■22 HYPERICACEAE. 



Clwtonia. Stamens 5; pod 3-valved. 

 Poutulaca. Stamens ?-20; pod globular, opening by a lid. 

 TALINUM Adans. Ours perennial, -vitli alternate linear leaves, and 

 eyinose flowers. Sepals ovate. Petals fug-aceous. Styles 3-lobed. 



T. teretifolium Pursh. Plant 4-12 inches high, leafy below, seapose 

 above; leaves cylindrical; peduncles slender, bracted, branched; flowers 

 pink; sepals membranous, half the length of the petals; stamens 10-30; style 

 as long as the stamens. Sioux quartzite exposures; June— August; common; 

 Lyon and Woodbury counties. 



CLAYTON1A L. Low perennial spring plauts, with simple stems from 

 tuberous roots, and entire leaves. Sapals ovate, persistent. Petals 5, hypo- 

 gynous Stamens 5, adhering to the short claws of the petals. Style 3-cleft. 

 Pod 3-valved, 2-5-seeded. 



C. virginica L. Sprin-j Beauty. Tuber globular, deep seated; stems 6-9 

 inches high, weak, with 2 opposite linear or linear-lanceolate leaves; flowers 

 white or roseate, in a terminal loose raceme. Rich woods; April-May; com- 

 mon. 



C. caroliniana Mx. Similar to the preceiding; basal leaves ovate- lanceo- 

 late or oblong, cauline leaves petioled. Reported as an Iowa species by 

 Arthur. 



PORTULACA L. Purslane. Annuals, with succulent stems and leaves, 

 and small yellow mostly ephemeral flowers. Calyx 2-cleft, upper portion 

 deciduous, the tube cohering with the ovary. Petals 5, rarely more or less, 

 equal, fugaceous. Stamens 8-20, inserted on- the calyx along with the petals. 

 Style 3-8-parted. Pod globular, 1-celled, many-seeded, opening transversely 

 near the middle by a lid. , 



P. oleracea L. Common P. Stems prostrate, smooth, reddish; leaves 

 obovate or euneate, apex rounded; flowers sessile, solitary, pale yellow; 

 sepals keeled; stamens 7-12; style about 6-parted. Cultivated grounds and 

 waste places; June-September; common. 



P. retusci Englm. Similar to the preceding but the leaves euneate, the 

 apex retuse or emarginate Reported from Scott county. 



HYPERICACEAE Lindl. St. John's- wort Family. 

 Herbs or small shrubs, with opposite entire punctate or dotted exstipu- 

 late leaves, and regular and perfect solitary or cyrnose flowers. Sepals 

 4-5, imbricated. Petals -i-5, mostly oblique or contorted, convoluted or 

 imbricated in the bud. Stamens few or many, usually in 3 or more 

 clusters. Ovary 1-7-celled; styles 1-7. Pod 1-7-celled, with septicidal 



dehiscence. 



Hypericum. Petals yellow, convolute. 

 Elodes. Petals purplish, imbricate. 

 HYPERICUM L. The principal genus of the order. 



* Perennials; styles 5. 

 H- ascyron L. Great St. Juhn's-wort. Stems 2-0 feet high; leaves ovate- 

 oblong or ovate-lanceolate, sessile, clasping, acute or obtuse; flowers large, 

 in terminal cymes; styles numerous, in 5 sets; styles united below; pod 

 conical or ovoid. Rich woods, banks; July; infrequent; Winneshiek, 

 Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Scott, Muscatine, Henry, Johnson, Stor}', 

 Winnebago, and Cerro Gordo counties. 



* * Perennials ; stamens numerous; styles .'(. 

 Y\. prolificum L. Shruhby St. J. A small shrub, 1-C feet high; leaves nar- 



