60 SALICACEAE. 



Nat. from Oeeanica, and cultivated. — F. K. (Bah., Cuba, Ant.) — Beeftvood. 



AUSTRALIAX-PIXE. 



Order PIPERALES. 

 Herbs of wet or moist places, usually with rootstocks, or shrubs or 

 trees. Leaves with simple blades. Flowers perfect or unisexual. Peri- 

 anth wanting. Anclroecium of several stamens. Gynoecium of 1, or of 

 several distinct or united carpels. Fruit baccate, drupaceous, capsular, 

 or nut-like. 



Carpels distinct or nearly so, 3-4 : ovules 2-8 in each cavity. Fam. 1. Sadruraceae. 



Carpels united to form a single pistil : ovule 1 in each cavity. Fam. 2. Pipeeaceae. 



Family 1. SAURURACEAE. Lizard's-tail Family. 



Herbs with rootstocks. Leaves alternate, sometimes basal. Flowers 

 spicate or racemose. Androeeium of 3-8 stamens. Gynoecium of 3 or 4 

 distinct or nearly distinct carpels. Stig-mas simple. Fruit capsular. 



1. SAURiniUS [Plum.] L. Marsh herbs. Leaf-blades membranous, 

 cordate. Raceme with a drooping tip, the bractlets adnate to the pedicels or 

 ovaries. Pistils 3 or 4. Mature carpels veiny, opening introrsely. 



1. S. cemuus L. Stems 3-12 dm. tall: leaf-blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 

 8-15 cm. long, acuminate, petioled: racemes 1-2 dm. long: filaments clavate, 

 about 4 mm. long: fruit depressed, the carpels about 2 mm. high. — Everglades. 

 — Lizard's-tail. 



Family 2. PIPERACEAE. Pepper Family. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaf-blades mostlj^ fleshy or leathery. 

 Spikes, or rarely racemes, simple or compound, the bractlets cup-like or 

 peltate. Androeeium of 2-6, or rarely 8-10, stamens. Gynoecium of 3, 

 or rarely more, united carpels, the ovaiy 1-celled. Fruit diiipaceous. 



1. PEPEROMIA R. & P. Herbs, commonly epiphytic. Leaf -blades 

 fleshy. Spikes stiff, the bractlets peltate. Stamens 2. Pistil solitary. 

 Stigmas tufted. Drupe with a thin pericarp. 



1. P. obtusifolia (L.) A. Dietr. Plants glabrous: stems creeping, 2-8 dm. 

 long: leaf-blades 6-12 cm. long, oval varying to ovate or obovate: spikes 4-6 

 mm. thick, green. [P. magnoUaefolia (Jacq.) CDC] — Hammocks. — (Bah., 

 Cuba, Ant.) 



Order SALIC ALES. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate : blades simple, entire or toothed. 

 Flowers dioecious, in aments, the staminate consisting of an androeeium 

 of 1 or 2 stamens or more, the pi.stillate consisting of a gynoecium of 2 or 

 4 united carpels. Ovules numerous. Fruit capsular. 



Family 1. SALICACEAE. Willow Family. 



Shrubs or trees, with soft wood. Ijcaf-blades very narrow to very 

 broad. Aments erect or drooping, the bracts mostly ciliate or toothed. 

 Capsules narrowed to the apex. Seeds usually with a tuft of hairs. 



