5. Croton. Flowers spiked or glomerate. Ovary and fruit 3- (rarely 2–4-) celled.

6. Crotonopsis. Flowers scattered on the branchlets. Ovary and fruit 1-celled.

c. Flowers in axillary spikes or racemes (except n. 9), apetalous (except n. 7). Stamens 8 or more; anthers erect in the bud.

7. Argythamnia. Petals and sepals 5. Stamens 10–15, united. Styles bifid, linear.

8. Acalypha. Calyx 4- (3–5-) parted. Stamens mostly 8. Fertile flowers in the axils of leafy bracts. Stigmas finely dissected.

9. Ricinus. Racemes terminal, subpanicled. Calyx 3–5-parted. Stamens very numerous; the filaments repeatedly branched. Styles 2-parted.

d. Flowers apetalous, in racemes or spikes pistillate at base. Stamens 2 or 3. Styles simple.

10. Tragia. Flowers racemose. Calyx-lobes valvate in bud. Hirsute or pubescent.

11. Stillingia. Flowers spicate. Calyx-lobes imbricate in bud. Fertile bracts glanduliferous. Glabrous.

1. EUPHÓRBIA, L. Spurge.

Flowers monœcious, included in a cup-shaped 4–5-lobed involucre (flower of older authors) resembling a calyx or corolla, and usually bearing large thick glands (with or without petal-like margins) at its sinuses. Sterile flowers numerous and lining the base of the involucre, each from the axil of a little bract, and consisting merely of a single stamen jointed on a pedicel like the filament; anther-cells globular, separate. Fertile flower solitary in the middle of the involucre, soon protruded on a long pedicel, consisting of a 3-lobed and 3-celled ovary with no calyx, or a mere vestige. Styles 3, each 2-cleft; the stigmas therefore 6. Pod separating into 3 1-seeded carpels, which split elastically into 2 valves. Seed often caruncled (ours only in §§ 5 and 6).—Plants (herbs in the United States), with a milky acrid juice. Peduncles terminal, often umbellate-clustered; in the first section mostly appearing lateral, but not really axillary. (Named after Euphorbus, physician to King Juba.)

A. Glands of the involucre with petal-like, usually white or rose-colored, margins or appendages; these almost obsolete in n. 1.

§ 1. ANISOPHÝLLUM. Leaves all opposite, short-petioled, small, oblique at base; stipules awl-shaped or scaly and often fringed, persistent; stems much branched, spreading or usually procumbent; involucres solitary in the forks or in terminal or pseudo-lateral clusters, small, with 4 glands; seeds ash-colored (except in n. 10); annuals.

[*] Seeds smooth and even; leaves entire; whole plant glabrous.

1. E. polygonifòlia, L. Prostrate-spreading; leaves oblong-linear, obtuse, mucronate, slightly cordate or obtuse at base (4–8´´ long); stipules setaceously divided; peduncles in the forks, as long as the petioles; lobes of the involucre longer than the minute not appendaged glands; pods obtusely angled; seeds ovate (over 1´´ long, the largest of this section).—Sandy shores of the Atlantic and of the Great Lakes.

3. E. petaloìdea, Engelm. Resembling the last, but half-erect and spreading; leaves longer, narrower, retuse or emarginate; peduncles longer than the petioles; involucres larger, the broadly campanulate appendages much larger and conspicuous; pod obtusely angled; seeds nearly 1´´ long.—From Iowa and Mo., westward.

4. E. sérpens, HBK. Stems filiform, prostrate, and often rooting; leaves round-ovate, obtuse or cordate at base (only ½–1½´´ long); stipules membranaceous, triangular; peduncles much longer than the petioles, at length in loose foliaceous lateral clusters; glands of the very small involucre with minute crenulate appendages; pods acutely angled; seeds obtusely angled (½´´ long or less).—Rich soil, Ill. and Iowa to Kan., and southward. Rarely adv. eastward.

[*][*] Seeds minutely roughened or transversely wrinkled or pitted; leaves more or less serrulate, smooth or often hairy.

5. E. serpyllifòlia, Pers. Glabrous, prostrate-spreading; leaves obovate-oblong, narrowed at the very oblique base, sharply serrulate toward the obtuse apex (3–6´´ long, often with a red spot); stipules lanceolate, fimbriate; peduncles as long as or longer than the petioles, at length in loose foliaceous lateral clusters; glands of the small involucre with narrow somewhat toothed appendages; pods sharply angled; seeds acutely quadrangular, slightly cross-wrinkled, often pitted (nearly ¾´´ long).—Wisc. to Mo., and westward.

6. E. glyptospérma, Engelm. Glabrous (or very rarely puberulent), erect-spreading; leaves linear-oblong, mostly falcate, very unequal at base, slightly serrulate toward the obtuse apex (2–5´´ long); stipules lanceolate, setaceously divided; peduncles as long as the petioles, in dense foliaceous lateral clusters; glands of the very small involucre with narrow crenulate appendages; pods sharply angled; seeds sharply 4-angled and with 5 or 6 sharp transverse wrinkles (½´´ long).—Ont. to Wisc., Ill., Mo., and westward.

7. E. maculàta, L. Prostrate; stems puberulent or hairy; leaves oblong-linear, very oblique at base, serrulate upward, more or less pubescent or sometimes smoothish (4–6´´ long), usually with a brown-red spot in the centre; stipules lanceolate, fimbriate; peduncles as long as the petioles, in dense foliaceous lateral clusters; glands of the small involucre minute, with narrow slightly crenate (usually red) appendages; pods acutely angled, puberulent; seeds ovate ({2/5}´´ long), sharply 4-angled and with about 4 shallow grooves across the concave sides.—Open places, roadsides, etc., common.

8. E. humistràta, Engelm. Procumbent, puberulent or hairy; leaves elliptical or obovate, very oblique at base, serrulate toward the apex, sparsely hairy underneath (4–9´´ long, sometimes with a brown spot above); stipules lanceolate, fimbriate; peduncles rather shorter than the petioles, in dense scarcely foliaceous lateral clusters; involucre cleft on the back, its (red or white) appendages truncate or crenate; pods sharply angled, puberulent; seeds ovate, obtusely angled, minutely roughened (½´´ long).—Rich soil, Ind. and W. Tenn. to Minn. and Kan.

§ 2. ZYGOPHYLLÍDIUM. Leaves opposite, on short petioles, not oblique, with stipular glands; stems dichotomously branched, erect; cymes terminal; involucres with 5 glands; seeds tuberculate.

10. E. hexágona, Nutt. Somewhat hairy (1° high or more); branches striate-angled; leaves linear-lanceolate, entire; involucre hairy without and within; glands with green ovate-triangular appendages twice their length; capsule smooth; seeds ovate.—Iowa to Tex., west to Col. and Montana.

§ 3. PETALÒMA. Uppermost leaves with conspicuous white petal-like margins, whorled or opposite, the others scattered; erect annuals, with leaves equal at base and entire, and with lanceolate deciduous stipules; involucres 5-lobed, in an umbel-like inflorescence.

