We have extracted the generic and specific characters of 

 this plant from an important memoir by Mr. Bentham, upon 

 the Natural order Hydrophylleae, which was read before the 

 Linnean Society on the J 7th of June last ; it comprehends no 

 less than 17 new species, and one new genus of this small 

 groupe. 



Upon this plant Mr. Bentham has the following observa- 

 tions : — 



" This is a more elegant and less weedy plant than the 

 P. circinata now common in gardens. It grows to the height 

 of a foot and a half or two feet. The stems are erect, not 

 much branched, bearing a few rigid and reflexed hairs. The 

 leaves are altogether from 3 to 5 inches long ; the primary 

 segments, especially the lower ones, are slightly petiolated, 

 from 8 to 12 in number on each leaf, and from half an inch 

 to an inch distant. The secondary segments are from a 

 quarter to half an inch long ; those nearest the axis, sessile 

 and distinct, the upper ones confluent ; they are green on 

 both sides, nearly glabrous, but covered with asperities. 

 The flowers are of a light bluish violet colour, nearly sessile 

 along one sided spirally incurved racemes, forming together 

 a dense dichotomous panicle placed at some distance from 

 the upper leaves ; the calyxes are covered with bristly hairs. 



" It is a hardy annual, thriving in any soil or situation." 



A native of California, where its seeds were gathered by 

 Mr. Douglas. 



Fig. 1. is a view of the ovarium, with the two-parted 

 hairy style ; fig. 2. represents the corolla cut open, shewing 

 the ten scales near its base. We would take the present 

 opportunity of suggesting that these 10 scales represent five 

 sterile anthers adhering to the tube of the corolla by 

 their backs, and consisting each of two membranous lobes. 

 This is chiefly rendered probable by their number and 

 position ; but we are not acquainted with any direct evidence 

 of such being the true nature of these singular appendages. 



