PRIMULACE^. (primrose FAMILY.) 331 



* * Floicers [small) in a viryate terminal raceme or in the upper axils; corolla 



dark-dotted or streaked ; Jilaments conspicuousl 1/ monadelphous, unequal. 



1. L. quadrifolia, L. Somewhat hairy; stem simple (1-2'^ iiigh); 

 leaves ichorled iu fours or fives (sometimes iu twos, threes, or sixes, rarely only 

 opposite or partly alternate), ovate-lanceolate ; jlowers on long capillary pe- 

 duncles from the axils of the leavs ; lobes of the corolla ovate-oblong. — 

 Moist or sandy soil, N. Brunswick to Minn., and Ga. June. 



2. L. Stricta, Ait. Stems 1-2° high, often bearing oblong or moniliform 

 bulblets in the axils ; smootli, at length ])ranched, very leafy ; leaves opposite 

 or rarely alternate, lanceolate, acute at each end ; fluicers on slender pedicels 

 in a loHf/ raceme (5-12'), leafy at base; lobes of the corolla lance-oblong. — 

 Low grounds, Newf. to Minn., Ark., and N. Ga. June- Aug. 



* * * Flowers (rather large) solitary in the axils of ordinarij leaves; corolla 



not dark-dotted nor streaked ; filaments slightlij monadelphous. 



L. nu3iml'lXria, L. (Moxeywort.) Smooth: stems trailing and creep- 

 ing; leaves roundish, small, short-petioled ; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered; 

 divisions of the corolla broadly ovate, obtuse, longer than tlie lance-ovate calyx- 

 lobes and stamens. — Escaped from gardens into damp ground in some places. 

 July -Sept. (Nat. from P^u.) 



§2. NAUMBURGIA. Corolla very deeply 5- (or 6-7-) parted into linear 

 divisions (somewhat purplish-dotted), with a small tooth in each sinus ; fila- 

 ments distinct, equal ; leaves opposite, the lowest scale-like. 



3. L. thyrsiflora, L. (Tufted Loosestrifl.) Smooth ; stem simple 

 ^1 -2° high) ; all but the lower leaves lanceolate, the axils of one or two middle 

 pairs bearing short-peduncled head-like or spike-like clusters of small light 

 yellow flowers. — Cold swamps, from Penn. to S. 111., Iowa, and northwest- 

 ward. June, July. (Eu.) 



8. GL A trX, Tourn. Sea-Milkwort. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft ; lobes ovate, petal-like. Corolla wanting. Sta- 

 mens 5, on the base of the calyx, alternate with its lobes. Capsule 5-valved, 

 few-seeded. — A low and leafy fleshy perennial, Avith opposite oblong and entire 

 sessile leaves, and solitary nearly sessile (purplish and white) flowers in their 

 axils. (An ancient Greek name, from yXavKos, sea-green.) 



1. G. maritima, L. — Sea-shore of X. Eng. from Cape Cod northward. 

 Also in subsaline soil, Minn, to Xeb., and westward. June. (Eu.) 



9. ANAGALLIS, Tourn. Pimpernel. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped, with almost no tube, .5-parted, longer 

 than the calyx ; the divisions broad. Stamens 5 ; filaments bearded. Capsule 

 membranaceous, circumscissile, the top falling off like a lid, many-seeded. — 

 Low, spreading or procumbent herbs, mostly annuals, with opposite or whorled 

 entire leaves, and solitary flowers on axillary peduncles. (The ancient Greek 

 name, probably from avd, again, and aydWcc, to delight in.) 



A. ARVExsis, L. (Co.MMOx PiMPERNEL.) Leaves ovate, sessile, shorter 

 than tlie peduncles ; petals ol)ovate, obtuse, fringed with minute teeth or 

 stalked glands. — Waste sandy fields. June - Aug. — Flowers variable in 

 size, scarlet, sometimes purple, blue, or white, quickly closing at tlie approach 

 of bad weather; wlience the English popular name of "Poor Man's Weather 

 fjlass.' (Nat. from Ku.) 

 15 



