4 Mr. J. Miers on the genus Lycium. 



ceded by a long string of characters, a mere repetition of the 

 generic diagnosis, without a single differential feature to discri- 

 minate it from other sections ; while Eulycium and Lyciobatos are 

 simply adopted from Endlicher (the latter being the Isodontia of 

 Don) ; these last are founded on the inequality or equality of the 

 teeth of the calyx, and the greater or less inclusion of the sta- 

 mens ; the latter circumstance, of course, depends on the rela- 

 tive depth of the incisures of the corolla : the former character is 

 so uncertain in its value, that in the same specimen the calyx is 

 sometimes found regularly 5-toothed, while at other times it 

 assumes a somewhat bilabiate form, caused during its partial 

 growth by the splitting of two or three of its teeth : in regard 

 to the relative depth of the segments of the border of the corolla, 

 and the consequent amount of inclusion or exclusion of the 

 stamens, T find the extremes of these opposite features mixed 

 together in all the different sections, so that notwithstanding it 

 has been proposed as the rule of distinction, this character has 

 been wholly disregarded in the distribution of the species, as 

 will be seen in the sequel. The best proof that can be shown of 

 the small utility and value of these characters is evidenced by the 

 fact, that while other botanists include in the Isodontia of Don 

 [Lyciobatos, Endl.), Lycium Afruniy tenue, propinquum, riffidum, 

 cinereum, horridum and tetrandrum, and exclude them from Euly- 

 cium, M. Dunal separates L. Afrum, rigidum, and two others, to 

 constitute his section Amblymeris, leaving all the other species 

 above mentioned in Eulycium ; his Lyciobatos being confined to 

 the old Linnsean species L. Europaum and three others, that 

 ,have no relationship with it whatever, the former species being 

 placed by other botanists in Eulycium. Kunth and Schlech- 

 tendal, again, station L. Europceum, barbatum, and Chinense in 

 Eulycium, and Z. Afrum in the section corresponding to Lycio- 

 batos. This shows what different constructions various authors 

 give to the same characters, and how useless they are for pur- 

 poses of discrimination. 



oblonga acuta calyce paullo longiore. — C. B. S. ad Buffel-bout, Lat. 30° 20' 

 legit cl. Burchell. — v. s. in herb. Burchell, no. 1596. — Frutex subpedalis, 

 radice fusiformi, lignoso, 5-pollicari ; folia 3-5 lin. longa, f-1 lin. lata, 

 pedunculus 1 lin. longus, bracteoli ^lin. longi, sepala linearia, acuta, rigida, 

 erecta, 2 lin. longa; corolla 5 lin. longa, 2^ lin. lata, contractione basali 

 calyce breviori, limbi laciniae subsequales ; stamina didynama, inclusa, jila- 

 menta membranacea, compressa, e contractione tubi orta, apice spiraliter 

 voluta, antherce subtriangulares, aequales, pilis longis hispid^, loculis con- 

 fluentibus, rima verticali dehiscentes, marginibus valvarum rigide ciliatis : 

 ovarium conico-oblongum, calyce tertio brevius, glabnim ; stylus usque ad 

 medium hirsutulus, superne inflexus, subexsertus, stigma minimum, emar- 

 ginato-bilobum : capsula 2-valvis, 2^ lin. longa, 1^ lin. lata, apice sub- 

 compressa, acuta, valvis dissepimento parallelis, semibifidis, sepalis per- 

 sistentibus amplexa. 



