348 ORDER LXVIII. COMPOSITE. 



1. P. procum'bens, (L.) Stem procumbent, furrowed, dichotomously 

 branched. Leaves sessile, linear, opposite, connected by a stipular mem- 

 brane. Flowers terminal, and in the divisions of the branches sessile, 

 2 — 4 leafy bracts at the base of the calyx ; segments of the calyx sub- 

 ulate, serrulate. Seed angular. — White. If. . May — Sept. Very com- 

 mon. 6 — 12 inches. 



Order LXVIL— VALERIANATES. 



Calyx a border, 3 — 4-toothed, or pappus-like. Corolla tu- 

 bular, rather irregular, with the border 5-parted, inserted on the 

 top of the ovary, slightly calcarate at the base. Stamens 1 — 5, 

 but usually 3. Style 1. Ovary 1 — 3-celled, with only 1 fertile ; 

 ovule suspended. Fruit dry, indehiscent, with two empty cells, 

 and one with a single seed. Herbaceous, rather succulent plants, 

 with opposite, or whorled leaves. Flowers in crowded corymbs. 



GiOTTO I— FE'DIA. Moench. 3—1. 

 (From phe id o, harmlessness ; others from fedu-s, a kid.) 



Genus same as the Order. 



1. F. radia'ta, (L.) Stem erect, winged or furrowed by the decur- 

 rent leaves and midribs, pubescent on the angles and wings. Leaves 

 opposite; lower ones somewhat spatulate, upper ones sessile, broad- 

 lanceolate, rather obtuse, finely ciliate, irregularly dentate, sometimes 

 nearly panduriform. Flowers terminal ; in dichotomous corymbs, with 

 a flower in each division, crowded, each corjmib having the appearance 

 of only 4 flowers, with a several-leaved involucre ; corolla slightly ir- 

 regular at the summit, slightly calcarate near the base. — White. 

 March — May. On the Ocmulgee above Macon. 10 — 15 inches. 



Order LXVIII.— COMPOS 'ITS. 



Calyx united to the ovary, with the limb either wanting, or 

 membranous, or divided into hair-like segments called pappus. 

 Corolla ligulate, or tubular. Stamens 5, alternate with the 

 teeth of the corolla. Anthers cohering into a cylinder. Ovary 

 inferior, 1-celled. Style simple. Stigmas 2, distinct or united. 

 Fruit an indehiscent dry pericarp, crowned with the limb of the 

 calyx. Seed$ solitary, erect; albumen none. Flowers collected 

 into dense heads, surrounded by an involucre. 



The obvious characterise ica of this order are it* compound flowers, and 

 the union of the anthers. Herbs or shrubs. L,eaves without stipules. 



ANALYSIS 



1. Flowers of tin' ili-k tabular 2 



Flowers bilabiate chuptaiiii. >~2 



Flowers Hgulats 77 



2. Beads radiate • 3 



Heads dtesoM 50 



8. Flowers yellow 4 



Flowers not yellow 37 



