Penthorum. CRASSULACE^. 253 



3. PENTHORUM. Gronov. ; Lam. ill. t. 390 ; Endl. gen. 4625. 



VIRGINIAN STONECROP. 



[ From the Greek, pcnic, five, and oros, a column ; in allusion to the 5 carpels.] 



Sepals 5, united at the base. Petals none (always ?). Stamens 10. Scales at the carpels 

 none. Carpels united into a 5-angled, 5-cclled capsule, with 5 diverging beaks, dehiscent 

 by the separatign of the beak with the back part of each carpel. Seeds nunnerous, minute. 

 — Erect perennial herbs, not succulent, with alternate membranaceous and serrate leaves, 

 and yellowish flowers which are unilateral on the simple branches of the cyme. 



1. Penthorum sedoides, Linn. Virginian Stonecrop. 



Stem somewhat branched ; leaves lanceolate, acute at each end, almost sessile ; branches 

 of the cyme many-flowered ; seeds elliptical, acute at one end. — Liiin. act. Upsal. (1774), 

 p. 12. t. 2; Michx. Jl.l. p. 278 ; Pursh, Jl. 1. p. 323 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 528 ; Torr. ft. 1. 

 p. 463 ; Bigel. jl. Bosl. p. 184 ; DC. prodr. 3. p. 414 ; Beck, hot. p. 133 ; Darlingt. fl. 

 Cest. p. 281 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 462. 



Stem about a foot high, terete below, somewhat angular above. Leaves 2-4 inches long, 

 acutely and unequally serrate, smooth on both sides. Cymes pedunculate, terminating the 

 branches, each with 3-4 recurved divisions, which (as well as the peduncles and short 

 pedicels) are glandularly pubescent. Calyx spreading ; the segments ovate, acute, entire or 

 with several minute denticulations. Petals none in any of my specimens. Stamens longer 

 than the ofaries : filaments smooth : anthers minute, oblong. Ovaries adherent to the style 

 at the base, abruptly beaked with the styles : stigmas small, capitate. Carpels sometimes 6, 

 the dehiscence taking place by a vertical line on each side of each carpel, between the ventral 

 and dorsal sutures ; the back and the style falling away, leaving the ventral portions and 

 placentae in the axis. Seeds very numerous, surrounding the projecting placenta, light brown, 

 very rough under a lens. 



Low wet places ; common. July - September. 



