374 



PRIMULACE2E. 



sessile; flowers solitary in the axils, on recurved pedicels; berries 

 light red. 



Redwood region from the Santa Cruz Mountains, Osterhout, 

 Dutton, to Mendocino Co. and northward. V. Myrtillus L. var. 

 microphyllum Hook, of the High Sierras is hut 3 to 6 in. high, 

 with leaves 2 to 4 lines long. V. occidentale Gray of the Sierras 

 has leaves J to f in. long and a blue berry with a bloom. 



78. PRIMULACE/E. Primrose Family. 



Herbs with simple undivided leaves. Flowers perfect, regular and 

 symmetrical, 4 to 8-merous, commonly 5-merous, either axillary or 

 in terminal racemes or umbels. Stamens opposite the lobes of the 

 corolla and inserted on its tube or base. Ovary 1-celled, with a single 

 style and stigma, superior, except in Samolus, where it is attached to 

 the base of the calyx; ovules on a free central placenta. Fruit a 

 capsule. 



Ovary adnate to base of calyx; marsh plant 1. Samolus. 



Ovary free from calyx. 



Corolla none; calyx corolla-like; leaves opposite 2. Glaux. 



Corolla present. 



Leaves opposite or sometimes ternate 3. Anagallis. 



Leaves in a terminal whorl 4. Trientalis. 



Leaves all radical; flowers in umbels borne on naked scapes. 

 Corolla inconspicuous, sal verform;. stamens included 



5. AXDROSACE. 



Corolla large, with reflexed lobes; stamens exserted. 6. Dodecatheon. 



1. SAMOLUS L. Brookweed. 

 Low and glabrous caulescent herbs with alternate leaves. Flowers 

 small, white, 5-merous, in terminal racemes. Calyx adherent to the 

 base of the ovary, campanulate. Corolla nearly campanulate. Sta- 

 mens 5, borne on the tube of the corolla, their filaments short; a 

 second series of stamens represented by 5 sterile filaments or stami- 

 nodia inserted in the sinuses of the corolla and alternating with the 

 anther-bearing stamens. Capsule opening at the apex by 5 valves. 

 (Celtic name.) 



1. S. Vale ran di L. var. Americanus Gray. Annual or peren- 

 nial; stem commonly solitary, erect, simple or branching above into 

 2 or 3 racemes, or paniculate, 7 in. high; radical leaves rosette-like, 

 round-obovate to oblong-spatulate, obtuse or almost truncate, nar- 

 rowed toward the base into a broad short petiole, 1£ in. long; cauline 

 leaves similar, the uppermost varying to. elliptic, \ in. long or more; 

 pedicels slender, bractless, but bearing minute bractlets at their 

 middle; calyx-teeth short, broadly triangular; petals very small, 

 white. 



Brooks and marshes, rare within our limits: Suisun Marshes, Davy: 

 Antioch, Mrs. K. Brandfigee; San Bernardino, Parish. 



2. GLAUX L. 



Somewhat succulent perennial with opposite leaves, distinguished 



