328 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



It clothes one open, sunny hill of some acres, in Plymouth, 

 with a low, brown, uniform dress, strongly reminding one of 

 the description of the heaths of Europe. In the end of March, 

 or the beginning of April, the numerous purple, terminal blos- 

 soms, give to this spot an air of gaiety, in striking contrast with 

 the sere and melancholy waste every where around, when little 

 else, except the beautiful and fragrant May-flower, Epiga^a, 

 gives evidence of the approach of spring. The lovers of nature 

 in this town of the Pilgrims, have the pleasure of announcing 

 the agreeable news, by presents of the Oakesia and the Epigce^a 

 to their friends at a distance. A favor of this kind, from my 

 friend Mr. Gilbert, gives me the opportunity of describing this 

 plant. 



It rises a foot or two from the ground, forming large, crowded 

 tufts. The stem is small and round, of a reddish color, with 

 an ashy bark. The short branches are in imperfect whorls 

 or stages ; their ends are covered with the thickly set leaves, 

 closely scattered or in whorls of three. Leaves very short, 

 needle-like, so completely revolute at the edge, as to form almost 

 a cylinder. Male flowers in terminal bunches of ten to fifteen, 

 consisting of three to six, brown, membranaceous scales, enclos- 

 ing three stamens. Filaments long threads, supporting on 

 their summit a bi-lobed anther, free at each extremity, and 

 opening longitudinally on the external sides. 



The plants bearing the female blossoms have leaves of a 

 lighter green. These flowers also are terminal in clusters of 

 about twelve. Each flower consists of one ovary surmounted 

 by a trifid style, encircled by three delicate equal scales, in the 

 axis of one which is ovate, ciliated at the margin and acumi- 

 nate. Some plants are found bearing perfect flowers. The 

 stamens and pistils are purple, the encircling scales brownish. 



