I.

Ger. 650.

Artemifia Abrotanuni Lif?,

Artemifia vul<jaris Lin, Blackw.

Cc

t.

431. Ger.

103.

which

LETTER

386
which

hcis

XXVL

a calyx imbricate, with rounded,

naked feeds; and a receptacle either naked or with few hairs

the
flowers have no ray whatever, but are ftrialy
difcoid.
Southernwood^ is (hrubby, eredt, and
has fetaceous leaves, very much branched
with
there is
field or ivild Southernwood
procumbent, twiggy flems, and multifid, linear leaves.
Copimon^ and Koman Wormwoods
and Mugwcrt^ have ere6l herbaceous ftems,
and compound leaves. The Con^mon^ fpecies
converging

fcales

2i

'\,

has the leaves multifid, the flowers fubglobular and pendulous, and the receptacle
hairy. Roman Wormwood hzs the leaves manyparted,
and downy underneath, the heads
of flowers roundifh and nodding,, as in the
Mugwort^
other; but the receptacle naked.
has pinnatifid, flat, gaihed leaves, downy unthe flowers are born in Ample,
derneath
and have a ray of five
racemes,
recurved
Common Sea JVormivood has proflowers.
:

many-parted downy leaves,

nodding racemes, and three flowers in the ray.
Gnaphalium, comprehending many wild
Cudweeds and the Immortal flowers, or y ellow and white Everlajiings-, has an imbricate
calyx, with the fcales rounded, fcariofe, and
coloured; a naked receptacle, and feathered

cumbent

fl;ems

Ger. iic6.
Artemifia Abfinthium L'm. Blackvv. t. 17. Ger.1096.
Artemifia ponrica Lin.- Jacq. auftr. i. t. 99.

* Artemifia campeftris Lin.

'
''

Artemifia maritinia.

Ger. 1099,

down.

LETTER
There

down.
yellow

XXVI.

are feveral

and white

387

both of
the mofl

fpecies

Everlaftings

of the r, is common in Portugal,

where they adorn their churches with the
flowers, which are alfo fent annually to
England
is
it
fuppofed to have
been
brought originally from India^: the leaves
are linear-lanced, and feiile
the flowers are
born in a compound corymb, on elongated
peduncles; and the flem is fubherbaceous.
One of the latter s is very common in the
gardens, and is originally of North America;
this has leaves like the former, fharp-pointed,
and alternate; the (iems herbaceous, and
branched above, the flowers in corymbs, with
level tops.
This has a very creeping root ;*
and the flalks and leaves are woolly
the
iilvery calyxes, as well as the golden ones,
of the former, if gathered before they are too
open, will continue in beauty many years.
Xeranthemum or "Eternal flower has an imbricate calyx, with the inner fcales membranaceous, fhining, and forming a fet of
coloured rays to crown the flower j the re-

known

ceptacle

is

mofl:ly

naked

either briftly or feathered.

tbemiim^

is

an

exception

and the

down

is

Annual Xeranto

the

general

^Gnphalium orientale Z,/. Comm. hort. 2. t. 55.

Mor. hift. r. 7. t. 10. f. laft.
s Gnaphalium margaritaceum Lin,
* Xeranthemum annuum Lin.
Mill, illuftr. Jacq.
auftr. 4. 388.

c 2

character.

LETTER

3^8

XXVI.

having a chaffy receptacle ; it

is alfo the only one which has a down of five
has lance-fliaped
briftles; it is herbaceous,
fpreading leaves; the outfide florets have a
fimple ftigma, with a naked feed; thofe in
The
the middle have a fub-bifid ftigma.
colour of the corol is either purple or white.
There is a fort from the Cape with yellow

characler, in

flowers'.

The fcond divifion of this order, with

Radiate flowers, is much the largeft.
'Tuffilago or Colt's'foot has a cylindric calyx, with
equal fcales, from fifteen to twenty in number, as long as the difk of the flower, and a
membranous ; a naked receptacle, and
Common wild Colfs^
a fimple or hairy down.
rather heartfoot^ has angulate leaves,
fhaped, with flight indentations about the
little

edges, underneath

flower on

fcape,

covered with
leaves fhaped

fcales.

which

and one yellow

is

imbricate or

Biitter-bur^

has vaft

much like thofe of the Coifsmany (from ten to twenty) purpliih

foot
flowers,
\

white

collected into an ovate

thyrfe,

on

of a purplifli fc;ipe fet with Icales

of the fame colour : there are fometimes
from two to fix imperfed, white, ligulate

the top

S^ba2. t. 4?. f- 6.
rpeciofifTimum.
Curtis, Loud. II. bo. Ger.
Tuflllago Fcirfara Lhi.
811.
Curtis, Lond. II. 59. Ger.
Tuflilago Petafites Z(w.
*

Xeranthemum

'

814.
florets,

LETTER

XXVI.

389

with fcarcely any corol, among the

You will not be able to examine all
the fpecific charaders ot thefe two plants at
once; for the naked ftem which bears the
flowers pufhes up alone very early in the
fpring ; and the leaves do not fucceed till the

florets,

others.

flowers are

pall:.

Senecio or

Groundfd

genus"', having

with the

is

very numerous

a cylindric caiycled

calyx,

icales fphacelate or

feeming mortified at topi a naked receptacle, and a

fimpie
down.^ Mod: of the fpecies have radiate flowers, eight of them however have not,
and

among

Common Grcundfeh, fo vulgar a weed in kitchen gardens.

Stinking
Groimdfeh, a plant not very unlike this, has
thefe

is

the

however radiate corols, with the femiflorets

of the ray revolute
the fcales of the calyx
-,

are lofej and the leaves

are pinnatifid and

This grows in hedge- rows and on
heaths, and is a much taller plant than the
vifcid.

lad.

Common Ragwort^ has alfo radiate corols,

with the ray however not revolute but expanding:

the

ftem of this is erea ; the

leaves pinnatifid, approaching to lyrate,
with
""

Fifty-nine fpecies.

-Senec.o vulgaris

Curtis,

L'ln.

278.
" Senecio vifcofus Lin.
* benecio Jacobsa />;.

Lond.

Dill. elth.

Mor.

hlft.

t.
f.

258
7
^

Ger. 280.

Cc

I.

f.
t

'.

6i.

Ger

006
iH
JO.

r.

t
I.

the

LETTER

390

the divifions a

little

XXVI.

jagged.

This

is

very

by road-fides and in paftures. The

have a purple African Groundfel'^
from the Cape ; an annual plant with a yelagrees with
it
low diik, and purple rays
Ragwort in having radiate corols with the
the leaves are pinnatifid,
ray expanding
equal, and very fpreading, with a thickened
and the fcales of the carecurved margin
A fingular plant of
lyx are thinly ciliated.
this genus came up one year in my garden,
which I took at firft to be a new fpecies^ but,
on more accurate examination, it proved to
be a hybridous plant or mule, produced from
this and the common Groundfel 3 it had the
radiate flowers of the one, fmall indeed and
flighty tinged with purple, and the herb of
the other: being annua], and producing no
feed, this variety
paffcd away with
the

common

gardens

-,

-,

feafon.

The two

genera o^ After and Golden-rod

furnilh abundance of flowers that enliven the
autumnal ic2io\i and continue till the fever
rity of froll puts an end to them
They both
agree in an imbricate calyx, a Ample down,
and a naked receptacle
but the inferior
fcales in the calyx of the After are fpreading,
and have a ragged appearance ; whereas in
the Go/^^/z-/^ erf' they are clofe: all the fpecies
:

Senecio elegans Lin,

mus.

I.

t.

22.

i,

Comm.

hort. 2.

t.

30.

Seba

I.

alfo

LETTER
alfo of the Jfter
ilorets in

XXVI.

391

have more than ten

the ray, but the

femi-

Golden-rods hav

remote ones. Some

of the Afters are flirubby, but moft of them
are tall herbaceous plants, dying down to
the ground at the approach of winter, and
rifing again from the fame root the enfuing
many are confounded under the
fpring
The
vulgar title of Michaelmas Daifies.
^
Starivort
one
Italian
is
purple
AmelluSi or
of the lowelt fpecies, but has large purple
flowers, gro^^ing
in a corymb on naked
peduncles, with the fcales of the calyx obonly about

five

or

fix

tufe; the

leaves

lance-fhaped,

are

rugged, entire about the edges,

obtufe,

and marked

underneath with three nerves. The greater

part of the perennial American Afters have
fome have entire, and
fcaly peduncles
others ferrated leaves 5 hence a convenient
fubdivifion of the genus : there are however
fome few fpecies with ferrated leaves and
Large jlowering
naked fmooth peduncles.
or Catejbys Star wort % is one of the handthe flowers being large and of a deep
fomeft
purple; the calyx is ragged; the peduncles
are fcaly, and fuftain only one flower; the
leaves are quite entire, tongue-fhaped, and
clafp the ftem.
Chintfe JJier^ is an an<"
-,

'y

'

After Amellus Z/.

edit.

Mart.

p.

J^cq.

auftr.

425. Virg, georg.

368.

After grandiflorus Lm. Mart. cent. 19. Mill. fig. 292.

Dill. elth. t. 34.. f. 38.
After chinenfis L'ln.

nual

LETTER

392

XXVI.

nual plant, with ovate, angulate leaves,

toothed about the edge, and petiolate j the
flowers terminate the branches, and have
The variety of coSpreading leafy calyxes.

of the corol, have made this

fpecies very generally cultivated the frequent
duplicity of them, will not induce you to
miftake a double radiate, for a natural ligulate flower ; which, to an unobferving eye, it

and

lour,

fize

The

perfectly refembles.

ilt-mar(hes on the

Europe furniHi one fpecies, called

Sea-Starivort": this has lance-fhaped, entire,

iea-coaft of

flefhy,

qual

fmooth leaves; the branches

and the flowers in a corymb.

Of

the

European
Weljb

we have only one

unlefs we didinguifh the

Golden-rods
fpecies^',

Golde?-7'od'-\

humble

are une-

varietv.

which

The

flem

feems
is

but

little

an

flex-

uofe or winding; and the flowers grow in

crowded, panicled racemes. The Wehh

ere:,

has the leaves a little hoary underneath, and roundiih cluflered fpikes at the
top of the flalk, with larger flowers appearing earlier than the common fort: in lofty
lituations and dry foils, a ftem will fomevariety

times produce one flower only.

"

After Tripolium

t,

?2.

f.

4.

f.

l.n.

Fl. dan. 615.

North AmeMor.

hift.

f.

7.

36, 37- Ger. 41 3.

Solidago Virgaurea Lin. Fl. dan. 663. Mor. t. 23.

Ger. 430.
^ Sulidago cambrica Hudf, Petiv. herb. Brit. t. i6.f. 11,

"

rica

LETTER

XXVI.

393

has furnifhed abundance of

whofe golden racemes of flowers mix happily with the purple corymbs of the Afters;
and thus they jointly enliven plantations of
fpecies,

rca

fhrubs in the latter feafon.

Inuy of which Elecampane " is the leading fpecies, has the following charaders

a naked receptacle; a Ample down; and the

anthers ending at the bafe in two briftles:

of the anthers is unique

the
cylinder is compofed of five fmaller linear
anthers, each ending in two briftles, of the
The true Elecam^
length of the filaments.
pane"^ is diftinguifhed by itsbrge, ftem-clafping, ovate, wrinkled leaves, downy underneath ; and by the ovate form of the fcaies
of the calyx.
The ftalks are three feet
high, and divide towards the top into feveral fmaller branches, each of which is
terminated by one large yellow flower.
The
Flea-banes middie y 2Lnd le/s"^ are of this genus; the firfl: is common in moifl: meathis ftrudure

dows, and has

hollowed next
terminated by
and the fcaies
fcond

24.
y
!^

i'.

the peti)le; a villous flem

yellow flowers in panicles;

of the calyx briflly.

has alfo fl:emclafping leaves,

^ Inula
t.

item-clafping, oblong leaves,

Helen! um Lin, Fl, dan. 728.

laft.

Mor.

hift.

The
but
f.

7,

Ger. 793.

InuJa dyienterica Z/, Curtis, Lond. III. 56. Ger. 482.

Inula pulicaria Lin, Curtis, Lond. 111. 57. Ger. 482.

waved

LETTER

394
waved;

proftrate

XXVI.
and

ftemsj

fubglobular
the fhortnefs of

flowers,

cafily

known by

the ray.

The

place of this

and where water

is

by road-fides,

(lands in winter.

Doroniciim or Leopard' S'bane, a wild plant

of the Alps, and now common among the

perennials of the garden, has the fcales of the
calvx in two rows, equal, and longer than the
diTfC; the feeds of the ray naked or deftitute
of downj thofe of the difk crowned with a
fimple

down

the

receptacle

The

naked.

above alluded to% has heartcommon

fhaped leaves, flightly indented about the
edge, and obtufe at the end 5 thofe at the root
The
petiolate, thofe ah )ve ftem-clafping.
ftalks are channelled and hairy, near three
feet high; thefe put out a few fide branches,
each of which is terminated by a large yellow
fcond fpecies'' has ovc^te, acute
flower.
leaves, (lightl) indented, and alternate branches.
third ^ has a naked, fimple ftem ending in
fpecies,

one flower:

and

thefe

make up

the whole

genus.
Tagetcs has a one-leafed, five-toothed, tubular calyx; five permanent florets to the ray;

the feeds are crowned with five ered awns ;

and the receptacle is naked. French and
*"

Doronicum

pardallanchcs

L'tn,

Doronicum plantagineum
Doronicum Heilidiaftrum

L'ln.

aiiftr. 4.
'
"=

t,

Mill.

fig.

128. Jacq,

350.

Tagetes patuUi

L'ln.

J?cq. auftr. 4.t. 4CK),

Z./.

African

LETTER

XXVI.

395

African^ Marigolds, two of the gaudy anof the flower garden are of this genus.

riuals

The

firft

is

difting.iilhed

fpreading ftem

by

fubdivided

the fccond, by an ered, fim-

pie fiern, with naked, one-flowered peduncles.

Of both ihefe, as you well know, there arc

many

varieties in colour,

from pale brimflione

and the more they deviate into

the more does your gardener
Value himfeif on his fkill or good fortune.
Chryftmthemumy fo named from its goldento deep orange;

dupiicitv, fo

much

coloured flowers, is known by its hemifpheric,

imbricate calyx, formed of cl fe fcales, the
inner ones gradually larger, and the inmofl
membranous, or chafli^y; there is no down to
the feeds, but they are only edged or margined;
Some of the fpecies
the receptacle is naked.
are improperly termed Chryjanthewa, having
white rays to the flowers of ihefe we have
an inflance in the Ox-eye Daify ^, a plant com:

mon among

ftanding gr^fs in

meadows, and

having oblong, fl:em-clafping leaves, fa wed

Corn MarigoU^,
above, and toothed below.
among
the
corn in fandy
weed
is
a
which
and ftem-clafping
rays,
lands, has yellow
and toothed below;
leaves, jagged above,
they are fmooch, and of a glaucous hue.
Led you fliould think the colour of more
*^

Tagetes

ere<5ta Li7j.

Cbry fan them urn Leucanthemum Lin. Blackw. t. 42.

Mor. hilt. f. 6. t. 8. f. i. Ger. 634.
s Chryfanthcmum fegetum
Lm, Mor. t. 4. f. i. Ger.
^

743I

importance

LETTER

396

importance than

it

really

mind, that the fpecies

XXVI.
will put

is,

you

in

commonly cultiunder the name of

fo

vated in flower gardens,

Chrylanthtmum creiicum^y has both yellow
and white rays : thefe flowers are efteemed
in proportion as they deviate from nature;

but the plant may always be known, by the

pinnate, galhed leaves, growing broader towards the end.
The three genera of Matricaria, Cotiila,

and Anthcmis, are nearly allied. The firft

has a hemifpheric, imbricate calyx, with
the marginal fcales folid, and rather acute :
the feeds have no down ; and the receptacle
The fcond has a convex calyx ;
is naked
thofe of the
the florets cf the diik quadrifld
ray have only a germ with its flyle and fligmas, without any corol there is no down,
but the feed is margined and the receptacle
The third has a
is naked, or nearly fo.
hemifpheric calyx, with the fcales nearly
more than Ave femiflorcts in the
equal
and a chaffy receptacle.
ray ; no down ;
-,

There

name

are plants

of

Commm

vulgarly

known by

Mayweed or Camomile,

the

in each genus.

alfo is a fpecies of
Fever-few
Matricaria : the leaves are compound and
the lobes or divifions are ovate, and
flat,
it
gafhed, and the peduncles are branched
*

Chryfanthemum coronarium L!n.

Matricaria PartheniumZ,/;;.

H.

Alor. t. 4. f. 2, 3,
dan. 674. Ger. 652.

grows

LETTER
grows upon banks, has a

XXVI.

397

ftrong, unpleafant

of a yellowifli green,
and the rays of the flower are white admitted into gardens, it has generally double
Common or true Camomile^'^ is an
flowers.
Anthmis-, and has compound pinnate leaves,
the divifions linear, acute, and a little villous.
It fometimes covers a confiderable
extent of ground on dry fandy commons,
trailing along, and putting out roots from
the ilalks; its agreeable odour betrays it as
we tread upon it that which is found in
gardens, has ufually loft all charadter by

fcent, the leaves

are

cultivation.

Achillea

or

Milfoil has an oblong-ovate

imbricate calyx ; from five to ten femiflorets

in the ray ; no down ; and a chaiFy receptacle.
Common wild Milfoil or Tarrow^ has bi pinnate naked leaves, the divifions of which are
linear and indented ; the ftems are furrowed
above.
It is a vulgar plant in paftures, and
particularly by

way- fides ; for it feems to

being trod upon, and in fuch
places fpreads itielf abundantly.
The ufual
colour of the flower is white , but it fometimes varies to a fine purple.
Other foreign
delight in

fpecies are yellow.

The
being
*
1

f.6.

four

much

Anthmis

remaining orders of this clai^

lefs
numerous than the two

nobilis Z///.

Ger.

Achillea Millefolium Lin.

t.

II.

f.

6,

14.

755.
Fl. dan. 737.

Mor.

hlft.

Ger. 1072.

which

LETTER

398

XXVI.

which we have already examined, there is

not the fame occafion for fubdivifions and
accordingly Llnngeus has not made any. The
;

order of Frujfraneous Polygamy comprehends no more than feven genera, from

Helianthus and
which I ihall ftle; two
The firrt: has an imbricate caCe?itaurea.
third

having a ragged
appearance from the fpreading of the tips of
thefcales a two-leaved or two-awned crown
to the feeds; and a flat chaffy receptacle.
Every fpecies of this genus is a native of
America alone, and on the difcovery of the
new world, fome of them were vaunted as
miracles of nature, though they are now
become fo common, as almoft to be difregarded.
The annual ^un-flower^ however
it muft be acknowledged is a flower of wonderful magnificence, and owes the diminution of regard to the facility of its propagathe fpecific characters are heart-fhaped
tion
leaves, marked with three principal nerves ;
peduncles thickening immediately under the
calyx ; and the flowers nodding. No flower
is more proper than this, from its great fize,
to give you an idea of a compound flower,
and its component flofcules, or florets and
femiflorets ; only you will remember not to
expert feeds from thofe of the ray, that
being the charadter of the order.
This plant
rather fquarrofe,

lyx,

or

" Helianthus annuus Z/.

Mill,

illuftr.

had

LETTER
had

name from

its

the

not from any power

ing towards the fun

it
:

XXVI.

399

form of the flower,

there

is

of

turnufually but

poiTefles

one flower on a ftalk, but I had four in my

garden on a Angle ftem, looking to the four
Terennial Sun-flower " is yet
the lafl:, becaufe itfpreads
than
more common
much at the root, and requires no care in the
cultivation : the inferior leaves of this are
heart-(haped and three-nerved, but the upper
ones ovate. The flowers, though much fmaller
than thofe of the laft, are yet the largell and
moft fightly of the perennial forts, and the
fame plant produces abundance of them. You
will be' on your guard againfl: double flowThe perennial forts feldom produce
ers.
feeds in our climate: whereas the annual,
which can be propagated no otherwife, has
cardinal points.

them

in

plenty.

Jerujalem

^rtichoke^ is
the leaves
are ovto-corfe, or egg-ihaped, only hollowed at the bafe; they are alfo marked
this frequently
with three principal nerves
alfo

fpecies

of

HcVanthus

does not even flower, but it is cultivated not

fake of thefe, but the tuberous or
knobbed roots, refembling in form the potabut in tafle an artichoke bottom.
toe,

for the

There
"
*

is

a fpecies

which has the commoii

Helianthus multiflorus Lm. Pluk. phyt. 159, f. 7,

Helianthus tuberofus Lin. Jacq. here. 2. :. i5i.

or

LETTER

40

XXV.

name o gigant ens or giant : Jerufa"

Artichoke juftly merits the fame title, for
have meafured ftems of it twelve feet high.
Centaurea is a moft numerous genus of the

or

trivial

km
I

fame third order, containing no

than

lefs

The corols of the ray are

funnel-form, or tubular, longer than thofe of
the diflc, and irregular^ the down is fimple;
and the receptacle has briftles between the
This otherwife unweildy genus is
florets.

iixty-fix fpecies.

commodioufly fubdivided into fix fedions,

by the variations of the calyx, which you
obferve make no part of the generic charader.

I.

Plants

commonly

called

Jaceas,

with fmooth, unarmed calyxes. II. CyanufeSy

with the fcales of the calyx fawed and
ciliated.
III. Rhaponticu?nsy with dry, fcaparched.
IV. Stoebes, with the fpines of the calyx
palmated. V. Calcitrapas^ with the fpines of
riofe

calyx

the

With

To

like

fcales,

chaif,

compound

or as

or

if

VI.

fubdivided.

the fpines fimple or wholly undivided.

fedion belongs the Sweet Sul^

tan
a roundifh calyx with ovate
and lyrate leaves, indented about the
fcales
edge.
It is an annual plant, with purple
flowers, of a fweetnefs fo powerful as to
be oiFenfive to many perfons ; they come
out lingly on long naked peduncles, and
frequently vary to flefh colour and white.
the

i",

firft

which has

'y

'

Centaurea mofchata Lin, Mor.

hift.

f.

7,

t.

25.

f.

5.

There

LETTER
There

is

XXVI.

401

which

a yellow Sweet Sultan,

dif-

not only in the colour of the flowers,

and in having a milder odour, but alfo in
having the edges of the leaves ferrate : it
fers

doubtful however whether it be a diftindt

The Great or
from the former.
alfo
of
this fedion :
Centaury
is
Officinal
the fcales of the calyx are ovate; the leaves
are pinnate, and the lobes or divilions ferrate
is

fpecies

"^

and decurrent. The plant

and the flowers are purple.

Of

the fcond fubdivilion

plants commonly wild, and

common in

large and

is

we

tall,

have three

one

lefs

little

Common or Black Knap*

weed\ perhaps more properly Kfiob-weed,
which the country people in fome places
gardens.

is found in almoft all pafand is one infl:ance among many

others, of the vile weeds vt^hich are fuffered to occupy grafs fields with impunity:
the fcales are ovate, with eredl, capillary
Cli or fringes: the leaves are lyrate and
angulate; and the flowers are flofculous.
Great Knapweed^ has pinnatifid leaves, with
the lobes lanceolate.
This grows in corn
fields and on balks.
The flowers of both are
red; but thofe of the latter are much the
iargefl: and moft fpecious.
Blue-bottle ^ the

call

Hard-heads^

tures,

'
*
*

Centaurea Centaureum

Lm.

.Centaurea nigra Lin> Ger. 727,

Centaurea Scabiofa Lin. Mor.

Ger, 727.
* Centaurea Cyanus Lin. Mor.

Dd

t.

hift.

25.

f.

f.

y.t. 26.

4.

Ger. 732.

f.

third

LETTER

402

XXVI.
which every
weed among
blue colour would

third wild plant of this fedion,

body knows for an univerfal

and whofe beautiful

have attra(fted regard, had it been rare; has
linear leaves, which on the ftem are quite
entire; towards the ground they are broader,
indented about the edges, and fometimes
Mountain Blue -bottle'' y which has
pinnate.
migrated from the Swifs mountains into our
gardens, is very nearly allied to this, but
corn

much

the leaves alfo

are lance -fhaped and decurrent, and the flem
whereas the wild fort is
is quite fimple,

its

flowers

branched.
Thijle^

is

are

Cardiius

an

larger

or

Benedicus

Bleffed

inltance of the fourth fedlon:

doubly fpined, woolly calyxes, furniflied with an involucre-, the leaves are femidecurrent, indented, and prickly: this is a
fmall annual plant with yellow flov^rers.
have a wild fpecies of this fedion
the Stargrov/ing by road-fides, and in dry
ihijlle^''^
it has feffile
paftures, but not every where
with the calyxes rather doubly
flowers,
fpined ; the leaves pinnatifid, linear, and
toothed; the flem hairy, and much branched:
the fpincs of the calyx are white, and the
flowers red.
Of the other fe(fl:ions none are
likely to meet your eye ; indeed the roughnefs
has

it

We

Centaurea montana L'ln. Mill.

Centaurea benedidla Lhi.
* Centaurea Calcitrapa L'ln. Ger.
"

fig.

114.

'

166.

and

LETTER

XXVL

403

and vulgarity of their habit, in which they

refemble Thiflles, have occafioned
the numerous fpecies to be little culti-

much

vated.

The Marigold

of the kitchen garden will

furnlfh a familiar inftance of the fourth
order
Folygamia NeceJJaria,
The genus
is known by a calyx of many equal leaves ;
by the feeds having no down, and thofe of
the difk being membranous
and by the
receptacle being naked.
The common or

officinal'',

fpecies

is

diftinguifhed

in

having

the feeds boat-fhaped, bent inwards and

muricate.

all

In the Segregate order, beiides the calyx

or perianth common to the whole flower,
there is a fecondary one, including feveral
or fometimes one only

this forms
Echinops has
of the genera.
only one flower to each partial calyx : beiides
this,
the flofcules are tubular, and complete i the feeds have an obfcure down ;
and the receptacle is brifl:ly. Common Globefiolcules,

one

-,

charaifter

thiftle^

is

fo called

from the flowers grow-

ing in globular heads the leaves are fmuous

and pubefcent, the jags ending in fpines ;
the flowers are blue, and fometimes Vv^hire.
have now done with the natural
tribe of compound flowers, but there re:

We

*
y

Calendula officinalis Lhu Mill, illuflr.

