Boston Journal of Natural History 63 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Boston Journal of Natural History^ containing Pa- 

 pers and Communications read before the Boston Society of 

 Natural History^ and published by their direction. Vol. V. 

 No. 11. , (fcc. Boston. 1845. 



We gave some account of the botanical contributions to this 

 number of a scientific journal issued in this city ; and would 

 resume our notes on the same, by taking into present con- 

 sideration, in a very brief and succinct way, the Art. XV. 

 entitled "Plantse Lindheimerianse : an enumeration of the 

 plants collected in Texas, and distributed to subscribers by 

 F. Lindheimer, with remarks and descriptions of new species, 

 &c. By George Engelman and Asa Gray." 



In Silliman^s Joiirnal, for July, 1843, was announced a 

 plan of Mr. Lindheimer's for exploring the botany of Texas, 

 and collecting specimens for distribution. Two distinct col- 

 lections were accordingly made, of which a part of the sec- 

 ond was unfortunately lost, abridging the number of speci- 

 mens for distribution to 318. Of these, there follows a com- 

 plete list, with authorities of nomenclature, and other impor- 

 tant data appended. We shall select such of the many as 

 we deem of sufficient importance, in a publication such as 

 ours, dedicated particularly to Horticultural Botany, than to 

 that of a more precise scientific character. We give the 

 numbers of the specimens described, viz : — 



"13. Krameria lanceolata Toj-rey, in Amials of Lyceum 

 of New York. 11. p. 168. The root of Krameria lanceolata 

 is ligneous, two or three lines thick, and very long, of a dark 

 red color, and has the same chemical and medicinal proper- 

 ties as the S. American Ratanha. As the plant appears to 

 be common in some parts of Texas, it might be valuable for 

 collection and export." — p. 212. 



The true Ratanhia, Rattany, or Rhatany is the Krameria 

 tridndra of botanists ; a half shrubby plant, growing in Peru, 

 on dry gravelly soil ; its stem two or three feet long, prostrate, 

 with oblong, sharp-pointed, undivided, hairy leaves ; solitary 

 dull brown flowers, and a bur-like fruit. Its root is valua- 



