summit of the incipient seed vessel. In this situa- 
tion its farina will be discharged, and it will then 
recede from the centre of the flower and fall back 
nearly to the petals. Thus, one stamen having per- 
formed its destined office, a second will be observed 
to advance in like manner; as also will each of the 
other in succession, till the farina of all has been 
discharged, and the fructification of the seed thereby 
completed. 
This singular locomotive operation of the stamens 
will occupy about two days each, more or less, ac- 
cording to the state of the weather; taking somewhat 
more than a week, for the operation of the whole 
flower. This time will vary in proportion to the 
stimulus yielded to its powers of vegetation by the 
less or greater supply of heat and moisture. 
If the plant be placed in a window, or other situa- 
tion where the light or sun’s rays are but partially 
received, the first stamen will be observed to rise 
on that side of the flower presented to the light; and 
in this case the flowers will very sensibly turn with 
the apparent course of the sun. 
Some other plants, as Saxifraga, and the common 
Rue, have the same peculiarity in the separate action 
of their stamina; but we know of no one that pos- 
sesses a more beautifully organised appendage than 
is presented to us in the little nectaries of Parnassia 
palustris. These supernumerary organs will be fur- 
ther considered at a future time. 
This plant is a native of marshy places in many 
parts of England; and is most successfully cultivated 
in a pot of sandy peat and loam, which should be 
set in a pan containing water at all times. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 177. 
