NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 



Fraxinus pubescens (Walt.) Foliolis lanceolato-ovatis, subserratis seu 

 integerimis, acuminatis, subtus pubescentibus, petiolis junioribus ramisque 

 tomentosis ; samaris anguste lanceolatis, obtusis, inucronatis vel acutis, basi 

 teretibus. 



Fruit 1 2 inches long and 45 lines in width at the widest part ; common 

 petiole channelled above near the base. 



Fraxinus nigrescens, s. nov. Foliolis 2 4-jugis, lanceolatis vel ovato- 

 lanceolatis, sessilibus, aut breve petiolatis, utrinque acutis vel abrupte acutis 

 basi longe teretibus, acutis. 



This is a common tree in the vicinity of Austin and in Middle Texas along 

 water courses. It is generally small, but is sometimes 2 3 feet in diameter 

 and 4060 feet high The bark of the stem and limbs is dark grey and 

 furrowed ; hence in many parts of the State it is called the " black ash." Its 

 leaves are of a deep glossy green above and a paler green beneath, and in 

 young leaves the midrib and veins are sparingly pubescent. The terminal 

 leaflet is often much the largest, being sometimes 45 inches in diameter. 

 Such specimens I obtained in Navarro County, and also on Caney River in 

 Matagorda County. Its leaves are rarely if ever serrated. The samara are 

 12 15 lines long and 4 5 lines broad in the widest part ; about one-half of the 

 entire length is broadly winged, from whence the wings are gradually nar- 

 rowed to the terete part. In midsummer the top of the fruit, extending nearly 

 down half of the wings, is often curved. The common petiole is channelled 

 above near its junction with the stem. 



Fraxinus tri-alata, s. nov. Foliolis 2 3-jugis, lanceolatis, vel obovatis, 

 supra glabris, subtus parum pubescentibus, ad venas et parce glaucescen- 

 tibus ; samaris 2 3 alatis, obovatis, 68 lin. Ion. obtusis, emarginatis, vel 

 subacutis, basi anguste alatis, acutis. 



A shrub or small tree, 15 20 feet high, growing on the banks of the Ata- 

 cosa River in Western Texas. Samara in loose axillary or terminal panicles, 

 about one-half of them 3-winged, and 23 lines broad in the widest portion ; 

 not terete below ; the wings being attenuated as far as the pedicels ; leaflets 

 12 18 lines long and 612 broad, branches smooth, and of a light grey color. 



Fraxinus pauciflora Nutt. has been referred by Dr. Chapman, in bis 

 Flora of the Southern States, to F. p 1 a t y c a r p a. Specimens of the former, 

 collected by Dr. Baldwin, are in the herbarium of the Academy, and they 

 differ from F. platycarpa in having the petioles grooved, leaves scarce 

 half as large and of one-third less width, and much more acutely serrated, 

 and the fruit of the two is widely different. I have not seen a tree of the F. 

 pauciflora, but I well know F. platycarpa, which extends as far 

 southwest as the Sabine River in Eastern Texas ; and it certainly is very dis- 

 tinct from the Florida ash described by Nuttall, nor have I ever seen it 

 assume any such form. 



Descriptions of NEW PLANTS from Texas. No. 2. 

 BY S. B. BUCKLEY. 



POLEMONIACEJE. 



Phlox macrantha, s. n. Pubescens, humilis 3 6 policaris, ramosa, 

 foliis lanceolatis, utrinque subacutis,* alternis vel oppositis, calycibus parce 

 canescenti pilosis, segmentis lineari-elongatis, acuminatis, corollas tubo gla- 

 bra, laciniis lato-obovatis, apice subacutis, capsula elipsoidea glabra, semina 

 alata. 



Prairies north of Austin. March. 



Stems diffusely branching from the root ; leaves numerous, lanceolate and 



1862.] 



