ORDER LXXI. PRIMULACE.E PRIMROSE-TRIBE. ORDER LXXIII. PLUMBAGINACEJ2 THRIFT-FAMILY. 177 



ambelled ; pedicels 1-flowered ; berries roundish, scarlet, persistent through the 

 winter. A shrub with very variable foliage, 48 ft. high, common in swamps 

 nd low grounds. June. 



ORDER LXXI. 



Primuldcew. Primrose- 



tribe. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 



1. PRIMULA. Flowers umbel led. Leaves radical. 



2. TRIKNTALIS. ^Corolla rotate, 6 S, usually 7-i>arted. Cauline leaves in a 

 single whorl. 



8. LYSIMACIIIA. Corolla yellow, rotate, 5-parted. 



4. SAMOLUS. Corolla campauulate, white. Leaves alternate. 



1. PRIMULA. 



Calyx tubular, 5-cleft. Corolla salver-form, spreading above, 

 6-lobed. Stamens 5, included. Stigma globose. Capsule open- 

 ing by 10-clefts at apex. Per. 



1. P. auricula. Auricula. 



Leaves obovate, fleshy, entire or serrate ; scape many-flowered, as long as 

 the leaves ; flowers showy and fragrant, in an involucrate umbel, in cultivation 

 varying to almost all possible hues ; involucre-leaves short; calyx mealy. A 

 well-known flower, long an especial favorite of the florists, of which number- 

 less varieties are cultivated. May. 



2. P. elatior. 



Oxlip Primrose. 



Leaves toothed, rugose, hairy on both sides ; umbel many-flowered ; outer 

 flowers nodding; flowers yellow, scentless; corolla flat A British species, not 

 uncommon in cultivation. April Muy. 



3. P. veria. 



English Cowslip. 



Leaves toothed, rugose, hairy beneath ; umbels many-flowered ; flowers all 

 nodding, yellow ; calyx angular ; corolla concave. The plant has a strong smell 

 of anise. 



4. P. vulgaris. 



Common Primrose. 



Leaves obovate, or oblong, rugose, villous beneath, toothed ; umbel radical ; 

 tne pedicels rising directly from the root, as long as the leaves ; flowers in a wild 

 state, yellow and single, but in cultivation passing into numerous other colors, 

 often double, and sometimes on a scape. The plant smells of anise. Common 

 In cultivation. April. 



2. TRINTALIS. 



Calyx mostly 7 -parted. Corolla mostly 7-parted, flat, with- 

 out any tube. Stamens mostly 7. Filaments united in a ring at 

 base. Capsule many-seeded. Per. 



1. T. Americana. 



Chick Wintergreen. 



Stem low, simple, slender, crowned by a whorl of leaves at top, naked be- 

 low ; leaves 5 8 in a whorl, narrow-lanceolate, tapering at both ends, serrulate, 

 thin and delicate, light green ; flowers few, on very slender peduncles, pro- 

 jecting from among the leaves, white and starlike; sepals linear, acuminate, 

 shorter than the segments of the corolla. A very slender and delicate plant, 

 common in damp rich woods. Stem 6' 10' high. May. 



8. LYSIMACHIA. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted, rotate, with a very short 

 tube. Limb 5-parted, spreading. Stamens 5, often united in a 

 ring at base. Capsule globose, 5 10-valved, opening at apex. 

 Per. 



1. L. stricta. Upright Loosestrife. 



Stem erect, simple or branching ; leaves opposite, or in threes, lanceolate, 

 tapering at both ends, smooth, punctate, sessile ; flowers numerous, on slender 

 pedicels, whorled, the numerous whorls forming a long, cylindrical raceme; 

 pedicels nearly horizontal, with a subulate bract at base ; corolla yellow, spotted 

 with purple; capsule 5-seeded. An elegant plant, 1 2 ft high, in swamps and 

 wet grounds. After flowering, bulblets appear in the axils. Common. July. 



2. L. ciliata. 



Fringed Loosestrife. 



Stem nearly square, erect, branching; leaves ovate-lanceolate, entire, oppo- 

 site, rarely in fours, rounded or cordate at base, with ciliate petioles ; flowers 

 large, light yellow, nodding, on slender, axillary peduncles ; stamens inserted in 

 a ring, distinct, alternating with 5 sterile filaments. A rather elegant species, 2 

 8 ft. high, common in low grounds. July. 



