XXIX. TROP^OLACE^. 199 



06s.— Tbe above are among the more distinguished and popular species of this vast andfkvorite genua. 

 Imiumerable varieiies produced from seeds and propueated by cuttings are equally common and ollen of 

 superior beauty. No eenus seems to be regarded wnii such universal favor for green-house plants 03 

 this. The species and their miUtitudesof hybriil creations, iirodiiced by modern ingenuity, are cultivated 

 with assiduous attention by nearly every family whicli makes the least pretensions to taste through- 

 out the civilized world. 



Orrer XXVIII. BALSAMINACE^.— Jewel Weeds. 



Herbs annua], with succulent stem.i and a watery juice. 



Lvs. simple, without stipules. FIs. very irregular and unsymmetrical. 



Ca^.— Sepals 5, deciduous, the 2 upper connate, the lowest spurred or gibbous. 



Cor.— retals 4. livpugynous, united by pairs, or rarely 5, distinct. 



Sta. 5, hypugjiioiis. J-'//a/«<H/s subulate. A)il>iers 2cc[led. 



Ova. 5-celleJ. i-onipiiund, Slig^nas sessile. 



Pr. capsular, 5 celled, bursting elasticaJly by 5 valves. Sds. several in each cell. Embryo straight. 



Genera 2, species llO. With regard to its properties and uses, this order is of no importance, but some 

 of its species are highly ornamental. 



1. IMPATIENS. 



Impatient, with respect to the irritable capsules. 



Sepals colored, apparently but 4, the 2 upper being united, the 

 lowest gibbous and spurred ; petals apparently 2, each of the lower 

 being united to the 2 lateral ones; anthers cohering at the apex; 

 capsule often 1 -celled by the obliteration of the dissepiments, 5- 

 valved, bursting elastically. — Stems smooth, succulent, tender, sub-pellu- 

 cid, with tumid joints. 



1. I. PALLIDA. Nutt. (I. noli-tangere. Michx.) TtmcIi^mc-noL 



Ijvs. oblong-ovate, coarsely and obtusely serrate, teeth mucronate; 

 pe(}_ 2 — i-flowereti, elongated ; lover gibbous scp. dilated-conical, broader than 

 long, with a very .short, recurved spur; fls. pale yellow, sparingly maculate. — 

 ® Wet, shady places, U. S. ! and Can. Stem 2— 4f high, branched. Leaves 

 2 — 5' long, I as wide, with large, obtuse teeth, each tipped with a very short 

 mucro. Flowers large, mostly in pairs. Two outer sepals pale green, callous- 

 pointed, the rest pale yellow, the lower produced into a conic nectary, ending 

 in a spur i' long. Capsules oblong-cylindric, 1' long, bursting at the slightest 

 touch when mature, and scattering the seed. Aug. 



2. I. FULVA. Nutt. (I. noli-tangere. /?. Michx.) Jewel-weed. 



Lvs. rhombic-ovate, obtusish, coarsely and obtusely serrate, teeth mucro- 

 nate ; pcd. 2 — 4-flowered, short ; loivcr gibbon.s sep. acutely conical, longer than 

 broad, with an elongated, recurved spur ;/5. deep orange, maculate with many 

 brown spots. — ® In wet, shadv grounds, Can. to Ga., more common than the 

 last, somewhat glaucous.— Stem U— 3f high. Leaves 1—3' long, § as wide, 

 having like the last, a few filiform teeth at the base. Flowers about 1' in 

 length, the recurved spur of the lower sepal i' long. Capsule as in the last. Aug. 



3. I. BalsamIna. Garden Balsaviine. — Lvs. lanceolate, serrate, upper ones 

 alternate ; ped. clustered; spur sYiovier than the flower. — (l) From the E. Indies. 

 It is one of the most beautiful of garden annuals, forming a showy pyramid of 

 finely variegated, carnation-like flowers. The prevailing colors of the petals 

 are red and white, but the former varies in every possible shade ( '" crimson, 

 scarlet, purple, pink and flesh-color. The flowers are often double. , 



Order XXIX. TROP^OLACE^.— TRoniYwoRxs. 



Plants herbaceous, smooth, climbing or twining, with a pungent, watery juice. 



Lvs. peltate or palmate. FIs. irregular. 



Ca^— Sepals 5. colored, united, the lower one spurred. 



Cor.— Petals 5, the three lower ones stalked, the 2 upper inserted on the caJy.\. 



SM. 8, di.sitinct, unec|iial. 



Oca. of 3 united carpels. StyJe\. Stisfmas'i. 



Fr. separating into 3 indehiscent, Iseeded nuts. S(fo. large. Albumen 0. 



Genera 3, .-species 40, natives of S. America. They possess the same antiscorbutic properties as the 

 CruciferiE. The fruit of the following species is pick'ed and used as a substitute tor capers. 



