ILLECtBRE^E. 131 



C. virginica Linn. : leaves about 2, opposite, linear-lanceolate, thick J 

 flowers in a loose simple raceme ; sepals somewhat acute. 



b.lattfolia Torr. leaves ovate-lanceolate; sepals obtuse. C. spa- 



thulff/olia Nutt. ? 



HAB. Wet meadows. N. Y. to Car. W. to Miss. April, May. 

 If. Stem 6 10 inches high, erect or procumbent. Flowers 

 rose-red, in a raceme. Varies much in the form of the leaves. 

 Var. b. often supersedes the common variety. Spring Beauty. 



ORDER LI. ILLECEBREjE. Lind. 



Sepals 5, seldom 3 or 4, distinct or more or less cohering. 

 Petals minute, inserted upon the calyx between the lobes, oc- 

 casionlly waiting. Stamens perigynous, exactly opposite the 

 sepals, if equal to them in number, sometimes fewer by abor- 

 tion ; filaments distinct ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary superior ; 

 styles 2 or 3, distinct or partially combined. Fruit small, dry, 

 1-celled, either indehiscent, or opening with 3-valves. Seeds 

 either numerous, upon a free central placenta, or solitary and 

 pendulous from a funiculus originating in the base of the cavi- 

 ty of the fruit ; albumen farinaceous ; embryo lying on one 

 side of the albumen, more or less curved, with the radicle al- 

 ways pointing to the hilum ; cotyledons small. 



Herbs or half shrubby plants. Leaves opposite or alter- 

 nate, entire, with scarious stipules. 



1. ANYCHIA. Mich. 



Calyx 5-parted ; sepals connivent, subsaccate, callous at 

 the apex. Petals none. Stamens 3 5 ; filaments distinct. 

 Style none. Stigmas 2, subcapitate. Capsules indehiscent, 

 1-seeded, surrounded by the calyx. 



Pentandria. Monogynia. 



1. A. dichotoma Mich. : stem erect or spreading, dichotomously 

 branched, pubescent ; leaves opposite, lanceolate, smooth, acute ; 

 flowers solitary, terminal and axillary, very minute, on very short pedi- 

 cels, about as long as the stipules. A. canadensis ElLQueria cana- 

 densis Linn. 



HAB. Dry soils. N. Y. to Car. July, Aug. Q.Stem 612 

 inches high, very pubescent. Flowers solitary, terminal, very 

 minute. Forked Chickweed. 



2. A. capillacea De Cand. : stem very smooth and slender ; leaves 

 ovate ; stipules shorter than the flowers ; flowers remote. A. dicln/to- 

 ma b. Torr.Queria capillacea Nutt. 



HAB. Pine barrens. N. J. Aug. 0. Probably onlv a variety 

 of the former. J 



