178 The Heliotrope. 



lanceolate; stem shrubby ; spikes numerous, agregate, corymbose. 

 Amie Martin remarks, that the Orientals say that the perfumes 

 of the Heliotrope elevate their souls towards heaven. It is true 

 they exhilarate us, and produce a degree of intoxication. The 

 sensation produced by inhaling them, may, it is said, be renewed 

 by imagination, even though years have passed away since the 

 reality was experienced. We think, however, it requires a very 

 considerable exercise of this power to produce such an effect, 

 and even then not more in this case than it does in others. The 

 Countess Eleanora, natural daughter of Christian IV., King of 

 Denmark, who became so notorious by the misfortunes, crimes 

 and exile of Count Ulfeld, her husband, offers to us a striking 

 proof of the power of perfumes on the memory. This princess, 

 at the age of thirteen, had become attached to a young man to 

 whom she was subsequently affianced, but who cjied in the cas- 

 tle while they were making preparations for the marriage. Elea- 

 nora, in despair, wished to take a long, last look of the object of 

 her love, and if alive, to bid him a last adieu. She was conducted 

 into the chamber where he had just expired, and the body already 

 placed on a bier and covered with rosemary. The spectacle 

 made such a deep impression on the affianced maiden, that 

 though she afterwards exhibited courage equal to her misfor- 

 tunes, she never could breathe the perfume of rosemary without 

 falling into convulsions. 



Heliotropium Indicum — Common Turnsole, is distinguished 

 by its rough, sharp leaves, somewhat heart-shaped. The spikes 

 are solitary, and do not present so pleasing an appearance as the 

 other. It flowers in July ; the mild blue color harmonizes well 

 with the leaves. Its fruit is bifid. The whole height of the 

 plant is from six to fourteen inches. 



Heliotropium Curassavicum — Emily's Brooch, is a low 

 plant, from six to ten inches in height, giving out yellowish 

 white flowers, in June, on spikes, which grow in pairs. The 

 leaves are long, narrow, lance-shaped and thick, without either 

 apparent hair or veins. 



There is another species commonly known, with white 

 flowers, and inodorous. These are all in the class Pentandria, 

 order Monogy nia. 



Tyas remarks, that an anonymous writer has made it em- 

 blematical of flattery, as it is said, when a cloud obscures the sky, 



