DIDYNAMIA— ANGIOSPERMIA. Melampyrum. 123 

 306. MELAiMPYRUM. Cow-wheat. 



Linn. Gen. 305. Juss. 101 . Fl. Br. 651. Toiirn. t. 78. Lam. 

 t.DlS. Gccrtn.t.DS. 



Nat. Ord. see the 3 preceding genera. 



Cat. tiihular, permanent ; the border in 4 deep, straight, 

 unequal, rather long and narrow segments. Co?', rin- 

 gent, moderately gaping ; tube oblong, curved ; throat 

 a little dilated, compressed; upper lip vaulted, com- 

 pressed, notched, with a narrow, reflexed border at 

 each side ; lower flattish, slightly plaited, with 2 protu- 

 berances on the palate, direct, as long as the upper, di- 

 vided half way into 3 nearly equal, obtuse segments. Fi- 

 ■ lain, from the throat, awl-shaped, shortish, incurved, 

 meeting under the upper lip. Anth. converging, oblong, 

 each of 2 oblong pointed lobes. Germ, ovate, pointed. 

 Style thread-shaped, inclosed in the corolla. Stigma de- 

 flexed, obtuse. Caps, oblong, obliquely pointed, rather 

 compressed, bat tumid; its upper edge convex; lower 

 straight ; of 2 cells and 2 valves, bursting at the upper 

 margin ; the partitions transverse, narrow. Seeds 2 in 

 each cell, smooth, ovate-oblong, tumid, obtuse, attached, 

 by a short, thick, spongy stalk, to the base of the parti- 

 tions. 



Branched, sjireading, annual, nearly smooth /lerbs, 12 or 18 

 inches high, with bluntly (quadrangular ste?}is ; opposite, 

 entire leaves ; and handsome bracteated spi/i-es of yellow 

 and purple Jloivers ; the bracteas pointed, elegantly tooth- 

 ed, and variously coloured. The seeds are, without doubt, 

 naturally 2 in each cell, and resemble grains of wheat. 

 All the s})ecies turn black in drying. 



Tiiis genus and its nearest allies are admirably distinguish- 

 ed by their seeds, and to make a natural order of 3/<7r/w- 

 jpyracecc on account of any peculiarity in tha fruit or seed, 

 which is only indicative of a generic distinction, appears 

 to me not judicious. 



1. W. crisfatinn. Crested Cow-wheat. 



Spikes (juadrangular. Hracteas heart-sha})e(l, closely im- 

 bricated, finely toothed. 



M. cristutum. Linn. Sp. Fl. 842. fVi/hl. v. li. I 97. /•/. Ih: 65 1 . 

 Engl. Bot. V. 1 . /. 4 1. Riv. Monnp. Irr. t. S 1 ./. 2. 



M. n. ;ni. Hall. Hist. V. 1. I.'UJ. 



M. cristatum, flore albo et pur])urco. Raii Syn. *2H6. Bdiih. 

 Hist. V. 3. p. 2. 1 10../: Moris, v. .'3. 429. sect. \].f. 23./. 2. 



