254 FLORA HISTORIC.*. 



was lost for several years in England, till it was 

 again obtained from America, by Mr. Catesby, 

 about the year 1744. 



Mr. Mark Catesby, in his Natural History of 

 Carolina, gave it the name of Meadia, in honour of 

 Dr. Richard Mead, an English physician of that 

 day, who, like some of the present time, was courted 

 by the wealthy, and adored by the needy of his 

 country, whilst his name was revered by the eminent 

 of all parts of Europe. 



On this account we feel a regret that Linnaeus 

 should have thought it necessary to change the 

 generic term of this plant from that of Meadia, and 

 more particularly so since the one he has bestowed 

 on it seems as inappropriate, Dodecatheon being 

 derived from two Greek words, which mean twelve 

 gods ; and the only cause he could have for adopt- 

 ing so whimsical a name, was from the observation 

 that each of these plants generally produced twelve 

 corollas. Meadia, however, remains as the specific 

 name for the plant, of which there has not yet been 

 a second species discovered. The French have 

 given it the name of Gyroselle de Virgine, in addi- 

 tion to that of Dodecatheon Meadia. 



This elegant plant flowers about the end of April, 

 or the beginning of May ; the stalk, after rising 

 up to about eight inches in height, throws out an 



