i8ir.] NEW GENERA OF PLANTS. 113 



Its affinity to Montia arranges it with the Portul a c e^. of 

 Jussieu, rather than the Caryophille^, to which order it 

 has at the same timeconsiderable relation, as will be seen in 

 the description. It bears aflower which never expands, and 

 of such extreme minuteness, as to require the assistance 

 of a common lens to ascertain its existence; it appears to be 

 constantly restrained in its functions (as in the Orobanche 

 Virginiana, &c.) by the rapid enlai'gement of the ovarium. 

 How well it is at the same time calculated to withstand 

 the action of the element in which it is periodically im- 

 mersed must be sufficiently evident. To this plants from 

 the singular concealment of its inflorescence, I have at- 

 tempted to apply a name {Crypto) expressive of this 

 circumstance. 



Revisiting this interesting spot in company with pro- 

 fessor Barton, we at the same instant detected another 

 minute - phsenogamous plant, of which I had the pre- 

 ceding day obtained a smgle specimen destitute of flow- 

 ers. Its affinity to the Micranthemufii of Michaux is 

 such, that it is only after a comparative analysis of the 

 plants themselves that I have been induced to consider 

 them as generically distinct. This plant, like the pre- 

 cedingj and equally subaquatic, has likewise a flower very 

 singularly constructed to withstand the submersion of the 

 tide. The corolla, which is monopetalous and irregular, 

 consists apparently only of an under lip, almost after the 

 manner of Teucrium^ but divided only into three parts; 

 the central portion is ligulate> and apparently to obviate 

 the minuteness of the upper lip, and to shelter the interior 

 of the flower, it is constantly mcurvcd, with the extremity 

 generally retained in the tube, the spreading of the two 

 lateral dentures affording as much light and air, aided by 

 Vol. I. H 



