MEXANDRIA. DIGTNIA. 22^ 



axUlary, deflected and incrassated durin,^ the maturinjj 

 of the fruit. — Calix persistent, conspicuous, petals and 

 stamina minute; fruit di or tricoccus, naked, (vorculum 

 erect, flat; cotyledones convex, peltate; radical inferior. 

 Perisperm none. 



Species. 1. F, palustris. (F. prosc!rpi7iacoides,Wi\\d.y 

 Obs. Stem tere'e. Leaves somewfiat succulent, alter- 

 nate, pseudopinnate; sej^ments mostly 5, narrow, oblong"- 

 lanceolate, simple, ultimate divisions confluent at the 

 base, latcM'al ones 2 or 3-iobed, somewhat obtuse, di or 

 trichotomously and numerously nerved, (when held to the 

 lli^ht;) petiole long-, semic}lindric, channelled. Peduncles 

 axillary, at first short, but g-radually elongated nearly to 

 2 inche^j. Calix 3-parted, segm^mLs ovate, acute, thiclcish 

 and green. Petals 3, white, alternating with the calix, 

 and much sinaller, oblong, somewhat obtuse, and persis- 

 tent> pubescent at the base fseen through a lens), insert- 

 ed upon the calix. Stamina 6, minute, irregularly dis- 

 posed, arising from the base of the calix; filaments capilla- 

 ry, alternately articulated upon 3 glands near their base; 

 anthers roundish. Style 1, inserted between the fruit, and 

 unconnected with it in every direction, apex bifid, stigmas 

 2, small, roimdish. Fruit within the persistent calix, con- 

 sisting of 2, and rarely 3, romdisli, naked, but membra- 

 naceously coated seeds; integument papillosely rugose. 



XoTE. The seed appears readily divisible into 2 ellip- 

 tic, convex, fleshy lobes, a little acrid to the taste; but the 

 singular disposition of the embryon, immersed, and includ- 

 ed, near the base of the lobes, in a small cavity, so as to 

 render the cotyledones very excentrlcally peltate, are cir- 

 cumstances which lead me to doubt the validity of these 

 apparent seed-lobes, and I must recommend it to further 

 examination. 



Hab. In Pennsylvania, (on the banks of the Schuyl- 

 kill near Philadelpliia; rare.) 



It is not easy to decide upon the natural affinities of this 

 singular genus, for the present, it can only be placed to 

 some order witliout any distinct relation; as such, it may 

 be referred to the end of the PoRTULACE-i. With J^ectris 

 it appears to have no affinity whatever. 



Order II.—DIGYNIA. 

 538. NECTRIS. Willd, 



Calix 6-parted, inferior, the 3 inferior sei^- 

 ments petaloid, smaller and obtuse. Corolla 



X 



