326 ORDER LIX. — SAXIFKAGACE^. 



1. C. Amkrica'num, (Sclnvein.) Stejn slender, decumbent, dichoto 

 mous above. Leaves rouiidish-ovjite, crenate ; the uppei- one? alter 

 nate, the lower ones opposite. Flowers sessile, scattered. Beeds his 

 pid, reddish-brown. — Yellowish-green. If. April — May. Mountains, 



Water Carpet. Golden Saxifrage. 



Genus VI.— LEPUROPET'ALOK Ell. 5—3. 

 (From the Greek lepuHon, a little scale, and petalon, a petal.) 



Calyx 5-parted, with ovate, obtuse lobes ; tube turbinate, co- 

 hering to the lower portion of the ovary. Petals 5, minute, 

 spatulate, persistent. Stamens 5, with short filaments. Cap- 

 sule 1-celled, many-seeded, globose. Seeds numerous. A 

 small, annual herb, growing in tufts. Leaves alternate, spatu- 

 late, entire, marked with brownish dots. Flowers terminal. 



1. L. spathula'tum, (Ell.) Stem glabrous, somewhat succulent, slightly 

 angled, branching from the base. Flov:ers laige for the size of the 

 plant. Calyx persistent; segments ovate. Petals scale-like, ovate. 

 Capsule 3-valved at the summit. — White. ©. March — April. Close 

 soils. 1 inch. 



Genus VIL— ITEA. L. 5— 1. 



(From itea, the Greek name.) 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft, with subulate segments. Petals 

 5, inserted into the tube of the calyx, linear-lanceolate, with in- 

 curved points. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals! Style 1. 

 Stigma capitate, 2-lobed. Capsule 2-eelled, with a central pla- 

 centa. 



1. I. Virgin'ica, (L.) a shrub with flexible, pubescent branches. 

 Leaves alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, seri-uhite, on short petioles. 

 Petals pubescent on the inside. Stijle furrowed. Flowers in terminal, 

 simple racemes. Seeds numerous. — White. If. April — May. Wet 

 soils. Common. 3 — 6 feet. 



Genus VIIL— HYDRANGEA. Gron. 10—2. 



(From the Greek hvdor, water, and avgeion, a vine; suggested by the capsules of 

 some of the sj^ecies resembling a cup and growing in water.) 



Calyx 5-toothed. Flowers fertile or sterile ; calyx of the 

 sterile flowers membranaceous, colored, flat, dilated ; the re- 

 maining organs rudimentary or none; tube of the calyx in fer- 

 tile flowers, hemispherical, cohering to the ovary, ribbed. Pet- 

 als 5, ovate, sessile. Sta)ne7is double the number of the petals. 

 Styles 2. Capsule 2-celled, dehiscing by an aperture between 

 the styles. Seeds numerous. Shrubs, with opposite leaves, 

 with cymose flowers. 



1. H. ARBOREs'cENs, (L.) Stem with opposite branches, pubescent 

 when young. Leaves oblong-ovate, acuminate, dentate, U'-arly glabrous. 

 Flowers in fastigiate cj-mos, generally fertile. — White. ^. May-- 

 June. Mountains. 6 — 8 feet. 



