Stem erect, divaricately branching, one to three inches high, pubescent, interspersed with a few short glandular hairs. Cotyledons oval or oblong obtuse, entire, petioles as long as the lamina; middle cauline leaves on shorter petioles, ciliate at the base or subsessile, ovate or oblong sub-acute, entire at the base, coarsely three to five-toothed, nerves obsolete, all pubescent above, glabrous below; superior pairs, sessile, lanceolate, acute, entire.
Flowers small, axillary, and solitary on long divaricate ascending peduncles, articulated at the base by a swelled joint, purplish pink alike throughout, twice the length of the calyx, upper lobes broadest, margins crenulate, saccate base of the tube much compressed above, glabrous within, throat constricted, the external expansion purple spotted above, filaments hirsute, stigma minutely bilobed. The obconical expanding calyx narrowed and slightly depressed above at the base, and correspondingly swelled below, segments ovate acute, fleshy, glabrous; margins minutely ciliate, somewhat unequal, or three larger and two smaller; capsule globose, pink and purple spotted above, seeded. Flowering in March and April.
This very minute species—often barely an inch or more in height—had hitherto escaped our observation, until little friend George Bloomer discovered it, while on a trip with us to the hills in this vicinity. The whole plant at length often assumes a scarlet or purplish hue. It certainly is not the C. violacea of D. C. and appears quite as distinct as any species known to us.
Mr. Bolander made some remarks on the peculiar growth of Carex decidua, in Marin County, not on the borders of the creeks, but in the middle of them. He also spoke of Hierochloa fragrans R. S., as a remarkably fragrant plant, and as furnishing beautiful grass for lawns.
Regular Meeting, May 18th, 1863.
President in the Chair.
Nine members present.
Messrs. W. S. Sullivant, and Leo Lesquereux, of Columbus, Ohio, were elected Corresponding Members, and Rev. T. Starr King a Resident Member.