Wesie", irs meee N.S ob OLT ANY KEY AND FLORA NORTHERN AND CENTRAL STATES EDITION BY JOSEPH Y. BERGEN, A.M. INSTRUCTOR IN BroLoGy, ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL, BosToNn BOSTON, U.S.A. GINN & COMPANY; PUBLISHERS The Athenxum Press 1901 CoPpyRIGHT, 1901 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED A H i 4 is | Aw 0 1 +7 PREFACE Tus flora furnishes a key to the commoner spring-flower- ing families of Phanerogams and descriptions of the charac- teristics of these families, together with such genera and species under each as seem most available for school study in the central and northeastern states. The descriptions have been in part compiled by the author from various sources, and in part written with the plants themselves in hand. The characterizations of many families and of some genera are taken with slight simplifications from Hooker’s Student’s Flora of the British Islands; a few are from Warming’s Systematic Botany. The remainder are mostly adapted from the floras of Gray and Wood, from Sargent’s Silva of North America, and from Britton and Brown’s illustrated Flora of the Northern States and Canada. The sequence of the families (and sometimes the genera under their respective families) is based on Engler’s Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien, which has also been followed as regards nomenclature of families. In other regards the sixth edition of Gray’s Manual, and Bailey’s revision of Gray’s Field, Forest, and Garden Botany have been followed as authorities. Valu- able information concerning the precise time of flowering of many species has been derived from Darlington’s Flora Cestrica and Ward’s Guide to the Flora of Washington and Vicinity. By arrangement with Professor 8. M. Tracy a considerable portion of the key and a large number of the following descriptions have been copied (a little simplified) from his Flora of the Southeastern States ; these are designated by an asterisk at the end of each description. ls 2 PREFACE Especial acknowledgments are due to Professor Benjamin L. Robinson, Director of the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, who has given most valuable advice and has revised the manuscript of the keys and flora, thus contribut- ing greatly to any value which they may be found to possess. Much aid has been derived from the careful proof-reading of Professor J. M. Holzinger of the Minnesota State Normal School, Professor L. H. Pammel of the Iowa State College, and Miss Mary P. Anderson of the Somerville, Mass., English High School. The author wishes heartily to thank these critics for the many errors which they have corrected and the valuable additions which they have sugggsted. The territory covered overlaps that dealt with by Professor Tracy in the flora above cited, and nearly meets that embraced in Miss Eastwood’s Flora of the Rocky Mountains and the Salt Lake Basin, since many of the species treated in the present work range west as far as the hundredth meridian. The plants chosen to constitute this flora are those which bloom during some part of the latter half of the ordinary school year, and which have a rather wide territorial range. Enough forms have been described to afford ample drill in the determination of species. Gray’s Manual of Botany or Field, Forest, and Garden Botany will of course be employed by the student who wishes to become familiar with most of the seed-plants of the region here touched upon. Those species which occur in the central and northeastern United States only as cultivated plants are so designated. The illus- trations are mainly redrawn from German sources. A few of them are the work of Mr. E. N. Fischer of Boston, but the greater portion are by Dr. J. W. Folsom of the Illinois Industrial University. J, Xai CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January, 1901. HOW TO USE THE KEY AND FLORA In order to determine an unknown species, the student is first to make a careful examination of the plant in hand. After noting in a general way the appearance of the root, stem, and leaf, including a cross-section of the stem, he should study the number, coherence, and adnation of the parts of the flower, then make and draw a cross-section and a lengthwise section of it. Irregularities in calyx or corolla, peculiarities in the shape, structure, or operation of the essen- tial-organs, such, for instance, as anthers discharging through chinks in the end, should be noted. Next, the inquirer should look carefully through the Key to the families. He is first to decide whether the plant in question is a Gymnosperm or an Angiosperm; if not a conif- erous tree or shrub, it will of course belong to the latter division. He is then to settle the question whether it is a Monocotyledon or a Dicotyledon; then under what division of the group the plant comes; and, finally, to decide upon its family. Turning now to the page at which the family is described, a rapid inspection of the characteristics of the genera will make it evident to which one the species under examination belongs. It may not infrequently prove that none of the genera described agree with the plant studied, and in that case the student must either consult a larger flora or rest satisfied with having determined the family to which his 3 4 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY specimen belongs. The identification of the species, after the genus has been reached, presents no difficulty in a little flora like the present one. The author does not believe in spending much of the time of a class upon identifying species, but would rather recom- mend comparative studies of as many plants of a group as are accessible, and making these studies thorough enough to bring out fully the idea of the family, the genus, and the species.2, The descriptions in this flora may be used as a check on the cruder ones which the pupil is first to frame for himself. 1 It will greatly simplify matters if the teacher selects for examination only such species as are here described. 2The teacher will find abundant suggestions for such a course in Spalding’s Introduction to Botany, pp. 152-260. KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS DESCRIBED IN THIS FLORA CLASS I GYMNOSPERMS. Ovules not enclosed in an ovary. Trees or shrubs. Leaves usually evergreen and needle-shaped, awl-shaped, or scale-like. Flowers moneecious or dicecious. Fruit a scaly cone, or sometimes appearing berry-like. 1. Pine Family, page 18 CLASS II ANGIOSPERMS. Ovules enclosed in an ovary. SUBCLASS I.—MONOCOTYLEDONS. Fiowers usually with their parts in threes, never in fives. [eaves usually parallel-veined. Cotyledon 1. Flowers enclosed by chaffy bracts. FAMILY PAGE Flowers 2-bracted. Leaves 2-ranked. Stem cylin- “0S RES es at UE Soe” GEE ere mer mere: MGR Cc - GOMRMEO oc. ME GA = Flowers 1-bracted. Leaves 3-ranked. Stem trian- PUR ME A nk oo econ a eee Saleen ag the ancgo-s es RE oa, coe eae ae Flowers on a spadix. emnuenger, hury, and bristly’. . < . .-... 2. Cat-tail-.-2~..< 2220 SMETANMA cms Ce ye ke ey a we es Ge Se A Eo ee Flowers not on a spadix. Carpels usually numerous and nearly or entirely separate 5. Water-plantain . 21 Carpels united. Perianth free or adnate only to the base of the ovary. Perianth regular, its parts similar,green,orchaffy 9. Rush..... . 29 Perianth of 2 sets, one sepal-like, the other petal- like. Style and stigmai. Petals 3 or 2, soon disap- meeeenne ns weer. ie Tel 8 tek eT Sper worky: ss. Le eee 13. Orehis. \. -c) Ae SUBCLASS II.— DICOTYLEDONS. Flowers usually with their parts in fives or fours. Leaves netted-veined. Cotyledons 2. I. Apetalous Division. Flowers without a corolla or without either calyx or corolla. A. Flowers moneecious or dicecious, one or both sorts in catkins. Staminate flowers in catkins, the pistillate ones soli- tary or clustered. Leaves pinnately compound . Leaves simple Both kinds of flowers in catkins. Leaves alternate. Ovaries in fruit becoming fleshy and combining into an aggregate fruit Fruit 1-seeded, a stone-fruit or minute nut. Aro- matic shrubs Fruit a capsule, seeds with silky hairs Fruit a minute nut or akene. Mostly large shrubs or trees, not very aromatic . Leaves opposite, small parasitic shrubs B. Flowers not in catkins, both calyx and corolla wanting 1 When only one floral envelope is present, this is corolla is considered to be missing. 16. Walnut. 2... 18. Beech- <-iiecaeee 20. Mulberry .. . 61 15. Bayberry .:. 49 14. Willow. .i. saa 17. Bigeh ! . eee 67. Passion Flower 151 Zo. Farsinne * oc 2 ee 338. Barberry ... 84 46. Pea or Pulse. . 117 Ge. Violet 3.52.0 2 140 So. PERRY. ates, Oo 10 Ovary single, 2-5-celled, fruit dry. Ovary 2-celled. Flowers in umbels, stamens 5 << ss). . 27.072; Flowers not in umbels, petals 4 or 0, stamens 6 . 39, Flowers not in umbels, petals 3,stamens 6or8 . 52, Ovary ad-celled capsule . - . 2... 0s 2 ee TO Ovary of 3 nearly distinct lobes, which become thick and ficehy.intruse ... ...5..0 hee Ovary a 5-celled capsule. Leaves simple. Parasitic white or yellowish herbs, or ever- green herbs, not parasitic, capsule many- FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY FAMILY Parsley. Mustard . Polygala . PAGE . 