191 



tlie corolla universal, uniform, roundish: fioscules all fertile : proper 

 five-petalled : petals oblong, the tips bent inwards to the basc^ 

 straightened longitudinally by a line: the stamina consist of five ca- 

 pillary filaments, straight, exceeding the tiosculcs : anthers oblong: 

 the pistilkun is a hispid inferior germ: styles two, filiform, straight, 

 length of the stamens: stigmas simple: the pcricarjiium is an ovate 

 fruit, divisible in two directions: the seeds oblong, and columnar. 



The species cultivated are: 1. E. fcetidum, Slinking Eryngo ; 

 2. £. planum. Flat-leaved Eryngo; 3. E. mantimum. Sea Eryngo, or 

 Sea-Holly; 4.i). cmctliyst'mum. Amethystine Eryngo; 5. E. a/pimi/n, 

 Alpine Eryngo. 



The first has an annual or biennial root. The root-leaves blunt- 

 ish; the serratures terminating in harmless spines. The stem a foot 

 high or more, green, somewhat angular, dichotomous, spreading; 

 with the extreme branches tlexuose. The leaves on the branches op- 

 posite, stem-clasping, wedge-shaped, subconnate, with the edge 

 toothed and semitrifid; the divisions lanceolate, all ilic angles ter- 

 minating in a purplish spine. The peduncle springs from the angles 

 of the ssem ; it is straight, shorter than the internode, triangular, 

 streaked on the sides. The involucres are composed of six leatlets 

 or thereabouts; are horizontal, and longer than the liower; the leaf- 

 lets are lanceolate, nerved, and have a spine at the lip and at one 

 or two of the serratures. The common receptacle is cylindric, whence 

 the fiower is cylindric. It is of a dull white colour, a|)pearing at the 

 divisions and extremities of the branches. The whole [)lant has a 

 very penetrating, strong, but not unsavoury smell. It is a native ol 

 Virginia, flowermg in June and July. 



The second species has a perennial root. The stem upright, round, 

 furrowed or streaked, whitish, about a foot and half in height, blueish 

 at top, where it divides into three parts, each of which is terminated 

 by a i)eduncled axillary flower. Lower leaves cordate ovate, obtuse, 

 on long petioles, with unequal, mucronate notches about the edge; 

 stem-leaves sessile; the uppermost lobed, gashed, smaller serrale, the 

 notches spinulosc. The flowers in terminating heads, fenced with a 



