Cistinece Cistus. 



57 



dense white tomentum beneath, and large white flowers with a 

 purple blotch at the base of the petals. Native of Portugal, 

 flowering in June. There are several varieties of it. 



2. C. Cyprius. Perhaps even commoner than the preceding, 

 and often confounded with it. This has large solitary flowers 

 and petiolate leaves, whilst in the former the flowers are borne 

 in clusters of three or four on a common stalk, and the leaves 

 are sessile. 



3. G. laurifolius. This is one of the hardiest species in 

 cultivation, having petiolate 3-nerved ovate-lanceolate viscous 

 leaves densely tomentose beneath, and white flowers. A 

 robust growing shrub 6 or 7 feet high. 



4. G. scdvifolius. A very variable species of slender habit. 

 The variety generally met with in cultivation has ovate-lan- 

 ceolate acute rugose nearly glabrous leaves on slender petioles, 

 and medium-sized white flowers. A distinct species, about 3 

 or 4 feet high. 



5. C. purpureus. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, rugose, 

 strongly veined, shortly petiolate, densely pubescent beneath. 

 Flowers terminal, large reddish purple, with a dark blotch at 

 the base of each petal. This is not so hardy as some of the 

 foregoing. 



6. C. Monspeliensis. A very variable plant in the foliage, 

 with small white flowers having yellow blotches about an inch 

 in diameter. Young parts hairy and clammy. Leaves sessile, 

 3-nerved, strongly veined, linear or lanceolate, obtuse or acute. 



7. G. populifolius. A very distinct species of large stature 

 with ovate-cordate acuminate rugose leaves on long petioles, 

 and medium-sized white flowers tinged with yellow at the base 

 of the petals. Pubescence slight, viscous. Flowers in lateral 

 cymes. 



ORDER XIII. VIOLARIE^I. 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, 

 entire, seldom laciniate, stipulate. Flowers axillary and solitary, 

 or cymose, paniculate, or racemose. Pedicels commonly fur- 

 nished with two bracts. A large order distributed over the 

 whole world. Only one genus need occupy our attention, and 

 therefore we content ourselves with giving its technical charac- 

 ters alone. 



