Melampyrum.} MELAMPYRACE.E. 207 



July. If. . Plant leafless, of a purplish colour. Stem about a foot 

 high, densely scaly beneath. Flowers fragrant. 



2. LATHRJEA. Linn. Tooth-wort. 



Calyx campanulate. Corolla tubular, 2-lipped, the upper lip 

 concave. A depressed gland at the base of the germen. 

 Capsule two-valved, one-celled, having two spongy receptacles 

 in the middle of each valve. Name, \a6paios, hid or con- 

 cealed, the plant being much concealed by the earth or dead 

 leaves. Didynamia. Angiospermia. 



1. L. squamaria, Linn. Greater Tooth-wort. Flowering 

 branches erect, simple ; flowers axillary, unilateral, pendulous ; 

 lower lip in three lobes; upper cloven. Br. Fl. I. p. 285. E. 

 Fl. v. iii. p. 127. E. Bot. t. 50. 



Woods and shady places apparently parasitic on the roots of 

 elms and other trees. Plentiful at Woodlands, County of Dublin, 

 Balruddery, .County of Wicklow and other places. FL April, 

 May. It. Branching at the very base. Whole plant succulent, with 

 many fleshy tooth-like scales. Bracteas broadly ovate. Flowers pur- 

 plish. Style included, sometimes exserted. 



ORD. 57. MELAMPYRACE^. Rich. Cow-wheat Family. 



Calyx divided, persistent, unequal, inferior. Corolla mono- 

 petalous, hypogynous, deciduous, personate. Stamens 4, didy- 

 namous ; anthers with acuminate lobes. Ovarium superior, 

 2-celled, 2-seeded ; style 1 ; stigma obtuse. Fruit capsular, 

 2- celled, 2-valved, covered by the calyx. Seeds in pairs, erect; 

 embryo minute, inverted in the apex of fleshy albumen ; radicle 

 superior. Herbaceous plants. Leaves opposite, without stipules. 

 Flowers axillary, with coloured floral leaves. 



1. MELAMPYRUM. Linn. Cow-wheat. 



Calyx tubular. Upper lip of the corolla laterally compressed, 

 turned back at the margin ; lower lip trifid. Capsules oblong, 

 2-celled, oblique, opening on one side. Cells 1-seeded. Seed 

 gibbous at the base. Name ; /ueXas, black, and Trvpos, wheat. 

 Its seeds resemble grains of wheat, and they are said when 

 mixed with flour to make the bread black. 



Didynamia. Angiospermia. 



1. M. pratense, Linn. Common Yellow Cow-wheat. ~ Flowers 

 axillary, in partly distant pairs, turned to one side ; corolla 

 closed ; lip direct ; upper floral leaves toothed at the base. Br. 

 Fl. 1. p. 285. E. FL v. iii. p. 125. E. Bot. t. 113. 



p. smaller, somewhat succulent, bracteas quite entire. 



