DIDYNAMIA— ANGIOSPERMIA. Melampyrum. 123 

 30(3. MELAMPYRUM. Cow-wheat. 



Linn. Gen. 305. Juss.lOl. Fl.Br.6o\. Tourn.t.78. Lam. 

 t.5lS. Gesrtn.t. 53. 



Nat. Ord. see the 3 preceding genera. 



Cal. tubular, permanent ; the border in 4? deep, straight, 

 unequal, rather long and narrow segments. Cor. rin- 

 gent, moderately gaping ; tube oblong, curved ; throat 

 a little dilated, compressed; upper lip vaulted, com- 

 pressed, notched, with a narrow, reflexed border at 

 each side ; lower flattish, slightly plaited, with 2 protu- 

 berances on the palate, direct, as long as the upper, di- 

 vided half way into 3 nearly equal, obtuse segments. Fi- 

 lam. from the throat, awl-shaped, shortish, incurved, 

 meeting under the upper lip. Anth, converging, oblong, 

 each of 2 oblong pointed lobes. Germ, ovate, pointed. 

 Style thread-shaped, inclosed in the corolla. Stigma de- 

 flexed, obtuse. Caps, oblong, obliquely pointed, rather 

 compressed, but tumid ; its upper edge convex ; lower 

 straight; of 2 cells and 2 valves, bursting at the upper 

 margin ; the partitions transverse, narrow. Seeds 2 in 

 each cell, smooth, ovate-oblong, tumid, obtuse, attached, 

 by a short, thick, spongy stalk, to the base of the parti- 

 tions. 



Branched, spreading, annual, nearly smooth herbs, 12 or 18 

 inches high, with bluntly quadrangular stems ; opposite, 

 entire leaves ; and handsome bracteated spikes of yellow 

 and purpley?0TOe?*5 ; the bracteas pointed, elegantly tooth- 

 ed, and variously coloured. The seeds are, without doubt, 

 naturally 2 in each cell, and resemble grains of wheat. 

 All the species turn black in drying. 



This genus and its nearest allies are admirably distinguish- 

 ed by their seeds, and to make a naturalorder of ilf^/a?w- 

 pyracece on account of any peculiarity in ihe fruit or seed, 

 which is only indicative of a generic distinction, appears 

 to me not judicious. 



1. M. cristatum. Crested Cow-wheat. 



Spikes quadrangular. Bracteas heart-shaped, closely im- 

 bricated, finely toothed. 



M. cristatum. Linn. Sp. PI. 842. fViUd. v. 3. 1 97. Fl. Br. 65 J . 

 Engl. Bot. V. l.t.4\. Riv. Monop. Irr. t.8l.f.2. 



M. 11.311. Hall. Hist. v.].]36. 



M. cristatum, flore albo et purpuveo. Raii Syn. *28G. Bauh. 

 Hist. V. 3. p. 2. 440./. Moris, v. 3. 429. sect. W.t. 23. f. 2. 



