358 THE piiraTricuLA family. 



VIII. CENTUNCULE. CENTUNCTILUS. 



Small, slender annuals, with minute axillary flowers, difTering from Pim- 

 pernel in their alternate leaves, and in the parts of the flower being m fom-s 

 instead of in fives. 



Besides our own species, the genus contains but very few, all from 

 America. 



1. Small Centuncule. Centunculus minimus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 531. Chaffweed.) 



Stem often under an inch and seldom 3 inches high, branched at the base 

 only. Leaves ovate, 1 to 2 hnes long. Flowers almost sessile, shorter than 

 the leaves. Calyx-divisions linear. Corolla pink, very minute. Capsule 

 opening transversely as in Pimjyernel. 



In moist, sandy or gravelly places, ranging over Europe, Russian Asia, 

 northern and even tropical America, but everywhere thinly scattered or 

 frequently overlooked. Indicated in several localities in England, southern 

 Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



IX. SA1MIOX.E. SAMOLUS. 



Herbs, with alternate leaves and flowers, in terminal racemes. Calyx 

 campanulate, partially adhering to the base of the ovary, with 5 teeth or 

 lobes. Corolla with a short tube, 5 spreading lobes, and a small scale be- 

 tween each lobe, alternating with the stamens. Capsule inferior, opening in 

 5 valves. 



A smaU genus, belonging, with the exception of our own species, exclu- 

 sively to the southern hemisphere. 



1. Brookiveed Samole. Samolus Valerandi, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. V03. BrooJcweed.) 



A glabrous, bright green annual or perennial, with a tuft of obovate and 

 speading radical leaves. Flowering stems 3 or 4 inches to near a foot 

 high, slightly branched, bearing a few obovate or oblong leaves, and loose 

 racemes of small white flowers. Pedicels rather long, with a green bract 

 a httle above tlie middle. Capsules small, globular, crowned by the short, 

 broad teeth of the calyx. 



Generally difliised over aU parts of the world, most abundant in maritime 

 sands and marshes, but in many countries found also far inland. In Bri- 

 tain, almost always near the sea, and chiefly along the west coast. FL 

 summer and autumn. 



XL VI. THE PINGTTICTTLA FAMILY. LENTIBULACE^. 



Marsh or aquatic j^lauts, with radical or floating leaves (or i 

 sometimes none), and very irregular flowers, either solitary or j 

 several in a raceme, on leafless, radical oi' terminal peduncles. 

 Calyx variously divided. Corolla 2-lipped, projecting at tliej 

 base into a pouch or spur. Stamens 2. Ovary and capsule 

 1-celled, with several seeds attached to a central placenta. 



