PEIMULACEffi. 



547 



Asia, northern and even tropical Ame- 

 rica, but everywhere thinly scattered or 

 frequently overlooked. Indicated in 

 several localities in England, southern 

 Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 654. 



IX. SAMOI.E. SAMOLUS. 



Herbs, with alternate leaves and flowers, in terminal racemes. Calyx 

 campanulate, partially adhering to the base of the ovary, with 5 teeth 

 or lobes. Corolla with a short tube, 5 spreading lobes, and a small 

 scale between each lobe, alternating with the stamens. Capsule in- 

 ferior, opening in 5 valves. 



A small genus, belonging, with the exception of our own species, ex- 

 clusively to the southern hemisphere. 



1. Brookweed Samole. Samolus Valerandi, Linn. 

 (Eig. 655.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 703. Brookweed.) 



A glabrous, bright-green annual or 

 perennial, with a tuft of obovate and 

 spreading radical leaves. Elowering 

 stems 3 or 4 inches to near a foot high, 

 slightly branched, bearing a few obovate 

 or oblong leaves, and loose racemes of 

 small white flowers. Pedicels rather 

 long, with a green bract a little above 

 the middle. Capsules small, globular, 

 crowned by the short, broad teeth of the 

 calyx. 



Generally diffused over all parts of the 

 world, most abundant in maritime sands 

 and marshes, but in many countries 

 found also far inland. In Britain, al- 

 most always near the sea, and chiefly 

 along the west coast. Fl. summer and 

 autumn. Fig. 655. 



