Obdee 33.— ZTGOPHTLLAOBuE. 279 



17 P. r^dtila A. Los. palmate, rough, lobes narrow, pinnatifid, revolute at edge, 

 with linear segments; umbels few-flowered; nectary nearly as long as the calyx. — 

 Distinguished for its large rough leaves deeply divided into linear segments, and 

 and with a mint-like fragrance. Pis. purple. 



18 P. quercifolium A. Oak-leaved GrEEANinM. I/vs. cordate, pinnatifid 

 with rounded recesses, lobes obtusely crenate; branches and petioles hispid. — 

 Lvs. rough, often spotted. Pis. purplish. 



Obs. The above are among the more distfn^uished and popular species of this vast and 

 favorite genus. Innumerable varieties produced from seeds and propagated by cuttings are 

 equally common and often of superior beauty. No genus seems to be I'egarded with so universal 

 favor for greenhouse plants as this. The species and their multitudes of hybrid creations, pro- 

 duced by modern ingenuity, are cultivated with assiduous attention by nearly every family 

 which makes the least pretensions to taste throughout the civilized world. 



Order XXXII. OXALIDACE^. Wood Soerbls. 



Stems low, herbaceous, with an acid juice and alternate compound leaves. Flow- 

 era regular, symmetrical, hypogynous, 5-merous. Sepals persistent, imbricated; 

 petals convolute in asstivation. Stamens 16, somewhat monadelphous, those oppo- 

 site the petals longest. Styles 5, separate ; capsule 5-celled, several-seeded ; seeds 

 albuminous. (Illust. in Pigs. 59. 64, 585.) 



Genera 7, species 83S, inhabiting tbe hot and the temperate regions. Tho most noticeable 



froperty of the Order is the SOI 

 or the beauty of their flowers. 



property of the Order is the sour juice, containing oxalic acid. Several species are cultivated 

 for " ' 



OXALIS, L. Wood Soerel. (Gr. 6^vg, sour.) Sepals 5, distinct 

 or united at base ; petals much longer than the calyx ; styles 6, capi- 

 tate ; capsule oblong or sub-globous : carpels 5, 1 to several-seeded. — 

 Mostly y, with trifoliate lvs. and inversely heart-shaped leaflets. 



1 O. Acetosella L. Acaulescent; scape longer than the leaves, l-flmvered; Ids. 

 broad-obcordate with rounded lobes ; sty. as long as the inner stamens ; it. den- 

 tate, scaly. — ^Woods and shady places. Can. and Northern States. Lvs. palmately 

 3-foliate, on long, weak stalks, purplish beneath. Fed. longer than the leaves, 

 each with a nodding, scentless flower whose petals are white, yellowish at the base, 

 delicately veined with purple. The whole plant has an agreeable acid taste. Jn. 



2 O. viol4oea L. Acaulescent, smooth ; scape umhdiferous ; pedicels, subpubes- 

 cent; fls. nodding; tips of tho calyx fleshy; sty. shorter than the outer sta- 

 mens. — An elegant species in rocky woods, etc., throughout the XJ. S. Bulb 

 scaly. Scape nearly twice longer than the leaves, 5 to 8' high. Lvs. palmately 



" 3-foIiate, sometimes none ; Ifts. nearly twice as wide as long, with a very shallow 

 sinus at the very broad apex. Umbels of 3 to 9 drooping flowens. Petals large, 

 violet-colored, striate. May. 



3 O. striota L. Caulescent; st. branching; ped. umbeliferous, longer than the 

 petioles ; sty. as long as tho inner stamens. — ® Fields, U. S. and Can., common. 

 It varies in size from 3 to 12', according to tho soil. St. leafy, round, smooth, 

 succulent. Lvs. palmately 3-foliate, numerous, scattered, on long stalks. Um- 

 bels on long, axillary stalks, mostly much longer than the petioles. Pis. small, 

 yellow, appearing all summer. Capsules sparingly hirsute, with spreading hairs. — 

 "When the plant is unsupported, it .is more or less decumbent, and is the variety 



8. CORNICTTLATA (0. comiculata L). — Obs. The species (nearly 300 in number) 

 are all pretty, and many from Europe and Africa^re becoming rather common 

 in cultivation. 



Order XXXIII. ZYGOPHYLLACE.^. Bean Capees. 



Serbs, shrubs or trees, with leaves opposite, mostly pinnate (not dotted) and 

 stipulate ; flowers i or 5-merous, calyx imbricated and corolla convolute in estiva- 

 tion. Stamens twice as many as petals, hypogynous, distinct, each often with a 

 scale. Ovary compound ; fruit and seeds as in Linaceae- 



