Tas. 7750. 
MATTHIOLA coronorrrotta. 
Native of Sicily. 
Nat. Ord. Crucirerz.—Tribe ARABIDEX. 
Genus Marruioua, R. Br. ; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen, Plant. vol. i. p. 67.) 
MatrHiota coronopifolia; herba perennis v. suffruticulus ramosnus, pilis stellatis 
cano-puberulus et sparse- glandulozo-pubescens, foliis lineari-cblongis in- 
squaliter pinnatilobatis v. sinuato-dentatis rarius integris lobulis incurvis 
obtusis, racemis spiciformibus, pedicellis brevissimis, sepalis lineari- 
oblongis obtusis, petaloram lamina # poll. longis, lineari-oblonga undulata 
vinoso-purpurea, siliqna gracili subtereti, stigmate 3-loba v. breviter 2-3- 
crari, seminibus oblongis anguste alatis. 
M., coronopifolia, DO. Syst. Veg. vol. i. p. 173; ef Prodr. vol. i. p. 134 (excl. 
cit, Sibth. & Sm.) Presl, Fl. Sic. vol. i. p. 41. Guss. Pl. Rar. Sic. p. 275. 
partim; Fl. Sic, Synops. vol. ii. pars i. p. 176. Bertol. Fl, Ital. vol. vil. 
p: 103. Tenore, Syll. Fl. Neap. p. 821; #1. Wap. vol. v. p. 66. Arcang. 
Comp. Fl. Ital. p. 31. 
M. tristis forma, Parlat. Fl. Ital. vol. ix. p. 801. 
M. tristis, var. bicornis, Pojero, F/. Sic. vol. i. pars i. p. 101. 
Leucojum montanum, &¢c, Boece. Mus. Piant. Rar. Sic, p. 147, t. 111. Ray, 
Hist. Plant. vol. iii. p. 497. 
L. minus purpureun, &c., Barrel. Plant. Gall. Ic., t. 999. 
Hesperis Sicula coronopifol. &., Tourney. Instit. vol. i. p. 223. 
Though referred by Parlatore and Pojero to a form of 
M. tristis, Br., M. coronopifolia is retained as a distinct 
species by most Italian botanists, including the latest of 
these, Arcangeli. Its sole constant distinctive character 
is that of the beautiful vinous purple colour of the petals, 
which was recognized by Boccone (1697), and has been by all 
subsequent authors, in contrast to the dull yellow or livid, 
often greenish purple of JM. tristis. It is singular that 
De Candolle, and following him some other authorities, 
whilst recognizing the colour of the petals as distinctive 
should cite Cheiranthus coronopifolia of the “ Flora Graeca 
as a synonym, the beautiful plate in which work is certainly 
M. tristis.  Boissier, who unites coronopifolia and tristis in 
his “Flora Orientalis” with the character “ petalis lividis 
vel vinoso-purpureis,” overlooks the normally pinnatifid 
character of the leaves of coronopifolia, to which it owes 
DrcEeMBER Ist, 1900. 
