FRANKENIACEAE. 231 



on short lateral branches; calyx nearly glabrous, accrescent, thin, 

 5-7 cm, in diameter, light yellow in anthesis, becoming marcescent 

 in age, within hairy at base and with a small nectariferous pit; 

 capsule 2.5 cm. long, hispid with short pungent hairs, the cells villous 

 within. {Fremontia calif or nica Torr.) 



Frequent in the upper altitudes of the chaparral belt of the 

 interior region. June-July. 



Family 64. ELATINACEAE. Waterwort Family. 



Low herbs with opposite or vertlcillate stipulate entire 

 or vserrate leaves, and small axillary or fascicled regular 

 perfect flowers. Sepals 2-5, imbricated. Petals of the 

 same number, hypogynous. Stamens of the same num- 

 ber or twice as many. Ovary 2-5-celled; styles 2-5; 

 ovules many, anatropous. Capsule with septicidal dehis- 

 cence; placentae central. Seed-coat crustaceous, rugose 

 or ribbed. 



1. ELATINE L. 



Small glabrous or glabrate aquatic or creeping herbs 

 with opposite or verticillate leaves, and minute axillary 

 mainly solitary flowers. Sepals 2-4, persistent, mem- 

 branous. Capsule membranous, globose, 2-4-valved. 

 Seeds straight or slightly curved, striate longitudinally 

 and transversely. 



1. E. brachysperma Gray. Terrestrial or sometimes aquatic, 

 spreading, tufted, 2-5 cm. long; leaves oblong, oval or lanceolate, 

 narrowed at the base, 4-6 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; sepals, 

 petals and stamens mainly 2; capsule globose, about 1 mm. in 

 diameter; seeds short-oblong, nearly straight, about 0.5 mm. long, 

 marked by 6-7 longitudinal striae and 10-12 transverse ones. 



Occasional along borders of ponds toward the coast. 



FamUy 65. FRANKENIACEAE. 



Frankenia Family. 



Low perennial herbs or undershrubs with opposite 

 entire exstipulate leaves, sessile and often united at the 

 membranous and somewhat sheathing base. Flowers 

 small, perfect, solitary and sessile in the axils of the 

 branches and branchlets. Calyx tubular or prismatic, 

 furrowed, its lobes 4-5, valvate. Petals as many as 



