272 VSRBASCUM. 



Root tapering. Stem erect, smooth, roundish, or obtusely angular, 

 three or four feet high, branched upwards, leafy. Leaves smooth, 

 variable, those from the root and lower part of the stem ovate oblong, 

 acute at the point, but tapering at the base, aud sometimes with a short 

 footstalk, the margin sinuated and creuated in an irregular manner, 

 often uearly a foot long, becoming, as they advance up the stem, 

 smaller, less siuuated until simply creuated, smaller, oblong, with an 

 acute point, the upper ones more or less deeply heart-shaped at the 

 base, clasping the stem, and sometimes scattered over with glandular 

 hairs, the whole rather a dark shining green, with a strong mid-rib, 

 and branched lateral veins. Inflorescence a siinple t raceme terminating 

 the stem and slender branches, which are more or Jess profusely 

 scattered over with glandular hairs. Flowers rather large, solitary, or 

 sometimes in pairs, on a rather ]ong Jloioer ttalk, scattered over like the 

 bractea and calyx with glandular hairs. Bractea ovate-lanceolate, 

 shorter than the flower stalk. Calyx of five nearly equal lanceolate 

 segments. Corolla in five ovate spreading segments, the margin often 

 waved, a dark yellowish browu externally, sometimes slightly hairy, 

 bright yellow within, and more or less marked with purple at the 

 base. Stamens unequal, two longer than the others, with larger re- 

 curved anthers, the upper part of the filaments smooth, naked, but the 

 lower part like the whole length of the others, thickly clothed with 

 Jongish purple hairs. Style nearly as long as the corolla, slender, or 

 slightly hairy at the base, smooth, mostly thickened upwards. Sliyina 

 obtuse. Capsule globose, smooth, or thinly scattered over with glan- 

 dular hairs, slightly furrowed on each side, surrounded by the per- 

 sistent calyx, having two cells, opening with two valves, and containing, 

 numerous small angular seeds. 



Habitat. Fields and banks, in a gravelly soil, but rare; at Cobham, 

 and several other places in Kent; not uncommon in Devonshire and 

 Cornwall; near Plymouth. Mr. Banks. Found in several places 

 about Lincoln. R. D. 



Annual ; flowering from July to September. 



This beautiful species is frequently cultivated in gardens, and is 

 highly ornamental ; commences flowering in June, and continues 

 to produce a succession of its flowers the remainder of the summer, and 

 even in the auuimn, when grown in a shaded situation. A variety 

 with white flowers is not unfrequently produced by cultivation, which 

 is remarkably delicate and beautiful. 



The leaves and tender branches of this plant arc said to be destructive 

 to the Cockroach (Blatta orientalis), and from this circumstance the 

 Romans called it Blattaria, the specific name by which it is now 

 distinguished. If it still retains thig reputed virtue, its use may be 

 very great to the inhabitants of houses infested by this troublesome 

 insect; and in the stores and \\arehouses it may be scattered about 



