54 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



only 6. Sepals and petals similar in texture ; the former irre- 

 gularly disposed, and perhaps they ought to he considered as hrac- 

 tcoles and the petals as calyx. Petals with a sac containing honey 

 at the hase ; the tips erose-denticulate and slightly recurved. Sta- 

 mens as many as the petals. Style very short and thick, hollow ; 

 stigma peltate, 5-lobed, with a widely-funnelshaped cavity at the 

 apex. Capsule erect, the sepals and petals remaining until it is 

 nearly full grown, but at length deciduous. Seeds as in Pyrola, 

 with a long baglike testa with a small nucleus. By the time the 

 seed is ripe the colour has deepened to a rusty-brown : in drying, 

 the plant turns nearly black. 



Var. 3, although it has been raised to the rank of a species, 

 seems a very slight deviation from the type, and all intermediate 

 states may be found growing together. 



This curious plant has much the aspect of the parasitical genus 

 Orobanche (except in the structure of the flowers). Its pale colour, 

 and absence of leaves, give a presumption that it is parasitical, which 

 is strengthened by the plant growing generally under particular 

 trees. Against this presumption it may be said that no connection 

 has been traced between the roots of the Monotropa and tbat of the 

 trees beneath which it is found ; but this negative evidence is very 

 far from conclusive, though, as Mr. Newman suggests, the plant 

 may derive its nourishment from decaying and not from living vege- 

 table matter, in the same way in which fungi do, for which green 

 leaves would not be necessary. (See Phyt. Ser. I. Vol. I. p. 297.) 



Yellow Bird's-ncst. 



French, Monotrope Sucepin. German, G amines Ohnblatt. 



EXCLUDED SPECIES. 

 VACCINIUM MACROCARPUM. Ait. 



The American Cranberry has been found in Loughton Bog, 

 Mold, Flint ; doubtless sown there, and now (I860), I have been 

 told, become extinct. 



LEDUM PALUSTRE. Linn. 



Hook. Fl. Lond. PL 212. 



Erroneously reported to occur in the North-west of Ireland. 



