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Show The Hijlory of P L A N T S. It is a native of Africa, but is in fame of our gardens. Dillenius calls it, Sperma-coce verticillis globofis. . The other fpecies are, r. The broader-leaved Spermacoce, With fmaller cluil:ers ; 2. The larger-flowered Spermacoce. H ED Y 0 T I S. T HE calyx is a fmall perianthium, divided into four lhort fegments at the· edge: the corolla confi!l:s of a fingle petal. It is of an infu~dibuliform D1ape, and very open at the mouth. The fi:amina are f~ur moderate!~ thtck filaments :. the antherre are fimple and large; the germen is roundt{h ; the ~yle IS fmall, and the fi:Igma obtufe : the fruit is a capfule, containing two cells, and m them a great number of fmall feeds. There is but one known fpecies of this genus, and that is fo well diil:inguilhed by thefe charaCters, that it needs no farther defcription. KNOXIA. T H E calyx is a perianthium, compofed of a fingle .leaf, divided into four fegments one of which is larger than the refl:.t The corolla confifi:s of a fingle petal of an'infundibuliform lhape : the fi:amina are four oblong, flender filaments; the ;ntherre are large and fimple. The germen is roundilh; the fi:yle fimple, and mo-derately thick; the fi:igma fm.all ; the feeds ar~ two, and. fulcated. . This genus is very nearly alhed to the Hedyous. There IS but one known fpec1es of it, and that is fo fufficiently diil:inguilhed by it's charaCters, as to need no farther de-fcriplion. ·D I 0 D i A. T HE calyx of the Diodia is 'a perianthium; compofed of two leaves, which are equal, of a fubovate .figure, and are affind upon the germen, and permanent. The corolla is compofed of a fingle petal, and is of the ringent kind: the tube is flender, and longer than the cup : the upper lip is ereCt an? bifid ; the lower lip is patent, and divided into two lanceolated fegments. The fi:amma are four eretl, fetaceous filaments, the two oppofite ones fomewhat longer than the other two ; the antherre are oblong and verfatile. The germen is of a roundilh, but fomewhat obfcurely fquared, figure: the fi:yle is filiform, and of th~ l~ng~h of the fiamina ; the fligma is bifid. The fruit is an oval, quadrangular capfule, coronated and formed of two valves, and containing two cells: the feeds are fin≤ of, an ,ovato-oblong figure, fmooth and flat on one fide, and convex on the other. · Of this genus there is but one known fpecies; it approaches greatly to the Melam· pyrum, but it is a diftin(t genus. It is too well difi:inguifhed by it's charaCters, to need any farther defcription. I~ )~ a native of Virginia. : · ; I C R U C I A N E L L A. I 11 I ' .I. ' • . ,, • THE calyx of the Crucianella is1 compofed of three leaves of a lanceolated figu re, hollowed, pointed, and rigid, fomewhat ,compreifed and connivent. The corolla confi!l:s of a fingle petal: the tube is. cylindric, fi~iform, al)d longer than the cup; the limb is fmall, and divided into four part~. The fi:amina are four filaments, placed in the mouth of the tube: the antherre are fimple. The germen is compreffed, and placed between the calyx: and the corolla ; the fiyle is filiform, and of the length of the tube ; and the fiigmata are two in number, and obtufe; one of thefe terminates the fiyle, and the o~her ftands feffile below it's extremity. The fruit coqfifis of two capfu\es, which grow together : the feeds are fingle and oblong. This genus comprehends the Rubeola of Tournefort. ' l· Crucianel/4 The Hijiory of P L A N T S. 1. Cruciane!la erefla foliis fenis.1 The erefl, fix -leaved Cruciane/la, 1' IJ; 229 The root of this fpecies is oblong and hard, of a dufky reddilh colour, and furnifhed with a great number of fibres. From this there ufually arife fix or eight fi:alks ; they are fquare, rough, and frequently jointed : from every joint there grow feveral branches oppofite to one another,. and at every joint there fi:and fix leaves, oblong, narrow, fomewhat rough, and pomted at the ends. On the tops of the fi:alks fi:and long and narrow fpikes, of whitilh flowers. The whole plant grows to ten or twelve inches high, and is very well able to fupport itfelf erect. We have it not native in England, but in France it is common, and alfo in Germany. Tournefort calls it, Rubeola angufiiore folio. C. Bauhine, Rubia angufiifolia fpicata. · 2. Crucianella procumbens foliis quaternis. The procumbent Crucianella, with four leaves at a joint. The root of this fpecies is moderately lat:ge, oblong, crooked, woody, of a reddi(h colour, and furnilhed with a number of fibres. From this rife feveral fi:alks, which are fquare, and fomewhat hairy, but they trail upon the ground. At every joint of thefe fi:alks there !land four leaves, difpofed in form of a radiated fi:ar, and of a lanceolated figure; from the alre of thefe leaves there alfo grow fi:alks all the way up the plant, fo that, when full grown, it makes a very bulhy figure. At the top of the main fi:alk, and of feveral of the branches, there fiand fpikes of flowers very long, appearing of a kind of fquare figure, and greeni{h colour : the flowers themfelves are very [mall and greenilh. ' This fpecies is a native of fame parts of France, and is common in the Iflands of the Archipelago. We have it in fame of our gardens. Tournefort calls it, Rubeola latiore folio. C. Bauhine, Rubia latifolia fpicata. H· 0 U S T 0 N I A. T HE calyx of the Houfi:onia is an extreamly fmall perianthium; it is eretl, per .. manent, and quadridentated. The corolla confifi:s of a fingle petal, and is of an infundibuliform lhape : the tube is cylindric, and long ; the limb is patent, and is divided· into four roundilh fegments. The fi:amina are four very fmal.l filaments, fituate in the neck of the corolla: the anther::e are fimple : the germen is roundiili and compreifed : the fiyle is fimple, and lhorter than the fiamina : the fi:igma is bifid and acute. The fruit is a roundilh, didymous capfule, compofed of two valves, and containing two cells, in each of which is a fingle feed. Of this genus there is only one known fpecies. H 0 u s T 0 N I A. The root is fibrous; the radical leaves are about half an inch long, narrow, and pointed at the ends; they lie expanded circularly on the ground. The fi:alks are numerous, round, finooth, and three or four inches high; they run up naked to about two inches, where they have a knot, at which grow two or three leaves: at this place alfo the !l:alk divides into two or three parts, and on the fumrnit of each of thefe ftands a fingle flower, moderately large, and of a beautiful blue colour. It is a native of Virginia. Morifon calls it, Paronychice facie planta tetrapetaloides Virginiana flare creruleo. GALLIUM. T H E calyx of the Gallium is a very fmall perianthium, compofed of one leaf,. quadridentated at the edge, and fixed upon the germen. The corolla confi!l:s of a fingle petal, which has no tube, but is divided into four fegments, plane and acute: the fi:amina are four fubulated filaments, lhorter than the corolla : the antherre are fimple: the germen is didymous, and fiands below the receptacle : the fi:yle is filiform, N n n of |