flowering stalks,, gay with purple blossoms. Slight as are 

 the generic distinctions between this and Pentstemon, there 

 is a something in the habit and aspect of the plant which 

 distinguishes it to the eye. 



Descr. Stem short ; so much so that the leaves appear 

 to be radical : whereas they, in reality, arise alternately 

 from a thickened stem, one or two inches high, and spread 

 horizontally. They are oblong, or more frequently obo- 

 vate, rather acute, slightly convex above, and there dark 

 green and shining, pale below ; the veins strong, sunken 

 above, prominent beneath ; the margin sinuato-crenate, 

 the base tapering into a short, red, dilated petiole. Pe- 

 duncles (or almost scapes) axillary, erect, longer than 

 the leaves, numerous, bearing a capitate umbel of many 

 drooping flowers. Pedicels short, recurved (in fruit erect). 

 Calyx cut, almost to the base, into five deep lanceolate, 

 erect, equal segments. Corolla purple and white mottled ; 

 the tube funnel-shaped, the limb of two unequal, spreading 

 lips, the upper one broad bifid, the lower in three deep, 

 rounded lobes, each with a dark spot at the base. Stamens 

 four, inserted near the base of the tube ; a fifth abortive one 

 is only represented by a minute tooth or scale. Filaments 

 curved. Anthers two-lobed. Germen ovate, seated on an 

 annular disk, or ring. Style filiform. Stigma incrassated, 

 two-lipped at the point. Capsule two-celled, many-seeded ; 

 the seeds arranged upon a large, central receptacle. 



Fig. 1. Base of the Corolla laid open. 2. Calyx and Pistil. 3. Germen 

 and glandular base. 4. Germen cut through transversely. 



