the rose of Jericho: A genus of the filiculosa order, belonging to the tetradyamia class of plants; and, in the natural method, ranking under the 39th order, Siliqueae. The characters are: The calyx is a perianthium consisting of four leaves, and persistent; the corolla consists of four cruciform petals; the stamina consist of six filuated filaments; the length of the calyx; the antherae are roundish; the pistillum has a small bifid germin; the stylus mucronated and oblique; the stigma headed; The pericarpium is a short bilocular silicle, retuse, and crowned on the margin with valvule twice as long as the partition; The seeds are solitary and roundish.—Of this genus there are two Species.

1. The syriaca, a native of Syria, is not cultivated or known in Britain. 2. The hierochuntica is a native of the sandy parts of Palestine and the Red Sea. It is a low annual plant, dividing into many irregular woody branches near the root. At each joint is placed a single, oblong, hairy leaf; and at the same places come out small single flowers, of a whitish green colour, composed of four leaves placed in the form of a cross. These are succeeded by short wrinkled pods, having four small horns; these open into four cells, in each of which is lodged a single brown seed.—When the seeds of this plant are ripe, the branches will draw up and contract; so that the whole plant forms a kind of ball or globular body, which will expand on laying it a short time in warm water. This property it retains for many years, on which account it is preserved as a curiosity by some people. From this property the monks have given it the name of Rosa Marie, pretending that the flowers open on the night in which our Saviour was born.

Culture. This plant is propagated by seeds, which should be sown in the beginning of March, in a moderate hot-bed in pots, in which the plants are designed to remain. When they come up, the plants should be thinned, leaving them about six inches asunder, and observing to keep them clear of weeds, which is all the care they require. If the season proves favourable, they will flower in August; but unless the autumn proves warm and dry, they will not perfect their seeds in Britain.