MR. A. W. BENNETT ON THE GENUS UYDROLEA. 277 



Hydrolea multiflora. Mart. MS.', Ckois. Descr. HydroLy DC. Prodr, 

 11. zeylanica, var. y {?), Chois. Descr, Hydrol. — H. elatior (?), Schott 

 in Spreng. Syst. vol. v. p. 4, app. p. 404. — H. exaltata{?), id. ex SteudeL 

 — Steris villosa, Tav. MS. in herb, Deless. 



This species was gatliered in Brazil by Martius, and is repre- 

 sented in the English and continental herbaria by that botanist*a 

 no. 1248, from .Rio and Cujaba. Its apparently decumbent or 

 spreading tortuous stem, linear leaves, small and crowded flowers, 

 the sepals covered with a dense glandular viscid pubescence, and 

 very small membranaceous capsules, distinguish it very clearly. 

 Martins appears to have met with it only after the period of flow- 

 ering, and I have seen no perfect flowers. It is remarkably 



brittle in the herbarium, and apparently grows in dry sandy 

 places. 



12. 11. GRAMiNiFoLiAj nov. sp. (Tab. I. fi^. 12.) 



Caulis aseendens, erectus, inferne radicans, glaber, teres, striatus, iuferue 

 maculate-purpurascens et simplex, superne ramosus, plus minus 4-pe- 

 dalis. Folia linearia, graminiformia, glabra, 3 -4 poll, longa, 2 lin. lata. 

 Flores magni, caerulei, insignes, in paniculas densas foliosas cor) mbose 

 dispositi, pedunculati. Sepala ovato-lanceolata, petalis in alabastro 

 breviora, 2-3 lin. longa, ut et pedicellile vissime glanduloso-pube- 

 scentes. Petala azurea, glabra, sepalis duplo longiora. Stamina 

 uiqualia, basi spathulato-dilatata; filainenta elongata; anthcra; dor- 

 sifixae, sagittatae, longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Ocarium orbiculare, 

 glabrum. Styli duo, elongati, glabri, persistcntes. Stigmata parva, 

 capitata. Capsula paiva, bilocularis, globosa, bilinearis, calyce per- 

 sistente subbrevior, stylos persistcntes apice gerens. 



i'or this and the following new species of Ilydvolea^ collected 

 by C. Barter, we are indebted to Baikie's Niger Expedition. It 

 is described as growing " in swamps near Jeba, Nupe ; 4 feet ; 

 flowers intense blue ; one of the most beautiful of the swamp 

 plants," which one can well believe, from its large flowers still re- 

 taining their deep blue hue, crowded in dense corymbose heads, 

 its tall erect habit, and long, remarkably elegant grass-like leaves. 

 I am only acquainted with specimens in the Kew Herbarium 

 (no. 888). 



13. H. MACROSEPALA, uov. sp. (Tab. I. fig. 13.) 



Qaulis ascendens, ereetus, inferne radicans, glaber, teres, striatus, inferne 

 simplex, superne ramosus ; ramuli graciles, patuli. Folia Hnearia, 

 glabra, 2 poll, longa, 3-4 lin. lata. Flores ca;ru]ei, in paniculas laxas 

 dispositi, pedunculati; pedicelli longl, 3-6-hneares, glabri. Sepala 

 niairna. trianp-nlarin. suhcordata. acuta. 3-4 liu. longa, 3 Un. lata, ela- 