11. E. marginàta, Pursh. Stem stout (2–3° high), erect, hairy; leaves sessile, ovate or oblong, acute; umbel with 3 dichotomous rays; glands of the involucre with broad white appendages.—Minn. to Mo., west to Col., also spreading eastward to Ohio, and frequently escaped from gardens, where it is often cultivated for its showy broadly white-margined floral leaves.

§ 4. TITHYMALÓPSIS. Only the uppermost leaves whorled or opposite; erect perennials, with entire leaves equal at base; stipules none; involucres mostly 5-lobed, in the forks of the branches and terminal; inflorescence umbelliform.

12. E. corollàta, L. Glabrous or sometimes sparingly hairy (2–3° high); leaves ovate, lanceolate, or linear, entire, obtuse; umbel 5- (3–7-) forked, and the forks again 2–3- (or rarely 5-) forked; involucres long-peduncled, with showy white appendages (appearing like petals), the lobes minute and incurved; pod slender-pedicelled, smooth; seeds thick (1´´ long or more), ash-colored, slightly uneven.—Rich or sandy soil, N. Y. and N. J. to Fla., west to Minn. and La., also adventive in Mass. July–Oct.

B. Glands of the involucre without petaloid appendages.

§ 5. POINSÉTTIA. Involucres in terminal clusters, 4–5-lobed, with few (or often solitary) cup-shaped glands; erect annuals, with variable, entire, dentate, or sinuate leaves, all or only the upper ones opposite; the uppermost often colored, especially at base; stipules small and glandular.

13. E. dentàta, Michx. Erect or ascending, hairy (1° high); leaves ovate, lanceolate, or linear, petioled, coarsely toothed (1–2´ long), only the lowest alternate, the upper often paler at base; involucres almost sessile, with 5 oblong dentate lobes, and one or sometimes more short-stalked glands; seeds ovate-globular, slightly tubercled.—Rich soil, Penn. to Tenn., Iowa, E. Kan., and southward. July–Sept.

§ 6. TITHÝMALUS. Involucres in a terminal dichotomous or commonly umbelliform inflorescence, 5- or usually 4-lobed, with as many flat or convex entire or crescent-shaped glands; seeds carunculate (except n. 15); ours ascending or erect, and mostly glabrous, without stipules.

[*] Perennials with entire leaves, all or only the upper opposite; involucres long-peduncled in a dichotomous inflorescence, mostly with 5 transversely oblong glands; seeds without caruncle.

15. E. Ipecacuánhæ, L. Stems many from a very long perpendicular root, erect or diffusely spreading (5–10´ long), forking from near the base; leaves varying from obovate or oblong to narrowly linear, almost sessile, glabrous; peduncles elongated (½–1´ long); pod long-pedicelled, obtusely angled, nearly smooth; seed ovate, white, sparsely marked with impressed dots.—Sandy soil, near the coast; Conn. to Fla.; also barrens of S. Ind.

[*][*] Leaves scattered, only the floral in the umbelliform inflorescence whorled or opposite and of a different shape; glands mostly 4.

[+] Leaves serrulate or rarely entire; glands transversely oval, obtuse.

[++] Seeds smooth and even; pod warty or rough.

16. E. Darlingtònii, Gray. Tall perennial (2–4° high); leaves entire, minutely downy beneath; those of the stem lanceolate-oblong from a narrow base; the floral oval, very obtuse; the upper roundish-dilated with a truncate base; umbel 5–8-rayed, then simply forked; pod minutely warty; large globular seed with a small caruncle.—Copses, N. Y. and Penn., to the mountains of N. C. July–Sept.

17. E. obtusàta, Pursh. Erect annual (1–2° high); leaves oblong-spatulate, minutely serrulate, smooth, all obtuse; upper ones cordate at base; floral ones ovate, dilated, barely mucronate; umbel once or twice divided into 3 rays, then into 2; involucre with naked lobes and small stipitate glands; styles distinct, longer than the ovary, erect, 2-cleft to the middle; pod beset with long warts.—Damp woods, Va. to S. C., west to Iowa and Kan. May–July.

E. platyphýlla, L. Erect annual (8–18´ high); upper stem-leaves lanceolate-oblong, acute, cordate at base, minutely serrulate, mostly with scattered hairs beneath; floral ones triangular-ovate, subcordate; umbel 5-rayed; involucre with ciliate lobes and large sessile glands; styles longer than the ovary, united at base, slightly 2-cleft; pod covered with depressed warts.—Along the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes to Mich. June–Aug. (Adv. from Eu.)

[++][++] Seeds rugose or reticulated; leaves serrulate; annuals.

18. E. dictyospérma, Fischer & Meyer. Stem erect (8–18´ high); leaves oblong- or obovate-spatulate, smooth, all obtuse and obtusely serrate; upper ones cordate at base; floral ones roundish-ovate or obscurely heart-shaped, slightly mucronate; umbels once or twice 3-forked, then 2-forked; involucre with nearly naked lobes and small almost sessile glands; styles shorter than the ovary, spreading or recurved; pod warty; seeds delicately reticulated.—Prairies and roadsides, Md. to Minn., Ala., and westward. May–July.

[+][+] Leaves entire; glands crescent-shaped or 2-horned.

[++] Seeds smooth and dark-colored; perennials, with running rootstocks.

E. Ésula, L. Stems clustered (1° high); leaves lanceolate or linear, the floral (yellowish) broadly heart-shaped, mucronate; umbel divided into many rays, then forking; glands short-horned (brown); pods smoothish and granular.—Mass., western N. Y., and Mich.; rare. (Adv. from Eu.)

E. Cyparíssias, L. Stems densely clustered (6–10´ high); stem-leaves linear, crowded, the floral heart-shaped; umbel many-rayed; glands crescent-shaped; pods granular.—Escaped from gardens, common. (Nat. from Eu.)

E. Nicæénsis, All. Stout and tall glabrous perennial; leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, the floral broadly heart-shaped, mucronate; terminal umbel many-rayed, the rays forking; glands short-horned; pods finely wrinkled.—A rare escape; Binghampton, N. Y. (Adv. from Eu.)

[++][++] Seeds sculptured, ash-colored; pod smooth; annuals or biennials.

E. Péplus, L. Erect or ascending (5–10´ high); leaves petioled, thin round-obovate, the upper floral ones ovate; umbel 3-rayed, then forking; glands long-horned; lobes of the pod 2-wing-crested on the back; seeds 2-grooved on the inner face, pitted on the back (scarcely over ½´´ long).—Waste places, N. Eng. to N. J. and western N. Y. (Adv. from En.)

19. E. commutàta, Engelm. Stems branched from a commonly decumbent base (6–12´ high); leaves obovate, obtuse; the upper all sessile, the upper floral ones roundish-dilated, broader than long; umbel 3-forked; glands with slender horns; capsule obtusely angled; seeds ovate, pitted all over (1´´ long).—Along streams and shady slopes, Md. to Fla., Minn., and Mo.

