above two hundred years ago, appears to have been at all 
times rare. It was named by Matruiotus alier his friend 
Cortusus, Profeffor of Botany at Padua, who firft difcovered 
it in the Valle-Stagna, in the territory of Vicenza. It has 
been found alfo in the mountains of Carinthia, Stiria, and_ 
Silefia, and more plentifully by ALtton1 in Piedmont; but 
its moft natural habitation appears, from Gmeuin’s account, to 
be to the eaftward of the Yenifei in Siberia. Although figures 
of this plant occur fo frequently in the older authors, yet, — 
before that of Attiont we have obferved only three original. 
ones, thofe of Matruiotus, Cxiustus, and the diminutive — 
one of Camerartivs, to which laft is added a leaf and de- 
tached flower of the natural fize from Gesner. 
There occurs not a little contradiGion in the different 
defcriptions given of this plant. The fegments of the calyx 
are figured by Attront as three-toothed, and his charaéter - 
has been adopted in the latter editions of the Genera Plantarum; 
but, according to our obfervation, they are fimply acute and 
not refleéted at the point. The corolla is generally faid to be 
wheel-fhaped, but is better defcribed by Gartner as funnel- 
fhaped; the tube is the length of that of the calyx, and gra- 
dually widens upwards. The latter author fays the faux is 
naked, while by Linn xus and Jussreu this part is faid to be 
furnifhed with a ring; we have found a membranous ring, — 
formed as appears to us by the coalefcence of the filaments, 
Garner defcribes the capfule as two-valved, with valves often 
bifid at the point, but according to all other authors, and even — 
his own figure, it divides into five fegments. oo 
This plant is recorded by Matrruio.us to poffefs a virtue, — 
which, though of little ufe to the mountain nymph, may per- 
haps recommend it to the notice of the pale-faced belles — 
of crowded cities: the leaves applied to the cheeks, and 
hortly removed, occafion a beautiful colour, refembling — 
that from the fineft rouge, which after fome time difappears 
without injury to the fkin. 
The fpecific chara&ter was formed to diftinguifh it from 
Cortusa Gmelini, which however, according to GERTNER, 
is a true Androface. ! 
Is a hardy perennial ; requires a fhady and moift fituation. 
Flowers in May and June, Communicated by Mr. Lop ices. 
