Fl
\ Aquatic and
^ Wetland Plants
°f
Southwestern United States
-------
Aquatic and Wetland
Plants of Southwestern
United States
-------
Frontispiece: Sarraccnia alata: a, habit, x l-> b, flower, x 1; c, fruit, x 1. (V.F.).
-------
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL RESEARCH SERIES
16030 DNL 01/72
Aquatic and
Wetland Plants
Southwestern United States
by
DONOVAN S. ^ORRELL
Southern Methodist University
and
HELEN B. CORRELL
Botanical Editor and Researcher for
Environmental Protection Agency
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Research and Monitoring
Grant No. 16030DNL
January 1972
-------
Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 72-6000-67
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price: $7.76
Stock Number 5601-0177
-------
To
VIVIEN FRAZIER
and
AILEEN MADDOX
Whose Steadfast Help
Made This Work Possible
-------
Authors' Preface
The primary aim of this work is to enable one to identify ferns and flowering
plants that grow naturally in polluted and unpolluted aquatic and wetland habitats
within our area of investigation; namely, southwestern United States. These habitats
may be permanently or seasonally wet. The basic criterion for the inclusion of a
species is its ability to withstand a permanent or seasonally long submersion of
at least its root system. This will unavoidably include some ubiquitous species.
In addition, plants classed as phreatophytes, or those plants whose deeply pene-
trating roots tap the ground water, are included.
The term "aquatic" represents one extreme condition of habitat covered by
this research project, and is used to designate those plants that can attain their
life cycle only in water. The term "wetland" incorporates all other conditions of
habitat, including the other extreme. It is used to designate those plants that
grow either in perpetually wet places, such as permanent marshes and bogs, or that
can tolerate seasonal inundation and grow in vernal pools or places of fluctuating
water levels, such as savannahs, to those plants that are notoriously ubiquitous
and can tolerate excessively wet to desertic conditions.
Our first mental projection of, and interest in, this problem arose from a serious
concern over the potentially inadequate water resources of southwestern United
States and the factors that affect them. Since plant life is one of the most obvious
factors directly associated with water, and perhaps has as great an influence on
water as any other factor, it was considered that a work which would make possi-
ble the identification of the plant species that make up this association would be
in order. As is well known to all biologists and environmentalists, we can not
deal effectively with any environment until we know its composition—the variety
and interaction of all its living and non-living components.
The early development of this project had as one of its major goals an economic
slant. Primarily, it was hoped that the identity of species would -assist plant
physiologists and ecologists, hydrologists, conservationists, wild life management
personnel, chemical engineers and workers in other such disciplines in any possible
studies they might wish to undertake to determine those plants that are detrimental
or beneficial in their association with water. Because of this economic interest our
problem has been extended to include all species of higher plants, both herbaceous
and woody, that are associated with excessive water during at least part of their
life span.
At first, consideration was given to the possibility of confining the area to be
covered to only the lower, more arid, unforested portions of southwestern United
States. This would have excluded the Ozarkian-Appalachian, Piedmont and Gulf
Coast forests that reach their westernmost limits in Oklahoma and/or Texas.
Also, all of the montane terrain above 2,000 meters would have been more or less
arbitrarily excluded. This somewhat uniform and essentially natural area could
have been extended to include parts of southern Nevada, southern Utah, and
possibly small segments of southern Colorado and southern Kansas.
vii
-------
Map 1. Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
-------
Upon reconsideration, however, it was decided to use the political boundaries
of those states that are considered to make up southwestern United States as the
boundaries of our project area; namely, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and
Arizona. Since there is some interplay of species where the eastern forests and the
western prairies join, it was thought best to incorporate these forest areas. Their
inclusion augmented considerably the number of wetland plants, as well as strictly
aquatics, to be treated in our research. It was our opinion that the inclusion of
species in these forested regions would make our work not only more useful in
the states covered by our research but also of some use to those states to the east
and northeast of our area. We also considered that since the greater part of the
water that is found in the lower, more arid regions is derived not so much from
rainfall but from springs and snowfields, and other such places found in the high
mountains, the montane vegetation that is associated with these water sources
should also be included. The inclusion of these plants of primarily seepage areas
that are usually confined to high mountain regions further augmented the species
that we were to treat.
This project was originally visualized, in early 1963, to be a taxonomic-ecologic
treatment, but after more than a year of vainly searching for an interested quali-
fied ecologist to work on the project the ecological phase was reduced to what the
taxonomists could contribute. Today, considering that "ecology" and "environ-
ment" are so popular with almost everyone and with nearly all phases of our life,
it seems unthinkable that, in 1963, we were unable to convince those ecologically-
minded and -trained individuals whom we approached to take part in this project.
We received only resistance from prospective applicants—everything from not
wanting to get their feet wet, not wanting to do field work, not interested in
working on aquatic plants, to "what is the need and use of doing this research?"
Needless to say, we were disappointed by such lack of interest. In spite of this
discouragement, a great amount of ecological and environmenal information was
gained by our own observations that was supplemented by pertinent information
found in literature.
Nevertheless, this work does not pretend to be a study of the ecology of hydro-
phytes nor of their complex physiology and morphology. Rather, it is an attempt
to present a taxonomic treatment of the species that comprise what we know as
hydrophytes without degenerating "into a tedious floristic catalogue," as abhorred
by Sculthorpe (1967) and others.
Since no ecological studies, as such, were undertaken, field work, except in
selected localities, consisted primarily in what might be termed a random sampling
of various types of habitats located throughout the region covered. Locations
would be visited, often more than once during any one season, observations
recorded, and herbarium vouchers prepared. Approximately 9,000 field collections
were made during the course of the work, the first set of which is in the Herbarium
of Texas Research Foundation (LL), Renner, Texas. Additional specimens are
in the Gray Herbarium (GH) of Harvard University, The University of California
Herbarium (UC) at Berkeley, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Herbarium
(RSA) in California, Florida State University Herbarium (FSU), Tallahassee,
and elsewhere.
Distribution information within our area of study is based primarily upon the
9,000 botanical vouchers that were collected during the course of this project,
and upon those that were examined, where possible, in various herbaria. These
distribution data are supplemented by a discriminate and judicial adaptation of
distributional information provided by published monographs, revisions, Floras
and other such basic literature that are included in our Bibliography.
ix
-------
The descriptions of families and genera, while they definitely include the plants
in our area, have, in many instances, been written so as to include plants that
might eventually be found in southwestern United States.
In giving habitat data for the species, in most cases only habitats that fall within
the province of our interest are given. In other words, in the case of those species
that are tolerant to a wide range of habitats only the aquatic or wetland habitats
are usually cited.
We early realized that the scope of our work could become prodigious, especially
when we discovered that similarly appearing habitats in proximity more frequently
than not had a dissimilar floral composition. This meant that if we expected to
obtain a complete knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of species within
our region it would be necessary for us to investigate as many localities as possible
in a given area rather than to depend solely upon random sampling in few specific
localities.
We also realize that there are distinct possibilities that some researchers or
otherwise interested individuals may find species that they consider should have
been included in this work. These omissions could be due to a number of reasons,
foremost of which would be a lack of information or a difference in interpretation
as to what should or should not be included, -or to an oversight on our part. If
such an omitted species is found we recommend that its identity be sought in some
one of the standard Floras that covers the particular region in which the plant
is found. These Floras are cited in the Bibliography.
It is also possible that some of our colleagues may question our inclusion of
certain species, especially the woody ones. Among these might be Cephalanthus
occidentalis, Gleditsia aquatica, Nyssa aquatica, Salix spp., Quercus spp., Platanus
spp. and Tamarix spp. Since this treatise is not solely a biologic one but is also
concerned with the economics of water and its utilization by plants, species such
as the above have been included. Also, since they grow either directly in water, in
saturated soils or along water courses they must be considered to be heavy users
of water. The same principle is applied for the inclusion of plants that grow in
such places as alpine and subalpine wet meadows, on seepage slopes below snow-
fields, and in seepage along streams and about springs. These plants draw heavily
upon the very source of water that ultimately makes up the streams and rivers at
lower elevations. They also form turf that aids in the control of water flow from
such places.
When originally proposed, this project was intended to be concerned with
aquatic and wetland plants in every type of habitat that fitted into these categories.
However, when support was first obtained from the National Institutes of Health,
officials of that agency suggested an administrative change for the title so as to
be more in line with the work and purpose of their organization. The title change
was to be "Aquatic and marsh plants of polluted waters in southwestern United
States." With this new title, we considered having the subtitle read "Paludal
Plants of Polluted Places."
So as to live up to the administrative title as much as possible we have paid
particular attention to the sewage effluents from small and large cities, essentially
open cesspools of villages and small towns and even the seepage from large septic
tanks of motels, homesite developments and other such places that often were
flowing into lakes within a few yards of beaches where children and their parents
were playing and swimming. We never felt delinquent when we worked along
rivers or streams, and in and about lakes and other impounded waters because we
realized that we were still working within the administrative bounds of our
project We consldered unpolluted only those streams and water bodies from which
we could dnnk directly. Needless to say, we would have perished from thirst if we
-------
had confined the quenching of thirst to such places. One should be apprised from
the above that we were able to complete our project essentially as it was originally
proposed.
About midway in our research that was begun in 1964, public outcry was raised
against pollution and for conservation and the preservation of a balance in nature's
ecology. We have, consequently, taken into consideration this biotic interest of
man in his environment. Since this explosion of public interest in our environment
and its ecology practically every author or would-be author has written something
on these now popular subjects to the extent that there exists very little one can
say without repeating what someone has already said. Neverthless, since we believe
that some ecological background information to our work would be useful we have
presented it in the form of summarizing what is now common knowledge with a
sprinkling of our own personal observations.
This work, however, is not, and never was, intended as a treatise to cover all
facets of water pollution. It does, however, attempt to deal with one of the most
obvious and important factors—higher plant life—in the ecosystems of our lakes,
ponds, streams, marshes, swamps, bogs and wetlands, generally. Also, since, at least
administratively, this project has been officially classified as "Aquatic and Marsh
Plants of Polluted Waters . .," we believe that at least a brief summary should
be given of the kinds and types of pollution that is to be expected or that actually
exists in most of the habitats that we have studied.
In our work we are often asked what can be done about water pollution. We
always say that from this minute on no facility, whatsoever, should be permitted
to be built and put into operation unless it is so planned and structured as to
create no further pollution. Then, methodically and persistently, our present pol-
luters and their pollutants should be eliminated or corrected without delay. We
are pleased to note that the newly created Federal Government Environmental
Protection Agency plans to do just as we have always recommended to our
listeners.
One of the best means for establishing and inculcating in our people a lasting
appreciation of nature is the teaching of natural history in our schools, starting
with Kindergarten and carrying the program through the senior year in college.
All colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning should have
established long ago a required Natural History course for all freshmen students.
For many years we and others, among whom is George S. Avery, former Director
of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, have "preached" that this emphasis on natural
history should be made a part of every student's educational curriculum. This
would not only include touching upon certain phases of biology, especially those
with which one may make daily contact, but also upon related sciences, such as
geology and meteorology, that make up the total environment. The end re-
sult would be a population that would really appreciate and protect every
phase of the world in which we live. The required or elected courses such as
botany, zoology, entomology, mycology and so forth, that would fall into a com-
prehensive natural history course, are given by most college and university depart-
ments as if the student taking the course is to become a professional in that
particular discipline. To teach an appreciation of nature in all its aspects to the
laymen students has apparently never occurred to most teachers. For this reason,
an old fashioned course in Natural History for the lay student is, and has long
been, desperately needed in every institution of learning so as to not only enlighten
the student but to also place emphasis upon his understanding and appreciation
of the world and its inhabitants so that he will become a part of Society that will
appreciate and protect our Environment.
-------
Perhaps, at last, there will be raised a generation of champions of Nature, or
what we vulgarly call "The Environment," in spite of our adult population. Our
modern day youth, in its intransigence, is rapidly becoming apprised of the fact
that instead of continuing to live "on" Nature we absolutely must, before it is too
late, learn to live "with" Nature.
A major problem for the conservationist in our area, as well as in all areas
that support considerable wildlife, is the indiscriminate draining of marsh areas,
swamps and savannahs. A more recent tendency of potentially disastrous portence
to wildlife is the dredging and "straightening out" of meandering streams. Instead
of flooding during high water, with consequent water renewal in adjacent or nearby
marshes and wetlands, the habitations of much of our wildlife, these newly created
"ditches" allow the water to rush with tremendous scouring effect down their raw
troughs. This, in itself, creates a pollutant condition in that the water is usually
badly clouded from silt which, in turn, is frequently dropped in lakes to build up
their silted bottoms or carried out into oceans to pollute their estuaries.
We have tried to present our subject matter as objectively as possible, although,
as botanists, we tend to lean toward the survival of plant life, especially when we
are in the process of studying it.
Support for the initial phases of this research, begun in September, 1964, was
provided by the Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control, later changed
to the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, National Institutes of
Health, United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare (Grants
WP 00685-01 to 04A1 and 03S1). We are especially grateful to Dr. Robert A.
Littleford of the National Institutes of Health, who initially approved our project
for support. In September 1966-this agency was transferred to The United States
Department of the Interior as the Water Quality Control Administration, where,
thanks to Dr. J. Frances Allen, support for our project was continued until
December 31, 1970 (Grant 16030 DNL), after which it was transferred on
January 1, 1971 to the Environmental Protection Agency. We are, indeed, grateful
to each of these government agencies and their administrators for the support
we have received during the course of this research. We are also grateful to the
Environmental Protection Agency and its administrators for support to publish the
work.
Without the cooperation and help of various individuals and institutions it
would have been most difficult for us to pursue and complete this work. The
officers and trustees of Texas Research Foundation tolerated our stay at their
institution so that we could complete this task. We are especially indebted to
John R. Crutchfield who worked with us from May 1965 through July 1967 as a
plant collector, and to Richard S. Mitchell who collected plants for our project
during the summer of 1967.
The generosity of Herbert L. Mason, of the University of California at Berkeley,
in permitting us to use a great many illustrations from his excellent work, "A
Flora of the Marshes of California" (1957), is gratefully acknowledged. Dr.
Mason also generously permitted us to use some of the information and data in
his treatise.
We are especially fortunate to be able to use, through the generosity of Robert
K. Godfrey, of the Florida State University at Tallahassee, a large number of the
drawings that he had made for his temporarily suspended project on the aquatic
and marsh plants of Florida. We were thus able to illustrate many of the species in
eastern Texas and Oklahoma that are also common to Florida. We are indeed
most grateful to Dr. Godfrey for the privilege of using these excellent drawings
which he plans to use eventually when his work is published.
In undertaking a problem of this magnitude we have had to resort to a con-
siderable amount of judicious compilation from the published work of many of
XI!
-------
our colleagues. Especially to be mentioned here are the various Manuals and
Floras that cover to some extent plant species that occur in our region of investi-
gation. By way of acknowledgment and also as a ready reference, all of these
works that were consulted have been included in the Bibliography. We are most
grateful to have had these publications available to us. Since the subject matter
covered has been expanded to a considerable degree beyond the scope of that
of most past workers in this field, these ready references were especially helpful.
We would like to note especially the work of C. D. Sculthorpe (1967), "The
Biology of Aquatic Vascular Plants." It is a most lucidly written treatise, and
one from which we have derived much help and information. A great amount of
pertinent and valuable information regarding these plants has been compiled in
this most useful work, and it is here highly recommended to all interested parties.
Research on this project ran concurrently for several years with work on the
preparation of Correll's and Johnston's recently published (1970) "Manual of the
Vascular Plants of Texas." We are, indeed, grateful to our fellow-author of the
Manual, Marshall C. Johnston, of the University of Texas at Austin, and to the
many collaborators for the privilege of using in this work some parts of their
contribution to the Manual, where they and their individual contributions are
acknowledged. We are equally grateful to those individuals whose published
materials were adapted for use in the Manual, and acknowledged there, for the
use of some parts of their material in this work. Where new material has been
adapted for this work it is acknowledged where this adaptation occurs.
There are many individuals, too numerous to mention by name, who have been
directly or indirectly helpful to us in our research, and to whom we are most
grateful. Foremost among these are the curators of various herbaria in which
specimens from our region are deposited. In regard to specimens, we wish to
acknowledge especially those that were received from several individuals who made
a special effort to collect aquatic plants for us. These are Frederick R. Gehlbach,
of Baylor University, who also joined us in some field work in Arizona, Jimmy R.
Massey, of Texas A&M University, Charles R. Hutchins, of Albuquerque, New
Mexico, and Elray S. Nixon, of Stephen F. Austin State College. We are also
grateful to Alan R. Smith, of the University of California at Berkeley, for his
having clarified for us a part of the difficult genus Thelypteris, and to Neil
Hotchkiss, now retired from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U. S. Dept.
of the Interior, for his thoughtfulness in sharing his experience with us at the
beginning of this project, and for his continued interest in our work.
Two botanists who accompanied us on field trips and were especially helpful
are Eugene C. Ogden, New York State Botanist, Albany, and Henry K. Svenson,
United States Geological Survey, now retired.
In addition to help received from professional botanists, several highly skilled
amateurs in Texas have either directed us to new elements in our aquatic flora or
have provided assistance in one way or another. Among these are Geraldine E.
Watson of Silsbee, Peggy A. Amerson of Mt. Pleasant, Jim D. Bowmer of
Temple, and Raymond J. Fleetwood of Angleton.
It is impossible to thank sufficiently the artists who have patiently and painstak-
ingly delineated the often intricate and complex species. We are especially indebted
to Vivien Frazier, with whom we have been associated in botanical art work for
many years, for her faithful attention to the most exacting details in the rendition
of her drawings. She has been of inestimable help to us. We are also grateful to
Jane W. Roller and Phoebejane Horning who prepared several of the drawings
used in this publication for works previously published by the senior author, and
to Regina O. Hughes, who previously made drawings for the senior author's
work on tuberous Solarium species of North America and Central America, for
several of her plates that were recently published in Clyde Reed's "Selected Weeds
xiii
-------
of the United States" (1970), and several plates of Hibiscus. We are most grateful
for the privilege of using some of the grass spikelet drawings by Agnes Chase,
published in Hitchcock and Chase's "Manual of the Grasses of the United States"
(1935, 1951). We are grateful for the privilege of using drawings of several
orchids by Blanche Ames Ames and Gordon W. Dillon, and of several species of
UmbeUiferae by Mildred E. Mathias. To the various artists whom we have not
known personally but whose work we admire and are grateful to include in our
publication, we extend our most sincere thanks. These are Mary Wright Gill and
Edna May Whitehorn who made most of the drawings published in Hitchcock
and Chase's grass manual; Mary Barnas Pomeroy, Patricia Verret Reinholtz,
Robert Mill and Emily Patterson Reid, who prepared the drawings published in
Mason's "A Flora of the Marshes of California" (1957); Barbara N. Culbertson
and M. Grady Reinert, who prepared the drawings for Godfrey's yet unpublished
research on the aquatic and marsh plants of Florida. We are, indeed, grateful to
each of these individuals for his or her contribution to this project.
The careful and exacting work of Mrs. Aileen Maddox in typing the manuscript
and her assistance in all other phases of the research we gratefully acknowledge.
Her enthusiasm for the project frequently lifted our sagging spirits.
As noted before, the main purpose of this work, as is that of any such manual,
is to provide a means for the identification of the aquatic and wetland plants in
the region under consideration; namely, southwestern United States. For the most
part, we believe that the text is uncomplicated and straightforward and needs no
explanation. Several points, however, should be clarified. Although the families
are arranged phylogenetically essentially in accordance with the Engler and Prantl
System, many of the genera and the species within a family or genus, respectively,
are not arranged in phylogenetic order. This phase needs more study than time
allowed for the present. In the Keys the first number in each couplet, except for
the first pair, is accompanied by a number in parenthesis. This number in paren-
thesis refers back to the previous couplet from which the present one was derived.
With this aid one can quickly and readily retrace one's steps back to the very
beginning of the Key if need be. The branches or "legs" of each couplet are
terminated either by a plant name or by a number in parenthesis that refers to a
subsequent couplet. In regard to the measurements and numbers of parts given
in some sections of the text, as "petals (5-) 7-9 (-12) mm. long," such may be
interpreted as "petals usually 7-9 mm. long but sometimes as short as 5 mm. or
as much as 12 mm. long." The less common extremes in measurements and
numbers of parts are enclosed in parentheses.
We can not over-emphasize the need for exerting the most strenuous effort
to clean up our total environment. Our close observation of much of the aquatic
and wetland habitats in southwestern United States has indelibly impressed upon
us the appalling conditions that now exist in many of these places that are of Vital
interest to plants and animals, and to the general well-being of mankind. Along
with the present cleaning, and the future protection, of our environment will
come conservation. One follows the other!
Finally, we believe that any kind of work such as ours should represent a
combination of our efforts and those of our many colleagues. We are grateful
for their work which has contributed immensely to the fulfillment of the present
task.
DONOVAN S. CORRELL
HELEN B. CORRELL
\iv
-------
Contents
Authors' Preface vii
Introduction 1
I. Habitats of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants 2
II. Peculiarities and Distribution of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular
Plants 6
III. Economics and Control of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants 10
IV. Pollution in Aquatic and Wetland Habitats 12
Key to the Major Groups and Families of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular
Plants 17
Descriptive Flora 37
I. Pteridophyta 37
II. Gymnospermae 79
III. Monocotyledoneae 85
IV. Dicotyledoneae 734
Glossary 1705
Abbreviations and Signs 1733
Selected References 1737
Index 1739
xv
-------
Introduction
Southwestern United States, as we have come to know it, is a vast and complex
region that includes practically any ecosystem that can be found in the world
today, exclusive of polar regions. The area studied extends from the warm-
temperate mesophytic forests and Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Texas, and
the subtropical Rio Grande Valley, to the alpine summits of the Rocky Mountains
in New Mexico and Arizona, and the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona.
For the most part, our region is one of high evaporation which, even in a single
season, can greatly affect the composition of various plant communities. This
high rate of evaporation that causes drastic fluctuations in the water level of a
water body can quickly alter or change entirely its ecology. Through desiccation,
with the lowering of the water level, much of the vegetation occupying the
marginal zone can perish, while the submersed and floating vegetation may be
adversely affected by lack of light and oxygen sufficient to carry on the life
processes.
In addition to this drastic evaporation from open water surfaces and land,
vast quantities of water are transpired from plants. Our work, which we con-
sider to be a water-economy oriented botanical treatise, is concerned primarily
with these plants that have the greatest impact upon our water resources. For
this reason not only those plants that live in open water or marsh areas are treated
but also those plants that are known as phreatophytes, or those plants whose
roots tap the ground water. These latter plants are considered by some authorities
to pose a definite threat to the meager water resources in some parts of south-
western United States. Many government and private foresters consider that such
plants as the salt cedars (Tamarix) that grow especially in alkaline or saline
floodplains, about lakes and on streams and river banks use water wastefully and
are of little or no benefit. These foresters advocate the cutting and rooting out
of these plants. This, of course, would be the simplest and probably the costliest
procedure. We believe, however, that more consideration should be given to a
long-range, more permanent control.
Surface waters of southwestern United States are almost entirely utilized, and
ground water is being pumped at a rate that exceeds the estimated recharge.
In some areas in this vast region the average depth to ground water has been
found to be increasing at an annual rate in excess of 20 feet. In the light of
such frightening statistics we should realize that we should delay no longer in
learning all we can about our water resources and every factor that may have
any kind of influence upon them, no matter how trivial such may seem to be.
Our decision as to what plants should be included in this work has been
influenced as much by practical and utilitarian factors as by strictly biological
considerations. In respect to interpretations, we have found that the most
exasperating and frustrating part of the work is that which involved decisions as
to what species to include; in other words, what should the limits be? After being
certain that all strictly aquatic and wetland species have been included, we found
that the periphery of inclusion had a tendency to spread to the margin of
-------
mesophytism. Since all vascular plants depend more or less upon water for their
very existence, and are thus biologically "aquatic" to a greater or lesser degree,
a premise to determine just how much effect a particular species has upon the
water resources of a given area could be carried to a ridiculous extreme.
In the Introduction to his "A Flora of the Marshes of California," Mason has
expressed in unequivocable terms the way we feel about the limitation or lack of
limitation that should be placed upon plant species to be included in a work such
as this. We agree with him entirely when he says that the circumscription of the
field of research in this type of problem is not clear cut and that its boundaries
are usually highly artificial. We not only include the wholly aquatic species but
also the important and frequently critical amphibious species. But, as Mason
succinctly states, when we include ". . . . the amphibious species, we are drawn
immediately up on the shore, where the naturalness of the communities and the
overlapping of their species lead us farther and farther away' from water."
For convenience and simplicity, the term "vascular hydrophytes" has frequently
been used here to include both aquatic and wetland plants.
I. Habitats of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants
Several outlines have been proposed to cover the various habitats in which
aquatic and wetland plants are to be found. For our purpose, and because it is
more far-reaching than most others, the one proposed by Mason, in 1957, is the
best yet devised. With some reorganization and the addition of several habitats
peculiar to our region, Mason's outline is as follows:
I. Water standing or essentially so.
A. Presence of water permanent and level fairly persistent.
1. Open water surface the most conspicuous feature.
a. Fresh water: lakes, ponds, reservoirs.
b. Salt water: salt lakes, bays and oceans, estuaries, lagoons.
2. Vegetation more conspicuous than water surface.
a. Vegetation dominantly herbaceous.
aa. Marshes: alkaline marshes, salt marshes, brackish marshes, fresh-
water marshes.
bb. Bogs: quaking bogs, floating bogs, evergreen shrub bogs.
b. Vegetation dominated by trees and/or shrubs.
aa. Swamps, bay-galls.
B. Presence of water intermittent or at least the level widely fluctuating.
1. Intermittence seasonal: vernal pools, playa lakes, vernal marshes,
savannahs.
2. Intermittence tidal: Salt-water marshes, seasonally salt and fresh-water
marshes, fresh-water marshes subject to tidal influence.
II. Water flowing: live streams, intermittent streams, irrigation ditches, drain-
age canals, hillside bogs, streamside marshes.
III. Wet soil adjacent to habitats with standing or flowing water: strand areas,
riparian lands, lacustrine lands, wet meadows, seasonally wet floodlands.
There are very few natural lakes in southwestern United States and these
are to be found mostly at high elevations in the mountains. Their creation is
solely the result of local conditions. The great ice sheets that formed lakes such
as those found in Wisconsin never reached this region. There are, however,
innumerable man-made lakes, reservoirs, ponds and stock tanks to be found in
southwestern United States, and many great and small rivers with numerous tribu-
-------
taries dissect this region. In eastern and southeastern Texas are to be found
evergreen shrub bogs and savannahs. In this same area as well as in Oklahoma
are to be found swamps, alluvial woodlands and floodplains, and along coastal
Texas are to be found vast fresh and brackish marshlands, rice paddies, ocean
beaches and shores, drainage canals, bays, reefs, estuaries and sluggish streams.
Inland, especially in areas of low rainfall throughout our region, are to be found
irrigation ditches, lakes on salt deposits, and saline and alkaline flats that are
periodically inundated. In these more arid regions are to be found rivers and
streams that may have their beginnings in springs and artesian wells at high
mountain elevations but which disappear as dry beds as they flow into the
lowlands.
When a body of water is created by man, usually the first obvious plant
invaders are cat-tails (Typha); their essentially weightless wind-blown seeds
would appear to be hovering nearby. Next, or occasionally invading simultaneous
with cat-tails, are bulrushes (Scirpus). These early invaders first establish them-
selves in shallow water and then, through clonal growth by means of rhizomes and
stolons, migrate out into deeper water where they form dense conspicuous colonies
that provide a habitat for small floating plants and they give protection and
shelter to various wildlife.
As noted above, similarly to natural lakes in the North, these southwestern
artificial lakes and ponds, when stabilized, also typically have several zones of
vegetation. The outermost zone is one of emergent vegetation, wherein the plants
are rooted in the lake substrate and the photosynthetic organs stand above the
surface of the water. Here we find primarily grasses, rushes and sedges, among
which are spike rush (Eleocharis), sedge (Carex), bulrush (Scirpus), bur-reed
(Sparganium), cat-tail (Typha), water plantain (Alisma) and arrowhead
(Sagittaria).
The next zone, moving lakeward, is that of floating-leaf plants. These plants
may be rooted in the lake substrate or they may be free-floating. In either case,
they have their leaves floating on the surface of the water, or, in some instances,
with some leaves raised above the surface of the water. Among these plants are
water shield (Brasenia), yellow water lily (Nuphar), white water lily (Nymphaea),
pondweed (Potamogeton'), water ferns (Azolla and Ceratopteris), water hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes), duckweed (Lemna),
duckmeat (Spirodela) and water meal (Wolffia).
The innermost zone is composed of entirely submersed plants or those with
only their flowering and fruiting parts emersed or floating. These plants are
characterized by having long, sinuous or straplike leaves and with a bunched
growth habit and finely dissected highly branched leaves. These plants derive gases
and nutrients from the water in order to survive. Among these plants are milfoil
(Myriophyllum), hornwort (Ceratophyllum), naid (Najas), waterweed (Egeria,
Elodea) and fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). The non-vascular plants, stonewort
(Chara and Nitella), are also frequently abundant in this zone.
This phenomenon in nature that can be "a thing of beauty," the zonation of
life forms of undisturbed, natural aquatic vegetation that becomes established
and is so prevalent about the shores of lakes, ponds, canals and slow-moving
streams, when once destroyed or disturbed by man's "improvements," or his
propensity for gross pollution, is essentially impossible to re-establish. Since this
zonation is the result of natural succession by plants in this type of habitat, they
should be left undisturbed if man is to maintain his aquatic environment as it
should be in such places.
Coastal marshes, known to support numerous species of plant and animal life,
are among the most important of all natural habitats. In these areas a very slight
change in elevation will also mean somewhat of a change in the vegetative cover.
-------
Our only development of coastal marshlands occur on the Gulf Coast of Texas.
The area is characterized not only by salt meadows, salt marshes, tidal flats and
estuaries, but also by fresh-water marshes, swamps, meandering bayous and
resacas, and sloughs. Some of the nation's largest wild-life reservations, especially
for waterfowl, are to be found in this region.
The salt marsh areas typically support species of Carex, Cyperus, Eleocharis,
Rhynchospora, Scirpus, several cordgrasses (Spartina) and seashore saltgrass
(Distichlis spicatd).
Aquatic plants abound in this region. Among these are Wolffia, Wolffiella
lingulata, parrot's feather (Myriophyllum), pondweeds (Potamogeton), duck-
weeds (Lemna), duck meat (Spirodela), water-lilies (Nymphaea), cow-lily
(Nuphar luteum), Hygrophila lacustris and arrowheads (Sagittaria). The bene-
ficial aquatic plant species as well.as open water for fish and wildlife in many of
the streams, canals, lakes and ponds are threatened by several introduced noxious,
aggressive species. Foremost among these are the water hyacinth (Eichhornia
crassipes) and alligator weed (Altemanthera philoxeroides). The native cat-tails
(Typha) also belong here. Other species that can and may prove to be trouble-
some in this and other parts of our region are aquatic species of water-primrose
(Ludwigia), water-lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes), common frogbit (Limnobium
Spongia) and American featherfoil (Hottonia inflata). In bays and open waters
along the Gulf Coast are to be found such marine species as Cymodocea filiformis,
Thalassia testudinum, Halophila Engelmannii, Halodule Beaudettei, and rarely
Posidonia Oceania. Some of these are often washed up on the beaches along the
coast.
Shallow ponds and backwaters of river margins are usually the beginnings of
fresh-water marshes. These marshlands are treeless expanses, often with dense
growths of herbaceous plants such at cat-tails, grasses and sedges. In marsh pools,
where the water is deeper, water lilies, potidweeds and other plants become estab-
lished.
Plants such as cat-tails, bulrushes, bur-reeds, Sagittarias, Pickerelweed, Peltandra
and button-bush are rooted in mud in shallow water on the edge of ponds and
quiet backwaters of rivers. In ponds, for instance, plants grow outward from the
bank and shallow water to deeper water where water-lilies, Nuphar and Brasenia
take their place. On out into the deepest open waters both rooted and free-floating
plants such as the carnivorous bladderworts, pondweeds, Cabomba and Cerato-
phyllum are found. Through the years as the plants on the outer periphery con-
tinue to move toward the center of the pond they shade and crowd out the floating
and submerged plants that die and contribute to the filling of the pond. As the
filling continues the vegetative composition of the pond is affected until a marsh
is evolved—a treeless tract of water and aquatic plants.
With continued filling by dead plants and silt the marsh, in turn, will give way
to the sedge'filled meadow that, with the invasion of trees and shrubs, will even-
tually become a wooded swamp.
Littoral vegetation zones similar to those found in lakes are often found along
streams, especially if shallow water areas occur. Pickerel weed (Pontederia
cordata), smartweed (Polygonum) and various grasses and sedges are often to be
found in such areas.
Similarly to our lack of glaciation-formed lakes, our region does not have
the type of bogs that are characteristic of far northern glaciated regions. Some
of the bogs developed in the high mountains of New Mexico and Arizona
approach these northern bogs, but they lack most of their characteristics. In
glaciated country, lakes formed by ice often have relatively steep banks and poor
drainage that make them conducive for the formation of bogs. True bogs are
characterized by having low-growing shrubs and sedges in sphagnum mosses.
-------
These often form floating or stable mats supported by a peaty mass of partly
decomposed plants. The outer edge of the bog has various types of tree species,
determined by that part of the world in which the bog lies.
In small lakes in eastern and southeastern Texas floating mats are occasionally
formed where Decodon borders the water. Sedges, rushes, various species of
Hypericum and other such plants commonly grow upon these floating or quaking,
somewhat stabilized mats. Various evergreen or semievergreen shrubs and small
trees often border these lakes, among which are yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), bay-gall
bush (l.coriacea), leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora) and viburnums.
In most bogs, especially at great depths, there is little oxygen and, along with
acids formed by peats, decay is slow and fallen plants deposited in them often
Only partly decay to become more peat. Because of their stagnant, usually highly
acidic environment, most bogs have their own peculiar flora, usually dominated by
thick-leaved shrubs and herbs.
Two distinctive types of habitats, the evergreen shrub bog and savannah, occur
to a limited extent in our area. The savannahs are found only in southeastern
Texas and the bogs in southeastern and to some extent in eastern Texas.
In pockets throughout eastern and southeastern Texas are found not only ever-
green shrub bogs but also open seepage slopes and cypress-tupelo swamps. The
latter also occur in southeastern Oklahoma. These usually develop in sandy,
seepy areas, either on or at the bottom of slopes, in scrub oak-pinelands, or in
permanently wet depressions in savannahs. They are characterized by usually
having peat moss (Sphagnum) present in varying degrees. The shrubs in and
about these habitats are often evergreen or semievergreen. They consist mostly
of viburnums, hollies, rhododendrons, bay laurel (Magnolia virginiana), wax-
myrtles, hypericums, dogwoods, vacciniums, leatherwood (Cyrilla racemiflora),
Lyonia, Itea, and occasionally a sprinkling of poison sumac (Rhus vernix). Often
the herbaceous vegetation is quite different from that of the surrounding country,
and is represented by such uncommon species as nodding-nixie (Apteria aphylla),
Bartonia texana, Viola lanceolata, grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia asarifolia),
bogmoss (Mayaca Aubletii), pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata), rose pogonia
(Pogonia ophioglossoid.es), bearded grass-pink (Calopogon barbatus), small wood
orchid (Habenaria clavellata) and yellow fringed orchid (H. ciliaris).
In extreme southeastern Texas, centered in Jasper, Tyler and Newton counties,
are savannahs of broad, level, grassy, open pinelands. These are characterized by
a fluctuating water-table, often found at or near the surface, and they support
a rather distinctive and interesting marshy and wetland flora. This includes
several orchids, as the snowy orchid (Habenaria nivea), crested fringed orchid
(H. cristata), grass-pink (Calopogon pulchellus) and several species of ladies'
tresses (Spiranthes), yellow stargrass (Aletris aurea), pipeworts (Eriocaulon),
whitehead bog-button (Lachnocaulon anceps), several meadow beauties (Rhexia),
clubmosses (Lycopodium), milkworts (Polygala), small butterwort (Pinguicula
pumila), bluehearts (Buchnera), sundews (Drosera), seedboxes (Ludwigia) and
numerous sedges, grasses and bulrushes that are indigenous to this type of com-
munity. The savannahs and shrub bogs, where they occur in proximity, commonly
grade into one another. Plants in this border-zone are often a mixture of those in
the two communities.
The swamp, a wetland covered with trees and shrubs, is usually developed
from a marsh. Typically wet and occasionally flooded, swamp forests often
persist for a long time, especially when they are associated with streams that
periodically overflow.
Originally an effort was made to coordinate pH and water temperature with
the exact place of growth for a species, such as those of Potatnogeton, but it was
soon realized that such data, as we had intended using it, were essentially mean-
-------
ingless. After we discovered that pH and water temperature often varied at
minute distances, both laterally and vertically, this time-consuming routine was
discontinued.
n. Peculiarities and Distribution of Aquatic and Wetland Vascu-
lar Plants
Aquatic plants are paradoxical in that while many are of great economic import
in relation to the existence, reproduction and conservation of wild life they may
simultaneously be a hindrance and detriment to man's hydrological activities such
as those involving navigation and irrigation.
The establishment and existence of wetland plants in their particular habitat
is much less complicated than that for strictly aquatic plants. To exist under
water, vascular plants must have sufficient light and critical gases to carry on
photosynthesis. The depth at which they grow depends largely upon the intensity
and spectral composition of light. This becomes especially critical in waters that
are variously polluted. Sedimentation created by floods and erosion, and turbidity
as a result of dissolved organic matter and suspended organic and inorganic parti-
cles, may cloud and discolor the water and reduce to a bare minimum the possi-
bility of a plant carrying on the photosynthetic process.
As has been noted by other researchers, individuals of some species grow under
a single set of environmental conditions, while the individuals of other species
will occur under the selective regime of different sets of environmental conditions.
These latter species exhibit a wide degree of tolerance, such as cat-tails (Typha),
Zannichellia, Najas, and Ruppia, usually found in fresh-water situations but that
also can tolerate saline and alkaline conditions. The quality of water often, but
not always, determines the plant community that will be developed in the environs.
There is little question, however, that salinity has a critical and intricate influence
upon the composition and development of maritime and littoral ecosystems.
While various physical and chemical factors of the aquatic environment have
a definite influence upon the life activities of vascular hydrophytes, the converse
is also true as has been succinctly stated by Sculthorpe (1967, p. 415).
"As a result of the relatively restricted volume of any inhabited body of water,
aquatic vegetation exserts a much more profound influence upon its environment
than does terrestrial vegetation. Through their photosynthesis and respiration, and
their manner and rate of growth, vascular hydrophytes may have very significant
effects upon such environmental factors as the concentrations of dissolved oxygen,
carbon dioxide and ammonia, mineral nutrient supplies, pH value, light penetra-
tion, current velocity and rate of silting. These effects can wield a direct or in-
direct influence on the lives of other aquatic organisms, notably the micro-flora
and fauna for which the hydrophytes may provide support, shelter or food. The
impact of hydrophytes on the environment and on biotic relationships increases
as the volume of the water-body diminishes; plants are most significant in ponds,
canals and stagnant swamps, and in most rivers, which are usually shallow com-
pared to lakes and so contain a relatively greater concentration of plants. Analysis
of these ecological interactions presents a formidable problem: the tremendous
variation in local edaphic and biotic conditions invalidates all but a very few
generalisations."
The ecosystems of aquatic and wetland habitats, though not at all consistent
as to their floral content, are made up of characteristic ecotypes for each kind
of system. In other words, the species composition of a given ecosystem may vary
in accordance to its geographical location but each kind of habitat usually has its
characteristic type of flora.
-------
Although most species readily fall into one or another ecotype, in some in-
stances individuals belonging to the same species, such as in Potamogeton nodosus
and Polygonum amphibium, may occur as submersed or floating aquatics to am-
phibious, riparian or strand plants rooted in mud. These plants usually, but not
always, differ somewhat in habit, in accordance to the ecotype in which they are
found.
We have found, as other have found before us, that aquatic and wetland plants
are not always dependable and of long-endurance in their particular habitats. A
species abundant in one season may disappear for one or more seasons only to
reappear in a later season. There are various possibilities as to why these plants
behave thusly. A close approach to temporary extermination might result from
overfeeding by wildlife; a change in the ionic composition of the water might be
critical; especially in the case of vegetative reproduction, some water plants, as in
many orchids, might have a longer resting period than just one year; fluctuating
water levels might create physiological problems for the species.
Analagous habitats may be found in entirely different parts of our region and
under an entirely different set of factors, but they may reveal certain similarities.
For instance, the Weches fossil formation near San Augustine, Texas that is seepy
and wet only in the spring long enough to support to maturity the annual crucifer,
Leavenworthia aurea, is comparable to tidal zones where the usually perennial
plants that occupy such zones must have a periodic replenishment of water in
order to thrive. Under both situations the water needs of the plant are met at
critical times to assure propagation and/or continued survival.
Vascular plants that are strictly aquatic, although relatively few in number
when compared to their dryland terrestrial relatives, offer a multitude of taxo-
nomic difficulties because of their diversity of habit and bewildering variations that
include heterophylly and peculiar modifications in sexual and vegetative repro-
duction.
Heterophylly, the presence on a single individual of two or more distinct types
of leaves, in habit, shape and/or anatomy is prominently displayed in many
aquatic species in such genera as Callitriche, Potamogeton, Sagittaria, Ranunculus,
Cabomba, Myriophyllum, Proserpinaca, Alisma, Armoracia and Echinodorus.
This leaf difference in the same individual has created problems in the identifica-
tion of many species in the above, as well as other, genera. This unique charac-
teristic must be taken into consideration in dealing taxonomically with these
species.
Peltate leaves, as in Nelumbo (Fig. 447), are considered to be the most
mechanically efficient of all types of floating leaves. Although the leaves of
Nymphoides (Fig. 1) do not have the thickness and toughness of such species as
in Nymphaea, (Fig. 442) and Nuphar (Fig. 443), they do demonstrate the
characteristic leaf of many floating leaved plants in their rounded blade and
entire margins. The wax bloom of the cuticle on the upper surface, as in all plants
with floating leaves, prevents excessive wetting of the leaf. The petioles that sup-
port these leaves are strong and pliable, and their buoyance and support are
further enhanced by air-filled lacunae on the lower surface which are centered
and more prominent along the midrib and near or about the petiole.
Floating leaves, in being exposed to both air and water at the same time, are
rather unique and they have developed features that enable them to better with-
stand the hazards of their environment.
Most of our emergent hydrophytes produce aerenchyma—a spongy tissue de-
veloped mostly on the stems and branches at or below water level. This tissue may
have several functions as for buoyancy for weak, arching stems of Decodon
verticillatus, for storage of oxygen or for insulation and protection. Development
of aerenchyma has not been noted by us in any emergent monocot species, even
-------
Fig. 1: Nymphoides aquatica: a, leaf and cluster of flowers and spurlike roots
on the petiole, x %; b, spurlike roots and young leaves separated from parent plant,
x %; c, portion of leaf (under side) showing spongy tissue, greatly enlarged; d, im-
mature ovary dissected from bud, x 8; e, flower, corolla spread out, x 4; f, petal, x 5;
g, fruit, x 5; h, seed, x 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
in the conspicuous Habenaria repens. It is commonly formed on species of
Ludwigia, Aeschynomone, Lythrum, Ammannia, Peplis and Sesbania.
The organs and means of sexual reproduction in the vast majority of vascular
hydrophytes are not unlike those of strictly terrestrial plants. Only a relatively
few of our hydrophytes have wholly submerged hydrophilous flowers. Of these,
those occurring in our region are Ceratophyllum, Najas, Ruppia, Zannichellia,
Posidonia, Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, Halodule and several species of
Callitriche.
Besides sexual reproduction many hydrophytes have a capacity for vigorous
vegetative reproduction, and this has been found to be exceptionally high in
many genera. The means, however, of vegetative reproduction is apparently no
different from those found hi strictly terrestrial species. These include the capacity
to regenerate from small vegetative fragments, especially if they have attached
buds, and the production of tubers, rhizomes, stolons, turions, dormant apices
and offsets. The ease of dispersal of these propagules by various agents, such as
floods, waterfowl, animals, motorboat propellers, irrigation activities and the
other direct actions of man account for the wide distribution of many aquatic
plants.
The stems, rhizomes, stolons, runners, petioles and peduncles of most sub-
merged aquatic plants are notoriously brittle. Because of this brittleness even a
slight disturbance, much less a violent one, will frequently cause fragmentation of
the plant body. This is especially true of species in the genera Ceratophyllum,
Egeria, Elodea, Myriophyllum and Najas. The same is also true to some extent
for species of Callitriche, Azolla, Utricularia and in the Lemnaceae. Another
method of vegetative reproduction is exhibited by Ceratopteris (Fig. 22), wherein
plants, by means of gemmipary, arise from buds near vein-endings at the base of
marginal notches in mature leaves. This method of vegetative reproduction is
also common to some cruciferous species, such as in Armoracia, Cardamine and
Rorippa.
All types of rhizomes may be found in aquatic plants. These may be woody or
herbaceous, spongy or firm, slender or enlarged, widely creeping or much-abbre-
viated. Some species, especially in Cyperus, Potamogeton and Sagittaria produce
stem tubers from which they perennate. These tubers, which are frequently near
or just below the surface of mud, provide food for water fowl, especially geese.
In Nymphoides (Fig. 1), the buried rootstock gives rise to long stems that
trail through the water and gradually ascending to the surface to produce short-
petioled leaves from their terminal nodes along with clusters of aerial flowers. A
cluster of adventitious swollen, banana-shaped roots is produced from the node
at the base of this floating rosette. Upon decay of the ascending stem the cluster
of tuberous roots is set free and subsequently regenerates a new plant.
Among those ordinarily dryland plants that apparently depend upon an excess
of water during at least a part of their life-span are Heliotropium molle and H.
glabriusculum, which grow where water temporarily accumulates after rains. These
plants have evolved abundant corky tissue in their seeds that make them well-
adapted for water dispersal. When observed during much of their life-span, how-
ever, one might wonder why these species should be included in a work on aquatic
and wetland plants for they grow in usually somewhat desertic situations.
The principal agents that influence plant dispersal are water, animals, wind and
man. Dispersal of strictly aquatic plants are undoubtedly influenced more .by
water and animals than by wind and man. Buoyant fruits and seeds, and vegeta-
tive propagules broken from plants by turbulence may be carried great distances
by currents and wave action.
The transmission of vegetative fragments and seeds in the plumage and on the
muddy feet of waterfowl undoubtedly accounts for the wide distribution of some
-------
fresh-water plants. Local distribution is further enhanced by the actions and
activities of other types of animal life, such as amphibians, reptiles and small and
large mammals. Seeds of some species that are eaten by various bird and animal
life pass through their alimentary tract essentially unharmed. These are often
dropped at some distance from their intake, thus adding to the distribution of the
species.
Our area lies in two of the flyways known to exist for migratory birds in North
America. Arizona is in the Pacific Flyway while Texas, Oklahoma and New
Mexico lie in the Central Flyway. Any kinds of water bodies found along these
flyways are of importance to migratory birds for resting, feeding and protection.
There is little doubt that north-south dissemination of some plant species occurs
as a result of the activities of these migratory birds.
III. Economics and Control of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular
Plants
Except for their aesthetic value in natural settings or as ornamentals, and their
value to wildlife, strictly aquatic vascular plants, as such, have very little economic
value in the modern-day world. They are, however, more or less involved in the
general economics of such facets as wildlife, sports fishing, water utilization and
weed control. Rice, which we consider to be a wetland or subaquatic plant, is
undoubtedly the most important cereal plant grown by man. This plant would
have to be an exception to the above statement.
The ultimate goal to be obtained in the treatment or handling of vegetation in
a water body depends upon the interest of the individual or organization con-
cerned. Those interested in waterfowl and bird life, generally, would hope to
maintain submerged and floating species of Potamogeton, Najas, Zannichellia and
other important food plants of like nature as well as many of the erect emergent
species, such as in Scirpus, Sparganium, Typha and Sagittaria. Those interested
solely in fish and fish production might wish to exterminate all plant life except
plankton. And so it goes.
Our making various statements in the text, such as this or that plant provides
excellent protection for fish, does not imply that this is a good thing. It is merely
a statement of fact or an observation. Perhaps the fish needs no protection or
should not be protected!
According to knowledgeable wildlife personnel the signficance of hydrophytic
environments in relation to wildlife scarcely can be over-emphasized, and studies
such as this that will lead to a better knowledge of the kinds and distribution of
plants of aquatic and wetland habitats are of great interest and usefulness to all
personnel involved in wildlife management. For instance, wildlife management
personnel will want to know the identity of the plants under which waterfowl, fish,
mammals, invertebrates, and other inhabitants of marsh and aquatic habitats feed
and use for nesting and resting sites, coverage and protection. Also, wildlife
personnel need to know the plant species to help them better assess a particular
area in regard to the types and abundance of plant foods present and to be able
to create conditions that will control and improve the food supply. A similar need
is present for the health engineer, who, for instance, may want to know the
identity of the plants that are associated with the breeding grounds of such pests
and disease-carriers as mosquitoes, and for the hydrologist who needs to know
what plants contribute to water-pollution and -contamination, and those that
contribute to its clarification and potability.
10
-------
Many species of plants have a beneficial effect upon water in contrast to those
that have a deleterious effect. For instance, it is realized that depletion of vegeta-
tion with accelerated stream-channel erosion decreases or entirely prevents fish
production through the reduction of available food and cover, the increasing of
water temperatures, and through sedimentation of spawning beds. To maintain a
continuity of fish and wildlife, generally, it is essential to know how to maintain
their habitat and to determine the biological requirements and relationship of
each species, especially in regard to cover and food for its normal growth.
Another function of plant life in relation to water is its restraining action upon
rapidly moving streams so as to prevent excessive erosion of their banks. Only
those species that can tolerate having their roots submerged or that can grow in
saturated soils can survive on the margins of streams and lakes. Without such
species to exert control there would be no limit to the amount of erosion that
might occur. The knowledge to be gained from the study of aquatic and wetland
vegetation can thus be directed to the control of channel- and bank-erosion to
improve fish habitats and their food supply.
In 1970, Boyd published a paper in which he pointed out the apparent poten-
tial of using aquatic angiosperms for the wholesale removal of nutrients from
effluents and natural waters. He further suggested that because of their food
qualities aquatic angiosperms could be harvested, dried and used as a feedstuff.
Boyd found that the most suitable species for possible nutrient removal from
water were water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), alligator weed (Alternanthera
philoxeroides), water willow (Justicia americana) and cat-tail (Typha latifolia).
All of these plants could be harvested by relatively simple means and they had a
relatively high nutritive value for use as feedstuff. A series of small holding ponds
into which effluents would be directed and in which plants would be grown for
nutrient removal were thought to be more satisfactory than just one large body
of water.
There are problems in this proposed use of these aggressive aquatic angio-
sperms, foremost of which is the fact that, with the possible exception of Justicia
americana, they can become pernicious weeds.
It is entirely possible that with more research man will be able to manipulate
native vegetation, even more than he does at present, for his welfare. The most
obvious and a long-standing practice has been the use of plants in erosion control.
There are many and various uses that might be made of aquatic angiosperms.
There are numerous troublesome aquatic weeds throughout the world, and
there is no question whatsoever about the necessity to control the rampant growth
of many of these noxious vascular hydrophytes. The main question revolves around
how this should be done. Anyone who has seen a waterway that was once open
and clear but is now essentially dessicated and clogged by water-hyacinth (Eich-
hornia crassipes) or alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) must realize
that such is a situation that should and must be corrected.
An improper balance of the flora and fauna, frequently caused by the undue
aggressiveness of such plants as Alternanthera and Eichhornia, can result in pollu-
tion and/or stagnation. Observations on the tolerance and aggressiveness of indi-
vidual species must be undertaken so as to understand better why some species are
limited in distribution while others are widely distributed. A detailed study of
the reproduction by seeds and vegetative means of some hitherto neglected species
will supplement that which is already known about other species. Mobility, aggres-
siveness, and various methods of distribution, such as the requirements needed for
dissemination, and the viability of seeds under different conditions should be
studied so as to better understand some of the yet unanswered problems of the
specialized adaptation of these plants to their environment.
11
-------
With identification of species in a particular plant community, it will be possible
to determine their optimum needs to attain their best growth and reproductive
capacity, or likewise through investigation and research find some means for their
control that could be recommended elsewhere. Without the identity of these
organisms it would be impossible to accomplish this work.
Various methods have been used to control aquatic weeds, but undoubtedly
the most efficacious though potentially dangerous to the world's life is the use
of the many various herbicides. The use of herbicides in the elimination of nuisance
aquatic angiosperms occasionally kill fish and desirable organisms. The decay
of dead plants, too, can deplete the dissolved oxygen to the extent of killing all
aerobic organisms. Often, also, the destruction of one nuisance organism only
makes room for invasion of another equally noxious organism.
The oldest method of combatting aquatic weeds is that of manual and mechani-
cal control. This is still practiced, especially where small bodies of water and
streamways are involved. These methods include cutting and harvesting the plants
by hand, draining and drying out plus bulldozing the water areas to be cleaned,
mechanically mowing with cutters along banks or attached to boats, and dragging
and dredging the area to be cleaned. In line with these mechanical methods, on
Caddo Lake in northeastern Texas an unsuccessful, or rather unprofitable, attempt
was made to mechanically harvest the tremendous overgrowth of water plants and
to use the dried processed plants as peat or as a soil conditioner. If this activity
had been successful this would have been a direct economic way to control aquatic
weeds.
The most idyllic type of aquatic weed control would be biological. Each noxious
species, however, would necessitate an individual study to discover in what way it
might be controlled—either parasitically by a fungus or insect, or by aquatic
herbivores such as certain African and Chinese fish. The manatee or sea cow
is the classic example of an aquatic herbivore in that it can consume huge amounts
of rooting and floating vegetation. Thus far, however, it has proved impractical or
biologically impossible to manipulate the manatee as a trained grazer.
IV. Pollution in Aquatic and Wetland Habitats.
Certainly there are no greater problems facing our civilization today than
those of contending with water and air pollution. Everything that we can learn
that will help us ultimately to manage these problems will be to our advantage.
It is hoped that the results of this research will provide us with some phase of
knowledge that will help us in combatting the corrosive situation of water pollu-
tion.
As has been noted in our Preface, from the very beginning of this research
consideration of the environment has had an overwhelming influence upon our
interpretation of what plants were to be included in this work. This consideration
was long in progress before "environment" and "ecology" became household words
in the United States. This consideration of the environment was guided mainly by
our initial interest in this project: water as a critical resource in southwestern
United States. Since this resource is so critical in this part of the country, and
it will doubtless become more so with time, we thought that a knowledge of the
plants that are associated with water should be made available to everyone who
might be concerned with this vital commodity. We also hoped that our work would
encourage more appreciation for water as a vital resource and thus create more
respect for and a greater care of this rapidly vanishing and very necessary asset.
Perhaps one of the most frustrating phases of this project was our not being
able to find areas that we could consider as "controls" for each of the ecosystems
12
-------
that we expected to observe and study during various seasons and over a period
of several years. Because of man's omnipresent interference with everything
natural, no lake, pond, river, marsh, bog or swamp could be designated as having
never been disturbed or the way Mother Nature would have wanted it without
man's disturbing and polluting influence. We early forewent the idea of establish-
ing "controls,'' and decided, instead, to accept conditions as we found them to
exist. We realized that pollution had become so thoroughly spread, and it had
unquestionably affected or so changed the various ecosystems that it would be
impossible to determine what species comprised the original vegetation of most
of the area studied.
We have tried to summarize below the primary water pollutants and to point
out some of the deliterious effects of their pollution upon the environment. These
data are a combination of personal observations and those taken from numerous
articles, papers and books that have been published on the subject during the last
few years, but primarily from an article by Young (1970).
Doubtlessly, the chief causes of water pollution are inadequately treated sewage
and manufacturing wastes, oil from ships and drilling leaks, fertilizer runoff,
pesticide residues and acid drainage from mines. These wastes, plus sediment, have
ruined practically every major river in the Nation, and have converted them from
what was once unadulterated assets to the Nation into liabilities and a real menace
to much of the world's population. The pollutants they transport to the sea are
endangering our estuaries, wetlands and coastal waters—nurseries for most of our
commercially important fish and shellfish.
Though chemical fertilizers have greatly increased crop production, and long-
lasting pesticides have achieved their goal in protecting our crops, wind and rain
have carried these pollutants into our rivers, lakes and ponds where the fertilizer,
plus sewage, has contributed to an enormous overgrowth of algae. This over-
growth of algae in the upper zone suffocates the lower layers of algae by depriving
them of light for photosynthesis. This lower layer dies and decays, and in doing
so uses oxygen that is needed by fish which, in turn, die. The pesticides, upon
reaching the oceans, are carried up the food chain through fish to thwart the
reproduction of eagles, ospreys, pelicans and other fish-eating birds.
Mercury waste has been flushed into many lakes and rivers by industry. Bacteria
convert some of it into highly toxic methyl mercury, which is passed along the
food chain into fish, such as sword and tuna, that man now can not eat with
knowledge of absolute impunity. Various mercury compounds used in agriculture
are known to have poisoned game birds in many parts of the world.
Stripping the forests for lumber, excessively wide highways and our paralytic
housing developments encourage soil erosion and the steady erosion of one of our
major sources of oxygen-producing greenery, while strip-mining scars the country-
side and allows mine acids to wash and spread out to kill adjacent and surrounding
vegetation.
Our rapidly increasing nuclear power plants create thermal pollution in the
water used for cooling. The heated water holds less oxygen and can thus disrupt
the life cycle of aquatic organisms.
Oil spills foul beaches throughout the world, as can be attested by anyone who
has walked along practically any of our beaches during the last several years.
The blotches of black oil that .accumulate on the bottom of feet is only a harmless
visual pollutant compared to the toxic chemicals released that can kill fish and
birds, and, by forming a film over the water, oil can inhibit the intake of oxygen
by the water to smother life on the bottom. Millions of tons of petroleum each
year are flushed from ships, spilled at fueling ports, and poured into the sea
from leaking or runaway offshore wells and wrecked tankers.
13
-------
The sad fact is that -we not only continue to pour these wastes into our environ-
ment but we also continue to add new herbicidal and pesticidal chemicals without
their being properly tested to learn what long-range effects they will have upon life
on our planet.
Sculthorpe, in 1967, has the following to say about the use of herbicides in
England: "The toxity of numerous herbicides necessitates stringent precautions
for their use in aquatic habitats. It is an appalling and terrifying truth that all
too many aquatic herbicides have come into general use despite colossal ignorance
of their toxicology and biological side-effects. Although the situation is not perhaps
quite as devastating as that created by the indiscriminate use of certain insecticides
in the U.S.A. and Europe, it is nevertheless deplorable. The principal dangers
inherent in the use of toxic herbicides for eradicating aquatic weeds are: (a) the
hazard, to the persons applying the chemical or to others in the vicinity, of oral
intake or cutaneous absorption; (b) the contamination of domestic water supplies;
(c) the poisoning of plankton, invertebrates, fish and animals living in or around
the water; and (d) the contamination of surrounding land bearing sensitive food
crops or grazing livestock."
A useful bibliography of work on the harmful effects of herbicides and insecti-
cides on aquatic life has been compiled by Ingram and Tarzwell (1954). There is
no doubt that this bibliography could be greatly augmented if a revision were
published today.
We have found literally appalling situations where herbicides of any and all
types are indiscriminately dumped directly into lakes, fish ponds and stock tanks.
We learned that in many such instances a fast-talking herbicide salesman was
usually dealing with a customer who was grossly uninformed, misinformed or
just totally ignorant of the possible damage that might be done to his water body.
Most customers could not even remember the name of the herbicide they used nor
its composition. They were merely assured by the glib salesman that "it" would
"kill" all plant life. Many sadly learned that "it" often also contributed to the
killing of their fish and possibly every other form of animal and plant life with
which "it" came in contact.
In line with the indiscriminate direct and indirect dumping of chemicals into
our water bodies, we have often wondered what the eventual effect will be upon
man who persists in catching and eating those fish that "got away" from the
potentially deadly concentration of chemicals. Though we have asked this question
of many learned individuals none profess to know what may be the eventual long-
range effect upon man. They seem to think it is too soon to know the answer.
Meanwhile, man may be literally eating himself into oblivion.
We have noted with dismay the perversion of some of our state as well as
national wildlife refuges from their original intent and purpose to preserve and
protect every aspect of nature and wildlife to the dictum of making available
to pillaging and irresponsible man facilities for his abuse at the expense of all
else. The prevailing philosophy of certain personnel that are responsible for the
management of wildlife preserves was dramatically demonstrated to us in 1968.
In 1967 we had examined the plant-life in several of the then beautiful lakes in
one of the fine national reservations in our area with the thought of continuing
over a several-year period the study of some ecological phases of our project.
Imagine our chagrin and disappointment when we returned in 1968 to find that
all of the lakes we were planning to study had only very recently been treated
with a potent herbicide—nothing but rotting plant remains with a few small
mammals floating here and there were to be found in and about the edges of
these once very beautiful and biologically balanced lakes. The chemical stench in
the air only added to our extreme displeasure. As taxpayers, we were angry and
appalled that a total disregard for the wildlife of these lakes should be so blatantly
14
-------
displayed by so-called responsible administrators of the Nation's resources. The
superintendent explained to us that the destruction of all aquatic plant life, irre-
spective of the long-range ill-effect it would have on the lakes, was necessary so
that people who wanted to swim in the lakes would not risk being entangled in
the underwater growth! We wondered—what is the need of setting aside a "wild-
life refuge" if its main purpose is to be prostituted!
For decades we have blindly swept our filth beneath the surface of our waters,
and just as blindly we have assumed that it would remain well hidden under
the "rug." Until rather recently the best of authorities have assumed that sewage
and garbage that we have assigned to the depths of our lakes and oceans would be
like the proverbial sleeping dog. It is now known, however, that even at the
greatest depths some turbulence occurs, and we learn that our "sleeping dogs"
have never lain placidly; they are now coming home to haunt us in the form of
poison fish and dying wildlife. In view of the fact that ocean currents have been
known for, such a long time the assumption that no such phenomena would occur
in inland coastal waters seems strange.
The debris left in lowlands and forests that border lakes and rivers after high
water is astronomical. In some such areas we have traversed it was literally impos-
sible for. us to take a step without stepping upon some sort of extraneous object
such as the ubiquitous bottles and cans, plastic containers, old tires, shoes and
every other type of rubbish. These had not only recently been water pollutants but
now they were deposited on land where they had become visual pollutants.
It may be of interest to others that our experience from the very beginning
of this project has been one of frustration. We have felt, and at times been treated,
like interlopers because of our interest in and desire to work on the biological,
particularly botanical, aspects of aquatic pollution. We have found that most
research funds for pollution and water quality research have largely been taken
over by inorganic scientists, primarily chemically trained and oriented, most of
whom either have no interest in nor feeling for biological research. We would have
greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with a team of scientists on a bio-
logical approach to our various problems involving aquatic pollution.
We can only say "amen'' to Sculthorpe's statement on page 28 (1967): "Pollu-
tion by sewage and other domestic products, poisonous industrial effluents, pesti-
cides and radioactive wastes has been steadily increasing and must now be treated
as an integral feature of the aquatic environment. So far, it has been treated
principally, indeed too often exclusively, as a physiochemical phenomenon. Its
biological, and particularly botanical, consequences have been much neglected."
It has been said by some wise individual that the environment is almost as
much a product of the community as the community is of the environment. This
might be carried a step further to say that the condition of the environment is a
realistic measure of the kind of civilization that exists to inhabit that environ-
ment.
15
-------
KEY TO MONOCOTYLEDON5 AND DICOTYLEDONS
FLOWERS'WITH PARTS USUALLY IN
MULTIPLES OF 3 (RARELY MORE OR LESS)
LEAVES USUALLY PARALLEL VEINED
(RARELY NET VEINED)
VASCULAR BUNDLES DISTINCT AND
SCATTERED
COTYLEDONS 1
MONOCOTYLEDONEAE
SOME FLOWER TYPES
FLOWERS WITH PARTS USUALLY IN
MULTIPLES OF 2, 5 OR MANY (RARELY 3)
LEAVES PINNATELY OR PALMATELY
VEINED (RARELY PARALLEL VEINED OR
RIBBED)
VASCULAR BUNDLES OF STEMS
USUALLY IN A RING (SCATTERED
IN A FEW AQUATICS)
COTYLEDONS 2 (RARELY REDUCED
TO 1 IN A VERY FEW AQUATICS)
DICOTYLEDONEAE
SOME FLOWER TYPES
Fig. 2: Illustrated key to monocotyledons and dicotyledons. (From Mason, Fig. 1).
-------
Artificial Analytical Key to the Higher Taxa
of Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants
Key to the Major Groups
1. Rushlike, fernlike, mosslike or quill-leaved plants without true seeds or flowers,
reproducing chiefly by spores I. Pteridophyta, p. 17
1. Habit various; plants producing seeds (2)
2(1). Plants producing seeds but not true flowers, i.e., either having "cones"
(with seeds borne more or less exposed on the upper surfaces of
the scales of the cones) or fleshy structures with the basic struc-
tures of cones (as juniper "berries"), or cones with only a few thin
scales (as in Ephedraceae) II. Gymnospermae, p. 19
2. Plants producing true flowers, i.e., the seeds borne enclosed in specialized
structures (ovaries) (Angiospermae) (3)
3(2). Plants with several if not all of the following characters: vascular bundles
scattered in the usually solid internodes (these bundles can be seen
as scattered dots in the stem-transection); cotyledon (seed leaf)
solitary; when flower parts in whorls then some in whorls of 3, at
least not in whorls of 5 parts; leaves parallel-veined; root system
fibrous (i.e., most roots adventitious); plants nearly always herba-
ceous III. Monocotyledoneae, p. 19
3. Plants with several if not all of the following characters: vascular bundles of
young stems forming an interrupted cylinder (seen as a ring of dots
in stem-transection); cotyledons usually 2, rarely more or one;
flower parts (when in whorls) often in 4's or 5's, less often in 3's,
2's, 6's, etc.; leaves usually reticulate-veined; roots either fibrous or
not; plants herbaceous or woody, the wood forming concentric
layers when present; young stems nearly always hollow or with a
pithy zone in the center IV. Dlcotyledoneae, p. 23
I. Pteridophyta (p. 37 of text)
1. Foliage leaves scalelike or long-subulate, sometimes united into toothed
sheaths (2)
1. Foliage leaves or entire frond with broad or narrow, entire, toothed, pinnate,
pinnatifid or variously dissected blades (6)
2(1). Stems hollow, fluted, jointed; sporangia borne under peltate scales in a
cone 5. Equisetaceae, p. 45
2. Stems solid, not fluted or jointed; sporangia borne in the axils of scalelike or
small leaflike or long-subulate bracts (3)
3(2). Leaves rushlike, long-subulate, more than 3 cm. long, borne in a tuft on a
short cormlike stem 4. Isoetaceae, p. 41
3. Leaves scalelike, flat, sometimes concave or cymbiform, less than 3 cm. long,
borne on erect or creeping elongate stems and branches (4)
17
-------
HAJOR GROUPS OF HONOCOTYLEDONS
,7—INFERIOR
SESSILE
OVARV
WHORLED OR
OPPOSITE LEAVES
OVARY INFERIOR
REGULAR
PERIANTH
SEGMENTS
UNITED
AT THE BASE
EQUITANT LEAVES
OVARY SUPERIOR
PISTILS MORE
THAN ONE
PERIANTH OF
TWO SERIES
PERIANTH
ATTACHED
OVARY T0 STAMEN
SUPERIOR FILAMENT
PERIANTH
DRY AND
PAPERY
PERIANTH PRESENT
PERIANTH ABSENT OR REDUCED TO BRISTLES OR SCALES. 50I1ETIHE5 FLOWERS IIS A PERIANTH-LIKE
FRUIT FLOWER jRn II .» i UMBEL INVOLUCRE
RSPATHE
FLOWERS
FLATTENED SPIKE
PISTILLATE
FLOWER
FLOATING OR SUBMERSED AQUATICS
ROWERS IN
LEAF AXILS
TERRESTRIAL OR, IF AQUATIC, ONLY BASE OF PLANT IN WATER
PA LEA
FLOWERS IN
HEADS OR
HEAD-LIKE
WHORLS
BASAL
PISTILLATE
FLOWERS
PISTILLATE
PERIANTH FLOWERS
OF BRISTLES
FLOWERS IN
AXILS OF
DRY CHAFFY
BRACTS
Fig. 3A: The major groups of monocotyledons. (From Mason, Fig. 2).
-------
4(3). Plants often forming broomlike clumps; stem naked except for distantly
placed minute scalelike leaves; sporangia subtended by 2 minute
scale leaves and scattered on upper part of branches
1. Psilotaceae, p. 37
4. Plants not in broomlike clumps; stem with closely placed or imbricated leaves;
sporophylls not bifid, borne in cones (5)
5(4). Plants with erect fruiting stems; cones cylindric; spores of 1 kind
2. Lycopodiaceae, p. 39
5. Plants with ascending or spreading fruiting branches; cones more or less
quadrangular; spores of 2 kinds 3. Selaginellaceae, p. 41
6(1). Plants usually large and conspicuous, growing in soil or on rocks or trees,
or (if free-floating or submerged) large and dendroid; spores of 1
kind, minute (7)
6. Plants small, free-floating or partially submerged or rooted in mud; spores of
2 kinds, borne in sporocarps (10)
7(6). Fertile fronds with 2 distinct parts, the fertile part being in the form of
a spike or panicle and arising from the petioles, the sterile part of
the frond being either entire or pinnately dissected
6. Ophioglossaceae, p. 47
7. Fronds not as in Ophioglossaceae (8)
8(7). Sporangia in panicles or (sometimes fingerlike) spikes developed from the
modified blade or parts of the blade 7. Osmundaceae, p. 51
8. Sporangia borne on the back of (the lower side of) or on the margin of the
blade (9)
9(8). Plants never free-floating nor dendroid; sporangia usually long-stalked
10. Polypodiaceae, p. 61
9. Plants usually free-floating or very rarely deeply submerged, the sterile leaves
forming a floating sterile rosette; sporangia sessile or nearly so
11. Parkeriaceae, p. 77
10(6). Plants rooting in mud or on muddy bottoms; rootstocks creeping; leaves
quadrifoliolate or filiform, not imbricate nor matted, distant
8. Marsileaceae, p. 53
10. Plants free-floating or resting on mud; rootstocks pinnately branched; leaves
deeply 2-lobed, imbricate, matted 9. Salviniaceae, p. 57
II. Gymnospermae (p. 79 of text)
Leaves spreading in 2 ranks, usually seasonally deciduous; cones globose; cone
scales club-shaped, without distinct bracts, flat or peltate, with two
3-angled or somewhat 3-winged seeds 12. Taxodiaceae, p. 79
III. Monocotyledoneae (p. 85 of text)
1. Plants 1 cm. long or usualy less, thalluslike, stemless, usually floating or
resting on mud or some type of extraneous matter such as leaves
and pieces of wood 28. Lemnaceae, p. 563
1. Plants usually larger, not with above combination of characters (2)
19
-------
2(1). Each pistillate flower with 4 free carpels each of which at fruiting time is
long-stipitate; submerged aquatics with linear leaves
17. Ruppiaceae, p. 123
2. Carpels either coalescent or if free then not stipitate (3)
3(2). Carpels 2 to numerous, free from each other (4)
3. Carpels solitary or if more than 1 then these (at base or throughout) coalescent
for more than a third their length (7)
4(3). Carpels numerous per female flower 21. Alismataceae, p. 133
4. Carpels 2 to 9 per flower (5)
5(4). Ovules numerous; flowers showy, yellow 22. Butomaceae, p. 153
5. Ovules solitary; flowers inconspicuous (6)
6(5). Perianth of 4 free rounded shortly clawed valvate segments 1-4 mm. long
15. Potamogetonaceae, p. 95
6. Perianth absent (genus Zannichellia of) 16. Zannichelliaceae, p. 117
7(3). Ovary inferior; perianth clearly epigynous (8)
7. Ovary superior or apparently so, in some taxa the perianth reduced or absent,
in some the perianth adnate to the ovary for a very short distance
basally (14)
8(7). Partly or wholly submerged plants; ovules numerous, spread all over the
inner surface of the carpels or on the intrusive septa
23. Hydrocharitaceae, p. 156
8. Plants not submerged or if partly so the ovules confined to placentary areas
(9)
9(8). At least the inner 3 tepals dissimilar to one another, the flower thus not
radially symmetrical (10)
9. At least the inner 3 tepals (and usually the outer one, too) equal to each
other or nearly so, the flower thus approaching true radial sym-
metry (12)
10(9). Ovule solitary in each cell 39. Marantaceae, p. 686
10. Ovules more numerous (11)
11(10). Flowers only slightly zygomorphic, reddish or orange, in terminal tfayrses
on erect stems to 12 dm. tall 38. Cannaceae, p. 684
11. Flowers strongly zygomorphic, the lower (or rarely uppermost) of the 3
inner tepals strikingly different from the other 2, forming a label-
lum; stems usually less than 5 dm. long 41. Orchidaceae, p. 690
12(9). Leaves equitant, distichous and folded along the midrib; stamens 3
37. Iridaceae, p. 673
12. Leaves not equitant; stamens 3 or 6 (13)
13(12). Stamens 3; basal leaves usually linear and grasslike and stem or scape
leaves scalelike 40. Burmanniaceae, p. 686
13. Stamens usually 6; basal leaves usually broader; plants very diverse in habit....
36. Amaryllidaceae, p. 664
14(7). Palmlike plants with perennial stem 5-70 cm. thick at ground level and
fanlike leaves 4-12 dm. broad 26. Palmae p 555
14. Habit otherwise (15)
20
-------
15(14). Submerged plants mainly of salt-water gulfs and bays, occasionally
inland in brackish or fresh-water (16)
15. Plants terrestrial or (if in water) at least partly or wholly emersed (18)
16(15). Plants perennial, entirely marine; leaves strap-shaped, leathery, at least
5 mm. wide, essentially entire; rhizome and stem thick and woody,
the rhizome with persistent fibers from the nodes, the stem adorned
with the persistent fibrous leaf bases; flowers spicate
19. Posidoniaceae, p. 129
16. Plants of fresh, brackish or salt-water; leaves linear, entire or toothed;
rhizome and stem not thick and woody, not provided with fibers or
persistent fibrous leaf bases; flowers axillary, solitary or cymose (17)
17(16). Carpels 2 or more, rarely solitary; ovule pendulous; perennials
16. Zannichelliaceae, p. 117
17. Carpels solitary; ovule basal, erect; annuals 18. Najadaceae, p. 123
18(15). Flowers ebracteate; small herbs with narrow grasslike basal leaves and
slender spikelike racemes of small usually greenish flowers
20. Juncaginaceae, p. 129
18. Flowers with bracts, bractlets, scales or glumes (19)
19(18). Proper perianth absent or nearly so, the flowers borne in dense heads,
spikes or racemes or thickly crowded on a fleshy axis or else vari-
ously disposed in panicles, when genitalia subtended by scalelike
structures these never numbering precisely 3 in 1 series or 6 in 2
series (20)
19. Proper perianth present, often in 2 series of 3 members each (in some
families the outer or inner or both series scalelike (25)
20(19). Flowers crowded on a terminal elongate fleshy axis which below the
flowering zone usually has a large foliaceous partially or wholly
sheathing bract (spathe) which covers the inflorescence during its
early development 27. Araceae, p. 556
20. Axis of inflorescence not fleshy; bract (if present) not so large and not cover-
ing the young inflorescence (21)
21(20). Inflorescence a series of globose heads at the upper nodes, the uppermost
heads of staminate flowers, the lower ones of pistillate flowers
14. Sparganiaceae, p. 89
21. Inflorescence otherwise (22)
22(21). Inflorescence solitary, terminal, globose or hemispheric, 2-15 mm. thick,
exceedingly dense, not subtended by large bracts (bracts only 1-4
mm. long) 31. Eriocaulaceae, p. 588
22. Inflorescences not globose nor hemispheric or if so (as in some Cyperaceae)
then closely subtended by several bracts several times as long as the
inflorescence is thick (23)
23(22). Inflorescence a very dense brownish spike 12-40 cm. long and 1-2 cm.
thick with thousands of minute flowers, the male above, the female
below; ''cat-tails" 13. Typhaceae, p. 85
23. Inflorescence otherwise (24)
24(23). Leaves distichous (and sometimes equitant); with rare exceptions each
floret subtended by 2 scales (the lower or lemma abaxial and with
1 midvein; the upper or palea adaxial and with 2 unequal non-
medial nerves) 24. Gramineae, p. 169
21
-------
THE MAJOR GROUPS Of DICOTYLEDONS
PETALS
UNITED INTO
A TUBE
FLOWERS IN
INVOLUCRAL PAIRS
PISTILS MORE
THAN ONE
PETALS
ANOTHER v,
FLOWERS |N HEAD.L|KE LEAVES SEED WITH SEGMENTS ALL PERIANTH DIFFERENTIATED OVARY
MONOECIOUS CLUSTERS FASCICLED LONG HAIRS SEPAL-LIKE INTO PETALS AND SEPALS INFERIOR
PLANTS WOODY AT BASL (TREES. 5HRU6S, OR VINE5)
PLANTS WHOLLY HERBACEOUS
ACHENE
!ti(\ 3-ANGLED
FRUIT
COROLLA ABSENT INDEHISCENT
CALYX PRESENT
ONE
SEEDED
FRUIT DEHISCENT
CIRCUMSGIS5ILE LONGITUDINAL
STIPULES
PRESENT
LEAVES DISSECTED
COROLLA ABSENT,CALYX PRESENT OR ABSENT
FLOWERS IN STOUT
SPIKE,SUBTENDED BY
WHITE PETALOID SRACTS
COROLLA PRESENT
FLOWERS IRREGULAR,
PAPILIONACEOUS
FLOWER;
REGULA
PETALS FREE
FROM ONE ANOTHER
FLOWERS HYPOGENOI
LEAVES
PITCHER-SHAPED
PETALS FREE FROM ONE ANOTHER
FRUIT FIVE
GLOBOSE
CARPELS
FRUIT
SPLITTING
INTO 2 ONE-
SEEDED CARPELS
PETALS UNITED
STIGMA
ANTHER /
COLUMN
COROLLA
COROLLA IRREGULAR SPURRED
FRUIT OF
TWO TO FOUR
NUTLETS
STAMENS
UNITED INTO A
TUBE AROUND
THE STYLE
Fig. 3B: The major groups of dicotyledons. (From Mason, Fig. 3).
-------
24. Leaves tristichous; each floret subtended by a single abaxial scale (seemingly
2 scales in Hemicarpha, or by a sac in Carex, or by bristles in addi-
tion to the scale in some genera) 25. Cyperaceae, p. 341
25(19). Calyx irregular, glumaceous, the 2 persistent lateral sepals cymbiform
and dorsally keeled or winged, the third sepal larger, obovate and
enfolding or forming a hood over the corolla in bud and deciduous
with it 30. Xyridaceae, p. 578
25. Calyx otherwise (26)
26(25). The 3 inner tepals (petals) quite distinct in color and/or texture from
the 3 outer ones (sepals) (27)
26. The 6 tepals all rather similar in color and texture, either all dry and scale-
like or all corolline (28)
27(26). Ovary completely 3-celled; lower part of leaves sheathing the internodes
32. Commelinaceae, p. 593
27. Ovary incompletely 3-celled or 1-celled; leaves not sheathing
29. Mayacaceae, p. 578
28(26). Perianth of 6 scalelike dry brown noncorolline tepals
34. Juncaceae, p. 604
28. Perianth of 6 corolline tepals or with 6 corolline segments (29)
29(28). Usually floating, partly submerged or at least rooting in mud; inflores-
cence subtended by spathelike leaf sheaths; seeds usually ribbed;
flowers usually somewhat zygomorphic....33. Pontederiaceae, p. 597
29. Dryland to marshland plants; inflorescence usually not subtended by a
spathelike leaf sheath; seeds various, usually not ribbed; flowers
almost always radially symmetrical 35. Liliaceae, p. 646
IV. Dicotyledoneae (p. 734 of text)
1. Flowers with all the petals united at their edges (at least near the base) into
a single structure, this corolla often deciduous as a unit and often
shaped like a saucer, a cup or a trumpet (2)
1. Flowers not as above, if any petals joined then not all of them involved or
else not joined at their edges (occasionally the petals may seem
to be joined somewhat in bud but not in the mature flower), or
petals absent (48)
2(1). Flowers epigynous or partly so, i.e., the perianth and stamens when pres-
ent appearing to be attached to the top or near the middle of the
sides of the ovary (3)
2. Flowers hypogynous or perigynous, the sides of the ovary free from the peri-
anth or the floral cup, the perianth attached below the ovary (12)
3(2). Anthers 5 or 4, coalescent but filaments free (anthers exceptionally free
in the genera Ambrosia, Xanthium, Iva); fruit an achene and usu-
ally crowned by the modified calyx of bristles or scales; style
branches usually 2, usually divergent; flowers usually very small
and aggregated in involute heads 129. Compositae, p. 1586
3. Anthers usually free (exceptions: Curcurbitaceae; 1 genus of Campanulaceae);
fruit diverse but rarely an achene (exception: Valerianaceae); style
branches 1 to 20; flowers rarely aggregated in involucrate heads (4)
23
-------
4(3). Stems trailing or twining, often vinelike, often scabrous, often with lobed
leaves; fruits with a leathery or tougher rind and fleshy placenta!
tissue inside and numerous flattish seeds either buried in flesh (as
in the watermelon) or in 2 to many longitudinal rows on the sev-
eral (3 to 5, usually) placentas which are on the walls of the
chamber (as in pumpkins and gourds); stamens often united
127. Cucurbitaceae, p. 1569
4. Plants not with the cucurbitaceous character-combination (5)
5(4). Anthers 8 or more (6)
5. Anthers 5 or fewer (rarely 6 in Ericaceae) (8)
6(5). Stamens numerous, a cluster of them present at the base of each petal
105. Symplocaceae, p. 1301
6. Stamens 8 to 16 (7)
7(6). Leaves and branchlets nearly glabrous, at least never with stellate or lepi-
dote vestiture; fruit a many-seeded berry; anthers appendaged
(genus Vaccinium of) 101. Ericaceae, p. 1267
7. Leaves and branchlets with at least some stellate or lepidote vestiture; fruit
winged or few-seeded, round and dry; anthers unappendaged
104. Styracaceae, p. 1296
8(5). Placenta free, central, attached to base of locule (genus Samolus of)
102. Primulaceae, p. 1276
8. Placenta when axile not free from the sides (in a few taxa the placenta is
apical) (9)
9(8). Leaves alternate 128. Campanulaceae, p. 1571
9. Leaves opposite or whorled (10)
10(9). Fruit an achene or an achenelike structure or at least indehiscent and
with a single maturing ovule 126. Valerianaceae, p. 1562
10. Fruit a capsule, berry, drupe or schizocarp (11)
11(10). Stipules present (these sometimes in the form of leaflike structures
which add to the number of "leaves" at a node)
124. Rubiaceae, p. 1538
11. Stipules absent but stipular lines sometimes evident
125. Caprifoliaceae, p. 1555
12(2). Corolla forming a cap over the tiny flower'and falling as a unit at the
onset of anthesis, the petals separating from each other only at the
base; stamens opposite petals but not attached to the corolla, per-
sistent after the corolla falls (genus Vitis of)....86. Vitaceae, p. 1108
12. Corolla not behaving as in grape flowers (13)
13(12). Gynoecium at anthesis or shortly before anthesis with a 2-lobed ovary
(or appearing as 2 carpels or 2 ovaries) but only a single style
owing to fusion of the styles above the ovary lobes; 1 or each lobe
of the ovary maturing into a folliclelike structure- stigma massive
(14)
13. Ovary entire or if deeply 2-lobed then styles not united or if so the single
style gynobasic; stigmas not often massive (15)
14(13). Sap milky or not; stigma free from or only loosely coherent to anther-
and/or corolla-tissue 109. Apocynaceae, p. 1331
24
-------
14: Sap always milky; stigma massive and united to anther-tissue and often to
some corolla-tissue to form a "crown"' or gynostegium"
110. Asclepiadaceae, p. 1339
15(13). Leaves pinnately twice-compound 74. Leguminosae, p. 1039
15. Leaves simple to pinnately once-compound or palmately compound (16)
16(15). Anthers more than 3 times as numerous as the petals (or as the corolla
lobes) (17)
16. Anthers numbering from 3 times as numerous as the petals or corolla lobes to
as few as 2 per flower (19)
17(16). Filaments either coalescent to form a tube or at least coalescent at base
87. Malvaceae, p. 1113
17. Filaments not coalescent (18)
18(17). Herbs with deeply dissected leaves and highly zygomorphic flowers
61. Ranunculaceae, p. 913
18. Woody plants with mostly entire leaves and actinomorphic flowers
105. Symplocaceae, p. 1301
19(16). Stamens (6 or) 7 to 18, usually precisely 2 or 3 times as numerous as
the petals or corolla lobes (20)
19. Stamens 2 to 5 (or very rarely 6), as many as the petals or corolla lobes or
fewer than them (24)
20(19). Carpels free, equal in number to the calyx segments or corolla lobes,
each maturing into a follicle 69. Crassulaceae, p. 994
20. Carpels coalescent into a compound pistil (21)
21(20). Petals typically 3; flowers extremely zygomorphic; stamens 8 or rarely
6 51. Polygalaceae, p. 1074
21. Petals or corolla lobes 4 to 7; flowers only slightly if at all zygomorphic; sta-
mens (6 or) 7 to 18 (22)
22(21). Anthers often with little hornlike appendages and dehiscing by apical
slits, clefts or pores 101. Ericaceae, p. 1267
22. Anthers unappendaged, usually opening longitudinally (23)
23(22). Woody plants with stellate or lepidote vestiture
104. Styracaceae, p. 1296
23. Plants herbaceous, vestiture absent or else not stellate nor lepidote
78. Euphorbiaceae, p. 1082
24(19). Ovule viviparous, i.e., germinating while still on the parent-plant;
opposite-leaved mangrovelike small rhizomatous shrubs growing on
salty mud flats along the Texas coast.... 115. Avicenniaceae, p. 1392
24. Ovule not viviparous; plants not growing in salty mud or if so then not
shrubby (25)
25(24). Fruit an incompletely celled capsule (i.e., 1-celled with incomplete par-
titions), dehiscing apically 58. Caryophyllaceae, p. 884
25. Fruit otherwise, if capsular then dehiscing differently (26)
26(25). Fruit a circumscissile capsule; herbs with leaves nearly all basal and
flowers in dense spikes terminating the scapes
123. Plantaginaceae, p. 1533
26. Fruit not a circumscissile capsule or if so then habit otherwise (27)
25
-------
27(26). Fruit a capsule terminated by 2 prominent curved and incurved beaks,
1-3 dm. long 120. Martyniaceae, p. 1508
27. Fruit not as above (28)
28(27). Herbs with opposite leaves and the odor of wet wool (or a wet dog);
stamens 3 (rarely 2); flowers minute, white, in terminal dichasia
or compound cymes; calyx minute, annular, involute (often un-
rolling after anthesis) or with minute teeth; fruit a 1-seeded achene-
like structure 126. Valerianaceae, p. 1562
28. Plants not as above, usually with 2, 4 or 5 stamens and with the calyx
usually better-developed (29)
29(28). Herbs usually with linear leaves; fruit a capsule, more or less com-
pletely 10-celled, at maturity splitting into 5 or 10 parts which fall
away separately 76. Linaceae, p. 1073
29. Herbs, shrubs or trees; fruit not as in flax (30)
30(29). Leaves alternate and stipulate (the stipules sometimes small, deciduous)
(31)
30. Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, either not having stipules or if with
stipules then opposite (32)
31(30). Fruit subglobose, drupaceous (with several stones), reddish to yellow-
ish or black, usually 5-10 mm. thick 82. Aquifoliaceae, p. 1097
31. Fruit a capsule or schizocarp 88. Sterculiaceae, p. 1125
32(30). Leaves opposite or whorled and with stipules, the evidence of stipules
sometimes reduced to mere stipular lines or membranes at the sides
of the node (here may also be sought certain Rubiaceae whose
essential epigyny has been overlooked) ....107. Loganiaceae, p. 1308
32. Leaves opposite or alternate, without the slightest evidence of stipules (33)
33(32). Stamens 2 or 4, fewer than the 5 corolla lobes (the number of corolla
lobes may be obscure in highly zygomorphic corollas) (34)
33. Stamens 5 in flowers with 5 corolla lobes or 4 in flowers with 4 corolla lobes
(this usually easily ascertained) (40)
34(33). Fruit not capsular, either schizocarpous and breaking into 1-seeded
achenelike parts or else drupaceous; leaves always opposite (35)
34. Fruit a capsule or a samara; leaves opposite or alternate (37)
35(34). Flowers strongly zygomorphic; style usually manifestly bifurcate near
the apex (lower branches usually shorter than the upper); fruit
a schizocarp 117. Labiatae, p. 1407
35. Flowers usually only slightly if at all zygomorphic; style usually micro-
scopically if at all bifurcate at apex; fruit schizocarpous or dru-
paceous (36)
36(35). Fruit a 1-seeded drupe 106. Oleaceae, p. 1301
36. Fruit a schizocarp or a drupe with 2 or more seeds
116. Verbenaceae, p. 1393
37(34). Seeds minute, attached to a free central placenta in the 1-celled ovary;
fruit a 2- or 4-valved capsule; small herbs
121. Lentibulariaceae, p. 1510
37. Seeds attached to axile or nearly axile placentas in the 2-celled ovary; fruit
a capsule or samara (38)
26
-------
38(37). Corolla lobes usually convolute in bud; capsule elastically dehiscent, the
seeds ballistically ejected at dehiscence 122. Acanthaceae, p. 1525
38. Corolla lobes usually imbricate or valvate in bud; capsule not elastically de-
hiscent (or fruit a samara in some taxa), the seeds not ballistic (39)
39(38). The 2 stamens opposite each other or at least widely separated on the
nearly aotinomorphic corolla 106. Oleaceae, p. 1301
39. The 2 or 4 stamens not widely separated in the usually strongly zygomorphic
corolla 119. Scrophulariaceae, p. 1456
40(33). Only a single seed maturing in each flower
103. Plumbaginaceae, p. 1295
40. At least 2 and commonly more seeds produced by each flower (41)
41(40). Placenta obviously free-central, attached at base of the single cell of
the ovary; stamens opposite the corolla lobes
102. Primulaceae, p. 1276
41. Placenta axile or parietal, or if basal then the ovary with more than 1 cell,
or if placentation difficult to determine at least not obviously free-
central; stamens alternate with the corolla lobes (but this very
obscure in some flowers) (42)
42(41). Ovary 3-celled; style usually 3-cleft at apex; plant never twining; sepals
united by translucent webbing tissue....112. Polemoniaceae, p. 1369
42. Ovary usually 2- or 4-celled, rarely 1-celled (43)
43(42). Placentae parietal (but often intruded deeply into the chamber and
meeting at the center, their parietal nature then revealed only by
very careful dissection); seeds small and numerous; anthers after
anthesis shriveling into a spiral or helix; leaves opposite (except in
genus Nymphoides); cymes never scorpioid
108. Gentiqnaceae, p. 1312
43. Placentae axile or axile-basal (except parietal in some Hydrophyllaceae with
scorpioid cymes and more than 1 stigma); seeds few to numerous;
anthers after anthesis not shriveling into a spiral or a helix; leaves
opposite or alternate (44)
44(43). Fruit drupaceous or a deeply lobed schizocarp of 2 to 4 achenelike
mericarps 114. Boraginaceae, p. 1383
44. Fruit a capsule or berry (45)
45(44). Each flower with a single (sometimes shallowly 2-lobed) stigma (46)
45. Each flower with 1 or 2 styles and at least 2 stigmas (47)
46(45). Herbs or shrubs; leaves alternate (sometimes fascicled); flowers almost
exclusively radially symmetrical; fruit a capsule or berry
118. Solanaceae, p. 1449
46. Opposite-leaved herbs with strongly zygomorphic corollas; fruit a capsule....
119. Scrophulariaceae, p. 1456
47(45). Often herbaceous twining vines or rhizomatous or stoloniferous creep-
ing herbs; flowers usually solitary from the axils; ovary usually 2-
or 3- or 4-celled 111. Convolvulaceae, p. 1350
47. Never twining, usually small erect taprooted herbs; flowers in cymes or heli-
coid or scorpioid cymes, or solitary; ovary usually 1-celled (2-
oelled in Nama) 113. Hydrophyllaceae, p. 1375
48(1). Completely submerged fresh-water aquatics with much-reduced flowers
and very peculiar habits (cf. also Haloragaceae and Lemnaceae)
(49)
27
-------
48. Either terrestrial plants or if aquatic then not completely submerged (or only
briefly so at some seasons), the flowers always aerial or with a less
bizarre habit (50)
49(48). Leaves whorled; plants usually seemingly free-floating
60. Ceratophyllaceae, p. 912
49. Leaves alternate, distichous; plants attached to rocks and usually in swift-
flowing water 68. Podostemaceae, p. 993
50(48). Stem-parasites not in contact with the soil; vegetative parts threadlike....
63. Lauraceae, p. 961
50. Nonparasitic or if parasitic then appearing rooted in soil (51)
51(50). Shrublets or subshmbs with creeping underground organs, forming
colonies on low salty ground near and along the Texas coast;
leaves well-developed (cf. Salicornia where they are mere scales),
opposite, fleshy, linear; pistillate flowers aggregated into and largely
sunken in the axes of short axillary inflorescences; staminate flowers
in spikelike axillary inflorescences 54. Bataceae, p. 868
51. Habitally diverse, if fleshy then having leaves reduced to scales or alternate
leaves or the inflorescences different from Batis (52)
52(51). Corolla absent, the flower either with no perianth or with only one series
of perianth parts (sepals or "tepals"); (also see here Rumex with 2
dissimilar whorls or sepals) (53)
52. Each flower with both calyx and corolla or occasionally in families with uni-
sexual flowers the petals absent from the pistillate ones, or in some
taxa petals present only in the chasmogamous flower but absent
from cleistogamous ones (95)
53(52). Trees with flowers and fruits small and numerous in spherical heads;
leaves palmately lobed (54)
53. Trees, shrubs, herbs or vines with flowers not in spherical heads or if so
then leaves not palmately lobed (55)
54(53). Bark furrowed; leaves deeply 5- or 7-lobed to resemble a star, smooth
and shiny (genus Liquidambar of) ....71. Hamamelidaceae, p. 1011
54. Bark exfoliating in thin sheets; leaves 3- or 5-lobed, usually with broad
rounded shallow sinuses, the undersurfaces usually pubescent
72. Platanaceae, p. 1012
55(53). Sepals coalescent at least near their bases either above the receptacle in
hypogynous flowers or above the floral cup or hypanthium in peri-
gynous flowers or above the ovary in epigynous ones (56)
55. Sepals free from each other either completely to the receptacle in hypogynous
flowers or above the ovary in epigynous ones, or sepals absent (67)
56(55). Ovary completely inferior (57)
56. Ovary superior or only partly inferior near the base (60)
57(56). Herbs usually growing partially submerged or in mud but the flowers
aerial (58)
57. Plants never aquatic (59)
58(57). Leaves (at least the immersed ones) pinnatifid to capillary-dissected;
staments more than 1; ovary 2- to 4-celled
96. Haloragaceae, p. 1201
58. Leaves all entire; stamen 1; ovary 1-celled 97. Hippuridaceae, p. 1208
28
-------
59(57). Erect herbs with merely opposite leaves and a pungently fetid odor (like
that of a wet dog) 126. Valerianaceae, p. 1562
59. Erect or often trailing herbs with whorled leaves and not strongly odoriferous
(genus Galium of) 124. Rubiaceae, p. 1538
60(56). Pistils several, free from each other 61. Ranunculaceae, p. 913
60. Pistil solitary (61)
61(60). Seeds (or ovules) campylotropous, with embryo curved around the
periphery surrounding the perisperm or endosperm (62)
61. Seeds not as above (64)
62(61). Seeds solitary 53. Amaranthaceae, p. 857
62. Seeds several to numerous (63)
63(62). Stamens more numerous than sepals 56. Aizoaceae, p. 870
63. Stamens as many as the sepals 58. Caryophyllaceae, p. 884
64(61). Branches of inflorescence scorpioid (genus Penthorum of)
70. Saxifragaceae, p. 999
64. Branches of inflorescence (if any) not scorpioid (65)
65(64). Leaves pinnately compound (genus Fraxinus of)
106. Oleaceae, p. 1301
65. Leaves simple (66)
66(65). Ovary 1-celled; stigma solitary; stamens 2 to 5 50. Urticaceae, p. 788
66. Ovary usually 3-celled; stigma usually more than 1; stamens usually more
.than 5 78. Euphorbiaceae, p. 1082
67(55). Stamen solitary; leaves opposite; low-growing subaquatics or aquatics;
perianth absent 79. Callitrichaceae, p. 1085
67. Stamens more numerous or if only 1 then the leaves alternate or else the
plants woody; calyx often present (68)
68(67). Carpels several, distinct 61. Ranunculaceae, p. 913
68. Carpels (when more than 1) united at least at their bases (at least at anthesis)
(69)
69(68). Ovary completely inferior as shown by micro- or macroscopic scales or
sepals at top (use strong lens) and/or in some taxa by stamens at
the very top of the ovary (70)
69. Ovary superior or at least half-superior (75)
70(69). Plants herbaceous (71)
70. Plants woody; fruit a nutlike structure (72)
71(70). Ovary of several folliclelike structures partially or almost wholly im-
mersed in the inflorescence axis and associated floral tissue (genus
Anemopsis of) 42. Saururaceae, p. 734
71. Ovary not as in Anemopsis 98. Umbelliferae, p. 1211
72(70). Nut subtended by a cupule of more or less consolidated bracts
48. Fagaceae, p. 783
72. Nut not having a basal cupule of bracts (73)
73(72). Leaves compound 46. Juglandaceae, p. 769
73. Leaves simple (74)
29
-------
74(73). Stipules present; leaves usually serrate 47. Betulaceae, p. 777
74. Stipules absent; leaves usually entire-margined 99. Cornaceae, p. 126Z
75(69). Annual herbs; sepals 4; fruit a compressed-flattened 2-celled pod with a
thin narrow vertical septum parallel to the direction of compression
64. Cruciferae, p. 962
75. Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, trees or vines (76)
76(75). Plants herbaceous (include in this category woody-based vines and
herbs which may have slightly woody stems at base but which die
back to near the base every year) (77)
76. Plants woody, never vinelike (88)
77(76). Embryo curved, occupying the periphery of the rounded ovule and sur-
rounding the perisperm and/or endosperm (78)
77. Embryo otherwise (84)
78(77). Each pistillate or perfect flower maturing only 1 seed (79)
78. Each pistillate or perfect flower maturing several seeds (81)
79(78). Sepals dry, scalelike, for the most part not green
53. Amaranthaceae, p. 857
79. Sepals herbaceous in texture (80)
80(79). Stipules absent 52. Chenopodiaceae, p. 834
80. Stipules present 58. Caryophyllaceae, p. 884
81 (78). Leaves alternate; flowers in terminal racemes....55. Phytolaccaceae, p. 870
81. Leaves alternate or opposite; flowers not in terminal racemes (82)
82(81). Leaves usually opposite; ovary never even slightly inferior; fruit usually
dehiscent by terminal valves 58. Caryophyllaceae, p. 884
82. Leaves alternate or if opposite then the fruit opening otherwise and not un-
commonly at least slightly inferior (83)
83(82). Each flower with 2 bracteoles (or "sepals") at base which often enclose
the bud; ovary 1-celled or incompletely several-celled
57. Portulacaceae, p. 879
83. Flowers rarely bibracteolate; ovary completely several-celled
56. Aizoaceae, p. 870
84(77). Fruit a capsule of several folliclelike parts, each part dehiscing through
the apical portion of the ventral suture 42. Saururaceae, p. 734
84. Fruit not as in Saururaceae (85)
85(84). Flowers unisexual; fruits capsular, 3-celled....78. Euphorbiaceae, p. 1082
85. Flowers usually bisexual; fruits achenelike, indehiscent (86)
86(85). Leaves palmately lobed or palmately or pinnately compound
73. Rosaceae, p. 1015
86. Leaves not palmately lobed (87)
87(86). Stipules usually present, usually deciduous, never sheathing nor scarious;
placenta apical; ovule anatropous; achene usually not shiny often
neither lenticular nor trigonous 50. Urticaceae, p. 788
87. Stipules (when present) usually sheathing; placenta basal; ovule orthotropous;
achene usually smooth and shiny, either lenticular or trigonous
51. Polygonaceae, p. 795
30
-------
88(76). Embryo curved, occupying the periphery of the rounded ovule and
surrounding the perisperm and/or endosperm (go back to couplet
79).
88. Embryo not as above (89)
89(88). Leaves opposite (90)
89. Leaves alternate (91)
90(89). Fruit a drupe or a simple samara 106. Oleaceae, p. 1301
90. Fruit a double samara, with the seed-bearing bases connate and the 2 blades
diverging as in maple fruit 84. Aceraceae, p. 1104
91(89). Seeds numerous, each surrounded by a basal coma of hairs
43. Salicaceae, p. 737
91. Seeds often 1 or few, with coma absent (92)
92(91). Androecium of 4 series, each series of 3 stamens whose anthers open
by 2 or 4 uplifting valves, often an additional 3 staminodia pres-
ent 63. Lauraceae, p. 961
92. Androecium otherwise, usually the stamens fewer than 12; anther dehiscence
usually by longitudinal slits (93)
93(92). Flowers perfect or unisexual with both sexes on the same plant, solitary
or in few-flowered fascicles; calyx 4- or 5*merous; fruit a samara,
a roundish drupe or a nutlike structure 49. Ulmaceae, p. 788
93. Flowers unisexual, usually with male and female flowers on separate plants
or sometimes on the same plant, in small spikes or aments; calyx
absent at least in staminate flowers; fruit either a small wax-coated
sphere or an elongate drupe (94)
94(93). Fruit a small wax-coated sphere; leaves subpersistent, usually toothed or
lobulate above the middle 44. Myricaceae, p. 767
94. Fruit an elongate leathery-skinned drupe; leaves deciduous, usually entire-
margined 45. Leitneriaceae, p. 769
95(52). Ovary inferior or mostly so (96)
95. Ovary superior or mostly so (here also see Nelumbo of the Nyphaeaceae
whose separate ovaries are mostly immersed in the receptacle and
Euonymus in the Celastraceae in which the massive disk may
appear to adhere lightly to the side of the ovary) (102)
96(95). Fruit consisting of 2 achenelike mericarps which at maturity separate
from each other and from the receptacle....98. Umbelliferae, p. 1211
96. Fruit otherwise (97)
97(96). Embryo curved, forming the periphery of the roundish or disklike ovule,
surrounding the perisperm and/or endosperm (go back to couplet
83).
97. Embryo and ovule otherwise (98)
98(97). Fruit a pome 73. Rosaceae, p. 1015
98. Fruit not a pome or if resembling one then seeds numerous (99)
99(98). Fruit a drupe 99. Cornaceae, p. 1262
99. Fruit a berry, capsule or follicetum (100)
31
-------
100(99). Usually a long hypanthium present and prolonged above and com-
pletely obscuring the top of the ovary; stamens (often 8) usually
precisely twice as numerous as the petals; fruit a capsule
95. Onagraceae, p. 1175
100. Top of ovary plainly visible at or slightly above the point of attachment
of the stamens and perianth; fruit a capsule, berry or follicetum
(101)
101(100). Plants partially submerged weak-stemmed aquatics (genus Myrio-
phyllum of) 96. Haloragaceae, p. 1201
101. Plants not partially submerged 70. Saxifragaceae p. 999
102(95). Filaments monadelphous or diadelphous, or confluent with a gynophore
(anthers free or united) (103)
102. Filaments distinct from each other or joined into more than 2 groups (108)
103(102). Pistil solitary and simple, often folliclelike at maturity; stigma solitary
74. Leguminosae, p. 1039
103. Pistil solitary but compound, rarely folliclelike; stigmas mostly more than 1
(104)
104(103). Flowers strongly bilaterally symmetrical; carpels usually 2; stamens
monadelphous or diadelphous 77. Polygalaceae, p. 1074
104. Flowers nearly radially symmetrical; carpels more than 2; stamens monadel-
phous (105)
105(104). Filament tube elongate and forming a more or less loose sheath not
only around the ovary but also around the elongate style(s);
stamens numerous; flowers perfect 87. Malvaceae, p. 1113
105. Filament tube not so elongate (or if so then stamens only 10); stamens
numerous or fewer; flowers perfect or unisexual (106)
106(105). Carpels 3 as shown by number of stigmas or placentas
78. Euphorbiaceae, p. 1082
106. Carpels 5 (107)
107(106). Fruit separating at maturity into 5 or 10 uni- or biovulate mericarps
which fall separately 76. Linaceae, p. 1073
107. Fruit not a schizocarp or if so then the cells several-seeded
88. Sterculiaceae, p. 1125
108(102). Aquatic perennial herbs with thick horizontal rhizomes, rooted in mud
at bottom of water; leaves (at least those borne at or near the sur-
face of the water) usually peltate or very deeply rounded-
cordate 59. Nymphaeaceae, p. 900
108. Habit not as in the water-lily family (109)
109(108). Pistils several (each simple) and quite separate (even at base) at
all stages of development (110)
109. Pistil 1, either simple or compound (in some taxa the carpels united only
near their bases as for example the Magnoliaceae, Saxifragaceae
and Hamamelidaceae) (112)
110(109). Flowers with a floral cup (or "hypanthium") at the rim of which
are attached the sepals, petals and stamens; stipules usually present;
endosperm absent 73 Rosaceae, p. 1015
110. Calyx, corolla and androecium hypogynous or nearly so; stipules present or
often absent; endosperm usually present (111)
32
-------
111(110). Leaves usually fleshy and succulent, simple, unlobed or usually so,
with entire or toothed margins 69. Crassulaceae, p. 994
111. Leaves not succulent, usually deeply lobed or compound
61. Ranunculaceae, p. 913
112(109). Carpels numerous, crowded together to cover the prolonged floral
axis, cohering to each other and in fruit forming a fleshy or
rather woody conelike fruit, each folliclelike carpel opening longi-
tudinally by a dorsal slit and each carpel uni- or biovulate; trees
or shrubs 62. Magnoliaceae, p. 958
112. Gynoecium and fruit not as in the Magnoliaceae (113)
113(112). Flowers bilaterally symmetrical; petals 3, bilobed; stamens 5, each
filament with a scale and all 5 scales connivent over the stigma;
capsules explosively dehiscent 85. Balsaminaceae, p. 1105
113. Character combination not as above (114)
114(113). Flowers bilaterally symmetrical; lowermost petal spurred or gibbous;
fruit a capsule with 3 valves and 3 parietal placentae
92. Violaceae, p. 1151
114. Character combination not as above (115)
115(114). Embryo curved around the periphery of the roundish or disklike
seeds, surrounding the perisperm and/or endosperm (go back to
couplet 78).
115. Ovules and seeds not as in centrospermous plants (116)
116(115). Fertile stamens precisely as many as sepals and alternate with them
and/or as many as petals and opposite them (117)
116. Fertile stamens either more numerous than petals or sepals or if as few as
petals or sepals then opposite the sepals and alternate with the
petals (119)
117(116). Vines; fruit a several-seeded berry 86. Vitaceae, p. 1108
117. Mostly trees, shrubs or herbs; fruit mostly drupes or capsules or (if vines)
then fruit a drupe (118)
118(117). Opposite-leaved herbs; capsule circumscissile (genus Anagallis of)
102. Primulaceae, p. 1276
118. Alternate-leaved plants; capsule not circumscissile....88. Sterculiaceae, p. 1125
119(116). Fruit a specialized capsule completely divided into 2 cells by a thin
partition, each cell then with 2 placentae situated at the juncture
of the partition and the walls, at dehiscence the 2 valves separating
from the persistent partition (starting at base) and falling free
64. Cruciferae, p. 962
119. Fruit not a silique or silicle (120)
120(119). Leaves tubiform, basal, trumpet-shaped, dilated upward, to 7 dm. long,
partially filled with fluid, with a ridge on the adaxial side and
terminated by an expanded hood to 8 cm. long; stamens numerous
66. Sarraceniaceae, p. 990
120. Character combination not as above (121)
121(120). Rosettelike low nearly acaulous herbs; leaf blades usually rotund, the
margins with gland-tipped hairs that exude drops of clear glittering
glutinous fluid; insectivorous by means of folding leaf blades
67. Droseraceae, p. 990
121. Character combination not as above (122)
33
-------
122(121). Tree with opposite palmately lobed leaves on long slender reddish
petioles; fruit of geminate samaras (Acer rubrum of)
84. Aceraceae, p. 1104
122. Character combination not as above (123)
123(122). Shrub or tree with alternate simple stipulate leaves; flowers usually
perfect, small, borne in small axillary pedunculate clusters or
heads, with 3 each of sepals, petals, stamens and staminodes and
2 long styles; capsule bivalvate, opening loculicidally from the top;
seed 1 in each cell 71. Hamamelidaceae, p. 1011
123. Character combination not as above (124)
124(123). Ovary with a slender axis 1-5 cm. long, at the base of which are 5
small cells, each with 2 ovules; at maturity when dry the cells
suddenly separating from the axis and coiling up on their styles
which are also adnate to the full length of the axis
75. Geraniaceae, p. 1071
124. Character combination not as above (125)
125(124). Pistil simple, folliclelike with a single style and stigma and a single
ventral placenta 74. Leguminosae, p. 1039
125. Pistil not simple as shown by 2 or more stigmas, 2 or more cells, or 2 or
more placentae (126)
126(125). Flowers unisexual; carpels 3; fruit usually a capsule and usually with
a well-developed central axis (columella) which persists after
dehiscence; ovules 1 or 2 in each of the 1, 2 or usually 3 cells,
attached to an apical-axial (columellar) placenta
78. Euphorbiaceae, p. 1082
126. Flowers usually bisexual; carpels 2 to 10, if 3 then character combination
not as above (127)
127(126). Herbs with alternate palmately compound leaves (rarely reduced to 1
leaflet); flowers hypogynous, often somewhat bilaterally symmetri-
cal; stamens 6 to 27 or more, as long" as or usually longer than the
petals; ovary borne on a slender gynophore (rarely nearly sessile),
1-celled (2-celled in Wisliienia), usually capsular with 2 valves and
many seeds 65. Capparidaceae, p. 987
127. Character combination not as above (128)
128(127). Petals and stamens either definitely perigynous, i.e., inserted in a
floral cup or "calyx tube" or very slightly epigynbus (the cup at-
tached to the very basal part of the ovary) (129)
128. Petals and stamens hypogynous (rarely very slightly or obscurely perigynous
as in some Celastraceae) (132)
129(128). Leaves opposite; hypanthium urceolate; petals 4. fugacibus, rose-color
to purple (rarely white or yellow); stamens 8, basally appendicu-
late; anthers dehiscing by apical pores
94. Melastomataceae, p. 1169
129. Character combination not as above (130)
130(129). Herbs; leaves mostly basal; ovary very shortly at base adnate to a
floral cup; stigmas 4; capsule 1-celled, 4-valved; stamens 5, plus
5 staminodes (genus Parnassia of) 70. Saxifragaceae, p. 999
130. Ovary superior; style 1, 2, 3 or 5, never 4; stamens 4 to numerous (131)
34
-------
131(130). Flowers usually uniformly 5-merous; stamens 10 to 40, inserted near
the rim of the floral cup not very far from where the petals are
inserted; stipules present 73. Rosaceae, p. 1015
131. Flowers 4- to 7-merous; stamens 4 to numerous, usually inserted well down
into the calyx tube or floral cup, whereas the petals are inserted
near the rim between the short calyx teeth; stipules minute or
usually absent 93. Lythraceae, p. 1154
132(128). Shrubs or trees with numerous twigs and very numerous alternate
scalelike or nearly terete leaves only about 1 mm. long, the entire
plant often appearing grayish; flowers pink or white, very small,
inconspicuous 91. Tamaricaceae, p. 1148
132. Character combination not as above (133)
133(132). Leaves opposite, simple and gland-dotted (as seen with transmitted
light); styles often separate or nearly so or only lightly cohering
until after anthesis; mostly herbs or weak-stemmed shrubs; sepals,
petals and stamens free and hypogynous or stamens in 5 phalanges
opposite the petals; placentae parietal or usually axile; ovules
usually numerous; fruit a capsule; stamens 6 to numerous, when
numerous tending to be in as many groups as there are petals
89. Hypericaceae, p. 1127
133. Character combination not as above but if most of the characters are similar
then the leaves mostly alternate or the styles permanently united
(134)
134(133). Shrubs or small trees of eastern Texas; flowers usually white, in
elongate racemes usually 5-20 cm. long and only 1 cm. thick (135)
134. Habit various but if flowers in elongate racemes then plants herbaceous
(136)
135(134). Fruit dehiscent 100. Clethraceae, p. 1267
135. Fruit indehiscent 81. Cyrillaceae, p. 1095
136(134). Frtlit indehiscent and usually fleshy, usually 1-seeded (137)
136. Fruit dehiscent, usually dry at maturity (138)
137(136). Leaves simple, usually stipulate; stamens never more numerous than
petals; drupes usually nearly circular in transection, not resinous,
usually glabrous 82. Aquifoliaceae, p. 1097
137. Leaves usually compound, usually exstipulate; stamens as many as or rarely
twice as many as the petals; drupes usually somewhat flattened,
resinous, often pubescent 80. Anacardiaceae, p. 1091
138(136). Flowers with thick-lobed disk that fills the bottom of the calyx and
sometimes hides much of the ovary; plants woody, with 4 sided
green-barked branchlets; seeds with bright-red arils (genus Euony-
mus of) 83. Celastraceae, p. 1103
138. Disk (if present) not so thick; plants various in habit but usually mostly
herbaceous in texture; seeds not with bright-red arils
„ 90. Elatinaceae, p. 1142
35
-------
Fig. 4: a and b, Psilotum nudum: a, habit, x %• b, sporangium, x 4 c, M
tourmen: c, habit, x ?3, with leaf, x 2. d, Marsilea mexicana: d habit x % with leaf
x 2 and sporocarps, about x 2V2. e, Ophioglossum Engelmanni'i: e habit x % with
section of sterile leaf blade enlarged. ' ' %)
-------
Division I. Pteridophyta
Ferns and Fern Allies
Terrestrial, epiphytic, saxicolous or occasionally aquatic plants with a life cycle
of two distinct phases—Sporophyte and Gametophyte. The sporophyte is usually
differentiated into root, stem and leaf provided with vascular tissue (phloem and
xylem), and produces spores asexually that are either alike (plants homosporous)
or of two very unlike kinds called microspores and megaspores (plants heteros-
porous). The spores germinate to produce the gametophyte or minute incons-
picuous sexual stage (prothallium). In the homosporous series the prothallia are
similar but may be either monoecious or dioecious; in the heterosporous series
they are dissimilar and dioecious—the ones developing from microspores bearing
only male reproductive organs (antheridia), and those from megaspores only
female organs (archegonia). Fertilization consists of the impregnation of an egg
cell (archegonia) by the coiled motile male cell (spermatozoid); the resulting
growth is the sporophyte or usually conspicuous asexual stage commonly known
as a fern or fern ally.
The Pteridophyta include more than 9,000 species in about 215 genera. Although
world-wide in distribution, they attain their greatest number and luxuriant develop-
ment in the tropics and subtropics. Approximately 345 species in about 60 genera
are found hi North America north of Mexico.
Fam. 1. Psilotaceae EICHLER WHISK FERN FAMILY
Terrestrial or more or less epiphytic perennial plants with short creeping
coralloid rhizomes; aerial stems and branches wiry, dichotomously branched, with
minute remote alternate scalelike leaves; sporangia somewhat depressed-globose
and 3-celled, opening at the apex into 2 or 3 valves, sessile in the axils of the
usually 2-lobed minute sporophylls on the upper part of the numerous branches;
spores all alike, numerous.
A small family of two genera, Tmesipteris of Oceania and Australasia, with
several species, and Psilotum.
1. Psilotum Sw.
Characters of the family. About 3 species that are widely distributed in tropical
or warm temperate regions throughout the world.
1. Psilotum nudum (L.) Beauv. Fig. 4.
Plants dichotomously branched 3 to 5 times, usually about 25 cm. tall, rarely
to 5 dm. tall; common stalk simple, 3-angled, to 4 mm. thick; branches lightly
winged along the 3 angles; scalelike leaves about 1 mm. long; sporophylls rudi-
mentary.
In swamps and loAv wet woods about base of trees and stumps, more or less
partly saprophytic, in s.e. Tex., summer; from Fla., n. to S.C., w. to Tex.,
through Mex. and C. A. to s. S. A. and in W.I.; also1 widely distributed in the
Old World trap.
37
-------
Fig. 5: 1, Lycopodium carolinianum: 1, plant, x %, with enlarged peduncle leaf
and sporophyll. 2, Lycopodium alopecuroides: 2, plant, x %, with enlarged peduncle
leaf and sporophyll. 3, Lycopodium adpressum: 3, plant, x %, and enlarged sporangium.
4, Isoetes hthophylla: 4, plant, x 1, and enlarged sporangium. 5, I socles melanopoda:
5, plant, x 1, and enlarged sporangium. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas
-------
Fam. 2. Lycopodiaceae REICHB. CLUBMOSS FAMILY
Low terrestrial erect or trailing perennial plants; stems mostly prostrate or
arching and giving rise to aerial peduncles or branches, alternately branched
or repeatedly dichotomous, densely or sparsely covered with small leaves; leaves
numerous, mostly small and thin, 1-nerved, usually uniform and imbricate, several-
to many-ranked, rigidly ascending to spreading-reflexed; sporophylls similar to
the vegetative leaves or more or less modified, crowded into a cone at the apex
of the aerial stems; sporangia large, in the axils of the sporophylls, uniform,
1-celled; spores all alike (plants homosporous), small, globose, light yellow;
prothallia fleshy, tuberous, monoecious.
This family is composed of two genera, the monotypic genus Phylloglossum, of
Australia and New Zealand, and Lycopodium.
1. Lycopodium L. CLUBMOSS
Characters same as those of the family. About 450 specjes that are fgund
mainly in temperate and mountanous tropical regions.
1. Stems arching and rooting, not truly prostrate; stem leaves spreading radially..
1. L. alopecuroides var. (dopecuroides.
1. Stems prostrate (2)
2(1). Foliage leaves unlike sporophylls; stem leaves spreading, arranged so as
to appear 2-ranked 3. L. carqlinianum.
2. Foliage leaves and sporophylls similar (3)
3(2). Sporophylls incurved, appressed; cone slender, only slightly thicker than
the supporting peduncle 2. L. adpressum.
3. Sporophylls more or less spreading; cone stout, 2 to 3 times the diameter of
the supporting peduncle 1. L. alopecuroides var. pinnatum.
1. Lycopodium alopecuroides L. var. alopecuroides. FOXTAIL CLUBMOSS. Fig. 5.
Peduncles to 35 cm. tall; cone 2-10 cm. long; leaves linear-lanceolate, bristle-
toothed below, 6-8 mm. long; sporophylls similar to leaves in shape and size.
In wet places in savannahs and boggy areas in low open pinelands in s.e. Tex.,
July-Nov.; from Fla., in the Coastal Plain, n. to N.Y. and w. to Tex.; also S.A.
The outstanding characteristic by which var. alopecuroides is most easily recog-
nized in the field is the arching stem that usually roots at the tip when it tpuches
the ground, and the several more or less erect peduncles.
Var. pinnatum (Chapm.) Lloyd & Underw. CREEPING FOXTAIL CLUBMQSS,. Tb.e
prostrate habit of this variety is the only characteristic separating it from var.
alopecuroides. L. prostratum Harper. Apparently isolated in Travis Co., Tex.;
also from cen. La., e. to Fla. and n. along the coast to N.C.
2. Lycopodium adpressum (Chapm.) Lloyd & Underw. SOUTHERN CLUBMOSS. Fig. 5.
Peduncles to 3 dm. tall and about 3 mm. in diameter; cone slender, 2-7 cm.
long; leaves linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, entire or slightly toothed below, 6-7
mm. long; sporophylls similar to the leaves. L. alopecuroides var. acjpressum
Chapm.
In depressions in savannahs and flat open pinelands, bogs and sphagnous
habitats in e. and s.e. Tex., June-Oct; mostly on Coastal Plain from Fla., n. to
N.Y. and w. to Tex.
The incurved appressed leaves on the peduncle and the slight difference in
size between the peduncle and cone are distinctive.
39
-------
Fig. 6: 1, Equisetum laevigatum: \, basal and upper sections of fertile stem (x 1)
and somewhat enlarged sheath. 2, Equisetum hyemale var. affine: 2, several sections
of fertile stem (x 1) and somewhat enlarged sheath. 3, Equisetum kansanum: 3, upper
section of fertile stem, x 1. 4—7. Selaginella apoda: 4, fertile plant, x 1; 5, fertile spike,
x 5; 6, sporophyll, x 10; 7, foliage leaf, x 10. (In part from Correll in Lundell's Flora
of Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 2.).
-------
3. Lycopodium carolinianum L. SLENDER CLUBMOSS. Fig. 5.
Peduncles slender, rigidly erect, to 25 cm. tall and 1.5 mm. in diameter; cones
1-5 cm. long and about twice the diameter of the peduncle; leaves of the peduncle
subulate, in whorls or scattered, about 5 mm. long; sporophylls broadly ovate to
deltoid, acuminate, about as long as the peduncle leaves.
Rare in depressions in savannahs, seepage areas and open flat pinelands in s.e.
Tex., July-Sept.; from Fla., n. to N.Y., w. to Tex.; also occurring as variants in
S.A., Asia, Afr., Austral, and N.Zeal.
The erect slender peduncle with scattered small leaves and sporophylls different
from the foliage leaves is distinctive.
Fam. 3. Selaginellaceae METT. SPIKEMOSS FAMILY
Small terrestrial or saxicolous plants of spreading habit, prostrate to ascending
or suberect, usually profusely branched, with slender stems; stems leafy, usually
producing wiry elongate rhizophores at some or all the nodes; leaves all alike or
of two kinds, elliptic to lanceolate, several-ranked or in two planes, numerous,
minute, 1-nerved, obscurely ligulate, approximate to widely imbricate; sporophylls
somewhat modified, borne in compact sessile cones at the apex of branches;
sporangia of two kinds (plants heterosporous), solitary in the axils of sporophylls,
1-celled; megasporangia containing 1 to 4 rather large megaspores; microsporangia
containing numerous microspores.
Only one genus in the family.
1. Selaginella BEAUV.
Characters same as those of the family. About 700 species are recognized in
this complex genus that is highly developed in tropical and subtropical regions of
both hemispheres.
1. Selaginella apoda (L.) Spring. MEADOW SPIKEMOSS. Fig. 6.
Plants prostrate-creeping or ascending (especially when in dense shade), pale-
to dark-green, flaccid, frequently forming large mats, annual; stems very slender,
filamentous, somewhat angled, much-branched, to 25 cm. long or more; leaves
dimorphic, membranous, spreading in 2 planes; lateral leaves 2-ranked, alternate,
distant, spreading, obliquely ovate to ovate-elliptic, obtuse to acute, with the
margins serrulate, 1.5-2 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; dorsal leaves smaller than
the lateral leaves, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, shortly cuspidate, with the margins
serrulate, about 1.2 mm. long, less than 1 mm. wide; spikes obscurely quad-
rangular, 5-20 mm. long, 2-4 mm. in diameter; sporophylls about as long as
the lateral stem leaves, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to subacuminate, keeled
in the upper half; megasporangia yellowish, 0.5-0.9 mm. in diameter, most abun-
dant toward base of spike; microsporangia reddish, very small, less than 0.1 mm.
in diameter. S. ludoviciana A. Br.
In moist or wet places, usually in partial shade, in e. Okla. and e. and s.e.
Tex., w. into the Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains, May-Dec.; from Me. w.
to B.C., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Fam. 4. Isoetaceae Reichb. QUILLWORT FAMILY
Small herbaceous perennial aquatic or terrestrial sedgelike plants with short
unbranched 2- to 5-lobed subterranean cormlike rhizomes that produce numerous
branched roots and a tuft of compact erect or recurved rushlike leaves (sporo-
phylls) ; leaves bearing a small membranous ligule on the inner surface just above
the sporangium; sporangia of two kinds, sunken in the axils of the leaf bases, more
41
-------
Fig. 7: a and b, Pilularia americana: a, habit, showing the filiform bladeless leaves,
the young ones coiled, and the stalked sporocarps, x 6; b, sporocarp (cross section),
showing the sporangia, x 12. o-e, Isoetes Bolanderi: c, megasporangium on adaxial
side of leaf base, the upper part partially covered by the velum, the ligule free, x 3;
d, microsporangium on adaxial side of leaf base, the upper portion partially covered
by the velum, the ligule free, x 3; e, habit, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 5).
-------
or less covered by a velum; the microspores germinate into prothallia that bear
only a solitary antheridium; the megaspores germinate into prothallia that bear
only archegonia.
This family is represented by two genera, Isoetes and Stylites.
1. Isoetes L. QUILLWORT
Characters same as those of the family. About 75 species that are wide-
spread in temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres.
A compound microscope is usually necessary in order to determine species.
It has been noted that ducks seek out and eat the cormlike rhizomes and
sporangia masses at the base of the plant, and muskrats are known to eat the
crisp rhizomes. Wildfowl and grazing animals are also known to eat the grasslike
sporophylls.
1. Velum complete; megaspores dark-brown when wet, small-tuberculate; leaves
12 cm. long or less; plants light-brown at base 1. /. lithophylla.
1. Velum narrow, usually covering not more than one third of sporangium (2)
2(1). Megaspores with tubercles frequently confluent into wrinkles; distribution
Arizona 2. /. Bolanderi.
2. Megaspores with chiefly simple tubercles; distribution Oklahoma and Texas (3)
3(2). Megaspores less than 480 microns in diameter; sporangia 5-30 mm. long,
brown-spotted, with narrow to broad velum 3. I. melanopoda.
3. Megaspores more than 480 microns in diameter; sporangia 6-7 mm. long,
usually brown-lineolate, the velum wanting or very narrow
4. I. Butleri.
1. Isoetes lithophylla Pfeiffer. Fig. 5.
Conn 2-lobed, small; leaves 6 to 14, 10-12 cm. long, slender but not filiform,
flexuous; stomata numerous; peripheral strands variable, none or 3, weak; ligule
very small, cordate-triangular; sporangium 2.5-4 mm. long, orbicular to oblong,
completely covered by velum; megaspores 290-360 microns in diameter, with
prominent high rather narrow commissural ridges; surface of megaspores gray
when dry, brown when wet, smooth or faintly marked with low short or somewhat
extended usually distant ridges; microspores dark brown, chiefly 30-33 microns
long, high-tuberculate or spiny.
In shallow depressions and temporary pools on rock outcrops and mts. of
granite, found only in Burnet and Llano cos. on the Edwards Plateau in Tex.
where it is apparently endemic, Apr.-June.
2. Isoetes Bolanderi Engelm. Fig. 7.
Corm usually conspicuously 2-lobed; leaves 6 to 25, conspicuously quill-like,
6-15 cm. long, rarely more; stomata very few; ligule small, cordate; sporangium
3-4 mm. long, orbicular to oblong, at most one-third covered by velum; mega-
spores white to bluish, 300-480 microns in diameter, the tubercles sometimes
aggregated into wrinkles; microspores 23-30 microns long, more or less spinulose.
Submersed in bottom of lakes and ponds in shallow to deep water, rare in
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); B.C. s. to Mex.
Plants small in all characters have been recognized as var. pygmaea (Engelm.)
Clute. Calif., Nev. and Ariz.
3. Isoetes melanopoda Gay & Dur. Fig. 5.
Corm 2-lobed; leaves 15 to 60, slender, erect, firm, bright green, 15^40 cm.
long, usually black and shining at base, with usually pale membranaceous border,
little (2-3 cm.) extended above sporangium level; stomata present; peripheral
strands 4 or 6 cardinal, plus as many as 14 accessory groups; ligule subulate-
triangular; sporangia oblong, 5-30 mm. long, marked by numerous brown spots;
43
-------
Fig. 8: Equisetum arvense: A, habit; a, early sporophyll-bearing plant; b, later,
vegetative stem; B, enlarged branch; C, sporangiopbores; D, sheath; E. spores, showing
elators. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United Stales, Fig. 2).
-------
velum variable, from very narrow to covering nearly one half of sporangium;
megaspores 280-440 microns in diameter, marked with low tubercles, frequently
confluent into short low wrinkles; microspores frequently ashy-gray, 20-30 microns
long, finely spinulose. Incl. var. pallida Engelm.
In shallow ponds, bogs, old buffalo wallows, wet thickets and woods (especially
pinelands), in seasonal streams and temporary sedge-grass puddles in meadows
and prairies, and in temporary pools on granite outcrops, rare in Okla. (Atoka
Co.), widely distributed but uncommon in e. Tex., w. to Mason Co. on Edwards
Plateau, Mar.-Oct.; from N.J., w. to Minn., 111. and S.D., s. to Ga., La., Okla. and
Tex.
4. Isoetes Butleri Engelm.
Superficially resembling a pale-based form of /. melanopoda, smaller, dioecious;
leaves 8 to 30, almost bristleform, with triangular cross section, 8-22 cm. long,
0.5-1.2 mm. broad, pale at base, with broad dissepiments, slender air-canals and
4 bast-bundles, the pale sheaths granular on the back; sporangia 6-7 mm. long,
commonly covered with brown lines, with velum wanting or very narrow; ligule
subulate, with the base cordate; megaspores (360-) 480-650 microns in diameter,
covered with many low and distinct (sometimes confluent) wartlike tubercles;
microspores 27—37 microns long, covered with papillae.
Rocky slopes, springy places, seepage areas, flats and depressions in Okla.
(Atoka Co.); Term., Mo. and e. Kan., s. to Ark. and Okla.
Fam. 5. Equisetaceae Rich. HORSETAIL OR SCOURING-RUSH
FAMILY
Large or small terrestrial rushlike plants with wide-creeping branching perennial
rhizomes; roots felted, annual; aerial stems usually erect, perennial or annual,
cylindric, fluted, stout or slender, jointed, simple or with whorls of branches
at the solid nodes, with usually hollow internodes, often roughened by a coating
of silex; stomata arranged in regular rows or broad bands in the grooves; stem
leaves minute, reduced and united to form toothed sheaths at the nodes, the
free or connivent apical teeth persistent or deciduous; sporophylls aggregated
into a cone or strobile at the summit of the main stem or at the apex of the
branches, modified as stalked peltate scales; sporangia 6 or 7 under each scale,
opening down the inner side; spores all alike, numerous, green; prothallia in
damp places above ground, green, monoecious or dioecious, variously lobed.
The family is represented only by the following genus.
Our species are of lesser importance to animal and bird life than those found
farther north. The plants are incidentally browsed and eaten by cattle, deer and
muskrats, and some waterfowl are known to eat the rootstocks and stems.
1. Equisetum L.
Characters same as those of the family. A complex genus consisting of about
23 species that are widespread in both hemispheres.
1. Aerial stems dimorphic; fertile stems light-brown, early-withering; sterile stems
green, with regular whorls of branches 1. E. arvense.
1. Aerial stems uniform, without regular whorls of branches (2)
2(1). Cones rounded at the summit, without a firm sharp tip; stems annual, soft
and easily crushed 2. E. kansanum.
2. Cones tipped by a firm dark point; stems perennial (evergreen), firm and
resistant or somewhat soft (3)
45
-------
3(2). Sheaths dilated upward, green (when young), with a narrow black band at
the summit below the promptly deciduous teeth, frequently with a
second irregular band below; stems smoothish, only slightly
scabrous 3. E. laevigatum.
3. Sheaths cylindric, tightly pressed to the stem, ashy-gray, usually with 2 black
bands, sometimes entirely black, the teeth mostly subpersistent or
irregularly deciduous; stems firm, scabrous
4. E. hyemale var. affine.
1. Equisetum arvense L. BOTTLE BRUSH. Fig. 8.
Rhizome extensively creeping and branching, dark-felted and tuberiferous;
aerial stems dimorphic, with scattered stomata; fertile stems appearing in early
spring, erect, usually thick and succulent, light-brown to yellowish-white, simple,
to about 3 dm. tall, soon withering, provided with conspicuous lax scarious some-
what dilated nodal sheaths that have 8 to 12 brown lance-acuminate teeth; cones
cylindric to ovoid, obtuse, to 4 cm. long and 1 cm. diameter; sterile stems appear-
ing as the fertile stems wither, erect to ascending, slender, green, 8- to 14-furrowed,
with whorls of branches at the upper nodes, to about 7.5 dm. tall, usually smaller,
the nodal sheaths tipped with about 12 sharp brown teeth; branches numerous in
dense verticils, spreading to ascending, solid, mostly simple and 2.5 dm. long or
less, about 1 mm. thick, 3- or 5-angled, provided with sheaths that have erect
triangular-lanceolate sharp teeth.
In sandy or clayey soil along streams and about lakes, in meadows, low ground
and open woodlands, and on railroad embankments, in Tex. found only at Buffalo
Spring (now known as Buffalo Lakes) in Lubbock Co., in the Plains Country,
rather widespread and frequent in the mts. of N.M. (Colfax, Catron, Sandoval,
Mora, San Miguel, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo,
Coconino, Graham and Gila cos.); from Nfld. w. to Alas, and s. to N.C., Ala.,
Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also Euras. and N.Afr.
Forma raniulosum (Rupr.) Klinge has been found in Arizona (Gila Co.). Its
branchlets are again branched.
2. Equisetum kansanum J. H. Schaffn. SUMMER SCOURING-RUSH. Fig. 6.
Stems 3-10 dm. tall, 2-7 mm. in diameter, usually very smooth to the touch,
light-green; sheaths elongate, dilated upward, pale-green except for a narrow
black band at summit, the articulate teeth soon deciduous; cone sessile or shortly
pedunculate, 1-2.5 cm. long, 5-8 mm. in diameter.
In moist or dry sandy or clayey soil, on bluffs, along irrigation ditches and
lakeshores, in prairies, ditches, sloughs and among grasses and shrubs in marsh
and swamp areas, in Tex. mostly in the Plains Country, Trans-Pecos and s.e.
Edwards Plateau, with a lone station in Somervell Co. in the Blackland Prairies;
from Mich, to B.C., s.w. through the Lake States to Mo., Tex., N.M. and s.
Calif.; also n. Mex.
Except for the absence of the hard blackish apicule on its cone, the smoother
texture of its cone, and its annual habit, this species approaches very closely
E. laevigatum. Its obvious relationship to that species has resulted in its being
recently relegated to it as subsp. Funstonii (A.A.Eat.) Hartman,
Two rather insignificant growth forms of this species occur in our area; f-
caespitosum. (A.A.Eat.) Broun, with many small rough stems clustered around
a large central one, and f. variegatoides (A.A.Eat.) Broun, with 6 to many small
prostrate to ascending stems arising from the apex of the rhizome or about the
old stems of the previous year.
3. Equisetum laevigatum A. Br. COLA DE CABALLO, CANUELA, SMOOTH SCOURINO-
RUSH. Fig. 6.
Rhizome creeping and ascending, dark-brown to blackish, naked, with felted
46
-------
roots; aerial stems evergreen, simple or occasionally sparingly and irregularly
branched, frail to somewhat stout, pale-green, mostly clustered, 3-15 dm. tall,
to 8 mm. in diameter, longitudinally 14- to 30-grooved, with the ridges smooth
or slightly scabrous; sheaths elongate, dilated upward, marked with a black
girdle at the base of the mostly deciduous white-margined subulate brownish teeth
and rarely also at the base of the sheaths, with the ridges of the sheaths 1; Jx>
3-keeled, the lowermost sheaths 5-12 mm. long; cones ellipsoid, sharp poinfejd,
1-2 cm. long, 7-10 mm. in diameter.
Distinguished from E. hyemale, which it closely resembles, by its smoothness,
long green sheaths with a narrow black limb, and darker green color. Fqpma
scabrellum (Engelm.) Broun has more prominent cross bands of silex on {he
ridges than in f. laevigatum.
In sandy soil or sandy loam along streams and lake banks, on seepage slopes,
in alluvial thickets, marshes, meadows, prairies, sandy barrens and rocky creek
beds of canyons, rather generally distributed in Okla., w. and cen. Tex., e. to
Somervell and Waller cos. in the Blackjand Prairies and s. to Starr Co. in
the Rio Grande Plains, throughout N.M. and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino, s. to
Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.); from Anticosti Is. and Que. to B.C., s. to
N.C., La., Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also Mex. and Guat.
4. Equisetum hyemale L. var. affine ^Engelm.) A.A. Eat. CANUELA, TALL
SCOURING-RUSH. Fig. 6.
Rhizome slender, creeping, blackish, jytyh a ferruginous tomentum covering
the fibrous roots; aerial sterns erect, evergreerj, stout, solitary or cespitose, fluted
with many ridges that are, scabrous with b^rjds of siliceous tubercles, to 3 m.
tall and 2.5 cm. in diameter, simple or proliferous-branching near the apex;
branches fertile, similar to the primary stems but conspicuously reduced in size;
sheaths cylindric, not dilated above, variable, usually with a black band at the
base and apex, with the central portion whitish-gray to pinkish, the ridges
obscurely keeled, 5-12 mm. long; marginal teeth of the sheaths long and flexuous,
reddish-brown to almost black, usually with a narrow whitish hyaline border,
subpersistent to deciduous; cones ovoid to cylindric-ellipsoid, apiculate, 1.5-2.5
cm. long, 5-10 mm. in diameter. E. prealtum Raf., E. robustum A. Br., E.
hyemale var. robustum (A.Br.) A.A. Eat.
In sandy or loamy soil in open or wooded areas along streams and on alluvial
flats, in seepage and on wet ledges, rather generally distributed throughout Okla.
and Tex. but most frequent in the Blackland Prairies and on the Edwards Plateau
in the latter state, through N.M. to Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconio, s. to
Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.); represented in most of the U.S. and Can.
as well as in Mex. and Euras.
Two insignificant forms of this species occur in Texas; f. Drummondii (Milde)
Broun having very tight sheaths adorned with black and white rings, and f.
texanum (Milde) Broun with long green ampliated sheaths.
This is our largest species in the genus Equisetum. It is one of a number of
species in the genus that assimilate a large amount of silica. Because of the
abundant storage of silica in the stem, they were at one time utilized in rural
districts in this country and in the Old World to scour metal kitchen utensils,
giving rise to the name "scouring-rush."
Fam. 6. Ophioglossaceae PRESL. ADDER'S-TONGUE FAMILY
Succulent or herbaceous terrestrial or occasionally epiphytic plants with short
fleshy rhizomes bearing numerous fibrous to tuberous-thickened roots; fronds
solitary or clustered, the blade erect or bent in bud (not circinate), erect or
47
-------
Fig. 9: 1, Marsilea tenuifolia: 1, plant, x %. 2, Marsilea macropoda: 2, plant, x %•
3, Marsilea uncinata: 3, plant, x %. 4, Marsilea mucronata: 4, plant, x %. 5, Ophio-
glossum nudicaule var. tenerum: 5, plant, x 1. 6, Ophioglossum petiolatum: 6, plant,
x 1. 7, Ophioglossum crotalophoroides: 7, plant, x 1. 8 and 9, Ophioglossum vulgatum:
8, plant, x %; 9, tip of leaf, slightly enlarged. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of
Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 8).
-------
pendent when epiphytic, consisting of a basal common stalk bearing at its apex a
simple to variously compounded sessile or stalked sterile blade and (if fertile)
one or more erect or pendent stalked spore-bearing spikes or panicles; sporangia
in two rows, naked, opening by a transverse slit, formed from the interior tissue
of the sporophyll; spores numerous, all alike, yellowish; prothallia subterranean,
not green.
This family is composed of four genera and about 70 species in tropical and
temperate regions throughout the world.
1. Ophioglossum L. ADDER'S-TONGUE
Small fleshy-succulent terrestrial or epiphytic plants of wet or moist soils,
with short (sometimes bulbous) subterranean rhizomes bearing fibrous roots;
fronds one or more from the same rhizome, erect in vernation, glabrous; common
stalks slender, terete; sterile blades simple or palmatifid (in the Floridian O.
palmatum L.), sessile or short-stalked, with the veins profusely reticulate; fertile
spikes slender, erect, long-stalked; sporangia large, coalescent in two ranks, sub-
globose; spores numerous, yellow; buds of the following season borne at the apex
of the rhizomes, exposed, free.
About 40 species of wide distribution in both hemispheres.
1. Rootstocks globose-bulbous; leaf blades (when spread out) with a cordate to
very broadly cuneate base 1. O. crotalophoroides.
1. Rootstocks cylindric to subglobose, not globose-bulbous; leaf blades with a
rounded to cuneate base (2)
2(1). Blade distinctly and prominently apiculate; principal veins characteristically
forming large primary areoles in which are included numerous
veinlets forming secondary areoles 4. O. Engelmannii,
2. Blade rounded to acute at apex, rarely minutely apiculate; principal veins
forming areoles not enclosing smaller secondary areoles but some-
times with included free veinlets (3)
3(2). Blade inserted near base of plant; rootstocks subglobose
2. O. nudicaule var. tenerum.
3. Blade inserted towards middle of plant; rootstocks cylindric (4)
4(3). Blade small, usually less than 5 cm. long, typically ovate-lanceolate and
acute, with 4 to 8 parallel veins passing down through base of
blade 3. O. petiolatum.
4. Blade larger, usually more than 5 cm. long, broadly elliptic to oblong-elliptic
or very rarely ovate, rounded at apex, typically with 8 to 20 parallel
veins passing down through base of blade 5. O. vulgatum.
1. Ophioglossum crotalophoroides Walt. BULBOUS ADDER'S-TONGUE. Fig. 9.
Plants usually short, fleshy, to about 15 cm. tall; rootstock tuberous, globose,
hard when dry, averaging about 8 mm. in diameter, producing several fronds
during a single growing season; common stalk mostly less than 3 cm. long; sterile
blade orbicular-ovate to ovate, when spread out cordate to sometimes very broadly
cuneate at base, rounded to subacute at apex, abruptly contracted to a short
petiolulate base, often conduplicate and clasping the stalk of the spike, thick-
herbaceous, to 3.5 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide; venation mostly obscured by the
thick texture of the blade, forming very unequal areoles with very few included
free veinlets; fruiting spike usually on a short stalk that is to 7 cm. long, thick
and abbreviated, sharp at the apex, 3-4 mm. in diameter; sporangia 3 to 12,
partly imbedded in the rachis. O. pusillum Nutt.
In damp or wet pastures, moist sandy soil of open pine forests, and on grassy
slopes, only in Tex. in our region, rare in s.-cen. and s.e. Tex. (Bastrop, Hardin
49
-------
and Harris cos.), found once on top of Enchanted Rock (Llano Co.), reported
by Reverchon from Newton Co. in the Timber Belt; from cen. peninsular Fla. to
S.C. and w. to Tex.; also from Mex. to S.A.
2. Ophioglossum nudicaule L. f. var. tenerum (Frantl) Clausen. FRAGILE
ADDER'S TONGUE. Fig. 9.
Plants mostly small and inconspicuous, to 12 cm. tall, usually much smaller;
rootstock subglobose, less than 5 mm. in diameter; common stalk very short,
mostly less than 1 cm. long; sterile blade near base of plant, sessile to somewhat
petioled, ovate to elliptic or occasionally somewhat oblanceolate, subobtuse to
narrowly acute at apex, to 1.5 cm. long and 8 mm. wide; veins forming rather
long irregular areoles without. included veinlets; fruiting spike on a very slender
elongate weak stalk, much-exceeding the sterile blade, with a sharp tip, to 2 mm.
in diameter; sporangia as many as 12 on each side of the rachis.
On grassy slopes and in wet meadows, damp 'depressions in pinelands, moist
open woods, and on the edge of bogs, rare in Hardin Co. in s.e. Tex.; from Fla.
and Ga., w. to Tex.; also Mex. to Arg., the W.I., Sumatra and the Phil.
3. Ophioglossum petiolatum Hook. Fig. 9.
Plants 6-21 cm. tall; rootstock short, cylindric, slender, erect, bearing several
long fleshy roots and one or usually several fronds during a single growing season,
commonly reproducing vegetatively by means of modified long slender roots
whose buds give rise to new plants; common stalk 2-9 cm. long; sterile blade
sessile or cuneate into a short petiole, inserted toward middle of plant, ovate to
ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-ovate, acute at the apex, thin in texture, 1.5-6 cm.
long, to about 1.7 cm., wide; veins few, forming large areoles; fertile stalk to
9 cm. long; fruiting spike 1-4 cm. long; sporangia 0.5-1 mm. in diameter.
In moist meadows, damp grassy places, depressions in old inland or coastal
dunes, occasionally in moist woodlands and thickets, in Tex. only in Winkler Co.
in dunes about 10 mi. n.e. of Kermit, in the Plains Country; in Fla., S.C. and
Tex., Mex., the W.I. and n. S.A.; also in tropical Afr., Asia and Oceania.
4. Ophioglossum Engelmannii Prantl. LIMESTONE ADDER'S-TONGUE. Fig. 4.
Plants resembling O. vulgatum, slender to somewhat stout, to 25 cm. tall; root-
stock cylindric, erect, producing 2 to 3 or rarely more fronds in a single season,
with long brown roots; common stalk to 10 cm. long, mostly below ground;
sterile blade sessile or sheathing the stalk of the spike, mostly elliptic, acute and
apiculate at apex, to 10 cm. long and 3.5 cm. wide; veins forming wide oblique
areoles in which are included secondary veinlets that form secondary areoles;
fruiting spike on a slender elongate stalk that is to 10 cm. long, cylindric, apicu-
late, to about 3 cm. long and 4 mm. in diameter; sporangia to about 30 on each
side.of the rachis. O. vulgatum f. Engelmannii (Prantl) Clute.
, Usually found in large colonies in thin black soil on limestone barrens or ledges
in seepy areas, rocky woodland slopes, in cedar brakes or in clayey soil along
streams, occasionally invading pastures and old fields, rare in Okla., in Tex. gen-
erally distributed and rather frequent in the Blackland Prairies, with a few sta-
tions in the Timber Belt, uncommon in Ariz. (Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.); from
. Va. to cen. Fla., w. to s. 111., Kan. and Ariz.; also Mex.
S. Ophioglossum vulgatum L. COMMON ADDER'S-TONGUE. Fig. 9.
Plants often tall and slender, to about 35 cm. tall; rootstock erect, nearly
cylindric, .bearing numerous fleshy roots and one to several fronds; common stalk
to about 9 cm. long, half or more above ground; sterile blade sessile or sheathing
the stalk of the spike, variable in shape, ovate to lanceolate or oblong-elliptic
to oblanc£olate, subtruncate to narrowly obtuse at the apex, to"l2 cm. long and
50
-------
5 cm. wide; venation regularly forming areoles without included secondary areoles;
fruiting spike on a slender elongate stalk that is to 17 cm. long, compressed-
cylindric, apiculate, to 4 cm. long and 3-5 mm. in diameter; sporangia to about
30 on each side of the rachis.
In moist open woods, meadows, alluvial woodlands and swamps, in Tex. rare in
several cos. in the n. Timber Belt of e. Tex. and in Jefferson Co. in the Coastal
Prairies, reported (fide Clausen) from Denton and Harris cos., reported from
Ariz.; from P. E. I. and N. S., s. to Fla., w. to Ont., Tex. and (?) Ariz.; also
Mex., Alas, and Euras.
Fam. 7. Osmundaceae R. BR. CINNAMON FERN FAMILY
Large terrestrial to subaquatic plants of low moist soils and wet places with
creeping to erect woody rhizomes, rarely arborescent, the roots hard and fibrous;
fronds erect-spreading, occasionally as much as 18 dm. or more tall, clustered;
stipes scaleless; blades bipinnatifid to bipinnate, rather coarse, uniform to entirely
dimorphic or with some of the pinnae dimorphic, with the usually forked veins
free and extending to the margins of the ultimate segments; sporangia in dense
paniculate clusters, entirely replacing the vegetative tissue of certain pinnae or
whole fronds, naked, large, globose, usually short-stalked, longitudinally cleft
into two halves, with the ring or annulus few-celled or wanting; spores green.
This family comprises three genera, the following and two Old World genera,
that include about 20 species.
1. Osmunda L.
Rather coarse plants; fronds in a large crown from a woody rhizome, arranged
in two circles, the inner circle fertile, erect and developing first, the outer circle
sterile and spreading; blades wholly spore-bearing or with part of the pinnae
spore-bearing either near the middle or at the apex, the spore-bearing tissue red
or brown; sporangia short-stalked, densely clustered on the ultimate veinlets;
spores copious, green.
About 10 species, mostly in the north temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Sterile blades pinnate-pinnatifid, the ultimate segments entire; fertile fronds
separate, cinnamon-colored at maturity 1. O. cinnamomea.
1. Sterile blades bipinnate, the pinnules serrulate; upper pinnae modified for
spore production 2. O. regalis Var. spectabilis.
1. Osmunda cinnamomea L. CINNAMON FERN,. Fig. 10.
Fronds several, erect, dimorphic, to 15 dm. tall; stipes irregularly coated with
a loose cinnamon-colored tomentum; sterile blades lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate,
acuminate, to 1 m. long and 35 cm. wide; pinnae opposite to subopposite, deeply
pinnatifid, with a tuft of tomentum persisting at the base of each pinna; fertile
blades succulent, nonfoliose, soon withering.
Usually in moist or wet soil of swamps, marshes, on open or wooded seepage
slopes, along streams, on the edge of lakes and bogs and occasionally on wet
ledges in e. Okla. and in Tex. rather generally distributed in the Timber Belt, s.
to Orange Co. in the Coastal Prairies, w. to Gonzales, Lee and Milam cos. in the
Blackland Prairies, with a lone station in Uvalde Co. on the Edwards Plateau;
throughout e. N. A. from Nfld. to Minn., s. to cen. Fla. and Tex.
2. Osmunda regalis L. var. spectabilis (Willd.) Gray. ROYAL FERN. Fig. 10.
Fronds clustered, to 18 dm. tall; stipes slender, glabrous; blades broadly elliptic
to oblong-ovate, with the lower 2 to 6 pairs of pinnae sterile, the upper pinnae
transformed into fertile ones.
51
-------
Fig. 10: 1 and 2, Osmunda cinnamomea: 1, sterile and fertile fronds x %• 2
longuudmal section of rhizome, x %. 3, Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis- 3 uooer rart
of frond, x £,. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 9) '
-------
In swamps, marshes, moist woods, depressions in savannahs and prairies, on
stream banks and seepage slopes, and in or on -the edge of lakes in e. Okla., in
Tex. generally distributed and common in the Timber Belt, s. and s.w. to Jefferson
and Victoria cos. on the Coastal Prairies, w. to Travis Co. in the Blackland
Prairies, adj. to the Edwards Plateau; from Nfld. to Sask., s. to Fla. and Tex.; also
Berm., the W. I., Mex., C. A. and S. A.
Fam. 8. Marsileaceae R. BR. PEPPERWORT FAMILY
Plants herbaceous, rooting in mud, creeping, often partly submerged, rarely
floating, with slender branched rhizomes; leaves erect or floating, distichous,
more or less remote, filiform or with long-pedolate 2- to 4-foliolate blades; leaflets
(when present) of a cuneate type, with close dichotomous venation; sporocarps
hard, bony, globose to ellipsoid, pilose or essentially glabrous, pedunculate, one
to several borne on the rhizome near the base of the petiole or upon the petiole;
sori solitary within the compartments, each producing both megaspores and
microspores; megaspores germinate into prothallia that bear mostly archegonia;
microspores germinate into prothallia that bear antheridia.
This family comprises three genera containing more than 70 species that are
found chiefly in the Old World.
1. Leaf with distinct blade and petiole, the blade 4-foliolate 1. Marsilea
1. Leaves filiform, without distinct blades, the tips uncoiling as the plant matures
2. Pilularia
1. Marsilea L. WATER CLOVER
Small plants forming dense colonies; leaves long-petiolate, with cruciform
(4-foliolate) blades; sporocarps subglobose to ellipsoid, mostly with 2 teeth near
the base, commonly provided with coarse or paleaceous hairs, splitting into 2
valves at maturity and emitting numerous sori on a gelatinous receptacle; sori
including both megasporangia and microsporangia.
About 60 species of wide distribution, mainly in the Old World.
The plants of some species provide shade and shelter for fish, and the sporo-
carps are known to be eaten by ducks.
1. Sporocarps several on a special branch or from a common peduncle (2)
1. Sporocarps solitary, with paleaceous hairs or naked; leaves and petioles naked
or sparsely pubescent (3)
2(1). Leaflets (and petioles) with long loose hairs, without colored stripes;
sporocarps densely covered with reddish hairs that are to 3 mm.
long 1. M. macropoda.
2. Leaflets (and petioles) essentially glabrous, usually developing (with age)
reddish-brown stripes on the lower surface; sporocarps losing (with
age) its light-brown hairs 2. M. mexicana.
3(1). Leaflets flabellate to broadly cuneate (4)
3. Leaflets narrowly and obliquely cuneate to cuneate-oblanceolate (5)
4(3). Rhizome without conspicuous fascicled branches; peduncle usually very
short, often scarcely as long as the sporocarp, usually free from
the petiole or attached at its very base; sporocarp with rather
long coarse reddish hairs 3. M. mucronata.
4. Rhizome producing fascicled branches that are paleaceous at their tips;
peduncle about twice the length of the sporocarp or more, usually
attached above the base of the petiole; sporocarp sparsely provided
with short coarse hairs 4. M. uncinata.
53
-------
Fig. 11: Marsilea mucronata: a, habit, terrestrial plant, with densely pubescent
leaves and petioles, arising from slender rhizomes, x 1%; b, leaf detail, terrestrial plant,
x 2l/2', c, habit, terrestrial plant showing sporocarps, x %; d, sporocarp, terrestrial plant
showing dense pubescence, x 4; e, habit, aquatic plant with elongate slender completely
submersed petioles, their glabrous leaf blades floating, x %; f, leaf detail, aquatic plant,
x 2V>; g, sporocarp, aquatic form, showing blunt teeth near junction with stalk, x 4.
(From Mason, Fig. 4.).
-------
5(3). Leaflets usually more than 10 mm. long, truncate and typically irregularly
toothed at apex 5. M. tenuifolia.
5. Leaflets less than 8 mm. long, lightly rounded to subtruncate and entire at
apex 6. M. Fournieri.
1. Marsilea macropoda Engelm. ex A. Br. Fig. 9.
Plants robust, 10-25 cm. tall, forming large mats, adorned with bright red-
dish hairs at the tips of the branches of the subglabrous rhizomes; petioles slender,
with long shaggy hairs; leaflets large, broadly cuneate, entire, usually undulate,
clothed on both side with long lax whitish hairs (especially when young), becom-
ing less pubescent with age, to 5 cm. long and 2 cm. wide; sporocarps 2 to 6 on
erect or ascending branched peduncles that are 2-3 cm. long, obliquely obovate,
densely villous with the reddish hairs to 3 mm. long or more, 6-8 mm. long, 5-6
mm. in diameter, the raphe short, lower tooth obtuse, upper tooth inconspicuous
or wanting; sori 10 in each valve.
In mud or sandy soil and water of swamps, marshes, woodland bogs, ditches,
streams, and on the edge of ponds and lakes, apparently endemic to Tex. where
it is widespread and rather frequent in the Rio Grande Plains, n. and e. to
Jackson Co. in the Coastal Prairies, Travis Co. in the Blackland Prairies, and
in the cos. bordering the Edwards Plateau.
The several sporocarps borne on each peduncle and the large hairy leaflets are
characteristics that readily distinguish this species.
2. Marsilea raexicana A. Br. Fig. 4.
Plants to 2 dm. tall or more; rhizomes slender, widely creeping and much-
branched, greenish-brown to light-brown; petioles filiform, channeled, glabrous,
to about 18 cm. long; leaflets broadly cuneiform or obovate-flabellate, rounded
and slightly undulate at apex, 1—1.5 cm. long, green, typically marked with
reddish-brown stripes (or glands?) parallel with the veins on the lower surface,
glabrous or sometimes with a few hairs near base; peduncle (free part) approxi-
mately as long as the sporocarp or slightly longer, pubescent at first; sporocarps
not scattered but densely clustered on special branchlets that also give rise to slender
terete rigid rootlike structures, obovoid to ellipsoid, about 4 mm. long, somewhat
compressed laterally, dark-colored, at first covered with matted light-brown hairs
and terminated with long dark-brown hairs that are deciduous with age, the
raphe and basal tooth obsolescent; sori approximately 12 or 13 in each sporocarp.
In shallow water or on mud flats of pools and ponds in Aransas Co. on the
Tex. coast; from Tex. and Mex., s. to Hond.
This species is distinctive in that at least some of its leaflets have reddish-
brown stripes, or possibly glands, on their lower surface parallel with the veins.
Also, the sporocarps are borne in clusters on modified branchlets that also give
rise to terete, rigid, rootlike structures that possibly might be considered as
rhizophores.
3. Marsilea mucronata A. Br. HAIRY PEPPERWORT. Figs. 9 and 11.
Plants 6-20 cm. tall; rhizomes slender, widely creeping, branched but without
conspicuous fascicled branches; petioles filiform, to 18 cm. long; leaflets spreading,
spatulate to obovate, truncate to rounded and entire or somewhat toothed at the
apex, sparsely pubescent (especially beneath) with short and broad appressed
hairs, to 15 mm. long, about as wide as long; peduncles free, axillary at base
of leaves or from the very base of the petiole, ascending, usually very short, mostly
scarcely as long as the sporocarp; sporocarps solitary, oval to ellipsoid, slightly
oblique and compressed, purplish punctate, coarsely strigose-pubescent with red-
dish hairs, to 8 mm. long, usually much smaller, 3-6 mm. in diameter, the raphe
55
-------
short, the upper tooth only slightly curved, lower tooth blunt and shorter than
the unper tooth; sori 6 to 11 in each valve. M. vestita of auth.
Usually in black waxy mud along streams and rivers, in and about ponds, m
silt of lakes, and in ditches or depressions such as old buffalo wallows in prairies
that are periodically inundated, our most widespread Marsilea occurring through-
out Okla. and in every section of Tex. but the Timber Belt, most frequent and
abundant in the Blackland Prairies and on the Edwards Plateau, through N.M.
(Lea and Sierra cos.) to Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Final, Cochise and
Pima cos.); from s. Sask. and Alta., s. to Tex., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Coah. e.
to Fla.
Some plants of M. mucronata closely resemble those of M,. macropoda, with
which they are occasionally confused. The solitary sporocarp, however, readily
distinguishes them from that species.
Although a temporary pool in which this species may occur may become
powdery dry in season, the bony sporocarps remain undamaged until water again
makes the depression a quagmire.
4. Marsilea uncinata A. Br. Fig. 9.
Plants 6-20 cm. tall; rhizomes slender, filiform, producing fascicled branches
that are paleaceous at their tips; petioles filiform, to 19 cm. long; leaflets spread-
ing, obovate to broadly flabellate, subtruncate to rounded at the apex, entire, to 3
cm. long, about as wide as long, glabrous to sparsely strigose-pubescent; peduncles
usually attached to the petioles above their base, about twice or more the length
of the sporocarps, 1.5-3 cm. long; sporocarps subglobose to ellipsoid, more or less
covered by short coarse reddish hairs, 4-8 mm. long, 3-6 mm. in diameter, the
raphe long, upper tooth longer than the lower tooth and mostly uncinately
curved; sori 13 or 14 in each valve.
In or on the edge of permanent ponds, along spring branches and in shallow
water of brooks, ditches and bayous, rather generally distributed but uncommon
in the Blackland Prairies and in several isolated localities in every section of Tex.
except the Timber Belt; apparently confined to Tex. and La.
This species, unlike M. mucronata and M. tenuifolia, apparently needs a con-
stant supply of water for optimum development, if not for survival.
A characteristic that superficially separates this species from the closely allied
M. mucronata is the usual attachment of the long peduncle to the leaf petiole
above its base. The much shorter peduncle of M. mucronata is usually either free
from, in the axil of, or from the very base of the leaf petiole.
5. Marsilea tenuifolia Engelm. ex Kunze. Fig. 9.
Plants slender, 5-17 cm. tall; petioles glabrous or essentially so; leaflets narrowly
cuneate, truncate and usually irregularly toothed at apex, more or less falcate,
villous with appressed hairs, to 25 mm. long, 2—8 mm. wide; sporocarps on short
slender peduncles, with divergent subequal teeth, 5-8 mm. long, 4-5 mm. in
diameter; sori 9 to 11 in each valve. M. vestita var. tenuifolia (Engelm ) Underw.
& Cook.
On the edge of lakes, in shallow beds of creeks, and in periodically inundated
depressions, especially in old buffalo wallows, in Tex. rare on the Edwards Pla-
teau, in Travis Co. in the Blackland Prairies and in the s. part of the Plains
Country; apparently confined to Tex. and Okla. (unverified).
The narrowly cuneate leaflets with usually irregularly toothed apex are distinc-
tive of this species.
6. Marsilea Fournieri C. Chr. Fig. 4.
Plants small, usually about 8 cm. tall or less, villous throughout; rhizome stout
for the plant, compact and sometimes sending off short thick branches; petioles
56
-------
filiform, to about 7 cm. long, villous but eventually glabrescent; leaflets asym-
metric, cuneate-oblanceolate to cuneate-obovate or linear-oblanceolate, sub-
truncate to lightly rounded at the entire apex, about 7 mm. long, villous; peduncle
shorter than the sporocarp; sporocarps crowded, broadly ellipsoid to suborbicular-
oval, lightly compressed, invested with brownish hairs that soon turn grayish and
are eventually deciduous, about 4 mm. long, the raphe short and blunt, the upper
tooth sharp and prominent; sori 15, with 4 to 7 white sporangia in each sorus.
In wet places or depressions such as playa lakes that are periodically inundated,
rare in N.M. (Lea Co.), more frequent in Mex. (Coah., Chih., S.L.P. and Jal.);
to be expected in Tex.
2. Pitalaria L. PILLWORT
Six widely distributed species.
1. Pilularia americana A. Br. AMERICAN PILLWORT. Fig. 7.
Very small inconspicuous plants of muddy situations, with slender wide-creeping
rhizomes bearing at the nodes one to several leaves, forming dense mats; leaves
setiform, solitary or sometimes several together from the nodes, glabrous, 2—6 cm.
long, rarely to 1 dm. long; sporocarps produced just below surface of ground,
axillary, pedunculate, globose, brownish-yellow, 2-3 mm. in diameter.
In shallow temporary muddy pools on rock flats and depressions in clayey
prairies and in mud on edge of lakes, in our region only in Comanche Co. in s. w.
Okla. and in Burnet Co. on the Edwards Plateau in Tex.; from s. Calif, to Ore.,
also isolated in s.-cen. Kan., w. Ark. and cen. Ga.
Fam. 9. Salviniaceae DUM. SALVINIA FAMILY
Plants minute or small, aquatic, free-floating or on mud, with a branched
rhizome bearing simple roots (Azolla) or essentially stemless with some of the
leaves modified as roots (Salvinia); leaves 2-ranked or in whorls, opposite or
alternate, simple or lobulate; sporocarps soft, thin-walled, borne singly or two or
more on a common stalk at the base of the leaves, 1-celled, with a central often
branched receptacle, unisexual, bearing either megasporangia containing a
solitary megaspore or microsporangia containing numerous microspores; miassulae
within macrosporangia bearing septate or non-septate glochidia with barbed tips;
megaspores germinate into prothallia bearing archegonia; microspores germinate
into prothallia bearing antheridia.
This family comprises 2 genera of wide distribution—Salvinia and Azolla with
about 16 species.
1. Avzolla LAM. WATER FERN. MOSQUITO FERN
Minute reddish or green free-floating plants, occasionally on mud, mostly
densely matted and resembling some species of liverworts, with the stems pinnately
branched and concealed by pendent roots and imbricating leaves; leaves distichous,
2-lobed, with the upper lobe floating and the lower lobe submersed; sporocarps
borne in one or two pairs on the lower leaf lobe.
This genus consists of about 6 species of wide distribution.
The dense cover often formed by these plants over the surface of ponds and
lagoons provides shade and shelter for fish. The plants are incidentally eaten by
ducks and other wild fowl.
A compound microscope is needed in order to identify species in this genus
with any certainty.
57
-------
-------
1. Glochidia with several scattered septa; basal portion of the megaspore pitted;
plant usually more than 1 cm. in diameter; leaves 0.7 mm. long or
more, closely imbricate 1. A. mexicana.
1. Glochidia without septa or rarely with 1 or 2 septa mostly just beneath the
tip (2)
2(1). Plants elongate, 2 cm. long or more; leaves oblong to ovate, closely ap-
pressed and imbricate, papillose, about 1 mm. long; basal portion
of the megaspore tesselate-reticulate 2. A. filiculoides.
2. Plants small, to 1 cm. in diameter; leaves suborbicular, divaricate, nearly
smooth, about 0.5 mm. long; megaspore unknown
3. A. caroliniana.
1. Azolla mexicana Presl. Fig. 12.
Plants flattened, dichotomously branched, 1-3 cm. in diameter; upper leaf
lobes imbricated, somewhat irregular in shape, usually broadly rhombic-ovate to
suborbicular, broadly rounded to obtuse at apex, mostly less than 1 mm. long,
usually profusely tinged purplish-cerise, papillose, with narrow hyaline cellular-
papillose margins, under leaf lobes usually much larger than the upper ones;
microsporangia usually with 4 massulae; megaspores pitted on the basal portion;
glochidia of massulae always septate.
Floating on surface of lakes and ponds and in quiet waters of streams and
irrigation canals in the Rio Grande Valley of s. Tex. and in N.M.; from s. Tex.,
Calif, and Mex., s. to n. S.A., n. to Ut., B.C., Wise, and 111.
2. Azolla-filiculoides Lam. Fig. 12.
Plants elongate, dichotomously branched, 2—6 cm. long; upper leaf lobes closely
appressed, imbricated, minutely papillose, oblong to ovate, obtuse at apex, about
1 mm. long, with rather broad thin hyaline margins that are usually only slightly
cellular-papillose, brownish and somewhat sparingly tinged with red; under leaf
lobe about as large as the upper one; microsporangia with 4 to 6 massulae;
megasporangia with the basal portion tesselate-reticulate; glochidia of massulae
not septate or rarely septate only at the apex.
In fresh-water ponds and ditches in Ariz. (Pima, Santa Cruz, Mohave and
Yuma cos.); from Alas, to Guat; also S.A., Eur. and H.I.
3. Azolla caroliniana Willd. Fig. 13.
Plants forming floating mats to 3 cm. across; leaves minute, deeply bilobed,
imbricate, mostly with hyaline margins, to 0.9 mm. long and 0.6 mm. wide, the
upper emersed lobes oval or suborbicular-quadrate, deep-green to purplish-red,
somewhat convex, hollow, provided with numerous 2-celled hairs, the lower sub-
mersed lobes glabrous, larger and paler than the upper lobes.
On still water of swamps, ponds, lakes and in slow-moving water of streams
and resting on mud, up to 5,500 ft. alt, Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in Tex.
sporadically distributed from Wood Co. in the n.e. Timber Belt, s. to Orange
Co. on the Coastal Prairies and Cameron Co. in the Rio Grande Plains, w. to
Fig. 12: Azolla. a-e, A. mexicana: a, part of a fertile plant: (left) globose micro-
sporocarp with megasporocarp at its base, (right) pair of megasporocarps enclosed in
one indusium (uncommon), x 20; b, habit, top view, x 12; c, septate glochidia of
microsporic massulae, x 100; d, microsporic massula, x 40; e, megaspore covered by
tip of indusium, X 40. f—1, A. filiculoides: f, megaspore covered by tip of indusium,
x 40; g, young stalked microsporangia, showing 'a few glochidia of the massulae pro-
truding from ruptured wall, 40; h, separating massulae, x 40; i, nonseptate glochidia,
x 100; j, microsporocarp containing a large number of microsporangia (from same
plant as k), x 20: k, part of fertile plant viewed from below and showing the roots
and a small microsporocarp with a megasporocarp at its base, x 20; 1, separating
massulae, x 40. (From Mason, Fig. 6.).
59
-------
Fig. 13: Azolla caroliniana: all greatly magnified, a, habit, upper surface of sterile
plant; b, lower surface, plant with microsporocarps; c, microsporocarp; d, micro-
sporangium with massula being discharged; e, glochida types from a single massula;
f, one branched glochidium: g, tip of glochidium highly magnified; h, the two-lobed
leaf. (From R. K. Godfrey et al. Am. Fern Journ., Vol. 51, p. 90, 1961)
-------
Jeff Davis and Presidio cos. in the Trans-Pecos, reported from N. M. (Sierra Co.);
from Fla. w. to Tex., N.M. (?) and Okla., n. to N. C., O. and Alas.; also the W. I.
and Mex. to Patagonia.
Fam. 10. Polypodiaceae S. F. GRAY TRUE FERN FAMILY
Usually large terrestrial or epiphytic plants of diverse habits with short or
elongate creeping to suberect rhizomes; fronds clustered or remote, pendent to
erect-spreading, commonly stalked, occasionally dimorphic; blades simple to
much decompounded and variously dissected, with the veins simple to mostly
forked, free or united and forming areoles with or without included veinlets;
sporangia long-stalked, provided with an incomplete vertical annulus and open-
ing transversely, borne either upon the veins on the lower surface or near the
margins of ordinary leaf blades in lines or clusters (sori), occasionally borne on
wholly fertile fronds or on partially sterile blades; sori naked or covered by a
membrane (indusium) that develops from either the vein or modified leaf-margin;
prothallia green.
This family, that includes about 50 genera and several thousand species, is by
far the largest family of ferns in that it includes more than two thirds of the
living ferns. They are found throughout the world from arctic to tropical regions
in dense rain forests to desert areas.
1. Blades simple, pinnatifid or once-pinnate; pinnae or primary divisions entire,
toothed or pinnatifid (2)
1. Blades twice-pinnate or more dissected (7)
2(1). Primary divisions or pinnae with the margins entire, undulate, irregularly
toothed or incised, never distinctly pinnatifid (3)
2. Primary divisions or pinnae distinctly pinnatifid (4)
3(2). Primary segments with entire to undulate margins; sterile blade with the
pinnae commonly opposite or essentially so; sporophylls with the
divisions tightly rolled together, beadlike 2. Onoclea
3. Primary segments with serrulate margins; sterile blades with the pinnae com-
monly alternate; sporophylls with the divisions narrowly linear
4. Lorinseria
4(2). Sori orbicular to reniform-orbicular (5)
4. Sori linear to elliptic, never orbicular (6)
5(4). Acicular unicellular hairs present on the costae above; segments of the
fronds ciliate; stipe bundles 2, these united below the base of the
blade; rhizome scales ciliate (sometimes sparingly so); rhizomes
slender, mostly creeping; fronds membranous, mostly deciduous;
veins reaching the margin 6. Thelypteris
5. Acicular hairs absent on the costae above; segments of the fronds not ciliate;
stipe bundles 3 to 7, free to above the base of the blade; rhizome
scales not ciliate, sometimes toothed; rhizomes massive, short-
creeping to erect; fronds herbaceous to coriaceous, sometimes ever-
green; veins ending short of the margin in elongate hydathodes
7. Dryopteris
6(4). Sori parallel to and contiguous to the midrib of the leaf segments on
specialized veins 3. Woodwardia
6. Sori borne obliquely to and away from the midrib of the leaf segments on
ordinary veins 5. Athyrium
7(1). Sori borne on the under surface of the recurved portion of the ultimate
segments; blades with only the apical margin of the ultimate seg-
ments recurved 1. Adiantum
61
-------
Fig. 14: 1 and 2, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris: 1, frond and rhizome, x %; 2, fertile
pinnule, x 3. 3-5, Adiantum tricholepis: 3, pinna, x %; 4, fertile segment, x 3*; 5, erect-
ascending rhizome, x -,y. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas. Vol. 1, PL 13.).
-------
7. Sori not borne on the under surface of a recurved marginal lobule but on the
leaf surface under a recurved marginal lobule (when this is pres-
ent) (8)
8(7). Sori linear-elliptic; indusia curved and crescentiform 5. Athyrium
8. Sori round; indusia not curved or crescentiform (9)
9(8). Acicular unicellular hairs present on the costae above; segments of the
fronds ciliate; stipe bundles 2, these united below the base of the
blade; rhizome scales ciliate (sometimes sparingly so); rhizomes
slender, mostly creeping; fronds membranous, mostly deciduous;
veins reaching the margin 6. Thelypteris
9. Acicular hairs absent on the costae above; segments of the fronds not ciliate;
stipe bundles 3 to 7, free to above the base of the blade; rhizome
scales not ciliate, sometimes toothed; rhizomes massive, short-
creeping to erect; fronds herbaceous to coriaceous, sometimes ever-
green; veins ending short of the margin in elongate hydathodes
7. Dryopteris
1. Adiantum L. MAIDENHAIR FERN
Delicate terrestrial or rock-inhabiting plants of moist wooded slopes, ravines
and stream banks, with slender creeping to short and ascending scaly rhizomes;
fronds suberect to pendent, distichous or in several ranks; stipes slender, strong,
usually blackish and lustrous, glabrous or rarely pubescent, scaly at base only;
blades pedately or pinnately decompound, variously dissected, rarely simple; ulti-
mate segments oblique, petiolate or subsessile, articulate and deciduous in some
species, membranous to subcoriaceous, mostly glabrous, with veins free and
forking or rarely anastomosing; sori borne along, or rarely between the ends of
the ultimate veins, appearing marginal on the back of the reflexed apex of the
lobules of the pinnules or ultimate segments; indusia formed in part by the re-
flexed margins of the lobules.
About 200 species, mainly in tropical America. Many species are cultivated.
1. Fronds smooth; ultimate segments obovate-cuneate or rhombic, usually promi-
nently incised 1. A. Capillus-Veneris.
1. Fronds pilose with whitish hairs; ultimate segments suborbicular, not promi-
nently incised 2. A. tricholepis.
1. Adiantum CapUlus-Veneris L. CULANTRILLO. Fig. 14.
Rhizomes horizontal, creeping, cordlike, laxly scaly; rhizome scales thin, light-
brown, linear-lanceolate, attenuate, entire; fronds numerous, clustered or scattered
along the rhizome, laxly ascending to pendulous, 1.3-7 dm. tall; stipes reddish-
brown to purplish-black, lustrous, sulcate, glabrous, mostly shorter than the
blades; blades broadly ovate to lanceolate, attenuate at apex, bipinnate to tripinnate
or occasionally quadripinnate, glabrous, 1.5-4 dm. long, to 3.5 dm. wide; pinnae
alternate, laxly spreading, petiolate, to 18 cm. long; ultimate segments numerous,
petiolulate, not jointed, membranous to thin-herbaceous, bright-green, variable in
size and shape, obliquely obovate to semiorbicular, truncate to obliquely cuneate
at the base, the outer margin more or less incised or deeply lobulate, 7-30 mm.
long, about as wide as long; sterile segments regularly denticulate with the teeth
acute to long-acuminate; sori borne on the margins of the lobules of the ultimate
segments, somewhat lunate; modified indusial margin of the lobules glabrous,
prominent, scarious, with crenate margins. A. modestum Underw., A. tricholepis
f. glabrum Clute.
Limestone rocks, ledges and cliffs, especially along streams and about pools in
canyons and ravines, rare in Okla., in Tex. frequent on the Edwards Plateau and
in the Trans-Pecos, e. to Harris Co. on the Coastal Plain and s.w. to Zavala Co. in
63
-------
Fig. 15: 1 and 2, Onoclca sensibilis: 1, plant with fertile and sterile fronds, x %:
2. details of upper portion of sterile segment, x 2. 3-5, Lorinseria areolata: 3, plant
with fertile and sterile fronds, x Vz', 4, section of segment with sori, x 2; 5, details
of upper portion of sterile segments, x 2. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas,
Vol. 1, PI. 28).
-------
the Rio Grande Plains, with a few stations in the Blackland Prairies and n.-cen.
Plains Country, westw. through N.M. (throughout most of the state) to Ariz.;
from Va., s. to Fla., w. to Ky., Tenn., Mo., Ariz, and Mex. to n. ,S. A.; also
Euras.
2. Adiantum tricholepis Fee. HAIRY MAIDENHAIR FERN. Fig. 14.
Rhizome short, stout, erect or ascending, scaly; rhizome scales deep reddish-
brown, narrowly lanceolate, attenuate and usually terminated by an early fugacious
contorted seta at the apex, ciliolate; fronds several, cespitose, erect-recurved to
pendulous, to 7 dm. tall or more; stipes smooth, vernicose, deep reddish-brown
to blackish, to 3 dm. long or more; blades oval to ovate in outline, bipinnate to
quadripinnate, pilose throughout with whitish hairs (especially on the veins be-
neath), 2-4 dm. long, 1.5-3.5 dm. wide; pinnae alternate, suberect to horizontal,
petiolate, to 2 dm. long; ultimate segments small, numerous, petioled, membra-
nous to rigidly herbaceous, orbicular-rhombic, subentire to obscurely tricrenate at
the broadly rounded apex, truncate to broadly cuneate at the base; sori 3 to 10,
marginal; modified indusial margin of the ultimate segments inconspicuous,
pubescent, scarious, with undulate margins.
On moist limestone cliffs along wooded streams on the Edwards Plateau in Tex.;
uncommon in Tex., Mex. and Guat.
This species is not as dependent upon a continuous, permanent source of water
as is A. Capillus-Veneris. It is, however, occasionally found in seepage areas. Our
only other species, A. pedatum L., is definitely a terrestrial with erect fronds.
It is usually found in rich, moist, loamy soil.
2. Onoclea L. SENSITIVE FERN
A monotypic genus, native in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Onoclea sensibilis L. Fig. 15.
Coarse herbaceous plant with slender branching rhizome to about 7 mm. thick
and copiously rooting and with few light-brown elliptic fugacious scales; fronds
conspicuously dimorphic, erect-ascending, scattered along the rhizome; stipes
slender, greenish or tinged with brown; sterile frond to 13 dm. high, glabrous,
thin-herbaceous, withering with frost; blades broadly triangular, deeply pinnati-
fid, the rachis winged; pinnae few, subopposite (especially the lowermost pinnae),
oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, entire to undulate or the
lower and sometimes the middle pinnae sinuately lobed; veins freely anastomos-
ing; fertile frond to 8 dm. high, rigidly erect, persistent over winter; blades bipin-
nate, with the pinnae much-contracted; pinnules rolled into close berrylike bodies
(sporangia) and forming a narrow close panicle.
In swamps, open flooded woodlands, meadows, sandy bogs, thickets along
streams and about lakes, and on seepage slopes, in e. Okla. and in Tex. widespread
and rather frequent in the Timber Belt s. to Jefferson Co. in the Coastal Prairies,
w. to apparently disjunct stations in Burnet Co. on the Edwards Plateau and
Wilson Co. in the Rio Grande Plains; from Nfld. to Ont., Minn, and S.D., s. to
n. Fla. and Tex.
3. Woodwardia SM. VIRGINIA CHAIN FERN
About 12 species found mainly in the temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Woodwardia virginica (L.) Sm. Fig. 16.
Rather large coarse terrestrial plants; rhizome woody, ropelike, creeping-
elongate and branching, black, to about 2 cm. thick, naked to densely chaffy
(especially at apex) with brownish broadly lanceolate scales; fronds erect-
ascending, uniform, borne at intervals along the rhizome, 4-15 dm. high; stipes
65
-------
Fig. 16: Woodwardia virginica: 1, frond and rhizome, x \(\; 2, segment showing
sori, x 3. (From Correll in Lundell's flora of Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 29).
-------
black to chestnut-brown at the base, green or reddish-brown above, glabrous,
lustrous, 3-9 dm. long; blades broadly ovate to oblong-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate,
bluntly acute, pinnate-pinnatifid, subcoriaceous, 3-6 dm. long. 12-30 cm. wide;
pinnae linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, with small brown scales
along the midrib, 7.5—15 cm. long, 12-35 mm. wide, deeply pinnatifid; ultimate
segments obliquely ovate to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 5-6 mm. wide,
with the margins somewhat reflexed; sori double, contiguous to confluent, borne
on the transverse veins forming the outer side of the areoles, oblong-linear,
chainlike. Anchistea virginica (L.) Presl.
In sphagnous bogs, swamps, moist thickets and meadows, and along streams,
rather generally distributed in Tex. in the Timber Belt and in the extreme s.e.
border cos. in the Coastal Prairies, w. to Gonzales, Lee and Milam cos. in the
Blackland Prairies; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.S., Ont. and 111.; also Berm.
4. Lorinseria PRESL CHAIN FERN
A monotypic genus.
1. Lorinseria areolata (L.) Presl. Fig. 15.
Slender herbaceous plants; rhizomes slender, widely creeping, chaffy with brown
ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate scales, to 4 mm. thick; fronds dimorphic, scattered
on the rhizome; sterile fronds spreading, to 75 cm. high; stipes slender, greenish
or stramineous, sometimes purplish-brown toward the base, 15-35 cm. long; blades
ovate-oblong to ovate-deltoid, acuminate, usually deeply pinnatifid, sometimes
pinnate below, membranous, 1.5-4 dm. long; ultimate segments alternate, linear-
lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, lightly or sometimes deeply
sinuate, serrulate, usually connected by wings on the rachis or the lower pairs
free, to 13 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, the veins joined in the numerous hexagonal
areoles; fertile fronds erect, usually surpassing the sterile ones; stipes stout,
purplish-brown, lustrous, 3-6 dm. long; blades ovate-oblong, obscurely pinnatifid
or pinnate, 1.5-3 dm. long; pinnae alternate, distant, linear, often connected by a
slight wing along the rachis, mostly less than 5 mm. wide; sori linear to elliptic,
in a single row on each side of the midrib. Woodwardia angustifolia Sm., W.
areolata (L.) Moore.
In sandy bogs and low sandy woods, swamps, marshes, thickets, on seepage
slopes and along streams in s.e. Okla. and in Tex. generally distributed and rather
frequent in the Timber Belt s. to Jefferson Co. in the Coastal Prairies and Bastrop
and Gonzales cos. in the Blackland Prairies; from Fla. to Tex., Okla., Ark. and
Mo., n. to N.S. and Mich.
5. Athyrium ROTH LADY FERN
About 200 species that are in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the
world.
1. Athyrium Filix-femina (L). Roth var. asplenioides (Michx.) Farw. SOUTHERN
LADY FERN. Fig. 17.
Rather large terrestrial plant; rhizome shortly creeping, with light-brown scales,
about 7 mm. in diameter; fronds clustered, to 12 dm. high; stipes yellowish-green,
often tinged with red or brown, stramineous when dry, sparingly scaly below;
blades ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, pinnate-pinnatifid to
rarely subtripinnate (at least below), thin-herbaceous to subcoriaceous, essen-
tially glabrous throughout, usually exceeding the length of the stipe, to 35 cm.
wide; pinnae shortly stalked, elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate,
spreading horizontally or curved-ascending with age, to 4 cm. wide; pinnules or
ultimate segments mostly decurrent on the rachis, sometimes subpetiolate, oblong-
lanceolate, obtuse to shortly acuminate, incised to serrate or lobulate with the
67
-------
Fig. 17: Atliyriiim Filix-femina var. asplenioides: 1, plant, x %; 2, pinnule with sori,
x 3. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas. Vol. 1, PL 31).
-------
lobules often again toothed; sori short, 3 to 10 pairs in each segment; indusia
mostly curved, with gland-tipped cilia. A. asplenioides (Michx.) Eat.
In sandy bogs, moist sandy woods, swamps, wet thickets and on stream banks
in s.e. Okla. and in Tex. generally distributed and rather common in the Timber
Belt and in several n. border cos. in the Coastal Prairies, w. to Williamson Co.
in the Blackland Prairies; from Fla. to Tex., n. to e. Mass., Ind. and Mo.
Var. californicum Butters. Characterized by its dark scales, indusia short ciliate
or merely toothed, and large spores with a distinct, wrinkled and reticulate
exospore.
In habitats similar to those of var. asplenioides in N.M. (Socorro, Grant, San
Miquel and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.);
Ida. and w. Wyo., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Thelypteris SCHMID.
Terrestrial plants of moist woodlands and rocky places, with stout or mostly
slender strong long-creeping sparsely scaly rhizomes; scales of the rhizome ciliate,
entire, fibrous; fronds erect-ascending, somewhat distant, deciduous; stipes stra-
mineous, essentially scaleless, with two bundles at the base; blades uniform, thin-
membranous, bipinnatifid to pinnate-pinnatifid or bipinnate-pinnatifid, pubescent
with acicular unicellular hairs on the costae above, rarely sparsely scaly; ultimate
segments usually entire or nearly so, rarely serrate or coarsely toothed, ciliate;
veins few, simple or once-forked, reaching the margins; sori dorsal on the veins,
median or supramedial; indusia small or sometimes absent, reniform, usually
glandular or ciliate.
A large world-wide genus of several hundred species that attains its optimum
development hi temperate and subtropical Asia.
1. Ultimate segments with the margins serrate or coarsely toothed
1, T. Torresiana.
1. Ultimate segments with the margins entire to crenate or nearly pinnatifid, never
serrate nor toothed (2)
2(1). Blades strongly triangular, pinnatifid (the rachis winged throughout);
indusia wanting 2. T. hexagonoptera.
2. Blades lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or sometimes ovate-lanceolate, pinnate;
indusia present (3)
3(2). Veins of ultimate segments once- or twice-forked; indusia glabrous
3. T. palustris var. Haleana.
3. Veins of ultimate segments simple; indusia variously pubescent (section Cyclo-
sorus) (4)
4(3). Basal veins of adjacent segments united below the sinus with an excurrent
vein leading toward the sinus; costules, veins and often lamina
above hairy (5)
4. Basal veins of adjacent segments free below or connivent at the sinus; costules,
veins and lamina above with or without hairs (6)
5(4). Costae below with predominately short hairs which are uniform in length
(less than 0.2 mm. and often less than 0.1 mm. long); excurrent
veins mostly greater than 2 mm. long; stipe purplish; frond with
usually more than 2 pairs of greatly reduced pinnae at the base
4. T. dentata.
5. Costae below with most hairs greater than 0.3 mm. long with some exceeding
0.5 mm.; excurrent veins less than 2 mm. long; stipe stramineous;
fronds with 0 to 2 pairs of reduced pinnae at the base
5. T. quadrangularis var. versicolor.
69
-------
Fie. IS: 1 and 2, Thelypteris normalis: 1, frond and rhizome, x ig; 2. segments
wittTsori. x 3. 3. Thelypteris dentaia: 3. segments with son. x 3. 4. Thelypteris Tor-
resiana: 4, pinna (x 2g) and segments with son, x 3. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora
of Texas. Vol. 1. PL 34).
-------
Fig. 19: 1 and 2, Thelypteris hexagonoptera: 1, frond and rhizome, X %; 2, seg-
ment with sori, X 3; 3a-3c, Thelypteris palustris var. Haleana: 3a, pinna, X %; 3b,
sterile segment, X 3; 3c, lower surface of fertile segment, X 3. 4-5b, Cystopteris
fragilis var. protrusa: (not usually considered a wetland plant) 4, frond and rhizome,
X %; 5a, segment with sori, X 3; 5b, sorus, X 25. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora
of Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 35).
-------
6(4). Cc-stae, costules and veins above glabrous, or with very thin short hairs
mostly less than 0.2 mm. long; lamina above eglandular; a
few very narrow scales 1-3 mm. long persistent on the rachis and
sometimes on the costae below; sori submarginal on the veins
g X. ovata var. Lindheimeri.
6. Costae, costules and often veins above with at least a few rather stout hairs
mostly greater than 0.3 mm. long; lamina above often with a few
minute glands; scales absent on the rachis and costae below; son
medial to submarginal on the veins (?)
7(6). One or two pairs of pinnae below somewhat reduced; rhizome short-
creeping, sometimes appearing suberect; venation variable (even on
the same frond), from anastomosing with a short excurrent vein
to connivent at the sinus; lamina above often somewhat hairy;
veins above always with stout hairs many of which are greater
than 0.4 mm. long 5. T. quadrangularis var. versicolor.
7. Lowermost pinnae usually not reduced; rhizome short-creeping to frequently
long-creeping; veins connivent at the sinus or the distal one of each
pair meeting the margin slightly above the sinus; lamina above
glabrous or sparsely hairy; veins above with or without long stout
hairs 7. T. nornudis.
1. Thelypteris Torresiana (Gaudich.) Alston. Fig. 18.
Fronds clustered on a stout rhizome, to 2 dm. tall or more; rhizome scales
linear-lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, castaneous. long-ciliate, to about 8 mm.
long; stipes slender to stoutish, stramineous, to 6 dm. long, scaly at base, glabrous
to sparing!}' setose; blades deltoid-ovate to triangular-lanceolate, acuminate, bi-
pinnate-pinnatifid, membranous, setaceous with silvery-white hairs, to 9 dm. long
and 4 dm. wide; pinnae triangular-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, acuminate,
pinnate; pinnules sessile, lanceolate, acute to acuminate, deeply pinnatifid, con-
fluent at apex, to about 5 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; ultimate segments rounded,
coarsely toothed, about 2 mm. wide; sori solitary at the anterior margin of a
tooth. 1 to 6 per segment: indusia obsolete, early fugacious.
Along streams in pinelands, in swamps, marshes and on moist wooded banks,
in e. Tex. (Newton and Hardin cos.); nat. of Asia and adj. I., escaped from cult
and more or less established in cen. peninsula Fla., Ala. to Tex. and trop. Am.
2. Thelypteris hexagonoptera (Michx.) Weath. BROAD BEECH FERN. Fig. 19.
Fronds distant, erect, arising at 5—15 mm. intervals on a slender creeping
rhizome, to about 8 dm. tall; rhizome scales light-brown, ovate-lanceolate to linear-
lanceolate, often long-ciliolate, 3—5 mm. long; stipes weak, slender, stramineous
or greenish, 2—4.5 dm. long; blades broadly triangular, acute to acuminate, bi-
pinnatifid, 15—38 cm. long, about as broad as long or broader, slightly pubes-
cent and frequently glandular on lower surface; rachis irregularly winged through-
out; primary segments elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, tapering at both ends,
pinnatifid, with the lower usually larger pair of segments directed downward and
away from the rachis at a different angle from the upper segments; ultimate seg-
ments obliquely oblong, obtuse, subentire to deeply crenate or sometimes nearly
pinnatifid: sori naked, mostly near the margin.
On sandy-loamy wooded slopes and in ravines along streams, in open rocky
thickets, and on the edge of low swampy woods and bogs, rare in e. Okla. and in
the e. Tex. Timber Belt; from Fla. to e. Tex. and Okla., n. to Que. and Minn.
3. Thelypteris palustris Schott var. Haleana Fern. SOUTHERN MARSH FERN Figs.
19 and 20.
Fronds erect from a slender widely creeping rhizome, to 12 dm. tall; rhizomes
blackish: stipes slender, glabrous or nearly so, stramineous above, purplish toward
base, about as long as the blade; blades lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, short-
72
-------
c,
Fig. 20: Thelypteris palustris: a, upper part of frond, X %; b, rootstock, X ; c,
pinnae showing one fertile pinnule, X 5; d, sporangia before spores are released, X
10; e, sporangia after rupturing and releasing spores, X 10, (V.F.).
-------
acuminate, pinnate-pinnatifid to rarely bipinnate, slightly pubescent (especially
the rachises), 9-20 cm. wide, membranous to herbaceous; pinnae numerous, linear-
lanceolate to lanceolate, somewhat acuminate, sessile or nearly so, deeply pmnati-
fid to rarely pinnate, to 3 cm. wide, the midrib beneath mostly with broad brown
or tawny scales at the base of the ultimate segments; pinnules or ultimate segments
mostly linear-oblong, numerous and closely set, entire or with minutely undulate
margins, obtuse or appearing to be acute because of the revolute margins, to 1.5
cm. long, with all the veins (including those of the fertile segments) commonly
once- or twice-forked; sori medial, numerous, sometimes confluent; indusia small,
glabrous.
In open sandy bogs, swamps and meadows, or in open low woodlands, seepage
about lakes and ponds, and along streams, rare in several cos. in the e. Tex.
Timber Belt and in Jefferson Co. in the Coastal Prairies and Waller and Colorado
cos. in the Post Oak Prairies; from Fla. to e. Tex., n. to (?) Pa.
4. Thelypteris dentata (Forsk.) E. St. John. DOWNY SHIELD FERN. Fig. 18.
Fronds clustered, erect-ascending from a thick rhizome, to 12 dm. tall; stipe
and rachis purplish; blades ovate-oblong to lanceolate, to 8 dm. long and 28 cm.
wide; pinnate-pinnatifid, with usually more than 2 pair of greatly reduced pinnae
at the base, costae below with predominantly short hairs which are uniform in
length (less than 0.2 mm. and often less than 0.1 mm. long); excurrent veins
mostly greater than 2 mm. long. Dryopteris dentata (Forsk.) C. Chr.
On rocky wooded slopes, on hummocks in swamps, and along wooded streams
at low elev., rare in the Tex. Timber Belt; from Fla. to Tex., in part escaped
from cult.; also from Mex. to Arg., the W.I., Asia and Afr.
5. Thelypteris quadrangularis (Fee) Schelpe var. versicolor (R. St. John) A. R.
Smith.
Fronds erect, arching, mostly 3—10 dm. tall; rhizomes short-creeping to suberect,
obscured by the persistent leaf bases; stipes 1.5-5 mm. in diameter, pubescent,
stramineous above, sometimes darkened at the base, nearly as long as the blades,
with lanceolate shining dark-brown to castaneous pubescent scales at the base;
blades elliptic-lanceolate, usually with 1 or 2 pair(s) of somewhat reduced
pinnae below, occasionally the pinnae very little reduced below, auricled or not,
1-3 dm. wide, herbaceous; pinnae numerous, linear-lanceolate, sessile, pinnatifld
two thirds to four fifths of their width, to 2 cm. wide; pinnules linear-oblong,
somewhat oblique, rounded at the apex, entire; the veins simple, mostly 6 to 9
pairs per segment, the basal pair from adjacent segments united below the sinus
with an excurrent veinlet less than 1 mm. long to the sinus or the lower pair of
veins not uniting at all but approaching each other below the sinus and turning
abruptly toward the sinus; costae, costules, veins and leaf tissue pubescent above
and below, the hairs often stout and to 0.8 mm. long; stipitate yellow glands
often present on both surfaces of the blade; sori medial, numerous or sometimes
confined to the basal pair of veins, discrete; indusia persistent, pubescent; sporan-
gial stalks with minute glands. T. versicolor R. St. John.
On the edge of sandy creeks, boggy or swampy areas and wooded slopes in e.
Tex.; S.C. to e. Tex.; also Cuba; other vars. in Latin Am. and Afr.
6. Thelypteris ovata R. St. John var. Lindheimeri (C.Chr.) A. R. Smith
Fronds erect, arching, mostly 5-14 dm. tall; rhizomes widely creeping, brownish,
3-6 mm. in diameter; stipes 2-6 mm. in diameter, arising from the rhizome in a
more or less bilinear series 1-4 cm. apart, glabrous or nearly so, stramineous
above, darkened at the base, about as long as the blades, paleate at the base, the
light-brown scales narrowly lanceolate and short-ciliate at the margin; blades
deltoid-lanceolate, mostly 30-75 cm. long, 15-50 cm. wide, pinnate-pinnatifid,
74
-------
tapering evenly toward the pinnatifid apex, chartaceous; rachis sparsely to densely
pubescent, nearly always with a few persistent narrowly lanceolate light-brown
scales; pinnae numerous, linear-lanceolate, sessile, deeply pinnatifid three fifths
to usually more than four fifths of their width, 8-20 mm. wide, the veins and leaf
tissue glabrous above or sometimes with minute hairs about 0.1 mm. long on the
leaf tissue above, the costae above and below with longer hairs to 0.5 mm. long;
costae below usually with a few attenuate scales to 1 mm. long; pinnules linear-
oblong, often strongly oblique, subfalcate, the margin entire, rounded or usually
appearing acute because of the revolute margin, the basal segments of the medial
pinnae frequently narrower and slightly longer than more distal pinnules; veins
simple, 6-13 pairs per segment, the basal pair meeting the margin at or slightly
above the sinus; sori supramedial to submarginal, numerous, discrete; indusia
persistent, pubescent, often glandular; sporangial stalks eglandular. Dryopteris
normalis var. Lindheimeri C. Chr.
On wet bluffs and ledges in canyons, especially at the base of dripping limestone
bluffs, about springs and along water courses, on the Edwards Plateau in cen. Tex.
s. to n. Ver. and Pue.
7. Thelypteris normalis (C. Chr.) Moxley. Fig. 18.
Fronds erect, arching, mostly 5-15 dm. tall; rhizomes creeping, brownish,
4-8 mm. in diameter; stipes usually 3-6 mm. in diameter, arising from the
rhizome at 1-3 cm. intervals in a more or less bilinear series (infrequently the
stipes clustered), stramineous above, darkened at the base, about as long as the
blade, glabrous to moderately hairy, paleate at the base; rhizome scales castaneous,
shining, lanceolate, more or less pubescent; blades lanceolate (the lowest pair of
pinnae the longest or only slightly shorter than the next pair of pinnae), mostly
3-7 dm. long, 16-30 cm. wide, pinnate-pinnatifid, herbaceous to chartaceous, the
rachis pubescent and often stipitate-glandular, rarely with a few persistent scales;
pinnae numerous, sessile, linear-lanceolate, to 2 cm. wide, pinnatifid three fifths
to three fourths of their width, the costae, costules and sometimes the veins
above more or less pubescent with hairs mos'.ly 0.2-0.5 mm. long, the tissue
between the veins above glabrous; pinnules numerous, linear-oblong, somewhat
oblique, rounded at the tip or appearing acute because of the revolute margins,
entire except for the basal pinnae segments of the lower pinnae which may be
slightly enlarged with a crenate margin (auricles present); veins simple (except
those of the auricles which may be once-forked), 6 to 11 pairs per segment,
connivent at the sinus or the distal one of each pair meeting the margin slightly
above the sinus; sori medial, numerous, usually discrete; indusia large, persistent,
moderately to densely hairy; sporangial stalks with minute stipitate glands. T.
Kunthii of auth., Dryopteris normalis C. Chr.
On the edge of sandy creeks, in swamps, low wet woods and slopes in e. Tex.;
W. I. and Mex. to n. S.A.
7. Dryopteris ADANS.
Rhizomes stout, erect or short-creeping; scales fibrous, glabrous, entire to
toothed, not ciliate; fronds and pinnae sometimes more or less dimorphic; blades
pinnate-pinnatifid to tripinnate; stipes stout, stramineous, shorter than the blades,
with 3 to 7 free bundles; ultimate segments mostly toothed, often subspinulose,
glabrous, not ciliate, occasionally capitate-glandular, sparingly to densely scaly,
the minor axes decurrent on the major ones to form the sides of the dorsal grooves;
veins free, simple or mostly forked, ending short of the margin in elongate hyda-
thodes; sori dorsal on the veins, inframedial to submarginal; indusium reniform,
large, persistent, glabrous, sometimes glandular on margin or back.
A large world-wide genus of about 150 species that are found mainly in tropical
and subtropical regions of both hemispheres.
75
-------
Fig. 21: 1 and 2, Dryopteris crislata: 1, frond and rhizome, X %; 2, enlarged
pinna, X 3. 3 and 4, Dryopteris ludoviciana: 3, pinna, X %; 4, detail of pinnules,
X 3. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 1, PI. 33).
-------
1. Fertile segments not contracted; fertile fronds with most or all of the pinnae
fertile, erect, 2 to 3 times as long as the spreading sterile fronds
1. D. cristata.
1. Fertile segments sharply contracted to about one half the width of the sterile
segments; fertile fronds with fertile pinnae only in upper half, 2
times or less the length of the sterile fronds 2. D. ludoviciana.
1. Dryopteris cristata (L.) Gray. CRESTED SHIELD FERN. Fig. 21.
Fronds inconspicuously dimorphic, clustered on a thick rhizome, glabrous on
upper surface, sparsely scaly on lower surface, to 12 dm. tall; sterile fronds broad
and spreading, usually evergreen; fertile fronds narrow and erect; blades (of both
types of fronds) subcoriaceous, linear-oblong to lanceolate or narrowly elliptic-
lanceolate, to 8 dm. long and 15 cm. wide, pinnate-pinnatifid to nearly bipinnate;
ultimate segments mostly toothed, often subspinulose, glabrous, not ciliate, some-
times capitate-glandular, sparingly or densely scaly; veins free, simple or mostly
forked, ending short of the margin in elongate hydathodes; sori dorsal on the
veins.
In marshes, bogs, swamps, thickets and meadows, and on springy wooded
slopes, at low elevations, if extant in our region, only in the n.e. corner of the
Tex. Timber Belt (Bowie Co., "margin of sandy bog near Texarkana," October
27, 1925, E. J. Palmer 29404, p. p.); from Nfld. to Ida., s. to e. Va., N.C., s.e.
Ark., n.-cen. La. and n.e. Tex.
6. Dryopteris ludoviciana (Kunze) Small. Fig. 21.
Rhizomes horizontal, with cinnamon-colored scales; fronds arising in a short
row behind a cluster of apical buds; blades oblong, 5-10 dm. long, 1.5-3 dm.
wide, pinnate-pinnatifid to almost bipinnate; pinnae lanceolate, about 4 times as
long as wide, the basal pinnae triangular and one half to less as long as longest
pinnae, their ultimate segments more or less dimorphic and serrate; fertile pinnae
with more widely spaced segments that are constricted to about one half the width
of the sterile segments; sori inframedial; indusia nonglandular.
In swamps, in seepage at base of bluffs, low wet woods and on stream banks, in
s.e. Tex (Hardin and Tyler Cos.); from e. N.C. s. to Fla. and w. to s.e. Tex.
Fam. 11. Parkeriaceae HOOK. FLOATING FERN FAMILY
Aquatic or semiaquatic plants with roots on the stipes; stems creeping, sparsely
scaly, reduced; fronds alternate, successive, viviparous, fleshy-herbaceous, di-
morphic, reticulate-veined, floating or emergent; sporophylls erect, taller and
more finely divided than the sterile fronds, the linear ultimate segments with the
margins evenly and narrowly revolute; sporangia solitary.
Only one genus.
1. Ceratopteris BRONGN.
Characteristics of the family. Three species, mostly in the tropics and sub-
tropics of both hemispheres; edible aquatic plants.
1. Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. Fig. 22.
Fronds erect, strict, to 75 cm. long, usually much smaller; stipes 4-27 cm. long;
lamina of sterile frond narrowly deltoid to oblong, to 28 cm. long and 13 cm.
wide, 1- or 2-pinnate or -pinnatifid with the pinnae ovate-lanceolate; segments
linear-lanceolate to oblong, acute, to 25 mm. long and 5 mm. wide; sporophylls
taller than the sterile fronds, the oblong lamina 2- to 5-pinnately divided with the
pinnae and smaller divisions distant; ultimate segments flagelliform, 1-5 cm. long,
the margins narrowly revolute to cover 1 or 2 rows of areolae and sporangia.
77
-------
Fig, 22: Ceratopteris thalictroides: a, habit, X ^; b, enlargement of part of fertile
frond; c, enlargement of viviparous pinna; d, enlargement of viviparous pinnule.
(V.F.).
-------
Well established in spring-fed back-waters of the San Marcos River in Hays
Co., Tex. where it was originally introd. (probably about 1960); nat. apparently
to both hemispheres; also in s. Fla.
It is quite possible that the other two species in this genus, C. pteridoides
(Hook.) Hieron. and C. deltoidea Benedict, may be introduced in Texas rivers.
In contrast to C. thalictroides, they both have broadly deltoid fronds. The sterile
fronds of C. pteridoides are usually simple with broad basal lobes and short, often
swollen, stipes that are widest at base of blade and tapered downward, while the
sterile fronds of C. deltoidea are pinnately divided, with long, slender stipes.
Division II. Spermatophyta
Seed-Bearing or Flowering Plants
Plants producing seeds that contain the young plants in a dormant condition
until germination. Sporophylls arranged in groups (flowers) of definite or in-
definite numbers, heterosporous, those bearing microsporangia (anther sacs)
termed stamens, those producing macrosporangia (ovules) carpels. The game-
tophytes very much reduced, the female being confined within the macrosporangia
where its egg-cell is fertilized by the spermatozoid of the male gametophyte (pollen
tube), the sporophyte thus beginning its development while still attached to the
sporophyte of the preceding generation. Eventually detached in an embryonic
stage, together with the enclosing tissues, as a seed.
The seed-bearing plants form the most numerous plant group in existence, more
than 200,000 species being known. The seed-habit, now restricted to the Spermato-
phyta, is also known to have occurred in ancient fernlike plants. This category
is now considered essentially one of convenience rather than distinction because
of the apparent diverse ancestry of its component members.
Class 1. Gymnospermae
Plants monoecious or dioecious, more or less resinous trees or shrubs; ovules
and seeds not enclosed in an ovary, typically borne on scales that are arranged
in a cone or strobilus, or sometimes terminal on naked or bracteate stalks, micro-
sporangia mostly embedded in microphylls that are arranged in a cone or strobilus;
male and female cones distinct, dissimilar.
The Gymnosperms comprise an ancient remnant of about 700 species of trees
and shrubs that are considered to have been most abundant in the Mesozoic. The
group contains such relicts as the Cycads, the Ginkgo tree, Metasequoia and
Araucarias.
Fam. 12. Taxodiaceae WARMING TAXODIUM FAMILY
Deciduous or essentially evergreen trees with light-brown furrowed and scaly
bark and upright or spreading branches; branchlets of two kinds, those near the
79
-------
Fig. 23: 1 and 2. Taxodium disticlium: 1, leafy branchlet with mature cones,
X 3j: 2, tuig. X 1. 3. Taxodium mucronalum: 3, spikes of staminate cones, X %.
-------
apex of the shoot persistent and with axillary buds, those on the lower part of
the shoot without axillary buds and deciduous; winter-buds globose, scaly; leaves
alternate, subulate or flat and linear with stomatic bands below, those of the
deciduous branchlets usually spreading in two ranks, those of the persistent
branchlets spreading radially; staminate flowers ovoid, consisting of 6 to 8 stamens
and forming terminal drooping panicles; pistillate flowers scattered near the ends
of the branches of the preceding year, subglobose, consisting of 2-ovuled scales;
fruit a short-stalked globose or ovoid cone that ripens the first year, consisting
of many thick coriaceous peltate scales that are dilated from a slender stipe into
an irregularly 4-sided often mucronate disk; each fertile scale with 2 unequally 3-
angled seeds with 3 thick wings.
About 16 species in 10 genera in both hemispheres.
1. Taxodium RICH. BALD CYPRESS
Trees with light-green deciduous leaves and slender leafy branchlets of the
season that are deciduous in autumn, monoecious, often with erect columnar
"knees'' produced from the roots in areas of frequent flooding; flowers unisexual,
the two kinds on the same branches; staminate flowers in panicles of short or
slender spikes, with few stamens; filaments scalelike, peltate, bearing 2 to 5 anther
cells; pistillate aments ovoid, in small clusters, scaly, with a pair of ovules at the
base of each scale; cone closed, globular, composed of thick and angular some-
what peltate scales that bear two 3-angled seeds at their bases.
Three species in southern United States and Mexico. Important timber trees
that are commonly grown for their ornamental qualities.
1. Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas north of the Rio Grande Valley; decidu-
ous; branches of staminate flowers short and crowded, the flowers
commonly in short compact secondary branches 1. T. distichum.
1. Distribution in Texas confined to the Rio Grande Valley; essentially evergreen;
branches of staminate flowers long and slender, open, composed of
single flowers or tight clusters of several flowers
2. T. mucronatum.
1. Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. BALD CYPRESS, SOUTHERN CYPRESS. Fig. 23.
Tree occasionally to 50 m. tall, with a tapering trunk strongly buttressed at
the swollen base, pyramidal when young, in old age usually spreading to form a
broad rounded head; bark reddish-brown or gray, with long fibrous or scaly
ridges; young branchlets green, becoming brown the first winter; the 2-ranked
feathery leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, flat, apiculate, 1—1.5 cm. long, soft-
bright-green to yellowish-green or whitish below, turning dull-orange-brown be-
fore falling; panicle of staminate flowers 10-12 cm. long; cone globose or obovoid,
about 25 mm. across; disk of hard scales, rugose, usually without a mucro; seeds
heavy, angular, about 1 cm. long.
In swamps and along rivers and streams in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e.
Tex., w. from Brazoria Co. to Real and Uvalde cos. on the Edwards Plateau in
cen. Tex.; from Del. to Fla., w. to 111., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
Especially in wet and frequently inundated areas the roots produce woody
cylindrical projections to 2 m. tall and 3 dm. in diameter that are called "cypress-
knees." An important timber tree that is sometimes grown for its ornamental
value. Individuals of this species exhibit some remarkable genetic differences. For
example, near Saratoga (Hardin Co., Tex.) two trees growing side by side have
the appearance of two entirely different species. One, with open crown, has its
branches ascending, while the other, with a dense closed crown, has spreading and
descending branches.
81
-------
2. Taxodium mucronatum Ten. MONTEZUMA BALD CYPRESS, SABDSTO, AHUEHUETE,
CIPRES. Fig. 23.
Large tree with straight trunk enlarged near the base, to 30 m. high; bark
brownish-red, relatively smooth to shallowly furrowed, fibrous, more or less
shredded; leaves linear, 6-12 mm. long, spreading in nearly 2-ranked sprays, these
and some young branchlets falling with appearance of new growth; staminate
cones small, ovoid, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, in slender spikes 5-15 cm. long; ovulate
cones subglobose, 15-25 mm. in diameter; seeds dark-reddish-brown, 4-8 mm.
long, irregularly angular because of crowding.
Along the Rio Grande and occasionally along resacas in Cameron and Hidalgo
cos. in the Rio Grande Valley of Tex.; from s. Tex., s. on the Mex. tableland
and along the coast of the Gulf of Mex.
This species is the famous large tree of Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico,
which, according to the best authority, has a height of about 39 meters and a
trunk circumference of 52 meters, with the spread of its branches about 42
meters.
Class 2. Angiospermae
Plants diverse in habit, structure, form, size, habitat and sexualization; ovules
and seeds borne enclosed in carpels that are at the center of flowers and which
are interpreted as fertile fronds with megasporangia on the upper surfaces, these
fronds are loosely folded along a median zone in such a way that the margins
meet to form a more or less firmly sealed ventral (adaxial) suture; carpels either
free (constituting a simple pistil) or often several united into a compound pistil;
ovule-bearing portion of the pistil (the ovary) maturing into the fruit; gameto-
phytic stage of the plant of very short duration (a matter of only a few hours)
as compared to the gymnospermous counterparts, and the male gamete reaching
the female gamete (in the ovule) by means of a tube that penetrates the tissues
of the carpel: fertilization consisting of a double process: not only does the
sperm-nucleus fertilize the egg-nucleus to form a diploid zygote which develops
into the embryonic sporophyte in the seed, but another simultaneous fertilization
in the same female gametophyte results in a triploid or higher polyploid nucleus
which in many members of the class produces a nutritive tissue called endosperm
closely associated with the embryonic sporophyte.
A stupendous array of about 200,000 species including all of the important
sources of food and fiber, and including all the plants which the man in the street
calls flowers.
Fig. 24: Typha latifolia: a, pistillate spike, X %; b, single compound pedicel of
pistillate spike, X 20; c, upper part of plant, showing distichously arranged leaves
and young contiguous spike with staminate flowers (above) and pistillate flowers
(below), X \r,\ d, somewhat older spike, X 2:-,; e, variation in spike size X %; f,
4-celled pollen grains; g. group of compound pedicels of pistillate spike, X 4; h, young
pistillate flowers, the pedicel not yet elongated, and fascicled hairlike bracts, X 12;
i and j, stamens on branched filaments, X 6; k, staminate bracts, commonly white
or brown-tipped, X 6; 1, oblanceolate fleshy stigma, X 12; m, sterile pistillate flower
with ellipsoid aborted ovary tipped by rudimentary style, the surrounding hairs, like
those of fertile flower, originating at base, X 4; n. sterile ovary, light-brown, X 12;
o, pistillate flower with mature functional ovary, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 8).
82
-------
-------
-------
Subclass 1. Monocotyledoneae
Cotyledons usually solitary; embryonic radicle usually developing only to a
very limited extent, most of the roots being adventitious on the lower part of
the stem, resulting in a so-called fibrous root system; vascular strands of the
stem usually not in any cylindrical pattern, the stem-transection revealing a num-
ber of scattered strands; vascular strands (nerves, veins) of the leaves usually not
forming a network but parallel for most of their length; sepals, petals, stamens and
carpels usually in multiples of three, but many exceptions.
Plants with long, narrow leaves such as grasses, sedges and lilies are charac-
teristic of this subclass; but such bizarre plants as palms, yuccas and century
plants also belong here. About 50,000 species, roughly a fourth of all angiosperms,
fall into this group.
Fam. 13. Typhaceae Juss. CAT-TAIL FAMILY
Aquatic or paludal monoecious perennial herbs with a creeping rhizome and
distichously arranged erect leaves; leaves sessile, linear, nerved, glabrous, sheath-
ing the base of the simple jointless stems; flowers unisexual, in a long dense
cylindrical spike terminating the stem, without proper floral envelopes; staminate
flowers forming the upper portion of the spike, consisting of stamens inserted
directly on the axis and intermixed with long hairs or slender bracts; pistillate
flowers forming the lower portion of the spike, consisting of stipitate 1-celled
fertile or abortive ovaries with their stipes provided with ascending or spreading
slenderly clavellate bristles that form the copious down of the fruit; ovary 1-celled
and 1-ovuled, with usually persistent linear style and elongated 1-sided linear or
linear-lanceolate stigma; fruit a long-stalked minute nutlet; seed suspended,
anatropous.
A solitary genus.
1. Typha L. CAT-TAIL
Characters of the family. About 15 species of worldwide distribution.
The stalks, thick rootstocks and roots are important foods for muskrats and
beaver. The rootstocks and, in some instances, the minute seeds are known to
be eaten by geese and teal. The thick shelter and nesting cover afforded and the
insects supported by these plants attract marsh birds, wildfowl and song birds.
The plants also provide shelter for young fish and a spawning ground for sunfish.
On the whole, however, these plants are considered as undesirable because they
often displace more desirable species and, uncontrolled, they can rapidly cover
Fig. 25: Typha angustifolia: a, swollen aborted ovary with rudimentary style,
X 20; b, sterile long-stipitate flower with terminal aborted ovary, the hairs on stipe
in whorls, terminating in club-shaped or ligulate tips, X 8; c, young spike, showing
area of separation between staminate spikes (above) and pistillate spikes (below),
X %; d, single compound pedicel of pistillate spike, X 40; e, group of compound
pedicels, appearing smooth, X 8; f, cluster of spatulate truncate bracts, with transi-
tional forms resembling abortive ovaries, occurring frequently among flowers, X 8;
g and h, upper part of plant, showing distichous leaf arrangement and young flower-
ing spikes, X %; i, cluster of young anthers surrounded by bracts, filament not yet
elongated, X 6; j-1, mature stamens, 2 to 6 anthers in a cluster sessile on a single
filament, X 6; m—o, staminate bracts—linear, simple, and forked types, X 6; p, 1-celled
pollen grains; q, group of young fertile and sterile pistillate flowers, the pedicels not
yet elongate, X 12; r, swollen tip of pistillate bract, X 40; s, pistillate bracts, X 8; t,
auricle of sheath, X %; u and v, mature pistillate flowers with functional ovaries,
long styles and linear stigmas, the pedicels of varying length and surrounded by basal
hairs, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 9).
85
-------
-------
over and desiccate a water area, especially if the area is small and shallow. It
has been found that mowing cat-tails after their heads are formed but still im-
mature, followed by a second mowing a few weeks later, will control these plants
to a considerable degree.
1. Staminate and pistillate portions of spike usually contiguous; stigmas ligulate
to lanceolate; sterile ovary ellipsoid, tipped at the rounded apex by
a rudimentary style; leaves flat on back 1. T. latifolia.
1. Staminate and pistillate portions of spike usually separated by an interval;
stigmas linear to filiform; sterile ovary not ellipsoid; leaves com-
monly convex on back (2)
2(1). Leaves 5-8 mm. wide, dark-green; sterile ovary cuneate, with a rudimen-
tary style on the truncate-flattened apex 2. T. angustifolia.
2. Leaves 7-15 mm. wide, light-yellowish-green; sterile ovary obovoid, the
rounded apex tipped by a short rudimentary style
3. T. domingensis.
1. Typha latifolia L. COMMON CAT-TAIL, TULE ESPADILLA. Fig. 24.
Plant coarse and stout, to about 3 m. tall; pith of the stem base white; leaves
essentially flat, sheathing, pale- or grayish-green, 6-23 mm. wide, often exceeding
the stem; sheaths cylindrical but open to base, the scarious upper margin tapering
to blade, rarely truncate or slightly auricled; the Staminate and dark-brown pistil-
late parts of the spike usually contiguous, the Staminate portion to 12 cm. long,
the pistillate portion to 2 dm. long, when in fruit 15—35 mm. thick, its surface
(when magnified) appearing minutely pebbled with crowded persistent stigmas
and scarcely bristly; pistillate flowers without bractlets among the bristles; stigma
ovate-lanceolate, fleshy, persistent; pollen grains in fours; denuded axis of old
spike retaining slender pedicels that are 1-2 mm. long.
In marshes or shallow water and along streams throughout most of our area,
Mar.-May; from Nfld. to Alas., through most of the U. S. into Mex.
2. Typha angustifolia L. NARROW-LEAVED CAT-TAIL. Fig. 25.
Plant slender, to about 15 dm. tall, the stem pith white; leaves mostly less
than 10, somewhat convex on back, dark-green, 3-7 mm. wide; sheaths appearing
cylindrical below but actually open to base, usually conspicuously auriculate
above, rarely with some sheaths tapering to the blade, the auricles scarious-
margined; pistillate and staminate parts of spike usually separated by a short
interval; pistillate portion of spike reddish-brown, in fruit to 15 cm. long and
15 mm. thick, its surface minutely bristly with persistent linear stigmas; staminate
portion of spike to 2 dm. long; pollen grains simple; pistillate flowers with a
linear fleshy stigma and usually with a hairlike bractlet with dilated blunt tips
among the bristles; the denuded old axis covered with stout blunt compound
papillate pedicels that are 0.5-0.7 mm. long.
In coastal and inland marshes in Okla. and mainly in s. Tex.; from N.S. and
s. Me. to s. Que. and Ont, s. to S. C., W. Va., Ky., Mo., Neb. and Tex.; also
Calif, and Euras.
Fig. 26: Typha domingensis: a, fertile pistillate flower, showing mature ovary and
the surrounding hairs originating at base of stipe, bract attached, X 8; b, sterile pis-
tillate flower terminating in a swollen aborted ovary, hairs surrounding stipe in whorls,
X 8; c, aborted obovoid ovary tipped by rudimentary style, x 20; d-f, typical bracts,
showing variations in the swollen tips, X 12; g and h, bracts of staminate flowers,
slender, simple or laciniate, with dark-brown shiny tips, X 12; i, 1-celled pollen grains,
grains occasionally in pairs; j and k, compound pedicels of pistillate spike, j, X 9,
k, X 40; 1 and m, spike, showing area of separation between the staminate part
(above) and the pistillate part (below), X %; n, pistillate spike, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 7).
87
-------
Fig. 27: Sparganium eurycarpum: a and b, 1-seeded and 2-seeded fruits (cross
sections), X 1%; c, mature fruit, X 1%; d, paired staminate flowers, usually with 1
broad perianth scale and several long-clawed scales expanding into a spatulate apex,
the anthers elliptic-clavate, X 6; e, staminate inflorescence showing globose heads,
X 2-§; f, young sessile pistillate flowers, showing the perianth scales with spatulate
apex, the scales broader than those of the staminate flowers, X 4; g, young fruiting
bur, showing the long 2-lobed style branches, X %; h, habit of plant, X %; i, mature
fruiting head, the styles broken off, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 10).
-------
3. Typha domingensis Pers. TULE. Fig. 26.
Plant slender, to about 3 m. tall, the stem pith white; leaves 6 to 10, usually
flat, yellowish-green, firm or coriaceous, 7-15 mm. wide, usually shorter than the
inflorescence; sheaths tapering at throat to the blade, scarious-margined above;
staminate portion of spike 2—4 dm. long, more or less separated (sometimes by
as much as 6 cm.) from the whitish-brown pistillate portion; surface of spike
similar to that of T. angustifolia; stigmas linear, interspersed with many apiculate-
bladed bractlets, soon deciduous; compound pedicels 0.5-0.8 mm. long. T.
truxillensis H.B.K.
In brackish or fresh marshes and pools throughout most of our area, Apr.-May;
from Fla. to Tex. and s. Calif., n. along the coast to Del. and e. Md. and inland
to Kan., Ut, Nev. and n. Calif.; also trop. Am.
Fam. 14. Sparganiaceae RUDOLPH: BUR-REED FAMILY
Perennial marsh or aquatic monoecious plants with horizontal rootstocks and
alternate sessile 2-ranked linear leaves on an erect simple or branched stem;
flowers in distant somewhat regularly disposed globular sessile or pedunculate
heads on the upper part of the stem or its branches; upper heads bearing sessile
staminate naked flowers and minute scales irregularly interposed; lower heads
composed of numerous sessile or shortly pedicelled pistillate flowers with a calyx-
like perianth of 3 to 6 linear to spatulate or obovate-flabellate scales; bracts
caducous or the lower ones persisting and leaflike; ovary 1- to 2-celled; achenes
suborbicular to obovoid to fusiform, 1- or 2-seeded.
A monotypic family.
1. Sparganium L. BUR-REED
Characters of the family. Pistillate heads becoming burlike from the divergent
beaks but the achenes at maturity falling separately in summer and autumn.
About 20 species in the temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres.
Waterfowl and marsh birds are known to eat the achenes, and muskrats eat the
basal parts or even the entire plant of all our species. They are also eaten by
deer. Their primary value, however, is as cover plants that attract marsh birds
and waterfowl.
1. Mature achenes sessile, typically broadly cuneiform to obpyramidal, usually
more than 4 mm. thick across top, truncate to broadly rounded at
apex with the stout beak produced rather abruptly; stigmas usually
2 but (in our region) 1 not uncommon; inflorescence usually
branched 1. S. eurycarpum.
1. Mature achenes more or less stipitate, typically fusiform or rarely somewhat
fusiform-obovoid, somewhat tapered at both ends, usually less than
3 mm. thick, gradually tapered to the rather slender beak, occa-
sionally somewhat constricted at about the middle; stigma always 1;
inflorescence simple or branched (2)
2(1). Staminate head usually single; fruiting heads to 1.5 cm. in diameter; beak
of achene usually about 1 mm. long, rarely to 1.5 mm
2. S. minimum.
2. Staminate heads usually 2 or more; fruiting heads usually 2 cm. or more in
diameter, rarely less; beak of achene 2 mm. long or more (3)
3(2). Heads (or at least one of them) supra-axillary; distribution New Mexico
and Arizona (4)
3. Heads or branches of inflorescence all axillary; distribution Oklahoma and
Texas (5)
89
-------
Fig. 28: a-c, Sparganium minimum: a, habit, X '/i; b, enlargement showing separate
staminate and pistillate heads, X 2%; c, fruit, X 5. d-i, Triglochin palustre: d, habit,
X Vi; e, ligule, X 5; f, flower, X 5; g, fruit, X 5; h, fruit showing 3 carpels with
2 carpels in section, X 5; i, cross section of fruit showing 3 carpels, X 5. (V.F.).
-------
4(3). Stems and leaves mostly partially emersed; leaves typically more than 5
mm. wide, sometimes scarious-margined near the base; fruiting
heads usually 2 cm. thick or more; stigma about 1.5 mm. long;
achene beak (including the stigma) well over 2 mm. long
3. S. emersum.
4. Stems and leaves typically submersed or floating; leaves mostly less than 5
mm. wide, not scarious-margined; fruiting heads usually less than
2 cm. thick; stigma scarcely 1 mm. long; achene beak (including
stigma) about 2 mm. long 4. S. angustifolium.
5(3). Leaves soft and flaccid; inflorescence simple or the branches strict and
bearing 1 to 6 staminate heads; bracts mostly spreading; fruiting
heads 1.5-2.5 cm. thick; stigma 1-1.5 mm. long; achenes usually
somewhat stipitate, the body 3-5 mm. long, not noticeably con-
stricted; receptacle scarcely alveolate 5. S. americanum.
5. Leaves firm and rigid; inflorescense commonly branched, the branches zig-zag
and bearing 3 or more staminate heads and as many as 2 pistillate
heads; bracts ascending; fruiting heads 2.5-3.5 cm. thick; stigma
1.5—3 mm. long; achenes subsessile, the body 5.5-7 mm. long,
usually strongly constricted at middle; receptacle fimbrillate-
alveolate 6. S. androcladum.
1. Sparganium eurycarpum Engelm. BROADFRUITED BUR-REED. Fig. 27.
Stem stout, erect, branching, 5-18 dm. tall; leaves 5-10 dm. long, 7-17 mm.
wide, flat, somewhat keeled below, as long as or slightly shorter than the branched
inflorescence; pistillate heads 2 to 6 on the main stem or on branches, sessile or
usually peduncled, 2-2.5 cm. in diameter in fruit; staminate heads 8 to 12; anthers
1-1.5 mm. long, elliptic-clavate; perianth scales long-clawed, expanding into a
spatulate apex, irregularly shallowly lobed and hyaline-margined at apex, two
thirds to three fourths as long as the fruits; style branches usually 2 but often 1
in our area, filiform, about 2 mm. long; achenes sessile, hard and thick at maturity,
cuneate-obpyramidal, irregularly and obtusely 3- to 5-angled, 6—10 mm. long
and 4-8 mm. wide at apex, the top truncate to depressed or very shallowly
rounded, the stout beak 2-3 mm. long.
Fresh-water or brackish marshes, meadows, ponds, lakes and streams in Okla.
(reported from), N.M. (Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo
cos.), May-Oct; Nfld. to B. C., s. to Va., Mo., Okla., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
2. Sparganium minimum (Hartm.) Fries. Fig. 28.
Slender submersed or suberect plants, 1-8 dm. long; leaves flat, 2-8 mm. wide,
without an evident keel; inflorescence simple, rarely over 6 cm. long; fruiting
heads 2 to 4, all sessile or the lowest one short-stalked in axils of bracts, 8-15 mm.
in diameter; staminate head solitary; perianth scales elliptic to cuneate-spatulate,
one half to two thirds as long as the body of the achene; achene with its ellipsoid
to obovoid-fusiform somewhat centrally constricted body about 3 mm. long and
with a short stipe scarcely 1 mm. long, the beak 1-1.5 mm. long.
Submerged in shallow water of mt. lake in n. Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-Sept.;
Lab. to Alas., s. to N.J., Tenn., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Sparganium emersum Rehm. Fig. 29.
Stem rather stout but sometimes slender, 3-10 dm. tall; leaves 2-8 dm. long,
4-8 (-15) mm. wide, slightly keeled to triangular-keeled especially toward the
somewhat expanded scarious-margined base, usually well-overtopping the usually
simple inflorescence; pistillate heads 2 to 5, the lowest ones peduncled, the upper
ones sessile, at least some of them supra-axillary; staminate heads 3 to 8, con-
gested or confluent; anthers 1-1.5 mm. long, elliptic-clavate; perianth scales
oblanceolate, erose at broadened apex; stigma linear, about 1.5 mm. long; fruiting
91
-------
Fig. 29: Sparganium emersum var. multipeduncu/atum: a, mature fruit, X 4; b,
mature fruiting head, X %; c, young pistillate flowers, stipitate, X 4; d, group of stami-
nate flowers with irregular perianth scales, X 6; e, habit, showing the triangular-keeled
leaves and bracts and the fruiting burs, X %; f, young plant with leaves over-topping
the staminate inflorescence, X -,:,; g, 1-seeded fruit (cross section), X 4 (From Mason.
Fig. 12).
-------
heads 2—3 cm. in diameter; achenes brown or greenish-brown, prominently stipi-
tate, the fusiform body 4-6 mm. long and often constricted at the middle, the
beak (including the stigma) 3-5 mm. long. S. simplex of Am. auth., illegit. name.
Mucky bottoms of shallow ponds, along streams and sloughs, in N.M. (Sando-
val, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-Oct.; La. to Alas.,
s. to Pa., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
The North American plant is referred to var. multipedunculatum (Morong)
Reveal [S. multipendunculatum (Morong) Rydb.] with not so strongly keeled
basal leaves, somewhat V-shaped in cross section, and with mature achenes
(including the stipe and beak) about 10 mm. long.
4. Sparganium angustifolium Michx.
•
Slender usually submersed aquatic, the leaves and stems floating or below the
surface, 3-10 dm. long; leaves usually 2-6 mm. wide, often very long, curved on
the back; inflorescence usually simple but the lower 1 or 2 pistillate heads long-
stalked and borne in the axil or above the axil of a bract; pistillate heads 2 to 4;
staminate heads usually 2 to 5, somewhat confluent; perianth scales borne at base
of the constricted part of the ovary or at base of stipe; stigma scarcely 1 mm.
long; fruiting heads less than 2 cm. in diameter; achenes sessile or stipitate, often
both kinds in the same head, the fusiform body 2.5-3 mm. long, the beak (includ-
ing stigma) about 2 mm. long.
Usually in shallow or deep water in high montane lakes in n. N.M. (Rio Arriba
and Colfax cos.) and n. Ariz., June-Oct,; Lab. to Alas., s. to Pa., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.; Euras.
It is quite possible that this concept should be united with S. emersum. Their
separation, based primarily on size differences of various organs, is most tenuous.
5. Sparganium americanum Nutt. Fig. 30.
Plants stout to slender, to 1 m. tall; leaves soft, thin, flat, translucent, loosely
ascending or occasionally floating, to 2 cm. wide; lower bract similar to leaves,
spreading-ascending, scarious-margined at base; inflorescence simple or sometimes
branched, the heads or branches axillary, the primary axis with 1 to 5 pistillate
heads and 5 to 9 staminate heads, the branches (when present) with 1 to 6
staminate heads and 1 to 3 (rarely 0) pistillate heads; anthers 0.8-1.2 mm. long;
stigma linear-oblong to lanceolate, 1-2 mm. long; fruiting heads 1.5-2.5 cm. in
diameter; achenes dull or but slightly lustrous, the body 2 mm. thick, the beak
1.5-5 mm. long; anthers about 1 mm. long.
In shallow water in e. Okla. (Delaware and Le Flore cos.) and e. Tex., Apr.-
June; from Nfld. to Ont, Wise., Minn, and N. D., s. to Fla., Ala., Tex. and Mo.
See note under S. androcladum.
6. Sparganium androcladum (Engelm.) Morong.
Plants stout, to 12 dm. tall; leaves stirnsh, strongly ascending, elongate, nearly
flat but keeled below, 4-15 mm. wide; lower bracts similar to the leaves, slightly
scarious-margined at base; inflorescence branched or rarely simple, the primary
axis with 1 to 4 mostly sessile axillary pistillate heads and 4 to 10 staminate heads,
the 1 to 3 filiform strongly arched geniculate branches with 3 to 8 staminate heads
and rarely 1 pistillate head; stigma filiform, 2-4 mm. long; fruiting heads 2.5-3.5
cm. in diameter; achenes lustrous, the body 2.5-3 mm. thick, the beak 4.5-6 mm.
long; anthers 1-1.5 mm. long; receptacle fimbrillate-alveolate.
In swamps and shallow water of streams in e. Okla. (Ottawa Co.) and e. Tex.,
Apr.-June; from Que. to Minn., s. to Va., e. Ky., 111., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
Plants that comprise S. americanum and S. androcladum, which have the heads
or branches of their inflorescence all axillary, are restricted in our area to eastern
Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Voucher specimens of plants that we have examined,
93
-------
Fig. 30: Sparganium americanurn: a, habit, X Vt; b, cross section of leaf, X 1;
c, section of staminate head, X I1;.; e, pistillate head, about X 1; f, fruits, one with
and one without perianth scales, X 3; g, mature fruit, X 3. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
not only from our region but from elsewhere, do not readily fall into either of
these categories, although they have some characteristics attributed to one or the
other of these plants. Although we would not be adverse to considering these
plants as one complex entity, we have followed their traditional treatment as
maintained by Fernald.
Fam. 15. Potamogetonaceae DUM. PONDWEED FAMILY
Aquatic herbs of fresh or sometimes brackish or alkaline water; leaves alternate
or imperfectly opposite, those immersed thin, those above water often leathery,
sheathing at the base, the sheath free or partially adnate to the petiole; flowers
bisexual, small, arranged in pedunculate axillary spikes; peduncle surrounded by
a sheath at the base; bracts absent; perianth comprised of 4 free rounded shortly
clawed valvate segments; stamens 4, inserted on the claws of the segments;
anthers extrorse, 2-celled, sessile; gynoecium of 4 sessile free 1-celled carpels;
stigmas sessile or on short styles; ovule solitary, attached to the adaxial angle of
the carpel, campylotropous; fruiting carpels sessile, free, 1-seeded, indehiscent;
seeds without endosperm, the embryo with large "foot", the plumule enclosed
by the cotyledon.
A family of two widespread genera, the following and Groenlandia.
1. Potamogeton L. PONDWEED
Annual or perennial aquatic herbs propagated from seeds, winter-buds
(hibernacula) or rhizomes; stems variable in length according to water depth,
branched or unbranched, terete or flattened; leaves all submersed or with both
submersed and floating blades; submersed leaves usually flaccid, sessile or petioled,
linear or orbicular, acute to obtuse at apex, the margins entire to denticulate or
serrate, the nerves 1 to 35; stipules fused to form a single structure with 2
midveins, arising from the axil of the stem and leaf, free or adnate to the leaf
base, often sheathing the stem and sometimes with the outer margins partially
fused (connate); floating leaves usually coriaceous, petioled, elliptic to ovate,
cuneate to rounded or cordate at base, the nerves 3 to 51, the margins entire, the
stipules like those of submersed leaves but never adnate nor connate; peduncles
about same diameter as stem, terete, sometimes clavate at tip; inflorescence a
spike with 1 to 20 whorls of flowers, compact or moniliform, with 2 to 4 flowers
in each whorl, mostly buoyed above the water surface; flowers bisexual, perianth
of 4 free rounded short-clawed greenish segments; stamens 4; anthers sessile on
the claws, 2-celled, extrorse; carpels 4, free, sessile; fruits dryish drupelets or
achenes with spongy mesocarp and bony endocarp, one-seeded, embryo coiled,
cotyledon one, endosperm absent.
A genus of 90 to 100 species found in all parts of the world, except the polar
regions, but mostly in the North Temperate areas. Nearly 40 species occur in
North America, all but one being indigenous; about half of these are widespread,
common and often locally abundant.
Pondweeds are found primarily in shallow ponds, lakes and quiet waters of
rivers and streams, and they are an important element in the ecology of such
places. The achenes of all our species provide a favorite and important food for
wildfowl. In addition, plant parts, especially of the more delicate species, are also
eaten by wildfowl that include most waterfowl, marsh birds and shorebirds. The
plants are also commonly eaten by muskrats, beaver and deer. The most important
species, mainly because of its tolerance to brackish water, its abundant seed pro-
duction, and the edibility of its vegetative parts, is the sago pondweed (P-
pectinatus). Most of the species provide food, shelter and shade for fish and
minute animal life. They provide, in particular, an excellent haven for insect life
that, in turn, provide food for fish.
95
-------
Fig. 31: Potamogeton latifolius: a, interrupted flowering spike, showing the re-
flexed sepaloid connectives, X 2; b, young branch, X %; c, habit, X %; d, achene, X 6;
e, achene (longitudinal section), showing tip of curved embryo directed toward base
of seed, X 6; f-i, sheaths and ligules, showing variation in ligule apices, X 1%; j-1,
leaf tips, showing variation in apices and venation, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 15).
-------
1. Submersed leaves linear, mostly more than 10 times as long as wide (2)
1. Submersed leaves lanceolate to ovate, mostly less than 10 times as long as
wide (12)
2(1). Stipules united with the base of the leaf for a distance of 7 mm. or more;
floating leaves often absent (3)
2. Stipules free from the leaf or united for a distance of less than 6 mm. (6)
3(2). Plants with submersed leaves only; fruiting spikes slender (4)
3. Plants with long-petioled floating leaves and sessile linear submersed leaves;
if floating leaves absent the fruiting spikes of submersed parts
capitate and sessile or on very short peduncles
9. P. diversifolius.
4(3). Leaves more than 1 mm. broad, the apex rounded to broadly obtuse and
apiculate, the veins 3 to 7 1. P. latifolius.
4. Leaves all linear-filiform, less than 1 mm. broad (5)
5(4). Stigma disc-shaped, sessile or short-stalked; leaves blunt or submucronate
2. P. filiformis.
5. Stigma not discoid, the stigmatic tip prolonged and with little evident swelling;
leaves acute at the apex 3. P- pectinatus.
6(2). Floating leaves absent (7)
6. Floating leaves usually present, with broad blades and long petioles (11)
7(6). Fruits with dorsal keel prominent, thin, alate, undulate or toothed (8)
7. Fruits with dorsal keel rounded or acute but never thin and alate (9)
8(7). Leaves 1.4—2.7 mm. wide, the veins 3 to 5; fruits 2-2.5 mm. long
5. P. foliosus var. foliosus.
8. Leaves 0.3—1.5 mm. wide, the veins 1 to 3; fruits 1.8-2.3 mm. long
5. P. foliosus var. macellusf
9(7). Fruits tuberculate (especially at base), 2.5-2.8 mm. long, the lateral keels
prominent 7. P. clystocarpus.
9. Fruits smooth, 2—2.5 mm. long, the lateral keels rounded or obscure (10)
10(9). Stipules connate when young; peduncles 1.5-8 cm. long; spikes 6-12 mm.
long, of 3 to 5 separated whorls 6. P. pusillus.
10. Stipules not connate; peduncles rarely more than 3 cm. long; spikes 2.8 mm.
long, of 1 to 3 adjacent whorls
8. P. Berchtoldii var. tenuissimus.
11(6). Submersed leaves linear, usually bladeless and filiform, 0.8-2 mm. wide;
blade (when present) linear-lanceolate and on a very long petiole;
floating leaves broad, many-veined, base of blade subcordate
15. P. natans.
11. Submersed leaves linear to linear-obovate, often very unequal in size, usually
tapering to tip and base, 3-12 cm. long, to 15 mm. wide
14. P. gramineus.
12(1). Leaves mostly all submersed and essentially alike; petioles short or ab-
sent (13'),
12. Leaves of two kinds, submersed and floating, the floating leaves with broad
blades and long petioles (14)
13(12). Leaves broadly lanceolate-attenuate, large, serrulate only at tip
13. P. illinoensis.
13. Leaves oblong and crisped, serrulate throughout, rounded at tip
4. P- crispus.
14(12). Submersed leaves ovate-lanceolate, arcuately folded or falcate in outline,
sessile or on short petioles; floating leaves mostly with more than
30 nerves 11. P. amplifolius.
97
-------
Fig. 32: Potamogeton fillformis: a, apical part of plant, showing the fleshy linear
leaves with adnate stipules sheathing the young leaf blades and the 5 regularly spaced
flower whorls, X 2; b, habit, X %; c-f, leaf tips, showing variation from blunt to sub-
mucronate, X 4; g, sepaloid connective, showing pronounced veins, X 8; h, flower,
X 8; i, achene, showing rounded back and nearly central, wartlike beak, X 8; j, achene
(longitudinal section), X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 13).
-------
Fig. 33: Potamogeton pectinatus: a, moniliform spike with mature achenes, X 1%;
b, habit, showing slender branching stems and linear-filiform submersed leaves, arising
from rhizome, X %; c, upper flowers of spike, X 4; d and e, variation in achenes
(usually obliquely ovoid, with a short wartlike beak), d, X 5%, e, X 5; f, achene
(longitudinal section), X 5; g, stipules sheathing stem or loosely investing it and some-
what inflated, the linear leaf appearing to originate at the top of the sheath, X 3; h,
rhizome with winter corm, X 1%. (From Mason, Fig. 14).
-------
14. Submersed leaves lanceolate to oblong; floating leaves mostly with fewer than
30 nerves (15)
15(14). Floating leaf blades usually cordate, rarely rounded at base, with 21 to
29 (sometimes more) veins; submersed leaves tapering rather
abruptly to a sessile base or short petiole to 1.5 cm. long; mature
fruit light-brown to olive-green, 3-3.5 mm. long 10. P. pulcher.
15. Floating leaf blades cuneate or rounded at base, with 9 to 21 veins; sub-
mersed leaves tapering gradually to a petiole 2-13 cm. long; mature
fruit usually reddish, 3.5-4 mm. long 12. P. nodosus.
1. Potamogeton latifolius (Robbins) Morong. WESTERN PONDWEED. Fig. 31.
Rhizome creeping, rooting freely at the nodes; stem whitish, simple below,
repeatedly branched above; stele of the one-bundled-type or oblong-type; endo-
dermis of U-cells; interlacunar bundles present in the outer interlacunar circle;
subepidermal bundles absent; pseudohypodermis absent or partly 1 cell thick;
leaves all submersed, linear, entire, green to bronze, rather opaque, to 7 cm. long
and 7 mm. wide, the apex obtuse to rounded or shortly apiculate to acutish on
the upper leaves; nerves 3 to 5, with strong crossveins making a rectangular pat-
tern; stipules prominent, 8-12 mm. long, adnate to the base of the leaf to form a
broad sheath, hyaline along the margin, the free portion 1-4 mm. long; peduncles
2-25 cm. long; spikes with 4 to 6 whorls, contiguous when young but soon be-
coming moniliform; basal internodes 5-12 mm. long, the upper shorter, in fruit
2-4 cm. long; flowers sessile; perianth semiorbicular, slightly wider than long, to
5.2 mm. wide; anthers about 1.8 mm. long; fruits obliquely obovate, the sides
convex but somewhat compressed, 3-4 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide; dorsal keel
obscure, lateral keels rounded; beak facial, slightly recurved, about 1 mm. long;
exocarp olive-green to fulvous; endocarp loop solid or with a spongy area; apex
of seed pointing above the basal end.
In quiet or flowing fresh or brackish water, in s.w. Tex. (Cameron, Pecos,
Reeves and Val Verde cos.) and Ariz. (Mohave Co.), flowers and mature fruit
from May to Sept.; rare in s.w. U.S.
2. Potamogeton filifonnis Pers. Fig. 32.
Slender much-branched wholly submersed plant of brackish waters, with hori-
zontal stolons bearing white tubers 1-2 cm. long; stipules adnate to leaf and
sheathing the stem, the sheaths 0.4-2.2 cm. long, connate below, the tips free,
scarious, 1-5 mm. long; leaves setaceous, to 12 cm. long, 0.2—0.5 mm. wide, blunt;
peduncles filiform, flexuous, to 1 dm. long; spike moniliform, 1.5-5 cm. long,
with 2 to 5 whorls, the upper whorls 3-12 mm. apart, the lower ones 0.7-2.5 cm.
apart; connectives 0.5-1 mm. long; styles almost wanting; nutlets sessile, 2-2.7
mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide, rounded on back, the beak short, wartlike, nearly
central.
Ponds, slow streams and ditches in N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Final
Co.), Apr.-Sept; Greenl. to Alas., s. to Pa., Mich., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.,
Afr. and Austral.
3. Potamogeton pectinatus L. SAGO PONDWEED. Fig. 33.
Rhizome creeping, much-branched, 1-1.5 mm. in diameter, bearing terminal
tuberous bulblets; stem terete or slightly compressed, about 1 mm. in diameter,
mostly simple near base but abundantly branched near summit; stele with the
oblong pattern or one-bundled in slender branches; endodermis of U-cells; inter-
lacunar bundles present; subepidermal bundles present or absent; pseudohypodermis
1 or 2 cells thick; leaves all submersed, filiform to narrowly linear, entire, to 15
cm. long and 1 mm. wide, occasionally wider on robust forms, the apex tapering
to a narrowly acute point (sometimes obtuse on young seedlings); nerves 1 to 3,
100
-------
Fig. 34: Potamogeton crispus: a, habit, X %; b, branch with maturing spikes,
X %; c, few-flowered spike, X 4; d, young flowering spike, emerging from sheathing
stipules, X 3; e, winter bud, showing fleshy stems, short internodes and thickened
foliaceous bud scales with strongly dentate broadened bases, X 1%; f, stem (cross
section), X 6; g, ligulate stipule, X 1%; h, young leaf, showing venation, X 3, i,
achene, (longitudinal section), X 6; j, achene, showing the somewhat curved beak and
variation in the denticulate dorsal keel, X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 21).
-------
Fig. 35: Potamogeton foliosus: a, spike, showing short clavate peduncle, X 8; b,
achene, showing the thin undulate-toothed keel, X 10; c, habit, X %; d, fruiting spike,
showing connate and ruptured stipules, X 4; e, leaf tip, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 23).
-------
with strong crossveins, the lateral nerve usually marginal; stipules prominent,
2-5 cm. long, the base adnate to the leaf to form a sheath slightly wider than the
stem, greenish or whitish, the free portion less than half the length of the sheath;
peduncles 3-25 cm. long, flexuous; spikes with 2 to 5 whorls of flowers, soon
becoming widely and unequally spaced (moniliform), in fruit to 5 cm. long;
flowers sessile or nearly so; perianth greenish, the blades orbicular to elliptical,
1-2 mm. wide; anthers 0.5-1 mm. long; fruits obliquely obovate, plump, narrow
at base, rounded on the dorsal side, 2.5-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; dorsal keel
absent, the lateral keels obscure; beak facial, usually recurved, about 0.6 mm.
long; exocarp light tan, yellowish or pale-olive-green; endocarp loop solid, apex
of seed pointing toward the basal end or slightly above.
In alkaline, brackish or saline water of ponds, quiet rivers, marshes and ocean
shores, often occurring in great masses, in most of Okla., throughout Tex. except
perhaps the e. Timber Belt and Blackland Prairies, and throughout most of N. M.
and Ariz., mature fruit from May to Oct.; throughout much of e. half of U. S.
and Can., w. to Alas., s. to Mex.
4. Potamogeton crispus L. CURLED PONDWEED. Fig. 34.
Rhizome buff or reddish, about the same thickness as the stem; stem simple
or branched, laterally compressed and somewat 4-angled with the broader sides
furrowed, 0.5-2.5 mm. in greatest diameter; stele of the oblong-type pattern with
but 1 central bundle and 1 lateral bundle on each side; endodermis of 0-cells;
interlacunar bundles absent; subepidermal bundles absent; pseudohypodermis 1
cell thick; leaves all submersed, bright-green to dark-green or occasionally slightly
reddish, translucent, linear-oblong to linear-oblanceolate, to 1 dm. long and
1 cm. wide, the apex broadly rounded, the base semiclasping; nerves 3 to 7, the
laterals close to the margin; lacunae of 1 or 2 rows on each side of midrib;
margins finely and irregularly dentate and often undulate; stipules 5-15 mm. long,
slightly adnate at base, the upper part fraying early to leave papery or shreddy
bases; peduncles 2-7 cm. long; spikes of 3 to 5 whorls of flowers, compact or
moniliform, in fruit 1-2 cm. long, 1-1.3 cm. wide; flowers sessile or on very
short pedicels; perianth blades orbicular, 1.2-2.1 mm. wide; anthers 0.7-1.3 mm.
long; fruits ovate, 2-3.6 mm. long (excluding beak), 1.5-2.8 mm. wide; keels
obtuse but prominent, the dorsal one strongly developed below and with a small
tooth near the base; beak prominent, straight or incurved, as long as the fruit
body; exocarp dark-olive or brownish; endocarp loop solid and near the base; apex
of seed pointing toward the basal end; winter-buds burlike, hard and horny, 1-2.5
cm. thick.
In ponds and streams, often abundant in quiet muddy calcareous water; seldom
found fruiting but does not produce fruits in shallow warm non-fluctuating water,
in Okla. (Alfalfa, Choctaw, Comanche, Garfield and Ottawa cos.),' Tex. (Dallas,
Grayson, Hemphill, Randall and Travis cos.), N. M. (Hidalgo and Taos cos") and
Ariz. (Yavapai Co.), Apr.-Aug.; nat. of Eur.
When thoroughly established this species may become a very aggressive weed.
5. Potamogeton foliosus Raf. Fig. 35.
Rhizome freely branching, rooting at the nodes; stem subsimple below, much-
branched above, filiform, laterally compressed, usually without glands at the
nodes; stele of the one-bundled-type; endodermis of 0-cells; interlacunar bundles
absent; subepidermal bundles present; pseudohypodermis absent; leaves all sub-
mersed, narrowly linear, green to bronze, to 1 dm. long and 2.7 mm. wide,
slightly tapering to a sessile base, entire-margined, acute or subacute at apex;
nerves 3 to 5, the midrib prominent, without bordering lacunae or with 1 to 3
rows on each side at the base, lateral nerves joining the midrib 1 to 3 leaf-widths
below the apex, in broad leaves with 5 nerves the marginal ones may join the
103
-------
Fig. 36: Potamogeton pusillus: a, flowering spike, X 6; b, achene, obliquely obovoid,
smooth, with slightly recurved beak, X 8; c, achene (longitudinal section), X 8; d, habit,
showing narrowly linear submersed leaves, X %; e, stem (cross section), X 20; f, part
of stem, showing young tubular stipules in upper part and split disintegrating stipules
at base, X 2; g and h, winter buds, X I1/-}. (From Mason, Fig. 24).
-------
laterals farther down; stipules 7-18 mm. long, with connate margins when young
to form tubular delicately fibrous blunt sheaths, soon tearing and .deciduous;
peduncles slightly thickened upward, to 3 cm. long; spikes subcapitate or cylindric,
of 1 to 3 contiguous whorls of 2 flowers each; perianth blades flabellate, brown-
ish, 0.6-1 mm. long; fruits obliquely suborbicular, laterally compressed, 2-2.5 mm.
in diameter; dorsal keel with a thin undulate to dentate wing; lateral keels obscure;
beak erect, broad at base, 0.2-0.4 mm. long; exocarp fulvous or olive-brown;
embryo with apex pointing toward the basal end or slightly above; winter-buds
sessile in the axils or on short branches.
In fresh (mostly calcareous) or brackish water of ponds, irrigation ditches
and slow or swift streams throughout most of Okla., Tex., N.M. and Ariz., mature
fruit from May to Oct.; throughout Can. and the U.S. to Mex. and the W.I.
Var. macellus Fern. Similar to var. foliosus but smaller and more bushy-
branched; leaves bright-green, to 7 cm. long and 1.5 mm. wide; nerves 1 to 3;
midrib without adjacent lacunae or with a single row on each side below the
middle; fruits green, obliquely obovoid, 1.8-2.3 mm. long, the body longer than
broad; beak slender, 0.3-0.8 mm. long; winter-buds terminating elongate branches.
Same habitats as var. foliosus. This poorly-marked variety that differs only in
size is apparently rare in our region.
6. Potamogeton pusillus L. Fig. 36.
Plants often with winter-bud at base; rhizome absent; stem usually much-
branched, slender, terete or slightly compressed, usually with a pair of small
translucent glands at the nodes; branches (late in the season) often terminated by
winter-buds; stele of the one-bundled-type or oblong-type; endodermis of 0-cells;
interlacunar bundles absent; subepidermal bundles present; pseudohypodermis
absent; leaves all submersed, linear to linear-setaceous, entire, light-green, to 7
cm. long and 3 mm. wide, acute to obtuse at apex; nerves 3 to 5, the lateral
nerves obscure in narrow extremes, joining the midrib one-half to 2 leaf widths
below the tip; midrib usually not bordered by lacunae but they are sometimes evi-
dent on the young uppermost leaves; stipules scarious-membranaceous, 6-17 mm.
long, clasping the stem and with margins united at base to above the middle,
this union tearing with age; peduncles axillary, filiform, 1.5-8 cm. long; spikes
cylindrical, with 3 to 5 separate few-flowered whorls, 6-12 mm. long; flowers
with perianth round-flabelliform and with slender claw, 1.2-2 mm. long; anthers
0.5-0.8 mm. long; fruits obliquely obovoid, 1.9-2.8 mm. long, 1—1.8 mm. wide;
dorsal keel obscure, very low and broad; lateral keels absent; beak facial, promi-
nent, erect or slightly recurving, 0.2-0.6 mm. long; exocarp olive-green, smooth;
endocarp loop solid; apex of seed pointing slightly above the basal end or between
the base and the middle of the opposite side.
In neutral or slightly alkaline or slightly brackish water of ponds and rivers,
often forming large masses, in Okla. (Beaver Co.), throughout Tex., in N.M.
(Colfax, Rio Arriba and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Santa
Cruz cos.), mature fruit from May to Oct.; throughout much of U.S. and Can.,
s. to e. Mex.; Euras.
7. Potamogeton clystocarpus Fern. Fig. 37.
Stem much-branched, slender, terete or slightly compressed, usually with a
pair of small translucent glands at the nodes; stele of the one-bundled-type;
endodermis of 0-cells; interlacunar bundles absent; subepidermal bundles present;
pseudohypodermis absent; leaves all submersed, linear, entire, light-green, trans-
lucent to subopaque, to 9 cm. long and 3 mm. wide, the acute apex often with a
sharp mucro; nerves 3 (5), often obscure, laterals joining the midrib near the
apex or disappearing in the apical area; midrib bordered on each side by one or
two rows of lacunae; stipules hyaline to subherbaceous, 0.5—1 mm. long, usually
105
-------
Fig. 37: Potamogeton clystocarpus: a, upper portion of leaf to show venation and
apex, X 5; b. portion of plant to show free margins of stipule, X 2%; c, fruit, X 10; d,
fruit cut to show coil of embryo, X 10.
clasping the stem but with margins free, becoming lacerate at the apex; peduncles
filiform, 15-65 mm. long; spikes short-cylindric, 8-10 mm. long, with 2 or 3
whorls of flowers; flowers with perianth broad-flabelliform and with slender claw,
2.5-3 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide; anthers 0.8-1.2 mm. long; fruits obliquely
obovate to suborbicular, with 2 or more verrucose protuberances near the base,
2.5-2.8 mm. long, 1.8-2 mm. wide; dorsal keel rounded to prominently developed
and gibbous at base; lateral keels rounded or obscure; beak facial, recurved, 0.2-
0.5 mm. long; exocarp dark-olive-green; endocarp loop solid; apex of seed point-
ing slightly above the basal end or between the base and the middle of the opposite
side.
In quiet pools and flowing streams, known only from Little Aguja Canyon,
Davis Mts., Jeff Davis Co., Tex., where it is endemic, in fruit from May to Oct.
and perhaps later.
