102 
A small, creeping, aquatic plant. Stems filiform, jointed, 
Leaves opposite, spathulate, from half an inch to an inch long, 
erect, or, more properly speaking, growing at right angles 
with their horizontal stem. Peduncles axillary, longer than 
the leaves, generally opposite, except where a branch springs, 
when the latter occupies the place of the leaf. Calyx cam- 
panulate, 3-cleft, segments obtuse. Corolla tubular, somewhat 
_2-lipped; upper lip large, emarginate, sometimes bifid; under- 
lip 3-lobed, the middle lobe largest, all very obtuse. Stamens 
2: filaments as long as the tube, incurved: anthers 2-celled. 
Style about the length of the stamens: stigma compressed, 
and hooked over the approximated anthers. Capsule inclosed 
in the permanent calyx, 2-celled, many-seeded; seeds com- 
pressed, arranged round a central placenta. 
Found in wet soil, near tanks; sometimes under water 
It is perhaps a common plant; but I have only met with it 
twice: once near Madras, and once a few miles from Nega- 
patam; in both instances growing in sandy soil. The small 
size, which renders it difficult to be recognized except when 
occurring in patches, is perhaps, the reason why it is considered 
unfrequent. Specimens were gathered i in September, 1829, 
[In habit, the present little plant is assuredly very nearly — | 
allied to Limosella. It differs, however, essentially in the 
number and situation of the stamens, and in the stigma. 
Sprengel has united it with Peplidium, whose character is to — 
have an indehiscent capsule. To me, it appears to arrange 
best with the Microcarpea of Mr. Brown; differing chiefly, 
if not entirely, in the number of divisions to the calyx, 5 
in Microcarpea, 3 in our present plant. I have once 
observed 4 lobes, so that the number does not seem to be 
constant.— H.] 
E e Tas. IV. Fig, 1, Tuft of Microcarpza spathulata :— 
 maturalsize. Fig. 2, Plant: :—magnified. Fig. 3, Flower, — 
with the calyx laid open. Fig. 4, Corolla, laid open tO 
_ show the stamens and pistils, Fig. 5, Calyx, with the 
ripening germen. Fig. 6, Section of the germen. Fig. 
7, Seed. Fig. 8, An old capsule, with its valves burst, 
the seeds having wá discharged, and the receptacle of 
