NOTICES OF BOOKS. 415 
a mule, laden with some bales of botanical specimens, gathered in a 
thousand miles of travel, fell from a precipice into a deep chasm, from 
whence they could not be recovered. A large part of the remaining 
collection was destroyed on the return of the Expedition, by the great 
flood of the Kansas River. Some of the new and more interesting 
plants that were rescued from destruction, were published in the Bota- 
nical Appendix to Colonel Frémont's Report of his second Expedition. 
“ Very large collections were also made in his Third Expedition, in 
1845 and the two following years; but again, notwithstanding every 
precaution, some valuable packages were spoiled by the numerous and 
unavoidable mishaps of such a hazardous journey. Very few of the new 
genera and species that were saved have as yet been published, except- 
ing several of the Composite, by Dr. Gray, in order that the priority 
of their discovery might be secured for Colonel Frémont. There was 
still another journey to California performed by that zealous traveller, — 
the disastrous one which commenced late in the year 1848. Even in 
this he gleaned a few plants, which, with all the others, he kindly placed 
at my disposal. I had hoped that arrangements would have been made 
by the Government for the publication of a general account of the 
Botany of California; but as there is no immediate prospect of such a 
work being undertaken, I have prepared this memoir on some of the 
more interesting new genera discovered by Colonel Frémont." Such 
are the particulars given in the preface by Dr. Torrey. 
The first plant figured and described is Spraguea umbellata, a curious 
Portulaceous plant, with very large membranaceous, imbricated calyces, 
arranged in umbellate spikes. The genus is named in compliment to 
Mr. Sprague, the talented botanical artist. 2. Frémontia Californica 
(the former genus Fremontia is now Sarcobatus), a beautiful shrub allied 
to Cheirostemon. 3. Libocedrus decurrens*, Torr., a noble tree 120-140 
feet high, found in the upper waters of the Sacramento. 4. Coleogyne 
ramosissima, Torr., a new genus, allied to Purshia, in Rosacee. 5. Em- 
plectocladus fasciculatus, Torr., another new Rosaceous genus. 6. Cha- 
mebatia foliolosa, Benth., Pl. Hartw., again an exceedingly curious 
shrub of Rosacee, with leaves very compoundly divided, almost like 
those of some Pedicularis. 1. Carpentiera Californica, a new genus 
* This has since peared under the name of Thuja Oraigana, in a little pam- 
phlet, edited by Ms Lakai MNT, containing notes on a “ Botanical Expedition 
to the Oregon,” with a coloured plate. 