Echinops fphaeiocephalus Lm> Mill, illuftr.

Dd

mains

LETTER

404

XXVI.

mains yet one order of the

which

in

flowers

the

are

clafs Symgenefla,

totally

different,

except in the common charader of the

union of the five anthers ; they are fimple,
like the flowers of other clafles, or have
only one corol inc'ofed within the calyx with-

out any
furnifli

common

you wnth

ples of this order.

perianth.

number of

The

Violet will

examwhich are

notorious

All the fpecies,

twenty-eight, agree in a five-leaved calyx

five-petalled,

irregular corol,

produced into a

horn or fpur behind and in a three-valved,

one-celled capfule, above the receptacle, or
inclofed within the calyx, the Siveet Violet ^y
that fcents the banks, hedges, and borders of
woods, in the fpring, with its fragrant pur;

ple flowers,

is

one of thofe which have no

except the fcape which fopports the

flower, and the runners by which they are
The
propagated; the leaves are heart-fhaped
corols are fometimes white, and the gardens
This is one of
boafi: a large double variety.
allowed
merit has
the few wild plants, whofe
fecured it a place in every cultivated fpot.
The later fpecies without fcent, comnioi-Iy
called Dog Violet \ is one of tne cauielcent
or flalky kind, the more adult fleuis afcendthe leaves are heart-liiaped, but drawn
ing

ftalks,

',

=*

Viola o'orata Lin. Curtis, Lond. I. 63. Ger S'O.

Viola C;inma Lin. Curtis, Lond. 11. 61. Ger. 851.

to

LETTER

XXVL

405

to a point at the end: the corol is paler than

that of the Sweet Violet, and having leaves

proceeding from a
for

cannot be miftaken

ftalk,

which they grow immediately

in

that,

odour were not

Hearfs-eafe or Panfies^y the
favourite of the more fimple, unrefined ages, is one of thofe which have
pinnatifid flipules, and an urceoiate or pitcher-fhaped fligmaj it has alfo a three-cornered, diffufe ftemj and oblong gaflied leaves.
fuch are the chara^^ers of a plant, uhich every
child becomes acquainted with as foon as
he can walk into a garden: but it is not
therefore wholly ufelefs to mention it, be-

from the
attended
univerf

root, even if the

to.

caufe

it

may

at

terms to you,

ral

examinaion of

ferve to

leaft

and to

plants with

explain feve-

aflift you
which yoa

in

the

are not

fo Well acquainted.

When we
aim

compare the diminutive and

Panfy, which we find wild
richcorn, with the ample

colourlefs

)ft

among

the

that boafts the tiflue of vel-

coloured corol,
vet,

we

iuch as

cannot

we

fome curious gardens;

fee in

but

allow that

human

art

has

* Viola tricolor Lin, Curtis, Lend. I. 65. Fl. dan. 623.

Gcr. 854, This has numberlcfs provincial names, bearing fome allufion to love.
<*
'*

Yet markt I where the bolt of Cupid

It fell upon a little weitern flower,

" Before milk

^'

And

now

white,

maidens

call it

fell,

purple with Love's wound,

Love

in Idlenefs.''^

Midi'um. Night's Dream. II. 2.

Dd

made

LETTER

4o6

made

improvement ; and wc
with the more pleafure becaufe it

confiderable

furvey it
is not at the expenfe of

of the flower:

racfters

both

XXVI.

as a botanift

That

and

the

chaenjoy it

natural

and you may

a florift.

beautiful flower called BaJfam,

is

of

Linnus names the genus hn^

when ripe, is impatient of the touch, eafily burfting, and
It has an irrethus throwing out its feeds.
gular corol of Ave petals like the violet,
when it has not been improved into beautiful duplicity by culture; but the calyx is
two- leaved; the nedary or horn is cucullate or cowl-fliapedj and the capfule is fivevalved.
'True Balfam, or more properly Bal~
famine^ has the leaves lance-fhaped, thofe
on the upper part of the plant alternate;
order.

this

fatiens, becaufe the capfule

the flowers come out three or four together,

from the joints of the flalk, only one on
each flender peduncle; ai>d the nedary is
fhorter than the flower
the varieties of
white, red, purple and variegated,
colour
:

are well

Eaft-Indies

the

That which comes from

known.

has

what comes

lareer,

from

finer

flowers

Wefl, mofl:
beautifully variegated with fcarlet and white,
or purple and white.
We have a wild fpecies called Tcllow Balfam^ and alfo by thg
familiar names of ^ick in handy or ^guc
than

the

Impatiens Ealiamina Lui, Mill

fig. pi.

59.

LETTER

XXVI.

407

me not ^ : one long flender peduncle comes out

from the ic:e, which fubdivides into feveral
others, each

fuftaining a yellow flower^

leaves are ovate;

knots.

This

is

and the

fl:em fwells at

the

the

a local plant, being obferved

only or chiefly in Weftmoreland and Yorkin moid fliady places, or by the fides of

fliire,

lakes and rivers.

You have now abundant amufement for

your autumnal Vv-alks; and as the feafon for
examination will be over before I fhali have
leifure to prepare you frefh matter for future
amufement, I take leave of you till the enfuing fpring; when, if health and leifure permit,
we feall travel through the few remaining
clafTes.

'^

Impatiens noli tangere

Lh.

Fl. dan. 588.

Ger. 446.

4o8

LETTER

XXVII.
May

RENEW

my

our purfuit

dear couiin,

the

1777.

as early as poffible,

order that

in

ift,

may be

able to accomplilli my purpofe of completing

our original fcheme, during the courfe of the

prefent feafon.

The twentieth clafs, which falls now under

our confideration, is entitled Gynandria, from
a circumftance peculiar to it, which is that of
having the ftamens fituated upon the ftyle itfelf.
You have remarked, that in every clafs
hitherto examined, thefe two parts are entirely
independent, lo that we can at any time remove the one from a flower, and leave the
other
but in the clafs Gynandria this is not
permitted us^ the ftamens ufually growing
out of the piftil itfelf ^ but in fome cafes upon
a receptacle, produced or lengthened in form
of a rtyle, which bears both piltil and flamens.
This clafs has nine orders, founded on the
number of llamens in the flowers of each;
the genera are 33, and the fpecies 275.
1 he hrft order, called Diandria^ from there
being two llamens only to the flowers in
;

it,

is

perfedily

tribe of

\o

natural

that

pbnts agreed upon by

be in

llrid

al.iance}

is,

all

contains a
the world

or fuch,

as

when
an

LETTER

XXVIL

409

an eye properly informed has feen one of

immediately refers any of the
it
others to the fame tribe, clan, or family,
Indeed the alliance
as foon as they occur.
between the greater part of thefe plants is
fo ftrid, that fome nomenclators have been
induced to refer them to one genus, or
one family properly fo called: for the genera differ hardly in any thing elfe from each
other but in the (hape of the neftary.
Some
former nomenclators had eftablifhed the genera upon the roots, which are certainly
the part leall proper for this purpofe, becannot examine the charader,
caufe you
But they
without deftroying the plant.
were induced to ir, from the fingular form
of the roots in this tribe: which in fome fpecies are a pair of folid bulbs; in others a fet
of oblong tiefhy bodies tapering to the extremities, and fpreading out like the fingers,
whence they have the name of palmate or

them,

handed.

Having
with
it.

faid

fo

time, you

almoft

the

The

much
think,

of

this

tribe,

it

is

be

acquainted
perfonages that compofe
fjr greater number of them thea
to

fingular

common appellation of Orchis^ a

am perfuaded you are not wholly un-

have the

name

acquainted with.
Take one of thefe flowers, of any fort
you can meet with; or it no fpecies is yet
in blow, you will not have long to wait for

fome

LETTER

410

fome of them.
wreathed

germ,

You

will

XXVII.
find an oblong,

below the flower,

which

has no

proper

/heaths:

corol is made
two innermofi of which ufually
form an arch or helmet over the

tals,

the

join

to

but

calyx,

the

only fpathes or
up of five pe-

top of the flower ; the lower lip of the corol

forms the nedlary, taking the place of the
the llyle adheres to
piflil and a fixth petcil
the inner edge of the nectary, fo that, together with its ftigma, it is fcarcely diftinguiihthe filamtnts are very fhort, and each
able
of them is terminated by an anther, that has
no covering, but has the -texture of the pulp
of oranges or lemons; each is lodged in a
adhering to
cell opening downwards, and
the inner margin of the nedary ; fo that without this information you might have been at
a lofs where to find the ftamcns, unlefs they
happened to have burft from their cells: the
germ in time becomes a capfule, of three
valves, opening at the angles under the cariwithin is only one cell, and a
nated ribs
fmall, irregular feeds, Ihaped
num.berof
great
:

like fiiwduftj are affixed to a linear receptacle

on each valve. I have been more particular

on the chara6ler of this tribe, becaufe the
flowers have rather a ftrange and unufual
appearance, owing to the fingular pofition of
There is a conthe parts of fruit ificntion.
rcxion between this and the liliaceous tribe;
both h.^ving but one lobe to the ke, fucculent

LETTER

XXVII.

411

and a naked corol

lent roots, entire leaves,

number of

they differ however in the

mens, the form of the corol and nelary, the
iituation of the germ, the number of cells in
the capfule, the Ihape and arrangement of the
feeds : this tribe alfo bears its flowers on a
fpadix, and has brades interpofed between
them.

The

fta-

principal genera of this tribe are thus

diftinguiied

Ned:ary horn-fhaped.

Orchis.

Satyrim,
Ophrys.
flightly keeled.
^ ovate, gibbous underneath.

bag-fhaped.

Serapias,

Limodorum,

pedicel led

Cypripediujn.

inflated.

turbinate or top-lhaped. Epidendrum,

'

Are^

connate with the ringent corol.

'

thuja,

The

Orchis

being no

lefs

the

is

than

found

largefl

wild

genus,

fpecies,

flftv

The

England.

eleven

are

greater

number have double bulbs;

in

there

of which
in

the reft

the roots are either palmate or fafciculate.

Of thofe with double bulbs, woods and
bulliy paltures produce the Butterfly Orchis''^

which has
e

f,

Orchis

y.Mor.

the

lip

of the

nedary lance-

bifolia Lin. Fl. dan. 235. Vaill. par.

hift.

f.

12.

t.

12.

f.

18.

t.

30.

Ger. 211.

fhaped

LETTER

412

XXVI.

ihaped^ and quite entire: the horn very long;

1 he
and the petals fpreading out wide.
flowers of this fniell fweet, particularly in
an evening, a';d very early in the morning.
There are only two, or at mod three laige
leaves: the ftem is a foot, or eighteen inches
high: the fpike is long, but the flowers are
thinly fpread in it ; the brades are large, and
of the length of the germ the flowers are
of a greenifh whiter the fpur is twice as long
as the germ, very flender, and tranfparent
enough for you to difcern the nectar through
it.
There is a fmaller variety, but differing
:

no otherwife than

in fize.

Pyra7mdai Orchis'^ y found

in paflures

where

another of thofe which

bulbs
the lip of the net^tary
double
have
two-horned, trifid, the fegments nearly
is
the

foil is

chalk\,

is

equal, the middle one being rath

the nar-

the
roweft ; all of them are quite
j
horn, or fpur, is cylindric, flender, ?nd longer
early
than the germ 5 and the petals arc
This is an elegant fpecies,
lance- Ilia ped.
having lix or more radical leaves; the flem
entire

j.

or eighteen inches high; the fpike of

flowers (liort, of a broad conical form, and
a foot,

very thick

fet

at

firfl:;

the brades

at

leafl:

equal in length to the germs, lance- ihaped,

'
*

Haller fays linear.

Orchis pyramidalis L'ln. Raii fyn. t. 18. Jacq. auftr.

266. Vaill. t. 31. f. 38. Rivin. t. 14. H.ill. helv. t. 35.
*

t.

and

LETTER
and ending in

point;

XXVII.
the

corol

413
bright

purple.

Two of the mofl: common forts with

double bulbs, are foolilLly called Male and
Female Oi'chis^ becaufe there is bo diftincftion
of fexes and therefore thefe names are only
'y

calculated

to

millead.

The

firft'^

differs

from the fcond in having the outer petals

more acute and longer and the middle lobe
-,

of the lip bifid and longer than the fide

ones : it is alfo a much larger plant, with
broader leaves, ufually fpotted.
The fcond'
has the iip of the neciary crenulate, or flightly notched on the fides, trifid, with the middle lobe emarginate, and the petals obtufe and
The' height of this feldom exceeds
linear.
feven or eight inches ; the leaves are half an
inch broad ; and the fpike is cylindric, and

has few flowers ; the brades are coloured, and

a little longer than the germs; the petals
forming the helmet converge, and are marked
with green parallel lines; the middle of the
lip is fpotted, and the fides are rolled back^
the born is equal to the germ, with the end

emarginate ; the mofl: common colour of the

corol lb deep purple, but it varies to rofe-colourThe firfl is a foot, and
ed, and even vvhite
even eighteen inches h^gh; the leaves an inch
Orchis mafcula L'ln, Curtis, Lond. H. 62. Vaill.
f. I ij 12. Ger. 208.
Orchis morio Lin, Curtis, Lond. III.
59, Vaill. t. 31,
13, 14, Ger. 20B.

'
t.

f.

31.

and

LETTER

414

XXVIL

and half broad ; the fpike handfome, long,

and thin fet with flowers j the brades about
the fame length with the germs, purple and
lance-iliaped ; the petals that form the hel-

met

not converging, they are purple,

the edges of
with lines of the fame colour
the lip are bent downwards, the colour pale
purple, with deeper fpots at the chaps; the
fpur is ftraight, thick, as long as the germ,
or longer, dilated and comprefTed at the end.
The colour of the corol varies, even to
This grows in meadows; and the
white.
The fcond
excellent Salep.
make
roots
Thus you have
afFeds open dry paftures.
abundant means of diftinguiOiing thefe two
fpecles of Orchis from each other; and the
roots are a fufFicient mark of diftindion from
loofe,

-,

two others, no lefs common, which we ihall

examine prefently. In the mean time, there
but pretty fpecies with double
It grows
bulbs, which we muft notpafs by.
chiefly on dry expofed chalk hills, and is
called Dwarf Orchis^ : the lip of the necquadrifld, and white dotted with
tary is
purple; the horn is obtule, and the petals
The height is from four to
are dillin:.
there are feveral leaves next
feven inches
the ground, but few on the fl:em : the fpike
is Ihort and clofe fet ; the brades are fhorter
is

fmall

''Orchis uftulata Liu. Fl. dan. 103. Hall.

t-

51*

^-

35 j6' ^'^or.

t.

12.

f,

t.

28. Vaill.

20. Ger. 207.

than

LETTER

XXVII.

415

than the germ ; the hehnet is pointed, and

of a deep purple on the outfide within the
petals are marked with lines and dots of
purple ; the horn is a little bent, and not
half the length of the germ.
Two very common fpecies with palmate,
or handed bulbs, are the broad-leaved^ and
fpotted Orchis'^t generally found in moid
:

meadows.
The firft has the roots rather
palmate and Uraight 3 the horn of the nectary conic, the lip threenlobed, and turning
bac'<: on
the iides ; the bradtes large, and
longer than the fiOwers, fo as to give the
fpike a leafy appearance.
The horn is
fhorter than the germ,
bent and obufe.
The colour of the corol is purple, varying
to rofe and white.
The fcond has narrower leaves, and a folid ftem, whereas that
of the firfl is hollow 5 it is alfo higher, and
flowers later; the leaves of both are fpotted
with black, but this more generally ; the
brades are fmaller and narrower ; the corol
of a paler purple; the lip of the nedlary is
deeper cut, the fide lobes are notched, the

middle one very narrow, quite

drav/ing
I fhall

Orchis

more

'"

)rchis
t.

to a point.

mention only one fpecies more of

latifolia

Hall. 32. VaiU.

VaiU.

and

entire,

t.

Lin.

31.

f.

Mill,

illuf^r.

Fl.

1-5. Gcr. 226.

maculuta Lin. Hall. 1.32. Rivin.

f. 9, JO. Ger. 220,

dan.
1

t.

&:

8,

266.
222.

&

Ji,

31.

Orch'Sj

LETTER

4i6

XXV1.

Orchis, and that alfo has palmate roots

found

mon

it is

but by no means fo com-

in paftures,

you may call it longfpurred^ or

fweet Orcloh'^t and you will
know it by the great length and (limnefs of
as the

two

lafl

the fpurs: the lip is trifid, equal, (lightly

notched, and obtufe ; and the fide petals
fpread out very wide.
The ftem is leafy,
and grows to the height of eighteen inches;
the brakes are fharp pointed, and of the
length of the germ ; the corol is purple, and
all of one uniform
colour ; the fmell is
ftrong, but, in fome circumftances, fweet.
The fcond genus of this natural tribe is
the Satyrium, which inftead of the horn, or
fpur, has a fhort bag - form, or doubleinflated neftary, at the back of the flower.
This is a much lefs numerous genus than the
lafl, having only eight known fpecies.
Of

two; Lizard Satyrion,

Satyrioji, commonly called Frog
Orchis'^.
The firfl is found in chalky paftures, but rarely; and has been rendered
more rare by the diligence with which it
thefe

(hall feledl

and Frog

has been fought

gardens, where
this tribe

t.

II. Vaill.

Satyrium

to

tranfplant

into

it

feldom continues long,

being generally abhorrent of cul-

Orchis conopfea Lin.

Rivin.
f.

after,
it

t.

30.

hircinum

FI.
f.

8.

Lin.

dan. 224.
Ger. 222.
Hall.

t.

Hall,

25.

Mor.

t.

29.

t.

12.

0. Cier. 2 10.
P

Satyrium viridc Lin.

Fl. dan. 77. Hall.

t.

26. Ger.

224.

ture.

LETTER

XXVII.

41;

undivided bulbs ;
has double
lance-fhaped leaves
the lip of the nedlary
trifid, the middle lobe linear, oblique, extremely long, flaunting like a ribband, and
feeming, as it were, bitten off at the end.
It is a very large lofty plant, from eighteen
inches to three feet in height; the leaves
alfo are half a foot long and more, and three
inches broad ; the fpike has many flowers,
and, by age, grows very long and bent
the
ture.

It

-,

-,

bracSles are flender, acute, greenifh,

as long as the

germs

and twice

the colour of the corol

is greenifh without, and rufty within, with
purple lines and fpots the flower has a llrong
;

goatilh fmell.

Frog Orchis is much more common in

meadows. The bulbs of this are palmate ;
the leaves oblong and obtufe ; the lip of the
nelary trifid, with the middle lobe obfolete, or fo fmall as to be obfcure.
This is
a much lower and fmaller plant than the
former, not being above (even or eight
inches high : the radical leaves are broad and
ovate ; thofe on the flem, which are few,
lance-fhaped
^he fpike is rather thin fet
with flowers ; the bradtes are lance-fhaped,
and longer than the germ
the helmet is
almofl: clofed, pale green, with a purple
line dividing the petals 5 the lip is yellow,
hangs down fl:raight, and grows broader towards the end; the whole corol becomes
:

dulky red with age.

The third genus of the Orchis

tribe is

entitled

LETTER

4i8

XXVII.

Ophrys : it has no horn or bag at

the back of the corol, but one petal longer
than the reft, hanging down, and marked

entitled

underneath with a longitudinal rifing, called

the keel. This it is which in fome fpecies
takes the form of an infed fo exactly, as to
appear real at a certain diftance.

One

fpecies,

called

Common

'Twayblade'^^

from its having always two

and no more, is frequent in woods
and bufhy paftures. It has fibrous roots, two
ovate leaves, and the lip of the nedary bifid.

or

^'wyblade^

leaves,

The

eighteen inches high, rather

rough or hairy, and naked, except the two
large leaves in the middle, between the root

ftem

is

and the fpike, which

is

fometimes

fix

inches

long, and has forty flowers, thin fet on fhort

peduncles ; the brades are very fmall, broad,
and {harp-pointed ; the germ is round, and
thicker than in any other of the fpecies
corol

is

The

the

of a greenifh yellow.
end of fummer and beginning

latter

of autumn flowers the Spiral Ophrysy com-

monly

called

will find

it

Triple

Ladies Traces'";

on heaths and dry

paftures.

you

The

root confifts of oblong aggregate bulbs; the

ftem is a little leafy, the flowers are fpiral,

and
of
'
'

ail

the

on one fide of the ftem; and the lip

nedary is undivided and flightly

Ophrys ovata Lin. Curtis, Lond. III. 60. Ger. 402,

Ophrys fpiralis /,/. Curtis, Lond. IV. 59. Ger. 218.

jDotched,

LETTER
notched.

This

is

XXVII.

fmall

plant,

419
feldom

above five or fix inches high, though in a

iefs dry foil it will rife to a foot ; it has four
or five leaves next the ground ; the fpike is
long and flender, having twenty flowers,
white within and yellowifli without} the
brades are not flat, but hollow, and longer
than the germ
the three outer petals of the
corol are glued together ; the lip is roundiOi
and ciliate. It has a pleafant odour.
But the mofl: interefting and admired fpeFly and Bee
are the
cies of this genus,
Orchifes, which agree in having two round iih
Linnasus
bulbs, and a leafy fcape or ftem.
thinks the Fly and the two Bees= not to
be fpecifically different, but in this I cannot
agree with him.
Fly Ophrys or Orchi^^ has
the lip of the nedary quadrifld ; in the common Bee Orchis " it confifls of five lobes,
which are deflexed or bent downwards ^ and
in the green-wiged Bee Orchis, now called
Spider Ophrys"" it is roundifh, entire, emarBut befides this chaginate, and convex.
rader from the lip of the nedary, the Fly
is a fiiflfer, flraighter plant than the Bee, not fo
-,

Ophrys

infeftifera Lin.

'Orchis mufciflora ////^r/. T265. t. 24. Ophrys inOph. mufcifeia Hudf. Vaill. t. 31.
fediifera myodes L'm.
f. 17, 18. Ger. 213.
"Orchis fuciflora Hall. Ophrys apifera Hudf. Curtis,
Lond. I. 66. Ger. 212.
V

Ophrys

HudJ.

infedtifera arachnites

V^aill. t.

31.

f.

Lin,

Oph.

aranifera

5, 16.

leafy.

LETTER

420

XXVII.

and having the flowers thinner

Jeafy,

(tt ;

much

ahke, except
in the corols, which are widely different
that of the Fly has the three outer petals
ovate, entire, fmooth, herbaceous, and fpreading; the two inner linear and dark purple;
in other refpeds they are

the lip of the nedary oblong, dark purple

above, and herbaceous underneath, with a
blue fpot or band below the upper lobes.
Bee Orchis has the three outer petals fpreading,
oblong, and purple, marked with three green
the two inner lateral ones linear,
nerves
villous, and green j the lip of the netary
,

large, roundilh, purple,

and

like velvet,

the

lobes deflexed, with a double variegated yelSpilow, fmooth, fhining fpot at the bafe.

der Orchis

is

a lower plant, the lip of the

nedary is of a lefs cheerful colour, without

any of the yellow that decorates the Bee, and
both helmet and wings are green the three
outer petals are oblong and fpreading, the
inner linear and fhorter ; the lip of the nec:

roundifh,

emarginate,
convex, and appearing like velvet, dufl<.y purple above, with a green edge, and a double
fpot at the bafc; beneath it is herbaceous.
tary

is

large,

entire,

Thefe three beautiful plants are found among

grafs in a chalky foil, and form a fucceffion
from April to Auguft the Spider comes firft
in April and May, the Fly next in June, and
:

laft

of

all

the Bee in July and Auguft.

I

have

LETTER
I

have been

the

XXVII.

mere

421
on

particular

this

lingular tribe of plants,

becaufe fpurning culture they are not liable to cffential changes,

or indeed to any that I know of, except in
colour: you muft alfo fearch
for them
abroad, and confequently unite exercife with
ftudy, which is one of the principal advantages of Botany; for I cannot allow you to
gather plants by proxy, fince you would thus
lofe half the pleafure of the purfuit, as well
as the benefit :
and v^'hy fhould you not
have as much enjoyment in learching for a
beautiful plant, or finding an elegant flower,
as the men have in looking for a hare, or
fhooting a partridge.
I will only'^add, that
fhould you be fo happy as to meet with the
Lady's Slipper'''', you would be highly delighted with its fingular, large, hollow, inflated nelary, the form of which has given
occafion to the name.
Haller however obferves, that it has more refemblance to a

wooden

flioe in

worthy the
LinnaL'us

has

title

form, and therefore

is

un-

which
Without

of Venus' s Slipper,

beftowed

upon

it.

entering into this important difpute, I

obferve to you, that the root is fibrous

will

; the
ftem about a foot high, and leafy : the two
firft leaves fmall, and keeping almoft clofe
to the fl:alk; the refl:, (from four to feven)
ovato-lanced : one, or at mofl: two flowers

* Cypripedium Calceolus Lin.

e 3

Mil],

fig.

242.

come

LETTER

422

come out on
fometimes

are

the braCte

the fame ftem, of

feveral from the

very large, as

is

XXVII.
which there
fame root

alfo the

is

germ

there are but four petals to the flower,

fpreading out almoft at right angles to each
other, and often convolute; their colour is

purple ; of the two outer pelais, one flands

up above the nedary, the other hangs down
behind it; the two inner petals ftand out
the flipper or
fideways, and are narrower
within,
yellow,
fpotted
nedtary
is
the
lip of
:

and marked longitudinally with ridges and

furrows.
In the order Tentandrtay you will find
the numerous and beautiful genus of FajjionThe flowers have three piftils, a fiveJower.
leaved calyx, five petals to the corol, a radiate
crown for a nedtary i and the fruit is a berry

on

None

a pedicle.

of the

fpecies are

ropean, but moftly natives either of

New

Eu-

Spain,

the Brafils, or the Weft-Indian Iflesj fo that

they require the protection of the confervatory at leaft, if not of the ftove, except one
or two, which will ftand abroad in a fheitered
fituation,

vveather.

with
I

little

attention,

Ihall feledt the fpecies

in

fevere

which you

moft likely to meet with, rather than the

rareft.
Blue Faffifn-joier % though a native
of the Brafils, is feidom injured with us, exA gain ft a houfe
cept in very fevere winters.
are

PaiTiEora caerulca L/;z. Mill, illullr.

