very impatient of frost. Leaves alternate, on short stalks, elliptic- 
spear-shaped, pointed, entire, hairy, dull green above, paler be- 
neath. Flowers very small, numerous, in the axils of the leaves. 
Involucrum (see fig. 2.) stalked, “ in 2 portions, of about 7 seg- 
ments each, and between them is placed a fertile flower, whose 
perianth (calyx) is entire, closely surrounding the pistil. In each 
portion of the involucrum are three flowers apparently fertile,” 
(Wilson) ; but of which the central one has only a pistil. The 
lateral ones have stamens and pistil, (see fig. 1). Calyx (fig. 3.) of 
one sepal, deeply divided into 4 segments. Filaments 4, white, 
curiously jointed and elastic, by which property the pollen is very 
copiously discharged. Gcrmen (see fig. 5.) green, shining, naked. 
Style thread-shaped. Stigma forming a bright scarlet tuft (see 
fig. 5). Seed (figs. 6 & 8.) single, egg-shaped, shining. 
“ To obtain a perfect idea of the manner in which the fiuctification is car- 
ried on, in this plant, the flowers should be examined at a very early period of 
their expansion ; we shall then find in each involucre three red stigmas, the two 
outermost of which belong to flowers which have both stamens and a pistil, 
but whose stamens are not yet visible ; the middle one, which is the largest and 
most conspicuous, to one which has a pistil only. If a View be taken of the same 
flowers at the time that the elastic filaments by their sudden expansion are scat- 
tering the pollen, the styles and stigmas of the perfect flowers, (that is, flowers 
with both stamens and a pistil,) visible before, will often be found wanting, and 
the germ left naked in the centre of the flower : at this period, the segments of 
the calyx in the same flowers are nearly of the same length as the filaments, the 
style and stigma of the fertile or pistilliferus flower remain perfect, and the germ 
is closely surrounded by a green hairy calyx, which never expands : the period 
of flowering being now over, a considerable alteration takes place in the calyx 
of the perfect flowers, each is considerably elongated, becomes more tubular, 
assumes a redder colour, has its tip pressed down, and soon drops out of the in- 
volucre, in which it leaves no appearance of a seed; but on opening them, a 
seed will be found at the bottom of each, perfectly similar to that produced by, 
and inclosed in the calyx of the fertile or pistilliferus flower, which does not 
enlarge as the other does, but partaking more the nature of a capsule, on pres- 
sure, divides at top into four parts, and contains a blackish, shining seed. 
“ The manner in which the flowers shed their pollen is curious. The fila- 
ments, on their first appearance, all bend inwards ; as soon as the pollen is ar- 
rived at a proper state to be discharged, the warmth of the sun, or the least touch 
from the point of a pin, will make them instantly fly back, and discharge a little 
cloud of dust (see fig. 4). This process is best seen in a morning, when the sun 
shines on the plant, in July or August : if the plant be large, numbers will be 
seen exploding at the same instant.” — Curtis, in Flora Londinensis ; and 
Martyn’s Miller’s Gard. Diet. 
This plant was formerly in repute as a medicine ; but it does 
not seem to possess any remarkable qualities. It has been ranked 
as an emollient, though apparently without reason. Its character 
as a diuretic is better known. Mr. Sole, Apothecary of Bath, and 
an excellent Botanist, relates that he observed remarkably good 
effects from the juice of this herb in dropsical cases, in which other 
diuretics had failed ; he converted the juice into a thin syrup, and 
gave two table-spoonfuls or more thrice a day. 
The leaves of this plant strewed in granaries are said to destroy 
the corn- weevil. It contains so great a quantity of nitre, that in 
making an extract from it, the mass has taken fire. Withering. 
