■; fii.
'f :
ifii:
withering after being gathered. Petioles smooth,
flattened, and furrowed on the upper side, and convex
on the lower. Peduncles axillary, very slender, generally
2-flowered, continuing to grow till the seeds ripen.
Pedicles filiform, with a small subulate bracte about
the middle of each. Calyx of 2 sepals, which are
roundly ovate, acute, concave, of a membranaceous
texture, with a strong green midrib. Flowers pendulous,
of a dark yellow, spotted with red on the inside.
Petals unequal, irregular. Nectary cowl-shaped,
terminated in a blunt spur. Stamens 5 ; filaments short
and stout, at first connected, but after the flower is expanded,
distinct; anthers 5, connected ; pollen cream-
coloured. Germen smooth and glossy, crowned with
an acute stigma. Capsule 5-valved, when ripe opening
with an elastic spring as soon as touched, the seeds
springing out, and the valves of the capsule rolling up.
This very curious annual plant is a native of North
America, and is mentioned by Mr. Pursh as growing
in wet shady places, from Canada to Carolina. It is
quite hardy, and only requires to be sown in the open
ground, about the latter end of March, or beginning of
April, if the weather is mild, requiring a dampish
shady situation, where it will grow to the height of
3 feet, or upwards, and will continue to flower till
destroyed by the frost in Autumn ; if iu a dry exposed
situation, it will not grow near so strong, nor last so
long in flower. A peculiar property belongs to this
plant, and the others belonging to this genus, in the
elasticity of their capsules; when the seeds are nearly
ripe, if the capsules are ever so lightly pressed, they
immediately burst, the valves rolling up, and the seeds
springing to a distance, so that it requires much care
to procure them.
Our drawing was taken at the Apothecaries’ Company’s
Garden, at Chelsea, in September last.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla spread open, showing the insertion of the petals.
3. Stamens, spread open to show the connected anthers, and the insertion of
the filaments. 4. Germen terminated with an acute Stigma. 5. Capsule burst
open, all magnified except the last.