HoTTONiA. PRIMULACE^. 13 



Stem submerged, spongy. Leaves numerous, irregularly disposed, 2-5 inches long, 

 pectinately cut iiito numerous long narrow segments. Scapes or peduncles several (2 - 8), 

 partly emersed, arising from the summit of the stem and 3-8 inches long, divided into several 

 hollow joints, the lowest of which is much the longest and ventricose-clavate ; the others 

 more or less inflated. Flowers small, on pedicels 2-3 lines long. Calyx 5-parted nearly 

 to the base ; the segments lanceolate-linear. Bracts linear, obtuse. Corolla shorter liian the 

 calyx, white, scarcely more than two lines long ; the segments obtuse or emarginate. Stamens 

 shorter than the tube of the corolla : anthers ovate. Style short : stigma large. Capsule 

 much shorter than the calyx. Seeds 60 or more, oval, scarcely angular, shining, inserted on 

 a globose placenta. 



Shallow stagnant waters. Ponds in several parts of Westchester county (Dr. Mead). 

 Fl. July. Differs from H, palustris, in the inflated internodes, longer calyx, etc. 



§4. Samole^, EndL Capsule half superior, opening by valves. Seeds anatropous. 



6. SAMOLUS. Tourn.; Endl. gen. 4215. water pimpernel. 



[ Said lo be derived from the Island of Samos, because gathered there by Yalerandus, a botanist of the 16th century.] 



Tube of the calyx adhering to the lower half of the ovary, 5-cleft. Corolla campanulate- 

 salverform, 5-lobed, with five scales or abortive stamens in the throat alternating with the 

 lob^. Fertile stamens 5, included. Style short : stigma obtuse. Seeds numerous. — 

 Herbs, with alternate entire leaves, and small white flowers in terminal racemes or corymbs. 



1. Samolus Valerandi, Linn. Common Water Pimpernel. 



Stem erect ; leaves obovate ; racemes elongated ; pedicels bracteolate near the middle. — 

 Linn. sp. 1. p. 177 ; Engl. hot. t. 7D3 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 109 ; Pursh, fl.l. p. 158 ; Ell. 

 sk. 1. p. 263 ; Torr. fl. 1. ;^. 216 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 84 ; Beck, hot. p. 291 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 595 ; Duly in DC. prodr. 8. p. 73. 



Perennial. Stem 6-10 inches high, slender, smooth, simple or with a few branches above. 

 Leaves about an inch long, somewhat fleshy, tapering at the base into a short petiole. Raceme 

 many-flowered ; the pedicels slender, elongated, with a minute subulate bract near the middle. 

 Flowers scarcely more than a line in diameter. Segments of the calyx acute. Corolla 

 nearly twice as long as the calyx ; the lobes obtuse. Filaments very short : anthers cordate. 

 Capsiile roundish-obovoid, bursting at the summit, with 5 spreading teeth. Seeds roundish. 



Wet grounds ; rather common in the vicinity of salt water ; rare in the western counties. 

 Fl. July - September. This plant is a native of most parts of the world. 



