150 rubiacEjE. [Hedyotis. 



are quite sessile and rounded at the base, with the flower-heads as in H. uncinella, but much 

 less ciliate. I see no other difference between the three. 



6. H. auricularia, W. and Am. Prod. Fl. Penins. i. 412. A decum- 

 bent straggling herb of 1 to 3 ft., the branches hairy, somewhat compressed 

 when young. Stipules short, with long bristle-like lobes or teeth. Leaves 

 on short stalks, varying from ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 1 to 2 in. long, gla- 

 brous or pubescent, with parallel and very oblique raised nerves diverging 

 from the midrib, and very prominent underneath. Mowers but little more 

 than a line long, in dense axillary sessile clusters. Calyx-tube about -§ line 

 long ; the lobes subulate and recurved, about as long, the corolla but little 

 longer. Capsules small, crowned by the calyx-lobes, and quite indehiscent. — 

 H. nervosa, Wall. Catal. n. 857. 



Hongkong, Wright. The species is widely spread as a weed over tropical Asia, and, be- 

 sides the following variety, includes probably some others, either enumerated in Wallich's 

 Catalogue, or described by Blume or others as species of Hedyotis or Metabolos. 



Var. parviflora. — H. costata, Wall. Catal. n. 849. 



Hongkong, Wright, Harland ; also Khasia and Assam. Small as are the flowers and fruits 

 in the common form, this variety has them still smaller and more crowded, and the leaves 

 usually, but not always, narrower, the calyx-teeth are also perhaps usually rather shorter, 

 but I can see no essential difference. In both the ovary and capsule have occasionally 3 



cells. 



5. OLDENLANDIA, Linn. 



Calyx-limb of 4 persistent teeth or lobes. Corolla-tube usually short, 

 rarely slender ; lobes 4, spreading, valvate in the bud. Anthers usually ex- 

 serted from the tube. Style entire or with 2 stigmatic lobes. Ovary 2-celled, 

 with several ovules in each, attached to placentas arising from near the base. 

 Capsule globular or ovoid, sometimes only half-inferior; the carpels not sepa- 

 rating but opening at the top in two loculicidal valves, bearing the partition 

 in their centre. — Diffuse, spreading, or rarely erect herbs. Stipules of Hedy- 

 otis. Flowers small, usually axillary, solitary or in clusters or cymes, rarely 

 forming irregular terminal leafy panicles. 



A considerable genus if taken, as above characterized, to include Scleromitrion, Kohautia, 

 Anotis, and Houstonia, and widely dispersed over tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, 

 Australia, and tropical and temperate America. 



Flowers sessile, in axillary clusters. Calyx-teeth erect, and connivent 

 when in fruit. 



Leaves lanceolate. Stems pubescent or hispid 1.0. hispida. 



Leaves linear. Plant glabrous or nearly so 2. 0. angustifolia. 



Flowers pedicellate, or, if sessile, solitary. 



Flowers axillary, solitary, or 2 or 3 together on a slender axillary 



peduncle. Capsule globular 3. 0. herbacea. 



Flowers in loose irregular terminal panicles. Capsules 2-angled or 



winged at the base 4. 0. paniculata. 



1. O. hispida, Poir. Stems branched at the base only, diffuse, 1 to 1^ 

 ft. long, 4-angled and pubescent or hispid. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, 1^ to 

 2 in. long, narrowed at the base, 4 or 5 lines broad in the middle. Stipules 

 shortly sheathing with long bristle-like teeth. Flowers scarcely above 2 lines 

 long, sessile, in axillary clusters. Capsules ovoid or nearly globular, hairy 

 and crowned by the narrow-lanceolate calyx-teeth, which are erect and closely 



