74 



Descriptive Flora 



red, tubular flowers that open late in the afternoon and liven the 

 deep green, much branched, weak-stemmed bnshy plants. Stems 

 thickened and forked at the joints. Leaves simple, opposite. 

 Blades ovate, often as broad as long, entire. Flowers trumpet- 

 shaped, iy 2 to 2" long, opening wide at the top, sweet scented 

 and conspicuous for the 5 long, red, thread like stamens and 

 pistil which extend beyond the colored tube. Blossoms all 

 summer into late fall. Eare in the wilder parts of the country. 

 Fairly common in city wastes where it has escaped cultivation. 

 This often has white and yellow flowers, and is often variegated 

 in different colors. The variegated flowers are the reason for the 

 name ' i Maravilla, ' ' and also ' ' Marvel of Peru" which was 

 formerly applied. 



AUicmia nyctaginia Michx. Umbrella-wort. 



Plants, 1 to 2y 2 ' tall, with forking stems, fairly thick, oppo- 

 site leaves, and bright true purple or purplish flowers, y 2 to %" 

 across, the colored calyxes of which open in the evening and fall 

 early the following day or at the slightest disturbance. Leaves 

 simple, in distant pairs on the stems. Blades lanceolate to ovate, 

 1 to 2 1 / 4" long. Calyx 5-lobed. Stamens 5, unequal in length, 

 exceeding the colored calyx. Involucre small at first but con- 

 tinuing to grow as the seeds develop. At maturity this green or 

 purplish, papery involucre is wide open, about y 2 across and 

 resembles an umbrella with 1 to 3 small, oblong, 5-ridged fruits 

 resembling warts fastened to its center. The plant is so little 

 iseen in blossom that these umbrella like involucres are generally 

 mistaken for corollas. Widespread, but not common. March to 

 late summer. Named for Allioni, an Italian botanist. 



Allionia linearis Pursh. Umbrella- wort. 



Few leaved plant, 1 — 2' high, branched at the base, the stems 

 erect and forking, and bearing opposite leaves and loose clusters 

 of 1 to 5 mallow-purple flowers, opening a few each day at sun- 

 down. Leaves simple, opposite. Blades thick, linear, 1— 4'' 

 long, entire or wavy, sessile or short-stalked. Involucre (often 



