ifeO XIX. CISTACE^. Lechea. 



2. DIONJiA. Ellis. 

 Diona:a is one of the names of Venus. 



Sepals 5, ovate, oblong, spreading ; petals 5, obovate, with pellucid 

 veins: stamens 10 — 15; style 1; stigmas 5, connivent, many-cleft: 

 capsules indehisceut, breaking irregularly, 1 -celled, many-seeded. — 

 % glabrous. Lvs. radical^ sensiiivc^ doshig convulsively when touched. 

 Scape umbellate. 



D. Mu.scipi'LA. Ell. Vcmis' Fhj-lrnp. — Native of the Southern States. Some- 

 times cultivated in a pot of bog earth placed in a pan of water. Leaves rosu- 

 late, lamina roundish, spinulose on the margins and upper surface, instantly 

 closing upon insects and other objects which light upon it. (See Part 1. ^ 248.) 

 Scape G — 12' high, with an umbel of 8 — 10 white flowers. Apr. May. f 



3. PARNASSIA. Tourn. 

 Name J for Mount Parnassus, the abode of the Muses, Graces, &c. 



Sepals 5, united at base, persistent; petals 5, persistent, nearly 

 perigynous ; stamens perigynous, in 2 series, tlie outer indefinite in 

 number, united in 5 groups, sterile, the inner 5 perfect; capsule 1- 

 celled. 4-valved ; seeds very numerous, with a winged testa. — % herbs 

 with radical Ivs. and \-fiowered scapes. 



1. P. Caroliniana. G-)'ass of Parnasmf. 



Sterile filamentt; in 5 chtsters, 3 in each, distinct to near the base, sur- 

 mounted with little spherical heads ; pet. much exceeding the calyx, marked 

 with green veins; li:$. radical or sessile on the scape, broad-oval, with nosinus 

 at the base. — An exceedingly elegant and interesting plant, growing in wet 

 meadows and borders of streams, U. S. to Can. Root hbrons. Leaves about 

 7-veined, broad-oval or ovate, smooth, leathery, radical ones long-stalked, cau- 

 line ones sessile, clasping, a few inches above the root. Scapes about If high, 

 with a handsome regular flower about 1' diam. Jl. Aug. 



2. P. PALUSTRIS. 



Lvs. all cordate, the cauline one (if an)^) sessile ; scales (bundles of sterile 

 stamens) smooth, with numerous slender, pellucid setse. — Bogs and lake shores, 

 Mich, to Lab. and W. to the Rocky Mts. Scapes about 6' high, naked or with 

 a single clasping leaf near the base. Flowers white. Sepals oblong-lanceo- 

 late. Petals marked with 3 — 5 green or pm-ple veins. Each scale is distin- 

 guished by 10 — 15 whitish hair-like bristles. 



Order XIX. CISTACEiE.— Rock Roses. 



Plants he^baceon^! or shmbby. Branches often visciil. 

 Lvs. entire, opposite or alternate, usually feather-veined. 

 Fls. white, yellow, or red, very fugacious, in onesided raceme.?. 

 Cal.' — Sepals 5, unequal, the 3 inner with a twisted ajstivation. 

 Cnr. — Petals 5, hypopynous, crumpled in iestivation. 

 ;S7r/. indetintte, hyposynous, distinct. Antli. innate. 



Ova. distinct, or many-celled. Si;/, single. S7;r-. simple. [ceeilin? from the middle of the valves. 



Fr. capsular, either 1-celled with parietal placentae, or imperfectly 3 — 5-ceUed, witii dissepiments pro- 

 Genera 7, species 185, found most abundant in the north of Africa or south of Europe. They possess 

 no interest on account of their properties. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



< larsre and showy, or wanting Ue.linnthemun. 7 



Petals 5, ( minute. Delicate shrubs Ihitl'ionia. .■■ 



I'etais 3, linear-lanceolate l.cchea. l 



1. LECHEA. 



In memory of John Loche, a Swedish botanist. 



Sepals 5, the 2 outer minute ; petals 3, lanceolate, small ; stamens 

 3 — 12; stigmas 3, scarcely distinct ; capsule 3-celled, 3-valved ; pla- 

 centae nearly as broad as the valves, roundish, each 4 — 2-seeded — % 

 Sufrryfirr"-" hrovrhiv<r plants. Stipules 0. 