158 . 93 . 134 Evening Prithiides 156 Indian Cress . peeded . 2 2 ee 8 ees tee en GE Pe Terrestrial, not much if at all fleshy, capsule 5=10-seeded 5-0 5 ok sve ce +e ve ba Me ol A Gea Terrestrial, stem fleshy and translucent, cap- sule elastic, several-seeded. . . .. . . 60. Balsam Leaves of Sleaflets. ...... .. ..+ «+» » 49. Wiogdesouees Ovary of 5 principal cells, each more or less divided by a partition into 2 cells; seeds flattish, with a mucilaginous coating ... . mY ee Ovary single, 2-5-celled ; fruit a ee ssi is es ars aM Ovaries 2, seeds hairy-tufted ........ +» Sl . Flax. . Ginseng . . Milkweed . 132 . 164 . 129 . 143 131 . 132 - . 180 III. Gamopetalous Division. Calyx and corolla both present, the petals more or less united. Trees, shrubs, or woody vines. Leaves alternate. Fruit splitting open. Fruitalegsume ........... - 46. Pea or Pulse Fruit a5-celled capsule . ...... =. . 75, Heath. Fruit not splitting open, astone-fruit . . . . 55. Holly . Fruit a berry. Ovary not adnate to the calyx ; seeds few, large 77, Ebony . Ovary not adnate to the calyx; seeds many, a Pre Ovary adnate tothecalyx ....... . 75. Heath, Leaves opposite. Fruit a 2-celled, 2-seeded capsule . ... . . 95. Madder .. Fruit a 2-celled, many-seeded capsule. Seeds winged . 117 . 166 . 188 . 174 . 198 . 166 ) oe . 90. Bignonia. . . . 206 KEY Seeds not winged ; shrubs Fruit a 5-celled capsule . Fruit a stone-fruit or berry. Fruit 1-2-seeded ; stamens 2 Fruit 1-4+-seeded ; stamens 4 Fruit 1-5-seeded ; stamens 5 Herbs. Ovary not adnate to the calyx, flowers regular. Ovary separating into 2 distinct follicles. Style single, stamens distinct Styles 2, stamens united Ovary 1-celled. Fruit a legume . Fruit a capsule. Leaves alternate. Stamens opposite the lobes of the corolla Stamens alternate with the lobes of the corolla . Leaves opposite Leaves all reduced to mere scales, plants never green, root-parasites Ovary 2-several-celled. Stamens 2 or 4 Stamens 5, cells of the ovary 1-2-seeded. ° Fruit separating into 4 nutlets Fruit a capsule Stamens 5, cells of the ovary several-seeded. Stigmal . PAN SES. Pn See Se ery tak col he Ovary not adnate to the calyx, flowers irregular. Ovary 1-celled. Fruit a legume Fruit a capsule . Ovary 2-4-celled. Cells each 1-seeded. Ovary deeply 4lobed Ovary not deeply lobed. Stamens 2or4 . Stamens8. . . Cells each 2-several-seeded. 76. 86. 52. FAMILY . Honeysuckle Heath. . Olive . . Verbena . Honeysuckle . Dogbane . Milkweed . . Pea or Pulse Primrose . Waterleaf . . Gentian. . Broom-rape . . Plantain . Borage . : . Morning-glory . . Nightshade Phlox . Pea or Pulse . Bladderwort. . Mint Verbena Polygala 11 PAGE . 215 . 166 « Its . 192 . 215 . 178 . 180 ame Se ee 12 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY ore. Corolla lobes imbricated inthe bud. . . . 89, Corolla lobes convolute inthe bud .-. . . 98, Ovary adnate to the calyx tube. Flowers in an involucrate head. . . . . . . 100. Flowers not in heads. Stamens 3. Teaver anpoaiie. 505. 8% ose kee Vea Co eaves alternate «5: ws ae cee we ee Stamens 45. ILheavesalternatey.. 6.2 (5-557 Os Poh Sees Leaves opposite or whorled . ; eer eety eae fo) CLASS I.—GYMNOSPERMS. © Plants destitute of a closed ovary, style, or stigma. Ovules generally borne naked on a carpellary scale, which forms part of acone. Cotyledons often several (Fig. 1). 1. CONIFERZ. Pine FAmILty. Trees or shrubs with wood of peculiar structure (Part I, Ch. V1), destitute of ducts, with resinous and aromatic juice. Leaves generally evergreen, and needle-shaped or awl-shaped. Flowers destitute of floral envelopes, monecious or dicecious, the staminate ones consisting of catkin-like spikes of stamens and the pistillate ones consisting of ovule-bearing scales, arranged in spikes, which ripen into cones. A: Each scale of the cone borne in the azil of a bract. Seeds 2, with wings. Leaves evergreen, in bundles of 2-5. Pinus, I. Leaves evergreen, solitary, sessile, keeled on both surfaces. Picea, II. Leaves evergreen, solitary, petioled, flat. Tsuga, ITI. Leaves solitary, evergreen, flat above, keeled below. Abies, IV. Leaves clustered, deciduous, flat. Larix). ¥; B. Scales of the cone without bracts, cone becoming globular and woody. Leaves linear. Leaves alternate, deciduous. Taxodium, VI. 13 14 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY Cc. Seales of the cone few, without bracts. Leaves evergreen, generally scale-like or awl-shaped. Cones dry and thin-scaled. Thuya, VII. Cones berry-like. Juniperus, VIII. I. PINUS, Tourn. Sterile flowers somewhat resembling inconspicuous catkins, borne at the base of the young shoot of the season, each flower consisting of pollen-scales in spiral groups (Fig. 1, 2). Fertile flower-spikes which consist of spirally arranged carpel- scales, each scale springing from the axil of a bract and bear- ing at its own base two ovules (Fig. 1, 3). Fruit a cone, formed of the thickened carpellary scales, ripening the second autumn after the flower opens. Primary leaves, thin and chaffy bud-scales, from the axils of which spring the bundles of 2-5 nearly persistent, needle-like, evergreen leaves, from 1-15 in. long (Fig. 1). 1. P. Strobus, L. Wuitre Pine. A tall tree, 75-160 ft. high, much branched and spreading when growing in open ground, but often with few or no living branches below the height of 100 ft. when growing in dense forests. Leaves clustered in fives, slender, 3-4 in. long, smooth, and pale, or with a whitish bloom. Cones 5-6 in. long, not stout. The wood is soft, durable, does not readily warp, and is therefore very valuable for lumber. In light soil, com- monest N. 2. P. Teda, L. Losiotty Pine, O_pFIeLp Pring. A large tree; bark very thick and deeply furrowed, becoming flaky with age, twigs scaly. Leaves in threes, 6-10 in. long, slender, very flexible ; sheaths 3-1 in. long. Cones solitary, oblong-conical, 3-5 in. long ; scales thickened at the apex, the transverse ridge very prominent and armed with a short, stout, straight, or recurved spine. Common and often springing up in old fields ; trunk containing a large pro- portion of sap wood; timber of little value for outside work.*! 3. P. rigida, Mill. Norrnern Pircu Pine. A stout tree, 30-80 ft. high, with rough scaly bark. Leaves in threes, 3-5 in. long, stiff and flattened. Cones ovoid-conical, 2-3 in. long, their ? Descriptions followed by an asterisk are taken (more or less simplified) from Professor Tracy’s flora in the Southern States Edition. GYMNOSPERMS £5 scales tipped with a short, abruptly curved spine. Wood hard, coarse and resinous, mainly used for fuel. Poor, sandy soil, especially eastward. Fig. 1.—Scotch Pine (P. sylvestris). 1, a twig showing: a, staminate catkins; J, pistillate catkins ; c, a cone; d, needles. 2, an anther, a, side view; 0, outer surface. 3, a carpel-scale, a, inner surface ; 6, outer surface. 4, a cone-scale, a seed-wing, anda seed. 5, section of a seed, showing the embryo. (1) is natural size ; the other parts of the figure are magni- fied by the amount indicated by comparison with the vertical line alongside each. 4. P. inops, Ait. Scrusp Prine. A small tree, usually 20-30 ft. high, but sometimes much taller; bark of the trunk rough, nearly black; twigs smooth and with a bloom. Leaves in twos, 1-2 in. 16 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY long, rigid, sheaths very short. Staminate catkins dull yellowish- purple, 1 in. long. Cones solitary, short-peduncled, often reflexed, ellipsoid-conic, about 2 in. long; scales thickened at the apex and armed with a slender, straight, or recurved prickle. On dry, sandy soil; wood light, soft, weak, and of little value.* 5. P. sylvestris, L. Scorcu PINE (wrongly called Scotch Fir). A medium-sized tree, with the older bark reddish and scaly. Leaves in twos, 14-24 in. long. Cones rather small and tapering (Fig. 1, I ¢). Cultivated from Europe. 6. P. resinosa, Ait. Rep Pinr, Norway Prine. A tall, rather slender tree, with bark reddish-brown and moderately smooth. Leaves in twos, slender, and 5-6 in. long. Cones borne at the ends of the branches, smooth, about 2 in. long. A valuable timber tree, which often grows in small, scattered clumps; wood firm, pale red, and not very resinous; used in house and bridge building, and for masts and spars. 7. P. palustris, Mill. Lone-LeEAvepD Pinr. A large tree; bark thin-scaled, wood very resinous, old trees with only a few spreading branches near the top. Leaves in threes, 10-15 in. long. Sheaths 1-11 in. long, crowded near the ends of very scaly twigs. Staminate catkins 2-3 in. long, bright purple, conspicuous. Cones terminal, ellipsoid-conical, 6-10 in. long, diameter 2-3 in. before opening, 4-6 in. when fully opened; scales much thickened at the apex and armed with a short recurved spine at the end. The most common tree in the pine barrens; wood hard, strong, and durable, especially valua- ble for floors and inside work.