112 Polygonaceae 



2. NEMACAULIS Nutt. 



Slender diffuse annuals with spatulate mostly radical 

 leaves and no stipules. Flowers capitate, each with a 

 free herbaceous bract, perfect. Calyx 6-cleft, colored, 

 enclosing the achene. Stamens 3. Styles 3 ; stigmas 

 capitate. Achene short-ovoid, obscurely 3-angled. 



1. N. denudata Nutt. Stems prostrate or ascending 15-^0 

 cm. long, glabrate, reddish; leaves narrowly spatulate, 2-5 cm. 

 long, including the short petiole, densely tomentose-hairy on 

 both sides; bractlets of the flower clusters obovate-spatulate, 

 2 mm. long, the outer flowerless, the inner smaller, woolly within 

 and glabrous without; flowers yellowish, scarcely 1 mm. long, 

 short pedicellate, glabrous; inner segments broadest; achene 

 0.7 mm. long. (N. Nuttallii Benth.) 



Occasional on sand-dunes along the seashore and in sandy soils in our 

 interior valleys. 



3. LASTABBIAEA Remy. 



A small diffuse rigid fragile annual, with the aspect of 

 Chorizanthe. Involucre wanting. Perianth involucre- 

 like, coriaceous, tubular, 5-6-cleft to the middle ; the 

 narrow teeth rigid, awned, recurved and uncinate. 

 Stamens 3, inserted on the throat ; filaments very short, 

 with small membranous appendages intervening at their 

 insertions. Achene triangular ; embryo curved. 



1. Ij. Chilensis Remy. Branches procumbent or ascending, 

 6-15 cm. long, hirsute ; lowest leaves linear, obtuse, hispid-ciliate, 

 1-2 cm. long, cauline in whorls of 4-5, unequal ; bracts 3-6 mm. 

 long concealing the flowers; perianth 2-3 mm. long, its tube 

 triquetrous ; teeth 5, 3 long and 2 short ; anthers small, orbicular ; 

 style very short. 



Occasional on dry hillsides, especially in sandy soils. April. 



4. CHOBIZANTHE R. Br. 



Low dichotomously branched annual herbs, with 

 rosulate basal leaves and opposite or ternate stem-leaves, 

 often reduced and bracteate. Involucre 1-flowered, or 



