222 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. 



IV. DIODIA. 



Aimual or perennial herbs; stems diffuse; leaves opposite, 

 sessile, the sheathing stipules bristly fringed ; flowers axil- 

 lary, solitary or in small clusters ; calyx 2-4-lobed, persist- 

 ent ; corolla funnel-form to salver-form, usually 4-lobed ; 

 stamens 4, exserted ; ovary 2-celled, style slender, exserted, 

 stigmas 2 ; fruit dry and indehiscent or somewhat fleshy, 

 2-celled, 2-seeded, seeds bony. 



1. D. TERES Walt. Poverty-weed. Annual ; stem erect or 

 diffuse, much branched from the base, bristly or hairy, somewhat 

 4-angled, 6-18 in. high; leaves linear to liuear-lanceolate, acute, ses- 

 sile, rough, the margins revolute ; flowers purplish ; corolla funnel- 

 form, ^-^ in. long ; fruit obovoid, crowned with the persistent calyx 

 lobes. June-September. On dry, barren soil. 



2. D. ViRGiNiANA L. Large Poverty-weed. Perennial; 

 stem widely branched, smooth or hispid, 4-angled, diffuse and often 

 prostrate, 1-4 ft. long; leaves lanceolate, acute, sessile, somewhat 

 fleshy ; flowers white or purplish, solitary or few together ; corolla 

 tube very slender, ^ in. long, the lobes spreading, hairy within ; fruit 

 ovoid, strongly ribbed, dry or slightly fleshy, crowned with the '2-4- 

 persistent calyx teeth. June-September. On wet, sandy soil. 



V. GALIUM. 



Annual or perennial herbs ; stems slender, 4-angled ; leaves 

 verticillate ; flowers small, in axillary or terminal cymes or 

 paiiicles, perfect or rarely dioecious ; calyx tube short, the teeth 

 minute or wanting ; corolla rotate, 3-4-lobed ; stamens 3-4, 

 short ; ovary 2-celled, styles 2, short, united below ; fruit 2 

 united, indehiscent, 1-seeded carpels, sometimes fleshy. 



1. G. Aparixe L. Goosegrass. Annual; stem weak, decum- 

 bent, sharply 4-angled and retrorsely hispid, widely branched, 2-4 

 ft. long ; leaves 0-8 in a whorl, oblanceolate, hispid on the margins 

 and mid-rib; peduncles axillary, longer than the leaves, l-:3-flowered ; 

 flowers white ; fruiting pedicels erect ; fruit dry, covered with hooked 

 bristles. April-September. In waste places. 



2. G. PiLOSUM Ait. Hairy Bedstraw. Stem rigid, erect or 

 ascending, hairy or roughened on the angles, branched, 1-3 ft. long; 

 leaves 4 in a whorl, small, oval, acute, rough-hairy, and punctate- 

 dotted; peduncles several times forked, ultimate branches 1-o-flow- 



