CUCURBITACEyE. 127 



Stamens usually twice as many as the petals, sometimes equal 

 to them in number ; anthers long, 2-celled. Ovary more or 

 less coherent with the calyx, with several cells, and indefinite 

 ovules ; style 1 ; stigma simple, either capitate or minute. 

 Pericarp either dry or distinct from the calyx, or succulent 

 and combined with it, with several cells. Seeds innumerable, 

 minute, without albumen ; embryo straight or curved, with 

 equal or unequal cotyledons. 



Herbs, trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, undivided, usu- 

 ally entire, with several ribs. 



1. RHEXIA. Brown. 



Calyx with the tube ventricose-ovate at base, narrowed at 

 the apex ; the limb 4-cleft. Petals 4, obovate. Anthers 8, 

 attached to the filaments behind, naked at base. Capsule free 

 in the calyx, 4-celled. Receptacle lanceolate, pedicellate. 

 Seeds cochleate. Octandria. Monogynia. 



1. R. mariana Linn. : very hairy ; leaves lanceolate, acute at each 

 end, 3-nerved, subpetiolate ; calyx tubular, nearly smooth. 



HAB. Bogs. N. J. to Car. July, Aug. If. Stem 1 2 feet 

 high. Leaves sometimes ovate-lanceolate, serrate, ciliate. Pe- 

 tals obovate, hairy on the outer surface, purple. 



2. R. cttiosa Mich. : stem nearly square, smooth; leaves subpetiolate, 

 oval, serrulate, ciliate, 3-nerved, smooth beneath, slightly hispid above; 

 flowers with an involucre. R.petiolata Walt. 



HAB. Del. to Car. July. l[.Stem 1218 inches high. Flow- 

 ers in a loose dichotomous panicle, purple, with an involucre 

 of leaves at the base of each. 



3. R. virginica Linn. : stem with winged angles, somewhat hairy, 

 square ; leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate, ciliate, serrate, 3 7 nerved, 

 sprinkled with hairs on both sides ; corymbs dichotomous. 



HAB. Wet meadows. N.-Y. to Car. July. If. Stertt a foot 

 high. Floicers large, purple. Deer Grass. 



ORDER XLV1II. CUCURBITACEJE. De Cand. Lind. 



Flowers usually declinous, sometimes monoclinous. Ca- 

 lyx 5-toothed, sometimes obsolete. Corol 5-parted, scarcely 

 distinguishable from the calyx, very cellular, with strongly 

 marked reticulated veins, sometimes fringed. Stamens 5, 

 either distinct, or cone-ing in 3 parcels ; anthers 2-celled, 

 very long and sinuous. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with 3 pa- 

 rietal placentae ; style short ; stigmas very thick, velvety or 



