C 544 ]
C I S T U S guttatus.
Sjiotted-JJowered Cijius.
R 0 L Y A N D R IA Monogynia.
G en. Ch a r. Cal. of 5 leaves, 2 of which are fmaller
than the reft. Petals 3. Cap/. with 3 valves.
Spec. Ch a r . Herbaceous, without ftipulae. Leaves
oppofite, lanceolate, three-nerved. Braftese none.
Sy n. Ciftus guttatus. Linn. Sp. PI. 741. Hudf. 232.
With. 491. Curt. Lond. fafc. 6. t. 33. Dick/. H.
Sicc. fafc. g. 7.
C, flore pallido, punicante macula infignito. Ran
Syn. 342.
T P X IJ IS fhort-lived beauty has been obferved in fandy paf-
tures of Jerfey and the ifle of Man. Its petals are expanded
to the earlieft funbeams of the morning, but fcarcely fupport
th^r influence for more than 4 or 5 hours, except under a
imfly or autumnal Iky. Long before noon in general they fall
off, and the calyx doles. Having no hopes of obtaining wild
ipecimens in a ftate fit for drawing, we have been obliged^ like
Mr. Curtis, to have reeourfe to a garden one, communicated
by the Rev. Mr. Watts, F .L.S. o f Afhill, Norfolk, in whofe
choice collection many rare plants the moft difficult of culture
(which this indeed is not) grow and propagate themfelves in
all their native luxuriance.
The root is annual. Stem upright,'branched, fquare. Whole
herb clothed with flender, white, fpreading, foft hairs. Leaves
oppofite, lanceolate, bluntilh, entire, with one principal nerve,
and two or more lateral ones. Clufters, terminal, fimple, their
flender partial flower-ftalks generally without braCteae, though
Jometimes they are accompanied by lanceolate ones, fmaller than
the leaves. Calyx very hairy, and marked with blackifh glandular
dots. Petals wedge-ftaped, unequally crenate, bright
vellow, with an elegant purple fpot near the bafe. Stamina
fliort. Stigma feffile^ Capfule ovate.
This herb flowers naturally about June and July. It is fome-
what vilcid, and has a fragrant fmell; but our fpecimens are
inferior in both thefe refpects to thofe produced in the wanner
climates of Italy, Spain, and the fouth of France.