COltNACE^. (DOaWOOD 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. 



3. M. laevicaulis, 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 2J 

 inches long. 



Order CtJC0RBITACB.2S is represented by Megarrhiza Marah, Wat. (Big- 

 Root). 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. M. Califomica, Torr., has stiffer spines on 

 smaller fruit; the fertile flowers without abortive stamens. 



Order FICOIDEJEJ is represented by Mesembryanthemum aequUaterale, Haw., 

 a very 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. 



Order 26. UMBELLIFERiE. 



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 diflScult of determination, the plants 

 of this order are not here described. 



Order ARALIACEiE is represented by Aralia Califomica, Wat. (Spikenard.) 

 Grows in woods, along streams. Herbaceous stems, 8 to 10 ft. high; the white flowers 

 in panicles a foot or two long and more. 



Order 27. CORNACE.ffi. 



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 adnata 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 fllaments. Style slender; stigma capitate or truncate. Fruit ovoid or 

 oblong. 



* Flowers greenish, in a close head, surrounded hy an involucre of Jftu 6 large, white, petal- 

 like bracts. 



1. C. Nuttallii, Audubon. Usually a small tree; the involucre of yellowish or 



