784 HY PERICACEAE 
to the corolla. Ovary with basal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, or rarely 2 or 5, short. Fruit 
capsular. Seeds numerous. Endosperm wanting. 
1. Tamarix Gállica L. A shrub or a small tree, with slender spreading branches, 
the branchlets very numerous, approximate or clustered, completely clothed with the 
imbricated scale-like acute leaves which are 1 mm. long or less: spikes numerous, in con- 
spicuous panicles : sepals triangular, about 0.5 mm. long: petals white or pinkish : capsule 
‘pyramidal, about 1 mm. long. 
On roadsides, in thickets and in waste places. warmer parts of the southern United States. Natu- 
ralized from southern Europe. Spring. TAMARISK. 
FAMILY 5. FOUQUIERACEAE DC. Coacnu-wHIP FAMILY. 
Shrubs or trees, with soft wood, the short branches greatly out of proportion 
to thenarrowly conictrunk. Leaves solitary or clustered on the spiny branches : 
blades thick, entire. Flowers perfect, in thyrsoid panicles. Calyx of 5 dis- 
tinct sepals. Corolla crimson, of 5 well united petals, the lobes recurved. 
Androecium of 10—many stamens, in 1 or 2 series. Filaments partially adnate 
to the corolla. Gynoecium 3-carpellary. Ovary 1-celled, but with 8 septum- 
like parietal placentae. Styles united, elongated. Fruit capsular. Seeds few, 
each with a wing or a fringe of white hairs. Endosperm present. 
» 
1. FPOUQUIERA H.B.K. 
Characters of the family. CANDLEWOOD. 
1. Pouquiera spléndens Engelm. A shrub or a tree, sometimes 7 m. tall, the gray 
ridges of some of the branches terminating in spines : leaves clustered ; blades oblong to 
spatulate, leathery, 1-2.5 cm. long, obtuse : flowers short-pedicelled : sepals 5-6 mm. long, 
rounded at the apex : corolla scarlet or brick-red, about 1.5 mm. long, the lobes ovate to 
triangular, 3-4 mm. long, recurved : capsules conie, 7-10 mm. long. 
In roeky soil, southern Texas to California and adjacent Mexico. Spring. JAcoB's STAFF. 
OcoTILLO. COACH-WHIP. 
FAMILY 6. HYPERICACEAE Lindl. Sr. JoHN's-WORT FAMILY. 
Herbs orshrubby plants. Leaves opposite or rarely whorled, without stipules : 
blades pellucid-punctate, entire or nearly so, sometimes reduced to scales. Flow- 
ers perfect, regular or nearly so, in cymes. Calyx of 4-5 herbaceous equal or 
unequal sepals. Corolla of 4-5 yellow or flesh-colored petals. Androecium of 
few or many stamens, commonly collected in 3 or 5 groups, sometimes accompanie 
by interposed glands. Filaments slender. Anthers 2-celled, versatile. Gynoe- 
cium of several united carpels. Ovary sessile, 1-celled, with parietal placentae, 
or 3-7-celled with axile placentae. Styles distinct or united. Stigmas often 
capitate. Fruit a septicidally dehiscent capsule seated in the persistent calyx. 
Seeds small, without endosperm. 
Sepals 4, in more or less unequal pairs: petals mostly 4. 
Pairs of sepals very unequal in size or shape or both, the outer pair enclosing the ve 
. ASCYRUM. 
Pairs of sepals nearly equal in size and shape, much surpassed by the capsule. 2. CROOKEA. 
pee. cao E MM mostly 5. 
etals yellow.  . 
Leaves with flat more or less spreading blades. 3. HYPERICUM- 
Lv cet to erect or appressed minute or slightly elongated scales without 4, SAROTHRA- 
es. a 
Petals pink sometimes tinged with green or purple. ; 5. TRIAD : 
1. ASCYRUM L. 
Low shrubs, with 2-edged branches. Leaves small: blades entire, sessile or clasping- 
Flowers yellow, terminal, often showy. Sepals 4, very unequal, the 2 exterior much larger 
than the inner. Petals 4, equal, oblique, convolute. Stamens numerous: filaments Qi. 
tinct or slightly united at the base: anthers adnate; sacs opening lengthwise- Glan 
wanting. Ovary 1-celled, with 2-3, or rarely 4, parietal placentae: styles distinct or coher- 
ing at the base. Ovules numerous. Capsules narrowed upward, embraced by the outer 
sepals. Seeds numerous, straight or nearly so. St. PETER'S-WORT. 
