KOSACEiE. 108 SPIRiBA. 



Fil. shorter tlian cor., inserted in the throat of cal. Ova. ovate, flattened, in 

 the bottom of the cal. Styles lateral, as long as the stamens. 



A. eupato'ria. 



Stem-leaves pinnate, the odd one petiolate ; fniit hispid. This plant is com- 

 mon bv road-sides, margins of fields, &c. Stem angular, hairy, 2 feet higii. 

 Leaves interruptedly pinnate, the leaflets ovate, acutely toothed, smoothisii, 

 sessile, the terminal one stalked. Flowers yellow, scattered in along, slender 

 spike. Calyx half as long as the petals, persistent, hispid, with hooked bris- 

 tles. The plant is bitter, aromatic, astringent and tonic. In June and July, 

 when in flower, it dyes wool a nankeen color; in September, a darker hue. 

 Per. Jigriiiiony. 



p. parviflora. Stem-leaves pinnate, the odd one sessile ; fruit hispid. Fields. 

 Stem 2 feet high. Leaflets mostly linear-lanceolate, serrate. Petals once and 

 a half the length of the calyx. Flowers small, yellow. Jl. Per. 



17. POTE'RIUM. 



Flowers monoecious. S/en'/e, — calyx of 4 leaves; corolla 

 4-parted ; stamens 30 — 40. Fertile^ — calyx of 4 leaves ; cor- 

 olla 4-parted; ovaries 2; fruit 2-celled, invested with the 

 calyx. 



Literally a drinking vessel, and hence a beverage; the plant is used as 

 inirredient in some medicinal drinks. 



P. sanguiso'rba. 



Unarmed; siem subangular; stamens much longer than the calyx. From 

 Europe. The Burnet is less valued in medicine than formerly. The leaves, 

 when bruised, smell like cucumbers, and are used as a salad. Jn. Per. 



Burnet. 



18. S P I R iE' A . 

 Calyx inferior, 5-cleft; petals 5; stamens 10 — 50, exsert; 

 carpels distinct, follicular, 1-celled, 2-valved, 1 — 3-seeded. 



Gr. ffTfUgov, a coil or wreath ; in allusion to the spire-like form of the clus- 

 ters. Cal. spreading. Pet. roundish. Fil. numerous, nearly as long as cor. 

 Caps, as many as the stig. — Unarmed shrubs or perennial iierbs. 



1. S. TOMENTO'SA. 



Leaves lanceolate, unequally serrate, tomcntose beneath; floipers doubly 

 racemed. A shrubby plant about 3 feet high, very common in pastures and 

 low grounds. The stem is woody, hard, brittle, and consequently very trouble- 

 some to the scythe of the mower. Leaves leathery, dark green above, whitish 

 and downy beneath. Flowers small, purplish, with numerous and conspicu- 

 ous stamens, forming dense, conical and terminal clusters, of some beauty. 

 The fruit which succeeds, remains upon the dead stalks during winter, furnish- 

 ing food for the snow-bird. July. Aug. Hard-hack. 



2. S. SALICIFo'lIA. L. S. alba. Mx. 



XeaTJCs elliptical-lanceolate, serrate, smooth ; _^f)7ccrs panicled. A slender 

 shrub, 3 or 4 feet high, in meadows, «fec., distinguished from the foregoing by 

 smooth leaves and whiter, larger, thinner clusters of flowers. Stem reddish, 



