166 TETRANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. galicm. 



3. G. tlnctorium L. : stem diffuse, smoothish ; leaves 

 linear, somewhat acute ; slightly scabrous ; those of the stem 

 in sixes ; of the branches in fours ; peduncles elongated, 

 mostly 3-flowered. Sp. pi. 153. fViUd. Spec, I. p. 586. 

 Pursh Fl. I. p. 102. Big, Bost. p. 36? R o e m, ^ 

 Schult, III. p. 222. 



Hoot perennial. Stem about a foot high, weak, generally erect j 

 branches short. Leaves about three fourths of an inch long, 

 and about a line broad. Flowers as in the preceding species, 

 but the corolla is generally 4-cleft. 



Hab. In low grounds, among thickets. July. 



I believe this is nothing more than a variety of G. trifidum. 

 The cauline leaves, with us, seldom occur more than five 

 in a whorl. According to Ka I m the roots are used by the 

 Indians for dying a red colour. 



4. G. asprellum Mich. : stems diffuse, much branched, 

 jretrorsely aculeate ; leaves in fives and sixes, lanceolate, acu- 

 minate, aculeate on the nerves and margin ; pedicels short. 

 J\I i c h. Fl, I. p. 78. Pursh Fl, I. p. 103. B i g. Bost. 

 p. 36. i^oem. (^ Sc Am n. III. p. 222. 



Root perennial. Stem a foot and a half or two feet in height, 

 covered with conspicuous prickles, slender, generally supported 

 by the plants around it, very leafy. Stem leaves in fives and 

 sixes ; those on the branches often in fours, about half an inch 

 long, much acuminate. Flowers mostly situated on the upper 

 part of the stem, ternate, or in pairs. Corolla white. 



Hab. In shady swampy places ; more rare than No. 2. June-=- 

 July. 



* * Fruit hisfiid. 



5. G, Sparine L. : leaves 6 or 8 in a whorl, obovate.- 

 Janceolate, hispid above ; margin and keel prickly ; stem flac- 

 cid, retrorsely aculeate ; fruit with uncinate bristles. W Hid. 

 Spec. I. p. 597. Pursh Fl, I. p. 1 03. B i g. Bost. p. 37. 

 Eng. Bot. t. 816. Roem. <S^ So hull. 111. p. 257. 



Root annual. Stem 3 or 4 feet long, procumbent or supported 

 by other plants ; branches short. Whorls remote. Leaves 

 about an inch long, mucronate, tapering towards the base. 

 Flowers on axillary and terminal elongated pedicels. Corolla 

 white. Fruit covered with white hooked bristles, by which it 

 adheres to the coats of animals, and is thus dispersed. 



Hab. In moist thickets ; common. May — June. 



6. G. brachiatum Ph. : stem flaccid, elongated, brachiate- 

 ramose, hispid ; branches short; leaves in sixes, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, smooth ; margin and keel setaceously ciliate ; 

 floriferous branches larger than the whorls, divaricate and 



