OF THE GENUS SYMPHYTUM. 497 
however, is often repand-sinuate and minutely eroso-denticulate. In outline 
they vary from subrotund to oblong, ovate, or narrowly lanceolate, with the 
base cordate or rounded, suddenly contracted or gradually attenuated. The 
blade of the leaf is more or less decurrent on the petiole, on each side of 
which it forms a membranous margin, and when the leaves are sessile it 
sometimes forms wings or decurrent lines on the stem. The relative length 
and breadth of the leaves may vary considerably in the same species, and 
the autumnal leaves are often very large in comparison with those of the 
flowering season. The clothing of the leaves, like that of the stem, is of 
two kinds, but the hairs are generally shorter, straighter and more regularly 
disposed than on the stem. Оп the upper surface the hairs are, in the dried 
state, appressed, all pointing towards the apex of the leaf, and are often 
borne on tubercular bases, especially on the older leaves. The lower surface 
is more softly hairy with longer hairs, but often bears tubercular хене on the 
midrib and veins. 
The inflorescence consists of a pair of scorpioid racemes each with a leaf 
at the base, and the flowers are arranged in two rows on the upper side of 
the rhachis. In the Ramos the flowers are generally more numerous and 
more shortiy pedicelled than in the Stuplicia, and consequently form denser 
racemes, 
The ealy furnishes a good character for the division of the anos in the 
relative length of its segments or teeth, which are sometimes longer and 
sometimes shorter than the tube. These vary from triangular or lanceolate 
to linear, with the apex acute or obtuse, and are of importance in the 
discrimination of many of the species. The margins of the segments are 
ciliate, in the Simplicia often conspicuously so, because the back of the 
segments іх puberulous and almost destitute of long hairs. In truit the calyx 
is more or less accrescent and becomes strongly hispid or setose, with the 
segments at first connivent over the nutlets ; but when the fruit is abortive 
the segments are widely spreading. (See note on А. patens, Sibth.) 
The corolla when well developed is infundibuliform or subeylindrical, with 
a more or less ventricose limb which is generally equal in length to the tube, 
but occasionally falls short of it. The margin is divided into five broadly 
ovate or triangular teeth with a short, obtuse, spreading apiculus. Owing to 
unfavourable conditions of growth the corolla is sometimes narrowly clavate 
with the mouth unexpanded and the teeth narrow, acute and erect. It is 
needless to say that flowers in this condition should not be taken as 
characteristic of the species. 
The corolla-seales alternate with the stamens and spring from the top of 
the corolla-tube a little above the insertion of the latter, their point of attach- 
ment being marked by a depression on the outside of the corolla, They vary 
from linear-oblong to subulate, with the tip obtuse or acute, and in relative 
length they vary from a little shorter than the stamens to more than double 
