DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA 403 



linguished, on comparison, by its generally verticillate leaves,— and its spreading 

 branches, which are also more or less verticillate, and brachiately subdivided. It 

 is a humbler plant, and less frequent, than P. ambigua. 



4. P. Sk2ceoa, Z. Stems numerous, simple, terete, rather erect ; 

 leaves alternate, broad-lanceolate, tapering at each end ; raceme spike- 

 form, elongated, flaccid ; wings of the calyx elliptic-ovate, veined, a* 

 long as the capsule. Beck, Hot. p. 45. 



Vulgo — Seneka Snake-root. Milk-wort. Mountain Flax. 



Root perennial, large, firm and ligneous, with coarse branches. Stem 9 to 15 

 inches high, mostly several from the same root, simple, herbaceous, rather flaccid 

 and oblique, terete below, slightly angular above, minutely roughish-pubescent, 

 with numerous small ovate sessile scale-like leaves at and near the base. Leaven 

 1 to 2 or 3 inches long, and I third of an inch to near an inch wide, smoothish, 

 slightly serrulate or scabrous on the margin, more or less acuminately tapering at 

 apex, and narrowed at base to a short petiole. Raceme 1 to 2 or 2 and a half inches 

 long, and 1 fourth to 1 third of an inch in diameter, somewhat nodding, or flaccid f 

 terminal, on a naked peduncle about an inch long ; pedicels very short, each with 

 a lance-oblong bract at base longer than the pedicel, and 2 \ery minute lateial 

 bracts. Flotccrs greenish white. Capsule compressed, orbicular, return. Seed* 

 large, pyriform, hairy, the willus-like processes nearly as long as the seed. 

 Hub. Hilly woodlands; along Brandy wine: frequent. Ft. May. F r . July. 



Obs. The root of this is well known, in the shops, for its active medical prop- 

 erties. It is particularly valuable as a stimulating expectorant. Sixteen or sev- 

 enteen additional species arc enumerated in the U. States. 



Order 4. Dccandria.* 



?dom l CcBVEMnnriE - Thc radicle curved back upon the cotyL 



Sob-Obo. 1. Papiliokace*. Calyx with the segments distinct. Corolla pa.uli. 

 onaceous. Stamens perigynous. corona pajuir- 



A. PaTiioLOBE«--a.«fr yrith the cotyledons foUaceous, or becom- 

 ing green leaves in germination ; not esculent. 



I. Sophora Tb.bb. Stone*, distinct. Legume continuous. Sophobb* DC. 



334 BAPTI8IA. Vent. Mutt. Gen. 400. 

 [Greek, Bapto, to Dye, in allusion to its coloring properties ] 



Calyx 4 or S-cleft, sub-bUabiate. Petals 5, nearly equal , v exiUlan 



£e groupe more complete. The Leguminosa comprS S^ Sarll * T£ 

 baceous plants, of various habit; leaves alternate «u™,i„ , ' *»**«• 



Ihepeliole usually tumid at base JoZsTmlt M? ' '* ""P "**- 



Ute,-,he corolla mostly irregular aXen SSu ' * , ^ racemo8e > « panic*, 

 coriaceous or membranous 2-va v d UglZ I Zj^T*™ ''*** ^ * 

 UU, a^sd alternated to each iSSKj^JB^ * 



