round, smooth and shining, from 6 inches to about a foot high, each 
bearing at its summit one compound leaf, which is twice or thrice 
ternate. Petioles ( leaf- stalks) swollen at the base. Leaflets an 
inch and a half, or two inches long, heart-shaped, pointed, very 
delicate, smooth on the upper side, hairy and somewhat glaucous on 
the under, slightly serrated, the serratures tipped with a short 
bristle ; lateral • leaflets unequal, and all, more or less, reclining 
towards the ground. Raceme ( cluster J branched, springing from 
the swollen base of the leaf-stalk, shorter than the leaf. Flowers 
nodding, rather handsome, and furnished with 4 curious, mem- 
branous, inflated, yellow nectaries, which are nearly as large as the 
petals, and are generally full of honey. Anthers very curious, of 
2 cells, and 2 lid-like valves, which open elastically, and allow the 
pollen to escape. 
The Epimedium Alpinum is a singular and rather a handsome 
plant, and is well deserving a place in the Flower Garden. It will 
grow in almost any situation, but thrives best in the shade. Its 
curiously constructed flowers will amply repay a careful investiga- 
tion of them. The insertion of the sepals, the petals, the nectaries, 
and the stamens, are all opposite to each other, and not alternate, as 
in most instances. 
It appears to have been known to Gf.rarde as early as the 16th 
century, for he tells us, in his Herbal, published at London in 1 597, 
that this rare and strange plant was sent to him from the French 
King’s herbarist, Robinus, who dwelt in Paris, at the sign of the 
Black Head, in the street called Du bout du Monde, (the end of 
the world). “ I planted it,” says he, “ in my garden, but it was 
dried away with the extreme heat of the sun, which happened in 
the year 1590, since which time it bringeth. seed to perfection.” — 
Johnson, in his edition of Gerarde’s Herbal, published in 1633, 
adds, that it grew in the garden of his friend Mr. John Milion, in 
Old-Street, and some other gardens about town. — It is said to be a 
native of the Alps, and Apennines, and also of Japan, as well as of 
England and Scotland. 
