DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 85 



spines. Flowers pale yellow, in drooping racemes. Stamens irrita- 

 ble, closing quickly toward the center of the flower when touched. 

 Berry in. long, nearly ellipsoidal in shape, scarlet or orange-scarlet, 

 very acid, eatable when cooked. Cultivated from Europe and intro- 

 duced in eastern New England and locally in the upper Mississippi 

 valley. 



2. B. Thunbergii, DC. A low shrub. Leaves entire, turning 

 red and remaining so for a considerable time in autumn. Flowers 

 solitary or in pairs. Berries bright red, remaining on the branches 

 all winter. Cultivated from Japan. 



II. CAULOPHYLLUM, Michx. 



A perennial smooth herb, 1-2-J- ft. high. Leaf large, single, 

 sessile, thrice compound in threes, borne high up on the stem ; 

 there is also a large, very compound radical leaf. Flowers 

 racemed or panicled, yellowish-green. Sepals 6, with 3 bract- 

 lets. Petals 6, gland-like, somewhat curved inward at the 

 tip, much smaller than the sepals. Pistil 2-ovuled, the ovary 

 soon bursting open and leaving the 2 blue seeds to ripen naked. 



1. C. thalictroides, Michx. BLUE COHOSH, PAPPOOSE ROOT. 



Whole plant purplish and covered with a bloom when young. 

 Flowers appearing before the leaf is fully developed. Rich woods. 



HI. PODOPHYLLUM, L. 



Perennial. Stem simple, smooth, erect, 12-15 in. tall, bear- 

 ing 2 leaves with a large white flower between them. Sepals 

 6, falling off as the flower opens. Petals 6-9, obovate. Sta- 

 mens twice as many as the petals. Pistil 1, stigma large, flat, 

 sessile. Fruit berry-like, 1-celled, many-seeded.* 



1. P. peltatum, L. MAY-APPLE. Rootstock rather large. Leaves 

 orbicular, shield-shaped, 5-9-lobed and toothed, smooth, 9-12 in. 

 wide. Flowers 12 in. wide, on a peduncle 12 in. long. Stamens 

 prominent, anthers opening longitudinally. Fruit 1^-2 in. long, 

 oval, fragrant, edible ; each seed surrounded by a pulpy covering. 

 In rich woods. The roots and leaves are used in medicine.* 



34. MAGNOLIACEJE. MAGNOLIA FAMILY. 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, not toothed or serrate. 

 Flowers solitary, large, and showy. Floral envelopes and 



