144 Mr. J. Miers on the genus Witheringia. 



exceeding the size of a peppercorn^ and is supported on a small 

 persistent and nonaugescent calyx; it is not one-tenth the size of 

 the large oval berry inclosed within its increasing calyx^ which is 

 seen in Witheringia picta ; the positive characters here alluded 

 to will be found to approach very closely to Acnistus, and to be 

 quite incompatible with the plants of the other group referred to. 



From these several facts the inference is irresistible, that 

 Witheringia solanacea should at once be referred to Saracha, and 

 that Witheringia macrophylla, W. ciliata, W. mollis, W. rhom- 

 hoidea, W. dumetorum and W. riparia of Prof. Kunth, together 

 with some others, form a distinct group, which I propose to call 

 Brachistus, and that the genus Witheringia as defined by L'He- 

 ritier must fall upon that group of plants, of which the Withe- 

 ringia piicta, Mart., may be considered the type. These are di- 

 stinguished b}^ an inflorescence either solitary or fasciculate in 

 each axil or dichotomy of the branches, in which latter cases they 

 arise successively at different periods, so that we see in each fas- 

 cicle, every gradation of development from the nascent bud to 

 the I'ipened fruit : the peduncle is always 1-flowered, slender and 

 drooping in the young flower, but it grows much longer, becomes 

 rigidly erect, and is considerably thickened towards the apex, in 

 fruit : the calyx is 5-partite, the corolla has a very short tube, 

 and a deeply 5-cleft rotate border, with the stamens arising from 

 triangular extensions a little above the base of the tube, as in 

 Hebecladus and Saracha : the berry is large, oval, and wholly in- 

 cluded within the enlarged calyx, and the form of the embryo of 

 its seed is spiral. 



It may be urged that the name of Saracha should give place 

 to that of Witheringia, but such a change would answer no good 

 purpose, and could not be effected without great confusion, a 

 very unnecessary creation of synonyms, and the annihilation of a 

 genus long recognized. The recommendation above suggested 

 appears to me the only proper course to pursue, and in adopting 

 it, we do not violate the rule of priority, as L^Heritier's plant was 

 only a cultivated specimen, the place of whose origin is still quite 

 unknown ; and as no specimen of it appears to be in existence, 

 it is clear that as a species, and especially as the type of a genus, 

 it must ever remain problematical : and finally, that as L^Heri- 

 tier's generic character remains in full force, as applied to another 

 distinct group, the tribute intended by him to honour the me- 

 mory of Withering is thus inviolably preserved. The genus 

 Witheringia being thus established, it follows as a necessary con- 

 sequence, that the Athenaa of Dr. Sendtnermust give place to it. 

 The following generic character di-awn up from my own observa- 

 tions will not be found to differ materially from that of the au- 

 thor last mentioned. 



