1"'2 MKI.ASTOMACK.i:. (.MKLASTO.M.V lAMILV.) 



colu'ring witli tlic ovary Ix'low, or Mith its angles. Petals J - 0, twisted in 

 tliu bud, inserted witli tlie 4-12 stamens on the throat of the ealyx. An- 

 thers adnate, often appendaged, usually opening by terminal pores. Ovary 

 3-G-eelled. Ovules numerous, attaehed to the central ])laeentii'. Style 

 solitary. Fruit baeeate and indeliiseent, or capsular and loeulieidally de- 

 Iiiscent. Seeds anatropous, Mitliout albumen. 



1. RHEXIA, L. Deer-Gra.ss. 



Calyx-tiil)C prolonged and narrowed above tlic ovary, 4-ckft. Petals 4, round- 

 ish, deciduous. Stamens 8. Anthers 1 -celled, opcninj^ by a terminal pore. 

 Capsule 4-celled, many-seeded. — Perennial herbs. Leaves 3-.5-rihbed. I'low- 

 ers cymose, terminal. 



* Anthers long, linear, curvinf/ upward, saccate at the base, and couimonlij furnished 

 with a bristle-like appenduije at the insaiion of the filaments : flowers purple or 

 whitish. 



1. B,. Mariana, L. Bristly; stem branched, terete or 6-angled ; leaves 

 lanceolate, acute, sliort-])ctiolcd, bristly serrate ; caly.\ mosth' smooth, cylindri- 

 cal in flower, the neck in fruit as long as the glol)ose ca))su]:ir portion ; flowers 

 purole. — Varies with narrower, often linear leaves, and smaller wliitish flowers. 

 (R. lanceolata. Wall.) — Swamps, Florida to Mississippi, and northward. July 

 -Sejjt. — Stem 10-2° high. Leaves 3-ribbed. Flowers U'-2' wide, hairy 

 externally. 



2. R. Virginica, L. Bristly; stem 4-angled, nearly simple ; leaves ovate 

 and ovate-lanceolate, barely acute, sessile, bristly serrate, the lowest rounded ; 

 neck of die bristly fruiting calyx shorter than the capsular portion ; the lobes 

 ovate, acuminate. — Swamps, chiefly in the ui)per districts, Mississij)pi, and 

 northward. July and August. — Stem 6'- 12' higli. Leaves 3-5-ribbed. 

 Flowers purple. 



3. R. stricta, Pursh. Stem tall, smooth, 4-winged, bearded at the joints ; 

 leaves lanceolate and ovate-lanceolate, acute or acununate, .5-ribbed, bristly ser- 

 rate, sessile ; cyme com])ound ; calyx smooth, urn-sha])ed, the lobes lanceolate. 

 — Margins of ponds in the pine barrens. Florida, Georgia, and westward. July 

 and August. — Stem 2° - 4° high. Leaves nigosc, tlic lateral ribs obscure. 

 Flowers purple. 



4. R. glabella, Michx. Stem terete, smooth, mosdy simple ; leaves 

 lanceolate, sessile, entire or slightly serrulate, thick, smooth and glaucous ; calyx 

 smooth or bristly ; flowers large, bright purple. — Low pine barrens, Florida to 

 Korth Carolina, and west to Mississippi. June -August. — Root spongy. Stem 

 2°-3° high. Leaves sweetish. 



* * Anthers short, ohioncj, erect, not appenduged : neck of the calijx short. 



-<- Flowers purple : leaves small, ovate or roundish, bristly serrulate. 



.'). R. ciliosa, Michx. Stem simple, smooth, 4-angled above; leaves brisdy 



on the upper suifiicc, 3-ribbed ; cyme few-flowered, leafy ; calyx smooth. — 



Bogs in the pine barrens, Florida to Mississippi, and northward. July and 



