54 KEY AND FLORA 



are ripe they are shot out of the pod by the elastic closing 

 of the valves. 



a. M. perfolia'ta Howell. MINER'S LETTUCE. Root leaves on long 

 petioles, stem leaves forming a round perfoliate Leaf below the flowering 

 stems. Flowers small, white, often growing on but one side of 

 the stem. This is very common and widely distributed. It grows 

 in the shade and blooms in spring and early summer. 



b. M. Sibirlca Howell. Stems brittle, often climbing over other 

 vegetation and growing in swampy places. Leaves sessile but not 

 united. Flowers pink or white, a half inch in diameter, on long 

 pedicels, in long, loose racemes. From Marin County to Alaska, 

 blooming in spring and summer. 



c. M. gypsophiloi'des Howell. Annual, pale green, with many 

 slender stems from the root, 3-10 in. high. Root leaves linear or 

 linear-spatulate, shorter than the stems. Stem leaves at the base oj 

 the panicle partly united on one side. Flowers numerous, pink, sweet- 

 scented. This blooms in early spring and grows on rocky banks and 

 hills. It is very variable in size and shape of leaves. In the coast 

 mountains of central California. 



d. M. linea'ris Greene. Annual, 6 in. to a foot high, branching. 

 Leaves almost thread-like, fleshy, an inch or so long, becoming 

 slightly wider toward the apex. Flowers in racemes on one side oj 

 the stem on pedicels that recurve in fruit. Petals white, tinged with 

 pink, unequal, narrowed at base, separate or somewhat united. 

 Moist places through California and northward, blooming in spring. 



e. M. Chamisso'nis Greene. Stems erect or procumbent, propa- 

 gating by runners that have a round bulblet at the tip. Leaves oblong- 

 spatulate, in several pairs. Flowers in racemes, the bracts present only 

 with the lower flowers, on pedicels that recurve in fruit. Petals rose- 

 color, longer than the calyx. Seeds kidney-shaped, covered all over 

 with tubercles. This is widely distributed and grows in wet places, 

 blooming in spring and summer. 



V. SPRA'GUEA, Pussy-paws 



Sepals thin and papery. Petals 4. Stamens 3. Style with 

 2 lobes at the apex. Pod 2-valved. Flowers densely clustered 

 in umbellate spikes curling in at the tips. 



S. umbella'ta Torr. Stems several, usually from a thick root. 

 Root leaves oblanceolate or spatulate, forming a rosette at the base, 

 stem leaves becoming mere bracts. Flowers light rose-color. Common 

 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 