8. Potamogeton Berchtoldii Fieb. var. tenuissimus (Mert. & Koch) Fern. Fig. 38.
Plants often with winter-bud at base; rhizome absent; stem usually much-
branched, slender, terete or nearly so, usually with a pair of small translucent
glands at the nodes; branches (late in the season) often terminated by winter-
buds; stele of the one-bundled-type; endodermis of 0-cells; interlacunar bundles
absent; subepidermal bundles present; pseudohypodermis absent; leaves all sub-
mersed, linear to linear-setaceous, acute at apex, entire, light-green to deep-green,
translucent and flaccid, to 85 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; nerves 3, laterals often
obscure and (when not evanescent) joining the midrib one-fourth to 2 leaf-widths
below the tip; midrib bordered on each side (at least in the lower half) by a single
row of lacunae; stipules hyaline to subherbaceous, 3-14 mm. long, usually clasping
the stem but with margins free (or adhering because of adhesive materials in the
water); peduncles axillary, filiform, to 3 (rarely -4.5) cm. long; spikes sub-
globose, with 1 to 3 few-flowered whorls, 2-8 mm. long; flowers with perianth
round-flabelliform and with slender claw, 1-2 mm. long; anthers 0.5-0.8 mm.
long; fruits obliquely obovoid, 2-2.5 mm. long, 1.2-1.9 mm. wide; dorsal keel
obscure, very low and broad; lateral keels absent; beak facial, prominent, erect
or slightly recurving, 0.1-0.5 mm. long; exocarp dark-olive-green, smooth or
faintly rugulose when dry; endocarp loop solid; apex of seed pointing slightly
106
-------
Fig. 38: Potamogeton Berchtoldii: a, habit, showing dense, short, somewhat spread-
ing leaves, X %; b, young flowering spike surrounded by sheathing stipules, X 5; c,
sepaloid connective, X 12; d, habit of a plant with leaves longer and more linear-
setaceous than those of plant in a, X %; e and f, typical leaf tips, showing venation,
X 8; g, achene (longitudinal section), x 12; h, achene, showing the rounded obscurely
keeled back and the marginal erect beak, X 12; i, winter bud, X 2. (From Mason,
Fig. 25).
-------
above the basal end or between the base and the middle of the opposite side.
In neutral to acid water of ponds and rivers in Okla. (Waterfall), n.e. Tex.
(Bowie Co.), N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Oct.;
throughout much of N. A.
9. Potamogeton diversifolius Raf. var. diversifolius. Fig. 39.
Rhizome freely branching, rooting at the nodes; stem filiform, terete, much-
branched, stele of the oblong-type with one or two median bundles; endodermis of
0-cells; interlacunar bundles absent; subepidermal bundles absent or occasionally
with faint mechanical strands; pseudohypodermis present or absent; submersed
leaves narrowly linear, entire, pale-green, mostly 2-6 cm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. wide,
slightly tapering to a sessile base, acute to obtuse at apex; nerves 3, laterals in-
conspicuous: midrib usually bordered by 1 to 4 rows of lacunae; stipules delicately
fibrous, adnate to the base of the leaf blade; floating leaves coriaceous, elliptic to
oval or narrowly obovate, rounded at apex, cuneate or rounded at base; petioles
usually shorter than the blades; blades to 4 cm. long and 2 cm. wide; nerves 5
to 15; stipules free from the petioles, 6-30 mm. long, delicately fibrous, persistent;
peduncles usually slender, often clavate, 1—4 mm. long from the axils of submersed
leaves and 2-30 mm. long from the axils of floating leaves, ascending or arching;
submersed spikes few-flowered, subglobose; emersed spikes elongate, 5—20 mm.
long, in fruit 3^ mm. wide; flowers sessile or nearly so; perianth suborbicular to
broadly rhombic, 0.7-1 mm. long, with a short claw; fruits suborbicular, the sides
flattened or slightly concave and often cochleate-sulcate, 1—1.5 mm. in diameter;
dorsal keel prominent, alate, 0.2-0.4 mm. wide, undulate or with a few very low
teeth; lateral keels low and fine but evident, entire or slightly dentate; beak facial,
minute but usually definite; exocarp greenish to brownish, endocarp with loop
solid; embryo coil more than one complete revolution; winter-buds may form
late in the growing season, being short branches with crowded internodes.
In pools, tanks and small streams, throughout most of Okla., common in e.
Tex. and in the mts. of the Trans-Pecos to Ariz. (Coconino Co.), freely fruiting
throughout the summer; mostly in s. U.S. and Mex.
Var. trichophyllus Morong. Similar to var. diversifolius except submersed
leaves flaccid, setaceous or setaceous-linear, 0.1-0.6 mm. wide, tapering to an
acute P, -x, the nerves 1 or obscurely 3; stipules delicate, free or partially adnate
to the oase of the leaf blade, deciduous with age; floating leaves lance-elliptic
to oval-elliptic, acutish or (if rounded) at least submucronate at apex; blades
7-26 mm. long, 1-10 mm. wide; nerves 3 to 9; stipules 3-10 mm. long; peduncles
1-4 mm. long from the axils of submersed leaves and 2-30 mm. from the axils
of the floating leaves; fruits with dorsal keel entire or with 3 to 12 small teeth.
In the same habitats as var. diversifolius.
10. Potamogeton pulcher Tuckerm. Fig. 40.
Rhizome pale-buff, often with dark-red spots; stem simple, terete, 1-2.5' mm.
in diameter, usually conspicuously dark-spotted; stele with the prototype pattern;
endodermis of 0-cells; interlacular and subepidermal bundles absent; pseudo-
hypodermis mostly 1 cell thick; submersed leaves of two intergrading types, those
of the lower part of the stem semiopaque and oblong with rounded apices, those
of the upper part of the stem translucent and lanceolate to lance-linear, with an
acutish but not sharp-pointed apex, both types tapering at base to petioles to 35
mm. long; blades entire, to 18 cm. long and 35 mm. wide, usually smaller; nerves
11 to 21, the outer ones marginal; lacunae 4 to 8 rows on each side of midrib;
floating leaves coriaceous, ovate to rotund, rounded to bluntly mucronate at apex,
cordate or rounded at base; petioles 4—18 cm. long: blades to 11 cm. long and
85 mm. wide, with 19 to 35 nerves; stipules of the submersed leaves decaying
early, those of the floating leaves persistent, narrowly triangular, obtuse when
108
-------
Fig. 39: Potamogeton diversifolius: a and b, achenes, showing the angular often
denticulate outline of the dorsal keel and the strongly coiled embryo, X 16; c, upper
part of stem, the floating leaves elliptic, the submersed leaves linear, X 2; d, habit,
showing the numerous capitate subsessile spikes, X %, e and f, tips of submersed leaves,
X 10; g, linear leaf blade arising from stipule, and the long free ligule, X 4; h, mature
capitate spikes, showing reflexed peduncles in axils of submersed leaves, X 2; i, flowers
in spike, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 17).
-------
Fig. 40: Potamogeton pulcher: a, habit, X %; b, flower, X 5; c, achene, X 5; d,
coil of embryo, X 5. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
young, acutish with age, 2-5 cm. long, 2-keeled; peduncles 5-11 cm. long; spikes
with about 10 whorls, in fruit 2-3.5 cm. long, 8-11 mm. thick; flowers sessile or
nearly so; perianth greenish, blades orbicular to elliptical and 1.2-3 mm. wide;
anthers 0.8—1.4 mm. long; fruits obliquely ovate, rounded or cuneate at base, the
sides flat or slightly concave, 2.7-4 mm. long, 2.3-3.4 mm. wide; keels usually
prominent, acutish, the dorsal one often strongly developed and sometimes with
a basal lobe projecting below the point of attachment; beak often prominent, to
0.8 mm. long; exocarp light-brown to olive-green; endocarp with 3 prominent
acutish and somewhat muricate keels; beak linear, facial, about 1 mm. long; loop
solid; apex of seed pointing 0.5-1.2 mm. above the basal end.
In muddy pools, boggy streams, lakes and occasionally in clear water in sandy
bottoms in Okla. (McCurtain, Payne and Pushmataha cos.) and in Tex. mostly
in the Timber Belt, flowers in Apr. and May, mature fruit by mid-May; in the
e. half of U. S.
11. Potamogeton amplifolius Tuckerm. Fig. 41.
Plant from stout rhizomes; stems simple or branched near the top, often rufous;
submersed leaves variable, from short-lived (lanceolate and short-petioled) to
persistent (broadly lanceolate to ovate and folded along the midvein), the blade
8-20 cm. long, 25-75 mm. broad, tapering to petiole 1-6 mm. long, the stipules
becoming fibrous and stringy, 3-10 cm. long; floating leaves similar to the upper
submersed leaves to ovate or elliptic, round-tipped, rounded or tapering to the
base, 5-10 cm. long, 25-50 mm. wide, the stipules usually 2-keeled; peduncles
often thickened apically, 5-11 cm. long; spikes with 9 to 16 whorls of flowers,
4-8 cm. long when mature; nutlets 3-5 mm. long, obovate, rounded on back,
cuneate at base, the sides flat, the beak prominent.
Lakes, ponds, still water of creeks, at middle and lower altitudes, in rather deep
water, in Okla. (Comanche, McCurtain and Osage cos.), Apr.-Sept; from Nfld.
to B. C., s. to Va., Ark., Okla., and Calif.
12. Potamogeton nodosus Poir. Fig. 42.
Rhizome white, suffused or spotted with rusty red; stem simple, terete, often
pressing very flat, 1—2 mm. in diameter; stele with the triotype pattern, with the
phloem on the inner face of the trio-bundle appearing as one patch; endodermis
of 0-cells; interlacunar and subepidermal bundles absent; pseudohypodermis
absent; submersed leaves thin, linear-lanceolate to broadly lance-elliptic, to 2 dm.
long and 35 mm. wide, tapering gradually at base into a petiole 2-13 cm. long,
tapering gradually to an acutish but not sharp-pointed apex; nerves 7 to 15;
lacunae of 2 to 5 rows along the midrib; margin of young blades with fugacious
translucent denticles; floating leaves coriaceous, with long petioles; blades lenticu-
lar to elliptic, cuneate or somewhat rounded at base, acutish to rounded at apex
and sometimes with an obtuse mucro, to 11 cm. long and 45 mm. wide; nerves
9 to 21; lacunae rarely present; stipules of submersed leaves brownish, often
delicate and decaying early, linear, acute or obtuse, 3-9 cm. long, those of the
floating leaves similar but usually broader at base and more or less 2-keeled;
peduncles usually thicker than the stem, 3-15 cm. long; young spikes compact
but becoming loose at anthesis, of 10 to 17 whorls of flowers, at maturity usually
not densely fruited, 3-7 cm. long, 8-10 mm. thick; flowers sessile; perianth
greenish or brownish, orbicular or elliptical, 1.4-2.6 mm. wide; anthers 1-1.4 mm.
long; fruits obovate, 3.5-4.3 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide; keels prominent, the
dorsal strongly developed (especially upward), the laterals often muricate; beak
facial, short; exocarp of mature fruits brownish or reddish; endocarp with keels
strongly developed, the dorsal often 0.5 mm. wide, the laterals strongly muricate;
111
-------
Fig. 41: Potamogeton amplifolius: a, upper part of stem, showing floating leaves,
the stout upwardly thickened peduncle and acute stipules, X %; b, habit, showing
rhizome, arcuate submersed leaves, broad stipules and densely whorled flowers, X %;
c, sepaloid connective, X 6; d, achene (longitudinal section), X 6; e, achene, showing
the flat sides and prominent beak, X 6; f, single flower, X 6 (From Mason, Fig. 27).
-------
Fig. 42: Potamogeton nodosus: a, submersed leaf, X %; b, rhizome and young
shoot, showing stipules and attenuate scales, X %; c, venation in submersed leaf blade,
X 2; d, upper part of stem, showing elliptic long-petioled floating leaves, X %; e, achene,
showing strongly developed dorsal and lateral keels and sculptured surface, X 8; f,
spike, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 28).
-------
beak linear, erect, to 1 mm. long; loop solid; apex of seed pointing a little above
the basal end. P. americanus Cham. & Schlecht.
In streams and lakes throughout Okla. and Tex. to N. M. (Colfax, Sandoval
and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Navajo and Yavapai
cos.), mature fruits in late spring and summer; in much of the U. S., Can. and
n. Mex.
13. Potamogeton illinoensis Morong. Fig. 43.
Rhizome buff, spotted or suffused with red; stem simple or branched, terete, 1-5
mm. in diameter; stele with the prototype, triotype or oblong-type pattern; endo-
dermis of U-cells; interlacunar bundles in the outer interlacunar circle, sometimes
a few in the next to the outer circle; subepidermal bundles present or absent;
pseudohypodermis absent or of 1 cell thick; submersed leaves thin, elliptic to
lanceolate, often somewhat arcuate; blades to 2 dm. long and 45 mm. wide, sessile
or tapering into a petiole to 4 cm. long, acute and usually somewhat mucronate at
apex; nerves 7 to 19; lacunae of 2 to 5 rows along midrib and larger nerves;
margin entire or with fugacious 1-celled translucent denticles; floating leaves
(often absent) more or less coriaceous, transition to submersed leaves usually
gradual; blades elliptic to ovate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic, to 19 cm. long and 65
mm. wide, obtuse-mucronate at apex, cuneate or rounded at base; petioles 2-9 cm.
long, shorter than the blade; nerves 13 to 29; lacunae of 2 or 3 rows of cells
along midrib, sometimes obscure; stipules persistent, divergent and conspicuous,
obtuse, those of the submersed leaves 1—8 cm. long and 3—12 mm. wide at base,
prominently 2-keeled, with 15 to 35 finer nerves; those of the floating leaves
broader; peduncles as thick as or thicker than the stem, 4-30 cm. long; spikes in
anthesis compact, of 8 to 15 whorls of flowers, at maturity cylindric and crowded,
2.5-7 cm. long, 8-10 mm. thick; flowers sessile or on pedicels to 0.5 mm. long;
perianth orbicular to oval, 1.3-3.2 mm. wide; anthers 0.6-2 mm. long; fruits
obovate to orbicular or ovate, 2.5-3.6 mm. long (excluding beak), 2.1-3 mm.
wide, the sides flat; keels prominent and acute, the dorsal strongly developed
above and below, the laterals less strongly developed but often each with a pro-
jecting knob at the base; beak facial, short, erect or curved toward the back;
exocarp gray-green to olive-green or brownish, sometimes reddish; endocarp with
keels low but prominent or with dorsal keel thin and very weak; beak deltoid and
weak, about 0.5 mm. long; loop solid; apex of seed pointing at the middle of the
opposite side or between middle and base. P. lucens L., P. angustifolius Bercht.
& Presl.
In quiet or flowering water of ponds, canals and rivers in s.-cen. Tex., especially
on the Edwards Plateau and in the Guadalupe Mts., w. to N. M. (Eddy Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino Co.), fruiting by early May; throughout much of U.S. and Can.
A variable species due, in part, to habitat. Hybrids may occur between this
species and P. nodosus, especially where the two are found together.
14. Potamogeton gramineus L. Fig. 44.
Plant from a mass of rhizomes; stems slender, occasionally fistulose, 2-15 dm.
long; submersed leaves abundant, typically sessile (occasionally petioled), linear
to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 3-12 cm. long, 1-15 mm. wide, acute and often
with a short-attenuate tip, the stipules persistent; floating leaves on slender petioles,
the blades ovate to elliptic, 1.5-7 cm. long, 1-3 cm. broad, usually shorter than
petioles; stipules lanceolate, somewhat keeled, persistent, 5-30 mm. long; pe-
duncles stout, 2-10 cm. long; spikes compact, l-A cm. long when mature; nutlets
obovate, 1.5-3 mm. long, obscurely keeled, the beak somewhat recurved.
Ponds, lakes, marshes and sluggish streams in N.M. (San Juan and Sandoval
cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Maricopa cos.), May-Sept.; Greenl. to Alas., s. to
Pa., N. Y., 111., la., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
114
-------
Fig. 43: Potamogeton illinoensis: a, habit, showing profusion of crowded leaves,
conspicuous stipules and long stout peduncles, X %; b, part of flowering spike, X 4; c,
achene, showing strong dorsal keel, smooth face and short beak, X 6; d, achene
(longitudinal section), X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 20).
-------
Fig. 44: Potamogeton gramineus: a, tip of compact flowering spike, X 4; b, keeled
stipules on flowering branch, X 1%; c, submersed lower part of stem, showing the
sterile branches with leaf variations and the young stipules clasping the stem, X %; d,
upper part of stem, showing submersed as well as floating leaves, X %; e, achene with
obscure keels, X 8; f, submersed foliage, showing transitional forms, X 1%; g, young
linear leaf, showing venation and tip, X 3. (From Mason, Fig. 31).
-------
15. Potamogeton natans L. BROAD-LEAVED PONDWEED. Fig. 45.
Stems branching from a horizontal rhizome, otherwise usually simple; sub-
mersed leaves without blades, 1-3 dm. long, 0.8-2 mm. wide, rarely with a
poorly developed blade, the linear stipules 6-8 cm. long; floating leaves broadly
elliptic to oblong, often subcordate at base, broadly rounded at apex, 25- to 27-
nerved, the petiole longer than blade, the stipules 5-12 cm. long, linear-lanceolate,
membranous; spikes in the axils of floating leaves, 3-6 cm. long on stout pe-
duncles, 1Y2 to 3 times as long as the spike; nutlets 3-5 mm. long, strongly keeled
on the back, the lateral angles scarcely evident, the beak erect.
Marshy ponds and lakes, often brackish, in Okla. (Choctaw Co.), N. M. (San
Juan and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), May-Sept.;
Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. J., Pa., O., Ind., 111., la., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
A sterile specimen in the U. S. National Herbarium might possibly be P.
alpinus Balbis. It was collected by R. O. Studhalter, etc. (S3874) at Glacial Lake
near Tres Ritos, Taos Co., New Mexico, at 9,500 ft. elevation. It is distinguished
from P. amplifolius, which it superficially resembles, by its usually smaller, sessile,
submersed leaves, more slender rhizome and usually reddish stems and peduncles.
Its floating leaves, when present, are also delicate and thin with no sharp distinc-
tion between blade and petiole.
Fam. 16. Zannichelliaceae DUM. HORNED PONDWEED FAMILY
Submerged aquatic dioecious or monoecious herbs, with a slender creeping
rhizome; leaves alternate or opposite or crowded at the nodes, linear, sheathing
at the base, the sheaths mostly ligulate at the apex, the floral leaves sometimes
reduced to sheaths; flowers minute, bisexual or unisexual, axillary, solitary or in
cymes; perianth of 3 small free scales or absent; stamens 1 to 3, the anthers 1- or
2-celled and opening lengthwise; pollen globose or threadlike; gynoecium of 1 to
9 free carpels; style short or long, simple and with a capitate to peltate or spatu-
late stigma, sometimes 2- to 4-lobed; ovule solitary, pendulous; fruiting carpels
sessile or stipitate, indehiscent; seed pendulous, without endosperm.
Widely distributed, mainly in salt or brackish water; 3 genera and 6 species.
I. Pollen spheroid; carpels several, free; plants of fresh or brackish water; leaves
filiform 1. Zannichellia
1. Pollen threadlike; gynoecium 1- or 2-carpellate; plants of marine habitats (2)
2(1). Leaves flat, tridentate at apex; styles simple; one anther attached higher
than the other 2. Halodule
2. Leaves terete or semiterete, acute or pointed at apex; styles 2- to 4-lobed;
anthers at an equal height 3. Cymodocea
I. Zannichellia L. HORNED PONDWEED
A genus of two species, the other in Africa. Placed by some authors in the
Najadaceae.
1. Zannichellia palustris L. COMMON POOLMAT. Fig. 46.
Submerged aquatic plant, monoecious, rooted on bottom and floating below
surface of water; rhizome creeping; stem slender, simple or much-branched; leaves
mostly opposite, linear-filiform, entire, to 1 dm. long, acute or almost pungent
at the apex, 1-nerved; stipules scarious, free from the leaf bases, scarcely 2 cm.
long; flowers unisexual, sessile, usually both kinds from the same axil, enclosed in
a hyaline deciduous spathe, the perianth wanting; staminate flower consisting of
117
-------
Fig. 45: Potamogeton natans: a, achene (longitudinal section), X 6; b, flower, X 4;
c, habit, showing the long linear submersed leaves and broadly elliptic floating leaves,
and the linear-lanceolate stipules, X %; d, achene, showing strong keel on the back,
X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 29).
-------
Fig. 46: Zannichellia palustris: a, branch with submersed filiform 1-nerved leaves,
showing stipular sheaths and flowers in lower axil, the staminate flower comprised of a
single stamen arising at the base of the short stout peduncle which bears 4 (usually
2 to 5) pistils arrounded by a spathe, X 4; b, fruit (longitudinal section), X 8; c, in-
volucre or spathe with 2 young pistillate flowers and a single staminate flower, all from
the same axil, X 16; d, habit, showing the long opposite filiform submersed leaves and
maturing fruits in the axils, X %• e, fruit, showing toothed ridges as revealed by normal
deterioration of outer coat in old fruits, X 8; f and g, mature undried fruits before
deterioration of coat, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 37).
-------
a single 2- to 4-celled anther on a slender filament; pistillate flowers sessile at
first, often pedicellate after anthesis; carpels 2 to 8, flask-shaped, ribbed or toothed
on the margins, or sometimes smooth; style recurved, persistent; mature fruit
2-4 mm. long, rarely pitted, flattened, slightly incurved, smooth or slightly
dentate on the convex back, the body 2-3 mm. long, the beak to 1.5 mm long.
In fresh or brackish water in pools, marshes, streams and irrigation canals,
in Tex. mainly in the Edwards Plateau and in the Trans-Pecos but widespread in
Okla., N.M. and Ariz., Apr.-Sept; nearly throughout N. A., except the extreme
n., also S. A., Euras. and Air.
The fruits as well as the foliage are eaten by wildfowl, the fruits by some
marshbirds and shorebirds, and the plants are considered to be a fair food
producer for trout.
2. Halodule ENDL.
Several species of marine waters mainly in tropical regions.
1. Halodule Beaudettei (den Hartog) den Hartog. Fig. 47.
Submerged dioecious perennial, with creeping rootstocks; rootstocks branching,
articulated and rooting at the nodes, the roots often terminating in fleshy starchy
tuberlike swellings, with a short erect stem at each node; internodes 5-40 mm.
long; scales elliptic, 5-10 mm. long; sheaths 1.5-6 cm. long; leaves mostly
crowded on short erect lateral branches, all linear, grasslike, more or less
narrowed and sheathing at the base, 5—20 cm. long, 0.8—1.2 mm. wide, midrib
conspicuous, widening and often furcate near the tip; leaf tip with a very promi-
nent acute median tooth which is 1 to 10 times as long as the narrow linear lateral
teeth; flowers without perianth, subtended by a hyaline perianthlike bract;
staminate flowers consisting of two anthers on the end of a stout stalk; anthers
oblong, about 4 mm. long, unequally attached, 2-celled; pistillate flowers of 2
unequal carpels on a stout stalk, the largest carpel about 3.5 mm. long (including
the single elongate-attenuate style). Diplanthera Beaudettei den Hartog, D.
Wrightii of auth., Halodule Wrightii of auth.
In salt water of bays along the Gulf Coast in Tex., frequent in sea drift;
widely distributed in the Carib. and also in the Gulf of Mex., along the Atl.
Coast of N.A. n. to N.C.; also along the Pac. Coast of Pan. and Nic.
3. Cymodocea KONIG
Several species of marine waters mainly in tropical regions. Sometimes placed
in a separate family, Cymodoceaceae.
1. Cymodocea filifonnis (Kiitz.) Correll. MANATEE-GRASS. Fig. 48.
Submerged acaulescent dioecious perennial, with creeping rootstocks branching
and rooting at the nodes; leaves all submerged, grasslike, terete or semiterete,
acute at the apex and sheathing at the base, the sheaths more or less auriculate,
to 35 cm. long and 2 mm. wide; stipular sheaths completely surrounding the leaf
bases, scarious, to 45 mm. long; flowers unisexual, solitary or in simple or
dichotomous cymes; staminate flowers consisting of two anthers on the end of
a long pedicel, the anthers equally attached, both the same height, 2-celled;
pistillate flower of 2 carpels, without perianth but subtended by a hyaline peri-
anthlike bract; style 2- to 4-lobed; stigmas 2, hairlike; mature fruit 1-seeded,
3 mm. long, beaked by the persistent style. Cymodocea manatorum Asch.,
Syringodium filiforme Kiitz.
In shallow salt water of bays along the Gulf Coast of Tex., frequent in sea
drift; from Fla. and Tex. to Berm., Cuba and Martinique.
120
-------
Fig. 47: Halodule Beaudettei: a, habit, x %; b, enlarged fleshy root; c, sheath, X 5;
d, enlarged tips of leaves; e, staminate flower, X 5; f, pistillate flower, X 5. (a, e, f,
Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey, b, c, d, V. F.)
-------
Fig. 48: Cymodocea filijormis: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 4; c, male flower, X 2;
d, female flower, X 2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fam. 17. Ruppiaceae HUTCHINS. DITCH-GRASS FAMILY
Aquatic herbs of brackish or saline waters; stems simple or branched, sub-
merged; leaves opposite or alternate, linear or setaceous, with a stipular sheath
at the base; flowers perfect, small, few, arranged in terminal spikes that are
at first enclosed by the sheathing leaf bases, at length much-elongated to the
surface of the water; bracts absent; perianth wanting; stamens 2, opposite each
other, with very short broad filaments; anthers extrorse, the 2 cells reniform
and separated by the connective; carpels 4, with peltate or umbonate stigmas;
ovule solitary, pendulous from the apex of the carpel, campylotropous; nutlets
long-stipitate, with spirally twisted stalks, indehiscent; seeds pendulous, without
endosperm.
Only one genus distributed throughout temperate and subtropical regions.
1. Ruppia L.
Characters of the family; 2 species.
1. Ruppia maritima L. WIDGEON-GRASS. Fig. 49.
Stem whitish or green, to 1 m. long; leaves all submerged, threadlike, entire,
1-nerved, to 1 dm. long and 0.3 mm. wide, with a sharp pointed or more or less
pungent apex; stipular sheath 6-10 mm. long, membranous, the free part very
short or wanting; flowers on a short peduncle that elongates after anthesis and
ultimately becomes a loosely coiled spiral; stamens without a filament, early
deciduous; anthers 2, sessile, 2-celled; mature carpels ovoid, equilateral or gibbous
and oblique, about 2 mm. long, long-stipitate; style short and stout or finely
attenuate, straight or hooked; pedicellate stipe of the black nutlet to 3 cm. long.
On the Tex. Gulf Coast and in saline waters of pools, rivers and marshes in
the interior to Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), N.M. (Chaves Co.) and Ariz. (Maricopa,
Mohave and Navajo cos.), Apr.-Aug.; from Can. s. to Mex.
This species is considered to be one of the most valuable of all submerged
aquatics, especially in saline habitats, for the maintenance of wild life. It
provides excellent food and cover for fish, and all parts of the plant, including
its rootstock and stems, are relished by many species of waterfowl, while marsh-
birds and shorebirds eat its fruit and foliage.
Fam. 18. Najadaceae Juss. WATER-NYMPH FAMILY
Submerged annual monoecious or dioecious herbs of fresh or brackish waters,
with fibrous roots; stems slender, much-branched; internodes spiny or unarmed;
leaves small, sessile, subopposite to somewhat alternate or verticillate, with a
sheathing base and linear entire or toothed blade; within the sheath a pair of
minute scales; flowers unisexual, very small, borne at the base of the branches;
staminate flowers with 1 stamen, mostly subsessile and included in a spathe, the
perianth bilabiate at the apex; anther sessile, 1- to 4-celled, opening by slits
lengthwise; pistillate flowers without a perianth or this very thin and adhering
to the carpel; ovary of 1 carpel, 1-celled, with 2 to 4 linear stigmas; ovule
solitary, erect from the base, anatropous; nutlet usually embraced by the leaf
sheath, indehiscent, enclosed in a loose and separable membranous coat, smooth
and shining or reticulate with angled or roundish areolae.
Contains only the following genus and about 50 species widely distributed in
temperate and warm regions.
123
-------
Fig. 49: Ruppia maritima: a and b, variations in habit, the stems sometimes very
long and slender or sometimes with short fractiflex nodes, X %; c, peduncle bearing 2
young flowers, each consisting of 2 large bicellular anthers and 4 pistils, X 8; d, 2
flowers, after fertilization, X 8; e, development of the long-pediceled fruits following
fertilization of the 2 flowers( note elongate, coiled peduncle), X 2; f, mature nutlet,
hard and black, X 8; g, 2 stipular sheaths of the alternate capillary succulent leaves,
X 2; h, habit variation, X -,'r,; i, serrate leaf tip, X 20. (From Mason, Fig. 32).
-------
Fig. 50: Najas marina: a-c, development of anther: a, anther enclosed in sessile
spathe in leaf axil, X 8; b, anther beginning to elongate and rupture spathe, X 8; c,
mature anther, showing short filament, X 8; d, habit, showing the stems beset with
prickles, and the spiny-toothed leaves, X 1%; e, mature pistillate flower, showing the
3 stigmas and the intravaginal scales at base, X 8; f, mature seed, X 10: g, leaf blade,
showing the coarse, spiny-toothed margins, the spines on the outer side along the
midrib and the rounded shoulders of the leaf sheaths, X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 33).
-------
1. Najas L. WATER-NYMPH
Characters of the family.
The species in this genus, along with those in Potamogeton, are considered
by knowledgeable wildlife personnel to provide the most important source of all
foods for wildfowl, marshbirds and shorebirds. Ducks and other waterfowl not
only eat the seeds but also the stems and leaves of most of the species. The
species are also considered to be good food producers for fish and to provide
shelter.
1. Male and female flowers on different plants; leaves coarsely toothed; inter-
nodes and back of the leaf spiny 1. N. marina.
1. Male and female flowers on same plant; leaves minutely denticulate; internodes
and back of leaf unarmed (2)
2(1). Seeds dull, with distinct squarish pitted reticulations; leaves tapered for
2-3 mm. to an acute to obtuse apex 2. N. guadalupensis.
2. Seeds apparently smooth and shining (but finely reticulate under magnifica-
tion); leaves tapered from near middle to a long slender point
3. N. flexilis.
1. Najas marina L. HOLLY-LEAVED WATER-NYMPH. Fig. 50.
Plants brittle; stems branched, sometimes dichotomously so, armed with
brownish spinulose teeth on the internodes; leaves linear, opposite to somewhat
alternate, stiffish or recurved, to 45 mm. long and 3 mm. wide, with toothed
margins and sometimes dorsally toothed on the midrib, the usually triangular
teeth apiculate and 1 mm. long or more; basal leaf sheaths rounded, without
teeth or rarely with a few short teeth; male and female flowers on different plants;
staminate flowers 3-4 mm. long, the anther 4-celled; pistillate flowers 3-4 mm.
long; stigmas 3, sometimes one shorter than the others; mature seeds ovoid,
apparently tesselated in dried specimens, smooth when fresh.
In lakes and ponds, rare in s. Tex. and Ariz. (Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Santa
Cruz and Yuma cos.), May-Sept.; from N.Y. to Calif., s. to Fla., Tex., Ariz.,
Mex. and Cuba; also Euras. and Austral.
2. Najas guadalupensis (Spreng.) Magnus. COMMON WATER-NYMPH. Fig. 51.
Plants monoecious, flaccid; stems slender, branched, to about 6 dm. long;
leaves all submerged, linear, to 25 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, tapered for 2-3
mm. to an acute to obtuse apex and usually tipped with 1 or 2 spines, the 20 to 40
marginal teeth inconspicuous or often apparently wanting; basal leaf sheaths
sloping or rounded, not auriculate, spinulose; male and female flowers on same
plant; staminate flowers 2-3 mm. long, the anthers 4-celled; pistillate flowers 2-3
mm. long; mature fruit crowned with 2 or 3 stigmas and usually with 1 or 2
spiny sterile stigmatic processes; seeds ellipsoid, dull, reticulate with numerous
4-sided areolae.
Attached to bottom and floating just below surface of water in ponds, lakes,
springs, ditches and streams, in fresh or sometimes brackish water, often forming
large mats, rather common throughout Tex. and Okla., rare in N.M. (Rio Arriba
Co.) and Ariz. (Santa Cruz and Yavapai cos.), Apr.-Sept.; from Pa. w. to Ore.,
s. to Fla., Tex., N.M., Ariz., Mex., C.A., the W.I., Jam. and Guadeloupe.
3. Najas flexilis Rostkov. & Schmidt. SLENDER WATER-NYMPH. Fig. 52.
Plants monoecious; stems freely branched, slender, to 2 m. long; leaves narrowly
linear. 1-3 cm. long, less than 1 mm. wide tapered from about the middle to a long
slender point, thin and translucent, very minutely toothed, numerous and crowded
on the upper parts of the branches, the teeth consisting of protrusions of usually
1 marginal cell; leaf sheaths with obliquely sloping shoulders, the margins bearing
126
-------
T
Fig. 51: Najas guadalupensis: a, young and mature pistillate flowers, borne singly
in leaf-sheath axils, X 8; b, mature seed, dull but distinctly reticulate, X 16; c, habit,
showing plant with threadlike crowded leaves, X %; d, habit, showing plant with less
crowded leaves, X IVs; e and f, leaf blade, showing marginal and apical teeth, X 6%;
g and h, young staminate flowers borne singly in leaf-sheath axils, the anthers still
enveloped by the spathe, X 8; i, anther (cross section), X 12; j, mature anther at
anthesis, showing ruptured spathe, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 36).
-------
Fig. 52: Najas ftexilis: a, mature staminate flower, showing dehisced anther and
ruptured spathe, X 8; b, young sessile, staminate flower enveloped by spathe, X 8; c,
pistillate flowers in axil of leaf sheath, showing variations in stigmas, X 8; d, habit,
plant completely submersed, showing the fascicled leaves, X 1%; e, mature seed, shiny
yet finely reticulate under magnification, X 12; f-h, leaf blades, showing minute teeth
and obliquely sloping somewhat unequally shouldered leaf sheaths, X 5. (From Mason,
Fig. 35).
-------
several very minute teeth; intravaginal scales filiform, less than 1 mm. long; stami-
nate flowers 2.5-3 mm. long, the anther 1-celled; pistillate flowers about 3 mm.
long; stigmas 2 to 4, usually 3; seed narrowly elliptic to lanceolate-ovoid, about
3 mm. long, apparently smooth and shining but finely reticulate under magnifica-
tion.
In fresh to somewhat brackish water, reported by Mason from w. Ariz., May-
Aug.; n. e. Can. to B. C., s. to Md., Ariz, and Calif.; also Eur.
The occurrence of this species in our region needs verification. We have seen
no material.
Fam. 19. Posidoniaceae LOTSY
Submerged marine perennials; rhizome and stem densely covered with the per-
sistent fibrous leaf bases; leaves sheathing at the base, the sheaths open and ligulate;
blades linear, flat, rounded at the apex, leathery, entire to serrulate; flowers perfect,
spicate, on long axillary and terminal peduncles; spikes several, subtended by
reduced leaves; floral bracts absent; perianth absent or of 3 caducous scales; sta-
mens 3 or 4, hypogynous; anthers extrorse, large, sessile, with a thick connective
produced beyond the cells, the latter widely separated; pollen threadlike; ovary
superior, 1-celled, with a sessile lacerate or muricate stigma; ovuls elongated,
parietal, the micropyle inferior; fruit ovoid, fleshy, indehiscent; seed without endo-
sperm; embryo with a straight cotyledon.
A monotypic family, considered to be confined to Australia and the Mediter-
ranean region.
1. Posidunia KONIG.
A genus of 2 species. Characters of the family. Sometimes placed in the Naja-
daceae or Potamogetonaceae.
1. Posidonia Oceania Konig. Fig. 53.
Characterized by the rhizome and stem being densely covered with the per-
sistent fibrous leaf bases; leaves linear, rounded at apex, to 5 dm. long and 7 mm.
wide, about 13-nerved; inflorescence a 3-flowered spike, 2 flowers of which are
perfect and one staminate; staminal connective broad, abruptly long-aristate; fruit
semioval, fleshy, indehiscent.
This species is included here with some reservations since it is known from
Texas only by plants being washed up on the beaches along the coast in Cameron,
Galveston and Nueces counties. Since, however, species in the marine genera
Cymodocea, Halodule, Thalassia and Halophila are not only frequent in sea drift
but are also known to grow along the Texas coast, it is quite possible that Posi-
donia may also eventually be found to grow along the Texas coast.
Fam. 20. Juncagmaceae RICH. ARROW-WEED FAMILY
Annual or perennial marsh herbs from rhizomes or tubers; leaves basal, linear,
sheathing, ours with blade terete or semiterete; inflorescence a spikelike raceme
borne on a naked scape; flowers with short slender or stout pedicels, unisexual
or perfect, regular to slightly irregular, bractless; bractiform perianthlike appen-
dages usually 6, in 2 series, each appendage bearing a stamen attached to its base
or on some the stamen absent; anthers 2-celled, subsessile, opening by slits; pistil
superior, of 6 or 4 (or 3) connate to weakly united carpels, these sometimes sepa-
rating in fruit; styles short or absent; stigmas often papillate or plumose; ovule 1
per carpel, basal, erect; fruit of distinct or weakly united dehiscent or indehiscent
129
-------
Fig. 53: Posidonia Oceania: a, habit, X %; b, rhizome, X 2; c, inflorescence, enlarged;
d, flower, enlarged; e, vertical section of flower, enlarged, (a, b, V. F. c-e, from Hut-
chinson, The Families of Flowering Plants, Vol. 2, Fig. 351).
-------
carpels, these erect or recurved only at apex, sometimes with hooked spines at
base.
About 25 species in 3 genera in temperate and cold regions in both hemispheres.
1. Triglochin L.
Herbaceous perennial; leaves broadly sheathing at base, the sheath culminating
above in an entire or 2-lobed ligule, the blade semiterete; scapes and racemes
longer than or shorter than the leaves; each perianthlike appendage of the flower
usually deciduous with its attached stamen and often leaving a conspicuous en-
larged scar which simulates a reflexed perianth part at the base of the fruit;
stamens 6 to 3 (or 1), subsessile, the anthers often broader than high, rarely
much longer than broad; carpels joined to a central carpophore from which only
the fertile carpels separate at maturity; stigmas of slender papillae; seed linear,
loosely enclosed in the indehiscent carpel.
About 15 species, cosmopolitan, especially Australia and temperate South
America.
1. Carpels and stigmas 3; fruit linear-clavate, the axis 3-winged; carpels subulate
at the base 1. T. palustre.
1. Carpels and stigmas typically 6, occasionally 3; fruit narrowly oblong-elliptic
to ovate-prismatic, the axis terete; carpels not subulate at base (2)
2(1). Rootstock covered with persistent whitish leaf bases; ligules entire or
essentially so, 1-5 mm. long; leaf blades somewhat obcompressed,
mostly 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, rarely more; fruits usually 3.5^.5 mm.
long and 2-3 mm. thick 2. T. maritimum.
2. Rootstock usually covered with coarse brownish fibers of the old leaf bases;
ligules deeply bilobed, 0.5-1 mm. long; leaf blades almost terete,
1.5 mm. wide or less; fruits usually 3-3.5 mm. long and 1-2 mm.
thick 3. T. debills.
1. Triglochin palustre L. Fig. 28.
Rootstock short, emitting filiform bulb-bearing stolons; scape to 7 dm. high,
terminated by an elongate laxly flowered raceme; leaves one half to three fourths
as long as scape, 1-2 mm. wide, sharp-pointed, the ligule 0.5-1.5 mm. long and
parted to the base; pedicels slender, erect in fruit and then 4-6 mm. long; perianth
segments about 1.5 (-2) mm. long, slightly exceeding the stamens; fruit linear-
clavate, mostly 6—8 mm. long, the 3 carpels separating from below upward and
remaining suspended from the tip, subulate at base.
Wet meadows, bogs, mud flats and gravelly stream margins, often brackish or
alkaline, in N. M. (Otero, Sandoval, San Miguel and Taos cos.), June-Sept.;
Greenl. and Lab. to Alas., s. to Me., N. Y., 111., la., N. M., Ida. and Calif.; also
S. A. and Euras.
2. Triglochin maritimum L. Fig. 54.
Coarse or slender plant with few to many tufted scapes 1-10 dm. tall from a
proliferating caudex or stout short rhizome covered with persistent whitish leaf
bases; leaves thick, 1-8 dm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, the ligule entire and 1-5
mm. long; scape terminated by a raceme of numerous pedicellate flowers; pedicels
somewhat ascending to decurrent, 2-6 mm. long; flowers with 6 perianthlike
appendages each bearing an attached stamen; pistil of 6 (rarely 3) fertile carpels
rounded at base and united around the slender carpophore; mature fruit ovoid-
prismatic, 3-4.5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, with carpels united, the edges acutish
and reflexed, the beaks recurved, indehiscent; seeds linear. Incl. var. elata (Nutt.)
Gray.
Saline and alkaline wet meadows and marshes in N.M. (Colfax, Grant, Otero,
Sandoval, San Juan, Taos and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-
Oct.; Lab. to Alas., s. to Pa., Ind., 111., la., N.M., Calif, and Mex.; also S.A. and
Euras.
131
-------
Fig. 54: Triglochin inaritima: a, inflorescence, X -/-,; b, habit, showing racemes
raised above the leaves, X \h; c, young flower, showing bractiform perianthlike ap-
pendages (anthers enclosed) and stigmas of slender papillae, X 8; d, flower, showing
maturing anthers, each within a perianthlike appendage, and maturing carpels, X 8; e,
flower, showing the 2 series of perianthlike appendages, each appendage with a dehisced
anther, the fruit nearly mature, X 8; f, mature fruit, showing the conspicuous appendage
scars below, X 4; g, fruit (cross section), all carpels fertile, X 6; h, separate mature
carpel, X 6; i, entire ligule, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 39).
-------
3. Triglochin debilis (M.E, Jones) Love & Love,
Plant slender, 1-3 dm, tall, usually well-spaced and erect-spreading from a
slender elongate rootstock, the base covered with coarse brownish fibers of the
leaf bases, the rootstock with conspicuous internodes and bracteate nodes; leaves
8-20 cm. long, the sheaths membranous-margined, terminating above in a 2-lobed
ligule 0.5—1 mm. long; scapes longer than the leaves, terminated by a strict
raceme, the rachis may be either straight or fractiflex; pedicels slender; flower
with 6 perianthlike appendages each bearing an attached anther; mature fruit
composed of 6 united carpels about 3—3,5 mm. long and 1—2 mm. thick, usually
all fertile; fruiting carpels separating readily from the slender carpophore, inde-
hiscent; seeds slender, needlelike. T. concinmim Davy var. debtiis (M.E. Jones)
J. T. Howell.
In wet meadows and marshes along streams, in brackish to saline or alkaline
situations, in Ariz. (Coconino and Navajo cos.), May-Oct.; from Ore. to Calif.,
e. to and beyond the Rocky Mts., from N. D. to Colo, and Ariz.
Pam. 21. Alismataceae VENT. WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY
Annual or perennial lacticiferous aquatic or marsh plants with fibrous roots
from a usually somewhat thickened rootstock and a cluster of basal leaves with
their long petioles sheathing a scape; leaves at first typically bladeless but soon
developing either a linear or sagittate type of blade with prominent nerves and
transverse veirilets; scape erect or arching, with a simple or branched bracteate
inflorescence; flowers perfect or unisexual, regular, borne in verticils; perianth
segments imbricate or involute in bud; sepals 3, green, persistent; petals 3, decidu-
ous; stamens 6 to many, included, the filaments distinct, the anthers 2-celled and
dehiscing by longitudinal slits; carpels numerous, distinct, 1 -celled and mostly
1-ovuled, arranged in a ring or crowded on a receptable to produce a headlike
fruit of flat or turgid achenes that are usually provided with resin ducts and/or
wings.
A family of about 13 genera and 90 species of worldwide distribution.
Species that comprise this family are known to attract marsh and song birds
and to provide shade and shelter for young fish, while the tubers formed by many
species, as well as the achenes, are eaten by wildfowl. Mammals, such as muskrats,
beavers and porcupines, are known to eat the vegetative parts of many species of
Sagittaria.
Seeds of most of our species are ideally suited for dissemination by birds and
animals in that the beak formed by the style can readily become hooked in
feathers and furs, and even to minute particles of soil that may remain on muddy
feet Also, the resin ducts and suberous wings and excrescences of the achenes
of many species enable them to float great distances.
1. Achenes arranged in a single ring on the receptacle, strongly flattened;
stamens 6 1. Alisma
1. Achenes densely crowded over the surface of the receptacle; stamens more
than 6 (2)
2(1). Howers all perfect; achenes plump; fruiting heads simulating a bur
2. Echinodorus
2. Flowers perfect or unisexual, the upper ones mostly staminate; achenes flat-
tened; fruiting heads not burlike 3. Sagittaria
133
-------
Fig. 55: a-e, Alisma triviale: a, habit, about X %; b, flower, X 5; c, fruit head,
X 5; d, seed, side view, X 5; e, seed, dorsal view, X 5. f, Alisma gramineum: f seed,
dorsal view, X 5. (V.F.).
-------
1. Alisma L. WATER PLANTAIN. MUD PLANTAIN
Aquatic herbs, perennial or sometimes behaving as annuals, emersed or grow-
ing on wet mud, rarely submersed, from an apically flattened corm and fibrous
roots; leaves basal, erect or rarely floating, with lanceolate or oblong-ovate to
broadly ovate blades, rarely reduced to ribbonlike phyllodes; inflorescence a large
open panicle; flowers small, 3-10 mm. broad, perfect, numerous, on 3-bracteate
pedicels unequal in length; sepals 3, green, persistent; petals 3, white or occa-
sionally rose or pink; stamens 6 to 9; pistils separate, arranged in a more or less
3-sided whorl on the receptacle; fruit an achene, with 1 or 2 grooves to almost
plane on the back.
About 10 species mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Achenes about as wide as long, distinctly bisulcate on the back with the
median rib typically broad and rounded; pedicels stout; petioles
4—6 mm. wide; leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate,
to about 2.5 cm. wide 1. A. gramineum.
1. Achenes longer than wide, with a solitary groove to almost plane on the back;
pedicels slender; petioles less than 4 mm. wide; leaf blade typically
broadly elliptic and usually much more than 2.5 cm. wide (2)
2(1). Achenes 2 mm. long or less, the dorsal groove shallow or with a somewhat
depressed slight thickening in the trough; fruiting heads 3.5 mm. or
less in diameter; distribution in Oklahoma and Texas
2. A. subcordatum.
2. Achenes more than 2 mm. long, the dorsal groove deep; fruiting heads more
than 3.5 mm. in diameter; distribution in New Mexico and Arizona
3. A. triviale.
1. Alisma gramineum Grnel. Fig. 55.
Submersed or amphibious perennial herb 5-20 cm. high, erect or ascending or
(when plant submersed) leaves and stems floating; leaves usually erect, with
long broad petioles (4—6 mm. wide) and linear-lanceolate to lanceolate blades
(these rarely absent), to about 2.5 cm. wide; inflorescence a scapose verticillate
panicle to 2 dm. long, sometimes shorter than the leaves; branchlets and pedicels
subtended by 2 or 3 lanceolate papery bracts; pedicels stout, often recurved in
fruit; flowers 5-7 mm. broad; sepals green, persistent; petals usually white,
rhombic, entire to somewhat ^rose; stamens 6 to 9; pistils in an obscurely 3-sided
whorl; fruiting heads 3-4 mm. in diameter; achenes often orbicular to orbicular-
cuneate in outline, about 2.5 mm. in diameter, the beak on the inner margin,
distinctly bisulcate on the back with the median rib broad and rounded. A. Geyeri
Torr., A. gramineum var. Geyeri (Torr.) Samuelsson.
On mud and in shallow water of lakes in N.M. (Rio Arriba and Sandoval cos.)
and Ariz (Coconino Co.), June-Sept.; from Calif., Ariz, and N.M., n. to Wash.
and e. to Minn.
Our material is usually referred to var. angustissimum (DC.) Hendricks.
2. Alisma subcordatum Raf.
Erect perennial herb with a basal cluster of erect long-petioled laminated leaves
surrounding a scape, essentially glabrous; leaf blades ovate to elliptic, cuneate to
cordate at base, abruptly acute at apex, to 12 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, usually
shorter than the petioles; scape to 6 dm. tall, with whorled panicled branches of
small white or pinkish flowers; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, about 1 cm. long;
pedicels filiform; flowers perfect, numerous; sepals broadly ovate to suborbicular,
obtuse, to 2.5 mm. long; petals to 2.5 mm. long; anthers spherical, 0.3-0.5 mm.
long; ovaries many in a simple circle on a small flattened receptacle; style 0.2-0.4
mm. long, about one fourth as long as ovaries; fruiting heads 3.5 mm. or less in
135
-------
Fie. 56: Echinodorus parvulus: a, habit, X 1; b, bud, X 6; c, flower, X 9; d, achene,
X 40; e, seed, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
diameter; achenes obliquely obovate, 1.5-2 mm. long, the solitary dorsal groove
shallow or with a somewhat depressed slight thickening in the trough, the minute
beak ascending. A. parviflorum Pursh, A. Plantago-aquatica var. parviflorum
(Pursh) Farw.
Usually in shallow water of marshes, streams and ponds in Okla. (Delaware,
McCurtain, Mayes, Johnston, Murry and Craig cos.), n.e. Tex. (Bowie Co.) and
the Tex. Panhandle (Hemphill Co.), June-Sept.; Ont, N. E. and N. Y., w. to
Minn, and Neb., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Though reported from Arizona, we have seen no material of this species from
the state.
3. Alisma triviale Pursh. Fig. 55.
Erect perennial to 12 dm. tall; leaves usually long-petioled, linear-lanceolate to
broadly elliptic, 5-20 cm. long, cuneate to truncate or subcordate at base, sub-
obtuse to abruptly acute at apex; inflorescence on an erect scape with several
whorls of branches, each with 1 or more whorls of flowers or further compounded
into verticillate branches much longer than the leaves, each branch and each
pedicel subtended by 2 or 3 lanceolate papery bracts; flowers hypogynous; sepals
3, plane or somewhat gibbous, obtuse, green, 3-4 mm. long; petals 3, white or
sometimes rose to pink, 3-6 mm. long, rhombic in outline, margins entire or
minutely erose; stamens 6 to 9, much-surpassing the ovary; filaments glabrous;
anthers 0.6—1 mm. long; pistils numerous, in a single often obscurely 3-sided
whorl; styles 1—1.5 mm. long, as long as or longer than ovary; fruiting heads
more than 3.5 mm. in diameter; achenes with a solitary deep groove on back,
2-3 mm. long, 1.5—2 mm. wide, the beak on the inner angle, erect or suberect.
A. brevipes Greene, A. Plantago-aquatica subsp. brevipes (Greene) Samuelsson,
and var. americanum Schult. & Schult., and var. Michaletii (Asch. & Grabn.)
Buch.
In shallow water or on wet mud in N.M. (Rio Arriba, Valencia and Taos cos.)
and Ariz. (Coconino, Navajo and Cochise cos.), May-Sept.; Que. to B.C., s. to
Md, W.Va., Mich., la., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and n. Mex.
2. Echinodorus RICH. BURHEAD
Annuals or short-lived perennials of wet habitats, with basal leaves and naked
erect or repent scapes that are sparingly branched or occasionally simple; flowers
pedicellate, perfect, usually in remote whorls; sepals 3, persistent; petals 3, im-
bricated in the bud, white, deciduous; stamens 6 to usually many more; filaments
elongate, usually exceeding the anthers in length; achenes forming a head, turgid,
ribbed or ridged, beaked or beakless.
A dozen or more species in America, Europe and Africa.
1. Achenes 20 or fewer in a loose head, essentially beakless; stamens 9; anthers
basifixed 1. E. parvulus.
1. Achenes 30 or more in a dense tight head, prominently beaked; stamens 12 or
more; anthers versatile (2)
2(1). Sepals with papillose ridges; scape erect when young but soon repent;
achenes with summit or keel often crested and the beak ascending;
pellucid lines of leaves mostly 1 mm. or more apart and rarely
exceeding 1 mm. in length 3. E. cordifolius.
2. Sepals with smooth veins; scape rigidly erect at maturity; achenes with keel
entire and the beak erect or nearly so; pellucid lines of leaves
mostly less than 1 mm. apart and often several mm. long (3)
3(2). Plants robust, usually much more than 2 dm. tall; leaves typically broadly
ovate, broadly cuneate to cordate at base; beak of achenes 1.2-2
mm. long 2. E. rostratus.
137
-------
Fig. 57: Echinodorus rostratus: a, mature achene, X 8, b, upper part of inflores-
cence, showing maturing burlike fruits, X %; c, whorl of flowers, X %; d, flower,
showing the arrangement of the 12 stamens, X 1%; e, stamen, X 8; f, habit of mature
plant, X %; g, habit of young submersed plant, showing transition stages from early
linear to mature cordate leaf blades, X %• (From Mason, Fig. 46).
-------
Fig. 58: Echinodorus rostratus: a, head, X 5; b, achene, X 25; c, seed X 60
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
3. Plants delicate, rarely more than 2 dm. tall; leaves typically lanceolate, nar-
rowly cuneate to somewhat rounded at base; beak of achenes 0.5-1
mm. long 2. E. rostratus var. lanceolatus.
1. Echinodorus parvulus Engelm. Fig. 56.
Plants small and delicate, with the shoots often creeping and proliferous; scapes
to 1 dm. tall, supporting a single umbellate inflorescence of 2 or more flowers;
leaves with a petiole to 5 cm. long, the blade (to 3 cm. long and 8 mm. wide)
narrowly elliptic and acutely tapered at both ends; pedicels slender, to 3 cm. long,
reflexed in fruit; flowers white, about 6 mm. across; achenes 8-ribbed, reddish-
brown, glandless. E. tenellus var. parvulus (Engelm.) Fassett, Helianthium par-
vulum (Engelm.) Small.
Among grasses in wet sandy soils about ponds in s. Tex., Mar.-Sept; from Fla.
and Tex., locally n. to Mass., 111. and Mo.
2. Echinodorus rostratus (Nutt.) Engelm. Figs. 57 and 58.
Plants usually coarse; scapes rigidly erect, to 6 dm. tall, exceeding the leaves;
leaves broadly ovate, cordate to broadly rounded-cuneate at base, obtuse at apex,
to 15 cm. long and often as broad; umbels proliferous, in a branched panicle;
flowers white, about 1 cm. across; achenes with 2 glands at base of the conspicu-
ous erect beak; seeds brown, obliquely oval, with rows of murications. E. cordi-
folius, misapplied; E. Berteroi (Spreng.) Fassett, as to descr.
In mud and shallow water about lakes, ponds and along streams mostly in s.
Tex. but sparingly throughout most of the state, in Okla. (Alfalfa and Kay cos.)
and apparently isolated in Yuma Co., Ariz., May-Oct; from Ont., w. to Calif.
and s. to Fla., Tex. and Mex.
139
-------
Fig. 59: Echinodorus cordifolius: a, habit, X %; b, flower, X 1%.
-------
Fig. 60: Echinodorus cordifolius: a, habit, X %; c, head of achenes, X 5; d, achene,
X 18; e, seed, X 33. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Var. lanceolatus Engelm. Plants small and delicate, with typically lanceolate
leaves. Echinodorous Berteroi var. lanceolatus (Engelm.) Fassett, as to descr.
Habitat and distribution similar to that of var. restrains.
In deeper water the plants rarely produce normal adult foliage leaves and never
flower, but develop large, ribbonlike submersed leaves.
3. Echinodorus cordifolius (L.) Griseb. Figs. 59 and 60.
Plants coarse and usually stout; scapes prostrate, arching and creeping, to 12
dm. long, proliferous and bearing numerous whorls of flowers, also sometimes pro-
ducing leaves with the flowers; leaves with a petiole to 2 dm. or more long, the
blade (to 2 dm. long and nearly as broad) broadly ovate and truncately cordate at
base and obtuse at apex; flowers white, 12 mm. or more across; achenes with the
keeled back denticulate. E. radicans (Nutt.) Engelm.
In mud and shallow water of ponds and quiet streams of e. Tex. and e. Okla.
(LeFlore and Muskogee cos.), Apr.-June; from s.e. Va., 111., Mo. and Kan., s.
to Fla., Tex. and Mex.
3. Sagittaria L. ARROWHEAD
Paludal or aquatic mostly perennial erect or lax stoloniferous herbs, with milky
juice, monoecious or rarely dioecious, sometimes tuber-bearing; leaves submersed
or emersed, with long cellular petioles, bladeless (i.e., phyllodia) or with unlobed
or sagittate blades; scapes erect or laxly ascending, sheathed at base by the bases
of the leaf petioles, supporting a narrow verticillate inflorescence that is simple or
sparingly branched; flowers produced all summer, pedicellate, in whorls of three,
mostly unisexual, subtended by membranous bracts, the staminate flowers typically
uppermost in the inflorescence; sepals 3, persistent, in fruit appressed, loosely
spreading or reflexed; petals 3, white or rarely pink, imbricated in the bud, usually
exceeding the sepals, deciduous; stamens whorled, mostly numerous; carpels
numerous, spirally arranged in a crowded spherical head on a dome-shaped re-
ceptacle, 1-celled and 1-ovuled; achenes flattened, membranous-winged, more or
less beaked.
About 20 species, mostly in America.
1. Pistillate flowers (in fruit) with sepals appressed or spreading and pedicels
recurved and noticeably thickened 1. S. montevidensis.
1. Pistillate flowers (in fruit) with reflexed sepals and pedicels ascending or (if
recurved) not noticeably thickened (2)
2(1). Filaments pubescent or minutely scaly (3)
2. Filaments smooth (5)
3(2). Bracts of inflorescence thinly membranous, smooth, more or less connate;
filaments dilated (4)
3. Bracts of inflorescence somewhat thickened, papillose or coarsely ridged,
nearly free; filaments linear 4. S. lancifolia.
4(3). Pistillate pedicels ascending, if recurved the achene beak less than 0.3 mm.
long; leaves typically narrow 2. S. graminea.
4. Pistillate pedicels recurved; subulate beak of mature achenes 0.3 mm. or more
long; leaves typically broad 3. S. platyphylla.
5(2). Bracts of inflorescence papillose; leaves never sagittate (6)
5. Bracts of inflorescence smooth or at most pubescent; leaves sagittate (7)
6(5). Bracts densely papillose, 7 mm. long or less, obtuse; achenes 1.5 mm. long
or less; Texas in our area 5. s. papillosa.
6. Bracts sparsely papillose, longer, attenuate; achenes larger; Oklahoma in our
area 6. S. ambigua.
142
-------
Fig. 61: Sagittaria montevidensis: a, habit, X %; b, leaf, X %; c, flower X 2%- A
fruit, X %; e, achene, X 5. (V. F.). 72> '
-------
Fig. 62: a-d, Sagittaria graminea: a, habit, X %; b, fruit, X 2%; c, anther, X 5; d,
achene, X 5. e-i, Sagitiaria land folia: e, leaf, X %; f, bracts, X 2%; g, flower, X 2l/z;
h, anther, X 5; i, achene, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
7(5). Achene beak laterally inserted, more or less projecting horizontally (8)
7. Achene beak apically inserted, more or less erect (10)
8(7). Bracts of inflorescence cymbiform, obtuse to acute, rather firm, sometimes
pubescent; achene beak 0.5 mm. long or more 7. S. latifolia.
8. Bracts of inflorescence almost plane, at least not cymbiform, acuminate to
attenuate, membranous, never pubescent; achene beak less than 0.5
mm. long (9)
9(8). Achenes without or with solitary facial wings; leaf blades not more than
2.5 dm. long, the terminal lobe linear to lanceolate, usually long-
acuminate, commony less than half as long as the basal lobes;
scape usually simple 8. S. longiloba.
9. Achenes with facial wings and tuberculations; leaf blades typically 2-4 dm.
long, the terminal lobe ovate to broadly lanceolate, acute to short-
acuminate, more than half as long as the basal lobes; scape some-
times branched 9. S. Greggii.
10(7). Achene usually with one narrow facial wing or keel, the beak somewhat
curved and 0.5 mm. or more long 10. S. brevirostra.
10. Achene face wingless, typically with a large resin duct, the minute to obso-
lescent beak erect 11. S. cuneata.
1. Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht. Fig. 61.
Emersed aquatic annual, only the early stages completely submersed, erect, to
5 dm. tall; leaves erect-spreading, usually with stout spongy petioles; leaf blades
broadly ovate, sagittate, to 2 dm. or more long and wide; scape erect or reflexed,
simple or occasionally branched below, with up to 10 whorls; bracts membranous,
ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to attenuate, connate, about 1 cm. long; pistillate
flowers usually with a ring of functional stamens; sepals orbicular-ovate, concave,
about 13 mm. long, covering most of the fruiting head; stamens with linear
pubescent filaments; heads of carpels to 2 cm. in diameter; achenes cuneate-
obovate, to 2.5 mm. long and 1.3 mm. wide, the faces usually with a resin duct,
the horizontal or oblique beak about as long as the breadth of the achene and
narrowly winged on the margin. S. calycina Engelm., Lophotocarpus calycinus
(Engelm.) J. G. Sm.
Sloughs, lakes and ponds in e., cen. and w. Tex., Okla. (Adair, Sequoyah,
Cherokee, Murray and Johnston cos.) and N.M., June-Oct; O. and Mich., w.
to N.D., Calif, and N.M., s. to Va., Tenn., La. and Tex.
Our plants have been segregated as subsp. calycina (Engelm.) Bogin.
2. Sagittaria graminea Michx. Fig. 62.
Leaves erect, either represented by thin broadly linear (strap-shaped) acute to
shortly acuminate phyllodia or with the slender petioles bladeless or with nar-
rowly lanceolate tapering blades to 2 dm. long and 25 mm. wide; scape simple,
usually surpassed by the leaves, with as many as 10 whorls, the flowers with fili-
form ascending or spreading pedicels to 3 cm. long, the lower one or two whorls
of pistillate flowers or sometimes all staminate; bracts ovate, obtuse to subacute,
to 6 mm. long, more or less connate, membranous; sepals ovate, obtuse, to 5 mm.
long; petals white or rarely pinkish, to 6 mm. long; stamens with dilated pubescent
filaments to 1 mm. long; fruiting heads to 1 cm. in diameter; achenes obovate, to
2 mm. long and 1.2 mm. wide, the narrow-winged back strongly rounded to a
high shoulder, the sides plane or with 1 or 2 narrow ridges, the subulate beak to
0.3 mm. long, obliquely inserted below the summit of the achene. S. cycloptera
(J. G. Sm.) Mohr.
Rooted in mud or in shallow water of ditches, ponds, marshes and streams in
e. and s.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Osage Co.) to s.e. Ariz., flowering throughout
the year but mostly Apr.-Nov.; throughout e. N. A., w. to the Great Plains; also
Cuba.
145
-------
Fig. 63: Sagittaria papillosa: a, habit, X %; b, staminate flower (voune) X 2% c
stammate flower, X 2V2; d, stamen (two views), X 5; e, pistillate flower X 2Vr f'
fruitmg head, X 2%; g, achene, X 6. (V.F.).
-------
3. Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelm.) J. G. Sm.
Leaves erect, overtopping the scape; leaf blades ovate to elliptic or lanceolate,
unlobed, to 18 cm. long and 8 cm. wide; scape simple, with as many as 8 whorls,
the 1 to 4 lower whorls pistillate and with their thickish pedicels to 25 mm. long
and soon recurving; bracts ovate, obtuse, scarious, strongly connate, to 8 mm.
long; stamens with dilated pubescent filaments that are mostly longer than the
anthers; fruiting heads to 15 mm. in diameter; achenes cuneate-obovate, to 2 mm.
long and 1.2 mm. wide, the dorsal keel rounded to the subtruncate summit, the
faces with 1 to 3 narrow ridges; beak subulate, 0.3 mm. or more long, obliquely
ascending. S. graminea var. platyphylla (Engelm.) J. G. Sm.
In mud or shallow water of marshes, streams, sloughs, swamps and ponds in
e. Tex. and Okla. (Atoka, Murray, Pushmataha, Choctaw, Latimer and Mc-Cur-
tain cos.), Apr.-Oct.; Mo. w. to Kan., s. to Tex. and Ala.; adv. in the Pan. Canal
Zone.
4. Sagittaria lancifolia L. Fig. 62.
Leaves erect; leaf blades ovate to elliptic or narrowly lanceolate, unlobed, taper-
ing to both ends, firm, to 4 dm. long and 1 dm. wide; scapes simple or branching
at lower nodes, the main axis with as many as 10 whorls, the lower 1 to 4 whorls
pistillate with pedicels to 25 mm. long, the staminate pedicels to 35 mm. long;
bracts ovate, obtuse, strongly papillose, to 15 mm. long, connate; sepals more or
less papillose; stamens with slender arachnoid filaments that are longer than the
anthers; fruiting heads about 15 mm. in diameter; achenes cuneate-oblanceolate,
falcate, to 2.5 mm. long and 1 mm. wide, dorsally narrowly winged, usually with
1 or 2 low facial ridges; beak obliquely inserted, subulate from a thick base, to
0.8 mm. long, ascending. S. falcata Pursh.
In fresh-water and brackish tidal marshes, swamps, and along streams in s.e.
Tex. and Okla., May-Nov.; Fla. to Tex., n. to Del.; also Mex. and C.A.
Our plants, as described here, have been segregated as subsp. media (Mich.)
Bogin.
5. Sagittaria papillosa Buch. Fig. 63.
Leaves erect; leaf blades linear to narrowly lanceolate, to 25 cm. long and 5 cm.
wide; scapes typically branching from the lowest whorl, the main axis with as
many as 10 whorls, the lower 1 to 4 whorls pistillate with pedicels much shorter
that those of the staminate; bracts ovate, obtuse, somewhat connate, densely
papillose, to 1 cm. long; sepals to 6 mm. long, more or less papillose; petals about
twice as long as the sepals; stamens with linear glabrous filaments to 1.6 mm. long;
fruiting heads about 1 cm. in diameter; achenes cuneate, to 1.5 mm. long and
1 mm. wide, with the remotely crested dorsal wing about 0.2 mm. wide and the
ventral wing somewhat narrower, the faces plane; beak broad-based, laterally
inserted above the middle of the achene body, more or less recurving, about 0.2
mm. long.
In swamps, marshes, bogs, ditches, small ponds and depressions in prairies in
e. and s. Tex. and e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Mar.-Nov.; Ark., La., Okla. and
Tex.
6. Sagittaria ambigua J. G. Sm.
Plant erect; leaves lanceolate to ovate, 12-20 cm. long, 4-10 cm. wide, the
petioles to 35 cm. long; scape erect, 3-9 dm. tall, with 2 to 10 whorls of flowers;
pistillate pedicels 15-35 mm. long, longer than the staminate pedicels; bracts
linear to lanceolate, acuminate, slightly papillose, mostly 1-3 cm. long, nearly
free; pedicels ascending, 1-2.5 cm. long; sepals oblong, 5-7 mm. long, remotely
papillose; petals ovate, 8-10 mm. long; filaments slender, glabrous; fruiting heads
1-1.5 cm. in diameter; achenes cuneate-obovate, 1.5-2 mm. long, 0.8-1.4 mm.
broad, narrowly thin-winged, the faces smooth or with a longitudinal thin keel;
147
-------
Fig. 64: Sagittaria latifolia: a, stamen, showing glabrous filament which is longer
than anther, X 8; b, inflorescence, showing whorls of staminate flowers and of pistillate
flowers, the sepals reflexed, X %; c, habit, showing rhizomes and branched inflorescence,
X V:,; d-f, mature achenes, the margins with broad corky and laterally disposed wings,
X 6; g, part of inflorescence, showing whorls of mature fruits, X %; h, corm at the
end of rhizome, X 7:,. (From Mason, Fig. 51).
-------
Fig. 65: Sagittaria latifolia: variation in leaf blades, a, c-f, S. latifolia: e, early sea-
sonal phase, and f, late seasonal phase of same plant; b, S. latifolia var obtusa All
X %. (From Mason, Fig. 52).
-------
beak minute, 0.1-0.2 mm. long, horizontal or incurved.
Swamps and lake shores, Okla.; s.w. Mo., Kan. and Okla.
7. Sagittaria latifolia Willd. WAPATO, DUCK-POTATO. Figs. 64 and 65.
Leaves erect or erect-spreading; leaf blades triangular-ovate, obtuse to acute at
apex, sagittate, the portion above the basal lobes to 25 cm. long and wide, the
linear to ovate-triangular basal lobes one half as long as or longer than the body
of the blade; scapes angled, occasionally branching from the lowest whorls, the
main axis with as many as 10 whorls, with one or more of the lower whorls
pistillate or all unisexual; pedicels of pistillate flowers typically shorter than those
of the staminate flowers; sepals to 1 cm. long, glabrous to densely pubescent;
bracts cymbiform, distinctly or only slightly connate, thin, somewhat scarious,
obtuse to acute, glabrous to densely pubescent; stamens with slender filaments that
are usually longer than the anthers; fruiting heads to 25 mm. in diameter; achenes
obovate, to 3.5 mm. long and 3 mm. wide, with broad marginal wings but no
facial keels; beak broad-based, subhorizontal to slightly incurved, to 2 mm. long.
Incl. var. obtusa (Muhl.) Wieg.
In water or wet places from s.e. to n. Tex. and Okla. (Washita, Logan, Ottawa,
Delaware, Woodward, Adair and Choctaw cos.), w. through N.M. (Sandoval Co.)
to Ariz. (Navajo Co.), May-Sept.; throughout most of the U. S. and much of
Latin Am.
Both the entirely glabrous widespread var. latifolia and the southern var.
pubescens (Muhl.) J. G. Sm. (S. pubescens Muhl.), with densely pubescent bracts
and calyx, are rare in our area. Several variants, such as f. hastata (Pursh)
Robins, and var. obtusa (Muhl.) Wieg., have been proposed, based on leaf
variations.
8. Sagittaria longiloba Engelm. ex Torr. in J. G. Sm. FLECHA DE AGUA. Fig. 66.
Leaves erect or erect-spreading; leaf blades ovate-triangular, acute at apex,
sagittate, the portion above the basal lobes to 15 cm. long and 1 dm. wide, the
conspicuously long linear to lanceolate basal lobes always longer than and
commonly twice as long as the body of the blade; scapes commonly branching at
the lowest whorl, the main axis with as many as 12 whorls; pedicels to 35 mm.
long, ascending; bracts ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, attenuate, to
25 mm. long, connate at base; stamens with glabrous linear filaments to 3 mm.
long and exceeding the anthers; fruiting heads to 12 mm. in diameter; achenes
obovate, to 2.3 mm. long and 1.3 mm. wide, the narrow dorsal wing to 0.3 mm.
wide, the ventral wing nearly obsolete, the faces commonly 1-winged; beak
laterally inserted, triangular, to 0.15 mm. long or obsolete.
In shallow water of sloughs, ditches, ponds and swamps, especially common
in roadside ditches in s. Tex. and extending to n. and w. Tex., Okla., N. M. and
Ariz., Apr.-Nov.; Ariz., N. M., Calif.(?), Colo., Kan., Neb., Okla., Tex., and Mex.
9. Sagittaria Greggii J. G. Sm. Fig. 67.
Erect aquatic of shallow water, to 1 m. tall; tip of ephemeral rhizome at length
becoming a globose perennial corm, or plant behaving as an annual; leaves
erect, the blades sagittate, 2-<\ dm. long, the basal lobes 2 to 3 times as long
as the terminal, linear to linear-lanceolate, sometimes acuminate, the submersed
juvenile leaves with blades entire or lacking; inflorescence simple or branched,
subequal to or longer than leaves; lower flowers pistillate, upper ones staminate,
occasionally a few flowers perfect; pistillate flowers on slender ascending often
unequal pedicels, the pedicels 1-3 cm. long; sepals becoming reflexed, not growing
with fruit; petals white, blades orbicular, claws cuneate; rudimentary stamens in
a single whorl, sometimes a few with pollen; staminate flowers withering-persistent,
rarely with rudimentary pistils; stamens numerous, the filaments longer than
150
-------
Fig. 66: Sagittaria longiloba: a, habjt, X %; b, single leaf, X %; c. flower X 2%-
d, stamens, X 5; e, fruit, X %; f, achene, X 5. (V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 67: Sagittaria Greggii: a, scape (cross section), X 1%; b, whorls of maturing
fruits, showing the reflexed sepals and long bracts subtending the pedicels, X %; c,
habit, showing narrowly sagittate leaf blades, X %; d, leaf base sheath, X %; e, stamen,
showing glabrous filament with dilated base, X 8; f, tip of inflorescence, showing whorls
of staminate flowers and pistillate flowers below beginning to mature, X %; g and h,
leaf blade variations, X %; i. mature achene, showing the tubercled irregularly thickened
lateral ribs, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 49).
-------
anthers, glabrous, somewhat dilated at base; fruiting heads depressed-globose;
achenes obovate, 2-3 mm. long, winged, the lateral ribs irregularly thickened and
winged or tubercled, curved to orbicular in outline, the style beak short and erect,
occasionally pushed in a lateral direction as the achene matures.
In shallow water of irrigation ditches and rice fields in Ariz, and N. M.,
Apr.-Nov.; also Calif, and n. Mex.
Closely related to S. longiloba, with which it apparently intergrades, or more
likely, with which it is probably conspecific. We are in agreement with Mason,
however, who chose to maintain these two concepts until further field studies
can be made.
10. Sagittaria brevirostra Mack. & Bush. Fig. 68.
Leaves erect; leaf blades broadly ovate to lanceolate, obtuse to acute at
apex, sagittate, the portion above the basal lobes to 2 dm. long and usually
about as wide, the ovate to ovate-lanceolate and acute basal lobes about equaling
the body of the blade; scapes simple or branched at base, the main axis with
as many as 12 whorls, the lower 2 to 6 whorls pistillate with pedicels to 2 cm.
long, the staminate with slightly longer pedicels; bracts firm, lanceolate, long-
attenuate, to 25 mm. long; stamens with slender glabrous filaments about as
long as the anthers; fruiting heads depressed, not noticeably echinate, to 2 cm.
in diameter; achenes cuneate-obovate to quadrate, to 3 mm. long and 2 mm.
wide, with an often dentate or serrate dorsal keel and usually with a narrow
facial ridge; beak broad-based, obliquely ascending, to 1.5 mm. long, terminating
the straight ventral margin. S. Engelmanniana J. G. Sm. subsp. brevirostra (Mack.
& Bush) Bogin.
Along rivers, ditches and sloughs in cen. Tex. to Okla. and n. N. M. (Taos
Co.), June-Aug.; O. and Mich., w. to S.D. and s. to Tex. and N. M.
11. Sagittaria cuneata Sheld. Fig. 69.
Leaves erect or erect-spreading; leaf blades broadly ovate to ovate-triangular,
obtuse to acute at apex, sagittate, the portion above the basal lobes to 15 cm.
long and 1 dm. wide, the deltoid basal lobes somewhat smaller than the body
of the blade; scapes erect or arching, simple or sometimes branched, the main
axis with as many as 7 whorls, the lower 1 or 2 (or sometimes all) whorls
pistillate and subsessile or on pedicels to 2 cm. long, the staminate pedicels
somewhat longer; bracts narrowly ovate to lanceolate, acute to attenuate, usually
connate at base, to 2 cm. long; stamens with glabrous subulate filaments that
about equal the anthers; fruiting heads to 15 mm. in diameter; achenes obovate,
to 2.5 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, the wide dorsal keel rounded, the faces usually
with a low narrow ridge; beak subulate, usually recurved, erect to suberect,
to 0.4 mm. long, terminating the strongly rounded ventral keel. S. arifolia Nutt.
ex J. G. Sm.
Along rivers and streams in the Tex. High Plains, Okla., N.M. and Ariz.,
June-Sept.; n.e. Can., s. to N.E., N.Y., O., Ind., 111., la., Kan., Tex., N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
Fam. 22. Butomaceae RICH. FLOWERING-RUSH FAMILY
Perennial aquatic or marsh herbs with stout short or elongate rhizomes and
usually with milky juice; leaves cauline or basal; flowers perfect in involucrate
umbels or solitary; sepals 3, persistent; petals 3, showy; stamens 6 to many,
free, the outer ones usually sterile; anthers basifixed, 2-celled, laterally dehiscent;
pistils 4 to 8, free or basally coherent, with numerous ovules attached over the
inner surface; fruit a many-seeded follicle, dehiscing on the inner side; seeds
without endosperm.
153
-------
Fig. 68: Sagittaria brevirostra: a, habit, X %; b, leaf, X %; c, flower, X I1/1!
calyx, X I'/o; e, stamen, X 5; f, fruit, X y2; g, achene, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 69: Sagittaria cuneata: a, stamen, showing short glabrous filament, X 6; b,
whorls of maturing fruits, X %; c, staminate flower, X %; d, habit, showing rhizomes,
inflorescence and the somewhat spreading leaves, X %; e, pistillate flower, X %; f,
papillate stigma, X 40; g, ovary terminating in stout style with papillate stigma, X 8;
h, mature achene, showing wings and the erect beaklike persistent style, X 6; i-o, leaf
blade variations (note that the basal lobes are generally shorter than terminal lobe),
X %. (From Mason, Fig. 50).
-------
Several genera containing about 10 species, mostly of warm regions.
1. Hydrocleys RICH.
Characteristics of family. Four species, all native to Brazil.
1. Hydrocleys nymphoides (Willd.) Buch. WATER-POPPY. Fig. 70.
Rhizomes rooting at the nodes; leaves alternate, long-petioled; leaf blades
broadly ovate, cordate at base, rounded at apex, 5 cm. long or more, entire, glossy
on upper surface, somewhat spongy along the midrib and sparsely pubescent on
lower surface, usually floating; flowers axillary on long peduncles, raised well
above the water and lasting only one day; petals light-yellow, obovate, 2-3 cm.
long; stamens numerous, the outer ones sterile, fertile stamens purple or violet-
color; pistils usually 6, gradually tapering into the style.
Cult, in ponds and pools in s. U.S., including e. Tex., and becoming somewhat
naturalized, summer; nat. of Braz.
Included here on the basis of Muenscher's report of its occurrence in Texas;
we have seen no specimens.
Fam. 23. Hydrocharitaceae Juss. FROG'S-BIT FAMILY
Fresh- or salt-water herbs, partly or wholly submerged, dioecious to poly-
gamo-monoecious, with terrestrial or floating roots; leaves radical and crowded
or dispersed on elongated stems, alternate to opposite or whorled; flowers regular,
usually unisexual, arranged in a bifid spathaceous bract or within 2 opposite
bracts, the staminate usually more than 1, the pistillate solitary; spathe sessile
to long-pedunculate, the peduncle sometimes spirally twisted; perianth segments
free to the base, 1- or 2-seriate, 3 or rarely 2 in each series, the outer often green
and valvate, the inner imbricate and petaloid; stamens 1 to numerous; anthers with
2 parallel cells that open by longitudinal slits; rudimentary ovary present in the
staminate flowers; staminodes sometimes present in the pistillate flower; ovary
inferior, sometimes beaked, 1-celled, with 3 to 6 or rarely more parietal placentas
that sometimes protrude nearly to the middle of the ovary; styles as many as
placentas, entire or 2- or 3-branched; ovules numerous on the placentas; fruit
globose to linear, dry or pulpy, rupturing irregularly; seeds numerous, without
endosperm; embryo straight, with a thick radicle and usually inconspicuous
plumule.
About 16 genera and 80 species, mainly of tropical and warm temperate
regions.
1. Fresh-water plants that are pollinated at or above the surface of the water;
pollen spheroid (2)
1. Marine plants that are pollinated beneath the surface of the water; pollen
confervoid or united in strings (5)
2(1). Plant floating; leaves broadly ovate to reniform, distinctly petiolate,
emersed or floating; spathe composed of 1 or 2 free bracts
1. Limnobium
2. Plants attached to bottom; leaves linear or straplike, without a petiole, sub-
mersed; spathe composed of 2 bracts connate into a tube (3)
3(2). Leaves clustered at the base, straplike, more than 15 cm. long; petals rudi-
mentary and much smaller than the sepals 2. Vallisneria
3. Leaves opposite or in approximate whorls on an elongated stem, less than
5 cm. long; petals well-developed and much larger than the sepals
(4)
156
-------
Fig. 70: Hydrodeis nymphoides: a, top of plant, X %; b, sepal, X 2%; c, carpels
X2y2. (V.F.).
-------
Fig. 71 A: Limnobium Spongia: a, habit, X %; b, pistillate flower, X 2V2; c, fruit
with seeds sprouting, X 2^. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 71B: Limnobium Spongia: a, staminate flower, X 10; b, section of capsule,
X 2%; c, seed, X 42. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
4(3). Middle and upper leaves in whorls of 4 to 6, averaging about 2.5 cm. long;
staminate spathes 2- to 4-flowered; petals about 8 mm. wide
...3. Egeria
4. Middle and upper leaves opposite or in whorls of 3 (rarely with some 4),
rarely more than 2 cm. long; staminate spathes 1-flowered; petals
1.5 mm. wide or less 4. Elodea
5(1). Leaves alternate on a short stout concealed stem, ribbonlike, more than
1 dm. long; spathe composed of 2 bracts connate at the base to
form a tube 5. Thalassia
5. Leaves opposite at summit of slender nearly naked stem, mostly oblong-
elliptic, less than 5 cm. long; spathe composed of 2 free bracts.
6. Halophila
1. Limnobium RICH.
AMERICAN FROG'S-BIT
Three species centered in tropical America.
1. Limnobium Spongia (Bosc.) Steud. COMMON FROG'S-BIT. Figs. 71A and 71B.
Floating aquatic with pendent roots and stolons; leaves in a basal rosette,
erect or ascending, with petioles to 15 cm. long, ovate to suborbicular or the
earlier ones reniform, to 5 cm. broad, obtuse at the apex, truncate to cordate
at base, entire, faintly 5-nerved, purplish and spongy beneath; flowers unisexual;
staminate scapes to 1 dm. long, producing 3 or more flowers, filiform, the lance-
ovoid spathe 3-5 cm. long; pistillate scapes 2-Ieaved, with 1 or 2 short-pedicelled
flowers, about 25 mm. long in flower, stout, strongly recurved and elongated in
fruit; sepals 3, 7-10 mm. long; petals 3, 8-10 mm. long; stamens represented by
159
-------
Fig. 72: Vallisneria americana: a, pistillate plant, X J/j; b, cross section of leaf, X
»; c, pistillate flower, X ll/z; d, top of flower showing stigmas, X 4; e, spathe of stami-
nate flowers, X I1;.; f and g, two views of staminate flower, X 28; h, capsule, X 1%;
i, young fruit, X 73 with fruit enlarged; j, seed, greatly enlarged. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
3 to 6 subulate rudiments; anthers linear, apiculate, 2—4 mm. long; ovary inferior,
6- to 9-celled; stigmas filiform, as many as the cells, deeply 2-parted, 1—1.5 cm.
long, papillose-ciliate; berry ovoid, many-seeded, 1-1.5 cm. long, on a stout
recurved peduncle.
In shallow mostly stagnant water of quiet lakes, ponds, lagoons and ditches in
e. Tex., June-Oct.; from Ont. and N.J., s. to Fla., Tex., Mo. and 111.
The dense growth often formed by this species provides an excellent habitat for
small animal life, which apparently attracts marshbirds. The seeds are eaten by
wildfowl.
2. Vallisneria L. TAPEGRASS. EELGRASS
Two species, one native to America, another in the Old World.
1. Vallisneria americana Michx. WATER-CELERY. Fig. 72.
Aquatic dioecious submerged plant from perennial stoloniferous rootstocks with
fibrous roots and fleshy propagating buds; leaves in basal clusters, linear, obtuse,
thin, ribbonlike, flaccid, entirely submerged or with the upper part floating, to
about 6 dm. long and 2 cm. wide, somewhat nerved and netted-veined, often
minutely denticulate on the margin; staminate spathes 2- or 3-parted, bluntly
acuminate, 1-2 cm. long, on thick clavate scapes to 5 cm. long; staminate flowers
numerous, crowded on a short-pedunculate spadix, enclosed in the spathe,
detached at maturity and floating and expanding on the surface of the water;
perianth of 3 sepals; stamens 1 to 3; peduncles of the pistillate plant to 1 m. long,
curved but scarcely spirally twisted in fruit; spathe 2-cleft, 2-2.5 cm. long, rather
loose; pistillate flowers solitary in the spathe, floating on the water; hypanthium
linear-cylindric, in flower 2.5—3 cm. long, fully 2 mm. thick, in fruit about 1 dm.
long; sepals 3, fused to the inferior ovary, oval, 5—6 mm. long, rounded at the
apex; petals 3, about 2 mm. long; ovary 1-celled, cylindric; stigmas 3, large, about
5 mm. long, 2-cleft to near the base with each division obliquely obovate and
abruptly short-acuminate; fruits cylindric, indehiscent, 8-18 cm. long. V. spiralis
of auth.
In lakes and beds of flowing streams, rare in the e. half of Tex., N.M. (Rio
Arriba Co.) and recently discovered in Ariz. (Maricopa Co.), Apr.-July; from
N.B., w. to N.D., N.M. and Ariz., s. LO Fla. and Tex.
In our region, this species is too rare to be of much value to wild life. However,
where it occurs abundantly in the north all parts of the plant are relished by
many species of waterfowl. It is also eaten by muskrats and is a valuable food
for fish. Diving ducks are said to be especially fond of the growing tips of the
rootstocks. The plants also attract various marsh- and shore-birds, and they also
provide a habitat for minute animal life.
3. Egeria PLANCH.
Two species that are native to South America.
1. Egeria densa Planch. Fig. 73.
Perennial submerged aquatic herb of fresh water, dioecious, rooting on the
bottom or drifting when broken loose; stems terete, slender, 2-3 mm. thick,
ascending, simple or sparingly dichotomously branched; lower leaves opposite or
in whorls of 3; middle and upper leaves in whorls of 4 to 6, sessile, crowded,
pellucid, linear-elliptic to linear-lanceolate, subobtuse to acuminate, serrulate, to
4 cm. long and 5 mm. wide, much longer than the internodes; flowers unisexual;
staminate spathes funnelform, sessile, 2- to 4-flowered, borne in the upper axils,
to 12 mm. long and 3.5 mm. broad, cleft on one side, the apex bifid; flowers
stipitate, borne to the surface of the water on a threadlike hypanthium 3-6 cm.
161
-------
Fig. 73: a-d, Egeria densa: a, stem with whorls of lanceolate leaves, showing their
minutely serrate margins, X 1%; b, spathe and the flowers, X 1%', c, habit, showing
long-peduncled staminate flowers, X %; d, staminate flower, X 2. e-g, Elodea canaden-
sis: e, obovoid-clavate spathe with staminate flower on long thread-like peduncle, X 4;
f, habit, the staminate flower at the surface of the water in anthesis, X %; g, mature
staminate flower, showing the 9 anthers and 3 rudimentary stigmas, X 5. (From Mason,
Fig. 53).
-------
long; sepals 3, herbaceous, elliptic-oblong, 3—4 mm. long; petals 3, white, obovate
to suborbicular, membranous, about 1 cm. long and 8 mm. wide; stamens 9,
distinct; anthers loculicidal; filaments glandular-papillose above; nectary central,
3-lobed, small; pistillate plants not seen. Elodea densa (Planch.) Casp., Anacharis
densa (Planch.) Viet.
In lakes, ponds, pools, ditches and quiet streams in Okla. (Comanche Co.) and
in cen. and e. Tex., also Ariz. (Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), Apr.-Oct; a nat.
of S.A. that has escaped from cult, in various places in the U.S. and Eur.
The relationship of this species to animal life is similar to that for species
of Elodea.
4. Elodea MICHX. WATERWEED. DITCHMOSS
Submersed dioecious (ours) perennials, adapted for cross-pollination at the
surface of water, with dichotomously branching and usually nodally rooting slender
stems; leaves sessile, opposite or in whorls of 3, 1-nerved, usually minutely dentic-
ulate; flowers mostly unisexual or occasionally in part perfect, borne in sessile to
pedunculate bilobed spathes, the sepals and petals 3 each; staminate flowers 1 from
a somewhat globose spathe, sessile or with a very short pedicellate hypanthium,
when sessile deciduous from the plant at anthesis and floating on surface of water;
stamens 3 to 9; pistillate flowers solitary in the tubular spathes, the pedicel-like
hypanthium elongated to carry the rest of the flower to the water surface; stigmas
3, simple or bilobed, tending to float, the styles slender; fruit ovoid to cylindric,
several-seeded.
About 12 species in temperate and tropical America; one introduced into
Europe.
The young, tender leafy stems of species in this genus are apparently only in-
cidentally eaten by ducks, beaver and muskrats. The dense herbage that is fre-
quently developed provides a sheltered habitat for small aquatic life but at the
same time it may suppress the growth of more desirable species.
1. Middle and upper leaves opposite or occasionally with at least some in whorls
of 3, rounded to broadly obtuse at apex (2)
1. Middle and upper leaves always in whorls of 3, obtuse-apiculate to acute at
apex (3)
2(1). Largest leaves usually 1 cm. long or less; pistillate spathe 2-2.2 cm. long,
the apical teeth erect; in New Mexico in our region....!. E. bifoliaia.
2. Largest leaves usually 1.5 cm. long or more; pistillate spathe 3-7 cm. long, the
apical teeth divergent; in Arizona in our region....2.E. longivaginata.
3(1). Leaves rarely less than 1.5 mm. wide, obtuse-apiculate at apex; staminate
flowers with a slender stalk (hypanthium), not deciduous at an-
thesis; pistillate sepals 2-3 mm. long 3. E. canadensis.
3. Leaves rarely more than 1.5 mm. wide, acute at apex; staminate flowers sessile,
deciduous from plant at anthesis and floating on the surface of the
water; pistillate sepals about 1 mm. long 4. E. Nuttallii.
1. Elodea bifoliata St. John.
Stems slender, dichotomously branched; middle and upper leaves opposite or
occasionally with at least some in whorls of 3, linear to lance-linear, rounded
to broadly obtuse at apex, finely serrulate, the longer ones 6-10 mm. long and
1-1.5 mm. wide, bright green and flaccid; staminate spathe narrowed below into
a slender petiolelike base 6-8 mm. long, the upper portion ellipsoid-inflated and
5 mm. long; flower peduncled by the slender threadlike hypanthium; sepals and
petals 3.5 mm. long; stamens 9, raised on a very short common stalk; pistillate
spathe 2-2.2 cm. long, the flower exserted by the very slender threadlike elongated
hypanthium that becomes 9-12 cm. in length; sepals 1.4 mm. long and petals 1.8
163
-------
Fig. 14:,- a-f, Elodea longivaginata: a, habit, X \'-r, b, young staminate flower and
spathe, X 3; c. mature staminate flower, X 3: d, mature capsule, X 3- e seeds X 3" f
leaf. X 21?. g. Elodea Nuttallii: g. leaf, X 2^. (V. F.).
-------
mm. long; staminodia 3, linear, obtuse; stigmas 3, bidentate, papillose.
In ponds and sloughs in Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Oct.; apparently endemic.
2. Elodea iongivaginata St. John. Fig. 74.
Stems elongate, slender, sparingly dichotomously branched; middle and upper
leaves opposite or occasionally with at least some in whorls of 3, linear, rounded
to broadly obtuse at apex, finely serrulate especially near and at the tip, the longer
ones 1.5-2.6 cm. long and 1-2.5 mm. wide, bright green and flaccid, scarcely
imbricate; starninate spathe short- to long-pedunculate, 6-10 mm. long, 1-flowered;
flower with an elongate threadlike hypanthium to about 3 dm. long, with sepals
about 4 mm. long and petals 5 mm. long; stamens 9, all attached at the summit of
the hypanthium; pistillate spathe (and stalk) 3-7 cm. long, the flower with a
threadlike hypanthium that elongates to about 3 dm. long so as to bear the flower
to the surface of the water; sepals 2.8 mm. long and petals 4 mm. long; staminodia
3, ligulate; stigmas 3, oblong, undivided; capsule about 1 cm. long; seeds cylindric,
6 mm. long.
Submersed in water of lakes, ponds, sloughs and quiet running water in N.M.
(Mora, Rio Arriba and San Miguel cos.), June-Oct.; from Alta. to N. D., s. to
Mont, Wyo., Colo., N. M. and Ut.
.3. Elodea canadensis Rich, in Michx. Fig. 73.
Stems elongate, slender dichotomously branched; middle and upper leaves in
whorls of 3, linear to lance-oblong, mostly 8-15 mm, long and 1.5-3 mm. wide,
rarely larger, bright green, thin, flaccid, finely serrulate, strongly imbricate at tip
of stems (especially in pistillate plants); staminate spathe with a narrowed pedun-
culate base, inflated, ellipsoid to ovoid, 7 mm. long and 4 mm. wide; flowers
peduncled by the slender threadlike elongate base of hypanthium, with the sepals
3.5—5 mm. long and petals 5 mm. long; stamens 9, with the 3 inner ones raised
on a common fused stalk; pistillate spathe cylindric; flowers exserted from the
spathe by the threadlike elongate base of the hypanthium which is to 15 cm.
long; sepals and petals 2-3 mm. long; staminodia 3, acicular; stigmas 3, 4 mm.
long, broad, 2-cleft at apex; capsule ovoid, 6 mm. long; seeds narrowly cylindric,
4.5 mm. long, glabrous. Anacharis canadensis (Rich, in Michx.) Rich.
In lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams, especially in calcareous areas, re-
ported (but not seen) from Okla., in N. M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Navajo cos.), June-Oct.; from Que. to Sask., s. to Va., Ala., (?)
Okla., N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; also introd. in Eur.
4. Elodea Nuttaffii (Planch.) St. John. Fig. 74.
Stems slender, dichotomously branched, often freely so; middle and upper leaves
in whorls of 3 or occasionally with some in 4's, linear to narrowly lance-linear,
6-13 mm. long, 0.3-1.5 mm. wide, rarely more, acute at apex, green and flaccid,
finely serrulate; staminate spathe borne at the median axils, sessile, ovoid, apicu-
late, 2-parted to well below the middle, the 2 acuminate teeth often twisted to
form the apiculate tip, the body 2 mm. long; flower single in each spathe, sessile,
at maturity breaking loose to float to the surface and there opening; sepals about
2 mm. long and 1.6 mm. wide; petals usually wanting or (when occasionally
present) 0.5 mm. long; stamens 9, the 3 central ones slightly elevated on a com-
mon stalk, the 6 outer ones at a lower level and with separate filaments; pistillate
spathe narrowly cylindric, somewhat ovoid at base, usually 1-1.5 cm. long; flower
stalked by a slender threadlike elongated hypanthium as much as 9 cm. in length;
sepals 1.1 mm. long and petals 1.3 mm. long; staminodia 3, 0.5 mm. long,
acicular; stigmas 3, slender, bifid, somewhat exceeding the sepals; capsule sessile,
narrowly ovoid to fusiform, 5-7 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. in diameter; seeds cylindric,
short-beaked, 3.5-4.5 mm. long, pilose. Anacharis Nuttallii Planch., A. occidentalis
(Pursh) Marie-Vict.
165
-------
sheaths and
-------
Fig. 75B: Thalassia testudinttm: a, staminate flower, enlarged: b, pistillate flower
enlarged. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
In fresh or rarely brackish water, commonly in still water of streams, in Okla.
(Alfalfa, Delaware, Ottawa and Sequoyah cos.) and N. M. (Taos Co.), May-Oct;
Que. to N. C., westw. to Minn., Okla, and N. M.; also Ida.
5. Thalassia SOLAND.
TURTLE-GRASS
Several species in marine waters of tropical and warm temperate regions.
1. Thalassia testudinum Konig, PALMAS DEL MAR. Figs. 75A and 75B.
Submersed perennial herb with thick creeping scaly rhizome 3-5 mm. thick,
dioecious; the short stems covered by the fibrous remains of old leaves; leaves
several, 2-ranked, clustered on short erect branches, sheathing at base, linear,
to 35 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, glabrous, minutely serrulate at the obtuse-
rounded apex, withering-persistent; scapes arising from the leaf axils, bearing a
solitary unisexual flower in a 2-cleft tubular spathe whose lobes are elliptic and
papillose-dentate on the margins; staminate flowers pedicelled; pistillate flower
nearly sessile in the spathe; perianth lobes 6, in both kinds of flowers oblong,
rounded above, 1-1.2 cm. long; stamens 9; anthers about 8 mm. long, linear,
opening laterally; stigmas 9 to 12, linear-filiform, pilose, grooved on the inside,
about 1 cm. long; fruit oval to ellipsoid-fusiform, short-stalked and short-beaked,
densely warty-mammillate, opening by valves, 2 cm. or more long.
In shallow salt water along the Gulf Coast where it forms dense and extensive
marine meadows in bays and about reefs, occasional in beach drift; from Fla. to
Tex., s. to n. S. A.
167
-------
Fig. 76: Halophila Engelmannii: a, habit, X
R. K. Godfrey).
; b, young leaf, X 1. (Courtesy of
6. Halophila THOU.
Several species widespread in marine waters of tropical and warm temperate
regions.
1. Halophila Engelmannii Asch. Fig. 76.
Submersed perennial with horizontal slender creeping scaly branching stoloni-
ferous stems 1-1.5 mm. thick that root at the nodes and produce short erect
leafy branches; internodes 2-4 cm. long; scales and leaves in pairs, opposite;
scales broadly obovate, glabrous, to about 1 cm. long; erect shoots 2—4 cm. long,
with 1 pair of scales at the middle and 2 or 3 pairs of leaves clustered at the
summit; leaves sessile or with a very short thick petiole 2 mm. long or less, linear-
oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse to subacute at apex, tapering at base, to 4 cm.
long and 8 mm. wide, rather thick, faintly 3-ribbed and with 6 to 8 pairs of lateral
veins, reticulate-roughened, finely serrulate on the margins; flowers 1 or 2 enclosed
in a bifoliate sheath, both kinds often in the same sheath; pistillate flowers sessile
in the axils of the leaves; hypanthium ovoid, 3-4 mm. long, its neck about 5 mm.
168
-------
long; sepals 3, minute; stigmas 3, filiform, sessile, channeled and with usually
2 rows of papillae; fruit a membranous capsule with 3 parietal placentae, enclosed
in the sheath; seeds numerous; staminate flowers not seen.
In shallow salt water along the Gulf Coast, occasional in beach drift; from
Fla to Tex., the Bah. I. and W. I.
Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. Vegetatively resembling a large, coarse Plantago;
leaves thin, submerged or partly emersed, broadly ovate to suborbicular or cordate-
reniform, to 21 cm. in diameter, with 7 to 11 prominent parallel curved veins;
peduncle several-angular, to 3 dm. tall; spathe elliptic to ovate, with 2 acute tips,
1-flowered; flowers sessile, fragrant; sepals linear to oblong, obtuse, 1-nerved, to
16 mm. long and 4 mm. wide; petals obovate, 2-3 cm. long, white to very pale
pink, slightly darker distally yellow-based; anthers bright yellow; fruit oblong,
rostrate, 2-4 cm. long, crowned by the sepals, bursting irregularly.
This Afro-Asian plant has recently been found in Cameron Parish, Louisiana,
in shallow, clear water in McCain's Fishing Lake, about 3 miles southwest of
Sweet Lake (15 miles south of Lake Charles), about 30 miles east of the Texas
state line. It probably is only a matter of time before it is found in similar locations
in Texas.
Fam. 24. Gramineae Juss. GRASS FAMILY
Herbs or less commonly woody reedlike plants; roots fibrous; leaves distichous,
each with a more or less sheathing lower portion ("sheath") and a terminal usually
more or less linear blade, often at the juncture of sheath and blade an adaxial
fringe- or scalelike structure ("ligule"); in each axil often a small 2-nerved
asymmetric (in transection often H-shaped) structure ("prophyll"); leaves often
with a meristem near the ligule that permits continued elongation; flowers (florets)
very much reduced, perfect or neuter, less commonly staminate or pistillate,
usually aggregated distichously in small clusters known as spikelets, each flower
comprising the genitalia (when present) at the base of which are usually 2 minute
bulbs or scales ("lodicules"), this floret subtended usually by a minute adaxial
prophyll-like bract scale (palea) and a slightly larger abaxial bract scale Gemma);
lemmas (when more than one present) distichous on the spikelet axis (rachilla);
base of spikelet usually with 2 empty bract scales (glumes), or one of these some-
times obsolete or rarely both glumes absent; perianth absent; stamens 1 to 6
(usually 3); ovary a usually dorsiventrally flattened 1-celled uniovulate structure;
style deeply divided into 2 (rarely 3) long feathery stigmas; fruit ("grain,"
"caryopsis") an achenelike structure but with the ovary wall usually tightly co-
herent to the solitary endosperm-containing seed (ovary wall apparently not per-
sistently tightly adherent to seed in Sporobolus and some species of Muhlenbergia),
or in some genera (e.g., Panicum, etc.) the word "fruit" is used to refer to the
lemma and its contents since in these plants the lemma tightly and persistently
clasps the grain and thus constitutes a spurious outer fruit layer. Poaceae Barnh.
One of the largest families of flowering plants, the Gramineae are the most im-
portant economically as measured by several criteria. They produce the dietary
staples of most of the world's population. One species, rice, is the most important
of all the grasses and probably the single most important plant species in the
world.
(Many data, including an adaptation of the generic key, have been derived
from the work of A. S. Hitchcock, Manual of the Grasses of the United States,
U. S. Dept. Agric. Misc. Publ. No. 200, 2nd ed. revised by Agnes Chase, 1055 pp.
1950.)
169
-------
1. Spikelets with 1 perfect terminal floret and a sterile or staminate floret below,
usually represented by a sterile lemma only, 1 glume sometimes
wanting; the rachilla articulated below the spikelets, the spikelets
thus falling entire (2)
1. Spikelets 1- to many-flowered, the reduced florets (if any) above the perfect
florets (except in Phalaris); the rachilla usually articulated above
the glumes (except in Leersia, Polypogon, Alopecurus, Spartina
and Agrostis semiverticillata) (16)
2(1). Glumes membranaceous, the sterile lemma like the glumes in texture (3)
2. Glumes indurate; fertile lemma and palea hyaline or membranaceous, the
sterile lemma like the fertile one in texture (12)
3(2). Spikelets subtended or surrounded by 1 to many distinct or more or less
connate bristles forming an involucre (4)
3. Spikelets not subtended by bristles (5)
4(3). Bristles persistent, the spikelets deciduous 55. Setaria
4. Bristles falling with the spikelets at maturity 56. Cenchrus
5(3). Glumes or sterile lemma awned (awn reduced to a point in Echinochloa
colonum) 54. Echinochloa
5. Glumes and sterile lemma awnless (6)
6(5). Fruit cartilaginous-indurate, flexible, usually dark-colored, the lemma with
more or less prominent white hyaline margins that are not inrolled
(7)
6. Fruit chartaceous-indurate, rigid (8)
7(6). Spikelets in slender racemes more or less digitate at the summit of the
culms 48. Digitaria
1. Spikelets in panicles 47. Anthaenantia
8(6). Spikelets placed with the back of the fruit turned away from the rachis
of the racemes, usually solitary (not in pairs) (9)
8. Spikelets placed with the back of the fruit turned toward the rachis (first
glume, when present, away from the rachis) of the spikelike ra-
cemes or pedicellate in panicles (10)
9(8). First glume and the rachilla joint forming a swollen ringlike callus below
the spikelet 49. Eriochloa
9. First glume present or wanting, not forming a ringlike callus below the spike-
let 50. Axonopus
10(8). First glume typically wanting; spikelets plano-convex, subsessile in spike-
like racemes 51. Paspalum
10. First glume present; spikelets usually in panicles (11)
11(10). Second glume inflated-saccate, this and the sterile lemma much exceed-
ing the stipitate fruit 53 Sacciolepis
11. Second glume not inflated-saccate 52. Panicum
12(2). Spikelets unisexual, the pistillate below, the staminate above, in the same
inflorescence or in separate inflorescences 61. Tripsacum
12. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile and perfect, the other pedicellate and usually
staminate or neuter (the pedicellate one sometimes obsolete, rarely
both pedicellate); lemmas hyaline (13)
13(12). Spikelets alike, all perfect 57. Erianthus
13. Spikelets unlike, the sessile perfect, the pedicellate sterile (14)
14(13). Pedicel thickened, appressed to the thickened rachis joint (at least
parallel to it) or adnate to it; spikelets awnless, appressed to the
joint 60. Manisuris
170
-------
14. Pedicel not thickened (if slightly so the spikelets awned), neither appressed
nor adnate to the rachis joint, this usually slender; spikelets usually
awned (15)
15(14). Fertile spikelet with a hairy-pointed callus, formed of the attached sup-
porting rachis joint or pedicel; awns strong 58. Andropogon
15. Fertile spikelet without a callus, the rachis disarticulating immediately below
the spikelet; awns slender 59. Sorghum
16(1). Culms woody, perennial; leaf blades articulated with sheaths
1. Arundinaria
16. Culms herbaceous, annual (somewhat woody and persistent in Arundo); leaf
blades and sheaths continuous (17)
17(16). Spikelets with 2 (rarely 1) staminate, neuter or rudimentary lemmas
unlike and below the fertile lemma; no sterile nor rudimentary
floret above (18)
17. Spikelets without sterile lemmas below the perfect floret (19)
18(17). Lower florets staminate; spikelets brown, shining 40. Hierochloe
18. Lower florets neuter; spikelet green or yellowish 41. Phalaris
19(17). Spikelets unisexual, falling entire, 1-flowered, terete or nearly so (20)
19. Spikelets perfect (rarely unisexual but then not as above), usually articulate
above the glumes (22)
20(19). Culms slender; floating aquatic; staminate and pistillate spikelets borne
in separate inflorescences 46. Hydrochloa
20. Culms robust; plants tall, usually standing in water; staminate and pistillate
spikelets borne in the same panicle (21)
21(20). Pistillate spikelets on the ascending upper branches, the staminate on
the spreading lower branches of the panicle; annual or perennial....
44. Zizania
21. Pistillate spikelets at the ends, the staminate below on the same branches
of the panicle; perennial 45. Zizaniopsis
22(19). Spikelets articulate below the glumes, 1-flowered, very flat, the lemma
and palea about equal, both keeled; glumes small or wanting (23)
22. Spikelets articulate above the glumes (rarely below, but at least one of the
glumes well-developed) (24)
23(22). Glumes minute; lemma often awned 42. Oryza
23. Glumes wanting; lemma awnless 43. Leersia
24(22). Spikelets sessile on a usually continuous rachis (short-pedicellate in
Leptochloa; the rachis disarticulating in Hordeum) (25)
24. Spikelets pedicellate in open or contracted sometimes spikelike panicles, rarely
racemes (34)
25(24). Spikelets on opposite sides of the rachis; spike terminal, solitary (26)
25. Spikelets on one side of the rachis; spikes usually more than 1, digitate or
racemose (30)
26(25). Spikelets solitary at each node of the rachis (rarely 2 in species of
Agropyron, but never throughout) (27)
26. Spikelets more than 1 at each node of the rachis (solitary in part of the spike
in some species of Ely mm) (29)
27(26). Spikelets 1-flowered, sunken in hollows of the rachis; spikes slender,
cylindric; low annuals 20. Parapholis
27. Spikelets 2- to several-flowered, not sunken in the rachis (28)
171
-------
28(27). Spikelets placed edgewise to the rachis; first glume wanting except in the
terminal spikelet 19. Lolium
28. Spikelets placed flatwise to the rachis 16. Agropyron
29(26). Spikelets 3 at each node of the rachis, 1-flowered, the lateral pair
pediceled, usually reduced to awns 18. Hordeum
29. Spikelets 2 or more (occasionally solitary) at each node of the rachis, alike,
2- to 6-flowered 17. Elymus
30(25). Spikelets wtih more than 1 perfect floret 35. Leptochloa
30. Spikelets with only 1 perfect floret, often with additional imperfect florets
above or below (31)
31(30). Spikelets with 1 or more modified florets above the perfect one
39. Trichloris
31. Spikelets without additional modified florets, the rachilla sometimes pro-
longed (32)
32(31). Rachilla articulate above the glumes 36. Cynodon
32. Rachilla articulate below the glume, the spikelets falling entire (33)
33(32). Glumes unequal, narrow 38. Spartina
33. Glumes equal, broad, boat-shaped 37. Beckmannia
34(24). Spikelets 1-flowered (occasionally some of the spikelets 2-flowered in
a few species of Muhlenbergia) (35)
34. Spikelets 2- to many-flowered (44)
35(34). Articulation below the glumes, the spikelets falling entire (36)
35. Articulation above the glumes (38)
36(35). Glumes long-awned 30. Polypogon
36. Glumes awnless (37)
37(36). Rachilla prolonged behind the palea; panicle narrow or open, not dense;
glumes not united, not ciliate on the keel 28. Cinna
1>1. Rachilla not prolonged behind the palea; panicle dense 29. Alopecurm
38(35). Glumes longer than the lemma (39)
38. Glumes not longer than the lemma, usually shorter (the awn tips longer in
Muhlenbergia racemosa) (42)
39(38). Glumes compressed-carinate, stiff-ciliate on the keel; panicle dense,
cylindric or ellipsoid 31. Phleum
39. Glumes not compressed-carinate, not ciliate (40)
40(39). Glumes saccate at base; lemma long-awned; panicle contracted, shining
32. Gastridium
40. Glumes not saccate at base; lemma awned or awnless; panicle open or con-
tracted (41)
41(40). Floret bearing a tuft of hairs at the base from the short callus; palea
well-developed, the rachilla prolonged behind the palei as a hairy
bristle 26. Calamagrostis
41. Floret without hairs at the base or with short hairs; palea usually small or
obsolete 27. Agrostis
42(38). Lemma awned from the tip or mucronate, 3- to 5-nerved or obscure in
some species 33. Muhlenbergia
42. Lemma awnless or awned from the back (43)
43(42). Caryopsis at maturity falling from the lemma and palea; seed loose in
the pericarp, this usually opening when ripe; lemma 1-nerved
34. Sporobolus
172
-------
43. Caryopsis not falling from the lemma and palea, remaining permanently en-
closed in them; seed adnate to the pericarp 33. Muhlenbergia
44(34). Glumes as long as the lowest floret, usually as long as the spikelet
(sometimes shorter in Sphenopholis); lemmas awned from the back
(spikelets awnless in species of Trisetum and Sphenopholis) (45)
44. Glumes shorter than the first floret (except in Tridens strictus); lemmas awn-
less or awned from the tip or from a bifid apex (50)
45(44). Florets 2, one perfect, the other staminate 24. Holcus
45. Florets 2 or more, all alike except the reduced upper ones (46)
46(45). Articulation below the glumes, the spikelets falling entire (47)
46. Articulation above the glumes, the glumes similar in shape (48)
47(46). Lemmas (at least the upper) with a conspicuous bent awn; glumes
nearly alike 22. Trisetum
47. Lemmas awnless or the upper with a short awn; second glume much wider
than the first 21. Sphenopholis
48(46). Lemmas bifid at apex, awned or mucronate between the lobes; spikelets
several-flowered 25. Danthonia
48. Lemmas toothed but not bifid and awned or mucronate between the lobes
(49)
49(48). Lemmas keeled, the awn when present from above the middle
22. Trisetum
49. Lemmas convex, awned from below the middle 23. Deschampsia
50(44). Tall stout reeds with large plumelike panicles; lemmas and rachilla with
long silky hairs as long as the lemmas (51)
50. Low or rather tall grasses, rarely more than 1.5 m. tall; panicles not as above
(52)
51(50). Lemmas naked; rachilla hairy 14. Phragmites
51. Lemmas hairy; rachilla naked 13. Arundo
52(50). Plants dioecious, perennial (53)
52. Plants not dioecious (except in the annual Eragrostis reptans) (54)
53(52). Plants low, stoloniferous; spikelets obscure, scarcely differentiated from
the short crowded rigid leaves 9. Monanthochloe
53. Plants erect from creeping rhizomes; spikelets in narrow simple exserted
panicles 10. Distichlis
54(52). Lemmas 3-nerved, the nerves prominent, often hairy (55)
54. Lemmas 5- to many-nerved, the nerves sometimes obscure (57)
55(54). Inflorescence a few-flowered head or capitate panicle overtopped by the
leaves or partly concealed in them; lemmas toothed or cleft; low
plants of usually arid regions 15. Tridens
55. Inflorescence an exserted open or spikelike panicle (56)
56(55). Lemmas pubescent on the nerves or callus, the midnerve usually exserted
as an awn or mucro 15. Tridens
56. Lemmas not pubescent on the nerves nor callus (the internerves sometimes
pubescent), awnless 8. Eragrostis
57(54). Spikelets with 1 to 4 empty lemmas below the fertile florets; nerves ob-
scure; lemmas firm 11. Chasmanthium
57. Spikelets with no empty lemmas below the fertile florets; nerves usually
prominent; lemmas membranous (firm in a few species of Bromus
sxidFestuca) (58)
173
-------
Fig. 77: Arundinaria gigantea: flowering shoot, X V2; summit of culm sheath, outer
and inner face, showing auricles and ligule, and two views of floret X 2 (From Hitch-
cock & Chase).
-------
58(57). Lemmas as broad as long, the margins outspread; florets .closely imbri-
cate, horizontally spreading 7. Briza
58. Lemmas longer than broad, the margins clasping the palea; florets not hori-
zontally spreading (59)
59(58). Lemmas keeled on the back (60)
59. Lemmas rounded on the back (slightly keeled toward the summit in Festuca
and Bromus) (62)
60(59). Spikelets strongly compressed, crowded in 1-sided clusters at the ends
of the stiff naked panicle branches 12. Dactylis
60. Spikelets not strongly compressed, not crowded in 1-sided clusters (61)
61(60). Lemmas awned from a minutely bifid apex; spikelets large 2. Bromus
61. Lemmas awnless; spikelets small 6. Poa
62(59). Nerves of lemma parallel, not converging at summit or but slightly so
(63)
62. Nerves of lemma converging toward the summit, the lemmas narrowed at
apex (64)
63(62). Nerves prominent; plants usually rather tall, growing in fresh-water
marshes or wet woodlands 5. Glyceria
63. Nerves faint; plants low, usually growing in saline soils 4. Puccinellia
64(62). Lemmas awned or awn-tipped from a minutely bifid apex; palea ad-
hering to the caryopsis 2. Bromus
64. Lemmas entire, pointed, awnless or awned from the tip (65)
65(64). Spikelets awned (awnless in a few perennial species); lemmas pointed....
3. Festuca
65. Spikelets awnless 6. Poa
1. Arundinaria MICHX.
About 150 species in warmer parts of the world; one species in our area.
1. Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. GIANT CANE. Fig. 77.
Mostly glabrous robust rhizomatous cane-grass forming dense brakes; primary
aerial culms perennial (not usually freezing back), 2—8 m. tall, 2-20 mm. thick,
erect, with some ascending or appressed branches along the length; sheath margins
ciliate; small sheath auricles usually with a few spreading bristles; blades very
shortly petiolate, of two size-classes, larger ones on the primary aerial culms
12-20 cm. long and 10-25 mm. broad, smaller ones on the branches; inflores-
cences narrowly paniculate, the lower pedicels mostly included in the sheath and
the upper ones free (most of them nearly as long as their spikelets); spikelets
few, 5-8 cm. long, about 8 mm. broad, 9- to 13-flowered, lax enough so that the
internodes of rachis are often visible; zone of abscission at lower part of each
lemma node; lower lemmas 22-25 mm. long, cymbiform, finely pubescent,
obscurely 11-nerved, with fine awnlike tips.
Locally forming brakes in low areas near sloughs, bayous and rivers, in s.e.
Okla. (Waterfall) and in e. and s.e. Tex., s.w. to Wharton Co., spring; s.e. U. S.,
n. to N. C., O. and Ind.
Giant cane formerly covered many square miles in east and southeast Texas
but with the introduction of domestic stock it has almost disappeared and is
now relatively rare.
2. Bromus L. CHESS. BROME
Plant diverse in habit; inflorescense an open or dense panicle; spikelets diverse,
large, either strongly compressed or turgid, several-flowered with all the flowers
175
-------
cocFkg& Chase?'0""" Richardsonii- PIant' X & sp*elet and floret, X 5. (From Hitch-
-------
perfect; rachilla glabrous, abscising above the glumes and below the florets; glumes
1- to 5-nerved, shorter than the lower lemma; lemmas basally not calloused or
else with a glabrous callus, 5- to 9-nerved, apically narrowed or bifid, the nerves
converging toward the summit, mucronate or awned either between the teeth
or from the back shortly below the apex.
A genus of about 150 species in temperate regions. Some European authors
split Bromus into several genera, perhaps justly.
1. Panicle branches elongate, drooping; lemmas mostly 5-6 mm. wide, at first
membranous, eventually becoming slightly chartaceous and only the
lower part of the margin becoming revolute, the back rather evenly
pubescent 1. B. japonicus.
1. Panicle branches relatively short, ascending; lemmas mostly 6-8 mm. wide,
at first membranous but soon becoming chartaceous and the margin
partly revolute, the upper portion of back glabrous
2. B. Richardsonii.
1. Bromus japonicus L. JAPANESE CHESS.
Annual; culms 3-8 dm. long, ascending, slender, sheaths and blades usually
shortly pilose; blades mostly 2-5 mm. broad; panicle 1-2 dm. long, 1-sided
(when mature) nodding with several long curved drooping few-flowered branches
at the base; spikelets turgid, 7- to 10-flowered; lemmas with awns 5-11 mm.
long, (at first straight or eventually slightly curved and spreading) and bodies 7-9
mm. long and 5—6 mm. broad, broadly overlapping, the thin margins conspicuous
and eventually (very late in maturation) becoming chartaceous and the margins
revolute to clasp the palea which is conspicuously shorter; anthers 0.6—1.2 mm.
long.
Abundant weed in wet meadows and ditches, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in
scattered parts of Tex. (rare in Trans-Pecos), and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo,
Coconino, Gila, Cochise and Pima cos.), spring; widespread in temp, parts of
Euras. and N.A.
2. Bromus Richardsonii Link. Fig. 78.
Tufted perennial; culms 4-8 dm. long, about 2 mm. thick, often decumbent
in the lower part and geniculate; sheaths usually glabrous; blades 5-15 mm. broad,
mostly flat, the lower corners (where joining sheath) minutely round-auricled;
panicles nodding, 1—2 dm. long, very open and diffuse; spikelets 6- or 7-flowered;
first glume 1-nerved, the second 3-nerved; lemmas not at all keeled (except when
very immature), cymbiform with a body 10-13 mm. long and an awn 3-5 mm.
long, densely pubescent near the lateral margins but the median portion glabrous.
Zerna Richardsonii (Link) Nevskii. These plants have usually been called B.
ciliatus L.
On lake and pond margins, in seepage areas and along wettish river banks,
also moist woods and rocky slopes, in higher parts of mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos,
N. M. (rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Yavapai, Graham,
Cochise and Pima cos.), summer; Rocky Mts. and s. to Tex.
3. Festuca L. PERENNIAL FESCUE
Tufted perennials 1-11 dm. tall; spikelets very slightly if at all laterally com-
pressed, 2- to 8-flowered, most of the flowers perfect and chasmogamous but
the uppermost staminate or rudimentary; lower glume usually well-developed,
1-nerved; upper glume usually merely pointed though less commonly awned,
usually 3-nerved (but the lateral nerves obscure); spikelet rachilla disarticulating
at the lower part of each node (i.e., top of each internode); lemmas usually
ovate or elliptic, blunt to acute, awned or awnless, cymbiform and/or convex,
not keeled (except slightly in F. rubra), revolute, 5-nerved (lateral nerves ob-
scured); anthers 3, free, exserted; grains ellipsoid or ovoid.
177
-------
Fig. 79: Festiica rubra: plant, X l,->; spikelet and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
A moderately large genus of temperate regions of the world.
1. Blades involute; lemmas lanceolate, with awns 1-4 mm. long 1. F. rubra.
1. Blades flat for at least a part of their length; lemmas elliptic, awnless, acute
2. F. obtusa.
1. Festuca rubra L. RED FESCUE. Fig. 79.
Tufted perennial; culms 1-5 dm. long, 0.5-1 mm. thick, usually decumbent at
the base, reddish-fibrillose and subrhizomatous, otherwise erect; ligules extremely
short to obsolete; panicles interrupted-spikelike (or more lax with a few very
short ascending branches in the lower part floriferous nearly to their bases),
4-12 cm. long; pedicels 1-2 mm. long, appressed; spikelets laterally compressed,
3- to 5-flowered; lemmas lanceolate, very slightly (if at all) keeled near the apex,
marginally thin and revolute, apically long-tapered, acute with an awn 1-4 mm.
long, the lowest with bodies 5—7 mm. long.
In wet meadows, bogs and marshes, rare in highest parts of Madera Canyon,
Davis Mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Ariz, (Apache and Coconino cos.),
summer; widespread in the cooler parts of the N. Hemis., in Am. s. in the mts.
to S. C., Ala. and Mex.
2. Festuca obtusa Biehler. NODDING FESCUE.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-11 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, basally shortly decum-
bent, usually geniculate at the lower nodes; blades 3-8 mm. broad, flat at least
part of their length; panicles 12-25 cm. long, usually less than half as thick, more
or less open, nodding, with several branches, the long lower ones naked in at
least the basal two-thirds to three-fourths their lengths; pedicels 2-4 mm. long,
appressed; spikelets turgid, 2- to 5-flowered; lemmas elliptical, not at all keeled,
convex, marginally thin, eventually revolute, the lowest lemmas 3.5-4.5 mm.
long, awnless, apically acute (the angle broad, blunt), eventually turning greenish-
stramineous, the lateral nerves very obscure.
Scarce in woods, on shores of ponds and alluvial soil along streams, in Okla.
(Alfalfa Co.) and in e. Tex., spring; e. U.S., w. to N.D., S.D., Neb., Kan., Okla.
and Tex.
4. Puccinellia PARL. ALKALI-GRASS
Low pale smooth tufted annuals or perennials with narrow to open panicles;
spikelets several-flowered, usually terete or subterete, the rachilla disarticulating
above the glumes and between the florets; glumes unequal, shorter than the first
lemma, obtuse or acute, rather firm, often scarious at the tip, the first 1-nerved
or sometimes 3-nerved, the second 3-nerved; lemmas usually firm, rounded on
the back, obtuse or acute, rarely acuminate, usually scarious and often erose at
the tip, glabrous or puberulent toward base, rarely pubescent on the nerves,
5-nerved, the parallel nerves indistinct or rarely prominent; palea about as long
as the lemma or somewhat shorter.
About 100 species in the North Temperate Zone and in South Africa.
1. Lemmas pubescent on the nerves for one half to three fourths their length;
dwarf annual 1. P Parishii.
1. Lemmas glabrous or (if pubescent) the hairs not confined to the nerves;
perennials (2)
2(1). Lemmas 2 mm. long or less; anthers 0.5-0.8 mm. long; lower panicle
branches usually reflexed, spikelet-bearing mainly near the tip
2. P. distans.
2. Lemmas usually 2.5-3.2 mm. long; anthers usually more than 0.8 mm. long;
lower panicle branches often erect, usually spikelet-bearing most of
their length 3. P. Nuttalliana.
179
-------
Fig. 80: Glyceria borealis: a, panicle, X %; b, habit, showing the slender culms,
leaves and the panicles, X %", c, spikelet, X 6; d, grain, X 20; e, floret, showing the
palea and broadly scarious tip of lemma, X 12; f, leaf sheath, blade and ligule, X 4.
(From Mason, Fig. 68).
-------
1. Puccinellia Parish!! Hitchc.
Annual; culms 3-10 cm. tall; blades flat to subinvolute, less than 1 mm. wide;
panicle narrow, few-flowered, 1-4 cm. long; spikelets 3- to 6-flowered, 3-5 mm.
long; lemmas about 2 mm. long, obtuse to truncate, scarious and somewhat erose
at the tip, pubescent on the mid and lateral nerves nearly to the apex and on
the intermediate nerves about half way.
In marshy ground in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino cos.);
also s. Calif.
2. Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl.
Perennial; culms erect or decumbent at base, 2-4 dm. tall, sometimes taller;
blades flat or more or less involute, mostly 2-4 mm. wide; panicle pyramidal,
loose, 5-15 cm. long, the branches fascicled, rather distant, the lower spreading
or finally reflexed, the longer ones naked half their length or more; spikelets
4- to 6-flowered, 4-5 mm. long; glumes 1-2 mm. long; lemmas rather thin,
obtuse or truncate, 1.5-2 mm. long, with a few .short hairs at base; anthers about
0.8 mm. long.
In wet meadows, marshes and wet more or less alkaline soils, in N. M. (San
Juan, Rio Arriba and Taos cos.); Que. to B.C., s. to Md., Mich., Wise, and
N.D., s. to N.M. and Calif.
3. Puccinellia Nuttalliana (Schult.) Hitchc.
Perennial; culms usually erect, slender, rather stiff and firm at base, mostly
3-6 (-10) dm. tall; blades 1-3 mm. wide, flat or becoming involute; panicle
pyramidal, open, mostly 1-2 dm. long, the distant scabrous branches fascicled,
spreading and naked below, as much as 1 dm. long; spikelets 3- to 6-flowered,
4-7 mm. long, the florets rather distant, the rachilla often exposed; pedicels
scabrous; glumes 1.5-2 mm. long; lemmas 2-3 mm. long, rather narrow, some-
what narrowed into an obtuse apex; anthers about 0.7 mm. long. P. airoides
(Nutt.) Wats. & Coult.
In wet usually alkaline soils, in N. M. (San Juan and San Miguel cos.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); Wise, to B.C., s. to Kan., N. M., Ariz, and
Calif.
5. Glyceria R. BR. MANNA-GRASS
Perennials, tufted or subrhizomatous, culms simple; ligule a hyaline scale;
blades flat, thin; panicles open; spikelets turgid or only slightly laterally com-
pressed, 3- to 14-flowered; all flowers perfect or the terminal one usually abortive
or rudimentary; glumes scarious to hyaline, the first usually shorter, acutish and
1-nerved, the second obtuse, almost equaling the lowest lemma and obscurely
3-nerved; rachilla eventually abscising at the lower part of each node; lemmas
firm to membranous, green, broadly ovate or obovate, usually blunt and scarious-
margined apically, usually awnless, 7-nerved, the nerves not converging to the
apex but terminating severally near the distal margin.
About 40 species, cosmopolitan in distribution.
1. Spikelets linear, nearly terete, usually 1 cm. long or more, appressed on short
pedicels; panicles narrow, erect (2)
1. Spikelets ovate to oblong, more or less compressed, usually not more than
5 mm. long; panicles usually nodding (4)
2(1). Lemmas glabrous between the slightly scabrous nerves 1. G. borealis.
2. Lemmas scaberulous or hirtellous between the usually distinctly scabrous
nerves (3)
3(2). Lemmas about 3 mm. long, broadly rounded at the apex....2. G. arkansana.
3. Lemmas about 4 mm. long, slightly narrowed at apex 3. G. septentrionalis.
181
-------
Fig. 81: Glyceria striala: plant, X %; spikelet, X 5; floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
4(1). Lemmas with 5 prominent nerves; second glume 3-nerved; sheaths open
7. G. pauciflora.
4. Lemmas with 7 usually prominent nerves; second glume 1-nerved; sheaths (at
least the upper) closed from below the summit (5)
5(4). First glume more than 1 mm. long, usually about 1.5 mm. long
6. G. grandis.
5. First glume not more than 1 mm. long (6)
6(5). Blades 2-4 mm. wide, sometimes to 8 mm., rather firm, often folded; first
glume 0.5 mm. long 4. G. striata.
6. Blades 6-12 mm. wide, flat, thin, lax; first glume about 1 mm. long
5. G. data.
1. Glyceria borealis (Nash) Batchelder. NORTHERN MANNA-GRASS. Fig. 80.
Culms erect or decumbent and rooting at the base, slender, 3-10 dm. tall;
sheaths smooth or slightly scabrous, keeled; blades flat or folded, usually 2-6 mm.
wide, very narrow; panicle mostly 2—4 dm. long, very narrow, the branches as
much as 1 dm. long, bearing several closely appressed spikelets; spikelets mostly
6- to 12-flowered, 1-1.5 cm. long; glumes oblong, scarious, the first glume 1.5-2
mm. long, the second 3-4 mm. long; lemmas rather thin, obtuse, 3-4 mm. long,
strongly 7-nerved, broadly scarious at the tip, minutely scabrous on the nerves,
otherwise glabrous.
Shallow water in wet meadows or lake margins, in N. M. (Hitchcock) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Apache, Cochise and Pima cos.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to Pa., 111.,
Minn, and Wash., in mts. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
2. Glyceria arkansana Fern.
Tufted perennial; culms stout, 10-15 dm. long, erect; panicles 35-50 cm. long,
with a number of ascending floriferous branches 0.4—1 mm. thick, rather rigidly
straight; spikelets 10- to 14-flowered, nearly sessile, appressed, remote; lemmas
2.5-3.5 mm. long, minutely pubescent. Probably only a form of G. septentrionalis.
In marshy areas, roadside ditches, along sloughs and in swampy ground, in
Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and possibly Tex., spring-summer; also La. and Ark.
3. Glyceria septentrionalis Hitchc.
Like G. arkansana but lemmas merely minutely scabrous and 3.5-5 mm. long.
In shallow water and borders of sloughs and lakes and in marshy areas and road-
side ditches in e. and s.e. Tex., spring-summer; e. N.A. w. to Wise., la., Mo.,
Ark. and Tex.
4. Glyceria striata (Lam.) Hitchc. FOWL MANNA-GRASS. Fig. 81.
Perennial forming mats by means of short rhizomes; panicles 1-2 dm. long,
with numerous slender ascending-diverging branches about 0.2 mm. thick (in
turn bearing even more slender floriferous branchlets); pedicels 0.5-1 mm. long,
appressed; spikelets 3- to 7-flowered, ovate in outline; lemmas 1.5-2.1 mm. long.
Rare at the margins of clear permanent streams in limestone areas, in wet
meadows, bogs and shallow water of ponds and lakes, drainage ditches and
sloughs in Okla. (Johnston and Murray cos.) and in the Tex. Trans-Pecos
(Guadalupe Mts.) and e. part of Edwards Plateau, N.M. (Otero, Taos, San
Miguel and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache, Navajo and Gila cos.),
spring-summer; most of the temp, parts of N. A.
5. Glyceria elate (Nash) Hitchc.
Culms erect, smooth, succulent, dark green, 1-2 m. tall; sheaths scabrous;
blades flat, usually 6-9 mm. or sometimes only 4 mm. wide, scabrous; panicle
large and diffuse, becoming oblong, 15-30 cm. long, the branches naked below,
the lower ones usually reflexed at maturity; spikelets 3-5 mm. long, oblong or
183
-------
Fig. 82: Glycerin grandis: a, floret, showing palea, X 16; b, spikelets, solitary
on tips of branchlets, X 8; c, habit, lower part showing the conspicuous joints of culm
and the long lax leaf blades, X %; d, habit, upper part of culm, showing panicle,
X L/5; e, leaf sheath, blade and ruptured ligule, X 4; f, floret, showing lemma the strong
nerves papillose, X 16; g, young upper leaf, the sheath and ligule enclosing 'culm X 4
(From Mason, Fig. 67). '
-------
ovate-oblong, usually 6- to 8-flowered; glumes broad, obtuse, much shorter than
the lower lemmas, often nerveless, the first glume about 1 mm. long, the second
nearly 2 mm. long; lemmas firm, 2-2.5 mm. long, obovoid, obtuse or acutish,
prominently 7-nerved, the apex distinctly scarious; stamens 2; palea apex with a
narrow slit.
In wet meadows, swampy woods or along streams, in N.M. (Lincoln Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.); Mont, to B.C., s.
in mts. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Glyceria grandis Wats, ex Gray. AMERICAN MANNA-GRASS. Fig. 82.
Culms stout, 1-1.5 m. tall from a perennial base; leaf blades flat, 6-12 mm.
wide; panicle large, compound, 20-40 cm. long, somewhat nodding at tip; spike-
lets 4- to 7-flowered, 5-6 mm. long; glumes 1.5-2 mm. long; lemmas purplish,
2-2.5 mm. long; palea slightly longer than lemma.
Marshes, stream banks, wet meadows, and in mud and shallow water of ponds,
lakes and slow-flowing streams, in N. M. (Colfax, San Miguel and Taos cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Graham cos.); P.E.I, to Alas., s. to Va., Tenn., la., Neb.,
N.M., Ariz, and Ore.
7. Glyceria pauciflora Presl. WEAK MANNA-GRASS. Fig. 83.
Culms 3—12 dm. tall, from a decumbent rooting base; sheaths smooth or
minutely scabrous, free and overlapping; blades thin, flat, lax, minutely scabrous,
mostly 8-20 cm. long, 5-15 mm. wide; panicle oblong or pyramidal, open or
rather dense and spikelike, nodding, 8-20 (or -25) cm. long, the branches ascend-
ing or spreading, rather flexuous, naked below, the spikelets crowded on the
upper half; spikelets 4- to 7-flowered (usually 5- or 6-flowered), 4—6 mm. long;
glumes broadly ovate or oval, purplish-tinged, the first glume 1-1.5 mm. long,
the second glume 1.5—2 mm. long, 3-nerved, the nerves sometimes obscure, the
margins erose-scarious; lemmas oblong, 2-3 mm. (usually 2.5 mm.) long, with
5 prominent nerves and an outer short faint pair near the margins, minutely
scabrous on the nerves and somewhat so between them, the tip rounded, scarious,
somewhat erose, usually with a purplish band below the scarious tip; caryopsis
with a sub-basal and oblong hilum. Torreyochloa pauciflora (Presl) Church,
Puccinellia pauciflora (Presl) Munz.
Marshes, shallow water, and wet meadows, in N.M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.);
Alas, to S.D., N.M. and Calif.
6. Poa L. BLUEGRASS
Inflorescence paniculate; spikelets 2- to several-flowered, laterally compressed,
all the flowers functional except usually the terminal one reduced, in some species
the flowers unisexual and in some the male and female flowers on separate plants
(at least in some populations); rachilla abscising above the glumes and at the lower
part of each node; glumes usually shorter than first lemma, thin (marginally often
hyaline), keeled, the first usually 1-nerved, the second 3-nerved; lemmas keeled,
ovate-lanceolate, awnless, thin (marginally often hyaline), 5-nerved (or often
appearing only 3-nerved, one pair of nerves being obscure).
A genus of about 300 species in cool and temperate regions of the world.
1. Rhizomes present, often very extensively developed (2)
1. Rhizomes lacking although plants sometimes stoloniferous (8)
2(1). Culms strongly flattened, 2-edged; plants strongly rhizomatous; lemmas
sparsely if at all webbed 1. P. compressa.
2. Culms slightly if at all flattened, not 2-edged; plants often either only weakly
rhizomatous or with strongly webbed lemmas (3)
185
-------
Fig. 83: Glyceria pauciflora: a, leaf sheath, blade and ligule, X 2; b, upper part
of culm, showing panicle, X Vf,; c, branch of panicle, the spikelets crowded on the
upper half, X 6; d, panicle, X -fa e, floret, showing palea and rachilla, X 12; f, floret,
showing lemma, X 12; g, grain, showing subbasal oblong hilum, X 20; h, habit, lower
part of culm, showing the flat, lax leaf blades, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 66).
-------
3(2). Panicle narrow, the branches ascending or appressed; lemmas scabrous to
pubescent on all the nerves but not webbed 3. P. glaucifolia.
3. Panicle open, the branches mostly spreading; lemmas often webbed at base
or glabrous on the internerves (4)
4(3). Plants alpine or subalpine; lemmas pubescent over the back and silky on
the 5 nerves, usually webbed 4. P. Grayana.
4. Plants often of lower elevations; lemmas sometimes glabrous on the internerves
or not webbed (5)
5(4). Anthers mostly 0.5-0.9 mm. long; lower panicle branches mostly in twos
6. P. leptocoma.
5. Anthers at least 1 mm. long; lower panicle branches usually in threes or fives
(6)
6(5). Lemmas not webbed at base 3. P. glaucifolia.
6. Lemmas more or less strongly webbed at base (7)
7(6). Ligules mostly not over 1.5 mm. long, rarely with the uppermost much
longer, truncate; lemmas more than 3 mm. long 2. P. pratensis.
1. Ligules mostly (2-) 3-5 mm. long, often acute; lemmas 2.5-3 mm. long
7. P. palustris.
8(1). Lemmas with long tangled cobwebby hairs at base (9)
8. Lemmas not cobwebby at base (13)
9(8). Panicle loose, the lower slender branches 1 to 3 per node and spreading
or reflexed; spikelets usually purplish; ligules glabrous, usually over
1 mm. long; anthers not over 1 mm. long (10)
9. Panicle very narrow, the branches ascending or more than 3 per node; spike-
lets usually greenish; ligules often puberulent-scabridulous, some-
times less than 1 mm. long; anthers often over 1 mm. long (11)
10(9). Lower panicle branches reflexed, 1 to 3 per node 5. P. reflexa.
10. Lower panicle branches usually not reflexed, generally in pairs
6. P. leptocoma.
11(9). Spikelets averaging about 6 mm. long, the lemmas 4-5 mm. long
4. P Grayana.
11. Spikelets usually less than 5 mm. long, the lemmas less than 4 mm. long (12)
12(11). Plants of the lowlands or low mountains; culms decumbent and usually
stoloniferous, 4—12 dm. tall; ligules (2-) 3-5 mm. long
7. P. palustris.
12. Plants montane to subalpine; culms erect, not at all stoloniferous; ligules
rarely as much as 2 mm. and never so much as 3 mm. long.
8. P- interior.
13(8). Spikelets compressed, at anthesis usually less than twice as long as broad;
lemmas rather strongly keeled (14)
13. Spikelets only slightly compressed, at anthesis over twice as long as broad;
lemmas rounded on the back or only slightly keeled (15)
14(13). Ligules usually truncate, 0.3-1 (or rarely to 2) mm. long; spikelets
mostly 2- to 3- (4-) flowered; second glume 2.5-3.5 mm. long
8. P. interior.
14. Ligules usually obtuse to acute, generally at least 1 (the longest 4) mm.
long; spikelets mostly 3- to 5-flowered; second glume rarely less
than 4 mm. long 4. P. Grayana.
15(13). Ligules thickish, strongly ciliolate, truncate to roundish, those of the
innovations and basal culm leaves scarcely visible from the side,
mostly not over 0.5 (to 1) mm. long, those of the upper culm
leaves mostly 1-1.5 (rarely to 2.5 mm.) long 10. P. juncifolia.
187
-------
Fig 84:/Poa pratensis: plant, X ^; spikelet, X 5; floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
15. Ligules thin and membranous, rarely ciliolate, usually acute, those of the
innovations and lower culm leaves usually over 1 mm. long, those
of the upper culm leaves mostly 2-7 mm. long 9. P. nevadensis.
1. Poa compressa L. CANADA BLUEGRASS.
Perennial; culms basally long-decumbent, stoloniform or subrhizomatous,
strongly compressed, 1-2.5 mm. broad, with 2 longitudinal keels; aerial culms
ascending, somewhat geniculate; lower sheaths shorter than the internodes; blades
3-12 cm. long, 1-3 mm. broad, flat or folded; panicles conic-cylindric, 3-10 cm.
long, open with few short branches per whorl rather strikingly ascending; pedicels
5-10 mm. long; spikelets crowded, laterally compressed, 3- to 6-flowered; lowest
lemma 2-3 mm. long, firm, green-stramineous, keeled, 5-nerved, the lower part
of the midnerve and marginal nerves minutely pubescent, the very obscure inter-
mediate nerves and internerve areas glabrous, basally with very short scant tuft
of silky hair or this absent.
Tame pastures, wet meadows and in marshy soil, in Okla. (Waterfall) and
n.-cen. Tex. and the Rio Grande Plains, probably elsewhere, not persistent but
repeatedly introd., N.M. (Taos, San Miguel and Colfax cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo, Coconino, Graham and Gila cos.), spring; nat. of Eur., now widely
introd. in Am.
2. Poa pratensis L. KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS. Fig. 84.
Tufted perennial with fragile rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick and to 2 dm. long;
aerial culms 3-6 dm. long, mostly erect, slightly flattened but not two-keeled;
ligule a short usually erose scale; blades thin, 2-4 mm. broad, flat or folded,
basally not markedly broader than the top of the sheath; panicles 5-13 cm. long,
conical, usually open and with a whorl of 5 flexuous basally naked branches at
the lowest node, the successively higher nodes with fewer branches; pedicels
0.5-1.5 mm. long; spikelets somewhat laterally compressed, crowded, 4- to
6-flowered; lowest lemma 3—4 mm. long, green with a broad thin whitish margin,
dorsally keeled, 5-nerved, the lower part of the midnerve and marginal nerves
pubescent, the intermediate nerves and internerve area glabrous, basally with a
long tuft of flexuous silky hairs.
Meadows and tame pastures, and in wet soil on edge of lakes and ponds, in
n.-cen., e. and Trans-Pecos Tex., infrequent and probably not persistent, N. M.
(Sandoval Co.) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima
cos.), spring; nat. of Euras., now widely introd. in moist temp, areas of N.A. and
S.A.
3. Poa glaucifolia Scribn. & Williams.
Plants glaucous; culms in loose tufts, 6-10 dm. tall; blades 2-3 mm. wide;
panicle narrow, open, mostly 1-2 dm. long, the branches usually in somewhat
distant whorls, mostly in threes, ascending, very scabrous, naked below; spikelets
2- to 4-flowered; glumes 4-5 mm. long; lemmas about 4 mm. long, villous on
the lower half of the keel and marginal nerves and more or less so on the inter-
mediate nerves below.
In wet meadows, ditches and stream bottoms, in N.M. (Hitchcock) and Ariz.
(Coconino Co.), July-Aug.; B.C. and Alta. to Minn., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Nev.
4. Poa Grayana Vasey ARCTIC BLUEGRASS.
Culms loosely tufted, erect from a decumbent base, 1-3 dm. tall; ligule pointed,
to 4 mm. long; blades mostly basal, flat or folded, mostly 2-3 mm. wide, with
one short blade about the middle of the culm; panicle open, pyramidal, 5-10 cm.
long, the lower branches usually 2 and spreading or sometimes reflexed, bearing
a few spikelets toward the tip; spikelets 5-8 mm. long, 3- or 4-flowered; lemmas
densely villous on the keel and marginal nerves and pubescent on the lower part
189
-------
of the internerves, the base often webbed. P. arctica of Am. Auth., not R. Br.
In wet meadows, shallow water of lakes and ponds, and on wet stream banks,
mostly above timberline, in N. M. (Rio and Taos cos.); from arctic regions s.
to N.S. and in the Rocky Mts. to N.M., Nev. and Calif.
5. Poa reflexa Vasey & Scribn. NODDING BLUEGRASS.
Culms solitary or in small tufts, erect, 2-4 dm. tall; blades rather short, 1-4
mm. wide; panicle nodding, 5-15 cm. long, the branches naked below, solitary,
in pairs or in threes, the lower usually reflexed, sometimes strongly so; spikelets
2- to 4-flowered; lemmas about 3 mm. long, oblong-elliptic, webbed at base, villous
on keel and marginal nerves and sometimes on intermediate nerves.
In wet meadows and on wet stream banks, in N. M. (Santa Fe Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino Co.); Mont, to e. B.C., s. in mts. to N.M. and Ariz.
6. Poa leptocoma Trin. BOG BLUEGRASS.
Culms slender, solitary or few in a tuft, 2-5 dm. tall, often decumbent at
the base; sheaths usually slightly scabrous; ligule acute, the uppermost 3-4 mm.
long; blades short, lax, mostly 2-4 mm. wide; panicle nodding, delicate, few-
flowered, the branches capillary and ascending or spreading, subflexuous, the
lower mostly in pairs; spikelets narrow, 2- to 4-flowered; glumes narrow, acumi-
nate; lemmas 3.5-4.5 mm. long, acuminate, webbed at base, pubescent on the
keel and marginal nerves or sometimes nearly glabrous, the intermediate nerves
distinct.
In bogs and wet meadows and wet places along streams, in N.M. (Hitchcock)',
Alas., s. in mts. to N.M. and Calif.
7. Poa palustris L. FOWL BLUEGRASS.
Culms loosely tufted, glabrous, decumbent at the flattened purplish base, 3-15
dm. tall; sheaths keeled, sometimes scaberulous; ligule 3-5 mm. long or only 1
mm. on the innovations; blades 1-2 mm. wide; panicle pyramidal or oblong,
nodding, yellowish green or purplish, 1—3 dm. long, the branches in rather distant
fascicles, naked below; spikelets 2- to 4-flowered, about 4 mm. long; glumes
lanceolate, acute, shorter than the first floret; lemmas 2.5-3 mm. long, usually
bronzed at the tip, webbed at base, villous on the keel and marginal nerves.
Wet meadows and wet open soils, in N.M. (Hitchcook) and Ariz. (Graham
Co.); Nfld. and Que. to Alas., s. to Va., Mo., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.;
Euras.
8. Poa interior Rydb.
Tightly tufted perennial; culms numerous, 2-5 dm. long, about 1 mm. thick,
strictly erect; blades short, about 1 mm. broad, flat, erect; panicles 4-8 cm.
long, 1-2 cm. broad, rather dense, almost spiciform, strictly erect, the lower
node with 2 (rarely 3) strictly erect basally naked branches; spikelets crowded,
laterally compressed, 2- to 4-flowered; lowest lemmas 3-4 mm. long, keeled,
stramineous, firm, 5-nerved, the midnerve and marginal nerves pubescent at least
in the lower part, the intermediate nerves very obscure, the internerve areas
glabrous, the base with a weak tuft of long flexuous silky white hair.
In water of streams, edge of lakes and ponds, and in marshes, in N.M. (San-
doval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), reported to occur in Tex.; if
present then rare at highest elev. in the Trans-Pecos mts., summer; forested mt.
slopes, Que. to B.C. and s. in the mts. to Ariz, and N.M.
9. Poa nevadensis Vasey ex Scribn. NEVADA BLUEGRASS.
Culms erect, 5-10 dm. tall; sheaths scabrous, sometimes only slightly so;
ligule about 4 mm. long, shorter on the innovations, decurrent; blades usually
elongate, narrow, involute, sometimes almost capillary, rather stiff; panicle narrow,
190
-------
Fig. 85: Briza minor, plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
10-15 cm. long, pale, rather loose, the branches short-appressed; spikelets 3- to
5-flowered, 6-8 mm. long; glumes narrow, the second about as long as the lowest
floret; lemmas 4—5 mm. long, rather obtuse at the scarious tip.
Low meadows and other such wet places, in Ariz. (Kearney & Peebles); Mont.
to Wash, and Yuk., s. to Colo., Ariz, and Calif.
10. Poa juncifolia Scribn.
Strongly tufted perennial sometimes producing rhizomes, 4-12 dm. tall; sheaths
smooth to scaberulous, rarely closed as much as one fourth their length; innova-
tions usually numerous, their blades often 1-3 cm. long, from involute and
almost filiform to flat and as much as 3 mm. wide; culm leaves usually shorter
than those of the innovations; ligules rather thick, truncate to rounded, strongly
scaberulous-puberulent and finely ciliolate, from 0.5 mm. long on the innovations
to as much as 2 or 3 mm. long on the upper culm leaves; panicle narrow,
usually 6-20 cm. long, the branches mostly erect; spikelets 3- to 7-flowered, (5-)
7-10 mm. long; glumes slightly unequal, usually 3-nerved, the first mostly 3.5-4.5
mm. long, the second 4—5 mm. long; lemmas slightly keeled, 4—6 mm. long,
without a basal web and usually either finely scaberulous over the back or glabrous
over the lower half, sometimes scabrous above and very finely crisp-puberulent
on the lower fourth; anthers 2-3 mm. long; lodicules about 0.7 mm. long. P.
ampla Merrill.
In marshes, wet alkaline meadows and rocky open slopes, in N.M. (Hitchcock)
and Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.); Alta., Neb., the Dakotas to B.C., s. to N.M. and
Calif.
7. Briza L. QUAKING GRASS
A genus of 20 species in temperate North America and South America; we
have only a single species. Another species, B. maxima L., the big quaking grass,
is occasionally cultivated but does not persist or escape.
1. Briza minor L. LITTLE QUAKING GRASS. Fig. 85.
Annual; culms 1-4 dm. long, erect or at the very base shortly decumbent;
ligule a long hyaline scale sheath shorter than the internodes, having an inverted
V-shaped juncture to the blade; blades 5-10 mm. broad, flat; panicle broadly
ovoid, 5-12 cm. long, about as broad, open, diffuse, with ascending-spreading
branches that are twice trichotomous and naked; spikelets pendulous from the
ultimate capillary pedicels at the periphery of the panicle, 3-5 mm. long, 6- to
8-flowered, broader than long, markedly tapered, only very slightly laterally com-
pressed; glumes 2, very broad, spreading, 3-nerved, with broad hyaline margins;
lemmas 1.5-2 mm. long, spreading cymbiform, 5-nerved, marginally broadly
hyaline, basally auriculate and thus basally overlapping each other; rachilla
abscising above the glumes and at the lower part of each node.
Infrequent in swales and in woods or open sandy soil, in marshes, wet meadows
and seepage areas, in e. and s.e. Tex., spring; nat. of Eur., widely introd. in
the U.S.
8. Eragrostis BEAUV. LOVEGRASS
Variable in habit and foliage; panicles usually much-branched (the branches
in some species very short and closely appressed); spikelets usually somewhat
laterally compressed, several-flowered; glumes shorter than the lowest lemma,
1-nerved; lemmas 3-nerved (lateral nerves sometimes obscure); rachilla either
remaining intact (lemmas then deciduous) or abscising above the glumes and
either at the upper or lower part of each lemma-node or breaking irregularly
between the florets under mechanical pressure during tumbling of the panicle
192
-------
Fig. 86: Eragrosris hypnoides: a, habit, showing slender creeping culms, divergent
leaf blades and elliptic panicles, X %; b, spikelet, showing hairs on backs of glumes~and
lemmas, X 8; c, mature seed, X 40; d, floret, X 20; e, leaf sheaths and Wades, X 8.
(From Mason, Fig. 65).
-------
A genus of about 300 species widely distributed in warm regions. Some love-
grasses are difficult to determine, the characters useful in distinguishing them
being subtle, quantitative ones which tend to grade from one species to another.
This probably is evidence of past hybridization and genetic contamination of
many species.
1. Mat-forming annuals creeping by stolons (2)
1. Not mat-forming (3)
2(1). Flowers unisexual, staminate ones on some plants, pistillate on others;
lemmas about 3 mm. long, persistent on the rachilla....!. E. reptans.
2. Flowers perfect; lemmas 1.5-2 mm. long, falling individually from the rachilla
to expose the minute paleas which persist on the rachilla
2. E. hypnoides.
3(1). Spikelets (the lateral ones, not those terminal on the panicle branches)
subsessile, their pedicels averaging less than 1 mm. long (4)
3. Spikelets (the lateral ones) with pedicels averaging more than 1 mm. long,
often much more (5)
4(3). Lemmas about 1 mm. long 8. E. glomerata.
4. Lemmas 1.5-5.5 mm. long 4. E. cilianensis.
5(3). Pedicels of individual spikelets 10-30 mm. long, averaging about 15-20
mm. long, rather stiff and straight 7. E. Elliottii.
5. Pedicels of individual spikelets 1-18 mm. long, averaging usually less than
10 mm. long, stiffish to weak and flexible (6)
6(5). Perennial 6. E. hirsuta.
6. Annuals (7)
7(6). Lemmas about 1 mm. long 3. E. pilosa.
1. Lemmas 1.5-2.5 mm. long 5. E. pectinacea.
1. Eragrostis reptans (Michx.) Nees.
Mat-forming annual, extensively creeping by stolons, rooting at the numerous
nodes; sheaths about 5 mm. long; blades 1-4 cm. long; panicles 1-3 cm. long,
about as thick, of several glomerules of spikelets, often subcapitate, of 2 sexes,
the staminate panicles on some plants, the pistillate on others; spikelets laterally
compressed, curvilinear, 4-17 mm. long, 6- to 32-flowered, the rachilla remaining
intact; lemmas often pubescent, about 3 mm. long, not falling individually from
the rachilla. Neeragrostis reptans (Michx.) Nicora.
Locally abundant in swales and lake- and river-beds, and muddy shores of
lakes, streams and ponds, usually in tight clay-loam soil, in Okla. (Waterfall)
and in n.-cen., e. and s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, spring-fall; cen. U. S.
from S.D. e. to 111. and Ky. and s. to Coah. and Tarn.; also Fla.
2. Eragrostis hypnoides (Lam.)B.S.P. Fig. 86.
Annual, creeping over small areas by short stolons; culms very slender and
short; sheaths and blades very short as in E. reptans; panicles often subcapitate
or occasionally elongate to interrupted-spikelike or even more open, diffusely
oblong, with short branches; pedicels 1-3 mm. long, capillary, somewhat flexuous;
spikelets approximate or even glomerulate, linear, 2-20 mm. long, 4- to 44-
flowered, the flowers all perfect, the rachilla remaining intact; lemmas lance-
ovate, 1.5-2 mm. long, falling individually (starting at the bottom of the spikelet)
to liberate the grains and to leave the minute paleas persistent on the rachilla.
Locally abundant in swales, borrow ditches, on margin of ponds, sloughs and
streams, and on mud flats, streambars and banks, in Okla. (Pittsburg Co.), e.
and s.e. Tex., rare in coastal parts of Rio Grande Plains (Cameron Co.) and
N.M. (Taos Co.), spring-fall; widespread from s. Can. nearly throughout the
U.S. to Mex. and W.I.; Arg.
194
-------
Fig. 87: Eragrostis cilianensis: plant, X %; spikelet, X 5; floret, X 10. (From Hitch-
cock & Chase).
-------
3. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv. INDIA LOVEGRASS.
Loosely tufted annual; culms 1-5 dm. long, very slender, pronouncedly genicu-
late and sparingly or not branched near the base; sheaths much shorter than the
internodes, mostly glabrous except at the corners; blades short, 1-3 mm. broad,
often flat; panicles mostly pyramidal, long-exserted, very diffuse, 5-20 cm. long,
with a few widely spreading capillary branches which in turn bear the capillary
pedicellary branchlets that are mostly deflexed and 3-8 mm. long; spikelets linear,
3-6 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad, 3- to 10-flowered; lemmas about 1 mm. long,
gray with dark purple tip, falling individually from the slightly fractiflex intact
rachilla.
On muddy or wet sandy banks along streams and wet meadows, a rare weed
in Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and n.-cen. and e. Tex., summer; nat. of s. Eur., now
scattered in warmer parts of the New World.
4. Eragrostis cilianensLs (All.) E. Mosher. STINKGRASS. Fig. 87.
Loosely tufted annual, odoriferous when fresh; culms 5-50 cm. long, mostly
decumbent and geniculate basally, ascending distally, rarely branched, with an
obscure yellow glandular (often broken) ring shortly below each node; sheaths
mostly shorter than their internodes and often pilose-on the corners, with micro-
scopic glands along the keel and near the base also along the nerves; blades 3-7
mm. broad, mostly flat, often papillose-pilose along the margins basally; panicles
3-20 cm. long, 1-7 cm. broad, narrowly oblong or ovoid, rather dense (spikelets
touching), with a number of short ascending branches (glabrous in the axils)
bearing in turn the glomerules of spikelets on individual pedicels 0.5-1 mm. long,
the branches and pedicels often gland-dotted; spikelets 8- to 40-flowered, 5-15
mm. long, slightly tapering; lemmas 2-2.8 mm. long, membranous, suborbicular,
with conspicuous lateral veins and rounded apex, falling individually from the
intact rachilla, the keel scabrous and with a few glands toward the apex. E.
megastachya (Koel.) Link.
Edge of playa lakes and pond margins, in wettish sandy alkali among Tamarix,
in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Plains Country, infre-
quent e. to n.-cen. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, rare in s.e. Tex. to Ariz.
(rather wide-spread), spring-fall; nearly throughout the warmer parts of the
world, introd. from the Old World.
5. Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees.
Loosely tufted diffuse annual; culms numerous, 15-30 cm. long, ascending or
usually spreading and geniculate in the lower part where also sparingly branched;
sheaths usually folded, softly keeled, pilose at the corners; blades 2-5 mm. broad,
mostly flat; panicles ascending or often nodding or even altogether inclined,
obovoid, usually open and diffuse when mature, 5-40 cm. long, with numerous
ascending branches bearing along the distal two-thirds of their length the ap-
pressed flexuous pedicellary branchlets (1-5 mm. long) or in larger specimens
the lower main branches with ascending secondary branchlets that in turn bear
the appressed pedicellary branchlets; spikelets mostly appressed or nearly so,
slightly tapered, plumbeous, 3-10 mm. long; lemmas 1.5-2 mm. long, blunt,
all plumbeous, eventually falling from the intact rachilla (the lowest lemma falling
first). E. diffusa Buckl., E. perplexa L. H. Harvey.
Frequent in a variety of habitats, most abundant in disturbed loamy soil near
roads, fields and streams, in water and mud on edge of streams, ponds and
lakes, in Okla. (Mayes Co.) and throughout Tex., spring-fall; essentially through-
out the U.S. and s. into Mex.
6. Eragrostis hirsuta (Michx.) Nees.
Tightly tufted perennial; culms 4-10 dm. long, erect, unbranched; sheaths
196
-------
Fig. 88: Monanthochloe Httoralis: a, habit, staminate plant, X %; b, staminate in-
florescence, X 5; c, leaf and sheath, X 5; d, habit, pistillate plant, X %; e, plant later
in the season after flowering, X %; f, pistillate inflorescence, X 5; g, leaf and sheath
of plant after flowering, X 5. (V.F.).
-------
much longer than their internodes, shortly ascending-pilose in the upper part
and long erect-pilose at the apex dorsally, or rarely nearly glabrous; blades
elongate-arcuate, the upper ones nearly surpassing the panicle, folded or eventually
involute, 5-10 mm. broad when flattened; panicle 2-6 dm. long, 8-30 cm. broad,
open and diffuse, of numerous usually slightly to markedly ascending branches
bearing several secondary branches (these often deflexed) which in turn bear the
long capillary spreading pedicels (8-18 mm. long); spikelets 2—4 mm. long,
markedly tapered, (1- or) 2- to 4-flowered; lemmas 1.7-2.2 mm. long, ovate,
blunt, with obscure lateral nerves, falling individually from the intact rachilla.
In marshy areas, alluvial areas, and in open sandy woods, in Okla. (Nowata
Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., s.w. to San Patricio Co., summer-fall; Coastal
States, Me. to Tex. and inland to Tenn., Ark. and Okla.; Br. Hond.
7. Eragrostis ElUottii Wats.
Tufted perennial (not knotty basally); culms 4-8 dm. long, erect; ligule a
minute lacerate-fringed scale; sheaths long, shortly pilose at the corners, otherwise
glabrous; blades rolled up marginally, stiffly ascending to a very slender tip;
panicles erect, 25-50 cm. long, nearly as broad as long, very diffuse, with
numerous long stiff antrorsely scabrous capillary branches that in turn bear long
straight mostly deflexed capillary pedicellary branchlets 1-3 cm. long (these
bearing spikelets only at the end, not along the length); part of the panicle often
included in the uppermost sheath; spikelets strongly laterally compressed, remote,
linear, 5-12 mm. long, mostly 8- to 15-flowered, about 1.5 mm. broad; lemmas
ovate, about 1.5 mm. long, not falling away individually but the rachilla of the
spikelet eventually breaking up by mechanical action.
Rare in wet sandy open woods, wet meadows and low grounds, in extreme
s.e. Tex. near the coast, summer-fall; Coastal States, from N.C. to Tex.; W.I.,
Mex.; Br. Hond.
8. Eragrostis glomerata (Walt.) L. H. Dewey.
Annual; cuims 2-10 dm. long, erect, sparingly branched and geniculate in
the lower third; panicles erect or slightly nodding, 5-50 cm. long, only 1-4 cm.
broad, with numerous long main branches and these in turn further branched, all
the branches strictly ascending; spikelets nearly sessile, 2-3 mm. long, 6- to 8-
flowered; lemmas about 1 mm. long; palea glabrous or merely scabrous on the
keels; rachilla eventually abscising above the glumes and between the florets.
Rare in roadside ditches, on wet banks of ponds, streams and lakes, in Okla.
(LeFlore Co.) and in e. Tex., summer-fall; widespread in warmer parts of the
New World n. to S.C. and the Gulf States; also waifed n. to Mo.
9. Monanthochloe ENGELM.
A monotypic North American genus.
1. Monanthochloe littoralis Engelm. Fig. 88.
Perennial forming extensive mats by rhizomes and/or stolons; flowering culms
ascending, 5-25 cm. long; branches of 2 size-classes; few-noded elongate culms
with leaves 10-15 cm. long, bearing in the axils many-noded short shoots with
crowded leaves 5-10 mm. long; sheaths and blades extremely short, very firm,
indurate-wiry, folded-falcate, grayish-green; male and female flowers on separate
plants; panicles reduced to solitary 3- to 5-flowered spikelets, appearing terminal
and embedded in the masses of leaves of the short shoots, difficult to find;
glumes apparently absent; lemmas coriaceous or in the pistillate spikelet like the
leaves; upper florets rudimentary; rachilla of pistillate floret tardily abscising at
the lower part of the nodes.
198
-------
Fig 89- Distichlis spicata: a, culm, leaf sheaths and ciliate base of leaf blades, X 4;
b habit pistillate plant, X %; c, pistillate spikelet, X 4; d, staminate spikelet, X 4; e,
mature grain hard and nutlike, X 8; f, habit, pistillate plant, X %; g, staminate floret,
X 8; h, pistillate floret, X 6; i, leaf sheath, base of blade and ciliate ligule, X 6. (From
Mason, Fig. 61).
-------
Locally abundant in poorly drained brackish or tidal saline flats or cayos near
the coast, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, also in Gonzales Co., spring; Fla. to
Cuba; Tex. to Tarn, and Coah.; Calif, to Baja Calif., Son. and Sin.
10. Distichlis RAF.
A small American genus of perhaps 3 or 4 species.
1. Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene. SALTGRASS. Fig. 89.
Perennial, rarely more than 3 dm. tall, forming tight colonies in saline mud
by means of very tough slender whitish scaly rhizomes; culms erect, 1-3 (-5)
dm. tall, tough and wiry; leaves usually noticeably 2-ranked, narrow (1-3 mm.
broad), usually mostly involute, tough, pungent, only 2-6 (-10) cm. long, ascend-
ing; male and female flowers on separate plants; spikelets rather similar on both
kinds of plants, in terminal erect spikes or spikelike racemes; pistillate racemes
often shorter than staminate (the staminate ones often overtopping the foliate);
spikelets 5- to 15-flowered, usually 6-10 mm. long; rachilla of the pistillate
spikelets disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets; glumes unequal,
broad, acute, keeled, 3- to 7-nerved, the lateral nerves sometimes faint; lemmas
closely imbricate, firm, the coriaceous pistillate ones acute or subacute and 3-6
mm. long, the pistillate ones more coriaceous and more closely imbricate than
the staminate, with 9 to 11 mostly faint nerves; palea as long as the lemma or
shorter, the margins bowed out near the base, rather soft, narrow, the keels
narrowly winged, the pistillate lemmas coriaceous and enclosing the grain which
is brown.
Represented with us by two varieties as follows:
Var. spicata. Culms 1-6 dm. tall, slender, erect; blades erect, to 15 cm. long,
10-25 mm. apart on the culm, equaling or exceeding the pistillate spikes and
rarely exceeded by the staminate spikes; pistillate spikes pale green, 1-6 cm. long,
of 8 to 36 congested spikelets that are 5- to 9-flowered, up to but not exceeding
1 cm. long, 4 mm. broad; first glume 3 mm. long; second glume 4 mm. long;
lemmas 6- to 10-nerved, 3.5-4 mm. long, closely imbricate; palea keels minutely
evenly serrate, the 4 nerves often excurrent; grain about 2 mm. long, somewhat
truncate at the tip; staminate spikes pale green, 1-6 cm. long, of 6 to 30
congested spikelets that are 7- to 10-flowered, about 1 cm. long, 4 mm. broad;
first glume to 3 mm. long; second glume to 4 mm. long; lemmas 6- to 10-nerved,
3 mm. long; palea 2-keeled but otherwise nerveless, about 3 mm. long.
Salt marshes near the coast, very abundant, rare in salt marshy areas inland
in e. Tex., summer-fall; Can. to Mex. along the coast; also W.I.
Var. stricta (Torr.) Beetle. Culms 10-35 cm. tall, erect or rarely decumbent;
blades to 2 dm. long, the upper equaling or exceeding the pistillate spikes but
exceeded by the staminate ones; pistillate spike green drying stramineous-brown,
2-7 cm. long, of 5 to 40 approximate spikelets that are 5- to 20-flowered, 5-20
mm. long and 4-7 mm. broad, the mature florets often strongly reflexed, usually
not closely imbricate; first glume 2-3 mm. long; second glume 3-4 mm. long;
lemma 2.5-6 mm. long, firm, with a broad hyaline margin; palea 3-5 mm. long,
the keels conspicuously serrate to the base, often dentate, narrowed or winged at
base, occasionally with a few long hairs on back; grain 2-5 mm. long, sometimes
slenderly tapered to a single beak, sometimes truncate with a double beak;
staminate spike green or rarely purplish, drying stramineous-brown, 2-5 cm. long,
of 5 to 25 approximate spikelets that are 5- to 20-flowered, 5-20 mm. long
and 4-7 mm. broad, closely imbricate; first glume 2-3 mm. long; second glume
3-4 mm. long; lemmas 5-6 mm. long, firm, equalled by the palea; palea 5-6
mm. long, the keels conspicuously serrate to the base, infrequently dentate, rarely
broadly winged, usually with at least one prominent marginal vein. D stricta
(Torr.) Rydb.
200
-------
Fig. 90: Chasmanthium latifolium: plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 3. (From
Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Locally abundant in alkaline or alkaline-saline areas such as marshes, lakes
and irrigation ditches, in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and w. half of Tex., N. M. (Guada-
lupe, Sandoval, Chaves and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), summer-fall;
w. U. S. e. to the Dakotas, Neb., Kan., Okla., Tex., Coah. and Chih.
11. Chasmanthium LINK
A North American genus of 5 species.
1. Chasmanthium lafifolium (Michx.) Yates. INLAND SEA OATS. Fig. 90.
Essentially glabrous rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes short, indurated, forming
mats; culms rising singly from the mats, 5-13 dm. long, 1.5-3 mm. thick, usually
purplish, reclining and geniculate below, above erect, simple and stramineous,
terete; sheaths considerably shorter than the internodes and tightly clasping them;
blades lanceolate, 1-2 dm. long, 8-16 mm. broad, divergent, acute, striate-veined;
panicles very lax, 15-30 cm. long, of 10 to 30 (to 50) large spikelets drooping
at the ends of mostly naked capillary branches 3-10 cm. long; spikelets very
strongly laterally compressed, 12- to 18-flowered, 25—45 mm. long, 13—16 mm.
broad; rachis of spikelet with zone of abscission at the lower part of each node;
glumes subequal, 5-7 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad, cymbiform, shorter than
the lowest lemma; lemmas broadly lanceolate, 9-13 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad
when unfolded, apically slightly incurved and acutish, grayish to bluish-green,
firm, marginally very narrowly hyaline with 3 to 6 nerves on each side, minutely
scabrellate, on the keels minutely pectinately scabrous; paleas only two thirds as
long as the lemmas and of the same texture, doubly strongly keeled (the keels
minutely pectinate), falcate; grain laterally compressed, black, rough, about 3
mm. long. Uniola latifolia Michx.
Locally abundant in moist loamy soils of creek bottoms, in marshes, in mud
and shallow water of streams and ponds, in Okla. (McCurtain, Washington,
Murray, Ottawa and Cherokee cos.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., less common w. to
n.-cen. Tex., e. Edwards Plateau and n. part of Rio Grande Plains, summer-fall;
most of s.e. U.S., n. to Pa., O., 111. and Neb.; also N. L.
12. Dactylis L.
A genus of 5 species indigenous to temperate Eurasia.
1. Dactylis glomerata L. ORCHARD GRASS. Fig. 91.
Densely tufted perennial; culms geniculate, ascending, 6-10 dm. long; ligule
a lacerate hyaline scale; sheaths and blades soft, the blades flat and mostly ag-
gregated toward the base; panicles long-exserted, mostly narrow, erect, with few
mostly ascending branches, each of which bears apically a very dense aggregation
(about 1 cm. thick) of secund nearly sessile fascicles of spikelets; spikelets few-
flowered, laterally compressed; rachilla abscising at the lower part of each node;
glumes and lemmas keeled, the keels hispid; lemmas 5-nerved, about 7 mm. long,
narrowly lanceolate, mucronate.
In stream beds and wet meadows, rare in farm pastures and roadsides in Okla.
(Waterfall), the Tex. Plains Country (Lubbock Co.) and N. M. (Taos Co.),
spring-summer; widespread in temp, areas, nat. to Euras.
13. Arundo L.
About 8 species in the Old World tropics; we have one.
1. Arundo Donax L. GIANT REED, GEORGIA CANE, CARRIZO. Fig. 92.
Canelike grass from thick short rhizomes, forming large clumps; aerial culms
2-6 m. long, to 5 cm. thick, erect, rarely branched, perennial or in the northern
extremes mostly freezing down annually or every few years; ligule a short scale;
202
-------
Fig. 91: Dactylis glomerata: plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Fig. 92: Arundo donax: plant, X V3; spikelet and floret, X 3. (From Hitchcock &
& Chase).
-------
blades mostly 3-6 dm. long, 2-5 cm. broad or larger, often glaucous, firm;
inflorescence a thick narowly ellipsoid buffy-white panicle 3-6 dm. long; spike-
lets 13-15 mm. long, usually 3-flowered; rachilla glabrous, with zones of abscis-
sion at lower part of each node; glumes subequal, cymbiform, thin, nearly as long
as the spikelet, each 3-nerved; lemmas (including the small calloused base) long-
pilose, 3-nerved, thin, cymbiform, obscurely round-keeled, long-attenuate to very
fine points.
Established along irrigation ditches and streams (occasional in marshes), on
sand bars and levees of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande Plains, w. to the Trans-
Pecos and near rivers and lakes in s.e. and cen. Tex., summer-fall; widespread
in warmer areas, nat. to Old World, adv. in Tex.
Planted for erosion control along roads in dune areas.
14. Phragmites TRIM.
A genus of 3 species, cosmopolitan; we have one.
1. Phragmites communis Trin. COMMON REED. Figs. 93 and 94.
Perennial reed with thick rhizomes; culms 1-3 m. tall, 5-15 mm. thick; ligule
a short tough lacerate fringe; blades flat, 1-4 cm. broad; panicle a large terminal
plume, many-branched and densely flowered; spikelets few-flowered, the lower
flowers empty or merely staminate, the rest perfect; rachilla abscising at the
upper part of each node, the fragments thus consisting of one floret with a
portion of the densely long-silky-villous rachilla below (not above) the node;
glumes lanceolate, shorter than the lowest lemma; lemmas lanceolate, glabrous,
about 11 mm. long.
Locally abundant in marshes, seeps, along rivers, at streamsides and canal
banks, scattered throughout our region, fall; in most of the warmer parts of the
world.
15. Tridens R. & S. TRIDENS
Tufted or rarely shortly rhizomatous perennials; culms erect (or in one species
scandent); ligule a white fringe or short fringed scale; blades mostly flat, elongate;
panicles terminal, diffuse or spikelike; spikelets not much laterally compressed,
several-flowered, all the florets perfect or the pistil of the uppermost usually abor-
tive; rachilla abscising just below the lemma nodes; lemmas broad, mostly apically
obtuse, emarginate and/or very shallowly cleft, 3-nerved (the midnerve and/or
the laterals in some species minutely excurrent), usually pubescent on the lower
half to two-thirds of the nerves (glabrous in T. albescens); paleas either glabrous
or short silky-hairy on the nerves and dorsally.
A North American genus of about a dozen species, in some works enlarged
to include the related genus Erioneuron.
1. Glumes as long as the spikelets or nearly so 1. T. strictus.
1. Glumes about equaling the lowest lemma (2)
2(1). Lemmas essentially glabrous (hair, if present, only at the basal callus of
the lemma); panicles spikelike, 8-23 cm. long 2. T. albescens.
2. Lemmas pubescent, at least at the base of the lateral nerves
3. T. ambiguus.
1. Tridens strictus (Nutt.) Nash.
Culms 8-17 dm. long, erect; sheaths not keeled; blades 3-8 mm. broad; panicle
spikelike, 1-3 dm. long, 9-15 mm. thick, with a few short appressed branches
near the base; glumes as long as to longer than the rest of the spikelet, viscid,
acuminate to a fine point, conspicuous in the panicle; lemmas about 3 mm. long,
the lateral nerves reaching the distal margin and in some specimens excurrent,
all 3 nerves hairy in the distal two-thirds the length.
205
-------
Fig. 93: Phragmites communis: a, habit, lower part of culm and rhizome, X %;
b, habit, culm and leaves, X %; c, leaf sheath, base of blade and ciliate ligule/X 1%.
(From Mason, Fig. 80).
-------
Fig. 94: Phragmites communis: a, floret, showing the long-acuminate lemma, the
short palea and the long silky hairs on rachilla joint, X 6; b, spikelet, showing the
glumes and the florets successively smaller, X 4; c, habit, upper part of culm and
panicle, X %; d, grain, X 16. (From Mason, Fig. 81).
-------
Infrequent in open forests on sandy soil, in mud at edge of ponds and lakes,
along streams and low wet ground, in Okla. (Mayes Co.) and e., s.e. and n.-cen.
Tex., summer-fall; s.e. U.S. n. to N.C., Tenn., 111. and Mo., w. to Kan., Okla.
and Tex.
2. Tridens albescens (Vasey) Woot. & Standl. WHITE TRIDENS.
Tufts robust; culms 3-10 dm. long, erect; basal sheaths not or obscurely
keeled; panicles spikelike, 8-25 cm. long, 5-13 mm. broad, very pale in color;
lemmas about 3 mm. long, 3-nerved, the nerves ending well within the distal
margin and glabrous (hair, if present, confined to the basal callus of the lemma.
Abundant in roadside ditches, streamsides, overflows, in playa lakes, draws
and low-lying prairies throughout Okla and Tex. to N.M. (Lea Co.), summer-
fall; Okla. and Colo., s. to Tarn., N.L. and Coah.
3. Tridens ambiguus (Ell.) Schult.
Tufted; culms 6-10 dm. long, erect; basal sheaths keeled; panicle broadly to
narrowly obovoid, 8-15 cm. long, the branches stiffly ascending; most pedicels
(of lateral spikelets) about 1 mm. long; spikelets erect, appressed to the branches;
lemmas 3-4 mm. long, the 3 nerves usually minutely excurrent and pubescent in
the lower two-thirds the length, or the lateral nerves scarcely excurrent in many
specimens.
Infrequent to rare, wet pinelands, boggy areas and wet savannahs, extreme
e. Tex., late summer-fall; Coastal States, S.C. to Tex.
16. Agropyron GAERTN. WHEATGRASS
Perennials; corners of base of blades discolored and minutely auriculate or
pointed; inflorescences spikelike, the axis usually slightly zigzag, unbranched, re-
maining intact; spikelets several-flowered, solitary (rarely in pairs) at each node,
sessile, laterally compressed, turned with one side appressed to the rachis (or
to the next spikelet above when crowded); all florets perfect or usually the
terminal 1 or 2 reduced; rachilla abscising above the glume and at the lower
part of each node; glumes lanceolate, acute, persistent, roundly keeled, equal,
firm, several-nerved (the nerves obscure in some species); lemmas roundly keeled,
5- to 7-nerved (nerves obscure in some species at some stages of maturity), firm
to subindurate, lanceolae, acute or in some species awned, eventually the lateral
margins revolute.
A genus of about 100 or more species in temperate regions.
1. Plants normally cespitose, non-rhizomatous 1. A. subsecundum,
1. Plants with creeping rhizomes; blades firm and strongly nerved (2)
2(1). Glumes rigid, gradually tapering into a short awn, more or less asymme-
tric, the lateral nerves usually obscure 2. A. Smithii,
2. Glumes not rigid, acute or abruptly awn-pointed, symmetric, the lateral nerves
evident 3. A. repens.
1. Agropyron subsecundum (Link) Hitchc. BEARDED WHEATGRASS.
Green or glaucous, without creeping rhizomes; culms erect, tufted, 5-10 dm.
tall; sheaths glabrous or rarely pubescent; blades flat, 3-8 mm. wide; spike erect
or slightly nodding, 6—15 cm. long, sometimes unilateral from twisting of the
spikelets to one side, the rachis scabrous to scabrous-ciliate on the angles,
sometimes disarticulating; spikelets rather closely imbricate, few-flowered, the
rachilla villous, the callus of the florets short-pilose; glumes broad, rather
prominently 4- to 7-nerved, nearly as long as the spikelet, tapering into an awn;
lemmas obscurely 5-nerved, the nerves becoming prominent toward the tip, the
awn straight or nearly so, usually 1-3 cm. long.
208
-------
Fig. 95: Agropyron repens: plant, X V2; spikelet and floret, X 3. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Moist or wet meadows, in water on edge of lakes and in open woods, in N. M.
(Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Gila cos.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to
the mts. of Md., w. to Wash, and Calif., s. to N. M. and Ariz.
2. Agropyron Smithii Rydb. WESTERN WHEATGRASS.
Forming large colonies by means of slender fragile easily detached rhizomes,
the aerial culms erect even at the base; spikes strictly erect, rather dense, the
spikelets overlapping usually more than their lengths. Elymus Smithii (Rydb.)
Gould.
In marshes and edge of water about lakes, along streams and ponds, oc-
casionally in flowing water, in Okla. (Cimarron Co.), abundant (formerly) in
the prairies of the higher parts of the Tex. Plains Country, infrequent e. to n.-cen.
Tex. and w. to the Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Grant and Colfax cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai and Pima cos.), late spring-summer; w.
U.S. e. to O., Ky., Tenn., Ark. and Tex.
This species apparently tends to disappear under grazing.
Var. molle (Scribn. & Smith) M. E. Jones has pubescent lemmas.
Var. Palmeri (Scribn. & Smith) Heller has densely pubescent sheaths.
3. Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. QUACKGRASS. Fig. 95.
Green or glaucous; culms erect or curved at base, 5—10 dm. tall, sometimes
taller, with creeping yellowish rhizomes; sheaths of the innovations often pubes-
cent; blades relatively thin, flat, usually sparsely pilose on the upper surface,
mostly 6-10 mm. wide; spike 5-15 cm. long, the rachis scabrous on the angles;
spikelets mostly 4- to 6-flowered, 1-1.5 cm. long, the rachilla glabrous or scaberu-
lous; glumes 3- to 7-nerved, awn-pointed; lemmas mostly 8-10 mm. long, the
awn from less than 1 mm. to as long as the lemma; palea obtuse, nearly as long
as the lemma, scabrous on the keels.
Waste places, meadows and pastures, also in seepage areas and wet meadows,
in N. M. (Otero and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.) Nfld. to Alas., s.
to N.C., Ark., Ut. and Calif.; Mex.; introd. from Euras.
A troublesome weed in cultivated ground.
17. Elymus L. WILD-RYE
Perennials; culms slender; minute pointed auricles present at juncture of blade
and sheath; inflorescence a terminal spike, the axis slender with short internodes,
remaining intact; spikelets collaterally paired at each node, each basally only
slightly laterally compressed and with one side toward the axis but each distally
(due to contortion of rachilla) with 1 keel toward the axis; spikelets 2- to 6-
flowered, all the flowers perfect except the terminal 1 or 2; glumes equal, firm
to subindurate, lanceolate to subulate, 1- to several-nerved; lemmas lanceolate,
cymbiform, not keeled, eventually subindurate, obscurely 5-nerved, awned from
the tip in most species.
A genus of about 70 species in temperate North America and South America.
I. Rhizomes present; awns of lemmas 0-2 mm. long 1. E. triticoides.
\. Rhizomes absent but base of culm usually decumbent; awns of lemmas 5-45
mm. long (2)
2(1). Glumes basally discolored, indurate, roundish in transection and diverging
from the axis at a large angle, becoming broader and flatter toward
the middle and then tapering to the awn 2. E. virginicus.
2. Glumes basally flat, neither discolored, indurate nor rounded, diverging at
a low angle, broadest near the base and tapering the full length to
the awn 3. E. canadensis.
210
-------
Fig. 96: Elymus triticoides; a, node, showing group of spikelets, X 4; b, floret, the
lemma removed to show the lodicules, X 4; c, leaf sheath and ligule, X 4; d, floret,
X 4; e, habit, X %; f, inflorescence, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 64).
-------
1. Elymus triticoides Buckl. BEARDLESS WILD-RYE. Fig. 96.
Perennial from creeping rhizomes; aerial culms erect, 6-12 dm. long; spikes
erect, 7-20 cm. long, slender, the spikelets of successive nodes overlapping only
a sixth to a half their lengths; spikelets paired; glumes subulate, much shorter
than the body of the lemma; lemma tapering into a mucro or awn only 1-2 mm.
long.
On the dried or moist edges of meadows and flats, and in marshes about
ponds, usually in heavy often alkaline soil, also flourishing as a weed in waste
places, reported to occur in the Tex. Plains Country and Trans-Pecos; if present
exceedingly rare and probably not nat., in N. M. (Dona Ana, Otero and Taos
cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Greenlee and Pima cos.),
spring; abundant in Pac. States, less frequent e. to the mts. of Mont., Wyo.,
Colo, and N. M.
This species is apparently more closely related to species included in the genus
Agropyron than it is to the other 2 species of Elymus below.
2. Elymus virginicus L.
Perennial; culms basally erect or very shortly decumbent, mostly erect,
6-12 dm. long, peduncles (at maturity of the spike!) 7-30 cm. long; spikes 3-12
cm. long, mostly erect or at least ascending; spikelets paired; glumes linear-elliptic,
at the very base discolored, tending to be terete in transection, strongly indurate
and diverging at a large angle from the axis but upward broader, flatter and less
thoroughly indurate, 1.2—2.2 mm. broad near the middle and becoming more
erect, tapered upward to a straightish ascending or slightly divergent awn 5-25
mm. long. Incl. forms that have been called var. australis (Scribn. & Ball)
Hitchc., var. glabriflorus (Vasey) Bush and var. intermedius (Vasey) Bush.
In mud and water of streams, ponds and marshy areas, in Okla. (Murray and
Pittsburg cos.) and rather frequent in e., s.e., and n.-cen. Tex., less abundant
in n. parts of Rio Grande Plains, Edwards Plateau and Plains Country, and Ariz.
(Yavapai Co.), spring-summer; e. U.S. w. to Wash., Ida., Ut. and n. N. M.,
rare to n. Ariz.
This species is highly variable. Many plants referred here show some characters
of E. canadensis, with which this species undoubtedly intergrades.
3. Elymus canadensis L. CANADA WILD-RYE. Fig. 97.
Perennial; culms basally decumbent, mostly ascending, 8-15 dm. long;
peduncles (at maturity of the spike!) typically 25-45 cm. long, spikes 8-15 cm.
long, nodding; spikelets usually paired or less commonly in threes at each node;
glumes basally 0.7-1.2 (-1.4) mm. broad, ridge-keeled and fairly straight and
diverging at a low angle, tapering into a slender scabrous outbowed awn, never
becoming completely indurate but remaining flexible; lemmas glabrous to pubes-
cent, with awns mostly 20-35 (-45) mm. long that diverge or curve away from
the axis slightly or greatly. Incl. forms that have been called var. brachystachys
(Scribn. & Ball) Farw., var. robustus (Scribn. & Sm.) Mack. & Bush and var.
villosus (Muhl.) Shinners (E. villosus Muhl.).
On wet mud along sluggish streams, in seepage areas, marshes and along
streams, in Okla. (Haskell Co.), nearly throughout Tex. except s. part of Rio
Grande Plains, N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache, Navajo, s. to
Cochise and Pima cos.); spring (less commonly summer), nearly throughout
temp. N. A. (except Ala., Ga., Fla. and S. C.).
This species is somewhat variable and grades into E. virginicus.
212
-------
Fig. 97: Elymus canadensis: plant, X 1/&; spikelet and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Fig. 98: Hordeum brachyantherum: plant, X %; group of spikelets and floret, X 3.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
18. Hordeum L. BARLEY
Tufted annuals (frequently some perennial); inflorescences dense terminal
spikes; rachis abscising at the lower part of each node; spikelets in threes at each
node, the central one largest, the lateral ones reduced and pedicellate, 1-flowered;
lemma contorted so that its back is abaxial; rachilla produced beyond the lemma
node as a point; glumes setaceous, produced into awns; lemmas cymbiform or
flatter, not keeled, obscurely 5-nerved, tapering into an awn.
A genus of about 20 species of temperate regions.
1. Awns 2-5 cm. long; spike nodding 1. H. jubatum.
1. Awns mostly less than 1 cm. long; spike erect 2. H. brachyantherum.
1. Hordeum jubatum L. FOXTAIL BARLEY.
Short-lived perennial or often behaving as a spring annual; culms basally de-
cumbent, mostly ascending, 30-65 cm. long; spikes 2-11 cm. long (not including
awns) and about 1 cm. thick (not including awns), nodding, dense, the rachis
abscising at the lower part of each node; spikelets in threes at each node, the
lateral ones pedicelled and with slightly smaller lemmas than the central one and
merely staminate; awns of the various glumes and lemmas not curved at maturity,
25-60 mm. long.
Moist open ground, along ditches, in marshes and seepage areas, in shallow
water streams, and in waste places, often on alkaline or saline soils; a trouble-
some weed, especially in irrigated lands, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in Tex. Plains
Country and Trans-Pecos, in N. M. (Colfax, Taos, DeBaca, San Juan, Valencia
and McKinley cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Navajo, Apache and Maricopa cos.),
spring; w. U. S. e. to Plains States and as a weed e. to N. E.
Var. caespitosum (Scribn.) Hitchc. has awns 1.5-3 cm. long.
2. Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski. MEADOW BARLEY. Fig. 98.
Perennial; culms tufted, erect or sometimes spreading, 1-5 dm. tall; blades
soft, usually glabrous, sometimes scabrous or shortly pubescent, 3-9 mm. wide;
spike slender, 2-8 cm. long; glumes all setaceous, 8-15 mm. long, those of the
central spikelet often scarcely longer than the palea; the rachilla prolonged,
usually extending beyond the middle of the palea; lateral spikelets pediceled,
the pedicels usually curved, the florets much-reduced.
Wet meadows, flats, marshes, lakes or ponds and their borders, often in sub-
alkaline or saline soils, in N. M. (San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos, McKinley and
Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache, Greenlee, Maricopa, Cochise and
Pima cos.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
19. Lolium L.
Inflorescences elongate, terminal, lax spikes; axis sculptured with a niche for a
spikelet on one side of each internode, the axis remaining intact; spikelets 2-ranked,
solitary, each fitting within the niche of the internode, slightly if at all laterally
compressed, 5- to 20-flowered, all the florets perfect except the terminal one;
rachilla eventually abscising above the glume(s) and at the lower part of each
node; first glume obsolete or much reduced, adaxial when present (thus hidden
except on terminal spikelet), 3- to 5-nerved; second glume abaxial, strongly 5- to
7-nerved, membranous, obtuse; lemmas broadly ovate, 5- to 7-nerved, eventually
marginally revolute.
A genus of perhaps 12 species in temperate Eurasia.
1. Lolium perenne L. RYEGRASS. Fig. 99.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-10 dm. long, mostly erect; spikes 7-25 cm. long,
215
-------
Fig. 99: Lolium perenne: plant, X V2; spikelet, X 3; floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Fig. 100: Parapholis incurva: a, habit variation, culm erect, X %; b, leaf sheath,
ligule and blade, X 8; c, part of spike, showing spikelets embedded in the cylindric
articulate rachis, X 6; d, habit, the culms decumbent and the spikes strongly curved
X %. (From Mason, Fig. 76).
-------
compressed; spikelets 4- to 20-flowered; second (only) glume 6-10 (-14) mm.
long, from less than a third to nearly as long as the rest of the spikelet; lemmas
awnless or short-awned. L. multiflorum Lam.
Scattered in lawns and other disturbed areas, in mud and shallow water of
ponds and lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.), over most of Tex. except the Rio
Grande Plains, N. M. (San Juan Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Final, Cochise, Santa
Cruz and Pima cos.), spring; nat. of Eur., now widely introd. in temp, parts of
N. A. and S. A.
20. Parapholis C. E. HUBB.
A genus of 4 species in the Old World.
1. Parapholis incurva (L.) C. E. Hubb. SICKLEGRASS. Fig. 100.
Tufted annual; culms 1-3 dm. long, decumbent most of their length, terminally
arcuate upward; internodes short; sheaths loose, departing from and revealing
the internodes which they only slightly exceed in length; blades of upper leaves
shorter than their sheaths; inflorescences not fully exserted, arcuate, terminal,
lax, nearly terete or somewhat compressed-cylindrical; spikes 3-10 cm. long and
only about 3 mm. thick; rachis of spikes eventually abscising at the lower part
of each node, the internodes sculptured, each with a niche for a spikelet; spikelets
2-ranked, solitary at each node, 1-flowered, the only parts visible being the halves
of the 2 strongly nerved lanceolate-acute glumes; lemma adaxial, flattened, fitting
into the niche of the internode, 4-7 mm. long. Pholiurus incurvus (L.) Schinz &
Thell.
Brackish shores and ditches, salt marshes and tidal mud flats along the coast
of s.e. Tex., s.w. to San Patricio Co., spring; nat. of Eur., now established in
many coastal areas of N. A.
«
21. Sphenopholis SCRIBN. WEDGEGRASS
Soft tufted perennials; culms ascending, inflorescence a terminal panicle with
much-branched main branches, these usually appressed or at least ascending;
pedicels abscising just below the spikelets; spikelets slightly laterally compressed,
2- or 3-flowered, all flowers perfect (?); rachilla extended beyond the last lemmas
as a bristle; first glume linear-filiform, green; second glume usually slightly exceed-
ing the first in length, broadly obovate, truncate to slightly acute apically, mar-
ginally broadly hyaline or at least thin, medially green and obscurely 3- to 5-nerved,
the median nervate portion in some species coriaceous or even thickly verrucose
and scabrous along the veins, clasping the second lemma; first lemma lanceolate,
thin-chartaceous or marginally hyaline, shiny, in almost all species perfectly
glabrous; second lemma shorter than the first, similar in texture but in several
species scabrous (at least toward the tip), often cellulose under high magnification;
paleae hyaline, as long as the lemmas, shiny.
A North American genus of about a dozen species.
1. Panicle dense, often spikelike, erect; second glume very broad, obtuse
1.5. obtusata.
1. Panicle rathc-.r loose, nodding, never spikelike; second glume subacute
2. S. intermedia.
1. Sphenopholis obtusata (Michx.) Scribn. PRAIRIE WEDGESCALE. Fig. 101.
Perennial; culms leafy, 1-10 dm. long, basally 1-2.5 mm. thick, shortly de-
cumbent, geniculate at the lower nodes, mostly ascending or erect; blades 3-12 mm.
broad, flat; panicle dense, usually interrupted-spiciform or slightly more open,
3-18 cm. long, 5-20 mm. broad, with pedicels about 0.5 mm. long, a 1-cm.
transection through the middle enclosing about (20) 30 to 75 spikelets; spikelets
rarely gaping, usually yellowish; first glume 1.3—2.3 mm. long; second glume very
218
-------
Fig. 101: 1, Sphenopholis obtusata: plant, X %; glumes and floret, X 10. 2, Sphe-
nopholis intermedia: panicle, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
blunt, almost cucullate, with a distinct line separating the chartaceous to sub-
coriaceous convex median portion from the flat thin margins, 1.7-2.4 mm. long;
lowest lemma usually microscopically cellulose-pustulate or scaberulous toward the
apex, 1.9-2.7 mm. long; second lemma often more scabrous than the first.
In moist swales, in water of creeks, in seepage areas and wet soils, Okla.
(Waterfall), essentially throughout Tex., N.M. (Colfax, DeBaca, Eddy and
Guadalupe cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Final, Cochise
and Pima cos.), spring; s. Can. and nearly all of U. S. and higher parts of Mex.
2. Sphenopholis intermedia (Rydb.) Rydb. Fig. 101.
Cespitose short-lived perennial, sometimes flowering as a winter annual, usually
3-10 dm. tall, glabrous or scabrous to pubescent; ligules 1.5-2.5 mm. long, finely
erose-ciliate and irregularly toothed, glabrous or sometimes scabridulous externally;
blades flat, 2-5 mm. wide, scabridulous; panicle 7-20 cm. long, narrow but the
individual crowded erect branches usually plainly distinguishable; first glume nar-
rowly linear, 1.6-2.5 mm. long; second glume oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute,
2.2-2.5 mm. long, about one fourth as wide as the first; lemmas 2.5-3 mm. long;
anthers about 0.6 mm. long.
On the edge of water of lakes, ponds and along streams, in Ariz. (Navajo and
Cochise cos.); Nfld. to B. C., s. to Fla. and Ariz.
22. Trisetum PERS.
Tufted perennials with flat blades and open or usually contracted or spikelike
shining panicles; spikelets usually 2-flowered, sometimes 3- to 5-flowered, the
rachilla prolonged behind the upper floret, usually villous; glumes somewhat un-
equal, acute, the second usually longer than the first floret; lemmas usually short-
bearded at base, 2-toothed at apex with the teeth awned, bearing from the back
below the cleft apex a straight and included or usually bent and exserted awn
(rarely essentially awnless in T. Wolfii).
A genus of 75 species in temperate regions.
1. Awn essentially wanting, included within the glumes 1. T. Wolfii.
1. Awn exserted (2)
2(1). Panicle open, rather densely flowered but not spikelike 2. T. montanum.
2. Panicle dense, spikelike, o.ore or less interrupted below 3. T. spicatum.
1. Trisetum Wolfii Vasey. WOLF'S TRISETUM.
Perennial; culms erect, 5-10 dm. tall, loosely tufted, sometimes with short
rhizomes; sheaths scabrous, rarely with the lower pilose; blades flat, scabrous,
rarely pilose on the upper surface, 2-4 mm. wide; panicle erect, rather dense
but scarcely spikelike, green or pale, sometimes a little purplish, 8-15 cm. long;
spikelets 5-7 mm. long, 2-flowered or sometimes 3-flowered; glumes nearly equal,
acuminate, about 5 mm. long; lemmas obtusish, scaberulous, 4-5 mm. long,
awnless or with a minute awn below the tip, the callus hairs scant, about 0.5 mm.
long, the rachilla internode about 2 mm. long, rather sparingly long-villous.
In wet meadows and wet soil along mt. streams, in N. M. (Hitchcock); Mont.
to Wash., s. to N. M. and Calif.
2. Trisetum montanum Vasey.
Perennial about 5 dm. tall, with narrow blades; sheaths from nearly glabrous to
softly retrorsely pubescent; panicle open, rather densely flowered but not spikelike,
often purple-tinged; spikelets 5-6 mm. long, disarticulating above the thinnish
glumes; awns delicate, 5-8 mm. long; rachilla villous.
220
-------
Fig. 102: Trisetum spicatum: plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Wet mt. meadows, gulches and moist places on mt. slopes, in N. M. (San
Miguel, Taos, and Lincoln cos.) and Ariz. (Graham Co.); Colo., Ut, N. M.
and Ariz.
3. Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt. SPIKE TRISETUM. Fig. 102.
Culms densely tufted, erect, 15-50 cm. tall, glabrous to puberulent; sheaths
and usually the blades puberulent; panicle dense, usually spikelike, often inter-
rupted at base, pale or often dark purple, 5-15 cm. long; spikelets 4-6 mm. long;
glumes somewhat unequal in length, glabrous or scabrous except the keels, or
sometimes pilose, the first narrow, acuminate and 1-nerved, the second broader,
acute and 3-nerved; lemmas scaberulous, 5 mm. long, the first longer than the
glumes, the teeth setaceous; awn attached about one third below the tip, 5-6 mm.
long, geniculate, exserted.
Wet alpine meadows and slopes, in N. M. (Mora, Rio Arriba and Sandoval
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); Arctic America, southw. to Conn.,
Pa., Mich, and Minn., in the mts. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; also w. N. C.;
through Mex. to the Antarctic regions of S. A.; arctic and alpine regions of the
Old World.
23. Deschampsia BEAUV. HAIR-GRASS
Low or moderately tall annuals or usually perennials with shining pale or
purplish spikelets in narrow or open panicles; spikelets 2-flowered, disarticulating
above the glumes and between the florets, the hairy rachilla prolonged beyond
the upper floret and sometimes bearing a reduced floret; glumes about equal,
acute or acutish, membranaceous; lemmas thin, truncate and 2- to 4-toothed at
summit, bearded at base, bearing a slender awn from or below the middle, the
awn straight, bent or twisted.
About 60 species in temperate and cold regions, and in tropical mountains, in
both hemispheres.
1. Annual; panicle open, the stiffly ascending capillary branches usually in
twos 1. D. danthonioides.
1. Perennials; panicle narrow or open, the slender branches appressed or droop-
ing (2)
2(1). Glumes usually longer than the florets; panicle usually narrow, as much as
3 dm. long, the branches appressed; blades filiform, lax
2. D. elongata.
2. Glumes shorter than the florets; panicle open, nodding, 1-2.5 dm. long, the
branches drooping; blades firm, flat or folded 3. D. caespitosa.
1. Deschampsia danthonioides (Trin.) Munro ex Benth. ANNUAL HAIRGRASS.
Annual; culms slender, erect, 15-60 cm. tall; blades few, short, narrow; panicle
open, 7-25 cm. long, the capillary branches commonly in twos, stiffly ascending,
naked below, bearing a few short-pediceled spikelets toward the ends; glumes 4-8
mm. long, 3-nerved, acuminate, smooth except the keel, exceeding the florets;
lemmas smooth and shining, somewhat indurate, 2-3 mm. long, the base of the
florets and the rachilla pilose, the geniculate awns 4-6 mm. long.
In mud about lakes and ponds, along streams and wet meadows, in Ariz.
(Coconino and Cochise cos.); Mont, to Alas., s. to Ariz, and Baja Calif.; Arg.
and Chile.
2. Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro ex Benth. SLENDER HAIR GRASS.
Perennial; culms densely tufted, slender, erect, 3-12 dm. tall; blades soft,
1-1.5 mm. wide, flat or folded, those of the basal tuft filiform-involute; panicle
very narrow, 15-30 cm. long, the capillary branches strictly appressed; spikelets
on short appressed pedicels; glumes 4—6 mm. long, 3-nerved, as long as or
222
-------
Fig. 103: Deschampsia caespitosa: a, habit, X %; b, rachis section, X 5; c, node
section, X 5. d-f, branchlets and spikelets with florets in progressive stages of develop-
ment, X 5. (V. P.).
-------
slightly longer than the florets, more or less purplish-tinged; lemmas 2-3 mm.
long, smooth and shining, somewhat indurate, the awns straight, to twice as long
as the glumes.
Moist or wet soil in meadows, along streams, on open or wooded slopes, m
Ariz. (Mohave, Graham and Pima cos.); Alas, to Wyo., s. to Ariz., Calif, and
Mex.; Chile.
3. Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv. TUFTED HAIR GRASS. Fig. 103.
Perennial; culms densely tufted, erect, 5-15 dm. tall (alpine forms reduced);
leaves mostly basal, flat or folded, 1.5-4 mm. wide, short or often elongate;
panicle open, nodding (condensed, with short, usually appressed branches in
Deschampsia caespitosa subsp. holciformis), 10-25 cm. long, capillary, the
scabrous branches spikelet-bearing toward the ends; spikelets 3.5-7 mm. long,
green or purple-tinged, the florets distant, the rachilla joint one half as long as the
lower floret; glumes acute, glabrous or minutely scabrous; lemmas smooth, the
awns from near the base, from straight and included to slightly bent and twice
as long as the spikelet.
Bogs, wet mt. meadows, edges of marshes and in shallow water, in N. M.
(Otero and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Cochise cos.); Greenl.
to Alas., s. to N. C., 111., N. D., N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; s. Arg. and Chile; also
the Old World.
24. Holcus L.
About 8 species in the Canaries, Eurasia and North Africa and South Africa.
1. Holcus lanarus L. VELVET GRASS. Fig. 104.
Plant grayish, velvety-pubescent; culms erect, 3-10 dm. tall, rarely taller;
blades 4—8 mm. wide; panicles 8-15 cm. long, contracted, pale, purplish-tinged;
spikelets 4 mm. long; glumes villous, hirsute on the nerves, the second broader
than the first, 3-nerved; lemmas smooth and shining, the awn of the second hook-
like.
Open ground, wet meadows and wet or moist places, in Okla. (Delaware Co.)
and Ariz. (Coconino Co.); Me. to Okla. and Colo. s. to Ga. and La.: common
on the Pac. coast, B.C. and Mont, to Ariz, and Calif.; introd. from Eur., wide-
spread in Can. and U.S.
25. Danthonia LAM. & DC. OATGRASS
About 10 species in warm regions.
1. Danthonia intermedia Vasey. TIMBER OATGRASS.
Culms 1-5 dm. tall; sheaths glabrous (the lower rather pilose) with long hairs
in the throat; blades subinvolute or those of the culm flat, glabrous or sparsely
pilose; panicle purplish, narrow, few-flowered, 2-5 cm. long, the branches
appressed, bearing a single spikelet; glumes about 15 mm. long; lemmas 7-8 mm.
long, appressed-pilose along the margin below and on the callus, the summit
scaberulous, the acuminate teeth aristate-tipped; terminal segment of awn 5-8 mm.
long; palea narrowed above, notched at the apex.
Wet meadows and bogs in N. M. (Pecos National Forest) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino and Graham cos.); Nfld. and Que. to Alas., s. to n. Mich N M Ariz.
and Calif.
26. Calamagrostis ADANS. REED-GRASS
Perennial usually moderately tall grasses, mostly with creeping rhizomes, with
small spikelets in open or usually narrow sometimes spikelike panicles; spikelets
1-flowered, the rachilla disarticulating above the glumes, prolonged behind the
224
-------
Fig. 104: Holcus lanatus: plant, X %; spikelet, florets and mature fertile floret, X 5.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
palea as a short commonly hairy bristle; glumes about equal, acute to acuminate;
lemmas shorter and usually more delicate than the glumes, usually 5-nerved with
the midnerve exserted as an awn, the callus bearing a tuft of hairs that are often
copious and as long as the lemma.
About 80 species in temperate and cold regions of the world; especially
abundant in the South American Andes.
1. Panicle nodding, rather loose and open; callus hairs copious, about as long as
the lemma 1. C. canadensis.
1. Panicle erect, dense or spikelike, more or less interrupted below; callus hairs
shorter than the lemma 2. C. inexpansa.
1. Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv. BLUE-JOINT. Fig. 105.
In small or large tussocks; culms suberect, 6-15 dm. tall, with numerous
creeping rhizomes; sheaths glabrous or rarely obscurely pubescent; blades numer-
ous, elongate, flat, rather lax, scabrous, 4-8 mm. wide; panicle nodding, from
narrow and rather dense to loose and relatively open (especially at base), 10-25
cm. long; glumes usually 3-4 mm. long, smooth or more commonly scabrous,
acute to acuminate; lemma nearly as long as the glumes, smooth, thin in texture,
the awn delicate, straight, attached, near or just below the middle and extending
to or slightly beyond its tip, the callus hairs abundant, about as long as the lemma;
rachilla delicate, sparsely long-pilose.
Marshes, wet places, open woods and wet meadows, in N.M. (Taos Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham and Pima cos.), spring-fall; Greenl. to Alas.,
s. to W.Va., N.C., Mo, Kan., N.M. and Calif.
A variable species that comprises several varieties. We have two segregated by
Fernald as follows:
1. Spikelets 2-3.8 mm. long; glumes rounded on the back, weakly keeled, acute
or acuminate; lemma 1.7-3 mm. long; awn inserted near middle of
lemma var. canadensis.
1. Spikelets 3.8-6 mm. long; glumes narrow, strongly keeled, distinctly acumi-
nate; lemma 3-4.2 mm. long; awn inserted on lower third of lemma
var. robusta Vasey.
2. Calamagrostis inexpansa Gray. NORTHERN REEDGRASS. Fig. 105.
Culms tufted, 4—12 dm. tall, with rather slender rhizomes, often scabrous
below the panicle; sheaths smooth or somewhat scabrous, the basal ones numerous,
withering but persistent; ligule 4—6 mm. long; blades firm, rather rigid, flat or
loosely involute, very scabrous, 2-4 mm. wide; panicle narrow, dense, the
branches mostly erect and spikelet-bearing from the base, 5-15 cm. long; glumes
3-4 mm. long, abruptly acuminate, scaberulous; lemma as long as glumes,
scabrous, the awn attached about the middle, straight or nearly so, about as long
as glumes, the callus hairs l/2 to % as long; rachilla 0.5 mm. long, some of the
hairs reaching to tip of lemma.
Meadows, marshes and wet places, in N. M. (San Juan and San Miguel cos.)
and Ariz. (Coconino and Apache cos.), spring-fall; Greenl. to Alas., s. to Me.,
Va, Wash., N. M. and Calif.
Our plant has been designated as var. brevlor (Vasey) Stebbins with smaller
parts than in var. inexpansa; these being spikelets 3-4.5 mm. long; lemma 2.5-3.5
mm. long; palea 1.7-2.6 mm. long.
27. Agrostis L. BENTGRASS
Annual or usually perennial herbs; culms glabrous; blades flat; inflorescences
paniculate; spikelets one-flowered, very slightly laterally compressed; zone of
abscission between the glumes and the lemma (in A. semiverticillata a zone of
abscission also in the pedicel below the glumes); lemma shorter than the glumes,
awned or awnless.
226
-------
Fig. 105: A, Calamagrostis canadensis: plant, X %; glumes and floret, X 10. B,
Calamagrostis inexpansa: panicle, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
A genus of 150 to 200 species, chiefly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Longest glume shorter than 2 mm. (2)
1. Longest glume longer than 2 mm. (3)
2(1). Panicle very dense with short scabrous branchlets that are many-flowered
nearly to the base; stolons present 1. A. semiverticillata.
2. Panicle very diffuse; branchlets long and naked most of their length, the spike-
lets crowded toward the tips; stolons absent 2. A. hyemalis.
3(1). Tufted perennials without rhizomes or stolons; panicles open and/or
diffuse, the branches mostly naked (4)
3. Perennials with stolons or rhizomes or the lower internodes reclining and sub-
rhizomatous; panicles sometimes open but not diffuse, the branches
bearing flowers for at least half their length (6)
4(3). Panicle very diffuse, irregularly rounded, the main branches forking toward
the end or above the middle, the pedicels short, the spikelets
crowded near the end of the branches 3. A. scabra.
4. Panicle open but not diffuse, subpyramidal, the main branches forking at or
below the middle; pedicels and spikelets not as above (5)
5(4). Spikelets about 2 mm. long; plants of high altitudes, delicate, mostly 1-3
dm. tall 4. A. idahoensis.
5. Spikelets 2-3 mm. long; plants somewhat robust, of lower elevations
5. A. perennans.
6(3). Panicles more than 25 mm. broad, the branches spreading; rhizomes pre-
sent, 2-3 mm. thick 6. A. stolonifera.
6. Panicles less than 25 mm. broad, the branches ascending or appressed;
rhizomes absent but stolons often present (7)
7(6). Palea present 7. A. palustris.
1. Palea absent 8. A. exarata.
1. Agrostis semiverticillata (Forsk.) Christ. WATER BENTGRASS. Fig. 106.
Stoloniferous perennial freely rooting at the nodes; aerial culms 2—5 dm. long,
1-2 mm. thick, leafy; ligule a thin scale 2-7 mm. long; blades 4-14 cm. long, 2-7
mm. broad, flat; panicle 3-10 cm. long, 1-3 cm. thick, ellipsoidal, very dense;
swollen zone of abscission present on the scabrous pedicellary branchlets below
the spikelets; glumes 1.3-2 mm. long, scabrous; lemma about 1 mm. long or
shorter, truncate; palea narrow, as long as lemma. Polypogon semiverticillatus
(Forsk.) Hylander.
At the edges of streams in calcareous mud, along irrigation ditches, seepage
and in shallow water, in Okla. (Cimarron Co.), n.-cen. Tex., Edwards Plateau,
Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, locally abundant, N.M. (Guadalupe, De Baca
and Eddy cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), Apr.-June and continuing now and then into Nov.; warmer parts of
the world, in N. A. n. to Wash., Nev., Ut., Colo., and Tex., introd. from the Old
World.
2. Agrostis hyemalis (Walt.) B.S.P. SPRING BENTGRASS. Fig. 107.
Tufted perennial; culms 1-6 dm. long, 0.5-1 mm. thick, leafy, erect or the
lowermost internodes reclining; ligule a thin scale 1-4 mm. long; blades 3-9 cm.
long, 1-2 mm. broad, flat; panicle 5-30 cm. long, at least half as broad at
maturity, open and very diffuse, the long branches capillary and mostly naked,
branched in the outer third; spikelets crowded at the ends of the branchlets,
appressed; glumes 1.5-2.1 mm. long, subequal; lemma 1-1.3 (-1.5) mm. long,
awnless; palea absent.
228
-------
Fig. 106: Agrostis semiverticillata: a, habit, showing culms with decumbent base,
short horizontal leaf blades and panicles, X %; b, young floret, showing the truncate
lemma toothed at apex, X 12; c, branchlets of panicle, showing inflated base, X 4; d,
flowering spikelet, the glumes scabrous, X 20; e and f, leaf sheath, dentate ligule and
scabrous blade, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 56).
-------
Fig. 107: Agrostis hyemalis: plant, X :/>; glumes and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock
& Chase).
-------
Usually moist sandy soil, in water of ponds and lakes, and seepage along
streams, roadsides and other open places in Okla. (Waterfall) and in most of Tex.
except w. Plains Country, scattered, Mar.-May, rarely to June; e. U.S. w. to Kan.,
Okla. and Tex.
3. Agrostis scabra Willd.
Similar to A. hyemails but the glumes 2-2.6 mm. long, some of them on any
plant at least 2.2 mm. long; lemma 1.3-1.6 mm. long, rarely as short as 1.2 mm.;
palea absent. A. hyemails var. tenuis (Tuckerm.) Gl.
Moist soil, in flowing water of streams, wet meadows and in mud on edge of
ponds and lakes, and openings in forests, at elev. of 6,000-8,300 ft. in the Tex.
Trans-Pecos mts. where probably nat., also scattered in other parts of the state
(Dallas, Hardin and Harris cos., etc.) where introd., N.M. (Taos and Colfax cos.)
and Ariz. (Pima, Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Yavapai, Graham, Santa Cruz and
Cochise cos.), July-Sept, in the mts., Apr.-May elsewhere; most of cool temp. N.A.
4. Agrostis idahoensis Nash.
Tufted delicate perennial 1-4 dm. tall; ligules 1-2 (-3) mm. long, acute to
obtuse, erose-ciliolate and often lacerate; blades mostly lax and flat but some-
times folded, 0.5-1.5 mm. wide; panicle narrow but not compressed, usually
5-10 cm. long, the capillary branches ascending and forking below the middle and
bearing few spikelets; glumes green or purplish, acute, scabridulous on the keel
but not on back, usually 1.6-2.4 or sometimes 2.6 mm. long, the first somewhat
the longest; lemma about three fourths as long as the glumes, unawned, only
slightly bearded (at most) on the callus; palea lacking or not over 0.2 mm. long;
anthers about 0.3 mm. long; lodicules 0.2-0.3 mm. long.
In wet mt. meadows, swamps, shallow water of ponds, lakes, along streams
and on sand-gravel bars in river beds, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); Mont, to Wash., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.;
Alas.
5. Agrostis perennans (Walt.) Tuckerm. AUTUMN BENTGRASS.
Tufted perennial; culms 25-100 cm. long, 0.5-2.5 mm. thick, leafy, erect or
the lowest internodes reclining; ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 5-22 cm.
long, 1-6 mm. broad, flat; panicle 1-3 dm. long, about half as broad, often sub-
pyramidal, very diffuse, open, some of the main branches branched near the middle
or slightly above, the pedicellary branchlets appressed or often more divaricate;
glumes 2-3.2 mm. long; lemma shorter, awnless (in ours, elsewhere rarely awned);
palea absent.
Moist sandy soils along streams and about ponds, in marshes and wet meadows,
in Okla. (Waterfall), e. Tex. and N. M. (Otero and Sandoval cos.), infrequent,
Oct.; Que. and e. U.S. w. to Neb., Kan., Okla., Tex. and N. M.; also Mex.
6. Agrostis stolonifera L. REDTOP BENTGRASS. Fig. 108.
Perennial from rhizomes 2-3 mm. thick; aerial culms 35-100 cm. long, 1.5-2.5
mm. thick, the lower internodes usually decumbent, leafy; ligule a thin scale 4-8
mm. long; blades 6-20 cm. long, 3-8 mm. broad, flat; panicle 12-25 cm. long, less
than half as broad, the branches spreading; glumes equal, 2-3 mm. long, gaping;
lemma nearly as long as the glumes, not awned; palea about two thirds as long
as the lemma. Often called A. alba L. but that name pertains to a species of Poa.
A. gigantea Roth.
Wet meadows and stream banks, swampy prairies, Typha marshes and ditches,
in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and e. and n.-cen. Tex., the Plains Country and Trans-Pecos
mts., scattered, mostly in tame pastures, in N. M. (Sandoval and Colfax cos.) and
231
-------
Fig. 108: Agrostis stolonifera: a, scabrous branchlets of panicle, X 6; b, leaf sheath,
ligule and blade, X 6; c, habit, showing the decumbent culms and flat leaf blades, X %;
d, floret, showing lemma, X 20; e, floret, showing the short, emarginale palea, X 20;
f and g, grains (caryopses), X 20; h, habit, upper part of culm showing panicle, X %;
i, spikelet, showing the glumes, each with scabrous keel, X 16. (From Mason, Fig. 55).
-------
Fig. 109: Agrostis exarata: a, leaf sheath, ligule and blade, X 5; b, spikelet in lower
part of panicle, X 3; c, habit, showing the leafy culms and young close panicle, X %;
d, upper part of culm, showing panicle, X %; e, floret, X 14; f, spikelet, the glumes
each with a scabrous keel, X 14. (From Mason, Fig. 54).
-------
Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee and Cochise cos.), summer;
widespread in temp. N. A., introd. from Euras.
7. Agrostis palustris Huds. CREEPING BENTGRASS.
Perennial; culms decumbent, often long-stoloniferous, the aerial ones erect,
3-5 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, leafy; ligule a thin scale 2-4 mm. long; blades 4-10
cm. long, 1-3.5 mm. broad, flat; panicles 5-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, the short
branches ascending; glumes 2-3 mm. long; lemma about two thirds as long as the
glumes, not awned; palea about two thirds as long as the lemma.
Fresh-water shores of lakes and ponds, along streams and ditches, in wet
meadows and marshes in s.e. Tex., N.M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino,
Yavapai, Gila and Final cos.), scattered or rare, summer; widely introd. in temp.
N. A. from Euras.
8. Agrostis exarata Trin. SPIKE BENTGRASS. Fig. 109.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-9 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick (in ours; more robust else-
where), leafy, mostly erect or the lower internodes reclining and substoloniferous;
ligule a scale 3-5 mm. long; blades 4-20 cm. long, 2-8 mm. broad, flat;
panicle 1-3 dm. long, 10-25 mm. thick, rather lax and often somewhat interrupted
toward the base, the branches many-flowered, appressed; glumes 2.5-3 mm. long,
narrowly acuminate; lemma 1.7-2.3 mm. long, not awned (in ours; elsewhere
apically awned); palea absent.
Wet places such as marshes, wet meadows, flowing water and along streams, at
high elev. in Tex. Trans-Pecos mts., rare, in N. M. (Union, Guadalupe and
Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), late
summer; w. Can. and w. U. S. (including Alas.), e. to S. D., Neb. and in the mts.
to w. Mex.
28. Cinna L. WOODREED
Tall perennials with flat blades and close or open panicles; spikelets 1-flowered,
disarticulating below the glumes, the rachilla forming a stipe below the floret
and produced behind the galea as a minute bristle; glumes equal or subequal,
1- to 3-nerved; lemma similar to the glumes, nearly as long, 3-nerved, bearing a
minute short straight awn just below the apex or rarely awnless; palea 1-keeled.
A genus of 4 species in Eurasia, North America and South America.
1. Spikelets 5 mm. long; panicle rather dense, the branches ascending
1. C. arundinacea.
1. Spikelets 3.5-4 mm. long; panicle loose, the branches spreading or drooping
2. C. latifolia.
1. Cinna arundinacea L. STOUT WOODREED. Fig. 110.
Clumped perennial with short thick rhizomes; aerial culms erect, 7-15 dm. tall,
2-5 mm. thick, leafy; ligule a stramineous scale 2-3 mm. long centrally and. with
long auricles laterally; blades 15-37 cm. long, 7-14 mm. broad near the middle,
tapering to both ends, flat; panicles 15-32 cm. long, ellipsoidal, the numerous
branches ascending or rarely spreading, densely-flowered; zone of abscission just
below the glumes; spikelets one-flowered, falling as a unit, strongly laterally
compressed, with keeled scales; first glume 4-4.5 long: second glume 5-5.5 mm.
long; lemma 5.5-6 mm. long, bearing dorsally just below the tip a minute awn
equaling the tip of the lemma (use lens).
Moist usually sandy soil, floodplains and stream banks in forests, in wet
meadows and along sluggish streams, in Okla. (Sequoyah Co.) and e. Tex., infre-
quent, Aug.-Sept.; all of e. U. S. w. to S. D., Neb., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
234
-------
Fig. 110: 1, Cinna arundinacea: plant, X %; glumes and floret, X 10. 2, Cinna
latifolia: panicle, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
2. Cinna latifolia (Trev.) Griseb. Fig. 110.
Rhizomatous perennial 7-20 dm. tall; sheaths glabrous to finely scabridulous;
ligules pubescent, 3-8 mm. long, erose and intact or usually more or less strongly
lacerate; blades flat, 7-15 mm. wide, the veins very unequal in size; panicle
15-30 cm. long, loose, the branches spreading to drooping; glumes slender,
acuminate, (2-) 3-4 mm. long, the second somewhat the longest, scabridulous-
puberulent on the keel and often over the back; lemma strongly compressed,
2-3.2 mm. long, puberulent over the back, awnless or awned, the subterminal
awn scarcely to 1 mm. long; palea almost as long as the lemma; rachilla bristlelike,
mostly about 0.6 mm. long; anthers about 1 mm. long; lodicules cuneate-obovate,
dentate, about 0.3 mm. long.
In wet meadows, and wet soil along streams, and moist or wettish woods, in
N. M. (Bernalillo Co.); Nfld. and Lab. to Alas., s. to N. C., Tenn., N.M. and
Calif.; n. Euras.
29. Alopecurus L. FOXTAIL
Annuals or perennials; blades flat; panicles dense, straight, spikelike; zone of
abscission just below the glumes; spikelets falling as a unit, one-flowered, strongly
laterally compressed; glumes equal, united by the margins basally, keeled dorsally;
lemma about as long as glumes, the margins united to each other basally, bearing
an awn dorsally below the middle, this once-geniculate, the lower portion twisted;
palea absent.
About 50 species in temperate Eurasia, North America and South America.
1. Spikelets 5-6 mm. long; introduced species 1. A. myosuroides.
1. Spikelets 2-4 mm. long; native species (2)
2(1). Awns straight, included or only slightly longer than the glumes; perennial
2. A. aequalis.
2. Awns geniculate, twisted below, much longer than the glumes (3)
3(2). Perennial; anthers 1.5 mm. long 3. A. geniculatus,
3. Annual; anthers about 0.5 mm. long 4. A. carolinianus.
1. Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.
Tufted annual; culms 2-7 dm. long, 1.5-3 mm. thick, erect or the lower few
internodei reclining; ligule a scale 2-4 mm. long; blades 5-30 cm. long, 3-7 mm.
broad, flat; spike 5-11 cm. long, 5-10 mm. thick; glumes 6-7 mm. long, the keel
merely scabrous, not ciliate except basally; awn of lemma 5-8 mm. long.
Moist or wet meadows in e. Tex., occurring only as waif brought in with hay,
May; Euras., adv. and widespread in n.e. U. S.; also Wash, and Ore.
Other European species are to be expected in our area as introductions, notably
A. pratensis L., the meadow foxtail, rather similar to A. myosuroides but perennial
and the keels of the glumes ciliate.
2. Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. SHORT-AWN FOXTAIL. Fig. 111.
Perennial; culms erect or somewhat decumbent below and rooting at the nodes,
glabrous, 2-6 dm. tall (or taller in some aquatic forms); sheaths glabrous, usually
somewhat inflated; ligules 3-5 mm. long; blades slightly scabrous, 1-4 mm. wide,
sometimes tufted at base; panicles more or less exserted, narrow-cylindric, 2-7
cm. long, 4-5 mm. wide; glumes 2-2.5 mm. long, ciliate on the keel, appressed-
pubescent on the sides, especially below; lemma glabrous, the awn attached at or
slightly below the middle, straight or slightly bent, included or exserted about
1 mm.; anthers about 1 mm. long.
In mud and shallow water of ponds, sloughs, lakes and streams, swampy ground,
marshy areas, bogs, in N. M. (Lincoln, San Miguel, Taos, San Juan, Rio Arriba,
McKinley, Socorro and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache and Yavapai
236
-------
Fig. Ill: Alopecurus aequalis: a, floret, the lemma bearing an awn below the
middle, X 12; b, habit, showing short basal leaves, the tall culms and narrow-cylindric
panicles, X %; c, spikelet, showing the ciliate glumes, the awn of lemma protruding,
X 12; d, grain, X 12; e, floret, variation in the awn of lemma, X 12; f, leaf sheath,
ligule and scabrous blade, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 57).
-------
cos.); Greenl. to Alas., s. to Pa., 111., Kan., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
3. Alopecurus geniculatus L. WATER FOXTAIL. Fig. 112.
Perennial; culms decumbent or long-decumbent at base, rooting at the lower
nodes, glabrous, often bent above (only erect in dwarf forms), 1-6 dm. long above
the rooting base; sheaths glabrous, usually somewhat inflated; ligules usually
2-4 mm. long; blades minutely scabrous above, 1-4 mm. wide; panicles 2-7 cm.
long, 4-6 mm. wide; glumes 2.5-3 mm. long, the tips often purplish, ciliate on
the keel, glabrous or appressed-pubescent on the lateral margins; lemma glabrous,
the often purplish awn bent, exserted about the length of the spikelet or farther;
anthers about 1.5 mm. long.
In mud and shallow water of lakes, ponds and waterways, and in marshes, in
N. M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Santa Cruz, Yavapai and Pima
cos.); Nfld. to Sask. and B. C., s. to Va., Pa., Mich., Wise., Kan., Wyo., N. M.,
Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
4. Alopecurus carolinianus Walt.
Tufted annual; culm 1-5 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, the lower internodes com-
monly not erect, the remainder erect; ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 2-15 cm.
long, 1.5-5 mm. broad, flat; spikes 2-5 cm. long, 4-6 mm. thick; glumes 2-2.5
mm. long, densely ciliate on the keels; awn of lemma 3-5 mm. long.
Moist soil near ponds and streams, wet meadows, in Okla. (Johnston Co.), e.,
s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., infrequent and rare w. to Bexar, Burnet, Llano and Wichita
cos., N. M. (San Miguel Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Gila and Pima cos.), Mar.-
May; B. C. and practically throughout the U. S. except n. N.E.
30. Polypogon DESF.
Annual or perennial usually decumbent herbs; blades flat, scabrous; lower
internodes reclining on mud, the nodes with adventitious roots; panicles dense;
zone of abscission below the glumes; glumes nearly equal, both persistent, awned,
united at the very base, scabrous or pubescent; lemma much shorter than glumes,
involute, ellipsoidal, with a dorsal readily deciduous awn; palea membranous,
enclosed by the lemma.
A genus of about 15 species in warm regions of the world.
1. Annual; glumes minutely lobed, the very slender awns (4—) 6-8 mm. long;
panicles very dense, spikelike 1. P. monspeliensis.
1. Perennials; glumes not lobed, the awn not more than 5 mm. long; panicles
moderately dense (2)
2(1). Glumes abruptly narrowed above, the awns 2.5-5 mm. long
2. P. interruptus.
2. Glumes gradually tapering into a short awn that is 1-2 mm. long
3. P. elongatus.
1. Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. RABBITFOOT GRASS. Fig. 113.
Annual; culms often rooting at the lower nodes or less commonly totally erect,
1-7 dm. long, 1-3 mm. thick; ligule a scale 3-10 mm. long; blades 4-16 cm. long,
2.5-11 mm. broad, flat; panicle 2-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, either narrow and
spikelike or broader and ellipsoidal and somewhat interrupted, stramineous at
maturity; glumes 2 mm. long, apically notched and in the notch each bearing an
awn 5-9 mm. long; lemma less than 1 mm. long, with a deciduous awn less than
1 mm. long.
Moist soil near fresh water, in brackish ponds, seepage and boggy areas,
marshes, wet meadows and along streams, throughout most of our region, scattered
and local, Mar.-July; Eur., introd. and now widespread in temp. N. A.; of local
forage value.
238
-------
Fig. 112: Alopecurus geniculatus: a, habit, showing the cylindric panicles, the awns
of lemmas conspicuous, X %; b, floret, showing the long curved awn of lemma attached
below the middle, X 12; c, leaf sheath, ligule and scabrous blade, X 4; d, spikelet,
showing the cilitate glumes and the long awn of lemma, X 12. (From Mason, Fig. 58).
-------
2. Polypogon interruptus H.B.K. DITCH POLYPOGON. Fig. 113.
Perennial; culms rooting at the lower nodes, 2-10 dm. long, 1-4 mm. thick;
ligule a scale 4-10 mm. long; blades 4-22 cm. long, 2-12 mm. broad; panicle
3-20 cm. long, 1-5 cm. thick, occasionally narrowed and somewhat spikelike but
usually broad, interrupted, with whorled branches 1-5 cm. long; glumes 2 mm.
long, apically entire, each bearing an awn about 2 mm. long; lemma a little longer
than 1 mm. with a deciduous awn 2-3 mm. long.
Calcareous mud along streams and irrigation ditches and low wet places, in
Okla. (Waterfall) and on Tex. Edwards Plateau, rare (known only from Val
Verde Co.), to Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Apr.;
widespread in temp. N. A. and S. A., n. to B.C. and Neb.
3. Polypogon elongatus H.B.K. Fig. 114.
Perennial; culms erect or often decumbent at base, glabrous, rather stout, as
much as 1 m. tall; sheaths glabrous, somewhat nerved, lacerate at the rather
broad summit, to 8 mm. long; blades scabrous on the margins, glabrous or some-
what scabrous on the surfaces, to 20 cm. long and 1 cm. wide; panicle erect, in
ours rather dense and spikelike but somewhat interrupted in the lower part,
15-30 cm. long, the branches closely flowered to base; glumes hispidulous
(especially on keel), 2-3 mm. long, gradually narrowed to an awn 2-3 mm.
long; lemma 1.5 mm. long, the awn arising from below the tip, 1-2 mm. long or
sometimes obsolete.
In salt marshes, along streams and ditches, in Ariz. (Santa Cruz and Pima cos.);
also Mex. to Arg.
31. Phleum L.
Annuals or perennials with erect culms, flat blades and dense cylindric panicles;
spikelets 1-flowered, laterally compressed, disarticulating above the glumes; glumes
equal, membranaceous, keeled, abruptly mucronate or awned or gradually acute;
lemma shorter than the glumes, hyaline, broadly truncate, 3- to 5-nerved; palea
narrow, nearly as long as the lemma.
A genus of 15 species in temperate Eurasia, North America and South America;
probably all Eurasian in origin.
1. Culms mostly more than 5 dm. tall, erect from a swollen bulblike base; panicle
narrow, several times longer than wide 1. P. pratense.
1. Culms 2-5 dm. tall, from a decumbent somewhat creeping base; panicle
usually not more than twice as long as wide, bristly....2. P. alpinum.
1. Phleum pratense L. TIMOTHY. Fig. 115.
Perennial from very short bulbously thickened rhizomes; aerial culms 5-10 dm.
long, 2-3 mm. thick, the lowest internodes often reclining, otherwise erect, leafy;
ligule a thin scale 2-4 mm. long; blades 6-26 cm. long, 5-10 mm. broad, tapered
to a long point, flat; panicle 5-20 cm. long, 5-8 mm. thick, terete, spikelike;
spikelets 1-flowered, strongly laterally compressed; glumes equal 3-3.5 mm. long,
oblong, hyaline but each with a firm keel prolonged into a short spreading awn, the
keel ciliate; zone of abscission between the glumes and the lemma; lemma and
palea about half as long as the glumes, hyaline, the palea very narrow.
Occasional as a waif in marshes, wet meadows, seepage areas and in mud along
streams, in the e. half of Tex., not persisting, brought in with hay, and N. M.
(Colfax, Otero, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and
Apache, s. to Graham and Pima cos.), summer; widespread in moist temp, parts
of N. A., introd. from Euras.
2. Phleum alpinum L. ALPINE TIMOTHY. Fig. 115.
Culms 2-6 dm. tall, glabrous, from a decumbent somewhat creeping densely
240
-------
Fig. 113: 1, Polypogon monspeliensis: plant, X %; glumes and floret, X 10. 2,
Polypogon interruptus: panicle, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
Fig 114: Polypogon elongatus: a, spikelet, showing the hispidulous awned glumes
X 8; b, leaf sheath, ligule, and blade, X 4; c and d, upper parts of culms with snikelike
interrupted panicles, X %; e, habit, lower part of plant, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 82)!
-------
tufted base; blades mostly less than 15 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide; panicle 1-5 cm.
long or broadly cylindric; glumes 5 (sometimes 7) mm. long, oblong, hispid-
ciliate on the keel, the stoutish awns 2 mm. long to give the head a bristly
appearance.
In wet mt. meadows, bogs, marshes and mud on edge of lakes and ponds, in
N. M. (Rio Arriba, San Juan, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Coconino cos.); Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. H., Mich., N. M., Ariz.
and Calif.; Euras.
32. Gastridium BEAUV.
Two species in the Canaries, western Europe and the Mediterranean region.
1. Gastridium ventricosum (Gouan) Schinz & Thell. NIT GRASS. Fig. 116.
Plants annual; culms 1-5 dm. tall; foliage scant, the blades flat, scabrous;
panicle 3-8 cm. long (or in robust specimens 10-14 cm. long), dense, shining,
spikelike; spikelets 1-flowered, slender, about 5 mm. long; glumes long-acuminate,
somewhat swollen at the base, scabrous on the keels, the second glume about three-
fourths as long as the first; lemmas much shorter than the glumes, hyaline,
globular, pubescent, truncate, with a delicate, somewhat bent awn 5 mm. long;
palea about as long as the lemma.
Established usually on open, dry ground, but occasionally found in marshy
sites along streams or around vernal pools, in Ariz. (Pima Co.); Ore. to Calif.
and Ariz.; introd. from Eur.
33. Muhlenbergia SCHREB. MUHLY
Perennial or rarely annual low or moderately tall or rarely robust grasses,
tufted or rhizomatous; culms simple or much-branched; inflorescence a narrow
sometimes spikelike or open panicle; spikelets 1-flowered or occasionally
2-flowered, the rachilla disarticulating above the glumes; glumes usually shorter than
the lemma or sometimes as long, obtuse to acuminate or awned, keeled or convex
on the back, the first sometimes small or rarely obsolete; lemma firm-membranace-
ous, 3-nerved with the nerves sometimes obscure or rarely an obscure additional
pair, with a very short callus, rarely long-pilose, usually minutely pilose, the apex
acute, awned from the tip or just below it or from between very short lobes, some-
times only mucronate, the awn straight or flexuous.
A genus of more than 100 species that occur from the Himalaya Mts. to Japan,
and from North America to the Andes. The genus, as now interpreted, is very
diverse, being a taxonomic dumping ground. Some of the muhlys are quite
abundant and are valuable forage.
1. Annuals (doubtful cases should be keyed under both alternatives) (2)
1. Perennials (4)
2(1). Lemma with awn 1-3 cm. long 2. M. pectinata.
2. Lemma awnless (3)
3(2). Pedicels capillary, elongate; glumes minutely pilose 1. M. minutissima.
3. Pedicels short, appressed; glumes glabrous 3. M. filiformis.
4(1). Rhizomes developed, usually prominent, scaly, creeping, often branching
(5)
4. Rhizomes wanting; culms tufted, usually erect (12)
5(4). Blades 2 mm. wide or less, mostly short and involute (6)
5. Blades flat, at least some of them more than 3 mm. wide, usually 5 mm. wide
or more (8)
243
-------
1
Fig. 115: 1, Phlcum pratcnse: plant, X V£; glumes and floret, X 10. 2, P/ileum
alpiniim: panicle, X 1; glumes and floret. X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 116: 1, Gastridium ventricosum: plant, X 1/4; glumes and floret, X 10. 2,
Muhlenbergia andina: plant, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. 3, Muhlenbergia racemosa:
panicle, X 1; glumes and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
6(5). Panicles open, the spikelets on slender pedicels 6. M. asperifolia.
6. Panicles narrow, more or less condensed, the spikelets on short pedicels (7)
7(6). Culms smooth, widely creeping, the blades fine, conspicuously recurved,
spreading ...A. M. utilis.
1. Culms nodulose-roughened, erect or decumbent at base, sometimes spreading
but not widely creeping 5. M. Richardsonis.
8(5). Hairs at base of floret copious, as long as the body of the lemma
7. M. andina.
8 Hairs at base of floret inconspicuous, not more than half as long as the lemma
(9)
9(8). Glumes with stiff scabrous awn-tips, much-exceeding the awnless lemma;
panicles terminal on the culm or leafy branches, compact inter-
rupted, bristly 8. M. racemosa.
9. Glumes acuminate, sometimes awn-tipped but not stiff and exceeding the
lemma; panicles terminal and axillary, numerous, not bristly (10)
10(9). Culms glabrous below the nodes; panicles not compact, the branches
ascending; plants sprawling, top-heavy, the branchlets geniculate-
spreading 9. M. frondosa.
10. Culms strigose below the nodes; panicles compact or (if not) the branches
erect or nearly so; plants often bushy-branching but not sprawling
with geniculate branchlets (11)
11(10). Panicles not compactly flowered; lemma with awn as much as 1 cm.
long or more; some of the blades 1—1.5 dm. long or more
10. M. sylvatica.
11. Panicles compactly flowered or (if not) lemma awnless; blades commonly
less than 1 dm. long but sometimes longer 11. M. mexicana.
12(4). Culms decumbent and rooting at the nodes 12. M. Schreberi.
12. Culms erect or spreading but not rooting at nodes 3. M. filiformis.
1. Muhlenbergia minutissima (Steud.) Swall. Fig. 117.
Tufted annual; culms 10-35 cm. long, 0.4—1 mm. thick, geniculately branched
near the base; ligule a hyaline soon lacerate scale about 2 mm. long, not auricled;
blades 3-10 cm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, usually flat, folded or involute on drying,
minutely pubescent; panicles 1-2 dm. long, 2-3 cm. broad, open and diffuse, the
numerous main branches often flexuous, ascending, much-branched secondarily;
glumes 0.6-1 mm. long, minutely pubescent (use strong lens); lemma 1.2-2 mm.
long, very finely pubescent, broadly elliptical, blunt or apically minutely bifid, awn-
less or with an awn to about 1 mm. long; palea about equaling lemma. M. texana
Buck!., M. sinuosa Swall.
Rocky grassy slopes, border of marshes and wet canyon walls, in the Tex.
Trans-Pecos (Davis Mts.), rare, N. M. (Hitchcock) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo,
Coconino, Yavapai, Gila and Pima cos.), late summer-fall; Mont, to Wash, and
s. to Mex.
2. Muhlenbergia pectinata C. O. Goodd.
Culms 1-2.5 dm. tall or long, erect to decumbent, sometimes rooting at the
lower nodes, freely branching, angular; sheath margins often ciliate; ligule erose
to ciliate, about 0.5 mm. long; blades flat to involute, 1-6 cm. long, 1-2 mm.
wide, pubescent or sparsely pilose; panicles numerous, narrow, 2-12 cm. long;
spikelets 3.5-4.5 mm. long; glumes abruptly acute to acuminate, commonly
aristate, 1.5-2 (-3) mm. long, the awn about half the entire length; lemma 3- to
5-nerved, scabrous to prominently ciliate on the lateral nerves, the callus appressed-
pubescent; awn 1-3 cm. long.
246
-------
Fig. 117: Muhlenbergia minutissima: plant, X 1; spikelet, floret and ligule, ~K 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
In wet places below or on face of cliffs, moist or wettish rocky hills, in Ariz.
(Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.); also Jal.
3. Muhlenbergia filiformis (Thurb.) Rydb. PULL-UP MUHLY.
Perennial or sometimes apparently annual, with fibrous roots or decumbent
creeping bases; culms tufted, erect or somewhat spreading, glabrous, filiform,
usually 0.5-1.5 dm. or sometimes as much as 3 dm. tall; ligules thin, hyaline,
1-2 mm. long; blades flat, glabrous beneath, scabrous-pubescent on the upper
surface, 1-3 cm. long, 1 mm. wide; panicles numerous, narrow, interrupted, few-
flowered, usually less than 5 cm. long; glumes ovate, about equal in size, obtuse
or acutish, awnless, 1 mm. long; lemma lanceolate, acute, 2 mm. long, mucronate,
minutely pubescent, minutely scabrous at the tip, 1 mm. long, the callus glabrous.
In wet meadows, springy or seepage areas, old lake beds and moist open woods,
in N. M. (Hitchcock) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); S. D. and Kan. to
B. C., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
4. Muhlenbergia utilis (Torr.) Hitchc. APAREJO MUHLY.
Perennial from firm creeping rhizome; culms 1-3.5 dm. long; ligule a scale
0.5-1 mm. long; blades 15-35 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad and mostly involute,
the smaller blades 5-20 mm. long and closely involute and arcuate, 0.2-0.4 mm.
thick as rolled; glumes 0.6-1.5 mm. long; lemma 1.6-2 mm. long, scarcely
mucronate.
Calcareous seasonally muddy soil along streams, marshy places and about
springs in the Tex. Edwards Plateau, N. M. (widespread in s. half) and Ariz.
(Santa Cruz Co.), locally abundant, usually fall-early winter, occasionally spring-
summer; also Calif, and Nev.
5. Muhlenbergia Richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb. MAT MUHLY.
Perennial from numerous hard creeping rhizomes; culms wiry, nodulose-
roughened, erect or decumbent at base, 1-6 dm. tall; ligule 2-3 mm. long; blades
usually involute, 1-5 cm. long or rarely longer; panicle narrow, interrupted or
sometimes rather close and spikelike, 2-10 cm. long; spikelets 2-3 mm. long, the
glumes about half as long, ovate; lemma lanceolate, acute, mucronate.
In wet meadows, dry or wettish often alkaline soils and low open ground,
in Ariz. (Coconino Co.); N. B. to Alta., s. to S.D., N. M., Ariz., Calif, and
Baja Calif.
6. Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Nees & Mey.) Parodi. SCRATCHGRASS MUHLY.
Perennial from elongate scaly rhizomes 1.5-2 mm. thick; aerial culms 1-6 dm.
long, about 1 mm. thick, mostly weak and reclining, ascending only at the flori-
ferous ends, sparsely branched; ligule a muticous scale about 0.5 mm. long, not
auricled; blades 2-7 (-14) cm. long, 1-3 mm. broad, flat or folded, mostly rapidly
ascending; panicle 5-18 cm. long, 4-15 cm. broad, ovoid, very open, diffuse, few-
flowered; glumes 0.6-1 (rarely to 1.5) mm. long, acute; lemma 1.2-1.5 mm. long,
dark, awnless; palea about equaling lemma.
Moist alluvial soil near streams and ditches, occasional in marshy, wet, or
often alkaline soil, in water of cat-tail swamps and mud about pools and lakes,
in w. Okla. (Waterfall) and the Tex. Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, N. M. (San
Juan and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino, s. to Pima cos.)
infrequent, late summer-fall; w. N. A. e. to 111., Okla. and Tex.; s. S. A.
7. Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc. FOXTAIL MUHLY. Fig. 116.
Perennial from scaly white rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick; aerial culms 25-80 cm.
long, 1-1.5 mm. thick, erect, leafy, sparingly branched; ligule a scale about 1 mm.
long, laterally with very short auricular points; blades 5-18 cm. long, 1-3 mm.
broad (rarely to 5 mm.), flat; panicle 4-12 cm. long, 6-15 mm. thick, spikelike
248
-------
but usually interrupted; glumes 3-4 mm. long, shining, grayish, keeled, awnless;
lemma 2-3 mm. long, linear, grayish, glabrous but with a basal callus bearing a
beard of hairs 2-3 mm. long and an apical awn 4-8 mm. long; palea nearly
equaling lemma.
In wet meadows, moist thickets and river beds, in the (?) Tex. Trans-Pecos
and N. M. (San Miguel Co.); w. U.S., e. to Wyo., Colo., N.M. and possibly Tex.
8. Muhlenbergia raceniosa (Michx.) B.S.P. Fig. 116.
Perennial from scaly white rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick; aerial culms 3-7 dm. long,
0.5-2.5 mm. thick, erect, leafy, sparingly branched; ligule an erose scale 0.5-1 mm.
long, without auricles; blades 4-16 cm. long, 1-7 mm. broad, flat, rather stiffly
erect; panicles 2-14 cm. long, 4-11 mm. thick, spikelike but usually interrupted;
glumes 1.5-2 mm. long, lanceolate, apically with a stiff awn 2-5 mm. long; lemma
2.5-3.5 mm. long, short-pilose on the lower half, acuminate or the apical portion
awnlike; palea nearly equaling lemma.
Moist ground, wet meadows, swamps, alluvial soil along rivers, streams and
irrigation ditches, in Okla. (Waterfall) and the Tex. Plains Country, rare (one
collection from Perryton, Ochiltree Co.), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache
and Coconino cos.), Sept.-Oct; most of U. S. w. of Miss. River.
9. Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fern. WIRESTEM MUHLY.
Perennial from scaly white rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick; aerial culms 3-10 dm.
long, 1-2 mm. thick, leafy, profusely geniculately branched near the middle, top-
heavy and falling over (then often rooting at the nodes), the naked pedunculiform
terminal internodes only 1-4 cm. long or absent; ligule an erose scale 0.5-1 mm.
long, not auricled; blades 4-11 cm. long, 1.5-5 mm. broad, flat, ascending or
appressed; panicles 3-10 cm. long, when only 1-2 mm. thick then linear but
when 3-6 mm. thick tapered to both ends, loose and interrupted; glumes 2.5-3.5
mm. long including the awnlike tip, linear-lanceolate; lemma about 3 mm. long,
awnless, pubescent on the lower part; palea about 3 mm. long.
Woods, sandbars along streams, muddy banks of streams and swales, low wet
soils and thickets, in Okla. (Waterfall) and n.-cen. Tex., rare (Dallas and Grayson
cos.) Oct.; e. Can. s. to n. Ala., Tex. and Okla.
10. Muhlenbergia sylvatica (Torr.) Torr.
Perennial from scaly rhizomes 1-2.5 mm. thick; aerial culms 4-10 dm. long,
1-3 mm. thick, leafy, moderately branched near the middle, weak and often
reclining, the lower nodes rooting, the internodes minutely strigose in a zone just
below the nodes (use lens), the terminal internodes short and not pedunculiform;
ligule an erose scale 0.5-1.2 mm. long; blades 6-18 cm. long, 2-7 mm. broad,
flat, ascending; panicles 4-10 cm. long, 3-5 mm. thick, somewhat spikelike,
interrupted, nodding; glumes about 2 mm. long, awnless or with an awnlike tip
0.1-1 mm. long; lemma about 3 mm. long, pubescent in the lower part, with
an awn 3-10 mm. long; palea about 3 mm. long.
Dense woods and swampy meadows, in Okla. (Waterfall) and n.-cen. Tex. and
e. Edwards Plateau, rare, Aug.-Sept.; s.e. Can. s. to n. Ala. and Tex.
11. Muhlenbergia mexicana (L.) Trin.
Resembling M. frondosa; culms erect or ascending, usually simple below, less
freely branching, scaberulous below the nodes; blades lax, 1-2 dm. long, mostly
2-4 mm. wide; panicles mostly long-exserted, narrow, the upper often 10-15 cm.
long, of numerous short appressed densely flowered somewhat aggregate branches;
spikelets 2-3 mm. long; glumes narrow, attenuate, awn-tipped, about equaling
the pointed or awn-tipped lemma, the lemma long-pilose below.
249
-------
In wet meadows, swales, springy places along streams and about pools, damp
thickets and wettish low open ground, in N. M. (San Miguel and Socorro cos.)
and Ariz. (Cochise Co.); Me. and Que. to Wash., s. to N. C., Ark., N.M. and
Ariz.
12. Muhlenbergia Schreberi J. F. Gmel. NIMBLEWILL MUHLY.
Perennial with stolons about 1 mm. thick, freely rooting; flowering culms 1-4
dm. long, 0.5-1 mm. thick, weak, ascending; ligule an erose scale about 0.5 mm.
long, not auricled; blades 3-8 cm. long, 1-4 mm. broad, weak, flat, diverging
from culm at right angles; panicles 5-12 cm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, spikelike but
lax and interrupted, weak and nodding; glumes minute, 0.1-0.3 mm. long, muti-
cous; lemma about 2 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, with an awn 1.5-6 mm. long;
palea about 2 mm. long.
Moist usually shaded ground near streams and marshy areas, wet meadows
and wet sandy-clay about ponds, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e., s.e. and n.-cen.
Tex. and e. Edwards Plateau and n. Rio Grande Plains, scattered but locally
abundant, spring-fall; e. U.S., w. to Neb., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
34. Sporobolus R. BR. DROPSEED
Perennials (except in 1 species); inflorescences paniculate, either open and dif-
fuse or spiciform; spikelets 1-flowered, slightly laterally compressed, with mem-
branous to scarious parts; rachilla with zone of abscission just above the glume
node and below the lemma nodes in most species; palea often splitting at
maturity; grain usually falling readily, often reddish, with a coat (ovary wall)
that imbibes water, becoming loose and easily detached from the remainder of
the grain.
A genus of about 150 species of the warmer regions of the world.
1. Mature panicles more than 9 cm. broad 1. S. texanus.
1. Mature panicles less than 9 cm. broad (2)
2(1). Collar of sheath (dorsal summit where it joins the blade) abundantly
furnished with soft white hairs; panicle more than 2 cm. broad
2. 5. flexuosus.
2. Collar of sheath glabrous (but the corners commonly pilose); panicle less
than 1.5 cm. broad (3)
3(2). Mature panicles less than 5 cm. long 3. S. virginicus.
3. Mature panicles more than 5 cm. long 4. S. indicus.
1. Sporobolus texanus Vasey. Fig. 118.
Tufted perennial from short very firm rhizomes 1.5-2 mm. thick, or these
often apparently absent; aerial culms numerous, 3-7 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick,
leafy; ligule a very dense line of cilia about 0.5 mm. long; blades 1-12 (-20) cm.
long, 2-4 mm. broad near the base, flat or drying involute, pointed; summit of
sheath glabrous but the corners and margins often sparsely long-pilose; panicle
15-30 cm. long, 1-2 dm. broad, vaguely obovoid, open and diffuse, the branches
not whorled but bearing numerous somewhat flexuous capillary ultimate branch-
lets 5-20 mm. long, each terminating in a single spikelet; first glume 0.7-1.5 mm.
long; second glume 2.1-2.8 mm. long; lemma 2.3-2.9 mm. long; palea about
equaling lemma.
Seasonally moist and often subsaline low areas, salt marshes, mesas and valley,
in Okla. (Waterfall), the Tex. Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, infrequent or
rare, N.M. (Chaves and Eddy cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), summer-fall; w.
Kan. to Tex. and w. to Ariz.
250
-------
Fig. 118: 1, Sporobolus indicus: plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 10. 2, Sporobolus
texanus: panicle, X %; glumes and floret with caryopsis, X 10. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
2. Sporobolus flexuosus (Thurb.) Rydb. MESA DROPSEED.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-10 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, erect, unbranched;
ligule a ciliate fringe 0.3-0.5 mm. long; blades 5-23 cm. long, 2.4 mm. broad at.
the base where flat but usually soon involute; sheaths obscurely round-keeled
apically, the corners with some soft white hairs but the dorsal summit or collar
glabrous or only very sparsely furnished with hairs, 1-1.5 mm. long; panicles
12-30 cm. long, 4-9 cm. broad, basally sometimes partially included in the
uppermost sheath, open, the branches not whorled, divaricate or even somewhat
deflexed and then arcuately reflexed distally, the floriferous branchlets subsecund
on the lower side of the branches, mostly widely divergent from the branches,
the spikelets borne on tertiary pedicellary branchlets about 1 mm. long which
are subsecund along the proximal side of the secondary branchlets; first glume
1-1.3 mm. long; second glume 1.9-2.5 mm. long; lemma 1.9—2.3 mm. long;
palea about equaling lemma.
Loose usually blowing sand in dune areas, also in marshes and wet seepage
areas, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, locally frequent, N. M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.), Sept.-
Nov., rarely also in spring; w. Tex. to s. Ut., Nev., s. Calif, and n. Mex.
3. Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth. COASTAL DROPSEED.
Perennial from scaly creeping stramineous rhizomes 1-3 mm. thick; aerial
culms mostly ascending or the lowermost internodes stoloniform, 7-40 cm. long,
1-3 mm. thick, leafy; ligule a ciliate scale 0.2-0.4 mm. long; blades 3-20 cm.
long, usually flat at the very base or rounded-keeled and 2.5-4 mm. broad,
tapering to an involute point; corners of sheaths sparsely pilose and upper part
of sheath dorsally keeled; panicle 25-80 mm. long, 6—10 mm. broad, dense,
spikelike or usually narrowly ellipsoidal or oblong-ellipsoidal; first glume 1.3-2.8
mm. long; second glume 1.8—3 mm. long; lemma 2.1-3 mm. long; palea about
as long as lemma.
Packed loamy somewhat saline soil, in saline marshes, sandy or muddy sea-
shores and wettish coastal prairies, all along the Tex. coast, common, summer-
fall; warmer All. and Carib. coasts, s. to Braz. and n. to Va.
4. Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. SMUTORASS. Fig. 118.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-11 dm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, erect, unbranched;
ligule obsolete or only a scale 0.1 mm. long; blades aggregated at the base of
the plant, 15-25 (-50) cm. long, at the base usually flat or sharply folded, 3-5
mm. broad, tapering to a long involute arcuate tip; upper part of the sheaths
usually dorsally keeled; panicles 1-4 dm. long, 5-10 mm. thick, dense, spikelike,
often somewhat interrupted in the lower part; first glume 0.4-0.9 mm. long;
second glume 0.8-1.3 mm. long; lemma 1.4-2 mm. long; palea 1.2-1.8 mm.
long; pericarp mucilaginous, the grain often sticking persistently instead of falling
readily as in many dropseeds. In some works erroneously called S. Poiretii.
Mud and moist loam, low prairies and swales, in shallow water and mud
about ponds and springy areas, in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex.,
s.w. to Bexar, DeWitt, Goliad and Aransas cos., frequent, late spring-Nov.;
widely distributed in the warmer parts of the world, nat. to the Old World; in
Am. occurring n. to Va., Tenn., Ark. and Okla.
35. Leptochloa BEAUV. SPRANGLETOP
Annuals; spikelets 3- to 12-flowered, the lower 1 or 2 florets perfect, the
rest staminate or neutral; spikelets sessile and overlapping, appressed in two rows
along one side of a nearly terete rachis (the rachis with its two rows of spikelets
being called a "raceme." the total inflorescence being a panicle of 4 to 90 of
252
-------
these racemes attached along an axis, the axis being elongate); zone of abscission
just below each lemma, the marginal basal portion of the lemma pubescent or
nearly glabrous.
A genus of about 27 species in the warmer parts of the world.
1. Lemma 1-1.5 mm. long (2)
1. Lemma at least 1.8 mm. long (3)
2(1). Panicles more than 10 times as long as broad; racemes stiffly ascending
or appressed 4. L. Nealleyi.
2. Panicles much less than 10 times as long as broad 5. L. filiformis.
3(1). Recemes usually more than 40 per panicle; spikelets 3.5-4.5 mm. long;
lemmas about 2 mm. long, acute 3. L. panicoides.
3. Racemes usually fewer than 40 per panicle; spikelets 4-10 mm. long; lemmas
1.8—4 mm. long (4)
4(3). Lemmas lance-elliptic, acute and acuminate, 2.5-4 mm. long
1. L. fascicularis.
4. Lemmas obovate, blunt, 1.8—3 mm. long 2. L. uninervia.
1. Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray. BEARDED SPRANGLETOP. Fig. 119.
Tufted annual; culms 2-9 dm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, erect or geniculately
ascending, sparingly branched, leafy, soft; ligule a hyaline scale 2.5-6 mm. long,
usually lacerate into several strap-shaped parts, the lateral portions resembling
auricles on the sheaths; blades 5-35 cm. long, 2—10 mm. broad, flat or soon
involute; panicles 15-30 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad, usually partly included in the
sheath; racemes 14 to 35, widely spaced on the panicle axis but appressed or
ascending and overlapping, 3—11 cm. long, 3—5 mm. thick; spikelets scarcely
laterally compressed, overlapping, 5-10 mm. long, 6- to 12-flowered; glumes
1.5-3.5 mm. long, acute; lemma lance-elliptic, 2.5-4 mm." long, acute or acumi-
nate to mucronate or short-awned, pubescent near the margin in the lower half,
the hairs conspicuous from the side of the spikelet under a lens.
Muddy areas, sometimes alkaline or subsaline mud, brackish marshes, about
playa lakes, in seepage areas, and in shallow water of ponds and streams, in
Okla. (Logan and Pawnee cos.), in the Tex. Plains Country, Trans-Pecos, Rio
Grande Plains, and n.-cen. and s.e. Tex., scattered but locally abundant, N. M.
(Lea, Socorro, Dona Ana, Chaves and Eddy cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Navajo,
Graham, Gila, Final, Cochise and Pima cos.) summer-fall; widespread in the
warmer parts of the New World, n. to N. E., N. D. and Wash. (See remark under
L. uninervia.)
2. Leptochloa uninervia (Presl) Hitchc. & Chase. Fig. 120.
Much like L. fascicularis, identical in habit; racemes 20 to 40, 2-8 cm. long;
spikelets 4-9 mm. long; glumes and lemmas much less acute, the latter 1.8-3 mm.
long, obovate and obtuse or muticous, sometimes mucronate, the pubescence in-
conspicuous or hidden when spikelet is viewed from the side.
Mud, sometimes alkaline or subsaline mud, in ditches, along and in sloughs
and river sand bars, in Okla. (Love Co.) and in the Tex. Edwards Plateau, Rio
Grande Plains, s.e. and Trans-Pecos Tex., to be expected in n.-cen. Tex. and the
Plains Country, scattered, spring-summer, rarely into fall; widespread but scat-
tered in the warmer parts of the New World n. to N. E., Okla., Colo., Ut. and
Ore. Perhaps only a form of L. fascicularis.
3. Leptochloa panicoides (Presl) Hitchc.
Tufted annual; culms 5-10 dm. long, 2-6 mm. thick, erect, sparingly or not
branched, leafy, soft; ligule a hyaline usually lacerate scale 2-4 mm. long; blades
2-5 dm. long, 3-10 mm. broad, folded or drying involute; sheaths sharply keeled;
253
-------
Fig. 119: Lepiochloa Jascici/laris: a, floret, showing awned lemma with bifid apex,
X 12: b, spikelets. X 8; c, grain, X 20; d, habit, showing the branching culms and the
panicles. X }4; e, floret, showing palea, X 12; f, leaf sheath and fimbriate ligule, X 4
(From Mu!>on, Fig. 73).
-------
Fig. 120: Leptochloa uninervia: a, spikelets, X 8; b and c, floret, showing palea
and the apiculate lemma, the margins basally pubescent, X 16; d, habit, X %; e, grain,
X 16; f, leaf sheath and the bilobed ligule, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 74).
