AKMERIACEAE 899 



disposed. Calyx of 4-several partially united sepals. Corolla of 4-several dis- 

 tinct or partially united petals, or wanting. Androecium of as many stamens as 

 there are petals or sepals, and sometimes accompanied by as many staminodia, 

 mainly partially adnate to the corolla. Gynoecium of 4-6 united carpels, or 

 rarely more. Ovary superior, or mainly so, mostly 1-celled. Styles distinct or 

 united. Fruit capsular or drupaceous, or rarely an achene or a utricle. 



Styles distinct : fruit an achene or utricle : ovule 1. Fam. 1. ARMERIACEAE. 



Styles united : fruit capsular or drupe-like : ovules several. 



Herbs : ovules or seeds not immersed : fruit capsular. Fam. 2. PRIMULACEAE. 



Shrubs or trees : ovules or seeds immersed : fruit drupe-like. 



Staminodia at the sinuses of the corolla-lobes : fruit containing few 



or many seeds. Fam. 3. THEOPHRASTACEAE. 



Staminodia wanting : fruit containing a single seed. Fam. 4. ARDISIACEAE. 



FAMILY 1. ARMERIACEAE Dumort. PLUMBAGO FAMILY. 



Perennial or rarely annual mostly acaulescent herbs, or shrubby plants, with 

 erect or climbing stems, Leaves various : petioles dilated at the base, or clasp- 

 ing. Flowers perfect, regular, in widely branching panicles, or dense terminal 

 heads. Calyx tubular or funnelform : tube 5-15 -ribbed, the main ribs converg- 

 ing or uniting above by pairs and prolonged into the 4-5 lobes. Corolla hypog- 

 ynous : petals 4-5, their claws distinct, or united into a tube. Androecium of 5 

 stamens opposite the petals. Filaments distinct or united into a tube. Anthers 

 2-celled, attached by the back. Gynoecium of 5 united carpels. Ovary 1-celled, 

 often 5-angled. Styles distinct or united. Stigmas capitate, or elongated. 

 Ovule solitary, anatropous, pendulous, its funicle from the base of the cavity. 

 Fruit a utricle or achene, or rarely capsular, enclosed in the calyx. Seed solitary, 

 filling the cavity. Testa membranous. Endosperm mealy, sometimes none. 

 Embryo straight. [Plumbaginaceae Lindl.] 



Calyx glandular : claws of petals united into a tube : styles united to near the top. 1. PLUMBAGO. 



Calyx not glandular : claws of petals distinct or nearly so : styles distinct or united at the base. 



2. LIMONIUM. 



1. PLUMBAGO L. 



Perennial herbs, shrubby plants or vines. Leaves alternate : blades auricled at the 

 base and clasping, or with short often clasping petioles. Flowers in terminal bracted 

 spikes. Calyx tubular, glandular : lobes 4-5, erect, hyaline in the sinuses. Petals 4-5, of 

 various colors : claws united : tube slender : blades entire, spreading, equal. Stamens 5, 

 free and distinct : filaments dilated at the base : anthers rather elongated. Ovary 1- 

 celled : styles filiform, stigmatic within. Capsule membranous, circumscissile or 5-valved. 

 Seed filling the cavity. Endosperm mealy, scant. 



1. Plumbago scandens L. Shrubby, glabrous. Stems erect, decumbent or climb- 

 ing, 5-12 dm. long, much-branched, the branches slightly grooved : leaf-blades oblong to 

 oblong-lanceolate or ovate, 2-10 cm. long, shining, acute or short-acuminate, undulate, nar- 

 rowed into short petioles with clasping bases : spikes terminal, 2-8 cm. long : calyx bristly- 

 glandular ; tube about 1 cm. long, the green nerves alternating with white wings ; lobes 

 4-5, terminating in minute hooks : corolla white or purplish ; tube slender, about 2 cm. 

 long ; lobes 4-5, spreading, oblong, obtuse : stamens 4, exserted : anthers blue : capsules 

 slender, invested by the hardened calyx. 



In sandy soil, peninsular Florida. Also in tropical America. Spring and summer. 



2. LIMONIUM Adans. 



Perennial or rarely annual acaulescent herbs, with glabrous or scaly foliage. Leaves 

 mostly basal : blades flat, entire or rarely pinnatifid or dissected. Scapes branched, often 

 densely so. Bracts scale-like. Flowers one or more, subtended by a single bract. Calyx 

 funnelform : tube 10-ribbed, the ribs uniting by pairs above : limb scarious, plicate, its 

 lobes often awn-tipped. Petals 5 : claws distinct or merely united at the base : blades entire 

 or 2-cleft. Stamens 5, inserted with the petals : filaments distinct or united below, some- 

 times adnate to the petals. Ovary 1-celled, 5-angled : styles 5, distinct : stigmas capitate 

 3r minute. Utricle included, membranous. Seed filling the cavity. Endosperm mealy, 



