DESCRIPTIVE MANUAL 



119 



Fig. 67-A. Distribution of Water Hemp. 



Extermination. — Easily exterminated by cultivation; not infre- 

 quent in clover seed, and not long present in well cultivated fields 

 especially when they are well drained. 



NYCTAGINACEAE, FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY. 

 This family contains the well known cultivated four-o'clock. 



Four-o'clock, Umbrella Plant (Oxybapkus nyctagineus (Mx.) 



Sweet.) 



Description. — -A nearly smooth, deep-rooted perennial 2-4 ft. high ; 

 forking leaves, broadly ovate, cordate, or lanceolate, opposite, round- 

 ed or truncate at base ; petioled involucre ; flowers persistent ; fruit 

 obovoid, pubescent ; calyx bell-shaped, rose or purple ; stamens gen- 

 erally 3. 



Distribution. — From Manitoba to Louisiana, introduced eastward ; 

 common in cultivated fields, on railway embankments and in waste 

 places. 



Extermination. — This weed propagates both by its seed and root ; 

 however, it is not difficult to destroy when the roots are cut off 

 during dry weather. 



Wallace's Farmer suggests the following treatment: "The 

 wild four-o'clock, although not yet very common in the corn 

 belt, has possibilities of becoming a bad weed. It is a perennial, 

 with a big, fleshy root and spreads freely from the seed. It spreads 

 very little from the root. This weed may be exterminated in time 

 by cutting it off close to the ground every year just before it seeds. 



