8 BATIS MARITIMA. 



Since the preceding memoir was written and prepared for press, I have received 

 from Dr. C. C. I'arry, ^vlio Mas attached to the Mexican Boundary Commission 

 as Botanical Assistant to Major Emory, a specimen of a Batis, which he fomid in a 

 salt marsli, near San Diego, California. The only specimen brought away by Dr. 

 Parry is a male. It differs from the common Batis in its much broader and con- 

 siderably shorter leaves, and in the staminate flowers being furnished with a filiform 

 central organ that resembles an abortive pistil. This last is totally destitute of an 

 ovary, and bears a small stigma-like head, which contains imperfect pollen ; so 

 that the body is rather to be regarded as an abortive stamen than a pistil. From 

 these characters, it is probable that the Californian plant is new. The two 

 species may be distinguished by the following diagnosis : — 



B. MARITIMA : foliis oblongo-linearibus ; floribus masculis sine corpore centrali 

 filiformi. 



B. Califgrnica : foliis obovato-oblongis ; floribus masculis corpore centrali 

 filiformi apice capitato instructis. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



Plate XI. BATIS MARITIMA. Tab. XL, page 5. 



Fig. 1. A branch, with spikes of male flowers ; of 

 the natural size. 



2. A branch, with spikes of female flowers ; 



also of the natural size. 



3. A male spike, magnified. 



4. Longitudinal section of the same, more 



highly magnified. 



5. One of the bracts, magnified. 



6. Plan of the male flower. 



1. A male flower, unexpandod and mag- 

 =• nified. 



8. The same, without the cal3'x, and expanded. 



9. Front view of a stamen, magnified. 



10. Back view of the same, also magnified. 



Fig. 11. a spike of female flowers, moderatel}' en- 

 larged. 



12. One of the bracts, more magnified. 



13. Longitudinal section of the same. 



14. Transverse section of the female spike. 



15. An ovule, highl)' magnified. 



16. The fruit, of the natural size. 



17. Longitudinal section of the same. 



IS. A portion of the same, pretty highly mag- 

 nified. 



19. Transverse section of the fruit, less mag- 



nified. 



20. A seed, magnified. 



21. The cmbrj'o, equally magnified. 



PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 



WASHINGTON, D. C, 



APRIL, 1853. 



