Parnassia. DROSERACEiE. 83 



Suborder Parnassie^. Arn. 



Sepals 5, persistent, imbricated in aestivation, more or less united at the base, and 

 coherent with the base of the ovary. Petals 5, somev^rhat perigynous, persistent, 

 alternate with the sepals : vernation simple. Stamens perigynous, persistent, 

 consisting of an outer sterile series (nectaries, Linn.), somewhat indefinite in 

 number, and united in 5 phalanges, which are situated opposite the petals ; and 

 an inner series of 5 fertile stamens, alternating with the petals : anthers fixed by 

 the base, introrse. Stigmas 4, sessile, opposite the placentae. Capsule 1-celled, 

 4-valved, loculicidal, with parietal placentje. Seeds very numerous, anatropous, 

 with an arilliform winged testa : albumen none. Embryo straight, with a 

 slender radicle and minute cotyledons. — Smooth perennial herbs (growing in 

 wet places). Leaves mostly radical or nearly so, petioled, entire. Stems 

 scape-like, elongated, bearing usually a single sessile leaf, one-flowered : flower 

 white. 



2. PARNASSIA. Tourn. inst. t. 127 ; Endl. gen. 5039. GRASS OP PARNASSUS. 



X " From Mount Parnassus, the abode of grace and beauty, where, on account of the elegance of its form, this plant is 



feigned to have first sprang up." Loddon.] 



Character the same as of the Suborder. 



1. Parnassia Caroliniana, Michx. (Plate XI.) Carolina Grass of Parnassus. 



Phalanges of abortive stamens formed of 3 stout and thick united sterile filaments distinct 

 nearly to the base, about the length of the fertile stamens ; petals nearly sessile, more than 

 twice the length of the calyx, with strong greenish veins ; leaves orbicular-ovate or somewhat 

 elliptical-ovate, more or less cordate, the cauline one usually low down and clasping. — Michx. 

 fl.l.p. 208 ; Bot. mag. t. 1459 ; Pursh, ft.l.p. 208 ; Torr. fl.l.p. 326 ; Bigel. ft. Bost. 

 p. 121 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 320 ; Hook. ft. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 82 ; Torr. ^ Gr. Jl. N. Am. 1. 

 p. 149. P. palustris, Pursh, I. c. P. Americana and ovata, Muhl. cat. p. 32. P. ovata, 

 l8. Belvisii, DC. I.e.? 



Stem (or scape) a foot or more high, angular, slender. Leaves somewhat coriaceous ; 

 radical ones several, an inch or an inch and a half long, very obtuse ; the cauline one always 

 below the middle of the stem, and often near its base. Flower an inch in diameter. Sepals 

 oblong, obtuse, brown at the tip. Petals ovate, white, with ten or twelve strong greenish 

 nerves extending from the base and converging towards the tip. Abortive filaments tipped 

 with yellow glandular heads. Stigmas rarely 5, small, recurved. Capsule rarely 5-valved. 



Wet meadows ; rather rare. July - August. 



