300 Primulaceae 



short-petioled leaves entire or nearly so, and small 

 axillary peduncled flowers. Calyx 5-parted, persistent. 

 Corolla deeply 5-parted, rotate. Stamens 5, inserted at 

 the base of the corolla ; filaments puberulent, distinct or 

 united into a narrow ring at the base ; anthers oblong, 

 obtuse. Ovary globose ; ovules numerous ; stigma obtuse. 

 Capsule globose, circumscissile. Seeds minute, flat on 

 the back. 



1. A. arvensis L. Annual, diffuse, usually much branched ; 

 stems 1-3 dm. long, 4-sided; leaves ovate or oval, numerous, 

 opposite, sessile or somewhat clasping, obtuse or acutish, 6-20 

 mm. long, black-dotted beneath; peduncles filiform, 1-4 cm. long, 

 recurved in fruit; calyx-lobes keeled, rather rigid, slightly shorter 

 than the crenate glandular ciliate corolla-segments; flowers 

 scarlet or salmon color, usually with a dark center, 4-6 mm. 

 broad ; capsule glabrous. 



Common in waste places and gardens. Flowering nearly all the year. 



3. DODECATHEON L. SHOOTING-STAR. 



Glabrous scapose perennial herbs, with entire or repand 

 basal leaves, and rather large flowers in involucrate 

 umbels terminating scapes. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, the 

 lobes reflexed, slightly unequal, the tube very short, 

 thickened at the throat. Stamens 5, inserted on the 

 throat of the corolla ; filaments short, flat, monadelphous, 

 connivent into a cone, exserted ; anthers linear or lance- 

 olate, connivent, attached by their bases to the filaments. 

 Ovary ovoid or subglobose, superior ; style filiform, ex- 

 serted ; stigma 5-6-valved at the apex or splitting to the 

 base. Seeds numerous, minute, the testa punctate. 



1. D. Cleveland! Greene. Pale green and glandular, 3-6 dm. 

 high ; roots formed at the beginning of the dry season and remain- 

 ing dormant, no tubers formed; leaves scarcely fleshy, ascend- 

 ing or erect, spatulate-obovate, the margins erose ; corolla bright 

 purple with a yellow base; filaments purple, becoming yellow 





