121 PENTANDRIA—POLYGYNIA. Myosurus. 



several parts of Scotland. - Dickson, Hooker. Gathered on St. 

 Faith's bogs, Norfolk, in 1781. 



Perennial. July, August. 



About twice the size of JD. longifolia, with more linear leaves. Fl. 

 often reddish, as in that species. Capsule oblong, according to 

 Dr. Hull, who has not observed the styles to be more frequently 

 8 than in the longifolia. Petals and stamens usually^ if not al- 

 ways, 8. The linear-oblong shape of the leaves, not correctly 

 expressed in the older figures, appears to be the most constant 

 character of D. anglica ; yet some opportunities of examining 

 these two plants have made me more and more doubtful of their 

 permanent distinction. 



PENTANDRIA FOLYGYiilA. 

 183. MYOSURUS. Mouse-tail. 



Linn. Gen.\ oh. Juss. 2:^2,. Fl. Br. S4S. Lam. t. 221. GcBrtn.t.74. 

 Myosuros, Dill. Giss. app. 106. ^. 4. 



Nat. Ord. Multisiliqucje. Linn. 26. Ranimculacece. Juss. 61. 



Cal. inferior, of 5 lanceolate, concave, coloured, spreading, 

 deciduous leaves ; spurred at the base, below their point 

 of insertion. Pet. 5, very small, shorter than the calyx, 

 tubular and bearing honey at their base, expanding ob- 

 liquely at the inner side. Filain. 5, or more, linear, the 

 length of the calyx. Anth, terminal, erect, of 2 linear, 

 parallel cells. Germens very numerous, ovate, seated on 

 a long, tapering, upright receptacle. Styles none. Stigmas 

 solitary, minute. Seeds oblong, acute, naked, imbricated 

 all over the surface of the elongated, columnar, acute, 

 receptacle, 



A small annual herb, without a stem. Leaves linear, entire. 

 Fl. small, yellowish, solitary, on simple, radical stalks. 

 Myosurus may be thought too closely allied to Ranuncu- 

 lus ; especially as the number of stamens varies much, 

 and some of that genus have but 5. The tubular elon- 

 gated claws of the petals mdeed afford a distinction. 



