2 LOBELIACE^. Nemacladus. 



usually both syngenesious and monadelphous. Limb of the calyx divided down to 

 the ovary, which is wholly inferior or sometimes a large part free ; its lobes generally 

 persistent. Corolla (with the stamens) inserted just where the calyx becomes 

 free from the ovary, its lobes mostly valvate or induplicate in the bud, commonly 

 deeper cleft or completely split down between two of the lobes, the cleft mostly on 

 the upper side (next the axis of inflorescence) m the open blossom, but becoming 

 so by a twist ; in the early bud the cleft looks toward the bract. The 5 petals 

 occasionally disposed to separate from below upward, and the limb to be bilabiately 

 hregular. Filaments generally free from the corolla, sometimes more op less ad- 

 herent to its tube : anthers 2-celled, introrsely dehiscent, firmly united around the top 

 of the style into a ring or short tube (except in an anomalous tribe). Ovary 

 2-celled with placentse projecting from the axis, or sometimes 1-celled with 2 

 parietal placentse. Style entire: stigma commonly 2-lobed, girt with a rim of 

 hairs. Ovules aud seeds mostly indefinitely numerous, small, anatropous. Embryo 

 small or narrow, straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen. (Too near the Cam- 

 panulacece, and nearly passing into them, therefore united by recent authors ; but 

 as there are two dozen genera, agreeing in the indefinite inflorescence, irregular 

 corolla, aud mostly in the syngenesious anthers, it seems best to retain the order.) 

 Tribe I. CYPHIE^. Anthers entirely separate,- merely surrounding the stigma. 



1. NEMACLADUS. Calyx partly or wholly free. Corolla bilabiately irregular; lower 

 lip 3-, upper 2-lobed or parted. Filaments monadelphous above the middle : anthers oval, 

 glabrous. Style incurved at tip : stigma capitate, 2;lobed, obsoletely annulate. Capsule 

 2-celled, 2-valved from top, 20-40-seeded. 



Tribe II. LOBELIE^E. Anthers syngenesious. CoroUatrulygamopetalous, at least 

 above, in ours distinctly bilabiate, two lobes turned away from the other three. 

 * Corolla open down to the base on one (the apparently upper) side. 



2. LOBELIA. Calyx-tube short. Corolla with tube commonly straight; the lobe each 

 side of the cleft erect or turned backwards ; the throe others larger and somewhat combined 

 to form the spreading or recurved (apparently) lower lip. Stamens free from the tube of the 

 corolla, monadelphous except near the base. Capsule tlun-walled, 2-celled, many-seeded, 

 loculicidally 2-valved at the top or free upper part. 



* * Corolla with a closed tube : capsule wholly inferior. 



3. PALMER.ELLA. Calyx-tube turbinate ; the lobes slender. Corolla with an elongated 

 linear and straight tube, not at all dilated at the throat; the short limb abruptly spreading; 

 two lobes small, spatulate-linear and recurving ; the three larger obovate or oblong and 

 slightly united at base. Filaments more or less adnate to the corolla up to near the throat, 

 then monadelphous and free, or farther adnate on one side only : anthers oblong; the three 

 larger naked ; ti'e two shorter tipped with a tuft of very unequal stout bristles. Stigma, 

 ovarj', and probably capsule as in Lobelia. ^ 



4. LAURENTIA. Calyx-tube turbinate or oblong. Corolla with its tube as long as the 

 limb, which is like that of Lobelia. So are the stamens, pistil, &c. Capsule short, 

 2-vaIved at the summit. 



5. DOWNINGIA. Calyx-tube very long, stalk-like. Corolla with a very short tube, and an 

 ample bilabiate limb; lips spreading, the larger 3-lobed and broad; the two distinct divi- 

 sions of the smaller narrower. Anther-tube incurved : one or both of the shorter an- 

 thers tipped with a stout bristle-like point ; the others naked. Ovarj^ at first two-celled. 

 Capsule very long and linear, crowned with the foliaceous and linear calyx-lobes, terete 

 or 2-3-angled, earlj' becoming 1-celled with 2 parietal and many-seeded filiform placentse, 

 remaining closed at the narrow apex, dehiscent longitudinally by from one to three long 

 fissures or valves. 



1. NEMACLADUS, Ivutt. (Nyfia, a thread, and y.lddo^^, branch, from the 

 very slender stem and branches.) — Two small annuals a span high, at length 

 excessively branched and diffuse : leaves minute ; the radical obovate ; cauline 

 reduced to subulate bracts,; pedicels capillary, racemose on zigzag branches : 

 corolla flesh-color. — Gray in Jour. Linn. Soc. xiv. 28. 



