598 
MONADELPHIA. POLYANDRIA. Althza. 
\ 
POLYANDRIA. 
ALTH/H’A. Calyx double, outer 9- ete capil 
many, 1 seed in each. 
officinalis. A. Leaves undivided, angular, cottony, 
Kuiph. 6-Ludw. 1-E. bot. 147-Woodv. 53-Fl. dan. 530 
Blackw. 90-Park, 304. 1-Fuchs. 15-Trags 371-F. Be 
il, ee ies i, 157. 1-Ger. 787—Matth. 925—Clus. ii. 
24, 1-Dod. 655. 1-Lob. obs. er I, and i ic. i, 653. 1- 
Ger. em. 933..1=H. ox.v. 19. 1 
Stem upright, a yard high or more, cottony, cylindrical, 
somewhat branched. seeds egg-spear-shaped, gts very 
soft, velvety ; the upper smaller, with generally 3 i 
lobes, serrated, with mostly 5 ribs underneath ; the radia lagers 
with 7 ribs, sometimes serrated, sometimes “rather scollo: 
Flowers from the bosom of the leaves, on fruit-stalks, in a ind 
of panicle. Floaver-scales — g36 bristle-shaped. Petals 
nicked, flesh-coloured. Rex and /eaves clothed with 
+ rece ile, feeling exactly like ney All the /eaves obscurely | 
——— serrated ; the lower egg-shaped, somewhat heart. 
a at its base; each seed is covered with a distinct seed-coat peculiar 
ich, after having inclosed the seed, runs out in the form of a 
rm, when dry ; and of again extending itself into a right line, when 
moist. In short, itis a su! springs which lengthens or contracts itself 
alternately, as often, and in such proportion, as it happens to become wet 
or dry. This Pr caiogea t exerts itself when the seed and its ap 
becomes ay, in con t maturity ;_ when it gradaly 
‘till it is either destroyed by the vicissitudes of the seaso ons, or meets with 
crevice in the earth, or some light porous ee int to which it cam 
Thane insinuate itself, and from thence, i in due time, iF lay 
egal 
curious seed will be better understood by inspection, on the Bon 3h 
accurate and laboured description : and all its manceuvres may be seen in, 
a.short space of time, by altern ‘aay moistening and drying it : ects may 
be readily done, by putting a little water on one edge of a white stone oF 
rying it before I mention a white plate, because on that, I ima- 
gine, the fine hairs which display ee from the sides c of the talk 3 as 
tnat contracts, 
in its motions, are most easily dstiaguished.: Dr ARNOLD, 
: | 
