102 



A small, creeping, aquatic plant. Stems filiform, jointed. 

 Leaves opposite, spathulate, from half an inch to an inch long, 

 erect, or, more properly speaking, growing at right angles 

 with their horizontal stem. Peduncles axillary, longer than 

 the leaves, generally opposite, except where a branch springs, 

 when the latter occupies the place of the leaf. Calyx cam- 

 panulate, 3-cleft, segments obtuse. Corolla tubular, somewhat 

 2-lippecl; upper lip large, emarginate, sometimes bifid; under- 

 lip 3-lobed, the middle lobe largest, all very obtuse. Stamens 

 2 : Jilaments as long as the tube, incurved : anthers 2-celled. 

 Style about the length of the stamens : stigma compressed, 

 and hooked over the approximated anthers. Capsule inclosed 

 in the permanent calyx, 2-celled, many-seeded : seeds com- 

 pressed, arranged round a central placenta. 



Found in wet soil, near tanks; sometimes under water. 

 It is perhaps a common plant ; but I have only met with it 

 twice : once near Madras, and once a few miles from Nega- 

 patam ; in both instances growing in sandy soil. The small 

 size, which renders it difficult to be recognized except when 

 occurring in patches, is perhaps, the reason why it is considered 

 unfrequent. Specimens were gathered in September, 1829. 



[In habit, the present little plant is assuredly very nearly 

 allied to Limosella. It differs, however, essentially in the 

 number and situation of the stamens, and in the stigma. 

 Sprengel has united it with Peplidium, whose character is to 

 have an indehiscent capsule. To me, it appears to arrange 

 best with the Mic?vcarp(sa of Mr. Brown ; differing chiefly, 

 if not entirel}'^, in the number of divisions to the calyx, 5 

 in Microcarpcea, 3 in our present plant. I have once 

 observed 4 lobes, so that the number does not seem to be 

 constant. — H.^ 



SUPPL. Tab. IV. Fig. 1, Tuft of Microcarpaea spathulata : — 

 natural size. Fig. 2, Flant: — magnified, i^i?^. 3, Flower, 

 with the calyx laid open. Fig. 4, Corolla, laid open to 

 show the stamens and pistils. Fig. 5, Calyx, with the 

 ripening germen. Fig. 6, Section of the germen. Fig. 

 7, Seed. Fig. 8, An old capsule, with its valves burst, 

 the seeds having been discharged, and the receptacle of 



