CIV. 
DIAPENSIA OBTUSIFOLIA. 
Obtuse-leaved Diapensia. 
ORDO NATURALIS. 
Erica. Juss. Gen. p. 159, 
Calyx 5-phyllus, persistens. Corolla 1-petala : Tubus calathiformis: Limbus recurvulus, 5«partitus : 
decidua. Filamenta 5, lata, tubum inter lacinias terminantia. Anthere didyme, nunc basi ro- 
" strate. Pericarpium fere totum superum, ovatum, 3-loculare, 3-valve, medio loculorum dehiscens, 
Stylus crassus. Stigma 3-lobum. Semina numerosa, Colo retuso ad angulum internum sessilia, sub- 
ovata. Fruticuli cespitosi, sempervirentes. Caulis foliis emarcidis vestitus. Folia alterna vel su 
sita,in rosas conferta. Flores albi, pedunculo subnullo vel longiusculo 1-rii, terminales, erecti. Bractee 
3 juata calycem, preter unam alteramve infra sparsas, Genus in serie naturali forsanjuata Azaleam 
locandum, cujus duc species innotuerant, 
Obtusifolia, TD. foliis spatulatis, glabris: antheris obliquis, muticis. 
i an. t. 47. bona, D.lapponica. Linn. Sp. Pl. ed. 2. p. 202, 
D. lapponica. Linn. Fl, Suec. ed. 2. p. 60. D, lapponica. Linn, Fl. Lapp.n. 88.t. 1f. 1. 
Sponte nascentem in Lapland, alpibus musco vestitis, legit C. Linwe:in Norway, hor- 
_ridis scopulis, legit G. C. OzpzR: in Ins. Newfoundland, rupibus maritimis, legit 
J. Banks, Baronettus : in New Hampshire, alpibus, legit J. D, Peex : in Kamschatka, 
legit J. Dixon. 
Floret apud nos 4prili, Maio. 
yxidanthera barbulata. Michaux Fl. Boreali-Am. 0. 1 
Sponte nascentem in North Carolina, montibus, legit A. MicHaux. 
Cuneifolia. D. foliis lanceolato-cuneatis, inferne pubescentibus : antheris horizontalibus, basi rostratis. _ 
FP ichan 2. 
This curious little shrub is now flowering in the collection of the Right Hon. Cuaries GREVILLE, 
who received it from Labrador : in that dreary country, as well as others near the aretic circle, it 
grows plentifully upon the most barren maritime rocks, insinuating its slender roots into the crevices, 
where there is a little soil. ° , 
Linwe first discovered it, and established the genus in Flora Lapponica, where after confounding 
it with two synonyms of Androsace Lactea, he accuses TouRNEFORT of referring his Lapland plant, 
which that great botanist never saw, to a wrong genus. In the first edition of Flora Suecica, this 
error is corrected ; but the false impression he had received of its affinity continued so strong, that 
in Species Plantarum he joined another plant of the same Natural Order, Aretia Helvetica, to this 
enus. Jussieu places Diapensia at the end of his Convoleuli ; in a separate section however, a 
not without a query, if it really belongs to them. af a 
From specimens in fruit liberally communicated by Professor Peck, the first saat 0 soe m4 
my mind that it belonged to Erice, which is now confirmed by examining the living p sl 7 os 
doubts, if any could remain, are taken away, by another species from the mountains behind Vort 
Carolina, which turns out to be the Pyxidanthera of M1cuavux. Probably, its immediate sp in. 
a natural series, will be next to 4zalea Procumbens : that plant constitutes a very distinct genus from 
the rest, and according to Jussi£w’s present definition of Rhododendra, would not “i remain os 
the Order; but I have already hinted under Phyllodoce Taxifolia, my opinion that the Bicornes o 
Lin we cannot be separated. : 
5 Stems several, frondose, branching gts Agctee a 
rms me often become large and firm enough in the #7 i : 
Weight of a man standing oa them, very slender but woody and covered with the dec 
for years, Leaves dark green and more or less tinged with brown on th 
green on their under surface, from 4 to 7 lines long, very closely imbri 
erect, dilated into a thin membranaceous margin and hollow ; from thence recu 
pt obtuse, quite smooth, slightly seoeresuag IT pip ene rai 
owers solitary, without smell in my specimen. Peduncies te ost of 
from 6 to 10 Saas long, nearly srt cy iniasiel, smooth. Bractes 3, eg sy i Prag poe 
erect, oval, persistent: besides these one or two smaller are scattered lower down, y 
