5^ DIDYNAMIA. ANGIOSPERMIA. 



of affinity it cannot be compared with any other genusj. 

 notwithstanding- its marked disLniclloM. 



447. MELAMPYRUM. L. (Cow-wlieatO 



Callx 4-cleft. Upper lip of the corolla com- 

 pressed, niargiii folded bark; lower lip grooved, 

 tiifid, suhefjual, Capsiik 2-celled> oblique, 

 opening on one side; cells 2-seedcd. Seeds car- 

 tilaginous, cylindric-obloiig. 



Herbaceous; leaves opposite, with entire marg-ins; flow- 

 ers opposite, ofien secund, terminally racemose; bractcs 

 raore or less pinnatifid. — (Stamina, in JM. lineare, scarcely 

 unequal; anthers cohering- longitudinally. Ferisperm in 

 the form of the seed, cartilaginous, almost resembling a 

 gi'ain of wheat, emhryon minute, immersed near the sum- 

 mit, erect; cotyledones and radical nearly equal.) 



Species. l.M.Uneare. Common- Flowers pale yel- 

 low with a tinge of purple. 2. lati folium. Muhl. Catal. 

 Hab. In Delaware. — A small genus, and except the pre 

 sent species, exclusively indigenous to Europe. 



448. OROBANCHE. L, (Broomrape.) 



Calix 4 or 5-cleft, segments often nncqual. 

 Corolla ringent. Cajjsule ovate, acute, 1 -celled, 

 2-valved; seeds numerous. A gland beneatli 

 the base of the germ. 



Herbaceous and subcarnose plants destitute of verdure, 

 mostly brownish, or approaching to white, parasitic upon 

 tlie roots of plants; roots short and somewhat tuberous, 

 imbricated with scales; stem alternately squamulose, ofieii 

 simple; flowers bracteate, terminally spiked, rarely soli- 

 tary. 



Species. 1. O. americmia. Often growing in vast 

 clusters at th.e roots of trets in tiie most shady forests, 

 (near Philadelphia rare. W. B;.rtram.) 2. * huloviciana. 

 Pulverulently pubescent; siem very low and simple; 

 flowers and ovate acute scales subimbricated; calix une- 

 quall\ and deeply S-cleft, bibracteate; corolla recurved, 

 5-c!ett; stamina included, smooth. Had. In sandy allu- 

 vial soils, around Fort Mandan, abundant, and not appa- 

 rently parasitic. Ubs. 3 or 4 inches liigh; flowers very 

 aftimerou-s and crowded, much longer than the bracies. 



