44 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



L. decurrens Kellogg 1 . [Fig. 11.] 



Stem annual, smooth, somewhat erect, sparingly branched, four to six inches 

 of their summits racemed (the simple branches but slightly diverging from a 

 vertical direction) much decurreut, from one to two feet in height. Leaves 

 alternate, narrowly lanceolate, one-nerved, sharply acuminate (the lower-most 

 leaves unknown). Flowers secund, large purplish blue, unilateral on long much 

 decurrent pedicels, expansion of the pedicel above the articulation at the base 

 of the calyx quadrangular ; sepals five, ovate-oblong acute, margins scarious, 

 seven-nerved, rather more than half the length of the capsule. Petals obovate, 

 cuneate, claw short emarginate or crenate at the apex, marked by about five 

 deeper blue veins. Styles five, free to the base, stigmas capitate. Stamens five, 

 short ; anthers oblong, white. Capsule ovate, very abruptly short pointed, com- 

 pletely ten-celled. Seeds oblong, hilum slightly narrowed. 



Found by Mrs. Thayer on the head waters of Feather River. 



Silene L. 



Kellogg. 



S. Dorrii 



Stem simple or dichotomous above, 

 minutely velvety glandular pubescent 

 throughout, upper and cauline leaves 

 lanceolate, acute or acuminate, sessile 

 or sub-sessile, opposite, erect, slightly 

 cilliate at base (radical leaves un- 

 known). Flowers white, very small, 

 sub-solitary on long peduncles ; calyx 

 tubular-campanulate, at length inflated, 

 teeth short, acute (tipped with purple), 

 tube ten-nerved ; petals not crowned, 

 minute border sub-two-lobed, lamina 

 expanded, claws long and very slender ; 

 stamens ten, longer, at length shorter, 

 filaments glabrous, anthers sagittate ; 

 styles two to three, separate, recoiled ; 

 stigmatose along the entire inner face. 

 Ovary somewhat globose, apex slightly 

 contracted ; compressed seeds granular, 

 stipe of the capsule very short. 



A plant about three to five inches in 

 height. 



Collected by Mr. Herbert C. Dorr in 

 Nevada Territory. 



Dr. James Blake read a paper on the gradual elevation of the 

 land in the environs of San Francisco. 



