4 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
glomerules.! Half a dozen species’ of Miradilis proper are known, 
some of which are frequently cultivated in our gardens. The exterior 
green gamophyllus envelope of our common Marvel of Peru is not a 
calyx, but really an involucre; for in J/. ¢rifora it contains, instead 
of a single flower, three, of which one is terminal, and two younger 
Mirabilis Jalapa. 

Fra. 8. Fra. 9. Fie. 10. 
Fruit with indusium. Fruit without indusium (%), Seed, the teguments taken 
Longitudinal section (bilateral), aways 
ones lateral. A genus has been made for this plant under the name 
of Quamoclidion*® In M. multifora‘ the flowers are still more nume- 
rous within the involucre; from four to six may be counted around 
the terminal flower. In the preceding plants the number of bracts 
in the involucre varies from four to seven or eight. In some other 
species of Mirabilis, distinguished under the generic name of Acleis- 
anthes, there are not more than two, or more rarely three bracts 
under the articulate flower; and they are besides very small, instead 
of protecting the entire’ bud when young. The variable size of these 
bracts, however, does not permit us to distinguish the three or four 
known species of Acleisanthes’ otherwise than as a section in the 
genus Mirabilis. Thus constituted,’ this genus consequently includes, 
according to us, as many as ten species. 

1 Often uniparous towards the extremity of 4 Nyctaginia? Torreyana Cuors., Prodr., 
the infloresence. 430, n. 3.—Oxybaphus mulliflorus TorR., in 
2 Ruerp., Hort. Malab., x. t. 75 (Andi- Ann, Lye. N.-York, ii. 237. — Quamoclidion 
Maileri).—Rumru., Herb. Amboin., v. t. 89  multiflorum Torr., ex A. Gray, Brief Char. of 
—L., Spec., 252.—Manou, Meth., 508 (Jalapa). some new Gen. and Spec. of Nyctag., 7, n. 2 (ex 
—Sm., Exot. Bot., i. 48, t. 23.—H.B.K., Nov. Amer. Journ. Sc., 1853, xv.). 
Gen, et Spec., ii. 212.—BERTOL., Hort. Bonon., 5 A. Gray, Brief Char., 2. 
15, t. 1—Travtv., in Bull. Sc. Acad. Petersh., 6 The articulation of the flower is above them. 
vi. n, 14,—LEPELL., in Ann. Mus., viii. 481.— 7 A. Gray, loc. cit., 2, 3.—CuHols., Prodr. 
Branco, Fl. de Filipp., '77.—C. Gay, Fl. Chil, 429, n. 2 (Nyctaginia). 
v. 205.—DC., Fl. Fr., iii. 425,—Curn., in Bot. SMS 1. Nyctago (J.). 
Mag., t. 371.—Watpr., Ann., v. 721. aa 2. Quamoclidion (CHoO1s.). 
3 Cuors., Prodr. 429, n. 2. ect. 3. (3. Acleisanthes (A. GRAY). 
