88 PRIMROSE ORDER 



small, fruit a many-seeded berry; flowers in terminal or lateral racemes or 

 clusters, or rarely solitary in the axils ; leaves alternate, often leathery . 

 shrubs or small trees. 



1. Flowers solitary; corolla 5-lobed 



a. Branches with line-like angles 



(1) Stems 2-15 in. high; berries black to red V. myrtillus 



(2) Stems 1-3 ft. high; berries black V . membrcmdceum 



b. Branches round, not angled V. caespitosum 



2. Flowers 2-4 in a cluster; corolla 4-lobed V . occidentale 



PRIMULALES PRIMROSE ORDER 

 PRIMULACEAE PRIMROSE FAMILY 



Sepals 4-9 (usually 5), united, petals 4-9, (usually 5), united, stamen* 

 as many as the petals, and attached to them, ovary 1 -celled, style 1, stigma 

 1, globose, fruit a 2-6-valved capsule; flowers terminal or axillary, solitary 

 or clustered ; annual or perennial herbs with alternate or opposite, mostly 

 simple, leaves. 



1. Petals present 



a. Flowers white, pink or rose-purple, never 



bright yellow 

 . (1) Flowering stems leafy only at base 



(a) Corolla lobes reflexed ; flowers usually 



hanging Dodecatheon 



(b) Corolla lobes not reflexed; flowers erect 



or ascending 

 x. Flowers pink, lilac or rose-purple 



(x) Corolla lobes notched or cleft; 



fruits many-seeded Primula 



(y) Corolla lobes entire; fruits 1-2- 



seeded Douglasia 



v. Flowers white, rarely yellowish or 



pinkish Axdrosace 



(2) Flowering stems leafy throughout; flow- 

 ers white, in racemes Samolus 



b. Flowers bright yellow 



(1) Flowers solitary Steironema 



(2) Flowers in spikes Naumbergia 



2. Petals absent, the calyx white, pink or purplish Glaux 



