98 



FAM. 124. 



simple, stigma entire or 3-lobed or styles 3; fruit a drupe 

 with solitary seed. 



1. Deciduous; flowers mostly dioecious, stamens 9 in 3 rows; — leaves 

 alternate; flowers yellowish green, appearing before the leaves, 

 in axillary cymes, umbel-like; the third row of stamens with 

 two orange-colored glands at the base, ----- Sassafras 

 S. sassafras (officinalis). Small tree with oblong, mostly 3-lobed leaves; drupe 

 red or orange. Old fields. Spring. 



1. Evergreen; flowers perfect, stamens 12 in 4 rows, one of staminodia, - - 2 



2. Flowers in axillary peduncled cymes; perianth persistent, - Tamala (Persea) 

 T. Borbonia (P. Carolinensis) , Red Bay, Sweet Bay, Florida Mahogany. A 



tree with elliptic leaves; fruit dark blue or black. Woods on riverbanks, 

 and planted. Summer. 

 T. pubescens (P. Carolinensis, var. palustris). Tall shrub with narrowly ellip- 

 tic leaves; drupe dark-blue with a thin bloom. Ponds and river hammocks. 

 Summer. 

 2. Flowers in terminal panicled cymes; perianth deciduous, - - - Persea 

 P. Persea, Avocado, Alii gator -pear. An ornamental tree with elliptic to oval 

 leaves; fruit edible. Cult. (Flowers and fruit seldom seen here.) 

 2. Flowers in axillary panicled cymes; perianth deciduous, - - Camphora 

 C. camphora, Camphor-tree. A tree, planted for gum-production and shade; 

 flowers white; styles 3, slightly adherent below. 



124. Melastomaceae, Meadow Beauty Family. 



Herbs, shrubs and trees with opposite, exstipulate 

 leaves and mostly showy, perfect flowers, calyx 3-6 lobed; 

 petals 3-6, inserted with the 3-12 stamens on the throat 

 of the calyx; anthers appendaged; ovary free, 2-many 

 but often 4-celled, with numerous ovules; style 1; fruit 

 berry-like or capsular, 2-many celled, many-seeded. 



Herbs with horizontal rootstalks; leaves usually 3-5 veined; flowers soli- 

 tary or in terminal cymes; calyx urn-shaped, sepals and petals 

 4; stamens 8, exserted; ovary 4-celled; capsule 4-celled, seeds 

 rough, coiled or bent, ------ Rhexia, Deer-grass 



1. Anthers short, oblong, erect, not spurred, -------2 



1. Anthers long, linear, curving upward, spurred, ------ 4 



2. Corolla purple, pink, or white, --------3 



2. Corolla yellow; — stem 4-angled, simple, bristly; leaves smooth, bristly 



serrulate, the lower obovate, the upper lanceolate; flowers nearly 



sessile, numerous, small. Low pine-barrens. Summer, - - R. lutea 



3. Calyx-tube glandular- bristly; upper surface of leaves smooth; — stem 



4-angled, sparingly branched, smooth below; leaves ovate, 

 bristly-serrulate; flowers solitary or in cymes, purple. Pine- 

 barrens. Summer. - - - - - - - -R. serrulata 



3. Calyx-tube smooth; upper surface of leaves bristly; — stem 4-angled, 



branches ascending, nearly smooth; leaves broadly ovate, bristly- 

 serrulate; flowers in cymes, purple or deep pink. Sandy swamps. 

 Summer. __--_--___ R, ciliosa 



4. Neck of the mature calyx as long as the globose capsular portion, or 



