26 CIRC.EA. [CLASS n. ORBMI J. 



English Botany, t. 105C. English Flora, vol. i. p. 15. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 109. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 12. 



Root freely creeping. Stem downy, from one to two feet high. 

 Leaves opposite, on footstalks, the lower ones nearly cordate, the upper 

 narrower, ovate acuminate, waved or slightly toothed, more or less 

 downy, sometimes quite smooth. Racemes terminal and lateral, occa- 

 sionally branched, downy, with narrow bracteas. Calyx reflexed, 

 reddish green. Corolla pinkish or white, inversely heart-shaped, patent. 

 Fruit oblong, thickly set, with white hooked hairs. Pedicels solitary, 

 rarely two or three together, reflexed in fruit. 



Habitat. Shady groves and woods, common. 



Perennial ; flowering' in June and July. 



2. C. alpi'na, (Fig. 38.) alpine Enchanter's Night-shade. Stem 

 nearly smooth, ascending, leaves opposite, cordate, toothed, smooth 

 and shining, stalked. 



English Botany, t. 1057. English Flora, vol. i. p. 16. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 110. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 12. 



. ma'jor ; larger, and more downy. C. interme'dia, Ehrh. 



Differing but little from the preceding; indeed, Greville, in his Flora 

 Edinensis, makes it but a variety, and says " It has been noticed by 

 Dr. Graham, that, in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, the two species 

 pass into each other, which a minute examination has confirmed." 

 In the specimens which we have collected in various parts of Scotland, 

 the leaves are certainly more cordate, sharper and deeper toothed, 

 more shining, and on longer footstalks, the stem less downy, and the 

 whole plant of more humble growth. The flowers and fruit are alike in 

 both species. The variety (3 of Smith we have not seen. 



Habitat. Woods and moist stony situations in the north of England 

 and in Scotland, growing by the side of the Lakes; near the sea-shore, 

 Isle of Arraii, plentiful. 



Perennial ; flowering July and August. 



During the dark ages of superstition, Enchanter's Night-shade was 

 supposed to possess many wonderful properties ; but we do not now 

 find it to be either injurious or in any way valuable. " It was much 

 celebrated in the mysteries of witchcraft, and for the purpose of raising 

 the devil, as its name imports. It grows amid the mouldering bones 

 and decayed coffins in the ruinous vaults of Sleaford church, Lincoln- 

 shire." 



" Thrice round the grave Circtea prints her tread, 

 And chaunts the numbers which disturb the dead." 



Darwin's Love* of the Plants. 



