65 



examined the leaves are acute, not " acuminate," 

 neither arejthe peduncles " elongated." Petals 

 lance-spatulate. 



Flowers terminal. 



These shrubs, natives of N. America and Japan, 

 exhale a spicy camphorated odor, and this species, 

 like most of the genus, has pale purple flowers, with 

 an exquisite fragrance of ripe fruit. We think it 

 equally worthy of culture in our flower gardens, as 

 the C. Floridus so common in the South Atlantic 

 States. 



A very interesting species with white flowers is 

 found in the interior. Will our friends please for- 

 ward us specimens for examination, by the Pacific 

 Express Co. 



The Academy tender their thanks to Mr A. Pea- 

 body, who furnished the above from Russian River, 

 in the vicinity of the Geysers. 



Dr. Kellogg presented a flowering specimen of a re- 

 markable species of Malvastrum, accompanied by a 

 drawing. 



M. SFLENDIDUM. Kellogg. 



This malvaceous tree is 15 to 20 feet high, body 

 one foot iii circumference, the top widely spreading, 

 covered with splendid waving spikes of bright red or 

 flame colored flowers, 2 or 3 feet in length, The 

 picturesque beauty of this tree is unsurpassed by any 

 native shrub of N. America known to us. For rural 

 retreats and ornamental planting, this shrub is en- 

 titled to the attention of our enterprising nursery- 

 men Although the depressed state of business is 

 felt in every field, yet when our gilded prospects 

 from abroad fail, let us cherish our homes and add 

 every new beauty to those already around us, cor- 

 responding to a happy heart within, truly contented 

 with its lot. The public are under obligations to Mr. 

 Wm. A. Wallace, of Los Angeles, for this valuable 

 contribution. It is to be regretted, however, that 

 from some inadvertence Mr. W. forgot to leave us, 

 as promised, a larger specimen, from which a more 

 complete drawing, including the fruit, could have 

 been made. 



Branches hoary, with a stellate pubescence, leaves 

 somewhat cordate, 5-lobed, lobes acute, middle lobe 

 longest, equally serrate, teeth obtuse or rounded, 

 mucronate ; petioles short, all parts stellate pubes- 

 cent, more hoiry beneath ; peduncles axillary, ra- 

 ceme several flowered, short, pedicels very short, a 

 minute acute bract at the base, and often on the 

 common peduncle ; involucels 3, subulate; divisions 

 of the calyx ovate, acute, mucronate, 3 to 5-nerved, 

 more conspicuously stellate along the nerves on a 

 light creamy ground of short pubesence, petals obo- 

 vate, border slightly openemarginate, villous at the 

 junction of tin- claws with the column, stamens sep- 

 arately branching from the top of the column ; — 

 stigmas capitate. Flowers an inch or more in diam- 

 eter, brilliant pink, arranged in long compound 

 spikes at the extremity of the branches. 



Dr. K. also presented flowering specimens of the 

 Quercus chrysophyllux ? or Golden Leafed Oak, 

 which was figured in fruit about a year since. 



This timber tree is very highly esteemed for its 

 strength. It is also a tree of much symmetry and 

 beauty ; but above all it deserves the highest enco- 

 miums for its remarkable fragrance. It remains in 

 bloom much longer than other oaks. The catkins 

 are very numerous, white woolly and long like the 

 chestnut. Those familiar with the fragrance of the 

 River Grape (or V.riparia) of the Mississippi and oth- 

 er streams, or the wild Crab Apple, can properly ap- 



preciate the exquisite fragrance of these oak blos- 

 soms ; the foliage also exhales the refreshing fra- 

 grance of good tea. The acorn has a mossy cup, 

 &c. It is not, however, our intention to describe it, 

 but simply to invite attention to its desirableness 

 for culture or transplanting. 



These specimens were brought by the Pacific Ex- 

 press Co. from Marysville. It is also found at Boli- 

 uas Bay in this vicinity. 



Dr. K. also exhibited a more complete figure of 

 C'eanuthns diversifolius, Kellogg. A specimen in 

 fruit from Placerville, was shown. To the former 

 description should be added, "margin of the leaves 

 waved, interspersed stellate pubescent ; capsule 3- 

 winged. 



Also a specimen and drawing of an Hypericum, or 

 St. John's Wort. 



Plants of this genus appear to be somewhat rare on 

 the Pacific ; the plant before us is from Marysville, 

 sent by Mr. E. W. Garvitt, and forwarded by the 

 generous favor of the Pacific Express Co., to whom 

 we owe many obligations for similar favors. 



II. BRACTEATUM. Kellogg. 



Herbaceous stem, erect, 8 to 10 inches high, sub- 

 terete, glaucous, scarcely swelled at the joints, col- 

 ored below (red). Leaves opposite, decussate, some- 

 what fascicled by a few smaller leaves in the axils, 

 approximate, sub-sessile, 3-nerved? narrowly ob- 

 long, obtuse, mucronate sub-serrulate, glaucous 

 above and below, punctate with black and translu- 

 cent specks, 



Flowers in a dichotomous open corymb, bracts ses- 

 sile, near the base of the calyx, ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute sub-mucronate, margin dotted, or somewhat 

 glandularly serrulate, strongly 5-nerved. Calyx 

 leaves 5, broadly ovate, subulate-acute, strongly 

 about 12-nerved, serrulate, black specks near the 

 margin ; bracts and sepals greenish yellow. Corol- 

 la persistent, petals convolute ovate ? nerved, ser- 

 rulate, with minute black glands longer than the 

 sepals, stamens in 3-parcels, styles 3, stigmas black, 

 exsert. 



Dr. Kellegg also exhibited a drawing and specimen 

 of an Asclepias, from Marysville. [N. B. — The plant 

 formerly described as Asclepias acornuta, should 

 have been Acerates atropurpurea.] 



A. longicoknis — Kellogg. 



Stem erect, woolly, 1 to 2 feet high ; leaves ob- 

 long ovate, sub-acute, mucronate cordate at base, on 

 short petioles, (i of an inch in length) velvety pu- 

 bescent above, woolly beneath ; umbels lateral, soli- 

 tary at each of the 3 or 4 upper joints, peduncles 

 erect, i the length of the leaves, (1 to li inches long) 

 12 to 14 flowered, pedicels very woolly, about an 

 inch in length, a linear lanceolate persistent involu- 

 cel at the base of each ; calyx segments, ovate, acute, 

 glabrous within, woolly without, reflexed ; ? petals 

 lanceolate, acute, pale purple and flcsh-colorcd at the 

 base, streaked with red lines, 3 times as long as the 

 calyx ; crown purple above, white on the top, leaves 

 of the crown with an elongated horn-like, sub com- 

 pressed incurved apex, also a long subulate acute 

 horn from the base of the hollow centre, incurved ; 

 pollen grains smooth and varnished. 



The white gummy concrete exudation found on the 

 leaves of this species, lias somewhat similar proper- 

 tics to the common India rnbbcr. 



The thanks of the Academy are due to Dr. J. N. 



