GOLD THREAD, 61 
of high northern latitudes, it forms the link of bo- 
tanical connexion between the two continents. 
When in situations like this, we seem transported 
to the frigid zone, and to be present at the point 
where the hemispheres approach each other, as if 
to interchange their productions.* 
In the second volume of the Ameenitates Ac- 
ademicz is a description and imperfect figure of 
this plant as brought from Kamschatka, by Hale- 
nius. He describes it by the name Heileborus 
trifolius, with the observation, “Minima est hee 
planta in suo genere, attamen spectabilis.” Sub- 
sequent botanists have ranked it with the Helle- 
bores, until Mr. Salisbury very properly separat- 
ed it from a family of plants, with which it wholly 
disagrees in habit, and constituted a new genus 
by the name of Coptis. ‘This genus is character- 
ized by the following marks. Calya none ; petals 
jive or six, caducous ; nectaries five or six, cu- 
cullate ; capsules from five to eight, pedicelled, beak- 
ed, many seeded. The species trifolia has ternate 
leaves, and a one flowered scape. 
* Non sine admiratione vidi non solum multas cum rarissimis 
nostris plantis Lapponicis communes, sed etiam alias, partim ignotas 
omnino, partim minime tritas; et denique quasdam etiam cum Cana- 
densibus easdem, argumento Canadam a Camscatca non longe dista+ 
re, uti sequentes antea in sola America boreali visee, nunc etiam in 
extrema ora Siberis.” Amenitaies Academice, ii. 310. 
a 
