DIOECIA— ENNEANDRIA. Mercurialis. 247 



Plentiful on the highest mountains of Wales and the north of York- 

 shire. Ray. On almost all the Highland Alps, and very frequently 

 by the sea-side upon bold rocky shores of the Hebrides. Lightfoot. 

 Upon the northern coast of Ireland. Mr. Templeton. On Maze 

 Beck Scar, Westmoreland, Rev. Mr.Harriman, and Mr. Oliver. 



Perennial. May, June. 



Root thick, and rather fleshy, much divided at the crown, the cuti- 

 cle grey, and smooth like satin. When recently dried, the whole 

 has an agreeable scent, resembling rose-water. Stems several, 

 herbaceous, simple, leafy, about a span high. Leaves numerous, 

 scattered, somewhat imbricated, obovate, pointed, bluntly tooth- 

 ed, glaucous, fading soonest in the barren plant, and turning 

 red. Cyme of many yeWowJlowers, with blueish anthers. 



A plant of Rhodiola, brought from Lapland by Rudbeck, lived for 

 many years in the Upsal garden, without perfecting any seed ; 

 till an individual with more complete anthers was planted near 

 it, after which seeds were regularly ripened every year. Hence 

 it is proved to be naturally dioecious, though possibly both organs 

 may sometimes become efficient in the same flower, as happens 

 in various other instances. 



DIOECIA ENNEANDRIA. 

 458. MERCURIALIS. Mercury. 



Linn. Gen. b27 . Juss.S8i>. FL Br. U)S3. Tourn. t.:iOS. Lam. 



t.S20. GcBTtn.t.nM. 

 Nat. Ord. Tricoccw. Linn. M8. Etip/iorhicr. Jiiss. 96. 



Barr.Jt. Cal. in 3 deep, ovate, concave, spreading seg- 

 ments. Cor. none. Filam. 0—\2, capillary, erect, 

 nearly e(iual to the calyx. Au//i. of 2 globular lobes, 

 bursting along the upper side. 



Fert.jL (V//. like the /^^/rr../. Cor. none. Ncct.F '2 awl- 

 sha})ed bodies, found occasionally at the opposite sides 

 of tlie gernien, pressed close to its furro\ys. Germ, su- 

 perior, roundish, compressed, with a furrow at each 

 side, bristly. Stijlcs 2, widely spreading, tapering 

 rough. Sti^^m. acute. Caps, of 2 glt)bular lobes, a 

 2 elastic cells. Srnh solitary, jrlobular. 



nd 



