38 Introduction to Botany. 



III. STELLARIA. Chickweed or Starwort. 



(L., stella, star.) 



Herbs, mostly tufted and diffuse. Sepals distinct or only slightly 

 united at the base, 4 or 5. The 4-5 petals deeply 2-cleft. Stamens 

 8-10, rarely fewer. Pod ovoid ; styles 3-5 ; valves twice the number 

 of the styles. Flowers white, solitary or cymose. 



i. Stellaria media, Smith. (L., medius, medium.) COMMON CHICKWEED. 

 Tufted, branched annuals, decumbent or ascending, 4 to 16 inches long; stems 

 with i or 2 longitudinal, pubescent lines ; leaves ovate to oval. Flowers small, on 

 slender pedicels, in leafy cymes, or solitary in the axils of the leaves. Petals 

 2-parted, shorter than the calyx; stamens 2-10. The ovoid capsule longer than 

 the calyx. Common in moist meadows, woods, and waste places. 



ANONACE^. CUSTARD-APPLE FAMILY. 



Shrubs or trees, with entire alternate leaves. Sepals 3, and petals 

 about 6 in 2 whorls; stamens many with adnate, extrorse anthers; 

 carpels several, distinct or coherent, usually becoming fleshy in fruit. 



i. ASI'MINA. Papaw. 



(From the Indian name, Assimin.) 



Shrubs or small trees. Flowers axillary and nodding. The 3 sepals 

 ovate ; the 3 outer petals larger than the 3 inner. Stamens and carpels 

 3-15. Fruit an oblong, fleshy berry. Seeds large and flat. 



i. Asimina triloba, Dunal. (Gr., tri, three; lobos, lobe.) NORTH AMERICAN 

 PAPAW. Small trees, with obovate-lanceolate leaves. Petals veiny and of a deep 

 reddish purple. Flowers appearing with the leaves. Fruit large, fleshy, sweet, and 

 edible. In rich woods. 



RANUNCULACE-ffi. CROWFOOT FAMILY. 



Annual or perennial herbs or climbing shrubs. Sepals often petal- 

 like, 3-15; petals of about the same number and sometimes wanting. 

 Stamens numerous ; carpels numerous or solitary, i-celled, and i- 

 many-ovuled. Fruit an achene, follicle, or berry. Flowers regular or 

 irregular. 



Leaves ternately or biternately compound. 

 Flowers regular. 



Pistils 2 or more. ISOPYRUM I. 



Pistil i. ACTEA II. 



Flowers irregular. AQUILEGIA III. 



