REMARKS ON SOME OF THE PLANTS OF THE CATALOGUE. 91 



(4.) Sprengel has reduced five of our generally received species of 

 Physalis to two, by giving the P. jihiladclphica, Lk. and P. obscura, Mx. 

 as synonyms of Physalis aiigulata, Linn, and the P. lanceolatci, Mx. and 

 P. viscosa Jac. as a synonym of Physwis pennsylvanica, Linn. I would 

 feel disposed to go still farther^ and consider the P. angulata and P. 

 pennsylvaiiica, Linn, as synonyms. The P. viscosa, Linn, is given by 

 Sprengel, as a native of South America, from the vicinity of Buenos 

 Ayres. If it is a distinct species, one might venture to assert, that it is 

 not quite as common in the United States, as has been supposed by our 

 botanists ; and we may safely say too, that if the P. angulata, and P. 

 pennsylvaiiica, Linn, are distinct, we have but one in this country. All 

 our varieties being evidently varieties of one species. I add Sprengel's 

 descriptions of the three, for the satisfaction of the curious. 



P. pennsylvanica, Linn, leaves ovate-oblong, repand, sub-villose 

 beneath : branches sub-villose : flowers peduncled, sub-solitary : stem 

 herbaceous: root fibrous. North America, (P. viscosa, Jacq. P. lanceolata. 

 Mx.) 



P. angulata, Linn, leaves ovate, glabrous, repand, tooth-angled : stem 

 very branching; branches angled. N. Amer. E. and W. Indies. (P. 

 philadelphica, Lk. P. obscura, Mx.) 



P. viscosa, Linn, leaves subcordate-ovate, repand-angled, obtuse, sub- 

 villose beneath: flowers sub-solitary, peduncled: fruit viscose: stem her- 

 baceous ; branches sub-villose. Buenos Ayres. 



(5.) Scutellaria levigala, stem simple, smooth: leaves petioled, ovate, 

 acute, or sub-acuminate, tapering to the base, coarse serrate, entire at the 

 base and apex, glabrous, paler beneath : raceme simple, terminal ; flowers 

 sub-pubescent, erect. 



Stem slender, leaves opposite, minutely ciliate, veined, lower ones 

 more rounded and broader, flowers large bracted, upper bracts smaller, 

 entire. Open woods, flowers blue, — May, 2^ 12-18 i. 



It has been suggested by a friend, that this species is the one generally 

 called S. ovalifolia. It cannot be the S. ovalifolia of Persoon ; and I am 

 unable to find any other authority for that name. Dr. Torrey has described 

 a Scutellaria ovalifolia in his compendium, but I do not know that 

 he considers that species identical with Persoon's. If distinct, as I believe 

 it to be, it requires a distinct name. The following is Persoon's des- 

 cription of his plant : 



Scutellaria ovalifolia, leaves sessile, ovate, serrate, upper ones 

 lanceolate, somewhat entire. S. integrifolia L? Hab. in Virginia, 

 Canada. Flowers glabrous. 



(6.) Valerianella rhombicarpa, stem dichotomous above : radical 

 leaves obovate ; cauliue leaves, spatulate-oblong, ciliate ; upper leaves 

 toothed at the base: fruit compressed, rhomboidal. Valerianella 

 cctrulea, Eat. Man. 7th Edit. 



Stem ciliate angled, cyme sparingly branched, level topped, involucre 

 ciliate, scarious at the apex. Meadows, flowers very smafl, blueish 

 white; June, (v) 4-6 i. This plant is found abundantly with the V. 

 radiata, but can easily be distinguished by its habit, and by the form of 

 its fruit. 



