an inch and a half long, radiately spreading. Bractes
resembling the stipules, hut shorter. Sepals elliptical, with
stout, rounded, green, hairy ribs, the interstices membranous
and pellucid, the points awl-shaped, blunt, green, nearly as
long as the rest of the sepals, of which the two outer ones
are broader, and 5 ribbed, and the inner three 3-ribbed.
Petals 5, equal, ohlong-elliptical, obtuse, violet-blue, tra versed
by 5 dark-red branched veins, the claws very short,
red, and bearded with white hairs. Stamens the 5 fertile
ones shorter than the ovarium, with short, pale purple,
broadly dilated and fringed filaments, having their apex
attenuated ; sterile ones narrower, oblong, concave, truncate,
glabrous, scarcely holi the length of the fertile ones. Anthers
purple, 2-celled, "the cells distinct and spreading. Ovaria 5,
beaked, copiously hairy, especially at the base. Stigmas
shorter than the ovaria, blunt, recurved and spreading,
purple, longitudinally clothed with papillose pubescence.
A very showy perennial species from Siberia, introduced to
our Gardens in 1821, but although a plant of very easy
culture it is rarely met with in collections. Our drawing
was taken from plants which flowered in Mrs. Marryat s
garden in July last.
The generic name is derived from the greek word epaStog,
a heron, and alludes to the long slender beak of the fruit.
D . Don.
]. Calyx with the reproductive organs. 2. Pistils separate. i i