Fig. 398: Brunnichia ovata: a, portion of vine, x V^; b and c, portion of stem 

 slightly enlarged to show vestiges of ocreae; d, flower, x 5; e, young fruit opened up, 

 X 5; f, mature fruit, x 2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey). 



leaves alternate, entire, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, truncate or subcordate at base, 

 acute to acuminate at apex, 3-15 cm. long; flowers in terminal panicled spikelike 

 racemes, with perianth greenish or yellow-green; achene trigonous, about 6 mm. 

 long, closely invested by the accrescent and leathery somewhat winged hypanthium 

 that becomes nearly 3 cm. long. B. cirrhosa Gaertn. 



Infrequent on edge of and in woods near streams, lakes and ponds in e. Tex. 

 and s.e. Okla. (LeFlore and Choctaw cos.), spring-summer; Gulf States, n. to 

 Mo., Tenn. and S.C. 



There is some question regarding the name of this plant since the names "ovata" 

 and "cirrhosa" were published within a few months of each other, and it is not 

 certain which has priority. 



2. Oxyria Hill Mountain Sorrel 

 A monotypic genus. 



1. Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill. 



Glabrous perennial herb, often reddish-tinged, from a fleshy taproot and branch- 

 ing crown, with strongly acrid juice; leaves chiefly basal, with a petiole to 8 cm. 

 long, reniform to cordate, 1-5 cm. wide; stipules sheathing, membranous, brownish 

 or reddish; flowering stems usually several, mostly 1-4 dm. tall, leafless or usually 

 with a single leaf below the inflorescence; flowers perfect, in panicles 5-15 cm. 

 long, crowded, several in each ochreate bract, with a slender pedicel 1-3 mm. long; 

 perianth about 1.5 mm. long, 4-parted nearly to base, the 2 narrow segments 



796 



