also near Santa Fe and about Chihuahua, and by Mr. Lindheimer, in Texas; the petals being united about two-thirds of their length, it cannot be retained under the genus Cucumis; Hoffmannseggia Jamesii, T. and G., was also gathered on this part of the journey; several species of Psoralea, Petalostemon, and Astragalus; also Torrey’s Gaura villosa and Krameria lanceolata; Erysimum asperum, which before was not known to grow so fat south; Polygala alba, Lygodesmia juncea. Here we also, for the first time, meet with Rhus trilobata, Nutt., which, farther west, becomes a very common plant.[1] A new Talinum, which I have named T. calycinum,[2] was found in sandy soil on the Cimarron. This plant has, like the nearly allied T. teretifolium of the United States, a remarkable tenacity of life, so much so that specimens collected, pressed, and “dried,” in June, 1846, when they reached me in August, 1847, 14 months later, grew vigorously after being planted.
Psoralea hypogæa, Nutt., was collected near Cold spring, and Yucca angustifolia, from here to Santa Fe.
From Cedar creek the mountainous region commences with an elevation of near 5,000 feet above the Gulf, and extends to Santa Fe to about 7,000 feet. With the mountains we get also to the region of the pines, and of the cacti. Dr. Wislizenus has here collected two species of Pinus, both of which appear to be undescribed, so that I venture to give now a short account of them. The most interesting one, on account of its useful fruit, as well as its botanical associations, is the nut pine of New Mexico, (Piñon,) Pinus edulis,[3] nearly related to the nut pine of north-
- ↑ Like many other plants mentioned here, it has been collected in abundant and beautiful speciments by Mr. A Fendler, a young German collector, who has investigated the regions about Santa Fe during last season, (1847,) and has made most valuable and well preserved collections, some sets of which he offers for sale. I shall repeatedly be obliged to refer to him when speaking of the flora of Santa Fe.
- ↑ Talinum calycinum, n. sp., rhizomate crasso, caulibus demum ramosis; foliis subteretibus elongatis, basi triangulari productis; pedunculis elongatis nuclis; cyma bracteosa; sepalis 2 ovato-orbiculatis, basi productis, cuspidatis, persistentibus; petalis fugacibus calycembis superantibus; staminibus sub 30; stylo elongato, stigmatibus 3 abbreviatis. In sandy soil on the Cimarron, fl. in June. Differs from T. teretifolium by its larger leaves, larger flowers, much larger persistent sepals, larger fruit and seed. Leaves 112 to 2 inches long, flowers 10 to 11 lines in diameter; capsule and seeds twice as large as in T. teretifolium.
- ↑ Pinus edulis, n. sp.–squamis turionum ovatis acutis adpressis; laciniis vaginarum abbreviatarum circinato–revolutis, demum deciduis; foliis binis brevibus rigidis, curvis, tenuissime striatis, margine laevibus, supra concavis glaucis, subtus convexis viridibus; strobilis sessilibus ereetis, subgloboso-conicis, squamis apice dilatato pyramidatis, inermibus; seminibus obovatis, apteris, magnis, testa tenuiore. Not rare from the Cimarron to Santa Fe, and probably throughout New Mexico. A small tree, 10 to 20, rarely 30 feet high; trunk 8 to 12 inches in diameter; leaves 12 to 18 lines long, and, as is the case in all other pines, concave on the inner or upper surface when in twos, and carinate when in threes, which in our species is very seldom the case. Cones about 18 lines in diameter; seeds about 6 lines long, and 4 in diameter, shell much thinner than a hazlenut’s; kernel, when slightly baked, very pleasant.
