pe 
ye, i 
Rafinesque on the Genus Floerkea. 373. 
20. Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorwm) in flower. 
21. Herb clarry (Salvia sclaria) in blossom. 
22. Swallows collecting in thousands to depart. Toothed 
coral (Cymibidium odontorizom) in flower. Saw bats for 
the first time this year. 
24. Lopseed (Phryma leptostachia) and ladies’ tresses (Neottia 
pubescens) in flower. ; 
27. Gay mallows (Lavatera thuringiaca) and Solanum nigrum 
30. Burnet saxifrage (Sanguisorba canadensis) and water hore- 
hound (Lacopus europeus) in full flower. 
STEPHEN W. WILLIAMS. 
Deerfield, (Mass.) Jan. 25, 1818. 
Art. VIII. Description and Natural Classification of the Genus 
Floerkea, by C. S. Rarinesque. 
Tis genus was discovered in Pennsylvania, near Lancaster, 
by the Rey. Dr. Mulenberg, who communicated the same to 
Wildenow of Berlin. This celebrated botanist ascertained that 
it was a new genus, to which he gave the name of a German 
botanist, (Floerke) and published it in the third volume of the 
transactions. of the society des Curieux de la Nature of Berlin, 
for 1801, under the name of Floerkea proserpinacoides, which: 
long and uncouth specific name has been changed by every 
Subsequent author. Michaux has omitted it altogether, (with 
Many more American species) in his Flora Boreali Americana, 
published in 1803. Persoon calls it Floerkea lacustris, in Syn. 
plant. 1. p. 393. Muhlenberg Floerkea uliginosa, in Cat. pl. 
Amer. Sept. p. 36. and Pursh, in Flora Amer. Sept. 1. p. 299. 
unites it with the genus .Vectris, and calls it ectris pinnata, put- 
ting it therefore in the Hexandria digynia of Linnzus, while. all. 
the preceding authors had classed it in the Hexandria mono- 
gynia. I will show presently which among them appear to be 
Vol. 1....No. 4. 8 
