40 THE PLANT WORLD. 



The beauty of the plant seems to have been overlooked in view 

 of its utility during- those strenuous times, or by some chance 

 it would have come into notice and now be valued for ornamental 

 purposes, especially since peace and i)lenty abound and the pro- 

 gressive florist is ever on the alert for rare and etTective novel- 

 ties. An exquisite study in pink is the Piiickneya ! 



That the name suggests the color which so conspicuouslv pre- 

 vades the plant, is merely a coincidence. It was named in honor 

 of a renowned statesman. General Charles Pinckney, of South Car- 

 olina. It belongs to the Rubiaceae or madder family, a family 

 known for its attractiveness as well as for its economic value. 

 Only those familiar with the family characteristics would rec- 

 ognize it as close of kin tc) Mifclidla rcf^ciis, the dear little " tur- 

 key " or " partridge "" berry, trailing at its feet, or to Hoiistonias, 

 the charming bluets or " blue eyes." which greet us so appeal- 

 ingly from the ruts of the wheels. Another of the same family 

 as the Piiickiicya is Ccplmlaiiflnis occidcnfalis, frequentlv found 

 growing with it and blooming at the same time. Unlike our sub- 

 ject it is well known, and the medicinal qualities of the " button 

 bush "" are accepted as " globe flower syrup," " honey ball mix- 

 ture," etc. 



The Piiickneya is a tree or large shrub of quick, luxuriant 

 growth. The leaves are opposite, large, oval or oblong and 

 entire, hoary and pubescent, with linear deciduous stipules. 

 They are often flaked with dots of pink, and the midrib is some- 

 times of the brightest hue ; if torn, the scar turns red before 

 turning brown — it would seem but natural did the wound bleed, 

 so suggestive of the color is the plant throughout. It is inter- 

 esting to note the arrangement of the roseate leaves. 



Four of the five sepals of the terminal and largest flower of 

 the cluster are converted into floral leaves, two large ones and 

 two smaller. Only one lobe of the caly.x on others of the cluster 

 are thus transformed into bright leaves of varying size, the rest 

 of the calyx being early deciduous (Fig. 6). 



The flower of the Piitckiicya repays close study, revealing won- 

 derful points of beauty, especially as viewed under the glass. 

 The corolla is tubular, with five linear revolute lobes, slightly 



