Phytolaccaceae 135 



1. BATIS L. 



Characters of the family. 



1. B. xnaritima L. Glabrous, stems branched, prostrate, 9-14 

 dm. long, the short flowering branches erect; leaves linear to 

 ovate-oblong, 2.5 cm. long, narrowed to the base; spikes soli- 

 tary in the axils along the branches; the staminate 4-8 mm. 

 long; the pistillate 2 mm. long, becoming 10-15 mm. long in 

 fruit; bracts entire, obtuse or acute, in vertical rows, persistent, 

 those of the pistillate deciduous; petals white; stamens 2 mm. 

 long, exserted. 



San Pedro and Redondo to San Diego. 



Family 25. PHYTOLACCACEAE. POKEWEED 

 FAMILY. 



Ours perennial herbs with alternate entire leaves and 

 perfect racemose flowers. Sepals 4-5, imbricated in the 

 bud. Petals wanting. Stamens usually 10, hypogynous, 

 with subulate or filiform filaments ; anthers 2-celled, 

 longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary superior, 10-celled ; 

 ovules solitary, amphitropous ; styles 10 ; stigmas linear 

 or filiform. Fruit a berry. Seeds compressed ; embryo 

 annular ; endosperm mealy. 



1. PHYTOLACCA L. 



With the characters of the family. 



1. P. decandra L. Stems branching from a perennial root, 

 1.5-3 dm. high, glabrous, strong smelling and succulent; leaves 

 oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate at both 

 ends, 1-3 dm. long; petioles 2-8 cm. long; racemes formed at the 

 base of the branches, becoming opposite the leaf, peduncled, 5-20 

 cm. long; pedicels divergent, with a subulate-lanceolate bract at 

 base and usually with 2 similar ones above; calyx white, 4-6 

 mm. long; sepals orbicular; ovary subglobose ; style recurved; 

 berry dark purple, 10-12 mm. in diameter. 



Santa Monica, Davidson. 



