figworts themselves, adding to them the well-known exotic calceolaria.

106. Large-flowered Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis versicolor), an example of the natural order Labiatæ. The corolla-1-in one piece, monopetalous, irregular. The calyx-2-tubular. The leaves opposite the stem

square,

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The Labiatæ, labiates, or lipped plants, form an order extensive as it is well marked; one, moreover, noted for the beauty and fragrance of many of its members. Lavender, thyme, marjoram, the mints, are all labiates; so are the sages and salvias. The large-flowered hemp-nettle (Galeopsis versicolor)—Fig. 106 is the handsomest, perhaps, of our British species, and very characteristic. The monopetalous corollaFigs. 106, 107-is in one piece, and two-lipped; the calyx tubular; the stamens are, as in the fig-worts, two long and two short. The fruit consists of four achenes, which are like four seeds lying at the bottom of the calyx, and, indeed were formerly considered to be naked seeds; the leaves are opposite, and the stems square. lip enclosing the The characters of labiate plants are

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107. Blossom of a labiate plant. 1, the irregular corolla 2, the calyx-3, the lower lip of the corolla-4, its upper

four stamens-5, of

longer than

others.

which two are too apparent to be easily mistaken, in many cases their very fragrance betrays them, as it arises from the numerous little cells— somewhat like those in the rind of the orangewhich are filled with essential oil, and distributed over the plant.

MONOCOTYLEDONS.

At our next step in classification, we leave the net-veined foliage of the dicotyledons for the parallel-veined leaves of the monocotyledons, well represented by the well-known and handsome Orchidaceæ, or orchis family. In the small white butterfly orchis (Habenaria albida)—Fig. 108—we have

the straight-veined alternate leaves, the flowers. arranged in a spiked raceme, the knobbed root. The orchis blossom, now called perianth, we see in six pieces-Fig. 110-supported

by the twisted ovary, and
bearing in its centre the com-
bined reproductive organs,
the stamens contained in
their little cells or pouches.
Few, if any, families of
plants can boast of as great
a variety of beautiful, and,
we may add, extraordinary
form, as the orchids. Some
of our readers may have seen
in conservatories the splen-
did orchis blossoms of tropi-
cal climates; few can be
ignorant of the "king-cups "
of our meadows, the beauti-
ful purple orchis of early
summer, and others may have
met with the curious bee-
orchis or spider-orchis, either
in its wild state or culti-
vated; these last, good exam-
ples of the curiosities of form
which we find displayed
among the members of this
interesting family. Some of
the orchids- as the habena-
ria-
Fig. 108- are ex-

108. Small white Butterfly Orchis-(Habenaria albida), an example of the natural order Orchidacea. The blossoms arranged in a spike; the root having lenobs, 2.-The

tremely fragrant. Beauty leaves with parallel veins.

is the characteristic of the orchis family; their known uses, economical or medicinal, are but small. The tubers of some of the species yield a peculiar nutritive gum, which forms, when properly prepared, a mucilaginous jelly, like arrowroot.

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109. Root of the Spotted Orchis, with palmated tubers or knobs.

110. Blossom of an Orchis, the perianth in six pieces, the lowest bearing a spur-4. The pouches containing the pollen masses-1. A spot corresponding to the stigma-2. The twisted ovary-3supporting the flower and having a bract-6-at its attachment to the stem-7. The pollen masses magnified-5.

Another family of monocotyledons, the Cyperacea or sedge order, devoid of gay colouring, differ greatly from the orchids, but, nevertheless, are in their own way sufficiently handsome. Our example -Fig. 111-is by no means the plainest of the family. This tribe of plants, like the grasses, has the essential organs of reproduction, the stamens and pistils, inclosed simply by scales, or, as they are called, glumes. In the sedge tribes, these glumes are imbricated, laid over one another, like the tiles of a house, and are arranged upon or around a

central axis-Fig. 111-forming a spikelet, either of barren, stamen-bearing flowers-Fig. 112-or of

8. WHIMPER. SL

111. Cyperus-like sedge-Carex pseudo-Cyperus-an example of the natural order Cyperaceæ. The flowers collected on spikes, 1-consisting of scales, 2-inclosing the pistil, or-3-inclosing the stamens. The stem triangular, the leaves with parallel veins and sheathing at the base. The bracts-4-long and foliaceous, or leaf-like.

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