4o6 



THE DIAPENSIA FAMILY. 



So ended the search for shortia, once deemed so rare. Through the 

 further efforts of Mr. Harbison the plant is now well known, and a common 

 one in nursery catalogues. In its wild state it grows best under the 

 shade of kalmias and rhododendrons. 



For the accuracy of the first part of its history I am indebted to " Garden 

 and Forest ; " for later developments and permission to use Dr. Gray's letter 

 I have to sincerely thank Mr. Boynton. In commemoration of the trip the 

 letter was presented to him by Professor Sargent. 





Lake Sapphire 



PYXIE. FLOWERING MOSS. 



Pyxidaiithera barbuldta. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR 



Diapensia. White or pinkish. Scentless. 



RANGE 



North Carolina 

 to New Jersey. 



TIME OF BLOOM 



March-July. 



Flozvers ; numerous; terminal; solitary; sessile. Calyx: with five oblong, cili- 

 ate sepals and having three bracts underneath. Corolla : bell-shaped, five-lobed. 

 Stamens: inserted; their anthers opening as the lid of a tiny box. Pistil: one; 

 stigma, three-lobed. Leaves: very small; alternate, linear or lanceolate; sessile; 

 entire and pubescent when young near the base. A small creeping shrub with 

 ascending, often very leafy branches. 



Blossoms ! Blossoms ! fairly Is this little pine-barren beauty covering 

 itself with them in answer to the south wind's whispering that it shall hasten 

 with its bloom. And like a mat we find its interwoven growth spreading 



