DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 161 



axillary placenta, or 1-celled with, parietal placentae. Capsule 

 many-seeded, the seeds with endosperm. 



DOWNIN'GIA, GARDENERS' NAME Clinto'nia 



Low and spreading smooth annuals, growing in low, wet 

 places that gradually dry ("hog wallows "). Leaves small, 

 sessile, entire, becoming bracts above. Calyx tube and ovary 

 very long and slender, becoming twisted, the divisions of the 

 calyx linear and leaf-like. Corolla 2-lipped, the smaller lip 

 of 2 narrow, recurved, or spreading divisions ; the other broad, 

 3-lobed, deep blue, with a white or yellow center. Filaments 

 and anthers united into a curved tube. Capsule long and 

 slender, becoming 1-celled, splitting along the sides but closed 

 at the top. 



a. D. el'egans Torr. Low, with ovate to lanceolate leaves, acute. 

 The smaller lip of the corolla of 2 lanceolate divisions; the other 3-lobed, 

 blue with a white center. Northern California to Washington and 

 Idaho. 



b. D. pulchella Ton. Stems 3-6 in. high. Leaves lanceolate, 

 obtuse. The smaller lip of the corolla with 2 oblong divisions; the 

 other broad, 3-lobed, azure blue, with a large white or yellow spot in 

 the center. Through middle California to Oregon. 



COMPOSTTJE. COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Flowers in a dense head on a common receptacle, surrounded 

 by a calyx-like involucre, generally of many greenish bracts. 

 Corollas either strap-shaped, forming rays, and often 5-toothed ; 

 or tubular and 5-toothed or 5-lobed. Stamens inserted on the 

 corolla, with the anthers united in a tube around the style. 

 Style 2-cleft above. Fruit an akene, often provided with 

 means of transportation, such as thistledown, barbs, scales, 

 and so on, known as pappus and often representing the calyx. 

 This is the largest family of flowering plants, including the 

 sunflower, aster, chrysanthemum, daisy, thistle, dandelion, 

 chicory. The flowers are among the most specialized for in- 

 sect pollination. The genera here included belong to the 



