470 lviii. lythrace.e (hiern). [Khyacophila. 



3. BHYACOPHILA, Hochst. in Flora 1841, p. 659, 

 non Rhuacophila, Bl. 



Calyx campanulate, reddish with 4 wide and shallow rounded mu- 

 cronate lobes, without cornua; not accrescent. Petals 4, obovate, rather 

 smaller than the calyx-lobes. Stamens 4, arising from near the base 

 of the calyx-tube and opposite the calyx-lobes; filaments filiform. 

 Ovary free, sessile, 2-celled, included in the calyx, without glands at 

 the base; placentas adnate to the dissepiment. Capsule ovoid, sur- 

 rounded at the base by the calyx and ultimately exceeding it, rather 

 acute at the apex, dehiscing from apex by 2 (rarely -3) valves septi- 

 fragally, containing about 10 seeds. — Aquatic, glabrous except on the 

 terete stem and branches, with capillary, fascicled or subverticillate, 

 dark green leaves, and terete racemes at the ends of the branches bear- 

 ing one bract and two rather smaller bracteoles at the base of each 

 flower.— Quartinia, Endl. Gen. PI. Suppl. ii. 94. A. Rich, in Fl. Abyss. 

 i. 277, non A. Rich, in Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 2, xvi. 259. 



A genus of one species^ occurring only in Abyssinia. 



1. R. repens, Hochst. I.e. Ascending, often much branched above, 

 3-18 in. long. Leaves crowded especially above, erect, J-1J in. long. 

 Racemes f-lf in. long ; pedicels 2V _ to in - l° n n> erect-patent, alternate, 

 opposite or subverticillate, equalling the lanceolate bract, which with 

 the bracteoles simulates a calyx. Flowers f in. long. Stamens ex- 

 serted. Style exserted, persistent. Capsule t 7 q in. long. Grows on 

 stones in stagnant water and streams forming reddish purple tufts on 

 the surface. — Quartinia turfosa, Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 277, t. 51. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimptr ! 

 Flowers and fruits in July. 



4. NES^JA, Commers. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 779. 



Calyx campanulate or urceolate, persistent, with 4-8 lobes and as 

 many cornua or at least callous points not accrescent. Petals obovate, 

 as many as calyx-lobes and corrugated in bud, longer than the calyx 

 except in some of the capitate species, coloured, usually caducous. 

 Stamens usually twice as many as the calyx-lobes, occasionally the 

 same number and in N. icosandra about three times, usually all or at 

 least half of them exserted j filaments filiform. Ovary sessile, ovoid; 

 included in the calyx-tube, 2-5-celled, many-ovuled ; style exserted ; 

 stigma capitate. Capsule dehiscing by valves or by slits at the apex, 

 included in the calyx, membranous ; placenta thick, usually lobed ; seeds 

 numerous. — Herbs or scarcely undershrubs, growing in wet places 

 especially by river-banks. Leaves opposite or occasionally alternate or 

 even in N. linifolia and N. lythroides sometimes verticillate. Flowers 

 axillary, in stalked cymes or capitate, sometimes dimorphous. Brac- 

 teoles on the pedicels, not at the base of the calyx. 



Occurs also in the hot parts of America. 



