the midrib. The stem is terminated by a short spike of 

 flowers ranged on one side of the footstalk. Calyx short, cut 

 into five acute segments. The outside of the flower is of a 

 deep crimson, and the inside of a pink, with the five segments 

 of the corolla of a yellow colour. Stem simple, rugged, qua- 

 drano-ular, rigid, annual. Leaves opposite, sessile, ovate-lan- 

 ceolate, entire, smooth, spreading. Spike generally solitary, 

 with small opposite bracteas. 



Of the genus Spigelia only two species are cultivated in 

 this country. The plant here figured is the more interesting : 

 its spikes of rich scarlet flowers add great beauty to the garden 

 durino- the months of June and July. The roots of this her- 

 baceous perennial are sold for medicinal purposes under the 

 names Worm-grass or Pink-root ; and Woodville's Medical 

 Botany mentions this species of Spigelia as a very efficient 

 vermifuge. This plant is somewhat delicate, and will not ripen 

 its seeds in this country ; the only mode of propagatfon is by 

 separating the roots, and this process is rather slow: it is 

 not therefore probable that this showy flower will ever appear 

 very common in our gardens. 



It is a native of Virginia, Maryland, and Carolina, where 

 it is called Indian Pink. It was introduced into tills country 

 in 1694-. The drawing of this figure was made from a speci- 

 men flowering in the gardens of Sion House, the seat of His 

 Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



Corolla cut open, showing the position of the stamens and pistil, 

 also where the germ is attached to the calyx. 



