FLAX FAMILY 1 49 



3. G. richardsonii F. & M. Distinguished from G. incisum 

 by its white but roseate-veined petals and by its longer white 

 hairs mostly tipped with purple glands. — Indian Creek at 

 7300 ft. and elsewhere in the higher mountains. 



2. ERODIUM. Storksbill. 



1. E. cicutarium L'Her. Red-stem Filaree. Herbage with 

 scattered spreading hairs. Leaves opposite, 1 to 4 in. long, 

 compound; leaflets ovate or oblong, sharply cut and irregu- 

 larly toothed. Flowers small, rose-purple, on long pedicels. 

 Sepals with 1 or 2 bristle-like hairs. Filaments not toothed 

 (as in related species). 



This, the common Filaree, or Alfilerilla, is a prostrate an- 

 nual which has made its appearance at a few places along 

 our lower borders. It is very abundant in the foothills and 

 on the plains, where it is considered to be one of the most 

 important of the introduced forage plants. 



3. FLOERKIA. Meadow Foam. 



1. F. alba Greene. Stems weak, 6 to 12 in. long, the young 

 parts and buds with long hairs. Leaves alternate, cut into 

 linear-lanceolate acute segments % to y 2 in. long, without 

 stipules. Petals persistent, yellowish white, often roseate at 

 top, about J /2 in. long. Seed-bodies very rough. 



The very flaccid stems and finely cut leaves best mark this 

 pretty annual, which has been found in Hetch Hetchy Valley 

 and along the Hog Ranch Road, where it forms white, bil- 

 lowy patches. It also grows at an altitude of 7000 ft. on 

 Piute Creek. Although the buds are characteristically hairy, 

 or even woolly, the calyx becomes nearly glabrous at matur- 

 ity. In this adult stage our plant is scarcely distinguishable 

 from F. douglasii, the common Meadow Foam of middle Cali- 

 fornia and the Sierra Nevada foothills. But that species is 

 entirely glabrous, even when young. 



LINACEAE. Flax Family. 

 Smooth plants, the leaves either opposite or alternate. 

 Flowers loosely clustered, regular, the petals falling early. 

 Represented with us by only one genus. 



1. LINUM. Flax. 

 Glabrous herbs with sessile, narrow leaves without stipules. 

 Sepals and petals 5 each. Stamens 10. Styles 2 to 5, distinct. 

 Ovary superior, becoming a several-celled, many-seeded 

 capsule. 



