DIDYNAMIA-ANGIOSPERMIA.Melampynim. 125 



2. M. arvense. Purple Cow-wheat. 



Spikes conical. Bracteas lax, lanceolate, pinnatifid. Calyx- 

 teeth longer than the tube. Corolla closed. 



M. arvense. Linn. Sp. PI. 812. mild. v. 3. 198. Fl. Br. 652. 

 Engl. Bot. v.\.t. 53. Hook. Lond. t. 63. Dicks. Dr. PI. 74. 

 Fl. Dan. t.9\]. Riv. Monop. Irr. t. 80. 



M.n.310. Hall. Hist. v.\. ]36. 



M. purpurascente coma. Bauh. Pin. 234. Dill, in Rail Stjn. *286. 

 Moris. V. 3. 428. sect. 11. ^ 23. /.I. 



M. multis, sive Triticum vaccinum. Bauh. Hist. v. 3. p. 2. 439. /'. 



M. cseruleum. Ger. Em. 90. f. 



Triticum vaccinum. Trag. Hist. 663.f.Dalech. Hist. 419./. 



Braun Fleyschbliim. Britnf. Herb. v. 2. 54./. 



Parielaria sylvestris tertia. Clus. Hist. v. 2. 45./. 



In corn-fields on a light soil. 



Near Lycham, Norfolk. Sherard. In the common field at Sporle 

 in the same county, especially among wheat. Rev. Mr. Edwards, 

 and Rev. J. S. Watts. At Swardeston and Keswick. Mr. Crowe; 

 also at Costesy and Bixley 3 all near Norwich. 



Annual. July. 



Sfeml^ or 2 feet high, purplish, acutely quadrangular; the branches 

 more upright than in the foregoing. Leaves lanceolate, rough- 

 edged, a little downy on both sides ; one or two of the upper 

 pairs sometimes pinnatifid at the base. Spikes long, many- 

 flowered. Bracteas loosely spreading, deeply pectinated or pin- 

 natifid ; the upper ones entirely, and the lower partially, co- 

 loured of a delicate purplish rose-colour. Fl. large, about as 

 long as the bracteas, without scent. Segments of the c«/?/x pe- 

 culiarly long and linear, coloured like the bracteas. Cor. closed, 

 yellow ; the lips variegated with rose colour and purple. Seeds 

 2 in each cell, though often by abortion solitary 3 hence the ac- 

 curate John Bauhin describes 2 or 3 in each capsule. Thev re- 

 semble grains of wheat in shape and colour. 



This is one of our most beautiful wild plants. It will grow from 

 fresh seed in a dry garden, and is well worthy of cultivation. 

 The late Mr. Watts observed that whenever the field at Sporle 

 was cropped with wheat, but not otherwise, this Melampyrum 

 might be found in abundance. At Costesy it is more constant, 

 not only in the fields, but, as Dr. Hooker remarks, " on the 

 dry banks which border them." M. barbatum of Willdenow 

 seems well distinguished by its gaping yellow^ou;er5, indepen- 

 dent of the green bracteas. 



3. M. pratense. Common Yellow Cow-wheat. 



Flowers axillary, in partly distant pains, turned to one 

 side. Corolla closed ; lip direct. Upper floral leave.s 

 toothed at the base. 



