POLYGONACE^:. 69 



MIRABALIS, Linn. 



Involucre calyx-like, 5-cleft, 1-12-flowered: perianth (corolla-like calyx) tubular or 

 funnelform with a spreading limb: stigma capitate: ovary globose to oblong, smooth or 

 ribbed. Perennial herbs with leaves nearly equal in the pairs. 



M. Frcebelii (Behr), Greene. Stout, spreading stems 2-3 feet long, viscid-hairy: 

 leaves broadly ovate or narrower, the lower cordate often 4 inches long: involucre an 

 inch long, usually 6-flowered: perianth broadly funnelform, about 1^ inches long, 

 purple. Southern Cal. 



M. Greenei, Watson. Similar to the last with thicker, larger leaves, the involucre 

 7-10 flowered. Northern Cal. 



M. laevis (Benth), Curran. Viscid-hairy, yellowish green: leaves rounded ovate to 

 cordate, 6-15 lines long: involucre 2-3 lines long; perianth 5 lines long. Southern Cal. 



M. Jalapa is the cultivated Four-o'clock or Marvel-of-Pei*u. 



ALLIONIA, L. 



A. incarnata, L. Slender, prostrate, woolly-hairy, viscid: leaves unequal pairs: 

 involucre 3-flowered, 2-3 lines long: perianth 2-4 lines long, one lobe much shorter 

 than the others, purple or white. Monterey S. 



ABBONIA, Juss. 



Calyx salverform, with obcordate lobes. Stamens 5, included, adnate to the tube. 

 Style included; stigma, capitate or clavate. Fruit 2-5' winged. Embryo by abortion 

 monocotyledonous, enfolding mealy albumen. Low herbs, with the opposite thick 

 petioled leaves unequal, and the flowers in involucrate heads. Common on sandy sea 

 beaches. A viscid exudation causes sand to stick to every part of the plants. 



A. latifolia. Esch. (Yellow Sand- Verbena.) Root perennial; stems procumbent; 

 leaves very thick, sub-cordate to reniform, on thick petioles; flowers orange-yellow, 

 fragrant. "* 



A. umbellata, Lamb. (Pink Sand- Verbena.) Annual; stems decumbent, leaves 

 oblong or ovate, attenuate at base into slender petioles; flowers pink. 



A. maritixna, Nutt. (Red Sand- Verbena. ) Stouter than the last; leaves broader 

 with shorter petioles; involucral bracts ovate; flowers bright red. From Santa Barbara 

 southward. 



A. fragrans, Nutt., of the Columbia River, has white flowers. 



POLYGONACE^B. 



Herbs, with alternate entire leaves, and stipnles in the form of sheaths, or obsolete, 

 above the swollen joints of the stem; the flowers mostly perfect, with a more or less 



