CLASS xiv. ORDKRH.J M ELAMPYRRUM. 847 



wheat, and they are said, when mixed with flour, to give a 

 'peculiar black colour to the bread. 



1. M. crista'tum, Linn. (Fig. 978.) Crested Cow-Wheat. Spike 

 quadrangular, densely imbiicated; bracteas heart-shaped, ciliated with 

 tine teeth, the lower ones terminating in narrow lanceolate entire 

 points ; calyx with lanceolate teeth. 



English Botany, t. 42. English Flora, vol. Hi. p. 124. Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 236. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 195. 



Root of spreading branched fibres. Stem erect, obtusely angular, 

 branched, leafy, rough, with short close hairs, about a foot high. 

 Leaves opposite, dark green, smooth above, paler beneath and rough, 

 with short hairs, the mid-rib stout and veins prominent, linear lanceo- 

 late, nearly sessile. Inflorescence a terminal four sided spike of 

 numerous closely imbricated flowers, from one to two inches long or 

 more. Bracteas heart-shaped, yellowish, or rose coloured, the margin 

 unequally cut into fine teeth, smooth above, downy beneath, and on 

 the margin of the teeth, the lower bracteas mostly with an elongated 

 linear lanceolate point, leafy, the margin even. Calyx tubular, of 

 four unequal lanceolate teeth, hairy. Corolla about as long as the 

 bracteas, the tube swollen upwards, yellow, the upper lip laterally 

 compressed, concave, notched, the margin reflexed, purplish within, 

 the lower lip of three nearly equal roundish obtuse segments, reflexed, 

 the palate swollen on each side, yellow, and downy. Stamens inserted 

 into the mouth of the tube. Filaments thread-shaped, curved below 

 the lower lip. Anthers of two oblong pointed lobes, purplish. Sty?e 

 simple, thread-shaped, as long as the stamens. Capsule half moon 

 shaped, thin, membranous, pale green, netted with darker veins, two 

 celled. 



Habitat. Woods and thickets, sometimes in corn fields, chiefly in 

 Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Huntingdonshire. 



Annual ; flowering in July. 



An extremely beautiful and curious plant, which, as well as the 

 following species, is deserving a place in the flower garden. 



2. M. arven'se, Linn. (Fig. 979.) Purple Cow-Wheat. Spike oblong, 

 lax; bracteas ovate lanceolate, pinnatifid, with awl-shaped segments; 

 calyx with long bristle-shaped teeth, from an ovate base; lips of the 

 corolla closed. 



English Botany, t. 53. English Flora, vol. iii. p. 125. Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 237. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 195. 



Hoot of branched fibres. Stem erect, acutely angular, roughish, 

 purplish, with erect branches, from one to two feet high. Leaves 

 opposite, lanceolate, the margins rough, and more or less downy on 

 both sides, the upper ones divided at the base in a pinnatifid manner 

 with awl-shaped segments. Inflorescence an oblong many flowered 

 lax spike, three or four inches long. Bracteas sessile, ovate, with a 



