442 J^'otlces of some rare and beautiful Plants 



lover of flowers. The old rock of Plymouth was garlanded 

 with its sweet-scented gems last May morning, in celebration of 

 that simple and rural custom in the mother country, of which a 

 few traces are yet existent in our own. 



In the rich meadows, during the early part of summer, the ele- 

 gant Rhinanthus Crista-galli, or yellow rattle, may be found in 

 the immediate neighborhood of the town. I have not been so 

 fortunate as to see it in perfection. Its corolla, curiously spot- 

 ted and marked, forms a striking contrast with its acutely serrated 

 leaves. 



Of the Cistineae, two species of Helianthemum, H. cana- 

 dense and H. ramuhflorum, and Hudsonia tomentosa and ericoi- 

 des, are common. 



On the borders of "Sound Pond," I found, in the short space 

 of an hour, the pretty Stachys /lyssopifolia J\Ix., a plant worthy 

 of cultivation; Gratiola aurea, with occasional white flowers; 

 Sabbatia chloroides, of colors from deep rose to pure white, 

 giving to the spot a truly lovely aspect; Coreopsis rosea, Lobe- 

 lia Dortmannrt and Solidago tenuifolia, Drosera longifolia, and 

 the curious J), filiformis Raff. The latter, which is said to grow 

 in New Jersey and Delaware, by Beck, seems to be peculiar to 

 this single and confined locality in this state; at least it is not de- 

 scribed as found elsewhere, and I was assured that in no other 

 part of Plymouth has it been observed. Its foliage consists of 

 straight, filiform leaves, studded with beautiful glands and hairs 

 of the same purple color as in the entire plant, while the circinate 

 vernation which distinguishes the natural order is strikingly ob- 

 servable, giving to the young leaf the exact appearance of an 

 unfolded frond of some fern. Its flowers are conspicuous for 

 size, being very much larger than in D. rotundifolia and longifo- 

 lia, of a dark purple, with obovate petals. A specimen was 

 gathered, more than thirty years ago, from this identical locality, 

 and forwarded to Professor Peck, then in the chair of botany at 

 Cambridge. 



This species attains considerable size; in some individuals the 

 flower-stem and leaves being twelve or more inches long. The 

 Droseraceaj, a small order, should be more cultivated as exceed- 

 ingly interesting plants. They would grow with great facility on 

 the borders of garden ponds, either in balls of sphagnum or on 

 rotten stumps and logs. I have often noticed D. rotundifolia 

 forming perfect colonies in the crevices of decaying timber partly 

 immersed; while D. longifolia, on a wet and muddy soil, has 

 covered the ground, in company with the almost anomalous Mar- 

 chantia polymorpha. A viscous secretion, which constantly ex- 

 udes from the glandular surfaces of the entire plant, has given to 

 it the fanciful and not unapt name of sun-dew. Sabbatia could 

 probably be cultivated with like success, by planting out the radi- 



