QOURD FAMILY. Cucurbitaceae. 





tered in a loose terminal spike ; the three stamens very 

 prominent. 10-30 inches high. In wet or swampy- 

 ground, from Me., south to southern N. Y., west to S. 

 Dak., and in the Rocky Mountains to Ariz. 



A common cultivated species, often 

 .**" ^Qreat^" escaping to roadsides and margins of cul- 

 Wild Valerian, tivated fields. A native of Europe. The 

 or VandaUroot stein more or less fine-hairy especially at 

 Valeriana ^\^^ joints, and the compound leaves with 



officinalis ^^2^ lance-shaped, sharply toothed leaf- 



lets, the upper ones toothless. The flowers are pale ma- 

 genta-crimson or white, set in compact, rather rounded 

 clusters terminating the stout stem. The strong-scented 

 roots are medicinal. 2-5 feet high. Mass. south to Del., 

 west to N. Y. and Pa. Name from valere, to be strong. 

 A smooth forking-stemmed annual with 

 VaUrianella succulent wedge-shaped leaves, and insig- 

 Woodsiana nificant dull white flowers funnel-formed 

 Dull white and five-lobed, gathered in small terminal 



May-July clusters. 18-34 inches high. In moist 



places, from N. Y., west to Ohio and Tex. ValeriaueUa 

 olitoria, a species from Europe, naturalized in the Mid- 

 dle States and south, has similar leaves, but pale violet 

 flowers. 6-13 inches high. Southern N. Y., and south- 

 ward. 



GOURD FAMILY. CuciirUtacew.. 



Climbing vines generally with tendrils, and with lobed 

 leaves growing alternately. The flowers staminate and 

 pistiUate on the same plant or different plants. Sta- 

 mens mostly three. Cross-fertilized by bees and flies in 

 general, and possibly by many beetles and butterflies. 



A beautiful, rapid-growing, and luxu- 

 Climbing Wild j.j3j^^ annual cUmber ; the light green, 

 Cucumber or , . , •,.»,-.. i ,. s , 



Wild Balsam ^^^^" leaves, with 6-1 (mostly five) sharpl}^ 

 Apple angular lobes, are rough on both sides. 



Echinocystis The smaU, sharply six-petaled staminate 



J? " ^^. . . . flowers are borne in many loose clusters, 



Greenish white ,,..,, r. • i 



july_ and the pistillate flowers singly or in twos, 



September at the angles of the leaves ; the petals 



and the three prominent stamens with 



454 



