PLATE XXII. 



1. DODECATIIEON MEADIA 



MEADS DODECOTHEAN. 



This genus furnislics a plant of the low tlovvcring perennial kind- 

 It belongs to the class and order Faitandria Monogt/iiia, and ranks 

 iu the natural order of Precice. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a many-leaved, many-flow- 

 ered involucre, very small: perianthium one-leafed, half five-cleft, 

 permanent: divisions reflex, finally longer, permanent: the corolla 

 one-pelalled, five-parted: tube shorter than the calyx: (naked at the 

 throat) border reflex: divisions very long, lanceolate: the stamina con- 

 sists of five filaments, very short, obtuse, seated on the tube: anthers 

 sagittate, converging into a beak : the pistillum is a conic germ: style 

 filiform, longer than the stamens: stigma obtuse: the pericarpium 

 is an oblong, one-celled capsule, gaping at the tip: (subcylindric, 

 opening into five parts): the seeds very many, and small: receptacle 

 free, small. 



The only species is D. Meadea, Virginian Cowslip, or Meadea. 

 It has a yellow perennial root, from which come out in the spring 

 several long smooth leaves, near six inches long, and two and a half 

 broad; at first standing erect, but afterwards spreading on the ground, 

 especially when much exposed to the sun: from among these leaves 

 arise two, three, or four flower-stalks, in proportion to the strength of 

 the roots, which rise eight or nine inches high, smooth, naked, and 

 terminated by an umbel of flowers, which are purple, inclining to a 

 peach blossom colour. It is native of Virginia, flowering about the 

 end of April or beginning of the ibllowing month. 



Culture. — The methods of propagation in this plant arc either by 

 seeds, or off"-sets from the roots; but the last is t1ic best. 



'2 I! 