[*][*][*] Glabrous annual or biennial with entire opposite and decussate leaves, an umbelliform inflorescence, and short-horned glands.

E. Láthyris, L. Stem stout (2–3° high); leaves thick, linear or oblong, the floral oblong-ovate and heart-shaped; umbel 4-rayed, then forking.—Sparingly escaped from gardens, N. Eng. to N. C. (Adv. from Eu.)

2. PACHYSÁNDRA, Michx.

Flowers monœcious, in naked spikes. Calyx 4–5-parted. Petals none. Ster. Fl. Stamens 4, separate; filaments long-exserted, thick and flat; anthers oblong-linear. Fert. Fl. Ovary 3-celled; styles 3, thick, awl-shaped, recurved, stigmatic down their whole length inside. Ovules a pair in each cell, suspended, with the rhaphe dorsal (turned away from the placenta). Capsule deeply 3-horned, 3-celled, splitting into 3 at length 2-valved 2-seeded carpels.—Nearly glabrous, low and procumbent perennial herbs, with matted creeping rootstocks, and alternate, ovate or obovate, coarsely toothed leaves, narrowed at base into a petiole. Flowers each 1–3-bracted, the upper staminate, a few fertile ones at base, unpleasantly scented; sepals greenish or purplish; filaments white (their size and thickness giving the name, from παχύς, thick, and ἀνήρ, used for stamen).

3. PHYLLÁNTHUS, L.

Flowers monœcious, axillary. Calyx usually 5–6-parted, imbricated in the bud. Petals none. Stamens mostly 3, erect in the bud, often united. Ovules 2 in each cell of the ovary. Capsule depressed; each carpel 2-valved, 2-seeded. Seeds not carunculate.—Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, with small stipules. (Name composed of φύλλον, leaf, and ἄνθος, blossom, because the flowers in a few species are borne upon leaf-like dilated branches.)

1. P. Carolinénsis, Walt. Annual, low and slender, branched; leaves obovate or oval, short-petioled; flowers commonly 2 in each axil, almost sessile, one staminate, the other fertile; calyx 6-parted; stamens 3; styles 3, each 2-cleft; glands of the disk in the fertile flowers united in a cup.—Gravelly banks, E. Penn. to Fla., west to S. Ind. and Ill. July–Sept.

4. JÁTROPHA, L.

Flowers monœcious, rarely diœcious, in a terminal open forking cyme; the fertile ones usually in the lower forks. Calyx corolla-like, in the staminate flowers often salver shaped, 5-lobed; in the pistillate, 5-parted, imbricated or convolute in the bud. Corolla of 5 distinct or apparently united petals, or none. Glands of the disk opposite the calyx-lobes. Stamens 10–30, in 2 or more whorls; filaments monadelphous at base. Ovary mostly 3-celled; styles 3, united below, their summits once or twice forked. Capsule 3-celled, 3-seeded, separating into 3 two-valved carpels. Seed carunculate.—Perennial herbaceous or shrubby plants, chiefly tropical, with alternate mostly long-petioled palmately-veined leaves, and stipules.—Our species is of the section Cnidóscolus, with apetalous flowers, the staminate corolla salver-form, and the plants mostly armed with stinging bristles. (Name said by Linnæus to be formed of ἰατρὸν, a remedy, and φάγω, to eat.)

1. J. stimulòsa, Michx. (Tread-softly. Spurge-Nettle.) Herbaceous, from a long perennial root, branching (6´–2° high); leaves roundish-heart-shaped, 3–5-lobed nearly to the base, on long petioles; the divisions entire or acutely toothed, cut, or even pinnatifid, often discolored; flowers white, fragrant, 9´´ long or more; filaments 10, monadelphous only at the woolly base, or the outer set almost distinct. (J. urens, var. stimulosa, J. Muell.)—Dry sandy soil, Va. to Fla. and La. June–Sept.

5. CRÒTON, L.

[*] Sterile flowers with 4-parted calyx, as many petals, a 4-rayed disk and 8 stamens; fertile flowers with 5-parted calyx, very minute rudimentary petals, and the 3 styles 2-cleft.

1. C. glandulòsus, L. Annual, rough-hairy and glandular (1–2° high), somewhat umbellately branched; leaves oblong or linear-oblong, obtusely toothed, the base with a saucer-shaped gland on each side; fertile flowers capitate-clustered at the base of the sterile spike, sessile in the forks and terminal.—Open waste places, Va. to Iowa, E. Kan. and southward.

[*][*] Sterile flowers with 5-parted calyx, as many glands alternating with the petals, and 10–14 stamens; fertile flowers with 7–12-parted calyx, no petals, and the 3 styles twice or thrice 2-parted.

2. C. capitàtus, Michx. Annual, densely soft-woolly and somewhat glandular (1–2° high), branched; leaves long-petioled, lance-oblong or elongated-oblong, rounded at base, entire; petals obovate-lanceolate, densely fimbriate; fertile flowers several, capitate-crowded at the base of the short terminal sterile spike.—Barrens, N. J. to Ga., west to S. Ind., Iowa, and E. Kan. July–Sept.

[*][*][*] Sterile flowers with unequally 3–5-parted calyx, as many petals and scale-like glands, and 3–8 stamens; fertile flowers with equally 5-parted calyx, no petals, 5 glands, and 2 sessile 2-parted stigmas.

3. C. monanthógynus, Michx. Annual, whitish-stellate-pubescent and rusty-glandular; stems (1–2° high) slender, erect, below often umbellately 3–4-forked, then repeatedly 2–3-forked or alternately branched; leaves oblong-ovate or narrowly oblong, entire, often acutish (6–12´´ long, about twice the length of the petioles); flowers in the forks, the sterile few on the summit of a short and erect peduncle, the fertile few and clustered or mostly solitary on short recurved peduncles; ovary 2-celled; fruit often by abortion 1-celled and 1-seeded; the seed broadly oval.—Barrens and dry prairies, S. Ind. to N. C. and Fla., west to E. Kan. June–Sept.

[*][*][*][*] Diœcious; calyx equally 5-parted; petals none; stamens 10 or more; styles twice or thrice dichotomously 2-parted.

4. C. Texénsis, Muell. Annual, covered with a close canescent stellate pubescence, dichotomously branched or spreading (1–2° high); leaves narrowly oblong-lanceolate to linear; staminate spikes or racemes very short, often sessile; capsule stellate-tomentose and somewhat muricate.—Mo. and Kan. to Ala., Tex., and westward.

6. CROTONÓPSIS, Michx.

1. C. lineàris, Michx.—Dry sandy soil, N. J. to Fla., west to Ill. and Kan. July–Sept.—Fruit about 1´´ long.

7. ARGYTHÁMNIA, P. Browne.

Flowers monœcious. Calyx 5-parted, valvate in the staminate flowers, imbricate in the pistillate. Petals alternate with the calyx-lobes and with the prominent lobes of the glandular disk. Stamens 5–15, united into a central column in 1–3 whorls. Styles 1–3-cleft. Capsule depressed, 3-lobed. Seeds subglobose, roughened or reticulated, not carunculate.—Erect herbs or undershrubs, with purplish juice, and alternate usually stipulate leaves. (Name from ἄργυρος, silver, and θάμνος, bush, from the hoariness of the original species.)

