POLYGALE^E. 43 



HAB. Swamps. Mass. N. J. and Del. Aug. Sept. U- Leaves 

 6 10 inches long. Flowers purple, few, in a one-sided raceme. 



2. PARNASSIA. Linn. 



Calyx 5-sepalled. Petals 5. Scales (or abortive sta- 

 mens ?) opposite to the claws of the petals, terminating in 

 glandular bristles at the apex. Stamens 5. Stigmas 4, ses- 

 sile. Capsules 4-valved, 1-celled. Seeds arillate. 



Pentandria. Tetragynia. 



1. P. caroliniana Mich. : radical leaves cordate, orbicular- ovate, on 

 long petioles ; stem leaf sessile ; flowers solitary, terminal ; scales 

 3-bristled. P. americana and P. ovata Muhl, ? 



HAB. Swamps. Can. to Car. Aug. Sept. 1. Stem 12-18 

 inches high. Leaves mostly radical. Flowers large, yellowish- 

 white, Parnassus Grass. 



2. P. palustris Linn. : leaves all cordate ; cauline one sessile ; scales 

 smooth, many-bristled. 



HAB. Bog meadows. N. S. Can. and as far north as the Arctic 

 circle. Floicers white, veins of green or purple. Distinguished 

 by the numerous, slender, white, pellucid hairs of its scale from 

 all the other species of the genus. 



ORDER XVII. POLYGALE^. De Cand. Lind. 



Sepals 5, very irregular, distinct, 3 exterior, of which 1 is 

 superior and 2 inferior ; 2 inner ones (the wings'] often peta- 

 loid. Petals 3 4, hypogynous, one inferior (the keel) the 

 others alternating with the upper and lateral sepals ; some- 

 times 5, and then the 2 additional ones minute and between the 

 lateral and lower sepals. Keel sometimes entire, and then na- 

 ked or crested ; sometimes 3*lobed without a crest. Stamens 

 8, unequal, ascending, combined into a tube, which is split 

 opposite to the upper sepal ; anthers 1-celled, opening by a 

 terminal pore, or very rarely by a longitudinal cleft. Ovary 

 superior, 2-celled, with placentae in the axis ; the cells ante- 

 rior and posterior, the latter often abortive ; ovules 1, rarely 2, 

 pendulous ; style simple, curved ; stigma simple. Fruit 

 dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds pendulous, with a copious 

 fleshy albumen and a straight embryo. 



Shrubs or herbs. Leaves generally alternate, mostly sim- 

 ple and always destitute of stipules. Flowers usually race- 

 mose, often small. Pedicels with 3 bracts. 



