patentibus. Stamina 4. Antheræ oblongæ, vix exsertæ. Stylus longe exsertus. Sligma bifidum, laciniis
patentibus vel recurvis. Capsula membranacea, calycis dentibus erectis rigidis coronata, bilocularis, loculis
monospermis, matura paullo infra medium circumscisse dehiscens “ scissuræ planum utrinque a dissepimento
declive, sic ut pars decidua ángulo fere recto appareat excisa.” (Schlecht.) Semen ovali-subquadratum, fere
hemisphæricum, brunneum, cruciatim quadrilobum, lobis linea transversali emarginatis.
This plant, as well as the other individuals of the genus, have so much the habit of Spermacoce, that, without
a careful examination of the fruit, the distinction is not evident. But there a remarkable difference is
observable, which has given rise to the generic name. The capsule is a pyxidium, separating into two por-
tions, not indeed exactly transversely, but with an angle somewhat resembling that of a V inverted, and the
upper half, shaped like a mitre, falls away, frequently carrying the seeds along with it, which are detached
from the dissepiment that remains in the lower half {Jig. 4, 5.) The seeds are extremely curious, and judging
from the figure in the Linnæa, very different from those of M . Eumboldtianum, one of the species on
which the Genus was founded.—Stems and branches dark-coloured.
Tab. XCIX. A. Mitracarpum Schizangium— Fig. 1. Flower; fig . 2. Fruit j / í?. 3, 4. Capsule with
the two portions separated ; fig . 5. Front (or inner) view of a seed j fig . 6. Back view of ditto ; fig . 7. Side
view of ditto :—w
2. M . p a llidum¡ herbaceum erectum, ramis elongatis flexuosis, foliis ovato-lanceolatis
acutiusculis basì in petiolum a ttenuatis u trin q u e scabro-puberulis, stipulis hirsutis spinoso-
setigeris, floribus axillaribus verticillatis e t terminalibus capitatis 4-phyllis, filamentis
exsertis, seminibus—?
Hab. Realejo.—This, although very nearly allied to the preceding, is certainly a distinct species ; it is
herbaceous, with an annual root. The stem is erect, and, as well as the elongated branches, of a singularly
pale colour, aud glossy ; they are rounded, with 4 but little elevated lines, thus indistinctly quadrangular,
very slightly downy. The leaves are broader, softer, and more decidedly petiolated, equally long in general,
but the uppermost ones, those forming a sort of involucre beneath the terminal head of flowers, are shorter.
The stems are one foot and a half to two feet long. The specimens have no fruit.
1. Crusca parviflora; ela ta hcrbacea, ramis eiongatis gracilibus d ivarieatis, foliis ovato-
lanceolatis tenuibus in petiolum attenuatis hirsutulis, umbellis capitatis terminalibus
tetvaphyllis, pedicellis calycis lobis basi sericeo-villosissimis, ovario didymo lobis disjunctis,
calycis tubo su p ra ovarium maxime constricio. (T a b . X C IX . C.)
Hab. Acapulco.
Caulis herbaceus, erectus, tetragonus, gracilis, glaber, nitidus, bi-tripedalis et ultra, ramosus. Rami
oppositi non raro subverticillati, divaricato-patentes, filiformes, intemodiis elongatis. Folia opposita, brevi-
petiolata, 1-2 uncias longa, ovato-lanceolata, tenui-memfaranacea, acuta vel acuminata, basi cuneato-attcnuata,
glabra vel villosula, subtus pallidiora, penninervia, nervis oblique subparallelis. Stipuloe latæ, raem-
branaceæ, glabriusculæ, setis inæqualibus appressis rigidis marginate. Flores parvi, umbellato-capitati,
capitulis hemisphæricis semiunciam latis, involucratis, involucro tetraphyllo, foliolis sessilibus ovato-lanceolatis,
3-5-nerviis, duobus oppositis triplo minoribus, majoribus unciam longis t intra flores setis vel paleis
' plurimis angustis villosis. Pedicelli pilis longis sericeis hirsutissimi. Calycis tubus glaber, ob formam ovarii
mferne didymus, superne insigniter constrictus, dein in limbum 4-lobum profunde 4-partitum dilatatus. L im bus
basi membranaceus, hirsutissimus, albus; laciniis eiongatis, lineari-spathulatis, herbaceis, acutis, ciliatis,
ereeto-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 corollæ
alterna, longe exserta: antheræ subglobosæ. Stylus gracilis, corolla fere duplo longior: Stigma parvum,
bilobum. Fructus dicoccus, calycis limbo basi contracto (et pedicellum æmulante) coronatus : coccis globosis
monospermis, punctatis, indehiscentibus, demum ab axi persistente piano fenestrato calycem persistentem
retínente solutis. Semen subglobosum, nigrum, rugosura, intus sulco profundo longitudinal! notatum.
This is a tall growing plant, with slender glossy stems, spreading filiform branches, and thin membranaceous
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 eup-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 paleæ or membranous
setæ. The ovary, though of course adherent with the tube of the calyx, has i’s 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, spreading,
silky hairs, like the pedicel. Coccules but little altered from the lobes of the ovary, rather larger, and
darker coloured, punctate ; they are indéhiscent, 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. Tho 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. C ru se a p a r v i f l o r a . - P tÿ. L.Flower ; /g r. 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 . 6. Seed -.—magnified.
2. Crusea subalata; robusta, caulibus eiongatis diffusis ramisque acute tetragonis angulis
inferne alatis, foliis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve petiolatis rigidiusculis pubescenti-tomentosis,
ovario bilobo, corollæ laciniis concavis, stigmate clavato integro.
Hab. Between San Bias and Tepic.—Stems two feet and more long, spreading, acutely 4.angled, the
angles wjnged below. Branches elongated, downy, stipules a broad short downy membrane with 2-4 rigid
setæ. Leaves an inch or an inch aud a half long, of a harsh and firm texture compared with tbe 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-ieaved involucre. Pedicels short, hairy. Ovary
glabrous, globose, but scarcely 2-lobed. The contraction of the tube of the calyx above tho ovary is very
slight. Calyx-limb much resembling that of the last species, but silky on the whole outer surface. Corolla
with much longer aud very concave, almost boat-shaped segments, velvety on the outside. Filaments very
loner 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 Cmsea.
O r d . X X V . V A L E R IA N EÆ . Juss.
1. Astrephia Mexicana; glabra, foliis bi-tripinnatifidis laciniis lineari-subacuminatis,
paniculæ terminalis ramulis gracilibus dichotome corymbosis, ramis ultimis spicatis