194 ORDER CIV. SAURURACE.E LIZARD-TAIL-FAMILY. ORDER CVIII. EUPHORBIACEJ2 SPURGE-FAMILY. 



marked with regular and prominent veins, on short petioles ; flowers small, 

 purplish, pedicellate, in lateral clusters, appearing before the leaves ; fruit oval, 

 fringed with dense down. A well-known tree, of large size and very beautiful 

 growth, distinguished by its long, pendulous branches Very common both in 

 woods and open fields. April. 



U. f diva. 



Slippery Elm. 



Young branches rough-pubescent; leaves oblong-ovate, acute, scarcely 

 oblique at base, unequally and doubly serrate, pubescent and very rough on 

 both sides; buds covered with a rust-colored down ; flowers nearly sessile, in 

 dense clusters at the ends of the branchlets ; calyx hairy ; stamens much ex- 

 sert, reddish, usually 7; fruit nearly orbicular, naked on the margin. A 

 smaller species, not as common as the last, but frequent In rich, rocky woods. 

 The mucilaginous quality of the inner bark, giving it its common name, is well 

 known. An. 



3. U. racemosa. Cork Elm. 



Leaves ovate, varying to oblong-obovate, acuminate, obliquely cordate at 

 base, doubly serrate, smooth above, somewhat pubescent beneath ; flowers pe- 

 dicellate, in clusters of 25, arranged in compound racemes ; fruit elliptical, 

 pubescent, fringed ou the margin with down. A large species, distinguished 

 from the others by the numerous corky excrescences, and the corky ridges of 

 the branches and downy branchlets. Not uncommon in Western N. Eng. and 

 In N. York. April. 



2. CtiLTIS. 



Flowers mono3cious-polygamous. Calyx 5 6-parted, persistent. 

 Stamens 5 6. Stigmas 2, long, recurved. Drupe globular, 1- 

 seeded. Trees or Shrubs. 



1. C. occidentalis. Hackberry. 



Leaves ovate, entire, oblique at base, with a long, ftno-acuminate point, 

 rough above, rough-pubescent beneath, often cordate or half-cordate at base ; 

 flowers small, greenish-white, axillary, solitary or in pairs, pedunculate, appear- 

 ing at the same time as the leaves ; lower ones usually with only stamens ; 

 fruit globular, with a thin, sweet flesh, small, dull red. In growth resembling 

 an Elm, and ranging in size from a small tree to one of considerable height. 

 Not uncommon in Northern or Eastern N. Eng., and becoming more abundant 

 Westward and Southward. May. 



ORDER CIV. 



Saururaceae. Lizard-tail- 

 family. 



1. SAURURUS. 



Flowers perfect. Stamens 6 8, or more, with long filaments. 

 Fruit compressed, of 3 1 pistils united at base, with recurved 

 stigmas. Ovaries mostly 1-seeded. 



1. S. cernuus. Lizard" 1 s-tail. 



Stem erect, weak, angled ; leaves cordate, acuminate, petiolate ; flowers very 

 numerous, sessile, white, in long, slender, plume-like, naked, pedunculate spikes, 

 nodding near the top, consisting simply of the long stamens, the ovaries, and 

 the white, tubular scales. An elegant plant in marshes, distinguished by its 

 long, nodding plume of white flowers. Most common in Western N. York- 

 July Aug. Per. 



ORDER CVI. 



Callitrichacese. Starwort- 

 family. 



1. CALLITRlCHE. 



Flowers polygamous. Stamens solitary, in the sterile flowers 

 between the bracts, in the fertile between the pistil and sterile 

 filaments, filiform. Anther cordate. Styles 2. Achenium inde- 

 hiscent, 4-lobed, 4-celled. 



1. C. verna. Water Chickweed. 



Floating ; stems capillary, growing in tufts ; leaves 3-nerved ; upper ones 

 oblong-spatnlate, or oblong-ovate, arranged In a stellate cluster at top; lower 

 ones linear; flowers minute, axillary ; bracts whitish; anthers exsert, yellow. 

 A very delicate little water-plant, growing in shallow ponds and in muddy 



grounds. The leaves vary to nearly linear. The stem, instead of floating 

 sometimes creeps along on the mud, bearing crowded, oblong leaves. April- 

 Aug. An. 



