SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Heath, with beardless tips, within the blossom; shaft without; blossoms nearly cylindrical, of a light purple; segments of the border rolled back; flowers terminate the smaller branches, mostly by fours; leaves grow by fours, a little hairy at the edges.

DESCRIPTION.

Stem shrubby, grows a foot high, and branching; the small branches are numerous, and nearly upright.

Leaves grow by fours, are linear, a little hairy, furrowed beneath; with very short foot-stalks pressed to the branches.

Flowers grow at the end of the small branches, generally by fours, and sitting close upon them; footstalks very short, having three very small floral leaves.

Empalement. Cup of four leaves, which are awl-shaped, keeled, and pressed to the blossom.

Blossom nearly cylindrical, an inch long, and of a light purple; segments of the border nearly egg-shaped, sharp-pointed, and rolled back; the mouth a little narrowed.

Chives. Eight hair-like threads, shorter than the blossom; tips beardless, and within the blossom.

Pointal. Seed-bud egg-shaped and furrowed. Shaft thread-shaped, and without the blossom. Summit four-cornered.