308 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



join my description taken on the spot where it grows. So 

 abundant is that plant, that those localities during the flower- 

 requires much labour to gather a sack, which commands generally the 

 price of a good horse. Indians from the lower regions trade in this root 

 by handfuls, paying a high price. 



This plant was first collected by the great pioneer, Captain Meriwether 

 Lewis, whose attention was probably directed to it by the Indians, who 

 brought some of such roots to him. The collection of plants formed by 

 Captain Lewis, came under the examination of Pursh, who named this 

 plant in honour of the collector with the fitting cognomen " rediviva ; 

 because that specimen revived and grew again at Kew Gardens, after 

 having been about three years out of the ground, between paper. I 

 also myself, brought a great number of tubers with me, which doubt- 

 less would all have grown, had it not been for the excessive heat they 

 had to sustain, by passing twice through the aequatorial regions on my 

 way home. The heat caused them to throw up leaves, which weakened the 

 tubers too much. However, two plants were growing well at Kew 

 Gardens, but did not show any flowers as yet when I last saw them. 



Six weeks at most, is the period during which the Lewisia vegetates 

 above ground, for the whole year. At first the fascicles of leaves show 

 themselves, soon after the scapes ; as soon as the first flower begins to 

 open, the leaves die away. The flower is only open during sunshine, 

 and when fructification has taken place, droops down, or lays down on 

 the ground. When the seeds are ripe, the peduncle and calyx become 

 dry, the former separates from the joint of the scape, the calyx sepals 

 spread wide open, serving as wings, and now the wind whirls it about, 

 to plant the seeds, which as yet were covered by the cap formed out 

 of the dried contorted petals, and which are held by means of the claws 

 being forced against the inclining inner sepals. 



The Lewisia occurs sparingly on the plains of the Upper Platte ; qui e 

 abundant however on the Upper Clarke or Flathead River, which is, on 

 that account, denominated " Riviere aux Racines Aroares," by the Cana- 

 dians. Far more abundant is the same on the above plains ; general y 

 pale in colour on rocky ground ; but a very elegant plant in the sandy 

 woods. 



A chemical analysis of this root will shortly be given by my friend 

 Mr. Crusius, here at Dresden, which will complete the history of this 

 interesting plant, standing alone, to my knowledge at least, as a family 

 in the natural order as well as genus and species. 



(The above excellent description made from the living plants, wi 

 serve to correct some errors in our account from dried specimens pu - 

 lished in the Botanical Miscellany, v. 1, p. 344 t. 70 ; and in the Botany 

 of Beechey's Voyage, p. 344, t. 86.— Ed.) 



