50 
NYCTAGINACEAE 
3. A. semibaccata R. Br. Australian Saltbush. Diffusely spread¬ 
ing, the stems 5.8 to 8.6 dm. long, woody below; leaves oblong, 1.2 to 
4.8 cm. long; fruiting bracts rhomboidal, acute, 4 to 6 mm. long.—Cult, 
from Austr. as a forage plant and becoming spontaneous. 
4. SALICORNIA L. Samphire. Glasswort 
Low succulent herbs with opposite terete branches. Flowers in op¬ 
posite clusters of 3, forming a cylindrical spike. Stamens 2, exserted in 
flower. Ovary oblong; styles 2 or 3, short. (Latin sal, salt, and cornu, 
horn, plants of saline habitat with horn-like branches.) 
1. S. ambigua Michx. Pickle-Weed. Stems erect, or decumbent and 
rooting at the joints, 1 to 3 dm. long; spike slender, about 3 mm. thick, 
all the scales flower-bearing to the top.—Salt marshes along the coast. 
5. SALSOLA L. 
Bushy-branching herbs. Flowers sessile and axillary, each subtended 
by 3 spinescent organs (a bract and 2 bractlets). Stamens 5. Styles 2. 
(Diminutive of Latin salsus, salty, most of the species of saline habi¬ 
tats.) 
1. S. kali L. var. tenuifolia G. F. N. Mey. Russian Thistle. Bushy 
annual, 3 to 11.5 dm. high; young leaves prickle-tipped; branches flower¬ 
ing from near the base; bracts ovate, prickly pointed.—Obnoxious farm 
weed, native of Asia. 
NYCTAGINACEAE. FOUR-O’CLOCK FAMILY 
Succulent herbs with opposite entire leaves and swollen joints. Flowers 
delicate. Involucre subtending 1 to many flowers, its bracts distinct or 
united and calyx-like. Corolla none. Calyx tubular, corolla-like, 4 to 
5-lobed, its base hardening over the 1-celled 1 -seeded superior ovary, form¬ 
ing a pericarp-like covering to the achene. Stamens commonly 5.—Spe¬ 
cies 160, mostly tropical, especially in the New World. 
Involucre of distinct bracts; fruit usually winged.1. Abronia. 
Involucre calyx-like, 5-toothed; fruit not winged.2. Mirabilis. 
1. ABRONIA Juss. 
Peduncles axillary or terminal, bearing a many-flowered head subtended 
by 5 to 15 distinct involucral bracts. Calyx salver-form. Calyx-base 3 
to S-w'inged. (Greek abros, graceful.) 
1. A. latifolia Esch. Yellow Sand-Verbena. Stems stout, prostrate; 
leaves ovate to roundish, truncate or kidney-shaped at base; calyx yellow. 
1.2 cm. long; fruit very large, its wings thick, the central cavity extending 
through them.—Seashore sands. 
2. A. umbellata Lam. Purple Sand-Verbena. Stems slender, pros¬ 
trate; leaves roundish-ovate to oblong; calyx rose-purple, 1.2 to 1.6 dm. 
long; lobes 5, emarginate; wings of the smaller fruit thin but solid.— 
Seashore sands. 
2. MIRABILIS L. Four-o’clock 
Involucre calyx-like, 5-cleft or -parted, 1 to several-flowered. Calyx red¬ 
dish purple, tubular or funnelform with spreading limb. Stamens united 
at base.- Fruit smooth or obscurely ridged. (Latin mirabilis, wonderful.) 
1. M. multiflora Gray. Diffuse plants 7.2 to 14.4 cm. high; leaves 
