'and the p7/rmees, in ^ 8^5. 867 



observed in the meadows a rough-scaped Armeria, that we had 

 previously observed at Bellegarde and La Jonquiere : it is pro- 

 bably A. plaiitaginea, if indeed the whole genus Armeria he 

 not reducible to one species. 



Although the morning had hitherto been fine, the clouds and 

 mist now began to gather on the hills, and indicated an ap- 

 proaching storm. This induced us to neglect botany, and hur- 

 ry onwards. About a mile from Mont Louis we again crossed 

 the Teta. At this point there were close to us some consider- 

 able water-falls ; but the noise of the water was not sufficient to 

 conceal that of the thunder, which at the instant burst upon us 

 in awful grandeur. For a few seconds we attempted to pro- 

 cure shelter under a projecting rock, but immediately deemed 

 it more prudent, being thoroughly wet, to proceed. Whilst 

 there, two bolts must have burst within a few yards of us, so 

 instantaneous were the flash and the peal. We arrived, how- 

 ever, safely at Mont Louis, or rather at the cabanasse or vil- 

 lage close to the fortress, where indeed we were to procure ac- 

 commodation, being more convenient for us than the fort, on 

 account of their shutting the gates, and pulling up the draw- 

 bridge, at night. Our horses had arrived a short time before 

 us, without much damage done to either our paper or plants, 

 a circumstance which now interested us more than ourselves. 



To-day in our ascent we saw abundance of Sempervivum 

 arachnoideum in flower : S. montanum also occurred : Sedum 

 brevissimum, DC. was observed, but in small quantities. Be- 

 tween the Graux d'Olette and Thues, we found Cistus lauri- 

 filius in profusion on both sides of the road, and it is not im- 

 probable that the few plants of this species we formerly found 

 at Perpignan, may have been carried down there from this sta- 

 tion by the stream. Medicago suffruticosa has been every 

 where abundant since we entered the mountainous district. I 

 liave already stated, that our new species M. leicarpa resembles' 

 this closely, but differs by the glabrous fruit. I may remark 

 here in addition, that M. leiocarpa always grows on the chalky 

 or limestone range, while the other species, M. stiffruticosOy is 

 found only on the schistose and older formations. We have 

 occasionally observed a few plants of the latter, it is true, down 



JA-NUARY MARCH 1828. A a 



