108 PITTONIA. 



species, as far as known. There is therefore no reason for 

 assuming that the red-berried A. alba is "the result of cross- 

 ing."^ The petals also seem to be quite different in form 

 from those of the next species, for they are described as 

 slender, dilated above and truncate. Those of A. rubra are 

 rhombic-spatulate and acute. 



2. A. SPICATA, Linn. Sp. PI. 503 (1753). This plant, 

 probably confined to the Old World, is said to haye a radical 

 leaf and black berries. No known American species has 

 either of these characteristics. I doubt whether the Japa- 

 nese Actwa be identical with the European. 



Hort 



3. A. EUBKA, Willd. Enum. Hort. Berol. 5G1 (1809). A. 



Kew. ii. 221 (1789). Of this, 

 the berries are cherry-red, and the lowest leaf is inserted 

 high above ground, often about midway of the stem, the base 

 of which has a sheath or two but no leaf. On these two 

 characters the species must be admitted. 



The Aetata of our Pacific coast, published by Nuttall as 

 new^ under the name A. arguta does not appear to be very 

 distinct from the Atlantic one, and may be called A. rubra, 

 var. arguta. As in the eastern type, the berries, commonly 

 of a beautiful red, are occasionally of a clear white. Nuttall 

 described the petals as "oblong, obtuse" ;■' but that does not 

 apply to our Californian plant. In this they are just as in 

 the eastern type ; so that possibly Nuttall's, from very far to 

 the northward of California, may be^roven a species. In all 

 the Pacific coast plants the raceme is larger than in the east- 

 ern, and frequently displays one or more short branches, or 

 secondary clusters, below. 



4. A. YiEiDiFLOEA. While in all other known species of 

 Aetata the stem is solitary, in this new one they form a 



^ Gray, Man. -iT. 



* Torr. & Gray, FL i. 35. 



