780 CXXXV. COMMELIXACE.E. 



Ovary 3-celled, the 2 anticous cells 2-ovulate, the posticous 

 1-oviilate or obsolete. 



Capsule 3-celled, the 2 anticous cells loculicidally de- 

 hiscent, each usually 2-seeded, fhe posticdus cell keeled, 

 1-secded and deciduous, at length dehiscent ; seeds free 

 in the cells. 



Spatlies complicate, the naargius free or connate at 

 the very base only. 



Spat hes sessile ; seeds transversely grooTed 1. C. aiibulata. 



Sj)atlies pedunculate. 



Seeds reticulate, cylindric ; spathes some- 

 times cordiite at the base 2. C. 7iudiJlora. 



Seeds smooth, truncate at one end ; spathes 

 always rounded at the base. 



Branches of cyme equal ; seeds appen- 



daged 3. C. salicifulia. 



Eranclies of cyme unequal ; seeds not 



appendaged -i. C. Hasskarlii. 



Spathes turbinate; capsule always 5-seeded ; seeds 



closely pitted 5. C. henghalcnsis. 



Capsule 3-celled ; anticous cells 0-2-seeded ; posticous cell 

 not keeled, 1-seeded, indehiscent, deciduous; seed free 

 or adnate to the cell. 



Stem erect ; peduncle of spathe reaching 2 in. long ; 



flowers yellove, drying blue 6. C. hirsufn. 



Stems diffuse, rooting at the nodes ; peduncle of 



spathe less than ^ in. long ; flowers blue 7. C. Forskalai. 



Capsule 2-celled (rarely with a dorsal cell, which is 

 empty or contains an imperfect seed) ; lateral cells 1-2- 

 seeded. 



Capsules constricted in the middle, bicuspidate ; 



seeds not appendaged 8. C. clavata. 



Capsules not constricted in the middle, not bicuspi- 

 date ; seeds appendaged at each end 9. C. attenuata. 



All the cells of the ovary 1-ovulate. 



Capsule 3-celled, subequally 3-valved ; seeds free in the 

 cells. 



Spathe sessile or nearly so ; capsule trigonous- 



obovoid 10. C. obliqua. 



Spathe pedunculate; cappules quadrate-oblong 11. C. paleata. 



Capsule 3-celled, 2-valved ; seed adnate to the cell 12. C. albescens. 



1. Commelina subulata. Both, Nov. PL /S^j. (1821) p. 23. Nearly 

 glabrous; root fibrous; stem erect, slender, 8-16 iu. high, simple or 

 branched. Leaves 1-3 by y^-^ in., linear, glabrous or nearly so, the 

 sheaths reaching ^ in. long, with glabrous or ciliate margins. Peduncles 

 Jj inch long, scattered, but olten 2-3 together towards the apices 

 of the branches. Spathes |-| in. long, falcate, acute, pubescent, 

 green or striate with purple, base cordate. Flowers small, orange- 

 purple, when dry violet ((7. B. CJarhe). Capsules small, 5 (rarely 3) 

 -seeded, at first 2-, but afterAvards, from the dorsal valve becoming 

 2-partite, 3-valved. Seeds black, puberulous, slightly compressed, 

 deeply transversely grooved. El. B. 1. v. 6, p. 369 ; Clarke, in DC. 

 Monog. Phan. v. 3, p. 148; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Xat. v. 12 (1899) 

 p. 524. 



This has been included on the authority of Woodrow (Journ. Bomb. Nat. 1. c), 

 but, as ho gives uo locality, it would seem as if he had himself never found the 

 plant. 



There are iu all only 3 sheets in Herb. Kew., one a wretched fragment from Wiglit's 



