432 MEXICO.-SUPPLEMENT. [.Composite. 



floriferis, bracteis distichis, floribus fructibusque secundis, corolla basi subgibba, calycis 

 limbo obseleto integro. — Valeriana ceratophylla, Hook, et Am. supra, p. 296. not H.B.K. 



Hab. San Bias and Tepic. — Notwithstanding the great similarity between this plant and the Valeriana 

 ceratophylla of H.B.K. Nov. Gen. Am. 3. t. 276. (so great indeed, that we had in a former part of this 

 work hastily considered it the same), it is in reality a totally different thing, not even referrible to the Genus 

 Valeriana at all. It is a true Astrephia, having no pappose calycine limb, but a very indistinct entire border, 

 a mere slightly elevated rim. The flowers at first appear to be capitate at the extremity of the little ramuli 

 of the corymbs : but as the fructification advances, these ramuli are elongated into slender spikes, with closely 

 placed, almost imbricated, distichous, fringed, ovato-lanceolate bracteas, within which the ovary is situated. 

 Corolla very narrow at the base, and there a little oblique, but scarcely gibbous. Stamens 2, almost entirely 

 included. Style much inserted. Stigmas 3. Limb of the calyx obsolete, unaltered in fruit. Fruit glabrous, 

 ovato-triquetrous, with two elevated lines in front, indicating two abortive cells. The more advanced fruit 

 is, however, only 1-celled, very deciduous, leaving the rachis pectinated, as it were, with the closely-placed 

 distichous scales or bracteas. 



Ord. XXVI. COMPOSITE. 



Tbib. I. VERNONIACE^E. 



I. Vernonia (§ Lepidaploa) lanceolaris ; caule tereti striato pube feruginea parce velu- 

 tino, foliis petiolatis lanceolatis basi subobtusis apice acuminatis serrulatis supra glabris, 

 subtus petiolisque parce velutinis, paniculae ramis axillaribus ebracteatis ramosis velutinis, 

 capitulis sessilibus ovatis 20-floris lateralibus et terminalibus, involucri squamis omnibus 

 mucronatis dorso subpuberis, corolla glabra, receptaculo alveolato, achenio puberulo, 

 pappi serie exteriore brevi vix paleacea. De Cand. Prodr. 5. p. 37. 



Hab. Realejo. — De Candolle's character of this plant is drawn up from a Mexican specimen in Haenke's 

 Herb-, and consequently we believe that it is from the Pacific side of Mexico, and the character quite accords 

 with our Realejo specimens. The stem and branches are decidedly woody and striated, upwards clothed 

 with rusty down. Leaves 4-6 inches long, broadly lanceolate, penninerved and reticulated, of a harsh 

 texture, wrinkled when dry. Petiole half an inch long. Panicle large, many-flowered, terminal, the branches 

 leafy at the base ; the ultimate ones slightly recurved, bearing the capitula sessile on the upper side. Scales 

 of the involucre green with a white bordeT. 



1. Distreptus spicatus, Cass. — De Cand. Prodr. 5. p. 87. Hook, et Am. supra, p. 296. 

 — Elephantopus spicatus, Juss. 



Hab. Realejo. — Our specimens have larger capitula than usual, and " from 4 to 6-8 collected in each 

 bractea ; but it is a species liable to much variation, according to De Candolle. 



). Lagascea latifolia; fruticosa, foliis sessilibus amplexicaulibus oblongis acuminatis 

 serratis integerrimisve supra scabris subtus molliter pilosis reticulatis, capitulis corymboso- 

 paniculatis. De Cand. Prodr. 5. p. 92. Hook, et Am. supra, p. 296. — Nocca latifolia, 

 Lallave et Lex. Nov. Veg. Descr. 1. p. 31. Sweet, Br. Fl. Gard. t. 215. 



Hab. Between San Bias and Tepic. — Our specimens, only portions of the plant, are a foot to a foot and a 

 half long, leaves 4-6 inches long, opposite, and, by means of the short semi-amplexicaul petioles, even 



