152 COMBRETACE^E. (COMBRETUM FAMILY.) 



and white odorous flowers ill terminal bracted spikes, appearing before the 

 leaves. 



1. F. alnifolia, L. Swamps, Florida to Korth Carolina. March and 

 April. Shrub 2 -4 high. Leaves smooth, or tomeiitose beneath, toothed 

 at the summit. Capsule hairy. 



3. LIQUIDAMBAR, L. SUE tr GUM. 



Flowers moua'cious, iii globular 4-bracted spiked heads. Calvx and corolla 

 none. Stamens very numerous. Styles 2. Ovary 2-celled, with numerous 

 ovules iu each cell. Capsules united in a close head, woody, 2-beaked, open- 

 ing between the beaks, 1 -2-seeded. Seeds wing-angled. Trees. Heads of 

 sterile flowers sessile, crowded ; those of the fertile flowers on long nodding 

 peduncles. 



1 . L. Styracifl.ua, L. Branches with corky wings ; leaves roundish 

 with 5-7 acuminate serrate spreading lobes. Swamps. March. A large 

 tree. The exposed juice hardens into a fragrant gum. 



ORDEK 54. RHIZOPHORACE^E. (MANGROVE FAMILY.) 



Maritime trees or shrubs, with opposite, entire, coriaceous leaves, 

 and deciduous stipules between the petioles. Calyx united with the 

 ovary, 4- 12-lobed, valvate or lid-like in the bud. Petals as many as 

 the calyx lobes and alternate with them. Stamens twice or several 

 times as many as the petals, and inserted with them on the calyx. 

 Ovary 2-celled with the cells 2-ovuled, or 1-celled and several-ovuled. 

 Ovules pendulous. Fruit 1-celled, in dehiscent. Albumen none. 

 Radicle elongated. 



1. RHIZOPHORA, L. MANGROVE. 



Calyx tube obovate, the limb 4-lubed, persistent. Petals 4, oblong, emargi- 

 nate, enfolding the alternate stamens in the bud, woolly on the margins. 

 Stamens 8. Anthers linear-oblong. Ovary 2-celled. Seeds germinating 

 within the persistent pericarp, the lengthening radicles, ultimately reaching 

 and rooting in the ground, form new trees and impenetrable thickets along 

 the shore. 



1. R. Mangle, L. Leaves petioled, obovate-oblong, 3' - 6' long; stipules 

 lanceolate, enclosing the buds; peduncles 2-3-flowered; calyx lobes keeled 

 within, as long as the pale yellow rigid petals. Coast and Keys of South 

 Florida. 



ORDER 55. COMBRETACEJE. (COMBRETUM FAMILY.) 



Tropical trees or shrubs, with entire exstipulate leaves, and axillary 

 spiked or capitate flowers. Calyx tube coherent with the 1-celled, 

 2-5-ovuled ovary; the limb 4-5-cleft, mostly deciduous. Petals 



