M0NADELPH1A PENTANDRXA® 
155 
small, obtusely 3 lobed, of a very pale green, smooth on the upper sur- 
face. Peduncles 1 — 2 inches long, each bearing a single flower. Flow- 
ers small, the petals and nectary of a greenish yellow colour. The fruit 
small. 
Grows in close damp soils, very generally diffused over the country but 
not very common. 
Flowers May — July, 
OPLOTHECA. Nuttall. 
Calyx duplex, ex- 
terior diphyllus, trun- 
catus ; interior longi- 
or, monophyllus, 5 fi- 
dus, tomentosus. Co- 
rolla 0. Utriculus 
monospermus, ealyce 
muricato inclusus. 
1. Florid ana. 
Calyx double, the 
exterior two leaved, 
truncate; the interior 
longer, one leaved, 5 
cleft, tomentose. Co- 
rolla 0. Utriculus 
one seeded, inclosed 
in the muricate calyx. 
Nutt. 2. p. 79. 
Root perennial i Stem herbaceous, erect, sparingly branched towards 
the summit, pubescent, 3 to 4 feet high, tumid at the joints with long in- 
ternodes. Leaves opposite, sessile, linear lanceolate, entire, a little sca- 
brous on the upper surface, lanuginous underneath. Flowers in long com- 
pact spikes 1 — 3 inches long, forming a loose straggling terminal panicle* 
Exterior Calyx membranaceous, half the length of the interior — the inte- 
rior ovate, slightly compressed, 5 cleft at the summit and covered with a 
cotton like tomentum. Staminiferous tube (Lepanthium) cylindric, bear- 
ing 5 stamens nearly as long as the interior calyx. Seed finally inclosed 
by the interior calyx which hardens and becomes muricated with 2 crested 
margins and 2 dorsal protuberances on each side near the base. 
This plant which has been very acurately described by Mr. Nuttall, 
was first found by Dr. Baldwin in Florida. It grows very abundantly on 
the high pine ridges between the Flint and Chatahouchie rivers along th^ 
F ederal road. 
Flowers through the summer. 
