428 CAMPAXULACEiE. Specularia. 



2. SPECULARIA. Heist. ; Alph. DC. mon. Campati. p. 44 ; Endl. gen. 3086. 



SPECULAltlA. 

 [ So called from the ancient name of one of the species, Speculum, Vcneris.\ 



Caly.x 5-lobed (or by abortion 3 - 4-lobed) ; the tube elongated, prismatic or obconical. 

 Corolla rotate, 5-lobed. Stamens 5, free ; the filaments membranaceous, hairy, shorter 

 than the anthers. Stigmas 3. Capsule elongated or oblong, prismatic, 3-celIed, opening 

 near the summit, or in the middle by 3 valves. — Annual herbs, with sessile leaves and 

 flowers. 



^ TRioDALLrs, Raf. (Dysmicodon, Endl., Nutt.) Calyx in the lower imperfect Jhwers 3 - 5-clefl ; 

 the stamens and sessile stigmas concealed by a minute connivent 5-petalled corolla : calyx-tube 

 oblong- or linear-obconical, uithout prominent angles : capsule 3 - 2-celled : seeds lenticular. 



1. Specularia perfoliata, A/ph. DC. (PI. LXV.) Clasping Specularia. 



Stem angular ; leaves roundish-cordate, crenate, strongly clasping , the margin ciliolate- 

 scabrous ; flowers axillary, solitary or glomerate ; calyx smooth ; capsule oblong-obconical, 

 opening rather below the middle. — Alph. DC. I. c. p. 35, and in DC. prodr. 7. p. 490 (in 

 part) ; Hook.fi. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 29. C. perfoliata, Linn. sp. \.p. 169 ; Pursh,fl. I. p. 116; 

 Bigel. fi. Bast. p. 85. C. amplexicaulis, Michx. fl. I. p. 108 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 262 ; Torr. 

 fl. 1. p. 236 ; Beck, hot. p. 213 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 156. 



Stem 8-15 inches high, usually simple, erect ; the slightly prominent angles hispid with 

 short spreading or retrorse bristles. Leaves about three-fourths of an inch in length and often 

 broader than long, smoothish above ; the veins underneath, prominent and somewhat hispid. 

 Primary (lower) flowers apparently destitute of corolla, stamens and style ; but with a perfect 

 ovary, crowned with 3-5 subulate-lanceolate calyx-segments. The throat of the calyx is 

 closed with what at first appears to be a small circular membrane, but which readily splits 

 into 5 acute scales which meet in a valvate manner, constituting a minute 5-petalled corolla. 

 On raising this, 5 small stamens are found, alternating with the scales ; and on the summit 

 of the ovary is a distinct sessile capitate 3-lobed stigma. The corolla seems never to open 

 spontaneously, but the stamens perform their function, and the impregnated ovules mature 

 into perfect seeds. The lowest of these singular flowers usually have the calyx 3-cleft, and 

 the highest 5-cleft, while in the intermediate ones the segments vary from three to four. Later 

 in the season, the regular flowers, with a large bluish purple corolla, are unfolded at the upper 

 part of the stem. In these the calyx-segments are mostly about two-thirds of the length of 

 the corolla. The capsule of both kinds of flowers is about one-third of an inch long, mem- 

 branaceous, 2 - 3-celled, opening below the middle by 2 - 3 little oval valves, which separate 

 at the lower part, and roll upward ; each orifice opening into two contiguous cells of the 

 capsule. Seeds very numerous and minute, oval-lenticular, smooth and shining. 



Dry fields, hill-sides, etc. ; common. May - July. The structure of the early flowers of 



