PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY) 64V 



8. GLAUX [Tourn.] L. Sea Milkwort 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft ; lobes ovate or oblong, petal-like. Corolla want- 

 ing. Stamens 5, on the base of the calyx, alternate with its lobes. Capsule 

 5-valved, few-seeded. — A low and leafj^ fleshy perennial, with opposite entire 

 sessile leaves, and solitary nearly sessile (white, pink, or lavender and crimson) 

 flowers in their axils. (An ancient Greek name, from yXavKos, sea-green.) 



I. G. maritima L. Diffusely branched (rarely simple), the branches pros- 

 trate, loosely ascending or sometimes erect. 3-15 cm. high ; leaves linear to 

 ohiong, the larger 3-12 mm. long, 1.5-6 mm. broad, bluntly pointed; flowers 8-5 

 mm. long; mature capsule 2-3 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad. — Seashores from 

 Cape Cod northw. ; also in subsaline soil, Minn, to Sask., and westw. June, 

 July. (Eurasia) Passing to the commoner 



\'ar. obtusifblia Fernald. Erect, 0.5-^3 dm. high, simple or with few erect 

 branches ; leaves oval or broadly oblong, the principal ones 8-15 mm. long, 

 4-8 mm. broad, icith rounded tips; mature capsule 2.5-4 mm. broad, — N. J., 

 northw.; also Pacific coast. (Japan, etc.) 



9. ANAGALLIS [Tourn.] L. Pimpernel 



Corolla wheel-shaped, with almost no tube ; the di\isions broad. Stamens 5 ; 

 filaments bearded. Capsule membranaceous, many-seeded. — Low spreading 

 or procumbent herbs, mostly annuals, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, 

 and solitary flowers on axillary peduncles. (The ancient Greek name, probably 

 from dm, again, and dydWeLv, to delight in.) 



1. A. ARVExsis L. (Common P.) Leaves ovate, sessile, shorter than the 

 peduncles ; petals obovate, obtuse, fringed with minute teeth and stalked glands. 

 — Waste sandv fields. June-Aug. — Flowers variable in size, scarlet or white, 

 quickly closing at the approach of bad weather ; whence the English popular 

 name of '-Poor Moji's Weatherglass.'''* (Nat. from Eu.) Var. caekulea 

 (Schreb. ) Ledeb. Petals blue, often nearly or quite destitute of glandular 

 ciliatiou. — Cultivated ground, etc., rather rare. (Adv. from Eurasia.) 



10. CENTUNCULUS [Dill.] L. Chaffweed 



Corolla wheel-shaped, with an urn-shaped short tube, usually withering on 

 the summit of the pod (which is like that of Anagallis). Stamens 4 or 5 ; fila- 

 ments beardless. — Small annuals, with entire leaves, and solitary inconspicuous 

 fliiwers in thnir axils. (Derivation obscure.) 



1. C. minimus L. Stems ascending, 3-8 cm. long; leaves ovate, obovate, 

 or spatulate-oblong ; flowers nearly sessile, the parts mostly in fours. — Low 

 grounds, P. E. I. (according to Macoun); and from 111. and Minn, to Fla., Tex., 

 and westw. (Eu.) 



11. DODECAtHEON L. American Cowslip 



Calyx deeply S-cleft, the divisions lanceolate. Corolla with a very short tube 

 and thickened throat ; the divisions long and narrow. Filaments short, mona- 

 delphous at base ; anthers long and linear, approximate in a slender cone. — 

 Perennial smooth herb, with fibrous roots, a cluster of basal leaves, and a simple 

 nakf^d scape, involucrate with small bracts at the summit, bearing an ample 

 umbel of showy flowers, nodding on slender pedicels. Corolla rose-color, or 

 sometimes white. (Name from SwSexa, twelve., and deol., gods, given by Pliny 

 to the primrose, which was believed to be under the care of the superior gods.) 



1. D. Meadia L. (Snooxixci Star.) Leaves oblong or spatulate, gradually 

 narrowed at base. — Woods, prairies, and moist cliffs, Pa. and Md. to Man., and 

 souihw. May, June. 



Var. Frenchii Vasey. Leaves ovate or elliptic, abruptly narrowed at base. — 

 Pa. to 111. and Ark. 



