day from the elevation the plant itself inhabits. This 

 species is found along the whole range of the Alps, from the 

 South of France to Carniola, always growing in stony places 

 fed by snow rills, at elevations from six to twelve thousand 

 feet ; thus attaining a locality equal to or exceeding that of 

 any other European dicotyledonous plant. Mr. Backhouse's 

 specimens, from which the accompanying drawing was taken, 

 flowered in May of the present year. 



Descr. Densely tufted, forming hoary patches starred with 

 azure-blue flowers. Stems very short, and leaves and calyces 

 clothed with rather silky white hairs. Leaves one quarter to one 

 third of an inch long, sessile, linear-obovate or oblong, obtuse, 

 concave, ciliated with long white hairs. Flowers almost soli- 

 tary or in short few-flowered terminal racemes, one quarter of 

 an inch diameter, very shortly pedicelled, pinkish-purple 

 before expansion. Calyx-lobes linear- oblong, obtuse, equalling 

 the short corolla-tubes. Corolla-lobes orbicular, with a raised 

 tooth at the sinus, concave, brilliant azure blue, with a yel- 

 lowish eye, throat with five two-lobed pubescent transverse 

 swellings. Stamens wholly included. Ovary-lobes with 

 thickened sides. Styles included ; stigma simple. — /. D. H. 



Fig. 1, Leaf; 2, flower; 3, corolla laid open ; 4, portion of calyx and 

 young fruit : — all magnified. 



