natural Family of Plants called Compositce. II7 



i'ti his Bidens nivea are for the first time distinguished : and lastly 

 this genus, as named and determined in the work of Michaux, is 

 adopted Ijj Persoon in his Synopsis. 



But as both Von Rohr and Richard have given only the natural 

 character of the genus, and the essential character proposed by 

 Persoon is not altogether satisfactory, I have added the following, 

 and adopted the more generally received name of 



Melanaxthera. 



(Ric/iardJ in Michaux Ainer.n.p. i06. Melanthera Von Rohr in Kio- 

 benh. Natui-hist. Selskab. bind. ii. hefte I. p. 213. Amellus 

 Browne Jam. 317. BidentisspeciesLi«n. Galea; species Jacgui/t. 



Involucrum duplici serie polyphyllum, subaequalc. Receptaculum 

 paleaceum, convexum, paleis foliaceis. Flosculi tubulosi, uni- 

 formes, hermaphroditi. Achenium turbinatum angulatum ver- 

 tice depresso. Pappus e setis (2 — 18) scabris,distinctis, deciduis, 



Herbac (Americae aequinoctialis et temperatae) pubescentes, scabra. 

 Folia opposita, indivisa v. sublobata. Capitula terminalia, pe- 

 dunculis unijloris, elongafis, ternatis, geminisve. Involucrumyb/j- 

 aceiim. Receptaculi hemispharici paleae foliolis involucri subsi- 

 miles. Cot oWse a Ibida. Anthev3d?iigricantes, appendicibus apicis 

 albidis, basi muticce; paulo post expansionem corolla exserta, dein 

 (contractione jilamentorum ) fauce incluscE. Stigmata appendice 

 acuta hispidulo, post retractionem tubi antherarum exserta; de- 

 mum subinclusa*. 



Obs. In Von Rohr's natural character of Melanthera the Necta- 

 rium, or glandular body sheathing the base of the style, is intro- 

 duced, 



* In the extensive collection of plants made 'by my lamented friend Dr. Smith, on the 

 banks of the Congo, I have observed a Syngenesious genus, which, though belonging to 

 Polygarnia superfiua and having yellow flowers, is in other respects so nearly related to 

 Melananlhera, that had it been found with ripe seeds only, it would certainly have been 



referred 



