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144 CALIFORNIA. [ Vacciniea.
We refer a very indifferent aud solitary specimen of a supposed Arhutus to the A . Menziesii of Pursh,
although we only know his plant from the short character above quoted. Oure is a branch, 7-8 inches
long, waved, and iis thick as a swan’s quill, with excessively hard Avood, and having a glabrous slightly
Avnokled, ferruginous surface, from which, however, it appeare that a coai-se bark lias peeled or scaled off.
The petioles are an inch or more long; the leaves 3-4 inches long, oval or elliptic, obtuse at the base and the
extrenuty, coriaceous, almost black (in the dry state,) quite entire, glabrous, pale, and apparently Maucous
beneath, Avith mnuinerable reticulated, and slightly prominent, rather dark-coloui-ed veins. The raclmcs are
m fr u it, and in that state the bark has iu a great measure peeled off. Berries about the size of peas, black, the
m t e ^ e n t areolated, or cracked into a number of small scales. Seeds many.—Mr. Collie had named the
specimen “ Arbor ferrugviea,” from Avhich it may be inferred that the stems and branches, and probably the
leaves below, are of a rusty colour. We regret much that we can give uo better account of tliis fine arborescent
Arbutus.
2. Arbutus tomaitosa; fruticosa, ramis angulatis foUisque cordatis pungenti-acutis cori-
acets pubescentibus vel g labris, petiolis brevibus, racemis subcapitatis terminabbus bracteatis,
bracteis inferioribus longitudine fere floriun, corobis urceolatis, calycibus glabris ciliatis
obtusis. Pursh, Fl. Am. v. I . p . 283.
Of this we have several varieties, differing, however, almost solely in the pubescence.—Var. the
origmal plant from Mr. Menzies, and from which Mr. Pursh drew up his character, has the whole specimen
except the flowers, very doivny, especially on the underside of the upper leaves and young branches; and
these latter, and the petioles, and lower part of tho costa beneath, have numerous iong rigid hairs mixed
with the pubescence, so as to give the plant a remarkably hispid appearance. This is from the Columbia.—
Var. A IS destitute of long rigid hairs; but has the pubescence on the young stems and young leaves still copious,
as IS the case with some of Mr. Menzies’ specimens, which have no more particular locality than North-West
Coast of America, and with some in Captain Beechey's Herbarium.-Var. p., witb tbe branches slightly pubescent,
and the leaves almost entirely so, except tbe petioles and the base of the costa beneath; a n d™ . 4. with
tbe stems and leaves perfectly glabrous: both these wc have from San Francisco, in Cnliforma; the former
is in tbe present Collection, and the hitter we received from Dr. Fischer, marked “ Artmtus Menriesiit"—
In all, the foUage, in a dry state, is of a singularly pale green colour, remarkably coriaceous, and marked
AAHth copious but minute reticulations.
3. Arbutus pungens; fruticosa, ramis prostratis subpubescentibus, foliis petiolatis p e rennantibus
ovalibus obovatisve coriaceis nitidis minute reticulatis pungenti-mucronatis glabriusculis
tenui-marginatis subintegerrimis, racemis terminalibus brevibus, floribus bracteatis.
Habit of Arbutus XJva Ursi, and with leaves of the same size, but sufficiently distinct, being broader, upon
longer petioles, often quite obtuse, or even retuse at the base, doAvny Avith a whitish pubescence except the
oldest, more or less serrated, and always terminated by a very sharp pungent point. Flowers small, ur-
ceolate.
O r d . X X V . V A C C IN IE ^ . De Cand.
1. \ accmmm ovatum; erectum, valde ramosum, ramis pubescenti-hirsutis, foliis perennantibus
oblongo-ovatis coriaceis nitidis breve petiolatis marginibus revolutis serratis, petiolis
hirsutis, racemis axillaribus terminalibusque brevibus, floribus cylindraceo-campanulatis
bracteatis, calycibus acutis.
