94 
or even 6-celled, each cell furnished with its own sfyle and 
stigma. Styles short, approximated. Stigma obtuse, red. 
Capsule purple, cells equalling the number of stigmas; parti- 
tions formed of the inflexed margins of the valves. Seeds 
many in each cell, ovato-oblong. 
The figure, No. 2, represents an individual differing from 
the above in being quite smooth, but in all other respects 
the same. 
These plants are frequent in moist sandy soil, springing up 
during the rains, and continuing to the end of the cool season. 
The drawing was made about the beginning of February. 
It appears to me that the genus to which this plant ought 
to be referred, is still undetermined. I think, however, that 
Elatine is the one that approaches most nearly in its charac- 
ters to those above given. What Willdenow’s Lechea 
verticillata is, it is not easy to conjecture. The **caulis repens” 
is altogether at variance with this plant, though in other 
respects they correspond so much, that Roxburgh gives 
that species as a synonym for his Bergia ammannioides, 
which I have no doubt is this very plant. I think it is also 
Roth's B. ammannioides, asit agrees well with his character of 
the species, as quoted by De Candolle and Sprengel, though 
differing in the number of stamens assigned to it, and, 1 pre- 
sume, of the other parts of the flower, as these all correspond. 
This may be a variation from the usual form, in the same 
manner as the styles vary in different flowers, from 3 to 5, 
even on the same plant. Upon the whole, I think we have 
reason for believing this plant the Bergia ammannioides of 
Roth; but the question still remains to be determined, 
whether or not it ought to be referred to the genus Elatine. 
[It does indeed appear, that the number of parts in the 
flowers of the Genus Bergia, and especially in the present 
species, is liable to much variation; yet Cambassedes, in his 
“© Memoire sur les Elatinées,” ( Mem. du Mus. d’ Hist. Nat.” 
v. 18. p. 230,) says of it, ** Genus vix ab Elatine diversum, 
nisi numero partium floris quinario." Hence, the justness of 
Dr. Wight's remarks will be apparent; and the present indi- 
