Ophiorhiza."] rtjbiacej2. 147 



3. OPHIORHIZA, Linn. 



Calyx-limb of 5 persistent teeth or lobes. Corolla-tube slender; lobes 5, 

 valvate in the bud. Anthers included in the tube. Style usually included, 

 with 2 stigmatic lobes. Ovary 2-celled, with several ovules in each, attached 

 to a placenta ascending from near the base. Capsule much flattened and 

 very broad, almost 2-lobed at the top, opening loculicidally in 2 valves. Seeds 

 several, angular. — Herbs, usually of low stature. Stipules very small. Flowers 

 sessile along the branches of terminal or rarely axillary pedunculate cymes. 

 A rather considerable genus, limited to tropical and eastern subtropical Asia. 



Corolla scarcely 3 lines long, with obtuse lobes 1. 0. pumila. 



Corolla about 7 lines long, with acute lobes 2. 0. Eyrei. 



1. O. pumila, Champ, in Kew Journ. Bot. iv. 169. A small scarcely 

 branching herb, the stems decumbent and rooting at the base, ascending to 

 3 or 4 in. or rarely 6 in. in height, and usually pubescent. Leaves ovate, the 

 larger ones 1^ in. long, acute or acuminate, and narrowed into a long petiole, 

 the smaller ones obtuse, and scarcely \ in. long, all minutely pubescent or 

 rough. Flowers crowded in small terminal cymes, the common peduncle 

 rarely 2 lines long. Calyx shortly and densely tomentose, the lobes very ob- 

 tuse. Corolla about 3 lines long, the tube cylindrical and pubescent, the lobes 

 scarcely 1 line long, ovate, obtuse, glabrous. Capsule about 3 lines broad at 

 the top. 



Ravines of Mount Victoria, Champion, Wright. Not as yet found out of the island. The 

 form of the corolla rather contracted than dilated below the limb, with very obtuse lobes both 

 to the calyx and corolla, will readily distinguish this species from the smaller Indian ones, 

 which at first sight may much resemble it. 



2. O. Eyrei, Champ, in Kew Journ. Bot. iv. 170. An ascending nearly 

 simple glabrous herb, 6 in. or rather more in height, rooting at the base. 

 Leaves ovate, obtuse, or obtusely acuminate, the larger ones 2 to 3 in. long, 

 but often much smaller, assuming, as well as the whole plant, a red tint in 

 drying. Flowers 5 to 10, or rarely more, in loose terminal cymes, on pedun- 

 cles varying from £ in. to twice that length. Calyx-teeth small, triangular, 

 acute. Corolla red when dry, about 7 lines long, glabrous outside ; the tube 

 dilated in the upper half; the lobes spreading, acute, rather more than a line 

 long, pubescent inside. Capsules about 3 lines broad. 



In moist ravines, Byre, Wilford ; also on the adjoining continent, but not found out of 

 S. China, and a careful comparison shows no immediate affinity with any other known spe- 

 cies. The flowers are much like those of some Chasalias, but the placentas bear numerous 

 ovules, and the broad capsules are quite those of an Ophiorhiza. 



4. HEDYOTIS, Linn. 



Calyx-limb of 4 (or very rarely 5) persistent teeth or lobes. Corolla-tube 

 usually short ; lobes 4 (or very rarely 5), spreading, valvate in the bud, and 

 usually hairy inside at the base. Anthers exserted from the tube. Style with 

 2 stigmatic lobes. Ovary 2-celled or rarely 3-celled, with several ovules in 

 each, attached to placentas arising from near the base. Capsule globular or 

 ovoid, sometimes only half-inferior, separating more or less into 2 (or rarely 

 3) carpels, which either open along the inner edge, or in 2 valves at the top, 



L 2 