1. A. mercurialìna, Muell. Stem erect, nearly simple (1–2° high), sericeous; leaves sessile, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, entire, pubescent with appressed hairs or glabrate, somewhat rigid; raceme many-flowered, exceeding the leaves; ovary sericeous; capsule appressed-pubescent.—Kan. to Ark. and Tex.

8. ACALỲPHA, L. Three-seeded Mercury.

Flowers monœcious; the sterile very small, clustered in spikes, with the few or solitary fertile flowers at their base, or sometimes in separate spikes. Calyx of the sterile flowers 4-parted and valvate in bud; of the fertile, 3–5-parted. Corolla none. Stamens 8–16; filaments short, monadelphous at base; anther-cells separate, long, often worm-shaped, hanging from the apex of the filament. Styles 3, the upper face or stigmas cut-fringed (usually red). Capsule separating into 3 globular 2-valved carpels, rarely of only one carpel.—Herbs (ours annuals), or in the tropics often shrubs, resembling Nettles or Amaranths; the leaves alternate, petioled, with stipules. Clusters of sterile flowers with a minute bract; the fertile surrounded by a large and leaf-like cut-lobed persistent bract. (Ἀκαλήφη, an ancient name of the Nettle.)

[*] Fruit smooth or merely pubescent; seeds nearly smooth.

1. A. Virgínica, L. Smoothish or hairy (1–2° high), often turning purple; leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, obtusely and sparsely serrate, long-petioled; sterile spike rather few-flowered, mostly shorter than the large leaf like palmately 5–9-cleft fruiting bracts; fertile flowers 1–3 in each axil.—Fields and open places, N. Eng. to Ont. and Minn., south to the Gulf. July–Sept.

Var. grácilens, Muell. Leaves lanceolate or even linear, less toothed and shorter-petioled; the slender sterile spike often 1´ long, and much surpassing the less cleft or few-toothed fruiting bracts.—Sandy dry soil, R. I. and Conn. to Fla., west to Ill., E. Kan. and Tex.

2. A. Caroliniàna, Ell. Leaves thin, ovate-cordate, sharply and closely serrate-toothed, abruptly acuminate, long-petioled; sterile spikes short, axillary; the fertile ones mostly terminal and elongated, their bracts deeply cut into many linear lobes.—N. J. to Fla., west to Ohio, Kan., and Tex.

9. RÍCINUS, Linn. Castor-oil Plant.

Flowers in racemose or panicled clusters, the fertile above, the staminate below. Calyx 5-parted. Stamens very numerous, with repeatedly branching filaments. Styles 3, united at base, each bifid, red. Capsule large, 3-lobed, with 3 large seeds.—A tall stately annual, with very large alternate peltate and palmately 7–11-cleft leaves (often 1–2° broad). (The ancient Roman name of the plant.)

R. commùnis, L.—Cultivated extensively for ornament, and sparingly escaped in Md., Mo., and southward. Very variable.

10. TRÀGIA, Plumier.

Flowers monœcious, in racemes, apetalous. Ster. Fl. Calyx 3–5- (chiefly 3-) parted, valvate in the bud. Stamens 2 or 3; filaments short; anther-cells united. Fert. Fl. Calyx 3–8-parted, persistent. Style 3-cleft or 3-parted; the branches 3, simple. Capsule 3-celled, 3-lobed, bristly, separating into three 2-valved 1-seeded carpels. Seeds not carunculate.—Erect or climbing plants (perennial herbs in U. S.), pubescent or hispid, sometimes stinging, with mostly alternate stipulate leaves; the small flowered racemes terminal or opposite the leaves; the sterile flowers above, the few fertile at the base all with small bracts. (Named for the early herbalist Bock, latinized Tragus.)

1. T. innócua, Walt. Erect, paniculate-branched, softly hairy-pubescent (6–12´ high); leaves varying from obovate-oblong to narrowly linear, acute at base, obtusely or sinuately few-toothed or lobed, sometimes entire, short-petioled or sessile, paler beneath; sterile calyx usually 4-parted; stamens 2. (T. urens, L.)—Dry sandy soil, E. Va. to Fla. and La. May–Aug.—Not stinging.

2. T. nepetæfòlia, Cav. Erect or reclining or slightly twining, hirsute with stinging hairs; leaves ovate-lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, or the lower ovate, all somewhat cordate or truncate at base, coarsely cut-toothed, short-petioled; sterile calyx usually 3-parted and stamens 3. (T. urticæfolia, Michx.)—Virginia (Pursh), and common southward to Fla. and Tex., Mo., Kan., and westward.—T. stylàris, Muell., of the southwest, which is reported from Kan., may be distinguished by its 4–5-parted sterile calyx, 4–5 stamens, and elongated styles.

3. T. macrocárpa, Willd. Twining, somewhat hirsute; leaves deeply cordate, ovate, mostly narrowly acuminate, sharply serrate (3–5´ long), all but the uppermost long-petioled; pod ½´ broad. (T. cordàta, Michx.)—Ky. to Ga., Fla., and La.

11. STILLÍNGIA, Garden.

1. S. sylvática, L. Herbaceous (1–3° high); leaves almost sessile, oblong-lanceolate, serrulate; glands of the spike saucer-shaped.—Sandy and dry soil, Va. to Fla., west to Kan. and Tex. June–Sept.

Order 99. URTICÀCEÆ. (Nettle Family.)

Plants with stipules, and monœcious or diœcious or rarely (in the Elm Family) perfect flowers, furnished with a regular calyx, free from the 1-celled (rarely 2-celled) ovary which forms a 1-seeded fruit; the embryo in the albumen when there is any, its radicle pointing upward; stamens as many as the lobes of the calyx and opposite them, or sometimes fewer. Cotyledons usually broad. Stipules often deciduous.—A large order (far the greater part tropical).

Tribe I. ULMEÆ. Flowers mostly polygamous, upon the last year's branches. Anthers erect in the bud, extrorse. Styles or stigmas 2. Fruit a winged samara or nut-like. Seed suspended. Embryo straight.—Trees, with alternate serrate pinnately veined leaves and fugacious stipules.

1. Ulmus. Flowers preceding the leaves. Ovary 1–2-ovuled. Fruit winged all around.

2. Planera. Flowers appearing with the leaves. Ovule one. Fruit wingless, nut-like.

Tribe II. CELTIDEÆ. As in Tribe I., but the diœcious-polygamous flowers upon branches of the same year; anthers introrse; fruit a drupe; embryo curved.