* Il. PICEA, Link. Sterile flowers generally axillary (sometimes terminal), borne on the twigs.of the preceding year. Fertile flowers terminal. Fruit a nodding, thin-scaled cone, ripening in the first autumn. Leaves evergreen, needle-shaped, four-angled, scattered or spirally arranged. 1. P. nigra, Link. Buiack Spruce. A small tree, usually only 20 or 30 ft. high, often less. Leaves strongly 4-angled, bluish-green, and glaucous, }-3 in. long. Cones ovoid, pointed, 4-14 in., usually about 1 in. long, persisting sometimes for 20-30 years. Wood of little value except for paper-pulp. The tree is especially abundant northward, and is of common occurrence in peat-bogs. 2. P. rubra, Dietrich. Rep Spruce. A large tree, 70-80 or even 100 or more feet high, of strict conical habit. Leaves dark green or yellowish and glossy, 1-3 long. Cones ovoid-oblong, acute, usually 14-2 in. long, mostly falling the first year. This is the principal GYMNOSPERMS 17 timber-spruce of the northeastern United States, and furnishes much rather tough lumber for use in floor-joists, scantling, and similar purposes. 3. P.alba, Link. Waite Spruce, Skunk Spruce, CaT SPRUCE. A tall, rather conical tree, 60-70 ft. high. Leaves pale and with a bloom sometimes 3 in. long. Cones cylindrical, with rounded ends, about 2 in. long, falling inside of one year. A handsome tree, valuable for timber, ranging far northward. 4. P. excelsa, Link. Norway Spruce. A large tree. Leaves dark green, 3-1 in. long. Cones 5-7 in. long. Cultivated from Europe. Ill. TSUGA, Carriére. Sterile flowers, clusters of stamens springing from the axils of leaves of the preceding year. Cones terminal, on twigs of the preceding year, drooping, thin-scaled, ripening the first year. Leaves minutely petioled, short, flat, white beneath, 2-ranked. 1. T. canadensis, Carriére. Hemiocx. A large tree, in age branchless below when growing in dense woods. When young the spray is very graceful and abundant. Leaves short-linear. Cones 3 in. or less in length. The wood is coarse and splintery, but useful for fences and other rough work. The thick reddish bark is of great value for tanning. IV. ABIES, Link. Sterile flowers from axils of leaves of the preceding year. Cones erect, on the sides of the branches, with deciduous scales, ripening the first year. Leaves scattered, but on hori- zontal branches appearing 2-ranked, flat above, silvery, and with a prominent midrib below. 1. A. .balsamea, Miller. Baxtsam Fir. A slender tree, 50-60 ft., occasionally 80 ft., high, with dense foliage. Leaves narrowly linear, less than 1 in. long. Cones violet-colored until old, cylindri- cal, 2-4 in. long. The bark contains many large blisters, filled with the well-known Canada balsam. The wood is brittle, and of little value. V. LARIX, Tourn. Flower-spikes short, opening in early spring, before the leaves; the fertile ones, while still young, of a beautiful crim- 18 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY son color. Fruit a small cone, with thin scales. Leaves none of them scaly, but all needle-shaped, soft, deciduous, very numerous, in little brush-like bundles. 1. L. americana, Michx. AMERICAN LARCH, TAMARACK, HAck- MATACK (wrongly, but quite generally, called Cypress and Juniper). A tall, slender tree, 30-100 ft. high. Leaves slender and less than 1 in. long, very pale bluish-green. Cones 3-2 in. long, few-scaled. Wood hard, tough, and heavy, of considerable use for ship-building. 2. L. europea, DC. European LArcu. Leaves bright green and longer; cones longer than in the preceding species and many- sealed. Cultivated from Europe. VI. TAXODIUM, Richard. Trees; leaves spreading so as to appear 2-ranked, decidu- ous; flowers moncecious, appearing before the leaves; stami- nate ones numerous, globose ; forming long, terminal, drooping, panicled spikes; anthers 2—5-celled; pistillate flowers single or in pairs, bractless, the peltate scales 2-ovuled ; cone globose ; the very thick woody scales angular, separating at maturity ; seeds 3-angled, pyramidal.* 1. T. distichum, Richard. Batp Cypress. A very large tree; bark dark brown, rough, fibrous ; many of the twigs deciduous with the leaves. Leaves alternate, opposite, or whorled, 2-ranked, flat, linear, 3-3 in. long. Cones terminal, globose, about 1.in. in diameter ; ends of the scales much thickened, wrinkled, and with a distinct triangular marking. Common in swamps and on the borders of streams; wood reddish, soft, light; specially valuable for shingles and fence posts, and for boat-building.* VII. THUYA, Tourn. Flowers small, terminal, moncecious, on different branches. Stamens each consisting of ascale-like portion bearing 4 anther- cells. Pistillate flowers consisting of a few overlapping scales which ripen into a small, loose cone. Leaves evergreen, oppo- site, and closely overlapping on the stem, of two kinds, those on the more rapidly growing twigs awl-shaped, the others mere scales. 1. T. occidentalis, L. ArBor Vir, CrpAR. A small tree, 20-50 ft. high, with soft fibrous bark. Leaves mostly awl-shaped and blunt. GYMNOSPERMS 19 Cones ellipsoidal, their scales 2-seeded. Grows on rocky ledges, but reaches its greatest size in cool cedar swamps. Wood soft, yellowish, fragrant, durable, prized for shingles and fence posts. Vill. JUNIPERUS, L. Flowers very small, lateral, dicecious, or sometimes mone- cious. Scales of the staminate flower shield-shaped, with 3-6 anther-cells. Fertile flowers with 3-6 fleshy scales which unite into a berry-like, 1-3-seeded fruit. Leaves awl-shaped or scale-shaped. 1. J. communis, L. Juniper. A low, spreading shrub (one variety prostrate in circular masses). Leaves linear-awl-shaped, with needle-like points, each marked with a distinct stripe of bloom along the center of the upper surface, borne in whorls of three. Fruit a dark blue aromatic berry, + in. or more in diameter. Grows in dry pastures and on sterile hillsides N. 2. J. virginiana, L. Rep Crepar, Savin. Ranges in size and shape from a low, rather erect, shrub to a conical tree 90 ft. high. Leaves of two kinds, those on the rapidly growing shoots awl-shaped and pointed, those on the shortest twigs scale-shaped, obtuse, or nearly so, and closely appressed to the stem. Fruit small, bluish, with a white bloom. Found all the way from British America to Florida. Wood soft, fragrant, reddish, exceedingly durable in the - ground, valued for the manufacture of moth-proof chests and espe cially for lead-pencils. 20 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY CLASS Il.— ANGIOSPERMS. Plants with a closed ovary, in which the seeds are matured. Cotyledons 1 or 2. SUBCLASS I.—MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. Stems with the fibro-vascular bundles scattered among the parenchyma cells; in perennial plants no annual rings of wood. Leaves usually parallel-veined, alternate, nearly always entire. Parts of the flower generally in threes (never in fives). Cotyledon 1. 2. TYPHACEZ. CatT-TAIL FAMILY. Perennial marsh or aquatic plants. Rootstock stout, creep- - ing; stem simple, cylindrical, erect. Leaves simple, strap- shaped, sheathing at the base, nerved and striate. Flowers moncecious, in a single terminal spike, staminate part of the spike uppermost, each part subtended by spathe-like deciduous bracts; perianth of fine bristles ; staminate flowers sessile ; stamens 2-7. Filaments connate, subtended by minute bracts ; pistillate flowers short-pediceled. Ovary 1—2-celled ; styles 1-2. Fruit small, nut-like.* TYPHA, Tourn. Characters of the family. 1. T. latifolia, L. Cat-rart. Stem erect, jointed below, 5-8 ft. high. Leaves nearly as long as the stem, about 1 in. wide, netted and witha bloom. Spike cylindrical, dark brown or black ; staminate portion above the pistillate, usually without any interval between them, each 4-8 in. long and about 1 in.in diameter. Fruit furrowed. Common in marshes and shallow ponds.* MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 21 3. ALISMACEZ. WaATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. Annual or perennial marsh herbs, usually with creeping run- ners or rootstocks. Stems scape-like. Leaves long-petioled, sheathing at the base ; petiole rounded ; blade nerved, netted, or sometimes wanting. Flowers in racemes or panicles, per- fect, moncecious or dicecious; pedicels in bracted whorls. Sepals 3, persistent, petals 35 or wanting. Stamens 6 or more. Ovaries few or many, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Style short or none. Fruit a 1-seeded akene.* I. ALISMA, L. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves erect or floating, blades prominently ribbed and netted, or even pinnately veined. Scapes erect, becoming longer than the leaves, cylindrical, spongy. Flowers perfect, in paniculate 3-bracted umbels, small, white or pink. Stamens 6-9. Ovaries numerous in one or more whorls on a flat receptacle. Fruit 1-seeded akenes which are ribbed on the back and sides.