52 KEY AND FLORA 



I. MIRAB'ILIS, Four-o'clock 



Involucre 5-lobecl. Flowers nearly sessile. Stamens 5. 

 Fruit scarcely ribbed. Herbs with showy, reddish purple 

 flowers, opening in the afternoon. 



a. M. multiflo'ra Gray. Stems often glandular ; stout and spread- 

 ing. Leaves broad, an inch or two long, ovate, on petioles a half- 

 inch long. Flowers 6 in the involucre. Perianth open-fun nel-form, 

 with border an inch in diameter, and tube from 1 to 2 in. long. 

 Southern California. 



h. M. Califor'nica Gray. Stems several from a woody root, sup- 

 ported on bushes, as if climbing. Leaves ovate, cordate, on short 

 petioles. Involucre small, 1-3-flowered. Perianth open-bell-shaped. 

 Fruit small. This is common in southern California. 



II. ABRO'NIA, Sea Verbena 



Involucre of from 5 to 15 distinct papery bracts. Flowers 

 sessile, with salver-shaped perianth, having a long tube, and 

 the border with notched segments. Stamens 5, within the 

 tube. Annual or perennial, fleshy herbs, with thick, opposite 

 leaves. Flowers in umbels on long peduncles, fragrant, showy, 

 rose-color, yellow, or white. 



a. A. umbella'ta Lam. Stems prostrate, viscid. Leaves ovate or 

 oblong, narrowed at base to a petiole. Perianth rose-color. Fruit 

 winged. This grows on the seacoast. 



b. A. latifolia Esch. Stems similar to above. Leaves broadly 

 ovate, with kidney-shaped base. Perianth yellow. The flowers have 

 the odor of orange blossoms. This is found on the coast from Van- 

 couver to Monterey. 



PORTULACA'CE^. Portulaca Family 



Fleshy herbs. Flowers with 2 sepals (except in Lewisid) 

 and 2-5 or more petals. Stamens opposite the petals when 

 of the same number. Ovary 1-celled, style 2-8 cleft. The 

 flowers open only in the sunshine or bright daylight. 