3. Celtis. Ovary 1-ovuled. Flowers appearing with the leaves. Leaves 3-nerved at base.

Tribe III. CANNABINEÆ. Flowers diœcious; the sterile racemed or panicled; the fertile in clusters or catkins, the calyx of one sepal embracing the ovary. Filaments short, erect in the bud. Stigmas 2, elongated. Ovary 1-celled, with a pendulous ovule, forming a small glandular achene in fruit. Embryo curved or coiled.—Erect or climbing herbs, with watery juice, mostly opposite lobed or divided leaves, persistent stipules, and a fibrous inner bark.

4. Cannabis. Fertile flowers spiked-clustered. Leaves 5–7-divided. Erect.

5. Humulus. Fertile flowers in a short spike forming a membranaceous catkin in fruit. Leaves 3–5-lobed. Climbing.

Tribe IV. MOREÆ. Flowers unisexual, racemose, spicate or capitate; calyx becoming fleshy or juicy in fruit. Anthers inflexed in the bud. Style undivided or 2-parted, filiform; ovule pendulous; fruit an achene, embryo curved.—Trees or shrubs, with milky juice, alternate leaves, and fugacious stipules.

6. Maclura. Sterile flowers in loose racemes; fertile in globose heads. Leaves entire.

7. Morus. Fertile and sterile flowers in separate spikes. Leaves dentate, 3-nerved.

Tribe V. URTICEÆ. Flowers unisexual. Filaments indexed in the bud. Style or stigma simple. Ovary 1-celled, with an erect ovule, forming an achene in fruit. Embryo straight.—Herbs with watery juice, tough fibrous bark, and opposite or alternate leaves; often armed with stinging hairs.

[*] Calyx in the fertile flowers of 2–5 separate or nearly separate sepals.

[+] Plant beset with stinging bristles.

8. Urtica. Sepals 4 in both fertile and sterile flowers. Achene straight and erect, enclosed by the 2 inner and larger sepals. Stigma capitate tufted. Leaves opposite.

[+][+] Plant wholly destitute of stinging bristles. Leaves alternate.

10. Pilea. Sepals 3 or 4, those of the fertile flowers unequal, all or all but one small. Achene partly naked, straight and erect. Stigma pencil-tufted. Smooth and shining.

[*][*] Fertile calyx tubular or cup-shaped, enclosing the achene. Unarmed.

11. Bœhmeria. Flower-clusters spiked, not involucrate. Style long and thread-shaped, stigmatic down one side. Leaves opposite, serrate.

12. Parietaria. Flowers in involucrate-bracted clusters. Stigma tufted. Leaves alternate, entire.

1. ÚLMUS, L. Elm.

Calyx bell-shaped, 4–9-cleft. Stamens 4–9, with long and slender filaments. Ovary 1–2-celled, with a single anatropous ovule suspended from the summit of each cell; styles 2, short, diverging, stigmatic along the inner edge. Fruit a 1-celled and 1-seeded membranaceous samara, winged all around. Albumen none; embryo straight; the cotyledons large.—Flowers polygamous, purplish or yellowish, in lateral clusters, in our species preceding the leaves, which are strongly straight-veined, short-petioled, and oblique or unequally somewhat heart-shaped at base. Stipules small, caducous. (The classical Latin name.)

[*] Flowers nearly sessile; fruit orbicular, not ciliate; leaves very rough above.

1. U. fúlva, Michx. (Slippery or Red Elm.) Buds before expansion soft-downy with rusty hairs (large); leaves ovate-oblong, taper-pointed, doubly serrate (4–8´ long, sweet-scented in drying), soft-downy beneath or slightly rough downward; branchlets downy; calyx-lobes and stamens 5–9; fruit (8–9´´ wide) with the cell pubescent.—Rich soil, N. Eng. to Dak., and southward. March, April.—A small or middle-sized tree (45–60° high), with tough reddish wood, and a very mucilaginous inner bark.

[*][*] Flowers on slender drooping pedicels, which are jointed above the middle; fruit ovate or oval, fringed-ciliate; leaves smooth above, or nearly so.

2. U. Americàna, L. (American or White Elm.) Buds and branchlets glabrous; branches not corky; leaves obovate-oblong or oval, abruptly pointed, sharply and often doubly serrate (2–4´ long), soft-pubescent beneath, or soon glabrous; flowers in close fascicles; calyx with 7–9 roundish lobes; fruit glabrous except the margins (½´ long), its sharp points incurved and closing the notch.—Moist woods, especially along rivers, in rich soil. April.—A large and well-known ornamental tree, variable in habit, usually with spreading branches and drooping branchlets.

3. U. racemòsa, Thomas. (Cork or Rock Elm.) Bud-scales downy-ciliate and somewhat pubescent, as are the young branchlets; branches often with corky ridges; leaves nearly as in the last, but with veins more simple and straight; flowers racemed; fruit much as in the last, but rather larger.—River-banks, S. W. Vt. to Ont. and central Minn., south to Mo. and Ky. A large and very valuable tree.

2. PLÁNERA, Gmelin. Planer-tree.

Flowers monœciously polygamous. Calyx 4–5-cleft. Stamens 4–5. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, 1-ovuled, crowned with 2 spreading styles which are stigmatose down the inner side, in fruit becoming coriaceous and nut-like, not winged. Albumen none; embryo straight.—Trees with small leaves, like those of Elms, the flowers appearing with them, in small axillary clusters. (Named for J. J. Planer, a German botanist.)

1. P. aquática, Gmel. Nearly glabrous; leaves ovate-oblong, small; fruit stalked in the calyx, beset with irregular rough projections.—Wet banks, N. C. to Ky., S. Ill., and southward. April. A rather small tree.

3. CÉLTIS, Tourn. Nettle-tree. Hackberry.

Flowers monœciously polygamous. Calyx 5–6-parted, persistent. Stamens 5–6. Ovary 1-celled, with a single suspended ovule; stigmas 2, long and pointed, recurved. Fruit a globular drupe. Embryo curved, nearly enclosing a little gelatinous albumen; cotyledons folded and crumpled.—Leaves pointed, petioled, inequilateral. Stipules caducous. Flowers greenish, axillary, the fertile solitary or in pairs, peduncled, appearing with the leaves, the lower usually staminate only, fascicled or racemose along the base of the branches of the season. (A name of Pliny's for an African species of Lotus.)

1. C. occidentàlis, L. (Sugarberry. Hackberry.) Leaves reticulated, ovate, cordate-ovate and ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, usually conspicuously and sharply so, more or less oblique at base, sharply serrate, sometimes sparingly so or only toward the apex, scabrous but mostly glabrous above, usually soft-pubescent beneath, at least when young; fruit reddish or yellowish, turning dark purple at maturity, its peduncle once or twice the length of the petiole.—Woods and river-banks, N. Eng. to Minn., and southward. April, May.—A small or sometimes large tree, with the aspect of an Elm, bearing sweet and edible fruits as large as bird-cherries, at first obovate, ripe in autumn; the flesh thin. Very variable in the form, texture, etc., of the leaves.—Var. pùmila, Gray. Low and straggling (4–10° high); leaves thin when mature, and smooth, slightly acuminate. River-banks, on rocks, from Maryland southward.

