166 ERYTHEA. 



extent of scientific work, to explain the needs of its devotees, and 

 to introduce him to the Academy. 



Bloomer's love for botany, which dated from childhood, indirectly 

 led to his death. While on an exploring trip in Marin County, 

 with several fellow-scientists, the party lost their way and were 

 compelled to pass the night in the open air. On account of over- 

 exertion and exposure Mr, Bloomer died shortly afterwards. This 

 event was in September of the year 1874. So passed away a 

 man, who worked with untiring energy for natural science and civic 

 welfare, but withal so modestly that little record has been left to 

 speak of what he accomplished. 



SOME NEW WESTERN SPECIES. 

 By Elias Nelson. 



Besides the well-known Valeriana edulis there are four other 

 valerians in Wyoming which are quite distinct. One of these is 

 the so-called V. sylvatica of the Rocky Mountains. Another is 

 doubtfully referred to the northern V. Sitchensis. Two are unde- 

 scribed, and these I here propose as new species. 



Valeriana micrantha. Stems erect, solitary, from a creeping 

 rootstock, glabrous or nearly so; leaves glabrous; the radical 

 entire or with 1-2 pairs of small rotund to oblong-ovate lobes on 

 the somewhat pubescent petiole, which is 7-20 cm. long, ovate to 

 elliptic, 3-7 cm. long; the cauliue 2 pairs, rarely 3, short-petioled 

 or sessile, with 2-3 pairs of elliptic to lanceolate leaflets ; inflores- 

 cence numerously^flowered, not very much contracted at anthesis, 

 in fruit open, the cyme broader or as broad as high, usually a pair 

 of cymules at the third node of the stem, these about 15 cm. dis- 

 tant from the next pair; corolla white, broadly campanulate, 2—3 

 mm. long (in type barely 2 mm.); the tube proper exceedingly 

 short, the throat hairy within; stigma 3-cleft or entire; achenes 

 narrowly ovate, pubescent, 3-4 mm. long. 



This excellent species is distinguished from V. sylvatica by its 



