152 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The plants of this order abound in America out of the torrid 

 zone ; not possessed of useful properties ; some have beautiful 

 fohage and flowers. 



POLEMONIUM. L. 5. 1. 



Named from the Greek, for war^ because an ancient plant of 

 great excellence was the cause of war between two kings, but 

 now unknown, while the name is given to other well-known plants. 

 Loudon. 



P. reptans. L. Greek Valerian. A handsome plant, culti- 

 vated for its beauty ; leaves pinnate, in about 7 pairs of wings ; 

 flowers nodding ; a native of North America. 



Phlox. L. 5. 1. Lychnidea. 



From the Greek, for Jiame^ from the redness of the flowers, 

 to which the name was originally applied. About 20 species have 

 been described, all but one or two natives of North America, but 

 none indigenous to New England. Very ornamental plants ; 

 several species are found in many gardens, and 17 have been in- 

 troduced into England. 



While the corolla is a slender tube with a spreading border, it 

 is always more or less curved. 



P. paniculata. L. Bears a corymb of panicled, purple, or 

 reddish flowers, with a short calyx, and a stem 2-3 feet high ; 

 the first known in our gardens. Var. alba, has fine white flowers. 



P. pyramidalis. L. Has its panicle of bluish-purple flowers 

 in a pyramidal form. 



P. maculata. L. Has a roughish, spotted stem, and pale- 

 purple flowers. One variety, raised from seed, has white flowers. 



ORDER 207. PRIMULACE^. The Primrose Tribe. 



Both floral envelopes divided into 5 divisions, rarely 4, inferior ; 

 stamens equal in number, and opposite to the sections of the 