2. C. Mississippiénsis, Bosc. Leaves entire (rarely few-toothed), very long taper-pointed, rounded at base, mostly oblique, thin, and smooth; fruit small.—Ill. to Tenn., and southward. A small tree with warty bark. (Addendum)—Celtis Mississippiensis. Common in low river-bottoms of W. Mo. (F. Bush); described as having a very smooth trunk, like a sycamore, and soft yellowish brittle wood, not coarse-grained as in C. occidentalis.

4. CÁNNABIS, Tourn. Hemp.

Flowers diœcious; the sterile in axillary compound racemes or panicles, with 5 sepals and 5 drooping stamens. Fertile flowers spiked-clustered, 1-bracted; the calyx of a single sepal enlarging at the base and folded round the ovary. Achene crustaceous. Embryo simply curved.—A tall roughish annual, with digitate leaves of 5–7 linear-lanceolate coarsely toothed leaflets, the upper alternate; the inner bark of very tough fibres. (The ancient Greek name, of obscure etymology.)

C. satìva, L. (Hemp.) Stem 4–8° high; leaves 4–8´ broad; flowers green.—Waste and cultivated ground. (Adv. from Eu.)

Flowers diœcious; the sterile in loose axillary panicles, with 5 sepals and 5 erect stamens. Fertile flowers in short axillary and solitary spikes or catkins; bracts foliaceous, imbricated, each 2-flowered, in fruit forming a sort of membranaceous strobile. Calyx of a single sepal, embracing the ovary. Achene invested with the enlarged scale-like calyx. Embryo coiled in a flat spiral.—Twining rough perennials, with stems almost prickly downward, and mostly opposite heart-shaped and palmately 3–7-lobed leaves, with persistent ovate stipules between the petioles. (A late Latin name, of Teutonic origin.)

1. H. Lùpulus, L. (Common Hop.) Leaves mostly 3–5-lobed, commonly longer than the petioles; bracts, etc., smoothish; the fruiting calyx, achene, etc., sprinkled with yellow resinous grains, which give the bitterness and aroma to the hop.—Alluvial banks, N. Eng. to western N. Y., the Great Lakes and westward, and south in the mountains to Ga. July. (Eu., Asia.)

6. MACLÙRA, Nutt. Osage Orange. Bois d'Arc.

Flowers diœcious; the staminate in loose short racemes, with 4-parted calyx, and 4 stamens inflexed in the bud; the pistillate in a dense globose head, with a 4-cleft calyx enclosing the ovary. Style filiform, long-exserted; ovule pendulous. Fruit an achene, buried in the greatly enlarged fleshy calyx. Albumen none. Embryo recurved.—Trees with milky juice, alternate entire pinnately veined leaves, caducous stipules, axillary peduncles, and stout axillary spines. (Named for the early American geologist, William Maclure.)

1. M. aurantìaca, Nutt. A tree 30–50° high; leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, pointed, mostly rounded at base, green and shining; syncarp globose, yellowish green, 2–3´ in diameter.—E. Kan. and Mo. to N. Tex.; extensively used for hedges. Wood bright orange.

7. MÒRUS, Tourn. Mulberry.

Flowers monœcious or diœcious; the two kinds in separate axillary and catkin-like spikes. Calyx 4-parted; lobes ovate. Stamens 4; filaments elastically expanding. Ovary 2-celled, one of the cells smaller and disappearing; styles 2, thread-form, stigmatic down the inside. Achene ovate, compressed, covered by the succulent berry-like calyx, the whole spike thus becoming a thickened oblong and juicy (edible) aggregate fruit.—Trees with milky juice and broad leaves; sterile spikes rather slender. (The classical Latin name.)

1. M. rùbra, L. (Red Mulberry.) Leaves heart-ovate, serrate, rough above, downy beneath, pointed (on young shoots often lobed); flowers frequently diœcious; fruit dark purple, long.—Rich woods, W. New Eng. to S. Ont., Dak., E. Kan., and southward. May.—Large tree, ripening its blackberry-like fruit in July.

M. álba, L. (White Mulberry.) Leaves obliquely heart-ovate, acute, serrate, sometimes lobed, smooth and shining; fruit whitish.—Spontaneous near houses. (Adv. from Eu.)

8. URTÌCA, Tourn. Nettle.

[*] Perennials; flower-clusters in branching panicled spikes, often diœcious.

1. U. grácilis, Ait. Sparingly bristly, slender (2–6° high); leaves ovate-lanceolate, pointed, serrate, 3–5-nerved from the rounded or scarcely heart-shaped base, almost glabrous, the elongated slender petioles sparingly bristly; spikes slender and loosely panicled.—Fence-rows and moist ground, common. Stings few.

U. diòica, L. Very bristly and stinging (2–3° high); leaves ovate, heart-shaped, pointed, very deeply serrate, downy beneath as well as the upper part of the stem; spikes much branched.—Waste places and roadsides, rather rare. Canada and N. Eng. to S. C., west to Minn. and Mo. (Nat. from Eu.)

[*][*] Annuals; flower-clusters chiefly axillary and shorter than the petiole, androgynous.

U. ùrens, L. Leaves elliptical or ovate, very coarsely and deeply serrate with long spreading teeth, the terminal teeth not longer than the lateral ones; flower-clusters 2 in each axil, small and loose.—Waste grounds, near dwellings, eastward; scarce. Plant 8–12´ high, with sparse stings. (Nat. from Eu.)

2. U. chamædryoìdes, Pursh. Leaves ovate and mostly heart-shaped, the upper ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate-toothed; flower-clusters globular, 1–2 in each axil, and spiked at the summit.—Alluvial shaded soil, from Ky. to the Gulf States. Slender, 6–30´ high, sparsely beset with stings.

9. LAPÓRTEA, Gaudichaud. Wood-Nettle.

Flowers monœcious or diœcious, clustered, in loose cymes; the upper widely spreading and chiefly or entirely fertile; the lower mostly sterile. Ster. Fl. Sepals and stamens 5, with a rudiment of an ovary. Fert. Fl. Calyx of 4 sepals, the two outer or one of them usually minute, and the two inner much larger. Stigma elongated awl-shaped, hairy down one side, persistent. Achene ovate, flat, extremely oblique, reflexed on the winged or margined pedicel, nearly naked.—Perennial herbs, with stinging hairs, large alternate serrate leaves, and axillary stipules. (Named for M. Laporte.)

1. L. Canadénsis, Gaudichaud. Stem 2–3° high; leaves ovate, pointed, strongly feather-veined (3–7´ long), long-petioled; fertile cymes divergent; stipule single, 2-cleft.—Moist rich woods. July–Sept.

