2658 LAURACEAE 
Famity VIIL—LAURACEAE. Laure. FAmILy 
Trees rich in aromatic glands. Leaves alternate, without 
stipules. Flowers regular, small, in our only species the stami- 
nate and pistillate on different plants, or at least on different 
parts of the same plant, growing in a dense cluster surrounded 
by an involucre of bracts. 
1. SASSAFRAS, L. 
Leaves divided in about 3 unequal lobes or egg-shaped and undivided, 
Clusters of flowera at end of twigs. Perianth of 6 divisions, Stamens 
%, The pistillate flowers hive 6 to 9 sterile stamens. 
S. variifolium, (Salish.) Ktze. (Wig. 3, pl 51.) SAssArRAs TRIE. 
(S. Sassafras, (1.) Karat.) Growing in woods, more especially in the 
southern half of our section The tree is usually small but may attain 
to the height of 125 feet, April-May. 
2. BENZOIN, Fabric. 
Shrub with alternate pear-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, the stami- 
nate and pistillate forma on the same plant or on different plants. They 
aro found in clusters with very short or no foot-stalks and are surrounded 
by an involucre of seale-like bracts. Vlowers appearing before the leaves, 
B. aestivale, (L.) Nees. (Vig. 4, pl. 51.) Sprome Busn. (B. Ben- 
goin, (L.) Coulter.) Smooth shrub, 4 to 20 ft. high. Leaves mostly 
pear-shaped, but some egg-shaped, Wlowers small, yellow, fragrant, In 
moist woods, northern part of our area and westward. 
Order IV.—RHOEADALES. Order of the Poppies 
Our species all herbaceous plants, leaves without stipules. The 
parts of the flower are, in general, arranged spirally; calyx, 
corolla and stamens are all arranged below the ovary and are 
free, that is, one group of these organs is not attached to another 
and the members of one of the groups are not connected among 
themselves. Wxeceptions are found in a partial concrescence of the 
parts of the calyx in a few species. The ovary consists of two 
or more carpels which, in the family Papaveraceae, are concres- 
cent, with placental partitions between the cells. In the family 
Cruciferae the ovary divides into two valves, generally elongated, 
with a strong wall between the valves. 
Plants with sticky, white or colored juice. 
Sepals 2, falling with the development of the flower, Stamens 
CUTIE Fe tiny |. gat? ee ee . PAPAVERACEAE 
