the petals, which may be either simply dentate or very deeply 

 herniate. The bracts surrounding the base of the tubular calyx, 

 the relative length of which organs is so often employed as a 

 tributary specific character in the genus, vary also very much, 

 and in a few flowers now before us, we find them varying 

 from ovate-cuspidate and but half the length (or less) of" the 

 calyx, to linear-acuminate equalling or sometimes considerably 

 exceeding the calyx. The form and direction of the leaves is 

 also variable. The case is one which it might be advantageous 

 to study carefully with a view to the general principles which 

 govern variation in plants. 



Descr. Stems decumbent or ascending, six inches to one foot 

 or more in height, usually branching, glaucous. Leaves linear 

 to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, entire, glabrous and glaucous, or 

 very minutely scabrid-puberulous, denticulate-ciliolate. Flowers 

 very large, terminal, solitary, from white or pink to crimson, or 

 variously blotched. Bracts ovate-cuspidate, much shorter than 

 the calyx, to linear-acuminate, exceeding it in length. Lamina 

 of the petals cuneate, deeply fimbriate. Stamens and style vary- 

 ing in relative length in different plants (owing to a dimorphic 

 condition carried to an extreme in some unisexual species of the 

 same Order). 



