10. HERPÈSTIS, Gaertn. f.
Calyx 5-parted; the upper division broadest, the innermost often very narrow. Upper lip of the corolla entire, notched or 2-cleft, and the lower 3-lobed, or the limb nearly equally 5-lobed. Stamens 4, all fertile. Style dilated or 2-lobed at the apex. Seeds numerous.—Low herbs, with opposite leaves, and solitary axillary flowers; in summer; ours rather succulent perennials. (Name from ἑρπηστής, a creeping thing, the species being chiefly procumbent.)
[*] Corolla plainly bilabiate, the 2 upper lobes united to form the upper lip; leaves many-nerved.
1. H. nigréscens, Benth. Erect or ascending, very leafy, glabrous; leaves pinnately veined, oblong to cuneate-lanceolate (1–2´ long), serrate; pedicels equalling and the upper surpassing the leaves; corolla whitish or purplish.—Wet places, Md. and N. C. to Tex., along and near the coast.
2. H. rotundifòlia, Pursh. Nearly smooth, creeping; leaves round-obovate, half-clasping (½–1´ long), entire, basally nerved; peduncles twice or thrice the length of the calyx; upper sepal ovate; corolla white or pale blue.—Margins of ponds, Ill. to Minn., Mo., and southward.
3. H. amplexicaùlis, Pursh. Stems hairy, creeping at base; leaves ovate, clasping, entire, basally nerved; peduncles shorter than the calyx; upper sepal heart-shaped; corolla blue.—Margin of pine-barren ponds, N. J. and Md. to La.—Aromatic when bruised.
[*][*] Corolla obscurely bilabiate, the limb subequally 5-lobed; stamens almost equal.
4. H. Monnièra, HBK. Glabrous, prostrate and creeping; leaves spatulate to obovate-cuneate, entire or somewhat toothed, nearly nerveless, sessile; corolla pale blue.—River-banks and shores near the sea, Md. to Tex.
11. LIMOSÉLLA, L. Mudwort.
Calyx bell-shaped, 5-toothed. Corolla short, widely bell-shaped, 5-cleft, nearly regular. Stamens 4; anthers confluently 1-celled. Style short, club-shaped. Capsule globular, many-seeded; the partition thin and vanishing.—Small annuals, growing in mud, usually near the sea-shore, creeping by slender runners, without ascending stems; the entire fleshy leaves in dense clusters around the simple 1-flowered naked peduncles. Flowers small, white or purplish. (Name from limus, mud, and sella, seat.)