SANTALACE^ SANDAL WOOD FAMILY 



Comandra umbellata, (L.) Nutt. 



Greenish-white Bastard Toadflax. 



April-July 



Comandra: Greek meaning a hairy man, in allusion to 



the hairs on the calyx lobes. 

 Umbellata: Latin diminutive for shade. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Commons. 



THE PLANT: erect, six inches to tweive inches high; the 

 stem usually branched, without hairs, brittle. The plant 

 forms parasitic attachments to the roots of other plants, 

 particularly those of the Heath Family, as, for example, 

 to the Mealy-plum Vine (Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi). 



THE LEAVES: numerous, especially above; partially erect; 

 alternate; light green; oblong to oblong-lanceolate; one 

 half inch to one inch long; the lower smaller than the upper; 

 acute or acutish at both ends; stemless or nearly so; 

 entire; the pale mid-rib prominent beneath. 



THE FLOWERS: small, on thread-like stems in corymbose 

 cymes which are terminal or axillary; the calyx greenish- 

 white or purplish; the five petals white; sometimes tinged 

 with purple. 



THE FRUIT: drupe-like or nut-like, crowned by the per- 

 sistent calyx lobes. 



Not an exciting plant ; on the contrary a rather sickly, 

 green and stiff one, with whitish flowers clustered at the 

 top of the leafy stem somewhat as Sweet Alyssum heads 



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