THE CUSTARD APTLK FAMILY. 171 



familiarly known individual of the genus and has a range which extends 

 from Texas and Florida to the western part of New York. Sometimes it 

 occurs as a small tree of about forty feet high, but it more often remains a 

 large shrub. In either case it bears an abundance of large, shiny foliage 

 which is obovate and noticeably thin in texture. The dark purple and 

 axillary flowers blossom out at the same time as the young leaves appear. 

 By its fleshy fruit, usually from three to five inches long, and which when 

 ripe in October is a dark brown, the tree may always be identified. It is 

 then fragrant and sweet. In districts where the tree is common it is much 

 eaten as well as sent in quantities to the markets. Before it has attained 

 maturity, it emits as do other parts of the plant a disagreeable odour. 



A. pariiijlbra is a low bush and altogether different looking from the 

 papaw. Its very small flowers are not well coloured, being a greenish 

 purple and they grow from the sides of the branches on short, woolly 

 peduncles. The large, oblong, or obovate leaves are thin, and, as the young 

 twigs, covered with a copper-tinted pubescence which to some extent they 

 always retain. Often the fruits grow two together and are pear-shaped 

 and fleshy. 



THE CROWFOOT FAMILY. 



Raiuinciildcccc. 



Herbs ^ shrubs or climbing vines, distinguisJied by their acrid sap and 

 simple^ or compound, altei'uaie leaves, opposite, hoicever, in the genus 

 clematis j and regular, or irregular flowers, with their parts separate. 



HARSH HARIGOLD. 



Cdltha paliistris. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Crowfoot. Bright ycUow. Scentless. South Carolina to New A p>il. .\Liy. 



Fountlland and 7uestzuard. 



Ftinvers : large ; showy ; clustered at the ends of the branched, hollow stems. 

 Calyx: with from five to nine rounded, petal-like sepals. Corolla: none. 

 Stamens: numerous. Pistils: five to fourteen. Leaves: those of the base 

 with long petioles, reniform, or cordate, entire or crenate ; the upper ones short 

 petioled or sessile and sometimes nearly squared at their bases ; bright green ; 

 glabrous. Stems : one to two feet high ; erect or ascending ; succulent. 



In very early spring the marsh marigold spreads its golden yellow petals 

 by the water's edge and has ever a sturdy, merry air. There is about it none 

 of the singular fragility which characterises so many of the season's fore- 



