474 BOTANY. 



> 



14. L. PARYIFLOEUM, Gray. Leaves linear-spatulate, 2-5" long ; pedicels 1-lJ" long ; flowers tetra- 

 merous ; calyx equally 4-toothecl or a-3-cleft ; corolla 2" long, 2-3 times exceeding the calyx, the throat 

 dilated, and lobes half-shorter than the tube. — Arizona. 



NYCTAGINACE^. 



The following conspectus of the N. American genera of the order is (with some additions) essentially 

 as given hy Dr. Gbay in the Botany of the Mexican Boundary, pp. 172-175. The synopsis of the genus 

 Ahronia is the result of an examination of the collections of Drs. Gray and Torrey and Prof. Eaton. 



I. MIEABILEJE, Gray. Involucre calyx-shaped, of united hraots, 1-12-flowered. Stigma capitate, 

 granulate. 



* Fruit symmetrical, wingless ; involucre 5-cleft. 



1. MIEABILIS, L. Fruit smooth, not angled, scarcely or not at all ribbed, ovoid ; involucre herb- 

 aceous, unchanged in fruit ; stamens most usually 5. 



2. OXYBAPHUS, L'Her. Fruit with 5 stout ribs, obovate or clavate ; involucre enlarged in fi?uit, 

 broad-rotate, scarious, reticulated ; stamens most usually 3. 



* * Fruit smooth, sometimes furrowed, with winged rigid mostly dentate inflexed margins, with a 

 double line of stipitate tubercles between ; involucre 3-parted, 3-flowered, not scarious-dilated in 

 feuit. 



3. ALLIONIA, L. The only species, A. incaenata, L., is found in W. Texas and westward along the 

 Mexican boundary to S. California; also in Peru. Involucral leaves ovate, concave, scarcely united 

 at base ; calyx campanulate-funnelform, mostly 4-lobed, the lobes notched ; stamens usually 3, included ; 

 fruit oval. 



II. ABRONIE.S;, Gray. Involucre perfect, of 5-15 distinct bracts, subtending a many-flowered 

 head. Stigma capitate or linear-clavate. 



4. NYCTAGINIA, Chois. Calyx tubular-funnelform with entire lobes ; stamens and style long-ex- 

 serted ; fruit nut-like, as in MiraHlis, without ribs. — The only species, N. caPitata, Chois., occurs in W. 

 Texas and N. E. Mexico. Pubescent; leaves triangular-acuminate, undulate, attenuate into the petiole; 

 involucre of 8-12 linear-lanceolate very acute leaflets, 4-6" long ; calyx villous, red, 1' long, the limb 

 5-plicate. 



5. ABEONIA, Juss. Calyx salverform with obcordate lobes ; staniens and style included ; the perfect 

 fruit 5-winged ; embryo by abortion monocotyledonous. 



III. ACLEISAISTTHE^, Gray. Involucre imperfect, of 2-3 small bractlets to each flower, or none ; 

 stigma smooth, peltate or cap-shaped. 



6. SELINOCAEPUS, Gray. Fruit with 5, or by abortion 3, veiuless wings.— Three species, occur- 

 ring in S. New Mexico and the valley of the Eio Grande, viz i — 



S. DIFFUSUS, Gray. Scabrous and subviscid ; stems much-branched, depressed or spreading-diffuse ! 

 leaves ovate or ovate-oblong ; flowers usually in pairs, subsessile ; calyx-tube IJ' long ; stamens 5. 



S. CHBNOPODioiDBS, Gray. Grayish pulverulent, erect ; leaves broadly ovate or subcordate ; flowers 

 cymulose-fascioled, pedicelled, small ; calyx short cup-shaped, the tube nearly none ; stamens 2. 



S. ANGUSTiFOLitJS, Gray. Subviscid-puberulent ; stems slender, 6-10' high; leaves narrow-elliptic; 

 flowers solitary, at length pendent ; calyx funnelform, tube 1-2" long ; stamens 5. 



7. ACLEISANTHES, Gray. Fruit and calyx (long-tubular) as in MiraJ)ilis.—FonT species, occurring 

 in W. Texas and adjoining Mexico, viz : — 



A. crassifolia. Gray. Scabrous-puberulent, decumbent; leaves thick, ovate, rounded at base; 

 calyx-tube 1^-2' long, the limb 6" ; fruit ovoid, scarcely costate. 



A. LONGiFOLiA, Gray. Glabrous, divaricately branched ; leaves deltoid-ovate or rhomboid-lance- 

 olate ; calyx-tube 5-6' long ; fruit cylindrical, 5-angled. 



A. Bbblanbiem, Gray. Glabrous, diffiise ; leaves cordate, reniform or ovate ; calyx 1-2' long, the 

 tube 2-3 times longer than the limb. 



A. ANISOPHYILA, Gray. Nearly glabrous, prostrate ; leaves oval or ovate, oblique at base, very une- 

 qually paired; calyx-tube lJ-2' long, many times the limb ; fruit 10-costate, 2" long. 



8. PENTACHEOPHYS, Gray. Fruit cylindrical, 5-ribbed, the ribs glandular and usually thickened 

 toward the summit-The only species, P. Weightii, Gray, is found in W. Texas and adjoining Mexico, 

 blender tube of the calyx 1^' long ; stamens exserted; fruit 3-4" long. 



