ALLIONIACEAE 405 



which is free from or adnata to the pericarp. Endosperm variable. Embryo 

 straight or curved. 



Herbs: embryo hooked. 



Involucre conspicuous, of 3-5 or more distinct or luiited bracts. 

 Involucre calyx-like, the bracts united. 



Involucre unchanged in fruit. 1. Mirabius. 



Involucre accrescent, becoming membranous and reticulated. 2. Ai.lionia. 



Involucre of 3-5 or more distinct bracts. 

 Stigmas capitate : stamens exserted. 



Involucre of 3 bracts, 3-flo\vered : stamens 4. 3. Wedelia. 



Involucre of many bracts, many flowered : stamens 5. 4. Nyctaginia. 



Stigmas elongated : stamens included. 5. Abronia. 



Involucre wanting or imperfect, 2 or 3 bractlets to each flower. 



Inflorescence capitate. 6. Acleisanthes. 



Inflorescence paniculate. 7. Boerhaavia. 



Shrubs or trees : embryo straight. , 8. Pisonia. 



1. MIRABILIS L. 



Perennial glabrous or glandular herbs, with large tuberous-thickened roots and fork- 

 ing stems. Leaves opposite : blades somewhat Heshy, petioled, or the upper sessile. Flower 

 solitary or many flowers in a 5-lobed calyx-like involucre. Calyx colored : tube elongated, 

 constricted above the ovary : limb expanding, deciduotis. Stamens 5-6, unequal in length : 

 filaments iiliform, very slender, incurved, united into a fleshy cup at the base. Style fili- 

 form. Fruit ribbed, leathery or parchment-like, glabrous or pubescent. Seed filling the 

 pericarp to which the testa adheres. Endosperm mealy. Four-o'clock. 



Involucre 1-flowered. 



Calyx 10-15 cm. long ; tube long-tubular : plant viscid-pubescent. 1. ^f. Wrightiana. 



Calyx 3-5 cm. long; tube funnelform : plant not glandular. 2. M. Jalapa. 

 Involucre 3-6-flowered. 



Calyx 4-6 cm long : involucre 1 cm. long ; lobes shorter than the tube. 3. M. multiflora. 



Calyx 1.5-2 cm. long : involucre 1.5-2 cm. long ; lobes longer than the tube. 4. M. coccinea. 



1. Mirabilis Wrightiana A. Gray. Foliage more or less viscid-pubescent. Stem 

 erect, diffusely branched, 3-6 dm. tall : leaf-blades ovate, acuminate, 4-10 cm. long, 

 glandular-pubescent on both sides, undulate, truncate or cordate at the base ; petioles less 

 than 2 as long as the blades : involucres campanulate, 8-9 mm. high, densely glandular when 

 young, 1-flowered; lobes lanceolate, acute: calyx tubular, trumpet-shaped, 10 15 cm. 

 long, white or pink ; lobes notched : stamens exserted : fruit ovoid, about 1 cm. long, at- 

 tenuate at tlie apex, pubescent, transversely wrinkled and longitudinally 5-ribbed. 



Chiefly in valleys, Texas to Arizona. Spring to fall. 



2. Mirabilis Jaldpa L. Foliage deep green, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Stem 

 erect, 3-7 dm. tall, much branched : leaf-blades ovate or sometimes as broad as long, long- 

 acuminate or short-acuminate, sometimes sparingly ciliate, entire, truncate or cordate at 

 the base ; petioles about \ as long as the blades : involucres campanulate, 7-8 mm. high, 

 pubescent, 1-flowered ; lobes ovate-lanceolate, twice as long as the tube, acute, bristle- 

 tipped : calyx trumpet-shaped, 3-5 cm. long, deep red to purple or white, more or less 

 blotched, the edge notched : stamens exserted : fruit ovoid, black, 8-10 mm. long, wrinkled- 

 tuberculate, 5-ribbed. 



On plains and prairies, Texas, through Mexico to Central and South America. Spring and summer. 



3. Mirabilis multiflora ( Torr. ) A. Gray. Foliage more or le.ss pubescent. Stem 

 diffusely branched, 3-7 dm. tall, the branches often stout : leaf-blades broadly ovate or del- 

 toid, commonly as broad as long, 3-8 cm. long, acutish or slightly acuminate, undulate, 

 rounded or subcordate at the base ; petioles less than h as long as the blades : involucres 

 campanulate, 1.5-2 cm. long, usually 6-flowered, minutely pubescent ; lobes ovate, shorter 

 than the tul)e, acute : calyx purplish or pink, 4-6 cm. long, trumpet-shaped : fruit oval, 

 7-8 mm. long, obtuse at each end, slightly ribbed. 



In valleys, Colorado to Texas and California. Spring to fall. 



4. Mirabilis coccinea (Torr. ) Benth. & Hook. Foliage nearly glabrous, except in 

 the inflorescence, glaucous. Stems sometimes tufted, 2-5 dm. tall, forked, very finely striate : 

 leaf-blades narrowly linear, 4-7 cm. long, acute, involute, ciliate or glabrate : involucres 

 about 1 cm. broad, pilose ; lobes ovate, acute or sliort-acuminate, usually 3-flowered : calyx 

 crimson, trumpet-shaped, 1.5-2 cm. long, sparingly pubescent; tube gradually enlarged ; 

 lobes of its limb notched : stamens mostly 3, about as long as the calyx : ovary pubescent, 

 strongly ribbed : fruit oblong or slightly broadened upward, 5-6 mm. long, with rough or 

 tuberculate prominent ridges. 



On plains and prairies, southern Texas to New Mexico and Mexico. Spring. 



