238 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [DeC, 



3. Mecardonia tenuis Small. 



Mecardonia tenuis Small, FI. S. E. Un. St. 1065, 1338. 1903. "Type, 

 Key West, Fla., Blodgett, in Herb. C. U." Type seen in Herb. Columbia 

 University at the Nev/ York Botanical Garden. 



Light loam over limestone, hammock and thickets, Key West, 

 Florida Keys, Subtropical Florida. Endemic, but so close to M. 

 procumhens and to M. peduncularis (Benth.) Small of Texas that 

 the actual relationship of these species should be more fully investi- 

 gated in the field. 



Pennell (Florida)— 9555, 9599. 



6. GRATIOLA Linne. 



Gratiola L., Sp. PI. 17. 1753. 



Type species, G. officinalis L., of Europe. 



Corolla slightly exceeding calyx, externally glabrous. Capsule 

 nearly pyramidal, acuminate. Pedicels very short. 

 Plant pubescent with several-celled hairs. Leaves 1-2 cm. long; 

 bracts usually much exceeding the flowers. 



1. G. pilosa. 

 Plant glabrous. Leaves .8-1.2 cm. long; bracts not exceeding the 

 flowers. la. G. pilosa epilis. 



Corolla more than twice as long as the caljrx, externally more or less 

 puberulent. Capsule broader, acute to rounded. Pedicels 

 longer. Stem glabrous or puberulent with one-celled hairs, 

 these frequently gland-bearing. 

 Pedicels exceeding 10 mm. in length. Corolla within throat on 

 posterior side densely pubescent with knobbed hairs. Cap- 

 sule ovate in outline, 1-5 mm. long, equaled or exceeded by 

 the sepals. Seeds .3-.5 mm. long, semi-globose to oblong. 

 Capsule 1-3 mm. long, much exceeded by the sepals. Stem- 

 leaves clasping by a broad base, usually at least the upper 

 with resinous dots. Roots perennial, slender. Stoloni- 

 ferous. 

 Corolla golden-yellow throughout. Capsule 3 mm. long. 

 Seeds brown. Leaves with blackish glandular dots. 



2. G. georgiana. 

 Corolla with throat dull-yellow, the lobes white. Capsule 

 1-2 mm. long. Seeds paler. Leaves with brown glandu- 

 lar dots, these usually more sparsely distributed. 

 Leaf-blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, usually with a 

 few coarse serratures. Sepals linear to linear-subu- 

 late. Capsule 1-2 mm. long. 3. G. ramosa. 

 Leaf-blades ovate, with many usually finer serratures. 

 Sepals lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Capsule 2 

 mm. long. 4. G. viscidula. 

 Capsule 4-5 mm. long, about equaled by the sepals. Stem- 

 leaves narrowed to a sessile or slightly clasping base, not 



