POPULAR FLORA. 



191 



75. MIRABILIS FAMILY. Order NYCTAGINACE^. 



Has some wild representatives far west and south, viz. : Oxybapiius, &c., with several 

 flowers in a calyx-like involucre, the funnel-shaped calyx rose-purple, and exactly like a 

 corolla. And in gardens Mikabilis or Four-o'Clock (so called from the flowers opening 

 late in the afternoon) is common. Here there is only one flower in the bell-shaped invo- 

 lucre, which exactly imitates a calyx, while the large funnel-shaped calyx is just like the 

 corolla of a Morning-Glory. Stamens 5 : style one. Leaves opposite, heart-shaped, long- 

 stalked. The 

 Common Four-o' Clock or Mikabilis, from Mexico, well known in gardens, is M. Jalapa. 



IQ. POKEWEED FAMILY. Order PHYTOLACCACE^. 



Is represented with us by one, 

 and that a very common, sjiecies of 



Pokeweed. PlujtoUcca. 

 Sepals 5, rounded, concave, petal-like, 

 white. Stamens 10, under the ovary. 

 Ovary green, composed of 10 one- 

 seeded ovaries united into one: styles 

 10, short and separate. Fruit a dark 

 crimson 10-seeded berry. A coarse 

 rank herb, with a thick, acrid, and 

 poisonous root, a large pithy stem, and 

 alternate oblong leaves ; the flowers 

 in racemes opposite the leaves. Low 

 and rich ground, everywhere common; 

 flowering all summer, ripening its 

 abundant berries in autumn. 



P. decdndra. 



476.. Summit of a flowering branch of Poke- 

 weed. 



477. Fruit-bearing' branch. 



478. A flower, enlarged. 



479. Young fruit, 



480. Same, cut across. 



481. Seed diviiled lengthwise, and magnified. 

 4S2. Euibiyo, more magaiiied. 



77. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. Order CHENOPODIACEyE. 



Homely herbs, with mostly alternate leaves, without stipules, and no dry scaly bracts 

 among the small and greenish flowers ; the calyx enclosing the one-colled and one-seeded 



