reticulately veined, smooth, of a dark glossy green above, rather 
paler beneath ; those from the root egg-shaped, or somewhat 
rhomboid (diamond-shaped) , pointed, on long channelled footstalks, 
which, as well as the stems, are often reddish at the base. Stem- 
leaves seldom more than one pair, these are broadly egg-shaped with 
a short point, usually opposite, sometimes alternate, sessile, but not 
connate, and situated immediately below the racemes. One of the 
specimens sent me by Mr. Paxton has 4 leaves on the stem, not 
exactly opposite each other in pairs, but so near together as to ap- 
pear like a whorl of 4 leaves ; in the axils of these leaves are pro- 
duced, together with the stalks of the racemes, several small leaves 
of a rhomboid shape, and on long footstalks, like those from the 
root ; thus the plant appears to have a tendency to become vivipar- 
ous. Racemes from 1 to 3, at the summit of the stem, simple, or 
sometimes slightly branched. Flowers on long pedicels, from 1 to 
3 together, usually somewhat unilateral (leaning all one way), and 
more or less nodding both before and after flowering; each pedicel 
accompanied by a leaf-like bractea at its base, the lower ones egg- 
shaped, upper ones smaller, narrower, and more or less strap-shaped. 
Calyx (see fig. 2.) small, of 2, broadly egg-shaped, opposite sepals, 
each with a very blunt, somewhat tumid base. Corolla (fig. 1.) 
white, of 5 petals, which are slightly united at the base, their sum- 
mits deeply notched. Filaments inserted into the base of the 
petals, and about half as long. Anthers red. 
For an opportunity of introducing this elegant and curious little 
plant into my work, as a native of Britain, I am indebted to the 
kindness of Mr. Joseph Paxton, F. L. S. &c. Gardener to His 
Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, who discovered 
it in an apparently wild state near Chatsworth, as stated above. 
We should be cautious in introducing into the Flora of Britain plants which 
may probably have been originally the outcasts from gardens; but I think the 
present one has as good a claim to be considered as having become naturalized 
in this country, as some others which have been published as natives. In a 
letter which 1 received from Mr. Pax i on, dated the 10th instant, (Oct. 1837,) 
he says, “ I have this morning gathered specimens of Claytonia from the very 
places in which 1 originally found it, and 1 am more firmly than ever convinced 
of its being natural to the situation ; in short, I feel fully persuaded, that if you 
were to see it you would at once concur with me in considering it so. I find it 
occurs in patches for the space of two or three hundred yards, from North to 
South, across a thick wood, springing up amongst the underwood, sometimes 
quite thick, at other times less plentifully. The ground, where it grows, gradu- 
ally slopes to the North, and is, throughout the whole year, very wet, in conse- 
quence of the density of the underwood, and great quantity of Fern, which is 
growing in such abundance as constantly to exclude the beams of the sun. I 
pulled up two or three plants, and found the roots were running in the decayed 
and decaying leaves quite free; still the strongest were perhaps to be found in 
the soil, which is a yellow loam, rendered stiff and heavy by constant moisture. 
It has been in flower ever since last April, and is now quite fresh, although not 
so fine as it was earlier in the season.” — Mr. Paxton observes, that he has not 
seen it in any other part of Chatsworth, neither has he met with it in any garden 
in the neighbourhood. This species of Claytonia is a native of the North-west 
coast of America, at the sources of the Columbia ; it is particularly plentiful 
about Indian villages, where it seems to hold the place of Chickweed in our 
country. It was first cultivated in England in 1794. 
The Drawing for the accompanying plate was made from a specimen obligingly 
communicated to me by Mr. Paxton, from its locality at Chatsworth, Septem- 
ber 8, 1837. 
