AMERICAN COWSLIP. 41 



There can be much effected with other plants, therefore 

 the zealous will find his industry rewarded according to the 

 assiduity he bestows on the system. 



AMERICAN COWSLIP 



(DEDOCATHEON MEDIA.) 



" They shall own thee the sweetest and fairest of flowers, 

 That smile in the woodlands, or blush in our bowers ' 

 They shall own thee a lovelier gem of delight 

 Than they that illumine the veil of midnight ! " 



This very interesting and delightful hardy perennial flow- 

 ering plant is a native of this country. The leaves are ob- 

 long, elliptic, in a cluster nearly flat on the ground, of a 

 light green color, throwing tip a scape at the top of which 

 is an umbel of drooping flowers, of a light purple, with the 

 segment reflexed from near the base, beautifully variegated, 

 making it one of the most agreeable border flowers that 

 could be selected, flowering in May. This was named 

 " Dedocatheon " (by Linnseus), or the twelve divines ; it is 

 generally supposed he selected that name from the number 

 of flowers on the scape ; if such was the case we need not 

 wonder at the abortiveness of the name, as the umbels will 

 put forth sometimes as many as twenty flowers. The plant 

 was first discovered by Micheauz, aFrench botanist, but the 

 late Mr. Drummond was the first to collect the seeds during 

 his researches on the Rocky Mountains, and transmitted 

 them to the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, where the merit 

 4 