107.

Duham.

arb

i.

LETTER
it

may be

feet,

trained

XXVII.

423

to the height of forty-

up

and throws out annually llender (hoots,

or fixteen

fifteen

long:

feet

the leaves are

palmate or handed, compofed of five fmooth,

the middle one longeft,
the outer fhorteft, and often divided j they are
petiolate, the petioles have two glands, and
at their bafe is a ftipule in form of a crefcent,
and a long clafper, by which the flender
ilioots fupport themfeives : the flower comes
out at the fame joint with the leaf, on a
peduncle near three inches long; round the
centre of it are two radiating crowns, the
inner inclining towards the central column,
entire, obtufe lobes,

the

which

outer,

is

longer,

fpreading

flat

and compofed of innumerable threads, purple at bottom, but blue on

upon the

petals,

On

the top of the central column

fits an oval germ, from whofe bafe five awlfhaped ftamens fpread out horizontally, and

the outfide.

thefe

are

terminated

by

oblong,

broad,

pendent anthers, which are eafily moveable ;

fide of the germ arife three flender,
purplifh fl:yles, diverging, and ending in
obtufe fligmas
the flower continues but one

from the

day, but there

July

germ

till

is

a confl:ant fuccefllon

autumnal

fwells

to

frofls

flop

a large, oval

them.
fruit,

from

The
of the

and colour of the Mogul Plum,

inclofing a fweetifl, but difagreeable pulp, in
which the oblong feeds are lodged.
fize,

iliape,

Ee

Incarnate

LETTER

424

XXVII.

Incarnate or trilobate PaJJon-Jlower^

of North America, apd though

firft

mon
in

known among

fpecies

as the Blue

us,

It differs

having only three lobes

is

not fo

is

native

the

com-

from the former

the

to

leaves,

which are ferrate or toothed hke a faw;

the fide lobes are fometimes divified into two
the petals of the corol
narrow fegments
:

are white, with a double, purple fringe, ftar

or glory

the fruit

is

and when ripe

apple,

a middling

as large as
is

of a pale orange

colour.

There is a fort^ called Granadilla in the

WeR-lndies, where the fruit is eaten. It
""

has undivided, oblong leaves, hollowed next

the petiole, which has two glands ; the invor
lucres are

quite entire, as are alfo the leaves

about the edge.

The corol is large, with
"white petals, and a blue glory.
The fruit
is roundifh, the fize of a large apple, and
yellow when ripe.

Another

Water Lemon

in the
Weft-Indi^s, has an agreeable acid flavour
in the pulp of the fruit, which quenches
thirft, and is
given there in fevers.
It
has undivided ovate leaves, quite entire about
the edge; two-glanded petioles; and toothed
involucres
the corol is white with brownifl^
fort,

called

""

y Pafliflora incarnata Lin.

* Pafiiflora maliformis Lin,
* PafTiflora

pidt.

t.

laurifolia Lin,

Mor.

hift.

f.

Plum. amcr.
Jacq. hoit.

2.

i. t. i.f.
t.

t.

9.

82.

162. amcr.

219.

Kd

LETTER

XXVI.

425

red fpots, and the glory or crown is violet :

the fruit is of the fize and (hape of a pullet's
egg, and when ripe is yellow. But lince thefe,
and much lefs the remaining fpecies, may

not readily fall under your cognizance, I retrain my defire of enlarging on fo remarkable and beautiful a

vulgar plant,

and pafs on to a
;
will find in the laft

genus

which you

order, Polyandria, and with that I will clofe

our examination of this clafs, and my prate
for the prefent.
is the common Arum, Wake-Robin
called alfo vulgarly Lords
CuckoW'pint^y
or
and Ladies. Early in the fpring it pushes
up a one-leafed cowl-fhaped fpathe, under
hedges and among bulhes if you open this

This

-,

you difcover a fpadix, naked on the

upper part, covered with germs at the bottom,
and with inthers in the middle. This is
diftinguiflied from the other fpecies, which
are many, by having no ftem but that which

fpathe,

bears the

frudification,

hallate

leaves

that
are quite entire, and the fpadix club-fhaped.
Though it has the trivial name from the

black fpots upon the leaves, yet that is not

a confiant chara(5ter, for oftentimes they are
As the plant advances the fpathe
quite plain.
opens, rind difcovers the club, varying from
yelowilh green to fine purple or red, thefe
^

Arum

maculatura Lin.

Curtis, Lond. II. 6^. Ger,

834.

gradually

426

LETTER

XXVII.

decay, and leave a head of round

red berries, which, as well as the reft of the
To this,
plant, are very hot and biting.
grac^ually

with fome others nearly allied to it, you

v/ould perhaps find it difficult to affign the
the proper clafs, unlefs from the ftrange and
unufual appearance of the frudification, you
were led to fearch for it in thit now under
Thcfe have not properly the
confideration.
ftamens growing upon the ftyle, but both are
born upon a receptacle lengthened out in
manner of a ftyle, and performing the fame
Linoffice as the piftil in the other genera.
naeus obferves that he might, and perhaps
ought to, have ranged fuch plants under other
claffes; but he was deterred by the difficulty
of affigning the number of ftamens to each
It he found any difficulty in removing
piftil.
them, you and I, dear couftn, will leave them
quietly in the place which he has affigned
theii).

427

LETTER

XXVIII.
May

WE

the 15th, 1777.

have hitherto, dear coufin, been

converfant with fuch plants, as bear
perfed: or complete flowers only, except in
the clafs Syngenefia, wherein we found imperfe(ft, and even neuter flofcules among the
But in the twenty-firft and
perfedl ones.
twenty-fecond clafles, which we are now
to examine, you will never find any complete or perfect flowers j on the contrary, if
they have ftamens, there are no piftils, and
they are deficient in
if they have piftils,
This is the common characfter of
ftamens.
thefe two clafles, and the only difference
between them is, that in the clafs Monoecia,
the ftaminiferous and piftilliferous flowers
are found on the fime individual plant;
whereas in the clafs Dioecia they are always
on diflinct plants of the fame fpecie.^. It is

which

flowers

out

add, that in both, the

produce fl:amens, fall off with-

neceflary to

fcarcely

being followed

that the

others,

by

fruit

or feed

which have the germ,

and
arc

fruitful.

The

clafs

Monoecia^ which

is

the twenty-

the fyflem, has eleven orders, taking

their titles and characters from the foregoing
firfl:

in

clafles

',

eighty

?n4 feventy

genera,

and

three

hundred

fpecies.

The

LETTER

428

The

XXVIII.

third order,

^riandria, contains Teallied

nearly
to the GrafTcs in haveral genera
bit, leaves, and placentation, or having only
a fingle lobe to the feed: they differ hov^ever
in the culm or ftravv not being hollow, but
filled

no

with a fpungy fubflance; and in having

corol.

Since Haller thinks there is a natural connexion between the Arum, with which I
finiihed my lafl letter, and the T^pha or

CafS'taUy

let

us begin our examination with

Having three ftamens,

belongs of
courfe to the order Triandria, and having
the air of the Grafles, it ranges in the natural tribe of the Calaiiari, jufl: mentioned.
this.

The

flowers

on

both

fides

it

are

born on a

cylindric Anient ; the ftamineous flowers furrounding the end of the ftem; and thofe

which have the pifl;ils growing in the fame

manner below them, and very clofe fet: there
no corol

is

to either: the

three-leaved calyx

in

firft

have an obfcure,

the fcond

it

confifls

of pnppous or villous hairs, and thefe have

one feed, fitting on a capillary down or briflle;
The greater,
fuch are the generic charaders.
or broad-leaved

Cafs-tail^

otherwife

called

Reed-mace ^i is known by its fvvord-fbaped

leaves, and by having the two aments apIt is a large plant, being about
proximating.
height,
with leaves three feet long
feet
in
fix

Typhalatifolia Lin. Curtis, Lond, III, 6i. Ger. 46.

and

LETTER

XXVIII.

429

and more, but not an inch wide; it is comin the water, on the banks of rivers, but
efpecially in moats, ponds and marfhes. There

mon

is

a fmaller fpecies

^^,

not fo

common, which

and the two aments

remote fiom each other; the ftem of this is
not above three feet high, and the leaves are
much narrower, ftiffer, and embrace the ftem
more,
Spargnnium or Bur-reed approaches very
near to ^ypha: but the flowers of each fort
are colle(5ted into a head, or roundi/h ament,
thofe which have flamens above, and thofe
which have piftils below, on the fame flem :
neither have any corolj both have a threeleaved calyx; the piflilliferous flowers have
a bifid ftigma, and are followed by a Angle
juicelefs drupe, containing one feed.
Ereci
OT greater Bur-reed^ is common in the fame
lituations with l^ypha, and few plants -exhibit
more plainly tlie charadler of the clafs MoThe ftem is ered:, and about three
noecia.
feet high ; the leaves are ered and three-flded,
but the upper ones flat: the ftalk is generally
has femicylindric leaves,

branching.
Maysy otherwife called Indiajz or Turkey
Corn^, is of the fame tribe. The ftami^
hift.

t.

Typha
f.

f.

Lond.

III. 62.

Mor.

2.

Sparganium ereaum li. ^ramofum Hud/. Mor.

13.
^

anauftifolia Lin, Curtis,

8. t. 13.

f.

I, 3.

Ger. 45.

Zea Mays

f,

1,2.

Lin,

ncous

LETTER

304

XXVII.

neous flowers are born in loofe fpikes ther

calyx is a two-flowered awnlefs glume; neither has the corol any awn.
The other flowers, which have one pifliil only, are in very
clofe fpikes, below the former, and are inclofed with leaves.
The glume both of calyx
:

and corol is bivalved: the ftyle is filiform,

very long, and pendulous
one feed follows
each flower the receptacle is oblong and
:

hollowed, fo that the feeds are immerfed half

way

into

it,

forming

very

denfe

fpike.

The Weft

Indian Mays has a ftalk ten or

twelve feet high; long, broad leave.s and
fpikes from nine inches to a foot in length,
formed of golden grains. That which is cultivated in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, has
more flender ftalks, not more than fix or
feven feet high; the leaves narrower; tha
fpikes fliorter and more flender, with white
grains.
is

the

The North American Mays, which

fame

with

Germany, does not

in height;

what is cultivated
more than four

rife

the leaves

are

ftill

fliorter

in
feet

and

narrower; the fpikes not more than four or

five inches long, with yellow and white grains
mixed: the colour of thefe however varies;
and indeed the three diftindions are but varieties ariflng from foil and climate.
Carex or Sedge is a moft numerous genus
of the fame order, and the fame natural tribe.
The flowers of both forts are born on an
ament or catkin, and each flower has a oneleafed

LETTER

XXVIII.

and no corol

leafed calyx,

431

the pifiilliferous

which are generally in diftind aments

below the others, have an inflated, threetoothed nedary, three fligmas, and a three-

flowers,

fided feed inclofed within the nedary.

Some

have only one fpike; many have

feveral fpikes, with both forts of flowers in
each ; but more have the flaminiferous and

few

fpecies

pilHlliferous flowers in diftind fpikes.

plants

grow

Thefc

chiefly in marflies, bogs, ditches,

wet woods, and the banks of brooks and

rivers; they are the grafs and fodder of fenny
countries, and low fwampy grounds e.
In this

well as in the
next, you will find many trees.
In the order
Birch, Alder, Box, Mulberry;
Tetradria
clafs,

Mojzoecia, as

Oak, Cork, Evergreen

Hickery, Chefnut, Beech,
Hornbeam, Hazel, Plane 3 and laftly in that
of Monadelphia all the fpecies of Fir and
Pine, Cedar, Larch, Arbor Vits, Cyprefs.
Alder is of the fame genus with Birch:
their common charader is, that the flowers
of both forts grow in aments or catkins,
each feparate from the other; that the calyx
is one-leafed and trifid; that each calyx in
the fl:aminiferous ament includes three flovvin that of Folyaiidria

Oak, Walnut,

* Carex pendula Curtis III. 63, riparia V. 60, acuta

dioica Fl. dan. 166, capicata
61, gracilis 62.
379, arenaria 425, vulpina 308, muricata 284, remota 370, caiiefcens 285, limofa 646, capillaris 168, panicea ibi

veficaria 647, hirta 379,

ers.

LETTER

432

XXVIII.

have four-parted corols: in the

piftilliferous aments there are only two flowers in each calyx, without any corol ; but
thefe are followed by feeds winged with a
membrane on both fides, whereas the others
drop from the tree, without leaving any mark
behind them. In examining thefe, and the
flowers in general of this and the following
clafs, I muft once for all inform you, that
iince many of them are clofe fet together in
the fame ament, you muft carefully feparate
one flower from the reft, to avoid confuflon.
You muft alfo look for them very early in the
fpring, Iince moft of the foreft and timber
trees flower before the leaf-buds expand.
Common Birch ^ has ovate leaves, drawn to
ers,

that

a very narrov^ point at the end, and ferrated,

Linnus
or fharply toothed round the edge.
the
its
branching pediftinguiihes
Alder by
'

duncles: the feeds alfo are born on a roundidi

an ament; and the leaves
are roundifh, crenated or obtufely notched
round the edge; they are of a dark green, with
very prominent nerves underneath, and little
fpungy fubftances where they divide : the bark
of the Alder is black, whereas that of Birch
is white.
In Box both forts of flowers come forth

Jrobilus^ rather than

Betuh alba Z/n. Blackw. t. 240.Duham. t. 39. Ger.

1478. Evelyn's fyivaby Hunter.
* Betula Alnus L'ln, Duham. 1.
15. Ger. 1477, Evelyn's
fylva by Hunter.
*

together

LETTER

XXVIIL

433

from the al of the

leaves or branches, and fit clofe to the (tern :
together in

bunches,

the ftaminiferous flowers have a three-leaved

calyx, with two petals to the corol, and the
rudiment of a germ; the piftiUiferous flowers
have a four-leaved calyx, three petals to the
corol, three ftyles,

and

a three-celled capfule,

terminated by three beaks, and having two

Properly fpeaking there
feeds in each cell.
is only one fpecies of box'% varying a little in
the fhape of the leaves, and much in the fize.
Mulberry bears the ftaminiferous flowers in
an ament; the others in a feparate roundifh
head, which afterwards becomes a compound
berry, with one feed in each protuberance:
the firft have a four-parted calyx; in the piftilliferous ones it is four-leaved, and thefc have
two ftyles ; neither have any corol. White
Mulberry^, which is the fort commonly cultivated in France and Italy for feeding lilkworms, has fmooth leaves, obliquely heartfhaped, and white fruit.
Black Mulberry^
has rugged, heart-fliaped leaves: though cultivated for the fruit, yet the leaves are preferred to thofe of the other for feeding filkworms, and are ufed for that purpofe in Perfia,

from whence

this

tree originally

into the fouth of Europe.

came

White Mulberry

Buxus fempervirens Lin,

Morus alba Lin.

a Morus nigra Lin.
'

Ff

is

LETTER

434

XXVIII.

Of another fpecies",
is a native of China.
paper is made in Japan, from the bark; this
Fujlick
has palmate leaves, and hlfpid fruit.
ivood is alfo from a fpecies of Mulberry;
this has axillary thorns, and the leaves are
oblong and more extended on one fide than
the other.
This grows in the iflands of the
Weft Indies, but in greateft plenty at Campeachy: the wood is imported into Europe
from both places for the ufe of the dyers, but
the tree is too tender to fupport our climate.
In the order Polyandria the Oak leads the
The

way.
loofe

hang on a

ftaminiferous flowers

ament or catkin, whilft the

piftilliferous

ones are feflile in a bud the calyx of the former is moftly quinqueld, and the ftamens are
:

from
calyx

number : in the latter the

one-leafed and quite entire, and there

five to ten in
is

is one ftyle, fplit into five parts ; but fometlmes only into two, three or four.
The fruit,
or acorn, is well known: it is an oval nut,
covered with a tough fliell, and immerfed at
bottom into the calyx or cup.
have two principal forts, or perhaps

We

rather varieties
n

Morus

Morus

in

England: one with the

papyrifera Lhi.

Kaempf. amaen.

t.

Scba muf.

i.

t.

28.

58.

f.

f.

3,

472.

tinclori^ Lin. Sloan,

jam.

2.

t,

i.

Linnaeus makes them one, under the title of ^iercus

Rohur^ and defcribes the fpecies as having deciduous
leaves, of an oblong; form, but broader towards the upper
Duham,
partj the finufes acute, and the angks ohtufc.
t. 46
48. Evelyn's Sylv.iby Hunter. Ger. 1339.
P

leaves

LETTER

XXVIII.

435

on longer petioles, and the acorns feflile, or on very fhort peduncles; the other,
having the leaves not fo deeply, but more releaves

gularly linuate, the finufes being oppofite; they

have icarcely any petioles on the contrary

the acorns grow on very long peduncles, are
There
larger, and come out fewer together.
are fome other variations in this noble tree,
which being lefs conliderable, do not attract
our notice as botanifts. Several fpecies different from ours are found in North America ;
and fome in the fouthern countries of Eu:

rope.
Ilex

or Evergreen Oak'^ has oblong-ovate

but hoary underneath, ftanding on long petioles, and continuing all the year; they vary much, fome
being quite entire, long and narrow; others
broad, with the edges toothed and fet with
prickles, almoft like thofe of the Holly
the
acorns are of the fame fhape with thofe of the
Oak, but fmaller. The grain-bearing Ilex
which yields the kerms or fcarlet grain, has
ovate leaves toothed on the edge, and the indentures armed with prickles as in the Holly;
they are fmooth on both fides: this is of fo
fmall a growth, that it may be looked upon
rather as a fhrub than a tree.
The Cork-tree"leaves,

of

a lucid green above,

"",

^
^
*

Qiiercus Ilex

Lm.

Quercus coccifera LUi,

Qiiercus Suberi/w,

Ff

is

LETTER

436

XXVIII.

of Ilex, with a chinky fungous bark,

which is the principal as well as moft obvious difference: in the air, and form of the
leaves, it much refembles the Evergreen Oak:

is a fort

May, before the

Cork trees
are bare for a iliort time^ which is not the
Moll: of the
cafe with the conimon Ilex.
genus
are
much
reforted
to by
trees in this
infeds, many of which form different forts of
the leaves however

fall

yourg ones come

out, fo that the

galls:

but here

we

off in

out of our
again, by taking

are flepping

province, and will return to

it

the Walnut under confideration.

This genus has the flaminiferous flowers
thick fet in oblong, cylindric catkins, under
the lower leaves of the branches; they confift
of fcales with one flower to each ; the corol
fix-parted and the flamcns are ufually
is
eighteen, but vary in number from twelve to
The pifliiliferous flowers come
twenty-four.
cut clofe to the branches, above the other?, at
the bafe of a petiole, generally in pairs: thefe

have

crowning the germ; a

and two ftyles: the fruit
containing a nut, with a furrowed

a quadritid calyx,

four-parted corol;
is

a dt-upe

fhell,

wi.hin which

is

a four-lobed, irregu-

furrowed nucleus. Cojnmoii V/alnut^ is

diflinguiflied by having the component leaves
oval, fmooth, fometimes a little toothed, and

larly

almolt equal: there are

Julians rcgia

many

Lhu

Mill,

varieties in

the

illuftr;

fruit.

LETTER

XXVIII.

437

and feveral didincfl fpecies in North

All
America, one of which is the Hickery".
the fpecies have pinnate leaves, with a diffeours has from five to
rent number of lobes
nine, and the odd lobe is rather the largeft.
Hickery has feven lance-fliaped lobes, toothed
on the edge, and the odd one feiTile.
Linnaeus joins the Chefnut and Beech in one
fruit,

genus, with this charadler

that the ftami-

niferous flowers, which are in catkins, have

a quinquefid, bell-{haped calyx, and about

twelve ftamens

that the piftilliferous flowers,

which
tree,

are produced from buds on the fame

have a four-toothed calyx, three fl:yles,

and a muricate, four-valved capfule, which

before was the calyx, and contains two nuts.
He obferves that the ftaminiferous flowers
in

difpofed on a cylindric
thofe of the Beech are in
catkins indeed of the former are

the chefnut

are

whereas

ament,

The
a ball.
very long, and the knots of flowers have near
ten in each, and are diflant from each other:
the flamens arc from five to eighteen, and
have (hort filaments: the

piftilliferous flowers

are at the bafe of thefe, and are fuccecded

two

or three fruits clofe together

by

their calyx

has more frequently {\yi fegments than four;

the fruit varies in the number of kernels and
pifl:ils, but the moft common number is fix;

and the kernels are convex on one

"

Juglans alba Lin, Catefb. car.

Ff

i.

fide

and

38.
flat

LETTER

438

XXVIII.

The catkins of the Beech

on the other.
with few flowers ;
loofe,
and
are roundiili
the ftamens are eight in number, on long
filaments: there are only two piftilliferous
flowers together, and each of thefe is fucceeded by a roundifh nut, containing three
or four hard three-fided nuclei or kernels,
which are commonly called Beech maj. The
fpecific difference which Linnaeus affigns to
the Chefnut ^ and the Beech '% is taken from
flat

the leaves 5 which in the firft are lance-fliaped,

fawed with the teeth ending in points, and
naked or finooth on the under furface^ in the
fcond, ovate and obfcurely toothed, or rather

waving on the edge.

In the Horiibeam both forts of flowers are
difpofed in catkins: both have a calyx confiffing of one ciliate or fringed fcalc, and no
corol: the one has from eight to fourteen or
fixteen ilamensi the other has two germs,
with two ftyles to each, and at the bafe of

each

fcale of the

which

is

ament

an ovate nut.

ovjrobilus lies a feed,

In the common Horn-

beam'^ the fcales of the ftrohiles are flat

in the Hop- Hornbeam y they are inflated

^ Fagus Caftanca
Hunter. Ger, 1442.
*

Fagus

L'ln.

fylvatica Lin.

Mill,

fig. pi.

and

fuch

84. Evel. fylvaby

Evel. fylva by Hunter. Ger.

1444.^
*
y

Carpinus Betulus Lin. Evel. Duh. t. 4g.Ger. 1479.

Caipinus Oftrya Lin. Mich, gen, 1. 104. f. i, 2.
is

LETTER

XXVIIL

439

the fpecific difference of thefe, which are

the only known fpecies.
The leaves are

is

wrinkled, marked with ftrong nerves, of

an ovate form, and (liarply toothed about
the edge.

Hazel has the ftaminiferous flowers on a

long cylindric catkin, with one flower to each
fcale, which is trifid j it has from fix to ten
ftamens; generally eight: the piftilliferous
flower? are remote from the others, feflile
and inclofed in a bud; the calyx is two-leaved
and torn: each flower has two very long,
red fl:yles; but you mufl: obferve that there
are feveral flowers in the fame bud, which
you mud therefore feparate for examination :
As
the fruit, as you know, is an ovate nut.
have
flowers
any corol.
ufual, neither of the
The common Hazel nut^ and Filbert ^ are fuppofed not to be fpecifically different, and the
fpecies is charafterized by the ftipules, which
are ovate, and end obtufely; whereas thofe of
the Byzantine or Spanijl:) nut % which Linnaeus
gives as a ditHndt fpecies, are linear, and end
Thefe do not arrive at the dignity
acutely,

of

trees,

The

but are only fhrubs.

lafl:

order

this

tree
is

point out to you of

Plane
which has the

I fhall

the

-^

flowers of both forts in globular aments: the

Corylus Avellana Lm. Eve!.fylvaby Hunter.

t. 77. Ger. 1438.
Corylus Col'urna Lin. Seba muf. i. t. 27. f. 2.

Du

ham.
*

Ff

ftaminiferous

LETTER

440

XXVIII.

ftaminiferous flowers have a few very fmall

fcales for the calyxes, a corol fcarcely appa-

and anthers furrounding the filament:

flowers have many very

rent,

the

piftilliferous

fmall fcales to the calyx;

corol

many

petals to the

f'hulate {l)les with recurved fligmas;

and roundidi feeds, terminated by a pointed

ftyle, and having a Ample down adhering to
their bafe.
The two fpecies of this tree,
for there are no more, are well d'fl:inguiflied

by

their

which

leaves,

jfiatic Pl7ie^ are

vourite tree

All thcfe

of

and

Eafiern or
the Oc~

in

The flrfl was

Rome, and was the fathe Romans at their villas.

cidental ox lnrgi7iian\

introduced early

the

in

palmate

lobate.

to

Incluacd in a n.itnral
by Linnae'js, -^nd 7>/their charaier
lifer by Haller and others
is fufiiciently obvious from their name, and
what has been already faid in dt:livenng the
charadtcTS of the genera.
There remains ftill a ftt of kindred freesof the order Monadejphia^ and of a natural
trees

are

tribe, called AmcntacccB

tribe entitled Ccnifer or Cone -b earing.

Of
thefe the Pine genus is chief: its generic

charaders

are, that the Itaminiferous dowers

are difpofed in racemes, having each of them
a four-leaved calyx ; no corol, but abundance

of ftamens terminated by naked anthers

^
*

Platanus orientalis Lin.

Plalanus occidentalis Lin.

Catefby car.

i. t.

the

56.

piflilliferous

LETTER
piftilliferous

flowers

are

XXVIII.
on a cone

441
;

each

fcale or calyx has two flowers, without any

corol; one piftil ; and a nut furnifhed with

a membranous wing.

The whole genus may be

divided into the

having two or more leaves from the

fame flieathing bafe, and the Firs, having

PineSy

the leaves quite

firll

at the bafe.
Of the
mod known among us is

diftin(fl:

divifion, the

the Scotch ^itie^, or as it is vulgarly called

Scotch Fir: this has two leaves in a (heath;
and the primordial ones folitary and fmooth.

by no means peculiar to Scotland, but

is found all through Denmark, Norway, and
Sweden, in Swiflerland, and moft other parts
of Europe, and even in the Weft Indies.
The Fineafter or ivild FtJie of Italy, the
fouth of France and Swifl^erland, refembles
branches are wider diftant,
this, but the
and more horizontal the leaves are larger,
thicker, and longer, grow ftraight, are of
a darker green, and end obtufely j the cones
are feven or eight inches long: the leaves
of the Scotch Pine are broader, grayifh,
and twilled j the cones fmall, and of a
light colour: the timber alfo is far preferable, yielding the beft red or yellow deal.
Linnaeus, however, does not {,.vc\ to have
diftinguifhed them.
The Stone Pine^ has
It

is

-,

^ PinusfylveftrisZ,/;/.

