CI STL'S. — CYTINUS HYPOCISTIS. 127 



Cistus bushes abound on all sides. Thev are less 

 tlian a \'ai"d high, much branched, and tliickh' covered 

 ^^ ith brownish-green, \iscous lea\'es. C/siiis luoiispcliensis 

 (big. p. N')) hiis ^vhite flowers, \\\\\\<i C. albidiis (Fig. p. S,^) 

 has mucli larger pink flowers, lire blossoms ot these plants 

 are extremely delicate. Their petals arc tiglitl)' packed 

 and crumjiled in the bud. The\' open and smoothe out 

 in the sunshine and spread their numerous \'c!low stamens. 

 ^Fhe flowers fade \'er\- rapidh' \\-hen a tuig is plucked, 

 but neu- ones open on it when placed, in ^\•ater. The 

 Listus bushes contriluite not a little to the characteristic 

 odoiu' of the Maquis at Antibes. The gum which exudes 

 b-om one or two species of Cistus was formerh' a famous 

 remedy- much recommended b\- (xreek doctors under 

 the name of Ladanum or Labdanum. Now it is onh- 

 used for incense. Towards the end of .Vjiril in man\' 

 j^laces on tire Cap careful searching o.n the ground under 

 thc Cistus birshes nvAx reveal a \'er\' curious plant para- 

 sitic u]5on their roots. This remarkable parasite, Cvl/iiiis 

 Jfvpocislis (Fig. p. 157), will be know-n b^- its flaming red 

 and orange colouring. It has no green leaves; it has 

 dispensed with these because it no longer requires to 

 procure its own nourishment. All the other members of 

 the Raftlesiaceae, to wliich this Cvtinus belongs, are 

 tropical. The}' are all parasitic, and man^- of them ha^'e gi- 

 gantic blossoms. The largest flower in the \\-orld is produced 

 \)\ Raiflesia . \nioIdi , wllich grow s upon the roots ol certain 

 climl)ing L'istuses in Sumatra. vSometimes these flo^^'ers 

 are a ^'ard in diameter. Cytimis H\pocis1is, however, is 

 content \\-ith flowers of small dimensions. When several 



