166 LOASACE.*:. (LOASA FAMILY.) 



15. L. Simpsoni, Chapm. Glabrous; stem 2' - 9' high, terete, simple ; 

 leaves \' long, spatulate-obovate, alternate, or the lowest opposite ; flowers 

 apetulous ; capsule top-shaped, obscurely angular, longer than the triangular 

 calyx lobes. Low ground, Manatee, South Florida. 



* * * Stems creeping : leaves opposite. 

 4 Petals none. 



16. L. palustris, Ell. Smooth; stems diffuse; leaves obovate, tapering 

 into a long petiole; capsule oblong or obcouical, obscurely 4-sided, longer 

 than the calyx lobes. Ditches and muddy places, common. June - Sept. 

 Stems 6' -12' long. 



17. L. spathulata, Torr. & Gray. Pubescent and somewhat hoary; 

 leaves spatulate-obovate; capsule ovoid; otherwise like the preceding. 

 Margins of pine barren ponds, Middle Florida. July -August. Very rare. 



H H Petals 4. 



18. L. natans, Ell. Smooth; stems diffuse; leaves obovate, acutish, 

 tapering into a long petiole; flowers short-pedicelled ; petals roundish, as 

 long as the lobes of the calyx ; capsule obtusely 4-anglt-d, narrowed at the 

 base. Marshes and margins of streams, in the lower districts. July -Sept. 

 Resembles No. 16 but is every way larger. 



19. L. arcuata, Walt Smooth; leaves lanceolate, narrowed at the 

 base, acute ; flowers on peduncles usually longer than the leaves, 2-bracted 

 at the base; calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, shorter than the obovate petals; 

 capsule clavate, curved. Muddy margins of ponds, etc., Florida to North 

 Carolina. July. Stems 4' - 8' long. 



6. CIRC.ffiA, Tourn. 



Calyx tube slightly produced beyond the ovary, the limb 2 cleft, deciduous. 

 Petals 2, obcordate. Stamens 2. Style filiform. Capsule obovate, 1-2- 

 celled, 1-2-seeded, bristly with hooked hairs. Perennial herbs, with oppo- 

 site petioled leaves, and small white or rose-colored flowers in loose terminal 

 racemes. 



1. C. Lutetiana, L. Minutely pubescent; leaves ovate, acuminate, 

 slightly toothed, usually longer than the petioles ; bracts none ; capsule his- 

 pid. Damp shades along the mountains. July. Stem 1- 2 'high, tumid 

 at the joints. Fruit reflexed. Flowers reddish white. 



2. C. alpina, L. Smooth; stem low (3' -8'); leaves membranaceous, 

 cordate, coarsely toothed, as long as the petioles ; pedicels minutely bracted ; 

 capsule hairy. With the preceding. 



ORDER 61. LOASACEJE. (LOASA FAMILY.) 



Herbs, commonly armed with bristly barbed, often stinging, hairs. 

 Leaves alternate, exstipulate. Flowers solitary or clustered. Calyx 

 tube adherent to the 1 -celled ovary, the limb 5-parted and persistent. 

 Petals 5 or 10, inserted on the throat of the calyx. Stamens mostly 



