Rhexia virginica. 15 



borders of swamps, but often in damp meadows. Ranges from the 

 northern states to Georgia, flowering from July until September. 



The generic term Rhexia, is derived from (%{«, a rupture, or 

 fracture. It is the synonym in Pliny of a plant reputed to be endowed 

 with many medicinal virtues, particularly for curing ruptures. His 

 description has reference to a plant supposed by modern botanists to 

 be a species of Anchusa or Echium, but it is not known why Grono- 

 vius and Linnams adopted the generic name Rhexia for the American 

 genus. Of this numerous tribe, containing thirty species, nine are in- 

 digenous to North, the rest to tropical America. The present one va- 

 ries considerably in size, often flowering when only eight inches high 

 in the northern and middle states, but attaining a stature in South 

 Carolina and Georgia, of four or five feet. This circumstance must be 

 owing to the greater congeniality of a southern sun to the constitution 

 of the plant. Mr. Elliott is silent respecting the variety p. of Pursh, 

 quoted by him from Waiter, as having seven nerves and attaining a 

 height of five feet ; but describes R. virginica as being from two to 

 three feet high with from five to seven nerves, giving at the same 

 time, Walter's specific name septcmnervia, as a synonym. Walter's 

 plant was therefore in all probability, an uncommonly luxuriant va- 

 riety, not constantly of that stature. The medium or most common 

 height is about two feet. Culture, with due attention to the native 

 soil, would doubtless render a plant of such susceptibility of varia- 

 tion, more showy and ornamental. It bears transplantation well, 



