274 PBIMULACE^E. (PRIMROSE FAMILY.) 



7. OL,AtlX, L. SEA-MI LKWORT. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft ; the lobes ovate, petal-like. Corolla wanting. Sta 

 mens 5, on the base of the calyx, alternate with its lobe's. Pod 5-valved, few- 

 seeded. A low and leafy fleshy perennial, with opposite oblong and entire ses- 

 sile leaves, and solitary nearly sessile (purplish and white) flowers in their axils. 

 (An ancient Greek name, from -yXavKos, sea-green. ) 



1. O. inarftima, L. Sea-shore of New England from Cape Cod 

 northward. June. (Eu.) 



8. A NAG ALL IS, Tourn. PIMPERNEL. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped, with almost no tube, 5-parted, longer 

 than the calyx ; the divisions broad. Stamens 5 : filaments bearded. Pod mem- 

 branaceous, circumcissile, the top falling off like a lid, many -seeded, Low, 

 spreading or procumbent herbs, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and soli- 

 tary flowers on axillary peduncles. 



1 A, ARVENSIS, L. (COMMON PIMPERNEL.) Leaves ovate, sessile, short- 

 er than the peduncles ; petals obovate, obtuse, fringed with minute teeth. 

 Waste sandy fields. June -Aug. Flowers variable in size, scarlet, some- 

 times purple, blue, or white, quickly closing at the approach of bad weather ; 

 whence the popular name of "Poor Man's Weather-glass." (Nat. from Eu.) 



9. CENTtrNCUL,US, L. CHAFFWEED. 



Calyx 4 - 5-parted. Corolla shorter than the calyx, 4 - 5-cleft, wheel-shaped, 

 with an urn-shaped short tube, usually withering on the summit of the pod 

 (which is like that of Anagallis). Stamens 4-5: filaments beardless. Very 

 small annuals, with alternate entire leaves, and solitary inconspicuous flowers in 

 their axils. (Derivation obscure.) 



1. C, minimus, L. Stems ascending (2' -5' long); leaves ovate, obo- 

 vate, or spatulate-oblong ; flowers nearly sessile, the parts mostly in fours. (C. 

 lanceolatus, Michx. ) Low grounds, Elinois and southward. (Eu. ) 



1O. SAMOJLUS, L. WATER PIMPERNEL. BROOK-WEED. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; the tube adherent to the base of the ovary. Corolla somewhat 

 bell-shaped, 5-cleft, commonly with 5 sterile filaments in the sinuses. Stamens 

 5, on the tube of the corolla, included. Pod 5-valved at the summit, many- 

 seeded. Smooth herbs, with alternate entire leaves, arid small white flowers in 

 racemes. (" According to Pliny, an ancient Druidical name, probably same as 

 slanlus in Celtic, the healing-herb.") 



1. S. Valer&iidi, L. Stem erect (6' -12' high), leafy; leaves obovate; 

 bracts none ; bractlets on the middle of the slender ascending pedicels ; calyx- 

 lobes ovate, shorter than the corolla. (Eu.) 



Var. Amcric films. More slender, becoming diffusely branched; ra- 

 cemes often panicled, the pedicels longer and spreading ; bractlets, flowers, and 

 pods smaller. (S. floribundus, H. B. K.) Wet places ; common. June - Sept 



