20 PAPAVERACE.E. (POPPY FAMILY.) 



2. VANCOUVERIA, Morren & Decaisne. 



Sepals and petals 6 each, reflexed, with 6 to 9 bractlets. Stamens 6. Carpel 1 ; the 

 stigma cup-shaped. A slender perennial herb, with radical 2-3-ternately compound 

 leaves, and the open paniculate raceme upon a naked scape. 



V. hexandra, Morr. & Dec. The long petioled leaves rising like the fronds of a 

 fern, leaflets 1 to 2 inches broad, petiolulate, obtusely 3-lobed, the margin thickened; 

 the minute flowers on a scape exceeding the leaves. 



ORDER 3. NYMPH^ACE^E. 



Aquatic perennial herbs, with peltate or deeply cordate leaves; solitary axillary perfect 

 flowers on long peduncles. Stamens numerous. 



Water-Shield. (Brasenia peltata, Pursh.) May be found in ponds. Its elliptical, pel- 

 tate, floating leaves (green above and brownish-red beneath) and its jelly-coated sterna 

 characterize it quite well enough. 



The Yellow Pond-Lily (Nuphar polysepalum, Engl. ) is more common. 



The Order Sarraceniaceee is represented by the remarkable Darlmgtonia Calif omica, 

 or California Pitcher Plant, which grows in cold swamps in the northern part of the 

 State, from Mount Shasta to near the coast. 



Franlcenia yrandifolia grows in saline soils, and may be known by its opposite sessile, 

 obovate, or linear oblanceolate, small leaves, with revolute margins; and by its small, 

 pink flowers. It may be distinguished from a Silene, which at first it seems to be, by its 

 fewer (4 to 7) stamens and sessile flowers. 



The Order Frankeniaceae should come next to Caryophyllacem. Frenumtia Califor- 

 nica, belonging to the Order Sterculiacese, which is allied to the Malvaceae, is most 

 conveniently described here also. It is a small tree, bearing conspicuous yellow flowers 

 in the axils of usually broadly cordate, lobed leaves. The apetalous flowers are some- 

 times 2 or 3 inches across. 



The Order Capparidaceae is represented in Santa Barbara County, and southward, by 

 Isomeris arborea, a low shrub, bearing bracteate racemes of yellow flowers, the pistils 

 conspicuous on account of their long stipes. The flowers of this plant are apparently 

 like those of the Cruciferse, and its proper place is next to that order. Capers are ob- 

 tained from a cultivated plant of this order. 



The Order Styracaceae is represented by Styrax Californica, a pretty shrub, bearing 

 clusters of nearly rotate white flowers, in which the gamopetalous corolla is cut down to 

 the short tube which is adnate to the tube formed by the stamens: Calyx truncate. 



