on the Hortus Malabaricus, Part II. '* 289 



must be described, yet he did not know by what name it was 

 called. Such was nearly the dilemma in which at one time he 

 told me he was placed. 



In its habit this plant has no resemblance to any Barleria that 

 I know ; but it strongly resembles the Acanthus ilicifolius, one of 

 the genus Schulli. Its flower, however, differs much from both, 

 as will be seen from the following note. 



Bahel Schulli. 



Habitat in totius Indiae aquosis vulgatissima. 



Caulis erectus, rigidus. Folia linearia, sessilia. Flores in singu- 

 lis verticillis plures ; singuli foliolo lanceolato bracteati ; 

 universi bracteis spiniformibus 6 vel 8 cincti. Calyx teres 

 quadrifidus, laciniis lateralibus parvis, summa majore, ima 

 bifida. Corolla tubulosa, bilabiata. Limbus bipartitus ; labio 

 superiore apice bilobo, inferiore trilobo. Stamina didynama. 

 Filamenta duo dimidio breviora. Anthera subaequales. 



Rheede mentions a Bahel Schulli with a white flower, which I 

 consider as a mere variety, the change from blue to white not 

 being unusual even among uncultivated plants. 



NiR Schulli, p. 89- Jig. 46. 



The specific name implies water, and is probably meant to 

 distinguish it from the following species, although the two other 

 species of Schulli also grow in water. Commeline is exceedingly 

 unlucky in comparing it to a Teucrium. 



Plukenet imagined that he had received from Coromandel a 

 plant resembling the Nir Schulli, which he called Gratiolce affinis 

 India orient alis digitalis cemula {Aim. 264. errore typographi 254. ) ; 

 but I cannot say that the figure which he gives [Phyt. t. 49./. 3.) 

 seems to me at all like the A^?V Schulli : and it must be con- 

 sidered 



