above the ovarium, shortly tubular, and bluntly foursided,
consisting of 4 sepals that are all connected, but
as the flower expands, the calyx bursts on one side for
its exclusion : sepals about half the length of the petals,
lanceolate, acute, densely clothed with a short pubescence.
Petals 4, broadly obovate, imbricate, generally
crenulate at the points, each generally marked with a
large blood-coloured spot in the centre, but which is
wanting in some plants. Stamens 8, inserted in the
mouth of the tube with the petals, about half the
length of the petals, every other one longest; those
tliat are alternate with the petals longer than these that
are opposite to them : Jilaments smooth, a little flattened,
white, attached to the anthers just above the base :
anthers linear, hairy at the back, two-lobed, purple below
with a white point ; pollen cream-coloured. Style
smooth, about the length of the stamens. Stigma 4-cleft,
the segments flat, linear, spreading, white, papillose on
the upper side.
The present subject is described in the Botanical Magazine as
having smooth leaves, and the capsule without furrows, and smooth ;
but in all the numerous plants that we have examined this season, we
have always found the leaves thickly clothed on both sides with a
short pubescence, and the capsules have been all four-furrowed, and
clothed with a hoary pubescence ; it may be considered as a very ornamental
annual plant, requiring no other care than to be sown in the
open borders in Spring, and to be kept clear from weeds ; the plants
will then continue to bloom from July to October, and last season we
observed it in flower till near Christmas.
This is one of the many different species collected by Mr. D .
Douglas in his journey to the north-west coast of America, where it
is said to have been found by him, in 1826, in the dry, woodless
parts of the interior, and it is certainly one of the most beautiful species
that has been introduced from that country ; the numerous different
species that have been introduced within these few years to our
gardens, from different parts of America, has increased the genus to
above double the number of what it before contained ; and many of
them are amongst the most beautiful, and are a great acquisition to
our list of hardy annual and perennial plants.
The generic name is derived from oi.oç, wine, and Suça, a hunt, or
wild beast; the roots steeped in wine, is said to calm a fierce beast.
Linnæus says. Suça, os, or mouth ; so that he most probably meant
the flower to resemble a funnel to pour wine through.
lb
aly:________________
1. Calyx seated on the ovarium, the four segments spread open, to show the in-
sertion of the eight Stamens,
spreading Stigma.
V .1 o . 2. Ovarium terttiinated by the Style and four cleft