474 



MELASTOMACEAE. 



[VOL. II. 



sometimes shorter; anthers opening by a pore in our species. Ovary 2-several- 

 celled (often 4-celled); style terminal, simple; stigma simple or lobed; ovules oo , 

 anatropous. Capsule included in the calyx-tube, irregularly or loculicidally de- 

 hiscent. Seeds mainly small, with no endosperm. 



About 150 genera and 2500 species, widely distributed in tropical regions, most abundant in 

 South Amenca; represented in North America, only by the following genus. 



i. RHEXIA L. Sp. PI. 346. 1753. 



Perennial herbs, often somewhat woody at the base, sometimes tuber-bearing, with 

 mostly sessile opposite 3~5-nerved leaves, and terminal showy cymose or rarely solitary 

 flowers. Calyx-tube urn-shaped or campanulate, constricted at the neck, its limb 4-lobed, 

 the lobes triangular or subulate, shorter than the tube. Petals 4, obovate, oblique, rounded 

 retuse, or aristate at the apex. Stamens 8, equal; anthers linear or oblong, incurved or in- 

 verted in the bud. Ovary free from the calyx, glabrous, 4-celled; style slender; stigma 

 truncate. Capsule 4-cclled, 4-valved. Placentae 4, central. Seeds numerous, coiled or 

 bent, rough. [Greek, breaking, applied originally to a different plant.] 



Ten known species, natives of eastern North America. 



Stem cylindric, very pubescent. I. R. Mariana. 



Stem square or angled, pubescent or glabrous. 



Stem more or less pubescent; leaves ovate. 2. R. Virginica. 



Stem glabrous. 



Leaves oblong or lance-oblong; calyx with a few hairs above. 3. R. aristosa. 



Leaves ovate, bristly-ciliate; calyx glabrous. 4. R. ciltosa. 



i. Rhexia Mariana L,. Maryland Mea- 

 dow-Beauty. (Fig. 2551.) 



Rhexia Mariana L. Sp. PI. 346. 1753. 



Stem rather slender, cylindric, simple.or branched 

 above, very hirsute-pubescent, i-2 high. Leaves 

 spreading, short-petioled, oblong, or linear-oblong, 

 mostly acute at the apex, narrowed at the base, 

 i'-i#' long, a"-5" wide, pubescent with scattered 

 bristly hairs on both surfaces, 3-nerved, the margins 

 ciliate-serrulate; flowers loosely cymose, pedicelled, 

 pale purple, about i' broad; pedicels and calyx- 

 tube glandular-pubescent; petals rounded; anthers 

 linear, curved, minutely spurred on the back. 



In swamps, pine-barrens of New Jersey to Florida, 

 west to Kentucky, Missouri and Texas. June-Sept. 



2. Rhexia Virginica L. Meadow-Beauty. 

 Deer-Grass. (Fig. 2552.) 



Rhexia Virginica L. Sp. PI. 346. 1753. 



Stem rather stout, simple or branched above, 

 square, the angles often slightly winged, more or 

 less pubescent, i-i}4 high. Leaves ascending, 

 sessile, ovate or ovate-oval, acute or acutish at the 

 apex, rounded or rarely narrowed at the base, i / -2 / 

 long, 6 // -i2' / wide, usually with a few scattered 

 hairs on both surfaces, mostly 5-nerved, the mar- 

 gins ciliate-serrulate; flowers bright purple, cymose, 

 short-pedicelled, i / -i> / broad; calyx-tube and 

 pedicels glandular-pubescent; petals rounded or 

 slightly retuse; anthers linear, curved, minutely 

 spurred on the back. 



In sandy swamps, Maine to Florida, west to northern 

 New York, Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana. Ascends 

 to 2000 ft. in Pennsylvania. July-Sept. 



