594 



PHYTOLACCACEAE. 



i. PHYTOLACCA L. Sp. PI. 41. 1753. 



Tall perennial herbs (some tropical species woody), with ample petioled exstipulate 

 leaves, and small flowers in terminal racemes, which by the further growth of the stem be- 

 come opposite the leaves. Pedicels bracted at the base and often 1-3 bracted above. Calyx 

 of 4 or 5 persistent rounded sepals. Stamens 5-15, inserted at the base of the calyx; anthers 

 mostly oblong. Ovary subglobose, composed of 5-15 distinct or somewhat united carpels. 

 Fruit a depressed-globose 5~i5-celled fleshy berry. Seeds i in each cavity, erect, compressed; 

 embryo annular in the mealy endosperm. [Name Greek and French, referring to the crimson 

 juice of the berries.] 



"About 10 species, the following of eastern North America, the others of tropical distribution. 



i. Phytolacca decandra L. Poke. Scoke. Pigeon-berry. Garget. (Fig. 1415.) 



Phytolacca decandra L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 631. 1762. 



A glabrous strong-smelling succulent erect 

 branching herb, 4- 12 tall, the root peren- 

 nial, large, poisonous, the stem stout, its pith 

 divided into disks separated by lens-shaped 

 cavities. Leaves oblong-lanceolate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, pinnately veined, acute or acumi- 

 nate at both ends, 8 / -i2 / long; petioles yi'-tf 

 long; racemes peduncled, 2 / -S / long; pedicels 

 divergent, 2 // -6 // long, each with a subulate- 

 lanceolate bractlet at its base and usually 2 

 similar ones above; flowers perfect; calyx 

 white, 2 // -3 // broad, its sepals suborbicular, 

 or oval; stamens 10, slightly shorter than the 

 sepals; ovary green, lo-celled; styles recurved; 

 berry dark purple, 5 'MS" in diameter, 3"-4" 

 high, very juicy, its 10 carpels conspicuous 

 when dry. 



In various situations, Maine and Ontario to 

 Minnesota, Florida and Texas. Sometimes a 

 troublesome weed. Naturalized in Europe. The 

 young shoots are eaten like asparagus. June-Sept. 

 Berries ripe Aug.-Oct. Also called Inkberry. 



Family 18. NYCTAGINACEAE Lindl. Nat Syst. Ed. 2, 213. 1836. 



FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY. 



Herbs (some tropical genera trees or shrubs) with simple entire leaves, and 

 regular flowers in terminal or axillary clusters, in the following genera sub- 

 tended by involucres of distinct or united bracts. Petals none. Calyx inferior, 

 usually corolla-like, its limb campanulate, tubular or salverform, 4-5-lobed or 

 4-5 -toothed. Stamens hypogynous; filaments filiform; anthers 2-celled, dehis- 

 cent by lateral slits. Ovary enclosed by the tube of the perianth, sessile or 

 stipitate, i -celled, i-ovuled; ovule campj'lotropous; style short or elongated; 

 stigma capitate. Fruit a ribbed, grooved or winged anthocarp. 



About 17 genera and 250 species, of wide geographic distribution, most abundant in America. 

 Involucre of united bracts; pairs of leaves equal. i. Allionia. 



Involucre of separate bracts; pairs of leaves mostly unequal. 2. Adroit ia. 



i. ALLIONIA Loefl. Iter Hisp. 181. 1758. 

 [OXYBAPHUS L'Her.; Willd. Sp. PI. i: 185. 1797.] 



Forking herbs, with opposite equal leaves, and involucres in loose terminal panicles. 

 Involucre 5-lobed (of 5 partially united bracts) 3-5-flowered, becoming enlarged and reticu- 

 late-veined after flowering. Perianth campanulaj^jats tube constricted above the ovary, its 

 limb corolla-like, deciduous. Stamens 3-5, j^rfally 3, unequal, hypogynous. Fruit ob- 

 ovoid or clavate, strongly ribbed, pubesc?nt in our species. [Name in honor of Chas. 

 Allioni, 1725-1804, a botanist of Turin,] 



About 20 species, natives of North and South America, one Asiatic. 



Leaves broadly ovate, cordate or oblong-ovate, all petioled. i. A. nyctaginea. 



Leaves oblong or lanceolate, only the lower petioled. 



Plant glabrous or nearly so except the inflorescence. 



Plant densely pubescent all over. 

 Leaves linear, sessile. 



Plant tall, i-2 high; branches erect-ascending. 4. A. linearis. 



Plants low, 4'-io' high, diffusely branched; branches divergent. 

 Involucres axillary, their lobes ovate-oblong, acute. 



2. A 

 3- A 



albida. 

 hirstita. 



5. A. Bodini. 

 Involucres clustered at the ends of branches, lobes semicircular, obtuse. 6. A. Biisln. 



