V7^"' 



f r 



-Fv r 



r tf ' 



-V 



SPECIKS OF MESEiAfBRt ANTHEMUM. 



61 



the name Mnima for tliis group be ubolishod and tlie imiue SjJiccroidea, by 

 which it is now so well known, be niaintained for it, as that name applies 

 to the plants; now understood as belonging to that group very much better 

 tlum it does to the plants which, according to Haworth's definition of the 

 section as given under the description of M. nvclforme^ would otherwise be 

 included under it, most of tliese being by no moans splueroidal in shape ; so 

 that the term Splimroidea would be quite unfitting if restored to M\ 



nuc 



and its allies, which are all well characterised by the top of the growth 

 being distinctly notched or 2-lobcd and often more or less compressed or 



keeled there, as if pinched between tlie finger and thuml). 



I therefore 



propose the sectional name Biloha for those plants having this type of 

 structure, which will include M. mfriforme, Haw., J/, qnamtvm, K, E, Br., 

 M. Elisha^^ N. E. Ur., AL bilobum, Mark, and all allied species. 



The species belonging to the Splueroid group are, a2>art from their shape, 

 all well characterised by the presence in their adult condition of a small 

 central orifice at the top, through which the flower issues* In recent years, 

 however, a few species have been discovered which, although conforming to 

 the Spliajroid type in gei:eral shape and also in having a ccntraL orifice in 

 the juvenile stages, yet in the adult stage differ by having a fissure extending 

 transversely entirely across the top, and the flowers are also of an entirely 

 different type, the corolla being (juite destitute of a tube. These phnits I 

 propose to erect into a separate group under tlie sectional mnne of Fissarata, 

 or the Fissured group, which will include such sj)ecies as M. tftrhini/ovme, 

 Haw., M. psevdotrnncatellam, Berger, M. Lediet, N, E. Br., and their alHes, 

 The fissure across the top gives evidence that the single body of which the 

 growths apparently consist in the SphcTroid group is in reality composed of 

 a pair of opposed leaves completely united, except along a narrow part from 

 base to apex corresponding to the position of the midrib, so as to form a 

 flattened tube down the centre of the fleshy body, the terminal opening of 

 which forms a central orifice to the plant, through which the flower issues. 

 In the sections JJiloha and Fissuraia the first stages of the separation of the 

 two leaves of which the body is comi)osed give an indication of the manner 



to evolve from the simple Sphseroid type 

 through various stemless types into bushy and trailing types, 



I am inclined to think that, some of these plants should be separated 

 generically f rom Mesemhr^arUliemuni^'dnd am investigating certain .chara^tet:?> 



in which tl 



leso pUints Deti^an 



b 



tb 



however, I retain tb 



of. Meaemhrymthemum, and give a diagnostic key to the groups into which 

 the plants, now cultivated under the name of " Sphtero 



d 



should be 



divided, and have included in it. the sections 



UA 



six gTOupri in this key being perhaps the most remarkable in the genus : 



