ORD. II.] 20. A. CRISTA GALLI. 399 



site to one another, and compose together a richly furnished 

 ear. The calyx is almost stalkless, inflated, membranaceous, 

 having reticular veins, with a contracted four-toothed opeo,. 

 ing. The corolla is yellow, about one-half longer than the 

 calyx, with two lips, and almost personate. The upper lip 

 is arched, compressed, externally set with short hairs, with 

 an obtuse, often an emarginated, sometimes a violet-coloured 

 beak. The lower lip has three short, yellow lobes, which 

 press upon the upper lip. Four filaments of unequal length 

 are fixed in the tube of the corolla, and carry four an- 

 therae of two loculi, pointed laterally, and ciliated, which 

 never rise above the upper lip. The germen has on its 

 lower margin the nectary, as an insulated gland, and car- 

 ries a simple pistillum, with a somewhat thickened stigma. 

 The fruit is a double, compressed capsule, the partition of 

 which goes right across the loculi. On this partition are 

 placed the flat compressed, marginated seeds, containing the 

 embryon opposite to the umbilicus in the albuminous sub- 

 stances. 



Diagnosis and Affinity. 



We find, according to difference of soil, many subspecies 

 of this plant, of which Alect. hirsutus Allion. (MhinantJtiw 

 ^ Alectorohphus, Pollich.), is distinguished by its size and 

 hairs. It is about two feet high ; the stem is furnished with 

 red spots and v/ith soft hairs : so also is the calyx. We are 

 prevented from constituting it a peculiar species, by its mark- 

 ed transitions, and by its want of uniformity. Still less could 

 we form a new division in regard to Rlilnanthus minor 

 Ehrh., and alpinus Baumg. The former is distinguished 

 simply by its less size, smaller leaves, and inclosed pistillum. 

 But in this species, as in several plants, the pistillum has a 

 different length according to the different age of the blossom. 

 At first it is inclosed, afterwards it projects a little. Lastly, 

 if the RJiinanilius alpinus Baumg. is to be distinguished by 

 its variegated, violet, and yellow flowers; this colouring is 

 also found in the common yellow rattle, and we can only, 

 therefore, regard these different forms as subspecies. 



