JUNE. . 113 



shoot up on tall branches, and the leaves, so 

 like those of the young sapling of the ash tree, 

 are very elegant. From this resemblance the 

 flower is termed fraxinella, or little ash. The 

 red species (Dictamniis frcLvinella) has pale pink 

 flowers, marked with purple. These plants 

 have a number of small brownish red glands 

 on the flower stalks, which exude a viscid juice 

 of a resinous nature. When slightly rubbed, a 

 pleasant odour is diffused, like that of lemon- 

 peel ; and if the plant be wounded, the fragrance 

 is much more powerful. The resin from the 

 glands renders the plant very clammy to the 

 touch, and it is also inflammable. It is well 

 known that this plant may be lighted up by the 

 flame of a candle, but it is generally thought 

 that the light can be seen only during darkness. 

 On a fine summer evening in June, before even 

 the twijight had commenced, the Avriter of these 

 pages once tried the experiment. On holding 

 the light at about half an inch from the flower, 

 the vapour which it emitted took fire, and a 

 beautiful blue flame ran over every part of the 

 plant, which was about three feet high. It 

 occupied about half a minute in its progress, 

 and the strong balsamic odour which at that 

 time arose from the plant, was almost over- 

 powering, and perfumed the air of the garden 

 for some distance. This same fraxinella 

 bloomed for days and even weeks after, and its 

 pink flowers and feathered foliage seemed as 

 fresh as before the flame had passed over them. 

 Both the red and the white species (■Dictammcs 



