Seymeria
(named in honour of Henry Seymer, an English naturalist). SYN. Afzelia (of Gmelin). ORD. Scrophularineae. A genus of mostly hardy, erect, branched, annual or perennial herbs; nine species are known, of which one is a native of Madagascar, and the rest are North American. Flowers yellow, in interrupted racemes or spikes; calyx campanulate, with five entire or denticulated lobes; corolla tube short and broad, the limb of five broad or oblong, spreading lobes; stamens four, sub-equal; pedicels solitary, ebracteolate. Leaves mostly opposite, cut-toothed or dissected; upper floral ones reduced to entire bracts. Two species have been introduced. Both are hardy, North American annuals, and are very pretty subjects when in flower. Seeds should be sown in a well-drained bed of rather light, rich soil. S. pectinata (comb-like). fl., calyx lobes linear; corolla hairy outside, especially in the bud. July. l. pinnately parted into rather few short or oblong-linear divisions, or the upper ones incisely few-toothed or entire. h. 1ft. 1820.
S. tenuifolia (slender-leaved). fl. on filiform pedicels; calyx lobes bristly; corolla 1/4in. long. July. l. 1/2in. long, copiously once or twice pinnately parted. h. 2ft. to 4ft. 1730.