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 OF PLANTS CALLED COMPOSITE. 291

the former species, but certainly not with Bidens scandens. And 3dly, I infer that Bidens nivea was actually in Browne's Herbarium, from finding it in the Flora Ja- maicensis published in the 5th volume of Amcenitates Academics, and formed chiefly from that Herbarium ; though a very erroneous reference for this species is there made to Browne's first Santolina, which, from the descrip- tion, cannot possibly belong to Bidens nivea, but is probably Verbesina gigantea.

M. Decanclolle has lately established a new genus, Salmea, consisting of Bidens scandens, Bidens hirsuta, and a third species which I have not examined. These plants are very properly separated from Bidens by this excellent botanist, and well distinguished both from that genus and from Melananthera. It is rather remarkable, however, that he has not thought it necessary to compare Salmea with Spilanthus, from which, according to his description, it differs only in its imbricate involucrum. But as in S])i- lanthus the foliola of the involucrum are not exactly equal, and are disposed at least in a double series, I have intro- duced some additional distinctions into the following cha- ens racter of

Salmea. Decandolle in Cat. Hort. MonspeL p. 140.

Involucrum imbricatum. Beceptaculum conicum, paleis persistentibus. Flosculi tubulosi, uniformes, hermaphroditi (5-fidi). Anther ce sagittatse. AcJtenium verticaliter com- pressum, bi-aristatum ; aristis persistentibus (apteris v. alatis).

Frutices (American sequinoctialis) scepius decumbentes. Folia opposita, indivisa. Inflorescentia terminalis, sub- paniculata, vel corymbosa. Corollse albidce. Paleae recepta- culi post lap sum per icarpioruw persistent es.

Obs. Of this genus I have examined specimens of three species in Sir Joseph Banks's Herbarium, differing from each other in several very remarkable characters.

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