50 



CAPrAKIDACE/K. homtris. 



tetradynamous. Style and stigma one. Ovary and fruit commonly raised on a 

 stipe, 1-celled, sometimes 2-celled, low - many-seeded. Seeds globose-reniform. 

 Leaves either simple or palmatoly compound. Pedicels commonly bracteate. 



An order of 2-i genera and alwut 300 si)ei;ics, of warni-lcnipenito and tropical regions, liero 

 I'haraclcrizud I'roni ihal |H>itioji ol it wiiicli lias capsular I'liiit, only 2 jilacontui, and few sliiniuns, 

 the tribe Clko.me*. But the larger part of the order in warm regions, of the tribe (.'APi'AiiKiE 

 (of which the Caper-plant is the type), consists of shrubs or trees, with fleshy fruit, sometimes 

 with several placenta and numerous stamens. Of the six genera here admitted, one is peculiar 

 to the coast-district of California ; the others belong to the dry interior region and barely reach 

 the eastern borders of the State. 



Atamisquea E.MAROIKATA, Miers, a shrub, with a fleshy 1-2-seeded fruit, native of Chili or 

 Buenos Ayres, is sai<l to be in Coulter's Californian collection ; but we liud no trace of it in tho 

 State nor in Arizona. 



» Shrubby, with racemose flowers and an inflated capsular fruit. 



1. iBomeris. Caly.v 1-cKft, persistent. Corolla yellow. Stamens 6. Ovary long-stipitate. 



» ♦ Herbs, with racemose flowei-s. 

 +- Fruit pod-like, 1-celled, several - many-seeded. 



2. Polaiiisia. Stamens 8 to 32. Flowers whitish or purple. Pod elongated. 



b. Cleome. Stamens G. Flowers yellow or nink-nurple. Pod oblong or linear. 



4. Cleomella. Stamens (5. Flowers yellow. I'od rliomboidal, 2-horned, or globular, few-seeded. 



-1- +- Fruit didymous, 2-celled ; tho cells separating as small l-sceded nutlets! 



5. Wislizenia. Stamens 0. Style tiliform. Nutlets open at the scar. 

 (J. Oxystylia. Style becoming subulate and spiuescent. Nutlets closed. 



1. ISOMERIS, Nutt. 



Calyx persistent, 4-cleft, the lobes ovate, acuminate. Petals sessile, oblong, 

 equal. Torus fleshy, dilated above, somewhat produced on the upper side. Sta- 

 mens 6, on the torus, at length long-exserted. Pod large, inflated, coriaceous, 

 long-stipitate, 1 -celled, many-seeded : stylo very short : stigma minute. Seeds 

 large, smooth. — A low ill-scented shrub ; with puberulent branches, trifuliulate 

 petioled leaves, and large yellow flowers, axillary or in bracteate racemes. 



1. I. arborea, Nutt. Stout, much branched, 3 to 5 feet high : leaves glandular- 

 puberuleut or nearly smooth, the uppermost and the floral bracts 1-foliolate; leaflets 

 thicki.sh, narrowly oblong or elli])tical, ^ to 1 inch long, entire, mucronute, nearly 

 sessile : pedicels e(|ualHiig the leaves : pistals 5 to 8 lines long, twice longer than t lie 

 calyx: : pod 1 to U iiiehcs long, abruptly acut(* above, attenuate at l>ase into a stipe 

 nearly as long. — Torr. ct (Jray, PI. i.'llil; Hook. Hot. Mag. t. ;}812 ; 'Wm: Hot. 

 Mex. Bound, t. 4. 



Common in dry soils from Santa Barbara to San Diego. The wood is hard, brittle, and yellow. 



2. POLANISIA, Kaf. 



Sepals 4, deciduous, lanceolate, sometimes connate at base. Petals unguiculate 

 or sessile, equal or iniequal. Torus small, depressed. Stamens 8 or more, inserted 

 below the torus. I'od membranaceous, very shortly stipitate, elongated, compressed 

 or cylindrical, many-seeded. Seetls rounded-reniforni, rugose or reticulated. — 

 Ainiual herbs, ill-scented and mostly glandular ; with simple or 3 - 9-foliolate peti- 

 oled leaves, and yellowish, rose-colored or white (lowers in leafy-bracted racemes ; 

 pods erect on spreading pedicels. 



A genus of about a dozen species of tropical and warm regions, of which the following readies 

 the eastern bordei-s of the State. 



