386 THE FEDIAS OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES. 
acters are constant and reliable, it will now be my endeavor to 
show, aided by illustrations from the p neil of Mr. Knipe. 
Fedia olitoria Vahl., Fig. 102. Fruit; a, side view; b, cross sec- 
tion with the confluent empty cells shaded. The spongy mass (¢) 
on the back of the fertile cell clearly separates this naturalized for- 
eigner from our native species. It differs also Fig. 103. 
in its more humble and diffuse habit, and the ` 
Fig. 102. pale blue color of its corolla. 
Fedia Fagopyrum Torr. and 
ray. Fig. 103. Fruit (from | 
a West Penn.) ; a, side view; b, 
=~ = cross section, with the two 
Beneyt empty cells shaded. Despite 
SELT the smaller number of stigmas, 
C O0 the structural plan of the ova- N 
Fedia olitoria, ry, as seen in the five well-de- < 
‘fined dorsal sutures (103b, s), is quinary. A Pe 
single ovule is developed and fills up the cavity of 70%% Fagopyrum: 
the three posterior confluent cells. The two anterior sterile cells 
are compressed laterally, until they almost meet in a sharp angle, 
making the fruit triquetrous like a grain of buckwheat. Between 
the sharp edges of the angle a narrow groove (103 b, a) runs from 
base to apex. In a considerable number of matured fruits esam- 
Fig.10t. ined, from W. Penn. and W. N. York, this groove Was 
found uniformly present. All, too, were Fig 1. 
more.or less downy under a lens, and in no : 
case were the sterile cells confluent. These 
are variations from the typical plant as n 
characterized in Gray’s Manual, and yet 
the peculiar shape of the fruit and its large 
size (two lines in length) will probably ; 
enable it to hold its place as a distinct 
species. ‘ 
koa 
> 
a, side view; b, cross section, with the two empty si 
shaded ; ¢, cross section of another fruit, with the two empty ¢¢ 
confluent. The fruit of this species is much smaller, 
in length, and usually quite downy, but sometimes smoot” 
quinary structure of the ovary is not so apparent. As m fell 
Fedias the bracts are more or less strongly ciliated, or pe 
