14 Addisonia 



related genera, were discovered in the western United States and 

 adjacent IMexico. 



Mcntzelia floridana is closely related to the type species, Mentzelia 

 aspera, of the West Indies, differing from it, however, rather prom- 

 inently in the less sharply cut leaf-blades, in the wingless filaments 

 of the outer stamens, and the stockier fruit. All parts of our plant, 

 except the corolla and the essential organs, are covered with barbed 

 (glochidiate) hairs. These cause the stems, leaves and fruits to ad- 

 here to one's clothing and to the bodies of hairy animals. So pro- 

 nounced is the tenacity with which the leaves cling to clothing, that 

 the plant is popularly known in its natural range as poor-man's 

 patch; it is also called stick-leaf. When a leaf becomes attached 

 to clothing it cannot be pulled off as a whole, but must be removed 

 piece by piece. The capsules are thus well adapted for being dis- 

 persed by fur-bearing animals. 



Its habitat is about hammocks and in clearings in hammocks. 

 In the dune hammocks facing the Gulf Stream this plant assumes 

 quite a different appearance from the form growing in hammocks 

 away from the shore. There the habit of growth and the leaves 

 often closely resemble the shore-sunflower {Wedelia trilobata). 



The specimens from which the accompanying illustration was 

 made were collected by the writer in Brickell Hammock, Miami, 

 Florida, April 24, 1918. 



John K. Smali.. 



Explanation of Platb. Fig. 1. — Upper part of stem, with flowers and fruit. 

 Fig. 2.— Leaf. 



