in the Vicinity of Boston. '155 



diffei-enlly shaped leaves on ihe same plant — some of llie 

 leaves being grass-formed, or awl-shaped, and others being 

 more or less arrow-formed. But among these, the most con- 

 spicuous is the 



Sasittdria sa^illi folia Arrow Head. Stem from one to two 

 feet in height. The root is flesiiy, and has been used as food, 

 in times of scarcity. The leaves are from the root, and are 

 large, smooth, whole and even on the edge, and very distinctly 

 arrow-shaped, the point and barbs of the arrow being acute. 

 The scape or main flower stem is somewhat triangular, 

 bearing its flowers in whorls of three flowers each, or un- 

 divided foot stalivs. Petals three, white, roundish, very thin, 

 and soon falling ofl'. — Sides of ponds, brooks, ditches, &c. 

 July, — August. 



Of this species, we who live near the metropolis, have not 

 fewer than two or three varieties. We have the lalifolia^ 

 having its arrow head broad, ovate, swelled out in the middle, 

 and rather blunt-pointed, with the barbs ovate, straight, and 

 slightly drawn out at their points ; likewise, the grdciUs, having 

 a very elegant arrow-shaped leaf, the body, and the point of the 

 arrow head being very slender, and the barbs very long, slen- 

 der, spreading, and acute. 



Sarracenia. 



Sarracenia purpurea Side-saddle Flower. The whole of 

 this genus are plants very singular in structure. The leaves 

 of the present species are numerous, and all from the root. 

 Each leaf is a kind of cup, or shoe, formed of a tube, con- 

 tracted at the mouth or top (where there is a heart-shaped 

 appendage), swelled out in the middle, and contracted and 

 curved downwards, till it ends in the stem. A full-grown 

 leaf will hold a wine-glass of water, and is rarely found emp- 

 ty. The scape or leafless flower stem is sometimes a foot 

 high, or more, and bears a single, nodding blossom, no less 

 peculiar than the leaf. The exterior calyx has three small 

 leaves ; the interior calyx has five ovate, obtuse, shining 

 leaves, of a brownish purple. The petals are five, obtuse, 

 guita|;-shaped, being rejoeatedly curved inward and outward, 

 and are finally bent over the stigma, which, in this flower, 

 is a broad circular shield, or awning, raised over the centre 

 of the flower. The petals are brownish purple on the upper 

 side, and greenish purple below. — Mossy swamps and mead- 

 ows. — June, July. 



An indigenous variety of the present species, has its flowers 

 yellow. 



Senecio. 

 Senecio aureus Golden Senecio. This is a handsome spe- 

 cies, and makes a fine appearance in the early part of our flow- 

 ering season. Stem erect, smooth, undivided, and from one 

 to three feet high. Leaves of the root on slender foot stalks. 



