Dicotyledones. 1 1 1 



about J inch long. Peduncles slender, i inch or more long. Corolla light blue to 

 nearly white, with yellow center, J to 5 inch broad. Perennial by slender rootstock. 

 In grassy or moist places. 



2. Houstonia minima, Beck. (L., minimus, smallest.) Least Bluets. 

 Diffuse or spreading, and generally rough, annual, i to z\ inches high. Lower 

 leaves spatulate or ovate, upper leaves oblong-elliptic to nearly linear. Peduncles 

 1 inch or less long. Calyx lobes rather broad and much exceeding the- capsule. 

 Corolla violet to purple. In dry soil. 



3. Houstonia purpurea, L. (L,, purpureus, purple.) Large Houstonia. 

 Erect and stout, mostly glabrous perennial, 4 to 18 inches high. Leaves ovate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, sometimes 2 inches long. Flowers in terminal cymes or cymose 

 clusters. Corolla funnel-form, lilac or purple. Calyx lobes longer than the 

 globular pod. In woodlands or open places. 



4. Houstonia ciliolata, Torr. (L.,«7;a;K, an eye-lash.) FRINGED HOUSTONIA. 

 Tufted, erect perennial, 4 to 7 inches tall. Leaves oblanceolate to obovate, ciliate- 

 fringed. Corolla purple or lilac. On rocky banks. 



5. Houstonia angustifolia, Michx. (L., angustus, narrow; folium, leaf.) 

 Narrow-leaved Houstonia. Stiff, erect, glabrous perennial, rising i to 2 feet 

 from a deep root. Leaves mostly linear, often in fascicled clusters. Flowers on 

 short pedicels in dense, terminal, cymose clusters. Corolla purplish to white, its 

 lobes bearded within. Capsule compressed-obovoid, nearly as long as the calyx 

 lobes. In open places. 



II. MITCHELLA. Partridge Berry. 



(Named for Dr. John Mitchell, botanist.) 



Creeping herbs, with opposite, evergreen leaves and terminal, dimor- 

 phous flowers in pairs, with united ovaries. Calyx usually 4-toothed. 

 Corolla funnel-form and 4-lobed. Stamens 4, inserted on the throat 

 of the corolla alternate with its lobes. Ovary 4-celled, with i ovule in 

 each cavity. Style exserted ; stigmas 4. Flowers white or tinged with 

 purple, fragrant. Fruit, 2 united, scarlet, edible drupes. 



I. Mitchella ripens, L. (L., repens, creeping or trailing.) Partridge- 

 BERRY or TwiN-BERRY. Stems slender and rooting at the nodes. Leaves peti- 

 oled, rounded-ovate, sometimes variegated with white lines. Flowers white and 

 sessile. Corolla about I inch long. Fruit persisting through the winter. At Ihe 

 bases of trees in dry woods. 



III. GALIUM. Bedstraw or Cleavers. 



(Gr.fg'ala, milk, which some species have the property of curdling.) 



Slender herbs, with square stems and whorled leaves, and small 

 flowers in axillary or terminal cymose clusters. Tube of the calyx some- 

 what globose, its teeth minute or none. Corolla rotate, mostly 4-parted. 



