DIDYNAMIA AXGIOSPERMIA 373 



8 V ubticjefolia, L. Leaves ovate and lance-ovate, acute, serrate, 

 petiolate ; spikes filiform, terminal and axillary ; flowers distinct. Beck; 

 Bot. p. 284. 

 Nxttlx-leaved Veryaiw. Vulgo— Common Vervain. 



Root perennial. Stem erect, 2 to 3 or 4 feet high, obtusely quadrangular, hirsute- 

 lr pubescent, with slender axillary spreading branches above. L^arw 2 to 4 inches 

 long, and i to 2 inches wide, somewhat acuminate, coarsely serrate, pubescent, 

 abruptly narrowed at base to apetiole half an inch to 3 quarters in length. Spikes 

 1 or 2 to 5 or 6 inches long, green, filiform and rather flaccid ; flowers distinct, and 

 finally a little distant, small, sessile, with each a lance-ovate acuminate bract at 

 base shorter than the calyx. Calyx scabrous, with 5 lanceolate teeth, the segment* 

 membranaceously united into a tube. Corolla white, the throat closed with a de- 

 licate white villus. Seeds 4, resembling the preceding in form, greenish. 

 Hab. Pastures, roadsides, and open woodlands : common. Fl July-Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. Towards autumn this plant becomes covered with a glaucous pulverulent 

 matter, resembling mould. It is regarded as a weed in our pastures. Eight or 

 nine additional species have been enumerated in the U. States,— of which it is 

 probable the V. spuria, L. may yet be found in this County—it having been col- 

 lected in the adjacent districts. 



305. MELAMPYRUM. L. Mutt. Gen. M7. 

 [Greek, Melas, black, and Pyros, wheat ; the seeds resembling grains of wheat.] 



Calyx 4-cleft ; segments slender. Corolla ringent ; upper lip later- 

 ally compressed, with the margin folded bark ; lower lip grooved, nearly 

 equally 3-lobed. Capsule compressed, obliquely ovate, sub-acuminate, 

 2-celIcd, opening at the upper margin ; cells 2-seeded ; dissepiment 

 contrary. Seeds cylindric-oblong, cartilaginous. 



Herbaceous : leaves opposite ; /lowers axillary, in a terminal leafy raceme. 

 Nat. Ord. 212. Lindl. Rjiixaxthaceje. 



1. M. ameiucaxum, JMx. Leaves lance-linear, and ovate-lanceolate, 

 the floral ones sctaccously sinuate-dentate at base. Becky Bot. p. 270. 



M. lineare. Willd. Sp.S.p.200. Pers. Syn.l.p. 151. Muhl. Catal. 

 p. 57. Pursh, Am. 2. p. 430. jYutt. Gen. 2. p. 58. Bait. Phil. 2. 

 //. 49. Ell. Sh. 2. p. 133. Florul Cestr. p. 72. Torr. Comp. p. 244. 

 Also, M. latifolium. Muhl. l % c. Nutt. I. c. 



Axericax Melampyuux, Vulgo — Cow-wheat. 



Root annual. Stem 8 U) 12 or 15 inches high, subterctc, somewhat pubosrent 

 in lines, brachiatcly branching. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, and 1 fourth to 2 thirds 

 of an inch wide, smoothish ; the lower ones sublinear, entire, obtuse ; those aboi * 

 ovate-lanceolate, mostly entire, acuminately tapering to the apex, but rather ob- 

 tuse; the floral ones ovate-lanceolate, acute, whitish at base, with a few slender 

 divaricate teeth on each side ; petioles I eighth to 1 fourth of an inch long. Flow - 

 ers axillary, opposite, on short peduncles. Calyx minutely rough ish-pubescent ; 

 segments lance-linear, distant. Corolla about half an inch long, ochroleucous^ 

 with tinges of yellow and purple, the upper lip hairy within. Capsule membran- 

 ous, veined, minutely scabrous, near half an inch long and 1 fourth of an inch 

 wide, compressed, the upper margin curved, the lower nearly straight, opening 

 at the upper margin. Seeds 4, smooth, dark purple, or purplish black, with a pal* 

 brown base. 



Hab. Dry hilly woodlands ; Mica-slate hills : frequent. Fl. June- July. Fr. Aug. 