Mill,

illuilr.

Evel.

fylva

by

Hunter. Ger. 1356.

Pinus Pinea Lin,
alfo

442

LETTER

XXVIIL

double leaves, and the primordial one

but fringed; they are of a glaucous
hue: the cones are thick, roundifh, and end
obtufely; the fcales are flat, and the nuts
fo large, that in the fouth of France and
Italy they think it worth while to break
them, and ferve the kernels up in deferts.
'Frankincenfe Pine^ has three leaves coming
out of the fame fheath, and cones as large as
thofe of the Stone Pine, but more pointed,
and with loofer fcales, that open horizontally,
and drop the feeds. The Cembra Pine^ has
five leaves in a fheath; they are fmooth, of
a light green, long, and narrow; the cones
are about three inches long, with clofe
PFey^
fcales, and large feeds eafily broken.
mouth Pine^' has alfo five leaves in every
fheath, long and {lender, but rugged on :he
edge; this tree grows remarkably flraight and
In North
tall, and the bark is very fmooth.
America it is called M^hite Pine, and is excelalfo

folitary,

lent for marts.

The

leaves of all thefe arc

linear and perfiftent; Linnaeus calls this fort

of leaf acerofe.
Linnaeus includes the Cedar of hebanon"^
and Larch ^ in this genus; others feparate

'

Pinus Taeda Lin.

Pinus Cembra Lin. Gmel.

ftb.

i. t.

39.

Duham.

2.

Pinus Strobus Lin.

Lin. Trew Ehr. t. i. Edw av.
Pinus LarixZ./. Hort. angl. 11,

Pmus Cedrus

t.

188.

them.

LETTER

XXVIIT.

them, becaufe the leaves are

44^

fafciculate,

or

fpreading at top like

come out in
a painter's brufh: this circumftance Linnaeus
gives for the fpeciic diftindion, adding, that
clufters,

in

the former they are acute, and in the latat the end; this is the only dif-

ter obtufe

ference he mentions; the leaves of the Larch

however are deciduous, thofe of the Cedar
permanent or evergreen: the chara(fler alfo of
thefe

two

trees

is

totally different

the lat-

arms horizontally till

down
with
their own weight,
the ends hang
the forand having a faftigiate or flat top
mer having the branches decreafing from the
bottom upwards, and being therefore nearly
ter fpreading

its

vaft

pyramidal.

Of the

Firs properly fo called, the Ptfch-

Norway Fir^, and \q Spruce"^, are

The firft has the leaves
the moft common.

tree,

or

emarginate, or notched at the end; this is

the tree from whence pitch is commonlyextracted, and ihe wood of it is what we call

white

The Spruce

has awl-fhaped,
turned two different ways; the timber of this refembles the
other, and, when cut into boards, is called
by the fime name. Silver Fir is fo named
from the whitencfs of the leaves underneath; they are emarginate, and in fhape
deal.

pointed, fmooth

.*

leaves,

Pinus Picea Lin. Ger, 1363.

Li?:, Ger. 1354,

* Pinus Abies

much

LETTER

444

much

XXVIIT.

refembles thofe of the

deal of turpentine

is

Yew:

made from

a great

Bahi

this.

of Gileod Fir " has the leaves fubemarginate,

or but little notched at the end; they are
There
dotted in a double line underneath.
are many varieties, efpecially of the Spruce ;

but it
them.

would

lead

I ihall finifh this

us

too

knot of

right, the funereal Cyprefs^

far

trees

to

notice

with the up-

which has

its

fta-

miniferous flowers collected into an ovate

ament, with one-flowered fcales, and four
feffile anthers without filaments to each flower:
the piflilliferous flowers are in a roundifh
cone, eight or ten in number, one to each
fcalcj thefe have many truncated points, hollow at the top, which are perhaps the ftyles ;
under the fcales of the cone lies an angled
nut.
Commcn upright Cyprefs'' has imbricate
leaves, with the leafing branches quadrangular: this takes naturally a clofe pyramidal
form, and when large has the finefl; efl^eift
imaginable near buildings. Spreading Cyprefs
is only a variety of this, but grows to a very
large fize, and furnillies the woe d fo famous
for

its

durability,

Deciduous Cyprefs
*

and

refiflence

to

infects.

has the leaves in two ranks,

Pinus Balfamea /?/. Pluk. aim.

Cuprcflus frmpervirens Lin.
Cupreflue dilticha Lin. Cat. car.

2. t.

1. 1.

I2i.

f.

I.

1.

and

LETTER

XXVIII.

445

and rpreading: it is a native of America, and

grows to a vafl fize. But it is time to defcend
from trees to herbs, and thus put an end to
this long letter.

The

are to be found in
the order Tetrandria of this clafs ; but fuch
vulgar ill-humoured plants may forgive your
paffing them by, where you have fo many in-

fiinging Nettles

'^

ttrefting and even great perfonages to attract

your notice.
The immortal Amaranth however, having
fuperior elegance and beauty to boaft, will
not thus be paffed unnoticed.
It is of the
order Pentandria, and having no corol, is
ranged by.fome irt the natural tribe of apetaThe fame raceme or bunch
lous flowers.
beirs incomplete flowers of both kinds, each
of them having a three or five-leaved calyx;
the one bearing three or five flamens, the
other three Ayles, and a one-celled capfule
opening horizontally, with one feed only
lodged in it.
The fpecies are numerous: one
of the mofl known is the Amaranthiis tricolor y
cultivated for the beauty of its leaves, which
are variegated with green, yellow, and red:
this is one of thofe that have three ftamens

to

the

which

flowers,

heads, are axillary, and

the

leaves

are

broad

Urtica

grow in roundifh
furround the ftem;
lance-fliaped.

Ama^

L'ln,

ranthus

LETTER

446

XXVIII.

rantbui bicolor " has only two colours in the

leaves, an obfcure purple and bright crimthis refembles the other, but has lanceiow
fhaped pointed leaves.
Prince's Feather has
:

'

ftamens to the flowers, which are proin decompounded, cylindric, long, pendulous racemes, of a bright purple, and two
feet or more in length.
Tree Amaranth refembles this, but is feven or eight feet high
the racemes are thicker, but not fo long.
Bloody Amaranth^ has alfo five ftamens: the
racemes are compound and eredl, the fide
ones very fpreading ; the leaves are ovateoblong: this has purple flalks and leaves;
the racemes are fliort, and at the end of
the ftem there is a large clufter of them
placed crofTwife, with one upright in the
middle: the flowers are bright purple at firft,
but grow darker.
Thus 1 have feleded the
moft fpecious of this fine genus for your
examination your gardener will furnifh you
with them from the hot-beds, when he raifes
his annual flowers.
five

duced

From

the order PoJyajtdria, I

you with two wild herbs

Burnet.

The

flowers, and

below
'

them:

firfi:

has

fliall

many

fiaminifcrous

few with piilils immediately

both have a three -leaved

Amaranthus melancholicus Lin.

Aniaranthus caud.itus Lit;.

V Amaranthus fjnguiiicui
tus Mart. cent.

t.

prefent

Arrow-head and

i//.

Mill.

fig.

22.

crucn-

6.

calyx.

LETTER

XXVIII.

calyx, and a corol of three petals

447

the one has

about twenty-four flamensi the other many
germs in a head, ending in very fhort flyles,
terminated by acute permanent ftigmas. Our
common Arrow-head"^ is eafily diftinguifhed
by its leaves fliaped like the head of an
it grows in the water,
arrow, and pointed
has rounded white petals with purple tails,
and bears an evident affinity to Water^
:

plantain,
Burjiet has incomplete flowers of both forts
in the fame fpike ; thofe with ilamens below

the others: they have a four-leaved calyx, and

a four-parted corol: the lower ones have from
thirty to forty ftamensj the upper,

two

piftils,

kind of berry formed from the tube of

and
the corol hardened. Common ox [mailer Burnet
a

'^

from the other fpecies, by being

unarmed or having no thorns ; and the ftems
This and the Great
being rather angulate.
Burnet '% though feparated fo widely in the

is

diftinguifhed

fyflem, are evidently of the flime

genus: the calyx of the latter is
two-leaved, and the number of ilamens only
four, and one piflil; both in the fame flower:
it is alfo a much larger plant, with not fo

artificial

natural

"
^

Sagittaria fagittifolia Lin. Fl. dan. 172, Ger. 4.16.

PotL-iiuai ranguiforba Lin.
Curtis, Lond. H. 64.

Ger.
"^

f.

8.

045.
Sanguiforba officinalis
1

t.

18,

f.

7.

L'ln,

Fl. dan.

97. Alor. hift.

Ger. 1045.

many

LETTER

448

many

pairs of lobes to the leaves

in moifl:
ally

XXVIII.

meadows;

this

grows

the other in dry, efpeci-

chalky paftures.

RicinuSy or

Palma

Chrtfii^

ranges

in

the

The flowers have no

Monadephia,
fome are furnilhed with many ftamens, and thefe have a five- parted calyx;
others have three bifid fly les, with a threecelled capfule, containing one feed in each
Com^
cell; in thefe the calyx is three-parted.
mon Palma Chrijii " has peltate, palmate leaves,
toothed about the edge, of a glaucous hue
In
underneath, and glands on the petioles.
the Weft Indies there are fevcral others, varying from this, and from each other; which
are not, however, generally fuppofed to be
order
corol

diftindl

fpecies.

or Oil-tree^

tus,

oil for their

in

They

them Agnus cafand extradl from them an

lamps;

this

call

is

the Cajlor Oil, ufed

The common fort grows

warm parts of Europe.

medicine.

in

and the other

Sicily,

The
a fet

order Syjigeneja of this clafs contains

of plants that belong evidently to the

fame natural

tribe,

entitled Cucurbitace,

They all
Gourd-pa7its.
calyx, divided into five fegments;

or

agree in a one- leafed

a fuperior,

monopetalous corol, divided alfo ufually into

three filaments; one ftyle, generally
five;
trifid; and a pomum for a fruit.

Ricinus communis Lin. Mill.

I

fig.

219.

Momorca

LETTER
Momordica

is

XXVIII.

449

diftinguifbed principally

by

the elaftlc burfling of the fruit, which in the

common fort is hifpid; the flalks of this have
no tendrils. From the property of throwing
out the feeds with the juice, this plant has
acquired the name of Spirting Cucumber^,

Gourd has ;he feeds of the fruit with a tuLong Gourd"" has the leaves
mid margin.
llightly angulate, downy, two-glanded underneath at the bafe; the flowers white, oa
Jong peduncles, and reflexed at the brim; the
yellow when ripe, and the rind
hard and woody, fo that it will contain liquids
whence it is called Bottle Gourd,
Pompionf corruptly called Fiimpkin^, is of
this genus, and has lobate leaves, with fmooth
fruits, which will grow to the lize of a peck.
The Sqiijh^ which is another fpecies, has
alfo lobate leaves, erel ftems, and the fruit
flatted and knotty.
Warted Gourd"" has likewife lobate leaves,
and knobby fruits, covered with warts. Thefe
differ much in their form and fize.
But the mod: known and cultivated of
thefe fruits are the Melon and Cucumber^
which belong to another genus, called Cfruit crooked,

-,

Momordica Elaterium

Cucurbita
Cucurbita
Cucurbita
Cucurbita

"
*

L'ln.

lagenaria Lin.

Mor.

hift.

f.

i. t, 5.

f.

3.

Pepo Lin.
Melopepo Lin
verrucofa Lin.

Gg

cumisj

LETTER

450

having the

cumiSf

Melon
and the
^

XXVIII.

feeds of the

fruit

fharp.

has the angles of the leaves rounded,

fruits

covered with

little

fwellings

you know, in the form of

it
Cucumber^ has the angles of the
the fruit.
leaves (harp, and the fruits oblong and rugged.
All thefe having large flowers, with the parts
very diftindl, are proper to give you a juft
idea of this clafs^ with theft then I will finifh,
and releafe you for the prefent.
varies

much,

as

Cucumis Melo Lin.

Cucumis fativus Lin*

451

LETTER

XXIX.
June the

ift,

1777.

THE

twenty-fecond clafs differs no otherwife from the preceding, than in the

difpofition of the incomplete flowers, namely
on different individuals of the fame fpccies;
this is its effential character, and this gave

name

There being
underflanding this, which
indeed has been repeated feveral times before,
let us go on without farther preface to the
examination of fuch plants as are moft likely
to fall in our way ^.
Such is the Willow, which is of the fcond
Both flaminiferous and
order
Diandria.

occafion to

no

its

Dioecia.

difficulty then in

piftilliferous flowers

are

produced in aments

or catkins, on different trees j fo that you

will have double trouble in examining the
flowers of this clafs ; for when you have found

one fort, you will have to look about, and

perhaps have fome difficulty in findino- the
other.
In fo delightful a fludy hov^^ever,
you will not grudge a little pains, after havnig
already taken fo much.
The flowers of Wilf

The

genera in this clafs are fifty-five, and the fpecies

two hundred and nineteen.

low

LETTER

452

XXIX.

coro], and their calyx is nothing

but the fcales of the amentj there is a little
honied gland in the centre of each ftami-

low have no

niferous flower: you

other anients,
little

will

eafily

know

by the ovate germ

in

the

each

flower, gradually leflening to a pair of

fcarcely

ftyles,

diflinguidiable

from

it,

but

by the two ere:, bifid ftigmas, with which

they are terminated this germ becomes a onecelled, tv/o-valved capfule, containing many
fmall feeds, crowned with a rough fimple
down. There are anomalies in this genus ;
for one fpecies has three, another five ftamens, and a third has complete flowers.
From more than thirty fpecies I fliall feledt
the Wbite Willoiv^, which is a tree fo common in watery fituations: you will know it
by the lance-fliaped, acuminate leaves, toothed
about the edges, pubefcent, or villous, on
both furfaces, and halving the lower ferratures
glandulous: the leaves are very white underneath
and the catkins are (liort and thick:
it will grow to be a large tree, when it is not
headed.
Several fpecies arc commonly cultivated in Olier-holts *", but being always kept
down, in order to have a confiant fucceflion
of long, llender twigs, you will have little opportunity of examining their fructification.
;

',

8
''

Salixalba Lin. Blackw. t, 327. Gcr. 1389^

Salix vitcllina, amygdaJina, purpurea, viiiiinalis, &c.

Lin.

But

LETTER

XXIX.

453

But one fpecies being cultivated for its beauty,

which fortunately depends upon the natural
growth, you may ftudy it at your lelfure
:

this

the Weeping Willow'\

is

known

at

firfl:

light by its long, (lender, pendulous branches;

the leaves are fmooth, narrow, and linear,
tending to lance- (haped.
Cemmcn Sallow^
has ovate leaves, wrinkled on the furface
which is villous above, and tomentofe or

nappy underneath, and flightly toothed or

waved on the edges. There are feveral vaof this vulgar fpecies.
Mijjeltoe is of the order Tetrandria, its
parafitic quality you
are well acquainted
with, and that alone makes it generally
obvious to every body
it is however no part
of its charader. The genus is determined
by a four-parted calyx, and an anther growing to each part, without a filament, in the
flaminiferous flowers ; a four-leaved calyx
fitting on the germ ; no fiyie ; and a berry
incloling
one heart - fbaped feed in the
others
neither have any corol.
Common or
V/hite Mijfeltoe^ is diilinguifhed from the
reft of the fpecies by lance-ihaped
leaves
rieties

-,

ending obtufely,

dichotomous

and

fialk,

axillary fpikes of flowers.

Salix babylonica Ltn.

^ Salix ciprea
^

Lhu

Vifcum album Lin,

FL

dan. 245. Ger. 1319.

Mill, illuftr. Duham.

104..

t.

Qer. 1350.

Go:'?

In

LETTER

454
In

next order

the

XXIX.
wc

Pejitandriuy

Hemp, and Hop.

Spinach,

The

have

has a
five-parted calyx in the ftaminiferous flowers, and a quadrifid or four-cleft one in the
feed within
fcparates
rian'',

have four-cleft

thefe

others';

the

indurated

the garden"^

by the feeds being

feveral varieties

may

fagittate

leaves,

Linnsus

from the ^ibefeffile,

which

in

of the former are

two remarkable

perhaps

and one

ftyles,

calyx.

fort

the latter are peduncled

firft

ones,

which

be

diftindl,
the one having
and prickly feeds ; the other
rather ovate leaves, with fmooth feeds.

Hemp"
flowers

has

five-parted

calyx

which bear flamens, but

in

the

in the

pif-

ones it is one-leafed, entire, and

gaping on the fide: thefe have two ftyles,
and the feed is a bivalve nut within the
clofed calyx.
There is only one known
fpecies, and therefore until others are difcovered, there is no occafion for any fpecific

tilliferous

difi:indlon.

Hop^

has

flaminiferous

calyx in
the others

five-leaved

flowers

in

the
it

is

one-leafed, obliquely expanding, and entire;

ihefe have two llyles, and one feed within a

"

"

Spinacia oleracea Lin.

Spinacia fera Lin.

"

Cannabis

Humulus Lupulus

fativa Lin.

Mill. fig. pi. 77.

Lin,
Milf. illuftr. Gsr. 885.

leafy

LETTER

XXIX.

455

many of them are colleded

form what we call the Hop. In

leafy calyx

to-

the

gether to
three Uft genera the flowers have no corol.
The order Hexandria has the ^amus or
bkck Bryony^ the flowers of which have a
fix-parted calyx and no corol ; the piftilliferous flowers have a trifid fl:yle, and a threecelled berry below the flower, containing
feeds: our common fpecies' has heartfhaped undivided leaves.
The Poplars are in the order OBandrta,
The flowers of both forts are here born on
fimilar aments, confifling of fcales torn on
the edge, and each having one flower, without any petals, but a top-ihaped necflary ending obliquely above in an ovate border ; the
piflilliferous flowers have a quadrifid ftigma,
and are fucceeded by a two-celled capfulc,
White Popcontaining many downy feeds.
roundifh leaves indented on the
lar'' has
edges into angles, and downy underneath.
Great White Poplar or jibele-tree, is a variety
of this, with larger leaves, more divided,
and of a darker green. Trembling Poplar or
^fp^ has leaves like the former in lliape,
but fmooth on both fides; thefe being fet on
long petioles that are flatted at the tip, trem-

two

t. I.

t.

Tamus communis
f.

6.

M^opulus alba X/.

36. Ger. I486, and
*

Zi;7.

Mill,

illuftr.

Mor.

hift.

f,

i.

Ger. 871.
Evel. fylva by Hunter.

Duham.

1487.

Populus tremula Lin.

Ger. 1487.

Gg4

ble

LETTER

456.

XXIX.

Black Pop'
ble with the flighted breeze.
rhon:iboid
leaves,
pointed
has
and
Jar^
they are fmooth on both fides, of
green y and the catkins are fliorter
Carclina
thofe of the two former.

toothed

',

light

than

has very large heart-fliaped leaves,

obtufely notched about the edges; and the

Poplar""

Tacamahaca^ is a fpecies of
with oblong-ovate leaves, toothed
about the edges, white underneath, with a
fcarcely vifible down, and tlie veins forming
the flipules are remarkably
a fine net-work
angled.

flioots

poplar,

refinous.

Of the order Enneandria there is an herb,

frequent under hedges and in woods, called
Do^'s Mer cury ^^ : the flowers have a threeparted calyx, and no corol ; in fome there
are nine or twelve ftamejss, with globular,
in othert?^ on a diftind: plant,
;
and a two-grained, two-celled
containing one feed in each ceil.

twin anthers

two

ftyles,

capfule,

The

fpecies here

the red by

and

its

its

rough

meant

is

diftinguidied

from

very fimplc unbranched flem,

leaves.

In the order Monadelphia you will find a

trees under the title of 'Juniper , in-

genus of
*

"

Populus nigra Z/. Mill, illuftr. Gcr. i486,

Populus ballamitcra Adlller. angulata.
Populus balfamiiera Lin, Cat. car. I. 34.

arb. 2.

t.

38.

f.

Duh.

6.

^ Mercurialis perennls Lin, Curtis, Lond.

II.

65. Gcr.

eluding

LETTER
not

only

which

is

eluding
called,

but

457

properly fo

the Juniper

rather a flirub than a tree,

American or Sweet

the Savin, and

alfo

XXIX.

The

ilaminiferous flowers in
this genus are born on an ament, the fcales
of which form the calyx of each flower,

Cedars,

&cc.

having no corol but only three flamens : the

piflilliferous flowers have a fmall, permanent,
three -pnned calyx, growing to the germ,
which is below the flower j they have a
corol of three petals, three fl:yles, and a
three-feeded berry, with three tubercles of
the unequal calyx on the lower part, and
three little teeth at top from the remains of
the

Common

petals.

has

'Juniper'^

fpreading, pointed leaves,

coming out toge-

that are longer than the berry,

ther,

three
Savi'n^

has oppofite, eredt, decurrent leaves, with

the oppofitions boxed or running over each
other along the branches, they are {hort and

much

acute: this fhrub fpreads out

tally,

r^l

riflng little in height.

fpecies

of

Bermudas Cedar

Cedar natives
"^

is

ufed for

wainfcoting rooms,
the V/ell: Indies, the

tacking this kind of wood.

^

Juniperus communis

of

America.

which is imported
pencils, was formerly

that

for cafing black lead in

fliips in

horizon-

Tliere are feve-

Un.

Mill,

and

now

worms not

The
illuftr.

for
at-

fpecitic dif-

Duham.

t. 1

27.

Ger. 1372.
y
"^

Juniperus Sabina L'ln,

Juniperus bermudiana Lin. Ilerm. lugdb.

t.

347.

tindion

LETTER

458
t\n.ion

from the leaves; the lower ones

is

being threefold,
fubulate,

rent,

the upper twofold

others

% decur-

and acute.

fpreading,

plantations h^.ve alfo the

lina,

XXIX.

The

Red Virginia^, Caro-

and Ba-rkadoes'^ Cedars-, and there are

which are natives of the fouthern parts

of Europe'-^.

The baleful J^ew'' is of the fame order :

the flowers have no corol, nor, properly fpeaking, any calyx, unlcfs we allow the three or
bud to be fuch on fome trees
they will be found to have many ftamens,
terminated by peltate, eight-cleft anthers ;
on others, to have an ovate, pointed germ,
ending in an obtufe fiigma without any ftyle,
the germ becoming a kind of berry, or rather fucculent receptacle, with one itt in
thefe flowers all
top naked
it, having the
come out from the alee of the leaves, which

four-leaved

end in a fliarp point, and are

ranged in a double row clofe logcher along
the mid-rib ; the berry is red, and mawkiihly
not poifonous, though the leaves cerfweet
are

linear,

tainly are fo.

will

and clofe

clafs,
*
''

now

finidi

this

our examination of this

letter, with the fingular

Miller fays fourfold and imbricate.

Juniperus virginiana Lin. Sloan, jam. 2. t. 157. f. 3.
Juniperus barbadenfis /,/'?/. Pluk. aim. 197. 4. Hort.

ancr).

t.

f.

I.

Juniperus thurifera, phoenicia, lycina, OxvcedrusZ/;/.

Taxus baccata Liu. Evel. fylva by Hunter. Duham.
86, Ger. 1370.
^

t.

genus

LETTER

XXIX.

45^

genus of RufcuSy the flowers of which have

a fix-leavt-d calyx, no corol, but an ovate
inflated nedary, perforated at top, in the
the ftaminiferous
centre
of the flower
flowers have no filaments, but only three
anthers, fitting on the top of the nedlary,
and united at the bafe, whence this genus
order Syngenefia : the piftiliiferous
is of the
flowers have one fl:yle, and a germ hid
within the nedary, which becomes a globofe,
:

two globofe
The common fpecies, which we
feeds.
call Butcher' s-br 00m, or Knee Holly
bears
the
flowers
in
middle
of
its
the leaves, on

three-celled

berry,

containing

*",

upper furface^ thefe are of the fhape

and fize of myrtle leaves, but ftifl^er, and
end in prickly points j the berries are red,
and almoit as large as cherries
in another
the
flowers
fpecies^
are produced on the
under furface of the leaves
in a third ^
they are produced alfo underneath, but are
proteded by a leaflet, whereas in the other
fpecies they are naked: a fourth' flowers
from the margin of the leaves
and the
Alexandrian Laurel^,
which is a fpecies
of Rufcus, from long racemes at the ends

their

Rufcus aculeatus Lin. Mill, illufir. Duham.

Ger. Q07.
s Rulcus Hypophyllum Lin.
Col, ecphr. i. t

t,

li
'

f.

I.

eg.

^*

Rufcus HypoglofTum Lin. Col.t. 165. f. 2.

Rufcus androgynus Lin. Dill. elth. t. 250, f. -702.
^ Rufcus racemofus Lin.
Mor. hift. f. 13. t. 5. f, 14.

1"

'

of

46o

LETTER

XXIX.

of the branches ; the flowers of this arc

complete, and therefore the plant ought not
to be found in this clafs, but fince it is
evidently of this genus naturally, Linnaeus
has left it with its own family, choofing rather to violate the laws of his own arbitrary
fyftem than thofe of nature. The fta'ks of
this are flender and pliable ; the leaves are
rounded at the bafe, but end in acute points,
they are fmooth, and of a very lucid green;
the flowers are of an herbaceous yellow colour, and are fucceeded by berries like thofe
With
of our Butcher's-broom, but fmaller.
you,
leave
evergreen
I
dear
beautiful
this
coufin,

till

the next letter.

46i

LETTER

XXX.
June the 14th, 1777.

THERE
who

are

fome pcrpjns, dear

coufin,

the twenty-third clafs

Polygamia, might have been fpared, and the

think

comprifed in it^ ranged in the oiher

according to the number, fituation,
claiTes,
proportion, &c. of the flamens.
But let us
take things as we find them, without inquiring too deeply into the merits, of what,
after all, is of no great importance.
The
eflence of this clafs confifts in having complete flowers, accompanied by one or both
forts of incomplete ones, either on the fame
or different individuals.
The latter circumflance furniQies the charader of the three
plants

orders.

