m the form of a widely-expanded rdfe, lanceolate, attenuated 

 into a broad convolute petiole-like bafe, with nerves pro- 

 minent on the lower furface, and generally tinged with a dull 

 reddifh colour. Scape fimple, upright, hollow, thickifh, and 

 tumid at the bafe ; attenuated upwards, with diftant, adpreffed, 

 fparfe fcales, which become at laft obfolete. Raceme fpiked, 

 clofe, (hort, oblong-ovate ; pedicles of the fame colour as the 

 flowers, nearly of their length, and appearing to be their 

 tube ; btb6t.es none. Corolla palifh purple, hexapetalous-fix- 

 parted, patent, equal ; fegments lanceolate-ligulate, flat, firm, 

 fmooth, continuous with the pedicles. Stamens overtopping 

 the corolla, inferted at its junction with the gertnen, patent; 

 anthers incumbent, purplifti blue. Germen obovate, tritorofely 

 lobed ; ftyles, or rather ftigmas, narrow lorate, channelled, 

 revolutely patent. "Capfule fubtricoccous or compounded of 

 three joined inwards, appearing as if one, diverging up* 

 wards, beaked by the perlifient ftyles, each fplitting inwards, 

 the whole furrounded by the perfiftent remains of the corolla. 

 Seeds few, afiurgently erect.. According to Miller, who 

 cultivated it, fometimes polygamous. A native of marfhy 

 fpots in Maryland and Penfylvania. 



Hardy; but is generally kept in a pot and fheltered along 

 with the alpine plants to preferve the flowers from being 

 defaced by the winds that prevail at the time of its flowering, 

 which is March. Very common. Should be planted in a 

 mixture of loam and bog-earth ; produces fuckers freely 

 enough ; has no fcent. In fome feafons it ripens the feed with 

 us. G. 



X. B. By an overfight, fo nnufual with our moft excellent Draughtsman, the 

 fcales on the ftem have been omitted in the figure. 



