Botanical Communications. 165 
to be determined either by weight, measure, or the number of par- 
ticles, will suffice for one person to read for one minute ? 
It will readily be perceived, that I have proceeded upon the sup- 
position, that the Newtonian theory of light is correct. 
Art. XVII.—Botanical Communications ; by H. B. Croom, Esq. 
I. Description of a New Plant. 
Anon. dioscoroides. 
Calyx petaloid, 4 parted, expanding ; corolla none ; stamens four, 
large and somewhat quadrangular; berry 2 seeded? peduncles ax- 
illary, nodding, 2 flowered. 
Plant herbaceous, very glabrous, about six inches high; leaves 
five to seven, crowded towards the summit of the stem, on long pe- 
tioles, seven to nine nerved. Allied to Convallaria and Polygona- 
tum? Mr. Nuttall, from a specimen which I sent him, has doubting- 
ly called this plant a Cissampelos, but Dr. Pickering agrees with me 
in considering it to be different from that genus. 
Found at Aspalaga on the Appalachicola, under the shade of the 
remarkable Taxus which I have before mentioned as existing at that 
place. Flowers in April. 
Il. Localities of Plants. 
Hee studia peregrinantur nobiscum.—Cic. 
1. Peucedanum ternatum, Nutt. 
Description. Whole plant glabrous; root tuberous; stem three 
to five feet high, striate and slender; leaves few, five to six, lower 
ternate, on very long petioles; leaflets narrow, three to four lines 
wide, linear, acute, attenuated at base; upper leaves simple, linear, 
acute, long; umbels one to nine, terminal and axillary ; involucrum 
none, or from one to six narrow, linear leaves ; radii elongated, 
six to fifteen ; segments of the involucel three to six subulate, two to 
three lines long ; pedicels filiform, about one inch long; petals pale 
straw color within, reddish brown without ; filaments long ; anthers 
large, two lobed; style reflected in the mature fruit; calyx five 
toothed, teeth acute, and probably deciduous. 
Found by Dr. Loomis and myself near Newbern, N. C. (in the 
savannah, at the Race Course) with fruit and flowers, Sept. 28th. 
2. Rhexia lutea.—Common in the savannahs around Newbern, 
N.C. 
