Herbs, with opposite pinnately parted pinnatifid incised or serrate leaves, and small blue or white peduncled flowers, solitary or two together in the axils. Calyx 5-parted, the segments narrow, equal. Corolla irregular, the tube cylindric, the limb 2-lipped; upper lip emargi-nate or 2-lobed; lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, ascending, included; filaments filiform; anther-sacs parallel, not confluent. Style incurved at the summit; stigma 2-lamel-late. Capsule globose, oblong or linear, septicidally dehiscent, the valves entire or 2-cleft. Seeds numerous, oblong, striate. [Guiana name.]

About 8 species, natives of America. Besides the following, another occurs in the southwestern United States. Type species: Conobea aquatica Aubl.

1. Conobea Multifida (Michx.) Benth. Conobea

Fig. 3780

Capraria multifida Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 22. pl. 35.

1803. Conobea multifida Benth. in DC. Prodr. 10: 391. 1846.

Annual, finely viscid-pubescent; stem at length diffusely branched, 4'-8' high, very leafy. Leaves petioled, 1/2'-1' long, pinnately parted into 3-7 linear or linear-oblong obtuse entire or incised segments; flowers greenish-white, 2"-2 1/2" long, mostly solitary in the opposite axils, about as long as their filiform peduncles; calyx-segments linear-subulate, slightly shorter than the corolla; capsule narrowly ovoid, glabrous, about equalling the calyx.

Along streams and rivers, Ontario to Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas. Introduced along the Delaware below Philadelphia. June-Sept.