89 



(1846), V. 82; Rev. Mim., 379. Watsou, Index, 252; and Proc. Auier. Acad. 

 XXIV. 48. Hemsley Biol. Centr.-Ainer. I. 344. 



Hab. "Sonora alta in Mexico, Coulter;" Guaymas, Palmer fNo. 628), 1887, 

 and now from the "rocky islands and ledges on the coast of Guaymas har- 

 bor." 



The collection of this plant in dower for the first time enables ns to de- 

 cide its generic position. It was collected by Dr. Thomas Coulter fifty or more 

 years ago, but only in fruit, and there is apparently but a single specimen in 

 existence, which is in the herbarium of Trinity College, Dublin. It waa found 

 by Mr. Benthani when on a visit to this herbarium, and was described by him 

 in 1846 in the Lond. Jour, Bot. as a now species of Pronopie, It was doubtfully 

 referred here, however, and its possible reference to Acacia was mentioned. 

 Palmer's specimen of 1887 was without flower or fruit, and Mr. Watson could 

 do no more than identify it as Bentham's species. Although in habit the species 

 of the two genera are similar, with the flowers the two are readily and clearly 

 separated, Prosopis having always ten stamens, while in Acacia they are numer- 

 ous, and in ours decidedly so, being 140 to 150. There are several little points 

 of difference between Bentham's description and our plant, which should be 

 nott d here,but the general characters are so clear as to leave no doubt as to 

 the identity of the two plants. Benthani says"stipuhe obsoletie, " while we 

 find small but deciduous stipules; also " pinna3 2, rarius 4," while in none of 

 our specimens do we find more than one pair ; again "foliola 12 to 15 juga," 

 while ours are mostly 4 to 6, a few are 10 to 15. The young branches are white, as 

 mentioned by Bentham, but in age become a grey or reddish brown. Unfor- 

 tunately a new name must be coined for the species, A. heterophijlla having 

 long before (1805) been used by Wilkh^now ; neither can it be named for either 

 of the collectors. Coulter or Palmer, as they both have species named for them 

 in the genus; nor for Mr. Bentham, who, although not so fortunate, is repre- 

 sented in the synonomy of this genus. At the request of Dr. Palmer we have 

 named this species for Mr. Alex. Willard, United States consul at Guaymas, 

 Mexico, who has given every aid i)ossible to him ou his several visits at that 

 place. No. 164. 

 Cereus pecteu aboriginum Eugelm. in Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. XXI. 429. The 

 flowers of this species are collected now for the first time, and the following 

 additional characters are supplementary to the description found in Mr. Watson's 

 paper referred to above. 



Flowers 2 to 3 inches long : ovary closely covered with dense soft hair, with- 

 out spines or rarely a few: sepals purplish, succulent: petals white, fleshy: 

 stamens very numerous: style with ten linear stigmas with spiny tips. 



Tiie plants grow 30 feet high and a foot or more in diameter, with many 

 branches. The fruit is formed at or near the top. No. 274. 

 Hofmeisteria crassifolia Watson. Proc. Amer. Acad. XXIV. 53. Found on an 

 isliind in lii" harbor at Guaymas, growing near the water. Very sweet scented. 

 No. 165. 

 Hymenathernm cocciueum Gray. The type collected by Pringle at Tucson, Arizona, 

 (1884), and we believe not since obtained. Dr. Palmer finds it very common 

 on a sandy, gravelly plain, in exposed places. It hasa strong odor. February 

 15 to 17, near Guaymas. No. 168. 

 Pectis Coulteri Gray. Found in sandy, gravelly plains near Guaymas, February 



15 to 17. No. 173. 

 Cordia Watsoni Hose, n. sp. Besides the differences given by Mr. Watson, the fol- 

 lowing characters furnished by the mature fruit clearly set this off from C. 

 Gregffii : The fruiting calyx of different shape, almost globose (4 to 5 lines in di- 

 ameter) and not clo.sely inclosing the fruit, but loosely and somewhat inflated : 

 pubescent instead of strigose : the fruit much larger, with thick, bony walls in- 

 stead of thin crustaceous. 



