172 Class X. Order I. 



gumes, which are pendulous linear, curved, swelling at the seeds, 

 and furnished with slight hairs. Banks of Quinebaug river, 

 Massachusetts. July, August. The root resembles Senna in 

 its medicinal properties. 



175. RHODORA. 



RHODORA CANADENSIS. L. Canadian Rhodora. 



A small shrub with beautiful purple flower* on the tops of the 

 branches, which appear in the spring before the leaves are per- 

 fectly expanded. Its height is one or two feet. Leaves alter- 

 nate, oval, mostly entire, pubescent and glaucous underneath. 

 The flowers are in umbels on the ends of the twigs. The corol- 

 la consists of three unequal petals, the largest of which is broad, 

 and divided into three segments or lobes at the end, the other 

 two are equal, lanceolate, and obtuse. Stamens unequal, curved, 

 purple, with small anthers. Germ pubescent. Style purple, 

 longer than the stamens. Low grounds. Maiden, Cambridge. 

 May. In the Notch of the White mountains, June. 



17G. LEDUM. 

 LEDUM LATIFOLIUM. Labrador Tea. 



Leaves linear-oblong ; folded under at the margin, 

 woolly underneath ; stamens as long as the petals. 



A low shrub, of our northern mountains and bogs. The 

 youngest part of the stem is green and woolly. Leaves on short 

 woolly petioles, lanceolate, strongly revolute at the sides, smooth 

 above, covered with thick reddish wool underneath. Flowers in 

 terminal corymbs with slender peduncles. Bractes obovate con- 

 cave, covered with shining resinous dots, as are the peduncles 

 and germ. Calyx minute with five obtuse teeth. Petals five, 

 oblong, obtuse, white. Stamens from five to ten, as long as the 

 petals. Germ oval ; style as long as the stamens, a little declin- 

 ed. On the Monadnock, White mountains, &c. July. The 

 leaves are astringent and are said to have been used as a substi- 

 tute for tea. 



177. CLETHRA. 



CLETHRA ALNIFOLIA. L Alder leaved Clethra. 



Leaves obovate, serrate, pubescent underneath ; ra- 

 cemes simple, bracted. Willd. 



