Calyi ( f 4) la rg e , oblongo-ovate o r obovate, for i t generally increases in size upw a rd , very
slightly plicate : the mo»«, contracted and toothed. I t is o f th e same color (and ten u r e
as the leaves.
Calyplra (f. 5) ovate, membranous, whitish, re ticu la ted ; style short. Barren pistilla small,
situated a t th e base o f the calyptra.
Peduncle scarcely more th a n twice th e len g th o f th e ealy x , white , cylindrical, succulent,
cellulose.
Capsule exactly spherical, opening into four equal ovate valves, which a re longitudinally and
transveraely furrowed.
Seeds ( f .7 ) spherical, and, together with th e spiral filaments, o f a fulvous b row n ; these
la tte r formed o f a double closely-twisted helix.
J . laxifolia belongs to th a t division o f J u n g e rm am i!, which have th e ir leaves placed in a
quadrifarious manne r, and o f which so few species have h ithe rto been detected. W ith J . jnlacea it
will be seen to have many points in common, b u t will be found to differ materially, n o t only in the
g re a te r size and la rg e r cellules o f th e leaves, b u t also in th e form and disposition o f th e perichajtial
ones, in th e tex tu re o f th e foli.age, and in th e color; in these last paiticula.-s approaching
J . hicuspidata, a species from which i t otherwise is abundantly distinct.
H ith e rto th is elegant little species has been found only in I re la n d ; a country no less fe rtile in
rare and s in g u la r plants, th an fortuna te in Botanists b o th able and willing to detect and investigate
them.
R E F E R E N C E S T O T H E P L A T E .
J . laxifolia, natural size.
Fertile plants, magnified ..................................................................................................... ®
ro rlio n o f the stem, and leaves........................................................................................ *
Calyx and perichætial leaves................................................................................................ ^
Cahjptra...................................................................................................................................... ®
Barren p is tilla .......................................................................................................................... ^
Seeds and spiral filam e n ts ..................................................................................................... ^