POPULAR FLORA. 
191 
75. MIRABILIS FAMILY'. Order NYCTAGINACEiE. 
Has some wild representatives far west and south, viz.: Oxybaphus, &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. Jalapa. 
76. POKE WEED FAMILY. Order PHYTOLACCACEJE. 
*■ 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 flowering 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. 
483. Embryo, more magnified. 
77. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. Order CHENOPODIACE^E. 
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 
