in the llcinily of Boston. 457 



yellow, about ten rayed, and growing on numerous, one-sided, 

 branching flower stems. Flowers large for the species, espec- 

 ially when cultivated. Salt marshes at Cambridge, &c. on 

 Charles River. — -September. 



Tepiihosta. 



Tephrosia virginica, or Golega virginica Tephrosia. A 

 very handsome plant. It is wholly covered with a pale-green 

 down. Stem round, rising to the height of about one foot. 

 Leaves pinnate (or compound, like locust leaves), from eight to 

 twelve pair growing in rows on the sides of one common leaf 

 stem, at different distances fromi its foot, besides an odd leaf at 

 the tip ; leaflets pale-green, oblong-oval, tipped with a bristle. 

 Blossoms very beautiful, growing upon divided, terminal flower 

 stems. Calyx hairy, red, and having awl-pointed divisions. 

 Flowers pea-blossom-shaped, with the banner yellowish-white, 

 downy, the wings red, and the keel red, and whitish. Pod 

 slender, and crooked backwards. — Rare. — Crows in bunches 

 in the driest sandy woods. — Near Newton Theological Semina- 

 ry. — June, July. 



Vernonia. 



Vernonia novehoraccnsis Flat Top. A showy plant from 

 four to six feet high. Stem furrowed, purplish, often branch- 

 ing at top. Leaves very numerous, standing disorderly, with 

 short stems ; rough, paler beneath, lance-formed, finely notch- 

 ed, and having a sharp elongated point. Flowers numerous, 

 looking like miniature, purple, thornless thistles, but darker, 

 forming, collectively, a large, round, flattish, hollow top, of 

 which the flower stalks spring from difl'erent heights on the 

 main stem, and are some of them branching. — Low moist 

 grounds. — South border of Charles River, above Watertown 

 bridge. — August, September. 



Viola. 



We have at least ten species of violets growing wild in the 

 environs of Boston. It is not easy to decide which of these 

 are the most eligible for cultivation. I shall therefore give 

 a brief description of each, leaving the floriculturist to make 

 his own selection. The different species of this favorite 

 flower resemble each other in so many points, that a person 

 acquainted with one or two species, can seldom be at a loss 

 whether any particular plant be a violet, even if it be out of 

 blossom. 



Viola lanceoldla Spear-leaved Violet. Stemless. Root 

 creeping. Leaves smooth, lance-formed, rather blunt-pointed, 

 slightly notched on the rim, and having their stems tapering, 

 Flowers inodorous. Petals white, greeenish at base, the 

 two lateral ones striated with purple. — Common in wet mead- 

 ows. — May. 



VOL. 1. — yo. xii. 8 



