ORDER 37. RUT ACE J3. 



281 



united, the upper one spurred. Petals 1 5, the three lower ones stalked, the 2 

 upper inserted on the calyx. Stamens 6 to 10, distinct, unequal, perigynous. 

 Ovary 3-carpeled ; style 1 ; stigmas 3. Fruit separating into 3 indehiscent, 1-seeded 

 nuts. Sds. large. Albumen 0. 



Genera 4. species 40, natives of S. America. They possess the same antiscorbutic properties 

 as the Cruciferse. The fruit of the following species is pickled and used as a substitute for 

 capers. 



TROP^EOLUM, L. INDIAN CRESS. (Lat. tropceum, a trophy ; the 

 leaf resembles a shield, the flower an empty helmet.) Character essen- 

 tially the same as of the order. 



1 T. majus L. NASTURTION. Lvs. peltate, roundish, repandon the margin, with 

 the long petiole inserted a little one side of the center ; pet. obtuse, the 2 upper 

 distant from the 3 lower, which are fitnbriate at base, and contracted into long 

 claws. (T) Native of Peru. St. at length climbing by means of its long petioles 

 several feet. Lvs. a fine example of the peltate form, about 2' diam. Fls. large 

 and showy, orange-colored, with blotches of deeper shade. They are eaten for 

 salad. Jn. Oct. 



2 T. aduncum Smith. CANARY CREEPER. CAPUCHINS. St. trailing or climb- 

 ing ; Ivs. peltate, palmately 5-lobed, lobes dentate ; petals laciniate, the two upper 

 much larger ; sep. entire, acute. Admired for its grotesque, orange-colored flow- 

 ers. Climbing by its prehensive petioles like T. majus. When full grown it will 

 thrive upon air alone, f From Peru. 



ORDEK XXXVI. LIMNANTHACEJS. LIMNANTHS. 



Herbs annual, with an acrid, watery juice, alternate, pinnatifid, exstipulate leaves. 

 Flowers regular, 3 to 5-merous, perfect. Sepals united at base, persistent, valvate 

 in aestivation. Petals marescent, hypogynous. Stamens twice as many as petals 

 and inserted with them. Fii opposite to the sep. with a small process outside the 

 base. Ova. of 2 to 6 carpels. Sty. united. Stig. simple. Fr. 2 to 5 achenia, 

 rather fleshy. Sds. solitary. 



Genera 2, -species 8, mostly natives of the temperate parts of N. America. 



FLOERKEA, Willd. FALSE MERMAID. (Xamed in honor of Floerke, 

 a German botanist.) Sepals 3, longer than the 3 petals; stamens 6; 

 ovaries 3, tuberculate, style 2-cleft. (D Small aquatics, with pinnately 

 divided leaves. 



F. proserpinacoidea Lindl. Grows in marshes 

 on rivers and lake shores, Vt. to Penn., W. to 

 Mo. Sts. decumbent, less than a foot in length, 

 weak, slender. Lvs. alternate, upper ones or 

 those above the water, pinnately 5-parted, lower 

 or submersed ones mostly 3-parted, all ou slen- 

 der petioles 1 to 3' in length. Fls. axillary, 

 pedunculate ; petals, white, small, about half as 

 long as the sepals. Achenia large, 2 or 1, 

 roundish. 



ORD. XXXVII. RUTACE^E. RUEWORTS. 



Herbs or generally shrubs or trees, with the ex- 

 stipulate leaves dotted with transparent glands 

 frlu. E T Shoxy'iu'nr^minaTo containing aromatic or acrid oil Flowers regular, 

 flower; 630, pistillate flower. 3 to 5-merous, hypogyr.ous, perfect or polygamous. 



Stamens as many or twice as many as the sepala 



