2 MONANDRIA. MONOGYNlA. 



gent and perforate. Capsule 1 -celled, 1 or 2 

 seeded. 



Habitus. Flowers produced in a scattered flexuose 

 panicle, which is eltlier terminal or radical, singly, or by 

 ^ ^ p.T^rs in.spathaceous 2-valved bractes. 

 %^ wj^ '^p^jaES. X- T? dealbata. In South Corolina and Georgia 



y * *"* Observation. With all that has been done in arrang-- 

 ing the Scitaminece by the celebrated Mr. Koscoe, there 

 still appears to prevail some confusion in this order, 

 which perhaps tlicir various individual structui-e has 

 been a principal means of retaining. The present plant 

 exhibits several anomalies, considered as a genuine species 

 of Thalia. Jussieu and Persoon, describe the Thalia oi Lin- 

 tKeus as having a deeply divided petaloid calix, or 5-pe- 

 lalled corolla. Tlie T. deuldata, and the T. cannaformist 2 

 of the 3 known species, have a 6-parted petaloid calix. 

 Jussieu also describes ihis genus as producing a drupe 

 with a 2-seeded nut, or rarely (by abortion?) 1-seeded. 

 }'ersoon likewise speaks of this genus as having a drupe 

 with a 1-celled nut. Mr. Roscoe describes the Thalia with 

 a 2-celled capsule; according to Mr. Elliottf the present 

 species produces a globose 1-ceiled capsule? or flexible 

 shelled nut, if such a plu-ase can be admitted. 



S. SALICORNIA. L, (Glass-wort.) 



Calix 3 or 4 -sided, somewhat ventrirose, en- 

 tire. Corolla 0. Stamina 1 or 2. Stijle bifid; 

 stigmata 2; seed 1, covered by tlie inflated ca- 

 lix. 



Habitus. Stei^i herbaceous or suffruticose, generally 

 destitute of leaves; branching, brancnes opposite, round, 

 nnd articulations bidentate above; terminal branches flow- 

 er-beas ng; flosculi minute and sessile, growing in threes. 

 (The habit of this genus is similar to that of the Gnetum, a 

 tree of India.) 



Species. 1. .S". herbacea. 2. vir^iniea] 3. ambigna. Near 

 tlie sea-coast. — Sometimes bin-nt for soda, and also pre- 

 served in vinegar as an aliment.^ 



Obs. .\Ir. Elliott observed 2 stamens in the S. herba- 

 cea and the S ambigiia, which corroborates the remarks 

 of Jussieu made in Europe. Desfontaines in his Flora At- 



f See his " Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and 

 ■Georgia,'* p. 2. 



