80 Muhlenbergia, Volume 6 



"Bracts leafy, subpinnatifid, lobed or coarsely (mostly) tri- 

 dentate, scarcely as long as the capsule. Two other smaller 

 bracteoles opposite at the edge of the capsule, (usually rather 

 more than one-half the length of the capsule) three-lobed or tri- 

 dentate; the middle lobe a little prolonged, cuneate at base. 



"Flowers small, (petals scarcely three lines in length) bright 

 golden yellow deepening to rich orange at the claws or towards 

 the center; petals ovate-oblong unguiculate, five in number, 

 twice the length of the calyx segments, emarginate, apex slightly 

 bristly. 



"Stamens and pistils equal, shorter than the petals, about 

 twenty, filaments filiform; pistils connate, apparently simple, 

 included. 



"Capsules cylindraceous, slightly narrower towards the base, 

 about half an inch long, hirsute calyx segments, crowning the 

 capsule, subulate one-half the length of the petals; tuberculate 

 scabrous seeds somewhat cubical, in three series, six to eight or 

 more in each row. 



"In condensed clusters of two to five (scarcely axillary and 

 solitary) terminating the branches. 



"This species seems to be near M. congesta, (Nutt. Ms.-., 

 under Trachyphytum) but the stem is not "dichotomous" nor 

 "polished," nor leaves "short ovate,"nor bracts "membranaceous." 



The above is Kellogg's original description, and his figure 

 of the plant is reproduced on another page. Like so many of 

 his species, it was no doubt consigned to oblivion without ade- 

 quate material upon which to pass judgment, for it has been 

 put down as a synonym of A. albicaulis. Kellogg compared it 

 with "Mentzelia congesta" and this fact alone should indicate 

 that it could not well be the same as albicaulis, for as originally 

 described, that species has flowers without bracts, the obovate, 

 mucronate petals two or three lines long, as long as the calyx. 

 /. / 'eatchiana, on the- other hand, has prominent, usually three- 

 lobed braets, and "ovate-oblong unguiculate" petals "twice the 

 length of the calyx segments." 



The species is common about Reno on gravelly hills among 

 the sage brush, and is also found within the citv limits. 



