2 DIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. lemka, 



resembling the calyptra of a moss. The margins of the fronds 

 at one extremity, on each side, have a cleft, in which some- 

 times are produced one or more flattened orbicular gemmx^ 

 (and this is their common mode of increase,) which there grow 

 into perfect fronds, and then fall away, or a single j?ow(?r, con- 

 sisting of an urceolate, membranaceous, monophyllous peri- 

 anth^ from a small opening in the top of which the stigma is 

 protruded, and which bursts irregularly as the stamens become 

 developed. These are two in number {rarely wanting.) An- 

 thers of two rounded lobes, opening nearly vertically, each into 

 2 valves. Germen roundish, compressed, carinated on one side, 

 tapering into a style about its own length, and terminated by a 

 flattish rather expanded stigma. Fruit a utricle, transverseh 

 oblong, compressed, emarginate at the top, on which is the 

 short persistent style. Seed 1, very hard, oval, lying horizon- 

 tally in the utricle, and fixed by its lower side. Embryo oblong, 

 monocotyledonous, horizontal, central, surrounded by a whitish 

 fleshy albumen." Hook. 1. c. 



24. CRYPTA, ^'uttalL 



Calyx 2-leaved, inferior. Corolla 2-^3-petaIIed.. 

 closed. Style almost wanting. Stigma obtuse. Cap- 

 sule 2 — 3-celled, 2 — 3-valved; cells 4 — 5-seeded. 

 J\'utf. Jour. Acad. Philad, I. p. 117, t. 6, f. 1. Gen, 

 II. Supp. Peplis Pursh. Dwightea Ives, in 

 lit. Nat. Ord. Portulace^ Juss. 



C. minima iN'utt. I.e. Fevlis americana Pursh Fh 



p. 238. M u h I. Herb. (A* u 1 1.) 



Root fibrous, annual ? Stems prostrate, creeping and rooting ; 

 branches assurgent, half an inch or an inch high, succulent, 

 (with 6 or 8 dissepiments diverging from a common axis. 

 JVutt) Leaves cuneate-obovate, opposite, entire, obtuse, 

 I -nerved. Florjers very minute, globular, axillary, with mi- 

 nute stipules at the base. Calyx leaves oval, concave, obtuse. 

 Corolla 2-petalled (sometimes 3. A'ur?. ;) petals roundish, 

 concave, obtuse, closely incumbent over each other and the 

 germ, white. Stamens generally 2, rarely 3, seated on the base 

 of the petals; filaments about as long as the germen ; anthers 

 roundish, 2-celled. Style very minute and short ; stigma ob- 

 tuse. (Style 0; stigmas 2 or 3, like so many minute points, 

 which arc only visible through a strong lens. J\fu 1 1.) Capsule 

 globular, depressed, membranaceous; seeds 2 — 3 in each cell, 

 large in proportion to the capsule, oblong-cylindrical, obtuse^ 

 a little incurved, striate longitudinally, and transversely corru- 

 gate. (Perisficr?n 0. ^miryora erect, flat ; radical cylindric, 

 large, descendent. Cotyledons 2, small, subovate. JVji 1 1.) 



Hab. On the sandy margins of ponds on the south side of Long- 

 Island, particularly near Islip. Along the ponds and streams 



