VoL. 5] A Collection of Mexican Plants. 181 
This plant is a doubtful Spermacoce. Its general aspect is 
that of a Linum. Only tops were collected and they seem to 
have belonged to a fruticulose plant, but it may have been 
an annual. The fruit is not quite mature, so that the appearance 
of the perfectly ripe seed is unknown, It separates into two un- 
equal one-seeded carpels that are entirely covered on the inner 
faces by the very thin dissepiments. The ovary is affixed at its 
middle to the septum and the radicle is inferior. 
No. 417. Cordoba, Vera Cruz. 
Gentiana perpusilla. Annual, stems several, one-flowered; 
basal leaves crowded, margins light-colored, 1 cm. long, ovate- 
spatulate, acuminate, connate-sheathing; stems slightly exceeded 
by the corolla that is green outside and light blue within; its 
lobes are short, the plaits broad and acuminate; capsule clavate- 
obovate at length exserted on a long stipe beyond the corolla. 
This minute species is very near G. humilis. It was collected 
in wet meadows above the timber line of Ixtaccihuatl. 
Gilia Purpusi. Annual, stem simple, erect, 1-2 dm. high, 
puberulent; leaves 3-4 cm. long, pinnate into 8-12 ovate, acute, 
sharp-incised leaflets that are cuneate at base into a short petiolule, 
gradually decreasing in size from the terminal one, upper leaves 
with few linear-lanceolate leaflets and the uppermost becoming 
the bracts of the few, loosely flowered panicle; corolla rotate, 15 
mim. in diameter, deeply 5-cleft, light blue, lobes ovate; calyx 5- 
parted into linear, acute, white-margined lobes, longer than the 
capsule; seeds numerous, mucilaginous when wetted. 
This species is nearest G. zzcisa, from which it differs mainly 
in having numerous pinnate leaves instead of a few basal lyrately- 
pinnatifid ones. Collected at Viesca, Coahuila. No. 132. 
Castilleia Purpusi. Perennial, frutescent, hirsute; stems 1 
dm. high, usually simple from long subterranean root branches; 
lower leaves linear-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, slightly attenuate 
at base, 114-2 cm. long, 3-4 mm. wide; upper leaves and bracts 
trifid, the central lobe much the longest; calyx deeply cleft in 
front, slightly so behind, the lobes entire or emarginate; corolla 
3% cm. long, when fully grown exserted beyond the calyx lobes 
one-quarter its length: galea tomentose, green upon the 
