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BOTANY 



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197 



f^ high. Leaves an inch long, tapering at the hase into a short petiole. Spikes on short peduncles 



4 to 5-flowered ; commonly only the lowest flower pistillate. Very near the last species, but 

 differing in heing entirely smooth, and in long narrow eraarginate glands of the disk. 



Aphora lanceolata, Engelm. d: Gray^ I. c. Serophytum lanceolatum^ Bcnth. L c. 8ierra de 

 la Nariz, Sonera ; Schott. On the Gila ; TInirher, Near A. humilis. 



ArncRA SERRATA (n. sp.)' annua, humilis, pilosa; caule e basi ramoso; foliis ohlongis hasi in 

 petiolum brevem attenuatis serratis ; racemis androgynis paucifloris ; floris masculi petalis calyce 

 longioribus^ foeminei petalis glandulis multo longioribus, Sandy plains near Fort Yuma, 

 California; Schott. On the Rio Gila; Parry. Stems moderately branching, 3-6 inches long. 



I 



Clusters 



or short racemes axillary, 4-5-flowered ; one or two of the flowers fertile, the others staminate. 

 . Petals of the staminate flowers rhombic-lanceolate, acuminate. Stamens 10, in 2 series, the 



filaments united into a slender column, at the base of which are 5 oblong erect glands. Fertile 

 flowers 5-petalled, with 5 linear short glands alternating with the petals. Ovary trigastric, 

 very hispid; styles deeply 2-parted ; the divisions linear. Seed the size of a large pin-head, 

 globose- obovate, gray, corrugated. 



We have incomjilete specimens (with staminate flowers only) of an allied species, or a variety 

 of this plant, collected by Mr. Schott, on the Sierra del Tule, Sonora. It is much larger than 

 A, serrata ; the branches are quite smooth, and tlie oblong remotely denticulate leaves (1-2 

 inches long) are only sparsely hirsute. The racemes, or spikes, are axillary, 8-10-flowered, on 

 peduncles about as long as the p' tioles. Segments of the calyx narrowly lanceolate. Petals 5, 

 rhombic-lanceolate, purple. Stamens 10, in two series, one above the other; the filaments 

 united into a column, with 5 oblong glands at the base. Another allied species, or probably 

 variety, was found by Mr. Blodgett, in dry places, at Key West. It seems to be a prostrate 

 annual, slightly hirsute, with ovate-oblong acute sub-sessile leaves, which are either denticulate- 

 serrate, or nearly entire. Clusters 4-5-flowered. Petals of the staminate flowers oblong, a 

 little exceeding the calyx. Fertile flowers 5-petalled^ the petals ovate, half the length of the 

 calyx. Glands very short and emarginate. Seed sub-globose, reticulate-corrugate. 



Aphora mercueialana, Nutt. in Amer. Fhil. Trans, (n, ser.) 5, p. 174. Serophytum Drum- 



mondij Benth. Bot. Snlph. p 53. Western Texas; Wr 



)— Var. 



' > 



pumila : nana, glabrescens, e basi ramosa ; floris masculi petalis calyce paulo longioribus. Springs 

 near Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande ; Bigeloio, The variety is woody at the base, as in the 

 ordinary form. The stem is only 4-6 inches long. Leaves (in dried specimens) more or less 



tinged or clouded with purple. 



Aphoea pilosissima. Serophytum pilosissimum, Benih. I. c. Southern Texas. {Berlandier^ 

 No. 2566.) This is the same as No. 322 of Drummond's third collection of Texan plants. 

 Engelmann and Gray incorrectly refer this species to A. mercurialina. Null. 



MoziNXA SPATHULATA, Orteg, Dec. 8, p. 105, t. 13. Var. sessiltflora, Hooh, Ic. 4, 357. 

 Gravelly hills and mountain sides, western Texas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon ; 

 flowering throughout most of the season. Near Matamoras ; Berlandiery No. 3210. (No. 1812, 



IVright.) An erect shrubby plant, with nearly simple rather stout branches. Leaves 1-2 

 inches long, varying from linear to obovate-spatulate, and from obtuse or emarginate to acute. 

 Flowers white, in small facicles, growing, with the leaves^ from short wart-like spurs. Fruit 

 ovate, acute, often (by abortion) 1-seeded, the thin papery endocarp separating from theexocarp. 

 Seed the size of a large pea, glabrous. All the species of this genus are called by the Mexicans 



