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Descriptive Flom 



the axil of each leaf. Sepals 5 or 6. Petals 5 or 6, greenish 

 yellow, inconspicuous. Stamens 5 or 6. The small, round flat- 

 tened capsules separate into 3 parts. March to July. 



Phyttanthus polygonoides Nutt. Phyllanthus. 



These leafy plants resemble Andrachne in general appear- 

 ance and habits. Plants much smaller (6 to 14 inches high). 

 Leaf-blades deeper green, slightly larger above the middle and 

 narrowed at base, much smaller (less than y 2 " long). Flowers 

 smaller, minute, more often in 2's and 3's in the axils of the 

 leaves all along the stem. Petals none. Sepals 5 or 6, green, 

 white-margined. Capsule smaller. Fruits conspicuous, flat- 

 tened, rounded pods growing in a 5 or 6-sepaled cup. The sepals 

 are at least 5 times their blossoming size when in fruit. Found 

 growing in dirt-filled cracks of limestone rocks, and at base of 

 rocks on well-drained hillsides of the Edwards Plateau region. 



Croton monanthogynus Michx. Mexican Tea. 



Rusty-colored, aromatic plants, 8 to 12 inches tall, with 3 

 or 4-f orked branching above, these branches often 2 or 3-forked. 

 Leaves simple, opposite or alternate. Blades oblong to ovate, y 2 

 to iy 2 inches long, entire, green above, paler or silvery beneath, 

 covered with minute, star-shaped, rusty hairs. Flowers incon- 

 spicuous, in spikes less than y 2 " long, the upper with stamens 

 only, the lower pistillate. Fruit a 2-celled, ovoid capsule. 

 Pistillate flower has 5 sepals, no petals, and a small 3-lobed 

 capsule. This plant is gathered and dried for tea by Mexicans. 

 Spring to fall. A common weed. 



Croton fruitculosiLs Engelm. Shrubby Croton. 



Pale, much branched, aromatic shrub with greyish-green, 

 toothless leaf -blades, green above and pale beneath due to a cover- 

 ing of minute, star-shaped hairs. Flowers inconspicuous, in short 

 racemes. Staminate flowers with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 9 or 10 

 stamens. Pistillate flowers with 5 sepals, no petals, and a 3- 



