94 ILLECEBRACEAE (KNOTWORT FAMILY) 



CC. Stems erect, somewhat fleshy, several-flowered, the lower flowers lateral; 



pedicels remaining straight. W. S. crassicaulis 



AA. Herbage glandular-puberulent; annual. W. S. ciliata (HAIRY PEARLWORT) 



ARENARIA (SANDWORT) 



Annual or perennial, mostly low, often tufted. Leaves sessile in most 

 species, often rigid, ovate to subulate. Flowers small, white, solitary or in 

 cymes; cymes paniculate or headlike. Sepals 4-5. Stamens twice as 

 many as the sepals. Styles 2-5, usually 3, opposite the sepals. Capsule 

 valves 2-5, entire or 2-cleft. Seeds few to many. (L. arena = sand; 

 referring to the habitat of many species.) Species difficult. (F. & R. pp. 

 158-160). 



TISSA (SAND-SPURRY) 



Annual or perennial. Leaves fleshy in most, linear or setaceous, often 

 clustered in the axils. Flowers small, whitish or pink, in terminal bracted 

 or leafy cymes or racemes. Sepals 5. Petals none or entire. Stamens 

 2-10. Ovary i-celled. Pod 3-valved at base. Seeds many. (A Latin 

 name of unknown meaning.) 



A. Plants of saline soils; leaves very fleshy. 



B. Perennial; roots large; mature capsules 4-5 mm. in diameter. W. 



T. macrotheca (LARGE SAND-SPURRY) 

 BB. Annual; roots fibrous; mature capsules less than 4 mm. in diameter. W. 



T. marina (SALT-MARSH SAND-SPURRY) 

 AA. Plants not of saline soils; leaves not fleshy. 



C. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 mm. long; stamens usually 5. W. E. 



T. rubra (PINK SAND-SPURRY) 

 CC. Stipules deltoid, shorter; stamens mostly 2-3. E. T. diandra 



ILLECEBRACEAE (KNOTWORT FAMILY) 



Herbs, perennial, low, densely tufted. Leaves mostly opposite, 

 mostly entire, subulate, densely crowded; stipules scarious. 

 Flowers sessile, in axillary clusters. Calyx persistent, 5-parted. 

 Petals minute, scalelike. Stamens on the calyx. Ovary i-celled; 

 style bifid. Fruit a utricle. Seed I. On sand near the seashore. 

 (Gk. pente = 5, kainis = a knife; referring to the 5 sharp-pointed 

 sepal spines.) W. Pentacaena ramosissima (THORNY SANDWORT) 



NYMPHAEACEAE (WATER-LILY FAMILY) 



Herbs, aquatic, perennial; rhizomes horizontal. Leaves large, 

 floating or immersed, or rarely emersed. Sepals 3-12. Petals 3 

 to many. Stamens 5 to many. Carpels 3 to many, distinct or 

 united; stigmas distinct or united into a radiate or ringlike disk; 

 ovules i to many. Fruits indehiscent. 



