472 CIX. NYCTAGINACEiE. Mirabili* 



3. OPLOTHECA. Nutt. 



Gt. oirXof, armor, ^tjkii, sheath ; alluding to the armed cover of the fruit. 



Y\s. $ — Calyx scarious, tubular, 5-tootliecl, densely tomentose, 

 subtended at base by 2 truncated bracts; sta. 5, filaments urited 

 into a sheath below ; stig. simple ; utricle 1 -seeded, enclosed in th3 in- 

 durated, muricate calyx. — ® JLvs. opposite, entire. Spikes opposite, seisile. 

 O. Floridana. Nutt. 



St. simple, erect, arachnoid-pubescent ; Ivs. linear, tapering to the base, 

 obtusish at apex ; Jis. imbricated, in short, dense, cottony spikes. — On sandy- 

 river banks. 111. Mead ! Plant 1 — 2f high, with a terminal, virgate inflorescence 

 6—10' long. Leaves 1—2' by 3—5". Spikes remote, J— If long. Calyx 

 white-scarious, persistent, contracted above, enclosing the utricle. 



4. GOMPHRENA. 

 rBracts 5, colored, the 3 outer ones connivent, carinate ; sepals 5, vil- 

 lous, disk (nectary) cylindric, 5-toothed ; utricle circumscissile, 1- 

 seeded. — Herbs and shrubs loith opposite leaves. None of the species mUive. 



1. G. GLOBosA. Globe Amaranth. — St. erect, hairy ; Ivs. oblong, pubesaent; 

 hds. globose, solitary, '2-leaved ; keels of the bracts winged. — A tender annua', from 

 India, valued for its heads of flowers, which, if gathered before too iz.r ad" 

 vanced, will retain their beauty several years. Height 18'. Branches oppo- 

 site, axillary. Flowers purple. 



2. G. PERENNXs. Perennial Globe Amaranth. — I/i'5. lanceolate* /tffe.S-Teaved} 

 jls. distinguished by a peculiar calyx. — %. Plant about 2f high, native of S. 

 America. The heads 2-leaved and terminal, resemble heads of clover. The 

 crowded, purple perianths are chiefly conspicuous. Gathered like the f )rmeT 

 species, its flowers are equally fadeless and durable. July — OcL 



5. CELOSIA. 



G/". (C7;X£oj, burnt; some of the species appear as if singed. 



Sepals 3 — 5, colored; stamens united at base by a plicate disls 

 (nectary); style 2 — 3-cleft ; utricle circumscissile. — A genus of rrna- 

 mental foreign herbs. Lvs. mostly alternate. 



C. CRisTATA. Cockh-comb. — iiv';. ovate, acuminate ; s^/p. falcate; comwo'i^c^. 

 striated ; sfike oblong, compressed. — This curious annual is said to have come 

 irom Japan, where the flowers or crests are a foot .in diameter, and of i n in- 

 tense, purplish-red. Height 2f. June — Sept. 



Order CIX, NYCTAGINACE^.— Nyctagos. 



Herbs or shrubs. Lvs. opposite, one of each pair smaller than the other. 



Cal. colored, tubular, the upper part resembling a corolla with a plaited limb, falling c-ff from th ; lowe? 



part which becomes indurated in fruit. 

 Sla. hypogynous, definite. Anth. 2-celled. 

 Ova. free, with a single, erect ovule. SD/le 1. Stigma 1. " 

 Pr. a thin utricle, enclosed within the enlarged and persistent calyx. 

 Seed with its testa coherent with the utricle. Cotyledons leafy. 



Genera 14, species lOO, natives of warm latitudes. Nearly all, except the following beautiful ge; us, are- 

 obscure weeds. Roots purgative. 



MIRABILIS. 



Calyx funnel-form, tube contracted, free from the ovary, limb ilait- 

 ed, entire, deciduous ; sta. 5 ; stig. globose. 



1. M. Jalapa. Four-o'' clock. Marvel^cf-Pcrv. — iyr.';. smooth ; _/?.s. in ch sters, 

 stalked. — 'Zi This v-'ell-Icnown and much admired plant is I'rom the W. liidies. 

 Root large, tuberous, and is one of the substances which furnish the JaLip of 

 the shops. Stem 2f high. Leaves opposite, cordate, acuminate. Fl iwers 

 large, very fragrant, in axillary and terminal clusters; border wide-spre;>ding, 

 opening at about 4 o'clock, P. M. Calyx bright purple. By cultivation is 



