ete 
i ata 
- Tas. 6051. 
SILEN E Hooxert. 
Native of California. 
Nat. Ord. CarYopHYLLEZ.—Tribe SILENES. 
Genus Siteng, Linn. ; (Benth. and Hook. f. Gen. Pl., vol. i. p. 147). 
Sitene Hookeri ; perennis, tota tomentoso-pubescens, caulibus e radici peren- 
nate plurimis decumbentibus foliosis, foliis anguste elliptico-lanceolatis 
v. oblanceolatis acutis enerviis in petiolum latum angustatis, radicalibus 
in plantis junioribus spathulatis, floribus solitariis v. in axillis sub- 
cymosis amplis pedicellatis rarius in pedunculos 2-floros dispositis, 
calyce pollicari anguste oblongo demum turgido non _ viscoso 
10-nervio, limbi brevis lobis triangulari-ovatis, petalis pallide roseis 
ungue basi ciliato superne in laminam cuneatam 4-6-fidam sensim 
dilatato facie 2-carinato, carinis in dentes productis, limbi lobis linearibus 
zequalibus v. variis acutis v. obtusis, staminibus petalinis ungue multo 
brevioribus sepalinis filamentis filiformibus elongatis, ovarii stipite 
glaberrimo. 
SitenE Hookeri, Nuttall in Torr. and Gray Fl. N. Am., vol. i. p. 198. 
8. Bolanderi, A. Gray in Proc. Amer. Acad., vol. vii. p. 330 (March, 1868). 
This curious species of Silene was discovered some forty 
years ago in woods of the Wahlamet, in Oregon, and has been 
gathered repeatedly since by various collectors in different 
parts of Oregon and California; most recently by Prof. 
Bolander, in wooded hillsides in the Plumas country. It is 
quite unlike any other cultivated in Europe, and especially 
remarkable from the great size of the flowers in comparison 
with the rest of the plant. Nuttall, the founder of the 
species, describes the petals as white, but they are of 
a pale rose colour in our specimens. In Gray’s description 
and our specimens of S. Bolanderi these petaline lobes vary 
exceedingly in number, length, and breadth, the outer on 
either side being sometimes reduced to mere teeth. 
_ Silene Hookert is well adapted for rockwork cultivation ; 
it was introduced by Professor Bolander, who sent seeds to 
Mr. Thompson of Ipswich, who forwarded living specimens 
Auaust Ist, 1873. 
