they are much smaller and more pointed. Petioles short, 
with a deep groove on the upper side. Flowers stalked, 
loosely panicled and spirally arranged, 7, 10, or more in 
each panicle. Calyx 5-parted. Sepals very small, stellate, 
adpressed. Corolla divided rather more than half its length, 
slightly campanulate, and nearly an inch in diameter. 
When fully expanded it is stellate, and measures about 14 
inch from point to point of the opposite segments, which are 
somewhat cordate, acuminate, and exceed a quarter of an 
inch in breath. Outwardly they are of a pale silvery 
colour, but inwardly of a deep purplish red, at the point 
becoming paler and spotted towards the centre of the flower, 
in which as in others of this Natural Order there is a curious 
formation, angular at the top, secreting the parts of fruc- 
tification, and supported by five pale, purplish-tinged, 
rounded, bracket-like processes. These latter and the 
divisions of the calyx point in one direction, being placed 
alternate with the petals and angular part of the centre 
which point in another. At the extremity of each of the 
angles is a small aperture, which on being enlarged and 
having the film removed exhibits two obovate, transparent, 
greenish yellow bodies, like the pollen masses of Orchideous 
plants. 
“ The flowers are produced in succession for several 
weeks. In the shade, or when the plant is in a room, they 
are scentless, but in sunshine, or a warm atmosphere, they 
are highly fragrant.” 
Mr. Booth has favoured us with the foregoing account 
and the drawing that illustrates it. The plant is no doubt 
the Beid el sar of Prosper Alpinus, and appears to extend 
across the whole of the north of Africa, even into Persia, 
following it may be supposed the desert region till it stops 
to the westward of Delhi. Alpinus says its juice, which is 
extremely acrid, was administered successfully as a remedy 
for ringworm and other cutaneous affections ; and that it is 
also a powerful agent in removing hair from skin. 
