POPULAR FLORA. 



191 



75. MIBABILIS FAMILY. Order NYCTAGINACEiE. 



Has some wild representatives far west ami south, viz. : Oxybaphus, &o., with several 

 flowers in a calyx-like involucre, the funnel-shaped calyx rose-purple, and exactly like a 

 corolla. And in gardens Mirabilis or Four-o'Clock (so called from the flowers opening 

 late in the afternoon) is common. Here there is only one flower in the bell-shaped invo- 

 lucre, which exactly imitates a calyx, while the large funnel-shaped calyx is just like the 

 corolla of a Morning-Glory. Stamens 5 : style one. Leaves ojiposite, heart-shaped, long- 

 stalked. The 

 Common Fouk-o' Clock or Mirabilis, from Mexico, well known in gardens, is M. Jaldpa, 



76. POKEWEED FAMILY. 



Is represented with us by one, 

 and that a very common, species of 



Pokeweed. Phytolacca. 

 Sepals 5, rounded, concave, petal-like, 

 white. Stamens 10, under the ovary. 

 Ovary green, composed of 10 one- 

 seeded ovaries united into one: styles 

 10, short and separate. Fruit a dark 

 crimson 10-seeded berry. A coarse 

 rank herb, with a thick, acrid, and 

 poisonous root, a large pithy stem, and 

 alternate oblong leaves ; the flowers 

 in racemes opposite the leaves. Low 

 and rich ground, everywhere common ; 

 flowering all summer, ripening its 

 abundant berries in autumn. 



P. decdndra. 



47fi. Summit of n flowering branch of Polta- 

 weed. 



477. Frail-bearing branch. 



478. A ilower, enlarged. 



479. Young fruit. 

 4S0. Same, cut across. 



481. Seed divided lengthwise, and magnified. 



482. Embryo, more magnified. 



Order PHYTOLACCACB^. 



77. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. Order CHENOPODIACE^. 

 Homely herbs, with mostly alternate leaves, without stipules, and no dry scaly bracts 

 amon" the small and greenish flowers ; the calyx enclosing the one-celled and one-seeded 



