286 SAMOLUS. Lci-ASS V. ORDER I. 



dilated auiioulated margin at the base, smooth on the inner side, where 

 it is concave, and where the longtitudinal fissures of the cells open, 

 the outer or convex surface of the anther is more or less thickly clothed 

 with rigid pale hairs, they close over the upper tessellated part of the 

 stigma, so that with the dilated filaments below, and the curved 

 spreading anthers above, the stigma is completely enclosed in a kind of 

 globular case. Style smooth, dilated upwards. Stigma a glandular 

 ring, crowned with a thick tuft of white hairs on the top of a short 

 pedicle from its disk. Fruit a follicle, of two cells, surrounded by the 

 persistent calyx. Seeds several, large, whitish. 



Habitat. — Woods and groves ; naturalized. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



An examination of the curious structure of this flower will afford 

 the student much gratification. The stamens are very remarkable, but 

 not more so than the stigmas; the tuft which surmounts the glandular 

 ring is formed of simple and branched delicate hairs, and seem to act 

 as a brush, perhaps to stimulate the discharge of the pollen, which they 

 brush away and convey to the gland below it, upon which it will be 

 observed the granules of pollen adhere. This operation is carried on 

 in a closed case, as it were, which prevents our peeping in and observing 

 the process ; but we suppose, from having observed the hairs of the 

 ring differently disposed at one time from another, that they have a 

 peculiar function to perform. The structure of the fruit and seeds 

 is also worthy of particular attention. 



GENUS XXVIII. SA'MOLUS.— Linn. Brookweed. 



Nat. Ord. (allied to.) Primiilace'.«, Brown, 



Gen. Char. Calyx half superior five cleft. Corolla somewhat bell- 

 shaped, with a short tube, its mouth surrounded with five scales, 

 (sterile stamens), alternating with ^we stamens, and opposite the 

 segment of the limb. Capsule half, superior, two celled, opening 

 with five valves. Seeds numerous, fixed to a large central 

 placenta. — " Named, some say, from the island Samos, where 

 Valcrandus, a botanist of the IGlh century, is alleged to have 

 gathered our Samolus Valerandi. Others, as Th^is, derived it 

 from sail, salutary, and mos, a hog in Celtic; because it was used 

 by the ancients for curing diseases in hogs." 

 1. S. Vale'randi, Linn. (Fig. .301.) Brook-uced, or Water Pim- 

 pernel, Leaves oblong, obtuse ; racemes many flowered, becoming 



