588 FLORA. 



longer than the 5 calyx-segments and longer than the lobes of the disk; pistillate 

 flowers with a 5-parted calyx; capsule short-pedicelled, 4-6 mm. in diameter, 3-4- 

 lobed; seeds oval-globose, about 2 mm. long, muricate. Plains, Kans. to La. and 

 Tex. March-Sept. 



6. ACALYPHA L. 



Herbs or shrubs. Stems mostly erect. Leaves alternate, stipulate. Flowers in 

 spikes or spike-like racemes, the staminate cluster peduncled, each flower in the 

 axil of a minute bractlet, with a 4-parted calyx and8-i6 stamens united at their 

 bases. Pistillate flowers subtended by a foliaceous bract, which often equals or 

 overtops the staminate, the calyx 3-5 -parted; petals wanting in both kinds ol 

 flowers; capsule usually of 3 2-valved carpels, each I -seeded. [Greek, nettle.] 

 About 230 species, mostly tropical and subtropical. 



Staminate and pistillate flowers in separate spikes or racemes ; capsule spiny. 



i. A. ostryaefolia. 

 Staminate and pistillate flowers in the same spike or raceme; capsule smooth. 



Plant not glandular; bract palmately many-lobed, equalling or exceeding the stami- 

 nate spike. 2. A. Virginica. 

 Plant glandular; bract many-cleft, shorter than the spike. 3. A. gracilens. 



1. Acalypha ostryaefolia Ridd. HORNBEAM THREE-SEEDED MERCURY. 

 (I. F. f. 2297.) Dark green, minutely pubescent. Stem erect, 3-8 dm. tall. 

 Leaves thin, ovate, 6-10 cm. long, short-acuminate, serrate, obtuse or cordate at 

 the base, the petioles often as long as the blades; bractlets of the staminate flowers 

 minute, those of the pistillate conspicuous, lobed; capsule much depressed, 3-lobed, 

 3-4 mm. in diameter; seeds ovoid, 2 mm. long, wrinkled. N. J. to Kans., Fla. and 

 Mex. June-Nov. 



2. Acalypha Virginica L. VIRGINIA THREE-SEEDED MERCURY. (I F. f. 

 2298.) Dark green, or becoming purplish. Stem 1-6 dm. tall; leaves ovate or 

 elliptic, 2-10 cm. long, thin, coarsely serrate except near the base; pistillate flowers 

 1-3 at the base of the staminate peduncle; capsule 3-lobed, subglobose, about 3 

 mm. in diameter; seeds ovoid, reddish, striate. In woods and thickets, N. S. to 

 Minn., Kans., Fla. and Tex. June -Oct. 



3. Acalypha gracilens A. Gray. SLENDER THREE-SEEDED MERCURY. (I. F. 

 f. 2299.) Pale green. Stem slender, 1-8 dm. tall, the branches often nearly fili- 

 form; leaves lanceolate to linear-oblong, 1-5 cm. long, usually firm,.acutish, ser- 

 rate, narrowed to a short petiole; staminate spike very slender; pistillate flowers i 

 or several; capsule subglobose, about 3 mm. in diameter; seeds globose -ovoid, 

 dark red, or gray mottled with red, striate-pitted. In dry woods and thickets, 

 Mass, to Kans., Fla. and Tex. June-Sept. 



7. TRAGIA L. 



Monoecious herbs or shrubs, sometimes climbing, usually armed with stiff sting, 

 ing hairs. Leaves alternate, mostly cordate; flowers in racemes, bracteolate, 

 apetalous; staminate flowers with a 3-5 -parted calyx and 1-3 or rarely numerous 

 stamens; pistillate flowers with a 3-8-lobed calyx, the segments entire or pinnatifid, 

 and 3 styles, often united to above the middle; capsule 3-lobed, separating into 3 

 2-valved carpels. [From Tragus, the Latin name of Hieronymus Bock, 1498- 

 1553, a German botanist.] About 50 species, mostly natives of tropical regions. 



Stems not twining. 



Staminate calyx 4-lobed ; stamens 2. i. T. urens. 



Staminate calyx 3-lobed ; stamens 3. 2. T. nepetaefolia. 



Staminate calyx 4~5-lobed ; stamens 4 or 5. 3. T. ramosa. 



Stems twining. 4. T. macrocarpa. 



x. Tragia nrens L. EASTERN TRAGIA. (I. F. f. 2300.) Dull green, pilose 

 or hirsute. Stem erect, 1-4 dm. tall, branched ; leaves obovate or ovate to linear, 

 entire or repand, short- petioled or sessile, 1.5 cm. long; spike-like racemes often i 

 dm. long ; pistillate flowers several at the base of the racemes, with a 5-6-lobed 

 calyx; capsule short-pedicelled, much depressed, 8-IO mm. in diameter, sparingly 

 pubescent; seeds subglobose, 4 mm. long, smooth. In sandy soil, Va. to Fla. and 

 Tex. May -Aug. 



