200 XXXI. OXALIDACEZ. OXALIs. 
TROP ZOLUM. 
Lat. trop@um, a trophy; the leaf resembles a shield, the flower an empty helmet. 
Character essentially the same as of the order. 
T. masus. Nasturtion. Indian Cress.—Lvs. peltate, roundish, repand on the 
margin, with the long petiole inserted a little one side of the centre; pet. ob- 
tuse, the two upper distant from the 3 lower, which are fimbriate at base, and 
contracted into long claws.—@ Native of Peru. Stem at length climbing by 
means of its long petioles several feet. Leaves a fine example of the peltate 
form, about 2’ diam. Flowers large and showy, orange-colored, with blotches 
of deeper shade. They are eaten for salad. June—Oct. 
“Orper XXX. LIMNANTHACE A, 
Herbs annual, with an acrid, watery juice. Lvs. alternate, pinnatifid. 
Stipules 0. Flowers regular. i : ree 
Cai.—Sepals 3—5, united at base, persistent, valvate in estivation. 
Cor.—Petals 3—5, marescent, inserted upon an hypogynous disk. ! : 
Sta. twice as many as petals and inserted with them. Filaments opposite the re with a small pro- 
Ova. of 2—5 distinct carpels. Sty. united. Stig. simple. cess outside the base. 
Fr. 2—5 achenia, rather fleshy. Seeds solitary. 
Genera 2, species 3, mostly natives of the temperate parts of North America. They have no very 
remarkable properties. Flerkea is the only northern genus. 
FLG:RKEA. Willd. 
: Named in honor of Flerke, a German botanist. 
Sepals 3, longer than the 3 petals; Stamens 6; ovaries 3, tuber- 
culate, style 2-cleft.—@® small, aquatic, with pinnately divided leaves. 
F. proserpinacdipes. Lindl. (F. uliginosa. MuAl.) False Mermaid. 
Grows in marshes and on river and lake shores, Yt. to Penn. W. to Mo. 
Stems decumbent, less than-a foot in length, weak and slender. Leaves alter- 
nate, upper ones, or those above the water, pinnately 5-parted, lower or sub- 
mersed ones mostly 3-parted, all on slender petioles 1—3’ in length. Flowers 
axillary, pedunculate. Petals white, small, about half as long as the sepals. 
Achenia large, 2 or 1, roundish. | 
~Orver XXXI. OXALIDACEA.—Woop Sorrets. 
St. low, herbaceous, with an acid juice, and alternate, compound leaves. 
Stip. rarely present. F’s. regular and symmetrical. ' 
Cai.—Sepals 5, persistent, equal, sometimes slightly cohering at the base. 
Cor.—Petals 5, hypogynous, equal, unguiculate, deciduous, twisted in estivation. 
Sta. 10, hypogynous, more or less monadelphous, those opposite the petals longest. 
Ova.—Carpels 5, united, opposite the petals. . 
Fr. capsular, usually membranous, 5-lobed and 5-celled. 
Genera 6, species 325, inhabiting hot and temperate regions. The stem and leaves generally contain 
free oxalic acid. The order is represented in the Northern States by the following genus only. 
OXxALIS. 
Gr. o&vs, sour; from the acid taste of most species. 
Sepals 5, distinct or united at base; petals much longer than the 
calyx; styles 5, capitate; capsule oblong or subglobose; carpels 5, 
1—-several-seeded.— Mostly 2% with trifoliate leaves. 
‘1. O. AcETOCELLA. Common Wood Sorrel. , 
' Acaulescent; scape longer than the leaves, 1-flowered ; /fts. broad-obcor- 
date, with rounded lobes; sty. as long as the inner stamens; 7t. dentate, scaly.— 
Woods and shady places, Can. and Northern States. Leaves palmately 3-foli- 
ate, on long, weak stalks, purplish beneath. Peduncles longer than the leaves, 
each with a nodding scentless flower whose petals are white, yellowish at the 
base, peel veined with purple. The whole plant has an agreeable, acid 
taste, Jn. . 
