have, in their middle, three subulate bractee. Calyx of five 
se green, concave, oblong, acuminate, spreading leaves. 
etals obovato-oblong, yellow, waved. These flowers are 
succeeded by erect, pod-shaped, somewhat angular, acumi- 
nated capsules, varying in length from one to three inches, 
five-celled, five-valved. Each valve has two rows of ovate 
brown seeds. ; eg 
This plant is said to grow spontaneously in Asia, Africa, 
and America; and was introduced into our gardens, accord- 
ing to Parxrnson, in 1640. Seeds were sent to the Glasgow 
Botanic Garden by Cuartes Texrair, Esq. from the Mau- 
ritius, and from them the plant was raised from which our 
figure and description were taken. It possesses little 
beauty to recommend its continued cultivation ; but it isa 
plant with which we may wish to have some acquaintance, 
since, as its name a or it has been extensively cultivated 
in Eypt, Syria, and other parts of the East, as a pot herb. 
In Egypt, Forsxat tells us, it is abundantly planted in 
gardens, and is called Melokych by the Arabs.  Oxivizr 
says the Egyptians eat the leaves during the whole summer 
in ragouts, or simply boiled, drained, and seasoned with 
olive oil ; and, in India, it is equally employed as an article 
of food. It is besides said to possess slight medicinal qua- 
lities ; to be emollient, a sweetener, and a. pectoral. It 
flowers in the stovein July. cy mec 
