PLATE I. 



CORTUSA MATTHIOLL 



Alpine Sanicle. 



CLASS V. ORDER 1. 



PENTANDRU MONOGYNIJ. Five Chives. One Pointal. 



GENERIC 



Calyx. Perianthium quinquefidum, perfiftens; 

 laciniis obtulis, concavis. 



Corolla. Monopetala, rotata, quinquepartita, 

 laciniis iub-rotundis, ad quarum bafin pro- 

 minent tubercula quinque. 



Stamina. Filamenta quinque brevia. Antherae 

 bipartitae, oblong*, ere&ae, exteriori parte 

 affixae. 



Pistillum. Germen ovatum. Stylus filiformis. 

 Stigma fimplex. 



Pericarpium. Capfula ovata-oblonga, utrinque 

 longitudinaliter fulcata, unilocularis, apice 

 quinquevalvi, valvularum marginibus in- 

 volutis. 



Semina numerofa, oblonga, fcabra. 



HARACTER. 



Empalement. Cup with five divifions, perma- 

 nent; the legments blunt, and concave. 



Blossom. One leaf, wheel-lhaped, fivedivifions, 

 fegments nearly round, having rive promi- 

 nent tubercles at their bale. 



Chives. Five lhort threads. Tips divided in 

 two, oblong, upright, and fixed to the 

 blolVom by their backs. 



Pointal. Seed-bud egg-fhaped. Shaft thread- 

 fhaped. Summit fimple. 



Seed-vessel. Capfule oblong egg-fhaped, 

 channelled on each fide, of one cell, the 

 top has five valves, which are turned in- 

 ward at their margins. 



Seeds many, oblong, and rough. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER 



Cortufa, foliis cordatis, laciniatis, petiolatis; 

 calycibus corolla brevioribus. 



Sanicle, with heart-fhaped jagged leaves that 

 have foot-ftalks; empalements fhorter than 

 the blofToms. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The Empalement, and Fruit-ftalk. 



2. The BlolVom cut, and fpread open, to expofe the fituation of the Chives. 



3. The Pointal, magnified. 



This beautiful little herbaceous plant, a native of the Germanic Alps, was known to, and defcribed 

 by all the elder, as well as modern botanical theorifts; yet till this time, has there not been one good 

 reprefentation of it. Having been nearly loft to us for a number of years, it may be confidered as 

 delerving a place amongft thofe plants we deem rare; as a fpeciinen of fuch it has been given. It 

 delights much in fhade; is perfectly hardy; thrives beft in a light but pure foil; as dung, or other 

 mixtures, are apt to rot the roots when in a ftate of inaction; flowering in May and June, and 

 producing feeds. But the fureft mode of propagation is by the root, which may be divided with 

 fuccefs about September. 



DSI 



