ARISTOLOCHL£. 51 



the axils of the leaves ; flowers in August ; grows in wet mead- 

 ows ; not attractive enough to get an English name. 



Cuphea. Jacq. 11. 1. 

 C. viscosissima. Jacq. Calyx tubular and ventricose, 6 - 12- 

 toothed ; about 6 petals ; stem a foot and more high, erect, 

 branching ; flowers lateral, solitary, purple ; hills and wet 

 grounds ; found in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, by Dr. G. White. 

 It is an annual plant, very viscid ; blooms in September. 



ORDER 54. MELASTOMACE.E. 



Calyx 4-6-lobed ; petals equal in number to the divisions 

 of the calyx, and rising from their base ; once or twice as many 

 stamens as petals ; ovary attached somewhat to the calyx, of 

 several cells, containing innumerable minute seeds ; leaves op- 

 posite, usually entire ; flowers in a terminal thyrse ; some her- 

 baceous. One genus in this country. Slight astringency belongs 

 to the order : the fruit of many is succulent and eatable, and of 

 some, colors the mouth black, w 7 hich gives name to the order. A 

 great many species are contained in this order, but they belong 

 chiefly to the tropics, 78 to India and the Indian Archipelago, 12 

 to Africa and its islands, and 620 to America ; and only 14 are 

 found out of the tropics, and of these 8 belong to the United 

 States. Lindley. Only one genus belongs to the Northern States, 

 and only one species to this State. 



Rhexia. Brown. 8. 1. 

 R. Firginica. L. Deer Grass, Meadow Beauty. Stem a foot 

 high, square, membranous on the angles, somewhat hairy, with 

 sessile, ovate-lanceolate, ciliate, smooth leaves ; flowers purple, 

 large, in dichotomous corymbs ; flowers in July, and grows in 

 wet meadows. Has no important properties, but great beauty, 

 and is well deserving cultivation. 



ORDER 62. ARISTOLOCHLE. Birthwort Tribe. 



Calyx tubular, superior, having 3 segments, and no corolla ; 

 ovary with 3-6 cells, and 5-10 stamens, epigynous, or upon 



