i 
parts smooth. Bivds axillary and terminal, oval, acute, consisting of ovate^ obtuse, imbricating scales. Leaves oppoBite, 
ovate, terminated by a lanceolar, long acumen, margins most elegantly marked witli narrow, linear, lanceolate, sliarp, 
slightly incumbent, parallel, and approximate serratures, wlucli are two or tliree lines long, and sbarply denticulate, or 
serrulate ; base rounded, or acute, 
nearly entire ; the lower surface 
with a strong rib and oblique 
nerves, from three to five inolies 
long. Petiole half-an-inch long, 
and furrowed. Peduncles lateral, 
approximate on the young shoots, 
filiform, a little flattened, two or 
three inches long, divided into five 
or six long slender rays, each bear- 
ing a simple or compound fascicle 
of tetrandrous flowers* Calycine 
segments oblong, obtuse. Stamina 
very short. Capsule large, turbi- 
nate, depressed, furnished with 
from two to five lanceolate, taper- 
ing^ vertical, horizontally spread- 
ing wings, which are sometimes 
two-thirds of an inch long, and as 
broad at the base as the capsule 
itself is deep, 
'^ Ohs, — It is impossible to con- 
found this with any other species. 
While young the leaves are lanceo- 
late, less deeply, but distinctly 
duplicato-serrate ; when old tliey 
become broad ovate, elegantly 
fringed with numerous narrow, 
deep, dentate seri-atures- The 
capsules are large and leathery.*' 
In tlie w inter the large leathery 
seed vessels open and display the 
rich orange- col on red seeds, which 
tliemselves produce a sufficiently 
gay appearance, 
"611. Helleborus atro- 
RUBEN3. Walihlein and Kit- 
'^hel. A hnrcly herLaceous 
plants Mitli dull purple flowers^ 
appearing early in the spring. 
Native of Hungary. 
to the Crowfoots. 
" A really handsome and hardy 
herbaceous flowering plant, blos- 
when flowers are more 
especially welcome visitors, in 
February and March, 
to justify the name atro-ruhens)^ gradually changing to green as the fruit advances to maturity. 
bushy places in the mountain districts of Croatia, and is especially abundant itboat Korenicz. Root a branched tuber or 
cormus, throwing down very numerous long fibres. Stem erect, herbaceous, dichotomously branched, glabrous, obsoletel}' 
an<nilar. Root-leaves coming to perfection after the flowers, pedate, shining, the lobes lanceolate, reticuhited, fine!} 
a? 
Belongs 
sommg 
The blossoms are large, spreading, at first rather a dark purple (^hardly dark enough 
It inhabits woods and 
less 
serrated, shining, paler beneath. Stem-leaves with a sheathing base, almost sessile 
bracteas at length lanceolate, undivided. Peduncles mostly terminal and two-flowered. Sepals broad ovate, almost 
rotundate, spreading, dull but ratlier dark red-purple, persistent aud changing to dull pale brownish-green. Petals 
it 
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