[Monniera P. Br. Civ. & Nat. Hist. Jam. 269. pl. 28. f. 3. Hyponym. 1755. Not L. 1759.]

[Herpestis Gaertn. Fruct. & Sem. 3: 186. pl. 214. 1805.]

Diffuse or prostrate herbs, with opposite mostly entire obtuse leaves, and small peduncled flowers, mostly solitary in the axils. Calyx subtended by 2 bracts, 5-parted, the upper segment the broadest. Corolla blue or white, nearly regular, the tube cylindric, the limb nearly equally 5-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, included. Style slender; stigma capitate, or 2-lobed. Capsule globose or ovoid, septicidally dehiscent. Seeds numerous. [From Brami, a Malabar name.]

About 20 species, natives of warm and tropical regions. Type species: Bramia indica Lam. Leaves spatulate or cuneate; capsules acuminate at the apex.

1. B. Monniera.

Leaves obovate or orbicular-obovate; capsules blunt at the apex.

2. B. rotundifolia.

1. Bramia Monniera (L.) Drake. Monnier's Hedge-Hyssop

Fig. 3781

Gratiola Monniera L. Cent. Pl. 2. 1756. Herpestis Monniera H.B.K. Nov. Gen. 2: 366. 1817. M. Monniera Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 292. 1894. Bacopa Monniera Wettst. in Engler & Prantl, Nat.

Pfl. 43 b: 77. 1891. Bramia Monniera Drake, Fl. Polyn. Franc. 142. 1892.

Perennial, glabrous, fleshy; stem creeping, rooting at the nodes, branched, 6'-18' long. Leaves spatulate or cuneate-obcordate, sessile, rounded at the apex, entire, or sparingly denticulate, 3"-10" long, 1"-2 1/2" wide; peduncles mainly in alternate axils, slender, 2-bracteolate at the summit, in fruit longer than the leaves; flowers pale blue, 5" long; upper calyx-segment ovate, acute; corolla obscurely 2-lipped; stamens nearly equal; stigma slightly 2-lobed; capsule ovoid, acute, shorter than the calyx.

On shores, near the coast, Maryland to Florida, Texas and Mexico. Widely distributed in tropical regions of the Old World and the New. June-Oct. Herb-grace. Water-hyssop.

2. Bramia Rotundifolia (Michx.) Britton. Round-Leaved Hedge-Hyssop

Fig. 3782

M. rotundifolia Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 22. 1803. Herpestis rotundifolia Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 418.

1814. Bacopa rotundifolia Wettst. in Engler & Prantl, Nut. Pfl. 43 b: 76. 1891.

Perennial by stolons, succulent; stems creeping and spreading, branched or simple, villous-pubescent, 1°-2° long. Leaves obovate or orbicular, palmately veined, entire, or slightly undulate, narrowed to a sessile or clasping base, 1/2'-l' broad, glabrous, not punctate; peduncles stout, shorter than the leaves, solitary or 2 together in the axils, longer than the flowers; flowers blue, 3"-4" long; upper calyx-segment oval; corolla 2-lipped, longer than the calyx; stamens approximate in pairs; stigma 2-lobed; disk obsolete; capsule oblong, obtuse, 1 1/2" high, at length 4-valved, shorter than the calyx.

On muddy shores, Illinois to South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. June-Sept.