144 ROCKROSE AND TURNERA FAMILIES 



TEA or CAMELLIA FAMILY (Theaceae) 



Tree. Leaves alternate, evergreen. Flowers white, showy, 

 petals 5. Fruit a woody capsule with winged seeds. 



Loblolly Bay (Genus Gordonia) 



Soon after the exotic camellia blossoms in Florida 

 gardens its relative the loblolly bay opens large white 

 flowers in Florida swamps. The flowers are of nearly the 

 same size as those of the sweet bay, but differ from them in 

 being formed of five broad petals, united at the base, and 

 in being only slightly fragrant. 



The loblolly bay is sold by nurserymen, and is especially 

 desirable for planting in private grounds, for it is one of 

 our handsome native trees, and, though ordinarily grow- 

 ing in damp soil, will thrive even on high pineland. It 

 is less common in the southern part of Florida than in the 

 central and northern parts of the state. 



Tea, also of this family, is seen in southern gardens. 



Gordonia Lasianthus. Flowers white, 2-3 in. across, from 

 axils of upper leaves. Sepals 5, silky, petals 5, stamens 

 many, in 5 clusters which adhere to base of petals. Tree. 

 Leaves minutely toothed, 2-6 in. long, narrowed at each end. 

 Swamps. Blooming in spring and summer. Fla. to Ya. 

 and La. 



ROCKROSE and TURNERA FAMILIES {Cistaceae and 



Turneraceae) 



Flowers yellow, fragile, petals 5. Leaves alternate. Fruit a 

 capsule. 



RocKROSE and Piriqueta (Genera Helianthemum and 



Piriqueta) 



These fragile flowers of the sun have this in common, 

 that they drop their golden petals all too quickly. At 



