smooth cylindrical stalk, having at the base a single ovate, acute 
scale, and at the summit three verticillate, broad-rhomboidal acumi-_ 
nate leaves, which have three strongly marked primary nerves, and 
some more faintly marked lateral ones; the upper surface light green. 
FLower solitary, pedicel smooth, cylindrical, slender, somewhat in- 
clined. PERiGoN of six nearly equal leaves, spreading; the three 
external, narrow, lanceolate, acute, bright green on the outer, of a 
dingy — — on the inner surface: the three internal, 
broader, lal, acuminate, ofa dark purple colour, with 
three strongly marked veins, and several fainter lateral ones. Sva- 
MENS six, filaments slender, anthers linear, yellow, connectivum api- 
culate. Sty ies three, distinct, recurved. Ovary three-celled, seeds 
numerous. Berry sub-globose, becoming blackish when ripe. 
PopuLtarR anpD GeocGRapHicaL Notice. This species, usually 
regarded only as a variety of the Trillium erectum of Linneus, is found 
on the high mountains of Carolina, North America. Our attention has 
been directed to it,in consequence of the uniform development of the 
various parts of which it is composed. It has three leaves, and a three- 
celled berry, six anthers, and a six-parted perigon, composed of three 
inner and three outer divisions—answering toa three-parted calyx and 
corolla. This has reminded us of certain investigations into the con- 
nexion between the number and arrangement of the stamens of the 
flower, and the number and arrangement of the bundles of wood which 
are observable in the stem, soon after it emerges from the germinating 
seed, and which would seem to determine the order of many of the exter- 
nal organs of the plant, even the number of the veins or divisions of the 
leaves, in some instances, and the position of the stamens, whether in 
=? single or a double row. It is to the latest discoveries in vegetable 
physiology that we are indebted for a knowledge of these beautiful 
arrangements in the structure of every plant that grows. However 
mean a place the weed of the road bank may occupy in the estimation 
of man, it partakes of the same wise laws of number, order, and 
harmony, which regulate alike the formation of all the works of 
creation. The Trillium erectum has been examined by Schultz, 
(Die Natur der lebendigen Pflanze, II, p. 24,) but we have been 
unable to see his observations. What has been ascertained respecting 
some other plants is embodied in a paper from which are borrowed 
the following passages. “At the base of the stem of the Vicia faba 
(common garden bean) when a transverse section is made and exam- 
