48 ESS A YS. 



we found an arborescent tetramerous species of Prinos (in 

 fruit only), with large and membranaceous ovate leaves. 

 The same species has been collected on the Pokono Moun- 

 tains in Pennsylvania by Mr. Wolle, and on the Catskills by 

 Mr. S. T. Carey. We should deem it the P. laevigatas of 

 Pursh (not of Torrey, Fl. Northern States), on account of 

 the solitary and subsessile fertile flowers, as well as the 

 habitat, were not the flowers of that species said to be hex- 

 amerous. 



In damp, very shady places high up the Negro Mountain 

 we saw an Aconitum not yet in flower ; and on moist rocks 

 near the summit, obtained a few fruiting specimens of a Saxi- 

 f raga which was entirely new to us. In a single very secluded 

 spot on the north side of the mountain, near the summit, the 

 rocks were covered with a beautiful small Fern, which proves 

 to be the Asplenium Adiantam-nigrum of Michaux, the A. 

 montanum, Willd., an extremely rare plant. It is certainly 

 distinct from the A. Adiantum-nigrum ; being not only a 

 much smaller and more delicate species (two to four inches 

 high), but the fronds are narrower, the pinnae ovate and 

 much shorter, 3-5 parted, with the pinnulae toothed or in- 

 cised at the apex. 



The Veratrum parviflorum, Michx., is of frequent occur- 

 rence throughout this region, but was not yet fully in flower, 

 so that our specimens were not collected until near the end of 

 July. The plant is excellently described in the Flora of 

 Michaux, where it is, probably with justice, referred to Vera- 

 trum rather than to Melanthium ; since the divisions of the 

 perianth (yellowish-green from the first) are wholly destitute 

 of glands, and only differ from Veratrum in being stellate, 

 and tapering at the base. I may here remark that the name 

 Melanthium must undoubtedly be retained for M. Virgini- 

 cum and M. Tiybridum. Some years since, in rearranging the 

 North American species of this family, I followed Roemer 

 and Schultes in adopting the genus Leimanthium of Willde- 

 now, without considering that Melanthium was established by 

 Clayton and Gronovius on 3L Virginicum, and thus taken 

 up by Linnaeus, with the addition of a Siberian plant, which 



