British encyclopedia; or, Dictionary of arts and sciences, comprising an accurate and popular view of the present improved state of human knowledge Volume 8 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1821 edition. Excerpt: ...Darwin has thus characterized these plants. "Weak with nice sense the chaste Mimosa stands, From each nule touch withdraws her timid hands; Oft as light clouds o'erpass the summer glade, Alarm'd she trembles at the moving shade; And feels alive through all her tender form, The whisper'd murmurs of the gathering storm; Shuts her sweet eyelids to approaching night, And hails with freshen'd charms the rising light." MIMULUS, in botany, Monkey ftwer, a genus of the Didinamia Angiospermia class and order. Natural order of Personatx. Scrophularix, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx four-toothed, prismatical: corolla ringent; the upper lip folded back at the sides: capsule, twocelled, many-seeded. There are four species, natives of North and South America. MIMUSOPS, in botany, agenus of the Octandria Monogynia class and order. Natural order of Holoracex. Sapotx, Jussieu. Essential character: calyx fourleaved; petals four; nectary sixteenleaved; drupe acuminate. There are three species, of which M. elcngi is a middle sized tree, with entire smooth leaves; flowers axillary, on many simple peduncles; calyxestomentose; berry superior; defended at the base by the permanent calyx, having an obsolete groove on one side, shagreened all over with very minute callous dots. It is a native of the East Indies, where it is much cultivated on account of its fragrant flowers, which come out chiefly in the hot season. MINA, in Grecian antiquity, a money of account, equal to an hundred drams. MIND. See Pbilosopbt of the Mind. MINE, in natural history, a place under ground, where metals, minerals, or even precious stones, are dug. As. therefore, the matter dug out of mines is various, the mines themselves acquire various denominations, as goldmines,...