-------
panicles 1-2 dm. long, 3-6 cm. wide; racemes 40 to 90, crowded, ascending, 2-5
cm. long, 2-3 mm. thick; spikelets laterally compressed, closely overlapping, 5- to
7-flowered, 3.5-4.5 mm. long; glumes and lemma acute, about 2 mm. long,
mucronate, pubescent laterally on the lower part.
Mud, e. and s.e. Tex., rare, spring-fall; nat. of Braz.; Mo. to Miss., Ark. and
Tex.; adv. in India.
4. Leptochloa Nealleyi Vasey.
Tufted annual; culms 5-15 dm. long, 1.5-6 mm. thick, erect, unbranched,
leafy; ligule a somewhat lacerate scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 1-4 dm. long, 2-7
mm. broad, flat or basally folded or drying involute; sheaths sharply keeled; pani-
cles 2-5 dm. long, 1-3 cm. broad; racemes 25 to 85, overlapping, 1-10 cm.
long, about 2 mm. thick, stiffly ascending or appressed; spikelets laterally com-
pressed, closely overlapping, 3- or 4-flowered, 2-3 mm. long; glumes and lemmas
about 1 mm. long, the former acute, the latter blunt and awnless with slightly
pubescent nerves.
Mud, near the coast, in marshes and in mud and water of sloughs, s.e. Tex.
and Rio Grande Plains, scattered, spring-fall; coastal areas, Tam. to La.
5. Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) Beauv. RED SPRANGLETOP. Fig. 121.
Tufted annual; culms 2-9 dm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, geniculate and occasionally
rooting at lower nodes, sparingly branched, ascending, leafy, soft; ligule a hyaline
somewhat lacerate scale about 1 mm. long; blades 2-20 cm. long, 1.5-10 mm.
broad, flat; sheaths papillose-pilose; panicles 7-35 cm. long, 2-21 cm. broad;
racemes 7 to 70, remote, 1-15 cm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, diverging from axis
at angles of 40°-90°; spikelets not much-compressed laterally, 1.4-2.6 mm. long,
3- or 4-flowered, barely overlapping; glumes lanceolate, the second one sur-
passing the lowest lemma; lemma blunt, 1-1.5 mm. long, awnless, pubescent on
the nerves.
Moist soil and mud, along streams, on flats, and alluvial banks, in Okla.
(Waterfall) and in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., Rio Grande Plains and rarely w.
to e. Plains Country, scattered, in N. M. (Dona Ana and Sierra cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima and Yuma cos.),
late spring-fall; widely distributed in the warmer parts of the New World n. to
Va., Ind., 111., Mo., Kan., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
36. Cynodon RICH.
A genus of perhaps 10 species of the warmer parts of the Old World; one
species now nearly ubiquitous in warmer parts of the whole world.
1. Cynodon Dactylon (L.) Pers. BERMUDA GRASS, PATA DE OALI.O. Fig. 122.
Rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial; aerial culms 1-4 (10) dm. long, 1-2
mm. thick, the lower portions stoloniferous and much-branched, distal portions
ascending; ligule a double fringe of cilia, a shorter denser fringe about 0.5 mm.
long and sparser hairs 1-2 mm. long; blades 1-8 (-13) cm. long, 1-4 mm.
broad, mostly flat or folded, ascending; sheaths pilose at the corners; panicles
flabellate, of digitate spikes; spikes 3 to 7 (usually 4 or 5) per panicle, 1-6 cm.
long, about 1 mm. thick, ascending; spikelets sessile, very crowded, 1-flowered,
1-5-2 (-2.5) mm. long, strongly compressed, arranged in 2 rows along and ap-
pressed to one side of the very narrow rachis; glumes 1-1.5 mm. long, narrow,
acute, persistent, the single nerve forming a keel; zone of abscission below the
lemma; lemma 1.5-2 mm. long, awnless, slightly cartilaginous, pubescent on the
dorsal keel, with lateral nerves very near the margin. C. maritimus H.B.K.
Loamy, usually alluvial, seasonally moist, sometimes alkaline or subsaline,
soils, capable of surviving periodic submersion about hot springs, nearly through-
out Tex. to Ariz. (Graham Co.), most abundant in the coastal areas of s.e. Tex.
256
-------
Fig. 121: Leptochloa filiformis: a, spikelets on rachis, X 20; b, seed, X 20; c, leaf
sheath and ligule, X 4; d, floret, X 20; e, habit, showing the long panicles and spread-
ing-ascending spikes, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 72).
-------
Fig. 122: Cynodon Dactylon: plant, X 1j; spikelet and two views of floret, X 5.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
and Rio Grande Plains, spring-fall and in the extreme s. in winter; nat. of Euras.,
introd. and ubiquitous in disturbed areas, warmer parts of Am. n. to N. E.,
Mich., la., Colo., Ut., Nev. and Ore.
Very important as a forage in tame pastures, and as a lawngrass.
37. Beckmannia HOST.
Two species confined to the North Temperate Zone.
1. Beckmannia Sysigachne (Steud.) Fern. AMERICAN SLOUGH GRASS. Fig. 123.
Annual; culms light green, erect, rather stout, 3-10 dm. tall; blades flat; panicle
10-25 cm. long, narrow, more or less interrupted; spikes crowded, 1-2 cm.
long, appressed or ascending; spikelets 1-flowered, laterally compressed, subcir-
cular, nearly sessile and closely imbricate, in 2 rows along one side of a slender
continuous rachis, disarticulating below the glumes, falling entire, 3 mm. long;
glumes equal in size, inflated, obovate, 3-nerved, transversely wrinkled and with
a deep keel; lemma narrow, 5-nerved, acuminate with the apex protruding beyond
the glumes; palea nearly as long as the lemma.
Marshy flats, ditches, swampy grounds, wet meadows, in mud of irrigated fields
and edge of lakes and ponds, in N. M. (Rio Arriba, San Juan and Taos cos);
Man. to Alas.; N. Y. and O. to Pac. Coast, s. to Kan. and N.M.; Asia.
38. Spartina SCHREB. CORDGRASS
Perennials; ligule a fringe of cilia; panicle of several spikes; zone of abscission
at the base of the spikelet; spikelet strongly laterally compressed, very closely
imbricate, arranged in 2 rows on the abaxial side of the flattened rachis of the
spike, 1-flowered, firm; glumes very unequal, the first shorter than the lemma,
the second longer than the lemma; palea often longer than the lemma but shorter
than the second glume.
A genus of about 16 species, mostly American but a few on the coasts of
Europe and Africa.
These plants afford protection for wildlife in coastal and inland marshes. Their
seeds are eaten by some species of ducks, marsh birds and songbirds, and the
rootstocks also provide valuable winter food for geese. Muskrats are also known
to feed on their underground parts.
1. Spikelets 15—25 mm. long, including the awn; second glume with an awnlike
tip a third to a half its entire length; keels of second glume and
lemma with bristles 0.2-0.4 mm. long 6. S. pectinata.
1. Spikelets 5-15 mm. long, awnless; keel of second glume and lemma often
minutely pubescent but not pectinate (2)
2(1). Spikes numbering only 2 to 7 (to 10) per panicle, often remote (the panicle
axis being 9-20 cm. long); culms only 2-4 mm. thick and rhizomes
present (3)
2. Spikes more numerous per panicle and more crowded or if few then culms
thicker and/or rhizomes absent (4)
3(2). Blades usually flat but becoming involute; glumes conspicuously hispid-
ciliate on the keels; spikes 4 to 8, appressed 4. S. gracilis.
3. Blades usually involute; glumes scabrous on the keels; spikes 2 to several,
ascending to spreading 5. S. patens.
4(2). Spikes 1-3.5 cm. long; panicle spikelike, 5-10 mm. thick; rhizomes absent;
leaf blades nearly wholly involute, 2-5 mm. broad at base
1. S. spartinae.
4. Spikes 4-15 cm. long; panicles 7-70 mm. broad; rhizomes present; leaf blades
4-25 mm. broad at base, mostly flat (5)
259
-------
Fig. 123: Beckmannia Syzigachne: a, panicle, showing the ascending spikes, X %;
b, habit, X %; c, floret, X 12: d, spikelet, laterally compressed, X 8; e, grain X 12'
f, leaf sheath and ligule, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 59).
-------
Fig. 124: Spartina spartinae: a, basal part of plant, X %; b, middle section of plant,
X %; c, upper part of plant, X %; d, ligule, X 2; e, spikelet, X 6. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
5(4). Panicle mostly less than 3 cm. broad; spikes only 5 to 30 per panicle;
rhizomes soft; culms 6-15 dm. long 2. S. alterniflora.
5. Panicle mostly more than 3 cm. broad; spikes usually 25 to 45 per panicle;
rhizomes firm; culm firm and tough, 9-30 dm. long •_
3 5. cynosuroides.
1. Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Hitchc. SACAHUISTA, GULF CORDGRASS. Fig. 124.
Tufted perennial; lowermost internodes occasionally shortly subrhizomatous
toward the outside of the large tuft but true rhizomes absent; culms numerous,
5-20 dm. long, 2.4 mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule 1-2 mm. long; blades
2-7 dm. long, 2-5 mm. broad at the base, closely involute essentially the entire
length, the tips sharp and spinelike; panicle spikelike, 6-40 cm. long, 5-9 mm.
thick, usually tapered to both ends; spikes 10 to 75 per panicle, 10-35 mm. long,
3-4 mm. thick, closely appressed and overlapping; spikelets 16 to 40 per spike,
5-8 mm. long; first glume 2-6 mm. long; second glume 4-8 mm. long; lemma
about equaling second glume; keels of glumes and lemma minutely hispid.
Abundant in tight loamy somewhat saline poorly drained flats, marshes, swamps
and wet coastal prairies, in s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, extremely abundant
near the coast, rare and scattered inland (e.g. Gonzales Co.), spring-summer,
rarely fall; Gulf and Carib. shores, U.S., Mex. and C.A.; also inland in S.L.P.,
Coah. and N. L.; also inland in Arg. and Parag.
The young shoots emerging after fires are good forage but the older shoots
are much too tough even for horses. Formerly vast acreage of sacahuista were
therefore burned over purposely in the ranches of southern Texas; the practice
is less common now.
2. Spartina alterniflora Lois. SMOOTH CORDGRASS. Fig. 125.
Perennial from relatively soft deeply buried (and seldom collected) branched
rhizomes 4-7 mm. thick; aerial culms 6—15 dm. long, 3—14 mm. thick, erect,
unbranched, leafy; ligule 1-2 mm. long; blades 20-55 cm. long, 4-16 (-25) mm.
broad at the very base, flat, distally involute and wholly involute on drying; pan-
icle 1-4 dm. long, 7-22 mm. thick, tapered to both ends, somewhat spikelike but
lax; spikes 5 to 30 per panicle, 4-10 cm. long, 3-5 mm. thick, appressed or usually
diverging at angles of 10°-20°, closely overlapping; spikelets 10 to 40 per spike,
8-14 mm. long; first glume 4-10 mm. long; second glume as long as spikelet, the
lemma a little shorter; keels of glumes and lemma with some minute pubescence.
Incl. var. glabra (Muhl.) Fern.
Abundant in colonies at the tidally-innundated shores of brackish to hypersaline
bays and river-mouths, along the Tex. coast, locally common, summer-fall; nat. to
the e. coast of N.A. from the Maritime Provinces to Tex., and also S.A. from
Gui. to Arg.; introd. in Wash., and in Fr. and Eng.
3. Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth. BIG CORDGRASS. Fig. 126.
Perennial from deeply buried (rarely collected) rhizomes 7-15 mm. thick;
aerial culms 9-30 dm. long, 4-25 mm. thick, erect, unbranched, leafy; ligule 1-3
mm. long; blades 25-70 cm. long, 10-22 mm. broad at base, flat, at the tip in-
volute; panicle 15-30 cm. long, 4-7 cm. broad, more or less ellipsoidal; spikes 5
to 67 (usually 25 to 45) per panicle, 5-15 cm. long, 3-6 cm thick, basally shortly
naked, usually diverging at angles of 20°-30°, overlapping; spikelets 30 to 70 per
spike, 9-14 mm. long; first glume 3-7 mm. long; second glume as long as spikelets,
the lemma a little shorter; glumes and lemmas minutely pubescent on the keels or
wholly glabrous.
Locally abundant in colonies in muck at tidally submerged shores of brackish
bays and river-mouths, also in marshes, in s.e. Tex. (Chambers, Galveston and
Harris cos.), summer; coasts from Mass, to Tex.
262
-------
Fig. 125: Spartina alternifolia: a, basal part of plant, X %; b, section of center of
plant, X %; c, top of plant, X %; d, ligule, X 4; e, spikelet, X 5. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 126: Spartina cynosiiroiclcs: a, basal part of plant, X V?t; b, lower center sec-
tion of stem, X '3; c, upper center section of stem, X %; d, inflorescence, X '/)'. e, ligule,
X 1; f, spikelet, X 3'3. (Courtesy of R. Godfrey).
-------
4. Spartina gracilis Trin. ALKALI CORDGRASS. Fig. 127.
Culms 3-10 dm. tall; ligules about 1 mm. long; blades flat, becoming involute,
15-20 cm. long, very scabrous above, mostly less than 5 mm. wide; spikes 4 to 8,
closely appressed, 2-A cm. long; spikelets 6-8 mm. long; glumes long-ciliate on
the keel, acute, the first 5-6 mm. long, about half as long as the second; lemma
nearly as long as second glume, ciliate on the keel; palea as long as lemma, obtuse.
Alkaline meadows and saline marshes and ditches, plains, in Ariz. (Apache and
Navajo cos.); B. C. to Wash., s. to Kan., N.M. (Hitchcock) and Ariz.
5. Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. SALTMEADOW CORDGRASS. Fig. 128.
Perennial from creeping rhizomes 2-4 mm. thick; aerial culms 25-29 cm. long,
1-3 mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule about 0.5 mm. long; blades 15-40 cm.
long, 1.5-3 mm. broad, mostly involute, the tip subspinose; panicle 9-20 cm. long,
about 1 cm. broad; spikes 2 to 7 per panicle, 1-7 cm. long. 2-3 mm. thick,
usually diverging at angles of 5°-45°, remote; spikelets 24 to 50 per spike, 7-12
mm. long; first glume 3-8 mm, long; second glume 7-12 mm. long; lemma shorter
than second glume; glumes and lemma hispid on keel, at least distally.
Sandy seasonally moist soil near the coast, salt marshes and wet sandy mea-
dows, in s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, common, summer-fall; shores of Great
Lakes, Atl. and Gulf coasts, cont. N.A. and W.I.; also s. Fr., Corsica and It.
6. Spartina pectinata Link. PRAIRIE CORDGRASS. Fig. 127.
Perennial from firm creeping rhizomes 3-8 mm. thick; aerial culms 75-200 cm.
long, 3-10 mm. thick, erect, unbranched, leafy; lignle 1-3 mm. long; blades 2-6
dm. long. 5-10 mm. broad at base and flat, involute toward the tip and more
extensively involute on drying; panicle 1-3 dm. long. 2-6 cm. broad; spikes 5 to
20 (rarely more) per panicle, 2-15 cm. long, 3-7 mm. thick, appressed or usually
diverging at angles of 10°-20°, overlapping; spikelets 40 to 80 (rarely fewer) per
spike; first glume 5-10 mm. long including an awnlike tip, the keel minutely
hispid; second glume 15-25 mm. long including an awn-tip about a third to half
the entire length, the keel pectinate with erect bristles 0.2-0.4 mm. long; lemma
much shorter than the second glume, apically narrowed and bidentate, on the
upper half of the dorsal keel pectinate. Incl. var. Suttiei (Farw.) Fern.
In wet meadows, swampy ground, fresh-water or saline marshes, seepage areas,
edge of ponds and streams, in Okla. (Ottawa and Alfalfa cos.) and n.-cen. and e.
Tex., Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, scattered or rare, summer; s. Can., s. to
N.C., Tenn., Ark., Tex., N.M. (Hitchcock), Ut. and Ore.
39. Trichloris FOURN.
A very small American genus, included by some authors in Chloris.
1. Trichloris crinita (Lag.) Parodi. Fig. 129.
Tufted coarse perennial; culms 4-12 dm. long; blades elongate, 2-4 mm. broad,
pilose near the ligule; spikes digitate, 8 to 25 per panicle, 5-12 cm. long, feathery,
nearly straight, strictly ascending; spikelets each with one fertile floret and one
staminate or neutral; fertile lemma about 3 mm. long, both lemmas with 3 awns
about 1 cm. long.
Deep alluvial silty soil along or near intermittent creeks and along ditc1
infrequent in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and rare in w. Rio Grande Plains, N.
(Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Graham, Final, Maricopa, Cochise and Pima cos.
spring-fall; Tex. to Ariz, and s. to Dgo. and Coah.; also arid-temp, areas in
S.A.
-------
Fig. 127: 1, Spartina pectinata'. plant, X V->\ spikelet and floret, X 5. 2, Spartina
gracilis: panicle, X 1; spikelet, X 5. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 128: Spartina patens: a, habit, X %: b, ligule, X 2; c, spikelet; X 4. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
40. Hierochloe R. BR.
About 30 species in temperate and cold regions as well as tropical mountains
in both hemispheres.
1. Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv. SWEET GRASS. Fig. 130.
Culms 3-6 dm. tall, with few to several leafy shoots and slender creeping
rhizomes; blades 2-5 mm. wide, sometimes wider, those of the sterile shoots
elongate, those of the culm mostly less than 5 cm. long, rarely to 10 cm. long;
panicle pyramidal, 4-12 cm. long, from somewhat compact to loose with slender
drooping branches; spikelets mostly short-pediceled, 5 mm. long; staminate lemmas
awnless or nearly so; fertile lemma pubescent toward the apex.
Wet meadows, bogs and moist places, in N. M. (San Miguel and Mora cos.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Pima cos.); Lab. to Alas., s. to N. J., Ind.,
la., Ore., and in the mts. to N. M. and Ariz.; Euras.
This plant, also known as holy grass, vanilla grass, and seneca grass, is said to
be used by the Indians in some parts of the United States for making fragrant
baskets.
41. Phalaris L. CANARY GRASS
Soft tufted annuals or perennials with broad flat blades and large hyaline
scalelike ligules; inflorescences terminal dense capitate ovoid or spikelike panicles;
spikelets sessile, 90 to 800 per panicle, strongly laterally compressed (the plane of
the glumes perpendicular or at an angle to the axis of the panicle, in transection
tangential to the panicle); glumes nearly equal, large, cymbiform, enclosing and
hiding the rest of the spikelet, strongly keeled and usually with wings on the
upper part of the keels, usually with a strong lateral nerve on each side; zone of
abscission just above the glumes; fertile floret solitary (persistently subtended at
the base by 2 awns or scales or glandlike structures representing the remains of
reduced sterile florets); lemma compressed-ovoid, cartilaginous, nerveless, enclos-
ing and falling with the palea and caryopsis (grain), usually antrorsely strigose.
About 20 species in temperate regions.
1. Perennial with creeping rhizomes; panicle interrupted below, the branches
spreading in anthesis 1. P. arundinacea.
1. Annuals (2)
2(1). Panicle mostly 2-6 cm. long, tapering to each end; glumes 5-6 mm. long....
2. P caroliniana.
2. Panicle mostly 2-17 cm. long, subcylindric; glumes 3.5-4 mm. long
3. P. angusta.
1. Phalaris arundinacea L. REED CANARY GRASS. Fig. 131.
Perennial with creeping rhizomes, glaucous; culms erect, 6-15 dm. tall, gla-
brous; panicle 5-20 cm. long, pale green or tinged with purple, narrow and dense
or interrupted below, the branches spreading during anthesis, the lower ones as
much as 5 cm. long; spikelets 5-6 mm. long; glumes about 5 mm. long, sharply
keeled, narrow, acute, longer than the lemmas, the keels scabrous, wingless or very
narrowly winged; fertile lemma lancolate, 3-4 mm. long, shining, with a few
appressed hairs in upper part; narrow, scale-like sterile lemmas villous, 1 mm. long.
Sloughs, marshes, wet meadows, in mud and shallow water of ponds, lakes and
streams, in N. M. (Sandoval Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.); N.B. to Alas., s. to
N. C., Ky., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
2. Phalaris caroliniana Walt. Fig. 1 30.
Tufted annual; culms 23-100 cm. long, 1-4 mm. thick, erect, sparingly branched
in the lower part; ligule a hyaline scale 1-5 mm. long; blades 5-12 (-20) cm. long,
268
-------
Fig. 129: A, Trichloris crinita: plant, X %; glumes and florets, X 5. B, T. pluriflora
(not included here.). (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 130: 1, Hicrocliloe odoraia: plant, X Jj-, spikelets, florets and fertile florets,
X 5. 2, Phalaris caroliniana: plant, X 1; glumes and floret, X 5. (From Hitchcock &
Chase).
-------
2-9 (-13) mm. broad, flat; panicle 1-6 (-9) cm. long, 8-20 mm. thick, ovoid to
subcylindric, glumes 4.2-6.7 mm. long, narrowly winged, as viewed from the side
3 or 4 times as long as broad; "sterile florets" subulate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long; fertile
floret 3-4.7 mm. long; grain 2-2.3 mm. long.
Abundant in loamy usually alluvial soils near creeks, in disturbed soils along
roadsides and in fallow fields and pastures, in shallow water and in wet sandy
edge of ponds and lakes, in Okla. (Waterfall), throughout Tex., common toward
the coast, rare in the Trans-Pecos and w. Plains Country, N. M. (Grant Co.) and
Ariz. (Graham, Gila and Yavapai to Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.), spring; Va.
to Okla. and s. to the Gulf States; also Ore., Calif., s. Nev., Ariz, and N.M., s. to
Son., Ch.ih. and Coah.
3. Phalaris angusta Trin.
Tufted annual; culms 55-150 cm. long, 2-6 mm. thick, erect, sparingly branched
in the lower part; ligule a hyaline scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 2-25 cm. long, 3-10
mm. broad, flat; panicle 2.5-17 cm. long, 6-15 mm. broad, cylindrical; glumes
3-5.5 mm. long, narrowly winged, as viewed from the side nearly 4 times as long
as broad; "sterile florets" subulate, 0.7-1.5 mm. long; fertile floret 2.1-3.8 mm.
long; grain 1.4-1.6 mm. long.
Locally abundant in moist loamy soil near and in ditches, creeks and bayous,
in s.e. Tex., also Ariz. (Final Co.), Mar.-Apr.; Ga. to Tex., w. Ariz., Calif., S. A.;
introd. into S. Afr.
42. Oryza L.
About 25 species in the Old World tropics and subtropics; we have one.
1. Oryza sativa L. RICE. Fig. 132.
Robust annual; culms 6-20 dm. long, 4-20 mm. thick, erect, often rooting from
lower nodes; ligule a firm lacerate scale 2-6 mm. long; blades 1-6 dm. long, 4-14
mm. broad, flat; inflorescence an open branched drooping panicle 15-40 cm. long,
each branch bearing a number of large spikelets; zone of abscission below each
spikelet; spikelets sessile or usually on very short pedicels, appressed to the
branches, slightly laterally compressed; lowermost parts of spikelets (interpreted
either as two sterile lemmas or two glumes) small, lance-subulate, scalelike, 2-3
mm. long; fertile floret solitary; lemma and palea fitting closely together, 7-10
mm. long, pubescent, brownish, shining, cartilaginous-indurate, the lemma mucro-
nate (or in some varieties awned).
Volunteering in ditches and other muddy and seasonally flooded areas in s.e.
Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and s.-cen. and s.e. Tex., late summer-fall; warm parts of
the world, indigenous to Old World trop.; in Am. n. to Va. and the Gulf States.
Economically and for the direct use of mankind this is undoubtedly the single
most important plant species in the world.
43. Leersia Sw.
Perennials with few slender wiry culms; inflorescences lax open panicles with
capillary branches; zone of abscission at the base of the spikelet; spikelets secund
along the abaxial sides of the distal portions of the branchlets, overlapping, each
consisting of a solitary naked fertile floret (glumes or sterile florets absent),
laterally compressed (both lemma and palea keeled), cartilaginous, with obscure
or conspicuous nerves.
About 15 species in warmer regions of the world.
1. Floret only 1 to 1.5 times as long as broad 1. L. lenticularis.
1. Floret at least twice as long as broad (2)
2(1). Spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long, closely imbricate and usually parallel with the
branches of the panicle 4. L. virginica.
271
-------
Fig. 131: Phalaris arundinacca: a, floret, showing fertile and sterile lemmas, X 8;
b, spikelet, showing the strongly keeled glumes, fertile lemma and palea, X 8; c, panicle,
interrupted below, X -:,: d, leaf sheath, ligule, blade and mode, X %; e, habit, showing
creeping rhizome, X Ms', f, upper part of culm, showing panicle, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 79).
-------
Fig. 132: Oryza sativa: plant, X %; spikelet, X 5. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
2. Spikelets about 4 mm. long, loosely imbricate and usually pendulous and pec-
tinately arranged at an angle to the branches of the panicle (3)
3(2). Panicles 10-20 cm. long, open, the branches diverging 2. L. oryzoides.
3. Panicles 5-10 cm. long, narrow, the branches ascending or appressed •••••
3. L. hexandra.
1. Leersia lenticularis Michx. CATCHFLY GRASS. Fig. 133.
Perennial with short scaly rhizomes (these seldom present on prepared speci-
mens); aerial culms 7-15 dm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, erect or often sprawling and
distally ascending; ligule a tough scale about 0.5 mm. long; blades 13-40 cm, long,
1-2 cm. broad, flat; panicle 1-2 dm. long, very open and subpyramidal, often
nodding, the branches naked about half their length; florets 4-5 mm. long, nearly
or quite as broad as long, sparsely pubescent, the keels comb-toothed.
Sloughs, bayous, ditches, swamps and in mud and shallow water, and marshy
prairies in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent or locally abundant,
late summer-fall; Md. to Minn., s. to the Gulf States.
2. Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw. RICE CUTGRASS. Fig. 134.
Perennial with short slender scaly rhizomes; culms 7-15 dm. long, 2-3 mm.
thick, often decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes or erect, shortly bearded
at the nodes; ligule a firm scale about 0.5 mm. long; blades (3-) 7-25 cm. long,
6-11 mm. broad, flat; panicle 1-2 dm. long, open, the branches diverging, naked
for less than half their length; florets 3.7-5.5 mm. long, about 2.5 times as long
as broad, pubescent, the keels comb-toothed.
Near and along creeks, in marshes, swamps, muddy borders of ponds, ditches
and rivers, often forming dense zones, in Okla. (McCurtain, Ottawa and Stephens
cos.) and in e. and n.-cen. Tex., Edwards Plateau, n.w. part of Rio Grande Plains
and Plains Country, and Ariz. (Navajo Co.), infrequent, mostly spring-fall; most
of U. S. n. to Que. and B. C. (not known from Mont., Wyo., Nev. or Mex.)
The seeds and rootstocks of this species are a favorite food of various ducks,
marsh birds and shore birds.
3. Leersia hexandra Sw. Fig. 135.
Perennial with short slender scaly rhizomes; culms 5-10 dm. long, 1.5-3 mm.
thick, usually long-decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes, shortly bearded at
the nodes; ligule a firm scale about 0.5 mm. long; blades 5-18 cm. long, 3-7 (-10)
mm. broad, flat; panicle 5-9 (-12) cm. long, 1-2 cm. broad, the few branches
acending or appressed, naked for less than half their length; florets 3.3-4.5 mm.
long, about 2.5 times as long as broad, sparsely pubescent, the keels minutely
comb-toothed.
Near creeks, in shallow water of ditches and \vet places, and in rivers and
resacas in e. and s.e. Tex. and coastal parts of the Rio Grande Plains, infrequent,
spring-fall; widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, in Am. n. to. Va. and
the Gulf States.
4. Leersia virginica Willd. WHITE GRASS. Fig. 135.
Perennial with short rhizomes 2^ mm. thick (these seldom present on pre-
pared specimens); culms 25-120 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. thick, often geniculate and
rooting at a few of the lower nodes but mostly ascending or erect, upper nodes
minutely bearded; ligule a scale about 1 mm. long; blades 4-10 (-13) cm. long,
3-8 mm. broad, flat; panicle 5-10 (-18) cm. long, the very few branches diverg-
ing, naked for more than half their length; florets 2.5-3 mm. long closely ap-
pressed and parallel to the branches, 2 to 3 times as long as broad, microscopically
pubescent on sides and keels.
274
-------
Fig. 133: Leersia lenticularis: a, basal part of plant, X
branch of panicle, X 1. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
; b, top of plant, X
-------
Fig. 134: Leersia oryzoides: a, panicle, X %; b, seed, X 8; c, habit, showing the
slender creeping rhizomes and the culms with decumbent bases, X i&; d, spikelet,
laterally compressed, the glumes wanting, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 71).
-------
Swamps and bogs along bayous, rivers and streams, and sand flats on the edge
of ponds and lakes, in Okla. (Creek Co.) and in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., infrequent
to rare, spring-fall; e. U.S. w. to S.D., Neb., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
44. Zizania L. WILD-RICE
Tall aquatic annuals or perennials with flat blades; panicles large, terminal, the
lower branches ascending or spreading and bearing the pendulous early deciduous
staminate spikelets, the upper branches ascending (at maturity erect) and bearing
the appressed tardily deciduous pistillate spikelets; spikelets 1-flowered, disarticulat-
ing from the pedicel; glumes obsolete, represented by a small collarlike ridge;
staminate spikelet soft; lemma 5-nerved, membranaceous, linear, acuminate or
awn-pointed; palea about as long as the lemma, 3-nerved; stamens 6; pistillate
spikelet terete, angled at maturity; lemma chartaceous, 3-nerved, tapering into a
long slender awn; palea 2-nerved, closely clasped by the lemma; grain cylindric,
1-2 cm. long.
A genus of 2 species in North America and one in Asia.
1. Perennial, long-decumbent at base, growing in rapidly flowing water
1. Z. texana.
1. Annual, erect, growing usually in shallow still water 2. Z. aquatica.
1. Zizania texana Hitchc. TEXAS WILD-RICE. Fig. 135.
Coarse perennial; culms long-decumbent and rooting at nodes, stoloniform,
distally ascending, 1-3 m. long, 3-13 mm. thick; ligule a scale 5-15 mm. long;
blades 12-110 cm. long, 5-23 mm. broad, flat, forming long streamers beneath
surface of water; panicle 2-3 dm. long, the lower portion with spreading branches
bearing staminate spikelets, the upper part with ascending or appressed branches
bearing pistillate spikelets; zone of abscission below the floret or spikelet: spikelets
consisting of a single naked floret (glumes obsolete or absent); staminate spikelets
pendulous, 7-9 mm. long, 1.5 mm. broad, not indurated nor awned; pistillate
spikelets erect, about 10 mm. long and 1 mm. broad, terete or at least not laterally
compressed, the lemma indurate at maturity and bearing an awn 10-23 mm. long.
In clear cool fast-flowing spring-water in the San Marcos River, Hays Co., Tex.,
where it is becoming rare, fall-spring, usually early spring; endemic.
2. Zizania aquatica L. NORTHERN WILD-RICE. Fig. 136.
Tall annual; culms robust, to 1.5 m. long, often long-decumbent at base and
rooting at the nodes, spongy, but usually thickened at the nodes; sheaths glabrous,
somewhat inflated above; blades flat 5-12 (to 50) mm. wide, densely pubescent
at the base on both surfaces and on the nodes, otherwise minutely scabrous; ligules
5-10 mm. long, ovate, hyaline, acute or somewhat lacerate at the summit; panicles
large, 3-5 dm. long, terminal, monoecious, the lower branches ascending or
spreading, bearing 1 to 15 pendulous reddish staminate spikelets on short capillary
pedicels, the upper branches ascending, at maturity erect, bearing 2 to 6 appressed
pistillate spikelets on short club-shaped pedicels; the staminate spikelets early-
deciduous and the pistillate spikelets tardily deciduous; spikelets 1-flowered, dis-
articulating from the pedicel; glumes obsolete, represented by a small collarlike
ridge; pistillate spikelet terete, angled at maturity, 4.5-8 cm. long, bearing a long
bristlelike awn 2.5-6 cm. long (the body of the spikelet 2-3 cm. long); pistillate
lemma rather firm and tough to thin and papery, strawlike with a somewhat
lustrous glabrous surface, appressed-scabrous over the entire surface or on the
margins, at the base and summit, along the awn and sometimes on the 3 nerves,
the lemma closely clasping the palea by a pair of strong lateral nerves; aborted
spikelets are very slender and shriveled, without a definite body; caryopsis nar-
rowly cylindrical, about 1.5 cm. long, pale brown to dark brown.
277
-------
Fig. 135: 1, Zizania texana: plant, X %; pistillate and staminate spikelets, X 5. 2,
Leersia hexandra: X 1. 3, Leersia virginica; X 1. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 136: Zizania aquatica: a, top of plant, X %; b, staminate spikelet, X 4- c
pistillate spikelet, X 4. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
In water and mud of springs, marshes, lakes and ponds, in Ariz. (Coconino Co.,
s. of Flagstaff), June-Sept.; in most of s. Can. and e. U.S., w. to Minn., Ariz.
and Mo.
Several varieties are recognized. Our plant is referred to var. augustifolia Hitchc.,
characterized by having leaves 4—15 mm. wide, ligules 3-10 mm. long, and lower
pistillate branches with 2 to 6 spikelets.
This provides the "wild rice" of commerce, and it is still harvested to some
extent in the Great Lakes region. The seeds are a favorite food of ducks, rails,
blackbirds, bobolinks and other birdlife, and it is especially valuable in northern
United States and Canada where it thrives in mud and water of quiet lakes
and ponds.
45. Zizaniopsis DOELL & ASCH.
A genus of 4 species in North America and South America; we have one
species.
1. Zizaniopsis miliacea (Michx.) Doell & Asch. SOUTHERN WILD-RICE. Fig. 137.
Coarse perennial from creeping rhizomes, 5-11 mm. thick; culms 9-30 dm.
long, 5-15 mm. thick, rooting at some of the lower nodes, mostly erect and
unbranched; ligule a scale 5-15 mm. long; blades 15-100 cm. long, 8-22 mm.
broad, flat; panicle 3-6 dm. long, 10-17 cm. broad, the main branches verticillate
and ascending, much verticillately rebranched with each branchlet bearing some
pistillate spikelets and some staminate ones, both kinds ascending and appressed
and superficially similar; zone of abscission below the floret; each spikelet consist-
ing of a single naked floret (glumes obsolete or absent), 6-8 mm. long, ellipsoidal,
acuminate, not at all laterally compressed; lemma 7-nerved, mucronate or with
an awn 2-3 mm. long.
At the edges of streams, in marshes, along sloughs and in shallow water of
ponds and lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain and Pushmataha cos.) and s.e., e. and
n.-cen. Tex., Edwards Plateau and extreme n. Rio Grande Plains, locally abundant,
spring-fall; Coastal States, Md. to Tex., n. to Ky., Ark. and Okla.
46. Hydrochloa BEAUV.
A monotypic genus of southern United States.
1. Hydrochloa caroliniensis Beauv. Fig. 138.
Mostly submerged bottom-rooted aquatic perennial; culms 3-10 dm. long, about
0.5 mm. thick, often rooted at most nodes, somewhat branched; ligule a scale of
0.5—1 mm. long; blades floating near surface or usually emergent a few cm.,
2-4 (-6) cm. long, 2-3 (-5) mm. broad; panicles 5-20 mm. long, racemiform,
few-flowered, the terminal ones with staminate spikelets, the subterminal axillary
ones with pistillate spikelets; zone of abscission below the floret; each spikelet
consisting of a single naked floret (glumes obsolete or absent), not indurated and
scarcely compressed; staminate floret about 4 mm. long, pistillate ones about 2
mm. long.
Ponds, lakes and slow-flowing streams in e. Tex., rare, late summer; Coastal
States, N. C. to Tex.
This is a very inconspicuous grass and may well be more common than is indi-
cated by the few collections. It sometimes becomes so thick where it grows as to
become a nuisance.
47. Anthaenantia BEAUV.
Erect perennials with short creeping rhizomes; blades narrow, firm, flat, the
uppermost much-reduced: panicles terminal, narrow, the slender branches ascend-
ing or appressed; spikelets obovoid, 2-flowered, the lower flower reduced; first
280
-------
Fig. 137: Zizaniopsis miliacea: a, habit, about X 's: b, branch, X 1; c, young
iminate spikelets, X 5; 6, staminate spikelet, X 5; e, pistillate spikelet, X 5. (V. F.).
staminate
-------
Fig. 138. Hydrochloa carohmensis: a, habit, X %; b, young staminate spikelet,
X 5:, c, staminate spikelet, X 5; d, young pistillate spikelet, X 10; e, mature Distillate
spikelet, X 10; f, caryopsis, X 18. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey) pistillate
-------
glume absent; second glume and sterile lemma about equal, 5-nerved, the broad
internerves infolded, densely villous; sterile lemma with a small palea and some-
times with a staminate flower; fertile lemma cartilaginous, brown, with narrow
pale hyaline margins, cymbiform, 3-nerved, subacute.
An American genus of 2 species.
1. Blades erect or spreading, rather blunt or rounded at apex, linear, folded at
base; panicle usually purple 1. A. rufa.
1. Blades ascending or spreading (on the average shorter and broader than in
A. rufa), tapering to apex, rounded at base; panicle usually pale....
2. A. villosa.
1. Anthaenantia rufa (Ell.) Schult. Fig. 139.
Culms slender, 6-12 dm. tall; blades elongate, 3-5 mm. broad, often scabrous;
panicle 8-15 cm. long, usually purple; spikelets 3-4 mm. long.
Infrequent in wet savannahs and sandy woodlands, e. and s.e. Tex., summer-
fall; Coastal States, N. C. to Tex.
2. Anthaenantia villosa (Michx.) Beauv. Fig. 139.
Differing from A. rufa in the broader, mostly shorter, spreading blades and in
the usually pale panicles.
Rare in sandy woodlands and wet savannahs, in mud on edge of ponds, s.e.
and e. Tex., summer-fall; Coastal States, N.C. to Tex.
48. Digitaria FABR. CRABGRASS
A genus of several hundred species in warm regions, sometimes made to include
the related genera Trichachne and Leptoloma. The introduced annual crabgrasses,
D. sanguinalis, and the more abundant native *D. adscendens and D. diversiflora
are persistent and pernicious weeds in the loamy soil of plowed fields, lawns and
flowerbeds.
1. Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. NORTHERN CRABGRASS. Fig. 140.
Tufted and/or usually stoloniferous annual freely rooting at the nodes; culms
15-90 cm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, usually long-decumbent, ascending only at the
ends; ligule a thin scale 1-2 mm. long; blades 2-7 cm. long, 3-10 mm. broad,
flat, usually crisped, sparsely or usually densely papillose-pilose; sheaths papillose-
pilose; panicle axis 1-15 (-30) mm. long; racemes 2 to 11, 4-12 cm. long, 1-2
mm. thick, often purplish, the wing of the rachis as broad as the central rib; spike-
let 2.3-3.2 mm. long; first glume present but minute; second glume 1-1.9 mm.
long, narrow, a third to three fifths (usually half) as long as the spikelet; sterile
lemma as long as the spikelet, usually with a sparse short antrorse-appressed silky
fringe on the margins and the 2 to 4 lateral nerves usually with minute inflexible
pointed cilia (as seen under a powerful lens); "fruit" (the lemmas and its
enclosures) often pale-plumbeous.
Disturbed soil along roads, in fields and gardens, along irrigation ditches,
margin of ponds and spring branches and wet gravel bars, in Okla. (LeFlore,
Ottawa and Mayes cos.), frequent in the Tex. Plains country and infrequent to
Trans-Pecos, n.-cen. and e. Tex., s. as far as Travis and Gonzales cos., summer-
fall; s. Can., N. E., s. to Va., w. and s.w. to Wash., Calif, and Tex.; scattered in
U. S.; also Son., Chih. and Dgo.; introd. from n. Eur., now widespread in temp.
areas.
49. Eriochloa H. B. K. CUPGRASS
Tufted annuals or perennials; inflorescence an elongate panicle of racemes
attached in 2 rows along 1 side of a more or less flattened axis (or on 2 sides
when the axis is vaguely broadly triangular in transection); racemes with more
283
-------
Fig. 139: 1, Anthaenantia villosa: plant, X %; spikelet and floret, X 10. 2, An-
thaenanlhia rufa: spike, X 1. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
or less flattened (or in transection broadly triangular) rachises; zone of abscission
at the base of the spikelet below the callus; spikelets attached in 2 rows abaxially
on the rachis, strongly dorsally compressed, each with one perfect floret, solitary
or paired or at the bases of the raceme in racemelets of 3 (in extralimital species
the basal racemelets have up to 15 spikelets in 2 rows along the abaxial side of
a flattened rachilla, the "raceme" then being a small panicle), commonly the
uppermost spikelets solitary even when the lower ones are paired and the
pedicelled one slightly larger than the sterile one of the same pair; first glume
truncate, about 0.1 mm. long, discolored, closely investing the minute swollen
portion of the rachilla below the second glume, the swelling and the glume con-
stituting the "callus"; second glume as large as the spikelet, abaxial, marginally
often revolute; sterile lemma toward the rachis, nearly as large as the second
glume; fertile lemma abaxial, thin-cartilaginous but not indurate, stramineous,
elliptic-oblong, shorter than the second glume, marginally revolute and clasping
the palea of the same texture, surficially with microscopic transverse rugae or
puncticulate and apically mucronate or with an antrorsely scabrous awn.
About 20 species in warm regions. The spikelet measurements given below do
not include the "callus"
1. Plant perennial (but flowering the first year); foliage essentially glabrous;
spikelets slightly acuminate or usually merely tapered to a point,
usually with a purplish tinge; fertile lemma with an awn 0.9-1.5
mm. long 1. E. punctata.
1. Plant annual; foliage finely pubescent (as seen under a lens), rarely glabrate;
spikelets distinctly acuminate to a very fine point, usually greenish;
fertile lemma with an awn 0.3-0.8 (-1) mm. long....2. E. contracta.
I. Eriochloa punctata (L.) Desv. Fig. 140.
Tufted weak perennial but flowering the first year; culms 3-10 dm. long,
2-5 mm. thick, commonly geniculate and stoloniform basally, distally ascending,
leafy; ligule a fringe about 1 mm. long; blades (3-) 10-27 cm. long, 3-10 mm.
broad, mostly flat or folded, essentially glabrous; panicle dense and elongate
with numerous broadly overlapping ascending racemes; pedicels merely scabrous,
without any longer hairs; spikelets solitary or paired or in threes, 4-6 mm. long,
tapered to the slightly or not acuminate apex, purplish when mature; fertile lemma
with an awn 0.9-1.5 mm. long.
Tight loamy moist soil near ponds or seasonally muddy areas, in marshes
and on river banks in s.e. Tex. and coastal parts of the Rio Grande Plains,
frequent, spring—fall; warmer parts of Am., n. to La. and Tex.
Some plants seem intermediate between this species and E. contracta.
2. Eriochloa contracta Hitchc. PRAIRIE CUPGRASS. Fig. 140.
Tufted annual; culms 2-8 dm. long, 1-4 mm. thick, geniculate and infrequently
shortly stoloniform basally, mostly ascending, leafy; ligule a fringe 1-2 mm. long;
blades 3-20 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, mostly flat or folded, or eventually
involute, shortly pubescent (like the sheaths); panicle narrow, with overlapping
erect racemes; pedicels scabrous and also apically with some long erect cilia
a third to half as long as the spikelet; spikelets solitary or paired, (3.1-) 3.7-4
(-5) mm. long, somewhat shaggy-pubescent, acuminate to a long fine point,
greenish to stramineous at maturity; fertile lemma with an awn 0.3-0.8 (-1) mm.
long.
Tight loamy usually seasonally moist soil near swales in prairies and at edges
of fields and roadsides and lawns, in ditches, marshy areas and wet depressions,
in Okla. (Nowata Co.) and s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains n. to. n.-cen. Tex.,
infrequent w. to e. Plains Country, and Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Pima and Yuma cos),
spring-fall; Neb. s. to Tex. and La., w. to Colo, and Ariz.; adv. in Mo. and Va.
285
-------
Fig. 140: 1, Digitaria sanguinalls: plant, X V-i\ two views of spikelets and floret,
X 10. 2, Eriochloa punctata: panicle, X 1; floret, X 10. 3, Eriochloa contracta: panicle,
X 1; floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
50. Axonopus BEAUV.
Tufted and usually stoloniferous perennials; blades broad and flat; floriferous
culm at anthesis short, after anthesis greatly elongating, filiform; panicle a
terminal pair of ascending divergent linear spikes, with or without another 1 or 2
spikes attached to the axis subterminally; spikes with flattened or even narrowly
winged rachises; zone of abscission at the base of the spikelet; spikelets solitary,
in 2 rows on the abaxial side of (and appressed to) the rachis, considerably
dorsally compressed; first glume absent; "second" (or only) glume abaxial (away
from the rachis), as large as the spikelet; sterile lemma appressed to the rachis
(sterile palea absent); fertile lemma oblong, abaxial, thin-cartilaginous but not
indurate, the margins revolute and clasping the palea of the same texture; fertile
floret perfect.
A genus of warm parts of America, with, perhaps as many as 75 species. They
are of considerable importance in pastures near the coast in east and southeast
Texas.
1. Spikelets 4.5-6 mm. long; spikes about 2 mm. thick 1. A. furcatus.
1. Spikelets 1.7-3 mm. long; spikes about 1 mm. thick (2)
2(1). Spikelets (2.3-) 2.5-3 mm. long 2. A. compressus.
2. Spikelets 1.7-2.2 mm. long 3. A. affinis.
1. Axonopus furcatus (Fliigge) Hitchc. Fig. 141.
Stoloniferous perennial with floriferous tufts at the nodes; culms 4-10 dm.
long, compressed, 2—4 mm. wide on the broad axis; ligule a minute firm scale or
obsolete; blades 5-15 (-25) cm. long, 5-10 (-13) mm. broad, blunt; spikes 2,
digitate, 4—10 cm. long, about 2 mm. thick; spikelets 4.5-6 mm. long, glabrous,
apically pointed.
Moist sand, in marshes, on river banks and wet pine barrens, e. and s.e. Tex.,
infrequent, summer-fall; Coastal States, Va. to Tex.; also Ark.
2. Axonopus compressus (Sw.) Beauv. Fig. 141.
Tufted perennial; culms 20-75 cm. long, compressed, about 2 mm. broad on
the long axis, often rather long-stoloniferous basally, the tufted floriferous culms
erect and unbranched; ligule a scale about 0.5 mm. long; blades 8-25 cm. long
(shorter on stolons), 5-7 (-10) mm. broad; spikes 2 to 4, 4-10 cm. long, 1 mm.
thick; spikelets (2.3-) 2.5-3 mm. long, minutely pubescent basally, apically
pointed, the point prolonged beyond the blunt end of the fruit.
Moist or wet sand, s.e. Tex., rare (near Anahuac, Chambers Co.), mostly in
the fall; widespread in warmer parts of Am., n. to Fla., La. and Tex.
3. Axonopus affinis Chase. CARPET GRASS. Fig. 141.
Tufted perennial; culms 20-75 cm. long, compressed, about 2 mm. broad on the
long axis, often rather long-stoloniferous basally, forming carpets but the tufted
floriferous culms erect and unbranched; ligule a scale about 0.3 mm. long; blades
6-17 (-28) cm. long, shorter on the stolons, 3-6 (-9) mm. broad, flat, blunt;
sheaths keeled, spikes 2 to 4, 2-10 cm. long, about 1 mm. broad; spikelets 1.7-2.2
mm. long, very minutely pubescent around the edges, apically rather blunt, the
"second" glume not much if any prolonged beyond the fruit.
Moist sand, in wet mucky or sandy meadows, openings in forests, roadsides,
in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., very frequent, spring-fall (in
Calhoun, Jackson and Aransas cos. even as late as Dec. and as early as Feb.);
widespread in warmer parts of Am. n. to N. C. and the Gulf States, Ark. and
Okla.
287
-------
1
Fig. 141: 1, Axonopus compressus: plant, X }{>', two views of spikelet and floret,
X 10. 2, Axonopus furcatus: plant, X 1; spikelet and floret, X 10. 3, Axonopus affinis:
two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
51. Paspalum L. PASPALUM
Mostly perennials; ligule a scale; inflorescence a panicle of 1 to several racemes
on the common axis; raceme with a more or less flattened rachis; the numerous
spikelets borne in pairs or singly in 2 rows on the abaxial side of the rachis, the
pedicels of the pairs short and unequal in length; zone of abscission at the base of
the spikelet at the end of the pedicel; spikelets each with a single perfect floret
subtended by 2 or 3 scales, when 3 then the lowest one being a minute abaxial
first glume; next highest one of the adaxial second glume as large or nearly as
large as the spikelet; the abaxial sterile lemma representing the sole remains of a
neutral lower floret; fertile lemma adaxial, chartaceous-indurate, convex, the
margins revolute, clasping the fertile palea of similar texture, the fertile lemma
and palea and their enclosures and appendages constituting the "fruit."
A genus of about 250 species in warm regions. Most Paspalums are of great
economic importance as forage plants.
1. Racemes 20 to 50 per panicle, eventually deciduous from the panicle axis;
commonly attached and floating aquatics; spikelets solitary, 1.2-1.7
mm. long, pubescent 16. P. fluitans.
1. Racemes fewer, persistent (2)
2(1). "Second" (only) glume and sterile lemma abruptly pointed beyond the
blunt fruit (3)
2. Second (only) glume and sterile lemma not abruptly pointed beyond the
fruit (5)
3(2). Spikelets solitary (that is, not paired) and glabrous; fruit with microscopic
cilia apically 14. P. acuminatum.
3. Spikelets paired and silky-fringed (4)
4(3). Racemes (8 to) 12 to 22 per panicle; spikelets 2-3 mm. long
5. P. Urvillei.
4. Racemes 3 to 6 (to 11) per panicle; spikelets 2.8-4.1 mm. long
6. P dilatatum.
5(2). Spikelets 3.6-5 mm. long (6)
5. Spikelets less than 3.6 mm long (8)
6(5). Spikelets solitary 13. P. vaginatum.
6. Spikelets paired; fruit brown (7)
7(6). Spikelet pairs remote, usually not overlapping; first glume present on at
least some of the spikelets; rachis of raceme 0.5-0.8 mm. broad
1. P. bifidum.
1. Spikelet pairs approximate, overlapping; first glume absent; rachis 1-1.5 mm.
broad 2. P. floridanum.
8(5). All the spikelets solitary, never paired (9)
8. Some and usually nearly all the spikelets paired (12)
9(8). Spikelets 1.4-2.3 mm. long 15. P dissectum.
9. Spikelets 2.4-3.6 mm. long (10)
10(9). Panicle axis 3-10 (-19) cm. long; racemes 2 to 9 per panicle
7. P. laeve.
10. Panicle axis obsolete or only to 2.5 cm. long; racemes 1 to 3 per panicle (11)
11(10). Spikelets 2.5-3.2 mm. long; second glume minutely pubescent; first
glume usually present 12. P. distichum.
11. Spikelets 3.1-4.5 mm. long; second glume nearly glabrous; first glume usually
absent 13. P. vaginatum.
289
-------
12(8). Fruits (fertile lemmas) brown or brownish-olive at maturity (13)
12. Fruits (fertile lemmas) whitish or stramineous at maturity (14)
13(12). Panicle axis 12-25 cm. long; racemes 7 to 25 per panicle; spikelets con-
spicuously pubescent; fruits pale-brown 4. P. virgatum.
13. Panicle axis to 13 cm. long; racemes 1 to 15 per panicle; spikelets essentially
glabrous or minutely pubescent; fruits quite brown..3. P. Boscianum.
14(12). Spikelets orbicular or suborbicular, glabrous 8. P. praecox.
14. Spikelets longer than broad (15)
15(14). Spikelets thickly turgidly plano-convex, usually pubescent; rachis rarely
with purplish coloration; racemes only 1 to 6 per panicle
11. P. pubiflorum.
15. Spikelets flatly compressed plano-convex; rachis usually with a distinct pur-
plish color; racemes usually more numerous, 3 to 15 per panicle
(16)
16(15). Spikelets (2.1-) 2.3-2.7 (-2.9) mm. long, glabrous 9. P. lividum.
16. Spikelets (2.2-) 2.5-2.9 (-3.2) mm. long, pubescent 10. P. Hartwegianum.
I. Paspalum bifidum (Bert.) Nash. Fig. 142.
Perennial from rhizomes 3-4 mm. thick with pubescent scales; aerial culms
5-12 dm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule a thin brownish scale
1-5 mm. long; blades 1-5 dm. long, 3-14 mm. broad, flat or folded, densely
pilose at least near the ligule and often on both surfaces; sheaths pilose; panicle
axis 12-20 cm. long; racemes 2 to 6, 4-16 cm. long, ascending or somewhat
spreading; rachis 0.5-0.8 mm. broad, triangular in transection, often markedly
zigzag; spikelets paired or by abortion a few solitary in the same raceme (the pairs
remote from each other and not much if at all overlapping), 3.6-4.2 mm. long,
ovate to obovate, brownish, turgidly plano-convex, glabrous; first glume present
as a minute triangle at the base of the sterile lemma; second glume and sterile
lemma firm-membranous; fruit brownish-green or olivaceous. Incl. var. projectum
Fern.
In moist acid sand near bogs and open woods, in mud and shallow water of
bayous, sloughs, streams and ponds, in Okla. (Waterfall), infrequent or rare in
e. Tex., Sept.-Oct.; Coastai States, from Va. to Tex. and inland to Ark. and Okla.
2. Paspalum floridanum Michx. Fig. 142.
Robust perennial from short rhizomes 3-6 mm. thick with pubescent scales;
aerial culms (5-) 8-15 (-20) dm. long, 2-5 mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule
a brownish scale 1-2 mm. long; blades 1-5 dm. long, 4-13 mm. broad, firm, flat
or folded, glabrous to pilose; sheaths keeled, glabrous to pilose; panicle axis (when
racemes not solitary) 4-13 (-20) cm. long; racemes (1 or) 2 to 4 (to 6), 4-15 cm.
long, ascending or somewhat spreading; rachis 1-1.5 mm. broad, usually strongly
zigzag, the central rib to which the pedicels are attached even more markedly
zigzag, the very narrow margins thus interrupted; spikelets paired or by abortion
some solitary on the same raceme, 3.6-5 mm. long, ovate to obovate, usually
broadly so, brownish, turgidly plano-convex, glabrous; first glume always absent
or present as a mere minute line at the base of the sterile lemma; second glume
and sterile lemma firm-membranous, sometimes the latter slightly wrinkled; fruit
pale-brownish. Incl. var. glabratum Engelm.
Permanently or seasonally moist clay or sandy loam, seepage areas, flatwoods,
in and about lakes and marshes, in shallow water in depressions in savannahs, and
in cat-tail ponds, in Okla. (Pittsburg, Ottawa, Love, Osage, Le Flore and Mayes
cos.) and e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. and extreme n.e. Rio Grande Plains, frequent,
summer-fall; N. J. to 111., Mo. and Kan., s. to the Gulf States.
290
-------
2
1
Fig. 142: 1, Paspalum Boscianum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret,
X 10. 2, Paspalum bifidum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10'. 3,
Paspalum floridanum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet, and floret, X 10. (From
Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
3 Paspalum Boscianum Fliigge. BULL PASPALUM. Fig. 142.
Tufted annual; culms 3-10 dm. long, 2-7 mm. thick, ascending, often prostrate
basally, rooting and genuflexed at the nodes, purple; ligule a brown scale 2-4 mm.
long; blades 1-4 dm. long, 5-13 mm. broad, flat or folded, pilose near the ligule;
lowermost sheaths inconspicuously pilose; axis of panicle 5-10 cm. long; racemes
(2 to) 4 to 11 (to 15), 2-9 cm. long, ascending, arcuate, pilose in the axils; rachis
2-2.5 mm. broad, olivaceous, the pedicels attached in a narrow central rib, the
marginal winglike portions mostly broader than the rib; spikelets paired or by
abortion a few in the same raceme solitary, 2-2.3 mm. long, plano-convex,
brownish, obovate-orbicular, glabrous; first glume always absent; second glume
and sterile lemma thin; fruit brown and shining at maturity.
In moist or wet open ground, along margins of ditches and ponds, reported to
occur in e. Tex., summer-fall; Coastal States, Va. to Tex. and inland to Tenn.
and Ark.; W. I.
4. Paspalum virgatum L. Fig. 143.
Robust tufted perennial; culms 1-2 m. long, 2-8 mm. thick; erect, unbranched;
ligule a scale 0.5-2.5 mm. long; blades 30-75 cm. long, 10-25 mm. broad, firm,
flat, marginally serrulate, pilose near the ligule; sheaths pilose at the summit; axis
of panicle 12-25 cm. long; racemes 7 to 25, 3-15 cm. long, ascending; rachis
1-1.5 mm. broad, purplish-olive or olive-purple, the central rib (to which the
pedicels are attached) narrow, the winglike margins slightly broader than the rib,
commonly with some few scattered cilia; spikelets paired, 2.5-3.2 mm. long,
brownish or purplish-brown, elliptic to narrowly obovate, much-compressed,
plano-convex; first glume always absent; second glume softly spreading pubes-
cent, the hairs longer near the margin; sterile lemma often nearly glabrous; fruit
pale-brownish.
Moist clay loam, disturbed places, in wet or swampy ground, in the Tex. s. Rio
Grande Plains, rare (Cameron Co.); widespread in trop. Am. n. to Tex. and Cuba.
5. Paspalum Urvillei Steud. VASEY GRASS. Fig. 144.
Tufted perennial, often shortly subrhizomatous basally; culms 7-20 dm. long,
2.5-8 mm. thick, mostly strictly erect; ligule a scale 3-6 mm. long (base of blade
pilose); blades 1-4 dm. long, 4-13 mm. broad, flat, essentially glabrous except
near the ligule; lowermost sheaths densely pilose; panicle axis 8—25 cm. long;
racemes (8 to) 12 to 22, 2-13 cm. long, pilose at the axils; rachis about 1 mm.
broad, greenish and purplish, flattened, the pedicels attached at the central rib,
the marginal portions about as broad as the rib; spikelets paired, (2-) 2.2-2.7 (-3)
mm. long, broadly obovate, greenish-stramineous, much-flattened, plano-convex,
extended in the broad triangular point beyond the fruit; first glume always absent;
second glume softly silky-pubescent, this pubescence much longer near the margins
than in the center; sterile lemma nearly glabrous at the center; fruit elliptic-oblong,
slightly obovate.
Loamy disturbed usually very moist soil, in wet savannahs, in ponds and along
ditches and streams, in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall), e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., rare w. to
Edwards Plateau, spring-fall; nat. of S. A., now distributed in N. A., n. to N. C.,
the Gulf States and Ark.; Calif.
6. Paspalum dilatatum Poir. DALLIS GRASS. Fig. 145.
Tufted perennial, shortly subrhizomatous basally; culms 3-15 dm. long, 2-6
mm thick, erect or somewhat sprawling and slightly genuflexed and rarely rooting
at the lower 1 or 2 nodes; ligule a scale 2-5 mm. long (base of blade pilose);
blades 7-36 cm. long, 4-12 mm. broad, flat, essentially glabrous except near the
ligule; lowermost sheaths pilose; panicle axis (3-) 5-10 (-15) cm. long; racemes
3 to 6 (to 11), 4—12 cm. long, pilose at the axils; rachis 0.8—1.7 mm. broad,
292
-------
3
1
Fig. 143: 1, Paspalum virgatum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret,
X 10. 2, Paspalum praecox: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. 3,
Paspalum lividum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. (From Hitch-
cock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 144: Paspalum Urvillei: plant, X V>; two views of spikelet and floret X 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
greenish or purplish-olive, flattened, the pedicels attached at the narrow central
rib, the marginal portions winglike and at least as broad as the rib; spikelets
paired, (2.8-) 3.2-3.5 (-4.1) mm. long, basally obovate, greenish-stramineous, very
flattened, compressed plano-convex, extended in a broad triangular point beyond
the fruit; first glume always absent; second glume softly pubescent, shortly so in
the middle but near the margins with a long silky fringe; sterile lemma softly
pubescent; fruit nearly orbicular.
Loamy disturbed soils in marshy meadows, along streams and irrigation ditches,
in mud and water of marshes, lakes and ponds, in Okla. (McCurtain and Co-
manche cos.), abundant in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., infrequent in Rio Grande
Plains, Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, and Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Pima and Mo-
have cos.), spring-fall; nat. of S. A., now rather widely distributed in warm-temp.
areas n. to N. J., Tenn., Ark., Okla. and Ore.
A persistent weed in lawns, almost impossible to eradicate once it has become
established. It is an important forage plant.
7. Paspalum laeve Michx. Fig. 146.
Tufted perennial, very shortly subrhizomatous basally; culms 3-9 dm. long,
about 2 mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule a brown scale 1-2 mm. long; blades
6-40 cm. long, 3-10 mm. broad, flat or folded, glabrous or pilose; sheaths some-
what keeled, glabrous or pilose; panicle axis 3-10 (-19) cm. long; racemes (2 to)
3 to 6 (to 9), 3-11 cm. long, spreading, pilose in the axils; rachis about 1 mm.
broad, dark-olive-green, with a zigzag central rib, the pedicels attached on this
rib where it is nearest the margin, the narrow winglike margins interrupted;
spikelets solitary, 2.4-3.1 mm. long, very broadly obovate to orbicular, pale or
stramineous-olive, plano-convex, blunt; first glume always absent; second glume
and sterile lemma firm-membranous, glabrous. P longipilum Nash, P. circulars
Nash.
Sandy loam, prairies and open forests, wet pine barrens, marshy ground along
ditches and borders of lakes, ponds and bayous, wet savannahs, in Okla.
(McCurtain Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex. and extreme n.e. Rio Grande Plains
(Nueces Co.), infrequent, summer-fall; Coastal States, Mass, to Tex. and inland
to O., Ind., 111., Mo., Kan. and Okla.
8. Paspalum praecox Walt. Fig. 143.
Tufted perennial, very shortly rhizomatous basally, culms 5-15 dm. long, 1-3
mm. thick, erect, unbranched; ligule a brown scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 1-3 (-4)
dm. long, 3-10 mm. broad, flat or usually folded, glabrous to pilose; sheaths
glabrous to pilose, keeled; panicle axis 5-17 cm. long; racemes (2 to) 4 to 6 (to
9), 2-7 (-9) cm. long, arcuate, ascending or spreading, shortly bearded and
sometimes also pilose at the axils; rachis 1.3-2 mm. broad, purplish-olive, with a
broad central rib to which the pedicels are attached, the marginal winglike por-
tions firm and narrower than the central rib; spikelets paired or a few by abor-
tion solitary on the same raceme, 2.2-3.2 mm. long, orbicular to suborbicular,
yellowish-green, occasionally with a purplish-tinge, highly compressed plano-
convex; first glume always absent; second glume and sterile lemma membranous,
glabrous. P. lenttferum Lam.
Sandy loam, open pine flats, in wet savannahs, cypress swamps, wet pine bar-
rens and flatwoods, in s.e. Tex., infrequent, summer-fall; Coastal States, Va. to
Tex.
9. Paspalum lividum Trin. LONGTOM. Fig. 143.
Tufted perennial; culms 50-175 cm. long, compressed, 2-4 mm. thick on the
long axis, often basally decumbent and freely rooting for up to 1 m., then
ascending at the floriferous ends; ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 10-23 cm.
295
-------
Fig. 145: Paspalum dilatatum: a, floret, showing lemma, X 8; b, floret, showing
palea. X 8: c, rachis, showing the 2 rows of hairy spikelets, X 4: d, habit, showing the
noticeably pubescent lowest sheaths, the arching leaves and the spreading racemes, X %;
e, upper sheath, pubescent only around ligule and on base of blade, X 4. (From Mason,
Fig. 78).
-------
Fig. 146: Paspalum laeve: plant, X %; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
long, 3-5 mm. broad, flat or folded; panicle axis 3-12 cm. long, curviflexuous;
racemes 3 to 8, 15-50 mm. long, ascending and curved, floriferous to the base,
the lower racemes with a few hairs in the axils; rachises 1.5-2.5 mm. broad, thin,
purplish-olive to olive-purple, rather elongate, spreading, the rather elongate
spreading pedicels attached along a very narrow central rib, the lateral portions
of the rachis foliaceous and winglike and usually sparsely papillose-pilose mar-
ginally; spikelets paired or rarely a few also solitary in the same raceme, (2.1—)
2.3-2.7 (-2.9) mm. long, obovate, bluntly pointed, with nearly parallel plane
surfaces or at least very compressed plano-convex, yellowish-green or occasionally
with a purplish cast; first glume always absent; second glume and sterile lemma
essentially glabrous.
Moist tight clay loam in ditches, tanks, wet savannahs, swamps and flooded
pasturelands, and in resacas and shallow lakes, s.e. Tex. and coastal parts of Rio
Grande Plains, frequent, spring-fall; widespread in warmer parts of Am., n. to
Ala., La. and Tex.
10. Paspalum Hartwegianum Fourn. Fig. 147.
Tufted stoloniferous perennial; floriferous culms 5-15 dm. long, slightly com-
pressed, 2-5 mm. thick on the long axis, ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades
10—35 cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, flat or folded; sheaths keeled; panicle axis 5-15
cm. long, mostly straight and slender; racemes (3 or) 4 to 8, 2-9 cm. long,
ascending or somewhat spreading, often slightly curved, floriferous to the base,
the lower ones usually with a few long hairs in the axils; rachises 1.5-2 mm.
broad, thin, olive or purplish-olive, the rather elongate spreading pedicels at-
tached along a very narrow central rib, the lateral portions of the rachis foliaceous
and winglike; spikelets paired, rarely also a few in the same raceme solitary,
(2.2-) 2.5-2.9 (-3.2) mm. long, obovate, slightly pointed, with nearly parallel
plane surfaces or at least very compressed plano-convex, yellowish-green; first
glume always absent; second glume and sterile lemma shortly and uniformly
pubescent.
Moist tight soil, wet prairies, alkaline meadows, in mud and shallow water
of irrigation ditches and streams, in the Tex. Rio Grande Plains, frequent, spring-
fall; much of Mex. n.w. to Son.; Tex.
11. Paspalum pubiflorum Fourn. Fig. 147.
Loosely tufted perennial; culms 3-15 dm. long, compressed, 2-3 mm. thick
on the long axis, decumbent and freely rooting in the basal third to half the
length but usually mostly ascending; ligule a scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 6-30
cm. long, 5-13 mm. broad, mostly flat, marginally crisped and basally papillose-
pilose; lower sheaths usualy papillose-pilose; panicle axis 8-62 mm. long; racemes
2 to 4 (to 6), 2-10 cm. long, ascending or spreading, floriferous to the base or
infrequently with a naked basal portion 1-3 mm. long and a few long hairs in the
axil; rachises 1.5-2 mm. broad, broadly triangular, olive-green; spikelets attached
even along the margins, paired or rarely in the same raceme a few of them soli-
tary, (2.3-) 2.7-2.9 (-3.2) mm. long, obovate, turgidly plano-convex, greenish
to stramineous or with a purplish cast, blunt to very slightly pointed; first glume
small, triangular, usually absent or much-reduced; second glume and sterile lemma
microscopically pubescent to rarely glabrate. Iricl. var. glabrum Scribn.
Moist garden loam and moist usually calcareous soil at edges of streams, ponds
and lakes, along streams and irrigation ditches, in wet meadows, in Okla. (Hughes
and Cherokee cos.), throughout Tex. (but rare in Plains Country), spring-fall;
lowlands of s.e. U.S. n. to N.C., O., Ind., 111., Mo. and Kan.; much of Mex.; Cuba.
12. Paspalum distichum L. KNOTGRASS. Fig. 148.
Long-decumbent perennial; culms 5-15 dm. long, compressed, 2-3 mm. thick
on the long axis, extensively creeping, freely rooting, somewhat branched, ascend-
298
-------
2
Fig. 147: 1, Paspalum Hartwegianum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and
floret, X 10. 2, Paspalum acuminatum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret,
X 10. 3, Paspalum pubiflorum; panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 148: Paspalum distichum: a, floret, showing palea, X 8; b, floret, showing
lemma, X 8; c, rachis, showing 2 rows of spikelets, X 4; d, habit, showing the de-
cumbent rooting base, the flat leaf blades and the paired racemes, X Vi; e, leaf sheath,
ligule and node, densely pubescent, X 2'^. (From Mason, Fig. 77).
-------
ing at the simple floriferous ends; ligule a scale 0.5-1 mm. long; blades 3-12 cm.
long, 2-6 mm. broad, membranous and usually flat or folded, or the tip on drying
loosely involute, basally broader than the summit of the sheath; sheaths slightly
keeled at summit, the corner with a few soft hairs and often the lower sheaths
(when emergent) visibly pubescent ("var. indutum") but these usually lost in
specimens; racemes usually 2, rarely 1 or 3, 15-70 mm. long, erect or somewhat
spreading, often arcuate, floriferous essentially to the base; rachises broadly
triangular in transection, 1-1.5 (-2) mm. broad; spikelets attached nearly at the
margin by the short pedicels, solitary, elliptic, (2.5-) 2.7-3 (-3.2) mm. long,
greenish to stramineous, blunt to somewhat pointed; first glume usually present,
minute, triangular; second glume microscopically pubescent; sterile lemma gla-
brous or rarely with a few microscopic hairs near midrib. Incl. var. indutum
Shinners.
Margins of fresh ponds, streams and lakes, in marshes and on mud and in shal-
low water, sometimes in brackish areas, in Okla. (Grady and Washita cos.), fre-
quent in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, infrequent
in Rio Grande Plains and Plains Country, N. M. (Dona Ana and DeBaca cos.)
and Ariz. (Final, Santa Cruz and Mohave cos.), summer-fall; widespread in the
warmer parts of the world, in Am. n. to N. J., Tenn., Ark., Okla., Ut., Ida. and
Wash.
13. Paspalum vaginatum Sw. Fig. 149.
Long-decumbent perennial; culms 5-25 dm. long, compressed, 3-4 mm. thick
on the long axis, extensively creeping and freely rooting, branched, ascending
only at the simple floriferous ends; ligule a scale about 1 mm. long; blades 2.5-15
cm. long, 3-8 mm. broad, firm and stiffly straight, basally narrower than the
summit of the sheath and folded, tapering to a long-involute tip (occasionally
near semibrackish water the blades persistently flat); sheaths keeled, the corners
ciliate; panicle axis 1-10 (-15) mm. long; racemes 1 or 2 (or 3), 2-8 cm. long,
divaricate; rachises often naked for the basal 2-5 mm., 1-2 mm. broadly tri-
angular or occasionally very narrowly winged; spikelets attached nearly at the
margin by the broad short pedicels, solitary, ovate-elliptical, 3.1-4.2 (-4.5) mm.
long, glabrous, stramineous, pointed; first glume very rarely present; sterile lemma
thin and often transversely wrinkled; fruit pointed, nearly as long as spikelet,
apically glabrous.
Moist saline to brackish sands at edges of lagoons, bays and river-mouths,
rarely in sub-brackish ponds near the coast, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains,
frequent, summer-fall-early winter; widespread in warm coastal areas of the
world, in Am., n. to N. C. and the Gulf States.
14. Paspalum acuminatum Raddi. Fig. 147.
Long-decumbent aquatic or subaquatic perennial; culms 3-10 dm. long, 1-3.5
mm. thick, soft, freely rooting and rather freely branching, ascending and
emergent only at the end; ligule a membranous scale 1-3 mm. long; blades 3-20
cm. long, 2-12 mm. broad, flat, thin; panicle axis 1-3 cm. long; racemes 2 or 3
(to 5?), 3-7 cm. long, ascending, usually somewhat arcuate; rachis 3-3.5 mm.
broad, with the spikelets borne in a very narrow central rib, the remainder of
the rachis forming foliaceous wings; spikelets solitary, elliptic, 3.3-3.5 mm. long,
glabrous, greenish, apically abruptly pointed beyond the fruit; first glume absent;
fruit blunt, apically with some minute cilia.
In fresh water ponds or wet open ground, in the Tex. Rio Grande Plains, rare
(Cameron and Brooks cos.), spring-fall; lowlands, widespread but scattered in
trop Am., n. to s. La. and s. Tex.
301
-------
Fig. 149: Paspalum vaginatum: a, habit, about X %; b, ligule, X 1; c, portion of
rachis, X 6; d, spikelet, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 150: Paspalum dissect urn: a, habit, X %; b, ligule, X 5; c, part of rachis with
spikelets, X 6; d, two views of spikelet, X 10; e, floret, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
15. Paspalmn dissectum (L.) L. Fig. 150.
Long-decumbent mat-forming perennial; culms 20-75 cm. long, compressed,
1.5-2 mm. thick on the long axis, freely rooting in the mud, rather freely
branched; ligule a membranous scale 1-2 mm. long; blades 2-9 (-12) cm. long,
2-5 mm. broad, thin, flat or folded; panicle axis 3-8 cm. long, slender and
grooved, 0.2-0.4 mm. thick; racemes 2 to 4, 1-5 cm. long, ascending and slightly
arcuate; rachis 1.8-3 mm. broad, with the spikelets borne on a very narrow cen-
tral rib, the remainder of the rachis forming foliaceous wings; spikelets solitary.
broadly elliptic, 1.7-2 mm. long, 1-1.2 mm. broad, essentially glabrous, greenish
to stramineous, apically blunt; first glume absent; fruit blunt.
Forming mats in moist sand at the margins of seeps, bogs and lakes, on muddy
and sandy banks of ponds and ditches or in shallow water, in Okla. (Okfuskee
Co.) and e. Tex., infrequent, summer-fall; lowlands of s. U.S., n. to N.J. and 111.;
Cuba.
16. Paspalum fluitans (Ell.) Kunth. Fig. 151.
Long-decumbent or floating aquatic grasses said to be annual; culms 3-10 dm.
long, 2-5 mm. thick, soft (with much gas-holding tissue), mostly submerged, only
the floriferous ends emergent; ligule a membranous scale 2-4 mm. long; aerial
blades 10-25 cm. long, 9-20 mm. broad, very thin and flat; sheaths pubescent,
their corners triangular-auricled; panicle axis 6-16 cm. long, 0.5-1 mm. thick;
racemes (20 to) 30 to 50, 25-75 mm. long, ascending or usually arcuate-
spreading, at maturity deciduous from the axis; rachis 1-1.7 mm. broad, the
spikelets borne on a very narrow central rib, the remainder of the rachis forming
thin foliaceous wings; spikelets solitary, 1.2-1.7 mm. long, only about 0.7-0.9 mm.
broad, pubescent, pale-stramineous, often with a discolored or stained spot at the
base of the sterile lemma and apically acute; first glume absent. P. repens Berg.
Forming colonies in fresh water, in mud and water on edge of lakes, sloughs
and ponds and floating in sluggish streams or standing water, in e. Okla.
(Waterfall) and s.e. Tex., infrequent, summer-fall; widespread in trop. Am., n. to
N.C., 111., Ind., Mo. and Neb.
52. Panicum L. PANIC GRASS
Annuals or perennials, widely diverse in habit; spikelets in panicles or less
commonly in racemes (rarely in spikelike panicles and then sometimes with a
bristle-like sterile branch subtending some spikelets); pedicels usually present;
each spikelet falling as a unit, 2-flowered, the lower floret staminate or completely
reduced, the upper perfect; first glume much shorter than the spikelet, several-
nerved, membranous; second glume as long as the spikelet or nearly as long; lower
"sterile" lemma several-nerved, membranous, usually as long as the spikelet or
essentially so; sterile palea usually obsolete but occasionally (as in P. Mans)
very strongly developed and cupped and/or hooded; fertile lemma usually some-
what indurate, strongly convex, the margins revolute and clasping the palea of
the same texture, usually smooth and shining like white cartilage, rarely trans-
versely rugose.
A large extremely complex genus (perhaps 500 species) of warm parts of the
world, made particularly difficult in North America because of the occurrence of
cleistogamy and occasional wide outcrossing among the "Dichantheliums" or
dichotomous panic grasses.
304
-------
Fie 151- Paspalum ftuitans: a, habit, X %; b, ligule, X 2; c, ligule, about X 1%; d,
•rtion of 'rachis, X 10; e and f, two views of spikelet, X 12. (Courtesy of R. K.
portion
Godfrey).
-------
1. Basal leaves usually distinctly different from those of the culm, forming a
winter rosette; plants perennial, in spring producing simple culms
with mostly narrowly lanceolate blades and terminal panicles with
numerous spikelets (in most species these not producing viable
seed); later culms often much-reduced and much-branched, produc-
ing an autumnal phase usually quite different from the vernal
phase and with reduced axillary panicles (2)
1. Basal leaves similar to though usually smaller than those of the stem leaves;
winter rosette absent; plants annual or perennial; spikelets usually
nearly all fertile (9)
2(1). Spikelets blunt and strongly nerved; blades rarely as much as 20 mm.
broad 6. P. Ravenelii.
2. Spikelets rarely if ever both blunt and strongly nerved (3)
3(2). Ligule (or at least a ligulelike tuft at the extreme base of the blade) of
conspicuous hairs usually (2-) 3-5 mm. long (4)
3. Ligule less than 2 mm. long to obsolete (5)
4(3). Spikelets 0.9-1.3 mm. long; "ligule" 2-3 mm. long 2. P. leucothrix.
4. Spikelets 1.3-2.9 mm long; "ligule" (2-) 3-5 mm. long 3. P. lanuginosum.
5(3). Spikelets nearly spherical at maturity; blades glabrous, firm, cordate; ligule
obsolete 5. P- polyanthes.
5. Spikelets usually obovoid or ellipsoid; ligule usually developed (obsolete in
P. commutation and allies) (6)
6(5). Spikelets 2.3-3.2 mm. long (7)
6. Spikelets 1.2-2.2 mm. long (8)
7(6). Ligule obsolete; blade only 5-10 (-15) cm. long, 8-25 mm. wide, glabrous,
at base cordate and ciliate; spikelets slenderly ellipsoid, 2.4-3.1 mm.
long, never turgid 8. P. commutatum.
7. Ligule a muticous scale or a short fringe; blades 10—23 cm. long, 9-30 rrftn.
wide, glabrous or scabrous, at base only slightly if at all cordate;
spikelet turgidly ellipsoid to obovoid or ovoid, 2.3—3.2 mm. long
7. P- scoparium.
8(6). Culms delicate, usually less than 30 (rarely to 40) cm. tall; blades filmy,
usually only 1-3 cm. long and 1-3 mm. wide, often reflexed
4. P. ensifolium.
8. Culms delicate or not so delicate, (15-) 20-100 cm. tall; blades firmer (mem-
branous or more firm), 3-12 cm. long, 3-15 mm. wide, reflexed or
ascending 1. P. dichotomum.
9(1). Plants annual (doubtful cases should be keyed under both alternatives)
(10)
9. Plants perennial (11)
10(9). First glume about a fourth as long as the spikelet
21. P. dichotomiflorum.
10. First glume usually proportionately longer 20. P. capillare.
11(9). Spikelets short-pedicelled along one side of the rachises to form spikelike
racemes; fertile lemma transversely rugose (except in P. hemi-
tomum) (12)
11. Spikelets in open or sometimes contracted or congested panicles (somewhat
1-sided in P. anceps and P. rigidulum) (16)
12(11). First glume nearly equaling the sterile lemma (13)
12. First glume much shorter than the sterile lemma (14)
13(12). Racemes spreading; fertile lemma not more than one third the total
length of the spikelet 11. P gymnocarpon.
306
-------
13. Racemes appressed; fertile lemma nearly as long as spikelet
13. P. obtusum.
14(12). Fertile lemma not transversely rugose 12. P. hemitomum.
14. Fertile lemma transversely rugose (15)
15(14). Spikelets 2.2-2.4 mm. long 9. P. geminatum.
15. Spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long 10. P. paludivagum.
16(11). Sterile palea enlarged and indurate at maturity, expanding the spikelet;
blades scarcely broader than their sheaths; spikelets about 2.3 mm.
long, borne toward the ends of the few slender branches
14. P- hians.
16. Sterile palea usually absent or (if present) minute (17)
17(16). Plants with conspicuous creeping scaly rhizomes (18)
17. Plants without creeping scaly rhizomes (20)
18(17). Spikelets short-pedicelled, more or less secund along the nearly simple
panicle branches 15. P. anceps.
18. Spikelets long-pedicelled, not secund, arranged in an open or contracted
panicle (19)
19(18). Panicle compact, strongly contracted, elongate and nodding; plants of
coastal sands 18. P. amarulum.
19. Panicle diffuse or only slightly contracted 19. P. virgatum.
20(17). Panicles narrow and few-flowered; culms erect and wiry; blades drying
involute 17. P. tenerum.
20. Panicles open or contracted, many-flowered 16. P- rigidulum.
1. Panicum dichotomum L. Fig. 152.
Perennial; vernal phase (Apr.-Aug.) culms tufted, erect or ascending from
a knotted or loose crown, 3-5 (-40) dm. tall, glabrous but the nodes very often
with a grayish retrorse beard about 1 (-2) mm. long and often the lower nodes
geniculate; sheaths essentially glabrous; ligules minute; blades usually spreading,
the upper often reflexed, 3—12 cm. long, 4—15 mm. broad, glabrous or sparsely
papillose-ciliate at base, green (often bright, rarely olivaceous) and thin, quite
flat; panicle usually elongate-ovoid, usually many-spikeletted, 5-12 cm. long,
with the slightly spreading very slender and often flexuous branches usually
copiously branched; spikelets 1.4-2.2 mm. long, elliptic, glabrous or pubescent,
5- to 7-nerved; second glume usually shorter than fertile lemma; autumnal phase
(June-Dec.) much-reduced, much-branched at some nodes, the lower part usually
ascending (or reclining from the heavy weight of the top) and bladeless like a
slender tree-trunk, the upper part copiously bushy-branched with numerous small
blades 2-4 cm. long and 1-3 mm. broad (thin, green, flat or often involute).
P. nitidum Lam., P. barbulatum Michx., P. microcarpon Muhl., P. lucidum Ashe,
P. yadkinense Ashe.
In swampy and marshy grounds, bogs, wet peaty meadows and margins of
streams, also in moist sandy woodlands, in Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and in e. and s.e.
Tex., rare w. to n.-cen. Tex., spring-fall; s.e. Can., e. U.S., Bah. I., Cuba.
2. Panicum leucothrix Nash. Fig. 152.
Perennial; vernal phase light olive-green to dark-green; culms 1-5 (-7) dm.
tall, ascending (often decumbent at base and somewhat geniculate) weak, slender,
glabrous or appressed papillose-pilose, the nodes pubescent or glabrous; sheaths
papillose-pilose to puberulent or glabrous; ligule minute but blade at base with
a ligulelike tuft or hairs 2-3 mm. long; blades 3-8 mm. broad, about 2-5 cm.
long, glabrous or sparsely villous above, puberulent or glabrous beneath, or even
velvety-puberulent beneath; panicle 3-8 cm. long, rather densely flowered; spike-
307
-------
4
Fig. 152: 1, Panicum dichotomum: plant, X %; two views of spikelet, and floret,
X 10. 2, Panicum leucothrix: two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. 3, Panicum poly-
anthes: two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. 4, Panicum Ravenelii: two views of
spikelet and floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 153: 1, Panicum commutatum: plant, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret,
X 10. 2, Panicum lanuginosum: plant, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
lets 0.9-1.3 mm. long, pubescent, elliptic; autumnal phase: stems reclining or
decumbent-spreading, occasionally the culms at first sending out from lower an
middle nodes long branches similar to primary culms, later producing more or
less fascicled branches, or usually the culms with crowded branchlets, the whole
somewhat bushy-branched; blades flat or subinvolute. P. Wrightianum Scnbn.,
P. longiligulatum Nash.
Infrequent in sandy woodlands, often in boggy or moist low places, in pine
barrens and swamps, in e. and s.e. Tex., spring-fall; Coastal States, Mass, to Tex.;
also Tenn.; W.I., C.A., Col,
3. Panicum lanuginosum Ell. Fig. 153.
Perennial; vernal phase (usually grayish) olive-green or bluish-green, velvety-
villous to densely spreading-villous throughout or the upper parts of the culm or
the various parts of the leaves glabrate; culms usually in large clumps, 2-7 dm.
tall, spreading, often with a glabrous ring below the nodes, the nodes themselves
usually with a retrorse gray beard; sheaths like the midstems in pubescence;
ligule a short fringe but blade at base with a ligulelike tuft of hair 3-5 mm. long;
blades thickish, sometimes stiff, often somewhat incurved or spoon-shaped (when
fresh), from nearly glabrous to densely velvety or densely villous, 4-10 cm. long,
5-12 mm. broad, sometimes with a very thin firm margin; panicle (4-) 6-12 cm.
long, the axis and also often the branches pubescent; spikelets 1.6-2.1 mm. long,
pubescent, 5- to 9-nerved; autumnal culms widely spreading to matted-decumbent
or ascending or rarely erect, freely branching from the middle nodes, the branches
repeatedly branching and much-exceeding the internodes, the ultimate branchlets
forming flabellate fascicles; blades much-reduced, 2-3 cm. long, usually much-
exceeding the panicles. P. Thurowii Scribn. & Sm.
In wet meadows, swales, seepage areas, and wet soil along streams, about ponds
and lakes, in sandy woodlands and prairies, in Okla. (Waterfall), e. half of Tex.,
to Ariz. (Pima Co.), spring-fall; N. S. and Que. to Mont., s. to Gulf States,
N.M., Ariz, and Calif, (rare w. of the 100th meridian).
4. Panicum ensifolium Ell. Fig. 154.
Perennial, glabrous throughout; vernal culms 2-4 dm. tall, erect or reclining;
ligule a very minute fringe or obsolete; blades distant, often reflexed, 1-3 cm.
long, 1.5-3 mm. broad, puberulent beneath (at least toward the tip); panicle
15-40 mm. long; spikelets 1.2-1.7 mm. long, glabrous or puberulent, 5- to 7-
nerved; autumnal culms spreading or reclining, sparingly branching from the
middle nodes, the branches mostly simple.
Rare in moist sand, boggy soil and shady wettish places, in e. Tex. (Nacog-
doches and Newton cos.), spring-fall; Coastal States, N. J. to Tex.
5. Panicum polyanthes Schult. Fig. 152.
Perennial, completely glabrous (except spikelets); vernal culms erect, 3-9 dm.
tall, the nodes glabrous or nearly so; ligules absent or a minute fringe in
genetically contaminated plants; blades 12-33 cm. long, 15-25 mm. broad, firm,
cartilage-margined, at base cordate and ciliate, the upper scarcely reduced; panicle
8-25 cm. long, a fourth to half as wide as long, densely flowered, the branches
mostly viscid; spikelets 1.3-1.8 mm. long, minutely puberulent, obovoid-spherical
at maturity, broadly ellipsoid when young, 5- to 7-nerved; autumnal phase remain-
ing erect, producing simple branches from the lower and middle nodes, the thick
white-margined blades of the winter rosette conspicuous.
In shallow water of streams, in seepage areas and in sandy moist woodlands,
in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. Tex., spring-fall; s.e. U.S. n to Conn Pa '
111., Mo. and Okla. ''
310
-------
3
1
Fig. 154: 1, Panicum ensifolium: plant, X 1; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10.
2, Panicum amarulum: two views of spikelet and floret, X 10. 3, Panicum anceps:
spikelet and floret, X 10. 4, Panicum rigidulum: panicle, X 1; two views of spikelet and
floret, X 10. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
6. Panicum Ravenelii Scribe. & Merr. Fig. 152.
Perennial; vernal culms fairly stout and erect, 3-7 dm. tall, densely papillose-
hirsute with ascending hairs, the nodes short-bearded; sheaths hirsute like the
culms; ligule a fringe or tuft 3-4 mm. long, on the larger leaves grading into
additional tuft at blade base; blades thick and firm, 8-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm. broad,
glabrous above, densely velvety-hirsute beneath; panicle 7—12 cm. long; spikelets
3.7—4.3 mm. long, sparsely papillose-pubescent, strongly 7- to 9-nerved; autumnal
phase more or less spreading, branching from -the middle and upper nodes, the
short branches crowded at the summit.
Sandy woodlands, in wet sandy loam, and in water and mud of lakes and ponds,
in Okla. (Cherokee and Haskell cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex., spring-fall; Del. to
Mo., s. to Fla. and Tex.
7. Panicum scoparium Lam. Fig. 155.
Perennial; vernal phase grayish-olive-green, velvety-pubescent throughout except
on a viscid ring below the nodes and at the summit of the sheath; culms 8-15
dm. long, stout, usually 2-3 (-4) mm. thick, erect or ascending, usually genicu-
late basally, sometimes scabrous below the nodes, sometimes puberulent; sheaths
glabrous or hispid, often mottled or white-spotted, commonly swollen basally and
contracted upward; ligule a fringe 0.5-1.3 (-1.4) mm. long (more than 1 mm.
long only in the best-developed leaves); blades rather thick, 12-25 cm. long, 9-18
mm. broad, often stiffish, ascending or spreading, glabrous or scabrous, sometimes
more or less pubescent beneath; panicle 8-20 cm. long, the axis and branches
with viscid blotches or these absent; spikelets 2.3-2.6 mm. long, ovate to obovate,
turgid, papillose-pubescent to obscurely puberulent to glabrous, pointed (not
sharply), 7- to 9-nerved; autumnal phase erect, leaning or spreading, freely
branching from the middle and upper nodes, forming flabellate fascicles. P.
scabriusculum Ell.
Sandy woodlands, usually in moist or even boggy areas, in swamps, marsh-
meadows, and wet soil along ditches, streams and about ponds, in Okla. (LeFlore
Co.) and e. and s.e. Tex., spring-fall; Mass, to Fla. w. thorugh Ky. to Mo., Okla.
and Tex.; Cuba.
8. Panicum commutatum Schult. Fig. 153.
Perennial; vernal culms erect or decumbent often from somewhat knotty bases,
25-75 cm. long, sometimes purplish-tinged; nodes never bearded; sheaths glabrous
or nearly so; ligule a minute scale or usually essentially absent; blades 5-10 (-15)
cm. long, (6-) 8-25 mm. broad, glabrous on both surfaces but often slightly
cordate and marginally ciliate near base; panicle 5-12 cm. long, loosely flowered,
not much or often incompletely exserted from the upper sheath; spikelets 2.4-3.1
mm. long, 7- to 9-nerved, pubescent, ellipsoid, not very turgid; autumnal culms
erect or leaning, often widely spreading, not much-branched, the winter rosette
leaves often with a minute cartilaginous margin. P. Joorii Vasey, P. Ashei Pearson.
Low or swampy woods in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex.; e. U.S. w. to Mo.,
Okla. and Tex.; Mex.
9. Panicum geminatum Forsk. Fig. 156.
Perennial, glabrous; culms terete, tufted, 25-80 cm. long, rarely decumbent
basally and rooting at the nodes, usually slightly geniculate basally and essentially
erect; blades 1-2 dm. long, 3-6 mm. broad, flat or toward the apex involute;
panicle 12-30 cm. long, extremely narrow; appressed spikelike racemes (3 to)
8 to 18, lower racemes 25-30 mm. long, upper gradually shorter; raceme rachis
ending in a short naked point; spikelets 2.2-2.4 mm. long, 5-nerved, subsessile,
abruptly pointed, glabrous, the first glume truncate; fertile lemma' and palea
312
-------
Fig. 155: Panlcum scoparium: a, basal part of plant, X %; b, middle section of
stem, X %; c, upper part of plant, X %; d, ligule, about X 2; e and f, two views of
spikelet, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
transversely rugose. Paspalidiwn geminatum (Forsk.) Stapf.
Moist or wet ground or in shallow water, in Okla, (Jefferson Co.) and in e,
half of Tex., frequent nearest the coast, summer-fall; Fla., La., Tex., Okla. and
warmer regions of the world.
10. Panicum paludivagum Hitchc. & Chase. Fig. 157.
Perennial; vernal culms erect or decumbent often from somewhat knotty bases,
creeping, rooting, rather succulent, as much as 2 m. long, the lower part often
submerged, loosely branching; blades 15-40 cm. long, scabrous on the upper sur-
face; spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long, faintly 3-nerved; fertile lemma obscurely to ob-
soletely transversely rugose. Paspalidium paludivagum (Hitchc. & Chase) Parodi.
Scattered in wet places, in shallow water of ponds, lakes and streams, in
s. Tex. (Cameron, Hidalgo, Brazoria and San Patricio cos.), summer-fall; Fla.,
Tex., Mex.; Guat.
This is not adequately separable from P. geminatum, being scarcely more than
a form of that species.
11. Panicum gymnocarpon Ell. Fig. 158.
Perennial, rooting at the lower nodes; culms basally prostrate, terminally ascend-
ing, 3-7 mm. thick; blades 14-25 mm. broad, basally with pronounced corners,
marginally finely serrate; ligule a thin scale 1 mm. long; inflorescence panicu-
loid, 12-40 cm. long, 7-25 cm. broad, of 14 to 35 loosely ascending remote or
remotely whorled branches ("racemes" of some descriptions) with each secundly
bearing a number of closely set appressed nearly sessile spikelets or (toward the
base) usually compound with short appressed secondary branchlets (each bearing
several appressed sessile spikelets); spikelets 5.5-7 mm. long, narrow; first glume
nearly as long as the sterile lemma, the second glume strongly 3- to 5-nerved
and surpassing the sterile lemma, both of them acuminate and glabrous; fertile
lemma 2 mm. long, smooth, shiny.
Local in wet sand along streams or in shallow water, in mud about lakes and
ponds, in e. and s.e. Tex. (w. to Anderson and Colorado cos.), fall; Coastal
States, S.C. to Tex. and inland to Ark.
12. Panicum hemitomon Schult. MAIDENCANE. Fig. 159.
Aquatic or subaquatic perennial from extensively creeping rhizomes, often
producing numerous sterile shoots with overlapping sometimes densely hirsute
sheaths; culms 5-15 dm. tall, usually hard; sheaths of fertile culms usually gla-
brous; blades 10-25 cm. long, 7-15 mm. broad, usually scabrous on the upper
surface and smooth beneath; panicles elongate, very narrow, 15-30 cm. long, the
branches erect, the lower branches distant, the upper ones approximate, 2-10 cm.
long; spikelets subsessile, 2.4-2.7 mm. long, lanceolate, acute, 3- to 5-nerved,
glabrous; first glume about half the length of the spikelet; fertile lemma less
indurate than usual in Panicum; apex of fertile palea scarcely enclosed by the
margin of the fertile lemma.
Frequent (rarely flowering) on margin of lakes, ponds and streams, and in
shallow water of lakes and ponds, in e. and s.e. Tex., spring (usually May);
Coastal States, N.J. to Tex.; also Tenn.; Braz.
13. Panicum obtusum H.B.K. VINE-MESQUITE. Fig. 160.
Perennial forming large colonies from extensive stolons; culms in tufts from
a knotty base at intervals along the stolon, wiry, compressed, 2-8 dm. tall; ligules
about 1 mm. long; blades mostly elongate, 2-7 mm. broad, glabrous or nearly
so; panicles narrow, 3-12 cm. long, about 1 cm. broad, the few appressed
branches densely flowered, the short pedicels secund; spikelets 3-3.8 mm. long,
obovoid, brownish, blunt, scabrous; first glume nearly as long as the spikelet;
314
-------
Fig. 156: Panicum geminatum: plant, X %; two views of spikelet and floret, X 10.
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 157: Panicum paludivagum: a, habit, X %; b, ligule, X 4; c, spikelet showing
1st glume, X 7; d, spikelet showing 2nd glume, X 7; e, palea of staminate flower, X 7;
f, floret showing palea, X 7; g, floret showing lemma, X 7. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
fertile lemma smooth and shiny.
In marshes, seepage areas, about playa lakes, along sloughs, often forming large
colonies near water or in sporadic overflow areas, in Okla. (Waterfall), the w.
half of Tex., e. to n.-cen. Tex. and the Coastal Bend area, N. M. (Colfax and
Valencia cos.) and Ariz, (throughout the state), spring-fall; Mo. to Colo., s. to
Ark. and cen. Mex.
14. Panicum hians Ell. Fig. 161.
Tufted perennial; culms compressed, 2-6 dm. tall, mostly erect, sometimes
more or less decumbent or prostrate with erect branches; ligules minute; blades
5-15 cm. long, 1-5 mm. broad, flat or folded, pilose on the upper surface near
base; panicles 5-20 cm. long, usually loose and open, the primary branches few,
slender, distant, spreading or drooping, the branchlets borne on the upper half
or toward the ends only; spikelets in more or less secund clusters, short-pedicelled,
2.2-2.4 mm. long, 5-nerved, glabrous; palea of the sterile floret becoming enlarged
and indurate, expanding the spikelet to twice as thick as wide at maturity; fertile
lemma minutely papillose-roughened, relatively thin for this genus.
Usually in low places, damp soil, in swamps, marshes, seepage areas, bogs,
sloughs and about ponds and lakes, Okla. (LeFlore, McCurtain, Atoka and John-
ston cos.) and e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, rare w. to Llano
region, spring-fall; Coastal States, Va. to Tex.; also Mo., Ark., Okla. and Mex.
15. Panicum ancepsMichx. Fig. 154.
Perennial from branching scaly rhizomes 2-4 mm. thick; culms 3-10 dm. long,
erect, compressed; sheaths keeled, glabrous to pilose or densely to sparsely villous
(especially at summit); ligule a scale 0.2-0.6 mm. long, firm; blades elongate,
4-12 mm. broad, pilose near base or often pubescent on both surfaces; panicles
15-40 cm. long, the branches ascending or spreading, slender, remote, bearing
short mostly appressed rather densely flowered branchlets; spikelets slightly oblique
to the pedicels, 2.4-3.8 mm. long, short-pedicelled, lanceolate, pointed, glabrous,
often gaping; sterile lemma 5- to 7-nerved; glumes and sterile lemma mostly
keeled; fertile lemma smooth and shiny and with a very minute tuft of thickish
hairs at apex. P. rhizomatum Hitchc. & Chase.
Abundant in sandy well-drained usually forested uplands, in wet prairies,
swampy meadows, and on edge of streams and ponds, in Okla. (Pushmataha Co.)
and in e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent w. to n.-cen. Tex., late summer-fall; s.e. U.S.
w. to Kan., Okla. and Tex.
16. Panicum rigidulum Nees. Fig. 154.
Tufted perennial in dense clumps from a short multinoded crown, with numerous
short-leaved innovations at base; culms 5-10 dm. tall, erect, compressed; sheaths
keeled; ligules membranous, about 1 mm. long or less; blades erect, folded basally,
flat distally, 2-5 dm. long, 5-12 mm. broad, glabrous or sparsely pilose on the
upper side at the folded base; panicles terminal and axillary, 1-3 dm. long, a
fifth to nearly as broad as long, the long branches erect or spreading, naked at
base, the appressed to spreading densely flowered branchlets mostly borne on the
underside of the branches, the pedicels glabrous or bearing near the summit 1 or
several hairs; spikelets 1.8-2.8 mm. long, short-pedicelled, lanceolate, pointed,
glabrous; sterile lemma 5- to 7-nerved; glumes and sterile lemma mostly keeled;
fertile lemma and palea smooth and shiny, the fertile lemma sessile or rarely
with a very minute stipe and with a minute tuft of thickish hairs at apex. P.
agrostoides Spreng. and var. ramosius (Mohr) Fern., P. condensum Nash, P.
stipitatum Nash.
317
-------
Fig. 158: Panicum gymnocarpum: a and b, habit, X %', c, ligule, X %; d, spikelet,
X 5. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 159: Panicum hemitomon: a, habit, X %; b, ligule, X 3; c, spikelet showing
2nd glume, X 10; d, spikelet showing 1st glume, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Abundant in moist or poorly drained areas, in wet meadows, on muddy banks
of ponds, lakes and streams, in shallow water of ponds and lakes, swampy areas
and along sloughs, in Okla. (McCurtain, Adair, Atoka, LeFlore, Osage and
Mayes cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent w. to n.-cen. Tex., late summer-fall;
most of e. U.S.; W.I.; Coah.
17. Panicum tenerum Beyr. Fig. 161.
Perennial from knotty crowns; culms several, subcompressed, wiry, erect, 4-9
dm. tall; lower sheaths pubescent toward the summit, with spreading hairs; ligule
minute; blades 4-15 cm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, erect, firm, subinvolute, pilose on
upper surfaces toward the base; panicle 3-8 cm. long, very slender, terminal and
axillary; spikelets short-pedicelled (the pedicel usually with a few long hairs),
2.2-2.8 mm. long, pointed, glabrous; fertile lemma and palea smooth and shiny.
Rare in wet places, margins of swamps and wet places in pine barrens, in
s.e. Tex., rarer still in e. Tex., summer-fall; Coastal States, N.C. to Tex.; W.I.
18. Panicum amarulum Hitchc. & Chase. BEACH PANIC. Fig. 154.
Perennial from extensive decumbent subrhizomatous to rhizomatous bases,
forming clumps as much as 3 m. across; ascending aerial portions of the numerous
culms to 1 m. long and 1 cm. thick, glaucous, glabrous throughout; ligule a fringe
about 2 mm. long or at the extreme base of the fringe a firm minute scale;
blades linear, firm, 2-5 dm. long, 5-12 mm. broad, involute near the tip, pilose
on the upper surface near the base; panicle large, rather compact, 3-10 cm.
broad, slightly nodding, densely flowered; spikelets 4.3-5.5 mm. long, acuminate-
pointed, glabrous; sterile lemma strongly 5- to 9-nerved; lower floret staminate;
fertile lemma and palea smooth and shiny.
All along the Gulf beaches in loose dune sand, also on margin of swamps and
wet places in pine barrens, fall; beaches, N.J. to Mex.; W.I.
Very doubtfully distinct from P. amarum Ell., which occurs on beaches from
Connecticut to Georgia, and has been reported to occur in Texas. P. amarum
supposedly differs in more definitely rhizomatous habit, with culms rising singly
at intervals, panicle a fourth to a third the entire height of the plant and not
more than 3 cm. broad and spikelets 5-6.5 mm. long.
Panicum amarulum intergrades with P. virgatum inland.
19. Panicum virgatum L. SWITCHGRASS. Fig. 162.
Perennial from strong branching scaly horizontal rhizomes; culms stout, robust,
in large bunches, green or glaucous, tough, 1-2 (-3) m. tall; sheaths glabrous;
ligule membranous, ciliate; blades 1-6 dm. long, 3-15 mm. broad, flat, glabrous or
sometimes pilose above near base, rarely pilose all over; panicle 15-50 cm. long,
open and diffuse; spikelets turgid, often gaping, glabrous, (2.8-) 3.5-5 mm. long,
acuminate-pointed; first glume clasping, two thirds to three fourths as long as the
spikelet, acuminate or cuspidate; sterile lemma 5- to 9-nerved; lower floret usually
staminate; fertile lemma narrowly ovate, smooth and shiny, the margins inrolled
only in the lower part.
In moist or seasonally moist open places, fresh or brackish marshes, seepage
areas, swamps about lakes, edge of ponds and in shallow water of pools, in Okla.
(Ottawa, Woodward, Creek, LeFlore and McCurtain cos.), nearly throughout
Tex. but infrequent or rare in the Trans-Pecos, and N. M. (Colfax, Guadalupe
and Quay cos.), late summer-fall; N.S. and Ont. to N.D. and Wyo.', s. to Gulf
States: Cuba; reported in Jal. and Gro. but perhaps based on misdeterminations;
reports of its occurrence in Coah. and Chih. are based on specimens of P bulbo-
320
-------
Fig. 160: Panicum obtusum: plant, X !/>; spikelet and floret, X 10. (From Hitch-
cock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 161: a and b, Panicum hians: a, top of plant, X %; b, spikelet, X 10. c-e,
Panicum tenerum; c, habit, X %; d, ligule, X 2; e, two views of spikelet, X 7. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
20. Panicum capillare L. WITCHGRASS. Fig. 163.
Annual, freely branched from the base; culms usually somewhat spreading from
the base, 2-8 dm. long, papillose-hispid to rarely nearly glabrous; sheaths hispid;
ligule 1-3 mm. long; blades 10-25 cm. long, 5-15 mm. broad, hispid on both
surfaces; panicles many-flowered, diffuse, often making up half the total length
of the plant, included at base until maturity, the branches finally divaricately
spreading, the whole panicle breaking away and rolling before the wind; spike-
lets 2-3.3 mm. long, pointed or attenuate at the tip, 7- to 9-nerved, glabrous;
first glume large, clasping; fertile lemma and palea smooth and shining, usually
olive-brown at maturity. Incl. var. occidentale Rydb.
Moist soil in waste and cultivated lands, along irrigation ditches, and in wet
sandy places along streams, about playa lakes and low alluvial soils in Okla.
(Alfalfa Co.) and in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Plains Country, infrequent e. to
n.-cen. Tex. and N. M. (San Miguel and Sierra cos.), often in disturbed ground,
summer-fall; most of N.A.
21. Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. FALL PANIC. Fig. 164.
Somewhat succulent branching annual; culms ascending or spreading from a
geniculate base, 5-10 dm. tall or in robust specimens to 2 m. long; ligule a
dense ring of white hairs 1-2 mm. long; blades flat, scaberulous and sometimes
sparsely pilose on the upper surface, 1-5 dm. long, 3-20 mm. broad, the white
midrib usually prominent; panicles many-flowered, terminal and axillary, mostly
included in the upper sheath at the base, 1-4 dm. long or more, the main branches
rather stiff, ascending, the branchlets short and appressed along the main branches;
spikelets short-pedicelled, narrowly oblong-ovate, 2-3 mm. long, acute, 7-nerved,
glabrous; first glume only about a fourth as long as the spikelet; fertile lemma
smooth and shining.
Moist ground along streams and in disturbed soil, marshy areas, in sluggish
streams and seepage areas, in Okla. (McCurtain, Nowata, Kay and Pittsburg
cos.) and in e. half of Tex., more common in low areas near the coast such as
rice fields, rare in e. part of Plains Country, late summer-fall; N.S. and Me. to
Minn., s. to Fla. and Tex., occasionally introd. farther w.; W.I.
53. Sacciolepis NASH
A genus of about 30 species in warm regions.
1. Sacciolepis striata (L.) Nash. Fig. 165.
Perennial; culms extensively creeping, the lower internodes 2-4 mm. thick;
sheaths usually shortly papillose-pilose; ligule obsolete; blades with conspicuous
nervature; panicles terminal, not much-exserted, spiciform, 6-15 (-25) cm. long,
about 1 cm. thick, with numerous appressed branches, the minute ultimate pedicels
abscising just below the glumes; spikelets not much-compressed, 2-flowered, the
lower floret staminiferous, the upper perfect; rachilla abscising just below the
fertile lemma; first glume minute, triangular, 3- to 5-nerved; second glume lanceo-
late, gibbous basally, 4-5 mm. long, strongly several-nerved; lower lemma as
long as the second glume, with obscure nerves and a well-developed palea and
3-stamens; fertile lemma about half as long as the spikelet, very thin-cartilaginous,
oblong, blunt, the margins revolute, enclosing the palea of the same texture.
In moist sands near streams, marshes and bogs, in shallow water of lakes and
ponds, in Okla. (Johnston Co.) and infrequent to rare in e. and s.e. Tex. (Jasper
Marion, Houston, Cherokee and Wood cos.), late summer-fall; Coastal States,
N. J. to Tex.; Okla. and Tenn.
323
-------
Fig. 162: Panicum virgalum: plant, X 1-;; two views of spikelet and floret X 10
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 163: Panicum capillare: plant, X
(From Hitchcock & Chase).
'z\ two views of spikelet and floret. X 10.
-------
54. Echinochloa BEAUV. WATER GRASS
Annual or rarely perennial; culms rarely erect, often rooting at the nodes;
leaves membranous, flat; ligule absent in most species; inflorescence an elongate
terminal panicle of numerous ascending spikelike branchlets that are secundly
flowered on the abaxial side; spikelets paired in the upper nodes of the spikelike
branchlets and in several-flowered secondary panicles in the lower part, not at
all compressed, 2-flowered (the lower floret usually completely reduced, rarely
staminiferous), turgidly plano-convex; first glume about half as long as the
spikelet, acute; second glume and sterile lemma membranous, equal, about as
long as the spikelet, usually stiffly hispidulous along the several nerves, acute;
glume usually coarsely mucronate or awned (if awned, the awn of the second
glume much longer than that of the first); sterile lemma enclosing a thin palea
and rarely 3 stamens and often awned; fertile lemma broadly elliptical, cartilagin-
ous-indurate, acuminate, the lateral margins revolute, clasping the lateral margins
of the similarly textured palea but not its acute free tip.
A genus of perhaps 25 species of warm regions. They are excluded from
Panlcum on the bases of the form of the inflorescence, the usually very coarsely
pubescent spikelets and the coarsely mucronate or awned glumes. Probably they
represent merely a part of the very diverse genus Panicum, and should be placed
therein. These plants are commonly found in muddy places and provide good
forage locally.
The seeds of these species provide important food for ducks and many other
kinds of birdlife.
1. Ligule a row of stiff yellowish hairs; body of sterile lemma 4—5 mm. long....
5. E. polystachya.
1. Ligule obsolete or absent; body of sterile lemma 2.5-4 mm. long (2)
2(1). "Spikes" of inflorescence 3-20 (-40) mm. long, ascending, often diverging
from the axis at angles of 20°-45°, only shortly if at all overlap-
ping; blades 3-6 mm. broad 1. E. colonum.
2. "Spikes" of inflorescence 10-100 mm. long, ascending or slightly diverging,
often overlapping a considerable portion of their lengths; blades
mostly broader than 5 mm. (3)
3(2). Inflorescence thick, if slender then erect; sterile lemmas unawned or with
awns to 10 mm. long 2. E. crusgalli.
3. Inflorescence slender, nodding, dense; sterile lemmas with awns 4-43 mm.
long (4)
4(3). Sheaths usually papillose-pilose or papillose-hispid; spinulose cilia of the
nerves of the second glume and sterile lemma conspicuously papil-
lose 4. E. Waited.
4. Sheaths glabrous; spinulose cilia of the nerves of the second glume and sterile
lemma not conspicuously papillose 3. E. cruspavonis.
1. Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link. JUNGLE-RICE. Fig. 166.
Diffuse annual; culms erect or procumbent and rooting at the nodes, 1-2 (-3)
mm. thick basally; ligule obsolete; "spikes" 3-20 (-40) mm. long, ascending,
appressed or often diverging from the axis at angles of 20°—45°, remote on the
axis, only shortly if at all overlapping; second glume and sterile lemma simply
strongly acuminate, not awned, hispid along the nerves (use lens), about 3 mm.
long. Panicum colonum L.
In water of freshwater canals, ditches and pools, in marshes, Okla. (McCurtain,
Johnston and Cherokee cos.), nearly throughout Tex. (infrequent in Plains
Country) in moist loamy often disturbed soil, N. M. (Lea and San Juan cos.) and
Ariz. (Yavapai. Graham, Final, Maricopa, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima and
326
-------
Fig. 164: Panicum dichotomiflorum: A, habit, x %', B, spikelet, showing the dicho-
tomous florets, x 7; C, ligule, x 4; D, caryopses, x 7. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of
the United States, Fig. 35).
-------
Fig. 165: Saccio/epis striala: a-c, habit, X H; d and e, two views of spikelet, X 14.
(a-c, V. F.; d and e. Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Yuma cos.), summer-fall; nat. to the Old World trop., now widespread in warm
regions of the world.
2. Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. BARNYARD GRASS. Fig. 167.
Erect or diffuse annual; culms 2.5-10 mm. thick basally; sheaths smooth; ligule
obsolete; panicle erect or slightly nodding; "spikes" 1-10 cm. long, ascending,
lengthily overlapping, often with stiff bristlelike hairs; second glume and sterile
lemma mucronate or awned, the nerves hispid or spinose-hirsute, 2.5-4 mm. long.
Panicum crusgalli L.
Nearly throughout our area in moist often disturbed loamy soil, in marshes,
seepage areas, and in mud and water of lakes, ditches and floodplains, summer-
fall; widespread in temp, and trop. areas of the world.
Variable species; we have two fairly well-marked but intergrading varities:
Var. crusgalli, with long, somewhat spreading, papillose cilia at the summits
of the internodes and bases of the branches in the inflorescence and short, very
thick, papillose cilia along the lateral nerves of the second glume and sterile
lemma, and somewhat spreading "spikes", and sterile lemmas with awns 0-10
mm. long; synonyms include E. crusgalli subsp. muricata (Michx.) Shinners, var.
muricata (Michx.) Shinners and var. microstachya (Wieg.) Shinners, and perhaps
var. mitis (Pursh) Peterm.
Var. zelayensis (H.B.K.) Hitchc., with non-papillate ascending cilia in the
inflorescence or these absent, and short, thinner, not-so-markedly papillose cilia
along the nerves of the second glume and sterile lemma, usually strictly ascending
"spikes", and sterile lemma rarely short-awned; synonyms include E. crusgalli
subsp. zelayensis (H.B.K.) Shinners and var. macera (Wieg.) Shinners.
Japanese millet is planted in places and occasionally escapes; it is usually called
E. crusgalli var. frumentacea (Link) W. Wight but is no doubt merely a cultivar
of var. crusgalli.
One specimen from near Brownsville, Cameron Co. in the Texas Rio Grande
Valley, has staminiferous lower florets and therefore corresponds to E. paludigena
Wieg., which is otherwise identical to, and is to be referred to, E. crusgalli var.
crusgalli.
3. Echinochloa cruspavonis (H.B.K.) Schult.
Diffuse annual, the lower parts of the culms long-trailing in water and mud
and rooting at the nodes, the lower internodes 4—12 mm. thick; sheaths smooth;
ligule obsolete; panicles long, slender, conspicuously nodding; "spikes" ascending
or appressed, 1—4 cm. long, lengthily overlapping, often with stiff bristlelike hairs;
second glume and sterile lemma with bodies 3-4 mm. long and awns, the awn
of the lemma 4—29 mm. long, the nerves with spinulose cilia but these not con-
spicuously papillose. Panicum cruspavonis (H.B.K.) Nees, E. crusgalli var. crus-
pavonis (H.B.K.) Nees.
Marshy margins of streams and lakes, infrequent in s.e. Tex. and n. parts of
Rio Grande Plains, rare in the Trans-Pecos, summer-fall; trop. areas of Afr.
and Am., n. to Ala., La. and Tex.; also rare in Va.
4. Echinochloa Walteri (Pursh) Heller.
Mostly erect annual; culms 4—17 mm. thick basally; sheaths papillose-pilose
or papillose-hispid at least part of the length or rarely wholly glabrous; ligule
obsolete; panicles elongate, nodding; "spikes" 2-10 cm. long, ascending or spread-
ing, lengthily overlapping, often with stiff bristlelike hairs; second glume and
sterile lemma with bodies 3—4 mm. long and awns, the awns of the lemma 10—43
mm. long, the nerves (especially the lateral) with conspicuously papillose-spinu-
lose cilia. Panicum Walteri Pursh.
329
-------
Fig. 166: Echinochloa colonum: a, culm, leaf sheath and ciliate leaf base, X 3;
b, spikelet, X 12; c, floret, adaxial view, showing indurated pales, X 12; d, floret,
abaxial view, showing indurated lemma, X 12; e, habit, showing decumbent stems root-
ing at the nodes, X ^. (From Mason, Fig. 62).
-------
Fig. 167: Echinochloa crusgalli: a, panicle, X %; b, leaf sheath and ciliate leaf
base, X 3; c, habit, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 63).
-------
Margins of streams and irrigation ditches, swampy places, in shallow water
of ponds and in brackish marshes, in Okla. (Murray and Kay cos.) and extreme
n. edge of Tex. Rio Grande Plains, s. parts of n.-cen. Tex. and e. Tex., infrequent,
summer; Wise., Va., S.C., Ark., La., Okla., Tex. and Coah.
5. Echinochloa polystachya (H.B.K.) Hitchc.
Long-creeping perennial, some of the lower internodes 3-6 mm. thick; nodes
villous; sheaths smooth; ligule a row of stiff yellowish hairs (use lens); panicles
slender and usually nodding; "spikes" 2-5 mm. long, strictly ascending and ap-
pressed, the lower ones only slightly overlapping, often with stiff bristlelike hairs;
second glume and sterile lemma with bodies 4—5 mm. long and awns, the awn of
the lemma 4-18 mm. long, the nerves (especially the lateral ones) with spinulose
cilia but these not conspicuously pilose. Panicum polystachyum H.B.K.
Infrequent in moist clay loam, in shallow water, swamps and ditches, coastal
parts of Tex. Rio Grande Plains and s. part of s.e. Tex., Mar.-Nov.; warm-temp.
and trop. parts of Am., n. to Cuba and Tex.
55. Setaria BEAUV. BRISTLE GRASS. MILLET
Panicles with many nodes and short branches, each branch system exhibiting
numerous reduced sterile branchlets which are seen as bristles subtending the
spikelets; spikelets essentially sessile, each falling as a unit, 2-flowered, the lower
floret staminate or completely reduced, the upper perfect; first glume much shorter
than the spikelet, several-nerved, membranous; second glume nearly as long as
the spikelet, several-nerved, membranous; lower ("sterile") lemma several-nerved,
membranous, usually not quite as long as the fertile lemma; sterile palea nearly
obsolete to well-developed and as long as the sterile lemma; fertile lemma indurate,
strongly convex, the margins revolute and clasping the palea of the same texture,
smooth or usually faintly to strongly transversely rugose.
A genus of about 140 species in the warmer parts of the world; closely related
to certain species of Panicum and probably best treated as a subgenus of that
genus.
1. Bristles 4 to 12 below each spikelet; panicles spiciform, not tapering nor inter-
rupted (2)
1. Bristles 1 to 3 below each spikelet; panicles tapering or if spiciform then
usually interrupted in the lower part (3)
2(1). Plants perennial, from hard knotty subrhizomatous bases; spikelets mostly
1.2-1.6 mm. broad, elliptic 1. S. geniculata.
2. Plants annual, from bases that are not hard knotty or subrhizomatous; spikelets
mostly 1.5-1.9 mm. broad, turgid 2. S. glauca.
3(1). Bristles retrorsely scabrous 3. S. verticillata.
3. Bristles antrorsely scabrous only 4. S. magna.
1. Setaria geniculata (Lam.) Beauv. Fig. 168.
Perennial from hard knotty subrhizomatous bases; aerial culms 2-10 dm. long,
geniculate at the lower nodes, mostly erect; blades 3-8 mm. broad, mostly rather
strictly erect; panicles 1-8 cm. long, cylindric, about 15 mm. thick, dense, a 1-cm.
transaction including 13 to 25 spikelets; spikelets subtended by numerous stiff
bristles, mostly 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.2-1.6 mm. broad, elliptic to elliptic-ovate; lower
(sterile) floret usually staminiferous with a well-developed palea.
Most common in disturbed moist areas, in mud along streams, salt and fresh-
water marshes, in mud and shallow water about ponds and lakes, in Okla. (Alfalfa,
Pittsburg, Mayes and LeFiore cos.), throughout Tex., N.M. (Hitchcock) and
Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.), spring-fall; in warmer parts of Am. n. to Calif Ariz.,
N.M., Kan., la., W.Va. and Mass.
332
-------
Fig. 168: Setaria geniculata: a, spikelet, showing fertile lemma and the few up-
wardly barbed bristles on branchlet, X 12; b, floret, showing palea, X 12; c, spikelet,
showing first glume and sterile lemma, X 12; d, rachilla, the bristles remaining and the
spikelets having fallen off from the branchlets, X 6; e, leaf sheath, showing long-ciliate
ligule and the sparsely set long hairs at base of the scabrous blade, X 6; f, habit, upper
part, showing the slender linear panicles, X %; g, habit, lower part, showing the
knotty branching rhizomes and the erect, ascending leaf blades, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 84).
-------
2. Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. YELLOW Foxtail. Fig. 169.
Loosely-tufted annual; culms 2-10 dm. long, often geniculate and decumbent
basally, ascending distally; blades 4-10 mm. broad, ascending; panicles 1-8 cm.
long, cylindric, about 1 cm. thick, fairly dense, a 1-cm. transection near the
middle including 11 to 20 spikelets; each spikelet subtended by numerous bristles,
mostly 2.5-3.2 mm. long, 1.4-2.1 mm. broad, rotundly ovate, turgid; lower (sterile)
floret usually staminiferous with a well-developed palea. S. lutescens (Weig.)
F. T. Hubb.
In wet soil on edge of ponds, lakes and streams, in wet meadows, ditches
and on gravel bars along streams, in Okla. (Waterfall), nearly throughout Tex.
but absent from Rio Grande Plains and Plains Country, rare in the Trans-Pecos,
in N. M. (Sierra Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Cochise,
Yavapai, Pima and Yuma cos.), summer-fall; nearly throughout the temp, and
trop. areas of the world, introd. from Eur.
3. Setaria verticillata (L.) Beauv. Fig. 170.
Plants annual; culms to 1 m. long, simple or more often much-branched at
base, geniculately spreading and rooting at nodes; leaf blades flat, thin, scabrous
and sparingly pilose, 5-10 mm. wide, 10-20 cm. long; panicle erect, not rigid,
slightly tapered, sometimes interrupted at base, 5-15 cm. long, 7-15 mm. thick,
bristles 1 below each spikelet, retrorsely scabrous and 1 to 3 times as long as the
spikelet; spikelet 2 mm. long; fruit finely rugose.
Along ditch banks and in muddy or waste places, in Okla. (Muskogee Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave, Cochise and Pima cos.); Mass, to N.D., s. to Ala., Mo.
and Okla., w. to Ariz, and Calif., introd. from Eur.
4. Setaria niagna Griseb.
Robust annual; culms 1—4 m. tall, 5-20 mm. thick basally, prop-rooting from
the lower nodes but erect and simple; panicles 25-60 cm. long, 2-3 cm. thick,
dense (the axis mostly hidden); spikelets very numerous, about 2 mm. long; fertile
lemma smooth, shiny.
In marshes, wet places, moist ditches, bayous, etc., s.e. Tex., summer-fall;
Coastal States, N.I. to Tex.; W.I., Yuc., C. R.
56. Cenchrus L.
About 160 species in warmer parts of the world. Individuals of this genus
are exceedingly abundant, especially so in disturbed, sandy, non-forested areas
and at elevations below 4,000 feet. Several species have been introduced, including
Pearl Millet and Napier Grass. Some authors segregate the genus into two genera
on trivial technical grounds. The spiny burs cause pain and sometimes infection
when they penetrate the skin, and they are noxious to animals when mixed with
hay.
1. Cenchrus myosuroides H.B.K.
Perennial from hard knotty subrhizomatous bases; culms 6-20 dm. long, erect;
panicle (6-) 10-23 cm. long, 6-12 mm. thick, interrupted at the very base, other-
wise rather dense, a 1-cm. transection near the middle containing 7 to 10 burs;
internodes of axis about 1-1.5 mm. long; burs about 3 mm. thick basally, the
bristles numerous (about 35 to 60 per bur), united only basally in the short cup
which does not equal the spikelets, greatly unequal (outer ones shortest), spreading
(outer) or ascending (inner ones), the inner ones stiff, none plumose.
In ditches and near creeks or springs, infrequent in the Tex. Rio Grande Plains,
rare in the Trans-Pecos, summer-fall; Col., Ecu., Bol., Chile, Parag., Arg. and
extreme s. Braz.; also W.I. n. to Fla. Keys; Mex.; Tex.
334
-------
Fig. 169: Setaria glauca: a, spikelet, showing first glume and sterile lemma, X 10;
b, spikelet, showing fertile lemma and the upwardly barbed slender bristles on branch-
let, X 10; c, floret, showing palea, X 10; d, leaf sheath and ciliate ligule, X 6; e, habit,
upper part of culm, showing spikelike panicle, X %; f, habit, lower part, showing the
leaf blades with villous base above sheath, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 83).
-------
57. Erianthus MICHX. PLUMEGRASS
Perennials, 1-3 m. tall, forming robust clumps; leaves elongate; ligules narrow,
usually hippocrepiform; panicle 1-9 dm. long, terminal, often pyramidal to clavate
or even slender; spikelets in pairs, one of each pair sessile, one pedicelled, both
perfect, usually 4-6 mm. long (not including awn), typically membranous to
coriaceous, usually dorsally villous with long hairs; sterile lemma hyaline, shorter,
with usually 1 median nerve; fertile lemma narrow, ovate-lanceolate, hyaline, with
usually a prominent straight or twisted exserted awn 4-20 mm. long; palea (if
present) hyaline.
A genus of 28 species of southeast Asia to southeast Europe, Madagascar, and
the warmer parts of America.
1. Culm appressed-hairy below the panicle (2)
1. Culm glabrous below the panicle (3)
2(1). Awn straight or slightly flexuous 4. E. giganteus.
2. Awn loosely twisted 3. E. alopecuroides.
3(1). Hairs subtending the spikelet few and short or absent; panicle nearly com-
pletely glabrous; awn straight 1. E. strictus.
3. Hairs subtending the spikelet as long as or longer than the spikelet; panicle
very hairy; awn 2 cm. long, coiled 2. E. contortus.
1. Erianthus strictus Baldw. NARROW PLUMEGRASS.
Perennial; culms 1-2 m. tall, relatively slender, glabrous; nodes sometimes
hirsute with stiff erect deciduous hairs; internode below the panicle glabrous;
foliage glabrous; lower sheaths narrow and crowded; blades mostly 4—12 mm.
broad; panicle 2-4 dm. (rarely 8 dm.) long, strict (about 1-2 cm. thick), the
branches closely appressed; spikelets brown, about 8-11 mm. long (not including
awn), scabrous, nearly naked to sparsely short-hairy at base; awn straight, 15-20
mm. long; rachis joint and pedicel scabrous.
Rare in moist sandy places, marshes and swamps, in Okla. (Waterfall), &. and
s.e. Tex., fall; Va. to Fla. and Tex., n. to Tenn. and Mo.
2. Erianthus contortus Baldw. BENT-AWN PLUMEGRASS.
Perennial; culms 1—2 m. tall, glabrous or sometimes sparsely appressed-pilose
below the panicle; nodes glabrous or pubescent with erect deciduous hairs; inter-
nodes below the panicle glabrous; sheaths sparsely pilose at summit or glabrous;
blades 10-15 mm. broad, scabrous; panicle 15-30 cm. long, narrow, the branches
ascending but not closely appressed; spikelets 6-8 mm. (excluding awn) long,
brownish, the basal hairs nearly or about as long as the spikelet; awn about 2 cm.
long, spirally coiled at base; rachis joint and pedicel villous.
Rare in moist sandy places, especially wet pinelands, in Okla. (Waterfall),
e. and s.e. Tex., fall; Md. to Fla. and Tex., n. to Tenn. and Okla.
3. Erianthus alopecuroides (L.) Ell. SILVER PLUMEGRASS.
Perennial; culms robust, 15-30 dm. tall, appressed-villous below the panicle
and usually on the nodes; sheaths pilose at the summit; blades 12-20 mm. wide,
scabrous, pilose on upper surface toward base; panicle 2-3 dm. long, silvery to
tawny or purplish; spikelets 5-6 mm. long, pale, sparsely villous, shorter than
the copious basal hairs; awn 10-15 mm. long, flat, loosely twisted; rachis joint
and pedicel long-villous. E. divaricatus Hitchc.
Infrequent in sandy woodlands, usually near water or in seepage, in Okla.
(Waterfall), e. and s.e. Tex., fall; NJ. to 111., s. Mo. and Okla., s. to Gulf States.
336
-------
Fig. 170: Set aria verticillata: a, spikelet, showing short first glumes and the single
downwardly barbed bristles on branchlets, X 16; b, floret, showing lemma, X 16; c,
auricled leaf sheath and ciliate ligule, X 4; d, panicle, X %; e, floret, showing palea,
X 16; f, habit, upper part, showing panicles, X %; g, habit, lower part, showing the
lax arching leaf blades and roots at the nodes, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 85).
-------
4. Erianthus giganteus (Walt.) Muhl. SUGARCANE PLUMEGRASS. Fig. 171.
Perennial; culms 1-3 m. tall, appressed-villous below the panicle, the nodes
appressed-hispid, the hairs deciduous; sheaths and blades from nearly glabrous to
shaggy appressed-villous; blades 4-15 mm. broad; panicle 10-15 (-40) cm. long,
oblong or ovoid, tawny to purplish; spikelets 5-6 (-7) mm. long, sparsely long-
villous on the upper part, shorter than the copious basal hairs; awn 10-25 mm.
long, terete, straight or rarely slightly flexuous; rachis joint and pedicel long-
pilose. E. saccharoides Michx., E. Tracyi Nash, E. laxus Nash, E. compactus Nash.
Infrequent in sandy soil, usually near moisture, often in marshes or seepage
areas, in Okla. (Waterfall), e. and s.e. Tex., fall; N. Y. to Tex.; Cuba; probably
elsewhere in trop. Am.
58. Andropogon L. BLUESTEM
In the present strict sense this is a genus of some few dozens of species of the
temperate and subtropical areas of the Old World and New World.
1. Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) B. S. P. BUSHY BEARDGRASS.
Perennial; culms erect, 5-15 dm. tall, compressed, with broad keeled overlapping
lower sheaths, the flat tufts often forming dense usually glaucous clumps, the
culms from freely to bushy-branching toward the summit; sheaths occasionally
villous; blades elongate, 3-8 mm. wide; inflorescence dense, feathery, from flabel-
late to oblong, the paired racemes 1-3 cm. long, about equaling the slightly
dilated spathes, the enclosed peduncle and ultimate branchlets long-villous, the
peduncle at least 5 mm. long or often longer; rachis very slender, flexuous, long-
villous; sessile spikelets 3-4 mm. long, the awn straight, 10-15 mm. long; sterile
spikelet reduced to a subulate glume or wanting, the slender pedicel long-villous.
A. virginicus var. abbreviatus (Hack.) Fern. & Grisc.
Frequent in moist areas, in marshes and swamps, on wet springy slopes and
in seepage areas, on edge of water about springs and ponds, in Okla. (Haskell
Co.), e. half of Tex., rare westw., in N. M. (Eddy Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino,
Mohave, Maricopa, Final and Santa Cruz cos.), late summer-fall; s.e. U.S. n. to
N.E., Ky., Okla.; also N.M., Ariz., Nev., Calif., Mex., W.I. and C.A.
59. Sorghum MOENCH
A large genus centered in the Near East; at least 2 species are cultivated and
escaped in Texas.
1. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. JOHNSON GRASS. Fig. 172.
Robust perennial; culms 5-15 dm. tall, from extensively creeping scaly rhizomes;
blades mostly less than 2 cm. wide; panicle open, terminal, of several to numerous
racemes, 15-50 cm. long; spikelets tardily disarticulating just below each sessile
spikelet; fertile sessile spikelet 4.5-5.5 mm. long, ovate, appressed-silky, the
readily deciduous awn 10-15 mm. long, geniculate, twisted below; sterile pedi-
cellate spikelet 5-7 mm. long, lanceolate.
Open ground, fields and waste places, along irrigation ditches and in wet depres-
sions, Mass, to la. and Kan., s. to Fla. and Tex., w. to s. Calif.; nat. of the Medit.
region but in the trop. and warmer regions of both hemispheres.
Cultivated for forage, but because of the difficulty of eradication it becomes a
troublesome weed.
60. Manisuris L. JOINT-TAIL
Perennial moderately tall plants; racemes nearly cylindrical, their rachises gla-
brous or nearly so and quite thick, the base of each internodc on one side sculp-
tured with a niche into which the spikelets fit closely; pedicellate spikelets reduced,
338
-------
Fig. 171: Erianthus giganteus: plant, X %; spikelet with pedicel and rachis joint,
X 5. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
Fig. 172: Sorghum halepense: Plant, X
(From Hitchcock. & Chase).
two views of terminal raceme, X 5.
-------
often rudimentary.
A small genus of the warmer parts of the world.
1. Racemes flattened, tardily disarticulating; first glume of sessile spikelet smooth
1. M. altissima.
1. Racemes nearly cylindric, readily disarticulating at maturity; first glume of
sessile spikelet marked with pits or wrinkles 2. M. rugosa.
1. Manisuris altissima (Poir.) Hitchc.
Perennial; culms ascending from a long creeping base, compressed and 2-edged,
4-8 dm. long, freely branching toward the ends; blades flat, 3-8 mm. wide; flower-
ing branches often short and fascicled; racemes 3-5 cm. or sometimes 1 dm. long,
compressed; pedicel free or partly adnate to the rachis joint; sessile spikelet 5-7
mm. long, the keels of the first glume very narrowly winged toward the apex;
pedicellate spikelet 5-6 mm. long, acute.
Rare in coastal s. Tex., where repeatedly introd. in ponds, ditches and on edge
of water in the Rio Grande, spring-fall; warmer parts of the world, introd. in Am.
2. Manisuris rugosa (Nutt.) O. Ktze.
Perennial; culms mostly rather stout, 7-12 dm. tall, freely branching; sheaths
compressed-keeled; blades commonly folded, 3-8 mm. wide; flowering branches
often numerous; racemes 4-8 cm. long, partly included in brownish sheaths; rachis
joint and pedicel contracted in the middle; sessile spikelet 3.5-5 mm. long, the
first glume strongly and irregularly transversely ridged, the keels narrowly winged
toward the summit.
Infrequent in open woodlands on low often moist or wet sandy loam, in wet
savannahs and wettish pine woods, in e. and s.e. Tex., summer-fall; Coastal
States, Va. to Tex.; Ark.
61. Tripsacum L.
A small American genus of which we have one species.
1. Tripsacum dacryloides (L.) L. EASTERN GAMAGRASS. Fig. 173.
Very robust perennial, usually 15-30 dm. tall, often with rhizomes, glabrous
throughout; blades elongate, 1-2 cm. broad, flat; inflorescence 15-25 cm. long,
terminal, subdigitate group of a few androgynous spikelike racemes, each with a
few lower solitary pistillate fertile spikelets at the base and many paired staminate
spikelets above; pistillate spikelets 7-10 mm. long, occasionally subtended by a
rudimentary pedicel, arranged on opposite sides at each joint of the thick hard
articulate lower part of the rachis, sunken in niches of the sculptured rachis, con-
sisting of one perfect floret and a sterile lemma; first glume coriaceous, nearly
infolding the spikelet, fitting into and closing the hollow of the rachis; second
glume similar to the first but smaller, infolding the remainder of the spikelet;
sterile and fertile lemmas and palea very thin and hyaline; staminate spikelets
7-11 mm. long, paired and 2-flowered; glumes firm, acute; lemma and palea
hyaline. Incl. var. occidentale Cutler & Anders.
In marsh-meadows, wet grasslands, seepage areas, in wet mud along streams and
about ponds, in Okla. (LeFlore Co.), frequent in scattered parts of Tex. but more
common in the e. half, very rare in the Plains Country, summer-fall; W.I.; e. U.S.,
Coah., N.L., Tarn., S.L.P.
Fam. 25. Cyperaceae Juss. SEDGE FAMILY
Herbs with tristichous leaves and often triangular stems; blades grasslike, often
long and linear or gradually tapered; inflorescences diverse; florets often borne
grouped into spikelets, each floret subtended by a single abaxial scale (apparently
341
-------
Fig. 173: Tripsacum dactyloides: plant, X Vj: pistillate spikelets with rachis joint
and pair of staminate spikelets with rachis joint, X 5. (From Hitchcock & Chase).
-------
2 scales in Hemicarpha; pistillate flower surrounded by a sac in Carex); perianth
either of bristles or plumes or more elaborate structures or absent; fruit an achene.
About 4000 species in 90 genera of world-wide distribution.
1. The unit of the infructescence (i.e., the object bearing one seed and which
falls from the plant at maturity) comprising not only an achene
and usually a portion of the style but also a thin bag surrounding
those structures; monoecious or dioecious 16. Carex
1. The unit of the infructescence merely an achene with or without attached
stylar or other floral tissue, but never surrounded by a sac (2)
2(1). Perianth of 3 stalked scalelike or paddlelike structures, often thickened
at maturity, with or without 3 bristles in addition 4. Fuirena
2. Perianth of bristles or plumose structures or absent (3)
3(2). All or virtually all florets of each spikelet perfect (4)
3. In each spikelet either the florets all pistillate or all staminate or merely
some of them strictly staminate (12)
4(3). Each achene subtended by 2 scales, the lower scale easily visible, the adaxial
one hyaline, very inconspicuous and often split or torn by the
growing achene or adhering to it 8. Hemicarpha
4. Each achene subtended only by one abaxial scale (5)
5(4). Culms naked, the sheath solitary on the extreme base of the culms and
entirely bladeless : 5. Eleocharis
5. Culms not so naked, if some of the sheaths bladeless then each culm with
several of them (6)
6(5). Scales of spikelets distichous and perianth bristles present; base of style
not much swollen but almost the entire style below the fork per-
sistent on the achene 1. Dulichium
6. Scales of spikelet distichous or spirally imbricate and perianth bristles present
or absent, but if scales distichous then bristles absent; base of style
swollen or not, persistent or deciduous (7)
7(6). Swollen style base persistent on the achene as a tubercle of a color and
texture distinct from those of the achenial body (8)
7. Style swollen or not but not persistent on the achene (9)
8(7). Style 3-branched; achene trigonous 6. Bulbostylis
8. Style 2-branched; achene biconvex 14. Psilocarya
9(7). Scales of spikelets distichous on the spikelet axis (this obscure in C. sesqui-
florus, C. tenuifolius and C. brevifolius) 9. Cyperus
9. Scales of spikelets spirally arranged (10)
10(9). Style base swollen 7. Fimbristylis
10. Style terete, slender, not dilated at the base (11)
11(10). Perianth of 1 to 8 bristles or wanting 2. Scirpus
11. Perianth of numerous elongate silky or woolly bristles 3. Eriophorum
12(3). Inflorescence bracts basally white, distally green 12. Dichromena
12. Inflorescence bracts essentially unicolored, green (13)
13(12). Scales of spikelets visibly distichous; spikelets agglomerated into a tight
head 11. Schoenus
13. Scales of spikelets spirally disposed (this obscure in Scleria) or at least not
definitely distichous (14)
14(13). Style base enlarged and persistent as a tubercle of a color and texture
distinct from those of the achenial body; perianth bristles or plumes
usually present 13. Rhynchospora
343
-------
14. Style base not persistent: perianth absent (15)
15(14). Achene often bony, pearly or crustaceous. supported on a disk or
appearing sculptured nasally; pistillate flowers solitary and borne
in separate spikelets 15. Scleria
15 Achene otherwise; spikelets all alike and borne in very larse inflorescences
10. Cladium
I. Dulichium PERS.
The genus comprises only one species; confined to North America.
1. Dulichium arundinaceum (L.) Britt. THREE-WAY SEDGE. Fig. 174.
Perennial with creeping rhizomes 2-3 mm. thick and with intemodes 2-5 cm.
long: culms simple, solitary from the nodes of the rhizomes, 2-10 dm. long, 2-5
mm. thick, erect, with short internodes: lowest leaves with nearly bladeless sheaths,
the upper with short stiff pointed ascending blades 2-10 cm. long, the upper 5 to
20 leaves functioning as bracts, each subtending a peduncled spike; peduncle of
spike only slightly longer than the bract sheath: spike 2-6 cm. long, 15-50 mm.
thick, of 6 to 15 ascending to eventually spreading spikelets; spikelets of 5 to 10
distichous scales, the axis with each internode thickened and concave (niched) on
the fertile side and with 2 narrow vertical wings at the edges of the niche; perianth
bristles 6 to 9, coarse, longer than the achene, retrorsely serrate; style branches 2;
achene flattened, beaked with the long persistent style.
Infrequent or rare in boggy places, edge of streams and swamps, e. Tex.
(Leon. Robertson, Cass, Madison, Henderson and Wood cos.), fall; wet places
and in shallow water over much of the lowlands of U.S., n. to Nfld., Que., Ont.
and B.C., s. to the Gulf States and Calif.
2. Scirpus L. BULRUSH
Annual or perennial herbs, usually aquatic; leaves either well-developed or
the blades much-reduced in some species; inflorescences very variable; scales of
spikelets spirally imbricate: each flower with only a single subtending scale;
bristles present or rarely absent; styles 2- or 3-branched; achenes plano-convex,
biconvex or trigonous, usually apiculate but the apex of the same texture and
color as the rest of the achene (not differentiated as a "tubercle"); style completely
deciduous.
About 300 species, cosmopolitan.
1. Bracts leaflike, none appearing as a continuation of the culm (2)
1. Primary' bract appearing as a continuation of the culm and similar to it in
texture, color and usually in transectional outline (10)
2(1). Spikelets in dense spherical or prolate heads 1-2 cm. thick
1. 5. cubensis.
2. Spikelets either solitary on their peduncles or in small fascicles or glomerules,
never in dense heads (3)
3(2). Achene 3-5 mm. long (4)
3. Achene about 1 mm. long (5)
4(3). Achene dull gray-brown, 4-5 mm. long; bristles 6, stiff, retrorsely barbed
2. S. fluviatilis.
4. Achene dark-brown to black, 3^4 mm. long; bristles 2 to 6, fragile or
deciduous 3. 5. maritimus.
5(3). Bristles very long and far-surpassing the scales, conspicuous in fruit
4. S. cvperinus.
5. Bristles mostly shorter than the scales or if longer then never exserted from
the spikelet (6)
344
-------
Fig. 174: Dulichium arundinaceum: a, inflorescence, X %; b, base of stems and
rhizomes, X Vz', c, several spikelets, X 3; d, flower with scales removed, X 3. (V. F.).
-------
6(5). Bristles straight or slightly curved or none (7)
6. Bristles strongly curved (9)
7(6). Inflorescence usually 2 or more times compound, the clusters loose: achene
lenticular or plano-convex: style bifid 5. 5. microcarpus.
1. Inflorescence usually only once compound, the clusters of spikelets commonly
dense: achene obtusely trigonous: style trifid (8).
8(7) Rhizomatous; bracts as long as or exceeding the inflorescence: each spike-
let with 20 to 40 florets 6. S. atrovirens.
8. Not distinctly rhizomatous: bracts shorter than the inflorescence: each spikelet
with 70 to 200 florets 7. 5. georgianus.
9(6). Principal leaves 3-8 mm. wide: sessile spikelets usually glomerate; curling
bristles mostly much longer than the achene 8. 5. lineatus.
9. Principal leaves 8-12 "mm. wide, sessile spikelets usually solitary: curling
bristles rarely exceeding tne achene 9. 5. fontinalis.
10(1). Achene 0.8-0.9 mm. long 10. S. molestus.
10. Achene 1.3-4 mm. long (11)
11(10). Achene 1.3-1.5 mm. long; culms 0.3-1.8 mm. thick; tufted annuals (12)
11. Achene 1.5-4 mm. long; culms usually thicker; rhizomatous perennials (13)
12(11). Achene with vertical rows of minute pits 11. S. koilolepis.
12. Achene with horizontal ridges 12. 5. siipinus.
13(11). Culms 3-20 dm. long, often sharply triquetrous, 2-8 mm. thick, often
arcuate (14)
13. Culms 10-30 dm. long, either terete or only obscurely trigonous, 8-23 mm.
thick near the base, 2-4 mm. thick just beneath the inflorescence,
usually rigidly erect (15)
14(13). Achene 2.5-3 mm. long; lower scales or the spikelets often much longer
than the rest and with strong venation, bracteolelike; inflorescence
a solitary spikelet or glomerule of 2 to 4 spikelets
13. 5. americanus.
14. Achene 1.8-2.6 mm. long; lower scales of the spikelets not differentiated;
inflorescence a dense glomerule of 5 to 15 spikelets
14. S. Olneyi.
15(13). Achene bristles 2 to 4 (16)
15. Achene bristles 4 to 6 (17)
16(15). Sheaths (near base of culm) at margins rather regularly retrorsely
fimbriate-filiferous; bristles ciliate or plumose, not barbed
15. 5. calijornicus.
16. Sheaths smooth or merely lacerate; bristles fragile, barbellate or smooth
16. 5. heterochaetus.
17(15). Culm obscurely trigonous or flattened; at least the upper sheath with
a well-developed blade; achene usually more than 3 mm. long
17. 5. etuberculatits.
17. Culm terete; sheaths without blades or a much-reduced blade only; achene
less than 3 mm. long (18)
18(17). Scales about 5 mm. long, thin-membranous, pale-brown and with con-
spicuous elongate reddish glutinous spots (seen under a lens), the
distal margin lacerate; achene 1.8-2.9 mm. long 18. 5. acutus.
18. Scale 3-4 mm. long, firm-membranous, dark-brown, nearly smooth (occa-
sionally \\ith a few reddish gummy spots near the midveins), the
distal margin nearl\ smooth to slightly lacerate; achene 1.5-2.2
mrn- 'ong ! ^ 19. S. validus.
346
-------
Fig. 175: Scirpus fluviatilis: a-d, achenes, showing variation in shape (cross section),
X 6; e, flower, style slender and trifld, the bristles unequal in length, X 3; f and g,
awned scales, X 4; h, achene, the subtending bristles unequal in length, X 4; i, spikelet,
X 1%; j, rhizome, tubers and sharply triangular culms, X %; k, inflorescence with
nearly sessile rays and longer primary rays, X %; I, habit, showing rhizomes, tubers,
sheathing culm leaves and umbellate inflorescence with the involucral leaves unequal
in length, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 148).
-------
Fig. 176: Scirpus maritimus var. paludosus: a, inflorescence, X 1i; b, lower part of
stems and rhizomes, X ~1^; c, spikelet, X 3; d, scales, X 5; e, achene, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
1. Scirpus cubensis Poepp. & Kunth.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizome 1-5 mm. thick; aerial culms solitary at the
nodes of the rhizome, to 1 m. tall, sharply trigonous, smooth; leaves all basal
with blades to 15 mm. broad; inflorescence involucrate, umbel-like; bracts 2 to
5, leaflike, spreading, unequal, often much-elongate, far-surpassing the umbel;
branches of umbel very unequal (1 head usually quite sessile), usually 1-3 cm.
long; each branch terminated by a dense spherical or somewhat prolate head 1-2
cm. thick; each head of many spikelets; scales about 3 mm. long, reddish, spread-
ing, tapered to the acute reflexed tip; bristles absent; style bifid; achene about 3
mm. long, lenticular, apiculate.
Very rare, known only from Eagle Nest Lake, Brazoria Co., Tex. where collected
once in 1958, summer-fall; warmer parts of Am., n. to Gulf States; also Afr.
2. Scirpus fluviatilis (Torr.) Gray. RIVER BULRUSH. Fig. 175.
Perennial sedge with horizontal rhizomes forming tubers; culms stout, sharply
triangular, erect, 1-1.5 m. tall; leaves 8-16 mm. wide; involucral leaves 3 to 5,
unequal in length, to 20 cm. long; inflorescence umbellate, rays 5 to 12, elongate,
recurved-spreading, up to 12 cm. long; spikelets acute, 1.6-4 cm. long; bristles 6,
retrorsely barbed, stiff, unequal in length, nearly as long as the achene; anthers
2.5-4.5 mm. long; style trifid; achene usually sharply triangular, angled on back,
dull gray-brown, 4-5 mm. long.
In shallow water and wet mud of sloughs, swamps, lakes, and along rivers and
streams, in N. M. (Fernald); Que. to Sask. and Wash., s. to Va., Ind., 111., Mo.,
Kan., N.M. and Calif.
3. Scirpus maritimus L. SALT-MARSH BULRUSH.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizome several mm. thick, extensive; culms tufted
along the rhizome, often with tuberlike enlargements basally, 5-20 mm. thick
above the tuber, 30-100 cm. long, erect, triquetrous; leaves several, well-
developed; bracts several, flat, leaflike, ascending or usually spreading; inflores-
cence of 3 to 15 ovoid to ovoid-cylindric erect or ascending spikelets, either all
sessile or some variously sessile and others peduncled, quite variable; scales 6—10
mm. long, almost as broad, apically mostly retuse and the midnerve prolonged
into a point 1—3 mm. long; achenes obovate-apiculate, 3—4 mm. long, about 2 mm.
broad, in transection biconvex or one of the sides more convex or bifaceted than
the other, ripening to a dark-brown. The species is nearly world-wide.
We have 2 varieties:
Var. macrostachyus Michx. Scales firm, maturing to a dark-brown; styles usually
3-branched. S. robustus Pursh.
Coastal marshes, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, spring-summer-fall.
Var. paludosus (A. Nels.) Koyama. Fig. 176. Scales thin, translucent, whitish
to pallid-buff; styles uniformly 2-branched. 5". paludosus A. Nels.
Marshes, salt flats and in mud about ponds and lakes, and along streams, in
Okla. (Ottawa, San Juan, Colfax, Washita, Elaine and Alfalfa cos.), n.-cen. and
Trans-Pecos Tex., the Plains Country, Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains,
N. M. (Dona Ana, San Juan, Chaves, Colfax, Quay and Eddy cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Mohave to Final and Maricopa cos.)
4. Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth var. rubricosus (Fern.) Gilly. Fig. 177.
Perennial probably from short thick rhizomes; culms 8-20 dm. long, 6-13
mm. thick basally, 3-4 mm. thick apically where obscurely trigonous; leaves
numerous; bracts several, leaflike, basally brownish or reddish-brown, ascending,
the lowest one about as long as or slightly surpassing the inflorescence, the rest
much shorter; inflorescence a dense decompound panicle (some of the longer
primary branches 5-11 cm. long), somewhat droopy, of 200 to 500 spikelets,
349
-------
Fig, 177: Scirpus cyperinus var. rubncosus: a. habit, X %; b, scale, X 15; c, achene,
about X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 178: Scirpus microcarpus: a, achene and retrorsely barbed subtending bristles,
X 12; b, achene (cross section), X 12; c, primary ray of umbel, X %; d, habit, show-
ing the spreading leaf blades and their basal sheaths, the culm cut off, X %; e, upper
part of culm, with entire leaf sheaths and compound inflorescence, the involucral leaves
extending beyond the inflorescence, X %; f, spikelet, X 8; g, young leaf sheath, X 2;
h, ovate acute scale with prominent midrib, X 16; i, flower, the style 2-cleft, X 16.
(From Mason, Fig. 146).
-------
most of them on slender peduncles 4-10 mm. long, not in glomerules; spikelets
ovoid to ellipsoid, brown, 3-5 mm. long, of 40 to 100 flowers; scales elliptic,
1.5-2 mm. long, brown, acute; bristles several, very long, brown, far-surpassing
the scales; achenes about 1 mm. long, oblong-apiculate, whitish, flattened-triangular
(the abaxial angle blunt, the inner 2 sharp). S. rubricosus Fern.
Wet or boggy places, in water and muddy places, in Okla. (Waterjail) and e.
Tex., summer; the var. cyperinus is widespread in e. U.S. and Can.; the var.
rubricosus is found mostly in s.e. U.S. but occurs n. to Mich, and N.E.
5. Scirpus microcarpus Presl. Fig. 178.
Perennial with stout rhizomes; culms stout, erect, leafy, subterete, 7-17 dm.
tall; leaves flat, broad, 1-2 cm. wide, margins scabrous, the blades acuminate,
often overtopping the stem; involucral leaves 2 to 5, the longer ones usually ex-
tending beyond the heads; inflorescence a loose spreading compound umbel, the
primary rays to 10 cm. long; scales green to brown, acute, ovate, with a promi-
nent midrib, not awned; bristles 4, downwardly barbed, somewhat longer than the
achene; stamens 2; style 2-cleft; achene whitish, ovate, lenticular, with an obscure
dorsal crest, mucronate, 1 mm. long.
Along boggy streams, about springs and in mud at edge of stream, in N. M.
(Catron, Coif ax, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino,
Yavapai, Gila, Cochise and Pima cos.); Alas, to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Scirpus atrovirens Willd. Fig. 179.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizome 2-6 mm. thick; culms 5-8 mm. thick basally,
8-15 dm. long, erect, somewhat trigonous in the upper portion, leafy; bracts
several, well-developed, leaflike, ascending or spreading, as long as or exceeding
the inflorescence; inflorescence complicatedly decompound, of 100 to 250 (to 500)
spikelets in glomerules which in turn are disposed in dense compound panicles,
some of the primary branches that bear the panicles 5-14 cm. long; spikelets ovoid
to narrowly ovoid, dark-brown to fuscous, of 20 to 40 flowers; bristles almost as
long as the achene; scales 1.5—3 mm. long, ovate, acute, with a strong midrib;
achene oblong, about 1 mm. long, in transection flattened-trigonous (the abaxial
angle blunt, the others sharp).
Most of the U.S. (except Pac. States), in and along streams and in wet
meadows, about lakes and in sloughs.
We have 2 varieties:
Var. atrovirens. Scales with a minute mucro only. Rare in moist loam, e.
Tex. (Angelina Co.), summer; otherwise in e. U.S. and e. Can., one station in
Ariz.
Var. pallidus Britt. Scales with a strong mucro or very short awn. S. pallidus
(Britt.) Fern. Rare in Tex. Plains Country (Panhandle), Okla. (Osage, Adair,
Caddo and Woodward cos.), N. M. (Catron, Union, Colfax, Otero and San
Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), summer; in cen. and w. U.S.
7. Scirpus georgianus Harper.
Tufted perennial from thick ascending ligneous caudexes but not distinctly
rhizomatous; culms 5-15 dm. long, erect (some very shortly decumbent basally),
3-6 mm. thick just above the caudex, obscurely trigonous above, leafy; bracts
several, leaflike but reduced in size, ascending, shorter than the inflorescence; in-
florescence a decompound often droopy panicle, some of the longer branches 3-7
cm. long, the 50 to 120 spikelets not in glomerules but most of them on pedicels
2-8 mm. long; spikelets ovoid to usually cylindric, of 70 to 150 (to 200) flowers
at maturity; scales ovate, about 2 mm. long, acute, brown with very strongly pro-
nounced green or buffy midnerve; bristles several, about twice as long as the
achenes or as long as the scales but mostly crumpled and entangled and never
352
-------
Fig. 179: a-d, Scirpus atrovirens: a, basal part of plant, X }£; b, upper part of plant,
X V>; c, scale, X 10; d, achene, X 10. e-h, Scirpus lineatus: e, basal part of plant, X V>;
f, inflorescence X }4; g, scale, X 10; h, achene, X 10. (V. F.).
-------
exserted from the spikelet; achene oblong, about 1 mm. long, in transaction
flattened-trigonous (the abaxial angle blunt, the others sharp). S. atrovirens var.
georgianus (Harper) Fern.
In bogs and wet mud along streams and about ponds and lakes, infrequent in
n.-cen. Tex., rare in e. Tex., spring; P.E.I, s. to Ga. and w. to Neb. and Tex.
8. Scirpus lineatus Michx. Fig. 179.
Culms strongly ascending, firm, remotely 5- to 10-leaved, with long internodes;
leaves 3-8 (—10) mm. wide, pale-green, firm; involucre and involucels pale-brown
at base; umbels terminal and sometimes axillary, loose. 5-20 cm. high, subsecund,
the terminal with a 1- to 3-leaved involucre much shorter than the long slender
nodding-tipped rays; spikelets oblong, becoming cylindrical. 5-10 mm. long. 2-3.5
mm. thick, the lateral ones of each group on smooth pedicels; scales pale-brown
to rufescent, ovate, sharply and slenderly green-keeled, the sharp tips ascend-
ing; achene obscurely 3-angled, narrowly ellipsoid to fusiform, long-beaked, papil-
late; bristles curling, mostly longer than achene.
Meadows, swales, edge of water of lakes and ponds, and in low wettish thickets,
in Okla. (Murray, Love, Adair, Stephens, Choctaw, Johnston and Alfalfa cos.)
and Tex. (San Augustine Co.): Me. to la., s. to Va., Ala., Miss., Tex. and Okla.
9. Scirpus fontinalis Harper.
Resembling S. lineatus. tufted short-lived perennial; culms 9-12 dm. tall, ob-
tusely angled; leaves basal and cauline. the cauline 10 or less per culms; blades
to 5 dm. long, 8-12 mm. wide; sheath ventral surface purple spotted; inflorescence
decompound, the branches mostly ascending; bracts reduced or largest similar to
blades, 1 per branch, tubular-sheathing: spikelets solitary, ovoid to lanceolate,
4-8 mm. long, about 2 mm. broad, sessile or scaberulous-pedicellate; scales brown
or reddish, lustrous, green-keeled, 1.5-2 mm. long, acuminate to cuspidate:
achenes yellowish or brownish, smooth, trigonous or plano-convex, ellipsoid,
0.7-1 mm. long, stipitate; bristles numerous, reddish, crinkly, smoothish. shorter
than to slightly exceeding achene.
Swamp forests, usually over marl. Coastal Plain, Va. to Fla., w. to Okla.
(Waterfall}.
10 Scirpus molestus M C. Johnst.
Tufted annual; culms 5-16 cm. long, grayish-green, compressed, 0.2-0.25 mm.
thick, minutely striate, ascending, often somewhat flexuous or arcuate; sheaths
short, slightly loose, quite smooth at the hyaline apical-ventral orifice, grayish-
green, eventually turning brownish-stramineous, never red or purple; blades 2-3
cm. long, tightly involute, arcuate-setaceous, about as thick as the culms; bract
solitary, appearing as a continuation of (and as thick as) the culm, 5-10 (-23)
mm. long; inflorescence a glomerule of 2 or 3 spikelets, less commonly a solitary
spikelet; spikelet 2-7 mm. long, ovoid to lance-ovoid, of (10 to) 20 to 30 flowers;
scales never purplish or reddish, promptly and serially deciduous after anthesis,
beginning at the bottom of the spikelet, the lowest scale larger than the rest;
the second or third scale from the bottom 1-1.3 mm. long, gibbous, strongly
arcuate-convex, broadly ovate, acute, the midnerve forming a broad grayish-
green keel and mucro, the sides translucent, thin-membranous, unpigmented,
cellular, with 1 or 2 acrodome veins near the keel on each side; perianth bristles
absent; stamens 2; filaments about as long as the achenes; anthers minute; style
3-branched: achene globose-trigonous, basally rounded or minutely stipitate,
apically rounded or extremely minutely apiculate, 0.8-0.9 mm. long, the 3 angles
about equally prominent, the sides flat or slightly concave, surfic'ially pinkish-
brownish with numerous vertical rows of very minute pits, this pattern and color
obscured by a more or less thick whitish-waxy coat.
354
-------
Frequent in moist or wet sand, often associated with S. koilolepis, e. and s.e.
Tex., spring; Ark., La. and Tex.
11. Scirpus koilolepis (Steud.) Gl.
Tufted annual; roots fibrous; culms cespitose, 4-22 cm. long, dark-grayish-
green, compressed, 0.3-0.35 mm. thick, minutely striate, ascending, often some-
what flexuous or arcuate; blades 2-5 cm. long, arcuate-setaceous; bract solitary,
appearing as a continuation of (and as thick as) the culm, (13-) 17-33 mm. long;
inflorescence of 1 or less commonly 2 spikelets; spikelets 3-7 mm. long, narrowly
ovoid, acute, of (7 to) 10 to 14 flowers; scales never purplish or reddish, tardily
serially deciduous; lowest scale larger than the rest; second or third scale from
the bottom 2-2.5 mm. long, ovate, acuminate, strongly gibbous, arcuate-convex,
the midnerve forming a broad grayish-green keel and mucro or apiculus, the
sides translucent, membranous, cellular, with 1 to 3 acrodome veins near the keel
on each side; perianth bristles absent; style 3-branched; achene globose to globose-
oblong, trigonous, basally rounded or shortly stipitate, apically rounded or usually
minutely apiculate, 1.3-1.5 mm. long, the 3 angles about equally prominent, the
sides flat or slightly convex, surficially brownish, with numerous vertical rows
of very minute pits and a thin whitish-waxy-bloom.
Frequent in moist sandy loam, in bogs about lakes and ponds, depressions and
marshes in coastal prairies and seepage areas, in Okla. (Johnston Co.), e., s.e., and
n.-cen. Tex., rare in Edwards Plateau (Burnet Co.), spring; Ga., Tenn. and Ala.
to Okla. and Tex.; Calif.
12. Scirpus supinus L. Fig. 180.
Tufted annual; culms 3-35 cm. long, 0.6-1.8 mm. thick, essentially terete
(ridged on drying), not or only obscurely and bluntly trigonous; sheaths somewhat
loose, apically oblique and acute, essentially bladeless; lower bract appearing
as a continuation of the culm, (1-) 3-10 (-15) cm. long; other bracts much-
reduced, very inconspicuous; inflorescence a glomerule of 2 to 8 spikelets or occa-
sionally some of these extended on peduncles 1-3 cm. long; spikelets lance-ovate,
4—11 mm. long, of 16 to 36 flowers; scales somewhat convex basally, ovate,
acuminate, acute, with a very strong keel (green turning stramineous) and sides
which are green-membranous turning firm and buffy to purple; style 2-branched
[var. Hallii (Gray) Gray] or 3-branched [var. saximontanus (Fern.) Koyama];
bristles variable; achenes 1.3—1.5 mm. long, glabrous, to broadly elliptic, in tran-
section either plano-convex (var. Hallii) or strongly trigonous (var. saximontanus)
and surficially with horizontal ridges or wrinkles.
Frequent in moist areas near the coast and in mud about lakes and ponds, s.e.
Tex. and Rio Grande Plains (both varieties), rare in n.-cen. Tex. and Plains
Country (var. saximontanus), spring-summer; var. supinus is widespread in temp.
parts of the world; var. Hallii in e. U.S. mainly Coastal Plain; var. saximontanus
in Great Plains, N.D. to Tex.
Scirpus "supinus," in the present broad sense, has only recently been treated as
several narrowly defined species, of which three are attributed to our area and are
characterized as follows:
S. Wilkensii Schuyler. Styles mostly 2-parted and achenes 2-angled; scales
mostly 1.9-2.3 mm. wide, the cells at the upper margin of the ventral surface 2
to 5 times as long as wide; spikelet achenes mostly 1-1.2 mm. wide, with narrow
acute transverse ridges.
Ditches, swales and pond margins, s. Tex. (Aransas, Atascosa, Kleberg, Nueces
and Willacy cos.) spr.-fall; also Tarn.
S. saximontanus Fern. Style mostly 3-parted and achenes 3-angled; scales usually
longer than wide; spikelet achenes with more than 15 narrow transverse ridges.
355
-------
Fig. 180: a-e, Scirpus Olncyi: a, habit, X \'s, b, cross section of culm, X 4; c, in-
florescence, X 1; d, scale, X 5; e, achene, X 8. f-j, Scirpus supinus var. Hallii: f, habit,
X TH; g, inflorescence, X 1-:V, h, achene in scale, X 12; i, scale spread out, X 12; j,
achene, X 12. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Local in ditches, sink-lakes, ponds and wet prairies, e. (Austin Co.) and s.
(Aransas, Bexar, Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces and San Patricio cos.) Tex., Plains
Country (Tom Green Co.) and Panhandle (Hale and Lynn cos.), spr.-fall; Kan.,
Mo., Neb., O., Okla. (Comanche Co.), S.D., Tex., Wyo., S.L.P. and Tarn.
S. Bergsonii Schuyler. Styles mostly 3-parted and achenes 3-angled; scales
broadly ovate, mostly 2.1-2.9 mm. long and 2.2-3 mm. wide; spikelet achenes
with fewer than 15 firm undulating transverse ridges.
Local in ditches and on pond margins in s. Tex., (Kenedy, Kleberg and Nueces
cos.), summer-fall; endemic. Said to hybridize with S. Wilkensii in Kenedy and
Nueces counties.
13. Scirpus americanus Pers. var. longispicatus Britt. SWORD-GRASS, THREE-SQUARE
BULRUSH. Fig. 181.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes extensively creeping, reddish-brown, 2-3 mm.
thick; culms rising at short intervals, (1-) 3-15 dm. long, 2-6 mm. thick, ascend-
ing in the distal half sharply triquetrous and often somewhat nodding; leaves 2 to
4, usually 2, with involute blades several cm. long; principal bract solitary, appear-
ing as a continuation of the stem, (15-) 30—50 (-155) mm. long; (lower scales
of the spikelets often much longer than the rest and with strong venation, bract-
like); inflorescence a solitary spikelet or a glomerule of 2 to 4 spikelets; spikelets
sessile, 7-17 mm. long, 4-5 mm. thick, narrowly ovoid or lance-ovoid, of 28 to 50
flowers; scales (except lowest) obovoid, brown, 4-5 mm. long, lower ones
emarginate, with a well-marked buffy midnerve (prolonged into a short awn) and
firm to membranous deep-brown sides; bristles about 4, about equaling the achene,
retrorsely barbellate; style 3-branched, less commonly 2-branched; achene 2.5-3
mm. long, 1.8—2.5 mm. broad, broadly obovate, apiculate, plano-convex, smooth,
dark-brown when mature. Some of our plants have been known incorrectly as
var. polyphyllus (Boeck.) Beetle.
Essentially throughout our region in low often moist ground, in water and
about seepage areas, spring-summer; nearly throughout temp, parts of the world.
14. Scirpus Olneyi E. & G. Fig. 180.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes extensive, 2—4 mm. thick; culms rising at
intervals, 6-20 dm. long, 4—8 mm. thick, sharply triquetrous most of the length
(the sides often concave); leaves crowded at the base, usually 2 or 3, the lowest
ones with loose membranous sheaths and reduced or obsolete, the upper one
(which still appears basal) with a slightly longer blade; principal bract solitary,
appearing as a continuation of the stem, 1—4 (-15) cm. long; (lower scales of the
spikelets not differentiated from the rest); inflorescence a dense glomerule of 5 to
15 spikelets; spikelets sessile, 5-8 (-12) mm. long, 3-5 mm. thick, mostly ovoid,
of 24 to 30 (to 40) flowers; scales 3^ mm. long, the lower ones emarginate,
brown, the midrib paler, prolonged as a mucro; bristles about 4, about equaling
the achene, retrorsely barbellate; style usually 2-branched, less commonly 3-
branched; achene 1.8-2.6 mm. long, 1.5-1.8 mm. broad, obovate, apiculate, plano-
convex or unequally biconvex. Our plants have been known incorrectly as
5. chilensis Nees.
Rare and scattered, wet alkaline or marshy soil, s.e. and e. Tex., Trans-Pecos,
Plains Country and probably elsewhere, N.M. (Grant, Otero and Socorro cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
spring-summer; temp. N.A.; also Br. Hond., Venez. and Chile.
15. Scirpus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Steud. GIANT BULRUSH, TULE. Fig. 182.
Perennial from tight subrhizomatous knots; culms closely tufted, 1-2 mm. long,
8—22 mm. thick near the base, 2-4 mm. thick near the inflorescence, bluntly tri-
357
-------
Fig. 181: Scirpux americaniis: a, habit, X 'j; b, scale, X 12; c, achene, X 12; d,
cross section of stem, X 14. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 182: a-d, Scirpus validus: a, habit, X %; b, cross section of upper stem, X 1;
c, scale, X 7; d, achene, X 10. e-h, Scirpus californicus: e, cross section of upper stem,
X 1; f, sheath, X 1; g, scale, X 7; h, achene, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
gonous: leaves few, basal, consisting only of mostly open brownish sheaths whose
margins are rather regularly retrorsely fimbriate-filiferous; primary bract appear-
ing as a continuation of the culm, 18-70 mm. long (other bracts reduced, scale-
like), shorter than the inflorescence; inflorescence 4-12 cm. long, decompound
with a number of usually drooping branches, altogether with 50 to 150 spikelets;
spikelets lance-ovoid, 6-11 mm. long, of 30 to 50 flowers: scales about 3 mm.
long, ovate to obovate, dark-brown, some of them emarginate. mucronate, the
distal margins essentially entire; bristles 2 to 4, subligulate, reddish-brown, each
one on each side with 15 to 20 reddish-brown closely spaced spreading or often
somewhat retrorse projections (not barbellate); styles mostly bifid; achene obovate,
apiculate, about 2 mm. long, brown, plano-convex or biconvex.
Scattered in mud and shallow water of ponds and lakes throughout Tex. except
the Plains Country, Okla. (Creek, Sequoyah and Stephens cos.), N. M. (McKinley
and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Mohave, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma
cos.), spring-summer; warmer parts of Am., n. to Gulf States, s. Ariz, and s.
Calif.
16. Scirpus heterochaetus Chase.
Similar to S. acutiis; culms slender, rarely 1 cm. thick, pale green, firm; panicle
with ascending to spreading very slender smooth to barely scabrous rays; bract-
lets whitish-brown, glabrous; spikelets mostly solitary, pale-brown to drab or
whitish-green, lance-acuminate to slenderly ellipsoid, acute to subacuminate,
7.5-23 mm. long; scales firm or subcoriaceous, deeply emarginate, often slightly
red-dotted, glabrous; bristles 2 to 4 (mostly 2), fragile, unequal, shorter than
achene, barbellate or smooth; filaments broad; style 3-cleft; achene trigonous but
twice as broad as thick.
Calcareous or other basic deadwaters, shores and swamps, in Okla. (Waterfall),
June-Sept; e. Mass., s.w. Que., w. Vt. and n. N.Y., Wise, to N.D., s. to cen. Ky.,
111., Mo. and Okla.; n.w. Ida., Wash, and Ore.
17. Scirpus etuberculatus (Steud.) O. Ktze. Fig. 183.
Culm 1-2 m. tall, 3-angled (usually sharply so above, obtusely so below), the
sheath at base extended into a long slender triangular and channeled leaf; in-
volucral leaf similar (1-2.5 dm. long), continuing the culm; spikelets cylindric
(1-2 cm. long), single or sometimes proliferously 2 or 3 together, nodding on the
apices of the 5 to 9 long filiform and flattened peduncles or rays of the dichotom-
ous umbel-like corymb, or the central one nearly sessile; scales loosely imbricated
oblong-ovate, acute, pale, thin and scarious, with a greenish nerved back; bristles
6, firm, furnished above with spreading hairs rather than barbs, equaling the
slender abrupt beak of the obovoid-triangular shining achene 2.5-3 mm. (-4) long.
Ponds (in 1 to 3 ft. of water) and fresh to brackish marshes, very local, Fla.
to s.e. Tex. (Hardin Co.), n. to Del. and Mo.
Often with a 2nd involucral bract, in this character and in its achene and
bristles showing alliance with S. fluviarilis.
18. Scirpus acutus Muhl. HARD-STEM BULRUSH, TULE, GREAT BULRUSH. Fig. 184.
Rhizomatous perennial forming extensive colonies; culms 1-3 m. long, rising
at close intervals from the rhizomes, 8-23 mm. thick near the base, long-tapered,
2-4 mm. thick just under the inflorescence, essentially terete to very obscurely
trigonous; leaves 1 or 2 per culm, confined to the very base, consisting of short
mostly open sheaths with nearly smooth to lacerate margins; blades obsolescent;
bract appearing as a continuation of the culm, (5-) 10-30 (-55) mm. long, shorter
than the inflorescence; inflorescence 3-10 cm. long, decompound, with several
drooping primary branches and 10 to 35 spikelets: spikelets lance-ovoid, at
maturity 8-15 mm. long, of 20 to 50 flowers; scales about 5 mm. long (the lower
360
-------
Fig. 183: Scirpus etuberculatus: a, habit, X */&; b, section of aquatic leaf; c, section
of terrestrial leaf; d, scale, X 6; achene, X 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 184: Scirpus acii/us: a, mature achene, the subtending bristles with conspicuous
retrorse barbs, X 8; b, spikelet, X 4; c, flower without the scale, X 12; d, carinate scale,
showing the short awn and the cleft ciliate apex, X 8; e, achene (cross section), X 8;
f, habit, showing stout rhizome, basal sheaths and erect culms, X \':,\ g and h, inflores-
cences, showing variation, X '-•':,. (From Mason, Fig, 157).
-------
ones emarginate), thin-membranous, pale-brown and with conspicuous elongate
reddish glutinous spots (seen under a lens), the distal margin lacerate, the mid-
nerve scabrous and projected as a mucro or short awn; bristles 4 to 6, about
equaling the achene, retrorsely barbed, on each side of the bristle 10 to 16 well-
spaced barbs; styles mostly 2-branched; achene obovate, apiculate, plano-convex
or very unequally biconvex, (1.8-) 2.1-2.4 (-2.9) mm. long. S. lacustris L. subsp.
glaucus (Sm.) Hartm., S. Tabernaemontani Gmel., S. lacustris var. occidentalis
Wats.
Alkaline or calcareous mud, marshes, usually in water, in Okla. (Le Flore,
Ottawa, Elaine, Cimarron, Comanche, Bryan and Texas cos.) in the Tex. Plains
Country and Trans-Pecos, rare e. to n.-cen. Tex., widespread in N.M. and Ariz.,
spring-fall; Eur., much of temp. N. A. s. to Gulf States, Chih., Coah. and Calif.
This is perhaps only a variety of S. lacustris. Some specimens from the Texas
lower Rio Grande Plains seem to be intermediate between S. acutus and S. validus.
19. Scirpus validus Vahl. GREAT or SOFT-STEM BULRUSH. Fig. 182.
Rhizomatous perennial forming extensive colonies; culms 1-3 m. long, rising
at close intervals from the rhizomes, 8-23 mm. thick near the base, long-tapered,
2-4 mm. thick just under the inflorescence, essentially terete or very obscurely
trigonous; leaves 1 or 2 per culm, confined to the very base, consisting of short
mostly open sheaths with nearly smooth to< lacerate margins; blades obsolescent;
bract appearing as a continuation of the culm, (5-) 10-30 (-55) mm. long, shorter
than the inflorescence; inflorescence 3-10 cm. long, decompound, with several
drooping primary branches and 20 to 120 spikelets; spikelets ovoid, 5-10 mm.
long, of 20 to 50 flowers; scales obovate, 3-4 mm. long, firm-membranous, dark-
brown, nearly smooth (occasionally with a few reddish gummy spots near the
midnerve), the distal margin nearly smooth to slightly lacerate, the midnerve pro-
jected as a mucro or short awn; bristles 4 to 6, mostly slightly surpassing the
achene, retrorsely barbed (on each side of each bristle 10 to 16 well-spaced barbs);
styles mostly 2-branched; achenes obovate, apiculate, plano-convex or very un-
equally biconvex, (1.5—) 1.9-2.1 (-2.2) mm. long. S. lacustris var. condensatus
Peck.
In mud and usually in shallow water, Okla. (Alfalfa, Grady, Johnston and
Stephens cos.), infrequent in scattered parts of e, s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. and Rio
Grande Plains, N. M. (San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai,
Gila, Final, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), spring-fall; temp. N.A. s. to S.A.
Perhaps only a variety of S. lacustris.
3. Eriophorum L. COTTON-GRASS
About 20 species in North Temperate and Arctic areas, with one in South
Africa.
1. Eriophorum polystachion L.
Colonial from widely creeping rhizomes; culms subterete, mostly 2-6 dm. tall;
leaves basal and cauline; blade well-developed, the lower ones usually somewhat
elongate, 2-6 mm. wide, flat or essentially so for most of its length, becoming
narrow and triangular or channeled toward the tip; uppermost culm leaf with well-
developed blade usually equaling or exceeding the sheath; involucral bracts several,
unequal, 2 or more of them noticeably foliaceous at least above the broadened
more chartaceous base, the longest one usually surpassing or equaling the in-
florescence; spikelets 2 to 8, most or all of them individually pedunculate, in a
compact to open umbelliform cyme, the peduncle more or less compressed, smooth
or sometimes minutely scabrous-hirtellous; scales tawny to brownish or blackish-
green, very thin distally, the slender midrib attenuated distally and not reaching
363
-------
Fig. 185: a-c, Fuirena scirpoidea: a, habit, X }•>; b, two views of scale, X 5; c,
ovary and perianth scales, X 10. d and e, Fuirena squarrosa: d, two views of scale, X 5;
e, ovary and perianth scales, X 10. f-j, Fuirena simplex: f, habit, X V,; g, sheath and
ligule, X 2'->; h, spikelet, X 3; i, two view of scale, X 5; j, ovary and perianth scales,
X 10. (V. F.).
-------
the tip; anthers usually to about 4 mm. long; bristles numerous, white or nearly
so; achenes blackish, 2-3 mm. long, broadly oblanceolate to obovate, 2 to 3 times
as long as wide. E. angusti'folium Honck.
In wet bogs, cold swamps and marshes, in N. M. (Taos Co.), Apr.-Aug.; Nfld.
to Ore. and N.M.
4. Fuirena Rottb. UMBRELLA-GRASS
Perennials, usually rhizomatous, the lowest leaves often with reduced blades,
the upper 1, 2 or 3 leaves functioning as bracts with each subtending a very much
condensed often glomerulelike inflorescence of 1 to 10 spikelets; spikelets globose
to oblong-cylindric; scales numerous, spirally imbricate, usually pubescent, all
fertile, usually obovate and awn-tipped (awn short in one species); perianth of 3
stalked scalelike or paddlelike structures often thickened at maturity, often addi-
tionally three perianth bristles alternating with these stalked structures; style
branches 3; achene plumply trigonous, shiny, apically tapering into a more or
less persistent indurate linear style base often nearly as long as the achenial body
itself.
The genus is related to, and should be included within, Scirpus, according to
some authors. A small genus of 40 species in warmer regions of the world.
1. All or nearly all blades reduced; awns of spikelet scales only about 1 mm. long,
ascending 1. F scirpoidea.
1. Nearly all blades well-developed, only the lowest reduced; awns of spikelet
scales usually 2-4 mm. long, often spreading apically (2)
2(1). Each of the 3 prominent perianth parts with an acuminate apex which often
arches toward the style 2. F. squarrosa.
2. Each of the 3 prominent perianth parts with an acute, blunt or even emarginate
apex and often subapically on the dorsal side with a mucro or a
minute awn 3. F. simplex.
1. Fuirena scirpoidea Michx. Fig. 185.
Strongly rhizomatous; only the middle sheaths with small blades; inflorescences
often only at the uppermost node and reduced to 1 to 3 spikelets; scales of spike-
lets with very short straight awns; the 3 expanded perianth parts tapering to their
acumens.
Rare in wet sand, s.e. Tex. (Aransas and San Patricio cos.), summer; coast-
wise, Fla. and Ga. to Tex.; Cuba.
2. Fuirena squarrosa Michx. Fig. 185.
Scales of spikelet with long often decurved awns; expanded perianth parts
tapering to the nonmucronate acumen which is often incurved to the style.
F. hispida Ell., F. breviseta Cov.
Frequently in usually acid soils of marshes and bogs, e. and s.e. Tex., s. to
Aransas Co. and Okla. (Waterfall), summer; parts of e. U.S. w. to e. Okla. and
Tex.; Cuba, P.R.
3. Fuirena simplex Vahl. Fig. 185.
Scales of spikelet with long awns; expanded perianth parts variable but usually
apically blunt or retuse and dorsally just below the tip with a mucro or minute
awn.
Frequent in wet areas, about springs, in shallow water on edge of ponds and
lakes, usually in calcareous mud, Okla. (Love, Stephens, McCurtain, Comanche
and Grady cos.), w. part of Tex., e. to n.-cen. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains and
N. M. (Eddy co.), later summer-fall; Guat. and Br. Hond. n.w. to Mo., Neb.,
N.M., Son. and Baja Calif.
365
-------
5. Eleocharis R. BR. SPIKERUSH
Annual or perennial broomlike sedges usually in aquatic environments; leaves
reduced to mere bladeless sheaths; inflorescence solitary, terminal, spiciform (the
bract reduced to a mere basal scale or usually absent), bearing few to many
perfect flowers crowded in 3 to many ranks; scales spirally imbricate or rarely
distichous (as in E. Baldwinii and perhaps E. minima), usually closely crowded,
remaining so even when the achenes mature in some species (in others serially
deciduous starting at the base of the spike), of various textures but always glabrous;
perianth bristles 6 to 9 (or in some species reduced or absent); stamens usually 3,
in some species often reduced to 2 or 1; styles 2- or 3-branched, basally enlarged
into a persistent base (called the "tubercle") capping the achene, with a post-
anthetic zone of abscission between this base and the more slender portion,
variously shaped and textured, either well-demarcated from the body of the
achene or appearing to merge with it (as in E. parvula and E. obtusa, etc.); achene
body plano-convex or isolaterally or isosceleslike trigonous (the trigony often
obscure) to nearly terete, of various shapes, textures, colors and surficial sculptur-
ing.
A cosmopolitan genus said to comprise about 200 species.
1. Tubercle 1.2-1.7 mm. long, about as broad as the body of the achene
1. E. tuberculosa.
1. Tubercle less than 1.1 mm. long (2)
2(1). Achenes with about 6 longitudinal ridges with fine horizontal lines (tra-
beculae) between the ridges (3)
2. Achenes various but not trabeculate (6)
3(2). Culms strongly compressed, 2-edged, often C-shaped in transection, 0.6-1.3
mm. broad 2. E. Wolfii.
3. Culms neither strongly compressed nor 2-edged (4)
4(3). Anthers 0.5-1 mm. long 3. E. acicularis.
4. Anthers less than 0.5 mm. long (5)
5(4). Anthers 0.3—0.4 mm. long; perennial with creeping rootstocks
4. E. radicans.
5. Anthers 0.25-0.4 mm. long; annual, forming dense tufts 5. E. bella.
6(2). Culms sharply triquetrous or quadrangular in transection, 2.5-4 mm. broad
across each side, 5-8 dm. long (7)
6. Culms not as above, if triquetrous or quadrangular then much less coarse (8)
7(6). Culms quadrangular; achenial body 1.7-2.3 mm. long; tubercle 1-1.5 mm.
long 6. E. quadrangulata.
1. Culms triquetrous; achenial body 1.4—1.7 mm. long; tubercle 0.7-1 mm. long
7. E. fistulosa.
8(6). Tubercle coronalike, 0.3-0.5 mm. high, 0.8-1 mm. broad, capping and
often broader than the trigonous obpyramidal body
8. E. melanocarpa.
8. Tubercle not as above, if coronalike then the body not trigonous (9)
9(8). Achene biconvex, lustrous, brown when mature; style branches 2; tubercle
forming a narrow lamelliform cap on and in outline confluent with
the body (10)
9. Achene trigonous or biconvex, if biconvex then the style branches 3 and/or
the tubercle not lamelliform (11)
10(9). Spikelets lanceolate, acuminate; scales acute 9. E. lanceolata.
10. Spikelets broadly ovoid to ovoid-cylindric, obtuse; scales obtuse....10. E. obtusa.
366
-------
11(9). Culms 1.5-9 mm. thick; spikelets of 40 to 350 flowers; achenes bicon-
vex (12)
11. Culms 0.1-1.4 mm. thick; spikelets of 5 to 80 flowers; achenes either bicon-
vex or trigonous (16)
12(11). Culms with complete septa (as revealed by dissection) (13)
12. Culms not septate or irregularly and incompletely septate (15)
13(12). Culms 1.5-3.5 mm. thick; septa 2-5 mm. apart; tubercle depressed,
0.1-0.2 mm. high, in outline confluent with the body; body of
achene 0.9-1.1 mm. long 11. E. montana.
13. Culms 4-9 mm. thick; septa mostly farther apart; tubercle conic, 1-1.2 mm.
long; body of achene 1.8-2.2 mm. long (14)
14(13). Septa very crowded just below the spikelet 12. E. interstincta.
14. Septa not very crowded just below the spikelet 13. E. equisetoides.
15(12). Body of achene about 2 mm. long, the surface cellular, appearing as if
embedded in plastic; scales obtuse; spikelet 19-36 mm. long, cylin-
dric 14. E. cellulosa.
15. Body of achene 1.2-1.8 mm. long, surface smooth or micropunctate; scales
usually acute; spikelets 8-25 mm. long 15. E. macrostachya.
16(11). Achenes biconvex, lustrous, black when mature, the bodies 0.5-1 mm.
long; tubercles 0.05-0.2 mm. long; style branches 2 (17)
16. Achenes trigonous or if obscurely so then not black when mature (19)
17(16). Perennial usually with slender rhizomes; flowers 15 to 25 per spikelet;
scales obviously keeled 16. E. flavescens.
17. Annuals, densely tufted; flowers 28 to 80 per spikelet; scales not or incon-
spicuously keeled (18)
18(17). Body of achene 0.7-1 mm. long; tubercle 0.1-0.2 mm. long; culms
0.4—1 mm. thick 17. E. caribaea.
18. Body of achene 0.5-0.6 mm. long; tubercle 0.05 mm. long; culms 0.2-4X3
mm. thick 18. E. atropurpurea.
19(16). Body of achene rather sharply trigonous, broadest near the middle,
apically confluent in outline with the tubercle which is pyramidal
and 0.1-0.2 mm. long; rhizomatous mat-formers; culms 2-12 cm.
long, 0.1-0.4 mm. thick 19. E. parvula.
19. Body of achene either not sharply trigonous or (if so) not confluent with the
tubercle, or else plants otherwise habitally (20)
20(19). Tubercle columnar or slightly tapered, blunt, 0.6-1 mm. long, con-
fluent with the body of the achene (21)
20. Tubercle shorter or if as much as 0.6-1 mm. long then constricted basally,
not confluent (22)
21(20). Culms usually less than 1 mm. wide, not flattened; spikelets 4-7 mm.
long, mostly of 2 to 7 flowers; achene reticulate 20. E. pauciflora.
21. Culms usually over 1 mm. wide, flattened; spikelets 8-17 mm. long, mostly of
12 to 30 flowers; achene smooth 21. E. rostellata.
22(20). Tubercle 0.6-1 mm. long, high-pyramidal, basally truncate; body of
achene 1.2-1.7 mm. long, surficially cellular (the cells with promi-
nent margins) and olivaceous brown to olivaceous gray when ma-
ture 22. E. tortllis.
22. Tubercle 0.05-0.7 mm. long, mostly pyramidal, low to depressed-pyramidal
or globose; body of achene 0.5-1.8 mm. long, surficially smooth to
warty or punctate but not cancellate, variously colored (23)
367
-------
23(22). Spikelets of 5 to 20 flowers; culms 0.1-0.3 mm. thick; achenes rather
sharply trigonous, mostly whitish or maturing to shades of olive,
surficially smooth; sheaths long-oblique apically (24)
23. Spikelets of 20 to 110 flowers; culms 0.2-1.4 mm. thick; achenes mostly not
so sharply trigonous (except in E. tenuis, E. cylindrica and £.
austrotexana), maturing (except in E. tenuis and E. elongatd) through
shades of yellow to golden-brown or brown; sheaths truncate or
only very slightly oblique apically (26)
24. Spikelets ovoid, 2-5 mm. long; scales rarely appearing distichous (except in
lance-elliptic, 3-4.5 mm. long, buffy to ferruginous-buff
23. E. Baldwinii.
24. Spikelets ovoid, 2-5 mm. long; scales rarely appearing distichous (except in
E. minimal), ovate, shorter, usually whitish to purplish (25)
25(24). Culms about 0.1 mm. thick, strongly recurved, 3-7 (-10) cm. long;
spikelets of 5 to 10 flowers; body of achene 0.7-0.8 mm. long,
maturing through whitish or olive to olive-gray; tubercle pyramidal,
0.15-0.3 mm. high 24. E. minima.
25. Culms 0.1-0.3 mm. thick, mostly erect, 4-28 cm. long; spikelets of 8 to 15
flowers; body of achene 0.5-0.6 mm. long, pearly white; tubercle
depressed-pyramidal, 0.05-0.15 mm. high 25. E. microcarpa.
26(23). Scales broadly ovate, subcartilaginous medially, firm-membranous mar-
ginally, stramineous in color, somewhat lustrous; body of achene
ripening through shades of olive-whitish to brownish-olive and
finally to a rich dark-chocolate-brown; bristles conspicuous, reddish-
brown at maturity 26. E. albida.
26. Scales mostly thinner, membranous and usually with some dark pigmenta-
tion (27)
27(26). Body of achene light-green, with about 12 rows of coarse transversely
linear cells; bristles 6 or 7, equaling the achene, greenish; culms
often floating on the surface of water 27. E. elongata.
27. Body of achene (except in E. tenuis) ripening through shades of yellow to
golden-brown; bristles various but not as above (28)
28(27). Body of achene minutely but pronouncedly warty or pitted in vertical
lines, 0.6-0.8 mm. long, ripening through shades of ivory to
greenish-olive; tubercle pronouncedly depressed, 0.1-0.2 mm. high,
not much-constricted basally; culms 0.2-0.3 mm. thick
28. E. tenuis.
28. Body of achene minutely punctate-reticulate to smooth but not warty, 0.6-1.8
mm. long, ripening through shades of yellow lo brown; tubercle
usually conic-globular, usually constricted basally; culms 0.4-1.4
mm. thick (29)
29(28). Scales of spikelet apically rounded, hyaline only in a very narrow
rounded border at the apex (30)
29. Scales of spikelet deltoid or ovate-acute to lance-acuminate, with a more or
less acute more or less extensive hyaline apex (32)
30(29). Spikelet linear-cylindric, acute; body of achene distinctly trigonous,
smooth and satiny 29. E. cylindrica.
30. Spikelet linear-lanceolate or narrowly ovoid to oblong and apically blunt;
body of achene obscurely trigonous (31)
31(30). Spikelets linear to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate; achenes smooth or
finely pitted; scales acute or acutish 30. E. Parishii.
31. Spikelets ovoid to oblong, usually apically blunt; achenes punctulate-reticulate
to nearly smooth; scales mostly obtuse 31. E. montcvidensis.
368
-------
32(29). Body of achene 1.2-1.8 mm. long; tubercle 0.2-0.7 mm. long; styles
mostly 2-branched, rarely 3-branched (33)
32. Body of achene 0.7-1.2 mm. long; tubercle 0.1-0.2 mm. long; styles 3-
branched (34)
33(32). Styles always 2-branched; body of achenes very faintly reticulate-
punctulate to essentially smooth; common 15. E. macrostachya.
33. Styles 2- or 3-branched; body of achene distinctly reticulate-punctulate; ex-
ceedingly rare 32. E. fallax.
34(32). Culms 30-45 cm. long, with complete septa at regular short intervals
(as revealed by dissection); body of achene with at least 2 distinct
angles, the third sometimes also fairly sharp, the surface essentially
smooth; scales merely acute, about 2 mm. long
33. E. austrotexana.
34. Culms 8-28 cm. long, not septate; body of achene obscurely trigonous, fhe
surface somewhat punctulate-reticulate; scales with long-acuminate
scarious or hyaline apexes which often become split (bifid) during
elongation (35)
35(34). Culms strongly compressed, 0.6-1 mm. thick in the flat dimension; deep
east Texas 34. E. compressa.
35. Culms variable, somewhat to not at all compressed, 0.3-0.8 mm. thick;
Edwards Plateau, Plains Country, s.e. Tex. and Okla
35. E. acutisquamata.
1. Eleocharis ruberculosa (Michx.) R. & S. Fig. 186.
Tufted perennial, often with ascending rhizomes 3-6 mm. thick; culms 15-80
cm. long, compressed, 0.5-1 mm. thick in the longer dimension, erect, wiry,
sulcate, grayish-yellow; sheaths grayish-yellow, shortly oblique and acute; spikelets
ovoid to lance-ovoid, 5—15 mm. long, blunt to acute, with 25 to 40 flowers; scales
ovate to nearly orbicular, about 3 mm. long, blunt, grayish-yellow to stramineous,
firm (chartaceous to subcartilaginous), not keeled, marginally slightly thinner than
medially; bristles several, brownish, usually surpassing the achenial body; style
3-branched; achenial body broadly obovoid, 1.2—1.7 mm. long, obscurely trigo-
nous, stramineous to olivaceous, surficially with pronounced large cells (the cell-
walls prominent), lustrous; tubercle 1.2—1.7 mm. long, irregularly stele-shaped-
conic, apically rounded, toward the base flared out mushroomlike and as broad
as the body, very strongly truncate, the connection to the body very thin.
Frequent in moist sand, wet meadows, about lakes and ponds, and along
streams, in s.e. and e. Tex., May-Nov.; coastal provinces and states, N.S. and
N.H. to Tex.; also Tenn. and Ark.
2. Eleocharis Wolfii (Gray) Patt.
Perennial (?); rhizomes slender, creeping, fragile; culms tufted, 2-edged,
somewhat concavo-convex or C-shaped in transection, 12-30 cm. long, 0.6-1.3
mm. broad, erect; sheaths apically scarious, oblique; spikelets ovoid-lanceolate,
acute, 5-10 mm. long, 18- to 34-flowered; scales narrowly ovate, acute, usually
with 2 purple longitudinal stripes and the rest stramineous, firm or marginally
scarious; bristles absent; style 3-branched; achenial bodies narrowly obovoid,
0.8-0.9 mm. long, pearly, obscurely trigonous to terete, with about 9 longitudinal
ridges and between each 2 ridges about 40 close horizontally elongate cells
(trabeculae); tubercle depressed-conic, about 0.1 mm. long, much narrower than
the body.
Rare in wet sand and wet swales in prairies, Plains Country and s.e. Tex.,
probably scattered elsewhere, spring-summer; Sask., Ind., 111., Mo., Kan., Colo.,
(?) Okla., Tenn., La. and Tex.
369
-------
Fig. 186: Eleocharis tuhcrculosa: a, habit, about X M>; b, sheath, about X 5; spike-
let, about X 8: d, achene, about X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
d
»
Fig. 187: a-d, Eleocharis acicularis: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 12; c, spikelet, X 8;
d, achene, X 50. e, Eleocharis radicans: e, achene, X 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
3. Eleocharis acicularis (L.) R. & S. Fig. 187.
Rhizomatous perennial forming mats; roots not fleshy; rhizomes 0.3-0.6 mm.
thick, extensively creeping; aerial culms 2-23 cm. long, 0.2-0.4 mm. thick, about
8-costate and -sulcate, often somewhat flattened or angulate; sheaths thin, reddish
below, pallid and membranous or hyaline terminally, oblique; spikelets narrowly
ovoid to ovoid-elliptic, 2-5 mm. long, 5- to 15-flowered; scales membranous, whit-
ish to usually dark-purplish-red (or marginally pallid), ovate, 1.5-2 mm. long,
rather truncate to acute; bristles 3 or 4, or usually (in Texas material) reduced or
absent; stamens 3, anthers 0.5-1 mm. long; styles 3-branched; achenial body
obovoid, obscurely trigonous to usually nearly terete because of the turgid sides,
0.5-0.7 mm. long, pearly-white, with a number of longitudinal ribs and between
each 2 ribs 25 to 40 close horizontally elongate facets or cells; tubercle conic,
0.075-0.15 mm. long, constricted basally, much narrower than the achenial body.
E. Reverchonii Svens.
Muddy river banks, meadows, vernal pools, edge of lakes and marshes, in Okla.
(Kay and Alfalfa cos.), nearly throughout Tex. except Trans-Pecos and e. Tex.,
N. M. (San Miguel, Rio Arriba, Catron, San Juan, Socorro and Grant cos.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), infrequent or locally abundant, Feb.-summer;
most n.-temp. areas of the world, in Am. s. to Calif., Chih., and the Gulf States.
4. Eleocharis radicans (A. Dietr.) Kunth. Fig. 187.
Densely matted perennial, the rhizomes very short; culms succulent (pressed
flat in specimens), only 3-8 cm. long, 0.6-1 mm. thick, erect; sheaths mem-
branous, tight; spikelets ovoid, 3-4 mm. long, 6- to 12-flowered; scales ovate-
lanceolate, greenish-stramineous; bristles usually 4, slender, white, retrorsely
toothed, variable in length, in some -specimens reduced or absent; stamens 2,
anthers 0.3-0.4 mm. long; style 3-branched; achenial bodies narrowly obovoid,
0.7-0.9 mm. long, pearly, obscurely trigonous or usually essentially terete, with
several longitudinal ridges and (between them) many (30 to 40) close horizon-
tally elongate cells (trabeculae) in each longitudinal series; tubercle conic, 0.1-0.2
mm. long, much narrower than the body. Scirpus radicans Poir. (an illegit. name),
Eleogiton radicans A. Dietr., Eleocharis Lindheimeri (Clarke) Svens.
Rare in marshy areas, wet sand and gravelly stream banks, in Okla. (Waterfall),
e. and s.e. Tex. and Ariz. (Coconino, Final and Cochise cos.), spring (-summer?);
Va., Mich., Tex., Okla., Ariz, Calif., Son, Gr. Ant, S.A.; H.I.
5. Eleocharis bella (Piper) Svens.
Dwarf annual with fibrous roots and caespitose culms, often forming dense
round tufts 5-10 cm. in diameter; culms capillary, furrowed, 2-6 cm. tall, light
green; basal leaf sheaths loose, obliquely truncated; spikelets 1-3 mm. long, 3- to
15-flowered; scales with purplish brown sides and green midrib; bristles none;
stamens 2, anthers 0.25-0.4 mm. long; stigmas 3; achenes white or cream-colored,
0.6-0.8 mm. long, with numerous longitudinal ribs, about 30 fine transverse lines
between the ribs; tubercle compressed-conical.
Montane meadows, borders of marshes and lakes, wet, muddy or springy places,
in Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Cochise cos.); Mont, Ida. and Wash, s. to N.M.
and Ariz.
6. Eleocharis quadrangulata (Michx.) R. & S. Fig. 188.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-8 dm. long, 2.5-4 mm. thick, erect, sharply 4-angled,
not septate; sheaths membranous, brownish or less commonly reddish, apically
oblique; spikelets cylindric, 20-42 mm. long, 3.5-4.5 mm. thick, with 40 to 90
flowers; scales rotundly obovate to ovate, 5.5-6 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad,
medially nearly flat, stramineous and subcartilaginous, laterally broadly chartace-
372
-------
Fig. 188: Eleocharis quadrangulata: a, habit, showing the rhizome, the basal leaf
sheaths, the tall 4-angled culms, and the cylindric spikelets, X %; b, flower, showing
the rounded scale, the 3 stamens and the trifid style, X 6; c, mature achene, the
tubercle elongated and triangular, and the slender subtending bristles, X 8; d, culm,
showing the sharp angles (cross section), X 6; e, spikelet, X 1%. (From Mason, Fig.
144).
-------
Fig. 189: Eleocharis mclanocarpa: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 3; c, spikelet, X 3;
d, achene, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
ous to hyaline, the distal margin with slightly darker coloration; bristles about 6,
slender, unequal, some equaling the body, others surpassing the tubercle, with
minute retrorse serrulations; style 2- or 3-branched; achene body biconvex to
turgidly biconvex, 1.7-2.3 mm. long, brown (yellow when immature), shiny;
tubercle high-conic to deltoid or oblong, 1-1.5 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm. broad,
basally constricted, dark.
Infrequent in mud and in shallow water at edge of ponds and lakes in Okla.
(Le Flore, Pushmataha, Muskogee, Ottawa, Latimer and Atoka cos.) and in e.
and s.e. Tex., rare in n. part of Rio Grande Plains, late spring-fall; most of e.
U.S., w. to Wise., Mo., Okla. and Tex.; also Jal.
7. Eleocharis fistulosa (Poir.) Schult.
Tufted perennial, apparently rather similar to E. quadrangulata but the culms
sharply triangular and the spikelets and scales averaging slightly smaller; achene
body 1.4-1.7 mm. long; tubercle 0.7-1 mm. long.
Rare in Tex., Rio Grande Plains, summer-fall (?); widely distributed in the
warmer parts of the world, in Am. n. to Cuba and Tex.
8. Eleocharis melanocarpa Torr. Fig. 189.
Densely tufted perennial; culms 2-6 dm. long, flattened, about 1 mm. thick
in the larger dimension, on each side paucicostate and paucisulcate; sheaths
apically firm and thickened, mucronate; spikelets narrowly ovoid, obtuse, 6-12
mm. long, 4-5 mm. thick, with 20 to 40 flowers; scales ovate, 3-3.5 mm. long,
with a pale buffy very firm midrib, passing laterally through firm-brown to
membranous-stramineous marginally; bristles dark-brown, shorter than the
achene tubercle, retrorsely toothed or much-reduced; style 3-branched; achenial
body obpyramidal-trigonous, 0.8-1 mm. long, apically truncate, ripening through
fuscous to black, glossy; tubercle paler, caplike, 0.3-0.5 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm.
broad, often broader than the body and overhanging its truncate apex, depressed
centrally with a slight pointed umbo.
Rare in moist sandy often boggy loam, e. Tex. (Leon and Upshur cos.),
summer-fall (?); Coastal States, Mass, to Tex.; also Ind. and Mich.
Plants of this species appear to combine some characters of E. rostellata and
some of E. obtusa.
9. Eleocharis lanceolata Fern.
Densely tufted annual; culms 1-2 dm. long, 0.3-0.9 mm. thick, erect; sheaths
apically firm and oblique; spikelets lanceolate to lance-ovoid, of 30 to 80 flowers,
acute; scales ovate, firm, brownish-stramineous, with a narrow scarious margin,
acute, falling promptly in series from bottom to top of spikelet; bristles 6 or 7,
usually surpassing the tubercle; style 2- or 3-branched; achenial body 0.9-1.1
mm. long, 0.7-0.8 mm. broad, biconvex, pyriform in outline, smooth, shiny,
ripening to a brownish color; tubercle forming a dark broad low-deltoid crown
on the body and in outline merging with it, not constricted basally, about 0.4 mm.
long, 0.5-0.6 mm. broad. E. obtusa var. lanceolata (Fern.) Gilly.
In moist or wet loamy soils and muddy margins of ponds and lakes, in Okla.
(Mclntosh, Pittsburg, McCurtain, Atoka and Ottawa cos.) and in n.-cen. and
n.e. Tex. (Grayson and Bowie cos.), summer-fall (?); Mo., Kan., Ark., Okla. and
Tex.
10. Eleocharis obtusa (Willd.) Schult. Fig. 190.
Densely tufted annual (rarely persisting more than 1 season); culms 3-50 cm.
long, 0.3-1.6 mm. thick (fleshy and sometimes seemingly broader when pressed
flat), erect, striate; sheaths often slightly purplish basally, apically firm and
375
-------
Fig. 190: Eleocharis obtusa: a, habit, X V>; b, sheath, X 12; c, spikelet X 8; d,
achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 191: Eleocharis interstincta: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 3; c, spikelet, X 2;
d, achene, X 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
oblique; spikelets broadly ovoid to nearly cylindric, of 50 to 100 flowers (50 to 80
in var. obtusa, 60 to 100 in var. detonsa), obtuse: scales oblong to suborbicular,
firm, drab-stramineous with a narrow scarious margin, obtuse, falling promptly
in series from bottom to top of spikelet; bristles several, varying from surpassing
the tubercle to essentially absent; style 2- to 3-branched: achenial body biconvex,
pyriform, 0.8-1.2 mm. long, 0.7-1 mm. broad, smooth and shiny, ripening through
shades of yellow-green to brown: tubercle forming a dark broad low-deltoid crown
on the body and in outline merging with it, not constricted basally, 0.1-4 mm.
long. 0.5-1 mm. broad (in var. obtusa the tubercle 1.7 to 3 times broader than
long; in var. detonsa 2.8 to 4.5 times broader than long). E. Engelmannii Steud.
Locally abundant in moist sandy soils, in wet meadows, shallow water of ponds
and edge of lakes, and mud of swamps, in Okla. (widespread), N.M. (Catron,
Eddy and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), the var. obtusa
in e. and s.e. Tex. passing into var. detonsa (Gray) Drapalik & Mohlenbrock in
n.-cen. Tex. and Edwards Plateau (Enchanted Rock area only), spring-summer;
over much of temp. N.A. [and perhaps including the Euras. E. ovata (Roth)
R. & S. as var. ovata (Roth) Drapalik & Mohlenbrock].
11. Eleocharis montana (H.B.K.) R. & S.
Perennial, basally subrhizomatous but not extensive; culms densely tufted, 3-8
dm. long. 1.5-3.5 mm. thick, erect, terete, with complete septa 2-3 mm. apart;
sheaths basally reddish, apically lineolate, very firm, only very slightly oblique,
mucronate; spikelets lanceolate, 8-24 mm. long, acute, with 110 to 240 (to 350)
flowers; scales ovate and acute to broadly lanceolate, about 2 mm. long, medially
buffy-brown and membranous, marginally hyaline and paler; bristles 6 to 8. brown-
ish, unequal, the longer ones about equaling the achenial body; style 2-branched
(in Texas material); achenial body 0.9-1.1 mm. long, obovate, biconvex (not
turgidly so), with 2 definite angles (in Texas material), ripening through shades
of pallid chartreuse and yellow to olive-brown, surficially punctulate-reticulate;
tubercle 0.1-0.2 mm. long, depressed-deltoid, about half as broad as the body
and scarcely restricted basally, almost merging with the body.
Scarce in wet places, s.e. Tex. and s. as far as Nueces Co., N.M. (rather
widespread) and Ariz. (Pima and Final cos.), summer; widespread in S.A. and
C.A., W.I., n. to Ariz.. N.M., Tex., La. and Fla.
12. Eleocharis interstincta (Vahl) R. & S. Fig. 191.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-10 dm. long, 4-9 mm. thick, erect, essentially terete,
septate, the septa closer together as the spikelet is approached; sheaths often
tinged dark-red, apically firm, oblique; spikelets cylindric, 22-42 mm. long, 5-7
mm. thick, with 80 to 140 flowers; scales (sub) cartilaginous, 3.5-5 mm. long and
broad, obtuse, rounded, stramineous to buffy-stramineous, marginally darker and
thinner, medially flat with a faint narrow midvein which is more heavily pig-
mented distally: bristles 6. exceeding the achene, brownish, stout, subcartilaginous,
flattened, with (usually retrorse) serrulations; styles 2- or 3-branched; achene
body biconvex, 1.8-2.2 mm. long, brown (yellow when immature), shiny: tubercle
high-conic. 1-1.2 mm. long. 0.8 mm. broad, dark, slightly constricted basally.
Infrequent to rare in mud and in water on edge of streams, lakes and ponds,
in e. Tex.. Rio Grande Plains and Edwards Plateau, probably elsewhere, summer-
fall; Fla., Tex., Berm., W.I. s. to Bol. and Braz.
13. Eleocharis equisetoides (Ell.) Torr. Fig. 192.
Tufted perennial, exceedingly similar to E. interstincta but the septa not as
crowded just below the spikelet and the bristles slightly shorter and thinner on
the average.
378
-------
Fig. 192: Eleocharis equisetoides: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 3; c, spikelet, X 2;
d, achene, X 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 193: Eleocharis cellulosa: a, habit, X 1A', b and c, two views of sheath, X 3;
d, spike, X 4; e, achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Rare in water of lakes and ponds, in e. and s.e. Tex., summer-fall; Coastal
States, Mass, to Tex.; also Ind., Mich., Wise, and Mo.
14. Eleocharis cellulosa Torr. Fig. 193.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-8 dm. long, 2-5 mm. thick, erect, essentially terete
or irregularly compressed and striate; sheaths usually reddish, apically oblique,
membranous; spikelets cylindric, 19-36 cm. long, 3.5-5 mm. thick, with 50 to 90
flowers; scales broadly ovate to obovate, 5-6 mm. long, 3-3.5 mm. broad, medially
with a prominent midrib and subcartilaginous and stramineous, striate and brown-
penicillate, in texture passing laterally to chartaceous and finally to hyaline, in
color to pallid-buff, the distal margin finely white-hyaline, submarginally with a
thin brown line; bristles about 6, slender, mostly exceeding the achene and not
serrulate; style 3-branched; achene body biconvex, about 2 mm. long, brownish,
surficially distinctly cellular (the cells quadrangular, appearing as if embedded in
clear plastic), apically umbonate (forming a buttonlike base which is the podium
for and merges into the tubercle); tubercle conic-deltoid, 0.6-1 mm. long, 0.4-0.6
mm. broad, dark, not at all constricted basally but appearing as a continuation
of the umbo of the body although differing texturally (being noncellular).
Infrequent in fresh-water and mud, occasionally forming mats in shallow
water, and in depressions, in the Tex. Edwards Plateau, rare in Rio Grande
Plains, exceedingly rare in e. Tex., spring-fall; Coastal States, N.C. to Tex.;
Mex.;W.I.;Berm.
15. Eleocharis macrostachya Britt. CREEPING SPIKE RUSH. Fig. 194.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 1-2.5 mm. thick, often reddish; culms in tufts
along the rhizome, 18-50 cm. long, 0.9-3 mm. thick, erect, often appearing
slightly spongiose and irregularly sulcate on drying, occasionally compressed;
sheaths tight, apically truncate or very slightly oblique, very firm, in many speci-
mens mucronate, basally dark-reddish-brown; spikelets 8—25 mm. long, 3 mm.
thick, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute, of 40 to 100 flowers; lowest 1 to 3
scales sterile, firm, obtuse, the lowest one sometimes completely encircling the
base of the spikelet; fertile scales lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, more or less
acute, about 3 mm. long, with a green or stramineous midrib (which does not
reach the a^>ex), a firm buffy to castaneous lateral and subapical zone and a hya-
line margin and apex; bristles 7 or 8, brownish, unequal, the longest usually as
long as the tubercle; style 2-branched, the upper part promptly deciduous from
the base; achenial body obovate to pyriform, 1.2—1.8 mm. long, usually more
turgidly convex on one (abaxial) side than on the other, surficially nearly smooth
or very faintly reticulate-punctate in an open pattern, lustrous, ripening through
shades of yellow to golden-brown; tubercle 0.3-0.7 mm. long, conic to depressed
or even subglobular, grayish, texturally like pumice or rotted bone, usually about
half as broad as the body, basally constricted. Some workers refer these plants to
the Old World complex known by the name E. palustris (L.) R. & S., (?) E. calva
Torr., E. xyridiformis Fern. & Brack.
Common and widespread in most of our area, in marshes, vernal pools, wet
meadows, ditches, flooded lands and alkaline mud, spring-summer; Minn, to 111.,
Mo., Kan., Okla. and Tex., w. to s. Alas., Calif, and s. to cen. Mex.; Col.
16. Eleocharis flavescens (Poir.) Urban. Fig. 195.
Perennial, often with elongate fleshy rhizomes 0.5-1 mm. thick; culms either
densely tufted or rising singly from the nodes of the rhizome, 4—35 cm. long, 0.3-
1 mm. thick, ascending, firm to flaccid, often sulcate when dried; sheaths apically
oblique, hyaline, fragile, promptly becoming loose and withered on drying; spike-
lets 3-6 mm. long, ovoid, acute or blunt, with 15 to 25 flowers at maturity (the
381
-------
Fig. 194: Eleocharis macrostachya: a, habit, showing the tall erect culms with
truncate basal leaf sheaths and the creeping rhizomes, X -:,; b-g, variations in form and
size of achene, tubercle and subtending bristles, X 12; h, flowers, showing the lanceolate
scale, X 6; i, terminal spike, the lower scales empty, X 2. (From Mason, Fig. 143).
-------
Fig. 195: Eleocharis flavescens: a, habit, showing a tufted plant and rhizomes with
single culms arising from the nodes, X #,; b, ovate obtuse spikelet, X 6; c, emarginate
basal leaf sheaths, X 6; d, mature achene, the tubercle conic and acute, the subtending
bristles as long as or slightly longer than achene, X 24; e, elliptic scale with pale mid-
vein, X 20; f, flower, showing the bifid style and the 3 stamens, X 20. (From Mason,
Fig. 139).
-------
numerous more apically situated primordia never maturing); scales ovate to ovate-
oblong, firm to membranous, somewhat striate, with a strong greenish keel-like
midrib and brown-stramineous sides; bristles about 7, pallid to pure white, quite
variable in length but usually about equaling the tubercle; style 2-branched;
achenial body obovate to pyriform, 0.8-0.9 (-1) mm. long, biconvex, shining,
microscopically pitted, ripening through shades of chartreuse and olive brown
to purplish-brown or even purplish-black; tubercle conic, yellow to greenish-white,
acute, 0.1-0.2 mm. long, about 0.1 mm. broad, basally very slightly constricted.
E. olivacea Torr., E. ocreata (Nees) Steud.
Rare in moist soil, on mud and in shallow water, sometimes on floating logs,
in e. and s.e. Tex. and Edwards Plateau, probably elsewhere, and Ariz. (Pima
Co.), spring-fall; e. N.A. w. to Minn, and Tex.; Ariz, and Calif.; W.I., Mex.,
S.A. Easily confused with E. caribaea.
17. Eleocharis caribaea (Rottb.) Blake. Fig. 196.
Densely tufted annual (when plants are covered slowly with shifting sand the
bases elongating upward somewhat like rhizomes) or perhaps rarely perennial;
culms 4-30 cm. long, 0.4-1 mm. thick, terete (or striate and sulcate on drying);
sheaths apically oblique, firm; spikelet 3-6 mm. long, ovoid to broadly ovoid,
obtuse, of 28 to 50 flowers; scales broadly ovate, 1.5-2 mm. long, firm, when
mature stramineous to pallid-bufty and with inconspicuous midrib, obtuse, even-
tually serially deciduous from lowest to highest; bristles about 7, dark-colored,
usually about equaling the tubercle; style 2-branched; achenial body (0.7-)
0.8-1 mm. long, obovate to pyriform in outline, biconvex, ripening through
shades of pale-green to purplish-black, shiny; tubercle conic (depressed or acute),
(0.05-) 0.1-0.2 mm. long, pallid-greenish or whitish, slightly constricted basally.
Locally abundant in moist calcareous soil, wet mud, wet lake shore and
streams, in Okla. (Carter, Love and Stephens cos.), in most parts of Tex. (absent
from Plains Country and e. Tex.), and Ariz. (Gila and Pima cos.), summer-fall;
widespread in warmer parts of the world; in Am. n. to Gulf States, casual
elsewhere.
Has been known incorrectly as E. geniculata (L.) R. & S.; the latter is a species
of coarse, tropical perennials not occurring in our region.
18. Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) J. & C. Presl. Fig. 196.
Densely tufted annual; culms 3-12 cm. long, 0.2-0.3 mm. thick, arcuate-
erect, terete (sulcate or striate on drying); sheaths apically oblique, firm; spikelet
narrowly ovoid, 2-4 mm. long, of 40 to 80 flowers; scales ovate to narrowly so,
about 1 mm. long, obtuse to abruptly acute, firm-membranous, with a green
midrib, brown to purplish laterally; bristles several, usually colorless, translucent,
about equaling the achenial body or much-reduced; style 2-branched; achenial
body 0.5-0.6 (-0.7) mm. long, obovate to pyriform in outline, biconvex, when
mature quite jet black, shiny; tubercle conic, about 0.05 mm. long, whitish,
constricted basally.
Rare and local in moist sandy soil, in mud along streams and marshes in Okla.
(Elaine and Alfalfa cos.), e. Tex. (Bastrop Co.), Edwards Plateau (Burnet Co.),
Plains Country (Hale Co.) and Rio Grande Plains (Hidalgo Co.), and N. M.
(Sandoval Co.), scattered, summer; scattered in warmer parts of both hemis-
pheres, in Am. n. to la., Neb., Colo, and Wash.
19. Eleocharis parvula (R. & S.) Link. Fig. 197.
Tufted annual (?) spreading by short stolons or rhizomes 0.2-0.5 mm. thick,
forming mats in mud; culms 2-7 (-12) cm. long, 0.1-0.4 mm. thick, usually
sulcate or irregularly flattened; sheaths extremely short and inconspicuous, hyaline,
often slightly reddish; spikelets ovoid to cylindric, 2-9 mm. long, stramineous,
384
-------
Fig. 196: a-e, Eleocharis caribaea: a, habit, X %; b and c, two views of sheath,
X 5; d, spikelet, X 5; e, achene, X 40. f-i, Eleocharis atropurpurea: f, habit, X %; g,
sheath, X 8; h, spikelet, X 5; i, achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
•I
\
Fig. 197: a-d, Eleocharis Baldwin!!: a, habit, X V. b, sheath. X 12: c, spikelet, X 8;
d. achene, X 35. e-i, Eleocharis parvula: e, habit, X 1i; f, sheath, X 12; g and h,
spikelets, showing variation, about X 25; i, achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
medially chartaceous, laterally membranous and marginally hyaline; bristles usually
reduced and essentially obsolete in our plants, most of which are of the var.
anachaeta (Torr.) Svens.; stamens 3; style 3-branched; achenial body ovoid to
obovoid, trigonous, 0.8-1 mm. long, passing through shades of gray to fuscous or
black at maturity, smooth, usually somewhat shiny; tubercle conic-trigonous,
much narrower than the body of the achene and confluent with it, scarcely
differentiable except under high magnification, 0.1-0.2 mm. long. Scirpus nanus
Spreng. (non-Poir.), E. membranacea (Buckl.) Gilly.
In mud and shallow water of lakes, ponds and stream banks, occasionally in
salt marshes, infrequent to locally abundant, essentially throughout Tex., in Okla.
(Kay, Stephens, Grady, San Miguel and Garvin cos.), N.M. (Chaves and Eddy
cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo Co.), spring-fall; var. parvula is widespread in Eur.,
N. Afr., the Near East and N.A.; var. anachaeta is scattered in w. N.A.
20. Eleocharis pauciflora (Lightf.) Link.
Perennial with filiform rhizomes bearing small leafy tubers; culms capillary,
grooved, erect, 7-14 cm. tall or sometimes 40 cm. tall, usually less than 1 mm.
thick, not proliferous; basal leaf sheaths 2-3 cm. long, truncate; spikelets 4-7
mm. long, ovate 2- to 7-flowered; scales lanceolate, acuminate, purplish-brown
bristles 2 to 6, shorter than to as long as or longer than the achene; style trifid;
achene trigonous, the surface finely reticulate, yellowish-brown, about 2 mm. long;
tubercle a subulate beak merging into the dark base of the style.
Boggy or otherwise wet places at high elevations in the mts., tolerant of salt
and alkali, Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), circumboreal, e. to 111. and N. J.
21. Eleocharis rostellata (Torr.) Torr. Fig. 198.
Tufted perennial with short often erect rhizomes to 5 mm. thick; culms 25-80
(-150) cm. long, flattened (1-1.4 mm. thick in the broader dimension), on each
sid& usually 3- or 4-costate, wiry, tough, erect or the more elongate ones arching
and taking root as the spikelet touches the ground, thus stoloniform; sheaths
firm, apically slightly oblique; spikelets lanceolate, acute, 8-17 mm. long, 2.5-4.5
mm. thick, with 12 to 30 flowers; scales ovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, the upper ones
more acute than the lower, medially rigid and with a strong stramineous midrib,
passing laterally through chartaceous to membranous texture and in color through
shades of brown to pale-brown or stramineous marginally; bristles firm, regularly
serrulate, pale-brown, about equaling the tubercle; style 3-branched; achene body
obscurely trigonous or turgidly plano-convex, obovoid, brownish, shiny, 1.5-1.7
mm. long, apically narrowed and merging with the tubercle; tubercle oblong or
stelelike, 0.7-1 mm. long, 0.3-0.4 mm. thick basally (at attachment but narrower
most of the length).
Mud in upland areas, springs, alkaline marshes and seeping wet meadows, in
Okla. (Texas Co.), frequent in Tex. Plains Country, infrequent on Edwards
Plateau, N. M. (Otero, DeBaca, San Juan, Valencia, Sandoval, Eddy and Grant
cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Graham, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.),
summer-fall; N.S. and Me. to Fla., inland in Ont. to N.J., Mich., Wise., 111., Kan.,
Okla., Tex., Coah., B.C. to Wyo., Ut, Calif., N.M.; Berm, Cuba, Hisp., n. Mex.,
mts. of Ecu. and Arg.
22. Eleocharis tortilis (Link) Schult. Fig. 199.
Tufted perennial; rhizomes ascending, 2-3 mm. thick; culms 15-50 cm. long,
0.5-1 mm. thick, usually flattened or irregularly 3-costate and -sided, often twisted,
wiry, grayish to yellowish; sheaths grayish or yellowish, shortly oblique and acute
or blunt, firm; spikelets ovoid to lance-ovoid or cylindric-ovoid, 6-14 mm long,
of 13 to 38 flowers; scales ovate to suborbicular, about 3 mm. long, blunt, firm
(subcartilaginous medially to chartaceous marginally), yellowish or grayish-strami-
387
-------
Fig. 198: Eleocharis rostellata: a, habit showing the wiry culms, some procumbent
and rooting at the tips, X !.-,; b, mature obtusely trigonous achene with surface finely
reticulate, the tubercle subulate and continuous with the apex of the achene, X 12; c,
spikelet, X 4; d, flower, X 8; e, scale, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 137).
-------
Fig. 199: Eleocharis tortilis: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 5; c, spikelet, X 5; d, achene,
X 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; b, V.F.).
-------
neous, sometimes with a subterminal purplish splotch especially when immature;
bristles several, brownish, often surpassing the achenial body; style 3-branched;
achenial body broadly obovoid, 1.2-1.7 mm. long, obscurely trigonous, the sides
convex, surficially pronouncedly large-cellular (the cell walls prominent), lustrous,
olivaceous-brown or gray; tubercle pyramidal, 0.6-1 mm. long, usually acute,
basally narrower than the body, truncately constricted to the very narrow attach-
ment.
Infrequent in moist or wet sandy soil and seepage areas in e. Tex., May-Nov.;
coastal areas, N. Y. to Tex.
23. Eleocharis Baldwin!! (Torr.) Chapm. Fig. 197.
Tufted annual; culms 6-20 cm. long, 0.1-0.25 mm. thick, ascending or often
strongly recurved and stoloniform; sheaths mostly reddish, long-oblique, blunt,
hyaline; cleistogamous few-flowered spikelets usually abundant at base of plant
among the sheaths; ordinary spikelets mostly narrowly elliptic, 4-7 mm. long, of
5 to 10 flowers, frequently proliferating when the recurved culm (stolon) touches
the ground; scales pseudodistichous, the lowest lingar and with a strong green
midnerve, the others progressively broader toward the top of the spikelet, lance-
elliptic, 3-4.5 mm. long, buffy to ferruginous-buff, membranous, strictly appressed,
acute; bristles several, pallid, about equaling the achenial body or reduced; style
3-branched; achenial body ovate, 0.7-0.8 mm. long, whitish-buffy to olive or
brownish-olive, trigonous (angles distinct and sides nearly flat), smooth; tubercle
pyramidal-trigonous, 0.2-0.3 mm. long, acute, constricted basally.
In bogs and about pools, near Caddo Lake, La. (part of this lake extends into
e. Tex.), summer-fall; N.C., Ga., Fla., La., (Tex.?).
24. Eleocharis minima Kunth. Fig. 200.
Tufted annual; culms 3-7 (-10) cm. long, about 0.1 mm. thick, extremely weak,
often flexuous and recurved, quadrangulate-sulcate; sheaths dark-reddish, apically
long-oblique, blunt, hyaline; reduced (cleistogamous?) spikelets often present at
the base of the plant among the culms; ordinary spikelets 2-4 mm. long, ovoid, 5-
to 10-flowered, usually blunt; scales ovate to narrowly ovate, blunt or shortly
acute, 1.5-2 mm. long, brown and membranous (midrib paler), marginally hya-
line; bristles about 5 to 7, whitish, about as long as the body of the achene; style
3-branched; achenial body obovoid, 0.7-0.8 mm. long, sharply trigonous (the 3
sides slightly convex), ripening through olive-whitish to pale-olive or even dark-
olive-gray, often somewhat mottled, darker near the angles and the ends, essen-
tially smooth; tubercle sharply pyramidal-trigonous, 0.15-0.3 mm. long and broad,
slightly constricted basally.
Rare in mud and shallow water of lakes, ponds and slow-flowing streams, cypress
swamps, in s.e. Tex. (Aransas and Jackson cos.), spring and fall; trop. Am. s. to
s. Braz. and n. to Ga., Tex. and Calif.
25. Eleocharis microcarpa Torr. Fig. 200.
Tufted annual; culms 4-28 cm. long, (0.1-) 0.15-0.3 mm. thick, mostly erect
or ascending (less commonly weak and somewhat flexuous), often quadrangulate-
sulcate (at least when dry); sheaths short, stramineous or slightly tinged with pink
basally, apically long-oblique, blunt and hyaline; spikelets never at the base of the
plant, always terminal on elongate culms, ovoid, 2-5 mm. long, 8- to 15-flowered,
often proliferous (sending out culms instead of flowers, usually from the axil of
the lowest scale), the spikelet then slightly inclined; lowest scale differentiated,
bractlike, sterile, lanceolate to linear, often a third to three fourths the entire
length of the spikelet, consisting mostly of a prominent green midnerve with
reduced membranous sides; other scales ovate, about 1.5 mm. long, blunt, the
390
-------
Fig. 200: a-e, Eleocharis microcarpa: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 12; c, spikelet,
X 10; d, scale, X 20; e, achene, about X 50. f-i, Eleocharis minima; f, habit, X %; g,
sheath, X 16; h, spikelet, X 8; i, achene, about X 35. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 201: Eleoc/taris albida: a, habit, X V2; b, sheath, X 12; c, spikelet, X 5; d,
achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
median distal portion purplish (midrib paler) and membranous, the median proxi-
mal portion whitish, the margins white-hyaline; bristles somewhat variable, in our
specimens much reduced or usually absent; styles 3-branched; achenial body 0.5-
0.6 mm. long, obovoid, trigonous (angles not very prominent, sides convex),
pearly-white, lustrous, smooth; tubercle 0.05-0.1 (-0.15) mm. long, depressed-
pyramidal, buffy-white, slightly constricted basally. E. Brittonii Small, E. Lundellii
Svens.
On sandy loams, in mud and shallow water of ponds and streams, and depres-
sions in savannahs, frequent in s.e. Tex., infrequent in e. Tex., spring-fall; coastal
areas, Conn, and N.J. to Tex.; also Tenn. and Ind.
26. Eleocharis albida Torr. Fig. 201.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes extensive, 1-2 mm. thick, orangish-brown;
culms tufted at intervals along the rhizome, 5-30 cm. long, about 1 mm. thick,
erect, essentially terete, stramineous or basally slightly pinkish; sheaths apically
truncate or shortly oblique and firm but membranous, basally often pinkish to
red; spikelets ovoid to ovoid-cylindric, 5-16 mm. long, of 30 to 90 flowers, rarely
proliferating; scales broadly ovate, subcartilaginous medially, firm-membranous
marginally, stramineous, shiny; bristles 5 to 8, when mature reddish-brown, some
often surpassing the achenial body, others half as long; style 3-branched; achenial
body broadly obovoid, 0.8-1 mm. long, trigonous (the 2 inner angles sharper and
more definite than the abaxial one, the faces only slightly convex), maturing
through shades of olive-whitish to brownish-olive and finally to a rich dark-
chocolate-brown, lustrous; tubercle varying from conic to globular, 0.15-0.3
mm. long, paler than the body at maturity, constricted basally.
Frequent in moist perhaps brackish sand and on lake margin and in water, in
coastal parts of Rio Grande Plains and s.e. Tex., spring—summer; coastal areas,
Md. to Mex.; Berm.
27. Eleocharis elongata Chapm. Fig. 202.
Culms very slender, usually less than 1 mm. wide, elongate, 5-8 dm. long, often
floating on the surface of the water, flattened or obscurely angled; roots fibrous;
stolons abundant, brown or straw-colored, elongate, with culms rising from the
nodes; spikelets 1—1.5 cm. long, about 2 mm. wide, acute; style 3-branched;
stamens 3; scales linear, obtuse, 3.5 mm. long, striate, greenish, conspicuously
broadened with brown just within the hyaline margin; achenes 1.5 mm. long
including the style base, triangular, light-green, obovate (the inner face broadest,
with about 12 rows of coarse transversely linear cells), abruptly narrowed at the
summit to a short acute neck one-fourth the width of the achene from which
rises the short acute deep-brown style base; bristles 6 or 7, equalling the achene,
greenish, prominently toothed.
In quiet water of lakes and ponds in Tex. (Hardin Co.); Fla. to Tex.
28. Eleocharis tenuis (Willd.) Schult. var. vemicosa (Svens.) Svens.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick, scaly-fibrous, castaneous-
fuscous; culms tufted at intervals along the rhizomes, 15-50 cm. long, 0.2-0.3
mm. thick, weakly ascending, 4- or 5-sulcate or simply angled; sheaths basally
purplish-red, apically firm, truncate to very slightly oblique, usually with a
minute mucro; spikelets oblong or narrowly ovoid to lance-ovoid, 3-9 mm. long,
of 20 to 40 flowers; scales ovate to obovate, obtuse, about 2 mm. long, with a
greenish or stramineous midrib and firm castaneous to purplish-black sides,
marginally very narrowly scarious; bristles 2 or 3, promptly deciduous, very short;
styles 3-branched; achenial body broadly obovoid to suborbicular, distinctly
trigonous, 0.6-0.8 mm. long, ripening through shades of ivory to greenish-olive,
surficially minutely but pronouncedly warty or pitted in vertical lines; tubercle
393
-------
Fig. 202: Eleocharis elongata: a, habit, X VV, b, sheath, X 12; c, spikelet, X 5; d,
achene, X 35. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 203: Eleocharis Parishii: a, scale, X 10; b, toothed truncate leaf sheath, X 6;
c and d, habit, showing average and small plants, the slender erect fascicled culms and
the creeping rhizomes, X %; e, flower, X 10; f, trigonous obovoid achene, the surface
faintly reticulate, the tubercle conic and the subtending bristles longer than the achene,
X 20; g, spikelet, linear-lanceolate, acute, X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 138).
-------
strongly depressed-pyramidal, 0.1-0.2 mm. long, slightly constricted basally.
Infrequent in moist or wet sand, wet forested areas, along ditches and in wet
mud along sloughs, in Okla. (Payne Co.) and e. Tex., rare in s.e. Tex., spring;
temp. e. N.A., w. to 111., Mo., Okla. and Tex. (the var. verrucosa in the w. part
of that distribution area).
29. Eleocharis cylindrica Buckl.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes slender (1-2 mm. thick); culms 15-30 cm.
long, 0.4-0.5 mm. thick, about 4-sulcate and -angled, erect; sheaths faintly
reddish-brown basally, apically firm, truncate or very slightly oblique, mucronate;
spikelets linear-cylindric, 8-17 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. thick, acute, of 50 to 60
flowers; scales about 2 mm. long, ovate, acute, medially thin-membranous, brown
(the midnerve pale), marginally white-hyaline, slightly convex abaxially; bristles
pale-brown, 0.05-0.1 mm. long, extremely inconspicuous; style 3-branched;
achenial body 0.6-0.8 (-1) mm. long, obovoid, strongly and obviously trigonous
(the sides slightly concave, the angles prominent but not sharp), ripening through
canary-yellow to golden-brown or dark-brown, essentially smooth and satiny,
apically conspicuously and abruptly narrowed to a short cylindric pedestal;
tubercle depressed-pyramidal, about 6.1 mm. long and about as wide or pyramidal
and about 0.3 mm. long.
Rare, probably in shallow water or calcareous mud, in Tex. Plains Country
(Lubbock Co.) and Trans-Pecos (Presidio Co.), June-July; endemic, to be sought
in N.M. and Chih.
30. Eleocharis Parish!! Britt. Fig. 203.
Perennial (or sometimes annual?) with slender creeping reddish rhizomes;
culms slender, striate, erect, 1-3 dm. tall, in fascicles or tufted; leaf sheaths
reddish-brown at base, usually becoming straw-colored at the obliquely truncate
apex, usually with a minute tooth; spikelets linear-lanceolate, acute, 10-15 mm.
long, many-flowered; scales ovate-oblong, acute to obtuse, chestnut-brown or
dark-brown, with a short hyaline tip; bristles 6 or 7, as long as to longer or
shorter than the achene; style trifid; achene trigonous, ellipsoid or obovoid, yellow
to light-brown, smooth or faintly reticulate under magnification; tubercle short-
subulate to conic.
Moist soil, wet meadows or rooted in shallow water to form small mats in
N.M. (Grant and Valencia cos.) and Ariz, (widely distributed); Ore. to N.M.,
Ariz., Calif, and n. Mex.
31. Eleocharis montevidensis Kunth. Fig. 204.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes extensive, 1-2 (-2.5) mm. thick, usually dark-
reddish; culms 1-5 dm. long, 0.4-1 mm. thick, erect, rather soft, sometimes slightly
compressed, in pressed specimens often irregularly sulcate and showing incom-
plete and weak septa; sheaths basally dark-reddish, apically quite firm, truncate
or only very slightly oblique and weakly mucronate; spikelets very variable in
shape, from globular to cylindric or ovoid to elliptic, apically blunt, 3-14 mm. long,
with 24 to 70 (to 110) flowers; scales mostly oblong to oblong-ovate, 2-3 mm.
long, obtuse to slightly emarginate, the median portion membranous and brownish
to atrocastaneous (with or without a paler midnerve), marginally scarious, often
somewhat convex abaxially, concave adaxially (this true even before the achenes
mature, so the spikelets appear filled out soon after anthesis); bristles 4 to 6, some
of them usually equaling the tubercle; style 3-branched; achenial body obovoid
to pyriform-obovoid, (0.8-) 0.9-1.1 (-1.2) mm. long, turgid, obscurely trigonous,
ripening through shades of yellow to golden-brown or even dark-brown, punctuate-
reticulate surfkially (varying from as rough as in E. compressa to nearly smooth
as in the plant called E. Palmeri), lustrous; tubercle precisely to irregularly conic,
396
-------
Fig. 204. Eleocharis montevidensis: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 10; c, spikelet, X 5;
d, achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 205: Eleocharis falla.\: a, habit, X 1|i; b, sheath, X 5; c, spikelet. X 5; d, achene,
X 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
(0.1-) 0.2-0.3 (-0.4) mm. long. E. arenicola Torr., E. Palmeri Svens.
In moist soil, in shallow water of streams and ponds and in wet granitic sands,
in Okla. (Roger Mills, Alfalfa, Grady, Johnston and Bryan cos.), essentially
throughout Tex. (rare in extreme e. and extreme w.), N. M. (Sandoval Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), spring (-summer);
cen. Mex. n. to Ore., Ida., N.M., Okla., the Gulf States and S.C.; also s. Braz.,
Urug. and Arg.
32. Eleocharis fallax Weath. Fig. 205.
Perennial much like E. macrostachya but styles 2- or 3-branched, the achenes
averaging smaller (body 1.2-1.7 mm. long and tubercle 0.2-0.5 mm. long) and the
body more distinctly and regularly punctate (much as in E. montevidensis).
Rare in (brackish?) mud, s.e. Tex. (collected once in Matagorda Co.), summer
(?); coastwise, Mass, to Tex.; Cuba.
33. Eleocharis austrotexana M. C. Johnst.
Densely tufted perennial (probably with short slender matted reddish rhizomes);
culms 30-45 cm. long, erect, 0.8-1.1 mm. thick, essentially terete, with 12 to 15
minute striae in dried specimens and very weak but complete transverse septa 2-3
mm. apart (otherwise hollow); sheaths 2-5 cm. long, tight, mostly reddish, apically
quite firm, truncate or only very slightly oblique and with a seta or mucro to
1 mm. long; spikelets lanceolate, acuminate, acute, 8-13 mm. long, of about 50
to 70 flowers; scales ovate and acute to broadly lanceolate, about 2 mm. long,
medially buffy-brown (midnerve paler) and membranous, marginally hyaline, whit-
ish; bristles about 6 to 8, pale-brown, translucent, inconspicuous, persistent, un-
equal, the longer ones about equaling the achenial body; style 3-branched; achenial
body obovoid-pyriform, 0.7—0.9 mm. long, obscurely trigonous (the 2 inner angles
definite, though not sharp, the abaxial one obscure), ripening through shades of
yellow to golden-brown, surficially nearly smooth, slightly lustrous (under very
high magnification punctulate-reticulate); tubercle depressed-pyramidal, about 0.2
mm. long and broad, slightly constricted basally.
Rare in Rio Grande Plains and s.e. Tex., Apr.; endemic.
34. Eleocharis compressa Sulliv.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 2-4 (-6) mm. thick, usually short and forking,
forming dense thick mats; culms tufted along the rhizome, 9-20 cm. long, erect,
strongly compressed, 0.6-1 mm. broad in the flat dimension, several-striate on each
side; sheaths usually reddish basally, apically firm and truncate or only very
slightly oblique, with a mucro; spikelets ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 5-12 mm. long,
with 20 to 40 flowers; scales broadly lanceolate, the lower medial portion chestnut-
brown or chestnut-fuscous (the mid-nerve somewhat paler), the margins and the
long-attenuate sometimes bifid (split) apex translucent-scarious; bristles 1 to 5,
promptly deciduous, very short; style 3-branched; achenial body broadly obovoid,
turgid, obscurely trigonous, about 1 mm. long, ripening through yellow to a golden-
brown, surficially granular-roughened or reticulate (rougher than in the following
species but not as rough as in E. tennis); tubercle 0.1-0.2 mm. long, depressed-
to globose-conic, usually slightly constructed basally. E. elliptica Kunth var. com-
pressa (Sulliv.) Drapalik & Mohlenbrock.
Rare in loamy usually moist soil and in shallow water of ponds and streams
in Okla. (Latimer Co.) and in e. Tex. (San Augustine Co.), spring; most of n.e.
U.S.; also Ont., Sask., Ga., Okla. and Tex.
35. Eleocharis acutisquamata Buckl.
Rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 2-4 (-6) mm. thick, usually short and forking,
forming dense thick mats; culms tufted along the rhizomes, 8-20 (-28) cm. long,
399
-------
0.3-0.8 mm. thick, slightly compressed or usually merely irregularly several-angled;
sheaths usually slightly pinkish basally, apically firm and truncate or only very
slightly oblique, not mucronate; spikelets narrowly oblong or cylindric to narrowly
elliptic, usually with a blunt point, 3-11 mm. long, of 24 to 44 flowers; scales
broadly lanceolate, the lower medial portion brown (the midnerve slightly paler),
the margin and the long-attenuate sometimes bifid (split) apex translucent-scarious;
bristles several, extremely short and promptly deciduous; style 3-branched;
achenial body broadly obovoid-pyriform, turgid, obscurely trigonous, 0.9-1.2 mm.
long, ripening through yellow to golden-brown, surficially very minutely granu-
lar-roughened and obscurely reticulate; tubercle conic to essentially globular, 0.1
mm. long (rarely to 0.2 mm.), basally constricted. Probably conspecific with
E. compressa.
In calcareous loamy (usually slightly moist) soil, in water of ponds and lake
margins, seepage areas, in Okla. (Waterfall') and on Tex. Edwards Plateau and
n.-cen. Tex., infrequent s. to s.e. Tex. (Refugio Co.) and in e. Plains Country,
spring.
6. Bulbostylis KUNTH
Essentially glabrous perennial forming tight swards of limited extent or less
commonly annual herbs; culms closely tufted, 4-30 cm. long, 0.2-0.6 mm. thick,
wiry, erect; leaves setaceous, about half as high as and even thinner than the
culm; primary brach setaceous, often appearing as a continuation of the culm or
spreading, 3-22 mm. long; other bracts setaceous, much-reduced; inflorescence
umbelliform or cymose, simple or compound, 5-40 mm. long or occasionally re-
duced to a glomerule or even rarely a single spikelet; spikelets lance-cylindric,
dark-brown, of 7 to 25 perfect flowers; scales spirally imbricate, ovate, obtuse
to acute or rarely retuse, dark-brown, 1-2 mm. long, strongly keeled (the keel
paler), occasionally slightly gibbous, glabrous to strigose or puberulent, marginally
smooth to slightly fimbriate; perianth bristles absent; style 3-branched, the base
enlarged and persistent as a tubercle 0.5-1 mm. long, differentiated in texture
and color from the achenial body; achenial body obovoid or usually obpyramidal,
strongly triquetrous, 0.7-0.9 mm. long, maturing through shades of white to
pale-buffy-white or grayish, with papillae or transverse ridges. Stenophyllus Raf.
(a rejected name). Many authors, with much justification, include Bulbostylis in
Fimbristylis.
About 100 species in warm regions.
1. Achenes papillose, maturing yellowish or grayish; cyne typically compound
1. B. ciliatifolia.
1. Achenes transversely ridged or rugose; cyme simple (2)
2(1). Strong perennial; achene with about 20 minute but (under a lens!) con-
spicuous and pronounced transverse rugae on each face, maturing
to a grayish color 2. B. juncoides.
2. Annual; achenes with about 10 indistinct transverse ridges on each face,
maturing to a buffy-white (3)
3(2). Spikelets 2 or more in each inflorescence, at the apex of the culms, not
sessile in axils of basal leaves; leave sheaths usually sparsely villous,
at least at the summit; achenes all alike 3. B. capillaris.
3. Spikelets usually solitary at the apex of the culms and others sessile in axils
of leaves; leaf sheaths glabrous; middle achenes of basal spikelets
larger than those of the culms 4. C. Funckii.
1. Bulbostylis ciliatifolia (Ell.) Fern. Fig. 206.
Characters given in the generic description and the key.
Uncommon in periodically wet sandy soil of open woods and hillsides in Okla.
400
-------
Fig. 206: Bulbostylis ciliatifolia: a, habit, X %; b, achene, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
(Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., summer-fall; from Va. s. to Fla., w. to Tex.
and Okla.
2. Bulbostylis juncoides (Vahl) Kukenth. Fig. 207.
Characters given in the generic description and the key.
Locally frequent in rock crevices and seepy areas in Chisos and Davis Mts. in
the Tex. Trans-Pecos, rare in granite area of Edwards Plateau, w. to Ariz.
(Yavapai, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), summer; Tex. and Ariz., s.e. to
Guat.; Hisp., Bol. to Urug. and Arg.
Our plants are referable to the var. ampliceps Kukenth. (which name is
probably not the earliest applicable one in the varietal rank).
3. Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Clarke.
Characters given in the generic description and the key. Fimbristylis capillaris
(L.) Gray.
Infrequent in sandy soil and in crevices of granitelike rocks which decompose
to sandy soil, seepage areas, in Okla. (Johnston Co.), e., s.e., and n.-cen. Tex.
and Edwards Plateau (Central Mineral Region), rare in Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M.
(Dona Ana, Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Yavapai, Greenlee, Gila,
Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), spring-summer; widespread in warm-temp.
N.A., s. to Calif., Ariz., N.M., Okla. and the Gulf States; Tarn., Cuba, reported
in Chih.
4. Bulbostylis Funckii (Steud.) C. B. Clarke.
Similar to B. capillaris except that the spikelets are usually solitary, apical and
sessile in the axils of the leaves with achenes 1-1.2 mm. long, and that the leaf
sheaths are glabrous.
Wet soil, in canyons, N.M. (Socorro Co.), Ariz. (Mohave, Gila, Cochise and
Pima cos.) and Chih., s. to cen. S.A. and the W.I.
7. Fimbristylis VAHL
Perennial or annual, the culms solitary or in tufts, or variously rhizomatous,
rigid or lax, leafy toward the base; leaves filiform to narrowly or broadly linear,
glabrous to pubescent, flat or involute, ligulate or eligulate, the sheaths closed
or partly open at maturity of the leaf; spikelets lanceolate or oblong to ovoid or
round in outline, terete or somewhat flattened or angled, either solitary and
terminal on the scapes or in simple or compound umbelliform systems involving
pedunculate and sessile spikelets of cymules, the whole inflorescence as well as
the cymules composing it often subtended by a leafy involucre; fertile scales
glabrous or variously pubescent, subdistichous to more often spirally arranged,
deciduous, all but the lowermost fertile; florets perfect; perianth absent (the flower
produced on a short pedicel joint which usually disarticulates with the achene);
stamens one to three; anthers oblong, basifixed, sometimes apiculate, the two
thecae at maturity longitudinally and laterally dehiscing; style 2- or 3-branched,
the unbranched portion flattened and fimbriate for at least a portion of its length
or (more rarely) subterete or angled, the style base either flattened or swollen
but in any event not persistent at the summit of the achene; achene lenticular
or trigonous; surface of achene smoothish, cancellate or warty, usually made up
of isodiametric or horizontally arranged rectangular cells, these either concave
or protuberant.
Over 200 described species, in a variety of habitats in warm temperate to
tropical regions of the world.
(Adapted from Robert Krai in Sida 4, No. 2. 1971.)
1. Style 3-branched (2)
1. Style 2-branched (3)
402
-------
Fig. 207: a and b, Bulbostylis juncoides: a, habit, X %; b, achene, X 10. c-e,
Scleria Muhlenbergia: c, habit, X %; d, achene, X 12; e, hypogynium from below,
X 12. (a-c, V. F.; d and e, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2(1). Achene trigonous, the surfaces smooth or warty; ligule of short hairs
present 1. F autumnalis.
2. Achene not trigonous or only obscurely so, obovoid, the surfaces usually warty;
ligule absent 2. F. miliacea.
3(1). Ligule of short hairs present (this characteristic is most noticeable in those
entities that have broadly linear flattened leaf blades but is difficult
to detect in those extremes that have very involute narrow leaf
blades) (4)
3. Ligule absent (9)
4(3). A system of slender pale or reddish rhizomes present; robust perennials
with tall wandlike culms (5)
4. Rhizomes absent or (if present) thickened and composed of stout contiguous
culm-bases; perennial or annual species (7)
5(4). Outer surface of spikelet scales uniformly pubescent; spikelets elliptic-
oblong, the apices of the bracts acutish and with the midrib ex-
serted as a prominent mucro; backs of leaf bases often pubescent
3. F. thermalis.
5. Outer surface of spikelet scales glabrous or puberulent apically; spikelets
ovoid to lance-ovoid, rarely oblong, the apices of the bracts rounded
with the midrib somewhat exserted; backs of the leaf bases seldom
pubescent (6)
6(5). Fertile scales puberulent toward the tip; scapes usually flattened, often
scabrous-edged distally; edges of leaves (especially toward the tip)
scabrid; achene finely but definitely reticulate; in upper edges of
salt marshes, dune swales or fresh marshes on the Coastal Plain
4. F. caroliniana.
6. Fertile scales usually smooth; scapes more slender, terete or broadly oval in
cross section and smooth distally; edges of leaves usually not
scabrid; achene smoothish or with longitudinal rows of shallow
isodiametric pits; moist or wet prairies, river sloughs, marshes and
springy places in west Texas 11. F. puberula var. interior.
7(4). Face (one side) of achene smoothish or with many (15 or more) longi-
tudinal row of shallow pits or cells (thus finely striate)
5. F. tomentosa.
1. Face (one side) of achene more closely reticulate, usually with 12 or less
longitudinal rows of horizontally oriented rectangular cells (8)
8(7). Perennial with spreading hard pale-green leaves; achenes lacking warts
6. F. dichotama.
8. Annual with spreading or ascending leaves; achenes with warts
7. F. annua.
9(3). Low often densely tufted weedy annual; leaf blades linear-filiform
8. F. Vahlii.
9. Taller more robust wider-leaved perennials (10)
10(9). Plants densely cespitose; bases of leaves hard, leathery, usually verv dark-
brown or castaneous, often quite lustrous, deeply set in substrate;
common to brackish coastal habitats 9. F castanea.
10. Plants in small tufts or culms solitary; bases of leaves thickened and hard
or culm bases bulbous but in any case more shallow-set in sub-
strate; either with stout contracted rhizomes or with fasciculate
clusters of narrow orange-brown rhizomes; from sandy acid pine-
land savannahs or oak barrens to heavy prairie soils but not in
brackish coastal habitats (11)
404
-------
11(10). Base of culms bulbous, often joined together into a stout knotty rhi-
zome; old leaf bases often persisting as shreddy remnants; outer
surface of fertile scales usually with some puberulence
10. F. puberula.
11. Base of culms rarely bulbous, usually producing fascicles of slender orangish
rhizomes; old leaf bases not persisting as shreddy remnants; outer
surface of fertile scales seldom with any puberulence
11. F. puberula var. interior.
1. Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) R. & S. Fig. 208.
Cespitose annual, usually 5-20 cm. tall; leaves glabrous, spreading, subdis-
tichous, from half as long as the culms to equaling the culms; blades linear (to
4 mm. broad), flat, the backs with numerous raised veins, the margin a pale
cartilaginous ciliate-scabrid border; sheaths broader, keeled, with a broad scarious
tan entire margin, joining the blade at an acute angle or truncate; ligule present
as a line of short pale hairs; scapes flat, similar to the leaf blades, the edges often
harsh; longest involucral bract with blade similar to that of the leaves, seemingly
a continuation of the scape, shorter to longer than the inflorescence; spikelets
linear-oblong to lanceolate, usually 3-7 mm. long, pale- to dark-brown, in an
open to densely paniculate system of cymes, the primary rays usually ascending;
fertile scales ovate-lanceolate, usually keeled, entire, the midrib excurrent as a
mucro; stamens usually 2, rarely 1, 0.2-0.3 mm. long; style 3-branched, much
longer than the achene, trigonous at the base, subterete above toward the branches,
entirely smooth; achene trigonous-obovoid, apiculate, about 1 mm. long, pale-
brown, the surface smooth to quite verrucose.
Moist to wet sands, peats, silts or clays, primarily of disturbed sunny ground,
in marshes, and mud and water at edge of streams, ponds and lakes, in Okla.
(Mayes, Ottawa, Love, Mclntosh, LeFlore, McCurtain and Sequoyah cos.) and
most of Tex.; various provinces of e. N.A.; Carib., I., Mex. and C.A.; also Old
and New World trop.
2. Fimbristylis mfliacea (L.) Vahl. Fig. 209.
Cespitose annual to 5 dm. tall (rarely to 1 m.); leaves equitant, distichous, from
one half the length of the plant to nearly as long, rigid, smooth, flabellately spread-
ing, tapering evenly from broad clasping sheaths into the blade, thence continuing
to taper into a slender tip, the numerous veins raised and evenly spaced; margin
of the blade narrow, pale, cartilaginous, antrorsely ciliate-scabrid, the margin of the
sheath somewhat broader, scarious and entire; sheaths keeled, often bladeless;
ligule not evident scapes slender but rigid, flattened or somewhat angled in cross
section toward the base, more flattened distally but often with a double margin
along each edge; spikelets subglobose to ovoid or short-cylindrical, 2—4 mm. long,
on flattened scabrous pedicels in a compound loose to congested system of cymes;
longest involucral bract usually shorter than the inflorescence; fertile scales ovate,
pale- to (usually) dark-brown, smooth, the apex obtuse to rounded or emarginate,
the margin entire, the midrib paler by contrast or greenish and rarely excurrent;
stamens 1 or 2, the anthers less than 1 mm. long; style 3-branched, the unbranched
portion not much longer than the achene, subterete below, more flattened and
fimbriate above toward the branches; achene obovoid (usually narrowly so), apic-
ulate, about 1 mm. long, pale-brown, reticulate, the cells narrowly rectangular and
horizontally oriented in 4 to 6 rows on a face, the longitudinal ribs usually more
prominent and usually verrucose.
Sandy peat, peat-muck and silt of open areas such as savannahs, pond, lake or
river shores, cult, areas (particularly rice fields), in the U.S. from N.C. s. in the
Coastal Plain into peninsular Fla., w. along the Gulf Coast into Tex.; throughout
the Carib. I., Mex. and C.A.
405
-------
Fig. 208: a and b, Fimbristylis castanea: a, habit, X %; b, achene, X 13. c and d,
Fimbristylis autumnalis: c, habit, X %; d, achene, X 15. e, Fimbristylis dichotoma:
e, achene, X 16. f, Fimbristylis caroliniana: f, achene, X 16. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
3. Fimbristylis thennalis Wats.
Rhizomatous perennial, solitary or in small tufts, to about 1.5 m. tall; leaves
one third to one half the length of the scapes; blades linear, 1-4 mm. broad, flat
to somewhat involute, glabrous or with some pubescence toward the sheath and
apex on lower surface, upper surface just above ligule usually puberulent, veins
numerous and prominent on the lower surface, the pale marginal vein or veins
cartilaginous and ciliate-scabrid; sheath much broader, clasping, indurate, usually
with some pubescence, stramineous to dull-brown, with a broad and scarious
margin that is usually entire and converging to the blade at an acute angle; ligule
of short pale hairs present; spikelets oblong-cylindric to lance ovoid, 1-2 cm.
long, pale dull-brown, 1 to many in a closed to rather open paniculate system of
cymes; longest bract of the inflorescence shorter than the inflorescence; scapes
rather rigid, about the width of the leaves, glabrous, many-ridged, subterete below,
progressively flattened toward the inflorescence, the edges of the flattened portion
scabrous; fertile scales ovate, subentire, pale dull-brown, dorsally uniformly puberu-
lent, the midrib by contrast paler and exserted as a prominent cusp; stamens 3,
the anthers about 2 mm. long; style branches 2, the style flattened and fimbriate
from the base to above the point of branching; achene lenticular-obovoid, about
1.5 mm. long, dark lustrous-brown, finely reticulate, the individual foveae hori-
zontally rectangular and arranged in numerous vertical lines; joint of achene short,
persistent on fruit.
On usually highly mineralized sandy substrate of marshes and about hot springs
in Ariz. (Coconino Co.); s. Calif., Nev., Ut. and Ariz., s. to B. Calif, and Coah.
4. Fimbristylis caroliniana (Lam.) Fern. Fig. 208.
Rhizomatous perennial, 1.5 (-2) m. tall; culms solitary or in small tufts, the
bases rather shallowly set in the substrate; leaves subdistichous, usually spreading,
about half as long as the scapes; blades firm, linear, 2.5 (-7) mm. wide, the sur-
faces smooth or in some cases pubescent near the ligule or the upper face, the
backs with several raised nerves, the pale margin hyaline and scabrid; leaf-sheath
broader, clasping, firm, pale- to dark-brown, glabrous to sparsely pubescent, with
a wide stramineous to tan or reddish-brown scarious margin (this gradually or
abruptly passing into the blade and often ciliate at this point); ligule of appressed
hairs, usually complete; scapes about the width of the leaf blade, glabrous, many-
ribbed, subterete toward the base, usually flattened toward the apex (in which
case the edges scabrid); longest bract of the involucre much shorter than the in-
florescence to but slightly exceeding it, the back glabrous to puberulent, the margin
harsh; spikelets ellipsoidal to lance-ovoid or oblong, 5-15 mm. long, blunt to acute,
pale-dull-brown to reddish-brown, a few to many in a compound umbellate sys-
tem of cymes, the edges of the peduncles scabrid; fertile bracts ovate, glabrous or
puberulent on the backs toward the apex, the margin entire, the surface marked
by a thick usually paler area of midrib (this sometimes excurrent as a short
mucro); stamens 3, the apex of the flattened filaments narrowed, the anthers
about 3 mm. long; style 2-branched, flat, fimbriate from near the base to slightly
beyond the point of branching; achene lenticular-obovoid, about 1 mm. long,
pale- to deep-brown, often lustrous, finely reticulate with the reticule composed
of several fine rows of foveae or horizontally oriented rectangular cells; pedicel
joint very short, usually persistent.
Brackish, alkaline or mildly acid sands or sandy peats of beaches, dune
swales, lake shores, roadside ditches, more rarely savannahs or flatwoods, Coastal
Plain from N.J. s. into the Fla. Keys and w. along the Gulf Coast to Tab.; Cuba.
5. Fimbristylis tomentosa Vahl.
Cespitose annual to 7.5 dm. tall; leaves from half as long to nearly the length
407
-------
of the mature culms; blades linear, 2-4 (-5) mm. broad, usually flat but some-
times slightly involute, spreading to ascending, the surfaces pubescent, the backs
with several prominent raised nerves, the margin evident as a pale cartilaginous
narrow border which is ciliate-scabrid; leaf sheath broad, usually tomentose,
with a wide brownish subscarious margin (this long-ciliate and truncate above at
juncture with blade); ligule present as horizontal line of short pale hairs; scapes
rather rigid, subterete basally, usually flattened or oval in cross section just below
inflorescence, smooth or variously pubescent; spikelets at maturity a rich-reddish-
brown, lance-ovoid, 4-6 mm. long, acute, usually many in a rather dense pani-
culate system of cymes the primary branches of which are usually ascending,
pubescent (spikelets solitary in depauperate specimens); longest involucral bract
exceeding inflorescence, leaflifle in its vestiture, always with a prominently hairy
sheath; fertile bracts ovate, at maturity glabrous, reddish-brown except for a
paler often greenish area of midrib (this usually exserted as a short cusp, backs
of the midrib of lowermost scales often with some hairs); anthers 2, 0.7-1 mm.
long; style 2-branched, flattened, the edges fimbriate from near the base to the
base of the branches; achene obovoid, slightly apiculate, including the pedicel
1.7-2 mm. long, lenticular, finely foveate (pitted) with the pits arranged in many
vertical rows, sometimes slightly umbonate, at maturity a dark- to pale-brown
except for the pale margin; pedicel joint persistent, to 0.5 mm. long.
