Plate 2509. 



ERYNGIUM CRYPTANTHUM, Ilemd. 



UMBELLIFERiE. 



E. cryptanthum, Hemsl. (sp. nov.) ; species nana, monocarpica, 

 capitulis parvis, involucri bracteis confertis flores superantibus. 



Planta, ut videtur, biennis, vel saltern monocarpica, undique glabra. 

 Caulis erectus, 6-15 poll, altus, gracilis, a basi pauciramosus, striatus, 

 ramulis erectis di- vel trichotomis. Folia tenuia, vix coriacea, radicalia 

 rosulata, sessilia, oblongo-spathulata, 1-2 poll, longa, spinuloso-dentata, 

 albo-marginata, caulina minora, paucilobata. Capitula pauca, graciliter 

 peduneulata, parva, ovoidea, maxima absque bracteis circiter 3 lin. 

 longa. Involucri bractece 5-7, rigidiuscuhe, spinulosse, lanceolate, 3-5 

 lin. longse, flores includentes, medio saepissime bidentatee. Palece e basi 

 lata acuta?, flores paulo superantes. Calycis denies minute, ovate, £— | 

 lin. longse, minutissime apiculata;, clemum incurvae. Petala apice in- 

 flexa, fimbriate. Carpella oblonga, ^-f lin. longa, undique regulariter 

 spongioso-squamosa, stylis divaricatis ; vitte minute, ad commissuram 

 2, ad valleculas solitariie vel geminate vel obsolete. — E. beechet/amtm, 

 Seem. Bot. Voy. Herald, p. 294, non Hook, et Am. 



North-west Mexico : Sierra Mad re, Seemann, 2135. 



This is not even closely allied to the species with which Seemann 

 associated it ; and is remarkable for the very small flower-heads con- 

 cealed within the bracts of the involucre.— W. Botting Hemsley. 



Eig. 1, a capitulum in vertical section ; 2, a bract; 3, a pale ; 4 and 5, flowers in 

 an advanced stage ; 6, a raericarp ; 7, a petal ; 8, cross section of a mericarp, — All 

 il urged. 



SERIES IV. VOL. VI. PART I 



C 



