h [ 438 }
E P I M E D I U M alpinum.
Barren-wort.
T E T R A N D R I A Monogynia.
G.en. Char. Petals 4. Nectaries 4 pouches, lying on
the petals. Calyx oppofite to the petals, caducous.
Pod o f one cell, with many feeds.
Spec. Char. ..............
Syn . Epimedium alpinum, Linn. Sp. PI. 171. With.
199. Ait. Hort. Kew. vol. 1. 157.
_ _
-«-HE firft information we had of this as a Britifh production
was from Thomas Gifborne, Efq. of Yoxall Lodge,
Staffordfhire, who about fix or feven years ago received a
living plant colle£ted by Mr. Thomas Hutton fome time before
upon Carrock Fell, Cumberland. Our fpecimen came
from the garden of John Walker, Efq. who laft year received
from Mr. Hutton a portion of the original root. Dr. Withering
has lately introduced the Epimedium into his work on
the authority of Dr. Richardfon, who is faid in Blackftone’s
Specimen Botanicum to have found it in Bingley Woods, York-
thire, and of Mr. Robfon, who lately obtained a fpecimen from
Skiddaw. We think therefore there can be no farther doubt
upon the fubjedf. It is probable that this plant, curious and
beautiful as it is, may have generally efcaped notice, from
flowering early in the fpring, after which its leaves foon wither
away, before the wild bulhy places it inhabits are commonly
vifited by botanifts.
Root perennial, flender, creeping. Stems upright, fcarcely
a foot high, round, fmooth, fimple, bearing one alternately
branched upright panicle of dark red drooping flowers, and
one large twice or thrice compound leaf, divided in a threefold
order, and compofed of large, thin and delicate heart-fhaped,
pointed, finely ciliated leaflets, glaucous beneath, pendent, and,
from their almoft capillary foot-ftalks, trembling to every
breath of air. The terminal leaflets, and one of the lateral
ones, are ternate ; the other lateral one moftly fimple: nor are
the two fides of the general leaf ever compounded exadlly in
the fame manner. Perhaps what is called the Hem ought to
be reckoned only the foot-ftalk of the leaf, which, as in Turnera,
bears the flower-ftalk. The peduncles are rough with glandular
hairs. Calyx of four concave greenilh leaves, falling off
as the flower-expands. Petals dark red, ovate, oppofite to the
calyx. Ne&ary of four oblong blunt yellowifh pouches, opening
inwards, full of honey, and lying on the petals. Stamina awl-
Ihaped; antherae united with them longitudinally, and burfting
on each fide by a cover which feparates from the bafe as in
Leontice and Laurus. Germen ovate, becoming an oblong pod
©f one cell, two valves, and feveral feeds.
■v / fjrg y $ ///i 's A il /y f-J o v ff& y Ajrteimf.
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