Moist to wet sands, silts or clays of disturbed habitats such as pond or river
banks, roadside ditches, canals or agricultural grounds, Coastal Plain from N.C.
s. to n. Fla. and w. into Tex.
6. Fimbrisfylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl. Fig. 208.
Tufted perennial to 5 dm. tall or more; leaves from half as long to nearly
the length of the culms; blades linear, 2-5 mm. broad, flat to somewhat involute,
often glaucous and spreading, usually glabrous or rarely the lower surface pubes-
cent, with several prominent nerves, the margin evident as a pale cartilaginous
border that is ciliate-scabrid; sheaths broad, usually appressed-pubescent, with
a wide tan or reddish-brown subscarious margin that is ciliate and subtruncate
apically; ligule present as a horizontal line of short hairs; scapes rigid, subterete
basally, usually flattened or oval in cross section just below the inflorescence,
the flattened edges usually scabrid; longest involucral bract usually longer than
the inflorescence, the blade similar to a leaf blade, the sheathing base sometimes
pubescent and ciliate; spikelets drab to brownish or reddish-brown, usually lance-
ovoid to oblong, 4-8 mm. long, acute, in an open to dense simple or compound
umbellate system of cymes (spikelets solitary in depauperate specimens); fertile
bracts broadly oblong to ovate, acute to obtuse at apex, the margin entire, the
surface smooth and pale- to dark-brown except for a paler often greenish midrib
that terminates at the apex or is excurrent as a short cusp; anthers 1 or 2, about
1 mm. long; style 2-branched, flattened with the edges fimbriate toward the
point of branching; achene lenticular-obovoid, sometimes fairly tumid, about 1
mm. long or slightly longer, apiculate, white to brownish, striate-reticulate, the
cells rectangular, shallowly concave, horizontally arranged in (5) 10 to 12 longi-
tudinally rows.
In moist or wet sunny savannahs, fields, grasslands and along roadsides in s.e.
Tex.; Old World species fast becoming a weed throughout the lower Coastal
Plain of s.e. U.S.
7. Fimbristylis annua (All.) R. & S. Fig. 210.
Cespitose. decumbent to ascending or erect annual, to 5 dm. tall (usually much
lower); leaves from half as long to nearly the length of the mature culms; blades
usually narrowly linear, glabrous to tomentose, 1-2 (-4) mm. wide, the backs
408
-------
Fig. 209: a and b, Fimbristylis miliacea: a, habit, X %; b, achene, X 20. c and d,
Fimbristylis puberula: c, habit, X %; d, achene, X 16. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 210: Fimbristylis annua: a, habit, X V2; b, spikelet, X 5; c, spikelet with lower
achenes fallen, X 5; d, scale, X 5; e, achene, X 5. (V. F.).
with several prominent raised nerves, the often pale margin cartilaginous and
usually ciliate-scabrid; sheaths broad, smooth or pubescent, with a wide sub-
scarious margin that is smooth or pubescent, pale brown, toward its apex ciliate
and truncate or acute; ligule present as a horizontal line of short hairs; scapes
lax to rigid, ascending or erect, subterete basally, flattened or subterete above
at juncture with inflorescence; longest involucral bract similar to leaves in its
width and indument, shorter or longer than the inflorescence, the sheathing base
smooth or hirsute; spikelets lance-ovoid or oblong, 3-8 mm. long, acute, greenish
to tan or brown to a dark-reddish-brown, in a few- to many-spikeletted simple
or compound umbellate system of cymes (spikelets solitary in depauperate speci-
mens); fertile bracts broadly oblong to ovate, the apex acute to obtuse, the margin
entire, the surface smooth, the paler midrib seldom excurrent; anthers 1 or
rarely 2, about 1 mm. long; style 2-branched, flattened, ahe edges fimbriate from
the base to the branches or entire basally; achene lenticular, ovoid or obovoid
and quite tumid, about 1 mm. long, apiculate, white to brownish, often irides-
cent, striate-reticulate, the rectangular cells shallowly concave and horizontally
arranged in from 5 to 12 longitudinal rows per side, the longitudinal ribs more
conspicuous than the horizontal; surface of achene often verrucose, the warts
forming either along the longitudinal ribs or over entire cells. F Baldwiniana
410
-------
(Schult.) Torr., F. alamosa Fern.
On a variety of moist sunny substrates such as savannahs, roadsides, grass-
lands and disturbed or cultivated areas, in mud on edge of ponds and streams, in
Okla. (Adair and Mayes cos.) and mostly s.e. Tex.; in temp, to trop. climates
of both hemispheres.
8. Fimbristylis Vahlii (Lam.) Link. Fig. 211.
Cespitose low annual, the culms to 1.5 dm. tall (usually much lower); leaves
one third as long as the scape to equaling or exceeding it; blades linear-filiform,
spreading-recurved, less than 1 mm. broad, somewhat involute, the backs with
several prominent raised veins, often with small stiff ascending hairs, the margin
somewhat thickened and similarly hairy; leaf sheath broad, stramineous or pale-
brown, usually smooth or with a scattering of small hairs, the margin scarious,
entire, passing gradually into the blade; ligule absent; scapes stiffly ascending,
wiry, slightly broader than the leaves, 'glabrous, many-ribbed, subterete; spikelets
lance-ovoid to linear-ellipsoidal or oblong, 5—10 mm. long, usually acute, pale-
greenish-brown, 3 to 8 in a dense terminal cluster that are subtended by several
leaflike involucral bracts (these always exceeding the inflorescence and usually
at least the length of the basal leaves); fertile bracts ovate-lanceolate or oblong-
lanceolate, glabrous, stramineous or pale-green, the midrib conspicuous, dark-
green and pointed beyond the scale as a short erect or slightly recurved mucro;
stamen 1, the anther less than 0.5 mm. long; style 2-branched, much longer than
the achene, subterete, the base swollen, the surface smooth or papillate from about
the midpoint to the point of branching; achene obovoid, tumid, 0.5-0.7 mm. long,
pale, sometimes slightly iridescent, reticulate, the individual rectangular cells ar-
ranged horizontally in 5 to 7 vertical rows on a side.
Fine sands, silts or clays, usually alluvial or shoreline situations, often on areas
of disturbed bottomland, in mud and wet sand on edge of ponds and lakes, in
Okla. (LeFlore, Pittsburg, Stephens, Mclntosh and McCurtain cos.), e. and s.
Tex. and Ariz. (Kearney & Peebles); S. C. s. to n. Fla., w. to Tex.; scattered lo-
calities in inland states; in w. U.S., Calif, and Ariz.; Mex. and C.A.
9. Fimbristylis castanea (Michx.) Vahl. Fig. 208.
Densely cespitose perennial to 1.5 (-2) m. tall, the bases of the plants castaneous,
deep-set in substratum, the outer leaves of a tuft and the older leaves persistent as
imbricated scales; leaves from one third the length of the culms to nearly as long;
blades usually very narrowly linear (rarely to 2 or 3 mm. broad), ascending, thick
(often semicircular in cross section), most frequently involute, smooth (particu-
larly toward the base), the nerves on the back numerous and indistinct but the
marginal nerve or nerves ciliate-scabrid with ascending stout-based hairs; sheathing
portion of the leaf broad (broadening gradually toward the base), pale-brown to
dark-brown or very deep-lustrous-reddish-brown, thick and rigid, the broad margin
thin or even scarious, entire except for the truncate or rounded ciliate apex; ligule
of hairs either absent or incomplete but a color change evident on the upper
surface of the leaf at the collar; scapes slender, wandlike, as wide as the blades
or somewhat wider, many-ribbed, terete toward the base of the plant, subterete to
oval or elliptical in cross section upwardly; longest bract of the involucre usually
shorter than the inflorescence or about the length of the inflorescence (rarely
longer), the blade somewhat flattened, ciliate-scabrid; spikelets usually ovoid or
lance-ovoid, very rarely cylindrical, 5-10 mm. long, rarely longer, the mature
ones usually pale- to dark-brown, dull, in a dense to open ascending or spreading
umbellate compound system of cymes; fertile bracts broadly ovate, smooth, brown,
usually dull, the margin entire or becoming erose with age, the apex rounded;
veins of the mid-portion of the scale obscure or visible as faint pale lines that
411
-------
I/. \
Fig. 211: Fimbrisniis Va/ilii: a, habit, X 1; b, habit, X 2; c, scale, X 50' d achene
X 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
converge apically to form a short mucro; stamens 2 or 3, the anthers about 2 mm.
long; style 2-branched, flattened, fimbriate from the base to the point of branch-
ing; achene lenticular-obovoid or obpyriform, 1.5-2 mm. long, reddish-brown or
dark-brown, often lustrous, scalariform-foveate or reticulate, the individual cells
almost isodiametric or horizontally rectangular and usually arranged in numerous
fine vertical rows.
Moist sands or niuck of coastal marshes, dune swales or estuary banks (rarely
alkaline situations inland), L.I., s. along the Atl. Coast into the Fla. Keys, along
the Gulf Coast s. and w. into Tarn, and the Yuc. Peninsula; Bah. I., Cuba.
10. Fimbristylis puberula (Michx.) Vahl. Fig. 209.
Perennial to 1 m. tall; culms solitary or in small tufts, the bases often hard,
knotty and jointed together into short thick rhizomes on which the old leaf bases
often persist as shreddy remnants; leaves from one third as long to nearly equaling
the culms; blades narrowly linear, usually involute at least toward the base, about
1 mm. wide, the backs with several raised nerves, smooth to variously pubescent,
the upper surface smooth or variously pubescent, the pale margin cartilaginous
and ciliate-scabrid (this most noticeable toward the blade-base and -apex); sheaths
hard, thick, fibrous, pale- to dark-brown, the broad margin scarious and entire ex-
cept for long cilia at apex; ligule inconspicuous, incomplete or absent; longest bract
of inflorescence erect, the blade flattened, usually much-surpassed by the inflores-
cence; spikelets lance-ovoid to ovoid or ellipsoidal, 5-10 mm. long, reddish-brown,
in a usually few-flowered compact to open system of pedunculate cymules or a
simple umbel-like cyme; fertile scales ovate to obovate or even reniform, reddish
brown to dull-brown or flavescent, the backs rounded, the scarious rounded margin
entire and ciliate or somewhat lacerate, the inconspicuous nerves flavescent to
pale-brown or sometimes the central ones slightly raised, greenish and slightly
excurrent as a short mucro; outer surface of at least the lower scales puberulent
at least toward the apex; stamens 3, the anthers 2-2.5 mm. long; style 2-branched,
flattened, the edges usually fimbriate from about the midpoint to the base of the
style branches; achene lenticular-obovoid, about 1 mm. long, rather flat to stme-
what tumid, sometimes umbonate, flavescent to dark-brown, the surface distinctly
to faintly reticulate, the rectangular cells usually arranged in several longitudinal
lines (11 to 20 on a face) in a few cases with very many longitudinal lines with
the cells isodiametric, the longitudinal lines prominently to slightly raised.
Sands, sandy peats or clays of savannahs, edge of ponds, open pinelands, upper
edges of grass-sedge bogs, meadows and prairies, throughout the Atl. and Gulf
Coastal Plain from L.I. s. into peninsular Fla. and w. to Tex. nearly to the Mex.
border; scattered from the cen. Piedmont to its southwest edge; scattered in the
interior highlands and of frequent occurrence in the moist meadows and prairies
of the cen. lowlands, particularly along the Great Lakes on the Pleistocene shores
and w. into the tall and mid-grass prairies of Tex., Okla., Kan. and Neb.; Can.
11. Fimbristylis puberula var. interior (Britt.) Krai.
As var. puberula but plant base less bulbous and producing dense clusters of
short slender twisted pale-reddish-brown rhizomes; foliage pale-green, sometimes
appearing glaucous; blade margins distantly to approximately ciliate-scabrid; ligule
inconspicuous or present at a narrow line of short ascending hairs; longest involu-
cral bract usually longer than the inflorescence; spikelets ovoid to cylindrical or
ellipsoidal, 5-10 mm. long, stramineous to reddish-brown, the backs of the scales
usually smooth, the central nerve of at least the lower scales excurrent as a definite
terete mucro; achene with several prominent to rather obscure longitudinal ridges
that are interconnected with finer horizontal lines, hence the surface composed of
longitudinal rows of roughly isodiametric shallowly concave cells.
413
-------
Fig. 212: a-d, Hemicarpha micrantha var. micrantha: a, habit, X %; b, inflores-
cence, X 2; c, scale, X 36; d, achene, X 46. e-g, Hemicarpha micrantha var. aristulata:
e, inflorescence, X 2; f, scale, X 36; g, achene, X 36. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Sandy sloughs in prairie provinces, particularly in w. Kan. and Neb. but ex-
tending s. into w. Tex. and southw. to Ariz.
8. Hemicarpha NEES & ARN.
A genus of a few species (perhaps as many as 6) of warm regions. Hemicarpha
is closely related to Cyperus subgenus Kyllinga but the inflorescence and flowers
are much-reduced. Some authors include Hemicarpha in Scirpus but this has
very little merit.
1. Hemicarpha micrantha (Vahl) Britt. Fig. 212.
Essentially glabrous densely tufted annuals; culms 1-22 cm. long, 0.2-0.6 mm.
thick, essentially leafless; leaves usually 2 per culm at its base; upper sheath
purplish or brownish, its blade linear to setaceous; lower sheath much-reduced,
its blade absent; lower bract often appearing as a continuation of the culm, 7-37
mm. long; 1 or 2 other much-reduced bracts present; inflorescence a glomerule of
2 (rarely 3) sessile heads or head solitary; heads broadly ovoid, 2-8 mm. long,
of 60 to 140 uniflorus spikelets in tight spirals; scale solitary per spikelet,e()?t,d
of 60 to 140 uniflorus spikelets arranged in tight spirals; scale solitary per spikelet,
abaxial, ovate to lanceolate, 0.8—2.3 mm. long, the midrib conspicuous often as
a keel in the lower part and a mucro or awn apically, the sides membranous,
convex; "perianth" (actually the wings of the reduced spikelet axis) of a single
hyaline adaxial scale, often split and torn by or adhering to the achene, very
inconspicuous; stamens 1 or 2; styles 2-branched; achene oblong, nearly terete
or elliptic in transection, 0.5-0.8 mm. long, very minutely apiculate, surficially
miscroscopically papillate. Scirpus micranthus Vahl.
The species is widespread in wet or moist soils in warm temp, and trop. areas
of Am. We have 3 varieties as follows:
Var. micrantha. "Perianth" scale much shorter than the achene, often bifid
or reduced or absent. Infrequent or rare in moist or wet soils along streams, s.
part of e. Tex., Rio Grande Plains and Trans-Pecos; widespread in trop. Am.,
Calif., Wash., Gulf States and n.e. U.S.
Var. aristulata Cov. "Perianth" scale equaling or surpassing the achene and
often cupped around it distally and adaxially, with no definite vascular tissue
(use magnification of 40 diameters); awn of floral scale two thirds as long as
to a little longer than the body of the scale. Infrequent in moist soil, throughout
most of Tex. to Ariz.; Neb. and Wyo., s. to Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
Var. Drummondii (Nees) Friedl. "Perianth" scale equaling or surpassing the
achene and often cupped around it distally and adaxially, with 3 to 5 vascular
strands; mucro of floral scales less than two thirds as long as the body of the
scale. In Okla. (Comanche Co.), e. and n.-cen. Tex., N. M. (Bernalillo Co.)
andi Ariz. (Pima Co.); from Mo. and Neb. s. and s.w. to Tex., N.M. and Ariz.;
intergrading with the last variety.
Var. minor (Schrad.) Friedl. Mucro shorter than body of glume; "perianth"
scale shorter than the achene and usually more or less bifid. Ariz. (Cochise and
Pjma cos.).
9. Cyperus L. FLATSEDGE
Herbs, usually with culms leafy near the base, often subscapose; inflorescence
terminal, an umbel-like aggregation of primary peduncles (each subtended by a
bract, usually) bearing spikes or heads of spikelets or the longer of the peduncles
each bearing smaller umbel-like aggregations of secondary peduncles (with or with-
out bractlets) each bearing spikes or head of spikelets or the whole inflorescence
contracted into a dense flowering mass with the true form obliterated; spikelets
usually borne in several rows on the spike or head axis, with a minute bract basally
and either with several to many fertile scales distichously arranged or else reduced
415
-------
to a single fertile scale plus one or more sterile scales above, when several scales
present the spikelet usually discernibly laterally compressed (i.e., as if the 2 margins
of the folded scale were pushed toward each other and the scale creased at the
usually keel-like median portion, the breadth of the spikelets then measured from
keel to keel of alternating scales and the thickness from side to side of the same
folded scale), the spikelet axis either disarticulating at the top of each internode
or only at its base or often completely persistent, each internode of the spikelet
axis often with 2 thin "wings" on each side of the flower (the decurrent lower
margins of the next superjacent scale); scales usually folded, either persistent or
deciduous; .perianth absent; stamens 1 to 3; styles 2- or 3-branched; achenes
lenticular or trigonous, often stipitate and/or apiculate, jointed with the style
usually at the very top of the achene, the achenial body there with or without a
minute apiculus but the latter (if present) of the same color and texture as the
main part of the achene.
With upwards of 900 species in warm regions, Cyperus, a vast, difficult genus,
is often made more confusing by a very unsatisfactory and arbitrary segregation
of smaller "genera," such as Mariscus Vahl, Pycreus Beauv., Kyllinga Rottb.
1. Achene lenticular, biconvex or concavo-convex (2)
1. Achene trigonous or vaguely so, occasionally appearing nearly terete but
definitely not biconvex nor concavo-convex (9)
2(1). Achene dorsiventrally compressed, i.e., with one of the sides appressed to
the spikelet axis, the other appressed to the inner surface of the
scale, the latter not keeled 1. C. laevigatus.
2. Achene laterally compressed, i.e., with one angle next to the spikelet axis and
the 2 slightly convex sides parallel with the 2 sides of the scale, the
scale being folded and creased at the keel-like median (3)
3 (2). Each spikelet with only 2 scales and only one achene (4)
3. Each spikelet with 6 to 60 scales, usually several of them fertile (6)
4(3). Stamens solitary; plants rhizomatous, the culms rising at intervals of 3-10
mm 2. C. brevifolius
4. Stamens paired; culms densely tufted or plants mat-forming (5)
5(4). Densely tufted with a culm density of 4 to 20 per square cm. in the tufts;
culms about 0.7 mm. thick basally; inflorescence 3-8 mm. long;
bracts with translucent corners at the very base; spikelets 2-2.5 mm.
long, 0.7-0.8 mm. broad, sordid-whitish or very pale-brownish;
lower (fertile) scale 1.7-2.4 mm. long; achene elliptic, 0.9-1.1 mm.
long (not including the apiculus), 0.5-0.6 mm. broad, ripening to
a very dark brown 3 C. tenuifolius.
5. Culm density in the mat 1 to 4 per square cm.; culms 0.8-1.8 mm. thick
basally; inflorescence 7-14 mm. long; bracts without translucent
corners; spikelets 2.3-3 mm. long, 1.2-1.3 mm. broad, buffy-white
to white; lower (fertile) scale 2.2-2.9 mm. long; achene obovate,
1-1.4 mm. long (not including the apiculus), 0.75-0.9 mm. broad,
ripening black 4. C. sesquiflorus.
6(3). Spikelets borne in lax spikes 12-40 mm. long and 12-23 mm. thick; scales
with broad white-hyaline margins markedly contrasting with the
brownish sides; achenes 1.2-1.5 mm. long 5. C. atbomarginatus,
6. Spikelets borne in heads or glomerules; scales with thin but not hyaline nor
white margins; achenes mostly less than 1.2 mm. long (7)
7(6). The lower part of the edges of the internodal niches of the spikelet axis
with minute persistent wings which become narrowed and join
abaxially forming a minute cup at the base of the achene
6. C. poly stocky os.
416
-------
7. The edges of the internodal niches essentially wingless (8)
8(7). Achenial surface with rectangular-linear cells oriented vertically in hori-
zontal rows, these rows marked off by horizontal wavy usually dis-
colored sutures 7. C. flavescens.
8. Achenial surface with vertical rows of minute essentially isodiametric usually
somewhat hexagonal cells; spikelets 7-12 mm. long; scales about
2 mm. long 8. C. niger.
9(1). The spikelet axis at maturity disarticulating at the base of each internode
(just above each node), thus breaking into units consisting of a
scale, the next lowest internode and the attached wings and clasped
achene; internodes postanthetically on the sterile side becoming
thickened and assuming a white cartilaginous texture
9. C. odoratus.
9. The spikelet axis either persistent as a unit or else deciduous as a unit, nol
disarticulating spontaneously at maturity (10)
10(9). Culms stiffly erect with complete septa at intervals of 5-50 mm
10. C. articulatus
10. Culms non-septate (11)
11(10). Each of the 5 to 8 extremely unequal primary peduncles with an irregu-
lar panicle of several spikes each with a number of ascending spike-
lets; the total inflorescence with 100 to 600 spikelets; scales when
spread out nearly orbicular, about 1.5 mm. long; spikelet axes
wingless 11. C. Iria.
11. Each primary peduncle either reduced or bearing a head or spike or a
glomerule, or bearing several short secondary peduncles but never
an irregular panicle; scales usually considerably longer than broad
or if nearly as long as broad then longer than 1.5 mm. (12)
12(11). Stamens 1 or 2; spikelet axis wingless or essentially so (13)
12. Stamens 3; spikelet axis winged or wingless (22)
13(12). Scales less than 1 mm. long, rounded or truncate at apex, the lateral
nerves indistinct, hyaline-margined, 3-nerved, caducous, annual
12. C. difformis.
13. Scales 1 mm. or longer, acuminate at apex, the lateral nerves prominent (14)
14(13). Scales with 7 to 9 strong evenly distributed nerves and a wholly keel-like
median portion, terminating in a spreading recurved awn; annual,
reddish-brown at base 13. C. aristatus.
14. Scales with 3 or 5 nerves and these sometimes obscure and concentrated in
the median portion, the tip mostly either incurved or straight (15)
15(14). Scales 3-nerved, acuminate to cuspidate or aristate (16)
15. Scales 5-nerved, (3-nerved if culm has retrorse projections) apex blunt,
rounded or acute (18)
16(15). Bracts 3 to 6, scarcely if at all surpassing the inflorescence; rays up to
10; spikelets to 18 mm. long, reddish-brown, digitate-radiate; scales
aristate 14. C. amabilis var. macrostachyos.
16. Bracts 2 to 4, much-surpassing the inflorescence; rays up to 5; spikelets not
more than 10 mm. long, in dense heads, white to pale-brown; scales
mucronate to acuminate (17)
17(16). Matted perennial with a tuberiferous rhizome, to 3 cm. long; culm much-
thickened and fibrous-coated at the base; leaf sheaths nearly black;
bracts more or less reflexed; inflorescence contracted into a single
head; achene nearly black 15. C. seslerioides.
417
-------
17. Annual or biennial; rhizome wanting; stems scarcely thickened or fibrous-
coated basally; leaf sheaths often reddish-brown or purplish-brown
at base; bracts erect or ascending; inflorescence with 2 to 5 rays,
rarely a single head; achenes brown or purplish-brown
16. C. acuminatus.
18(15). Achenes only 0.7-0.8 mm. long; culms with scattered microscopic re-
trorse projections like shark's teeth 17. C. surinamensis.
18. Achenes 0.9-1.5 mm. long; culms either smooth or with antrorse or hori-
zontal projections (19)
19(18). Culms 5-12 mm. thick basally, apically 3-8 mm. thick and with micro-
scopic antrorse projections like shark's teeth; scales 2-2.4 mm. long,
when spread out 1.2-1.5 mm. broad at the broadest point (just
below the middle) 18. C. virens.
19. Culms 0.7-5 mm. thick basally, apically 0.4-2.7 mm. thick, either smooth or
with microscopic knobs (very rarely with antrorse projections in
C. pseudovegetus); scales 1.3-1.9 mm. long (20)
20(19). Scales with the dorsal basal flat portion or groove continuing a third to
half the total length of a scale and 0.3-0.5 mm. broad; scales when
spread out 1.5-1.9 mm. broad near the base and tapering all the
way to the apex; achene 1.3—1.5 mm. long, 0.5-0.6 mm. thick,
maturing to a nearly black color 19. C. ochraceus.
20. Scales with the dorsal basal flat portion or groove continuing only a fifth to
a third the total length and only 0.1-0.2 (-0.3) mm. broad; scales
when spread out 0.6-1.2 mm. broad at the broadest (near the
middle or shortly below); achene 0.9-1.3 mm. long, 0.2-0.45 mm.
thick, maturing to a brownish color (21)
21(20). Scales essentially linear for most of the length, only 0.6-0.7 mm. broad
and (as folded in place) the whole scale incurved-falcate; achene
linear, 0.2-0.3 mm. thick 20. C. pseudovegetus.
21. Scales ovate, reddish with greenish keels, 0.8-1.1 mm. broad at the broadest
point, as folded in place the lower part of the keel incurved but
the upper part straight , 21. C. reflexus.
22(12). Most leaves reduced to mere bladeless sheaths or occasionally the upper-
most sheaths with short blades very rarely to 10 cm. long (23)
22. Even the lower leaves with well-developed blades (26)
23(22). Inflorescence (not including bracts) 1-2 cm. long 22. C. phaeolepis.
23. Inflorescence (not including bracts) 3—35 cm. long (24)
24(23). Bracts usually 2, 1 of them 0.3 to 1 (to 2) times as long as the inflores-
cence 23. C. Haspan.
24. Bracts 10 to 25, often much-surpassing the inflorescence (25)
25(24). Internodes of spikelet axes with deciduous wings about 1 mm. long and
0.2-0.3 mm. broad 24. C. giganteus.
25. Spikelet axes wingless : 25. C. alternifolius.
26(22). Achene 0.4-0.7 mm. long, 0.4-0.5 mm. thick, subglobose, white; bracts
usually only 2 in number 23. C. Haspan.
26. Achene 0.7-3 mm. long, usually considerably longer than thick; bracts 3 to
13 (27)
27(26). Scales 1.3-2 mm. long; achenes 0.8-1 mm. long, 0.3-0.6 mm. thick,
unequally trigonous; spikelet axis with readily deciduous wings,
0.2-0.3 mm. broad; spikelets only 1 mm. broad, much-compressed,
borne 15 to 70 together in spikes (28)
418
-------
27. Scales (at least the fertile ones) 2.3-5.5 mm. long; spikelet axis either wing-
less or with more or less persistent wings; spikelets variously borne
but if only 1 mm. broad then not much-compressed (29)
28(27). Internodes of spikes to 0.5 mm. long; scales 1.3-1.5 mm. long
26. C. erythrorhizos.
28. Internodes of spikes 0.6-2 mm. long; scales 1.5-2 mm. long..27. C. digitatus.
29(27). Achene 0.25-0.3 mm. thick 28. C. onerosus.
29. Achene 0.4-1.2 mm thick (30)
30(29). Achene 1-1.3 mm. long (31)
30. Achene 1.3-3 mm. long, much longer than thick (32)
31(30). Achene 1-1.3 mm. long, nearly as thick as long, pale or brown; spikelets
much-compressed; scales 3-3.5 mm. long, acuminate, the keel
grayish-white, the broad margins pale and hyaline
29. C. compressus.
31. Achene 1-1.2 mm. long, about half as thick, nearly black; scales 2-3 mm.
long, obtuse, the keel green, the sides reddish-brown
30. C. Parishii.
32(30). Spikelet axis internodes essentially wingless, occasionally with wings to
0.2 mm. broad (33)
32. Spikelet axis internodes with wings 0.3-1.2 mm. broad (35)
33(32). Nonviscid perennial, tufted and usually with extensive knotty subrhizo-
matous bases; secondary peduncles absent; leaves neither spongy
nor septate basally; inflorescence a single dense sessile head 1-3
cm. thick with 15 to 55 spikelets 31. C. filiculmis.
33. Viscid tufted perennials with culms 3-7 mm. thick, the longer peduncles in
most inflorescences with secondary peduncles each bearing a head
similar to those of the shorter primary peduncles; leaves spongy at
base, when dried their incomplete septa visible, the leaf apexes
involute (34)
34(33). Spikelets grayish-ochraceous turning grayish-brown; achene thickest
(0.7-0.8 mm.) near the apex, long-tapered to the base, 1.4-1.8
mm. long, only slightly apiculate 32. C. elegans.
34. Spikelets grayish-yellow becoming rich-golden-brown; achene nearly cylin-
drical or very slightly thickened in the upper part, long-tapered
below, the main part 1.5 mm. long and 0.5 mm. thick but also with
the persistent style base (or very large apiculus) adding almost
1 mm. to the length 33. C. oxylepis.
35(32). Rhizomatous perennials; spikelets with 6 to 40 eventually deciduous
scales; spikelet axes persistent on the axis of the cluster or spike (36)
35. Tufted perennials (occasionally with knotty subrhizomatous bases in C.
huarmensis); spikelets with 2 to 8 scales (up to 20 in C. strigosus)
and these persistent (deciduous in some specimens of C. strigosus);
spikelet axis deciduous (more or less so in C. strigosus) (38)
36(35). Bracts 3 or 4, about equaling the inflorescence; inflorescence with 20 to
65 spikelets altogether, usually even the longer primary peduncles
bearing a simple cluster or spike of spikelets just as do the shorter
peduncles; each cluster or spike with 3 to 9 spikelets; wings of
spikelet axis 2-3 mm. long; achenes 0.9-1 mm. thick
34. C. rotundus.
36. Bracts 5 to 13, usually much-surpassing the inflorescence; inflorescence with
70 to 350 spikelets altogether; the longer primary peduncles usually
with several nearly sessile clusters or spikes of spikelets; each cluster
or spike with 10 to 50 spikelets; wings of spikelet axis 1-1.5 mm.
long; achenes 0.4—0.8 mm. thick (37)
419
-------
37(36). Culms (60-) 75-110 cm. tall; bracts 9 to 13; primary peduncles 9 to
13; spikelets reddish-brown; achenes 0.4-0.5 mm. thick
35. C. setigerus.
37. Culms 15-50 (-65) cm. tall; bracts 5 to 10; primary peduncles 5 to 10;
spikelets brown, buffy-brown or golden-brown; achenes 0.6-0.8
mm. thick 36. C. esculentus.
38(35). Achenes mostly 0.3 to 0.5 times as long as the scales; spikelets 10-29
mm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, usually less than half as thick as broad
(39)
38. Achenes mostly 0.6 to 0.8 times as long as the scales; spikelets 3.5-11 mm.
long, 0.5-1 (-1.3) mm. broad, usually more than half as thick as
broad (40)
39(38). Blades 2-8 mm. broad; most inflorescences with the longer peduncles
bearing a few short secondary ones; spikes 13-35 mm. long, 20-45
mm. thick, thus usually thicker than long, with 20 to 70 spikelets
1-2 mm. broad, golden- or tawnyjbrown, with 5 to 20 scales
37. C. strigosus.
39. Blades 1.5-5 mm. broad; secondary peduncle formation rare; spikes 20-40
mm. long, 15-27 mm. thick, thus usually longer than thick, with
14-45 spikelets 0.7-1.3 mm. broad, grayish-brown, with 3 to 6
scales 38. C. tenuis.
40(38). Perennial from black knotty subrhizomatous bases; inflorescence only
2-3 (-4) cm. long, of 3 to 6 essentially sessile spikes 10-25 mm.
long and 7-10 mm. thick, with 40 to 80 three-scaled spikelets; only
the lowest scale of each spikelet fertile and it enclosing the achene
(1.5-2.1 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm. thick) 39. C. huarmensis.
40. Tufted perennials; inflorescence (1-) 2-15 cm. long, of 1 to 14 usually
peduncled heads or spikes 7-30 mm. long and 7—20 mm. thick,
with 8 to 240 2- to 8-scaled spikelets in which only the terminal
scale is sterile, the rest all fertile; achenes 0.5-0.8 mm. thick (41)
41 (40). Spikes lax, 10-30 mm. long, with 8 to 30 spikelets (42)
41. Heads or spikes dense (the spikelets touching), 7-15 mm. long, with 25 to
240 spikelets (43)
42(41). Scales 2.2-2.5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide; achene olive-brown, minutely
punctulate 40. C. Pringlei.
42. Scales 2.5-3.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; achene yellow-brown to brown.,
41. C. hermaphroditus.
43(41). Achenes 1.8-2.2 mm. long; wings 1-2 mm. long; scales 1.2-2 mm.
broad; spikelets 50 to 240 per head or spike, 0.5-1 mm. broad, with
2 to 4 scales, straw-brown to dark-brown (to tawny-ochraceous)....
42. C ovularis.
43. Achenes 1.3-1.7 mm. long; wings 0.8-1.4 mm. long; scales 1-1.3 mm. broad;
spikelets 25 to 70 per head, with 3 to 8 scales, greenish-brown to
ochraceous-brown or olive 43. C. globulosus.
1. Cyperus laevigatus L. Fig. 213.
Densely tufted or mat-forming perennial; culms soft, 5-25 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm.
thick; leaves reduced to basal sheaths with subulate or setaceous blades 3-30 mm.
long; inflorescence 5-10 mm. long, of a single head of 4 to 8 spikelets; bracts 2,
the longer one 2-8 cm. long, appearing as a continuation of the culm; spikelet
straw-white or often white with atropurpureous blotches medially, 4-7 mm. long,
2-3 mm. broad, 0.7-1 mm. thick, with 8 to 30 scales, the axis persistent, essen-
tially wingless, somewhat flattened; achene lenticular (often concavo-convex) with
one of the flat sides against the flattened spikelet axis.
420
-------
Fig. 213: Cyperus laevigatus: a, compressed spikelet, X 6; b, rachis, showing the
persistent stamens and an achene with bifid style, X 20; c, habit, the culms arising singly
from a horizontal rhizome, X %; d, obtuse scale, X 3; e and f, achenes, showing
minutely reticulate surface, abaxial and adaxial views, X 12. (From Mason, Fig. 126).
-------
Fig. 214: Cyperus brevifolius: a, habit, X 1; b, scale, X 30; c, achene, X 25.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
Infrequent in fresh or subsaline or gypseous mud in water on edge of canals
and streams, and wet sandy flats, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, and Ariz. (Pima, Yuma,
Mohave and Cochise cos.), Feb.-Oct.; widely distributed in warm-temp, and trop.
regions.
2. Cyp«rus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk. Fig. 214.
Perennial with creeping branching reddish-brown rhizomes to 20 cm. long and
1-2 mm. thick; flowering culms rising from the rhizomes 3—10 mm. apart, 4—20
(-38) cm. long, 0.4-1 mm. thick; leaves with sheaths 5-30 mm. long and mem-
branous; flaccid blades 1-3 (-10) cm. long, 1-3 mm. broad, mostly much shorter
than the culms except when the latter are dwarfed; inflorescence a single roundish
seemingly simple congested head 4-6 mm. long and broad, with 38 to 100 spike-
lets; bracts 3 (or 4), the longest one usually nearly vertical or ultimately reflexed,
membranous, 15-120 mm. long, 1-2 mm. broad; spikelets each deciduous as a
unit, 2-2.9 mm. long, 0.8-1.1 mm. broad, about 0.3 mm. thick, sordid- or buffy-
whitish or very pale-brownish, with 2 scales, the lower one enclosing a fertile
floret, the upper empty, the single short internode with very broad hyaline wings
clasping the achene and continuous with the lower part of the higher scales;
scales persistent (the lower one 1.9-2.4 mm. long), with green keels and translu-
cent sides, each side with a couple of inconspicuous well-distributed nerves;
stamens 1 (very rarely 2 in isolated spikelets, never many on the same head), at
the abaxial angle of the achene; stigmas 2; achene lenticular with an adaxial angle
422
-------
against the internode and abaxial one at the keel of the lower scale, obovate or
oblong-obovate, 1-1.2 mm. long (plus an apicule 0.05-0.1 mm. long), (0.6-)
0.7-0.8 mm. broad, ripening to a rich-brown. Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb.
Common weeds in moist or wettish loam, s.e. Tex., less common in e. Tex.,
rare in Edwards Plateau and Brownsville region, and Okla. (Waterfall), Apr-Nov.;
widespread in warn regions.
3. Cyperus tenuifolius (Steud.) Dandy. Fig. 215.
Densely tufted fragrant annual (or short-lived perennial ?) with density of
about 4 to 20 culms per square cm.; culms 1-21 cm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. thick
throughout; leaves with sheaths 8-45 mm. long and membranous; flaccid blades
2-11 cm. long, 1—1.8 mm. broad, often more than two thirds as long as the culms;
inflorescence a single roundish 3-lobed compound headlike mass 3-8 mm. long and
5-6 mm. broad in the upper obtuse lobe, with 40 to 170 spikelets altogether;
bracts 3 (or 4), ultimately spreading or slightly reflexed, flaccid, 2-10 cm. long,
1-2 mm. broad, at the very base with broad translucent membranous corners;
spikelets each deciduous as a unit, 2-2.5 mm. long, 0.7-0.8 mm. broad, about 0.3
mm. thick, sordid-whitish or very pale-brownish, with 2 scales, the lower one
enclosing a fertile floret, the upper empty, the single short internode with very
broad hyaline wings clasping the achene and continuous with the lower part of
the higher scale; scales persistent (the lower one 1.7-2.4 mm. long) with green
keels and translucent sides, each side with a couple of inconspicuous well-
distributed longitudinal nerves; stamens uniformly 2 at the abaxial angle of the
achene; stigmas 2; achene lenticular, with the adaxial angle against the internode,
the abaxial one at the keel of the lower scale, elliptic, 0.9-1.1 mm. long (plus an
apicule 0.1 mm. long), 0.5—0.6 mm. broad, ripening to a very dark-brown.
Kyllinga pwnila Michx., Cyperus densicaespitosus Mattf. & Kiikenth.
Infrequent in moist loam, in marshes along streams, edge of ponds and other
wet areas, e. Tex. (Bowie, Cass, Hardin and Polk cos.), rare in n.-cen. Tex.
(Grayson Co.), and Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Sept.-Nov.; widespread in warmer
moister parts of Am.; also Afr. and Madag.
The name is incorrectly said by some writers to be illegitimate.
4. Cyperus sesquiHorus (Torr.) Mattf. & Kiikenth.
Annual (?) or usually perennial mat-formers, emitting a strong citronellalike
odor when bruised, with a culm density of 1 to 4 flowering culms per square cm.
in the mat; culms 5-30 cm. long, basally 0.8-1.8 mm. thick, apically 0.5-1 mm.
thick; leaves essentially basal, with sheaths 1-2 (-3) cm. long and firm-mem-
branous, ascending blades 3-12 cm. long and 2-3.5 (-5) mm. broad, mostly
much shorter than the scapelike culms; inflorescence a single prolate few-lobed
compound congested headlike mass 7-14 mm. long and 6-8 mm. broad in the
upper cylindrical lobe, with 50 to 200 spikelets altogether; bracts 3 (or 4), ulti-
mately slightly to strongly reflexed, firm-membranous, 2-8 cm. long, 1-3 mm.
broad, at the very base discolored whitish-green but not hyaline at corners; spike-
lets each deciduous as a unit, 2.3-3 mm. long, 1.2—1.3 mm. broad, about 0.4 mm.
thick, with 2 scales, buffy-white to white laterally, the lower scale enclosing a
fertile floret, the upper one empty, the single short internode with very broad
hyaline wings clasping the achene and continuous with the lower part of the
higher scale; scales persistent (the lower one 2.2-2.9 mm. long) with green keels
and buffy-white to white sides, each side with a couple of inconspicuous well-
distributed longitudinal nerves; stamens uniformly 2 at the abaxial angle of the
achene; stigmas 2; achene lenticular with the adaxial angle against the internode,
the abaxial one at the keel of the lower scale, obovate, 1-1.4 mm. long, plus an
apicule 0.05-0.15 mm. long, 0.75-0.9 mm. broad, ripening to jet-black. Kyllinga
423
-------
Fig. 215: Cyperus tenuifolius: a, habit, X V2; b, scale, X 30; c, achene, X 30.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 216: a-d, Cyperus flavescens: a, habit, X Vz\ b, spikelet, X 5; c, scale, X 25;
d, achene, X 25. e-h, Cyperus albomarginatus: e, habit, X Va; f, spikelet, X 7; g, scale,
X 25; h, achene, X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
odorata Vahl.
Frequent in moist sandy loam, and on seepage slopes in e. Tex. (Angelina,
Austin, Gonzales, Hardin, Lavaca and Newton cos.), June-Oct.: widespread in
warm regions.
5. Cyperus albomarglnatus Mart. & Schrad. Fig. 216.
Tufted annual; culms 2-9 dm. long, basally leafy and 2-8 mm. thick, apically
0.7-4 mm. thick; inflorescences 2-13 cm. long, of 3 to 12 very unequal peduncles
each bearing a lax spike 12-40 mm. long and. 12-23 mm. thick, of 10 to 60
spreading spikelets or the longer peduncles bearing secondary peduncles with
such spikes; bracts 3 to 7, far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 5-12 mm.
long, 1.7-3 mm. broad, about 0.7 mm. thick, with 6 to 18 scales, straw-brown to
dark-chocolate-brown, straight, the axis somewhat 4-angled, at maturity persistent,
each internode on the fertile side with a niche for an edge of the achene and on
the edges (at the sides of the achene) with minute winglike margins; scales 1.4-
1.7 mm. long, 1.4-2 mm. broad, obovate, membranous, with 5 nerves at the keel-
like median and marginally with a broad hyaline zone (albomargin) markedly
contrasting with the brownish sides, deciduous, not much overlapping, clasping
the achene; stamens 2 or 3; achenes lenticular, with an angle fitting into the niche
of the internode, nearly as long as the scale, broadly obovate, apiculate, 1.2-1.5
mm. long, 0.6-1 mm. broad, maturing to black.
Infrequent or rare, on rocky slopes, washes and along streams, scattered in
s.e. and Trans-Pecos Tex. and Ariz. (Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz cos.), sum-
mer; Afr., Madag., India, Burma, Austral.; in Am. from Arg. and Bol. n. to Va.,
N.C., S.C., Ala., La., Tex. and Ariz.
6. Cyperus polystachyos Rottb. var. texensis (Torr.) Fern. Fig. 217.
Tufted perennial (flowering the first year); culms 3-35 cm. long, basally 0.8-3
mm. thick, apically 0.5—1.5 mm. thick, wiry; leaves basal, mostly shorter than the
culms; inflorescence 12-60 mm. long, of several unequal peduncles (these, es-
pecially in coastal populations, suppressed so that inflorescence is congested) with
glomerules or short lax spikes, or rarely the longer ones with secondary peduncles
1-3 mm. long each with a glomerule or lax spike; glomerules or lax spikes with
5 to 10 mostly spreading spikelets; bracts 1 to 6, the longer ones usually about
twice as long as the inflorescence; spikelets 4—25 (-43) mm. long, 0.7-2 mm.
broad, about 0.5 mm. thick, with 10 to 40 (to 60) scales, brownish-buff to tawny-
stramineous, straight, the axis slightly 4-angled, at maturity persistent, each inter-
node on its fertile side with a niche for one edge of the achene, near the base of
the niche with minute hyaline wings that narrow and join abaxially forming a
minute cup at the base of the achene (use a strong lens!); scales 1.4-2 mm. long,
about 1 mm. broad, ovate, appressed, much-overlapping, with 3 obscure nerves at
the keel-like median, deciduous; stamens 2; achene lenticular, with an angle fitting
the niche of the internode, about 1 mm. long, oblong to narrowly oblong, ripen-
ing through brown to black. Incl. var. leptostachyus Boeck.
Locally abundant in seasonally moist sand, in muddy shallows, on vegetation
mats in lakes, and at edge of stream, in Okla. (McCurtain and Johnston cos.),
e. and s.e. Tex. and coastal part of Rio Grande Plains, spring-fall; widespread
in Am. n. to Mass., Pa., Mo., Ark.. Okla. and Tex.; the var. polystachyos (C.
filicinus Vahl) occurs in coastal areas. Mass, to Va.; the var. paniculatus (C.
vulgaris var. tererifructus (Steud.) Miq.) occurs widely in trop. of both hemi-
spheres.
7. Cyperus flavescens L. Fig. 216.
Tufted annual; culms 10-25 cm. long, basally 0.8-1.9 mm. thick, apically
0.7-1.1 mm. thick; inflorescence a congested (compound) sessile head of 10 to 35
426
-------
Fig. 217: Cyperus polystachyos var. texensis: a, habit, about X %; b, spikelet,
about X 8; c, scale, X 40; d, achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 218: Cyperus niger var. capitalus: a, scale, showing keel and obtuse apex,
X 16; b, flower with scale removed, showing the bifid style and the 2 stamens, X 16;
c, mature achene, showing puncticulate surface, X 16; d, capitate inflorescence and the
involucral leaves unequal in length, X -;;; e, habit, showing the short rhizome and the
slender erect culms and leaf blades, X '.-,; f, spikelet, with lower scales removed to
show the fractiflex rachis, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 124).
-------
spikelets plus occasionally 1 to 3 peduncles 1-3 cm. long each with a head of 4 to
10 spikelets; bracts 1 to 4, the longer ones usually surpassing the inflorescence;
spikelets 6-20 mm. long, 1.8-3 mm. broad, about 0.8 mm. thick, with 22 to 40
scales, mostly straight, uniformly stramineous to ochre-stramineous, the axis per-
sistent straightish, flattened, essentially wingless, each internode with a niche into
which fits an angle of the achene; scales deciduous, 1.5-2 mm. long, 1.2-1.6 mm.
broad, ovate, with 3 nerves in the keel-like median; stamens normally 3; achene
lenticular (biconvex), about 0.9 mm. long and 0.6 mm. broad, obovate, sub-
stipitate, short-apiculate, ripening to black, surficially shiny and with rectangular
linear (vertical) cells (the rows of these cells marked off by horizontal wavy
usually discolored sutures). Incl. var. poaeformis (Pursh) Fern.
Infrequent or rare in moist or wet sand, wet meadows, ditches and on seepage
slopes, in Okla. (Waterfall), e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., July—Nov.; widespread (in
several varieties) in warm regions; in Am. n. to N.Y., Pa., Mich., Mo. and Kan.
8. Cyperus niger R. & P. Fig. 218.
Annual or usually weak perennial occasionally forming mats by rooting or very
shortly decumbent culms; aerial parts 1-4 (-6) dm. long, mostly erect, sub-
basally 1-2 mm. thick, apically 0.4-1.4 mm. thick; leaves few, mostly much
shorter than the culms; inflorescence commonly of a single sessile irregular head
1-2 cm. thick of 3 to 30 spikelets, rarely more elaborate with a sessile head plus
2 or 3 peduncles to 4 cm. long each with a lax irregular head or glomerule of up
to 20 spikelets; bracts 1 to 3, the longest far-surpassing the inflorescence and
(when young) commonly erect (like a continuation of the culm), later spreading;
spikelets 7—12 mm. long, 1.7-2.2 mm. broad, about 0.7 mm. thick, with 10 to 22
scales, straight, pale-chestnut-brown or often with darker blotches of chestnut on
each scale, rarely almost totally dark-brown, the axis persistent, somewhat 4-angled
but essentially wingless, each internode on the fertile side with a niche into which
fits an angle of the achene; scales about 2 mm. long, much-overlapping, with
about 3 nerves crowded in the arcuate keel-like median, otherwise smooth and
shiny, deciduous; stamens 2; achene lenticular (biconvex) about 1 mm. long,
elliptic, apiculate, surficially nearly featureless, ripening through shades of brown
to nearly black, oriented so an angle fits into the internode niche. C. melano-
stachys H.B.K.
We have two varieties.
Var. castaneus (Pursh) Kiikenth. With usually lax elaborate inflorescences.
C. bipartitus Torr., C. rivularis Kunth. Rare in moist or wet sandy loam in e. Tex.
(Austin and Washington cos.); from Que. w. to Minn, and Neb., s. to Ga., Ala.,
Miss, and Tex.; also Calif, and Ore.
Var. capitatus (Britt.) O'Neill. Fig. 218. With relatively-light-colored (chestnut-
brown) glumes and strongly apiculate achenes. Local in creeks in igneous Trans-
Pecos Tex. mts. at elev. of more than 4,000 ft., and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo,
Yavapai, Greenlee, Gila, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), summer-fall; from
Cuba and C.A. n.w. to Calif., Ariz, and Colorado.
9. Cyperus odoratus L. Fig. 219.
Tufted perennial, rarely rhizomatous or often flowering the first year and
behaving annual; culms often slightly tuberous-thickened basally, to 9 dm. long,
subbasally 1-6 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 0.3-3 mm. thick; inflores-
cence 1-45 cm. long, of numerous very unequal spreading or ascending primary
peduncles the longer of which usually bear several unequal secondary peduncles,
all eventually bearing lax to subdense spikes of rather numerous spreading spike-
lets; bracts 3 to 10, the longer far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets quite
variable in size (about 1 mm. broad and thick) and number of scales (4 to 30),
each internode of the axis unilaterally (on the sterile side) postanthetically bulbous
429
-------
Fig. 219: Cyperns odoratus; a, habit, X M>; b, spikelet, X 5; c, scale, X 15; d,
achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 220: Cyperus articulatus: a, habit, X
achene, X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
; b, spikelet, X 4; c, scale, X 20; d,
-------
with white cartilaginous thickening and on the fertile side with 2 hyaline wings
(eventually becoming papery) clasping the achene and at the base of each inter-
node (above each node) abscising so that the whole spikelet breaks up into joints
each comprising a scale, the next lower internode and the attached wings and
achene; scales small, brownish, with a number of nerves, each persistent on its
joint; stamens 3; achenes brownish, unequally trigonous, the 2 smaller (sharper)
angles adaxial, clasped by the wings. C. ferax Rich., C. speciosus Vahl, C. fer-
ruginescens Buckl.
In mud of swamps, ditches and streams, at edge of lakes and creeks, abundant
in all parts of Tex. and Okla., N.M. (San Juan Co.) and Ariz, (widespread);
perhaps our most abundant flatsedge and one of the most variable, but it is im-
possible to distinguish segregate taxa, spring-fall, occasionally, winter; semi-
cosmopolitan in temp, and trop. regions. Passing through the form called C.
Eggersii Boeck. to C. macrocephalus Liebm. with a headlike inflorescence.
10. Cyperus articulatus L. CHINTUL. Fig. 220.
Perennial forming colonies with creeping scaly rhizomes 1.5—6 mm. thick; culms
rising at intervals 7-50 mm. apart on the rhizomes, erect, 5-14 dm. long, 2-8
mm. thick, nearly terete or only vaguely triangular, septate at intervals of 5-50
mm.; leaves only few, toward the base, reduced to small essentially bladeless
sheaths; bracts few, 3-11 mm. long; inflorescence comprising 4 to 12 glomerules
of spikelets, some glomerules nearly sessile and some on slender nodding peduncles
to 12 cm. long; glomerules with up to 20 spikelets, essentially bractless; spike-
lets 6-25 mm. long, about 2 mm. broad, laterally compressed, the axis remaining
intact after the scales and achenes fall; scales keeled, the lower sides decurrent on
the spikelet axis as readily deciduous wings 0.2-0.4 mm. wide and about 1 mm.
long; stamens 3; connective very minutely prolonged beyond the end of the
anther; achene unequally trigonous.
Abundant in moist or wet clay meadows, in mud on edge of lakes, along streams
and above inlets, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, rare n. to s. part of n.-cen. Tex.
(Comal, Travis and McLennan cos.), May-Oct.; Braz. and Col. n. to Gulf States.
11. Cyperus Iria L. Fig. 221.
Tufted annual; culms 8-60 cm. long, erect; leaves crowded near the base,
shorter than the culm; inflorescence 4-12 cm. long (not including the bracts), an
umbel-like aggregation of 5 to 8 extremely unequal peduncles each bearing an
irregular panicle of several spikes each with a number of ascending spikelets the
total inflorescence with 100 to 600 spikelets; bracts about 4, much longer than
the inflorescence; spikelets 3-10 mm. long, 1.3-1.8 mm. broad, with 2 to 22
flowers, the axis persisting and remaining intact even after the achenes and scales
fall; scales nearly orbicular or as seen laterally and folded appearing obovate,
about 1.5 mm. long, rounded to ernarginate, mucronulate, with about 4 nerves in
the incurved weakly keel-like median, brownish or golden-brown, the hyaline
margins tending to fold in and meet on the adaxial side of the achene, decurrent
below as thin striations but not as wings; stamens 2 or 3; achene trigonous, 1.2-
1.3 mm. long.
Wet clay in coastal rice-growing areas, in water of freshwater canals and on
edge of ponds, in Okla. (McCurtain, LeFlore and Pittsburgh cos.) and s.e. Tex.
(Colorado, Harris, Jackson and Matagorda cos.), locally common, July-Sept.; s.e.
Asia (n. to Korea and Mongolia), N. Austral, Malaysia, India, Afr. Madag.,
Iran, Afghan., adv. in scattered parts of Am., especially in the Gulf and s. Atl.
States; W.I.
432
-------
Fig. 221: Cyperus Iria: a, habit, X ¥2; b, spikelet, X 10; c, scale, X 17; d, achene,
X 19. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 222: Cyperus difformis: a, flower without scale, X 40: b, group of spikelets,
X 8; c, ray of inflorescence, showing globose head of spikelets and part of scabrellate
margin of involucral leaf, X 2; d, trigonous achene, showing the minutely cellular sur-
face, X 28; e, culm (cross section), X 6; f, scale, X 40; g, habit, showing the umbellate
inflorescences with involucral leaves of unequal length, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 130).
-------
12. Cypenis difformis L. Fig. 222.
Annual sedge with fibrous roots and cespitose culms; culms smooth, 15-50 cm.
tall; leaves 2 to 4 on a culm, about as long as the culm, 1-4 mm. wide, scaberulous
on margins near apex; involucral leaves 2 or 3, unequal in length; inflorescence
umbellate, the globose heads of spikelets sessile or on rays to 7 cm. long; spikelets
linear, obtuse, subcompressed, 4-8 mm. long; rachis straight, unwinged; scales
roundish, obtuse, 0.6-0.8 mm. long, membranous, green with brown sides,
readily deciduous; stamens 1 or 2; achene trigonous, obovate, minutely mucronu-
late, 0.5 mm. long, pale-greenish-brown, the surface minutely cellular.
Common weed in rice fields, Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and Ariz. (Mohave Co.);
Okla., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex., nat. of Asia.
13. Cypenis aristatus Rottb. Fig. 223.
Tufted annual with persistent coffee-and-chicory or curry powder odor (like
Ulmus ritbra, Phyllanthus ericoides. Gnaphalium obtusifoliurn, flowers of Bomba-
caceae, etc.); culms 1-20 cm. long, the longer leaves often equaling or surpassing
them; inflorescence of 1 to 3 heads, essentially sessile at the summit, often with
1 to 6 additional shortly peduncled ones; bracts 2 to 4, the longer ones far-
surpassing the inflorescence, often ascending; heads 5-20 mm. thick, often slightly
prolate, with 2 to 50 spikelets; spikelets 4-14 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, about
0.5 mm. thick, laterally compressed, straight, with 5 to 30 scales, brown to yellow-
brown to tawny-brown, the axis essentially wingless, at maturity eventually decidu-
ous as a unit from the head axis; scales deciduous either before or after fall of
the spikelet axis, 2-2.5 mm. long, about in the distal third the length being a
very slender sharp acuminate-subulate prominently recurved tip, with 7 or 9
evenly distributed nerves; stamen 1; achene 0.7-1 mm. long, 0.2-0.5 mm. broad,
from nearly linear-oblong to obovoid, dark-brown. C. inflexus Muhl.
In wet soils, on edge of lakes and ponds and marshes, in Okla. (Stephens,
Mclntosh, Alfalfa, LeFlore and Johnston cos.) to Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino, s.
to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.) throughout Tex. (except Plains Country),
scattered, spring-early winter; nearly cosmopolitan in temp, and trop. areas.
In extreme south coastal Texas occurs the var. Runyonii O'Neill with the
achenes at the extremes of greatest length and narrowness allowed here.
14. Cypenis amabilis Vahl var. macrostachyus (Boeck.) Kiikenth.
Rachilla articulated with the rachis at the base, wingless; bracts 3 to 6, scarcely
if at all exceeding the inflorescence; rays 0 to 10; spikelets 10—18 mm. long,
1.5-2.5 mm. wide, lustrous, reddish-brown, digitate-radiate in heads; scales 3-
nerved, aristate, 1.5-2.7 mm. long; achene trigonous: style branches 3; stamen
1 (rarely 2).
Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.); to S.A.
15. Cypenis seslerioides H.B.K.
Tufted perennial forming tough fibrous black mats (bulblike bases connected
by extremely short branching rhizomes); culms 10-25 cm. long, erect, basally
about 1 mm. thick, apically about 0.5 mm. thick; leaves 2 or 3 per culm, basal,
1-2 mm. broad; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 6-12 mm. long, contracted into
a single densely flowered several-lobed subhemispheric whitish or pallid-brownish
(Dichromena-like) head: bracts 3 or 4, linear, 2 to 10 times as long as the head,
spreading or reflexed; spikelets 3-7 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad, compressed,
with 10 to 20 flowers, the axis wingless and persistent as a unit after the scales
have fallen; scales 1.5-2.7 mm. long, 1.1-1.6 mm. broad, membranous, 3-nerved,
acuminate, sharp; stamen 1; achene 0.7-1 mm. long and nearly as thick, sub-
orbicular, strongly 3-angled with concave sides, maturing to a very dark-brown.
435
-------
Fig. 223: Cyperns aristatus: a and b, habit, showing the umbellate inflorescences,
each ray bearing a capitate cluster of spikelets, X %; c, compressed spikelet, showing
the recurved awns of scales, X 8; d, scale, showing the strong nerves, X 32; e, mature
achene with puncticulate surface, X 24; f, ray of inflorescence, showing capitate ar-
rangement of spikelets, X I1 V, g, rachis, showing persistent stamens, arrangement of
achenes and the trifid styles, X 20. (From Mason, Fig. 128).
-------
Fig. 224: Cyperus acuminatus: a, spikelet, showing the recurved tips of scales, X 8;
b, scale, 3-nerved, the surface cellular-reticulate, X 20; c, trigonous achene, X 20; d,
habit, showing the globose heads of spikelets on rays of unequal length, X %; e, flower
without scale, X 20; f, ray of inflorescence, showing globose head of spikelets, X 1%.
(From Mason, Fig. 129).
-------
Scarce in shaded moist ravines high in the Chisos Mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos
and Ariz. (Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), summer; Venez., Guat., Mex., Ariz.
and Tex.
16. Cyperus acuminatus T. & H. Fig. 224.
Short-lived perennial, flowering the first year, tufted; culms 1-4 dm. long,
erect, basally with a few leaves and 0.7-1.2 mm. thick, just beneath the inflores-
cence 0.4—0.8 mm. thick, roundly triquetrous, smooth or with more or less
abundant microscopic knobs more or less at right angles to the culm; leaves few,
0.5-2 mm. broad, the longer ones sometimes equaling the culms, basally not sep-
tate; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 2-8 cm. long, of 2 to 5 very unequal pri-
mary peduncles, the shorter of which bear nearly hemispherical to spherical
glomerules of 13 to 25 spikelets, the longer ones with such glomerules (rarely
compound or with secondary peduncles) of up to 55 spikelets; bracts 3 or 4, the
longer ones nearly erect and far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 4-10 mm.
long, 1.5-2.5 mm. broad, nearly linear, with 12 to 44 flowers, stramineous to
brownish-stramineous or rarely tawny-stramineous, laterally compressed, the
axis slightly flattened, wingless and persistent as a unit after the scales and achenes
have fallen; scales laterally membranous, inconspicuously cellular, medially firm-
membranous, 1.3-1.9 mm. long, in the proximal fifth to fourth the length with a
flattish area about 0.2 mm. broad dorsally (abaxially), the 2 lateral parts 0.4-0.6
mm. broad (the scale spread out 0.8-1.2 mm. broad, ovate or narrowly so),
tapering distally to the acute apex, with 3 nerves (the inconspicuous midnerve
plus on each side a conspicuous nerve about three eighths to two fifths the dis-
tance from the midnerve to the margin), the dorsal (median) portion of the
scale (as the scale is folded in position in the spikelet) incurved in the lower part,
in the distal part either straight or usually with a slight to marked excurvature so
that the whole is weakly S-shaped; stamen 1; achene elliptic, 0.9-1.1 mm. long,
0.35-0.45 mm. thick, sharply trigonous, basally short-stipitate, apically prolonged-
acuminate, pale-brown, occasionally maturing to brown. C. cyrtolepis T. & H.
Abundant in moist places, wet soil and sandy shore of lakes and ponds, and
in shallow water, in Okla. (Stephens, Love, Ottawa, Comanche, McCurtain and
Mayes cos.), e., s.e., n.-cen. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, rare in Edwards Plateau
(Central Mineral Region only) and the Trans-Pecos (Jeff Davis and Presidio cos.)
and Ariz. (Graham, Gila, Cochise and Pima cos.), almost all year; Mo. and
N.C., s. to La., Tex. and Coah.; also Ga., Ariz., Nev., Calif, and Ore.
Young specimens strongly simulate dwarf specimens of C. reflexus.
17. Cyperus surinamensis Rottb. Fig. 225.
Short-lived tufted perennial, flowering the first year; culms 1-4 (-8) dm. long,
with scattered microscopic retrorse projections like shark's teeth, erect, basally
with a few leaves and 0.8-3.5 (-4.5) mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence
0.4—1.5 mm. thick and bluntly triquetrous; leaves few, the longer ones nearly as
long as the culm, basally usually with scattered microscopic transverse septa be-
tween the nerves; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 1-8 cm. long, of (4 to) 7 to 12
very unequal primary peduncles the shorter of which bear nearly spherical
glomerules of 8 to 25 spikelets, the longer usually with several very unequal
secondary peduncles each with a nearly spherical head of 11 to 35 spikelets;
bracts 5 to 7, the longer ones far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 3-6 (-14)
mm. long, 1.8-2.5 mm. broad, nearly linear, with 10 to 20 (to 30) flowers,
stramineous to chartreuse or ochraceous, laterally compressed, the axis slightly
flattened, wingless and persistent as a unit after the scales and achenes have fallen;
scales laterally membranous, inconspicuously cellular, medially slightly firmer,
1-1.5 mm. long, in the proximal third to three fifths the length with a flat abaxial
(dorsal) area 0.15-0.2 mm. broad, the 2 lateral parts 0.4-0.6 mm. broad (the
438
-------
Fig. 225: Cyperus surinamensis: a, habit, X %; b, spikelet, X 10; c, scale and
achene, X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 226: Cyperus virens: a, habit, X M>; b, spikelet, X 8; c, scale, X 26; d, achene,
X 26. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
scale when spread out 0.9-1.2 mm. broad, ovate), rounded or slightly acute, with
3 nerves (the inconspicuous midnerve plus the 2 prominent laterals which form
the proximal keels); dorsum of the scale as it is folded in position in the spikelet
gently incurved in the proximal part, nearly straight distally; stamen 1; achene
elliptic-oblong or oblong, 0.7-0.8 mm. long, 0.25-0.3 mm. thick, bluntly trigo-
nous, dark-rosy-brown, basally minutely stipitate, apiculate or shortly acuminate.
Infrequent in moist places, wet meadows and pastures, s.e. Tex. and coastal
parts of Rio Grande Plains, rare in n.-cen. and e. Tex., July-Nov., rarely spring;
Arg. and Bol. n. to Fla., La. and Tex.
18. Cyperns virens Michx. Fig. 226.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-11 dm. long, erect, basally leafy and 5-12 mm. thick,
just beneath the inflorescence 3-8 mm. thick, sharply triquetrous and often with
microscopic rigid antrorse projections like shark's teeth especially on the angles;
leaves several, the longer ones almost as long as the culm, basally usually with
numerous short incomplete transverse septa visible after pressing and drying; in-
florescence (excluding bracts) 3-13 cm. long, of 6 to 14 very unequal primary
peduncles, the shorter of which bear nearly spherical heads of 12 to 30 spikelets,
the longer ones bearing some shorter unequal secondary peduncles each with a
head of 16 to 40 spikelets; bracts 5 to 9, the longer ones far-surpassing the
inflorescence; spikelets 6-13 mm. long, 2.5-3.3 broad, linear, acute, with 10 to
36 flowers, stramineous (young) to olive-brown or grayish-brown (mature),
laterally compressed, the axis flat, wingless and persistent as a unit after the scales
and achenes have fallen; scales laterally firm-membranous and with visible cells,
medially chartaceous (to eventually subcartilaginous), 2-2.4 mm. long, in the
proximal third to five eighths the length definitely bicarinate with a flat area or
shallow groove 0.25-0.4 mm. broad dorsally (abaxially), the 2 lateral parts
0.5-0.6 mm. broad (therefore the scale spread out 1.2-1.5 mm. broad just below
the middle), in the lower half linear, gently tapering distally, with 5 nerves (1 of
these being the inconspicuous midvein between the keels), including 1 nerve at
each keel and 1 on each lateral face about a fourth to a third the distance from
the keel to the margin, the whole scale (as folded in the spikelet) incurved slightly
in the distal half; stamen 1; achene linear, triquetrous, basally stipitate, apically
acuminate, 1-1.5 mm. long, 0.3-0.5 mm. thick, brownish with a very thin trans-
lucent surficial layer of cells.
Abundant in moist places, in shallow water and on edge of streams, ponds and
lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain, Sequoyah, Muskogee, LeFlore and Osage cos.) and
s.e. Tex., frequent in e. Tex. and coastal parts of Rio Grande Plains, May-Oct.;
Urug. and Ecu. n. to N.C. and the Gulf States, adv. in Calif.
Through error, the name C. virens has been widely misapplied to C. pseudo-
vegetus. The 2 taxa are extremely closely related and occasionally hybridize.
Young specimens of C. virens greatly resemble C. pseudovegetus.
19. Cyperus ochraceus Vahl. Fig. 227.
Perennial, tufted; culms 11-80 cm. long, basally 2-5 mm. thick, apically
bluntly trigonous, 1-2.7 mm. thick, erect, smooth; leaves several, basally aggre-
gated, the longer ones about as long as the culm, not septate-nodulose; inflores-
cence (excluding bracts) 25-185 mm. long, of 6 to 12 very unequal primary
peduncles, the shorter of which bear nearly spherical lax heads of 4 to 15 spike-
lets, the longer ones bearing some short unequal secondary peduncles each with
a head of 4 to 24 spikelets; bracts 5 to 8, the longer ones far-surpassing the
inflorescence; spikelets 5-20 mm. long, 2-2.5 (-3) mm. broad, linear, acute, with
10 to 30 (to 40) flowers, olive-stramineous (young) to olive-yellow or yellowish-
brown (mature), laterally compressed, the axis flat, wingless and persistent as a
441
-------
Fig. 227: Cyperus ochraceus: a., habit, X %; b, spikelet, X 3; c, scale, X 25; d,
achene, X 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
unit after the scales and achenes have fallen; scales laterally membranous and with
visible cells, medially chartaceous (eventually subcartilaginous), 1.5-2 mm. long,
in the proximal half to two thirds definitely bicarinate with a flat area or shallow
groove (0.3-0.5 mm. broad) dorsaliy (abaxially), the 2 lateral parts 0.6-0.7 mm.
broad (therefore the scale when spread out 1.5-1.9 mm. broad" at the very base,
tapering all the way to the blunt apex), with 5 nerves (the midvein in the
channel between the keels inconspicuous) including a nerve at each keel and
one on each lateral face about a third the distance from the keel to the margin,
the whole scale as folded in position in the spikelet incurved slightly in the distal
half; stamen solitary; achene ovoid, 1.3-1.5 mm. long, 0.5-0.6 mm. thick, nearly
terete or obscurely triangular, slightly stipitate, apically acuminate and passing
imperceptibly into the style, black when mature but appearing dark-iridescent-
gray because of outer 1-cell thick covering of translucent cells; stigmas 3.
Abundant in shallow water and mud, and edge of lakes and ponds, Rio
Grande Plains (n. to Bexar Co.) and s.e. Tex., throughout year, most profuse
Sept.-Nov.; C.A., W.I., Mex., n. to Cuba and La.
20. Cyperus pseudovegetus Steud.
Tufted perennial, often slightly more loosely tufted than in C. virens by elonga-
tion of rhizomes 2-5 mm. between culms; culms 3-8 dm. long, erect basally
with a few leaves and 2-5 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 1-2.2 mm.
thick, roundly triquetrous, smooth or rarely with microscopic antrorse scabrous-
ness; leaves few to several, the larger ones almost as long as the culms, basally
often with minute transverse septa between the close veins; inflorescence (ex-
cluding bracts) 2-9 cm. long, of 3 to 10 very unequal primary peduncles, the
shorter of which bear dense strongly 3- to 8-lobed glomerules or heads of 15 to
50 spikelets, the longer ones 'bearing some shorter unequal secondary peduncles
each with such a head; bracts 3 to 6, the longer ones far-surpassing the inflores-
cence; spikelets 2.5-4 mm. long, 2.3-3 mm. broad, narrowly ovate, blunt or
slightly acute, with 6 to 14 flowers, tawny stramineous to (very slightly reddish-)
brown, laterally compressed, the axis flat, wingless and persistent as a unit after
the scales and achenes have fallen; scales laterally membranous with visible cells,
medially firm to chartaceous, 1.8-2.5 mm. long, in the proximal fourth to third
the length bicarinate with a flat or shallowly groovelike area 0.1-0.2 (-0.3) mm.
broad dorsaliy (abaxially), the 2 lateral parts 0.2-0.4 mm. broad (therefore the
scale spread out is 0.6-0.7 mm. broad near the middle, almost linear), tapering
only at the very tip, with 5 inconspicuous nerves in the median portion, the whole
scale (as folded in the spikelet) incurved-falcate; stamen 1; achene linear, 1-1.3
mm. long, 0.2-0.3 mm. thick, bluntly trigonous, basally short-stipitate apically
acuminate, often slightly falcate, brown with a very thin translucent-iridescent
surficial layer of cells. C. arenicola Steud.
Locally frequent in moist places, about lakes and ponds, in marshy areas and
seepage areas, in Okla. (Pushmataha, McCurtain, Pittsburgh, Atoka, Love and
LeFlore cos.), e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent in n.-cen. Tex., May-Sept.; Gulf States
and n. to N.J., Ind., III., Mo. and Kan.
Through error this species, in some works, has been called C. virens.
21. Cyperus reflexus Vahl.
Perennial with scaly creeping rhizomes 1-1.5 mm. thick; culms contiguous or
several mm. apart along the rhizome, 3-7 dm. long, erect, basally with a slightly
bulblike enlargement, with a few leaves and 1-2.5 mm. thick (just above the
"bulb"), just beneath the inflorescence 0.5-1.3 mm. thick, roundly triquetrous,
smooth; leaves few, the longer ones about as long as the culms or shorter, basally
not septate; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 15-50 mm. long, of 3 to 8 very
443
-------
Fig. 228: Cypenis Haspan: a, habit, X %; b, spikelet, X 4; c, scale, X 25- d,
achene, X 70. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
unequal primary peduncles the shorter of which bear very dense strongly 3- to
8-lobed glomerules of 25 to 50 spikelets, the longer ones (more than 15 mm. long)
with dense strongly 15- to 30-lobed compound glomerules of up to 100 spikelets;
bracts 3 to 5, the longer ones far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 3-5 mm.
long, 1.5-2.2 mm. broad, nearly linear in the lower part, distally tapered and
apically crowded, with 8 to 12 flowers, red and green, laterally compressed, the
axis flat, wingless and persistent as a unit after the scales and achenes have
fallen; scales laterally red, membranous, inconspicuously cellular, medially firm-
membranous, 1.5-2 mm. long, in the proximal fourth the length with a narrow
flat area about 0.2 mm. broad dorsally (abaxially), the 2 lateral parts red, 0.5-
0.6 mm. broad (therefore the scale spread out is about 1.1 mm. broad, narrowly
ovate), tapering distally to the slightly acute tip, with 5 inconspicuous nerves in
the median portion, the median portion of the scale (as folded in position in the
spikelet) with a distinct curve in the proximal part but distally nearly straight;
stamen 1; achene oblong or elliptic-oblong, 0.9-1 (-1.2) mm. long, 0.3-0.4 mm.
thick, sharply trigonous, basally short-stipitate, apically shortly acuminate or pyra-
midal, pale-brown (finally dark-fuscous beneath the outer cellular layer). C.
rufescens Torr.
Rare in e. and s.e. Tex., inland to Houston, Bastrop and DeWitt cos., in moist
or wet sand, spring-summer; otherwise scattered in S.A.,' Mex., La. and Okla.
Only mature material can be determined with confidence.
22. Cyperus phaeolepis Cherm.
Densely tufted perennial; culm 3-5 (-9) dm. long, erect, basally 2-3 mm.
thick, just beneath the inflorescence 1.7-2 mm. thick, irregularly striate; leaves
few, basal, reduced to usually reddish-brown sheaths with diagonal orifices, the
"blades" only a few mm. long; inflorescences (excluding bracts) 1-2 cm. long,
of 8 to 12 unequal peduncles each bearing a headlike (occasionally compound)
glomerule of 8 to 15 spikelets; bracts 9 to 13, spreading, 3-10 cm. long, (1-)
3-5 mm. broad, abruptly acute; spikelets 3-6 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, with
12 to 18 flowers, compressed slightly, the axis flat, wingless and remaining intact
as a unit after the scales have fallen (achenes sometimes more persistent); scales
1.3-1.5 mm. long, about as broad, broadly ovate when unfolded, obtuse, laterally
membranous, whitish or with a chestnut-tawny splotch, dorsally-proximally flat,
the midnerve obscure and the 2 other nerves forming keels on each side of the
flat area for about three eighths the total length; stamens 3; achenes 0.7-0.8 mm.
long, ellipsoid, obscurely trigonous, pallid-brown turning brown. C. albiflorus
Cherm.
Rare in moist or wet places, s.e. (Galveston Co.) and Trans-Pecos (Pecos Co.)
Tex., escaped, Apr.-June; Madag.; Tex.
23. Cyperus Haspan L. Fig. 228.
Short-lived tufted perennial, flowering the first year; culms 1-7 dm. long,
erect, basally 2-5 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 1.5-3 mm. thick,
sharply trigonous but soft and easily pressed flat; leaves basal, the lowest ones
bladeless, some of the upper ones consisting of sheaths with oblique orifices or
even with soft blades 1-10 cm. long; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 4-12 cm.
long, of 10 to 15 extremely unequal primary peduncles the shorter of which each
bears a lax glomerule of 3 to 12 spikelets and the longer with several secondary
peduncles each with a lax glomerule (or occasionally bearing unequal tertiary
peduncles with glomerules); bracts usually 2, one of them 0.3 to 1 (to 2) times
as long as the inflorescence, the other much shorter and inconspicuous; spikelets
4-10 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad, linear, compressed, brown, with 8 to 30
flowers, the axis persistent as a unit after the scales have fallen (the achenes and
445
-------
Fig. 229: Cyperus erythrorhizos: a, scale with rachis wings attached, X 20; b, part
of spikelet, with some scales removed to show inner hyaline membranes forming wings
on rachis, X 20; c, linear spikelet, X 8; d, mature achene, trigonous and with surface
finely cellular, X 28; e, habit, showing the compound umbels and their numerous in-
volucral leaves which are unequal in length, X H; f, flower, X 20; g, ray of inflores-
cence, showing branches of divaricate spikelets and scabrellate involucral leaves, X %.
(From Mason, Fig. 133).
-------
filaments often less readily caducous than the scales); scales 1.2-1.6 mm. long,
0.8-1 mm. troad, obtuse, fragile-membranous, 3-nerved (actually with 5 nerves
but the ones nearest the margin extremely inconspicuous and in some specimens
weakly developed); stamens 3; achene globose-obovate to subglobose, obscurely
trigonous, 0.4-0.7 mm. long, 0.4-0.5 mm. thick, whitish, roughened. Incl. var.
americanus Boeck., C. juncoides Lam.
Infrequent in moist places, in water of swift stream, in wet meadows, on
seepage slopes, in e. and s.e. Tex. and coastal parts of Rio Grande Plains, inland
to Guadalupe Co., June^Oct.; widely distributed in warm regions.
24. Cyperus giganteus Vahl.
Perennial, densely tufted, culms 4—15 dm. long; leaves reduced to mere long
brown sheaths at the base of the culm; inflorescence an umbel-like aggregation of
10 to 25 primary peduncles (the longest only about twice as long as the shortest),
each bearing an umbellule of 4 to 8 peduncled lax spikes with elongate axes and
10 to 20 (reportedly up to 50) spreading spikelets; spikelets about 1 mm. broad
or narrower, laterally much-compressed, 4—10 mm. long, with 8 to 18 flowers;
bracts of umbel about as many as the primary peduncles and surpassing the umbel;
bracts of umbellules as many as the spikes and mostly exceeding them; spikelet
axis persistent as a unit after the achenes and scales fall; lowef margins of scales
decurrent on the spikelet axis as hyaline readily deciduous wings 0.2-0.3 mm.
broad and more than 1 mm. long; stamens 3; anthers with 2 cells, the connective
between the cells prolonged 0.2-0.5 mm. beyond the end of the anthers; achene
unequally trigonous, the 2 adaxial angles much smaller (sharper) than the afoaxial
one.
Rare in extreme s.e. Tex. (Orange Co.) in marshes, probably not a persistent
member of our flora; Parag., Urug. and Col. n. to Hond. and Gr. Ant.
25. Cyperus alternifolius L. UMBRELLA FLATSEDGE, UMBRELLA PLANT.
Tufted perennial; culm 3-15 dm. long, erect, basally 5-20 mm. thick, just 'below
the apex 1-5 mm. thick, triangular; leaves few, basal, reduced to sheaths, apically
with a diagonal orifice and a short flat triangular blade 5-50 (-100) mm. long;
inflorescence (excluding bracts) 3-10 cm. long, of 15 to 25 slightly unequal
primary peduncles each bearing a short headlike raceme of 8 to 15 short-
peduncled spikelets; bracts 15 to 25, 15-40 cm. long, 1-15 mm. broad, spreading
(forming an umbrella); spikelets 5-10 mm. long, 1.5-2 -mm. broad, with 12 to 30
flowers, compressed, the axis wingless and remaining intact as a unit after the
scales have fallen (achenes often more persistent); scales 1.6-2 mm. long, 1.4-1.6
mm. broad when unfolded, several-nerved; stamens 3; achene trigonous, 0.6-0.9
mm. long, 0.5-0.6 mm. thick, brown, elliptic-oblong.
S.e. Tex., cult, in moist or wet ground and rarely escaping, summer-fall; nat.
of the Old World, probably Afr. or Madag., widely cult, and escaping in warm
regions.
26. Cyperus erythrorhizos Muhl. Fig. 229.
Tufted annual or becoming a definite perennial in s. Tex.; culms 5-14 dm. long;
inflorescence an umbel-like aggregation of 4 to 10 long markedly unequal pedun-
cles each bearing an irregular cluster of several nearly sessile spikes with elongate
axes (with internodes 0-0.5 mm. long) and 15 to 70 spreading spikelets; spikelets
about 1 mm. broad or narrower, laterally much-compressed, very thin, 3-10
(-15) mm. long with 6 to 34 or more flowers; bracts of umbel about as many
as primary peduncles and some about as long as the inflorescence; bracts of
the spike clusters considerably reduced, inconspicuous; spikelet axes persistent as
a unit after the aohenes and scales have fallen; scales keeled, the lower margins
decurrent on the spikelet axis as readily deciduous hyaline wings about 0.8 mm.
447
-------
Fig. 230: Cyperus compressus: a, habit, X
achene', X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
; b, spikelet, X 5; c, scale, X 25; d,
-------
long and 0.2—0.3 mm. broad; stamens 3; connective of anthers not surpassing the
anther cells themselves or else projected as a red point only 0.05-0.1 mm. long;
achene unequally trigonous.
Abundant in marshy places, sand flats and in shallow water of lakes and ponds,
along creeks, in Okla. (widespread), s.e. Tex., infrequent in Rio Grande Plains,
n.-cen. and e. Tex., probably elsewhere, N, M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino, Mohave and Yuma cos.), July-Dec.; Ont. and e. U.S. w. to N.D.,
S.D., Neb., Kan., Okla. and N.M.; also Wash., Ore., Calif., Ariz, and Ut.; pre-
sumably also Tarn.
Probably not sufficiently distinct from C. digitatus.
21. Cyperus digitatus Roxb.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-15 dm. long; inflorescence an umbel-like aggregation
of 5 to 13 long markedly unequal peduncles each bearing an irregular cluster of
several nearly sessile spikes with elongate axes (internodes of spike axis 0.6-2
mm. long) and 15 to 35 spreading spikelets; spikelets about 1 mm. broad, laterally
compressed, 7-15 mm. long, with 8 to 35 flowers; bracts of umbel about as many
as peduncles and some as long as or longer than the inflorescence; bracts of spike
clusters considerably reduced, inconspicuous; spikelet axes persistent as units
after the achenes and scales have fallen; scales keeled, the lower sides decurrent
down the spikelet axis as readily deciduous hyaline wings 0.2-O.3 mm. broad and
about 0.8 mm. long; stamens 3; connective of anther not surpassing the anther
cells themselves or else merely a red point 0.05-0.1 mm. long; achene unequally
trigonous.
Local in marshy places near Brownsville, Laredo and Corpus Christi in Rio
Grande Plains, July-Dec.; Braz., Col., Mex., W.I. and Tex.
28. Cyperus onerosus M. C. Johnst.
Perennial with scaly rhizomes 5-80 mm. long and 1-2 mm. thick; culms
20-49 cm. long, erect, basally leafy and 2-4 mm. thick, just beneath the in-
florescence smooth, sharply triquetrous and 1.5-2 mm. thick; leaves few, basally
with no transverse septation, some of the longer ones usually surpassing the
inflorescence; inflorescence (excluding bracts) 2-12 cm. long, with 7 to 15 very
unequal primary peduncles, the shorter of these bearing nearly spherical heads of
8 to 25 spikelets, the longer ones bearing 3 to 12 unequal secondary peduncles
each bearing a head of 20 to 35 spikelets; bracts about 4, the longer one nearly
erect, exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets 7-13 mm. long, 2.5-3.5 mm. broad,
linear, with (10 to) 16 to 26 (to 42) flowers, brownish to tawny-brown, laterally
compressed; the axis wingless, thick, dorsiventrally slightly flattened, .persistent as
a unit after the scales and achenes have fallen, the internodes sculptured (with a
niche for each achene); scales 2.3-2.9 mm. long, 1.2-1.4 mm. broad, ovate-
elliptic when unfolded, basally slightly gibbous, laterally firm-membranous,
medially chartaceous and with a midnerve and on each side 2 (rarely 3) nerves
(the total number obscure except when the scale is young and translucent), the
medial nerved keel-like zone (as seen in place in the spikelet) except for the
curve at the gibbous base mostly straight or very slightly excurved to the very
acute apex; stamens 3; achene elliptic to narrowly so, trigonous, acuminate at
both ends, 0.7-0.8 mm. long, 0.25-0.3 mm. thick, whitish or eventually turning
brownish.
Locally frequent in moist or wet loose sand and pools between sand dunes, s.w.
part of Plains Country of Tex. (Ward and Winkler cos.), June-Nov.; endemic.
29. Cyperus compressus L. Fig. 230.
Tufted annual (or occasionally appearing as a short-lived perennial); leaves
few, clustered near the base, little shorter than the culms; inflorescence (not
449
-------
b
Fig. 231: Cyperus filiculmis: a, habit, X V2; b, spikelet, X 7; c, scale, X 23; d,
achene, X 23. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
including bracts) 1-7 cm. long, either of a single nearly sessile head or an umbel-
like aggregation of 2 to 6 very unequal peduncles each bearing a head of more
or less spreading spikelets, the total inflorescence with 5 to 38 spikelets; bracts 3
to 5, 'the longer ones far-surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 10-24 mm. long,
2-3 mm. broad, laterally compressed, with 12 to 24 flowers, the axis persistent
and remaining intact even after the achenes and scales have fallen; scales 3-3.5
mm. long, acuminate, the keel-like median somewhat excurved in the distal half
and with 9 to 13 nerves, grayish-white with very pale broad hyaline margins (so
the entire spikelet appears to> have a white mid-stripe), decurrent below as
definite wings but these persistent until the scale next below falls; stamens 3;
achene trigonous, 1—1.3 mm. long, almost as thick as long.
In moist or wet sand and swampy ground, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.), in-
frequent in s.e. Tex., rare in e. Tex., July^Sept.; Afr., Madag., s.e. Asia, Malaysia,
N. Austral., Micronesia; in Am. from Ecu., Bol. and Braz. n. to N.Y., Pa., O.,
Okla. and Tex.
30. Cyperus Parishii Britt.
Perennial sedge with short rhizomes and fibrous roots; culms subtrigonous,
smooth, 10-25 cm. tall; leaves several, much shorter than the culm, 3-5 mm.
wide, minutely scabrellate on the margins and midrib; involucral leaves 3 or 4,
scabrellate; inflorescence umbellate, the rays 0.5-5 cm. long; spikelets linear,
acute, 12—20 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; rachis with a pair of hyaline wings at
each node, these early deciduous; scales ovate, acute, 2-3 mm. long, strongly
several-nerved, the keel green 'and the sides reddish brown; stamens 3; style
trifid; achene trigonous, obovoid-ellipsoid, 1-1.2 mm. long, mucronulate, nearly
black.
Wet .meadows in N.M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Yavapai, Maricopa and
Cochise cos.); N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
31. Cyperus filiculmis Vahl. Fig. 231.
Tufted or very loosely tufted perennial; culms basally tuberous-thickened or
with short thick rhizomes, 10-35 (-50) cm. long, subbasally 1-2 (-2.3) mm.
thick, just beneath the inflorescence 0.5-1 mm. thick; leaves 1-2 mm. broad, even
the longer ones mostly shorter than the culms; inflorescence 1-3 cm. long, of a
single nearly spherical head of 15 to 55 spikelets or (usually in contaminated
plants) the inflorescences with such a head plus a few peduncles 1-5 cm. long
each with a head or glomerule of 8 to 20 spikelets; bracts 3 or 4, 0.5-1 mm.
broad, much-exceeding the inflorescence, usually spreading or reflexed; spikelets
6-16 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. broad, about 1 mm. thick, grayish^brown to dark-
tawny-grayish-brown, with 7 to 20 scales (the terminal one sterile or staminate
and slightly reduced), straight, the axis noticeably dorsiventrally flattened, at
maturity either persistent or commonly tardily deciduous as a unit from the head
axis, the flat sculptured internodes commonly wingless or with wings only to 0.2
mm. broad; scales spreading at a 45° angle (the spikelet axis thus exposed), most
much-overlapping, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad, broadly ovate, with 9 to
11 nerves; stamens 3; achene 1.5-2.2 mm. long, 0.8-1.1 mm. thick, broadly
oblong, trigonous, dark-brown. C. Houghtonii Torr. var. Bushii (Britt.) Kiikenth.
Infrequent, scattered in seasonally moist sandy loam in open-wooded areas,
wet sandy banks, in drying stream beds, in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), n.-cen. Tex.,
Plains Country and Edwards Plateau, rare in the Trans-Pecos (i.e., genetically
dilute plants in Glass Mts.), spring-fall; e. U.S. and s.e. Can. w. to the Rocky Mts.
32. Cyperus elegans L. Fig. 232.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-7 dm. long, erect; leaves viscid, crowded near the
base, basally stramineous and somewhat spongy when fresh and upon drying the
451
-------
Fig. 232: Cyperus elegans: a, habit, X %; b, spikelet, X 5; c, scale, X 12; d, achene,
X 14. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 233: Cyperus rotundus: a, ray, showing linear spikelets, X %; b, part of spike-
let, 1 scale and wing removed to show wing on rachis continuous on either side of
scale, X 12; c, scale, X 8; d, puncticulate trigonous achene, X 12; e, habit, showing
the large umbellate inflorescence and short scabrellate involucral leaves, X %; f, spike-
let, showing the very long filiform trifid styles, X 3; g, stolon with tubers, X %; h,
flower, X 11. (From Mason, Fig. 132).
-------
incomplete septa becoming conspicuous, the upper part involute; inflorescence
(excluding bracts) 5-15 (-22) cm. long, of 3 to 10 extremely unequal primary
peduncles, the shorter ones each bearing a head of spikelets, the longer ones often
with several short secondary peduncles each bearing a head; each head with 5 to
13 spikelets; bracts 3 to 5, the longer ones much-exceeding the inflorescence;
spikelets 3-15 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. broad, with 6 to 20 flowers, viscid, grayish-
ochraceous turning grayisbnbrown at maturity, the axis persistent arid remaining
intact even after the scales and achenes have fallen, wingless; scales firm, 3-4.2
mm. long, with 3 strong nerves close together on the weakly keel-like median and
farther apart on each side 2 or 3 less conspicuous ones (7 to 9 altogether), the
very sharp tip slightly excurved, the lower sides not decurrent (the scales measured
as folded in the spikelet is 1-1.2 mm. broad); stamens 3; achene 1.4-1.8 mm.
long, black at maturity, trigonous, widest near the apex and long-tapered to the
base.
In moist calcareous soil, edge of lakes, ponds and tanks, and wet gravel-sand
of creek beds, frequent in s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, infrequent to rare in
Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, Aug.-Nov., rarely in spring or early summer;
W.I., Trin., C.A., Mex., Fla., La. and Tex.; a var. major Kiikenth. in Peru.
33. Cyperus oxylepis Steud.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-7 dm. long, erect; leaves viscid, crowded near the
base, basally stramineous splotched with red, somewhat spongy when fresh and
upon drying the incomplete septa becoming conspicuous, the upper part involute;
inflorescence (excluding bracts) 5-15 cm. long, of 3 to 10 extremely unequal
primary peduncles, the shorter ones each bearing a head of spikelets, the longer
ones often with several short secondary peduncles each bearing a head, each head
with 6 to 18 spikelets; bracts 3 to 5, the longer ones much-exceeding the in-
florescence; spikelets 8-22 mm. long, 2.5-3.5 mm. broad, with 10 to 24 flowers,
viscid, grayish-yellow becoming at maturity a rich golden-brown, the axis persis-
tent and remaining intact even after the scales and achenes fall, wingless; scales
firm-membranous, 3.3-3.7 mm. long, with 3 strong nerves together on the weakly
keel-like median and farther apart on each side 2 less conspicuous ones (7
altogether), the sharp point very slightly excurved, the lower sides not decurrent
on the axis (the half-scale measured as it is folded in the spikelet is 0.8 mm.
broad); stamens 3; achene 1.4-2 mm. long, dark-brown at maturity, trigonous,
nearly cylindric or very slightly thickened in the upper part and long-tapered
below, capped by the beaklike persistent style base about 1 mm. long.
Infrequent in coastal s.e. Tex. (Harris, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio cos.)
in clay ditches and ponds, May-Aug.; Arg., Parag., Ecu., Col., Br. Gui., Jam.,
Virg. I., Oax., Sin., Son., Tex. and La.
34. Cyperus rohindus L. NUT-GRASS, TULILLO. Fig. 233.
Perennial forming colonies with creeping rhizomes about 1 mm. thick, at
intervals with tuberlike thickenings to 1 cm. thick; culms 8-30 (-75) cm. long,
just beneath the inflorescence 0.8-1.8 mm. thick; leaves crowded in the basal few
cm., much shorter than the culm and usually spreading; inflorescence 3-11 cm.
long, of 3 to 8 extremely unequal peduncles each bearing a (rarely compound)
cluster or short spike of divaricate spikelets. each cluster or spike with 3 to 9
spikelets, the total inflorescence with 20 to 65 spikelets; bracts usually about 3 or
4 and about as long as the inflorescence; spikelets 4-30 mm. long, 1-2 mm. broad,
laterally much-compressed, with 12 to 36 flowers; scales keeled, straight, dark-
reddish, dark-purplish or dark-purplish-brown, 3-3.5 mm. long, with about 7
paler nerves crowded near the median so that each of the halves is nerveless in
the marginal half to five eighths the width, the sides decurrent basally as hyaline
454
-------
Fig. 234: Cyperns esculentus: a, ray, showing remote divaricate spikelets, X %; b,
spikelet, X 3; c, part of spikelet, with some flowers removed, showing the hyaline per-
sistent wings of rachis, X 3; d, culm (cross section), X 2; e, stolons terminating in
tubers, X %; f, ovate scale, showing mucronulate apex, X 8; g, habit, showing stolons,
tubers, numerous flat leaves and umbellate inflorescences with broad ascending in-
volucral leaves, X %; h, achene, showing surface puncticulate, X 12; i, flower, X 12.
(From Mason, Fig. 131).
-------
persistent wings on the spikelet axis which remains intact even after the scales and
achenes have fallen; stamens 3; the prominent long-exserted anthers with the con-
nective slightly prolonged into a minute reddish knob: achenes trigonous.
Abundant in loamy soils, wet meadows and lawns, in Okla. (Waterfall), s.e.,
n.-cen. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, rare in Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, a
pernicious lawn-weed, adv. with us, July-Dec., less commonly Jan.-Apr.; wide-
spread in the warmer parts of the world, nat. to Euras.
35. Cyperus setigeras T. & H.
Perennial forming small colonies with creeping rhizomes (1-) 1.5-5 mm.
thick or slighly thicker at the culm bases; culms (60-) 75-110 cm. long, just
beneath the inflorescence (1.5-) 2.3-3.3 mm. thick; leaves few, attached in the
basal third of the culm, shorter than the culm, ascending; inflorescence (not in-
cluding bracts) (7-) 10-16 (-20) cm. long, of 9 to 13 extremely unequal peduncles
each bearing a compound cluster or short spike of divaricate spikelets, each cluster
or spike with 10 to 30 spikelets, the total inflorescence with 120 to 350 spikelets;
bracts about as many as the primary peduncles, the longer ones far-surpassing the
inflorescence; spikelets 6-40 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, laterally much-com-
pressed, with 6 to 40 flowers; scales keeled, reddish-brown, straight, 3~4 mm. long,
with 5 to 7 nerves either crowded medially or somewhat spread out so that each of
the halves is nerveless in the marginal fifth to three eighths the width, the sides
decurrent basally as hyaline persistent wings on the spikelets axis which remains
intact even after the scales and achenes have fallen; stamens 3; anther connective
sometimes minutely prolonged achenes trigonous.
Scattered and local in moist clay meadows and ditches, about lakes and ponds
in Okla. (Comanche, Craig and Kay cos.), n.-cen. Tex., Rio Grande Plains, Ed-
wards Plateau (Mason Co.) and Plains Country, summer; Kan., Mo., Okla. and
Tex.
36. Cyperus esculentus L. YELLOW NUT-GRASS. Fig. 234.
Perennial forming colonies with creeping rhizomes 1-1.5 (-2) mm. thick (some
forms have tuberlike thickenings on the rhizomes; these forms rarely flower); culms
15-50 (-65) cm. long, just below the inflorescence 1.5-3 (-3.8) mm. thick; leaves
several, attached in the basal half of the culm, the upper ones ascending, almost
equaling or surpassing the inflorescence; inflorescence (not including bracts) 4-14
(-24) cm. long, of 5 to 10 extremely unequal peduncles each bearing a short spike
(or the longer peduncles a cluster of short spikes) of divaricate spikelets, each
spike or cluster with 12 to 50 spikelets, the total inflorescence with 70 to 350
spikelets; bracts about as many as the primary peduncles, the longer ones far-
surpassing the inflorescence; spikelets 6-30 mm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, somewhat
laterally compressed, with 8 to 40 flowers; scales keeled, straight, brown, buffy-
brown or golden-brown, 2.6-4 mm. long, hyaline, with 7 to 9 nerves which are
about equidistant and so spaced out that only about the marginal third of each
side of the scale is nerveless, the sides decurrent basally as hyaline persistent
wings on the spikelet axis which remains intact even after the scales and achenes
have fallen; stamens 3; anther connective prolonged into a red dot 0.05-0.1 mm.
long; achenes trigonous. Incl. var. angustispicatus Britt. and var. macrostachyus
Boeckl.
Locally abundant and weedy in occasionally moistened sandy usually disturbed
or unstable or loamy soil, in shallow water of ponds and lakes, gravel bars along
streams and on seepage banks, in Okla. (LeFlore, Ottawa, Pushmataha and Alfalfa
cos.), scattered all over Tex. but rare in Edwards Plateau and higher parts of the
Plains Country, N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and" Coconino,
s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), summer-fall (through Dec. in extreme
456
-------
s.); scattered in the warmer parts of the world, in Am. n. to Que., Ont., Minn., Ore.
and Alas.; probably adv. in Tex.
37. Cyperus strigosus L. Fig. 235.
Tufted perennial (occasionally flowering the first year); culms 4-10 dm. long,
subbasally 3-9 mm. thick (at the extreme base swollen tuberlike), just below the
inflorescence trigonous and 1.7-3 mm. thick; leaves 2-8 mm. broad, firm, the
longer ones about equaling the culm; inflorescence 7-30 (-40) cm. long, of 4 to 11
very unequal primary peduncles the shorter of which bear spikes 13-25 mm. long
and 2-4 cm. thick, each spike with 20 to 40 divaricately spreading spikelets in
several ranks, the longer peduncles in turn bearing a few secondary peduncles
(often very short) each with a spike 15-35 mm. long and 20—45 mm. thick, each
spike with 25 to 70 spreading spikelets; bracts 3 to 10, the longer ones far-sur-
passing the inflorescence; spikelets linear, straight, (10-) 12-25 (-29) mm. long,
1-2 mm. broad, less than half as thick as br6ad, golden-brown or tawny-brown,
with 5 to 20 scales (the terminal one sterile, tending to become involuted and
forming a short point), the axis at maturity detaching as a unit from the spike axis,
the internodes on the fertile side with 2 narrow hyaline wings 1.5-2 mm. long,
about 0.4 mm. broad; scales 3.7^.5 mm. long, 1.2-1.8 mm. broad, with 7 or 9
nerves, overlapping, usually persistent or less commonly belatedly deciduous either
before or after the axis falls from the plant; stamens 3; achene 1.5-2 mm. long
(usually about half as long as the scale), 0.5-0.6 mm. thick, trigonous, linear-
oblong, brown, basally substipitate, short-apiculate.
Frequent in bogs and marshy areas, in shallow water of ponds and lakes and
in mud, in Okla. (McCurtain, LeFlore, Ottawa, Sequoyah, Craig, Johnston, Alfalfa
and Mayes cos.), e. and s.e. Tex., less frequent in n.-cen. Tex. and rare in the
Panhandle (genetically dilute plants rare elsewhere), and Ariz. (Pima Co.),
summer-fall; e. U.S. n. to Que., Ont., Minn., w. to Neb., Kan., Okla. and Tex.;
also Pac. States.
38 Cyperus tennis Sw.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-8 dm. long, basally 2-7 mm. thick, just below the
inflorescence 1.1-2.8 mm. thick; leaves 1.5-5 mm. broad, the longer ones about
equaling the culms; inflorescence 6-20 cm. long, of 4 to 11 extremely unequal
primary peduncles the shorter of which bear spikes 2-3 cm. long and 15-25 mm.
thick, each spike with 14 to 30 divaricately spreading spikelets in 3 or 4 ranks, the
longer peduncles each with a spike 25-40 mm. long and 18-27 mm. thick, each
spike with 19 to 45 spikelets, the spikes occasionally compound with 1 or 2 smaller
nearly sessile spikes basally; bracts 3 to 11, the longer ones far-surpassing the
inflorescence; spikelets linear, straight, 10-15 mm. long, 0.7-1.3 mm. broad, about
half as thick as broad, grayish-brown, with 3 to 6 scales (the terminal 1 sterile,
tending to become involute and forming a short point), the axis at maturity de-
taching as a unit from the spike axis, the internodes on the fertile side with 2
narrow hyaline wings 1.5-2 mm. long and 0.3-0.5 mm. broad; scales 3.5-5 mm.
long, 1-1.6 mm. broad, with 7 or 9 nerves, overlapping, persistent; stamens 3;
achene 1.3-1.6 mm. long, less than half as long as the scale, 0.5-0.6 mm. thick,
trigonous, ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid, brown, very minutely stipitate, apiculate.
Incl. var. lentiginosus (Millsp. & Chase) Kiikenth., C. strigosus var. gracills Britt.,
C. lentiginosus Millsp. & Chase.
Infrequent in s. part of s.e. Tex. (San Patricio and Nueces cos.) and coastal
parts of Rio Grande Plains (Duval, Karnes and Cameron cos.), in wet or moist
clayey loam, summer-fall; n. S.A. w. to C.A. and Mex., n. to Sin. and Tex.; also
(?) Afr.
457
-------
Fig. 235: Cyperus strigosus: a, part of a winged rachis, X 6; b, culm (cross sec-
tion), X 5; c, scale, strongly nerved, X 12; d, linear puncticulate achene, with trifid
style and 3 stamens, X 12; e, habit, showing corms swollen at base, the umbellate in-
florescence and the involucral leaves which are unequal in length, X %; f, linear spike-
lets, X 2V2; g, ray of inflorescence, showing loose divaricate cluster of spikelets, X %.
(From Mason, Fig. 134).
-------
39. Cyperus huarmensis (H.B.K.) M. C. Johnst.
(Often loosely) tufted perennial from black knotty subrhizomatous bases; culms
1-4 dm. long, sub-basally 1.5-3 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 0.7-1.3
mm. thick; leaves 2-4 mm. broad, firm, shorter than the culms; inflorescence 2-3
(-4) cm. long, of 3 to 6 essentially sessile (or occasionally 1 or 2 of them on
peduncles 1-2 cm. long) dense spikes 10-25 mm. long and 7-10 mm. thick, with
40 to 80 ascending spikelets; bracts 3 to 6, spreading, the longer ones 3 to 10
times as long as the inflorescence; spikelets 4-7 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad
and almost as thick, ochraceous gray-brown to tawny-gray, with 3 scales (usually
only the lowest one fertile and it slightly longer than the others), straight, the axis
at maturity detaching as a unit from the spike axis, the internodes of the fertile
side with 2 hyaline wings 1.5-2.2 mm. long and 0.6-0.8 mm. broad, clasping the
achene; fertile scale 3-4 mm. long, about 2 mm. broad, with about 9 nerves,
almost completely overlapping the higher scales; stamens 3; achene 1.5-2.1 mm.
long, 0.8-1 mm. thick, oblong-obovoid, trigonous, very dark-brown, substipitate,
apiculate. C. cayennensis (Lam.) Britt, non Link, C. flavus (Vahl) Nees, non
J. & C. Presl, Mariscus huarmensis H.B.K., C. obesus Liebm.
Rare in s.e. Tex. (Aransas and San Patricio cos.) to Ariz. (Gila, Cochise, Pima
and Santa Cruz cos.), spring-fall; widespread in the warmer parts of Am. s. to
Arg. and n. to Ariz., N.M., Tex. and La.
40. Cyperus Pringlei Britt.
Perennial; culm erect, triangular, glabrous, to 6 dm. long, with swollen base
from short nodose rhizomes; leaf sheaths thin, subscarious, yellowish to reddish-
brown, to 12 cm. long; leaf blades flat, 3-8 mm. wide, glabrous or slightly scabrous
along the midrib and margins, to 3 dm. long; bracts 5 to 8, to 2 dm. long, sur-
passing the inflorescence; umbels simple or somewhat compound of 5 to 6 rays,
1-12 cm. long, spreading; spikes cylindric-oblong, rather loose, 7-10 mm. in
diameter, 1.5-3 cm. long; spikelets terete-oblong, 1 mm. in diameter or less, 3-5
mm. long, 3- to 5-flowered; scales pale yellow to light-brown, 2.2-2.5 mm. long,
1.5-2 mm. wide, distinctly 7 to 11-nerved; rachilla scariously winged; stamens 3;
style deeply 3-cleft; achenes ellipsoid-oblong, trigonous, basal one-third of margin
enfolded by scarious rachilla wings, olive-brown, sublustrous, minutely punctate.
Canyons, wet meadows and mt. slopes in Ariz. (Pima Co.), Aug.-Sept.; also
Chih. and Son.
41. Cyperus hermaphroditus (Jacq.) Standl.
Tufted perennial; culms very slightly thickened, 15-80 cm. long, sub-basally
1-3 mm. thick, just below the inflorescence 0.7-2 mm. thick; leaves 1-3 mm.
broad, the longer ones about as long as the culm; inflorescences 3-15 cm. long,
of 4 to 8 or more slender very unequal peduncles each with a lax spike 1-3 cm.
long and 1-2 cm. thick, of 8 to 30 or more divaricately spreading spikelets in 3 or
4 ranks, secondary peduncles absent; bracts 3 to 8, the longer ones far-surpassing
the inflorescence; spikelets linear, 5-11 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. broad, more than
half as thick as broad, dull-brown, with 3 to 7 scales (the terminal one sterile,
tending to become involute and forming a short point), the axis at maturity detach-
ing as a unit from the spike axis, the internodes on their fertile side with 2 narrow
hyaline wings 1.3-2 mm. long and 0.3-0.5 mm. broad; scales 2.5-3.5 mm. long,
0.8-1.3 mm. broad, with about 9 nerves, overlapping, persistent; stamens 3; achene
1.6-1.8 (-2) mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. thick, trigonous, oblong to ellipsoid, yellow-
ish-brown to brown, substipitate, apiculate. Incl. var. angustior (Clarke) Kiikenth.,
C. thyrsiflorus Schlecht. & Cham., C. dissitiflorus Torr.
Rare in rich loam, shaded river woods, s.e. Tex. (Brazoria, Colorado, Harris
and Jackson cos.), and Ariz. (Pima Co.), summer; widespread in warmer parts of
Am., n. to Ala., La., Tex., Coah. and Ariz.
459
-------
Fig. 236: Cyperus ovularis: a, habit, X V2; b, spikelet, X 5; c, spikelet, X 15; d,
achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
42. Cyperus ovularis (Michx.) Torr. Figs. 236 and 237.
Tufted perennial; culms, foasally with tuberous enlargements, 25-80 cm. long,
sub-baisally 1-3 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 0.6-2 mm. thick; leaves
1.5-5 mm. broad, the longer ones about equaling the culms; inflorescence (1-)
3-12 cm. long, of (1 to) 3 to 8 very unequal peduncles each with a dense spherical
or prolate-spherical head 7-19 mm. long and 7-18 mm. thick, with (70 to) 100 to
240 spikelets borne spirally or in many ranks, about equally dense at top and
bottom, the upper spikelets ascending, middle ones spreading and lower ones
retrorsely appressed; secondary peduncles absent; bracts (2 or) 3 to 7, the longer
ones far-exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets 3.5-9 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. broad,
about half to three fourths as thick as broad, straw-brown to dark-brown, with 2 to
4 scales ( the terminal one or two sterile and forming a blunt point, not an awn),
straight, the axis at maturity detaching a unit from the head axis, the internodes on
the fertile side with hyaline wings 1-2 mm. long and 0.3-0.7 mm. broad, usually
not clasping the achene; fertile scales 2.5^4mm. long, 1.2-2 mm. broad, obtuse,
with about 9 nerves well-distributed over the width, overlapping, persistent; stamens
3; achene narrowly oblong, 1.8-2.2 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. thick, trigonous, brown
substipitate, apiculate. Inc. var. sphaericus Boeck. and var. robustus Britt., C.
Wolfii Wood.
Infrequent in moist or wet sand, wet soil on edge of lake and banks of ditches,
in Okla. (Carter, Pittsburg, Pushmataha and LeFlore cos.), e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex.,
spring-fall; e. U.S. n. to N.Y., Pa., O., Ind., 111. and Mo., w. to Kan., Okla. and
Tex.
The description above applies to the typical form. A more common form is the
var. cylindricus (Ell.) Torr. (C. retmrsus Chapm.) with narrower and proportion-
ally more elongate heads (actually short spikes), paler and with a slightly more
tawny-ochraceous tinge, with fewer spikelets on the average (50 to 100), only 2 or
3 scales per spikelet, the wings averaging slightly narrower, the wings, scales and
achene averaging shorter.
43. Cyperus globulosus Aubl. Fig. 238.
Tufted .perennial; culms slightly tuberous-enlarged basally, 1-8 dm. long, sub-
basally 1.5-2.5 mm. thick, just beneath the inflorescence 1—1.7 mm. thick; leaves
1.5-3 mm. broad, the longer ones about equaling the culms; inflorescences 2-8
cm. long, of 3 to 14 very unequal peduncles each with a dense head 7-15 mm. long
and 8-17 mm. thick, with 25 to 70 spikelets borne spirally or in a number of ranks,
about equally dense throughout, the upper spikelets ascending, the middle ones
spreading, the lower spreading or slightly descending but never retrorsely appressed;
secondary peduncles absent; bracts 4 to 11, the longer ones far-exceeding the inflor-
escences; spikelets 5-10 mm. long, 0.7-1.3 mm. broad, almost as thick as broad,
greenishjbrown to ochraceous-brown or olive, with 3 to 8 scales (the terminal one
sterile or staminate and forming a short point, or blunt), straight, the axis at
maturity detaching as a unit from the head axis, the internodes with hyaline wings
0.8-1.4 mm. long and 0.25-0.6 mm. broad and not clasping the achene; scales
2.5-3 mm. long, 1-1.3 mm. broad, obtuse, with usually 9 well-distributed nerves,
overlapping, persistent; stamens 3; achene narrowly oblong, 1.3-1.6 mm. long,
about 0.6 mm. thick, trigonous, brown, substipitate, subapiculate.
Frequent in moist or dry sandy soil, wet clay meadows and wet depressions,
in Okla. (Waterfall), e. and s.e. Tex., rare and in genetically dilute from inland
to n.-cen. Tex., summer-^fall; n. reputedly to Va. and Mo.
10. Cladium P. BR.
About 55 species of tropical and temperate regions, especially Australia; our
species almost cosmopolitan.
461
-------
Fig. 237: Cyperus ovularis var. cylindricus: a, habit, X
achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
b, spikelet, X 10; C,
-------
Fig. 238: Cyperus globulosus: a, habit, X %; b, spikelet, X 5; c, scale, X 15; d,
achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Cladium jamaicense Crantz. SAW-GRASS. Fig. 239.
Coarse erect reed 1-2.5 m. tall, with short rhizomes; leaves long, very tough,
channeled ventrally, with dangerous saw-toothed cutting margins; inflorescences
ample, 2-5 dm. long, much-branched, often droopy; spikelets ovoid, chestnut-
brown, 3-5 mm. long, in fascicles of 2 to 6 at ends of the branchlets, each with a
single fertile floret and below it 2 or 3 other spirally imbricate scales, all but the
lowest enclosing stamens; perianth absent; achene obovoid, apiculate, somewhat
lustrous, brownish, the obovoid body 2-2.5 mm. long, the apiculate 0.6-1 mm.
long.
Locally abundant in fresh water on margins of streams, ponds and lakes, mostly
in areas of calcareous soil, s.e. Tex., Rio Grande Plains, Edwards Plateau and
Trans-Pecos, summer; widespread in Carib. region, n. to Gulf States and Va. The
var. chinense (Nees) Koyama occurs in China and Japan.
Most of the plants of Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, and some plants of the
Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos, Texas, have, on the average, slightly smaller,
proportionately shorter and more numerous spikelets and denser inflorescences than
the plants described above. These have been segregated as a separate species, C.
californicum (Wats.) O'Neill. These differences are not well marked but usually
the plants from the above states, California and Coahuila are thought to be C.
calif ornicum.
11. Schoenus L.
About 100 species, world-wide in distribution.
1. Schoenus nigricans L. BLACK SEDGE. Fig. 240.
Coarsely tufted perennial; culms slender, wiry, erect, simple, 2-6 dm. long,
about 1 mm. thick; leaves basally crowded, the lower sheaths chestnut-black and
shiny, the upper blades tough, thin, wiry, involute, shorter than the culms, apically
spinose; bracts 1 or 2, the lower one far-surpassing the inflorescence, involute and
wiry like the leaves; inflorescence a single sessile glomerule of about 10 sessile
spikelets; spikelets laterally compressed, of about 5 to 10 distichous much-overlap-
ping dark-chestnut to blackish scales of which only the upper few produce mature
fruit; perianth bristles few, much shorter than the achene, minutely plumose at the
very base; style 3-branched; achene shortly obovoid-trigonous with convex sides,
pearly- or bony-white, shiny, jointed abruptly with the differently-textured style
which thus does not leave a tubercle.
Infrequent or rare in creek canyons, about hot springs and other wet places, s.
part of Tex. Edwards Plateau, spring; widespread in warm-temp, usually semiarid
parts of the world.
12. Dichromena MICHX WHITE-TOP SEDGE
Tufted or rhizomatous perennials with stems leafy basally, the blades 'ascending;
flowering culms terminating in an involucrate headlike agglomeration of spikelets,
the bracts white basally but green distally; spikelets usually whitish; scales several,
spirally imbricated or irregularly distichous, the terminal ones enclosing a fertile
floret, the lower ones staminate or empty; perianth absent; achenes lenticular,
transversely rugose, crowned with the broad persistent base of the style (tubercle)
as in Rhynchospora. Some authors would include Dichromena within Rhyncho-
spora.
One of the more easily recognizable of the sedges because of the white bases of
the bracts; these apparently function to attract insects. Most sedges, on the con-
trary, are thought to be wind-pollinated. About 60 species in the Western Hemi-
sphere.
464
-------
Fig. 239: Cladium jamaicense: a, top of plant, X %; b, base of plant, X %; c,
central part of culm and sheath, X %; d, section of leaf, X 1%; e, achene, about X 12.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 240: Schoenus nigricans: a, habit, X V>; b, scale, X 15; c, achene, X 15.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Plants densely tufted; rhizomes absent; culms 1 mm. or less thick; blades 3-7
cm. long, 1 mm. broad basally, arcuate-filiform in the distal part;
bracts 2 (rarely 3), the longer ones 17-37 mm. long, filiform most
of the length 3. D. nivea.
1. Plants with extensively creeping orangish or whitish rhizomes; culms 1.5-3
mm. thick basally; blades 6-25 cm. long, 1.2-4 mm. broad basally
and at least 1 mm. broad even in the distal part; bracts several, the
longer ones (20-) 40-130 mm. long, not filiform except perhaps
at the extreme apex (2)
2(1). The white spot at the base of the longer bracts 5-20 (-25) mm. long, a
(third to a) fifth to a tenth as long as the bracts; bracts 3 to 6
(or 7) 1. D. colorata.
2. The white spot at the base of the longer bracts 25-50 mm. long, about half as
long as the bracts; bracts 6 to 10 2. D. latifolia.
1. Dichromena colorata (L.) Hitchc. WHITE-TOPPED UMBRELLA GRASS. Figs. 241
and 242.
Rhizomes usually orangish, 2-3 mm. thick, extensively creeping, scaly; culms
12-56 cm. long, erect or often decumbent at the very base; leaves crowded basally,
mostly rather stiffly ascending, 2-6 mm. broad, linear-involute at the tip; bracts
3 to 6 (or 7), mostly basally ascending but for the most of the length spreading
or slightly reflexed, lanceolate, very unequal, the longer ones (3-) 5-15 cm.
long, (1.5—) 2.5-5 mm. broad basally, with a white spot 5-20 (-25) mm. long.
Locally frequent in swales, ditches and wet places generally, s.e. Tex., Rio
Grande Plains and Edwards Plateau, rare in s. part of e. Tex., w. to Terrell Co.
in the Trans-Pecos, (spring-) summer widespread in Carib. region, n. to Va. and
the Gulf States; e. Mex.
2. Dichromena latifolia Ell. Figs. 241 and 242.
Perennial with rhizomes 2-3 mm. thick; culms rather stiffly erect the full
length, 4—8 (-10) dm. long, 2-4 mm. thick basally; leaves crowded basally, ascend-
ing, 4—6 mm. broad basally, tapered upward and involute in the distal third,
apically pointed; bracts 6 to 10 mostly basally ascending but for most of the
length spreading or slightly reflexed, lanceolate, very unequal, the longer ones
5-10 cm. long, 4—10 mm. broad in the lower half, with a white spot 25-50 mm.
long (about half as long as the bract).
Locally frequent in poorly drained pine savannahs; s.e. Tex (Hardin and
Jefferson cos. only), summer; Gulf States and n. to N.C.
3. Dichromena nivea (Boeck.) Britt. Fig. 241.
Densely tufted; rhizomes absent; culms weak, ascending, 1-3 (-4) dm. long,
about 1 mm. thick or less; leaves in the lower part, flaccid, 3-7 cm. long, about
1 mm. broad basally, arcuate-filiform; bracts 2 (rarely 3), weak, the longer ones
17-37 mm. long, filiform most of the length, with a white spot only at the very
base, D. Reverchonii S. H. Wright, Rhynchospora nivea Boeck.
Locally frequent in creek beds through limestone on Tex. Edwards Plateau,
rare in n.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Marshall Co.), summer; also Ark.
13. Rhynchospora VAHL (corr. Willd.) BEAK-RUSH
Perennials (rarely annuals); culms leafy; inflorescence of each culm usually
divided into several discontinuous parts '(branches of the culm), the largest part
(appearing terminal) usually subumbelliform (occasionally much-reduced) with
several unequal primary branches (each subtended by a bracteal leaf) and these in
turn bearing spikelets or glomerules or corymbs of spikelets; the several axillary
parts of the inflorescence below usually reduced as compared to the terminal part,
467
-------
Fig. 241: a, Dichromena latifolia: a, inflorescence, X }£. b-e, Dfchromena nivea:
b, habit, X 1i>; c, spikelet pulled apart to show flowers, X 5; d, flower with scales re-
moved, X 5; e, achene, X 5. f-h, Dichromena colorata: f, habit, X }&; g, spikelet, X 5;
h, achene, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 242: a, Dichromena colorata: a, achene, X 25 b, Dichromena latifolia: b,
achene, X 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
occasionally reduced to virtual absence; spikelets with several spirally-disposed
scales, the axils of the lowest 1 (or 2) scales empty, the 1 to 10 axils above with
perfect flowers, and usually above that 1 or 2 scales enclosing staminate or rudi-
mentary flowers; scales usually broad, membranous, usually brownish with very
indistinct midnerves and no other nervation; bristles usually above 6 or 8 (or up
to 20) or reduced to virtual absence; stamens usually 1 or 2 or 3; style bifurcate
either at the very tip or usually much farther down, its base becoming indurate
and persisting on the achenial body as a tubercle of distinctly different texture;
achenial body usually distinctly biconvex, varying to nearly flat or nearly turgid,
the cells of the face usually variously sculptured and elongated, the walls often
prominent.
About 200 species, cosmopolitan in distribution, especially tropical, The name
has been 'misspelled as Rynchospora and Rhyncospora in various works.
1. Style nearly simple or very shortly 2-branched at the summit; achenial bodies
3.5-6 mm. long; tubercle 3.5-18 mm. long (2)
1. Style with 2 long branches; achenial bodies and tubercles mostly shorter (4)
2(1). Mature spikelet 7-10 mm. long; achenial body 3.5-4 mm. long; tubercle
3.5—4 mm. long 3. R. indianolensis.
2. Mature spikelet 15-23 mm. long; achenial body 4-5 mm. long; tubercle 13-18
mm. long (3)
3(2). Bristles (at least most of them) much-exceeding the achenial body
1. R. macrostachya.
3. Bristles shorter than the achenial body, stout and closely appressed
2. R. corniculata.
4(1). Achenial bodies pearly-white, 0.7-0.8 mm. long; tubercles 0.1-0.2 mm.
long, 0.15-0.2 mm. broad; spikelets with 5 to 8 fertile flowers;
perianth bristles absent (5)
4. Achenial bodies and/or tubercles considerably larger and often brownish in
color; spikelets with fewer fertile flowers; perianth bristles usually
present (6)
469
-------
5(4). Achenial body smooth under low magnification or faintly cellular-reticulate
under high magnification, the 2 faces strongly convex
4. R. divergens.
5. Achenial body with transverse ridges, the 2 faces only slightly convex
5. -R. pusilla.
6(4). Bristles conspicuously retrorsely barbed (7)
6. Bristles antrorsely barbed or plumose or absent or smooth (10)
7(6). Bristles 10 to 20 per achene; spikelets with only 1 fertile flower and this
appearing terminal (no rudimentary flower above it); inflorescence
usually merely a dense terminal fascicle 9. R. macra.
1. Bristles fewer; spikelets usually with 2 fertile flowers or one fertile flower and
a reduced one above it; each culm with several fascicles, one
terminal and several axillary, or if only one fascicle then culm
capillary (8)
8(7). Culms capillary; achenes inconspicuously margined, finely granulate to
slightly rugulose, achene body 1.7-2.6 mm. long, less than half
as wide 'as long 6. R. capillacea.
8. Culms 1-3.5 mm. thick basally; achenes with conspicuous pale wire-like
margins, smooth, castaneous, usually lustrous, achene body 1.3-1.7
mm. long, one half to three fourths as wide as long (9)
9(8). Central portions of the 2 sides of the achenial body abruptly raised in a
hump and polished-buffy, contrasting with the dark chestnut-brown
submarginal flat portions, the margins themselves pale and wirelike;
leaves basally 5-6 mm. broad; culms basally 2-3.5 mm. thick
7. R. glomerata.
9. The 2 sides of the achenial body rather evenly convex all over, grading from
buffy centrally to darker brownish marginally, the margins them-
selves slightly paler and wirelike; leaves basally 2-3 mm. broad;
culms basally 1-2 mm. thick 8. R. capitellata.
10(6). Bristles heavily plumose basally (11)
10. Bristles antrorsely serrulate or barbed, smooth or these absent (12)
11(10). .Spikelets 4-7 mm. long, 1 to 5 present per culm, remote on slender
pedicels; achene 2.3-2.6 mm. long (excluding tubercle)
10. R. oliganthra.
11. Spikelets 3-4 mm. long, more numerous, congested in spikelike fascicles;
achene 1.4-1.8 mm. long (excluding tubercle) 11. R. plumosa.
12(10). Achenial body smooth (13)
12. Achenial body with traverse wrinkles or traverse rows of cells with
sculptured walls (15)
13(12). Achenial body 0.9-1 mm. long; tubercle 0.4-0.6 mm. long
12. R. filifolia.
13. Achenial body 1.3-1.8 mm. long; tubercle 0.4—2 mm. long (14)
14(13). Tubercle 0.4-0.7 mm. long 13. R. fascicularis.
14. Tubercle 1-2 mm. long 14. R. gracilenta.
15(12). Terminal part of inflorescence of each culm very lax, with only 6 to 12
(to 20) spikelets each on a capillary pedicel 3-12 mm long- culms
only 0.6-1 mm. thick 17. R, rariflora.
15. Terminal fascicle denser with more spikelets or if as few as 12 then either
denser or else the culm thicker than 1 mm. basally (16)
470
-------
16(15). Horizontal rows of cells counted in vertical series near the middle of
one face of the achenial body numbering (14 to) 16 to 30 and
all the cells nearly isodiarnetric, the horizontal cell walls only
slightly if at all raised more than the vertical walls; achenes turgid,
1 mm. or more thick from the middle of one face to the middle
of the other (17)
16. Horizontal rows of cells usually 11 to 15; (except in R. mixta) those cells
near the middle of the face greatly vertically elongated and their
horizontal walls very prominent and forming horizontal wrinkles on
the achene, but those cells near the base and top of the body
nearly isodiametrdc; achenes less turgid, less than 1 mm. thick from
face to face (18)
17(16). Achenial body 2-2.4 mm. long, 1.5-1.8 mm. thick from face to face;
horizontal rows of cells 25 to 30 or more; spikelets 4-5.5 mm.
long 15. R. Gray;.
17. Achenial body 1.5—1.8 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. thick from face to face; hori-
zontal rows of cells (14 to) 16 to 20; spikelets 2.5-3 mm. long
16. R. Harveyi.
18(16). Achenial body twice as long as broad 18. R. inexpansa.
18. Achenial body less than twice as long as broad (19)
19(18). Bristles (most of them) surpassing the tubercle (20)
19. Bristles not surpassing the tubercle (22)
20(19). Achenial body 1.2—1.3 mm. long, the 2 faces nearly flat; plants never
rhizomatous; tubercle 0.3-0.4 mm. long 20. R. Elliottii.
20. Achenial body 1.3—1.7 mm. long, the 2 faces distinctly convex at least in the
upper part; plants rhizomatous (this often obscure in exsiccatae);
tubercle 0.4-0.9 mm. long (21)
21.(20). Achenial body only 0.8-0.9 mm. broad, with numerous indistinct trans-
verse lines 19. R. mixtra.
21. Achenial body 1.2—1.6 mm. broad, with strong transverse wrinkles
23. R. caduca.
22(19). Primary branches of the terminal part of the inflorescence straight,
stiffly ascending; faces of the achenial body definitely convex at
least in the upper half 24. R. globularis.
22. Primary branches of the terminal part of the inflorescence arcuate, often
slightly droopy; faces of the achenial body nearly flat or only very
slightly convex (23)
23(22). Bristles half as long as to nearly as long as the achenial body; blades
usually flat basally 21. R. microcarpa.
23. Bristles less than half as long as the achenial body; blades usually nearly all
strongly involute 22. R. perplexa.
1. Rhynchospora macrostachya Torr. HORNED-RUSH. Fig. 243.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-10 dm. long, erect, 3-7 mm. thick basally, trique-
trous, leafy; basal sheaths becoming markedly fibrous; inflorescence (at maturity)
clavate, 3-6 cm. thick, the branches numerous but rather short, erect; spikelets
subulate, rich-brown, 15-23 mm. long, the distal third consisting merely of the
protruding distal part of the tubercle; bristles; several (4 to 7), about 1.5 to 2.5
times as long as the achenial body, stiff, brownish, antrorsely barbed; achenial
body 4-5 mm. long, obovate, nearly flat on the 2 faces, dark-brown; tubercle
subulate, consisting of the indurated entire portion of the style, 13-18 mm. long,
pale-brownish to buffy. R. corniculata var. macrostachya (Torr.) Britt.
471
-------
Fig. 243: a-c, Rhynchospora corniculala: a, terminal inflorescence, X %; b, flower,
X 2V>; c, achene, X 2',->. d-f, Rhynchospora macrostachya: d, upper part of plant, X ]/£>;
e, achene, X 2V2; f, flower, X 2\'2. (V. F.).
-------
In mud about ponds and along ditches, and in and on edge of lakes, infrequent
in s.e. Tex., rare in e. Tex., and Okla. (LeFlore, Atoka and Pushmataha cos.),
summer; s.e. U.S. n. to N.E., N.Y. and Mo., w. to Kan., Okla. and Tex.
2. Rhynchospora corniculata (Lam.) Gray. HORNED-RUSH. Fig. 243.
Perennial, either tufted or usually with thick scaly rhizomes (these often broken
off in specimens); culms 6-11 dm. long, erect, 3-9 mm. thick basally, triquetrous,
very leafy; basal sheaths becoming only slightly fibrous; inflorescence at maturity
loose-obovoid, ample, 7-15 cm. thick, the numerous branches ascending to spread-
ing; spikelets subulate, rich-brown, 15—23 mm. long, the distal third to half
consisting merely of the protruding distal part of the tubercle; bristles 2 to 4
(or 5), about a third to two thirds as long as the achenial body, stiff, brownish,
closely appressed; achenial body 4-5 mm. long, obovate, nearly flat on the 2 faces,
dark-brown; tubercle subulate, consisting of the indurated entire portion of the
style, 13—18 mm. long, pale buffy.
Frequent in mud, on edge of lakes, along edge of swamps and in water of
ditches, in Okla. (Choctaw, McCurtain, Bowie, LeFlore and Sequoyah cos.), e. and
s.e. Tex., spring-summer, (fruiting into fall); s.e. U.S., n. to Del., Ky., Ind. and
Mo., w. to Okla. and Tex.; W.I.
Ours are nearly all of the var. interior Fern, in which the achenial body is
only about 1.5 times as broad as the base of the tubercle; a few are of the var.
corniculata in which the body is about twice as broad as the tubercle.
3. Rhynchospora indianolensis Small.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-9 dm. long, erect, 3-6 mm. thick basally, trique-
trous, leafy (especially in the basal part); terminal part of the inflorescence some-
what umbelliform, Cyperus-\ike, 4—9 cm. long, with several ascending rays each
bearing a dense roundish glomerule or capitulum of nearly sessile spikelets, usually
a reduced axillary part of the inflorescence present; spikelets 7-10 mm. long,
lanceolate, brown, acute, the tubercle only slightly if at all exserted; bristles 3 to 5,
about equaling the achenial body, stiff, appressed; achenial body 3.5-4 mm. long,
obovate, nearly flat on the 2 faces, dark brown; tubercle 3.5-4 mm. long, brown,
elongate-deltoid, acute or slightly acuminate.
Locally frequent in mud, s.e. Tex., summer; endemic.
4. Rhynchospora divergens M.A. Curtis.
Tufted short-lived perennial (or annual?); culms 18-42 cm. long, 0.3-0.9 mm.
thick, erect; leaves numerous, 5-10 cm. long, setaceous-involute; terminal part
of the inflorescence umbel-like, 1-2 cm. long, and 1 cm. broad, occasionally
1 or 2 reduced axillary parts of the inflorescence present below; spikelets linear,
3- to 10-flowered, about 1 mm. thick, the fruits very quickly maturing in suc-
cession acropetally as the spikelet elongates, the scales and achenes falling as the
achenes mature, eventually as many as 5 to 8 fruits maturing from a single spikelet
but only 1 or 2 visible at any one time; scales brownish, about 1.5 mm. long;
bristles absent; achenial body 0.7 mm. long, obovate, white, the 2 faces convex
and under low magnification appearing smpoth, under higher magnification faintly
cellular-reticulate; tubercle about 0.15 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, whitish, blunt.
Rare in moist or wet sand, s.e. Tex. (Aransas and Montgomery cos.), summer;
S.C., Ga, Fla., Bah. I. and Tex.
5. Rhynchospora pusilla M. A. Curtis.
Tufted short-lived Bulbostylis-like perennial; culms 15-30 cm. long, 0.2-0.7
mm. thick, erect; leaves numerous, 5-10 cm. long, setaceous-involute, terminal
part of the inflorescence reduced, somewhat umbel-like or corymbose, 6-20 mm.
long, 5-10 mm. broad, often reduced parts of the inflorescence also present from
473
-------
Fig. 244: Rhynchospora glomerata: a, top of plant, X %; b, scale, X 25; c, achene,
X 15. (Courtesy of R. K.. Godfrey).
the penultimate axils; spikelets, linear, 3- to 10-flowered, about 1 mm. thick, the
fruits very quickly maturing in acropetal succession and falling with the scales,
as many as 5 to 8 fruits maturing from a single spikelet but only 1 or 2 visible
at any one time; scales brownish, about 1-.5 mm. long; bristles absent; achenial
body 0.7-0.8 mm. long, obovate, whitish, the 2 faces nearly flat, with transverse
rugae; tubercle 0.1-0.15 mm. long, 0.15-0.2 mm. broad, whitish, blunt.
Rare in moist or wet sand, s. part of e. Tex. (Hardin Co.), summer; Fla. to
Tex.; W.I.
Some authors have referred these plants to R. intermixta Wright.
6. Rhynchospora capillacea Torr.
Tufted perennial; culms capillary, 1-4 dm. tall; leaves filiform, 0.2-0.4 mm.
wide, often as long as the inflorescence; inflorescence ellipsoid or ovoid, of
1-10 spikelets, the terminal 2-8 mm. broad, the 1 axillary fascicle subsessile or
short, peduncled; spikelets lanceolate, sessile or subsessile, brown, 5-7 mm. long,
1- to 5-fruited; scales with a pale margin; bristles 6 (or rarely more), retrorsely
barbed, as long as or longer than the tubercle; achenes obovate-oblong, marked
horizontally or rugose, 1.7-2.6 mm. long, less than half as wide, narrowed toward
the base; tubercle lanceolate, 0.8-1.6 mm. long.
474
-------
In calcareous meadows or calcoreous swamps and seepage areas, reported
from Bryan Co., Okla. by Waterfall; Nfld. to Sask., s. to N.J., Pa., Va., Tenn.,
Mo., Okla. and S.D.
7 Rhynchospora glomerata (L). Vahl. Fig. 244.
Tufted perennial; culms 6-11 dm. long, erect, 2-3.5 mm. thick basally, tri-
quetrous, leafy; larger leaves 5-6 mm. broad near the base of the plant; inflores-
cence variable, either of a number of subcapitate glomerules scattered along the
upper half of the culm ("var. glomerata") or a few more discretely grouped
glomerules ("var. angusta Gale"): spikelets lanceolate, 4.5-6 mm. long, rich-
dark-brown, with usually 2 fruits (less commonly 3 or 1, if with 1 then with a
terminal rudimentary flower); bristles ubout 6, exceeding the achene and often
about equaling the tubercle, somewhat dorsiventrally compressed, conspicuously
retrorsely barbed; achenial body pyriform, 1.5—1.7 mm. long, the 2 sides with an
abruptly raised central hump which is polished and buffy, contrasting with the
dark-chestnut-brown submarginal flat portion, the margins themselves pale like the
umbo; tubercle 1.3—1.8 mm. long, elongate-deltoid, much compressed, grayish.
In moist sand, wet sandy drainage area, ponds on edge of woods, in water of
seepage bog, in Okla. (LeFlore, McCurtain, pushmataha and Pittsburg cos.),
frequent in e. Tex., infrequent in s.e. Tex., summer; Gulf States, n. to Del., Va.,
Tenn. and Ark., w. to Okla. and Tex.
8. Rhynchospora capiteUata (Michx.) Vahl. Fig. 245.
Tufted perennial; culms 2-9 dm. long, erect, 1-2 mm. thick basally, bluntly
3-angled, leafy; larger leaves 2-3 mm. broad near the base of the plant; inflores-
cence of a few turbinate fascicles scattered along the upper half of the culm;
spikelets lanceolate, 3.5-5 mm. long, usually with 2 fruits (less commonly 3 or 1,
if with 1 then also with a terminal rudimentary flower); bristles about 6, exceeding
the achene, usually about equaling the tubercle, somewhat dorsiventrally com-
pressed, conspicuously retrorsely barbed; achenial body pyriform or obovate,
basally cuneate, 1.3—1.6 mm. long, the 2 sides merely convex (the central portions
paler, grading off into the darker brown submarginal zones, the margins themselves
pale like the center); tubercle elongate-deltoid, 0.9-1.6 mm. long, grayish, much-
compressed.
On banks of streams and spring branches and wet places in uplands, infrequent
or rare in Okla. (Adair and McCurtain cos.) and e. Tex. (Austin, Guadalupe,
Angelina, Henderson and Leon cos.), apparently always in acid boggy ground,
summer; e. U.S. n.e. to N.S., w. to Wise., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
9. Rhynchospora macra (Clarke) Small. Fig. 245.
Tufted (?) or with rhizomes about 1 mm. thick; culms 3-7 dm. long, erect,
triquetrous, 1.5—2 mm. thick near the base; leaves several, the blades 2-3.5 mm.
broad near the base of the plant; inflorescence primarily a large terminal turbinate-
corymbose fascicle 1-3 cm. broad, 1 or 2 extremly reduced axillary fascicles
also present; spikelets linear-lanceolate, 4—5 mm. long, pale brown, each with a
single fertile flower and never a higher rudimentary one; bristles 10 to 20 per
achene, much-surpassing the body, conspicuously retrorsely barbed; achenial body
pyriform 1.8-2 mm. long, brown (the raised central portions of the 2 sides paler,
buffy), the submarginal surfaces with very faint transverse wrinkles; tubercle
elongate-deltoid, much-compressed, about 1 mm. long.
Very rare in bogs in e. Tex. (Houston and Robertson cos.), summer; Ga., Fla.,
Miss, and Tex.
475
-------
Fig. 245: a-c, Rhynchospora capitellata: a, top of plant, X %; b, scale, X 15; c,
achene, X 15. d-g, Rhynchospora macro', d, top of plant, X 1; e, scale, X 15; f, achene
with usual bristles, X 15; g, achene with unusual smooth bristles, X 15. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 246: a-c, Rhynchospora oligantha: a, top of plant, X 1; b, scale, X 15; c,
achene, X 15. d-f, Rhynchospora plumosa: d, top of plant, X 1; e, scale, X 25; f,
achene, X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
10. Rhynchospora oligantha Gray. Fig. 246.
Tufted perennial; culms 15—45 cm. long, erect or ascending, 0.3-0.6 mm.
thick; leaves filiform-setaceous, resembling the stems; inflorescence of a lax
terminal fascicle and usually a remote reduced axillary one, each fascicle with
only 1 to 3 spikelets; spikelets on slender individual pedicles 3-10 mm. long,
narrowly ovoid, pale-brown, 4—7 mm. long, usually with 2 fruit (1 to 3); bristles
6, in the lower half densely plumose, slightly shorter than the body; achenial
body 2.3-2.6 mm. long, broadly ovate, dark-brown when mature, very turgidly
biconvex, transversely wrinkled, apically prounoncedly narrowed into a definite
hour-glassed-shaped turbercle base, tubercle very short-conic, 0.3-0.6 mm. long.
Rare in bogs and open seepage slopes, in e. Tex. (Austin, Henderson, Smith
and Waller cos.), spring (May-early June); N.J., Del, N.C., Ga. and Gulf States;
Gr. Ant.; C.A.
11. Rhynchospora plumosa Ell. Fig. 246.
Tufted perennial; culms wiry, 2-4 dm. long, erect, 0.6-1.1 mm. thick, basally,
stamineous; leaves setaceous-filiform, numerous, often curling toward the ends;
lower bracts of the fascicles elongate, wiry, like the leaves, far-surpassing the
inflorescence; inflorescence compact, congested, terminal, 1-3 cm. long, about
1 cm. thick, often spikelike; spikelets pale- to dark-brown, lance-elliptic, 3-4 mm.
long, usually with 1 or 2 fruits; bristles 6, densely plumose in the lower part;
achenial body broadly obovate, 1.4—1.8 mm. long, brown, turgid, transversely
wrinkled, not narrowed apically; tubercle short-conic, about 0.5 mm. long, brown.
R. semiplumosa Gray.
Infrequent in wet soils along streams and in savannah-evergreen shrub bogs,
in s.e. Tex. (Hardin, Tyler and Newton cos.), Apr.-May; coastal flats, N.C. to
Tex.; Cuba.
12. Rhynchospora filifolia Gray. Fig. 247.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-6 dm. long, about 1 mm. thick near the base, erect,
wiry; leaves mostly involute, resembling the culms; inflorescence a terminal very
dense round-topped fascicle 10-15 mm. broad, plus usually one reduced fascicle
in the next lowest axil; spikelets cinnamon-brown, lanceolate, 3-5 mm. long, with
3 to 10 flowers, the 2 to 6 achenes and their scales quickly falling in acropetal
succession, upon maturation only 1 or 2 mature achenes present at any one time
and these usually exposed by the rapid shedding of the scales; bristles 6, usually
surpassing the tubercle, minutely antrorsely barbed; achenial bodies obovate,
0.9-1 mm. long, biconvex, the 2 polished smooth faces brown or the central por-
tions paler, buffy, tubercle deltoid, grayish, compressed, acute, 0.4-0.6 mm. long.
Rare in moist loam and wet areas in savannahs, in e. Tex. (Hardin and Waller
cos.), summer; coastal areas, N.J. to Tex.; Cuba.
13. Rhynchospora fascicularis (Michx.) Vahl. Fig. 248.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-13 dm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. thick basally, subterete
or obtusely 3-angled, leafy; leaves 1-4 mm. broad; inflorescence a crowded
terminal group of 1 to 3 fascicles (about 1 cm. broad and overtopped by the
setaceous bracts) plus usually 1 (rarely 2) remote similar axillary fascicles below;
spikelets 3.5—5 mm. long, lanceolate, cinnamon-brown, several-flowered and
-fruited, the scales caducous in acropetal succession, each falling just before
maturation of its achene; bristles about 6, minutely antrorsely serrulate or barbed;
achenial body nearly orbicular, biconvex, very dark-brown or fuscous except for
a buffy spot in the center of each of the 2 smooth faces, 1.4-1.5 mm. long;
tubercle deltoid, 0.4-0.7 mm. long, much-compressed, grayish.
478
-------
Fig. 247: Rhynchospora filifolia: a, top of plant, X 1%; b, scale, X 40; c. achene,
X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 248: a-c, Rliynchospora gracilenta: a, top of plant, X \t,\ b, scale, X 15; c,
achene, X 15. d-f, Rhynchospora fascicularis: d, top of plant, X f%; e, scale, X 25; f,
achene, x 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Infrequent in moist sand, savannahs and bogs in pinelands, in s.e. Tex.
(Arkansas, Tyler, Chambers and Jefferson cos.), summer; low coastal areas, Va.
to Tex.; Berm., Gr. Ant.
14. Rhynchospora gracilenta Gray. Fig. 248.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-9 dm. long, erect, 1-1.5 mm. thick basally, essen-
tially terete; leaves mostly confined to the base of the plant, the blades proximally
only 1-2.5 mm. broad, distally involute; inflorescence a terminal fascicle about
1 cm. broad and usually a remote slightly smaller axillary one a few cm. below;
spikelets broadly lanceolate, 3-4 mm. long, cinnamon-brown, with 2 or 3 flowers,
when 3 flowers present usually only the middle one or the upper 2 bearing fruit;
bristles about 6, about equaling the body or tubercle, minutely antrorsely serru-
late or barbed; achenial body broadly obovate or nearly orbicular, turgidly
biconvex, 1.3-1.8 mm. long, smooth, dark-brown (or a central spot on each of
the 2 faces slightly paler); tubercle much-compressed, whitish, 1-2 mm. long
including the straplike prolongation.
Infrequent in boggy ground and pitcher plant bogs, e. and s.e. Tex., summer
(-fall?); s.e. U.S. mainly near the coast, N.J. to Tex., less frequent inland to
Term, and Ark.
15. Rhynchospora Grayi Kunch. Fig. 249.
Tufted perennial; culms 4—7 dm. long, 1.5-2 mm. thick basally, erect; leaves
mostly crowded toward the base, curly, 2—4 mm. broad; inflorescence a dense
terminal fascicle about 1 cm. broad and long, of essentially sessile spikelets, plus
sometimes a reduced fascicle lower down; spikelets cinnamon-brown, 4-5.5 mm.
long, narrowly ovoid to broadly lanceolate, of 2 to 3 flowers, but usually maturing
only 1 fruit; bristles 6, minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial body broadly
obovate, 2-2.4 mm. long, 1.8-2.2 mm. broad, 1.5—1.8 mm. thick from face to
face, turgid, at maturity dark-brown, each face with 25 to 30 or more horizontal
rows of minute nearly isodiametric cells whose horizontal walls are only slightly
more prominent than the verticle walls; tubercle conic, 0.4—0.6 mm. high, basally
not wider than (but often appearing embedded in) the top of the body.
Rare in moist or wet sand, e. Tex. (Jasper and Liberty cos.), Mar.-May
(earlier-flowering than most beak-rushes); lowlands near the coast, Va. to Tex.;
Cuba.
16. Rhynchospora Harveyi W. Boott. Fig. 250.
Tufted perennial; culms 15-60 cm. long, 1-2 mm. thick near the base, erect,
obtusely triquetrous, leafy; leaves 1.5-3 mm. broad; inflorescence a dense terminal
fascicle about 5 mm. high and 5-10 mm. broad, of essentially sessile spikelets
plus usually 1 or 2 reduced similarly dense glomerules lower down; spikelets
cinnamon-brown, ovoid, 2.5-3 mm. long, usually with 2 flowers and setting 1
fruit; bristles 6, minutely antrorsely serrulate achenial body broadly obovate,
1.5—1.8 mm. long, 1.3—1.6 mm. broad, 1—1.5 mm. thick from face to face, turgid,
at maturity rick-dark-brown, each face with (14 to) 16 to 20 horizontal rows of
minute nearly isodiametric cells with prominent walls; tubercle conic, 0.4-0.5 mm.
long, basally no wider than (but often appearing embedded in) the top of the
body. R. Plankii Small.
Frequent to abundant in low places in open woods and prairies, wet soils on
edge of streams, e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., and Okla. (Pushmataha Co.), Apr.-
Sept; s.e. U.S. n. to Va., Tenn. and Mo., w. to Okla. and Tex.
17. Rhynchospora rariflora (Michx.) Ell. Fig. 251.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-6 dm. long, 0.6-0.9 mm. thick near the base,
ascending but often flexuous, essentially trete; leaves in lower half of plant,
481
-------
Fig. 249: a-c, Rhynchospora Cray!: a, top of plant, X 1; b, scale, X 12; c, achene,
X 12. d-f, Rhynchospora caduca: d, top of plant, X V>; e, scale, X 25; f, achene, X 25.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 250: a-c, Rhynchospora mixta: a, top of plant, X %; b, scale, X 25; c, achene,
X 25. d-f, Rhynchospora Harveyi: d, top of plant, X 1; e, scale, X 25; f, achene, X 25.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
capillary-setaceus; inflorescence of a terminal 6- to 12- (to 20-) spikeletted
lax subumbelliform unit 1-3 cm. broad, the individual capillary pedicels 3-12 mm.
long; spikelets narrowly ovoid, subacute, pale-cinnamon-brown, 3-4 mm. long,
with 2 to 4 flowers and maturing 1 to 3 fruits; bristles 6, shorter than the achenial
body, minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial body broadly obovate, 1.1-1.4 mm.
long, biconvex, pale-brown, the 2 faces with strong transverse ridges, tubercle
deltoid, compressed, 0.3-0.6 mm. long.
Rare in bogs or piny crayfish-land, savannahs, e. and s.e. Tex. (Austin, Harris,
Henderson, Anderson, Tyler, Leon, Orange and Waller cos.) May-June; coastal
areas, N.J. to Tex.; also Tenn., Gr. Ant. and C.A.
18. Rhynchospora inexpansa (Michx.) Vahl.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-8 dm. long, erect (or terminally drooping), wiry,
1.5-2 mm. thick near the base; leaves mostly basal, with long tough somewhat
curly blades; inflorescence fairly narrow, elongate and drooping; spikelets lanceo-
late, brown, 4.5-6 mm. long, with 2 to 5 flowers, setting 1 to 4 fruits; bristles
about 6, surpassing the tubercle, minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial body
elliptic-obovate, 2-2.2 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm. broad, much-compressed, the 2 flat
faces transversely rigid; tubercle deltoid, 0.9-1.2 mm. long.
Locally frequent in open pinelands, swamps, ditches, marches, in ponds,
savannahs and pineland bogs, e. and s.e. Tex. (Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson
and Liberty cos.), summer; Coastal States, Va. to Tex.; also Ark. and (?) Okla.
19. Rhynchospora mixta Small. Fig. 250.
Rhizomatous perennial; culms about 1 m. long, about 2 mm. or more thick
basally, leafy, erect or ascending (flexuous in the distal floriferous portion);
blades 3-4 mm. broad; inflorescence decomposed, open, the terminal portion
3-4 cm. broad, very lax, of about 25 spikelets, some of the ultimate glomerules
on long spreading arculate-erect peduncles 10-15 mm. long; spikelets narrowly
ovoid, 4-6 mm. long, brown, with 2 or more (rarely as many as 10) flowers,
1 (rarely as many as 10) fruit produced; bristles about 6, surpassing the tubercle,
upwardly minutely barbed; achenial body narrowly obovate, 1.3-1.4 mm. long,
0.8-0.9 mm. broad, turgidly biconvex, with very numerous faint transverse lines;
tubercle deltoid-attenuate, 0.4-0.9 mm. long, compressed.
Rare in sandy forested areas near streams, e. Tex. (Nacogdoches Co.), summer;
near the cost, N.C. to s.e. La.; Tex.
20. Rhynchospora Elliorrii A. Dietr.
Tufted perennial; culms 8-15 dm. long, 2.5-5 mm. thick basally, erect except
slightly nodding distally; leaf blades 4-5 mm. wide basally, mostly long-tapered,
strictly erect and appressed; inflorescence of 2 to 5 dense decomposed separate
portions, the terminal portion irregularly corymbiform, 2-6 cm. broad, of 150 to
300 spikelets; spikelets ovoid, rich-dark-brown, 2.5-3.2 mm. long, with 3 to 6
flowers and setting 2 to 4 fruits; bristles 6, surpassing the tubercle, minutely
antrorsely serrulate, not closely appressed to the achene but slightly spreading
basally and arcuate-erect; achenial body obovate, tawny-brown, 1.2-1.3 mm. long,
0.9-1.1 mm. broad, with very pronounced traverse ridges on the 2 nearly flat
faces; tubercle deltoid, 0.3-0.4 mm. long. R. schoenoides (Ell.) Wood, an illegit.
name.
Frequent in moist or wet sand in savannahs, in e. and s.e. Tex., summer; near
the coast, N.C. to Tex. (except Fla.)
21. Rhynchospora microcarpa Gray. Fig. 251.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-8 dm. long, 2-3 mm. thick basally, erect; leaves
mostly appressed or curly, 2-3 mm. broad basally; inflorescence in (1 or) 2 to 4
484
-------
Fig. 251: a-c, Rhynchospora microcarpa: a, top of plant, X 1; b, scale, X 25; c,
achene, X 25. d-f, Rhynchospora rariflora: d, top of plant, X %; e, scale, X 25; f,
achene, X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 253: a-c, Rhynchospora globularis: a, top of plant, X 1,4; b, scale, X 25; c,
achene, X 25. d-f, Rhynchospora pcrplexa: d, top of plant, X I; e scale, X 30; f,
achene, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
parts per culm, the terminal part irregularly corymbiform, dense, nearly erect,
2-6 cm. broad, of 100 to 200 spikelets or less commonly fewer; spikelets ovoid to
narrowly ovoid, 2.5-3 mm. long, dark-rich-brown, with 3 or 4 flowers and setting
2 or 3 fruits; bristles about 6, from half as long as to as long as the body or
rarely nearly equaling the tubercle, stiffly erect and mostly appressed to the body,
minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial body obovate, 1-1.2 mm. long, 0.8-1.2
mm. broad, the 2 nearly flat or very slightly convex faces with strong transverse
wrinkles; tubercle deltoid, 0.2-0.5 mm. long.
Rare in moist or wet sand, s.e. Tex. (Aransas Co.), summer; near the coast,
Fla. and Ga. to Tex.; Bah. I., Hisp. and Cuba.
22. Rhynchospora perplexa Small.
Tufted perennial; culms 5-11 dm. long, 1.5-2 mm. thick basally, wiry, erect
or very slightly flexuous in the floriferous region; leaf blades 1-2 mm. broad
basally, mostly strongly involute; inflorescence in 1 to 3 parts per culm, the
terminal part very irregularly cormbiform, 1-4 mm. broad, usually dense and with
upwards of 100 to 200 spikelets; spikelets ovoid, rich-dark-brown, 2.5-3 mm.
long; bristles about 6 or fewer, less than half as long as the body to which they are
appressed or reduced to virtual absence; achenial body obovate, 1-1.3 mm. long,
0.9-1.2 mm. broad, tawny, the 2 nearly flat or very slightly convex faces with
strong transverse wrinkles; tubercle deltoid, 0.2-0.3 mm. long.
Rare in moist or wet sand in e. and s.e. Tex. (Aransas, Hardin, Tyler and
Waller cos.), late spring-summer; Coastal States, s.e. Va. to Tex.; Tenn.; Gr. Ant.
Probably not specifically distinct from R. microcarpa.
23. Rhynchospora caduca Ell. Fig. 249.
Rhizomatous perennial; culms 7-13 dm. long, 2-4 mm. thick near the base,
ascending but quite flexuous in the upper part; leaves 4-7 mm. broad below the
middle, tapering in both directions; inflorescence of 3 to 5 parts per culm, the
terminal part obovoid, irregularly corymbiform, 2-4 cm. broad, with 60 to 125
spikelets, some of the primary branches commonly elongate, erect and 1-2 cm.
long; spikelets rich-dark-brown, ovoid, 4-4.5 mm. long, with 3 to 6 flowers and
setting 2 to 5 fruits; bristles about 6, surpassing the tubercle and somewhat stiffly
spreading away from the body basally, minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial
body obovate, 1.4-1.7 mm. long, 1.2-1.6 mm. broad, the 2 faces with strong
transverse wrinkles and at least in the upper part pronouncedly convex; tubercle
deltoid, 0.6-0.8 mm. long.
Frequent in moist or wet sand in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and s.e. Tex. (Liberty
and Polk cos.), less frequent in e. Tex. (Bowie Co.) and very local in Burnet
and Llano cos. on the Edwards Plateau, summer; Coastal States, Va. to Tex.;
also Ark. and Okla.
24. Rhynchospora globularis (Chapm.) Small. Fig. 253.
Tufted perennial; culms (15-) 30-75 (-90) cm. long, 1-1.8 (-2.5) mm. thick
near the base, basally often shortly reclining, mostly erect, leafy with the old
sheaths basally becoming somewhat fibrous; blades 1.5-4 mm. broad; inflorescence
in 1 to 4 parts per culm, the terminal part usually strictly erect, of several
straight stiffly ascending unequal branches each topped by a corymbiform
glomerule 8-15 mm. broad (broader than high) and often with stiffly erect
setaceous protruding bracts; spikelets ovoid, 2.5-4 mm. long, cinnamon-brown,
with 1 to 4 flowers and setting 1 to 3 fruits; bristles about 6, shorter than the
body of the achene, minutely antrorsely serrulate; achenial body obovate, 1.2-1.6
mm. long, 1—1.5 mm. broad, castaneous, with 2 faces which are convex at least in
the upper part and have strong transverse wrinkles; tubercle deltoid, 0.3-0.6 mm.
487
-------
Fig. 254: Psilocarya nitens: a, habit, X i£; b, sheath, X 3; c, spikelet, X 5; d,
achene, X 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
long. R. cymosa of many auth., not (Willd.) Ell., R. globularis var. recognita
Gale, R. obliterata Gale.
Moist sandy soil, bogs, seepage areas, ditches, wet coastal savannah-prairie,
in Okla. (McCurtain, Sequoyah and Pushmataha cos.), frequent in e. Tex.,
infrequent in s.e. Tex. and rare inland to n.-cen. Tex., late spring-summer; wide-
spread in s.e. U.S., n. to N.J., Tenn. and Mo., w. to Okla. and Tex.; also Calif.,
W.I. and C.A.
14. Psilocarya TORR. BALD RUSH
An American and Australian genus of about 6 species, included by several
workers in Rhynchospora.
1. PsHocarya nitens (Vahl) Wood. Fig. 254.
Said to be annual but occasionally with weak short rhizomes and often rooting
from the lower nodes; culms few, erect, soft, 3-8 dm. long, 1-4 mm. thick, usually
with 1 to 3 weakly exserted ascending branches in the middle part; leaves crowded
in lower half of culm, with long acute ascending blades; main panicle lax, terminal
on main stem, smaller panicles terminating the branches; bracts several, attached
at close intervals along the panicle axis, shorter than the inflorescence; inflorescence
axis about 1 cm. long, with several unequal divergent mostly naked branches
bearing racemes of spikelets; spikelets 5-9 mm. long, narrowly ovoid, acute;
scales numerous, spirally attached, strongly imbricate, brown, ovate, acute, all
fertile; perianth absent; style branches 2; base of style becoming indurated and
persistent on the achene as a low grayish tubercle almost as broad as the achene
itself (but not as thick); achene plumply biconvex, Rhynchospora-like, strongly
transversely wrinkled.
Infrequent or rare, usually in marshy places, in mud at edge of water and on
vegetation mats in lakes, in s.e. Tex. (Hardin, Houston and Madison to Aransas
cos.); coastwise, Mass, to Tex.; local in n.w. Ind.
15. Selena BERG. STONE-RUSH. NUT-RUSH
About 200 species, mostly tropical and subtropical.
1. Selena Muhlenbergii Steud. Fig. 207.
Annual with fibrous roots or perennial with very short rhizomes; culms 15-80
cm. long, 1—1.6 mm. thick, trigonous or somewhat compressed, tufted, weak and
diffuse; sheaths sometimes somewhat winged; blades 15-25 cm. long, 1-4 (-8)
mm. broad, flat, often with cartilaginous margins, sometimes scabrous marginally
and on the nerves beneath; inflorescence terminal and axillary (the lateral ones
very remote, on long setaceous-filiform compressed often recurved or drooping
peduncles), loosely flowered, the clusters 1-3 cm. long; spikelets 2-4 mm. long;
hypogynium deeply 3-lobed, the lobes ovate-lanceolate, subacute, appressed;
achene 2 mm. long, more or less reticulate, the transverse ridges pilose, sordid-
white, globose-elliptic, umbonate, the ridges somewhat spirally disposed. S. setacea
of many auth., non Poir.
Moist sand, about lakes, edge of water, pitcher plant bogs, pineland bogs, and
seepage slopes, infrequent in e. Tex. (Angelina, Tyler and Henderson cos.), rare
in n. part of Rio Grande Plains (Guadalupe Co.); N.Y. to Ind. and s. to Gulf
States; W.I., Mex., C.A., s. to Braz. and Bol.
16. Carex L. SEDGE. CARIC-SEDGE
Perennials with well-developed leaves, mostly monoecious; inflorescence of
several to many more or less spikelike spikelets emerging singly from the axils
of the upper leaves (herein called bracts) (in C. leptalea the spikelet solitary), in
some species the spikelets so numerous and crowded and the bracts so reduced
489
-------
that the inflorescence appears headlike or spikelike; spikelets of few to many uni-
sexual flowers arranged spirally around the axis (rarely in definite rows) either
wholly staminate or pistillate or androgynous (with staminate flowers at top, pistil-
late below) or gynecandrous (reverse order); staminate flowers comprising merely
3 stamens (rarely 2) subtended by a scale; pistillate flowers merely a scale sub-
tending a "perigynium" that encloses an achene; perigynium an indehiscent bag
or envelop completely enclosing the achene (but not adherent to it) except at
the minute apical orifice through which the stigmas protrude at anthesis, falling
with the mature achene and thus a spurious outer portion of the fruit which is
unique to this genus.
AJI enormous, technical genus occurring in moist temperate and moist cool
tropical regions. Carex is in dire need of critical taxonomic study bolstered by
cytology and by field and garden studies which might elucidate many of the
problems arising from hybridization or introgression. The keys and descriptions
can be used only when the material to be determined is complete with under-
ground parts and has fully mature achenes, the latter to be examined carefully at
a magnification of at least 15 diameters.
Presumably caric-sedges provide some forage for stock.
(Part of treatment adapted from F. J. Hermann "Manual of the Carices of the
Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin." Agr. Handb. No. 374, Forest Service,
U.S. Dept. Agric. 1970).
1. Achenes lenticular or plano-convex; stigmas 2 (2)
1. Achenes trigonous; stigmas 3 (43)
2(1). Terminal spike androgynous or gynecandrous (except C. Douglasii which
is dioecious); lateral spikes short and sessile (3)
2. Terminal spike staminate, (rarely gynecandrous or androgynous); lateral
spikes peduncled or elongate and sessile (35)
3(2). Some or all spikes androgynous, not gynecandrous (or plants dioecious)
(4)
3. Some (especially the terminal) or all spikes gynecandrous, with staminate
flowers at base or scattered, not at apex (15)
4(3). Rhizomes slender, elongating; culms mostly solitary; spikes (at least the
lower) distinct (5)
4. Rhizomes short, not freely stoloniferous, with short internodes; culms or leafy
tufts approximate (8)
5(4). Plants dioecious or nearly so; perigynium beak nearly as long as the body
1. C. Douglasii.
5. Plants not dioecious, the spikes mostly androgynous; perigynium beak shorter
(6)
6(5). Perigynia plump, unequally biconvex, rounded to the summit with fine
nerves on both surfaces, white-punctate 4. C.. disperma.
6. Perigynia broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, nerveless or nearly so, winged
(7)
7(6). Perigynia yellowish, brown to chestnut-brown, 1.7-2.7 mm. long, hyaline-
winged at the center; rootstock and lower sheaths light-brown
2. C. simulata.
1. Perigynia brownish-black, 3-4 mm. long, thin-coriaceous with sharp coriaceous
margins; rootstocks blackish, fibrous 3. C. praegracilis.
8(4). Spikes 2 to 15 in an ovoid, bractless head, 10-15 mm. long and 4-9 mm.
thick 6. C. cephalophora.
8. Spikes numerous, in paniculate spikelike heads, usually 2 to several on each
lateral branch (9)
490
-------
9(8). Leaf sheaths close; blades firm; culms slender and firm; perigynia firm, flat
or merely convex on inner surface (10)
9. Leaf sheaths loose; blades soft to firm; culms soft, flattened under pressure;
perigynia spongy or corky at base, thin and soft, more or less
inflated (13)
10(9). Inner nerveless ventral band of leaf sheath not cross-puckered; perigynia
broadly compressed, obovoid or obpyramidal, abruptly beaked
7. C. decomposita.
10. Inner nerveless ventral band of leaf sheath cross-puckered and/or red-dotted;
perigynia flat on inner face (11)
11(10). Leaves flat, exceeding the culm; perigynia ascending, 1.7-3 mm. long;
scales, ovate, the 3-nerved center green, terminating in a long
rough awn 8. C. vulpinoidea.
11. Leaves thickish, flat or channeled, usually not exceeding the culm; perigynia
ascending or spreading, 3.5-4 mm. long; scales acute or cuspidate
(12)
12(11). Perigynia 1.6—1.8 mm. wide, almost black at maturity; achenes 1.5 mm.
long (Ariz.) 9. C. alma.
12. Perigynia 2 mm. wide, light-green or brown; achene 2 mm. long (Okla.)
10. C. fissa.
13(9). Bases of perigynia disklike; beak 2 to 3 times length of body
11. C. crus-corvi.
13. Bases of perigynia not disklike; beak 1 to 2 times length of body (14)
14(13). Leaf sheaths cross-puckered ventrally, without band at the orifice
12. C. stipata.
14. Leaf sheaths smooth ventrally, with band at the orifice....13. C. laevivaginata.
15(13). Perigynia with rounded to very narrow margins or edges, without def-
inite winged margins, thickened or corky at the base (16)
15. Perigynia with thin or winged margins, mostly with concave inner faces, not
spongy or corky at the base (20)
16(15). Perigynia with rounded margins, ascending or merely spreading-ascend-
ing, of soft or membranaceous texture (17)
16. Perigynia with thin but scarcely winged margins, ascending to horizontally
divergent or reflexed in maturity, firm, very spongy at base (19)
17(16). Perigynia ovoid-oblong, 1.8-3 mm. long, more or less nerved on both
surfaces; beak very short or obsolete 5. C. canescens.
17. Perigynia ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 3.5-4.5 mm. long; beak half the
length of the body (18)
18(17). Perigynia shallowly bidentate, 3.5-4 mm. long; spikes ovoid or oblong,
the lateral pistillate 14. C. leptopoda.
18. Perigynia deeply bidentate, 4-4.5 mm. long; spikes linear-oblong, all gyne-
candrous 15. C. Bolanderi.
19(16). Beak of perigynia only minutely notched; perigynia 1-2 mm. wide,
nerveless or essentially so; heads 1-3 cm. long, of subglobose spikes
about 4 mm. in diameter 16. C. interior.
19. Beak of perigynia sharply bidentate at tip; perigynia 2-2.5 mm. wide, strongly
nerved on both surfaces; heads 2-6 cm. long, of 3 to 6 echinate
spikes mostly 7-12 mm. long and 6-8 mm thick 17. C. atlantica.
20(15). Spikes 1.5-2.5 cm. long, long-cylindric; perigynia 7-10 mm. long, thin
and scalelike 18. C. muskingumensis.
20. Spikes less than 1.5 cm. long; perigynia less than 7.7 mm. long (21)
491
-------
21 (20). Perigynia at most 2 mm. wide (22)
21. Perigynia more than 2 mm. wide (28)
22(21). Bracts conspicuously exceeding the head but not leaflike
19. C. athrostachya.
22. Bracts wanting or setaceous (23)
23 (22). Perigynia barely distended over the achene, thin and scalelike (24)
23. Perigynia obviously distended over achene, firm (26)
24(23). Sheaths loose and loosely ribbed, veined ventrally with a hyaline summit;
wings of perigynia abruptly narrowed above the base (Tex. and
Okla.) 20. C. tribuloides.
24. Sheaths close, ventrally hyaline; wings of perigynia extending continuously
to the base (Ariz. & N.M.) (25)
25(24). Perigynia 3.5-5 mm. long; beak of perigynium slender and terete, not
serrulate (or only slightly) at the usually dark-colored tip; spikes
distinguishable but aggregated into an ovoid or suborbicular trun-
cate-based head 21. C. microptera.
25. Perigynia 4—7 mm. long; beak of perigynium flattened and serrulate to the
pale tip; spikes aggregated into an oblong or linear-oblong head
22. C. scoparia.
26(23). Perigynia ovate, broadest below the middle; spikes often clavate at base..
23. C. festucacea.
26. Perigynia obovate to suborbicular or elliptic to rhombic, broadest at or above
the middle (27)
27(26). Inflorescence 6-10 mm. thick; spikes ovoid, each with 30 to 50 perigynia
which are 2.8-3.2 (-3.5) mm. long and 1.6-2.2 mm. broad
24. C. albolutescens.
27. Inflorescence 12-15 mm. thick; spikes narrowly ovoid, each with 55 to 80
perigynia which are (3-) 3.5-4.2 (-4.5) mm. long and 1.7-2.5
mm. broad 25. C. Longii.
28(21). Scales acute to blunt, without awn-tips (29)
28. Scales awn-tipped; body of perigynium broadest near the summit
26. C. data.
29(28). Perigynia thin and scalelike, barely distended over the achene, lanceolate
to narrowly ovate, 1.2-2.6 mm. wide 22. C. scoparia.
29. Perigynia firmer and thicker, usually well-distended over the achene (30)
30(29). Beak of perigynium short and broad, gradually tapering into the firm
broadly elliptic to rhombic body of the perigynium which is 3-4.5
mm. long and 1.7-2.5 mm wide 25. C. Longii.
30. Beak of perigynium elongate and narrow above, more abruptly differentiated
from the obovate or suborbicular body of the perigynium which is
3.5-7.7 mm. long (31)
31 (30). Perigynia pale-green to dull-brown, 2.8-3.5 mm. long, 1.6-2.2 mm. wide,
the obovate to suborbicular bodies broadest above the middle
24. C. albolutescens.
31. Perigynia stramineous or greenish, 3.5-8.5 mm. long, 2.3-6 mm. wide, the
bodies broadest below the middle (32)
32(31). Perigynia strongly nerved on ventral surface (33)
32. Perigynia ventrally essentially nerveless or nerves few (34)
33(32). Perigynia 15 to 30 per spike, broadly ovate, with transverse wrinkles
between the veins on the ventral side; perigynia 2.5-3.2 mm. wide....
27. C. hyalina.
492
-------
33. Perigynia more numerous per spike, ovate, broadly winged, nerved dorsally
and ventrally; perigynia 2.7-4.8 mm. wide 28. C. Bicknellii.
34(32). Larger perigynia (including beaks) 5.5-8.5 mm. long
29. C. Brittoniana.
34. Larger perigynia (including beaks) 2.8-5.5 mm. long 30. C. reniformis.
35(2). Bracts long-sheathing; perigynia golden-yellow or whitish-pulverulent at
maturity (36)
35. Bracts nearly or quite sheathless; perigynia not golden-yellow nor pulverulent
at maturity (37)
36(35). Mature perigynia whitish-pulverulent, elliptic-obovoid, not fleshy nor
translucent, rather obscurely ribbed; scales appressed..31. C. Hassei.
36. Mature perigynia golden-orange to rich dark-brown, orbicular-obovoid, fleshy,
translucent, coarsely ribbed; scales spreading 32. C. aurea.
37(35). Scales aristate, subulate-tipped; equaling or longer than the perigynia
33. C. crinita.
37. Scales obtuse to acute, not aristate (38)
38(37). Flowering culms from the center of a tuft of leaves of the previous year
(39)
38. Flowering culms all or mostly arising laterally, not from the center of a tuft
of leaves from the previous year (42)
39(38). Leaf sheaths breaking and becoming filamentose 34. C. senta.
39. Leaf sheaths not becoming filamentose when breaking (40)
40(39). Perigynia conspicuously veined or ribbed ventrally (41)
40. Perigynia nerveless ventrally or with obscure impressed nerves; scales
appressed 35. C. aquatilis.
41(40). Perigynia early-deciduous, membranaceous, conspicuously stipitate, the
apiculate beak entire; lowest bract exceeding the inflorescence
36. C. Kelloggil.
41. Perigynia persistent, coriaceous, strongly ribbed, the broad beak bidentate;
lowest bract equaling the inflorescence 37. C. nebraskensis.
42(38). Lower sheaths fibrillose; juncture of sheath and blade V-shape
38. C. stricta.
42. Lower sheaths not fibrillose; juncture of sheath and blade flat or slightly
arcuate 39. C. Emoryi.
43 (1). Lower part of style hard, texturally similar to the achene, persistent (44)
43. Lower part of style jointed to achene, texturally different, withering and be-
coming detached from mature achene (59)
44(43). Perigynia obconic or broadly obovoid, truncate or abruptly rounded to
a long subulate beak (45)
44. Perigynia subulate to ovoid or subglobose, gradually tapering to a beak (48)
45(44). Spikes elongate, linear-cylindric; achene silvery-black, minutely pitted....
40. C. ultra.
45. Spikes subglobose to thick-cylindric or ellipsoid; achene yellow to brown,
granular (46)
46(45). Terminal spike staminate; pistillate rough-awned scales longer than the
perigynia 41. C. Frankii.
46. Terminal spike gynecandrous; pistillate scales shorter than the bodies of the
perigynia (47)
47(46). Pistillate scales obtuse; style straight 42. C. typhina.
47. Pistillate scales acuminate or awned; style curved 43. C. squarrosa.
493
-------
48(44). Perigynia firm, tough-membranous, only slightly acuminate
44. C. hyalinolepis.
48. Pergynia thin or papery, acuminate (49)
49(48). Perigynia finely and closely ribbed; pistillate scales with scabrous awns
equal to or longer than the body of the scales (50)
49. Perigynia coarsely ribbed; pistillate scales blunt to cuspidate or short-awned
(53)
50(49). Perigynia closely investing base of achenes, not inflated, greenish, be-
coming pale-brown, the teeth arched-divergent; leaves strongly sep-
tate-nodose; ligules prolonged 45. C. comosa.
50. Perigynia loosely investing achenes, inflated, straw color or yellow-green;
leaves less conspicuously septate-nodose; ligules about as broad as
long (51)
51(50). Perigynia 2.5-4 mm. thick, about 10-nerved 48. C. lurida.
51. Perigynia less than 2 mm. thick, with 12 to 20 nerves (52)
52(51). Perigynia 5-7 mm. long, inflated, the beak about 2 mm. long; body of
pistillate scales small 46. C. hysteridna.
52. Perigynia 4-5 mm. long, slightly inflated, the beak 1.5 mm. long; body of
pistillate scales large 47. C. Thurberi.
53(49). Perigynia 8-20 mm. long (54)
53. Perigynia 3.5-8 mm. long (58)
54(53). Perigynia subulate to slenderly lanceolate, 1-3 mm. thick, delicately
nerved, barely inflated 51. C. folliculala.
54. Perigynia lanceolate to ovoid or flask-shaped, 3-8 mm. thick, strongly
nerved, usually much inflated (55)
55(54). Plants densely cespitose, without elongate stolons; pistillate spikes glo-
bose or nearly so; style straight or slightly bent (56)
55. Plants stout and leafy, with creeping stolons; pistillate spikes thick-cylindric
or ellipsoid; style spirally bent (57)
56(55). Perigynia cuneate at base, firm, opaque, dull-green, often hispidulous
52. C. Grayi.
56. Perigynia rounded at base, membranous, lustrous, glabrous
53. C. intumescens.
57(55). Achene longer than wide, the angles prominent but not really knobby
54. C. lupuHna.
57. Achene wider than long, the angle definitely knobby 55. C. gigantea.
58(53). Rhizomes without horizontal stolons; culms slender, rarely spongy-based;
leaves not conspicuously septate-nodulose; ligule longer than wide
49. C. vesicaria.
58. Rhizomes with long horizontal stolons; culms mostly thick and spongy at
base; leaves prominently septate-nodulose; ligule as wide as long....
50. C. rostrata.
59(43). Spike solitary per culm 56. C. leptalea.
59. Spikes 2 to numerous per culm (60)
60(59). Achenes only obscurely 3-angled, with rounded or convex sides, slightly
pubescent, closely filling the bodies of the perigynia (61)
60. Achenes definitely 3-angled, with flat or concave sides (62)
61(60). Most of the culms short and hidden among the leaves; perigynia 3-4
mm. long 57. c. nigromarginata.
61. Most of the culms not hidden among the leaves; perigynia 2.5-3 mm. long
58. C. physorhyncha.
494
-------
62(60). Perigynia tightly filled to tip by achenes; base of style bulbous-thickened
59. C. eburnea.
62. Perigynia not tightly filled by achenes, at least the summit usually empty
(except for the style) (63)
63(62). Bract at base of inflorescence (excluding rare basal spikes) sheathless
or barely sheathing (64)
63. Bract at base of inflorescence with a prolonged closed and tubular sheath
(76)
64(63). Leaves and perigynia glabrous (65)
64. Leaves (or sheaths) or perigynia or both pubescent (73)
65(64). Perigynia compressed (C. serratodens may be plump), 1-2 mm. thick,
strongly appressed-ascending (at least before maturity) (66)
65. Perigynia plump, 1.7-3.5 mm. thick, spreading to spreading-ascending (71)
66(65). Pistillate scales small, acute to obtuse, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, persistent,
purplish-black; perigynia 2-2.5 (-3.5) mm. long 60. C. media.
66. Pistillate scales larger or sharp-pointed or both; perigynia 3 mm. long or
more (67)
67(66). Terminal spike staminate 61. C. serratodens.
67. Terminal spike gynecandrous, the terminal flowers pistillate (68)
68(67). Perigynia densely papillose, glaucous-green, trigonous-biconvex; pistillate
scales usually aristate, their tips exceeding the perigynia
62. C. Buxbaumii.
68. Perigynia puncticulate or granular but not papillose; pistillate scales not
aristate (69)
69(68). Perigynia not granular-roughened, the margins smooth; lower spikes on
long slender peduncles 63. C. bella.
69. Perigynia granular-roughed, especially on the upper margins; spikes sessile
or short-peduncled (70)
70(69). Lowest spike slightly separate, short-peduncled; scales rough-papillose,
with very conspicuous white-hyaline apex and upper margins; apex
of perigynium body obtuse 64. C. albonigra.
70. All spikes densely aggregated, sessile; scales with very inconspicuous hyaline
margins; apex of perigynium body acute 65. C. nova.
71(65). Terminal spike pistillate except at base; perigynia as broad as long,
transversely rugose 66. C. Shortiana.
71. Terminal spike staminate; perigynia not transversely rugose (72)
72(71). Pistillate scales gradually tapering or rounded to the awn; perigynia 4-5
mm. long, strongly ribbed 67. C. Joorii.
72. Pistillate scales retuse and notched below the awn; perigynia 2.8-3.5 mm.
long, essentially nerveless 68. C. glaucescens.
73(64). Leaves septate-nodulose; perigynia densely soft-hairy
69. C. lanuginosa.
73. Leaves or sheaths pubescent; perigynia not pubescent (74)
74(73). Spikes usually 2 per culm, the lower ones 7-10 mm. thick; scales of
the lower part of the ovoid pistillate portion of the terminal spike
strongly cuspidate, 4—5 mm. long, longer than the perigynia;
perigynia 3-5 mm. long 70. C. Bushii.
74. Spikes usually 3 (sometimes 4) per culm, the lower ones 4-6 mm. thick;
scales of lower part of the ovoid-cylindric to cylindric pistillate
portion of the terminal spike 1.5-3 mm. long, shorter than or
equaling the mature perigynia; perigynia 1.8-2.8 mm. long (75)
495
-------
75(74). Perigynia in transaction flattened-triangular to unequally biconvex,
2.3-2.8 mm. long, ascending 71. C. complanata.
75. Perigynia in transection nearly round, 1.8-2.3 mm. long, spreading
72. C. caroliniana.
76(63). Perigynia ascending or not strongly divergent; the orifice entire, oblique
or but slightly notched (77)
76. Perigynia usually soon divergent, many-ribbed, 2-3 mm. long, the beak one-
third as long as the body; beak minutely bidentate
73. C. viridula.
77(76). Terminal spike regularly pistillate except at base 74. C. oxylepis.
77. Terminal spike regularly staminate throughout (78)
78(77). Culms from lateral buds or sometimes central, relatively weak, readily
compressed, soon shriveling after maturity of fruit; perigynia ellip-
soid-obovoid, 3-4.5 mm. long, strongly asymmetrical
75. C. blanda.
78. Culms from centers of leafy tufts, slender and firm, not easily compressed,
long-persistent after falling of fruit (79)
79(78). Pistillate spikes linear- to oblong-cylindric, the lower peduncled and
usually drooping or loosely spreading; perigynia lanceolate to fusi-
form or ovoid (80)
79. Pistillate spikes oblong-cylindric, erect or ascending, only rarely with elon-
gated peduncles; perigynia ellipsoid to oblong-ovoid or subglobose
(81)
80(79). Bases purple or purplish; lowest sheaths at base of culm without green
blades; perigynia fusiform-lanceolate, 4—10 mm. long
76. C. debilis.
80. Bases drab or brown; lowest sheaths at base of culms with elongate green
blades; perigynia lance-ovoid, subfusiform, 2—3 mm. long
77. C. capillaris.
81(79). Perigynia with elevated ribs, 2-3.6 mm. long (82)
81. Perigynia with impressed nerves, 4-6 mm. long (84)
82(81). Plant cespitose with several culms from a crown; leaves flat, flaccid;
staminate spikes sessile or short-peduncled 78. C. granularis.
82. Plant loosely stoloniferous with culms solitary; leaves often folded, firm;
staminate spike long-peduncled (83)
83(82). Pistillate spikes 4—6 mm. thick; perigynia 3-3.5 mm. long, many-nerved,
with minute hyaline-tipped beak 79. C. Crawei.
83. Pistillate spikes 7.5 mm. thick; perigynia 3-4.5 mm. long, definitely ribbed,
the beak strongly bidentate 80. C. microdonta.
84(81). Leaves thin and flaccid to firm, green, rarely glaucous, 1.5-4 mm.
wide; lower spike 8-13 (-20) mm. long, with 3 to 6 (to 10)
perigynia 81. C. amphikola.
84. Leaves firm to coriaceous, usually glaucous, 4—10 mm. wide; lower spike
12-50 mm. long, with 8 to 32 perigynia 82. C. flaccosperma.
1. Carex Douglasii Boott. Fig. 255.
Rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick, tough; culms 6-30 cm. tall, slender but stiff, obtusely
triangular, smooth, usually overtopping the leaves but sometimes shorter; leaves
clustered near the base, 5-15 cm. long, 1-2.5 mm. wide, involute above and flat
or channeled toward base; heads usually dioecious, the many spikes closely aggre-
gated but usually distinguishable; pistillate heads suborbicular to oblong, 1.5-5
cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. thick; scales yellowish-brown with broad hyaline margins and
496
-------
Fig. 255: Carex Douglasii: a, habit, staminate plant, X %; b, habit, pistillate plant,
X %; c, staminate flower with subtending scale, X 8; d, scale of pistillate flower, X 8, e,
perigynium, strongly nerved, abaxial view, X 8; f, pistillate flower with perigynium
removed, X 8; g, achene (cross section), X 8; h, perigynium, lightly nerved, adaxial
view, X 8; i, ligule, truncate with ciliate margin, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 96).
-------
Fig. 256: Carex simulate: a, perigynium, abaxial view, X 12; b, perigynium, adaxial
view, X 12; c, achene (cross section), X 12; d, pistillate flower with perigynium re-
moved, X 12; e, scale of staminate flower, X 12; f, scale of pistillate flower, X 12; g,
habit, showing bractless pistillate heads, X %; h, ligule (on adaxial side of blade),
X 8, i, ligular region of leaf, abaxial view, X 8; j, pistillate inflorescence, showing sub-
tending bracts, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 97).
-------
green center, acuminate to cuspidate, concealing perigynia; staminate heads similar
but somewhat narrower; lowest bract short-cuspidate, not extending beyond tip of
inflorescence; perigynia appressed-ascending, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4.5 mm. long,
1.7 mm. wide, straw-colored to brownish, plano-convex, coriaceous, lightly nerved
ventrally, strongly nerved dorsally, rounded and short-stipitate at base, sharp-
edged, serrulate above middle, the beak obliquely cut dorsally, in age minutely
bidentate, the apex hyaline; achenes lenticular, obovate, brown, shiny, about 1.7
mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide; style and 2 stigmas conspicuous at flowering time.
Wet meadows, in wet mud and on seepage banks or dryish alkaline flats, in
N.M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave and Cochise cos.); Can. to N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
2. Carex simulata Mack. SHORT-BEAKED SEDGE. Fig. 256.
Culms 2.5-5.5 dm. tall, sharply triangular and roughened on the angles above,
overtopping the leaves; leaf blades 2-4 mm. wide, flat or channeled, light-green;
spikes densely aggregated into a linear-oblong or oblong-ovoid head 12-25 mm.
long and 5-10 mm. thick, wholly pistillate, wholly staminate or pistillate and partly
staminate above, the lower spikes distinguishable; bracts absent or if present then
shorter than head, cuspidate and enlarged at base; pistillate scales concealing
perigynia, cuspidate or short-awned, brown with narrow hyaline margin and prom-
inent lighter midvein; perigynia ascending, unequally biconvex to plano-convex,
broadly ovate, smooth, shining, coriaceous, yellowish brown to chestnut-colored,
1.75-2.25 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, rounded and short-stipitate at base, sharp-
edged, nerveless ventrally, slenderly few-nerved dorsally, the upper part of the
body and beak serrulate (sometimes only sparingly so), the beak obliquely cut
dorsally, its apex at length minutely bidentate and slightly hyaline; achenes
lenticular, obovoid, yellowish-brown, 1 mm. long.
Wet meadows, streams, swales, or marshes, in N.M. (Grant and Sandoval cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Santa Cruz cos.); Mont, to Wash., s. to N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
3. Carex praegracilis W. Boott. CLUSTERED FIELD SEDGE. Fig. 257.
Perennial; rhizomes 2—4 mm. thick, blackish, fibrous, creeping (but with inter-
nodes only 1 mm. long); culms rising at close intervals, 12—30 cm. long, 1—3 mm.
thick, leafy; blades mostly folded, long-tapered to a fine point, the uppermost ones
usually slightly exceeding the inflorescence; inflorescence 15—45 mm. long, 6—10
mm. thick, of about 6 to 15 short glomeriform androgynous spikes, the lower 1
or 2 spikes usually weakly separated from the rest; scales hyaline marginally,
acuminate, longer than the perigynia; perigynia (about 10 per spike) plano-convex,
ascending, thin-coriaceous and brownish black when mature and with sharp
coriaceous margins, the body obovate or ovate, 3-4 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad,
tapering into a serrulate beak half the length of the body or more; achene lentic-
ular, about 1.3 mm. long, 1 mm. wide.
In wet meadows and water of streams and lakes, infrequent in moist canyons
of basaltic mts. at elev. of 4,000-8,000 ft. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos (Chisos and
Davis mts.), N.M. (Grant and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s.
to Cochise and Pima cos.), spring-early summer; temp. w. N.A., in mts. s. to
Mexico City.
4. Carex disperma Dewey.
Loosely tufted from long slender rhizomes; culms very slender and weak, 6-60
cm. high, mostly exceeding the leaves, usually nodding; leaves thin, soft and flat,
0.75-2 mm. wide; sheaths tight, very thin and hyaline ventrally; spikes 2 to 4,
androgynous, the lower separate, the upper aggregated, with 1 to 3 (or the ter-
minal with 3 to 6) perigynia and 1 or 2 apical inconspicuous staminate flowers;
499
-------
Fig. 257: Carex praegracilis: a, scale of upper pistillate flower, X 10; b, pistillate
flower with perigynium removed, X 10; c, perigynium, lightly several-nerved, beak
obliquely cut, abaxial view, X 10; d, perigynium, adaxial view, X 10; e, lower pistillate
spikes with short subtending bracts, X 4; f, achene (cross section), X 10; g, habit,
showing the erect-ascending leaf blades, X %; h, habit, showing the dark basal sheaths
and the culms extending above the leaves, X %; i, ligule, X 10. (From Mason, Fig. 98).
-------
Fig. 258: a-d, Carcx cephalophora: a, inflorescence, X 1%; b, pistillate scale, X 15;
c, perigynium, dorsal view, X 15; d, perigynium, ventral view, X 15. e-h, Carex fissa:
e, inflorescence, X 1; f, pistillate scale, X 10; g, perigynium, dorsal view, X 10; h,
perigynium, ventral view, X 10. i-1, Carex vulpinoidea: i, inflorescence, X 1; j, pistil-
late scale, X 12; k, perigynium, dorsal view, X 12; 1, perigynium, ventral view, X 12.
m-p, Carex retroflexa: (woodland species), q-t, Carex Muhlenbergia: (woodland
species). (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
scales ovate-triangular, white-hyaline with green midrib, narrower and shorter
than the perigynia; perigynia plump, unequally biconvex, elliptic-ovoid, 2-2.8
mm. long. 1.5 mm. wide, light-green to yellow-green, finely many-nerved on both
surfaces, white-punctate, short-stipitate, abruptly contracted into a minute entire
beak; achenes lenticular, oblong-elliptic, brownish-yellow, glossy, 1.7 mm. long,
1 mm. wide.
In boggy meadows, coniferous woods, and on peaty banks of streams and
lakes, in N. M. (Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.); Lab. to Alas.,
southw. to N.J., Ind., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also Euras.
5. Carex canescens L.
Plants densely cespitose from short rootstocks, often in large tussocks; culms
1-8 dm. high, soft, sharply triangular, often lax and widely spreading; leaves
glaucous-green, soft, flat, 2-4 mm. wide; sheaths tight, thin and hyaline ventrally;
spikes 4 to 8, silvery-brown, the upper approximate, the lower separate, containing
10 to 30 appressed-ascending perigynia, the terminal generally clavate at the
staminate base; scales broadly ovate, hyaline with a green center, shorter than
the perigynia; perigynia plano-convex, ovoid-oblong, 1.8-3 mm. long, 1.25-1.75
mm. wide, pale-green to whitish-brown, more or less nerved on both surfaces, the
sharp margin smooth throughout or only minutely serrulate at the base of the
very short inconspicuous or obsolete beak; achenes lenticular, oblong-obovate,
substipitate, 1.5 mm. long, 0.9 mm. wide.
Locally abundant on lake margins and shallow water, and in swamps and bogs,
in N.M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.J., N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.; also Euras. and Austral.
6. Carex cephalophora Muhl. Fig. 258.
(Sub-) rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 2-10 cm. long, much-branched, about
2 mm. thick, with very short internodes; culms 15-30 (-45) cm. long, 1-2 mm.
thick, ascending; leaves 2 to 4 per culm, mostly basal; blades about 15 cm. long
and 2 mm. broad, the sheaths ventrally smooth, rather tight-fitting, stramineous,
the orifice broadly U-shaped; spikes 5 to 10, each with about 10 perigynia, very
short, sessile, androgynous, aggregated in a narrow more or less ovoid nearly or
usually quite bractless head 10-15 (-17) mm. long and 4-9 mm. broad; scales
inconspicuous, shorter than the perigynia; perigynia ascending, much-flattened,
broadly ovate, the body 1.5-2.5 mm. long and 1-1.5 mm. broad, plano-convex,
ventrally quite smooth and with raised margins, basally not differentiated or else
discoloring brown in the basal third to fourth the length, firm-membranous, with
inconspicuous only slightly tougher margins and with a very short triangular beak
less than half as long as the body; achene lenticular, about 1.7 mm. long, 1.5 mm.
wide. Incl. var. angustifolia Boott and some plants referred to C. "mesochorea"
Mack., C. Leavenworthii Dew.
Frequent in usually moist sandy soil at base of bluffs, in wettish pasturelands,
in Okla. (Cherokee and Muskogee cos.) and in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., rare in
parts of Edwards Plateau (Enchanted Rock), spring; e. N.A., w. to Mich., la.,
Mo., Okla. and Tex.
7. Carex decomposita Muhl. Fig. 259.
Perennial, the branching fibrous blackish rhizomes with internodes several mm.
to several cm. long; culms weakly arcuately ascending, soft, 5-15 dm. long, 3-7
mm. thick, nearly terete; lower sheaths brownish or reddish-brown, 1-2 cm. long;
sheath venters papery, tending to split at maturity, not at all wrinkled, orifice
weakly rounded; upper leaves long, much-surpassing the inflorescence; inflores-
cence a decompound panicle of 5 to 10 spiciform erect branches (the lower
branches longer than the upper ones), each branch bearing 5 to 20 short ovoid
502
-------
Fig. 259: a-d, Carex decomposita: a, inflorescence, X %; b, scale, X 12; c, peri-
gynium, dorsal view, X 12; d, perigynium, ventral view, X 12. e-g, Carex crus-corvi:
e, inflorescence, X %; f, scale, X 10; g, perigynium, X 10. h-k, Carex laevivaginata:
h, habit, X %; i, scale, X 7; j, perigynium, dorsal view, X 7; perigynium, ventral view,
X 7. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
sessile androgynous brownish essentially bractless spikes each with 8 to 13 peri-
gynia; scales narrower and shorter than the perigynia; perigynia bodies obovate
or obpyramidal, plano-convex, firm, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, nearly as broad, sharp-
edged laterally; beak abrupt, 0.3-0.5 mm. long, bidentate; achene lenticular, very
closely enveloped, about 1 mm. long and wide.
Rare in wet areas, usually on rotten logs at lake-margins, n.e. Tex. (Marion
and Wood cos.), spring; e. U.S. n. to N.Y. and Mich., w. to Mo. and Tex.
8. Carex vulpinoidea Michx. Fig. 258.
Densely matted rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes 2-4 mm. thick, dark-brown
or black, fibrous, internodes only 1-2 mm. long; culms 35-70 (-90) cm. long,
1.5-3.5 mm. thick, erect; sheaths tight, ventrally papery, strongly and closely
transversely wrinkled, at the orifice firm and rounded; leaf blades diverse, the lower
ones only 5-10 cm. long, the upper very long and equaling or surpassing the
heads, tapered to a setaceous tip; inflorescence interrupted-spiciform, 35-80 mm.
long, 7-13 mm. thick, of 10 to 15 short sessile androgynous spikes (each with 15
to 30 perigynia), all except the lowermost bractless (in var. platycarpa Hall) or
with setaceous bracts 10-30 (-80) mm. long (in var. vulpinoidea); scales papery,
lanceolate, acute,, about equaling or usually a little shorter than their perigynia;
perigynial bodies ovate to suborbicular, 2.5-3 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, strongly
compressed, mostly flat ventrally, very slightly convex dorsally, smooth or usually
serrulate marginally, ventrally usually with a few veins and often on both faces
at maturity becoming brownish and firm-membranous; beak of perigynium either
abruptly differentiated from and only about a third as long as the body (var.
platycarpa) or less abrupt and about half as long as the body (var. vulpinoidea),
bidentate, serrulate or entire-margined; achene lenticular, about 1.3 mm. long,
1 mm. wide. C. triangularis Boeck., C. annectans Bickn.
In low wet woods and swamps in wet mud on edge of lakes, ponds and streams;
the var. platycarpa Hall is frequent in Okla. (Johnston, Alfalfa, McCurtain, Adair,
Caddo, Haskell and Atoka cos.) and in e. and s.e.'.'Tex., rare in n.-cen. Tex.
(Denton Co.); var. vulpinoidea is rare in the Tex. Plains Country (Dallam and
Hemphill cos.), N.M. (San Miguel Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Cochise cos.),
spring (var. platycarpa) or summer (var. vulpinoidea); e. temp. N.A. w. to the
Rocky Mts.; also B.C., Wash, and Ore.
9. Carex alma Bailey.
Cespitose from short-prolonged stout rootstocks; culms aphyjlopodic, 3-12 dm.
high, roughened above, exceeding the leaves; leaves clustered toward the base,
thickish, flat or channeled, 3-6 mm. wide, the margins strongly serrulate; sheaths
tight, somewhat septate-nodulose dorsally, thin and purplish-dotted ventrally, the
ligule about as wide as long; spikes densely aggregated into an oblong head 3-12
cm. long, the lower sometimes separate, the individual spikes seldom distinguish-
able, the perigynia appressed; scales ovate, about the size of the perigynia, straw-
colored or brownish with white-hyaline margins, the midrib prominent, awned to
acute; perigynia plano-convex, ovate to oblong-ovate, 3.5-4 mm. long, 1.6-1.8
mm. wide, almost black at maturity, obscurely nerved on both surfaces, round-
truncate at the base, substipitate, narrowly sharp-margined and serrulate above,
more or less abruptly contracted into a serrulate bidentate beak about one-third
the length of the body, the triangular teeth very short; achenes lenticular, ovoid,
1.5 mm. long, substipitate.
In wet soil along streams, in Ariz. (Gila, Maricopa and Cochise cos.); also
Nev. and Calif.
504
-------
Fig. 260: Carex stipata: a, perigynium, abaxial view, showing the strong nerves
and the round-cordate spongy base, X 10; b, achene (cross section), X 10; c, peri-
gynium, adaxial view, the nerves less developed than on abaxial side, X 10; d, achene,
snowing the spongy base of the perigynium, X 10; e, pistillate flower with perigynium
removed, showing the stipitate achene, the short style and 2 long stigmas, X 10; f-h,
scales of pistillate flowers, showing variation in shape of scale and in length of awn,
X 10; i, ligule, X 4; j, inflorescence, the spikes not crowded; the bracts bristlelike,
X %; k, staminate flower and subtending scale (lowermost flower in spike), X 10; 1,
habit, showing the conspicuous leaf sheaths and flat flaccid blades, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 104).
-------
10. Carex fissa Mack. Fig. 258.
Cespitose; rootstock short, stout, black, fibrillose; culms 2.5-7.5 dm. long, 4-7
mm. wide at base, bluntly triangular, smooth or roughened beneath head, light-
brown at base; well developed leaves 4 to 6 to a culm, on lower third; blades 1-2
dm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, flat or channeled, thick, light-green; sheaths thin and
cross-rugulose ventrally, prolonged, red-dotted near mouth; ligule wider than long;
spikes 10 to 20, androgynous, in a head 2.5-4 cm. long and 8-18 mm. wide; lower
bracts setaceous, the upper scalelike; scales acute or cuspidate, hyaline, light-
yellowish-brown-tinged with green midvein; staminate flowers inconspicuous; peri-
gynia 8 to 20 in a spike, 3.5 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, ascending or spreading,
piano- or concavo-convex, submembranous, light-green or yellowish-brown-tinged,
few-nerved dorsally, sharp-margined, serrulate above, substipitate; beak 1 mm,
long, serrulate, dorsally cleft, bidentate, light-reddish-brown-tinged; achenes 2 mm.
long, 1.7 mm. wide, lenticular, substipitate, apiculate, jointed with the short style
which is enlarged at base; stigmas 2, reddish-brown.
On wet ditch banks in Okla. (Waterfall).
11. Carex crus-corvi Kunze. Fig. 259.
Densely tufted perennial (the internodes of the rhizomes very short); culms
4-9 dm. long, 4-12 mm. thick basally, soft; sheaths soft, ventrally thin-papery
and easily splitting, the orifice horizontal or shallowly U-shaped, not thickened;
blades long, often surpassing the inflorescence; inflorescence a decompound pan-
icle 6-15 (-19) cm. long and 15-40 mm. thick, with 7 to 13 ascending or erect
short branches (the lower-middle branches the longest), each branch with 3 to
10 burlike sessile androgynous bractless spikes each with only a few perigynia;
scales lanceolate, about as long as or slightly exceeding the body; perigynial body
triangular, largely plano-convex, 2-3 mm. long, firm, brownish, basally inflated,
discolored whitish, truncately narrowed to the minute stipelike base, apically
passing into the linear strongly bidentate beak (3-4 mm. long); achene lenticular,
up to 2 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide.
In mud on edge of lakes, ponds and streams, and in shallow water, in Okla.
(McCurtain, Choctaw and Love cos.), frequent in e. Tex., infrequent in s.e. and
n.-cen. Tex., rare in the Plains Country (Wichita Co.), spring; Gulf States and
n. in cen. U.S. to O., Mich., Minn, and Wise.
12. Carex stipata Muhl. Fig. 260.
Densely tufted perennial, the internodes of the rootstocks very short; culms
3-10 dm. long, 3-7 (-12) mm. thick basally, rather soft, triangular above with
concave sides; sheaths soft, ventrally not transversely wrinkled, easily splitting,
orifice horizontal or slightly prolonged and rounded, not thickened; upper blades
usually about equaling the inflorescence; inflorescence a dense decompound pan-
icle 3-10 cm. long and 10-25 mm. thick, with several ascending branches (the
lower branches longer), each branch with 2 to 10 sessile subglobose essentially
bractless androgynous spikes each with 8 to 15 perigynia; scales ovate, acuminate,
about equaling the perigynia; perigynia 4-6 mm. long, the bodies plano-convex,
ovate, firm, 2-3 mm. long, basally more or less discolored brownish-stramineous,
firmer, abruptly narrowed to a minute stipe, apically passing into the linear beak
which is strongly bidentate and 2-3 mm. long; achene lenticular, about ,1.7 mm.
long, 1.5 mm. wide. Incl. var. maxima Chapm., C. uberior (Mohr) Mack.
In mud on edge of streams and ponds, wet meadows and marshes, in Okla.
(McCurtain Co.), rare in e. Tex. (Austin and Leon cos.), N.M. (Catron, San
Miguel, Colfax and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Graham
and Gila cos.), spring; most of temp. N.A. (except extreme s.w. U.S. and Mex.).
506
-------
13. Carex laevivaginata (Kukenth.) Mack. Fig. 259.
Closely resembling C. stipata in general habit and size; sheaths not cross-puck-
ered, at the mouth distinctly concave and thickened, hence not easily torn and
well-preserved in most herbarium material; spike shorter and less compound, 2-5
cm. long, 10-15 mm. thick, green or tinged with straw-color at maturity; scales
acuminate, shorter than the perigynia; perigynia lance-ovoid, plano-convex, 4.9-6.2
mm. long, averaging 5.2 mm. and usually less than a third as wide; achene lentic-
ular, stipitate, ovate, 2 mm. long (including stipe), 1.3 mm. wide.
Boggy or swampy woods and meadows, in Okla. (Waterfall); Mass, to Mich.
and Minn., s. to n. Fla. cen. Ga., Tenn., Okla. and Mo.
14. Carex leptopoda Mack.
Loosely cespitose from slender elongate rootstocks; culms slender, 2-8 dm.
high, sharply triangular and roughened below the head, exceeding the leaves;
leaves yellowish-green to light-green, flat or the margins somewhat revolute, 2-5
mm. wide; sheaths rather loose, hyaline ventrally, the ligule acuminate and pro-
longed; spikes 4 to 7, ovoid or oblong, aggregated into a loose head 2-4 cm. long,
but the lower 1 to 3 usually separate, the lateral pistillate, the terminal gynecan-
drous; scales oblong-ovate, obtuse to acute or cuspidate, about the length of the
perigynium bodies, greenish-white with green center; perigynia plano-convex,
ovate-lanceolate, 3.5-4 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, greenish to greenish-white,
several-nerved toward the base dorsally, nerveless to very few- and short-nerved
ventrally, contracted into a serrulate bidentate beak half the length of the body;
achenes lenticular, suborbicular, about 1.5 mm. long and 1.25 mm. wide,
yellowish-brown.
On moist or wet soil of wooded slopes and flats, and in low swampy places,
from near sea level to 10,000 ft., in Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Pima cos.);
Mont, to B.C., s. to Ariz, and Calif.
15. Carex Bolanderi Olney.
Cespitose from slender short-prolonged rootstocks; culms slender, 1.5-9 dm.
high, sharply triangular, smooth or somewhat roughened below the head, exceed-
ing the leaves; leaves yellowish-green to pale-green, flat, 2-5 mm. wide; sheaths
rather loose, hyaline ventrally, the acuminate ligule much longer than wide;
spikes 5 to 8, linear-oblong, the lower 1 to 5 more or less separate, the rest
aggregated into a head 3-8 cm. long, gynecandrous but the staminate flowers
inconspicuous; scales ovate to lanceolate-ovate, acute to shprt-awned, brownish
with green center, exceeding the perigynium bodies; perigynia plano-convex,
lanceolate, 4-4.5 mm. long, 1-1.25 mm. wide, yellowish-green, strongly several-
nerved dorsally, lightly several-nerved (at least at the base) ventrally, tapering
somewhat abruptly into a serrulate deeply bidentate beak more than half the
length of the body; achenes lenticular, suborbicular or obovate, about 1.75 mm.
long and 1,25 mm. wide, yellowish-brown.
Along streams, in wet meadows and on edge of marshes, from sea level to
8,500 ft., in N.M. (Mora Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Final, Cochise, Santa Cruz
and Pima cos.); Mont, to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and s. Calif.
16. Carex interior Bailey.
Densely cespitose from short dark-colored rootstocks; culms erect or ascend-
ing, slender but firm, wiry and strict, sharply triangular, 1.5-5 dm. high, usually
longer than the leaves; leaves about 3 to a culm, thin, flat or slightly channeled,
1-3 mm. wide; sheaths tight, the ligule wider than long; spikes 2 to 4 (6), some-
what but not closely crowded into an oblong head, the terminal usually
gynecandrous and long-clavate but sometimes entirely staminate and narrowly
507
-------
linear or almost entirely pistillate and oblong, the 1 to 10 perigynia of the lateral
spikes widely spreading at maturity; scales broadly ovate, very obtuse, yellowish-
brown with broad white-hyaline margins and green center, half the length of
the bodies of the perigynia; perigynia concavo-convex, oblong-ovoid to deltoid,
2.25-3.25 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide, plump and firm, the body broadest just
above the base, thick-margined, olive-green becoming brown, several-nerved
dorsally, nerveless to definitely nerved ventrally, rather abruptly narrowed into
a sparingly serrulate shallowly bidentate beak about one-third or one-fourth the
length of the body, the ventral false suture inconspicuous; achenes lenticular,
broadly ovate-orbicular, 1.3 mm. long and about as wide just below the middle.
In swampy meadows, calcareous bogs, and on springy banks, at moderate
elevations (mostly 7,000-11,000 ft.) in Ariz. (Apache Co.); Lab. to B. C., s.
to Pa., Kan., n. Calif, and cen. Mex.
17. Carex atlantica Bailey. Fig. 261.
Tufted perennial (internodes of the branching rhizomes less than 1 mm. long);
culms 2-5 dm. long, about 1 (-2) mm. thick; sheaths stramineous, tight, ventrally
papery, tending to split, the orifice horizontal or shallowly U-shaped; inflores-
cence interrupted-spiciform, 3-5 cm. long, 5-8 mm. thick, of 3 or 4 subglobose
bractless spikes each with 8 to 20 perigynia (rarely as many as 40) and separated
by bare axis internodes 5-14 mm. long, the terminal spike attenuate basally (in
the staminate portion), gynecandrous, the rest usually wholly pistillate; scales
slightly shorter than the perigynia; perigynial bodies spreading at maturity, 1.5-1.8
mm. long, broadly ovate to nearly orbicular, plano-convex, firm, marginally sharp
but not winged, shiny, stramineous, with several strong nerves ventrally (use lens),
abruptly narrowed to the beak which is linear, 0.7-0.9 mm. long and bidentate;
achene lenticular, about 1.7 mm. long and wide. C. incomperta Bickn., C. Howei
Mack.
Infrequent or rare at edge of clear acid streams, edge of lakes, swamps along
streams and seepage areas, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex.
(Hardin, Nacogdoches, Cass, Wood, Newton and Tyler cos.), spring; e. N.A., w.
to Mich., Ind., Tenn. and Tex.
18. Carex muskingumensis Schw.
Cespitose with numerous very leafy sterile culms; fertile culms stout, 5-10
dm. tall; principal leaf blades 3-5 mm. wide; spikes 5 to 10, fusiform, pointed
at both ends, 15-25 mm. long, 4-6 mm. thick, closely aggregated in a dense
cluster 4—8 cm. long; pistillate scales lanceolate, about half as long as the
perigynia, pale-brown with hyaline margins; perigynia appressed, lanceolate, thin,
7-10 mm. long, about a fourth as wide, finely nerved on both sides, gradually
tapering to the beak; achene lenticular, narrowly oblong, 2-2.5 mm. long, 0.8 mm.
wide.
Low woods and wet meadows, swamps and alluvial floodplains, in Okla. (fide
Fernald and Gleason); Mich., O. and Ky., w. to Kan. and Okla.
19. Carex athrostachya Olney. Fig. 262.
Culms cespitose, 1-8 dm. tall; leaves 2 to 4; blades flat, 1-3 mm. wide, yellow-
ish green; head ovoid, 1-2.5 cm. long, the spikes 4 to 20, closely aggregated,
the staminate basal flowers inconspicuous; bracts usually well developed, the
lowest exceeding the head; scales ovate or lanceolate-ovate, shorter than perigynia,
acute or short-cuspidate, brownish with hyaline margins; perigynia ovate-lanceo-
late, 3-4 mm. long, light-green, becoming straw-colored or brownish, substipitate,
ciliate-serrulate above, tapering into a slender terete brownish-tipped beak, the
margins of the orifice hyaline; achenes lenticular, oblong-oval, about 1.5 mm.
long and 1 mm. wide.
508
-------
Fig, 261: a-e, Carex atlantica: a, inflorescence, X 5; b, scale, X 17; c, perigynium,
dorsal view, X 17; d, perigynium, ventral view, X 17; e, achene, X 17. f-i, Carex
albolutescens: f, inflorescence, X 1; g, scale, X 10; h, perigynium, dorsal view, X 10;
i, perigynium, ventral view, X 10. j-m. Carex tribuloides: j, inflorescence, X 1; k, scale,
X 10; 1, perigynium, dorsal view, X 10; m. perigynium, ventral view, X 10. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 262: Carex athrostachya: a, ligule, bilobed, X 8: b. lowermost spike of an
inflorescence, showing subtending bract with auricled hyaline base and elongate, ser-
rulate midvein and the inconspicuous staminate flowers at base of spike, X 6; c, achene
(cross section). X 12; d, pistillate flower, showing stipitate achene, X 12; e and f,
scales, showing variation in size and shape. X 12; g. perigynium, adaxial view, X 12;
h, perigynium. abaxial view, X 12: i. habit, showing the slender culms and the closely
aggregated spikes, X ]i; j, inflorescence with auricled subtending bracts, the uppermost
much reduced, X +.-,. (From Mason, Fig. 101).
-------
Wet meadows and thickets, in mud on edge of ponds and lakes, and in
seepage areas, in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino and. Pima
cos.); Sask. to Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
20. Carex tribuloides Wahl. Fig. 261.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-8 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, basally slightly arcuate-
ascending, mostly ascending, apically strongly angled; sheaths short, the venters
mostly veiny except for the hyaline area near the orifice; blades (1-) 2.5-5 mm.
broad, shorter than the culms and at least the lower ones often relatively stiff
and diverging from the culm at an angle of 10-30° (-50°); inflorescence elongate,
capitate or shortly subspicate, 25-50 mm. long, 9-15 mm. thick, of 5 to 15
closely set .sessile burlike obovoid to oblong ascending gynecandrous spikes 7-10
mm. long and 3—5 mm. thick; bracts absent except occasionally a small setaceous
one at the base of the lowest spike; scales half to two thirds as long as their
perigynia; perigynia 50 to 80 per spike, much-flattened and scalelike, distended
only over the achene, winged, 3.5-5.2 mm. long (including the bidentate beak
which is about 1 mm. long), 1—1.5 mm. broad including the wings (broadest near
the middle, i.e., in the upper half of the "body"), stramineous-brown, ventrally
veiny, stiffly ascending and apically not appressed nor incurved; achene lenticular,
about 1.5 mm. long, 0.7 mm. wide.
In swampy or low wet meadows and woods of alluvial soils, in mud on edge
of ponds, lakes and streams, in Okla. (McCurtain and Alfalfa cos.) and s.e.
Tex. (Jefferson, Panola, Gregg, Rusk, Sabine and Montgomery cos.), May; e.
temp. N.A. w. to Minn., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
21. Carex microptera Mack.
Very densely cespitose from short stout rootstocks; culms 3-10 dm. high, 2.5-4
mm. thick at the base, conspicuously striate, sharply triangular above and
roughened below the head, much-exceeding the leaves; leaves 3 to 5 to a culm,
on the lower third, flat, firm, 2-6 mm. wide; sheaths tight, white-hyaline ventrally;
spikes 5 to 20, gynecandrous, distinguishable but densely aggregated into an
ovoid or suborbicular, truncate-based head, 12-18 (-25) mm. long, 10-18 mm.
wide; lowest bract short-awned; scales ovate-lanceolate, acute, dull-brown, with
faint lighter midrib, narrower and shorter than the perigynia; perigynia thin
and flattened except where distended by the achene, lanceolate-ovate to lanceo-
late, 3.4—5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide, spreading-ascending, light-green to light-
brown, lightly several-nerved on both surfaces, very narrowly wing-margined
to the round-tapering base, serrulate to the middle, tapering into a terete serrulate
(smooth at the tip) bidentate beak one-third to one-half the length of the body;
achenes lenticular, broadly obovoid, to 1.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; anthers
long-persistent, linear-oblong, spinulose apiculate, 1.3-2 mm. long. C. festivella
Mack.
Moist or wet places, in N.M. (Taos, Grant, San Miguel, Catron, Rio Arriba
and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Pima and Graham cos.); B.C. to Sask.
and Man., s. to Calif., N.M., Ariz, and in the Black Hills of S.D.
22. Carex scoparia Schkuhr.
Densely cespitose from short fibrillose rootstocks; culms 1.5-10 dm. high,
usually much-exceeding the leaves, sharply triangular, the angles very rough
below the inflorescence; leaves 2 to 6, on the lower half, flat or canaliculate, 1-3
mm. wide, yellowish-green; spikes 3 to 12, distinct, aggregated into an oblong
to linear-oblong or globose head (or sometimes a moniliform flexuous inflores-
cence), gynecandrous, straw-colored, the numerous erect-ascending perigynia
with appressed-erect beaks; scales ovate to oblong-ovate, dull, light-brownish
with green center and narrow white-hyaline margins, nearly as wide as the
511
-------
perigynia but conspicuously exceeded by the beaks; perigynia flat, thin and
scalelike, barely distended over the achene, 4—7 mm. long, 1.2-2.6 mm. wide,
lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, greenish-white to straw-colored, wing-
margined to the base, serrulate to below the middle, nerved on both faces, taper-
ing into a flat serrulate shallowly bidentate beak 1.2-2 mm. long; achenes lenti-
cular, oval-oblong, 1-1.5 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. wide, brownish, short-stipitate.
In open usually swampy places in seepage along streams and about ponds in
Ariz. (Apache and Pima cos.); Nfld. to B.C., s. to S.C., Ark., N.M., Ariz, and
Ore.
Carex Bebbii Olney (in Colfax Co., N.M.) is similar to this species but the
perigynia are only about 3 mm. long.
23. Carex festucacea Schkuhr.
Culms cespitose, slender, erect, exceeding the leaves; principal leaf blades 2-5
mm. wide; spikes ovoid to subglobose, 6-10 mm. long, often distinctly clavate
at base, distinct but crowded in a compact cluster or separate in an inflorescence
3-6 cm. long; pistillate scales ovate, much shorter and narrower than the perigy-
nia, hyaline and lightly tinged with brown, acute or acuminate; perigynia 2.7-4
mm. long, half to three-fourths as wide, broadest at a third to half of their
length, the body broadly ovate to obovate, finely nerved on both faces, abruptly
narrowed to the beak; achenes lenticular, elliptic, light-brown, about 1.3 mm.
long, 1 mm. wide. ? C. normalis Mack.
In wooded swamps and bottomlands, in mud along streams and in swales,
in Okla. (fide Fernald and Gleason); N.S. to N.Y., s. Mich, and la., s. to Fla.
and Okla.
24. Carex albolutescens Schwein. Fig. 261.
Tufted perennial; culms 25-75 cm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, sharply triangular,
erect; sheath venters broadly stramineous-hyaline; blades 1.5-3 mm. broad,
shorter than the culms, in most specimens rather stiffly ascending, the lower
ones extremely short; inflorescence interrupted-spiciform to moniliform-spici-
form, 25-45 mm. long, 6-10 mm. thick, of 3 to 10 sessile basally attenuate
ovoid apically rounded ascending gynecandrous spikes 6-11 mm. long and 5-6
mm. thick; bracts absent; scales shorter than the perigynia; perigynia 30 to 50
per spike, 2.8-3.2 (-3.5) mm. long, 1.6-2.2 mm. broad, widest below the middle,
the body broadly obovate, widest above the middle, at anthesis stramineous,
very thin and distended only over the achene, winged, at maturity stramineous
and firmer, somewhat plano-convex, ventrally nearly veinless; beak 0.6-1 mm.
long, flat, bidentate, serrulate, at anthesis green, at maturity brownish, contrasting
with the body; achene lenticular, about 1.3 mm. long, 1 mm. wide.
Infrequent or rare in moist or wet sand in bogs, low wooded swamps, edge
of water and in mud along streams and about ponds in e. (Polk, Leon and
Sabine cos.) and s.e. (Jefferson Co.) Tex., Apr.; otherwise said to occur in
Coastal States, N.S. to Fla.; also Mich., 111., Ind., Mo., Tenn. and La.
25. Carex Longii Mack.
Tufted perennial, the rootstocks with very short internodes; culms sharply
triangular. 3-8 dm. long, erect, 1.5-2 mm. thick; sheaths short, the venters
mostly green and veiny except for the immediate vicinity of the orifice; blades
1.5-4 mm. broad, shorter than the culms, at least the lower ones often relatively
stiff and diverging slightly from the stem; inflorescence rnoniliform-spicate, 3-5
cm. long, 12-15 mm. thick, of 5 to 10 sessile basally abruptly attenuate narrowly
ovoid ascending gynecandrous spikes 7-1 1 mm. long and 5-8 mm. thick; bracts
absent except occasionally a small setaceous one at the base of the lowest spike;
scales shorter and narrower than their perigynia; perigynia 55 to 80 per spike,
512
-------
winged, when immature silvery-green, scalelike and subappressed, at maturity
brownish and plano-convex, very firm, with tip erect, ventrally veiny, (3-) 3.5-4.2
(-4.5) mm. long, 1.7—2.5 mm. broad (including the wings), broadest near the
middle (meaning in the upper half of the "body"), the broadly triangular "beak"
about 1 mm. long and scarcely differehtiable from the "body"; achene lenticular,
about 1.5 mm. long, 0.8 mm. wide.
Infrequent in mud and shallow water in e. and s.e. Tex., Apr.-early June;
Coastal States, Mass, to Tex., Ind., Mich.; Mex., Berm., also reported in Venez.
26. Carex alata Torr. Fig. 263.
Tufted perennial rather like C. Longii but the inflorescence perhaps on the
average with the spikes a little more separated from each other; perigynia (3.7-)
4-5 mm. long, 3.1-3.5 mm. broad, thus averaging longer and proportionately
broader than in C. Longii, and with the ventral veins slightly less conspicuous.
Rare in mud and wet sandy loam, e. Tex. (Anderson Co.) and Edwards
Plateau (Sterling Co.), Apr.; otherwise attributed to Coastal States, Mass, to Fla.
and Ind., Mich, and O.
27. Carex hyalina Boott.
Rhizomes 2-3.5 mm. thick, branching, black-fibrous, with internodes 0.5-1
mm. long; culms 25-60 cm. long, about 1 mm. thick, erect, sharply triangular;
sheath venters pale-hyaline; blades 1-2 mm. broad, shorter than (or the upper-
most equaling) the culms; inflorescence 15-35 mm. long, 8-11 mm. thick, of 2
to 4 noticeably separated sessile ascending gynecandrous subglobose (burlike) to
prolate basally abruptly attenuate heads 8-12 mm. long and 8-11 mm. broad;
scales much shorter than their perigynia; perigynia 15 to 30 per spike, divaricate,
5.5-6.5 mm. long (including the beak), 2.5-3.2 mm. broad, widest well below
the middle, the body (poorly differentiated) broadly ovate, widest near the
middle, at anthesis pale-greenish-stramineous, membranous and distended only
over the achene, at maturity very firm, unequally biconvex centrally and with
the margins and wings strongly curved toward the ventral surface, stramineous
with a brownish submarginal zone, strongly veined ventrally, with transverse
wrinkles between the veins and in the margins and wings; beak poorly differen-
tiated, elongate-triangular, 1.5-2 mm. long, green turning brownish; achene
lenticular, about 2 mm. long, 1 mm. wide.
Infrequent to rare in mud, Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex. (Cass, Houston
and Walker cos.), very rare in n.-cen. Tex. (Dallas Co.), Apr.-May; Ark., Okla.
and Tex.
28. Carex Bicknellii Britt.
Culms cespitose, slender, erect, exceeding the leaves, 5-10 dm. tall; principal
leaf blades 2-4.5 mm. wide; spikes usually 4 to 6, the pistillate portion globose to
ovoid, 8—12 mm. long, often distinctly clavate at base and to 18 mm. long (in-
cluding the staminate portion), separate or somewhat aggregated in an oblong to
linear cluster 3-7 cm. long; pistillate scales lance-ovate, shorter (1-2 mm.) and
much narrower than the perigynia, pale-brown with green midnerve and narrow
hyaline margins; perigynia broadly ovate, straw-color, 4.2-7.7 mm. long, 2.7-4.8
mm. wide, very flat, thin and almost translucent, broadly winged, sharply several-
nerved on both faces, abruptly contracted into the beak; aohene lenticular, obo-
vate, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide.
In wet or dry meadows, fields and open woods, in Okla. (Waterfall) and N.M.;
Me. to Sask., s. to Del., O., Mo., Okla. and N.M.
513
-------
Fig. 263. a-e, Carex reniformis: a, inflorescence, X 1%; b, pistillate scale, X 8; c,
perigynium, ventral view, X 8; d, perigynium, dorsal view, X 8; e, achene, X 8. f-i,
Carex data: i, inflorescence, X 1%; g, pistillate scale, X 8; h, perigynium, dorsal view,
X 8; i, perigynium, ventral view, X 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
29. Carex Brittoniana Bailey.
Tufted perennial; rhizomes 2-4 mm. thick, black-fibrous, with internodes about
1 mm. long, branching; culms 35-75 (-90) cm. long, 2-2.5 (-3) mm. thick, erect,
sharply triangular; sheath venters stramineous-hyaline; blades 2.5-5 mm. broad,
flat, shorter than the culms; inflorescence 25-50 mm. long, 10-25 mm. broad, of
2 to 5 clumped or slightly separated ascending nearly globose to ovoid burlike
basally strongly attenuate gynecandrous sessile spikes 11-16 mm. long; bracts
essentially absent; perigynia (30 to) 40 to 50 (to 65) per bur, (5.5-) 6-8 (-8.5) mm.
long (including the beak), (3.7-) 4-5.5 (-6) mm. broad (including the wings), at
maturity divaricate, the body very broadly ovate to very broadly elliptic to nearly
orbicular, occasionally broader than long, basally broadly rounded to slightly cor-
date, at anthesis thin-membranous, pale-greenish-stramineous, distended only over
the achene, at maturity firm to subcoriaceous, plano-convex centrally, stramineous
with a submarginal brown zone, ventrally nearly veinless; beak 2.5-3 (-3.5) mm.
long, strongly differentiated, at anthesis green, at maturity brown, bidentate;
achene lenticular, 2.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide.
In wet mud on edge of lakes, ponds and streams, in depressions in fields and in
resacas, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in Rio Grande Plains, s.e. and n.-cen. Tex.,
infrequent in Edwards Plateau, Plains Country and e. Tex., Mar.-May.
30. Carex reniformis (Bailey) Small. Fig. 263.
Tufted perennial; culms 2-7 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, sharply triangular;
sheath venters stramineous-hyaline; lower blades very short, upper ones 1.5-4
mm. broad, shorter than the culms; inflorescence (1.5-) 3-4.5 (-5) cm. long, 7-10
mm. thick, of 3 to 7 more or less strongly separate gynecandrous erect subglobose
apically rounded basally abruptly attenuate spikes 6-10 (-13) mm. long and 5-8
(-9) mm. broad; bracts essentially absent; scales half to two thirds as long as their
perigynia; perigynia 25 to 40 per spike, erect, (3.3-) 3.8-5 (-5.5) mm. long (in-
cluding the beak), (2.3-) 2.6-3.5 (-4.5) mm. broad, broadest near or below the
middle, the bodies nearly orbicular to broadly oblong to obovate, winged, at
anthesis extremely thin, distended only over the achene, membranous but at ma-
turity firm to subcoriaceous, nearly plano-convex or concavo-convex, stramineous
or with brownish submarginal staining, ventrally shiny and essentially veinless;
beak well-differentiated from body, green turning pale-brownish, 1—1.7 mm. long,
bidentate; achene lenticular, 2 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide. C. brevior (Dew.) Mack.
Frequent in s.e., e., and n.-cen. Tex., and N.M. (San Miguel Co.), in mud,
occasionally in woodlands, usually in open places, Apr-May; e. N.A. w. to B.C.,
Wash., Ore., Colo., N.M. and Tex.
31. Carex Hassei Bailey. Fig. 264.
Rhizomes slender; culms 1-6 dm. tall, sharply triangular, roughened above,
overtopping the leaves; leaves clustered near the base, channeled, 2—4 mm. wide,
flat above; staminate spike terminal, solitary, peduncled, 6-15 mm. long, often
pistillate at apex; pistillate spikes 2 to 4, linear-oblong, 8-20 mm. long, 3.5^.5
mm. wide, the upper spikes approximate and short-peduncled, the lower ones
strongly separate and long-peduncled; lowest bract extending beyond the tip of
the culm, scales broadly or narrowly ovate, the tips obtuse to acute or acuminate
or often aristate with a scabrid awn, all these variations occurring within the
same spike, the scales reddish-brown-tinged with green center and narrow hya-
line margins; perigynia obovoid, at first greenish or straw-colored, becoming whit-
ish and minutely granular, rounded and nearly beakless, the orifice entire; achenes
lenticular, 1.5 mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide.
Along streams, in wet meadows and in bogs, in Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino
cos.); Alas. s. to Ariz, and Baja Calif.
515
-------
Fig. 264: Carex Hassei: a, habit, showing separate pistillate and staminate spikes,
the staminate spikes above, X %; b, scale of pistillate flower, X 6; c, scale of staminate
flower, X 6; d, perigynium, rounded at apex, X 12; e, achene (cross section), X 12; f,
pistillate flower with perigynium removed, X 12; g, ligule, X 8; h, inflorescence, the
terminal spike staminate at base and pistillate at apex, the other spikes pistillate, X 3.
(From Mason, Fig. 86).
-------
Fig. 265: Carex senta: a, staminate flower with subtending scale, X 10; b and c,
scales of pistillate flowers, showing variation, X 10; d, pistillate flower with perigynium
removed, X 12; e, achene (cross section), X 12; f, perigynium, broadly ovate, X 12; g,
ligule, showing the long auricles, X 6; h, lower part of plant, showing filamentose
lower sheaths, X '5; i, upper part of culm, with short subtending bract, the lower spike
pistillate, the upper spikes pistillate below and staminate above, X 73. (From Mason,
Fig. 92).
-------
32. Carex aurea Nutt.
Perennial with extensive rhizomes several cm. long and 1 mm. thick; culms
often weak and reclining basally, distally ascending, 7-20 cm. long, 0.5-0.8 mm.
thick; leaves few, clustered basally; blades 15-25 cm. long and about 2 mm. broad,
often surpassing the inflorescence; inflorescence of a terminal staminate spike
and 2 or 3 subterminal weakly ascending peduncled (peduncle of lowest filiform
one 1-2 cm. long, of upper ones shorter) lax pistillate spikes about 1 cm. long;
bract of lowest spike leaflike, 3-10 cm. long, those of the higher spikes smaller;
scales hyaline, minute, much smaller than their perigynia; perigynia 5 to 8 per
spike, broadly ovate, plano-convex or lenticular, 2-2.5 mm. long, basally slightly
narrowed, apically rounded, quite beakless, with a number of faint veins (2 of
them less faint than the rest), membranous (when fresh somewhat succulent or
baccate and translucent but drying firm, opaque in specimens), orange (in dried
specimens rich-dark-brown); achene not quite filling the top of the perigynium
(at least in dried specimens) but laterally filling it, lenticular, 1.5 mm. long, 1.3
mm. wide, ovate, minutely apiculate, dark-brown, jointed with the style.
Rare in seepy areas on shaded hillsides, and on edge of water of streams and
ponds, in the Tex. Plains Country (Randall Co., Ceta Canyon), N.M. (Taos
Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June; temp. N.A., s. to Conn.,
Mich, and Neb. and at moderate elev. to Tex., N.M., Ut., Nev. and Calif.
33. Carex crinita Lam.
Tufted essentially glabrous perennial with branching scaly brownish rhizomes
2-4 mm. thick; culms 6-12 dm. long, 2.5-5 mm. thick basally; basal sheaths dark
brown, bladeless; blades of cauline leaves 5-11 mm. broad; spikes 4 or 5 per culm,
overlapping, mostly nodding; terminal spike staminate, 3—5 cm. long, 2-3 mm.
thick; subterminal spikes androgynous and progressively longer-peduncled down-
ward; lowest spike essentially all pistillate or with only a very small terminal
staminate portion, 4—9 cm. long, 5—10 mm. thick (including the scale cusps),
with 75 to 130 close ascending perigynia, the scales with hyaline oblong bodies
shorter than the perigynia but with the midnerve elongated into a spreading cusp
surpassing the perigynium; bract of lowest spike sheathless, erect and usually
much-surpassing the terminal spike, the higher bracts progressively reduced;
perigynia obovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, biconvex, membranous, somewhat inflated,
with 2 strong marginal nerves and a few vanishingly faint ones, stramineous to
brownish, basally tapered, apically rounded or tapered and giving away abruptly to
the minute tubular beak with entire orifice; achene biconvex, only half filling the
perigynium, 1.5 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the 2-branched
style which entirely withers after anthesis. Incl. var. Mitchelliana (M.A. Curtis)
Gl. and var. brevicrinis Fern.
Infrequent in wet places, usually in water, e. Tex. (Cass, Wood, Gregg and
Morris cos.), May-June; e. N.A. w. to Man., Minn., Mo. and Tex.
34. Carex senta Boott. Fig. 265.
Cespitose from long stout horizontal rhizomes; culms rather slender but stiff,
3-10 dm. high, sharply triangular and roughened on the angles, exceeding the
leaves, brownish or reddish-brown at the base, the dried leaves of the previous
year conspicuous; leaves 4 to 8 to a culm, septate-nodulose, clustered near the
base, flat, channeled toward the base, the margins revolute toward the apex, 3-5
mm. wide, the lower reduced, the upper much longer, papillate, ciliate-serrulate;
sheaths hirsutulous, the lower breaking and becoming filamentose, the ligule
longer than wide and acuminate; staminate spikes 2 or 3, somewhat scattered,
the terminal peduncled, 3-4.5 cm. long. 5 mm. wide, the lateral sessile, often
with a few perigynia at the base; pistillate spikes 1 or 2, remote or approximate,
518
-------
sessile or slightly peduncled, linear to oblong, 2.5-5 cm. long, 5-9 mm. wide,
sometimes staminate at the apex, densely 25- to 100-flowered, the perigynia
appressed-ascending; lowest bract leafiike, sheathless, usually exceeding the spike;
scales linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, reddish-black with narrow one-nerved
center, shorter than and about half as wide as the perigynia; perigynia much-
flattened, plano-convex, broadly ovate to broadly obovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, 2-2.3
mm. wide, granular-roughened, puncticulate, straw-colored, often strongly red-
dish-brown-tinged, slenderly few-nerved on both surfaces and .with two marginal
ribs, round-tapering to truncate at the short-stipitate or sessile base, round-tapering
at the apex, the margins entire or minutely serrulate, abruptly apiculate, the
dark-tinged beak 0.25 mm. long, the orifice entire; achenes lenticular, broadly
obovoid, 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, apiculate.
Swampy habitats, in water of ponds and on wet cliffs in N.M. (Catron Co.)
and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Maricopa and Cochise cos.); also Calif.
35. Carex aquatilis Wahl.
Cespitose, often in large clumps, sending forth scaly horizontal rhizomes; culms
erect, slender, 1-10 dm. high, from obtusely triangular and smooth to sharply
triangular and smooth or scabrous above, usually exceeding the leaves, phyllopodic,
reddish-tinged at the base, the dried leaves of the previous year usually conspic-
uous; leaves 8 to 15 to a culm, on the lower third, often more or less septate-nodu-
lose (especially the sheaths), flat or channeled at the base, light-green or glaucous-
green, erect-ascending, long-tapering, 2.5-8 mm. wide; sheaths slightly hispidulous
or smooth dorsally, thin, reddish- or brownish-dotted and early ruptured ventrally,
the ligule longer than wide; staminate spikes 1 to 3, linear, the upper peduncled,
1.25 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, the others sessile or nearly so and shorter, some-
times pistillate at the base; pistillate spikes 2 to 6, the upper often staminate at the
apex, the lowest often strongly separate and occasionally on very long peduncles
arising from near the base of the plant, the upper more or less approximate, and
sessile to short-peduncled, erect, linear to oblong, 1-4 cm. long, 2.5-4 mm. wide,
densely 20- to 100-flowered or somewhat attenuate at the base, the perigynia
appressed-ascending; lowest bract leafiike, sheathless, normally exceeding the
culm, the upper reduced; scales ovate to oblong-ovate, 1-2 mm. wide, obtuse and
normally much narrower and shorter than the perigynia, blackish with lighter
midrib and very narrow hyaline margins, not puncticulate and not enveloping the
perigynia; perigynia unequally biconvex, strongly flattened, not at all turgid, oval
to obovate, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.25-1.75 mm. wide, nerveless or obscurely few-
nerved except for the two marginal ribs, puncticulate, glandular-dotted, light-
green to straw-colored or brownish, rounded and substipitate at the base, rounded
at the apex and abruptly apiculate, the beak entire, 0.1-0.3 mm. long; achenes
lenticular, broadly obovoid, about 1.6 mm. long and 1.2 mm. wide, yellowish and
broadly substipitate, abruptly short-apiculate.
In swamps, marshes, wet meadows, lake and pond shores and stream banks,
often in shallow water, in N.M. (Colfax and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.);
Greenl. to Alas., s. to Que., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
36. Carex Kelloggii W. Boott.
Cespitose, forming medium size to large clumps, the slender rootstocks short
to more or less elongate; culms 1-6 dm. high, erect, slender, usually shorter
than but sometimes exceeding the leaves, phyllopodic (sterile shoots aphyllopodic),
brownish and somewhat fibrillose at the base, the dried leaves of the previous year
conspicuous; leaves 5 to 10 to a culm, more or less clustered on the lower one-
third, erect, thin, flat above, channeled toward the base, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, long-
attenuate; sheaths yellowish-brown-dotted ventrally, concave at the mouth, the
ligule longer than wide; terminal spike staminate, rarely somewhat pistillate, more
519
-------
Fig. 266: Carex nebraskensis: a, pistillate flower with perigynium removed, X 12;
b, scales of pistillate flowers, X 12; c, scales of staminate flower, X 12; d, achene (cross
section), X 12; e, perigynium, flattened and strongly many-ribbed, X 12; f and g,
ligules, sometimes punctate, X 6; b, habit, upper part of plant, showing the leaves, the
culm and the inflorescence with the spikes staminate above and pistillate below, the
subtending bracts short, X -.';,; i, lower part of plant, showing the stout horizontal
rhizomes, X '}'-,. (From Mason, Fig. 94).
-------
or less strongly peduncled, 1-4 cm. long, 3-4 mm. wide; pistillate spikes 3 to 5,
approximate or slightly separate, erect, the lower short-peduncled, the upper
sessile or subsessile, linear-cylindric, often attenuate at the base, 1.5-3.5 cm. long,
about 4.5 mm. wide, the numerous perigynia appressed-ascending; lowest bract
leaflike, much-exceeding the inflorescence, usually sheathless or nearly so, the
upper reduced, auriculate; scales oblong-ovate, obtuse or somewhat acute, dark-
reddish-brown with narrow hyaline margins and a broad lighter usually one-nerved
center not extending to the apex, narrower and shorter than to equaling the
perigynia; perigynia early-deciduous, ovate, flattened-biconvex, sharply 2-edged,
1.5-3 mm. long, 1.25 mm. wide, light-green, granular, membranaceous, 2-ribbed,
truncate at the slenderly stipitate base, rounded at the abruptly apiculate-beaked
apex, the beak 0.1-0.25 mm. long, entire, usually conspicuously black-tipped;
achenes lenticular, suborbicular, about 1 mm. long, blackish, granular, substipi-
tate, abruptly short-apiculate.
On rocky lake margins, wet banks and in moist to marshy meadows, in Ariz.
(Coconino Co.); Alta. to Colo, and Ariz., w. to Alas, and Calif.
37. Carex nebraskensis Dewey. Fig. 266.
Cespitose with long stout horizontal rhizomes; culms 2-10 dm. tall, papillate,
sharply triangular, roughened or smooth above; leaf blades pale-green, 3-8 mm.
wide, flat, the lower sheaths usually prominently septate-nodulose; terminal
staminate spike 1.5-4 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, often with 1 or 2 smaller ones
near its base, the lateral ones sessile or short-peduncled; pistillate spikes 2 to 4,
erect, the upper one sessile or nearly so, the lower ones short- or long-peduncled,
all contiguous or the lower ones somewhat separate, oblong to cylindric, 1.5-5 cm.
long, 5-9 mm. wide; lowest bract leaflike, not sheathing, often dark- or light-
auricled, varying from extending slightly beyond to not reaching the tip of the
inflorescence; scales lanceolate, obtusish to acute or acuminate, narrower than
and from shorter than to longer than perigynia, purplish or brownish-black with
lighter center and often with narrower hyaline margins; perigynia flattened, ob-
long-ovate to broadly ovate or obovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, strongly
many-ribbed on both faces, greenish to straw-colored or brownish at maturity,
abruptly apiculate at apex, the beak often dark-tipped; achenes lenticular, nearly
orbicular, 1.5 mm. long.
In mud along sloughs, streams and in seepage areas, wet meadows and marshes,
in N.M. (Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Mohave
cos.); S.D. to B.C., s. to Kan., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
38. Carex stricta Lam.
Perennial in large tufts, with slender easily detached rhizomes; culms 3-8 dm.
long, 1-2 mm. thick basally, the basal sheaths chestnut-black; juncture of sheath
and blade V-shaped; spikes usually 4 per culm, overlapping or occasionally the
lowermost slightly remote; uppermost spike erect and usually entirely staminate,
2-4 cm. long, 2.5-4 mm. thick, buffy-brown; subterminal spikes usually sessile,
androgynous and slightly nodding (at maturity); lower spikes usually almost en-
tirely pistillate, 2-4 cm. long, 3-4 mm. thick, with 45 to 65 overlapping ascend-
ing perigynia (borne in elegant rows) and brownish oblong blunt scales with
paler mid-nerve and slightly shorter than their perigynia to which they are closely
appressed; bracts sheathless, that of the lowest spike often attaining the uppermost
spike in length, those of higher spikes progressively drastically reduced; perigynii.
ovate, flattened (biconvex), 2.5-3 mm. long, olivaceous, with 2 strong (marginal)
nerves and a few vanishingly obscure ones, firm-membranous, basally rounded,
shortly tapered to an essentially beakless or minutely beaked apex, the orifice
essentially entire; stigmas 2; achene lenticular, only about half filling the perigyn-
521
-------
ium, 1.7 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely
withers after anthesis.
Rare in moist sandy forests and bogs, e. Tex. (Freestone and Walker cos.),
Apr.-May; N.E., N.Y. and Pa. s. to N.C.; also Ind., Mich., Wise., 111., Minn.
and Tex.
Our plants have longer, fewer perigynia than plants from most of the range
in northeastern United States and perhaps should be a different name.
39. Carex Emoryi Dew.
Perennial in large tufts and in tufts with extensively creeping scaly rhizomes
2-3 mm. thick; culms 4-10 dm. long, 2-3 mm. thick basally, remainder of
leaves mostly clustered basally; basal sheaths light chestnut to purplish; juncture
of sheath and blade flat or slightly arcuate; spikes 4 to 7 per culm, overlapping
or rarely slightly remote; uppermost spike nearly erect and usually entirely or
nearly entirely staminate, 2.5-7 cm. long, 2.5-4 mm. thick, .brownish-stramineous;
lower spikes usually sessile, androgynous, slightly nodding (at maturity); lowest
spikes usually almost entirely pistillate, 3-10 cm. long, 3.5-5 mm. thick, with
65 to 165 overlapping ascending perigynia (borne in rows); bracts sheathless,
that of the lowest spike 1.5-4 mm. broad and (in length) often attaining the
uppermost spike, the higher bracts progressively drastically reduced; scales
brownish-hyaline, oblong, blunt, with paler broad midnerves, shorter than the
perigynia to which they are closely appressed; perigynia ovate to obovate, flat-
tened (biconvex), 2.3-3.3 mm. long, stramineous, with 2 strong (marginal) nerves
and a few vanishingly obscure ones, firm-membranous, basally rounded, shortly
tapered to an essentially beakless or minutely beaked apex, the orifice essentially
entire; stigmas 2; achene lenticular, only about half filling the perigynium, 1.5 mm.
long, 1 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after
anthesis.
Frequent in calcareous mud, n.-cen. and Trans-Pecos Tex. and Edwards Plateau,
and N. M. (Mora Co.), Apr.-May; Man. and N.D. s. to Coah. and Tex., e. to
N.Y., N.J., B.C. and Va.
Perhaps only a variety of C. stricta.
40. Carex ultra Bailey.
Densely cespitose from very stout rootstocks; culms stout, erect, much-exceed-
ing the leaves, 5-15 dm. high, 1.5 cm. thick at the base, smooth on the obtuse
angles below, serrulate on the sharp angles in the inflorescence, brownish-tinged
at the base; leaves 6 to 15 to a culm, not septate-nodulose, thick, glaucous, 6-12
mm. wide, channeled at the base, flat above with more or less revolute margins,
conspicuously striate-nerved, strongly rough-serrulate on the margins; lower sheaths
rough, scabrous and filamentose ventrally, concave at the mouth, the ligule longer
than wide; staminate spikes 2 to 4, approximate or more or less separate, 3-12
cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide, the lateral sessile or short-peduncled; pistillate spikes 3
to 6, sometimes staminate at the apex, the upper sessile and overlapping,"the lower
more or less strongly peduncled and separate, erect, elongate, linear-cylindric,
2.5-15 cm. long, 6-12 mm. wide, containing very numerous appressed-ascending
perigynia; bracts leaflike, the lower short-sheathing and sometimes exceeding the
inflorescence, the upper shorter; scales lanceolate, acute to acuminate or taper-
ing into a short rough awn, reddish-brown, the center several-nerved and green
or straw-colored, half as wide as the perigynia; perigynia compressed-trigonous,
broadly obovoid, 3.5-4.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, little-inflated, subcoriaceous,
glabrous, light-brown, red-striolate at maturity, obscurely several-nerved on both
surfaces, rounded at the base and apex, abruptly short-beaked, the beak 0.3 mm.
long, the apex emarginate; achenes trigonous with blunt angles, elliptic-obovoid,
522
-------
Fig. 267: a-c, Carex Frankii: a, top of plant, X %', b, perigynium, X 5; c, achene,
X 5. d-g, Carex hyalinolepis: d, habit, X %; e, top of plant, X ],£; f, perigynium X 5;
g, scale, X 5. (a, d-g, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; b and c, V. P.).
-------
Fig. 268: Carex typhina: a, inflorescence, X
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
}£; b, scale, X 5; c, perigynium, X 5.
about 2.5 mm. long and 1.25 mm. wide, silvery-black, minutely pitted, substipi-
tate, abruptly contracted into the slender straight style.
Springy places in N. M. (Grant Co.), and Ariz. (Apache, Final, Cochise and
Santa Cruz cos.); also n. Mex.
41. Carex Frankii Kunth. Fig. 267.
Perennial with extensively creeping rhizomes 1-2 mm. thick; culms 2-7 dm.
long, 1.5-5 mm. thick basally; basal sheaths brownish, rarely rosy; blades 4-11
mm. broad; inflorescence of 4 to 6 ascending spikes; terminal (often exceedingly
inconspicuous) spike staminate, 3—50 mm. long, 1.5—5 mm. thick, stramineous or
brown; the remaining spikes pistillate, the upper ones overlapping and short-
peduncled but the lowest commonly remote with a peduncle to 15 cm. long, 1—4
cm. long, 8-15 mm. thick, bristly, with 25 to 130 very close spreading perigynia;
bracts sheathing, foliaceous, the blade of the lowest one commonly far-exceeding
the inflorescence, the higher ones progressively reduced; scales as long as or
longer than the perigynia with the distal part being a wiry awn or bristle; perigynia
3.5-5.5 mm. long, with obovoid bodies 2-4 mm. long, olivaceous, inflated, mem-
branous, with 10 to 15 nerves much more slender than the internerve spaces,
basally tapered and narrowly rounded, apically abruptly short-conic and well-
differentiated from the subulate beak (about 1.5 mm. long) and with a strongly
bidentate orifice; achenes triangular, 1.5-2.2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide, con-
tinuous with the persistent very slender usually straight style which in its lower
half has much the same texture as the achene.
In marshes, boggy areas and mud in seepage areas, edge of streams and about
ponds, in Okla. (Johnston, Adair, Murray, Mayes, Washington, Haskell, Atoka,
Pittsburg, Pushmataha and Cherokee cos.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent in
n.-cen. Tex., rare in the Trans-Pecos (Franklin and Davis Mts.), in seeps and
524
-------
springs, Apr.-June (to July in Trans-Pecos); s.e. U.S. n. to N.Y., 111. and Kan.;
also Coah,. and parts of s. S.A.
42. Carex fyphina Michx. Fig. 268.
Perennial; rhizomes black, scaly, 2-5 mm. thick, 1-4 cm. long between culm-
tufts; culms 3-8 dm. long, 1.5-4 mm. thick basally; lower sheaths brown; blades
3-7 mm. broad; spikes 1 to several, terminal gynecandrous, 3-4 cm. long, 12-15
mm. thick including the beaks, with a cylindric (slightly ovoid) terminal pistillate
portion of 60 to 110 closely packed spreading perigynia, basally abruptly acumi-
nate to the inconspicuous staminate portion; bracts sheathless, the blade surpassing
the spike; pistillate scales narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, apically acute but
not mucronate, laterally hyaline; perigynia about 6 mm. long, the obovoid bodies
4-5 mm. long, inflated, brownish, brittle-membranous, shiny, with 2 faint nerves
distally, basally narrowed and shortly rounded, apically abruptly short-conic to
the subulate or linear bidentate spreading or usually very slightly ascending beak;
achene triangular, 3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, occupying only a small portion of
the perigynium, apically acute, continuous with the persistent slender abruptly
sinuous style whose proximal part is texturally like the achene. C. squarrosa L.
var. typhina (Michx.) Nutt.
In swamps and low wet woodlands, river bottomlands and wet sandy loam, rare
in e. Tex. (Harrison and Shelby cos.), July-Sept.; Que. and n.e. U.S. s. to S.C., Ky.
and La., w. to Wise., la., Mo. and Tex.
May not be specifically distinct from C. squarrosa.
43. Carex squarrosa L.
Culms cespitose, 3-8 dm. tall; principal blades 3-6 mm. wide; spikes usually
solitary, occasionally 2, rarely 3, the upper two-thirds pistillate, the lower third
staminate; pistillate portion elliptic, 1-3 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, rounded at
both ends, very densely flowered; lateral spikes (if present) pistillate, smaller,
erect on short peduncles; bracts of the terminal spike short and narrow, of the
lateral ones foliaceous; staminate scales acute or acuminate; pistillate scales mostly
concealed, acuminate or short-awned; perigynia obconic or conic-obovoid, 3.5-7
mm. long, its summit with two strong ribs (the lateral) and a few obscure nerves;
beak 2-3.5 mm. long, its teeth 0.2 mm. long; achenes trigonous, blackish with
iridescent superficial cells (when fully mature), 3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, base
of the style greatly curved.
In wet meadows, swamps, wet swales and alluvial floodplains in Okla. (Water-
fall) ; w. Que. and Conn, to Wise, and Neb. s. to N. C., Ark. and Okla.
44. Carex hyalinolepis Steud. Fig. 267.
Perennial with extensively creeping rhizomes 2-5 mm. thick; culms single at
the nodes of the rhizome, 4—8 dm. long, 5-8 mm. thick basally; leaves mostly
crowded toward the base; basal sheaths yellowish-stramineous; blades 4-13 mm.
broad, tough, with noxious serrulate edges; spikes 4 to 6 (to 8) per culm, the
upper 1 to 3 staminate and sessile, the lower 1 to 4 short-peduncled, erect and
pistillate, often with an androgynous spike at an intermediate level; terminal
spike 3-6 cm. long, 3-6 mm. thick; lowest pistillate spike 3-8 cm. long, 11-15
mm. thick, with 70 to 100 ascending perigynia (overlapping closely except occa-
sionally the lowest 2 or 3), the scales much shorter than their perigynia; bracts
foliaceous, short-sheathing, that of the lowest commonly surpassing the entire
inflorescence, the higher ones progressively reduced; perigynia 6-9 mm. long,
ampulelike or very narrowly ovate, in transection elliptic, stramineous-brown to
olive-brown, tough-membranous, eventually becoming tough-chartaceous, with 20
to 25 very faint (vanishing in some specimens) nerves much narrower than the
spaces between them, slightly inflated, basally rounded, in the upper half slightly
acuminate to a scarcely beaklike firm bidentate apex; achene triangular, up to
525
-------
Fig. 269: Carex comosa: a, perigynium, showing the numerous strong ribs and the
spreading bidentate beak, X 8; b, achene (cross section), X 12; c, pistillate flower with
perigynium removed, showing the very long style and the 3 short stigmas, X 12; d,
scale of pistillate flower, showing the long scabrid awn, X 12; e, upper part of culm,
showing the leaflike bracts and the nodding pistillate spikes, X \'\; f, ligule, X 2; g,
lower part of plant, showing the stout erect culms and leaf blades, X %; h, staminate
flower, the subtending scale scabrid, X 6. (From Mason, Fig. 120).
-------
2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, continuous with the basally curved style which
basally has the same porcelaneous texture as the achene.
In wet meadows, swamps, ditches, edge of sloughs, lakes and ponds, and in
mud of streams in Okla. (Waterfall) and in s.e. (Brazoria and Colorado cos.), e.
(Bowie and Gonzales cos.) and n.-cen. (Dallas and Tarrant cos.) Tex., Apr-May;
Ont. and e. U.S. w. to Mich., Neb., Okla. and Tex.
45. Carex comosa Boott. BRISTLY SEDGE. Fig. 269.
Mat-forming perennial with short branching rhizomes; culms 5-13 dm. long,
erect, 3-10 mm. thick basally; lower sheaths brownish-stramineous; blades 6-12
mm. broad; spikes 4 or 5 per culm, overlapping for most of their lengths; upper-
most spike staminate, 25-50 mm. long, 3-5 mm. thick, brownish-stramineous;
lower spikes pistillate, nearly horizontal by virtue of a sharp bend at the top of
each peduncle, bristly, the lowest one 35-50 mm. long, 12-15 mm. thick, with 65
to 130 spreading or even slightly deflexed close perigynia; bracts sheathless, the
lowest one with a blade far-surpassing the inflorescence the rest progressively
reduced; pistillate scales with very small pale brown bodies with the pale mid-
veins extending into rough awns usually shorter than the perigynia, deciduous
with the perigynia; perigynia lance-acuminate, in transection vaguely triangular
or somewhat dorsiventrally flattened, 4-7 mm. long, stramineous, firm-membra-
nous, with 2 ribs and 14 or 15 prominent nerves slightly narrower than the spaces
between, basally narrowly rounded, acuminate into a slender beak almost as long
as the very slightly inflated body and with 2 terminal arcuate-divaricate teeth;
achene triangular, about 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, apically continuous with the
long slender persistent style which proximally has much the same porcelaneous
texture as the achene itself.
Rare in lakes, marshes and ponds, in e. Tex. (Wood Co.), Apr .-June; otherwise
s.e. Can. and e. U.S. w. to Minn., Neb., Mo. and Tex.; also Ida., Wash., Ore. and
Calif.
46. Carex hystericina Muhl. PORCUPINE CARIC-SEDGE, BOTTLE-BRUSH CARIC-SEDGE.
Perennial with rhizomes 1.5-2.5 mm. thick and several cm. long; culms tufted
at intervals along the rhizome, 2-8 dm. long, 1-3.5 mm. thick, erect; lower sheaths
stramineous, rarely with a reddish-tinge; blades 2.5-9 mm. broad; spikes 3 to 4
(to 6) per culm, mostly overlapping or the lower one or 2 somewhat remote; upper-
most spike staminate (rarely androgynous), 15-35 mm. long, 3-4 mm. thick,
stramineous; lower spikes pistillate (some upper ones infrequently androgynous),
bristly, the lowest one erect or nodding slightly, 15-35 mm. long, 8-12 mm. thick,
with 35 to 70 close spreading (at maturity) perigynia; bracts sheathless, the blades
of the lowest one often surpassing the terminal spikes, the higher ones progressively
much-reduced; the stramineous scales almost as long as the perigynia and with
ovate hyaline bodies and long subulate cusps or awns; perigynia lance-acuminate,
in transection nearly round or (when immature or pressed) dorsiventrally flattened,
5-7 mm. long, stramineous-membranous, with 2 nerves or weak ribs and 12 to 14
fine nerves much narrower than the spaces between them, basally narrowly
rounded, acuminate into a slender strongly bidentate beak about half as long as
the inflated body; achene triangular, about 1.8 mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide, the
sides concave in the lower part, continuous with the long persistent slender style
which basally has much the same porcelaneous texture as the achene itself.
In swampy meadows and in calcareous mud of stream beds in Okla. (Waterfall)
and Tex., in the mts. of the Trans-Pecos, rare e. to the Plains Country and Edwards
Plateau, N. M. (San Miguel Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Mari-
copa cos.), summer; s. Can. and n. U.S. s. to Va., Ky., Okla., Tex., N.M., Ariz.
and Calif; Coah. Sometimes incorrectly spelled "hystricina".
527
-------
Fig. 270: Carex lurida: a, habit, X %; b, ligule, X 1%; c, staminate scale, X 4; d,
pistillate scale, X 4; e, perigynium, X 4; f, achene, X 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
47. Carex Thurberi Dewey.
Cespitose from stout rootstocks; culms 6-12 dm. high, phyllopodic, erect, stout,
shorter than the leaves and bracts, sharply triangular, reddish-tinged at the base,
the lower sheaths breaking and becoming filamentose; leaves 5 to 10 to a culm,
obscurely septate-nodulose, the blades flat with revolute margins, thin but rather
stiff, 4-8 mm. wide, long-attenuate, very rough toward the apex; sheaths sparsely
hispidulous dorsally, concave and short-hispid at the mouth, the short ligule much
wider than long; terminal spike staminate, erect, short-peduncled, linear, 4-8 cm.
long, 3-5 mm. wide; pistillate spikes 3 or 4, approximate or more or less sepa-
rate, drooping or the upper weakly erect on rough slender peduncles mostly
shorter (except the lowest) than the spikes, the spikes oblong-cylindric or cylindric,
3.5-7 cm. long, 8-10 mm. wide, densely 50- to 100-flowered, the perigynia
ascending or spreading-ascending; bracts leaflike, sheathless or very nearly so,
much-exceeding the inflorescence; scales ovate, often emarginate, strongly rough-
awned, the body large, ciliate-serrulate above, hyaline and slightly reddish-brown-
tinged, the green center three-nerved, nearly as wide as but much shorter than the
perigynia; perigynia elliptic-ovoid, 4-5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, slightly inflated,
suborbicular to obscurely triangular in cross section, submembranaceous, puncti-
culate, yellowish-green, finely several-ribbed, rounded at the short-stipitate base,
tapering into a smooth strongly bidentate beak 1.5 mm. long, the slender stiff
teeth slightly spreading, 0.5-0.75 mm. long; achenes trigonous with blunt angles,
oblong-obovoid, about 1.75 mm. long and 0.75 mm. wide, substipitate, continuous
with the slender abruptly bent persistent style.
In moist or wet ravines and swampy habitats, in Ariz. (Coconino, Gila, Cochise,
Santa Cruz, and Pima cos.); Ariz, to Guat.; W.I.
48. Carex lurida Wahl. Fig. 270.
Tufted perennial with very short rhizomes; culms 3-10 dm. long, 1.5-6.5 mm.
thick, erect, leafy; basal sheaths brown (occasionally faintly reddish); blades 4-10
mm. broad; spikes 3 to 5, mostly overlapping or occasionally the lower 1 or 2
slightly removed; terminal spike staminate, erect, 3-6 cm. long, 1-2 mm. thick;
rest of spikes pistillate, nearly sessile (or the lower occasionally on flexuous
peduncles to 19 cm. long), often arcuate-nodding, the lowest 25^0 (-60) mm.
long, 14-18 (-20) mm. thick including beaks, with 50 to 80 (to 100) close some-
what ascending perigynia: bracts foliaceous, sheathing, the blade of the lowest one
much-surpassing the entire inflorescence; the scales about as long as the bodies of
the perigynia and subulate or awnlike in their distal part; perigynia ampule-shaped,
7-11 mm. long, the bodies ovoid or obovoid, 2.3 mm. thick, 4-6 mm. long, in-
flated, membranous, olive-green, drying to olive-brown or olive-stramineous, with
8 to 11 nerves (2 slightly stronger than the rest) much narrower than the internerve
spaces, basally tapered and shortly rounded, apically tapered or long-conic and
passing gradually into the linear-subulate bidentate beak; achene triangular, about
2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, granular, continuous with the sinous-flexuous per-
sistent style the lower half of which is texturally similar to the achene.
Wet meadows, marshes, seepage, edge of streams and ponds in sand and mud.
in Okla. (McCurtain and LeFlore cos.) and e. Tex., May-June; e. temp. N.A. w.
to Minn., Mo., Okla. and Tex.; also Ver.
49. Carex vesicaria L. INFLATED SEDGE. Fig. 271.
Rhizomes short-creeping, stout; culms 3-9 dm. tall, sharply triangular and
rough above, the lower leaves more or less bladeless; leaf blades flat, 2-6 mm.
wide, more or less strongly nodulose on abaxial surface; staminate spikes 2 to 4,
2-4 cm. long, 2.5—4 mm. wide, the upper one peduncled, the lateral ones sessile;
pistillate spikes 1 to 3 (usually 2), 2-7.5 cm. long, 5-15 mm. wide, oblong-
529
-------
Fig. 271: Carex vesicaria: a, lower part of plant, showing the bladeless lower
leaves and the rhizomatous base of plant, X %; b, upper part of culm, showing the
long bracts, the sessile pistillate spikes below and the terminal staminate spikes above,
X -/:,', c, staminate flower and subtending scale, X 5; d, scale of pistillate flower, X 5;
e, perigynium, showing bidentate beak with erect teeth, X 5; f, ligule, X I1/,; g, pistil-
late flower with perigynium removed, showing the very long and flexuous style, X 5; h,
achene (cross section), X 5. (From Mason, Fig. 121).
