45 
2. MELOCHIA L. 
Shrubby plants, with alternate serrate leaves, several-flowered pedun- 
cles terminal, axillary, or opposite the leaves, a 5-cleft persistent calyx, 
spreading violet, purple, or whitepetals, and stamens and pod as in 
generic key. 
1, M. pyramidata L. Branches marked with a broad pubescent longitudinal 
line from base of each petiole: leaves ovate-Janceolate, toothed, glabrous: pedun- 
cles as long as the petioles or longer, and usually opposite to them: pods pyramidal, 
5-angled, the angles compressed and outwardly cuspidate at base.—In western Texas, 
on or near the Rio Grande, and as far down as Laredo; also on the upper Guadalu pe. 
2. M. tomentosa L. is near the last, but has leaves usually tomentose, flower 
fascicles mostly terminal on short branches, larger flowers, and a trapezoid-pyramidal 
pod with angles not so pointed.—A species-found on the Mexican side of the lower 
Rio Grande, and apt to occur within our border. 
3. AYENIA L, 
Low shrubby plants, with small leaves, minute axillary flowers, a 
5-parted calyx, petals with long capillary claws and connivent over the 
stigma, peculiar stamen structure as in generic ke 7, and rough pods. 
1. A. pusilla L. Stems mostly simple, prostrate, with minute stellate pubescence: 
leaves roundish or oblong, coarsely serrate, 8 to 16 mm. long: flowers solitary or 
few in a cluster, purple, reflexed in fruit: pod stipitate, depressed-globose, lobed, 
muricate.—Rocky places, western Texas, and reported as far down the Rio Grande 
as Eagle Pass. 
2. A. microphylla Gray. Low and shrubby, very branching: leaves very small, 
4 to 6 mm. long, roundish-cordate, obtuse, coarsely toothed, on short petioles: flow- 
ers smaller: petals dark red, with shorter claws, the blade more or less lobed and 
glandular and with a recurved acumination from the broad shaliow terminal notch: 
pod not stipitate, cinereous-pubescent and warty echinate.—Rocky and gravelly hills 
near El Paso, and extending down the Rio Grande to the ‘Great Bend.” 
TILIACEZ. (LINDEN FAmIzy.) 
Trees, rarely herbs, chiefly tropical, differing from Malracee in the 
deciduous calyx, distinct or polyadelphous Stamens, and by the 2-celled 
authers; and from our Sterculiacee by the indefinite stamens. 
1. Corchorus. Herbaceous or shrubby, with short 1 to few-tlowered peduncles 
opposite the ovate or lanceolate serrate leaves. 
%. Tilia. Trees, with ample cordate leaves, and axillary peduncles connate to the 
middle with the axis of a large membranaceous bract. 
1. CORCHORUS L. 
Mostly herbaceous, with alternate leaves, yellow flowers on short 
peduncles opposite the leaves, 4 or 5 sepals and petals, the latter some- 
what shorter, indefinite distinet Stamens, and a silique-like elongated 
2 to 5-celled pod with numerous seeds in two series. 
1. ©. pilolobus Link. Glabrous or somewhat pubescent: leaves ovate or lanceo- 
late, acute, equally serrate: sepals and petals commonly 4: pod linear, 2-valved, 
nearly glabrous, conspicuously acuminated by the undivided style.—Along the upper 
Guadalupe, the San Pedro, and the lower Rio Grande, and probably most of the 
streams of the southeastern border, . 
