appellation, so unwarrantably given to S. integrifolia, the leaves
of which are toothed and serrated. The present plant will be found
in rich grassy and damp meadows; on the borders of wet thickets;
the margins of shaded rivulets ; rarely on the edges of exposed water
courses, and shuns salt water ditches. These are the situations
in which it has been found by me, through New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Yet Pursh, erroneously considering
this, as Michaux suggested it to be, a variety of S. integrifolia,
has assigned it to similar situations “ on dry hills, in rich soil.”
This error has been adopted by others. In reality, the plant is
strongly characterized by specific discrepancy, from S. integrifolia:
not only by the appearance exhibited in the plate, but by the constancy
of that physiognomy; and what removes it still more certainly
from its congener just mentioned, is, its partiality for wet places,
shaded by sedge or other grass, and herbaceous plants. The specimens
found on “ dry hills” are usually diminutive and sickly, scarce
six or seven inches high, with a few small flowers, while in its favourite
moist or boggy soil, it attains a stature of two feet and upwards,
bearing a profusion of large showy flowers; and specimens
are not unfrequent in the autumn, supporting one or two hundred
capsules. The geographical range of this beautiful plant, according
to Pursh, is from New York to Carolina. In the vicinity of this
city it is quite common, decorating the meadows and bogs from the
beginning of July till September. It is deserving of cultivation, and
would doubtless increase in beauty by care. During the prevalence
of the mania which caused the Scull-cap (S. lateriflora) to be sought
after, as a specific for the cure and prevention of hydrophobia, specimens
of this plant were brought to me, under the impression that
it was that worthless herb unmeritedly characterized with medicinal
virtues, by ignorance and popular caprice. Indeed there is much
reason to suppose that it was often collected, as well as other plants,
for the S. lateriflora, and used for the cure of the terrific malady so
empirically treated by that useless herb. The present species possesses,
in common with many of its congeners, a degree of bitterness,
which is the only virtue of a medicinal kind, that any of the
tribe, except S. galericulata has hitherto exhibited.
TABLE II.
1. A flowering specimen.
3. A flower, separated.
3. Stamens.
4. Pistil. (All the size of nature.)
VOL. i. 3