RvDBERG : Some Generic Segregations 279 



Corolla scarcely a-lipped ; almost e<iually deeply 4-lol)t(l. 



Corolla tubular-fuiinelform ; capsule neither llattened nor obcordate at the 

 apex, 4-valved. 

 Leaves alternate but mostly basal. [Vulfenia. 



Leaves opposite ; stem leafy. Lept,imira. 



Corolla rotate or shortcampanulate ; capside flattened, obcordate, 2-valvcd. 



Leaves opposite or whorled ; stem leafy. Veronica. 



Leaves alternate, but mostly basal ; plant with a mostly naked scape. 



Synthyris. 

 Corolla, if present, deeply 2-lipped ; upper lip entire, broad, arcuate; lower lip 

 straight and deeply laciniate ; leaves alternate but mostly basal ; scape bracted. 



Besseya. 



Synthyris Benth. ; DC. Prodr. lo : 454. 1846 



This genus was based on .S". rcniformis. S. rubra was also 

 included in the genus by the author, but he admits that it is a 

 rather anomalous member, lacking the corolla. It is, however, 

 more nearly related to iT. alpina, which has a corolla of a different 

 structure. The species belonging here are the following: ^. rcni- 

 formis (Dougl.) Benth.. .V. major (Hook.) Heller, 5. pinnatifida 

 S. Wats, and S. laciniata (Gray) Rydb. Whether .S. rotiindifolia 

 A. Gray should also be included or should be made the type of 

 a separate genus is a little doubtful. At present I am inclined to 

 regard it as a Syntliyris. So also 5". schisantlia Piper, with lacerate 

 corolla-lobes, which species is still more aberrant. 



Besseya gen. nov. 



Low perennials with a thick rootstock. Basal leaves petioled ; 

 blades ovate or oblong, crenate; stem-leaves bract-like, alternate: 

 inflorescence a bracted spike : calyx almost regularly 4-cleft to 

 near the base or cleft to the base on the upper side and then 2-3- 

 lobed : corolla 2-lipped, cleft to near the base, or lacking ; upper 

 lip, if present, entire, obovate or cuneate-obov^ate, concave ; lower 

 lip much shorter, often irregularly 2-3-cleft or laciniate : stamens 

 2, attached at the base of the corolla, or if this is absent on a 

 small disk : capsule flattened, obcordate, 2-valved. 



It is with pleasure that I dedicate this genus of western moun- 

 tain plants to Professor Charles E. Bessey, of the University of 

 Nebraska, my former teacher and the most prominent botanist of 

 the region where these small plants grow. 



The first species cited below is regarded as the type. 