This, in its foliage, almost exactly resembles the Arhutus mucronata of the Straits of Magellan, but the
flowers are racemose, and truly those of a Vaccinium. It was first detected by Mr. Menzies, and after-
AA-ards, according to Mr. Pursb, found by RL Lewis on the Columbia.
Composita.] CALIFORNIA. 145
O r d . X X V I . C O M P O S ITÆ . Juss.
1. Borkhausia Lessin g ii; radice perenni multicipi, caule scapiformi glabro simplici unifloro,
foliis glabris anguste linearibus pinnatifidis laciniis brevibus remoti.s, involucri foliolis
planis obtusiusculis margine scariosis extus liirsutiuscuHs.—Troximoii apargioides. Lessing
in Linnæa, v. Q.p. 501.
This is certainly the plant of Lessing, agreeing both with specimens received from him, and noAV in Dr.
Hooker’s Herbarium, and Avith his description ; but since in the true species of Troximon, the pappus is harsh
and persistent, while in our plant, it is soft and very caducous as in Sonclius, Ave have referred it to Borkhausia,
notwithstanding the different involucrum Avhich most species of that genus possess. The achenia are attenuated
into a long beak, which is dilated at the apex, forming a disc for the reception of the pappus and florets.
In Troximon, although usually described Avith a sessile pappus, or, in other words, without a beak to
the achenium, there is really a short beak, by which, and by the different kind of involucre, that genus
seems principally distinguished from Leontodon.
1. Lygodesmia minor. HooL FL Bor. Am. v. 1. p . 295. t. 103. f . A. (fruct.)
1. Sonchiis oleraceus. Lin n .
1. Eupatorium -
We have seen but one specimen, and that in a very bad state, presenting only a branch of the inflor-
escence. The upper part of the stem is herbaceous and quadrangular. The floAvers are m panicled corymbs.
Involucre of 4 or 3 oblong, obtuse, striated and whitish leaflets, furnished a t the base Avith^ about as many
short scales, similar to the involucre. FloAvers very feAV in each capitulum. Achenia linear, glabrous,
with about five angles, formed by as many prominent nerves. Pappus capillary, scabrous at the base, at the
apex incrassated and slightly plumose. A detached leaf, probably not belonging to the specimen, accom-
a tbe Collection.
I. Madia viscosa. Cav. Ic. v. 3. t. 298.
Of this there are tAvo varieties in the Collection : «. resembling the figure above quoted ; and /3. with the
leaves not above half-an-inch long and lialf-a-line Avide, disposed copiously along tbe branches, and some-
Avhat erect. The whole plant is slender and small, SGircely exceeding eight or nine inches,so that probably
this variety is caused by growing iu a dry and poor soU. In habit it is very different from the common
variety.
I. Erigeron Canadensis. Lin n .
1. Solidago Canadensis ; caule herbaceo hispido erecto, foliis lanceolatis utrinque attenuatis
serratis scabris, racemis paniculatis secmidis recurvis, radio abbreviato. Spr.—L in n .—
Spreng. Syst. v. 3. p . 539.
The specimens in the Collection vary, Avith the leaves oblongo-lanceolate and slightly acuminated, with
the stem and leaves nearly glabrous, and' with tbe racemes so contracted as to lose the secund and recurved
appearance described above. We, boAi-ever, possess intermediate forms. The leaves are alw.'iys more or
less conspicuously tbree-nerved, Ai ith a few distant narrow deep serratures, or teeth, which point upwards.
2. Solidago jwci/o/OT’ts ; caule herbaceo adscendente, foliis obovatis in pctiolmn decurrentibus
serratis, racemis erectis densis, involucri foliolis oblongis appressis, radio discum sub-
A i t— Spreng. Syst. v. S. p . 541. Lessing in Linncea, v. Q. p . 502.
Leaves and stem, in one specimen, scabrous, with a short grejdsh pubescence: in the others, they ai-e
almost entirely glabrous.
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