Porutar aND Grocrapatcan Notice. All the species of the 
genus Rhexia, at present known, are natives of North America, and 
our present subject is found in several states, from New Jersey to 
Carolina; also in Maryland and Louisiana. They are characterized, 
among the other members of the tribe, by their four-cornered stems, 
their sessile entire linear-lanceolate or ovate, three-nerved leaves, and 
the flowers, which are ternate, of a purple or yellow colour, being 
disposed in a corymbose cyme. The venation of the leaves is of that 
peculiar kind which exists in all the Melastomacew, and makes a con- 
siderable approach to the venation of endogenous plants. So — 
characterized is the family of the Melastomacew, that from the exami- 
nation of one member of the tribe, we may acquire a precise know- 
ledge of the structure and aspect of the whole tribe. Certain genera 
shew an approximation to the tribe of Myrtacew, and others to the 
Lythracee. The fruit of several is edible, and frequently eaten by 
children; by which their mouths become blackened, in like manner as’ 
we see those of little rustics in our own country, from eating black- 
berries. Hence the name Melastoma, from the Greek “#\a¢, MELAS, 
black ; and cropa, sroma, mouth. 
INTRODUCTION; WHERE GROwN; CuLture. The Maryland Rhexia 
was originally introduced into this country in 1759, but was lost again 
till recovered by some of our late botanical collectors. Our drawing 
was made from a plant which flowered in the greenhouse of the Bir- 
mingham Botanical Society, in the month of August. It may, not- 
withstanding, be considered a frame plant, and will even bear the 
winter in the open border, when planted in sandy peat, in a favourable 
situation. Its roots are tuberous, and may be divided in the spring. 
Derivation or THE Names. 
RueExta, a name used by Pliny, from the Greek he ema a protrusion or 
swelling, to which some boragineous plant with dang sa t properties was 
applied as a cure, and in modern times the name been bestowed upon this 
genus, though containing totally different plants. 
SyNonyMEs. 
Ruexia Martna. Pluckenet. t. 428, f. 1. 
Ruexta Mariana. Nuttall, Genera Americ. 
Raexia Lupovicrana. Rafinesque Fl. Ludii a 92? a, PURPUREA, Michaux, 
Fl. Boreali Amer. I, p. 221. 8, Ruseuta, Wichans. l.c. Bonpland, Rhexia, 
pl. 47. 
