Introduction to Botany. 



m. STELLARIA. Chiclrweed or Starwort. 



(L., Stella, star.) 



Herbs, mostly tufted and diffuse. Sepals distinct or only slightly 

 united at the base, 4 or 5. The 4-5 petals deeply 2-cleft. Stamens 

 8-10, rarely fewer. Pod ovoid ; styles 3-5 ; valves twice the number 

 of the styles. Flowers white, solitary or cymose. 



I. Stellaria media, Smith. (L., medius, medium.) Common Chickweed. 

 Tufted, branched annuals, decumbent or ascending, 4 to 16 inches long; stems 

 with I or 2 longitudinal, pubescent lines ; leaves ovate to oval. Flowers small, on 

 slender pedicels, in leafy cymes, or solitary in the axils of the leaves. Petals 

 2-parted, shorter than the calyx; stamens 2-10. The ovoid capsule longer than 

 the calyx. Common in moist meadows, woods, and waste places. 



AWONACE.ffi. Custard-apple Family. 



Shrubs or trees, with entire alternate leaves. Sepals 3, and petals 

 about 6 in 2 whorls; stamens many with adnate, extrorse anthers; 

 carpels several, distinct or coherent, usually becoming fleshy in fruit. 



I. ASi'mINA. Papaw. 



(From the Indian name, Assitnin.') 



Shrubs or small trees. Flowers axillary and nodding. The 3 sepals 

 ovate ; the 3 outer petals larger than the 3 inner. Stamens and carpels 

 3-15. Fruit an oblong, fleshy berry. Seeds large and flat. 



I. Asimina triloba, Dunal. (Gr., iri, three ; lobos, lobe.) NORTH AMERICAN 

 Papaw. Small frees, with obovate-lanceolate leaves. Petals veiny and of a deep 

 reddish purple. Flowers appearing with the leaves. Fruit large, fleshy, sweet, and 

 edible. In rich woods. 



RANUNCULACEjE. Crowfoot Family. 



Annual or perennial herbs or climbing shrubs. Sepals often petal- 

 like, 3-15; petals of about the same number and sometimes wanting. 

 Stamens numerous; carpels numerous or solitary, l-celled, and i- 

 many-ovuled. Fruit an achene, follicle, or berry. Flowers regular or 

 irregular. 



Leaves ternately or biternately compound. 

 Petals not spurred. 



Pistils 2 or more. IsopvRUM I. 



Pistil I. ACTEA II. 



Petals spurred. Aquilegia III 



