500 ACCOUNT OF BASSIA BUTYRACEA ; 



Leaves alternate, about the ends of the branch- 

 lets, , petioled, obovate-ciineate, obtuse-pointed, 

 entire; smooth above, villous underneath; veins 

 simple, and parallel; length, six to twelve inches; 

 breadth, three to six. 



Petioles, from one to two inches long. 



Stipules, if any, minute, and caducous. 



Flowers numerous, round the base of the young 

 shoots, and from the axils of the lower leaves, pe- 

 duncled, large, pale-yellow, drooping. 



Calyx, four, five, or six leaved (five is by far 

 the most common number) ; ovate, obtuse, cover- 

 ed externally with ferruginous pubescence, per-: 

 manent. 



Corol ; tube subcylindric, length of the calyx ; 

 border of eight, spreading, oblong, obtuse divi- 

 sions, longer than the tube. 



Stamens ; filaments from thirty to forty, about 

 as long as the tube of the Corol, and inserted on 

 its mouth. Anthers linear-oblong. 



Pistil, germ conical, (ten or twelve celled, one 

 seeded,) downy, surrounded with a downy necta- 

 rial ring. Style longer than the stamens ; stigma 

 acute. 



Berry oblong, ' generally pointed by a remaining 

 portion of the style; smooth, fleshy, containing 

 one, two, or three, rarely more, large seeds ; the 

 rest not ripened. 



Seeds oblong, rather round than flat, but diiFer- 



