Niittalliance. N. O, Amarantliaceae 



TAB. CCLVL 



Oplotheca Floridana. 



Sericeo-subtomentosa, caule erecto vel declinato subrobusto, foliis 



lanceolatis sessilibus subtus sericeis inferioribus petiolatis, spi- 



culis multifloris superioribus approximatis, perianthio dense 



lanato, fructifero cristis firmis latissimis fissis dentatisque. 



Oplotheca floridana. NutL Gen. Am. v. 2. p. 19. et in Herb. 



Hook. — Drummondy Herb. Texas. II. w. 236. 

 Hab. Florida and Alabama. NiittalL Texas. Drurnmond. Jamaica, 

 Dr M'Fadpen. 



This Genus is the Froelichia of Moench (but not of Vahl, nor 

 Wulf.), and its essential character depends on the curious crests 

 of the perianth, only appearing, however, in the fructified state. 

 T am far from certain that the Gomphrena interriipta of Jamaica 

 (UHerit. Stirp. t. 3.) Celosia procumbens (Jacq. Ic. t. 51,) is 

 not the same species. Certainly my Jamaica specimens are by 

 no means different from the plant here figured. Other species, 

 however, are found in Brazil ; and a very distinct one also exists 

 in Mr Drummond*s 2d Coll. from Texas, n. 244, which may 

 be thus characterized : 



Oplotheca ^rac27i5 ; pubescenti-sericea, caulibusgracillimisbasi decumbentibug 

 geniculatis dein erectis, foliis anguste lineari-lanceolatis, spiculis parvis pauci- 

 floris remotis, perianthio toraentoso, fructifero cristis brevibus crassis profunda 

 dentatis. 



Hab. Texas, Driimmond^ 



Tab. CCLVL Oplotheca Floridana. Fig. 1. Flower and 

 bracteas. /. 2, Floral perianth {destitute of crests). /. 3. Sta- 

 minal tube. / 4. Upper portion of the same, seen from within. 



f. 5. Pistil. / 6. Fructiferous perianth with its broad crests. 



/. T. Another do. laid open- /. 8. Utricle. /. 9. Seed and seed- 

 stalk : — magnijied. 