* 1, A. Plantago, L. WaAtTER PLANTAIN. Perennial; root fibrous. Leaves ovate or somewhat cordate, 5-7-nerved when erect, floating leaves narrower and sometimes linear. Scapes usually single ; pan- icle 1-2 ft. long; flowering branches whorled, subtended by three narrow, striate bracts; pedicels slender, elongated. Ovaries 15-20 in a single whorl ; base of the short style persistent, forming a beak at the inner angle of the akene. Akenes obliquely obovate, 2—3- keeled on the back. Common in ponds and muddy places.* Il. SAGITTARIA. Perennial; rootstocks mostly knobby or tuber-bearing. Scapes erect or decumbent. Leaves long-petioled, sheathing at the base, the blade round and netted, or wanting. Flowers moncecious or dicecious, racemed in 3-bracted whorls of threes, the upper flowers usually staminate. Sepals 3, persistent. Petals 3, withering-persistent or deciduous. Stamens few or many. Ovaries in globose heads, 1-ovuled ; style short, per- sistent. Fruit a subglobose head of flattened akenes.* Ze FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 1. S. variabilis, var. latifolia, Willd. BroAp-Leavep ARRow- HEAD. Leaves very variable in size and shape, from broadly sagittate to linear; those growing on the drier soil being usually the broader; petioles 6-30 in. long. Scape smooth or slightly downy, 6-36 in. high; bracts acute. Flowers moncecious or sometimes dicecious, white, 1 in. or more in width; pedicels of the staminate flowers twice the length of those of the fertile flowers. Filaments long, smooth, and slender. Akenes with beak nearly horizontal. Ditches and muddy places.* 2. S. graminea, Michx. GRASS-LEAVED SAGITTARIA. Leaves long-petioled, lanceolate, or elliptical, and acute at each end, 3-5- nerved, or often linear, the earlier often reduced to flattened petioles. Scape slender, usually longer than the leaves, simple, weak, often pros- trate in fruit; bracts small, ovate, connate at the base. Flowers monce- cious or dicecious, on long, thread- like pedicels, about 4 in. wide. Stamens 10-20, filaments downy. Akenes nearly beakless. In ditches and shallow pools.* WON A, (Wi si an Fic. 2, — Diagram of Inflorescence pratensis). g, sterile glumes ; P,, a flowering glume; A, spikelet (compare Fig. 2); B, a P,, a scaly bract (palea); e, transparent ‘flower, the lodicules in Pecos nal scales (lodicules) at the base of the the palea behind; C, a lodicule ; flower ; B, the flower. D, ovary. : MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 23 4. GRAMINEZ. GRaAss FAMILY. Mostly herbs, with usually hollow stems, closed and en- larged at the nodes. Leaves alternate, in two ranks, with sheathing bases, which are spht open on the side opposite the blade. Flowers nearly or quite destitute of floral envelopes, solitary, and borne in the axils of scaly bracts called glumes, which are arranged in two ranks overlapping each other on 1_many-flowered spikelets; these are variously grouped in spikes, panicles, and so on. Fruit a grain. (The family is too difficult for the beginner, but the structure and group- ing of the flowers may be gathered from a careful study of Figs. 2, 3.) 5. CYPERACEZ. Srepce Famity. Grass-like or rush-like herbs, with solid, usually triangular, stems, growing in tufts. The sheathing base of the generally 3-ranked leaves, when present, is not slit as in grasses. The flowers are usually somewhat less enclosed by bracts than those of grasses; the perianth is absent or rudimentary ; stamens generally 3; style 2-cleft or 3-cleft. The general appearance of a common sedge may be learned from Part I, Ch. V, and the flower-cluster and the flower understood from an inspection of Fig. 4. The species are even more difficult to determine than those of grasses. 6. ARACEZ. Arum FamiIty. Perennial herbs, with pungent or acrid juice, leaves often netted-veined, small flowers (perfect or imperfect) clustered along a peculiar fleshy spike called a spadix, and frequently more or less covered by a large, hood-like bract called a spathe. Perianth, when present, of 4-6 parts ; often want- ing. Fruit usually a berry. 24 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY : Fic. 4.— Inflorescence, Flower, and Seed, of a Sedge. (Great Bulrush, Scirpus lacustris.) A, magnified flower, surrounded by a perianth of hypogynous bristles; B, the seed; C, section of the seed, showing the small embryo enclosed in the base of the endosperm. I. ARISAZMA, Martius. Perennial herbs, springing from a corm or a tuberous rootstock. Spathe rolled up at base. Summit of spadix naked, the lower part flower-bearing; staminate flowers above, pistil- late ones below. Stigma flat; ovary 1-celled ; berry 1—few- seeded, : MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 25 1. A. triphyllum, Torr. InpIAN TURNIP, JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. Leaves generally 2, each of 3 elliptical-ovate, pointed leaflets. Spadix club-shaped, bearing usually only one kind of fully developed flowers ; that is, full-sized pistillate and rudimentary staminate ones, or the reverse. Spathe much longer than the spadix, and covering it like a hood. Corm turnip-like, but much wrinkled, very starchy, and filled with intensely burning juice. 2. A. Dracontium, Schott. GREEN Dragon, DraGon Root. Leaf usually single, divided into 7-11 rather narrow-pointed leaflets ; spadix tapering to a long, slender point, often bearing fully devel- oped staminate and pistillate flowers. II. SYMPLOCARPUS, Salisb. Rootstock very stout, with many long, cylindrical roots. Leaves clustered, very large, and entire. Spathe shell-shaped, very thick. Spadix globular, thickly covered with perfect flowers. Sepals 4. Stamens 4. Style 4-angled. Fruit glob- ular or ellipsoidal, with the seeds slightly buried in the enlarged spadix. Coarse, stemless herbs, with a powerful scent like that of the skunk and of onions. 1. S. fetidus, Salisb. Skunk CABBAGE. Leaves many, slightly petioled, 1-2 ft. long, appearing after the flowers. The latter are usually seen before the ground is wholly free from frost, often earlier than any other flower. Bogs and wet meadows, very common N. Ill. ACORUS, L. Rootstocks horizontal, long, and moderately stout, aromatic. Leaves long, upright, sword-shaped. Spathe much like the leaves. Spadix projecting from the edge of the spathe, con- sisting of numerous perfect flowers. Sepals 6. Stamens 6. Ovary 2-3-celled, with numerous ovules. Fruit 1—few-seeded. 1. A. Calamus, L. Sweet Frac. Scape with a long, leaf-like prolongation (spathe) beyond the green, very closely flowered, spadix. Along borders of brooks and swamps. The rootstocks furnish the well-known calamus or “sweet flag- root ” sold everywhere by druggists. 26 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 7. COMMELINACEZ. Spiperwort FAmILy. Herbs, with slimy or mucilaginous juice ; stems somewhat succulent, jointed, leafy, simple or branched. Leaves simple, succulent, narrow, entire, sheathing at the base, sheaths entire Fie. 5.— Acorus Calamus. ' A, spadix ; B, a single flower, enlarged; C, diagram of flower, enlarged. or split. Flowers in terminal cymes or umbels, perfect, often irregular. Sepals 3, persistent, foliaceous or colored. Petals 3, soon falling or liquefying ; stamens 6 or fewer, often some of them abortive. Ovary 2—3-celled ; style single, stigma entire or 3-lobed, fruit a 2—3-celled, 2—3-valved capsule, seeds soli- tary or several in each cell.* MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 27 I. COMMELINA, Dill. Annual or perennial, stem branching, erect or procumbent, smooth or downy. Leaves petioled or sessile, entire, the floral ones heart-shaped, folded, and forming a spathe enclos- ing the base of the cymes. Flowers irregular, sepals mostly colored, 1 of them smaller. Petals blue, unequal, 2 of them kidney-shaped and long-clawed, the other smaller. Stamens 6, only 5 of them fertile, filaments smooth. Capsule 1-3-celled, seeds 1-2 in each cell.* 1. C. virginica, L. ViraintA Dayriower. Stem erect, downy, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, taper-pointed, 3-5 in. long, somewhat rough above, sheaths inflated, hairy, the opening often fringed. Spathes containing a slimy secretion. Flowers 1 in. wide, the odd petal lanceolate. Capsule 3-seeded, the dorsal cell not splitting open. On moist, sandy soil.* II. TRADESCANTIA, L. Perennial, stem simple or branched. Leaves very narrow. Flowers in terminal and axillary bracted umbels, regular, 1 in. broad. Sepals 3, herbaceous. Petals 3, soon falling or liquefying to jelly. Stamens 6, sometimes 8 shorter than the others, filaments bearded or smooth. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell, pedicels recurved in fruit. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, 3-6-seeded.* 1. T. virginica, L. Spiperwort. Stem erect, stout, smooth, or with long, soft hairs, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves linear, keeled, often purple-veined, long, taper-pointed, 1 ft. or more in length. Bracts similar to the leaves, umbels sessile, 2-many-flowered, flowers in 2 rows in the bud. Petals blue or purple, twice as long as the sepals. Stamens blue, filaments densely bearded. Capsule ovoid or oblong. On dry, sandy soil.