6t FJJfJI.I.lTi GAEDEX FLOWERS. 



teecis on and so venders the groiuul barren, is a quite 

 ebavacteristic memlier of the yreat order Convolvukieea;, 

 ])rodueing minute Howers of great beauty of a true con- 

 volvulus shape. A i)roniinent characteristic of the order 

 is the jiroduction of an imbricated calyx, two of the sepals 

 being quite exterior to the other three. But a still more 

 remarkable convolvulus is the East Indian plant called 

 Ncnrojji'llis ruceiiiosa, the flowers of which are produced in 

 the centre of bracteal leaves, as though a flower should 

 grow out of the j^alm of one's hand, or as tiny clusters 

 of leaves occasionally appear in the very centre of large 

 cabbage-leaves. In this the imbi'icated arrangemeut of 

 the calyx, is found to afford a trustworthy family likeness. 



