ONAGRACEAE. 65 1 



tropous. Capsule included in the calyx-tube, irregularly or loculicidally 

 dehiscent. Seeds mainly small, with no endosperm. About 150 genera 

 and 2500 species, widely distributed in tropical regions, most abundant in 

 S. Am. ; represented in N. Am. only by the following genus. 



1. RHEXIA L. 

 Perennial herbs, often somewhat woody at the base, sometimes tuber-bearing, 

 with mostly sessile opposite 3-5 -nerved leaves, and terminal showy cymose or 

 rarely solitary flowers. Calyx tube urn-shaped or campanulate, constricted at the 

 neck, its limb 4-lobed, the lobes shorter than the tube. Petals 4, obovate, oblique. 

 Stamens 8, equal; anthers incurved or inverted in the bud. Ovary free from the 

 calyx, glabrous. 4-celled; style slender; stigma truncate. Capsule 4-celled, 

 4-valved. Placentae 4, central. Seeds numerous, coiled or bent, rough. [Greek, 

 breaking, applied originally to a different plant.] Ten known species, of eastern 

 N. Am. 



Stem cylindric, very pubescent. 1. R. Mariana. 



Stem square or angled, pubescent or glabrous. 



Stem more or less pubescent ; leaves ovate. 2. R. Virginica. 



Stem glabrous. 



Leaves oblong or lance-oblong; calyx with a few hairs above. 3. R. aristosa. 

 Leaves ovate, bristly-ciliate ; calyx glabrous. 4. R. ciliosa. 



1. Rhexia Mariana L. Maryland Meadow-Beauty. (I. F. f. 2551.) 

 Stem rather slender, 3-6 dm. high. Leaves spreading, short-petioled, oblong, or 

 linear-oblong, narrowed at the base, 2-4 cm. long, pubescent with scattered bristly 

 hairs, 3-nerved, the margins ciliate-serrulate; flowers loosely cymose, pedicelled, 

 pale purple, about 2.5 cm. broad; pedicels and calyx-tube glandular-pubescent; 

 petals rounded or short-aristate. In swamps, pine-barrens of L. I. to Fla., Ky., Mo. 

 and Tex. June-Sept. 



2. Rhexia Virginica L. Meadow-Beauty. Deer-Grass. (I. F. f. 2552.) 

 Stem more or less pubescent, 3-5 dm. high. Leaves mostly sessile, ovate or 

 ovate-oval, acute or acutish, 2-5 cm. long, usually with a few scattered hairs on 

 both surfaces, mostly 5-nerved, the margins ciliate-serrulate; flowers bright purple, 

 cymose, short-pedicelled, 2.5-4 cm. broad; calyx-tube and pedicels glandular- 

 pubescent; petals rounded or slightly retuse. In sandy swamps, Me. to Fla., 111., 

 Mo. and La. July-Sept. 



3. Rhexia aristosa Britton. Awn-petaled Meadow-beauty. (I. F. f. 

 2553.) Stem square, 4-6 dm. high. Leaves sessile, erect, obtusish at each end, 

 1.5-3 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, 3-nerved, serrate toward the apex with appressed 

 subulate teeth, glabrous or nearly so beneath, but with a few scattered hairs above; 

 flowers 1-4 together, short-pedicelled, magenta-red. 2.5-4 cm. broad; petals 

 rounded, but obtusely pointed and aristate at the apex; anthers linear, minutely 

 spurred on the back. In sandy swamps, pine-barrens of N. J., Del. and S. Car. 

 Base of the stem coated with a spongy tissue when growing in water. July-Aug. 



4 Rhexia ciliosa Michx. Ciliate Meadow- beauty. (I. F. f. 2554.) Stem 

 square. 3-6 dm. high. Leaves ascending, short-petioled, or sessile, acutish, 1-2 

 cm. long, 8-12 mm. wide, 3-nerved, glabrous or nearly so beneath, pubescent with 

 a few scattered hairs above; flowers very short-pedicelled, violet- purple, 2.5-4 cm. 

 broad; petals rounded, sometimes apiculate; anthers oblong, not spurred on the 

 back. In swamps, Md. to Fla. , west to La. June-Aug. 



Family 3. ONAGRACEAE Dumort* 



Evening -priinrose Family. 



Herbs, or rarely shrubs, with alternate or opposite leaves, no stipules 

 or mere glands in their places, and generally perfect flowers. Calyx-tube 

 adnate to the ovary, the limb 2-6-lobed (usually 4-lobed). Petals 2-9 

 (usually 4), convolute in the bud, rarely none. Stamens usually as many 

 or twice as many as the petals. Ovary 1-6-celled (usually 4-celled) ; 



* Revised by Dr. John K. Small. 



