RUBIACE^ 395 



1. OALIUM. Cleavers. Bedstraw. 



Frail herbs, with square stems, often priciily or roTig:h on angles and 

 edges of leaves, usually diffusely branching: leaves apparently whorled and 

 without stipules: flowers small or minute, sometimes dioecious, in cymes or 

 panicles, axillary or terminal: calyx minutely 4-Iobed: corolla 3- to 4-lobed: 

 stamens 3 to 4: ovary 2-ceiled: fruit small, double, dry or fleshy, berry-like, 

 indehiscent, or sometimes with only 1 carpel ripening. Many species. 



G. aspr611um, Michx. Weak, reclining, or nearly erect branching 

 perennial, the angles of stems with backwark-pointing prickles: leaves 

 small, not 1 in. long, whorled in 4's or 5's on branches, usually 6 on stem: 

 edges and mid-ribs rough with prick es: flowers tiny, white, numerous, 

 loosely clustered at end of branches: fruit small, smooth. 



G. circa^zans, Michx. Wild liquorice. Perennial, branching, ascending 

 stems with leaves in 4's, not prickly: leaves oval to oblong, obtuse, more 

 or less pubescent, an inch or more long: flower.s dull greenish or brownish, 

 on very short pedicels in branched cymes: fruit on reflexed pedicels, 

 bristly: root and leaves with sweetish taste. Dry woods. Common. 



G. Aparine, Linn. Cleavers. Goose orass. Annual, stems weak, pros- 

 trate, scrambling, and diffuse, with backward-pointing barbs on angles: 

 small lanceolate leaves, 6 to 8 in a whorl, about 1 in. long, rough on edges 

 and midrib: peduncles axillary, 1- to 3-flowered: flowers tiny, white or 

 greenish: fruit a dry little bur, covered with hooked prickles, on erect 

 pedicels. Low ground or thickety woodland. 



2. MITCHflLLA. Partridge-berry. Squaw-vine. 



Trailing, evergreen-leaved herb: leaves opposite, round-ovate, dark-green, 

 smooth and glossy, entire, on short petioles: flowers small, dimorphous, in 

 pairs, on a double ovary (2 ovaries united) from leaf axils: corolla funnel- 

 form, 4-parted, bearded within, white with pink tips to lobes: stamens and 

 stigmas 4: fruit a double scarlet berry, each berry with 4 seeds or stones. 



M. rdpens, Linn. A pretty little creeper of woods in the North: flowers 

 fragrant and delicate, in June, the double scarlet berries found all winter. 



3. HOUSTONIA. Bluets. 



Low, delicate little herbs, with stems erect, simple or branching; leaves 

 opposite, entire, stipules entire and short, or a mere line connecting bases 

 of the opposite leaves; flowers generally dimorphous in respect to anthers 

 and stigmas, small, solitary or clustered: calyx 4-toothed: corolla tubular, 

 rotate, 4-lobed: stamens 4 on corolla: fruit a short pod, 2-eelled, many- 

 seeded, opening at the top, upper part free from calyx. 



H. coeriilea, Linn. Perennial, 3-6 in., the stems erect, very slender, in 

 tufts, from slender rootstocks: leaves sessile, oblong or spatulate, M-3^ in. 

 long, often hairy: flowers blue to white, with yellow centers, solitary on 

 peduncle. Early spring to summer, very floriferous. 



4. CEPHALANTHUS. Button-bush. 



Shriihs (or small trees): leaves entire, opposite or verticillate: flowers 

 small and many, white or yellow, m close round heads, on peduncles: calyx 



