1061 EHINANTHACEAE 



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. IHerpestis 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. rotundifulia. 



1. Monniera Monni^ra (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. Also in 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 clas])ing : peduncles pubescent, usually shorter than the subtending 

 bracts : outer sepals becoming o-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. 



Upper leaf-blades oblong or ovate-oblong, entire or undulate. 2. S. Caroliniana. 



Upper leaf-blades orbicular or ovate-orbicular, shallowly toothed. 3. .S'. creiiulata. 



1. Septula ripens (Sw. ) Raf. Stems and branches several dm. long, puberulent 

 above, sometimes difiusely 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 wiiite 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. Septula Caroliniana (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 crenulata Small. Resembling C. CaroHniana, but stouter. Stems 

 copiouslv pubescent throughout : leaf-blades suborbicular to orbicular-ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm. 

 long, obtuse or notched at the apex, shallowly toothed, partly clasping: peduncles 1-1.5 

 cm. long : outer sepals becoming fully 1 cm. long, pubescent : corolla fully 10 mm. long, 

 blue : capsules ovoid-oblong, about 5 mm. long. [3Ionniera crenulata Small.] 



In ditches and low places, Florida. Spring and summer. 



17. MECARDONIA R. & P. 



Perennial relatively rigid herbs, with 4-angled erect or diffuse, but rarely creeping 

 stems. Leaves opposite ; blades toothed, narrowed at the 1)ase, pinnately nerved. Flowers 

 solitary on slender axillary pedicels subtended by two small bractlets. Calyx not subtended 

 by bractlets : sepals 5, unequal, the upper one broadest : corolla white, purple or yellow. 



