their parts of fructification, soon found this to constitute a new genus. He reserved the idea in his own mind till his discoveries
and publications had entitled him to botanical commemoration ; and his friend Gronovius, in due time, undertook to
make this genus known to the world. I t was published by Linnasus himself, in the Genera Plantarum, in 1737, and the
same year in the Flora Lapponica, with a p late; being moreover mentioned in the Critica Botanica, as ‘ a humble, despised
and neglected Lapland plant, flowering at an early age,’ like the person whose name it bears.”
In the woods of Lapland, Linnaeus observes, that scarcely any plant is more common; and Dr. Clarke notices that its
scent is so powerful, especially at night, as to cause it to be discovered a t a considerable distance. It was afterwards found
in Russia; and it extends, we believe, all along, the northern parts of Europe and Asia. In Switzerland, too, we have gathered
it abundantly. Its range in Britain was long supposed to be confined to Scotland, where it was first observed by the late
Professor Beattie, of Aberdeen, in woods near that place. Since that time it has been found in several woods in the same
county; also in Perthshire and Inverness-shire. Mr. Drummond of Forfar pointed it out to Dr. Greville and myself in
several stations upon the Clova mountains, even at a considerable elevation above the level of the sea, and far distant from
any woods. In such situations it produced no flower: but in birch and alder woods at the foot of the mountains rising above
the White Water river, the same zealous botanist showed it to us in great perfection; and it was there that the specimen here
figured was drawn, in the month of August 1824. In the same year we found it in the woods of Finlarig park, at the head
of Loch Tay, in Breadalbane.
The honour of discovering a habitat for this elegant plant in England is due to Miss Emma Trevelyan of Wallington-
liouse, Northumberland, who found it in the year 1820 in a plantation of • Scotch firs at Cathcherside, in the parish of Hart-
burn, Northumberland. This is the only spot where the Linncea borealis \s known to grow wild in England. • In North
America it appears to be not uncommon ; and its favourite haunt, in all countries, seems to be the ground in fir woods, among
moss and low creeping plants, frequently amongst Veronica serpyllifolia. The scent of its flowers, even in the day-time, I have
observed to be very powerful and highly fragrant. The blossoms are gathered by the natives of Lapland for making an infusion
which is employed in removing rheumatic disorders; and in Norway Dr. Clarke tells us that they pretend to cure the
itch with a decoction o f this plant.
We are acquainted with only one species of Linncea.
In the Appendix to Dr. Abel’s account of the last Embassy to China, Mr. Brown has given a figure and description of a
genus very nearly allied to our present plant, which he has named after his and our mutual friend the author of that account.
•He considers them both to belong to the first section of Jussieu’s Order Caprifoliaceee, of which Mr. Brown has himself
constituted, an order under the name of Lonicerece. Not haying the opportunity of seeing the perfect fruit of this plant, we
have copied the figures and descriptions of that part from the accurate Wahlenberg.