SYSTEMATIC BOTAXY, 



plaoonta," wliich applies to our seed pod; in the next line " Sejials 2; flesliy herbs" is 

 Mrong, so we try "Sepals 5 or 4; leaves opposite," etc., which leads us to Order Carvo- 

 niYLLAi'K.K, i>. 22. The description of the order is satisfactory. Evidcjitly our plant 

 belongs to the first genus named in the Synopsis of Genera, viz.: Silene, and the first 

 species under that genus is our plant, the i^roper name of which is Silene Gallica. We 

 find, too, as we always shall, that some things were omitted in our description; also 

 that all the characteristics of the plant are not given in this book. Having determined 

 tiie name, you should next write out a description, as nearly complete as possil)le, and 

 make drawings showing tlie outlines of the leaves and the separate parts of the flower. 



53. You may fiud a smooth plant bearing a loose raceme of red flowers, 

 one of which is represented in Fig. 57. The 



floral leaves are all colored, but there are 

 evidently two sets; viz. ; a calyx of 5 sepals 

 inclosing a corolla of 4 petals. The parts of 

 the flower, then, are not in threes; and, since 

 the palmately lobed leaves are netted-veined 

 the j)lant must be an exogen. Turning to 

 the key, we proceed as follows: 



54. The plant must belong in "Division I," since by carefully removing the sej^als 

 and petals we find that the latter are separate from each other. It must be found under 

 "A," for there are many stamens. The stamens are free from the calyx and corolla, /. e., 

 they are hypogynous; so we read the next line: " Pistils, few to many distinct carpels, 

 rarely one." Our flower has three distinct carpels, therefore we feel sure that it must 

 be sought under one of the next three equal Imes beginning with "Calyx." As the 

 calyx is easily shaken off from the older flowers we decide that it is deciduous. The 

 juice is colorless also. We turn, therefore, to Raxunculace^, p. 16. The description 

 of the order is satisfactory. The key to the genera begins with the heading " * Floioers 

 7-p'jular.'" Ours is not, for the upi^er sepal is unlike the others. "**Floicers iri-egtdar ; 

 colored sepals conspicuous," i^ right. We now choose between " Upper se[)al spurred,' 



and ' ' Upper sepal hooded. " Evidently the firsfc 

 is right, and the genus is Delpldninm. We find 



that tlie generic description on j). 18 fits our 

 plant. The last species being the only one with 

 red flowers, we decide tliat our plant is Del- 

 phi id am nudicaule, or the Naked-stemmed Lark- 

 spur. 



55. The order LeguininosiTO, or the 



Pea Family, is one that you will soon 



