SWALLOW-WORT. 307 



the parterre, but it is curious to observe the irrita- 

 bility of tliese flowers, which is such, tliat when a 

 fly enters the calyx to search for honey in the nec- 

 tary, the petals are immediately contracted, and 

 the insect remains imprisoned for life. At other 

 times they may be seen caught by the leg in such 

 a manner as not to be able to extricate themselves 

 without paying the loss of a limb as a price for 

 their ransom. 



The Variegated Swallow-wort, Asclepias Varie- 

 gat a, was one of the earliest American plants 

 brought to this country -, and as Gerard wrote his 

 Herbal at the interesting period when colonies 

 were first sent out to the new world, we cannot 

 refrain from giving extracts from his History of 

 Plants, to show what interest was then taken by 

 the English in forming these settlements, and the 

 general idea entertained of the native Americans 

 and their country. Gerard says the savages call 

 this plant IVinsanck. '* It groweth in the coun- 

 tries of Norembega, and now called Virginia, by 

 the H. Sir Walter Raleigh, who hath bestowed 

 great summes of monie in the discouerie thereof, 

 where are dwelling at this present Englishmen, if 

 neither vntimely death by murdering, or pestilence, 

 corrupt aire, bloodie fluxes, or some other mortall 

 sicknes hath not destroied them." In the descrip- 

 tipn of this plant he says, ^' the flowers come foorth 



