Vol. III.] 



FIGWORT FAMILY. 



165 



I. Limosella aquatica I,. Mudweed. Mudwort. (Fig. 3283.) 



Limosella aquatica L. Sp. PI. 631. 1753. 



Leaves l'-5' loug, the blade obloug, 

 linear-obloDg, or spatulate, obtuse, one- 

 fourlh or one-third as loug as the filiform 

 petiole. Peduncles shorter than the 

 leaves, arising with the petioles from the 

 base of the plant or from nodes of the 

 creeping or floating stem; corolla pink or 

 white, about \" broad, scarcely longer 

 than the calyx; calyx-lobes ovate, acute 

 or acutish, about the length of the tube; 

 stamens inserted high up on the corolla- 

 tube; filaments somewhat longer than the 

 anthers; capsule globose or oblong-glo- 

 bose, obtuse, il'z" high, longer than the 

 calyx. 



On muddy shores and in brooks, Labrador 

 and Hudson Bay to the Northwest Territory, 

 south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, 

 and in the Sierra Nevada to California. Also 

 in Europe, Australia and South America. 

 June-Aug. 



2. Limosella tenuifolia Hoffm. 



Narrow-leaved Mudwort. 



(Fig. 3284.) 



Limosella lenuifolia Hoffm. Deutsch. Fl. 29. 1804. 



Limosella aitstralis R. Br. Prodr. Fl. Nov. Hell, i: 

 443. iSio. 



Similar to the preceding species, but usually 

 smaller, the leaves seldom over i ji' high, linear- 

 filiform, with no distinction between blade and 

 petiole, or sometimes slightly expanded toward 

 the apex. 



In brackish mud, Labrador to New Jersey. Also 

 in Europe, Australia and South America. The 

 plant is very closely related to the preceding spe- 

 cies, and is regarded by many authors as a variety 

 of it. But its local geographic distribution is 

 considerably different, and the leaf-characters as 

 given above appear to be constant. Summer. 



18. WULFENIA Jacq. Misc. 2: 60. //. 8. 17S1. 

 [SvNTHYRis Benth. in DC. Prodr. 10: 454. 1846.] 



Perennial herbs, with thick rootstocks, simple erect stems, large petioled basal leaves, 

 those of the stem much smaller, alternate, sessile, or clasping, bract-like. Flowers small, pink 

 or purple, in terminal dense elongated spikes or racemes. Calyx 4-5-parted, the segments 

 oblong or linear. Corolla oblong or campanulate, 2-4-lobed, or parted, or wanting, the 

 lateral lobes, when present, exterior in the bud. Stamens 2 (occasionally 4), posterior, in- 

 serted on the corolla, or on the outer side of the hypogynous disk, exserted; filaments slen- 

 der; anther-sacs parallel or divergent, not confluent. Ovary 2-celled or rarely 3-celled; 

 style filiform; stigma capitate. Capsule compressed, obtuse, or emarginate, many-seeded, 

 loculicidally dehiscent. Seeds flat, oval, or orbicular. [Named for Rev. Francis Xavier 

 Wulfen, botanical author, died 1S04.] 



About 10 species, natives of North America and Europe. 



1. W. Houghloniana. 



2. W. rubra. 



Corolla present, usually 2-lobed. 

 Corolla none. 



