POPULAR FLORA. 
191 
75. MIRABILIS FAMILY. Order NYCTAGINACEiE. 
Has some wild representatives far west and south, viz. : Oxybaphcjs, &c., with several 
flowers in a calyx-like involucre, the funnel-shaped calyx rose-purple, and exactly like a 
corolla. And in gardens Mirabilis or Four-o’Clock (so called from the flowers opening 
late in the afternoon) is common. Here there is only one flower in the bell-shaped invo- 
lucre, which exactly imitates a calyx, while the large funnel-shaped calyx is just like the 
corolla of a Morning-Glory. Stamens 5 : style one. Leaves opposite, heart-shaped, long- 
stalked. The 
Common Four-o’Clock or Mirabilis, from Mexico, well known in gardens, is M. Jaldpa. 
76. POKEWEED FAMILY. Order PHYTOLACCACEAL. 
Is represented with us by one, 
and that a very common, species of 
Pokeweed. Phytolacca. 
Sepals 5, rounded, concave, petal-like, 
white. Stamens 10, under the ovary. 
Ovary green, composed of 10 one- 
seeded ovaries united into one: styles 
10, short and separate. Fruit a dark 
crimson 10-seeded berry. A coarse 
rank herb, with a thick, acrid, and 
poisonous root, a large pithy stem, and 
alternate oblong leaves ; the flowers 
in racemes opposite the leaves. Low 
and rich ground, everywhere common; 
flowering all summer, ripening its 
abundant berries in autumn. 
P. decandra. 
476. Summit of a floAvering branch of Poke- 
weed. 
477. Fruit-bearing branch. 
478 A flower, enlarged. 
479. Young fruit. 
480. Same, cut across. 
481. Seed divided lengthwise, and magnified. 
482. Embryo, more magnified. 
77. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. Order CHENOPODIACEAL 
Homely herbs, with mostly alternate leaves, without stipules, and no dry scaly bracts 
among the small and greenish flowers ; the calyx enclosing the one-celled and one-seeded 
