DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 143 
60. BALSAMINACEZ. Batsam FamiI ty. 
Tender, fleshy-stemmed, annual herbs. Leaves simple, with- 
out stipules. Flowers perfect, irregular. Sepals usually 3, 
the largest one with aspur. 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.). Wirp Batsam. Lapy’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 yellow, 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.). Wirp Baxsam, Lapy’s- 
SLIPPER, JEWEL WEED, SNAP WEED, KicxinG Cott. 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 3 in. long. Damp, shaded ground, 
commoner than No. 1 and usually blossoming earlier. 
61. RHAMNACEZ. BuckTHorn FAMILY. 
Trees orshrubs. 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. 
