thickly clothed with short hairs, and some longer ones
intermixed, twisted at the point before expansion;
2 outer sepals oblong, obtuse, scarcely half the length
of the inner ones; inner ones ovate, concave, tapering
at the point, strongly 4-nerved, the margins scariose
and membranaceous. Petals 5, roundly ovate, slightly
imbricate at the base, the points distinct and spreading,
of a bright yellow colour. Stamens about 16
bearing anthers, besides several sterile ones : filaments
smooth, pale yellow, the sterile ones rather shortest
and spreading: pollen bright yellow. Germen smooth
and glossy. Style a little bent at the base, thickening
upwards, about the length of the stamens. Stigma
capitate, slightly 3-lobed, fimbriate.
This curious little plant is a native of the South of
Europe, and is a very proper subject for the ornamenting
of rock-work, but it should be planted on the south
side, as it is rather tender, and if the Winter prove
severe, it will need a little covering; it also makes a
pretty appearance when grown in small pots, and it
can then be protected in a frame in severe weather, but
it must be exposed to the air as much as possible in
fine weather, as it is very apt to get damp and mouldy
if shut up too close. It succeeds well in an equal
mixture of sandy loam and peat, and is readily raised
from seeds, which ripen in abundance.
The present plant is often confused with H. procum-
bens, but is readily distinguished when both are growing
together; plants of that species were shown us by
Mr. Anderson, of the Chelsea Botanic Garden, but
they did not flower last Summer. Our drawing was
taken at the Nursery of Mr. Colvill, in July last.