180 Key to the System of 



BVSPKANZA. 



862. Calyx consisting of a single sepal. 



Annual small herb, prostrate or ascending ; leaves very 

 small, from ovate to elliptical ; flower-clusters singly 

 axillary, often crowded ; stamens one to three, but in 

 many of the flowers absent ; styles two ; seed placed 

 vertically. D. myriocephala. 



BASSIA. 



863. Fruit-calyces 'two or more, connate ... ... ... 864 



Fruit-calyces solitary ... ... ... ... ... 865 



864. Fruit-calyces usually two, connate towards the base. 



Never tall, densely beset with whitish or greyish very short 

 hairlets ; fruit-calyces indurated, comparatively long, 

 slender upwards, without any or with quite diminutive 

 spinules, sometimes a third and rarely a fourth fruit- 

 calyx developed from the same base ; seed placed horizon- 

 tally. B. biflora. 



Fruit-calyces several or many, capitular-connate. 



Closely invested with whitish or greyish hairlets ; fruit- 



. calyces very much indurated, each with one or two 



spinules ; seed placed horizontally. B. paradoxa. 



865. Fruit-spinules conspicuous ... ... ... ... 866 



Fruit-spinules inconspicuous or obliterated ... ... 869 



866. Fruit-calyx with two spinules 867 



Fruit-calyx with three to five spinules ... ... 868 



867. Fruit-calyx with two short spinules. 



Densely beset with short, sometimes shining hairlets ; 

 fruit-calyx comparatively small, indurated; seed placed 

 horizontally. B. diacautha. 



Fruit-calyx with two long spinules. 



Very densely beset with short whitish hairlets ; fruit-calyx 

 comparatively large, much indurated, its spinules strong ; 

 seed placed horizontally. B. bicornis. 



