190 



CRUCIFERAE. 



Vol. II. 



broadly winged, free from the septum, 

 resemblance of this genus to Lunaria.] 



Cotyledons accumbent. [Greek, moon, from the 



Two or three species, natives of the south-central United 

 States and northern Mexico, the following typical. 



I. Selenia aurea Nutt. 

 Fig. 2099. 



Selenia. 



Selenia aurea Nutt. Journ Acad. Phila. 5: 132. 1825. 



Stems simple, numerous, 2'-8' high. Basal leaves 

 1-2' long, narrow, 1-2-pinnatifid into numerous oblong 

 dentate or entire segments; stem-leaves similar, smaller; 

 bracts of the raceme pinnatifid, resembling the upper 

 leaves; flowers 3"-4" high, numerous; pedicels s"-7" 

 long in fruit, spreading or ascending; pod 6"-lo" long, 

 2"-3" broad; style 2" long, very slender. 



In open sandy places, Missouri and Kansas to Texas. 

 March-April. 



38. LUNARIA [Tourn.] L. Sp. PI. 653. 1753. 



Annual, biennial or perennial, more or less pubescent erect branching herbs, with broad 

 simple dentate or denticulate mostly cordate leaves, and large violet or purple flowers in 

 terminal racemes. Lateral sepals saccate at the base. Petals obovate, clawed. Siliques long- 

 stipitate, very flat, oblong or elliptic, the papery valves reticulate-veined, dehiscent. Style 

 filiform ; septum hyaline, translucent, shining. Seeds circular or reniform, very large, 

 winged, borne on long funiculi, which are adnate to the septum; cotyledons large, accum- 

 bent. [Latin, moon, in allusion to the shining partition of the pod.] 



Two known species, natives of Europe and Asia. Type species : Lunaria annua L. 



Siliques oblong, pointed at both ends; perennial. i. L.rediviva. 



Siliques elliptic, rounded at both ends ; annual or biennial. 2. L. annua. 



I. Lunaria rediviva L. Perennial Satin- 

 pod, or Satin-flower. Fig. 2100. 



Lunaria rediviva L. Sp. PI. 653. 



1753- 



Perennial, pubescent with short simple hairs, 

 stem rather stout, 2°-4° tall. Leaves broadly 

 ovate, acuminate at the apex, deeply cordate, 

 or the upper rounded at the base, thin, the 

 lower long-petioled, 3-6' long; flowers 8"-i2" 

 broad, slender-pedicelled; pods oblong, 2-3' 

 long, drooping, about i' wide at the middle, 

 borne on slender stipes of about one-half their 

 length; seeds reniform, broader than long. 



In thickets, Canadian side of Niagara Falls. 

 Escaped from gardens or fugitive from Europe. 

 Uetermmation based on flowering specimens 

 collected by Professor Macoun which may, per- 

 haps, belong to the following species. The plant 

 ■ s commonly cultivated for its ornamental flowers 

 and pods. May-July. 



