14j£ On the North American Ruellia. 



soils, while the R. strepens is confined to those in which clay 

 predominates. 



3. R. tubiflora :* erect, rather branching, smoothish or hir- 

 sute ; leaves for the most part sessile, oblong, repand or entire, 

 undulate ; peduncles axillary, short, one-flowered ; divisions 

 of the calyx linear-lanceolate (an inch in length) three times 

 shorter than the tube of the corolla ; corolla subequal, pubes- 

 cent, white ; stamina equal. %. Inhabits in the savannas of the 

 Alatamaha ; is readily distinguished by the broader divisions 

 of the calyx, and by the mnarkably long tube of the corolla. 



4. R. oblongifolia : erect, pubescent ; leaves most entire, 

 obovate and oval, nearly sessile, somewhat undulate ; pedun- 

 cles axillary, very short, from one to three-flowered ; divisions 

 of the calyx linear-subulate, longer than the tube of the co- 

 rolla, united at the base into a short tube ; corolla unequal, 

 subringent, bluish, the intermediate lobe of the upper lip 

 marked with a few purple streaks ; stigma simple ; stamina 

 didynamous. 



This species very little resembles the others. It might be 

 separated from Ruellia, and constitute a distinct genus with 

 more propriety than is perceptible in the many separations 

 that have latterly been made in several other genera. The only 

 wonder is how it has escaped our new genera manufacturers. 



The R. bifflora, of the elder botanists, is referred to this 

 species, upon what grounds I know not. It ought to be ex- 

 punged from our books, as no real description of it exists.. 



