Dr Graham's Descriptimi of New or Rare Plants. 175 



through them a transparent fluid secreted by these. This fluid is also 

 seen with the microscope scattered over the plant in little receptacles 

 under the cuticle. There are besides these hairs, others, smaller, barbed 

 along their whole length, but not proceeding from obvious glands. Si- 

 milar hairs are observed in greater numbers in L. nitula, and probably in 

 other species. They are possibly merely abortive appearances of the 

 more formidable pubescence. 

 We received seeds of this plant, under the name of Blumenbachia insignis, 

 from Dr Fischer of Gottingen, in February 1827, without any notice of 

 its native country, which, however, without doubt is South America. The 

 peculiarities of the germen and calyx which I have adojited as the spe- 

 cific character, may be considered enoudi to constitute this a genus dis- 

 tinct from Loasa ; but however true it is that natural genera are formed 

 in innumerable instances on modifications of these parts, yet I conceive 

 that this is an example, among many others, in which a good rule, if ap- 

 plied indiscriminately, would disunite individuals among whom nature 

 has estabUshed the closest aflinity. In the whole habit, appearance and 

 stiTicture, with the exceptions above stated, this is a Loasa. 



Polemonium Richardsonii. 



P. Richardsonn ; cauli piloso^ angulato, erecto ; foliis pinnatis, multijugis, 

 pinnis ovato-rotundatis, mucronulatis, subtus pubescentibus ; floribus 

 corymbosis, nutantibus, corollse segmentis obtusis, crenulatis; radice 

 subfusiforme, longissima. 



Description — Root perennial, very long, in the old plant 3 or 4 feet, 

 yellow, about as thick as the finger, somewhat branched at the apex, 

 descending deep into the sand, and tending to bind it together, very 

 much resembling liquorice. Stem erect, herbaceous, green, purplish at 

 the base, branched. Brandies axillary, chiefly from the lower part of 

 the stem and the crown of the root, ascending, as well as the stem an- 

 gular, and having a slightly prominent line along each flat side. Le&ves 

 pinnate, with an odd leafet ; common footstalk channelled, from the 

 leafets being narrowly decurrent, and forming a border on each side ; 

 pinnae very numerous on tlie root-leaves (10 or 12 pairs), fewer on the 

 stem-leaves, quite entire, a very few shewing a tendency to become 

 lobcd, sessile, rotundato-ovate, mucronulate, oblique, pubescent below, 

 naked above, somewhat fleshy, middle rib channelled, veins obscure ; 

 root-leaves depressed, and spreading, star-like, on Uie ground, at least 

 when the plant is young. Flowers in terminal corymbs, buds nodding, 

 when fully expanded fronting outwards, large, pedicels round. Calyx' 

 persisting, ovate, as well as the stem, branches, and pedicels, villous, 

 and slightly viscid, 5-cleft ; segments ovate, pointed, spreading a little 

 while the corolla is fully expanded. Corolla slightly marcescent, but 

 soon after falling, perfume faint but disagreeable, salver-shaped ; tube 

 nearly as long as the calyx, yellow and somewhat plaited in its upper 

 half, colourless below ; limb of five broad, obovat^, spreading segments, 

 minutely crenated, pale puqile marked with deeper veins, darker at its 

 base, where on the outside it is very slightly pubescent. Stamens five, 

 included ; filaments connivent, slender, flattened, awl-shaped, contracted 

 at the base, inserted into the apices of small, connivent, hairy valves, 

 which arise within the throat of the corolla, alternately with the seg- 

 ments of the limb ; anthers sagittate, curved inwards, large, white ; joo/- 

 len white. Gormen small, ovate i style filiform, equal in length to the fi- 

 laments ; stigma in most of the flowers 4.cleft, revolute, pubescent. 



Seeds gathered by Dr Richardson in 1825, from plants growing in deep 

 sandy soil on Great Bear Lake, in 66° North liatitude, and received 

 from him in this country in 1826. The species flowered in a cold frame 

 at the lloyal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, in the beginning of October 

 1827. 



I have a double reasan for dedicating this species to our excellent and in- 

 defatigable countryman. It is the first which has flowered among the 



