Some that grow in dry places, and are cultivated, furnish us with valuable culinary vegetables; but nearly all that grow in wet places are exceedingly poisonous.

It deserves remark, however, that in no instance is the fruit poisonous, and is often aromatic.

From the stems and roots of some of the species very valuable drugs and gums are obtained.

16. The Ivy Family. Araliaceæ.

A family nearly allied to the last. There are only two British genera, exceedingly different in appearance.

Moschatell. Adoxa moschatellina.-A humble plant, a few inches in height, consisting generally of two leaves near the root, upon long stalks, twice divided into three, and two smaller ternate leaves upon the tender stem. Flowers very small, in

heads, at the extremity of the stem.

They are green, and

curiously arranged, four being in a whorl, and a fifth above them. Woods and shady places. April, May.

Ivy. Hedera helix.-Flowers in simple umbels.

Common

in a great variety of localities, but especially upon old buildings and decaying trees. October, November.

"Thy home, wild plant, is where each sound

Of revelry hath long been o'er :

Where song's full notes once pealed around,
But now are heard no more."

HEMANS.

"Hast thou seen in winter's stormiest day

The trunk of a blighted oak,

Not dead, but sinking in slow decay

Beneath time's resistless stroke;

Round which luxuriant ivy had grown,

And wreathed it with verdure no longer its own?"

decaying leaves, red.

Flowers in 4 or 5 divisions, white, in

bunches, at the extremity of the branches. June, July.

18. The Honeysuckle Family. Caprifoliacea.

Exogenous, &c. Corolla monopetalous. Perigynous.—Calyx tube united with the ovary (ovary inferior,) and generally with bracts at the base. Corolla either regular or irregular. Stamens 5, sometimes 4. Fruit generally a berry. Shrubs or herbs.

BRITISH GENERA.

Sambucus. Viburnum. Lonicera. Linnæa.

Elder.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Sambucus nigra.-A small tree, having pinuated leaves, with serrated leaflets. Branches abounding in pith. Flowers in level-topped clusters, similar to umbels, followed by black berries. June.

Guelder rose. Viburnum opulus.-A small tree with lobed leaves. The flowers, being white and in round bunches, have an elegant appearance, and sometimes are called “snow-balls.” In the wild state a few only of the flowers fully develope the corolla. July, August.

Wayfaring tree. Viburnum lantana. Leaves heart-shaped, downy beneath. Flowers similar to those of the elder, but in smaller clusters. Woods and hedges. May, June.