234 CUSCUTACEAE. 



3. C. spithameus L. Stems finely pubescent, 1-7 dm. long: leaf-blades 

 oblong-ovate or fiddle-shaped, 4—10 cm. long^ rounded or subcordate at the 

 base: peduncles usually from the lower axils: bracts 1.5-3 cm. long: corolla 

 white or pink, 4-6 cm. long. — Common, in fields and on roadsides. 



4. O. arvensis L. Stems branched at the base, the branches prostrate or low- 

 twining: leaf -blades oblong, ovate-sagittate, or linear-hastate, 1-5 cm. long: 

 peduncles shorter than the leaves: calyx-lobes oval or suborbicular, 3-3.5 mm. 

 long: corolla white or pink, 1.5-2 cm. long. — M. Common, in fields and waste 

 places, and on roadsides. Nat. of Eu. — Field-bindweed. 



Family 2. CUSCUTACEAE. Dodder Family. 



Herbaceous i3arasitic vines, with pale foliage. Leaves mere alternate 

 scales. Flowers perfect, eymose. Calyx of 4 or 5 distinct or partly 

 united sepals. Corolla regular, of 4 or 5 partly united petals, usually 

 bearing fringed scales below the sinuses. Androecium of 4 or 5 stamens, 

 the filaments partly adnate to the corolla-tube. Gynoecium of 2 partly 

 united carpels, the styles distinct, or partly united: stigmas capitate. 

 Capsule circumscissile or indehiscent. 



1. CUSCUTA [Tourn.] L. Annual, slender, yellow or reddish vines twin- 

 ing on herbs and shrubs and adhering to the bark by means of suckers. The 

 plants arise from the ground, but later become wholly parasitic, the stems and 

 branches often matted. — • Dodder. Love-vine. 



Scales within the corolla merely crenulate : stigmas slender : capsule circumscissile. 



1. G. Epilinum. 

 Scales within the corolla fringed : stigmas capitate : capsule 

 utricle-like. 

 Sepals partially united. 



Flowers sessile or essentially so : corolla persistent 

 around the base of the fruit. 

 Calyx-lobes obtuse : corolla-scales ovate, fringed. 2. C. arvensis. 



Calyx-lobes acutish : corolla-scales obsolete or of 



several processes. 3. C. Polygonoritm. 



Flowers markedly pedicelled : corolla surrounding or 

 capping the fruit, or deciduous. 

 Capsule depressed : corolla-scales shorter than the 



corolla-tube. 4. G. Gephalanthi. 



Capsule globose and umbonate : corolla-scales exceed- 

 ing the corolla-tube. 5. G. Oronovii. 

 Sepals distinct, accompanied by nearly similar bracts. 6. C. compacta. 



1. C. Epilinum Weihe. Branches slender, lax: flowers in dense heads: corolla 

 2-2.5 mm. long; lobes acutish, about i the length of the tube: scales less than 

 i the length of the corolla-tube, divided, the lobes crenulate near the top: 

 capsules about 3 mm. long. — S. Found in a field of flax, New Texas. Nat. of 

 Eu. Not recently collected. — Flax-doddeb. 



2. C. arvensis Beyrich. Branches slender, loosely matted : corolla 2-2.5 mm. 

 long; lobes acute or acuminate, as long as the tube: scales short-fringed all 

 around: capsules barely 2 mm. long. — S. Eare, on herbs. 



3. C. Polygonorum Engelm. Branches rather coarse, often loosely matted: 

 corolla about 2 mm. long; lobes acute, longer than the tube: scales obsolete, 

 usually of 1-3 processes on either side of the filament: capsules 2.5-3 mm. 

 long. — Susquehanna valley. Occasional, on herbs. 



4. C. Cephalanthi Engelm. Branches rather coarse, seldom matted: corolla 

 about 2 mm. long; lobes obtuse, about -J as long as the tube: scales fringed 

 mainly near the tip : capsules 3.5-4.5 mm. long. — Susquehanna valley. Occa- 

 sional, on shrubs and tall herbs. 



