the axil of a small persistent bracte, generally 1-flowered,
but, occasionally, 2-flowered, with a bracte at the base of the
upper footstalk ; bractes and pedicles variable in length, the
lower bractes longest, lanceolate, acuminate ; upper ones
ovate, concave, and less acute, but generally terminated by
a sharp point, sometimes longer, and other times shorter than
the pedicles. Calyx of 6 sepals, pale straw colour, disposed
in 2 series, the outer ones smallest, ovate, cucullate; inner
ones larger, thinner, cucullate, rounded, more resembling the
petals, and larger than them'; at the base of the outer sepals,
Me 3 little sepaliform bractes, flatly pressed to the calyx.
Petals 6, ovate, bluntly rounded, concave, of a bright yellow.
Stamens 6: Jilaments bearing a tooth on each side at the point
Ovarium ovate, attenuated to the point, smooth. Stigma large,
peltate, orbicular, pustulate.
A very dwarf evergreen shrub, native of the north-west
coast of America; first discovered by Mr. Menzies, at the mouth
of the Columbia; and, according to Mr. Douglas, common
in shady pine forests, along the coast of the Pacific. The species
IS well distinguished from its other congeners, with
pinnated leaves, by the leaflets being traversed from the
base, upwards, by several nearly parallel nerves. Pursh,
having erroneously added the flowers of B. aquifolium, to his
plate of nevvosa, misled De Candolle, who has reproduced
the species under the name of glumacea. The specimen, in
proof of this, exists in the Lambertian Herbarium, with which
Pursh s entire collection is incorporated.
The plant thrives best in a mixture of peat and loam, is
quite hardy, and is increased by slips. Our drawing is from
Mrs. Marryat’s collection, at Wimbledon.
1 . O u t e r le a v e s o f th eC a ly x . 2 . In n e r lea f o f ditto. 3. P e ta l. 4. Stamen. 5 . P is til. Ml
X
B H