The frft order of this clafs having the

complete and incomplete flowers always oa
the fame plant, is hence entitled Monoecia,
You may perhaps remember, that fome of
the grades were faid to be of this order "";
here alfo are the Plantain-tree and Banana " ;
Valantia or Crofswort, which you may find
in hedges and bulhy places, and will evidently
^

*"

1.

Genera 34,
See

letter

" Mufa
18-23.

fpecies 224.

XUI.

paradifiaca

fapientum

Lin,

Trew. Ehr.
perceive

LETTER

462

XXX.

perceive to be of a natural tribe you have

met with before there is ufually one com:

plete

genus, accompanied on
each fide with an incomplete ftaminiferous
one; the former has the corol four-parted,
four flnmens, a bifid ftyle, and one feed; the
latter have the corol trifid in fome fpecies,
flou^er

in

this

quadrifid in others; three ftamens in

lour in others, and an obfcure piflil

fome,
;

none

have any calyx

frequently
thefe plants produce incomplete flowers only,
the flowers

of

and therefore no
their

running fo

feed;

much

owing
at

the

prefume

to

Our

root.

wild fpecies p is one of thofe which have

the incomplete flowers quadrifid, and it has

two

leaves to each peduncle,

about eight

which fupports

with yellow corols ;

there are four leaves to each whorl, and
they, v/ith the whole phnt, are covered with
flowers,

foft hairs.

of the Wall has two complete

with one piftilliferous flower between them, within a fix-leaved involucre ;
they have a four-c!eft calyx, no corol, one
ftyle, and one feed
the complete flowers
are diflinguifhed by having four flamens ;
the other has none.
Our common fpecies 1 has broad lance-lhaped leaves, dichoFellitory

flower?,

f.

XV.

Stelluta: fee letter

Valantia Cruciata Lin.

9.
^

21.

Ger.

123.
Parictaria oliicinalis Lin.
t.

f.

I.

Blackw.

t.

76.

Mor.

hift.

Curtis, Lond.

IV. 63.

Gcr. 331.

tomous

LETTER

XXX.

463

tomous or forked peduncles, and two-eaved

calyxes
the piftiiliferous flowers are quad:

rangular and pyramidal.

Atripkx or Orache has fuch affinity with
Che7iopo(itum or Goofefoot, that, as Linnaeus
obferves, if Orache had only complete flowers it

would be

and if this had

would be an Orache.
common weeds on dung-

a Goofefoot

piftiiliferous flowers,

Moft of
hills,

thefe are

it

or on the fea-coaft.

Acer or Maple is a tree in which you may

examine the charadler of the clafs, and
order, at your eafe.
The flowers are produced in bunches ; the lower ones complete,
and thofe which are towards the end ftaminiferous
they have a quinquefid calyx,
a corol of five petals
the complete flowers
have befides all this one piftii, and two or
:

three capfules, joined at the bafe, flat, each

terminating in a large, membranaceous wing,
and containing one feed. The Great Maple,
commonly called Sycomore\ has five-lobed
leaves unequally ferrate, and the flowers in
large racemes.
Common Maple has lobed
leaves, obtufe, and emarginate ; generally
'

they are divided half way into three lobes,

the fide ones obtufely femi-bifid, the middle
one femi-trifid ; the upper leaves rather cut
""

Acer Pfeudoplatanus Un. Evcl.

t. 9, Gcr. 1484.
Acer campellre Z,/. Ger. 1484.

f)

Iva by

Hunter,

Dubam.
'

into

LETTER

464
into

five

lobes

XXX.

the bunches

of flowers are

grows much in hedges.

This
fmaller.
The famous Mimofa or Senjitive belongs
tree

to this fini: order of the clals Polygamia.

The flowers have a five-toothed calyx, a
five-cleft corol, and five or more ftamens :

the complete flowers have alfo one piflil, and

This genus is
a legume for a feed-veflel.
the
fpecies
but
all
are not
numerous,
very
That
endued with the fcnfitive quality.
which is moll common in the iflands of
the Weft: Indies and our Moves', has the
ftems armed with fhort recurved fpines ;
pinnate leaves compofed of four or five pair

of lobes, whofe bafe join at a point where

they are infertcd into the petiole, fpreading
upwards like the fingers of the hand; the
flowers come out from the aliS on fhort peduncles, in fmall globular heads, the corols
are yellow
flat,

they are

cular,

Some

by ihort,
two or three orbi-

fucceeded

jointed pods, with

bordered, comprefTed feeds in

fpecies

move much more

others; fome drop the

only, and others drop

each.

readily than

lobes of the leaves

the

petioles

of the

whole leaf alfo. The true Egyptian Acacia''

and many other Acacias, having the fame
charalers, are included
are too tender to

in this

flower

much

genns
they
in our cli:

mate.

Mimofa pudica Liti. Comm.

Mimofa nilotica Lin.

hort. i.

t.

29.

Three^

LETTER

XXX.

465

^ree-thorncd Acacia^ is of another genus^ and indeed of another order

Dioecia:
for it has the ftaminiferous flowers in a
long, compadl, cylindric ament, with fome

complete ones generally at the end of it;

and on a diftinct pUnt piflilliferous flowers
on oofe aments. The complete flowers have
a quadrifid calyx, a four-petalled corcl, fix
flamens, one piflil, and a legume: the fta-

miniferous flowers have a three-leaved calyx,

a corol of three petals, and fix ftamens :

and the

pifl:illiferous
flowers have a fiveleaved calyx, a five-petalled corol, one piftil,

and a legume. The common fpecies is diffrom the other ^ by its large
thorns, which have generally two fmaller
ones, coming out from the fide: they are
axillary, and are often produced in cluflers
at the knots of the ftem
the leaves are
pinnate, and have ten pair of fmall lobes.
In America, its native country, this tree is
called Honey Locujl,
tinguiflied

The

Ajh'tree

having on fome

is

alfo of this fcond order

complete flowers, on
others piftilliferous ones, each frequently accompanied by the others ; they have either
a four-parted calyx or none, a corol of four
petals or none, and one piflil
the complete
trees

Gleditfia triacanthos L'ln.

t. 21.

Duham.

r. t.

105. Hort.

angl.
"^

Gleditfia inermis Lin,

Mill.

fig. pi. 5,

flowers

LETTER

466

have

flowers

XXX.

two flamens, and one

Common flo"- has pin-

alfo

lance- lliaped feed.

nate leaves, v^ith five pair of lobes, llightly

ierrate on the edge j the flowers have nei-

nor

ther calyx

corol,

and are produced

bunches from the

loofe

fides

in-

of the branches,

has the lobes of the leaf ferrate i the flowers are foi'nifhed both with
calyx and corol ; and are in large loofe
bunches at the ends of the branches. The

FLwcj'iig

JJJj^'

American or Carolina jh ^ has the lobes

quite entire, and the petioles round.
Trioecia, we have
Of the third order
the Fig^ which though it bears flowers that

them within the

enough
to the cldfs Cryptogamia,
What we call the
fruit of the Fig Linnaeus names the recep-

are

vifibic,

fruit,

yet

conceals

and therefore

tacle,

or

common

he defcribes

may

lead us well

calyx

of

the

flowers

being tcp-fliaped, flcfhy,

converging, clofcd at the broad end with
feveral fcaies, and having the infide covered
with little flov/ers, complete and incomplete j
fometimes in the fime fruit, and fometimes
Oil different trees
the ftaminiferous flowers
have a three-parted calyx, and, three flamens ; the piflilliierous flowers have a fiveit

as

Fraxinus cxcelfior Lin,

Dubam.

Evelyn's fylva by Flunter..

101. Ger. 1472.

Fraxinus OrnusZ,/;/.
Mill,

Fraxinus ameiicana Lin,

t.

illuftr. Flort.

angl.t,

9..

Catell). car. i. 80.

parted

LETTER

XXX.

467

parted calyx, one piftil, and one ronndifh,

flitted feed; neither of them have any corol.

Our common

or eatable Fig^ is diftingniflied

palmate leaves: the different fruits
are but varieties arifing from the fame feed.
The hiftory and conomy of this fingular
tree, as related by naturalifts and travellers,
will bean agreeable relaxation to you, amidft
ur dry botanical difquifitions.

by

its

* Ficus Carica Lin,

Hh2

Mill,

illuftr.

468

LETTER

XXXI.
June the

now gone
HAVING confpicuous
of
proceed to the

clafies

regularly

fyftem,

in

but having
long time,
take a view

2i(l,

through

1777.
all

the

flowers, we (hould

clafs of the
inconfpicuous j
kept on a ftraight courfe for a
we will now turn out of it, and
of the different appearances which

which they

lafl:

are

the nedary puts on, in the feveral genera of

plants wherein it is found.
Several of thel'e have heen curforily menand we
tioned as char.idcrs of the genus
ufc
of the
have even hinted at the general
but we fliall now go farther, and
nedary^'
this part of the flower has
though
that
fay,
:

not hitherto been obferved

general yet
in

all,

that in

not

if

all

in

two hundred

probability

it

exis

as a diftind vilible part, as

however, or a fet of glands

exuding
that vifcid, fweet juice,
or
fo ufeful fecondarily for the nourifliment of
a gland or pore
pores,

a great variety of infeds, and, at the fame

time, doubtlefs primarily neceflary to the
For you
frudification of the plant itfelf.
will obferve in monopetalous tubular corols^
^
^

See letters IV. and

Beftdci the

XVII.

G rafles.
that

LETTER

XXXI.

469

though they have no vifible necflary,

yet there is a neareous juice fecreted into

tljat

their

tube'^,

which

therefore

is

probably

provided with glands for this purpofe, too

minute to be ken with the naked eye, but
which an accurate infpedlion with glafTes
might perhaps detel. Polypetalous flowers

with open calyxes, having no tube, or bafin

for the reception of the nedareous juice,
have in general a body deRined to prepare

and contain

it,

in order that

it

may be

dif-

tributed to the furrounding parts of frudlifiIn the compound

cation, as it is wanted.

umbellate tribes of plants indeed no

necltaries have been rem.arked, but then you
remember, that the whole flower in both

and

of them is fo fmall, that it is no wonder if

a part fo minute as the nedary frequently
is in larger flowers, fhould efcape our obferwe may prefume however
vation in thefe
that ihey abound in nedarcous juice, fince
we obferve that infeds are particularly fond
No genus of the clafs
of thefe two tribes.
Icofandria has any diftind nedary; but then
the calyx is one-leafed, and forms a com:

the reception of the nectareous juice, which is frequently very dif-

modious bafm
cernible

in

it.

for

The

not mentioned by

is

verticillate

tribe'

alfo

Linnseus as being fur-

As particularly in the Honeyfuckle and Aloe.

* Didyanoiia. Gymnofpermia Lin.

Hh

nl(hed

LETTER

470

XXXI.

nitlied with vifible necftaries ; nor are they

perhaps imniediatoly ncceil'ary here, becaule
the corol is monopetalou'^', and the monophvlicus calyx forms a perliftent tube: many
genera h<)wever of tiiis order have a gland
in the bottom of the calyx, furrounding the
this is large in tiie Biggie,
bafe of ihe germ
;

and fufhcienily

No

vifible in the

Dea^

Nettle.

appearance of the necl:ary is more

You have althan this of glands.
they
are confiderable in
feen*" that

common
ready

feveral genera of the cruciforin tribe ; that

they have furniflied us with generic characters
and that they are even the caufe of
the claffical charader itfelp.
It haS been
juft mentioned that they are found in the
verticillate or labiate tribe
and many genera, difperled in various parts of the fyllem,
have this glandular neitary.
Thus IHukenctia
(1084)'' has four glands at the b:^.fe cf the
:

filaments, as in the clafs T^etradynamia>

Cetcis

(510) has a llyle-form gland under the germ.

Lathr(^a (743) and Orobaiiche [nyq) have a
gland, at the bafe of the germ.
Cajjyta (505)
has three glands; Echites (299) and Tabtrncemontana (301 ) have live ^ Heriiandia (i 049)

'

Letter

XXIir.

E vSce letter II.

IV. and V. compared with letter XXIII.

number of the genus in Lin-

he figures refer to the

naeu^'s genera

an:)

fyllcnia.

has

LETTER

XXXI.

471

germ ; and
glands,
oblong
Grielwn (1235) ^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^
round the germ, uniting into a little crown.
Maipighia (SV^) has two glands, at the bottom and on the outfiJe of each leaf of the
calyx: in Bamjcria (573) the cafe is the
fame, except that one foliole of the calyx
has no ghnds, and tlierefjre the whole number is eight; whereas in the other it is ten.
Refcda (608) has a gland arifmg from the receptacle, between the ftamens and the up'per
petal: and Croton (1083) has five of them,
fjss fix

or four, furrounding the

fixed to the receptacle,

has

( 1 1 1 1 )

j^flro?iiu??t

Ciciir^
gldods in the dific of the flower.
bita [io()\) or the gourd genus, has a fingle,
triangiilar, concave gland in the centre of the
flower: and in the Salix (1098) or Willow

five

the

fituaoi is

the iarhe, but the

is

cylindric.

is

Another very ufual

fcalts,
which are

form

ot it

form of the nedtary

in

truth

but

flatted

and Vicia^

glands.
Monnieria (850),
(^73)
or the Vetch genus, have one fcale only, at
the bafe of the germ.
Cufcuta (170) or
Dodder, has four icales, at the baie of the

ftam^ns.

But many have

five fcales

as

Far-

7ioJjia (384); at the bafs of the filaments in

Schrebera (319), ^ajjia (529), and Me-

ajloma (544} i between the amens \\-\ Irefine

{11 13) ; at the bale of the germ, in Crajjula

(392) Coylcdon {^7^) ^nd Sediun (579) ; furrounding the receptacle, in Samyda (543);
or
h 4

LETTER

47?
pr

at

the

XXXI.

bafe of the petals, in Rryihoxyhn

(699) Grewia (1026)

Jhjiaryllis (406) and
Krggtifia (i 128).
ontice (423) have fix Icales 5 without the
of the filaments in the iirft, and inferted
(57s)

K?2iincu!us

and

Lebafe
into

the bafe of the petals in the fcond.

Not

unfrequently

does the

ne^litary

appear

which are generally

Plumbago (213) placed
at the bottom of the corol, and inclofing
the germ; furrounding the germ in Achyand covering the receptacle
ranthes (288);
Campanula
in
(218) and Roella (219.)
Afof valves,

in the

fhape

five in

number;

in

<

phodel

i^/\.2\)

into the

complete

bafe

has

fix

of

arch

of thefe valves, inferted

the corol,

over

the

and forming ^

germ;

a filament

ipringing from each of them.

In Erythronium (414) there are two callous

tubercles at the bafe of each inner petal ; in
the Laums (503) genus ', three tubercles round
the germ ; and two round glands, on a fhort
flalk, near the bafe of each filament of the
inner rank.
In fomefpecies of Iris there are
three dots'^ at the bafe and on the outude
of the corol; in Tamus (11 19) an oblong
dot grows to the infide of each divifion of
the calyx ; and in another genus, Siccrtia
(321) are ten of thefe dots; two at the bafe
of each divifion of the corol, furrounded
t

See letter

XIX.

Punda.

with

LETTER
with

bridles.

In the

are three pores at the

XXXI.

734.

Hyacinth'^ (427) there

top of the germ : and

in both the genera of Fntil/ana (4.11) and

Uvularia (412) there is an excavation at the
in the Crcwii
Imperial
bafe of each petal
and generally exhibits
this is confiderable,
a large drop of nedareous juice. Mercurialis
11125)"' has two Tubulate aciimms or (harp
points, one on each lide of the germ j and
has a ciifpis on each
aliiflier id
(1097)
:

petal.

You remember
that the nedtary
as a longitudinal

made

Jine along

Frankema
the

appearance
in fome fpecies of

villous

the Lily (^410)

in

the

it

is

beautiful

line
a

upon the

pipe

7m

'^

petals

or tubulous

the middle of each petal: and in

(445) it is a channel running along

tail.

In fome genera the nedary takes the exacfl:

form of petals, and was always confounded
with them, until Linnsus pointed out the
difference: this is the cafe with feveral plants
of the firft clafs", and with Lecythis (664) in
the thirteenth ^ in all thefe it is of one petal
only: in Galanthiis (401) or Snowdrop it conlifts of three parallel, notched, obtufe, petal-

'

Our

wild Hyacinth (H. non fcriptus) has not thefe

pores, or at leaft they are not viilble to ths naked eye.

"> Letter
XXIX.
"

Letter

XIV.

Letter

XL
like

LETTER

474
like

leaflns,

forming

XXXL

cylinder

about half

of the corol.
Iliicium (6ii) has
awl-{haped folioles of the fame lcng,th
Cardiofpermwn
with the petals themfelves.
fonr-petalled
nedtary
has
a
inclofmg the
(498)
in
and
Hartcgia
germ;
(273) Sawjagejia
(286) and Heiueres (1025) it is made up of
eve petals. Andrachne (1095) has five fomibifid herbaceous folioles, lefs than the petals,
and placed between them. All the GraJJes,
Rice, (448) and Mays (1042) agree in having a ncdary of two minute, oblong leaflets.
Swiete?iia (521), Melia (527), and Melianthus
{795) have a one-leafed nedtary, with a manythe

ler.:,i;th

fevcral

toothed mouth in the two firft, and in the

laft within the loweft divifion of the calyx, to
alio, the
which it grows. In Mufa
nedlary is one boat-fliaped leat-, comprefled,

(M4O

pointed,

the petal.
the germ,

and inferted

Ten

within

connivent

the

leaflets,

bolom of
inclofmg

form the nedary of Zygcphyllum

(530) each leaflet being fixed to the bale of

Dalecbampia (loHi) has a
each tilament.
broad nedtary, compofed of many ovate, fiat
plates, in feveral rows,
I have mentioned before that, in tubulous
the nedlareous juice is fecrcted into
corols,
the tube: in many genera there is a horn
or fpur at the back of the flower, which
Several
anfwers this purpofe of a recipient.
plants have occurred in the courfe of our
examinations.
;

LETTER

XXX.

475

ncdary of this form ;

as "ropteolum (466) Larkfpur (681) Aconite
(682) Columbine (684) Antirrhinum (750)
Fumitory (849) /^/^/"/ (007) Impatiens (1008)
to thele we may add
and Or^Z'/i ( 009)
examinations

with

or

Pingtiicula

(30)
Vaterian
^nd
(31)

Butterwort,

Utriailaria

In foms fpecies of
(44).
horn is blunted, and be-,
comes rather a bag ; which is alfo its fhape
The genera
in the Satyrium genus (10 10).
for
their nedta^
remarkable
of this tribe are
ries J in Opbys (loii) it hangs down from
the corol, longer than the petals, and is
keeled at the back part; in Serapias (1012)
the fame length wich the petals,
it is of
ovate, gibbous below, and with an ovate lip ;
in himodonim (1013) it is of the fame length
with the petals, ot one leaf, concave, ftandjng on a pedicle, and Vv'ithin the loweft peit
is
of one leaf,
tal ; in Arethufa (1014)
of
bottom
the
ringent
tubulous, at the
corol, and connate with it; in Cypripcium
(1015) or Ladies-Slipper, as you have ittn.
before?, it is very large and inflated ; and
in Epidendriim (10 16) it is fabulous at the
turbinate or top-lliapcd, with an obbafe,
Thus you obferve that
lique, bifid mouth.
tribe
have fingular
this
o;enera
of
the
all
nedaries; whereas in the three clafles with

Antirrhinum the

Letter

XXyjI.
conjoined

LETTER

476

XXXI.

any are to be
genus of Carex {1046)
cr Sec/ge has an inflated, perfiilent nedary,
contrading above, and toothed at top, where

conjoined

if

filaments

fcarcely

The numerous

found ".

gapes, but continues to inveil the feed

Riifcns
top,

(1139)
is

it

alfo

it

in

and open at
and of the fame fize
inflated

is

ovate, erel,

with the calyx.

In many genera the nedary takes the form
cf fome well-known utcnfil or other thing.
StaphyJa (374) Il inns (504) Win(598) and Vrtica (1054) or Nettle,
Vrceolate or Pitcher-JJ:ped.
In Narcijus

Thus

in

ter ana
it

is

(407)
jhaped.

and Pancraiiiim (404)

In Epimcditim (148) it

Funnel-

it

is

is

Cyattiform

In Byttneria (26H) Iheobroma (900) or Chocolate^ Ayenia (1020) and

KIcinhovia (1024) it h Bell-fiaped. In Cijpimpclos (i 38) it is Wheel'fiapcd: and in Ep dendrum (1016) Poplar (1123) and Gleditfia

or Gchlet'paped.

(1^59) ^^ ^^
top, narrow
above.

turbinate^ or fhaped like a boy's

at

bottom,

The mofl

and

fpreading out

beautiful of thefe nedtaries

the CrGwn-f:aped : in Dicfma this is placed

on the germ; in Olax (45) HamamcHs (169)
Nerium (297) or Oleander^ Pcriploca do^)
i:ilenc (567) and Cher 1er ia (570) it terminates
is

the tube

of the

Jlcwcr (1021)
ilic

'i

and

it

corol
is

but

triple

in

the

Pajjion-

crown or

giory,

outer one longefl, furrounding the llyie.

In Momdelphla and
in

Polycdclphia only one

in each

Duiddphia thicc.
Ia

LETTER

XXXL

477

In Garidella (571) Nigel!a (685) and Helthe nedaries are bilabiate; the
rfl has five, the fcond has eight, and the

lebore (j 02)

third

has

an

uncertain

number.

Trollius

(700) has nine linear, flat, bent bodies, perforated at the bafe, on the infide
and Ifopy-,

(701) has five eqaal, lubulous, fliort

nedaries, with a trilobate mourh,
inferted

riim

into the receptacle, v^'ithin the petals.

In Arum (1028) the nedaries refemble

the filaments of ftamens, only that they thicken
at bottom; they come out in two rows from
the middle of the fpadix.
In Peganum (610)
the filaments themfelves are dilated
into
nedaries at the bafe.
In Feviilea (11 18)
they confift of five comprelTed, bent threads,
placed alternately with the fiamens.
In

(528) the nedary is cylindric, and

tubulous, formed out of the ten filaments,
{hotter than
the petals, and with a fivetoothed mouth.
You have obferved that many nedaries
already mentioned have an intimate connexion
with the germ; it is a fituation fo common
with this part of the flower, that fome perfons have fufpeded the fole or principal ufe
of it to be to fupply and fofler the germ.
Accordingly there are feveral other (genera,
in which it is thus placed.
In Mirabilis (242)
Trichilia

or

Marvel of Peru

it

is

globofe,

permanent,

and

LETTER

47B

gcrm;

the

XXXI.

nd

inclofes

lofa

(289), Limeum (463), and

(1050),

it

is

ring

in Cynaucbum (304),

five-toothed

mouth;

in

Cijfu

(147), CePhyllantbus

furrounding the germ :

cylindric, with a
is
it
in

Apocynum (305), Af-

Siapelia (307), it is made

which in the fcond and

depias (306), and

up of five hodies,

and piftils,
double ftar: all

third entirely conceal the ftamens

forms
about
the
germ.
oF them

and
it

is

in

the

third

made up of

bodies,

In Gualtheria (551)

ten fhort, awl-fh:iped, eredl

lurrounding

the

germ,

between the

ilamens.
that
It mud: not be diflembled however,
whatever ufe thefe bodies may be of to the
germ, when they adhere to it, or arc near
it; they are frequently found on other parts

of the

frudification.

Many

inftances of this

have already occurred, and to thefe we may

add, that they are found on the petals in
Bromelia (395)> growing to each of the
three, above the bafe; in Berbcris (442), or
the Barberry^ in two roundifli orange-coloured

bodies

at

the bafe of each

in

Her^

niannia (828), each petal having a little membrane, forming altogether a cowled tube ;

Hyihoph\llum (204) and Reaumuria (686),

in lamin or plates growing to them ; in Mybeing five awl-ftiaped bodies.
cfurus (394),
The nedtary i? iound on the calyx in Trofoliwi mentioned before, in Monotropa [si^)y
in loine fpccics of Bijcutclla (So 8), and in
Malpigbia^
in

LETTER

XXXI.

479

Malpghiay mentioned alio before among thofc

which have glandular nsftaries. This part
is a
globofe gland on the exterior tip of the
anthers in the Adenanthera (526), at the
bafe of them in Ambrojinia (1238): and on
the filaments in form of glands in Didlamnus
(522), in form of fcales in Zygophyllum (530),
horizontally on

placed

{62)

Com??ielina

mda and

-,

Roella,

the real

filaments

in

and in Plumbago, Campamentioned before. And,

lalHy, the nectaries are not unfrequently placed

on

the

receptacle;

as

Lathra

in

(1140), Melianthus (795),

others
but thefe are fo dole to
which takes its rife from the fame
they may very well be fuppofed to
Cliitia

there for

its

flowers,

(1098),
Fevillea
(i 124),

fliall

the

in

we

fay,

be placed

when we

incomplete

which have no germ

Aftronium
(

bafe, that

uie.

