HYPERICACEAE. 163 



Sphaeralcea munroana (Dougl.) Spach. Perennial, hoary-pubescent 

 throughout; stems prostrate or decumbent, rarely erect, 20-40 cm. long; 

 leaves broadly ovate, crenulately toothed or lobed, 2-4 cm. long; petioles 

 mostly as long as the blades; panicle narrow, 10-30 cm. long; flowers bright 

 scarlet; petals about 1 cm. long; carpels reniform, oval, 3-4 mm. long. Sandy 

 ground in the warmer valleys. 



Sphaeralcea rivularis (Dougl.) Torr. Stout, perennial, 1-1. S m. tall, 

 green, sparsely pubescent; leaves large, palmately 5-7-lobed, the lobes acute, 

 coarsely dentate; petioles stout, mostly as long as the blades; panicle narrow, 

 erect, 15-60 cm. long; petals rose-colored, 2-3 cm. long; carpels very bristly, 

 2 cm. long. Along streams especially in the warmer valleys. 



230. MALVA. 



Pubescent or glabrous herbs; leaves dentate, lobed or dis- 

 sected; flowers perfect, axillary or terminal, solitary or clustered; 

 involucre 3-leaved ; calyx 5-cleft; petals 5, obcordate; styles nu- 

 merous, stigmatic down the inner side; fruit depressed, separat- 

 ing at maturity into as many 1 -seeded indehiscent carpels as 

 there are styles. 



Malva rotundifolia L. Mallow. Cheeses. Annual or biennial, pubescent 

 or glabrous; stems prostrate, branched near the base, 20-60 cm. long; leaves 

 round-reniform, S-7-lobed, crenate-dentate, 2-5 cm. broad; petioles long and 

 slender; flowers pale blue, about 1 cm. broad, clustered In the axils; pedicels 

 slender, 1-2 cm. long; carpels 12-15, puberulent, not reticulated. A weed 

 sparingly introduced. 



Family 57. HYPERICACEAE. St. Johnswort Family, 



Herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite, entire, mostly sessile, with 

 translucent or dark-colored glandular dots; stipules wanting; 

 flowers perfect, regular; sepals 4-5; petals 4-5, hypogynous; 

 stamens commonly in three or more clusters; styles 2—5, usually 

 distinct or nearly so ; capsule 1-celled, with 2-5 parietal placentae, 

 or 3-5-celled; endosperm none. 



231. HYPERICUM. St. Johnswort. 



Perennial herbs ; leaves sessile, entire, punctate ; flowers yellow, 

 in cymes; sepals 5; petals 5; stamens numerous; ovary 1-celled, 

 with 3-5 parietal placentae, rarely 3-5-celled. 



Erect, 30-60 cm. tall; stamens 60 or more. H. scouleri. 



Spreading, 5-15 cm. tall; stamens 15-20. H. anagalloides. 



H3?pericum scouleri Hook. Stems erect, simple or branched above, 

 15-60 cm. high; leaves oblong-ovate, obtuse, half-clasping at base, 2-3 cm. 

 long, black-dotted on the margin; inflorescence a corymb, loose or rather dense; 

 sepals ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or acute; petals bright yellow, black dotted 

 on the margin, 1 cm. or less long; stamens numerous, in three fascicles. 

 Moist places, common. 



