

( 169 ) 



XVI. Descriptions of the new Genera and Species of the Class 

 Cotnposita belonging to the Floras of Peru, Mexico, and Chile. 

 By Mr. David Don, Libr. L.S. 



Read January 20, and March 17, 1829- 



The extensive herbaria formed in Peru, Quito, and Chile, by 

 Ruiz, Pavon, and Tafalla, and the Mexican collections of Sesse 

 and Mocino, having by fortunate circumstances come into the 

 possession of Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., whose unwearied 

 zeal in the advancement of botanical science is already well 

 known, I have thought that a description of the Composites, which 

 form an important part of these collections, might not prove 

 unacceptable to the Linnean Society. Perhaps no people have 

 made greater sacrifices for science than the Spanish nation. 

 Her expeditions and voyages of discovery were fitted out on a 

 most munificent and extensive scale ; but unfortunately, the 

 results of them have in but few instances been given to the 

 scientific world. Don Hipolito Ruiz and Don Jose Pavon, 

 accompanied by two draftsmen, were charged with the botanical 

 mission to Peru in 1777, which lasted eleven years ; and their 

 labours were afterwards continued by Don Juan Tafalla, a 

 distinguished pupil of Ruiz, and formerly Professor of Botany 

 at Lima, whose investigations were also extended to the pro- 

 vince of Quito, and the fertile district of Guayaquil. Don 

 Martin Sesse, Don Josef Mocino, and Don Vincente Cer- 

 vantes, were charged with a similar mission to Mexico in the 



z 2 year 



