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NAT. ORDER. 



TrihilatCB. 



TROPiEOLUM MAJUS. INDIAN CRESS. 



Class VIII. OCTANDRIA. OrdcT I MONOGYNIA. 



Gen. Char. Calyx one-leaved, with a spur. Petals four, unequal. 

 Nuts three, coriaceous. 



Spe. Char. Leaves peltate, repend. Petals obtuse. 



The root of the Indian Cress is annual ; the stalk is trailing, 

 climbing, round, branched, smooth, succulent, and grows to several feet 

 in length ; the leaves are roundish, marked by several radiated ribs, 

 entire obscurely five-lobed, and stand single upon long bending foot- 

 stalks, which are attached to the centre of each leaf; the Jioiccrs are 

 large, solitary, of a tawny yellow, and stand upon long peduncles ; the 

 calyx is yellowish, large, forming a horn-like nectarium behind, and 

 divided at the mouth into five irregular segments, which are acute, 

 erect, and striated ; the corolla consists of five petals, which are round- 

 ish, and the two uppermost bent backwards, marked with black lines 

 at the base, and inserted into the segments of the calyx ; the three un- 

 dermost have long claws or ungues, and are bearded at the base ; fil- 

 aments eight, which are yellow, tapering, and spreading ; tlie anthers 

 are yellow, ovate, and four-celled ; the gcrmcn is triangular ; style 

 simple, erect, and yellow ; stigma bifid ; fruit three, adhering, berries, 

 compact, externally striated, containing three irregular shaped seeds. 

 Its flowers appear from June till October. 



This plant is a native of Peru, growing wild in tlie low lands and 



on the borders of small streams. It was first introduced into France 

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