396 ILLKCEBRACE^. (KNOTWORT FAMILY.) 



or iiiiiiiv-t k'ft. Horry uenrlv globose, at li-iigili dry. Kiiil)ryo formiii<:; a ring 

 ariiiiiitl tlie i-opious all)Uiiieii. ('ntyli'ilnns tioiiiewlial leafy, fonvulute. — 

 Slirulis, witli alternate luiiiiitely stipulate petioloil leaves, and small white or 

 rose-iolond tlowcrs in axillary and terminal racemes. Uracts deciduous. 



1. R. humilis, I- Closely pulieseent or glabrous; stem with spreading 

 branches ; leaves oblong-ovate, rounded at the base, tapering but obtuse 

 at the summit, on long filiform petioles; racemes slender, longer than the 

 leaves; calyx lobes obovate, pale rose-color; berry rounded, compressed. 

 — South Florida. — Shrub 1^-2° high. Leaves \'-S' long. Flowers and 

 berries 1" - 1 J" long. 



3. PHYTOLACCA, Tourn. Pokeweed. 



Calyx .'i-bracted, 5-parted ; tlie lobes petal-like, rounded. Stamens 5-2.5: 

 anthers elliptical. Ovary comitouiul. Styles ."i - 1 2, short, di.><tinct, recurved at 

 the apex, ."itiginatic within. Fruit a (lej)re.s.<cd globose berry, containing 5- 

 12 Due-.seeded indehiscent carpels united in a circle. Embryo forming a ring 

 around the central allmmen. Cotyledons linear. — I<>ect brandling herbs, 

 with entire peti(jled leaves. F'lowers iu racemes opposite the leaves. 



1. P. decandra, L. Smooth; stem very stout (2° -12° high) ; leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate, acute ; racemes many-flowered, as long as the leaves ; flowers 

 white, turning purpli.«;h ; stamens, styles, and carpels 10. — ^largins of fields 

 and uncultivated ground. July -Sept. ^ — Root large. Eerry black. 



Order 107. ILLECEBRACE^E. (Knotwort Family.) 



Herbs with oppo.^ite entire leaves, dry scarious stipules, and small 

 cyniose or clustered flowers. — Calyx of 5 moi"e or less united sepals. 

 Stamens 2-5, in.serted on the calyx, and often with bri.stle-like sterile 

 ones interposed. Styles 2, separate or united. Fruit a 1-seeded utricle. 

 Embryo circular, enclosing mealy albumen. 



Synopsis. 



1. PARONYCHIA. Sepals united at the base. Stamens inserted on the base of the sepals. 



Style long. Utricle included. 



2. ANYCHIA. Sepals distinct. Stamens inserted on the base of the sepals. Style very 



short. Utricle partly exserted. 



3. SIPHONYCHIA. Sepals united into a tube below the middle. Stamens inserted on the 



tube of the calyx. Style long. ^^ 



1. PARONYCHIA, Tourn. 



Sepals .5, united at the ba.se, concave and mucronate or awned at the apex. 

 Sterile stamens bristle-like or tooth-like, alternate with the 5 fertile ones and 

 inserted with them on the base of the calyx. Style long, 2-cleft. Utricle 

 included. Seed resupinate. Radicle superior or ascending. — Low herbs, 

 with conspicuous silvery stipules, and minute flowers in loose or compact 

 cymes. 



