CORNACEZ. (DOGWOOD FAMILY.) 63 
at the base only; flowers near the ends of the branches; petals 5, spatulate or obovate 2 
to 3 lines long; capsule 6 to 9 lines long. 
2. M. gracilenta, Torr. & Gr. Stems similar to the last; petals obovate, abruptly 
acuminate, an inch long; capsule 12 to 15 lines long. F 
3. M, levicaulis, Torr. & Gr. Stout 2 or 3 ft. high; leaves lanceolate 2 to 8 inches 
long; flowers sessile on short branches, very large, light yellow; petals acute, 2 to 24 
inches long. 
Orpen CUCURBITACEZS is represented by Megarrhiza Marah, Wat. (Bic- 
Roor). The cucumber-like vines, often 10 or even 30 ft. long; the sterile flowers white 
in racemes 4 to 12 inches long; the fruit ovate oblong, more or less covered with weak 
spines inclosing several nut-like seeds. IM. Californica, Torr., has stiffer spines on 
smaller fruit; the fertile flowers without abortive stamens. 
Orper PICOIDEZS is represented by Mesembryanthemum zquilaterale, Haw., 
avery fleshy herb, with opposite three sided leaves 1 to 3 inches long and solitary red 
flowers; the petals numerous, linear. On the sea shore Mollugo verticellata, L., will 
scarcely: be noticed. 
Orver 26. UMBELLIFERA. 
Herbs with small flowers in umbels, stamens and petals 5, borne on a 2-celled ovary 
which in fruit splits into a pair of dry usually flat indehiscent carpels. Since the generic 
distinctions depend upon characters of fruit and seed difficult of determination, the plants 
of this order are not here described. * 
OrpER ARALIACHZ is represented by Aralia Californica, Wat. (SPIKENARD.) 
Grows in woods, along streams. Herbaceous stems, 8 to 10 ft. high; the white flowera 
in panicles a foot or two long and more. 
Orpen 27. CORNACEA. 
Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs, with simple entire mainly opposite leaves, no stipules, 
and flowers in cymes, capitate clusters or spikes; the petals and stamens 4, epigynous; 
calyx adnate to the 1-2-celled ovary, which becomes a drupe or berry. 
1. CORNUS, L. 
Flowers perfect. Calyx minutely 4-toothed. Petals 4, oblong or ovate. Stamens 4, 
with slender filaments. Style slender; stigma capitate or truncate. Fruit ovoid or 
oblong. 
* Flowers greenish, in a close head, surrounded by an involucre of 4 tu 6 large, white, petal 
like bracts. 
1. C. Nuttallii, Audubon. Usually a small tree; the involucre of yellowish or 
