Mr. J. Miers on the genus Poecilochroma. 205 



ribus, apice prsecipue auriculato-hiantibus ; stylo filiform i ; 

 bacca subglobosa, calyce amplo obvoluta. — Brasilia (Lund). 



This plant, from the above details founded on the description 

 of M. Dunal, appears to conform closely with the three preceding 

 species in all respects, except in the mention of stellated pubes- • 

 cence intermixed with simple hairs : as it is arranged by M. Dunal 

 between the two last-described species, it may be safely inferred 

 to be congeneric with them. The leaves are said to be 2-2 1^ inches 

 long, 10 to 13 lines broad, on a petiole 1 or 2 lines in length : 

 the twin leaf is 7 lines long and 6 lines broad : the peduncle is 

 2 or 3 lines long, with seven or eight almost umbellate slender 

 pedicels 7 to 9 lines long : the calyx is 4 or 5 lines in diameter. 



PCECILOCHROMA. 



As it is always better to retract an error when its ill tendency 

 becomes apparent, I do not hesitate to do so in the following 

 cases. Not long since [huj. op. xi. 92 & 93), bearing in view the 

 fact I had discovered, that the typical species of Witheringia, 

 L^Her., belonged to the genus Sarracha of the ' Flora Peruviana,' 

 and under the influence of too much eagerness to follow the 

 strict rule of science, I recommended that all the plants of this 

 latter genus should be called Witheringia, as a title of older date ; 

 also that the name of Poecilochroma should be suppressed, and its 

 different species referred to Sarracha. Several of my botanical 

 friends have pointed out to me the great inconvenience of 

 changing the names of plants so numerous and so long known 

 and cultivated in our gardens, adding that it is always desirable 

 on the score of expediency to forego a rigid law, where the adoption 

 of it is attended with so much inconvenience, by the multiplication 

 of puzzling synonyms. Fully impressed with the force of this 

 argument, I propose to adhere to my original plan of retaining 

 the name of Witheringia^ as defined by Von Martins, for the 

 plants enumerated huj, op. iii. 141, and preserving that of 

 Poecilochroma as before established, while Sarracha will remain 

 attached to those plants by which they have been extensively 

 known for so many years. The synonyms recommended {huj. op. 

 xi. p. 92 & 93) should consequently be expunged, when the 

 species will stand thus : — 



1. Sarracha solanacea, nob. (Witheringia id.) 



2. villosa, Do?i 



3. contorta, E. 4- P. ... 



4. Zuccagniana, R. Sf S. 



6. biflora, R.^P. ... 



6. procumbens, R. ^ P. 



7. '■ umbellata, G. Don ... 



8. alata, Dun 



