14 



leaves (generally two, but sometimes three in number,) being 

 often two feet in diameter, and the radical, which are orbicu- 

 lar and centrally peltate, as in Podophyllum, frequently still 

 larger ; so that it is not easy (at this season) to obtain ma- 

 nageable specimens. The branches of the cyme are usually 

 reddish or purple, and the gibbous, deep blue and glaucous 

 berries are almost dry when ripe. The latter often contain 

 as many as four perfect seeds ; and it is proper to remark 

 that the embryo is not 'very minute,' as described in the 

 Flora of North America ; but, in the ripe seeds recently 

 examined, is one-third the length of the albumen, as stated 

 by Decaisne, or even longer. The cotyledons are elliptical, 

 flattish, and nearly the length of the thick, slightly club- 

 shaped radicle. The whole embryo is also somewhat flattened ; 

 so that when the seed is longitudinally divided in one direc- 

 tion, the embryo, examined in place, appears to be very slen- 

 der, and to agree with DeCandolle's description. The albu- 

 men is horny when dry, and has a bitter taste. 



8. Oxy coccus erectus. — Along the road-side, we shortly af- 

 terwards collected the equivocal Vaccinium erythrocarpum of 

 Michaux, or Oxycoccus erectus oi Pursh; alow, erect, dicho- 

 tomously branched shrub, with the habit, foliage, and fruit of 

 Vaccinium, but the flowers of Oxycoccus. It here occurred 

 at a lower elevation than usual, scarcely more than three 

 thousand feet above the level of the sea, and in a dwarfish 

 state (about a foot high) ; subsequently, we only met with it 

 on the summit of the Grandfather and other mountains, 

 which exceed the altitude of five thousand feet, where it is 

 commonly three or four feet high. We were too early for the 

 fruit, a small, red or purplish berry, which does not ripen 

 until August or September. It has an exquisite flavour, ac- 

 cording to Pursh, who found the plant on the mountains of 

 Virginia: but our friend Mr. Curtis informs us that it is 

 rather insipid, and entirely destitute of the fine acidity of the 

 Cranberry. 



9. Amianthium musccetoxicum. — The Amianthium muscce- 

 toxicum, which is common in the low country of the Southern 

 States, we here found only in the rich open woods of the Bluff 

 Mountain, and in similar places farther south. The flowers 

 are pure white or cream-colour, in a dense and very showy 

 raceme, at length changing to green. The cattle, which 

 roam in the woods for a great part of the year, are sometimes 



