BOTANY. 
133 
reconditus. Perigonium aequaliter 6-dentatum, fructiferum clausum. Stamina 6, perigoni 
fauc inserta, dentibus ejusdem opposita: filamenta brevissima. Styli 3, breves ; stigmata capi- 
tata. Achenium ovato-trigonum, acutum, semen conforme. Embryo in axi albuminis farinacei 
curvatum ; cotyledonibus orbiculatis planis ; radicula elongata supera. Herba annua, nana, 
breviter ramosa, rigida ; foliis imis ovatis longe petiolatis tomentosis, reliquiis spinescenti- 
subulatis confertissimis patentibus exstipulatis; involucris axillaiibus sessillibus bracteola 
trifida spinescente fulcratum. 
Acanthogonum rigidum. On Williams’ river, a fork of the Colorado, Western New Mexico. 
Only winter vestiges of this plant were collected by Dr. Bigelow ; but the specimens seem to 
show that it is a new genus of Eriogonete. It will stand next to Mucronea, from which it 
differs in habit, in the short involucral tube, in the 6-tootlied closed perianth, and in the in¬ 
sertion of the stamens. The whole plant above ground is not more than 3 or 4 inches high. 
The lower and radical leaves are about half an inch long, clothed with a white tomentum, and 
stand on petioles which are nearly an inch in length. The upper leaves are destitute of stipules, 
rigid, subulate, and spreading. In nearly every axil is a solitary sessile involucre, which is 
3-parted ; the segments varying from ovate to narrowly lanceolate ; all of them mucronate and 
pungent, carinate, strongly 3-nerved, with transverse connecting veins ; the closed base is ob¬ 
tusely triangular, and contains a single sessile flower. Perianth membranaceous, 6-toothed ; 
the teeth ovate, very hairy. Stamens apparently only 6 ; filaments inserted in the throat op¬ 
posite the teeth of the perianth ; anthers not seen. The achenium is sometimes 3-valved at the 
summit, or at least easily splits when old. What we have called subulate rigid upper leaves 
may be only the spine-like persistent midribs. 
Rumex maritimus, Linn.; Meisn. in DC. Prodr . 14, pars 1, p. 59. Low places on the Rio 
Grande, near Albuquerque. A dwarf form. 
Rumex domesticus, Harlrn.; Hook. FI. Bor.-Amer. 2, p. 129? Sandy plains and hills near 
the Mohave creek, California ; March. The fruit too young for determining with certainty the 
species. 
Polygonum Paronychia, Cliam. & Schlecht. in Linncea. 3, p. 51; Hook. & Am. Bot. Beech., 
p. 158. Near San Francisco ; April 3. 
Polygonum Bistorta, Linn.; Meisn. Polyg. p. 91. P. bistortoides, Pursh, FI. 1, p. 371. 
Laguna of Santa Rosa creek, New Mexico ; May 1. 
LAURACEiE. 
Oreodaphne Californica, Nees, Syst. Laur. p. 463. Tetranthera? California, Hook. <L* 
Arn. Bot. Beech, p. 150. Laurus? regia, Dougl. in Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag. TTmbellularia 
Californica, Nutt. Sylv. 1, p. 87. Drimophyllum pauciflorum, Nutt. 1. c. t. 22, excl. syn. 
Mountains near San Gabriel, and Oakland, California; March—April, (in flower.) On the 
Upper Sacramento this fine tree attains a height of 50-70 feet. Douglas estimated the height 
of some individuals at 120 feet. Towards the south its altitude is much less, being from 15-30 
feet. By the slightest friction it emits a strong spicy odor, but is apt to excite sneezing. The 
fruit is globose, nearly an inch in diameter, and stands on a thick stalk. When immature it is 
green, but dark-purple when fully ripe. We have no doubt that Nuttall’s Drimophyllum is 
identical with Oreodaphne Californica. His plate agrees very well with a common state of the 
plant, and also with an authentic specimen of Laurus regia of Douglas. The inhabitants of 
California call it Mountain Laurel and Spice-tree. It grows throughout the western part of the 
State, from the borders of Oregon to Santa Barbara. 
THYMELACTLE. 
Dirca palustris, Linn. Spec. 1 , p. 358; 'dorr. FI. N. Yoik 2, p. 163. Mountains near Oak¬ 
land, California ; April 4, (with flowers and young fruit.) We have never before received this 
plant from any part of the United States west of the Mississippi. 