10. PÍLEA, Lindl. Richweed. Clearweed.

Flowers monœcious or diœcious. Ster. Fl. Sepals and stamens 3–4. Fert. Fl. Sepals 3, oblong, more or less unequal; a rudiment of a stamen commonly before each in the form of a hooded scale. Stigma sessile, pencil-tufted. Achene ovate, compressed, erect, partly or nearly naked.—Stingless, mostly glabrous and low herbs, with opposite leaves and united stipules; the staminate flowers often mixed with the fertile. (Named from the shape of the larger sepal of the fertile flower in the original species, which partly covers the achene, like the pileus, or felt cap, of the Romans.)

11. BŒHMÈRIA, Jacq. False Nettle.

Flowers monœcious or diœcious, clustered; the sterile much as in Urtica; the fertile with a tubular or urn-shaped entire or 2–4-toothed calyx enclosing the ovary. Style elongated awl-shaped, stigmatic and papillose down one side. Achene elliptical, closely invested by the dry and persistent compressed calyx.—No stings. (Named after G. R. Boehmer, Professor at Wittenberg in the last century.)

1. B. cylíndrica, Willd. Perennial, smoothish or pubescent and more or less scabrous; stem (1–3° high) simple; leaves chiefly opposite (rarely all alternate), ovate to ovate- or oblong-lanceolate, pointed, serrate, 3-nerved; stipules distinct; petioles short or elongated; flowers diœcious, or the two kinds intermixed, the small clusters densely aggregated in simple and elongated axillary spikes, the sterile interrupted, the fertile often continuous, frequently leaf-bearing at the apex.—Moist or shady ground, common. Very variable.

12. PARIETÀRIA, Tourn. Pellitory.

Flowers monœciously polygamous; the staminate, pistillate, and perfect intermixed in the same involucrate-bracted cymose axillary clusters; the sterile much as in the last; the fertile with a tubular or bell-shaped 4-lobed and nerved calyx, enclosing the ovary and the ovoid achene. Style slender or none; stigma pencil-tufted.—Homely, diffuse or tufted herbs, not stinging, with alternate entire 3-ribbed leaves, and no stipules. (The ancient Latin name, because growing on old walls.)

1. P. Pennsylvánica, Muhl. Low, annual, simple or sparingly branched, minutely downy; leaves oblong-lanceolate, thin, veiny, roughish with opaque dots; flowers shorter than the involucre; stigma sessile.—Shaded rocky banks, E. Mass. and Vt. to Minn., and southward. June–Aug.

Order 100. PLATANÀCEÆ. (Plane-tree Family.)

Trees, with watery juice, alternate palmately-lobed leaves, sheathing stipules, and monœcious flowers in separate and naked spherical heads, destitute of calyx or corolla; the fruit merely club-shaped 1-seeded nutlets, furnished with a ring of bristly hairs about the base; consists only of the following genus (of uncertain relationship).

1. PLÁTANUS, L. Sycamore. Buttonwood.

1. P. occidentàlis, L. Leaves mostly truncate at base, angularly sinuate-lobed or toothed, the short lobes sharp-pointed; fertile heads solitary, hanging on a long peduncle.—Alluvial banks, S. Maine to N. Vt., Ont., S. E. Minn., E. Kan., and southward. Our largest tree, often 90–130° high, with a trunk 6–14° in diameter.

Order 101. JUGLANDÀCEÆ. (Walnut Family.)

Trees, with alternate pinnate leaves, and no stipules; flowers monœcious, the sterile in catkins (aments) with an irregular calyx adnate to the bract; the fertile solitary or in a small cluster or spike, with a regular 3–5-lobed calyx adherent to the incompletely 2–4-celled but only 1-ovuled ovary. Fruit a kind of dry drupe, with a crustaceous or bony nut-shell, containing a large 4-lobed orthotropous seed. Albumen none. Cotyledons fleshy and oily, sinuous or corrugated, 2-lobed; radicle short, superior. Petals sometimes present in the fertile flowers.—A small family of important trees, consisting chiefly of the two following genera.

1. JÙGLANS, L. Walnut.

Sterile flowers in long and simple lateral catkins from the wood of the preceding year; the calyx adherent to the entire bracts or scales, unequally 3–6-cleft. Stamens 12–40; filaments free, very short. Fertile flowers solitary or several together on a peduncle at the end of the branches, with a 4-toothed calyx, bearing 4 small petals at the sinuses. Styles 2, very short; stigmas 2, somewhat club-shaped and fringed. Fruit with a fibrous-fleshy indehiscent epicarp, and a mostly rough irregularly furrowed endocarp or nut-shell.—Trees, with strong-scented or resinous-aromatic bark, few-scaled or almost naked buds (3 or 4 superposed, and the uppermost far above the axil), odd-pinnate leaves of many serrate leaflets, and the embryo sweet and edible. Pith in plates. (Name contracted from Jovis glans, the nut of Jupiter.)

1. J. cinèrea, L. (Butternut. White Walnut.) Leaflets 5–8 pairs, oblong-lanceolate, pointed, rounded at base, downy, especially beneath, the petioles and branchlets downy with clammy hairs; fruit oblong, clammy, pointed, the nut deeply sculptured and rough with ragged ridges, 2-celled at the base.—Rich woods, N. Eng. to the mountains of Ga., west to Minn., E. Kan., and Ark. Tree 50–75° high, with gray bark, widely spreading branches, and lighter brown wood than in the next.

2. J. nìgra, L. (Black Walnut.) Leaflets 7–11 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, somewhat heart-shaped or unequal at base, smooth above, the lower surface and the petioles minutely downy; fruit spherical, roughly dotted, the nut corrugated, 4-celled at top and bottom.—Rich woods, W. Mass. and Conn. to Fla., west to Minn., E. Neb., E. Kan., and southward. A large and handsome tree (often 90–150° high), with rough brown bark, and valuable purplish-brown wood turning blackish with age.

Sterile flowers in slender lateral and clustered catkins; calyx naked, adherent to the bract, unequally 2–3-parted. Stamens 3–10; filaments short or none, free. Fertile flowers 2–5 in a cluster or short spike, on a peduncle terminating the shoot of the season; calyx 4-toothed; petals none. Stigmas sessile, 2 or 4, large, papillose, persistent. Fruit with a 4-valved, firm and at length dry exocarp (involucre), falling away from the smooth and crustaceous or bony endocarp or nut-shell, which is incompletely 2-celled, and at the base mostly 4-celled.—Fine timber-trees, with hard and very tough wood, and scaly buds, from which in spring are put forth usually both kinds of flowers, the sterile below and the fertile above the leaves. Nuts ripen and fall in October. (Καρύα, an ancient name of the Walnut.)

§ 1. Sterile catkins fascicled (no common peduncle or sometimes a very short one) from separate lateral scaly buds near the summit of shoots of the preceding year; bud-scales few; fruit elongated-oblong; the thin-shelled nut 2-celled below; seed sweet; leaflets short-stalked, numerous.

1. C. olivæfórmis, Nutt. (Pecan-nut.) Minutely downy, becoming nearly smooth; leaflets 13–15, oblong-lanceolate, tapering gradually to a slender point, falcate, serrate; nut olive-shaped.—River bottoms, S. Ind., S. Ill., and Iowa, to La. and Tex. A large tree (90–160° high), with delicious nuts.

