MR. A. W. BENNETT ON THE GENUS HYDROLEA. 2G9 



c. Folia glabra, lineavia. 



Caulis decumbens; flores parvi, conferti ; sepala glanduloso-vil- 



losa , , 11. H. multiflora. 



Caulis ascendens; flores magni, corymbosi; sepala angusta. 



13. TL graminifoUa, 

 Caulis ascendens ; sepala triangularia, foliacea. 



13. //. macrosepala. 



I. H. SPINOSA, Lian. (Tab. I. figs. 1,2,3, 4.) 



Caulis ascendens, bi- vel tripeilalis, raraosus, magis vel minus hirsutus, 

 plerumque spinosus; rami ereeto-pateiites, hirsuti ; spiuic axillares, 

 erecto-patentes vel patulae, 5-8-lineares, rectje, pubescentes. Folia 

 elliptico-lanceolata, 2-3 poll, longa, 8 lin. latp, Integra, subsinuata, 

 utrinqne pubescentia, breritcr petiolata. Flores in cymas terminales 

 scorpioideo dispositi, ca^rulei, pedunculatij fragrantes; pedicelll glan- 

 dulosc-liirsuti; bractese foliaceae, parvae, villosa?. Sepala lanceolata, 

 3 lin. loaga, basi vlx coalita, pilis densis longis glandulosis extus 

 vestita, intus breviter hispida vel subglabra. Corolla calyce longior: 

 lobi brevissimi, late triangulari-ovati, per ffistivatioiiein imbricati, pilis 

 paucis sparsis prsediti. Stamina corolla sub'ongiora, post antbesim 

 exserta. Ovarium ellipticum, bi- vel interdum triloculare. Styli duo 

 vel rarius tres, demum valdc elongati, persistentes, divergcntes, apice 

 convergentes, basi leviter glanduloso-hirsuti. Stigmata capitata. 

 Capsula orbicularis, bi- vel rarius trilocularis, sepalis persistentibus 

 subbrevior ; capsulie apex et stylorum bases leviter glanduloso-hirsutje. 

 Semina parva, numerosa, elli})tica, longitudinaliter admodum rugoso- 

 striata. 



Var. 3. ZXERMis, Spruce, MS. Caulis glanduloso-pu])Csceijs, inennis. 



Hydrolea spinosa, Linn. Sp, 318,' AabL Guian,vol, i. p. 281, t. 110; 

 -R. €t Pav, FL Per. ; Bot. Reg. 5i\i} -, DC. ProJr. ; Ckois, Descr. Jly- 

 rf/'o/.— Hydrolea trigyna, Sw. hid. Oca. vol. i. p. 5.58; Cat\ Ic. 

 voLi. p. 19, t. 52.9. f. 1. 



This species appears to be one of very general and abundant 

 distribution throughout Tropical and Subtropical America and 

 the adjacent islands, growing iu ditches, the margins of woods, 

 and damp fields. It is described by Purdie as being "as highly 

 scented as any China rose." It varies considerably in the size of 

 the flowers, the degree of hairiness of the whole plant, and the 

 number of spines — the unarmed variety having been sent by 

 several collectors from Brazil and Guiana. The form with a tri- 

 locular ovary and three styles has been erected ijito a distinct 

 species, and even proposed by Aublet to form a separate genus, 

 ^nder the name of Saqonea. I am, however, able to confirm 

 l^^of. Choisy's ^statement, that the 2-3tyled and 3-styled flowers 



I-IXN. TKOC nOTAXY, TOL. XT. ^ 



