HALORAGACE^. Ill 



ovate-lanceolate, tapering at base, petioled, smooth ; flowers axillary, soli^ 

 tary, sessile ; capsule subovate, slightly angled. Ludwigia nitida 3IicJi. 

 L. palustris Ell. 



Stagnant water. Throughout the U. S. June — Oct. %. — Stem succulent, 

 purplish. Flowers very small. Petals none. Water Purslane. 



5. CIRG^A. Linn. — Ehichanter's Nightshade. 



(From the enchantress Circe, either from the prettiness of its flowers, or as 

 some say, from its growing in damp, shady places, where plants us'ed for incan- 

 tations are found. Hook. Br. Fl.) 



Calyx short ; limb bipartite. Petals 2, obcordate. Stamens 

 2, alternating with the petals. Stigma emarginate. Capsule 

 obovate, hispid with hooked hairs, 2-celled, 2-valved, 2-seeded. 



1 . C. lAiMiana, var. Canadensis Linn. : stem erect, pubescent ; leaves 

 ovate, slightly cordate, acuminate, toothed, opaque, longer than the petiole. 

 C. Canadeiisis MvM. 



Moist woods. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. July, Aug. %. — Stem a foot an,l 

 a half high, smooth, simple. Flowers in a long terminal raceme, reddish-white. 

 Fruit reflexed. Common Enchanter's Nightshade. 



2. C. alfina Linn. : stem ascending, nearly smooth ; leaves cordate, 

 shining, coarsely toothed, the lower ones about as long as the petiole. 



Moist shady places on mountains. Can. to Car. July. %. — Stan 3 — 8 inches 

 high, somewhat diaphanous. Leaves xery thin and delicate. Flowers and fruit 

 as in the preceding, but smaller. Many botanists consider the two as varieties 

 of one species. Alpine Enchanter's Nightshade. 



Order XLIY. HALORAGACE^.— Hippurids. 



Calyx with a minute limb. Petals 3 or 4, inserted into the 

 calyx, or none. Stamens as many as the petals or fewer. 

 Ovary adhering to the calyx, 1 or more celled ; style none ; 

 stigmas as many as the cells. Fruit dry, indehiscent, mem- 

 branous or bony, 1 or more-celled. Seeds solitary, pendulous. 

 ■ — Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs, growing in wet places, 

 with alternate, opposite or whorled leaves. Flowers sessile, 

 occasionally monoecious or dioecious. 



1. PROSERPINACA. Linn.— Mermaid Weed. 

 (From the Latin proserpo, to creep ; the stems creeping and rooting at the base.) 



Tube of the calyx adhering to the triquetrous ovary ; limb 3- 

 parted. Petals none. Stamens 3. Stigmas 3, sessile upon the 

 top of the ovary. Fruit bony, 3-sided, 3-celled. 



1. P. palustris Linn. : upper leaves hnear-lanceolate, serrate ; lowei 

 ones often pinnatifid or pectinately-incised ; fruit angular, acute. P. pa^ 

 lustris var. a. Mich. 



Wet places. Can. to Flor. July, Aug. %~.St€m a foot and a half long, 



