JULY. 301 



the style is smooth. The long pointed curling bracts 

 have frequently an accessory segment of varying 

 length. The species of this genus are rather difficult 

 to discriminate, and O. larbata, or liederce, which in 

 "Wales is often seen on ruins parasitical upon Ivy, 

 though taller, may possibly be only a variety of 0. 

 minor. I have seen it growing among ivy most abun- 

 dantly on the rocks of St. Catharine's Isle, near Tenby, 

 South "Wales. Another tall and very conspicuous 

 Orobanche (O, major or rapte,) grows parasitically upon 

 the roots of broom or furze, especially the former, 

 rising high as the bush itself, with a singular aspect, 

 and bearing many close-set flowers, often as many as 

 seventy. The stem is swollen into a great juicy bulb 

 at the base, and covered with brown scales, which are 

 more distant higher up, and finally become bracts. 

 The lower part of the stem is deeply tinged with 

 brown, the middle pale straw colour, upper of a lurid 

 purple. The corolla is purplish-brown, plaited, hairy- 

 glandular on its exterior, upper lip almost entire, the 

 lower in three wavy-plaited pointed segments, the 

 middle one longest. The calyx is deeply divided, 

 hairy, with long pointed segments, and the bracts are 

 woolly, lanceolate, rusty, at length reflex. The germen 

 is quite smooth at its base, the upper part only hairy- 

 glandular,* as is the style and two-lobed stigma. The 

 filaments are smooth at the base, but hairy-glandular 

 close under the stamens. The style is at first con- 

 cealed beneath the upper lip of the corolla, but is 



* In June, 1836, 1 gathered several specimens of O. major, or "rapse," 

 among broom on Rosebury Rock, Knightwick, Worcestershire, and every 

 flower was filled with ants, who seemed enjoying themselves on the sweet 

 liquor within the corolla. Perhaps they thus assisted in the fructification 

 of the plant. 



