The filiform apex of the lip of this remarkable plant 
appears to vary very much in length. In the specimen 
that was drawn it exceeded 22 inches; but in the plant 
represented by Jacquin in the work above referred to, it 
did not exceed 5 or 6 inches. What the cause of such an 
excessive elongation of the floral envelope may be, or for 
what purpose it has been contrived, is a mystery that we 
are not likely to dispel; but it is worthy of remark, as 
tending to confirm the opinion, that in nearly allied plants 
similar peculiarities of structure may be always expected, 
that this singularity exists not only in several other species 
of the same genus, but also in a species of Asarum,* dis- 
covered in North-west America by Mr. Douglas. 
J. L. 
* This very remarkable plant, which we call Asarum caudatum, 
may be distinguished by the following character :— 
A. caudatum ; foliis reniformi-subrotundis alt cordatis obtusis glanduloso- 
pilosis, calyce tripartito : laciniis glandulosis caudatis. — Hab. in pinetis 
prope arcem Vancouver, ora occidentali America borealis. 
` 
