SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



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well to read the description of 

 Trientalis, that you may know it 

 when found. 



When you get a head of the 

 purple-blue flovrcr; of Brodicea 

 capitata, figured on the cover of 

 this book, it will be the proper 

 time to study the figures on tliis 

 page, and what is here said about 

 the genus they illustrate. 



Upon p. 113 you will find the 

 species grouped under three sub-genera or sections. 

 Figures a, d, and e illustrate the first, c the sec- 

 ond, and b the third. The species belonging to 

 the first section are arranged under two heads 

 marked by asterisks, and those under the first head 

 are under subheads marked by daggers. Species 4 

 and 5 closely re3emble number 6, which is put un- 

 der a different head, because it has six true or 

 anther-bearing stamens instead of three stamens 

 and three staminodia. Fig. a shows that three of 

 the filaments came near being antherless. Petaloid 

 staminodia replace these small stamens in species 

 4 and 5, and the fertile stamens are without the 



a. Observe 



pistil of B. laxa. d. Bud and flower of B. that the staminodia in one of these species are 

 terrestris. e. Same with perianth laid cleft. The first three species have flowers resem- 

 '^ ^ * bling the one shown in Figs, d and e, in which 



the staminodia (opposite the outer segments of the perianth) are not petaloid, but 

 resemble true stamens. Observe that the first species is distinguished by staminodia not 

 notched at the top as shoAvn in the figure. The species in § Seuhertia resemble the first 

 three in general appearance, but the stamens and pistils are very different, as is shown 

 ^y Fig- c- Observe that the stamens have versatile instead of basifixed anthers ; and the 

 ovary is upon a stipe, instead of being sessile. Douglas' Brodioea, of Oregon, is like 

 Fig. c, only the base of the perianth is broader, the upper row of stamens have broad 

 bases, the stipe is shorter and the flowers are on short pedicels, so as to form a sub- 

 capitate umbel. The most common species of the third section is the White Brodicea. 

 Fig. h shov.s a part of the flower. 



The middle figure on the next page represents a plant, the curious cup-like leaves of 

 which must have attracted your attention. The leaf cups are frequently much larger than 

 here shown, and borne upon stems a foot or more in height. Though the flowers are small, 



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a. Perianth of Brodifea capitata laid 

 op'en, with pi -til and section of mature 

 capsule, b. Two segments of the perianth 

 of B. lactea and the pistil, c. Perianth and winglike appendages shown in Fi 



