ments, the limb of the corolla is also mxich shorter in propor- 

 tion to the tube, with blunter-ended segments ; but a far more 

 material point is, that the stamens in odorata are described 

 and figured with filaments, while in ckilensis the anthers are 

 sessile; nor is any notice taken in either figure or description 

 of odorata of the different lengths of the two styles so re- 

 markable in chilensis. Both are natives of no very distant 

 parts of the same continent. 



We are informed by the very intelligent superintend- 

 ent of the Horticultural Society's Garden, Mr. Monro, 

 that the plant has been lately introduced from South Ame- 

 rica. The annexed figure, which was drawn in the above 

 garden, represents it clinging to the Red Malabar Night- 

 shade (Basella rubra) which had been selected in the hot- 

 house for the foster-plant. The flowers seem larger in pro- 

 portion to the greater succulence of the plant on which their 

 parent grows. 



In the^Banksian Herbarium we found an unnamed sample 

 of the species collected by Mr. Menzies at Valparaiso, in 

 Chili. The genus consists wholly of parasites, or, as they were 

 formerly termed, superplants. The English species, which 

 are two, are called Dodder. Dotter is one of the German 

 names for them, though it belongs likewise to other very 

 different vegetables. The Spanish Creoles of South America 

 call them Cabelhs de Angel (AngeVs hair). 



Doddered, as an epithet to trees, has probably been used 

 metonymically, being intended for a tree covered with any 

 of 'the small^ kinds of superplants, such as Liverworts, 

 Sec. &c. Shakespeare applies the term to the Oak; but 

 Dodders attend only upon herbaceous plants, and the smaller 

 shrubs, and are never found upon trees. We suspect that 

 Dodder ^ was formerly a general appellation for all the 

 lesser vegetable parasites. 



The seed should be sown near the intended support. 

 Roots are soon sent forth, and the seedling is sustained by 

 the soil until it has settled itself, when with the lower part 

 of the stem, it withers away ; and thus flowering, seed- 

 ing, and withering at the bottom in succession, while it 

 grows on at the top, it overruns and ofl»n either starves or 

 stifles in the end the vegetable on which it has fed. 



