1899 | NEW SPECIES OF WESTERN PLANTS 445 
This may be an extreme form of C. parviflora Eng., but its strict habit 
gives it a very different appearance. 
Glossopetalon pungens, n. sp.—Fruticose, cespitose, branch- 
ing: stems 8-9" high: leaves crowded, 7-8™ long, slightly 
short-hirsute, the margins, midrib, and 3-6 veins strongly thick- 
ened, alternate, narrowly oblong-elliptical, attenuate to each 
end and tipped with a spine 1™™ long: flowers terminating the 
stems or short branchlets on pedicels 3-4™™ long that bear three 
or four scarious bracts similar to the leaves but smaller: calyx 
of five broadly ovate bracts; 4™™ long, with denticulate margins, 
two or three of them spinose tipped, and the others acuminate: 
petals five, obovate-lanceolate, narrowed to the base, 7—-8™™ 
_long,.2™™ wide: the five stamens inserted with the petals as long 
as the calyx, the five opposite the calyx a third longer and with 
wider filaments: carpels two or three, pubescent, ovate, attenuate 
to the stigma, sessile upon the disk: ovules in each carpel two, 
collateral and ascending, inserted on the ventral suture above 
the base of the cell: fruit a firm coriaceous follicle equalling the 
calyx, opening along the ventral suture, usually one-seeded. 
heep mountains, Nevada, growing on rocks at 4000-5000 
feet elevation, Dr. C. A. Purpus, no. 6131. 
This is a most interesting species, and may throw some light upon the 
ttue position of the genus in classification. It is so distinct from the other 
species that the generic characters have been somewhat included in its 
description so as to exhibit more certainly its affinity. The original species 
-- Spinescens was collected by Mr. Wright near Frontera, New Mexico, and 
since then has been often found between western Colorado and eastern 
California, Dr. Gray, in the original diagnosis, thought the genus inter- 
‘Mediate between Celastraceze and Staphyleacez, and later with the descrip- 
tion of an additional closely related species, G. Nevadense, refers it confidently 
'0 Staphyleacex, and adds: “as in the original specimens of G. spinescens, 
‘0 in these, although seeds seem to be full-grown and well formed, I do not 
find a Single developed embryo. If this should be straight and the albumen 
‘Wanting, I should refer the genus to Rosacee near to Purshia ; but I expect 
It will turn Out otherwise.” This newly discovered species was collected in 
abundance, with plenty of full grown and well-formed seeds exactly like those 
Of the other two species, but unfortunately it resembles them also in having no 
embryos, Among the recent collections of G. Mevadense, aes Hee 
