Fig. 3.
Plant upright, simple, or branching above; somewhat viscid-pubescent.
Lower leaves opposite, ovate, obtuse, petioles very short; middle cauline leaves ovate-oblong, obtuse or subacute, corneously mucronate, sessile or subsessile, three to seven-nerved; upper leaves mostly alternate, all somewhat silky, viscid-pubescent. Flowers pedicellate, axillary and terminal in a condensed, sub-cymose head; calyx lobes sub-equal, linear-lanceolate, often sub-spatulate, acute, corneously mucronate, three-nerved, ciliate, cleft to the middle (membranous between the segments as in Gillia).
Flowers filiform, very minute, one-third to one-half longer than the calyx; border blue, throat slightly swelled, stamens included, three long and two short, style simple, stigma undivided, about as long as the tube. Capsule oval, compressed (?), about three-seeded, seeds oblong, cuneate, flattened.
A plant four to six inches in height, found by Mr. G. W. Dunn, in the vicinity of Silver City, Nevada Territory. In one of the specimens the first pair of leaves appears to manifest a serrate tendency.
Dr. Trask stated, that the tree cotton presented by him was said to be the produce of a shrub from four to fifteen feet high. It is described as growing in a pod like a banana, the shrub forming a high chaparral. The staple is long and fine; but nothing is known of its commercial value.
Dr. Behr remarked that it closely resembled species of Bombax and Eriodendron, abundant in South America and the East Indies, but not there considered as of value as a substitute for cotton.
Dr. Trask made some remarks in regard to certain species of Conferva, which appear to be sensitive, like the species of Schrankia.
Prof. Brewer stated that he had recently received a communication from Professor Planchon, of South France, in regard to suitable forage plants for dry regions. In that country the Medicago sativa, or Lucerne, was considered the most valuable, and next to it the Sainfoin.