360 AMARANTH FAMILY. 



• Stylet united ; stamens borne on the base of the calyx. 



1. ANYCHIA. Sepals awnless. Stamens 2-8, or only rarely 5. Stigmas 2, sessile. 



Utricle exceeding the calyx. 



2. PARONYCHIA. Sepals awned. Stamens 5. Stamlnodla sometimes present in the 



form of minute teeth or bristle-like bodies. Utricle inclosed in the calyx. 



* * Styles distinct; stamens on the throat of the calyx. 



8. SCXERANTHUS. Stamens 5-10. Utricle inclosed in the indurated calyx cup. 



1. ANYCHIA, FORKED CHICKWEED. (Name derived from the 

 same root as the next.) Diffuse, forking plants, in dry soil. ® 



A. dichdtoma, Michx. Somewhat pubescent, 6'-10' high, with re- 

 peatedly forking short-jointed stems, minute, short-stalked, greenish 

 flowers in the forks, and narrow-lanceolate or oblanceolate leaves ; 

 flowers clustered and nearly sessile ; all summer. 



A. capillacea, DC. Smooth, with longer joints and more slender and 

 erect; leaves thinner and broader; flowers stalked, in diffuse inflores- 

 cence. N. Eng., W. and S., with the last. 



2. PARONYCHIA, WHITLOW-WORT. (Greek: a whitlow, and 

 a plant supposed to cure the disease.) Tufted, with minute flowers 

 and silvery dry stipules. 



* Flowers axillary and solitary. Q) 



P. herniarioldes, Nutt. Rough-pubescent; stems diffuse and pros- 

 trate ; leaves oval or oblong and mucronate ; sepals awl-like. Dry sand 

 ridges, N. Car., S. ^ Flowers in dusters. % 



P. argyrdcoma, Nutt. Minutely-pubescent; forming broad, spread- 

 ing tufts on bare mountains of White Mts., and S., in the Alleghanies to 

 Ga. , and on the seacoast, Mass. , N. ; leaves linear ; flowers in dense clus- 

 ters and concealed by large silvery bracts ; calyx hairy, the sepals short- 

 awned ; staminodia minute teeth between the stamens. 



P. dich<5toma, Nutt. On rocks, Md., S.; smooth and ascending - , 

 leaves and bracts narrow-awl-shaped ; cymes open and forked ; sepals 

 short-pointed ; staminodia bristle-like. 



3. SCLERANTHUS, KNAWEL. (Greek : hard flower, referring to 

 the indurated tube of the calyx.) 



S. dnnuus, Linn. Nat. from Eu., in gravelly grounds, around gardens 

 and in lawns ; a very pale little herb, 3'-5' high, very much branched 

 and spreading, with short awl-shaped leaves, and greenish small flowers 

 clustered or sessile in the forks, in late summer and autumn, g) 



xciii. amarahtacej:, amaeanth FAMILY. 



Weeds and some ornamental plants, chiefly herbs, essentially 

 like the next family, but the flowers provided with dry and 

 mostly scarious crowded persistent bracts, and the fruit some- 

 times several-seeded. The filaments are often united into a 

 tube or cup. The cultivated sorts are ornamental, like Im- 

 mortelles, on account of their colored dry bracts which do not 

 wither. 