But what
ne:ary,

(743),

and lonie
the germ,

1 1

8),

Kiggekna

(11 11),

Poplar

find

the

ftaminiferous
as

in

IVillow

(11 13),
Rbodiola

Irejtne

(1123),

(i 128), Cnfjampclos

( 1

138),

and Opbioxylon
cales it certainly cannot be of any immediate ufe to the germ,
which is not only on a diftindl flower but on

JRufcus (1139), C^^^^^

In all thefe
(1142).

a different

plant:

(1^40)

this

however

being the

moil important part of the vegetable, fince

by nature to produce a newr
it is deflincd
one of the fame kind ; and all the other
parts

LETTER

480

XXXr.

fome meafure
whatfoever is immediately uleful to thefe may A^irly be faid to be
mediately ferviceable to the germ.
But let us return to our hiftory of fadls,
and finifli this dry difcuflion, which 1 fliould
not have troubled you with, if I could have
direled you to any author, where you might
find the different forms and fituations of the
nedary regiftered in one view.
Hitherto you have obferved that this
beautitul part of the flower is generally fingle,
though in many cafes formed of feveral porin fome genera however it is double.
tions
flower being in

of the

parts

iubfervient

to

this,

Thus

in

taries,

Krameria (161), there

one above another 5 in

are

two nec-

Stapelia^

as

you have already feen, a double ftar, both flat

and quinquefid, the lower with linear divifions torn at

the end, furrounding the flamens

and germs, the upper with

acute, entire divi-

fions covering them : fomething of the fame

kind is obfervable alfo in fclepias, the very

flrudlure

fingular

of

whole flowers

cularly delerving of your

(497)

alfo,

attention.

and ^apindus

(499)

is

the

tails

of

glands at their bafes.

though the

petals

may

the
into

other of four

here obferve, that

of the nedary, as the

be to pour out the nedareous
does not feem that all the bodies

implies,

juice

yet

it

inferted

gencip.l ufe

name
3

four

of the real petals, the

two

have

nedaries, very different from each other

one confining

parti-

Pauliinia

to

LETTER
to

XXXI.

481

which Linnasus has given the name,

ferve

fuch may probably be the cafe

in one of thefe nedaries of the genera before
us, and perhaps of others, where this part is
double. Laftly, Clutia (1140) has two fets of
necftaries, one within the other ; the outer of
that

purpofe

three-parted, oblong bodies, placed in a

of the fame
ring within the petals, and
length with their tails j the inner of five little
five

glands, which are certainly melliferous at top :

is obfervable that in the piftilliferous flowit
ers of this genus there are no glands or inner

nedaries, and the outer ones are of the fame

fize, and in the fame fituation, but differ in
form, being roundifh and didymous, or

twinned.

Concerning the form and variations in the

other parts of the frudification, which furgeneric charader of vegetables,
the
nifli
enough is to be found in the elementary
of the leaves alfo, together with
books'" :
thofe other parts and circumances, furnifhing charaders for the differences of about
ten thoufand one hundred fpecies, which is
plants at prefcnt
of
the whole number
want
of inftrudion in
no
there
is
known,

fame authors, tranllated from Linnseus's

I (hall only remark to you
original work.
therefore, that a more minute iittention and
the

'

Lee's IntroduiSlion

Rofe's Elements of Botany,

accurate

LETTER

482

XXXr.

of vegetables, difcovered
to Linnius parts that former botanifts had
pafl'cd by unnoticed
and that his fuperior
fagacity and genius enabled him to make a
much more extenfive ufe of fuch as were
accurate obfcrvation

known. The parts I now allude to,

what he calls Fulcra, props or fupports

already
arc

of the plant.
Among thefe the arms, that
thorns and prickles, clafpers or tendrpjs,
fome forts of pubefcence, and perhaps glmyds^
in fome few fpecies had been noticed
but
in a manner very loofe and imperfect
but the
Jtipuky which is a fcale at the bafe of the petioles ; and the braSe, which is a fcale or fmall
leaf next the flower, had not been fo much as
named j nor had any one thought of ufing thefe
fcven important though minute parts for difis,

tinguilTiing

the fpecies,

bufinefs to

which

they are fo well adapted, both by their conflancy and abundant variety.

He

has

alfo

taken in other circumftances

very happily, befides

niHi fpecific

pofesi fuch

the mere form, to furand for other pur-

differences,

mode and

degree of ra^
7mfication in leaves and branches, the inorin the
fion, or manner of turning or bending
ffems ; the gemmation^ or various conliructhe

the buds; xht Jcliatiojiy or different

of the leaves before they are ex-

tion of

folding

panded

as

the

peduncles

or

ijiflorefccnce,

flowers are connected

all

thele,

to

manner

the plant

together

in

by

with

which
their

fome
others

LETTER
others,

which

XXXr.

have paffed over,

4^3
v^ill

occa-

you with marks to diftinfrom

each other, even more
guifh plants
certain in fome cafes than the form
itfelf,
and therefore highly worthy of your attention j
but I have already trefpafled on that too long,
and will leave you to your leifure and moie
fionally

furnifh

important concerns.

li 2

484

LETTER

XXXH.

Ot3:ober the 4th, 1777.

Have

found time, dear coufin,

laft letter on the fubjedt

length

at

my

to fend you
have not haftened it, becaufe
I
of Botany.
you have found full employment during the
fummer, either in examining fuch plants as
had efcaped you before, or in fearching for
their nediaries and other more minute parts.
You have alfo by this time difcovered, that

the

ftudy

taken up,

As
tables
it

to

or
is

amufement

not the

the

laft

atfair

which you

and lowed:

CryptGgamia,

have

of a fingle feafon.

I fliall at

clafs

of vege-

prefent touch

very (lightly, becaufe, though full of beau-

when examined with that attention which

fuch fmall bodies require, it is much too difficult for our young coufin, and will probably be uninterefting even to you, uniefs

ties,

you have already imbibed a greater paflion

The
for Botany than I wiQi you to have.
objeds alfo of this clafs muH: be fearchcd for
in places, and at a feafon, by no means agreeand I will not have
able to your delicacy
you rifk your health, the moll: precious gitt
of heaven, even in pu luit ot the mod dej

lightful

as a

knowledge.

Gentle

exercile,

fuch

proper attention to the ftudy of nature,

will induce

yoyi

to take,

accompanied with
that

LETTER
that

XXXIL

temper-

and

regularity,

cheerfulnefs,

4S5

confpicuous, is
of this
continuance
your beft fecurity
uninit
and that you may enjoy
blefling
ance,

which you

for

are fo

for a

wifhes

You

to

terrupted

(liall

my

diftant,

period yet

good

not be wanting.

are already acquainted with the

mean-

Cryptogamia, and the cha-

ing of the name

racter of the clafs*

you are alfo miftrefs of

which it is divided, to-

the four orders into

gether with their charaders, fuch as they
are'.
I have only therefore to prefent you
with a few of the moft obvious fpecies in

each order, wherein the generic and fpecific

charaders are the leaft inconfpicuous.
The number of genera in this clafs are
fifty- one, of fpecies eight hundred and fifty
eight.

The

plants of the

and

are as large,

firft

order

oftentimes

as

the Ferns,

fpecious

as

apparent

it
thofe of the foregoing claffes
alfo to the naked eye, that there is a frudiification, though the parts of it are not diftin:

is

The

general face of this, as it

has been already
microlcope,
appears to the

gui(hable.

deicribed

".

In general

of Ferns

is

on

the frudification in this order

the backs of the leaves 5 that

'
*

See page lOi.

See page lOg, &C.
Letter X.

however

486

LETTER

however

is

not

univerial.

XXXII,
For

inftance,

in

the genus Equifetum^ pr Horfetail^ it is in a

fpike, each feparate frudification being pelgaping at its many-valved bafe :
tate, and
Hedvvig has determined the flowers of the
Horfetails and Adder's-tongue to be hermaCorn Horfetail " has thefe fpikes on
phrodite.
a naked flem, and other leafy barren ftems

come up

later in the feafon.

Wood

Horfetail""

has the leaves compound, or divided, and the

fpefpikes at the end of the fame ftems.
ies common in ditches'' has fcarcely any leaves,

and

is

fmooth in which circumdiffers from the Shave-grajs ^ ufed

perfectly

ftance alone

it

in poliftiing,

which

frudiifications

is

rough.

Adder sAongue^ has the

on a fpike, in a jointed row
or

Ophiogloffutn alfo,

along each fide of it ; when they are ripe, thefe

joints gape tranfverfely. Our common fpecies %
which is found in nioift meadows, may be
known by q frond o\ leaf being ovate.
Ofmunda likewife has a fpike diftindt from
the Jrondj it is branching, and each com-

ponent
"

fruiftification

Equifetum arvenfe

is

//z.

globular.
Curtis,

Moowjoort''^

Lond. IV. 64. Ger.

1114.

^ Equifetum
f.

fylv

aticum

m. Ger.

1114.

Hedw.

theor.

i.j.

Equifetum limofum Lut. Ray fyn. t. 5. f. 2.

Equif.ium hyemale Z<;. Ger. 1113.
* OphioglofTum vulgatum Lin. FJ. dan. 147. Alor.
14. t. 5. f. I. Ger. 404. Hedw. theor. f. 2023.
* Ofmunda Lunaria Lin,
Fl. dan. t. 18. INIor.
\\, t. 5. f. I Ger. 405.
'

i.

i.

hift.

hift.

which

LETTER

XXXII.

4S7

paftures, has one naked

frond, forming the
pinnate
one
ftem, and
whole of this little Fern. Flowering Fern, or
Ofmimd Royal ^^ a large fpecies found on bogs,

which grows on dry

has bipinnate fronds, bearing the frudifications

Rough Spleenwort has
in a raceme at top.
lanceolate, pinnatifid fronds, with the divi""

fions confluent, quite entire

are of

with

two

forts

and

parallel: thefe

the narrower being covered

frui^tifications

on

and the

backs,

their

This therefore recedes

broader being barren.
from the charader of the genus, in having a
fertile frond inftead of a fpike, diftind; from
the barren one.
The remaining genera have the frudificainvariably on the back of the fronds.
In Acroftichum they cover the whole difk.
In Pteris they are to be found only round
the edge the common Fern or Brake ^^ which
grounds and
is fo abundant in uncultivated
woods, has fupradecompounded, or triply-pintions

nate

fronds,

the

leaflets

pinnate,

the

lobes

lance-fhaped ; the loweft pinnatifid, and the

upper ones lefs.
jifpleniion has the frudlifications in lines,
Harfs-tonguc^
that are frequently parallel.
*

OfmurKa

Fl. dan.

rcgalis Lin.

t.

217. Ger. Ii3f.

Ofmunda Spicant Lin, Curtis, Lond.

1140. Hedwig theor. f. 2429.

II.

67. Ger.

Pteris aquilinaZ,/;/. Blackw. t. 325. Ger. 1128.

Arplenium Scolopcndrium Lin, Curtis, Lond. I. 67,
Ger. 1J38.
*
*

ha&

LETTER

488
has

heart-tongued,

fronds,

fimple

XXXII.
that

is

drawn out into length, and hollowed next

the petiole ; quite entire, and the petioles
ihaggy ; this grows on rocks and in fhady
places.
There are feveral fmaller fpecies with
pinnate or

mon

decompounded

uncom-

leaves, not

on walls and rocks.

In Polypody the frudifications are in diftindt roundifh dots, placed in rovv^s, and in^
crealing fo much in fize, as they advance to
maturity, that they occupy the whole of the

and great part of

difk in

fome

others.

Common Polypody^ has

fpecies,

the pinna or

and obtufe
on trees,
that

are

-,

oblong,

lobes

the root

vs^alls,

fcaly

is

called

little

toothed

is common
Many fpecies

this

and rocks.

generally

in

pinnatifid fronds,

a
:

it

Ferns,

from the

of the frudifications, are of this

genu^: of thefe, that which is moft common,
has vulgarly the name of Male Fern^j and is
found in woods, heaths, and on rock3, not
covering the ground like the Brake, but in dethe fronds of this are doubly
tached paiceh'
pinnate, the pinn or lobes obtufe, and crenulate, or (lightly notched, and the Hem chaffy.
Laftly, Adianihum has the frudifications ia
terminal fpots, under the margin of the frond,

difpofition

Polypodium

vulgareZ,/?;.

Curtis,

Lond.

I.

68. Ger.

1!32.
g
t.

Pol) pod

9.

f,

2.

um

Aior.

Filix
hift.

mas
f.

14.

Z///.
t.

3.

Blackw. t. 323. Vaill.

f. 6. Ger. 1128.

which

LETTER

4H9

XXXII.

True Maiden-hair ^^
is
ufed, or fuppofed to be fo, in the
fyrup of capillaire, is of this genus, and has

which
which

is

folded back.

decompounded

fronds, the

component

leaves

and the lobes wedge-fhaped, lobate,

and pedicelled. It grows, but rarely, on rocks
and walls.
The plants of the fcond order-^ iQ Mojfes^
have leaves like the more perfe: vegetables
diftind from the (talk ; and in this they
alternate,

from the Ferns, in which the ftalk

leaf always, and the fruflification often,
blended, to form the Jrond.
They are
rennial, and when ever fo much dried

differ

and
are

pe*

up,
moifturej as Haller
experienced in fome fpecimens of Cafpar
Bauhin's Hortus Siccus which muft have lain
in a dry flate above a century.
You know
them by their air, or habit, as botanifts ufually
revive again

will

with

general idea of their frudification

it.
has been already given ^ as far as it is vifible
to the naked eye j and we can only hope for

call

a perfedl account of

it

mination with glalTes

nifying powers^.

from

laborious exa-

of confiderable

Adianthum Capillus Veneris Z/. Jacq. mifc

Ger.

ma^r-

2.

t.

'

4.3.

7.
''

See letter X.
This has now been done by Hedtvlg in his Fundamentmn Hijhrice Naturalh Mufcorum Frondoformn. Lipfi^
1782, quarto; and, Theorla getierationis et
'

fru^ifJcatlonis

Plantarum Cryptogam'icarum^ Petrop.

1784, quarto

with coloured

plates of the parts of frudification

both

much

ipagnified.

The

LETTER

490

The

generic charadters

XXXI.
of the Mofles arc

taken from the heads, which are

fle,

or

them up on

the plant pufhes

elfe

either fef-

naked flem 5 this Linnaeus

but
Anther,
I fliall beg leave rather
llender,

xht Capfide^ : in four genera"' it

or not covered with a calyptre or
it

the other feven

Ly copedturn

name

to

is

the

calls

naked,
ia

'veil ;

it is.

or iVolf s-claw Mofs, has a

two-

any calyptre.
Sphg7ium, or Bog-mofs, has the capfule covered with a lid, and a fmooth mouth.
The
gray^ fpecies is common on bogs, covering
vafl trads of them
and is known not only
by its hoary appearance, but by its defleded
Valved,

feffile

capfule, without

-,

branches.
Polytrichum has a capfule covered with a
on a fmall protuberant eminence,

lid, fitting

which is a kind of receptacle, and is called

by Linnaeus Apophyfis^ by Haller the Dijk
-,

covered by a villous calyptre.

the capfule

is

There

flar

dual,

is

or rofe on a diftind indivi-

which has been generally taken

Haller

flower;

piftilliferous

rather

for the

thinks

it

is only
a kind of bud, from which new
branches fpring.
The common fpecies, called
Greater Golden Maidenbatr^ is known by its
^ As Linnaeus thinks
and Hedwig has (hown

"

really is.

to be.

Sec Genera, p. 556,

Lycopodium, Porella, Sphngnum

Sphagnum
f.

it
it

paluftreL///.

Phafcum.

Fl. dan. 474. Dillen.

t.

32.

I.

Polytrichum

commune

Lin. Dillcii.

t.

54.

f.

i.

Gcr.

fimplc

LETTER

XXXII.

491

the paralleloplped form of

This is a large fort of Mof$,
and abundant in woods, heaths, and bogs.

fimple ftem, and

the capfule.

The
which

the principal and

rous,

are thus

with

Polytrichum

fructification

of MoiTes,

genera

remaining

three
are alfo

Mnium

diftinguifhed.
in

two

having

agrees

forts

of

capfule, co-

the one a lidded

mod nume-

with a fmooth calyptre : the other a

ilar or rofe, in the dilk of which are fomc
Bryum and Hypglobofe little dufty bodies.
num have none of thefe (lars or rofes thefe
have both a lidded capfule, covered with a
vered

fmooth

and

calyptre,

are

diftinguifhed

from

each other, by the ftalk which fupports the

capfule being naked, and arifing from a terminal tubercle in the firft; whereas in the

from the fide of the branch,

furrounded at bottom by a perichce-

fcond

and

fprings

it

is

fcaly (heath, or receptacle

tiwrii

One

fpecies of

capfular

ftalks

Mnium^ whofe

are

fo

fenfible

filaments or

moifture,

of

name of

hygrome^
has no flems, nodding turbinate or
pear-fhaped capfules, refiedted four-cornered

that

has obtained the

it

tric^,

and ovate leaves forming a head 5

they are of a yellowifli green, and the filaments are an inch and half high, and red or

calyptres,

orange-coloured.
P

Mnium

PJUen

t,

52.

hygrometricum Lin,
f.

75.

Mor.

hift.

i'.

15,

Fl.
t.

dan.
7.

f.

648.

f.

2.

17.

One

LETTER

492

One

common

of the moft
hairy

the

'^^

XXtU.
fpeciesuf

which covers

the" old

Bryum
thatch

of .cottages j this has the capfuls rather erect,

and the leaves ending in a hair, and recurved.
jipple-form Bryum ^ has large- fphterical heads j
and in the Bear-form fpecies^ they are obovte, covered with an awl-fliaped caiyptre;
the fhoots are ftemlefs, and 'the leaves are
Brown Bryiifn ^ has ere6l
ovate and awnlefs.
This
roundifli capfules, with a pointed lid.
Mofs, growing clofe to the
is a very fmall

eround

in

thick tufts

or four lines high, and

loft their lid, they

whence

their

the filaments are three

when

the capfules have

have a truncated appearance,

name.

Hypnum'^y" dtit'of the'moft beautiful,

and not the leaft common of the genus, is
known by its creeping fhoots, its crowded
ered branches, its awl-lhaped leaves, and eredt
This grows both in dry places, fuch
capfules.
and in wet ones, as
as on walls, or trees ;
the
leaves are narrow,
firft
the
in
meadows
and prefled clofe to the ftalk, in the fcond
they are broader, fpreading, and fhining, like
Silky

filk:
>

'
f.

r,

Bryum rurale Lin. Dill. t. 45. f. 12. Mor, t. 6.

Bryum pomiforme i/. Dill. t. 44. f. i. Mor.

f,

i.

t.

6.

t.

7.

6.
'

f-

the -capfules are long, round, enlarging a

Bryum

pyriforme Lin.

Dill.

t.

44.

f.

6.

Mor.

16.
'

Bryum truncatulum

"

Hypnum

42.

f.

59-

Lin. Curtis, Lend. II. 70. f. 2.

Curtis, Lend. i\. 69. Dillen,

iericeUrri Lin.

^lo-

t-

5'

f-

^-S-

little

LETTER

XXXI.

493

bottom, with a {lender ciliated mouth,

a fcarlet beaked lid, and a pale calyptre;
they are fupported by a purple ftalk, or filament, from half an inch to an inch in height,
furrounded at the bafe by a (hort thick icaly
This may ferve as a fpecimen
ferichcetium.
little at

of the numerous fpecies of

now

will

pafs

Cryptogamia

Jlga

on

to

Bypnum^ and we

containing the

clafs,

or Flags y

which

Li"

chiefly the

are

chens or Liverworts^ Sea-weeds^

commonly

order of the

the third

and fome few

called MoiTes, but having in reality

the charader of this orders.

Common Marchantia

'"

may

Of

thefe

laft.

ferve as an inftance:

grows by ftreams and fountains, in wet

fliady places, and on walls fubjed to a drip.
There are two didinl fradifications in this
genus, one ftanding out from the plant on apeduncle, and confiding of a peltated calyx

it

or receptacle, covered with fmall one-petalled.

corols underneath, each of which has one

mukifid anther or capfule ; the other feffile,

fhaped like a cup or bell, and containing many
roundiih

little

The

feeds.

fpecic3 here pointed out

guiihed by the
varies

it

has
*

its

See

much
trivial

letter

which fome take

bodies,

common
in

its

name

diftin-

calyx being ten-cleft

appearance, and hence

of

This

many-form.

X.

* Marchantia polymorpha Lin.

Hedv/. theor. f. 123
133.

is

for

Dillen.

t.

76.

f.

6,

genus

L E t T R

494

XXJCH.

genus is evidently the conneding link between

the Moffes, and the Lichens^ which we fhall

now

examine.
This genus has a roundifh,

flattifh,

fhin-

ng receptacle, or common calyx, leldom elevated ; and a meal fprinkled over the leaves.
The receptacle affording a variety of forms

has fuggefted a fubdivifion of this otherwifc

unweildy genus, the leaf and manner of
growth taking their parts in it. Lichens abundantly clothe the earth, rocks, and vegetables,
cfpecially trees; in the form of meal, cruft,
leaf,

or thread

age,

foil,

fo great a difference in

and

fituation,

make

their appearance, that

Tiumberlefs varieties have been advanced into

fpecies.

The

The

fedions of the

genus

are,

i.

TuberculatCj confifting of a crufi: adher-

to the bark of trees, or flones,

above which roundifli tubercles rife a little;

ing clofely

thefe are rather irregular, a

little flatted at

they

run

into

writing^, or a

have

little

top,

Sometimes

and without any rim round them.

regular figures, and refemble

mapy.

Shields,

2. Sciitelatey

or fuch as

or roundiih receptacles with

a rim, and the difk fomewhat depreffed, arifing from a granulous crufl more approaching
to a leafy flrudure than in the former fecflion,

and not adhering

*
'

3. Imbricate,

fo ftrongly.

Lichen fcriptus Lin. Dillen. t. i8.

Lichen gcographicus Lin Dillen.

f.

t,

I.

18.

5*

compofed

LETTER

XXXII.

compofed of many fmall

495

leaves, generally in

an orbicular form, laying over each other,

the leaft in the middle, and the largeft on
the ojtfide^ from fome of thefe arife littk
fhields, and others have little mealy tuber-

Nothing
ends of the leaves.
is
more common than a yellow fpecies^ of
this fedtion, on trees, walls, and rocks ; the
leaflets of it are curled, deep yellow above,
and a(h-coloured underneath j the fhields
are of a lighter yellow, grow brown with
age, and are thick fet towards the middle of
the plant; other fpecimens, inftead of fhields,
have a yellow meal fpread over them
the
leaves by age become greeniih, and then of
a brownifh afh-colour, warted and leprous,
4. Leofy^ properly fo called, confining of one
continued leafy fubflance, varioufly laclniate,
cut or torn \ thefe have generally large, wide
cles

at

the

on peduncles, either in the

of the leaves, or on their edges,
Limgwort or Tree Liche?i^, which hangs from
old oaks, and beeches in woods, has very
large jagged leaves, fmooth, and ending obtufely,
the upper furface is wrinkled and
pitted, the lower downy
the fhields are of
the fize of a lentil, and placed on the edges
of the leaves.
5. Coriaceous or Leathery:
fhields,

often

divifions

Lichen parietinus Lin.

Dillen.

t.

24.

f.

Wall

76.

Liverwort.
Lichen pulmonarius
Ger. 1566.

Z.<.

Dillen.

t.

29.

f.

113,

thefe

LETTER

496

XXXlI.

thefc are alfo leafy, but differ from thofe of*

the fourth fedion in confining of feveral

tougher texture, broader, lefs

iharply laciniate, not branching, and generally adhering clofer to the bodies on which
the receptacles are very large,
they grow
and from their refemblance to the round
they
fhields of the ancients, called pelta
are generally on the edges of the leaves,
and little or not at all notched on the edges.
Afi- coloured Ground Liverwort^ is of this
Jeaves,

of a

-,

fedion: it is creeping, lobate, obtufe, and

flat ; veined underneath, and villous, with a
this fperifing felta or target on the edge
cies is very common on the ground in woods,
:

on old ant-hills :
the leaves are afh-coloured, and white underlike the
6. JJmbilicate or hollowed
neath.
or as if
black,
appearing
or
navel, and footy,

and on heaths,

burnt.

nulous
into

7.

particularly

Cup-bearing, confiding of a grain procefs of time unfolding

cruft,

little

leaves

irregularly laciniate

thefe arife a ftipe or flem

from

fupporting hollow

conical receptacles refembling little tea-cups

or glaffes, whofe edge is often fet with

brown

or

fcarlet

The

tubercles.

different

are probably, but va-

appearances of Ciip-mofs
rieties arifing from the different age cf the
*
t.

Fi. dan.

Lichen caninus Lin.

27.

f.

102. Mor.

lecommended

r.

15.

againft the

t.

7.

f.

bite of

I.

767.

This

mad

f.

is

2. Dillen.

the fpecies

dogs, mixed with

white pepper.

plant.

LETTER
plant,

XXXII.

497

Shrubby, or reiembling fhrubs or

8.

conlift of a leafy cruft like the

have no cups, only tubercles,
they
but
and they are branched. The famous Rhendeer Mofs ^ is of this fedion : it is perforate% very much branched, and the fmall
branches are nodding it grows on heaths

coral

thefe

laft,

and mountainous paftures with us.

orconfifting of mere round, folid,

9. Ihready,
fliff flalks

or threads, frequently covered or incrulied

with a meal, which is very inflammable,
and terminating in dry globules, a little hollowed, and without any rim. Thefe mofl
of them hang from the boughs of trees, and
hence have the name of Tree-mofs, But this
very numerous and widely difFufed genus has
already detained us too long.
The Sea^weeds are comprehended in three
genera ^Uha or Laver y Fucus and Conferva,
In the firft the frudifications are in a diapha-

nous membrane, and the fubftance of the

plant is membranaceous, at firil bladdery,
but afterwards leafy,
tuais^ V/rack^ or ^eaweed properly fo called, has two kinds of
bladders, the one fmooth, hollow, and inter*

woven with
with a

hairs,

jelly,

in

the other fmooth,

which

are

perforated grains, in each of

f.

Lichen rangiferinus

/,/.

iiled

immerfcd fmall
which is fup-

Fl.dan. i8o. Dillen.

t.

[(*,

29.
^

That

is,

branches, as

there
if

are little

made with

holes in the aljc of the

a pin.

K.

pofed

LETTER

498

XXXII.

of thefc
Conferva
plants is coriaceous or leathery.
tubercles,
in very
unequal
of
compofcd
are
are
which
either
confibres,
long capillary
The two laft genera will
tinued or jointed.

pofed to be

a,

feed

the

texture

you with abundant amufement, whenever you are led to fpend a little tinae on the
but the fpecies are fo numerous,
fea-coaft

furni/li

-,

the examination of the fpecific differences would carry me into too wide a field :
we will pafs on therefore to the lafl order
that

the
of this laft clafs of vegetable nature
Fungi or MufJ-^rooms, which are univerfally
known by their fingular flrudure and appearwithout branches, leaves, flowers, or
ance
any thing we can certainly call frudification,
and fcarcely any root. The Agaric^ one of
',

the principal genera in this order, is known

by its horizontal manner of grov^ring, and by
The
having lamell or gills underneath.