-------
Fig. 272: Carex rostrata: a, staminate flower and subtending scale, X 8; b, peri-
gynium, showing the_slender erect bidentate beak, X 8; c, ligule, X 6; d, pistillate flower
with perigynium removed, showing the substipitate achene and curved style, X 12; e,
achene (cross section), X 12; f, habit, lower part of plant, showing the long horizontal
rhizomes, X %; g, upper part of culm, the lower spikes pistillate, the staminate spikes
terminal, some of the staminate spikes bearing perigynia at apex, X %; h, scale of
pistillate flower, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 122).
-------
cylindric, sessile or short-peduncled, widely separate; bracts leaflike, not sheathing,
the lowest extending well beyond the tip of the culm; scales ovate-lanceolate, acute
to acuminate or short-awned, reddish-brown-tinged with green center and narrow
hyaline margins, one half to nearly as long as the perigynia; perigynia ovoid,
inflated, 4—8 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, yellowish-green or brownish, ascending or
ascending-spreading at maturity, the smooth bidentate beak 1.5—2 mm. long, the
erect teeth 0.5-1 mm. long; achene trigonous, with blunt angles, 2.5 mm. long,
1.7 mm. wide, obovoid, substipitate, contracted at the apex into the persistent
abruptly bent style.
Wet meadows, swampy open ground or woods, forested floodplains, low wet
river bottoms, in N.M. (Otero, Sandoval, Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
Coconino Co.); Nfld. to B.C., s. to Del., Ind., Mo., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
50. Carex rostrata Stokes. BEAKED SEDGE. Fig. 272.
Closely resembling C. vesicaria, with which it possibly intergrades, but differing,
at least in its typical aspect, in the following features: rhizomes producing long
horizontal stolons; culms obtusely angled; lower leaves with well-developed blades;
leaves more or less strongly septate-nodulose (at least on the sheaths), the blades
2-12 mm. wide; basal sheaths little if at all filamentose; perigynia 3.5-8 mm. long,
2.5-3.5 mm. wide, at maturity ascending-spreading or spreading, the lowest some-
times reflexed; achenes trigonous with blunt angles, obovoid, 2 mm. long, 1.2 mm.
wide. C. inflata Huds.
In marshes and bogs, in water of pools, ponds and lakes, along streams and
in seepage area about springs, in N.M. (Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Coconino cos.); Greenl. to Alas., s. to Del., Ind., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
51. Carex folliculata L. var. australis Bailey. Fig. 273.
Tufted perennial; culms 4-8 dm. long, 2-4 mm. thick basally, erect; basal
sheaths whitish, nodulose; blades 5-10 mm. broad; spikes 3 or 4 per culm,'remote
except for sometimes the 2 upper ones; the uppermost spike staminate, 2-4 cm.
long, 2-3 mm. thick, stramineous; next lowest spike pistillate (or with a very short
terminal staminate portion), nearly sessile; lower spikes progressively longer-
peduncled and all pistillate, erect; lowest spike 15-27 mm. long, 15-23 mm.
broad, with 12 to 20 spreading perigynia (internodes of rachis about 1 mm. long);
bracts leaflike, that of the lowest spike 15-25 cm. long including the sheath; higher
bracts progressively reduced; the lance-acuminate scales hyaline-stramineous and
5-7 mm. long; perigynia lance-subulate, not at all acuminate, nearly round in
transection, 11-14 mm. long, greenish (drying stramineous), membranous, with
15 to 25 strong nerves narrower than the internerve spaces, inflated; achene
rounded-triangular with concave sides, up to 3.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, con-
tinuous with the long persistent slender style which basally has much the same
porcelaneous texture as the achene itself. C. lonchocarpa Willd.
Infrequent or rare in e. Tex. (Hardin, Jasper, Newton and Tyler cos.), in wet
sand or mud, Apr.-May, rarely as late as June, a few perigynia persistent into
July; Coastal States, Va. to Tex.
52. Carex Gray! Carey.
Plants cespitose, usually 3-8 dm. tall; principal blades usually 2-3 dm. long,
6-12 mm. wide; pistillate spikes 1 or 2 (rarely 3), when 2 close together, globose
or nearly so, 2.5—4- cm. in diameter; pistillate scales ovate, much shorter than
and mostly concealed by the perigynia; perigynia crowded, usually 15 to 20, dull,
lance-ovoid, radiating in all directions, 12—18 mm. long, obconic from the base
to the widest portion, thence tapering to the beak, usually hispidulous below the
532
-------
Fig. 273: Carex folliculata var. australis: a, inflorescence, X %; b, scale, X 7; c,
perigynium, dorsal view, X 7; d, perigynium, ventral view, X 7. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 274: a-d, Carex gigantca: a, inflorescence, X \fa b, scales, X 5; c, perigynium,
dorsal view, X 5; d, perigynum, ventral view. X 5. e-h, Carex intumescens: e, inflores-
cence, X U; f, scale, X 5; g, perigynium, X 5; h, achene, X 5. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
middle; achenes trigonous with rounded angles, the body about 4 mm. long, 3 mm.
wide; style persistent, straight or loosely contorted above the middle.
Swampy woods, forested alluvial floodplains, and low wet river bottomland,
in Okla, (Waterfall); Vt, to Wise., s. to Ga., Mo. and Okla.
S3. Carex intumescens Rudge. Fig. 274,
Tufted perennial; culms 3-7 dm. long, basally 1.5-3 mm. thick, erect; basal
sheaths reddish-brown; blades 2—5 mm. broad; spikes 2 to 4 per culm, clustered or
remote; terminal spike staminate, 2-5 cm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, brownish; the
remaining spikes pistillate, ascending, 13—22 mm. long, 14—25 mm. broad, with 8
to 15 close spreading perigynia; bracts sheathing, foliaceous, surpassing the in-
florescence; the narrowly ovate scales acute and only about half as long as their
perigynia; perigvnia 11—16 mm. long, the body three-fourths to five-sixths the
total length, ovoid to narrowly so, olivaceous, crusty-membranous, much-inflated.
with 14 to 19 slender nerves, basally rounded, apically tapered and passing
gradually into the proportionally short bidentate beak: achene longer than thick,
triangular, the angles not prominent and totally knobless, about 4 mm. long, 25
mm. wide, passing into the slender often looped style (the lower persistent part
of which texturally resembles the achene).
In moist areas, floodplain woods along streams, wooded^swamps and alluvial
plains, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex.. Apr.-June; s.e. Can. and e. U.S.
w. to Minn., la.. Mo., Ark. and Tex.
54. Carex lupulina Muhl.
Perennial, usually very loosely tufted and with creeping rhizomes 1—3 mm.
thick; culms 3-10 dm. long, erect, basally 1.5-10 mm. thick, the.lower sheaths
brownish, occasionally with a slight rosy hue; blades 3-12 mm. broad; spikes
3 to 6 per culm, either clustered and overlapping or the lower remote, occasionally
all rather remote and the lower ones long-peduncled; upper spike {rarely upper 2)
staminate, 3—8 cm. long, 2—4 mm. thick, brownish; lower spikes pistillate, usually
cylindrical, less commonly oblong or ellipsoid-oblong, often slightly nodding
terminally, 2—5 cm. long, 15—24 mm. thick, the lowest with 25 to 80 close ascend-
ing or somewhat spreading perigynia; bracts sheathing, foliaceous, that of the
lowest spike commonly far-suroassing the inflorescence; scales mostly hyaline-
translucent, broadly lanceolate, acute, often mucronate, less commonly •with an
awn about 2 mm. long/ the whole only about half to two thirds as long as the
perigynia; perigynia 11—20 mm. long, the body about half to five eighths the total
length, broadly ovoid, stramineous to olivaceous, crusty-membranous, with 14 to
21 slender nerves, inflated, basally rounded, apically acuminate and passing
gradually into the long slender bidentate beak: achene longer than broad, about
3 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide, triangular with more or less pronounced angles
(making the sides seem concave) and with more or less of a process or knob on
each angle (very indistinct in some plants), apically continuous with the violently
looped style whose lower persistent part texturally resembles the achene. C.
lupuliformis Sartw.. C. Jouisianica Bailey.
In mud and shallow water of streams, in marshes and swamps, low roadside
ditches, in e. Okla. (Adair, Delaware, LeFlore, McCurtain, Ottawa, Pushmataha,
Creek, Osage and Haskell cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex.. Apr.—May. occasionally into
early summer; N.S., Que. and Ont., e. U.S. w. to Minn.. la.. Mo., Okla, and Tex.
55. Carex giganfea Rudge. Fig. 274.
Loosely tufted perennial with creeping scaly rhizomes 1.5—3 mm. thick; culms
35-80 cm, long; basal sheaths brownish to stramineous; blades 4-12 mm. broad;
spikes 3 or 4 (rarely 5) per culm, usually all but the lowermost overlapping;
terminal spike staminate, 3—6 cm. long, 2-4 mm. thick; the remaining spikes
535
-------
Fig. 275: Carex leptalea: a, pistillate flower with a part of the stipitate perigynium
attached, the achene obscurely trigonous, the style flexuous and the stigma bifid, X 16;
b, perigynium, many-striate and beakless, X 12; c, achene (cross section), X 16; d,
scale of pistillate flower, X 12; e, ligule, X 24; f, spike subtended by bractlike scale, the
inconspicuous staminate flowers at apex, X 6; g, scale of staminate flower, X 16; h,
habit, showing the very slender densely tufted culms extending above the leaves, X %.
(From Mason, Fig. 108).
-------
pistillate, cylindric, the lowest 3-5 cm. long, 14-22 mm. thick (including beaks),
with 30 to 65 close spreading perigynia; bracts sheathing, foliaceous, that of the
lowest spike far-exceeding the inflorescence; the lanceolate scales acute or acumi-
nate and about half to three fourths as long as the perigynia; perigynia 12-15 mm.
long, the body about three eighths the total length, ovoid, crusty-membranous,
inflated, olive-stramineous, with 14 to 17 slender nerves, basally rounded, apically
acuminate and passing into the long subulate bidentate beak; achene about as
broad as or usually broader than long, rhombic-triangular with very prominent
angles each with a pronounced knob near the middle, about 2 mm. long, 2.5 mm.
wide, apically continuous with the violently looped style whose persistent lower
part texturally resembles the achene.
In wooded swamps, alluvial floodplain woods, in and about ponds, lakes and
pools, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex. (Harris and Polk cos.), May-
July; lowlands of s.e. U.S. n. to Del., Ky., Ind., Mo. and Okla.
56. Carex leptalea Wahl. Fig. 275.
Perennial with creeping scaly rhizomes 0.5-1 mm. thick; culms in tight tufts
along the rhizome, 1-4 dm. long, 0.5-1 mm. thick, erect; sheath venters broadly
hyaline, splitting lengthwise; blades narrower than their sheaths, 0.5-1 mm. broad,
shorter than to occasionally equaling the culms; inflorescence a solitary androgy-
nous spike 5-18 mm. long and 2-3 mm. thick; scales red-dotted, those of the
staminate flowers with edges connate on lower part; bract absent; perigynia com-
pressed-triangular in transection, almost flat (flat in prepared specimens, appearing
2-edged), oblong-elliptic, 3.9-5 mm. long, 1 to 10 per spike, appearing to be
tristichous, the lower ones maturing first and falling early in succession (with
their scales!), appressed-erect, membranous, many-nerved, the upper part empty,
basally spongy, substipitate, beakless, apically rounded; achenes triangular with
concave sides, 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, apically truncate, jointed with the
flexuous style which all withers away after anthesis. Incl. var. Harperi (Fern.)
Stone.
In sphagnum areas, bogs, marshes and wet meadows, in e. and s.e. Tex.
(Anderson, Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Shelby and Tyler
cos.) and N. M. (Taos Co.), Apr.-early June; e. temp. N.A. s. and w. to n.
Calif., Colo., N.M. and Tex.
57. Carex nigromarginata Schwein. var. floridana (Schwein.) Kiikenth.
Tufted perennial, often with scaly slender rhizomes; culms 4-20 cm. long,
0.3-0.5 mm. thick; leaves largely clustered near the base; lowest sheaths of the
new shoots bladeless; blades 8-30 cm. long, far-exceeding the culms, 2-2.5 mm.
broad; inflorescence subcapitate, 9-12 mm. long, 3-7 mm. thick, composed of one
terminal staminate spike and a few subterminal sessile ascending-appressed
pistillate ones so closely placed that they overlap for most of their lengths; bracts
of lowest spike 6-9 mm. long, foliaceous, those of rest of spikes smaller; scales
about as long as the perigynia and mostly concealing them, often with a faint
purplish marginal zone, otherwise thin-membranous; perigynia 5 to 12 per spike,
ascending-appressed, about 3.3 mm. long, the bodies narrowly obovate and about
2.8 mm. long, vaguely triangular in transection (the inner "angle" blunt), long-
tapered basally (at the extreme base discolored), apically narrowed, minutely
pubescent, with 2 prominent veins; membranous; beak about 0.5 mm. long,
oblique or minutely bidentate; achene completely filling the upper part of the
body of the perigynium, in transection with 2 definitely small angles and one
ventral indefinite blunt one, with convex sides, 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide,
apiculate, jointed with the style which completely withers after anthesis.
537
-------
Rare in wet sandy forests, e. Tex. (Nacogdoches and Newton cos.), Feb.-Mar.;
Ga., Fla., Miss., La. and Tex. (the var. nigromarginata from Gulf States except
Tex., n. to N.E.).
58. Carex physorhyncha Liebm.
Tufted perennial, with scaly reddish brown rhizomes about 2 mm. thick; culms
15-30 cm. long, 0.3-0.6 mm. thick; lowest sheaths of flowering culms with blades,
those of sterile shoots bladeless; blades 2-3 mm. broad, shorter than the culms;
inflorescence interrupted-spiciform, 15-25 mm. long, 4-7 mm. thick, composed
of one terminal staminate spike and 2 to 3 subterminal sessile ascending-appressed
pistillate ones, the 2 lowest pistillate spikes only 3-10 mm. apart on the axis;
bracts of lowest spike setaceous to subfoliaceous, 5-44 mm. long, ascending, those
of the rest of the spikes smaller; scales nearly as long as the perigynia, 3-veined
medially, marginally hyaline; perigynia 6 to 12 per spike, ascending-appressed,
2.5-3 mm. long (the bodies narrowly obovoid, bluntly triangular, 1.8-2.3 mm.
long, about 1 mm. thick), basally strongly stipitate-narrowed and at the very base
discolored, with 2 prominent veins, minutely pubescent, membranous; beak 0.5-
0.7 mm. long, thin-membranous, shallowly bidentate; achene completely filling the
upper part of the perigynium, triangular, apiculate with convex sides, 1.5 mm.
long, 1 mm. wide, jointed with the style which completely withers after anthesis.
Rare in e. (Smith and Walker cos.), s.e. (Jefferson Co.) and n.-cen. (Dallas
Co.) Tex. and Okla. (Payne Co.), in wet sandy soil, Mar.-May; S.C., Ala., Miss.,
La., Ark., Okla., Tex. and Hgo.
59. Carex eburnea Boott.
Perennial; rhizomes extensively creeping, scaly, about 1 mm. thick; culms in
small tufts at intervals along the rhizome, 20-35 cm. long, ,0.2-0.3 mm. thick,;
wiry, grayish-green; leaves involute-filiform, 15-20 cm. long, 0.2-0.3 mm. thick,
mostly shorter than the culms, grayish-green, basally clustered; inflorescence
essentially bractless except for a minute nearly bladeless hyaline sheath at the
node of the subterminal spikes, composed of a terminal erect staminate spike and
usually 2 subterminal erect peduncled (peduncles filiform, erect, 1-2 cm. long)
pistillate spikes about 8 mm. long and 2 mm. thick, the nodes of attachment of
spikes being separated by internodes 8-12 (upper ones) or 13-27 (lower ones)
mm. long; scales hyaline, very slightly shorter than their perigynia; perigynia 5
to 8 per spike, fusiform, 2.5-2.7 mrn: long, the bodies narrowly obovoid-triangular
(the angles blunt, the sides flat), 2-2.1 mm. long, membranous or subhyaline,
glabrous, with 2 prominent veins and a number of faint ones, apically narrowed;
beak 0.5-0.6 mm. long, not well-defined, thick basally, oblique and the orifice
oblique; achenes 1.6-1.8 mm. long, dark-brown, obovoid, rather sharply trigonous,
essentially filling the bodies of the perigynia, apiculate, jointed with the style
which wholly withers after anthesis.
Rare in seepage areas of limestone cliffs at alt. of 5,000-6,000 ft. in the
Trans-Pecos (Guadalupe Mts.), July; temp. N.A. s. to Va., Tenn., Mo., Neb. and
in mts. to Tex.
Our plants may be varietally distinct in that the perigynia and achenes average
slightly larger than in more northern plants.
60. Carex media R. Br.
Loosely cespitose from rather short slender rhizomes; culms 2-8 dm. high,
slender, smooth or slightly scabrous above, not stiff, sharply triangular above,
much-exceeding the leaves, red-tinged at the base, the dried leaves of the pre-
ceding year conspicuous; leaves 7 to 15 to a culm, mostly aggregated toward the
base, thin, pale-green, flat or with slightly revolute margins, 2-3 mm. wide,
538
-------
long-attenuate, roughened on the margins, the ventrally hyaline sheaths concave
at the mouth, the ligule much wider than long; spikes usually 3, the lateral
pistillate, the terminal gynecandrous, closely aggregated or approximate, erect,
short-oblong to suborbicular, 3.5-8 mm. long, 2.75-4.5 mm. wide, the lower short-
peduncled, the upper sessile, closely 8- to 25-flowered, the perigynia ascending;
lowest bract usually shorter than the head, little or not at all sheathing, the
upper much shorter; scales small, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, persistent, purplish-black;
staminate scales ovate-lanceolate, rather acute, with lighter midrib and white-
hyaline margins; pistillate scales broadly ovate, somewhat acute to obtuse, the
midrib essentially obsolete, the margins white-hyaline, nearly as wide as but
much shorter than the perigynia; perigynia obovoid oroblong-obovoid, 2-2.5 (-3.5)
mm. long, 1.25 mm. wide, obtusely trigonous, slightly inflated, membranaceous,
yellowish-green to yellowish-brown, granular and conspicuously puncticulate,
glabrous, 2-ribbed, otherwise nerveless, occasionally somewhat serrulate, tapering
at the base, sessile, rounded and abruptly beaked above, the beak short (0.5 mm.
long) but prominent, minutely bidentate, dark-reddish-tinged, not ciliate at the
mouth; achenes trigonous with concave sides, obovoid, and 1.75 mm. long and
1 mm. wide, granular, yellowish-brown, substipitate, abruptly apiculate. -
In moist or wet open or partially open habitats in the mts., especially along
drainage courses in spruce-fir forests, in N.M. (Taos Co.); Lab. to Alas., s.
to Que., n. Mich., N.M. and Wash.
61. Carex serratodens W. Boott.
Loosely cespitose from short rootstocks; culms 3-12 dm. high, slender,
aphyllopodic, strongly red-tinged at the base, the basal sheaths breaking and
becoming filamentose; sterile shoots phyllopodic, conspicuous; leaves 2 to 5 to
a culm, clustered toward the base, 1.75-4 mm. wide, flat, pale-green, long-
attenuate, the ligule conspicuously red-dotted, as long as wide; terminal spike
staminate or gynecandrous, slightly peduncled or nearly sessile, linear, 1.5—3 cm.
long, 3-4.5 mm. wide; pistillate spikes 2 to 5, the lower 1 or 2 more or less
separate, the other closely approximate, erect, sessile or the lowest slightly
peduncled, oblong, 6-18 mm. long, 5-8 mm. wide, densely 20- to 40-flowered,
the ascending perigynia at length spreading or squarrose; lowest bract leaflike,
from shorter than to exceeding the culm, scarcely sheathing, the other bracts
much-reduced; scales ovate, acute to short-mucronate, somewhat narrower and
shorter than the perigynia, reddish-brown with lighter center; perigynia oblong-
ovate to ovate, trigonous, slightly flattened above, 3-5 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm.
wide, strongly many-nerved, light-green, reddish-dotted, puncticulate, rounded and
sessile at the base, rather abruptly tapering at the apex into a slender bidentate
hispidulous to serrulate beak 0.5-1 mm. long; achenes obtusely trigonous, obovoid,
about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide, short-stipitate and abruptly apiculate.
Moist or wet meadows and rocky wettish places near streams and seepages, in
Ariz. (Gila Co.); s. Ore. and Calif.; Ariz.
62. Carex Buxbaumii Wahl.
Cespitose, rhizomatous; culms 2-10 dm. tall, slender but stiff, sharply angled,
rough above, red-tinged at the base; basal leaf sheaths breaking and becoming
conspicuously filamentose; leaf blades 1.5-4 mm. wide, light-green, more or less
glaucous, flat, channeled toward base, sharply keeled, long-attenuate; spikes 2 to 4,
erect, 1—4 cm. long, sessile or short-peduncled, the lateral ones pistillate, ovoid or
oblong-ovoid 5-20 mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide; bracts scalelike, the lowest one
not reaching the tip of the culm to extending slightly beyond it; scales ovate,
longer than the perigynia, long-acuminate or aristate, purplish-black or purplish-
brown with light midvein; perigynia oblong-obovoid, 3-4 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm.
539
-------
wide, glaucous-green, papillose, marginally 2-ribbed and finely many-nerved, short-
stipitate, abruptly very minutely bidentate, purplish-tipped; achenes trigonous,
suborbicular-obovoid, 1.7 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, brownish, punctate.
In bogs and swales, wet meadows, swampy woods and wet river bottoms, in
Okla. (Waterfall); Nfld. to Alas., s. to e. Va. and w. N.C., Ky., Ark., Okla., Colo.
and Calif.
63. Carex bella Bailey.
Cespitose from short-creeping fibrillose rootstocks; culms very slender, 5-9
dm. high, much-exceeding the leaves, phyllopodic, cinnamon-brown and more or
less strongly red-tinged at the base, the dried leaves of the previous year con-
spicuous; leaves usually 8 to 12 to a culm, scattered on the lower half, erect, flat,
3-6 mm. wide, long-attenuate; sheaths ventrally dull-reddish-brown-tinged or
dotted, the ligule as wide as long; spikes 3 or 4, the lower more or less drooping on
slender roughish peduncles 1.5-4 cm. long, the upper spikes erect, short-peduncled
or subsessile, the uppermost contiguous, the others more or less strongly separate,
gynecandrous, the terminal spike half-staminate, the lateral with only a few
staminate flowers, linear to oblong-linear, 12-25 mm. long, 4-5.5 mm. wide,
closely 15- to 30-flowered, the perigynia appressed, the terminal spike slightly
wider; lowest bract short (2.5 mm. long), leaflike, sheathing, exceeding the head;
upper bracts much-reduced; pistillate scales ovate, obtuse to acute, dark-reddish-
brown with lighter midrib usually conspicuous to the tip and shining white-hyaline
margins, nearly as wide as (but shorter than) the mature perigynia; perigynia
strongly flattened but swollen by the ripening achene, broadly oval to oblong-oval,
3-4 mm. long, 1.75-2 mm. wide, nerveless (except for the two marginal ribs)
or lightly 2- to 3-nerved, whitish-green, little or not at all red-tinged, membranace-
ous, smooth, puncticulate, rounded at the base, substipitate, rounded at the apex
and abruptly beaked, the beak 0.3 mm. long, apiculate, shallowly bidentate;
achenes obovoid or oblong-obovoid, about 2.2 mm. long and 1.7 mm. wide,
trigonous, yellowish-brown, granular, substipitate, strongly apiculate.
Along streams and in moist or wet open woods and open parks in the spruce-fir
zone, and in wet alpine meadows in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Graham
cos.); S.D. and Colo, to Ut., s. to N.M., Ariz, and N.L.
64. Carex albonigra Mack.
Cespitose from short slender rootstocks; culms 1-3 dm. high, stiff and erect,
phyllopodic, much-exceeding the leaves, red-tinged toward the base, the dried
leaves of the previous year conspicuous; leaves 6 to 12 to a culm, clustered at the
base, firm, flat with slightly revolute margins, 2.5-5 mm. wide, roughened toward
the strongly attenuate apex, the ligule as wide as long; spikes usually 3, the upper
approximate and sessile, the lowest usually slightly separate on an erect peduncle
shorter than the spike, the lateral pistillate, narrowly oblong, very closely 8- to
20-flowered, 8-10 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, the perigynia appressed, the terminal
gynecandrous, clavate at the base, 10-12 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, with 25 to 30
appressed perigynia; lowest bract leaflike, about equaling the inflorescence, brown-
ish-red-tinged and short-sheathing at the base, the others scalelike; scales broadly
ovate, obtuse or acutish, reddish-black, rough-papillose, conspicuously white-
hyaline at the apex and on the margins, the midrib usually more or less obsolete,
nearly equaling and generally wider than the perigynia; perigynia much-flattened,
broadly ovate or obovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, nerveless (except for the
two marginal ribs) or nearly so, membranaceous, granular, reddish-black, rounded
at the base, substipitate, rounded at the apex and very abruptly contracted into
a minute apiculate, shallowiy bidentate beak scarcely 0.5 mm. long; achenes
540
-------
obovoid, about 1.25 mm. long and 0.75 mm. wide, trigonous, granular, light-
yellowish-brown, substipitate, apiculate.
In seepage, edge of water in streams and ponds, in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino Co.); Alta. to Wash., s. to Ariz., N.M. and Calif.
65. Carex nova Bailey.
Cespitose from short-creeping rootstock; culms stiffly erect, 1.5-6 dm. high,
exceeding the leaves, strongly red-tinged at the base, the dried leaves of the
previous year conspicuous; leaves 8 to 15 to a culm, mostly bunched near the
base, firm, erect, flat with slightly revolute margins 2.5-5 mm. wide, roughened
at the attenuate apex, the ligule as long as wide; spikes 3 or 4, the lateral
pistillate, the terminal gynecandrous, sessile, very closely aggregated into a dense,
terminal head 8-18 mm. long and about as wide, the spikes suborbicular, 7-12
mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, very closely flowered, the perigynia spreading-
ascending, at length squarrose; an empty bract 2-30 mm. below the head, little-
sheathing, from shorter than to exceeding the head, other bracts obsolete; scales
lanceolate to obovate, rather obtuse or acute to short-cuspidate, dark-reddish-black
with very narrow hyaline margins above, the midrib almost obsolete, shorter and
narrower than the perigynia; perigynia strongly flattened but conspicuously dis-
tended by the ripening achene, ovate-suborbicular to obovoid, 3^4 mm. long,
2-3.5 mm. wide, nerveless except for the two marginal ribs, membranaceous,
granular, remotely and sparingly ciliate-scabrous, reddish-black with green margins
and straw-colored base, rounded at the base and substipitate, rounded at the apex
and abruptly short-beaked; beak apiculate, 0.5-1 mm. long, reddish-black, sharply
bidentate; achenes trigonous, narrowly obovoid, about 2 mm. long, 1 mm. wide,
yellowish-brown, granular, short-stipitate and abruptly apiculate.
In wet mt meadows, upland marshes and on stream banks, in N.M. (Taos Co.);
Mont, and Ore. to N.M. and Nev.
66. Carex Shorriana Dewey
Cespitose, the stout culms 4-8 dm. tall, usually shorter than the leaves; prin-
cipal blades 4-8 mm. wide; spikes 4 to 6, cylindric, erefct, 1.5—4 cm. long,
4-6 mm. thick, the terminal pistillate above, staminate below, the lateral pis-
tillate, the lowest on long slender peduncles, the others on progressively shorter
peduncles to nearly sessile; bracts leaflike, sheathless or nearly so; pistillate
scales ovate, nearly or quite as long as the perigynia, reddish-brown, acute or
rounded and mucronate; perigynia flattened-triangular, broadly obovate, 1.8-2.6
mm. long, nearly as wide, cuneate to the base, transversely rugose, conspicuously
2-ribbed at the lateral angles, otherwise nerveless, minutely apiculate; achene
trigonous-ellipsoid, minutely papillate, 1.8 mm. long, 1 mm. wide.
Wet woods and wet meadows, in Okla. (Waterfall); Pa. to Ind., la., and Kan.
s. to Tenn. and Okla.
67. Carex Joorii Bailey. Fig. 276.
Loosely tufted glabrous perennial with short blackish scaly rhizomes 3-8 mm.
thick; culms 6-10 dm. long, erect; blades 4-8 mm. broad at the broadest point;
spikes (5 or) 6 (rarely up to 8); the upper 1 (or 2) spikes staminate and erect,
the lower ones pistillate (or the 2nd and 3rd from the top androgynous with a
very short staminate portion) and downward progressively longer-peduncled and
more nodding (at maturity!); terminal staminate spike 3-6 cm. long, 4-6 mm.
thick, with mucronate scales 5-6 mm. long; lowest pistillate spike 25-40 mm. long,
6-9 mm. thick, with 25 to 60 close spreading perigynia and obovate or ovate
strongly cuspidate hyaline scales about as long as the perigynia; lowest bract
sheathless, the blade 2-4 mm. broad, often surpassing the staminate spike, the
bracts of the higher spikes progressively very strongly reduced; perigynia rhom-
541
-------
Fig. 276: Care* Joorii: a, habit, X 'ft; b, inflorescence, X %; c, scale, X 8; d, peri-
gynium, X 8; e, achene, X 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 277: Carex glaucescens: a, inflorescence, X 1; b, scale, X 17; c, perigynium,
X 17; d, achene, X 17. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
boid-ovoid to -obovoid, in transaction nearly round (fresh) to obscurely triangular
(dried), 4-5 mm. long, inflated, firm-membranous, dark brown, with 2 strong pale
nerves (or ribs) and 9 to 12 slightly less strong ones, basally rounded, apically
pyramidal-acuminate, passing into the definite slender beak (about 0.5 mm. long)
with an entire orifice; achene triangular with concave sides, about 2.3 mm. long,
2.8 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after anthesis.
In mud and water of streams, ponds and lakes, seepage areas, in Okla. (Water-
fall) and in e. and s.e. Tex., July-Oct.; Coastal States, Md. to Tex.; also Ark.,
Tenn. and Mo.
68. Carex glaucescens Ell. Fig. 277.
Tufted glabrous perennial with short blackish rhizomes 2-3 mm. thick; culms
5-12 dm. long, erect, leafy; blades 4-8 mm. broad at the broadest point; spikes
4 to 7, the upper one staminate and erect, the lower ones pistillate (or some of
them androgynous with very short staminate portions) and downward progressively
longer peduncled and more nodding (at maturity!; at anthesis many of them
ascending); terminal staminate spike 25-^0 mm. long, 5-7 mm. thick, with
mucronate scales 5-7 mm. long; lowest pistillate spike 2-5 cm. long, 7-9 mm.
thick, with 60 to 100 very close ascending perigynia and obovate reddish-brown
hyaline scales (with greenish midnerves subulately exserted from an emarginate
apex) about equaling the perigynia; lowest bract sheathless, the blade 1-4.5 mm.
broad and from very short to surpassing the staminate spike, the bracts of the
higher spikes progressively strongly reduced; perigynia elliptic to obovate in the
larger plane, in transection elliptic or obscurely very unequally triangular, 3-4 mm.
long, somewhat inflated, membranous, purplish-brown with a very pronounced
whitish bloom, with 2 strong nerves and 2 or 3 extremely weak scarcely visible
ones, basally tapered and rounded, apically tapered to a very short beak (0.2-0.3
mm. long) and a nearly entire orifice; achene triangular with concave sides, 2.5
mm. long, 2 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after
anthesis. C. verrucosa var. glaucescens (Ell.) Wood.
In wet savannahs, in mud on the edge of lakes, ponds and streams, rather
frequent in e. Tex., rare in s.e. Tex., late spring—summer; Coastal States, Va.
to Tex.
69. Carex lanuginosa Michx. WOOLLY SEDGE. Fig. 278.
Perennial with branching rhizomes about 1.5 mm. thick and several cm. long
(often broken off in prepared specimens); culms 3-6 dm. long, strictly erect,
simple, in slender clumps, 2-A mm. thick basally; blades 3-4 mm. broad, the
sheath-orifices U-shaped, brownish-discolored and thickened; sheaths ventrally
pale-brownish, basally with transverse septation between the nerves; spikes about
3 or 4, sessile or on very short peduncles, the upper 2 usually overlapping slightly,
the upper one or 2 completely or almost completely staminate or with a few female
flowers at the very base; female spike 25-30 mm. long, 5-7 mm. thick, with 30
to 60 spreading-ascending spikes; bract of lowest spike not sheathing, its blade
about 2 mm. broad and equaling or exceeding the staminate spike; scales lanceo-
late, hyaline with green midrib, the body 1.5-2 mm. long and with a subulate
mucro about 1 mm. long; perigynial body broadly ellipsoid, brown, firm-
membranous, slightly inflated, about 2.5 mm. long, densely hirsutulous as seen
under a lens (the nervature obscured), the beak about 1 mm. long and strongly
bidentate apically; achene triangular with concave sides, 1.7-2 mm. long, 1.3
mm. wide, sessile, short-apiculate, jointed with the very short straight style which
entirely withers after anthesis.
544
-------
Fig. 278: Carex lanuginosa: a, ligule, X 6; b, staminate flower, the subtending scale
acuminate and ciliate toward apex, X 12; c, pistillate flower with perigynium removed,
showing the trigonous achene, X 12; d, achene (cross section), X 12; e, scale of pistil-
late flower, awned and ciliate upward (shorter than staminate scale), X 12; f, peri-
gynium, showing the deeply bidentate beak and the dense ascending pubescence, X 12.
g, habit, showing the rhizome, the basal leaf sheaths which become filamentose in age
and the inflorescences with staminate spikes at apex, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 109).
-------
Sloughs of river bottoms, wet meadows, marshes, seepage areas, and in mud
and water of ponds and lakes in Tex. Panhandle of Plains Country (Hemphill
Co.), rare, in N.M. (Colfax, Catron, Otero, Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino, Santa Cruz, Navajo, Apache, Mohave and Yavapai cos.); N.B. to
B.C., s. to Tenn., Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif., late spring-early summer; most of
temp. N.A.
70. Carex Bushii Mack.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-9 dm. long, basally 1.5-2.5 mm. thick, erect, the
basal sheaths rich-brown and quickly fading; foliage usually shortly pilose or
hirsute at least on the sheaths; blades 2.5-5 mm. broad at the broadest point,
the uppermost one usually surpassing the spikes; spikes usually 2, less commonly
3, overlapping; terminal spike gynecandrous, with an ovoid distal pistillate portion
7-10 mm. long and 7-9 mm. thick (including the scales), with ovate scales in the
widest part pale-hyaline, strongly cuspidate and 4-5 mm. long (longer than the
perigynia even at maturity), with an obconic basal staminate portion with elliptic
acuminate whitish hyaline scales about 4 mm. long; the lower spike(s) all pistillate,
ovoid, 9-14 mm. long, 7-10 mm. thick (including scales), with 12 to 25 ascending
perigynia; lowest bract not sheathing, about 1 mm. broad, usually about equaling
the terminal spike, the higher bracts greatly reduced; perigynia obovoid, in tran-
section usually very slightly unequally triangular, 3-5 mm. long, brown, firm-
membranous, with 2 strong nerves and 7 to 13 weaker slender ones (scarcely
visible at maturity), basally obconical and shortly rounded, apically short-
pyramidal and abruptly passing into the very short beak (some specimens essen-
tially beakless) with essentially entire orifice; achenes triangular, 2.5 mm. long,
1.8 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after
anthesis. C. caroliniana var. cuspidata (Dew.) Shinners.
In wet or moist sandy soil, wet meadows, swamps, ditches and borders of ponds
in Okla. (Waterfall), rather frequent in e. Tex., infrequent in n.-cen. Tex., spring;
N.E. s. to D.C. and s.w. to Kan., Okla. and Tex.
71. Carex complanata T. & H. Fig. 279.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-8 dm. long, basally 1-2 mm. thick, erect, the basal
sheaths dark-purplish; foliage often shortly pilose to hirsute on the sheaths and
often also on the lower parts or all of the blade; blades 1.5-3 mm. broad at the
broadest point, usually the uppermost one surpassing the spikes; spikes usually
3, less often 4, overlapping; terminal spike gynecandrous, with an ovoid-cylindrical
distal pistillate portion 8-11 mm. long and 5-6 mm. broad (with brownish-white
hyaline ovate scales, the lower ones more strongly acuminate than the upper,
slightly longer than the immature perigynia but about equaling the mature ones),
with a short obconic staminate portion with ovate acuminate brownish-white
hyaline scales 3—4 mm. long; lower spikes pistillate, ovoid to cylindrical, 5-12 mm.
long, 5-6 mm. thick, with 11 to 25 close ascending perigynia; bracts not sheath-,
ing, that of the lowest spike 0.5-1.5 mm. broad and usually exceeding the terminal
spikes, that of the middle spike much-reduced, that of the terminal spike essen-
tially absent; perigynia obovoid, in transection flattened-triangular to unequally
biconvex, 2.3-2.8 mm. long, ascending, olive-brown, firm-membranous, with 2
strong and 7 to 14 weak (at full maturity scarcely visible) nerves, scarcely
inflated, basally rounded, apically shortly acute to a nearly entire orifice; achene
triangular, 1.7 mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed with the style
which entirely withers after anthesis. C. hirsutella Mack.
In wet sand in bogs, wet soil at edge of ponds and in moist sandy woods, in
Okla. (McCurtain Co.), e. and s.e. Tex., spring; Ont. and e. U.S. w. to Mich.,
Mo., Okla. and Tex.
546
-------
Fig. 279: Carex complanata: a, top of plant, X 1; b, scale, X 17; c, perigynium,
X 17; d, achene, X 17. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
72. Carex caroliniana Schwein.
Tufted perennial; culms 3-6 dm. long, basally about 1 mm. thick, erect, the
basal sheaths dark-purplish-black quickly fading to brown; foliage essentially
glabrous; blades 1.5-3 mm. broad at the broadest point, usually the uppermost one
surpassing the spikes; spikes usually 3, overlapping; terminal spike gynecandrous
with a cylindrical distal pistillate portion 8-13 mm. long and 4-4.5 mm. thick
(with scales ovate, brownish-white, hyaline, 1.5-2 mm. long, shorter than the
perigynia) and a long-attenuate basal staminate portion 2-3 mm. thick with
ellipsoid acute brownish-white-hyaline scales 2-2.5 mm. long; the lower spikes all
pistillate, cylindrical, 6-20 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm. thick, with 16 to 40 closely
packed spreading perigynia; bracts not sheathing, that of the lowest spike 1-2 mm.
broad, usually exceeding the terminal spike, that of the middle spike much-
reduced, that of the terminal one essentially absent; perigynia obovoid, nearly
round in transection, 1.8-2.3 mm. long, spreading, fuscous or reddish-brown,
membranous, with 8 to 15 nerves (2 stronger than the rest), inflated, basally
rounded, apically short-conic and passing abruptly to the short tubular bidentate
beak or in some specimens essentially beakless; achene triangular, 2 mm. long,
1.5 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after
anthesis.
In rich open woods near streams in sandy soil, wet lowlands, swamps, river
flood plain forests, in Okla. (Waterfall), in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. (Jasper,
Jefferson, Kaufman and Walker cos.), spring; Pa. to Ind. and s. to N.C., Tenn.,
Ark., Okla. and Tex. (probably also La.).
73. Carex viridula Michx. GREEN SEDGE. Fig. 280.
Culms densely cespitose, 1-4 dm. tall, smooth, bluntly triangular; leaf blades
dull-green, grooved, 1.5-3 mm. wide; terminal spike usually staminate, sessile or
short-peduncled, 3-15 mm. long, 1.2-3 mm. wide; pistillate spikes 2 to 6, closely
aggregated and sessile or the lower ones separate and short-peduncled, oblong or
globose-oblong, 5-11 mm. long, 4-7 mm. wide; bracts leaflike, the lower one
extending well beyond the tips of the culms, strongly sheathing; scales broadly
ovate, shorter than perigynia, obtuse to acute or short-cuspidate, hyaline with
547
-------
Fig. 280; Carex viridula: a, habit, showing the densely caespitose culms and leaves
and the long bracts subtending the inflorescences. X -,';,; b, ligule, X 6; c, perigynium,
X 12; d, achene (cross section), X 12: e, pistillate flower with perigynium removed,
X 12; f, scale, X 12. (From Mason, Fig. 114.)
-------
Fig. 281: Carex oxylepis: a habit, X %; b, inflorescence, X %; c, scale, X 15; d,
perigynium, X 15; e, achene, X 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
greenish midvein, reddish-brown-tinged; perigynia 2-3 mm. long, 1.3 mm. wide,
obovoid, many-nerved, yellowish-green, tapering at base, abruptly beaked; beak
minutely bidentate, reddish-tinged; achenes trigonous, obovoid, 1.3 mm. long,
0.9 mm. wide, black and glossy at maturity.
Marshes and bogs, on border of streams, ponds and lakes in N.M. (Otero Co.);
Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.J., Ind., Colo., N.M. and Calif.
74. Carex oxylepis T. & H. Fig. 281.
Loosely tufted perennial or with short purplish-black scaly rhizomes 2-3 mm.
thick; culms 4-7 dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, erect, basally with reduced blades and
purplish-black sheaths; cauline leaves 2.5-6 mm. broad, pale-green, erect; spikes
usually 4 per culm; terminal spike gynecandrous, on a slender nodding peduncle
2-4 cm. long, 2-5 cm. long, with a short terminal pistillate portion and a long
staminate portion about 2 mm. thick, with lanceolate hyaline stramineous scales;
other spikes pistillate, with slender nodding or flexuous peduncles usually only
2-4 cm. long, 4-5 mm. thick, with 20 to 44 ascending perigynia which are close
enough to overlap (except occasionally the lowermost); lower bract with definite
sheath and a long blade 1-3 mm. broad, almost equaling the uppermost spike, the
higher bracts progressively much-reduced; scales hyaline, ovate, long-subulate-
cuspidate, about three fourths as long as the perigynia; perigynia fusiform-ellipsoid,
in transection nearly round when fresh or obtusely triangular after drying, 3.5-4
mm. long, green, membranous, inflated, with 6 to 8 slender nerves (2 stronger
than the rest), basally and apically tapered, with a beak 0.2-0.3 mm. long and a
nearly entire orifice; achene triangular with concave sides, 2 mm. long, 1.5 mm.
wide, apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers after anthesis.
In low moist rich woods near streams, wet soil along streams in Okla. (Oua-
chita Mts., McCurtain Co.), in e. and s.e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; Fla., the Gulf States to
Tex., S.C., N.C., Tenn., Mo., Ark. and Okla.
75. Carex blanda Dew. Fig. 282.
Tufted perennial (rhizomes very short); culms 15-55 cm. long, ascending, 0.8-
1.5 mm. thick; basal sheaths brownish at base and rather loose; basal blades 4-11
mm. broad, the cauline ones 3-5 mm. broad, thin-membranous; upper 2 or 3 spikes
usually close or even overlapping, nearly sessile, the lowest (usually fourth and/or
fifth) spike usually widely separate and exserted on an erect filiform peduncle 2-8
cm. long; terminal spike staminate, 1-2 cm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, stramineous, the
scales acute to acuminate or cuspidate; remainder of spikes pistillate, 5-20 mm.
long, 4-6 mm. thick, with 4 to 20 closely set overlapping perigynia, the ovate or
obovate scales either mucronate (and shorter than their perigynia) or with a long
subulate projection (this often equaling or exceeding the perigynium) and white-
hyaline; bracts foliaceous, with definite sheaths (the edges of which are minutely
fimbriate), the blades of the bract of the third or fourth spike from the apex often
equaling or surpassing the staminate spike; perigynia turgidly obovoid, vaguely
triangular, 3-4 mm. long, closely investing the achene not only laterally but in
much of the apex as well, membranous, with 2 ribs and 23 to 30 nerves (much
more slender than the internerve spaces), basally tapering and substipitate, apically
rounded, abruptly very short-beaked, the beak about 0.5 mm. long and bent or
recurved nearly at right angles to the axis of the perigynium, the orifice hyaline
and entire; achenes triangular, 2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed
with the style which wholly withers after anthesis.
In moist or wet woods, alluvial thickets, wet soil along rivers, in Okla. (Water-
fall), in e. and n.-cen. Tex., rare w. to Edwards Plateau (San Saba Co.), Apr.-May;
e. temp. N.A. w. to the Dakotas, Neb., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
550
-------
Fig. 282: a-c, Carex granularis: a, top of plant, X V>; b, scales, X 10; c, perigynium,
X 10. d-f, Carex blanda: d, top of plant, X %; e, scale, X 7; f, perigynium, X 7. g-i,
Carex flaccosperma: g, top of plant, X %; h, scale, X 7; i, perigynium, X 7. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 283: Carex debilis: a, top of plant, X %; b, scale, X 7; c, perigynium, X 7.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
76. Carex debilis Michx. Fig. 283.
Loosely tufted perennial; culms 15-60 cm. long, 0.6-1 mm. thick, basally with
reduced blades and purplish red sheaths; cauline leaves 2-4 mm. broad, ascend-
ing, pale-green, membranous; spikes 4 or 5 per culm, the terminal one (rarely the
terminal 2) staminate in Texas material (some non-Texan specimens have gyne-
candrous terminal spikes), 2-5 cm. long, about 1 mm. thick, erect or often nod-
ding on a peduncle 2-5 cm. long, the scales stramineous-hyaline; the remaining
spikes pistillate, nodding on slender flexuous peduncles 2-5 cm. long, crowded
or the lower ones usually remote, 3-6 cm. long, 4-6 mm. thick, with 12 to 25
ascending perigynia which are usually close enough to overlap a little (except the
lowermost); lower bract long-sheathing, foliaceous, the blade 1-2 mm. broad and
often equaling or surpassing the pistillate spike; scales subulate, hyaline, incon-
spicuous, about half as long as the perigynia and deciduous with them; perigynia
narrowly fusiform, in transection nearly round when fresh, 6-9 mm. long, 1.2-1.7
mm. thick, stramineous-brown, membranous, inflated, with 2 strong nerves and
10 to 18 weak slender ones, long-tapered basally and apically and passing into a
beak about 1 mm. long and very deeply bidentate; achene triangular with concave
sides and thickened angles 2 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, stipitate, apiculate, jointed
with the style which entirely withers after anthesis.
Near brooks and in low poorly drained pinewoods, swampy woods, along slug-
gish streams in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex. (Cass, Cherokee,
Hardin, Nacogdoches, Panola and Polk cos.), Apr.-May; e. temp. N.A., w. to
Wise., Mo. and Tex.
552
-------
77. Carex capillaris L.
Densely cespitose from short rootstocks; culms usually very slender, to 6 dm.
high, generally much exceeding the leaves, obtusely triangular and smooth, some-
what fibrillose at the base, the dried leaves of the previous year conspicuous;
leaves clustered toward the base, usually 5 to 8 to a culm, flat or somewhat chan-
neled toward the base, thin but firm, 0.5^. mm. wide, the tight sheaths truncate
at the mouth, the ligule very short; terminal spike staminate, very slender, 4-8
mm. long, 0.75-1 mm. wide, usually shorter than the uppermost pistillate spike,
on a short slender roughish peduncle; pistillate spikes 2 or 3, linear-oblong, 4-17
mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide, containing 3 to 20 ascending loosely arranged perigynia,
on elongate very slender drooping peduncles; bracts long-sheathing, the blades
leaflike, usually strongly exceeding the culm; scales orbicular-ovate, thin, closely
appressed, early-deciduous, somewhat wider but much shorter than the perigynia,
light-chestnut with conspicuous white-hyaline apex; perigynia ovoid-lanceolate,
obtusely trigonous, slightly inflated, 2-4 mm. long, 0.75 mm. wide, serrulate and
slightly ciliate, greenish-brown, nerveless except for the 2 ribs, conspicuously
stipitate, contracted into a straight entire minutely white-hyaline-tipped conic beak
1 mm. long; achenes trigonous, obovoid, 1.5 mm. long, 0.7 mm. wide, brownish
with blunt green angles, granular, substipitate.
In woods, thickets, wooded swamps and on shores, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and
San Miguel cos.), from arctic Am. s. to Vt, N.Y., Mich., N.M. and Nev.
78. Carex granularis Muhl. Fig. 282.
Tufted perennial; culms 18-55 cm. long, 0.5-1.1 mm. thick, erect, leafy;
basal sheaths brown; cauline blades 2-4 mm. broad, olive-green, membranous,
erect, long-tapered; spikes 4 or 5 per culm, the upper 2 or 3 usually essentially
sessile and approximate, the rest remote and on slender peduncles; terminal spike
staminate, 15-25 (-35) mm. long, about 1 mm. thick, the ovate scales awned to
cuspidate or acuminate, closely appressed and brownish; rest of' spikes pistillate,
5-20 mm. long, 3.5-5 mm. thick, with 10 to 40 close widely spreading perigynia,
the ovate scales little over half as long as the perigynia; bracts foliaceous, with
definite sheaths, the lower bracts (of fourth or fifth spike) often equaling or
exceeding the staminate spike; perigynia broadly ovoid to broadly obovoid, round
in transection, 2-2.5 mm. long, about 1.3 mm. thick, membranous, brownish,
with 2 ribs and about 10 nerves (these much more slender than the internerve
spaces), inflated, not closely investing the achene at any point, basally obtuse,
(either rounded or very shortly tapered), apically abruptly contracted into a
minute entire straight (though often distorted in prepared specimens) tubular beak
with a nearly entire orifice; achenes triangular with concave sides, about 2 mm.
long, 1.2 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed with the style which entirely withers
after anthesis. Incl. var. Haleana (Olney) Porter.
In water of flowing streams, wet meadows, wooded swamps, prairie swales, in
ditches, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. (San Augustine Co.) and n.e. (Bowie Co.)
Tex., May; e. U.S. and Que. and Ont., w. to Minn., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
79. Carex Crawei Dewey.
Culms arising one to few together from slender long-creeping rootstocks, 1-3
dm. high, slender but stiff, phyllopodic, exceeding the leaves, the dried leaves
of the previous year conspicuous at their base; leaves 6 to 12 to a culm, thick,
stiff, usually recurved-spreading, 1.5-3 mm. wide, roughened on the margins
toward the apex, the tight sheaths hyaline ventrally, the ligule longer than wide;
staminate spike solitary, erect, long-peduncled, linear, 1-3 cm. long, 2-3 mm.
wide; pistillate spikes 2 to 4, widely separate, the lowest often nearly basal, the
peduncles little or not at all exserted, oblong-cylindric, 1-3 cm. long, 5-6 mm.
553
-------
wide, closely 10- to 45-flowered, the perigynia ascending; bracts leaflike, the upper
reduced, usually shorter than the culms, the sheaths tight; scales broadly ovate,
narrower than and about half the length of the perigynia, reddish-brown with
hyaline margins and green center; perigynia ovoid or oblong-ovoid, almost terete,
scarcely inflated, 3-3.5 mm. long, 1.25-2 mm. wide, many-nerved, light-green or
yellowish-green, rounded at the sessile base, rather abruptly contracted into a
very short straight entire or minutely bidentulate beak; achenes trigonous, obovoid,
small, filling only the lower two-thirds of the perigynium, about 1.8 mm. long and
1.2 mm. wide.
Boggy meadows and wet thin soil underlaid by rock, especially in limestone
regions, in Okla. (Waterfall); Que. to Alta. and Wash., s. to N.J., Ala., Okla.
and Ut.
80. Carex microdonta T. & H.
Perennial; rhizomes 2-15 cm. long, 1 mm. thick, brown; culms rising singly or
in small tufts from the rhizomes, 9-50 cm. long, 0.7-1.1 mm. thick; leaves mostly
crowded at the base, the basal sheaths brown; blades 2-7 mm. broad, shorter than
the culm, shortly tapered apically; spikes 3 to 5 per culm, the terminal one
staminate (rarely androgynous), usually with the sessile staminate or androgynous
second spike attached near its base and overlapping it; rest of spikes usually
more remote, erect, on pedicels 2-10 cm. long and nearly all pistillate (the upper
one occasionally with a few terminal staminate flowers); staminate spikes promi-
nent, 2-5 cm. long, 4-8 mm. thick, often with prominent subpersistent anthers,
greenish or brownish, the narrowly obovate scales 3-8 mm. long and brownish to
reddish-brown and hyaline with 3 prominent green midnerves; pistillate spikes 1-5
cm. long, 5-6 mm. thick, with 20 to 40 close spreading perigynia, the ovate scales
acuminate and half as Jong as the perigynia, reddish-brown with hyaline margins
and prominent 3-nerved median; perigynia ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 2.6-3.6 mm.
long (including beak), reddish-brown, firm-membranous, with 2 ribs and 12 to 15
less prominent nerves, rather closely investing the achene except at the rounded or
very shortly tapered base and the conical apex which abruptly passes into the
tubular beak (0.5-0.7 mm. long with a minutely 2-toothed apex); achene triangular
with concave sides, up to 2.5 mm. long, 1.7 mm. wide, bent-apiculate, jointed with
the style which entirely withers after anthesis.
In moist open places, usually calcareous areas on wet seeping limestone banks
and on wet granite ledges in depressions in prairies, in Okla. (Waterfall) and
n.-cen. and s.e. Tex., Edwards Plateau, infrequent in e. Tex., rare in the Trans-
Pecos, Mar.-May (June-Aug. in Trans-Pecos); Miss., La., Tex., Okla. and Mo.
81. Carex amphibola Steud.
Tufted perennial; culms 15-30 (-40) cm. long, erect; basal sheaths purplish-
brown with reduced blades; cauline leaves few, 1.5-3.5 (-4.5) mm. broad, mem-
branous, green; spikes usually 4, less commonly 3; terminal spikes inconspicuous
and staminate, nearly sessile, 6-20 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. thick, stramineous, the
scales broadly hyaline; rest of spikes pistillate (the highest one subterminal and
sessile at the base of the staminate spike, the others on slender short peduncles and
more or less remote), 8-13 (-20) mm. long, about 5 mm. thick, with 3 to 6 (to 10)
ascending perigynia which are close enough to overlap (except occasionally the
lowermost), the scales with the hyaline broadly ovate main portion about a third
to half as long as the perigynia but the abrupt subulate cusp almost equaling it;
bracts narrowly foliaceous with definite close sheaths, the blades greatly surpassing
the spikes; perigynia turgidly to slenderly obovoid, in transection nearly round
when fresh but less so after drying, often obtusely triangular, 4-5 mm. long,
inflated, brown-membranous, in the lower half with about 50 or 60 nerves which
554
-------
are so close they are only a little narrower than the internerve spaces (some
of these ending so the upper part with fewer nerves than the lower), basally
slightly tapered and narrowly rounded, apically broadly rounded or very obtuse,
essentially beakless with a nearly entire orifice (after drying the apex often some-
what conical instead of rounded but still essentially beakless); achene triangular,
apiculate, up to 3 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, jointed with the style which entirely
withers after anthesis. Incl. var. globosa (Bailey) Bailey, var. rigida Fern, and
var. turgida Fern., "C. grisea" of many authors, not Wahl., C. Bulbostylis Mack.
In moist soil and woodlands, in wet soil along streams in forests, alluvial
forests and ravines, in Okla. (Waterfall), in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., infrequent
to rare in moist areas of e. part of Edwards Plateau, spring; from Fla. to Tex., n.
to Del., Pa., Tenn. and Ark. Seeming to grade somewhat into C. ftaccosperma.
82. Carex flaccosperma Dew. Fig. 282.
Tufted perennial; culms (14-) 25-40 (-60) cm. long, erect; basal sheaths usually
glaucous to pale-brownish with reduced blades; cauline leaves few, 4-10 mm.
broad, membranous, pale-green or glaucous-green; spikes usually 5, less commonly
4; terminal spike very inconspicuous, staminate, nearly sessile or short-peduncled,
7-35 mm. long, 1-3 mm. thick, stramineous, the scales broadly hyaline; other
spikes pistillate (the highest one subterminal and nearly sessile or short-peduncled
and attached near the base of the staminate spike, the others more or less remote
on slender peduncles 1-15 cm. long), 12-50 mm. long, about 7 mm. thick, with
8 to 32 ascending perigynia which are close enough to overlap (except occasionally
the lowermost); bracts foliaceous, with definite loose sheaths, the blades greatly
surpassing the spikes; scales brownish-hyaline, ovate, less than half as long as
the perigynia, acute to very short-cuspidate; perigynia slenderly obovoid to ovoid-
fusiform, in transection nearly round when fresh (but after drying often obtusely
triangular), 4-5 mm. long, inflated, brown-membranous, in the lower half with
47 to 60 nerves which are so close they are only a little (if at all) narrower than
the internerve spaces (some of them ending so the upper part has fewer than the
lower), basally slightly tapered and narrowly rounded, apically tapered and nar-
rowly rounded or acute, essentially beakless, with a nearly entire orifice; achene
triangular, up to 2.5 mm. long, 1.7 mm. wide, apiculate, jointed with the style
which entirely withers after anthesis.
In moist sandy soil in wooded areas, swampy grounds, wet rocky stream banks,
wet woodlands, in Okla. (Pittsburg Co.), in e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent in n.-cen.
Tex., spring; s.e. U.S. n. to Va., Tenn. and Mo., w. to Okla. and Tex.
Fam. 26. Palmae Juss. PALM FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or perennial vines, endogenous in growth; leaves persistent and
often shedding after withering and natural breaking of the petioles, in some
detaching cleanly from sheathing base of the petiole and leaving rings on the
trunk; leaf blades firm and durable, sometimes entire but mostly pinnate or
palmate, the ultimate divisions with strong midrib and lesser parallel lateral veins;
inflorescence or spadix various, ordinarily a long branching structure issuing from
axils of present or of fallen leaves, each branch subtended by a bract or nodi-
frond or in some cases enclosed in a woody spathelike structure or cymba;
flowers paleaceous and very small in proportion to size of plant, perfect or uni-
sexual, usually 3-merous or multiples thereof; calyx 3-parted or tridentate, some-
times subtended by involucral bracts; corolla polypetalous or gamopetalous;
stamens 3, 6 or multiples thereof; pistils 1 to 3 in most species, ripening into a
drupelike or fleshy fruit of many sizes and shapes, the exterior pulp sometimes
edible, commonly with only 1 seed coming to maturity; seed a hard body often
555
-------
inseparably attached to carpellary parts; albumen sometimes partly liquid at
maturity but commonly firm and hard and either continuous and plain in struc-
ture or ruminate by intrusion of lateral walls, placement of the embryo from basal
to apical.
The genera and species are many, the latter in the thousands and often limited
in distribution; mostly in tropical regions, with only one genus in Texas. Plants
of most palms are highly ornamental, and several species are cultivated in the
warmer areas of southern Texas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. Among
these are species of Phoenix, Sabal and Washingtonia.
I. Sabal ADANS.
A small genus of about 25 species confined to the Western Hemisphere.
1. Sabal minor (Jacq.) Pers. BUSH PALMETTO, DWARF PALMETTO.
Usually acaulescent, only occasionally developing an abbreviated stem that
might become 6 m. tall; leaf blade palmate, bluish, not glaucous, stiff in appear-
ance, to 15 dm. wide, divided to about two-thirds its length into numerous seg-
ments; petiole extending on lower side of blade as a midrib; spadices intrafoliar,
with many narrow acuminate nodifronds from which the separate flower clusters
issue; flowers perfect; stamens 6; ovary solitary; superior; fruits black, globular
or oblate, dull or shining, 8-13 mm. in diameter. S. louisiana (Darby) Bomhard.
In lowlands, swamps, river terraces and floodplains, reported (but not seen)
from Okla., in e. Tex., w. to the Edwards Plateau and s. to Aransas Co.; from
n.e. N.C., s. to s. Fla., w. to s.w. Ark. and Tex.
According to Bailey, the conspicuously caulescent plants, such as those found
in Brazoria County, Texas, represent the optimum emergence of this species.
Other than size, there seems to be no botanical difference between the dwarf
acaulescent plants and those that develop a prominent trunk. The arborescent
plants have been given the name S. louisiana.
The fruits of this species are eaten by various songbirds and by squirrels and
raccoons.
Fam. 27. Araceae Juss. ARUM FAMILY
Perennial herbs from corms, rhizomes or thick roots, with soft succulent stems
and leaves, usually with slender raphides and frequently with acrid or pungent
juices; the veiny leaves simple or compound; flowers unisexual or perfect, crowded
on a spadix which is usually subtended by a foliaceous or colored spathe; perianth
none or composed of 4 to 6 similar hypogynous segments; stamens usually 4 to 6,
hypogynous, opposite the perianth segments when these are present; ovary
superior; fruit usually a berry, indehiscent or rupturing irregularly; seeds with
fleshy albumen or none.
A large family, chiefly tropical, of about 115 genera and 2,000 species.
1. Plants floating on water; pistillate flowers solitary at base of inflorescence
5. Pistia
1. Plants rooted in soil; pistillate or perfect flowers several to many (2)
2(1). Spathe-well-developed, fleshy or petaloid (3)
2. Spathe obscure or like the foliage leaves; flowers perfect, with perianths of
6 segments (4)
3(2). Flowers covering only the base of the spadix; leaves compound
1. Arisaema
3. Flowers almost completely covering the spadix; leaves simple 2. Peltandra
556
-------
4(2). Spadix naked, terminating the terete scape; leaf blades oblong
3. Orontium
4. Spadix much-overtopped by the swordlike spathe that resembles the foliage
leaves; leaf blades linear and more or less ensiform 4. Acorus
1. Arisaema MART. INDIAN-TURNIP
Low perennial monoecious herbs; the tuberous rhizome, tuber or corm sending
up a simple scape sheathed with the petioles of the veiny leaves, with several
sheaths surrounding base of plant; spathe convolute below and mostly expanded
and arched over the spadix; flowers unisexual; perianth none; staminate flowers
above the pistillate on the spadix, composed of a cluster of almost sessile 2- to 4-
celled anthers that open by terminal slits and pores; pistillate flowers consisting
of a 1-celled ovary that contains as many as 6 erect orthotropous ovules and a
broad stigma; fruit a 1- to few-seeded globose scarlet berry.
About 150 species in America, Asia and Africa.
The fruits and, to some extent, the leaves are eaten by several species of birds.
1. Primary leaf pedately divided into 5 to 15 very unequal leaflets; the oblong
summit of the spathe with inrolled margins; spadix slender, taper-
ing, long-exserted; fruiting head conical 1. A. Dracontium.
1. Primary leaf palmately divided into 3 or 5 segments; the ovate to lanceolate
arching hood or spathe flat; spadix cylindric-tapering to clavate,
included; fruiting head ovoid or subglobose (2)
2(1). Primary leaf with 3 segments, the lateral segments rarely bilobed; spathe
typically suffused or striped with purple or red-brown; hood nar-
rowly ovate to lanceolate, acute-acuminate, 2-3 cm. wide; spadix
cylindric to somewhat clavate, straight 2. A. triphyllum.
2. Primary leaf with 5 segments, the lateral segments sometimes partly united;
spathes green or yellowish-green; hood broadly ovate, abruptly
pointed, 3—5 cm. wide; spadix cylindric-tapering, curved
3. A. quinatum.
1. Arisaema Dracontium (L.) Schott. GREEN DRAGON, DRAGON-ROOT.
Leaf usually solitary, with a petiole to 5 dm. long at anthesis; leaflets sometimes
confluent at base, elliptic to oblanceolate, acuminate, the central one to 2 dm.
long, the outer ones successively smaller, with veins similar to those of A. tri-
phyllum; peduncle to 25 cm. long; spathe thin, about 6 cm. long, light green;
spadix with long tapering tip to 15 cm. long or more; berries about 1 cm. in dia-
meter. Muricauda Dracontium (L.) Small.
Rich wet woodlands and alluvial soils in woods and thickets in Okla. (Johnston
Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., w. onto the Edwards Plateau, May-June; Fla. w. to
Okla. and Tex., n. to N. H., Vt. and s.w. Que., s. Ont., Mich, and Wise.
2. Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott. JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT, INDIAN-TURNIP. Fig. 284.
Leaves mostly 2, with petioles to 4 dm. long at anthesis; leaflets 3, elliptic
to rhombic-ovate, acute to acuminate, the lateral ones asymmetrical, with veins
parallel from midrib to margin; peduncle to 2 dm. long; spathe suffused or striped
with purple or red-brown; hood 2—3 cm. wide; spadix straight; berries about 1 cm.
in diameter.
Wet woods, swamps and boggy areas in e. Okla. and e. and s.e. Tex., May-
June; from Ga., w. to Tex., n. to s.e. N.Y., Conn, and s.e. Mass.
Several segregates have been proposed in this species, which are probably
found in our area. The most significant are var. pusillum Peck with lateral
leaflets almost symmetrical and with the expanded limb of the spathe 1.5-3 cm.
wide and usually all brown or red within; var. Stewardsonii (Britt.) Stevens with
the inrolled tubular half of the spathe sharply and deeply corrugated.
557
-------
Fig. 284: a-f, Arisaema triphylhtm: a, habit, X V>; b, outline of one leaflet, X V>;
c, spadix, X V'->; d and f, berries, X 2V>; e, seeds, X 21/'. g-j. Acorus Calamus: g, habit,
X it: h, bract, X 10; i, fruit, X 5; j, seed, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 285: Peltandra virginica: a, habit, X %; b, outline of leaf, X %; c, spadix, X
1; d, berry (submersed), X 1. (V.F.).
-------
3. Arisaema quinatum (Nutt.) Schott.
Leaves mostly 1, with petioles to about 3 dm. long at anthesis; leaf segments
5, broadly ovate-elliptic to suborbicular-oval, tapering at the somewhat oblique
base, abruptly acuminate at apex, glaucous beneath, to about 16 cm. long and 10
cm. wide, the lower 2 conspicuously the smallest; peduncle to 2 dm. long; spathe
green or yellowish-green, the tube 5-6 cm. long; hood broadly ovate and abruptly
acuminate, about as long as the tube and 3-6 cm. wide; spadix noticeably broad-
ened near base, tapered to apex, curved; fruit 6—7 mm. thick.
Moist wooded slopes and along stream in woods in e. Tex., Apr.-May; from
Tex. e. to Ga. and n. to Tenn. and N.C.
2. Peltandra RAF. ARROW-ARUM
An American genus of several species.
1. Peltandra virginica (L.) Kunth. TUCKAHOE. Fig. 285.
Plants monoecious, from thick fibrous or subtuberous roots, consisting of
palmately 3-nerved and pinnately veined leaves produced at base along with one
or more simple scapes; petiole to about 4 dm. long; leaf blade oblong to broadly
triangular, with more or less divergent well-developed basal lobes narrowed to
the tip, to 2 dm. long and 15 cm. wide, the basal lobes to 75 mm. wide, shorter
than width of blade; scape to 35 cm. tall, in anthesis about equaling the leaves;
spathe green with pale or whitish margins, somewhat leathery, to 1 dm. long;
flowers unisexual, thickly covering the slender and tapering spadix throughout
(or only its apex naked); perianth none; anther masses sessile, naked, covering
the upper part of the spadix, each of 4 to 6 pairs of cells embedded in the margin
of a thick and shield-shaped connective, opening by terminal pores; ovaries at
the base of the spadix, each surrounded by several distinct scalelike staminodia,
1-celled; berry in an ovoid fleshy head, green or light-brown, to about 1 cm. long
when dried. P. Tharpii Barkl.
Swamps, moist woodlands, bogs, along streams and about and in bodies of
water in s.e. Okla. (Choctaw Co.) and e. Tex., Apr.—May; from Fla., w. to Tex.,
n. to s. Me., N.H., Vt., s.w. Que., n. N.Y. and s. Ont.
A number of varietal segregates have been proposed based mainly on the
shape and size of the leaf blades.
The seeds are eaten by wood duck, marshbirds and shorebirds, and to some
extent by muskrats.
3. Orontium L. GOLDEN CLUB
A monotypic genus of eastern North America.
1. Orontium aquaticum L. Fig. 286.
Plants aquatic, with a deep stout rhizome and basal long-petioled entire leaves;
petioles to 2 dm. long; leaf blade with veins parallel from base to apex, to 2 dm.
long, about a third as wide; scape to 4 dm. long; spathe incomplete and distant,
merely a leaf sheath investing the lower part of the slender scape and bearing
a small and imperfect bractlike blade; spadix 2-5 cm. long; flowers perfect, the
lower ones with 6 concave sepals and 6 stamens, the uppermost flowers with 4;
filaments wide and thin; anthers 2-celled, opening obliquely lengthwise; ovary 1-
celled, with an anatropous ovule; fruit a blue-green or brownish utricle.
Sandy, muddy and peaty shores and shallow water in e. (?) Tex., Apr.-Junc;
from Fla. w. to La. (Cameron Parish) and probably Tex., n. to Mass , cen N.Y.,
W.Va. and Ky.
This species has not yet been found in our area, but since it occurs in Cameron
Parish, La. adjacent to Jefferson and Orange counties, Texas, there is a good possi-
560
-------
Fig. 286: Orontium aquaticum: a, habit, X %; b, spadix, X %; c, lower flower with
6 perianth parts, X 4; d, side view of flower dissected showing utricle, X 4. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 287: Pisiia Stratiotes: a, habit, X 1,5; b, large leaf, X %; c-e, three views:
spathe with two cavities, i.he upper with a whorl of 3 to 8 stamens with fused filaments,
the lower with a pistil, X 4; f, pistil with seeds, X 4. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfery).
-------
bility that it occurs in marshes along the Sabine River in Texas.
A specimen of Lysichitum americanum Hult. & St. John in the University of
Texas herbarium bears the label "Gregg Co., March 20, 1943, Mrs. C. L. York."
This typically far northern species, which was probably under cultivation at this
Texas locality, resembles O. aquaticum but differs from it superficially by the
more slender peduncle that is distinctly demarcated from the spadix.
4. Acorus L. SWEETFLAG. CALAMUS
A genus of 2 species in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Acorus Calamus L. Fig. 284.
Aromatic plants with thick creeping rhizome and ensiform leaves crowded at
the base, erect, linear and more or less ensiform, to 2 m. long and 25 mm. wide;
scape resembling the leaves; spadix cylindrical, diverging laterally from a tall
3-angled scape, the upper and more foliaceous prolongation of the scape may be
considered as a kind of open spathe, covered with yellowish-brown perfect flowers,
to 1 dm. long and 1 cm. thick at anthesis, to as much as 2 cm. thick at maturity;
perianth of 6 short concave segments; stamens 6, the linear filaments thin and
flat, with 1-celled anthers reniform and opening transversely; ovary 2- or 3-celled;
fruit obpyramidal, about 4 mm. long.
Wet places and borders of quiet water, reported (but not seen) from Okla., in
n-cen. and n.e. (Marion Co.) Tex.. May—Aug.; from P.E.I., s. to Fla., w. to
Mont., Ore. and Tex.; early introd. from Eur. and naturalized.
Muskrats are known to eat the plants.
5. Pistia L. WATER-LETTUCE. WATER-BONNET
A monotypic genus in southern United States and Latin America.
1. Pistia Stratiotes L. Fig. 287.
Plants monoecious, floating herbs; leaves clustered on very short branches at
the nodes of the rootstock; leaf blades entire, cuneate to obovate-cuneate, to
about 25 cm. long, strongly ribbed, dilated upward; spadix adnate to the axillary
spathe; spathe about 15 mm. long, pubescent, the upper part ovate; flowers uni-
sexual, the pistillate solitary and the staminate above the pistillate; perianth none.
Streams, lakes and ponds in s. and s.w. Tex. (Fort Bend and Val Verde cos.);
spring; from Fla., w. along the coast to Tex., through Latin Am. to S.A.
Fam. 28. Lemnaceae S. F. GRAY DUCKWEED FAMILY
Minute green aquatic herbs floating on or below surface of water, often form-
ing a solid cover over the surface, occasionally in wet seepage places, much-
reduced and simplified in structure, stemless, rootless or with few nonfunctional
roots, vascular tissue lacking in many of the species, reproducing chiefly by
budding from a single basal pouch or 2 lateral pouches, many successive genera-
tion's sometimes remaining attached by short stipes; flowers from a saclike spathe
in a pouch at the basal margin of the frond or breaking through the surface to
one side of the spathe, consisting either of a single stamen or a single pistil,
often 2 staminate flowers and 1 pistillate flower to a spathe; fruit a 1- or 2-seeded
utricle; seed large, smooth or ribbed.
A family consisting of 4 well-defined genera and including about 40 species.
All of the species that comprise this family, especially Lemna minor, are used
more or less by wildlife. Many species of duck as well as marsh birds and shore-
birds scoop up these tiny plants along with associated minute animal organisms
563
-------
to bolster their diet. The myriad plants often form a floating sheet that smothers
out much of the submerged plant life.
1. Thallus with 1 or more roots and 2 lateral reproductive pouches; inflorescence
of 2 staminate and 1 pistillate flowers surrounded by a membrana-
ceous spathe (2)
1. Thallus rootless, each with a single basal reproductive pouch; inflorescence
of 1 staminate and 1 pistillate flowers with a spathe (3)
2(1). Roots usually 2 or more on each thallus; mature thallus usually obscurely
or conspicuously 3- to 11-nerved, the ventral surface usually
reddish-purple 1. Spirodela
2. Roots solitary on each thallus; mature thallus 1- to 3-nerved or apparently
nerveless, the ventral surface typically green or rarely streaked or
tinged with brown 2. Lemna
3(1). Thallus globose to ellipsoid, more or less obviously 3-dimensional, usually
only mother- and daughter-thalluses connected; stipe attachment
within the reproductive pouch 3. Wolffia
3. Thallus flat, thin, lingulate or ligulate, usually falcate, appearing 2-dimensional,
solitary or united in stellate colonies; stipe attachment on one side
of the reproductive pouch 4. Wolffiella
1. Spirodela SCHLEID. DUCK-MEAT
Thallus floating, solitary or usually in clusters of 2 to 5 or more, orbicular
to obovate or oblong-elliptic, sometimes slightly curved, with 2 to numerous roots
fascicled on ventral surface, palmately 3- to 11-nerved; reproductive pouches 2,
one on either side of the basal end; inflorescence arising from a pouch that con-
sists of a saclike spathe enclosing 1 pistillate and 2 or 3 staminate flowers;
ovary somewhat winged on the shoulders, 1- to 4-ovuled; fruit a utricle, slightly
winged; seed longitudinally ribbed and transversely striate or smooth with a
spongy outer layer.
About 6 species, cosmopolitan.
1. Thallus broadly obovate, usually almost as wide as long, with 5 or more nerves
radiating from above the root attachment 1. S. polyrhiza.
1. Thallus oblong-elliptic to narrowly obovate, longer than wide, sometimes
slightly curved, seemingly nerveless or usually with a lateral branch
on each side of a central nerve just below the middle at the root
attachment 2. S. oligorhiza.
1. Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. Fig. 288.
Thallus with 4 to 12 fascicled roots, conspicuously orbicular-obovate, 3-10
mm. long, almost as broad as long, dark-glossy-green above, usually reddish-purple
beneath, with 5 to 11 conspicuous radiating nerves that create a peltate appear-
ance, the stipe marginal or submarginal and the reproductive pouches on either
side; roots provided with a single vascular strand and a long pointed rootcap;
forming turions at all seasons but abundantly so in the fall.
In ponds, lakes, bayous and sluggish streams throughout Okla. and Tex.,
through N. M. (Bernalillo Co.) and Ariz. (Navajo Co.); cosmospolitan but
apparently lacking in S. A.
This is the largest of the surface-floating duckweeds. It is often present as
scattered, large thalluses in masses of Lemna, Wolffiella and Azolla, and occa-
sionally in almost pure stands. The plants winter by producing buds that are
dense and sink to the bottom of the pond.
2. Spirodela oligorhiza (Kurtz) Hegelm. Fig. 289.
Thallus with 2 to 5 roots, oblong-elliptic to oblong-obovate or somewhat
elliptic-reniform, 2.5-5 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. broad, obscurely 3- to 5-nerved,
564
-------
Fig. 288: Spirodela polyrhiza: a, habit, showing group of fronds, each with nu-
merous roots, X 2; b, fronds producing buds, top view, showing the conspicuous
nerves radiating from the reproductive pouches, X 4; c and d, fronds (longitudinal
section), showing air chambers, X 4; e, winter bud, X 12; f, fronds, lower surface,
showing the slender stipes by which they are attached to one another and the clustered
roots, X 3; g and h, root tips, with and without rootcaps, the rootcap 0.9-1.5 mm.
long, X 20. (From Mason, Fig. 164).
closely resembling in size and shape some species of Lemna; dorsal surface yellow-
green, flat to convex; ventral surface convex, frequently somewhat inflated, com-
monly red-purple-pigmented.
On lakes and ponds, rare in e. Tex. (Shelby Co.); in the Far East, S. Pac.
and U. S.
2. Lemna L.
DUCKWEED. DUCK-MEAT
Diminutive free-floating aquatics or growing on wet surfaces; thallus solitary
or in groups of 2 or more, with 1 to 3 nerves and a single root without vascular
tissue, bearing On either side a meristematic pouch in which are vegetative and
flower buds; vegetative buds usually disarticulate to form independent plants (in
L. trisulca often remaining attached); flowers unisexual, produced in a mem-
branous spathe; nominate flowers usually 2 to a spathe, each flower consisting
565
-------
Fig. 289: Spirodela oligorhiza: a, habit, X 2; b and c, root tips, with and without
rootcaps, the rootcap 1.2-1.9 mm. long, X 20; d, pistillate flowers and pair of staminate
flowers enclosed by short spathe open on one side, X 40; e, habit, lower surface, show-
ing the large netlike air spaces and the flowers and fruit arising from pouch, X 4; f,
fronds, top view, with flowers and fruit, X 4; g and h, fronds remaining attached to
one another by slender stipes, X 4; i and j, fruits, showing the winged shoulders, X 16;
k and 1, seeds, ribbed and minutely reticulate, X 16; m and n, frond (longitudinal sec-
tion), showing air chambers, X 8. (From Mason, Fig. 163)
-------
of a single stamen; pistillate flowers usually 1 to a spathe and having a single
pistil; ovary 1- to 3-ovuled; seeds usually early-ribbed and containing a distinct
operculum.
About 15 species, mostly world-wide in distribution.
Identification of the species can be more certain when live, fresh plants are
available. Although the highest power of a dissecting microscope can be used
in studying the flowers and fruits, best results can be obtained by using a some-
what higher magnification.
1. Thallus elliptic to lanceolate, commonly dilated below middle, usually sub-
mersed, long-stipitate, frequently with many remaining attached to
form long chains, commonly denticulate near and at apex
1. L. trisulca.
1. Thallus obovate to oblong or oblong-elliptic, usually floating, short-stipitate or
sessile, characteristically 2 to 5 attached, entire (2)
2(1). Thallus typically oblong to oblong-elliptic; dorsal surface flat, smooth,
with no prominent protuberances, nerveless or very obscurely 1-
nerved (3)
2. Thallus typically obovate to suborbicular; dorsal surface with more or less
prominent protuberances, indistinctly to prominently 3-nerved (4)
3(2). Thalluses often 8 to 10 attached, obliquely oblong, thin and flat, without
papules, the surface texture uniform throughout 2. L. valdiviana.
3. Thalluses seldom more than 2 remaining attached, oval, symmetrical, thick,
with a low median ridge bearing 2 or more papules, usually with
a thin margin 3. L. minima.
4(2). Root sheath with definite wings or appendages; thallus thin or somewhat
thickened and light green, typically without pigmentation (5)
4. Root sheath without wings or appendages; thallus thickish, yellow- or dark-
green and typically with some pigmentation (6)
5(4). Thallus usually not prominently nerved, generally biconvex, the apical
papilla prominent 4. L. perpusilla.
5. Thallus distinctly 3-nerved, flat, thin 5. L. trinervis.
6(4). Thallus usually much less than 3 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, symmetric at
apex 6. L. obscura.
6. Thallus usually more than 3.5 mm. long and 2 mm. wide (7)
7(6). Thallus symmetric at apex; ventral surface of thallus flat or slightly
convex but not inflated; dorsal surface of thallus dark-green, the
air spaces not prominent; fruits broad but not winged at the
shoulders; seed 1 7. L. minor.
1. Thallus asymmetric at apex; ventral surface of thallus noticeably convex,
usually inflated; dorsal surface of thallus mottled yellow-green, the
air spaces prominent; both surfaces of thallus showing red-purple
coloring; fruits winged at the shoulder; seeds usually 2....8. L. gibba.
1. Lemna trisulca L. IVY DUCKWEED. Fig. 290.
Often forming dense masses, usually floating just beneath the surface except
when flowering, mother- and daughter-thalluses often remaining attached for
several generations by long attenuate stipes; thallus 5-15 mm. long, 2.5-5 mm.
wide, lanceolate-elliptic to oblanceolate, flat on both surfaces, translucent, attenu-
ate below into a slender stipe, entire or mostly denticulate at the apex, each with
a solitary root or in some thalluses the root lacking; rootcap acutely pointed.
In ponds and slow-moving streams, reported from Tex. and in N. M. (Catron,
Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.); in temp, zones of the N. Hemis.
567
-------
Fig. 290: Lemna trisuka: a, habit, vegetative plant, showing mother and daughter
fronds remaining attached by long attenuate stipes, some fronds with solitary root, X 4;
b, root tip without the rootcap, X 20; c, root with rootcap, X 20; d, habit, flowering
plants, X 2; e, flowering plants, showing flowers emerging from lateral pouches, X 4;
f, spathe at time of development of staminate flowers, X 40; g, spathe at time of devel-
opment of pistillate flowers, X 40. (From Mason, Fig. 159)
-------
Fig. 291: a and b, Lemna valdiviana: a, fronds and root, X 5; b, group of fronds
from above, X 8. c, Wolffiella floridana: c, colony of plants, X 5. d and e, Wolffiella
gladiata: d, typical shape and habit of growth, X 3%; e, colony of plants in water, X
3%. (a-c, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; d and e, from Daubs).
-------
Fig. 292: Lemna minima: a, habit, showing flowering fronds with long, solitary
roots, X 2; b, habit, top view of fronds with flowers and fruits, X 4; c, frond (longi-
tudinal section), the air spaces in a single layer, X 12; d and e, root tips, with and with-
out rootcap, X 20; f and g, pistillate and staminate flowers, the broad enclosing spathe
reniform and open on one side, X 48; h and i, fruits, slightly flattened, X 16; j and k,
mature seeds, longitudinally ribbed and cross-striate, X 16. (From Mason, Fig. 162).
2. Lemna valdiviana Phil. Fig. 291.
Thallus narrowly elliptic to oblong or oval, solitary or several together, 2-5
mm. long, 0.5-2 mm. wide, symmetrical to somewhat falcate, obscurely 1-nerved
or nerveless, the dorsal surface of conspicuously uniform texture throughout,
light green and often translucent.
In ponds, lakes, ditches and about springs in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.),
throughout Tex. and Ariz. (Coconino, Greenlee, Pima and Yavapai cos.); wide-
spread in the W. Hemis.
3. Lemna minima Phil. Fig. 292.
Thallus solitary or in small clusters, oblong to elliptic or somewhat ovoid,
1-2.5 mm. long, 0.7-1.5 mm. wide, sometimes with only occasional members
larger, thick, the dorsal surface convex, commonly nerveless or with an obscure
nerve and a row of papules along the middle, usually with a thin margin around
570
-------
the thallus that becomes hyaline near the base, the air chambers in 1 layer.
In ponds, lakes, canals and lagoons in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), general
but mostly in the w. half of Tex., N.M. (Grant, Sandoval and Socorro cos.) and
Ariz. (Maricopa and Santa Cruz cos.); in w. U.S. and S.A.
Vegetatively, what one might consider to be the largest thallus of this species
could easily be taken for the smallest thallus of L. valdiviana. An arbitrary
separation of species based on size differences is most unsatisfactory, but in this
case this condition exists.
4. Lemna perpusllla Torr. Fig. 293.
Thallus solitary or in small clusters, obovate to orbicular-obovate, oblique,
1-2.5 mm. long, 0.7-2 mm. wide, obscurely 1- to 3-nerved, rather thick, usually
light-green, not pigmented, with large air spaces within that are in 1 layer, the
apical papilla usually prominent, sometimes with a row of papules along the
mid-nerve. L. aequinoctiales Welwitch.
In ponds and lakes in e. Okla. (Johnston, McCurtain and Washington cos.) e.,
cen. and s. Tex. and Ariz. (Pima and Santa Clara cos.); distributed more or less
throughout the world.
5. Lemna trinervis (Aust.) Small.
Thallus solitary or several attached, 2.5—5 mm. long, 1.5—3 mm. wide, obovate
to elliptic-obovate, with an obtuse to rounded apex and subacute base, very
nearly symmetrical, thin and membranous, flat on both surfaces, light to medium
green, typically not pigmented but occasionally with some pigment, papillae lack-
ing or at least not prominent, with 3 distinct and prominent nerves; root sheath
winged, the rootcap acute. L. perpusilla var. trinervis Aust.
In lakes, streams, ditches and canals in Okla. (Adair, Alfalfa, Elaine, Bryan,
Comanche, Harper and Ottawa cos.), throughout Tex., in N. M. (Catron, Mora,
Rio Arriba, San Juan and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Maricopa, Navajo and Yavapai
cos.); mostly in the W. Hemis.
6. Lemna obscura (Austin) Daubs.
Thallus solitary or only 2 or 3 attached, 1.5-3.5 mm. long, 1-2.5 mm. wide,
usually toward the smaller range, obovate to suborbicular, slightly asymmetrical
at the obtuse to rounded apex, nerveless or indistinctly nerved, the margin entire,
thin and frequently curling when dried; dorsal surface medium green, slightly
laterally convex; ventral surface strongly red-purple, rounded-convex slightly
inflated; root sheath short, the young root usually lying in a furrow similarly
to L. minor.
In sluggish streams, sloughs, quiet lakes and ponds in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain
Co.), e., cen. and s. Tex., N. M. (Grant and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
and Navajo cos.); e. and s. U.S., w. to Calif, and Mex.
Those plants whose thallus is less than 3 mm. long and is somewhat ventrally
convex and inflated are arbitrarily referred here. There is little doubt that it is
part of a complex involving L. gibba and L. minor. It is more probable that
these plants should be considered as merely small forms of L. minor.
7. Lemna minor L. WATER LENTIL. Fig. 293.
Thallus solitary or clustered, suborbicular to elliptic-obovate, 2-4 mm. long,
1.5-3 mm. wide, opaque, with 2 layers of air spaces within that are not inflated,
nearly flat on both sides, obscurely 1-nerved above, the dark-green surface often
suffused with red or purple, a low median ridge often terminated by a conspicuous
papilla or sometimes with a row of papules along the median ridge.
In quiet waters of sloughs, lakes, canals and ponds in Okla. (Beaver, McCurtain
and Texas cos.), general but mostly in the w. half of Tex., N.M. (Catron, Grant,
571
-------
-------
Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Maricopa,
Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Final and Yavapai cos.); distributed throughout the
world.
Those plants whose thallus is not or is scarcely inflated and is 3-6 mm. long
are placed here. It has never been made entirely clear, even by the most recent
monographer of the genus, as to how this plant really differs from the so-called
"flattened form" of L. gibba.
8. Lemna gibba L. INFLATED DUCKWEED, WIND-BAGS. Fig. 294.
Thallus solitary or few in a group, orbicular-obovate, 2-5 mm. long, 2—4 mm.
wide, thick, with 2 layers of air spaces within, dark-green above and often suf-
fused with red or purple, with a slight ridge and 1- to 3-nerved above and con-
spicuously round, usually inflated-gibbous on the ventral side because of the
enlargement of the lower tier of air spaces or these not much enlarged and the
thallus merely convex below.
In ponds, marshes and slow streams in w. Tex., N.M. (Grant and Hidalgo cos.)
and Ariz. (Cochise, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Final, Santa Cruz and Yavapai
cos.); widely distributed throughout most of the world.
3. Wolffia HORKEL WATER-MEAL
Diminutive floating rootless herbs, scarcely visible to the naked eye as indi-
viduals and often forming uninterrupted green masses on the surface of the water
as a thin green scum; thallus spheroid to ellipsoid, sometimes flattened above, with
a single funnel-shaped reproductive pouch at one end that bears asexually succes-
sive daughter-fronds, sometimes bearing masses of red pigment bodies in each
epidermal cell; inflorescence breaking through the upper surface of the frond,
composed of 1 staminate flower consisting of a single stamen and 1 pistillate
flower consisting of a single pistil; utricle spherical, smooth.
About 10 species, mainly in the tropics and subtropics.
The' thallus, about the size of a pinhead, is the smallest seed plant known.
Identification of the species can be more certain when live, fresh plants are avail-
able. Although the highest power of a dissecting microscope can be used in study-
ing the flowers and fruits, best results can be obtained by using a higher magni-
fication.
1. Thallus mostly globular, the dorsal surface strongly convex and without a
papilla, without pigmented cells in epidermis 1. W. columbiana.
1. Thallus typically ellipsoidal or broadly ovoid, commonly punctate on all sur-
faces, with brown or reddish-brown pigment cells in epidermis (2)
2(1). Thallus with a prominent conical papilla in center of dorsal surface
2. W. papulifera.
2. Thallus with dorsal surface flat or slightly rounded and without a papilla
3. W. punctata.
Fig. 293: Lemna. a-i, L. minor: a and b, shouldered fruits, a showing remains of
spathe, X 16; c, seed, X 16; d, frond (longitudinal section), X 8; e, group habit, show-
ing the papules along median ridge and the solitary roots, X 2; f and g, roots with and
without rootcap, X 28; h, pistillate and staminate flowers in short saclike spathe, X 36; i,
habit, top view showing young, flowering, and fruiting fronds, X 4. j-u, L. perpusilla:
j and k, roots, with and without rootcap, X 12; 1 habit, showing top view of fruiting
fronds, X 4; m, pistillate and staminate flowers, the surrounding spathe open on one
side, X 40; n and o, fronds (longitudinal section), the air spaces in a single layer, X 8;
p-r, mature seeds, ribbed, cross-striate between ribs, X 20; s and t, fruits asymmetrical,
X 20; u, group habit, the roots long, X 2. (From Mason, Fig. 161).
573
-------
-------
1. Wolffia columbiana Karst. Fig. 295.
Thallus solitary or paired, globular or rarely ellipsoidal, 0.8-1.4 mm. long,
0.4-0.8 mm. wide, scarcely if at all flattened, green on all surfaces, not conspicu-
ously punctate, the dorsal surface not flattened and without a papilla.
On lakes and sloughs of Okla. (Choctaw and McCurtain cos.) and e. and s. Tex.;
from N. E. to Calif., s. to n. S.A.
2. Wolffia papulifera Thomps. Fig. 295.
Thallus solitary or paired, mostly broadly ovoid, 0.5-1.5 mm. long, 0.3-1 mm.
wide, green, brown-punctate on all surfaces, the dorsal surface flattened and
bearing a conspicuous papilla.
On surface of lakes and ponds in Okla. (Choctaw and McCurtain cos.) and in
e. Tex. and on the Edwards Plateau; from Va. s. to Fla., w. to Tex., Kan. and 111.
3. Wolffia punctata Griseb.
Thallus ellipsoid to ovoid-oblong, usually tapering to an acutish apex, 0.7-1.2
mm. long, 0.4—0.7 mm. wide, the dorsal surface flattened and without a papilla,
punctate on all surfaces with brown pigment cells.
In marshes, lakes and sloughs in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex. (Bowie,
Cherokee, Harrison and Henderson cos.); from Conn, to Ont. and Minn., s. to
Tex. and the W. I.
4. Wolffiella HEGELM. MUD-MIDGET. BOG-MAT
Thalluses flat, thin, membranous, elongate or straplike, frequently falcate, soli-
tary or commonly 2 remaining attached, sometimes many remaining connected to
form extensive colonies, rootless, usually floating submersed except for a small
area at the base, more or less punctate with brown pigment cells in epidermis of
all surfaces, commonly reproducing by budding from a single triangular (in out-
line) basal pouch, rarely flowering; flowering cavities on dorsal surface at one
side of median line; flowers not enclosed in a spathe, unisexual, consisting of a
single stamen or a single pistil, the pistillate flower with a single orthotropous
ovule; fruit a slightly laterally compressed utricle with the style persistent; seed
smooth, with spongy outer coat, the prominent operculum flattened.
About 8 species, primarily in the New World.
1. Thallus Ungulate (tongue-shaped), strongly curved, up to 4 times as long as
wide, usually 2 attached to form a circle 1. W. lingulata.
1. Thallus more or less sickle-shaped, mostly 5 times or more longer than wide,
usually several to many cohering in colonies (2)
2(1). Thallus broad at base, abruptly tapered to the obtuse-rounded apex, slightly
falcate 2. W. gladiata.
2. Thallus narrow at base, gradually tapered to a slender sharp point, usually
doubly falcate 3. W. floridana.
Fig. 294: Lemna gibba: a, roots, with and without rootcap, X 12; b and c, winged
fruits, the ovules 1 to 3,- X 12; d-f, mature seeds, showing corky ribs and conspicuous
operculum, X 16; g, young seed, X 16; h, staminate and pistillate flowers surrounded
by saclike spathe, X 23; i, flowers with spathe removed, showing the pistillate flower
with winged shoulders and a pair of staminate flowers, X 25; j, flowering and fruiting
fronds with inflated gibbous lower side and solitary roots, X 2; k and 1, fronds (longi-
tudinal section), showing variation in the air spaces, X 8; m, habit, top view of flower-
ing fronds, X 4; n, habit, top view of fronds, the parent frond with fruit, X 4. o-w,
non-gibbous plants; o-q, fronds (longitudinal section), X 8; r, habit, flowering fronds,
X-4; s and t, pistillate and staminate flowers surrounded by spathe, X 28; u, habit,
showing group of plants, X 2; v and w, roots, with and without rootcap, X 20. (From
Mason, Fig. 160).
575
-------
g
Fig. 295: a-d, Wolffia papulifera: a, dorsal view, about X 40; b and c, lateral view,
X 40; d. longitudinal section, X 40. e-g, Wolffia columhiana: e, dorsal view, about X 40;
f, lateral view, X 40; g, cell, greatly enlarged to show stoma. (Courtesy of R. K.
/•-^ 1£ '^
Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 296: Wolffiella lingulata: a, parent and daughter fronds forming recurved band,
X 8; b, parent frond and young daughter frond, top view, X 8; c-e, side view of
fronds, X 4; f and g, parent and daughter fronds dividing, X 8; h-k, diagrammatic
representation of development of flower and fruit; 1, frond, side view, showing stigma
with a spherical globule of liquid; m, frond, side view, the single anther protruding
beyond the stigma; n, fruit embedded in frond. (From Mason, Fig. 166).
-------
1. Wolffiella lingulata (Hegelm.) Hegelm. Fig. 296.
Thalluses broadly oblong to linear, somewhat curved. 5-10 mm. long, 1-5 mm.
wide, the surfaces concave or channelled, the parent- and daughter-thalluses often
recurved and together appearing like a segment of a band.
In freshwater pond in Tex. (Brazoria Co.); in La., Tex. and Calif., s. through
Latin Am. to Urug.
2. Wolffiella gladiata (Hegelm.) Hegelm. Fig. 291.
Thalluses 3.5-8 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide at the broad base, tapered to an
obtuse-rounded apex, usually several or many cohering to form submerged colo-
nies, somewhat falcate.
Growing in fresh nitrogenous water pond on Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge,
s.e. of Angleton, Brazoria Co., Tex., associated with Lemna, Riccia fluitans and
Ricciacarpus natans (fide R. J. Fleetwood), spring-summer; La. and Tex., s.
through Latin Am. to Urug.
3. Wolffiella floridana (J.D. Sm.) Thomps. Fig. 291.
Thalluses fistulose, usually several in a group, sometimes paired or solitary, thin,
sickle-shaped or conically elongated, attenuate to an acuminate apex, 5-10 mm.
long, 0.4-0.7 mm. wide, green on all surfaces, often brown-punctate.
On lakes and ponds in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex.; in inland waters
of the U.S. along the Atl. and Gulf coasts, and in the Miss. Valley n. to Mo.
Fam. 29. Mayacaceae KUNTH BOGMOSS FAMILY
Small mosslike plants of wet soils and shallow flowing water; leaves cauline,
numerous, crowded on stem; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered, arising along stem;
flowers perfect, regular, hypogynous, 3-merous; sepals and petals each 3, quite
distinct from each other; stamens 3, opposite the sepals; filaments filiform; anthers
oblong to ovoid, basifixed, opening by a terminal pore; ovary 1-celled, superior;
ovules several; style filiform; fruit a 3-celled and 3-valved capsule, dehiscent
between the placentae.
A monogeneric family.
1. Mayaca AUBL.
Characters of the family. About 10 species in tropical and warm-temperate
America, one in tropical Africa.
1. Mayaca Aubletii Michx. BOGMOSS. Fig. 297.
Stems tufted or matted, to 2 dm. long, usually much less; leaves linear-
lanceolate, 3-5 mm. long, 1-nerved; pedicels much-exceeding the leaves in length;
sepals lanceolate, about 4 mm. long; petals pink or whitish, obovate, about 4 mm.
long, persistent with sepals; capsule subglobose, about 4 mm. in diameter. M.
Michauxii Schott & Endl.
Springy and seepage areas, mainly along and in streams, and about ponds in
s.e. Tex., May-July; on Coastal Plain from Va. (?) s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.
A second species, M. fluviatilis Aubl., with pedicels shorter than the leaves and
its capsule more ellipsoid, occurs east of Texas. It may eventually be discovered
in seepage areas in extreme southeast Texas.
Fam. 30. Xyridaceae AGARDH YELLOW-EYED GRASS FAMILY
Perennial or sometimes annual rushlike herbs with narrow mostly basal and
tufted leaves that sheath the lower part of a naked scape which is terminated by
578
-------
Fig. 297: Mayaca Aubletii: a, habit, X 1; b, flower. X 4; c, anthers, X 15; d,
ovary and style, X 9; e, capsule, X 9; f, young seed, X 25; g, mature seed, X 25.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
a globose to cylindrical headlike spike of perfect trimerous flowers; floral bracts
usually densely spirally imbricate, coriaceous or rigid, typically concave and
dorsally marked with a blotch of different color or texture, the upper bracts sub-
tending a solitary flower, the lower ones often sterile and forming an involucre;
calyx irregular, glumaceous. the 2 persistent lateral sepals cymbiform and dorsally
keeled or winged, the larger anterior sepal obovate and enfolding the corolla in
bud and deciduous with it; petals yellow or rarely whitish, obovate, with claws
that are more or less coherent, fugacious; stamens inserted on the petal claws, the
basifixed anthers extrorse; staminodes (when present) alternate with the petals,
bifid and bearded at apex; style 3-cleft; capsule ellipsoid, free, 1-celled, with 3
parietal somewhat projecting placentae, 3-valved, with numerous more or less
ribbed ellipsoid to fusiform orthotropous seeds.
A family of two genera, mostly in tropical regions.
1. Xyris L. YELLOW-EYED GRASS
Characters of the family. A genus of about 250 species distributed mostly in
tropical and subtropical regions in America, Africa and Australia.
1. Keel of lateral sepals ciliate or fimbriate (2)
1. Keel of lateral sepals lacerate, usually quite thin, rarely entire (4)
2(1). Tips of lateral sepals exserted beyond the subtending bract, fimbriate
(usually crisped); spikes seldom shorter than 1 cm.; seeds seldom
shorter than 0.8 mm., fusiform, with broad flat longitudinal ridges;
sheaths of the scape exceeded by the leaves 3. X. caroliniana.
2. Tips of lateral sepals not exserted beyond the subtending bract and not fim-
briate (in old or dried spikes the lateral sepals may separate from
the bracts and appear to be exserted but exsertion is supposed to
mean that bracts are shorter than sepals); seed lengths and shapes
various but the seeds without broad flat longitudinal ridges; sheath
lengths various (3)
3(2). Leaves ascending, twisted, strongly grooved; spikes ovoid, the bracts and
lateral sepals with a small apical tuft of short reddish-brown hairs;
bases of leaves abruptly expanded, pinkish or purplish, becoming
dark-brown, the bases of the plants therefore bulbous and the
outermost leaves often scalelike 5. X. torta.
3. Leaves spreading, scarcely twisted; spikes lance-ovoid to ellipsoidal; bracts
and sepals not as above; bases of leaves longitudinally striate (the
innermost fresh leaf bases white, the striae in dark contrast) and
with the bases of the plants often invested by a stubble or ramentum
of fibrous dead leaf bases 2. X. ambigua.
4(1). Leaves filiform or rarely somewhat linear, the blades gradually expanding
below into lustrous rich-brown or tan hard bases; plants densely
cespitose; spikes ovoid and seldom longer than 1 cm
1. X. Baldwiniana.
4. Leaves broader or not as above, the bases softer or of a different color; plants
or spikes not as above (5)
5(4). Bases of the leaves rather abruptly expanded into thickened flaring equi-
tant zones, thus the plant bulbous-based (the outer leaves are often
shorter, darker and scalelike); scapes often flexuous, usually quite
twisted, the green upper portion of leaf blades often conspicuously
twisted; flowers opening in the afternoon 4. X. platylepis.
5. Bases of the leaves and the plant bases not as above; scapes usually not flexu-
ous, the blades not conspicuously twisted; flowers opening in the
early or late morning (6)
580
-------
6(5). Plant bases greenish, pale to dark-brown or stramineous 7. X. Jupicai.
6. Plant bases pinkish or purplish (7)
7(6). Summit of scape not flattened and broad relative to the spike; scape ridges
usually more than 3 and therefore the upper scape broadly oval or
almost round in oultine (except for projecting ridges); habitats
various, usually not alluvial; foliage pinkish- or purplish-based but
the surfaces (particularly of the outermost leaves) papillose or
tuberculate-scabrid 8. X. difformis var. Curtissii.
7. Summit of scape quite evidently flattened and broad relative to the spike (at
least on living specimens); scape ridges few, usually 2 or 3, the 2
most prominent ones along the scape edges and therefore the upper
scape narrowly ellipsoidal or fusiform in cross section; plants com-
monly of wet situations in sun or shade; foliage smooth, a very
deep-rich-green except for the reddish or purplish color of the leaf
bases (8)
8(7). The two principal scape ridges noticeably and abruptly flattened and wing-
like below the spike and in the plane of the flattened scape, their
combined width (on live specimens) broader than the scape, thus
the outline of the cross section of the scape bicaudate; fruiting
spikes seldom longer than 15 mm., ovoid, acute; seeds translucent,
ovoid or ellipsoidal, seldom longer than 0.6 mm
8. X. difformis var. difformis.
8. The two principal scape ridges not abruptly flattened, the scape itself flattened
and 2-edged and (in cross section) narrowly elliptic; fruiting spikes
seldom shorter than 15 mm., broadly ellipsoidal or oblong, blunt;
seeds farinose, dark when ripe, fusiform or narrowly oblong and
never as short as 0.6 mm 6. X. iridifolia.
1. Xyris Baldwiniana Schult. Fig. 298.
In large tufts, the leaf bases usually brownish, lustrous; leaves filiform to linear-
filiform, 1-3 dm. long, straight or slightly twisted, green, expanding more or less
abruptly toward the lustrous base; sheath of the scape from one half as long to
nearly as long as the principal leaves, tightly investing the scape except for the
the loose orifice and a short blade; scape 2—4 (-5) dm. long, usually broader than
the leaf, terete below, one-ridged and tending to be terete above; spikes at the
seed-bearing time ovoid to ellipsoidal, 4-7 mm. long, acute or blunt, of a few
tightly imbricate bracts; fertile bracts ovate to obovate, 4—5 mm. long, not keeled,
the apex rounded, the exposed margin entire, becoming erose with age, the matrix
dull- to dark-brown or reddish-brown, the dorsal area elliptic and dull-green;
lateral sepals included, slightly shorter than the bracts, linear but slightly curvate,
reddish-brown, the keel lacerate from the tip to about the middle or slightly be-
yond; petal blades cuneate-obovate, about 3-4 mm. long, unfolding in morning;
seeds oblong to narrowly ellipsoidal, 0.8-1 mm. long, the longitudinal lines evi-
dent, translucent, yellowish or pale-amber. Atypical plants erroneously reported
from Texas as X. Elliottii Chapm.
In moist sands or sandy peats of pine flatwoods, hillside bogs, roadside ditches,
and savannahs in e. Tex., May-July; in Coastal Plain, N.C. s. into n. Fla. and w.
to Tex.
Plants now referred here with extremely narrow and flat leaves, apparently
the var. tenuifolia (Chapm.) Malme (X. tenuifolia Chapm.), could possibly be a
hybrid of this species and X. Elliottii Chapm. if it were not for the fact that the
latter species is thought not to occur farther west than southern Mississippi.
2. Xyris ambigua Kunth.
Solitary or in small tufts, the base hard, often fibrous; leaves broadly linear,
spreading, 1-4 dm. long, 3-20 mm. broad, a dark- and lustrous-green above the
581
-------
Fig. 298: a and b, Xyris Baldwiniana: a, habit, X %; b, head, X 1%. c and d,
Xyris caroliniana: c, habit, X i.'t; d, head, X 1. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
equitant portion (about two thirds the total leaf length), the basal equitant
portion stramineous, brownish or pinkish, narrowing more or less gradually to an
abrupt slightly incurved tip, the surface smooth or slightly papillose, the margins
papillose and rather harshly scabrous; sheaths of the scapes from one third to
nearly as long as the principal leaves, rather loosely investing the scape except
for a distal bladelike portion, their bases usually lustrous, stramineous to castane-
ous; scape (1.5—) 7-10 dm. long, twisted but rarely flexuous, many ribbed below,
becoming flattened and 2-edged above; spikes at seed bearing time ellipsoidal to
lance-ovoid, 1-3 cm. long, of many tightly imbricated bracts; fertile bracts
broadly obovate to suborbicular, 5-8 mm. long, not keeled, the apex rounded,
the exposed margin subentire or erose with age, the matrix reddish-brown or
pale-brown, the dorsal area roughly rectangular and olive to dark-brown; lateral
sepals included, curvate, dark-lustrous-brown, the thickened keel nearly as broad
as the sepal sides and ciliate-scabrid; petal blades obovate, about 8 mm. long,
unfolding in morning; seeds ellipsoid to broadly ovoid, caudate at one end, 0.5-
0.6 mm. long, lustrous, with 20 or 22 distinct papillose longitudinal lines and
several faint cross lines.
Moist sands or sandy-peats of bog margins, savannahs, pine flatwoods, lake
shores and roadside ditches in e. Tex., May-July; in Coastal Plain from Va. s.
to Fla. and w. to Tex.
3. Xyris caroliniana Walt. Fig. 298.
Solitary or in small tufts, the bases deeply set in the substrate; outer leaves
scaly, castaneous; principal leaves linear, 2-5 dm. long, 2-5 mm. broad, twisted
and flexuous, fleshy, minutely tuberculate along the margins, otherwise smooth
and lustrous, blunt to acute at tip, the base abruptly dilated, dark-brown, shiny,
long-persistent as scales; sheaths of the scapes shorter than the leaves, tight below,
loose toward the oblique orifice which is tipped by a short (2-4 mm.) blade;
scapes linear, 5-11 dm. long, twisted, flexuous, smooth, terete and minutely ridged
below, becoming oval in cross section and smooth to 1-ridged above, the ridges
(if present) minutely tuberculate; spikes (13-) 15-30 mm. long, elliptic to nar-
rowly oblanceolate in outline, blunt to broadly acute, of few to many closely
imbricate bracts; fertile bracts 5-10 (-13) mm. long, oblong to obovate, entire
or emarginate, becoming erose, the matrix reddish-brown to tan with an elliptic
or rectangular gray-green or brown dorsal area; lateral sepals linear, slightly to
conspicuously exserted, tan to reddish-brown with a broad keel which is entire
below but fimbriate at its exserted apex; petal blades obovate, 8-9 mm. long,
yellow or white, in most populations opening in the afternoon; seeds fusiform,
narrow, 0.8-1 mm. long, translucent, with about 20 pale longitudinal lines, the
vertical lines not evident. X. flexuosa Muhl., X. torta Kunth, X. arenicola Small.
Moist sands of pine flatwoods or savannahs, in well-drained sands or lower
reaches of scrub oak-pine barrens in e. Tex., June-Aug.; from N. J. s. to Fla. and
w. to Tex.
4. Xyris platylepis Chapm. Fig. 299.
Solitary or in small tufts, the bases shallowly set on the substrate, perennating
by means of pale fleshy lateral buds; outer leaves scaly, pinkish, becoming dull-
gray-brown; principal leaves linear, 2-4 (-5) dm. long, 5-10 mm. broad, twisted,
ascending, flexuous, fleshy, minutely tuberculate or smooth along the margin,
otherwise smooth, blunt to acute at tip; equitant portion of leaves dilated, fleshy,
ivory-white or pink or purplish toward the base; sheaths of the scape shorter than
the leaves, castaneous or pale-brown and tight toward the base, more lax toward
the oblique short bladed orifice; scapes 5-11 dm. long, twisted, flexuous, smooth
to minutely ridged and terete below, oval in cross section and smooth to 1-
583
-------
Fig. 299: a and b, Xyris platylepis: a, habit, X '{<; b, head, X 1. c and d, Xyris
iridifolia: c, habit, X Vo; d, head, X %. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
ridged above the ridges (if present), papillate; spikes elliptic to ovoid or oblong,
1.5—3 (—4) cm. long, of numerous closely imbricate bracts; fertile bracts obovate,
5-7 mm. long, entire (becoming slightly erose with age), brownish or pale-tan
with an oblong to deltoid dark-green dorsal area; lateral sepals included, light-
brown, about the length of the subtending bracts, linear, the keel narrow except
toward the apex where it is lacerate; petal blades broadly obovate, about 5 mm.
long, yellow or white, opening in the afternoon; seeds ellipsoidal, 0.5-0.6 mm.
long, translucent, with 10 to 12 rather irregular longitudinal lines together with
a scattering of less distinct vertical lines.
In moist to wet sands or sandy peats of pineland pond-margins, savannahs,
bogs and roadsides ditches in e. Tex., summer; Coastal Plain, Va. to s. Fla.,
w. to Tex.
5. Xyris torta Sm.
Solitary or in tufts of a few individuals, bulbous-based; leaves of 2 sorts,
the outer scalelike (from the bud scales), the inner elongate-linear; principal
leaves linear, ascending, 2-5 dm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, twisted, grooved longi-
tudinally, the upper (blade) portion dark-green, lustrous, narrowing rather
abruptly to a blunt incurved thickened tip, the equitant portion pinkish, purplish
or yellow-green, flaring rather abruptly to the fleshy pale or castaneous base, the
surfaces smooth or papillose, the margins narrowly incrassate and smooth or
papillose; outer leaves usually much shorter than the inner, maroon or more
commonly a dark-lustrous-brown, often scalelike with very dilated bases and
slender often acuminate tips; sheaths of the scape shorter than the principal
leaves, tightly clasping below, becoming looser toward the orifice which has a
short erect slightly divergent blade at its tip; scapes 1.5-8 (-10) dm. long, 1-1.5
(-2) mm. broad, slightly to very twisted and flexuous above toward the spike;
spikes at seeding time broadly ovoid or ellipsoidal to lance-ovoid or rarely oblong,
8-25 mm. long, 6-10 mm. broad, of many tightly imbricated bracts; fertile
bracts broadly obovate to suborbicular, 5-7 mm. long, deep-lustrous-brown
within, dull-brown on the outer surface except for a pale-gray-green elliptical
subapical dorsal area, exposed margin of the bract entire or sparingly ciliate. ex-
cept for a short-fimbriate usually slightly emarginate apex; lateral sepals included,
slightly shorter than the subtending bract, lustrous-brown, lunate, the brown
thickened keel ciliate-scabrid from near the base to the apex where appears a
small tuft of reddish-brown or blonde trichomes; petal blades obovate, about 4
mm. long, unfolding in the morning; seeds ellipsoidal, about 0.5 mm. long,
caudate, with 14 to 18 prominent longitudinal lines (these under high magnifica-
tion a series of contiguous papillae) and indistinct narrower cross lines, translu-
cent except for the region of the embryo. Incl. var. occidentalis Malme.
Sphagnous bogs, stream banks, lake and pond shores, wet sandy swales and
acid sandy swamps in e. Tex., June-July; from Can., s. to Ga., Tex. and (?) Okla.
6. Xyris iridifolia Chapm. Fig. 299.
Solitary or in small tufts, the pinkish or purplish keeled bases shallowly set on
a mucky substratum; leaves linear, iridiform, 4-7 dm. long, 10-25 mm. broad,
flat or slightly twisted, smooth, a deep-rich-green, broadly acute to blunt and
incurved at tip, the base slightly dilated and keeled, pink or pale-maroon with a
broadly hyaline margin; sheaths of the scape shorter than the leaves, deep-brown
or reddish-brown and tight below, becoming somewhat looser and green above,
the oblique orifice with a short cusplike blade; scapes 6-8 dm. tall, linear, straight
or slightly twisted, terete and 2-ridged below, conspicuously broadened and
flattened above, the edges smooth; spikes oblong to broadly oblanceolate, rarely
ovoid, 20-35 mm. long, blunt, of numerous closely imbricate bracts with the
585
-------
¥d
Fig. 300: Xyris Jupicai: a, habit, about X V': b, section of peduncle, X 9; c, spike,
X 3; d, lateral sepal, X 10; e, seed, X 75, (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
lowest ones barren; fertile bracts 6-7 mm. long, broadly obovate to suborbicular,
entire, the outer surfaces dark-purplish- or reddish-brown, shining except for a
paler-green or gray-green oval or triangular dorsal area; lateral sepals included,
linear, about the length of the bracts, castaneous, with a broad lacerate keel;
petal blades cuneate, about 3 mm. long, opening in the morning; seeds oblong-
fusiform, 0.8-1 mm. long, opaque, dark, farinose, the regularly arranged longi-
tudinal lines obscured by the farina.
Wet sands but more commonly wet sandy clay, sandy peat, peat muck or
alluvium of stream banks, cypress swamps, marshes or pineland pond margins
with the bases commonly submersed, e. Tex., July-Sept.; in Coastal Plain from
s.e. Va. s. to n. Fla. and w. to Tex.
7. Xyris Jupieai Rich. Fig. 300.
Short-lived perennial, solitary or in small tufts, dying completely after one
year from seed or perennating from bulbous lateral over-wintering buds; leaves
linear, 1-6 dm. long, 5-10 mm. broad, ascending, lustrous, yellow-green, pale or
stramineous toward the base; sheaths of the scape shorter than the principal leaves,
somewhat loose toward the oblique orifice which terminates in a short cusplike
blade; scapes 2-7 (-9) dm. long, terete and many-ridged below, becoming some-
what flattened and narrower and usually one- or two-edged above; spikes at
seeding time ovoid to ellipsoidal or oblong, 5-15 mm. long, of numerous rather
loosely imbricated bracts; fertile bracts obovate to oval, 5-7 mm. long, the
exposed margins subentire, the outer surface pale- to dark-brown and dull, the
dorsal area rectangular to elliptic and green or brownish on old spikes; lateral
sepals included, about the length of the bracts, linear and slightly curvate, the
thin wings broad, the somewhat thicker keel lacerate for the upper two thirds
or one half its length; petal blades cuneate, about 3 mm. long, opening in the
morning; seeds broadly ellipsoidal, 4-5 mm. long, the longitudinal ribs numerous
but faint, cross lines not evident.
Wet sands or sandy peat or alluvium of roadside ditches, flatwoods, pond
margins, cypress swamps and lake shores, but particularly in mechanically dis-
turbed wet lands in e. Tex., June -Aug.; in Coastal Plain from N. J. s. to Fla.
and w. to Tex. and Ark.
8. Xyris difformis Chapm.
Solitary or in small tufts, the soft pinkish or purplish (rarely greenish) bases
rooted on wet sand or muck; principal leaves broadly linear or linear-elliptic, 1-5
dm. long, 5-15 mm. broad, usually flabellate-spreading, dark and lustrous-green
but toward the bases becoming pinkish, purplish or reddish, apex acute and
slightly incurved, the surface smooth, the margin above the equitant portion
usually papillose or rarely smooth; sheaths of the scapes shorter than most of the
leaves, thin, tight except at the slightly loosened oblique orifice whose upper
margin converges to a short cusplike blade; scape linear, 15-70 cm. long, terete,
brownish and twisted below, straightening and becoming deep-green and oval in
cross section above with 2 prominent broad thin ridges whose combined breadth
is at least equal to that of the scape and whose margins are papillose; spikes at
seed-bearing time ovoid, about 1 cm. long, acute, dark, of many usually tightly
imbricated bracts of which the lower few are barren; fertile bracts 5-7 mm.
long, obovate to oval, not keeled, the apex rounded and subentire, the outer
surface usually deep-brown, lustrous, the dorsal area greenish or gray-green, rec-
tangular to round or elliptic; lateral sepals included, about the length of the
bracts, the broad wings thin and pale-brown, the keel slightly thicker and darker
with its margin jagged from about the middle to the apex; petal blades cuneate,
about 4 mm. long or less, unfolding in the morning; seeds broadly ellipsoidal,
587
-------
about 0.5 mm. long, translucent, with 24 to 28 very fine straight longitudinal
lines of small papillae, the vertical lines straight but indistinct. (?) X. elata Chapm.
Wet sands or sandy peats of flat-woods, pond margins, ditches and lake shores,
but more often on alluvial situations (often in fairly heavy shade) in e. Tex.,
spring-summer; primarily on the Coastal Plain from Tex. to s.e. Can. and the
Great Lakes system.
Var. Curtissii (Malme) Krai. Similar to var. difformis but smaller, usually
less than 2 dm. high, more tufted and with the margins of the equitant portion
of the leaves very broad and pinkish-translucent, the surfaces papillose or low-
tuberculate with the papillae or tubercles in slightly diagonal lines, the bases
pinkish or purplish and similarly papillate; sheaths of the scape looser with the
bases a rich-brown or sometimes castaneous; scapes rarely to 2 dm., terete with
many low ridges below, the margins of the ridges papillate or scabrid; spikes at
seed-bearing time broadly ovoid to ellipsoidal, seldom longer than 5 mm., of but
few bracts; fertile bracts 3-4 mm. long, suborbicular to broadly obovate, the
outer surfaces pale to deep brown and lustrous, the ellipsoidal dorsal areas gray-
green and becoming brown and indistinct with age; lateral sepals included, about
the length of the bracts, linear-curvate, a lustrous-brown, the thin wings broad,
the slightly thicker keel broadened and somewhat lacerate toward its tip or even
entire; petal blades obovate to cuneate, slightly less than 3 mm. long, unfolding
in the early morning; seeds oblong to ellipsoidal, about 0.5 mm. long, translu-
cent, with 12 or 14 faint longitudinal lines, the vertical lines even more faint.
Sandy peats of ditches and bogs, flatwoods or acid seepage areas in e. Tex.,
spring-summer; from the Great Lakes system and s.e. Can. s. to Fla. and Tex.
Fam. 31. Eriocaulaceae DESV. PIPEWORT FAMILY
Perennial or rarely annual aquatic or marsh herbs, mostly short-stemmed;
roots tufted, fibrous, knotty or spongy, often septate; leaves mostly basal and
tufted, narrow, grasslike; inflorescence capitate, in terminal solitary or umbellately
aggregate involucrate heads, borne on long slender scapose peduncles that are
sheathed at the base; florets numerous, small, sessile or short-pedicellate on a
variously shaped receptacle, each borne in the axil of a scarious scalelike colored
or colorless receptacular bractlet, unisexual, mostly androgynous, the staminate
and pistillate mixed together or the staminate in the center and the pistillate on
the periphery, the sexes very rarely in separate heads; perianth scarious or mem-
branous, rarely hyaline, 2- or 3-merous, usually in 2 distinct series, the outer
(calyx) free or rarely partially connate, the inner (corolla) often united in an
infundibular fashion, rarely absent; stamens as many or twice as many as the
outer perianth segments and alternate with them, inserted on the corolla (when
present); filaments distinct; anthers small, 2- or 4-celled, composed of 1 or 2
thecae, opening by longitudinal slits, introrse; ovary superior, 2- or 3-celled; style
terminal, often appendaged; stigmas 2 or 3, simple or lobed; ovules solitary and
pendulous in each cell, orthotropous; fruit a 2- or 3-celled and 2- or 3-seeded
membranous capsule, loculicidally dehiscent; seeds solitary, pendulous.
About 1,150 species in 13 genera, mostly tropical and subtropical.
1. Stamens 4 or 6, twice as many as the outer perianth segments; peduncles
glabrous or at most puberulent 1. Eriocaulon
I. Stamens 2 or 3, as many as the outer perianth segments; peduncle villous above
2. Lachnocaulon
1. Eriocaulon L. PIPEWORT
Stems short; leaves tufted, membranous or very thin and pellucid, more or
less linear or linear-lanceolate and grasslike, sessile and clasping at base, very
588
-------
Fig. 301: Eriocaulon decangulare: a, habit, X 1; b, staminate flower, X 7; c, pistil-
late flower, X 7; d, seed, X 27. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
often fenestrate; peduncles solitary or aggregate, slender, sheathed, usually
glabrous and several-costate; florets dimerous or trimerous. the staminate mixed
with the pistillate or segregated on separate heads or (rarely) on separate plants;
perigonium almost always double; staminate florets with the sepals free at the
base and often more or less connate into a split spathe. or the 2 or 3 petals
united below into a tube, free at apex, the lobes usually bearing a small black
gland on the inner surface near the apex; stamens twice as many as the sepals
(or rarely 3) and exserted: anthers 4-celled, mostly black, composed of 2 thecae;
pistillate florets with free or (rarely) spathaceous-connate sepals; petals free or
rarely none, usually each bearing a small black gland slightly below the apex
within; style appendages none; stigmas 2 or 3, simple.
A genus of about 400 species, widely distributed in marshy places in tropical
and subtropical regions, the greatest number in tropical America; numerous also
in tropical Asia and Africa; one species in northwestern Europe and northeastern
North America; several on the Coastal Plain of eastern and southern United States.
The leaves of some species are said to be eaten by ducks.
1. Heads when mature glabrous or subglabrous, olivaceous, not white-villous
1. E. Kornickianum.
1. Heads when mature always white-villous at the summit (2)
2(1). Receptacular bractlets surpassing the florets, long-acuminate; heads very
tough and hard, not at all compressed in drying; leaves mostly
rigid 2. E. decangidare.
1. Receptacular bractlets about equaling or shorter than the florets; heads more
or less compressed in drying; leaves mostly lax (3)
3(2). Staminate florets with the anterior petal much larger than the posterior
one; plants mostly dioecious or practically so; heads 5-14 mm. in
diameter 3. E. compressum.
3. Staminate florets with the petals equal or subequal; plants always plainly
monoecious; heads 3-7 mm. in diameter (4)
4(3). Heads loose-flowered, greatly compressed in drying 4. E. septangulare.
4. Heads dense-flowered, scarcely compressed in drying 5. E. texense.
1. Eriocaulon Kornickianum Van Heurck & Muell. Arg.
Leaves erect, to 25 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, glabrous, 3-nerved; peduncles
aggregate, as many as 25, to 1 dm. tall, pale-green, 3- or 4-costate, twisted, the
basal sheath to 25 mm. long; heads globose or hemispheric, 2-4 mm. in diameter,
compressed in drying.
In springy places on prairies and wet sandy soil in e. Okla1., spring; also Ark.
and probably Tex.
No Texas material has been seen but the type is considered to have been
collected in "East Texas" (Tyler Co.) by Charles Wright.
2. Eriocaulon decangulare L. Fig. 301.
Plants monoecious; leaves to 35 cm. long and 1 cm. wide at the middle, many-
nerved, the margin often revolute; peduncles 1 to 3 per plant, rigid, to 1 m. tall,
usually much smaller, many-costate, not noticeably twisted, the basal sheath to
16 cm. long; heads globose or hemispheric, 7-12 mm. in diameter.
In moist meadows and pinelands, savannahs, bogs, swamps and pond-margins
in e. Tex., spring; from N. J. to Fla. and w. along Gulf Coast to e. Tex.
Plants with binary heads are sometimes found.
3. Eriocaulon compressum Lam. Fig. 302.
Plants rarely monoecious; leaves dull, to 25 cm. long and 6.5 mm. wide, many-
nerved; peduncles mostly solitary, rarely 2 or 3, to 85 cm. tall, 10-striate, more
or less twisted, the basal sheath about as long as leaves.
590
-------
Fig. 302: Eriocaulon compression: a, habit, X %; b, bract, X 15; c, male flower,
X 15; d, female flower, X 15; e, seed, about X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 303: Eriocaulon texense: a, habit, X t/i; b, staminate flower, X 20; c, pistillate
flower, X 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
In still shallow water of acid ponds, swamps and low pinelands, and in streams
in e. Tex., spring; from s. N.J. to Fla., w. to La. and e. Tex.
4. Eriocaulon septangulare With.
Leaves to 18 cm. long and 3.5 mm. wide, usually much smaller, 3- to 8-nerved;
peduncles mostly solitary, to 55 cm. tall or more in deep water, 7-costate, usually
not twisted.
In still water and on shores of ponds in (?) e. Tex., spring; from Nfld. to Va.,
w. to Ont., Minn, and Ind., reported from Tex. but doubtfully in the state; also
in the Hebrides and adj. is., n. Scot, and Ire.
5. Eriocaulon texense Korn. Fig. 303.
Leaves spreading, plane, to 65 mm. long and 3 mm. wide, 10- to 13-nerved;
592
-------
peduncles solitary or 2 to 4, to 35 cm. tall, 5- or 6-costate, slightly twisted,
glabrous, the basal sheaths longer than the leaves.
In bogs, swamps and moist pinelands in e. Tex., Apr.-June; from e. Tex. to
s.w. Ala.
2. Lachnocaulon KUNTH
A genus of about 10 species, all North American.
1. Lachnocaulon anceps (Walt.) Morong. HAIRY PIPEWORT, WHITEHEAD BOG-
BUTTON. Fig. 304.
Stems short; leaves tufted, bright-green, olivaceous in age, linear-lanceolate,
to 7 cm. long and 2.5 mm. wide; peduncle rarely more than 3 dm. tall, 3-costate,
twisted, densely villous above, the sheaths to 7 cm. long; heads obconic-globose
or hemispheric, 3-6 mm. in diameter; involucral bractlets fuscous or olivaceous-
grayish, ovate to obovate, obtuse to subacute, long-villous on the back at the
apex; receptacular bractlets olivaceous-fuscous, spatulate, very obtuse, pilose on
the back at the apex; florets trimerous; staminate florets with 3 sepals, no petals,
3 stamens, the filaments united below and coalescent with a rudimentary corolla
or pistil, free above, and with oblong 2-celled anthers composed of 1 theca;
staminate sepals fuscous, oblong-obovate, connate at the base, rounded-obtuse and
comose at the apex; pistillate florets with 3 free sepals, petals reduced to hairs, a
single style, 2 or 3 style appendages, 2 or 3 simple or bifid stigmas and a 2- or
3-locular ovary; pistillate sepals free, whitish, oblong-spatulate, longer than the
receptacular hairs, obtuse to acute, pilose at the apex.
In wet places in s.e. Tex., May-Oct; Va. s. to Fla., along the Gulf Coast to
Tex.; also Isle of Pines, Cuba.
The white pistillate flowers mingled with the brown staminate ones impart
a mixed gray and dark appearance to the heads.
Fam. 32. Commelinaceae R. BR. SPIDERWORT FAMILY
Succulent perennial or annual herbs, acaulescent or with nodose stems, the
roots fibrous or sometimes much-thickened and tuberlike; leaves alternate, flat
or somewhat channeled, entire, parallel-veined, sheathing by a basal membranous
and often closed sheath; inflorescence terminal and/or axillary, a simple or
compound cyme or thyrse, occasionally 1-flowered, sometimes attended by a
cymbiform spathe or foliaceous bracts; flowers usually actinomorphic but some-
times zygomorphic, bisexual; calyx of 3 usually free and imbricated herbaceous
sepals; corolla mostly ephemeral and deliquescent, the 3 colored petals equal or
unequal and free or united into a tube, the third petal sometimes much-reduced;
stamens typically 6 but sometimes fewer or only one, some occasionally reduced to
staminodes; filaments usually distinct, often bearded with moniliform hairs; ovary
superior, sessile or stipitate, usually 3-celled; fruit a loculicidal capsule, sometimes
enclosed by fleshy sepals, rarely fleshy and indehiscent.
A large family mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. About 600 species
in nearly 40 genera.
The seeds of some species in this family, especially those of Commelina, are
eaten by various songbirds and game birds, and deer are known to browse the
plants.
1. Flowers several, borne in a folded floral bract that is abruptly different from
the stem leaves 1. Commelina
I. Flowers in an umbellate dichotomous helicoid terminal or lateral cyme, sub-
tended by 2 or 3 subequal or unequal foliaceous or rarely scarioiis
bracts 2. Tradescantia
593
-------
Fig. 304: Laclinocaulon anceps'. a, habit, X V>; b, staminate flower, X 25; c, pistil-
late flower, without sepals, X 26; d, pistillate flower, X 25; e, bract, X 25; f, sepal,
X 25; g, seed, X 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Commelina L. WIDOW'S-TEARS. DAY-FLOWER
Plants herbaceous, annuals or perennials; stems at first erect, in some species
eventually decumbent; leaves ovate to linear, forming a sheath at the base, margin
of leaf and throat of sheath often lined with white or reddish trichomes; flower
buds borne inside of a cymbiform spathe that is open across the top. 3 to 5 buds
are produced in each spathe. the buds opening in succession 3 or 4 days apart;
flowers blue or sometimes paler, exserted above the spathe shortly after dawn
to remain until midday after which they recede into the spathe as a juicy mass;
sepals 3, one subequal to the other 2; petals 3. one of which is subequal to
the other 2 and often paler; stamens 3, the smaller staminodia 3: ovary 3-
carpellate; fruits usually 1 or 2 or sometimes 3 per spathe; seeds 1 to 3 per fruit.
About 225 species, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemi-
spheres.
1. Spathes open across the top but closed down the adaxial side, the margins
connate at base 1. C. virginica.
1. Spathes open across the top and down adaxial side to spathe stalk, the margins
not connate at base (2)
2(1). Two posterior petals blue: anterior petal much smaller, white, lanceolate;
capsule 2-celled, 4-seeded (no rudiment of third cell): anthers 6
2. C. communis.
2. All three petals blue: anterior petal ovate, slightly smaller: capsule 3-celled,
5-seeded (posterior cell 1-seeded, indehiscent): anthers 5 (posterior
lacking) 3. C. diffusa.
1. Commelina virginica L.
Plant perennial, overwintering by a tuberous root system, commonly producing
new plants by elongated prostrate rhizomes that turn up at the ends; stem erect
to decumbent, 3—6 mm. in diameter at base, the longest internodes usually 8-18
cm., leaves broadly lanceolate, when mature to 2 dm. long and 65 mm. wide,
finely pubescent, especially scabrous to the touch when rubbed from the tip toward
the base: leaf sheaths heavily pubescent at throat and down the open edge, the
hairs sandy-red to dark-red in color: spathes terminal and usually clustered,
occasionally produced singly at top, glabrous to very finely pubescent to 35 mm.
long and 2 cm. high, closed down the adaxial side, open across the top, tapering
to a point on abaxial side.
In low woods, about and in water of pools, in s.e. Okla. (Pushmataha Co.) and
in e. and n.-cen. Tex., May—Oct.; from e, Tex. and Okla., n. to HI. and Md., e. to
the Atl. Ocean.
2. Commelina communis L.
Plant annual, with a fibrous root system, to 5 dm. tall; stems erect at first,
later becoming prostrate and spreading due to numerous branches being produced,
to 4 mm in diameter, some internodes as much as 16 cm. long; leaves broadly
lanceolate, smooth beneath, scabrous and often with scattered white hairs above,
to 12 cm. long and 4 cm. wide: throat of leaf sheath with or without pubescence:
spathe stalk to 7 cm. long: spathes glabrous to very slightly pubescent with long
white hairs, 2—3 cm. long, 8-13 mm. high, open across top and down the side to
the spathe stalk, tapering to a blunt tip on abaxial end, the bottom forming a
straight line while the top is curved.
On stream banks and in low thickets, a common garden weed, in e. Okla.
(McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex., May-Oct.; from S.D. to Tex., e. to the Atl. Ocean.
595
-------
3. Commelina diffusa Burm. f.
Plant annual, with a fibrous root system; stems at first erect, later becoming
decumbent because of profuse branching and layering, rarely more than 1.5 mm.
in diameter, the larger internodes to 10 cm. long; leaves broadly lanceolate,
glabrous beneath, glabrous to slightly scabrous above, 3.5-11 cm. long, 9-22 mm.
wide; leaf sheaths 5-10 mm. long, the throat usually lined with long white hairs or
sometimes with only short hairs; spathe stalk 1-2 cm. long; spathe glabrous, open
across top, tapering to a slightly attenuated tip at the abaxial end and open down
the adaxial side to the point of attachment to the stalk, the bottom usually de-
curved at the tip.
In floodplain woods, stream beds and wet clays about ponds in s.e. Okla.
(LeFlore Co.) and e. and s. Tex., Apr.-Nov.; in s.e. U.S., w. to Tex., Okla. and
Kan.
2. Tradescantia L. SPIDER LILY. SPIDERWORT
Subsucculent perennial herbs; stem erect to trailing, herbaceous, frequently
producing subterranean stolons; leaves alternate, sessile, linear to oblong-elliptic
(in our species), the blade basally produced into a perfoliate sheath; inflorescence
an umbellate dichotomous helicoid cyme, terminal or lateral, subtended by 2 or
infrequently 3 subequal or unequal foliaceous or rarely scarious bracts; pedicels
subtended by solitary or paired hyaline or slightly foliaceous bracteoles; sepals 3,
separate, equal, more or less concave or navicular, foliaceous to petalaceous or
hyaline; petals 3, separate, equal, ephemeral; stamen 6, fertile, equal, hypogynous;
anther sacs reniform (in our species), dehiscing longitudinally, united by a broadly
trapezoid connective; filaments (in our species) abundantly pilose; ovary 3-celled;
ovules 3 to 6, uniseriate, orthotropous; style filiform; stigma capitate; capsule dry,
loculicidally 3-valved; seeds naked, roughly oblongoid to subtrigonal or sub-
spherical, more or less rugose and radiately ridged, the micropyle persistently
pitted, the funicular scar linear to punctiform.
About 60 species in temperate and tropical America.
1. Leaf blade broader than the sheath (at least the upper ones); endemic to
south-central Texas 1. T. edwardsiana.
1. Leaf blade narrower than the sheath or about as broad (2)
2(1). Sepals glabrous or only the tips eglandular-barbate; distribution in eastern
two thirds of Texas and Oklahoma 2. T. ohioensis.
2. Sepals glabrous or rarely with a few glandular hairs at the base; endemic to
Trans-Pecos Texas 3. T. Wrightii.
1. Tradescantia edwardsiana Tharp.
Roots long and slender, relatively fleshy, very inconspicuously and irregularly
pilose; stems erect or ascending, relatively stout, straight, not flexuose, densely
and minutely puberulent to glabrate; nodes 3 to 6; internodes to 11 cm. long;
leaves relatively firm, somewhat subsucculent and crisp, light-green, not glaucous
nor subglaucous, the anastomosing secondary veins not evident in desiccation,
elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, gradually constricted into the sheath, 7-30 cm.
long, 15-45 mm. broad, minutely puberulent to essentially glabrate, the sheath
to 3 cm. long and 2 cm. broad; cymes umbellate, few- to several-flowered, terminal,
usually also lateral at the upper nodes, the lateral inflorescences with a definite
peduncle; bracts foliaceous, 4-18 cm. long, to 35 mm. broad, widely spreading;
pedicels 1.5-3 cm. long, reflexed and somewhat accrescent in fruit, green, minutely
and densely puberulent; sepals elliptic, acuminate, 6-9 mm. long, green, not
inflated, glandular-puberulent; petals broadly ovate, 1-1.2 cm. long, white to
pale-mauve, rarely bright-pink; filaments abundantly pilose, the connective
596
-------
broadly trapezoid; ovary ovoid, glandular-puberulent; capsules obovoid-trigonal,
8-10 mm. long; seeds 3-4 mm. long, roughly compressed-oblongoid, the linear
funicular scar about as long as the seed.
Rich woods and along moist alluvial terraces and ravines, s.-cen. Tex., Feb-
May; endemic.
2. Tradescantia ohioensis Raf.
Roots relatively slender, somewhat fleshy, irregularly pilose to glabrate; stems
erect or ascending, straight or slightly flexuose, glabrous, glaucous and subsuccu-
lent; nodes 3 to 8; internodes to 18 cm. long; leaves firmly membranaceous,
glaucous, linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 45 cm. long and 45 mm. broad,
glabrous or infrequently more or less pilose at the sheath; sheath rather turgid and
inflated, to 4 cm. long and 45 mm. broad; cymes umbellate, few- to many-flowered,
terminal, solitary, frequently accompanied at the upper nodes by lateral peduncu-
late inflorescences; bracts foliaceous, glaucous, glabrous or minutely barbate at
the tips, to 25 cm. long and 22 mm. broad, sharply reflexed or divaricate; pedicels
to 25 mm. long, glabrous, more or less reflexed and somewhat accrescent in fruit;
sepals elliptic, acute to acuminate, to 15 mm. long, glaucous, infrequently some-
what suffused wtih rose or purple, glabrous or more or less eglandular-barbate at
the tips; petals broadly ovate, to 2 cm. long, blue to rose or magenta, rarely
white; filaments abundantly pilose, the connective broadly trapezoid; ovary ovoid,
glabrous or with a tuft of weak eglandular hairs at the base of the style; capsules
obovoid-trigonal, 4-6 mm. long; seeds roughly compressed-oblongoid, 2-3 mm.
long, the linear funicular scar about as long as the seed. T. canaliculata Raf., T.
reflexa Raf.
In wet meadows, prairies and thickets, less frequently in woods, commonly
spreading to roadsides and railroad right-of-ways in e. Okla. (Ottawa Co.) and e.
two thirds of Tex., Feb.-May; from s. N.E. to Fla., and w. to Minn, and Tex.
The most common and widespread species in the U. S. where it is frequently
cultivated and escapes to become naturalized.
3. Tradescantia Wrightii Rose & Bush.
Roots relatively slender, somewhat fleshy, irregularly and inconspicuously pilose
to glabrate; stems erect or ascending, straight, simple, glabrous, glaucous or
glaucescent, somewhat subsucculent; nodes 1 to 3; internodes to 15 cm. long;
leaves firmly membranaceous or somewhat subsucculent, glabrous, glaucous or
glaucescent, linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 1 dm. long and 2-5 mm. broad,
spreading or ascending; sheath 1-2 cm. long, to 1 cm. broad; cymes umbellate,
few- to several-flowered, terminal, solitary; bracts foliaceous, glabrous, glaucous
or glaucescent, spreading or ascending, to 7 cm. long, 3-6 mm. broad; pedicels
12-17 mm. long, glabrous or rarely with a very few glandular hairs, reflexed and
somewhat accrescent in fruit; sepals elliptic, acute to acuminate, 5-6 mm. long,
glaucous or glaucescent, glabrous or rarely with a few glandular hairs at the base;
petals broadly ovate, about 1 cm. long, rose to magenta and purple; filaments
abundantly pilose, the connective broadly trapezoid; ovary ovoid, glabrous or
rarely with a very few glandular hairs at the base of the style; capsules obovoid-
trigonal, 3-4 mm. long; seeds broadly compressed-oblongoid to oblongoid-trigonal,
about 2 mm. long, the linear funicular scar much shorter than the seed.
On moist canyon stream banks in Trans-Pecos Tex., May-Sept.; endemic.
Fam. 33. Pontederiaceae H. B. K. PICKEREL-WEED FAMILY
Perennial aquatic or bog plants with floating or creeping rootstocks and
sheathing leaves; leaves alternate, straplike or differentiated into petiole and blade;
597
-------
inflorescence axillary from the stem or rootstock, from a spathe; flowers solitary
or in several- to many-flowered spikes or panicles, perfect, more or less irregular;
perianth salverform of funnelform, the tube mostly well-developed, free from
the ovary, the 6 lobes similarly colored; stamens 3 or 6, inserted in throat of
perianth, mostly unequal or dissimilar, the anthers introrse; style 1; stigma 3-lobed
or 6-toothed; ovary superior; fruit a perfect or incompletely 3-celled many-seeded
capsule or a 1-seeded utricle; seeds ribbed.
About 30 species in a half dozen genera in temperate and tropical regions.
1. Stamens 6; perianth funnelform (2)
1. Stamens 3; perianth salverform (3)
2(1). Plants typically free-floating; fruit a many-seeded dehiscent capsule
1. Eichhornia
2. Plants rooted in mud; fruit a 1-seeded utricle 2. Pontederia
3(1). Perianth regular or nearly so; style usually stout, about as long as or
shorter than the short stamens 3. Heteranthera
3. Perianth markedly zygomorphic; style slender, almost as long as the long
stamen 4. Eurystemon
1. Eichhornia KUNTH WATER-HYACINTH
Floating aquatic herbs, rooting at nodes; submersed leaves (when present) long
and narrow; aerial leaves broad, the petiole usually spongy-inflated; inflorescence
pedunculate, spicate to paniculate, from a spathe, the spathe subtended by a
sheath that often has a small dilated blade; perianth funnelform, slightly 2-lipped;
stamens 6, the 3 upper all included, the 3 lower more exserted; anthers oblong,
basifixed; filaments irregularly adnate to the perianth; ovary 3-celled; capsule
membranaceous, many-seeded. Also spelled Eichornia.
About six species in the tropics and warm temperate regions of America and
Africa.
The plants provide an ideal haven for minute animal life that provide food
for fish and bird life. Their aggressive weediness, however, offsets any value
that they may otherwise have. They are notorious for clogging and desiccating
canals and waterways in the southern United States. They are a favorite food of
the manatee.
1. Petioles inflated at the base; plants with a short naked stem bearing new
plants at the nodes; peduncle below the flowers exserted from the
spathe; perianth lobes entire 1. E. crassipes.
1. Petioles not inflated; plants with a continually growing stem, bearing leaves
for its entire length; peduncle below the flowers included in the
spathe; perianth lobes marginally erose 2. E,. azurea.
1. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. Fig. 305.
Leaf blade suborbicular to broadly elliptic, leathery, to 1.5 dm. long and
wide; inflorescence a loose terminal spike; flowers showy, light-blue to bluish-
purple, 4-6 cm. long and broad. Piaropus crassipes (Mart.) Britt.
Ponds, streams and ditches in s. and e. Tex., Apr.-July; from Va. s. to Fla.,
w. to Mo. and Tex.; also Calif., Mex., W.I., C.A. and S.A.
A beautiful, noxious weed!
2. Eichhornia azurea (Sw.) Kunth.
Except for the uninflated petioles and cross-margined perianth lobes, this
species is quite similar in habit to E. crassipes.
It also grows in the same kind of habitats. Rather widespread in Latin Am.,
apparently introd. in s. Tex., July.
598
-------
Fig. 305: Eichhornia crassipes: a, flower, X %; b, flower (longitudinal section),
showing the irregularly adnate stamens, X %; c, leaf, showing its orbicular leathery
blade and inflated petiole, X %; d, ovary (cross section), X 8; e, habit, showing the
loose terminal spike of flowers, the floating leaves and the roots, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 167).
-------
Fig. 306: Pontedcria cordata: a, habit, X ^4; b, flower, X 2V4; c, revolute-coiled
perianth, after flowering, X 2^4. (V. F.).
-------
2. Pontederia L. PICKEREL-WEED
Stout herbs with thick creeping rhizomes rooted in mud; leaves erect, long-
petioled, with a sheathing stipule within the petiole; leaf blades variable, broad
or narrow; inflorescence an erect spike of violet-blue ephemeral flowers from a
sheathing spathe, with a solitary leaf on the flowering stem; perianth funnelform,
2-lipped, the tube revolute-coiled after flowering; stamens 6, the 3 upper un-
equally inserted, the 3 lower long-exserted; anther elliptic, blue, versatile; ovary
3-celled; fruit a 1-seeded utricle.
About 6 species in warm regions of the Western Hemisphere.
The seeds are sometimes eaten by ducks and muskrats.
1. Perianth villous in bud, becoming glabrate with age, rarely sparsely glandular
1. P. cordata var. cordata.
1. Perianth persistently pubescent with short glandular hairs
1. P. cordata var. lanceolata.
1. Pontederia cordata L. var cordata. Fig. 306.
Stem up to 1 m. tall; leaf blades varying from deltoid-ovate to triangular-
lanceolate, prominently and deeply cordate to truncate or rarely narrowed at
base, to 2 dm. long; spike to 15 cm. long.
In marshes, sluggish streams and ditches in shallow water of n.-cen. and e.
Okla. (Alfalfa, Cherokee and McCurtain cos.) and e. Tex., June-Sept.; P.E.I.
and N.S., s. to Fla., w. to Mo., Okla. and Tex.
Var. lanceolata (Nutt.) Griseb. Similar to var. cordata in habit and habitat;
leaf blade usually somewhat firmer than in that variety. P. lanceolata Nutt. Fla.
w. to e. Tex. and e. Okla. (McCurtain and Payne cos.), locally n. to Del.
3. Heteranthera R. & P. MUD-PLANTAIN
Herbs submersed, floating or rooted in mud, forming a rosette or with elongate
simple or branched stems; leaves sessile or petiolate; leaf blades straplike to ovate
or lanceolate to reniform, leathery to thin and pellucid; flowers solitary or several
in a spike, from a spathe that arises from the sheathing side of a petiole or in
the axis of leaves; perianth salverform, the limb more or less equally 6-parted,
ephemeral; stamens 3, equal or unequal; anthers ovate to sagittate, basifixed;
capsule 1- or incompletely 3-celled by intrusion of the placentae, many-seeded.
About a dozen species in America and Africa, mostly tropical.
Ducks are known to eat the seeds, and the dense growth occasionally formed
by H. dubia provide food and shelter for fish.
1. Leaves sessile, linear, grasslike, pellucid; spathe sessile in axils of leaves;
stamens all alike; anthers coiled with age (2)
1. Leaves petiolate, with an expanded thickish blade; spathe peduncled; stamens
dimorphic; anthers not coiled (3)
2(1). Perianth tube much less than twice as long as the spathe; seeds ellipsoid,
yellow-brown, the 10 to 12 membranaceous wings evanescent
1. H. dubia.
2. Perianth tube twice as long as the spathe or longer; seeds nearly globose,
black-brown, the 14 to 16 wings persistent 2. H. Liebmannii.
3(1). Spathe 1-flowered; leaf blade ovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate
3. H. limosa.
3. Spathe 3- to 10-flowered; leaf blade round-reniform 4. H. reniformis.
1. Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) MacM. WATER STAR GRASS. Fig. 307.
Submersed grasslike herb, with slender branching stems often rooting at the
nodes; leaves linear or ribbonlike, thin, sessile, finely parallel-veined and without
601
-------
Fig. 307: Heteranihera dubia: a, capsule, sessile in leaf axil and enclosed by spathe,
X !';_>; b, mature seed, finely cross-striate and with membranous longitudinal ribs, X
12; c, habit, showing the ribbonlike leaves, sessile flowers and fruit and roots at the
nodes, X -.-,; d, spathe with flower in leaf axil, X 2: e and f, leaf sheaths, showing the
stipulelike appendages, X 4. (From Mason, Fig. 168).
-------
Fig. 308: a-e, Heterantkera limosa: a, habit, X %; b, flower, X 2; c, stamens, X 5;
d, seed, side view, X 12; e, seed, top view, X 12. f-j, Heteranthera Liebmanii: f, habit,
X %; g, node showing sheaths, X 1; h, stamens, X 5; i, seed, side view, X 12; j, seed,
top view, X 12. (V. P.).
-------
a distinct midvein, to 15 cm. long; sheaths thin, tipped on either side with small
acute stipulelike appendages; spathe terminal, 1-flowered, rarely more than 2
cm. long, exposed above the water; perianth pale yellow, with an elongated
filiform tube rarely more than 3 cm. long and a rotate 6-parted limb, the seg-
ments linear-lanceolate and to about 1 cm. long; stamens 3, equal in size, the
filaments dilated below; stigma several-lobed; capsule 1-celled, with 3 parietal
placentae; seeds oblong-ovoid, finely crosslined, with prominent raised mem-
branous longitudinal ribs. Zosterella dubia (Jacq.) Small.
Streams, canals and quiet waters in e. Okla. (Mayes Co.), s. and s.-cen. Tex.
and Ariz. (Maricopa and Yavapai cos.), Apr.-June; Fla. to Tex., Ariz., Calif.
and Mex., n. to Que. and Ont., w. to Ore.
2. Heteranthera Liebmannii (Buch.) Shinners. Fig. 308.
Plant similar in habit and habitat to H. dubia; spathe to 6 cm. long; perianth
tube to 12 cm. long. Zosterella longituba Alex.
On mud or floating in ponds and ditches in s. and w. Tex., Apr.-July; Tex.
and Ala., s. to Mex. and W.I.
This species is more abundant in Texas than the closely allied H. dubia.
3. Heteranthera lirnosa (Sw.) Willd. Fig. 308.
Plants rooted in mud to form rosettes, also represented by another distinct
form with an elongated creeping stem that roots at the nodes; leaf blade ovate
to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long, usually much shorter; spathe
conspicuously peduncled, 1-flowered; flowers white to purplish-blue.
Ponds, tanks and in wet soil of low woods in Okla. (Alfalfa, Cherokee,
Comanche and Johnston cos.), s., cen. and w. Tex., rare in e. Tex., w. to N. M.
(Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Graham, Cochise and Santa Clara cos.),
May-Oct; Fla., w. to Ariz, and Mex., n. to Minn., Neb. Colo.; also trop. Am.
What we consider to be two forms of this species, as noted above, might
prove to be distinct entities with further study.
4. Heteranthera reniformis R. & P. Fig. 309.
Plants creeping in mud or floating in shallow water; leaf blades round-reniform,
to 3 cm. long and 5 cm. wide; spathe short-peduncled, 3- to 10-flowered; flowers
white or pale-blue. H. peduncularis Benth.
In streams in w. and s.e. Tex., Aug.-Sept; Fla., w. to Tex. and Mex., n. to
Conn.,111. and Neb.
4. Eurystemon ALEX.
A monotypic genus.
1. Eurystemon mexicanum (Wats.) Alex. Fig. 309.
Erect herb rooted in mud, to 4 dm. tall, noticeably glandular-pubescent above;
leaves sessile, sheathing the stem, to 15 cm. long, straplike; flowers about 12
in open spike that appears to be terminal, pale-blue to indigo-blue, from a spread-
ing foliaceous spathe; perianth salverform, the limb conspicuously zygomorphic;
stamens 3, strikingly dissimilar; anthers basifixed, anther on longest filament bluish
and much larger than those on the two short inflated filaments; capsule 3-celled,
many-seeded, Heteranthera mexicana Wats.
In ditches and about ponds in s. and n.w. Tex., June-Aug.; also n. Mex.
Fam. 34. Juncaceae Juss. RUSH FAMILY
Annual or perennial grasslike or sedgelike herbs, usually growing in wet places;
leaves (like those of Cyperaceae and Gramineae) definitely formed into a lower
sheath and an upper blade or the latter reduced in some species; inflorescence a ter-
604
-------
Fig. 509: a-d, Eurystemon mexicanum: a, habit, X %; b, flower, X 2%; c, stamens,
X 2%; d, capsule, X 1 and enlarged, X 2%. e-g, Heteranthera reniformis: e, habit,
X 1; f, flowers, X 2V2; g, seed, X 10. (V. R).
-------
minal (or in a few species apparently lateral) flaring panicle either of individual
flowers subtended by pairs of scalelike bracts or usually of glomerules or heads
of flowers, the flowers of the heads being subtended by 3 or only a single scale-
like bract or occasionally the inflorescence reduced to only a single glomerule or head;
perianth of 6 separate scales in 2 series, an outer whorl of 3 (sepals) and an
inner whorl of 3 (petals), these all usually of about the same scalelike chartaceous
to hyaline texture, narrowly ovate to lanceolate or subulate, usually sharply
acute; stamens 3 or 6, when 3 then opposite the sepals (at the corners of the
capsule); filaments basally united into a minute flange around (but free from)
the ovary; carpels 3; styles 3; placentas 3; ovary superior, 1- to 3-locular; placentas
axile or by reduction of the septa more or less parietal; capsules loculicidal;
ovules and seeds minute, 3 to many.
A family of about 9 genera and 400 species very widely distributed but not
as common in the tropics as in cool, wet climates.
1. Seeds numerous 1. Juncus
1. Seeds 3 2. Luzula
1. Juncus L. RUSH. BOG-RUSH
Characters of the family but seeds numerous, never only 3. Rushes and sedges
(Cyperaceae) are often confused by those who do not take the trouble to look
at the flowers, which are diagnostic. The certain identification of any species (of
sedge or rush) requires mature or nearly mature fruit and usually the examination
of it under a strong lens.
A cosmopolitan genus of perhaps 300 species. Rushes have some forage value,
but are nowhere abundant enough to be of much economic importance.
The seeds of many species are eaten by various bird life and the vegetative
parts of some species, such as /. effusus, are sparingly eaten by muskrats, deer
and, to some extent, by wildfowl.
1. Inflorescence pseudolateral, the stem appearing to continue beyond it; leaves
never septate (2)
1. Inflorescence terminal or both terminal and lateral with either long or short
leafy bracts (10)
2(1). Flowers 1 to 3 (rarely more); seeds with long white tails at each end;
alpine plants 15 to 35 cm. tall 1. J. Drummondii.
2. Flowers many; seeds not tailed or only slightly so; plants usually taller than
30 cm. (3)
3(2). Stems relatively slender, not very rigid; inflorescence not glomerate; flowers
mostly solitary, subtended by a pair of bracteoles in addition to
the bracteole at the floriferous node (4)
3. Stems coarse, rigid; inflorescence in head-like clusters or glomerules; basal
leaf sheaths with terete, pungent blades (8)
4(3). Rhizomes much-branched, forming extensive mats in the mud; stamens
6; capsule narrowly ovoid, acute (5)
4. Rhizomes (if present) very short and not extensively creeping or branching,
the plants thus essentially tufted; stamens 3, the anthers about
equalling the filaments; capsules obovoid and obtuse or nearly
spherical (7)
5(4). Perianth segments 2.5-3.5 mm. long; anthers shorter than the filaments....
2. /. filiformis.
5. Perianth segments 3.5-5 mm. long; anthers about 4 times as long as the fila-
ments (6)
6(5). Culms essentially terete, 1-2.5 mm. thick basally, not twisted; bract 3 to
8 times as long as the inflorescence 3. /. balticus.
606
-------
6. Culms compressed, 2.3 mm. thick basally, often twisted; bract 2 or 3 times
as long as the inflorescence 4. /. mexicanus.
7(4). Capsules obovoid, obtuse or even depressed apically; flowers numerous,
30 to 100 per panicle; upper sheaths bladeless 5. /. effusus.
7. Capsule nearly spherical or slightly ovoid, apically turgid; flowers few, 2 to
25 per panicle; upper sheaths bearing blades 6. /. coriaceus.
8(3). Flowers in glomerules of 2 to 5 flowers, each glomerule subtended by as
many bracteoles as there are flowers, or an occasional flower
also with an extra bracteole at the base of the perianth
7. J. Roemerianus.
8. Flowers in headlike clusters arranged in open panicles, from the axil of a
single bractlet but without bracteoles (9)
9(8). Perianth segments acutish to acuminate, narrowly scarious-margined, green-
ish or straw-colored, 4 to 6 mm. long, nearly equaling the narrowly
ovoid, acute or acuminate capsule 8. J. Cooperi.
9. Perianth segments (at least the inner ones) obtuse or truncate, broadly
scarious-margined, brown, 2 to 4 mm. long, much shorter than
the subglobose, obtuse mucronate capsule 9. /. acutus.
10(1). Individual flowers with a pair of braceoles in addition to the bractlet at
the base of the pedicel (11)
10. Individual flower with only one bractlet at the base of the very short pedicel
(17)
11(10). Annual 5-30 cm. tall; inflorescence more than half the height of the
plant; flowers scattered along the loosely forking branches (12)
11. Perennials 8-125 cm. tall; inflorescence much less than half of the height
of the plants; leaf sheaths auricled and/or prolonged (13)
12(11). Capsule oblong, 3 to 4.5 mm. long; perianth 4 to 6 mm. long
10. J. bufonius.
12. Capsule subglobose to broadly ovoid; perianth 3 to 4 mm. long
11. J. sphaerocarpus
13(11). Capsule completely 3-celled, retuse 12. /. confusus.
13. Capsule 1-celled, with septa extending halfway to the center, acutish to
obtuse, not retuse (14)
14(13). Leaf auricles scarious or broadly scarious-margined, 1-2.5 mm. long,
prolonged, distinctly longer than broad; plant 8-45 cm. tall
13. J. tenuis.
14. Leaf auricles membranous or subcoriaceus, white to brown, 0.3-1 mm. long,
not prolonged; plants 20-125 cm. tall (15)
15(14). Leaf blades strongly involute, appearing channeled on the ventral side;
bractlets acute or acuminate; inflorescence diffuse
14. J. dichotomies.
15. Leaf blades flat or involute; bractlets obtuse or acute; inflorescence crowded
(16)
16(15). Perianth 4-5 mm. long; some flowers solitary, some in heads
15. J. Dudleyi.
16. Perianth 3.3-4.2 mm. long; flowers solitary, not in true heads
, 16. J. interior.
17(10). Leaf blades not septate or with only incomplete partitions (18)
17. Leaf blades septate, nodulose or cross-partitioned (26)
18(17). Blade non-septate entirely (19)
18. Blades with incomplete septa; leaves ensiform (23)
607
-------
19(18). Stems first ascending 5-20 cm. then stoloniform-creeping or floating
and greatly elongate; capsule very narrow but obtuse
17. J. repens.
19. Stems erect or nearly so; capsule obovoid or tapering at the apex into a
beak (20)
20(19). Perianth 2-5 mm. long (21)
20. Perianth 5-6 mm. long (22)
21(20). Perianth 4-5 mm. long, half again as long as the capsule; anthers
yellow; largest transverse dimension of the compressed culm 0.5-1
mm 18. /,. filipendulus.
21. Perianth 2.5-3.5 mm. long, about equaling the capsule; anthers orangish to
reddish brown; culms 1.5-3 mm. broad 19. J. marginatus.
22(20). Sepals equaling or slightly exceeding the petals; auricles of the leaf
sheaths 0.5 to 1.5 mm. long; leaf blades flat; anthers cream-colored
or pale yellow 20. J. longistylis.
22. Sepals shorter than the petals; auricles 1.5-3 mm. long; leaf blades channeled;
anthers brownish 21. /.- macrophyllus.
23(18). Stamens 6 (24)
23. Stamens 3; bract ensiform, more than half the length of the inflorescence
22. J. ensifolius.
24(23). Perianth segments equal in length, very narrow, often shorter than the
oblong, acute capsule, spreading; blades of the larger leaves 3 to
12 mm. wide; stems stout 23. /. xiphioides.
24. Perianth segments unequal, the inner ones shorter, the segments broader and
firmer in texture, usually exceeding the oblong-obovoid capsule,
appressed; blades of the larger leaves seldom more than 5 mm.
wide; stems relatively slender (25)
25(24). Seeds tailed; styles long-exserted 24. /. Tracyi.
25, Seeds not tailed; styles usually little if at all exserted
25. /. saximontanus.
26(17). Seeds caudate (27)
26. Seeds not caudate (30)
27(26). Stamens 3 (said to be 6 sometimes in /. trigonocarpus) (28)
27. Stamens 6 (29)
28(27). Stems slender, densely cespitose, 1-5 dm. tall; inflorescence strict with
ascending branches, with few to many heads each with 2 to 7
flowers; seeds (with tails) about 1 mm. long....26. J. brevicaudatus.
28. Stems simple, tough, wiry, 5-9 dm. long; inflorescence a compound panicle
with fascicles of short branches bearing turbinate heads with 6
to 15 flowers; seeds (with tails) 1.5-2 mm. long
27. J. trigonocarpus.
29(27). Stems 10-40 cm. tall, leaves mostly basal; sheaths not auriculate; inflores-
cence of 1 to 3 heads; perianth segments 4-7 mm. long; capsule
longer than the perianth 28. J. castaneus.
29. Stems 5-15 cm. tall, leaves 1 to 5; sheaths auriculate; inflorescence a capitate
cluster of 1 to 5 flowers; perianth segments 3-4 mm. long; capsule
about equaling the perianth 29. J. albescens.
30(26). Stamens 6 (31)
30. Stamens 3 (36)
31 (30). Culms 30-100 cm. tall. 2-4 mm. thick (32)
31. Culms 5-45 cm. tall (rarely taller in /. texanus), 0.7-2 mm. thick (33)
608
-------
32(31). Inflorescence of spherical many-flowered heads in a cluster subtended
by a long pointed bract; capsule subulate, 4-5 mm. long
30. J. Torreyif
32. Inflorescence of hemispheric or top-shaped heads on spreading branches;
capsule 3-angled, ovate, tapering to a conspicuous tip, 3 mm. long
31. /. articulatus.
33(31). Capsule trigonous and oval or obovoid (34)
33. Capsule subulate-pointed (35)
34(33). Heads usually solitary, densely many-flowered; perianth dark brown,
3.5-4 mm. long; capsule narrowly oval, emarginate
32. /. Mertensianus.
34. Heads 4 to 12, 5- to 10-flowered; perianth brown, 2-3 mm. long
33. /. badius.
35(33). Inflorescence 2-5 cm. long; capsule slightly exserted, 3 to 4 times as
long as broad; anthers a little shorter than their filaments; plants
of w. Texas and New Mexico 34. J. nodosus.
35. Inflorescence at maturity mostly 5-10 cm. long; capsule at maturity subulate-
beaked, more than 4 times as long as broad, much-exserted; anthers
much longer than their filaments; endemic to n.-cen. Tex. and the
Edwards Plateau 35. 7. texanus.
36(30). Heads nearly spherical when mature, 15- to 100-flowered (37)
36. Heads or glomerules hemispherical or narrower at maturity, 2- to 10-flowered
(42)
37(36). Capsules 1.5—2.2 mm. long 36. J. brachycarpus,.
37. Capsules longer (38)
38(37). Capsules narrowly ovoid to elliptic-ovoid, 2.5-3.3 mm. long, about
equaling the petals but usually shorter than the sepals, apically
blunt and sometimes apiculate; sepals and petals paleaceus, drying
semirigid 37. /. acuminatus f. sphaerocephalus.
38. Capsules usually subulate (at least terminally), usually at least 3.5 mm. long,
apically acute; sepals and petals semirigid and subspinescent (39)
39(38). Uppermost sheath (not that of the bract of the inflorescence) much
longer than its blade 38. J. megacephalus,.
39. Uppermost sheath shorter than its blade (40)
40(39). Flowering culms 1—1.5 mm. thick near the middle, arising erect and
separately from short whitish rhizomes; leaves few, scattered on
the culm, the blades essentially terete and about 1 mm. thick near
the middle; sepals 0.5-0.8 mm. broad; petals 0.3-0.5 mm. broad
39. /. scirpoides.
40. Flowering culms 2-4 mm. thick near the middle, a few ascending in a tuft
from a non- or sub-rhizomatous base; leaves several in a basal
cluster and also scattered on the culm, the blades laterally flattened
and 3-7 mm. thick in the larger (dorsiventral) dimension; sepals
0.7-1.4 mm. broad; petals 0.5-1 mm. broad (41)
41(40). Blades 4—7 mm. thick in the larger dimension, with many weak incom-
plete septa; leaves and stems greenish, mostly crushed flat in pre-
pared specimens; culms 6-10 mm. thick basally
40. J. polycephalus.
41. Blades 3-6 mm. thick in the larger dimension, with several tough complete
septa; herbage grayish or olivaceous, mostly tough and resistant
to crushing; culms 3-5 mm. thick basally 41. J. validus.
42(36). Capsules at least half again as long as the petals, 4—5.2 mm. long
42. J. diffusissimus.
609
-------
42. Capsules2.2-3.5mm. long (43)
43(42). Sepals 3.3-4 mm. long 37. J. acuminatus.
43. Sepals 2.2-2.9 mm. long (44)
44(43). Glomerules 5 to 35 per inflorescence 43. J. debilis.
44. Glomerules 40 to 200 per inflorescence (45)
45(44). Sepals 2-2.5 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad; petals 1.9-2.3 mm. long,
0.4-0.6 mm, broad; capsule golden-brown, 2.3-2.5 mm. long; septa
of blades conspicuous 44. /. nodatus.
45. Sepals 2.6-2.9 mm. long, 0.9-1.1 mm. broad; petals 2.4-2.8 mm. long,
0.6-0.8 mm. broad; capsule dark golden-brown to fuscous, 2.4-2.9
mm. long; septa of blades inconspicuous 45. /. Elliottii.
1. Juncus Drummondii E. Mey.
Stems tufted, mostly 15-35 cm. high, from matted rootstocks; basal leaf sheaths
all bladeless or with the mere rudiments of blades; inflorescence 1- to 3-flowered,
rarely 4- or 5-flowered, the flowers inserted singly and each with a pair of bract-
lets at the base; lowest leaf of the inflorescence mostly 2-3 cm. long; perianth
6 mm. long, its segments lanceolate, acute to acuminate, with broad brown mar-
gins, the inner equaling the outer or nearly so; stamens 6, scarcely half the length
of the segments; anthers longer than the filaments; capsule oblong, refuse at apex,
equaling the segments; seeds ovate, 2 mm. long, caudate, very finely striate.
Moist or wet alpine slopes, bogs and seepage in mts. of N.M. (Taos, Santa Fe,
San Miguel and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.); from Alas, s to s.
Calif., N. M. and Ariz.
2. Juncus filiformis L.
Perennial plants; stems 7-50 cm. long, arising from a matted rootstock, erect,
slender, finely striate; sheaths purplish-tinged, obtuse, with a short bristlelike
remnant of a blade often present or this absent entirely; panicle 5- to 10-flowered,
1-3 cm. high; bract terete, appearing like a continuation of the stem, usually
longer than the stem proper; perianth 2.5—3.5 mm. long; bractlets obtuse; segments
of perianth lanceolate, greenish or stramineous in age, margins hyaline, equal or
outer somewhat longer, acute to acuminate, the inner usually less pointed, some-
times almost obtuse; stamens 6; capsule obovoid, green to stramineous in age,
somewhat pointed, three fourths to nearly as long as the petals.
Moist or wet places and seepage along streams, in N. M. (Taos Co.); Greenl.
to Alas., s. to Pa., N.M., Ut. and Wash.; Euras.
3. Juncus balticus Willd. WIRE RUSH. Fig. 310.
Stems in small clusters or arising singly from creeping rootstocks, 2-9 dm.
tall, strict, terete or compressed, moderately stout; basal leaf sheaths bladeless;
panicle lateral, lax or somewhat compact, few- or many-flowered, its branches
disposed to be secund; perianth segments 3.5-5 mm. long, lanceolate, the outer
segments acuminate, the inner ones acute and slightly shorter, greenish or straw-
colored or brownish with a green midrib, the hyaline margins usually rather broad
and well developed on the inner segments; stamens about two thirds as long as
the perianth, the anthers much longer than the filaments; capsule as long as or
slightly shorter than the perianth, oblong-ovoid, mucronate, pale or dark brown;
seeds oblong-cylindric, faintly reticulate, often with a whitish, membranous sur-
face. Incl. var. littoralis Engelm. and var. montanus Engelm.
In marshes, seepage areas and in shallow water of ponds and pools, in Okla.
(Black Mesa, Waterfall), N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Coconino,
Cochise, Pima and Navajo cos.); widespread in N.A. and the Old World.
610
-------
Fig. 310: Juncus balticus: a, capsule valve, showing seeds, X 5; b, outer perianth
segment, X 5; c, inner perianth segment, X 5; d, stamen, X 5; e, mature capsule, X 5;
f, outer perianth segment, X 5; g, inner perianth segment, X 5; h, part of inflorescence,
X 5; i, flower, X 5; j-1, seeds, some with and some without membranous coat, X 16;
m, simple inflorescence, X %; n, habit, upper part of plant, showing inflorescences, X
%; o, habit, basal part of plant, showing rootstock and sheaths, X %; p and q, variation
in inflorescences, X %; r, habit, showing creeping rootstock, X %; s and t, enclosing
sheath of inflorescence, X 3; u, habit variation, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 171).
-------
4. Juncus mexicanus R. & S.
Almost identical to /. balticus but culms compressed and usually twisted, and
averaging thicker; bract only 2 to 3 times as long as the panicle. /. balticus var.
mexicanus (R. & S.) O. Ktze.
In wet sandy soil on edge of ponds and lakes, infrequent to rare in buffalo-
wallow lakes in the High Plains Country and formerly near springs in the Trans-
Pecos of Tex., in N. M. (San Miguel, Sandoval, Grant, Lincoln and Otero cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.),
early summer; Tex. to Calif, and s. to cen. Mex. In Mexico and elsewhere the
populations of this species usually show a few blades on the upper sheaths, but
our populations do not.
5. Juncus effusus L. var. solutus Fern. & Wieg. SOFT RUSH. Fig. 311.
Rhizomes very short, thick, chestnut-color; aerial culms (plus bract) 6-12 dm.
long, 2-4 mm. thick, strictly erect, very crowded in thick stands, essentially terete;
basal sheaths chestnut-brown, bladeless, 5-15 cm. long, apically rounded; panicles
30 to 100-flowered, appearing as if emerging subterminally from the side of the
culm (actually terminal, far-overtopped by the terete pungent bract which is 5 to
10 times as long as the panicle and which appears as a continuation of the culm),
of a few densely-flowered much-branched unequal branches; bracteoles 3 beneath
each flower; perianth parts 2.7-3.3 mm. long, usually brownish; stamens 3, the
anthers about equaling the filaments; capsule obovoid, apically obtuse, truncate
or even depressed, about equaling or slightly exceeding the perianth.
Moist sandy soil or shallow fresh water, about ponds and lakes, along streams,
sloughs and in marshes and wet depressions, in Okla. (Atoka, Adair, McCurtain,
Haskell, Ottawa and Bryan cos.), e. and s.e. Tex., locally abundant, N.M. (San
Miguel, Eddy and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Gila and Pima cos.),
spring.
This European species is represented in America by several varieties, the com-
monest of which is considered to be var. solutus in the eastern states.
Var. brunneus Engelm. is characterized by having a dark-brown perianth which
is firm to almost rigid in texture, appressed to and from slightly shorter than to
slightly exceeding the capsule; its segments with narrow scarious scarcely or not
at all involute margins.
Var. exiguus Fern. & Wieg. has a pale-brown perianth that is thin in texture,
spreading and about one and one half times as long as the capsule; the segments
with broadly scarious more or less involute margins.
6. Juncus coriaceus Mack. Fig. 312.
Culms essentially tufted from dark knotty bases, (with bracts) 3-10 dm. long,
1-1.5 mm. thick, often arcuate, crowded or not, essentially terete; sheaths buffy
or tawny, the lower bladeless or with setaceous rudiments a few mm. long, the
upper with long weak curving blades 1-2 mm. broad and strongly involute, ter-
minally pungent; panicle 2- to 25-flowered, appearing as if emerging from the
side of the culm (actually terminal, far-overtopped by the terete or slightly com-
pressed bract which is 3 to 20 times as long as the panicle and which appears as
a continuation of the culm), of a few laxly flowered unequal branches; bracteoles
3 beneath each flower; perianth parts 3-4 mm. long, brownish, firm, ascending
(fl.) or spreading (fr.); stamens 3, the anthers about equaling the filaments; cap-
sule nearly spherical or ovoid-spherical, about equaling or slightly exceeding the
perianth.
Moist sand on edge of streams, in water and along edge of lakes and ponds,
and in marshes, in Okla. (McCurtain, Pushmataha and Choctaw cos.) and e. Tex.,
summer; Coastal States, N.J. to Tex. and inland to Ky., Ark. and Okla.
612
-------
Fig. 311: Juncus effusus: a, habit, X Ms; b, sheath, X 1%; c, perianth and capsule,
X 31/3; d, seed, X 33. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 312: Juncus coriaccus: A, habit. X %; b, sheath, X 2; c, perianth and capsule,
X 3i3; d, seed, X 35. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
7. Juncus Rocmerianus Scheele. Fig. 313.
Tufted perennial; culms with bracts 5-15 dm. long, 2-4 mm. thick, erect, sim-
ple, essentially terete; sheaths chestnut-color, with long wiry terete pungent erect
blades; panicle much-branched and compound, 7-12 cm. long, appearing as if
emerging from the sides of the culm (actually terminal, far-overtopped by the
terete pungent bract which is about 3 times as long as the inflorescence and which
appears as a continuation of the culm), the ultimate branchlets bearing glom-
erules of 2 to 5 flowers, each glomerule subtended by as many bracteoles as it has
flowers or an occasional flower subtended by one additional bracteole; perianth
2.8-3.5 mm. long, brown, the apexes of the parts often slightly spreading; stamens
6, the anthers about 5 times as long as the filaments; capsule obovoid to elliptic-
obovoid, apiculate, brown, shining, about equaling or shorter than the perianth.
Infrequent in brackish-water ditches and coastal marshes, s.e. Tex., spring;
Coastal States, Md. to Tex.
8. Juncus Cooperi Engelm.
Stems in large tufts from stout, much-branched rootstocks, 4-8 dm. tall, stout,
pungent, terete, finely striate; leaves from basal sheaths with terete, stout, pungent
blades, short or nearly as long as the stems; involucral bract 5-10 cm. long, stout,
pungent; panicle compound, with branches very unequal in length, the longer ones
to 10 cm. long; flowers 2 to several in a cluster; perianth pale green or straw-
colored, 4-6 mm. long, the segments oblong-lanceolate, broadly hyaline-margined,
the outer ones prominently cuspidate and longer than the inner ones; stamens 6,
about as long as the inner perianth segments, the anthers much longer than the
filaments; capsule ovate-oblong, acute, extending slightly beyond the perianth;
seeds with white appendage at each end, slightly margined on the side, finely retic-
ulate.
Alkaline and saline flats in deserts, and marshy areas below springs and along
streams, in Ariz. (Kearney & Peebles); also Ut., Nev. and Calif.
9. Juncus acutus var. sphaerocarpus Engelm. SPINY RUSH. Fig. 314.
Stems in large tufts, 6-12 dm. tall, stout, pungent, terete or slightly compressed;
leaves from basal sheaths terete, nearly as long as and resembling the stems; invo-
lucral bract 5-15 cm. long, stout, pungent; panicle compound, with branches very
unequal in length, the longer ones 10-20 cm. long; flower clusters 2- to 4-flowered;
perianth 2-4 mm. long, yellowish-brown, the outer segments broadly lanceolate,
acute, scarious-margined, the inner ones shorter, retuse at the very broad, scarious-
margined apex; stamens slightly shorter than the perianth, the anthers much
longer than the filaments; capsule broadly obovate or subglobose, apiculate, brown,
extending well beyond the perianth; seeds acute at each end or slightly tailed,
finely reticulate.
Coastal salt marshes and inland on alkaline or saline sinks and seepy areas
about springs, in Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Mohave and Yuma cos.); nat. of
Eur. also introd. into s. Calif, and Baja Calif.
10. Juncus bufonius L. TOAD-RUSH. Fig. 315.
Tufted annual 4-18 (-30) cm. tall; culms 0.4-0.7 mm. thick, erect, mostly
simple, often reddish-tinged; sheaths often swollen basally, thicker than the blades,
hyaline-margined; blades involute-filiform, often arcuate especially terminally; pan-
icles a fourth to four fifths the entire height of the plant, of a few ascending
usually weak and somewhat arcuate branches (each with a few remote flowers),
the subterminal flowers appressed or nearly so; bracteoles 3 beneath each flower,
the lowest opposite the minute pedicel; perianth 4-6 (-8) mm. long, the parts
erect, sharp-pointed, medially green, marginally broadly white-membranous; sta-
mens 6 or less commonly reduced to 3; capsule turgid-ellipsoid.
615
-------
Fig. 313: Jiincus Roemerianus: a, habit, X !•'>; b, perianth and capsule, X 5; c,
seed, about X 40. fCourtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 314: Juncus acutus var. sphaerocarpus: a, single panicle cluster, showing ma-
ture capsules, X 6%; b, capsule, X 6%; c, part of stem, enclosed by basal sheath, show-
ing the terete stemlike leaf, X %; d, capsule valve, showing the tailed seeds, X 6%;
e and f, seeds, X 12; g, stamens, X 6!/2; h, lower part of plant, showing basal sheaths
and tufted stems, X %; i, upper part of plant, showing leaves, stem and the compound
panicle, X %, (From Mason, Fig. 169).
-------
In mud and wet sand about pools, ponds and along streams, in marshes and
boggy areas about springs and in flowing water, in Okla. (Cimarron Co.) and
in most of Tex. except extreme Panhandle and Rio Grande Plains, N. M. (wide-
spread) and Ariz, (throughout state), scattered, locally abundant, spring; temp.
regions, nearly throughout the world, not nat. with us.
Var. halophilus Buch. & Fern, of brackish soils has been reported from Arizona.
11. Juncus sphaerocarpus Nees. ROUND-FRUITED TOAD-RUSH.
Annual, branching at the base, 4-20 cm. tall, the branches filiform; leaves nar-
row, the blades flat or involute, 1 to 3 on the stem; inflorescence usually occupy-
ing more than half the length of the stem; flowers inserted singly on the branches
and more or less remote; perianth 3^ mm. long, the segments lanceolate, acu-
minate, greenish with white scarious margins, subequal in length (or the outer
segments slightly longer), spreading at maturity; stamens 6, about one half as
long as the segments, the anthers shorter than the filaments; capsule oblong-ovoid
or subglobose, about two thirds as long as the perianth; seeds oblong, faintly
reticulate.
On edge of small ponds, pools and streams in Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai and
Pima cos.), July-Aug.; an Old World species now rather widespread in Am.
This species is very similar in many of its characters to /. bufonius, but it can
usually be distinguished by its slender, smaller habit, smaller flowers, the length
and arrangement of the inflorescence, and its broader capsule.
12. Juncus confusus Coville.
Perennial, sparingly tufted; stems 35-50 cm. tall, slender, erect; leaves narrow,
almost filiform, flat or involute; auricles produced beyond insertion, scarious; in-
florescence 0.5-2 cm. long, short and compact, pale; bract of inflorescence 2-7
cm. long, exceeding the inflorescence; bracteoles present, large, ovate, scarious,
obtuse or acutish; perianth 3.5—4 mm. long, parts nearly equal, appressed, seg-
ments stramineous with dark stripes on each side, lanceolate, acutish, scarious
at margins; stamens 6; capsule oblong, a little shorter than perianth, triangular,
retuse at apex, completely 3-celled; seeds oblong, apiculate.
In wet meadows and wet soil about lakes and ponds, in N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.)
and Ariz. (Coconino and Santa Cruz cos.); Mont, and Sask. to B.C., s. to N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
13. Juncus tenuis Willd. SLENDER-RUSH. Fig. 316.
Tufted perennial 8-30 (-45) cm. tall; culms erect, simple, about 1 mm. thick;
leaf blades flat, 0.5-0.9 mm. broad, occasionally slightly involute marginally, soft,
often almost as long as the culms; auricles of sheaths scarious or broadly scarious
margined, 1-2.5 mm. long on the longer leaves, distinctly prolonged laterally more
than centrally; panicle terminal, 3-6 (-9) cm. long, about a fourth or a fifth
the total height of the plant, 15 to 25 (to 30) -flowered, with branches 0.15-0.2
mm. thick and ascending; bracts slender, soft, usually much-exceeding the
panicle; bracteoles 3 beneath each flower (the lowest opposite the flower on the
floriferous node); flowers solitary or occasionally several of them approximate;
sepals 3-4 mm. long, greenish-white, long-tapered to the sharp point, soft, spread-
ing in fruit (the almost setaceous tip then often broadly spreading); stamens 6;
capsule oblong-ovoid, shorter than to rarely equaling the perianth. Incl. var.
anthelatus Wieg.
Wet sands in woods, in wet soils on edge of ponds, lakes and streams, in Okla.
(McCurtain and Adair cos.), e. and s.e. Tex., N.M. (Colfax Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.), infrequent, spring, rarely summer;
618
-------
Fig. 315: Juncus bufonius: a, inflorescence forming scorpioid head, X 4; b-d, ma-
ture seeds, X 20; e, basal leaf sheath and blade, X 4; f, leaf (cross section), X 8; g,
habit, condensed type, X %; h, inflorescence, X 4; i, apex of capsule, the anthers ap-
pressed, X 8; j, capsule (cross section), X 6%; k, stamens and perianth segments,
X 6%; 1, capsule, X 6%; m, variation in inflorescence, X %; n, habit, X %; o and p,
part of inflorescence, showing variation in perianth segments, X 4. (From Mason, Fig.
174).
-------
Fig. 316: a-d, Juncus tennis: a, habit, X !•>; b, sheath, X 5; c, perianth and capsule,
X 5; d, seed, X 75. e-h, Juncus dichotomus: e, habit, X V>; f, sheath, X 10; g, perianth
and capsule, X 5; h, not unusual asymmetrical seed, X 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
e. temp. N.A., w. to Minn., la.. Mo., Okla., Tex.. N.M. and Ariz.; Euras.; also
reputedly in Mex.. S.A. and N. Afr.
14. Juncus dichotomus Ell. Fig. 316.
Tufted perennial much like 7. interior but the panicles more diffuse (3-) 5-10
cm. long.
In seepage areas, edge of water about lakes, ponds and streams, and wet low-
land forests, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.). e. (and probably s.e.) Tex. and (?) N.M.
(San Miguel and Grant cos.), infrequent to rare, apparently grading into 7. interior,
with which it is probably conspecific, spring; Coastal States, Mass, to Okla. and
Tex.; also reputedly N.M. and Mex.
15. Juncus Dudley! Wieg.
Tufted perennial much like J. interior but the auricles averaging even firmer;
panicle very compact. 1-2 (-3) cm. long, 7- to 25-flowered; flowers approximate
in 1 to 3 glomerules but not true heads; sepals 4-5.5 mm. long, very firm to carti-
laginous; capsule distinctly shorter than the perianth. 7. tennis var. Dudley! (Wieg.)
Herm.
Moist calcareous soil, in swamps, borders of streams, lakes and ponds, marshes,
wet meadows, seepage areas, in Okla. (Murray. Ottawa, Mayes, Cherokee and
Adair cos.), n.-cen. Tex., w. part of e. Tex. and Edwards Plateau, N.M. (Union,
Taos, Lincoln, Otero, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro and McKinley cos.) and
Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Coconino. Yavapai, Maricopa, Final and Cochise cos.), rare or
scattered, spring—summer; s. Can. s. to Va., Tenn.. N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also
n. Mex.
16. Juncus inferior Wieg.
Tufted perennial 3-8 dm. tall; culms erect, simple, 1.3-2.5 mm. thick (rarely
more slender), tough, wiry: leaf blades flat and 1-1.5 mm. broad or usually some-
what involute marginally (making them narrower and more win') and prolonged
to a sharp involute tip. usually about li as long as the culms: auricles of sheaths
firm-membranous, not scarious, whitish to yellowish, rounded, not at all prolonged;
panicle 1—4 (-6) cm. long, (3 to) 10 to 25 (to 50) -flowered, more densely flowered
than in 7. tennis, with branches 0.3—0.5 mm. thick, wiry and ascending: bracts
slender, wiry, rather stiffly erect, equaling (or the lowest usually much-exceeding)
the panicle, involute-tipped: bracteoles 3 beneath each flower (the lowest opposite
the flower at the floriferous node): flowers solitary: sepals 3-5 mm. long, stra-
mineous, long-tapered to the sharp point, firm, stiffly ascending (even at the tip and
even in fruit); stamens 6: capsule narrowly oblong-ovoid, about equaling the
perianth. Incl. var. arizonicus (Wieg.) Herm. and var. neomexicanus (Wieg.)
Herm., /. arizonicus Wieg. and var. curtifloms Wieg., /. neomexicanus Wieg.
Moist usually calcareous soil, marshes, wet meadows, in water of ditches, pools
and depression in savannahs, and seepage areas, in Okla. (Grady, McCurtain,
Haskell, Comanche and Alfalfa cos.), n.-cen. and s.e. Tex., w. portion of e. Tex.
and coastal part of Rio Grande Plains, w. through Edwards Plateau, Plains
Country and the Trans-Pecos. N. M. (Sierra, Colfax. Sandoval. Rio Arriba, Lin-
coln, Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Navajo and Pima cos.), rather
frequent, spring—summer: O. and Mich., s.w. to Tex. and w. to Mont.. Colo, and
Ariz.; n. Mex.
Some specimens seem intermediate between this species and /. Dudley!, and
others between it and /. dichotomus, of which 7. interior is perhaps only a variety.
17. Juncus repens Michx. Fig. 317.
Perennial but vegetative culms largely annual, weak, compressed, at first ascend-
ing but then arcuate-stoloniferous and creeping or floating, or growing along the
621
-------
Fig. 317: Juncus repens: a, sterile plant, X :1>; b, fruiting plant, X \'z\ c, sheath,
X 5; d, perianth and capsule, X 5; e, seed, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 318: a-d, Juncus Elliottii: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, X 5; c, perianth and cap-
sule, X 5; d, seed, X 60. e-i, Juncus filipendulus: e, habit, X %; f, flower, X 3; g,
outer perianth segment, X 5; h, open capsule, X 5; i, seed, X 20. (a-d, Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
bottom submerged, at each node with a cluster of basal leaves and fibrous roots
and eventually at each emergent (not submerged) terrestrial node with an ascend-
ing floriferous culm (5-) 10-30 cm. long, this with only 1 or 2 nodes and these
lower nodes bearing clusters of leaves; blades weak, ascending, more or less flat,
5-10 cm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, not septate, tapering to a fine point; panicle
terminal, 7-13 cm. long, simple or few-branched, of 2 to ten 3- to 12-flowered
rotate-turbinate glomerules which are terminal on the branches or else appearing
sessile at the nodes; individual flowers 5-10 mm. long, subtended by only 1 bractlet
at the base of the pedicel; sepals and petals rigid, lance-subulate, setaceous-tipped,
the petals much longer than the sepals; stamens 3; capsule linear or at least very
narrow, apically obtuse, about as long as the sepals.
Margins of fresh water ponds and sandy loam soil, in swamps and bogs, in
Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and e. Tex., infrequent to rare, summer; Coastal States, Del.
to Tex. and inland to Tenn., Ark. and Okla.
18. Juncus filipendulus Buckl. Fig. 318.
Perennial, tufted or from masses of slightly swollen bulbil-like bases; culms
15-30 cm. long, compressed, 0.5-1 mm. broad (in largest transverse dimension),
leafy, erect or some of them basally shortly decumbent; sheaths shorter than their
internodes; blades flat, soft, membranous, 2-10 cm. long, 1-2.5 mm. broad, mostly
ascending; panicle terminal, few-branched, of 2 to 5 (to rarely 10) headlike glom-
erules or reduced to a single glomerule; glomerules hemispherical, 7-10 mm.
across, stramineous, of 6 to 15 essentially sessile flowers, each subtended by 1
(rarely 2) bracteoles; perianth 4-5 mm. long, whitish to stramineous; stamens 3;
capsule obovoid, much shorter than the perianth.
Moist calcareous soil or shallow water along streams, in Okla. (Arbuckle Mts.,
Waterfall), infrequent in Edwards Plateau, rare in n.-cen. Tex. and e. part of
Plains Country, spring-summer.
19. Juncus marginatus Rostk. Fig. 319.
Perennial from enlarged, bulblike bases (these often connected by short rhi-
zomes); aerial culms 1 to 3 from each bulb, 15-100 cm. long, compressed, 1.5-3
mm. broad (in largest transverse dimension), leafy, erect or some culms basally
shortly decumbent; sheaths much shorter than their internodes, with narrow hya-
line margins near the corners; blades flat, soft, membranous, 3-15 cm. long, 2-5
mm. broad, mostly erect or distally decurved-arcuate, abruptly acute; panicles
terminal, much-branched and compound, the branches ascending, each of the 10
to 80 ultimate branches bearing a glomerule of 2 to 12 essentially sessile flowers;
each glomerule subtended by as many bracteoles as it has flowers or a few more;
perianth 2.5-3.5 mm. long, brownish; stamens 3; capsule rotundly obovoid, about
equaling the perianth, brown. Incl. var. paucicapitatus Engelm., /. aristulatus
Michx., /. biflorus Ell.
In marshes, wet meadows, seepage areas, on edge of lakes, ponds and streams,
in most of Okla and Tex., common in e. half, infrequent to rare in w. part, and
Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Graham and Pima cos.), spring-summer; e. half of temp. N.A.,
rare w. to Ariz.
Var. setosus (Small) Cov. with glossy capsules and aristate inner perianth
segments occurs in Arizona.
20. Juncus longistylis Torr.
Perennial plants from short rootstocks; stems 20-50 cm. tall, loosely cespitose;
basal leaves flat, with well-developed auricles; stem leaves 1-4 mm. wide, flat or
somewhat involute, the flat edges inserted next to the sheaths with scarious
624
-------
Fig. 319: Juncus marginatus: a, habit, X V2; b, sheath, X 3; c, flower, X 5; d, seed,
X 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; c. by V. F.).
-------
Fig 320: Juncus cnsifolius: a, habit, showing the slender rootstock, the equitant
septate leaves and the densely flowered heads, X -,':,; b and c, mature seeds, X 24; d,
perianth and mature capsule, X 10; e, capsule (cross section), X 8; f, leaf, with a part
of surface removed to show septum, X 3; g, inner perianth segment, X 14; h, outer
perianth segment and stamen, X 14; i, leaf, equitant and septate, X %. (From Mason,
Fig. 180).
-------
margins; inflorescence of 2 to 8 heads, each 3- to 8- (rarely less) flowered; perianth
5-6 mm. long, segments greenish or light brown in center, brown on the sides
and with broad hyaline margins, lanceolate, acuminate; flowers not bracteolate;
stamens 6; capsule 3-celled, oblong, from somewhat shorter to somewhat longer
than the perianth, mucronate; seeds oblong, apiculate.
In wet meadows, seepage areas and wet soils generally, in N.M. (San Miguel,
Union, Taos, Colfax, Sandoval and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coco-
nino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Graham, Santa Cruz and Gila cos.), spring-summer;
Alia, to B.C., s. to N.M. and Calif.
Var. scabratus Herm. with vegetation strongly scabrous and the auricles tending
to be prolonged, free and acute, is the common plant in Arizona.
21. Juncus macrophyllus Coville.
Stems erect, 3-9 dm. high, rather stiff, compressed; basal leaves equaling or
about half the length of the stems; sheath scarious-margined and more or less
distinctly auriculate; blades flat but rather thick and firm, 1.5-4 mm. wide,
striate, long attenuate and pungent; stem leaves 1 to 3, their blades mostly 8-15
cm. long; inflorescence loosely paniculate; heads usually 12 to 25, 3- to 5-flowered;
perianth green tinged with light brown, 5-6 mm. long, the segments ovate, acute
or obtuse, hyaline-margined, the outer distinctly shorter than the inner; stamens 6,
half the length of the segments; anthers reddish-brown, much longer than the fila-
ments; capsule shorter than the perianth, tapering at the apex into a short beak;
seeds 0.5 mm. long, obliquely obovate, about 30-ribbed, the reticulations lineolate.
Dry hillsides, wet soils and marshes, in Ariz. (Yavapai, Maricopa and Final
cos.); also Baja Calif.
22. Juncus ensifolius Wiks. THREE-STEMMED RUSH. Fig. 320.
Stems from slender rootstocks, 2-5 dm. tall, compressed; leaves distinctly equi-
tant, 2-5 mm. wide, incompletely septate, the upper ones often nearly equaling
the inflorescence in height; heads 1- to 3-glomerate, densely flowered, dark-reddish
brown; perianth 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the segments nearly equal in size, lanceolate,
acuminate; stamens 3, Vi-% as long as the perianth, the filaments longer than
the anthers; capsule dark-reddish-brown, longer than the perianth, oblong, obtuse
or shortly acute at the summit with a short mucro; seeds sharply reticulate.
Wet ground, commonly near the coast, inland to Ariz. (Kearney & Peebles);
Sask. to Alas., s. to Ariz, and Calif.
It is frequently confused with /. xiphioides, but the few, densely flowered, glo-
merate, and dark-colored heads distinguish it from that species.
23. Juncus xiphioides E. Mey. Fig. 321.
Stems compressed, acutely 2-edged, 4-8 dm. tall, from stout, creeping root-
stocks; leaves flattened laterally, the sheaths without auricles, the blades 3-12 mm.
wide, more or less distinctly ribbed by transverse septa; inflorescence variable,
commonly of numerous heads in a loose or compact compound panicle, but
sometimes with a few relatively large heads; perianth brownish or reddish-tinged,
2.5-3 mm. long, the segments lanceolate, acuminate (prominently subulate in
immature plants); stamens 3 or 6, one half (or sometimes more) as long as the
perianth, the anthers shorter than or of about the same length as the filaments;
style usually included; capsule oblong, shortly acute or slightly tapering below the
mucronation, as long as to slightly longer than the perianth; seeds reticulate.
Streams, meadows and marshes, in N. M. (Catron Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino,
Gila, Mohave, Pima, Yavapai, Maricopa and Santa Cruz cos.); also Calif, and
Baja Calif.
627
-------
24. Juncus Tracyi Rydb.
Stem stout, 3-6 dm. high, compressed; blades 5-20 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide;
sheaths with a scarious margin which usually is produced into a very short auricle;
inflorescence of 5 to 9 heads, these about 1 cm. in diameter; sepals and petals
lanceolate, acute, light brown, 3-4 mm. long, slightly scarious-margined; capsule
oblong, mucronate, shorter than the perianth, imperfectly 3-celled.
In wet meadows in Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); Mont, and Ida. to Ariz.
and Nev.
25. Juncus saximontanus A. Nels. Fig. 322.
Culms basally shortly decumbent and/or subrhizomatous but tuber-bearing
enlargements absent; flowering culms mostly in loose clumps, erect, 25-45 cm.
long, compressed, 1-2 mm. thick near the middle; blades membranous, weakly
septate (the septae often incomplete and not tangible in well-pressed specimens),
laterally flattened, gladiate, tapering to a point; panicle terminal, 4-7 cm. long,
sparsely branched, either of 6 to twenty 6- to 19-flowered turbinate glomerules (f.
brunnescens (Rydb.) Herm.) or else the glomerules congested into fewer (2 to 5)
pleianthous (20- to 40-flowered) nearly round heads (typical form); bracteole
solitary at the base of the pedicel; sepals 3-4 mm. long, lanceolate, acute, stra-
mineous or usually brown to chestnut-color, chaffy; petals similar to sepals but
shorter; anthers 6, much shorter than the filaments; capsules oblong, mucronate,
a little shorter than the sepals, usually chestnut-brown at maturity. J. porous Rydb.,
/. brunnescens Rydb.
Along creeks in water and wet meadows, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos mts. (Chisos
and Davis), N.M. (Taos, San Miguel, Catron, Otero, Colfax, Union, Grant, San-
doval and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Graham,
Chochise and Pima cos.), infrequent; B.C., s. to Dgo. and e. to Colo., N.M., Tex.
and Coah.
26. Juncus brevicaudatus (Engelm.) Fern.
Stems slender, densely cespitose, 1-5 dm. tall; leaves erect, 1-2 mm. in diame-
ter; inflorescence strict, 3 to 6 times as long as wide, 3-12 cm. long, with few to
many erect or ascending branches and few to many heads, each with 2 to 7
flowers; perianth-segments lance-subulate, 3-nerved, the sepals 2.3-2.9 mm. long,
the petals 2.6-3.2 mm. long; capsule prismatic, 3.5-4.8 mm. long, abruptly taper-
ing into a very short beak or merely acute; seeds fusiform, 0.9-1.2 mm. long, the
body occupying about three fifths of the total length.
Marshes, wet meadows and shores, in Ariz. (Coconino Co.); Que. and N.S. to
w. Ont. and Minn., s. to Mass, and N.Y., in the mts. to W. Va. and Ariz.
27. Juncus trigonocarpus Steud. Fig. 323.
Perennial; culms erect or ascending, simple, tough, wiry, terete, 5-9 dm. long,
2-2.5 mm. thick, basally often trailing and rooting in the mire; leaves few, remote,
subappressed; blades terete, wiry, nodulose, 7-20 cm. long, about 2 mm. thick;
panicle terminal, compound-branched, 5-15 cm. long, about a fourth to a third as
broad; primary branches of panicle erect, 1-9 cm. long, bearing nodes with short
bracts and fascicles of short branches each of which bears a hemispheric or tur-
binate 6- to 15-flowered glomerule; bracteole solitary at the base of each pedicel;
sepals and petals about 3 mm. long, lanceolate, rigidly subspinescent, strongly
nerved, mostly green or stramineous with a chestnut-brown tip; stamens 3 or said
to be sometimes 6; capsule 3.5-5 mm. long, exserted, narrow, tapered at both ends,
acuminate apically, shining chestnut-brown, eventually completely dehiscent (even
the tip); seeds with brown bodies 0.6-0.7 mm. long and white to stramineous
"tails" on either end, the tail on the upper end slender and 0.5-0.6 mm. long,
628
-------
Fig. 321: Juncus xiphioides: a, leaf (cross section), X 1%; b, stem (cross section),
X 1%; c, flower, X 10; d. capsule (cross section), X 10; e, leaf, the sheath without
auricles, X %; f, perianth and mature capsule, X 10; g, inner and outer perianth seg-
ments and stamens, the anthers shorter than filaments, X 10; h, branch of inflorescence,
X 4; i, mature seed, X 24; j, variation in inflorescence, the heads larger, X 4; k, habit,
upper part of plant, showing inflorescence, X %; 1, leaf, with a part of epidermis re-
moved to show septa, X \\'z', m, habit, lower part of plant, showing the stout creeping
rootstock and the flattened leaf blades, X %. (From Mason, Fig. 183).
-------
Fig. 322: a-f, June us saximontanus: a, habit, X ^; b, three flower heads, X 1; c,
flower, X 5: d, perianth and stamens spread out, X 5; e, capsule, X 5; f, seed, X 20.
g-m, Juiicus nodosii!,: g, habit, X (••; h, stem showing sheath, X 3; i, flower, X 5; j,
perianth and stamen spread out, X 5; k, inner perianth segment and anther, X 5; 1,
capsule, X 5: m, seed, X 10. (V. F.).
-------
that on the lower end shorter and stouter. /. caudatus Chapm.
Rare in seeps and bogs on sandy soil, e. Tex. (Henderson, Jasper and Tyler
cos.), Sept.-Nov.; Coastal States, S.C. to Tex.
28. Juncus castaneus Smith.
Perennial plants; stems 10—40 cm. tall, terete, leaves mostly basal; leaves taper-
ing from an involute tubular base to a slender channeled apex, the general effect
being terete, the upper epidermis being membranous, 1-2 mm. thick; sheaths not
auriculate; lowest bract usually exceeding the inflorescence; inflorescence of 1 to
3 heads, few-flowered, no bractlets present; segments of perianth 4-7 mm. long,
lanceolate, acute, chestnut-brown, petals somewhat shorter and often almost
obtuse; stamens 6; capsule one and a half to two times as long as perianth,
brown, tapering to an acute apex, narrowly oblong; seeds long-caudate.
In wet meadows and seepage areas in N.M. (Taos and Rio Arriba cos.); Greenl.
to Alas., s. to N.M.; Euras.
29. Juncus albescens (Lange) Fern.
Plants perennial; stems 5-15 cm. tall, loosely tufted from branching rootstocks,
erect, terete; leaves 1-7 cm. long, 1 to 5 in number, terete; sheaths auriculate;
inflorescence a capitate cluster of 1 to 5 (mostly 3) flowers; bracts almost as long
as the flowers, the lower acuminate; perianth 3-4 mm. long, brown, segments
ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, nearly or quite obtuse, about equal; stamens
6; capsule equaling or slightly exceeding the perianth, obtuse or mucronate, 3-
angled, imperfectly 3-celled; seeds about 2 mm. long, caudate.
In wet meadows and seepage areas, in N.M. (Taos Co.); Greenl. to Alas., s. to
N.Y. and N.M.
30. Juncus Torreyi Cov. Fig. 324.
Perennial with slender elongate rhizomes bearing tuberlike enlargements; flower-
ing culms colonial, erect, 3-10 dm. long, 2-4 mm. thick near the middle; blades
terete, ascending, with complete septa; inflorescence terminal, usually far-
surpassed by the subtending terete bract, 2-5 (-10) cm. long, of 5 to 10 (to 17)
heads which are mostly closely crowded, 8-15 mm. thick, 25- to 50-flowered; bract-
let solitary at base of pedicel; sepals lanceolate, stramineous, 4-5 mm. long, with
semirigid brownish subulate tips; petals similar to sepals but shorter; anthers 6,
shorter than their filaments; capsule at maturity brownish, linear-subulate, trigo-
nous, equaling or slightly surpassing the sepals, wholly dehiscent; seeds not tailed.
Marshy margins of lakes, ponds and streams, wet meadows, ditches and seepage
areas in Okla. (Cimarron, Grady, Alfalfa, Osage, Logan and Stephens cos.), N. M.
(widespread) and Ariz. (Navajo to Mohave, s. to Pima and Yuma cos.), abundant
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Plains Country, less frequent in Edwards Plateau and
n.-cen. Tex., rare in e. Tex., summer; N.Y. to Sask. and Wash., s. to D.C., Ala.,
Miss., Coah. and Calif.
31 Juncus articularus L. JOINTED RUSH. Fig. 325.
Stems erect or spreading from short rootstocks, 2-6 dm. tall; stem leaves with
rather loose sheaths and strongly septate terete blades 5-10 cm. long; inflorescence
3-10 cm. high, loose, the branches stiffly spreading; heads hemispheric to top-
shaped, 3- to 12-flowered; perianth 2-3 mm. long, the segments nearly equal in
size, lanceolate, acuminate, reddish brown with a greenish midrib; stamens 6,
one half to three fourths as long as the perianth, the anthers shorter than the
filaments; capsule dark brown, shining, longer than the perianth, 3-angled, ovate,
sharply acute, tapering to a conspicuous tip; seeds reticulate.
In marshes, saline flats and edge of water of streams, in N.M. (Rio Arriba and
San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Yavapai and Maricopa cos.); Nfld. to B.C., s. to N.E.,
631
-------
Fig. 323: Juncus trigonocarpus: a, habit, X %; b, leaf cut to show septa; c, perianth
and capsule, X 3Hi; d, seed, X 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 324: Juncus Torreyi: a, mature seed, X 24; b, leaf, with a part of it removed
to show septum, X 3; c, flower, X 8; d, ligulate auricled leaf sheath, X 3; e, habit,
X %; f, habit, lower and upper parts of plant, the inflorescence of globose heads, X %;
g, inflorescence, more branched type, X %; h, outer perianth segment, X 8; i, inner
perianth segment, X 8; j, stamen, X 8; k, capsule, X 8; 1, basal part of plant, snowing
slender rootstock and tuberlike thickenings, X 1%. (From Mason, Fig. 175).
-------
W. Va., N.M. Ariz, and Calif.; S. A., Afr. and Austral.
32. Juncus Mertensianus Bong.
Perennial plants; stems 10-40 cm. tall, slender, cespitose from slender matted
rootstocks; leaves 1-3 mm. wide, terete, 2 to 3 to a stem, somewhat compressed,
septate but often obscurely so; sheaths with scarious margins and bearing auricles;
inflorescence usually a solitary head, this becoming spherical, about 10-12 mm.
in diameter, many-flowered; perianth 3.5-4 mm. long, dark brown to brownish-
black, segments about equal, lanceolate, acute to acuminate especially the outer;
stamens 6; capsule trigonous, oval, obtuse to mucronate, equaling or slightly
shorter than the perianth, reportedly 1-celled; seeds caudate or not caudate.
In moist or wet places, bogs, in mud of streams and edge of lakes, in N. M.
(Taos, Colfax, Santa Fe and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.); Alta. to
Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
33. Juncus badius Suksdorf.
Perennial plants with slender rhizomes; stems 20-50 cm. tall, nearly or quite
terete; leaves 1-2 mm. in diameter, terete or somewhat flattened laterally, septate,
1 short leaf present over one half way up stem; sheaths with scarious margins
and rounded rather scarious auricles; inflorescence open, 2-5 cm. long with 4 to 12
heads, these 6-9 mm. across and 5- to 10-flowered; bracts 5-30 mm. long; perianth
2-3 mm. long, dark brown, the segments lanceolate, acuminate, about equal;
bractlets ovate; capsule slightly shorter than the perianth, obovoid, truncate or
broadly rounded at apex; seeds not caudate.
Moist or wet ground, on edge of lakes and streams, in N.M. (Taos and Rio
Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache and Yavapai cos.); Wyo. to Wash., s.
to N.M. and Ariz.
34. Juncus nodosus L. Fig. 322.
Perennial with long creeping rhizomes bearing tuberlike enlargements; flower-
ing culms colonial, 11-30 cm. long, 0.7-1.2 mm. thick, erect, terete or slightly
compressed; blades 2 or 3 per culm, terete, 0.5-1 mm. thick near the middle,
long-tapered to a thin point, with some complete but sometimes weak and in-
conspicuous septa; inflorescence terminal, 2-5 cm. long, sparingly branched, of
2 to 4 heads; basal bract of inflorescence leaflike, about equaling the inflorescence
or exceeding it by 1-3 cm. at most; heads mostly well-separated from each other,
7-10 mm. thick, 15- to 30-flowered; sepals and petals lanceolate, 3-4 mm. long,
brownish-stramineous, with acute semirigid tips; bractlets solitary at the base of
each pedicel; stamens 6 (occasionally 3, fide F. J. Hermann), the anthers shorter
than the filaments; capsules at maturity slightly exserted, narrowly ellipsoid-
trigonous, 3 to 4 times as long as thick, brownish, shining, wholly dehiscent (even
the abruptly acute apex); seeds not tailed. Incl. var. meridianus Herm.
Mud along creeks and streams, in flowing water and on wet sandbars along
streams, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and N. M. (Rio Arriba, Union, Colfax, San Juan
and San Migeul cos.), summer; temp. N.A. s. to Va., O., Ind., 111., la. and Neb.,
at higher elev. to Coah., Chih., Nev. and Calif.
35. Juncus texanus (Engelm.) Cov.
Perennial with elongate slender rhizomes bearing tuberlike enlargements; flower-
ing culms colonial, erect, essentially terete, 2-4 (-6) dm. long, 1-2 mm. thick
near the middle, simple; leaves few; blades essentially terete, with several complete
(though in some specimens weak) septa; inflorescence terminal (subtended by a
bract shorter than or only slightly surpassing it), at maturity 5-10 cm. long, of
3 to 12 (to 19) 15- to 25-nowered heads which are remote from each other at
the ends of the short branches and 8-10 (-11) mm. thick; bractlet solitary at
634
-------
Fig. 325: Juncus articulatus: a, mature seed, X 40; b, perianth segment, X 10;
c, stamen, X 10; d, and e, habit, showing the septate leaves and the loose inflorescence,
X %; f, mature capsule, after dehiscence, X 10; g, perianth and mature capsule, X 10;
h, inflorescence, showing the heads on stiffly spreading branches, X 3; i, leaf sheath
and part of septate leaf, X 3. (From Mason, Fig. 178).
-------
Fig. 326: Juncus acuminatus: a, auricles of leaf sheath, X 2l'-2\ b, leaf, with a part
removed to show septum. X 21?; c, capsule, showing beak, X 10; d, mature seed, X 40;
e, habit, showing the septate leaves, cespitose stems and open panicles. X -:,; f, mature
capsule, after dehiscence, X 10; g, perianth and mature capsule. X 10; h, perianth
segment, X 10; i, stamen, X 10; j, inflorescence, showing the spherical heads of flowers,
X Pj. (From Mason, Fig. 177).
-------
the base of the pedicel; sepals and petals linear-lanceolate; stamens 6, the anthers
longer than (often 2 to 3 times as long as) their filaments; capsules, at maturity
4 to 8 times as long as thick, including the exserted prolonged slender-subulate
beak which remains intact with dehiscence; seeds not tailed. J. nodosus var.
texanus Engelm.
Infrequent along ponds, lakes and streams, in mud of sloughs and on gravel-
sand bars of rivers, in n.-cen. Tex. and the Edwards Plateau, summer; endemic.
36. Juncus brachycarpus Engelm.
Perennial, the bases subrhizomatous to shortly rhizomatous, whitish; flowering
culms stiffly erect, 20-75 cm. long, 1-2 mm. thick near the middle; leaves scat-
tered and subappressed along the culms; blades ascending, only slightly arcuate,
essentially terete or basally laterally compressed, 1-2 mm. thick near the middle,
with strong complete septa and always longer than their sheaths; bract shorter
than or equaling the inflorescence; inflorescence terminal, 2-6 (-13) cm. long, of
2 to 10 (to 25) heads, sparingly branched; heads round, 7-9 mm. thick, with 25
to 60 flowers; bractlet solitary at the base of the short pedicel; sepals 2.7-3.4 mm.
long, about 0.8 mm. broad; petals 2.2-2.3 mm. long, about 0.4 mm. broad; sepals
and petals greenish with broad hyaline margins, turning golden brown medially at
maturity or slightly darker terminally; stamens 3; capsule obovoid, 1.5-2.2 mm.
long, about 1 mm. thick, abruptly apiculate, promptly and completely dehiscent;
seeds not tailed.
Frequent in moist loamy soils, coastal savannah, roadside depressions, marshes,
and in water of small ponds and seepy areas, in Okla. (Waterfall), e. and s.e.
Tex., rare inland to n.-cen. Tex. and n. part of Rio Grande Plains, spring-early
summer; e. and s.e. U.S. inland to O., Mich., 111., Mo. and Okla.
37. Juncus acuminatus Michx. Fig. 326.
Tufted perennial; culms 14-80 cm. long, erect, 1-3 mm. thick near the middle;
leaves few at the base, mostly scattered on the culm; blades strongly laterally
compressed, 1—3 mm. thick near the middle, toward the tip very narrow and
nearly terete, with complete but rather weak septa; bract much shorter than the
inflorescence; inflorescence terminal, variable, 3-15 cm. long, not or sparingly or
much and repeatedly branched, in the typical form of (25 to) 40 to 60 hemi-
spherical to turbinate 2 to 10-flowered glomerules, in the f. sphaerocephalus Herm.
of 2 to 25 nearly round 15- to 60-flowered heads; bractlet solitary at the base of
the short pedicel; sepals 3.3—4 mm. long, 0.7-1.2 mm. broad; petals 2.5-3.5 mm.
long, 0.3-0.4 mm. broad in the typical form or 0.5-0.7 mm. broad in f. sphaero-
cephalus; sepals and petals paleaceous, drying semirigid, stramineous or often
terminally a rich-reddish-brown; stamens 3; capsule narrowly ovoid to elliptic-
ovoid, 2.5-3.3 mm. long, apically blunt or very bluntly apiculate, completely
and promptly dehiscent.
The typical form is infrequent in wet places in e. Tex., the f. sphaerocephalus
locally frequent in wet meadows, on margin of ponds, sloughs and streams,
marshes and springy areas, in Okla. (Adair, Atoka, Mayes and Osage cos.), e. s.e.
and n.-cen. Tex., the n. parts of the Rio Grande Plains, Edwards Plateau and
Trans-Pecos, and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), late
spring-summer; the typical form in most of e. U.S. w. to Wise, and Tex.; f.
sphaerocephalus from N.Y., Pa., Mich., Ind., Mo., Tex., Wash., Calif., Ariz.,
Chih., Michoac. and probably scattered elsewhere.
38. Juncus megacephalus M.A. Curtis. Fig. 327.
Perennial from subrhizomatous bases; flowering culms 45-110 cm. long, 2-2.2
mm. thick near the middle; leaves few and mostly scattered along the culm,
not crowded basally; blades terete, mostly about 1 mm. thick near the middle,
637
-------
V
Fig. 327: Jiiucux megaccphalus: a, habit, X %; b, sheath and leaf with section of
leaf enlarged to show septa; c, perianth and capsule, X 3'/j; d, seed, X 33. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 328: Juncus scirpoides: a, habit, X %; b, sheath, about X 1; c. capsule and
perianth, X 5; d, seed, X 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
ascending, only slightly arcuate, having strong complete septa; blade of the upper-
most leaf (but not the bract!) much shorter than its sheath, sometimes reduced to
a mucro; bract much shorter than the inflorescence; inflorescence terminal,
sparingly branched, 2-5 (-10) cm. long, of 3 to 7 (to 15) heads which are 10-15
mm. thick and 40- to 100-flowered; bractlet solitary at the base of the short
pedicel; sepals 4.1-4.3 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad; petals about 3.5 mm. long,
0.3-0.4 mm. broad; sepals and petals usually (reddish)-brown apically, stramine-
ous basally; stamens 3; capsule about 0.8 mm. thick, lance-subulate, trigonous,
golden-brown, not or only very slightly exserted, usually about equaling the
sepals, laterally dehiscent but the three valves coalescent apically into an inde-
hiscent beak.
Infrequent to rare in deep sands and depressions very near the coast, s.e. Tex.
(Aransas and Galveston cos.), summer; Coastal States, (Md.? and) Va. to Tex.
39. Juncus scirpoides Lam. Fig. 328.
Perennial from whitish rhizomes 3-15 mm. long, the internodes of the rhizomes
1-2 mm. long; flowering culms 20-45 cm. long, erect, 1-1.5 mm. thick near the
middle; leaves few and mostly scattered along the flowering culm, not crowded
basally; blades with strong complete septa, terete, rarely very slightly laterally
compressed on drying, mostly about 1 mm. thick near the middle, ascending, only
slightly arcuate; bract usually shorter than to only slightly surpassing the inflores-
cence; inflorescence 1-5 (-11) cm. long, terminal, unbranched or very sparingly
branched; heads (solitary to) 2 to 5 (to 12), rounded or somewhat lobulate,
7-10 mm. thick, with 25 to 60 flowers; bractlet solitary at the base of the short
pedicel; sepals 2.7-4 mm. long, 0.5-0.8 mm. broad; petals 2-3 mm. long, 0.3-
0.5 mm. broad; sepals and petals green turning stramineous to stramineous-brown,
semirigid to subspinescent; stamens 3; capsule 0.5-0.8 mm. thick, exserted usually
even when immature, the tip long-subulate and its 3 valves fused into a perdurant
indehiscent beak; seeds not tailed. Incl. var. meridionalis Buch.
In swampy places, in mud and water of ponds, streams and lakes, in Okla.
(LeFlore, Sequoyah and Ottawa cos.), frequent in e. Tex., infrequent in s.e.
Tex., uncommon to rare w. to n.-cen. Tex. and n. and coastal parts of Rio
Grande Plains and Edwards Plateau, also in Winkler Co. in the Trans-Pecos,
always in deep sandy soils, summer; e. U.S., n. to N.Y., Pa., Ind., Mich, and w.
to Okla. and Tex.
Some robust Texas specimens seem to show intergradation to /. validus var.
fascinatus.
40. Juncus polycephalus Michx. Fig. 329.
Tufted perennials from subrhizomatous bases; culms 5-10 dm. long, erect,
basally 6-10 mm. thick, 2-4 mm. thick near the middle, greenish; leaves several
in a basal cluster and scattered along the stem; blades strongly laterally com-
pressed, arcuate, 4-7 mm. thick near the middle in the larger (dorsiventral)
dimension, greenish, with weak incomplete septa; inflorescence terminal, usually
widely branched, 7-25 cm. long, to 12 mm. thick; heads few to 20, of 40 to 80
flowers; bractlet solitary at the base of the short pedicel; sepals 3.5-4 mm. long,
0.7-0.8 mm. broad; petals 3-3.3 mm. long, about 0.5 mm. broad, marginally
hyaline, greenish-brown turning stramineous to dark-brown, semirigid at maturity
and subspinescent; stamens 3; capsule slightly exserted, tapering uniformly, de-
hiscing laterally but not at the short beaklike apex; seeds not tailed.
In wet places, often in or on edge of water of streams, lakes and ponds, in-
frequent, Jasper and Tyler cos. in extreme s.e. Tex., summer; Coastal States N C.
to Tex.
640
-------
Fig. 329: Juncus polycephalus: a, habit, X %; b, perianth and capsule, X 3%; c,
seed, X 33. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fie. 330: Jiincits validns: a, habit, X ly; b, perianth and capsule, X 3% c seed,
X 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
41. Juncus validus Cov. Fig. 330.
Tufted perennial from a non- or subrhizomatous base; culms 2-10 dm. long,
ascending or erect, basally 3-5 mm. thick, mostly 2-4 mm. thick near the middle,
olive-gray; leaves several in a basal cluster and scattered along the culm, laterally
compressed, slightly arcuate, 3-6 (-8) mm. thick in larger (dorsiventral) dimen-
sion, with strong complete septa; bract much shorter than the inflorescence; in-
florescence terminal; heads 6 to 76, rounded or often lobulate, 10-15 mm. thick,
each with (30 to) 40 to 50 (to 80) flowers; bractlet solitary at the base of the
short pedicel; sepals (3-) 3.4-4.2 (-4.5) mm. long, 0.7-1.4 mm. broad; petals
(2—) 2.5—3.5 (—4.3) mm. long, 0.5—1 mm. broad; both petals and sepals marginally
hyaline (the petals sometimes broadly so) and both semirigid and subspinose at
maturity, stramineous-brown or turning dark-brown; stamens 3; capsule 4.5—5 mm.
long, brown or golden-brown, subulate; seeds not tailed.
In swampy ground, seepage areas, on edge of ponds, lakes and streams. We
have two varieties.
Var. validus. Inflorescence widely spreading, 5-25 cm. long, of (12 to) 15
to 76 heads and completely promptly dehiscent capsules. In Okla. (Love, Pitts-
burg, Osage and LeFlore cos.), abundant in e. and s.e. Tex. and less so w. to
n.-cen. Tex. and n. part of Rio Grande Plains; in Coastal States, Ga. to Tex. and
inland to Okla. and Mo.
Var. fascinatus M. C. Johnst. Inflorescences mostly 2-5 cm. long, of 6 to 15
heads, with capsules usually tardily dehiscent apically or even with an indehiscent
beak. In Tex. in Edwards Plateau area (Central Mineral Region) and s. to n.
part of Rio Grande Plains and n.-cen. Tex., uncommon e. to s.e. Tex., summer;
endemic.
42. Juncus diffusissimus Buckl. Fig. 331.
Tufted weak perennial; culms 25-65 cm. long, erect, 1-2 mm. thick near the
middle; leaves few, scattered on the culm; blades ascending, strongly laterally
compressed, 1—2 mm. broad in the larger (dorsiventral) dimension, long-tapered
to a setaceous tip, with some complete but rather inconspicuous septa; bract
much shorter than the inflorescence; inflorescence terminal, widely and repeatedly
branched, 5-20 cm. long; glomerules numbering 30 to 70 (to 130) per inflores-
cence, hemispherical or narrower, (1- or) 2- to 10-flowered; bractlet solitary at
the base of the short pedicel; sepals (2-) 2.6-3.2 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad;
petals (1.8-) 2.3-3 mm. long, 0.4-0.5 mm. broad; petals and sepals paleaceous,
acute but not subspinescent; stamens 3; capsules linear-lanceolate, trigonous, 4—5
(-5.2) mm. long, minutely apiculate, 1.5 to 2 times as long as the perianth,
golden-brown, completely dehiscent.
Swampy meadows, margin of ponds, sloughs, streams, and in shallow water
in Okla. (widespread), frequent in e. Tex., less so w. to n.-cen. Tex., rare in
Edwards Plateau (Central Mineral Region), in moist loamy soil, summer;
Coastal States, Ga. to Tex. and inland to Ind., Mo. and Kan.
43. Juncus debilis Gray. Fig. 331.
Tufted weak perennial (or annual?); culms 15-30 cm. long, ascending, 0.5-1
mm. thick near the middle; leaves few, scattered on the culm; blades ascending,
basally slightly laterally compressed, about 1 mm. broad near the middle, with
some complete but inconspicuous septa; bract only 1-2 cm. long; inflorescence
terminal, repeatedly branched, 3-10 cm. long, with 5 to 35 glomerules which are
hemispherical or narrower and 2- to 10-flowered; bractlet solitary at the base
of the short pedicel; sepals 2.2-2.8 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad; petals 2.3-2.5
mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. broad; sepals and petals paleaceous, acute but not sub-
643
-------
Fig. 331: a-c, Juncus debilis: a, habit, X ^4; b, perianth and capsule, X 5; c, seed,
X 60. d-f, Juncus diffusissimus: d, habit, X i,f>; e, perianth and capsule, X 5; f, seed,
X 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
spinescent; stamens 3; capsule broadly to narrowly ovoid, bluntly apiculate, 2.2-3
mm. long.
Infrequent to rare in moist sand, in mud of streams, and in quiet shallow
water, in extreme e. Tex. (Newton and Polk cos.), summer; Coastal States, Conn.
to Tex., inland to Tenn. and Mo.
44. Juncus nodatus Cov.
Perennial; roots not bearing tuberlike enlargements; culms erect, 6-12 dm.
long, 3-5 mm. thick near the middle (as much as 1 cm. thick basally); basal
sheaths of culm 6-15 mm. broad; blades 2-5 mm. thick near the middle, essen-
tially terete to flattened; septa of blades complete, tough, conspicuous; bract much
shorter than the inflorescence; inflorescence terminal, repeatedly much-branched,
7-16 cm. long; glomerules 40 to 200 per inflorescence, hemispherical or nar-
rower, 2- to 10-flowered; bractlet solitary at the base of the short pedicel; sepals
2-2.5 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad; petals 1.9-2.3 mm. long, 0.4-0.6 mm. broad;
sepals and petals membranous, medially brown, marginally broadly hyaline; stamens
3; capsule obpyriform to narrowly ovoid, minutely apiculate, 2.3-2.5 mm. long,
golden-brown.
In marshes, wet savannahs and meadows, in mud and shallow water of sloughs,
streams, ditches, ponds and lakes, in Okla. (Atoka, Comanche, Muskogee,
Sequoyah, Love, LeFlore and McCurtain cos.), infrequent, e. and s.e. Tex., rare
w. to n.-cen. Tex., extreme n. edge of Rio Grande Plains and n. part of Plains
Country (Wichita Co.), late spring-summer; La. to Tex., n. to Ind., 111., Mo. and
Kan.
45. Juncus Elliottii Chapm. Fig. 318.
Perennial; roots often ending in tuberlike enlargements; culms erect or arcuate,
3-9 dm. long, 1.5-2 mm. thick near the middle; basal sheaths of culm 4-8 mm.
broad; blades 1—2 mm. thick near the middle, laterally compressed; septa of blades
present, complete but weak and inconspicuous in prepared specimens; inflores-
cence terminal, repeatedly much-branched, 5—14 cm. long; glomerules 40 to 100
per inflorescence, 2- to 10-flowered, hemispherical or narrower; bractlet solitary
at the base of the short pedicel; sepals 2.6-2.9 mm. long, 0.9-1.1 mm. broad;
petals 2.4-2.8 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad; sepals and petals dark-golden-brown
to fuscous, chartaceous medially, narrowly white-hyaline marginally, becoming
semirigid and subspinescent; stamens 3; capsule narrowly obpyriform to narrowly
ovoid, 2.4-2.9 mm. long, minutely apiculate, at maturity fuscous.
In moist or wet areas in savannahs and wet coastal prairies in s.e. Tex., May-
Aug.; Coastal States, Del. to La. and Tex.
2. Luzula DC. WOODRUSH
Tufted low perennials with weak pubescent foliage; inflorescence terminal, of
a number of simple or nearly simple unequal branches topped by heads or short
spikes of flowers; seeds only 3 per capsule.
A cosmopolitan genus of about 80 species.
1. Flowers on slender pedicels, in a loose, somewhat drooping decompound cyme;
seeds not appendaged 2. L. parviflora.
1. Flowers crowded in spikes or glomerules; seeds with a caruncle or appendage
(2)
2(1). Base of plant bearing firm whitish coralline tubers 1. L. bulbosa.
2. Plant without white coralline tubers 3. L. campestris var. multiflora.
1. Luzula bulbosa (Wood) Rydb. Fig. 332.
Weak tufted perennial, just underground with numerous slightly elongate whitish
tuberlike structures (rhizomes?) 2-4 mm. thick; culms 10-25 (-35) cm. long,
645
-------
ascending, about 1 mm. thick; leaves few, only a few or none clustered basally;
blades membranous, flat, flaccid, 5-10 (-20) cm. long, 2-6 mm. broad, long-
tapered, long-pilose marginally especially near juncture with sheath; bract shorter
than the inflorescence, leaf like; inflorescence terminal, 3-6 cm. long, of 5 to 10
(to 13) branches which are mostly simple (a few of the longer ones with sub-
sidiary branches) and ascending; bractlets 3 beneath each flower (2 at the base of
the calyx and one at the base of the extremely short pedicel); flowers in 20- to 40-
flowered ovoid-cylindric spikes or racemes which are 6-10 mm. long and 4-6 mm.
thick (rarely almost round and capitate); sepals 3, 2.3-2.5 mm. long, ovate-
deltoid, membranous and brownish medially, broadly hyaline marginally, acute;
petals similar to sepals but only 1.9-2.2 mm. long; stamens 6, shorter than the
sepals; style at anthesis about 0.5 mm. long, with 3 branches 1-1.5 mm. long
(postanthetically deciduous); capsule nearly globose to broadly obovoid, about
equaling the sepals, terminally truncate and minutely apiculate, completely and
promptly deciduous; seeds 3. L. campestris L. var. bulbosa Wood, L. multiflora
(Retz.) Lej. var. bulbosa (Wood) Herm.
Locally frequent in forested sandy soils and on grassy seepage banks in Okla.
(Waterfall} and e. Tex., rare to s.e. Tex., spring; Coastal States, Mass, to Tex.,
inland to Ind., 111., Mo., Kan. and Okla.
2. Luzula parviflora (Ehrh.) Desv. Fig. 332.
Stems stoloniferous, single or few in a tuft, erect, 1-3 dm. high, 2- to 5-leaved;
leaves glabrous, their blades 3-10 mm. wide, tapering to a sharp or blunt apex;
inflorescence a nodding decompound panicle, commonly 6-10 cm. long; lowest
bract foliose, one fourth to one half the length of the panicle; flowers borne singly
or sometimes 2 or 3 together, on very slender pedicels; bractlets ovate, entire or
lacerate; perianth 2-2.5 mm. long, the segments lanceolate, acute, green or more
or less tinged with brown; capsule ovoid, slightly exceeding the perianth, green
or brownish; seeds ellipsoid, brown.
Moist woods and meadows, from coastal rain-forest to alpine slopes, seepage
banks, marshes and wet meadows, in N.M. (Mora, San Miguel and Taos cos.)
and Ariz. (Coconino and Apache cos.), Lab. and Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.Y., Minn.,
N.M., Ariz, and s. Calif.; Greenl.; Euras.
3. Luzula campestris (L.) B.C. var. multiflora (Ehrh.) Celak.
Stems loosely cespitose, 2-5 dm. tall; basal leaves several, cauline leaves usually
pilose, 2 to 4, flat, except toward the callous, blunt tip, 2-6 mm. wide; inflores-
cence usually with a few slender peduncles and 1 or more sessile, capitate or
short-cylindric spikes; bracts usually scarious toward the acute apex; perianth seg-
ments 2-3.5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate; capsule obovoid, mucronulate,
shorter than the perianth; seeds ellipsoid, 1-1.4 mm. long, with a prominent basal,
white, spongy cellular appendage, up to half the length of the body of the seed.
Dry or moist woodlands, streambanks, creek bottoms and wet meadows in N.M.
(Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Pima Co.).
We have apparently only the var. multiflora in our region. The species with
many varieties is widespread in North America except the lower central and
southern United States.
Fam. 35. Liliaceae Juss. LILY FAMILY
Mostly perennial herbs, infrequently or only occasionally woody; rootstock
a rhizome, bulb, corm or tuber; stems erect or climbing, often modified into
fleshy subterranean storage organs or cladophylls; leaves basal or cauline,
alternate or whorled, mostly lamellate but sometimes reduced to scales or sheaths,
646
-------
Fig. 332: a-e, Luzula bulbosa: a, habit, X %; b, bulblike tubers, X 2; c, sheath
enlarged to show long-pilose margin of the leaf, X 2; d, capsule and perianth, X 10;
e, seed, X 10. f-h, Luzula parviflora: f, habit, X %; g, capsule and perianth, X 10; h,
seed, X 10. (V. F.).
-------
sometimes fleshy or with prickly margins, occasionally fibrous, the venation mostly
parallel but also reticulate-parallel in some genera; inflorescence various; flowers
bisexual or rarely unisexual (with the plants mostly dioecious), regular (in ours);
perianth often large and showy, in 2 series of 3 segments each, very rarely fewer
or more, usually undifferentiated into corolla and calyx, the segments imbricate
or the outer series valvate, sometimes connate into a tube; stamens 6, rarely fewer
or more, hypogynous or adnate to the perianth; filaments distinct or connate;
anthers 2-celled, extrorse or antrorse, versatile or basifixed, dehiscing usually by
vertical slits; pistil 1; ovary usually 3-celled; styles 1 or 3, sometimes divided or
trifid; fruit a septicidal or loculicidal capsule or a berry; seeds various.
More than 4,000 species in about 250 genera throughout the world. Many are
of great economic and horticultural importance.
1. Flowers or inflorescences in the axils of alternate stem leaves (2)
1. Flowers or inflorescences terminal (3)
2(1). Plant erect, without tendrils; leaves cordate-clasping at base
10. Streptopus
2. Plant viny, with tendrils; leaves petiolate 13. Smilax
3(1). Flowers usually 1 or 2 (4)
3. Flowers more than 5, variously arranged (5)
4(3). Leaves in a terminal whorl of 3; perianth purple, yellowish-green, pink or
white 11. Trillium
4. Leaves in several whorls on the stem; perianth pale lemon-yellow and minutely
dotted 7. Lilium
5(3). Flowers in umbels 6. Allium
5. Flowers in racemes, corymbs or panicles (6)
6(5). Floral segments united except at apex into a tubular or campanulate
perianth 12. Aletris
6. Floral segments distinct or slightly united only at base, the perianth lobes
then much longer than the tube (7)
7(6). Style single, sometimes cleft at tip (8)
7. Styles 3 (10)
8(7). Leaves ovate to lanceolate, alternate on the stem; flowers white; fruit a
berry 9. Smilacina
8. Leaves linear, grasslike, in a basal tuft; flowers yellow to orange or blue;
fruit a capsule (9)
9(8). Flowers blue or purplish-blue; filaments filiform 8. Camassia
9. Flowers yellow to orange; filaments somewhat flattened below the middle
3. Schoenolirion
10(7). Anthers ovate-cordate, 2-celled; leaves 2-ranked and equitant; inflores-
cence glutinous l. Tofieldia
10. Anthers peltate or reniform, with confluent cells; leaves and inflorescence not
as above (11)
11(10). Axis of inflorescence glabrous; seeds not flat, narrowly winged or wing-
less 2. Zigadenus
11. Axis of inflorescence pubescent; seeds flat, broadly winged (12)
12(11). Perianth segments with narrow claws and conspicuous glands (nectaries)
at base of blade, free from ovary 4. Melanthlum
12. Perianth segments clawless and glandless, usually adnate to base of ovary
5. Veratrum
648
-------
Fig. 333: Tofielda racemosa: a, habit, X %; b, flowers, X 5; c, top of plant in
fruit, X i/2; d, fruit, X 5. (V. F.).
-------
1. Tofieldia HUDS. FALSE ASPHODEL
About 20 species in the North Temperate Zone and Andes.
1. Tofieldia racemosa (Walt.) Small. Fig. 333.
Slender perennial, mostly tufted, with short or creeping rhizomes and simple
usually 1-foliate stems that are surrounded by a tuft of grasslike leaves at the
base; basal leaves erect, equitant, linear, to 4 dm. long and 3-5 mm. wide; cauline
leaf usually single and bractlike, inserted below middle of stem; scape 3-7 dm.
high, minutely but distinctly pubescent, increasingly so above, bearing a racemose
inflorescence to 15 cm. long; flowers creamy-white, the segments separate and
spreading, 2 or 3 together at each node, with pubescent pedicels, subtended imme-
diately below the perianth by a small perfoliate bractlet having 3 ovate lobes;
terminal flowers opening first; perianth segments oblong to broadly elliptic-
oblanceolate, concave, 3-nerved, obtuse, 4-5 mm. long; stamens 6, exceeding the
perianth; anthers ovate-cordate, 2-celled; filaments flattened, subulate; capsule
narrowly obovoid, firm-walled, about 3 mm. long, subtended by the persistent
perianth and tipped by the 3 enlarged divergent styles; seeds narrowly ellipsoid,
appendaged at both ends, about 2 mm. long.
In wet sandy soils on pine savannahs and in pitcher plant bogs in s.e. Tex.,
June—Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J.
2. Zigadenus MICHX. DEATH CAMAS. POISON SEGO
Smooth and often glaucous perennials with rhizomes or bulbs, leafy stems and
rather large panicled or racemed white to yellow or greenish to bronze perfect or
polygamous flowers; perianth withering-persistent spreading; floral segments ob-
long or oval, 1- or 2-glandular near the more or less narrowed but rarely definitely
unguiculate base; stamens free from the floral segments and about as long as them;
anthers cordate or reniform; capsules 3-lobed, 3-celled, dehiscent to the base;
seeds oblong or linear, angled.
About 15 species in the Northern Hemisphere of America and Asia. When
grazed, most of the species are usually fatal to sheep and some species even to
cattle. The bulbs are also poisonous.
1. Perianth segments 8-17 mm. long, bearing a bilobed gland or 2 glands well
above the base; filaments widened at the base (2)
1. Perianth segments 3-7 mm. long, bearing a single basal gland (3)
2(1). Stem from bulbous-thickened base; perianth segments obtuse, 8-12 mm.
long; gland bilobed 1. Z. elegans.
2. Stem from creeping rhizome; perianth segments acuminate, 12-17 mm. long;
bearing 2 glands 2. Z. glaberrimus.
3(1). Pedicels usually 2 cm. long or more; filaments widened at base; bracts 8-12
mm. long; distribution in New Mexico and Arizona
3. Z. virescens.
3. Pedicels usually less than 1 cm. long; filaments slender throughout; bracts
2-5 mm. long; distribution in Texas (4)
4(3). Flowers polygamous; inflorescence always paniculate
4. Z. leimanthoides.
4. Flowers perfect, usually in a simple raceme 5. Z. densus.
1. Zigadenus elegans Pursh. WHITE CAMAS, ALKALI-GRASS. Fig. 334.
Stem rather stout, erect, to about 8 dm, high; leaves crowded toward base,
narrowly to broadly linear, to about 4 dm. long and 1 cm. wide, thin, attenuate
at tip; inflorescence commonly a slender loose cylindric raceme, rarely a panicle;
middle and upper bracts with scarious margins and summits, blunt to mucronate;
pedicels usually slender; perianth pale or slightly suffused with purple or brown
650
-------
Fig. 334: Zygadenus elegans: a, basal parts of plants, X %; b, inflorescence, X ty>;
c, flower, X 3; d, capsule, X 5. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 335: a and b, Zygadenus densus: a, habit, X %; b, flower, X 5 c-d Schoenoli-
non croceum: c, habit, X ^ d, flower, X 5. (V. F.). Jtnocnuu
-------
below, without or with only a small darkened spot outside at base; capsule lance-
conic, 13-22 mm. long, 4-6 mm. in diameter, about twice as long as the persistent
perianth; seeds 5-6 mm. long.
On wet ledges and seepage in canyons of Guadalupe Mts. in the Trans-Pecos
of Tex. and in N. M. (Taos Co.), June-Sept.; from Alas, to Ariz., Tex. and
N. M., e. to Man., Minn., la. and Mo.
2. Zigadenus glaberrimus Michx.
Rhizome subligneous, blackish, horizontal, elongate; stem slender, to 12 dm.
high, leafy; basal leaves elongate, linear, attenuate, firm, to 4 dm. long and 15
mm. wide; panicle loosely pyramidal, to 3 dm. long; bracts ovate, acuminate,
about 5 mm. long; pedicels 5-10 mm. long; flowers perfect; perianth segments
1-1.5 cm. long, white, lanceolate or lance-ovate, acute to acuminate, with 2
distinct glands just above the short but definite claw; filaments widened at base;
capsule lance-conic, about 1 cm. long, barely equaling the connivent persistent
perianth.
Savannahs, bogs and wet pinelands, June-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex. (?), n. to s.e.
Va.
This species is included here based solely upon a report of its occurrence in the
state. It should occur in southeast Texas.
3. Zigadenus virescens (H.B.K.) Macbr.
Plant ascending from a slender bulb; leaves in a basal tuft, grasslike, to about
2 dm. long and 1 cm. wide; scape and inflorescence scarcely exceeding the leaves,
paniculate, the branches widely spreading; floral bracts 8-12 mm. long, scarious;
pedicels as much as 2 cm. long or more, slender, divergent, often decurved;
perianth segments whitish, sometimes tinged greenish, purplish or yellowish,
elliptic, obtuse, 5-6 mm. long, somewhat cuneate at base, the gland obcordate with
a sharply defined upper margin; stamens about 7 mm. long, moderately exserted,
the filaments widened at base; ovary partly inferior. Z. porrifolius Greene.
On wet ledges and in rich moist woods in N. M. (Catron and San Juan cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Cochise cos.), May-Sept.; N. M. and Ariz. s. to C. A.
4. Zigadenus leimanthoides Gray.
Outer bulb coats fibrous; stem slender, erect, to about 15 dm. high; leaves
elongate-linear, mostly crowded near the base, to 5 dm. long and 1 cm. wide;
flowers crowded in panicled racemes (central axis to 3 dm. long); lower and
middle bracts of panicle herbaceous; pedicels to 12 mm. long; perianth segments
creamy or yellow to somewhat greenish-white, ovate-elliptic, 3-4 mm. long, each
with a deeper yellowish spot on the contracted base; filaments subulate, slightly
exceeding the perianth; capsules slender-conic, about 1 cm. long, with pedicels to
15 mm. long.
Sandy pinelands and bogs of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, very rare in n.e.
Tex., May-Aug.; Ga. to Tex., n. to N. J. and L. I.
5. Zigadenus densus (Desr.) Fern. BLACK SNAKEROOT, CROW-POISON. Fig. 335.
The barely thickened bulbs with smooth coats; stem slender, erect, to 15 dm.
high, remotely bracted; leaves narrowly linear, mostly near the base, to 5 dm.
long and 7 mm. wide; raceme simple (rarely branching below), densely sub-
cylindric, to about 2 dm. long and 3-5 cm. thick; bracts small, firm, brownish,
persistent; perianth creamy-white to pink, nearly or wholly free; perianth segments
4—5 mm. long, elliptic-obovate, obtuse, each usually with a very small obscure
gland at base; capsules slenderly conical, with pedicels 1-2 cm. long.
Damp pinelands and bogs in e. Tex., Apr.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s.e.
Va., N.C. and Tenn.
The bulb of this plant is very poisonous.
653
-------
Fig. ?36: I'cratruin californicum: a, top of plant, X i',-,; b, branch, X V>; c, flower,
X ?; d. ->egment of perianth. X 3; e, capsule, X 4. (V. p.).
-------
3. Schoenolirion DURAND
Three species in southern United States; one in California.
1. Schoenolirion croceum (Michx.) Wood. YELLOW SUNNY-BELL. Fig. 335.
Perennial herb; scape very slender, about 3 dm. high, scaly and somewhat
thickened at base, from a thick rootstock and fleshy-fibrous cluster of roots;
leaves in a basal tuft, elongate, flat, the principal leaves 4-8 mm. wide, strongly
ribbed; raceme simple, to 15 cm. long and 4 cm. in diameter; bracts ovate to
elliptic, concave, mostly obtuse, often tinged with purple; flowers yellow and
mostly tinged with red; floral segments 6, elliptic-oblong, distinctly 3-nerved, 5-7
mm. long; capsule depressed-globose, deeply 3-lobed; seeds subglobose, shining,
nearly 4 mm. long. Oxytria crocea (Michx.) Raf.
In wet savannahs, marshy pinelands, bogs and on seepage slopes in s.e. Tex.,
Mar.-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N. C.
4. Melantbium L.
Five species all native of North America.
1. Melanthium virginicum L. BUNCHFLOWER.
Perennial from a thick rootstock; stem to about 1.5 m. high, scurfy above;
leaves firm, broadly linear, acuminate-attenuate, to 3 cm. broad; panicle to 45 cm.
long, usually much shorter, somewhat scurfy, with ascending to spreading lateral
branches; flowers creamy, changing to green or purplish, scurfy outside; floral
segments 6, broadly oblong to ovate, rounded to cordate or hastate at base,
flat, obtuse, 5-8 mm. long, 2 or 3 times the length of the slender claw, with 2
dark glands at base; stamens borne at or above middle of each claw; capsule erect,
ovoid, with furrows between the round-backed carpels, 13-18 mm. high, 3-beaked;
seeds whitish, narrowly obovate, flat, broadly winged, about 10 in each cell, 5—7
mm. long.
Meadows, bogs, swales, savannahs, edge of woodlands and low thickets in e.
and s.e. Tex., May-July; from n. Fla. to Tex., n. to s. N. Y., O., Ind., 111. and la.
5. Veratrum L. FALSE-HELLEBORE
About 25 species in the North Temperate region.
1. Veratrum californicum Durand. SKUNK-CABBAGE. Fig. 336.
Stout, tall, leafy perennial 1-2 m. tall, with a short thick poisonous rootstock;
leaves sheathing at base, 2-5 dm. long, 1-2 dm. wide, ovate or the upper ones
narrower, lightly pubescent, plaited, prominently nerved; panicle 2-5 dm. long,
tomentose; pedicels 2-6 mm. long; flowers dull white; perianth segments 8-15 mm.
long, 5-8 mm. wide, greenish-margined, with a greenish spot at base; stamens 6,
opposite perianth segments, free, short, curved, the anthers cordate, with confluent
pollen sacs; styles 3, persistent; capsule 2-3 cm. long, 3-celled, 3-lobed; seeds
numerous, wing-margined.
Wet meadows and bogs in N. M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Cochise, Coconino, Graham and Navajo cos.), June-Sept.; Mont, to Wash., s. to
N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Allium L. ONION. GARLIC. LEEK
Biennial or perennial herbs; scapes from a tunicated bulb, with mostly narrowly
linear basal leaves; herbage usually with the characteristic odor and taste of onions
or garlic; flowers in a terminal simple umbel, subtended by 2 to 4 membranous
separate or united bracts, some or all of the flowers occasionally replaced by
655
-------
bulblets; pedicels slender, not jointed; perianth persistent, its 6 segments white
to purple and distinct or united at the base; stamens inserted on the bases of the
perianth segments; filaments filiform or dilated, sometimes toothed; style filiform,
jointed; capsule obovate-globose, obtusely 3-lobed, often crested, loculicidally
dehiscent; seeds obovoid or ovoid-reniform, wrinkled, black.
A genus of 450 or more species widely distributed in the North Temperate
Zone. Sometimes segregated, with a few other liliaceous genera, as a separate
family, the Alliaceae.
1. Flowering pedicels mostly or entirely replaced by bulbils; flowers rarely pro-
ducing capsules or seeds 1. A. canadense.
I. Umbels floriferous and capsuliferous; bulbils unknown 2. A. Geyeri.
1. Alliuin canadense L. var. canadense. CANADA GARLIC.
Bulb ovoid, without basal bulblets, often one of a cluster; inner bulb coats
whitish, the epidermal cells obscure, vertically elongate, regular or nearly so;
outer bulb coats persisting as a series of grayish or brownish fibrous fine- to
coarse-meshed open reticula, enclosing 1 or more bulbs or soon disintegrating;
fleshy scales 2 to 5, with mild to strong garlic flavor; leaves usually 3 or more
per bulb, channeled, concavo-convex in cross section, 1-5 mm. broad, usually with
entire margins, shorter than the scape, green at anthesis; scape 1.5-5 dm. tall,
terete, solitary; spathe membranaceous, caudate, breaking before anthesis into
usually 3 separate or partially united 3- to 7-nerved bracts that are ovate to
lanceolate and acuminate; umbel with few or no flowers, the pedicels being re-
placed (all or in part) by ovoid bulbils, some of which may in turn bear secondary
umbels; pedicels (when present) 2 to several times the length of the perianth,
elongating and becoming rigid when fruit is produced; perianth broadly cam-
pan ulate; perianth segments 4—7 mm. long, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to acute,
entire, spreading, white or pink, withering in fruit, the midribs somewhat thick-
ened; stamens shorter than the perianth; filaments subulate, dilated and united
into a cup at base; anthers oblong, obtuse to acute; ovary crestless style linear,
about equaling the filaments in length; stigma capitate, entire or obscurely lobed;
seeds black, shining, finely alveolate, and alveoli each with a minute pustule in the
center. A. mutabile Michx.
Roadsides, wet meadows, woods and fields in the e. third of Okla. (Waterfall)
and Tex., Mar.-May; generally distributed throughout e. N.A.
2. Allium Geyeri Wats.
Bulb ovoid or more elongate, without basal bulblets, usually one of a cluster;
inner bulb coats whitish, epidermal cells vertically elongate and regular or obscure;
outer bulb coats persisting as a series of gray or brown fibrous rather coarse-
meshed open reticula, enclosing 1 or more bulbs; fleshy bulb scales 3 or 4, strongly
garlic-flavored; leaves ordinary 3 or more per scape, channeled, concavo-convex
in cross section, 1-5 mm. broad, entire or denticulate on the margins, usually
shorter than the scape, green at anthesis; scape 1-5 dm. tall, terete or somewhat
angled, solitary; spathe membranaceous, acuminate, breaking before anthesis into
2 or 3 separate or partially united ovate to lanceolate acuminate 1-nerved bracts;
umbel 10- to 25- (sometimes more-) flowered, erect; pedicels nearly equal in
length, often less than twice that of the perianth, becoming rigid and stiffly spread-
ing in fruit, usually not flexuous; perianth urceolate-campanulate; perianth seg-
ments 4-10 (usually 6-8) mm. long, ovate to lanceolate, obtuse to acuminate,
erect, pink or white, often obscurely toothed on the margins and papillose on the
midribs, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing the fruit; stamens
usually shorter than the perianth; filaments subulate, dilated and united into a cup
at base; anthers oblong, obtuse or umbonate; ovary inconspicuously crested with 6
656
-------
low rounded knobs that are separate or united in pairs across the septa, becoming
variously developed or obsolete in fruit, usually not more than 0.5 mm. high;
style linear, about equaling the filaments in length; stigma capitate, entire or
obscurely lobed; seeds black, shining, finely alveolate, the alveoli each with a
minute pustule in the center.
Moist open slopes, meadows or stream banks in the Guadalupe Mts. of Tex.,
through N. M. (Bernalillo, Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Union and
Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Pima and
Santa Cruz cos.), June-Aug.; from Tex. to Ariz., Ida., Wash, and s. Alta.
7. Lilium L. LILY
About 80 species that are widely distributed over the North Temperate Zone.
1. Lilium Parryi Wats. LEMON LILY.
Bulb small, about 2.5 cm. in diameter, somewhat rhizomatous, with numerous
jointed scales, 12-20 mm. long; stem slender, 6-12 dm. high, glabrous; leaves
usually scattered, linear-oblanceolate, 10-15 cm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, mostly
acuminate; flowers 1 or 2, rarely more, horizontal, funnelform, pale lemon-yellow
and minutely dotted, very fragrant; pedicels stout, erect, usually 8-10 cm. long;
perianth segments 6-10 cm. long, 8-11 mm. wide, acuminate, the upper third
spreading or the tips finally recurved; anthers oblong, brownish, 6-8 mm. long;
stigma 3-lobed; capsule 4-5 cm. long, about 12 mm. wide, narrowly oblong,
acutish, the lobes not winged nor angled; seeds densely packed in 2 rows in each
cell.
Wet places about mt. springs, meadows and along streams, rare in s. Ariz.
(Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), May-July; also s. Calif.
8. Camassia LINDL. WILD HYACINTH
About 6 species in North America.
1. Camassia scilloides (Raf.) Cory.
Perennial from a tunicated bulb; leaves crowded at base of scape, their bases
clasping and surrounded by a sheathing scarious bract, keeled, elongate, grasslike,
to about 15 mm. wide; scape to 8 dm. high, exceeding the leaves; raceme elongated
and cylindrical; bracts setaceous, usually longer than the pedicels; flowers sweet-
scented, lavender to pale-blue; floral segments distinct, 1-1.4 cm. long, 3-nerved,
spreading or erect; capsule acutely triangular-globose, 3-valved, about 1 cm. long;
seeds roundish, angled, black and shining. Qitamasia hyacinthina (Raf.) Britt.
In sandy or rocky soils in fields, wet meadows, prairies and open woodlands
from cen. Tex. northw. through e.-cen. Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; from Ala.
to Tex., n.e. and n. to Pa., s. Ont., Mich., Wise., la. and Kan.
A phase that blooms later and has small flowers with erect segments is some-
times referred to as C. angustata (Engelm. & Gray) Blank.
9. Smilacina DESF. FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL
About 25 species mostly in temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. STARFLOWER. Fig. 337.
Herbaceous perennial from creeping scaly rootstock; stem ascending or usually
erect, 2-6 dm. tall, leafy, finely pubescent or glabrous; leaves spreading or usually
strongly ascending, mostly folded along midvein, sessile and somewhat clasping,
lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 6-15 cm. long, 2-5 cm. wide, acuminate or
gradually tapering to the acute apex, finely pubescent beneath; raceme short-
peduncled to nearly sessile, 2-5 cm. long, with 2 to several flowers; perianth
segments narrowly lanceolate, white, about 5 mm. long, exceeding the 6 stamens;
657
-------
Fig. 337: a, Trillium texanum: a, habit, X V>. b-d, Smilacina steltata: b, upper part
of plant, X n; c, rhizome, X 1L>; d, flower, X 3."(V. F.).
-------
fruit orbicular, black or green with black stripes, 6-10 mm. in diameter.
In seepage areas, wet meadows, sandy woodlands, shores and prairies, reported
from Okla. (Waterfall), in N. M. (Colfax, Grant and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Graham and Pima cos.), May-July; Nfld. to B.C.,
s. to w. Va., O, Ind., 111., Mo., Kan., N.M, Ariz, and Calif.
10. Streptopus MICHX. TWISTED-STALK
Seven species of temperate North America and Eurasia.
1. Streptopus amplexifolius (L.) DC.
Perennial herb; rootstock short, stout, horizontal, covered with thick fibrous
roots; stem erect, usually branching below the middle, 4-10 dm. high, glabrous;
leaves ovate to lanceolate, 5—15 cm. long, 2.5-5 cm. wide, acuminate at apex,
cordate-clasping at base, glabrous, glaucous beneath; peduncles 2.5-5 cm. long,
1- or 2-flowered; flowers 8-12 mm. long, greenish-white; perianth segments nar-
rowly lanceolate, acuminate, widely spreading or recurved above; anthers subulate-
pointed; stigma entire, obtuse to truncate; berry oval, 10-18 mm. long.
In moist or wet woods, reported from Okla. (Waterfall), in mts. of N. M.
(San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), June-July; Alas, and
Lab. s. to Pa., N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
11. Trillium L. TRILLIUM. WAKE-ROBIN
Perennial scapose herbs with subterranean or creeping tuberlike rhizomes, rarely
producing rhizomatal leaves; scapes 1 or 2 (very rarely 3 or more), each with a
whorl of 3 large foliaceous bracts subtending a solitary perfect flower at the sum-
mit; flowers pedicellate or sessile, 3-merous (occasionally 2-, 4-, or irregularly
parted), with the perianth in 2 distinct series; sepals distinct, usually green, some-
times suffused with purple adaxially; petals distinct, white, pink, yellow, greenish
or purple; anthers linear, adnate to the sides of connective or terminal; ovary
sessile, 3- or 6-angled or -winged; stigmas 3, sessile or on a distinct style; berry
3-locular, few- to many-seeded, indehiscent.
About 40 species in temperate wooded regions of North America and eastern
Asia. Segregated with three closely allied genera by some authors as the family
Trilliaceae.
1. Flowers pedicellate; corolla white or pink; gynoecium with a distinct style
1. T. texanum.
1. Flowers sessile; corolla purple or yellowish-green; gynoecium with sessile
stigmas 2. T. recurvatum.
I. Trillium texanum Buckl. Fig. 337.
Scapes 1-3 dm. tall; bracts sessile or abruptly narrowed into short petioles,
narrowly lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or oblong, obtuse to rounded, upper sur-
face somewhat farinose by the presence of numerous stomates, (3—) 4—6 (—8) cm.
long, (1-) 1.3-2 (-3) cm. wide; flowers on erect pedicels (2.5-) 3-4 (-4.5) cm.
long; sepals spreading, lanceolate, green, usually larger than the petals; petals
spreading, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, acute, often with a short claw, white, be-
coming pink and finally reddish with age, (1.5-) 2-2.5 (-3) cm. long, 7-10 (-14)
mm. wide; stamens 10-14 mm. long, the anthers slightly longer than the white or
pale-green filaments, the connectives often purple; gynoecium about as long as
the stamens, with a distinct style about as long as the ovary and stigmas equal to
or longer than the style; berry triangular-ovoid, sharply 6-ridged at base of per-
sistent style, 8- to 15-seeded.
Extremely rare in low moist woods, bogs and stream banks in Tex. [Cass,
Houston and Panola (type locality) cos.], Mar.-May; replaced in Ark. and s.w.
659
-------
Mo. by T. pusillum Michx. var. ozarkanum (Palm. & Steyerm.) Steyerm.. which
lacks the upper epidermal stomates in the bracts, has thicker rhizomes, and grows
in relatively dry rocky woods.
2. Trillium recurvatum Beck.
Scapes (1.5-) 2^ (-5) dm. tall; bracts with a petiole 1-3 cm. long, narrowly
lanceolate to ovate, acute to slightly acuminate, obscurely mottled with dark-
green, (5-) 7-11 (-18) cm. long, (2-) 4-8 (-12) cm. wide; flower sessile or sub-
sessile (pedicel not more than 3 mm. long); sepals abruptly recurved, narrowly
lanceolate, acute, (1.5-) 2-3 (-4) cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide; petals erect, lanceo-
late to oblanceolate, acute, distinctly clawed, purple or yellowish-green, (2-)
2.5-4 (-5) cm. long, (6-) 10-20 (-26) mm. wide; stamens erect, (8-) 10-15 (-20)
mm. long, the filaments straight and almost as long as the strongly incurved anther
connectives; gynoecium height about even with the bases of the anthers, the
prominently 6-winged angular-ovoid ovary (3-) 4-6 (-8) mm. in height and the
divergent-spreading stigmas about as long; fruit transversely angular-ovoid, dis-
tinctly winged, about 15 mm. in diameter.
Rare on alluvial banks in rich woods and along streams in e. Okla. and e. Tex.
(Nacogdoches and Rusk cos.), Mar.-May; widespread n. into la. and Wis., n.e.
into Ky. and Ind.
Forma Shayi Palm. & Steyerm. Flowers lacking purple pigments; petals yellow
or greenish-yellow; stamens and carpels greenish; occurring with the typical form.
