4146 Medeola Virginica. 
inches above and below the lowest whorl of leaves, with a deciduous, 
white, flocculent coat, which can easily be removed by drawing the 
stems between the fingers. The leaves are in two distinct, remote 
whorls, Those forming the lowest whorl, which is about midway of 
the height of the stem, are about six or eight in number, broad, lan- 
-ceolate, acuminate, attenuate at the base, entire, three-nerved, of a 
very yellow green above, and glaucous or nearly so on the under- 
side. The upper whorl is at the top of the stem; and generally con- 
sists of three, but sometimes of four or five leaves, which are ovate, 
acuminate, attenuate at the base, and, like those of the lower whorl, 
entire, three-nerved, yellowish green above and nearly glaucous 
beneath. Mr. Elliot describes the leaves as membranous, which in 
the living state of the plant, I think they can scarcely be considered; 
though they do indeed dry with that appearance. The flowers are 
situated on the top of the stem ; are aggregate, about three or six in 
number, two being mostly opened at a time, pedunculated, generally 
drooping and concealed under the upper whorl of leaves. They are 
supported by peduncles about three quarters of an inch or an inch long, 
first green, afterwards becoming red. The corolla consists of three 
straw-yellow petals, which are revolute, lanceolate, or lanceolate-oval, 
obtuse, appearing narrower on the flower than when separated and 
spread out as in Fig. 4, owing to the margin being somewhat re- 
pand; Linneus says the specimen he received from Gronovius 
had four petals. Stigmas three, long, irregularly twisted, and divari- 
cating horizontally, grooved above, and of a fine chesnut or madder 