ORDER CVIII. Euphorbiacese. Spurge- 

 family. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 



* Apparent flowers containing- both stamens and 

 pistils. 



1. EupiiuKBiA. Barren flowers numerous, each consisting of a single sta- 

 men, surrounding the pedicellate, perfect flower, and inclosed in a common in- 

 volucre. 



* * Stamens and pistils in separate flowers on the 

 same plant. 



2. ACALYPHA. Calyx of the barren flowers 3 4-parted. Capsule smooth. 

 Low weeds. 



3. Riciuus. Barren flowers with a 5-parted calyx. Petals none. Tall 

 annuals. 



4. Birxue. Barren flowers with a 3-leaved calyx; petals 2; stamens 4. 

 Fertile flowers with a 4-leaved calyx ; petals 3. Evergreen shrubs. 



1. EUPHORBIA. 



Flowers monoecious, in a subcampanulate, usually petaloid, 

 4 5-parted involucre. Sterile flowers numerous, included with- 

 in the involucre, consisting of a single stamen on a jointed pedi- 

 cel, and furnished with a bract at base. Anthers composed of 2, 

 separate, globular cells. Fertile flower solitary, in the centre, 

 pedicellate, finally much exsert, consisting of a 3-lobed, 3-celled 

 ovary, destitute of a calyx Styles 3, each 2-parted. Capsule 

 consisting of 3 1-seeded carpels, opening each by 2 valves. 

 Herbs with a milky juice. 



* Heads of flowers umbellate. Leaves opposite. 



1. E. Lathyris. 



Caper Spurge. 



Smooth ; stem erect, stout, branching ; leaves linear-lanceolate, somewhat 

 acute, entire, sessile ; umbel usually with 4 dichotomous rays; leaves of the in- 

 volucre oblong-ovate, cordate at base, acuminate ; fruit and seeds smooth. A 

 tall species, common in gardens, and sometimes springing up in waste grounds. 

 Stem 23 ft. high. July Sep. Bien. 



* * Heads of flowers in axillary and terminal clusters. 



2. E. hypericifolia. 



Spurge. 



Stem smooth, nearly erect, with spreading branches ; leaves opposite, oval- 

 oblong, or oblong-ovate, serrate, ciliate, obliquely cordate at base, 8 5-nerved 

 beneath, often with oblong purple spots ; heads whitish, in axillary and termi 

 nal clusters, forming a sort of terminal corymb. A slender weed-like plant, 8' 

 15' high, common in waste and cultivated grounds. July Aug. An. 



3. E. maculata. 



Spotted Spurge. 



Mostly hairy ; stem prostrate, diffusely branch-ing ; leaves oval, sessile, ser- 

 rulate, smoothish above, pale and hairy beneath, often witli large, purple spots 

 above, short-petiolate ; heads of flowers in axillary clusters, minute, whitish. 

 A prostrate species, forming flat patches. The stem and leaves abound in the 

 milky juice of the genus. Common in cultivated grounds. Jane Sep. An. 



4. E. polygonifolia. 



Sea Spurge. 



Very smooth; stem prostrate, very branching; leaves narrow-oblong, ob 

 tuse at base, entire, destitute of veins ; heads of flowers solitary in the axils of 

 the branches. A very smooth, glaucous, prostrate species, with abundant milky 

 juice. The dichotomous stem is usually bright red. Common along sandy 

 sea-shores. July Sept. An. 



2. ACALYPHA. 



Flowers monoecious. Barren flowers very small, crowded in 

 spikes; calyx 4-parted ; stamens 8 16, united at base. Fertile 

 flowers few, at the base of the barren spikes ; calyx 3-parted. 

 Styles 3, elongated, fringed. 



1. A. Virginica. Three-seeded Mercury. 



More or less pubescent; stem erect or ascending, branching ; leaves ovate or 

 oblong-ovate, long-petiolate. serrate ; barren flowers in short axillary spikes, on 

 short peduncles ; pistillate flowers I 3 together in the axils, pedicellate, each 

 enveloped in a large, leaf-like, broad, cordate-ovate, unequally lobed and toothed, 

 acuminate bract, which is longer than the barren spike. A common weed in 

 cultivated grounds. Stem 6' 15' high. Aug. An. 



