2G8 Mr. J. Miers on the genus Brachistus. 



cimens referred to, but the structure of the flower corresponds 

 with that of all the plants above described. The leaves are 2|- 

 3i inches long, 1—1^ inch broad, upon a petiole 4-6 lines in 

 length ; the peduncle measures | inch, the calyx 3 lines in dia- 

 meter ; the corolla, including the acuminated segments, is f inch 

 diameter. 



12. Brachistus Hookerianus (n.sp.); — fruticulosus, ramulis striatis, 

 molliter pilosis, demum glabris ; foliis ovatis, utrinque abrupte 

 acuminatis, imo in petiolum longe decurrentibus, utrinque 

 sparse molliter hirsutis, demum subglabris, margine ciliatis, 

 rachi incrassato venisque pinnatis glabris, geminis, altero multo 

 minore ; floribus pentameris, parvulis, axillaribus, fasciculato- 

 congestis ; calyce minimo, pubescente, margine integro, den- 

 tibus 5, setaceis ; corolla kitea, glabra, tubo brevi, subcampa- 

 nulato, limbo rotato, 5-angulato, angulis acutis, pilosulis; 

 staminibus brevibus, glabris. — Ecuador, v. s. in herb. Hook. 

 (Cerro de Lantana, Guayaquil, Jameson, et in horto Kewensi 

 cultus.) 



This pretty species is remarkable for the abundance and bril- 

 liancy of its small yellow flowers. Its leaves are 2| inches long, 

 1| inch broad, with a somewhat winged petiole | inch long; the 

 peduncle measures 7 lines, the calyx 1 line, with remote setaceous 

 teeth ^ a line in length ; the corolla is 5 lines in diameter. 



13. Brachistus diver sifolius. Witheringia diversifolia, Klotsch 

 MSS.; Walp. Rep. iii. 29; — sufFruticosus, ramis teretibus, sub- 

 glabris, ramulis pubescentibus; foliis ovatis, acutis, basi abrupte 

 attenuatis, utrinque sparsim pubescentibus, plerumque gemi- 

 nis, altero obtusissimo duplo minori; pedunculis axillaribus, 

 solitariis, calyce 5-dentato, corolla lutea, 5-fida. — Mexico. 

 This plant was cultivated in the Botanic Garden of Berlin, 



from whence the particulars of the above description are proba- 

 bly derived. 



14. Brachistus Neesia7ius. Physalis arborescens, Linn. Sp. PL 

 261 ; Nees ab Esenb. Linn. vi. p. 456 ; — sufFruticosus, ramulis 

 angulatis, tomentosis ; foliis alternis, superioribus geminis, 

 ovato-oblongis, acumine obtusiusculo, attenuatis, insequaliter 

 repando-dentatis, crassiusculis, supra subtiliter, subtu.s densius 

 tomentosis, pilis cauis, stellatis ; floribus paucis (2-3), extra- 

 axillaribus, pendulis ; calyce urceolato, pubescente, 5-fido, den- 

 tibus ovatis, obtusiusculis, canescentibus ; corolla rotata, ultra 

 medium 5-flda, laciniis lanceolatis, extus tomentellis; fructu 

 ignoto. — Mexico (Yucatan). 



This plant has always been referred to Physalis, but doubtfully 

 by Nees, who hardly considered it to belong to that genus, on 



