52 Ammobroma, a New Genus of Plants. 



lobes short and emarginate. Stamens 6-10, inserted above the middle 

 of the tube of the corolla in a single series, included ; filaments very 

 short ; anthers oblong, 2-celled ; the cells opening longitudinally. 

 Ovary oblate-globose, 15-20-celled ; the cells arranged in a marginal 

 circle around a thick central axis ; style elongated, rather stout, straight, 

 included ; stigma sub-capitate, depressed in the centre, the margin cre- 

 nate. Ovules single in each cell and fixed to the inner angle, at 

 first nearly hemitropous, but becoming anatropous ; the micropyle supe- 

 rior. Fruit (immature) depressed, the dehiscence apparently localicidal- 

 Endocarp chartaceous, separating readily from the rest of the fruit, which 

 is apparently somewhat fleshy. Plant herbaceous and fleshy, of a 

 dull orange color, parasitical on the roots of an unknown shrub. Stem 

 simple, scaly, almost entirely buried in the sand, the summit expanded 

 into a shallow cyathiform head or receptacle, which is densely lined with 

 6mall, pedicellate, purplish ebracteate flowers. 



Ammobroma Sonorae. 



Plate I. 



Habitat— State of Sonora, Northern Mexico, in the sandy 

 desert near the head of the Gulf, on hills around Adair Bay. 



Root consisting of thick tortuous fibres, dilated near the extremity, 

 where they are attached to the plant from which the parasite draws its 

 nourishment. Stem 2 to 4 feet long, and from three-fourths of an inch 

 to an inch and a half in diameter, thicker below, and gradually tapering 

 upwards, furnished with numerous lanceolate acute scales, which are 

 appressed, except near the top and on the under side of the cup-like 

 receptacle, where they are reflexed. This receptacle i6 about two inches 

 in diameter, funnel-form inside, with the margin recurved, and the cavity 

 and margin densely lined with flowers, which stand on short pedicels, 

 which are longer in the centre flowers, so that the mass of flowers is 

 nearly level or only slightly concave. The inflorescence appears to be 

 centrifugal. Calyx 10-parted nearly to the base; the divisions very 

 slender, purplish, clothed with spreading simple or bifid white hairs 

 which appear torulose under a lens. Corolla about 4 lines long, nearly 



