328 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
Ii clothes one open, sunny hill of some acres, in Plymouth, 
with a low, brown, uniform dress, strongly reminding one of 
the description of the heaths of Europe. In the end of March, 
or the beginning of April, the numerous purple, terminal blos- 
soms, give to this spot an air of gaiety, in striking contrast with 
the sere and melancholy waste every where around, when little 
else, except the beautiful and fragrant May-flower, Hpigaa, 
gives evidence of the approach of spring. The lovers of nature 
in this town of the Pilgrims, have the pleasure of announcing 
the agreeable news, by presents of the Oakésia and the Epige’a 
to their friends at a distance. A favor of this kind, from my 
friend Mr. Gilbert, gives me the opportunity of describing this 
plant. 
It rises a foot or two from the ground, forming large, crowded 
tufts. The stem is small and round, of a reddish color, with 
an ashy bark. ‘The short branches are in imperfect whorls 
or stages; their ends are covered with the thickly set leaves, 
closely scattered or in whorls of three. Leaves very short, 
needle-like, so completely revolute at the edge, as to form almost 
a cylinder. Male flowers in terminal bunches of ten to fifteen, 
consisting of three to six, brown, membranaceous scales, enclos- 
ing three stamens. Filaments long threads, supporting on 
their summit a bi-lobed anther, free at each extremity, and 
opening longitudinally on the external sides. 
The plants bearing the female blossoms have leaves of a 
lighter green. These flowers also are terminal in clusters of 
about twelve. Each flower consists of one ovary surmounted 
by a trifid style, encircled by three delicate equal scales, in the 
axis of one which is ovate, ciliated at the margin and acumi- 
nate. ‘Some plants are found bearing perfect flowers. The 
stamens and pistils are purple, the encircling scales brownish. 