12. Aletris L. COLIC-ROOT. STAR-GRASS
Perennial and smooth stemless herbs, very bitter, with a short and thick
rhizome and a spreading rosette of thin and flat lanceolate leaves; flowers small,
in a spikelike raceme that terminates a slender nearly naked scape; perianth
tubular to campanulate, wrinkled and roughened outside by thickly set points, the
tube adhering to the base of the ovary, 6-cleft at the summit; stamens 6, inserted
at the summit of the perianth tube; filaments and anthers short, included; style
subulate, 3-cleft at the apex; stigmas minutely 2-lobed; capsule ovoid, beaked,
enclosed in the persistent withered perianth; seeds numerous, minute, costate.
About 25 species in Asia and North America.
1. Perianth white, 8-9 mm. long, the lance-oblong lobes recurved-spreading
1. A. farinosa.
1. Perianth yellow, about 7 mm. long, the ovate lobes erect
2. A. aurea.
1. Aletris farinosa L. UNICORN-ROOT. Fig. 338.
Leaves firm, to 2 dm. long; scapes to 1 m. high, usually much smaller, with
remote small bracts; raceme to 3 dm. long, densely to subremotely flowered;
bracts linear or clavate; perianth tubular, 8-9 mm. long, whitish, with granulate
surface, its lance-oblong lobes somewhat recurved-spreading, marcescent, shrink-
ing at maturity and thus often exposing the long abrupt beaks that are about as
long as the plump body of the capsule.
Dry or moist peats, savannahs and boggy areas, sands and gravels, rare in
e. Okla. (Delaware Co.) and s.e. Tex., Mar-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s.w.
Me., s. N.H., cen. Mass., s.e. N.Y., s. Ont., Mich, and Wise.
2. Aletris aurea Walt. YELLOW STAR-GRASS. Fig. 338.
Very similar to A. farinosa; leaves membranaceous, to 12 cm. long; scape to
8 dm. tall or more; raceme remotely flowered; perianth broadly campanulate,
about 7 mm. long, orange-yellow, not so roughened, its short-ovate lobes erect;
beaks of capsules included, about as long as the plump body.
660
-------
Fig. 338: a-c, Aletris aurea: a, habit, X
Aletris farinasa: d, upper part of plant, X
tudinally, X 3; g, capsule, X 3. (V. F.).
b, flower, X 3; c, capsule, X 3. d-g,
e, flower, X 3; f, corolla split longi-
-------
Fig. 339: Sinilax laiirifolia: a, part of stem showing thorns and tendril, X 1; b,
branch with clusters of flowers, X !'>; c, cluster of flowers, X 3; d, staminate flower,
X 5; e. branch with fruit, X ij. (V. F.).
-------
Damp pine-barrens, bogs and savannahs in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e.
Tex., May-July; from Fla. to Tex. and Okla., n. to s.e. Va. and Md.
13. Smilax L. GREEN-BRIER. CAT-BRIER
Shrubby or herbaceous dioecious plants usually climbing or supported by a
pair of tendrils on the petiole of the broad-ribbed and netted-veined simple leaves;
flowers unisexual, the staminate often the larger, in umbels in axillary peduncles,
small, greenish, yellowish or bronze, regular; perianth segments distinct, similar,
deciduous; stamens in the staminate flower 6; filaments slender or flattened, in-
serted on the very base of the perianth; the introrse anthers linear or oblong,
fixed by the base, apparently 1-celled; ovary of fertile flowers 3-celled (1-cell
with single stigma in 5. laurifolia)', stigmas thick and spreading, almost sessile;
ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, pendulous, orthotropous; fruit a small berry.
About 350 species, mostly tropical with few in the Temperate Zone in North
America and eastern Asia. Segregated by some authors as a separate family,
Smilacaceae.
The fruits of green-briers provide winter food for many species of songbirds,
game birds and wild animals, and the herbage is browsed by deer and is occa-
sionally eaten by wildfowl.
1. Leaves evergreen, thick-coriaceous, oblong to oblong-linear or oblong-lanceo-
late to rarely broadly linear, on the underside the midvein in its
lower third more prominent than the laterals, a lateral vein closely
and evenly submarginal; stigma 1; berries black, 1-seeded, ripening
late in the second season after flowering in the previous summer or
fall 1. S. laurifolia.
1. Leaves deciduous, firm-membranous, ovate to triangular-lanceolate, the veins
not as above; stigmas 2 or 3; berries black or red, 1- to 3-seeded,
ripening the same year after flowering in the spring (2)
2(1). Berries black or bluish-black (when glaucous); principal stems and main
branches with stout flattened prickles; leaf blades usually ovate,
abruptly acute to short-acuminate at apex 2. S. rotundifolia.
2. Berries bright-red; stems prickly mostly at the base, the prickles usually sub-
ulate; leaf blades usually ovate-lanceolate to narrowly triangular-
lanceolate, rounded to obtuse and mucronate at apex
3. S. Walteri.
1. Smilax laurifolia L. BAMBOO-VINE, BLASPHEME-VINE. Fig. 339.
Evergreen high-climbing rampant vine, often forming impenetrable entangle-
ments, with knotty-thickened subligneous rhizomes and with strong terete stems
armed (especially below and on vigorous sprouts) with rigid terete prickles;
tendrils intermittent, few or wanting on flowering branchlets; leaves heavily coria-
ceous, short-petioled, with the thick midrib much more prominent beneath than
the 2 to 4 lateral ones, oblong to oblong-linear or -lanceolate, usually coarsely
mucronate, provided with a prominent and evenly submarginal vein, 6-20 cm.
long and 1-7.5 cm. broad; umbels sort-stalked, often crowded and subpaniculate
along the branchlets; stigma solitary, ovary 1-celled; berries becoming black, about
8 mm. in diameter.
Swamps, seepage slopes and low ground in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and
e. Tex., flowering in late summer and autumn of 1st season, lasting over winter;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to NJ. and Tenn.; also W.I.
The leaf margin is often inrolled so that there appear to be 2 closely parallel
veins at the margin.
2. Smilax rotundifolia L. COMMON GREEN-BRIER, HORSE-BRIER.
Tough woody high-climbing vine, from long slender rhizomes, with strong
663
-------
greenish subrigid terete to 4-angled stems and branches bearing stout flattened
prickles; tendrils numerous; leaves shortly petioled, narrowly ovate to suborbic-
ular or reniform, with rounded to cordate bases, bright-green on both sides,
lustrous, thinnish, becoming subcoriaceous, mostly 4.5-10 cm. long, often muric-
ulate on back near base; peduncles to 15 mm. long, ascending to divergent; pedi-
cels 2-7 mm. long; flowers greenish to bronze; berries blue-black, with bloom,
mostly 2- to 3-seeded. Incl. var. quadrangularis (Muhl.) Wood.
Moist to dryish thickets and woods, evergreen shrub bogs, often a noxious
pest in e. Okla. and e. Tex., Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.S., s. Me.,
s. N.H., N.Y., s. Ont., O., Ind., s. 111., s.e. Mo. and Okla.
3. Smilax Waited Pursh. CORAL GREEN-BRIER, RED-BERRIED BAMBOO.
Slender and lithe woody vine, with widely creeping slender rhizomes, clamber-
ing over bushes; lower half of the stem with scattered subulate prickles, the terete
branches nearly or quite without prickles; tendrils numerous; leaves submembrana-
ceous, smooth, green on both sides, when dried very lightly orange-tinged with
brown, ovate to ovate-oblong or triangular-ovate, with rounded bases, rounded
to obtuse and mucronate at apex, mostly 6-12 cm. long and 3-7 cm. broad;
peduncles mostly shorter than petioles; flowers greenish to bronze; berries bright-
red, handsome, persistent over the winter.
Swampy or boggy thickets, low pinelands, rare in e. Tex., Mar.—June; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J.
Fam. 36. Amaryllidaceae ST. HIL. AMARYLLIS FAMILY
Mostly perennial herbs, herbaceous or sometimes with a woody base or with
somewhat woody stems; flowering stems scapose, from a bulb or corm, a short
rootstock or a large woody caudex; leaves of a linear type and entire; flowers
perfect, regular or nearly so; perianth segments 6, distinct or mostly united below
into a tube that is adnate to the ovary; stamens 6, rarely more or only 3, inserted
on the perianth, the filaments free or united in a cup; anthers basifixed or versa-
tile, dehiscing usually by introrse longitudinal slits; ovary inferior, 3-celled; style
3-lobed; fruit usually a 3-valved capsule with loculicidal dehiscence or sometimes
indehiscent; seeds usually numerous.
Broadly interpreted the family probably has nearly 2,000 species in about 100
genera, rather cosmopolitan but mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of both
hemispheres. Some of the species are highly ornamental while others, such as
Agaves, are important economically.
The commonly cultivated Amaryllis Belladonna L., a native of Latin America,
occasionally escapes. It is abundantly spread in and along a slough on the west
edge of Edna in Jackson County, Texas, where it is well-established. It is readily
distinguished by its umbellate cluster of large (to 15 cm. long) reddish to salmon-
color bell-shaped flowers, and its basal cluster of broad, fleshy, strap-shaped
leaves.
1. Flowers with a conspicuous corona above the perianth 1. HymenocaUis
I, Flowers without a corona (2)
2(1). Perianth segments pilose on the outer surface; foliage grasslike, herbaceous,
usually villous or pilose 2. Hypoxis
2. Perianth segments glabrous; foliage mostly broad and fleshy-thickened, rarely
grasslike, glabrous or essentially so (3)
3(2). Flowers several in an umbel; spathes 2, large and broad 6. Crinum
3. Flower solitary; spathe solitary, narrow (4)
664
-------
Fig. 340: Hymenocallis caroliniana: habit, about %. (V. F.).
-------
4(3). Anthers basally dorsifixed; filaments very short 3. Cooperia
4. Anthers medially dorsifixed; filaments well-developed (5)
5(4). Perianth erect; stamens of 2 lengths 4. Zephyranthes
5. Perianth oblique or declinate; stamens of 4 lengths 5. Habranthus
1. Hymenocallis SALISB. SPIDER-LILY
Herbs with scapes and leaves from a rather large tunicated bulb; flowers white
(in ours), showy, essentially sessile in a terminal umbel subtended by 2 or more
usually scarious bracts; perianth tube very slender, elongate, the limb with linear
to narrowly lanceolate spreading segments; crown showy, forming a large con-
spicuous cup that connects the bases of elongate filaments; anthers versatile; capsule
firm, few-seeded.
Forty or mere species in the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere. H.
caymanensis Herb, has been reported from coastal Texas but no material has
been seen. The long (12-16 cm.) perianth tube is characteristic of this species.
1. Flowering from July to September after the leaves begin to wither
1. H. Eulae.
1. Flowering from March to May or sporadically to July, with the leaves (2)
2(1). Free part of filaments 20 mm. long or less; larger perianth segments
usually 5 mm. wide or less; crown 25-35 mm. long; leaves com-
monly less than 20 mm. wide 2. H. Liriosme.
2. Free part of filaments 23-35 mm. long; larger perianth segments usually more
than 5 mm. wide; crown 33-40 mm. long; leaves 18-42 mm. wide
3. H. caroliniana.
1. Hymenocallis Eulae Shinners.
Bulb about 5 cm. in diameter, to 75 mm. long (including neck); scape 6-9 dm.
high; leaves glaucous-green, oblanceolate, to 6 dm. long and 5 cm. wide, slightly
recurved, appearing in late winter and dying off in late spring; spathes lanceolate,
to 4 cm. long; umbel mostly 6- to 9-flowered; flowers snow-white, about 2 dm.
across, fragrant (especially at night); perianth tube 8-12 cm. long, the segments
to 1 dm. long; staminal cup about 65 mm. in diameter, the edges somewhat
lacerate, with sharp points; ovary sessile, about 1 cm. long; filaments 3-4 cm.
long; anthers introrse.
In heavy soils near streams that periodically overflow and seepage slopes in
s.e. Tex., July-Sept.; also La.
2. Hymenocallis Liriosme (Raf.) Shinners.
Bulb with black outer and white inner coat; scape sharply 2-edged, biconvex,
spongy, shriveling to less than half its original width and less than a fourth its
thickness in drying; leaves shining, light-green, to about 4 cm. wide, appearing in
the spring; flowers snowy-white (tinged lemon-yellow in the center and greenish
or yellowish on perianth tube), blooming simultaneously with appearance of leaves,
about 2 dm. in diameter; perianth tube 6-8 cm. long. H. galvestonensis of auth.
Common on stream banks, in ditches and wet places in e. Tex., w. to Red River,
Van Zandt, Kaufman and Victoria cos., Mar.-May; from La. and Tex. to Ark.
and (?) Okla.
3. Hymenocallis caroliniana (L.) Herb. Fig. 340.
Scape 35-53 cm. high; leaves narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic-ligulate, 1.8-4
cm. wide; umbel 3- to 9-flowered; spathe bracts lanceolate, acute to obtusely
acute, to 6 cm. long; flowers sweetly fragrant; perianth segments greenish-white
below, to 1 dm. long; crown 3.3-4 cm. long, the margins irregularly incised; fila-
ments 23-35 mm. long; style exceeding the stamens; fruit globose, usually with
666
-------
2 ovules in each cell. H. occidentalis of auth.
In wet sandy areas, meadows, swamps and marshes in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall)
and e. and s.-cen. Tex., Mar.-May or sporadically to July; from Ga. to Tex., n.
to Ky., Mo. and Ark.
2. Hypoxis L. YELLOW STAR-GRASS
Stemless small herbs with grasslike usually hairy linear or narrowly lanceolate
leaves and slender 1- to several-flowered peduncles from a cormlike short vertical
rhizome; perianth mostly pilose without, its tube completely coherent with the
ovary; perianth segments yellow to whitish within, usually green on the back,
connivent at least after anthesis, usually forming a beaklike crown to the fruit or
rarely deciduous; anthers versatile or rarely basifixed; capsule indehiscent or
longitudinally dehiscent; seeds globular to ellipsoid, with pebbled to muricate or
variously sculptured testa.
More than 100 species, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.
1. Seeds sharply muricate, the projections somewhat awl-shaped and acute
1. H. hirsuta.
1. Seeds reticulate, covered with low smooth rounded pebbling or blunt murica-
tions (2)
2(1). Leaves thin and flaccid, glabrous, narrowly linear-lanceolate, usually more
than 5 mm. wide at about the middle; peduncles mostly 2-flowered;
perianth segments 5-7 mm. long 2. H. leptocarpa.
2. Leaves firm, linear, pilose, 1-4 mm. wide; peduncles usually 1-flowered;
perianth segments 7-12 mm. long 3. H. rigida.
1. Hypoxis hirsuta (L.) Cov. Fig. 341.
Corm subglobose to ellipsoid, 5-20 mm. thick, covered with membranaceous
pale or brown-tinged sheaths that do not become fibrillous; leaves linear, rather
firm, 1-6 dm. long, 1-8 mm. wide; peduncles filiform, stiffish or spreading, 4-35
cm. long, 2- to 7-flowered; pedicels elongate; ovary and capsule densely pilose;
perianth segments lanceolate to elliptic or narrowly ovate, 5-15 mm. long; capsule
ellipsoid, 2-6 mm. long; seeds 0.8-1.3 mm. in diameter, black, lustrous, the outer
coat closely covered with sharp murications. H. erecta L.
In open woods, wet meadows, prairies and pastures in e. half of Okla. and
e. Tex., w. to Wise and Bastrop cos., Mar.-May; from s. N.H. to Man., s. to Fla.
and Tex.
2. Hypoxis leptocarpa Engelm. Fig. 341.
Corm ovoid-cylindric, 10-15 cm. thick; leaves very thin and flaccid, narrowly
linear-lanceolate, tapering below, acuminate and long-attenuate at apex, often
quite glabrous, 2-9 dm. long, about 12 mm. broad; peduncles very slender and
lax, mostly 1- to 3- (rarely 4-) flowered; perianth segments 5-7 mm. long, sub-
glabrous to dorsally pilose; mature capsules 4-10 mm. long, slightly pubescent to
glabrate; seeds black, with blunt murications. H. hirsuta var. leptocarpa (Engelm.)
Brackett.
Wet woods, swamps and bottomlands, often along streams, in s.e. Tex., May-
Aug.; from N. C. to Fla. and Tex.
3. Hypoxis rigida Chapm. Fig. 341.
Corm subcylindric to ellipsoid, 6-15 mm. thick, covered with the stiff bristly
bases of the old sheaths or rarely with membranous slightly disintegrating leaf
bases; leaves rather rigid, linear, 1-4 dm. long, 1-4 mm. wide; peduncles glabrate,
to 3 dm. long, 1- or rarely more-flowered; ovary and capsule pilose; perianth seg-
ments 7-12 mm. long, oblong to lanceolate, acutish, densely pubescent without;
667
-------
Fig. 341: a and b, Zephyranthes pulchella: a, habit, X i£; b, flower, X 21/-), c and d,
Hypoxis hirsula: c. habit, X Vus d, seed (with detail drawn to show surface only at the
edge and in a section), X 20. e, Hypoxis rigida'. e, seed (with detail drawn to show
surface only at the edge and in a section), x 20. f, Hypoxis Icptocarpa: f, seed (with
detail drawn to show surface only at the edge and in a section), X 20. (V. F.).
-------
capsule narrowly obovoid, 1-9 mm. long; seeds about 1 mm. in diameter, black,
opaque or slightly lustrous, covered with short rounded approximate pebbling.
H. humilis Tharp.
Low pine barrens, sandy soil in prairies and on edge of bogs in s.e. Tex., Apr.-
July; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C.
3. Cooperia HERB. RAIN-LILY
About 6 or 7 species, one in South America, the others from northern Mexico,
through Texas to Kansas, west to New Mexico and east to southwestern Louisiana.
1. Cooperia Drummondii Herb. CEBOLLETA. Fig. 342.
Quite variable; bulb large, subglobose, 2x3 cm., the neck 2-9 cm. long, the
tunics black; leaves -2 to 5, narrow-linear, gray-green, tending to be glaucous,
erect or declinate, 3 dm. long; scape 10-33 cm. high; spathe about 4 cm. long,
slit or looped at the tip, with its tube about 11 cm long and greenish, often fading
red; stipe none; flowers most frequently in the fall, sometimes in the summer, less
frequently in the spring, white, the very slender tube 8-18 cm. long; perianth
limb opening flat, white, pink-tinted on the outer surface; calyx lobes ovate to
lanceolate, 24 mm. long, 13 mm. wide, with blunt tips, the corolla lobes just
slightly smaller; flower expanding in the evening, sometimes lasting up to 4 days
before it withers; anthers erect, creamy-yellow, 9 mm. long, attached one-third of
length from base, filaments 4-8 mm. long; style white, sometimes shorter than the
tube, sometimes exceeding the stamens; capsule trilocular; seeds flat, black
D-shaped. Zephyranthes Herbertiana D. Dietr., Z. brazosensis (Herb.) Traub.
The most widely distributed Cooperia known, with its greatest frequency in Tex.,
but occurring from n. Mex. to Kan., N.M. and La., in low wet areas, swales and
depressions, sometimes on saline flats, May-Sept.
4. Zephyranthes HERB. RAIN-LILY. ZEPHYR-LILY
Bulb globose or subglobose, tunicated, usually dark-brown; leaves linear, grass-
like, with margins essentially parallel; scape hollow, slender, single-flowered, from
a tubular spathe that is sometimes fenestrate but usually is 2-notched at apex;
flower regular, erect to suberect, funnelform with short to long tube, the limb
segments about equal; anthers erect to suberect, becoming versatile after anthesis,
orange, affixed below the middle; stigma trifid, the lobes filiform to globose; cap-
sule tricolor, rarely 4-celled; seeds few or many per cell, black, flat, D-shaped.
About 50 species in the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere. The South
American Z. Candida Herb, escapes from cultivation and tends to become natu-
ralized in southeast Texas (Liberty, Orange and Jefferson cos.). It has white flowers
that are usually tinged rose on the outside, and leaves that are slightly thickened
or raised on the edges.
1. Flowers bright (buttercup)-yellow, unscented; perianth tube 5 mm. long;
stigma capitate and distinctly 3-lobed 1. Z. pulchella.
1. Flowers a lighter yellow, with decided fragrance; perianth tube 15-24 mm.
long; stigma shortly 3- lobed 2. Z. refugiensis.
1. Zephyranthes pulcheUa J. G. Sm. Fig. 341.
Bulbs globose, 1-2 cm. in diameter; leaves 3 or 4, appearing with flower,
usually 2 dm. long or less but occasionally to 3 dm. long, to 3.5 mm. wide; flowers
yellow, usually appearing after heavy rains, unscented; perianth erect, 2 cm. long;
tube 5 mm. long; stamens inserted at the throat, about 1 cm. long; suberect anthers
curved; filaments diverse at anthesis; style equal to the stamens; stigma capitate,
3-lobed. Atamosco pulchella (J. G. Sm.) Greene, Z. chrysantha Greenm. &
Thomps.
669
-------
Fig. 342: a and b, Sisyrinchiiim demissum: a. habit, x ',4; b, flower and capsules,
x 2'o. c-f, Cooperia Drummondii: c, bulb and basal part of plant, x \i>; d, upper part of
plant, x 'j; e, inner perianth spread to show stamens, x 2\->\ f, capsule, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Most often in swales and roadside ditches, throughout s. Tex. Coastal Prairies
from Corpus Christi to Brownsville and westw., May-Oct.; endemic.
2. Zephyranthes rufugiensis F. B. Jones
Bulb subglobose, 2-2.5 cm. in diameter, slightly broader than high, the neck
4-5 cm. long; leaves to 25 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide at base and to 4 mm. at widest
point; flowers dark-lemon-yellow (but lighter in color than those of Z. pulchella),
appearing after heavy rains from July to Nov., reported to be fragrant; perianth
erect, to 45 mm. long, the limb funnelform, the yellowish-green tube 15-23 mm.
long; anthers suberect and curved, the filaments semipatent; stigma shortly 3-lobed.
In open swales on prairies or in brushy pastures over a 200 square mile area
mostly in Refugio Co., but to some extent in adjoining Goliad Co., Texas.
A hybrid close to Z. pulchella with some introgression from Cooperia Drum-
mondii; endemic.
5. Habranthus HERB. COPPER LILY
About 20 species in subtropical and warm temperate regions, mostly South
America; we have one species.
1. Habranthus texanus (Herb.) Steud.
Bulb ovoid, about 2 cm. in diameter; leaves basal, following the flower, short,
narrowly linear; scape slender, to about 3 dm. tall, 1-flowered; spathe bifid, about
25 mm. long; perianth orange-yellow, sometimes tinged reddish on outer surface,
25-30 mm. long, broadly infundibuliform, somewhat zygomorphic and declinate,
the subequal linear-oblong segments to 1 cm. wide and rounded-apiculate at apex;
stamens fasciculate, unequal, of 4 different lengths; capsule subglobose, 3-lobed
and -angled, about 15 mm. wide. Zephyranthes texana Herb., Atamosco texana
(Herb.) Greene.
In water among grasses, swales, moist pasturelands and other such places in
e. Tex., w. to the Edwards Plateau and along the coast to the Rio Grande Plains,
Aug.-Oct; endemic.
6. Crinum L.
Bulbous, the neck of the bulb often columnar like a caudex; leaves basal, often
persistent, broad and thick, strap-shaped, not narrowed at base; flowers white or
whitish, in some species striped or tinged with red, few or many in an umbel
subtended by 2 large broad spathe valves, the pedicels short or none, the scape
solid; perianth tube equaling or exceeding the essentially equal segments; stamens
inserted at throat; filaments long and usually declinate; ovary inferior, globose to
oblong or oval, with few ovules in each cell; style long, slender; stigma small,
capitate; capsules bursting irregularly; seeds large, green.
About 100 species in warm temperate or tropical regions in both hemispheres.
Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.) Milne-Redhead & Schweickerdt has been re-
ported from Texas but no material has been seen of this plant. This species, a
native of South Africa, is commonly cultivated. It may be distinguished by its
outward-curved or even drooping flowers with contiguous and often declinate
stamens and styles.
1. Perianth segments much shorter than the tube 1. C. americanum.
1. Perianth segments longer than the tube 2. C. strictum.
1. Crinum americanum L. SOUTHERN SWAMPLILY. Fig. 343.
Bulbs stoloniferous, 5-12 cm. in diameter, the neck short; scape to 9 dm. tall
or more; leaves narrowly liguliform, to 15 dm. long and 5 cm. wide, sparingly
denticulate; flowers white, sometimes marked with pink, fragrant, salverform,
671
-------
Fig. 343: Crinum americanum: a, habit, x %; b, section of leaf, x 4; c, sections of
leaf at different levels to show leaf shape, with the curved section at top showing the
leaf at the base to the flat section toward the tip of the leaf, x 5; d, capsules, x %; e,
seed, x if). (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2 to 6 in an umbel, essentially sessile; spathe valves broadly lanceolate, acuminate,
5-9 cm. long; perianth tube very slender, greenish, 10-12 cm. long; perianth
segments much shorter than the tube, to about 15 mm. wide; stamens spreading,
prominent; capsule globose, about 3 cm. in diameter, strongly beaked.
In swamps, marshes, edge of water in ditches and lakes, in s.e. and s.-coastal
Tex., May-Nov.; from Fla. and Ga. to Tex.
2. Crinum strictum Herb.
Bulb small, ovoid, without a distinct neck; leaves 6, evergreen, suberect, to
about 4 dm. long and 5 cm. wide, narrowly linear-lanceolate, bluntly acute at
apex, with hyaline margins that are minutely toothed at varying intervals to 8
mm. apart; scape flattish, with rounded edges, rusty-reddish in lower third, to 3
dm. long; spathe valves lanceolate, the margins infolded, streaked reddish over
moderate yellow-green, to 9 cm. long and 25 mm. wide at base, tapering to a
bluntly acute to truncately notched apex; umbel 3- or 4-flowered; buds creamy-
white streaked reddish for the most part on outside, upright at first then nodding
slightly below; flowers fragrant, on pedicels 3-4 mm. long; perianth tube perma-
nently slightly curved in upper fourth, 85 mm. long, 5-7 mm. in diameter;
perianth segments white and streaked reddish on outer surface, narrowly lanceo-
late, acute-apiculate, about 11 cm. long and 15 mm. wide; stamens and styles red
in upper three-fourths, prominently exserted; stamens 65 mm. long; anthers 13
mm. long; ovary oblong, 14 cm. long, about 9 mm. in diameter; style 32 mm.
longer than the stamens; stigma minute.
In wet soils, rare in s.e. Tex.
Var. Traubii Moldenke differs from var. strictum in its 7-flowered umbel,
longer foliage that is deeper green in color, and flowers not so erect. Occurring
with the species.
Fam. 37. Iridaceae Juss. IRIS FAMILY
Perennial or annual mostly caulescent herbs with short or long rootstocks;
leaves equitant, mostly elongate; flowers perfect, mostly regular, arising from
spathelike bracts; perianth composed of an outer and inner series of 3 segments
each; stamens 3, the filaments partially adnate to the perianth; carpels 3, united;
ovary inferior; styles entire or variously divided, sometimes petal-like; ovules few
to many; fruit a loculicidal 3-valved capsule.
About 1,000 species in nearly 60 genera of wide geographic distribution.
1. Roots clustered at base of plant, fibrous or tuberous-thickened; plants delicate,
mostly less than 4 dm. tall; leaves grasslike; perianth tube absent
1. Sisyrinchium
1. Rootstock a rhizome; plants coarse, usually much more than 4 dm. tall; leaves
broad; perianth tube present 2. Iris
1. Sisyrinchium L. BLUE-EYED GRASS
Annual or perennial herbs; roots fibrous to tuberlike; leaves grasslike; flowers
single or in small clusters; perianth regular; tepals similar, often alternating wide
and narrow; stamens united into a column or free to the base.
About 125 species in the Western Hemisphere.
1. Flowers variously colored, not blue; plants usually annual (2)
1. Flowers blue to blue-purple, sometimes white in blue populations or white;
plants perennial, with simple stems or sessile spathes (6)
2(1). Distribution Arizona in our region (3)
2. Distribution central Texas eastward (4)
673
-------
3(2). Pedicels erect or ascending; perianth 8-12 mm. long; anthers 2-3 mm.
long 1. S. longipes.
3. Pedicels spreading or recurved; perianth 3-5 mm. long; anthers 0.5-1.5 mm.
long 2. 5. cernuum.
4(2). Ovaries and capsules 1.5 times as long as broad 3- •$• minus.
4. Ovaries and capsules subglobose to broadly oblong (5)
5(4). Flower variously colored, not yellow; tepals 9-16 mm. long; capsules
3-4.2 mm. wide 4. S. rosulatum.
5. Flowers yellow with red-brown eye ring; tepals 5-10 mm. long; capsules
2.7-3.5 mm. wide 5. S. exile.
6(1). Stems without leafy bracts (7)
6. Stems with leafy bracts (10)
7(6). Spathes dry and brown, often tinged violet 6. S. sagittiferum.
1. Spathes dark-green to yellow-green, sometimes purple at nodes (8)
8(7). Floral bracts about the same length 11. 5. biforme.
8. Outer floral bract much longer than the inner (9)
9(8). Plants of central and south Texas, drying olive-green
12. S. dimorphum.
9. Plants of north Texas, drying light-green 7. S. montanum.
10(6). Stems broadly winged with each wing as broad as the stem and at least
1 mm. wide 8. S. angustifolium.
10. Stems not broadly winged (11)
11(10). Plants very erect; stems 5 to 7 times as long as the peduncles
9. S. atlanticum.
11. Plants spreading to erect; stems shorter to 3 times as long as the peduncles
(12)
12(11). Spathes dry and brown, usually tinged violet 6. S. sagittiferum.
12. Spathes green, sometimes purple at nodes (13)
13(12). Pedicels 6-11 mm. longer than the spathes; capsules upright; plants
erect; stems few or solitary 10. S. demissum.
13. Pedicels shorter, to 4-5 (-10) mm. longer than the spathes; capsules spread-
ing to pendent; plants spreading to erect; stems often numerous (14)
14(13). Mature capsules broadly oblong, 5-7 mm. high; tepals 7-13 mm. long;
wings and stems drying about the same color 11. 5. biforme.
14. Capsules globose to subglobose, 4-5 mm. high; tepals 5-8 mm. long; wings
drying dark, the stems light 12. S. dimorphum.
1. Sisyrinchium longipes (Bickn.) Kearn. & Peeb.
Plants 1.5-3 dm. tall, dull green and glaucescent; leaves about half the height
of the plant; flowers several on pedicels much-exserted from bracts; tepals 8-12
mm. long, orange-yellow with orange or brownish veins; capsules broadly oblong
to oblong-obovoid, 5-7 mm. high, 4-5 mm. wide, erect and contiguous.
In springy places and open spruce and pine woods in Ariz. (Apache, Cochise,
Coconino, Graham and Pima cos.), July-Sept.; also n. Mex.
2. Sisyrinchium cernuum (Bickn.) Kearn.
Plants in small tufts 7-18 cm. tall, dull green and glaucescent, from a cluster
of delicate roots; leaves equal to or shorter than the stems; flowers small; tepals
3-5 mm. long, yellow, obtuse, dark-lineate; capsules subglobose to somewhat
pyriform, 3-5 mm. high, nodding on slender recurved pedicels that are exserted
from the bracts.
Along a stream in Ariz. (Cochise Co.), Mar.; also Mex.
674
-------
3. Sisyrinchium minus Engelm. & Gray.
Plants prostrate to erect, 4-22 cm. tall, often forming rosettes; stems with
1 or 2 leafy nodes and a leafy bract; spathes often broad and foliaceous; outer
floral bract 5—10 mm. longer than inner; pedicels usually shorter than floral bracts;
flowers usually lavender-pink to purple-rose, occasionally white, rarely yellow;
capsule 4-5 mm. high, recurving to pendent. S. Thurowii Coult. & Fish.
In sandy or silty soil, occasionally in bogs, in s. Coastal Plains to cen. Tex.,
Man-May; also La., introd. elsewhere.
4. Sisyrinchium rosulatum Bickn.
Plants usually erect, 13-36 cm. tall; leaves 2-4 mm. wide, one fourth to one
half the height of plant; flowers vary from white to lavender-rose, with rose-purple
eye ring; filaments free about 0.5 mm.; base of staminal column urn-shaped.
S. laxum of auth.
Weedy along roadsides and old fields, sometimes in bogs or wet meadows, from
Gulf Coast to s.e. Tex., Apr-May; Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C., Ark.; nat. of S.A.
Hybridizes with S. exile giving flower colors of mauve, scarlet or yellow, with
or without variously colored eye ring and stripes along veins.
5. Sisyrinchium exile Bickn.
Plants 5—19 cm. tall, usually erect; stems sometimes simple; leaves 0.5—3 mm.
wide; filaments free about 0.5 mm.; staminal column urn-shaped at base. S.
Brownii Small, S. micmnthum of auth.
Sandy roadsides and old fields, occasionally in bogs and wet soils, from Gulf
Coast to s.e. Tex., Apr.-May; Fla. to Tex.; nat. to S.A.
Hybridizes with S. rosulatum.
6. Sisyrinchium sagittiferum Bickn.
Plants 1-3 dm tall, with fibrillose fibers at base; leaves erect, one half to three
fourths height of plant; floral bracts equal or outer to 3 cm. longer than inner;
flowers blue-purple; capsules 3-4 mm. high, on spreading pedicels. S. texanum
Bickn. (hybrid form).
In low wet areas in e. Tex., occurs mostly in hybrid form n. of Gulf Coast,
Mar.—Apr.; also La.
7. Sisyrinchium montanum Greene.
Plants 20-35 cm. tall; leaves 2-3 mm. wide and one third to as tall as the
plant; flowers blue; tepals 8-10 mm. long; capsules 6-7 mm. high.
River bottoms in e. Panhandle of Tex., Apr.-June; Nfld. to n. B.C., s. to Que.,
s. Ont, N.Y., n. Ind., n. 111., Neb. and Tex.
8. Sisyrinchium angustifoliuni Mill.
Plants 15-30 cm. tall, erect to slightly spreading, branched or simple and
branched on same plant, drying olive-green, darkening with age; basal leaves
erect, one fourth to three fourths as high as the plant; peduncles 1 to 3, 1-5 mm.
longer than the subtending leafy bract; outer floral bract longer than inner;
flowers blue to blue-violet, rarely white; capsules 4-5.5 mm. high, on erect or
recurving pedicels. S. bermudianum of auth., S. graminoides Bickn., S. gramineum
Curt. Differs somewhat from plants of e. U.S.
In low wet areas in e. Okla. (Adair and McCurtain cos.) and e. Tex., Apr.-
May; Fla. to Tex., n. to s.e. Nfld., s. Que., s. Ont, O., Ind., 111., Mo. and e.
Kan.
9. Sisyrinchium atlanticum Bickn.
Plants erect from coarse roots, 23-57 cm. tall, drying light-green, fibers present
or absent at base; stems 17-43 cm. long; peduncles 3-7 cm. long; flowers blue,
675
-------
occasionally white; tepals 8-11 mm. long; capsules 4-5 mm. high, drying dark.
In wet areas of s.e. Tex., Apr-May; Fla. to Tex., n. to n. N. S., N. Y., n. 0.,
s. Mich, and Ark.
10. Sisyrinchium demissum Greene. Fig. 342.
Plants 22-72 cm. tall, drying light-green; stems erect, 1-3 mm. wide, the
wings about one half the width of stems; leaves 2-3 mm. wide, less than one half
the height of plant; peduncles to 17 cm. long; tepals blue, 1 cm. long; capsules
6—7 mm. high. 5. longipedunculaiu.ni Bickn.
Along streams in wet meadows and grasslands and springy places in Guadalupe
Mts. (Culberson Co.) and High Plains (Hemphill Co.) of Tex., w. through N. M.
(rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache and Greenlee cos. to Coconino and
Yavapai cos.), June-Sept.; from Tex. to Calif., n. to Ore., Colo.; also n. Mex.
11. Sisyrinchium biforme Bickn.
Plants erect, 14-38 cm. tall; roots coarse; stems very narrowly winged; leaves
1-3 mm. wide; capsules 6-7 mm. high.
In sandy, usually wettish, soil of beaches and offshore islands of Tex., Dec.-
June; also La. ?; Mex.
12. Sisyrinchium dimorphum R. Oliv.
Plants 9-32 cm. tall, drying olive-green; roots coarse; stems with or without
leafy bracts, the wings less than one half the width of stem; leaves one half to
three fourths the height of plant; flowers blue, sometimes white; tepals 5-9 mm.
long, 1.5-3 mm. wide; capsules about 5 mm. high.
Along streams in Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos of Tex., Apr.-July; also n.
Mex.
2. Iris L. IRIS. FLEUR-DE-LIS
Perennials from a creeping more or less tuberous rhizome; leaves ensiform or
lanceolate, commonly broadly grasslike; flowers large and showy, mostly purplish
or bluish (in ours); tube of the perianth commonly extended beyond the ovary;
stamens distinct, the linear or oblong anthers sheltered under the over-arching
petal-like branches of the style that bear the stigma in the form of a thin !ip or
plate under the apex; most of the style connate with the perianth segments to
form a tube; capsule 3- or 6-angled, usually coriaceous; seeds depressed-flattened
or plump, usually in 2 rows in each cell.
More than 200 species in the Northern Hemisphere, most frequent in Asia.
Cultivated Iris tend to maintain themselves about abandoned farms and home-
steads, the most common of these are /. pallida Lam., /. tingitana Boiss. & Reut.
and /. xiphium L.
Muskrats and beavers, as well as wildfowl and marsh birds, are known to eat
various parts of some species.
1. Distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona in our region
1. /. missouriensis.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and Texas eastward (2)
2(1). Flowers bright- to golden-yellow throughout or dark-red to reddish-brown
(3)
2. Flowers in shades of blue to purplish-blue or rarely whitish (4)
3(2). Flowers bright- to golden-yellow throughout; tepals entire at apex; capsule
3-angled; introduced species 2. /. Pseudacorus.
3. Flowers.dark-red to reddish- or coppery-brown; tepals notched at apex; capsule
6-angled; native species 3. /. fulva.
676
-------
Fig. 344: Iris missouriensis: a, top of plant, x %; b, rhizome, x %; c, style, x 1;
d, capsules, x V2. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 345: Iris pseudacorus: a, habit, X V*', b, outer segment, x \'»\ c, inner segment,
'u; d, capsule open, x ]j; e, seed, x 1. (V.F.; in part from Small in Addisonia 12:
1 O f \
PI. 386).
-------
4(2). Leafy bract subtending spathes less than or slightly longer than the spathes,
or absent; ovary and capsule 3-angled 4. /. virginica.
4. Leafy bract subtending spathes usually more than twice as long as the spathes;
ovary and capsule 6-angled (5)
5(4). Largest leaves mostly about 15 mm. wide, essentially erect; inner 3
segments usually notched at apex
5. /. hexagona var. flexicaulis.
5. Largest leaves more than 20 mm. wide, arcuate-spreading; inner 3 perianth
segments rounded to subacute at apex 6. /. brevicaulis.
1. Iris missouriensis Nutt. WESTERN IRIS. Fig. 344.
Perennial herb with stout, creeping rootstock; stem slender, simple, terete,
3-5 dm. tall; equitant leaves usually basal, shorter than or as long as the stem,
4-10 mm. wide; bracts scarious, 4-7 cm. long, acute; pedicels 2-8 cm. long;
perianth segments 6-clawed, united below into a tube 5-8 mm. long, the 3 outer
segments broad, spreading or reflexed, 5-7 cm. long, glabrous, without crest, the
3 inner segments somewhat shorter, erect, narrow, white to blue, often with
darker veins; capsule 3-7 cm. long, 6-angled; seeds 4 mm. long, obovate.
Wet mt. meadows in N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Cochise
and Coconino cos.), May-Sept.; N. D. to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
2. Iris Pseudacorus L. YELLOW-FLAG. Fig. 345.
Rhizome stout and extensively spreading; leaves erect, somewhat arched and
nodding at tip, linear-attenuate, about 2 cm. wide, forming clumps to about 1 m.
tall; flowering stalk stout, erect, about as tall as clump of leaves, with 1 or 2 short
leafy bracts; flowers 1 or 2 together at apex of flower stalk, also often in the
axil of the upper leaf; involucral bracts 2, shorter than flower; the 3 outer perianth
segments 5-8 cm. long and arching, clear-yellow or sometimes with flecks of
brown at base and on claw, with suborbicular to ovate blade and a broad claw
with involute edges; the 3 inner perianth segments yellow, linear to linear-
pandurate, obtuse, to about 25 mm. long; capsule cylindric-prismatic to ellipsoid,
5-8 cm. long, bright-green, often lustrous, turgid, bluntly 3-angled; seeds sub-
orbicular or somewhat angular from pressure, corky, about 7 mm. in diameter.
Usually standing in 1 to 3 feet of water in ponds, in open woods, rare in s.e.
Tex. (known only from Hardin Co.), Apr.-May; introd. from Euras. and Afr.,
rather aggressive as an escape from cult.
3. Iris fulva Ker. RED-FLAG. Fig. 346.
Rhizome rather stout, widely spreading, with scars or fibers of decayed leaves;
leaves erect, linear-attenuate, to about 9 dm. long; flower stalk rather slender,
erect, slightly fractiflex, often overtopping the leaves; flowers 1 or 2 at summit
of flower stalk, often also in axils of 1 or 2 upper stem leaves; involucral bracts 2,
the longer attenuate one exceeding the flower; the 3 outer perianth segments red
to copper-colored, spreading-arching, 45-55 mm. long, with oval to obovate-oval
apically notched blade and a short paler claw; the 3 inner perianth segments
red to copper-colored, narrowly obovate to elliptic-obovate, cuneate at base and
notched at apex, about two thirds as long as outer perianth segments; capsule
ellipsoid to oval, 45-55 mm. long, green, not beaked but sometimes constricted
near apex, 6-angled, rather thick-walled; seeds orbicular to semiorbicular, about
7 mm. in diameter.
In marshes and wet meadows, ditches and on stream banks, reported from e.
Tex. but no specimen seen, spring; Ga. to e. Tex. (?), Mo. and Ky.
679
-------
d 'fruit 3t6i:
S£gment' X %; c' inner seement, x %;
-------
Fig. 347: Iris virginica: a, base of plant, x %; b, flowering stem, x %; c, outer seg-
ment, x %; d, inner segment, x %; e, style branches, x %; f, fruiting stem, x %; g,
section of capsule, x %; h, seeds, x 1%. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
4. Iris virginica L. SOUTHERN BLUE FLAG. Fig. 347.
Rhizome stout; leaves rather flaccid; basal leaves buff or pale-brown at base,
soon arched-recurving or falling to ground; flowering stem weak, to 1 m. high,
simple or somewhat branched in the inflorescence, soon low-arching and maturing
fruit on the ground or in water; spathe bracts firm, usually subherbaceous, to 14
cm. long; the 3 outer perianth segments with obovate to oval-obovate blade 3-4
cm. wide, with prominent yellow midrib expanding to a broad bright-yellow
pubescent patch at base (the elongate hairs as long as thickness of blade); the
3 inner perianth segments obovate to obovate-spatulate, two thirds or four fifths
as large as sepals; capsule ovoid to ellipsoid or thick-cylindric, 3-11 cm. long,
13-25 mm. thick, 3-angled, often asymmetrical, brittle-walled, dull or scarcely
lustrous on inner surface, early disintegrating; seeds rounded to irregularly D-
shaped, 3-6 mm. thick at back, 5-8 mm. wide, with an irregularly deep-pitted
brittle corky coat. 1. caroliniana Wats., I. versicolor of auth.
In marshes, wet savannahs and pinelands, shallow water in ditches and in soggy
meadows in e. Okla. (Cherokee and Ottawa cos) and e. Tex., Apr.-June; from
Fla. to Tex. and Okla., n. to e. Va.
Those plants with a branched, not simple, inflorescence and with capsules 7-11
cm. long have been segregated as var. Shrevei (Small) Anders. (I. Shrevei
Small).
5. Iris hexagona Walt. var. flexicaulis (Small) Foster. Fig. 348.
Rhizome rather stout; leaves erect, mostly 3 to 5 together, pale-green and more
or less glaucous, linear-attenuate, mostly 1—2 cm. wide; flower stalk erect, rather
stout or slender, shorter than the basal leaves, exceptionally leafy, fractiflex,
glaucescent; flowers paired or 3 together at top of stem or sometimes solitary
and 1 and 2 together in the axils of the stem leaves; involucral bracts 2, not folia-
ceous, exceeded by the flowers; perianth tube cylindric-prismatic, almost 13 mm.
long; the 3 outer perianth segments broadly spatulate, obovate, 5-7 cm. long,
about 25 mm. wide, spreading or recurved at tip, bright-violet except basal part
which is yellowish-green; inner 3 perianth segments shorter than the outer ones,
narrowly spatulate, notched at apex, somewhat spreading, deep-violet, the claw
somewhat brownish; style branches nearly 5 cm. long, broadly linear, reddish-
violet except the paler margins; anthers shorter than filaments; capsule ellipsoid to
oval or somewhat obovoid, 5-7.5 cm. long, 6-angled, somewhat glaucous, the
walls thick; seeds brown, corky.
Lowland and marshy areas in s.e. Tex., Mar.-May; also La.
6. Iris brevicaulis Raf.
Rhizomes rather slender, 10-25 mm. in diameter; stem fractiflex, loosely ascend-
ing to depressed, compressed, 15-53 cm. high; basal leaves lax, 3-6 dm. long or
more, 15-35 mm. wide; spathes terminal and subsessile or short-peduncled from
all but lowest axils, subtended by broad and very prolonged leafy bracts 2-6 dm.
long or more; spathe bracts subequal, to 5 cm. long, the outer pair green, the
inner pair scarious-margined; flower deep-blue or blue-purple; ovary prominently
6-angled; the 3 outer perianth segments 7-9.5 cm. long, 2.5-3 cm. wide, the
ovate blade slightly longer than the greenish-yellow dark-striped claw, the latter
with a yellowish-white summit; the 3 inner perianth segments oblanceolate,
slightly shorter than the sepals; style branches greenish, with entire or toothed
subquadrate to semiovate crests; capsule 6-angled, ovoid to ellipsoid, 3-5 cm.
long; seeds irregularly circular, with thick coat. /. foliosa Mack. & Bush.
Swamps, wet meadows, damp woods, marshes and bottomlands in e. Tex., Apr.-
June; from Ala. to Tex., n. to O., Ind., 111., Mo. and Kan.
682
-------
Fig. 348: Iris hexagona: a, top of plant, x %; b, habit, fruiting plant, x %; c, sepal,
x %; d, petal, x %; e, style branches, x %; f, anther, x %; g, capsule, about x %; h,
cross section of capsule, about X %; i, seed, x 22. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fam. 38. Cannaceae Juss. CANNA FAMILY
Perennial erect herbs with branched or unbranched stems and large alternate
leaves with sheathing petioles; flowers perfect, zygomorphic, mostly showy, borne
in terminal thyrsoid panicles; sepals 3, erect, greenish and bractlike; petals 3,
more or less united to form a tube; stamens more or less adnate to the corolla,
with one filament anther-bearing, the others becoming showy staminodia; ovary
inferior, 3-celled, with the placentae parietal; style petaloid, the stigma marginal.
A solitary genus of about 55 species, mostly in tropical America.
1. Canna L. CANNA. INDIAN-SHOT
Characters of the family.
1. Flowers red; plant not glaucous; leaves rounded at base 1. C. indica.
I. Flowers yellow; leaves tapered at base (2)
2(1). Petals becoming reflexed; tube about 5 cm. long, prominent; plant green;
leaves oblong-lanceolate 2. C. flaccida.
2. Petals remaining erect or strongly ascending; tube about 2 cm. long; plant
glaucous; leaves narrowly lanceolate 3. C. gkuca.
1. Canna indica L. INDIAN-SHOT
Plant slender, to about 12 dm. tall, the herbage deep-green and glabrous; leaves
oblong-elliptic, 2-4 dm. long, to about 2 dm. wide; flowers small, usually in pairs,
red or reddish, not especially showy; floral bracts suborbicular; sepals 1-1.5 cm.
long, exceeding the perianth tube; corolla lobes 3-3.5 cm. long, much longer than
the tube; staminodia linear to narrowly spatulate or oblanceolate, flat, about 5 cm.
long; capsule 25-35 mm. long.
Commonly cult, and escaped to low wet grounds along the Gulf Coastal Plain
from Fla. to Tex., summer-fall; nat. of E. I.
2. Canna flaccida Salisb. Fig. 349.
Plant to 75 cm. high, the herbage green throughout; leaves oblong-lanceolate,
to 6 dm. long and 13 cm. wide; raceme simple, loose and few-flowered, with very
small bracts, erect; flowers yellow, showy, soft or flaccid in texture; sepals about
25 mm. long; corolla tube about 5 cm. long; petals yellow, strongly reflexed,
nearly as long as the tube; upper staminodia 3, rounded, 5-7.5 cm. long, the lip
orbicular.
About lakes and in marshes and swamps along the coast in s. Tex., Apr.-Iune;
from S. C. to Fla. and Tex.
3. Canna glauca L.
Plant to 9 dm. high, the herbage green and glaucous; leaves narrowly lanceo-
late, to at least 6 dm. long and usually 1 dm. or less wide, tapering both to the
base and to the long-acuminate apex, typically white hyaline-edged; raceme rather
loose, erect, simple or forked, little-exceeding the leaves; floral bracts orbicular;
flowers clear-yellow, narrow and erect; sepals green, about 12 mm. long; petals
4-5 cm. long, the tube about 2 cm. long; upper staminodia 3, entire, to 75 mm.
long and 2 cm. broad; lip narrow, emarginate.
In marshes and swamps along the coast in s. Tex., Apr.-July; from s. Tex.
and Mex. s. to S.A. and W.I.
684
-------
Fig. 349: Canna flaccida: a, part of stem, x %; b, top of plant, x ty; c, capsules
%; d, capsule showing seed, about x 1. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey)."
-------
Fam. 39. Marantaceae PETERS. ARROWROOT FAMILY
Herbs with alternate or basal sheathing leaves provided with a joint at the
summit of the petiole; flowers perfect, typically 3-merous; sepals separate, usually
green and similar or only slightly dissimilar; petals 3, separate or united at base,
forming an irregular corolla; stamens of the outer circle reduced to 2 or 1, these
modified into staminodia and often petaloid; stamens of the inner circle 3, 1
staminodes, the third only half-staminode and half-fertile; ovary inferior, 3-celled
or by abortion 1-celled; ovule solitary and erect in each cell; fruit fleshy or
capsular; seeds arillate.
About 26 genera and 400 species, all tropical except ours.
1. Thalia L.
Characteristics of the family. About a dozen species found in America and
Africa.
1. Thalia dealbata Roscoe. POWDERY-THALIA. Fig. 350.
Erect scapose herbs from strong rhizomes, with large basal long-petioled leaves;
leaves 3, the blades ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate and 2-4 dm. long;
scapes 1-2 dm. tall; inflorescence more or less white-powdery; flowers purplish,
in panicled spikes, each surrounded by several coriaceous bracts; corolla tube
short; staminodia petaloid, somewhat connate, the largest deflexed and lip-like;
ovary 1-celled; fruit a capsule. T. barbata Small.
In -water of ditches, edge of ponds and in swamps in s.e. Okla. (Johnston and
McCurtain cos.), e. and s e. Tex., Oct.-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex. and Okla., n. to
S. C. and s.e. Mo.
Fam. 40. Burmanniaceae BL. BURMANNIA FAMILY
Small annual or perennial herbs, commonly with grasslike basal leaves and/or
alternate minute bractlike leaves on the stem, saprophytic or autophytic; flowers
solitary or several in a terminal cluster or cyme, or racemosely scattered on upper
part of stem, perfect, with a 6-cleft perianth whose tube adheres to the 1- or 3-
celled ovary; stamens 3 or 6, attached to the perianth tube about the middle or
near its summit; anthers with broad connectives; capsule usually irregularly de-
hiscent, with numerous minute seeds.
About 17 genera comprising more than 125 species, mostly tropical and sub-
tropical.
1. Hypanthium 3-angled or 3-winged; ovary 3-celled; capsule 3-valved from the
apex or irregularly rupturing 1. Burmannia
1. Hypanthium terete; ovary 1-celled; capsule 3-valved from the base
2. Apteria
1. Burmannia L.
Mostly small herbs with linear or scalelike leaves and solitary, capitate, racemose
or cymose flowers; perianth 3-angled or 3-winged, with the outer 3 lobes much
larger than the minute or essentially lacking 3 inner lobes; stamens 3, sessile in
the throat of perianth; ovary 3-celled; capsule crowned by the persistent perianth.
A genus of nearly 60 species, mainly in the tropics of both hemispheres.
1. Flowers 1 or several in a raceme; hypanthium broadly 3-winged.... 1. B. biflora.
1. Flowers several in a terminal cluster; hypanthium merely 3-angled
2. B. capitata.
686
-------
Fig. 350: Thalia dealbata: a, habit, x %; b, individual bract with drying apex, x
5; c, combined outer staminode, stamen, calloused staminode, cucullate staminode, x
2%; d, pistil and stigmatic surface, x 2%; e, ovary and bracts, x 21/;; f, outer staminode,
x 2%; g, stamen separated from flower, x 2%; h, cucullate staminode, x 2%. V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 351: a-d, Burmannia capitata: a, habit, x K; b, flowers with developine cap-
sules, x 5; c, flower open, x 10; d, style and stigmas, x 10. e-g, Apleria aphylla: e,
habit. \ LV f, flowers, x 21!-: g, flower open, x 5. h-k, Burmannia biflora: h, habit,
x 'i-; i. flower showing wings of the perianth tube surrounding the ovary, x 5; j, flower
open, x 10; k, style and stigmas, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 352: Burmania biflora: a, flower with ovary opened, x 9; b, cross section of
ovary showing thin wings, x 12; c, seed, x 175. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
1. Burmannia biflora L. Figs. 351 and 352.
Stem threadlike, to 15 cm. tall; scalelike stem leaves to 3 mm. long; perianth
about 5 mm. long, bright-blue, the lobes narrow; capsule 4-5 mm. long.
In moist woodlands and bogs in e. Tex. (Hardin and Houston cos.), Aug.-Oct;
Fla., n. to Va. and w. to Tex.
2. Burmarmia capitafa (Walt.) Mart. Fig. 351.
Stem threadlike, to 2 dm. tall; scalelike stem leaves to 5 mm. long; perianth
about 5 mm. long, whitish or bluish-white, the lobes minute to obsolescent; cap-
sule 2-3 mm. long.
In moist woodlands and bog areas in e. Tex. (Anderson and Smith cos.),
Aug.-Nov.; Fla., n. to N.C. and w. to Tex.
2. Apteria NUTT.
Several species in tropical and warm regions of America.
1. Apteria aphylla (Nutt.) Barnh. NODDING-NIXIE. Fig. 351.
Stem slender, threadlike, to 2 dm. tall, simple or branched; scalelike stem
leaves to 3 mm. long; flowers small, nodding, with long pedicels; perianth 1-1.5
cm. long, whitish or purple; outer 3 perianth lobes much larger than the 3 narrow
inner lobes, the lobes 2-3 mm. long; stamens attached deep in throat of perianth;
filaments with winglike appendages; connective not prolonged beyond the anther
sacs; capsule 3-4 mm. long. A. setacea Nutt.
In decaying leaves of moist woods and on edge of bogs in e. Tex. (Tyler Co.),
Aug.-Oct.; Fla. and Ga., w. to Tex.
689
-------
Fam. 41. Orchidaceae Juss. ORCHID FAMILY
Perennial herbs of various habits and habitats, terrestrial, semiaquatic or epi-
phytic, autophytic or saprophytic, hermaphroditic, produced from a short or
elongated (rarely) coralloid rhizome; roots subterranean or aerial, fibrous, fleshy
or tuberous, fasciculate or adventitious and scattered on the rhizome or stem; stems
terete, much-abbreviated to elongated, slender to very stout, naked, bracteate or
leafy; leaves simple, radical or cauline or both, persistent, deciduous or fugacious,
occasionally altogether lacking, varying from sheathing bracts to a broad or
narrow lamina; lamina linear to broadly elliptic, membranaceous to somewhat
fleshy; inflorescence terminal, supported by an abbreviated to greatly elongated
peduncle, composed of one or more flowers, commonly a spike or simple raceme;
flowers small and inconspicuous to rather showy, zygomorphic, perfect; perianth
composed of three outer segments (sepals) and three inner segments (petals), the
segments free or more or less united, adnate to the 1- or 3-celled inferior ovary,
one petal (the lip or labellum) usually complex in structure and differing only
slightly or greatly in form, size and coloration from the other segments; lip often
extended to form a spur or nectary; stamens and pistils (including the filaments
and styles) united to form an organ (the column) in the center of the flower;
column various, bearing at or near its summit or laterally 1 or 2 mobile or rigidly
attached anthers, producing in front on the ventral surface the somewhat con-
fluent stigmas, with one stigma usually modified to form the rostellum; anthers
situated behind the rostellum, resting in a bed or clinandrium, perfectly or
abortively 2-celled, containing a mass of pollen or 2 to 8 distinct pollen masses
or pollinia; pollen powdery, granular-mealy, waxy or cartilaginous; fruit a dry
capsule or fleshy pod, commonly ovoid, ellipsoid or cylindrical, dehiscing along 1,
2 or 3 longitudinal sutures; seeds numerous, scobicular.
A cosmopolitan family that attains its highest development in the tropics of
both hemispheres and is one of the largest families of flowering plants in the
world, consisting of several hundred genera and 15,000 or more species. It is also
considered to be among the most advanced families in the Monocotyledoneae.
The column, formed by the united stamens and pistils, is distinctive of the family.
1. Flowers with a distinct saccate or elongated spur 1. Habenaria
1. Flowers without a conspicuous spur, at most producing a short mentum (2)
2(1). Lip broadly saccate >or cymbiform; leaves rather large (3)
2. Lip not saccate; leaves small, often grasslike (4)
3(2). Leaves forming a basal rosette, shining and fleshy; lip uppermost in flower..
7. Ponthieva
3. Leaves scattered on the stem, plicate; lip lowermost in flower 3. Epipactis
4(2). Lip crested or bearded on the face (5)
4. Lip not crested or bearded on the face (7)
5(4). Leaf linear to linear-lanceolate, grasslike, plicate, sheathing the scape near
the base; column broadly winged at the apex; lip forming the upper-
most segment of the perianth 6. Calopogon
5. Leaf ovate to ovate-elliptic, fleshy; column not winged, clavate; lip forming the
lowermost segment of the perianth (6)
6(5). Lip 25 mm. long or less, bearded on the face 4. Pogonia
6. Lip more than 30 mm. long, with a central crest 5. Cleistes
7(4). Leaves several, basal or cauline, narrow and grasslike or (if broad) basal..
8. Spiranthes
690
-------
7. Leaf solitary or 2 oppositely placed on the stem, attached to or spreading near
middle of stem, broad and short (8)
8(7). Stem produced from a small bulbous corm; leaves 1 or 2; lip broad and
short, obliquely tridentate or acutish at the apex 9. Malaxis
8. Stem produced from a slender rhizome; leaves always 2, opposite; lip narrow
and elongated, deeply bilobed 2. Listera'
1. Habenaria WILLD.
Terrestrial or semiaquatic herbs with fleshy or tuberous roots; roots ovoid to
fusiform-elongated or rarely palmate; plants erect, simple, glabrous; stem leafy or
merely bracted; leaves one or more, basal or cauline, essentially sessile, with the
basal part sheathing the stem; flowers usually small, in showy or inconspicuous
racemes; sepals free, similar or dissimilar; dorsal sepal erect or incurved to form a
hood over the column; lateral sepals spreading or deflexed; petals free, erect,
usually connivent with the dorsal sepal, simple or bipartite; lip lowermost or
occasionally uppermost, simple or tripartite (the divisions cuneate to filiform-
setaceous, entire or variously toothed or fringed), entire, toothed or fringed,
extended at the base to form a spur; spur elongated and filiform or filiform-
clavellate, shorter to much longer than the pedicellate ovary; column short; stigmas
with or without papillose processes; anther cells two, separate, relatively distant;
pollen granular, attached to exposed glands (not contained in a pouch); capsules
narrowly cylindrical to ellipsoid.
A polymorphic genus of approximately 500 species native mainly to the warmer
regions of the world.
1. Lip deeply 3-parted, that is divided at least halfway to the base of the lamina
(2)
1. Lip simple (not 3-parted), linguiform, ligulate, linear or lanceolate, at most
fringed, angled, notched or lobed (4)
2(1). Divisions of the lip fringed; petals simple (not 2-parted), crenate at most..
1. H. lacera.
2. Divisions of the lip not fringed, entire, linear or linear-filiform; petals
2-parted (3)
3(2). Spur more than 4 cm. long, much longer than the pedicellate ovary (often
as much as 6 times as long); lateral divisions of the lip 1.5 cm.
long or more 2. H. quinqueseta.
3. Spur less than 2 cm. long, about as long as the pedicellate ovary; lateral divi-
sions of the lip less than 1.3 cm. long 3. H. repens.
4(1). Lip copiously ciliate-fringed (5)
4. Lip not fringed, at most coarsely erose (8)
5(4). Flowers white, occasionally tinged with cream-color; lip narrowly ovate-
oblong 4. H. Blephariglottis.
5. Flowers yellow or orange-color; lip ovate to oblong (6)
6(5). Lip oblong, more than 8 mm. long; spur longer than the pedicellate ovary..
5. H. ciliaris.
6. Lip ovate, less than 6 mm. long; spur shorter than the pedicellate ovary (7)
7(6). Spur less than 1 cm. long 6. H. cristata.
7. Spur more than 1.1 cm. long 7. H. X Chaptnanii.
8(4). Lip entire or only crenate, not noticeably lobed nor notched (9)
8. Lip angled or lobed at the base (rarely entire) or trilobulate or tridentate at
the apex (19)
691
-------
9(8). Flowers lemon-yellow to bright orange-color 8. H. Integra.
9. Flowers white or greenish (10)
10(9). Lip uppermost in the snowy-white flowers 9. H. nivea.
10. Lip lowermost in the flower; flowers greenish or white (11)
11(10). Lip with a small tubercle or cushionlike callus in the center at or near
theibase, usually strongly arcuate at the base (12)
11. Lip sometimes with a thickened keel but never with a tubercle at or near the
base, pendent, spreading or upcurved (13)
12(11). Lip subquadrate; petals usually crenulate on the margins 10. H. flava.
12. Lip linear or linear-ligulate; petals entire 11. H. limosa.
13(11). Spur scrotiform or strongly saccate to thick-cylindric, usually (but not
always) less than two-thirds the length of the lip (14)
13. Spur slender-cylindric, only slightly clavellate, variable in length, as long as
or longer than the lip (15)
14(13). Raceme densely flowered, usually short, thick, congested
12. H. hyperborea.
14. Raceme laxly flowered, elongate, often with the flowers scattered
13. H. saccata.
15(13). Leaves very short, ovate, less than 9 cm. long, usually reduced to clasp-
ing tubular sheaths 14. H. sparsiflora var. brevifolia.
15. Leaves ample, usually broadly elliptic to lanceolate, variable in length, never
reduced entirely to sheaths (16)
16(15). Lip rhombic-lanceolate, prominently dilated at the base; flowers usually
white, rarely greenish 15. H. dilatata,
16. Lip linear to linear-elliptic or broadly lanceolate, not prominently dilated at
the base; flowers always greenish, sometimes marked with purple
(17)
17(16). Flowers usually in a densely or loosely flowered slender cylindrical
raceme; lip characteristically lanceolate (sometimes broadly lanceo-
late) 12. H. hyperborea.
17. Flowers usually scattered, rarely approximate or produced in an elongate
raceme; lip characteristically linear (18)
18(17). Flowers rather small, usually marked or suffused with purple; lip 4-7.5
mm. long, fleshy but usually without a central ridge; column small,
usually with a narrow connective, about one-third the length of
the dorsal sepal 14. H. sparsiflora var. laxiflora.
18. Flowers rather large, light green; lip 6-14 mm. long, usually with a fleshy
ridge in the center below the middle; column large, with a broad
connective, usually about one-half as long as the dorsal sepal
14. H. sparsiflora.
19(8). Lip lobed or angled (sometimes truncate) at the base 10. H. flava.
19. Lip neither lobed nor angled at the base, either trilobulate or tridentate at
the apex (20)
20(19). Spur slender, clavellate, longer than the pedicellate ovary; lip shallowly
notched at the apex with 3 short equal rounded lobules
16. H. clavellata.
20. Spur scrotiform, much shorter than the pedicellate ovary; lip unequally
3-lobed at the apex, the acute lateral lobes prolonged beyond the
obsolescent middle lobe 17. H. viridis var. bracteata.
692
-------
Fig. 353: Habenaria lacera: 1, plant, x }•>; 2, flower, side view, x 2; 3, petal, x 2;
4, dorsal sepal, x 2; 5, lip, from above, x 2; 6 and 7, flowers, front view, hybrids, x 2.
-------
Fig. 354: Hahenaria quinqueseta: 1, plant, x %; 2, lip and column, front view, x
2; 3, petal, x 2; 4, lateral sepal, x 2; 5, dorsal sepal, x 2.
-------
1. Habenaria lacera (Michx.) Lodd. RAGGED FRINGED ORCHID. Fig. 353.
Plant glabrous, rather stout, 2.5-7.5 dm. tall (often propagating by means of
root-shoots); roots slender, fleshy, from thickened tuberoids; stem somewhat
ribbed, leafy below, bracted above; leaves rather rigid, erect, oblong-linear to
oblong-obovate or linear-lanceolate, with the basal part sheathing the stem, 7-21
cm long, 1.5-5 cm. wide; raceme loosely or densely flowered, 3-26 cm. long,
3-4.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts usually equaling the pedicellate ovaries, rarely
exceeding the flowers, narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 1-4 cm.
long; flowers pale yellowish-green or whitish-green, with rather stout curving
pedicellate ovaries which are 1.5-2 cm. long; dorsal sepal ovate to elliptic, con-
cave, 4-5 mm. long, 3—4 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate, obtuse, 4-6
mm. long, about 3 mm. wide; petals linear-oblong to narrowly oblong-spatulate,
entire or rarely toothed at the truncate or rounded apex, rarely obtuse, slightly
oblique, 5-7 mm. long, mostly less than 2 mm. wide; lip deeply tripartite, 10-16
mm. long, 13-17 mm. wide across the lateral lobes; lateral lobes deeply cut
(usually to the base) into three divisions, with the divisions subdivided again;
mid-lobe slender, clavate to narrowly cuneate or linear-spatulate, somewhat
spreading above into irregular slender or coarse fringes, rarely erose to short-
fringed at the apex, often laciniate halfway or more to the base; spur curved,
slender or clavellate, as long as or longer than the pedicellate ovary, 1-2.3 cm.
long; capsule ellipsoid, erect, about 1.5 cm. long".
The fringed deeply 3-lobed lip of the yellowish-green flowers is distinctive.
In open woods along streams, in open sedge marshes and meadows in Okla.
(Waterfall) and n.e. Tex., rare, May-Aug.; from Nfld., s. to Ga., w. to Tex.,
Ark., Mo., 111., Wise., Minn.
2. Habenaria quinqueseta (Michx.) Sw. LONG-HORNED HABENARIA. Fig. 354.
Plant slender or stout, erect, leafy, (occasionally with the leaves mostly basal),
glabrous throughout, 2-9 dm. tall; roots slender-fibrous, with tuberous swellings
(usually with an ovoid tuber at the base of the stem); leaves mainly cauline, thin
and chartaceous when dry, oblong-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or oblong-obovate,
broadly rounded to acute or acuminate at the apex, reduced above to clasping
ovate acuminate bracts, 6-25 cm. long, 2.5-6 cm. wide; raceme elongated, laxly
few- to many-flowered, 7—25 cm. long, 5-6 cm. in diameter; floral bracts ovate-
lanceolate, acuminate, semitranslucent as long as or shorter than the pedicellate
ovaries, 1.5-2.8 cm. long, 7-15 mm. wide below the middle; flowers greenish-
white, with slender pedicellate ovaries which are 2-3 cm. long; dorsal sepal
oblong-elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse to rarely acute, concave, 6-13 mm. long,
5-10 mm. wide at the middle; lateral sepals ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate or
oblong-elliptic, obtuse to acute, oblique, 8-16 mm. long, 4-7 mm. wide below
the middle; petals 2-parted; posterior lobe erect, linear-oblong, falcate, obtuse to
acute, 6-15 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; anterior lobe filiform, almost twice as
long as the posterior division, recurved, 1.3-2.5 cm. long; lip 3-parted; lateral
lobes filiform, recurved at the apex, 1.5-3 cm. long; midlobe linear with revolute
margins, 8-20 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; spur varying from slender to strongly
clavellate, recurved, 4-18 cm. long.
Represented in Tex. by a collection by Charles Wright, without a definite
locality but doubtless in the Coastal Prairies in the s.e. part of the state. It
should be looked for in swamps, margin of ponds, and similar wet places; locally
distributed from Fla., n. to S.C. and w. to Tex., also in the W.I. and Latin Am.,
July-Nov.
695
-------
Fig. 355: Habenaria repens: a, top of plant, x V&; b, center section of plant, x %;
c, basal portion of plant, x '-i; d and e, two views of flower, about x 3; f, young cap-
sule, x I1/;.; g, seed, x 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
3. Habenaria repens Nutt. WATER-SPIDER ORCHID. Fig. 355.
Plant slender or stout, leafy, glabrous, 1-9 dm. tall; roots slender, fibrous,
often with tuberous swellings; leaves linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, acute to
acuminate, thin and chartaceous, 3-ribbed, strongly veined, sheathing the stem
below, 5-24 cm. long, 3.5-20 mm. wide; raceme densely flowered, rarely con-
sisting of a few scattered flowers, 6-28 cm. long, 2.5-3 cm. in diameter; floral
bracts oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute to acuminate, exceeding the flowers
at maturity (rarely shorter than the flowers), 1.5-9 cm. long, about 1 cm. wide
near the base; flowers small, greenish, with slender pedicellate ovaries which
are 9-14 mm. long; dorsal sepal oval to suborbicular-ovate, mucronate, concave,
3-7 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide; lateral sepals ovate to ovate-oblong, mucronate,
4-7 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide; petals 2-parted; posterior lobe erect, falcate,
oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute, 3-7 mm. long; anterior lobe filiform,
falcate, erect, 4-7.5 mm. long; lip deeply 3-parted to within 2 mm. of the base,
strongly deflexed; lateral lobes filiform, 5-11 mm. long; midlobe linear to linear-
oblong, 4-7 mm. long; spur slender, about as long as the pedicellate ovary, 9-14
mm. long. H. Nuttallii Small.
In streams, ditches, swamps, on the margins of ponds and lakes, often floating
on mats of other vegetation on surface of water in cen., s. and e. Tex., May-Nov.;
from Fla., n. to N.C. and Va. (?), w. to Tex.; also throughout the W.I. and
Latin Am.
4. Habenaria Blephariglottis (Willd.) Hook. WHITE FRINGED ORCHID.
Plant stout, leafy below, bracted above, glabrous, 0.8-11 dm. tall; roots
fleshy, tuberous-thickened; stem strongly ribbed; leaves ovate-lanceolate to
elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, with the lower part
sheathing the stem, 5-35 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide; raceme densely or laxly
flowered, 3-20 cm. long, 2.5-8 cm. in diameter; floral bracts narrowly lanceolate,
shorter than the pedicellate ovaries, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; flowers white, often tinged
with cream, with slender pedicellate ovaries which are about 2 cm. long; dorsal
sepal oblong-elliptic to orbicular, obtuse to rounded at the apex, concave, 5-10
mm. long, 4—8 mm. wide; lateral sepals broadly ovate-orbicular, oblique, 5-11
mm. long, 4-9 mm. wide; petals linear to narrowly oblong-spatulate or oblanceo-
late, truncate and retuse to denticulate at the apex, 3-8 mm. long, 1-3 mm. wide
at the widest point; lip with the undivided portion linguiform, ovate-oblong to
oblong-elliptic or oblong-quadrate, rarely suborbicular, 4-13 mm. long, 2-4 mm.
wide, copiously and coarsely fringed; fringes less than 8 mm. long, with the
segments often branched; spur slender, as long as or longer than the pedicellate
ovary, 1.5-5 cm. long. Blephariglottis Blephariglottis (Willd) Rydb.
In marshes, meadows, edge of swamps and depressions in savannahs and
prairies in s.e. Tex., June-Sept.; widely distributed and locally abundant from
Nfld., s. to Fla., w. to O., Mich, and Tex.
5. Habenaria ciliaris (L.) R. Br. YELLOW FRINGED ORCHID. Fig. 356.
Similar to H. Blephariglottis except for its bright- to deep-orange-color flowers
with more copiously and finely fringed lips. Plant to 1 m. tall; petals linear-oblong
to linear-cuneate, 6-7 mm. long 1-2 mm. wide; lip 8-12 mm. long; spur 2-3.3
cm. long. Blephariglottis ciliaris (L.) Rydb.
In moist woodlands, along streams, seepage slopes in forests and open areas,
bogs, savannahs and prairies in e. and s.e. Tex., June-Oct; from Ont., s. to Fla.,
w. to 111., Mo., Ark. and Tex.
697
-------
Fig. 356: Hahenaria ci/iaris: plant, x 1.
-------
Fig. 357: Habenaria cristata: plant, x 1.
-------
6. Habenaria cristata (Michx.) R. Br. CRESTED FRINGED ORCHID. Fig. 357.
Plant stout, glabrous, leafy below, bracted above, 1.8-9 dm. tall; roots fleshy,
tuberous-thickened; leaves oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute to acumi-
nate, sheathing the stem below, 7-21 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide; floral bracts
narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, about as long as or shorter than the pedicellate
ovary, 1-2.5 cm. long; raceme cylindrical, densely flowered, 2-15 cm. long, 2-4
cm. in diameter; flowers bright orange-colored, with slender pedicellate ovaries
which are 1.2-1.7 cm. long; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to suborbicular, often
slightly notched at the obtuse apex, concave, 3-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide;
lateral sepals suborbicular to orbicular, rounded at the apex, 3-4 mm. long, 2-3
mm. wide; petals oblong-elliptic, often narrowly cuneate, fringed at the apex,
2-4 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; lip ovate to ovate-oblong, 4-6 mm. long, copiously
ciliate-fringed, with the segments usually branched (often a confusion of fringes);
spur 5-10 (averaging 6) mm. long, slender, much shorter than the pedicellate
ovary.
In bogs, meadows, wet prairies and savannahs, along streams in woods, in
depressions in pine lands, and on wooded seepage slopes, in e. and s.e. Tex.,
June-Sept.; from e. Mass, (rare), s. to cen. Fla., w. to Tex., Ark. and Tenn.
Except for their smaller size and usually deeper color the flowers of this
species are similar to those of H. ciliaris.
7. Habenaria X Chapmanii (Small) Ames.
The size of the lemon-yellow to orange-color flowers of this plant are inter-
mediate between H. cristata and H. Blephariglottis, its putative parents. The
spur is usually about 12 mm. long. Blephariglottis Chapmanii Small.
In habitats similar to those of H. ciliaris in s.e. Tex. (Hardin and Jefferson
cos.), July-Aug.; from N.J. and Del, s. to n. Fla., w. to Tex.
8. Habenaria Integra (Nutt.) Spreng. YELLOW FRINGELESS ORCHID. Fig. 358.
Plant glabrous, with several leaves below, bracted above, 3-6.2 cm. tall; roots
fleshy, tuberous, swollen near the base of the stem; stem angled; leaves oblong-
lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, with the lower part sheathing the
stem, 10—19 cm. long, 1-3 cm. or more wide; raceme densely many-flowered,
cylindrical, 2-10.5 cm. long, 2-3 cm. in diameter; floral bracts narrowly lanceolate,
acuminate, 1-1.7 cm. long; flowers light lemon-orange to dull-orange in color, with
stout pedicellate ovaries which are 5-10 mm. long; dorsal sepal suborbicular to
orbicular, rarely toothed at the rounded apex, concave, 3-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm.
wide; lateral sepals ovate-orbicular, subobtuse, oblique, 4-5 mm. long, 3-4 mm.
wide; petals narrowly oblong, obtuse, 3-4 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; lip
ovate-elliptic to obovate, obtuse to acute, crenulate to rarely entire on the margins,
4-5 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide; spur descending, tapering from a thickened base,
about 5 mm. long. Gymnadeniopsis Integra (Nutt.) Rydb.
Represented in Tex. by a collection of Thomas Drummond without a definite
locality but doubtless in boggy savannahs or prairies in the s.e. part of the
state, July-Sept, along the coast from N. J. s. to n.-cen. Fla., w. to Tex.; also
e.-cen. Tenn.
Except for its lack of fringes on the lip the flowers of this species are quite
similar in color, size and appearance to those of H. cristata.
9. Habenaria nivea (Nutt.) Spreng. SNOWY ORCHID. Fig. 359.
Plant erect, slender, rigid, glabrous, 2-9 dm. tall; roots few, coarse, with
one or more hard ellipsoidal tubers which are to 3 cm. long and 8 mm. in diam-
eter; leaves 2 or 3, near base of stem, rigidly suberect, linear to linear-lanceolate,
acuminate-attenuate, conduplicate, strongly keeled, with the lower part sheathing
700
-------
Fig. 358: Habenaria Integra: 1, plant, x }i; 2, flower, front view, spread open, x 5;
3, flower, side view, x 5.
-------
Fig. 359: 1-3, Habcnana nivca: 1, plant, x '•'.; 2. flower front view, spread out, x
21;;; 3, flower, side view, x 2y>. 4-6, Habenaria clavellata: 4, plant, %; 5, flower, front
view, spread open, x 2H; 6, flower, side view, x 1\'-±.
-------
the stem, reduced above to slender acuminate bracts, 7-26 cm. long, about 8 mm.
wide near the base; raceme many-flowered, cylindrical, conical at the apex,
slender, 3-15 cm. long, 1.3-3 cm. in diameter; floral bracts mostly longer than
the pedicellate ovaries, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 6-10 mm. long; flowers
snowy-white, rarely tinged with pink, with slender pedicellate ovaries which are
about 8 mm. long; dorsal sepal oval-oblong to suborbicular, obtuse, 2-5 mm.
long, 1-4 mm. wide; lateral sepals ovate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, auriculate or
dilated at the base on the posterior margin, obtuse, 4-6 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide;
petals linear-oblong to elliptic, obtuse, somewhat falcate, 2-5 mm. long, 1-2 mm.
wide; lip uppermost, linear-oblong to linear-elliptic, often somewhat contracted at
the apex, 3-8 mm. long, 1-3 mm. wide; spur slender, rarely clavellate, almost
horizontal, curved upward, 1-1.6 cm. long; capsule cylindrical, strongly ribbed
and tuberculate, 8-12 mm. long. Gymnadeniopsis nivea (Nutt.) Rydb.
In wet prairies, savannahs and bogs, mainly in s.e. Tex., May-Aug.; locally
distributed from N.J. and Del., s. along the coast to Fla., w. to Tex. and Ark.
The small white flowers with lip uppermost distinguishes this species.
10. Habenaria flava (L.) R. Br. SOUTHERN REIN-ORCHID. Fig. 360.
Plant slender or stout, glabrous, leafy below, bracted above, 1-6 dm. tall,
commonly reproducing by underground stolons; roots short, fleshy, tuberous;
leaves 1 to 3, usually 2, expanded just below the middle of the stem or toward
the base, ovate-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, sheathing the stem
below, light-green, lucid, 5-23 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide, abruptly reduced to bracts
above; raceme usually densely flowered (often composed of loosely scattered
isolated flowers), stout or wandlike, 3-21 cm. long, 1-2 cm. in diameter; floral
bracts very variable in length, shorter to somewhat longer than the flowers,
linear-lanceolate, long-acuminate, to 3.5 cm. long; flowers yellow-green, small,
with stout pedicellate ovaries which are 5-10 mm. long; dorsal sepal ovate-oval,
obtuse, 3-4 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals ovate-oblong to sub-
orbicular, obtuse, 2-4 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. wide; petals ovate to oblong or
suborbicular, rarely subquadrate, oblique, broadly rounded to obtuse at the apex,
often crenulate on the margins, 2-5 mm. long, 1.5-3.5 mm. wide; lip very variable
in shape, broadly oblong to suborbicular, hastate to subhastate or entire, often
with the margins undulate-crenulate, broadly rounded to truncate and occasionally
retuse at the apex, strongly arcuate-decurved in natural position, adorned with
a tubercle on the median line at or near the base, 2.2-6 mm. long, 2-4.5 mm.
wide across the basal lateral teeth or lobules (when these are present); spur
slender, rarely clavellate, 4—11 mm. long. Perularia bidentata (Ell.) Small, P
scutellata (Nutt.) Small.
In mud of densely wooded floodplain swamplands, thickets, wet savannahs,
prairies and marshes in Okla. (Waterfall) and in e. and s.e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.;
primarily in the coastal regions and lowlands from Md., s. to cen. Fla., w. to Tex.,
Ark., Mo., 111. and Ind.
The tubercle or callus on the disk of the lip near its base is characteristic of
this species.
11. Habenaria limosa (Lindl.) Hemsl. THURBER'S BOG-ORCHID. Fig. 361
Plant slender or stout, glabrous throughout, 3-16.5 dm. tall; roots fibrous,
from dilated tuberous bases; stem leafy, provided at the base with tubular sheaths;
leaves lanceolate, acuminate, suberect, 9-28 cm. long, 1.2-3.5 cm. wide; raceme
cylindrical, laxly or densely flowered, with the flowers distant or approximate
to compact, elongated, 6-45 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts nar-
rowly lanceolate, the lowermost to 4 cm. long and greatly exceeding the flowers;
flowers small, green, fragrant; dorsal sepal ovate-oblong to elliptic, obtuse, con-
703
-------
Fig. 360: 1-4 Habenaria flava: 1, plant x V2; 2, flower, front view, spread open,
x5; 3, flower, slde v,ew x 5; 4, lip an entire toothless form, x 5. 5-7, Habenaria flava
entire form x 5 mfl°rescence' x '^ 6' flower front view. * 5; 7, lip, an unusual sub-
-------
Fig. 361: Habenaria limosa: 1, plant, x %; 2, flower, side view, x 4; 3, dorsal
sepal, x 4; 4, petal, x 4; 5, lateral sepal, x 4; 6, lip, x 4.
-------
cave, connivent with the petals to form a hood over the column, 3-nerved, 3—6
mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide below the middle; lateral sepals strongly reflexed, ovate-
lanceolate to linear-elliptic, oblique, obtuse to subacute, 3-nerved, 4-8 mm. long,
1.8-2.5 mm. wide; petals ovate to ovate-oblong or lanceolate, more or less falcate
or oblique, obtuse to subacute, 3.2-6.5 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide at the obliquely
dilated base; lip linear-elliptic to somewhat elliptic-lanceolate or triangular-
ovate, obtuse at the apex, tapering or rounded to somewhat angled on each side
at the base, strongly arcuate-recurved in natural position, with a thick cushion-
callus or tubercle in the middle near the base, often with lightly revolute margins,
4-8.5 mm. long, 1.5-3.5 mm. wide below the middle; spur cylindrical, filiform,
tapering at the apex, usually about twice as long as the lip, 1-2.5 cm. long;
column stout, short, 1—2 mm. long.
In boggy soil about springs in gulches and canyons, but it is also rather fre-
quent in mossy ground in open woods, along cold brooks and in open sedge
marshes, in N. M. (Socorro Co.) and Ariz. (Cochise and Pima cos.), June-Sept.;
s. through Mex. to Guat.
12. Habenaria hyperborea (L.) R. Br. TALL NORTHERN GREEN-ORCHID, TALL LEAFY
GREEN-ORCHID, GREEN-FLOWERED BOG-ORCHID. Fig. 362.
Plant erect, slender or stout, glabrous throughout, 1.5-10 dm. tall; roots tuber-
ous, fusiform, elongated, 5-9 mm. thick; stem leafy throughout or only at the
base; leaves several, cauline or produced in a cluster near or at the base of the
stem, variable, linear, oblong-elliptic, oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, obtuse
to acuminate, reduced above to bracts, 4.5-30 cm. long, 0.8-4.5 cm. wide at the
widest part; raceme spicate, extremely variable in habit, cylindrical to rarely
subsecund, densely or laxly few- (rarely 3-) to many-flowered, short and stout to
elongated and slender, 3-25 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts lanceo-
late to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, suberect to spreading, usually cellular-papillose
on the margins, the lowermost bracts sometimes up to 3 cm. long and greatly
exceeding the flowers; flowers small, variable in size, often fragrant, green or
yellowish green, sometimes marked or suffused with brownish purple, congested
or remotely spaced on the rachis; dorsal sepal suborbicular-ovate to ovate-elliptic,
rounded to obtuse and occasionally minutely cucullate at the apex, concave, erect
and connivent with the petals to form a hood over the column, 3-nerved, 3-7
mm. long, 1.3—4 mm. wide below the middle; lateral sepals ovate to ovate-lanceo-
late or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to subacute or sometimes minutely cucullate at
the apex, oblique, spreading or strongly reflexed, 3-nerved, 3—9 mm. long, 1-3.5
mm. wide below the middle; petals usually fleshy, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate,
falcate, acute to acuminate, obliquely dilated at the base, erect and connivent with
the dorsal sepal, 1- to 2-nerved, concave at the base, occasionally tinged or
marked with brownish purple, more or less cellular-papillose on the margins, 3-7
mm. long, 1-3 mm. wide at the base; lip fleshy, lanceolate to sublinear, not con-
spicuously dilated at the base, obtuse to acute at the tapering apex, reflexed or
curved upward, 3- to 5-nerved, 3-9 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide below the
middle; spur cylindrical, slender to somewhat clavate, 2.5-7.5 mm. long, usually
shorter than the lip or at most only a little longer than the lip, occasionally only
one third as long as the lip; column broad, thick, 1.5-3.5 mm. long; capsule erect,
obliquely ellipsoid, suberect, to 1.5 cm. long.
In moist or wet soil in meadows in mud on edge of streams, turf mats, bogs,
thickets, swamps, coniferous or mixed forests, canyons, marshes, in open slopes
and cliffs, along streams and on gravel bars along rivers and lakes, in N. M.
(Colfax and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Greenlee cos.), June-Sept;
Greenl. and Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.Y., Pa., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Icel. and
Asia.
706
-------
Fig. 362: Habenaria hyperborea: 1, plant x 1; 2, flower and floral bract, side view,
X 2; 3, lip and spur, side view, x 2; 4, lip, from above, x 2; 5, dorsal sepal, x 2; 6,
lateral sepal, x 2; 7, petal, x 2.
-------
Fig. 363: Habcnaria sparsiflora: a. upper sepal and petals, stigma and empty anther
sacs, x 6: b, habit, \ ]:(: c. mature capsule, \ 2; d, bract and flower, 1 anther still en-
closed in anther sac. x 4; e. flower, lateral view, \ 3: f, seeds, x 30: g, caudicle and
massula (pollinium). x 16: h, base of caudicle, x 16. (From Mason, Fig. 193).
-------
13. Habenaria saccata Greene. SLENDER BOG-ORCHID.
Plant strictly erect, slender or stout, glabrous and light green throughout,
1.5-10 dm* tall; roots tuberous, fusiform, 5-10 mm. in diameter; stem leafy,
provided below with one or more tubular sheaths; leaves scattered on the stem or
occasionally clustered near the base, usually narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate
or rarely oblanceolate, rounded to subacuminate at the apex, scarcely or not at
all sheathing the stem, 4-14 cm. long, 1-4 cm. wide; raceme spicate, usually
much-elongated, laxly few- to many-flowered, slender, cylindrical to subsecund,
4-42 cm. long, 0.8-2 cm. in diameter; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate,
cellular-papillose on the margins, the lowermost to 6 cm. long and greatly exceed-
ing the flowers; flowers small, green, commonly tinged or marked with purplish
brown, usually scattered along the elongated rachis; sepals rather thin and 3-
nerved, the petals and lip fleshy; dorsal sepal suborbicular to ovate or ovate-elliptic,
broadly rounded to obtuse and occasionally minutely cucullate at the apex, erect
and connivent with the petals to form a hood over the column, 3—5 mm. long,
3-3.5 mm. wide near the base; lateral sepals spreading or reflexed, triangular-ovate
to elliptic-lanceolate, oblique, obtuse, 4-6 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide near the base;
petals triangular-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, falcate, obtuse to acute, obliquely
dilated and auriculate at the base, usually purplish, 1- to 2-nerved, 3-5 mm. long,
1.5-2.2 mm. wide at the base; lip linear to occasionally ovate-elliptic, sometimes
tapering at the apex, obtuse to acute, usually purplish, 4-7.5 mm. long, 1-2 mm.
wide; spur broadly cylindric-clavate to scrotiform, sometimes slightly didymous,
usually broadly rounded at the apex, often purplish, one-third to two-thirds the
length of the lip, rarely longer; column short, thick, about 2 mm. long, sometimes
with a rather broad connective; capsule erect, obliquely ellipsoid, about 1 cm.
long.
In moist or wet soil in meadows, fields, bogs, thickets, swamps, marshes,
canyons, coniferous forests, on open seepage slopes, ledges and in or along streams,
in N. M. (Colfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Greenlee and Graham cos.) May-Sept.; N.M., Ariz, and Calif., n. to Alas.
14. Habenaria sparsiflora Wats. SPARSELY-FLOWERED BOG-ORCHID. Fig. 363.
Plant strictly erect, slender or stout, glabrous and rather light green throughout,
1.5-7.5 dm. tall; roots fusiform, fleshy-thickened; stem more or less leafy, pro-
vided at the base with tubular sheaths, often several produced from the same
rhizome (cespitose); leaves variable, scattered on the stem or occasionally clustered
near the base, oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate-elliptic to linear-lanceolate or rarely
linear, broadly rounded to acuminate at the apex, 6.5-30 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide;
raceme spicate, usually laxly few- to many-flowered, occasionally rather densely
flowered, usually much-elongated, 1-4.5 dm. long, 1-3 cm. in diameter; floral
bracts narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, usually about equaling the flowers or the
lowermost bracts to 4 cm. long and greatly exceeding the flowers; flowers light-
green, usually scattered in an elongated raceme, the lowermost often remote;
dorsal sepal suborbicular to suborbicular-ovate or ovate-elliptic, broadly rounded
to obtuse at the apex, concave, erect and connivent with the petals to form a hood
over the column, 3-nerved, 6-7.5 mm. long, 4.5-6 mm. wide near the base;
lateral sepals strongly reflexed, ovate-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, oblique,
3-nerved, with the margins usually revolute, 6-10 mm. long, up to 4 mm. wide;
petals rather fleshy, triangular-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, falcate, obtuse
to acuminate, obliquely dilated at the base and somewhat auriculate, often cellular-
papillose on the margins, 1- to 2-nerved, connivent with the dorsal sepal, 6-8
mm. long, 3-4.5 mm. wide near the base; lip fleshy, large for the flower, con-
spicuously pendent, linear to linear-elliptic or sometimes linear-lanceolate, obtuse
709
-------
to acute, with a more or less fleshy-thickened ridge through the center below the
middle, 6-14 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide; spur cylindric, filiform or only slightly
dilated above the middle, usually slightly exceeding the lip (rarely shorter than
the lip), to 1.3 cm. long; column conspicuous, usually variable in size, large for
the flower, with a rather broad connective, usually one half the length of the
dorsal sepal. 2.5-5 mm. long and wide; capsule obliquely ellipsoid, to 1.5 cm.
long.
In moist or wet soil in mt. meadows, marshes, swamps, bogs, open or dense
forests, on stream banks and open seepage, and frequently about springs, in N. M.
(Lincoln and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Graham
cos.), Apr-Sept.; from Wash., s. to N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Baja Calif.
Var. brevifolia (Greene) Correll. Leaves very short, ovate, less than 9 cm.
long, usually reduced to clasping tubular sheaths. In N. M. (Grant, Lincoln,
Socorro and Otero cos.).
Var. laxiflora (Rydb.) Correll. Flowers small, marked or suffused with purple;
lip 4-7.5 mm. long, fleshy but usually without a central ridge; column about
one third the length of the dorsal sepal. In N. M. (Sandoval Co.) and Ariz.
(Navajo and Coconino cos.).
15. Habenaria dilatata (Pursh) Hook. TALL WHITE BOG-ORCHID, TALL WHITE
NORTHERN-ORCHID, FRAGRANT-ORCHID, BOREAL BOG-ORCHID.
Plant usually strictly erect and tall, glabrous, 1.5-12 dm. tall, sometimes taller;
stem slender or stout, leafy; leaves linear to lanceolate or occasionally oblanceolate,
obtuse to shortly acuminate, sheathing the stem below, to 30 cm. long and 5.5
cm. wide; raceme laxly or densely many-flowered, cylindrical, to 45 cm. long
and 3.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, usually incurved
and exceeding the flowers; flowers white or yellowish-white or greenish-white;
dorsal sepal ovate to elliptic, obtuse, sometimes minutely cucullate at the apex,
erect and connivent with the petals to form a hood over the column, 3-nerved,
3—7 mm. long, 2.5^4- mm. wide near the base; lateral sepals elliptic-lanceolate to
narrowly lanceolate, broadly obtuse to acuminate, 3-nerved, spreading or reflexed,
4-9 mm. long, 1-3.5 mm. wide; petals ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, fal-
cate, obtuse to acuminate-attenuate, obliquely dilated at the base, 1- or 2-nerved,
connivent with the dorsal sepal, 4-8.2 mm. long, 1.8-4 mm. wide at the base,
sometimes lightly notched at the apex and cellular-papillose on the margins; lip
variable, rhombic-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or with a suborbicular base and
linear anterior part, usually but not always strongly dilated at the base, obtuse,
sometimes minutely erose-ciliate on the margins below the middle, usually pro-
jecting outward, 5-10 mm. long, 2-5 mm. wide across the base; spur cylindrical,
about equaling the lip in length.
In moist or wet situations in lowland or alpine meadows, swamps, bogs,
marshes, coniferous forests, canyons, on moist seepage slopes and in or along
streams and springs, bordering lakes and rarely on dry slopes, in N. M., Apr.-
Sept.; Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. J., Mich., Minn., N.M. and Calif.
16. Habenaria clavellata (Michx.) Spreng. GREEN REIN-ORCHID, SMALL WOOD
ORCHID. Fig. 359.
Plant usually small, glabrous, 0.8-4.5 dm. tall; roots slender, fleshy, rarely
swollen near the base of the stem; stem somewhat angled and narrowly winged;
leaves one or rarely two, expanded about the middle of the stem, obovate-
oblanceolate. obtuse, 5-18 cm. long, 1-3.5 cm. wide, reduced above to linear-
lanceolate bracts; raceme few- to many-flowered, 2-9 cm. long, 2-3.5 cm. in
diameter; floral bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 3-10 mm. long; flowers greenish or
yellowish white, with stout spreading pedicellate ovaries which are about 1 cm.
710
-------
long; sepals ovate, rounded to obtuse at the"apex, 4-5 ram. long, about 2.5 mm.
wide; lateral sepals oblique; petals ovate, obtuse, irregularly sinuate along the
apical margin, 3-5 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; lip narrowly oblong-cuneate,
truncate and sinuately tridentate at the apex, 3-7 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide at the
apex; spur longer than the pedicellate ovary, slender-clavate (rarely cleft at the
apex), curved upward, 8-12 (averaging less than 10) mm. long. Gymnadeniopsis
clavellata (Midhx.) Rydb.
In water or at edge of water along streams in forests, swamps, on wooded
seepage slopes and in ravines in e. Tex., June-Aug.; from Nfld., s. to n. Fla., w.
to Tex., Ark., Mo. and Minn.
The narrowly oblong-cuneate lip that is truncate and sinuately tridentate at
the apex is characteristic of this species.
17. Habenaria viridis (L.) R. Br. var. bracteata (Muhl. ex Willd.) Gray. LONG
BRACTED HABENARIA, LONG-BRACTED ORCHID, SATYR ORCHID, FROG ORCHID,
AMERICAN FROG ORCHID.
Plant stout, occasionally slender, glabrous throughout, 1-6 dm. tall; roots
fleshy, palmate, from a thickened and swollen rootstock; stem leafy; leaves
variable, the lower blades obovate to oblanceolate, the upper blades oblong to
lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 4—15 cm. long, 1-6.5 cm. wide; raceme densely or
laxly flowered, to 20 cm. long; floral bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 1.5-5.5
cm. long, or more, usually 2 to 4 times the length of the flower (according to
the age of the plant); flowers green, with stout pedicellate ovaries which are
5-10 mm. long; dorsal sepal ovate-orbicular to oblong-elliptic, concave, 3-6 mm.
long, 2-3.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-oblong, obtuse, 4-6 mm.
long, 2-4 mm. wide below the middle; petals linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong,
acute to subobtuse, 3-5 mm. long; lip narrowly oblong-spatulate or narrowly
cuneate, 2- to 3-toothed at the apex (the middle tooth short and often obscure),
5-10 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide near the apex, with a small thickened keel along
the center below the middle, occasionally tinged with reddish-brown, 2 to 3 times
longer than the abbreviated saccate whitish spur; spur scrotiform; capsule ellipsoid,
7-10 mm. long.
In moist or wet soil in dense hardwood or mixed coniferous-hardwood forests,
in meadows, prairies, thickets, bogs and swamps and in open grassy slopes, in
N. M. (San Miguel and Sierra cos.), Mar.-Aug.; Nfld. to Alas., s. to N. C., la.
and N.M.; Icel., Jap. and China.
2. Listeria R. BR.
Small inconspicuous terrestrial herbs with fibrous roots; stems slender, more
or less glandular-pubescent above the 2 opposite or subopposite leaves; leaves
sessile, inserted about the middle of the stem; inflorescence a terminal raceme
composed of small greenish or purplish flowers; sepals and petals free, similar
and subequal; lip longer than the sepals and petals, bilobed or 2-cleft at the
apex, variously toothed, auricled, lobed or sometimes entire on each side at the
base; column wingless; stigmas with a rounded beak; anther borne on the back of
the column near the apex; pollinia 2, powdery; capsule small, slender pedicellate.
A small genus of about 20 species widely distributed in boreal and temperate
regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Lip with a short slender claw, narrowly cuneate, shallowly notched at apex,
8-13 mm. long, 5-7 mm. wide near apex; column 2.5-3 mm. long
1. L. convallarioides.
1. Lip sessile, linear-oblong, cleft halfway or more to the base into linear-filiform
to linear-lanceolate lobes, not flaring at the apex; column 0.5 mm.
long or less (2)
711
-------
Fig. 364: 1-4. Listera cordata: 1, plant, x 1; 2, flower, front view, spread open,
x 5; 3, flower, side view, x 5; 4. column, side view, x 15. 5—8, Listera convallarioides:
5, plant, x 1; 6, flower, front view, spread open x 3; 7, flower, side view, x 2; 8, column,
side view x 5.
-------
2(1). Lip with prominent curved basal lateral teeth; lamina less than 6 mm. long;
stem green 2. L. cor data.
2. Lip slightly auriculate at the base but without lateral teeth; lamina more than
6 mm. long; stem purplish 3. L. australis.
1. Listera convallarioides (Sw.) Nutt. BROAD-LEAVED TWAYBLADE, BROAD-LIPPED
TWAYBLADE. Fig. 364.
Plants slender or occasionally stout, stoloniferous, glabrous below, densely
and minutely whitish glandular-pubescent above, 6-37 cm. tall; leaves two,
opposite or occasionally subopposite, mostly above the middle of the stem, broadly
ovate to elliptic, oval or suborbicular, obtuse or rarely acute to apiculate, glabrous,
2-7 cm. long, 1.5-5.8 cm. wide; raceme loose, laxly many-flowered, 2-12 cm.
long, 2.5-4 cm. in diameter; floral bracts rhombic-ovate, acute to acuminate,
semitranslucent, 3—5 mm. long: flowers yellowish green, with slender pedicels
which are 4—7 mm. long; dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, narrowly obtuse to acute,
4.5-5 mm. long, about 1.8-2 mm. wide; lateral sepals lanceolate, strongly falcate-
recurved, acute to subacute, 1-nerved, 4.5-5.5 mm. long, 1.5-1.8 mm. wide below
the middle; petals linear-falcate, obtuse, 1-nerved, 4-5 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm.
wide; lip with a short slender claw, narrowly cuneate, shallowly notched at the
apex, with the lateral lobules obtusely rounded, minutely toothed in the sinus,
with a short triangular tooth on each side near the base, minutely bristly-ciliate
along the margins, 8-13 mm. long, 5-7 mm. wide near the apex; column slender,
slightly recurved, 2.5—3 mm. long; capsule nearly glabrous.
In leaf mold in damp mossy coniferous or mixed coniferous-hardwood forests,
bogs, meadows, various types of evergreen swamps, wet thickets in forests and in
peaty barrens, in Ariz. (Pima Co.), June-Sept.; Nfld. and Ont. to Alas., s. to
Ariz.
2. Listera cordata (L.) R. Br. HEART-LEAVED TWAYBLADE. Fig. 364.
Plant slender, delicate, glabrous throughout (except for a small glandular-
pubescent area just above the leaves), 6.5-25 cm. tall; roots often somewhat
matted; leaves 2, opposite, about midway up the stem, broadly to narrowly ovate-
cordate or deltoid, mucronate, 0.9^4- cm. long, 0.7-3.8 cm. wide; raceme densely
or loosely flowered, slender, 2-10 cm. long, 8-15 mm. in diameter; floral bracts
small, purplish to yellowish-green, with slender pedicels which are 1-4 mm. long;
dorsal sepal ovate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 2-3 mm. long, about 1 mm.
wide; lateral sepals ovate-oblong to elliptic or oblong-linear, obtuse, somewhat
oblique, 2-3 mm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. wide; petals elliptic to oblong-linear, obtuse
or occasionally truncate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. wide; lip linear-oblong,
cleft one-half to two thirds of the distance to the base into two linear-lanceolate
lobes, with a subulate transverse tooth on each side near the base, the lamina
being 3—6 mm. long and 1—1.5 mm. wide near the middle; column short, about
0.5 mm. long.
In mossy damp coniferous or mixed coniferous-hardwood forests, sphagnum
bogs, various kinds of evergreen swamps and in subalpine forests and thickets,
in N. M. (Pecos River National Forest), Apr.-Sept; Greenl. and Nfld. to Alas.,
s. to N.C., Wyo., N.M. and Calif.; Icel., Eur. and Jap.
3. Listera australis Lindl. SOUTHERN TWAYBLADE. Fig. 365.
Small inconspicuous terrestrial herb with fibrous matted roots; stem slender,
rarely more than 15 cm. high, more or less glandular-pubescent above the two
opposite or subopposite leaves; leaves sessile, inserted above the middle of the
stem, typically ovate-elliptic, to 4 cm. long; inflorescence a terminal raceme com-
posed of small reddish-purple or greenish flowers; sepals and petals free, similar
713
-------
Fig. 365: Listera australis: 1, plant, x 1; 2. flower, front view, x 5; 3, flower, side
view, x 5; 4, petal, x 6.
-------
Fig. 366: Epipactis gigantea: a, habit, showing creeping rootstocks, stems and clasp-
ing leaves, x %; b, habit, upper part of stem, showing raceme of flowers with their
leaflike bracts, x %; c, anther and stigma, x 4; d, flower, face view, x 1%; e, mature
capsule, x 1%. (From Mason, Fig. 192).
-------
and subequal, to 2 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; lip longer than the sepals and
petals, linear, deeply 2-cleft, auricled on each side at the base; column wingless;
capsule small, slender, pedicellate.
In humus and on mosses of low moist and swampy woods, and in ravines along
streams, in s.e. Tex., Feb.-May; locally from Que. and Ont., s. to cen. Fla. and
w. to Tex.
3. Epipactis Sw.
A genus of about 20 species mainly in temperate and mountainous regions of
Europe and Asia, with 2 species in North America.
1. Epipactis gigantea Hook. GIANT HELLEBORINE. Fig. 366.
Plant terrestrial or saxicolous, usually 5 dm. tall or more; stem simple, leafy,
from a short creeping rhizome with fibrous roots; leaves clasping stem, plicate-
venose, broadly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 6-20 cm. long, 2-7 cm. wide; in-
florescence a few- to many-flowered prominently bracteose more or less secund
raceme; floral bracts foliaceous, conspicuously exceeding the flowers; flowers
greenish, marked with purplish or reddish nerves; sepals free, lanceolate, sub-
equal, spreading or loosely connivent, 15-25 mm. long, 7-9 mm. wide; petals
similar to the sepals but smaller; lip sessile on the base of the column, fleshy,
saccate at the base, flattened above, distinctly 3-lobed with the lateral lobes
erect to form a sac, about as long as sepals; column short, broadened above; cap-
sule obovoid to ellipsoid, pendent, 2-2.5 cm. long. Serapias gigantea (Hook.)
A. A. Eat.
On seepage slopes, wet limestone bluffs and ledges, in swamps and marshy
places, in Okla. (Murray Co.) and in cen. and w. Tex., N. M. (Eddy, Grant,
Guadalupe and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Santa Cruz
and Pima cos.), Apr.-July; scattered from Mont., S.D., Colo., Okla. and Tex.,
w. to B.C., Wash., Ore. and Calif.; also Mex.
4. Pogonia Juss.
A genus of about 20 species widely dispersed over the world.
1. Pogonia ophioglossoides (L.) Ker. ROSE POGONIA. Fig. 367.
Plants slender, glabrous (propagating by means of root-shoots), 1-7 dm. tall;
stem green or brownish-green; leaf solitary, about halfway up the stem (occasion-
ally with one or two long-petiolate leaves arising from the base of the stem),
ovate to elliptic or broadly ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, 2-12 cm. long,
1-3 cm. wide; inflorescence composed of one to three flowers (usually one)
terminating the stem; floral bract foliaceous, oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate,
1-3 cm. long, 3-8 mm. wide; flowers rose to white, of several days' duration;
dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic to linear-oblong, subobtuse, 1.5-2.3 cm. long, 3-6 mm.
wide; lateral sepals narrowly elliptic to linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, acute
to rarely obtuse, 1.5-2.7 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide; petals oblong-elliptic to elliptic-
obovate, broadly rounded at the apex, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 6-11 mm. wide; lip
narrowly oblong-spatulate, narrowed at the base, lacerate-toothed along the apical
margin, prominently bearded along the three central veins of the disk with short
fleshy yellow-white bristles, 1.5-2.5 cm. long, 8-10 mm. wide near the apex;
column about 1 cm. long, toothed at the apex.
In swamps, bogs, marshes, wet savannahs, prairies and seepage slopes in e. and
s.e. Tex., Apr.-July; from Nfld., s. to Fla., w. to Minn., III. and Tex.
The heavily bearded lip, which forms the lower segment of the flower, is
distinctive.
716
-------
Fig. 367: Pogonia ophioglossoides: 1, upper part of plant, x 1; flower, side view,
x 1; 3, longitudinal section through center of lip and column, to show the structure of
the median keel of the lip and the position of the anther in relation to the clinandrium,
x 3; 4, base of lip to show gland on each side, x 6%; 5, column, with anther in normal
position, x 4%; 6, upper part of column, anther turned back, x 9; 7, ten pollen grains,
highly magnified; 8, seed, highly magnified; 9, capsule, x 1; 10, base of stem, x 1.
-------
Fig. 368: C/eisies divaricata: 1 and 2, plant, x 1; 3, flower bud, x 1; 4, petal, x 1;
5, lip, spread out, x 1; 6, column, x 2; 7, rhizome and roots, x 1.
-------
5. Cleistes RICH.
A genus of about 40 species in the Western Hemisphere, mainly in South
America.
1. Cleistes divaricate (L.) Ames. SPREADING POGONIA. Fig. 368.
Terrestrial herb with slender fibrous root, rigidly erect, to 75 cm. tall; leaf
solitary, inserted above the middle of the stem, oblong-lanceolate, to 15 cm. long
and 2 cm. wide; flowers one to rarely 3 that terminate the stem; perianth parts
distinct; sepals to 65 mm. long, about 5 mm. wide; petals magenta-pink to white,
spatulate-oblanceolate, to 45 mm. long and 12 mm. wide; lip crested, about as
long as petals, oblong-cuneate, strongly veined, indistinctly 3-lobed, crenulate
along the margins, with a linear-grooved somewhat fleshy papillose crest through
the median line of the disk, 3.5-4.5 cm. long, about 2 cm. wide above the middle;
lateral lobes broadly rounded at the apex, involute to form a trough; apical
lobe ovate-triangular, somewhat revolute and decurved, projecting about 1 cm.
beyond the lateral lobes; column free, 2-2.5 cm. long, eroded at apex; capsule
erect, cylindrical. Pogonia divaricata (L.) R. Br.
This species is represented in Tex. by a collection made by E. J. Palmer, but
the exact locality is unknown. It doubtlessly occurs in the s.e. part of the state
and is to be looked for in low grassy pine barrens, savannahs, prairies, flatwoods,
bogs, swamps and along stream banks; rare and of local occurrence from N. J.
and Del. s. to cen. Fla., w. to Tenn., Ky. and Tex.; Apr.-July.
The ascending and often recurved linear-lanceolate brownish sepals are dis-
tinctive.
6. Calopogon R. BR.
Terrestrial scapose herbs arising from orbicular or ellipsoid corms, with a
solitary (rarely more) grasslike leaf sheathing the stem near the base; inflores-
cence a dense or lax few- to several-flowered terminal raceme; flowers conspicuous,
showy, varying in color from white to deep-crimson or magenta; sepals and petals
free, spreading; lip forming the upper segment of the perianth, with a minute
lateral lobe on each side near the base, strongly dilated and bearded above with
numerous clavellate hairs and papillae at the apex; column free, slender and some-
what incurved, winged on each side at the apex; anther terminal, operculate;
pollinia four, two in each anther cell, the grains connected by filaments; capsule
erect, cylindrical or ellipsoid.
A small New World genus of 4 species, chiefly occurring in southeastern United
States with one species widespread in eastern Canada and the United States. The
bearded lip, which forms the uppermost segment of the flower, is distinctive.
1. Flowers usually 2 to 5, opening almost simultaneously; leaves grasslike, about
2 mm. wide 1. C. barbatus.
1. Flowers usually more than 8, opening in slow succession up the raceme to
extend over a prolonged period; leaves usually much more than
5 mm. wide 2. C. pulchellus.
1. Calopogon barbatus (Walt.) Ames. BEARDED GRASS-PINK.
Plant scapose, slender, erect, somewhat rigid, glabrous, 1.5-4.5 dm. tall; root-
stock a bulbous corm; having a tuft of roots at the proximal end and usually the
remains of the old stalks at the distal end; stem light green or tinged with reddish
brown (occasionally two stems are produced from the same corm); leaves (when
present) one or two, basal, narrowly linear and grasslike, long-acuminate, strongly
ribbed, 5-18 cm. long, about 2 mm. wide; raceme short, often somewhat capitate,
three- to five- (or rarely more-) flowered; floral bracts subulate to shortly lanceo-
late, 2-4 mm. long; flowers rose-pink, rarely white, mostly opening simultaneously,
719
-------
with the slender pedicellate ovaries 6-10 mm. long: dorsal sepal narrowly oblong-
elliptic to linear-oblong, acute to apiculate. 1.3-1.7 cm. long. 4-6 mm. wide;
lateral sepals arising from a broad base, obliquely ovate-deltoid, somewhat keeled
at the apex, abruptly acute or apiculate. about 1.3 cm. long. 5-7 mm. wide: petals
with a short claw, varying in shape from narrowly oblong-pandurale to ovate-
lanceolate or oblong-elliptic with a distinct constriction near the middle, or with
an ovate-orbicular base and gradually tapering to oblong above, elongated, obtuse
or abruptly acute, widest below the middle, 1.2-1.5 cm. long. 3-5 mm. wide; lip
obscurely 3-lobed. 1-1.3 cm. long; lateral lobes near the base, inconspicuous,
with a triangular apex, involute, separated from the large mid-lobe by a gradually
dilated isthmus: mid-lobe broadly obovate to suborbicular, broadly rounded
(sometimes retuse) at the apex, with broadly rounded lateral margins, 7-10 mm.
wide; disk bearded on the central portion with clavellate hairs, the basal and
central hairs being deep rust-red and the anterior hairs (usually extending to the
apical margins) being gradually reduced to pale lavender papillae: column broadly
winged on each side near the apex, 7-8 mm. long, 4.5—7.5 mm. wide across the
wings, with the pair of wings (when spread out) forming a semiorbicular lamina
which is either subtruncate at the base or tapering down the sides of the column.
In moist acid sandy soils on edge of bogs, swamps and marshes, and in moist
open woodlands, rare in e. Tex. (Henderson Co.), Apr.-May; from N. C. along
the Ad. seaboard to Fla., w. along the Gulf Coast to e. Tex.
2. Calopogon pulcheUus (Salisb.) R. Br. GRASS-PINK. Fig. 369.
Plant scapose. erect, slender to somewhat stout, glabrous, 1-13.5 dm. tall; root-
stock a rather small corm having a tuft of slender whitish roots at the proximal
end; leaves one or rarely two, basal, linear to linear-lanceolate, occasionally semi-
terete or linear-setaceous and bristly, strongly ribbed, keeled or flat, to 5 dm. or
more long and 5 cm. wide; raceme laxly flowered, elongated, composed of four
to twenty showy flowers, S-46 cm. long; floral bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate,
acuminate, 3—9 mm. long; flowers opening successively up the raceme, pink to
rose-purple or magenta-crimson, rarely pure white; dorsal sepal narrowly oblong
to oblong-elliptic, acute to apiculate. 2-2.7 cm. long, 5.5-10 mm. wide; lateral
sepals ovate to ovate-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, oblique, abruptly acute, often
somewhat keeled and apiculate at the apex, 1.2-2.3 cm. long, 9-13 mm. wide;
petals with a short claw, narrowly pandurate, oblong-pandurate, ovate-lanceolate
or oblong-elliptic, usually somewhat constricted above the middle, widest near the
base, broadly rounded to obtuse or rarely acute at the apex, 1.3-2.4 cm. long,
4-9 mm. wide; lip obsolescently 3-lobed, 1-2 cm. long; lateral lobes minute,
separated from the midlobe by an elongated isthmus, the isthmus linear; midlobe
broadly cuneate-flabellate to obreniform or transversely oblong-elliptic, retuse to
broadly rounded and apiculate at the apex, occasionally retuse with an apicule in
the sinus, 6-18 mm. wide; disk bearded on the three central veins with clavellate
hairs, the filaments of the basal hairs united and deep purple, the shorter central
hairs distinct and gradually becoming cream-colored with orange-colored tips,
the anterior hairs gradually shortened and deep rust-red becoming fleshy-colored
papillae near the apex; column strongly incurved, 1-2 cm. long, broadly winged
on each side at the apex, 6-9 mm. across the wings; with the pair of wings (when
spread out) forming a suborbicular to rhombic or broadly obovate lamina; cap-
sule ellipsoid, three-angled, prominently six-ribbed, 1.2-2.3 cm. long, 5-19 mm.
in diameter.
In depressions in savannahs and prairies, marshes, swamps and bogs, in Okla.
(Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., Apr.-June; from Nfld., s. to s. Fla., w. to Minn.,
la.. Mo., Okla. and Tex.
720
-------
Fig. 369: Calopogon pulchellus: 1, basal part of plant, x 1; 2, inflorescence, x 1;
3, mature capsule, to show the persistent column, x 1; 4, longitudinal section through
center of lip to show the papillae, x 4; 5, upper part of column, x 4; 6, seed, highly
magnified; 7, two pollen tetrads, highly magnified; 8, pollen masses, highly magnified.
-------
Fig. 370: Ponthieva raccmosa: plant, x %; 1, dorsal sepal, x 2; 2, flower, partly
spread out, x 2; 3, lateral sepal, x 2; 4, lip, spread out, X 2; 5, column (a, anther, s,
stigma) side view, x 8.
-------
7. Ponthieva R. BR.
In this genus there are 25 species that are found in the warmer regions of the
Western Hemisphere from southeastern Virginia to Chile, including Mexico,
Central America, the West Indies and South America.
1. Ponthieva racemosa (Walt.) Mohr. SHADOW-WITCH. Fig. 370.
Terrestrial scapose herb with fleshy or somewhat fibrous roots, usually about
3 dm. tall; leaves in basal rosette, oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, obtuse, to 15 cm.
long and 5 cm. wide; flowers white-green, fragrant, nonresupinate in a lax terminal
raceme; sepals ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, spreading, to 8 mm. long and 3.5 mm.
wide; petals attached to the column above its base, oblique, often adherent to the
dorsal sepal at the apex; lip on the upper part of the flower, with its claw grown
to the column above its base, abruptly dilated and ascending, suborbicular,
saccate-concave, to 7 mm. long; capsule suberect, ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid.
Along streams in woods or about muddy sloughs and ponds in e. and s.e. Tex.,
Sept.-Nov.; from s.e. Va., s. to Fla., w. to Tex.; also the W.I. and Latin Am.
The noticeably oblique petals and lip forming the uppermost segment of the
flower are characteristic.
8. Spiranthes RICH. LADIES' TRESSES
Coarse or delicate terrestrial herbs with clustered tuberous or rarely fibrous
roots; leaves various, mostly basal, broadly ovate to elliptic or narrowly linear
to semiterete, persistent or fugacious, reduced above to persistent sheathing bracts;
flowers variously colored, usually white and variously tinged or marked with
green, yellow, brown or lavender, sometimes brick-red, deep-crimson, yellow-
orange or yellow-scarlet, in a more or less spirally twisted showy or inconspicuous
terminal spike; sepals free; dorsal sepal and petals coherent; lateral sepals usually
somewhat decurrent on the ovary and gibbous at the base or extended to form a
mentum; lip sessile or with a short claw, with the basal portion concave and
embracing the column, spreading or arcuate-recurved at the apex, crisped, wavy
or toothed, with a minute or conspicuous callosity on each side at the base, some-
times ecallose; column short, terete to clavate, essentially footless or extended into
a long foot at the base; anther erect on the back of the column, 2-celled; pollinia
two, powdery-granular, narrowly obovoid, their filaments coherent to the narrow
viscid gland which is set in the thin beak (rostellum) terminating the column
(after the removal of the gland the beak is left as a 2-toothed or forked tip); cap-
sule erect, ellipsoid to ovoid or obovoid, sometimes 3-keeled.
A polymorphic genus of about 200 species widely dispersed throughout the
North Temperate Zone and tropical Asia and America, south to Chile.
1. Flowers forming a dense cylindrical spike, apparently in several ranks; basal
leaves (when present) with linear, lanceolate, oblong-elliptic or
oblanceolate blades, never with a distinct petiole, having the lower
part sheathing the stem (2)
1. Flowers forming a loose or dense (usually spiral) single rank, often secund;
basal leaves (when present) with ovate, oblong-elliptic, lanceolate
or semi-terete blades with a distinct petiole or with the lower part
sheathing the stem (4)
2(1). Lip thin, panduriform in outline, deeply constricted at about the middle,
with the orbicular or oblong-quadrate basal portion deeply concave;
calli small; flowers ascending and ringent 1. 5. Romanzoffiana.
2. Lip fleshy-thickened, only slightly or not at all constricted at about the middle,
ovate-oblong to rhombic-ovate; calli large, prominent; flowers nod-
ding perceptibly (3)
723
-------
3(2). Lip ovate-oblong, usually slightly constricted at about the middle and then
somewhat dilated at the apex, mostly less than 1 cm. long: leaves
basal or only on the lower part of the stem 2. 5. cernua.
3. Lip broadly rhombic-ovate, with the basal half dilated, tapering to the obtuse
or subacute apex, often as much as 1.4 cm. long; leaves often
extending up the stem 2. S. cernua var. odorata.
4(1). Basal leaves widely spreading, with the relatively short and broad blades
having a distinct petiole, ovate to narrowly oblong-elliptic, either
persistent or fugacious (marcescent) (5)
4. Basal leaves erect, ascending, narrow, linear, narrowly lanceolate or oblong-
elliptic, without a petiole, the lower portion sheathing the stem,
either persistent or fugacious (7)
5(4). Plant with a densely pubescent spike; lip deeply fringed and with a promi-
nent tuft of hairs on the disk near the apex; leaves usually per-
sistent; flowering in the spring 3. S. gracilis var. brevilabris.
5. Plant essentially glabrous throughout (6)
6(5). Lip with a broad green stripe on the central portion of the disk; leaves
fugacious or marcescent; usually flowering in the fall
3. S. gracilis.
6. Lip with a broad yellow stripe on the central portion of the disk; often flecked
with green; leaves mostly persistent; usually flowering in the spring..
3. S. gracilis var. floridana.
7(4). Flowers secund (rarely slightly spiraled); lip from a broad base tapering
to the obtuse apex, 6-9.5 mm. long; basal leaves fugacious
4. S. longilabris.
1. Flowers strongly spiraled; lip ovate, orbicular-quadrate, oblong or oblong-
quadrate; basal leaves persistent or fugacious (8)
8(7). Lip oblong-elliptic to oblong, with parallel lateral margins or sometimes
broadest at the distal end, membranaceous (9)
8. Lip ovate to ovate-oblong or ovate-elliptic, broadest at or near the base,
usually fleshy-thickened; spike more or less pubescent with capitate
or sharp-pointed hairs (10)
9(8). Lip usually veined with green; spike subglabrous or very sparsely pubes-
cent with usually capitate hairs; distribution in eastern Texas
5. S. praecox.
9. Lip not veined with green; spike densely pubescent with long hairs; distribu-
tion in southern Arizona 6. S. graminea.
10(8). Spike densely pubescent; ovaries usually covered by a thick mat of
reddish-brown sharp-pointed hairs; lip ovate to ovate-elliptic
7. S. vernalis.
10. Spike more or less pubescent with capitate hairs; lip ovate-oblong, often from
a suborbicular base, conspicuously laciniate along the apical mar-
gins 8. 5". X laciniata.
1. Spiranthes Romanzoffiana Cham. HOODED LADIES' TRESSES, WESTERN LADFES'
TRESSES. Fig. 371.
Plant erect, glabrous below, somewhat glandular-pubescent above, 8-55 cm. tall;
roots fasciculate, long, fleshy; leaves mostly basal, linear to oblanceolate or
oblong-lanceolate, 5-26 cm. long, 6-13 mm. wide; spike densely flowered, cylindri-
cal, composed of three spiral ranks of flowers, 3-12 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. in
diameter; floral bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, scmitranslucent,
nervose, 1.2-2.5 cm. long; flowers white or creamy white, tubular, dilated and
ringent above the middle; sepals and petals connivent and forming a hood over the
column; sepals 6.5-13 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide near the base; dorsal sepal oblong-
724
-------
CSS
Fig. 371: Spiranthes Romanzoffiana: a, base of plant, showing linear leaves and
fleshy roots, x %; b, spike, x 1%; c, single whorl of flowers; x 1%; d, flower, lateral
view, x 4; e, flower (longitudinal section), x 4; f, back of column, showing anther, x
6; g, front of column, showing stigma, x 6; h, lower lip, x 6. (From Mason, Fig. 194).
-------
Fig. 372: 1-7, Spiranthes ovalis: (a woodland orchid). 8-10, Spiranthes cernua:
8, plant, x ^; 9, flower, front-side view, x 3; 10, lip, spread out, x 3. 11, Spiranthes
cernua var. odoraia: 11, lip, spread out, x 3.
-------
elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to acute; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate to
lanceolate, somewhat falcate, obtuse to acute; petals linear, obtuse, 6.5-12 mm.
long, 1-2 mm. wide; lip pandurate, with the thin suborbicular base strongly con-
cave and prominently veined, conspicuously constricted above the middle, some-
what dilated above the constriction, 7-11 mm. long, 5 mm. wide across the lower
half, strongly arcuate-recurved near the apex in natural position; basal callosities
minute; column 2-3 ,mm. long.
In moist or wet situations in bogs, marshes, meadows, salt flats, thickets, on
sandy-gravelly beaches and occasionally in dry woods and on dry open hillsides,
in N. M. (Sandoval Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Graham cos.), July-
Oct; Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.E., N.Y., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Ire.
2. Spiranthes cernua (L.) Rich. NODDING LADIES' TRESSES. Fig. 372.
Plant erect, glabrous below, downy-pubescent above, occasionally stoloniferous
(especially in swamp areas), 1-5.5 (-9.5) dm. tall; roots slender or coarse, fleshy;
leaves mostly basal or fugacious, linear to lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 5-40 cm.
long, 5-20 mm. wide; spike densely flowered, compact, consisting of rather small
nodding flowers in 2 to 4 (rarely 1) spiral or vertical ranks, 3-18 cm. long, 2-3 cm.
in diameter; floral bracts ovate to lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, 8-15 mm. long;
flowers white, sometimes marked with green or cream-tinged, usually fragrant of
vanilla; perianth parts somewhat downy on the outer surface; sepals oblong-
lanceolate, obtuse to subacute, 6-13.5 mm. long, to about 3 mm. wide, the lateral
sepals free; petals coherent with the dorsal sepal, linear to linear-lanceolate,
obtuse to acute, 6-13.5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; lip ovate-oblong to oblong,
arcuate-recurved, sometimes rhombic with the basal half dilated, with the apical
margins erose or crisped, 6-14 mm. long, 3-8 mm. wide across the base; basal
callosities prominent, pubescent; column stout, 3—5 mm. long.
Var. cernua. Lip ovate-oblong to oblong, mostly 6-11 mm. long. Ibidiutn cernuum
(L.) House. In swamps, wet woods, stream bottoms, grassy seepage slopes, in
Okla. (Ellis and Payne cos.), cen. and e. Tex. and N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.), July-
Dec.; N.S., and Ont, s. to Fla., w. to Minn., S.D., Neb., Kan., Okla., Tex. and
N. M.
Var. odorata (Nutt.) Correll. FRAGRANT LADIES' TRESSES. The thickish lip of var.
odorata is broadly ovate instead of being oblongish as in var. cernua. Gyrostachys
odorata (Nutt.) O. Ktze. This variety occurs sparingly throughout the area of
distribution of var cernua. It attains its maximum development in the southeastern
states where it is commonly found in stoloniferous colonies in water and mud of
swamps, marshes, and along wooded rivers and streams.
3. Spiranthes gracilis (Bigel.) Beck. var. gracilis. GREEN-LIP LADIES' TRESSES.
Fig. 373.
Plant slender, essentially glabrous throughout, rarely sparsely pubescent above,
1.8-7.5 dm. tall, occasionally two or three plants produced from the same root-
stock; roots fasciculate, stout, short, fleshy; leaves basal, fugacious, broadly ovate
to elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, short-petioled; lamina 1.5-6.5 cm. long, 1-2.3 cm.
wide; spike slender, densely or loosely flowered, strongly spiraled or occasionally
secund, rarely bifurcate, 3-26 cm. long; floral bracts ovate to ovate-lanceolate,
acute to long-acuminate, 5-10 mm. long; flowers small, white with a green stripe
in the center of the lip, in a single rank; perianth 4-6 mm. long; sepals and petals
about equal in length, 4-5.5 mm. long; dorsal sepal elliptic-oblong to oblong-
lanceolate, obtuse to acute; lateral sepals lanceolate, acute to somewhat acuminate;
petals coherent with the dorsal sepal, linear, obtuse to subacute; lip oblong-
quadrate to elliptic-oblong, 4—6 mm. long, about 2.5 mm. wide, with the slightly
grooved central portion conspicuously green, the apical margins crenulate to
somewhat fringed-erose; basal callosities short, erect; column 2-3 mm. long.
727
-------
13
Fig. 373: Spiranthes gracilis: 1 and 2, plant x 1; 3, flower, side view, with one
lateral sepal removed, x 6; 4, lip, spread out, x 6; 5, column, x 11; 6, petal, x 11; 7,
dorsal sepal, x 11; 8, lip and column, in natural position, front view, x 11; 9, longi-
tudinal section through center of perianth and ovary, x 8; 10, lateral sepal, x 8; 11, pollen
tetrad, highly magnified; 12, pollinia, from below (at left), from above (at right), x
20; 13, seed, highly magnified.
-------
A
Fig. 374: A, Spiranthes praecox: 1, plant, x 1; 2, leaf, x 1; 3, flower, side view,
x 3; 4, dorsal sepal, x 2%; 5, petal, x 2%; 6, lateral sepal, x 2%; 7, column and base
of lip, side view, x 5; 8, lip, side view, x 5; 9, lip spread out, x 5. B, Spiranthes lon-
gilabris: 1, plant, x %; 2, flower, side view, x 3; 3, lip, spread out, x 3.
-------
Gyrostachys gracilis (Bigel.) O. Ktze., Ibidium gracile (Bigel.) House.
In sandy post oak woods, gravelly soils, on open-wooded slopes, in mucky or
boggy soil in low pinelands, in savannahs and coastal prairies, swamps and ever-
green shrub bogs, in fields, meadows and prairies of n.-cen., e. and s.e. Tex.,
July-Oct.; from N.S. and N.B., s. to s.-cen. Fla., w. to Minn., la., Mo., Okla.
and Tex.
The broad green stripe in the center of the lip, which is rarely more than
5 mm. long, is distinctive. Also, the usually fugacious basal leaves are ovate to
ovate-lanceolate instead of being grasslike as in most of our species.
Var. brevilabris (Lindl.) Correll. TEXAS LADIES' TRESSES. Similar to var. gracilis
except for the densely pubescent spike, persistent basal leaves, and earlier flower-
ing period in March and May. Spiranthes brevilabris Lindl. Originally described
from Tex., this variety is rare from s. Tex., e. to Fla. in habitats similar to those
of var. gracilis.
Var. floridana (Wherry) Correll. FLORIDA LADIES' TRESSES. Similar to var. gracilis
except for the lip having a yellow instead of green center and the much narrower
and elongated basal leaves being persistent; also flowering earlier, from April to
June. Ibidium floridanum Wherry. Occurring in habitats similar to var. gracilis
from N.C., s. to cen. Fla. and w. to Tex.
4. Spiranthes longilabris Lindl. GIANT SPIRAL-ORCHID. Fig. 374.
Plant erect, slender, flexuous, essentially glabrous throughout, occasionally
pubescent above, 1.2-6 dm. tall; roots fleshy, numerous, fasciculate; leaves (when
present) basal, linear to narrowly lanceolate, acute, 3-10 cm. long, mostly less
than 5 mm. wide, reduced above to sheathing bracts; spike slender, secund, only
slightly spiraled at most, 5-14 cm. long; floral bracts broadly ovate to ovate-
lanceolate, acuminate-elongate, 5-12 mm. long; flowers white or white tinged with
cream-color, conspicuously ringent, tubular, projecting almost horizontally away
from the rachis; sepals 6—10 mm. long, 2—3 mm. wide; dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic
to oblong-lanceolate, subacute to acute; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, spreading
and recurved upward; petals linear, obtuse to subacute, 6.5—9 mm. long, about 1
mm. wide; lip yellow-white, narrowly ovate to ovate-oblong, from a broadened
base, tapering to the obtuse to subacute apex, strongly arcuate-recurved, usually
somewhat dentate or crenate along the apical margin, 6—10 mm. long, 3—5.5 mm.
wide near the base, callosities rather slender; column about 4 mm. long.
Commonly in wet grassy pine barrens and flatwoods, swamps, marshes, wet
savannahs and prairies, and sandy bogs in s.e. Tex., Oct-Dec.; from e. N.C., s. to
Fla., and w. to Tex.
The characteristically secund inflorescence of horizontally projecting flowers
separates this species from all other of our Spiranthes. Its nearest ally, S. praecox,
with which it may be confused, has flowers whose lips are marked or veined with
green, a character lacking in S. longilabris.
5. Spiranthes praecox (Walt.) Wats. GRASS-LEAVED LADIES' TRESSES. Fig. 374.
Plant usually slender, essentially glabrous throughout, occasionally sparsely
pubescent above, 2-7.5 dm. tall; roots rather slender, elongated, fasciculate; leaves
(when present) as many as seven, mostly basal, narrowly linear to filiform, 10-25
cm. long, 1-5 mm. wide; spike loosely to densely flowered, spirally twisted or
often nearly secund, 3-15 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate-attenuate, often with strongly hyaline margins, 4-15
mm. long; flowers white, or white and veined and marked with green; sepals
usually puberulent on the outer surface, 5.5-10 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide; dorsal
sepal oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, subacute, often slightly constricted near the
apex: lateral sepals lanceolate, acute; petals coherent with the dorsal sepal, linear,
730
-------
Fig. 375: Spiranthes vernalis: 1, plant, x 1; 2, flower, front view, x 4; 3, flower,
side view, x 4; 4, lip, spread out, x 4; 5, column, x 4; 6, pollen tetrad, highly magnified;
7, lateral sepal, x 4; 8, petal, x 4.
-------
obtuse to subacute or rarely acute, 5.5-10 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; lip thin,
with a short claw, oblong to broadly oval-elliptic, often dilated and broadest at
the distal end, prominently veined with green or with green on the central portion
of the disk, mostly wavy and slightly crenulate or toothed on the apical margin,
5.5-11 mm. long, 2-6 mm. wide; basal callosites slender or sometimes stout,
straight; column 2.5-5 mm. long. Gyrostachys praecox (Walt.) O. Ktze., Ibidium
praecox (Walt.) House.
In low wet grassy pinelands and flatwoods, wet prairies, savannahs and
meadows, cypress swamps, in bogs and coastal marshes in e. and s.e. Tex., Mar.-
June; from N.J., s. to s. Fla., w. to Ark. and Tex.
The thin green-veined oblong lip, which is 5.5-10 mm. long, is distinctive.
6. Spiranthes graminea Lindl.
Nearly allied to and resembling 5. vernalis, stem to about 5 dm. tall; basal
leaves longer than the stem sheaths, lax, obtuse to acute at apex; spike simply
twisted, densely pubescent with long often matted hairs; floral bracts acute, about
as long as the flowers; flowers white, sometimes in tight coils as to appear 4-
ranked; sepals more than 3 mm. long; lip typically thin, oblong-quadrate and with
a truncate apex.
In a permanently wet cienaga or marsh in Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.), July-Sept.;
s. through Mex. to Guat., Brit. Hond. and Nic.
7. Spiranthes vernalis Engelm. & Gray. SPRING LADIES' TRESSES. Fig. 375.
Plant stout or slender, densely and copiously pubescent above, 1.8-11 dm.
tall; roots coarse, fusiform, fasciculate; leaves basal or extending partly up the
stem, suberect and ascending, linear to narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, often
strongly keeled or semiterete, with the basal portion sheathing the stem; spike
densely flowered, spiraled, 3—15 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter; rachis and
ovaries mostly covered by a dense mat of reddish brown hairs; floral bracts broadly
ovate to oblong-lanceolate, rather abruptly acuminate-elongated, concave, 7-15
mm. long; flowers yellowish or sometimes greenish, often white, often fragrant, in
a single rank or rarely 2-ranked; parts of the perianth somewhat pubescent on the
outer surface; dorsal sepal oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, obtuse to acute, con-
cave at the base, 5.5-10 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. wide near the base; lateral sepals
lanceolate, acute, 5-9.5 mm. long; petals coherent with the dorsal sepal, linear
to linear-elliptic, obtuse, 5-9 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; lip thickened, broadly
ovate to rhombic-ovate or sometimes ovate-oblong, arcuate-recurved, often some-
what dilated and crenulate-wavy at the apex, 4.5-8 mm. long, 2.5-6 mm. wide
near the base; basal callosities stout, incurved, pubescent. Ibidium vernale
(Engelm. & Gray) House.
In wet prairies, savannahs and meadows, fresh and coastal salt marshes,
swamps, beaches and dune areas, Okla. (Creek, Dewey and McCurtain cos.) and
in the e. third of Tex., Apr.-July; from Que. and Mass., s. to s. Fla., w. to Mo.,
Kan., Okla. and N.M.; also Mex. and Guat.
Characterized by its copiously pubescent rachis and ovaries that are provided
with articulated, brownish, sharp-pointed hairs.
8. Spiranthes X laciniata (Small) Ames. LACE-LIP SPIRAL-ORCHID.
Rather coarse plants that have intermediate characters between S. praecox and
5. vernalis. Ibidium laciniatum (Small) House.
In marshes and shallow water of cypress swamps and in boggy depressions in
savannahs and prairies in s.e. Tex., May-July; from N.J., s. to Fla., w. along
the Gulf Coast to Tex.
732
-------
Fig. 376: Malaxis unifolia: 1, plants, x 1; 2, flower, front view, x 5; 3, lip, spread
out, x 6; 4, petal, x 7; 5, lateral sepal, x 7; 6, dorsal sepal, x 7.
-------
9. Malaxis Sw.
About 150 species that attain their greatest development in Asia and Oceania;
also widely distributed in the Western Hemisphere and sparsely in Europe.
1. Malaxis unifolia Michx. Fig. 376.
Plant bright green, erect, 6-55 cm. tall; scape from a bulbous corm, somewhat
angled and winged; leaf solitary, sheathing the stem below, expanded near the
middle of the scape; blade sessile and clasping the stem, orbicular-ovate to ovate-
lanceolate, obtuse to acute, to 9 cm. long and 6.5 cm. wide, usually much smaller;
raceme subcorymbose to slender-elongate, densely flowered, to 16 cm. long and
2.5 cm. in diameter; floral bracts minute, subulate, 1-3 mm. long; flowers minute,
green, with filiform pedicellate ovaries 3-10 mm. long; sepals spreading, linear-
oblong to oblong-elliptic, subacute, 1-nerved, with the margins often somewhat
involute, 1.8-3.5 mm. long, 0.8-1.5 mm. wide; petals narrowly linear to filiform,
strongly recurved, 1.4-3 mm. long; lip uppermost in the flower, variable in shape,
cordate-deltoid to cordate-ovate or oblong-quadrate, 2-A mm. long, 1.5-3 mm.
wide, cordate or auricled on each side at the base with the lobules broadly rounded
to acute and often deeply notched, obliquely tridentate at apex with the 2 lateral
teeth more or less elongate and obtuse to acute, the minute median tooth thickened
and apiculate; column minute, 0.5-1 mm. long, with 2 short apical lateral teeth;
capsule obliquely ovoid, 3-6 mm. long, 2—3 mm. in diameter.
In low swampy woods, peaty or sandy soil or boggy areas, moist or wettish
wooded slopes along streams and in depressions of low woodlands, in e. Tex.
(Cherokee, Nacogdoches and Harris cos.), Mar.—July; Nfld. w. to Man., Minn.,
Mo., Ark. and Tex., s. to Fla. and the Gulf Coast; Cuba, Jam. and Mex.
Subclass 2. Dicotyledoneae
Stem exogenous, of pith, wood and bark, the wood in one or more layers sur-
rounding a central pith, traversed by medullary rays, and covered by the bark
(endogenous in structure in Nymphaeaceae). Leaves usually pinnately or palmately
veined, the veinlets forming a network. Parts of the flower usually in fours or fives,
rarely in threes or sixes. Embryo of the seed with two cotyledons (one only in
Nymphaeaceae and some species of Ranunculaceae; in Quercus and a few other
genera 3 sometimes occur, and in some species of Amsinikia 4), the first leaves
of the germinating plantlet opposite.
Dicotyledonous plants are first definitely known in Cretaceous time. They in-
clude more than 1 60,000 species and constitute nearly four fifths of all flowering
plants.
Fam. 42. Saururaceae E. MEY. LIZARD'S-TAIL FAMILY
Erect or ascending more or less aromatic perennial herbs, usually rhizomatous
and stoloniferous; stems jointed; leaves alternate, simple, usually petioled; stipules
adnate to petiole; flowers perfect, in congested or lax elongated spikes that may or
may not be subtended by an involucre; perianth none; pistils 3 or 4, indehiscent,
1-seeded, free or united at the base; stamens as many as 8, free or adnate to ovary
at base or epigynous, the 2-celled anthers longitudinally dehiscent; fruit a some-
what succulent capsule, in ours dehiscing apically through the central-apical por-
tion of the folliclelike capsule.
A small family comprised of 5 genera and about 7 species in North America
and Asia.
734
-------
Fig. 377: Anemopsis californica: a, flowerlike inflorescence subtended by petaloid
bracts, x %; b, seed, x 20; c, spike, showing receptacle (longitudinal section), x 1%; d,
single bracteate flower, x 8; e, habit, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 195).
-------
Fig. 378: Saiiritrus cernuus: a, top portion of plant, x 1,3; b, portion of lower stem
showing adventitious roots, x 'j; c, flower, showing carpels united at the base only (no
calyx nor corolla), x 5; d, fruit, x 5; e, carpels breaking apart, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
1. Leaves mostly basal; spike subtended by an involucre; western Oklahoma and
Texas westward 1. Anemopsis
1. Leaves all cauline; spike naked, not subtended by an involucre; eastern Okla-
homa and Texas eastward 2. Saururus
1. Anemopsis H. & A.
A monotypic genus.
1. Anemopsis californica (Nutt.) H. & A. YERBA MANSA. Fig. 377.
Plant forming colonies, usually about 3 dm. tall; stems nodose, scapelike, from
aromatic creeping rootstocks; leaves mostly basal, those on the stem subtended
by a sheathing bracteose leaf, elliptic-oblong, truncate or cordate at base, to 15 cm.
long, with the petiole about as long as the blade; spike conical, 1.5—4 cm. long,
subtended by a whorl of white or reddish bracts; most of the flowers subtended
by a white obovate clawed bract; ovary sunk in the rachis of spike; fruit a cap-
sule. Incl. var. subglabra Kelso.
In alkaline or saline soils of wet meadows, flats and along streams in n. w.
Okla. (Woods Co.), w. to s.w. Tex. (El Paso Co.), reported from Hemphill and
Lubbock cos. in the Panhandle, widespread in N. M. (Bernalillo, Dona Ana,
Grant, Hidalgo, Otero, San Miguel, Sandoval, Sierra, Socorro and Valencia cos.)
and Ariz. (Cochise, Pima and Yuma n. to Coconino cos.), May-July; from Calif.
and Ariz., n.e. to cen. Colo, and e. to w. Okla. and Tex.; also n. Mex.
2. Saururus L.
Another species occurs in eastern Asia.
1. Saururus cernuus L. LIZARD'S-TAIL. Fig. 378.
Plant forming colonies, to about 9 dm. tall; stem naked below, leafy above,
simple or branched; leaves cauline, cordate-ovate, the veins converging, to 15 cm.
long, much longer than the petiole; stipules indistinct; spike to 3 dm. long and 15
mm. in diameter, peduncled, wandlike, naked, pubescent, curved-nodding at tip;
flowers white, crowded, provided with a small bract that is adnate to or borne on
the pedicel; stamens with long slender filaments; pistils (carpels) united at base;
stigmas recurved; fruit somewhat fleshy, wrinkled.
In water or muddy soils of lakes, swamps and streams in e. Okla. (Adair,
Le Flore, McCurtain and Muskogee cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex., May-Aug.; from
s.w. Que. and s. Ont., s. to Fla., w. to Minn., 111., Mo., Kan., Okla. and Tex.
Fam. 43. Salicaceae MIRB. WILLOW FAMILY
Shrubs or trees with soft light wood, bitter bark and simple alternate deciduous
stipulate leaves; stipules deciduous or persistent; dioecious (sexes on separate
plants); flowers in aments (catkins) which fall off as a unit (the staminate after
shedding pollen, the pistillate after ripening and dispersal of seeds); flowers sub-
tended by a single scalelike bract; stamens 2 to many; fruit a 1-celled capsule,
2- to 4-valved, containing numerous seeds that are surrounded by a tuft of long
silky white or tawny hairs that arise from the base; style 1, rarely wanting; stigmas
2 to 4, sometimes 2-lobed.
A family containing only the following two genera, both of which are widely
distributed but most abundant in North Temperate and Alpine-Arctic regions.
1. Buds with several imbricated scales, often resinous; floral bracts lacerate, cadu-
cous; flowers borne on a shallow or cup-shaped disk; stamens 6 to
60; capsule 2- to 4-valved 1. Populus
737
-------
1. Buds with a single scale; floral bracts entire or merely toothed, tardily decidu-
ous or persistent; flowers with a ventral and sometimes a dorsal
gland; disk none; stamens 2 to 7 or 8; capsule 2-valved
2. Salix
1. PopulllS L. COTTONWOOD. ALAMO
Fast-growing and often short-lived dioecious trees with soft wood, fissured bark
and mostly stout branches; branchlets slender or stout, terete or angled, pale-olive-
brown or grayish- to lustrous reddish-brown, glabrous to tomentose; buds terminal
and lateral, resinous or nonresinous, covered by several imbricated membranaceous
scales; leaves alternate, stipulate, varying in shape from deltoid to rhombic or
lanceolate, with the margins entire to variously crenate or serrate with the teeth
often glandular, rarely lobulate, often bearing glands on upper surface at junction
of leaf blade with petiole; petioles stout and much-abbreviated to elongate and
slender, more or less terete to laterally compressed, sometimes channeled on upper
side; stipules caducous; leaf scars deltoid to elliptic in shape, with 3 bundle scars;
flowers without a perianth, in pendulous stalked unisexual aments, appearing
before the leaves, borne singly, inserted on a shallow or cup-shaped symmetrical
or oblique persistent disk and subtended by a bract; bracts stipitate, mostly
cuneate or obovate, entire to variously lacerate or divided above, glabrous to
villous, caducous; stamens 6 to 60, the slender filaments free on the disk and the
small yellowish-red to purplish anthers ellipsoid to ovoid; ovary sessile on the
disk, with 2 to 4 parietal placentae; styles short, stigmas 2 to 4, divided into fili-
form lobes or broadly dilated and more or less irregularly erose; pistillate aments
mostly becoming elongated with age; fruit usually maturing before the leaves are
mature, a 2- to 4-valved dehiscent capsule, globose to ellipsoid-conic, pale- to
dark-brown; seeds abundant, minute, surrounded at the base by a tuft of long
silky white or tawny hairs that are directed upward parallel with and encom-
passing the seed.
This is a genus of about 35 species, all native of the Northern Hemisphere in
both the Old World and New World. Many species are widely grown as orna-
mental shade and street trees, especially because of their rapid growth and ease of
propagation from cuttings.
According to some historians, the Alamo of Texas fame received its name
from a grove of Populus that grew on the banks of the acequia, "alamo" being
the Spanish word for cottonwood.
The resinous buds and aments of most species are valuable foods for game
birds, such as various grouse and quail, and some songbirds, and the tender some-
what succulent bark, twigs and foliage are eaten by hoofed browsers and rabbits.
The bark as well as the wood are favorite foods of beavers, porcupines and
muskrats.
1. Petioles nearly terete, usually prominently channeled or somewhat flattened on
the upper side; leaf blades suborbicular-ovate to rhombic-ovate or
lanceolate, the margins mostly finely serrate or crenate-serrate (2)
1. Petioles conspicuously laterally compressed (especially just below the leaf
blades), rarely channeled on the upper side; leaf blades typically
deltoid to rhombic-ovate or suborbicular, the margins coarsely or
finely crenate-serrate (4)
2(1). Leaf blades more than 3 times as long as wide, pale-green on the lower
surface, mostly obtuse to acute; petioles rarely more than 20 mm.
long 2. P. angustifolia.
2. Leaf blades rarely as much as twice as long as wide, not conspicuously paler
on the lower surface, mostly acuminate; petioles usually more than
25 mm. long (3)
738
-------
3(2). Pistillate disk sessile; fruit orbicular, 2-3 mm. in diameter; leaf blade sub-
orbicular-ovate to broadly deltoid-ovate, truncate to broadly rounded
at the base, the margins sharply and unevenly serrate
3. P. Hinckleyana.
3. Pistillate disk on a pedicel 3-5 mm. long; fruit ellipsoid-ovoid, about 10 mm.
long; leaf blade more or less rhombic, commonly rounded-cuneate
at base, the margins mostly crenate-serrate 1. P. acuminata.
4(1). Leaf blades suborbicular to broadly ovate, abruptly apiculate to shortly
acuminate at apex, the margins finely crenate-serrate; found only
at high elevations in the mountains from Trans-Pecos Texas west-
ward 8. P. tremuloides.
4. Leaf blades deltoid to broadly rhombic-ovate, coarsely or finely crenate-
serrate; not confined to high elevations (5)
5(4). Bud scales glabrous; leaf blades finely or coarsely crenate-serrate with
usually 10 to 20 teeth on each side 6. P. deltoides.
5. Bud scales pubescent to puberulent or very rarely subglabrous; leaf blades
usually coarsely crenate-serrate with mostly no more than 10 teeth
on each side (6)
6(5). Trees of the Texas Trans-Pecos and along the Rio Grande, westward (7)
6. Trees of the Texas Panhandle (Plains Country) and eastward (9)
7(6). Capsule typically ovoid-ellipsoid to ovoid-conic, mostly 8-18 mm. long,
about as long as or slightly longer than the slender pedicels; disk
shallow, mostly 3-4 mm. in diameter 5. P. Wislizenii.
1. Capsule typically orbicular to orbicular-ovoid, 3-8 (—12) mm. long, at least
twice as long as the short stout pedicel; disk cup-shaped, 5-8 mm.
in diameter (8)
8(7). Leaves (at least some on same tree) typically shallowly or deeply cordate
at base, triangular-acute at apex
4. P. Fremontii var. Fremontii.
8. Leaves typically broadly cuneate to rounded or truncate at base, typically
tapering long-acuminate at apex 4. P. Fremontii var. arizonica.
9(6). Leaf blades with a pair of glands on upper surface at juncture with
petioles 7. P. Sargentii var. Sargentii.
9. Leaf blades without basal glands or rarely with rudimentary glands
7. P. Sargentii var. texana.
1. Populus acuminata Rydb. LANCELEAF COTTONWOOD, SMOOTH-BARKED COTTON-
WOOD. Fig. 379.
Tree to about 18m. tall, with a trunk 2-5 dm. in diameter, the stout branches
ascending and spreading to form a compact pyramidal or domelike crown; bark
smooth and whitish when young, with age becoming pale grayish-brown and
deeply fissured to form narrow flat ridges; branchlets slender, terete to somewhat
4-angled, pale greenish-brown, glabrous or somewhat pubescent; buds elliptic-
conic, sharp-pointed, curved, resinous, bright reddish-brown, subglabrous to
pubescent, about 1 cm. long; leaf blades firm, dark-green and shiny on the upper
surface, only slightly paler green on the lower surface, rhombic-lanceolate to
rhombic-ovate or broadly ovate, gradually or abruptly subacute to acuminate-
attenuate at the apex, broadly rounded to cuneate at the base, the margins usually
finely (or occasionally coarsely) crenate-serrate except near apex, 5-12 cm. long,
usually about half to two thirds as wide as long, rarely about as wide as long;
petiole nearly terete, usually somewhat channeled on the upper side, glabrous to
puberulent, 2.5-7.5 cm. long, rarely shorter; aments 5-12 cm. long; floral bracts
glabrous, scarious, caducous, dilated and irregularly lacerate at the apex; staminate
aments densely cylindric, with short pedicels and oblique disks that support
numerous stamens; pistillate aments more laxly flowered, with mature pedicels
739
-------
Fie. 379: Popuhts acuminaia: sterile and fruiting branchlets, x 1. (From Correll in
Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 55.).
-------
Fig. 380: Populus angustifolia: sterile and fruiting branchlets, x 1. (From Correll
in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 57.).
-------
3-5 mm. long and small cup-shaped disks 3-4 mm. in diameter; fruits ellipsoid-
ovoid, somewhat pitted, about 1 cm. long, 2- to 3-valved; seeds ellipsoid-obovoid,
about 2 mm. long.
In canyons and valleys, about springs and water tanks, and along streams in
the Tex. s. and w. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo, Yavapai and Greenlee cos.) Apr.-June; from s. Alta., s. to Colo., Tex.,
N.M. and Ariz.
2. Populus angustifolia James. NARROWLEAF COTTONWOOD. Fig. 380.
Tree to about 20 m. tall, with a slender trunk rarely more than 1.5 dm. in
diameter, the slender branches erect-ascending to form a narrow more or less
pyramidal crown; bark light-yellowish-green when young, shallowly fissured into
broad flat plates near base of old trunks; branchlets slender, light-yellowish-green
at first, later turning light-brown or orange-yellow and finally ashy-gray, glabrous
to somewhat pubescent; buds ovoid-conic to ellipsoid-conic, sharp-pointed, strongly
resinous, reddish-brown, glabrous to pubescent, 5-15 mm. long; leaf blades rather
thin but firm, bright-yellowish-green on the upper surface, much more pale-green
and sometimes puberulent on the lower surface, turning a dull-yellow in autumn,
lanceolate to occasionally narrowly ovate-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to the
acute to broadly obtuse apex, broadly to narrowly rounded or somewhat cuneate
at the base, the margins finely or coarsely serrate with numerous teeth, 4.5-15 cm.
long, 2-3.5 cm. wide; petioles short, semiterete, more or less horizontally flattened
and channeled on the upper side (especially near base of blades), puberulent to
subglabrous, usually much less than 2 cm. long, rarely longer; aments densely
flowered, narrowly cylindric, 4-7 cm. long; floral bracts broadly obovate, deeply
and irregularly lacerate at apex; staminate aments with subsessile or much-
abbreviated pedicels and deep cup-shaped oblique disks with reflexed margins, the
disks supporting 12 to 20 stamens; pistillate aments with abbreviated pedicels and
shallow cup-shaped disks, the ovary with 2 oblique dilated irregularly lobed
stigmas; fruits broadly ovoid to suborbicular, 4-7.5 mm. long, 2-valved; seeds
ovoid to obovoid, about 3 mm. long.
In the area of distribution this species is found along streams usually above
3,500 ft. alt., rare in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (rather widespread) and Ariz.
(Apache, Coconino and Yavapai cos.), Mar.-Iune; from s. Sask. and s. Alta., w.
to Wash., and Ore., s. to Tex., N.M. and Ariz.; also n. Mex.
3. Populus Hinckleyana Correll. Fig. 381.
Tree to 20 m. tall, with smooth light-gray bark which is deeply furrowed on
the lower part of the trunk and light-gray to tan-colored bark on the young growth;
twigs downy-puberulent, sometimes with some longer whitish spreading hairs; buds
ellipsoid, puberulent and resinous, orange-brown, 1-1.5 cm. long; leaf blades
rather thin, essentially glabrous or sometimes slightly puberulent on the margins
and on the veins on the lower surface, suborbicular-ovate to broadly deltoid-ovate,
truncate to broadly rounded at the base, acute to abruptly acuminate at the apex,
rather finely and irregularly (almost doubly) serrate on the margins (except at
the very base and apex), darker-green on the upper surface, to 7 cm. long and
6.5 cm. wide, usually smaller; petiole subterete, channeled or somewhat flattened
on the upper side, downy-puberulent, with age becoming glabrate, 2-4 (mostly
less than 3) cm. long; pistillate aments much-abbreviated, less than 5 cm. long,
with the rachis thick and rigid, the cup-shaped floral disks sessile and about 3 mm.
in diameter; fruits orbicular, pitted-rugose, 2-3 mm. in diameter, 2- to 3-valved;
seeds not fully developed in material examined.
In canyons and floodplain areas in the Davis Mts. in the Trans-Pecos where it
is apparently endemic, Mar.-Apr.
742
-------
Fig. 381: Populus Hinckleyana: 1, leafy branchlet, x 1; 2, fruit and floral disk,
x 3; 3, female ament, x 1. (From Correll in LundelTs Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 60.).
-------
Fig. 382: Populus Frcmontii var. arizo/uca: a, sterile branchlets to show leaf varia-
tion, x :->: b, fruiting branchlets, x V>; c, young fruits and floral disks, x 4. (From Cor-
rell in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 58.).
-------
The small (to 7 cm. long) suborbicular-ovate to broadly deltoid-ovate leaf
blades and much-abbreviated pistillate aments, with their sessile floral disks, are
characteristics that distinguish this species from the allied P. angustifolia and
P- acuminata.
4. Populus Fremontii Wats. Fig. 382 (var. arizonica).
Tree to about 30 m. tall, with a thick often short trunk to 1 m. or more in
diameter, the branches large and ascending or wide-spreading to form a broad
open crown; bark pale-gray or whitish, thick, in age pale-greenish and deeply
fissured to form broad plates; branchlets (and sometimes older wood) noticeably
pubescent to glabrous, rather slender, at first pale-green, later tan-color to yellow-
ish or grayish; buds ovoid, only slightly resinous, pale-orange-brown, densely
hirsute, 1-2 cm. long; leaf blades leathery, glabrous to more or less pubescent or
puberulent, yellowish-green and lustrous on the upper surface, paler on the lower
surface, broadly deltoid to rhombic-ovate or triangular-ovate, abruptly acute-
apiculate to long-acuminate at the usually entire apex, truncate to rounded or
broadly cuneate to shallowly or deeply cordate at the base, the margins with few
to many coarse glandular-crenate teeth, very rarely with poorly developed glands
at juncture with petioles, 5-14 cm. long, mostly about as wide as long; petioles
slender, mostly somewhat pubescent, laterally compressed (especially just below
the leaf blade), sometimes channeled on the upper side, 2.5-9 cm. long; aments
6-10 cm. long; floral bracts caducous, scarious, narrowly cuneate, lacerate on the
apical margin, about 2 mm. long; staminate aments densely cylindric, with pedicels
about 1 cm. long and disks to 1 cm. in diameter, the disks supporting 20 to 30
(—60) stamens with anthers about 2 mm. long; pistillate aments more laxly
flowered, with mature stout pedicels 1-3 (rarely more) mm. long and the large
disks cup-shaped and 5—8 mm. in diameter; stigma lobes broad, flattened, crenate;
fruits orbicular to orbicular-ovoid, deeply pitted, 3-8 (-12) mm. long, 3- to
4-valved; seeds ellipsoid, apiculate, compressed, 2-2.5 mm. long.
Along streams, in swamps and wettish bottomlands, about springs and water
tanks, Calif, and Nev., through Ariz., N.M. and (as var. arizonica) to w. Tex.,
Feb.-Apr.; also n. Mex.
Our two variants are distinguished in the key. It is quite possible that the
Arizona cottonwood or chopo, var. arizonica (Sarg.) Jeps. (P. arizonica Sarg.),
should be referred to var. pubescens Sarg.
5. Populus Wislizenii (Wats.) Sarg. Rio GRANDE COTTONWOOD, ALAMILLO.
Fig. 383.
Tree 8-25 m. tall, with a thick trunk to about 1.5 m. in diameter, the branches
large and wide-spreading to form a broad somewhat flat-topped open crown; bark
pale-grayish-brown, thick, deeply fissured to form broad flat plates; branchlets
rather stout, glabrous, yellowish or light-yellowish-brown; buds ellipsoid-conic,
sharp-pointed, somewhat resinous reddish-brown or greenish and brown, puber-
ulous to densely hirsute, 1.5-2 cm. long; leaf blades coriaceous, yellowish-green
and more or less shiny on both surfaces, turning bright-yellow in autumn, broadly
deltoid to deltoid-ovate, rather abruptly triangular-acuminate (rarely attenuate)
at the entire apex, cordate to truncate at the base, the margins coarsely crenate-
serrate with usually less than 10 glandular teeth on each side, eglandular at base,
5-14 cm. long, usually as broad as or broader than long; petioles slender, laterally
compressed, 3-10 cm. long; aments 8-15 (usually about 10) cm. long; floral
bracts caducous, obovate, lacerate on the apical margin, about 2 mm. long;
staminate aments densely cylindric, with pedicels 4—8 mm. long and oblique disks
about 3 mm. in diameter, the disks supporting numerous stamens with reddish
anthers 1—1.5 mm. long; pistillate aments more laxly flowered, with mature pedi-
745
-------
Fig. 383: Populus Wislizenii: leafy branchlet with female ament, x l,->. (From Cor-
rell in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 63.).
-------
Fig. 384: Populus deltoides: a, leafy branchlet, showing leaf variation on same
branch, X }£; b, glands at base of leaf on upper surface, x 6; c, male ament, x %; d,
mature male flower, viewed from below, x 2%; e, young male flower with subtending
floral bract, side view, x 3; f, young fruit with subtending floral bract, x 4; g, female
ament, x %. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PI. 59.).
-------
eels 7-15 (rarely less) mm. long and shallow disks 3-4 mm. in diameter; fruits
broadly ovoid-ellipsoid to ovoid-conic or suborbicular, pitted, 8-18 mm. long,
rarely smaller, 3- or 4-valved; seeds ellipsoid, apiculate, compressed, 3-4 mm. long.
Along rivers, streams and irrigation canals in valleys and canyons, in rocky
or deep alluvial soils, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, Mar.-July; from s. Colo, and s.
Ut., s. to w. Tex., N.M. and n. Mex.
This is the common cottonwood along the Rio Grande in extreme west Texas
and New Mexico. It is separated from P. Fremontii, which it resembles, not only
by an apparent difference in distribution but also by its relatively narrower
capsules and much longer pedicels.
6. Populus deltoides Marsh. EASTERN COTTONWOOD, ALAMO. Fig. 384.
Tree to 30 m. or more tall, with a large erect trunk to 2 m. or more in diameter,
the branches often massive and erect-spreading or gradually wide-spreading to be-
come pendulous at their extremities and form a wide open crown that occasionally
attains a spread of 30 m. or more in diameter; bark ashy-gray, thick, deeply
fissured to form broad rounded ridges; branchlets usually stout, glabrous, terete
or angular, light-yellowish-green to brownish or grayish, when young commonly
sparsely hispid; buds large, ovoid to ellipsoid, acute, resinous, bright-reddish-
brown, glabrous, 1.2-3 cm. long; leaf blades thick and coriaceous, rarely thinnish,
pale bright- or grayish-green and shiny on the upper surface, paler on the lower
surface, turning a bright clear-yellow in autumn, deltoid to deltoid-ovate or
suborbicular-ovate, abruptly or gradually triangular-acuminate (often attenute)
or occasionally rounded and acute-apiculate at apex, truncate to cordate or
broadly rounded to rarely somewhat broadly cuneate at base, the margins
crenately serrate with few coarse or many fine teeth that are commonly ciliate,
with 2 or more enlarged conspicuous glands at juncture with petioles, glutinous
and fragrant of balsam when young and provided with white caducous hairs,
7-15 cm. long, usually about as wide as long or longer than wide; petioles slender,
pilose at first but soon glabrous, yellowish or tinged with red, laterally compressed,
to 15 cm. long; staminate aments densely flowered, cylindric, 7-10 cm. long, with
pedicels 8-10 mm. long and oblique disks 3—4 mm. in diameter, the disks sup-
porting about 60 stamens with anthers about 1 mm. long; pistillate aments laxly
flowered, to 2 dm. or more long, with mature pedicels 8-13 (rarely less) mm.
long and shallow cup-shaped disks 2.5-3 mm. in diameter; floral bracts caducous,
glabrous, light-brown, narrowly to broadly cuneate, sometimes 3-lobed, irregularly
lacerate on the margins of the upper half, 2.5-5.5 mm. long; fruits ellipsoid-conic
to suborbicular-ovoid, sharp-pointed, somewhat pitted, 6-15 mm. long, 3- to
4-valved; seeds ellipsoid-obovoid, apiculate, compressed, 3-4 mm. long.
Occurring naturally in Tex. as far n.w. as the s. Plains Country and s.w.
to Uvalde Co. in the Rio Grande Plains, and Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-July; from
N.H. s. to n.w. Fla., w. to s. Sask., N.D., w. Kan., w. Okla. and Tex.
This species may be found along practically every watercourse of any size
and about most of the springs and waterholes in the eastern third of Texas,
commonly planted along roadways and about dwellings, growing especially well in
deep alluvial soils.
7. Populus Sargentii Dode var. Sargentii. PLAINS COTTONWOOD. Fig. 385.
Tree 8-27 m. tall, with a heavy trunk up to about 1.5 m. in diameter, the
branches large and spreading-pendulous to form a broad open crown; bark
grayish, becoming darker with age, thick, deeply fissured to form broad ridges;
branchlets slender, pale yellowish brown or sometimes grayish, glabrous; buds
ellipsoid-conic, sharp-pointed somewhat resinous, yellowish brown, puberulent
to somewhat hirsute, 1-2.5 cm. long; leaf blades firm, yellowish green and shiny
on the upper surface, paler on the lower surface, broadly deltoid to deltoid-ovate
748
-------
Fig. 385: Populus Sargentii: a, leafy twigs, x %; b, glands on base of leaf on upper
surfaces, x 6; c, vegetative bud, x 3; d, female ament, x %; e, seed, x 8. (From Correll
in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, PL 61.).
-------
Fig. 386: Populus tremuloides: 1, leafy branchlet, x l/2; 2, leafy branchlet with
bursting young ament, x 1; 3, young male ament, x 1; 4, floral bract, x 2%; 5, leafy
twig with female ament, x 1; 6, fruit, x 2\'n. (From Correll in Lundell's Flora of Texas,
w~T i m *:-> ^
Vol. 3, PI. 62.).
-------
or deltoid-subreniform, mostly abruptly narrowed and acuminate-attenuate at
the entire apex, truncate to shallowly cordate or sometimes widely cuneate at
base, the margins coarsely serrate with usually less than 10 teeth on each side,
provided with two small glands at juncture with petioles, 7-11 cm. long, usually
about as broad as or broader than long; petioles slender, laterally compressed,
5-10 cm. long; pistillate aments 6-13 cm. long, with mature pedicels 1-6 (rarely
more) mm. long (usually 5 mm. or less) and shallow disks 2-4 mm. in diameter;
floral bracts caducous, thin, scarious, cuneate below, dilated above and lacerate
on the apical margin, 3-4 mm. long; fruits broadly ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoidal,
pitted, 1—1.5 cm. long, 3- to 4-vaIved; seeds ellipsoid, usually widest above the
middle, apiculate, compressed, 3-4 mm. long. P. deltoides [var.j occidentalis Rydb.
In sandy alluvial soils along rivers and streams, about stock tanks and along
roadside banks scattered over the Tex. Plains Country from Nolan Co. northw.,
and extending over into Cooke and Montague cos. in n.-cen. Tex. and into Okla.,
Mar.-June; from s. Sask., s. Alta. and S.D., s. to w. Okla., n. Tex. and n.e. N.M.
When in fruit, var. Sargentii is readily distinguished from both P. deltoides
and P. Wislizenii by its short pedicels which are shorter than the fruits and usually
less than 5 mm. long. From P. deltoides it is also distinguished by its pubescent,
not glabrous, buds, and from P. Wislizenii by the glands that are developed at
the junction of the leaf blades and petioles. The glands are smaller and of a
different shape than those of P. deltoides.
Var. texana (Sarg.) Correll. TEXAS COTTONWOOD. P. texana Sarg. Variety
texana occurs in the same types of habitat and, in Texas and Oklahoma, occupies
approximately the same area of distribution as var. Sargentii.
Except for the fact that var. texana rarely, if ever, has glands at the junction
of the leaf blades and petioles it could be referred to var. Sargentii. This lack
of well-developed glands is apparently the only characteristic that separates these
two entities. Sterile specimens of var. texana. resemble P. Wislizenii so closely
that if it were not for a difference in their area of distribution it would prac-
tically be impossible to distinguish one from the other. The leaves of var. texana,
however, usually have a more abruptly acuminate-attenuate apex, and some of
the leaves occasionally have one or two abortive glands, a characteristic that is
not evident in P, Wislizenii. In fruit, however, the stout pedicels of var. texana,
which rarely exceed 5 mm. in length, conveniently separate it from the longer,
more slender pedicels of P. Wislizenii.
8. Populus tremuloides Michx. QUACKING ASPEN, ALAMO TEMBLON. Fig. 386.
Tree (in our area) rarely more than 15 m. tall, attaining a much greater size
at lower elevations, with a slender erect trunk to about 1.5 dm. in diameter,
the slender pendulous branches forming a narrow symmetrical domelike crown;
bark smooth, firm, grayish-white to brownish or pale-green occasionally mottled
with yellow, with scattered black rounded protuberances and curved scarlike
marks, the older bark at base of trunk irregularly fissured and becoming blackish;
branchlets slender, flexible, glabrous and shiny, reddish-brown in autumn of first
year, later becoming gray, provided with scattered elliptic orange-colored lenticels;
buds reddish-brown, shiny, slightly resinous, ellipsoid-conic, sharp-pointed, some-
times with the lowermost scales slightly puberulent, to about 1 cm. long; leaf
blades glabrous, suborbicular to orbicular-ovate or sometimes orbicular-subreni-
form, abruptly apiculate to shortly acuminate at apex, truncate to broadly rounded
or shallowly cordate at base, deep-yellowish-green and lustrous on upper surface,
paler on lower surface, with conspicuous yellowish veins, becoming yellowish to
deep orange-color in autumn, the margins regularly and finely crenulate-serrulate,
occasionally with small glands at juncture with petiole to 7.5 cm. long, frequently
wider than long; petiole slender, weak, yellow, laterally compressed just below the
751
-------
leaf blade, 4—6.5 cm. long; aments 4-6 cm. long; floral bracts cuneate, deeply
divided to near the middle into 3 to 5 triangular-lanceolate lobes, fringed with long
hairs; staminate aments densely flowered and cylindric, with short pedicels and
small oblique disks that support 6 to 12 stamens; pistillate aments more laxly
flowered, with mature pedicels 2-3 mm. long and oblique somewhat crenulate
disks 2-3 mm. in diameter; ovary conical, crowned by a thick short style and 1
erect thickened stigmas that are divided above into linear divergent lobes; fruits
ellipsoid-conic, thin-walled, 6-9 mm. long, on pedicels 2-3 mm. long; seeds
obovate, Light-brown, about 1 mm. long. Incl. [var.] aurea (Tidestr.) Daniels.
Apparently confined to the highest mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos where it grows
in ravines and on talus slopes above 7,000 ft. alt.; common in high mts., in bogs,
swamps and wet meadows of N. M. and Ariz.
This species is probably the most widespread tree in North America. It occurs
in most of Canada and Alaska and throughout the United States, except in the
southeast, and southward into northern Mexico it is found only in the high
mountains. The leaves turn an intense bright yellow or orange-yellow in autumn.
It flowers and fruits in the spring in its range. The slightest breeze causes move-
ment of the leaves, hence the common name, "quaking aspen."
2. Salix L. WILLOW
Prostrate to ascending or erect shrubs to large trees, to 36 m. or more in height;
budscale one, with an adhering inner membrane; leaf blades variable, linear,
lanceolate, oblanceolate, elliptic or oblong, petiolate, often persistently stipulate,
green or glaucous on the lower surface, hairy to glabrous, the margins entire or
somewhat revolute, denticulate, serrulate, crenate, undulate or undulate-serrulate;
aments precocious, coetaneous or serotinous, ascending, divaricate or somewhat re-
curved (never pendulous), 1-10 cm. or more long, slender and flexuous to stout
and dense; flower scales entire to erose-toothed, yellowish to black, mostly hairy,
tardily deciduous or persistent; stamens 2 (sometimes united) to 7 or 8, with 1
ventral and sometimes 1 dorsal gland; capsules with 2 valves recurving at maturity,
lanceolate to ovoid, 2-9 mm. long, hairy to glabrous, sessile or pedicelled (0.5-3
mm. long), with 1 ventral gland and sometimes 1 dorsal gland; style 1 (sometimes
wanting), entire or more or less divided; stigmas 2, entire or more or less divided;
without a disk; seeds numerous, minute, 0.8-1.2 mm. long, oblong, bearing a tuft
of silky hairs at base.
A genus of about 500 species, widely distributed throughout the North
Temperate and Arctic zones, a few in the American tropics and Southern Hemis-
phere.
Many of the species produce vigorous shoots that may have much larger and
often more toothed leaves than on the mature plant, and the stipules may be
greatly enlarged and even foliaceous. The shape and measurements of all organs
given in our descriptions are from mature plants.
The buds and twigs are the main parts of these plants that are eaten by
various game birds and songbirds, while not only these parts but also the bark
and foliage are eaten by various animal life, including, deer, elk, beaver, muskrat,
rabbit and squirrel.
I. Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas (p. 752)
II. Distribution in New Mexico and Arizona (p. 755)
KEY BASED ON VEGETATIVE CHARACTERS (FOR OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS SPECIES)
A. Leaves narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate to long-acuminate, 5-10
or 12 cm. long, finely serrulate, the vein islets beneath very small
752
-------
B. Leaves linear or linear-oblong, acute, almost sessile, subentire to remotely and
irregularly denticulate (8)
C. Leaves linear-oblong or linear-oblanceolate, 5-10 cm. long, distinctly petioled,
entire to undulate-serrate, glaucous on lower surface, more or less
pubescent (14)
1(A). Leaves green beneath, linear-lanceolate, acuminate (2)
1. Leaves glaucescent to glaucous beneath (5)
2(1). Twigs all yellowish; blades narrowly lanceolate
3. S. Gooddingii var. variabilis.
2. Twigs brown to blackish (seasonal somewhat yellowish) (3)
3(2). Capsule ovoid to ellipsoid, sculptured; leafy peduncle without a miniature
shoot from the axis of its uppermost leaf; stipules glandless
2. S. Humboldtiana.
3. Capsule ovoid-conical, unsculptured; leafy peduncle often producing a minia-
ture shoot from the axis of the uppermost leaf; stipules more or
less glandular (4)
4(3). Petioles short, averaging about 6 mm. long, brownish, pubescent; blades
broader, less narrowed at base 1. S. nigra var. nigra.
4. Petioles longer, averaging about 8 mm. long, yellowish, glabrous; blades nar-
rower, more narrowed at base 1. S. nigra var. Lindheimeri.
5(1). Petioles with glands near leaf base; blades lanceolate, coarsely crenate-
serrate, dark-green above, glabrous 6. S. fragilis.
5. Petioles without glands near leaf base (6)
6(5). Twigs brownish, often pubescent; blades linear- to narrowly lanceolate,
long-acuminate, often pubescent, dark-green above (S. longipes var.
Wardii) 9. S. caroliniana.
6. Twigs yellow or yellowish, glabrous; blades yellowish-green above, glabrous
(7)
7(6}. Blades lanceolate or somewhat ovatejlanceolate; aments lax
4. S. amygdaloides var. amygdaloides.
1. Blades linear-lanceolate or Ungulate-lanceolate; aments denser
4. S. amygdaloides var. Wrightii.
8(B). Blades yellowish-green, somewhat translucent, glabrous (more or less
thinly hairy while developing) (9)
8. Blades green, more opaque, silvery-silky or more or less gray-pubescent (10)
9(8). Blades 5—10 or 12 cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide....12. S. interior var. interior.
9. Blades 5-8 or 10 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide 12. S. interior var. pedicellata.
10(8). Blades silvery-silky, at least until full-size (11)
10. Blades more or less gray-puberulent or gray-pubescent (12)
11(10). Blades 6-10 or 12 cm. long, usually sharply denticulate, the hairs per-
sisting beneath (especially on midrib-)
12. S. interior var. angustissima.
11. Blades 5-8 cm. long, mostly subentire, the hairs persisting on both surfaces....
11. S. exigua var. stenophylla.
12(10). Blades only occasionally more than 4 cm. long and 4 mm. wide, usually
crowded, yewlike, pubescent, often becoming glabrate
10. S. taxifolia.
12. Blades only occasionally less than 5 cm. long, 5 mm. wide, not yewlike,
pubescent or glabrous (13)
753
-------
13(12). Blades 5-8 or 10 cm. long, 5-10 or 12 mm. wide, permanently more or
less pubescent 11. S. exigua var. exigua.
13. Blades 4-6 or 8 cm. long, 3-5 or 6 mm. wide, soon glabrate to glabrous and
yellowish green 11. S. exigua var. nevadensis.
14(C). Blades mostly linear-oblanceolate, pubescent while young, becoming
glabrous, densely glaucous and veiny; distribution mostly in moun-
tain canyons 17. 5". lasiolepis var. Bracelinae.
14. Blades narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, densely pubescent while young, more
thinly so and somewhat rugose in age; distribution in low or upland
prairies or open wasteland eastward
23. S. humilis var. rigidiuscula.
KEY BASED ON FLORAL CHARACTERS (FOR OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS SPECIES)
1. Flower scales yellowish, slowly deciduous; aments leafy-pedunculate (2)
1. Flower scales blackish, persistent; aments precocious, sessile or subsessile (11)
2(1). Aments only one per peduncle, mostly coetaneous, occasionally subpreco-
cious; capsules always glabrous (in Texas) (3)
2. Aments (especially staminate) 2 to 4 per peduncle, the supernumerary later,
at base of the first, serotinous; stamens 2; ovaries (sometimes) and
capsules (less frequently) more or less hairy while developing (8)
3(2). Stamens 2 (occasionally 3 or 4); maturing fruiting aments 7-10 mm.
wide; trees introduced 6. 5. fragilis.
3. Stamens 3 to 7 or 8; trees native (4)
4(3). Fruiting aments. (mature) 10-15 mm. wide; capsules 4-5 or 6 mm. long;
pedicels 1-2 mm. long (5)
4. Fruiting aments (mature) 15-20 mm. wide; capsule 5-6 or 7 mm. long; pedi-
cels 1.5-3 mm. long (7)
5(4). In the Texas Plains Country (Panhandle) and western Trans-Pecos, west-
ward 4. S. amygdaloides.
5. In Texas and/or Oklahoma east of the above regions (6)
6(5). Capsules ovoid to ellipsoid, sculptured; stipules glandless; lacking a minia-
ture shoot from the axis of the top peduncle leaf
2. S. Humboldtiana.
6. Capsules ovoid-conical, unsculptured; stipules more or less glandular; often
producing a shoot from the axis of the top peduncle leaf
1. S. nigra.
7(4). Capsules mostly 5.5-6.5 mm. long 3. S. Gooddingii var. variabilis.
1. Capsules mostly 4.5-5.5 mm. long 9. S. caroliniana.
8(2). Aments 1-1.5 cm. long, crowded near the tips of twigs
10. S. taxifolia.
8. Aments 3-6 or 8 cm. long, scattered along the twigs (9)
9(8). Capsules 5-6 or 7 mm. long; aments to 15 mm. wide
11. S. exigua and vars.
9. Capsules 8-9 or 10 mm. long; aments to 20 mm. wide (10)
10(9). Capsules thinly silky to glabrous when young, glabrous when mature
12. S. interior var. interior and S. interior var. pedicellata.
10. Capsules densely white-hairy while young, gray-hairy when mature
12. S. interior var. angustissima.
11(1). Aments 8-12 mm. wide; capsules 4-5 mm. long, glabrous
17. S1. lasiolepis var. Bracelinae.
11. Aments 15-20 mm. wide; capsules 7-9 mm. long, pubescent
23. S. humilis var. rigidiuscula.
754
-------
KEY BASED ON VEGETATIVE AND FLORAL CHARACTERS (FOR NEW MEXICO AND
ARIZONA SPECIES)
1. Prostrate miniature shrub with stems on or just below surface of ground,
commonly forming mats; alpine or subalpine (2)
1. Erect or ascending shrubs or trees with stems usually 5 dm. tall or more; at
lower elevations, rarely alpine (3)
2(1). Aments serotinous, terminating the short leafy shoots of the season; scales
pale, inconspicuously short-hairy within, otherwise glabrous; fila-
ments inconspicuously short-hairy toward the base; style very short,
it and the stigmas together less than 1 mm. long 13. S. nivalis.
2. Aments coetaneous, terminating short leafy lateral branches, the principal
vegetative shoots of the season not ending in aments; scale dark,
ordinarily conspicuously long-hairy (at least on the margins), the
hairs much surpassing the body of the scale; filaments glabrous;
style often longer, it and the stigmas together well over 1 mm.
long 14. S. arctica.
3(1). Petioles very short (not more than 3 mm. long) or none; leaves linear-
lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, sericeous (at least beneath);
seldom more and usually much less than 7 mm. wide or rarely to
12 mm. in S. exigia, the margins entire or remotely denticulate;
stamens 2 (4)
3. Petioles more than 3 mm. long or (if shorter) then the larger leaves more than
7 mm. wide or closely serrate or serrulate (5)
4(3). Leaves oblanceolate, sessile or very nearly so, at maturity not more than
3 cm. long; capsules silky-villous, then glabrate 10. S. taxifolia.
4. Leaves linear-lanceolate, short-petioled, at maturity 5 cm. long or more;
capsules glabrous 11. S. exigua.
5(3). All leaves with entire margins (6)
5. At least some or all of leaves with serrulate to serrate or crenulate-dentate
magins (7)
6(5). Leaves 2-4 cm. long, subglaucous beneath; staminate aments 7-15 mm.
long; pistillate aments 1-2.5 cm. long at maturity; style to about
0.4 mm. long 22. S. Geyeriana.
6. Leaves 4-6 (-8) cm. long, the margins often revolute, silvery appressed-
pubescent beneath; staminate aments 20-30 mm. long; pistillate
aments 2-6 cm. long at maturity; style mostly 0.6-1.3 mm. long
26. S. Drummondiana.
7(5). Margins of the leaves entire or with some obscurely serrulate (8)
7. Margins of all the leaves noticeably serrate to serrulate or dentate to crenulate
(16)
8(7). Leaves rounded to subcordate at base, green but paler beneath
19. S. myrtillifolia.
8. Leaves acutish to somewhat cuneate or attenuate at base, typically white or
whitish beneath (9)
9(8). Capsules thin-hairy or silky-pubescent (10)
9. Capsules glabrous; leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute to acuminate at
apex, glabrous and often shiny above (14)
10(9). Stigmas elongate, mostly 0.5-1 mm. long; twigs not glaucous, usually
glabrous; leaves broadly to narrowly obovate or elliptic-obovate,
glabrous above at maturity, widest above the middle (11)
10. Stigmas shorter than above, 0.2-0.5 mm. long; twigs glaucous or more or less
pubescent; leaves not broadly obovate, more or less pubescent above
(especially on main veins), mostly (but not always) widest at or
below the middle (12)
755
-------
11(10). Style usually 0.7-1.7 mm. long; leaves generally glabrous by the time
they are fully expanded; plants sometimes dwarf, rarely to 4 m.
tall 25. S. phylicifolia.
11. Style to 0.5 (rarely to 0.8) mm. long; leaves typically reddish-strigillose
beneath but sometimes more conspicuously hairy or even glabrous;
plants robust, mostly more than 4 m. tall 24. S. Scouleriana.
12(10). Leaves 5 or more times as long as wide, usually narrowly lanceolate but
sometimes oblanceolate; twigs very glaucous 22. 5. Geyeriana.
12. Leaves not more than 4 times as long as wide, typically elliptic but sometimes
oblong-lanceolate or narrowly obovate; twigs usually strongly
pubescent (13)
13(12). Style 0.5-0.8 mm. long; scales light- to dark-brown or sometimes black-
ish 15. S. glauca.
13. Style short, to about 0.4 mm. long; scales yellowish to light-brown
21. 5. Bebbiana.
14(9). Shrub to about 4 m. tall; branchlets usually dark-purple (plum-colored)
and very glaucous 16. 5. irrorata.
14. Shrubs or trees; branchlets yellowish to dark-brown, not or but slightly glau-
cous (15)
15(14). Leaves oblanceolate to linear, acute to short-acuminate; stamens 2, the
filaments glabrous 17. S. lasiolepis.
15. Leaves prevailingly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate and long-acuminate;
stamens more than 2, the filaments hairy toward the base
8. S. laevigata.
16(7). Lower leaf surface green, slightly paler than the upper surface but seldom
distinctly glaucous (17)
16. Lower leaf surface decidedly paler than the upper surface, usually glaucous
(19)
17(16). Petioles and leaf bases glandular 5. S. lasiandra,
17. Petioles and leaf bases not glandular (18)
18(17). Shrub; twigs brown; leaves seldom more than 4 times as long as wide,
rounded to subcordate at base, obtuse to short-acuminate at apex
19. S. myrtillifolia.
18. Tree; twigs yellowish; leaves much more than 4 times as long as wide, attenu-
ate at base, long-acuminate at apex 3. S. Gooddingii,
19(16). Leaves all (or some of them) conspicuously and sharply long-acuminate
at apex; stamens 3 or more, the filaments hairy toward the base;
usually trees (20)
19. Leaves rounded to short-acuminate at apex (23)
20(19). Petioles slender, those of the larger leaves usually 10 mm. long or more;
leaves typically not more than 3 times as long as wide, not shiny
above 4. s. amygdaloides.
20. Petioles stout, usually less than 10 mm. long; leaves commonly at least 4 times
as long as wide, often shiny above (21)
21(20). Margins of the leaf blades and the petioles near the apex bearing con-
spicuous yellowish glands; branchlets and the upper surface of the
leaves very shiny 5. s. lasiandra,
21. Margins of the leaf blades and the petioles not or not conspicuously glandular;
branchlets and the upper surface of the leaves not or only moder-
ately shiny (22)
756
-------
22(21). Leaves commonly broadly lanceolate (less than 6 times as long as wide),
usually only moderately acuminate, glaucous but ordinarily not
silvery-white beneath 8. S. laevigata.
22. Leaves commonly narrowly lanceolate (6 or more times as long as wide), very
long- and sharp-acuminate, silvery-white beneath
7. S. Bonplandiana.
23(19). Bases of the leaves rounded or subcordate (seldom cuneate); stamens 2,
the filaments glabrous (24)
23. Bases of the leaves cuneate or attenuate (sometimes rounded in S. laevigata),
the blades often shiny above and very glaucous beneath (25)
24(23). Bark of the twigs yellow or brown; leaves oblong-lanceolate to linear-
lanceolate, yellowish-green and usually not glossy above, moderately
glaucous beneath 18. S. rigida.
24. Bark of the twigs reddish-brown to dark-purple (plum-colored); leaves elliptic
(often broadly so), dark-green and slightly glossy above, strongly
glaucous beneath; stipules large, usually persistent....20. S. monticola.
25(23). Leaves prevailing oblanceolate to broadly obovate (26)
25. Leaves prevailingly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate (27)
26(25). Capsules hairy; leaves commonly obovate 24. S. Scouleriana.
26. Capsules glabrous; leaves commonly oblanceolate 17. S. lasiolepis.
27(25). Branchlets commonly dark-purple (plum-colored) and very glaucous;
filaments glabrous 16. S. irrorata.
27. Branchlets yellow to dark-brown, not or but slightly glaucous; filaments hairy
toward base 8. S. laevigata.
1. Salix nigra Marsh. BLACK WILLOW, SAUZ. Fig. 387.
Tree to 20 m. tall, sometimes with several trunks and when young somewhat
shrubby, with flaky dark-brown to blackish bark; branchlets and twigs brittle at
base but tough and flexible above, soon glabrate; stipules semicordate, acute,
glandular-serrulate, to 12 mm. long, caducous; leaves with pubescent to glabrous
petioles 4—10 mm. long; blades (when mature) linear to narrowly lanceolate,
acuminate-attenuate, broadly to narrowly cuneate at base, often falcate, 5-15 cm.
long, 5-15 mm. wide, becoming glabrous, deep green on both surfaces, glandular-
serrulate; aments coetaneous, terminating leafy shoots, slender-cylindric, 2—8 cm.
long; scales obovate, yellowish, crisp-villous on inner surface, caducous; staminate
flowers with 2 basal glands; stamens 3 to 5, the free arching filaments pubescent
below; pistillate flowers with 1 basal gland; style nearly obsolete; capsules ovoid-
conical, fulvous, glabrous, 3-5 mm. long.
In alluvial soils along streams and in wet meadows, also about ponds, lakes and
other water bodies, in Okla. (Blaine, Caddo, Seminole and Texas cos.) and in the
e. two third of Tex., w. to the 101st Meridian and s. to Cameron Co., spring;
N.B. and N.E., s. to Fla., w. to s. Minn., s.e. Neb, e. Kan., Okla. and Tex.; also
n.e. Mex.
Var. nigra and var. Lindheimeri Schneid, are distinguished in the key. In addi-
tion, var. Lindheimeri further differs from var. nigra in its usually narrower
leaves that are at least more attenuate at the base. Its young branchlets and
petioles are also glabrous or become so very soon.
2. Salix Humboldtiana Willd.
Very similar to S. nigra var. Lindheimeri, but differs from that species in having
sculptured markings on the ovoid to ovoid-oblong or ellipsoid glabrous capsules
and in lacking a miniature shoot from the axis of the top peduncle leaf. Also, the
stipules are said to be glandless. Salix nigra has ovoid-conical unsculptured cap-
757
-------
Fig. 387: 5a/i".v nigra: a, branch with male aments, x !/•>; b, portion of leaf, x 2; c,
rrftle flower, x 5; d, branch with female aments, x Vi; e, fruit, x 5; f, fruit dehiscing,
x 5; g, seed, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
sules and often produced a shoot from the axis of the top peduncle leaf, and the
stipules are more or less glandular.
In habitats similar to those of S. nigra, in s. and s.w. Tex. (Hidalgo, Starr,
Uvalde and Val Verde cos.); represented throughout Lat. Am. to the s. tip of
S.A. by several varieties.
The above Texas collections, originally designated as this species by W. Andrew
Archer, should probably be referred to var. stipulacea (Mart. & Gal.) Schneid.,
of Mexico and Central America.
3. Salix Gooddingii Ball var. variabilis Ball. SOUTHWESTERN BLACK WILLOW.
Trees with 2 to 4 trunks, to about 15m. tall, with gray furrowed bark; branch-
lets slender, yellowish or yellowish-brown, pubescent to puberulous, becoming
glabrous with age; bud scales 2-4 mm. long, colored and clothed as the twigs;
stipules 1-3 (-10) mm. long, semicordate to subreniform or sublunate, glandular-
denticulate, often gland-bearing on inner surface; petioles 3-6 (-10) mm. long,
yellowish, pubescent, becoming glabrous; blades linear-lanceolate to narrowly
lanceolate, often somewhat falcate, 6-10 (-17) cm. long, 1-1.5 (-3) cm. wide,
acute at base, long-acuminate at apex, at first pubescent but later glabrous, green
or yellowish-green, glandular-denticulate with about 8 teeth per cm.; aments
coetaneous, numerous, 3-6 (-8) cm. long, 1.2-2 cm. wide, lax, terminating lateral
seasonal shoots that bear 3 to 6 small leaves; scales oblong-lanceolate to oblanceo-
late, sometimes toothed, 2.5-3 mm. long, yellow, deciduous; stamens 3 to 6, the
filaments pilose on lower third; ovaries glabrous or thinly pilose; capsules ovate-
conic, 5.5-7 mm. long, glabrous or sometimes papillose; stigmas 2, divided;
pedicels 1.5-3 mm. long.
In alluvial soil near bodies of water, swamps and stream courses, in the w.
third of Tex., across N.M, and Ariz, to Calif, and n. Mex., spring.
It is very doubtful that this plant should be maintained separately from S. nigra.
4. Salix amygdaloides Anderss. PEACH-LEAF WILLOW.
Shrub or tree 3-12 m. tall, sometimes multitrunked, the fissured bark dark-
brown or reddish-brown; branches gray-brown; twigs yellow to reddish-brown,
glabrous, not brittle, drooping at tip; stipules wanting or semilunate and to 12 mm.
long; petioles slender, 6-20 mm. long, often twisted, glabrous, yellowish; blades
lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 (-12) cm. long, 7-30 mm. wide, acuminate,
closely serrulate, acute or rounded at base, glabrous, yellowish, green above, glau-
cous beneath; aments coetaneous, linear, lax, 2.5-7 cm. long, on leafy lateral
peduncles to 4 cm. long; scales yellow, lanceolate or broader, glabrate on outer
surface, villous within, deciduous; stamens 4 to 7, the free filaments hairy below;
capsules lanceolate, 4-5 mm. long, glabrous; styles 0.3-0.5 mm. long, the stigmas
shorter. S. nigra of W. & S.
In alluvial soils along streams and near bodies of water, in Okla. (Cimarron
Co.), in the Tex. Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Union, Dona Ana,
Chaves, Grant, Sierra, Socorro, Otero, San Juan and Bernalillo cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Pima cos.), spring; Que. to B.C., s. to Pa., s.w. Ky., Okla., w. Tex.,
N.M., Ariz, and Nev.; (?) Mex.
Var. amygdaloides and var. Wrightii (Anderss.) Schneid. (S. Wrightii Anderss.)
are distinguished in the key. The much narrower leaves of var. Wrightii are
usually 7-10 or rarely to 15 mm. wide and mostly 6-8 cm. long, with an acute
base and tapering acuminate apex.
5. Salix lasiandra Benth. YELLOW WILLOW TREE.
Coarse several-stemmed shrub or small tree to about 12m. tall; trunk to about
6 dm. thick, usually much less, the smooth gray bark eventually fissured; leaves
and twigs finely spreading-hairy when young, soon glabrate to glabrous; stipules
759
-------
usually well-developed and leafy, broadly rounded, gland-toothed, 2-10 mm. long,
deciduous; petiole mostly 3-15 (-25) mm. long, bearing 2 or more large glands or
glandular processes on the upper side at or near base of blade; blades lanceolate
to narrowly elliptic, gradually long-acuminate, usually 6-15 cm. long and 1-3 cm.
wide, larger on vigorous shoots, finely and closely serrulate with some teeth callous-
glandular, blades of the floriferous branches smaller; aments appearing with the
leaves, the axis finely and persistently spreading-hairy; scales yellowish, hairy at
least on inner surface, deciduous; staminate aments 2—7 cm. long and 1—1.5 cm.
thick; stamens 3 to 18, the filaments hairy toward base; pistillate aments 3-12 cm.
long; capsules 4-8 mm. long, short-pedicellate, glabrous. S. caudata (Nutt.) Heller.
Along streams, in swamps and marshy thickets, in N.M. (Rio Arriba, Santa Fe,
Grant, Socorro and McKinley cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Greenlee. Coco-
nino and Gila cos.); Colo, to Yuk., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Salix fragilis L. CRACK-WILLOW.
Large tree to 20 ra. tall; branchlets greenish to dark-red, glabrous, very brittle
at base and deciduous in strong winds; stipules wanting or small, early deciduous;
petioles 7-15 mm. long, glandular above at outer end; blades narrowly lanceolate
to lanceolate, 7-15 cm. long, 2-3.5 cm. wide, with 5 to 6 glandular serrations per
cm. of margin, dark-green above, glaucescent to glaucous beneath, glabrous at
maturity; aments coetaneous, slender, lax, 4-8 cm. long, on leafy peduncles to 5
cm. long; scales oblong, greenish-yellow, crisp-villous, deciduous; capsules nar-
rowly conic, 4-5.5 mm. long, glabrous; styles 0.3-0.7 mm. long, the short stigmas
notched.
Introd. from Eur., occasionally escapes to wettish meadowlands, along streams,
pastures and other such places, in Can. and e. and cen. U.S.
7. Salix Bonplandiana H.B.K.
Tree to about 12 m. tall, the slender branches drooping; branchlets glabrous or
sparsely pilose; petioles stout, reddish, mostly more than 1 cm. long; blades
lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, sharply long-acuminate, to about 12 cm. long and
1-2 cm. wide, 6 or more times as long as wide, yellow-green and lustrous above,
essentially glabrous and silvery-white glaucous on lower surface, serrulate; stamin-
ate aments 4-6 cm. long; stamens 3 or more, the free filaments hairy toward the
base; scales broadly obovate, light-yellow, villous on outer surface, glabrous or
slightly hairy above on inner surface; fruit ovoid-conical, light reddish-yellow;
stigmas nearly sessile and club-shaped. Incl. var. Toumeyi (Britt.) Schneid.
Banks of streams, on edge of wet meadows, in N. M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz.
(Yavapai, Greenlee, Gila, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.); s. to Guat.
8. Salix laevigata Bebb. RED WILLOW.
Tree to 15m. tall, the bark rough; twigs reddish-brown, glabrous; winter buds
5-7 mm. long, pointed; stipules minute, caducous; petioles stout, 4-10 mm. long;
blades oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, acute at both ends or obtuse at base, green
above, glaucous beneath; staminate aments lax, erect, 3—10 cm. long, the peduncle
leafy; stamens 4 to 7, the filaments free; pistillate aments slender, 2-5 cm. long.
the peduncle leafy; capsule ovoid.
In swamps and along streams, in Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai,
Gila and Cochise cos.); also s.w. Ut., Calif, and Baja Calif.
Var. araquipa (Jeps.) Ball has pubescent young twigs, petioles and bases of the
midveins, and often very large leaves.
9. Salix caroliniana Michx. LONG-PEDICELLED WILLOW.
Shrub or tree to 10 m. tall; branchlets and petioles yellowish to dark-brown,
sparsely to densely white-pubescent; stipules broadly reniform, 7-15 mm. long,
760
-------
obtuse to acute, serrulate, glaucous; leaf blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate,
7-15 cm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, long-acuminate, shallowy serrulate, acute to rounded
at base, dark green above, strongly glaucous beneath and often somewhat pubes-
cent; aments coetaneous, 3—11 cm. long; scales obovate to oblanceolate, yellowish,
villous, deciduous; stamens 4 to 8, the free filaments pubescent at base; capsules
narrowly ovoid-lanceolate, 3-3.5 mm. long, glabrous; styles and stigmas minute.
S. longipes Shuttlew., S. Wardii Bebb.
Along rocky water courses, stream bottoms and in coastal sands, in Okla.
(Pushmataha Co.) and s.-cen. Tex., spring; W.I. and Fla., w. to Tex. and Okla.,
n. to the Potomac Valley, the Ohio River in w. Pa. and s. Ind.
10. Salix taxifolia Kunth. YEW-LEAF WILLOW.
Shrub or tree 4-12 m. tall, with furrowed bark, the lower branchlets somewhat
drooping and the color effect in mass grayish-white; branchlets much-branched,
slender, yellowish-gray or somewhat brownish, at first densely white- or silvery-
pubescent, eventually grayish and glabrate; stipules mostly wanting; leaves short-
petiolate; blades linear to linear-oblanceolate, 1-5 cm. long, 2-5 mm. wide,
acutish at both ends, entire to remotely and minutely denticulate, densely silvery-
pubescent when young, becoming gray-pubescent or puberulent with age, more or
less densely crowded on the twigs; aments serotinous, 1-1.5 cm. long in fruit,
subglobose to ovate-oblong, usually several terminating densely-leaved seasonal
shoots; scales yellowish, obovate to ovate, deciduous; stamens 2, the free filaments
pubescent on the lower third or half; ovaries usually pubescent but sometimes
glabrate; capsules sessile, lanceolate, 4-5 (-6) mm. long, thinly pubescent to
glabrate; styles 0.1-0.2 mm. long; stigmas 0.4-0.7 mm. long, divided.
Along streams, about springs and bodies of water, in w. Tex. (Brewster, Jeff
Davis and Presidio cos.), N. M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), spring; also Mex. to Guat.
Var. microphylla (Schlecht. & Cham.) Schneid. has very small leaves, Santa
Cruz Co., Ariz.
11^ Salix exigua Nutt. var. exigua. GRAY SANDBAR WILLOW. Fig. 388.
Shrub 2—4 m. tall, gray-appearing; twigs pruinose to silky-tomentose; leaves
without stipules; blades tapering to a short petiole, 5-12 cm. long, linear to
linear-lanceolate, remotely denticulate, canescent to silky-pubescent on both sur-
faces, becoming glabrate with age; statninate aments on long peduncles, 2-4 cm.
long; stamens 2, the free filaments pubescent; pistillate aments 3-6 cm. long, on
leafy peduncles; scales lanceolate, acute, white-pilose; ovary glabrous or some-
times with 2 glands (var. nevadensis (Wats.) Schneid.); stigma sessile; capsule
subsessile to short-pediceled, 4.5-6.5 mm. long, ovoid-attenuate, glabrous to
sericeous and becoming glabrous.
Along streams and near bodies of water, and swamps, usually at high elevations,
in the Edwards Plateau, Plains Country and Trans-Pecos of Tex., in N.M. (fre-
quent in mts.) and Ariz, (almost throughout the state), spring; from Calif, n. to
B.C. and e. to the w. Great Plains.
lla. Salix exigua var. nevadensis (Wats.) Schneid.
Differs (in part) from var. exigua in having browner and more glabrate branch-
lets, narrower glabrate and yellowish-green leaves, and somewhat more glabrate
flower scales. Along streams and near bodies of water, in canyons, from Calif.,
Ida. and Ut., e. to s. Colo, and w. Tex.
lib. Salix exigua var. stenophylla (Rydb.) Schneid. SILVERY DESERT WILLOW.
Variety stenophylla differs from var. exigua in having narrower leaves and in
the much more dense silvery-pubescence of all vegetal parts, and branchlets ar>d
761
-------
Fig. 388: SaU.r e.rigua: a, branch with male aments, x H; b, male flower, x 5; c,
tip of leaf, x 2; d, branch with female aments, x V2; e, fruit dehiscing, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
bud scales more densely pilose-pubescent. From var. nevadensis it differs in its
densely silvery-pubescent leaves that never become glabrate or yellowish-green in
age, except on some vigorous shoots.
Along streams and near bodies of water, from w. Tex. and n. Mex. to Calif.,
n. to Colo, and Ida.
Indians and Mexicans use the stripped branches in basket-making.
12. Salix interior Rowlee. SANDBAR WILLOW, TARAY.
Many-stemmed shrub 2-5 m. tall; branchlets slender, leafy, reddish-brown,
usually glabrous; stipules none; leaves essentially sessile; blades linear to linear-
oblanceolate, 5-14 cm. long, 5-12 (-18) mm. wide, acute to acuminate at both
ends, remotely and irregularly spinulose-denticulate, green on both sides but paler
beneath, often sericeous when young, glabrous with age; aments serotinus, 3-6 (-8)
cm. long, lax, 1 to 3 together terminating lateral leafy branchlets 3-10 cm. long;
scales lanceolate, yellowish, thinly pubescent, deciduous; stamens 2, the free fila-
ment pubescent at base; ovaries densely to thinly silvery-villous; capsules narrowly
lanceolate, 7-10 mm. long, glabrous; pedicels 0.5-1.5 mm. long; styles almost
obsolete; stigmas short, divided. S. longifolia Muhl.
In alluvial soils, mostly along ditches, on sandbars and mudbars, and about
bodies of water, in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), n. Tex. s. to the Rio Grande Valley and
N.M. (Grant Co.), spring; Potomac and Ohio valleys, n. to s. Can., w. from the
Miss. River across the Great Plains, s. to La., Tex. and N.M., n.w. to Yuk. and
Alas.; Mex.
Most of our material is referred to the following two varieties.
Var. pedicellate (Anderss.) Ball. NARROW-LEAVED SANDBAR WILLOW. Differs
from var. interior in the narrowly linear leaves, 2-4 mm. wide, and in the ovaries
nearly always glabrous. S. linearifolia Rydb.
Var. angustissima (Anderss.) Dayton. SILVERY-FRUITED SANDBAR WILLOW.
Differs from var. interior principally in the ovaries being densely white pilose-
pubescent and the capsules remaining gray pilose-pubescent even in age.
13. Salix nivalis Hook.
Depressed somewhat matted shrub with woody rhizomatous stems creeping at or
below the surface of ground, rarely to 1 dm. above ground level; stipules wanting
or minute and caducous; petioles mostly 2-15 mm. long; blades elliptic to obovate,
rounded and sometimes refuse to acutish at apex, to about 3 cm. long and 2 cm.
wide, glabrous, firm, dark-green above, conspicuously glaucous and reticulate-
veined on lower surface, entire; aments serotinous, terminating the main vegetative
shoots of the season; scales pale, mostly yellowish or greenish, glabrous on outer
surface, somewhat villous-puberulent within; staminate aments slender; filaments 2,
inconspicuously villous-hirsute at base; capsules 3-5 mm. long, villous-puberulent
or subtomentose; style and stigmas combined less than 1 mm. long 5. saximontana
Rydb.
Wet meadows, seepage slopes among grasses, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and Taos
cos.); Alta. and B.C., s. to N.M., Ut. and Calif.
14. Salix arctica Pall.
Depressed somewhat matted shrub that typically creeps along surface of ground,
seldom to 1 dm. above ground level; stems yellowish or brown; stipules minute or
wanting; petiole 4-13 mm. long; blades elliptic to obovate, entire, rounded to
somewhat acute at apex, usually 1.5-5 cm. long and 5-20 mm. wide, loosely
villous at first but soon glabrate, paler and somewhat glaucous on lower surface;
aments appearing with leaves, on short leafy lateral branchlets, the pistillate usually
2-5 cm. long; scales brown to blackish, persistent, with long hairs mostly sur-
763
-------
passing body of scale; stamens 2, the glabrous filaments often connate toward
base; capsules 4-8 mm. long, villous-tomentose; style and stigma combined 1.5-2.5
mm. long. S. petrophila Rydb.
Wet meadows, seepage grassy slopes among rocks, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and
Taos cos.); circumboreal, s. in Am. to Que., N.M. and Calif.
15. Salix glauca L.
Erect branching shrubs to about 15 dm. tall; twigs reddish and villous-tomentu-
lose; stipules often less than 1 mm. long, deciduous; petioles yellowish, 4-10 mm.
long; blades elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse to acute at apex, 2.5-4.5
(-6) cm. long, 1-2 (-3) cm. wide, loosely villous-tomentulose when young, often
becoming glabrate with age, essentially entire, conspicuously glaucous beneath;
aments coetaneous, on short leafy-bracted peduncles to 2 cm. long; scales light-
to dark-brown or occasionally blackish; staminate aments cylindric, 1-3 cm. long;
stamens 2, the free or basally united filaments glabrous or hairy at the base;
pistillate aments 2-5 cm. long at maturity; capsules 4-8 mm. long, hairy, on pedi-
cels 1-2 mm. long; styles 0.5-0.8 mm. long, longer than the bilobed stigmas.
Boggy or wet places in high mts., in N. M. (San Miguel and Taos cos.); cir-
cumboreal, s. in Am. to Que., Man., Alta., and B.C., and in Rocky Mts. to N. M.
16. Salix irrorata Anderss.
Shrubs to 3 m. tall; twigs usually dark reddish-brown, usually pruinose, puberu-
lent or glabrous; buds stout, broadly ovoid, brownish; leaf blades narrowly oblong-
elliptic to oblanceolate, acute to short-acuminate at apex, cuneate at base, 5-6
(-7) cm. long, 1-1.2 cm. wide, entire or those of shoots undulate-serrate, when
mature dark green and glabrous above and green or somewhat glaucous beneath;
staminate aments sessile, 1.5-2 cm. long; stamens 2, the glabrous filaments united
at base; pistillate aments subsessile, 2.5—4 cm. long; scales ovate to obovate,
blackish, with long white hairs; capsules ovoid-conic, glabrous, 3-4 mm. long;
styles 0.5-0.7 mm. long, the short stigmas entire or emarginate.
Along streams and edge of wet meadows in canyons, in N. M. (widespread
in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Cochise and Pima cos.); also Colo.
17. Salix lasiolepis Benth. ARROYO WILLOW.
Shrub or small tree usually to 6 or rarely to 12 m. tall; twigs yellowish-olive
to reddish, downy-puberulent to glabrous; stipules essentially wanting; petioles
mostly 5—15 mm. long; blades thickish, revolute-margined, entire or sometimes
shallowly toothed or sinuate, dark-green above, conspicuously paler and glaucous
beneath, oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 3-11 cm. long, 5-30 mm. wide, short-
hairy when young, with age glabrous above and strigose-puberulent beneath;
aments precocious, sessile or with peduncle to 1 cm. long; scales blackish, per-
sistent, densely long-wooly-villous; staminate aments 2.5-4.5 cm. long; filaments
2, glabrous; pistillate aments 2.5-6 cm. long; capsules 3-5 mm. long.
Along streams, in swamps and about springs, in w. Tex. to Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo, Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.); Ida. and Wash., s. to w. Tex.,
Ariz., Calif, and n. Mex.
Our material is usually referred to the narrow-leaved var. Bracelinae Ball.
18. Salix rigida Muhl. YELLOW WILLOW.
Coarse shrub usually 2-4 or rarely to 9 m. tall, occasionally somewhat arbores-
cent; twigs elongate and slender, yellow to reddish-brown, puberulent but be-
coming glabrous; stipules foliaceous, to about 1 cm. long, ovate to lunate, serru-
late to entire; petioles to about 2 cm. long; blades typically lanceolate and broadly
rounded to somewhat cordate at base, varying to elliptic or oblanceolate-obovate,
764
-------
acuminate to acute, closely and finely toothed, eventually glabrous, glaucous
beneath, 5-10 (-15) cm. long, 1-3 (-6) cm. wide; aments precocious to coetane-
ous, subsessile, terminating short lateral branches, the axis of aments white woolly-
villous; scales often glabrous, light-brown to dark-brown or blackish, persistent;
staminate aments 2-5 cm. long; stamens 2, the glabrous filaments free or some-
what connate below; pistillate aments 3-6 (-9) cm. long; capsules glabrous, 3-7
mm. long. S. lutea Nutt.
In wet meadows and along streams, in N.M. (Lincoln, Otero, San Miguel and
Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino and Yavapai cos.); Nfld. and Que.,
s. to Va., w. to Yuk., B.C., Wash., Calif., Ariz, and N.M.
19. Salix myrtillifolia Anderss.
Much-branched shrub to about 1 m. tall, rarely somewhat arborescent and to
4 m. tall; twigs minutely hairy; stipules insignificant, deciduous; petioles seldom
to 1 cm. long; blades firm, hairy when young but soon essentially glabrous,
elliptic-oblanceolate to elliptic-obovate or elliptic, obtuse to subacuminate, finely
and often glandular-crenate-serrate to entire, mostly 3-7 cm. long and 1-2 cm.
wide, green but somewhat pale beneath; aments coetaneous, on short leafy
peduncles to about 1.5 cm. long; scales persistent, brown or blackish, thinly white-
pilose or at least more or less hairy within; staminate aments 1—2 cm. long; sta-
mens 2, the glabrous filaments usually free; pistillate aments 2—4 cm. long; style
evident; capsules glabrous, 3-6 mm. long, ovoid-attenuate, with pedicels about 1
mm. long. S. pseudocordata Anderss.
Wet meadows and wet open slopes, forming thickets in marshy ground, in
N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to
N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
20. Salix monticola Bebb. ex Coult.
Shrub to about 4 m. tall; twigs mostly yellowish, short-hairy when young,
becoming glabrous with age; stipules small, deciduous; petioles 5-10 (-15) mm.
long; blades elliptic to elliptic-obovate, obtuse to acute or even subacuminate at
apex, 3.5-8 cm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, hairy when young but becoming glabrate
with age, glaucous beneath, crenate-serrate to subentire; aments coetaneous or
subprecocious, essentially sessile on short peduncles to 1 cm. long, often subtended
by small leafy bracts to 1.5 cm. long; scales dark, long-hairy, persistent; staminate
aments 2-3.5 cm. long; filaments 2, glabrous, free to base or sometimes connate
below; pistillate aments 2-6 cm. long; capsules glabrous, 4—7 mm. long, on a
pedicel 1 mm. long; style 0.7-1.8 mm. long, longer than the somewhat bilobed
stigmas. S. pseudomonticola Ball, S. padophylla Rydb.
On stream banks and edge of wet meadows, in N. M. (San Miguel and Santa Fe
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.); Sask. to Alta., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
21. Salix Bebbiana Sarg. BEAKED WILLOW.
Shrub or small tree 2-5 m. tall, with 1 to several stems; branchlets slender,
divaricate, brownish, pubescent to glabrate; stipules wanting or small; leaf blades
elliptic and acute at both ends to broadly rhombic-oblanceolate to obovate-oval,
abruptly short-acuminate and rounded at base, 4-7 (-10) cm. long, 1.5-3 (-4)
cm. wide, subentire to undulate-crenate, glaucous and rugose beneath, more or less
gray-pubescent on both surfaces; aments subprecocious; staminate aments small
and subsessile; stamens 2, the slender filaments free; pistillate aments 2-7 cm.
long, very lax, on bracted peduncles 5-20 mm. long; scales narrowly oblong, acute,
1-2 mm. long, greenish-yellow with reddish tips, pilose; capsules lanceolate-
rostrate, 7-10 mm. long, finely pubescent; styles 0.1-0.2 mm. long; stigmas
0.1-0.3 mm. long, entire to divided.
765
-------
In moist or wet places, mostly along streams and on edge of wet meadows, in
N.M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Graham
cos.), spring; Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.J., S.D., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
22. Salix Geyeriana Anderss.
Shrub to 1 m. tall; twigs black and pruinose, glabrous to pubescent; leaves
without stipules; blades linear-oblanceolate to elliptic, acute at each end, 2-6 cm.
long, dark-green above, glaucous beneath, thinly to densely pubescent on both
sides, the margins entire to revolute; staminate aments oblong, 1 cm. long, on a
leafy peduncle; stamens 2, the filaments united at base; pistillate aments subglobose
to oblong, 1-2 cm. long; scales with red tips; style short or none; capsule 5-7 mm.
long, pubescent.
In wet meadows and along stream borders, in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino
and Yavapai cos.); Can. and Alas., s. to Pa. and Ariz.
23. Salix humilis Marsh, var. rigidiuscula (Anderss.) Robins. & Fern. NARROW-
LEAVED PRAIRIE WILLOW.
Shrub 1-3 m. tall; stems clustered; branchlets yellowish to brown, pubescent to
glabrate; stipules lanceolate, acute, dentate, often deciduous; leaf blades oblanceo-
late to narrowly obovate, 3-10 (-15) cm. long, 1-2 (-3) cm. wide, acute to
abruptly short-acuminate, somewhat revolute, entire to somewhat undulate-crenate,
narrowed to the base, dark-green and often puberulent above, the lower surface
glaucous, somewhat rugose and more or less gray-pubescent becoming glabrate;
aments precocious, sessile or subsessile, oval-obovoid, 1.5-3 cm. long; scales ob-
lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. long, blackish, long-villous; stamens 2, the free filaments
glabrous; capsules narrowly lanceolate-rostrate, 7-9 mm. long, gray-pubescent;
pedicels 1-2 mm. long, pubescent; styles 0.2-0.4 mm. long, equaling the divided
stigmas.
In dry barrens, fields, open woods and swampy areas, in Okla. (Waterfall)
and n.e. Tex. (Bowie Co.), spring; from the Appalachian Plateau to the e. edge of
the Great Plains, w. to cen. N.D. and Tex.
Our material is usually referred to var. rigidiuscula (Anderss.) Robins. & Fern.
with leaves narrowly oblanceolate to subelliptic, acute to acuminate at both ends,
becoming glabrate to glabrous with age.
24. Salix Scouleriana Barratt. FIRE WILLOW.
Large shrub or tree to 12 m. tall and with a trunk to 4 dm. thick, usually
much smaller; stipules insignificant except on vigorous young shoots, eventually
deciduous; petioles 5-10 mm. long; blades broadly oblanceolate to obovate,
cuneate at base and broadly rounded to abruptly short-acuminate at apex, hairy
when young, at maturity usually lustrous dark-green and glabrous above, glaucous
and sparsely reddish-strigillose beneath, 4—8 (-12) cm. long, 1-3 (-5) cm. wide;
aments precocious or occasionally coetaneous, sessile or with peduncle to about
1.5 cm. long; scales blackish, persistent, conspicuously long-hairy; staminate
aments 2-4 cm. long; filaments 2, distinct, glabrous or somewhat hairy toward
base; pistillate aments 3-7 cm. long; capsules narrow, long-beaked, tomentose or
densely short-hairy, 5-8 mm. long, on pedicels about 1.5 mm. long.
In swamps and bogs, along streams, ditches and sloughs, in N.M. (widespread
in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.); Man.
and S.D. to Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
25. Salix phylicifolia L.
Shrub to about 2 m. tall, branching; twigs shiny, brownish to deep-red, essen-
tially glabrous; stipules small, caducous; petioles usually 2-10 mm. long; blades
766
-------
usually elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 2.5-3.5 (-5) cm. long, 1-1.5 (-2) cm. wide,
thinly rufous-strigillose when young, becoming glabrous with age, more or less
glaucous beneath, entire or sometimes somewhat toothed; aments precocious to
coetaneous, sessile or very short-pedunculate with leafy bracts; scales blackish,
long-hairy, persistent; staminate aments usually 2-4 mm. long; filaments 2, dis-
tinct, glabrous; pistillate aments usually 3-6 cm. long; capsules 4-6.5 mm. long,
subsessile, short-hairy; style 0.7-1.7 mm. long; stigmas often undivided, 0.5-0.8
mm. long.
Stream banks, lake shores, swamps and open woods, in N. M. (Mora, San
Miguel, and Taos cos.); circumboreal, in N.A. from N.E. to N.M., Calif, and
Wash.
Our plants have been referred to var. monica (Bebb) Jebs., a small shrub to
about 2 m. tall.
26. Salix Drummondiana Barratt.
Shrub usually 2-3 m. tall, rarely more or less; twigs dark-brown, puberulent
or glabrous, soon becoming very glaucous; stipules small and caducous; petioles
usually 4-10 mm. long; blades elliptic to lanceolate or occasionally oblanceolate,
with entire somewhat revolute margins, densely white-hairy beneath, short-hairy
but usually soon glabrate above, mostly 4-9 cm. long and 1-3 cm. wide, occa-
sionally somewhat larger; aments precocious to coetaneous, sessile or nearly so;
scales blackish or dark-brown, long-hairy; staminate aments 2-3 cm. long; stamens
2, the glabrous filaments often connate toward base; pistillate aments 2-6 cm.
long; capsules densely short-hairy, 3-6 mm. long, with pedicel to 1.5 mm. long;
style to 1.3 mm. long, sometimes cleft above. S. subcoerulea Piper.
Forming thickets in bogs, along streams and in wet meadows, in N.M. (Rio
Arriba Co.); Wyo. to B.C. and Wash., s. to N.M., Nev. and Calif.
Fam. 44. Myricaceae BL. WAX-MYRTLE or BAYBERRY FAMILY
Monoecious or dioecious shrubs or small trees with both kinds of flowers in
short scaly erect aments and with resinous-dotted usually fragrant alternate leaves;
involucre and perianth none.
A family of about 50 species in several genera of world-wide distribution.
1. Myrica L. WAX-MYRTLE
Leaves coriaceous and evergreen (in ours) or tardily deciduous, entire or
toothed to lobulate above the middle, without stipules; flowers typically unisexual,
in the axils of small scalelike bracts and with or without 2 to 4 short entire basal
bracteoles not overlapping the fruit; staminate aments ellipsoid or thick-cylindric,
these from axillary scaly buds; stamens 2 to many; filaments somewhat united
below; anthers 2-celled; pistillate aments ovoid or cylindric; ovary 1-celled; ovule
1, basal; stigmas 2, linear-elongate; fruit globose or ovoid, warty, commonly with
a waxy coat or resinous dots.
About 35 cosmopolitan species.
1. Leaves of flowering branches typically elliptic to broadly oblanceolate, mostly
2 cm. wide or more, their upper surface with resinous dots remote
or wanting 1. M,. heterophylla.
1. Leaves of flowering branches typically narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly
cuneate-oblanceolate, rarely to 2 cm. wide, their upper surface
densely covered with resinous dots 2. M. cerifera.
I. Myrica heterophylla Raf. Fig. 389.
Mostly small shrubs to about 3 m. tall; branches blackish or dark-grayish-black,
the pubescence of leafy branchlets becoming dark with age; leaves elliptic to
767
-------
Fig. 389: a-g, Myrica cerifera: a, sprig with staminate flowers, x %; b, sprig with
pistillate flowers, x VL>; c, sprig with fruit, x }*>; d, top of leaf, x 2%; e, underside of
leaf, x 21-:: f, staminate flowers, x 2\<>; g, fruit, x 3. h-q, Myrica heterophylla: h, sprig
with staminate flowers, x M>; i, sprig with pistillate flowers, x V>; j, sprig with fruit, x
12', k, top of leaf, x 2|A; 1, underside of leaf, x 2M>; rn, cluster of staminate flowers,
x 21:>; n, cluster of pistillate flowers, x 6; o, pistillate flowers, x 12; p, pistil, x 12; q,
fruit, x 3. (V. F.).
-------
oblanceolate or occasionally obovate, tapering at base into a short petiole, broadly
rounded to acute and minutely apiculate at apex, opaque, essentially glabrous and
sometimes somewhat glaucous on upper surface, to 14 cm. long and 4 cm. wide;
inflorescence either below or in the axils of the leaves; staminate aments to 15
mm. long; fruit 3-3.5 mm. in diameter.
In bogs and along streams in woods and thickets in e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from
Fla., w. to Tex. and n. on inner Coastal Plain to N. J.
2. Myrica cerifera L. WAX-MYRTLE, CANDLE-BERRY. Fig. 389.
Shrub or small tree to 12 m. tall, rarely with a trunk to 2 dm. in diameter;
young branchlets waxy, glabrous or sometimes pilose; leaves narrowly oblanceolate
to cuneate-oblanceolate, tapering at base to short petiole, acute at apex, mostly
less than 7 cm. long and to 25 mm. wide, fulvous or yellow-green, heavily
coated on both surfaces with resinous dots; fruit 2-3 mm. in diameter. Cerotham-
nus ceriferus (L.) Small.
Along streams, about lakes and in boggy grasslands and wet woodlands in s.e.
Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from Fla., w. to Okla. and Tex., n. to
N.J. and Ark.
Fam. 45. Leitneriaceae BENTH. & HOOK. F. CORKWOOD FAMILY
Shrub or small tree to 6.5 m. tall, with very light wood; bark brown and
smooth when young, fissured with age; leaves alternate, deciduous, more or less
scattered, petiolate; leaf blades entire, thick and firm, prominently veiny, narrowly
elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, bright green and shining on upper
surface, pubescent on lower surface; stipules wanting; flowers unisexual, male and
female flowers borne on separate plants, in few- to many-flowered aments or
spikes that appear before the leaves from the axils of last year's leaves; staminate
flowers in a conspicuously bracted compound ament, composed of 3 to 12 stamens
and without a perianth, the distinct filaments short and the anthers 2-celled;
pistillate flowers in a few-flowered spike, solitary in the axils of primary bracts
each of which is accompanied by 2 secondary bracts, composed of a single sessile
1-ovuled pistil and 3 to 8 diminutive bractlets; fruit a drupe, subtended by a
bract, elongate, glabrous, the flesh leathery.
Represented only by the following American: genus.
1. Leitneria CHAPM.
Characters same as those of the family. A monotypic genus of the southern
United States.
1. Leitneria floridana Chapm. CORKWOOD. Figs. 390 and 391.
Leaf blades to 2 dm. long; staminate aments 3-4 cm. long; drupe elliptic, to
25 mm. long.
In brackish or fresh water swamps and thickets in s.e. and s.-cen. Tex., spring;
from n. Fla., w. to Tex. and n. to Ga. and Mo.
Fam. 46. Juglandaceae KUNTH WALNUT FAMILY
Trees, monoecious, with alternate pinnate leaves and no stipules; leaflets usually
glandular-dotted beneath; flowers unisexual; staminate flowers in aments with or
without a calyx adnate to the bract and the two bractlets; pistillate flowers solitary
or in a small cluster or spike, with a bract, 2 or 3 bractlets and a regular 4-lobed
769
-------
Fig. 390: Leilneria floridana: a. staminate twig, x \(>; b, staminate catkin, about x
1; c, staminate flower, x 5; d, staminate flower, x 7; e, pistillate twig, x V,; f, two fruits
together, x 6; g, single fruit, x 6. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 391: Leitnera floridana: a, fruiting branch, x %; b, section of branch, x 1; c,
leaf with section enlarged to show venation. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
calyx (when present) adherent to the incompletely 2- to 4-celled but only 1-ovulate
ovary; ovule orthotropous, erect, at the apex of the incomplete primary partition;
fruit similar to a dry drupe, the fibrous-fleshy or woody husk or exocarp (ripened
bract and bractlets or involucre and calyx) fused at least until maturity with the
crustaceous or bony endocarp or nutshell (ripened carpels), containing a 2- to
4-lobed seed.
A small family of important trees, about 50 species in 7 genera. A number
of species in the family produce edible nuts, including the pecans, the Persian or
"English" and black walnuts.
1. Pith of branchlets separating into thin plates; staminate aments separate,
sessile, on last year's branchlets, in the axils of the fallen leaves of
the previous season; stamens 8 to 40; staminate and pistillate flowers
with 4 small sepals; style branches (stigmas) elongate; nut with
indehiscent husk and irregularly furrowed shell 1. Juglans
1. Pith continuous; staminate aments in fascicles of 3, the fascicles subsessile
to long-stalked in the axils of bud scales on new growth; stamens
3 to 8; staminate and pistillate flowers usually without sepals;
stigmas short; husk of fruit splitting or partially splitting into
valves, the nutshell smooth or merely reticulate 2. Carya
1. Juglans L. WALNUT. NOGAL
Trees with furrowed scaly bark and durable dark-colored wood; branchlets
stout, with laminate pith; leaves pinnate, with numerous serrate leaflets; flowers
greenish, produced in spring; staminate aments sessile, separate though often
superposed, near the apex of the preceding year's growth; stamens 8 to 40, the
floral receptacle adnate to the bract; bractlets 2; sepals usually 4, with some
occasionally reduced to minute teeth; filaments free, very short; pistillate flowers
solitary or several together in a cluster or short spike on a peduncle at the end of
the branch, with a bract and 2 often irregularly toothed bractlets; sepals 4, small;
style short, with 2 or rarely 3 elongate style branches that have their inner sur-
faces deeply fringed and stigmatic; style branches carinal (above the center of the
carpel); fruit with a fibrous-fleshy indehiscent husk (exocarp) and a mostly rough
irregularly furrowed nutshell or endocarp.
About 20 species in both hemispheres. The timber of some species is extremely
valuable for cabinet and furniture making. The fruits of most species are also
edible.
1. Fruit 25 mm. or more in diameter; leaflets usually 15 or fewer, with dentate-
serrate margins, mostly 15 mm. or more wide 1. /. major.
1. Fruit rarely more than 20 mm. in diameter; leaflets more than 15, with sub-
entire to serrulate margins, rarely more than 15 mm. wide
2. /. microcarpa.
1. Juglans major (Torr.) Heller. ARIZONA WALNUT, NOGAL SILVESTRE.
Tree to about 15 m. high, with trunk to 12 dm. in diameter, the bark deeply
furrowed and ridged on older trees; branches widely spreading to form a rounded
crown; twigs reddish-brown, densely hairy when young, with age becoming ashy-
gray; leaves to 35 cm. long; leaflets usually 9 to 13, rarely more, essentially
sessile, lanceolate, acuminate at apex, more or less falcate, to 1 dm. long and
35 mm. wide below the middle, coarsely dentate-serrate on margins, thin, yellowish-
green, scurfy-hairy when young, essentially hairless with age; fruit spherical,
25-35 mm. in diameter; husk brown, thin, densely hairy; nut with a thick hard
shell and a small edible kernel.
772
-------
Scattered along streams and in canyons in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos
of Tex. to s.w. N.M. and cen. Ariz, and n. Mex.
The durable wood is used locally for posts.
2. Juglans microcarpa Berl. RIVER WALNUT, LITTLE WALNUT.
Large shrub or small tree to about 6 m. high, rarely with trunk to 45 cm. in
diameter, the bark smoothish or lightly furrowed; branches usually arising near
the ground to form a broad rounded crown; twigs reddish-brown, densely hairy
when young, with age becoming ashy-gray; leaves to about 3 dm. long; leaflets
usually 17 to 23, sometimes fewer, essentially sessile, narrowly lanceolate,
tapering to an acuminate apex, more or less falcate, to 75 mm. long and 12 mm.
wide below middle, subentire to serrulate on margins, thin, yellowish-green, with
age becoming essentially hairless; fruit spherical, 1.2-2 cm. in diameter; husk
brownish, thin, hairy; nut with a thick hard shell and a small edible kernel.
/. rupestris Engelm.
Scattered along streams and arroyos in s. and w. Tex. and w. Okla. to s.e.
N.M. and n. Mex.
The var. Stewartii (I.M.Johnst.) W. Manning with broader leaflets and larger
fruits on the average, is reported to occur in the Chisos Mts. of Trans-Pecos
Texas.
2. Carya NUTT. HICKORY
Trees with hard and very tough wood, and scaly buds from which in spring are
produced usually both kinds of flowers with staminate flowers below the leaves
and the pistillate flowers above; leaves petiolate, odd-pinnate, often glandular-
dotted; leaflets 5 to 25; staminate aments usually in fascicles of 3 in the axils
of bud scales; stamens 3 to 8, adnate to the bract and 2 bractlets; filaments short
or none, free; pistillate flowers 2 to 10 in a cluster or short spike on a peduncle
terminating the shoot of the season; bract and typically 3 bractlets sepal-like in
flower, a true calyx absent; stigmas sessile, 2 and sometimes divided, with a
stigmatic disk at their base, papillose, commisural (above the lines connecting the
carpels), usually persistent; fruit with a 4-valved firm and (at length) dry husk
that consists of the exocarp or involucre which usually falls away from the
smooth and crustaceous or bony nutshell or endocarp; nut incompletely 2-celled
and (at the base) mostly 4-celled.
Probably about 15 species in eastern North America and eastern Asia. Because
of their tough, resilient wood some species are used for such purposes as the
making of tool handles.
1. Bud scales valvate; bud scale scars wide, separate, not in a distinct ring; husk
sutures winged or keeled (2)
1. Bud scales imbricate; bud scale scars in a distinct ring; husk sutures not
winged nor keeled (5)
2(1). Shell smooth; kernel sweet; cotyledons not deeply 2-cleft (3)
2. Shell uneven; kernel bitter; cotyledons deeply 2-cleft (4)
3(2). Leaflets 5 to 9; fascicles of staminate aments peduncled
1. C. myristicaeformis.
3. Leaflets more than 9; fascicles of staminate aments sessile or nearly so
2. C. illinoinensis.
4(2). Bud sulphur-yellow; husk wingless at base, at maturity splitting only to
just below middle; nut gray, smooth; leaflets usually fewer than 9,
the lower surface pubescent and with ferruginous scales; terminal
leaflet essentially sessile 3. C. cordiformis.
773
-------
4. Bud brownish; husk winged to the base, at maturity the valves completely
separating; nut reddish-brown, furrowed or wrinkled; leaflets usually
more than 9, the lower surface glabrous; terminal leaflet stalked....
4. C. aquatica.
5(1). Leaflets usually 5, rarely 7, the margins of young leaflet densely ciliate,
the older leaflet serrations with persistent tufts of hairs; branchlets
light reddish-brown 5. C. ovata.
5. Leaflets 7 to 9, rarely some 5, the margins of young leaflets not densely ciliate,
the older leaflet serrations without tufts of hairs; branchlets pale-
orange 6. C. laciniosa.
1. Carya myristicaeformis (Michx. f.) Nutt. NUTMEG HICKORY, NOGAL.
Tree to about 30 m. high, with a trunk to 6 dm. in diameter, the bark dark-
brown tinged with red and broken irregularly into small thin appressed scales;
branches stout and somewhat spreading to form a rather narrow open crown;
branchlets at first with lustrous scales, eventually dark-reddish-brown; leaves to
35 cm. long; leaflets 7 or 9, occasionally 5, short-stalked or essentially sessile,
ovate-lanceolate to broadly obovate, acute at apex, cuneate or somewhat rounded
at the narrow base, the margins serrate, to 12.5 cm. long and 37 mm. wide, thin
and firm, dark-green above, more or less pubescent or nearly glabrous and silvery-
white and lustrous beneath, becoming golden-bronze in the fall; fruit usually
solitary, ellipsoid to somewhat obovoid, about 35 mm. long; husk broadly 4-ridged
to base, coated with a yellow-brown scurfy pubescence, not more than 1 mm.
thick, splitting nearly to the base; nut with a thick hard and bony shell, rounded
and apiculate at the ends, smooth, dark-reddish-brown and marked by longitudinal
small broken bands of gray covering the entire surface, the dark-brown kernel
sweet. Hicoria myristicaeformis (Michx. f.) Britt.
Along banks of rivers and in swamps of e. Okla. and e. Tex.; from e. S.C. to
e. Okla. and e. Tex.; (?) also in mts. of n.e. Mex.
2. Carya illinoinensis (Wang.) K. Koch. PECAN, NOGAL MORADO, NUEZ ENCARCE-
LADA.
Tree to about 50 m. high, with a massive trunk to 2 m. in diameter that is often
enlarged and buttressed at the base, the thick bark light-brown tinged with red
and deeply divided into irregular furrows and ridges; overwintering buds flattened,
with paired and valvate narrow scales covered with articulated hairs; branches
stout and spreading to form a round-topped crown; branchlets at first red-tinged
and coated with a loose pale tomentum, eventually glabrous or merely puberulent;
leaves to 5 dm. long; leaflets 9 to 17, sessile, oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, more
or less falcate, acuminate at apex, cuneate to rounded at the asymmetric base,
the margin coarsely and often doubly serrate, to 2 dm. long and 75 mm. wide,
dark-yellow-green and glabrous or pilose above, pale and glabrous or pubescent
beneath, terminal leaflet only slightly broader than upper lateral ones; fascicles of
staminate aments sessile or nearly so; fruit in clusters of 3 to 11, ovoid to more
or less ellipsoid, pointed at apex, rounded at the narrowed base, 4-winged and
-keeled along the sutures, 25-65 mm. long, 12-25 mm. thick, dark-brown and
more or less thickly covered with yellow scales; husk thin, brittle, at maturity
splitting nearly to the base and often persistent on the branch during the winter
after dropping the nut; nut usually thin-shelled, pointed at both ends, somewhat
bright-reddish-brown, the reddish-brown kernel sweet. Carya Pecan (Marsh.)
Engl. & Graebn., Hicoria Pecan (Marsh.) Britt.
In low rich grounds along streams, bottomlands and moist open woodlands,
mostly in Okla. and cen. and n.w. Tex.; from Tex., n. to Ind. and la., e. to Ala.
774
-------
The species, in many selected varieties, is widely cultivated in the southern
states. The nuts, which vary in size and shape and in the thickness of their shells,
and in the quality of the kernels, are an important article of commerce. The
pecan is the State Tree of Texas.
Specimens have been seen that apparently represent Carya X Lecontei Little,
a hybrid that combines the compressed fruit and bitter kernel of C. aquatica and
the sessile male catkins, hairy yellowish winter buds, and elongate nut of C.
illinoinensis.
3. Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch. BITTERNUT HICKORY, PIGNUT HICKORY.
Tree often to 30 m. high, with a trunk to 9 dm. in diameter, the light-brown
red-tinged bark about 15 mm. thick and broken into thin platelike scales that
separate on the surface into small thin flakes; branches stout and spreading to
form a broad crown; branchlets slender, marked by oblong pale lenticels, at first
bright-green and covered more or less with rusty hairs, ultimately becoming light
gray; leaves to 25 cm. long; leaflets usually 7 or 9, sessile, ovate-lanceolate to
lanceolate or obovate, acuminate at apex, coarsely serrate except at the cuneate
to subcordate base, thin and firm, to 15 cm. long and 3 cm. or more wide, dark-
yellow-green and glabrous above, light-green and pubescent beneath; overwinter-
ing bud-scales lanceolate, sulphur-yellow with persistent scurf; fruit usually
obovoid to subglobose, 4-winged from the apex to about the middle; husk thin,
puberulous, more or less covered with small yellow scales, splitting only to below
the middle; nut with a thin brattle shell, often broader than long, depressed or
obcordate at apex, the bright-reddish-brown kernel very bitter. Hicorla cordiformis
(Wang.) Britt., H. minima (Marsh.) Britt.
In low wet woods near the borders of streams and swamps or on high rolling
uplands in e. Okla. and e. Tex.; from Fla. to Tex. n. to. N. E., Minn, and Neb.
4. Carya aquatica (Michx. f.) Nutt. WATER HICKORY, BITTER PECAN. Fig. 392.
Tree sometimes to 30 m. in height, with a trunk rarely exceeding 6 dm. in
diameter, the bark to 15 mm. thick and separating freely into long loose plate-
like light-brown scales tinged with red; overwintering buds reddish-brown, adorned
with caducous yellow glands; branches slender, upright to form a narrow crown;
branchlets slender, at first reddish-brown or ashy-gray and slightly glandular and
coated with a loose pale tomentum, eventually gray and essentially glabrous; leaves
to 33 cm. long; leaflets 7 to 13, sessile or stalked, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate,
falcate, acuminate at apex, rounded to cuneate at the more or less oblique base,
glabrous, to 75 mm. long and 4 cm. wide, finely or coarsely serrate; fascicled
staminate aments peduncled; fruit often in clusters of 3 or 4, subglobose to
obovoid, much-compressed, usually broadest above the middle, rounded at the
slightly narrowed base, conspicuously 4-winged, dark-brown or nearly black,
provided with bright-yellow scales, to 4 cm. long and 32 mm. wide; husk thin,
brittle, splitting tardily and usually only to below the middle; nut flattened, some-
what obovoid, with a thin dark-reddish-brown somewhat wrinkled shell, rounded
and abruptly short-pointed at apex, the dark-brown kernel very bitter. Hicoria
aquatica (Michx. f.) Britt.
In river swamps that are periodically inundated, in e. Okla. and e. Tex.; from
Fla. to Okla. and Tex., n. to. Va., s.w. 111. and s.e. Mo.
5. Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch. SHAGBARK HICKORY, SHELLBARK.
Tree to 20 m. or more high, with a trunk to about 1 m. in diameter, the light-
775
-------
Fig. 392: Carya aquatica: a, twig, x V>; b, fruit, x i<>; c, fruit, side view, x %. (V. F.).
-------
gray bark to 25 mm. thick and separating into thick plates often 3 dm. or more
long and 2 dm. wide that are attached to the trunk by the middle; branches stout
and slightly spreading to form a conic round-topped crown; branchlets at first
covered with caducous brown scurf and pale glandular pubescence, soon bright-
reddish-brown and lustrous, glabrous or pubescent; leaves to 35 cm. long; leaflets
5 or rarely 7, slender-stalked, ovate to ovate-lanceolate or obovate, somewhat
rounded to acuminate at apex, ciliate on the margins that are finely serrate except
toward the usually cuneate base, most of the serrations with a dense tuft of per-
sistent hairs on one or both sides near their apex, to 17 cm. long and 75 mm. wide
above the middle, dark-yellow-green and glabrous above, paler and shiny-glabrous
or puberulous beneath, the terminal leaflet largest; fascicles of staminate aments
peduncled, the floral bracts much-elongated; overwintering terminal buds ovoid,
to 25 mm. long and 1 cm. thick; fruit solitary or in pairs, subglobose to some-
what obovoid, depressed at apex, dark-reddish-brown or nearly black at maturity,
glabrous or pilose, to 6 cm. long; husk to 15 mm. thick and splitting freely to the
base; nut with a usually thin shell, more or less 4-ridged or -angled, pale or
whitish, the light-brown kernel sweet and aromatic. Hicoria ovata (Mill.) Britt.
In rich woodlands, bottoms and slopes, commonly near streams and swamps in
e. Okla. and e. Tex.; from Fla. to Okla. and Tex., n. to Me., Ont, Wise., Minn.
and Neb.
6. Carya laciniosa (Michx. f.) Loud. BIG SHELLBARK HICKORY, KING-NUT.
Tree sometimes more than 30 m. high, with a trunk to 9 dm. in diameter, the
light-gray bark to 5 cm. thick and separating into broad thick long-persistent
plates to 12 dm. long; branches small and spreading to form a narrow cylindric
crown; branchlets orange-brown or tan, at first pilose or covered with a pale or
rufous pubescence or tomentum, eventually glabrous or puberulous; leaves to 55
cm. long; leaflets 5 to 9, sessile or short-stalked, ovate to oblong-lanceolate or
broadly obovate, acute to acuminate at apex, asymmetrically cuneate or rounded
at base; to 22 cm. long and 12 cm. wide, the margins finely serrate, dark-green
and lustrous above, pale-yellow-green or bronze-brown and covered with soft
pubescence beneath; overwintering bud short and blunt; fruit solitary or in pairs,
ellipsoid to ovoid or subglobose, depressed at apex, downy or glabrous, light-
orange-color or chestnut-brown at maturity, to 63 mm. long and 5 cm. broad;
husk pale, hard and woody, about 12 mm. thick; nut with a hard bony shell to
7 mm. thick, more or less compressed, prominently 4-ridged or -angled, light
yellow or reddish-brown, the light-chestnut-brown kernel very sweet. Hicoria
laciniosa (Michx. f.) Sarg.
In rich bottomlands that are usually periodically inundated, in e. Okla.,
reported from n.e. Tex.; from N.Y., w. to la. and Neb., s. to Ala., La. and
(probably) Tex.
Fam. 47. Betulaceae S. F. GRAY BIRCH OR HAZEL-NUT FAMILY
Monoecious trees or shrubs with alternate simple pinnately straight-veined
deciduous leaves and deciduous stipules; flowers unisexual; staminate flowers in
spreading or drooping catkins, subtended by scaly bracts, with 2- to 4-parted
"perianth" (or bracteoles) and 2 to many stamens; pistillate flowers in clusters,
spikes or in a scaly catkin, with minute perianth or none; ovary 2-celled, with
2 pendulous anatropous ovules in each cell; styles 2; fruit a 1-celled and 1-seeded
nutlet, with or without a foliaceous involucre.
777
-------
A family of 4 to 6 genera and about 140 species, mostly in the Northern
Hemisphere. Sometimes divided so that Carpinus and Ostrya constitute a separate
family, the Carpinaceae.
1. Staminate flowers solitary in the axil of each bract, without a calyx or
bracteoles; pistillate flowers with a calyx or bracteoles; bracts of
the pistillate ament deciduous; nutlets wingless, more or less en-
veloped by an involucre formed by the enlargement of the bract
and bractlets of the flower 1. Carpinus
1. Staminate flowers 2 or more in the axil of each bract, with a calyx or
bracteoles; pistillate flowers without a calyx or bracteoles; bracts
of the pistillate ament persistent or eventually deciduous; nutlets
winged or with a coriaceous margin, without an involucre, borne
in an ovoid to oblong-ellipsoid strobile (2)
2(1). Pistillate aments solitary; fruiting aments not persistent, the bracts thin,
3-lobed, deciduous with or soon after the nutlet; stamens 2, bifid;
buds not stalked; trees with usually exfoliating bark 2. Betula
2. Pistillate aments racemose; fruiting aments persistent, the bracts thick and
semi-woody, not deeply lobed, persistent; stamens 4, not bifid; buds
stalked; shrubs with smooth or somewhat scaly bark 3. Alnus
1. Carpinus L. HORNBEAM. IRONWOOD
An Old World genus of about 35 species, with one in America.
1. Carpinus caroliniana Walt. AMERICAN HORNBEAM, BLUE-BEECH, LECHILLO.
Small tree to 10m. tall, with somewhat flattened and twisted trunk and smooth
grayish bark; leaves oblong to narrowly oblong-ovate or elliptic-lanceolate,
rounded at base, subobtuse to acuminate at apex, to 9 cm. long and 45 mm. wide,
more or less doubly serrate; Staminate aments pendulous, the ovate scales each
subtending a solitary naked flower that is composed of several divided filaments
each bearing 2 apically pilose half-anthers; fruiting aments ovoid to short-
cylindric, to 5 cm. long; bracts about 2 cm. long, ovate, subtending 2 flowers,
chartaceous, halberd-shaped, with 1 or 2 divergent basal lobes, entire or with
a few blunt teeth along one side of the midlobe; nutlet ovoid, several-nerved.
Rich woods and bottomlands along streams subject to flooding, in e. Okla.
(Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-May; from Fla. and Tex., n. to Md., Tenn. and s.
111.
2. Betula L. BIRCH
Trees or rarely shrubs with the outer bark often separable in sheets, the
branchlets dotted; buds sessile, scaly; Staminate aments terminal and lateral,
sessile, formed in summer, remaining naked during winter to expand in early
spring with or preceding the leaves; flowers 3 (the bractlets 2) to each peltate
scale or bract of the aments, consisting each of a calyx of 1 scale bearing 4 short
filaments with 1-celled anthers or strictly of 2 bipartite filaments with each
division bearing an anther-cell; pistillate aments (strobiles) ovoid to cylindrical,
usually terminating very short 2-leaved early lateral branches of the season
(spurs); flowers 2 or 3 to each 3-lobed bract, without bractlets or calyx, each
with a naked ovary, becoming a winged and scalelike nutlet or small samara
crowned by the two spreading stigmas.
About 60 species that are widely scattered in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Bark readily exfoliating; bracts of pistillate aments subequally lobed, cuneate-
tapered to base; distribution in eastern Oklahoma and Texas
1. B. nigra.
778
-------
1. Bark not readily exfoliating; bracts of pistillate aments noticeably unequally
divided, broadly rounded at base; distribution in mountains of New
Mexico and Arizona 2. B. occidentalis.
1. Betula nigra L. RIVER BIRCH. Fig. 393.
Tree to 30 m. tall and a trunk to 8 dm. in diameter, with soft shaggy and
freely exfoliating salmon-pink bark and reddish-dotted twigs; leaves with a
tomentose petiole to 15 mm. long, rhombic-ovate, broadly cuneate to subtruncate
at base, acute at apex, to 1 dm. long and 8 cm. wide below middle, conspicuously
and often deeply doubly serrate, bright-green on upper surface, grayish-white on
lower surface and when young downy; aments formed in the fall and expanding
in early spring; staminate aments mostly 2 or 3 clustered, sessile, elongate, each
of the ovate to suborbicular bracts subtending 3 flowers; flowers consisting of 4
stamens adnate to a 4-parted calyx, with two bractlets; the pedunculate thick-
cylindric pistillate aments tomentose, solitary, 25-35 mm. long, the bracts 6—8 mm.
long, nearly equally divided into 3 oblong-linear lobes, subtending 2 or 3 flowers;
flowers naked, without bractlets or calyx; fruit an erect or pendent ovoid to
oblong-ellipsoid strobile, the scales deciduous from the persistent cone axis at
maturity to release the compressed laterally winged nutlets.
Along streams and in bottomlands in e. Okla. (Creek Co.), e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.;
from Fla. and Tex., n. to N.E., Pa., W.Va., O., s. Mich., s. Wise., s. Minn, and
e. Kan.
2. Betula occidentalis Hook. WATER BIRCH. Fig. 393.
Shrub or small tree to about 15 m. tall, finely branched, with a trunk to
about 3 dm. in diameter; bark smooth, reddish or copper-colored, not readily
exfoliating; twigs glandular-dotted; leaves ovate, cuneate to truncate or somewhat
cordate at base, 3-5 cm. long, sharply singly or doubly serrate, resinous-
glandular above when young, glandular-dotted below; aments spreading or pendu-
lous; pistillate aments 2—4 cm. long, 4-10 mm. thick; bracts puberulent and
ciliate, the lateral lobes shorter than the middle one; wings of fruit usually
nearly or quite as broad as the puberulent nutlet. B. fontinalis Sarg.
Along int. streams and wet areas in forests, often forming thickets, in N.M.
(San Juan and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.); S.D. to
B.C., s. to Neb., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Alnus MILL. ALDER
Trees or shrubs with 3-angled pith and few-scaled leaf buds; leaves ovate
to obovate, deciduous; aments racemose or cymose-clustered; staminate aments
with 4 or 5 bractlets and 3 (rarely 6) flowers upon each short-stalked peltate
bract; individual flowers usually with a 3- or 5-parted calyx and as many stamens;
filaments short and simple; anthers 2-celled; pistillate aments ovoid to ellipsoid;
bracts fleshy, each subtending 2 flowers and a group of 4 tiny scalelets adherent
to the bracts of the ament, in iruit woody, cuneate-obovate and truncate or 3- or
5-lobed; fruit a small nutlet, crowned with the short persistent styles and sur-
rounded by a membranous wing or a thin margin.
About 35 species, mostly in cool temperate regions.
1. Distribution eastern Texas and/or southeastern Oklahoma (2)
1. Distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona (3)
2(1). Principal leaves typically with 9 to 12 pairs of lateral veins; pistillate
aments 3 to 10, mostly sessile, 1—1.5 cm. long, 5-15 mm. thick
1. A. serrulata.
2. Principal leaves with 5 to 8 pairs of lateral veins; pistillate aments usually
2 or 3, rarely more or less, all peduncled, 1.5-3 cm. long, 15-20
mm. thick 2. A. maritima.
779
-------
Fig. 393: a-e, Betula nigra: a, tip of branch, x iX>; b, leaf, x %; c, pistillate catkin,
x 2Vo; d, nutlet with bract, x 2M>; e, bract, x 2\^. f-j, Betula occidentalis: f, tip of
branch, x V>; g, pistillate catkin, x 2%; h, nutlet with bract, x 2%; i, bract x 21/£; j,
nutlet, x 2%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 394: a-d, Alnus maritima: a, branch with pistillate aments, x %; b, branch
with staminate aments, x %; c, bract of pistillate ament, x 2Vz; d, nutlet, x 2%. e-k,
Alnus serrulata: e, branch with pistillate aments, x %; f, branch with staminate aments,
x %; g, young staminate aments, x %; h, staminate ament, x 2%; i, pistillate ament, x
2%; j, bract of pistillate ament, x 2%; k, bracts and nutlets, x 2%; 1, nutlet, x 2%.
(V. F.).
-------
3(1). Leaves rounded to truncate or subcordate at base, often somewhat lobu-
late; stamens 4 3. A. incana.
3. Leaves typically cuneate at base, seldom lobulate; stamens 1 to 3 (usually 2)
4. A. oblongifolia.
1. Alnus serrulate (Ait.) Willd. SMOOTH ALDER. Fig. 394.
Spreading or laxly ascending deciduous shrubs or small trees to 5 m. or more
tall, the main stem to 15 cm. in diameter; bark of trunk smooth, light grayish-
brown to reddish-brown or blackish-gray, with dark lenticels; leaves with petioles
to 15 mm. long, obovate to obovate-elliptic or elliptic, narrowly to broadly
cuneate at base, rounded to acute at the apex, to 1 dm. long and 6 cm. wide,
the margins simply serrulate or rarely somewhat undulate, the expanding leaves
glutinous and aromatic; aments usually formed in the fall and expanding in early
spring; staminate aments pendulous, in clusters of 3 to 5, each of the bracts sub-
tending 3 flowers; staminate flowers with a minute 4-parted calyx and 4 stamens
with undivided filaments; pistillate aments in clusters of 2 or 3, ovoid to ellip-
soid, 1.5-2 cm. long, the fleshy cuneate bracts 3-4 mm. long, each subtending
2 flowers and a group of 4 tiny scalelets adherent to the bracts of the aments;
fruit a persistent semiwoody strobile, each cuneate to cuneate-obovate truncate
or lobulate scale bearing 2 to 4 compressed laterally winged nutlets.
Along streams and in swamps and boggy situations, in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain
and Pushmataha cos.) and in e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from N.E., s. to Fla. and Tex.,
Okla., Mo., Ind. and O.
Often confused with the eastern A. rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng., whose bark has
linear, whitish lenticels.
2. Alnus maritima (Marsh.) Nutt. Fig. 394.
Shrub or small tree to about 10 m. tall; bark reddish-brown; branchlets at first
pubescent, soon glabrate; leaves oblong-elliptic to obovate, obtuse to acute or
short-acuminate at apex, serrulate with low distant ascending or incurved teeth,
broadly cuneate to a long petiole, to 10 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, dull green and
glabrous beneath; aments expanding in late summer; pistillate aments 2 or 3 in a
raceme, oblong-ovoid, 2-3 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm. thick, maturing the 2nd year;
bracts with depressed and broad terminal lobes; nutlets 3-4 mm. long, thin-
margined.
Banks of streams and ponds, and in wet woods in s.e. Okla. (Johnston and
Pontotoc cos.); also Del. and Md.
3. Alnus incana (L.) Moench. THIN-LEAF ALDER.
Shrub or small tree to about 10 m. tall, often forming thickets; bark grayish-
brown to reddish; leaves ovate-oblong to broadly elliptic, usually 5-10 cm. long,
rounded to truncate or subcordate at base, rounded to obtuse or somewhat acute
at apex, sinuate and serrate-denticulate on margins, dark-green and glabrous to
pubescent above, pale and usually heavily pubescent beneath; staminate aments
to 10 cm. long; stamens 4; pistillate aments ovoid-ellipsoid, 8-12 mm. long, with
stout peduncles; scales 3-lobed at apex; nutlets without a true wing. A. tenuifolia
Nutt.
In bogs, about ponds and lakes, on stream banks and in wet woodlands, in
N.M. (Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Graham and Pima cos.); Minn, and N.D. to B.C., N.M., Ariz, and B. Calif.
Our plant is referred to ssp. rugosa var. occidentalis (Dippel) C. L. Hitchc.
by recent authors.
4. Alnus oblongifolia Torr. NEW MEXICAN ALDER, ARIZONA ALDER.
Tree to about 10 m. tall, with a trunk to 2.5 dm. in diameter; bark thin,
light-brown tinged with red; branches reddish-brown; leaves ovate-oblong to
782
-------
ovate-lanceolate, 4-10 cm. long, usually acute at apex, cuneate at base, sharply
and doubly serrate, not lobulate or only slightly so, glabrous or puberulous
beneath; staminate aments in short racemes; stamens (1) 2 or 3; pistillate aments
1.5-2.5 cm. long; scales thin, slightly thickened and nearly truncate at apex; nutlets
without a true wing.
Along mt. streams and low meadowlands in N.M. (Grant, Sierra and Socorro
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos. s. to Graham and Pima cos.); also
n. Mex.
Fam. 48. Fagaceae DUM. BEECH FAMILY
Monoecious trees or shrubs with alternate simple straight-veined deciduous or
evergreen leaves and deciduous stipules; staminate flowers in aments or capitate
clusters; pistillate flowers solitary or slightly clustered; the 1-celled and 1-seeded
nut entirely to partly enclosed in a cupule formed by the more or less consolidated
bracts that become indurated; ovary 3- to 7-celled; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell,
usually with only one ripening; styles 3; seed with no albumen, filled by the
embryo and with 2 integuments.
About 900 species in 8 genera mostly cosmopolitan but most abundant in the
Northern Hemisphere.
1. Quercus L. OAK
Shrubs to large trees, monoecious; pith star-shaped, continuous; wood usually
hard with both uniseriate and multiseriate rays, the vessels grouped in a matrix
of wood-parenchyma, either diffuse-porous or ring-porous, often plugged by
tyloses; buds crowded toward the ends of the usually fluted twigs; stipules associ-
ated with the buds rather than the leaves, subulate to ligulate, promptly caducous
or sometimes persistent; leaves alternate, usually distinctly petioled, never quite
sessile, simple, entire or toothed or pinnately lobed, pinnately veined; staminate
flowers in elongate flaccid catkins, apetalous, the calyx of 5 lobes fused into a
more or less bowl-shaped perianth enclosing 5 to 10 free stamens with short anthers
and slender filaments; pistillate flowers in a reduced catkin with a stiff woody
rachis either short or long and 1- to several-flowered, the calyx of 6 sepals adherent
to the bases of the styles and fused into a tube, the pistil of 3 carpels comprising
a single 3-celled ovary (each cell containing 2 ovules) and 3 free styles which are
ventrally stigmatic toward the dilated apex; fruit 1-celled and 1-seeded, the 5
remaining ovules aborted and adhering to the developed seed, the seed enclosed
in a shell (forming a nut or acorn) and seated in a cup or involucre formed (in
our species) of scales (each with a more or less aborted bud in its axil), developing
from a compressed inflorescence, the cup enveloping the whole nut or covering
it only at the base.
A genus of some 500 or so recognized species in the Northern Hemisphere,
exclusive of the Arctic; about 250 in the New World centering in central Mexico
and reaching Canada and Colombia.
1. Leaves distinctly several-lobed (2)
1. Leaves entire to merely sinuate or unevenly dilated, rarely obscurely 3-lobed
at apex (6)
2(1). Leaf lobes acute to rounded, at most mucronate-tipped (3)
2. Leaf lobes and teeth narrowly acute to acuminate and aristate-tipped (5)
3(2). Cups thick, typically 3-6 cm. in diameter, fringed about the lip with
coarsely attenuated apices of the uppermost scales
1. Q. macrocarpa.
3. Cups thin, typically less than 3 cm. in diameter, not fringed about the lip (4)
783
-------
4(3). Mature acorns nearly enclosed in the cups, the orifice usually less than
half the diameter of the acorn; petioles to 2 cm. long, sparsely
pubescent 2. Q. lyrata.
