946 LXXIII. PEIMULACEiE. [AiMgallis. 



1. *A. arvensis (inhabiting cultivated ground), Linn.; Dviy in DC. Prod, 

 viii. 69 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. iv. 270. Pimpernel. A much-branched, procumbent, 

 glabrous annual, extending from 6in. to nearly 1ft. Leaves apposite, sessile, 

 broadly ovate, obtuse, ^ to |in. long. Flowers dotted, on pedicels considerably 

 longer than the leaves, and rolled back as the capsule ripens. Calyx- segments 

 acute. Corolla rotate,, spreading to about 3 lines diameter. Capsule the size of 

 a Sweet Pea seed. Seeds 3-gamous. 



Hab.: A common weed of cultivation in Europe, temperate Asia, and the whole Mediterranean 

 region, now spread over a great part of the world. Both the blue and red-flowered varieties are 

 common in southern localities. 



2. A. pumila (small), Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occid. i. 345 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 iv. 270. A slender, glabrous, diffuse, much-branched annual, rarely exceeding 

 6in. Leaves alternate, nearly sessile, orbicular or broadly ovate, obtuse, rarely 

 above Jin. long. Flowers very small, on pedicels nearly as long as the leaves. 

 Calyx-segments 5 or sometimes 4, lanceolate, acute. Corolla broadly eampanulate, 

 deeply divided into acute lobes', rather longer than the calyx, spreading to about 

 1^ line diameter. Stamens shorter than the corolla, the filaments slightly 

 dilated at the base, usually contracted at the throat as it withers, and persisting 

 over the capsule. Style filiform, sometimes very short. Calyx small, circumciss. 

 Seeds numerous, slightly compressed. — Centunculus pentandrus, R. Br. Prod. 427 ; 

 Micropyxis pumila, Duby in DC. Prod. viii. 72 ; Micropyxis tenella, Wight, 

 Ic. t. 1585 ; Centunculus tenellus, Duby I.e.; Wight, Ic. t. 2000. 



Hab.: Gulf of Carpentaria, F. v. Mueller ; Shoalwater Bay, R. Brown. 



The species is widely distributed over S. America, E. India, and W. tropical Africa. Although 

 usually 5-merous, some specimens occur in which all or nearly all the flowers are 4-merouB. — 

 Benth. 



2. SAMOLUS, Linn. 



(Pliny's name for a marsh plant.) 



Calyx eampanulate, the tube partially adhering to the ovary ; lobes 5. Corolla- 

 tube short or broad; lobes 5, spreading, with 5 small or filiform scales or 

 staminodia alternating with the lobes. Stamens 5, opposite the lobes. Capsule 

 half-inferior, the free part opening in 5 valves opposite the calyx-lobes. Placenta 

 ovoid, the axis usually produced to the apex of the cavity. — Perennials or annuals. 

 Leaves alternate. Flowers white, in loose terminal racemes. 



A small genus, confined to the southern hemisphere with tha exception of one species 

 generally diffused over most parts of the world. 



Leaves obovate, chiefly radical. Flowers not 2 lines diameter, with a very 

 short tube, in a loose terminal raceme 1. S. Valerandi. 



Leaves rather thick, the radical ones obovate or oblong, the stem ones 

 lanceolate or oblong. Flowers above ^in. diameter, the tube as long as the 

 calyx. Flowers axillary or in a short terminal raceme 2. S. repens. 



1. S< Valerandi (after Dourez Valerand), Linn.; Dubu in DC. Prod. viii. 

 78 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. iv. 271. A glabrous, bright green annual or perennial, 

 with a tuft of obovate, spreading, radical leaves. Flowering stems 3 or 4in. 

 to above 1ft. high, simple or branched, bearing a few obovate or oblong leaves, 

 and loose terminal racemes of small white flowers. Pedicels filiform, with a 

 small bract about the middle. Corolla not 2 lines diameter and sometimes much 

 smaller, the tube very short. Staminodia linear, small. Capsule small, globular, 

 crowned by the small calyx-lobes. 



Hab.: Common in the southern swamps. 



The species is common in most of the temperate and warmer regions of the globe, especially 

 in maritime districts. The Australian specimens belong to the smallest flowered variety, which 

 has bBcn considered by some as a distinct species, and is a common American but comparatively 

 rare European form, — Benth, 



