Mexico—the first naturalist, it is believed; who explored the regions between Santa Fe, Chihuahua, and Saltillo) Wislizenia![1] From Oxystylis it is principally distinguished by its long stipitate ovary and capsule, which latter is reflexed, and by the elongated racemes; it may, however, have to be united with that genus.
On the mountains about El Paso, another of those cylindraceous Opuntiae was found, but much thinner and more slender than both species, mentioned previously. To judge from an imperfect description it most be nearly related to the Mexican O. virgata, Hort. Vind. I have given it
- ↑ Wislizenia, n. gen., sepala 4; petala 4 oblonga, breviter unguiculata; stamina 6 toro cylindrico inserta; filamenta filiformia ionge exserta, aestivatione inflexa; ovarium longe stipitatum, globosedidymum, biloculare, loculis 2 ovulatis; stylus subulatus, elongatus, stigma globosum. Capsula siliculaeformis, didyma tuberculata cum stipite in pedicellum filiformem refracta, bilocularis, loculis plerumque per abortum l-spermis; valvae urceolate a dissepimento pertuso solutis, semen includentibus; semen conduplicato-reniforme, laeve; cotyledones radiculae superae incumbentes.
A glabrous new Mexican annual, much branched, of the habit of Cleomella, with ternate leaves, distinct laciniate-fimbriate stipules, and bracted at last elongated racemes, small yellow flowers; fruit reflexed, stipe with the equally long (not spinous) style, and the small dissepiment persistent after the falling off of the valves.
W. refracta, n. sp. On the upper crossing of the Rio Grande, near El Paso; flowers and fruit in August. An interesting and quite anomalous account of its fruit with an almost complete dissepiment, and of its stipules and bracts. Tuberculated valves of the capsule separating from the placentae, and though open, retaining the only (rarely two) seed placentae forming a complete dissepiment, which, in the perfectly ripe and dry state, finally becomes perforated in the centre.
to 4 lines wide; panicles from the upper fascicles of leaves, near the top, one or several, erect, crowded, 4 to 6 inches long; pedicells bracted, longer than the yellowish chartaceous calyx; sepals orbicular 2 lines long; corolla scarlet 9 to 10 lines long; filaments at base slightly cohering with one another, and with the base of the corolla, villous below and with a small horizontal process, which forms an arch over the ovary. Placentae in the ovary lateral, 3, bearing each 6 ascending acute ovula, at the inner margin, where they appear to touch one another without being actually united at that stage of the growth. Soon after they probably adhere in the centre to each other, and towards the ripening of the capsule detach themselves from the valves, presenting a free central triangular spongy placenta, with about 6 (or by abortion less) seeds. Capsule coriaceous oval, acutish, light brown, about 6 lines long. Seeds compressed, integument expanded in a wing, which is cordate at the upper end, and finally resolves itself into a coma of silky fibres. If my view of the ovary and "fruit of this plant is correct, the ovary is 1-celled, with 3 lateral placentae—that of a true Fouquiera, the ripe capsule is 1-celled, with one placenta—that of Bronnia, and the unripe fruit, must be 3-celled!
Fouquiera splendens grows readily from cuts, and is used about Chihuahua for hedges and fences.
