Limnophila.] ScfOphulariacecE. 243 



included, anth. cohering in pairs, cells distinct, both perfect ; 



style exserted, decurved at end, stigma of 2 blades ; capsule 



2-valved, usually loculicidal, enclosed in cal. — Sp. 25 ; 23 in 



Fl. B. Ind. 



Leaves pinnately veined, none pectinate. 



Fl. sessile i. L. conferta. 



Fl. on pedicels. 



Stem, glabrous 2. L. gratissima. 



Stem, hairy 3- L. HIRSUTA. 



Upper 1. with parallel veins, lower pectinate. 

 Fl. sessile. 



Sep. long, acuminate. . . . 4. L. sessiltflora. 



Sep. short, acute . . . . 5. L. hetkrophylla. 



Fl. on pedicels 6. L. racemosa. 



Upper 1. I -veined, but often all divided . 7. L. gratioloides. 



1. Zi. conferta, Benth. in DC. Prod. x. 387 (1846). Amba-wila, .S. 



L. serrata, Thw. Enum. 218 (? Gaudich.). C. P. 2049. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iv. 266. 



Stem stout, spongy, prostrate or floating below, with long 

 roots from the nodes, cylindrical, glabrous or hairy; 1. sessile, 

 f-i in., with a broad base, rhomboid-lanceolate, obtuse, crenate- 

 serrate, rather thick, glabrous, dull pale green ; fl. sessile, 

 solitary or in very short leafy axillary spikes, bractlets minute, 

 linear; sep. linear, very acute, usually hairy, tips spreading; 

 cor. f in., pubescent outside, tube wide, lobes short, rounded ; 

 capsule \ in., seeds bluntly angular, shining. 



Wet places in the low country ; common. Fl. Jan.-March, June ; 

 pale violet-pink. 



Also in Peninsular India, E. Bengal, and Burma. 



A very variable plant in habit ; when prostrate and stunted it is L. 

 repens, Benth. 



The leaves have a very strong camphoraceous odour and taste ; hence 

 the plant is sometimes called ' Kapura ' by the Sinhalese, and chewed by 

 them with Betel. 



2. Zi. gratissima, Bl. Bijdr. 750 (1826). 



L. punctata, Bl., Thw. Enum. 218. C. P. 2035, 535. 

 Fl. B. Ind. iv. 268. Rheede, Hort. Malab. x. t. 6. 



Stem decumbent at base, copiously rooting at nodes, then 

 erect, 12-15 i^-> very stout, spongy or inflated, cylindrical, 

 glabrous ; 1. in whorls of 3, sessile and rather amplexicaul, 

 I |-if in., lanceolate-oblong, acute, sharply serrate, glabrous; 

 fl, on long slender glandular ped., solitary or (by the 1. passing 

 into bracts) forming racemes, bractlets minute, linear ; sep. 

 linear-lanceolate, acute, finely glandular-pubescent ; cor. over 

 \ in., pubescent outside, lobes nearly equal, short, rounded ; 

 capsule ovate-ovoid, smooth; seeds with truncate ends. 



