DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 143 



60. BALSAMINACE^. Balsam Family. 



Tender, fleshy-stemmed, annual herbs. Leaves simple, with- 

 out stipules. Flowers perfect, irregular. Sepals usually 3, 

 the largest one with a spur. Petals 3. Stamens 5, distinct 

 or nearly so. Ovary 5-celled, bursting when ripe into 5 

 valves. 



IMPATIENS, L. 



Characteristics of the genus those above given for the 

 family. Fruit a capsule (very fleshy in our species), which 

 when ripe bursts open with considerable force, throwing the 

 seeds about. 



1. I. aurea, MuhL (I. pallida, Nutt.). Wild Balsam. Lady's- 

 SLiPPER. Stem 3-5 ft. high, branching. Leaves oblong-ovate, 2-6 

 in. long, the lower often long-petioled, the upper nearly sessile. 

 Peduncles axillary, 1-3 in. long, slender, 2-5 flowered. Flowers 

 pale yelloAV, slightly dotted with brownish-red. Sac of the large 

 sepal broader than it is long, ending in a recurved spur about ^ in. 

 long. Damp, shaded ground, not very common. 



2. I. biflora, Walt. (I. fulva, Nutt.). Wild Balsam, Lady's- 

 SLIPPER, Jewel Weed, Snap Weed, Kicking Colt. Stem 2-4 ft. 

 high, branching. Leaves rhombic-ovate, 1-4 in. long. Peduncles 

 about 1 in. long, generally 2-3-flowered. Flowers orange-color, with 

 many pretty, large, reddish-brown spots. Sac longer than it is broad, 

 ending in a recurved spur about ^ in. long. Damp, shaded ground, 

 commoner than No. 1 and usually blossoming earlier. 



61. RHAMNACE^. Buckthorn Family. 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, often 3-5-nerved ; stipules 

 small. Flowers small, sometimes imperfect, green or yellow. 

 Calyx 4-5-lobed. Petals 4, 5, or absent, inserted on a disk at 

 the throat of the calyx, very small, hooded, usually with 

 claws. Stamens 4-5, inserted with the petals and opposite 

 them, often enclosed by the petals ; filaments awl-shaped ; 

 anthers small, versatile. Ovary 3-celled, 3-ovuled. 



