In addition to my above definition, it will be proper to state that the stem of this plant rises from 4 to 8 inches, it is cylindrical, smooth, and yellowish, the middle leaves are the largest, the lower peduncles are longer than the leaves, and the upper ones shorter, the petals or interior sepals, and the stamens are yellow. It blossoms in May, and is annual, it even lasts only three months. It will be perceived that I do not agree with Mr. Pursh, in uniting this plant with the genus _Nectris_: he owns himself that it deviates a _little_ from the generic character of _Nectris_, but these deviations appear to me very material; they exist in the pistils and fruits, the most essential parts of the flowers, since they agree in the perigone and stamens. The genus _Nectris_ (or _Calomba_ of Aublet) has _two ovaries_, _two styles_, and _two polispermous capsules_, or _achens_! and belongs therefore to the second order _Perimesia_, (class _Eltrogynia_) eighth family _Achenopsia_ next to the genus _Myriophyllum_: while the genus Floerkea which has a _bilobed ovary_, _one central style_, _two stigmas_, and _one bilocular dispermous achen_, must belong to the eleventh order of the same class; _Isostimia_, which is characterized by having more than one stigma, the stamens in regular number, and not central; it will form a connecting link between this order and the foregoing _Polymesia_, by its affinity with many genera of the _Euphorbia's_ tribe, such as _Callitriche_, _Tragia_, _Mercurialis_, &c. from which it differs merely by having hermaphrodite flowers, and perispheric regular stamens. It will at present stand nearly isolated in this order, where it may form the small family _Galenidia_, along with the genus _Galenia_, &c. and which shall have much affinity with the family _Phytolacia_; but this differs by having a multilocular berry, while the _Galenia_ merely differs by having a 4 sided perigone, 8 stamens, and 2 styles. I admit, however, that there is a strong affinity between the genera _Floerkea_ and _Nectris_, but stronger affinities often exist in plants of different classes. If, however, it should happen that Aublet[54] might have been mistaken in describing the ovaries and capsules of the _Nectris_ as double, if they should prove to be simple but bilobed, then the _Nectris_ would belong to the same family as the _Floerkea_; but yet stand as a peculiar genus distinguished by having 2 styles, and the achens not monospermous! It was insinuated to me by Mr. Correa, that the _Floerkea_ might have some affinity with the tribe of _Ranunculaceous_, but I cannot discover any, since that tribe is widely different, by having many ovaries, stamens, and fruits, each ovary with 1 style or stigma, a deciduous perigone, the anthers adnate, &c. The analogy in the structure of the seed and habit, is too slight to be taken in consideration.