OAKESIA CONRADII. 13 



ence is inconsiderable ; and, instead of a " stigma sexfidum " in the 

 former, I have only met with a style three-cleft at the apex, the lobes 

 thus answering to the cells of the ovary, and one or two of them 

 often more or less two-cleft at the apex. The pilosity of the recep- 

 tacle of the head of flowers in Corema is simply a continuation of 

 the pubescence of the branches, &c., in which Corema differs from 

 Oakesia, just as Empetrum rubrum does from E. nigrum. The 

 habit of the two plants is very similar ; although Corema alba, in 

 its erect growth and slenderer leaves, has apparently more the as- 

 pect of our Ceratiola. I have not seen the ripe fruit of Corema, 

 but if the drupes figured by Gsertner were full grown, they are 

 little larger than in our plant, and the pulp is sparing. A dif- 

 ference in the amount merely of the sarcocarp can be of no generic 

 consequence ; but beyond this I know of no tangible character to 

 distinguish Oakesia from Corema. 



I have to regret, therefore, that such a poorly marked genus 

 should have been dedicated to so excellent a botanist as my valued 

 friend, Mr. Oakes. The accompanying plate was lettered and en- 

 graved before I had made the examinations which have led to this 

 conclusion. In this view, I have perhaps been anticipated by my 

 distinguished associate. Professor Torrey ; for among my specimens 

 I find one ticketed by him " Empetrum (Corema) Conradii.^^ 



With our present knowledge, the diagnoses of the three genera 

 of Empetraceae must, I think, stand as follows : — 



1. Empetrum, Tourn., Linn. (excl. sp.) 



Flores in axillis foliorum solitarii, sparsi, triandri. Perigonium 

 proprium petaloideum. Stylus brevissimus : stigma 6 - 9-radiatum. 

 Drupa baccata 6-9-pyrena. Semina pendula; radicula supera ! — 

 E. nigrum, Linn. E. rubrum, Vahl. 