* 2. T. pilosa, Lehm. Harry SpipeERwortT. Stem stout, erect, or zigzag, branched, with long, soft hairs, or nearly smooth, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves linear-oblong, taper-pointed at the apex, narrowed at the base, hairy on both sides. Umbels axillary and terminal, many- flowered. Pedicels and sepals with soft, glandular hairs. Flowers blue or purple, 3-1 in. wide. Seeds pitted. In rich soil.* 28 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY Ill. ZEBRINA. Trailing or slightly climbing herbs. Leaves often striped. Flowers irregular, usually in pairs. Calyx with a short tube, regularly or irregularly 3-parted. Corolla nearly regular, with tube longer than the calyx. Filaments naked or bearded. Ovary 3-celled, 3-6-ovuled. 1. Z. pendula, Schnitzl WANDERING JEw. Stems perennial, prostrate, or nearly so, branching freely, rooting easily at the nodes. Leaves somewhat succulent, lance-ovate or oblong, crimson beneath, green or dark purplish above, often with two wide silvery stripes. Cultivated from Mexico. 8. PONTEDERIACEZ. PICKEREL-WEED FAMILY. Perennial marsh or aquatic herbs, stems simple or branched, succulent. Leaves simple, alternate. Flowers solitary or spiked, each subtended by a leaf-like spathe, perfect, mostly irregular. Perianth corolla-like, 6-parted. Stamens 3 or 6, unequal, inserted irregularly in the tube or throat of the perianth. Ovary free, style single, stigma entire or toothed, ovary 1 or 3 celled. Fruit a 1-seeded utricle.* PONTEDERIA, L. Stem erect, from a thick, creeping rootstock, bearing a single leaf above the middle and several sheathing, bract-like leaves at its base. Radical leaves numerous, thick, parallel- veined. -Petiole long, from a sheathing base. Flowers in terminal spikes. Perianth 2-lipped, lobes of the upper lip ovate, of the lower oblong, spreading. Stamens 6, the 3 upper short and often imperfect, the 3 lower protruding. Ovary 3-celled, but only 1 cell ovule-bearing. The 1-seeded utricle enclosed by the base of the perianth.* 1. P. cordata, L. PickeEREL-wEED. Stem stout, erect, 2—4 ft. high. Leaves long, from heart-shaped to lanceolate and often halberd- shaped, apex and basal lobes obtuse, finely nerved. Spike dense, MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 29 2-4 in. long, peduncles enclosed by the spathe. Perianth hairy, blue, the upper lip with 2 yellow spots, tube 6-ribbed, curved, rather longer than the lobes. Ovary oblong. In ponds and slow streams.* 9. JUNCACEZ. Rusu Famity. Grass-like perennial or annual herbs, mostly growing on wet soil. Stems mostly erect but sometimes creeping, simple or branched, naked or leafy and jointed. Leaves cylindrical, sheathing at the base, very slender and pointed or flattened and grass-like. Flowers in cymes or panicles, which may be very loose and spreading, or so compact as to form a head, sometimes with a rigid scape prolonged beyond the flower- cluster. Flowers usually bracted, perianth of 6 nearly equal scale-like persistent divisions. Stamens 3 or 6, inserted on the base of the perianth. Ovary free, 1 or 3 celled, many- ovuled. Style single, stigmas 3, usually hairy. Fruit a1 or 3 celled, 3-many-seeded capsule. [Most species flower late in the season, and their identification is too difficult for one without considerable experience. | * 10. LILIACEZ. Lity Famity. Mostly herbs. Flowers regular and symmetrical. Perianth free from the ovary. Stamens nearly always 6, one before each division of the perianth. Ovary usually 3-celled. Fruit a pod or berry, few—many-seeded. Except in the genus Trillium the divisions of the perianth are colored nearly alike. 30 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY SUBFAMILY I.—LILIACE PROPER. Not tendril-climbers, rarely dicecious. A. Styles or sessile stigmas 3, more or less separate. Leaves 3-ranked, strongly nerved and plaited. Flowers some- what moncecious, small. Veratrum, I. Leaves flat, lanceolate, or spatulate. Flowers dicecious, showy. Chamelirium, II. Leaves grass-like. Flowers perfect, showy. Amianthium, III. B. a Style undivided (in No. XXIII, 3 sessile stigmas). Plants from root- stocks. Leaves perfoliate. Flowers solitary, drooping, yellow. Uvularia, IV. Leaves broad, clasping. Flowers solitary or nearly so, drooping, yellow. Oakesia, V. Leaves scale-like. Thread-like branches borne in their axils. Flowers small, bell-shaped. Asparagus, XVII. Leaves several-many, sessile or clasping, alternate. Flowers small, 6-parted, white, in a terminal simple or compound raceme. , Smilacina, XVIII. Leaves only 2-3, sessile or slightly petioled. Flowers very small, 4-parted, solitary or in a small terminal cluster. Maianthemum, XIX. Leaves clasping. Flowers solitary or in pairs, greenish-white or rose-purple, borne on pedicels abruptly bent near the middle. Streptopus, XX. Leaves nearly sessile or partly clasping. Flowers axillary, greenish, on pedicels jointed near the flower. Polygonatum, XXI. MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 31 Leaves only 2, directly from the rootstock. Flowers in a raceme, bell-shaped, white, sweet-scented. Convallaria, X XII. Leaves 3, netted-veined. Flower single, large, terminal. Trilium, XXIII. C. Style undivided. Plants from fibrous roots. Flowers yellow or orange. Hemerocallis, VI. Flowers white. Yueca, XVI. D. Style usually undivided. Plants from coated or solid-looking bulbs. Leafy-stemmed plants. Flowers large, solitary, or apparently umbelled. _ Fritillaria, IX. Apparently stemless plants. (a) Plants with the smell of onions or garlic. Flowers umbelled. Allium, VII. (b) Flower solitary, erect, large. *~ Tulipa, x. (c) Flower solitary, nodding. Erythronium, XI. (d) Flowers racemed. Perianth with hardly any tube. Stigma a single knob. Scilla, XII. (e) Flowers racemed. Perianth with hardly any tube. Stigma 3-cleft. Camassia, XIII. (f) Flowers corymbed. Perianth with hardly any tube. Leaves linear. Ornithogalum, XIV. (g) Flowers racemed. Perianth with a tube. Leaves lance-linear. Hyacinthus, XV. E. Style undivided. Plants from scaly bulbs. Lilium, VIII. SUBFAMILY II.—SMILACEZ. Climbers, often tendril-bearing. Flowers diecious. Smilax, XXIV. 32 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY I. VERATRUM, Tourn. . Simple-stemmed perennials. Roots fibrous, from the thick- ened base of the stem, poisonous, emetic. Leaves 3-ranked, — plaited, and veiny. Flowers panicled, greenish, or brownish. Sepals 6, spreading, nearly free from the ovary. Stamens shorter than the perianth, and inserted on its base. Ovary of 3 carpels united at base. . Fruit a few-seeded capsule, splitting into 3 parts. ¥ 1. V. viride, Ait. Wuirr Hetiesore, Inp1ian Poxe. Stem — stout, 2-7 ft. high, very leafy. Flowers very numerous, in a panicle, — composed of spike-like racemes. Sepals yellowish-green. Wee meadows and brooksides. ' 2. V. Woodii, Robbins. Stem slender, 2-5 ft. high, not very leafy. Flowers in a long, narrow panicle. Sepals greenish-purple or almost black. Woods and dry hillsides. a : i Il. CHAMA-LIRIUM, Willd. Be Rootstock short and thick, bitter. Stem simple, erect, leafy, — smooth. Lower leaves spatulate to obovate, the stem-leaves narrower. Flowers small, white, in a spike-lke raceme, dicecious. Perianth of 6 linear-spatulate segments. Stamens — 6, filaments longer than the perianth. Ovary 3-celled, styles 3. Fruit an ovoid, 3-angled, many-seeded capsule.* Z 1. C. carolinianum, Willd. Unicorn-root, Devit’s Bit. Stem — furrowed, staminate plants 1-2 ft. high, pistillate taller, often 3 ft. or more. Lower leaves obovate, clustered, the upper small and bract-like. Staminate racemes slender and drooping, the pista erect. Flowers short-pediceled. Capsule 3-valved, seeds line oblong, winged at the ends. On low ground.* rae I. AMIANTHIUM, Gray. i Stem simple, glabrous, erect from a bulbous base. Leaves — long and slender. Flowers white, in a simple terminal raceme, perfect. Perianth of 6 segments which are sessile and glan¢ - less. Stamens 6, inserted in the base of the perianth. Ovar is 3-lobed, 3-celled, fruit a dehiscent, 3-lobed capsule, the lobes becoming awl-shaped by the persistent style bases; cells fey seeded.* | j= oN ig MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS oe 1. A. muscetoxicum, Gray. FLy Porson. Bulb ovoid or oblong. Stem somewhat angled below, 1-3 ft. high. Lower leaves strap- shaped, channeled, the upper small and bract-like. Raceme dense, cylindrical, pedicels from the axils of minute ovate bracts. Peri- anth segments ovate, white, becoming greenish, nearly as long as the slender stamens. Styles spreading. Capsule with divergent lobes; seeds ovoid, red. In rich woods.* IV. UVULARIA, L. Rather low plants with short rootstocks. Leaves alternate, broad, and parallel-veined. Flowers yellow or yellowish, drooping, borne singly at the end of the forking stem. Perianth of 6 similar and separate narrow spatulate sepals, each grooved and nectar-bearing inside toward the base. Stamens 6, with linear anthers, which are much longer than the filaments. Style 3-cleft. . Pod 3-lobed, 3-celled, few- seeded. 