234 MYOSOTIS. 



Oporto and other parts of Portugal, not unfrequent. It is stated in 

 English Botany to have been found at Madeira, and is described as a 

 German plant. 



3. M. caspito'sa, Schultz. (Fig. 312.) tufted Water Scorpion-grass. 

 Calyx deeply five-cleft, when in fruit campanulate, open shorter than 

 the divergent pedicles, limb of the corolla flat, equalling the tube, 

 leaves linear, oblong, hairs of the stem close pressed. 



English Flora, vol. i. p. 251. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 

 102. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 165. Borrer in English Botany Suppt. 

 t. 2661. 



Root fibrous, not creeping, but tufts of fibres are frequently thrown 

 out from the lower part of the stem. Stem* mostly several from the 

 same root, erect, or more or less curved at the base ; from a few inches 

 to two feet high, with axillary branches from the base upwards, which 

 are generally much less leafy than the stem, generally scattered over 

 with close pressed hairs, pointed upwards. Leaves pale green, linear, 

 oblong, or ligulate, the lower obtuse, tapering at the base into a broad 

 footstalk, the upper narrower, acute, sessile, sometimes slightly decur- 

 rent, hairs short, rigid, scattered freely over the upper side, very 

 sparingly on the under, the mid rib prominent, the marginal ones, one 

 or two, scarcely elevated above the surface of the leaf, united at the 

 extremity in a blunt point. Racemes mostly in pairs, with a solitary 

 flower, sometimes accompanied with a small leaf from the axis of deva- 

 rication. Flowers numerous, at first crowded, becoming more distant 

 as the common stalk extends, the pedicles when in flower about the 

 length of the calyx, erect, becoming three limes as long, and, as the 

 fruit advances to maturity, deflexed, the two or three lower flowers 

 are sometimes accompanied with a lanceolate leaf, but this is far from 

 being constant. Calyx bell-shaped, somewhat rounded at the base, 

 and scattered over with pale close pressed hairs, the limb divided about 

 half way into acute spreading segments, each with a prominent mid- 

 rib and a delicate marginal one, united at the point. Corolla generally 

 smaller than M.palustris, flat, or somewhat concave, the lobes rounded, 

 rarely emarginate. Style shorter than the tube of the corolla. Stigma 

 capitate, concave. Fruit four, spreading. Nuts oval, compressed in 

 front with a sharp edge all round the base, wiih a slight depression, 

 and perforated in the middle. 



Habitat. Watery drains, and side of slow streams, especially in a 

 clayey or strong soil ; frequent. 



Annual or Biennial ; flowering from May to July. 



There is a great resemblance in this to M. repens. Its leaves are, 

 however, longer, the hairs of the stem close pressed, the calyx less 

 hairy, its segments more spreading when in fruit, and the corolla is 

 smaller, and there are no runners by which it is propagated from its 

 base. 



