473 CIX. NYCTAGINACE^. Mirabilis. 



3. OPLOTHECA. Nutt. 



Gr. ottXo J, armor, ^nxrj, sheath ; alluding to the armed cover of the fruit. 



Fls. 5 — Calyx scarious, tubular, 5-tootlied, densely tomentose, 

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

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

 durated, muricate calyx. — X Lvs. opposite^ entire. Spikes opposite, sessile. 



O. Floridana. JNutt. 



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

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

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

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

 white-scarious, persi.stent, contracted above, enclosing the utricle. 



4. GOMPHRENA. 

 Bracts 5, colored, the 3 outer ones conuivent, carinate ; sepals 5, vil- 

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

 seeded. — Herbs aiid shrubs tcith opposite leaves. None of the species native. 



1. G. GLOBosA. Globe Amaranth. — St. erect, hairy; lvs. oblong, pubescent; 

 hds. globose, solitary, ^-leaved ; keels of the bracts -^-inged.- A tender annual from 

 India, valued for its heads of flowers, which, if gathered before too far ad- 

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

 site, axillary. Flowers purple. 



2. G. PERENNis. Pcrenyiial Globe Aviaranth. — Lw. lanceolate ; A^5. 2-leaved ; 

 fls. 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 former 

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



5. CELOSIA. 



Gr. KTjXeoS: burnt ; some of the species appear as if singed. 



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

 (nectary); style 2 — o-cleft; utricle circumscissile. — A genus of orna- 

 mental foreign herbs. Lvs. mostly alternate. 



C. cRisTATA. Cock's-comb. — Lrs. ovate, acuminate ; slip, falcate; comynvnped. 

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

 from Japan, where the flowers or crests are a foot in diameter, and of an in- 

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



Order CIX. NYCTAGINACE.^.— Nyctagos. 



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



Cal. colored, tubular, the upper part resembling a corolla with a plaited limb, falling off from the lower 



part which becomes indurated in fruit. 

 Sta. hypogynous, definite. Arrt/i. 2-celled. 

 Ova. free, with a single, erect ovule. Style 1. StigTiia 1. 

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

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



Genera 14, species 100, natives of warm latitudes. Nearly all, except the following beautiful genus, are 

 obscure weeds. Roots purgative. 



MIRABILIS. 



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

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



1. M. Jai-apa. Foiir-o'' clock. Marvcl-of-Pcru. — Z/ivs. smooth ; /s. in clusters, 

 stalked.— 11- This well-known and much admired plant is from the W. Indies. 

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

 the shops. Stem 2f high. Leaves oppo.^ite, cordate, acuminate. Flowers 

 large, very fragrant, in axillary and terminal clusters; border wide-.spreading, 

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



