28 ADDISONIA 
The significance of the name “obedient plant” is shown by a 
statement in its original description: ‘‘The spikes of flowers in this 
species are regularly 4-sided, although, when growing in the garden, 
the flowers are often seen to be facing one way; this is owing to the 
short and weak pedicels, and the weight of the flower, keeping it so 
firm on the bracts, that whatever way the wind blows it, there it 
remains. . . . the flowers may be moved by the hand in the same 
manner, either all to one side, or some to one side, and some to the 
other, and wherever they are placed, there they will remain.” 
fleshy in texture, and dark glossy green in color. There are few 
branches, and those all toward the summit of the stem, each ter- 
minating in a spike of flowers, of which the central one is always the 
longest and highest. The flowers are crowded closely on the spike, 
and the lowermost bloom first, others following in succession to its 
summit. Each flower has the structure characteristic of the mint 
family. The calyx is short, somewhat bell-shaped, terminating in 
H. A. GLEASON. 
‘XPLANATION OF PLate. Fig. 1—Inflorescence. Fig. 2.—Portion of stem 
and leaves. Fig. 3.—Flower, split open. Fig. 4—Stamen, X 6. Fig. 5.— 
Fruiting calyx, X 2. Fig. 6.—Nutlets, x 2. Fig. 7—Nutlet, X 2. 
