ZANTHOXYLACE^. 77 



OXA'LIS. 



Sepals 5, distinct or united at base ; petals much larger than 

 calyx; styles 5, capitate ; capsule oblong or subglobose. 



Gr. o|t/j, sour; the leaves of many species are of an acid taste. 

 * Acquiescent. 



1. O. acetoce'lla. 



Stemless; sco^e longer than the leaves, 1-flowcred ; /cnre.? ternate ; leaflets 

 broad-obcordate, with rounded lobes ; styles as long as the inner stamens ; 

 root dentate, sealy. Leaves palmately 3-foliate, on long-, weak stalks, purplish 

 beneath. Peduncles longer than the leaves, each with a nodding, scentless 

 flower, whose petals are white, j'ellowish at the base, delicately veined with 

 purple. The whole plant has an agreeable acid taste. Woods and shady 

 places. Flowers in June. Per. Common IVoud-surrd. 



2. 0. VIOL.V'CEA. 



Stemless; scape umbelifepous; pedicels sub-pubescent; jlovers noddincr; 

 leaves ternate, smooth; tips of the nuhjx fleshy; styles shorter than the outer 

 stamens. An elegant species, with purple flowers. Scape rather taller than 

 the leaves, bearing an umbel of 3 — 9 drooping flowers. Leaves palmately 3- 

 foliate. Leaflets very broadly obeordate. Petals recurved, striate, of a deli- 

 cate light purple. May. Per. I'iolet-colured icood-sorrel. 



** Caulescent. 



3. 0. STRICTA. 



Peduncles umbeliferous ; stem branching, erect ; leaves ternate ; leaflets 

 obeordate ; styles as long as the inner stamens. This plant varies in hjght 

 from (i to 12 inches or more, according to the soil. Stem leafy, round, smooth, 

 succulent. Leaves palmately 3-foliate, numerous, scattered, on long stalks. 

 Umbels on long, axillary stalks, about the length of the petioles. Flowers 

 small, yellow, appearing all summer. Per. Yelloui Wood-surrcl. 



4. 0. cornicula'ta. 



Pubescent; sdcjn. branching, creeping, diff'use ; /*^«rcs ternate ; ?//7!Zi^/5 short- ' 

 er than the petioles, few-flowered; 'petals wedge-form, erose at the apex; 

 styles long as the inner stamens. Grows in Woods. Sometimes called Ladies 

 Wond-sorrel. Distintruished readily by its long, creeping stems. Floweis 

 yellow, appearing in May and after. 



ORDER XXXIII. ZANTHOXYLACE^E. PrickiyAsh Tribe. 



Flowers clioBciou,s. Sepals 3 — 9, small, rohering at the base. 



Cnr. — Petals longer than the sepals, of the same number or 0. 



6Vo.— Alternate with petals, nf the same numl)er, seldom twice as many; in the pistillate 



flowers either wanting or imperfeet. Ant/irrs introrse. 

 Ova. — Usually of the same number as sepals, stipitate, distinet or united. 

 Fr. — Baccate, membranaceous or drupaceous, or 2-valved capsules. 



An order consisting of trees and shrubs, chiefly of Tropical America, only two genera 

 being found in tlie United States. 



Properties, Bitter, aromatic and .siimulant : properties residing chiefly in the bark. 



G* 



