274 PRIHULACE^E. (PRIMROSE FAMILY.) 



i 



7. GI.AIJX, L. Sea-Mi lkwokt. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft; the lobes ovate, petal-like. Corolla wanting. Sto- 

 mens 5, on the base of the calyx, alternate with its lobes. Pod 5-valved, few- 

 seeded. — A low and leafy fleshy perennial, with opposite oblong and entire ses- 

 sile leaves, and solitary nearly sessile (purplish and white) flowers in their axils. 

 (An ancient Greek name, from yhavKos, sea-green.) 



1. G. maritima, L. — Sea-shore of New England from Cape Cod 

 northward. June. (Eu.) 



§. ANAGALLIS, Tourn. Pimpernel. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped, with almost no tube, 5-parted, longer 

 than the calyx ; the divisions broad. Stamens 5 : filaments bearded. Pod mem- 

 branaceous, circumcissilc, the top falling oft' like a lid, many-seeded. — Low, 

 spreading or procumbent herbs, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and soli- 

 tary flowers on axillary peduncles. 



1 A. arvensis, L. (Common Pimpernel.) Leaves ovate, sessile, short- 

 er than the peduncles ; petals obovate, obtuse, fringed with minute teeth. (D 

 — Waste sandy fields. June -Aug. — Flowers variable in size, scarlet, some- 

 times purple, blue, or white, quickly closing at the approach of bad weather ; 

 whence the popular name of "Poor Man's Weather-glass." (Nat. from Eu.) 



9. CENIUNCULVS, L. Chaffweed. 



Calyx 4- 5-parted. Corolla shorter than the calyx, 4 -5-cleft, wheel-shaped, 

 with an urn-shaped short tube, usually withering on the summit of the pod 

 (which is like that of Anagallis). Stamens 4-5 : filaments beardless. — Very 

 small annuals, with alternate entire leaves, and solitary inconspicuous flowers in 

 their axils. (Derivation obscure.) 



1. C. minimus, L. Stems ascending (2'-5' long); leaves ovate, obo- 

 vate, or spatulate-oblong ; flowers nearly sessile, the parts mostly in fours. (C. 

 lanceolatus, Michx.) — Low grounds, Illinois and southward. (Eu.) 



10. SAMOLjUS, L. Water Pimpernel. Brook-weed. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; the tube adherent to the base of the ovary. Corolla somewhat 

 bell-shaped, 5-cleft, commonly with 5 sterile filaments in the sinuses. Stamens 

 5, on the tube of the corolla, included. Pod 5-valved at the summit, many- 

 seeded. — Smooth herbs, with alternate entire leaves, and small white flowers in 

 racemes. (" According to Pliny, an ancient Druidical name, probably same as 

 slanlus in Celtic, the healing-herb.") 



1. S. Valeriindi, L. Stem erect (6' -12' high), leafy; leaves obovate; 

 bracts none ; bractlets on the middle of the slender ascending pedicels ; calyx- 

 lobes ovate, shorter than the corolla. (Eu.) 



Var. Americfanus. More slender, becoming diffusely branched; ra- 

 cemes often panicled, the pedicels longer and spreading ; bractlets, flowers, and 

 pods smaller. (S. floribundus, H. B. K.) — Wet places ; common. June - Sept 



