Droseracece. 1 9 1 



pretty dwarf annual about 6 inches high with a profusion of 

 crimson or scarlet flowers tinged with yellow. Cotyledon 

 Umbilicus, the Navelwort or Pennywort, found growing on dry 

 banks and walls, also belongs to this group. 



ORDER XLI.-DROSERACE.ffi. 



The Sundew family deserves mentioning here, though it is 

 very rare that attempts are made to cultivate any of the species. 

 They are distinguished by their free ovary with numerous 

 seeds on parietal placentas and glandular leaves. Dioncea 

 muscipula, Venus's Flytrap, is sometimes met with. It is a 

 native of North America, and remarkable for the irritability of 

 its leaves, which close upon being touched. Drosophyllum 

 Lusiidnicum is a very showy shrubby plant, from Portugal, 

 bearing large terminal corymbs of pale yellow flowers. With 

 the exception of the last-mentioned plant, which grows in 

 sandy places, nearly all the members of this order inhabit 

 boggy or marshy localities. There are three British species 

 of Drosera : D. rotundifolia having spreading orbicular leaves 

 with hairy petioles, and D. Anglica and D. intermedia having 

 oblong-spathulate sub-erect leaves with glabrous petioles ; 

 the latter is known by its flower-scapes being curved at the 

 base. 



ORDER XLII. HAMAMELIDE^l. 



This is a somewhat anomalous group of shrubs and trees. 

 Leaves usually stipulate and alternate, simple, entire, toothed 

 or lobed. Flowers often small and unisexual, usually in dense 

 heads. Fruit a woody capsule, 2-celled, 2- or many-seeded. About 

 fifteen genera, and as many more species, are referred here. 



1. FOTHERGILLA. 



A genus of one North American species, occasionally seen in 

 our gardens. Flowers white, in dense terminal bracteate 

 spikes. Petals none. Stamens about 24 ; filaments long, 

 clavate. Capsule 2-seeded. Named after Dr. Fothergill. 



1. F. alnifolia. A dwarf straggling shrub with slender 

 crooked branches. Leaves deciduous, obliquely ovate, pube- 

 scent beneath, irregularly crenate, or lobed above the middle. 

 Plowers fragrant, produced in May before the leaves. 



