164 MICBOSPEBMA BAHTONIOIDES. 



spring iu succession from their horizontal position, and are applied closely to the 

 style ; in those blossoms which have been some days expanded, the petals will be 

 found empty, all the stamens having become erect. Between each fascicle of fertile 

 stamens will be seen a curious appendage, generally looked upon as a modified petal, 

 having one or two abortive stamens attached ; these are very conspicious in the 

 Scypanthus and Loasas, and the spirally twisted seed-vessel of the latter, and also 

 of the Blumenbachia, are well deserving of attention. 



The Bartonia and Microsperma, although belonging to the same Order, differ 

 considerably in their structure from the genera we have just noticed. The Bartonia 

 aurea is well known as one of the most ornamental of the numerous North American 

 annuals, and we dare say but few of our readers are unfamiliar with its brilliant 

 yellow flowers. We have always treated it as a hardy annual, sowing the seed where 

 it was intended to bloom. It does best in light rich earth, or in a mixture of sandy loam 

 and leaf mould, in which a good patch makes an exceedingly showy appearance. 



The Microsperma now figured, is closely allied to the Bartonia, from its 

 resemblance to which it has derived its specific name. It is a native of Mexico, and 

 was introduced into this country from Hamburg in 1 849, under the name of Eucnida 

 bartonioides. It is a succulent annual, growing about a foot high, with ovate, lobed, 

 and serrated foliage. The flowers, which are neaidy two inches across, are terminal, 

 and produced either singly or in pairs. The petals are obscurely toothed, of a 

 sulphur-yellow above, but much paler beneath. The stamens are arranged in five 

 fascicles or bundles, the filaments of each fascicle being united at the base, and 

 attached to one of the petals ; the stamens arise in two distinct rows or series from 

 the point at which they are united. The filaments are very long, bearing a roundish 

 flattened anther, opening by its margin. The style is about the same length as the 

 stamens ; stigma undivided, but with five longitudinal furrows at the extremity. 



The seed-vessel is one-celled, many-seeded, opening at the top by five valves. 

 Seeds attached to the walls of the ovary, in five longitudinal ridges or placentae. 

 They are very numerous and minute, of an oblong form, and with several spiral 

 furrows, which are visible, however, only under the microscope. In the Bartonias, 

 the stamens, although fully as numerous as in the Microsperma, are not divided into 

 fascicles as in that genus. 



The cultivation of the Microsperma involves a little care ; for, although it is quite 

 hard enough to bear the open air, its succulent nature renders it liable to injury in 

 all stages of its growth from any excess of moisture, whether in the seed-pan or the 

 borders. It may be raised in the spring on a gentle heat, in pots of well-drained 

 sandy loam. The seeds should be thinly sprinkled on the surface of the soil, and 

 then gently pressed in, they will germinate with greater readiness than if covered 

 more deeply. In raising these and other small seeds, it is a good plan to cover the 

 rim of the pot with a piece of glass, which will greatly retard the evaporation from 



