OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA 243 



197. TROP^EOLUM, L* DC. Prodr. I. p. 683. 

 [Latin, Tropaum, a trophy ; from a fancied resemblance of the flower to a banner.] 



Calyx colored, 5-parted, the superior segment spurred at base. Pe- 

 tals 5, unequal, the 2 upper ones sessile, the 3 lower ones unguiculate. 

 Stigmas 3, acute. Fruit of 3 connate carpels, fleshy, or subcoriace- 

 ous; each carpel 1-seeded, indehiscent. 



Herbaceous : stem succulent, diffuse or volubile ; leaves alternate, peltate, with 

 radiating nerves; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered. Nat* Ord. 124. Liiu.ll. Trd- 



1. T. ma jus, L. Leave* suborbicnlar* obscurely repand-lobed ; 

 nerves not exserted at apex ; petals obtuse. DC. 1. c. 

 (J heater Trop/Kolum, Vulgo — Nasturtium. Indian Cress* 

 Gall. Grande Cap u cine. Ger. Die Kapuzinerblume* Hisp. Capuchina. 



Koot annual. Stem 4 to 6 or 8 feet long, somexcfiat volubile arid climbing, 

 branching, thicks fleshy, smooth* pale green. Leaves peltate, suburbicular t 2 to 



3 incites in diameter , with the ?iervcs radiating from the petiole, smooth above, 

 puberulent beneath ; petioles 3 to b* inches lung. Peduncles mostly lunger than the 

 petioles. Calyx orange- colored, icith tinges of green ; the upper segment with a 

 spur at base about an inch long, somewhat curved at the point. Corolla yellowish* 

 or reddish-orange*, with dark purple stripes, arid spots; the 3 lower pet uls fringed 

 at base* supported on slender claws* Fruit someichat 3-lobed* stdcate % fleshy, at 

 length suberose^ or coriaceous. 



Hab. Gardens : frequent. Fl. June — Sept. Fr. August— October. 



Obs. An ornamctital plant ; cultivated chiefly for Vie young fruit,— which is 

 prepared as a condiment, ajid affords a tolerable substitute for capers* Probably 

 tkc only species which has been introduced into the U. States* 



198. DIRCA. L. JSTutt. Gen. 367. 

 [Greek, Dirku, a fountain ; from its usual place of growth.] 



Perianth corolla-like, tubular-campanulatc ; limb obsolete, erosely den- 

 tate. Stamens unequal, exserted. Style filiform, longer than the 

 stamens* Berry 1-celled, 1-sceded. 



.4 Shrub: leaves simple, alternate ; flowers preceding the leaves, in small §»s- 

 sile fascicles, from terminal and lateral buds. Nat. Ord. 65. Lindl. Thymbleje. 



1. D. PALU8TRI8, L* Leaves obovate-oblong, subsessile ; buds dense- 

 ly villose, mostly 3-flowercd. Beck* Bot. p. 307. 

 Marsh Dirca. Vulgo — Leather-wood. 



Siemllo 4 or 5 feet high, slender, much branched from the base ; the brandies 

 apparently jointed, flexible, with a very tough greyish-yellow bark. Leaves 3 or 



4 inches long, and an inch and half to 2 inches wide, oval, or obovate-jblong, often 

 subrhomboid, tapering and somewhat acute at each end, entire, pale green, smooth 

 above, pubescent and rather glaucous beneath ; petioles very short (en long peti- 

 oles, Torr.). Flowers appearing before the leaves, mostly in little fascicles of 3 

 from a bud (sometimes 2, and 1,), on thick pedicels near half an inch long. Peri- 

 anth pale yellow, about as long as the pedicels, dilated above, with the summit ir- 

 regularly toothed. Berry ovoid, about 1 fourth of an inch in diameter [yellowish 

 when mature, Marsh."]* Seed solitary, large, compressed, ovate. 



J lab. Shaded rivulets, on the IMica-slate hills: not common. Fl. April. Fr. 



Obs. The pliable branches of this shrub are so strong and tough that they may 

 be used as ligatures ;— whence the common name, Leathencood. It is the only 

 species of the genus. 



