382 DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES 



lied to Burrielia in habit, but with the pappus in a numerous series, and the 

 leaves plumosely torn ; also to Lasthenia, but with conspicuous, regular 

 rays, and an involucrum of separate sepals. It likewise approaches the 

 MADiEiE, by the embracing sepals, but the marginal achenia are provided 

 with pappus. The most paradoxical character the plants of this genus pre- 

 sent, however, is in the absolute conformity, or nearly so, of all the species 

 with each other, while they differ in the receptacle and in the pappus, or by 

 its total absence! — (Named in allusion to the slender feather-like foliage.) 



Ptilomeris * aristata; paleee of the pappus eight to twelve, awned ; the ray 

 with two awns and a small crown of minute leaflets; receptacle conic, naked, 

 and alveolate. 



Hab. Near St, Diego, Upper California. Flowering in April. Every part of the plant minutely 

 and glandularly pubescent; branching from the base, sometimes, in weak specimens only towards 

 the summit, branches few-flowered, flowers fastigiate. Leaves opposite, once or twice deeply 

 pinnatifid, the rachis alated and rather broad towards the base, segments almost capillary, long and 

 acute, (often an inch or more) and as fine as in Fennel. Involucrum ten to fifteen leaved, rays 

 the same number; sepals lanceolate, acute, equal, foliaceoiis ; rays as long as the disk, oblong, 

 slightly two or three-toothed, the middle tooth smaller. Flowers bright yellow, a little smaller 

 than those of the common wild daisy. This, and the rest, from their abundant bright flowers, are 

 very ornamental, and of easy cultivation. In a green-house, in Philadelphia, I had this and the 

 following species to grow and flower luxuriantly, but tliey have since been lost through neglect. 



Ptilomeris * coronaria; palea of the pappus eight to twelve-awned ; the ray 



generally without awns, and with a small crown of diminutive, awnless leaflets; 



receptacle conic, densely villous and alveolate. 



Hab. With the preceding, from which it can only be distinguished by the specific characters. 



Ptilomeris ^mutica; palese of the pappus six to eight-leaved, obtuse and fim- 

 briate at the summit, that in the radial florets smaller; receptacle conic, sparsely 

 pilose. 



Hab. With the preceding, from which it can only be distinguished by the pappus. The rays, 

 as in the whole genus, are embraced by the sepals. 



§. I. *Ptilopsis. — Pappus none. 



Ptilomeris * Anthemoides; pappus none; epigynous disk very minute. 

 Hab. AVith the above, and in no way, apparently, distinguishable from the preceding but by the 

 achenium. If any thing, the involucrum in this is a little more campanulate. 



