I. PLANT JE FRimONTIAN^. 13 



is disposed to separate in plates. Leaves from two to three inclies long, 

 elliptical-oblong, gradually tapering at the base into a petiole, the margins (when 

 dry) narrowly revolute, glabrous above, densely and minutely tomentose under- 

 neath, and with scattered appressed hairs. These hairs are muricate-scabrous, 

 as in Philadelphus, Decumaria, Deutzia, and Jamesia. Stipules wanting. The 

 cyme is on a long straight peduncle, and is from five to seven-flowered. The 

 pedicels are from an inch and a half to two inches and a half in length. They 

 are furnished at the base with oblong foHaceous bracts, which resemble the leaves, 

 but are smaller ; and about half an inch below the flower, there is a pair of 

 subulate bracteoles. The (fructiferous) calyx is very obtuse and almost truncate 

 at the base, tomentose externally, with the segments ovate, acute, entire, and 

 spreading. The petals are white, about three fourths of an inch long, nearly 

 orbicular, and alternate with the segments of the calyx. There are fifty or more 

 stamens, which are inserted with the petals at the base of the free portion of the 

 calyx : the filaments are slender, shorter than the petals, glabrous, and furnished 

 with subglobose, two-celled, didymous anthers, which open longitudinally. The 

 pollen is subglobose and simple. The ovary was destroyed by insects in the 

 ■ withered flowers that were found with the specimens. The styles are combined, 

 and the oblong stigmas are free. Capsule broadly ovoid-conical, crowned with the 

 united styles ; the thin exocarp finally separating from the coriaceous endocarp, 

 and persistent at the base, so as to resemble accessory valves. The endocarp 

 opens longitudinally on the back. The placentae are large, subglobose from a 

 narrow base, projecting into the cavity of the cells, and covered with very 

 numerous seeds, which radiate in all directions. The seeds are oblong, anatro- 

 pous ; the reticulated testa a Httle produced at each end, but not enough to form a 

 wing, crenate at the hilar extremity. Nucleus oblong, nearly as long as the seed. 

 The embryo is in the axis of fleshy albumen, which it nearly equals in length ; 

 with ovale plano-convex cotyledons, and a cylindrical thick radicle. 



The only specimens of this plant brought home by Colonel Fremont, were in 

 fruit ; but I found attached to them a few withered and imperfect flowers. These 

 materials, however, were sufficient to show the essential characters of nearly all 

 the organs. The genus is very near Philadelphus : which differs, however, in the 

 usually tetramerous flowers, in the calyx adhering to the greater part of the ovary 

 and fruit, in the form of the placentae, and in the seeds being strongly imbricated 

 and pendulous, as well as fimbriate at the hilum. In very old fruit of Philadel- 

 phus, especially after it has been exposed to the action of frost, the exocarp sepa- 

 rates as in this genus, but not in such regular valves. The same character exists 

 also in Decumaria. 



This genus is named in memory of my excellent departed friend, the late 

 Professor Carpenter of Louisiana, who for many years laboriously and success- 

 fully investigated the Botany of his native State, but who was suddenly arrested 

 in his career, while preparing an account of his researches. 



