20 Notes on some of our Native Plants. 



forms. Its root is long, and creeps just beneath the soil, 

 scarcely distinguishable from the stem, unless by its scattered 

 fibres : the stem itself ascends to the height of about six 

 inches in length, of a tough and somewhat woody consistence, 

 bearing the leaves on the summit. These are not properly 

 verticillate, or whorled ; for sometimes, two or three partial 

 verticils may be found : they are one or two inches long, half 

 to three quarters of an inch wide, sharply serrate on each 

 edge, smooth, shining, thick, and coriaceous, rather obtuse at 

 the end, but tapering at base to a short petiole. From the 

 bosom of the upper whorl, arises a peduncle or common 

 flower-stalk, bearing four to six flowers. The beauty of 

 these, forms one of the most attractive instances of early sum- 

 mer elegance. They can be compared to nothing so well as 

 to the unique 'flowers of Hoya carnosa, the asclepiadeous 

 runner, which is such a favorite of the greenhouse ; having 

 the same artificial or artistical waxen contour and finish. 

 The petals are unlike^ however, in being obovate and con- 

 cave, of a reddish white, with a violet tinge; while the style 

 of inflorescence is also distinct. Although having no botan- 

 ical affinity, yet one is reminded of the latter plant, from the 

 peculiar beauty of the former. At least, such has been often 

 the case with me ; and I have sometimes doubted which of 

 the two was really the most attractive. 



The reminiscence of this very common plant carries us 

 back from the present cold and wintry aspect to those de- 

 lightful balmy days of June, or more ardent ones of July, 

 when the murmur of the wind among the pine tops invites to 

 quiet and repose, and tempts us to stretch ourselves at ease on 

 the sweet and soft carpet of the ground beneath, breathing 

 spicy and terebinthine odors, considered so salubrious as well 

 as, in reality they are, grateful. There are not many flowers 

 which court these shades, and scarcely can any underbrush 

 or smaller growth of woody plants flourish in the glimmering 

 shade of the white-pine woods. The few delicate species 

 which obtain, seem, on this account, all the more attractive ; 

 while there reigns an air of indescribable comfort, in which 

 the senses, though not inactive, are yet inclined to calmness 

 and self-possession. The trees themselves are objects of sin- 

 gular beauty: and there is scarcely any forest tree which 



