46 thuee cuTiious plants. 



short stalks. I find tlicm sometimes just sessile. It is manifestly 

 dioicous. 



Johanna I., Comoro Islands, Juno- August, 1875 ; J. M. Ililde- 

 brandt. Comui. C. Kensch, sub no. 18b4. 



2. IsATis BorssiEKiANA. — Soct. uov. Boissierunia : siliculis hetero- 

 morphis, inferioribus loculo corneo transverse costato ala baseos cordata, 

 ala apicis rostriformi nunc emarginata, alis latoralibus denium evanidis 

 obliteratisve, siliculia euperioribus circa circum ubique bene alatis, 

 multo minus costatis. 



/. Boissieriana ; annua, ghiuca, usque pcdalia, nunc ramosa, foliis 

 inferioribus cuneato oblongis acutis Rinuato-dentatis, supcrioribus cor- 

 date sagittatis oblongis acutis nunc integerrimis, racemis multifloris, 

 siliculis velutinis. 



I obtained the seeds of this curious plant some yeai's ago from the 

 Moscow Botanic Garden, labelled *' hatis, sp. Samarkand." The first 

 year, being absent during the very short time of flowering, I found 

 the withered petals white. I was much struck by the abnormal seed- 

 pods, and thought of a new genus. I sent what I could to M. Boissier, 

 who was much astonished at the queer thing, and asked whether the 

 flowers were really white. The plant has now flowered several times, 

 and looks very elegant when the leaves keep very small, Its petals 

 are light yellow. Last year I missed the plant, and the foreman ia 

 charge of it told me the seeds of 1874 had not germinated. I imme- 

 diately ordered him to sow all our stock in two parts, at a week's 

 interval, and we obtained a very rich harvest. I tell this to show 

 how easily such a plant may be lost in botanic gardens, if the super- 

 intendent does not keep a look-out for it. I then twice sent good 

 specimens to M. Boissier, a little suspecting that it might be an 

 anomalous state of some known /jrt^z's. Though quite overdone with 

 his own work, M. Boissier was kind enough to compare the plant, with 

 his usual accuracy, with his unique set of Oriental types. Finally, 

 he told me lately it was decidedly new to his " Flora Orientalis." 

 He wanted me to look at the numerous recent Russian publications. 

 I had already done so, so far as I was able ; but as those publications 

 are scattered everywhere, I thought it better to address myself to 

 Kew, asking that Mr. N. Brown might look for a new Isatis, or an 

 allied supposed new genus. He has lately informed me that Professor 

 Oliver himself, who is overburdened so much with work, had most 

 kindly looked over all the recent Russian publications without finding 

 a trace of it. I had expected M. Boissier would name the plant, as I 

 had asked him to do, but he did not do so. Hence I now avail myself 

 of the opportunity of adorning the plant with M. Boissier's name, who 

 for thirty-two years has ever proved the same kind and obliging cor- 

 respondent. I need not say that I will take care to have the plant 

 ■well represented in the two great public Herbaria of London and 

 environs on the first opportunity. 



3. Akchanqblica brkvioaulis. — Angelocarpa breiu'caulis, Rupr. Sert. 

 Tianschan., p. 48 (1869). When in 1869 my late excellent friend 

 Ruprecht, a botanist from love for botany and not from selfish ambi- 

 tion, made a long stay at Hamburg, he gave me the fruit of this plant, 

 gathered in 1867, wanting me to take the greatest care of it, though 

 not hoping for success. I did my best, and have succeeded in keeping 



