252 HYDRASTIS. No 51. 



round, pubescent, base naked, top with two unequal 

 alterne leaves. First leaf petiolate, cordate, paln'iate, 

 five or seven lobed, sinuses oblong and obtuse, lobes 

 oval, unequal, acute, -with irregular sharp serratures, 

 ,five branched nerves. The upper or second leaf 

 similar, but sessile and commonly trilobe. These 

 leaves are not quite expanded when the blosson::s ap- 

 pears. 



Flowers single terminal, on a peduncle shorter than 

 the upper leaf. Three petals or petaloid leaves, fiesh 

 or rose colored, oval, obtuse, equal. Many unequal 

 filaments, shorter than the petals, linear and com- 

 pressed; anthers oblong, obtuse, compressed. Many 

 Pistils oval, crowded forming an oval h5ad, styles 

 very short, stigma dilated, compressed. Berry red and 

 oval, formed by many oblong grains or acines ; fleshy, 

 obtuse, muricatcd by the persistent styles, each one 



seeded, seeds oblong. 



Locality — From Canada and ISlaine to Carolina 



and Tennessee, in rich shady woods, on the banks of 



streams, sides of hills, deep valleys : very common 



in West Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, &c., rare in lime- 



-^ 



stone pla'rt^s. 



HISTORY— A pretty and singular plant, easily 

 known by its habit. It blossoms very early in the 

 spring in March and April, and the petals are so ca- 

 ducous and fugaceous that they fall off, as soon as the 

 blossoms expands^ leaving the Stamina and pistils bare. 

 The fruit ripens in May, and is very much like a 

 Raspberry of a bright red color; but scarcely edible. 



Linnaeus knew so little of this plant, that he united 



