Derscription.—//erh, perennial. Leaves at first erect, 
at length spreading and rosulate, more or less ovate, 
about 2 in. long and broad, 3-partite with each segment 
3-fid, rather pale beneath, beset on both faces with long 
white hairs, the nerves raised beneath, slightly sunk 
above ; petiole 21—23 in. long, beset with long spreading 
white hairs except at the base where they are infolded 
and are pale and glabrous on the upper side. Plow-ring 
branches decumbent, 8 in. long under the bracts, 1 in. 
thick at the base, grooved throughout, green or brownish- 
green, beset with rather long, ascending white hairs, each 
bearing a whorl of 4 apical leafy bracts about 1 in. long 
with 1-3 flowers. edicels variable, the terminal up to 
8 in. long, the lateral 1 or 2 which frequently accompany 
it up to 3 in. long, all 2-bracteolate near the top and 
sulcate and pubescent like the branch below. Fowers 
purplish-blue, 14-1} in. across; sepals usually 5, occasion- 
ally 6, more or less obovate, base narrowed to a wide 
and often hardly noticeable claw, pubescent outside 
along the middle. Filaments about 1 in. long, flattened, 
narrowed at the tip, quite glabrous, anthers very short. 
Carpels closely beset with brown, stiff, erect hairs ; style 
. very short. 
Fig. 1, a stamen; 2, a young carpel; 3, a fruiting carpel; 4, sketch of an 
entire plant :—all enlarged except 4, which is much reduced. 
