SYSTEMATIC BOTANY, 



placenta," which applies to our seed pod; in the next line "Sepals 2; fleshy herbs " is 

 wrong, so we try "Sepals 5 or 4; leaves opposite," etc., which leads us to ORDER CARYO- 

 PHYLLACE^E, p. 22. The description of the order is satisfactory. Evidently our plant 

 belongs to the first genus named in the Synopsis of Genera, viz. : 8'ilene, and the first 

 species under that genus is our plant, the proper name of which is S'dene Galllca. We 

 find, too, as we always shall, that some things were omitted in our description; also 

 .that all the characteristics of the plant are not given in this book. Having determined 

 the name, you should next write out a description, as nearly complete as possible, and 

 make drawings showing the outlines of the leaves and the separate parts of the flower. 



53. You may find a smooth plant bearing a loose raceme of red flowers, 

 one of which is represented in Fig. 57. The 



floral leaves are all colored, but there are 

 evidently two sets; -viz. ; a calyx of 5 sepals 

 inclosing a corolla of 4 petals. The parts of 

 the flower, then, ttre not in threes; and, since 

 the palmately lobed leaves are iietted-veined 

 the plant must be an exogen. Turning to 

 the key, we proceed as follows: 



54. The plant must belong in "DIVISION 1," since by carefully removing the sepals 

 and petals we find that the latter are separate from each other. It must be found under 

 "A," for there are many stamens. The stamens are free from the calyx and corolla, i. <?., 

 they are hypogynous; so we read the next line: " Pistils, few to many distinct carpels, 

 rarely one." Our flower has three distinct carpels, therefore we feel sure that it must 

 be sought under one of the next three equal lines beginning with "Calyx." As the 

 calyx is easily shaken off from the older flowers we decide that it is deciduous. The 

 juice is colorless also. We turn, therefore, to HAXUNCULACE^E, p. 16. The description 

 of the order is satisfactory. The key to the genera begins with the heading "* Flowers 

 regular." Ours is not, for the upper sepal is unlike the others. " ** Flowers irregular ; 

 colored sepals conspicuous," is right. We now choose between "Upper sepal spurred,' 



and ' ' Upper sepal hooded. " Evidently the first 

 is right, and the genus is Delphinium. We find 

 that the generic description on p. 18 fits our 

 plant. The last species being the only one with 

 red flowers, we decide that our plant is Del- 

 phinium nudicaule, or the Naked-stemmed Lark- 

 spur. 



55. The order Leguminosse, or the 

 Pea Family, is one that you will soon 



