24 
VELLEIA LYRATA. 
Lyrate-leaved Velleia. 
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA — Nat. Ord. GOODENOVI^, Br. Prodr. 
Gen. Char. — Cal. inferus, 3-5 phyllus, inaequalis. Cor. tubo basi ovario 
accreto, apice hinc fisso ; limbo bilabiate. Antherce distinctae : Stylus in- 
divisus. Glandula epigyna inter filamenta 2 anteriora Capsula basi bi- 
locularij valvis bipartitis. Semina imbricata, compressa. — Br. 
Velleia lyrata; glabra, bracteis dichotomiarum distinctis, foliis lyratis 
basive inciso-dentatis, calycis foliolis ovato-orbiculatis. — Br. 
V. lyrata, Br. Prodr. p. 580. — Sm. in Rees' Cycl. v. xxxvi. — Bot. Regist. t. 551. 
V. spathulata, Juss. in Ann. du Mus. v. xviii. p. 17. t. 1. 
Stem scarcely any. Leaves radical, from 1 to 3 inches and more in length, 
glabrous, dentate at the margins, especially at the base, according to 
Brown even lyrate'; sometimes entire. Midrib strong, prominent on the 
under side, and of a purplish-red colour. From the axils of these leaves 
appear the scapes or Jlowerstalks, which spread out in a patent manner to 
the length of 4 or 5 inches ; they are glabrous, rounded, once or twice 
dichotomous, with generally an intermediate solitary flowerstalk, which, 
however, is sometimes abortive. At the axils of the dichotomies is usual- 
ly a small tuft of hairs, and constantly a pair of ovato-lanceolate bracteas, 
and the same at the pedicels or partial flowerstalks. 
Flowers large, handsome, bright yellow. Calyx patent, rather large, of 3 
ovate slightly toothed leaves, of which the superior one is the larger. 
Corolla monopetalous, tubular, cleft almost to the base on its upper side, 
and deeply transversely 2-lipped : upper lip composed of 2, lower one of 
3 bifid segments, marked with lines, green in the middle at the back, 
their margin broad, winged and waved. Mouth closed. Stamens 5, hy- 
pogynous, erect, distinct. A?itkers oblong, yellow. Pistil shorter than the 
tube of the corolla. Germen roundish, ovate, with a swelling or gland in 
front, and adhering by its base to the base of the corolla. Sti/le thickish, 
slightly curved, and appearing above the cleft of the corolla, cylindrical, 
pubescent above. Stigma oblique, ciliated, concave, with an elevated 
margin, which is brownish, and slightly two-lobed below, {indusium of 
Brown). 
VOL. I. 
