1064 RHINANTHACEAE 
Flowers usually solitary on axillary peduncles. Calyx sessile in 2 small bractlets : sepals 
nearly distinct, the upper one broadest. Corolla blue or white, nearly regular, the 5 lobes 
almost equal, spreading. Stamens 4, included : filaments adnate to near the throat of the 
corolla. Capsule ovoid or oval, septicidally dehiscent, the valves cleft or parted. Seeds 
numerous. | Herpestis Gaertn. ] 
Leaf-blades spatulate or cuneate : capsules acuminate at the apex. 1. M. Monniera. 
Leaf-blades obovate or orbicular-obovate: capsules blunt at the apex. 2. M. rotundifolia. 
1. Monniera Monniéra (L.) Britton. Stem and branches glabrous, 1-6 dm. long: 
leaf-blades spatulate or cuneate, 1-2 cm. long, obtuse, entire or inconspicuously toothed 
near the apex : peduncles glabrous, mostly longer than the subtending bract at maturity : 
outer sepals becoming 5-6 mm. long, usually acute : corolla white or pale blue, the upper 
lobes often retuse : capsules conic-ovoid, 5-8 mm. long, acuminate at the apex. 
On banks and shores, Maryland to Florida and Texas. Alsoin the tropics. Spring to fall. 
2. Monniera rotundifolia Michx. Stem and branches pubescent or glabrate in age, 
1-5 dm. long: leaf-blades broadly obovate to orbicular-obovate, 1-2.5 cm. long, rounded 
at the apex, partly clasping: peduncles pubescent, usually shorter than the subtending 
bracts: outer sepals becoming 3-4 mm. long, rounded at the apex: corolla white or whit- 
ish, the upper lobes rounded : capsules oval, about 4 mm. long, blunt at the apex. 
On muddy shores, Illinois to South Dakota, south to Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Summer. 
16. SEPTILIA Raf. 
Perennial, aromatic, succulent, creeping herbs, usually pubescent. Stems terete. 
Leaves opposite: blades broadest below the middle, palmately nerved, entire or shallowly 
toothed, punctate, partly clasping. Flowers solitary on short axillary peduncles. Calyx 
subtended by 2 small bractlets. Sepals nearly distinct, the outer ones cordate, the upper 
one broadest. Corolla blue or white, manifestly 2-lipped, the upper lip merely notched. 
Hypogynous disk present. Stamens 4, included: filaments adnate to near the throat of 
the corolla-tube. Capsule ovoid to conic, septicidally dehiscent, the valves cleft. Seeds - 
numerous. 
Stems merely puberulent above: hypogynous disk entire. 1. S. repens. 
Stems manifestly pubescent above : hypogynous disk 10-12-toothed. Den 
Upper leaf-blades oblong or ovate-oblong, entire or undulate. 2. S. Caroliniana. 
Upper leaf-blades orbicular or ovate-orbicular, shallowly toothed. 3. S. crenulata. , 
1. Septilia repens (Sw.) Raf. Stems and branches several dm. long, puberulent 
above, sometimes diffusely branched. Leaf-blades broadly ovate or oblong-ovate, 0.5-1.5 
cm. long, obtuse, clasping : peduncles about as long as the corolla: outer sepals becoming 
3-3.5 mm. long, glabrous or nearly so, reticulated: corolla white or whitish, little sur- 
passing the calyx: capsules oblong-ovoid, 2-2.5 mm. long. [Herpestis repens Cham. & 
Schlecht. ] 
In low grounds, South Carolina to Florida. Also in tropical America. Spring to fall. 
2. Septilia Caroliniàna (Walt.) Small. Stems 2-6 dm. long, manifestly pubescent, 
at least above. Leaf-blades ovate-oblong or oblong, 1-2 cm. long, entire or undulate, 
clasping: peduncles 1-5 mm. long: outer sepals becoming 6-7 mm. long, glabrous or 
nearly so: corolla blue, 8-9 mm. long: capsules ovoid-conic, about 4 mm. long. [ Herpestis 
amplexicaulis Pursh. ] 
About pine-land ponds, New Jersey to Florida and Louisiana. Spring to fall. 
3. Septilia crenulàta Small.  Resembling C. Caroliniana, but stouter. Stems 
copiously pubescent throughout : leaf-blades suborbicular to orbicular-ovate, 1.5-2.5 ae 
long, obtuse or notched at the apex, shallowly toothed, partly clasping: peduncles 1-1. 
cm. long: outer sepals becoming fully 1 cm. long, pubescent: corolla fully 10 mm. long, 
blue: capsules ovoid-oblong, about 5 mm. long. [Monniera crenulata Small. ] 
In ditches and low places, Florida. Spring and summer. 
17. MECARDONIA R. & P. 
Perennial relatiyely rigid herbs, with 4-angled erect or diffuse, but rarely creeping 
stems. Leaves opposite ; blades toothed, narrowed at the base, pinnately nerved. F a 
solitary on slender axillary pedicels subtended by two small bractlets. Calyx not subten 
by bractlets: sepals 5, unequal, the upper one broadest : corolla white, purple or yellow, 
