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Synopsis: Linnaean (DEUTZIA named after J Deutz)

DEUTZIA, named after J. Deutz, a respectable citizen of Amsterdam, is a member of the N.O. Philadelphaceoe, or Syringas. LINNAEAN: 10, Decandria; 3, Trigynia.--The deutzias and philadelphias are so nearly related that it is rather for convenience than for definite technical reasons that they are separated. They are deciduous shrubs, with white or pink flowers which come near to myrtle blooms in general character, but it may also be said that they are not far removed in some of their characters from the saxifragas and escallonias. The representative species are scattered over the south of Europe, North America, Japan, and India. In the arts they have scarcely acquired a place, although the rough leaves of Deutzia scabra are used in Japan by polishers, probably on account of a deposit of silica. The flowers of our mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) have been employed for adulterating oil of jasmine. although the odour of the mock orange is coarse compared with that of jasmine.

HELICHRYSUM, from helios, the sun, and chrysos, gold; the familiar name "everlasting" is explained by the dry chaffy texture of the flowers, which renders them so well adapted for use, when dried, in winter bouquets. Once more we are carried into the heart of the great aster family, or N.O. Asteraceoe. LINNAEAN: 19, Syngenesia; 2, Superflua.--The alliance of helichrysum is with aphelexis.

MAGNOLIA, named in honour of Professor Magnol, of Montpelier. N.O., Magnoliaceoe. LINNAEAN: 13, Polyandria; 6, Polygynia.--In this grand order are many fine trees and shrubs, with alternate coriaceous leaves and flowers, mostly three-divided, the fruit consisting of numerous carpels, often collected in a cone upon a lengthened axis. Amongst the allies of the magnolia occur the winter barks, the tulip trees, the famous aromadendron of Java, and the curious trochodendron, which has neither calyx nor corolla. SUNFLOWER, or HELIANTHUS, the flower of the sun, is a glorious member of the great family of composites or asters.

WISTARIA takes its name from Professor Wistar, the American botanist. Glycine is from glykys, sweet, and reminds one of glycerine, the sweet principle that is pressed out of various oils and fats in certain manufacturing processes. N.O., Fabaceoe, leguminous plants, or Papilionaceoe. LINNAEAN: 17, Diadelphia; 4, Decandria.--This beautiful tree is sometimes called the purple laburnum, but as we have a true laburnum with purple flowers, the name is scarcely allowable. For characters of fabaceous plants SALVIA, from salvo, to save, in allusion to the medicinal properties of the sage and other aromatic plants of the same genus. N.O., Lamiaceoe, or Lipworts. LINNAEAN: 2, Diandria; 1, Monogynia.--This order has several distinctive characters. The stems are four-cornered, the leaves are opposite, replete with receptacles of aromatic oil; the flowers in whorls or opposite cymes, the corolla bilabiate, the upper lip overlapping the lower, which is larger and three-lobed; the fruits are small nuts enclosed within the persistent calyx. As they come near to borageworts, note should be taken of their square stems and irregular flowers, for borageworts have round stems and regular flowers. The labiates are natives of temperate regions chiefly, and are very abundant. In the cooler parts of India there are over two hundred species; they love dry sunny places, as is the case generally with aromatic plants. In the arts they are much used, as in the preparation of perfumes and sauces; a few are eatable, and many have valuable medicinal properties. The famous patchouli is a labiate; lavender, mint, horehound, and rosemary are familiar labiates renowned for their several uses. As regards the rosemary there can be no question of its power of encouraging the growth of hair, and there by curing baldness; it is used also in the manufacture of Hungary water, and contributes in an especial degree to the pungent aroma of eau de Cologne. The famous Narbonne honey is derived from the flowers of rosemary, which abounds in that district of France.