RUBIACE^E. 



240 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



4. V. DENTATUM (Arrow-wood). Smooth ; leaves roundish -ovate, sharp- 

 ly and coarsely serrate, with very prominent veins ; flowers small, white, in 

 smooth cymes ; fruit small, roundish, dark blue. A common shrub, 6-10 

 feet high. June-July. 



Order XLIII. RUBIACE^E (Madder Family]. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves opposite, sometimes verticil- 

 late, entire. Stipules present, interpetiolar, sometimes taking the 

 size and appearance of leaves. Calyx-tube more or less adherent 

 to the ovary. Limb 3~5-cleft, sometimes obsolete. Corolla regu- 

 lar, 3~5-lobed. Stamens equaling the number of the corolla- 

 lobes, alternate with them, inserted in the tube. Ovary 2-5-celled. 

 Style entire, or partially divided. Fruit of various forms. 



Leaves whorled, without stipules Galium. 



(Ovary -cells one-seeded Mitchella. 

 Ovary-cells many-seeded Hous- 

 tonia. 



Shrubs or trees Cephalanthus. 



I. Galium. Calyx minute, with 3-4 teeth. Corolla rotate, 3-4- 

 cleft. Stamens 3-4, short. Styles 2. Fruit of 2 united i-seeded, in- 

 dehiscent capsules. Stem 4-angled. % 



1. G. ASPRELLUM (Rough Cleavers}. Stem weak, very branching, prick- 

 ly backward, supporting itself by its prickles ; leaves in verticels of about 6 

 on the main stems, and 4 on the branches, oblong-lanceolate ; flowers numer- 

 ous, minute, white ; fruit mostly smooth. In low grounds, 4-6 feet high. 

 July. 



2. G. TRIFIDUM (Goose-grass}. Stem slender, decumbent, or nearly 

 erect, weak, rough backward ; leaves in whorls of 4-6, oblong-linear, with 

 rough margins ; peduncles i-3-flowered ; pedicels slender ; flowers white, the 

 parts mostly in 3's, minute ; fruit smooth. In wet grounds, 4'-i8' high. 

 June- A ugust. 



3. G. TRIFLORUM (Three-flowered Cleavers}. Stem weak, procumbent t 

 rough backward on the angles ; leaves mostly in 6's, oval-lanceolate, mucro- 

 nate ; peduncles 3-flowered ; flowers pedicellate, greenish ; fruit hispid. Ir. 

 moist woods, 1-3 feet long. July. 



2. Mitchella. Flowers in pairs, with united ovaries. Calyx 4- 

 parted. Corolla funnel-shaped, bearded within, 4-lobed. Stamens 4. 

 Stigmas 4. P'ruit a baccate drupe, y 



M. REPENS (Partridge-berry). Evergreen ; stem creeping ; leaves dark 

 green, roundish-ovate, opposite ; flowers white, or tinged with rose, fragrant, 

 2 together, on a double ovary ; berries small, bright red, edible but dry. 

 Creeping plant in woods. June- July. 