Champignon^ or

common

eatable Muiliroom,

one of thefe, and has the following chathe head is convex, fcaly, white;
raders
on a ftipe or ftalk; the gills
fupported
and
are red ; that v/hich has white gills is only

is

variety of this,

quality,

or

and though

The Chanterelle'',
not poifonous.
yellow Mu(hroom, fo common in

is

little

the fairy rings on dry paftures,

*
^

far inferior in

is alfo flipitate,

Agaricus campeftris Lin. Mill, iiluftr. Fl. dan. t. 714.

Agaricus ChantarellusZ.///. Fl, dan. 264. Ger. J580.
T

with

LETTER
is

499

branched and dccurrent. What

commonly called Agaric in medicine, and
ufed in flopping of blood, is of another

with the
is

XXXIL

gills

genus.
BoletuSi

which grows horizontally

like the

has pores on the

laft, but inflead of gills,
under furface.
Morel^ is a fungus that is reticulate or
netted all over the outfide or upper furface,

The efculent fpecies

and fmooth beneath.
has the head egg-fhaped and cellular, the ftipe
or dem naked and wrinkled.
'Truffe or efculent Puff-ball^ ^

fungus,

filled

is

a roundifli

with a mealy fubflance, taken

for feed: this fpecies

is

globular, folid,

mu-

rough on the outfide, without any

root, and growing wholly underground: the
other forts are full of du ft, which they throw
out when ripe, and are wholly above ground
ricated, or

except

their

Common Puff

roots.

ball'^

is

roundifh, and difcharges its duft by a torn

this varies much in form,
aperture in the top
-,

and

alfo in fize,

from

a little ball to that

of

a man's head.

After all, the objeds of this order are

not univerfaily allowed to be plants, but are
fufpeded, though feemingly without much
reafon, to be formed by animals, for their
habitation, after the manner of Zoophytes
s
*>

Phallus efculentus Lin. Fl. dan. 53. Ger. 1583.

Lycopjrdon Tuber Lin, MicheU t. 1C2. Gcr. 1583.
Lycopcrdou Bovifta Lin, Schoef. t. 190. Ger. 1582.

Kk

or

SCO

LETTER

XXXIL

or Corals. But this s a fubje<t1 too difficult

and nice for our difcuffion and perhaps, after
all, the fungi may prove to be one of thofe
links in the chain of nature, which unite the
vegetable to the animal kingdom and though
they (hould turn out to be the habitation of
minute infers, and to be formed for and by
them, yet they may at the fame time have
the growth and texture of plants.
Nature
IS full of thefe wonders, dear coufin ; we are
admitted to the view of a very fmall portion of it only there is little hope then that
:

we

(hould be able to underfland its relations

fully, or to unravel all its myfleries.

An INDEX

of the English

Names

of Plants.

Acacia Bailard
Acacia iEgyptian

455
39, 363
464.

Three- thorxied
Acajou
Acanthus
Aconite
298,
.

Winter
Adder*s-tongue
African Marigold
Agaric

Agrimony
Alaternus
Alder
Berry-bearing
Alexandrian Laurel

Alkanet
.

Baftard

465
Z63
318
47 5
300
4S6
295
498
2^0
207
43
206
459
178
iSi

^22
74

All-good

Almond
Aloe

250, 251

Althaea Frulex

Amaranth
Crefted

Globe
Amomum

Plinii

Ananas
Andromeda
Anemoivs

Page
23s
73, 292
73

Pa^c

BELE

343
445
212
224
200
244
269
30

Angelica

Apple
Apricot
Arabis
Arbutus

324
270
Arrow-head
446
Artichoke
69. 383
Jerufalem
399
Arum
425
Afarabacca
279
Afti
465
Mountain
292
Afp
455
Afphodel
24, 472
Ala-ttida
239
After, Chinefe
391
Auricula
Azarolc

174
291

B
Balfam
Baifamine
Balfam of Tolu tree

Banana
Barberry
Bailey
Barley-grafs
Bafil

Baftard Jalminc

Baum

Kk

406
ib.

267
46
252, 478
143
144
309
209
311

Bamm

INDEX OF THE
Page

Baumof Gilead

ib.

262
268
2QI
360

Bay
B'-ad-tree

Beam-tree

Bean
Kidney

39

303
437
299
419
222

Bear'b-foot

Beech
Be^-Larkfpur
Bee-Orchis
eet
Bell-flower i86,
Bell-pepper

Betony
Bindweed
Black

Birch

,189
203
3c8
184
2*^2

Bird's-foot

432
3^7

Biftort

261

Bute, -fweet
Black He'lcbore
Bladder Sena
BlefTed Thiftle

200
300
360
402
230

Blue-bells

Blue-bottle

Bog-bean
Bog-rufli

Borage

Box
Brake
Brafiictto

Sweet

Briar,

Wifd'

401
176
152
182

432
487
267

294
lb.

Briza

35

Bii/me-srafs
Brooiciime
Broom, Bafe
Butchers'

140
124
352
459

Common

351

'

Page

Broom Portugal

351

350
3^3
455
206

Spanifli

Broom-^rape
Bryony, Black

Buckthorn

Buckwheat

261
308

Bugle
Buglofs
Bulrufh

Burdock

182
152
383

Burnet
Bur-reed

152, 429

447

Biircht^rs'-broom

Butter -bur
Butter-cups
Butter flower
Butcerw^rt
Byzantine-nut

c
Cabbage

459
388
3=3
ib.

124,475
439

325
311
Calamus aromaticus
22
Camomile
396, 397
Ccimpion, White
277
Canary-grafs
132
Candy tuft
322
Canterbuiy-bells
188
Cape Jafmine
215
Caper
297
Capficum
203
Cari.gana
363
Cardamom
118
Carnation
272
Ccirraway
237
Carrot
*33
Cafhew
263
C^ffia
262
Catalpa
3'7
Cataputia
285
Gate h fly

Calamint

ENGLISH NAMES..
Page

Page
3^7
^57
^75

Red

Clover,

Catchfly

^ll C!ub-ru(h
3^9
Caterpillars
Cockle
3^
Catmint
2I2,
Cock's-comb
42
152
Cat's-tail
Hawthorn
Cock's-fpur
1 33
Cat's-tail grafs
Cream
2-3 Codlins and
Cayan Pepper
457 Coffee
Cedar, Bermudas
45 Colefeed
Barbadoes
.

Carolina

Lebanon

of

Virginia

Celandine, Leffer
Cleri

ib-

44"^

45
3^4
^37

Cole wort, Sea

Chefnut
China Pink
China Rote
Chinefe After
Chocolate
Chriftmas RcCe
ChrilVs thorn

291

25^
20^
3'^S
ib-

38^
298, 475
3^0

Colt's- foot

Columbine
Colutea

^1'

Comfiey

Convolvulus
40^
Centaury, Great
227 Coriander
Leffer
Cork-tree
Yellow 2:2:7, 260
143
Corn
2H8
Cereus
Corn Marigold
182
Cerinthe
Arabian
498 CoH us
Champignon
Cotton
ib.
Chantarelle
-grafs
326 Cotton
Charlock
Thiftle
Cotton
7+
Cherry
Couch
56, 228
Chervil
Cow-Parfley
232

Rough
Wild

313

I03

236
435

H7 48

395
118
34^
15^
382
146
233
239
Cow-Paifnep
ib.
172
o.wnip
437
233
272 Cow-weed
Cr-ane's-bili
333
344
257
Indian
Crds,
39
23c, 3^7
Water
369, 476
3^3
Winter
300
212
Amaranth
Crtfted
2C7
4^^
Croffwort
297
Imperial
473
Crown
3/0
276, 326
-flower
Cuckow
126
125
4^5
Cuckow-pint
.65
449
Cucumber
39' ^+
jl^.

Ciftus

Citron
Clary
Cleavers

Clover
.

Dutch
Heart

.367

368

Cudweed

Kk

Spirting

3^^
Cyclamen

INDEX OF THE
Page

Cyclamen

175

Cy pre fs

444
362

CytiTus
Pricklir

246
60

Daify

Ox-eye

Dandelion
Darnel
Deadly Nightfhade

Dead

Nettle,
Devil's-bit
Dill

White

395
66
148
197

43
161

237
2CQ
Dittany of Crete
310
Dittany, White
267
Dock
25a
Dodder
168, 471
Do2-Rofe
294.
Dog's-^rafs
146
Dog's-Mercury
456

Diofma

Dog's-tail grafs

Dyer's-weed

149
28j. 352

E.
Earth-nut
Ecg-plant
Elder

MarHi
Elccampajie

Elm
Endive
inglifli

Mercury

Eryngo
Eryfimum
Eternal flower
Everlalling
Eyerlaiting Pea

ib.

F.
Fennel

DafFodll
-

Eytbnght

35

D,

Pag
282
313

Kuphorbia
Euphrafy

238
202
53
240
393
225
382
222
54

Sweet
Fern,

Common

487

Flowering

ib.

Male
Ferula
Fefcue
Feverfew
Ficoides

Fig
Fig-Marigold
Fig-wort
Filbert

Finochia
Fir

488
238
'3

396
293
466
293
46, 316
439
237
443

Flag
Flax
Fleabane

55

242
393
^54
327
267
266
56

Fleur-de-lys

Flixweed
Flower- fence
Flowering Ru{h
Fool's Parflf y

Four-o'clock flower
Foxglove

Fox- tail grafs

Fraxinella

French Honeyfuckle
Marigold

Willow
37
386
35B

237
238
237

giant

Fumitory
Furze
Fultick

211
316
'33

267
366
394
23g

346, 475

352

434
Galangalc

ENGLISH NAMES.
G.

18

liate

Geranium
Germander

Hedgehogs

225

Hellebore

Jointed

Chervil

260
227
333

Hemp
Hemp Agrimony

45+
384

123

Henbane

193
301

223
235

Hepatica
Herb Robert
Hickety

Globe Amaranth

224.

Giobe-thiftle

403
Goat's-beard
378
Golden-rod
390J 392
Goofeberry-fool
258
Goofefoot
222, 463

339
437
34K

Hollyhock
Honefty
Honeyfuckle
>

321
204.

French

Hooded Willow-herb

Hop
Horchound, Black

Gorfe

165
352

Gourd

449

Hornbeam

Goofe-rgrafs

Grain of Paradife
Granadilla
Grafles, Let. xiii.
Greek Valerian

Gromvvell

Ground Ivy
Groundfel

Guaiacum
Guinea Pepper
H.
Hard-heads
Hart's-tongue
Hawk weed
Hawthorn Cock's-fpur
"

Common

Hazel
Heart's-eafe

Common

Heath,

Crofs-leaved

ib.

368
477 29^
231
228
)

Hemlock

Ginger
GlalTwort

Heath, fine-leaved

24!

Yellow PerfoGendanella

Page

Page

Galangale
Gelder Rofe
Gentian

18

414

3C8

White
Horfe-Chcfnut
Horfe-radilh

40
487
381
291
ib.

439
405
259
ib.

..
"
Female
Hound's-tongue
Houfeleek
Hyacinth

ib.

438
256
322
486

Horfe-tail

189
180
307
389
268
203

366
312
454

116
i8r

235
250 473

It

J<'.ck-by-the- hedge

323
247
189
185
120
Jafmine
Arabian
122
Baftard
209
Cape
122, 215
2(6
Red
Ice plant
293
Jerufalem Artichoke
399

Jacobiea Lily
Jacob's -ladder
Jalap

'

Jefuii's

INDEX OF THE
Page
217
386

J^fut's-bark

Immortal-flower
Indian Corn
.

-*

Crefs

Fig
Nafturtium
Shot

I-ndigo

Jonquil
Iris:.

Water

257
289

Leopard's-bane
Lettuce

^$7'
117

Lichen

3^4
246
154

Lily

35,3

307

K.
Kali, Egyptian
KaWnia
Kidney Bean

Vetch
King-cups

Knap-weed

or

293
269
39, 356
353
303

Knob40
459

weed

Knee -Holly

261

Knot-grafs

Ladies Bedftraw
Cuftiioa

Finger
Hair

.
.

Mantle

Slipper

.-i

Smock

Traces

362
164
272
353
135
167
421, 475
32

4*8
442
Larkfpui?
298, 475
Lavender
3^7
Laver
497
Laurel
74
Laurel. Alexandrian
459
Larch

240
370
424
394
380
493
122

Lilac

22, 473

Guernfey

248
247
'
Mexican
248
of the Valley
249
Water
297
Lime
297 371
Liquorice
365
Liverwort
493
Locuft, Honey
465
tree
267, 363
Logwood
268
London Pride
271
Loo'eftrife
279
Jacobaea

'

Lords and Ladies

Love-apple

Love

in idlenefs

Lucerne

L.

Laburnum

Lemon

42.9

267
457

Judas-tree
Juniper
Jupiter's-beard
Ivy, Grour^d

Page
Lauruftinus

425
202
405
367
495
354
210

Lungwort
Lupin
Lychnidea
Lychnis

2; 6

M.
Mad-apple

20a

Madder

164
301

A-Iagnolia

Maidenhair

Golden

Mallow
.

489
490
341

Cape

Common

Dv/arf
Indian

342
341

342
3+t

Mallow

ENGLISH NAMES.
Page

Mallow, Marfh

ib.

Mufk

..

342

Vervain

ib.

Mandrake

197

Manna

Common

Maple,

ib.
Great
Maple-leaved Service 291
116
Mare's-tail
Marigold, African
395

Common 403
Corn
395
French
39+

Moonwort

Marjoram
Maifh Elder
Mallow

310
240
34^
170

Trefoil

Marvel of Peru

May
Mays

211, 477
291
429 474

321

Morel
Mofs, Bog

Cup

Rhendeer
Tree

Mountain

486
493
490
496
497
ib.

WolPs-clavy
Atti

490
292

Moufe-ear Hawkweed 381

ticorpiongrafs

Page
299

Monk's-hood

180
386

Mug., or t
Mulberry

433

Mullein

191

Mufhrooms

498
337^ 344
326
290

Muflc

Muftard
Myrtle

N.

Ma\'weed
Meadia

396

NarcifTus

246

175

Meadow

Grafs
Pinks

136
276

Polyanthus
Nafturtium, Indian

257

SaftVon

254
292
285
268
449

.
'

Medlar
Medufa's-head
Melia

Melon

Mezereon
Michaelmas Daify

288
202
456
222
259
391

Mignionette

281

Milfoil

397
346
307
453

Thiftle

Melongena
Mercury, Dog's

Milkwort

Mint
MifTeltoe

Englifli

Nedanne
Needle Furze

Nettle,

ad
Stinging

'

Nickar Tree
Nightly Pi imrofe
Nigiuihade
Deadly
-^

None-fo-prctty

Nonefuch

ib.

74
352

43
445
267
257
J 99
197
271
368

O.

Oak

-~-

Evergreen

Kerms

Oat

43+
435
ib.

141
grafs

Oil-tree

ib.

448
Oleander

INDEX OF THE
Page

Page
215, 476
122

Oleander
Olive

Opuntia
Ophrys,

fpral

Crache
Orange
Orchis, Bec
Broad-leaved
- .
Buturfly

Dwarf

Female

>ly
l-rog

Long-fpurred

Male
Pyramidal
Spider
Spotted

Pear

73,
Pellitory of the wall

288
4.8
4^3
370
419
415

Peony

411

Pine^ftcr

414
4'3
419
416

Pine,

ib.

Prriwinkle
Petty

Pig-nut
Pine apple

-^

Ccmbra

441

VVeymouth

44.2

Plum

Park leaves

448
405
374

Par;:aflia

2+1

272
China

rue

56, 237

PaiTnep

23b
Pui/nep, Cow
239
Water
230
P^fque-flowcr
302
Paflion-ilower
422. 476
Pea
34
- Everlaftiag
35
Pairutd Ludy
357

Sweet-iccntcd
Tangier
Peach

443
439

Plantain

165
461
254
73
216

fee

Water

Paiilcy, Fool's
i

ib.

Pitch-tree

P.
Panfies

ib.

441

Pink

O^cillp
Chrifti

ib,

Wild

Plaae

Palma

lb.

White

4'3
412

487
395
172

Sweet
O'niund Royal
Ox-eye Daify

238
244
441
442

Frakincenfc
Scotch
Stone

-.

'

122, 207

Phillyrea

4:9
415
416

Whin

Plumeria
Polyanthus

172
NarcifTus

Polypody
Pornpion

Pondweed

2.6
4S8

449
169

Poplar

4S5> 479

Poppy

29b

Potatoe

201
171
257

Primrofe
Nightly
.

Tree

ib.

Prince's Feather
Privet

ib.

Puff-ball

74

292
462
298
213
35*

Pufflam

lb.

446
122

499
279
Quaking-

ENGLISH NAMES,
Taac

Page
136

Saltwort

235

Quick

147

Sampire

234

Qiiick in hand
Qiiince

406

Q^iaking-grafs

74 292
Sattin,

R.
276
389

Ragged Robia
Ragwort
Rampion
Ranunculus

1S7

303
252
3'3

Rnttan
Rattle,

Yellow

H5

Ray-grafs

142
423
281
35^
264
269
264
252 474
143

Reed
Reed-mace
Refeda, Sweet

Reftharrow
Rhapontick

Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Rice
Rie

145

grafs

Rocket
Rofe
China
Rofemary

271 324
2*54

344

RuHi

Flowering
Sweet

268
152, 252
266
252

41a

Meadow

Sage
Saint-foin

John's wort
Peter's

Sallow
Salfafy

wort

24, 254
42, 124

366
372
373
453
379

321

Lizard
Sauce-alone
Savin

ib.

323
457
270

Saxifrage

Pyramidal

Scabious

Scammony
Scorpion Sena
Scorzonera
Scurvy-grafs
Sea Colewort
Sea-weed
Sedge
152, 430,

Sedum
Self-heal

Sena, Bladder
Scorpion

Senega
Senfitive

Domeftic

Service,

Maple-leaved

Shaddock
Shepherd's needle
Purfe
Sherardia

Snails

Snapdragon

Snowdrop

325
497
476
275
3
360
364
347
464
292
291
370

239
31

51

Softgrafs
Sorrel

364
379
322

164
353
312
237
368
44, 3'5
245, 473

Skull-cap
Smallage

Solomon's

ib.

159
18s

Silver-bufh

S.

Saffron,

Frog

ib.

42, 124

Rue

s-

235

Satyrion,

Radifti

Golden
Marfh
White

feal

250
254

Southernwood

INDEX OF THE
Page
38b
380

Southernwood
Sowthiftle

Spani(h-nut
Spatling

439
275

Poppy

123
124
146

Speedwell

Water

Spelt

Spider - wort,
nian

Virgi-

292
487
Spleen wort
Spruce Fir
443
Spurge, Broad-leaved 285
284
Petty
ib.
...
Sun

Wood
Spurge-Laurel
Squafli

Stapelia

Star-Thiftle

Starwort
Stock- gill iflower
Stonecrop
Strawberry

Tree
Succory
Sugar

Sumach
Sunflower
Sun Spurge
Swallow-wort
Sweet Briar
- Refeda
..

..

Rufti

Sultan
"William

Sycomore
Syringa

ib.

260
449
2.8
402
391
27, 324
275
294
269
38

153
239
68, 398

284
217
294
281
252

400
27.2

463
290

456
217
385
358

Tan fy
T'eafel

159
297
382
402
403
192
241
188
309

Tea-tree
Thiftle
BlefTed

Spiraea

Page

Tare

Globe

245

454

Spinach

T.
Tacamahaca
Tame-poifon

Thorn-apple
Thrift

Throatwort
Thyme, Garden
-.

Wild

ib.

Toad-flax
45, 314
Three-leaved
315

Tobacco
Tomatos

195

202
288
406
245
257
367

Tovch-thiftle
not
Tradefcantia
Tree Primrofe
Trefoil, Bird's-foot

Touch me

Honeyfuckle
Purple

White
Yellow

Truffle

Trumpet-flower
Tulip
Tree
Turbith

Turkey Wheat
Turmcrick
Tuincp
Turnfole
Tutfan

Twayblade

Tw> blade

ib.

ib.

366
367
499
317
248
300
185
429
118
325
179

374
418
ib.

Valerian

ENGLISH NAMES.
^

Valerian

475

Venus's Comb
239
Venus's Looking-glafs 189
ilipper
421
150
Vernal -grafs
122
Veronica
124
Vervain

Vetch
Crimfon Grafs
Vetchling, Yellow
Violet

Page

Page

V.

358
357

Dog

382

Weld
Wheat

281

Whin

352

404
ib.

183
Virginian Spider-wort 245
Viper's buglofs

14s
ib.

Petty

White Beam-tree

Wild

Sattin

thorn
Briar

Williams

ib.

4^4 475

Sweet

Way Thiftle

..

291
321
291

294
276

Willow

45 1 > 479
258
I - herb
257
Hooded 312
300
Winter Aconite
Cherry
199, 200

French

W.
Wake-Robin
Wall-flower
Wall-Pepper

Walnut
Water-Crefs

"

Lemon

425
324
275
436
230 327

424

Lily
Parfnep

230

Plantain
Violet

25 4177

'

Wayfaring

tree

Crefs

297

240

Woad
Wolf's-bane

Woodbind

Wood roof
Woodwaxen

Wormwood
Wrack

323
325
299
204
164
352
386
497

Y.
Yarrow
Yellow Rattle

Yew

397
313
45^

INDEX

A CER

A.

of

Page

catDpefl:re463

Pfeudoplatanus
ib.
Achillea Millefolium
397

Achyranthes

472
299

Aconitum Anthora

Napellus

ib.

Acorus Calamus
Acroftichum
Adenanthera

Adianthum

252
487
479

num

57

Agaricus Chantarellus 498

campeftris

rofea

ib.

Alchemilla alpina

167

pentaphyllea ib,
-'"- vulgaris

Alifma Plantago
Alopecurus pratenfis
Althaea

officinalis-

tricolor

Amaryllis

~ "
Bejladonna
formofiflima

ib.

254
133
341

ib.

445
472
248
247
248

- farnienfis

Ambrofinia

479
occiden-

tale

Anemone

ib.

fanguineus

--

coronaria

Hepatica

263
474
303

- nemorofa

30
303
302

Pulfatilla

ib.

<

ib,

Agave Americana
251
Agrimonia Eupatoria 280
Agroftemma Githago 275
Aira
1^5
Ajuga reptans
308
Alcea ficifolia
343

Andrachne

256

^thufa Cynapium

licus

489
Hppocafta-

iifculus

Page^
Amarantus caudatus 446
,.._.:
melancho-

Anacardium

Capillus

Veneris

Latin Names,

hortenfis

Anethum Foeniculum 237

-

graveolens

ib.

Angelica Archangelica 235

ib.

fylveftris

Anthmis

nobilis

Anthoxanthum
tum

397
odora-

150

AnthyllisBarba Jovis 353

Vulneraria
ib.
Antirrhinum
475
Antirrhinum Linaria
45,

.3'4
Antirrhinum


LATIN NAMES.
Page
Antirrhinum majus45, 315

.
,..

Atropa Belladonna

monfpeiu-

ianum
..

purpureum

ib.

repens

ib.

graveolens
Petrofelinum

Apocynum
Aquilegia vulgaris
Arabis alpina

"

fatua
flavefcens

'

triphyllum3i5

Apium

Mandragora

Avena

316

- -

47^
B

478
299
324

Ballota nigra

309

Banifteria

471
478
223

Berberis vulgaris 252,

Beta maritima

flricla

ib.

'--

thaliana

ib.

Bton ica

Turrita

ib.

Betula alba

campeftris
maritinia
pontica
vulgaris

Arum

maculatum
Arundo phragmitis
Afarum europseum

driurp.

Atripkx

Alnus

Eignonia Catalpa
radicans

ib.

Bifcutella

ib.

Borago

officinalis

Braffica

Napus

47S
499
341
iSz
325

oleracea

ib.

Rpa
Briza
Bromelia

ib.

13s

Ananas

Ht

nemoralis

polymorphus

3^t

fecalinus

'

fteriiis

ib.

Brownea coccinea

Bryum pomiforme
'

pyriforme
ruiale

Ll

136
478

244

Bromus giganteus
mollis

487

ib.

38s
384
2^7

tripartita

Boletus

392
4 79
4-3

ib.

Bidens cernua

Bombax

142

ib.

308
432

officinalis

ib.

279
Afclepias
478, 480
Vincetoxicum 217
Afperula odorata
164
Afplenium ScolopenAfter Amellus
chinenfis

grandiflorus
Tripoliutn
Aftroniura
47I:

vulgaris

ib.

385
477
425

ib.

Ayenia

ib.

269
383
Arenaria
274
Arethufa
475
Artemifia Abrotanum 385
Abfinthium 380

Page
196
198
141
ib.

fativa

<

237

Arbutus Unedo
Arlium Lappa

140
141
140
ib.

141

340
492
ib.
ib.

Bryum

INDEX OF
Page

Bryum truncatulum
492
Bunium Bulbocafta-

num
Butomus umbellatus
Biixus fempervirens
Byttneria

238
26
433
476

C.

20

fia^elliformis
289
288
grandiflorus
Opuntia
290
Calamus Rotang
252
4C3
Calendula officinalis
Campanula iS6, 4;2, 479

Pag
Ceftrum diarnum
209
nodlurnum
ib.
Chserophyllum fylvef-

232
temulumib.
Cheiranthus annuus
324

117

Cannabis

fativa

454-

Capparis fpinofa

297

Capficum annuum
Cardamine pratenfis
Cardiofpermum
Carex
152, 43 ;

203
32b
474
476
438

Carpinus Betulus
.

Orya

ib.

Carum Carui

237
312

CaiTida

Caffyta
Celofia
m

470
criftata

Centaurea benedi6la
Calcitrapa

47B
212
402
ib.

Centaureum40i
ib.
Cyanus
mnntana
402
mofchata
4C0
nigra
Scabiofa

Cercis
Cerinthe major

aiinor

3-19>

401
ib.

470
182
ib.

..

