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



pods ovate-lanceolate, acute, much longer than the calyx. (Sarothra gentianoidea, 

 L.) Sandy fields ; common. June - Oct. 



II. QRAVEOLENS, Buckley, a species with foliage like No. 5, but with large 

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

 both natives of the mountains of Carolina, may be expected in those of Vir- 

 ginia. 



3. EL. ODE A, Pursh. MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT. 



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

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

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

 distinct. Perennial herbs, growing in marshes or shallow water, with small 

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

 mit of the stem. (Name from eAtoSr/y, growing in marshes.) 



{ . E. Virg"illica, Nutt. Leaves closely sessile or clasping by a broad base, 

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

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



2. E. |M't iolatu, Pursh. Leaves tapering into a short petiok, oblong : fila- 

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

 ward. 



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



Little marsh annuals, with opposite dotless leaves and memlranaceous stip- 

 ules, minute Kxillary flowers like Chickweeds, but the pod 2 - b-celled, and 

 ihe 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 stigmas, 2-5. Pod 

 2-5-ccllcd, 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. Americnna, Arnott. Dwarf (!' high), creeping, rooting 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, /'iirxli. Crypta minima, Nutt.) Margin of ponds, &c., N. Hampshire, 

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

 itnughtfeh. 



ORDER 21. CARYOPHYL.L.ACE.*:. (PINK FAMILY.; 



lit rbs, with opposite entire leaves, symmetrical 4 - 5-merou8 flowers^ with m 

 iritlmut petals ', the distinct stamens no more than twice the number of tht 

 j either hyjtogynous or perigynous ; styles 2 --5; seeds attached to Ou 



