225 



(l^tigmal Mxtitlt^. 



ON GOECFAXIA, A NEW GENUS OF VERXOMACE^. 



By J. O. Bakek, F.R.S. 



(Tab. 232.) 



This is a new genus of Vernonioid Compositae, discovered by 

 Dr. Glaziou last year in the course of his indefatigable exploration 

 of the southern provinces of Brazil. It is named after M. Henri 

 Gorceix, the founder of the Brazilian School of Mines. Dr. Glaziou 

 wished that a very curious new fern, sent in the same parcel, should 

 bear the name of his fellow -worker, but as that falls under Acros- 

 tichum in the comprehensive sense in which we have defined the 

 genus in ' Synopsis Filicum,' I have taken the liberty to transfer 

 the name to this present plant. 



GoRGEixiA, genus novum Vernoniacearum. — Capitula homogama 

 5-flora, floribus omnibus tubulosis hermaphroditis. Involucrum 

 cylindi'icum, bracteis 5-6 lanceolatis rigidis acutis subsequilongis. 

 Receptaculum parvum nudum. Corollse eequales regulares, tubo 

 cylindrico, limbo infundibulari, dentibus 5 erectis lanceolatis. 

 Antherae basi sagittatae, auriculis brevibus. Styli rami subulati 

 ad basin sequaliter hirtelli. Achaenia tetragona glabra ad basin 

 attenuata. Pappus paleaceus, squamis paucis uniseriatis rigidis 

 apice irregulariter serratis. 



GoRCEixiA DECURRENs, sp. uuica. — A shrub, with the grey-puber- 

 ulent angled woody branches winged by the decurrent bases of the 

 alternate leaves. Leaves oblong- spatliulate, moderately firm in 

 texture, green and glabrous on the upper surface, thinly canescent 

 beneath, denticulate, attaining a length of 6-9 in. and a breadth 

 of 2-3 in., narrowed gradually from near the middle to the 

 decurrent base. Inflorescence a corymb of many peduncled heads, 

 each consisting of a large number of sessile cajDitula, and bracteated 

 on the outside by several small canescent leaves which are not 

 larger than the involucre. Involucre ^ in. long. Flowers reddish. 

 Achene about a line long. Pappus not more than a quarter as 

 long as the achene. — Eio de Janeiro, Glaziou 12803 ! The habit 

 of the plant is completely that of Vanillosmopsis, but the uniserial 

 involucre and the paleaceous pappus are very different, and not 

 similar to those of any previously known genus, but perhaps 

 nearest to Oligajithes. 



The same parcel also contains the following novelties : — 



WuNDERLicHiA Glaziovii, u. sp. — A shrub or small tree, with 

 stout branchlets, tomentose at the top, but soon becommg naked, 



N. s. VOL. 11. [August, 1882.] 2 g 



