354 SCEOPHULAEIACE^. [Melampyrum. 



downy, peduncles hair}', spur of the corolla subulate incurved. 

 Br. Fl. p. 300. Antirrhinum, L. : E. B. t. 691. 



In similar situations with the last, but of rather less frequent occurrence in 

 general, being more, though not exclusively, attached to calcareous soils, and sel- 

 dom slraying beyond the limits of cultivation, i^/. June — November. 0. 



E. Med. — About Ryde in several places. On waste ground at Springfield. 

 Field at Westbrook, between Eyde and Nettlestone. Very large and abundant in 

 a field between Brading and Nunwell, also in stubble-fields about Carpenters, in 

 plenty. Near Beaper farm, and fields in the angle of Whitefield wood due S. 

 of it, abundant. E. end of Brading. Very commun in cornfields along the Un- 

 dercliflF, at Ventnor, St. Lawrence, &c. About Haven-street. Above Sandown 

 bay. Near Adgeton. 



W. Med. — Abundant in very many places about Yarmouth, Thorley, Wellow, 

 Ningwood, Shalcombe, &c. At Rowledge. Near Mottistone, in a field along 

 the edge of a copse called Bush Row, quite overgrown with it, 1840. 



Root whitish and tapering. Stem much branched from the base, the branches 

 lying flat on the ground, at the end of autumn often 3 or 4 feet in length, the central 

 one at first erect or inclining, the lateral branches always procumbent, sim|ile or 

 again a little ramified, covered with fine, soft, spreading hairs. Leaves mostly 

 alternate, a few of the lower ones only being opposite, shortly stalked, viscid, very 

 broadly ovate or roundish, cordate at the base, quite entire, excepting a few dis- 

 tant toothed or angular serratures on a few of those nearest the root, upper ones 

 distinctly pointed, all dull grayish, rather glaucous green, very soft and downy. 

 Flowers solitary, larger than in the last species, on simple, axillary, hairy and less 

 slender peduncles, that diverge from the stem in various degrees, but are seldom 

 at right angles to it, or reflexed in seed, as is the case usually in E. Elatine. 

 Sepals more or less enlarged after flowering, their margins reflexed but not mem- 

 branous, equal, ovato-lanceolate, 3-ribbed at the base. Corolla hairy ; lower lip 

 rich yellow, in 3 rounded lobes, with a yellow palate, and a purplish stain on each 

 side of its outer margin at the base; upper lip plane, 2-lobed, rich purplish brown, 

 with which colour the throat is prettily speckled and streaked within ; spur slen- 

 der, much incurved and hairy. Stamens fringed on their lower half, with a fifth 

 abortive one on the upper lip above and behind the four others ; anthers cohering, 

 dark purple, bearded ; pollen white. Style oblique, hairy ; stigma an obli(iue lobe, 

 flat above, pointed anteriorly, germen globose, hairy, surrounded by a tumid ring 

 or gland. Capsules in every respect like those of the last, but about twice the 

 size, shorter than the now considerably enlarged calyx. Seeds as in L, Elatine, 

 perhaps rather more finely and less deeply rugose and cellular, later and more 

 sparingly ripened with us. 



Beside the difference of shape in the leaves, L. spuria is well distinguished from 

 L. Elatine by its stouter habit and larger flowers, whose stalks are shorter, 

 thicker, and hairy like the stems, and diverge from the latter at a moderate angle 

 only, whereas in L. Elatine, besides that the peduncles are smooth and much 

 more slender than in L. spuria, they stand out from the stem nearly at right 

 angles when in flower, and are for the most part finally reflexed as the seed-ves- 

 sels approach maturity. 



VII. Melampyeum, Linn. Cow-wheat. 



" Calyx tubular, 4-toothed. Upper lip of the corolla laterally 

 compressed, turned back at the margin ; lower lip trifid. Ovary 

 with 2 superposed ovules in each cell. Capsule oblong, 8-celled, 

 obliquely acuminated, opening on one side. Cells 1 — 2 seeded. 

 Seeds oblong, even, gibbous at the base." — Br. Fl. 



1. M. pratense, L. Common Yellow Cow-wheat. "Flowers 

 axillary secund, leaves in distant pairs, corolla 4 times as long as 



