Ok, 



POPULAR FLORA, 



191 



75. MIRABILIS FAMILY. Order NYCTAGINACE^. 



Has some Avild representatives far Avest and south, viz.: Oxybapiius, &c,, Avlth several 

 flowers in a calyx-like involucre, the funnel-shaped calyx rose-purple, and exactly like a 

 corolla. And in gardens Mirabilis or Four-o'Clock (so called from the flowers opening 

 late in the afternoon) is common. Here there is only one flower in the bell-shaped invo- 

 lucre, which exactly imitates a calyx, while the large funnel-shaped calyx is just like the 

 corolla of a Morning-Glory. Stamens 5 : style one. Leaves opposite, heart-shaped, long- 

 stalked. The 

 CoJiMON FouK-o' Clock or JIirabilis, from Mexico, well known in gardens, is M. Jaldpa, 



76. POKEWEED FAMILY. Order PHYTOLACCACEiE. 



Is represented with us by one, 

 and that a very common, species of 



Pokeweed. Phjtolucca. 



Sepals 5, rounded, concave, petal-like, 

 white. Stamens 10, under tlie ovary. 

 Ovary green, composed of 10 one- 

 seeded ovaries united into one: st\des 

 10, sliort and separate. Fruit a dark 

 crimson 10-seeded berry. A coarse 

 rank herb, with a thick, acrid, and 

 poisonous root, a large pithy stem, and 

 alternate oblong leaves ; the flowers 

 in racemes opposite the leaves. Low 

 and rich ground, everywhere common ; 

 flowering all summer, ripening its 

 abundant berries in autumn. 



P. decdndra. 



476. Summit of a flowering branch of Polfe- 



V eed. 



477. Fiiut-bearing' branch. 



478. A flower, enlarged. 



479. Younj fruit. 



480. Same, ci't across. 



481. Seed divided lengthwise, and magnified. 



482. Erabryo, more magnified. 



77. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. Order CHENOPODIACEiE. 



Homely herbs, with mostly alternate leaves, without stipules, and no dry scaly bracts 

 amou'T the small and greenish flowers ; the calyx enclosing the onc-eellcd and one-seeded 