4. Mature acorns rarely more than half-enclosed in the cups, with orifice as
great as the diameter of the acorn; petioles 1 cm. long or less,
gray-puberulent to velvety-tomentulose 3. Q. simitis.
5(2). Mature leaves with a rounded to broadly cuneate base, cinereous-tomentu-
lose beneath 4. Q. falcata.
5. Mature leaves with a subtruncate base, glabrous beneath except for tufts of
hair in the vein axils 5. Q. palustris.
6(1). Leaves narrowly elliptic to linear-lanceolate, fully 5 times as long as
broad, markedly revolute and awl-shaped upon issuing from the
buds 6. Q. Phellos.
6. Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate or clavate, scarcely more than 3 times as long
as broad, flat when issuing from the buds, never awl-shaped (7)
7(6). Leaves typically narrowly oblong to oblanceolate, glossy beneath
7. Q- laurifolia.
1. Leaves typically cuneiform to clavate or broadly obovate, occasionally shal-
lowly 3-lobed at apex, dull green beneath 8. Q. nigra.
1. Quercus macrocarpa Michx. BUR OAK.
Large trees; twigs very coarse, 3-5 mm. thick or rarely somewhat more slender,
fluted, yellowish or gray, from villous to pubescent or both becoming glabrate,
with few very inconspicuous lenticels; buds 4-5 mm. long, ovoid or narrowly so,
obtuse to acute, grayish-brown, sparsely pubescent to tomentose; stipules per-
sistent or sometimes deciduous, about 1 cm. long, awl-shaped or the lateral ones
longer and obviously spatulate-dilated, the terminal ones coarsely thickened and
gray-tomentose; leaves deciduous, rather thin, to 20 cm. long and 15 cm. broad,
obovate in outline, the apices broadly rounded, the bases rounded to cuneate,
rather deeply incised, with 3 or 4 sinuses on each side, these acute or narrowly
rounded, usually reaching nearly to the midrib (especially below), the lobes
clavate, undulate distally, the basal ones often much-shortened, margins minutely
revolute, upper surfaces glabrate, dull or slightly lustrous, lower surfaces villous
and gray-puberulent with a mixture of long spreading and short appressed stellate
hairs or the appressed hairs rarely absent and the surface then green; petioles
to 25 mm. long, densely or sparsely pubescent; staminate catkins 3-4 cm. long,
the rachis yellow-tomentose, at length rather loosely flowered, the perianth deeply
incised with narrow oblong lobes, the anthers scarcely exserted; pistillate catkins
about 2 cm. long, about 4-flowered near the end; fruit annual, solitary or paired
on a peduncle 1-2 cm. long and 2-3 mm. thick; cups 3-6 cm. broad, 2-5 cm.
deep, moderately or deeply cup-shaped, margins woolly with attenuate apices of
the uppermost scales, these sometimes closing the orifice of the cup; cup scales
broad-based, the apices of the basal scales not elongate, the dorsal surface keeled
(thickened), the bases broad, often appearing to be fused to adjacent scales, the
whole gray-pubescent; acorns 3-5 cm. long, 2-4 cm. broad, ovoid, broadly
rounded, usually one half or three fourths included, sometimes wholly or only
one fourth included.
In moist forests along streams and bottomlands in e. Okla. and e. and cen.
Tex.; e. to the Atl. and n. to N.B. and Sask.
2. Quercus lyrata Walt. OVERCUP OAK, SWAMP POST-OAK.
Moderate trees; twigs rather coarse, to 4 mm. thick, finely fluted, from minutely
villous becoming glabrate and gray or yellowish with few inconspicuous lenticels;
buds about 3 mm. long, ovoid, obtuse, gray-puberulent; stipules tardily deciduous
784
-------
from about the terminal bud, about 5 mm. long, very finely subulate, pubescent;
leaves deciduous, thin-membranous, to 20 cm. long and 12 cm. broad, usually
smaller, narrowly obovate in outline or broadly so, apices acute or sometimes
rounded, bases cuneate or attenuately acute; blades twice or thrice incised on each
side, the lobes obtuse, acuminate-tipped, progressively shortened downward, the
uppermost clavate and coarsely toothed, the sinuses deep, broadly rounded or
angularly flattened along a line parallel to the midrib, margins minutely revolute,
upper surfaces glabrous and lustrous, lower surfaces minutely villous and dull-
green or glaucous-appressed-tomentose; petioles to 2 cm. long, sparsely pubescent;
staminate catkins 4-6 cm. long, densely or loosely flowered, sparsely stellate-
pubescent, the perianth irregularly lobed, the anthers scarcely exserted; pistillate
catkins 1-2 cm. long, 2- or 3-flowered distally, densely short-tomentose; fruit
annual, solitary or rarely paired on a tomentose or glabrate peduncle to 4 cm.
long and 1—1.5 mm. thick; cups to 3 cm. broad and 2 cm. deep, hemispheric or
spheroid, the base usually broadly flattened, the mouth much-constricted, some-
times forming a minute orifice and sometimes rather open, the lower scales coarse
and much-thickened, those about the margin small, thin and appressed; acorns
hemispheric or rarely ovoid, usually wholly contained in the cup but rarely only
half-included.
In moist forests along streams, river swamps and depressions in bottomlands,
in e. Okla. and e. Tex.; e. to the Atl., n. to Md. and Mo.
3. Qnercus simflis Ashe. BOTTOMLAND POST OAK.
Moderate to large trees; twigs 2-3 mm. thick, only slightly fluted, persistently
gray-puberulent to velvety-tomentulose; buds 2-3 mm. long, ovoid, pubescent
basally, brown; stipules 3-5 mm. long, subulate, pubescent, caducous or only
those of the terminal buds persistent; leaves deciduous, thin and membranous,
about 12 cm. long and 8 cm. broad (as little as 5 cm. long or to 16 cm. long),
obovate, usually 2 pairs of lateral lobes with the apical pair sometimes clavate but
the blade scarcely cruciform, basally narrow, cuneate to rounded, margins minutely
revolute, lower surface minutely and sparsely stellate-puberulent, somewhat gray,
upper surface glabrous and glossy-green at maturity; petioles 3-10 mm. long,
pubescent like the twigs; pistillate catkins 2-10 mm. long, 1- to 3-flowered; fruit
annual, solitary or paired, moderate-sized, short-peduncled, very similar to Q.
stellata. Q. stellata var. paludosa Sarg., Q. Ashei Sterrett.
The common post oak of wet stream bottoms in e. Tex.; also s. Ark. and La.,
e. to S. C.
4. Quercus falcata Michx. SOUTHERN RED OAK, SPANISH OAK.
Large trees to 20 m. tall, with a trunk diameter of 5 dm. and roughly furrowed
hard black bark; twigs 1-3 mm. thick, fluted, from sparsely or densely fulvous-
stellate-itomentose tardily glabrate to persistently pubescent, brown, becoming gray
the second season with conspicuous or inconspicuous lenticels; buds 4-8 mm.
long, narrowly ovoid, acute, somewhat quadrangular or round, deep-red-brown,
puberulent, tomentose about the apex or all over; stipules caducous, about 1 cm.
long, ligulate, dorsally densely tomentose; leaves deciduous, rather thin and
papery, to 23 cm. long and usually smaller, 15 cm. broad, very polymorphic,
typically ovate or lanceolate in outline, frequently obovate to cuneiform, apically
long-attenuate or obtusely clavate, basally cuneate .to round or truncate, typically
deeply falcate-lobed with broadly rounded sinuses reaching within 1 or 2 cm.
of the midrib or with a few broad lobes or entire with 3 lobes at the apex, apical
lobes typically elongate, toothed at the ends, all lobes and teeth tipped with aristae,
margins finely or coarsely revolute, upper surfaces from densely fulvous-stellate-
tomentose glabrate and dark-glossy-green or more or less persistently pubescent
785
-------
especially toward the bases, lower surfaces persistently fulvous-tomentose, some
forms very sparingly stellate-villous, especially shade leaves; petioles 1—3.5 cm.
long, shorter in some shade forms, dorsally glabrate and ventrally pubescent like
the blade; staminate catkins 6-8 cm. long, densely fulvous-tomentose, rather
loosely or closely flowered, the anthers well-exserted from the ciliate perianth;
pistillate catkins 5-10 mm. long, 1- to 3-flowered, from fulvous-pubescent tardily
glabrate like the twigs; fruit biennial, solitary or paired on peduncles to 1 cm.
long and 3 mm. thick; cups 1-2 cm. broad, 6-8 mm. high, goblet-shaped to
turbinate, basally rounded or markedly constricted, margins not inrolled; cup
scales ovate, somewhat thickened basally, the apices rather loosely appressed,
dorsally densely short-fulvous-tomentose except the glossy brown margins; acorns
12-15 mm. long, 8-15 mm. broad, ovoid or flattened basally, rounded apically,
sparingly puberulent, dull brown, about one third included. Q. digitata (Marsh.)
Sudw., Q. rubra var. leucophylla Ashe, Q. rubra Sarg., non L., Q. rubra var.
triloba (Michx.) Sarg., Q. rubra var. pogodaefolia (Ell.) Sarg., Q. rubra var.
digitata (Marsh.) Cory & Parks.
In moist or wet forests in the timber region of e. Okla. and e. Tex., in river
bottoms or uplands; ranging e. to the Atl. and n. to N.J. and'Mo.
5. Quercus palusrris Muenchh. PIN OAK.
Tree to 30 m. tall, the lateral branches usually somewhat drooping; mature twigs
glabrous; leaves deeply lobed, 8-13 cm. long, 5-13 cm. wide, more or less sub-
truncate at base, shining, paler beneath, glabrous except for conspicuous tufts of
stellate hairs in the vein axils; leaf lobes in 2 or 3 pairs, much longer than the
width of the central body of the blade, often widened distally and toothed, bristle-
tipped; cups saucer-shaped, 1-1.6 cm. wide, covering a fourth to a third of the
acorn, with very small puberulent scales; acorn depressed-ovoid, 1-1.3 cm. long.
In swampy woods and bottomlands in e. Okla.; Mass, to Mich., la., Okla.,
Tenn. and N. C.
Because of its tolerance to city air pollution it is often planted as a street tree.
6. Quercus Phellos L. WILLOW OAK.
Moderate or large trees to 20 m. tall, with a trunk diameter of 7.5 dm. and
hard rather smooth bark; twigs 1-2 mm. thick, fluted, glabrous or from stellate-
tomentose quickly glabrate or rather persistently floccose, dull-reddish-brown
with inconspicuous lenticels; buds 2-4 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, narrowly
ovoid to usually lanceolate, very acute, the scales dark-russet and glabrous except
the ciliate edges; stipules caducous, 6-8 mm. long, filiform-ligulate to spatulate,
dorsally villous, apically tomentose; leaves deciduous, moderately thin but coria-
ceous, usually 6-12 (or rarely 16) cm. long and 1-2.5 (or even 4) cm. broad,
linear-lanceolate to sometimes oblanceolate or even narrowly ovate or obovate,
setaceously acu*e at apex or sometimes obtuse but aristate-tipped, cuneate or nar-
rowly rounded basally, entire, strongly revolute in the bud and lengthening before
unfolding (thus filiform for a time), margins eventually flat or undulate or minutely
revolute, upper surfaces dark, dull- or glossy-green, glabrous to tomentose along
the midrib toward the base, lower surfaces lighter dull-green, from villous-
tomentose to glabrate or with conspicuous axillary tufts or densely tomentose along
the midrib; petioles l^t mm. long, from densely stellate-tomentose promptly or
tardily glabrate; staminate catkins 25-35 mm. long, moderately closely flowered,
villous, the oval anthers well-exserted from the villous-tomentose perianth; pistil-
late catkins 1-3 mm. long, 1- to 3-flowered; fruit biennial, solitary or paired on
peduncles to 5 mm. long or subsessile; cups 1-1.5 cm. broad, 4-8 mm. high,
saucer-shaped to goblet-shaped, the base flat or markedly constricted, the margin
not inrolled; cup scales narrowly ovate, the attenuately rounded apices closely
786
-------
appressed, minutely dense-tomentose except the glabrous brown margin; acorns
1-1.5 cm. long, nearly as broad, subrotund, broadly rounded, densely puberulent
or glabrate and dull-brown, one fourth included or enclosed at base only.
In moist forests, wet borders of swamps and along streams in s.e. Okla. and
e. Tex.; e. to the All. ocean and n. to 111. and N.Y.
7. Quercus laurifolia Michx. LAUREL OAK, SWAMP LAUREL OAK.
Large trees to 18 m. tall, with hard gray or black bark; twigs 1-2.5 mm. thick,
pliable, fluted or round, dark-reddish-brown, gray the second season, from densely
fulvous-stellate promptly glabrate or remaining sparsely pubescent; buds about 4
mm. long and 2 mm. broad, very acute, slightly quadrangular, nearly glabrous,
dark-reddish-brown; stipules quickly caducous, about 4 mm. long, ligulate or
spatulate, tan, villous especially about the apex; leaves evergreen, thick and
coriaceous or deciduous, 5-10 or sometimes 12-15 cm. long, to 8 cm. broad,
characteristically oblanceolate or narrowly ovate, acute to broadly rounded at
apex but aristate-tipped, cuneate to cordate at base, entire to variously undulate,
margins moderately revolute, from sparsely stellate-puberulent glabrate and glossy
above or persistently somewhat pubescent about the base of the midrib, similarly
glabrate beneath but dull; petioles to 4 mm. long, rose-color or dark-red, glabrate
or sparsely stellate; staminate catkins 2-2.5 cm. long, densely villous, moderately
densely flowered, the small ellipsoid anthers moderately exserted from the villous
perianth; pistillate catkins on peduncles 1-3 mm. long, 1- to 3-flowered; fruit
biennial, solitary or paired on a short peduncle or subsessile; cups 14-18 mm.
broad, 5-7 mm. high, shallowly bowl-shaped, flat basally or turbinate; cup scales
tightly appressed, ovate, minutely dense-puberulent, tan and glossy where abraded,
margins not inrolled; acorns about 15 mm. long, subglobose to broadly ovoid,
apically broadly rounded, basally flattened, tan or brown, minutely and sparsely
puberulent, included at base only. Q. obtusa (Willd.) Pursh, Q. rhombica Sarg.
Wet forests, particularly along streams and borders of swamps, in s.e. Tex.;
e. to the Atl. ocean.
8. Quercus nigra L. WATER OAK.
Moderate or large trees to 15 m. tall, with boles to 5 dm. in diameter and hard
smooth or shallowly furrowed black bark; twigs 1-2 mm. in diameter, fluted,
glabrous or from scantily stellate quickly glabrate and glossy dark-reddish-brown
with conspicuous pale lenticels or not, gray the second season; buds 3-5 mm.
long, 2-3 mm. broad, ovoid, subacute, dark-reddish-brown, densely fulvous-
strigose above the middle; stipules caducous, 6-10 mm. long, ligulate to spatulate,
tufted at apex; leaves subevergreen, rather thick and leathery, to 14 cm. long and
5 cm. broad, oblong to usually cuneiform or clavate, sometimes oblanceolate,
entire or 3-lobed apically or variously toothed or lobed and distorted in cases of
heterophylly, broadly rounded or rarely acute at the apices, attenuately cuneate
or rarely narrowly rounded at the bases, margins flat or minutely revolute, from
minutely puberulent glabrate and glossy above, dull green or coppery and glabrate
beneath or usually with prominent axillary tufts; petioles 3-7 mm. long, promi-
nently winged by decurrence of the blade, from sparingly stellate-tomentose gla-
brate or persistently pubescent; staminate catkins 4-7 cm. long, densely or sparsely
arachnoid-tomentose, rather loosely flowered, the anthers well-exserted from the
villous perianth; pistillate catkins 3—5 mm. long, 1- to 3-flowered; fruit biennial,
solitary or paired on a peduncle to 5 mm. long or subsessile; cups 9-15 mm. broad,
2.5-5 mm. high, at most deeply saucer-shaped, basally very flat or somewhat
rounded, margins not inrolled; cup scales narrowly ovate, closely appressed,
densely fulvous-sericeous-tomentose; acorns 8-10 mm. long, 9-15 mm. broad,
hemispheric to subglobose, very flat at base, broadly rounded apically, densely
787
-------
minute-pubescent, dull-brown where abraded, included at base only. Q- aquatica
Walt., Q. nigra var. tridentifera Sarg.
In wet forests, edge of swamps and streams, and in river bottomlands in s.e.
Okla. and e. Tex.; e. to the Atl. States and n. to Mo. and Del.
Fam. 49. Ulmaceae MIRB. ELM FAMILY
Trees or rarely shrubs with watery sap; buds with imbricate scales; leaves simple,
2-ranked, alternate, usually oblique at base, pinnately veined, serrate or rarely
entire; stipules deciduous; flowers perfect or unisexual with both sexes on the
same plant; perianth 4- or 5-merous, rarely more or less, usually somewhat
connate; stamens (in bud) with curved or somewhat sigmoid filaments, as many
as or twice as many as the perianth lobes; filaments straight; ovary superior,
1-celled, with 1 suspended anatropous ovule; style 2-parted; fruit a samara, nut
or drupe.
About 15 genera with more than 200 species in both hemispheres.
1. Planera J. F. GMEL.
A monotypic genus.
1. Planera aquatica (Walt.) J. F. Gmel. WATER-ELM, PLANER-TREE. Fig. 395.
Small deciduous polygamo-monoecious tree with spreading branches to form
a low broad crown, to about 12m. high, the short trunk with reddish-brown scaly
and flaky bark; branchlets puberulous; winter-buds subglobose, minute; leaves
with petioles 3-6 mm. long, rhombic-ovate to ovate-oblong, 3-8 cm. long, to 25
mm. wide, unequal at the rounded to cuneate base, acute at apex, unequally ser-
rate, scabrate above, pinnately veined, at maturity glabrous; calyx deeply 4- or
5-lobed; staminate flowers in clusters at base of the young branchlets; stamens
4 or 5; perfect flowers 1 to 3 in the axils of the young leaves; fruit ellipsoid, about
8 mm. long, with irregularly crested fleshy ribs.
In water of streams and lakes and in alluvial floodplains subject to periodic
flooding, often forming large stands, in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex.;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to s. 111. and Ky.
Fam. 50. UrticaceaeJuss. NETTLE FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes with stinging hairs, frequently succulent
and with watery sap; leaves simple, alternate or opposite, mostly stipulate; flowers
minute, greenish, unisexual or rarely perfect, in simple or branched spikes or
clusters; calyx 2- to 5-cleft or of separate sepals; petals none; stamens as many
as the calyx lobes or sepals and opposite them, the filaments inflexed; ovary
superior, 1-celled; style simple, with a capitate or filiform stigma; ovule solitary,
erect or ascending, orthotropous; fruit an achene, often tipped with the persistent
style or enclosed by the accrescent calyx.
About 45 genera and 600 species of wide geographic range, but mostly tropical
and subtropical.
1. Leaves alternate 1. Laportea
1. Leaves opposite or rarely alternate (2 )
2(1). Calyx of pistillate flowers tubular or cupuliform, enclosing the achene;
plants without stinging hairs 2. Boehmeria
2. Calyx of pistillate flowers of 2 to 5 separate or nearly separate sepals (3)
3(2). Plants more or less pubescent, beset with stinging bristles; achene enclosed
by the calyx 3. Urtica
788
-------
Fig. 395: Planera aquatica: a, branch showing position of leaves, x %; b, two
leaves, x 1; c, flowering branch, x %; d, fruit with processes of the exocarp, x 5; e,
staminate flower, x 5. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 396: Boehmeria cylindrica: a, top of plant, x \'y\ b, staminate buds and cluster
of pistillate flowers, x 5; c and e, clusters of pistillate flowers in different stages, x 5;
d, staminate flower, x 10; f, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
3. Plants glabrous, smooth and shining, without stinging bristles; achene longer
than the calyx 4. Pilea
1. Laportea GAUDICH. WOOD-NETTLE
About 25 species, mostly in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres.
1. Laportea canadensis (L.) Wedd.
Monoecious perennial herb to about 1 m. tall, usually much less, beset with
stinging hairs; stem often flexuous; leaves alternate, broadly ovate, long-petioled,
7-20 cm. long, acuminate-attenuate at apex, rounded to broadly cuneate at base,
coarsely serrate, strongly feather-veined; stipule single, 2-cleft; staminate flowers
in cymes from the lowest leaf axils, seldom surpassing the subtending petioles;
pistillate flowers in loose elongate spreading divaricately branched cymes in the
upper leaf axils, usually much-surpassing the petioles; fruiting cymes divergent;
achenes flat, crescent-shaped, 3—4 mm. long.
Low alluvial woodlands and along banks of streams, often forming large
colonies, in n.e. Okla., June-Aug.; N. S. to Man., s. to Ga. and Okla.
2. Boehmeria JACQ. FALSE NETTLE
Herbs, shrubs or small trees, devoid of stinging hairs, monoecious or dioecious;
leaves opposite or alternate, stipulate; flowers clustered, axillary; staminate flowers
minute, with a 4-parted calyx and 4 stamens; pistillate flowers with a tubular
or urceolate entire or 2- to 4-toothed calyx enclosing the ovary; style filiform-
subulate, persistent, stigmatic and papillose down one side; fruit formed by the
dry accrescent calyx that closely invests the elliptic achene.
About 100 species mostly in tropical regions of both hemispheres.
1. Leaf blades thinnish, coarsely serrate; petioles usually about as long as the
blades 1. B, cylindrica var. cylindrica.
1. Leaf blades leathery, finely serrate; petioles much shorter than the blades
1. B. cylindrica var. Drummondiana.
1. Boehmeria cylindrica (L.) Sw. BOG-HEMP, FALSE NETTLE, BUTTON-HEMP.
Fig. 396.
Perennial, usually dioecious, glabrous to pubescent or even scabrous, erect,
to about 12 dm. high, the stem simple or rarely branched; leaves mostly long-
petioled, opposite or rarely alternate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate or oblong-
lanceolate, the blade to about 15 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, rather thin to leathery,
smooth to scabrous, acuminate at apex, rounded to somewhat cordate at base,
serrate, 3-nerved; stipules distinct; flowers about 2 mm. broad, unisexual, the two
kinds sometimes intermixed, the small clusters densely aggregated in simple and
elongated axillary spikes, the staminate spikes interrupted, the pistillate spike often
continuous and frequently leaf-bearing at apex; fruit ovate to suborbicular, com-
pressed, minutely winged, apiculate, hairy, to 1.5 mm. wide.
In bogs, marshes, swamps, seepage areas and in wet soil and water along rivers
and streams in sun or shade, throughout e. Okla., n.w. to Woodward Co., mostly
in e. Tex. but extending w. to Val Verde Co. in w. Edwards Plateau and n. to
Hemphill Co. in the High Plains, June-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Ont. and
Que., w. to Minn., Neb. and El.
Those plants that are usually in more exposed situations than var. cylindrica
and have narrower, oblong-lanceolate, thicker leaves with petioles mostly 2 cm.
or less long and harshly scabrous above and pubescent beneath are segregated as
var. Drummondiana Wedd. (B. scabra Small). The leaves also-are commonly
recurved to give the plant a drooping appearance, and the fruiting spikes are
more dense and thicker and the fruits larger than in var. cylindrica.
791
-------
3. Urtica L. NETTLE
About 30 species of wide distribution, mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Urtica dioica L. ssp. gracilis (Ait.) Seland. Fig. 396A.
Strongly rhizomatous typically monoecious perennial 1-3 m. tall, from glabrous
except for a few stinging hairs to strongly bristly and sericeous-pubescent; leaves
(5-) 7-15 cm. long, the petiole from nearly one half as long as to scarcely one
tenth as long as the blade; stipules prominent, mostly (5-) 10-15 mm. long; leaf
blades from narrowly lanceolate and rounded or cuneate at base to broadly ovate
and often cordate at base, coarsely serrate; pistillate flowers usually uppermost;
perianth 1-2 mm. long, pubescent; achene flattened, about 1.5 mm. long May-
Sept.
We have several varieties of this complex species that are distinguished in the
following key.
1. Leaf blades usually ovate-lanceolate to ovate, the length rarely as much as
3 times the width; petioles mostly at least one third or rarely only
one fourth as long as the blades; inflorescence not crowded, the
floral leaves not greatly reduced and usually well-exceeding the
panicle branches var. gracilis.
1. Leaf blades narrowly to broadly lanceolate, usually at least 3 times as long
as broad, acute to rounded at base; petioles short, rarely as much
as one third as long as the blade; inflorescence crowded above, the
upper leaves reduced and usually equal to or exceeded by some of
the panicle branches (2)
2(1). Plants densely pubescent, the stems and leaves usually more or less
cinereous var. holosericea.
2. Plants much less strongly pubescent, the stems and leaves often essentially
glabrous with only bristles on the stems (3)
3(2). Stems (at least near the base) usually bristly only, not otherwise hairy;
leaves lightly hairy var. procera.
3. Stems usually moderately hairy as well as bristly; leaves rather strongly hairy
var. angustifolia.
Var. gracilis. In thickets, springy places and along streams in the Plains
Country and Trans-Pecos of Tex., through N.M. to Ariz.; from B.C. s. to Ariz.,
eastw. to the Atl. coast. U. gracilis Ait., U. viridLs Rydb.
Var. holosericea (Nutt.) C. L. Hitchc. On banks of streams and ditches, in
swamps and marshes, possibly in mts. of Ariz, but yet to be verified; mostly in
s.w. U.S., n. to Wash, and Ida.
Var. procera (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wedd. In wet thickets, alluvial bottomlands
along streams and floodplain areas in n.e. Okla. (Ottawa Co.), w. to N.M. and
Ariz.; mainly e. U.S. and s. Can.
Var. angustifolia Schlecht. Low ground and stream banks, ditches and marshes,
in mts. of the Tex. Trans-Pecos, through N.M. to Ariz.; also Colo., Calif, and
adj. Mex. U. Serra BL, U. Breweri Wats., U. gracilenta Greene.
4. Pilea LINDL. RICHWEED. CLEARWEED
About 400 species, mainly in the tropics.
1. PQea pumila (L.) Gray. Fig. 397.
Low annual to 7 dm. high, usually much smaller, simple to bushy-branched,
the bases of large plants decumbent, essentially glabrous throughout; leaves
opposite, with petioles about one third as long as to longer than the blade, to
15 cm. wide, lustrous, translucent, ovate, rounded to cuneate at base, with a
conspicuous linear entire apex, with as many as 17 coarse rounded teeth'on each
792
-------
Fig. 396A: Urtica dioica: A, habit, x %; B, stinging hairs, enlarged; C, flowers,
closed and open, x 7%; D, fruiting spike, x 1%; E, fruit, x 6%; F, achenes, face and
edge views, x 7%. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 53).
-------
Fig. 397: Pilea pumila: a, habit, x V2; b, pistillate flower from the side x 50; c,
pistillate flower from the top, x 50; d, achene, x 35. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
margin, when dried the surface covered with small whitish lines (cystoliths), the
primary nerves rising from base and narrowly winged; flowers unisexual, green or
whitish, in axillary cymes to 3 cm. long; staminate flowers with 3 or 4 sepals
and stamens, often mixed with the pistillate flowers; calyx of pistillate flowers
deeply 3-parted, each of the unequal segments subtending a concave scalelike
staminodium; ovary free, with a sessile stigma; fruit a compressed thin-walled
achene that is subtended by the persistent calyx, ovate, pale green, smooth and
unspotted or with purple markings, 1.3-2 mm. long. Adicea pumila (L.) Raf.
In moist or wet rich soils of woods, especially in seepage and along streams,
in e. Okla. (Cherokee Co.) and e. Tex., June-Nov.; from e. Can and N.E., s. to
Fla. and Tex., w. to S.D., la. and Kan.
Most of our material is referable to var. Deamii (Lunell) Fern, which is more
southern in distribution than var. pumila, and has leaves more rounded at the
base and with 11 to 17 teeth on each margin, whereas the largest leaves of var.
pumila are mostly cuneate at the base and have only 3 to 11 teeth on each margin.
Fam. 51. Polygonaceae Juss. KNOTWEED FAMILY
Caulescent or rarely acaulescent herbs or herbaceous vines; leaves alternate
or rarely opposite or whorled, the blades entire or rarely lobed or toothed; petioles
usually present; stipules (ocreae) present, usually sheathing the nodes, variously
long-sheathing or short-sheathing or sometimes deeply or shallowly lobed and some-
times fringed, rarely seemingly absent (Eriogonum; Brunnichia); flowers small,
hypogynous, perfect or unisexual, usually in racemes or in involucrate clusters,
sometimes solitary at the nodes; perianth of 2 to 6 usually nearly entirely separate
lobes, sometimes developing keels or wings, often corolloid and whitish or pinkish;
stamens 2 to 9, the filaments often dilated basally; anthers 2-celled, each cell
with a longitudinal slit; ovary 1-celled, usually trigonous (3-carpellate) or less
commonly lenticular (when one of the carpels is suppressed); styles 3 or 2, usually
not much united; ovule solitary, orthotropous; endosperm horny or mealy, usually
copious; fruit a trigonous or lenticular achene, usually falling still covered by the
remains of the calyx and androecium.
A widely distributed family of about 35 conservative genera or upwards of 45
narrowly drawn ones. Some of the species are good honey plants. The Buckwheat,
Fagopyrum sagittatum Gili'b., is a member of this family; it does not do well in
cultivation so far south as our region, but it has been grown in experimental plots.
1. Vines with tendrils; endosperm ruminate 1. Brunnichia
1. Herbs or if viny then tendrils absent; endosperm not ruminate (2)
2(1). Leaf blades reniform; perianth 4-parted nearly to the base; pistil 2-carpel-
lary, the ovary strongly compressed 2. Oxyria
2. Leaf blades never truly reniform, if cordate or hastate then the perianth 5- or
6-lobed or -parted or the pistil 3-carpellary (3)
3(2). Perianth segments usually 6, noticeably disparate in size, the outer ones not
enlarged, the 3 inner ones (valves) erect and greatly enlarged in
fruit (1 or more often with a dorsal callous grain); stigmas peltate,
tufted 3. Rumex
3. Perianth segments usually 5, not greatly disparate in size at fruiting time;
stigmas not tufted 4. Polygonum
1. Brunnichia GAERTN. EARDROP VINE
A monotypic North American genus.
1. Brunnichia ovata (Walt.) Shinners. Fig. 398.
Perennial vine; stems perennial at least in part, climbing by means of tendrils;
795
-------
Fig. 398: Brunmchia ovata: a, portion of vine, x %; b and c, portion of stem
slightly enlarged to show vestiges of ocreae; d, flower, x 5; e, young fruit opened up,
x 5; f, mature fruit, x 2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
leaves alternate, entire, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, truncate or subcordate at base,
acute to acuminate at apex, 3-15 cm. long; flowers in terminal panicled spikelike
racemes, with perianth greenish or yellow-green; achene trigonous, about 6 mm.
long, closely invested by the accrescent and leathery somewhat winged hypanthium
that becomes nearly 3 cm. long. B. cirrhosa Gaertn.
Infrequent on edge of and in woods near streams, lakes and ponds in e. Tex.
and s.e. Okla. (LeFlore and Choctaw cos.), spring-summer; Gulf States, n. to
Mo., Tenn. and S.C.
There is some question regarding the name of this plant since the names "ovata''
and "cirrhosa" were published within a few months of each other, and it is not
certain which has priority.
2. Oxyria HILL MOUNTAIN SORREL
A monotypic genus.
1. Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill.
Glabrous perennial herb, often reddish-tinged, from a fleshy taproot and branch-
ing crown, with strongly acrid juice; leaves chiefly basal, with a petiole to 8 cm.
long, reniform to cordate, 1-5 cm. wide; stipules sheathing, membranous, brownish
or reddish; flowering stems usually several, mostly 1-4 dm. tall, leafless or usually
with a single leaf below the inflorescence; flowers perfect, in panicles 5-15 cm.
long, crowded, several in each ochreate bract, with a slender pedicel 1-3 mm. long;
perianth about 1.5 mm. long, 4-parted nearly to base, the 2 narrow segments
796
-------
strongly keeled and subtending the accrescent ovary, the other 2 erect, oblong-
obovate and plane; stamens 6, the filaments shorter than the anthers; pistil 2-
carpellary, the ovary strongly compressed; styles 2, short; stigma dilated, fimbriate;
fruit lenticular, prominently winged, much compressed, oval, 4—6 mm. wide.
In seepage at timberline, commonly about boulders and on open wettish rocky-
gravelly slopes, in N. M. (Colfax, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino
Co.), June-Sept; Greenl. to Alas., s. in mts. to N. H., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.;
Euras.
3. Rumex L. DOCK
Annual or perennial herbs; leaves alternate, flat, undulate or crisped, narrowed
to cordate or auricled at base; ocreae thin, brittle, often brownish; flowers greenish,
on pedicels that are jointed to and terminate short peduncles, in distant or approxi-
mate whorls disposed usually in elongate panicles; perianth lobes 6, the inner 3
(valves) usually developing entire, toothed or spiny wings one or each of which
usually bears a tuberclelike grain, in fruit the valves greatly increasing in size
compared to their size at anthesis and erect and usually loosely coherent to the
achene; the 3 outer sepals much smaller than the inner ones, usually lanceolate or
subulate and slightly spreading or arcuate; stamens 6; ovary sessile; styles 3, the
stigmas peltate and tufted; achene trigonous.
About 200 species widespread in the world. The sap usually is quite acid and
in some species has been used in tanning leather, especially the "canaigre,"
R. hymenosepalus. The leaves of some species are cooked as greens.
Additional species in this wide-ranging, weedy genus should be found in our
region. They are not an easy lot!
1. Flowers unisexual or polygamous; leaves usually hastately lobed (2)
1. Flowers usually bisexual; leaves never hastately lobed (3)
2(1). Valves (inner sepals) not larger than the achene; plant spreading by long
slender rootstocks 1. R. Acetosella.
2. Valves distinctly overtopping the achene; plants without slender rootstocks
2. R. hastatulus.
3(1). Stems erect, ascending or procumbent; axillary shoots present below in-
florescence or rarely absent (doubtful cases should be keyed under
both alternatives) (4)
3. Stems usually erect; axillary shoots absent (9)
4(3). Pedicels straight, conspicuously turned downward, (2) 2.5 to 5 times as
long as the valves 3. R. verticillatus.
4. Pedicels curved, at most twice as long as the valves (5)
5(4). Valves 7-8 mm. long, 8-12 mm. broad 4. R. spiralis.
5. Valves much smaller (6)
6(5). Leaves ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, broadest below the middle;
valves more than 4.5 mm. long 5. R. altissimus.
6. Leaves usually narrower, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, if exceptionally broad
then the fruit much smaller (7)
7(6). Valves without grains 6. R. californicus.
1. One valve or all bearing grains (8)
8(7). Leaves small and thickish, in the dry state olive-green, often undulate-
crisped, somewhat obtuse, with strongly prominent nerves beneath;
panicles interrupted, most whorls remote 7. R. chrysocarpus.
8. Leaves larger, rather thin, in the dry state pale-green, acute; nerves scarcely
prominent; fruiting panicle not interrupted or only in the lower part
8. R. mexicanus.
797
-------
9(3). Valves without grains and as measured (including the basal lobes) altogether
about 5 mm. long and 5 mm. broad, rarely more....9. R. occidentalis.
9. One or more of the valves bearing a grain dorsally (10)
10(9). Valves entire-margined to slightly erose (11)
10. Valves denticulate to setaceously toothed (12)
11(10). Leaves large, somewhat crisped or undulate, often narrowed at base, sel-
dom truncate; valves (3.5-) 4-6 mm. long; only the lower whorls
with bracteal leaves and occasionally remote 10. R. crispus.
11. Leaves small, flat and truncate; valves very small, scarcely broader than the
thick grains; whorls remote and nearly all with bracteal leaves
11. R. conglomerate.
12(10). Plants glabrous throughout; leaves elliptic-lanceolate, with noticeably
crenate-undulate margins; the 3 grains nearly equally developed
12. R. stenophyllus.
\ 2. Plants with minute pubescence either on leaf stalks, lower surface of at least
the lower leaves or on the stem; leaves plane, typically with smooth
margins; the grains equally developed or not (13)
13(12). Perennials; basal leaves at most 2.5 times as long as broad, cordate at
base; valves broadly ovate to triangular-ovate, 4—6 mm. long (14)
13. Annuals or biennials; basal leaves 3 or more times as long as broad; valves
narrowly triangular-ovate, rarely to 3.5 mm. long (15)
14(13). Leaves large; pedicels slender, nearly twice as long as the mature fruit;
mature grain smooth or only lightly wrinkled 13. R. obtusifolius.
14. Leaves small; pedicels stout, one fourth as long to nearly as long as the mature
fruit; mature grain coarsely warty 14. R. pulcher.
15(13). Pedicels stout, thickish; valves very shortly dentate; leaves obcordate-
lanceolate, mostly widest above the middle, about 3 times longer
than broad 15. R. violascens.
15. Pedicels long, slender; valves usually long-dentate; leaves linear-lanceolate,
mostly many times longer than broad 16. R. maritimus.
1. Rumex Acetosella L. SHEEP SORREL. Fig. 398A.
Perennial with slender running rhizomes; stems numerous, slender, wiry, erect
or decumbent at base, usually unbranched, 2-4 dm. tall, scabrous; leaves linear to
lanceolate, 2.5-8 cm. long, hastate, the basal lobes usually large, the petioles of
lower leaves often longer than the blades; panicles many-branched, the glomerules
without subtending leaves; flowers usually unisexual, occasionally polygamous, the
pistillate flowers turning red in age; pedicels as long to twice as long as mature
perianth, not articulated; valves entire, not enlarging in fruit, about 1 mm. long,
scarcely as long as the achene, lacking callous grains and without distinct nerva-
tion; achene about 1 mm. long, almost as broad, the surface smooth and shiny,
mahogany red. Acetosella acetosella (L.) Small.
Waste places, often in swampy areas, in wet mud about lakes and pools, along
railroads and open fields, rare in e. Okla. (Waterfall), cen. Tex., N.M. (Lincoln
Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), summer-fall; Euras. weed now widely adv.
The sour leaves, which can be used to quench thirst or prepare an acid beverage
may be used similarly to water cress in salads and as a seasoning for various dishes,
as well as for a potherb. Some individuals are known to have mild dermatitis from
handling the plants while others may have hay fever from its profuse pollen.
Although several other species of Rumex have some value for wildlife, this
species is by far the most important. Both its seeds and herbage are eaten by
most kinds of wildlife.
798
-------
Fig. 398A: Rurnex acetosella: A, habit, x ^ B. leaf detail, x I1*; C, staminate
flowers, x m; D, pistillate flowers, x 7^; E. achenes, in and out of calyx, x 10. (From
Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 62.).
-------
Fig. 399: Rumex verticillata: a, basal part of plant, x %; b, node, x %; c, top of
plant, x %; d, flower, x 4; e, young fruit, x 4; f, mature fruit, x 4. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
2. Rumex hastatulus Ell. HEART SORREL.
Perennial herb, 15-80 cm. tall, slender, erect; leaves pale-green, often crowded
near the base, the basal ones 2-10 cm. long and 3-18 mm. broad, lanceolate to
oblong-linear or usually with hastate bladelike portion and a long narrow basal
portion; inflorescence leafless, narrow; flowers unisexual; valves 2.5-3 mm. long,
2.7-3.2 mm. broad, longer than the achene, without grains; achene 0.9-1 mm.
long, 0.6-0.7 mm. thick. R. Engelmannii Meisn.
Very abundant in open wet or dry sandy ground, in seepage along streams and
in wet soils about lakes and ponds, in s.e. Okla. (Johnston, Pushmataha and Mc-
Curtain cos.), in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. and N. M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.),
spring; Gulf States, n. to N.C., 111., Mo. and Okla., a waif even farther n.
The name, through error, has sometimes been spelled "hastulatus.''
3. Rumex verticillatus L. SWAMP DOCK. Fig. 399.
Perennial herb; stems erect, 4-10 dm. tall, slender, commonly purplish; basal
800
-------
leaves linear-lanceolate, 5 to 7 times as long as broad; cauline leaves narrowly
linear-lanceolate, 6 to 9 times as long as broad; fruiting pedicels straight, con-
spicuously turned downward, (2) 2.5 to 5 times as long as the valves; valves at
maturity 4-5 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. broad, each dorsomedially with a pronounced
grain.
Infrequent in low ground, often wet meadows, in water of ponds, swamps,
marshes, and along edge of streams, in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), e. and s.e.
Tex. and N. M. (Sandoval Co.), spring; s.e. Can. and e. U.S., w. to Mo., Ark.,
Okla., N.M. and Tex.
4. Rumex spiralis Small.
Perennial herb from creeping rootstocks; stems erect, usually purplish, to 1 m.
tall; leaves of lower part of stem ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 10-15 cm. long,
35-55 mm. broad, 2.5 to 5 times as long as broad; pedicels (2-) 3-5 mm. long,
even in fruit shorter than the valves; valves 7-8 mm. long, 8-12 mm. broad,
somewhat cordate, each dorsomedially with a pronounced grain.
Local in poorly drained or seasonally moist calcareous clay soil, and on edge
of lakes and ponds, in Tex. Rio Grande Plains, spring; endemic.
5. Rumex altissimus Wood. PALE DOCK.
Perennial herb; stems erect or basally procumbent to 8 dm. tall; leaves of
lower part of stem broadly ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 12-18 cm. long,
40-55 mm. broad, 2.5 to 4 times as long as broad; leaves of upper part of stem
smaller; inflorescences rather crowded; valves 4.5-6 mm. long, 3-4 (-5) mm.
broad, each with or without a dorsomedial grain or 1 with and 2 without; achene
about 3 mm. long and 2 mm. broad. R. ellipticus Greene.
Frequent in wet places such as marshes, shallow water of ponds, in wet
meadows, wet sandy alkaline soils, along streams, rivers and ditches, in Okla.
(Beaver, Johnston, Garvin, Cimarron, Payne and Cleveland cos.), in e. and n.-cen.
Tex., the Plains Country and parts of Edwards Plateau, N. M. (De Baca, Grant,
Chaves, Guadalupe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Cochise cos.), spring-
summer; most of U.S. except Pac. States.
6. Rumex califomicus Rech. f.
Perennial; stems many, finely sulcate-striate, ascending or suberect, 3-6 dm.
tall, with many leafy branches arising below the middle of the plant in the axils
of the leaves; leaves linear-lanceolate, the lower ones to 1 dm. long and 1.6 cm.
wide, the petiole about as long as the blade is wide; panicle large and open, the
simple branches arcuately diverging from the stem or sometimes appressed, the
lower glomerules remote, the upper ones nearly approximate or all of them
approximate, contiguous in fruit; flowers prefect; pedicels articulate in their lower
third or fourth; valves about 3 mm. long and 2.5 mm. wide, broadly triangular,
acute, membranous, dark, irregularly and shallowly denticulate toward base,
prominently reticulate-nerved with conspicuous midvein, without callous grains;
achene dark-brown to black, about 2 mm. long and 1.3 mm. wide. (?) R. utahensis
Rech. f.
In mt. meadows and wet seepy soil along streams, in N. M. (DeBaca Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Pima and Yavapai cos.), summer-fall; also Calif.
7. Rumex chrysocarpus Moris. AMAMASTLA.
Perennial herb from creeping rootstocks; stems erect or basally procumbent,
usually only 4-6 dm. tall, often reddish; leaves linear-lanceolate to oblong-linear,
5-12 cm. long, 3.5 to 5 times as long as broad, drying a rather dark olive-green;
inflorescence usually interrupted, never leafy; valves dark-reddish-brown, tough
801
-------
and coarsely veined, 3.5-4.5 mm. long, 3-4 mm. broad, triangular to rotund-
triangular, each one dorsomedially with a pronounced grain; infructescence often
crowded; achene 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad. R. Berlandieri Meisn., R.
Langloisii Small.
Abundant in low seasonally wet places, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, less
frequent n. to n.-cen. Tex., Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos, spring-summer;
La., Tex., Tarn., Ver. and Michoac.
8. Rumex mexicanus Meisn.
Very similar to R. chrysocarpus but the inflorescences and infructescences
more crowded; leaves larger, thinner and much paler green and more acute; valves
2-5 mm long; achene only about 2 mm. long. R. triangulivalvis (Danser) Rech. f.
Meadows and marsh areas, boggy soils, about playa lakes, ponds and in seepage
along streams, infrequent in El Paso Co., Tex., through N.M. (Dona Ana, Union,
San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) to Ariz. (Coconino and Navajo
cos.), spring-summer; Que. to B.C., s. to Mo., w. Tex., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and
Mex.
9. Rumex occidentalis Wats. WESTERN DOCK.
Perennial from a stout taproot; stems usually simple, stout, erect, striated,
glabrous, 4-20 dm. tall, reddish or suffused with purple; petioles of lower leaves
from one third to nearly as long as the blade is wide, the blades from oblong-
triangular to ovate-triangular, 15-40 cm. long, 2 to 2.5 times as long as wide,
somewhat crisped on margins, cordate or subcordate at base, obtuse to acute at
apex; panicles dense, strict, smooth or puberulent, 3-6 dm. long, leafless or with
only a few small leaves below; pedicels 1 to 2 times as long as mature perianth,
obscurely articulate toward base; flowers perfect; valves round-ovate, 4—5 mm.
long and 5-6 mm. wide, rarely more, prominently reticulate-veined, subcordate,
the margins erose or denticulate, without callous grains (or rarely with one);
achene brown, smooth, shining, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, acuminate at
both ends, slightly more so at apex.
Bogs and marshes near fresh or brackish water, swamps, wet meadows and
water about lakes, pools and along streams, in N.M. (Socorro, Rio Arriba, Taos
and Catron cos.), June-Sept.; Que. to Yuk. and B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
10. Rumex crispus L. YELLOW DOCK, SOUR DOCK, CURLY DOCK. Fig. 400.
Coarse perennial; stems stout, erect, straight, without axillary branches, 5-15
dm. tall, from a deep taproot, glabrous, dark-bluish-green; lower leaves elliptical
to oblong-lanceolate, 1-3 dm. long, prominently undulate and crisped on margin,
cuneate at base, long-petioled, the upper smaller leaves all cordate or obtuse at
base; panicles usually strict, of elongate wandlike branches with few leaves, the
whorls usually dense and approximate; pedicels 1.5 to 2 times as long as the
mature perianth, articulate below middle; flowers perfect; valves about 5 mm,
long and 3—4 mm. wide, round-ovate, subcordate, the margin entire to scarcely
erose, all valves with a smooth oblong dorsomedial callous grain much narrower
than perianth margin, occasionally 1 or 2 valves naked; achene smooth, glossy
reddish-brown, acute, 2 mm. long.
In shallow water of streams, about ponds and lakes and marshy areas, com-
monly in seasonally wet places, in Okla. (Comanche, Cimarron, Murray, McCur-
tain and Bryan cos.), n.-cen., e. and s.e. Tex. and on the Edwards Plateau and in
the Trans-Pecos, N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave,
Yavapai, Maricopa, Cochise, Final, Gila and Santa Cruz cos.), Apr.-Sept.; a
Euras. weed, now widely adv. in temp, areas.
802
-------
Fig. 400: Rumex crispus: a, habit, upper part of plant, showing the undulate leaves
and the wandlike panicle branches, x %; b, habit, lower part of stem and the deep
taproots, x %; c, achene (cross section), x 8; d, mature achene, showing the reflexed
styles with tufted stigmas, x 8; e, young flower, top view, x 8; f, young flower, showing
inner and outer perianth segments, x 8; g, mature fruit, the achene enclosed by inner
perianth segments which bear smooth callous grains, x 4; h, flower, showing tufted
stigmas and anthers after dehiscence, x 8; i, whorl of flowers, showing the sheathing
stipules (in older plants only long fibers remain), x 3. (From Mason, Fig. 211).
-------
Fig. 401: Rumer pulcher: a, basal and upper part of plant x %; b, outline of leaf
from center portion of plant, x V>; c, two flowers, x 8; d, ovary, x 10, e, fruit, x 10.
(V. F.).
-------
The plant may cause dermatitis similar to that caused by poison ivy when
handled by some individuals. At one time the root was used as medicine under
the name "yellow dock."
11. Rumex conglomerates Murr.
Rather similar to R. crispus; lower leaves cordate at base, flat; branches of the
panicle divergent, whorls of inflorescence each with a bracteal leaf, remote;
pedicels usually not longer than the fruit; valves entire-margined, 2.5-3 mm. long,
each with a large grain dorsally.
Floodplain woods, ditches, stream banks and in wet sandy spots, rare in e.
Tex. and perhaps elsewhere, and Ariz. (Maricopa, Santa Cruz and Final cos.),
spring; nat. of Eur., now widely adv.
12. Rumex stenophyllus Ledeb.
Perennial; stems erect or ascending, 6-12 dm. tall, branching from the base;
leaves petioled, papery, light-green, glabrous and smooth; lower leaves broadly
linear-lanceolate, flat and marginally crisped, 3-4 dm. long, 4—10 cm. wide, nar-
rowed at both ends, the cauline leaves and those subtending branches of the inflo-
rescence similar to basal leaves but smaller; flowers in approximate glomerules on
branches of a panicle; pedicels 4-7 mm. long, articulate at or below the middle;
valves broadly triangular with a truncate base, narrowly obtuse to acute at apex,
the margins spinose-dentate, all the valves with a similar prominent callous grain;
achene nut-brown, about 2.5 mm. long. R. alluvius Gates & McGregor.
In marshy areas about lakes and in alluvial soils along streams, Okla. (Alfalfa
Co.), May-Aug.; Man., s. to Mo. and Okla.; nat. of Euras.
As Steyermark has noted, plants of this species resemble a hybrid between
R. crispus and R. obtusifolius. The fully developed grain on each of the 3 toothed
valves, however, readily separate it from the above species.
13. Rumex obtusifolius L. BITTER DOCK.
Perennial; stems from a stout taproot, simple or sparingly branched at base,
tall, slender, 6-12 dm. tall; lower leaves ovate-oblong to broadly oblong-lanceolate,
10-35 mm. long, somewhat undulate, margins slightly crisped, usually deeply
cordate at base, somewhat papillate on lower surface, glabrous, dark green, on
long petioles; panicle strict, leafless or with a few leaves at base, open, the glo-
merules not crowded, the lower ones remote; pedicels slender, 1 to 2.5 times as
long as the mature perianth, articulate near base; flowers perfect; valves deltoid-
ovate, 4-6 mm, long, with 3 or 4 pronounced spinose or subulate teeth on each
margin, 1 valve with a small callous grain, sometimes the other 2 with very small
grains; achene 2 mm. long, reddish-brown, shining.
Wet grounds and springy stream banks, marshy areas and floodplains, in Okla.
(Cherokee, Pottawattomie and Kiowa cos.), the Tex Panhandle (Castro, Hale and
Randall cos.), N. M. (Sierra, Valencia and Union cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise and
Pima cos.), spring-summer; nat. of Eur., now widely distributed.
14. Rumex pulcher L. FIDDLE DOCK. Fig. 401.
Perennial herb; stems erect, 5-8 dm. tall; lower leaves small, long-petioled,
3-15 cm. long, cordate at base, somewhat crisp marginally, often pubescent
beneath; branches of the panicle very divergent, often intricately enmeshed at
fruiting time; some of the whorls with bracteal leaves, all remote; pedicels thick,
not longer than the fruit, jointed in the middle; valves denticulate-margined, 3-6
mm. long, 2.5-4.5 mm. broad, usually all dorsomedially with a grain but the
grains of disparate size even in the same flower; achenes 3-4 mm. long.
805
-------
Fig. 402: Rumex maritimus: a, habit, x %; b and c, flowers in fruit, showing the
inner perianth segments with slender teeth and long narrow callous grains, x 8. (From
Mason, Fig. 212.).
-------
In mud at edge of lakes and ponds, bogs and muddy areas, most frequent in
seasonally moist usually disturbed ground in e. Okla. (Bryan and McCurtain cos.)
and widespread in e. half of Tex., spring; Medit. region, now widely adv. in
warm-temp, regions.
15. Rumex violascens Rech. f.
Annual or biennial or perhaps perennial at times; stems stoutish, to 8 dm. tall,
often in the upper part more or less fractiflex; basal leaves 3 times as long as
broad, oblanceolate to elongate-obovate, the stem leaves smaller and proportion-
ately narrower and longer; valves 2.5-3 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, marginally
denticulate and each dorsomedially with a grain but the grains often disparate in
size in the same flower; achenes 1.7 mm. long.
Low wettish lands and ditch banks, locally frequent near El Paso (El Paso Co.)
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Dona Ana and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Mohave
and Gila to Pima and Yuma cos.), spring; Tex., N.M., Ariz., Calif., Son. and
Coah.
16. Rumex maritimus L. GOLDEN DOCK. Fig. 402.
Annual or occasionally biennial; stems erect or ascending, 1.5-6 dm. tall, usually
strict, slender or stout, more or less striate, papillose-scabrous, glabrescent or
glabrous, becoming brownish or sometimes purplish; lower leaves membranous or
subcoriaceous, the margin more or less undulate-crisped, glabrous and smooth or
scabrous-pubescent, linear-lanceolate, the blade 5 to 7 times as long as wide, more
or less cordate or truncate at base and widened above base, the apex acute;
petiole shorter than blade; upper leaves progressively smaller, narrower; panicle
broad, the glomerules many-flowered, contiguous and compact above, remote
below and often extending to near base of plant, leafy-bracted; pedicels slender,
articulate near base, 1 to 2 times as long as mature perianth; flowers perfect; valves
triangular, 1.7-2 mm. long, 0.7-0.9 mm. wide exclusive of the teeth, subcoria-
ceous, the apex ligulate, acute, the margins each with 2 (or 3) divergent setaceous-
subulate teeth, each valve with a callous grain, these fusiform, cellular-punctate,
prominent, about 1-1.4 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. wide, the apex obtuse, narrowing
into midrib; achene brown, 1.3-1.4 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. wide, the ends usually
subequally acuminate. Incl. var. fueginus (Phil.) Dusen, R. fueginus Phil.
Lake margins, marshy ground, in shallow water and on sandy-gravel bars along
streams and about lakes and ponds, rare in the Tex. Panhandle (Randall Co.),
N.M. (Colfax, Catron, Taos, Rio Arriba and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
Co.); June-Sept.; also widely distributed in Eur. and s. S.A.
A plant found on mud about Morgan Lake, San Juan County, New Mexico,
that has been referred here, is possibly an undescribed species closely allied to
R. maritimus.
4. Polygonum L. SMARTWEED. KNOTWEED
Aquatic, terrestrial or amphibious annual or perennial herbs, sometimes viny
but without tendrils; leaves alternate, entire, with scarious sheathing (stipular
sheath) often conspicuously venose stipules (ocreae); flowers on jointed pedicels
clustered in the axils of leaves or bracts or more often in terminal spikelike racemes
which may be solitary and terminal, in pairs or in groups of 1 to 9 at the ends of
branches, or occasionally reduced in the axils of leaves; perianth 4- to 6-merous,
essentially distinct or united below, pink, green or white, the essentially equal lobes
erect in fruit, often closely investing the achene, usually with an evident glandular
disk lining the lower part (this frequently not evident in dried material); stamens
3 to 9, often unequally inserted, some in the sinuses of the lobes, others below on
the tube or occasionally some on the margin of the gland; anthers small, linear,
807
-------
sometimes highly colored; ovary superior; style 2- or 3-cleft or -parted; stigmas
capitate; achene trigonous or lenticular, 1-celled, sometimes both kinds on the
same plant, light-tan through reddish-brown to black.
A cosmopolitan genus of about 320 species. Persicaria Mill.
The seeds of these species are eaten by many kinds of songbirds, upland game
birds, waterfowl, marsh birds, shorebirds and small mammals. The plants are
often eaten by browsers. It has been noted that where these plants are in abun-
dance about the borders of an aquatic area the region is apt to be popular with
waterfowl.
I. Flowers in terminal spikelike or narrowly racemelike inflorescences; blades
never jointed to petioles; styles never indurate and persistent or if
so less than 0.5 mm long; plants often aquatic or semiaquatic, never
vinelike (12)
1. Flowers not in terminal spikelike or racemelike inflorescences, or if so then
a joint (zone of abscission) present between blade and petiole or
else the plants vinelike (2)
2(1). Leaf blade jointed or articulated to petiole (6)
2. Leaf blade not jointed to petiole (3)
3(2). Plants with erect or ascending stems, not at all vinelike; styles persistent,
deflexed, hook- or hornlike, rigid, about 3 mm. long
1. P. virginianum.
3. Plants vinelike or with long weak reclining stems; styles not rigid, persistent
and elongate (4)
4(3). Stems 4-angled, weak and reclining, not twining 2. P. sagittatum.
4. Stems twining (5)
5(4). Perianth after anthesis becoming about 3.5 mm. long, closely investing the
achene, the 3 outer sepals minutely keeled but never winged
3. P Convolvulus.
5. Perianth after anthesis eventually about 6 mm. long, the outer 3 sepals with
dorsomedial wings 0.25-1 mm. broad 4. P. cristatum,
6(2). Flowers crowded toward the ends of the branches (appearing to be ter-
minal spikes) or else solitary or in 2's or 3's in the upper nodes (7)
6. Flowers in axillary clusters along the stem (10)
7(6). Strong perennial, often rhizomatous; flowers solitary or in 2's or 3's at
the upper nodes 5. P. texense.
1. Taprooted annual with the ends of the branches appearing to be terminal
spikes (8)
8(7). Stems slender usually less than 1.5 dm. tall; flowers in leafy-bracted spike;
anther-bearing stamens 3 (9)
8. Stems stout, with ascending branches, striate; upper leaves reduced to incon-
spicuous bracts; perianth lobes usually 6; stamens 6 to 8
6. P. argyrocoleon.
9(8). Floral bracts mostly plainly white-margined, the upper ones often no
longer than the flowers 7. P. confertiflorum.
9. Floral bracts only slightly or not white-margined, the upper ones usually
exceeding the flowers 8. P. Kelloggii.
10(6). Stems usually decumbent or prostrate, upper leaves not greatly reduced;
achenes usually brown, dull and striated or roughened
9. P- aviculare.
10. Stems usually erect or ascending; achenes dark-brown or black (11)
808
-------
11(10). Pedicels mostly deflexed or recurved; perianth 3-4 mm. long, the lobes 5
10. P. Douglasii.
11. Pedicels mostly erect; perianth less than 3 mm. long, the lobes usually 6
11. P ramosissimum.
12(1). Basal leaves well-developed; stem simple; rootstock often thickened and
bulblike (13)
12. Basal leaves (if any) soon withering; stem often branched; rootstock not
bulblike (14)
13(12). Inflorescences usually less than 1 cm. wide, the lower flowers bearing
bulblets .....12. P. viviparum.
13. Inflorescences usually more than 1 cm. wide, with no bulblets
13. P. bistortoides.
14(12). Ocreae (sheath around the stem) with marginal cilia less than 1 mm.
long (15)
14. Ocreae with marginal cilia 1.5 mm. long or more (21)
15(14). Peduncles with numerous stalked glands (16)
15. Peduncles without stalked glands (sessile glands may occur) (18)
16(15). Styles and stamens of the same length (or nearly so), not exserted from
perianth; achene lenticular, flat or nearly so on both surfaces;
flowers white to pink; annual 14. P. pensylvanica.
16. Styles or stamens exserted; achene lenticular and with at least one side con-
vex or ridged (17)
17(16). Inflorescences often solitary, all terminal or nearly so; flowers bright
pink; plants aquatic or semiaquatic; perianth in fruit more than
4 mm. long 15. P. amphibium.
17. Inflorescences numerous, lateral and terminal; flowers white or light-pink;
perianth in fruit usually less than 4 mm. long; stems usually cherry-
red at the nodes 16. P. bicorne.
18(15). Inflorescences usually nodding; perianth with prominent anchor-shaped
veins near apex; achenes lenticular, flat, about 2 mm. long
17. P- lapathifolium.
18. Inflorescences erect; perianth without anchor-shaped veins; achene biconvex,
oval in cross section (19)
19(18). Leaf blades less than 2 times as long as wide, long-petioled (usually 25
mm. long or more); mature ocreae short, about as wide as high;
petioles, stems and peduncles copiously pubescent with strigose
hairs; perianth 3.3 mm. long or more, pink to pinkish-red
18. P. orientale.
19. Leaf blades more than 2.5 times as long as wide, short-petioled (less than 20
mm. long); mature ocreae at least 1.5 times longer than broad;
petioles, stems and peduncles glabrous or pubescent; perianth 2—4.5
mm. long, white or pinkish-red (20)
20(19). Peduncles and ocreolae strigose or stipitate-glandular; stamens or styles
strongly exserted from the flowers; perianth in fruit 4 mm. long or
more, pinkish-red; inflorescences 1 or 2, terminal..15. P. amphibium.
20. Peduncles and ocreolae not strigose nor stipitate-glandular (glands, if present,
sessile); stamens and styles mostly included; perianth in fruit less
than 3.5 mm. long, white or pinkish-white; inflorescences numerous,
terminal and lateral 19. P. densiflorum.
21(14). Leaf blades less than twice as long as wide; petioles usually 25 mm. or
more long; mature ocreae short, about as wide as high; petioles,
stems and peduncles copiously pubescent with strigose hairs;
flowers pinkish-red 18. P. orientale.
809
-------
21. Leaf blades at least 2.5 times as long as wide; petioles usually less than 20
mm. long; mature ocreae at least 1.5 times as long as broad (22)
22(21). Perianth glandular (23)
22. Perianth without glands (25)
23(22). Achenes biconvex, oval in cross section; styles 2; stems stout, usually
over 7 mm. in diameter at base 19. P. densiflonim.
23. Achenes mostly trigonous, triangular in cross section; styles 3; stems less
than 6 mm. in diameter at base (24)
24(23). Achenes black, lustrous, smooth; young flower buds white or green-
tipped; inflorescence erect 20. P punctatum.
24. Achenes black, dull, minutely pitted; young buds pinkish; inflorescence usually
nodding 21. P. Hydropiper.
25(22). Achenes trigonous; styles 3 (26)
25. Achenes lenticular; styles 2 (27)
26(25). Inflorescences usually less than 4 cm. long, mostly rounded at the apex;
marginal cilia of ocreae usually less than 3 mm. long; achene ovoid,
longer than wide, lenticular or trigonous 22. P. Persicaria.
26. Inflorescences usually more than 4 cm. long, tapering to the apex; marginal
cilia of ocreae usually 3 mm. long or more; achenes trigonous,
about as wide as long 23. P. hydropiperoides.
27(25). Inflorescences usually less than 4 cm. long, mostly rounded at the apex;
marginal cilia of ocreae usually less than 3 mm. long; achene
lenticular or trigonous; annual 22. P Persicaria.
27. Inflorescences usually more than 4 cm. long, tapering to the apex; marginal
cilia of the ocreae usually 3 mm. long or more; perennial (28)
28(27). Peduncles and ocreolae strigose or stipitate-glandular; stamens or styles
strongly exserted from the flowers; perianth in fruit 4 mm. long or
more, pinkish-red; inflorescence terminal 15. P. amphibium.
28. Peduncles and ocreolae not strigose nor stipitate-glandular (glands, if present,
sessile); stamens and styles mostly included; perianth in fruit less
than 3.5 mm. long, white or pinkish-white; inflorescences numerous,
terminal and lateral 19. P. densiflorum,
1. Polygonum virginianum L. JUMP SEED. Fig. 403.
Annual herb; stems erect or reclining, 3-15 dm. tall; ocreae marginally trun-
cate and ciliate; leaf blades ovate to elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 3-16 cm.
long, acute; flowers in long terminal very loose and interrupted wandlike or spike-
like aggregations; pedicels about 3 mm. long; calyx greenish-white, about 4 mm,
long, 4-parted to near the middle; achene lenticular, strongly biconvex, 3.5-4 mm.
long, ovoid-oblong, topped by the 2 persistent deflexed and hooked (hornlike)
rather rigid styles about 4 mm. long. Antenoron virginianum (L.) Roberty &
Vautier, Tovara virginiana (L.) Raf.
In water or in seepage along streams and about lakes, in low rich woodlands,
in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Ottawa, Muskogee, Pittsburg, Kay, Cherokee
and Choctaw cos.), June-Oct.; Que., Ont. and most of e. U.S.; also Pue. and
Hgo.
2. Polygonum sagittatum L. TEARTHUMB, ARROW-VINE. Fig. 404.
Basally stoloniferous or subrhizomatous, probably perennial; stems ascending,
thin, weak and reclining or scandent, to 2 m. long, 4-angled and finely channeled,
armed on the angles with minute recurved prickles; leaf blades lanceolate or
broadly so, 1-12 cm. long, sagittate-cordate basally, apically acute; petioles long
m lower leaves, short in upper ones; inflorescences terminal and axillary (a very
810
-------
Fig. 403: Polygonum virginianum: a, habit, x %; b, ocrea, x 3; c, ocreola, x 4; d,
achene, x 10; e, cross section of achene, x 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 404: a-e, Polygonum sagittatiim: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, section of
stem, x 3; c, flower cluster, x 5; d, flower spread out, x 5; e, mature capsule, x 5. f-h,
Polygonum aviculare: f, habit, x %; g, section of flowering branch, x 5; h, mature
capsule, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
small tight head of white or pale-pink flowers on a very long peduncle longer than
leaves); calyx 5-parted; stamens 8; achene triquetrous, 3-3.5 mm. long, black or
brownish, smooth. Tracaulon sagittatum (L.) Small.
Infrequent at margins of lakes, swamps, marshes and bogs in e. Tex., and Okla.
(McCurtain and Haskell cos.), June-Oct.; Nfld. to Sask., s. to Fla. and Tex.
3. Polygonum Convolvulus L. BLACK BINDWEED.
Annual vine, glabrous but minutely scurfy; stems twining, 1-12 dm. long; leaf
blades ovate-deltoid or usually ovate-sagittate, 15-60 mm. long, acuminate; flowers
borne usually in pairs or threes at the same nodes or toward the ends of the
branches, flowers in racemelike inflorescences; pedicels very slender, 2-3 mm. long,
reflexed; calyx after anthesis becoming about 3.5 mm. long, closely investing the
achene, the 3 outer sepals minutely keeled; achene 3.5-4 mm. long, triquetrous,
black. Bilderdykia Convolvulus (L.) Dum., Tiniaria Convolvulus (L.) Webb &
Moq., Reynoutria Convolvulus (L.) Shinners.
On mud at edge of lakes, streams and ponds, on wet sand-gravel bars along
streams and in seepage about springs, commonly in disturbed soil and often in
gardens and flowerbeds, nearly throughout Tex., except extreme Trans-Pecos,
Okla. (Waterfall), N.M. (widespread), and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino,
s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Apr .-Sept.; a Eur. weed now widely adv.
4. Polygonum cristatum Engelm. & Gray.
Short-lived perennial vine (flowering first year); stems annual, twining; leaf
blades deltoid to shallowly sagittate-deltoid, 2-9 cm. long, only very slightly
(if at all) acuminate; flowers reflexed (pendulous) on very slender pedicels
several mm. long, at the middle nodes borne in twos or threes but on some of the
distal parts of the stems borne in racemelike masses; calyx after anthesis eventually
about 6 mm. long, 3 of the sepals with flat, toothed or crimped wings 0.25-1 mm.
broad; achenes lustrous, trigonous, 3—3.5 mm. long. Tiniaria cristata (Engelm &
Gray) Small, Bilderdykia cristata (Engelm. & Gray) Greene, P. scandens L. var.
cristatum (Engelm. & Gray) Gl., Reynoutria scandens (L.) Shinners var.
cristatum (Engelm. & Gray) Shinners.
Edges of woods, creek bottoms, wet gravel bars along rivers, in e. and n.-cen.
Tex. (possibly also canyons in Plains Country), e. Okla. (McCurtain and Chero-
kee cos.), Aug-Oct.; Tex., Ark., Okla. and La.; sparingly elsewhere where
probably adv.
5. Polygonum texense M. C. Johnst.
Perennial herb to 6 dm. tall, each shoot from a short reddish-brown fibrous
(from ocreae remnants) caudex 2-3 (-10) mm. thick, usually (perhaps always)
with brown rhizomes 2-3 mm. thick and with internodes to 4 cm. long; aerial
shoots with solitary ascending stems 1-2 mm. thick from each crown, with some
ascending branches at irregular intervals but usually unbranched in their distal
halves or thirds; leaf blades of the innovations (emerging in April) lanceolate,
15-24 mm. long, 4-7 mm. broad, green, flat, without conspicuous nervation,
blunt at apex, narrowed and with an abscission joint at base, falling by May;
petiole about 2 mm. long, inconspicuous and appearing as part of the ocrea;
ocreae 6—11 mm. long; lower part of ocrea strongly nerved and clasping the
petiole, the upper part hyaline (except for the nerves) and with 3 acute lobes,
eventually becoming shredded into fibers and lost; uppermost leaves reduced to
bracts with subpersistent blades 2-10 mm. long, those of the upper 2 to 10 cm.
of stem usually less than 4 mm. long and quite inconspicuous; flowers solitary or
in 2's or 3's at the upper nodes, erect or somewhat nodding; pedicels filiform,
about 2 mm. long, almost all included in the lower part of the ocreolae; calyx
813
-------
about 2 mm. long, 5-parted to below the middle with the lobes broadly oblong,
rounded at apex, white with some medial reddish or greenish markings and at
anthesis spreading; achene 2-2.5 mm. long, ovoid in over all outline, in transac-
tion almost equilaterally triangular (one side, the one not furnished with an
inner sepal, usually slightly smaller and more concave than the others), dark-
brown at maturity, rather lustrous.
Infrequent in seasonally moist places on Edwards Plateau and s. part of Plains
Country (Andrews, Crockett, Howard, Sutton and Val Verde cos.), Tex., summer-
fall; endemic.
6. Polygonnm argyrocoleon Kunze. PERSIAN WIREGRASS. Fig. 405.
Taprooted glabrous annual, the roots becoming ligneous toward fall and simu-
lating the perennial habit; stems striate, erect with several ascending branches,
the whole plant 2-5 dm. tall; upper parts of ocreae hyaline and long-lacerate;
petioles adnate to and as long as ocreae; blades jointed to petioles, green, mem-
branous, at midstem lance-linear, 1-3 cm. long, narrowed to both ends; upper
leaves reduced to minute bracts and the upper internodes shortened so that the
flowers are crowded in terminal spikelike clusters 2-5 cm. long or more; calyx
about 1.5 mm. long at anthesis, about 2 mm. long in fruit, divided nearly to base;
achenes trigonous, reddish-brown, with one face broader than the others, about
2 mm. long, very lustrous.
Infrequent or rare in seasonally moist places such as temporary pools and playa
lakes, and in marshy ground, in w. Tex. (Brewster, Hudspeth, Pecos and Upton
cos.), N. M. (Lea Co.) and Ariz. (Mohave, Maricopa, Final and Yuma cos.),
Apr.-Oct; nat. of Near and Middle East, now adv. in Calif., Ariz., N. M. and
Tex.
7. Polygonum confertiflorum Nutt.
Glabrous, simple to ascending-branched annual (4-) 6-20 cm. tall, the stems
slightly angled; leaves linear, 1-3 (-4) cm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, jointed at base;
stipules lacerate, 3-7 mm. long; flowers 2 to 4 per node, subsessile, mostly
crowded at the ends of the branches or occasionally a few in the axils of the
proximal floral leaves, the lower bracts similar to the leaves, the upper ones
shortened and often not exceeding the flowers but usually broadened and more
or less white-margined; perianth 1.5-2.5 (usually about 2) mm. long, connate
scarcely one third the length, the segments with a greenish midstripe and white to
pinkish borders, slightly cucullate-keeled, the 3 outer ones subequal to or con-
siderably longer and broader than the 2 inner ones; stamens usually 8, the 3 inner
ones anther-bearing, the filaments much-expanded at base, the 5 outer ones with
abortive (or no) anthers, the filaments linear; styles 3, connate to midlength,
barely 0.3 mm. long; achene 1.5-2 mm. long, yellow-brown to (commonly)
brownish-black, usually dull and prominently striate lengthwise but sometimes
(even on the same plant) smooth and shining, triquetrous. P. Watsonii Small.
Meadows, seepage about lakes and vernal pools to dry open ground, in N. M.
(Rio Arriba and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Sept.; Mont, to
Wash., s. to Colo., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
8. Polygonum Kelloggii Greene.
Simple or sparingly branched glabrous annual, the stem angled, mostly 2-7 cm.
tall; leaves few, linear, 5-25 mm. long, mostly about 1 mm. broad, basally jointed;
stipules lacerate, 2-7 mm. long; flowers subessile (pedicels to 1 mm. long) in
crowded terminal clusters of 1 to 4 and usually also axillary to most of the lower
foliage leaves, the stems sometimes floriferous almost to the base; floral bracts
linear, nearly divergent, only moderately reduced upward, the upper ones usually
814
-------
Fig. 405: Polygonum argyrocoleon: a, habit, upper part of plant, x %; b, habit,
lower part of plant, x %; c, leaf and sheath, x 3; d, mature achene, partially enveloped
by perianth, x 8; e, perianth, spread out, showing reduced glands between stamens,
x 8; f, pistil, x 8; g, achene, x 6; h, achenes (cross section), x 6; i, tip of inflorescence,
x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 196).
-------
2 to 3 times as long as the flowers but only slightly if at all broadened or white-
margined; perianth (1.5—) 2-2.5 mm. long, connate scarcely one third the length,
the 5 lobes subequal or the outer 3 the largest, slightly cucullate-keeled, with
a green midstripe and whitish or pinkish borders; stamens 8. the 5 outer ones
with linear filaments and abortive or no anthers, the 3 inner filaments greatly
dilated at base and anther-bearing; stigmas 3, subsessile; achene triquetrous,
1.5-2 mm. long, usually light-yellow to greenish-brown, shining and smooth to
obscurely striate, sometimes dark-brown, dull and strongly striate lengthwise
(both types of achene often on the same plant); style very short, connate about
half the length.
Meadows, wet banks of lakes and vernal pools to dry subalpine slopes in Ariz.
(Coconino Co.), June-Oct; Mont, to B.C., s. to Colo., Ariz, and Calif.
9. Polygonum aviculare L., sens. lat. KNOTWEED, WIREGRASS. Fig. 404.
Taprooted annual or very weak perennial, very diverse in habit, either with
an upright mainstem and ascending branches (when growing among dense herba-
ceous vegetation) or usually prostrate and rooting at the very numerous nodes
(when on flat bare ground); leaves few to numerous, sparse to crowded; blades
caducous or long-persistent, linear to usually narrowly oblong or narrowly
elliptic, (2-) 3-15 (-25) mm. long, green, flat, without conspicuous nervation;
flowers solitary or in 2's or 3's at some of the nodes, crowded or not; pedicels
filiform, much shorter than the ocreae so that the flower and fruit are always
erect; sepals 5 (calyx never opening, perhaps indicating cleistogamy), 3 of them
exterior over the angles of the achene and 2 inner ones over 2 of the achene faces.
In marshes and mud on edge of ponds, lakes and streams, wet meadows, flood-
lands and edge of tidal salt marshes, widespread but local nearly throughout Tex.
(except extreme s.), Okla. (Rogers and Osage cos.), N. M. (Lincoln, Grant, Colfax,
Otero, San Miguel, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino,
s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), May-Nov.; very widespread in temp, regions, per-
haps originally nat. to Eur.
On the basis of achene and calxy characters 3 species in the P. aviculare aggre-
gate may be differentiated as follows: (1) plants having achenes with 2 convex
and 1 narrowly concave side are referred.to P. arenastrum Bor.; achenes mildly
striated, reddish-brown, about 2 mm. long; the persistent calyx covering the
achene is divided for about half its length; (2) plants designated as P. buxiforme
Small have reddish-brown striated achenes 2-2.5 mm. long, cordate in shape, with
1 broad flat face and 2 more or less equal concave sides; the persistent perianth
is divided for about two thirds its length and is characterized by having lateral
papery margins or wings; (3) achenes of P. aviculare (sens, str.) are typically
coarsely striated, dull, 2.5-3 mm. long and narrower, and less heart-shaped than
those of P. buxiforme; the persistent perianth completely covers the achene, is
divided almost to the base and lacks the lateral papery margins characteristic of
P. buxiforme.
10. Polygonum Douglasii Greene.
Simple to freely branched, erect to strongly ascending annual 1-4 (-5) dm.
tall; leaves numerous but not strongly overlapping, linear to narrowly oblong
(sometimes more nearly lanceolate or oblanceolate), usually 2-4 cm. long, rarely
as much as one fifth as broad, sessile or subsessile, jointed at the base, rather
abruptly reduced to the bracts above; stipules short-sheathing, 5-12 mm. long,
lacerate; racemes elongate, loose, with (1) 2 to 4 flowers per node; pedicels 1-4
mm. long, reflexed by (or shortly after) anthesis; upper bracts much shorter
than the flowers; perianth '.1.5-3.5 (-4) mm. long, distinct nearly to the base, the
5 segments greenish witn white or reddish margins; styles 3, distinct nearly to
816
-------
the base, scarcely 0.5 mm. long; achene triquetrous black, smooth and shining,
usually included, 3-3.5 mm. long, about half as broad.
In wet meadows, marshes and edge of water in streams and lakes, in N. M.
(widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Graham cos.), June-Sept.;
throughout most of Can. and U. S.
11. Polygonum ramosissimum Michx.
Taprooted annual (in some situations the taproot becoming ligneous and as
much as 1 cm. thick late in the season), rather variable in habit but (except in
injured specimens) having only one ascending or usually erect mainstem near
ground level, the whole plant (2-) 3-12 dm. tall and usually with numerous ascend-
ing or erect branches; leaf blades of midstem lanceolate or linear, (4-) 7-22 mm.
long, green, flat, without conspicuous nervation, either persistent or falling, upper-
most (bracteal) leaves with smaller blades, persistent or falling; flowers solitary
or in 2's or 3's at the nodes of the upper 1-2 cm. of the stem and branches, not
crowded; pedicels filiform, at least some of them on the plant at fruiting time
long enough to bend over (i.e., exserted from ocreae) so that the yellowish-green
fruiting calyx (which completely covers the achene) is drooping; sepals nearly
always 6 (very rarely 5); achenes mahogany-colored, equilaterally trigonous,
sharp-angled, mildly striate to smooth, usually shiny and 2-3 mm. long.
In marshes, edge of streams, ponds and lakes, in seasonally wet areas, wide-
spread in Tex., Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache and
Yavapai cos.), summer-fall; most of e. U.S. s. to Del., Pa., O., Ind., 111., Mo.,
Okla., Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
12. Polygonum viviparum L.
Perennial from a short thick erect or ascending rootstock, with 1 to several
flowering stems mostly 1.5-3 dm. tall; leaves mostly basal, long-petiolate, not
jointed to the stem, narrowly oblong to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, 3-8 cm. long;
stipules brown, strongly sheathing, 2-5 cm. long, oblique at tip, not lacerate;
cauline leaves 2 to 4, much narrower than basal leaves, reduced upward and
becoming sessile; inflorescence a single terminal spikelike raceme usually 4—8 cm.
long and 1—1.5 cm. thick; bracts (especially lower ones) somewhat remote and
with the flowers replaced by small pinkish to purplish bulblets, the normal flowers
of the upper small membranous bracts with pedicels 2-4 mm. long; perianth 3-3.5
mm. long, connate and usually greenish for one fourth to one third of the length,
the 5 segments oblong and white to pink; flowers usually functionally imperfect,
the stamens 8 when developed and usually exserted, the filaments equalling to
twice as long as the perianth; in the pistillate flowers the stamens usually more or
less rudimentary and shorter than the perianth; styles 3, distinct nearly to the
base, 3-4 mm. long; achenes triquetrous, usually not developing, normally dark-
brown, smooth and shining, 2-3 mm. long. Bistorta vivipara (L.) S. F. Gray.
In wet meadows, in mud and seepage about lakes and on stream banks, and
shaded woodlands, in N. M. (Colfax, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.), and
possibly Ariz., May-Sept; Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. E., Minn., N.M., (?) Ariz.
and Wash.
13. Polygonum bistortoides Pursh. SNAKEWEED. Fig. 406.
Perennial from a short thick erect or ascending rhizome, with 1 or more simple
erect flowering stems 2-6 dm. tall; leaves mostly basal, long-petiolate, not jointed
to stem, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate or oblanceolate, to about 1.5 dm. long,
rounded to cuneate at base; stipules brownish, oblique, not lacerate, 3-6 cm. long;
cauline leaves few, noticeably reduced upward, all but the lowest sessile, lanceo-
late, semicordate at base; racemes terminal, spikelike, many-flowered, mostly 2-4
817
-------
Fig. 406: Polygonum bistortoides: a, stipular leaf sheath, x 2; b, habit, showing
rhizome, basal leaves, and stem with cauline leaves and solitary spike, x %; c a°d d,
mature achenes (cross section), x 6; e, mature achene, x 6; f, part of flowering spike,
showing the long-pediceled flowers exserted from hyaline sheathlike bracts, x 4; g,
rootstock, x '-,:,', h, pistils, the style 3-cleft, x 4; i, perianth, spread open, showing the
exserted stamens arising from glandular disk just below sinuses or from individual
glandular lobes, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 197).
-------
Fig. 407: Polygonum pensylvanicum: a, habit, x %; b, ocrea, x 2; c, peduncle en-
larged; d, part of flowering spike, x 4; e, perianth enclosing mature fruit, x 7; f, achene,
x 7; g, cross section of achene, x 7. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
cm. long and 1.5-2 cm. thick, the small bracts papery and brownish; pedicels 2-7
mm. long; perianth 4-5 mm. long, connate for about one fifth its length, the 5
oblong equal segments white to pinkish; stamens 8, exserted, the filaments to twice
as long as the perianth, the inner ones broadly flared at the extreme base; styles 3,
distinct nearly to base, about 3.5 mm. long; achene triquetrous, yellowish-brown,
smooth and shining, about 4 mm. long.
Bogs, wet meadows, seepage about lakes, old lake beds and in moist humus of
conifer'forests, in N. M. (Socorro, Grant, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and Graham cos.), June-Oct; Mont, to
B.C., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
14. Polygonum pensylvanicum L. PINKWEED, SMARTWEED. Fig. 407.
Stout erect annual from a taproot, branching above; stems 3-20 dm. tall, mostly
glabrous below to stipitate-glandular in the inflorescence, greenish or reddish; leaves
4-22 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, acuminate, abruptly
tapering to short petioles, sparsely punctate above and below, the veins somewhat
strigose, the margins strigose-ciliate; stipular sheaths cylindric-funnelform, gla-
brous, truncate and without bristles, membranous and soon fracturing, 10-15 mm.
long; spikes mostly compact, rarely interrupted, 2-4 cm. long, erect, the pedun-
cles densely stipitate-glandular; sheathing bracts funnelform, the tip acute, glabrous
to sparsely glandular, the margins with a few minute cilia toward apex, otherwise
entire; pedicels exserted, glabrous; perianth rose to white, 3-4 mm. long, 5-parted
to below middle; stamens 8 or less, some in the sinuses of perianth, others from
between lobes of the glandular disk; disk prominent, 8-lobed; style 2- or 3-cleft
to below middle; stigmas capitate; achene lenticular to trigonous, microscopically
roughened, dark-brown to black and shiny, 2.5-3.4 mm. long. Persicaria pensyl-
vanica (L.) Small.
In low marshy ground, mud along irrigation ditches, streams and rivers, and
about pools, in (mostly) e. Tex., Okla. (Cherokee, Adair, Johnston and Sequoyah
cos.), N. M. (Socorro Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Yavapai, Santa Cruz
and Pima cos.), May-Nov.; throughout N.A.
15. Polygonum amphibium L. FLOATING KNOTWEED, WATER SMARTWEED. Figs.
408 and 409.
Dimorphic, amphibious, aquatic or terrestrial perennial, rooting at swollen
nod«s; terrestrial plants erect or decumbent, to about 15 dm. tall; aquatic plants
with floating tips and spreading or floating leaves, or at length with erect branched
aerial stems; stems at length swollen above the nodes, glabrous to puberulent or
finely tomentose; leaves lanceolate-attenuate to oblong-elliptic or ovate, 5-25 cm.
long, 1-6 cm. wide, obtuse to acuminate at apex, slightly unequal at the cuneate
to truncate or cordate base, finely silky-pubescent, the margins somewhat undu-
late; petioles 2-4 cm. long, the lower half decurrent and flanked by a stipular
sheath extending as a cylinder around the stem for 10-20 mm. above its junction
with the petiole; stipular sheath about 12-nerved and truncate across the top,
those of floating or submersed stems glabrous and entire, those of emersed stems
scabrous and ciliate-margined, with a few hairs of unequal lengths along the
nerves or scattered between them; inflorescence of 1 or 2 elongate densely
flowered terminal spikes 1-8 cm. long on a stout red densely glandular-pubescent
peduncle 1-3 cm. long; flowers fascicled in the axils of hairy stipulate bracts on
short glabrous pedicels, 1 flower of each fascicle blooming at a time, the flowers
thus blooming in succession over entire spike; perianth 5-merous, petaloid, bright
rose-pink, 4-5 mm. long, the ovate lobes free above but united below; stamens
5, inserted just below the sinuses of the perianth lobes, included or exserted
(always of different length than the style); anthers versatile; glandular disk at-
820
-------
Fig. 408: Polygonum amphibium: a, achene (cross section), x 6; b, mature achene,
x 6; c, flower, showing exserted stamens, x 6; d, perianth, spread open, showing the
prominent glandular disk and the regularly inserted stout filaments, x 6; e, terrestrial
plant, showing habit, scabrous pubescence, x %; f, stipular sheath of terrestrial plant,
scabrous, the broad margin ciliate, x 3, g, stipular sheath of aquatic plant, glabrous
and membranous, x 2; h, habit of aquatic plant, showing the rooting nodes, the
glabrous floating leaves and the short dense flowering spikes, x %; i, lower part of
spike, showing the bilobed sheathing bracts and the flowers on short glabrous pedicels,
x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 199).
-------
Fig. 409: Polygonum amphibium: a, stem of terrestrial plant, the mature branch
glabrous, the young branch puberulent, x -,'-,; b, part of flowering spike, showing the
short-pediceled fasciculate flowers in axils of hairy sheathing bracts, x 4; c, habit, ter-
restrial plant, pubescent, x %; d, mature achene, x 6; e, stipular leaf sheaths, terrestrial
plant, x 4f,; f, lower part of stem, aquatic form, showing roots at the swollen nodes,
x 7:,: g, habit aquatic plant, glabrous, x %; h, flower, spread open to show the con-
spicuous glandular disk and regular stamen insertion, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 198).
-------
tached to the base of the perianth tube, orange-red, 5-lobed, the tips of lobes
free; ovary flattened; styles elongate, bifid to about or below the middle, included
or exserted; stigmas capitate; achene lenticular, 2.8-4 mm. long, beaked with
the persistent style base, blackish to deep reddish-brown, shiny, minutely punctate.
P. natans Eat., P. coccineum Muhl., Persicaria coccinea (Muhl.) Greene, P.
Muhlenbergii (Meisn.) Small.
In ponds, rivers, streams, lakes, ditches, canals, marshes, swamps and mud in
wet meadows, in e. and n.w. Tex., Okla. (LeFlore, Comanche, Kay, Washita,
Cimarron and Alfalfa cos.), N. M. (Colfax, Dona Ana, Mora, Sierra, Sandoval,
Catron, Taos and Rio Arriba cos,) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s.
to Santa Clara and Pima cos.), June—Oct.; represented by 2 varieties in N. A. and
1 variety in Eurasia.
Mitchell separates our two varieties as follows:
1. Plants flowering while floating or recently stranded; inflorescence 1-4 or rarely
to 6 cm. long; aerial shoots decumbent to spreading, with chloro-
phyllous flared ocreae in the early season....var. stipulaceum Colem.
1. Plants flowering from aerial shoots on moist soil or strongly emergent from
the water; inflorescence 4-11 or rarely to 15 cm. long at maturity;
aerial shoots spreading to erect; ocreae with entire margins, becom-
ing membranous and soon shattering var. emersum Michx.
16. Polygonum bicome Raf. PINK SMARTWEED.
Annual from taproot; stems erect, much-branched, cherry-red (at least at the
nodes), 1-20 dm. high; leaf blades lanceolate, punctate, glabrous except for a few
appressed hairs, 5-18 cm. long, 1-4 cm. wide; ocreae eciliate or occasionally with
cilia less than 1 mm. long, higher than wide; peduncles stipitate-glandular; ra-
cemes erect, numerous, terminal and lateral; calyx pinkish, 5-parted, 2.7-4.6 mm.
long; stamens 6 to 8, included or exserted (always of different length than the
styles); styles 2, included or exserted; achene lenticular, ridged or humped on at
least one face, dark-brown or black, lustrous, 2.5-3.5 mm. long and nearly as
wide. Polygonum longistylum Small, Persicaria bicornis (Raf.) Nieuw.
In and about water of ponds, lakes, sloughs and ditches, marshes, wet meadows
and in various disturbed habitats (often a first year invader) throughout Tex.,
Okla. (McCurtain, LeFlore, Comanche, Logan, Pawnee, Rogers, Ottawa and
Nowata cos.), N.M. (San Miguel Co.) and Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.), May-Jan.;
Neb. to Colo, and s. to Tex., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex.
The plants in southern Texas often have slightly fringed ocreolae (fringe absent
in north) and more pronounced ridges on the achene than their northern counter-
parts.
17. Polygonum lapathifolium L. WILLOW SMARTWEED. Fig. 410.
Stout erect annual to 15 dm. tall; stems glabrous, conspicuously swollen above
nodes; leaves linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 5-30 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide,
acuminate, tapering to short petioles, the upper surface nearly glabrous, with
strigose scabrous veins and margins, the undersurface densely glandular-punctate
(occasionally densely white-tomentose beneath in aquatic forms); stipular sheaths
membranous, cylindric, 1-2 cm. high, glandular on margins, at length splitting
and becoming truncately fractured; inflorescence an elongate drooping spikelike
raceme, densely flowered, the peduncles glabrous to glandular; sheathing bracts
funnelform, obliquely tapered, 2 mm. long, glandular on margins; perianth pink
to white, 4- or 5-cleft to below middle, 2-2.9 mm. long, the tube lined with a
thin 5-lobed glandular disk, the veins of perianth segments dichotomously forked
and recurved at tips, becoming prominent in age; stamens 6, included, inserted
on tube and in sinuses; style 2-parted nearly to base; stigmas capitate; achene
823
-------
Fig. 410: Polygonum lapathifolium: a, habit, showing the stout stem, swollen above
the nodes, and the drooping spikelike racemes, x %; b, perianth, spread open, showing
glandular disk and the stamen insertion, x 8; c, perianth enclosing mature achene (note
the forked recurved veins which have become prominent), x 8; d, tip of spike, the
sheathing bracts obliquely tapered, their margins glandular, x 6; e, mature achene, x
8; f, young stipular sheaths, showing glandular or ciliate margins and fractured sheath
enclosing the swollen part above the node, x I1/-,. (From Mason, Fig. 205).
-------
Fig. 411: Polygonum densiflorum: a, habit, x 3; b, ocrea, x %; c, part of flower-
ing spike, x 3; d, perianth enclosing mature fruit, x 10; e, achene, x 10; f, cross section
of achene, x 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
lenticular, minutely roughened, dark shining-brown or blackish, 2-2.5 mm. long.
Incl. var. incanum (Roth) K. Koch, Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Small.
In marshes, wet meadows and in and about water of ponds, lakes and streams,
rather frequent throughout Tex., Okla., N.M. and Ariz., Apr.-Dec.; introd. from
Eur. and now throughout N.A.
18. Polygonum orientale L. PRINCESS-FEATHER.
Annual from taproot; stems erect, branched, usually green, strigose, 4-30 dm.
high; leaf blades obovate, commonly truncate at base, strigose beneath, 6-22 cm.
long, 4-12 cm. wide; ocreae usually ciliate, about as wide as high; peduncles
tomentose; racemes numerous, erect; calyx 5-parted, pink to reddish-pink, epunc-
tate, 4-4.5 mm. long in fruit; stamens included; styles 2; achenes lenticular,
turgid, oval in cross section, black, lustrous, 3-3.5 mm. long, 1.8-2.6 mm. wide.
Persicaria orientalis (L.) Spach.
A nat. of Eur. that is cult, in e. U. S. where it escapes frequently to wet
habitats, rare in e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall).
19. Polygonum densiflorum Meisn. Fig. 411.
Perennial; stems erect, branched, usually 7 mm. or more wide at base, usually
glabrous, 6-20 dm. high; leaf blades lanceolate, mostly glabrous, 5-25 cm. long,
2-5 cm. wide; ocreae ciliate or eciliate, brittle, longer than wide; peduncles
occasionally glandular or slightly pubescent; racemes numerous, long, often ap-
pearing compound, mostly erect; calyx whitish to whitish-pink, 5-parted, 2.3-3.2
mm. long; styles 2; achene lenticular, turgid, oval in cross section, lustrous, dark-
brown to black, 1.9—2.5 mm. long. Persicaria densiflora (Meisn.) Moldenke.
Wet areas (often in water) along the Coastal Plain and inland to Okla. (Haskell
and Washington cos.), June-Nov.; infrequent but throughout e. U.S. and southw.
20. Polygonum punctatum Ell. PERENNIAL or WATER SMARTWEED. Fig. 412.
Aquatic to amphibious perennial, rarely behaving as an annual; stems 3-10 dm.
tall, erect or decumbent at base, rooting at nodes, simple or much-branched, green
above, reddish below, slightly swollen above nodes, glabrous or often glandular-
punctate; leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, cuneate at base, 5-15
cm. long, 5-20 mm. wide, glabrous except on veins; petioles short; ocreae
cylindric, 9-17 mm. high, membranous, expanding with nodes, at length splitting,
scabrous, glandular-dotted, truncate above and bristly-ciliate; flowers in elongate
somewhat interrupted spikes, the pedicels glabrous, exserted; sheathing bract
narrowly funnelform, truncate, entire or rarely sparsely ciliate, glandular-dotted;
perianth green, less than 3 mm. long, 5-parted to below middle, conspicuously
glandular-punctate, green to greenish white, jointed to pedicels; stamens 6 to 8
inserted in sinuses or 1 to 3 inserted on lower half of tube, the green glands evident
in young fresh material but becoming obsolete in age; style 2- or 3-cleft; stigmas
capitate; achene lenticular or trigonous, 1.8-3 mm. long, microscopically roughened,
dark-brown or black and shining. Persicaria punctata (Ell.) Small.
In shallow water in marshes, ponds and ditches, in mud of floodplain woods,
cienegas and wet fields, in e. Tex., throughout Okla., N.M. (Dona Ana, Grant
and Luna cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), year around; throughout N.A. to S.A.
Often confused with P. Hydropiper which has dull achenes and nodding ra-
cemes.
21. Polygonum Hydropiper L. WATER SMARTWEED. Fig. 413.
Annual or perennial; stems ascending, glabrous or nearly so, green, 1-10 dm.
high; leaf blades lanceolate, punctate, 3-16 cm. long, 5-20 mm. wide; ocreae
2 to 4 times as long as wide, ciliate, the bristles usually less than 6 mm. long;
826
-------
Fig. 412: Polygonum punctatum: a and b, achene, lenticular type (cross section),
x 5; c and d, achene, trigonous type (cross section), x 5; e, stipular leaf sheath,
glandular-dotted and bristly-ciliate, x 2; f, pistil, x 6; g, perianth, spread open, showing
the small glands of the disk and stamen insertion on two levels, x 6; h, habit, showing
the nearly flat acuminate leaves and the somewhat interrupted spikes, x 2f,: i, upper
part of spike, showing the gland-dotted perianth and the funnelform sheathing bracts,
x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 200).
-------
Fig. 413: Polygonum Hydropiper: a, perianth enclosing mature fruit, x 6; b, tip
of spike, showing the glandular-punctate flowers and the funnelform ciliate sheathing
bracts, x 4; c, young flower, x 6; d, opened perianth, showing the glands of the disk
and the longer filaments inserted between them, x 6; e, mature achene, trigonous type,
x 6; f, mature achene, trigonous type (cross section), x 6; g, mature achene, semi-
lenticular type (cross section), x 6; h, mature achene, semilenticular type, x 6; i,
stipular leaf sheath, showing coarsely ciliate apex, x 2l/r, j, habit, basal part of plant,
showing the roots and the stems swollen above the nodes, x %; k, habit, upper part of
plant, showing the successively smaller leaves and the variable spikes, x %. (From
Mason, Fig. 201).
-------
Fig. 414: Polygonum Persicaria: a, mature achene, lenticular, x 6; b, mature achene,
trigonous type, x 6; c, perianth, spread open, showing stamens inserted irregularly, x
8; d, tip of spike, showing flowers and ciliate sheathing bracts, x 4; e, stipular leaf
sheaths, strigose, apices bristly-ciliate, x 1%; f, habit, basal part of plant, showing some
roots at nodes, x %; g, habit, showing the flat, lanceolate leaves and the inflorescence
of stout densely flowered spikes, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 203).
-------
peduncles usually glabrous, glandular; racemes numerous, moniliform, commonly
nodding or drooping; calyx yellow-glandular, green or greenish-white (pink at
tip on young buds), 2.5-4.1 mm. long in fruit; stamens included; styles usually
3; achenes dark-brown or black, dull, minutely pitted, mostly trigonous, 2-3.3 mm.
long. Persicaria Hydropiper (L.) Opiz.
Wet meadows, in water of streams and pasturelands, in Okla. (Delaware Co.)
and mostly in e. Tex., June-Dec.; throughout N.A. and also parts of Euras.
Similar to and often confused with P. punctatum.
22. Polygonum Persicaria L. LADY'S THUMB, MOCO DE GUAJOLOTE. Fig. 414.
Erect or decumbent amphibious annual, rooting at nodes, often in large clumps;
stems 2-9 dm. tall, green or marked with red, diffusely branched or occasionally
simple and erect, glabrous and at length swollen at nodes; leaves lanceolate to
linear-lanceolate, 3-15 cm. long, 5-18 mm. wide, acuminate, tapering to the
short petiole, sparsely strigose to nearly glabrous, sometimes glandular-dotted;
stipular sheaths extending 1-2 cm. beyond junction of petiole, strigose, the apex
truncate and bristly-ciliate; inflorescence of a few short erect stout densely flowered
spikes, 8-25 mm. long, these on tips of terminal and lateral branches; sheathing
bracts membranous, ciliate; perianth petaloid, 2.2-3.2 mm. long, glandless, deep-
dull-rose to white, 5-parted to near middle, the base lined with a 5-lobed yellowish
green glandular disk; stamens 6, some inserted in the sinuses and 1 to 3 between
the glands of the disk; style short, 2- or 3-branched; stigmas capitate; achene
lenticular to trigonous, microscopically pitted, dark-brown or black and shining,
2-2.7 mm. long. Persicaria vulgaris Webb. & Moq.
In marshes, boggy areas, in shallow water and on edge of ponds, lakes and
streams, often in disturbed areas, throughout Tex., Okla. (Alfalfa, Murray and
Adair cos.), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Cochise
and Mohave cos.), June-Dec.; introd. from Eur. and now throughout N. A.
Similar to and often confused with P. hydropiperoides.
23. Polygonum hydropiperoides Michx. WATERPEPPER.
Herbaceous annual or perennial, subglabrous to strongly pubescent; stem to
2 m. long, mostly much less, usually somewhat decumbent below and tending to
root freely at the nodes; leaves numerous, only slightly reduced upward, short-
petiolate or the upper ones subsessile, narrowly to broadly lanceolate or oblong-
lanceolate, 5-24 cm. long, to 6 cm. wide, acute to acuminate, glabrous to strongly
strigose, acute at base; ocreae 1-2 cm. long, ciliate, strigose and bristly-ciliate;
inflorescence of 2 to numerous slender-tapering often interrupted spikelike ra-
cemes mostly over 4 cm. long, on a strigose to glabrous peduncle; perianth greenish
to white or pinkish, 2.5-3 mm. long, glabrous externally on the exposed area,
without glands, 5-lobed for slightly more than half the length with the oblong
segments subequal and the inner ones sometimes slightly glandular; stamens 8,
included; style 3, connate about half their length, about 0.5 mm. long; achene
dark-brown to black, smooth and shining, triquetrous (the faces flat), 1.5-3 mm.
long.
In marshes, wet meadows, in and on edge of water of streams, ponds and lakes,
sometimes forming mats in streams, occurring as one or more variants throughout
Tex., Okla., N.M. and Ariz., Apr.-Nov.; Que. to B.C., s. to S.A.
1. Hairs of the ocreae long and spreading, enlarged at base, not adnate; mostly
along the Gulf Coast, extending into southeastern Oklahoma
var. seiaceum.
1. Hairs of the ocreae erect and appressed, adnate at base (2)
830
-------
Fig. 415: Polygonum hydropiperoides var. setaceum: a, habit, x %; b, ocrea, x 1;
c, part of flowering spike, x 3; d, perianth enclosing mature fruit, x 8; e, achene, x 8;
f, cross section of achene, x 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 416: Polygonum hydropiperoides var. hydropiperoides: a, perianth, spread
open, showing irregular stamen insertion, x 6; b, pistil, x 6; c, mature achene, x 8;
d, mature achene (cross section), x 8; e, upper part of spike, showing the ciliate
sheathing bract subtending the flowers, x 4; f, stipular leaf sheaths, coarsely strigose,
ciliate at apex, x IV-,; g, habit, showing roots at lower nodes and slender interrupted
spikes, x -:,. (From Mason, Fig. 202).
-------
Fig. 417: Polygonum hydropiperoides var. opelousanum: a, habit, x %; b, ocrea,
x 1; c, part of flowering spike, x 2; d and e, two views of perianth enclosing mature
fruit, x 8; f, achene, x 8; g, cross section of achene, x 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2(1). Mature achenes included in the perianth; leaves usually much more than
1 cm. wide; distribution widespread var. hydropiperoides.
2. Mature achenes slightly exserted from perianth; leaves rarely more than 1 cm.
wide; distribution mostly on the Gulf Coastal Plain
var. opelousanum.
Var. setaceum (Baldw.) Gl. [P. setaceum Baldw., Persicaria setacea (Baldw.)
Small]. Fig. 415.
Var. hydropiperoides [Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small].-Fig. 416.
Var. opelousanum (Ridd.) Stone [P. opelousanum Ridd., Persicaria hydro-
piperoides var. opelousana (Ridd.) J. S. Wils.] Fig. 417.
Fam. 52. Chenopodiaceae VENT. GOOSEFOOT FAMILY
Herbaceous weedy plants, glabrous or pubescent, with inconspicuous flowers;
stems more or less succulent, often articulate; leaves opposite or alternate with
no stipules nor scarious bracts, sessile or petiolate; blades flat, broad or often
succulent and cylindrical or subterete, sometimes reduced to scales, entire, dentate
or lobed; flowers perfect, unisexual or polygamous, usually regular, minute,
usually green, with the free perianth imbricated in the bud, usually solitary in
small cymose glomerules that are spicate, axillary, paniculate or cymose, or
flowers axillary and solitary, sometimes arranged in terminal strobiles or sunken
in depressions in the stem; stamens as many as lobes of the flower or occasionally
fewer and inserted opposite them or on their bases; ovary superior, 1-locular,
becoming a 1-seeded thin utricle or rarely an achene; styles or stigmas 2, rarely
3 to 5; perianth simple, persistent, mostly enclosing the fruit; embryo coiled
into a ring around the mealy endosperm (if any is present) or conduplicate or
spiraled.
About 100 genera and 1,400 species, world-wide, many weeds.
Similarly to the amaranths, most of our chenopods are found in weedy areas,
commonly called "wastelands," the reasons being mainly because they are often
poorly drained, subject to flooding and are often saline or alkaline soils. Because
of this, it is very possible that we should have included more of these species.
However, since we have based our treatment on factual evidence instead of on
speculation it must stand as is.
1. Stems jointed; leaves reduced to small alternate or opposite scales; flowers
sessile, borne in the depressions of the joints of fleshy spikes or
along the stem (2)
1. Stems not joined; leaves not scalelike but sometimes linear (3)
2(1). Branches and leaves opposite; seed pubescent; embryo conduplicate; endo-
sperm lacking 1. Salicornia
2. Branches and leaves alternate; seed smooth; embryo partially annular, sur-
rounding an abundant endosperm 2. Allenrolfea
3(1). Bracts and leaves strongly spinulose at the tips; flowers perfect; fruiting
perianth segments broadly winged transversely 3. Salsola
3. Bracts and leaves not spinulose, the spines (if present) cauline in origin;
fruiting perianth segments usually not transversely winged, if so
the flowers in part imperfect (4)
4(3). Leaves opposite; perianth segments strongly overlapping; plants rhizomatous
4. Nitrophila
4. Leaves all or mainly alternate; perianth segments rarely overlapping; plants
very rarely rhizomatous (5)
834
-------
5(4). Spinose-branched shrubs with linear semiterete leaves; embryo spirally
coiled; endosperm lacking 5. Sarcobatus
5. Herbs or shrubs, if shrubby and at all spinose with flattened leaves and with
an annular embryo surrounding the endosperm (6)
6(5). Leaves (present at anthesis) linear to very narrowly lanceolate, entire,
densely hairy, grayish to rufous; embryo annular, surrounding the
endosperm (7)
6. Leaves at anthesis either broader than very narrowly lanceolate or toothed,
or not grayish-hairy; embryo sometimes spiral (8)
7(6). Annual; some or all of the perianth segments in fruit bearing either a
dorsal tubercle or a straight hooked spine 6. Bassia
7. Perennial; perianth segments neither tubercled nor spinose, ultimately hori-
zontally winged 7. Kochia
8(6). Embryo spirally coiled; endosperm scant or lacking; leaves linear and more
or less terete; flowers all axillary, borne singly or in clusters of 2
to 5 along the main stem or in lateral spikes; perianth segments in
fruit commonly transversely corrugate or corniculate 8. Suaeda
8. Embryo annular, usually surrounding a copious endosperm; flowers (at least
in part) usually in crowded bracteate to ebracteate spikes or pani-
cles; perianth segments usually not as above or sometimes wanting
(9)
9(8). Flowers imperfect, the pistillate naked or with a greatly reduced perianth
but each subtended and enclosed by 2 accrescent sepaloid bracteoles,
the staminate flowers ebracteate and with a 3- to 5-lobed perianth
(10)
9. Flowers mostly perfect and with a regular 3- to 5-lobed perianth (11)
10(9). Bractlets of the pistillate flowers laterally compressed, narrowly crenulate-
winged dorsally, ovate in outline, strongly bidentate at the tip;
annual with orbicular to rhombic-ovate dentate leaves
9. Suckleya
10. Bractlets of the pistillate flowers dorsiventrally compressed, not dorsally
winged; perennials or annuals with multiform leaves
10. Atriplex
11(9). Annual; perianth segments not winged in fruit but sometimes keeled
11. Chenopodium
11. Perennial; perianth segments becoming carinate and horizontally winged in
fruit 7. Kochia
1. Salicornia L. GLASSWORT. SALADILLA
Erect to spreading or prostrate annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs, often
suffrutescent and succulent; stems much-branched, glabrous, fleshy, with opposite
articulate branches, the joints dilated at the apex into a short sheath; leaves scale-
like, opposite; flowers perfect or polygamous, sunk in the cavities of the inter-
nodes, 3 to 7 together on opposite sides of the joints, partly crowded by the
sheathing fleshy bracts, the flowering joints forming cylindric terminal spikes,
the flowers usually connate and adnate to the joints; perianth obpyramidal, fleshy,
with a 3- or 4-toothed or truncate border, spongiose in fruit; stamens 1 or 2,
the anthers exserted and didymous, the filaments filiform or subulate; style
lacerate above or ending in 2 to 4 subulate stigmas; ovule subsessile; utricle in-
cluded in the perianth, ovoid or oblong, the pericarp membranaceous, irregular
dehiscent; seed erect, oblong or ellipsoid, compressed, covered with short or long
straight or curved hairs; endosperm none; embryo conduplicate; radicle inferior.
About 35 species in temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres.
835
-------
Waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, feed on the fleshy branches and the seed-
bearing tips of the inflorescences.
1. Stem annual; middle flowers higher than the lateral ones: seed 1.5-2 mm.
long 1. S. Bigehvii.
1. Stem perennial with prolonged subligneous depressed stems and rhizomes;
flowers nearly equal in height (2)
2(1). Primary branches of stems prostrate, rooting freely, the erect or ascending
flowering branches usually simple and slender; spikes 2.5-3 mm.
thick 2. 5. virginica.
2. Primary branches erect or decumbent, not rooting, usually much-branched,
the branches stout; spikes 4—5 mm. thick 3. S. utahensis.
1. Salicornia Bigelovii Torr. Fig. 418.
Annual herb, stout and succulent; stems erect, 1-6 dm. tall, green, with few
to many stout spreading or ascending branches, the joints 7-25 mm. long and 2-3
mm. thick; sheaths 2-lobed, the lobes acutely mucronate, 2-4 mm. long, ovate
to triangular-ovate, acuminate, at length spreading; spikes obtuse, 2-12 cm. long,
4—6 mm. thick, the joints 2-3.5 mm. long and 4.5-6 mm. thick; flowers 3 in each
group; lateral flowers contiguous below the acute lower angle of the central one;
middle flower somewhat higher than the lateral ones, reaching very nearly to the
edge of the joint; seed nearly black, 1.5-2 mm. long, covered with short curved
hairs.
Salt marshes and flats, edge of water on bays, along the Atl. and Gulf coasts
of N.A. from N.S. to Fla. and Tex., s. to Yuc., W.I. and Bah. I.; also Calif.;
Aug.-Nov.
2. Salicornia virginica L. Fig. 419.
Perennial succulent herb, forming extensive mats, from subligneous rhizomes
freely forking in sand; stems decumbent or trailing, rooting freely at the nodes,
the branches 1-7 dm. long, greenish, turning lead-colored or pale-brown; spikes
1-6 cm. long, 2.5-3 mm. thick, mostly solitary at the tips of the ascending
branches or peduncled along some axes, loosening in age, the sheaths rounded or
the lobes acutish; joints 2.5-3 mm. long, 3-4 mm. thick; flowers in groups of 3;
central flower cuneate-obovate, truncate across the top, scarcely surpassing the
obliquely ovate lateral ones; mature scales broader than high, broadly ovate, with
prominent horizontally divergent firm margins; seed 0.7-1 mm. long, a little longer
than broad, densely covered with slender curved hairs. S. perennis sensu Standl.,
non Mill.
Coastal salt marshes and flats, wet sandy clay at high tide, sea coasts, s. N.H.
to Fla. and Tex.; Alas, to Calif.; widely distributed in the W. I., w. Eur. and N.
Afr.; Aug.-Oct., year around southw.
3. Salicornia utahensis Tidestr. UTAH SAMPHIRE.
Perennial herb, suffrutescent at the base; stems 1.5-3 dm. tall, solitary or
clustered, erect or decumbent, not rooting, sparsely- or much-branched, the
branches erect or decumbent; joints 7-18 mm. long and 2-5 mm. thick; scalelike
leaves connate, broadly triangular, about 3 mm. long, scarious-margined; spikes
few, 1-2 cm. long, 4-5 mm. thick, on short lateral branches; flowers 3 in each
cluster, subequal, of about the same height, extending nearly to the top of the
joint, the bracts broader than long.
Edge of saline lakes and along shores and on islands, Ut., N.M. and Tex.
2. Allenrolfea O. KTZE. BURRO WEED
Four species that are native to America.
836
-------
Fig. 418: Salicornia Bigelovii: a, flower, lateral view, the stigmas and stamens
exserted from the slitlike orifice of calyx, x 12; b, calyx, lateral view, with the mature
seed removed from its cavity, x 12; c, pistil, snowing variation in shape of ovary and
number of style branches, x 12; d, triad of flowers in their cavities, the calyces removed,
x 8; e, spike, showing the angular triads of flowers and mucronate bracts, x 3; f, habit,
the few branches appressed and erect, x %; g, calyx, adaxial view, showing cavity of
ovary, x 8; h, calyx, abaxial view, the lobes of orifice having closed around the re-
mains of the stigmas, x 8; i, mature seed with retrorse appressed hooked hairs, x 16.
(From Mason, Fig. 217).
-------
Fig. 419: Salicornia virginica: a, prostrate stem rooting at the nodes, x %; b, new
stems budding from the joints, x 5; c, flowering stem, x 5. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Allenrolfea occidentalis (Wats.) O. Ktze. PICKLE-WEED, IODINE BUSH. Fig. 420.
Perennial suffrutescent succulent glabrous shrub 3-15 dm. tall; stems alter-
nate, green or more or less glaucous, much-branched, the articulate branches
ascending or spreading, the younger ones 1-3 mm. in diameter, the joints 2-10
mm. long; leaves alternate, ve>ry short, reduced to scales, triangular, clasping,
acute or acutish, soon deciduous or often nearly obsolete; spikes very numerous,
6-25 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. thick, obtuse; flowers perfect, sessile with fleshy
peltate bracts in dense cylindrical spikes; perianth much-reduced, obpyramidal,
fleshy, angled, usually 4- or 5-lobed, unchanged in the fruit which it encloses;
stamens 1 or 2, the filaments exserted, the anthers broadly oblong or orbicular;
stigmas 2 or 3, short, usually distinct; utricles ovoid, compressed, enclosed in
the spongy fruiting perianth; pericarp membranaceous and free; seed erect, oblong,
smooth, brown or reddish-brown, about 0.6 mm. long; embryo partly enclosing
the copious endosperm; radicle inferior.
In strongly alkaline places such as floodplains and in marshes among shrubs,
in w. Tex., N.M. (rather general) and Ariz, (throughout state), Mar.—Sept.; Ore.
to w. Tex., Baja Calif, and Son.
3. Salsola L.
About 150 species cosmopolitan in distribution; mostly maritime or in saline
soils.
1. Salsola Kali L, RUSSIAN THISTLE, TUMBLEWEED.
Annual herb, much-branched from the base, becoming hemispherical; stems 3-8
dm. tall, glabrous to pubescent or short-villous, conspicuously green and purple-
striped, often tinged with red, the very stout branches ascending or spreading
and glabrous to scabrous or short-villous; leaves usually alternate, linear to fili-
form, almost terete, sessile or clasping, pungent-tipped, usually 1.2-3 cm. long
and thick but occasionally to 7 cm. long and more fleshy or succulent, often
bluish-green, scabrous or glabrous, 1.5—2 mm. wide, the upper leaves often
shorter and broader, their bases much-thickened and indurate in age and closely
enclosing the fruit; bracteal leaves usually 5-8 mm. long; flowers perfect, sessile,
small, subtended by two bractlets in addition to the leaf, solitary in the axils or
sometimes several together; perianth 5-parted, the segments oblong or lanceolate,
concave, becoming strongly transversely carinate and horizontally winged in the
fruit, the basal portions free or connate, the apices free and usually inflexed;
fruiting perianth 3-10 mm. wide when well-developed, those of the lowest flowers
often merely carinate across the back, the segments sharp-pointed; wings of the
perianth segments persistent, membranaceous, whitish or pinkish, making the first
3-8 mm. in diameter; stamens 5 or fewer, hypogynous or rarely inserted in a
small disk, the filaments subulate or linear, the anthers short or elongate; stigmas
2 or rarely 3, subulate; ovule subsessile or suspended from a long funicle; utricle
flattened, broadly ovoid or orbicular, the apex concave or convex, included in
the perianth; pericarp fleshy or membranaceous, free from the seed; seed hori-
zontal, rarely inverted, erect or oblique, orbicular, 1.5-3 mm. broad, black, shin-
ing; endosperm none; embryo spiral or cochleate-spiral, usually green. Incl. var.
tenuifolia Mey., S. pestifer A. Nels.
Dry plains and valleys, in mud about drying ponds in salt marshes, alkaline
floodplains, common along roadsides and in cult, fields, Euras.; perhaps nat. along
the e. seacoast and rarely adv. inland; thoroughly naturalized in w. N.A. from
Minn, and Sask. to Wash., Calif, and Tex.; July-Oct.
Kearney and Peebles has the following to say about this plant: "In early
spring the young plants are readily eaten by livestock, and the dead plants are
839
-------
Fig. 420: Allenrolfea occidentalis: a, flowering spike, showing stamens, protruding
between scales, x 8; b, jointed stem, showing the alternate scalelike leaves, x 6; c, in-
florescence, x %; d, vegetative branch, x %; e, seed (longitudinal section) showing the
marginal curved embryo, x 20; f, seed, x 20; g, pericarp enclosing the seed, x 20; h,
spongy calyx enclosing the fruit, x 16. (From Mason, Fig. 213).
-------
Fig. 421: a-d, Nitrophila occidentalis: a, branch of plant, x %; b, end of branch,
x 2%; c, flower, x 5; d, perianth opened, x 5. e-g, Sarcobatus vermiculatus: e, staminate
inflorescence, x 5; f, pistillate flowers on a branch, x 2%; g, pistillate flower, x 5.
(V. F.).
-------
eaten in winter after softening by rains. In case of need, good ensilage can be
made from the mature plants, which otherwise are unpalatable. Hay sometimes
is made of the young plants. The plant is a typical tumbleweed, breaking off at
the surface of the ground when mature and piling up along fences. One of the
Hopi Indian names signifies 'white man's plant.' "
Various birds and small mammals eat the seeds while hoofed browsers feed
on the young plants.
4. Nitrophila WATS.
About 8 species in western United States, Mexico and temperate South
America.
1. Nitrophila occidentals (Moq.) Wats. Fig. 421.
Low, perennial, rhizomatous, glabrous herb; stems numerous, tufted, to about
3 dm. long; leaves sessile, opposite, fleshy, linear to semiterete, pungent, 1-3
cm. long, reduced upward; flowers axillary, perfect, pink or white; perianth seg-
ments 5 to 7, imbricate, carinate; stamens 5, united at base into a thin yellowish
disk; style longer than the subglobose ovary; stigmas 2; achene beaked by the
persistent style, included within the connivent perianth segments, the pericarp
membranous.
In moist or wettish saline or alkaline soils, in Ariz. (Final and Pima cos.),
Apr.-May; Ore. to Ariz., Calif, and n.w. Mex.
5. Sarcobatus NEES
A North American genus of 1 or 2 species. Known to be toxic to sheep.
1. Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. BLACK GREASEWOOD, CHICO. Fig. 421.
Perennial shrub; stems 3-30 dm. tall, erect, much-branched; branches rigidly
stout, becoming grayish, the younger ones yellow-white, glabrous or pubescent
with short white branched hairs, the ultimate branchlets stout and spinose; leaves
linear to linear-filiform, 1-4 cm. long, entire, fleshy, glabrous or sparsely stellate-
pubescent, obtuse or acute at the apex, narrowed at the base, the lower leaves
of the branchlets opposite and often shorter than the others; staminate flowers
in terminal catkinlike spikes 7-30 mm. long; perianth lacking but each flower sub-
tended by a peltate stipitate bract, with 3 or less stamens per flower; scales rhombic-
orbicular, sometimes abruptly acuminate, sometimes tinged with red, glabrous or
pubescent; pistillate flowers sessile, solitary or 2 together in the axils of the leaves,
with a perianth, this margined by narrow borders which (in fruit) develop into
broad membranaceous horizontal wings 6—12 mm. wide, sometimes tinged with
red, the axis of the fertile inflorescence often prolonged and bearing 1 to 8
staminate flowers; perianth of the fertile flowers compressed, turbinate, confluent
with the ovary; stigmas 2, subulate, recurved; fruit coriaceous, winged at the
middle, the broad wing scarious, veined and crenulate, the lower part of the fruit
turbinate, the upper part conical, minutely stellate-pubescent (at least when
young), the body 4—5 mm. long and 2.5-3.5 mm. broad; seed erect, orbicular;
embryo spirally coiled; endosperm none.
Flat ground, barren or alkaline soils, salt marshes, w. Tex., N.M. (generally
distributed) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s. to Pinal and Maricopa
cos.), May-July; w. N.D. to Alta. and Sask., s. to Tex., Colo., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
6. Bassia ALL. SMOTHER-WEED
About 10 species that are native to the Old World.
842
-------
Fig. 422: Bassia hyssopifolia: a, flower, the broadly ovate sepals armed with hooked
spines, x 8; b, mature fruit containing a single horizontally placed seed, x 8; c and d,
mature seeds, x 8; e, curved embryo, x 8; f, stem and inflorescences, x 1. (From Mason,
Fig. 216).
-------
Fig. 422A: Kochia scoparia: A, branch of plant, x l/2', B, magnified branchlet, show-
ing different flowers at different stages, x 2\»', C, rootstock, x 14; D, flower, x 5; E,
fruits, x 5; F, seeds, x 6. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 66).
-------
1. Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) O. Ktze. Fig. 422.
Annual herb; stems erect, 2-5 dm. tall, much-branched from the base, tomen-
tose and villous, the branches terete or angulate; leaves alternate, numerous,
sessile, linear to oblanceolate or narrowly oblong, obtuse to acute, 1-4 cm. long,
often succulent, entire, reduced above, green or grayish-green, silky-villous to
appressed-pilose; spikes numerous, about 4 mm. in diameter; flowers perfect,
about 1 mm. broad; perianth 5-lobed, densely woolly, the teeth becoming pro-
longed into red hooked spines in the fruit; stamens 5, exserted, hypogynous; ovary
ovoid, attenuate to a short or elongate style, with 2 or 3 capillary stigmas, the
ovule subsessile; utricle with a transverse wing, enclosed in the perianth, mem-
branaceous or indurate at the apex, indehiscent, the pericarp free from the seed;
seed grayish-brown, dull, horizontal or nearly vertical; embryo annular, enclosing
the scanty endosperm; radicle centrifugal. Echinopsilon hyssopifolius (Pall.) Moq.
Waste places, especially in wettish alkaline soils, established in irrigated regions,
in w. Tex., N.M. (general) and Ariz. (Maricopa, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave and
Yuma cos.), May-Sept.; nat. of Euras., introd. from w. Asia; Mass, to N. Y.,
w. to Pac. States; Trans-Pecos Tex., s. N.M. and Ariz., to n. Mex.
7. Kochia ROTH SUMMER-CYPRESS
Annual or perennial herbs or low shrubs, woody at the base; stems erect,
much-branched often to form pyramidal or rounded bushes, pubescent or rarely
glabrous; leaves alternate or opposite, linear, often terete, entire, fascicled; flowers
mostly perfect or some pistillate only, axillary, sessile, solitary or in small glome-
rules, without bracts; perianth herbaceous, 5-cleft, persistent over the fruit and
finally developing horizontal scarious or membranceous wings; stamens 3 to 5,
usually exserted, the filaments compressed; ovary subsessile, depressed, the stig-
mas 2 or rarely 3, the styles filiform; utricle depressed-globose, with membranace-
ous persistent pericarp which is free from the seed; seed horizontal; embryo
nearly annular, green; endosperm none
Nearly 100 species, all but one native to the Old World.
1. Annual herb; leaves petiolate, the thin blades lance-linear; calyx wings minute
1. K. scoparia.
\. Perennial herb; leaves sessile, the succulent blades terete or nearly so; calyx
wings large and conspicuous 2. K. americana.
1. Kochia scoparia (L.) Roth. BELVEDERE. Fig. 422A.
Annual herb; stems erect, much-branched, the branches erect or ascending,
3-15 dm. tall, very leafy, glabrous or short-pilose, becoming bright-red with age;
leaves alternate, linear to linear-acute, 2-7 cm. long, 3-8 mm. broad, usually
prominently 3- to 5-veined, tapering at the base to a slender petiole, those of
the inflorescence smaller and without evident petioles, much-exceeding the small
flower clusters, sometimes pilose-sericeous; flowers sessile, clustered in the axils
of the leaflike but reduced bracts, forming short dense leafy spikes, pilose or glab-
rate in age; perianth 1.5-2 mm. broad, strongly winged horizontally, the triangular
wings obtuse and 0.6 mm. long or less, not nerved; seed 1.5 mm. in diameter.
K. alata Bates.
A wasteland weed, in salt flats among Tamarix, rare in Tex., Okla., (Alfalfa
Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Aug.; nat. of Eur.; escaped from cult, in
many parts of the U. S.
Var. culta Farw. MEXICAN FIRE-BUSH. This is the most common form in cultiva-
tion; grown primarily for its globular dense habit and the foliage which turns
purplish-red in autum. Escaped from cult, in many areas of the U.S.
Var. subvillosa Moq., a very hairy form, collected once in Ariz.
845
-------
2. Kochia americana Wats. PERENNIAL SUMMER-CYPRESS.
Perennial herb from a woody base; stems numerous, erect, 1.5-5 dm. (to 13
dm.) tall, loosely branched at or just above the base, simple above or occasionally
with few erect branches, usually more or less villous-tomentose when young but
soon glabrate; leaves numerous, sessile, often fascicled; blades 6-25 mm. long,
terete but flattish when dry, fleshy, acutish, erect or spreading, sparsely sericeous
or glabrous; flowers solitary or in 2's or 3's, white-tomentose; perianth in fruit
2 mm. broad, the flabellate wings 2 mm. long, distinct, membranaceous, crenu-
late, finely nerved; utricle glabrate; seed 2 mm. in diameter.
Roadside alkaline plains and marshes, often in saline soils, in w. Tex., N.M.
and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), May-Aug.; Wyo. and Colo, to w. Tex.,
n.w. N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
Var. vestita Wats., with densely and permanently sericeous-villous herbage,
occurs in Ariz.
8. Suaeda SCOP. SEA ELITE. SEEPWEED
Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes shrubby plants, more or less fleshy;
leaves alternate, narrow, usually linear or terete and relatively small; flowers
perfect or polygamous, solitary or clustered in the upper axils, bracteate; perianth
segments 5, keeled or narrowly winged at maturity; stamens 5, with short fila-
ments; ovary 1-celled, rounded or flat on the top; styles often 2; utricle com-
pressed, surrounded by the calyx; seed horizontal or vertical; embryo coiled in
a flat spiral; endosperm absent or scant.
More than 100 species of cosmopolitan distribution; mostly along sea coasts
and in saline soils.
1 Perianth lobes (at least some of them) corniculate-appendaged or winged;
leaves broadest at the base, ascending or spreading, those of the
inflorescence ovate or ovate-lanceolate; flowers and leaves crowded
1. S. depressa.
1. Perianth lobes not appendaged nor winged, often cucullate or carinate (2)
2(1). Annuals or perhaps sometimes perennial but not suffrutescent at the base;
all the perianth lobes equally carinate (3)
2. Perennials, suffrutescent at the base (4)
3(2). Seed 1-1.5 mm. broad 2. S. linearis.
3. Seed 0.8 mm. broad or less 3. S. mexicana.
4(2). Leaves linear to linear-spatulate, green, usually much more than 10 mm.
long 4. S. Torreyana.
4. Leaves roundish to oblong, often reddish and glaucous, mostly less than 10
mm. long (5)
5(4). Perianth segments deltoid, acutish; plants blackish (when dry) or purplish
(when alive) 5. S. nigrescens var. glabra
5. Perianth segments obtuse; plants blue-gray 6. S. conferta.
1. Suaeda depressa (Pursh) Wats.
Annual or perennial herb; stems erect to decumbent, low, simple or freely
branching from the base, glabrous and glaucous, 2-10 dm. tall or long; leaves
green or glaucous, linear, semiterete, 7-40 mm. long, often crowded, acute,
usually broadest at the base, subulate; bracts 2-3 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate,
rather crowded on the branchlets; flowers crowded, 3 to 7 in each axil; spikes
slender, short or elongate; perianth cleft to the middle, the lobes distinctly un-
equal, 1.5-2 mm. wide at maturity, the upper 1 or 3 sepals prominently cucullate;
stamens 5; stigmas 2 to 5; seed about 1 mm. broad, slightly reticulate, black,
horizontal.
846
-------
In saline or alkaline soils, on wet sandbars at edge of bays, w. Minn, and
Sask., w. to Mont, and Wash., s. to Okla., Neb., Mo., Tex., Ariz, and Calif.;
July-Oct.
Var. erecta Wats. Stems simple or branched at the base, strictly erect, 15-45
cm. tall, glabrous, often glaucous; leaves 2-3 cm. long, acute; flowering branch-
lets dense, their short leaves ovate-acuminate; calyx lobes somewhat unequal, with
a conspicuous horizontal wing on the back.
Alkaline soils, coastal Calif, e. to the Rocky Mts. and Tex.
2. Suaeda linearis (Ell.) Moq. Fig. 423.
Annual herb; stems glabrous, erect or ascending, 2-9 dm. tall, profusely
branched; leaves deep-green, not glaucous, narrowly linear, plano-convex, nearly
terete, the primary ones to 5 cm. long, those of the branches progressively
shorter; spikes often elongate, usually dense; bracts 4—7 mm. long; perianth at
maturity about 2 mm. wide, deeply cleft, the lower 4 or 2 perianth segments
round on the back, the upper 1 or 3 distinctly cucullate; seed horizontal, 1—1.5
mm. wide, smooth, shining and black.
Salt marshes, sandy coasts, Coastal Plain from Me. to Fla., w. to Tex.; W.I.
and Bah. I.; Aug.-Oct.
3. Suaeda mexicana (Standl.) Standl.
Annual herb; stems glabrous, pale-green, 3-12 dm. tall, mostly branched at the
base, the numerous branches ascending or nearly erect and elongate; leaves
numerous but not crowded, linear, the lower ones 12-25 mm. long and 1.2 mm.
broad, acuminate or attenuate, those of the inflorescence shorter; inflorescence
paniculately branched, the branches erect; flowers crowded in the axils and form-
ing spikes 4-5 mm. thick; perianth deeply cleft, the lobes rounded, becoming
enlarged, strongly cucullate in age, the fruiting perianth 3 mm. broad; stamens
exserted; seed 0.8 mm. in diameter, horizontal, shining, dark brownish-red.
A halophytic gypsophile, often in wet areas, w. Tex. to S.L.P.
4. Suaeda Torreyana Wats. QUEUTE SALADO.
Perennial shrub; stems erect, mostly glabrous, green, woody at the base, the
herbaceous branches usually slender, ascending, sparsely leafy, 6-10 dm. tall;
leaves green, subterete or distinctly flattened, linear to linear-spatulate, 1-3 (rarely
to 4) cm. long, 1—1.5 mm. wide, acute or slightly acuminate, those of the inflor-
escence much-reduced to 2—5 mm. long and abruptly mucronate or obtuse; flowers
globose, 1 to 5 in each axil, about 1 mm. broad at anthesis, the branches of the
inflorescence slender but not flexuous; perianth deeply cleft, the lobes green,
obtuse, closely incurved, rounded on the back and obtuse; utricle obovoid-
lenticular, enclosed by the perianth lobes; seed vertical or horizontal, 1-1.5 mm.
broad, dark-brown to black, shining, minutely tuberculate.
Salt marshes and alkaline soils, in mud of drying ponds, in w. Tex., N.M.
(rather general) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Pima and Yuma
cos.), Apr.-Oct; e. Ore. and Wyo. to Calif., s. through Nev. to Tex. and w.
N.M. and Ariz.
5. Suaeda nigrescens I. M. Johnst. var. glabra I. M. Johnst.
Perennial shrub; stems 3-6 dm. tall, ascending, erect or decumbent, the branches
all glabrous and often glaucous, the young branches rarely very sparsely pilose and
pale; leaves succulent, more or less glaucous, glabrous, 3-4 mm. long and roundish;
flowers in glomerules at the base of the upper leaves, barely conspicuous, sub-
spicate; fruiting perianth glabrous, turbinate, 1.5-2 mm. in diameter; seed black,
shining, obliquely ovoid, erect or horizontal, about 1 mm. long.
Irrigation ditches, saline plains and salt flats, N.M., Tex. and Mex.
847
-------
Fig. 423: Suaeda linearis: a, part of stem and branch, x %; b and c, flowering
branches, x %; d, young flower, x 20; e, calyx and fruit, x 20. (Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey).
-------
6. Suaeda conferta (Small) I. M. Johnst.
Perennial shrub; stems erect or ascending, 4-10 dm. long, the branches pros-
trate or spreading, forming dense tufts, very brittle, glabrous; leaves numerous,
glabrous, the blades fleshy and blue-gray, mostly less than 1 cm. long and 1-2 mm.
broad, oblong; flowers solitary or clustered in the axils of the rather approximate
leaves, especially numerous on the branchlets; perianth segments obtuse; seed
about 1 mm. broad.
Along the sea coast, in wettish places, Tex. and e. Mex.; W.I.
9. Suckleya GRAY
A monotypic genus of southwestern United States.
1. Suckleya suckleyana (Torr.) Rydb. POISON SUCKLEYA.
Annual succulent herb; stems stout, terete, diffusely branched, 2-4 dm. long,
prostrate or ascending, sparingly scurfy-mealy or glabrate; leaves alternate, with
petioles equaling or exceeding the blades; blades orbicular to rhombic-ovate, 1-3
cm. long, rounded at the apex, abruptly short-cuneate at the base, repand-dentate
with short triangular acute or obtuse teeth, sparsely furfuraceous when young,
soon glabrate; male and female flowers on same plant, in dense clusters in the
axils of nearly all the leaves; staminate flowers in upper axils, without bracts
or bractlets; perianth subglobose, membranaceous, 3- or 4-parted, 2 of the seg-
ments larger than the others, spatulate, not appendaged; stamens 3 or 4, their
short filaments broad and flattened; pistillate flowers bibracteate; bracts condupli-
cate, ovate-rhombic and subhastate, obcompressed, carinate, connate below the
middle, in fruit narrowly winged dorsally, the wings crenulate, glabrous or nearly
so; with 2 short filiform stigmas; utricle enclosed by the bracts, compressed, the
pericarp thinly membranaceous, free; seed ovate, compressed, orbicular, filling the
cavity, 3 mm. long, reddish-brown; embryo hippocrepiform or subannular, sur-
rounding the copious endosperm; radicle superior.
Valleys, along streams and about playa lakes and on edge of ponds, Mont, and
Colo, to Tex.; July-Aug.
Known to cause cyanide poisoning in livestock.
10. Atriplex L. SALTBUSH
Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs; stems usually furfuraceous; leaves alter-
nate or opposite, sessile or petioled, entire, dentate to serrate or irregularly lobed
or cleft; flowers solitary or clustered, axillary or in terminal spikes or panicles;
staminate and pistillate flowers on the same or separate plants, either mixed in
the inflorescence or the staminate flowers in axillary glomerules superior to or
terminal to the pistillate axillary glomerules; staminate flowers ebracteate, with a
3- to 5-parted perianth, the obtuse segments oblong or obovate; stamens 3 to 5,
inserted on the perianth base, the filaments united at the base or distinct, the
anthers 2-celled; rudimentary ovary conical or lacking; pistillate flowers each sub-
tended by 2 bracts which enclose the fruit, distinct or united, fleshy, spongy or
ligneous, the margins entire or variously indented, the backs smooth or variously
appendaged, the perianth none or rarely of 1 to 5 squamellae or a 3- to 5-lobed
membranaceous perianth, the stamens absent; ovary ovoid or depressed-globose;
stigmas 2, subfiliform but thickened or compressed near the connate base; ovule
either oblique or erect and with a short funiculus, or inverted and suspended from
the end of an elongated funiculus; utricle with a membranaceous pericarp, this
usually free from the seed; seed erect or inverted, rarely horizontal, the coats
membranaceous to coriaceous or subcrustaceous; embryo annular around the fari-
naceous endosperm; radicle inferior, lateral or superior.
849
-------
About 200 species, mostly in temperate and subtropical regions: ours mostly in
saline or alkaline soils in desertic regions.
The seeds of most species are eaten by various birds and small mammals, and
the twigs and foliage are nibbled and browsed by rabbits, deer and antelope.
Because of their tolerance to adverse conditions, the plants also provide cover
for wildlife in areas often sparsely covered by other types of vegetation.
1. Tall dioecious intricate shrubs, seldom less than 1 m. tall, the entire plant
grayish-green and glaucous; leaves short-petiolate, ovate-deltoid to
oblong-subquadrate, entire or merely slightly undulate, occasionally
subhastate. 1.5-4 cm. long 1. A. lentiformis.
1. Annual or sometimes perennial monoecious herbs, rarely more than 1 m. tall,
the entire plant green to whitish, occasionally tinged (at least in
part) with red; leaves various, often sinuate- or repand-dentate (2)
2(1). Perennial, the prostrate whitish stems much-branched; leaves oblong to
oblong-obovate, 1-3.5 cm. long: fruiting bracts with nerved sides,
becoming red and succulent at maturity 2. A. semibaccata.
2. Annuals, the stems erect to procumbent; leaves triangular to oblong-lanceolate,
often with some hastate; fruiting bracts not nerved nor succulent
at maturity (3)
3(2). Fruiting bracts ovate to broadly oval, 7-18 mm. long, united at the base,
rounded to acute at apex? entire to merely denticulate, smooth on
the sides, sometimes tinged reddish 3. A. hortensis.
3. Fruiting bracts rhombic-oval to obovate or suborbicular, 2-7 mm. long, acute
to acutish at apex, dentate to denticulate, usually somewhat tuber-
culate on the sides, typically without a reddish tinge (4)
4(3). Petioles of lower leaves about one half as long as the blades; fruiting bracts
united only at the truncate or rounded base, denticulate; radicle
inferior 4. A. panda var. hastata.
4. Petioles of lower leaves much less than one half as long as blades; fruiting
bracts united to near the apex, dentate; radicle superior
5. A. argentea.
1. Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) Wats. QUAIL-BRUSH, LENS-SCALE, WHITE-THISTLE.
Erect much-branched dioecious shrub 1-3 m. tall; branches spreading, rather
slender, not spinose, terete, densely furfuraceous, becoming glabrate and whitish
in age; leaves short-petioled, ovate-deltoid to oblong, sometimes subhastate, mostly
15—40 mm. long, rounded or broadly cuneate at base, obtuse to truncate at apex,
rather thin, densely furfuraceous on both sides; staminate flowers in paniculate
spikes, nearly naked and the branches slender, often drooping; pistillate flowers in
dense paniculate spikes; fruiting bracts ovate-orbicular, 3-4 mm. long, strongly
compressed, united to above the middle, the margins finely crenulate, thin, fur-
furaceous.
In saline marshes and in effluent of sewage plants, in Ariz. (Coconino and
Mohave, s. to Pima and Yuma cos.), July-Oct; s. Ut. and Nev. to Ariz., Son. and
Calif.
2. Arriplex semibaccata R. Br. AUSTRALIAN SALTBUSH.
Perennial herb from a woody elongated taproot; stems prostrate, diffusely
spreading from the base, 6-12 dm. long, woody below, much-branched, the slender
branches terete and 3-10 dm. long, whitish, sparsely furfuraceous or glabrate;
leaves numerous, alternate, short-petioled; blades oblong or obovate-oblong, 1-3.5
cm. long. 2-9 mm. wide, obtuse or acute, cuneate to attenuate at the base,
remotely repand-dentate or the upper ones entire, thin, densely and finely white-
furfuraceous beneath, usually glabrate and green on the upper surface; flowers of
850
-------
both sexes on same plant, solitary or in small clusters in the axils, the staminate
and pistillate flowers usually mixed in the same cluster or the staminate clusters
in terminal glomerules; fruiting bracts sessile, red, slightly succulent, rhomboidal,
acute, stipelike at the base, united for about one half, toothed at the lateral angles,
3-5 mm. long, smooth on the 3-nerved sides; seed 2 mm. long, dark-brown;
radicle lateral.
On alkaline floodplains in w. Tex., N.M. (Dona Ana and Otero cos.) and Ariz.
(Graham, Maricopa, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.); nat. of Austral.; cult as a
forage plant and becoming spontaneous in Calif, and Ariz, to s. N.M. and Tex.
The low-growing plant is a good soil-binder along irrigation ditches, it crowds
out undesirable weeds, and provides forage for domestic animals, primarily sheep.
3. Atriplex hortensis L. FRENCH SPINACH, GARDEN ORACHE.
Erect to somewhat decumbent monoecious annual, 6-25 dm. tall, freely
branched, somewhat farinose when young but usually glabrate, greenish; leaves
slender-petiolate, the lowest few opposite, all the upper ones alternate; blades
ovate-triangular to broadly lanceolate, obtuse, abruptly short-cuneate to cordate or
slightly hastate, entire to undulate or sinuately dentate, 5-20 cm. long, 3-10 cm.
wide; flowers in axillary or terminal panicles of mostly ebracteate spikes, the
staminate mixed with the pistillate or above them, with a deeply 5- or sometimes
3-lobed perianth; pistillate flowers dimorphic (some lacking subtending bractlets,
the perianth 3- to 5-lobed, the fruit flattened and the seed horizontal), the majority
naked but surrounded by 2 ovate to suborbicular strongly accrescent basally con-
nate bracts eventually 6-12 mm. wide with their margins entire to denticulate;
fruit short-stipitate, laterally compressed, with an erect seed about 2 mm. broad;
radicle inferior.
On moist seepy grassy bank of pond, in N. M. (Taos Co.), July-Sept.; nat. of
Asia that is occasionally cult, as a potherb in the U. S. where it rarely escapes.
4. Atriplex patula L. var. hastata (L.) Gray. Fig. 424.
Annual herb; stems erect to decumbent or procumbent, 3-9 dm. long, usually
much-branched, the branches slender or stout, ascending or spreading, obtusely
angled, sparsely or densely furfuraceous when young, often glabrate, green or
stramineous; leaves usually opposite below, the others alternate, the petioles of
the lower leaves up to half as long as the blades, the upper leaves very short-
petioled; blades of the lower leaves broadly triangular to hastate or oval-hastate,
2.5-7 cm. long and nearly as broad, acute or obtuse at the apex, truncate at the
base or with a rounded sinus, the margins entire or more usually sinuate-dentate
or shallowly repand-dentate, the basal lobes acute, spreading or reflexed; blades
of the upper leaves hastate-oblong to lanceolate and smaller, all the blades thin
or succulent, bright-green or densely furfuraceous; flowers of both sexes usually
on same plant, in slender or stout dense or interrupted naked simple or broadly
paniculate spikes and usually also in axillary fascicles; staminate perianth usually
4-cleft; fruiting bracts sessile, rounded-deltoid or ovate-deltoid, 3-7 mm. long,
herbaceous, united only at the truncate or rounded base, often reddish in age,
acute, the margins denticulate or rarely entire, the sides usually short-tuberculate,
densely furfuraceous or glabrate; seed 1.5-2.5 mm. long, nearly black; radicle
inferior.
Saline soils and salt marshes in rich soils, both coastal and inland, in w. Tex.
and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino cos.), May-Nov.; Nfld. to S.C., O., Ind., 111.,
Mo., w. to B.C., Ore. and Calif., s. to Tex.; Eur., Asia and N. Afr.
5. Atriplex argentea Nutt. SILVER SALTBUSH.
Annual herb; stems 15-60 cm. tall, erect, branched from the base, the plants
globoid in outline, the branches rather stout, angled, furfuraceous when young;
851
-------
Fig. 424: Alriplex patula var. haslata: a, pistillate inflorescence, x 4; b, habit,
showing the spreading branches, the hastate leaves and the spikelike inflorescences,
x -,'r,', c and d, young staminate flowers, x 12; e, seed, showing curved embryo, x 12;
f, single pistillate flower, showing tuberculate bracts, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 215).
-------
leaves opposite below, subsessile or petioled above, 2-5 cm. long; blades
triangular-ovate to rounded-ovate, the margins smooth or sparsely tuberculate or
cristate, gray-furfuraceous but sometimes glabrate, the upper surface greener;
flowers of both sexes on same plant, the staminate ones in the upper axils or in
short dense spikes or the staminate and pistillate flowers mixed in axillary clusters
at least at the middle of the plant; fruiting bracts 4—8 mm. long and as wide,
united to the middle or above, obovate to cuneate-orbicular, the margins green,
subentire to laciniate, the faces smooth or appendaged; seed brown, 1.5 mm. long;
radicle superior.
Alkaline grounds, floodplains and valleys, in w. Tex., w. Okla. (Waterfall),
N.M. (San Juan and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Navajo
cos.); Sask. to Ore., s. to N.M., Ariz., Tex. and Calif.; introd. in e. U.S.; also in
w. Minn, and w. Mo.
Subsp. expansa (Wats.) Hall & Clem. Annual herb or perennial; stems erect,
3-12 dm. tall, much-branched, forming clumps 3-10 dm. broad, finely mealy-
scurfy; leaves alternate, with petioles 2-21 mm. long on the lower leaves; blades
3-nerved at the base, ovate to lanceolate-ovate or deltoid-ovate, irregularly dentate
or entire, 25—75 mm. long and often as broad, the upper leaves reduced to sessile
and more or less cordate floral bracts as broad as long or broader than long;
spikes elongated, slender; flowers in small axillary glomerules or the glomerules
in short naked terminal spikes; perianth 5-cleft; fruiting bracts sessile to sub-
sessile, roundish, mostly 3-nerved, 5-7 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, the margins
sharply dentate, the sides smooth or with a few irregular green projections or
crests, or unappendaged; seed brown, 2 mm. long; radicle superior.
Low alkaline valleys and bottomlands, Colo., Ut. and Nev., s. to w. Tex.,
Calif, and Mex.
11. Chenopodium L. GOOSEFOOT. PIGWEED
Annual or perennial weedy herbs, rarely suffrutescent, often strongly scented,
usually with mealy-coated or glandular foliage but sometimes glabrate; stems
sometimes quite rough and nearly woody; leaves alternate, usually petiolate,
flat, varying from linear to ovate or hastate to lanceolate, the blade entire,
toothed or lobed, quite variable; flowers perfect or rarely unisexual, in axillary
or terminal spikes or glomerules; perianth usually 5-parted, calyxlike, the per-
sistent segments flat or keeled; stamens 1 to 5; ovary superior, usually depressed,
1-celled; styles 2 to 5; utricle containing one horizontal or vertical seed; pericarp
usually adherent to the seed, sometimes fleshy; embryo curved or annular,
surrounding the mealy endosperm; radicle inferior or centrifugal.
A large genus of weedy plants, consisting of nearly 100 species, cosmopolitan
but mainly Eurasian.
Some species, such as C. album, are used as potherbs while C. guinea Willd.
is a valuable cereal plant in South America. Various songbirds, upland game
birds and small mammals utilize seeds of most species as a part of their diet.
The plants are especially valuable since the seeds persist on most species until
late in the year.
1. Plants more or less resinous with sessile or stalked glands, usually strongly
aromatic (2)
1. Plants without glands, often glabrous, never strongly aromatic (3)
2(1). Perianth glabrous or only lightly puberulent, only slightly if at all glandu-
lar; flowers sessile and more or less glomerate in large panicles or
short spikes 1. C. ambrosioides.
2. Perianth conspicuously glandular, usually also pubescent; flowers in numerous
small axillary dichotomously branched cymes 2. C. Botrys.
853
-------
3(1). Seeds usually erect or with some horizontal in the terminal and subterminal
glomerules, the fruit laterally flattened; leaves rather fleshy, green-
ish on both surfaces; flowers in axillary glomerate clusters and in
terminal sometimes branched spikes 3. C. chenopodioides.
3. Seeds mostly but not always horizontal, sometimes at least some vertical, the
fruit flattened on top; leaves not especially fleshy, usually farinose
(at least on lower surface); flowers more diffusely borne, not all in
axillary glomerules or axillary and terminal spikes (4)
4(3). Plant prostrate or low with spreading-ascending stem and branches; leaves
lanceolate to ovate-oblong, green above, grayish-farinose beneath,
sinuate-dentate; at least some of the fruits with the seed vertical
4. C. glaucum.
4. Plant typically erect; leaves various; seeds all horizontal (5)
5(4). Leaf blades entire to once or twice hastately lobed at base, the margin
mostly not toothed; pericarp not tightly adherent to the seed
5. C. Fremontii.
5. Leaf blades usually toothed on the margin as well as frequently hastately
lobed, the teeth sometimes inconspicuous; pericarp generally very
tightly adherent to the seed 6. C. album.
1. Chenopodium ambrosioides L. MEXICAN TEA, WORMSEED, EPAZOTE.
Annual or perennial herb, glabrous or glandular, ill-scented; stems erect or
ascending, 3-10 dm. tall; branches stout, simple or paniculately branched,
glabrous or puberulent below, usually glandular-villous or tomentulose about the
inflorescence but occasionally glabrous; leaves oblong to ovate or lanceolate, 2-12
cm. long, 15-55 mm. broad, sinuate-dentate or sinuate-pinnatifid, the lobes acute
or obtuse, copiously gland-dotted or the glands absent, puberulent to short-villous
or glabrous; flowers solitary or usually glomerate in dense or interrupted slender
or stout elongate spikes, these naked or leafy (the blades much smaller than
the lower ones, lanceolate to oblanceolate or spatulate to linear, obtuse to acute
or attenuate); perianth about 1 mm. high, glabrous or short-villous, usually
gland-dotted, the lobes rounded-ovate and obtuse, completely enclosing the fruit;
stamens exserted; pericarp very thin and deciduous; seed horizontal or vertical,
0.6-0.8 mm. broad, nearly black, the margin obtuse. Incl. var. anthelmimicum
(L.) Gray.
Waste places, cult, grounds and shores, salt marshes, in floodplains of alkaline
and salt regions, and along interior streams, a weedy and medicinal herb, rare
in Tex., Okla. (Waterfall) and Ariz. (Cochise, Maricopa, Final and Yuma cos.);
Ont. and Me., s. to Fla., Tex. and Calif.; summer-fall; Berm.; naturalized in
Eur., Asia and Afr.; nat. of trop. Am., W.I. and Mex. and C.A. to S.A.
2. Chenopodium Botrys L. JERUSALEM OAK, FEATHER-GERANIUM.
Annual herb, with a strong but not unpleasant aromatic scent; stems erect,
2-6 dm. tall, densely glandular-viscid throughout, much-branched, the branches
ascending; leaves oblong or oval, 1-5 cm. long, sinuate-pinnatifid, entire or
sinuately lobed, the lobes obtuse or rounded, truncate to cuneate at the base,
petioles half as long as or shorter than the blades, the blades of leaves in the
inflorescence reduced and often entire; inflorescence of numerous densely many-
flowered cymes, the whole finally forming a narrow elongate nearly naked panicle;
flowers subsessile, 1 mm. long; perianth cleft nearly to the base, the lobes oval
or oblong and acute or acuminate, densely glandular-pubescent, imperfectly en-
closing the fruit at maturity; pericarp thin, whitish, firmly attached to the seed;
seed subglobose, 0.6 mm. in diameter, dark-brown, dull, vertical or horizontal.
In waste places, ditches, low wettish places, cinder dumps and railroad beds,
uncommon in Tex., N.M. (San Juan and Santa Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Maricopa
854
-------
and Yavapai cos.); nat. of Eur., Asia and Afr.; adv. and naturalized as a weed
throughout U.S. and Can.; also S.A.
3. Chenopodium chenopodioides (L.) Aellen.
Annual herb; stems prostrate and low-branching or upright; leaves glabrous
or promptly glabrate beneath, rhombic or spatulate, shallowly sinuate or entire;
flowers terminal and lateral in glomerules, these either separate or forming
contracted spikes in the axils of leaves or bracts, or in small or large panicles,
the terminal flowers with horizontal seeds, the lateral flowers with vertical
seeds; perianth parts (with vertical seed) 3 or 4, united nearly to the tips, the
free tips minutely but definitely apiculate; stigmas chiefly 0.2-0.3 mm. long,
usually ascending as in a V. C. rubrum sensu N. A. auth., C. humile sensu N. A.
auth.
Saline habitats and salt marshes, Wash, to Calif., Nev., Wyo., Col. and Tex.;
also N. Y.
4. Chenopodium glaucum L.
Prostrate to erect eglandular annual with numerous branches 1-4 dm. long;
leaves pale-green on upper surface, grayish-farinose on lower surface, very
gradually reduced upward; blades lanceolate to ovate-oblong or ovate-deltoid,
1-3 (-5) cm. long, rather coarsely sinuate-dentate, narrowed gradually to stout
petioles much shorter than the blades; flowers sessile, glomerate in numerous
short bracteate or ebracteate axillary spikes and a terminal simple or somewhat
compound spike; perianth cleft nearly to the base into (3 to) 5 (or 7) oblong-
obovate rounded lobes about 1 mm. long; pericarp very thin, greenish, free from
the seed; seed varying from commonly horizontal to sometimes vertical in the
same cluster of flowers; fruit laterally or dorsally flattened, about 0.8 mm. broad.
In marshes and along streams in saline and alkaline soils, in N. M. (Dona Ana,
San Juan and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), June-Sept.;
nat. of Euras., Afr., Austral, and Greenl.; adv. from N.B. to Va., Neb., Tex.,
N.M. and Ariz.
5. Chenopodium Fremontii Wats.
Annual herb; stems erect, 2-10 dm. tall, the branches slender, ascending, often
flexuous, sparingly white-mealy to light-green, glabrous; leaves broadly triangular
to rhombic, sinuate-dentate, 15-65 mm. long and nearly as broad, rounded and
mucronate at the apex, the base with prominent hastate lobes, the lobes oval to
rounded-obovate, the slender petiole about half as long as the blade; flowers in
clusters, these forming slender spikes or an open panicle; perianth usually sparsely
farinose, deeply cleft, strongly carinate, nearly covering the fruit; stigmas short;
pericarp free; seed horizontal, smooth or slightly rugulose, black, shining, fully
1 mm. broad, the margin obtuse. C. Watsonii A. Nels.
In marshes and mud about lakes, in seepage about springs and on banks of
streams, in n.w. Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), w. Tex., N.M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz cos.), Mar.-Sept.; Sask.
and B. C. to N.D., s. to n.w. Okla., w. Tex., N.M., Nev., Ariz, and n. Mex.
Forma farinosum Aellen. Plants more bushy in form and smaller; leaves
smaller, thicker, more grayish-farinose, with the habit and seed characteristics
of typical C. Fremontii. Mainly in mt. areas, Ida. to Tex.
Var. Pringlei (Standl.) Aellen. Very similar to typical C. Fremontii except the
leaves are serrate. N.D. to Tex. and Mex.
6. Chenopodium album L. PIGWEED, LAMB'S-QUARTERS, QUELITE. Fig. 424A.
Annual herb, pale-green, sometimes turning reddish; stems erect, stout, 6-30
dm. tall, usually simple below the inflorescence, paniculate branched above,
855
-------
Fig. 424A: Chenopodium album: A. habit, small plant; B, floral spikes, x 2',4; C,
flowers, x 7V2; D, utricle, x 4; E, seed, x 4. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the U'nited
States, Fig. 64).
-------
usually white-mealy throughout to glabrous, obtusely angled, striate; leaves oval-
rhombic, rarely ovate or lanceolate, 2.5-8 cm. long, usually conspicuously longer
than broad, obtuse or rounded and apiculate at the apex, often shallowly 3-lobed,
irregularly sinuate-dentate, rarely subentire, mostly thick, pale-green and glabrate
above, very finely and commonly densely farinose beneath, the reduced upper
blades ovate to lanceolate, usually entire, acute and mucronate, not hastate;
flowers in large glomerules, these in dense axillary.or terminal stout erect or
ascending paniculate spikes to 3 dm. long, the inflorescence usually narrow and
compact, rarely lax, grayish-green, sparsely leafy; perianth copiously and finely
farinose, deeply lobed, the lobes green, white-margined, acutely keeled, completely
enclosing the fruit; pericarp adherent to the seed; seed horizontal, black, shining,
1.1-1.5 mm. broad, nearly smooth to minutely pitted, the margin obtuse. C. viride
L.
In mud at edge of lakes, salt flats and on floodlands and in waste places
near marshes, uncommon in Tex., Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino, Yavapai and Final cos.), Mar.-Sept.; Euras. weed, Nfld. to Fla., w. to
Yuk. and B.C., s. to Mex. and S.A.; N. Afr.
This species is commonly grazed by ducks and geese and represents an impor-
tant item of green food. The leaves and young plants are also eaten by people
as cooked greens.
Fam. 53. Amaranthaceae Juss. AMARANTH FAMILY
Weedy herbs and subshrubs, annuals or perennials, with erect to prostrate or
scandent stems; leaves alternate or opposite, petioled or sessile, without stipules;
flowers perfect to imperfect or polygamous, solitary or glomerulate, racemose,
spicate or capitate, each flower or flower cluster subtended by imbricate bracts;
perianth of 2 to 5 distinct scarious or chartaceous tepals, rarely 1 or entirely
absent in some species of Acnida; corolla absent; stamens 2 to 5, opposite the
tepals; ovary superior, 1-celled; styles 1 or 2 and terminal or absent; fruit a
membranous utricle, circumscissile, irregularly dehiscent or indehiscent; seeds
erect or inverted, lenticular, oblong or reniform-orbicular, smooth or nearly so,
lustrous; embryo annular, the cotyledons incumbent, the radicle inferior or superior.
About 850 species in 65 genera, cosmopolitan but mostly tropical.
Most of our amaranths are found in weedy areas, commonly called "waste-
lands," one reason being because they are often poorly drained or subject to
flooding. Because of this, it is very possible that we should have included more
of these species. However, since we have based our treatment on factual evidence
instead of on speculation it must stand as is.
1. Leaves alternate; anthers 4-celled; filaments distinct or united at the base (2)
1. Leaves opposite; anthers 2-celled; stamens 2 to 5; flowers 5-merous (3)
2(1). Perianth present in all flowers; stamens 5, rarely 1 to 3; bracts not much-
enlarged and not cordate in fruit 1. Amaranthus
2. Perianth lacking or only occasionally present in pistillate flowers; stamens 5....
2. Acnida
3(1). Stem erect; inflorescence paniculate; most of the flowers unisexual
3. Iresine
3. Stem prostrate or decumbent; inflorescence solitary heads or short spikes;
few (if any) flowers unisexual (4)
4(3). Style 1 or none; stigma 1 and capitate 4. Alternanthera
4. Styles 1 or 2; stigmas typically 2 5. Philoxerus
857
-------
1. Amaranthus L. PIGWEED. AMARANTH
Annual weedy herbs, especially near irrigated or cultivated places, monoecious
or dioecious; stems erect or prostrate, branching at the base or above; leaves alter-
nate, petiolate, flat, pinnately veined, entire or undulate; flowers unisexual or a
few appearing perfect, with staminate and pistillate flowers on the same or sepa-
rate plants, in dense terminal or axillary spikes or clusters, each subtended by 3
conspicuous red, green or purple bracts; perianth segments (tepals) 2 to 5 (only
1 evident in A. calif ornicus), distinct, glabrous; stamens 5, sometimes 1 to 3,
separate; anthers 4-celled (appearing 2-celled after dehiscence), opening lengthwise,
the filaments distinct; ovary l-celled, with 2 or 3 stigmas; ovule 1; utricle one-
seeded, 2- or 3-beaked at the apex, circumscissile, irregularly splitting or inde-
hiscent; seeds lenticular, erect, compressed, lustrous, smooth; embryo coiled into a
ring around the albumen; radicle inferior.
About 60 species, cosmopolitan.
Because of their tremendous production of seeds that may be carried over into
the winter, the pigweeds are a vital source of food for songbirds, game birds and
other species of wildlife.
1. Flowers all or mostly in small axillary clusters (2)
1. Flowers mostly in elongate terminal spikes or compound panicles, much smaller
panicles or clusters may also be present (4)
2(1). Utricle indehiscent; seeds obovate 1. A. crassipes.
2. Utricle circumscissile at the middle (3)
3(2). Tepals of pistillate flowers 1 to 3, all except one reduced to minute scales
or wanting; stems slender, prostrate, forming mats; seeds orbicular..
2. A. caUfornicus,
3. Tepals of pistillate flowers 3, equal or nearly so; stems stout, erect or ascend-
ing; seeds lenticular 3. A. albus.
4(1). Spines present in the axils of the leaves; utricle irregularly or imperfectly
dehiscent; plants monoecious, occasional flowers perfect
4. A. spinosus.
4. Spines lacking; utricle regularly cricumscissile; plants dioecious; flowers all
staminate or all pistillate (5)
5(4). Outer tepals (at least the largest) acute to acuminate with the midvein
excurrent as a rigid point; bracts and outer tepals conspicuously
longer than the inner tepals 5. A. Palmeri.
5. Outer tepals obtuse to retuse or sometimes acute, apiculate but the dark vein
not excurrent; bracts and outer tepals shorter than or scarcely
exceeding the inner tepals 6. A. arenicola.
1. Amaranthus crassipes Schlecht. Fig. 425.
Plant from an elongate taproot; stems prostrate or decumbent, 2-6 dm. long,
often sparingly branched, rather fleshy, glabrous; leaves alternate, with petioles
4-40 mm. long, obovate to elliptic, 1-4 cm. long, round or notched at the apex,
cuneate at the base, deep-green, glabrate; inflorescences axillary, the short axes
much-thickened (to 1 mm.) and indurate; male and female flowers on same plant
or occasional flowers appearing perfect; bracts minute, keeled; tepals of the pistil-
late flowers 4 or 5, spatulate, scarious, 0.2-2.5 mm. long; style bifid or trifid to
the base; utricle compressed-obovoid, 1.4-1.8 mm. long, obtuse or emarginate,
papillate above the middle, coriaceous, indehiscent; seed broadly obovate, 1-1.4
mm. long, dark-brown or black, lustrous. A. Warnockii I. M. Johnst.
On mud and gravel bars in rivers, along creeks and in playa lakes, in Tex. from
the coast through the Rio Grande Plains and Edwards Plateau to the Trans-Pecos,
June-Oct.; nat. of trop Am.; naturalized in waste places along the Gulf Coast and
858
-------
Fig. 425: Amaranthus crassipes: a, habit, x %; b, branch showing sessile buds,
x 5; c, branch showing distal pistillate flowers and basal staminate flower, x 5; d,
staminate flower, x 5; e, pistillate flower, x 5; f, seed, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 425A: Amaranthus albus: A. habit, x ];; B, enlarged node showing flowers
and leaf, x 5; C. flower spike, x 5: D, utricles, x 5": E, seeds, x 6. (From Reed, Selected
Weeds of ihe United Stales. Fig. 69)
-------
rarely adv. at e. seaports, Fla. and the Keys to Tex.; W.I., Bah. I. and n. S.A.
2. Amaranthus californicus (Moq.) Wats.
Stems prostrate from a taproot, stout and rather fleshy, much-branched from
the base, 8-50 cm. long, whitish or tinged with red; leaves alternate, numerous,
pale-green, with petioles 2-18 mm. long, obovate to oblong, mostly obtuse, promi-
nently mucronate, the veins and margins white, 3-25 mm. long, glabrous, some-
times purplish beneath; male and female flowers on same plant, occasional flowers
perfect, in small axillary clusters; bracts lanceolate, acute, subulate-tipped, about
equaling the flowers; tepals in staminate flowers 3 (or 2), membranous, elliptic-
lanceolate to oblong-ovate, mucronate or erosulate; stamens 3 (or 2 or 1); tepals
in pistillate flowers mostly 1 (or 2 or 3), inconspicuous, one narrowly lanceolate
and acute or acuminate, the others usually reduced and scalelike; utricle sub-
globose, smooth, often tinged with red or purple, tardily irregularly dehiscent;
seed orbicular, dark-reddish-brown, 0.6-0.8 mm. in diameter. A. microphyllus
Shinners.
Moist or wettish soils, in beds of dried-up lakes and ponds in the Tex. Plains
Country, July-Sept.; s. Wash, and Alta., s. through Ida. and Ore. to Calif., Nev.
and Tex.
3. Amaranthus albus L. Fig. 425A.
Stems stout, erect, bushy-branched, the branches divaricate or ascending, 2-12
dm. tall, whitish or pale-green, glabrous or sparingly puberulent or villous; leaves
alternate, with slender petioles 3-50 mm. long, slender, elliptic to oblong or
spatulate to obovate, 1-7 cm. long, cuneate at the base, rounded or mucronate-
cuspidate at the apex, prominently veined, the veins white beneath; male and
female flowers on the same plant, occasional flowers perfect, the staminate ones
few, in dense or loose axillary clusters that are usually shorter but sometimes
longer than the petioles; bracts green, rigid, 2-4 mm. long, oblong-lanceolate,
pungent-pointed and spreading; tepals 3, the staminate ones oblong, cuspidate,
scarious; pistillate tepals oblong to linear, acute, 1-nerved, thin, green along the
nerve, often tinged with red; stamens 3; style branches 3; utricle subglobose, cir-
cumscissile, rugose, longer than the perianth, sometimes tinged with red; seed
lenticular, 0.6-0.8 mm. in diameter, mahogany-colored, lustrous. A. graecizans
of Am. auth.
Waste places and cult, areas, sandy, gravelly or muddy banks and flats along
streams, throughout most of Tex. but exceedingly rare, N. M. (widespread) and
Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Aug.-Dec.; widely dis-
tributed throughout N.A.; adv. in Eur., Asia, Afr. and S.A.
4. Amaranthus spinosus L. SPINY PIGWEED, QUELITE ESPINOSO.
Plant weedy, from a long (to 4 dm.) taproot; stems stout and succulent, erect,
branched, 3-12 dm. tall, bearing at most nodes a pair of divergent spines 5-10 mm.
long; leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, glabrous to sparingly pubescent,
3-10 cm. long, narrowed to an obtuse mucronate tip, broadly cuneate to the long
petiole; male and female flowers on same plant, occasional flowers perfect; spikes
numerous, 5-15 cm. long, 6-10 mm. thick, the terminal one often wholly or
chiefly staminate, the basal part of each and the axillary clusters mostly pistillate;
bracts lanceolate or subulate, usually shorter than the tepals; tepals of the stami-
nate flowers lance-oblong, acute or short-acuminate; stamens 5; tepals of the
pistillate flowers 5, oblong or acutish, 1—1.5 mm. long; utricle 1.5-2 mm. long,
imperfectly dehiscent or bursting irregularly, the terminal portion spongy and
roughened; seed black, nearly round, 0.7-1 mm. in diameter, lustrous.
In waste ground, sandy loamy soil, on sand-gravel bars in rivers and in low wet
areas, in e. third of Tex., w. to Dallas, Travis and Cameron cos., June-Sept.;
861
-------
probably trop. in origin; now abundant in warmer parts of the world, extending to
N.Y., Pa., Me. and Man., Ind. and Mo., often adv. farther n.
5. Amaranthus Palmeri Wats. CARELESS-WEED, RED-ROOT, QUELITE, BLEDO.
Fig. 426.
Plant very weedy, with an elongated taproot to 15 mm. in diameter; stems 6-10
dm. tall, branched at the base and much-branched above, glabrous to villous-
pubescent; leaves alternate, with long slender petioles, rhombic-ovate to rhombic-
lanceolate, 1-6 cm. long, acute to abruptly acuminate at the apex, cuneate or
rounded at the base; staminate and pistillate flowers on separate plants, in slender
erect or drooping dense spikes or thyrse 15-30 cm. long, either all terminal on
leafy branches or (if leafless) branch thyrses present, these loosely arranged and
each subtended by a leaf; bracts 4-6 mm. long, twice as long as the perianth, the
midrib moderately heavy in the male, very heavy in the female, excurrent into a
spine; male flowers with 5 stamens and 5 tepals; inner tepals 2.5-3 mm. long,
obtuse or emarginate; outer tepals 3.5-4 mm. long, acuminate, with conspicuous
long-excurrent midvein; female flowers with 5 recurved tepals, each with con-
spicuous branched midvein; inner tepals usually 2-2.5 mm. long, spatulate, emargi-
nate, slightly denticulate; outer tepals 3-4 mm. long, acute, with a midvein excur-
rent as a rigid point; style branches usually 2, rarely 3; utricle 1.5-2 mm. long,
thin, subglobose, circumscissile, somewhat rugose; seed obovate, lenticular, 1-1.3
mm. in diameter, dark-reddish-brown.
In silt, sandy and gravelly soils, river banks, valleys, arroyos, drainage basins,
irrigation ditches, swamps along streams, river bottomlands, about ponds, and in
dumps and gardens, in Okla. (Mayes and Ottawa cos.), throughout most of Tex.,
N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai and Greenlee, s. to Santa Cruz,
Pima and Yuma cos.), summer-fall; w. Kan. to Calif., s. to Tex. and Mex.; introd.
in Mo.; rarely adv. in e. U.S.
6. Amaranthus arenicola I. M. Johnst. SANDHILLS AMARANTH.
Plant with erect stems to 2 m. tall, whitish, glabrous, striate, simple or branched
at the base, branched above; leaves alternate, with slender petioles 5-7 mm. long,
oval-oblong to oblong-linear, 1.5-8 cm. long, rounded to acutish at the apex,
obtuse to attenuate at the base, yellowish-green, glabrous, the veins conspicuous
beneath; male and female flowers on separate plants, in slender dense or inter-
rupted spikes or thyrses to 4 dm. long, either all terminal on leafy branches or (if
a few leafless) branch thyrses present, these loosely arranged and each subtended
by a leaf; bracts usually 1.5-2.5 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, the midrib barely
excurrent; male flowers with 5 stamens and 5 nearly equal tepals about 5 mm.
long, the inner tepals emarginate or obtuse, the outer ones obtuse or acute, all
apiculate with dark midveins not excurrent; female flowers with 5 recurved
spatulate tepals, each with conspicuous usually branched midvein, the inner tepals
1.5-2 mm. long and emarginate or obtuse, the outer tepals 2-2.5 mm. long and
obtuse-apiculate; style branches 2; utricle 1.5 mm. long, thin, subglobose, circum-
scissile, rather smooth; seed round, lenticular, 1-1.3 mm. in diameter, dark-
reddish-brown.
Sandhills, swales, dried ponds, lakeshores, river sandbars, marshes, fields, road-
sides and along railroads, in Okla. (Nowata, Cimarron and Alfalfa cos.), through-
out most of Tex. and e. N.M., July-Nov.; Kan., Okla. and la. to Tex., w. to Colo.,
Nev. and N.M.
2. Acnida L. WATER-HEMP
Annual herbs; stems erect, glabrous, branched; leaves alternate, petioled, entire;
flowers in short panicles that form much more elaborate panicles or spikes; male
862
-------
Fig. 426: Amaranthus Palmerl: a, middle section of plant, x %. b, top of plant,
x T-I; c, staminate flower, x 5; d, single anther, x 6; e, pistillate flower, x 5: f, capsule
dehiscing, x 5; g, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
and female flowers on separate plants; staminate flowers with 5 erect membranous
or scarious oblong to lanceolate 1-nerved tepals; stamens 5, the anther locules
united only at the middle, the anthers linear-oblong; pistillate flowers naked, with-
out or with 1 or 2 tepals; ovary flattened, obovate or rotund; style very short or
absent; style branches 2 to 5, usually elongate, plumose-hispid; ovule 1; utricle
thin-walled or fleshy to somewhat coriaceous, indehiscent, irregularly bursting or
circumscissile, usually 3- to 5-angled; seed erect, smooth, reddish-brown or nearly
black, lustrous; embryo annular, the endosperm copious.
About half a dozen species in Western Hemisphere.
1. Plants pistillate (2)
1. Plants staminate (3)
2(1). Tepals completely lacking or irregularly present and rudimentary, less than
1 mm. long and without visible midveins; utricle indehiscent, with
conspicuous longitudinal ridges; leaf blade broadly lanceolate
1. A. cuspidata.
2. Tepals regularly present and well-developed, at least 1 mm. long and with
distinct midveins, 1 or 2, lanceolate to linear; utricle circumscissile,
rugose, with faint ridges; leaf blade usually oblong to lanceolate....
2. A. tamariscina.
3(1). Outer tepals without heavy midveins and not appreciably longer than the
inner, with excurrent midveins; bracts mostly with slender midribs
not over 2 mm. long, the midrib conspicuously excurrent; leaf
blades usually lanceolate, more than 1 cm. wide; inflorescence
often with several branch thyrses not subtended by leaves
1. A. cuspidata.
3. Outer tepals 3 mm. long, with heavy midveins, definitely longer that the inner,
the midribs excurrent as rigid spines; bracts with heavy midribs,
mostly over 2 mm. long, definitely shorter than the outer tepals;
leaf blades usually oblong to linear-oblong 2. A. tamariscina.
1. Acnida cuspidata Spreng. SOUTHERN WATER-HEMP.
Glabrous herb; stems stout, 2-3 (-9) m. tall, usually much-thickened at the base,
smooth, succulent, much-branched above; leaves few to numerous, with slender
petioles 2-20 cm. long, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, 6-30 cm. long, 5-14 mm.
wide, acuminate or long-attenuate at the apex, rounded to acute at the base, undu-
late, yellowish or bright-green, prominently veined beneath; inflorescences (thyrses)
flexible or moderately stiff, usually 5-10 cm. long, the terminal thyrse often
accompanied by leafless branch thyrses and the uppermost of these not subtended
by leaves, the branch thyrses somewhat more numerous and more crowded in the
male than in the female plants; bracts 1.5-2 mm. long, the midrib moderately
heavy in the male and heavy in the female, not conspicuously excurrent in either;
male flowers with 5 stamens; the 5 tepals approximately equal, 1.2-3 mm. long,
the inner emarginate, the outer acuminate with excurrent midveins; female flowers
without perianth; style branches 3 to 5, short and stout; utricle obovoid to turbi-
nate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, fleshy, indehiscent, with 3 to 5 prominent longitudinal
ridges, not rugose, stramineous; seed flattened, 1-1.25 mm. in diameter, turgid,
round, smooth to minutely granulate, dark-reddish-brown to black, lustrous,
Acnida alabamensis Standl., Amaranthus australis (Gray) Sauer.
In salt and marshy places, from coastal Tex., n.w. to the Plains Country, May-
Aug.; Coastal Plain from Fla. to Tex. and Yuc., W.I., Trin. and Venez.
2. Acnida tamariscina (Nutt.) Wood. NUTTALL'S WATER-HEMP. Fig. 427.
Herb, glabrous or nearly so; stems stout, erect or ascending, simple or branched,
1-2 m. tall; leaves alternate, with slender petioles to 5 cm. long, rhombic-oblong
or lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long, attenuate at the base, rounded or
864
-------
Fig. 427: Acnida tamariscina: a, staminate plant, x %; b, staminate branch, x %;
c, anthers, x 4; d, staminate flower, x 8; e, pistillate branch, x 5; f, fruit, x 10; g, cap
of circumscissile capsule, x 15; h, seed, x 15. (V. F.).
-------
obtuse at the apex, sometimes notched, the much-reduced upper leaves narrowly
oblong; inflorescence (thyrses) stiff, usually 1-2 dm. long, either all terminal on
leafy branches or (if leafless thyrses present) these loosely arranged and each
subtended by a leaf; bracts 1.5-2 mm. long, with moderately heavy excurrent
midrib in the male, about 2 mm. long, with heavy excurrent midrib in the female;
male flowers with 5 stamens and 5 tepals; inner tepals about 2.5 mm. long, obtuse
or emarginate; outer tepals about 3 mm. long, acuminate, with conspicuous
excurrent midveins; female flowers with 1 or 2 tepals, the shorter tepal rudi-
mentary, the longer tepal about 2 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, with
moderately heavy sometimes branched excurrent midvein; utricle about 1.5 mm.
long, circumscissile at the middle, thin, rugose, sometimes with faint ridges cor-
responding to the 3 or 4 style branches, not angled, often reddish; seed nearly
circular, lenticular, about 1 mm. in diameter, dark-reddish-brown. Amaranthus
tamariscinus Nutt.
Sandy fields and wastelands, chiefly in moist soils, marshes, in shallow water
of ponds and lakes, along streams and sloughs, in swamps, alluvial soils, Okla.
(McCurtain, LeFlore, Ottawa, Nowata, Mayes and Alfalfa cos.), throughout most
of Tex. except extreme w. part, and N.M., Mar.-Oct.; Ind. to Wise., S.D. and
Colo., s. to N.M., Ark., Tex. and La., occasionally adv. in e. U.S.
3. Iresine P. BR. BLOODLEAF
About 80 species in both hemispheres.
1. Iresine rhizomatosa Standl.
Perennial herb, stoloniferous with slender horizontal rhizomes; stems erect,
usually simple up to the inflorescence, 5-15 dm. tall, sparsely pubescent or
glabrous, pilose at the slightly swollen nodes, the internodes 5-14 cm. long;
leaves opposite, thin, bright-green, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to long-
acuminate, entire, narrowed at the base, the larger ones 6-15 cm. long and 2-7
cm. broad, with a few short hairs on the upper surface along the veins, sparsely
pubescent beneath or glabrous; male and female flowers on separate plants;
staminate panicle often laxly branched, the spikelets longer; bracts and bractlets
ovate, silvery-white, shorter than the tepals; tepals silvery-white, ovate-lanceolate,
1.2-1.5 mm. long, 1-nerved, those of the pistillate flowers subtended by long hairs
as a white wool; pistillate panicles 7-30 cm. long, 2.5-20 cm. broad, much-
branched, the branches erect or ascending, pyramidal, the spikelets opposite or
alternate, densely flowered, 5-20 mm. long; utricle round, 2-2.5 mm. long, equal-
ing or longer than the tepals; seed suborbicular, 0.5 mm. in diameter, dark-red,
lustrous. /. celosioides Michx., non L.
Sandy alluvial soils, in low wet woods and thickets near streams, and wettish
depressions along rivers, in Okla. (Cherokee Co.), scattered in e. half of Tex.,
w. to Denton and Comal cos., Aug.-Oct.; Md. to s. 111. and Kan., s. to e. Va.,
Ala., La. and Tex.
4. Alternanthera FORSK. CHAFF-FLOWER
About 200 species, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.
1. Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. ALLIGATOR-WEED. Fig. 428.
Perennial aquatic to semiterrestrial herb; stems simple or branched, 3-10 dm.
long, the branches glabrous, ascending, prostrate or decumbent, stoloniferous,
forming mats, stout, the ascending portion 1-6 dm. long, often rooting at the
nodes; leaves opposite, thick and fleshy, glabrous, linear to linear-lanceolate or
obovate, 2-11 cm. long, 5-20 mm. broad, usually acute or mucronulate at the
apex, entire, narrowed to the sessile base; spikes simple, axillary or terminal,
866
-------
Fig. 428: Alternanthera philoxeroides: a, habit, x %; b, flower opened out, x 15;
c, flower showing bracts and tepals, x 10; d, flower, tepals removed, staminodia and
stamens spread out, x 10; e-h, various flowers sometimes found, x 10. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
subglobose or cylindric, on peduncles 2-7 cm. long, glabrous or pubescent in lines;
flowers sessile in the bractlets, with a sweet resinous odor; bracts one fourth as
long as the tepals, broadly ovate, glabrous; perianth silvery-white; tepals at least
4, glabrous, 5-6 mm. long, nearly equal, obscurely 4-veined, lanceolate to ovate-
oblong, acute, firm, serrulate near the apex; filaments linear-subulate; staminodia
narrow, usually entire, exceeding the anthers, half as long as the tepals, ligulate,
lacerate at the apex; style elongate, the stigma entire. Achyranthes philoxeroides
(Mart.) Stand!.
In waste places, in ponds, streams, along some rivers, becoming a noxious weed,
in s.e. Tex.; Mar.-Aug.; on Coastal Plain, N.C. to Fla., w. to La. and Tex., s.
throughout C.A. to S.A., where it is nat. from Col. to Braz. and Arg.
This plant, primarily in conjunction with the highly productive water-hyacinth
(Eichhornia crassipes) and several aquatic species of Ludwigia, is rapidly clogging
the streams, canals, ponds and other such places in coastal Texas.
5. Philoxerus R. BR.
About 10 species, mostly in coastal regions of the tropics.
1. PhUoxerus vermicularis (L.) R. Br. SILVERHEAD.
Perennial or annual herb, somewhat succulent; stems prostrate, branched, 1-18
dm. long, the branches prostrate or ascending to sometimes 1-5 dm. tall; leaves
opposite, thick and fleshy, subterete, linear to linear-oblong or oblong to clavate,
15-55 mm. long, 2-12 mm. broad, acutish or blunt at the apex, narrowed to the
sessile base, villous in the axils of the leaves, otherwise glabrous; spikes or heads
solitary, subglobose to cylindric, densely many-flowered, bright-white, 13 mm.
long, 5-11 mm. thick, obtuse, the rachis lanate; flowers perfect, white; bracts
broadly ovate, chartaceous, 1-nerved, acute or obtuse; bractlets ovate-oblong,
slightly shorter than the tepals, acute, glabrous; perianth compressed, thickened
at the base, 5-parted, the segments obtuse; tepals 3.5-4 mm. long, obtuse, the
outer ones oblong and glabrous, the inner lanceolate and usually lanate near the
base; stamens 5, the filaments subulate and connate below, the oblong anthers
2-celled; utricle compressed, broadly ovoid, coriaceous, indehiscent; seed orbicular,
0.8-1 mm. broad, dark-brown, lustrous.
Saline soils and dunes along coasts, wet sands at edge of water and on bars, in
the Tex. Rio Grande Plains and Gulf Coast, summer-fall; Fla. to Tex., s. through
Mex. to Pan.; Col. to Braz.; W.I.; Virg. I.; w. coast of trop. Afr.
Fam. 54. Bataceae MEISN. SALTWORT FAMILY
Maritime somewhat woody-succulent dioecious plants; leaves opposite, exstipu-
late, fleshy, semiterete, linear to clavate, smooth and glabrous, entire, with a small
basal loose flange; flowers small, crowded in axillary sessile or short-peduncled
conelike spikes; staminate spikes with persistent imbricate scales each subtending
a flower; calyx cup-shaped, 2-Iobed; corolla absent; stamens 4 or 5, inserted at
base of calyx; filaments thick, alternating with staminodia; pistillate inflorescence
conelike, 4- to 12-flowered, the scales deciduous, the flowers each consisting of
merely a 4-celled ovary with a sessile stigma; ovule 1 in each cell; fruit a fleshy
cone.
A monotypic family. Also spelled Batidaceae.
1. Batis L.
Characters of the family. Monotypic. A second species of dubious merit has
been described recently from the Old World.
868
-------
Fig. 429: Batis maritima: a, part of staminate plant, x L,; b, branch of pistillate
ant, x U c, fruit, x 2lj>; d, staminate inflorescence, x 5. (V. F.).
plant,
-------
1. Batis maritima L. VIDRILLOS. Fig. 429.
Plant pale-green, shrublike, strong-scented, with spreading or prostrate often
creeping stems to 15 dm. long, the stem commonly rooting at tip and forming
large colonies; leaves curved, to 25 mm. long; spikes ovoid-cylindric, 5-10 mm.
long; bracts reniform to suborbicular, often apiculate; fruit ovoid to oblong-
ellipsoid, 1-2 cm. long, short-stalked, drooping.
In salt flats and along muddy flats of the seashore in s. Tex., June-Aug.:
widespread on coastal strands in this hemisphere and in H.I.
Fam. 55. Phytolaccaceae R. Br. POKEWEED FAMILY
Herbs, shrubs, vines or trees, with alternate entire or somewhat undulate
mostly exstipulate leaves and perfect or unisexual flowers; calyx 4- or 5-parted,
its segments imbricated in bud; petals wanting; stamens as many as the calyx
segments and alternate with them, sometimes more numerous, hypognous or
epigynous, the filaments distinct or united at base; anthers 2-celled, the sacs
longitudinally dehiscent, often nearly separated; ovary several-celled in most of
the genera; fruit various.
About 100 species in 12 or more genera, mostly in the tropics.
1. Phytolacca L.
About 35 species in tropical and warm-temperate regions.
1. Phytolacca americana L. POKEWEED, POKEBERRY, SCOKE. Fig. 429A.
Plant glabrous, with an unpleasant odor and a large poisonous perennial root-
stock (to 15 cm. in diameter) from which arise stout purplish leafy stalks to 3 m.
tall; leaves typically elliptic-lanceolate but sometimes ovate-lanceolate, cuneate
or sometimes broadly rounded at base, acuminate at apex, to about 25 cm. long
and 1 dm. wide; pedicels about 1 cm. long, with 1 or more braoteoles about the
middle; sepals 5, white or pinkish, suborbicular, petaloid, 2-3 mm. long; stamens
and styles 10, the ovaries green; berries in long lax racemes, dark-purple, 8-10
mm. in diameter. P. decandra L., P rigida Small.
In rich low ground, especially in recent clearings and along roadsides in and
about depressions, tanks and ponds, in e. half of Okla., throughout most of Tex.,
and Ariz. (Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), July-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to
N.E., s. Que., N.Y. and s. Ont.
The very young sprouts, when properly and safely prepared, are used as a
potherb; otherwise, they should not be eaten. Phytolacca rigida is described as
having permanently erect, not nodding, fruiting racemes and a berry longer, not
shorter, than its stalk.
Fam. 56. Aizoaceae Rudolph! CARPET-WEED FAMILY
Annual or perennial often succulent herbs with stems mostly prostrate or
ascending; leaves opposite or whorled, entire, with the base of the petioles
sometimes dilated; stipules none or (when present) scarious; flowers solitary or
clustered in the axils, regular and perfect; calyx 4- or 5-lobed or -parted, the
tube free or adnate to the ovary: petals none (in ours); stamens few to many,
inserted on the floral cup or hypogynous, the 2-celled anthers oblong or linear;
ovary 1- to 20-celled, superior or only half-superior in Sesuvium; styles as many
as the cells of the ovary; fruit a thin-walled capsule, dehiscing loculicidally or
septicidally; seeds mostly numerous.
870
-------
'"r'1'n"$rnn"!in si
liiiliiiliiiliiiliiiliiilinliii
Fig. 429A: Phytolacca americana: A, habit, x %; B, fruiting raceme, x % C, flower,
x 5; D. berry, x 2; E, seeds, x 2V2. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States,
Fig. 72).
-------
A family of 130 or more genera and about 1200 species, mainly of the
Southern Hemisphere and tropical regions.
1. Leaves whorled; capsule dehiscent by valves (2)
1. Leaves opposite, commonly unequal; capsule circumscissile (3)
2(1). Plants glabrous; flowers with a filiform pedicel; sepals distinct to base;
seeds without a strophiole 1. Mollugo
2. Plants tomentulose; flowers essentially sessile; calyx cleft only to middle;
seeds with a strophiole 2. Glinus
3(1). Stipules present; ovary 1- or 2-celled; seeds several 3. Trianthema
3. Stipules none; ovary 3- to 5-celled; seeds numerous 4. Sesuvium
I. Mollugo L. CARPET-WEED
About 20 species, mostly natives of tropical and subtropical regions.
1. Mollugo verticillata L. INDIAN CHICKWEED. Fig. 430.
Annual herb, glabrous throughout; stems dichotomously branched, prostrate or
ascending, to 2 dm. long; leaves verticillate, 3 to 6 in a whorl, spatulate to
narrowly oblanceolate or sometimes linear, obtuse at apex, narrowed to a short
petiole, to 3 cm. long and 1 cm. wide; flowers 2 to 5 from each node, with
filiform pedicels to 14 mm. long; sepals oblong or elliptic, to 2.5 mm. long
and 1 mm. broad; stamens usually 3; capsule ovoid to ellipsoid, slightly exceeding
the sepals; seeds minute, reniform, dark-reddish-brown, smooth and shining,
ridged along the back and sides or rarely without ridges.
In waste places and cult, grounds, open sandy woods and brushlands, lake
margins and lowlands, and on dunes throughout Okla., N.M., Ariz, and Tex., year
around; throughout temp, and trop. Am.
2. Glinus L.
Annuals with the general habit of Mollugo, pubescent or glabrous; leaves verti-
cillate, unequal, entire; flowers in dense glomerules in the leaf axils of upper
nodes, on short peduncles; calyx free from the ovary, the 5 sepals distinct; petals
none; stamens 3 to 10 or rarely more; ovary superior; fruit a loculicidal 3-valved
capsule; seeds numerous, minute, smooth or tuberculate, with a distinct strophiole,
the funiculus large, coiled about the seed.
A genus of 12 species, widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate
regions.
1. Seeds blackish-brown, tuberculate 1. G. lotoldes.
1. Seeds reddish or light-brown, smooth or sometimes pebbly 2. G. radiatus.
1. Glinus lotoides L. Fig. 431.
Plants cinereous-tomentose with branched hairs; stems diffusely branched from
the base, prostrate or ascending, to about 35 cm. long; leaves pseudoverticillate,
narrowly to broadly obovate, rounded or abruptly acute at the apex, narrowed
below to a slender petiole of about equal length, to 25 mm. long and 15 mm.
broad; flowers stoutly pedicellate or essentially sessile, in axillary glomerules;
sepals lanceolate, stellate-tomentose, to 7 mm. long and 3 mm. broad; stamens 5
to 10, rarely more; capsule ellipsoid, to 4.5 mm. long; seeds black, tuberculate.
Waste places, locally established on moist flats and along marsh and lake
margins, in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e.-cen. Tex.; an Old World species that
has become introd. in various parts of N.A.
2. Glinus radiatus (R. & P.) Rohrb. Fig. 430.
Annual herb with stellate-tomentose foliage; stems to 5 dm. long; leaves with
slender petioles to 6 mm. long, elliptic to obovate or broadly spatulate, rounded
872
-------
Fig. 430: a-c, Mollugo verticillata: a, habit, x %; b, habit, x 3; c, seed, x 10. d-f,
Glinus radiatus: d, flower, x 6; e, capsule, open, x 6; f, seed, x 20. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 431: Glinus lotoides: a, basal part of plant, showing roots, x ri; b, leaves and
glomerule of flowers, the pubescence of stellate hairs, x 3; c, stalked, stellate hairs, x
40; d, flower. 1 sepal removed to show ovary and stamens, x 61-;; e, plant, as seen from
above to show prostrate spreading habit, x -3; f, and g, mature seeds, showing strophiole
and funiculus, x 20. (From Mason, Fig. 222).
-------
to acute or apiculate at apex, to 25 mm. long and 15 mm. wide; flowers in clusters
of 10 or more; calyx lobes oblong-elliptic to lanceolate, about 2.7 mm. long,
stellate-tomentose; stamens 3 to 5, shorter than the calyx lobes; filaments filiform,
about 1 mm. long; anthers about 0.5 mm. long; capsule ellipsoid, 3-3.5 mm. long;
seeds numerous, brown, smooth and shining, sometimes pebbly, about 0.4 mm.
long. G. Cambessedesii Fenzl.
In muddy or sandy soils and in mud of lagoons in river bottoms, in s. and e.
Tex., Apr .-Oct.; from Tex. through Mex. and the W.I. to S.A.
3. Trianthema L.
About 20 species, with all but ours in tropical and temperate regions of the
Old World.
1. Trianthema Portulacastrum L. HORSE PURSLANE, VERDOLAGA BLANCA. Fig. 432.
Annual succulent herb, glabrous, branching from the base; branches decumbent,
sometimes to 1 m. long; leaves opposite, in unequal pairs, broadly obovate to
suborbicular-obovate or the smaller ones narrower, rounded to notched or apicu-
late at the apex, the blades to 4 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, with smaller ones on the
axillary branchlets; petioles about equaling the blade, dilated at the base;
stipules scarious, entire; flowers sessile and usually solitary in the leaf axils,
partly concealed in the petiolar sheath; calyx lobes 5, ovate-lanceolate to lanceo-
late, concave, about 2.5 mm. long, pinkish-purple within, with a dorsal mucrona-
tion near the apex; petals none; stamens 5 to 10, perigynous, alternating with
the calyx lobes when the same number; ovary superior; capsule about 4 mm.
long, cylindrical, somewhat curved, the winged appendages at the apex prominent;
seeds reniform, black, rough, about 2 mm. in diameter.
In sandy soils of thickets, on dunes and in waste grounds along streams and
irrigation canals, in s. Okla., mostly in s. and w. Tex., through N.M. (Dona Ana
and Otero cos.) and generally in Ariz., May-Oct; from Fla. to Calif., s. through
Latin Am.; also Old World trop.
4. Sesuvium L. SEA PURSLANE
Annual or perennial succulent herbs or undershrubs, with prostrate or ascend-
ing to suberect stems and branches; leaves opposite, fleshy, without stipules, the
petiole often dilated and sometimes connate at the base; flowers solitary in the
leaf axils, sessile or with short stout pedicels; calyx tube turbinate, adnate below
to the ovary; calyx lobes 5, usually horned on the back near the apex; petals
none; stamens 1 to many, perigynous, sometimes slightly united into phalanges,
the filaments filiform; ovary half-superior, 2- to 5-celled with as many styles;
capsule membranaceous, 2- to 5-celled, ovoid, circumscissile; seeds stalked, usually
many in each cell, minute, smooth or rarely rugose.
About 10 species widely distributed but mainly maritime or in saline soils in
warm temperate, tropical or subtropical America.
1. Stamens 5 (2)
1. Stamens numerous (3)
2(1). Seeds smooth; in southeast corner of Texas 1. S. maritimum.
2. Seeds conspicuously rugose; in extreme south Texas 2. S. trianthemoides.
3(1). Flowers all distinctly pedicelled; stems rooting at nodes
3. S. Portulacastrum.
3. Flowers both sessile and with stout inconspicuous pedicels; stems not rooting
at nodes (4)
875
-------
4(3). Distribution in west and northwest Texas westward; leaves mostly oblanceo-
late; plants usually drying light-brown 4. 5. verrucosum.
4. Distribution primarily on or near the coast in south Texas (S. erectum extend-
ing inland along the Rio Grande in Trans-Pecos region); plants
drying blackish or dark-gray (5)
5(4). Plants prostrate to decumbent, densely covered with crystalline globules;
leaves sessile, mostly all linear-oblong 5. S. sessile.
5. Plants typically erect to erect-spreading, sometimes decumbent, sparsely cov-
ered with crystalline globules; leaves mostly oblanceolate
6. S. erectum.
1. Sesuvium marithnum (Walt.) B.S.P. Fig. 433.
Plant glabrous and succulent throughout; stems prostrate, procumbent to
ascending at tips, freely branched, sometimes forming mats to 2 m. in diameter;
leaves spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate or obovate, rounded to obtuse at the
apex, tapering at base to a short clasping petiole, to about 25 mm. long; flowers
usually solitary in leaf axils, sessile; calyx lobes ovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse,
with a subapical dorsal prolonged appendage, pink or purplish within, 2-3 mm.
long; stamens 5; capsule ovoid, about 4 mm. long; seeds brownish-black, smooth
and somewhat iridescent, 1 mm. long or less.
On sea beaches and low sandy banks near and along the coast in s.e. Tex.,
flowering the year around: from N.Y. to Fla. and Tex.; also W.I.
2. Sesuvium trianthemoides Correll. Fig. 432.
Plant annual, fleshy, brown when dry, branched from the base, the herbage with
scattered large crystalline globules; stems to 35 cm. long or more, the internodes
4—5 cm. long; leaves opposite, oblanceolate to spatulate, obtuse at apex, at least
3 cm. long (including the petiole) and 1 cm. wide above the middle, tapered below
into a conspicuous petiole; petiole broadly scarious-winged at base and clasping;
flowers solitary in the axils of leaves and branches, sessile; calyx lobes triangular-
ovate, subacute at apex, strongly nerved, about 3.5 mm. long, with hyaline mar-
gins, the dorsal apical appendage small; stamens 5, with slender filaments about 1
mm. long; ovary ovoid, 2-celled; styles 2, about 0.5 mm. long; capsule ovoid-
ellipsoid, pointed at apex, 4-5 mm. long, circumscissile; seeds about 10 in each
capsule, about 1.5 mm. long, conspicuously rugose with brownish granular irregular
ridges; with additional light patches extended in irregular lines from the hilum.
In wet depressions in dunes of s. Tex., June—Aug.; endemic.
3. Sesuvium Portulacastrum L. CENICILLA. Fig. 434.
Glabrous fleshy perennial herb; stems trailing, much-branched, often rooting
at the nodes, sometimes forming patches 2 m. across; leaves narrowly oblong to
oblanceolate or elliptic-obovate, to 6 cm. long and 25 mm. broad, obtuse-rounded
to abruptly acute at apex, tapered into a clasping base (with these commonly over-
lapping); flowers pedicelled, solitary in the leaf axils; calyx lobes broadly ovate-
lanceolate to lanceolate, to 1 cm. long and 6 mm. broad, hooded, pink-purple
within, often strongly veined, with a subapical dorsal prolonged appendage;
stamens numerous, the filaments about 5 mm. long, the oblong-elliptic anthers
about 1 mm. long; ovary ovoid-globose, about 3 mm. long and thick; styles some-
times distinct to base; capsule conic, about 1 cm. long and 5-6 mm. in diameter;
seeds black, smooth and lustrous, 1.2-1.5 mm. long.
On beaches, edge of bays and in wet sand or clay dunes along the coast in Tex.,
subject to salt water flooding, rarely inland, flowering the year around; from Fla.
to Tex., s. to S.A.; also the Old World trop.
876
-------
Fig. 432: a-d, Sesuvium trianthemoides: a, habit, x %; b, open calyx, x 5; c, flower,
x 5; d, seed, x 10. e-i, Trianthema Portulacastrum: e, habit, x %; f, end of stem, x 1%;
g, node, x 2%; h, capsule, x 5; i, seed, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 433: Sesuvium maritimum: a, habit, x %; b, end of branch (note five stamens
in flower), x 22J; c, capsule, x 5; d, seed, x 26. (a, c, d, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; b,
V. F.).
-------
4. Sesuvium verrucosum Raf. Fig. 434.
Freely branched prostrate perennial herb; stems to 9 dm. long, smooth and
usually more or less finely verrucose with crystalline globules, when dry brownish-
tan to light-grayish-tan in color; leaves oblanceolate to oblong-ovate or sometimes
with some linear-oblong, rounded to somewhat subacute at apex, tapered into an
expanded scarious clasping base, to 3 cm. long and 1 cm. wide above the middle,
those of the branchlets mostly shorter than the internodes; flowers subsessile or
with a short stout pedicel; calyx lobes broadly ovate-elliptic to ovate-lanceolate,
4.5-7 mm. long, hooded, with a subapical dorsal prolonged appendage; stamens
numerous; capsule conic, about 5 mm. long and 3 mm. in diameter; seeds black,
smooth and lustrous, about 1 mm. long.
In saline and alkaline soils about lakes, in creek bottoms and on mud flats and
clay dunes in w. Okla. (Waterfall), in w. and n.w. Tex., N.M. (Chaves Co.) and
Ariz. (Maricopa, Final and Yuma cos.), Apr.-Aug.; a plant of the interior from
Mo. and Ark. to Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also n. Mex.
5. Sesuvium sessile Pers. LOWLAND PURSLANE.
Succulent sprawling much-branched perennial that spreads by rhizomes, form-
ing mats to 6 dm. or more in diameter, the herbage densely covered and almost
completely concealed by crystalline globules, when dry dark-gray to almost black-
ish; stems prostrate and ascending at tips; leaves essentially sessile, linear to
narrowly linear-oblong or some narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse at apex, to 3 cm.
long, mostly less than 3 mm. wide, those of the branchlets longer than the inter-
nodes; flowers sessile or with short stout pedicels; calyx lobes mostly oblong-
elliptic, obtuse, 4-7 mm. long, the outer surface densely covered with crystalline
globules, pink within, with a subapical dorsal prolonged appendage; stamens
numerous, the anthers pink; capsule triangular-ovoid, about 4 mm. long and 3
mm. wide at base; seeds dark-brown, about 1 mm. long.
In moist saline soils about lakes and lagoons, on flats and clay dunes and in
open grassy woodlands in extreme s. Tex., very rare inland, flowering the year
around; from Tex. to Calif., s. to S.A.
6. Sesuvium erectum Correll.
Perennial, typically erect to erect-spreading or sometimes decumbent, more or
less adorned throughout with crystalline globules; when dry brownish-black to
dark-gray; stems to 5 dm. or more long; leaves linear-oblong to oblanceolate or
spatulate, obtuse at apex, tapered below to a clasping base, to 4 cm. long and 8
mm. wide; flowers numerous, in the axils of leaves and branches, sessile or with
pedicels rarely to 5 mm. long; calyx lobes broadly elliptic to ovate-lanceolate,
obtuse to subacute at apex, rose-purple within, 4-8 mm. long, with a subapical
dorsal appendage about equal to or greatly exceeding the sepal apex; styles 3 to 5,
conspicuous, typically black when dry; stamens numerous; capsule ovoid, blunt
and truncate at apex, about 5 mm. long and 3 mm. in diameter; seeds black,
plump, about 1 mm. long.
Along canals, on shell deposits, and about ponds and in depressions in dunes
and sand hills on and near the coast in s. Tex. with an extension inland along the
Rio Grande to the Trans-Pecos, Apr.-July; undoubtedly also in n.e. Mex.
Fam. 57. Portulacaceae Juss. PURSLANE FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs or rarely shrubs, glabrous or rarely pilose at the
nodes, more or less succulent; leaves opposite, alternate or in basal rosettes, entire,
often fleshy; stipules scarious, lacerate or modified into hairs, or none; flowers
solitary, racemose, paniculate or cymose, terminal or axillary, perfect, regular or
879
-------
Fig. 434: a-c, Sesuvium Portulacastrum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2%; c, ovary
and style, x 21-'. d-f, Sesuvium verrucoswn: d, habit, x V>; e, flower, x 2V>; i, ovary,
x 21/2. (V. F.).
-------
nearly so; sepals (sometimes interpreted as bracts) usually 2, persistent or decidu-
ous, scarious or herbaceous; petals (sometimes called sepals) usually 4 or 5, often
fugacious or dehiscent; stamens inserted with the petals, sometimes adnate at the
base, of the same number as the petals or usually more; filaments filiform; anthers
2-celled, dehiscent longitudinally; ovary 1-celled, superior or (in Portulaca) partly
or wholly inferior; styles 2 to 7, more or less united; ovules 2 t
-------
Fig. 435A: Montia Chamissoi: a, flower, x 2%; b, calyx and capsule at time of
dehiscence, x 12; c, pistil, showing the long papillose stigma, x 8; d, mature seed, the
tubercles beadlike, x 16; e. habit, x %; f, bulblet at end of runner, x 3. (From Mason,
Fig. 224).
-------
Fig. 435B: Montia perfoliata: a, habit, x %; b, perfoliate leaf and cluster of flowers,
x 2; c, perfoliate leaf and cluster of flowers, x 5; d, flower split longitudinally, x 5; e,
petal and stamen, x 5; f, calyx and young capsule, x 5; g, valves of capsule, x 5; h,
mature seed, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
of the stem and branches, of various colors; calyx 2-cleft; petals 4 to 6, usually 5;
stamens 8 to many, inserted at the base of the petals; ovary partly or wholly
inferior; styles 3 to 9; ovules numerous; capsule 1-celled, membranous, circurn-
scissile, many-seeded; seeds reniform or cochleate, with a smooth or minutely
tuberculate or sometimes echinate testa.
About 200 species of world-wide distribution, mostly tropical and subtropical.
1. Lower valve of capsule with an expanded circular membranous wing just
below its rim 1. P. umbraticola.
1. Capsule rim without a subtending wing 2. P. oleracea.
1. Portulaca umbraticola H.B.K.
A glabrous prostrate to erect or ascending fleshy annual, with angled stems;
leaves rather few; blades flat, sessile, the lower spatulate or obovate and obtuse
to rounded, the upper oblanceolate to oblong and often acute, 1—3 cm. long, 2-11
mm. broad; flowers clustered at the ends of the branches; sepals ovate, obscurely
carinate; corolla yellow or orange and partly red; petals spatulate or obovate,
acutish or cuspidate; stamens 7 to 27; styles 3 to 6; capsule circumscissile at the
middle or above, the rim crowned by a narrow wing, the lid flattish; seeds gray,
tuberculate. P. lanceolata Engelm., P. coronata Small.
In sandy soils in prairies, mesquite thickets, saline flats and salt marsh areas in
s.w. Okla. (Waterfall} throughout most of Tex. to Ariz. (Greenlee, Graham, Gila,
Final, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Mar.-Nov.; from Tex. to Ariz, and
Baja Calif.; also Ga., Cuba and Jam.
2. Portulaca oleracea L. PURSLANE, VERDOLAGA. Fig. 43 5C.
Glabrous fleshy annual, with often stout prostrate or ascending branches, the
branches spreading radially and 6-30 cm. or more long; axillary hairs few and
inconspicuous; leaves alternate, the flat blades obovate-cuneate or spatulate, 6-30
mm. long, 0.2-13 mm. broad, occasionally larger, rounded or nearly truncate at
the apex; buds flattened, acute; flowers clustered or solitary, sessile, the hairs sur-
rounding them inconspicuous or wanting; sepals broadly ovate to orbicular,
2.8-4.5 mm. long, 2.8-3.8 mm. broad, keeled, acutish; corolla yellowish; petals
3-4.6 mm. long, 1.8-3 mm. broad; stamens 6 to 10; style lobes 4 to 6; capsule
5-9 mm. high, circumscissile at or about the middle; seeds black, 0.7-0.8 mm.
(rarely 1 mm.) wide, granulate.
On grassy slopes, moist waste areas, floodlands, dunes and in salt marshes and
dry soils of perennial pools throughout most of Okla. and Tex., w. through N. M.
to Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Greenlee and Santa Cruz cos.), May-Nov.;
in temp, and trop. regions of the world.
Fam. 58. Caryophyllaceae Juss. PINK or CHICKWEED FAMILY
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs or small woody-based plants, with nodose
stems; leaves entire, typically opposite or whorled, often united at base, with or
without stipules; flowers regular, perfect or rarely unisexual; sepals 4 or 5, per-
sistent, distinct or united into a tube; petals as many as sepals, rarely fewer or
none, often toothed or lobed; stamens usually as many as and alternating with
the petals; filaments sometimes cohering at the base; styles 2 to 5, distinct or more
or less united; ovary free from the calyx, 1-celled or incompletely 2- to 5-celled
at base; capsule few- to many-seeded, opening by 2 to 5 entire or bifid valves;
seeds small.
More than 1750 species in about 70 genera, cosmopolitan but most abundant
in temperate climates.
1. Stipules present 7. Spergularia
1. Stipules none (2)
884
-------
Fig. 435C: Portulaca oleracea: A, habit, x 1,4; B, flowers and capsules, x 1V2; C,
flower open, X 4; D, seeds, x 18. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States,
Fig. 74).
-------
Fig. 436: a-d. Drymaria pachyphylla: a, habit, x U; b, flower cluster, x 1; c, flower,
x 5; d. seed, x 5. e and f. Sagina saginoides: e, habit, x 1; f, fruit, x 5. g and h, Silene
acanlis: g. habit, x ^ h, flower, x 21;;. (V. F.).
-------
2(1). Sepals united 1. Silene
2. Sepals free (3)
3(2). Petals present (4)
3. Petals absent (8)
4(3). Petals more or less deeply bifid (5)
4. Petals entire, emarginate or irregularly toothed (7)
5(4). Style 1, 3-cleft; capsule 3-valved 2. Drymaria
5. Styles 3 or more; capsule opening by twice as many valves or teeth as there
are styles (6)
6(5). Styles 5 3. Cerastium
6. Styles 3 (or varying from 3 to 6) 4. Stellaria
7(4). Fewer styles (2 or 3) than sepals 5. Arenaria
1. As many styles as sepals (4 or 5) 6. Sagina
8(3). Leaves linear 6. Sagina
8. Leaves not linear 4. Stellaria
1. Silene L. CATCHFLY. CAMPION
About 500 species of wide geographic distribution, especially the Mediterranean
region.
1. Silene acaulis L. var. subacaulescens (Williams) Fern. & St. John. Moss CAM-
PION. Fig. 436.
Pulvinate perennial from a woody root and a branched caudex, forming dense
mats to 3 dm. across; stem mostly 3-6 cm. tall, rarely more; leaves mostly basal,
sessile, marcescent for many years, linear to linear-lanceolate, 4-10 (-15) mm.
long, 0.8-1.5 (-2) mm. wide, glabrous to scabrous; flowers solitary, from essen-
tially sessile in the rosettes to stalked with peduncles to 4 cm. long, perfect or
frequently imperfect and the plants dioecious; calyx tubular-campanulate, (6-)
7-10 (-11) mm. long, 10-nerved, commonly pinkish; corolla pink to lavender or
rarely whitish; petals with a claw about twice as long as the blade, oblong-
oblanceolate, 8-12 mm. long, rounded to slightly emarginate at apex; appendages
usually 2, to about 1 mm. long or reduced to callosities or sometimes lacking;
carpophore 1-2 mm. long, sparsely pubescent; styles 3; capsule 3-celled; seeds
light brown, weakly papillate, about 1 mm. long.
In wet soil of alpine slopes and meadows, often about rocks and in rock
crevices in N.M. (Colfax, Mora and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.),
June-Sept.; the species as a whole circumpolar and alpine in both hemispheres.
2. Drymaria R. & S. DRYMARY
A genus of about 50 species, primarily American.
1. Drymaria pachyphylla Woot. & Standl. Fig. 436.
Glaucous subsucculent annual, the vegetative branching largely confined to
radially diverging branches from a slender yellowish rootstock or to terminal
pseudoverticillate branch systems, the elongate spreading internodes much-
exceeding the terminally crowded leaves; leaves pseudoverticillate, with clasping
petioles to 8 mm. long, glaucous, subsucculent, wrinkling in drying, broadly
elliptic to suborbicular, obtuse to acutish at apex, tapering to the petiole, to
14 mm. long and 12 mm. broad; stipules absent; inflorescences of terminal and
axillary contracted umbelloid verticils subtended by normal foliage leaves and
bracts, the pedicels 1-5 mm. long; bracts ovate, obtuse, scarious and almost
nerveless, to 1.5 mm. long; sepals subequal, glabrous, glaucous, ellipsoid, obtuse,
to 3.3 mm. long and 2 mm. broad, obscurely 3- to 5-nerved, the central portion
green, the margins scarious; petals 5, 2.5-3 mm. long, bifid about half their
887
-------
Fig. 437: a-c, Stellaria iimbcllata: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 10; c, fruit, x 10. d-h,
Ccrastium axillare: d, habit, x \->; e, perianth spread out, x 5; f, petal with stamen, x
5; g, calyx and capsule, x 5; h, seed, x 6. (V. F.).
-------
length, with 2 oblong lobules in the cleft, the serrulate trunk tapered to the base,
the claw not clearly delineated; stamens 5, to 1.5 mm. long, the oblong anthers
about 0.5 mm. long; ovary at anthesis subglobose, the short style bifid or trifid
more than half its length and slightly exceeding the anthers; capsule subglobose,
3-4 mm. long, mostly exceeding the sepals; seeds as many as 25, black, vermi-
culiform, facially gibbous, more or less tessellate, to 1.8 mm. long, about twice
as long as broad.
On sand-gravel bars and in wet silty areas along streams and in dry plains
in Trans-Pecos Tex., N.M. (Don Ana and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.),
often as a pioneer on bare areas, Jan.-Oct.; in w. U. S. and n. Mex.
This plant is known to be toxic to sheep and cattle.
3. Cerastium L. MOUSE-EAR. CHICKWEED
Annual or perennial pubescent or hirsute herbs, sometimes viscid; flowers
white, few to many, borne in terminal dichotomous cymes, glomerules or singly
in leaf axils; sepals 5 or rarely 4; petals of the same number as the sepals or
rarely wanting, 2-lobed or -cleft; stamens 10 or rarely fewer; styles equal in
number to the sepals and opposite them, rarely fewer; capsule 1-celled, cylin-
drical, often curved, membranaceous, opening at the summit by twice as many
teeth as there are styles, many-seeded; seeds rough.
About 60 species that are widely distributed but mostly in temperature zones.
1. Petals shorter than to about equal to the sepals (2)
1. Petals slightly to decidedly longer than the sepals (3)
2(1). Flowers arising singly in leaf axils along much of stem and branches
1. C. axillare.
2. Flowers concentrated in cymes at apex of stem and branches
2. C. vulgatum.
3(1). Uppermost floral bracts with whitish scarious margins (4)
3. All floral bracts green and herbaceous (5)
4(3). Petals typically twice or more the length of sepals; basal branches and off-
shoots becoming dry and withered, not hirsute 3. C. arvense.
4. Petals about as long as or very slightly exceeding the sepals; basal branches
or offshoots green, hirsute 2. C. vulgatum.
5(3). Leaves usually 3 cm. long or less; fruiting pedicels about as long as to
shorter or rarely longer than the capsules, straight or at most only
gently curved 4. C. brachypodum.
5. Leaves usually more than 3.5 cni. long; fruiting pedicels typically much longer
than the capsules, rather abruptly curved just below the calyx
5. C. nutans.
1. Cerastium axillare Correll. Fig. 437.
Plant apparently annual, to 3 dm. high, glutinously glandular-pubescent
throughout; stems few or many, suberect or ascending, sparsely branched; leaves
typically linear-oblanceolate but occasionally linear-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate,
obtuse to subacute, to 3 cm. long and 8 mm. wide; flowers produced singly in
leaf axils along much of main stem and branches; pedicels slender, 1 cm. long
or less; sepals elliptic, 4-5 mm. long, obtuse to subacute, densely glandular-
pubescent (especially on lower half), with scarious margins, noticeably exceeding
the petals; petals elliptic-oblanceolate in outline, 3-4 mm. long, divided to near
the middle into linear-lanceolate subacute lobules; capsule about twice as long
as the calyx; seeds reddish-brown, tuberculate, about 0.5 mm. in diameter.
On open-forested seepage slopes, rocky hills and in grasslands in the mts. of
Trans-Pecos Tex., Apr.-Sept; also Chih.
889
-------
Fig. 437A: Cerastiiim vulgatum: A, habit, x Vj; B, mature dichotomous cymes,
x 1L> C. enlarged leaves, x 1.25; D, flowers, x 3',(.; E, capsules, x 3%; F, seeds, x 15.
(From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 77).
-------
This species is distinguished from such species as C. brachypodum and C.
vulgatum by having its flowers produced singly in leaf axils along much of the
main stem and branches instead of being produced in apical cymes as in those
species. The plant is also densely glandular-pubescent, and the small, deeply lobed
petals are conspicuously exceeded by the sepals.
2. Cerastium vulgatum L. COMMON MOUSE-EAR. Fig. 437A.
Short-lived matted perennial with depressed basal leafy offshoots; flowering
stems to 65 cm. high, hirsute to rarely glandular, the median internodes becoming
as much as 12 cm. long; leaves of the season in 3 to 7 pairs, oblanceolate to
oblong or narrowly oval, conspicuously white-hirsute on both surfaces, the median
leaves to 4 cm. long and 15 mm. wide; bracts similar to leaves but smaller,
broadly scarious at summit and margin; inflorescences 3- to many-flowered,
forming terminal ultimately very dichotomous cymes, at first rather compact, in
fruit with the lower pedicels divergent or reflexed and 2 to 4 times the length
of the calyx; sepals 5-7 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse
to acute, scarious-margined, hirsute but glabrous at tip; petals 4-5 mm. long,
narrow, about equaling or rarely somewhat exceeding the sepals, cleft for about
1 mm. at apex, with ciliate claw; capsule narrowly cylindrical, curved, 9-12 mm.
long; seeds to 0.9 mm. in diameter, reddish-brown, bluntly tuberculate. C. triviale
Link.
A nat. of Euras. that has become naturalized in fields, along roadsides, and
about old homesteads, also wet soil of stream banks and wet meadowlands, un-
common in Okla. (Waterfall) and Tex., w. to N. M. (Catron and San Miguel
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Pima cos.), spring-summer; throughout
most of temperate N.A.
The var. holosteoides Fries is a glabrescent plant or with minute lines of
hairs on the stems; the elliptic to oblong leaves are dark-green, ciliate and
round-tipped.
3. Cerastium arvense L. Fig. 437B.
Perennial, the stems tufted, erect or ascending, pubescent or nearly glabrous,
the flowering stems sparingly branched above, 1-4 dm. high; basal leaves subulate-
linear to linear-oblong, 1-4 cm. long, narrowed at the base, rather crowded, those
of the flowering stems distant and somewhat reduced; bracts similar to leaves but
smaller, scarious-margined; flowers loosely cymose, rather few; pedicels slender,
elongated, erect; sepals 4-7 mm. long, lanceolate, glandular-puberulent to
glandular-pilose, acute; petals obcordate, much-exceeding the calyx; capsule
globose to ovoid, only slightly longer than the sepals.
In wet meadows at high elevations in N. M. and Ariz., June-July; Lab. to
Alas., s. to Ga., N. M., n. Ariz, and Calif.; introd. from Eur.
4. Cerastium brachypodum (Engelm.) Robins.
Annual, pale-green, finely pubescent or puberulent and sometimes viscid, to
about 3 dm. high, sparsely branched; leaves linear-oblong to oblanceolate, obtuse
to subacute, seldom more than 25 mm. long; flowers in more or less open dichot-
omous cymes; pedicels about equaling but sometimes shorter than or a little
exceeding the capsules, erect or somewhat deflexed, straight or at most gently
curved, not hooked below the calyx; calyx about 4 mm. long, the lobes elliptic
and acute, very sparsely glandular-puberulent; petals elliptic in outline, about
6 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, exceeding the sepals, notched for about 1 mm. at
the apex, the lobules triangular-lanceolate and acute; capsules 2 to 3 times as
long as the calyx. Incl. var. compactum Robins.
891
-------
D
Fig. 437B: Cerastium arvense: A, habit, x %; B, enlarged leaves, x 1; C, flower,
x iy2; D, capsule, x 3; E, seeds, x 10. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United
States, Fig. 76).
-------
In open woods, prairies and wet meadows and on slopes in Okla. (Waterfall),
mainly in cen. Tex. but extending s. and w., through N. M. (Grant, Lincoln,
Otero, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro and Taos cos.) to Ariz. (Apache,
Cochise, Coconino, Greenlee and Navajo cos.), Feb.-Apr.; from Ga., n. to Va.,
Tenn., 111., N. D., Alta. and Wash., w. to Ariz, and Mex.
This species is similar to C. nutans but it is a smaller plant and it does not
have its pedicels abruptly curved or hooked just below the flowers as in that
species.
5. Cerasthim nutans Raf.
Weak annual, the simple or loosely rather flaccid viscid-pilose stem to 6 dm.
high, the median internodes to 1 dm. long: leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly
obovate, acute or acutish, thin, the median leaves to 8 cm. long and 15 mm.
wide; bracts similar to leaves but smaller, herbaceous; inflorescence loose, simple
to dichotomous, 1- to many-flowered; pedicels filiform, ascending or spreading-
ascending, with hooked tips, in fruit to 55 mm. long; sepals 2-5.5 mm. long,
oblong-lanceolate, thin, blunt, pilose; petals narrowly obovate, wanting in cleis-
togamous flowers, with glabrous claws, cleft nearly to middle, exceeding calyx;
capsule curved, to 13 mm. long; seeds about 0.5 mm. in diameter, reddish-brown,
bluntly papillate.
In alluvial soils, on wet stream banks and rich wooded slopes, and on cal-
careous rocks, uncommon in Okla. and Tex., w. through N. M. (Catron, Grant,
Lincoln, Otero, Sierra and Socorro cos.) to Ariz. (Apache and Gila cos. to
Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Mar.-Oct.; from s. w. Que. and N. E. to
B. C., s. to Fla. and w. to Ariz.
The var. obtectum Kearn. & Peeb. (C. sericeum Wats.) has stems and leaves,
at least near the base of the plant, sericeous with long nonglandular hairs.
4. Stellaria L. CHICKWEED. STARWORT
Low often diffusely branched annuals or perennials with solitary or cymose
flowers; sepals usually 5; petals white, of the same number as the sepals or rarely
none, 2-cleft or -parted: stamens 10 or less, hypogynous; ovary 1-celled, many-
ovuled; styles 3 or rarely 4 or 5, usually opposite the sepals; capsule ovoid to
globose or oblong, 1-celled, dehiscent by twice as many valves as there are styles;
seeds several to many, smooth or roughened.
About 120 species that are widely distributed.
1. Petals none or rudimentary; sepals 2—3 mm. long; flowers numerous in ter-
minal umbelliform inflorescences, with filiform pedicels spreading
or deflexed 1. S. umbellata.
1. Petals about equaling or exceeding the sepals that are 3-4 mm. long; flowers
solitary or in very few-flowered cymes, with slender erect or
spreading pedicels (2)
2(1). Leaves ascending, somewhat shiny, broadest near the base, the margins
smooth 2. S. longipes.
2. Leaves spreading, not shiny, broadest near the middle, the margins very finely
tuberculate-scaberulous under high magnification....3. S. longifolia.
I. Stellaria umbellata Turcz. Fig. 437.
Perennial or (?) annual with very slender rootstocks, glabrous throughout or
sometimes the leaves ciliate at base; stems slender, weak, branched, scarcely ridged,
1-2 (-3) dm. tall; leaves oblong to linear-lanceolate, thin, usually 1-2 cm. long,
2-5 mm. wide, the margins smooth but often crisped; flowers numerous in ter-
minal and axillary scarious-bracteate umbelliform cymes, with filiform pedicels to
3 cm. long; sepals lanceolate, acute, scarious-margined, 1.5-3 mm. long; petals
rudimentary or lacking; capsule ovoid-oblong, somewhat longer than the calyx;
893
-------
seeds brownish, lightly rugose, about 0.6 mm. long. S. gonomischa Boivin, Alsine
baicalensis Cov.
In wet meadows and wet or moist forests in N. M. (Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa
Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July-Aug.; Ore. and Mont., s. to
N. M. and Calif.; Siberia.
2. Stellaria longipes Goldie.
Low essentially glabrous perennial with slender rhizomes, often more or less
tufted and matted; stems slender, erect or ascending, glabrous or very rarely
pubescent near the base, 1-3 dm. tall, 4-angled; leaves sessile, linear to linear-
lanceolate, 1-3 (-4) cm. long, 1-3 (-5) mm. wide, acute at apex, rigid and stiff,
often glaucous, sometimes ciliate at base, the margins smooth; flowers 1 or several
in a scarious-bracteate cyme, with slender erect pedicels to 8 cm. long: sepals
lanceolate, about 4 mm. long, acute to subobtuse, scarious-margined, glabrous or
sometimes ciliolate, 3-nerved; petals 2-cleft, slightly longer to slightly shorter than
the sepals; capsule ovoid, usually purplish, somewhat longer than the calyx; seeds
lightly reticulate, about 0.8 mm. long.
Wet meadows, bogs, stream banks and seepage areas in mts. of N. M. (Rio
Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Cochise cos.), May-Aug.; Nfld. to Alas., s.
to N. Y., Minn., N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
3. Stellaria longifolia Muhl. ex Willd.
Spreading perennial; stems decumbent to ascending, to about 6 dm. long,
4-angled, glabrous but minutely tuberculate-scaberulous above; leaves sessile,
linear-lanceolate to linear, 1.5-3.5 (-5) cm. long, rarely more than 4 mm. wide,
acute at each end, glabrous or with a few basal cilia, the margins very minutely
tuberculate-scaberulous; flowers few to many in terminal membranous- to somewhat
leafy-bracteate cymes; pedicels divaricate, slender, 5-20 (-30) mm. long; sepals
glabrous, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 3-4 mm. long, scarious-margined, 3-nerved,
acutish; petals usually equalling or slighty exceeding the sepals; capsule greenish-
yellow, usually considerably longer than the calyx; seeds finely reticulate-warty
but appearing smooth.
In marshes, on stream banks and in wet meadows in N. M. (San Miguel and
Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), May—Aug.; Nfld. to Alas., s.
to S. C., N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
5. Arenaria L. SANDWORTS
Small usually tufted annual or perennial herbs; stems slender or wiry; leaves
sessile to subpetiolate, exstipulate; flowers mostly white, in terminal cvmose or
capitate inflorescences or rarely axillary and solitary; sepals 5; petals 5 or some-
times wanting, entire to slightly notched or even bifid; stamens 10; styles 2 to 5,
usually 3; ovary 1-celled, usually many-ovuled; capsule ovoid to spherical or
ellipsoid, splitting into as many or twice as many valves as there are styles; seeds
few to many, globose or reniform, often flattened.
About 150 species of wide geographical distribution, mainly in North Temperate
Zone.
1. Plants forming cushions or mats, in subalpine or alpine regions (2)
1. Plants not forming cushions or mats, usually at lower elevations (3)
2(1). Sepals obtuse and usually somewhat cucullate at apex, much shorter than
petals; rarely as many as 3 flowers on a stem 1. A. obtusiloba.
2. Sepals acute to acuminate at apex, about equal to the petals; some stems
usually with more than 3 flowers 2. A. rubella.
894
-------
3(1). Capsules dehiscent by 3 valves or teeth 3. A. patula.
3. Capsules dehiscent by 6 (rarely 4 or 5) valves or teeth (4)
4(3). Sepals obscurely 3- to 5-nerved; leaves ovate, 3-5 (-7) mm. long; annual....
4. A. serpyllifolia.
4. Sepals prominently 1-nerved; leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or linear-
oblanceolate, typically more than 10 mm. long; perennial
5. A. lanuginosa.
1. Arenaria obtusiloba (Rydb.) Fern.
Cespitose perennial from a woody caudex, forming mats to about 4 dm. across,
the trailing stems covered with marcescent leaves; basal leaves numerous, linear,
imbricate, 5-10 mm. long, mostly less than 0.5 mm. wide, mucronulate, 1-nerved,
ciliolate or glandular-pubescent to glabrous; flowering stems erect, to about 6 cm.
tall, supporting 1 to rarely 3 erect flowers, with 1 or 2 pairs of reduced bracts,
granular-puberulent to pubescent and more or less glandular above; sepals oblong,
4-5 mm. long, 3-nerved, obtuse, the usually purplish tip membranous and typically
somewhat erose and slightly cucullate, mostly glandular-pubescent; petals nar-
rowly oblong-oblanceolate, to about twice as long as the sepals; styles 3 or some-
times 4; capsule ovoid-cylindric, 3-valved, to about twice as long as the sepals;
seeds essentially smooth, reddish-brown, 0.7-1 mm. long.
In wet seeping subalpine and alpine meadows, on gravel bars and talus slopes
in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July—Sept.; Greenl. to Alas., s.
in mts. to N. M. and Ariz.
2. Arenaria rubella (Wahlenb.) J. E. Sm.
Cespitose perennial, typically with a small taproot and a branched crown,
forming cushions to about 1 dm. across, finely glandular-puberulent or -pubescent
throughout or the leaves and calyx glabrous; stems numerous, short, prostrate,
with marcescent leaves; leaves mostly basal and somewhat imbricate, linear to
linear-subulate, usually to about 1 cm. long, obtuse to slightly acicular, 3-nerved,
those of sterile shoots with fascicled secondary leaves in their axils; flowering
stems usually to about 8 cm. tall, very slender, simple or dichotomously branched,
with 1 to rarely as many as 7 flowers in an open leafy-bracteate cyme; the leaves
shorter than the internodes; sepals lanceolate, 2.5-4 mm. long, acute to acuminate,
scarious-margined, 3-nerved; petals slightly shorter to slightly longer than sepals;
stamens borne on the edge of a perigynous disk surrounding the ovary; styles
3; capsule narrowly ovoid, slightly exceeding the calyx, 3-valved; seeds light-
brown, finely tesselate-tuberculate, about 0.5 mm. long.
In wet meadows and slopes in subalpine and alpine regions and on gravelly
stream banks in N. M. (reported from but not seen) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.),
June-Aug.; Greenl. to Alas., s. in mts. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
3. Arenaria patula Michx. Fig. 438.
Diffusely branched annual with capillary stems to 3 dm. high; leaves slightly
fleshy, linear-filiform to linear-lanceolate, to 4 cm. long and 3 mm. wide; pedicels
divergent, to 45 mm. long, often glandular; sepals elliptic to lance-attenuate,
acute at apex, often somewhat glandular, to 6 mm. long, strongly 3- to 5-ribbed;
petals obcordate, to 3 times the length of the sepals; capsule about equaling or
exceeding the calyx, its blunt valves entire; seeds 0.5-0.6 mm. long.
In sandy, clayey or gravelly soil in prairies, wet meadows, fields and on rock
outcrops, in Okla. (Waterfall) and mostly in e. Tex., Mar .-May; from Ala.,
Tex. and Ark., n. to e. Kan., O. and Minn.
Var. patula may be distinguished from var. robusta not only by its smaller
more compact size, seldom attaining more than 15 cm. in height, but by its
895
-------
Fig. 438: a-e, Arenaria serpyllifolia: a, habit, x %; b, leaves, x 5; c, flower x 5;
d, open capsule, x 5; e, seed, x 10. f-i, Arenaria patula var. patula: f, habit, x %; g,
flower, x 5; h, capsule, x 5; i, seed, x 10. j-m, Arenaria patula var. robusta: j, habit,
x 1/2; k, flower, x 5; 1, capsule, x 5; m, seed, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
narrower leaves (1.5 mm. wide or less), prominently 5-ribbed sepals, capsules
mostly shorter than the calyx, and its corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx.
Var. robusta (Steyerm.) Maguire is a larger more open plant with wide leaves,
3-ribbed sepals, capsules commonly exceeding the calyx, and corolla prominently
exceeding the calyx.
4. Arenaria serpyllifolia L. THYME-LEAVED SANDWORT. Fig. 438.
Annual, the stems simple to intricately forking, to 2 dm. high; branches
cinereous^puberulent; leaves ovate, sessile, acute to acuminate, ciliate, scabrous,
to 7 mm. long; inflorescence a leafy nearly regular panicle of dichotomous
cymes; pedicels straight, to 1 cm. long; fruiting calyx 3-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm.
broad at base, composed of lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate acuminate 3- to 5-
nerved scabrous sepals; petals oblong, shorter than the sepals; capsule ovoid
to flask-shaped, its 2-cleft olive valves hard and resistent; seeds globose-reniform.
opaque, strongly rugose, about 0.6 mm. long.
Along river bars, in wet meadows and seepage areas, a weed of fields, lawns
and roadsides, in Okla. (Waterfall), e. and cen. Tex., Mar.-July; a Eur. adv.
that has become naturalized from Fla. to Calif., n. to Que., Tenn. and Mo.
5. Arenaria lannginosa (Michx.) Rohrb.
Perennial with more or less creeping subterranean stems; flowering stems lax,
weak and reclining or sometimes trailing, to about 6 dm. long, with lines of
minute pubescence; leaves thin, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or linear-oblanceo-
late, acute or pungent, narrowed to a somewhat ciliate base, to 3 cm. long and
8 mm. wide, more or less punctate; flowers axillary, subtended by leafy bracts;
pedicels slender, puberulent, to 4 cm. long; sepals lanceolate, acute to acuminate,
3-4 mm. long, somewhat dorsally keeled along the solitary midnerve; petals white,
about half as long as sepals, sometimes wanting; capsules about 5 mm. long;
seeds smooth, shining, black, flattened, about 1 mm. in diameter. A. alsinoides
Willd., A. confusa Rydb., A. saxosa Gray.
In loam of damp woods, wet meadows, shaded ditches and other such places
throughout our region, uncommon, June-Oct.; from Fla. to Calif, and Mex., n.
to Va.; also W. I. and S. A.
Var. cinerascens (Robins.) Shinners is a somewhat more rigid plant than is
var. lanuginosa, grayish throughout with a fine pubescence, and leaves pungent.
Also, their flowers have petals that are about half as long as the sepals.
6. Sagina L. PEARLWORT
Small often inconspicuous annual or perennial herbs; leaves subulate-filiform
to linear, opposite, scarious-connate at base; flowers terminal, usually solitary
and long-pediceled; sepals free, 4 or 5 (6) or none; petals usually shorter than
sepals, entire, white; stamens 3 to 10; styles 4 or 5 (6); capsule ovoid or
spheroid; seeds numerous, smooth.
About 25 species that are native to the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Plants forming dense mats, perennial; distribution in mountains of New
Mexico and Arizona 1. S. saginoides.
1. Plants not forming mats, annual; distribution in eastern half of Oklahoma
and Texas 2. S. decumbens.
1. Sagina saginoides (L.) Karst. Fig. 436.
Perennial with leafy rosettes clustered at base; stems rarely to 5 cm .long;
branches decumbent or ascending, forming mats to 1.5 dm. across; leaves filiform-
subulate, to about 2 cm. long, somewhat bristle-tipped; flowers terminal, 5- or
rarely 6-merous; pedicels 1-3 cm. long, erect, hooked at summit after anthesis,
becoming straight, glabrous; sepals 1-3 mm. long, oval to oblong, glabrous,
897
-------
m
Fig. 439: a-e, Spergularia echinosperma: a, habit, x %; b, branch, x 2\'-j\ c, calyx
with dehisced capsule, x 5; d, seed with wing, x 10; e, seed without wing, x 25. f-i,
Spergularia marina: f, branch, x 2%; g, calyx with dehisced capsule, x 4; h, seed with-
out wing, x 10; i, seed with wing, x 10. j-m, Spergularia platensis: }, habit, x %', k,
branch, x 2',^; 1, calyx with dehisced capsule, x 5; m, seed x 10. (V. F.).
-------
appressed-ascending, in fruit spreading and about half as long as the mature
capsule; petals about 1 mm. long; stamens 10 or rarely 5; capsule conic-ovoid,
3-5 mm. long, its valves erect after dehiscence.
In wet soil and mud flats about lakes and ponds, and on seepage slopes in
N.M. (Rio Arriba, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-
Sept.; Greenl. to Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
Var. hesperia Fern, has sepals not more than 2 mm. long.
2. Sagina decumbens (Ell.) T. & G.
Annual, usually without a basal rosette; stems capillary, erect, ascending or
rarely decumbent, simple or slightly forking, to 17 cm. high; leaves linear-
subulate, often spreading-recurved, slenderly mucronate, exstipulate; pedicels
filiform, axillary, straight, not hooked after anthesis, glabrous or glandular-pubes-
cent above, to 25 mm. long: sepals 4 or 5, oblong to elliptic, obtuse, with scarious
margins, to 2.5 mm. long, closely appressed-ascending; petals none or 1 to 5 and
rudimentary or sometimes equaling or slightly exceeding sepals; stamens 3 to 10;
styles as many as sepals and alternate with them; capsule slenderly ovoid, 2-3.5
mm. long, 1-2 mm. thick, its valves as many as sepals and opposite them, mostly
recurved at apex after dehiscence; seeds reddish-brown, delicately marked with
slender ridges, 0.2-0.3 mm. long.
In wet meadows, wet or dryish fields, along paths and in open places in woods
in e. half of Okla. (Waterfall) and e., cen. and s. Tex., Feb.-June; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to e. Mass., s. Vt., s. N.Y., Ky., 111., Mo. and e. Kan.
7. Spergnlaria J. & C. PRESL SAND-SPURREY
Low branching annual or perennial herbs; leaves opposite or sometimes fas-
cicled, linear to filiform, fleshy or setaceous; stipules scarious; flowers pink or
whitish, in terminal racemose bracted or leafy cymes; sepals 5; petals 5, fewer or
sometimes wanting, entire; stamens 2 to 10; ovary 1-celled, many-ovuled; styles 3;
capsule 3-valved to the base; seeds reniform-globose or compressed, smooth or
roughened, often finely sculptured and sometimes echinate or winged.
About 40 species mostly in saline soils, widely distributed.
1. Plant glabrous throughout; cyme much-compounded; sepals to 1.6 mm. long;
mature capsules 1.4-2.6 mm. long; seeds 0.4 mm. long or less,
never winged 1. S. platensis.
1. Plant more or less glandular-pubescent (at least in the inflorescence); cyme
lax; sepals 1.6 mm. long or more; mature capsules 3 mm. long or
more; seeds 0.5 mm. long or more, wingless or sometimes winged
(2)
2(1). Seeds smooth or (at most) minutely papillose, usually dull in appearance....
2. S. marina.
2. At least some seeds minutely echinate, more or less silver-tinged
3. S. echinosperma.
1. Spergularia platensis (St.-Hil. & A. Juss.) Fenzl. Fig. 439.
Annual diffusely branched plants, often forming depressed mats 2-3 dm. across,
glabrous throughout, the ultimate branches filiform; leaves narrowly linear to
filiform, mucronate, 1-3 cm. long, scarcely 1 mm. wide; stipules deltoid, acumi-
nate, 1-3 mm. long; flowers numerous, in open cymes; pedicels filiform, 2-8 mm.
long; sepals broadly lanceolate, 0.8-1.5 m. long; petals white, minute or rarely
none; stamens 5; capsule 1.5-2.5 mm. long; seeds brown, minute, less than 0.5
mm. long, strongly rough-tuberculate, not winged. Spergula platensis (St.-Hil. &
A. Juss.) Shinners.
In low wet saline soils in n.-cen. and s. Tex., Mar.-June; a nat. of S. A., introd.
in Calif, and Tex.
899
-------
2. Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. SALT-MARSH SAND-SPURREY. Fig. 439.
Annual erect or more often diffuse fleshy plants with branches to 35 cm. long,
usually more or less glandular-pubescent; leaves rarely fascicled, linear, bluntly
mucronate, to 4 cm. long and 1.5 mm. wide; stipules triangular, about as long as
broad or slightly longer, 2—4 mm. long; cymes usually lax, the lower and sometimes
the upper bracts foliaceous and elongate or the upper much-abbreviated; sepals
ovate to ovate-lanceolate, blunt, 2.5-5 mm. long, much-exceeding the white or
pink petals; stamens 2 to 5; capsule ovoid, equaling or exceeding the calyx, 3.5-
6.5 mm. long; the lower fruiting pedicels to 1 cm. long; seeds pale-brown or
reddish, opaque, not sculptured, smooth or minutely papillose, 0.5-0.9 mm. long,
wingless or with a thin friable wing. S. salina J. & C. Presl.
In saline or brackish soils in depressions in dunes and on flats from e. Tex.
along the coast to s. Tex. and apparently isolated along the Rio Grande near El
Paso and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Gila, Maricopa, Final, Pima and Yuma cos.),
Mar.-June; from Fla., n. to Que., B.C. and 111., w. to Tex., Calif, and Wash.;
also Euras.
3. Spergularia echinosperma Celak. Fig. 439.
Annual diffuse plants with stems to 2 dm. long, usually more or less glandular-
pubescent throughout; leaves linear, to 35 mm. long and 1.4 mm. wide, usually not
fascicled or with only one leaf in the axil; stipules deltoid, 1.4-2.4 mm. long; cymes
laxly flowered; sepals ovate, 2.4-3.6 mm. long; petals pink or rosy at the apex,
1.6-2.8 mm. long; stamens as many as 4; styles 3, separated to the base; mature
capsule 3.4-5 mm. long, exceeding the calyx by 0.4-1.8 mm.; fruiting pedicels
filiform, reflexed or not, 5-11 mm. long; seeds 0.5-0.8 mm. long, deep reddish-
brown or nearly black with a silvery tinge, rounded in outline, surface always
roughened, echinate, with or without a broad scarious wing. S. salsuginea var.
bracteata Robins.
In salt marshes and flats and in dune pockets in e. Tex., along the coast to
Corpus Christi (Nueces Co.), apparently isolated near Ft. Stockton (Pecos Co.),
Feb.-June; introd. into s. U. S. from the Old World.
Fam. 59. Nymphaeaceae SALISB. WATER-LILY FAMILY
Aquatic perennial herbs with horizontal rhizomes and peltate or cordate leaves
floating or emersed, the submerged leaves (when present) usually capillary-
dissected; vernation involute; flowers axillary, solitary, perfect; sepals usually 3 to
6, green to petaloid, free or slightly united, hypogynous; petals 3 to many, showy
and inserted on the surface of the ovary, sometimes transitional to stamens; sta-
mens 3 to many, extrorse or introrse; pistils 1 to several; fruit a many-seeded berry
or nut, or 1- to 3-seeded, small and indehiscent.
About 75 species in several genera of wide geographic distribution. Including
Cabombaceae and Nelumbonaceae.
Most of the species are of some value to wildlife. For instance, various wild-
fowl, such as ducks, marsh, shore and song birds, at various times eat the seeds
of all our species. The rootstocks, roots and petioles of Nelumbo, Nymphaea and
Nuphar are eaten by beaver, muskrats and porcupines, and the leaves, stems and
flowers are frequently browsed by deer. The usually large leaves that harbor insects
and algae also provide shade and shelter, but very little food, for fish.
1. Carpels united either along their sides or along the outer margins by adnation
to a cuplike "receptacle;" stigmas radiate; ovules numerous in each
c'ell; stamens numerous, introrse; fruit an irregularly dehiscent
berry, ripening in the water; leaves with a basal sinus (2)
900
-------
1. Carpels free or (in Nelumbo) embeded in the receptacle; ovules solitary or 1
to 3 in each carpel; stamens hypogynous, few to many (3 to 36)
and extrorse or slightly introrse, or very numerous and extrorse;
fruits leathery or hard, indehiscent; floating or emersed leaves pel-
tate and lacking a sinus (3)
2(1). Perianth wide-spreading, composed of 4 sepals and 12 to 32 showy white,
pink, blue or yellow petals; carpels sunken in a cup-shaped fleshy
receptacle or hypanthium on the outer surface of which the petals
and stamens are inserted, prolonged upward into slender incurved
projections (carpellary styles); seeds arillate 1. Nymphaea
2. Perianth subglobose, composed of 6 concave yellow (green- or red-tinged)
sepals and numerous scalelike or stamenlike "petals" inserted with
the numerous stamens on the receptacle beneath the ovary; carpels
completely united, the stigmas radiate and sessile on a disk; seeds
not arillate 2. Nuphar
3(1). Perianth of numerous segments, the flowers large and showy; receptacle
large, top-shaped, with the many uniovulate carpels sunken sepa-
rately in cavities on the upper side, only the stigmas protruding;
receptacle becoming enlarged greatly in fruit, the carpels maturing
into nuts; stamens very numerous, extrorse, hypogynous; all leaves
floating or emergent on strong petioles, centrally peltate, large,
glaucous; plants lacking mucilage 5. Nelumbo
3. Perianth composed of 6 to 8 segments, the flowers small; receptacle small, with
4 to 18 free superior carpels; fruit small, 1- to 3-seeded; leaves all
floating or submersed; plants more or less coated with mucilage (4)
4(3). Plants with dissected opposite submersed leaves and small peltate floating
leaves; perianth petaloid, white or purplish; stamens 3 to 6
3. Cabomba
4. Plants with only undivided alternate peltate floating leaves; sepals persistent,
the petals dull-purple; stamens 18 to 36; plants heavily coated
(especially on lower leaf surface) with mucilage 4. Brasenia
1. Nymphaea L. WATER-LILY. WATER-NYMPH
Plants with floating leaf blades and white, pink, blue or yellow flowers; leaves
subpeltate, cleft at the base; sepals 4, nearly free, spreading; petals few to many,
spreading, the inner petals passing into stamens, the outer petals about as large as
the sepals, all borne with the stamens on the hypanthium that encloses the ovary;
ovary 12- to 35-celled, the concave summit tipped by a globular projection at the
center around which are the radiate stigmas that project at the margin to extend
as linear and incurved sterile appendages; fruit depressed-globose, usually covered
with the persistent petal- and stamen-bases, maturing under water; seeds enveloped
by a saclike aril.
About 50 species, widely dispersed in the tropics.
1. Corolla yellow; rootstock stoloniferous at the apex 1. N. mexicana.
1. Corolla white, pinkish, blue or violet; rootstock not stoloniferous (2)
2(1). Flower raised on a peduncle above surface of water; corolla blue or violet;
outer stamens with the connective produced into an apical append-
age; carpels free at the sides; styles mere blunt protuberances
2. N. elegans.
2. Flowers floating; corolla white or pinkish; outer stamens not appendaged at
the apex; carpels united at sides; styles subulate (3)
3(2). Petals oblanceolate to subspatulate, widest above the middle, tapered at
base but obtusely rounded at apex; rhizome branches tuberlike
3. N. tuberosa.
901
-------
3. Petals broadly elliptic to narrowly oblong-elliptic, widest at about the middle,
somewhat tapered at both ends; rhizome without tuberlike branches
4. N. odorata.
1. Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. YELLOW WATER-LILY, LAMPAZO AMARILLO. Fig. 440.
Rootstock warty with the persistent petiole bases; leaves oval to suborbicular,
to 2 dm. wide, glabrous, bright-green above, purple or crimson on the lower sur-
face; flowers 6-10 cm. wide; sepals lanceolate to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate;
petals usually about 25, bright-yellow, more elliptic than the sepals; stamens 50
to 60, the petaloid stamens mostly 2-2.5 cm. long; anthers of the inner stamens
4-6 mm. long; styles 7 to 9; berry ovoid, 2-2.5 cm. long; seeds 4-5 mm. in
diameter. N. flava Leitn.
In lakes, ponds and slow streams in e. and s. Tex. and Ariz. (Final Co.),
spring-summer; also s. Fla. and Mex.
2. Nymphaea elegans Hook. BLUE WATER-LILY, LAMPAZOS. Fig. 441.
Rootstock stoutish; leaves ovate to oval-orbicular, to 2 dm. wide, usually much
smaller, undulate-sinuate or nearly entire, usually dark red-purple and somewhat
veiny on the lower surface; flowers usually raised on a slender peduncle 1-2.5 dm.
above the water; sepals mostly lanceolate, 4-5 cm. long; petals 6 to 10, lanceolate
or sometimes ovate-lanceolate, blue or pale-violet; stamens numerous; styles 15 to
25, mere blunt protuberances; berry depressed-globose, 1.5-3 cm. in diameter;
seeds 1-1.5 mm. in diameter. Castalia elegans (Hook.) Greene.
In ponds, pools and ditches in s. Tex., Apr-July; also s. Fla. and Mex.
3. Nymphaea tuberosa Paine.
Rather coarse plant; rhizome with readily disarticulating branches strongly con-
stricted at base and tuberlike; petioles green, striped above with brown; leaf blades
green beneath or rarely dull purple, flat and floating or somewhat elevated above
the water, 1-4 dm. across; flower odorless or scarcely fragrant, 1-2.5 cm. broad,
opening for 3 or 4 days from early morning to early afternoon; sepals green on
the back; petals oblanceolate to subspatulate, obtusely rounded at summit; filaments
broader than their anthers; seeds 2.8-4.4 mm. long.
Pond margins and slow streams in Okla. (Ottawa Co.), June-Sept.; from s.w.
Que. to n. Ont., Minn, and Neb., s. to Md., O., Ind., 111., Ark. and Okla.
4. Nymphaea odorata Ait. WHITE WATER-LILY, ALLIGATOR-BONNET, NINFA
ACUATICA. Fig. 442.
Rhizome stout, horizontal, elongate, mostly 2.5-3 cm. thick; leaves arising
along the rhizome, suborbicular, to 25 cm. wide, with a narrow sinus, green above,
green tinged with red or purplish-red and obscurely veined on the lower surface;
flowers very fragrant; sepals often purplish on back, elliptic to ovate or ovate-
lanceolate, to 8 cm. long and 25 mm. wide; petals usually more than 25, white,
elliptic or slightly broadened upward, thickish; stamens mostly more than 70, the
petaloid stamens 3-4 cm. long; styles mostly about 20; berry depressed-globose,
mostly 2.5-3 cm. in diameter; seeds ellipsoid, about 2 mm. long. Incl. var. villosa
Casp. and var. gigantea Tricker, N. spiralis Raf., N. lekophylla (Small) Cory,
Castalia odorata (Ait.) Woodv. & Wood, C. lekophylla Small.
In ponds, lakes, slow streams and ditches in Okla. (Comanche and LeFlore cos.),
e. Tex. and Ariz. (Yavapai Co.), Mar.-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to e. Can. and
Man.; Ariz.
902
-------
Fig. 440: Nymphaea mexicana: a, rootstock, x %; b, leaves, x %; c, flower, x %;
d, seedling, x %; e, young fruit, x %; f, seed in sac, x 4; g and h, seeds, x 5. (Courtesy
of R.K.Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 441: Nymphaea elegans: a, habit, x
x I1!;; c, stamen, x 2V2; d, fruit, x 1. (V. p.).
%; b, grouping of indefinite stamens,
-------
Fig. 442: Nymphaea odorata: a, rhizome, x %; b, leaf, x %; c, flower, x %; d,
fruit, x ys; e, seed in sac, x 5; f, seed, x 6. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2. NupharSM.
About a dozen or more species and their variants in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Nuphar luteum subsp. macrophyllum (Small) E. O. Seal. YELLOW COW-LILY,
SPATTERDOCK. Fig. 443.
Perennial aquatics with procumbent branching cylindrical rhizomes: leaves
spirally arranged, with a deep sinus at the base; petioles and peduncles with
numerous minute air-cavities; exposed leaves floating or emergent and erect,
broadly ovate to suborbicular, to 3 dm. long or more and 25 cm. wide, with over-
lapping to divergent basal lobes, glabrous to more or less pubescent on lower sur-
face; submersed leaves (when present) thin and translucent, essentially like the
floating ones in size and shape; petioles terete to more or less flattened above,
glabrous to pubescent; flowers to 25 mm. across, and 25 mm. high; sepals 6,
roundish, concave, the inner portion green to yellow, rarely red-tinged; petals
numerous, small and thickish, stamenlike or scalelike, truncate to emarginate,
inserted with the numerous short stamens on the receptacle under the ovary, not
surpassing the disklike 5- to 25-rayed sessile stigma, mostly persistent and at length
recurved; anthers 3-7 mm. long, yellow, sometimes red-tinged; fruit ovoid, slightly
constricted below the entire to crenate stigmatic disk; stigmatic rays 5 to 25,
mostly ending 1-2 mm. from the disk margin; stigmatic disk sometimes red-tinged;
seeds numerous, broadly ovoid, 4-6 mm. long, 3.5-5 mm. wide. Nymphaea micro-
carpa Mill. & Standl., N. ovata Mill. & Standl., N. puberula Mill. & Stand!.,
Nuphar advena of auth., N. advena /8 tomentosa Nutt., N. microcarpum (Mill. &
Standl.) Standl., TV. ovatum (Mill. & Standl.) Standl., N. puberulnm (Mill &
Standl.) Standl.
In water or on mud in ponds, shallow lakes, streams and springs, in e. Okla.
(Choctaw, McCurtain Ottawa, Pushmataha and Sequoyah cos.) and in Tex. mostly
on the Edwards Plateau and in the e., Mar.-Oct.; throughout most of e. N.A.;
also n. Mex. and Cuba.
Beal, the latest monographer of Nuphar, placed all Oklahoma and Texas
material in subsp. macrophyllum. We have found no reason to differ from his
conclusions.
Two other subspecies should eventually be found in our region. These are
subsp. polysepalum (Engelm.) E. O. Beal (N. polysepalum Engelm.) (Fig. 444)
of extreme southern Colorado, northward and westward, characterized by having
9 to 12 sepals, anthers commonly red-tinged and seeds narrowly ovoid, and
subsp. ozarkanum (Mill. & Standl.) E. O. Beal of extreme western Arkansas and
Missouri, characterized by having the inner portion of its 6 sepals and its fruit
more or less red-tinged.
3. Cabomba AUBL.
About a half dozen species in the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere.
1. Cabomba caroliniana Gray. FANWORT. Fig. 445.
Delicate aquatic herbs rooting in mud; stems slender, branched, to 2 m. long
or more, with a thin gelatinous coating; submersed leaves opposite or whorled.
with petioles to 3 cm. long, rounded in outline, to 6 cm. wide, palmately dissected
into linear-filiform segments: floating leaves few, alternate, peltate, entire, linear-
elliptic, mostly slightly constricted at the middle, often bifid at one end, usually
pubescent beneath, to about 2 cm. long; flowers solitary on long slender axillary
peduncles, to 12 mm. long, white or cream-color, with yellow spots at base and
sometimes pink-tinged at tips; sepals 3; petals 3, oval, biauriculate above the
abbreviated claw; stamens 6, the short anthers extrorse; carpels 2 lo 4, with small
terminal stigmas; fruit 3-seeded, indehiscent.
906
-------
Fig. 443: Nuphar luteum subsp. macrophyllum: a, habit, x V& b, flower, x 1; c,
stamens, x 3; d, fruit, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 444: Nuphar lute urn subsp. polysepalum: a, habit, showing rootstock and
fruit, x %; b, seed, x 4; c, flower, showing the conspicuous thick sepals, the numerous
arching stamens and the radiate stigma, x %; d, flower (longitudinal section), the short
petals concealed by the stamens, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 228).
-------
Fig. 445: Cabomba caroliniana. a, submersed leaves, floating leaves and flowers,
x Vz\ b, rooting base of stem, x %; c, submersed leaf, x 1; d, floating leaf, x 3; e, flower,
x 1; f, petal, x 1%; g, sepal, x 1%; h, young carpels, x 7; i, mature seed, x 5. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
In lakes, ponds and quiet streams mainly in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex.,
Apr.-July; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va., s. 111. and e. Mo., somewhat naturalized
farther n.
4. Brasenia SCHREB.
A monotypic genus of wide distribution.
1. Brasenia Schreberi J. F. Gmel. PURPLE WEN-DOCK, WATER-SHIELD. Fig. 446.
Rootstock slender, creeping in mud; stems slender; leaves alternate, long-
petioled, centrally peltate, floating, broadly oval to suborbicular, rounded at both
ends, entire or rarely very shallowly crenate, thickish, smooth on upper surface,
gelatinous on lower surface, to 10 cm. long; flowers axillary, small, dull-purple,
emergent; sepals and petals 3 or 4 each, linear-oblong, 1-1.5 cm. long; stamens
18 to 36, the filaments filiform, the anthers slightly introrse; pistils 4 to 18,
separate, the stigmas linear; fruits clavate, coriaceous, indehiscent, 6-8 mm. long.
B. purpurea Casp.
In lakes, ponds and slow streams in e. Okla. (Atoka, Pushmataha and Sequoyah
cos.) and e. Tex., Apr.-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to P.E.I., s. Que., s. Ont. and
Minn., w. to s. B.C., Ore. and Calif.
909
-------
Fig. 446: Brasenia Schreberi: a, fruit (longitudinal section), x 2; b, flowering
branch, all the submersed parts clothed with a thick translucent gelatinous coating,
x 4p; c, mature seed, x 4; d, roots, x %; e, flower, x 3; f, mature fruits, xHfj; g, mature
fruit, x 2; h, habit, showing peltate leaves, x \-,. (From Mason, Fig. 229).
-------
Fig. 447: Nelumbo lutea: a, rhizome, x %; b, leaf, x %; c, under side of leaf,
x %; d, section of rhizome, x %', e, bud, x %; f, flower, x %; g, stamen, x % h, section
through young fruit, enlarged; i, fruits in receptacle. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
The stems, petioles and lower surface of the leaves are heavily coated with
a viscid, gluey jelly.
According to Mason (Fl. Marshes Calif. 491. 1957). Tokura observed in Japan
that the flowers of this species open on two successive days. On the first day the
flower is elevated above the water about 6 A.M. and opens within an hour, during
which time pollination is effected. The flower closes at about 9 A.M. and is then
withdrawn beneath the water. On the next day the same flower is again pushed
even higher above the water surface. The stamens then dehisce, and after a few
hours the flower is again withdrawn, never to emerge again.
5. Nelumbo ADANS. SACRED BEAN
Represented in both hemispheres by one species each.
1. Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) Pers. YELLOW LOTUS, WATER-CHINQUAPIN, POND-NUT.
Fig. 447.
Aquatic herb with slender rhizomes rooted in mud; leaves orbicular, centrally
peltate, floating or mostly raised above the water on long stout petioles, to 7 dm.
in diameter, with the center depressed or cupped; peduncles stout, rising to about
1 m. above the water surface, the solitary pale-yellow flower to 25 cm. broad;
sepals and petals .numerous, commonly 20 or more, scarcely differentiated, the
outermost (external in the bud) green and sepaloid; stamens numerous, spirally
inserted and closely surrounding the pistils; anthers antrorse, tipped with a slender
hooked appendage; fruiting receptacle prolonged, obconic, to 1 dm. in diameter,
the numerous 1-ovuled ovaries sunk in small pits on its flat truncate summit;
fruit nutlike, indehiscent, each separately embedded in the accrescent receptacle,
about 1 cm. in diameter.
In quiet water of ponds and sluggish streams in e. Okla. (Atoka, Love and
McCurtain cos.) and the e. third of Tex., May-July; from Fla. to Tex., n. locally
to s. N.E., N.Y., s. Ont., Minn, and la.
