PURPLE SHELL FLOWER. 
iHIS elegant little flower is represented, 
nearly 6f the natural size. It is a native of 
New South V/ales ; where it is said to spring 
up spontaneously, in the warmer seasons, and 
to be abundantly found in all soils. This 
spontaneous growth, however, can only be 
philosophieally considered, as arising from 
seed previously scattered by the hand of Na- 
ture, without the interference, or particular 
observation, of human art: since the do6lrIne 
' of spontaneous productions has been long 
\ since universally exploded. 
The beauty and simplicity of tliis plant is 
very peculiar not only from the triangular 
form, and chaste colouring of the flower,, but 
it's pleasing shell-like appearance, which has 
mduced us to denominate it tlie Purple Shell, 
Flower: a name which speaks to the imagi- 
nation, at least,, of every bc'iolder, a language 
more forcible than many of the austere terms 
given by the rigid botanist to simple produc- 
tions 
