6 TONES OB Canyrol. Two knights before thy fragrant altar bend;

Adored MELIis5SA! and /7zwo ſquires attfend.-- 60

bottom in two ſets, whence Linneus has named the claſs“ two brotherhoods." In the Geniſta, however, they are united in but one ſet. The flowers ofthis claſs are called papilionaceous, from their reſemblance to a butterfly, as the pea-bloffom. In the Spar- ium Scoparium, or common broom, 1 have lately obſerved a curious circumſtance, the males or ſtamens are in two ſets, one ſet riſing a quarter of an inch above the other; the upper ſet does not arrive at their maturity ſo ſoon as the lower, and the ſtigma, or head of the female, is produced amongſt the upper or imma- ture ſet; but as ſoon as the piſtil grows tall enough to burſt open the keel-leaf, or hood of the flower, it bends itſelf round ;n an inſtant, like a French horn, and inſerts its head, or ſtigma, amongſt the lower or mature ſet of males. Thepuilorniemale: continues to grow in length; and in a few days the ſtigma ar- rives again amongſt the upper ſet, by the time they become ma- ture. This wonderful contrivance is readily ſeen by opening the keel-leaf of the flowers.of broom before they burſt ſpontaneouſly,

See note on Collinſonia, Glorioſa, Draba.

Meliſſa. 1. 60. Balm. In each flower there are four males

and one femaie; two of the males ſtand higher than the other two; whence the name ofthe claſs“** two powers." I have ob- (erved in the Ballota, and others of this claſs, that the two lower ftamens, or males, become mature before the two higher. Af-

ter they have ſhed their duſt, they turn themſelves away out-

.-.. SE aI <a et ae ÄR G