64 BALSAMINACE/E. 



Herbs, with alternate or radical stipulate leaves, mostly of 3 

 inversely heart-shaped leaflets, which close and droop at night- 

 fall. 



* Stemlcss; leaves and scapes from a root-stock or bulb. 



1. 0. ACETOCELLA, L. Common Wood Sorrel. 



Stalk creeping and scaly-toothed; scape 1-flowered, longer than the leaves; leaf- 

 lets broad-obcordate, with rounded lobes ; petals oval, obtuse; styles as long as the 

 inner stamens. 



Deep shady woods, on northern sides of mountains. June. Scape 3 to 5 inches 

 high with 2 small bracts above the middle. Flovjers large, white, with red veins, 

 drooping. The whole plant has an agreeable acid taste. This is the shamrock of 

 the Irish. 



2. 0. violace^e, L. Violet Wood Sorrel 



Bulb scaly ; scapes several-flowered in an umbel, longer than the leaves ; haves 

 ternate; leaflets obcordate, smooth; styles shorter than the outer stamens. 



Woods and shady places ; common. May, June. Scape nearly twice as high as 

 the leaves 4 to 6 inches. Flowers violet, large, from 3 to 9 on "umbels, drooping. 

 Fekrts obovate, and sometimes slightly emarginate. 



** Stems leafy: peduncles axillary. 



3. O. CORNICULATA, L. Decumbent Wood Sorrel. 



Pubescent; stem rooting, decumbent, branched ; peduncles 2-flowercd, shorter 

 than the leaves; leaves ternate; leaflets obcordate, pubescent; petals wedge-shaped, 

 erose at the apex ; style as long as the inner stamens. 



Cultivated grounds and banks of streams. May— Aug. Stems prostrate, leafy, 

 from 4 to 12 inches long. Sepals pubescent, % as long as the emarginate deep- 

 yellow petals. Capsules densely pubescent. 



4. 0. stricta, L. Upright Wood Sorrel. 



Stem branching, erect; peduncles umbelliferous, longer than the petioles, 2 to 

 6-flowered ; leaves ternate ; leaflets obcordate ; petals obovate, entire : styles as long 

 as the inner stamens. 



Sandy fields and borders of woods. May — Aug. Stem 6 to 12 inches high, 

 leafy, round, smooth, succulent. Leaves numerous, scattered on long stalks, 

 Flowers small, pale-yellow. 



Order 27. BALSAMINACEffi. 



Annual herbs, with succulent stems filled with a bland watery juice, very irregular 

 flowers, and simple leaves without stipules. Sepals 5, irregular, deciduous ; the two 

 upper commonly united into one, the lower spurred. Petals 4, hypogynous, 

 united in pairs, so that apparently there are only 2 petals. Stamens 5 ; filaments 

 subulate. Ovary 5-celled; stigma sessile, more or less, 5 lobed. Fruit capsular, 

 Ifith 5 elastic valves and 5 cells. Seeds solitary or numerous, without albumen. 



1. IMPATIENS. Linn. Balsam. 



Name from the sudden bursting of the ped when touched.. 



Sepals 5, the lower one spurred, the 2 upper united so as 

 to appear like one. Petals 2, unequal-sided and 2-lobed. 

 STA^Eris 5 ; short; anthers opening on the inner face. Stiq* 