1. U. grandiflora. LArGER BeLtLtwort. Leaves oblong, with the base clasping the stem so as to make it appear to run through the leaf a little way from the base; flowers greenish-yellow, 14 in. long, anthers obtuse. A leafy plant, 1-2 ft. high. 2. U. perfoliata. Mraty Brettwort. Leaves much as in the preceding species ; flowers very pale yellow, with shining grains on the inner surfaces of the twisted sepals; anthers sharp-pointed ; plant about 2 the size of the preceding. V. OAKESIA, Watson. Plants with much the aspect of the preceding genus, but with merely sessile leaves, triangular winged pods, and slen- der creeping rootstocks. 1. O. sessilifolia. Witp Oats, Straw Lixies. Stem slender, zigzag. Leaves lance-oval, thin, smooth, pale beneath, 1-14 in. long. Flower cream-color, nearly 1 in. long. VI. HEMEROCALLIS, L. Perennial, from a fascicle of fleshy roots. Stem erect, branched, smooth. Leaves mostly basal and linear. Flowers on branching scapes, large, yellow or orange, solitary or 7 ot, 34 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY corymbed, perianth funnel-form, with a spreading limb mina F longer than the tube. Stamens 6, inserted in the top of the | tube, shorter than the lobes, curved upward. Ovary 3-celled, — oe many-ovuled, style longer than the stamens, curved upwalea stigma knobbed. Fruit a 3- celled, 3-angled capsule.* ff 1. H. fulva, L. Day Liny. Scapes stout, branched above, with a | few bract-like leaves, smooth, 3-5 ft. high. Leaves very long, strap-— Fi: shaped, acute, channeled. Flowers short-pediceled, tawny-yellow, — perianth lobes oblong, netted-veined, lasting only one day. Intro-— = duced from Asia and common in old gardens.* . Vil. ALLIUM, L. Stemless herbs from coated bulbs with the characteristic odor of onions. Bulbs solitary or clustered. Leaves aa linear or slender-tubular, with a bloom. Flowers small on slender pedicels, in fatal umbels on naked seapes, thea 3 umbels often bracted or enclosed in a spathe. Perianth — 6-parted, persistent ; stamens 6, inserted on the base of the — perianth, filaments filiform or dilated below. Ovary sessile, — 3-celled. Style thread-like, jointed; stigma entire. Fruit a a 3-celled, 3-valved, few-seeded capsule. Flowers sometimes — changed into bulblets.* 1. A. canadense, L. Mrapow Garuic. Bulbs ovoid, the outer coats of white and thin, dry, netted fibers. Leaves narrowly linear, — flat, or concave above. Scape cylindrical, 1 ft. high. Bracts of the Sa umbel 2 3, ovate, acuminate; umbel consisting mostly of sessile — bulblets. The few flowers long-pediceled, rose-colored. Perianth — about as long as the stamens. Filaments dilated below. Capenlaas ce shorter than the perianth, 6-toothed, ovules 2 in each cell. On moist : soil.* 58 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY B. Fruit annual; leaves not bristle-tipped, though often mucronate. 6. Q. alba, L. Wuuite Oak. A large tree with light gray bark. Leaves obovate-oblong, 3—9-lobed, lobes rounded and mostly entire, bright green above, paler below, short-petioled. Cup hemispherical, scales rough, woolly when young, but becoming smooth with age ; acorn oblong-ovate, about 1 in. long. Common in damp soil; wood strong and durable; one of the most valuable timber trees.* 7. Q. stellata, Wang. Posr Oak. A tree of medium size with rough gray bark. Leaves broadly obovate, deeply lyrate-pinnatified into 5-7 rounded, divergent lobes, upper lobes much the longer, smooth above, yellowish-downy beneath, petioles about 1 in. long. Cup hemispherical, nearly sessile ; acorn ovoid, 2-3 times as long as the cup. On dry soil; wood hard and valuable. 8. Q. macrocarpa, Michx. Bur Oax. A medium-sized to very large tree, with roughish gray bark. Leaves obovate or oblong, lyrately and deeply sinuate-lobed, smooth above, pale or downy beneath. Cup very deep and thick, abundantly fringed about the margin, 2 in. to 2 in. in diameter. Acorn, half or more [sometimes entirely] enclosed by the cup. Reaches its full size only on rich bottom lands S. and W., where it becomes one of the finest timber oaks. Wood very hard and heavy. 9. Q. lyrata, Walt. Swamp Oak. A large tree with gray or reddish bark. Leaves obovate-oblong, deeply pinnatifid, lobes narrow, often toothed, thin, smooth above, white, densely woolly beneath. Cup round-ovate, scales cuspidate, enclosing nearly the whole of the depressed-globose acorn. On wet soil; wood strong and very durable.* 10. Q. prinus, L. Swamp Cuestnut Oak. A large tree with brown, ridged bark. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, rather ob- tuse, crenately toothed, minutely downy beneath, petioles slender, about 1 in. long. Cup hemispherical, peduncles longer than the petioles, scales acute, tubercular, appressed ; acorn oblong, acute, 1 in. or less in length, edible. Common on low ground. Wood strong and valuable.* 11. Q. Muhlenbergii, Engelm. Yrtrrow Curestnut Oak. A tree of medium or large size with gray bark. Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, usually acute at the apex and obtuse or rounded at the base, coarsely and evenly toothed; veins straight, impressed above and prominent beneath ; petioles slender. Cup hemispherical, sessile or short-peduncled, with flat scales, } in. broad, enclosing about half the ovoid acorn, which is 2—3 in. long. Common on dry soil, wood’ close-grained, durable, and valuable. 12. Q. virginiana, Mill. Live Oak. A large tree with rough DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 59 gray or brown bark and a low, spreading top. Leaves leathery, evergreen, oblong or oblanceolate, often somewhat 3-lobed on young trees, margin rolled under, dark green and shining above, pale below ; petioles short, stout. Fruit often in short racemes, cup top- shaped, scales closely appressed, hoary, peduncles 4-1 in. long; acorn from subglobose to oblong, the longer form occurring on the younger trees. On low ground near the coast ; wood very hard and durable ; valued for shipbuilding.* 19, ULMACEZ. Exum FaAmity. Trees or shrubs with watery juice, alternate, simple, petio- late, serrate, stipulate leaves, which are usually 2-ranked ; and small, perfect, or somewhat moncecious, apetalous flowers. Calyx of 3-9 sepals which are distinct or partly united, stamens as many as the sepals and opposite them. Ovary 1-—2-celled, styles 2, spreading. Fruit a key, nut, or stone fruit.* Ra S = Fic. 9.— Ulmus campestris. A, a flowering twig ; B, a flower; C, longitudinal section of a flower; D, a fruit. I. ULMUS, L. Trees with straight-veined, unsymmetrical, doubly serrate leaves; stipules early deciduous. Flowers perfect, calyx bell-shaped, 4—9-cleft. Stamens slender, protruding. Ovary compressed, styles 2, spreading. Fruit membranaceous, flat, winged on the edge.* 60 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 1. U. americana, L. Wuitre Erm. A large tree with gray bark, drooping branches, and smooth or slightly downy twigs. Leaves oval or obovate, abruptly taper-pointed at the apex, obtuse and oblique at the base, slightly rough above, soft downy or soon smooth beneath. Flowers in close fascicles, peduncles slender, smooth. Fruit oval or obovate, with 2 sharp teeth bending toward each other at the apex, wing reticulate-veined, downy on the margin. In moist, rich soil. A widely planted ornamental tree; wood strong but warping badly, and not durable when exposed.* 2. U. alata, Michx. Wincep Exim. A small tree with branches corky-winged. Leaves small, ovate-lanceolate, acute, sharply serrate, base nearly equal-sided, rough above, downy beneath, nearly sessile. Flowers in small clusters. Fruit oblong, downy on the sides, ciliate on the edges. On rich soil. Occasionally producing a second set of. flowers and fruit from September to November.* 3. U. fulva, Michx. Srtippery Erm. A tree of medium size with rough downy twigs, and rusty, densely woolly bud-scales. Leaves large, thick, very rough above, downy beneath, ovate or obovate, taper-pointed at the apex, unsymmetrical, obtuse or some- what cordate at the base, coarsely and doubly serrate, calyx-lobes and pedicels downy. Fruit broadly oval, downy over the seed, the wing smooth. Inner bark very fragrant when dried, and a popular domestic remedy.* II. CELTIS, Tourn. Trees or shrubs with entire or serrate, petioled leaves. Flowers greenish, axillary, on wood of the same season, the staminate in small clusters, the fertile single or 2-3 together.* 1. C. occidentalis, L. Hackperry. A large or medium-sized tree haying much the appearance of an elm, bark dark and rough. Leaves ovate, taper-pointed at the apex, abruptly obtuse and inequi- lateral at the base, sharply serrate, often 3-nerved from the base, smooth above, usually somewhat downy below. Fruit a small, dark purple stone fruit. On rich soil. 2. C. mississippiensis, Bosc. sone HackBERRY. A tree usually smaller than the preceding, bark gray, often very warty. Leaves broadly lanceolate or ovate, long taper-pointed at the apex, obtuse or sometimes heart-shaped at the base, entire or with very few serratures, smooth on both sides, 3-nerved. Fruit a purplish- black, globose stone fruit,* DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 61 20. MORACEZ. Muvu.perry FAmILy. