48 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Rootstock extensively creeping. Stem G inches to 2 feet high, 

 generally erect, paniculately branched, or in small specimens nearly 

 simple. Leaves with the petiole -J- to -j- inch long ; the lamina ^ to 

 3 inches long. Flowers commencing about the middle of the stem or 

 even lower, in the axils of bracts, which are undistinguishable from the 

 leaves, except in that they become slightly smaller and with shorter stalks 

 towards the extremity of the stem. Pedicels generally shorter than the 

 calyx. Calyx campanulate, obsoletely 2-lipped, with the lips truncate, 

 and a large prominent scale-like fold a little above the base on the 

 upper side. Corolla about f inch long, purplish blue : the lips very 

 short; the lower lip with 3 shallow lobes, variegated with white and 

 purple in the centre. Stamens and style included "within the slightly 

 arched upper lip of the corolla. Fruiting calyx some^vhat resembling 

 the involucre of Hymenophyllum. Nucules supported on a carpophore, 

 roundish-ovoid, compressed, yellowish broAvai, closely muricated with 

 blunt tubercles. Plant subglabrous, with the angles of the stem, 

 leaves, and flowering calyx finely pubescent, sometimes rather 

 thickly so. 



Common Skull-cap. 



Frencli, Soque tertianaire. German, Gemeine Schildtmger. 



Dr. Witliering tells ub that " when tlie blossom falls of, the cup closes upon the 

 seeds, which when ripe, being still smaller than the cup, could not possibly escape, or 

 overcome its elastic force, and must consequently remain in useless confinement. But 

 natm-e, ever fmitful of resources, finds a method to discharge them. The cup being 

 dry, divides into two distinct parts, when the seeds, already detached from the 

 receptacle, fall to the ground." 



SPECIES II.-S CUTELLARIA MINOR. L!»n. 



Plate MLXI. 



Eeich. Ic. n. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCLVI. Fig. 3. 

 Billot, M. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2901. 



Stem erect or decumbent, wiry. Leaves subsessile or very shortly 

 stalked, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-triangular, subcordate, subobtuse, 

 entire or with 2 or 3 rather large blunt teeth close to the base. 

 Bracts undistinguishable from the leaves. Flowers solitary in the 

 axils of the bracts, so as to be in pairs, secund, shortly stalked, arranged 

 in a lax raceme. Calyx pubescent, without glands. Tube of the 

 corolla rather slender, nearly straight, slightly dilated upwards, 

 about 3 times as long as the calyx, very finely pubescent. 



On boggy heaths, and by the sides of ditches, and in damp woods. 

 Rather rare, but widely distributed throughout England. In Scotland 

 confined to the western counties, as far north as Dumbarton and 

 Lanark. In Ireland it is principally found in the west of the island. 



