Tlic filiform apex of the lip of this remarkable plant 

 appears to vary very much in length. In the specimen 

 that was drawn it exceeded 22 inches; but in the plant 

 represented by Jacquin in the work above referred to, it 

 did not exceed 5 or mches. What the cause of such an 

 excessive elongation of the floral envelope may be, or for 

 what purpose it has been contrived, is a mystery that we 

 are not likely to dispel ; but it is worthy of remark, as 

 tending to confirm the opinion, that in nearly allied plants 

 similar peculiarities of structure may be always expected, 

 that this singularity exists not only in several other species 

 of the same genus, but also in a species of Asarum,* dis- 

 covered in North-west America by Mr. Douglas. 



J. L. 



* This very remarkable plant, which we call Asarum caudatum, 

 may be distinguished by the following character : — 



A. caudatum ; foliis reniformi-subrotundis alt^ cordatis obtusis glanduloso- 

 pilosis, calyce tripartite : laciniis glandulosis caiidatis. — Hab. in pinetis 

 prope areem Vancouver, ora occidcntali American borealis. 



