Horticultural Society in July last, when it received the silver 

 Kniofhtian medal. 



o 



The genus Nolana, as at present constituted, includes 

 plants so different from each other in structure and general 

 appearance that, considering the principles adopted in the 

 classification of the Convolvulaceous, Boraginaceous, and 

 other allied orders, it is necessary to break it up into 

 several genera, for which good characters will be found in 

 the very remarkable fruit, and probably in the flowers also, 

 whenever an opportunity shall occur for examining them in a 

 fresh state. 



If we regard Nolana prostrata as the original species of 

 Nolana, we shall find that its distinctive character resides in 

 the regular combination of its twenty ovaries into five nuts or 

 drupes, each of which is four-celled. 



But there is another group, consisting principally of shrubs, 

 in which the ovaries are very irregularly combined, so that 

 while some of the nuts or drupes are four or more celled, 

 others have not more than one, two, or three cells. They 

 may be conveniently separated under the name of Alona (the 

 anagram of Nolana). 



Corresponding with these in the irregular condition of the 

 fruit, but not having more than eight or ten ovaries in com- 

 bination, are two singular plants with all the habit of shrubby 

 Salsolas, and a very small hypocrateriform corolla. They 

 may be named Dolia (from SoXtoy, deceptive) ; they being one 

 thing, and looking like another. 



On the other hand, in Nolana paradoxa and atriplicifolia 

 there is a complete breaking up of the twenty ovaries into so 

 many independent drupes. Those species constitute a group 

 bearing the same relation to the otiier genera as Malope to 

 its neighbouring Malvaceae. The name Sorema (from acopo^, 

 a heap,) may be applied to them. 



Finally, under the name of Aplocarya (aTrAoos-, simple, 

 and Kapva, a nut,) it will be desirable to station a singular 

 scrubby shrub, in which the ovaries are five in number, and 

 altogether simple. 



