152 DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



1. P. quinquefolium Linn. : root fusiform ; stem angular; leaves ter- 

 nate-quinate ; leafets oval, acuminate, petioled, serrate ; peduncles 

 shorter than the petioles ; styles and seeds 2. 



HAB. Mountains. Can. to Gcor. June. It. Stem 12 inches 

 high. Flowers greenish. Highly esteemed by the Chinese for 

 its supposed medicinal properties. Big. Mtd. Bot. ii. 82. 



Ginseng. 



2. P. trifolium Linn. : root tuberous, roundish; stem simple, smooth; 

 leaves ternate ; leafets subsessile, oblong-lanceolate, serrate ; styles 

 often 3 ; berry 3-seeded. 



HAB U Woods. Can. to Geor. May. H. Stem 4 6 inches high. 

 Leaves ternate or quinate. Dtcarf Ginseng. 



ORDER LX. HAMAMELIDE^E. De Cand. Lind. 



Calyx superior, in 4 pieces. Petals 4, linear, with a val- 

 vular aestivation. Stamens 8, of which 4 are alternate with 

 the petals, anthers turned inwards, 2-celled, each all opening 

 by a valve which is finally deciduous, and 4 are sterile, and 

 placed at the base of the petals. Ovary 2-celled, inferior. 

 Styles 2. Fruit half inferior, capsular, usually opening with 

 two septiferous valves. Seeds pendulous. Embryo in the 

 midst of fleshy albumen. 



Shrubs, with deciduous alternate leaves and small axillary 



a ^" 



flowers. 



1. HAMAMELIS. Linn. 



Calyx 4-lobed, with 2 3 scales (an involucre) external- 

 ly at base. Petals 4, long, ligulate, alternating with the 

 lobes of the calyx. Stamens 4, with very short filaments. 

 Capsule coriaceous, 2-celled, 2-valved at the top ; valves bifid. 



Tetrandria. Digynia. 



H. virginica Linn : leaves ovate, acute, toothed, cordate, with the 

 sinus small ; flowers in axillary clusters. 



b. parcifolia Nutt. : leaves oblong-ovate ; upper part undulately 

 and coarsely crenate ; under surface pubescent, somewhat hir- 

 sute ; segments of the calyx oblong ; stamens and perigynous 

 filaments often nearly equal. 



HAB. Woods. Can. to Flor. Oct., Nov. *?. Shrub 612 

 feet high. Flowers yellow and continue during a great part of 

 the winter. Var. b. is found on mountains in Penn. and is 

 smaller than the common variety. Nutt. Witch-hazel. 



ORDER LXI. CORNER. De Cand. 



Calyx 4-lobed. Petals 4, oblong, broad at the base, regu- 

 lar, inserted on the top of the tube of the calyx ; aestivation 



