A3 A CIIAEACTEIt IN EUBYBIA AND OLEABIA. 19 



Eurybia ramulosa (DC). Eurybia lepidophylla (Hook.Jil.). 



floribunda (Hook.Jil.). xerophylla (Muell.). 



Of the seven species with " duplex " pappus, the first four group 

 naturally together. It is a question, by-the-by, whether the second 

 and third are specifically distinct ^ they are characterized by 

 paniculate or corymbose heads of middling size, short silky 

 achenia, duplex reddish-white pappus, and rather large, flat, 

 dentate, stellate-haired leaves. A good natural group is formed 

 by JE. ramulosa and the two following species : it is distinguished 

 by small quasi-racemose heads, short silky achenia, subduplex 

 albescent pappus, and very small, entire, revolute-margined, 

 woolly-haired leaves. The best natural group, however, is that 

 composed of O. Colensoi and the three following species, which 

 would form a fair genus, and have large solitary or few heads, 

 long villous achenia, subduplex rufescent pappus, and large, flat, 

 denticulate, woolly-haired leaves. Of the other nine species, O. 

 rotundifolia and O. dentata together might, perhaps, form the 

 nucleus of a group, characterized by somewhat large corymbose 

 (2-4) heads, middling-sized villous achenia, duplex rufescent or 

 albescent pappus, and rather large, flat, dentate leaves, with diva- 

 ricato-furcate hairs. Of the remaining seven species, O. insignis 

 and O. pannosa might, for the present, occupy a position, together 

 with O. rotundifolia and O. dentata, in a genus based upon 0. 

 Colensoi. 



AVithout going further, I may be permitted to remark that, if 

 the subdivision Diplopappcee (DC.) should be retained, the above 

 seven species with duplex pappus are as much entitled to be 

 placed in it as many of the species of Diplopappua and Diplo- 

 stephium. 



It will be noticed that the hairs on almost all the pilose achenia 

 are bifid at the apex ; and I believe this will be found to be the 

 case very extensively among the Composited. 



I am not prepared at present to recommend a definite new 

 arrangement of this portion of the division Asterece, but consider 

 myself quite justified in expressing the opinion that a re-arrange- 

 ment of the genera is very much to be desired. It might probably 

 be founded upon the inflorescence and the size of the capitula, the 

 arrangement and colour of the pappus, the clothing, form, and 

 size of the leaves, and the form and size of the achenia. 



If my humble labours should be found to have contributed at 

 all to the attainment of a satisfactory result, I shall deem myself 

 amply rewarded. 



c2 



