146 TUKNERACE^E. (TURNERA FAMILY.) 



than the pedicels ; calyx flattish ; petals obtusely rhomboidal ; fruit hirsute. 

 Mountains of North Carolina. April and May. ( * ) 



ORDER 58. LOASACE^E. (LOASA FAMILY.) 



Herbs, commonly armed with bristly barbed and stinging hairs. Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate. Flowers solitary or clustered. Calyx-tube ad- 

 herent to the 1-celled ovary, the limb 5-parted and persistent. Petals 5 

 or 10, inserted on the throat of the calyx. Stamens mostly indefinite, in 

 several parcels, inserted with the petals. Styles united. Capsule irregu- 

 larly dehiscent. Seeds few or many, borne on 3 - 5 parietal placentae, 

 commonly with scanty albumen. 



1. MENTZELIA, Plum. 



Calyx-tube cylindrical or club-shaped. Petals convolute in the bud. Sta- 

 mens commonly 30 or more, the exterior ones often dilated and sterile. Styles 

 3, united to the middle. Capsule 3-valved at the summit, with 3 parietal pla- 

 centae. Cotyledons broad and flat. Stems branching. Leaves toothed or 

 sinuate-pinnatifid. Flowers yellow. 



1. M. Floridana, Nutt. Leaves deltoid-ovate, toothed, truncate and 2- 

 lobed at the base; stamens about 30; capsule 6-seeded. South Florida. 

 Stem 1 high, Flowers small, golden-yellow. 



ORDER 59. TURNERACEA]. (TURNERA FAMILY.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with alternate simple exstipulate leaves, and solitary 

 axillary flowers. Calyx free from the 1-celled ovary, colored, 5-lobed, 

 deciduous. Petals 5, inserted on the throat of the calyx, convolute in 

 the bud. Stamens 5, inserted into the tube of the calyx below the sta- 

 mens. Styles 3, distinct, simple, 2-cleft or 2-parted. Stigmas 3 or 6, 

 many-parted. Placentae 3, parietal. , Capsule loculicidally 3-valved, 

 many-seeded. Seeds anatropous, arilled. Embryo in flashy albumen. 

 Flowers sessile, or on bracted or jointed pedicels. 



1. PIRIQUETA, Aublet. 



Calyx campanulate. Styles 3, 2-cleft or deeply 2-parted. Stigmas 6, many- 

 parted. Capsule opening to the base into 3 valves. Herbs with stellate pubes- 

 cence. Flowers on jointed pedicels, yellow. 



1. P. fulva. Hirsute with fulvous hairs, and stellate-tomentose ; stem 

 simple or sparingly branched ; leaves lanceolate, obtuse, mostly serrate or 

 toothed, nearly sessile; pedicels (at least the upper ones) longer than the leaves, 



