112 POETULACACEAE. 



Stem and branches glabrate : utricle surpassing the calyx : seed orbicular, fully 

 1 mm. wide. 1. A. canadensis. 



Stem and branches pubescent : utricle usually as long as the 



calyx : seed oval, less than 1 mm. wide. 2. A. polygonoides. 



1. A. canadensis (L.) B.S.P. Stems 0.5-4 dm. tall, forked above: leaf -blades 

 thin, oblong to elliptic, 0.5-2 cm. long, typically obtuse: sepals oblong to nar- 

 rowly ovate, becoming 1 mm. long. Common, in dry open places and on 

 partially shaded hillsides. 



2. A. polygonoides Eaf. Stems 0.5-3 dm. tall, often diffusely forked through- 

 out: leaf -blades thick, typically acute: sepals ovate, often broadly so, becoming 

 1.5 mm. long. Common, in dry open places and on rocky hills. 



FAMILY 4. PHYTOLACCACEAE. POKEWEED FAMILY. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate : blades entire, rather fleshy. 

 Flowers perfect or dioecious, in racemes or panicles. Calyx of 4 or 5 

 sepals. Corolla wanting. Androecium of 4-8 stamens, or more, borne 

 below the ovary. Gynoecium 1-many-carpellary. Fruit baccate. 



1. PHYTOLACCA [Tourn.] L. Relatively large or stout plants. Flowers 

 paniculate, the panicles often raceme-like. Sepals broad, spreading under the 

 compound fruit. 



1. P. americana L. Plants 1-3 m. tall, the branches green, magenta, or 

 purple: leaf -blades mainly ovate-lanceolate to ovate, 9-30 cm. long: calyx 5-6 

 mm. wide: berries 7-10 mm. wide, their length less than the length, of their 

 stalks: seeds about 3 mm. long. Common, in waste places and cultivated 

 grounds. Spr.-f all. POKE. INKBERRY. SCORE. PIGEON-BERRY. 



FAMILY 5. TETRAGONIACEAE. CARPET-WEED FAMILY. 



Herbs, firm or succulent, or partially woody plants. Leaves alternate 

 or opposite, sometimes apparently whorled. Flowers perfect, polygamous, 

 or unisexual, regular or nearly so. Calyx of 4 or 5 sepals. Corolla 

 wanting (in our species). Androecium of 4 or 5 hypogynous or perigy- 

 nous stamens, or sometimes fewer, or more numerous. Gynoecium of 

 2-several united carpels. Ovary superior or partly inferior. Fruit a 

 capsule or pyxis, or baccate or nut-like. 



1. MOLLUGO L. Annual slender herbs. Leaves alternate, sometimes 

 apparently whorled: blades narrow. Sepals 5, hyaline-margined, glabrous. 

 Stamens 3-5. Styles 5, short. 



1. M. verticillata L. Branches slender, prostrate, 4-30 cm. long: stem- 

 leaves 1-3 cm. long: blades spatulate: sepals oblong, becoming 2.5-3 mm. 

 long: filaments 2.5-3 mm. long: capsules oblong, 3.5-4 mm. long. Common, 

 in waste places and cultivated grounds. Spr.-fall. INDIAN-CHICKWEED. 



FAMILY 6. PORTULACACEAE. PURSLANE FAMILY. 



Herbs, mostly fleshy or succulent, or partially woody. Leaves alter- 

 nate or opposite: blades entire. Flowers perfect, regular. Calyx of 2 

 sepals. Corolla of 4 or 5, or rarely more, fugacious petals. Androecium 

 of as many stamens as there are petals, or fewer or more. Gynoecium of 

 3 or more united carpels. Ovary superior or inferior, 1-celled. Fruit a 

 capsule or pyxis. 