§ 2. Sterile catkins in threes (rarely more) on a common peduncle from the axil of the inner scales of the common bud, therefore at the base of the shoot of the season, which, then bearing 3 or 4 leaves, is terminated by the fertile flowers; fruit globular or oval; nut 4-celled at base; leaflets sessile or nearly so.

[*] Bud-scales numerous, about 10, successively enwrapping, the inner ones accrescent, becoming thin and membranaceous and rather tardily deciduous; husk of the fruit splitting promptly into 4 more or less thick and when dry hard or woody valves; seed sweet and delicious. (The hickory nuts of the market.)

2. C. álba, Nutt. (Shell-bark or Shag-bark Hickory.) Bark of trunk shaggy, exfoliating in rough strips or plates; inner bud-scales becoming large and conspicuous, persistent till the flowers are fully developed; leaflets 5–7, when young minutely downy beneath, finely serrate, the three upper obovate-lanceolate, the lower pair much smaller and oblong-lanceolate, all taper-pointed; fruit globular or depressed; nut white, flattish-globular, barely mucronate, the shell thinnish.—N. Eng. to N. shore of L. Erie and S. E. Minn., south to Fla., E. Kan., and Tex. Large and handsome tree (70–90° high, or more), of great economic value. The principal hickory-nut of the markets.

3. C. sulcàta, Nutt. (Big Shell-bark. King-nut.) Bark, etc., as in n. 1; leaflets 7–9, more downy beneath; fruit oval or ovate, 4-ribbed above the middle, the husk very thick; nut large (1¼–2´ long) and usually angular, dull white or yellowish, thick-walled, usually strongly pointed at both ends.—Central N. Y. and Penn. to S. Ind., E. Kan., and Ind. Terr. Tree 70–90° high, or more, in rich soil of bottom lands.

5. C. microcárpa, Nutt. With rough close bark, small ovate buds, and the glabrous foliage, etc., of n. 6; fruit small, subglobose, with rather thin husk; nut thin-shelled, not angled.—N. Y. to Del., west to Mich. and Ill.

[*][*] Bud-scales numerous or few; husk of the fruit thin and rather friable at maturity, 4-valved only to the middle or tardily to near the base; seed more or less bitter; bark of old trunk not exfoliating.

6. C. porcìna, Nutt. (Pig-nut or Broom H.) Bud-scales nearly as in n. 4, but smaller, caducous; shoots, catkins, and leaves glabrous or nearly so; leaflets 5–7, oblong- or obovate-lanceolate and taper-pointed, serrate; fruit pear-shaped, oblong, or oval; nut oblong or oval (1½–2´ long), with a thick bony shell; the oily seed at first sweet in taste, then bitterish.—S. Maine to Fla., west to Minn., E. Neb., and Tex. Tree 70–90° high (rarely 120°), on dry hills and uplands.

7. C. amàra, Nutt. (Bitter-nut or Swamp H.) Scales of the small yellowish buds about 6, valvate in pairs, caducous in leafing; catkins and young herbage more or less pubescent, soon becoming almost glabrous; leaflets 7–11, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate; fruit globular, narrowly 6-ridged; nut globular, short-pointed, white (barely 1´ long), thin-walled; seed at first sweet-tasted, soon extremely bitter.—Moist soil, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn., E. Neb., and Tex. Tree 50–75° high; husk and nut-shell thinner and less hard than in other species.

Order 102. MYRICÀCEÆ. (Sweet-Gale Family.)

Monœcious or diœcious shrubs, with both kinds of flowers in short scaly catkins, and resinous-dotted often fragrant leaves,—differing from the Birches chiefly in the 1-celled ovary with a single erect orthotropous ovule, and the drupe-like nut. Involucre and perianth none.

1. MYRÌCA, L. Bayberry. Wax-Myrtle.

The only genus.—Flowers solitary under a scale-like bract and with a pair of bractlets, the sterile in oblong or cylindrical, the fertile in ovoid or globular catkins, from axillary scaly buds; stamens 2–8; filaments somewhat united below; anthers 2-celled. Ovary with 2–8 scales at its base, and 2 thread-like stigmas. Fruit a small globular or oblong nut, or dry drupe, coated with resinous grains or wax. (Μυρίκη, the ancient name of the Tamarisk or some other shrub; perhaps from μυρίζω, to perfume.)

[*] Mostly diœcious; fertile catkins ovoid; ovary with 2–4 scales at base; nut globular; leaves entire or somewhat serrate.

2. M. cerífera, L. (Bayberry. Wax-Myrtle.) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, narrowed at the base, entire or wavy-toothed toward the apex, shining and resinous-dotted both sides, somewhat preceding the flowers, fragrant; sterile catkins scattered, oblong; scales wedge-shaped at the base; nuts scattered and naked, bony, and incrusted with white wax.—Sandy soil near the coast, from Nova Scotia to Fla. and Ala.; also on L. Erie. Shrub 3–8° high, but sometimes a tree 35° high; fruit sometimes persistent for 2 or 3 years.

[*][*] Frequently monœcious; fertile catkins globular; ovary surrounded by 8 long linear-awl-shaped persistent scales; nut ovoid-oblong; leaves pinnatifid with many rounded lobes.

3. M. asplenifòlia, Endl. Shrub 1–2° high, with sweet scented fern-like linear-lanceolate leaves; stipules half heart-shaped; scales of the sterile catkins kidney-heart-shaped, pointed. (Comptonia asplenifolia, Ait.)—Sterile hills, N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and Ind.

Order 103. CUPULÌFERÆ. (Oak Family.)

Monœcious trees or shrubs, with alternate simple straight-veined leaves, deciduous stipules, the sterile flowers in catkins (or capitate-clustered in the Beech), the fertile solitary, clustered, spiked, or in scaly catkins, the 1-celled and 1-seeded nut with or without an involucre. Ovary more or less 2–7-celled, with 1 or 2 pendulous anatropous ovules in each cell; but all the cells and ovules except one disappearing in the fruit. Seed with no albumen, filled with the embryo.

Tribe I. BETULEÆ. Flowers in scaly catkins, 2 or 3 to each bract. Sterile catkins pendulous. Stamens 2–4, and calyx usually 2–4-parted. Fertile flowers with no calyx, and no involucre to the compressed and often winged small nut. Ovary 2-celled, 2-ovuled.

1. Betula. Stamens 2, bifid. Fertile scales thin, 3-lobed, deciduous with the nuts.

2. Alnus. Stamens 4. Fertile scales thick, entire, persisting after the nuts have fallen.

Tribe II. CORYLEÆ. Sterile catkins pendulous, with no calyx; stamens 3 or more to each bract and more or less adnate to it, the filaments often forked (anthers 1-celled). Fertile flowers in a short ament or head, 2 to each bract, and each with one or more bractlets which form a foliaceous involucre to the nut. Ovary 2-celled, 2-ovuled.