186 Dr Graham's Description ofNexv or Rare Plaiiis. 



from the melted iron, may contribute also -to produce a purer 

 and more perfect pig-iron ; as it is possible, however, that under 

 these circumstances the iron may receive a larger impregnation of 

 the bases of the earths which are decomposed in small quantity 

 during this operation, the quality of the product demands the 

 most careful examination. The specimens we happened to see, 

 so far as we could judge from bare inspection, appeared excel- 

 lent. 



Description of several New or Rare Plants which have lately 

 Jlowered in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh^ and chiefly in 

 the Royal Botanic Garden. By Dr Graham, Professor 

 of Botany in the University of Edinburgh. 



10th Dec. 18S1. 

 Arthrostemma nitida. 



A. nitida ; caule sufFruticoso, erecto, ramulisque patulis tetragono, alato, 

 pilis coloratis patulis hirsutissimo ; foliis ovatis, acutis, serrulatis, utrin- 

 que glabris, superne nitidis, nervis inferne glanduloso-hispidis ; pedun- 

 culis versus apices ramorura eoUectis, axillaribus, petiolo longioribus, 

 trifloris ; peialis obovatis, retusis ; antheris dissimilibus, connectivo, 

 breve biauriculato. 

 Description. — Root perennial. Stem erect, suffruticose, quadrangular, 

 with a narrow wing at each angle, red near the bottom, green above, hispid, 

 hairs red, harsh, glandular, tumid at the base, tufted longer and coarser 

 in the same verticel with the leaves. Branches spreading, ascending. 

 Leaves (3 inches long, 2 broad) decussating, ovate, acuminate, 5-ribbed, 

 much veined and wrinkled, dark green and shining above, paler below, 

 petioled, glabrous excepting on the lower surface of the nerves and veins, 

 which is gland uloso-hispid ; petioles short, suberect. Flowers collected 

 at the extremities of the shoots, where thev arise from the axils of di- 

 minished leaves, peduncled; peduncles in structure and form like minute 

 branches, about twice as long as the petioles, 3-flowered, pedicels nearly 

 awanting. Bractea single on the outside of each of the lateral pedicels, 

 and two small, opposite, at the base of the calyx, showing a tendency to a 

 farther subdivision of the inflorescence, ovato -elliptical, glabrous, ciliated, 

 nerved. Calj/x nearly cylindrical, glanduloso-hispid, indistinctly ribbed ; 

 limb 4-parted, segments spreading, deltoideo-acuminate, ciliated, cilije glan- 

 dular. Corolla pale lilac, petals distant, obovato-ellTptical, retuse, faintly 

 nerved. Stamens 8, inserted alternately within and between the petals 

 into the mouth of the calyx; filaments colourless, erect, glabrous, flattened, 

 slightly declined, about half the length of the petals ; anthers in the bud 

 bent forward, compressed dorsally, the larger passing between the calyx 

 and ovarium, and having their apices lodged in cavities on the outside of 

 this, when expanded compressed laterally, and wrinkled in front, bent at 

 an acute angle with the filaments, arched, their apices ascending, perfo- 

 rated with a single pore, connective with two short blunt auricles at the 

 base, unequal, four large and brownish-yellow, four small yellow, more 

 erect. Stigma minute, divided transversely, pubescent. Sti/le rather 



