SA UR URA CEA ESA LICA CEA E. 307 



Papilionaceae, in which the two lower petals are more or less united; in the 

 Fomariaceae, where the two inner petals or all four of them are sometimes coher- 

 ent; the Polygalaceae, in which the three petals are united with each other, and 

 with the stamens; Oxalis in. Geraniaceae; and Ilicaceae, whose five petals are some- 

 times joined at the ba ;^. 



Order i. CASUARINALES, 



comprising only the family Casuarinaccae, is confined to tropical sea- 

 coasts. 



Order 2. PIPERALES. 



Dicotyledonous herbs, with neither petals nor sepals, the spicate 

 flowers bracteol?te. 



Family i. SAURURACEAE Lindl. 

 Lizard' s-t ail Family. 



Perennial herbs with broad entire alternate petioled leaves, and small 

 perfect incomplete bracteolate flowers, in peduncled spikes. Perianth 

 none. Stamens 6-8, or sometimes fewer, hypogynous ; anthers 2-celled, 

 the sacs longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 3-4-carpelled, the carpels dis- 

 tinct or united, i-2-ovulcd ; ovules orthotropous. Fruit capsular or 

 berry-like, composed of 3 or 4 mostly indehiscent carpels. Seeds globose 

 or ovoid, the testa membranaceous. Endosperm copious, mealy. Embryo 

 minute, cordate, borne in a small sac near the -end of the endosperm. 

 Three genera and 4 species, natives of N. Am. and Asia. 



i. SAURURUS L. 



Marsh herbs, with slender rootstocks, jointed stems and cordate leaves, their 

 petioles sheathing the stem at the nodes, and small white flowers, in I or 2 dense 

 elongated spikes opposite the leaves. Bractlets adnate to the flowers or to their 

 minute pedicels. Stamens 6-8 ; filaments fililorm, distinct. Carpels united at 

 the base. Styles as many as the carpels, recurved, stigmatic along the inner side. 

 Fruit rugose, depressed-globose, separating into 3 or 4 one-seeded carpels. [Name 

 Greek, meaning the tail of a lizard, in allusion to the long slender spike.] Two 

 species, the following of eastern N. Am., the other of eastern Asia. 



i. Saururus cernuus L. LIZARD'S-TAIL. (I. F. f. 1148.) Somewhat pu- 

 bescent when young, becoming glabrous; stem erect, sparingly branched, 6-15 dm. 

 high. Leaves ovate, thin, palmately 5-g-ribbed and with a pair of strong ribs 

 above, dark green, acuminate, 7-15 cm. long, 5-9 cm. wide; petioles stout, shorter 

 than the blades; spikes few, very dense, longer than their peduncles, 10-15 cm * 

 long, the apex drooping in flower; flowers fragrant; stamens white, spreading, 

 about 4 mm. long; fruit 3 mm. in diameter, strongly wrinkled when dry. In 

 swamps and shallow water, Conn. toFla., S. Ont, Minn, and Tex. June- Aug. 



Orders. SALICALES. 



Trees or shrubs, with imperfect small flowers in aments. Sepals and 

 petals none. Leaves simple. Fruit a many-seeded capsule. Seeds with 

 a tuft of hairs at one end. 



Family i. SALICACEAE Lindl.* 

 Willow Family. 



Dioecious trees or shrubs with light wood, bitter bark, brittle twigs, 

 and alternate stipulate leaves, the stipules often minute and caducous. 



* Revised by Dr. P. A. RYDBERG. 



