6 KEY TO SPRING FLOWERS 
Leaves opposite; flowers few to many, in clusters sur- 
rounded by involucres. NYCTAGINACEAE. 
Calyx wanting. 
Flowers in an involucre which resembles a calyx, and is 
sometimes provided with petal-like appendages; the 
flowers are much reduced, so that the staminate may be 
taken for stamens and the pistillate for the pistil, and 
the whole cluster mistaken for a single flower. Plants 
with milky juice; ovary 3-celled. EUPHORBIACEZ. 
Flower cluster enclosed by a spathe; ovary 1-celled; juice 
not milky. ARACEZE. 
Petals present, usually petaloid and conspicuous. 
Petals separate to the base. 
Sepals 3, petals 3. 
Ovary superior. 
Pistils many, not united. ALISMACEZ. 
Pistils compound of 3 united carpels. 
Sepals and petals similar, both corolloid. LILIACEAE. 
Sepals and petals not similar, the sepals green. 
Flowers solitary; leaves whorled. Trillium. 
Flowers clustered, petals blue or purplish, soon wither- 
ing to a soft mass. COMMELINACEZ. 
Ovary inferior. 
Flowers regular; stamens 3-6, free from the style. 
Stamens 6. AMARYLLIDACEZ. 
Stamens 3; style branches petal-like. IRIDACEZ. 
Flowers irregular; stamens 1-2, united to the style. 
ORCHIDACEZ. 
Sepals and petals usually 4 or 5, sometimes more, very rarely 3. 
Ovary superior. 
Pistils few to many, not united. 
Stamens inserted on the floral axis at the base of the 
flower; stipules wanting. RANUNCULACEZ. 
Stamens inserted on the margin of a disc or cup; stipules 
usually present. ROSACE4. 
Pistil only one, simple or compound. 
Flowers regular, all the petals about alike. 
Stamen filaments not united. 
Leaves opposite. CARYOPHYLLACEZ. 
Leaves alternate, or basal. 
Sepals 2; styles 3-9 cleft; leaves succulent. 
PORTULACACEZ. 
Sepals, petals and stamens usually 6 or more. 
BERBERIDACE. 
Sepals and petals 4. 
Stamens 6, 4 long and 2 shorter ones; rarely 
only 2; pods 2-celled. BRASSICACEZ. 
Stamens 6 or more, not of two different lengths 
as in the last family; pod 1-celled. 
CAPPARIDACE. 
Sepals and petals usually 5. 
With 4-5 styles; leaves palmately lobed or di- 
vided. GERANIACEZ. 
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