The Papyrus. 81 



cing our boat along the stream with considerable labor, sometimes 

 entangled among the weeds, and sometimes having to lie down to 

 enable it to pass among the overhanging canes, when we suddenly 

 came to a clearer space, and saw, at the head of it, a clump of the 

 plants of which we were in search. They are in every respect very 

 pleasing objects. The roots are from three to four inches in thick- 

 ness, tortuous and knotty, sometimes running into each other, and 

 forming a thick matted mass which often extends several feet into 

 the stream : they are tolerably woody and hard, and from their low- 

 er part send out a number of fibres, which keep them more firmly 

 attached to the soil : except in size, there is a considerable resem- 

 blance between them and the root of our calamus,* or water-lily. 

 At the extremity of each root rises a stem which, when full grown, 

 is about ten or twelve feet in height ; it is triangular, (the corners 

 rounded,) and without any joint, the rind or bark being perfectly 

 smooth throughout the whole length ; the periphery, at the lower 

 part, is about eight inches ; from this it tapers gradually to the upper 

 end, where it is not more than from a half to three quartets of an 

 inch in thickness. At the top, it carries a thick tuft of pedicles, 

 somewhat resembling coarse grass thrown out like the top of a para- 

 sol, each pedicle being from fifteen to eighteen inches in length, trian- 

 gular, and at about eight inches from the stem divided into three small- 

 er pedicles, also triangular. At the point of division, is a small red 

 flower, guarded by small sheathes or leaves, also of a reddish color. 

 At the foot of the stem, and fitting close to it, are a number of what 

 may be called reddish leaves ; they appear, however, to be the re- 

 mains of the sheath that protected the plant when yet tender : the 

 same thing occurs, also, at the top or point from which the pedicles 

 spring. The color both of the stalk and pedicles is a dark green : 

 they grow in clumps of from ten to thirty feet in diameter : the stalk 

 is slightly curved by the weight of its tuft, and the smooth surface 

 and graceful tossing figure of the former, with the spread and full- 

 ness of the latter, produce together a very good effect. In the sketch 

 enclosed, the stalks are arranged so as to show the tufts, and not in 

 thick clumps, according to the reality. 



I have said that the exterior consists of a rind or bark without any 

 joint : it incloses a pith, watery and spongy at the bottom, but becom- 



* That is the Pennsylvania name: I believe that in New England you have an- 

 other for this plant. 



Vol. XXVII.— No. 1. 11 



