122 



PHYTOLACCACEAE. 



filaments distinct, or united at the base; anthers 2-celled, the sacs longi- 

 tudinally dehiscent, often nearly separated. Ovary superior, several-celled 

 in most of the genera; ovules solitary in the cavities, amphitropous. Styles 

 as many as the carpels, short or none ; stigmas linear or filiform. Fruit a 

 berry in the following genus. Endosperm of the seed mealy or fleshy. 

 About 22 genera and 110 species, mostly in the tropics. 



1. PHYTOLACCA L. 



Tall perennial herbs, Tvith petioled estipulate leaves, and small flowers in 

 terminal racemes, which by the further growth of the stem become opposite the 

 leaves. Pedicels bracted at the base and often 1-3-bracted above. Calyx of 4 

 or 5 persistent rounded sepals. Stamens 5-15, inserted at the base of the calyx. 

 Ovary composed of 5-15 distinct or somewhat united carpels. Fruit a depressed- 

 globose 5-15-celled fleshy berry. Seeds 1 in each cavity, erect, compressed; 

 embryo annular in the mealy endosperm. [Name Greek and French, referring 

 to the crimson juice of the berries.] About 24 species, the following typical 

 one of eastern North America, the others tropical. 



1. Phjrtolacca americana L. 



Poke. Scoke. Garget. (Fig. 

 141.) A glabrous strong-smelling 

 succulent erect herb, 3°-12° tall, 

 the root large, poisonous, the stem 

 stout, its pith divided into disks. 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, acute or acuminate at 

 both ends, 6-12' long; racemes 

 2'-S' long; pedicels 2"-6" long; 

 flowers perfect ; calyx white, 2"-3" 

 broad; stamens 10, slightly shorter 

 than the sepals; ovary green, 10- 

 celled; styles recurved; berry dark 

 purple, 5"-6" in diameter, very 

 juicy, its 10 carpels conspicuous 

 when dry. [P. decandra L.] 



Waste grounds in Paget Marsh, 



1905. Introduced from temperate 



North America. Naturalized in 



Europe. Flowers from spring to 

 autumn. 



Eivina humilis L., Rouge Plant, of tropical America, a low shrub with 

 alternate, entire, petioled ovate to lanceolate leaves 1-3' long, the small white 

 flowers racemose, with 4 sepals, the fruit small red berries about 1" in diam- 

 eter, was grown at the Agricultural Station in 1914. 



Family 5. NYCTAGINACEAE Lindl. 



Four-o'clock Family. 



Herbs (some tropical genera trees or shrubs) with simple entire leaves, 

 and regular flowers in clusters, in several of the genera subtended by in- 



