136 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



woolly hairs. Calyx-segments ovate, acute. Corolla twice as long 

 as the calyx ; spur nearly as long as the corolla, acute, curved, 

 making a right angle with the under side of the corolla. Capsule 

 sub-glohular, shorter than the calyx, opening by 2 pores, each 

 formed by the fall of an operculum. Seeds ovoid, with close irre- 

 gular network of strongly-elevated ridges. Plant clothed with short 

 rather bristly-woolly hairs, intermingled throughout with shorter 

 gland-tipped ones. 



In cornfields, on chalky, and more rarely sandy ground. Rather 

 common in the South and East of England, extending North to 

 the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, and York, but not lately 

 seen in the latter county. 



England. Annual. Late Summer and Autumn. 



Very like L. Elatine, but a stouter plant, with the primary 

 stem more erect, and the branches shorter ; the leaves larger, 

 rounder, the largest 1 to 2 inches long, and a greater number of 

 them opposite, none of them sagittate or hastate at the base, 

 though sometimes cordate, on shorter stalks. Pedicels stouter, less 

 spreading, hairy throughout. Calyx-segments broader, consider- 

 ably enlarged after flowering. Corolla rather more than half an 

 inch long, pale-yellow, the inside of the upper lip purplish-maroon, 

 the lower lip darker yellow ; palate bright-yellow ; the spur much 

 more incurved than in L. Elatine, and making nearly a right angle 

 with the tube of the corolla. Capsule about the size of a pepper- 

 corn. Seeds similar to those of L. Elatine. In both these species 

 the abortive stamen is represented by a small scale. 



Mound-leaved Mttellm. 



French, Liaaire Velvote. German, EiblaUriger Frauenflaehs. 



The derivation of the common name of this species of ToadQax, as given by Prior, 

 18 curious. He says, in Dutch it was originally fiuvxeUto, downy, velvety ; hence the 

 French velvote. It is from this, and not, as Parkinson states, a Welsh word. 



Section III.— LINAEIASTRUM. Char. 



Annual or perennial. Stems simple or branched, erect or 

 decumbent, with the branches not rooting. Leaves sessile, pin- 

 nately nerved and entire ; the lower ones (or rarely all) opposite or 

 vcrticillate. Elowers in terminal racemes or spikes. Corolla with 

 the palate prominent, closing the throat, and not extending much 

 beyond the upper lip. Capsule opening by 1 to 10 teeth at the 

 apex. Seeds angular and wingless, or denticular and winged. 



