A plant very generally native in most of the states of 

 America, where it goes by several denominations ; such as 

 11 Butterfly-weed," from being a favourite resort of the in- 

 sects of that tribe ; " Pleurisy or Ache-in-the-side plant," 

 from its medicinal virtues, said to be of considerable ac- 

 tivity; besides some others. 



The stem varies in its direction, being sometimes decum- 

 bent, sometimes nearly upright, and unites in itself, in a 



r» 



degree, both the opp 



of foliage ; circumstances not ascertained by its first his- 

 torians, and which have caused the separation of the two 

 varieties into as many species. A greater or less proportion 

 of the upper leaves are always opposite, the rest scattered. 



Mr. Pursh mentioned to us, that he had found it grow- 

 ing on mounds of sand which had been gradually accumu- 

 lated by the wind to a considerable height, having a root 

 which descended to near two fathom in depth : that iji 

 such situations the stem was decumbent; in sheltered fertile 

 ones generally upright. The leaves vary from three inches 

 long and nearly one broad, to very narrow ; from oblong, 

 to lanceolately attenuate, and to linear. The stem from 

 one to two feet high, or more. 



The name of " Swallow-wort" takes its rise with the 

 european officinal species (Asclepias Vincetoxicum) ; and 

 seems to be a version of Hir an dinar ia> the denomination 

 that plant appears under in most of the works of the old 

 botanists ; to whom the name was suggested by a visionary 

 assimilation of the fruit-vessel with its plumed seed, to a 

 Swallow on the wing;. 



Generally raised from imported seed. Requires to be 

 placed in a warm, dry, sheltered border of light mould. 

 When its tuberous root has become lar<re, it does not bear 

 transplanting well. Sometimes seeds with us. 



Cultivated in 1690 in the garden at Hampton Court. 

 Blooms from July to September. 



The drawing was made at Messrs. Colville's nursery, 

 King's Road, Little Chelsea. 



a The calyx, h The stamineous tube surmounted by the stigma, the 

 crown being removed, c A leaflet of the stamineous crown, with its horn- 

 shaped process. 



