88 The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
The firft or lower Leaves, are of a very fine, though pale green, with 
white ribs, hard, folid, and glofly ; and have often a blotchy mixture 
of a deeper green, fo that they have a variegated afpedt. The Stalk is 
upright, thick, tough, and firm ; it rifes fingle, and does not branch 
much, till near the top ; where it throws out a great many Shoots, 
which form together a thick and large Head. Thefe Branches, 
and a part, if not the whole of the Stem, for this depends on 
accidents, are of the moft delicate colour that can be imagined. It is 
blue with a mixture of purple ; a tindt too glowing, and too fine to be 
defcribed, otherwife than by the allufion to that Gem from which the 
Plant takes its name; for it is of the hue and luftre of the moft perfect 
Amethyfts. In its native place, the Plant is always coloured thus in the 
Stalk to the ground ; with us, where too rich a foil gives it more 
heighth and largenefs, the lower part is white ; and where this is the 
cafe, the colour of the top is not fo glowing. When this glow is perfedt, 
it is a Plant to be feen and admired from a diftance ; and more fo, every 
ftep that one advances to it. The Flowers are of a fine blue, with fome- 
what of the amethyftine tinge ; but their colour is not nearly fo bright 
as that of the Stalk. 
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