~ Cheiri

Ca6lus cochinlllifer

Canna

tre

ib.

incanus 27, 324

Chenopodium

Bonus
222
Cherleria
476
Chironia Centaurium 227
Chlora perfoiata 227, 260
Chryfanthemum coronariunfi
396

-'
LeucanHenricus

themum

395

fegetum ib.
Cichoreum Endivia
382
Intybus
381

Cinchona
Cinna

officinalis

Clffampelos

151
47^, 479

CilTus
Ciftus
Citrus
'

'

478
297
370

Aurantium
decumana
Medica

ib.

ib.

Clutla
Cclilearia anglica
- Armoracia
-

217

officinalis

479
322
ib.
ib.

Coftea arabica
2c8
Cochicum autumnale 254

Colutea arborefcens

frutefcens
herbacea

Commelina

36<J

361
ib.

479
Conferva,

LATIN NAMES..
Page
Conferva

497

Conium maculatum

231
249
184

Convallaria majalis

Convolvulus arvenlis
purpureas
^

~- ^cammonia

fepiuin
tricolor

Coriandrum fativum
Coronilla Emerus
Corylus Avellana
Colurna

Craflula

Crataegus Aria

Azarolus

"

421, 475

Laburnum

ib.

feiTilifolius

ib.

364
439

Daphne Laurecla
Mezereum

396
471
325
471
291
ib.

Dalechampia

474
260
ib;

Datura ferox
Stramonium
Tatula
j

193
ib.
ib.

Daucus Carota
Delphinium Ajacis

233
298
Confolida 299

ib.
elatum
Dianthus barbatus
272
Caryophyllus ib,

ib.

Oxyacantha

ib.

torminalis

ib.

Crithmum maritimum 234

D.

coccinea
Crus-galli

ib.

362

Cytifus hirfutus

185
184
185
236

ib.

Cotula
Cotyledon
Crambe maritima

.^

ib.-

Page
Cynofurus criftatus
149
152
Cyperus
Cvpripedium Calceolus

'

chinenfis

ib.

plumarius

ib,

Didamnus

Croton
Cucubalus Behen

471
275

267, 479
Digitalis purpurea
317
Dionaea Mufcipula
268

Cucumis Melo

450

Diofma

fativus

ib.

Cucurbita

471
laffenana

209, 476
160
Dipfacus fullonum

Melopepo
Pepo

449
ib.
ib.

verrucofa

Cufcuta

Doronicum
trum

394

175

Cynanchum

478
383

CynoglofTunn officinale 181

Bellidiaf-

pardalianchesib,

plantagineum ib.

Dracocephalum cana311

rienfe

168, 471

Cyclamen europaeum
Cynara Scolymus

175

ib.

CupreiTus difticha
444
fempervirens ib.

ib.

fylveftris

Dodecatheon Meadia

E.
Echinops fpaerocephalus

LI

403
Echites

INDEX OF
Fc'nites

vulgare

Echium

Epidendrum

25b
hirfutum

Epimedium
Equifetum arvenfe

-_
.

ib.

476
486

ib.

excelfior

Ornus

ib.

ib.

fylvaticum

ib.

Fucus
Fumarta

497
346

officinalis

G.

259
ib.

ib.

15^

Gaanthus nivalis 245, 473

165
Galium Aparine

_- paluftre
verum

liarbarea

ib.

..

officinale

ib.

Gardenia

Erythronium

472
ib.

cannaEupatorium
binum
3^4
Euphorbia arriygdalo284
ides
.antiquorum 283

canarienfis

CaputMedufse
Cypariffias 285

284
Lathyris
285
officinarum 283
Peplus
284
heliolcopia

oflicinalis

F.
Fagus Caftanca
fylvatica

Ferula Afla ftida

communis
fiuitans

Feftuc ovina

florida

Garidell
Genifta anglica
tindoria

ib.

3H
43S
ib.

239
238
39
3

165
122, 215
477
352
ib.

227
Gentiana acaulis
Centaurium ib.
^
.

lutea

Geranium arduinum
capitatum
ciconium

ib.
ib.

Euphrafia

164

Mollugo

,,^

.^

Erythroxylon

Fraxinus americana

473-

vulgaris

vefca

Frank enia

467
295
294
473
466

Fritillaria

Eriophorum
Eryfimum Allaria

fterilis

ib.

Erica cinerea
Tetralix

Fragaria

477 479

hyemale
limofum

Page
Fevillea
Ficus carica
.

angulufo-

Epilobium
lium
^

Page
47
183
475 47

-i

._^..

226
337
336
337

cicutarium

ib.

cuculatum

335
34Q
333
337
334
339

cclumUnum 339

difieiTtum

fulgidum
giuiniim
inquinans
lucidum
'molle

molchatum

ib..

337

odoraiiiTi-

mum

33^'

Geranium


LATIN NAMES.
Page

Page

Geranium

Hernandia

papilionace-

um

Hefperis

334-

phaeum

Hibifcus

338

pratenfe

"''

ib,

- efculentus

Robertianum 339
rotundifolium

ib.

triacanthos

'

'

Glycyrrhiza glabra

vitifolius

Pilofella

Z^7

Gomphrena

224
341
472
471
478

~* orientale
globofa

Goffypium
Grevvia
Grieluni
Gualtheria

ib.

um

m - 'peruvianum ib.
,
Heileborus ftidus
300
hyemalis
ib.
.

niger

ib.

Heracleum Sphondylium

Hermannia

ZZ"^^

239
478

374
Afcyron
balearicum

ib.

17g

ib.

mum

'

474

473, 250

orientalis

'

Hydrophyllum
478
Hyofcyamus niger
193
Hypericum Androfas-

Onobrychis ib.
Helianihusannuus
398
multiflorus 399

europas-

ib.

177

Huniulus Lupulus
454
Hyacinthus non fcrip-

Heliileres

ib.
ib.

- Zeocriton
Hottonia paluftris

476
Hartogia
474
Hedyfarum coronarium 366

Heiiotropium

ib.
ib.

pratenfe
vulgare

tus

tuberofus

144

Hamamelis

151

mollis

381

115

Hordeum diftichon
- hexaftichon

murinum

ib.

343
344
ib.

Hippuris vulgaris
Holcus Janatus

ib.
ib.

fyriacus

Hieracium murorum

Gnaphalium margarita

ceum

Sabdariffa

'

3^7
465
476
3^5

Gleditfia inermis

ib,

Rofa Sinenfis

fanguineum 340
trifte
337
vitifolium
336
zonale
335

Glechoma hederacea

470
324
Abelmofchus 344

canarienle

'

ib.
ib.

373

hircinum

ib.

humifufum

ib.

-- monogynum

374
372
pulchrum
373
'
quadrangulum ib.
Hypnumfeiiceum
492

perforatum

'

Jberis

amara
3

37,2
Iberis

N D E X O F
Page
322

Iberis umbcllata

lllicium

Impatiens

- Balfamina

474
475
406

Lathyrus

Niflblia

odoratus

364

234-

Inula crichmoides
dvfenterica

393

Hclenium

jb.

pulicaria

ib.

Ipomaea

185

I refine

47^ 479

Iris

472, 473
155

florentina

germanica

ib.

perfica

Pfeudacorus

fufi'-.na

Ifatis

tindoria"

Ifopyrum
Juglans aiba
regia

>

^-r.thurifcra

virginiana

Krameria

L.
Lamium album

Lau rus
nobilis

Lecythis
Leontice
Lichen caninus
geographicus
'

''-

parietinus

357
472
263
473
472
496
494
495

pulmonarius

ib.

rangiferinus

497

Icriptus

494

43^

LiriodendronTulipifera3oi

ib.

ib.

'

457
458
ib.

472j 479

officinale

Lolium perenne
temulentum
Lonicera alpigena
Caprifolium
'

4ilo

2C5
3^7
321

'

luteus

perennis
'

'

ib,

anguftifojius

hirfutus

ib.

205
204
ib.

rediviva

Lathraea

180
148

ib.

47t3

Periclymenum
Xylofteum
Lotus corniculatus
Lunaria annua
'

478
475
242

fempervirens

Lupinus albus

42
470, 479
Lathyrus Aphaca
357

22

Lithofpermum arvenfe

ib.

K.
Kiggelaria
Kleinhovia

ib.

tin^itanus

325
477
437

458

oxycedrus
rhcrnicea
Sabina

ib.

fylveftris

Lilium candidum

bermudiana 457
lycina

pratenfis

Limeum
Limodorum
Linum ufitatiflnnum

1523 252
Juniperus barbadenlis 458

communis

358

157
155
J57

Juncus

ib.

paluftris

Noli tangere 437

Inc^igofera

Pa^e
358
357

latifolius

pilcfus

354
355
354
355
354

^^^

T
Lupinu

LATIN NAMES.
Lup'nus varius
Lychnis chalcedonica
.-

dioica
Flofcuculi

Page

Page

355
276
277
276

Mnium hygromctrlcum 491

ib.

Vifcaria

Lycoperdon Bovifta

499

Tuber

ib.

Lycopodium

490

Lycopfis arvenfis

182
279

Lythrum

Salicaria

M.
Malpighia
Malva^Alcea

-~

471,479
342

MomordicaElaterium
Monnieria

^notropa
M'ji us alba
nigra
papvrifera
tindoria

>b.

M Ufa

434
ib.

474
4^*-

paradifiaca

fapientum
Myofotis fcorplodes

Myofuius
Myrtus communis

ib

180
478
290

ib.

mofchata

ib.

N.

rotundifolia

ib.

Narciflus
47^
246
Jonquilla
lb.
poeticus
PfeudonarcifTus ib.

341

Mrchantiapo]ymorpha493
309
Matricaria Parthenium 396
368
Medicago lupuiina
poymorpha ib.
_____
_ fativa
367
Melaftoma
471
Melia
474
Melianthus
479
Melica
135
3ii
MelifTu Calamintha
ib.
Nepeta

Marrubium album

officinalis

Menyanthes

trifoliata

ib.

176

Mercurialis
perennis

473
456

Mefembryanthemum

293
29 z
404

Mefpilus

Mimofa

nilotica

pudica
Mirabilis
'

dichotoma

ib.

308
Nepeta Cataria
Nerium Oleander 215, 476
Nicotiana ruftica
195
w

Tabacum

Nigella

Nybnthes
Nymphaea alba
liitea

ib.

477
122
297
ib.

o.
Oenothera biennis

257

Olax
Ononis inermis

476
353

fpinofa

ib.

Onopordon Acanthium 3S2

OpniogIofl'umvulgatum486

Ophioxylon
Ophrys
apifera

477
211

ib-

l^azetta

433

capenfis

fylveftris

449
47'
47^

Jalapa

ib.

longiflora

ib.

~-

'

479
4:8,475
419

aranifera

ib.

infeflitera

ib

m u Ici fera
it
Ophry
L 4
1

INDEX OF
Page
418

Ophrys ovata

ib.

fpiralis

Orchis

bi folia

41 1; 475
411

conopfea

fuciflora
latifolia

maculata
mafcula
morio

mufciflora

pyramidalis

uftulata

Origanum Diftamnus

416
419
45
ib.

413
ib.

419
412
414
310

Majorana

ib.

Onites

ib.

vulgare

ib.

"

heracleoticiim ib.

Orobanche major 313 470

Oryza fativa
252
Ofmunda Lunaria
486
regalis
487
Spicant

ib.

Phalaris canarienfis
Phallus efculentus

Phafcum

Philadelphus coronarius 290

Phleum

Pancratium
Papaver cambricum
orientale

Rhoeas
fomniforum

Balfamea

Cembra

ib.

Larix
Picea
Pinea
StrcbuS

ib:

laurifolia

majiformis
Paftinaca fativa
Pauliinia

Peganum
Peloria

Periplcca

ib.

236
480
477
3^5
476

ib.

media

ib.

PJatanus occidentalls

440

orientalis

297
296

ib.

443^

441
442
166

Tseda

Plumbago

'

441

Plantago lanceolata
major

Plumerid rubra

ib.

443

fylveftris

476

462
Parnaffia paluftris 24 i>47i
Paffiflora cacrulea
422
"incarnata
424

444
442

Cedrus

Plukenetia

ib.

133
210
478

Phyllanthus
Phyfalis Alkekengi
199
Pinguicula
124, 475
Pi nus Abies
443

ib,

470
472, 479
2j6

Poa
Polemonium caeruleum 189
Polygala myrtitoJia
347

Parietaria officinalis

pratenfe

Phlox

P.

133

499
490

Senega

ib,

vulgaris

Polygonum

avicularc
Biftorta

ib.

261
ib.

Convolvulus 262
Fagopyrum 261
Polypodium Filix mas 488
-

vulgare

ib.

Polytrichum(commune 490
Populus alba

baHmif^ra

455
456
Popu us

"

LATIN NAMES.
Page
Populus nigra
tremula
Porella

Portuiaca oleracea

Potamogeton crifpum

'

natar.s

veils

vulgaris

Prunella vulgaris

Prunus Armeniaca
-

Cerafus
domeftica

'

'

Pteris aquiiina
Qiiaffia

Q^iercus coccifera
-

Ilex

455
490

Rheum compadum

" Suoer

279
170
169

acris

aquatilis

arvenfis

auricomus

afiaticus

bulbofus
P'icaria

hederaceus
repens

fceleratus

Reaumuna
Re fed a
-'
'.

Luteola
odorata
Alaternus

Rhamnus

catharticus

palmatum

Rhabarbarum
Rhaponticum
Rhinanthus Criilagall
Rhodiola
Rhus typhinum
Ricinus communis
Robinia Caragana

ib.

447
172
^74
172
ib.

363

472*4791

K-ola canina

294

rubiginofa

ib.

ib.

Rumex Acetofa

ib.

487

471
435

"

434
435

254

Acetofelia
acutus
crifpus

ib.

ib.

obtufus
pulcher
fanguineus

jb.

aculeatus

304

androgynus
Hypoglollum

Hypophyllum
racemofus

ib.

ib,

25a

476, 479

472

ib.

ib.

253

Hydrolapathum

Rufcus

ib.

26b
265
! 26^
313
479
240
448

Pfeudacacia 39,

Roelia

312
73

R.
Ranunculus

Page
20
207
265

Paliurus

ib.

Robur
*

Rhamnus Frangula

perfoliatum

Poterium Sanguiforba
Primula acaulis
.
Auricula

ib.

Ruta graveolens

459
ib.

ib.
ib.

ib.

268

3^3

S.

304

Saccharum officinarum
153
Sagittaria fagittifolia
447

ib.

303
304
478
471
281
ib.

207
206

Salicornia europaea

Salix
alba

'

"

amygdalina
babylonica
caprea

purpurea
viminaJi

An
ib.

453
ib.

452
ib.

Salix

INDEX OF
SaVix vitellina
Salfola Kali

Soda

Page
452
223
234

Salvia officinalis
.

125
ib.
il?.

Sanguiforba
Sapindus
Sat^rium

hircinum

_
,

Sauva gefia
Saxifraga Cotyledon
'^

.._

.,

lb.

474
270
271

272
271

Scabiofa arvenfis
atropurpurea
.^_

columbaria

Succifa
Scandix Anthrifcus

23c, 327

480
475
416

hypnoides

umbrofa

Cerefolium

161
162
ib.

161
ib.

Schoenus
Schrebera

47^

Scirpiis

152
369380

r- fQd.cn.

Scorpiurus
Scorzonera hifpanica
JScrophularia aquatica
.
nod fa
.

-216
ib.

312
143
Sccale cercalc
471
Sedum
acre
2/5
Sempervivum teflorum 285
Senecio ekgans
390
_
Jacobasa
3^9

Scutellaria galericulata

vi'ccfus

ib.

vulgaris

ib.

..^

^erapias

475

230
2C0
Lycoperficum 202
ib.
Melongena
nigrum
201

Slum nodiflorum
Solanum Dulcamara

Pfeudocapficum

2C0
taberofum
Solidagocambrica
Virgaurea
Sonchus oleraceus
Sophora
Sorbus aucuparia

20

392

228

239
152

327
326
327
327

granulata

44-7

viride

nigra

Sifymbrium Sophia
Nalturtium

471
officinalis

arvenfis

1.

verbenaca

Samyda

Silciie

Sinapis alba

pratenfis
..

Page
382
274, 476

Serratula arvenfis

ib.

380
349
292

domeftica

ib.

Sparganium eredtum

42g

ramofum

ib.

Spartium junceum

fcoparium

350

ib.

monoipermum
351

Sphagnum

fpinofum

ib.

paluftre

490
454

Spinacia feta

'

oleracea

Stapelia

Siaphylaea
Statice

ib.

219,478,480
476

Armeria

241

274
472
474

Stellaria

Swertia
Swietcnia

Symphytum

officinale

i8i

T.
Tabernasmontana

470
Tajittes

LATIN NAMES.
Page
192
191
124

Page
Tagetes ercda

395
39^
Tamus communis 455,472
Tanacetum vulgare
385
Taxus baccata
458
Teucrium
Theobroma
476
Cacao
369
Thymus Serpyllum
309

patula

vulgaris

297

Tinus

476
245

Tradefcantia virginica

lium

--

.-

porrifo-

..

pratenfe

Typha

ib.

anguftifolia

429
428

latifolia

Valantia Gruciata
Vallifneri^

ib.

ib.

Vinca major
minor

214
ib.

ib.

rofea

Viola canina
odorata

404

tricQlor

405
453
35
225
497
445 47^
475
473

ib.

Vifcum album
Ulex europaeus
campeftris

Utricularia

Uvularia

W.
Winterana

476
2s.,

Xeranthemum annuum 387

fpeciofifi'

V.

ib.

360
359

fylvatica

Petafites

ib.

471
359

fativa

Urtica

,>,

ib.

lathyroides

240

Opulus
Tinus

Cracca

Ulva

38 B

24
123

dumetorum
Faba

Ulmus

Tuffilago Farfara

123

Vicia

Trollius

ia

Viburnum Lan tana

Tropseolum

477
475, 478

majus
257
ib.
minus
Tulipa gefneriana
248
fyivcftris
249

ib.

officinalis

ib.

ib.

hederifo

379

arvenfis

Becabunga
Veronica Chamaedrys
'

Tri ch il 13
477
Trifolium pratenfe 39, 367

repens
3^7
Triticum seftivum
H5
- caniiium
.1
147

hvbernum
145
.
polonium
146
repens
147

Spelta
146
._
turgidum
ib.
.

agreftis
.

ib.

Tiliaeuropsea,

Tragopogon

Verbafcum nigrum
Thapfus

mum

388
Z.

462

Zea Mays
Zygophyllum

429
474^479

Naturai,

Natural

Tribes, or Orders

Plants, mentioned

of

or explained In

the foregoing Letters.

Page

GGREGATE,
Let.
Algse

XV.

vi.

106,493
440

Amentacege
Apetalous,
Afperifoliae,

Let. xvii.
Let. xvi.

Calamarias

Campanaceae, Let,
Caryophylleous,

xvi.

177

Mofles, Let. xxxii.

Mukililiquas

105

298

Oleraceae, Let. xvii. xix.

273

Palms

Let. xxvii.

Orchideae,

Let.

xix.

Let.

Let. iii.
Liliaceous, Let. i. xyiii.
Luridae,
Let. xvi.
190

428
183

Columniferous, Let. xxiv.

Compound,

Page
Leguminous,

vi.

xxvi.

Coniferae
440
Contortae, Let. xvi.
21:;
Coronariae
248
Cruciform, Let. ii. xxiii.

Cucurbitaceae

106

Papilionaceous, Let. ii.

xxv.
Perfonate, Let. iv. xxii.
Preciae,
Let. xvi.
171

Ringent,

Let.

iv. xxii.

448
Sarmentaces

Enfatas,

Let. xiv.

245

Scitamineas,
Siliculofas,

Ferns

105, 485
106, 498

Fungi

Siliquofae,

Solanaceas,

Spathaceae
GrafTes,

Let.

xiii.

Stellatae,

440

Juliferae

248
Let. xi.
Let. xxiii.
ib.

Let. xvi.
^

I'^xv.

Verticillate

307

Umbellate, Let.
Labiate,

Let.

199

248
163

v. xvii.

iv. xxii.

INDEX.

INDEX

of

Terms,

cafually ex-

plained in the courfe of this

Page
A
CEROSE leaves 442

Aggregate flowers 65, 03,

159
Ala
4f, 312
Agse
106, 114
Ancipital

372

Angiofpermia 99, 306,313

Anther
23
Apetalous flowers
222
Apophyfis
490
Aril

93, 121, 209

Afperifoliae

Work.

Page
Campanaceae
igj
Campanulate flowers
186
Capitate flowers
65>377
Capfule
45
Capfula circumfcifla
279
Caryophylleous plants 273
Cafque
43 1*5
ChafF
129
Ciliate
134
Circumfcifla capfula
279
Columniferous
Complete flowers

Awn

177
143

Compound

Axillary

359

Conjugate leaves

Banner
Beard
Biennial plants
Bifid

Stigma

Bilocular
Bipinnate

Boat
Border of a

petal

Bracle

Bulb

c
Calycled
Calyptre

Calyx

35
43
28
29
99
385
36
29
J 49, 482
24.
*

flowers

62, 94

199
204
198
llj

Connate
Connivent
Contortee

Cordate
Corol
monopetalous
polypetaious

51

22
ib.
ib.

Crenate
43*
Crenulate
Cruciform flowers
29
Cryptogamia 96, 104, 114

Culm

377

Cyathiform

490

Cyme

130

3^7>476
53

24, 28, 62, 65

Decandria

INDEX
D

Page

Decandria
Decurrent leaves
Diadelphia

i^8

i8i

36, 93, 349

87

Dandria

Dichotomous

453

Dicotylcuonous

13*

43) 91 306
168

Didynamia
Digitate leaves

Digynia

99

"

Dioecia
Difcous

90, 104, i t 3, 45 1
Difcoid
or
flowers
102, 377

64

Difk
Dodecandria

8g
g

Down
E

Page

Habit

59

Head
Helmet

as
4
t8

Heptandria
Herbaceous
Hexandria

168
88

Hortus ficcus
75
Hybernacula
24
Hybridous plants 315, 390
A

Icofandria
Imbricate

74, 89
66, 166
Inconfpicuous flowers
96
Inferior flowers
51
Inflorefcence

Involucre

Emarginate
Enneandria

51, 370
88

Irregular flowers

155

Keel
Labiate

Filices

155
23
105
23
105

Florets

62, 67, 377

Enfiform leaves
Falls

62

Flofculcs

Flofculous flowers 6^, 100

Folioles
28, 168

213
489

Follicle

Frond

21

Frudlification

482

Fulcra

Fungi or F ungufes 1 06,

273
302
34
06

F
Farina
Ferns
Filament

54,

43, 312

Lamina

29

Leaflets

28, 129

Legume

37

Leguminous

93
3g

Ligulate flofcules

63, 100,

^77

TT

Liliaceous

22, 243

Iviriear leaf

130
190

Lurid plants

Monadelpbia
92, 330
Monandria
87, 115
Monocotyledonous
131
Monoecia 95, 104, 1^, 427
Monogamia
103
1

Germ

or

Ovary

Gibbous
Glands
Gymnofpcrmia

Gynandna

23
30, 380
41 5 47
99, 306

95j1I3>4^8

Munogvnia
JVlonopetalous

Moiiophyllous
Mofles

Mufci

99
22
35

105,114
114
Nedarjr

OF TERMS.
N

Page
lOi

flofcules

Neuter

Obcordate

347
4^7
88
222
^3
399

Obfolete

Odandria
Oleraceous plants
'

Ovary
Ovato

cordate

Precise

I7^

Primary flowers

269
217

Proliferous

Q.
Quadrifid corols
Q^iadrivalve
''^inquefid corols

423
409
ic6, 114

roots

Palms

Peduncle

132
39
35

Peltate leaf

257

Pentandria

7
lOl

Panicle
Papilionaceous

Perfea

ftofcules

flowers

Pericarp
Perichaetium
Perfonate
Petals

Pinnate
Pinnatifid
Piftil

Piftilliferous
,

..

Pointai
Pollen
Poiyadelphia
Polyandria

95
23 130

flofcules

lOI
22

23
369
93'
89
96,
^-, 114,
., 461

Polygamia
iEqualis377,ioi
102
Frurtranea
^
...
Neceflaria
103

-.
Segregata
103
. - Superflua
102
Polymorphous
368

^
r,

122
14^

Raceme
Rachis
Radiate flowers

64

Ray

b.

Receptacle 66, 93, 1 32, 160

Regular floweis
34
200, 374
Rpand
Ringent flowers 42, 306,3
Rotate corol
123
1

S
Sagittate leaves

Scape

184, 325
172, 198, 250

Scariofe

241,379,400

42,46 3f2
22
348
149
22
flowers
95

lol
193
162

P
Palmate leaves

22
160

Polypetalous
Polyphyllous

Scitaminex
Sea-weeds
Secunda panlcula

118
106
138

63,68,377

Semiflorets

Semifiofculous flowers 63

377
160, 432

Serrate
Setaceous

39

31, 32, lOO

Silicle

Siliculofa

99
30, 100

Siliquc

Siliquofa

99

Simple flowers
Solanaceae

Spadix
Spathe
Sphacelate

103
199
107

107,154,244
389
Spicula

INDE
Page
136
132
24

Spicula'

Spike

Squamous
Squarrofe

Seamen
Staminiferous flowers
i- flolcules
- -

Standard

398
23
95
Tor

35,

163

Stellated

Stigma

X,

&c.
Pace
87

Tetrandria
Triandria

ib.

Trilocular
Trioecia

190
104

Trivalvuhr
Truncate
184, 300
Tuberous roots
24
Tubulous flo feules
100
Turbinate
476

23
Valves

Stiped
Stipitate

lb*

482
30 1: 3iO
23

Stipule
Strobile

Style

Superior flowers

Syn^cenefia

T
Tail of a petal
Tendril
Ternate leaves

9h

376

29

3'5
Tetradynamia 31,92, 3Z0

129

Ventiicofe
Veiticillate

79> 282
43> i5 307

Umbel
Umbellate
Unguis of a
Unilocular
Urceolate

49;

petal

2I7
&c,
29
3
476

Whorl

115

VVinRS

FINIS.

i:

'.

'

":'

5!f?v7?;f:'^?''';r^^''^^^