86 PHYTOLACCACEAE (POKEWEED FAMILY) 



clusters solitary or again clustered, on long peduncles. Perianth 5-lobed ; 

 lobes spreading, obcordatc or emarginate. Stamens 3-5, unequal, on the 

 perianth, included. Styles fililorm. Akenes 1-5-winged; wings reticulatc- 

 \eined. Seed cylindric. — (Gk. abros = graceful, delicate. Does not seem 

 to apply to ours very well.) 



A. Plants of the seashore: flowers not white. 



B. Leaves broadly ovate to reniform; involucre bracts rounded to ovate or oblong ; 

 flowers yellow: wings of the fruit thick, hollow. W. 



A. latifolia (yellow abronia) 

 BB. Leaves ovate to narrowly oblong: involucre bracts narrowly lanceolate; flowers 

 rose colored; wings of fruit thin, not hollow. W. A. umbellata (pink abronia) 

 AA. Not plants of the seashore; flowers white. 



C. Stems prostrate; involucre bracts narrowly lanceolate; wings of the fruit thin, 

 not hollow. E. A. melllfera 



CC. Stems erect or ascending; involucre bracts broadly ovate; wings of the fruit 

 thick, hollow. E. A. fragrans 



PHYTOLACCACEAE (Pokeweed Family) 



Herbs, perennial, tall. Leaves alternate, simple, entire; stip- 

 ules none. Flowers perfect, regular, in racemes. Perianth 4-5- 

 parted or of 4-5 distinct segments; segments aU alike. Stamens 

 10. Ovary superior, lo-celled; cells i-ovuled; stigmas 10, filiform. 

 Fruit a berry, dark purple. E. — (Gk. phyton = a plant; L. lacca 

 = lacquer; referring to the red juice in the berries.) 



Phytolacca decandra (poke-berry) 



AIZOACEAE (Carpet-weed Family) 



Herbs, annual; stems mostly prostrate, branching. Leaves 

 whorled; stipules scarious. Flowers small, regular, sohtary, 

 whitish. Perianth 5-parted and segments all alike. Stamens 

 3-5, hypogynous. Ovary usually superior, 3-5-celled. Fruit a 

 capsule, loculicidal. Seeds many. E. — (L. mollis = soft; they 

 form a carpet-like growth.) MoUugo verticillata (cakpet-weed) 



PORTULACACEAE (Purslane Family) 



Herbs, low, mostly fleshy or succulent, rarely somewhat woody. 

 Leaves alternate or opposite. Flowers regular, perfect, axillary or 

 terminal. Sepals usually 2, in some more. Petals none to many. 

 Stamens as many as the petals or fewer, rarely more, opposite 

 the petals when of the same number; filaments filiform. Ovary 

 superior, i-celled; placenta central, free; styles 2-9-cleft or -di- 

 vided. Fruit a capsule, membranous or crustaceous, circumscissile 

 or 2-3-valved. Seeds 2 to many. 



