XXIX. TROP^OLACE^. 19U 



Obs. The above are among the more distinguished and popular species of this vast and favorite genus. 

 Innumerable varieties produced from seeds and propagated by cuttings are equally common and oilen of 

 superior beauty. No genus seems to be regarded with such universal favor for green-house plants as 

 this. " The species and their multitudes of hybrid creations, produced by modern ingenuity, are cultivated 

 with assiduous attention by neajly every family which makes the least pretensions to taste through- 

 out the civilized world. 



ORDER XXVIII. BALSAMINACE^E. JEWEL WEEDS. 



Herbs annual, with succulent stems and a watery juice. 



Lvs. simple, without stipules. F!S. very irregular and unsymmetrical. 



Col. Sepals 5, deciduous, the 2 upper connate, the lowest spurred or gibbous. 



Cor. Petals 4, hypogynous, united by pairs, or rarely 5, distinct 



Sfa. 5, hypogynous. Filaments subulate. Antiiers 2-celled. 



Ova. 5-clled, compound. Stigiras sessile. 



FT. capsular, 5-celled, bursting elastically by 5 valves. Srfs. several in each cell. Embryo straight 



Genera 2, species 110. With regard to its properties and uses, this order is of no importance, but some 

 of its species are highly ornamental. 



1. IMPATIENS. 



Impatient, with respect to the irritable capsules. 



Sepals colored, apparently but 4, the 2 upper being united, the 

 lowest gibbous and spurred ; petals apparently 2, each of the lower 

 being united to the 2 lateral ones ; anthers cohering at the apex : 

 capsule often 1 -celled by the obliteration of the dissepiments, - ri- 

 valed, bursting elastically. Stems smooth, succulent, Under, sub-pellu- 

 cid, with tumid joints. 



1. I. PAL.LIDA. Nutt. (I. noli-tangere. Michx.) Toucli-me-noL 



Lvs. oblongrovate, coarsely and obtusely serrate, teeth mucronate; 

 ped. 2 4-flowered, elongated ; lower gibbous sep. dilated-conical, broader than 

 long, with a very short, recurved spur; fls. pale yellow, sparingly maculate. 

 (D Wet, shady places, U. S. ! and Can. Stem 2 4f high, branched. Leaves 

 2 5' long, f as wide, with large, obtuse teeth, each tipped with a very short 

 mucro. Flowers large, mostly in pairs. Two outer sepals pale green, callous- 

 pointed, the rest pale yellow, the lower produced into a conic nectary, ending 

 in a spur ?' long. Capsules oblong-cylindric, 1' long, bursting at the slightest 

 touch when mature, and scattering the seed. Aug. 



2. I. FULVA. Nutt. (I. noli-tangere. 0. Michx.) Jewel-weed. 



Lvs. rhombic-ovate, obtusish, coarsely and obtusely serrate, teeth mucro- 

 nate ; ped. 2 4-flowered, short ; lower gibbous sep. acutely conical, longer than 

 broad, with an elongated, recurved spur ;fls. deep orange, maculate with many 

 brown spots. In wet, shady grounds, Can. to Ga., more common than the 

 last, somewhat glaucous. Stem ! 3f high. Leaves 1 3' long, J as wide, 

 having like the last, a few filiform teeth at the base. Flowers about 1' in 

 length, the recurved spur of the lower sepal ' long. Capsule as in the last. Aug. 



3. I. BALSAMINA. Garden Balsamine. Lvs. lanceolate, serrate, upper ones 

 alternate; ped. clustered; spur shorter than the flower. From the E. Indies. 

 I" is one of the most beautiful of garden annuals', forming a showy pyramid of 

 finely variegated, carnation-like flowers. The prevailing colors of the petals 

 are red and white, but the former varies in every possible shade c f crimson, 

 scarlet, purple, pink and flesh-color. The flowers are often double. t 



ORDER XXIX. TROP^OLACE^]. TROPHYWORIS. 



Plants herbaceous, smooth, climbing or twining, with a pungent, watery juice.' 



Lvs. peltate or palmate. Fis. irregular. 



Cat. Sepals 5. colored, united, the lower one spurred. 



Cor. Petals 5, the three lower ones stalked, the 2 upper inserted on the calyx. 



Sta. 8, distinct, unequal. 



Ova. of 3 united carpels. Style I. StisrmasB. 



Fr. separating into 3 indehiscent, 1-seeded nuts. Sds. large. Albumen 0. 



Genera 3, species 40, natives of S. America. They possess the same antiscorbutic properties as t) 

 Crucifera. The fruit of the following species is pick'cd and used as a substitute for capers. 



