358 Key to the System of 



IVXITRASACIttE. 



1576.- Calyx four-cleft or four-lobed ... 1577 



Calyx two-lobed ............ ' ... 1580 



1577. Calyx cleft to near the base. 



A very small alpine herb, perennial and prostrate, almost 

 glabrous ; leaves from orbicular- to elliptic -obovate ; 

 flowers axillary, solitary, short-stalked or almost sessile ; 

 outer calyx-segments resembling in form diminutive 

 leaves, inner still smaller and lanceolar ; lobes of the 

 corolla considerably shorter than its tube ; stamens high- - 

 inserted ; styles from beginning of growth quite separated, 

 soon divergent ; fruit almost deltoid, dry, dehiscent 

 between the styles. M. moiitana. 



Calyx lobed to about the middle ... .. ... 1578 



1578. Erect. 



Perennial, scantily or copiously beset with hairlets ; leaves 

 small, from elliptic- to linear-lanceolar, recurved along 

 the margin ; flower-stalks elongated, bearing an irregular 

 umbel ; stalklets almost capillary ; lobes of corolla about 

 as long as its tube, beset with minute hairlets at. and near 

 the base ; fruit roundish, dry, dehiscent between the 

 styles. M, polyniorpha. 



Prostrate ..... ......... . ..... 1579 



1579. Lobes of the corolla longer than its tube. 



Perennial, weak, scantily beset with hairlets ; leaves very 

 small, from ovate- to lanceolar-elliptical ; flowers axillary, 

 solitary, nearly sessile ; corolla glabrous, its tube ex- 

 tremely short ; stamens emerging ; fruit roundish, dry, 

 dehiscent between the styles. M. serpillifolia. 



Lobes of the corolla shorter than its tube. 



Perennial, somewhat firm, usually much beset with rather 

 rigid hairlets ; leaves small, from orbieular- to lanceolar- 

 ovate ; stalklets axillary, solitary, from about as long as 

 the flowers to much longer ; corolla at its orifice beset 

 with minute hairlets; stamens enclosed, low - inserted ; 

 fruit dry, roundish but with an excised summit, dehiscent 

 between the styles. M. pilosa. 



