Cuphea viscocissima. 65 



nally by a white hilum, imbricately but vertically attached to it. The 

 capsule bursts, by a longitudinal opening, owing to the protrusion of 

 the lengthened receptacle of unripe seeds, which come to maturity 

 in the open air. 



Grows in sandy fields, along the borders of sandy woods, and on 

 the arenaceous margins of rivers, from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. 

 Very abundant in Lancaster, Penn. where it covers whole fields. In 

 the woods of Belmont, the seat of Judge Peters, in the neighbor- 

 hood of this city, it is found, but not abundantly. Also in fields 

 south-east of, and near Gray's Ferry; and near Cooper's Ferry, Jer- 

 sey, along the edges of ditches communicating with the Delaware. 

 Flowers in June and until September. Not unfrequently found in 

 blossom in October and even the beginning of November. At this 

 time it is covered with the pappus of syngenesious plants that is 

 caught and tenaciously held by the clammy hairs investing the 

 whole plant except the leaves, which are quite naked on both sides. 

 The hairs are capitated with glandular dots, which secrete this visT 

 cous fluid, for some occult purpose in the economy of the plant. 



The genus Cuphea is tropical except the present plant, and 

 contains but few species. The one under notice is common to 

 this country and Brazil, where it grows in moist, shady ground. The 

 extreme viscosity of its pubescence, has caused it to receive the 

 specific name it bears ; it is common to another species, which Uow- 

 vol.1. 18 



