RHEXIA GLUTINOSA.

Rhexieæ.

YELLOW-FLOWERED RHEXIA.

Class VIII. OCTANDRIA. Order I. MONOGYNIA.

Gen. Char. Calyx, lanceolate, four to five-cleft. Petioles, four inserted upon the calyx.

Spe. Char. Stem, with winged angles, somewhat hairy. Leaves, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, serrate-ciliate, sprinkled with appressed hairs on both sides.

THE stem is erect, quadrangular, branched, and rises from one to three feet in height; the leaves are sessile, quite entire, linear-lanceolate, or ovate, and three nerved; the flowers are by threes, disposed in cymose corymb, and of a purple or yellow color; the tube of the calyx is ovate and ventricose at the base, but constricted at the neck, or near the apex; limb four-cleft and permanent; the petals are four in number, and obovate; stamens eight; anthers not drawn out at the base; cadsules free in the bottom of the calyx, four-celled, with lunate, pedicellate placentas; seeds cochleate.

This plant is a native of the warmer parts of Africa, and is found growing in some parts of South America, but is very little known in this country. Few specimens, however, have been inrroduced, and raised in our hot-houses, but will not thrive unless kept about the same warmth that Orange trees require. It flowers from July till September.

Propagation and Culture. All the species of this genus are very elegant and beautiful to the eye when in flower; and if planted in a bed of peat soil (which is the only soil in which they will thrive), they will grow and increase abundantly; and, if grown in

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pots, which is sometimes the case, they must be planted in peat soil. They are all increased very rapidly by dividing the roots.

Medical Properties and Uses. A slight degree of astringency is the prevailing character of the order, which is, although one of the most extensively known, entirely destitute of any unwholesome species. The succulent fruit of many is eatable, some of which dye the mouth black, whence the name Melastoma. One of the varieties produces a fruit which is eatable, and very pleasant, and found in great abundance in the woods of Guinea.

In some parts of Guinea this plant is held in great esteem as a specific for diseases of the bowels, such as dysenteria, diarrhœa, colic, cholera-morbus, and in all cases where astringents are required. It is sometimes given in connection with other astringents, and stimulants combined in suitable proportion. We are informed by a correspondent, a gentleman of undoubted veracity, who says, "I have used the decoction of the bark of the root, for bowel and summer complaints, and seldom ever find it fail to effect the purposes for which it is given. In cases of dysenteria or looseness of the bowels, I consider it as one of the best remedies known." The decoction is prepared by adding two ounces of the dried bark taken from the root, to one quart of water: steep this down to one pint and-a-half: then add sufficient good brandy to preserve it from souring. The dose of this is from half to a full wine-glassful, according to the urgency of the case: repeat several times a day. An extract is sometimes prepared, but in its preparation it is very much injured by too long being exposed to heat; it being somewhat volatile.

Aroidea.

SYMPLOCARPUS AUGUSTISPATHA.

NARROW-SPATHED SKUNK-CABBAGE

Class III. TRIANDRIA. Order I. MONOGYNIA.

Gen. Char-Stemless and Sub-aquatic. Calyx, four-parted. Segments, cucullate. Leaves, ovate, cordate. Spadix, oval, shorter than the spatha. Stamens, four. Filaments, subulate. Anthers, oblong, with parallel cells. Spadix, pedunculate. Flowers, tesselately imbricate. Petals, none. Style, four-angled, pyramidal. Stigma, minute. Seed, globular, pilumule, near the base.

Spe. Char. Root, thick, descending, and abruptly terminating in numerous fibres. Spadix, an inch long, on a short, thick peduncle; ovoid, globose. Leaves, with four-leaved perianth. Spathe, cucullate, shell-form. Seed, with a large fleshy globular embryo, consisting chiefly of radical, with one or sometimes several plumules; numerous.

THE above plant, a native of North America, retains so close a resemblance to the S. fætida, as hardly to allow of any other appellation than that of a variety, as distinguished from a distinct species. It is, however, opposed in several particulars. The generic term Symplocarpus is derived from the Greek symploke, connection, and karpos, fruit; signifying here, united berries. The species has, with some moderns, and those not the least enlightened, shared, and with equal right, the ominous fame of the Upas, the deadly influence of which has for so many ages been the theme or quickening image of Eastern fable and the world's song. Its places of growth, which

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