Valerianece.] 



MEXICO. — SUPPLEMENT. 



431 



erecto-patulis. Corolla infundibuliformis, lacinias calycinas superans, extus pubescens ; tubus inferne gracilli- 

 mus superne dilatatus_: limbus 4-lobus, lobis ovatis erecto-patentibus. Stamina 4 : filamenta lobis corolla 

 alterna, longe exserta: antherce subglobosaj. Stylus gracilis, corolla fere duplo longior: Stigma parvum, 

 bilobum. Fructus dicoccus, calycis limbo basi contracto (et pedicellum ssmulante) coronatus : coccis globosis 

 monospermis, punctatis, indebiscentibus, demum ab axi persistente piano fenestrato calycem persistentem 

 retinente solutis. Semen subglobosum, nigrum, rugosum, intus sulco profundo longitudinali notatum. 



This is a tall growing plant, with slender glossy stems, spreading filiform branches, and thin membrana- 

 ceous leaves. Flowers so small, and in so perfect an involucre as to look, at first sight, like those of some 

 Composita : this involucre, at the base, by the union of the base of the leaves through the medium of the 

 stipules, is cup-shaped. The flowers themselves are extremely curious, white or yellowish. Each one is 

 pedicellate ; the pedicels very hairy, or rather silky, and mixed with very narrow silky palese or membranous 

 setae. The ovary, though of course adherent with the tube of the calyx, has its two rounded lobes so 

 separated by the axis, or continuation of the pedicel, that these lobes have the appearance of two globose 

 glands, placed one on each side of the pedicel below its apex ; for above the ovary the calyx-tube becomes 

 suddenly contracted, so as to resemble a pedicel to the free portion or limb of the calyx ; this latter is large 

 (in proportion to the size of the flower), deeply cut into five, erecto-patent, spathulate, but acute, herbaceous 

 segments, slightly fringed at the margin, whilst the white and membranous base is clothed with long, spread- 

 ing, silky hairs, like the pedicel. Coccules but little altered from the lobes of the ovary, rather larger, and 

 darker coloured, punctate ; they are indehiscent, fall off and leave the axis or flattened upper portion of the 

 pedicel, which is fenestrated {fig. 3.), or perforated with an oblong fissure, within which, at the base, is the 

 placenta or receptacle of the seeds. The pericarp is rather thin, but succulent, and adheres pretty closely 

 to the seed which is black and wrinkled, its inner face marked with a deep oblong furrow. 



Tab. XCIX. C. Crusea tarviflora. — Fig. 1.. Flower ifig. 2. Fruit, crowned with the persistent calyx ; 

 fig. 3. Calyx, after the coccules have fallen away, to show the perforated axis and the placenta or receptacle 

 of the seeds ; fig. 4. Back view, and fig. 5. front view of a coccule ; fig. C. Seed : — magnified. 



2. Crusea sabalata ; robusta, caulibus elongatis diffusis ramisque acute tetragonis angulis 

 inferne alatis, foliis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve petiolatis rigidiusculis pubescenti-tomen- 

 tosis, ovario bilobo, corollas laciniis concavis, stigmate clavato integro. 



Hab. Between San Bias and Tepic. — Stems two feet and more long, spreading, acutely 4-angled, the 

 angles winged below. Branches elongated, downy, stipules a broad short downy membrane with 2-4 rigid 

 setae. Leaves an inch or an inch and a half long, of a harsh and firm texture compared with the preceding 

 species, penninerved, the nerves few and nearly parallel with the midrib. Flowers pedicellate, but so dense 

 as to form a very compact globose capitulum within the four-leaved involucre. Pedicels short, hairy. Ovary 

 glabrous, globose, but scarcely 2-lobed. The contraction of the tube of the calyx above the ovary is very 

 slight. Calyx-limb much resembling that of the last species, but silky on the whole outer surface. Corolla 

 with much longer and very concave, almost boat-shaped segments, velvety on the outside. Filaments very 



long and much inserted. Style shorter than the stamens. Stigma clavate or capitate, quite entire We find 



no description of this, or of the foregoing species, both of which undoubtedly belong to the Genus Crusea. 



Ord. XXV. VALERIANEiE. Juss. 



1. Astrephia Mexicana,- glabra, foliis bi-tripinnatifitlis laciniis lineari-subacuminatis, 

 paniculaa terminalis ramulis gracilibus dichotome corynibosis, ramis ultimis spicatis 



