PENTANDRIA, MOXOGYNIA. 149 



The V. papiUo7iacea, and V. asaiifolia of Pursh, are 

 probably ambig-uous varieties of V. cucuUata and V. pal- 

 mata. \Vhether V. clandesti?ia of the same author be really 

 a distinct species is also equally uncertain, it appears to 

 me nothint^ more than a smoother variety of V-villosa, 

 if the petals of this plant were indeed ** chocolate brown," 

 that alone would be a sufficient character, but such ano- 

 malies are scarcely to be expected. 



7. rotundifolia. Michaux, excluding- the S}Tionym of 

 Pursh's V. clandestina. In this species, so accurately de- 

 scribed by Michaux, the leaves are unusually thick, large, 

 and round, constantly appressed to the ground, with a 

 pubescent petiole, and the sinus more closed than in any 

 other species; the flowers, which are of a pale yellow, 

 appear before the complete expansion of the leaves, upon 

 short peduncles; the segments of the calix are oblong; 

 obtuse; the 2 lateral'petals are a little bearded and striate; 

 striae, 3 upon each, the uppermost interrupted by the line 

 of pubescence; the lowest petal is imcommonly small, 

 and also striate, the striae bifid and crossed by 2 yellow 

 callous converging lines near the base; nectary almost 

 obliterated; style short and thick, capitulum of the stig- 

 ma small and smooth, recurved at the apex, but without 

 rostrum. Hab. On the shady and rocky banks of Wisha- 

 hikon creek, about 8 miles from Philadelphia, where it 

 was also found by Mr. Rufinesque; always under the shade 

 of Abies canadensis; in similar situations I have also seen 

 it in the mountains of North Carolina. 



8. blanda. Leaves nearly smooth, or slightly pubescent 

 on the upper side, petiole and under side entirely glabrous, 

 nerves pinnate, also smooth; flowers white, and odorous, 

 segments of the calix linear-obJong, obtuse; stigma capi- 

 tate, depresse.d, recurved, acutely margined around, pe- 

 tals all smooth. 



9. primulifolia. Linn. Persoonj Elliott, excluding the 

 synonym of Mr. Pursh, which appertains to another spe- 

 cies. This plant is very nearly allied to V. lanceolata, and 

 as such has probably been considered by Walter, Michaux, 

 and Pursh; both of them are indigenous to Siberia as 

 well as North America. It also makes a near approach to 

 V- hlayida. Leaves oblong, subcordate, crenaie, obtuse, the 

 base remarkably and abruptly decurrent on the petiole, 

 so as to resemble the leaves o{' Primida veris; nerves pin- 

 nate, mid-rib on the upper side of the leaf with a few scat- 

 tered hairs; petiole on the under side as well as the nerves 

 on the same side, and the scape hairv; segments of the 

 calyx obtuse, the 2 lateral petals a litUe bearded, flovrers 

 odorous. 



2 



