Gratiola. 



SCROPHULARIACE.E. 



37 



1. Gratiola Virginica, Linn. Common Hedge Hyssop. 



Stem assurgent, terete, pubescent above ; leaves oblong -lanceolate, sessile, smooth, 

 sparingly dentate-serrate, narrowed and connate at the base ; segments of the calyx linear- 

 lanceolate, equal ; sterile filaments almost wanting. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 17; Walt. fl. Car. 

 p. 62 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 12 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 12 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 13 ; Le Conte in ann. lyc. 

 N. York, 1. p. 106 ; Beck, hot. p. 265 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 363. G. neglecta, Torr. 

 cat. pi. N. York, p. 89. G. viscosa, Le Conte, I. c. 



Root annual ? Stem 4-8 inches high, branching from near the base, often smooth below. 

 Leaves about an inch long, rather obtuse or acute. Bracteoles at first about the length of the 

 calyx, finally longer. Tube of the corolla curved, dull yellow ; the throat hairy ; the limb 

 cream-colored, or sometimes tinged with purple : upper lip broad and obscurely 2-lobed : 

 segments of the lower lip all emarginate. Fertile stamens inserted about the middle of the 

 tube of the corolla, included : sterile filaments very minute, at the base of the tube. Capsule 

 roundish-ovoid, about as long as the calyx. Seeds numerous, minute, rough and striate. 



Low muddy places ; common. July. In my Flora of the Northern States, the flowers of 

 this plant are described as destitute of sterile filaments. This is a mistake ; for although very 

 minute, I now find them to be constantly present. The pubescence of the stem is variable ; 

 being sometimes almost wanting, and again very copious and viscid. G. viscosa of Schweinitz 

 does not appear to be distinct from this species, 



2. Gratiola aurea, Muhl. Golden Hedge Hyssop. 



Smooth ; stem assurgent, obtusely 4-angled, creeping at the base ; leaves linear-oblong, 

 partly clasping, obscurely toothed or entire, dotted ; segments of the calyx linear-lanceolate, 

 equal, longer than the bracteoles ; sterile filaments minute. — Muhl. cat. p. 2 ; Pursh, fl. 1. 

 p. 12 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 13 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 6 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 12 ; Le Conte, I. c. ; Beck, 

 hot. p. 264. G. officinalis, Michx. fl. I. p. 6. 



Root perennial, creeping. Stem 4-8 inches high, branching. Leaves half an inch long, 

 acute or rather obtuse, marked with minute pellucid dots. Peduncles often longer than the 

 leaves, slender, pubescent, usually alternate. Bracts about one-third shorter than the calyx. 

 Corolla golden yellow : upper lip emarginate ; lower equally three-lobed ; the middle lobe 

 emarginate. Capsule ovoid. Seeds minute, rough. 



Wet grounds, particularly in sandy swamps. Long Island. July - August. 



