132 BKITISH BOTANY. 



Anthers 2-lobecl, introrse^ coherent. Ovary of 5 united carpels, 

 or 5 -celled, contaming many ovules. Ovules inserted on the inner 

 angles of the cells. Fruit a many-seeded, 5-celled capsule. (The 

 partitions do not extend to the apex, hence the fruit is 5-celled 

 at the base and one-celled above.) The fruit separates by the 5 

 elastic valves, which coil up on dehiscence. Seeds suspended, 

 without perisperm. Embryo straight. Radicle towards the 

 hilum. 



Impatiens, Lin. — Annual, glabrous plants, with oblong, toothed 

 leaves. Flowers yellow, on slender peduncles. Sepals 4, very 

 unequal (the normal number of sepals is 5, but 2 are united) , the 

 lower one prolonged into a spur. Petals 4, by coherence only 2. 

 Stamens 5, with short filaments, which embrace the ovary. Fruit 

 capsular, 5-valved, opening elastically ; the valves are rolled in- 

 wards spirally. 



I. Noli-me-tangere, Lin. Touch-me-not. — e.b. 937. l.b.s. 

 242. 



A. 3. C. 6. Lat. 52-55°. Alt.—? Tern. 48-46°. 



Stem 8-12 inches high (the stem is often much taller than a 

 foot) , erect, branched. Leaves oblong, pointed, petiolate, toothed ; 

 teeth sharp, the lower teeth subulate. Peduncles slender, spread- 

 ing, 3-5-flowered. Flowers pendulous, with red spots ; some of 

 the flowers are apetalous (without the petals) ; spur short, blunt. 

 Fruit linear, glabrous, elongated, angular. Seeds elongate, stri- 

 ated. 



Shady places in Wales and in the north-west of England. 

 Annual; July-Sept. 



I. fulva, Nutt. Tawny American Balsam. — e.b.s. 2794. l.b.s. 

 241. 



Alien. The historical origin and distribution of this species, as given 

 in the ' Cybele,' is worth attentive perusal. ' Cybele,' p. 368. 



Stems quite smooth and pellucid, with tumid joints, branched 

 and leafy, erect, 2-4 feet high. Leaves ovate or oblong, serrated ; 

 serratures often furnished with reflexed glandular teeth. Pe- 

 duncles about 4-flowered. Spur bent under the sac or hood of 

 the lower sepal, not curved or coiled, but straight and parallel to 

 the sac on which it grows. 



Banks of the Wey and Thames, Surrey and Middlesex. An- 

 nual; July-Sept. 



"An Impatiens nearly allied to this, but diSering in some 



