m TITHYMALOIDE^. 



indentation — much more the strongly and exclusively pinnate venation — 

 must exclude it altogether from C. Ihyrsijtorus, with which Dr. Parry 

 placed it as a probable hybrid. We think it must be a good species, 

 perhaps local and awaiting rediscovery. 



30. C. floribuiidus, Hook. 1. c. t. 4806 (1854). Pilose-scabrous through- 

 out : leaves small, remotely pinnate-veined, less than % in. long, oblong, 

 acute, undulate and glandular-denticulate : fl. blue, in very many 

 globose sessile corymbs at the ends of the branchlets. — Also known to us 

 by Hooker's figure and description only, and apparently a species. The 

 figure shows to our eye, no mark which we should construe as indicative 

 of a hybrid genesis. 



31. C. L»l)l)iaiius, Hook. 1. c. t. 4810 (1854). Of more lax habit than 

 either of the preceding : leaves 1 in. long, obovate, distinctly 3-nerved, 

 glandular-dentate : thyrse dense, oval or roundish, on peduncles which 

 equal the leaves. — Like the last, grown in England from Californiau 

 seed. Very possibly a cross between C ihyrsifiorus and sorediatus. 

 Shrubs much like it are often seen in the Berkeley Hills. 



32. C. rugosus. Stems stout but i)liable, prostrate, glabrous in age, 

 the growing parts canescently puberulent : leaves coriaceous, V^ — 1'^ in. 

 long including the short petiole, obovate- or elliptic-oblong, acute at both 

 ends, closely and saliently spinulose-serrate, 3-nerved, finely rugose on 

 both faces, tomentulose beneath : fl. pale blue or white, in a short nearly 

 simple raceme, the peduncle equalling the leaf. — Top of a high hill near 

 Truckee, June, 1890, Sonne. Doubtless a hybrid, of which C. cunealns is 

 one of the parents. Mr. Sonne suggests that C. relulums may be the 

 other. The young leaves are subtended by triangular-subulate stipules 

 a line long. 



OrdekXii. TITHYMALOIDE/E. 



Ventenat, Tabl. du Eeg. Veget. iii. 483 (1799). Euphokbiace^, Robert 

 Brown in Flinder's Voyage, Gen. Rem. 23 (1814). 



Herbs shrubs or trees, often with milky acrid juice, the leaves simple, 

 stipulate. Flowers axillary or terminal, bracted, imperfect, monoecious or 

 dioecious, in all ours apetalous. Stamens 1 — co . Pistil 1 ; ovary superior, 

 1 — 3-celled. Fruit a 1 — 3-celled capsule with as many lobes as cells ; the 

 lobes in maturity separating from a central axis as a 1-celled 1-seeded 

 carpel ; this elastically dehiscent by two sutures and exposing or ejecting 

 the usually arilled or strophiolate seed. Ovules and seeds pendulous. 

 Embryo embedded in fleshy albumen ; cotyledons flat. — A large family 

 mainly tropical, often possessing poisonous qualities ; sometimes harmless 

 or even wholesome. Very analogous to Rhamnese in friiit-structure ; as 

 nearly related to Malvaceae. Feebly represented in middle California. 



