52 ELATIN iCE^E. (WATER-WORT FAMILY.) 



pods ovatt:-l<inr<olate, acute, rmicti longer than the calyx. (Sarothra gentianoides, 

 L. ) Sandy fit-Ids ; common. June - Oct. 



II. OKAVKOI.KNS, Buckley, & species with foliage like No. 5, but with large 

 flowers, & II. BircKLEYi, Curtis, a low suffruticose species with large flowers, 

 l>oth natives of the mountains of Carolina, may be expected in those of Vir- 

 ginia. 



3. E LODE A, Pursh. MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT. 



Sepals 5, equal, erect. Petals 5, equal-sided, oblong, naked, imbricated in 

 the bud. Stamens 9 (rarely 12 or 15), united in 3 sets; the sets separated by 

 as many large and ovate orange-colored glands. Pod 3-celled, oblong : styles 

 di-tinct. Perennial herbs, growing in marshes or shallow water, with small 

 close clusters of flesh-colored flowers in the axils of the leaves and at the sum- 

 mit of the stem. (Name from cXo>5i}?, growing in marshes.) 



1. E. Virgillica, Nutt. Leaves closely sessile or dii*i>hi<i by <i broad base, 

 oblong or ovate, very obtuse; filaments united below the middle. (Hypericum 

 Virginicum, L.) Common in swamps. July, Aug. 



2. E. pctiolata, Pursh. Leaves tapering into a short petiole, oblong : fila- 

 ments united beyond the middle. From New Jersey southward and west- 

 ward. 



ORDER 20. ELATINACE^G. (WATER-WORT FAMILY.; 



Little marsh annuals, vrith opposite dotless leaves and membranaceous stip~ 

 tiles, minute axillary flowers like Chickweeds, but the pod 2 - 5-cetted, and 

 the seeds as in St. John's- wort The principal genus is 



1. EL, A TINE, L. WATER-WORT. 



Sepals 2-5, persistent. Petals 2-5, hypogynous. Stamens as many, rarely 

 twice as many, as the petals. Styles, or sessile capitate sri^m.-ss, 2-5. Pod 

 2-5-celled, several -many -seeded, 2-5-valved; the partitions left attached to 

 the axis, or evanescent. Seeds cylindrical, straightish or curved. (A Greek 

 name for some obscure herb.) 



1. E. Americana, Arnott. Dwarf (!' high), creeping, routing in the 

 mud, tufted ; leaves obovate ; flowers sessile; sepals, petals, stamens, and stig- 

 mas 2, rarely 3 ; seeds 5 or 6 in each cell, rising from the base. (Peplis Amer- 

 icana, fiirsh. Crypta minima, Nutt.) Margin of ponds, &c.,N. Hampshire, 

 to Kentucky. Pod very thin and delicate; the seeds large in proportion, 

 Btraightish. 



ORDER 21. CARYOPHYL.L.ACE.E. (PINK FAMILY.) 



Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, symmetrical 4 - 6-merous flowers, with or 

 V'it/mut petals; tie distinct stamens no more than twice the number of the 

 sepals, either hypogynous or perigynous ; styles 2 - 5 ; seeds attached to the 



