DIOECIA HEXANDRIA. 
703 
inferioribus alternis, su- 
perioribus verticillatim 
congestis; pedunculis 
praelongis, compressis. 
E. 
alternate, the upper 
verticillate, and crowd- 
ed; peduncles very 
long, compressed. 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 7 82. Walt. p. 243. Mich. 2. p. 238. Pursh, X. p. 251. 
Nutt. 2 . p. 228. 
Root perennial. Stem herbaceous, 2 to 3 feet high, erect, slightly an- 
gled, glabrous, bearing sometimes one or two small branches. Leaves when 
young oval or ovate, when old slightly cordate, acuminate, 5 to 7 nerved, 
very pubescent on the under surface, particularly along the nerves, the lower 
alternate, the upper somewhat verticillate at the summit of the stem, 4 to 5 
inches long, 3 to 4 wide, on angled petioles 2 to 4 inches long. Flowers on 
the lower part of the stem. Umbels on very long compressed peduncles. 
Stigmas 3. Germ 3-celled, each bearing the rudiments of 2 seeds, but ma- 
turing only one, sometimes neither. Berry spherical, black, 2 to 3 seeded. 
Grows in fertile soils. 
Flowers Ma}^ — July. 
This genus is very extensive in the Southern States and merits a more 
careful examination than it has yet received. While waiting for that day 
which so often eludes our expectations, when I should be able to collect and 
examine them at leisure in a living state, I have permitted some opportunities 
w hich I really enjoyed to escape, I feel now that my knowledge of the genus 
is incomplete, perhaps inaccurate. The two last species will probably con- 
stitute a distinct genus. 
DIQSCQREA. 
Masculi. Calyx 6- 
partitus. Corolla 0. 
Foeminei. Calyx 6- 
partitus. Corolla 0. 
Styli 3. Capsula 3- 
locularis, compressa. 
Semina. 2, membrana- 
eea. 
Gen. Pl. 1530. 
Sterile Jloret. Ca- 
lyx 6-parted. Corolla 
0 . 
Fertile florets. Ca- 
lyx 6-parted. Corolla 
0. Styles 3. Capsules 
3-celled, compressed. 
Seeds 2, membranace- 
ous. 
