EEPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 71 



and several more in Oregon and the interior, extending to New Mexico 

 and Arizona. Tliey are all closely alike in general api)earance and 

 probably also in properties. The species vre have described has sonie 

 reputation in California as a medicinal plant, particularly as au antidote 

 to tlic poisoning of the poison oak, Rhus lobata : it has also within a few 

 years past been introduced into medical practice for use in chills and 

 other diseases. Plate VIII, Fig. 1. an enlarged disk-flower, showing 

 the achenium surmounted by the rigid, awl-like pappus. 



Eeiodictyon glutinostim — Yerla Santa. 



This is a low shrubby plant of California, growing from 3 to 5 feet 

 high. The stems and twigs are smoothish and generally showing more 

 or less of a resinous exudation, particularly on the vi ^oronsly-growiug 

 twigs. The leaves are thick and rigid, alternate, lanceolate in Ibrni, 

 usually 3 or C inches long, acutish at the point, and tapering at the base 

 into a short petiole, the margins irregularly toothed, smoothisih on the 

 upper surface, the lower surface with a prominent line reticulation, 

 whitened bet ween the veins by a line and close, woolly pubescence. The 

 flowers terminate the branches in a panicle, and are collected in numer- 

 ous small, rather crowded, cymes or clusters. The individual flowers 

 arc about half an inch long, the calyx small and deeply divided into 

 five sepals, the corolla of one piece (mouopetalous) rather trumiiet- 

 shaped, with the border tive-lobed, its color varying from purple to 

 white. Attached to the inner side of the corolla near the base are the 

 five stamens. There are three threadlike styles^nearly as long as the 

 corolla, and at the base a roundish, two-celled pod containing the seeds. 

 The plant belongs to the order Hydrophyllacece. The ui)i)er surface of 

 the young leaves and twigs are covered with a resinous, balsamic exu- 

 dation. The under surface presents a beautiful network of veins with 

 a fine, whitish pubescence between them. The leaves have a balsamic 

 taste, and have long had a local reputation among the old Spanish set- 

 tlers in diseases affecting the mucous membranes, as in clironic coughs, 

 catarrlis, consumption, &c. Plate IX, Pig. 1, mature pods. 



Euphorbia coeollata— Wild Ijpecac; Eupliorhia. 



An herbaceous perennial, belonging to the OTder Uuphorbiacece, grow- 

 ing very couimonly in sandy or gravelly soil in most of the States e>ast 

 of the Kocky Mountains. It has a prostrate, knotty rhizoma or root- 

 stock, from which are sent up one or more stems which rise to the height of 

 2 or 3 feet. These stems are generally slender and unbranched, except 

 near the top. They have numerous scattering leaves from near the base 

 to the top. The leaves are nearly sessile, and varying inform in diiier- 

 ent varieties of the plant, but usually quite narrow and linear or oblong, 

 about 2 inches long, and yielding a milky-juice when broken from the 

 stem. At the upper part the stem divides into about five principal 

 branches, surrounded by a whorl of five small leaves. These branches 

 again subdivide in threes and twos, the slender extremities bearing each 

 a small white flower. The flowers have the peculiar character of this 

 order, being formed of a small, cup-shaped envelope, called involucre, with 

 five conspicuous white lobes or appendages on the border. On the in- 

 terior of the cup or involucre are several small stamens, and rising from 

 the center of a stalk which rises out of the cup is the fertile tlou er with 

 three styles and a roundish, three-celled ovary. The root of the jtlant is 

 employed medicinally to some extent, liaving some of the lU'ODerties of 



