Jfotice on the Myosurus Shortii. 379 



different. The etymology of the name which I have given to 

 it, derives (Tommany irregularities. It belongs in the analytical 

 method of botany, to the first natural class Eltrogynia, ninth na- 

 tural order Monostimia, natural family Capparidia. It can find 

 no place in the sexual system since the number of stamina va- 

 ries from 9 to 14, unless it be forced into Dodecandria, 



Polanisia graveolens. Clammy polanisia — hairy and glutin- 

 ous all over, stem upright, leaves alternate, petiolate, ternated, 

 folioles sessile, the intermediate longest, oblong, obtuse, entire, 

 hairy on the margin and nerves : flowers racemose erect, 

 bracteas petiolate, ovate, obtuse, calyx hairy, petals emargin- 

 ate, crenate, capsules divaricate glutinous. 



It is the Cleome dodecandra of Michaux and Pursh. It grows 

 on the banks of rivers and lakes, on the Hudson near New- 

 burgh, on the Susquehannah near Harrisburg, on Lake Erie, 

 on the Ohio, and Mississippi, &c. It blossoms in July and Au- 

 gust, the stem rises about 1 foot, the petals are white, or 

 slightly red. The whole plant has a strong graveolent smell, 

 similar to that of Erigeron graveolens. (Received January, 

 1818. Editor.) 



Art. X. J^otice on the Myosurus Shortiu 



X HAVE the pleasure to announce to the botanists, that the 

 genus Myosurus, hitherto thought an European genus, and 

 composed of a single species, has been detected in the United 

 States by Dr. Short of Kentucky, who has discovered it in the 

 neighbourhood of Hopkinsville, in Christian county, West 

 Kentucky, and has communicated me specimens of it ; by 

 which, on comparing them with the European Myosurus. 

 figured in Flora Danica, Lamarck's Illustrations, &.c. I have 

 been enabled to ascertain, that the American plant must form 

 a second species of that genus, which I have accordingly dedi- 

 cated it to the discoverer, by naming it Myosurus Shortii. This 

 adds another genus and another new species to our Flora. I 

 add the comparative definitions of the two species, exhibiting 

 their different characters and diagnosis. 



