784 HYPERICACEAE 



to the corolla. Ovary with basal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, or rarely 2 or 5, short. Fruit 

 capsular. Seeds numerous. Endosperm wanting. 



1. Tamarix Gallica L. A shrub or a small tree, with slender spreading branches, 

 the branchlets very numerous, approximate or clustered, completely clothed with the 

 imbricated scale-like acute leaves which are 1 mm. long or less : spikes numerous, in con- 

 spicuous panicles : sepals triangular, about 0.5 mm. long : petals white or pinkish : capsule 

 pyramidal, about 1 mm. long. 



On roadsides, in thickets and in waste places, warmer parts of the southern United States. Natu- 

 ralized from southern Europe. Spring. TAMARISK. 



FAMILY 5. FOUQUIERACEAE DC. COACH- WHIP FAMILY. 



Shrubs or trees, with soft wood, the short branches greatly out of proportion 

 to the narrowly conic trunk. Leaves solitary or clustered on the spiny branches : 

 blades thick, entire. Flowers perfect, in thyrsoid panicles. Calyx of 5 dis- 

 tinct sepals. Corolla crimson, of 5 well united petals, the lobes recurved. 

 Androecium of 10-many stamens, in 1 or 2 series. Filaments partially adnate 

 to the corolla. Gynoecium 3-carpellary. Ovary 1-celled, but with 3 septum- 

 like parietal placentae. Styles united, elongated. Fruit capsular. Seeds few, 

 each with a wing or a fringe of white hairs. Endosperm present. 



1. FOUQUIERA H.B.K. 



Characters of the family. CANDLEWOOD. 



1. Pouquiera spl6ndena Engelm. A shrub or a tree, sometimes 7 m. tall, the gray 

 ridges of some of the branches terminating in spines : leaves clustered ; blades oblong to 

 spatulate, leathery, 1-2.5 cm. long, obtuse: flowers short-pedicelled : sepals 5-6 mm. long, 

 rounded at the apex : corolla scarlet or brick-red, about 1.5 mm. long, the lobes ovate to 

 triangular, 3-4 mm. long, recurved : capsules conic, 7-10 mm. long. 



In rocky soil, southern Texas to California and adjacent Mexico. Spring. JACOB'S STAFF. 

 OCOTILLO. COACH-WHIP. 



FAMILY 6. HYPERICACEAE Lindl. ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY. 



Herbs or shrubby plants. Leaves opposite or rarely whorled, without stipules : 

 blades pellucid-punctate, entire or nearly so, sometimes reduced to scales. Flow- 

 ers perfect, regular or nearly so, in cymes. Calyx of 4-5 herbaceous equal or 

 unequal sepals. Corolla of 4-5 yellow or flesh-colored petals. Androecium of 

 few or many stamens, commonly collected in 3 or 5 groups, sometimes accompanied 

 by interposed glands. Filaments slender. Anthers 2-celled, versatile. Gynoe- 

 cium of several united carpels. Ovary sessile, 1-celled, with parietal placentae, 

 or 3-7-celled with axile placentae. Styles distinct or united. Stigmas often 

 capitate. Fruit a septicidally dehiscent capsule seated in the persistent calyx. 

 Seeds small, without endosperm. 



Sepals 4, in more or less unequal pairs : petals mostly 4. 



Pairs of sepals very unequal in size or shape or both, the outer pair enclosing the capsule. 



1. ASCYKUM. 



Pairs of sepals nearly equal in size and shape, much surpassed by the capsule. 2. CROOKEA. 



Sepals and petals mostly 5. 

 Petals yellow. 



Leaves with flat more or less spreading blades. 3. HYPERICUM. 



Leaves reduced to erect or appressed minute or slightly elongated scales without 



blades. 4. SAROTHRA. 



Petals pink sometimes tinged with green or purple. 5. TRIADENUM. 



1. ASCYRUM L. 



Low shrubs, with 2-edged branches. Leaves small : blades entire, sessile or clasping. 

 Flowers yellow, terminal, often showy. Sepals 4, very unequal, the 2 exterior much larger 

 than the inner. Petals 4, equal, oblique, convolute. Stamens numerous : filaments dis- 

 tinct or slightly united at the base : anthers adnate ; sacs opening lengthwise. Glands 

 wanting. Ovary 1-celled, with 2-3, or rarely 4, parietal placentae : styles distinct or coher- 

 ing at the base. Ovules numerous. Capsules narrowed upward, embraced by the outer 

 sepals. Seeds numerous, straight or nearly so. ST. PETER' S-WORT. 