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, usually with milky juice, alternate leaves, large deciduous stipules and small monecious or dic- cious flowers crowded in spikes, heads or racemes, or enclosed in a fleshy receptacle. Staminate flowers with a 3-4-lobed calyx, stamens 3-4, inserted on the base of the calyx, fila- ments usually inflexed in the bud, straightening at maturity. Pistillate flowers 3—5-sepalous ; ovary 1-2-celled, 1—2-ovuled ; styles 2, receptacle and perianth often fleshy at maturity.* I. MORUS, Tourn. Trees or shrubs with milky juice, rounded leaves, and moncecious flowers in axillary spikes. Staminate flowers with a 4-parted perianth, and 4 stamens inflexed in the bud. -Pistillate flowers with a 4-parted perianth which becomes fleshy in the multiple fruit, the pulpy part of which consists of the thickened calyx, bracts and so on of many flowers; ovary sessile, stigmas 2, linear, spreading ; the fleshy perianth enclosing the ovary at maturity.* 1. M. rubra, L. Rep Mutperry. A small tree. Leaves cor- date-ovate, often 5—5-lobed on vigorous shoots, taper-pointed at the apex, serrate, rough above, white, densely woolly beneath. Mature fruiting spikes oblong, drooping, dark red or purple, edible. On rich soil. Wood very durable, bearing exposure to the weather. 2. M. alba, L. Wuitrt Muvutperry. A small tree. Leaves ovate, heart-shaped, acute at the apex, rounded and often oblique at the base, serrate or sometimes lobed. Smooth and shining on both sides. Mature fruit light red or white. Introduced and common about old dwellings.* II. MACLURA, Nutt. A small tree with milky juice. Leaves alternate, petioled, spines axillary. Flowers dicecious. Staminate flowers in short axillary racemes ; calyx 4-parted ; stamens 4, inflexed in the bud. Pistillate flowers in axillary, peduncled, capitate clusters ; calyx 4-parted, ovary sessile, style long; calyces becoming thickened and fleshy in fruit and aggregated into a large, dense, globular head.* 62 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 1. M.aurantiaca, Nutt. OsAGrOrANGE. Asmall tree with ridg yellow ish-brown bark. Leaves minutely downy when young, be 0 ing smooth and shining with age, ovate or ovate-oblong, tay pointed at the apex, obtuse or subcordate at the base, entire, petioled Staminate racemes about 1 in. long. Pistillate flower clusters abou it 1 in. in diameter. Fruit yellowish, tubercled, 3-4 in. in diamet In rich soil. Native in Texas and extensively planted for hedges. Wood very durable when exposed to the weather, and therefore used — for fence posts. As the wood does not swell or shrink with dance in its moisture, it is highly valued for wheel hubs, etc.* Ill. BROUSSONETIA, L’Her. “f x Small trees with milky juice. Leaves alternate, petioled ; e ae flowers dicecious. Staminate in cylindrical spikes, with 4-cleft calyx, 4 stamens, and a rudimentary ovary. Pistil- — late flowers in capitate clusters. Calyx 3—4-toothed. —_ # stalked, style 2-cleft, fruit in a globular head.* 1. B. papyrifera, Vent. Parer MuLperry. A round-topped ie . with yellowish-brown bark. Leaves cordate, often irregularly 2-3- — lobed, serrate, rough above, downy beneath, long-petioled. Stami- nate spikelets peduncled, 2-3 in. long. Pistillate heads stout, pedun- : cled, about 1 in. in diameter. Introduced from Asia and very — common §S. about old dooryards.* i, hay IV. CANNABIS, Tourn. ; Coarse herbs with very tough, fibrous bark. Leaves usu- ally opposite, palmately compound. Flowers small, pee greenish, the staminate ones in compound racemes or panicles, — the pistillate ones in spikes. Calyx of the staminate flowers of 5 sepals, that of the pistillate flowers of 1 large sepal R which covers the ovary and the akene. | 1. C. sativa, L. Common Hemp. An erect plant, 4-8 ft. high. Leaves large, petioled, of 5-7 lanceolate, irregularly serrate or toothed leaflets. Cultivated from Europe, S. and W., for its fhe and sometimes runs wild along roadsides in rich soil. 21. URTICACEZ. NeEtTTLE FamIty. ioe re ss Herbs with watery juice, stem and leaves often clothe d with stinging hairs. Leaves undivided, stipulate. Flow eal ; DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 63 small, greenish, imperfect, apetalous in axillary clusters. Calyx of the staminate flowers 4—5-parted or 4—5-sepalous ; stamens as many as the sepals and opposite them, filaments inflexed in the bud and straightening at maturity, anthers 2-celled. Calyx of pistillate flowers 2-4-sepalous; ovary sessile, 1-celled, stigma simple or tufted. Fruit an akene commonly enclosed in the dry, persistent calyx.* URTICA, Tourn. Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves with stinging hairs, opposite, petioled, several-nerved, dentate, or incised, stipulate. Flowers moneecious or dicecious. Calyx of the staminate flowers 4-parted ; stamens 4, inserted around a rudimentary ovary. Pistillate flowers with 4 unequal sepals, the inner ones dilated in fruit; akenes smooth, compressed.* 1. U. urens, L. Smarty Nettie. Annual; stem stout, 4-angled, hairy, 12-18 in. tall, with few stinging hairs; branches slender. Leaves elliptical or ovate, serrate or incised, 3—5-nerved, acute or obtuse at the ends, thin, hairy ; petioles often as long as the blades ; stipules short. Flower clusters axillary, in pairs, loose, mostly shorter than the petioles. On damp soil in waste places.* 22. LORANTHACEZ. MIstTLeTOE FAmILyY. Parasitic shrubs or herbs, leaves opposite, leathery, with- out stipules. Flowers monecious or dicecious, clustered or solitary ; perianth of both calyx and corolla, or of a calyx only, or sometimes wanting ; calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, sepals 2-8. Stamens as many as the sepals, and opposite them; ovary 1-celled, ovule 1. Fruit a berry.* PHORADENDRON, Nutt. Evergreen, shrubby plants, parasitic on trees; branches greenish, jointed, and very brittle. Leaves leathery. Flowers dicecious, in short jointed spikes. Staminate flowers globular, calyx 2-4-lobed, stamens sessile at the base of the lobes, 64 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY anthers transversely 2-celled. Pistillate flowers with the | calyx-tube adnate to the ovary, stigma sessile, berry 1-seeded.* 1. P.flavescens, Nutt. AMERICAN MISTLETOE. Veryround, bushy ; branches very brittle at the joints, opposite or whorled, 6 in. to 2 ft. long. Leaves flat, leathery, or somewhat fleshy, nearly veinless, obovate, entire, with short petioles. Flowering spikes solitary or 2-3 together in the axils of the leaves. Berry roundish, white, glutinous. Parasitic on many deciduous trees.* 23. SANTALACEZH. SanpAaLtwoop FAmMILy. Herbs, shrubs, or trees with entire leaves. Flowers usually small. Calyx 4-5-cleft, its tube adnate tothe ovary. Corolla wanting. Stamens as many as the calyx-lobes and opposite them, inserted on the margin of a fleshy disk. Style1. Ovary 1-celled, with 2-4 ovules borne at the top of a free central placenta. Fruit 1-seeded. COMANDRA, Nutt. Low, smooth perennials with herbaceous stems, rather woody below, often parasitic. Leaves alternate and nearly sessile. Flowers nearly white, in small umbel-like clusters, perfect. Calyx bell-shaped at first. Stamens borne on a 5-lobed disk which surrounds the pistil, anthers connected by a tuft of hairs to the calyx-lobes. 1. C. umbellata, Nutt. Bastarp Toap-rLrax. Plant 8-10 in. high, with very leafy stems. Roots attached to the roots of trees, from which they draw nourishment. Leaves oblong or oblanceolate, pale, nearly 1 in. long. Umbel-like clusters about 3-flowered, longer than the leaves. Rocky, dry woods. 294. ARISTOLOCHIACEZ. DutTcuHMAn’s Pier FAMILY. Herbaceous plants, stemless or with twining and leafy stems. Leaves alternate, without stipules, petioled, mostly roundish or kidney-shaped. Flowers axillary, solitary or clustered, perfect, regular or irregular. Calyx tubular, 3 or DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 65 6 lobed, usually colored. Petals none. Stamens 6-12, inserted onthe ovary. Pistils 1, ovary mostly 6-celled, many-seeded.* I. ASARUM, Tourn. Perennial, stemless, aromatic herbs, with slender, branch- ing rootstocks. Leaves long-petioled, from kidney-shaped to halberd-shaped. Flowers axillary, peduncled. Calyx regular, 3-lobed, withering-persistent. Stamens 12, the filaments par- tially united with the style and usually prolonged beyond the anthers. Ovary 6-celled with parietal placentze, many-seeded. Mature capsule roundish, often somewhat fleshy.* 1. A. canadense, L. Witp Gincer. Plant soft, hairy. Leaves 2, large, kidney-shaped, on long petioles, with the flower borne on a short peduncle between them. Flower greenish outside, brownish- purple inside. Calyx-tube wholly adnate to the ovary, calyx-lobes taper-pointed, widely spreading, reflexed at the tip. Rich, shady woods, common N. 2. A. virginicum, L. VirGrnrA AsARuUM. Leaves evergreen, 1-3 to each plant, smooth, mottled, round-cordate, entire, 2-3 in. long and broad; petioles smooth or downy along one side, 3-7 in. long. Flowers nearly sessile, greenish without, dull purple within, 2—3 in. long, tube inflated below, narrow at the throat, lobes spreading. Rich, shady woods.