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York and Lancaster Rose (LOBELIA named after M Lobel)

LOBELIA, named after M. Lobel, botanist. N.O., Lobeliaceoe. LINNAEAN: 5, Pentandria; 1, Monogynia.--This order consists almost exclusively of herbs and under-shrubs of suspicious qualities. The leaves are alternate and simple; the flowers irregular; the corolla five-lobed; the fruit a capsule opening at the top. The species are, for the most part, moisture-loving plants, possessing acrid juices of the most poisonous nature.

MATHIOLA, named after P, Mathioli, an Italian botanist. N.O., Cruciferoe. LINNAEAN: 15, Tetradynamia.

JASMINUM, a Latin form of the Eastern name of the plant. INDIAN PINK, or DIANTHUS, from dios, divine, and anthos, flower, the divine flower. N.O., Caryophyllaceoe. LINNAEAN: 10, Decandria; 2, Digynia.--This very interesting order has been remarked upon under "Lychnis," page xii. SALVIA, from salvo, to save, in allusion to its salutary properties. N.O., Lamiaceoe. LINNAEAN: 2, Diandria; 1, Monogynia.--The order of Labiates, or Lipworts, is of immense extent and considerable importance. The plants composing it are herbs with square stems; opposite leaves; irregular five-toothed flowers; the corolla tipped; the fruit a four-seeded nut enclosed in the permanent calyx. A very large proportion of them are aromatic, stimulant, and pungent; some are mildly tonic; none of them are poisonous. The order contributes largely to the "herb garden" such plants as sage, thyme, lavender, mint, basil, marjoram, savory, peppermint, and other medicinal and flavouring herbs. In this order also we find the celebrated Patchouli plant (Pagostemon patchouly), the rosemary, horehound, and ground ivy. Amongst the ornamental garden plants of the order are the showy monarda, the several species of salvia, nepeta, hyssop, leonitis, prostanthera, scutellaria, &c. CRIMSON FLAX, or LINUM. The generic name is from linon, flax, from which we have linen, line, lint, linseed, &c. N.O., Linaceoe. LINNAEAN: 5, Pentandria; 5, Pentagynia.--The order comprises herbs and woody plants with entire leaves and hermaphrodite flowers. The calyx and corolla are each of five pieces, and the stamens agree in number and are alternate with the petals. The fruit is a capsule containing many compressed ovate seeds which are without albumen, and have a mucilaginous integument. The common flax is Linum usatissimum, one of the most useful of plants, the history of which carries us back to the earliest days of civilisation. It is believed to be a native of Egypt; but that belief may rest upon the fact that it first acquired proper renown there, and being used by a cultivated people, obtained through them an honourable place in literature. This plant, everywhere grown for its tenacious fibres, is comparatively unknown in gardens, and the observer of vegetable forms who is unacquainted with it may be advised to sow a few common flax seeds in the spring, and in due time look for an elegant tuft of vegetation crowned with pretty blue flowers.

RUDBECKIA, named after O. Rudbeck, a Swedish botanist. N.O., Asteraceoe. LINNAEAN: 19, Syngenesia; 3, Frustranea.

JAPAN QUINCE, or PYRUS JAPONICA. Name from pyrus, a pear, as in Virgil and Pliny; but it is difficult to avoid the suggestion of something fiery, such as we have in the brilliant flowers of this plant, which, we may suppose, was quite unknown to the ancients. The pear as known in Europe cannot be spoken of as a fiery tree, and it is not often the fruits of the pear are highly coloured. The quince was known to the Greeks as kudonia, hence the modern botanical distinction, the Japan quince being more properly classed as Cydonia Japonica, although best known under the generic distinction of Pyrus. As for the familiar word pear, that is true English, having come down to us from the Saxon with scarcely any change. The pears, quinces, and apples belong to the pomaceous section of the great family of roses. In this same section occur the medlars, sorbs, and haws. In other sections of the family we find the peaches, cherries, and plums; and again in others, the strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and mixed variously with these are true rosaceous plants that do not produce edible fruits. For example, the spiraeas, potentillas, and agrimonies are rosaceous plants; but they do not commend themselves to our attention in so striking a manner as the pears, plums, cherries, and peaches. COLUMBINE, or AQUILEGIA. The familiar name is from columba, a dove, the botanical name from aquila, an eagle; in both cases a fancied resemblance to a bird supplies the name, and it cannot be called far-fetched. N.O., Ranunculaceoe. LINNAEAN: 13, Polyandria; 5, Pentagynia.