120 THE MONTHLY FLORA. 
shrubbery by its noble spikes of pendant floweis, whicb ban^^ w 
siicb peculiar grace from the spiral branches that they may 
compared to a tower of Chinese bells, balanced for the pleasuie o 
the Zephyrs. When these flowers advance from the calyx, they 
are scarcely closed at the end by the four clefts of the coiol a, 
which meet so exactly as to prevent the admission of aii until the 
parts of fructification have arrived at maturity, at which peiiod 
the lips of the flower burst open in a bell or trumpet shape, dis- 
playing the most beautiful leopard spots in the interior of the 
flower. In this state the corolla remains for some days, until 
the anthers have discharged their farina, when the mask drops 
off that the sun may more readily ripen the seed vessels; but as 
fresh flowers continue to open in a regular succession, upwards, 
from the month of June to September, the beauty of the plant 
is continued for a longer period than most other towering flowers. 
The covering of the parts of fructification, reminds us of 
Flint’s remarks, in relation to similar cases. Nature, says he, 
is always modest, and when the mystery is accomplished and 
the flower cup fecundated, the peduncle that sustains the flower 
turns up again towards the sky. Its bower of love was con- 
cealed ; but it shows the cradle of its children. 
The leaves of this plant ha.ve a nauseous, bitter taste, but 
uncommon scent; when dried their color should be of a lively 
green ; a fortunate test of the care used in the process, as this 
plant is now coming into extensive use. When given in large 
doses, it has the remarkable property of almost instantly redu- 
cing the action of the heart, lowering the pulse from seventy beats 
in a minute to thirty, and even twenty-five ; and that too without 
previously exciting it. There is a variety with white corollas, to 
be seen sometimes in the gardens, which may be obtained by 
retaining the seeds of the common Foxglove a year without 
sowing them. Cowley says ; 
The Foxglove on fair Flora’s hand is worn, 
Lest while she gathers flowers, she meets a thorn. 
