466 PKIMULACE^E. Statice. 



1. S. Limonium, Linn. Rootstock thick, very astringent : leaves obovate- 

 oblong, thickish, fleshy-coriaceous, pale, tapering into a petiole : scape a foot or two 

 high, much-branched, corymbose-panicled, bearing the numerous 2 - 3-flowered 

 spikelets on one side of its divisions : outer bract ovate, herbaceous on the back, 

 much smaller than the broadly scarious innermost . bract : calyx-tube more or less 

 hairy on the angles. 



Salt marshes on the coast ; the var. CALIFORNICA (S. Californica, Boiss. in DC.), with denser 

 and more corymbose inflorescence than the Atlantic coast plant (var. Caroliniana), but closely 

 resembling the S. Limonium of Europe. 



ORDER LVII. PRIMULACE^J. 



Herbs, with perfect regular flowers, well marked by having the stamens as many 

 as the lobes of the corolla and opposite them, inserted on its tube (only in Glaux 

 the corolla is wanting and the stamens on the calyx alternate with its lobes), a 

 single entire style and stigma, a one-celled ovary, with the ovules borne on a free 

 central placenta, and a capsular fruit. Calyx 4-8-cleft, commonly 5-cleft, hypogy- 

 nous, except in Samolus. Anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise. Ovules several or 

 numerous, on a globular central placenta, amphitropous (except in Hottonia, which 

 we have not). Embryo small, in fleshy or horny albumen. Leaves simple, mainly" 

 entire : stipules none. 



An order of about 20 genera and twelve times that number of species, widely distributed over 

 the world, but mainly in the temperate and frigid portions of the northern hemisphere, of no 

 marked active properties and small economical importance, except to the florist ; not largely 

 American, and very scanty in California, where only Dodccathcon is conspicuous. 



* No sterile filaments : calyx wholly free from the ovary. 

 +- Flowers umbellate or sometimes solitary, on a naked scape : corolla imbricated in the bud. 



1. Dodecatheon. Corolla 5-parted ; its divisions reflexed. Stamens projecting : filaments 



monadelphous, shorter than the connivent sagittate or lanceolate anthers. 



2. Primula. Corolla salverform, or funnelform with a flat limb, the tube rather long. An- 



thers obtuse, included. 



3. Androsace. Corolla short-salverform or funnelform, small, with tube hardly exceeding the 



limb. Anthers obtuse, included. 



+- +- Flowers axillary on leafy stems : corolla convolute in the bud, or none in No. 7. 



4. Trientalis. Corolla 7- (5-9-) parted rotate. Capsule opening lengthwise. 



5. Anagallis. Corolla 5-parted, longer than the calyx, rotate. Capsule circumscissile. 



6. Centunculus. Corolla 4 - 5-cleft, shorter than the calyx. Capsule circumscissile. 



7. Glaux. Corolla none. Calyx colored. Capsule opening at the top by valves. 



* Sterile filaments alternate with the lobes of the corolla : calyx-tube partly adnate. 



8. Samolus. Corolla campanulate, 5-cleft ; the lobes imbricated in the bud. Flowers 



racemose. 



LYSIMACHIA. It is remarkable that no species of this rather large genus is known in 

 California. But L. CILIATA occurs in Oregon, and may reach the northern part of the State. 

 It belongs to a section (Steironema) which has the lobes of the corolla involute severally around 

 the stamens. The genus is most like Trientalis, but the parts of the flower five, and the stems 

 equably leafy throughout. 



1. DODECATHEON, Linn. 



Calyx deeply 5-cleft, the divisions reflexed in flower, afterwards erect over the 

 capsule. Corolla with extremely short tube, a dilated and thickened throat, and 

 an abruptly reflexed 5-parted limb ; its divisions long and narrow, entire. Stamens 

 inserted on the throat of the corolla : filaments short, monadelphous (but separable 



