328 



EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 



FOUR O'CLOCK FAMILY. NYCTAGINACEAE. 



Mostly herbs, with simple, opposite, entire leaves and regular flowers; ovary enclosed in the base of 

 a hardened calyx. 



About 250 species of wide range, only two have been introduced into Michigan, besides the 

 four o'clock sometimes cultivated. 



Fig. 64. 



Heart-leaved Umbrella Wort. Oxybaphus 

 nyctagineus (Michx.) Sweet. (Allionia nycta- 

 ginea Michx.) Perennial from a stout tap root, 

 nearly smooth; stem angled, repeatedly forkea, 

 30-150 cm. high; leaves broadly ovate, heart- 

 shaped, 4-8 cm. long; involucre next the flowers 

 more or less persistent to aid in| distributing 

 seeds; sepals red. Introduced from the south 

 and west. 



Found at Richmond, Oakland county and 

 at the Agricultural College. 



Mentioned here because in the Botanic 

 Carden, it behaves much like narrow-leaved 

 dock, and is likely to become troublesome. 



Fig. 65. 



Hairy Umbrella- wort. Oxybaphus hirsutus 

 Pursh, has been found at Grand Rapids. It 

 differs from the preceding in being glandular- 

 hirsute, leaves sessile, lanceolate, narrowed at 

 the base, considerably resembling the pre- 

 ceding. 



