LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
191 
stalk ; beneath these are two membranous sepals^ 
much smaller j and quite white. From the centre 
stand up four nectaries^ on long slender filaments 
resembling stamenSj so that I know no flower more 
likely to puzzle a student endeavouring to find its 
name in the Linnsean system. Only a single 
blossom is seen on the plant at one time, which is 
produced in the morning, and shrivels in the course 
of a few hours ; but a new one is evolved on the 
next morning, and thus a succession continues for 
a considerable time. 
Another beautiful and fleeting flower is the Tree 
Primrose [(Another a fruticosd)^ which grows on 
the sunny edges of the woods, in the corners of 
fences, &c,, rising to the height of several feet. 
The flower is large, of a brilliant yellow. 
Two species of Banner-pea {Vexillaria Virgin 
niana^ and mariana) are trailing on the ground, 
or creeping up other plants in the forest. They 
are papilionaceous flowers, much alike, and resem- 
bling a sweet pea, the banner {vexillum) being 
much enlarged ; the colour is a delicate lilac. The 
stems are scarcely thicker than a thread, though 
very long ; the leaves are ternate, or set in threes. 
Large tracts of waste land, neglected fields, &c., 
are now covered with the glowing scarlet blossoms 
of Zinnia multiflora^ which, standing in dense 
masses, have a showy effect, something like that of 
a bank covered with the common scarlet poppy in 
England. Beautiful as it is, however, it is too 
common to be admired ; it is nothing but a weed, 
having not even the consideration of a familiar 
name. 
One more plant, and Flora is dismissed. I 
know nothing of its pretensions to beauty or 
