POLYGALiE AMERICAN.E. 139 



P. spectabilis, DC, P. grandifolia, St. Hil., aud some others, the 

 flowers are equal in size and beauty to any of the better known 

 South African species of the genus, and would be magnificent 

 additions to our stove-plants. The southern limit of the section 

 appears to be but little south of the troj)ics ; northwards it extends 

 through Central America into Mexico and Texas ; but the northern 

 species are less striking, both in the size of the plant and in that 

 of the flower. 



1. P. americana, Mill., Gard. Diet.; DC, Prodr., i., 330; 

 Gris., Flor.- W. I., 28. Caulis ascendens, lignosus ; rami 

 pubescentes. Folia ovato-lanceolata, acuta, in pedicellum brevem 

 attenuata, laste widia, glabra vel pubescentia ; petiolus et vena 

 folii media subtus pubescentes. Kacemi terminales, sat laxiflori ; 

 pedicelli hirsuti ; bracteae lineari-lanceolatse, deciduae vel subper- 

 sistentes. Sepala exteriora omnino distincta sed approximata, 

 acuta, hirsuta ; alas ovatae. Carina ventricosa, ecristata, basi ciliata ; 

 petala lateralia ad carinam approximata. Ovarium dense hksutum; 

 stylus filiformis, rectangulo curvatus. Capsula magna, elliptica, 

 valde emarginata, membranacea, leviter hirsuta, ciliata, pedicello 

 brevi, hirsuto. Semina pyriformia, sericea ; arillodium galeatum, 

 semini ^quilongum, inappendiculatum. P. caracasana, H. B. K., 

 v., 407; DC, Prodr., i., 331; P. rivincBfolia, H. B. K., v., 409, 

 t. 512; DC, Prodr., i., 331 ; P. peduncularis, A. Eich., Fl. Cub., 

 i., 37, t. 12. 



A most difiicult species, from its variability, and consequent 

 synonymy. It varies greatly in the size and shape of the 

 leaves, which are from 1 to 2^ inches long, and from ^ to 



1 inch broad, and in that of the flowers, which are usually 

 about 2 lines long. Grisebach identifies with this Kunth's 

 P. caracasana ; and the P. rivincBfolia of the same author presents 

 no difference either in the description or the drawing. It is 

 perhaps best distinguished from its congeners by the ventricose 

 lower portion of the corolla ; and is usually a shrubby plant, perhaps 



2 feet high. It appears to be abundant in Mexico, at all events 

 within the Tropics, and extends southwards through the Isthmus 

 to Venezuela, occurring also in San Domingo, Trinidad, and Cuba. 

 The following numbers may be referred to it : — Bern., 120, 1092 ; 

 Lindh., 174; Coult., 732; Gal., 879; Fendl., 1910; Wawr., 

 1080; Schied.,497; Liebm., 29, 30. 



ft hehecarpa ; planta et praesertim fructus mollior. P. hebecarjxi, 

 DC, Prodr., i., 330 ; Venezuela, Fendl., 240 ; St. Domingo. 



la. P. jylatycarpa, Benth., PI. Hartw., 113, seems to me merely 

 a form of P. americana with larger and broader leaves, and more 

 hairy capsule ; it is generally a larger x^lant. To it may be referred 

 Hartw., 632; Liebm., 32-35; Gal., 881. 



2. P. obscura, Benth., PI. Hartw., 58, is a very good sjDecies, 

 found only in Mexico, with the following numbers : — Hartw., 446 ; 

 Gal., 883; Andrieux, 525; Coult., 728 (?) ; Liebm., 25. 26. 



3. P. hebantha, Benth., Bot. Sulph., 67, is well distinguished, 

 in its typical form, by its smaller size, more pubescent habit, and 

 orbicular capsule, which is larger and more hairy ; but in its larger 



