PLANTS OF MADEIRA. 299 



genus to which at present it can be referred with least disturbance and 

 most probability ; though sufficient difference, it must be confessed, 

 exists to throw considerable doubt upon this collocation. I hope how- 

 ever to receive this autumn from Madeira specimens in a condition to 

 decide the question. 



I first met with two or three plants of M.? Wollastoni^ June 23, 

 1847, in a moist dripping rocky hollow along the Levada in the 

 Eibeira da Metade, just beginning to shoot^ and each with already a 

 fine terminal crown of leaves; but being unable to return to the spot 

 that summer, and too easily or indolently resting afterwards on a hasty 

 fancy of its being merely some rank luxuriant or monstrous state, due 

 to its peculiar locality, of seedling Isoplexis Sceplrum, L., two of the 

 leaves^ preserved in my herbarium, recorded all my knowledge of the 

 plant till the spring of 1855, when Senhor J. M. Moniz showed me 

 imperfect specimens, with similar leaves, in his collection, procured 

 from a countryman, which he very rightly judged not to belong to the 

 Isoplexis. The conclusion from these data, that a new Madeiran plant 

 remained still to be established, was shortly substantiated to our mu- 

 tual satisfaction. Towards the end of August we were plentifully sup- 

 plied by the same countryman, employed by Senhor Moniz for the 

 purpose, with broken portions of a panicle just bursting into flower, 

 gathered on '* rocks a little below the Boca das Torrinhas, in the Eoa 

 Ventura." And living plants, I am informed this summer, have already 

 reached Endand. 



£> 



I am particularly happy to connect the name of the author of that 

 noble work, the * Insecta Maderensia,' with so fine a plant, befitting in 

 some sort his special claims as a Madeiran naturalist. 

 15. Bystropogon piperitus, Lowe.— B. foliis ovatis crenatis mollibus 



utrinque cum petiolis raraulisque floriferis brevissime velutinis absque 



nitore obsoletissime sparsimque rari-punctatis subeveniis, cymis pe- 

 dunculatis corymbosis abbreviatis, dentibus calycinis ovatis obtusius- 

 culis tubo valde brevioribus. 



Hab. In rupibus Maderpe. 



Folia minuscula ^-1 poll, longa membranacea subtenuia flaccido-flexilia 



nee rigido-fragilia, odore Meuthce piperitay L. 



Habit and flowers of its nearest ally, B, pundatus, Herit., but very 

 distinct by its soft, veinless, finely-velvety, instead of strongly-veined, 

 stiffish or rigid, and above smooth and shining, leaves, besides their 



