INTRODUCTION.

has given me opportunity of introducing many choice extracts from the British poets, whose works I admire and honor as British; but in the sentiment which the flower when presented is intended to convey, I have preferred, exclusively, extracts from American poets. I think it is time our people should express their own feelings in the sentiments and idioms of America. The answer is signified by returning a part of the flower.

I cannot well particularize all the sources from which I have derived meterials for this little work. Making a book (not writing it,) is somewhat like preparing a dinner; the ingredients must be collected from many places, and these are usually so disguised by the preparation, that little of the original flavor remains. I must not, however, omit to name 'Flora's Dictionary,' and the 'Garland of Flora.' I have derived considerable assistance from these compilations, and would tender my sincere thanks to their amiable authors. I am indebted to Nuttall's 'Botany' for the locality of flowers, and the number of species, and to Eaton's' Manual' for many valuable hints. But I have followed the classification of Linnæus, partly because I think twenty-four seems most gracefully to round the number of classes; and partly that Botanists, who differ from him, are not agreed in any particular numbers-some fixing on twenty-two, others on twenty-one. I found also that Howitt, in his 'Book of the Seasons,' retains the Linnæan classification: it was the one to which Darwin adhered in his 'Loves of the Plants'—it is therefore most poetical.

To the Youth of America I commit my book. May it inspire our Young Ladies to cultivate those virtues which can be truly represented by the fairest flowers; and our young men to cultivate their minds, till our land shall become beautified by the spirit of Taste, and our literature brilliant by the creations of Genius.

Boston, June 1, 1832.

REMARKS ON THE SIXTH EDITION.

FIVE large editions of Flora's Interpreter have been sold, and the demand is still increasing; the author therefore, has been induced to revise the work with care, and render this volume as perfect as the materials to which she limits herself will admit. No changes have been made in the signification of the flowers, but a new sentiment has in some instances been adopted. The circle of American literature is every year expanding, and fresh flowers of poetry, more appropriate to express the signification of the flowers of nature, are gradually appearing. These have been sought for; and the changes thus introduced will give novelty, as well as increased value, to the poetic character of the book.

The Author has reason to be gratified at the success which has attended her experiment of making selections from among American poets only. The work is more valued here, and it is also better appreciated in Europe. It is new-and hacknied extracts from the standard writers of Great Britain would not have had that merit. There the critics allow the selections are, generally, beautiful, and in good taste.

The publishers have done their part, liberally, to increase the value and beauty of this edition. A new arrangement of the matter has augmented the number of pages about one fifth; this arrangement, it will be seen, allows a page to each flower, thus giving distinctness and method to the whole; and, moreover, occasionally leaves blank spaces for quotations, or those original remarks, which it is often convenient to permit in a book of this kind. We name these things, to show we intend to spare no pains to make Flora's Interpreter merit its popularity.

Boston, October 1, 1837.

BOTANICAL EXPLANATIONS.

FLOWERS.

There are seven elementary parts in a flower-or, properly speaking, flower and fruit.

1. Calyx. The outer or lower part of the flower, generally, not

colored.

2. Corol. The colored blossom of the flower, within or above

the calyx.

3. Stamens. The mealy or glutinous knobs, generally on the ends of slender filaments.

4. Pistil. The central organ of a flower; the base of this becomes the pericarp or seed.

5. Pericarp. The covering of the seed, whether pod, shell, bag, or pulpy substance.

6 Seed. The essential part, containing the rudiments of a new plant.

7. Receptacle. The base which sustains the other six parts, being at the end of the stem.

Any accidental appendage is a nectary. The form and positions of these organs, and of no other part, are employed in distinguishing the Classes, Orders, and Genera.

Double flowers are formed by changing the stamens into petals.. Botanists term these vegetable monsters.

1. Whorl

INFLORESENCE;

OR, MANNER OF FLOWERING.

‚—an assemblage of flowers surrounding the stem or its branches, constitute a whorl or ring: this is seen in the Mint and many of the Labiate plants.

2. Raceme, or cluster, consists of numerous flowers each on its own stalk or pedicle, and all arranged on one common peduncle; as, a bunch of Currants.

3. Panicle, bears the flowers in a kind of loose subdivided bunch or cluster, without any regular order; as in the Oat. A Panicle contracted into a compact, somewhat ovate form, as in the Lilac, is called a Thyrse, or bunch: a bunch of grapes is a good example.

4. Spike. This is an assemblage of flowers arising from the sides of a common stem: the flowers are sessile, or with very short peduncles; as, the Wheat and the Mullein.

5. Umbel-several flower stalks, of nearly equal length, spreading out from a common centre, like the rays of an umbrella, bearing flowers on their summits; as, Fennel, and Carrot.

6. Cyme resembles an umbel, in having its common stalks all spring from one centre, but differs in having those stalks irregularly subdivided; as, the Snow-ball, and Elder.

7. Corymb, or false umbel-when the peduncles rise from different heights above the main stem; but the lower ones being longer, they form nearly a level, or convex top; as, the Yarrow.

8. Fascicle-Flowers on little stalks variously inserted and subdivided, collected into a close bundle, level at the top; as, the Sweet William.

9. Head, or tuft, has sessile flowers heaped together in a globular form; as in the Clover.

10. Ament, or catkin, is an assemblage of flowers composed of scales and stamens, arranged along a common thread-like receptacle; as in the Chestnut, and Willow:

11. Spadix is an assemblage of flowers, growing upon a common receptacle, and surrounded by a spatha, or sheath; as in the Egyptian Lily.

CLASSES AND ORDERS.

THE explanations of these must necessarily be very brief; my aim being rather to stimulate curiosity respecting the subject of Botany, than to impart instruction in the science. A few general facts, and a few of the first terms, are all that can be given.

Flowers in the Linnæan system are divided into twenty-four Classes. These Classes are divided into Orders; Orders into Genera; Genera into Species; Species are frequently changed into Varieties.

The first ten Classes are distinguished by the number of their stamens; thus,

1.. Monandria,—1 stamen,-Flowering Reed is the only one of this class given.

2. Diandria,-2 stamens,-Lilach, Sage, Jasmine, etc.

3. Triandria,-3 stamens,-Crocus, Iris, Oat, etc.

4. Tetrandria,-4 stamens,-Witch-hazel, Holly, etc.

5. Pentandria,-5 stamens,-Violet, Flax, Woodbine, etc.

6. Hexandria,-6 stamens.-Lily, Sorel, Aloe, etc.

7. Heptandria,—7 stamens,-Horse-chestnut, etc. None of this class given.

8. Octandria,-8 stamens,-Nasturtion, etc.

9. Eneandria,-9 stamens, Laurel, etc.

10. Decandria,-10 stamens,-Rue, Pink, Hydrangea.

11. Dodecandria:-12 to 19 stamens,-Mignonette, etc.

12. Icosandria,-20, or more, standing on the calyx. Rose, etc. 13. Polyandria,-always 20, or more, on the receptacle,-Butter-cup, Larkspur, Peony, etc.

14. Didynamia,-4 stamens, 2 of them uniformly the longest, -Fox-glove, Balm, Thyme, etc.

15. Tetradynamia,-6 stamens, 4 of them uniformly the longest,-Gilly Flower, Honesty, Queen's Rocket, etc. 16. Monodelphia,-stamens united by their filaments in one set, anthers being separated,-Geraniums, Hibiscus, etc. 17. Diadelphia,--stamens united by their filaments in two sets,flowers papilionaceous, or butterfly-shaped.

18 Polydelphia,-stamens in two sets, united at the bottom by the filaments, Orange, St. John's Wort, etc.