* II. ARISTOLOCHIA, Tourn. Erect or twining perennial herbs or woody vines. Leaves alternate, heart-shaped at the base, palmately nerved, petioled, entire. Flowers irregular, solitary, or in small clusters. Calyx more or less adnate to the ovary, tubular, irregular. Stamens mostly 6, sessile, adnate to the angled and fleshy 3-6-lobed or angled stigma. Capsule naked, 6-valved, seeds very numerous.* 1. A. Sipho, L’Her. DuTcHMAn’s Pipr, PirE Vine. A tall climber. Leaves dark green, smooth, round-kidney-shaped, some- times 1 ft. wide. Peduncles 1-flowered, with a single clasping bract. Calyx 14 in. long, bent into the shape of a pipe, its border abruptly spreading, brownish-purple. Rich woods, often cultivated. 2. A. tomentosa, Sims. DuTcuMaAn’s Pipr. Stem woody, climb- ing high, branches and leaves densely woolly. Leaves heart-shaped, prominently veined, 3-5 in, long and broad. Flowers axillary, 66 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY mostly solitary, on slender peduncles. Calyx bent in the shape of a pipe, yellowish-green with a dark purple throat, limb unequally 3-lobed, rugose, reflexed. Anthers in pairs below the 3 spreading lobes of the stigma. Capsule oblong. Stems sometimes 30 ft. long. Rich woods S.* 25. POLYGONACEZ. BuckwHEAT FAMILY. Herbs with alternate, entire leaves and usually with sheath- ing stipules above the swollen joints of the stem. Flowers apetalous, generally perfect, with a 3—6-cleft calyx, generally colored and persistent. Fruit a compressed or 3-angled akene, enclosed in the calyx. Seeds with endosperm, which does not generally enclose the embryo. Stamens 4-12, on the base of the calyx. I. RUMEX, L. Coarse herbs, many of them troublesome weeds. Flowers small, usually green or greenish, generally in whorls borne in panicled racemes. Calyx of 6 nearly distinct sepals, the 3 inner larger and more petal-like than the 3 outer, and one or more of them usually with a little knob or tubercle on its back. Stamens 6. Styles 3. Stigmas short, fringed. Fruit a 3-angled akene, closely covered by the 3 inner calyx-lobes, enlarged and known as valves. 1. R. Acetosella, L. Surerep Sorrext. Erect annual or perennial herbs with creeping rootstocks. Stem simple or branched, smooth. Leaves petioled, narrowly halberd-shaped, usually widest above the middle, the apex acute or obtuse, upper stem-leaves often nearly linear and not lobed. Flowers dicecious, small, in terminal, naked, panicled, interrupted racemes. Calyx greenish; the pistillate pani- cles becoming reddish. Fruit less than J, in. long, granular, longer than the calyx. A common introduced weed, in dry fields and on sour soils. Foliage very acid.* 2. R. verticillatus, L. Swamp Dock. Perennial, stem stout, smooth, erect or ascending, 3-5 ft. tall. Lower leaves oblong, obtuse at the apex and usually heart-shaped at the base, long- petioled, often 12-18 in. long, upper leaves narrower and often acute at both ends. Flowers perfect or somewhat moncecious, in dense whorls, pedicels slender, 1-2 in. long, tapering downward, DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 67 reflexed at maturity. Calyx green, the valves broadly triangular, abruptly pointed, reticulated, a distinct long and narrow tubercle on the back of each. Swamps and wet ground.* 3. R. crispus, L. YrLLow Dock. Stout, smooth, 3-4 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate, margins very wavy, acute, the lower more or less heart-shaped. Root long, tapering gradually downward, yellow, very tough. Flowers in whorls crowded in long, straight, slender racemes. Valves roundish heart-shaped, mostly tubercled. A very hardy weed, introduced from Europe. Il. POLYGONUM, L. Annual or perennial, terrestrial or aquatic herbs, with enlarged joints and simple, alternate, entire leaves; the sheathing stipules often cut or fringed. Flowers perfect, usually white or rose-colored, each flower or cluster subtended by a membranaceous bract, similar to the stipules of the leaves. Calyx mostly 5-parted, the divisions petal-lke, erect and persistent. Stamens 3-9. Styles 2-3-parted. Fruit lens-shaped or 3-angled.* 1. P. aviculare, L. KNot-Grass. Annual or perennial. Stem prostrate or ascending, diffuse, smooth, 6-24 in. long. Leaves small, lanceolate or linear-oblong, obtuse, nearly or quite sessile. Stipules thin and dry, 2—3- cleft or cut. Flower-clusters axillary, 1-5- flowered, flowers inconspjcuous, nearly ses- sile. Calyx greenish-white, 5-parted, the lobes with white or colored borders. Stamens 5-8. Style 3-parted; akene 3-angled, not shining. A common weed in dooryards and where the ground is trampled.* Fig. 10.— Buckwheat. 2. P. Dumetorum, L. Fatse Buck- 4, flower, longitudinal sec- WHEAT. Perennial; stems slender, twining, eg, eH ase Cn branched, 2-10 ft. long. Leaves ovate, be ar ee taper-pointed, heart-shaped to halberd-shaped at the base, long- petioled. Stipules cylindrical, truncate. Flowers in axillary, more or less compound and leafy racemes. Calyx greenish-white, the outer lobes winged and forming a margin on the pedicel. Stamens 8. Stigmas 3; akene 5-angled, black, smooth, and shining. Margins of fields and thickets.* 68 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 26. CHENOPODIACEZ. Goosreroor FAMILY. Herbs or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, without sti- pules. Flowers small, regular, either perfect or more or less moncecious or dicecious. Calyx free from the ovary. Corolla wanting. Stamens usually 5, opposite the sepals. Styles or stigmas generally 2. Fruit with 1 seed, usually enclosed in a small, bladdery sac, sometimes an akene. I. SPINACIA, Tourn. Herbs. Flowers dicecious, in close axillary clusters. Stami- nate flowers 3—5-sepaled, with 4 or 5 projecting stamens. Pistillate flowers with a tubular 2-toothed or 4-toothed calyx. 1. S. oleracea, Mill. Sprnacu. A soft annual or biennial herb. Leaves triangular, ovate, or halberd-shaped, petioled. Cultivated from Asia as a pot-herb. II. CHENOPODIUM, Tourn. Annual or perennial herbs. Stems erect or spreading. Leaves alternate, usually white-mealy. Flowers small, green- FIG. 11.— Chenopodium. A, flower; B, fruit. ish, in panicled spikes. Calyx 3-5-parted, the lobes often slightly fleshy and keeled. Stamens 5; filaments thread- shaped. Styles 2-3, distinct or united at the base. Seed lens-shaped.* DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 69 ‘1. C. hybridum, L. Mapire-LeEAvep GooseEroot. A tall annual herb 2-4 ft. high. Leaves 2-6 in. long, thin, bright green, long, taper-pointed, with several angled lobes on each side, terminating in pointed teeth. Flower-clusters rather large, consisting of loosely panicled racemes. A rather common weed. 2. C. Botrys, L. JERUSALEM Oak. A low spreading plant coy- ered with sticky down. Leaves with slender petioles, oblong, sin- uately lobed or the lobes pinnate. Flowers in loose, diverging, leafless racemes. The whole plant is sweet-scented. Introduced from Europe and naturalized in gardens and along roadsides. 27. PHYTOLACCACEZ. PoKEWEED FAMILY. Plants with alternate entire leaves. Flowers perfect, 5- parted, with the characters of the Goosefoot Family, but the ovary generally consisting of several carpels, which unite to form a berry. PHYTOLACCA, Tourn. Perennial herbs. Stems tall, branching. Leaves large, entire. Flowers small, in terminal racemes, pedicels bracted. Calyx of 4-5 neatly equal, persistent sepals. Stamens 5-15, inserted at the base of the calyx. Styles 5-12, recurved at the apex. Fruit a depressed-globose, juicy berry.* 1.'P. decandra, L. PokEWrEED. Stems erect, smooth, branched above, usually dark purple, 4—7 ft. tall; root large, fleshy, poisonous. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, smooth, acute, long-petioled. Racemes pedun- cled, many-flowered, opposite the leaves, flowers white, becoming purplish. Stamens 10, shorter than the sepals. Styles 10, car- pels 10; fruit a dark purple berry. A weed on waste ground. The young branches are often eaten like asparagus, and the root, known as “ garget root,” is used in medicine.* 28. AIZOACEZ. IcEr-PLANT FAMILY. Mostly fleshy plants, mainly natives of Africa. Flowers often large and showy. Stamens often doubled and some of them petal-like. Ovary 2—many-celled. [Our only very common genus belongs to a subfamily which has little resemblance to the fleshy “ ice-plants,” found in some gardens, which best represent the family as a whole. ] 70 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY MOLLUGO, L. Low branching annuals. Sepals 5, greenish outside, white inside. Corolla wanting. Stamens 5, alternate with the sepals, or 3, alternate with the cells of the ovary. Capsule 3-celled, many-seeded. 1. M. verticillata, L. CARpPET-wEED. Stems branching and forming radiating patches. Leaves clustered in apparent whorls at the joints of the stem, spatulate. Flowers in little sessile umbels at the joints. Stamens commonly 3.