744 SAPINDACEAE 



with 2 small and 2 large glands. Stamens 8, filaments united at the base. Ovary 3-celled, 

 styles united to above the middle. Ovules 1 in each cavity, attached below the apex. 

 Fruit of 3 samaras attached to each other by their backs, each bearing a seed at the apex. 

 Embryo curved. 



Fruit 2.5-4 cm. long, rounded at the base : leaflets 2.5-3 cm. long. 1. s. incisa, 



Fruit 1-1.5 cm. long, deeply cordate at the base : leaflets less than 2.5 cm. long. 2. S. brachycarpa. 



1. Serjania incisa Torr. A climbing vine 1-2 m. high. Leaflets 9-15, the blades 

 ovate, more or less decidedly rhombic, 2.5-3 cm. long, coarsely few-toothed, or incised : 

 panicles raceme-like, 2.5-3 cm. long, slender-peduncled : fruit 2. 5-4 cm. long, obtuse at 

 the base, the wings 7-9 mm. broad. 



In river valleys, Texas and adjacent Mexico. 



2. Serjania brachycarpa A. Gray. A climbing shrub several meters long. Leaflets 

 often 15, the blades rhombic-ovate, 1-2 cm. long, acute or rather obtuse, incised-toothed, 

 densely tomentose beneath : panicles thyrsoid, 2.5 cm. long, or larger at maturity, ap- 

 promimate : peduncles nearly as long as the panicles : fruit 1-1.5 cm. long, deeply cordate 

 at the base, the wings 4-5 mm. broad. 



In dry soil, southern Texas and northern Mexico. 



3. CARDIOSPERMUM L. 



Herbs or shrubs, with channeled or angled much-branched stems climbing by tendrils. 

 Leaves alternate : blades biternate or decompound, leaflets commonly toothed, punctate. 

 Flowers polygamo-dioecious, irregular, in axillary racemes or corymbs, whose peduncles 

 bear 2 tendrils. Sepals 4, herbaceous, imbricated, the 2 outer smaller. Disk one-sided, 

 extra-staminal, enlarged into two glands opposite the lower petals. Petals 4, unequal, the 

 two larger with a scale at the base, the smaller pair with a crest. Stamens 8, oblique : fila- 

 ments unequal, distinct or united at the base. Ovary 3-celled, 3-angled : styles united at 

 the base : stigmas 3. Ovules solitary in each cavity, ascending from the axis. Capsule 

 3-angled, inflated, membranous and veiny, opening loculicidally. Seed solitary in each 

 cavity, globose. Endosperm wanting. Embryo with transversely conduplicate cotyledons. 



Capsules longer than broad, 3-3.5 cm. long. 1. C. Halicacobum. 

 Capsules broader than long, 1-2 cm. broad. 



Leaf -blades 3-foliolate : capsules 10-15 mm. broad. 2. C. microcarpum. 



Leaf-blades 5-foliolate : capsules 15-20 mm. broad. 3. C. Corindum. 



1. Cardiospermum Halicacabum L. An annual or biennial climbing or trailing 

 herb, 1-5 m. long : leaflets 3, the blades ovate or ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate, incised 

 or parted, glabrous or sparingly pubescent : flower-clusters small : peduncles slender, 3-10 

 cm. long, furnished with tendrils : sepals very unequal, the outer broader than long, the 

 inner longer than broad : petals obovate, much longer than the inner sepals, rounded or 

 retuse at the apex, the upper pair with oblique scales, .the lower with clawed scales which 

 are produced into a spur on one side : filaments pubescent : capsules broadly obovoid, 

 bladder-like, 3-3.5 cm. long, longer than broad, the carpels angled, very finely pubescent : 

 seeds globose, about 5 mm. in diameter, brown or black, each with a white aril. 



In thickets and waste places, New Jersey, Missouri, Florida, Texas and tropical America. Summer 

 and fall. 



2. Cardiospermum microcarpum H.B.K. An annual or biennial, glabrous or 

 sparingly pubescent climbing herb, 1-4 m. long, sometimes woody at the base : leaflets 

 3, the blades ovate in outline, incised-serrate or parted, usually nearly glabrous above, 

 more or less appressed-pubescent beneath, acute or acuminate, slender-petioled : peduncles 

 3-8 cm. long, wiry, angled, with 2 tendrils below the cyme : capsules broadly obpyramidal, 

 10-15 mm. long, broader than long, the carpels angled, finely pubescent : seeds globose, 4 

 mm. in diameter, black, each with a small white aril. 



In thickets, Florida to Texas and through the tropics to northern South America. Spring to fall. 



3. Cardiospermum Corindum L. An annual or biennial climbing or twining herb 

 clothed throughout with a soft tomentum, 2-4 m. long, velvety : leaflets 5, the blades ovate 

 or ovate-lanceolate, coarsely serrate or incised, acute or acuminate, velvety : peduncles 

 stoutish, 3-10 cm. long, furnished with 2 tendrils below the cyme : capsules depressed- 

 globose, 1.5-2 cm. in diameter, softly pubescent, the carpels angled : seeds globose, 4 mm. 

 in diameter, black, dull. [<7. motte H.B.K.] 



In dry soil, Texas to Mexico. Spring to fall. 



