/S'ome Plants of Danvers and Wenham. 291 



the soil might be gathered of double that length. Its flowers 

 were not very numerous, yet fine specimens were selected by 

 those who had never seen it before, and who considered it 

 quite a floral gem. It was just making its new annual 

 growth, and in this condition afforded a favorable opportu- 

 nity to critically examine its habits. Specimens, collected at 

 the time, have been submitted to such scrutiny by me, and 

 are lying before me. Its flowers are borne on the tips or 

 ends of the last year's growth, six or more in number, each 

 issuing from the axils of colored scales. The shape of the 

 flower is what is termed campanulate or bell-shaped, the 

 corolla monopetalous, divided on the edge into four points. 

 Its stamens are inserted on the corolla at its base, variable in 

 number, seven or more, each furnished with a flat filament 

 of a pinkish hue, and covered with downy hairs. The an- 

 ther is tubular, opening at the tip by an irregular fissure. 

 The extreme beauty of the stamens can only be appreciated 

 by the use of the microscope. A most elegant cellular tissue 

 of elongated hexagons compose a net work, making up the 

 tubes of the anther. Every part of the surface of the anther 

 is studded with blunt spine-like bodies, of a transparent 

 single cell, more perceptible on the edges of the anther. 

 Such blunt spines invest, indeed, the filament of the stamen; 

 while superadded, the surface of this part of the stamen is 

 beset with flat and long, crooked hairs, each of four or five 

 joints, while the surface of each of these hairs is also beset 

 in the same manner as is the anther. The style or pistil is 

 simple, curved, and inserted on the centre of the germ. The 

 color of the corolla and calyx is of a pale pink, which, con- 

 trasted with the dark green and glossy foliage, adds much to 

 the charm of this unique species. 



The entire plant, when growing vigorously, appears in 

 dense and crowded patches, composed of prostrate woody 

 stems, described as "angular," though nothing of the sort 

 appears on our specimens ; on the contrary, they are round 

 or cylindrical, as are also the short branches which bear the 

 foliage. Where the wood is old, the epidermis peels away 

 and remains in shreds, and forms irregular fissures, which 

 may give rise to such a statement. The foliage, as has been 

 observed, is of a deep-shining green, each leaf of an obovate 



