( 38 ) 
Iii the year 1765, our late worthy friend, Mr. Peter Coliihfon, 
lent me a dried fpecimen of this curious plant, which he had re- 
ceived from Mr. John Bartram, of Philadelphia, botanift to the 
King. The flower of this fpecimen DoCtor Solander difieCted with 
me, and we found it to be a new genus; but not fufpeCting then the 
extraordinary fenfitive power of its leaves, as they were withered 
and contracted, we concluded they approached near to the Dro- 
fera or Rofa Solis , to which they have been fuppofed by many 
perfons fmee to have a great affinity ; as the leaves of the molt 
common Englilh lpecies of Rofa Solis are round, concave, befet with 
linall hairs, and full of red vifeid glands. 
But we are indebted to Mr. William Young, a native of Phila- 
delphia (to whom likewife the Royal favour has been extended, 
for his encouragement in his botanical refearches in America), for 
the introduction of this curious plant alive, and in confiderable 
quantities. He informs me, that they grow in fhady wet places, 
and flower in July and Augufl; that the largeft leaves, which he 
has feen, were about three inches long, and an inch and half acrofs 
the lobes; and obferves, that the glands of thofe that were expo- 
led to the fun were of a beautiful bright red colour, but thofe in 
the (hade were pale, and inclining to green. 
It is now likely to become an inhabitant of the curious gardens 
in this country, and merits the attention of the ingenious. 
• The Botanical Characters of the Genus Dionasa, according to the 
Linnaean Sexual Syftem, where it come under the Clafs of 
Decandria Monogynia.' 
The Calyx , or Flower-cup, confifts of five final!, equal, ereCt 
leaves, of a concave oval form, pointed at the 
top. 
The 
