DICOTYLEDONS. 227 



high; basal leaves tufted, spatulate to obovate, entire, the upper 

 lanceolate, dentate, sessile ; cymes short-pedimcled, bracts linear ; 

 flowers pale blue ; fruit compressed, oblique, April-tTune. On 

 rich soil in waste places. 



2. y. RADiATA (L.) Dufr. Corn Salad. Stem erect, smooth 

 above, pubescent below, 2-J: times forked, 8-12 in. high; lower 

 leaves spatulate, entire, the upper lanceolate, clasping at the base, 

 dentate ; cymes compact ; bracts lanceolate ; flowers white ; fruit 

 ovoid, downy, furrowed. February-April. On damp soil. 



121. CUCURBITACE^. GOURD FAMILY. 



Annual or perennial herbs; stems succulent, tendril-bear- 

 ing, climbing or trailing ; leaves alternate, simple, petioled, 

 palmately veined or lobed, exstipulate ; flowers axillary, soli- 

 tary or racemed, moncecious or dioecious ; calyx tube adnata 

 to the ovary, 5-lobed; corolla usually gamopetalous, inserted 

 on the calyx ; stamens mostly 3, 2 of them with the anthers 

 2-celled, the other with the anther 1-celled ; filaments short, 

 often united ; ovary 1-3-celled, style entire or lobed ; fruit 

 usually fleshy, 1-3-celled, seeds flat. 



I. CUCURBITA. 



& y 



Annual or perennial herbs ; stem trailing, 2-20 ft. long 

 leaves angular-lobed ; tendrils branching ; flowers monoecious 

 solitary or in small clusters ; calyx o-tootlied, tlie limb decidu- 

 ous ; corolla bell-sha])ed, r)-lobed ; staminate flowers w'ith 3 

 stamens and no pistil, pistillate flowers with 1 ])istil and 

 3 abortive stamens ; style sliort, stigmas 3-5, each 2-lol)ed ; 

 fruit l-celled witli numerous seeds on the 3 parietal })lacenta3. 



1. C. MKLOi'Ki'o L. Si'MMKR Squasii. StPMi rougli-liairv. 

 angled, 2-5 ft. long; leaves broadly cordate, angularly i5-.")-l()b('d. 

 rough; flowers yellow, short-jtedinu'led ; fruit orbicular, longitudi- 

 nally com])ressed, the margin smooth, wavy or tub«M<'ular. May- 

 July. Common in cultivation. 



2. C. vkrrucosa L. ('i{(>nKNK( k Si/iAsM. Stem rougli-liairv, 

 angled and striate, 5-10 ft. long; leaves cordate, deeply 5-I()bed, 

 \ery rougli, long-petioled ; flowers light yellow, long-]ieduncled : fruit 

 clavate, the liase often slender and curved, smooth or t iibcrculate, 

 very variable. June-August. Conniion in cultivation. 



