HEXA.NDUIA. DIGYMA. 2£9 



axillary, deflected and incrassated during the maturing 

 of the frnit— Calix persistent, conspicuous, petals and 

 stamina minute; fruit di or tricoccus, naked. Corculum 

 erect, flat; cotyledones convex, peltate; radical inferior. 

 Perisperm none. 



Species. 1. F. paliistris. (F. prossrpinacoides,\Yi[\d.) 

 Obs. Stem tereie. Leaves somewhat succulent, alter- 

 nate, pseudopinnate; segments mostly 5, narrov^', oblong- 

 lanceolate, simple, ultimate divisions confluent at the 

 base, lateral ones 2 or 3-lobed, somewhat obtuse, di or 

 trichotomously and numerously nerved, (when held to the 

 light;) petiole long, semic>lincirlc, channelled. Peduncles 

 axillary, at first shor{, but gradually elongated nearly to 

 2 inches. Calix 3-parted, segments ovate, acute, thickisii 

 and green. Petals 3, while, alternating with the calix, 

 and much smaller, oblong, somewhat obtuse, and persis- 

 tent, pubescent at the base (seen through a lens), insert- 

 ed upon the calix. Stamina 6, minute, irregularly dis- 

 posed, arising from the base of the calix; filaments capilla- 

 ry, alternately articulated upon 3 glands near their base; 

 anthers roundish. Style 1, inserted between the fruit, and 

 unconnected with it in every direction, apex bifid, stigmas 

 2, small, roundish. Fruit within the persistent calix, con- 

 sisting of 2, and rarely 3, roundish, naked, but membra- 

 naceously coated seeds; integument papillosely rugose. 



Note. Tlie seed appears readily divisible into 2 ellip- 

 tic, convex, fleshy lobes, a little acrid to the taste; but the 

 singular disposition of the embryon, immersed, and includ- 

 ed, near the base of the lobes, in a small cavity, so as to 

 render the cotyledones very excentrically peltate, are cir- 

 cumstances which lead me to doubt the validity of these 

 apparent seed-lobes, and I must recommend it to further 

 examination. 



" Hab. In Pennsylvania, (on the banks of the Schuyl- 

 kill near Philadelphia; rare.) 



It is not easy to decide upon the natural affinities of this 

 singular genus, for the present, it can only be placed to 

 some order without any distinct relation; as such, it may 

 be referred to the end of tiie FoRTULACE.nE. With JVedris 

 it appears to have no aflinity whatever. 



Order IL— DIGYNIA. 

 338. NECTRIS. mild. 



Calix 6-parte(l, inferior, tlie 3 interior seg- 

 ments petaloid, smaller and obtuse. Corolla 



X 



