256 Loasaceae 



long; seeds usually in 1 row, short-prismatic, the 3 angles 

 grooved, the sides faintly tuberculate. (M. albicaulis integrifolia 

 Wats. ; M. dispersa Wats.) . ;; : 



Said to occur in our mountains, but not seen by us. 



2. M. affinis Greene. Stems stouter, 3-6 dm. high, simple 

 and leafy below, widely branching above; leaves lanceolate, 

 deeply sinuate-pinnate; flowers scattered, 12 mm. broad; calyx- 

 lobes attenuate, subulate, 4-6 mm. long; filaments all filiform; 

 capsule 2.5 cm. long, almost linear, hispid with short stiff hairs ; 

 seeds prismatic, with grooved angles. 



Frequent in the upper portions of the chaparral belt and among the pines. 

 May-July. 



3. M. micrantha T. & G. Rather slender, 3-6 dm. high, 

 simple below, corymbosely and rather compactly dichotomous 

 above ; leaves ovate, acute or acuminate, serrate or sinuate- 

 toothed or entire, 2.5-5 cm. long; flowers small, shorter than 

 the floral leaves; calyx-lobes 2 mm. long; petals oval, 3 mm. 

 long; 5 outer stamens with dilated filaments; capsule cylindric 

 or nearly so, 6-12 mm. long, few-seeded; seeds prismatic, with a 

 very shallow groove, the sides faintly tuberculate. 



Occasional in the chaparral belt throughout our range. 



4. M. gracilenta T. & G. Stems rather stout, 3-4 dm. high, 

 branching from the base; leaves narrowly lanceolate, pinnatifid, 

 with many narrow lobes, or only sinuate-toothed ; flowers usually 

 clustered ; calyx-lobes 4-10 mm. long ; petals obovate to oblanceo- 

 late, 8-16 mm. long; filaments subulate-filiform ; capsule slightly 

 clavate-dilated, 12-24 mm. long; seeds in 3 rows; irregularly 

 angular, minutely tuberculate, 1.5 mm. long. 



Frequent on the plains and foothills and also on the sand-dunes along the 

 seashore. 



** Petals usually 10, 25 mm. long or more. 



5. M. laevicaulis (Dougl.) T. & G. (BLAZING STAR.) Bien- 

 nial; stem stout, erect, branched above, 6-10 dm. high, often 

 white; leaves lanceolate, sinuate-toothed, 5-15 cm. long; flowers 

 sessile on short branches, 6-8 cm. broad, light yellow, diurnal; 

 calyx-tube naked; calyx-lobes 2.5 cm. long or more; petals 10, 

 rarely 5, oblanceolate, acute; stamens numerous, about equaling 

 the petals in length, the outer with dilated filaments; capsule 

 3 cm. long; seeds many in double rows on the 3 placenta;, 



