natural Family of Plants called Composited. 
117 
in his Bidens nivea are for the first time distinguished : and lastly 
this genus, as named and determined in the work of Michaux, is 
adopted by Persoon in his Synopsis. 
But as both Von Rohr and Richard have given only the natural 
character of the genus, and the essential character proposed by 
Persoon is not altogether satisfactory, I have added the following, 
and adopted the more generally received name of 
Me LAN AX TIIE 11 A. 
(Richard) in Michaux Amer.ii.p. i06. Melanthera Von Rohr in Kio- 
benh. Naturhist. Selskab. bind. ii. hefte 1. p. 213. A melius 
Browne Jam.3 17* Bidentisspecies Linn. Caleaespecies Jacquin. 
Involucrum duplici serie polyphyllum, subaequale. Receptaculum 
paleaceum, convexum, paleis foliaceis. Flosculi tubulosi, uni¬ 
formes, hermaphroditi. Achenium turbinatum angulatum ver- 
tice depresso. Pappus e setis (2—18) scabris,distinctis, deciduis. 
Herbae (Americae aequinoctialis et temperatae) pubescentes , scabra. 
Folia opposita , indivisa v. sublobata. Capitula terminalia , pe- 
dunculis unifioris , elongatis, ternatis , geminisve. In volucrum /o/i- 
aceum. Receptaculi hemisphcerici paleae foliolis involucri subsi¬ 
miles. Corollae albidce, Antherae nigricantes, appendicibus apicis 
albidis, basi muticce; paulo post expansionem corollce exsertce, dein 
(contractione filamentorum) fauce incluscc. Stigmata appendice 
acuto hispidulo, post retractionem tubi antherarum exserta ; de- 
mum subinclusa*. 
Obs. In Von Rohr’s natural character of Melanthera the Necta- 
rium, or glandular body sheathing the base of the style, is intro¬ 
duced, 
* In the extensive collection of plants made by my lamented friend Dr. Smith, on the 
banks of the Congo, I have observed a Syngenesious genus, which, though belonging to 
Polygarnia superflua and having yellow flowers, is in other respects so nearly related to 
Melananthera, that had it been found with ripe seeds only, it would certainly have been 
referred 
