252 PITTONIA, 



the first of these articles, characters of the form of the corolla 

 and insertion of stamens liave so depreciated, in this family, 

 in recent years, as more and more species have been dis- 

 covered, that only upon habit, strengthened in four or five 

 instances by some characters of the calyx, can any genera of 

 PolemoniacecB find confirmation. 



After Polemonium, the type genus of the order, the best 

 genera are Phlox, Collomia^ Navarrctia and Canhia, each 

 of which five has its own good calyx-character; but neither 

 Gilia nor Linanihiis displays a calyx essentially different 

 from that of Phlox. Linanihus and Phlox are at agreement 

 in habit, both having opposite leaves and a cymose inflores- 

 cence; moreover the flowers, and even the dead and dry as 

 well as the fresh herbage, of both yield a certain peculiar 

 fragrance of which there appears to be no trace in Gilia, 

 Navarretia or Polcynoninm, many of the species of which are 

 oily to the touch, and more or less strongly mephitic-scented, 

 or otherwise unsavory. 



The original Linanthus, with its habit, calyx, corolla, am 

 impressive SAveetness all as of a Phlox^ Avhen it was new must 

 undoubtedly have passed to a place in that genus, but for the 

 circumstance that its capsules contain very numerous small 

 seeds; those of Phlox being filled with three large seeds. 

 Yet some species whicli have always been admitted as con- 

 generic with the type of Linanthus, Jiave but two seeds, or 

 even one only to each cell of the capsule. A more constant 

 peculiarity of our Linanihus is, as I have said, the equal 



1 CoUomia rested formerly upon the unequal stamens, with unequal 

 insertion. The total failure of this character was first indicated to Dr. 

 Gray by myself; and, while I was hesitating about transferring the spe- 

 cies to Gilia, that author took the responsibility, and made the transfers. 

 Later, I discovered a new character for Collomia, and pnbHshed it in 

 Pittonia, 1. 127. M. Baillon, who is the last of men to accept genera 

 Without characters, admits this one; and Professor Coulter in comment- 

 ing on M. Baillon (Bot. Gaz. xvi. 183), say« it is not clear to him ho\v 

 tollomm 18 kept distinct from Gilia. His herbarium specimens, if he has 

 an> fair ones, will show him, if he will but examine them in the hght of 

 all that has been said. 



1 



