MIMULUS. 79 



thriftily, provided only it can ohtain enough moisture. 

 For ojrowing in pots, the old-fashioned cijmmon musk is 

 not no\\' good enough, a variety with larger HoA\'ers and 

 a finer haVjit of arrowth havina' Ijeen introduced through 

 Messrs. Harrison, of Leicester. This is as fragrant as the 

 original, and immensely superior in all other respects. This 

 sort is kno\Aii as " Harrison's musk." 



The generic name mimulus refers to the gaping mo\ith 

 of the flower, which may he likened to that of an ape- 

 hence its more homely name of monkey flower. Tlie tig- 

 worts, to which order it belongs, are invariably characterised 

 by the irregularity of the corolla, of which we have interest- 

 ing examj^les in the mullein and the calceolaria. It \vill be 

 observed in the figure that the calyx is also irregular, one of 

 the toothed lobes being longer than the rest. All the species 

 are remarkal.>le for the irritability of the stigma. The two 

 lobes lie rather wide of each other when not irritated, Init 

 if touched with a bristle they iustautly close. This move- 

 ment is, no doubt, connected with the process of fertilisa- 

 tion, and is a parallel to that of the lierberis flower, the 

 stamens of which suddenly clasp the stigma when touched 

 at the base of the filaments with a. In-istle or needle. 



The yellow mimulus is used in Peru as a pot-herb, and 

 probably all the species are capable of a similar appropria- 

 tion. The figwort family, however, is not to be hastily- 

 looked to for the supply of edible vegetables, for here we 

 find the nauseous and narcotic foxglove, the liitter snap- 

 dragon, and the a.stringent speedwell — 



" That lifts its eye of the softest bhic 

 To the younger skj- of the .selfsame hue." 



But if we do not get much food for the bod\- out of the 



