short, lanceolate, acute. Corolla of 1 petal, rotate,
deeply 5-parted, of a lively brown purple colour; segments
oblongly-oval, obtuse, spreading; the inside
smooth and glossy, the outside pubescent. Crown
in the centre 10-toothed, with smaller teeth between
them. Stamens 5. Pollen masses 10, smooth. Ger-
mens and Stigmas 2. Follicles oblong, hooked at the
point, muricate.
For the opportunity of giving a figure of this rare
and handsome plant, we are indebted to Mr. Knight,
of the Exotic Nursery, King’s Road, Little Chelsea,
where our drawing was taken in September last, and
the fruit was added in October, when it ripened. It
IS a native of North America, growing spontaneously,
according to Pursh, from Pensylvania to Carolina.
Mr. Knight has it cultivated on a little slope of peat
p r th , with some other scarce American plants: from
its appearance, we suspect it will grow to the height
of 10 or 12 feet, if trained up a stick or trellis, where
it will flower from June to October, if the weather
prove favourable. Pursh mentions it as growing in
hedges near rivulets; but we should think it not
adviseable to plant it in a moist situation in this
country, as its tuberous roots would be apt to suffer
from too much wet. The present plants were in a
flourishing state in a dry situation.
We have no doubt but it might be increased by
dividing the roots, as well as by seeds.
I- The lO-toothed crown of the corolla spread open, showing the smaller
teeth between the others. 2. The 5 stamens with the 10 masses of yellow
pollen, 1 on each side of the anther. 3. The 2 germens with their stigmas.
4. Stigmas. «. The full grown ripe follicle, all magnified, except the last.