238 



2i. Melampyrum L., Sp. PI. 605. 1753 

 Type species, M. cristatum L. of Europe 



M.i in stem-leaves linear or lanceolate-linear. Bracts 

 conspicuously fimbriate near base, with teeth fre- 

 quently as long as the width of the blade. Capsules 

 mostly 6-7 mm. long, curved and usually attenuate- 

 beaked. Seeds 2-2.5 mm. long, brown to blackish. 1. M. lineare. 



Main stem-leaves linear-lanceolate to nearly ovate. 

 Bracts slightly or not fimbriate near base, the teeth 

 shorter than the width of the blade. Capsules fre- 

 quently larger, reaching 8-9 mm. long, slightly or 

 not curved and less or not attenuate-beaked. Seeds 

 often larger, reaching 3 mm. long, usually black. ia. M. lineare latifolium . 



I. Melampyrum lineare Desr.; Lam. Encyc. 4: 22. 1796. 

 "Rapportee de la Caroline par M. Fraser . . . (v.s.) " 

 Description made from a very small and young plant, 

 but certainly of the form here considered. Characteriza- 

 tion of calyx as 5-toothed surely erroneous. 

 Flowering from mid-June to September, and soon ripening 

 fruit. 



Sandy soil, pineland and in open deciduous woodland, common 

 throughout the Coastal Plain; inland occasional and mostly 

 transitional to var. latifolium. Ranges from Massachusetts to 

 North Carolina, and, including varieties, inland northward 

 across the continent. 

 ia. Melampyrum lineare latifolium (Muhl.) Beauverd 



Melampyrum americanum Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer. 2: 16. 

 1803. "Hab. a sinu Hudsonis ad montosam Carolinam. 

 [A. Michaux]." Description evidently of the prevalent 

 inland broader-leaved plant. 

 Melampyrum latifolium Muhl. [Cat. 57. 1813. nomen 

 nudum}; Eaton, Man. Bot. N. & M. St. ed. II 316. 1818. 

 From Muhlenberg's Catalog, the type station is in Dela- 

 ware. Type not seen, but evidently is of the inland 

 broader-leaved plant. 

 Melampyrum americanum latifolium, (Muhl.) Eaton, I.e. ed. 



III. 350. 1822. 

 Melampyrum pratense americanum (Michx.) Benth. in DC. 

 Prod. 10: 584. 1846. 



