We have extracted the generic and specific characters of 
this plant from an important memoir by Mr. Bentham, upon 
the Natural order Hydrophyllez, which was read before the 
Linnean Society on the 17th of June last ; it comprehends no 
less than 17 new species, and one new genus of this small 
groupe. 
Upon this plant Mr. Bentham has the following observa- 
tions :— 
“ This is a more elegant and less weedy plant than the 
P. circinata now common in gardens. It growsto the height 
of a foot and a half or two feet. The stems are erect; not 
much branched, bearing a few rigid and reflexed hairs. The 
leaves are altogether from 3 to 5 inches long; the primary 
segments, especially the lower ones, are slightly petiolated, 
from 8 to 12 in number on each leaf, and from half an inch 
to an inch distant. The secondary segments are from a 
quarter to half an inch long ; those nearest the axis, sessile 
and distinct, the upper ones confluent ; they are green on 
both sides, nearly glabrous, but covered with asperities. 
The flowers are of a light bluish violet colour, nearly sessile 
along one sided spirally incurved racemes, forming together 
a dense dichotomous panicle placed at some distance from 
the upper leaves ; the calyxes are covered with bristly hairs. 
** It is a hardy annual, thriving in any soil or situation." 
A native of California, where its seeds were gathexed by 
Mr. Douglas. 
‚Fig. 1. is a view of the ovarium, with the two-parted 
hairy style; fig. 2. represents the corolla cut open, shewing 
the ten scales near its base. We would take the present 
opportunity of suggesting that these 10 scales represent five 
sterile anthers adhering to the tube of the corolla by 
their backs, and consisting each of two membranous lobes. 
This is chiefly rendered probable by their number and 
position ; but we are not acquainted with any direct evidence 
of such being the true nature of these singular appendages. 
