MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 46 



* * * Shrubby ; flowers in spring and early summer. 



P. Moutan, Sims. TREE PEONY of China. Stems 2-3 high ; leaves 

 pale and glaucous, ample ; flowers very large (6' or more across), white 

 with purple base, or rose-color, single or double ; the disk, which in other 

 species is a mere ring, in this forms a thin fleshy sac or covering, inclosing 

 the 5 or more ovaries, but bursting and falling away as the pods grow. 



22. XANTHORRHIZA, SHRUB YELLOWROOT. (Greek : yellow, 

 root.) Only one species. 



X. apiif61ia, L'Her. A shrubby plant, l-2 high, with deep yellow 

 wood and roots (used by the Indians for dyeing), pinnate leaves of about 

 5 cut-toothed or lobed leaflets, and drooping compound racemes of small, 

 dark or dull purple flowers in early spring, followed by little 1-seeded 

 pods ; grows in damp, shady places. Penn., to N. Y., and Ivy. ; S. along 

 the mountains. 



23. HYDRASTIS, ORANGEROOT, YELLOW PUCCOON, GOLDEN 

 SEAL. (Name of no application.) 2Z 



H. Canad^nsis, Linn. Low, sending up in early spring a rounded 5- 

 7-lobed root-leaf, and a stem near 1 high, bearing 1 or 2 alternate, 

 smaller leaves above, just below the single small flower: The 3 greenish 

 sepals fall from the bud, leaving the many white stamens and little head 

 of pistils ; the latter grow pulpy and produce a crimson fruit resembling a 

 raspberry. Rich woods from New York, W. and S. 



II. MAGNOLIACEJE, MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



Trees or shrubs, with aromatic bitter bark, bud-scales formed 

 of stipules (Lessons, p. 66, Figs. 179, 180), simple mostly 

 entire alternate leaves, and solitary flowers ; the similar sepals 

 and petals (rarely 0) on the receptacle in three or more rows of 

 three, imbricated in the bud ; pistils 2-5, or numerous, the car- 

 pels cohering and covering the elongated receptacle, forming a 

 sort of cone in fruit; stamens numerous, with adiiate anthers 

 (Lessons, p. 101, Fig. 293) ; seeds only 1 or 2 in each carpel ; 

 embryo small. 



I. Stipules forming the bud-scales, and falling early. 

 Flowers perfect and large, or smaller and dioecious in No. 3. 



1. LIRIODENDRON. Sepals 8, reflexed. Corolla bell-shaped, of 6 broad, greenish- 



orange petals. Stamens almost equaling the petals, with slender filaments, and 

 long anthers opening outwards. Carpels thin and scale-form, closely packed over each 

 other, dry in fruit, and after ripening separating and falling away from the slender 

 axis ; the wing-like portion answering to style ; the small seed -bearing cell, at the base 

 and indehiscent. Leaf-buds flat ; stipules free from the petiole. 



2. MAGNOLIA. Sepals 3. Petals 6 or 9. Stamens short, with hardly any filaments ; 



anthers opening inwards. Carpels becoming fleshy in fruit and forming a red or rose- 

 colored cone, each when ripe (in autumn) splitting down the back and discharging 1 or 

 2 coral-red, berry-like seeds, which hang on extensile cobwebby threads. Stipules 

 united with the base of the petiole, falling as the leaves unfold. 



3. CERCIDIPHYLLUM. Calyx and corolla 0. Stamens many, filaments capillary. Pistils 



stalked, forming 2-6 narrowly oblong follicles. Seeds numerous. 



