GENUS 3. HYDRANGEA FAMILY. 233 



Petals 7-10, narrow. Stamens 20-30, inserted on the disk; filaments subulate. Ovary 5-10- 

 celled, io-15-ribbed, its apex conic; style thick; stigma capitate, 5-io-lobed; ovules <*>. 

 Capsule fragile, ribbed, opening between the ribs. Seeds numerous, the testa membranous, 

 reticulated, produced into a club-shaped appendage. [Latin, decent, ten ; the parts being 

 often in ID'S.] 



A monotypic eenus of southeastern North America. 



I. Decumaria barbara L. Decumaria. 

 Fig. 2192. 



D. barbara L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 1663. 1763. 



Glabrous, or the shoots pubescent, climb- 

 ing by aerial rootlets to a height of several 

 feet. Petioles \'-\' long; leaves ovate, 

 acute or obtuse at the apex, rounded or 

 narrowed at the base 2'-^' long, entire or 

 repand-denticulate, sometimes pubescent on 

 the veins of the lower surface, glabrous 

 and shining above; corymbs terminal, com- 

 pound, 2'-3' broad ; flowers white, fragrant, 

 3 "-4" broad ; calyx-teeth deciduous ; cap- 

 sule top-shaped, 2"-3" high, tipped with the 

 conic persistent style, opening between the 

 ribs and remaining on the plant after the 

 seeds fall away. 



In swamps, southeastern Virginia to Flor- 

 ida, west to Louisiana. May-June. 



Family 49. ITEACEAE Agardh, Theor. Syst. PI. 151. 



VIRGINIA WILLOW FAMILY. 

 Consists of the following genus : 



1858. 



i. ITEA L. Sp. PI. 199. 1753. 



Shrubs or small trees, with simple alternate petioled deciduous leaves, no stipules, and 

 small white flowers in terminal narrow racemes. Calyx-tube obconic or campanulate, 

 5-lobed, its base adnate to the ovary. Petals 5, linear, their apices inflexed. Stamens 5, 

 inserted on the disk. Ovary 2-celled ; style slender ; stigma 2-grooved in our species ; ovules 

 few or numerous. Capsule oblong or narrowly conic, 2-valved, several-many-seeded. Seeds 

 narrow, flattish, the testa produced at each end. [Greek for willow, which its leaves 

 somewhat resemble.] 



About 5 species, natives of the eastern United 

 States and Asia. The following typical species is 

 the only one known to occur in North America. 



i. Itea virginica L. Itea. Virginia 

 Willow. Fig. 2193. 



Itea virginica L. Sp. PI. 199. 1753. 



A shrub 4-io high, the twigs and inflores- 

 cence finely pubescent. Leaves short-petioled, 

 narrowly oval, oblanceolate or rarely obovate, 

 i '-3' long, acute or acuminate at the apex, 

 narrowed at the base, sharply serrulate, gla- 

 brous, or with a few hairs along the veins be- 

 neath; racemes terminal, dense, 2'-6' long; 

 flowers short-pedicelled ; petals linear, erect or 

 slightly spreading, about 2*" long; capsule 

 2-grooved, 2"-$" long, pubescent, narrow, tipped 

 with the persistent at length 2-parted style. 



In wet places, pine barrens of New Jersey, and 

 eastern Pennsylvania to Florida, west to western 

 North Carolina, Missouri and Louisiana. May- 

 June. 



