Gayophytcm. ONAGRACEiE. 513 



linear, compressed, 2-cclleil : style short : stijin^i l«irf,'C, ca])Uate, rarely cla- 

 vate. Capsule iiieinbraiiaceous, linear or linear-davate, 2-cellefl, 4-valved, 

 many-seeded ; the valves revohite, the 2 opposite ones bearing the nar- 

 row dissepiment, which is at length se])arable ; the 2 others rather (smaller. 

 Seeds naked, obovate or oblong, ascending, imbricated in a single series in 

 each cell. Cotyledons oval : radicle obtuse. — Small and miieli branched 

 annual herbs, (natives of the Western portion of America) with linear 

 entire nearly sessile veinless (often revolute) leaves, and minute flowers. 

 Petals (pale yellow, Juss. but this is doubtful) rose-color, (tide Aiilt. cS: spec.) 

 Cai)sules pedicellate. 



Tlic discovery of several additional species of Gayophytum certainly tends to 

 confirm tlie genns; but some species of CEnothera (Sphajrostigina) with minute 

 flowiMP and very short ciilyx-tube approacli it soinowhal loo closely. Sphmrostig- 

 ma minulifiorum, Fisch. tj- Meyer, judging from a specimen in flower only, belongs 

 to this genus. 



• Stigma small, clutate {flowers larger): pedicels as long as the linear. clavate 

 torulose capsules : seeds 6-10 in each cell, 



1. G. diji'usuin : nearly glabrous; stem divaricately and dichotoniously 

 much branched above ; flowers terminating the branches ; segments of the 

 calvx more than half the length of the linear-subclavate minutely canescent 

 ovars', shorler than the petals : stamens all fertile ; the longer ones about the 

 length of the petals, with roundish-oval anthers; the shorter with smaller 

 globose anthers ; style longer than the stamens; stigma small, subclavate ; 

 capsules obloug, acute at the base, about the length of the capillary pedicels. 

 QSnothera (Trichomeria) diffusa. Null. ! mss. 



Rocky Mountains and plains of Oregon, NutlalJ ! July. — Stems 6-12 

 inches high, with numerous filifornT branches. Flowers nearly 2 lines in 

 diameter. Capsules about one-fourth of an inch in length. Radicle shorter 

 than the oval cotyledons. — The shorter filaments are more than half the 

 lenffth of the longer ones, with nearly similar, but smaller, apparently pol- 

 leniferous anthers. Excepting the larger flowers, it wholly accords with the 

 succeeding species in appearance. 



* * Stigma large, capitate (flowers minute). 



t Capsules short, linear-clavate, on slender pedicels: seeds 6-10 in each cell. 



-2. G. ramosissimum : glabrous, divaricately branched; flowers (very 

 minute) towards the extremity of the branches ; segments of the calyx 

 lanceolate-oblong, acute, as long as the petals, rather shorter than the clavate- 

 oblong ovary ; longer stamens rather shorter than the petals (the 4 alternate 

 ones wanting?); capsules oblong, acute at (he base, few-seeded, shorter 

 than the capillary pedicels. — CEnothera (Trichomeria) ramosissima, yult. ! 

 mss. 



" Rocky Mountains &c., with the j)rece(ling, from which it is distinguished 

 principally by its smaller flowers and larger round stigma." yiif/ulL — 

 This species, "judging from an imperfect Chilian specimen, nearly resembles 

 the original G. micranthum, H ok. Sf Am. (G. humile, Ailr. Juss.), and 

 the flowers are about the same size (scarcely a line in diameter) ; but it is 

 readily distinguished by the capillary pedicels. The flowers in our speci- 



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