336 POLYANDRIA POLYGYXIA 



violet purple, pubescent, especially on the margin, thick and coriaceous, lanceolate, 

 acuminate, with the point recurved. Camels compressed, ovate, hirsute, crowned 

 with the tawny plumose styles, which are from 1 to near 2 inches long. 



Hab. Borders of woods; Londongrove: rare. FL July. Fr. September. 



Obs. This was collected by W.m. Jackson, Esq. in 1928, on a stony bank on 

 his farm, in Londongrove. It has, also, I am informed, been found in Kennett. 

 Nine or ten additional species are enumerated in the U. States— chiefly in the 

 South. 



265. CALTHA. /,. JSTutt. Gen. 487. 

 [Greek, Kdlathoe, a cup, or basket ; from the form of the flower.] 



Calyx mostly of 5 potaloid sepals. Ovaries 5 to 10, Carpels capsu- 

 lar, compressed, spreading, 1 -celled, many-seeded. 



Herbaceous: leaves alternate, simple, reniform-cordate ; flowers terminal, sub- 

 corymbose. Kat. Ord. 3. Litull. Rakttoculacbjl 



1. C. palustris, L. Stem nearly erect; leaves orbicular-cordate, or 

 remform, eremite, lobes obtuse; sepals oval. Beck, Bot. p. 11. 



Marsh Caltiia. Vulgo — Marsh Marygold. Colt's-foot. 

 G«//.-Souci des marais. Gt r/w.-Dotterblumc. ///*•/>.- Ye rba Centella. 

 Plant glabrous. Root perennial, of numerous coarse fasciculate fibres. Stem 

 5 to 8 or 10 inches high, stout and succulent, sometimes dichotomously branching. 

 Radical leaves 2 to 4 or 3 inches long, and often wider than long, rounded, cordate 

 at base, crcnatcdentate, sometimes nearly entire, enlarging, on petioles 3 to 6 and 

 finally often 12 or 15 inches long, with sheathing stipules at base ; stem leave* 

 few, smaller and on shorter petioles. Flowers large, few, pedunculato and some, 

 what corymbose. Sepals bright yellow, oval, or ovate, obtuse, about twice as long 

 as the stamens. Carpels oblong, compressed, spreading and a little recurved, ob- 

 tuse, mucronate from the lower suture, opening at the upper suture. Seeds nu- 

 merous, subovoid, dark purple. 



Hab. Swampy springs, and wet meadows: frequent. Ft. April. Fr. May—June. 



Obs. I have specimens with the leaves so nearly entire, and otherwise con- 

 formable, that I suspect Pursh's C§ intcgerrima is scarcely more than a variety. 

 A syrup, prepared from this plant, is a popular remedy for coughs. Three or four 

 additional species are enumerated in the U. States. 



b. Carpels baccate. 



266. HYDRASTIS. & Mat. Gen. 486. 

 [Supposed to be from the Greek, Hydor, water ; from its growing in moist places.] 



Calyx of 3 caducous petaloid sepals. Ovaries in a dense roundish- 

 ovoid head ; stigmas subsessile, dilated, compressed, very obtuse, or 

 rounded at apex. Carpels fleshy, or baccate, 1 or 2 seeded, cohe- 

 ring and forming a compound globose berry. 



Herbaceous : leaves few, alternate near the summit of the stem, palmate ; flower 

 solitary, terminal. Kat. Ord. 3. Lindl. Ranukculacbjb. 



1. H. canadensis, Z, Leaves cordate-orbicular, palmate-lobcd, lobes 

 unequally serrate. Beck, Bot. p. 7. 



Canadian HrauASTis. Vulgo — Yellow-root. 