23 



3. L. lanceolata. Narrow-leaved Loosestrife. 



Stem erect, branching, 4-angled ; leaves lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, ta- 

 pering at both ends, opposite, on short, ciliate petioles ; flowers large, yellow, 

 nodding, on slender, axillary peduncles ; stamens united in a ring, alternating 

 with 5 sterile filaments. A smaller and more slender plant than the last, 1 2 

 ft high, distinguished from the last by its narrow leaves, acute at both ends. 

 Common in swamps. July. 



4. L. quadrifolia. Four-leaved Loosestrife. 



Stem erect, simple, somewhat hairy ; leaves whorled in fours, rarely in threes 

 or sixes, lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, dotted; flowers nodding, yellow, on 

 slender, axillary peduncles, shorter than the leaves ; corolla marked with purple 

 lines ; filaments united at base ; anthers short A common species, in sandy 

 soils. Stem 10' 18' high. June. 



4 8AMOLU8. 



Calyx partly adherent to the ovary, 5-cleft. Corolla some- 

 what campanulate, 5-cleft. Stamens 5, alternating with 5 sterile 

 filaments. Capsule opening by 5 valves at top, many-seeded 

 Per. 



1. S. floribrindus. Water Pimpernel. 



Stem branching, leafy ; leaves entire, obtnse, alternate ; radical ones obo- 

 vate, or spatulate, petiolate; cauline oblong or oval; uppermost subsessile; 

 flowers in numerous, loose racemes, paniculately arranged, white ; pedicels ca- 

 pillary, with minute bracts near the middle ; calyx-teeth ovate, shorter than the 

 corolla. A low, smooth shrub, 6' 12' high, not uncommon in low grounds. 

 June Sept. 



ORDER LXXII. 



Plantaginaceae. Plantain- 

 family. 



1. PLANTlGO. 



Calyx-teeth 4, persistent, dry and scarious on the margin. 

 Corolla tubular, withering, with a 4-cleft, reflexed border. Sta- 

 mens mostly exsert and very long. Capsule an ovoid, 2-celled 

 pyxis. Acaulescent. 



1. P. major. 



Common Plantain. 



Leaves large, ovate, tapering abruptly at base, scarcely toothed, very strong- 

 ly ribbed, with stout, nearly parallel veins, on long, channelled, fleshy petioles; 

 spike long, cylindrical ; flowers densely imbricated, whitish, inconspicuous. A 

 very common plant, about paths and houses, in damp soil. Scapes 8' 2 ft 

 high. June Sept. 



2. P. lanceolata. Eibwort. 



Leaves lanceolate, strongly 8 5-nerved, nearly entire, tapering at both ends, 

 more or less hairy on the petioles and veins ; petioles slender; scape slender, 

 angular, more or less pubescent ; spike ovate, densely flowered ; stamens whit- 

 ish, much exsert, with dark anthers. A smaller and more slender species than 

 the last, with scapes 6' 20' high. Common in dry, grassy fields. May Oct. 



3. P. maritima. Sea Plantain. 



Mostly smooth ; leaves linear, fleshy, channelled above, rounded in the lower 

 side, nearly entire ; scape terete ; flowers whitish, in dense, cylindrical spikes, 

 sometimes scattered below. A very fleshy species, common in salt marshes 

 near the coast, and is distinguished by its numerous half-terete, channelled 

 leaves. Scapes 4' 6' high. July Aug. 



ORDER LXXIII. Plumbaginacese. Thrift- 

 family. 



1. STATICE. 



Flowers scattered, or loosely spicate in a compound corymb, 

 1-sided, 2 3-bracted. Calyx funnel-form, dry and membranous, 

 persistent. Petals 5, mostly distinct, with long claws. Stamens 

 5, attached at base. Styles 5, distinct. Fruit indehiscent, in- 

 vested with the calyx. Per. 



1. S. Limonium. 



Marsh Rosemary. 



Leaves radical, lanceolate, or oblong-obovate, 1-veined, entire, mucronate 

 below the tip, thick and fleshy, dull green, on long petioles ; scape with wither- 



