66 OXALIDACE^E. 



Wet grounds. Can. to Geor. W. to Miss. Aug., Sept. ().< Stem 24 feet 

 high. Leaves on petioles an inch or more long. Flowers deep orange with red- 

 dish brown spots, smaller and less numerous than the former. 



Balsam Weed. Jeivel Weed. 



ORDER XXX. TROPJEOLACE^E. INDIAN CRESSES. 



Sepals 3 5, upper one with a long distinct spur. Petals 1 5, 

 equal or unequal. Stamens 6 10, distinct. Ovary 1, 3-cor- 

 nered ; style 1 ; stigmas 3 5, acute. Fruit indehiscent, the 

 pieces separable from a common axis, sometimes winged. Seeds 

 large, without albumen. Herbaceous plants with an acrid taste. 

 Leaves alternate, without stipules. 



FLCERKIA. Willd. False Mermaid. 

 (In honor of Flosrke, a German botanist.) 



Calyx of 3 sepals. Petals 3, shorter than the sepals. Sta- 

 mens 6. 



F. proserpinacoides Willd. F. uliginosa Muhl. Nedris pinnata Pursh. 



Marshes. Ver. to Virg. W. to Miss. April, May. ($)Stem 410 inches 

 long, at length decumbent, nearly simple. Leaves somewhat succulent, on slen- 

 der petioles, trifid and pinnatifid. Peduncles axillary, at first short, gradually 

 lengthening. Flowers about 3 lines in diameter, with white oblong petals. 



False Mermaid. 



ORDER XXXI. OXALIDACE^E. WOOD SORRELS. 



Sepals 5, persistent, equal. Petals 5, equal, unguiculate, 

 with a twisted aestivation. Stamens 10, usually more or less 

 monadelphous. Styles 5, filiform ; stigmas capitate. Fruit 

 capsular, membranous, with 5 cells, and from 5 to 10 valves. 

 Seeds few, with a fleshy integument, which bursts elastically. 

 Albumen between cartilaginous and fleshy. Herbaceous plants, 

 rarely shrubs or trees. Leaves mostly alternate and compound. 



OXALIS. Linn. Wood Sorrel. 

 (From the Greek ov ?, sharp or acid ; in allusion to the sour taste of the plant.) 



Sepals 5, free or united at base. Petals 5. Stamens 10, 

 often monadelphous at base, 5 outer ones shorter. Styles 5. 

 Capsule pentangular, oblong or cylindric, 5-celled. 



* Stemless. 



1. O. Acetosella Linn.; root creeping, scaly; scape 1-flowered, longer 

 than the leaves, with two small bracts above the middle ; leaves ternate ; 

 leafets obcordate. hairy ; petals oval, obtuse ; styles as long as the inner 

 stamens. 



