﻿YIII. 



Neviusia, a New Genus of Rosacea;. 

 Bt ASA GEAY, M. D. 



{Communicated to the Academy, August 12, 1858.) 



A SPECIMEN of the plant which forms the subject of this communication was sent to 

 me, in May last, by the discoverer, the Rev. R. D. Nevius, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 

 A specimen of a Sedum, also apparently undescribcd, was communicated at the same 

 time. The two plants were detected by Mr. Nevius in the spring of 1857, along 

 cliffs in the vicinity of Tuscaloosa. 



The Sedum — a small, white-flowered species, with short and nearly terete leaves, 

 which may be named Sedtmi Nevii — cannot be adequately characterized until better 

 specimens shall be obtained. 



The other plant — a shrub, with the habit of Spircea — Avas at once seen to be a 

 new type. As the discovery of a shrub of a new genus within the United States 

 east of the Mississippi is an uncommon event, and as this plant presents some points 

 of peculiar interest, I take this opportunity to indicate its characters and affinities. 



Mr. Nevius, upon being informed of the interest of his discovery, proposed to dedi- 

 cate the genus to the memory of our lamented friend, the late Professor Tuomey, who, 

 when suddenly removed from the scene of his scientific labors, was officially and most 

 efficiently prosecuting his researches into the geology and the whole natural history of 

 the State of Alabama. So that this elegant shrub, peculiar to the district of his resi- 

 dence, was appropriately chosen by his near friend and associate to commemorate his 

 scientific labors and deck his early tomb. But the publication of the third part of the 

 Nereis Boi'eali-Americana (since the present communication was made to the Academy) 

 shows that the name of Tuomeya is preoccupied, Dr. Harvey having dedicated to Pro- 

 fessor Tuomey's memory a curious fluviatile Alga discovered by the latter in Alabama, 

 as well as by the late Professor Bailey in Virginia. 



VOL. VI. NEW SERIES. 58 



