384 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



1. C. angustifblia ? MX. Stem usually decumbent; leaves lanceolate, 

 acute, or acuminate, contracted at base into sheathing membranous 

 petioles ; peduncles mostly 2 within the bract, one usually more 

 slender, rather erect, longer and 1 -flowered, or sterile, the other 

 commonly 3-flowered; odd petal colorless, ovate-lanceolate, about 

 as long as the lateral sepals. . 



NARROW-LEAVED COMMELYNA. Day-flower. 



Plant nearly glabrous, annual? Stem about a foot long (3 or 4 feet when sup- 

 ported, in hedges, &c.), terete. Leaves 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, and half an inch to 

 an inch wide ; sheathing petioles about % a/i inch long, striate with green nerves, 

 pubescent along the margins. Peduncles half an inch to an inch in length, in- 

 closed in the recurved conduplicate bract) both before and after flowering. 

 Hob. Gardens; hedges, &c., W. Chester. Nat. of Southern States. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 

 Obs. I have specimens of C> angustifolid, from the South, with 

 really narrow lance-linear leaves ; yet ours, with its lanceolate 

 leaves, seems to be referred to the same species. Three of the 

 anthers are completely abortive and cross-shaped, and a fourth one 

 is partially so modified, or in process of metamorphosis to that 

 state. The authorities all appear to concur in calling the plant a 

 perennial : but I-am much mistaken if the one with us is not an 

 annual. It was accidentally introduced to this Borough, about 

 thirty years since, from the Garden of the late JOHN JACKSON, of 

 London Grove; and is gradually extending itself. Miss ABBY 

 KIMBER informs me, that it has also .been found at Kimberton, in 

 this County. 



456. TRADESCAW'TIA, L. 



[Dedicated to John Tradescant, Gardener to Charles 1, of England.] 

 Flowers regular: Sepals herbaceous. Petals equal and alike, ovate, 

 sessile. Stamens all perfect ; filaments bearded. Capsule 2- or 8- 

 celled ; cells 1- or 2-seeded. Perennials: stems nearly simple, leafy, 

 replete with mucilage ; leaves keeled ; flowers in terminal or axillary 

 umbelled clusters. 



1. T. Virglnica, L. Leaves lance-linear, elongated; umbel 

 terminal, sessile, with an involucre of 2 or 3 long leaves ; flowers 

 purplish-blue, conspicuous. 

 VIRGINIAN TRADESCANTIA. Spider-Wort. 



Stems 12 to 18 inches high, smooth,^-often in bunches. Leaves 12 to 18 inches 

 long. Pedicels % an inch to an inch long, slender, pubescent, after flowering, 

 parted into 2 ranks, and deflected on each side, over the base of the involucre ; 

 sepals lance-ovate, hairy. Filaments densely clothed with blue hairs, which appear 

 like beautiful necklacesj or strings of beads, under a lens. 

 Hob. Moist, low grounds ; meadows, &c.: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. 



Obs. I think this plant rarely perfects its fruit; for, in an 

 acquaintance of fifty years with it, I have never observed a full- 

 grown capsule. 



ORDER CXVI. XYRIDA^CEAE. 



Rush-like herbs; leaves equitant, sheathing the base of a naked scope, which is 

 terminated by a scaly-bracted head, or spike of perfect flowers; stamens 3; anthers 

 extrorse ; calyx partly glumaceous ; corolla regular, free from the ovary ; fruit a 

 1-celled 3-valved loculicidal capsule ; seeds numerous ; embryo minute, at the apex 

 of fleshy albumen. 



