they are much smaller and more pointed. Petioles short, 

 with a deep groove on the upper side. Flowers stalked, 

 loosely panicled and spirally arranged, 7, 10, or more in 

 each panicle. Calyx 5-parted. Sepals very small, stellate, 

 adpressed. (7<9roZ/« divided rather more than half its length, 

 slightly campanulate, and nearly an inch in diameter. 

 When fully expanded it is stellate, and measures about 1^ 

 inch from point to point of the opposite segments, which are 

 somewhat cordate, acuminate, and exceed a cpiarter of an 

 inch in breath. Outwardly they are of a pale silvery 

 colour, but inwardly of a deep purplish red, at the point 

 becoming paler and spotted towards the centre of the flower, 

 in which as in others of this Natural Order there is a curious 

 formation, angular at the top, secreting the parts of fruc- 

 tification, and supported by ^ve pale, purplish-tinged, 

 rounded, bracket-like processes. These latter and the 

 divisions of the calyx point in one direction, being placed 

 alternate with the petals and angular part of the centre 

 which point in another. At the extremity of each of the 

 angles is a small aperture, which on being enlarged and 

 having the film removed exhibits two obovate, transparent, 

 greenish yellow bodies, like the pollen masses of Orchideous 

 plants. 



" The flowers are produced in succession for several 

 weeks. In the shade, or when the plant is in a room, they 

 are scentless, but in sunshine, or a warm atmosphere, they 

 are highly fragrant." 



Mr. Booth has favoured us with the forerroino; account 

 and the drawing that illustrates it. The plant is no doubt 

 the Beid el sar of Prosper Alpinus, and appears to extend 

 across the whole of the north of Africa, even into Persia, 

 following it may be supposed the desert region till it stops 

 to the westward of Delhi. Alpinus says its juice, which is 

 extremely acrid, was administered successfully as a remedy 

 for ringv/orm and other cutaneous aflfections ; and that it is 

 also a powerful agent in removing hair from skin. 



