BOTANY. _ [133] 77 
reconditus. R deceit eequaliter 6-dentatum, fructiferum clausum. Stamina 6, perigoni 
fauc inserta, dentibus ejusdem opposita: Alkeiciith brevissima. Styli 3, breves; stigmata capi- 
tata. Achenium ovato-trigonum, acutum, semen conforme. Embryo ie axi albuminis farinacej 
curvatum ; cotyledonibus orbiculatis silipnsi ; Tadicula elongata supera. Herba annua, nana, 
breviter ramosa, rigida ; foliis imis ovatis longe petiolatis tomentosis, reliquiis spinescenti- 
subulatis confertissimis —— eth ge involucris axillaribus oe bracteola 
trifida spinescente fulcratum. 
_ AcANTHOGoNUM RIGIDUM. On Williams’ sdiee:) a fork of the Uoliends: Weitets New Mexico. 
Only winter vestiges of this plant were collected by Dr. Bigelow ; but the specimens seem to 
show that it is a new genus of Eriogonew. It will stand next to Mucronea, from which it 
differs in habit, in the short involucral tube, in the 6-toothed closed perianth, and in the. in- 
sertion of the stamens. The whole plant above ground is not more than 3 or 4 inches high. 
The lower and radical leaves are about half an inch long, clothed with a white tomentum, and 
stand on petioles which are nearly an inch in length. The upper leaves are destitute of stipules, 
rigid, subulate, and spreading. In nearly every axil is a solitary sessile -involucre, which is 
3-parted ; the segments varying from ovate to narrowly lanceolate; all of them mucronate and 
pungent, carinate, strongly 3-nerved, with transverse connecting veins; the closed base is ob- 
tusely triangular, and contains a siaglé: sessile flower, Piciinak membranaceous, 6-toothed ; 
the teeth ovate, very hairy. Stamens apparently only 65 filaments inserted in the throat op- 
posite the teeth of the perianth ; anthers not seen. The achenium is sometimes 3-valved at the 
summit, or at least easily splits when old. _What.we have called subulate rigid upper leaves 
may be aul the spine-like persistent midribs, 
Rumex Maritimus, Linn.; Meisn. in DO. Prodr. im pars 1, p. 59. Low places on the Rio 
Grande, near Alimauesexe: A dwarf form. ~ 
EX poMEsTIcUS, Harim.; Hook. Fl. Bor,-Amer. :. p. 129? Sandy plains and hills near 
_the Mohave creek, California ; March. The fruit too young for determining with certainty the 
species. - 
-Potyconum Paronycata, rj & Schlecht. in ccahaet 3, p. 51; Hook. & Arn. Bot. Beech., 
p. 158. Near San Fraisieces April 3. 
Potyeonum Bistorta, Eons Meda: Polyg. p. 91. P. bistortoides, Pursh, Fl. 1, p. 371. 
Laguna of Santa Rosa creek, New Mexico; May 1. — rae} : 
: ~ LAURACE. 
- OrEoDAPHNE Oanirornica, Nees, Syst. Laur. p. 463. Tetranthera? Californica, Hook. & 
Arn. Bot. Beech. p. 150. Laurus? regia, Dougl. in Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag. Umbellularia 
Californica, Nutt. Sylv. 1, p. 87. Drimophyllum pauciflorum, Nutt. 7. ¢. ¢. 22, exel. syn. 
Mountains near San Gabriel, and Oakland, California; March—April, (in Sower:) On the 
Upper Sacramento this fine tree attains a height of 50-70 feet. Douglas estimated the height 
of some individuals at 120 feet. Towards the south its altitude is much less, being from 15-30 
feet. By the slightest friction it emits a strong spicy odor, but is apt to excite sneezing. The 
fruit is globose, nearly an inch in diameter, and stands on a thick stalk. When immature it is 
green, but dark-purple when fully ripe. We have no doubt that Nuttall’s Drimophyllum is 
identical with Oreodaphne Californica. His plate agrees very well with a common state of the 
plant, and also with an authentic specimen of. Laurus regia of Douglas. The inhabitants of 
California call it Mountain Laurel and Spice-tree- It grows throughout the western part af the 
State, from the =e ot Oregon to Santa Barbara. 
THYMELACE:. 
Drrea PALUsTRIS, Linn. Spec. 1, p. 358; Zorr. Fl. N. York 2, p. 163. Mountains near Oak- 
land, California ; April 4, (with flowers and young fruit.) We have never before received this 
plant from any part of the United States west of the Mississippi. 
