DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 221 



leaves long-petioled, soon withering; stem-leaves 2-5 in. long, 

 sessile, the leaflets lanceolate, entire or serrate. Corolla pale 

 pink. Rootstocks strong-scented, used in medicine. Cultivated 

 from Europe. 



H. VALERIANELLA, Tourn. 



Annual herbs; stem forking regularly. Leaves opposite, 

 entire or dentate. Flowers in crowded, terminal, bracted 

 cymes. Calyx-limb toothed or wanting. Corolla white or 

 purplish, funnel-form, 5-lobed. Stamens 3. Style 3-lobed. 

 Fruit 3-celled, 1-seeded.* 



1. V. olitoria, Poll. LAMB LETTUCE. Stem erect, smooth, or 

 downy at the nodes, many times forked, 9-12 in. high. Basal leaves 

 tufted, spatulate to obovate, entire, the upper lanceolate, dentate, 

 sessile. Cymes short-peduncled, bracts linear. Flowers pale blue. 

 Fruit compressed, oblique. On rich soil in waste places.* 



2. V. radiata, Dufr. CORN SALAD. Stem erect, smooth above, 

 downy below, 2-4 times forked, 8-12 in. high. Lower leaves spatu- 

 late, entire, the upper lanceolate, clasping at the base, dentate. 

 Cymes compact ; bracts lanceolate. Flowers white. Fruit ovoid, 

 downy, furrowed. On damp soil.* 



98. CUCURBIT ACE JE. GOURD FAMILY. 



Somewhat succulent, tendril-bearing, prostrate or climbing, 

 herbaceous plants. Leaves alternate, with stipules. Flowers 

 dioecious or monoecious, often gamopetalous. Calyx-tube ad- 

 nate to the ovary ; calyx-limb (if present) 5-lobed. Corolla 

 usually 5-lobed and with its tube more or less united with the 

 calyx-tube. Stamens perigynous or borne upon the corolla, 

 the anthers usually joined in long, serpentine ridges. Ovary 

 3-celled ; stigmas 2 or 3. Fruit generally a pepo (like the 

 melon, squash, and pumpkin), but sometimes dry. Seeds 

 commonly large and flat. A large family, mostly of tropical 

 plants, many with eatable fruit, but some species poisonous. 



