Z oe 
divides at the top into two branches, or bears two inclined, 
single-flowered peduncles, which have at their base a three 
to five-lobed, sessile, purplish leaf, the lobes lanceolate, 
more or less laciniated, serrated. Flowers drooping, large. 
Calyx of a singularly livid or purplish glaucous-grey colour : 
the sepals or leaves roundish concave, at length much 
spreading. Petals or nectaries about twelve, hypogynous, 
in a single series, spreading, standing close, obovate or 
cuneate, hollow, compressed, the mouth somewhat two- 
lipped, closed, the margins being a little involute. Stamens 
numerous. Filaments white. Anthers oblong, pale yellow. 
Pistils five, erect, upon a conical receptacle. Germen ob- 
long, tapering into a long style. Stigma obtuse. When 
the inflorescence has passed, the root-leaves are in perfec- 
tion, upon a long petiole, longer than the flower-stem, 
digitato-pedate, above smooth, beneath slightly downy, at 
length glabrous, the segments lanceolate, acute, serrated. 
___ This Hellebore, so remarkable in the colour of its flowers, 
_ 4sa native of woods in Hungary, and is described and figur- 
ed in the splendid work above quoted of Waxpsrein and 
Kirarsex. Our Glasgow Botanic Garden is indebted for 
the possession of it to Mr. Hunneman. It is probably per- 
fectly hardy : but we have kept it in a pot in a cool frame. 
It throws up its flower-stalks in March, and the leaves 
are in perfection in June. 
—_—<—<—<—<—— 
Pirie 1, Petal (or Nectary), 2. Stamen, 3, Pistils, 4. Stigma: magni- 
