CT, ASS IV. ORDER 1. 1 PARIETARIA, 199 



common slirub in plantations, where it is particularly valuable on ac- 

 count of its flourishing iinclcr the drip of other trees. The present is 

 readily distinguished from all uther species of Cornus hy its dark-purple 

 fruit, and its leaves changing to a dark-red before they are shed : it is 

 probably from this last circumstance that it has received its specific 

 name. 



2. C. siicci'ca, T.\mi. (Fig. 25i.) dwarf Co7-nel. Herbaceous: leaves 

 opposite, sessile, ovate-acute ; flowers in a small umbel, surrounded 

 by a four-leaved, whitish, petaloid involucrum, and springing from 

 the axil of the forked extremity of the stem. 



English Botany, t. 310. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 221. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 133. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 72. 



Root with long, creeping underground stems. Stem herbaceous, 

 erect, from three to six inches high, square, leafy above, naked below, 

 except one or two pairs of membranous scales, abortive leaves. Leaves 

 opposite, sessile, ovate-acute, strongly ribbed, pale-green, smooth and 

 somewhat glaucous beneath, mostly scattered with hairs above, the 

 margin entire or waved. Inflorescence a small terminal umbel of dark- 

 purple flowers, arising from the axil of two young branches, which do 

 not exceed the general flower-stalk in height, till the fruit is ripe. In- 

 volucrum surrounding the base of the umbel, of four large, ovate, 

 ribbed leaves, white, tinged with red, at length turning green, and 

 may, by a careless observer, be taken for petals: ca.c\\ flower is elevated 

 on a short partial stalk, scattered with hairs, and, with the exception of 

 the stamens, of a dark purple. Fruit a round red drupe, of a sweetish 

 taste. 



Habitat. — Moist alpine pastures. Cheviot Hills, Northumberland; 

 and in Scotland, especially on the Highland Mountains. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



The fruit is said to possess tonic properties, and to increase the appe- 

 tite; and hence, according to Lightfoot, it is called by the Highlanders 

 Lus-a-chraois, or plant of gluttony. It is nearly allied to the American 

 plant, C. canaden'sis ; but is smaller, and at once distinguished by its 

 terminal branches ; and it is not so readily cultivated. 



GENUS XIII. PARIETA'RIA. Linn. Wall-Pellitory. 



Nat. Ord. Urti'ce.t;. 



Gen. Char. Flowers polygamous, surrounded by a two-leaved inro- 

 lucrum. Perianth single, inferior, four-cleft, persistent. Stamens 

 at first incurved, at length expanded by the elastic force of the 

 filaments. Fruit single seeded, enclosed by the enlarged perianth. 

 Name from ^wHes, a «'«//; from the circumstance of the species 

 mostly gi'owing on walls and old ruins. 