The farinaceous storage tubers along the rhizome are edible as well as the
seeds.
Fam. 60. Ceratophyllaceae S. F. GRAY HORNWORT FAMILY
Submersed aquatic rootless herbs, with a slender primary stem and scattered
lateral branches; leaves whorled, sessile, finely dissected; flowers minute, unisexual,
without a perianth, solitary and sessile in leaf axils, subtended by an 8- to 12-cleft
involucre in place of a calyx; stamens 12 to 16, the filaments short, the rather
large anthers terminating in 2 or 3 sharp points; pistillate flower consisting of a
simple 1-celled ovary with a suspended orthotropous ovule; fruit an achene,
beaked by the slender indurated style.
A monotypic family.
1. Ceratophyllum L. HORNWORT. COON-TAIL
Characters of the family; plants olive-green; leaves usually 1- to 4-dichotomously
dissected into filiform to narrowly linear divisions.
About 10 species that are widely dispersed. Our species are highly tolerant of
conditions that prove disastrous for many species of hydrophytes, such as fluctuat-
ing water levels and turbidity. When pieces break from the mother-plant they
function as new plants.
I. Leaves usually forked 1 or 2 times, the division conspicuously serrate on one
side; achenes without lateral spines 1. C. demersum.
1. Leaves usually forked 2 to 4 times, the divisions entire or only obscurely
serrulate; achenes with 3 to 5 lateral spines 2. C. echinatum.
912
-------
1. Ceratophyllum demersum L. COMMON HORNWORT. Fig. 448.
Plants entirely submersed; lowest leaves of seedling simple; stems prolonged,
sometimes to 3 m. long, branched and forming large masses, brittle or somewhat
cordlike and flexuous; leaves as many as 12 in a verticil, finely dissected into
capillary to linear and flattened serrate divisions, very variable as to the length,
breadth and toothing of the leaf divisions, usually about 15 mm. long; achene
compressed, ellipsoid, wingless, smooth, 4-6 mm. long, with 2 basal spines 2-5
mm. long; style 4-6 mm. long.
In quiet waters of lakes, ponds and slow streams in most of Okla,. throughout
Tex. but mostly in the e. part of state, N. M. (Dona Ana, Grant and Rio Arriba
cos.) and Ariz, (widespread), summer; from Que. to n. B.C., s. to Mex.; also
Old World.
The seeds and occasionally the foliage provide food for wildfowl especially
ducks. The usually dense growth, that may crowd out other more desirable species,
provides shelter for fish, shrimp and other small animals as well as a haven for
insects that are valuable as fish food.
2. Ceratophyllum echinatum Gray.
Plants entirely submersed, closely resembling C. demersum; lowest leaves of
seedling cleft; stems prolonged and branched; leaves usually with entire capillary
divisions, 1.5-2 cm. long, the uncleft base somewhat expanded; achene narrowly
winged by the confluent bases of the lateral spines, with a somewhat tuberculate
surface, 5-7 mm. long; style 5-10 mm. long. C. demersum var. echinatum Gray.
In quiet waters of streams, lakes and pools in n.e. Tex. (Bowie Co.), summer;
from Fla. to Tex. and Mex., n. to s.w. N.B., s. Me., N.Y., O., Mich., 111. and
Minn.
Fam. 61. Rammculaceae Juss. CROWFOOT FAMILY
Herbaceous or occasionally woody plants; leaves basal, alternate or in a few
genera opposite or whorled; flowers hypogynous, regular or irregular (in
Delphinium), with all parts free and distinct or the pistils connate in Nigella;
sepals present, usually imbricate, varying from petaloid to small and caducous;
petals present or absent; stamens usually numerous; pistils 1 to many, simple;
ovules 1 to many; style 1; stigma lateral or terminal, usually minute; fruit an
achene, follicle or berry.
Perhaps about 1,000 species in about 50 genera of world-wide distribution but
mostly in the forested parts of the North Temperate Zone.
1. Carpels with 2 or more ovules; fruit follicular (2)
1. Carpels with a solitary ovule; fruit an achene (6)
2(1). Cauline leaves (at an thesis) in a dense cluster at the top of the woody
stem; wood yellow; flowers small, purplish-brown; staminodia
present; rare in southeastern Texas I. Xanthorhiza
2. Leaves, wood and flowers not as above; mostly from central Texas westward
(3)
3(2). Flowers irregular, large and showy, commonly blue or bluish (4)
3. Flowers regular, mostly yellowish or whitish, rarely partly bluish (5)
4(3). Upper sepal extended into a conspicuous cylindric spur
4. Delphinium
4. Upper sepal expanded into a helmet-shaped hood 5. Aconitum
913
-------
Fig. 448: Ceratophyllum demersum: a-c, stamens at various stages of development,
x 8; d, staminate flower, the involucre calyxlike, x 4; e, node with leaves, branches and
a pair of staminate flowers arising on opposite sides of stem, x 4; f, node with leaves,
branches and solitary pistillate flower, x 8; g, mature fruit, the basal spines recurved,
x 6. (From Mason, Fig. 230).
-------
5(3). Petals with a relatively small erect limb, produced below into a long
tapering hollow spur that is clavate at the end 3. Aquilegia
5. Petals none, the sepals petal-like; flower rather simple 2. Caltha
6(1). Petals present (except sometimes in Myosurus); leaves commonly alternate
or all basal (7)
6. Petals none or rudimentary (8)
7(6). Sepals spurred at base, the spur usually elongate, scarious; petals very
small or none; receptacle becoming greatly elongate with the fruits
in a slender cylindric spike; plants scapose 7. Myosurus
1. Sepals not spurred; petals usually present, often showy; receptacle not becom-
ing greatly elongate with the fruits in a conic to ovoid or hemi-
spheric head; stems commonly leafy 9. Ranunculus
8(6). Sepals large and showy, petal-like, somewhat persistent; achenes globose
and with long often plumose tails 6. Clematis
8. Sepals small, less conspicuous than the stamens, caducous; achenes without
long plumose tails (9)
9(8). Leaves simple, palmately lobed or parted; outer filaments flat, somewhat
petaloid; anthers oval or ovate, about 1 mm. long
8. Trautvetteria
9. Leaves decompound; filaments all filiform; anthers narrowly linear, much
more than 1 mm. long 10. Thalictrum
1. Xanthorhiza MARSH.
A monotypic genus.
1. Xanthorhiza simplicissima Marsh. BROOK-FEATHER, YELLOWROOT.
Plant low, weak, shrubby, with deep-yellow and bitter bark and long roots,
to about 6 dm. high; leaves approximate, 1- or 2-pinnate; leaflets mostly 5, ovate
to elliptic, 25-75 mm. long, incised-toothed or divided; flowers polygamous, in
compound drooping racemes, appearing along with the leaves from large terminal
buds in early spring; sepals regular, 5, spreading, deciduous, ovate to ovate-
lanceolate, brownish-purple; petals 5, glandlike; stamens 5 or 10, the filaments
stout; pistils 5 to 15, with 2 pendulous ovules; follicles elliptic 1-seeded, 3-4 mm.
long, the short style becoming dorsal.
In damp woods, thickets and on wooded stream banks, often on the edge of
water, rare in s.e. Tex., Mar.-May; from N.Y., s. to Fla. and Tex.
2. Caltha L. MARSH MARIGOLD
About 20 species in Arctic and North Temperate regions.
1. Caltha leptosepala DC. ELK'S LIP. Fig. 449.
Glabrous perennial; petioles from shorter than to several times longer than
the blade; blades ovate-oblong to oblong, obtuse, bright green, to about 7 cm.
long and 4 cm. wide, subentire to serrate or dentate, the basal sinus mostly
open; scape to about 6 cm. long, usually with a single leaf and a solitary
peduncle mostly 3-10 or rarely to 20 cm. long; flower solitary; sepals 5 to 9,
petal-like, the inner surface white, the outer surface bluish; pistils 5 to 10, with
scarcely any styles; follicles compressed, spreading, somewhat stipitate.
In wet meadows, marshes and wet soils about mt. lakes, below snow-banks and
along streams, in N.M. (San Juan, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino and Graham cos.), June-Sept.; Mont, to Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and
Wash.
915
-------
Fig. 449: Caltha leptosepala: a, habit, x !/->; b, flower, x 2%; c, carpels and stamens,
x 2'2; d, mature carpels, x 2H. (V. F.).
-------
3. Aqullegia L. COLUMBINE
Perennial herbs from a stout caudexlike rhizome; leaves petiolate, 2 or 3 times
ternately compounded; flowers regular, few but conspicuous; sepals 5, short-clawed
at base, petal-like, soon deciduous; petals 5, the terminal portion expanded, pro-
longed backward from the base below the flower into an elongate hollow spur that
secretes nectar from an internal gland at its apex; stamens numerous, separate but
often more or less connivent, the innermost staminodal; filaments elongate: anthers
oval; pistils usually 5, erect, each prolonged into a slender style; fruits a several-
seeded slender-beaked follicle.
About 100 species in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Flowers basically bluish or purplish 1. A. coerulea.
1. Flowers yellow (2)
2(1). Sepals about 17 mm. wide; petal blade about 2 cm. long and 16 mm. wide;
leaves biternate; endemic in Sierra Vieja Mts., Presidio Co., Texas
2. A. Hinckleyana.
2. Sepals 5-10 mm. wide or (if wider) the spur more than 1 dm. long; leaves
often triternate (3)
3(2). Petal blade 8-16 mm. long; spurs 4-9 cm. long, rarely longer; flowers
clear-yellow; petioles to 2 dm. long; leaflets about 4 cm. long or
less 3. A. chrysantha.
3. Petal blade 15-30 mm. long; spurs 10-15 cm. long; flowers pale-yellow;
petioles to 3 dm. long; leaflets usually more than 4 cm. long
4. A. longissima.
1. Aquilegia coerulea James. ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLUMBINE.
Caudex simple to somewhat branched; leaves mainly basal, somewhat reduced
upward on the stem, glaucous, biternate, the segments short-petiolate, cuneate-
obovate, from shallowly to very deeply 1 to 3 times cleft, usually somewhat
pubescent beneath, 1—3 cm. long; stems 2-6 (—8) dm. tall, sparsely pubescent to
glabrous below, glandular-pubescent above; flowers usually several or rarely
solitary, erect; sepals light- to deep-blue or somewhat purplish, lanceolate to
oblong-lanceolate or nearly elliptic, 2-4 cm. long; petals colored similarly to the
sepals but the blades usually much lighter to nearly white; spurs slender, nearly
straight, mostly 3.5^.5 cm. long, truncate, the blades about half as long; inner
stamens modified into membranous staminodia; follicles mostly 5 or 6 but some-
times as many as 10, erect, densely glandular-puberulent, 2-3 cm. long.
On seepage banks above lakes and on slopes, in wet soil along mt. streams,
in N. M. (Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
and Coconino cos.), June-July; Mont, to N.M. and Ariz.
The beautiful columbine is the state flower of Colorado.
2. Aquflegia Hinckleyana Munz.
Stems 5-7 dm. high, glabrous and glaucous below, glandular-pubescent
and freely branched in the inflorescence: basal leaves biternate, glabrous
and pale-green above, glabrous and more glaucous beneath; petioles glabrous,
rather slender, 2.5-3 dm. long, the glaucous primary petiolules subglabrous and
2.5-5 cm. long, the secondary petiolules to 25 mm. long and sparingly pilose;
leaflets suborbicular, rather thin in texture, 2-4 cm. long, cleft to about the
middle, each segment then with 2 or 3 rounded-oblong teeth or lobes; cauline
leaves several, gradually reduced upward: pedicels to about 7 cm. long; flowers
suberect, golden-yellow, subglabrous; sepals spreading, ovate, obtuse, about 25
mm. long and 17 mm. wide; petal blades spatulate-obovate, rounded truncate,
about 2 cm. long and 16 mm. wide: spurs slender, straight or slightly curved,
about 4 cm. long and 5 mm. wide at base, then gradually narrowed to almost
917
-------
filiform tube and slightly enlarged tip; stamens exserted 6-7 mm.; staminodia
12-14 mm. long, abruptly narrowed at apex; follicles 2-2.5 cm. long, glandular-
puberulent, with slightly flaring tips; styles almost glabrous, filiform, about 2 cm.
long; seeds about 1.5 mm. long.
Apparently endemic to the Capote Falls region in Presidio Co., Texas, where
it occurs on dripping cliffs about the falls, Mar.-Nov.
3. Aquilegia chrysantha Gray.
Stems 4-12 dm. high, glabrous at base and glandular-pubescent above or
throughout, usually much-branched above; basal leaves mostly triternate, rather
thin, glabrous and light-green above, glaucous and glabrous to pubescent beneath;
petioles slender, 5-20 cm. long, glaucous, glabrous or pubescent; primary petio-
lules 2-5 cm. long, the secondary petiolules about half as long and the tertiary
to 25 mm. long; leaflets cuneate-obovate to orbicular-obovate, to 45 mm. long,
usually much smaller, cleft to middle or beyond, the main divisions with 2 or 3
round-oblong lobes; cauline leaves well-developed; pedicels to about 1 dm. long;
flowers erect, clear golden-yellow throughout, somewhat glandular-pubescent;
sepals spreading, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, usually acuminate, 2-3.5 cm.
long, 5-10 mm. wide; petal blades oblong-obovate, usually rounded at apex,
spreading, 8-16 mm. long; spurs usually spreading, 4-7 cm. long, 4-6 mm. wide
at base, gradually narrowed to an almost filiform tube with slight apical thicken-
ing; stamens usually exceeding petal blades by 8-10 mm.; anthers 1.5-2 mm. long;
staminodia 9-12 mm. long, very little crinkled, subacuminate; follicles glandular-
pubescent, 2-3 cm. long, the tips spreading; styles pubescent, 12-18 mm. long:
seeds about 2 mm. long.
On wet seepage banks and edge of pools and streams, sometimes on edge of
water, in sheltered crevasses, in Tex. rare in the mts. of the Trans-Pecos, N. M.
(Dona Ana, Grant, Bernalillo, Catron, Socorro and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Apr.-Aug.; from Ariz.,
Colo., N.M. and Tex., s. to n. Mex.
4. Aquilegia longissima Gray. LONGSPUR COLUMBINE.
Stems 5-12 dm. high, often forming large clumps, glabrous below and glandular-
pubescent above or glandular-pubescent throughout, open-branched above; basal
leaves triternate rather thin, light-green and glabrous to slightly pubescent above,
glaucous and glabrous to pubescent beneath; petioles slender, 2-3 dm. long,
glabrous to pubescent; primary petiolules 3-5 cm. long, the secondary petiolules
1-5 cm. long and the tertiary to 15 mm. long; leaflets much as in A. chrysantha,
15-45 mm. long; cauline leaves well-developed; pedicels to 2 dm. long; flowers
erect, pale-yellow, somewhat glandular-puberulent; sepals spreading, lanceolate,
acuminate, 25-35 mm. long, 6-13 mm. wide; petal blades spreading almost
horizontally, spatulate to spatulate-obovate, 1.5-3 cm. long, rounded to emargi-
nate; spurs filiform, pendent, mostly 9-15 cm. long, 2-3 mm. wide at base, the
tips about 1.5 mm. thick; stamens 5-12 mm. longer than petal blades; anthers
1.5 mm. long; staminodia 12-14 mm. long, rather plane, subacuminate; follicles
glandular-pubescent, about 25 mm. long, with spreading tips; styles 16-26 mm.
long; seeds almost 2 mm. long.
Along streams and in wet places among boulders, on ledges and in sheltered
crevices in canyons of Chisos Mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Ariz. (Cochise
and Pima cos.), June-Nov.; also n.e. Mex.
4. Delphinium L. LARKSPUR
Annual or usually perennial herbs, with erect to virgate or ascending stems
from a usually tuberiform or rhizomatous rootstock; leaves palmately or rarely
918
-------
pinnately cleft or divided; flowers commonly showy, morphologically very similar
in our species, in terminal racemes or panicles; sepals 5, irregular, petal-like,
the upper one prolonged into a spur at the base; petals 4 or rarely 2 (united into
one), irregular, the upper pair continued backward into long spurs that are en-
closed in the spur of the calyx, the lower pair with short claws: stamens usually
numerous; pistils 3 or fused into 1, forming many-seeded follicles.
This is a complex genus of about 150 species mostly in the North Temperate
Zone. Many species and hybrids are valued as ornamentals, and many of the
species are known to be poisonous to livestock. The complexity of the genus is
emphasized by the existence of multiple hybrids. This fact should be considered
when identification of our plants is undertaken.
1. Raceme, sepals and follicles strongly glandular-pubescent or -puberulent
1. D. sapellonis.
1. The above organs usually puberulent, without glands (2)
2(1). Stem typically 1-2 m. tall; leaves coarsely dissected; racemes open, not
conspicuously bracteate; sinus of the lower petals 1 mm. deep;
follicles oblong, 10-14 mm. long 2. D. andesicola.
2. Stem usually less than 1 m. tall; leaves finely dissected; racemes interrupted-
spicate, usually conspicuously leafy-bracteate below; sinus of the
lower petals 3-4 mm. deep; follicles ovate, 9-11 mm. long
3. D. tenuisectum.
1. Delphinium sapellonis Cockll.
Strict slender more or less virgate perennial from a short slender rootstock;
stems fistulous, glabrous below, glandular-pubescent in the raceme, 1-2 m. tall;
leaves mainly midcauline, numerous, variable even on the same plant; blades
mostly longer than the petioles, palmatisect into narrowly cuneate primary divi-
sions that are distally irregularly lobed or simply toothed, the shortly acute
ultimate segments glabrous on both surfaces; racemes spicate with the numerous
flowers close-set or laxly paniculate with the few flowers scattered; bracts filiform,
1-1.2 cm. long; sepals mostly dull brownish or greenish veined with purple, in
bud varying to from pale green to very dark purple, ovate, abruptly acute,
streaked, somewhat crisped to entire, 8—9 mm. long, 4.5-5 mm. wide, usually
glandular-pubescent dorsally; spur somewhat decurved, 6—9 mm. long; limb of the
lower petals narrowly oblong, comose, the sinus 2 mm. deep, the upper petals
oblique, shortly acute; follicles oblong, erect, 12-16 mm. long, densely glandular-
puberulent, the cusp thin and spreading; seeds rounded or quadrate-angled,
brownish, with prominent hyaline wing margins, 2-2.5 mm. long.
Damp or wet soil along streams, edge of meadows and in woodlands, in N. M.
(Mora, San Miguel and Sandoval cos.), July-Aug.
2. Delphinium andesicola Ewan.
Medium to tall stout erect perennial from a stout woody-fibrous deep-seated
rootstock; stems simple or few from the rootcrown, 1-2 m. tall, leafy to the
racemes, purplish, with a uniform fine puberulence; leaves predominantly cauline,
the basal similar, withering at flowering time, minutely puberulent; principal
cauline leaves with petioles 6-9 cm. long, of 3 cuneate-rhomboid or -obovate
divisions that are again pinnatifid distally into narrowly oblong few-toothed
long ultimate segments, the teeth acute, the proximal half of the division blade
entire and gradually narrowed below, the segments 1-1.5 cm. wide at base of lobes;
racemes elongate, open, 25-35 cm. long; flowers numerous, with ascending
or spreading puberulent pedicels 2-3 cm. long; sepals dull ashy- or dark-blue,
ovate, subacute, 9-12 mm. long, cinereous-puberulent; upper petals pale-blue;
lower petals ovate-oblong, notched, with sinus 1 mm. deep, blue-purple, moderately
919
-------
Fig. 450: Aconitmn columbianum: a. top of plant, x H; b, basal part of plant,
'i-: c. flower, x 1; d. hood (upper sepal) and 2 upper petals", x 2U. (V. p.).
-------
white-villous; follicles oblong, obscurely venulose, 1—1.4 cm. long, with short thin
pricklelike cusp; seeds 2.5-3 mm. long, the angles narrowly winged.
In wet soil of swales and mt. stream bottoms, in Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee,
Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Aug.-Sept.
Besides typical material, the subsp. amplum Ewan is found in the more northern
area of the distribution, characterized by having a less pubescent stem and
shorter, broader ultimate divisions of the leaves.
3. Delphinium tenuisectum Greene.
Rather tall leafy-stemmed virgate perennial from a stout woody vertical root-
crown; stems strict, stout, simple, finely puberulent throughout (densely so on
rachis), 8-12 dm. tall; leaves up to the raceme, spreading, the lower slender
petioles 8-10 cm. long; blades finely dissected, 7-9 cm. wide, the primary divisions
indistinct by the approximation of the linear-pectinate narrowly acute ultimate
segments, sometimes the divisions of the lowermost blades broader (to 3 mm. wide)
and more abruptly acute, all finely puberulent on both surfaces; racemes inter-
rupted-spicate; flowers rather large, dark-blue; bracts filiform-attenuate, the lower
foliaceous; sepals ovate, abruptly acute or apiculate, finely puberulent dorsally
and more or less pale with a median gray band, 11-13 mm. long, 5.5-6.5 mm.
wide; spur medium, rather stout, nearly straight, 12-18 mm. long; limb of lower
petals ovate-oblong, bifid, the open sinus 3-4 mm. deep; upper petals short,
essentially included, short-acute; stamens lightly glandular-hairy; follicles ovate
to oblong, 9-11 (-26) mm. long, stramineous, finely puberulent, the cusp firm
and spreading; seeds prismatic-quadrate, strongly wing-angled, 2-2.5 mm. long,
dark-brown.
In wet meadows and in wet gravel and soil along streams, in N.M. (Colfax,
Grant, Otero, Socorro, Taos and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), July-
Aug.; also n. Mex.
Our plant is referred to subsp. amplibracteatum (Woot.) Ewan, with shorter
stems, less finely dissected leaves, and much smaller follicles than in typical
D. tenuisectum.
5. Aconitum L. MONKSHOOD
Possibly several hundred species in North Temperate regions of the world.
1. Aconitum columbianum Nutt. Fig. 450.
Herbaceous perennial with several erect stems from a short thickened tuberous
crown, mostly 5-20 dm. tall thickened and fistulose, glabrous to slightly crisp-
puberulent below, spreading-pubescent above and glandular (at least in the in-
florescence) ; leaves mostly cauline, long-petiolate below to subsessile above; blades
5-20 cm. wide, very variable but mostly deeply 3- or 5-lobed with the segments
rhombic-ovate to cuneate-oblanceolate and variously incised to toothed or nearly
entire; raceme simple to freely branched; pedicels slender, acutely ascending;
bulblets often developed in the leaf axils or in the place of some of the flowers;
sepals 5, yellow or greenish-yellow to deep purplish-blue, rarely white, rarely
glabrous to hirsute and often somewhat glandular; hood 1.5-3 cm. high, not so
broad, the outer edge sharply declined and with scarcely any beak to gradually
or abruptly narrowed into a conspicuous descending to porrect beak; lateral
sepals obovate to reniform-obovate, to 2 cm. long; lower sepals lanceolate, to
about 1.5 cm. long, commonly the 2 unequal in width; only the upper petals
usually developed, the spur generally coiled; follides 3 to 5, glabrous to glandular-
pubescent, 1-2 cm. long; seeds about 3.5 mm. long, with a prominent longitudinal
wing and a series of delicate ruffled sinuous transverse lamellae.
921
-------
Ilk
Fig. 451: Clematis crispa: a, part of plant, x Vs; b, section of stem, x 3; c, sepal,
about x 1; d. stamen, x 3; e, style, x 3. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
In water of marshes, seepage areas, at edge of water along streams, subalpine
meadows, and in conifer forests, in N.M. (Taos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Miguel,
Bernalillo and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Cochise, Santa Cruz
and Pima cos.), June-Sept.; Mont, to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
6. Clematis L. CLEMATIS
Herbaceous perennial vines that climb by twining of the petiolules or erect
suffrutescent herbs; leaves opposite, simple or variously compound; flowers soli-
tary or in panicles, terminal or axillary, often nodding; sepals usually 4, rarely
5 or 6, thin to coriaceous, white to variously colored, valvate in the bud, the
margins often induplicate; petals none or small, transitional into stamens; stamens
numerous, with adnate anthers; achene bodies compressed, usually more or less
rimmed; achene tails plumose to pubescent or nearly naked.
About 250 species widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions,
with several in temperate regions.
1. Flowers small, creamy-white, in cymose panicles; sepals oval to oblong, 6-12
mm. long 1. C. virginiana.
1. Flowers large, rose-color to violet-color, solitary and nodding on long
peduncles; sepals 25 mm. long or more, with wide undulate or
crisped margins 2. C. crispa.
1. Clematis virginiana L. VIRGIN'S-BOWER, DEVIL'S DARNING-NEEDLE.
Plant almost glabrous: leaves simply 3-foliolate, very rarely pinnately 5-foliolate;
leaflets thin, ovate, often subcordate, 5—7.5 cm. long, incisely few-toothed or
somewhat lobed, glabrous or sparingly pilose and glabrate on lower surface;
panicles corymbiform, with numerous creamy-white flowers; sepals oval or oblong,
6-12 mm. long, anthers 0.6-1.5 mm. long; achenes brown or rufescent, pilose or
villous-hirsute, the styles 1-3 cm. long.
Low grounds, thickets and borders of woods, edge of swamp forests, commonly
climbing in trees, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex. (San Augustine Co.), July-
Sept.; from e. Can to Man., s. to Ga., Ala., Miss., La., Tex. and e. Kan.
2. Clematis crispa L. BLUE JASMINE. Fig. 451.
Plant climbing freely, glabrous or nearly so, often flowering when only 3 dm.
high; leaves compounded with 2 to 5 pairs of leaflets; leaflets from ovate to
lanceolate or even linear, cuneate to cordate at base, acute to acuminate at apex,
entire to rarely 3-foliolate, membranaceous, little reticulated; peduncle naked,
arising between a pair of compound or rarely simple leaves; calyx cylindric-
campanulate or urceolate-campanulate, rose-colored varying to violet; sepals
2.5-5 cm. long, recurved or spreading from near the middle, the spreading portion
with broad undulate thinnish margins; achenes 6-9 mm. broad; style canescent to
somewhat villous in flower, in fruit 2-3 cm. long and either almost glabrate (and
the upper part falling away in age) or finely appressed-pubescent. C. cylindrica
Sims, Viorna crispa (L.) Small.
Frequently in wet soils, climbing on shrubs, along streams in low woodlands or
sometimes on coarse dry sandhills with available water in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain
Co.) and e. Tex., w. to Calhoun and Williamson cos., Mar.-Oct.; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to s.e. Va., HI. and Mo.
The plant which typically flowers when low and has narrowly lanceolate to
linear leaflets (6-8 mm. wide) and whose sepals are artificially outspread is referred
to var. Walteri Gray.
923
-------
7. Myosurus L. MOUSETAIL
Very small acaulescent annual herbs, with fibrous roots; leaves in a radical tuft,
linear to filiform or at first spatulate, entire; scapes simple, one-flowered, the
yellowish or whitish flower succeeded by the slender spike or (in depauperate
specimens) oblong head of carpels; sepals 5, spurred at the base; petals 5, small
and narrow, raised on a slender claw at the summit of which is a nectariferous pit;
stamens 5 to 20; achenes numerous, somewhat 3- or 4-sided, apiculate, crowded
on a very long and slender spikelike receptacle, the seed suspended.
About 15 species of local occurrence but widely distributed.
1. Achenes when mature roundish, with a dorsal cup or border nearly surround-
ing the base of the beak, the cup often larger than the body of
the achene 1. M. cupulatus.
1. Achene when mature more or less quadrangular, without cup or border, keeled
dorsally from base to apex, the subulate beak not strongly flattened
laterally (2)
2(1). Back of the achene scarcely wider on each side than the very prominent
keel, the latter prolonged into a beak at least half as long as the
body of the achene 2. M. aristatus.
2. Back of the achene distinctly wider on each side than the relative low keel,
the latter prolonged into a beak much less than half as long as the
body of the achene, or the beak sometimes obsolete..3. M. minimus.
1. Myosurus cupulatus Wats. Fig. 452.
Tufted annual, often very diminutive, 3-8 cm. tall; leaves linear to linear-
spatulate, 1-5 cm. long; sepals 5 or 6, oblong, the variable spur often short or
"blunt-tapered" and sometimes as much as one third as long as the blade; petals
linear-filiform, with a narrow, elongate claw 4 to 5 times as long as the narrow
short-oblong blade; scapes 3-8 cm. long; fruiting spike slender, 2-5 cm. long;
achenes with a thickened margin producing a cuplike depression on the back from
which protrudes the divergent beak; seed short-oblong, flattened.
Vernally wet spots, seepage areas and in shelter of boulders, in N. M. (Grant
and Sierra cos.) and Ariz. (Greenlee to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), Feb.-July; N. M. to Calif, and Son.
This species may readily be distinguished by the loose-fitting achenes which
at maturity are separated by obvious spaces.
2. Myosurus aristatus Benth. ex Hook. Fig. 453.
Tufted annual; leaves linear to linear-spatulate, 1-5 cm. long, with a broad
almost membranous base; scapes very slender, 2—5 cm. tall; sepals oblong, erect
or spreading, with a slender spur from one half as long to fully as long as the
blade; petals present or (at maturity) often none; fruiting spike 5-10 mm. long;
achenes somewhat quadrate in outline, the back sharply keeled and extending to
the elongate divergent sometimes falcate beak.
In wet and muddy places in N. M. (Bernalillo and San Juan cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Pima cos.), Mar.-June; Neb. to B. C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.;
S.A.
As Mason (1957) noted, M. aristatus may be readily distinguished by the
elongate, divergent beaks of the achene, which are fully as long as the body of
the achene, and by the very short spike, which, because of the achene, appears
somewhat bristly.
3. Myosurus minimus L. Fig. 454.
Leaves narrowly linear to filiform, blunt, 3-15 cm. long; scape 3-15 cm. long;
sepals oblong, 2-3 mm. long; spurs slender, acute, 1-3 mm. long; petals linear to
924
-------
Fig. 452: Myosums. a-f, M. cupulatus: a, flower, the spurs and petals variable in
size, x 16; b, petal, showing the short blade and the shallow nectariferous pit, x 16; c,
habit, showing leaves and flowering scapes, x 4; d, mature seed, x 20; e, mature fruiting
spike, x 4; f, mature achene, showing the divergent beak arising between thickened
margins, x 20. g-m, M. minimus var. filiformis: g, petal, showing long claw and
rounded nectariferous pit, x 16; h, flower, showing long slender spurs and numerous
petals, x 6; i, habit, the leaves, scapes and spikes very slender, x %; j, mature achene,
abaxial view, x 16; k, mature fruiting spike, x 2; 1, mature seed, longitudinally striate,
flattened and twisted, x 20; m, mature achene, lateral view, showing short beak, x 20.
(From Mason, Fig. 233).
-------
Fig. 453: Myosurus. a-h, M. aristatus subsp. montanus: a, mature achene with
divergent beak and strongly nerved lateral angles, x 8; b and c, habit variations, scapes
extending above the leaves, x %; d, mature seed, x 12; e, young fruiting spike, x 4;
f, part of a mature fruiting spike, x 4; g, flower, stamens few, x 12; h, petal, the
nectariferous pit rounded, x 16. i-m, M. arista/us: \, flower, the calyx spurs long and
slender, x 8; j, mature seed, x 16; k, mature achene, the beak long and divergent, x
12; 1 and m, habit variations, the fruiting spikes bristly, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 234).
-------
Fig. 454: Myosurus minimus: a, mature fruiting spike, x 2; b, petal and terete claw,
showing nectariferous pit, x 20; c, flower, the spurs of sepals short, x 6; d, young
fruiting spike, x 4; e, mature achene, its beak paralled with back, x 16; f, habit, show-
ing the slender clavate scapes and the linear spatulate leaves, x %; g, mature seed, x 20.
(From Mason, Fig. 232).
-------
narrowly spatulate, sometimes wanting, 2-3 mm. long; fruiting spike 2-5 cm. long,
2-3 mm. thick; mature carpels somewhat quadrate, with broader usually rhom-
boidal and flat back, traversed by very low keel, ending in a short and appressed
or often obsolete pointed tip.
In damp argillaceous or calcareous soils, fallow fields, in water of borrow pits,
wet meadows, mud of ditches and on edge of ponds and about playa lakes, in
Okla. (Waterfall), throughout Tex., but mostly in cen. part, N. M. (Grant, Luna
and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Final, Cochise, Santa
Cruz and Pima cos.), Mar.-July; from Fla. to Tex., N.M. and Ariz., n. to e. Va.,
s. Ont., 111., Minn, and Sask., also Euras. and Afr.
8. Trautvetteria F. & M.
Probably 2 or 3 species in North America and Asia
1. Trautvetteria grandis T. & G.
Large perennial herb 5-10 dm. high, glabrous or nearly so, with slender under-
ground rootstocks and fascicled roots; stems slender, erect, branching above and
forming corymbose cymes; leaves large, palmately lobed; lower leaves long-
petioled, 1-2 dm. wide, deeply 5- to 11-lobed with the lobes acute and irregularly
and sharply deeply toothed; cauline leaves smaller than lower ones and short-
petioled to sessile; sepals 3 to 5, 3-6 mm. long, strongly concave, greenish-white,
early deciduous; epetalous; stamens numerous, conspicuous; filaments white,
clavate, 7-10 mm. long; pistils many, forming inflated glabrous achenes (3-5 mm.
long) with short recurved styles.
In swamps about springs, bogs and along streams in N. M. (San Juan, San
Miguel, Bernalillo, Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), July-Aug.;
Ida. to B. C., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
9. Ranunculus L. CROWFOOT. BUTTERCUP
Annual or perennial herbs of various aspects; cauline leaves alternate; flowers
regular, perfect, solitary or somewhat corymbed; sepals 3 to 5 or rarely more,
green or yellowish; petals commonly 5, more or less in some species, plane or
concave, mostly yellow or white, rarely reddish or green, each with a nectariferous
pit or scale on inner surface at or near base; stamens mostly numerous, rarely
as few as 5; filaments slender; anthers oblong or linear; pistils numerous in a
globose to ovoid or cylindric head; ovule 1; style long or short, straight, curved
or hooked; fruit an achene.
About 400 species mostly in colder regions or at high altitudes in the tropics.
It is reported that all of the species are acrid or even poisonous.
(Adapted from Lyman Benson in Am. Midi. Nat. 40:1-261. 1948.)
1. Achenes roughly transversely ridged; petals not glossy, white, the claws some-
time yellow; aquatic plants (2)
1. Achenes or utricles not transversely ridged (except in R. sceleratus which has
40 or commonly 100 to 300 minute beakless achenes in an elongate
head); petals usually glossy, yellow or rarely red, white or green;
plants of wet places or occasionally aquatic (4)
2(1). Style persistent after flowering; achene beak 0.7-1.1 mm. long; dissected
leaves once- or sometimes twice-trichotomous, then dichotomous....
31. R. longirostris.
2. Style largely deciduous after flowering; achene beak 0.3 or rarely 0.5 mm.
long; body of the achene obovoid, 1-1.5 mm. long, finely trans-
versely wrinkled (3)
928
-------
3(2). Pedicels not recurved at fruiting time; submersed dissected leaves (some-
times the only kind) usually petioled, the first divisions arising
usually but not always well above the non-dilated stipular leaf bases
(the ends of these not free), usually collapsing when withdrawn
from the water, not circinate, usually about equaling or a little
shorter than the internodes; achenes usually about 10 to 20 or as
many as 40; dissected leaves usually repeatedly trichotomous
29. .R. aquatilis.
3. Pedicels recurved at the bases at fruiting time; submersed dissected leaves
(the only kind) usually sessile, the first divisions arising within the
usually dilated stipular leaf bases (the ends of these often free),
usually not collapsing when withdrawn from the water, circinate,
much shorter than the internodes; achenes mostly 30 to 45 or 80;
dissected leaves usually once- or twice- trichotomous
30. R. subrigidus.
4(1). Pericarp striate, the nerves 3 or more on each face (these sometimes
branched), the ovary wall thin and usually fragile at fruiting
time (5)
4. Pericarp not striate nor nerved, thick and firm 1(6)
5(4). Fruiting receptacle enlarged to several times its size in anthesis, cylindroid
or long-ovoid; nectary scale overarching the nectary, truncate, the
margins free from the blade of the petal; stolons present; leaves
simple 27. .R. Cymbalaria.
5. Fruiting receptacle but slightly enlarged from its size in anthesis; nectary
scale not overhanging the nectary, consisting of a mere transverse
ridge below the gland; stolons not present; leaves compound
28. R. ranunculinus.
6(4). Leaves (both cauline and basal) entire, dentate, serrulate or wavy; dorso-
ventral measurements of the achene not more than twice or thrice
the lateral; nectary scale forming a pocket (7)
6. Leaves (either the cauline or the basal) lobed, parted or divided (very rarely
all the leaves entire in single plants of R. glaberrimus var. ellipticus)
(10)
7(6). Perennials; achenes 1.2-3.2 mm. long, the beaks 0.3-1.5 mm. long, rarely
less; petals 5 to 10, usually large and conspicuous, longer than the
sepals (8)
7. Annuals; achenes 0.6-1 or rarely to 1.5 mm. long, the beaks 0.1-0.2 mm.
long (9)
8(7). Achene beak 0.2-0.5 mm. or rarely to 0.7 mm. long, the stigmatic surface
mostly across the broad apex of the style 20. R. flammula.
8. Achene beak 0.8-1 mm. long, the stigmatic portion long-attenuate
21. R. hydrocharoides.
9(7). Petals 5 to 9, large and conspicuous, about twice as long as the sepals;
styles in anthesis 0.5 mm. long, filiform, deciduous in fruit; head of
achenes hemispheroidal or ovoid 22. R. laxicaulis.
9. Petals 1 to 3, minute and inconspicuous, shorter than or equal to the sepals;
styles in anthesis 0.1-0.2 mm. long 23. R. pusillus.
10(6). Achenes covered with spines, hooks or papillae, or with papillae produced
into hooked hairs, rarely smooth in R. Sardous; dorsoventral meas-
urement of the achene 3 to 6 times the lateral; receptacle in fruit
1 to 3 times its length in anthesis (11)
10. Achenes smooth, sometimes hairy (13)
929
-------
11(10). Petals 1-3 mm. long; mature achenes papillate, the papillae produced
into slender hooked spines or hooked hairs; nectary scale free
laterally 10. R. parvifloras.
11. Petals at least 4 mm. long; mature achene either papillate or with straight
or curved but not hooked stout spines, when papillate the papillae
not produced into hairs or spines, rarely smooth (12)
12(11). Mature achenes papillate or rarely some or perhaps all of them smooth....
11. R. Sardous.
12. Mature achenes with stout spines on the margin or faces 12. R. mnricatiis.
13(10). Style and achene beak practically lacking, if otherwise the achene with
a corky thickening on the margin of the body; nectary scale either
with the gland in a pocket on its ventral surface or else the scale
forked and prolonged anteriorly on the surface of the petal or
surrounding the gland (14)
13. Style and achene beak present, the achene neither corky-keeled nor with
nectary thickening on the margin of the body; nectary scale ventral
to the nectary (covering it), apically truncate or rounded (16)
14(13). Styles and achene beaks practically lacking, the stigmas nearly sessile;
achene with some corky thickening of the pericarp..24. R. xccJcratus.
14. Styles and achene beaks well-developed, the beaks at least half as long as the
achene bodies, 0.6-1.5 mm. long; achenes with conspicuous corky
thickening of either the keel or the pericarp beside the keel (15)
15(14). Achenes each with corky thickening beside the inconspicuous keel (espe-
cially in the basal and ventral regions); leaves once- or twice-parted
or -lobed, pentagonal, 1-2 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 cm. wide, rarely dis-
sected but not triternately so; anthers elliptic, 0.5—1 mm. long;
petals 4-7 mm. long 25. R. Ginelinii.
15. Achenes each with a conspicuous corky keel; leaves of aquatic specimens
finely triternately dissected into ribbonlike segments 1-2 mm. wide,
the complete blades 1.5-10 cm. long and 2-12 cm. wide; anthers
oblong, 1-1.5 mm. long; petals 7-15 mm. long 26. R. flabellaris.
16(13). Nectary scale free laterally for at least two-thirds its length, not forming
a pocket (except in R. recurvatus var. recitrvatux)\ dorsovenlral
measurement of the achene 3 to 15 times the lateral; receptacle in
fruit (in most species) 1 to 3 times its length in anthcsis; sepals
usually not lavender- or purple-tinged but sometimes markedly
so (17)
16. Nectary scale attached to the petal laterally and forming a pocket; dorso-
ventral measurement of the achene I to 2.5 times the lateral;
receptacle in fruit (in most species) 3 to 15 times its length in
anthesis; sepals usually tinged dorsally with purple or lavendar (25)
17(16). Achene beaks regularly recurved or curved, or clearly falcate or hooked
at the apices, 2 mm. long or less, usually shorter than the bodies
or sometimes equaling them (the beak sometimes straight in R.
Macounii but then only about half as long as the body) ( 18)
17. Achene beaks not regularly curved nor recurved, nor markedly hooked, 1.5
or usually 2-4 mm. long, usually always equaling or exceeding the
bodies (23)
18(17). Receptacle in fruit at Icasi 3 times its length in anthesis, hispid; head of
achenes ovoid to cylindroid (19)
18. Receptacle in fruit not more than 2.5 times its length in anthesis; head of
the achenes hemispheroidal or globose (20)
930
-------
19(18). Sepals about twice as long as the petals; petals 2-3 mm. long; head of
achenes cylindroid, 11-17 mm. long; stems never rooting
5. R. pensylvanicus.
19. Sepals equal to or somewhat shorter than the petals; petals (3-) 5-10 mm.
long; head of achenes ovoid, 7-12 mm. long 6. R. Macounii.
20(18). Petals (when fully expanded) usually 8-18 mm. long, large and con-
spicuous, 1.5 to 3 times as long as the sepals (21)
20. Petals minute, 2-4 or rarely 6-7 mm. long, shorter than or slightly exceeding
the sepals (22)
21(20). Stems rooting at the nodes, some of them usually stoloniferous; recep-
tacle usually hispid 1. R. repens.
21. Stems never rooting; receptacle glabrous 2 R. acris.
22(20). Receptacle glabrous; nectary scale not forming a pocket, free laterally
for its entire length 3. R. uncinatus.
22. Receptacle hispid; nectary scale forming a pocket at least basally, the distal
margin sometimes proliferating into a flap with free margins
4. R. recurvatus.
23(17). Achenes mostly 40 to 130, rarely fewer; sepals usually 8-10 mm. long,
rarely less; petals 8 to 18 9. R. macranthus.
23. Achenes 10 to 30, rarely more; sepals 6-8 mm. long; petals 5 (24)
24(23). Stems rooting at the nodes (especially when plants are in wettish soils);
plants usually stoloniferous 7. R. carolinianus.
24. Stems never rooting; roots both tuberous and filiform 8. R. fascicularis.
25(16). Head of 70 to 150 achenes globose, 10-20 mm. in diameter; nectary
scale usually distally ciliate; herbage glabrous; roots large and
fleshy, 2—3 mm. thick, the cluster conspicuous and dense; stems
prostrate or ascending 19. R. glaberrimus.
25. Head of achenes cylindroid to ovoid or globose, if globose 2.5-7 mm. in
diameter, the horizontal diameter in any case never more than 9
mm. (26)
26(25). Sepals covered dorsally with dense conspicuous long reddish-brown hair
13. R. Macauleyi.
26. Sepals not covered dorsally with reddish-brown hair (27)
27(26). Petals 1-3.5 mm. long, shorter than or scarcely equal to the sepals;
achenes glabrous 18. R. abortivus.
27. Petals (when fully expanded) 4-18 mm. long or in plants with canescent
achenes (.R. inamoenus) rarely shorter (28)
28(27). Achenes swollen or broadened at the bases and therefore obovoid-oblong
14. R. Eschscholtzii.
28. Achenes obovoid to flattened-obovoid or discoid, not swollen nor flat-stiped
at the base (29)
29(28). Petals 2.5-8 mm. long; achenes glabrous; stems mostly 1- to 4-flowered
(rarely 6) 15. R. inamoenus.
29. Petals (6-) 8-18 mm. long or (in plants with canescent achenes or with
5- to 11-flowered stems) sometimes shorter (very rarely none in
R. pedatifidus) (30)
30(29). Achenes glabrous 17. R. pedatifidus.
30. Achenes canescent (31)
31(30). Nectary scale ciliate, the adjacent surface of the petal sometimes hairy
also 16. R. cardiophyllus.
31. Nectary scale and the petal glabrous (32)
931
-------
Fig. 455: Ranunculus repens: a, mature achenes, showing variation in the recurved
beak, x 12; b, flower, x \\'-±, c, single petal, showing the broad scale covering the
nectariferous pit, x 3; d, habit, showing the trailing stems, the coarsely serrate divided
leaves, and the large flowers, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 236).
-------
32(31). Petals narrow; sepals glabrous or thinly appressed-pubescent, some of
the basal leaves proximally attenuate, acute to obtuse, at least some
basal leaves on each plant crenate, occasional leaves 3-lobed or
-divided 15. R. inamoenus.
32. Petals broadly cuneate-obovate; sepals pilose-tomentose; basal leaves proxi-
mally cordate 17. R. pedatifidus.
1. Ranunculus repens L. CREEPING BUTTERCUP. Fig. 455.
Hirsute terrestrial or palustrine perennial; stems prostrate to suberect, rooting
at least at the lower nodes, commonly but not always with some stoloniferous, to
9 dm. long, branching, not fistulous, hirsute to glabrous or nearly so; leaves com-
pound, deltoid-cordate in outline, to 11 cm. long and 13 cm. broad, usually much
smaller, pinnate with 3 sessile or petiolulate leaflets that are cuneate to subtruncate
or sometimes rounded or subcordate at the base and lobed and toothed (but acute
in outline) at apex, sometimes the leaflets tending to be rounded, the middle
petiolule to 4 cm. long, the lateral petiolule to 2 cm. long, the petioles 4-25 cm.
long, hirsute to subglabrous, the stipular leaf bases 6-20 mm. long; cauline leaves
alternate, like the basal; pedicels 2-10 cm. long in flower, 4-15 cm. long in fruit;
pubescent; sepals 5, greenish, spreading, 5-7 mm. long, 3-4 mm. broad, pilose,
promptly deciduous; petals 5 or rarely the staminodia forming a "double" flower,
cuneate-obovate, 7-13 mm. long, 5-10 mm. broad, the glabrous truncate nectary
scale free laterally for two thirds of its length and 1-1.3 mm. long; stamens 50
to 80, the number reduced in "double" flowers, achenes 20 to 25 in a subglobose
head 6-7 mm. in diameter, obovoid-discoid, 2.5 mm. long, smooth, glabrous, the
margin prominent, the recurved beak stout and 1 mm. long; receptacle subglobose-
ovoid, 1-2 mm. long in flower, 3 mm. long in fruit, pubescent or rarely glabrous.
This Old World species sometimes occurs as an escape, especially the garden
form, var. pleniftorus Fern. It becomes established along stream courses, wet
meadows, marshes and in wet springy places.
2. Ranunculus acris L. Fig. 455A.
Hirsute terrestrial perennials, the pubescence spreading or rarely appressed;
roots stout but not tuberous, 0.5-1 mm. thick; stems several, erect, not rooting,
5-10 dm. long, freely branching above, glabrous or sparsely hirsute; petioles 5-17
cm. long, hirsute, the stipular leaf bases 3-5 cm. long; basal leaf blades simple,
pentagonal in outline, 4-8 cm. long, 5-10 cm. wide, deeply 3-parted and again
lobed, appearing 5-parted by forking of the lateral primary parts, proximally
deeply cordate, distally rounded in outline, densely appressed-hirsute beneath,
more sparsely so above; cauline leaves alternate, petioled, the bracts of 3 linear
divisions sessile; pedicels 1-5 cm. long in flower, 4-12 cm. long in fruit, densely
pubescent; sepals 5, greenish, spreading, ovate, 4-7 mm. long, about 3 mm. wide.
densely pubescent dorsally, promptly deciduous; petals 5, obovate-cuneate, 8-14
mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide; nectary scale glabrous, free laterally for two-thirds of
its length, 1.2 mm. long, truncate; stamens 40 to 80; achenes 25 to 40 in a globose
head about 6 mm. in diameter, obovoid-discoid, 2-2.5 mm. long, 1.8 mm. dorso-
ventrally, 0.5 mm. laterally, smooth, glabrous, the margin conspicuous, keeled,
the recurved beak deltoid at base and 0.3-0.6 mm. long; receptacle pyriform, 1-2
mm. long in flower, 2.5 mm. long in fruit, glabrous.
In water on edge of streams and ponds, in N. M. (Catron Co.) May-July;
an Old World species now widespread through much of N.A., especially in the
north.
3. Ranunculus uncinatus D. Don.
Hirsute or hispid to glabrous terrestrial annual or perennial; roots 0.5-1 mm.
thick; stems erect, not rooting, 3-10 dm. long, freely branching above, glabrous
933
-------
Fig. 455A: Ranunculus acris: A, habit, x V_,; B, fruiting head, x 3; C, achenes,
x 4. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 91).
-------
or hispid with reddish-brown or white hairs; petioles 5-17 (-25) cm. long,
glabrous to densely hispid with reddish-brown or white hairs; stipular leaf bases
oblong, 2-3 cm. long, 10-12 mm. broad, thin; basal leaf blades simple, cordate-
reniform, 2-9 cm. long, 2-14 cm. wide, 3-parted with the parts lobed and
obtusely or acutely toothed, proximally cordate and distally acute, glabrous or
appressed-hispidulous; cauline leaves alternate, petioled; pedicels to 2 cm. long in
flower, to 5 cm. long in fruit, appressed-pubescent; sepals 5, yellowish-green,
reflexed, narrowly elliptic, 3 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide, appressed-pubescent
dorsally, promptly deciduous; petals 5, rarely less, yellow, narrowly elliptic, 2.5-3
(-7) mm. long, 1—1.8 (-3) mm. wide; nectary scale glabrous, free for most of
its length, rounded to truncate at apex; stamens 10 to 15; achenes usually 8 to 30,
sometimes more or less, in globose-ovoid to hemispheroidal clusters 3-5 mm. long
and 4-5 mm. in diameter, discoid to elliptic or obovate, 1.8-2.5 (-3) mm. long,
smooth or with a trace of reticulation, glabrous or hispid, the slender beak 1-2
mm. long and recurved or hooked at tip; receptacle subglobose to pyriform or
rarely ovoid, 0.5-1 mm. long in flower, 1-1.5 or rarely 3 mm. long in fruit,
glabrous. Incl. var. Earlei (Greene) L. Benson.
In wet soil on edge of and in water about springs and ponds, and along streams,
in N. M. (Bernalillo Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-July; B.C. to Alas.,
s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
4. Ranunculus recurvatus Poir.
Hirsute terrestrial perennial; stems erect, commonly forming a nearly spherical
bulbous base 5-10 mm. in diameter, not rooting, 1.5-7 dm. long, branching
mostly above, the lowest internode elongated, fistulous, markedly villous hirsute
or rarely glabrous, the hairs rarely appressed; basal leaves with glabrous or hirsute
petioles 5-10 cm. long, simple, cordate-reniform in outline, to 75 mm. long and
9 cm. broad, usually much smaller, 3-cleft to deeply 3-parted with the parts
either crenately lobed or toothed, cordate at base, the parts rounded or angled
at apex, nearly glabrous or hirsutulous or hirsute; stipular leaf bases deltoid,
1-1.8 cm. long, 5-9 mm. broad, thin; cauline leaves similar to the basal but not
usually larger, as deeply parted as the deepest of the basal; pedicels 1-8 mm. long
in flower, 1-5 cm. long in fruit, sparsely appressed-pubescent; sepals 5, greenish,
reflexed almost their whole length, ovate-acute, 4-5 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad,
sparsely pilose dorsally, promptly deciduous; petals 5, narrowly elliptic, 2.5-3.5
mm. long, 1.2 mm. broad; nectary scale forming an obdeltoid pocket, the apical
margins truncate or sometimes proliferated into a flat scale not forming a pocket;
stamens 10 to 25; achenes 10 to 25 in a globose head 5-7 mm. in diameter,
discoid, 1.5-2 mm. long, minutely reticulate-pitted, glabrous, the margin with
a minute keel, the recurved beak slender and 1..2-1.4 mm. long, the tip hooked;
receptacle broadly or narrowly pyriform, 1 mm. long in flower, 3 mm. long in
fruit, conspicuously hispid, densely so at the apex.
In swamps, woods and bottomland thickets, Okla. (Delaware Co.) and n.e.
Tex. (Harrison Co.), Mar.-June; from Ont. and Nfld., s. to Fla. and Tex.
5. Ranunculus pensylvanicus L.
Hirsute to hispid terrestrial annual (or perennial?); roots 0.7-1 mm. thick;
stems erect, not rooting, 4-10 dm. long, branching above, the lower internodes
usually elongate, hirsute to hispid with the hairs 2 mm. long; petioles 3-15 cm.
long, hirsute, the stipular leaf bases 1-2.5 cm. long; basal leaves withering early,
pinnately compound, 5-7 cm. long, 9-12 cm. wide; leaflets petiolulate, cuneate,
middle one 3-parted, the lateral ones 2-parted; cauline leaves alternate, similar
to the basal, the bracts similar to cauline leaves but reduced and sessile; pedicels
3-18 mm. long in flower, 1.5-5.5 cm. long in fruit, appressed-pubescent; sepals 5,
935
-------
yellowish, reflexed, narrowly elliptic, 4-5 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. wide, slightly
hairy, promptly deciduous; petals 5, yellow, nearly orbicular, 2—3 mm. long and
wide; nectary scale glabrous, free for two-thirds of its length, about the breadth
of the adjacent petal surface; stamens 15 to 20; achenes 60 to 80 in a cylindroid
to cylindroid-ovoid head 10-14 mm. long and 7-9 mm. in diameter, ovate, about
2.5 mm. long, smooth, glabrous, the stout beak 0.6-0.9 mm. long and not re-
curved; receptacle cylindroid, about 2 mm. long in flower, 8-12 mm. long in
fruit, pubescent.
In wet meadows, standing in shallow water on edge of pools and lakes, in N. M.
(Grant, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Socorro and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo, Coconino and Yavapai cos.), Apr.-July; Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.J., N.M.
and Ariz.; Burma, China.
6. Ranunculus Macounii Britt. Fig. 456.
Hirsute or glabrous annual or perennial; roots 1.5-2 mm. thick; stem reclining
(at least below) or prostrate to suberect, often rooting at least at the lower nodes,
2.5-9 dm. long, branching, densely hirsute or hispid, or glabrous; petioles 5-20
cm long, densely hirsute to glabrous, the stipular leaf bases 1-3 cm. long; basal
leaf blades simple or pinnately compound, deltoid in outline, 3-8 cm. long, 5-13
cm. wide, divided into 3 divisions or pinnate with 3 or 5 leaflets 3-parted and the
parts again lobed, pubescent to glabrous; cauline leaves alternate, all but the upper-
most similar to the basal and petioled; pedicels 1-8 cm. long in flower, 3—10 cm.
long in fruit, usually appressed-hispidulous; sepals 5, yellowish, often purple-
tinged, reflexed almost their whole length, ovate-triangular, 4—6 (-7) mm. long,
2.5-4 mm. wide, glabrous to pilose, promptly deciduous; petals 5, yellow, obovate,
3-5 (-7.5) mm. long, 2.5-3.5 (-6.5) mm. wide; nectary scale glabrous, free for
most of its length, truncate; stamens 15 to 35; achenes 20 or 30 to 50 in an
ovoid-cylindroid head 7-12 mm. long and 5-7 mm. in diameter, obovate with an
acute base, 2-3 mm. long, smooth, glabrous, the margin conspicuously bevelled
and narrowly keeled, the stout beak nearly deltoid and 1-1.2 mm. long, gradually
curving or straight with a right angle bend at the tip; receptacle fusiform-
cylindroid, 1-2 mm. long in flower, 4-5 mm. long in fruit, hispid.
Creeping in mud about lakes and ponds in marshes and ditches, in N. M.
(Colfax. Sandoval, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino
cos.), June-Sept.; Nfld. and Lab. to Alas., s. to Mich., Neb., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
7. Ranunculus carolinianus DC. Fig. 457.
Tufted perennial with thick fibrous roots, subglabrous to spreading-pubescent
(especially on stem), after flowering developing long trailing or repent leafy
branches; earliest basal leaves small, ovate, simple or 3-lobed or 3-cleft; later
leaves larger, long-petioled, with 3 mostly petiolulate rhombic cuneate 3-cleft or
3-divided and sharply toothed leaflets; flowering stems slender, flexuous, sub-
glabrous, pilose or spreading-hirsute, elongating to 5 dm. long, finally producing
trailing branches; flowers 1 to 10; sepals 3.5-5 mm. long, promptly reflexed;
petals oblong, 8-12 mm. long, 2.5-7 mm. broad; fruiting head subglobose, 7-1J
mm. in diameter, with only 10 to 20 achenes; fruiting receptacle 4-5 mm. long;
achenes obliquely rounded-ovate, with body 3.5-5 mm. long, the marginal wing
0.5-1 mm. wide and separated from the face by a high acute ridge; beak sub-
marginal, erect, lance-subulate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, with short deciduous terminal
stigma R. septentrionali.t Poir. var. pterocarpus L. Benson.
Low woods, swamos, marshy ground, edge of water and in mud, thickets and
shores in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain and Craig cos.) and e. fourth of Tex , Feb.-May;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to Md., W.Va., s. Ind.. s. III., Mo. and Neb.
936
-------
Fig. 456: a and b, Ranunculus pusillus: a, habit, x %; b, achene, x 5. c-g, Ranuncu-
lus Macounii: c, habit, x %; d, flower, x 3; e, stamen, x 5; f, fruit, x 3; g, achene, x 5.
(V. F.).
-------
Fig. 457: Ranunculus carolinianus: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, sepal, x 3; d,
petal, x 3; e, achene, x 6. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Those plants with noticeably spreading-pubescent stems are segregated as var.
villicaulis Shinners.
8. Ranunculus fascfcularis Muhl. PRAIRIE BUTTERCUP.
Appressed-pubescent terrestrial perennial; roots filiform or fusiform-tuberous,
to 5 mm. in diameter; stems weak, erect or suberect, often scapose, not rooting,
silky-canescent, 1-3 dm. long, not fistulous; basal leaves with petioles about 1
dm. long, compound or at least the early ones 3-parted, ovate-oblong in outline,
25-55 mm. long, 2-4 cm. broad, distinctly longer than broad, sometimes the
leaf partly bipinnate, the 3 or 5 leaflets or divisions simple and rounded to deeply
3- to 7-parted and again angularly toothed, the ultimate parts blunt or rounded
at the apices; stipular leaf bases 15—35 mm. long; cauline leaves usually 1 or 2,
alternate, much-reduced; pedicels 1.5-6 cm. long in flower, 2.5-9 cm. long in
fruit; sepals 5, greenish-yellow, spreading, ovate-attenuate, 6-8 mm. long, 2-3
mm. broad, usually silvery-pubescent, promptly deciduous; petals 5 or sometimes
up to 9, yellow, obovate-oblanceolate, 7-15 mm. long, 3-6 mm. broad, the
truncate nectary scale glabrous and free almost its whole length; stamens usually
40 to 50; achenes 10 to 30 in a subglobose head 4.5-8 mm. long and 6-10 mm.
in diameter, obovate-orbicular but with a short flat stalk, the main body 1.5-3
mm. long, smooth, glabrous, the margin keeled but usually not prominent, the
straight beak slender and 2-2.3 mm. long; receptacle fusiform or obovoid, 1.5-2.5
mm. long in flower, 3-7 mm. long in fruit, sparsely hispidulous.
In sandy soil in shallow water, low pinelands, meadows and seepage slopes in
Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Feb.-May; widespread in e. N.A., w. to Tex. and
Kan.
The two following varieties are found in our area.
Var. apricus (Greene) Fern. (R. apricus Greene). Stems 1-3 dm. long; leaflets
or leaf segments oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, shallowly few-toothed apically
or entire; petals 5.
Var. cuneiformis (Small) L. Benson. Stems 18-25 cm. long; petals 7 to 9, 13-15
mm. long when fully expanded; achenes 3 mm. long, 2.5 mm. dorsiventrally, the
margin 0.5 mm. broad, distinctly marked; endemic in Kerr Co., Tex.
9. Ranunculus macranthus Scheele. LARGE BUTTERCUP. Fig. 458.
Strongly hirsute to subglabrous terrestrial perennial with stout roots; stems
reclining to suberect, not rooting, to 1 m. long, usually much smaller, fistulous,
densely hirsute; basal leaves with hirsute to glabrous petioles to 3 dm. long, com-
pound and dissected or sometimes simple and merely lobed, oblong-ovate in out-
line, 4-23 cm. long, 3-25 cm. broad, usually of 3 to 7 leaflets that are truncate
or obtuse at base and acute or barely obtuse at apex, appressed-hispidulous;
pedicels to 11 cm. long in flower and 3 dm. long in fruit, appressed-pubescent;
sepals 5, yellowish-green, reflexed, ovate-attenuate, 6-10 mm. long, 3-5 mm.
broad, appressed-pilose dorsally, promptly deciduous; petals 8 to 18, yellow,
oblanceolate or rarely obovate, sometimes emarginate, 1-2 cm. long, 2.5-10 mm.
broad; achenes 35 to 130 in a subglobose or cylindroid head 7-14 mm. long and
7-10 mm. in diameter, elliptic-oblong to obovate, 2.5-4 mm. long smooth,
glabrous, the margin keeled, the straight beak slender and 3—5 mm. long; recep-
tacle cylindroid, 2-3 mm. long in flower, 5-12 mm. long in fruit, hairy but the
hair often sparse.
In swamps, marshes, wet meadows, wet soil in drainage areas, wet woods
along creeks, on mud flats about pools and seepage slopes in cen., s. and w. Tex.,
w. to Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), Mar.-Sept; in s.w.
U.S. and Mex.
939
-------
Fig. 458: Ranunculus macranthus: a, habit, x '4; b, flower, x 1; c, petal showing
nectary scale from the top, x 2l,->; d, petal showing attachment of nectary scale, x 2VjI
e, achene, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
10. Ranunculus parviflorus L.
Hirsute terrestrial annual; stems erect, not rooting, 1-3 dm. long, freely
branching and diffuse, not fistulous, thinly hirsute; basal leaves with petioles
3-6 cm. long, simple, reniform, 1.5-2 cm. long, 2-2.5 cm. broad, 3-parted or
-divided and again lobed, cordate at base, rounded at apex, the ultimate lobes
acute, hirsute with fine hairs, pilose, the stipular leaf bases about 1 cm. long;
cauline leaves alternate, short-petioled, similar to the basal, the bracts 3-parted;
pedicels 1-4 mm. long in flower, 3-18 mm. long in fruit, pubescent; sepals
greenish-yellow, spreading, narrowly ovate, about 1 mm. long, less than 1 mm.
broad, densely pubescent, promptly deciduous; petals 5, yellow, narrowly elliptic,
1-2 mm. long, less than 1 mm. broad, the truncate nectary scale glabrous and
free laterally; stamens about 10; achenes 10 to 20 in a globose head and about
4 mm. in diameter, obovate, 1.5 mm. long, with reddish-brown papillae covering
both faces of the pericarp which are produced into minute slender hooks, the
margin strongly marked, the deltoid beak recurved and 0.5 mm. long; receptacle
globose, less than 1 mm. long in flower, 1—1.3 mm. long in fruit, glabrous.
On moist hardwood slopes, in grassy copses and along ditches in Okla. (Water-
fall) and in e. fourth of Tex., Mar.—June; a nat. of the Old World that is
naturalized in various parts of N.A.
11. Ranunculus Sardous Crantz.
Hirsute terrestrial perennial with filiform roots; stems suberect, not rooting,
1-5 dm. long, branching freely, not fistulous, hirsute; basal leaves with hirsute
petioles 3—16 cm. long, pinnately compound, broadly cordate in outline, 2—3
cm. long, 2-2.5 cm. broad, the leaflets parted and lobed, the ultimate segments
deltoid, pubescent, cordate to truncate at base, rounded at apex, appressed-
pubescent, the stipular leaf bases 1—1.5 cm. long; cauline leaves alternate, the
bracts of about 3 linear divisions, sessile; pedicels 3-5 cm. long in flower, 2-6
cm. long in fruit, thinly appressed-hairy; sepals greenish-yellow, reflexed, ovate-
attenuate, 3-5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, pilose, promptly deciduous; petals 5,
yellow, 8—9 mm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, the truncate nectary scale glabrous and
free laterally; stamens 25 to 50; achenes 12 to 25 in a subglobose head 4-6 mm.
long and 5—8 mm. in diameter, nearly circular, 2—3 mm. long, usually sparsely
papillate or some achenes of the same plant smooth, glabrous, the margin strongly
marked, the deltoid beak 0.3 mm. long and curved at the tip; receptacle pyri-
form, 1 mm. long in flower, 2 mm. long in fruit, covered with long white hairs.
Moist grassy slopes and in wet soil of swales, in e. Tex., Apr.-June; a nat.
of the Old World naturalized mostly about seaports in N. A.
12. Ranunculus muricarus L. SPRING BUTTERCUP. Fig. 459.
Glabrous terrestrial annual or sometimes perennial; stems reclining or erect,
not rooting, 2-5 dm. long, 2—5 mm. in diameter, freely branching, not markedly
fistulous; basal leaves with petioles 4—15 cm. long, simple, broadly cordate to
reniform or semicircular, 2-5 cm. long, 2-6 cm. broad, deeply 3-parted, the
parts again shallowly crenately lobed, cordate to truncate at base, rounded at
apex, the stipular leaf bases 1 or 2 cm. long; cauline leaves alternate, similar to
the basal; pedicels 5-20 mm. long in flower, 2-6 cm. long in fruit, glabrous;
sepals greenish, spreading, ovate, mucronate, 4—7 mm. long, 2—3 mm. broad, with
a few bristles, promptly deciduous; petals 5, yellow, obovate, 5-8 mm. long, 3-4
mm. broad, the truncate nectary scale glabrous and forming a pocket that is
much narrower than the adjacent part of the petal; stamens few; achenes 10 to 20
in a globose cluster 1—1.3 cm. in diameter, obovate, about 5.5 mm. long, covered
with stout curved spines, glabrous, the margin very prominent, keeled, spineless,
produced into the stout falcate beak 2-2.5 mm. long; receptacle subglobose,
941
-------
Fig. 459: Ranunculus muricatus: a, young flower, showing reflexed sepals, x 2'^;
b, petal, showing scale covering nectariferous pit, x 6; c, flower, x 2V>\ d, mature
muricate achene, side view, x 4; e, habit, plant branched from the base, the petioles
succulent, x -;,; f, mature achene, marginal view, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 241).
-------
about 1 mm. long in flower, 2 mm. long in fruit, hispid.
On grassy banks, along roads, in sandy marshes, and in wet soil about ponds
and along streams, oftert in shallow water, in e. fourth of Tex., Mar.-May; a
nat. of the Old World that is naturalized in various parts of N.A.
13. Ranunculus Macauleyi Gray.
Nearly glabrous terrestrial perennial; stems scapose, erect, not rooting, 8-15
cm. long, glabrous except on the pedicels; petioles 2-6 (-10) cm. long, glabrous;
leaf bases broad and membranous, 3-6 cm. long, persistent several seasons and
becoming fibrous; basal leaf blades simple, narrowly elliptic or elongate to some-
times narrowly obovate or ovate, 1.5-4.5 cm. long, 5-20 or rarely 2-2.8 cm.
wide, 3- or 5-toothed at the apices of occasionally serrate on the distal halves or
rarely laciniately or sharply crenately toothed, or with 2 of the sinuses to 13
mm. deep (the leaf lobed) and the middle lobe 3-toothed or entire, proximally
acute and distally acute to somewhat rounded, glabrous or sometimes ciliate;
cauline leaves alternate or practically opposite, almost always ciliate at least near
the bases with the hairs to 8 mm. long; bracts entire or toothed, elliptic to
obovate, sessile; pedicels 2-6 cm. long in flower, 5-7 cm. long in fruit, glabrous
or brown-pilose; sepals spreading, rich-brown, narrowly obovate, 6-10 mm. long,
2.5-5 mm. wide, densely and almost always conspicuously dorsally pilose with
dark-brown hairs about 2 mm. long, deciduous after anthesis; petals 5 or as many
as 8, yellow, cuneate to cuneate-obovate, (6-) 10-14 mm. long, (4-) 6-10 mm.
wide; nectary scale glabrous, forming a pocket, 1 mm. long, truncate; stamens
30 to 50; achenes 20 to 30 in an ovoid or cylindroid head 5-10 mm. long and
4—5.5 mm. in diameter; flattened-obovoid, about 1.7 mm. long, smooth, glabrous,
the slender beak 0.5-0.6 or rarely 1.5-2.2 mm. long, straight or recurved; recep-
tacle elongate-cylindroid, 2-3 mm. long in flower, 4—10 mm. long in fruit,
glabrous.
In wet meadows, on the edge of snow banks and in seepage areas, in N. M.
(Mora, Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) June-Aug.; also Colo.
14. Ranunculus Eschscholtzii Schlecht.
Glabrous perennial; roots slender; caudex 1-6 cm. long; stems scapose, erect,
not rooting, 4—15 cm. long, 1- to 3-flowered; petioles 3-8 cm. long, the stipular
leaf bases 1—2.5 cm. long, persistent or soon disintegrating or deciduous; basal
leaf blades simple or rarely compound, semicircular to reniform in outline, 1.3-3
cm. long, 2.5-4 cm. broad, 3-cleft or -divided, the middle lobe again 3-lobed or
entire, the lateral ones asymmetrically 3- to 7-lobed or -parted or sometimes
-divided, the blades proximally truncate or rounded; cauline leaves alternate, the
bracts usually 3-lobed and the lobes entire, sessile; pedicels usually 1—3 cm. long,
in flower, 3-13 cm. long in fruit, glabrous; sepals 5, yellow, dorsally tinged with
lavender, spreading, obovate, 4—8 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, glabrous or with
sparse light-colored hair, deciduous after anthesis; petals 5, yellow, cuneate-
obovate, (5-) 7—12 (-17) mm. long, 5-11 (-19) mm. wide; nectary scale
glabrous, forming a pocket usually 0.3-0.4 mm. deep; stamens usually 20 to 40;
achenes in a cylindroid or ovoid head 7-16 mm. long and 4—7 mm. in diameter,
oblong-obovoid, 1.3—1.7 mm. long, smooth, glabrous or sometimes hispidulous,
the margin inconspicuous, the slender beak 0.8-1 mm. long and not recurved;
receptacle cylindroid, 1-2 mm. long in flower, 6-15 mm. long in fruit, glabrous
or sometimes puberulent.
In wet meadows and on wet seepage slopes, in N. M. (San Miguel and Santa
Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July—Aug.; from Alas, to N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
943
-------
15. Ranunculus inamoenus Greene.
Hirsute or glabrous perennial; roots slender; stems erect, not rooting, 1-3 dm.
long, each with 3 to 7 or rarely 11 flowers, hirsute; petioles 4—10 cm. long,
appressed-pubescent or glabrous, the stipular leaf bases 1.5-2.5 to rarely 4 cm.
long; basal leaf blades simple and ovate or orbicular. 1-4 cm. long, 1.3-5 cm.
wide, crenate, 3-lobed or -divided, proximally more or less attenuate to rounded
or subcordate and distally rounded, glabrous or appressed-pubescent; cauline
leaves alternate, the bracts of 3 or 5 nearly linear lobes, sessile; pedicels to about
3 cm. long in flower and 1-5 (-8) cm. long in fruit, appressed-pubescent or
glabrous; sepals 5, greenish-yellow, spreading or turned downward, narrowly
obovate, 3-5 (-7) mm. long. 2-2.5 (-^.5) mm. wide, pilose, deciduous after
anthesis; petals 5, yellow, narrowly elliptic to obovate, 2.5-8 mm. long, 2-4
mm. wide; nectary scale glabrous, forming a pocket, truncate; stamens 30 to 50;
achenes 50 or 60 to 100 in a cylindroid or barrel-shaped head 6-17 mm. long
and 5-8 mm. in diameter, discoid-obovoid, about 1.5 or rarely 2-2.3 mm. long,
smooth, densely short-pubescent or glabrous, the margin usually inconspicuous,
the slender beak 1-2 mm. long and recurved or straight; receptacle slender,
cylindroid, 2-3 mm. long in flower, 6-15 mm. long in fruit, hispidulous or
glabrous.
In wet mt. meadows, on seepage slopes and in wet soils below snow banks,
and coniferous forests, in N. M. (Otero Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Cocooino,
Mohave and Gila cos.), May-Sept; Ida. and B.C., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
16. Ranunculus cardiophyllus Hook.
Pilose terrestrial perennial; roots 1-2 mm. thick; stems erect, not rooting, 2-4
dm. long, branching from near base or scapose, 1- to 5- or 8-flowered, pilose
or glabrous, striate; petioles 5-10 (-18) cm. long, pilose or glabrous, the stipular
leaf bases 1—4 cm. long and not markedly fibrous after withering; basal leaf
blades simple, cordate, 1-6 cm. long, 1—5 cm. wide, crenate, the apex sometimes
lobed or rarely parted, proximally cordate and distally rounded, pilose; cauline
leaves alternate, the bracts divided into 3 to 7 linear lobes, sessile; pedicels 5-12
cm. long in flower, 6-17 cm. long in fruit, densely pilose above; sepals 5, greenish-
yellow, petaloid at apices, spreading, obovate, deeply concave, 6-10 mm. long,
4—7 mm. wide, densely pilose dorsally, deciduous soon after anthesis; petals 5,
yellow, broadly cuneate-obovate to obovate or obovate-oblanceolate, (5-) 8-15
mm. long, (4—) 6-13 mm. wide; nectary scale long-ciliate on apical margin (the
surrounding petal surface also often with similar long hairs), forming a pocket,
obdeltoid to oblong; stamens 35 to 80; achenes 20 to 125 in a cylindroid head
5-15 mm. long and 4-6 or usually 7-9 mm. in diameter, obovate, 2 mm. long,
1.5 mm. dorsoventrally, 0.6-0.8 mm. laterally, smooth, finely canescent, the
margin inconspicuous, the slender beak 0.6-1 mm. long and recurved or straight;
receptacle ovoid-cylindroid, 1-4 mm. long in flower, 4-14 mm. long in fruit,
densely hairy.
In wet meadows, wet gravelly loam and conifer forests, in N. M. (Catron,
Lincoln, Rio Arriba and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Apache cos.),
June-Sept.; S.D. and Alta. to B.C., s. to N. M. and Ariz.
Most of our material is usually referred to var. snhsagittatus (Gray) L. Benson
with often subsagittate leaves.
17. Ranunculus pedatifidus J. E. Sm.
Sparingly pilose terrestrial perennial; roots 0.5-1. mm. thick; stems erect, not
rooting, 2-4 dm. long, pilose to nearly glabrous, striale; petioles 4-10 cm. long,
pilose, the stipular leaf bases 1.5-3 cm. long; basal leaf blades simple, cordate
in outline, 1.5-3.5 cm. long, 1.5^1 cm. wide, pedately divided or parted into 5
944
-------
or 7 linear divisions some of which are again lobed, the blade proximally cordate,
the lobes distally acute or obtuse, thinly pilose to glabrous; cauline leaves alter-
nate, the bracts divided into 3 to 7 linear lobes, sessile; flowers 1 to 5 or some-
times 8; pedicels 1.5—7 cm. long in flower, 5-14 cm. long in fruit, pilose;
sepals greenish-yellow but ashy with dense pubescence, spreading, obovate,
deeply concave, the tips abruptly becoming petaloid, 4—6 mm. long, 3-5 mm.
wide, densely pilose dorsally, tardily deciduous after an thesis; petals 5 or rarely
none, yellow, broadly cuneate-obovate, 8-10 mm. long, 5-7 mm. wide; nectary
scale glabrous, forming a pocket 0.4-1.5 mm. long and 0.4 mm. wide, sometimes
deeply parted, truncate; stamens 25 to 60; achenes 25 or usually 40 to 70 in a
cylindroid head 8—10 mm. long and 5-6 mm. in diameter, flattened-obovoid,
about 2 mm. long, smooth, very finely canescent or glabrate, the slender beak
0.6-1 mm. long and recurved; receptacle ovoid to obovoid or cylindroid, 2-3
mm. long in flower, 7-9 mm. long in fruit, canescent. Incl. var. affinls (R. Br.)
L. Benson.
On seepage slopes below snow banks and in wet meadows, in Ariz. (Coconino
Co.), June-July; circumpolar, Greenl., Nfld. and Lab. to Alas., s. to Ariz.
18. Ranunculus abortivus L.
Glabrous terrestrial biennial with filiform roots, sometimes enlarged at the
base; stems erect or suberect, not rooting, to about 5 dm. long, branching, fistu-
lous, striate; basal leaves with petioles 4-11 cm. long, simple or rarely some
trifoliate, reniform to orbicular in outline, to 9 cm. long and 1 dm. broad, usually
much smaller, crenulate to crenate or crenately lobed; stipular leaf bases scarious,
1-2 cm. long; cauline leaves alternate, sessile, the bracts deeply once- or twice-
parted to form 3 or 5 elliptic lobes or rarely cuneate or obovate and apically
shallowly lobed or toothed; flowers as many as 50, with pedicels to 15 mm. long in
flower and 9 cm. long in fruit, glabrous; sepals 5, yellowish, spreading, elliptic,
3-5 mm. long, 1—2 mm. broad, glabrous, deciduous after anthesis; petals 5, elliptic,
2.5-3.5 mm. long, 1.3-2 mm. broad, the glabrous nectary scale forming a pocket
and emarginate; stamens 15 to 20; achenes 10 to 35 in an ovoid head 3-6 mm.
long and 2.5-4 mm. in diameter, discoid-obovate, 1.4—1.6 mm. long, smooth,
glabrous, the margin inconspicuous, the beak minute; receptacle fusiform-
cylindroid, about 2 mm. long in flower, 2-4 mm. long in fruit, sparsely villous or
sometimes glabrous.
In moist, marshy or swampy ground, in mud on edge of pools and lakes,
and in open areas or rich woodland in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex.,
Mar.-May; transcontinental from N.S. to Alas., s. to Wash., Colo., Tex. and Fla.
19. Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook.
Glabrous perennial; roots large and fleshy, 2-3 mm. thick; stems prostrate or
ascending, not rooting, 4—8 cm. long; 1- to 6-flowered; petioles 3-9 cm. long,
the stipular leaf bases usually 5 or rarely 20 mm. long; basal leaf blades simple
and entire or rarely compound and dissected, orbicular or ovate to elliptic or
oblanceolate, or the blade dissected but deltoid to reniform in outline, 2-5 cm.
long, 1-1.8 cm. broad, entire or 3- (or 5-) lobed at the apices or rarely dissected
triternately into narrow divisions, thick, proximally rounded or tapered and distally
rounded to acute; cauline leaves and bracts alternate, 3-parted or -divided or
rarely dissected, sessile; pedicels 1—4 cm. long in flower, 5-12 cm. long in fruit;
sepals dorsally lavender-tinged, spreading, elliptic, 5-8 mm. long, 3-5 mm. wide,
slightly pubescent dorsally, promptly deciduous; petals 5, or rarely more, yellow
or with age turning white, obovate, 6-15 mm. long, 5-10 mm. wide; nectary
scale nearly always ciliate, forming a cuneate-rectangular pocket 1.5-3 mm.
deep, truncate or 2-lobed, the apex sometimes free; stamens 40 to 60; achenes
75 to 150 in a large globose head 1-2 cm. in diameter, irregularly obovoid, 2
945
-------
mm. long, smooth, usually finely pubescent, the margin inconspicuous but winged
along the short stalk at the base, the slender or flattened beak a little winged
and 0.6 mm. long (not recurved); receptacle globose, 2-3 mm. long in flower,
8-17 mm. long in fruit, glabrous.
In wet mt. meadows, old lake beds, in wettish soils about lakes but also in
dry situations in N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June—Sept.;
S.D. to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
Our material is usually referred to var. ellipticus Greene, with basal leaves
usually entire and elliptic to oblanceolate and cauline leaves entire to 3-lobed.
20. Ranunculus flammula L. Fig. 460.
Nearly glabrous perennial; roots filiform; stems reclining, often stoloniferous,
rooting at the lower nodes, 1-5 dm. long, simple or branching above and 2- to
25-flowered, glabrous or with a few stout appressed hairs; leaves alternate, often
in fascicles at rooting nodes; petioles 2-7 or 13 cm. long or the leaves sessile,
the stipular leaf bases mostly 1-2.5 cm. long; blades simple, linear-filiform to
oblanceolate or lanceolate to obovate, 2-6 (-8) cm. long, to 13 mm. broad, entire
or serrulate, acute at both ends or apically truncate and glandular, glabrous or
somewhat appressed-hairy; pedicels 2-10 cm. long, appressed-hairy; sepals 5,
yellowish-green, 1.8-5 mm. long, about 1.5-2.5 mm. broad, appressed-hairy
dorsally or glabrous, promptly deciduous; petals 5 or rarely up to 11, yellow,
obovate to cuneate-obovate, 2-8 mm. long, 1.3-7 mm. broad; nectary scales
glabrous, forming a tiny pocket, usually truncate; stamens 25 to 50; achenes
5 to 50 in a globose or hemispheroidal head 1.5-5 mm. long and 2-5 mm. in
diameter, obovate, 1.3-1.7 mm. long, smooth or finely reticulate, glabrous, the
margin clearly marked but not prominent; beak stout or in some varieties slender,
0.1-0.5 or 0.7 mm. long, straight, usually stigmatic largely across the truncate
apex; receptacle obovoid, 1 mm. long in flower, 0.6-3 mm. long in fruit, glabrous.
Incl. var. ovalis (Bigel.) L. Benson.
In mud and water at edge of lakes, ponds and streams, in wet meadows,
marshes, ditches and swamps, often brackish, in N.M. (San Juan and Socorro
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino cos.), June—Sept.; Nfld. and N.S.
to Alas., s. to Pa., N.J., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
21. Ranunculus hydrocharoides Gray. Fig. 461.
Glabrous or slightly appressed-pubescent perennial; roots filiform or slender;
stems procumbent or floating or some of the flowering ones suberect, rooting at
the lower or all the nodes, 1-2.5 dm. long, 1- to 3-flowered, often fistulous in
the aquatic forms; petioles 2-8 cm. long; basal leaf blades simple, cordate, elliptic
or ovate to lanceolate, 5-28 mm. wide, entire or dentate to serrate, proximally
truncate, subcordate or angled and distally acute or somewhat rounded; cauline
leaves alternate, like the basal but tending to be ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate,
petioled; pedicels mostly 1-6 cm. long in flower, 3-8 cm. long and curved in
fruit, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; sepals 5, greenish-yellow, spreading, ovate,
2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide, early deciduous; petals 5 to 8 or 13, light-yellow,
2-6 mm. long, 1-3 mm. wide; nectary scale forming a pocket or at least a
shallow one, glabrous; stamens 10 to 40; achenes 10 to 25 in a hemispheroidal
or subglobose head 2-3 mm. in diameter, obovoid, 1-4 mm. long, smooth, glab-
rous, the margin inconspicuous; beak produced from the ventral side of the apex
of the body, slender, 0.8-1 mm. long, straight; stigma long-attenuate; receptacle
pyriform-globose, 1 mm. long in flower, 1-2 mm. long in fruit, glabrous, Incl.
var. stolonifer (Hemsl.) L. Benson.
In mud and water of springs, ponds, lakes and streams, in wet meadows,
swamps and marshes, in N. M. (Catron, Grant and Socorro cos.) and Ariz.
946
-------
Fig. 460: Ranunculus flammula var. avails: a, petals, showing the shallow nectari-
ferous pit, x 8; b, flower, the petals much longer than the sepals, x 3; c, habit, show-
ing the slender arching stolons and the erect leaves, x %; d, horizontal stolon, x %; e,
mature achenes, showing variation in size and shape of beak, x 20; f, mature fruiting
head, x 6. (From Mason, Fig. 240).
-------
Fig. 461: Ranunculus hydrocharioides: a, habit, x \<>', b, flower, x 5; c, petal, x 10;
d, head of achenes, x 5; e, achene, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
(Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), Apr,-July;
also Calif, and s. into Mex.
22. Ranunculus laxicaulis j(T. & G.) Darby. Fig. 462.
Glabrous palustrine annual with filiform roots; stems erect or reclining, root-
ing adventitiously at only the lowest nodes, 1-5 dm. long, freely branching, fistu-
lous; stem and axis of panicle often proliferating late in season by flabelliform
leafy offshoots; basal leaves with petioles 1-7 cm. long or longer when in water,
simply ovate to oblong, to 45 mm. long, 6-18 mm. broad, dentate to serrulate or
entire, truncate or rounded at base, truncate or obtuse at apex; the stipular leaf
bases about 1 cm. long; upper cauline leaves alternate, sessile, linear or lanceolate
to oblanceolate or very narrowly elliptic, acute, 15-35 mm. long, 2-6 mm. broad,
dentate; pedicels to 2 cm. long in flower and 6 cm. long in fruit; sepals 5,
greenish-yellow, spreading, ovate, 1.5-3 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. broad, glabrous
or sparsely hairy, promptly deciduous; petals 5 or rarely as many as 10, yellow,
3-9 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. broad; nectary scale glabrous, forming a pocket
0.3-0.5 mm. long, truncate or prolonged a little on the margins; stamens 10 to
30; achenes 15 to 50 in a hemispheroidal head 2 mm. in radius or an ovoid head
2-4 mm. long and 2-2.5 mm. in diameter, obovate to subglobose, 0.6-0.7 mm.
long, smooth and glabrous, the margin inconspicuous, the style about 0.5 mm.
long; receptacle pyriform or spheroid, 1.5-2 mm. long in flower, 1.5-3 mm.
long in fruit, glabrous. R. texensis Engelm., R. pusillus of auth., not Poir.
Boggy shores of lakes, in depressions, ditches, cypress ponds and marshes in
e. Okla. (Waterfall} and s.e. Tex., Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Conn.,
Ind., 111., Mo. and Kan.
23. Ranunculus pusillus Poir. Fig. 456.
Glabrous palustrine annual with filiform roots; stems reclining, usually rooting
at the lowest nodes, 1-5 dm. long, freely branching, fistulous; basal and lower
cauline leaves with petioles 1-6 cm. long, simple, oblong to ovate or rarely
cordate, to 5 cm. long, 5—15 mm. broad, entire or a little irregular, truncate or
rounded at base, truncate to rounded or acute at apex, the stipular leaf bases
to 1 cm. long; upper cauline leaves alternate, sessile, linear or lanceolate to ob-
lanceolate or very narrowly elliptic, 1-5 cm. long, 2-5 mm. broad, entire or
sometimes dentate; pedicels to 15 mm. long in flower and 6 cm. long in fruit,
glabrous; sepals 5, greenish-yellow, spreading, ovate, 1-2 mm. long, 0.8-1 mm.
broad, glabrous or sparsely hairy, promptly deciduous; petals 1 to 3 or rarely 5,
yellow, obovate, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, 1 mm. broad; nectary scale glabrous, forming
a pocket 0.2 mm. deep, truncate; stamens 5 to 10; achenes as many as 125 in
a hemispheroid head about 4 mm. in diameter or an ovoid head 2-4 mm. long
and 2-2.5 mm. in diameter or a cylindroid head 5-8 mm. long and 2-3 mm.
in diameter, oblong-obovate, about 1 mm. long, smooth (with fine reticulations) or
slightly or markedly papillate, glabrous, the margin inconspicuous, the style in
anthesis 0.1-0.2 mm. long, the achene beak 0.1-0.2 mm. long; receptacle pyri-
form or spheroid, 1.5-2 mm. long in flower, 1.5-3 mm. long in fruit, glabrous.
Incl. var. angustifolius (Engelm.) L. Benson, R. tener Mohr.
In shallow water and mud of ditches, marshes, bogs, seepage areas and ponds
in prairies, open woods and thickets in Okla. (McCurtain, Marshall and John-
ston cos.) and the e. fourth of Tex., w. to Burnet Co., Mar.-May; from Calif.
to Mo. and N.Y. s. to Tex. and Fla.
24. Ranunculus sceleratus L. CURSED BUTTERCUP. Fig. 463.
Glabrous or rarely hirsute palustrine or rarely aquatic annual or short-lived
perennial; stems erect, rarely rooting, to 1 m. long, profusely branching, fistulous,
949
-------
Fig. 462: Ranunculus laxicaulis: a, habit showing lower leaves in water, x %; b,
flower, x 5; c, petal showing nectary scale from the top, x 5; d, petal showing nectary
scale from the side, x 5; e, receptacle covered with achenes, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 463: Ranunculus sceleratus: a, flower, the hairy sepals reflexed, x 4; b, petal,
showing the open nectariferous pit at the constricted base of the petal, x 20; c, mature
achene, x 20; d, young upper leaf and auricle of sheath, x 4; e, variation in achene,
x 20; f, habit, showing the cluster of basal leaves and the flowering and fruiting heads,
x %; g, habit variation, scarcely any basal leaves present, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 238).
-------
inflated; basal leaves with petioles rarely to 25 cm. long, simple, reniform, to 6
cm. long and 1 dm. broad, deeply 3-parted or -divided, the primary parts or
divisions lobed to parted or divided, the ultimate lobes obtuse or rounded, the
sinuses rounded, cordate at base, rounded at apex, the broad stipular leaf bases
5-10 mm. long; cauline leaves alternate, the bracts often oblanceolate and entire,
sessile; pedicels to 2 cm. long in flower, 1-3 cm. long in fruit; sepals 5, greenish-
yellow, spreading, ovate, 2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, pilose or glabrous,
persisting later than the corolla; petals 5, light-yellow, obovate, 2-5 mm. long,
1-3 mm. broad; nectary scale glabrous with the margins prolonged along the
blade of the petal, sometimes 1 or both with a free flap at the tip or the scale
often completely surrounding the nectary; stamens 10 to 25; achenes 40 to 300
in a cylindroid head 3-10 mm. long and 2-6 mm. in diameter, obovoid, 0.8-1
mm. long, often with minute irregular transverse ridges in the central unthickened
portion of each face, the periphery of the pericarp at least somewhat corky-
thickened, the surface often with ridges or a circle of "pin-prick" depressions at
the inner margin of the thickened zone, glabrous, the marginal keel obscure, the
style and the achene beak almost lacking, not recurved; receptacle obovoid or
cylindroid, 1-2 mm. long in flower, 2.5-9 mm. long in fruit, pubescent or some-
times glabrous.
Borders of lakes, streams and marshland, often thriving in brackish or alkaline
sites, in Okla. (Garvin, Grady, Johnston, Roger Mills, Comanche, Alfalfa and
Cimarron cos.), in s.e. and s. Tex. to the Panhandle (Donley Co.), N. M. (wide-
spread) and Ariz. (Navajo and Final cos.), Mar-Sept.; from Wash, to N.E.,
s. to Tex., La. and Ga.
The acrid sap of this species is said to raise blisters on human skin.
25. Ranunculus Gmelinii var. Hookeri (D.Don) L. Benson.
Glabrous or hirsute perennial; roots slender but fleshy, 1 mm. thick; stems
reclining or sometimes floating, prostrate, rooting at nodes, usually 1-5 dm. long
and a little branched; leaves all cauline and alternate or basal present and long-
petioled; petioles 1—4 cm. long, the stipular leaf bases 3—6 cm. long; blades
pentagonal in outline, 1-2 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 cm. wide or rarely to 6 or 9 cm.
in diameter, deeply 3-parted or -divided with the divisions 2 or 3 times forked
or sometimes dissected into ribbonlike divisions, the blade when dissected not
triternately dissected as in the dissected leaves of R. flabellaris, proximally deeply
cordate and distally rounded; often as many as 50 flowers produced; pedicels
1-2.5 cm. long in flower, 2-4 cm. long in fruit, glabrous or appressed-pubescent;
sepals 5, yellowish-green, spreading, ovate to nearly orbicular, 2.5-6 mm. long,
1.5-5 mm. wide, glabrous or pubescent, usually thick, deciduous with or before
the corolla; petals 5, yellow, orbicular or obovate, 4-7 mm. long, 3-6 mm. wide;
nectary scale variable, its margins prolonged into flaps (the tips of which are
usually free from the petal and joined, thus the scale usually encircling the gland,
or sometimes the margins joined distally, glabrous); stamens 20 to 40, the ellipsoid
anthers 0.5-1 mm. long; achenes 50 to 70, in an ovoid head 5-7 mm. long and
4-6 mm. in diameter, flattened-obovoid, 1-1.5 mm. long, smooth, glabrous, the
keel not corky-thickened but the basal and ventral portions of the pericarp
callous-thickened, the broad and thin beak 0.6-0.8 mm. long and recurved;
receptacle ovoid to obovoid, 1-2 mm. long in flower, about 4 mm. long in fruit,
hairy.
In mud and shallow water of lakes, streams and marshes, often attached and
floating, in N. M. (Rio Arriba, Colfax and Taos cos.), June-Sept.; Nfld. and
N.S. to Alas., s. to Me., la., Mich., Minn., N.D., N.M. and Nev.
952
-------
26. Ranunculus flabeUaris Raf. YELLOW WATER CROWFOOT.
Glabrous or rarely hirsute perennial; roots filiform; stems floating or reclining,
rooting at the lower nodes, 3-7 dm. long, branching; petioles 3-8 mm. long,
composed wholly of the stipular leaf bases; leaves all cauline, alternate, the
blades finely triternately dissected, semicircular to reniform in outline, 1.5-10
cm. long, 2-12 cm. broad, the numerous divisions ribbonlike and 1-2 mm. broad,
not dissected in palustrine specimens in which the leaves are merely parted or
divided and with the divisions again lobed or parted; pedicels 1-5 cm. long in
flower, 2—6 cm. long in fruit, glabrous or hairy; sepals greenish-yellow, spread-
ing, ovate, 5—8 mm. long, 4-6 mm. broad, usually glabrous, early deciduous;
petals 5 to 8, yellow, obovate, 7-15 mm. long, 4-12 mm. broad; nectary scale
glabrous, free laterally, the gland in a pocket on the ventral surface of the scale;
stamens 50 to 80, the anthers 1—1.5 mm. long, oblong; achenes 50 to 75 in an
ovoid head 7-10 mm. long and 5—8 mm. in diameter, obovate, 2 mm. long,
smooth, glabrous, the margin conspicuously thickened into a corky keel, the
broad achene beak flat and 1.5 mm. long (straight); receptacle ovoid cylindroid,
2-3 mm. long in flower, 5—7 mm. long in fruit, hairy.
In mud and water of shallow ponds, bayous and mud flats, in marshes and
swamps, Okla. (Waterfall), Apr.-Aug.; 'Me. to B.C., s. to N.C., La., Okla., Ut.
and Calif.
27. Ranunculus Cymbalaria Pursh. Fig. 464.
Glabrous or sparingly hirsute palustrine perennial; scapes erect, to 3 dm. high,
branched or unbranched, with filiform stolons several dm. long, not fistulous;
basal leaves with petioles 2—5 cm. long, simple, ovate or reniform to trapezoidal
or rectangular, to 35 mm. long and 2 cm. broad, crenate to dentate or sometimes
merely. 3-toothed or -lobed at the rounded to truncate apices, cordate to rounded
or truncate at base, the stipular leaf bases 2-9 mm. long; pedicels 1-3 cm. long
in flower and 2—6 cm. long in fruit, usually pubescent; sepals 5, greenish-yellow,
spreading, elliptic, 2-5 mm. long, 1.5-3 mm. broad, glabrous, thick, promptly
deciduous; petals 5 or up to 12, bright-yellow, narrowly obovate, 2-8 mm. long,
2-3 mm. broad; nectary scale over-arching the nectary, truncate, the margins
free from the blade of the petal; stamens 10 to 30; achenes as many as 300
(usually much fewer) in a cylindroid head 3-13 mm. long and 3-6 mm. in
diameter, cuneate-oblong, thin-walled, 1.5—2.3 mm. long, each face with about
4 longitudinal striations or branched nerves, glabrous, the margins noticeable, the
triangular beak about 0.3 mm. long and not curved; receptacle cylindroid, 2-3
mm. long in flower, 4-7 mm. long in fruit, hairy.
In mud, especially of brackish streams and marshes, wet meadows, marshes,
and in shallow water about pools and along streams, in Okla. (Harper, Beaver,
Ellis, Texas and Cimarron cos.), N. M. (widespread), and Ariz. (Coconino,
Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Mohave and Yuma cos.), May-Sept.; across Can.
to Alas, and Sib., s. to the Andes of S.A.
The following two variants are found in our area.
Var. Cymbalaria. Stems and petioles mostly 0.5 mm. thick; scapes 2.5-11 cm.
high, usually branched; basal leaves cordate to ovate or reniform, 5-22 mm.
long, 4—20 mm. broad, crenate or sometimes merely 3-lobed at the apices in
some of the leaves, thin; sepals and petals 3—5 mm. long; stamens usually 15
to 25; achenes 40 to 150 in a cylindroid head 3-8 or 13 mm. long and 3—4 or
6 mm. in diameter.
Var. saximontanus Fern. Stems and petioles mostly 1 mm. thick; scapes 5-30
cm. high, usually branched; basal leaves cordate to ovate or rarely reniform,
12—40 mm. long, 10-33 mm. broad, mostly crenate, thick; sepals and petal 4-8
953
-------
Fig. 464: Ranunculus Cymbalaria var. saximontanus: a, petal, gland covered by
scale, x 12; b, flower, the petals shorter than the sepals, x 4; c, matur.e achenes, show-
ing variation in shape, x 20; d and e, variations in habit, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 242).
-------
mm. long; stamens usually 20 to 35; achenes 100 to 300 in a head 5-12 mm.
long and 3-5 mm. in diameter.
28. Ranunculus ranunculinus (Nutt.) Rydb.
Glabrous terrestrial perennial; roots about 1 mm. thick; stems erect, not root-
ing, 1-3 dm. long, freely branching above; petioles 5-13 cm. long, the stipular
leaf bases 1-2 cm. long; basal leaf blades compound, ternately divided into 3
primary leaflets and these again nearly always ternately divided into secondariy
leaflets that are ternately lobed, parted or divided, the ultimate divisions tending
to be lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or ovate and 2-3 or rarely 8 mm. wide and
more or less coriaceous; cauline leaves alternate, similar to the basal or reduced,
the upper sessile; pedicels 1-3 cm. long in flower, usually 2-6 cm. long in fruit,
glabrous; sepals yellow tinged with green, spreading, narrowly elliptic, 3-6 mm.
long, 1.2-2.2 mm. wide, glabrous, thin, promptly deciduous; petals 5 or rarely
none or 1, yellow, narrowly obovate, 5-7 mm. long, 1.5—2.5 mm. wide; nectary
scale glabrous, not overhanging the nectary, consisting of a mere transverse callus
ridge below the gland; anthers elliptic, achenes 5 to 15 in a capitate cluster,
oblong, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the thin pericarp marked on each face by 3 to 5 or
6 striations or branched nerves, glabrous, the style persistent and flexible in fruit
and 1.5-2 mm. long; receptacle pyriform, 1 mm. long in flower, 1-1.5 mm. long
in fruit, scaly, not hairy.
In wet soils along streams and in seepage areas, in N. M. (Colfax and San-
doval cos.), May-June; Wyo. and Ut., s. to N.M.
29. Ranunculus aquatilis L. Fig. 465.
Glabrous or hispidulous perennial; stems submersed, rooting at the lowest
nodes, 2-6 or rarely to 20 dm. long, branching, with large air chambers present
in the cortex, the vascular system far in the interior, sometimes hispidulous;
leaves usually all cauline, alternate, somewhat shorter than the internodes or
exceeding them; petioles to 3 cm. long, including the stipular leaf bases which
in the submersed leaves are 2—5 mm. long (these sometimes bordering the entire
petiole but usually not so); leaf blades often all submersed and finely dissected
into filiform divisions, usually repeatedly trichotomous, the leaf as a whole not
globular, usually but not necessarily collapsing when withdrawn from the water,
2-4 cm. long, 3-5 cm. wide; the upper leaves (when floating) simple, reniform
in outline, 1.5-2.5 cm. broad, 3-lobed and again lobed or parted and lobed,
with broad stipular bases; pedicels stout, 1-2 cm. long in flower, 1.5-3 cm. long
and not reflexed in fruit, glabrous; sepals 5, light-green, spreading, ovate, 2-3 mm.
long or sometimes longer, 1—1.8 mm. wide, glabrous, deciduous before the
corolla; petals 5, white or the bases yellow, 4—8 or 14 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm.
wide; nectary scale glabrous, forming a shallow pocket or sometimes greatly
reduced; stamens 5 or 10 to 25; achenes usually 10 to 20 in a globose cluster,
obovoid, 1-1.5 or rarely 2-2.5 mm. long, roughly transversely-ridged, glabrous
from the beginning or the pistils hispid and the achenes glabrate or with some
hairs persisting on or near the dorsal sutures, the margins rather sharp, the style
deciduous, the achene beak about 0.1-0.3 mm. long; receptacle subglobose, 1
mm. long in flower, 1 mm. long in fruit, densely pubescent.
Commonly attached and floating in ponds, streams, pools and springs, often
in swift-flowing water, in N. M. (Rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino and Yavapai cos.), Apr.-Aug.; Nfld. and Lab. to Alas., s. to N.C., Ind.,
N.M., Ariz, and Baja Calif.
Our plants are usually referred to var. capillaceus (Thuill.) DC., with stems
1-2.5 mm. thick and stamens usually 10 or more.
955
-------
Fig. 465: Ranunculus aquatilis: a-d, R. aquatilis var. hispidnlous: a, habit, showing
submersed and floating leaves, the flowers and fruiting heads on long slender peduncles,
x 4,h; b, flower, x 4; c, mature achenes, x 12; d, transitional forms of floating leaves,
showing toothed summit, x I1-;, e-h, R. aqiiaiilis var. capillaceus: e, habit, submersed
leaves only, the peduncle short and stout, x if,; f, single petal, showing the low scale
surrounding the shallow nectariferous pit, x 8; g, achene from head comprised of about
35 achenes, x 12; h, achene from a head comprised of a few achenes, x 12. (From
Mason, Fig. 244).
-------
30. Ranunculus subrigidus Drew.
Glabrous or essentially glabrous aquatic perennial with filiform roots; stems
submersed, rooting at the lowest nodes, to about 6 dm. long, branching, with
large air chambers in the cortex; leaves cauline, all submersed and finely dis-
sected into filiform divisions, once- or twice-trichotomous then dichotomous, the
leaf as a whole globular, usually not fully collapsing when withdrawn from the
water (but sometimes so), usually circinate, 1-2 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. broad, much
shorter than the adjacent internodes; petioles developed only occasionally, the
first leaf divisions arising within the stipular leaf base (the leaf base dilated and
the ends usually free); pedicels stout, 2-4 cm. long in flower, about 1 cm. longer
and markedly recurved at the bases in fruit, glabrous; sepals 5, light-green, spread-
ing, elliptic, 3-5 mm. long, deciduous before the corolla; petals 5, white or the
bases yellow, 5-9 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, narrowly obovate, the nectary scale
nearly or fully obsolete; stamens 5 to 10; achenes 30 to 80, in a globose-ovoid
head 4-6 mm. long and 4—5 mm. in diameter, obovoid, 1—1.5 mm. long, roughly
transversely-ridged, glabrous, hispidulous or glabrate, the style largely deciduous,
the achene beak 0.2-0.5 mm. long; receptacle subglobose, 1 mm. long in flower,
1-1.5 mm. long in fruit, hispidulous. R. circinatus Sibth. var. subrigidus (Drew)
L. Benson.
In ponds, lakes or pools, often brackish, frequently attached and floating in
streams, in the Tex. Rio Grande Valley, N. M. (Rio Arriba, San Miguel and
Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Gila cos.), May-Sept.; from Can. s. to cen.
Mex.
31. Ranunculus longirostris Godr. WHITE WATER-CROWFOOT.
Similar to R. subrigidus; leaves firmer, often stiff, the stipular base larger and
from three fourths to entirely adnate to the very short petiole; pedicels appearing
to be axillary (actually terminal, the stem sympodial), 1-5 cm. long, apparently
not recurved in fruit, glabrous; sepals yellowish-green or purplish, spreading,
narrowly elliptic, 3-4 mm. long, 1—1.5 mm. broad, early-deciduous; petals 5,
white, obovate, 4—9 mm. long, 2.5-6 mm. broad; the nectary scale reduced to a
very shallow pocket or a lunate ridge along the base and sides of the gland or
wholly absent, the glandular area only 0.2-0.3 mm. in diameter; stamens 10 to
20; achenes 7 to 25 in a subglobose cluster or head 3-5 mm. long and 4-6 mm.
in diameter, obovoid, 1.3—1.7 mm. long, roughly transversely-ridged, glabrous or
hispidulous, the margin evident, the slender beak 0.7-1.1 mm. long and straight;
receptacle globose or pyriform, 1 mm. long in flower, 1-2 mm. long in fruit,
densely hispid.
Floating in water of streams and lakes, often forming large mats in Okla.
(McCurtain and Beaver cos.) and in Tex. from the Rio Grande Plains to the
Panhandle, N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), Apr .-July;
from Can., s. to Ariz., N.M., Tex., Ark., Ala. and Del.
10. Thalictrum L. MEADOW-RUE
Plants herbaceous, perennial, often polygamous or dioecious; leaves alternate,
rather large, twice or thrice ternate with numerous usually cleft or shallowly
lobed leaflets, the basal leaves long-stalked; petioles dilated at base; flowers mostly
unisexual, small, greenish or yellowish, usually in terminal panicles; sepals 4 or
5, caducous, petaloid or greenish; petals none; stamens numerous, exserted, the
filaments filiform or slender-clavate; stigma unilateral; achenes 4 to 15, with
longitudinal grooves or ribs extending from base to apex, sometimes inflated.
About 150 species, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere.
957
-------
1. Leaflets usually rather thick and rigid, mostly longer than wide, entire to
usually acutely 3-lobed with the lobes entire; polygamo-dioecious....
i. T. dasycarpum.
I. Leaflets usually thin and flaccid, as wide as long or wider, typically 3-lobed
with the lobes obtuse to rounded and often notched or crenate;
dioecious, rarely polygamous 2. T. Fendleri.
1. Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. & All. PURPLE MEADOW-RUE.
Caudex short and thick, erect; stem to 2 m. high, often purple; upper leaves
sessile or subsessile, their ovate to suborbicular stipules brown; leaflets firm, obovate
in outline, to about 55 mm. long and 4 cm. wide, with veins prominent beneath,
provided on lower surface with a fine non-glandular pubescence or glabrous, or
sometimes glaucous; inflorescences corymbose-paniculate; sepals lanceolate to
narrowly ovate, acuminate, commonly slender-tipped, 3-5 mm. long; filaments
filiform, 4-7 mm. long, soon drooping and entangling; anthers oblong-linear, 1.5-
3.2 mm. long, with subulate tip only 0.1-0.2 mm. long; stigma 2-5 mm. long,
about equaling the ovoid to lanceolate body of carpel.
In meadows, swamps and damp thickets, on rich wooded slopes or along wooded
streams in Okla. (Waterfall), the e. third of Tex. and the n. Panhandle, N. M.
(San Juan and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo Co.), Mar.-July; from Ont. to
Alta., s. to O., Ind., Ill, Mo., Kan., La., Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
The var. hypoglaucum (Rydb.) Boivin (T. hypoglaucum Rydb.) is an entirely
glabrous plant with somewhat thinner leaves that are glaucous on the lower surface,
often longer stigmas (2.5-5 mm.), longer filaments (4-7 mm.) and a more
elongate receptacle than in var. dasycarpum.
2. Thalictrum Fendleri Engelm.
Plant always more or less pubescent, rarely subglabrous or even glabrous, never
waxy nor blue nor glaucous, the stem sometimes purplish, to 15 dm. high, more or
less stoloniferous; sepals erose, the staminate ovate to elliptic and 3-5 mm. long,
the pistillate ovate to rhombic or broadly lanceolate and about 1.5 mm. long; fila-
ments 4-7.5 mm. long, deep-yellow; anthers oblong to linear, pale- or deep-yellow,
2.2-3.4 mm. long, with acumen to 0.8 mm. long; stigma 1.5—4 mm. long; ovary
(densely) green, with the ventral surface ovate to lanceolate, often densely pubes-
cent; mature carpel spreading, ovate to lanceolate, green to brown, more or less
pubescent to sometimes glabrous, with a stipe to 2 mm. long, the ventral surface
to 9 mm. long and 4.5 mm. wide, with lateral nerves rarely branching and sinuate,
never minutely sinuate nor anastomosing nor reticulate, with the nerve curved
ventrally rather than dorsally.
On moist shaded canyon slopes, muddy seepage banks, edge of streams, and in
wet meadows and thickets in mts. of the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (rather wide-
spread) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
Apr.-Sept.; from Tex., w. to Ore., Wyo. and Ariz.; also n. Mex.
Fam. 62. Magnoliaceae Juss. MAGNOLIA FAMILY
Trees, rarely shrubs or vines with bitter aromatic bark and with the leaf buds
covered by membranous stipules; leaves alternate, petiolate, entire, pinnately-
veined; flowers solitary or several clustered, usually large and fragrant, poly-
petalous, hypogynous, with many stamens; perianth segments (3 sepals and 6 to
9 petals) similarly colored, deciduous, imbricated in the bud; stamens numerous,
linear, caducous; anthers adnate; carpels numerous, crowded together to cover the
prolonged receptacle, cohering with each other and in fruit forming a fleshy or
rather woody conelike fruit; mature carpels opening on the back from which the
1 or 2 anatropous arillate seeds hang by an extensile thread.
958
-------
Fig. 466: Magnolia virginiana: a, twig with flower, x %; b, fruit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 467: Persea Borbonia: a, branch with flowers, x Vz', b, bud, x 5; c, flower, x
5; d, anther, x 10; e, branch with fruit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
About 230 species in 12 genera, world-wide in distribution.
1. Magnolia L. MAGNOLIA
Characters of the family. About 80 species, mostly Asiatic.
1. Magnolia virginiana L. SWAMP BAY, SWEET BAY. Fig. 466.
A slender semievergreen tree to 20 m. tall, with a trunk to 15 cm. in diameter
or rarely shrubby and deciduous; branchlets slender, bright-green and hoary-
pubescent when they first appear, usually soon glabrous; buds pubescent; leaves
elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 10-15 cm. long, to 6 cm. wide, acute or obtuse at
apex, broadly cuneate or sometimes rounded at base, pale or whitish on lower
surface and silky-pubescent at first; petioles slender, 1-2 cm. long; silky-pubescent
to glabrous; flowers subglobose, 5-7 cm. across, white, fragrant of lemon, on
slender peduncles; sepals thinner and shorter than the petals, spreading; petals 9
to 12, obovate, obtuse to acutish, 3-6 cm. long, concave; fruit ellipsoid, 4-5 cm.
long, about 12 mm. thick, dark-red, glabrous; seeds red, obovoid, flattened, about
7 mm. long. M. glauca L.
In swamps, low woods, along boggy streams and on seepage slopes in e. Tex.,
Apr.-June; from Mass., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Those plants in our region that have young branchlets and petioles more or
less persistently densely silky pubescent, and tomentose pedicels, are referable to
var. australis Sarg.
Fam. 63 Lauraceae Juss. LAUREL FAMILY
Aromatic trees or occasionally shrubs with alternate simple persistent or decidu-
ous leaves, or sometimes twining parasitic vines with greatly reduced scalelike
leaves, without stipules; flowers small, clustered, greenish or yellowish, without
petals; calyx of 4 to 6 sepals that are imbricate and free from the ovary, mostly
fewer than the stamens; stamens basically 12, in 4 series of 3 each, any one or
more series reduced to staminodia or altogether lacking; anthers 2- or 4-celled,
opening by 2 or 4 uplifted valves; ovary 1-celled, the ovule solitary and pendulous;
style simple; fruit a 1-seeded berry or drupe; seeds anatropous, suspended.
A family of more than 2,000 species in about 32 genera, chiefly tropical and
subtropical.
1. Tree to 20 m. tall; leaves broad and coriaceous 1. Persea
1. Parasitic orange to green twining viny herb with leaves reduced to scales
2. Cassytha
1. Persea MILL.
About 150 species primarily of tropical America, of which the avocado (P
americana Mill.) is best known.
1. Persea Borbonia (L.) Spreng. RED BAY. Fig. 467.
Tree to 20 m. tall or more, with ascending branches and densely rusty-tomentose
to thinly puberulent or sometimes glabrous twigs; leaves alternate, entire, coria-
ceous, lanceolate to elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate, tapering into the petiole (to
25 mm. long), broadly rounded to abruptly short-acuminate at apex, to 2 dm.
long and 6 cm. wide, persistent, thinly tomentose on lower surface but commonly
glabrescent with age; flowers perfect, in small panicles, peduncle to 7 cm. long,
usually less than 3 cm. long; calyx 6-parted, surrounding base of fruit; inner row
of sepals elliptic, at least twice as long as the outer row and with the upper two-
thirds early-deciduous; fertile anthers 9 in 3 rows, the innermost 3 with extrorse
961
-------
anthers and biglandular at base, a fourth inner row reduced to staminodes; anthers
4-celled and 4-valved; drupes subglobose, dark-blue or blackish, about 1 cm. long,
1-seeded. P. pubescens (Pursh) Sarg., P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg.
In woods, swamps, along streams and about seashores in s.e. Tex., May-June;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to Del.
2. Cassytha L.
About 15 species, mainly tropical and subtropical.
1. Cassytha filiformis L. WOE-VINE, LOVE-VINE.
Parasitic vine superficially resembling Cuscuta, with yellowish or palegreen wiry
entwined stems and branches with a spicy fragrance; leaves wanting or reduced to
spirally arranged scales; flowers perfect, subtended by a minute bract and 2 similar
bracteoles, 2 to several at irregular intervals in a slender spike; sepals 6, in 2
unequal series, topping the accrescent fruit; the several inner sepals triangular-
ovate, about 1.5 mm. long, much larger than the outer bractlike sepals; fertile
stamens 9 in 3 rows, the innermost 3 with extrorse anthers and basal glands, a
fourth inner row reduced to 3 cordate staminodia; anthers 2-celled and 2-valved;
drupe globose, blackish, to about 7 mm. in diameter.
Parasitic on various herbaceous and woody plants mostly in marsh areas along
coastal Tex., rare, May-July; from Fla. and Tex.; also Latin Am. and Afr.
Fam. 64. Cruciferae Juss. MUSTARD FAMILY
Herbs with watery and mostly pungent sap, infrequently suffrutescent and sub-
shrubby; leaves alternate (rarely opposite), entire to lobed or pinnately divided
and without stipules; flowers bisexual, usually tetradynamous, mostly regular and
ebracteate in terminal racemes, infrequently solitary and pedunculate; sepals 4,
deciduous, usually oblong, erect and appressed to the corolla or spreading at
anthesis; petals 4 (rarely absent), hypogynous, entire or emarginate, rarely lobed
or fimbriate, yellow, white or lavendar; stamens 6 (rarely fewer or more) in two
whorls, outer single stamens 2, inner paired stamens 4; ovary with 2 locules (rarely
with a single locule); fruit a dry usually dehiscent silique with a wide range of
shapes from narrowly linear to depressed-globose; seeds without an endosperm;
embryo curved with radicle usually folded retrorsely along cotyledon margins
(accumbent), or along the back of one cotyledon (incumbent), or in a somewhat
intermediate position; embryo rarely straight as in Leavenworthia.
About 375 genera and over 3,000 species. Nearly cosmopolitan, but mostly in
the temperate and cold parts of the world. At high elevations elsewhere. Many
species have become widespread weeds.
1. Siliques of a linear or elliptic type, at least 3 times longer than broad (2)
1. Siliques variously shaped from globose to orbicular or triangular, sometimes
shortly ellipsoid, didymous or flattened, less than 3 times longer
than broad (19)
2(1). Siliques with a transverse partition, indehiscent except by breaking into
jointed segments 10. Cakile
2. Siliques dehiscent by longitudinal linear valves (3).
3(2). Siliques flattened parallel to the septum (4)
3. Siliques terete or (if compressed) flattened contrary to septum (11)
4(3). Stems arising from a basal rosette of leaves or a branched caudex, or with
rhizome leaves present (5)
4. Stems with lower leaves separated by internodes, no basal rosette or tuft of
leaves present (10)
962
-------
5(4). Petals white to lavender; inflorescences racemose, none of the flowers
pedunculate; styles less than 3 mm. long (6)
5. Petals yellow; at least some flowers pedunculate or styles over 5 mm. long;
pedicels much-elongated (9)
6(5). Valves not extending to silique margin, elastic and rolling up after dehis-
cence 6. Cardamine
6. Valves extending to edge of the replum margin, not elastic and rolling upon
dehiscence (7)
7(6). Siliques linear-elliptical; seeds wingless, in 2 distinct rows in each loculus....
13. Draba
1. Siliques linear; seeds winged, in a single row in the loculus (8)
8(7). Leaves entire to dentate; pedicels expanded below receptacle 2. Arabis
8. Leaves pectinate to pinnatifid; pedicels not expanded below receptacle
3. Sibara
9(5). Leaves pinnately or bipinnately dissected; siliques thick, spongy and mar-
gined or the styles over 5 mm. long 11. Selenia
9. Leaves lyrately lobed to entire; siliques flattened, not thick and spongy nor mar-
gined; styles less that 2 mm. long 12.' Leavenworthia
10(4). Cauline leaves petiolate or cuneate at base, upper ones entire 2. Arabis
10. Cauline leaves sessile and auriculate, upper ones lobed 3. Sibara
11(3). Leaves entire or lobed, never divided as far as midrib (12)
11. Leaves (at least some) pinnately lobed to bipinnate, the primary lobes cut
to the leaf rachis (15)
12(11). Flowers yellow or yellowish, never white to lavender 7. Rorippa
12. Flowers white to lavender, never yellow (13)
13(12). Upper cauline leaves auriculate ; 3. Sibara
13. Upper cauline leaves petiolate or cuneate at base (14)
14(13). Lower cauline leaves auriculate; cotyledons accumbent 1. lodanthus
14. Lower cauline leaves petiolate or cuneate at base; cotyledons incumbent
4. Sisymbrium
15(11). Trichomes mostly highly branched; stems and leaves often grayish from
a dense pubescence; leaves often bipinnate to tripinnate
5. Descurainia
15. Trichomes mostly simple or absent; stems and leaves greenish; leaves at most
pinnate plus secondary lobing (16)
16(15). Petals yellow or yellowish (17)
16. Petals white to lavender (18)
17(16). Cauline leaves auriculate or clasping stem at base 9. Barbarea
17. Cauline leaves not auriculate or clasping stem 4. Sisymbrium
18(16). Plants aquatic or of very wet habitats; valves of siliques nerveless; cauline
leaves pinnate to bipinnate 7. Rorippa
18. Plants terrestrial, ubiquitous in habitats, either dry or wet; valves of siliques
nerved; cauline leaves at most lobed 4. Sisymbrium
19(1). Weak aquatic perennial with capillary-dissected submerged leaves; petals
white 8. Armoracia
19. Terrestrial annuals in wet or dry habitats, if in water the petals yellow (20)
20(19). Siliques strongly flattened at right angles to septum, the replum much
narrower than silique width, broader above than below, more or
less triangular to heart-shaped in outline 14. Capsella
963
-------
20. Siliques inflated or compressed parallel to septum, the replum equaling the
silique width (21)
21(20). Siliques globose to pyriform or ovoid, sometimes slightly longer than
broad or broader than long but not compressed laterally (22)
21. Siliques compressed to strongly flattened parallel to septum (23)
22(21). Cauline leaves sagittate-clasping stems; silicle somewhat pyriform, the
firm valves 1-nerved 15. Camelina
22. Cauline leaves not sagittate; silicle globose to ovoid 7. Rorippa
23(21). Leaves pinnately to bipinnately dissected; petals yellow 11. Selenia
23. Leaves entire or merely lobed; petals white to lavender 13. Draba
1. lodanthus STEUD.
Four species from central United States and Mexico.
1. lodanthus pinnarifidus (Michx.) Steud. PURPLE ROCKET.
Perennial; stem usually single from base, branched above, leafy, glabrous or
rarely sparsely pubescent, with simple trichomes below, 3-8 dm. tall; leaves
glabrous, ovate to lanceolate, petiolate or the upper sessile and cuneate, irregularly
serrate, lower leaves usually with a winged petiole and auricles clasping the stem;
inflorescence narrowly racemose, elongated; sepals oblong, erect, often purplish,
6-8 mm. long; petals white to light-lavender, spatulate to narrowly obovate, 7-14
mm. long; pedicels widely spreading, glabrous, 4—10 mm. long; siliques linear,
widely spreading to divaricately ascending, straight, nearly terete, glabrous, 2-4
cm. long, sessile or with a short stipe; seeds oblong, wingless, 1-1.5 mm. long;
cotyledons accumbent.
Alluvial soil of river bottoms and in rich woods, n.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and cen.
and e. Tex., Apr.-June; Pa. to la., Ala. and Tex.
2. Arabis L. ROCK-CRESS
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs; stems erect, stiff, simple or branched,
glabrous to pubescent; basal leaves petiolate; cauline leaves petiolate or sessile;
inflorescence racemose, ebracteate; flowers tetradynamous; sepals erect, oblong;
petals spatulate to oblong, white, cream or lavender; siliques sessile, straight
to curved, erect to pendulous, flattened parallel to partition; styles evident, entire;
seeds orbicular to oblong, winged; cotyledons accumbent.
About 150 species in Eurasia, North America and Africa.
1. Seeds definitely in 1 row in each locule 1. A. hirsuta.
1. Seeds in 2 rows in each locule (2)
2(1). Fruiting pedicels merely ascending or divaricately spreading, finely stellate-
pubescent or glabrous; stem finely appressed-pubescent at base
with forked trichomes 2. A. divaricarpa.
2. Fruiting pedicels strictly appressed or subappressed, glabrous; stem hirsute
at base or glabrous 3. A. Drummondii.
1. Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop. var. pycnocarpa (M. Hopk.) Roll.
Stoutish biennial; stem 2-8 dm. high, slender, hirsute usually to summit with
spreading mostly simple hairs; radical leaves oblong to oblanceolate, 2-8 cm.
long, villous-hirsute to hirtellous on both surfaces; cauline leaves very numerous,
imbricated or nearly so, oblong to lanceolate, 1-4 cm. long, obtuse to subacute,
the lower auriculate- to subsagiitate-amplexicaul, hirsute, the upper merely sessile
and less pubescent or smooth; racemes slender, becoming lax; sepals herbaceous;
petals whitish to ochroleucous or rarely pinkish, lanceolate, 4-6 mm. long, 0.7-1
mm. wide; siliques erect or appressed, flat, often moniliform, 1.5-5 cm. long,
964
-------
0.7-1 mm. broad; style usually slender, less than 1 mm. long; seeds in 1 row
in each cell, 0.6-1.5 mm. long, broadly winged above. A. ovata of Wool. & Standl.
In wet meadows and water in and about springs, seepage areas, stream beds
and damp woods in N. M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino
cos.), May-Aug.; Anticosti to Yuk., s. to Pa. or occasionally n.w. Ga., Mo.,
Kan., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
2. Arabis divaricarpa A. Nels.
Stem erect, 2-9 dm. tall, simple or branched, sparingly appressed-pubescent
at base with forked hairs; rosette leaves narrowly oblanceolate to oblanceolate-
spatulate, 2-6 cm. long, acute, usually dentate, minutely stellate-pubescent;
cauline leaves narrowly oblong to linear-lanceolate, strongly ascending, entire
or subentire, auriculate or sagittate at base, mostly glabrous; flowers in loose
racemes; pedicels soon divergent, minutely stellate-pubescent or glabrous; petals
pink or purplish to rarely white, oblanceolate-spatulate, 5-8 mm. long; siliques
glabrous, the lowest and mature ones loosely ascending to divergent, 2.5-9 cm.
long, 1.2-3 mm. broad, with style 0.2-0.7 mm. long; seeds in 2 rows in each cell,
1-1.5 mm. in diameter, narrowly winged.
In wet mt. meadows and seepage areas, about rocks and in sandy soils in N.M.
(Taos Co.), May-Aug.; Gaspe Pen. to Man. and Yuk., s. to N.Y., O., Mich., Wise,
la. Neb, N.M. and Calif.
3. Arabis Drummondii Gray.
Stem erect, simple or branched, often glaucous, glabrous throughout or rarely
appressed-pubescent at base; radical leaves to 9 cm. long, glabrous or merely with
ciliate petioles; flowers erect or strongly ascending; pedicels glabrous; petals
5-10 mm. long; siliques suberect or subappressed, flattish, 4-10 cm. long, 1.5-3.3
mm. broad; seeds in 2 rows, about 1 mm. in diameter. A. oxyphylla Greene.
In moist or wet soil in mt. meadows and along streams in N. M. (Colfax, Rio
Arriba, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.),
May-Sept.; Lab. to Alta. and B.C., s. to Del, O, Ind, 111, la, N.M, Ariz, and
Calif.
3. Sibara GREENE
Eleven species, primarily of southwestern United States and Mexico.
1. Sibara virginica (L.) Roll.
Annual herb; stems arising from rosette of basal leaves, erect or decumbent,
usually hirsute toward base, 1-3 dm. tall; leaves pinnatifid with narrow lateral
segments, terminal lobe somewhat broader; cauline leaves petiolate, not auriculate;
flowers small and inconspicuous; petals white to faintly pinkish, oblanceolate to
narrowly oblong, 1.5-3 mm. long; pedicels divaricately ascending, short, mostly
less than 4 mm. long; siliques narrowly oblong to linear, flattened parallel to
septum, obtuse above and below, 15-25 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide, glabrous;
seeds nearly orbicular, flattened, narrowly winged.
Old fields, on mud along sloughs and streams, roadsides and open areas, Okla.
(Waterfall) s, cen. and e. Tex, Mar.-Apr.; s. Calif, and Okla. to O, Va. and Fla.
4. Sisymbrium L.
About 90 species, mainly in Eurasia, the Mediterranean region and temperate
Africa, North America and South America.
1. Sisymbrium altissimum L. TUMBLE-MUSTARD. Fig. 468.
Annual; stems loosely branched above, to 1.5 m. tall, hirsute toward base with
large spreading simple trichomes; lower leaves petiolate, hirsute, pinnately lobed,
965
-------
Fig. 468: Sisymbriuni altissimum: A, habit, about x 1/4; B, leaves, basal and cauline,
x '1i; C, silique, about x 1; D, seeds, x 7. (From Reed, 'Selected Weeds of the United
Stales. Fig. 104).
-------
the lobes oblong and dentate, gradually changing upward on the plant to leaves
with linear-filiform entire segments; flowers loosely racemose; petals pale-yellow,
6-9 mm. long; pedicels straight, widely spreading, similar in diameter to siliques;
siliques terete, straight, long-linear, widely spreading and extending same angle
as pedicel, 5-10 cm. long, glabrous; styles 1-2 mm. long; seeds wingless, plump,
oblong, about 1 mm. long; cotyledons incumbent.
An ubiquitous weed of fields, roadsides and waste places, also wet meadows,
edge of ponds and streams, throughout most of our region, May-Aug.; nat.
of Eur.
5. Descurainia WEBB & BERTH. TANSY-MUSTARD
More than 50 species in the cold and temperate regions of America, Eurasia
and South Africa.
1. Descurainia californica (Gray) Schulz.
Annual or biennial; stems erect, 3-8 dm. tall, branched above, glabrous or
very sparsely pubescent below; leaves simply pinnate; pinnae in 2 to 4 pairs,
lanceolate, about 5 cm. long, entire to serrulate or somewhat incised, often
slightly pubescent; pedicels slender, 3-7 mm. long, erect-ascending to somewhat
spreading; petals yellow, 1.5-2 mm. long, barely exceeding the sepals; fruit 3-6
mm. long, to about 1.3 mm. thick, fusiform, the style 0.5 mm. long or more;
seeds 2 to 7, in 1 row in each cell.
In marshes and in wet soil at head of ponds in N.M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; Wyo. to Ore., s. to N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
6. Cardamine L. BITTER-CRESS
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, glabrous to sparsely hirsute with simple
trichomes; leaves entire to pinnately compound, petiolate, alternate; flowers in
racemes or panicles; petals white or purple, obovate to spatulate; siliques linear,
straight, slightly compressed parallel to septum; valves opening elastically from
silique base; replum margin extending partially over valvular area; seeds uni-
seriate, marginless, plump, longer than broad; cotyledons accumbent.
Between 150 to 175 species, cosmopolitan, mostly temperate.
1. Perennials with slender or tuberous rootstocks; leaves simple, the cordate-ovate
to obovate or reniform blades entire to repand or shallowly den-
tate (2)
1. Annuals with fibrous roots; leaves pinnately lobed to compound (3)
2(1). Stems from a short hard tuber; distribution in eastern Texas
1. C. bulbosa.
2. Stems from a slender creeping rootstock; distribution in New Mexico and
Arizona 2. C. cordifolia.
3(1). Siliques 1.5-2 mm. wide; petals greenish, strap-shaped
3. C. macrocarpa var. texana.
3. Siliques 1 mm. wide or less; petals white, usually spatulate (4)
4(3). Petioles of cauline leaves hirsute-ciliate at base; stems several to many
from the base 4. C. hirsuta.
4. Petioles of cauline leaves naked at base; stems one or few from the base (5)
5(4). Stem hispid or hispidulous near the base; terminal leaflet usually much
broader than the elliptic to obovate lateral leaflets that are notice-
ably decurrent on the rachis 5. C. pensylvanica.
967
-------
5. Stem glabrous; terminal leaflet usually about as broad as the linear lateral
leaflets that are cuneate or short-petiolulate at base
6. C. parvifiora var. arenicola.
1. Cardamine bulbosa (Schreb.) B.S.P. SPRING-CRESS. Fig. 469.
Stems erect from a short tuber, 2-6 dm. tall, simple or branched above, with
fine pubescence on the lower part; leaves simple; basal leaves long-petioled and
obovate to cordate-ovate; lower cauline leaves petioled, the upper sessile, entire
to remotely dentate; petals white, 7-15 mm. long; siliques linear-lanceolate to
linear, divaricate, 2-3 cm. long, on slender pedicels 2-3 cm. long; styles 2-3 mm.
long; seeds variable, suborbicular to elongate-oval.
Wet woods, creek bottoms and marshy meadows, n.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and
e. Tex., Feb.-May; Tex. to Fla., Minn, and Que.
2. Cardamine cordifolia Gray. Fig. 470.
Erect perennial with extensively developed slender rootstocks 2-2.5 mm. thick;
flowering stems simple, 2-6 dm. tall, glabrous to rather densely pubescent near
the base with short spreading simple hairs; leaves simple, rather fleshy, glabrous,
almost entirely cauline, the basal ones often with a slender petiole 2 to 5 times
as long as the blade; blade reniform to cordate-rotund or cordate-deltoid, usually
sinuately crenate, 3-10 cm. wide; upper cauline leaves often with petioles pro-
portionately less than half as long as those of the lower leaves, the more nearly
cordate-deltoid blades sinuate to lobed-mucronulate and 2-6 cm. long; racemes
simple, ebracteate; pedicels spreading-ascending, 1—2 cm. long; sepals 3—4 mm.
long, glabrous, the outer ones slightly saccate at the base; petals white, obovate-
spatulate, long-clawed, 7-12 mm. long; stamens slightly longer than the sepals;
siliques straight, ascending to nearly erect, 2-3.5 cm. long, 1.5-4 mm. wide, the
valves very indistinctly 1-nerved near the base; stylar beak usually 0.5-2 mm.
long; seeds about 1.5 mm. broad, flattened but not winged, nearly smooth.
Mt. streams, stream banks, marshes, seepage areas and alpine wet meadows in
N.M. (Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Lincoln, Taos and Otero cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; Wyo. and Ida., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
3. Cardamine macrocarpa Brandeg. var. texana Roll.
Herbaceous annual; stems several from base, 2-4 dm. long, glabrous, semierect
to decumbent, highly branched, slightly angled with a narrow wing; leaves
pihnatifid to simply pinnate, nonauriculate, the rachis minutely puberulent; leaflets
usually petiolulate, dentate to shallowly lobed, infructescences with a gyrate rachis;
petals greenish, strap-shaped, less than 1 mm. wide; pedicels straight, divaricate,
minutely puberulent to glabrous, 5-8 mm. long; siliques straight, 2.5-4 cm. long,
1.5-2 mm. wide; styles 1-2 mm. long.
Damp or wet shady places in the mts. of the Tex. Big Bend region, Apr.-My;
Tex. to Coah.
4. Cardamine hirsuta L. HAIRY BITTER-CRESS. Fig. 470.
Annual; stems erect to slightly decumbent, several to numerous from the base,
simple or sparsely branched above, 1-2.5 (-3) dm. tall; leaves pinnately lobed,
basal and lower cauline with entire to shallowly dentate suborbicuiar lobes and
simple spreading trichomes on the petioles and leaf bases, upper cauline reduced
and usually glabrous with oblong lobes; flowers small; petals white, spatulate, to
3 mm. long; siliques erect, straight, 15-25 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide, the
valves elastic; styles 0.5 mm. long or less; seeds broadly oblong; cotyledons
accumbent.
968
-------
Fig. 469: Cardamine bulbosa: a, lower part of plant, x %; b, upper part of plant.
x V2; c, flower, x 2%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 470: Cardamine. a-d, C. cordifolia: a, habit, x Vi\ b, flower, x 2; c, ovary and
stamens, x 5; d, fruit, x 2. e, C. hirsuta: e, habit, x y2. f, C. pensylvanica: £, habit,
x U. (V. F.).
-------
Roadsides, open fields and other weedy situations, usually in damp or wet soil,
rare in e. Tex. where recently found in Cass Co., spring; introd. from Eur. and
found mostly in the s.e. U.S.
5. Cardamine pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. Fig. 470.
Biennial or short-lived perennial 2-8 dm. tall; stem usually hispid at base,
otherwise glabrous, erect or decumbent and trailing when wholly or partially
submersed, simple or much-branched; rosette leaves with 1 to 6 pairs of elliptic
to obovate or rounded glabrous leaflets with bases decurrent along or confluent
with the rachis, dentate to undulate, the terminal leaflet largest; cauline leaves
with membranous leaflets linear-oblanceolate to obovate, their bases oblique and
confluent with the rachis, the terminal leaflet usually much broader than the
laterals; petals white, 1.5-4 mm. long; stamens 6; siliques narrowly linear, 1-3 cm.
long, with slender pedicels 2-15 mm. long, beaked by a tapering style 0.5-2 mm.
long; seeds 1-1.5 mm. long.
In swamps and wet woods, about springs, in seepage areas and along streams in
Okla. (Johnston Co.) and Tex. (Fernald), Mar.-Aug.; from Lab. to B.C., s. to
Fla., Ala., Ark., (?) Tex. and Oreg.
6. Cardamine parviflora L. var. arenicola (Britt.) Schulz. Fig. 471.
Glabrous annual; stems usually erect, simple or branched above, 1-3 dm. tall;
leaves pinnatifid to pinnately lobed, petiolate; leaf lobes entire to shallowly den-
tate, cuneate at base or with a short petiolule; flowers small, crowded; petals
white, spatulate, 2.5-3.5 mm. long; pedicels slender, ascending, 5-8 mm. long;
siliques erect, 2-3 cm. long; styles less than 1 mm. long; seeds plump, oblong,
0.7-0.9 mm. long; cotyledons accumbent.
Moist seeps, wet sandy soils and open wet places in wooded areas, ditches
and stream banks, e. Okla. (Waterfall) and cen. and e. Tex., Feb.-Apr.; Fla. to
e. Can., w. to Ore. and Wash.
7. Rorippa SCOP. YELLOW-CRESS
Annual to perennial herbs, mostly glabrous or sparingly pubescent; stems
usually branched; leaves simple to pinnate or compound; flowers in terminal or
axillary racemes; sepals spreading in anthesis; petals yellow or white, small or
absent; siliques terete, narrowly cylindrical to globose, sessile; valves nerveless;
seeds usually numerous, plump, small, marginless; cotyledons accumbent.
About 70 species in temperate and subtropical areas of the world.
Probably all or most of the species, especially the water cress (R. Nasturtium-
aquaticum), are of value as food for wildfowl and wildlife, generally. The herbage
of the water cress, used as a salad by man, is known to be eaten by various ducks,
muskrats and deer, and it also provides a haven for small aquatic life that, in
turn, provide food for fish. Under optimum conditions water cress grows rapidly,
often at the expense of most other aquatic vegetation.
1. Petals conspicuous, white; leaves pinnately compound
1. R. Nasturtium-aquaticum.
1. Petals yellow if present, minute or absent; leaves entire to pinnatifid but not
compound (2)
2(1). Petals exceeding sepals, broadly oblong to obovate; plants perennial with
underground rhizomes 2. R. sinuata.
2. Petals about as long as or shorter than sepals or absent, narrowly oblanceolate
when present; plants with a taproot (3)
3(2). Siliques sessile or pedicels less than 2 mm. long; petals absent
3. R. sessiliflora.
3. Siliques pedicellate; pedicels 2 mm. long or more; petals present (4)
971
-------
Fig. 471: Cardamine parviflora: habit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 472: Rorippa Nasturtium-aquaticum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, top view, x 4;
c, flower, side view, x 4; d, pod, x 4; e, seed, x 20. (From Mason, Fig. 246).
-------
4(3). Siliques short and thick, globose or ovoid to broadly oblong and obtuse (5)
4. Siliques elongated, terete (6)
5(4). Siliques globose, about 2 mm: in diameter 4. R. sphaerocarpa.
5. Siliques ovoid to broadly oblong, obtuse, usually more than 3 mm. long
5. R. islandica.
6(4). Plants glabrous or (if with indument) the trichomes simple and pointed (7)
6. Vesicular trichomes present on stems, foliage or siliques (8)
7(6). Pods usually strongly curved, 8 cm. long or more; leaf segments linear to
oblong, mostly acute; style stout, not over 0.5 mm. long
6. R. curvisiliqua.
1. Pods not curved, 4-8 cm. long; leaf segments obovate or rounded; style
slender, 1-2 mm. long 7. R. obtusa.
8(6). Leaf segments deeply dentate; lower leaves pinnatifid; cauline leaves
petiolate 8. R. teres.
8. Leaf segments entire; lower leaves merely lobed; cauline leaves sessile
9. R. ramosa.
1. Rorippa Nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek. WATER-CRESS, Fig. 472.
Aquatic to semi-aquatic perennial, glabrous; stem's floating, creeping or ascend-
ing, rooting at the nodes; leaves pinnately compound with 3 to 9 segments;
leaflets ovate to oval, terminal larger than the lateral, somewhat fleshy; petals
3—4 mm. long; fruiting pedicels divaricate, 8—12 mm. long; fruit 1—2 cm. long,
ellipsoid, spreading or curved upward; style about 1 mm. long; seeds about 1 mm.
long, plump, nearly orbicular. Nasturtium officinale R. Br.
In clear water of slow-running streams and on stream margins, in and about
cold springs, throughout most of our region, Mar.-July; widely dispersed as an
introd. from Eur.
This is the common water cress used in salads.
2. Rorippa sinuata (Nutt.) Hitchc. Fig. 473.
Perennial with creeping rhizomes; stems 2-4 dm. tall, glabrous, highly
branched, erect to decumbent; leaves oblong to oblanceolate, deeply pinnatifid,
the segments entire or nearly so; petals obovate, not differentiated into blade
and claw, exceeding sepals; pedicels slender, 6-10 mm. long, spreading; siliques
curved upward, 8-14 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; seeds angular, plump, 0.7-0.8
mm. long.
Moist gravel along streams, seepy stream banks, borders of lakes and marshes,
also waste places generally, in Okla. (Waterfall), n. and w. Tex. and N. M. (Mora
Co.), Apr.-July; 111. and cen. Can. to Wash., Nev. and N. M.
3. Rorippa sessiliflora (Nutt.) Hitchc.
Annual or biennial with a taproot; stems erect, branched, 2-5 dm. tall,
glabrous; leaves petiolate, oblanceolate, dentate; flowers in terminal and lateral
racemes, small; sepals yellowish; petals absent or very rarely a petal may be
seen in one or two flowers of a plant; pedicels less than 1 mm. long; siliques
sessile or nearly so, terete to slightly compressed parallel to septum, oblong,
6-10 mm. long; styles less than 1 mm. long; seeds numerous, cordiform, plump,
0.4—0.6 mm. long.
Wet land, river floodplains and along sluggish stream margins or around ponds,
in n.-cen. Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and n. and e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; Tex. and La. to
Va., Ind. and Minn.
974
-------
Fig. 473: Rorippa sinuata: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3. (V. F.).
-------
4. Rorippa sphaerocarpa (Gray) Britt.
Annual or biennial; stems 1-3 dm. tall, erect or decumbent, diffusely branched
from the base, glabrous; leaves oblong, the lower ones lyrate-pinnatifid to sinuately
lobed, the upper ones nearly entire; pedicels 2-3 mm. long, rarely to 5; petals
yellow, about 1.5 mm. long; siliques globose or nearly so, typically 2 (rarely 3)
mm. in diameter; style about 0.5 mm. long, the stigma not much enlarged.
In water of streams, marshes, seepage areas, wet meadows and mud about lakes
and ponds in N. M. (Catron, Colfax, Sandoval, Taos and Union cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Navajo cos.), June-Oct.; 111. to Wyo., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
This plant is placed by some authors in R. obtusa, and perhaps rightly so.
However, when plants with strictly orbicular fruits are compared with plants of
typical R. obtusa with its ovoidish pointed fruits the two look quite different.
5. Rorippa islandica (Oeder) Borbas. BOG MARSH-CRESS.
Annual or biennial; stems 2-13 dm. tall, simple or branched above, glabrous
to hirsute with simple pointed trichomes; leaves pinnate to pinnatifid or merely
toothed; pedicels filiform, 4-12 mm. long, usually about equaling the fruit, spread-
ing; sepals about 2 mm. long; petals yellow, 1.7-2 mm. long; stamens 6; siliques
slenderly ellipsoid to ovoid, (2-) 3-10 mm. long, 1-4 mm. thick; style 0.5-1 mm.
long; seeds plump, cordiform, 0.4—0.9 mm. long. R. palustris (L.) Bess.; R.
hispida (Desv.) Britt.
In marshes, bogs, muddy soil on edge of ponds, seepage areas, about springs
and along streams in Okla. (Alfalfa, Caddo, Craig, Custer, Bryan, Grady, Mc-
Curtain and Delaware cos.), n.e. and n.w. Tex., N.M. (Lincoln, Otero, Sandoval,
San Juan, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and
Final cos.), May-Sept.; widely distributed throughout much of N.A. and Euras.
We have several phases of this highly variable species whose separation is
adapted from Fernald.
1. Leaves all or nearly all pinnate to deeply pinnatifid, the numerous lanceolate
dentate segments decurrent along the rachis; siliques slenderly
ellipsoid, often curved, 4—10 mm. long, equaling the pedicels; thin-
leaved glabrous plant var. islandica.
1. Lower leaves merely pinnatifid to runcinate or uncleft, the middle and upper
leaves coarsely toothed to subentire; plants relatively coarse, to 13
dm. tall, the leaves (except when submersed) firm (2)
2(1). Siliques slenderly ellipsoid to subcylindric, 3-9 mm. long, 1-2.5 mm.
thick; plant glabrous throughout or the stem hispid below
var. Fernaldiana Butt. & Abbe.
2. Siliques short-ellipsoid to ovoid or subglobose, 2-5.5 mm. long, 1.7-4 mm.
thick; base of stem or lower leaves frequently hispid
var. hispida (Desv.) Butt. & Abbe.
6. Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Bessey.
Annual or biennial, diffusely branched or single-stemmed and branched above,
1-4 dm. tall, the branches ascending, glabrous to sparsely strigillose throughout
or only on the stems; leaves variable, 2-7 cm. long, usually somewhat oblong-
lanceolate, nearly entire to toothed or pinnately parted to pinnatifid, the oblong
to ovate obtuse segments entire to dentate; flowers in short racemes; pedicels
mostly spreading, usually 2-4 mm. long, occasionally more, about half as long as
fruit; sepals 1-2 mm. long, promptly deciduous or remaining until the fruits are
well-formed; petals yellow, 1-2 mm. long; siliques 8-15 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm.
broad, nearly terete, curved or sometimes straight; style 0.3-1 mm. long, the
small stigma entire; seeds finely arcolate-papillate.
976
-------
Fig. 474: Rorippa teres: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 25; c, sepal, x 25; d, petal, x
25; e, silique, x 3; f, seed, x 100. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 475: Armoracia aquatica: a-c, lower parts of stems showing variation in sub-
merged leaves, x l'->; d, upper part of emersed plant, x %; e, flower, x 3; f, fruit, x 3.
(V. F.).
-------
In mud at edge of lakes and ponds, and other wet places, in Ariz. (Coconino,
Navajo, Final and Yavapai cos.) June-Sept.; Mont, and Wyo., s. to Ariz, and
Calif.
7. Rorippa obtusa (Nutt.) Britt.
Diffusely branched glabrous annual with erect to somewhat decumbent stems
1.5-4 dm. long; leaves oblong-lanceolate, 2-6 cm. long, shallowly sinuately lobed
to pinnatifid with the obovate rounded segments sinuately lobed to entire; pedicels
ascending to spreading, 2-4 (-7) mm. long, usually shorter than the fruit; sepals
deciduous shortly after anthesis; petals pale-yellow, spatulate, 1-2 mm. long;
siliques ovoid to oblong-lanceolate. 4-8 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad; style 0.5-1
mm. long, the small stigma entire; seeds about 0.5 mm. long, minutely alveolate-
papillate.
Wet soil along streams and ditches, and in wet meadows, rather widespread in
mts. of N. M. and Ariz., June-Sept.; Mich, and Mo., w. to B.C., N.M., Ariz.
and Calif.
8. Rorippa teres (Michx.) Stuckey. Fig. 474.
Annual or biennial; stems 1-3 dm. long, erect to decumbent, branched; sparsely
pubescent with vesicular trichomes, rarely glabrous; leaves oblong to oblanceolate,
deeply pinnatifid and with the remote segments obtusely toothed, petiolate;
racemes terminal and axillary, densely flowered; petals minute, about 1 mm. long,
yellow; pedicels spreading, 2-5 mm. long; siliques linear-oblong, 1-1.5 cm. long,
straight or slightly curved; styles evident, about 1 mm. long; seeds numerous,
plump, slightly longer than broad, about 0.5 mm. long. R. Walteri (Ell.) Mohr.
Wet fields, lakes, ponds and stream margins and swamp land, s.-cen. Okla.
(Marshall Co.) and e. and s.w. Tex., Dec.-May; S.C. and Fla. to Okla. and C. A.
9. Rorippa ramosa Roll.
Perennial; stems numerous, decumbent, highly branched, sparsely pubescent
with vesicular trichomes, 3—6 dm. long; leaves numerous, sessile, auriculate,
oblong to broadly lanceolate, pinnately lobed, 3-5 cm. long, 5-12 mm. wide; in-
florescences short, mostly less than 5 cm. long; petals pale-yellow, 2.5-3 mm.
long; pedicels widely spreading to ascending, 3-5 mm. long; siliques divaricately
spreading to erect, oblong to lanceolate in outline, plump, 6-10 mm. long; valves
densely covered with vesicular trichomes along their margins; styles 1.5—2.5 mm.
long; seeds plump, cordiform, about 1.5 mm. in diameter.
Floodplains and intermittent stream beds, Big Bend region near the Rio Grande
in w. Tex., Mar.-May; also Coah. to Dgo.
8. Armoracia GAERTN.
Three species in Eurasia and one species in North America. The ground
thick roots of A. rusticana (Lam.) Gaertn., Mey. & Scherb. is the condiment,
horse-radish.
1. Armoracia aquatica (Eat.) Wieg. LAKE CRESS. Fig. 475.
Plant weak from a slender rootstock, to about 6 dm. tall; stems commonly
submersed; submersed leaves repeatedly pinnately dissected into numerous fili-
form segments; emersed leaves (if present) lancolate to narrowly oblong, 3-7 cm.
long, finely to coarsely dentate; petals 6-8 mm. long; mature pedicels divaricate,
about 1 cm. long; fruits rarely perfected, ellipsoid or somewhat obovoid, 5-8 mm.
long, 1-celled; persistent style slender, 2-4 mm. long.
In quiet water of lakes and streams, and on muddy shores in e. Okla. (Cherokee
and McCurtain cos.) and e. Tex. (Tyler Co.), Apr.-July; Que. to Ont. and Minn.,
s. to Fla. and Tex.
979
-------
Fig. 476: Barbarea vulgaris: A, habit, about x ^i; B, flower, x 2; C, raceme of
fruits, about x i*>; D, silique, x 2; E, seeds, x 5. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the
United States, Fig. 93).
-------
9. Barbarea R. BR. WINTER CRESS
Glabrous to sparsely hirsute biennial or perennial herbs with overwintering
rosettes; stem erect, angled, branched above; cauline leaves with clasping bases;
flowers yellow, in elongate ebracteate racemes; stamens 6; silique linear, terete
or somewhat 4-sided, the valves keeled by a midnerve; style more or less beaklike;
seeds in a single row in each locule, marginless; cotyledons accumbent.
About a dozen species in North America and Eurasia.
1. Beak of silique slender, 1.8-3 mm. long; uppermost leaves typically coarsely
dentate, angulate or lobed 1. B. vulgaris.
1. Beak of silique stoutish, 0.3-1 (-2) mm. long; uppermost leaves typically
lyrate-pinnatifid 2. B. orthoceras.
1. Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. var. arcuata (Opiz) Fries. YELLOW ROCKET, WINTER
CRESS. Fig. 476.
Smooth or sometimes basally hirsute Triennial or perennial; lower leaves lyrate
or rarely simple, the terminal elliptic-oblong to suborbicular lobe much the largest,
the lateral smaller and narrower lobes in 1 to 4 pairs or wanting; upper leaves
obovate to rounded, coarsely dentate, angulate or lobed but rarely pinnatifid;
flowers somewhat racemose even in anthesis; raceme lax and open; petals narrowly
obovate, 5.5-8 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, bright yellow; siliques with slender
spreading pedicels, arcuate-ascending to horizontally divergent, not imbricated,
mostly 2-3 cm. long, with a slender beak (style) 1.5-3 mm. long; seeds short-
oblong to quadrate, 1-1.5 mm. long, the lustrous grayish surface rugulose.
Wet meadows, alluvial ground near streams, and ubiquitous in weedy areas, in
Okla. (Waterfall), Apr-June; Que. to 111., s. to Va., Ky. and Okla.
2. Barbarea orthoceras Ledeb. AMERICAN WINTER CRESS.
Glabrous or sparsely hirsute biennial with a taproot and usually a simple
caudex, 3-6 dm. tall; stems usually many from base, stiff, erect, angled, usually
much-branched; basal leaves long-petiolate, to 12 cm. long; blade oblong-elliptic
or subcordate to lyrate-pinnatifid to pinnate, the 2 to 6 linear lateral lobes
entire to obtusely toothed, the ovate to orbicular terminal lobe irregularly toothed
to entire, the petiole and sometimes the blade often long-ciliate or sparsely hirsute;
lower cauline leaves similar to the basal but reduced upward, sometimes becoming
simple, sagittate and winged-petiolate; racemes single and terminal, or more
generally compound, reduced racemes present in the lower leaf axils; pedicels
stout, 2-3 mm. long; sepals pale yellowish-green, about 2 mm. long; petals
yellow, spatulate-oblanceolate, 3-5 mm. long; siliques 2-5 cm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm.
broad, slightly compressed but somewhat 4-angled due to the prominence of the
midnerve of the valves, erect or strongly ascending, straight or somewhat arcuate,
acute; style beaklike, 0.5-2 mm. long; stigma very silghtly lobed; seeds uniseriate,
finely pitted, about 1.5 mm. long, not mucilaginous. B. americana Rydb.
Meadows, moist slopes, stream banks, springs, bogs and moist woods, in N. M.
(Colfax and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Cochise, Coconino and Graham cos.),
Mar.-Aug.; Lab. and N.E., w. to Alas., s. in mts. to Colo., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and
Mex.; Euras.
10. Cakile MILL. SEA ROCKET
Annual herbs, fleshy, glabrous, caulescent, chiefly maritime; leaves alternate,
entire or pinnatifid; flowers racemose, perfect; sepals erect, gibbous at the base;
corolla cream to white or light-lavender; ovary sessile, the style wanting and the
stigma entire; fruit indehiscent, 2-jointed, the joints 1-chambered with each usually
1-seeded; seeds wingless; cotyledons accumbent, oblique or incumbent.
981
-------
Fig. 477: a and b, Cakile geniculata: a, end of branch, x %; b, fruit, x 1. c-e,
Cakilc fusiformis: c, tip of branch with fruit and leaves, x ]/i>; d, tip of branch with
mature fruit, x H; e, fruit, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
About 15 species bordering oceans and large lakes in temperate North America,
Eurasia and Australia.
1. Upper joint of pod less than 1 cm. long, delicately 4-ridged; pedicels more
slender than rachis; infructescence not geniculate
1. C. fusiformis.
1. Upper joint of the pod over 1 cm. long or more, coarsely 8-ridged; pedicels
nearly same diameter as rachis; infructescence geniculate
2. C. geniculata.
1. Cakile fusiformis Greene. Fig. 477.
Stems erect or spreading, 3-7 dm. long, fleshy; leaves 5-15 cm. long, ovate
in outline, laciniate-pinnatifid, obtuse, the segments linear; racemes greatly
elongating, reaching 2-4 dm. long, rachis not geniculate; pedicels more slender
than rachis, 3-5 mm. long; fruit slender, 15-25 mm. long, the lower joint turbi-
nate, nearly terete, usually 1-seeded, the upper joint subulate or lance-linear
(longer than the lower).
Sandy areas near the ocean, mainland and offshore islands, edge of water and
in periodical inundated areas, flowers any month; Fla. to Tex.
2. Cakile geniculata (Robins.) Millsp. Fig. 477.
Stout glabrous herbs; stem branching and more or less spreading, 1-4 dm.
long; leaves 3-7 cm. long, oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, entire or with
a few coarse rounded teeth; raceme 1-2 dm. long, strongly geniculate at maturity;
pedicels very stout, 3-5 mm. long, spreading or ascending; fruit nearly terete,
2—3 cm. long, the lower joint with a prominent border at the summit, the upper
joint lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate and usually curved, usually 1-seeded but
occasionally 2-seeded (twice as long as the lower joint).
Beaches and sandy places near ocean, mainland and offshore islands, edge
of water and in periodically inundated areas, flowers any month; n.w. Fla. to Tex.
11. Selenia NUTT.
Low glabrous annuals with pinnately dissected leaves, caulescent or acaules-
cent; flowers odoriferous, in loose leafy-bracted racemes or on peduncles arising
from the axils of a rosette of leaves; sepals spreading or erect, thickened with
a low crest to markedly appendaged on exterior surface just below apex; petals
obovate to spatulate, yellow; siliques subsessile to stipitate, flattened parallel
to septum to inflated, broadly oblong to depressed globose; seeds biseriate in
the silique, flattened, strongly margined or winged; cotyledons accumbent.
Five species, all from southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico.
1. Silique valves with vesicles present; siliques sessile; sepals persistent to fruit
maturity 1. S. grandis.
1. Silique valves glabrous; siliques with at least a short stipe; sepals shed shortly
after anthesis (persisting somewhat in 5. dissecta) (2)
2(1). Siliques margined, tapered above and below, flattened parallel to septum;
pedicels over 3 cm. long 2. S. dissecta.
2. SiliqUes not margined, rounded above and below, inflated and depressed-
subglobose; pedicels less than 3 cm. long 3. S. Jonesii.
1. Selenia grandis Martin.
Winter annual, branched near base with the lateral decumbent branches
equaling or exceeding the central erect stem; main stem or branches to 6 dm.
long; leaves bipinnate, petiolate, glabrous or with vesicular trichomes along
midvein or petiolule, to 2 dm. long; inflorescences very leafy with each pedicel
subtended by a leaflike bract; sepals with a prominent hornlike appendage,
983
-------
persisting while fruits mature; petals yellowish, broadly obovate, notched at apex,
barely exceeding the sepals; pedicels slender to stout, widely spreading, to 2 dm.
long; mature siliques thick and fleshy, broadly oblong, sessile, to 15 mm. long
and 1 cm. wide, valve exterior covered with vesicular trichomes; seed somewhat
flattened, margined.
Heavy soils and open floodplain areas, periodically flooded, from Dimmit and
La Salle cos. southw. in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Tex., Feb.-Mar.;
endemic.
2. Selenia dissecta T. & G.
Mostly acaulescent, occasionally developing flowering stems, winter annual,
often with a well-developed root; leaves bipinnate with acute lobes, glaucous,
petiolate, to 1 dm. long; flowers mostly pedunculate as if on stems, then in an
indefinite raceme; sepals widely spreading at anthesis, with a definite hornlike
appendage; petals yellow, obovate to spatulate, exceeding the sepals; pedicels
erect to spreading, to 8 cm. long; siliques at first inflated, becoming thick and
fleshy at maturity, flattened parallel to septum, stipitate, to 3 cm. long, 1 cm. wide;
style flaring broadly at base, to 5 mm. long; seeds margined, flattened.
Low places and playa lake margins, Big Bend region e. to Ector Co. in Tex.,
Feb.—June; also N.M. and n.e. Mex.
3. Selenia Jonesii Cory.
Winter annual, branching at crown; branches decumbent, to 3 dm. long; leaves
bipinnate with small obtuse ultimate lobes, petiolate, to 1 dm. long; flowers both
pedunculate and on stems in leafy-bracted racemes; sepals tawny, oblong, with a
short pouchlike appendage to merely a thickened area below sepal apex; petals
yellow, spatulate; pedicels widely spreading, to 3 cm. long; siliques inflated,
subglobose, short-stipitate, rounded above and below, to 12 mm. in diameter;
styles 2-3 mm. long; seeds widely winged; cotyledons accumbent.
Moist or wet swales and buffalo wallows on high prairies and plateaus of
w.-cen. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; endemic.
12. Leavenworthia TORR.
Seven species in central and southern United States.
1. Leavenworthia aurea Torr.
Winter annual; leaves rosette-forming, the early ones with only an orbicular
entire and remote terminal blade portion, later leaves with few to several lateral
lobes; early and mid-season flowers on scapes 3-9 cm. long, later flowers usually
borne in a raceme on lateral decumbent branches; sepals 4—5 mm. long; petals
narrowly Ungulate, lemon-yellow to orange-yellow, shallowly emarginate, 7-10
mm. long; siliques strongly flattened parallel to septum, thickish, erect, 1.5-3 cm.
long, 4—5.5 mm. wide; styles 2-3.5 mm. long; gynophore nearly 1 mm. long;
seeds nearly orbicular, 3.5-4.5 mm. in diameter, strongly flattened, narrowly
winged; radicle of embryo straight.
In seepage of limestone cedar glades and fossil outcrops, in s.e. Okla.
(Waterfall) and local near San Augustine, San Augustine Co., Tex., Mar.-May.
13. Draba L. WHITLOW-GRASS
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs; stems leafy or scapose, usually pubescent
with simple or branched trichomes; leaves entire or dentate; racemes short to
elongate; petals white or yellow; silicles elliptic to linear, latiseptate, flat or some-
times twisted; seeds numerous, biseriate to irregularly seriate; cotyledons accum-
bent.
984
-------
About 250 species in temperate and cold parts of North America, South America,
Europe and Asia.
1. Styles 0.5-1.5 mm. long; pedicels in fruit ascending to erect 1. D. aurea.
1. Styles 1.5-3.5 mm. long; pedicels in fruit spreading or spreading-ascending
2. D. Helleriana.
1. Draba aurea Vahl.
Canescent to greenish short-lived perennial, 1-5 dm. tall, the crown simple to
branched; stems 1 to several, erect or somewhat decumbent at base, pilose-hirsute
with a mixture of simple, bifid and cruciform hairs; leaves numerous, densely
pubescent with a mixture of mostly cruciform but also some bifid or simple hairs;
basal leaves rosulate, petiolate, mostly oblanceolate, entire to rarely denticulate,
1—5 cm. long; cauline leaves as many as 30, sessile or subsessile, ovate to oblanceo-
late, entire to dentate; racemes elongate, without bracts or the lower flowers brac-
teate; pedicels 3-20 mm. long, in fruit ascending to erect; sepals 2-3.5 mm. long;
petals pale- to deep-yellow, 4.5-6 mm. long; silicles narrowly to broadly lanceolate,
7-20 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, plane or contorted, softly pubescent to glabrous;
style 0.5-1.5 mm. long; seeds 20 to 50, about 1 mm. long.
In wet alpine meadows, on seepage slopes along streams, forested slopes and
ravines in N. M. (Hitchcock et al) and Ariz. (Apache, Cochise and Coconino
cos.), June-Aug.; Alas., s. through the Rocky Mts. to N.M. and Ariz.
Most of our material can be referred to var. leiocarpa (Pays. & St. John) C. L.
Hitchc. with relatively small flowers, short glabrous capsules and short fruiting
styles.
2. Draba Helleriana Greene
Almost identical in characteristics to those of D. aurea except those noted in the
key. They may represent two phases of a single species.
In similar habitats to D. aurea in N. M. (Bernalillo, Grant, Sandoval, Santa Fe,
San Miguel, Socorro, Sierra and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Cochise, Coconino,
Graham, Greenlee and Pima cos.), June-Sept.; Colo., N. M., Ariz, and n. Mex.
14. Capsella MEDIC.
About 5 species native to Eurasia.
1. Capsella Bursa-Pastoris (L.) Medic. SHEPHERD'S PURSE, PANIQUESILLO. Fig.
477A.
Stem 1-5 dm. tall, branching, pubescent below, glabrous above; basal leaves
in a rosette, usually lyrate-pinnatifid; stem leaves auricled, dentate to entire; flowers
in long racemes; petals white, 1.5-2 mm. long; pedicels slender, spreading at right
angles or nearly so, 8-15 mm. long; siliques obcordate-triangular, 5-8 mm. long,
strongly flattened contrary to the partition; styles less than 0.5 mm. long; seeds
numerous, oblong, orange-yellow, wingless, about 1 mm. long; cotyledons incum-
bent.
In mud and seepage areas about springs and along streams, wet meadows, a
ubiquitous weed, Feb.-Sept.; widespread weed occurring in most parts of the
world; introd.
15. Camelina CRANTZ FALSE FLAX
About 10 species of the Mediterranean area, Europe and Asia.
1. Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz. 'GOLD-OF-PLEASURE.
Annual 3-9 dm. tall, erect, usually with ascending branches; stem glabrous or
with minute closely appressed stellate hairs; leaves lanceolate, the lowest tapering
985
-------
Fig. 477A: Capsella Bursa-Pastoris: A, habit, about x H; B, flower, x 5; C, silicic,
x 4; D, seeds, x 10. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 97).
-------
to petioles, the others with sagittate sessile bases; racemes elongating; silicles mostly
7-9 mm. long, 3 to 4 times as long as style, 6-7 mm. thick, with pedicels 1.2-3
cm. long, the capsule walls soon hardening; seeds mostly 1-1.5 mm. long, pale
yellowish-brown.
In seepage along streams and wet meadows, a ubiquitous weed, in N. M. (Taos
Co.), Apr.-Aug.; Que. to B. C., s. to S. C., 111., Mo., Kan., N.M. and Calif.; adv.
from Eur.
The oil-rich seeds were formerly used in making soaps and as an illuminant.
Fam. 65. Capparidaceae Juss. CAPER FAMILY
Herbs (ours), shrubs or trees often with rank odor; leaves alternate, palmately
(1-) 3- to 11-foliolate; stipules minute or lacking; flowers single and axillary or in
terminal bracteate or ebracteate many-flowered racemes, somewhat zygomorphic,
perfect, 4-merous, polypetalous; sepals 4, free or partially fused; petals 4, free;
stamens 6 to 27 or more, as long as or longer than petals; nectariferous disk or
gland between corolla and stamens frequent; ovary 1, superior; fruit a 2-valved
unilocular capsule, usually borne on a slender gynophore (stipe above receptacle)
or sessile, with many free-falling seeds or a 2-valved schizocarp with 1- or 2-seeded
closed achenelike mericarps (in Wislizenia); seed reniform, the seed coat deeply
invaginated. Also spelled Capparaceae.
About 500 species in about 40 genera, mostly tropical America and Africa, often
xerophytic.
This family is included with full knowledge that practically all of its species in
our region can be found in xeric habitats. Since, however, some also tolerate peri-
odically inundated or excessively wet places we consider that they fall within the
province of our research.
1. Fruits 2-parted schizocarps, with each of the 2 valves (1-2 mm. long) closely
and permanently enclosing its single seed and falling with it; racemes
ebracteate (bracts minute), very dense; southwest Texas
3. Wislizenia
1. Fruits unilocular capsules with free-falling seeds; racemes bracteate or flowers
singly in the axils of cauline leaves (2)
2(1). Capsules elongate, many-seeded, 1-8 cm. long; petals white, yellow, pink
or purple 1. Cleome
2. Capsules rhorriboidal, few-seeded, 4—8 mm. long, as wide as or wider than long,
the valves laterally expanded cones; petals yellow 2. Cleomella
1. Cleome L. SPIDER FLOWER. CLEOME
Erect slender to robust annual (ours) or perennial herbs, shrubs or small "trees,"
glabrous or glandular-pubescent, often spiny; leaves palmately 1- to 11-foliolate;
leaflets entire or serrulate, flat or conduplicate; stipules none or minute; racemes
terminal, greatly elongating in fruit, bracteate or flowers singly in axils of cauline
leaves; corolla open or closed in bud; sepals 4, free or fused at base; petals 4,
subequal, free, white, yellow, pink or purple, spatulate, entire, acute to rounded;
disk conic, the nectary inconspicuous, sometimes adaxially expanded; stamens 6;
anthers elongate, longitudinally dehiscent; capsules elongate, pendent, deflexed or
erect, sessile or born on a stipe (gynophore); seeds many, the invagination open
(if very narrow) or fused by a membrane.
About 150 species, mostly of tropical America and Africa, often of arid habitats.
Doves, pheasants and small mammals are said to eat the seeds of most species.
1. Petals yellow; leaflets of lowermost leaves 5 or 7 1. C. lutea.
1. Petals pink to pink-purplish; leaflets 3(2)
987
-------
2(1). Leaflets narrowly elliptic, 5-15 mm. wide; flowers 8-13 mm. long, racemose
in the axils of small 1-foliolate bracts; siliques 3-9 mm. wide
2. C. serrulate.
2. Leaflets linear, 2 mm. wide or less; flowers 4—7 mm. long, singly in axils of
3-foliolate cauline leaves; siliques 2—4 mm. wide....3. C. multicaulis.
1. Cleome lutea Hook. YELLOW BEE-PLANT.
Glaucous glabrous to sparsely pilose annual with erect to branching stems 5-15
dm. tall; leaves glabrous, usually 3- to 7-foliolate, slender-petioled or the upper
subsessile; leaflets oblong to oblong-oblanceolate, entire, sessile or subsessile, 1.5-5
cm. long; racemes much-elongate in fruit; pedicels slender, 1-2 cm. long; calyx
deeply 4-parted; petals yellow, obovate to oblanceolate, 6-8 mm. long; pod linear,
nearly terete, 3-7 cm. long; fruiting stipe slender, longer than the pedicel; seeds
pustulose.
In wet gravel, mostly along streams and in bottom lands in N. M. and Ariz.
(rather widespread), May-Sept.; Neb. to Wash., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
2. Cleome serrulate Pursh. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEE-PLANT.
Erect somewhat shrubby branched annual, 2-15 dm. tall, glabrous, glaucous,
unarmed; leaflets 3, narrowly elliptic, 2-6 cm. long, 5-15 mm. wide, pointed at
both ends; flowers in dense elongated many-flowered racemes; bracts narrow, sim-
ple; sepals united for one half to two thirds their length, persistent in fruit; petals
bright-pink to purplish, rarely white (f. albiflora Cockll.), 8-12 mm. long; disk
with nectariferous adaxial scale to 4 mm. long; stamens 13-20 mm. long; capsules
variable, linear-cylindric to fusiform, pointed sharply at both ends, 2-8 cm. long,
3-9 mm. wide, deflexed; gynophore 11-23 mm. long; pedicel 14-20 mm. long;
seeds several to many, ovoid, sharply pointed, 3-4 mm. long, black-brownish-
mottled, blistered, the cleft fused. Peritoma serrulatum (Pursh) DC., P- integrifolia
Nutt.
In seepage of springs and on edge of streams, in woods and along railroads and
roadsides, in s.-cen. Okla. (Johnston Co.) and n.e. corner of Tex. Panhandle, wide-
spread in N. M. and Ariz., May-Sept.; widespread throughout the Rocky Mts.,
Great Basin and Great Plains, from n.w. Calif, to s.w. Can., Ariz., N.M., n. Tex.,
s.-cen. Okla., Neb. and Minn.; adv. eastw.
3. Cleome multicaulis DC.
Slender erect unbranched or sparingly branched glabrous annual, 2-7 dm. tall;
leaflets 3, linear, strongly folded, 1-3 cm. long, 1-3 mm. wide; flowers in axils
of cauline leaves, in very open elongate racemes; petals pinkish-purple, 4-7 mm.
long; disk small, bulbous; capsule obovoid to linear, 9-18 mm. long, 2-4 mm.
thick, deflexed; gynophore 3-10 mm. long, the pedicel 15-22 mm. long, both deli-
cate; seeds subglobose, light-brown, 1.8-2.5 mm. long, smooth. C. sonorae Gray,
Peritoma sonorae (Gray) Rydb.
In alkaline sinks, cienegas and old saline lake beds in Larrea belt in w. Tex.
(Presidio Co.) to N. M. and Ariz.; from s. Colo, to s.e. Ariz., s.w. N.M. to s.-cen.
Mex. (D.F.), very sporadic and rare; June-Aug.
2. CleomeUa DC.
Erect slender to robust glabrous (rarely pubescent) annuals (ours) or perennial
herbs; leaves alternate, palmately 3-foliolate; leaflets entire, mucronate, less than
4 cm. long; stipules minute, filiform; racemes terminal, bracteate; sepals minute,
barely fused at base, tardily deciduous; corolla yellow, closed in bud, the petals
subsessile; stamens 6, equal; anthers tightly coiled when dry; capsule an obdeltoid
or rhomboidal silicic, often wider than long, the 2 valves deciduous, expanded
contrary to the placenta into 2 obtuse to sharply pointed cones; gynophore elon-
gate; style slender, persistent, indurate; seeds 3 to 20.
988
-------
A small endemic North American genus of 10 zerophytic species, differing from
Cleome (Sect. Peritoma) and Wislizenia in fruit characters.
1.' Seeds 3 to 6 per capsule; fruiting gynophore 6-17 mm. long; style 0.5 mm. long;
petals 4-6 mm. long; flowering portion of raceme short, flat or
rounded, 1-2 cm. long; leaflets acute; eastern half of Texas
1. C. angustifolia.
1. Seeds 6 to 16 per capsule; fruiting gynophore 4-7 mm. long; style 1.5-2 mm.
long; petals 6-9 mm. long; flowering portion of raceme oblongoid-
elongate, 2-5 cm. long; leaflets often rounded to emarginate; Trans-
Pecos Texas 2. C. longipes.
1. Cleomella angustifolia Torr.
Glabrous erect often very bushy annual, 6-26 dm. tall; leaflets 3, linear-elliptic,
acute, 25-60 mm. long, 2-8 mm. wide; racemes to 4 dm. long, the flowering por-
tion flat to rounded and 1—2 cm. long, bracteate (the lower 3-foliolate, the upper
1-foliolate); petals yellow, 4-6 mm. long; mature capsules oblongoid to rhomboidal
or obdeltoid (cones acute to rounded), 5-10 mm. long, 5-9 mm. wide; style 0.5
mm. long or less; gynophore 4—7 mm. long, the androgynophore prominent and
1-1.5 mm. long; pedicel 7-12 (-17) mm. long; seeds 3 to 6 per capsule, dark-
brown-mottled.
Deep sands, gravels in river bottoms, edge of ponds, roadsides, sandy prairies
and bare sandstone shale in e. half of Tex. (also Dawson Co.), June-Oct.; Tex. to
e. Kan., w..Neb. and n.e. Colo.
2. Cleomella longipes Hook.
Glabrous erect branched annual (or rarely perennial?) 3^8 dm. tall; leaflets 3,
oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, acute to rounded or emarginate, 15-^-30 mm.
long, 4—10 mm. wide; racemes 1-5 dm. long, the flowering portion oblong-cylindric
and 2-6 cm. long; bracts 1-foliolate or upper flowers ebracteate; petals yellow,
6-9 mm. long; mature capsule (silicle) obdeltoid or rhomboidal (the cones often
sharply acuminate), 4-8 mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide; style 1-2 mm. long; gynophore
6-17 mm. long; pedicel 5-18 mm. long; seeds 6 to 16 per capsule, obovoid, when
mature dark-brown.
In saline or alkaline soils or sands of semideserts, saline playas and wet soil on
alkali flats, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.),
May-Sept.; s.e. Ariz., s.w. N.M. and w. Tex. to cen. Mex.
3. Wislizenia ENGELM. JACKASS CLOVER
About 3 species (or monotypic, with one highly polymorphic species ?) in
southwestern United States and northwest Mexico; very similar to Cleomella.
1. Wislizenia refracfa Engelm.
Robust glabrous annual, 4-7 dm. high (easily confused with Cleomella spp.),
sparsely to densely branched; leaflets 3, oblanceolate to elliptic or ovate-oblong,
1-2 (-3) cm. long, 3-8 (-11) mm. wide, rounded at apex, attenuate at base into
slender petiohiles to 4 mm. long; stipules minute tufts of filiform hairs; racemes
short, 1-8 cm. long, very dense, ebracteate; sepals minute, tardily deciduous;
corolla closed in bud; petals yellow, subsessile, 2-4 mm. long; stamens 6, 6-7 mm.
long, the anthers tightly coiled when dry; pistil long-exserted; style 4-6 mm.
long in fruit, very slender; gynophore slender, 3-7 mm. long, strongly refracted
against the slender pedicel (4-10 mm. long); fruit a 2-celled twin pod that
separates into 2 divaricate or deflexed obovoid nutlets, each with 1 or 2 seeds
permanently enclosed by the capsule-valve; nutlets 1.5-2.5 mm. long, smooth to
veined, minutely to markedly tuberculate at distal end; seed smooth, yellow.
989
-------
In alkaline sandy or loamy soils of semideserts, on edges of playas, in seepage,
stream beds and grasslands (Hilaria assoc.), riversides and roadsides, in the Tex.
Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Graham Co.), Mar.-Aug.; Tex.
and n. Mex. to Nev. and Baja Calif.
Fam. 66. Sarraceniaceae DUM. PITCHER-PLANT FAMILY
Perennial rhizomatous and insectivorous plants with clustered tubiform leaves
and solitary nodding flowers borne on a long naked erect scape; leaves rigidly
erect, trumpet-shaped and partially filled with liquid, with a ridge on the adaxial
side and terminated by an expanded hood; flowers regular, bisexual; sepals 5, with
3 appressed persistent bracts; petals 5, pendent, deciduous; stamens numerous;
anthers 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally; style simple below, expanded above
into a large persistent 5-lobed umbrellalike structure, with a small stigma under
each of the notched lobes; ovary 5-celled; fruit 5-valved; seeds keeled or winged
on one side.
"A small family of three genera comprising about 15 species.
1. Sarracenia L. PITCHER-PLANT. TRUMPET
Characters of the family. A genus of 8 species, all of which are confined to
the United States with the exception of 5. purpurea L. which extends into Canada.
1. Sarracenia alata Wood. YELLOW TRUMPETS. Frontispiece.
Leaves yellow-green, trumpet-shaped, dilated upward, to 7 dm. long; hood ovate
to suborbicular, with inconspicuous reddish veins, 8 cm. long; scape about as
long as the leaves; sepals broadly ovate to rhombic-ovate, bluntly obtuse at apex,
curved, 4-5 cm. long, to 4 cm. wide; petals greenish-yellow, drooping, panduri-
form, 5—6 cm. long, to 4 cm. wide near the broadly rounded apex; style to 8 cm.
wide, convex; capsule muricate; seeds tuberculate. S. Sledgei Macfarl.
In wet acid bogs on slopes and flats in pinelands in e. and s.e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.;
on the Gulf Coastal Plain from s. Ala. to e. Tex.
An insect attractant is exuded near the mouth of the tubular leaf. After
entering the tube the retrorse bristly hairs lining its inner surface prevents the
insect from leaving the ingenious trap. It soon falls into fluid at the bottom of
the funnel and is then digested by the plant.
Fam. 67. Droseraceae SALISB. SUNDEW FAMILY
Perennial or biennial (rarely annual) insectivorous herbs growing in wet or
damp soil; leaves circinate in bud, expanding into a rosette or tuft at base of
scape or rarely scattered in submersed plants, with or without prominent stipules,
red or green, adorned with gland-tipped hairs that exude drops of a clear glitter-
ing glutinous fluid; scape with a simple or branched few-flowered secund inflores-
cence that nods at the undeveloped apex; flowers regular, shortly pedicellate,
opening only in sunlight, hypogynous, usually 5-merous, soon withering but
persistent; calyx imbricated; petals convolute; stamens 5, opposite the sepals, the
anthers fixed by the middle; style 3 or 5, bipartite to base; capsule 3- to 5-valved,
with as many parietal placentas as valves; seeds numerous.
About 4 genera of more than 125 species of world-wide distribution.
l.DroseraL. SUNDEW
Characters same as those of the family. More than 100 species primarily in the
Southern Hemisphere.
990
-------
Fig. 478: a-e, Drosera brevifolia: a, habit, x %; b, leaf, x 1%; c, flower, x 5; d,
calyx, x 5; e, seed, x 160. f-g, Drosera capillaris: f, calyx, x 7%; g, seed, x 66.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 479: Drosera intermedia: a, habit, x %; b, leaf, x 1%; c, flower, x 5; d, calyx
and capsule, x 5; e, seed, x 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
The glandular hairs and leaf blade, itself, of these species are capable of
enmeshing and enfolding a luckless insect, after which it is digested.
1. Scape with gland-tipped hairs except toward base; stipules absent or vestigial;
seeds crateriform, 0.3-0.4 mm. long 1. D. annua.
1. Scape glabrous or with inconspicuous sessile glands; stipules prominent,
free (2)
2(1). Petioles with few to many long lax hairs lacking gland-tip; flowers pink,
about 10 mm. in diameter; seeds 0.4-0.5 mm. long, papillose-
corrugated with 14 to 16 ridges 2. D. capillaris.
2. Petioles glabrous or with inconspicuous sessile glands; flowers white, 7-8 mm.
in diameter; seeds 0.7-1 mm. long, irregularly and densely covered
with long papillae 3. D. intermedia.
1. Drosera annua E. L. Reed. Fig. 478.
Leaf blades suborbicular to cuneate-flabellate, to 8 mm. long and wide, about
one-third as long as the glandular petiolar base; stipules lacking or rudimentary;
scape erect, to 12 cm. tall, provided with gland-tipped hairs, supporting as many
as 6 flowers; sepals ovate, subacute, to 4 mm. long, united at base; petals pink
or roseate, obovate, to 9 mm. long; capsule obovoid, 3.5-4 mm. long; seeds black,
obovoid, the pits in 10 to 12 rows.
In wet sand in pinelands or mixed forests and in open bogs in Okla. (Waterfall)
and e. and s.e. Tex., Feb.-June; Tenn., s. to Ala., Okla., La. and Tex.
Referred by some authors to D. brevifolia Pursh.
2. Drosera capillaris Poir. Fig. 478.
Leaf blades broadly spatulate to obovate, to 1 cm. long and 9 mm. wide,
exceeded in length by the more or less pubescent petioles that are 4 cm. long;
stipules divided into numerous setaceous segments to 5 mm. long; scape erect,
to 25 cm. tall, glabrous or inconspicuously glandular, supporting as many as 20
glabrous flowers in a strictly erect inflorescence; sepals oblong-elliptic, obtuse, tp
4 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, united at base; petals pink, to 7 mm. long and
3 mm. wide; capsule ellipsoid-obovoid, to 5 mm. long; seeds ovate-oblong to
elliptic, asymmetric, brown, coarsely papillose-corrugated.
In wet sands and on seepage slopes and in bogs in e. Tex., Feb.-June; Va.,
Tenn. and Ark., s. to Fla. and Tex.; also W.I., Mex., C.A. and n. S. A.
3. Drosera intermedia Hayne. Fig. 479.
Leaves usually basal but sometimes extending up the stem when the plants grow
in water or very wet places; leaf blades spatulate to oblong-obovate, to 2 cm.
long and 5 mm. wide, with slender glabrous or inconspicuously glandular petioles
to 5 cm. long; stipules divided into several setaceous segments to 5 mm. long;
scape erect, to 2 dm. tall, glabrous or inconspicuously glandular, supporting as
many as 20 flowers in an inflorescence that at first curves outward and often
downward at the base before becoming erect; sepals oblong, to 4 mm. long and
1.5 mm. wide, united at base; petals white or sometimes pinkish, to 5 mm. long
and wide; capsule ellipsoid, to 5 mm. long; seeds oblong, reddish-brown, blunt
at the ends, densely and irregularly covered with long papillae.
In wet sands and peaty areas in s.e. Tex., June-Aug.; Nfld. to Ont, w. to O.,
111. and Minn., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Fam. 68. Podostemaceae AGARDH RIVER-WEED FAMILY
Aquatic herbs, attached to rocks in swift-flowing water by disklike processes,
in habit resembling some species of algae and mosses; leaves alternate, 2-ranked,
993
-------
simple to lobed or decompound; flowers naked, solitary, perfect, arising from a
spathelike involucre; perianth wanting or composed of 3 to 5 scalelike or mem-
branous sepals; stamens 1 to many; fruit a 2- or 3-celled many-seeded ribbed
capsule.
About 130 species in more than 40 genera, mostly tropical.
1. Podostemon MICHX. RIVER-WEED
Characters of the family. More than a dozen species of wide distribution.
1. Podostemon Ceratophyllum Michx. THREAD-FOOT. Fig. 480.
Plant olive-green, firm, glabrous; leaves long-petiolate, rigid, divided into linear
or filamentous segments or sometimes simple, with dilated base sheathing the
stem; stems abbreviated to very elongate, sometimes as much as 6 dm. long or
more; flowers green, arising along the stems or in clusters at apex of stems, with
slender pedicels; perianth obsolete; stamens 2, the more or less united filaments
exceeding the ovary; ovary 2-celled; stigmas 2, subulate; capsule unequally
2-valved, with one 5-ribbed valve persistent, broadly ellipsoid, 2-3 mm. long.
Attached to rocks in streams and rivers in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and (?) e.
Tex., May-July; from Ga., along the Gulf Coast to Okla., n. to Ont. and N. B.
Fam. 69. Crassulaceae DC. ORPINE FAMILY
Annual or perennial succulent exstipular herbs with perfect symmetrical flowers
usually in a cyme; leaves alternate or opposite, simple or sometimes dentate;
petals (free or somewhat united) and pistils the same number as the calyx seg-
ments and the stamens the same or double their number; fruit a 1-celled follicle
that opens down the ventral suture, 1- to many-seeded.
About 1,500 species in 35 genera that are world-wide in distribution.
1. Plants minute, spreading or decumbent; leaves opposite and connate at base,
7 mm. long or less; flowers solitary or in glomerules usually in axil
of leaves; stamens as many as calyx segments; follicles 1.5-2 mm.
long 1. Tillaea
1. Plants ascending or trailing; leaves not opposite, usually more than 10 mm.
long; flowers in spreading cymes; stamens twice as many as the
calyx segments; follicles 4-6 mm. long 2. Sedum
1. Tillaea L. PIGMY-WEED
About 20 species of world-wide distribution.
1. Tillaea aquatica L. WATER PIGMY-WEED. Fig. 481.
Tufted or matted diminutive more or less aquatic annual, glabrous throughout;
stems filiform, much-branched from base, spreading or decumbent, to 10 cm.
long; leaves opposite, connate-perfoliate, linear to linear-oblong, entire, to 7 mm.
long; flowers minute, solitary, axillary, 4-merous, essentially sessile or with
pedicels longer than the leaves; calyx 1 mm. long, about half as long as the
greenish-white petals; follicles ovoid, 1.5-2 mm. long, 8 to 10-seeded. Crassula
aquatica (L.) Schoenl., Tillaeasirum aqualicum (L.) Britt.
On dry mud flats about pools and along shores, sometimes in water, in e.
and s.e. Tex., May-Aug.; from Nfld. w. to Wash., Ut., Wyo. and Tex., s to Md.
and La.; also Mex.
Plants with some of the pedicels exceeding the leaves have been segregated as
var. Drummondii (T. & G.) Jeps. [Tillaea Dntmmondii T. & G., Crassula
Dritmmondii (T. & G.) Fedde, Til/aeastriim Drummondii (T. & G.) Britt.]
994
-------
Fig. 480: Podostemon Ceratophyllum: a, habitat, on rocks in river rapids; b, habit,
x 2%; c, bud, x 5; d, fruit, x 5; e, seed, x 12. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 481: Tillaea aquatica: a, tip of branch, showing flowers solitary in leaf axils,
x 6; b, flower, top view, v 12; c, habit, x %; d, part of plant, showing the flowers and
the stems rooting at the nodes, x 6; e, flowers, showing different stages in anthesis,
x 12; f, fruit, x 12; g, single carpel, after dehiscence, x 16; h, seed, x 60. (From Mason,
Fig. 250).
-------
2. Sedum L. STONECROP. ORPINE
Smooth and fleshy-leaved perennials or occasionally annuals with mostly alter-
nate (sometimes opposite or whorled) or imbricated simple leaves and flowers in
broad to one-sided terminal or axillary cymes; sepals and petals 4 or 5, the
usually narrow petals free or scarcely united at base; stamens 8 to 10, mostly
perigynous; follicles several- to many-seeded, each subtended by a basal scale.
About 600 species, mainly in temperate and boreal regions of the Northern
Hemisphere.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and Texas 1. S. pulchellum.
1. Distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona (2)
2(1). Inflorescence a terminal congested essentially naked cyme; petals 3-4 mm.
long, obtuse to acute 2. S. Rosea.
1. Inflorescence a racemose panicle with leafy bracts; petals 7-10 mm. long,
acuminate 3. S. rhodanthum.
1. Sedum pulchellum Michx.
Glabrous annual (or biennial ?), ascending or trailing, branched, 1-3 dm.
long; leaves crowded, terete, linear, sessile, obtuse, slightly auriculate at the base,
7-25 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide; cyme 4- to 7-forked, its branches spreading
or recurved in flower; flowers sessile, close together, 8-12 mm. broad; petals
light-pink, linear-lanceolate, acute, about twice the length of the lanceolate
obtusish sepals; follicles 4-6 mm. long, tipped with slender styles.
In seepage on and about calcareous and granitic rocks in Okla. (Johnston Co.)
and e. Tex. (San Augustine Co.), Mar.-May; from w. Va., w. to s. 111., Mo. and
Kan., s. to Ga., Ala., Ark. and Tex.
2. Sedum Rosea (L.) Scop. ROSEROOT. Fig. 482.
Fleshy perennial from a short scaly suckering rootstock that is fragrant when
bruised; stems several, erect or ascending, 1-5 dm. tall; leaves pale, equally dis-
tributed up the stems, rather crowded, flat, rather thin, sessile, obovate to
oblanceolate, 1.5-4.5 cm. long, to 1 cm. wide, acute, entire to dentate above
the middle; inflorescence a terminal more or less congested cyme to 6 cm. across;
flowers perfect or unisexual, 4- or 5-merous; calyx lobes lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm.
long; petals dark-purple, 3-4 mm. long, oblong, obtuse to acute, somewhat spread-
ing; stamens 10, equaling or exceeding petals; follicles plump, erect, dark-purple,
3-5 mm. long, tipped with a divergent or recurved beak.
Seepage along streams, bordering lakes and in moist rocky places in N. M.
(Taos Co.), May-Aug.; Me. to B. C., s. to mts. of N. C., Tenn., N. M. and
Calif.; Euras.
3. Sedum rhodanthum Gray. Fig. 482.
Plants glabrous; stems several from a thick rootstock, simple, 1-3.5 dm. tall;
leaves sessile, alternate, linear-oblong to oblanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, entire
or toothed; flowers in dense terminal racemose panicles with leaflike bracts; sepals
distinct; petals 7-10 mm. long, light-rose to pink or whitish, linear-lanceolate,
acuminate, about twice as long as sepals; stamens 10, these opposite the petals and
adnate to them; carpels 5, erect.
Wet meadows, marshes, about lakes and along streams in N.M. (Taos Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; Mont, to Ut., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
997
-------
Fig. 482: a and b, Scdum rhodanthum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3. C and d,
Sedum rosea: c, top of plant, x H; d, flower, x 3. ("V. F.).
-------
Fam. 70. Saxifragaceae Juss. SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
Perennial herbs, woody vines, shrubs or rarely small trees with opposite or
alternate usually exstipulate leaves; inflorescence variable; stamens mostly definite;
carpels commonly fewer than the sepals, either separate or partly so or all com-
bined into one compound pistil; floral cup either free or adherent to ovary,
usually persistent or withering away; stamens and petals almost always inserted
on rim of floral cup; ovary usually at least partly inferior; fruit a capsule or
berry; ovules anatropous; seeds with copious endosperm.
Closely allied to Rosaceae and with some genera without clear relationships;
sometimes split into several families. Estimated to be more than 1,000 species
in nearly 100 genera in both hemispheres.
1. Herbs (2)
1. Shrubs (5)
2(1). Plants diminutive, forming prostrate mats less than 5 cm. across
1. Lepuropetalon
2. Plants with erect flowering stems (3)
3(2). Leaves scattered along the flowering stem; ovary 5- to 7-celled, mostly
superior; follicles circumscissally dehiscent 2. Penthorum
3. Leaves mostly basal and rosulate; ovary 1- or 2-celled, about half-inferior;
fruits not dehiscent as above (4)
4(3). Fertile stamens 10; without staminodia; ovary 2-celled 3. Saxijraga
4. Fertile stamens 5; staminodia present; ovary 1-celled 4. Parnassia
5(1). Leaves opposite 7. Jamesia
5. Leaves alternate (6)
6(5). Leaves pinnately veined, unlobed, at most with serrulate margins; ovary
superior; fruit a capsule 5. Itea
6. Leaves noticeably palmately veined and lobed; ovary more or less inferior;
fruit a berry 6. Ribes
1. Lepuropetalon ELL.
A monotypic genus. Segregated by some authors as a monotypic family, Lepuro-
petalaceae.
1. Lepnropetalon spathularum (Muhl.) Ell.
Annual diminutive herbs, growing in small tufts, glabrous, mostly in hemis-
pheric patches 1—1.5 cm. across; stems abbreviated, usually branched from the
base, the branches angled; leaves alternate, simple, sessile, spatulate, 2-6 mm.
long, obtuse, usually adorned with lines of reddish glands; entire; flowers incon-
spicuous but large for the plant, solitary near or at the ends of the stems and
branches; hypanthium flattish, at maturity longer than the calyx; calyx 1.5-2 mm.
wide; sepals 5, ovate, spreading 1-2 mm. long at maturity; corolla white, minute,
regular; petals 5, broad, scalelike, shorter than the sepals, reniform to ovate-
reniform; stamens 5; filaments subulate, very short; ovary partly inferior, the
3 or 4 short carpels united; fruit about 2 mm. long, the folliclelike carpel apices
erect, slightly spreading; fruit a capsule loculicidal at apex; seeds pitted.
Sandy soil about sinks and on wet soil in the e. half of Tex., Feb.-Mar.; from
S.C. and Ga. to Tex. and Mex.; also Chile.
2. Penthorum L. DITCH-STONECROP
About 3 species, with 2 in Asia. Segregated by some authors as a monogeneric
family, Penthoraceae.
999
-------
Fig. 483: Penthonim sedoides: a, top of plant, x %• b, part of procumbent stem
of plant and roots, x Vi', c, cluster of flowers and fruit, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
1. Penthorum sedoides L. Figs. 483 and 484.
Upright or somewhat bushy-sprawling weedlike perennial herb, stoloniferous;
stem decumbent at base, simple to widely branched, to about 8 dm. tall; leaves
alternate, scattered, elliptic to broadly lanceolate, serrate, acute to acuminate
at apex, narrowly cuneate at base, to 15 cm. long and 4 cm. wide; flowers
yellowish-green, loosely spiked along the upper side of the naked scorpioid
branches of the cyme; calyx lobes 5 to 7; petals usually absent; stamens 10;
pistils 5 or 7, united below and slightly sunken in the receptacle, forming a
5-angled 5-horned and 5-celled capsule that opens by dehiscence of the caplike
beaks, with numerous ellipsoid echinate seeds.
Wet ground, usually along and on edge of water in streams throughout Okla.
and in e. and s.e. Tex. and in the Panhandle (Hemphill Co.), June-July; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to s. N.B., N.E., s.w. Que., s. Ont, Mich., Wise., Minn, and Neb.
3. Saxifraga L. SAXIFRAGE
Mostly perennial herbs; stems leafy or scapelike, erect to decumbent or pros-
trate; leaves simple, mostly in a basal cluster; flowers perfect, regular, soli-
tary or in simple or compound cymes; calyx adnate to at least the base of the
ovary, the lobes 5; petals 5, perigynous; stamens 10, inserted with petals; carpels
2, united below or nearly distinct; ovary nearly free or more or less inferior;
follicles 2-beaked, divergent, many-seeded.
About 370 species, mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and Texas 1. S. texana.
I. Distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona (2)
2(1). Plants usually less than 1 dm. tall, more or less tufted; flower stem leafy,
supporting 1 to 3 flowers (3)
2. Plants 1 dm. tall or more, not tufted; scape supporting a many-flowered
inflorescence (4)
3(2). Basal leaves linear-oblanceolate to spatulate, entire 2. S. chrysantha.
3. Basal leaves somewhat reniform, 3- to 7-lobed 3. S. debilis.
4(2). Leaves orbicular to reniform, coarsely and deeply crenate-dentate; flowers
in paniculate cymes 4. S. arguta.
4. Leaves rhombic-ovate to ovate, shallowly crenate-dentate; inflorescence capi-
tate to interrupted-thyrsiform 5. S. rhomboidea.
1. Saxifraga texana Buckl.
Perennial herb from a bulbous base, to 15 cm. tall; leaves simple, in a basal
rosette, spreading, broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse at apex, abruptly nar-
rowed into a petiolate base, to 4 cm. long, usually much smaller, with undulate
margins, essentially glabrous; scapes erect, usually solitary, green or rose-colored,
coarsely white-pubescent (especially below the middle); cymules aggregated into
tight heads; sepals ovate to oblong, obtuse, 1.5-2 mm. long, commonly rose-colored;
petals white, broadly elliptic to obovate, 2.5-3 mm. long, narrowed at base; stamens
10; folliclelike carpel tips 3 or 4,, about 3 mm. long, the stout tips ascending or
somewhat spreading, S. Reevesii Cory, Micranthes texana (Buckl.) Small.
In seepage on rock outcrops in fields and on edge of woods in e. Okla. and e.
Tex., uncommon, Feb.-Mar.; in Mo., Kan., Ark., Okla. and Tex.
2. Saxifraga chrysantha Gray.
Perennial with slender rootstocks and few to numerous leafy offsets, glabrous
to sparsely glandular-pubescent; leafy flowering stem simple, 2-6 cm. tall; rosulate
leaves linear-oblanceolate to spatulate, glabrous, fleshy, 5-10 mm. long; cauline
1001
-------
Fig. 484: Penthorum sedoides: seed, x 100. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
leaves 2 to 5, linear to narrowly oblong, 3-7 mm. long, glabrous to sparsely
glandular-pubescent; flowers solitary or paired; calyx lobes ovate to ovate-oblong,
sharply reflexed, 2-3 mm. long, the free hypanthium scarcely 0.5 mm. long; petals
yellow, finely cross-rugulose with orange below the middle, deciduous, broadly
obovate to ovate, 5-7 mm. long, 5- to 9-nerved, clawed; filaments slender; capsule
ovoid, 6-8 mm. long; seeds brown, about 1 mm. long, narrowly oblong-fusiform,
lightly wrinkled. Leptasea chrysantha (Gray) Small.
On open rocky-grassy slopes and moraines on higher mts., commonly near snow-
banks in seepage, in N. M. (Colfax, Rio Arriba and Mora cos.); Wyo. and Ut,
s. toN.M.
3. Saxifraga debilis Engelm. ex Gray. PIGMY SAXIFRAGE.
Tufted perennial forming small patches to 8 cm. across, glabrous to glandular-
pubescent and often pilose (especially on the bases of lower leaves); flowering
stems several, leafy, to 1 dm. tall; leaves mostly basal, often bulbiferous, the petioles
slender, often brownish-pilose, stipular; blades more or less reniform, 5-15 mm.
wide, coarsely and shallowly 3- to 7-lobed; cauline leaves usually 1 to several,
similar to basal leaves or entire; flowers 1 to 3; calyx turbinate-campanulate,
usually purplish, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the erect lobes ovate to ovate-oblong and
rounded; petals deciduous, white and usually somewhat pinkish-veined, narrowly
oblong to cuneate-oblong, 2 to 3 times as long as calyx lobes, scarcely clawed at
rounded base; stamens equaling calyx lobes, the filaments not clavate; capsule
4—6 mm. long; seeds about 0.5 mm. long, brownish, ellipsoidal.
In wet locations, mostly on cliffs, in rock crevices and on talus below snowbanks
on San Francisco Peaks, Coconino Co., Ariz., July-Aug.; Mont, to Colo., Ariz.
and Calif.
4. Saxifraga arguta D. Don. BROOK SAXIFRAGE. Fig. 485.
Acaulescent perennial with a long horizontal rootstock; leaf blades orbicular to
reniform, cordate, 2-8 cm. wide, the margins coarsely and deeply crenate-dentate;
glabrous or ciliate, the petioles 4-12 (-20) cm. long; flowering stems 1.5-5 dm.
tall, terminating in an open paniculately cymose inflorescence; sepals ovate-oblong
to oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. long, often purple, sharply recurved; petals sub-
orbicular, abruptly and shortly clawed, about twice as long as the sepals; filaments
1002
-------
Fig. 485: Saxifraga arguta: a, habit, x %; b, portion of peduncles, x 3; c, flower,
x 5; d, calyx, x 5; e, stamen, x 10; i, capsule, x 5; g, capsule opened to show seed*
x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 486: Parnassia asarifolia: a, habit, x \<2\ b, petal, x 2V6; c, fruit, x 2^>. (V. F.).
-------
broadened above, petaloid, conspicuous because of the early falling of the petals;
mature fruits to 1 cm. long, twice as long as broad. Micranthes arguta (D.Don)
Small.
On wet slopes, in wet meadows, about lakes and along streams in mts. of N.M.
(Grant, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.),
July-Aug.; Mont, to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
5. Saxifraga rhomboidea Greene.
Acaulescent plants; leaves in a basal rosette, rhombic-ovate to ovate, 2-6 cm.
long (including the petiole that is rarely longer than the blade), cuneate at base,
obtuse at apex, usually somewhat crenate or dentate, glabrous or with the margins
ciliate; scapes 1—3 dm. tall, glandular-pubescent to rarely glabrate; inflorescence at
first capitate, eventually interrupted-thyrsiform; sepals ovate to oval, 1.5-3.5 mm.
long, erect; petals oblong-obovate, 2.5-4 mm. long, often emarginate at apex and
clawed at base; filaments not clavate; capsule 3-4.5 mm. long, often purplish.
Micranthes rhomboidea (Greene) Small.
Wet alpine meadows in N. M. (Colfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino and Gila cos.), Apr.-July; Mont. s. to N. M. and
Ariz.
4. Parnassia L. GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS
Perennial glabrous herbs with short rootstocks and with a scapelike stem; leaves
simple, entire, mostly basal and petioled, the single cauline leaf sessile; scape
typically 1-flowered; hypanthium short and usually poorly developed; sepals 5,
imbricated in bud; petals 5, imbricated in bud, white, conspicuously greenish- or
yellowish-veined, deciduous; stamens 5, persistent and alternate with the petals
and with 5 clusters of more or less united staminodia that are gland-bearing at the
ends; ovary 1-celled, superior to half-inferior; style short or none; stigmas 4,
sessile; capsule 1-celled, 4-valved.
About 50 species in the Northern Hemisphere. Segregated by some authors as
a monogeneric family, Parnassiaceae.
1. Distribution in eastern Texas (2)
1. Distribution hi mountains of New Mexico and Arizona (3)
2(1). Leaves reniform; petals with claw; staminodes 5-9 mm. long, equaling or
shorter than the stamens 1. P. asarifolia.
2. Leaves suborbicular-ovate; petals sessile; staminodes 12-15 mm. long, conspicu-
ously longer than the stamens 2. P. grandifolia.
3(1). Petals entire 3. P. parviflora.
3. Petals fimbriate on the sides near the base 4. P. fimbriata.
1. Parnassia asarifolia Vent. Fig. 486.
Flowering stem 2-5 dm. high; basal leaves with petioles to 15 cm. long, broadly
reniform, 3-4 cm. long, wider than long; cauline leaf about or below middle of
stem, similar to but smaller than the basal leaves; petals oblong-elliptic, contracted
at base into a claw, 12-18 mm. long, with 11 to 15 radiating veins; staminodia
3-pronged, usually slightly shorter than the stamens, 5-9 mm. long, united for one
fifth to two fifths their length.
In sphagnum moss of evergreen shrub bogs in e. Tex., rare, Sept.-Nov.; from
Va. and W.Va., s. to Ga. and Tex.
2. Parnassia grandifolia DC. Fig. 487.
Flowering stems to 4 dm. tall; basal leaves with petioles to 15 cm. long, thick
and firm, ovate to suborbicular, usually subcordate at base, to 1 dm. long and 8
cm. wide; cauline leaf ovate to suborbicular-ovate, usually borne below the middle
1005
-------
Fig. 487: Parnassia grandifolia: a, lower part of plant, x \'z\ b, top of plant, x
c, petal, x 3; d, fruit, x U/o. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 488: a and b, Parnassia parviflora: a, habit, x
fimbriata: c, flower, x 2V2. (V. F.).
; b, flower x 5. c, Parnassia
-------
of the scape; sepals elliptic, 4-5 mm. long, 3- to 7-veined; petals elliptic, 15-20
mm. long, with about 7 strong veins; filaments 7-8 mm. long, subulate; anthers
ovate, acute, about 3 mm. long; staminodia nearly filiform, 12-15 mm. long, 3 to
5 in each set, united only at the base; capsule ovoid, about 15 mm. long.
In wet meadows and wet marly situations in e. Tex., rare, Aug.; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to W.Va., Tenn. and Mo.
3. Parnassia parviflora DC. Fig. 488.
Rootstock short; basal leaves oval to ovate, cuneate at base, 1-2.5 cm. long, with
petioles 1-5 cm. long; scape 1-3 dm. tall; bract below middle of scape, ovate to
lanceolate, sessile; sepals 5-8 mm. long, oblong; petals cuneate-obovate or elliptic
to oval, entire, clawless, 6-10 mm. long; staminodial scales with 5 to 7 filiform
filaments capitate at apex to resemble small stamens; capsule ovoid, 7-11 mm. long.
Bogs, wet meadows and seepage areas, sometimes saline, in N.M. (Lincoln,
Otero and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; Lab.
and Que. to B.C., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
4. Parnassia fimbriata Koenig. FRINGED GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS. Fig. 488.
Rootstock short; basal leaves reniform to reniform-cordate, 2-4 cm. wide, with
petioles 5-15 cm. long; scape 2-3 dm. high; bract near the middle of the scape,
cordate-clasping, 5-15 mm. long; sepals elliptic to oval, 5-6 mm. long, often with
short cilialike teeth; petals obovate, with a more or less distinct claw, 1-1.2 cm.
long, fimbriate on the lower lateral margins; filaments filiform, 4-5 mm. long;
staminodial scales rather fleshy, with 5 to 9 short lobes; capsule 8-10 mm. long.
Springs, bogs and edge of water along streams in N.M. (Rio Arriba and Taos
cos.), July-Sept.; Alas., s. to N.M. and Calif.
5. Itea L. SWEET-SPIRE
About 15 species, mostly in southeast Asia. This genus, along with Choristylis
Harv., is treated as a segregate family, Iteaceae, by some authors.
1. Itea virginica L. TASSEL-WHITE. Fig. 489.
Shrubs to 25 dm. tall; leaves simple, alternate, petioled, deciduous, broadly
elliptic to oblong or obovate, acute to abruptly acuminate at apex, minutely ser-
rate, at time of flowering to 8 cm. or more long; racemes simple, terminating the
branchlets, to 2 dm. long and 2 cm. in diameter, loose and open, the rachis and
pedicels evident; calyx 5-cleft, free from the ovary or nearly so; petals 5, white,
lanceolate, much longer than the calyx and longer than the 5 stamens; capsule
7-10 mm. long, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2-grooved, 2-celled, tipped by the 2 united
styles, 2-parted when mature, several-seeded.
Swamps, about lakes and along wooded streams in Okla. (LeFlore and McCur-
tain cos.) and e. Tex., Apr.-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., e. Pa., Ky., s. 111.,
Mo. and Okla.
6. Ribes L. CURRANT. GOOSEBERRY
Shrubs with arching or straggly branches, unarmed or sometimes spiny; leaves
alternate or appearing to be fascicled, broadly rounded, mostly palmately lobed,
with the lobes toothed or crenate; flowers solitary or in fascicles or abbreviated
racemes; calyx 5-lobed, often colored, the tube adherent to the ovary; petals 5,
small, inserted in the calyx tube; stamens 5, inserted on calyx tube alternately
with the petals; ovary 1-celled; berry crowned by the shriveled remains of the
flower.
About 150 species in cold or temperate regions in both hemispheres. A number
of species are of economic importance because they are alternate hosts for the
white pine blister rust, the fruits are eaten by birds, animals and man, and many
1008
-------
Fig. 489: Itea virginica: a, branch, x %; b, bud, x 5; c, flower, x 5; d, petal,
x 5; e, twig with fruit, x %; f, opening fruit, x 5; g, empty fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
are favorite browse plants of both domestic animals and deer. This genus, along
with Grossularia Mill., is treated by some authors as a segregate family, Grossu-
lariaceae.
1. Plants with spines or prickles at nodes; pedicel not jointed below the ovary;
flowers 5 or less per raceme 1. R. inerme,
1. Plants without spines and prickles; pedicels usually jointed below the ovary;
flowers more than 5 in each raceme (2)
2(1). Flowers bright-yellow, becoming reddish with age; hypanthium tubular-
funnelform, 6-10 mm. long, glabrous 2. R. aureum.
2. Flowers whitish to greenish-white or yellowish-white; hypanthium saucer-
shaped or tubular-campanulate, less than 5 mm. long (3)
3(2). Plant more or less adorned with yellowish sessile crystalline glands; hypan-
thium 3.5-4.5 mm. long, glabrous 3. R. americanum.
3. Plant without crystalline glands; hypanthium 1-1.5 mm. long, crisp-puberulent
4. R. mogollonicum.
1. Ribes inerme Rydb.
Erect to sprawling shrubs usually 1-2 m. tall; young branches glabrous or
somewhat retrorse-bristly, commonly with 1 to 3 nodal spines to about 1 cm. long;
leaves with petioles about as long as blade, mostly broadly ovate and 2-5 cm.
wide, rounded to cordate at base, rather deeply 3-lobed with the lobes deeply
crenate-serrate, the lateral lobes sometimes again lobed; racemes with 2 to 4
drooping flowers, glabrous, shorter than the leaves; pedicels slender, 3-7 mm.
long, not jointed; bracts ovate, 1-2 mm. long, ciliolate; hypanthium tubular-
campanulate, mostly 2.5-3 mm. long, greenish to purplish- or reddish-tinged,
glabrous or sparsely hirsute; calyx lobes oblong-lanceolate, spreading or some-
what reflexed; petals white or pinkish, cuneate-oblong to oblong, 1—1.5 mm. long;
stamens subequal to calyx lobes, the filaments glabrous; berry smooth, reddish-
purple, 7-9 mm. long, palatable. Grossularia inermis (Rydb.) Cov. & Britt.
Wet stream banks, flats and thickets at edge of wet meadows to open mt.
ridges, in N. M. (Grant, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Socorro cos.),
May-July; Mont, and Wyo. w. to B. C., s. to N. M. and Calif.
2. Ribes aureum Pursh. GOLDEN CURRANT.
Shrub to 2 m. tall; young branchlets light-tan-color, glabrous or puberulous;
leaves orbicular-reniform to obovate, cuneate to subcordate at base, to 5 cm.
wide, 3-lobed, the coarsely crenate-dentate lobes often with only 2 or 3 teeth,
glabrous or sometimes puberulous on lower surface; petioles about as long as
blade; flowers yellow, fragrant or slightly so, 5 to 15 in a raceme; bracts oblong
to obovate; pedicels to 8 mm. long, jointed under the ovary; hypanthium slender,
yellow, 6-10 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide; sepals more than half as long as the tube,
spreading, upright and close in the faded flowers; petals changing to red; fruit
globose, black or purplish-brown, 6-8 mm. in diameter.
Wet stream banks, flood plains, grasslands and conifer forests, in mts. of
Trans-Pecos Tex., N. M. (Grant, Guadalupe, Lincoln, Luna, San Juan, San
Miguel and Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Yavapai to Greenlee, Cochise,
Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Mar.-June; from S. D. to Assiniboia and Wash., s.
to w. Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Ribes americanum Mill. BLACK CURRANT.
Erect to somewhat spreading unarmed shrubs to about 1 m. tall; young branches
crisp-puberulent and somewhat dotted with sessile yellowish crystalline glands,
eventually black with age; leaves with petioles equal to or shorter than blade;
shallowly cordate, 3-8 cm. wide, almost as long, deeply 3-lobed with the
1010
-------
triangular-ovate lobes coarsely doubly crenate-serrate, the lateral lobes sometimes
again lobed, somewhat glandular-pubescent at least on lower surface; raceme
pubescent, with as many as 15 drooping flowers; bracts lanceolate, to about 1 cm.
long; hypanthium broadly tubular-campanulate, 3.5-4.5 mm. long, yellowish-
green to greenish-white; calyx with reflexed oblong-spatulate to oblong lobes
usually slightly shorter than hypanthium; petals whitish or greenish-white, oblong
to oblong-obovate, 2.5-3 mm. long; stamens subequal to petals, the glabrous
filaments broad below; berry ovoid, about 1 cm. long, smooth, unpalatable.
Swamps, wet soil on stream banks, and moist ravines and canyons, in N. M.
(San Miguel Co.), May-June; N.S. s. to Va., w. to Alta. and N. M.
4. Ribes mogollonicum Greene.
Glandular unarmed shrub to 3 m. tall, erect to low-spreading; young branches
puberulent but soon glabrous; leaves with petioles subequal to the blade, broadly
orbicular in outline and 3- or 5-lobed, deeply cordate at base, the broadly ovate
lobes finely doubly serrate-dentate, bright green and glabrous on upper surface,
paler and somewhat glandular-puberulent on lower surface; racemes 2-5 cm. long,
spreading to erect, in part glandular-puberulent; bracts oblong-spatulate 4-5 mm.
long, equal to or about twice as long as pedicels; hypanthium broadly saucer-
shaped, 1—1.5 mm. long, crisp-puberulent; calyx lobes oblong, 2.5-3.5 mm. long,
spreading, several-veined; petals whitish-green to yellowish-green, flabelliform,
less than half as long as calyx lobes; stamens about equal to the petals, scarcely
exserted; berry ovoid, black, glandular, about 1 cm. long. R, Wolfii of auth.
About lakes and in seepage areas, moist woods, in N. M. (widespread in
higher mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Graham cos.), May-Aug.; Colo.
and Ut to N. M. and Ariz.
7. Jamesia T. & G.
A monotypic genus of western North America.
1. Jamesia americana T. & G.
Erect much-branched shrub to 2 m. tall, the grayish- to reddish-brown bark
shreddy, the young twigs strigose or short-villous; leaves opposite, ovate, 1.5-2.5
cm. long, thinnish, prominently crenate-serrate with the teeth mucronulate, the
lower surface strigose-canescent, the upper surface sparsely strigose and bright-
green, the prominent lateral veins impressed on the upper surface; flowers numer-
ous in dense cymes; pedicels and hypanthium strigose; sepals triangular-ovate,
about 2.5 mm. long; petals 5, white or pink, narrowly oblong-ovate, 6-7 mm.
long; stamens 10, the filaments broad and flat; styles 3 to 5, elongating after
anthesis, becoming twice the length of the calyx; capsule about half inferior,
conic, beaked by the persistent style.
On rock ledges and canyon walls, commonly along mt. streams and often with
its roots in running water, widespread in mts. of N. M. and Ariz. (Cochise,
Graham and Pima cos.), June-Aug.; Wyo. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
An ornamental shrub that is occasionally cultivated.
Fam. 71. Hamamelidaceae R. BR. WITCH-HAZEL FAMILY
Shrubs or trees with alternate simple leaves and deciduous stipules; flowers
in heads or clusters, often polygamous or perfect; calyx (when present) adherent
to the base of the ovary; petals (when present) inserted on the calyx, narrow,
valvate or imbricate in the bud; stamens numerous or twice as many as the
petals and with half of them (those opposite the petals) sterile and changed into
scales; ovary of 2 pistils united below and forming a 2-beaked 2-celled woody
1011
-------
capsule that opens at the summit, usually with 1 or 2 anatropous seeds in each
cell.
About 80 species in 22 genera in both hemispheres, chiefly tropical.
1. Liquidambar L.
Considered to be 3 species, one in America and 2 in Asia. Segregated by some
authors into a separate family, Altingiaceae. The foliage is highly ornamental in
the fall.
1. Liquidambar Styraciflua L. SWEET-GUM, BILSTED. Fig. 490.
Tree to 40 m. tall or more, with grayish-brown furrowed bark and commonly
with corky ridges on the branchlets, often exuding a gum said to be pleasant to
chew (with which we differ); leaves deciduous, with slender petioles to 12 cm.
long, rounded in outline, to 18 cm. long and 12 cm. wide, deeply 5- or 7-lobed
to resemble a star, smooth and shining, fragrant when bruised, turning crimson
in autumn, truncate to somewhat cordate at base, the triangular lobes acuminate
and glandular-serrate; flowers unisexual, apetalous; staminate flowers intermixed
with small scales in globose heads that are disposed in terminal racemes; pistillate
flowers in slender-peduncled globose heads, consisting of more or less coherent
2-celled 2-beaked ovaries subtended by minute scales; styles 2, stigmatic along
the inner surface; fruit globose, woody, to 3 cm. in diameter, on peduncles to 5
cm. long, the individual capsules opening between the persistent subulate rigid
styles and producing 1 or 2 winged seeds, the capsules filled mostly with abortive
seeds that resemble sawdust.
In wet situations and in swampy woods in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. and
s.-cen. (w. to Lee Co.) Tex., Mar.-May; from Fla. to Tex., Mex. and C.A., n. to
s. Conn., s.e. N.Y., W.Va., s. O., s. Ind., s. 111. and Okla.
Fam. 72. Platanaceae DUM. PLANE-TREE FAMILY
Trees usually large, monoecious, with wide-spreading branches and mostly
exfoliating bark; leaves deciduous, alternate, palmately lobed; petiole dilated
and hollow at the base to envelop the axillary bud; stipules membranous, caducous,
encircling the twig; flowers densely arranged in long-stemmed unisexual globose
heads; calyx and corolla insignificant or sometimes wanting; staminate flowers
with numerous subsessile linear 2-celled anthers that are subtended by minute
scales, the connective peltate at apex; pistillate flowers with numerous sub-
sessile carpels intermixed with scattered linear bracts; ovary tapered above,
1-celled, with a unilateral stigma extending for most of the length of the inner
face of the linear-subulate style; fruit indehiscent, surrounded at the base by
a tuft of long bristly tawny hairs that are directed upward parallel with and
almost encompassing the fruit; seed orthotropous, one in each carpel, linear-
fusiform.
Only one genus of uncertain relationship.
1. Platanus L. SYCAMORE. PLANE-TREE. BUTTONWOOD
Characters of the family. About 10 species in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Head of fruit usually solitary; leaves broadly ovate, truncate to rarely cuneate
at base, shallowly 3- or 5-lobed; lobes broad, sparsely toothed or
entire 1. p occidentdis.
1. Heads of fruit racemose; leaves deeply 5- or 7-lobed, deeply cordate to
cuneate or truncate at base; lobes elongate, entire to rarely dentate
2. P. Wrightii.
1012
-------
Fig. 490: Liquidambar styraciflua: a, twig with fruit X %', b, seeds, about x 10.
(V. R).
-------
Fig. 491: a and b, Platanus Wrightii: a, twig with fruit, x Va; b, achene, x 5. c-e,
Platanus occidenialis: c, twig with fruit, x V>; d, achene, x 5; e, hair, enlarged, x 25.
(V. F.).
-------
1. Platanus occidentalis L. Fig. 491.
Large tree to 50 m. tall and with a trunk to 4 m. in diameter; bark mottled
brown and white or buff due to exfoliation; leaves broadly ovate to suborbicular
or broadly reniform in outline, to about 2 dm. in diameter, truncate to cordate
at base, essentially glabrous or with stellate pubescence on lower surface, 3- or
5-lobed, usually with broadly rounded shallow sinuses; leaf lobes mostly broadly
triangular and acuminate, entire or with few long remote pointed teeth; fruiting
heads 25 mm. or more in diameter, usually persistent on the tree during at least
part of winter; fruit narrowly clavate, about 8 mm. long; seed brownish, about 6
mm. long. Incl. var. glabrata (Fern.) Sarg. and f. attenuataSarg.
Mostly along streams and in bottomlands in s.e. Okla. and throughout most of
Tex. e. of Val Verde Co., Mar.-May; from Me., w. to Ont. and Neb., s. to n. Fla.
and Tex.
2. Platanus Wrightti Wats. ARIZONA SYCAMORE. Fig. 491.
Large tree to 24 m. high, with arched white-barked branches spreading to
form a broad crown; trunk and branches with the outer bark flaking off to expose
the smooth whitish inner bark; buds enclosed in the dilated bases of the petioles;
leaves large, to about 3 dm. in diameter, alternate, palmately lobed; flowers
numerous in dense globose heads; sepals and petals minute; pistils 3 or 4, dis-
tinct; fruit a 4-sided achene, with a basal tuft of long hairs. P. mcemosa Nutt. var.
Wrightii (Wats.) L.Benson.
Along streams and in low wettish areas, rather widespread in southw. N.M.
and the s. half of Ariz., Apr.-May; also n. Mex.
Fam. 73. Rosaceae Juss. ROSE FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or herbs; leaves alternate, simple or compound; stipules present,
sometimes caducous to obsolete or wanting; flowers mostly perfect, regular
or nearly so, having a floral cup ("hypanthium") formed by the fusion of the
bases of sepals, petals and stamens (this appearing in some taxa with inferior
ovaries to be merely the outer layer of the ovary wall); sepals usually 5, some-
times 3 to 8, rarely united at base, often appearing double by a row of outer
bractlets; petals as many as the sepals, rarely wanting or numerous by "doubling,"
mostly imbricated in the bud and usually inserted with the stamens on the edge
of the floral cup; stamens usually numerous, inserted near the edge of the floral
cup; pistils one to many, distinct or united and sometimes adnate to the floral
cup or hypanthium; ovules 1 to several in each carpel; endosperm scanty or
absent; fruit a follicle, achene, pome or more or less aggregate drupelets or an
achehelet.
This diverse family of plants perhaps comprise more than 2,000 species in
about 100 genera. They are represented in most areas of the world but are most
abundant in eastern Asia, North America and Europe. Its production of miscel-
laneous fruits edible to man is not surpassed by any other family of plants;
among these are the apple, peach, pear, cherry, apricot, plum, almond, strawberry,
raspberry and blackberry. Its contribution to ornamentals, epitomized by the rose,
is of the highest importance. Many species provide food and forage for domestic
and wildlife.
1. Annual or perennial herbs above ground, unarmed, the caudex often some-
what woody (2)
1. Hardy or perennial shrubs or trees, if somewhat herbaceous then provided with
prickles (6)
1015
-------
2(1). Ovaries several to many, borne on a broad to elongate receptacle, not
enclosed by the calyx (3)
2. Ovaries one to many, becoming achenes that are covered by the calyx (5)
3(2). Styles persistent and elongating after anthesis, plumose or jointed..6. Geum
3. Styles not elongate after anthesis, mostly deciduous (4)
4(3). Receptacle dry, not greatly enlarged in fruit 5. Potentilla
4. Receptacle pulpy and greatly enlarged in fruit 4. Duchesnea
5(2). Calyx beset with hooked bristles, the 5-cleft limb closed after flowering and
persistent; petals yellow 8. Agrimonia
5. Calyx not bristly, the 4 petaloid lobes greenish or rose-tinged; petals none
9. Sanguisorba
6(1). Ovary inferior, enclosed by and adnate to the calyx tube (hypanthium)
which becomes more or less fleshy; fruit a pome (applelike or
berrylike); calyx lobes more or less persistent at apex of fruit;
petals white (7)
6. Ovary superior but sometimes concealed by the hypanthium; calyx tube not
fleshy and enclosing the pistils or (if so) not adnate to them (8)
7(6). Plants typically armed with strong woody spines; mature carpels hard and
bony, 1 to 5, free or coherent in the pulpy fruit 3. Crataegus
7. Plants unarmed; mature carpels papery or soft-cartilaginous 2. Pyrus
8(6). Calyx tube enclosing the numerous carpels, becoming fleshy; fruit (hip)
simulating a pome, crowned by the persistent calyx 10. Rosa
8. Calyx tube not enclosing the carpels or not becoming fleshy (9)
9(8). Fruit becoming juicy and more or less edible; stems usually armed with
prickles 7. Rubus
9. Fruits much-inflated, not becoming juicy; stems without prickles
1. Physocarpus
1. Physocarpus MAXIM.
About a dozen species, one in Manchuria, the others in North America.
1. Physocarpus monogynus (Torr.) Coult. MOUNTAIN NINEBARK.
Shrub usually less than 1 m. high, with usually decumbent stems and exfoliating
bark; branches brownish, glabrous to sparingly stellate-pubescent; leaves alternate,
with petioles 15 mm. long or less, suborbicular-ovate to reniform, usually deeply
palmately 3- or 5-lobed, incised, 1-4 cm. long, glabrous or nearly so and green
on both sides; terminal corymbs few- to many-flowered; bracts lanceolate, caducous;
pedicels 1-1.5 cm. long, usually sparingly stellate pubescent; hypanthium hemi-
spheric, about 3 mm. wide, stellate-pubescent; sepals 5, persistent, ovate-lanceolate
to elliptic, usually obtuse, densely stellate-pubescent on both sides; petals 5, white,
orbicular, spreading, about 3 mm. long; stamens 20 to 40, on a disk clothing the
mouth of the hypanthium; filaments long, slender, filiform; anthers didymous;
pistils 2 or 3, more or less united at the base; styles filiform, terminal; stigmas
capitate follicles 2 or 3, united to above the middle, densely stellate-pubescent,
3-5 mm. long, with ascending-spreading beaks, opening along both sutures; seeds
over 1.5 mm. long, usually 2, obliquely pyriform, shining, with a bony coat.
Opulaster monogynus (Torr.) O. Ktze.
Rare on seepage ledges in canyons and on open or forested slopes in w. Okla.
(Cimarron Co.), the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache,
Cochise and Graham cos.), Apr.-June; from Tex. to S. D., Wyo., N. M. and Ariz.
1016
-------
2. Pyrus L. . PEAR
About 50 species mainly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Pyrus arbutifolia (L.) L.f. RED CHOKEBERRY. Fig. 492.
Colonial shrub or small slender tree (spreading by subterranean offsets) to 7 m.
high, usually much smaller; branches slender, loosely ascending, the new branchlets
gray- or whit&-tomentose; leaves alternate, broadly oblanceolate to narrowly obo-
vate or elliptic, tapering to the base, acute to short-acuminate or apiculate, dark-
green and glabrous (except for glandular midrib) above, densely pannose-
tomentose and pale beneath to rarely glabrous, crenate-serrate, in maturity to 9
cm. long and 4 cm. wide; flower clusters terminal on the stem and short axillary
branches, 1.5—6 cm. broad, as many as 25-flowered, the rachis and pedicels
tomentulose; flowers about 1 cm. broad; hypanthium tomentose; sepals bearing
stipitate glands; petals white or pink-tinged; fruit obovoid to subglobose, bright- or
dull-red, 5-7 mm. in diameter. Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Ell. and f. macrophylla
(Hook.) Rehd.
Low woods, thickets, swamps, wet pine barrens and bogs in e. Tex., Mar.-May;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to. N. S., N. Y., Ont., Mich, and Mo.
3. Crataegus L. HAWTHORN. RED HAW. THORN
Small trees or shrubs with usually crooked thorny branches and simple serrate
or variously lobed deciduous leaves; leaves at the ends of vegetative shoots differ-
ently shaped, large and usually more deeply cut than those on the flowering
branchlets; flowers solitary or commonly in corymbs; calyx tube campanulatc or
obconic, its limb 5-parted; petals normally 5, deciduous; stamens usually 5 to 20,
in 1 to 3 series; filaments filiform; anthers oblong, white, yellow or some shade of
red; styles 1 to 5, distinct; fruit a pome with 1 to 5 bony usually 1-seeded nutlets.
There are close to 1,000 specific proposals that have been made in this primarily
North American genus. There is no way to estimate the number of valid species
that might occur. Species comprising some Series, such as Molles and Virides,
seem to intergrade imperceptibly into each other. Although we are inclined to
combine even more of these than have been combined thus far, the conclusions of
E. J. Palmer have been followed as closely as possible since our treatment is derived
and adapted from his various published contributions regarding this genus. Palmer
considered the primary taxonomic characters, in descending order of importance,
to be color of anthers, number of stamens, the pubescent or non-pubescent condi-
tion of the corymb at time of flowering, and, lastly, general shape of the leaves.
He was of the opinion that if these characteristics were used in combination species
determinations could be made.
One of the characteristic habitats of many species of hawthorns is open,
poorly drained flatwoods that become momentarily flooded after heavy rains. An
attempt was made to discriminate between such habitats and those that are some-
what similar in appearance but which fit more nearly into our wet land habitat
concept. If, perchance, a specimen is collected in these temporarily wet habitats
and is not to be found in our work its identity should be sought in a local or
regional Flora.
The fruit of many species are edible and make fine jellies and preserves, and
most have ornamental qualities. The usually dense, thorny growth of most species
provide favorite nesting sites for many birds. Their fruits are eaten to some
extent by most birdlife and various small animals, and deer browse on the foliage
and twigs.
1017
-------
Fig. 492: Pyrus arbutifolia: a. branch with flowers, x Jf;; b, flower cluster, x
c. pistil, x 21-'-. d, branch with fruit, x U; e, mature fruit, x ^2- (V. F.).
-------
1. Primary veins of the larger leaves running to the sinuses as well as to the points
of the lobes 1. C. spathulata.
1. Primary veins of the leaves running only to the points of the lobes, very rarely
with some running to the sinuses (2)
2(1). Thorns short and stout, rarely slender or more than 2 cm. long; fruits blue
or .black at maturity (3)
2. Thorns usually slender, typically more than 4 cm. long, rarely absent; fruits
red, yellow or remaining green at maturity (4)
3(2). Leaves mostly abruptly pointed or rounded at the apex, lustrous above;
fruit blue and glaucous at maturity; in eastern Texas
2. C. brachyacantha.
3. Leaves mostly acute to acuminate at the apex, dull-green above; fruit grading
from purple to black, lustrous but not glaucous; in northwestern
Texas and New Mexico 3. C. rivularis.
4(2). Flowers 2 to 5 in simple clusters; stamens 20 to 25 4. C. opaca.
4. Flowers usually more numerous, as many as 20 in simple or compound cymes
or corymbs; stamens 5 to 20 (5)
5(4). Leaves of flowering branchlets usually rhombic to somewhat obovate or
sometimes ovatish, typically narrowed at base, relatively thin, dull-
green above; fruit becoming soft or mellow with age; nutlets 3 to 5
7. C. viridis.
5. Leaves of flowering branchlets mostly narrowly obovate or oblong-obovate,
seldom over 2-3 cm. wide, mostly thick or firm, glossy above; fruit
remaining hard and often green at maturity; nutlets commonly 1
to 3 (6)
6(5). Foliage and inflorescence glabrous or essentially so 5. C. pyracanthoides.
6. Foliage and inflorescence more or less pubescent or somewhat scabrous
6. C. berberifolia.
1. Crataegus spathulata Michx. PASTURE HAW.
Shrub or tree 5-7 m. high, with stoutish usually thorny horizontal branchlets
and thin scaly or smooth gray bark; leaves of flowering branchlets narrowly obo-
vate, mostly 1-2 cm. long and to 1 cm. wide, with several coarse rounded teeth or
small lobes above the middle or near the apex, gradually narrowed to the entire
base, firm, glabrous at maturity, glossy above, with strongly ascending or nearly
parallel obscure veins; petioles one fourth to half as long as the blades; flowers
6-8 mm. across, numerous in compact glabrous corymbs; stamens about 20;
anthers pale-yellow; calyx lobes deltoid, entire, persistent on fruit; fruit subglobose,
4-7 mm. thick, red, with thin mellow flesh and 3 or 4 nutlets. C. microcarpa
Lindl.
Sandy or sandy clay woods, palmetto marsh area where occasionally flooded,
fencerows and pastures in e. Okla. and e. Tex., fruiting Oct.-Nov.; from Fla. to
Tex. and Okla., n. to Va. and s. Mo.
2. Crataegus brachyacantha Sarg. & Engelm. BLUBERRY HAWTHORN.
Tree to 15 m. high; branchlets light-green and slightly pubescent early in the
season, soon becoming glabrous and ultimately ashy-gray in color, armed with
numerous short stout somewhat curved spines that are rarely to 2 cm. long; leaves
oblong-oblanceolate to somewhat rhombic, abruptly pointed or rounded at the
apex, gradually narrowed to the cuneate base, crenulate-serrate above with minute
incurved glandular teeth, somewhat pubescent at first; mature leaves subcoriaceous,
glabrous, lustrous, dark-green, to 5 cm. long and 25 mm. wide; flowers numerous
in crowded glabrous corymbs, on slender pedicels, about 8 mm. wide; sepals short,
triangular, narrowed to a gland-tipped apex; stamens 15 to 20; anthers yellow;
1019
-------
fruit subglobose to obovoid, on erect pedicels, 8-13 mm. thick, bright-blue, cov-
ered with a glaucous bloom; nutlets 3 to 5.
Borders of streams in rich soil in e. Tex., fruiting Aug.-Sept.; in Ark., La.
and Tex.
3. Crataegus rivularis Nutt.
Tree occasionally to 6 m. high; branchlets slender, reddish-brown, lustrous,
unarmed or armed with straight slender spines usually about 25 mm. long; leaves
lanceolate to oblong-obovate or elliptic, acute to acuminate at apex, gradually
narrowed to a concave-cuneate base, very finely crenately serrate above with
glandular teeth, about 5 cm. long and 18 mm. wide; petioles slender, slightly
winged at apex, about 12 mm. long; flowers about 12 mm. wide, on long slender
pedicels, in rather compact glabrous corymbs; sepals linear, entire or glandular,
glabrous on outer surface, sparingly villous on inner surface; stamens 10 to 20;
anthers pale rose-color; fruit short-oblong, full and rounded at the ends, dark-
crimson becoming black and lustrous at maturity, 8-13 mm. long; flesh thin, yellow,
dry and mealy; nutlets 3 to 5.
On banks of streams in extreme n.w. Tex. and N. M. (Socorro Co.), fruiting
Sept.-Oct.; from s.e. Ida. to s.w. Colo., n. N. M. and Tex.
4. Crataegus opaca H. & A. WESTERN MAYHAW, APPLE HAW.
Tree to 9 m. high; branchlets slender, villous-pubescent when they appear but
soon glabrous, armless or armed with straight chestnut-brown spines; leaves
elliptic to oblong-elliptic or oblong-cuneiform, acutish at apex, cuneate at base,
the margins essentially entire or with minute glandular teeth, densely pubescent
when young, at maturity dull-green above and pubescent with rusty-brown hairs
beneath, to 65 mm. long and 25 mm. wide; petioles slender, villous-pubescent,
about 7 mm. long; flowers 2 to 5 in glabrous corymbs, about 25 mm. wide;
sepals triangular and acute at gland-tipped apex, essentially entire; stamens 20;
anthers large, deep-rose-color; fruit depressed-globose, scarlet, lustrous, 12-15 mm.
in diameter; nutlets 3 to 5.
Commonly in depressions that are filled with water part of the year, along
streams and on border of swamps in e. Tex., fruiting May-July; from Ala. to Tex.
5. Crataegus pyracanthoides Beadle.
Tree 8-10 m. high, with slender thorny or sometimes unarmed branchlets and
dark-gray scaly bark; leaves obovate to oblanceolate, pointed or rarely rounded
at the apex, shallowly serrate except near the base, glabrous, firm, dark-green
and lustrous above; flowers 1-1.3 cm. wide, mostly 5 to 8 in lax glabrous corymbs;
stamens 10 or 20; anthers white to pale-yellow or purplish; fruit subglobose or
short-oblong, 6-10 mm. thick, red, with thin mellow flesh and 2 or 3 nutlets.
Incl. var. uniqua (Sarg.) E. J. Palm, and var. arborea (Beadle) E. J. Palm.,
C. uniqua Sarg., C. arborea Beadle.
In low rich woods and wet ground along streams in e. Tex., fruiting Oct.;
from Ind. to Mo., s. to Fla. and Tex.
6. Crataegus berberifolia T. & G. BIGTREE HAWTHORN.
Tree to 12 m. high, with a trunk about 3 dm. in diameter and branchless for
about 6 m. above ground, the dark bark scaly and fissured; branchlets slender,
dull-red-brown and slightly villous, armed with stout straight spines; leaves oblong-
obovate to oval, acute to acuminate at the gradually narrowed apex, cuneate at
base, coarsely and often doubly serrate above with glandular teeth, coriaceous-
lustrous and slightly roughened on the upper surface, pale-green and scabrate
on the lower surface, 3.5-5 cm. long, to 25 mm. wide; flowers 1-2 cm. across, in
slightly villous 4- or 5-flowered slender-branched compact narrow corymbs; calyx
1020
-------
tube glabrous or slightly villous below; calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, entire,
obscurely glandular-serrate, reflexed after anthesis; stamens about 20; anthers
yellow to rose-color; fruit short-oblong, slightly pruinose, dull-green tinged with
red, 8-15 mm. long.
In low wet woods and on dryish hills in e. Tex., fruiting Sept.-Oct; endemic.
Our plant has been referred to var. edita (Sarg.) E. J. Palm. (C. edita Sarg.)
whose anthers are rose-color instead of being yellow as in var. berberifolia.
7. Crataegus viridis L. GREEN HAWTHORN.
Tree sometimes to 12 m. high, with slender Unarmed or sometimes thorny
branchlets and thin scaly pale-gray bark over orange-brown inner bark; leaves
variable and often asymmetrical, thin, glabrous at maturity except for tufts of
tomentum in the axils of the veins beneath, on flowering bfanchlets mostly
rhombic or oblong-elliptic, 2.5-5 cm. long, 13-25 mm. wide, finely serrate above
the middle or nearly to the base, on vegetative shoots often ovate and sharply
serrate and sharply lobed or deeply cut toward the base; petioles slender, 1.2-5
cm. long; flowers 12-15 mm. wide, numerous in glabrous or rarely pubescent
corymbs; stamens about 20; anthers small, pale-yellow or rarely red; fruit sub-
globose, 5-8 mm. thick, red or orange-red, with thin juicy fleshy and usually 5
nutlets. C. Davisii Sarg.
In low wet or alluvial woods, and fields in sandy soils and clays in e, Okla.
and e. and s.-cen. Tex., fruiting Sept.-Nov.; from Va. and Fla., w. to 111., Mo.,
Okla. and Tex.
Those plants with somewhat villous-pubescent corymbs and branchlets are
segregated as var. velutina (Sarg.) E. J. Palm. (C. velutina Sarg.). Those plants
with leaves shorter than typical have been segregated as f. abbreviata (Sarg.)
E. J. Palm. (C, abbreviata Sarg.), a possible hybrid of this species with C. mollis.
4. Duchesnea SM. INDIAN STRAWBERRY
About 6 species native to Asia.
1. Duchesnea indica (Andrz.) Focke.
Perennial herb from a short rhizome, with leafy stolons and 3-foliolate leaves
similar to those of the true strawberries; leaflets ovate to elliptic, 2-4 cm. long,
crenately toothed, sparsely strigose on lower surface; peduncles 3-10 cm. long;
flowers solitary, 15-18 mm. wide; calyx 5-parted, the lobes alternating with much
larger foliaceous spreading 3-toothed appendages; petals 5, yellow; receptacle in
fruit spongy but not very juicy; fruit bright-red, resembling a strawberry, insipid,
about 1 cm. in diameter.
Edge of low woods and thickets, seepage areas and marshes, along roadsides
and in old fields in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-Aug.; nat. of Asia
that is established in many parts of the world.
5. Potentilla L. CINQUEFOIL. FIVE-FINGER
Herbs or rarely shrubs with compound leaves and solitary or cymose flowers
whose parts are rarely in fours; calyx flat, deeply 5-cleft, with as many bractlets
at the sinuses so as to appear 10-cleft; petals 5, usually roundish; stamens few
to many; achenes numerous, collected in a head on the dry mostly pubescent or
hairy receptacle, often partly enclosed by the persistent accrescent calyx; styles
slender, lateral or terminal, deciduous.
About 500 species chiefly throughout the North Temperate Zone.
1. Petals dark-reddish-purple 1. P. Thurberi.
1. Petals yellow to whitish (2)
1021
-------
2(1). Plant shrubby: ovaries and achenes strongly hirsute 2. P. fruticosa.
2. Plant herbaceous; ovaries and achenes glabrous (3)
3(2). Leaves palmately (or digitately) lobed or divided (4)
3. Leaves pinnately lobed or divided (8)
4(3). Perennials with usually well-developed rootstocks; leaves often white-
tomentose on the lower surface; stamens 20 to 40 (5)
4. Annuals, biennials or sometimes short-lived perennials but without definite
rootstocks; leaves never white-tomentose on lower surface; stamens
5 to 20 (6)
5(4). Plant 1.5-4.5 dm. tall, alpine or subalpine; leaflets only occasionally more
than 3.5 cm. long, typically greenish or about equally grayish-
sericeous on both surfaces; anthers 0.4-0.6 mm. long...
8. P diversifolia.
5. Plants to 8 dm. tall, in lowlands to medium elevations in mountains; leaflets
mostly much more than 3.5 cm. long, the lower surface usually
tomentose and much paler than upper surface; anthers 0.8-1.3 mm.
long 9. P. gracilis.
6(4). Lower leaves 5-foliolate or ternate with the lateral leaflets 2-cleft to near
the base; stamens 5 4. P. pentandra.
6. Leaves 3-foliolate (7)
7(6). Petals about half as long as sepals; hypanthium in fruit 5 mm. wide or
less; stamens about 10 5. P. biennis.
1. Petals equaling the sepals or nearly so; hypanthium in fruit about 7 mm. wide;
stamens 15 to 20 3. P norvegica.
8(3). Annuals, biennials or sometimes short-lived perennials but without definite
rootstocks; leaves never white-tomentose on lower surface; stamens
5 to 20 (9)
8. Perennials with usually well-developed rootstocks; leaves often white-tomentose
on the lower surface; stamens 20 to 40 (10)
9(8). Principal leaves below inflorescence typically 3-foliolate; achenes smooth
and without ventral protuberances 6. P. rivalis.
9. Principal leaves below inflorescence with 5 to several leaflets; achenes longi-
tudinally ribbed and with a corky protuberance on ventral surface
7. P. paradoxa.
10(8). Basal leaves bipinnately lobed 12. P. plattensis.
10. Basal leaves simply pinnate (11)
11(10). Flowers single on naked peduncles 13. P. Anserina.
11. Flowers usually several on more or less leafy flowering stems (12)
12(11). Style slenderly fusiform, attached below middle of ovary; stamens 25
or more (13)
12. Style usually tapered from base or filiform, or attached near top of ovary;
stamens 20 (14)
13(12). Cymes narrow and strict, the lateral branches almost erect; sepals 5-9
mm. long at anthesis; herbage conspicuously villous.... 11. P. arguta.
13. Cymes usually open to diffuse, the lateral branches not tightly appressed;
sepals 4-6 mm. long at anthesis; herbage not conspicuously villous
10. P. glandulosa.
14(12). Leaves silky-strigose to glabrate on lower surface, the two surfaces
essentially concolorous; anthers mostly 0.4-0.6 mm. long
8. P. diversifolia.
14. Leaves white-tomentose on lower surface, the upper surface dark green;
anthers mostly 0.8-1.3 mm. long 9. p gracilis.
1022
-------
Fig. 492A: Potentilla norvegica: A, habit, x %; B, flower and calyx, x 2%; C,
achenes, x 10. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 107).
-------
Fig. 493: Potentilla pentandra: a, top of plant, x %; b, bud, x 5; c, flower open,
x 5; d. flower spread open, without corolla, showing 5 stamens, x 5. (V. P.).
-------
1. Potentffla Thurberi Gray.
Perennial with a woody taproot and short caudex; stem ascending, 3-7 dm. tall,
finely pubescent and sparingly villous; basal and lower stem leaves long-petioled,
digitately 5- or 7-foIiolate, glabrate to slightly sericeous (var. Thurberi) to densely
silvery-sericeous [var. atrorubens (Rydb.) Kearn. & Peeb. (P. atrorubens Rydb.)]
beneath; leaflets obovate, 3-5 cm. long, coarsely toothed with broad teeth or
almost crenate; upper stem leaves sessile, 3- or 5-foliolate, with oblong leaflets;
stipules 1-2 cm. long, broadly ovate, coarsely toothed; cyme open and branched;
flowers about 1.5 cm. across; hypanthium puberulent, in fruit about 1 cm. in
diameter; bractlets lanceolate, 5—6 mm. long, about equal to the triangular acute
sepals; petals almost orbicular, emarginate, exceeding the sepals, dark-reddish-
purple, 7-10 mm. long; stamens 20 to 30, the inner 5 with thicker filaments,
borne on a ringlike thickening of the disk; pistils numerous.
In wet meadows, seepage along streams and about water bodies, and wooded
slopes, in N. M. (Grant, Lincoln, Otero, Sierra and Socorro cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache to Coconino and s. to Cochise and Pirn a cos.), June-Sept.; also n.
Mex.
2. Fotentilla fruticosa L. SHRUBBY or BUSH CINQUEFOIL.
Much-branched shrub, with very leafy erect or ascending stems, 2-12 dm. high,
the reddish-brown bark shreddy; leaflets 3 to 7, linear to oblong, entire, acute
at each end, 5-20 mm. long, silky-pubescent, the margins revolute; flowers in
small loose cymes or solitary; bractlets linear-oblong, usually a little longer than
the ovate acuminate sepals; petals yellow, orbicular, 5-15 mm. long.
Wet (sometimes saline) meadows, creek bottoms, along streams and on moist
rocky slopes, in N. M. (Rio Arriba, Bernalillo, Otero and Sandoval cos.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; widely distributed in cooler parts
of the N. Hemis.
This handsome-flowered shrub does well under cultivation, and various forms
have been selected for horticultural use. In nature, plants are heavily browsed
by deer and domestic stock.
3. Potentilla norvegica L. Fig. 492A.
Stout leafy annual or short-lived perennial, to 9 dm. high; stem erect or
ascending, much-branched, hirsute with stiff mostly spreading hairs, often with
shorter pubescence intermixed; lower leaves long-petioled, 3-foliolate; leaflets
obovate to oblanceolate, to 8 cm. long, coarsely serrate, usually more or less
hirsute, otherwise green; upper leaves sessile, often with narrow leaflets; in-
florescence a leafy cyme; calyx in fruit enlarging to 17 mm. high, its bracteoles
acutish; petals yellow, obovate, mostly shorter than calyx lobes; stamens 15 to
20; style slenderly conical at base, subterminal, about equaling the mature carpel;
achenes longitudinally ribbed, to 1.3 mm. long. Incl. var. hirsuta (Michx.) Lehm.,
P. monspeliensis L.
In wet meadows and in marshes about lakes and ponds, along irrigation ditches
and in thickets, in n.e. Okla. (Delaware Co.), Trans-Pecos Tex., N. M. (Rio Arriba,
San Juan, San Miguel, Taos and Union cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and
Greenlee cos.), May-Sept.; widespread in N.A.; Euras.
4. Potentilla pentandra Engelm. Fig. 493.
Slender annual or biennial, ascending to about 1 m. tall; stems rather stout,
leafy, hirsute, chiefly branching and flowering above the middle; lower leaves
pedately 5-foliolate or 3-foliolate with the lateral leaflets 2-cleft, with hirsute
petioles 3-8 cm. long; uppermost leaves 3-foliolate and very short-petioled; leaflets
2-10 cm. long, oblong to oblanceolate or cuneate, deeply serrate, pubescent on
1025
-------
Fig. 494: a-c, Potentilla paradox^: a, habit, x \'-i\ b, flower, x 5; c, seed, x 15.
d-g, Potentilla rivalis: d, branch, x }<>; e, fruit, x 5; f, calyx, x 2%; g, seed, x 15. (V. F.).
-------
both sides; stipules broadly ovate and acuminate, 1-2 cm. long, deeply toothed;
cyme very dense and leafy, usually soon flat-topped; flowers with short hirsute
pedicels, less than 5 mm. in diameter; hypanthium sparingly hirsute and finely
pubescent, in age about 5 mm. in diameter; bractlets oblong, acute, about 3 mm.
long or nearly as long as the ovate acute sepals but much narrower; petals pale-
yellow, obovate, scarcely half as long as sepals; stamens seldom more than 5;
pistils numerous; styles terminal, short-fusiform, glandular below; achenes smooth,
brownish.
In wet soil on edge of lakes and ponds, sandy bottomlands and moist prairies
in n.-cen. Okla. (Kay Co.), May-Aug.; Minn, and Alta. s. to Ark. and Okla.
5. Potentilla biennis Greene.
Annual or biennial with a slender taproot and usually a simple branched caudex,
pubescent with a mixture of fine slender spreading to somewhat appressed or
tomentose hairs and thicker multicellular glandular hairs; stems mostly single,
ascending to erect, 1-6 dm. tall, the usually numerous branches strongly ascending
and terminating in leafy-bracteate many flowered rather open cymes; leaves mostly
cauline, reduced upward, with well-developed oblong-lanceolate usually entire
stipules and 3 to 5 rotund-obovate to oblanceolate coarsely crenate-serrate leaflets
1—4 cm. long; calyx glandular-puberulent and often appressed-hirsute, shallowly
cupshaped, 5-8 mm. broad at anthesis, considerably accrescent in fruit; sepals
erect, ovate-triangular, much longer than the hypanthium; petals yellow, cuneate-
obovate, about half as long as the sepals; stamens usually either 10 or 15; pistils
numerous, the style basally thickened and terminal; achenes yellow, about 0.8 mm.
long, smooth.
Waste places, along roadsides, and especially in sandy soil along streams, ponds,
lakes and in wet meadows, in Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Aug.; Sask. to B. C.,
s. to. n. Ariz, and Baja Calif.
6. Potentilla rivalis Nutt. BROOK CINQUEFOIL. Fig. 494.
Annual or biennial, rather slender, freely branched, ascending to erect, to 5 dm.
high, softly villous, with paniculate-cymose very leafy flowering summit and
branches; lower leaves pinnate, with 2 or 3 closely approximate pairs of leaflets or
a single pair with the terminal leaflet 3-parted; cauline leaves with 3 or 5 leaflets;
leaflets cuneate-obovate to -oblong, 2-5 cm. long, usually blunt, strongly toothed;
flowers 4-8 mm. broad; mature calyx 5-8 mm. high, pilose; petals tiny, cuneate;
stamens 5 to 20; achenes smooth.
In wet situations about lakes and ponds, along streams, in swamps and ditches
in the Tex. Panhandle, N. M. (Colfax, Grant, San Miguel and Santa Fe cos.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai and Final cos.), May-July; from Man. to B. C., s. to
Mo., Kan., Tex., Mex. and Calif.
7. Potentilla paradoxa Nutt. Fig. 494.
Annual, biennial or shortlived perennial, superficially resembling P. rivalis,
somewhat villous, to about 4 dm. high; stems diffusely branched, decumbent or
ascending, slender or stout, leafy; leaves all pinnate, oblong to oblong-obovate;
leaflets in 2 to 5 distinct pairs, oblong to cuneate-obovate, sparsely crenate-dentate,
to about 3 cm. long, usually much smaller; cyme open-paniculate, leafy; flowers
yellow, on erect stalks, 5-7 mm. wide, the segments and bractlets subequal; stamens
about 20; achenes longitudinally ribbed, with a prominent corky protuberance
along the ventral suture.
Moist or wet soil on river banks and lake margins in the Tex. Panhandle and
N. M. (Dona Ana, Mora, Santa Fe and Taos cos.), May-July; from Ont. to B. C.,
s. to La., Tex. and N. M.
1027
-------
8. Potentilla diversifolia Lehm.
Perennial with a branching caudex and short thick rootstocks, from sparsely
hirsute-strigose and greenish to rather grayish-sericeous (at least on the lower sur-
face of the leaflets); stems usually several, spreading to erect, 1.5-4.5 dm. tall;
leaves mainly basal, the blades with 5 or 7 main leaflets, mostly digitate but some-
times semipinnate or truly pinnate, often with 1 or 2 (to 4) much-reduced some-
times entire leaflets more or less distant from the main ones; leaflets oblong or
oblanceolate to broadly obovate, mostly 1-3 cm. long, from shallowly triangular-
toothed to dissected almost to the midvein into narrowly oblong to linear segments;
cauline leaves mostly 1 or 2 below the inflorescence; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 1-2
cm. long, usually entire; cymes open, many-flowered; calyx saucer-shaped, villous-
sericeous, to 1.5 cm. broad in fruit, the triangular-lanceolate lobes 4-6 mm. long;
petals yellow, obcordate, 6-9 mm. long; stamens usually 20; pistils numerous; style
slender, equaling or exceeding the fruit and subapically attached to it; achenes
1.3-1.6 mm. long, ultimately weakly reticulate.
In wet meadows and along stream banks in high mts., in N. M. (Colfax, Rio
Arriba and Santa Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Pima cos.), July-
Aug.; w. Can., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Baja Calif.
9. Potentilla gracilis Dougl. ex Hook.
Perennial with a heavy branched erect or ascending caudex, exceedingly
variable as to pubescence; stems usually several, ascending to more commonly
erect, 3-8 dm. tall, sparsely to thickly spreading-hirsute to puberulent, somewhat
lanate or perhaps mostly commonly chiefly strigose or strigillose; basal leaves
numerous, variable, the petioles to 3 dm. long, the blades commonly digitate
but sometimes semipinnate; leaflets 5 to 11, usually 7, cuneate-oblanceolate to
broadly oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic, (2-) 3-8 (-12) cm. long, plane to oc-
casionally folded, nearly glabrous or almost equally strigose to puberulent or
hirsute, more or less glandular, generally concolorous to much more heavily
strigose or tomentose and much lighter on the lower surface, from evenly
crenate-dentate with 5 or 6 teeth per cm. to very deeply dissected almost to the
midvein into segments that vary from lanceolate and as much as 1 cm. broad
at base to narrowly linear and less than 2 mm. broad at base, the margins plane
to slightly revolute; stipules lanceolate, to 2.5 cm. long, entire to toothed or
lacerate; cauline leaves 1 to 3; cymes mostly large and many-flowered, open,
conspicuously bracteate, usually more or less flat-topped; calyx cupuliform, 6-10
mm. broad, in fruit accrescent and to 12 mm. broad and nearly as high, from
sparsely pubescent and glandular or more commonly eglandular to hirsute, serice-
ous or strigose, the bracteoles narrowly lanceolate, slightly to considerably
shorter than the lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate and usually acuminate 4-10 mm.
long lobes; petals yellow, obovate-obcordate, slightly to considerably longer than
the sepals; stamens usually 20; pistils numerous; style subapically attached,
slender but very slightly enlarged and somewhat glandular-verrucose near the
base, 1.5-2 mm. long, usually about equaling the mature nearly or quite usually
greenish achene. Incl. var. pulcherrima (Lehm.) Fern.; P. pulcherrima Lehm.
In marshes and in mud about ponds and lakes, wet alpine meadows, in N. M.
(Lincoln, Rio Arriba, Taos and Union cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and
Coconino cos.), June-Sept.; Alas. e. to Sask. and Neb., s. to N. M., Ariz.
and Baja Calif.
We have two variants.
Var. brunnescens (Rydb.) C. L. Hitchc. (P. filipes Rydb.) with calyx sparsely
hirsute but finely glandular-pubescent and leaves greenish and finely glandular-
pubescent as well as hirsute on both surfaces.
1028
-------
Var. glabrata (Lehm.) C. L. Hitchc. with calyx usually abundantly strigose to
hirsute and non-glandular, and leaves seldom glandular.
10. Potentilla glandulosa Lindl.
Stems strict, slender, 3-6 dm. high, viscid and glandular-hirsute, branching
above; basal leaves pinnate, with 5 to 9 leaflets, nearly glabrous above, sparingly
glandular-hirsute beneath; leaflets obovate, simply or doubly serrate, 1-3 cm. long;
stem leaves reduced; flowers in an open many-flowered cyme; hypanthium
glandular-hirsute; sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 6-7 mm. long,
becoming 10 mm. long in fruit; bractlets linear-lanceolate, 4—5 mm. long; petals
obovate, yellow to cream-colored, about equaling the sepals; stamens 25 to 40;
style fusiform, somewhat roughened below. Drymocallis glandulosa (Lindl.)
Rydb.
In wet places in N. M. (Colfax, Rio Arriba and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Gila cos.), June—Sept.; Alas. e. to Sask. and Neb., s. to N. M., Ariz.
and Baja Calif.
Our plants are usually referred to subsp. arizonica (Rydb.) Keck (P. Mac-
dougalii Tidestr., Drymocallis arizonica Rydb.), characterised by having pale-
yellow or cream-color petals.
11. Potentilla argute Pursh. var. convallaria (Rydb.) Th. Wolf.
Perennial from a simple or branched caudex and usually rather short root-
stocks; stems mostly 4—8 dm. tall, commonly athocyanous, conspicuously pilose
or villous with multicellular, moniliform, glandular often brownish hairs; basal
leaves several, somewhat rosulate, pinnate; leaflets usually 5 to 9, ovate to
obovate or oblong to elliptic, mostly 1.5—4 cm. long, deeply serrate-dentate to
doubly serrate or shallowly incised, usually copiously short-hirsute and glandular-
puberulent or sometimes sparsely hairy or glabrate; flowers in a narrow tight
cyme, the lateral branches mostly numerous and almost strictly erect to form a
flat-topped inflorescence; calyx glandular, its oblong-lanceolate lobes mostly 6-8
mm. long and flared at anthesis but to about 12 mm. long and erect in fruit;
hypanthium saucer-shaped; petals pale-yellow to whitish, oblong-obovate to
obovate, somewhat shorter to longer than the sepals; stamens about 25; styles
slenderly fusiform, inserted below mid-length of ovary; achenes 1—1.3 mm. long,
slightly beaked. Incl. subsp. convallaria (Rydb.) Keck.
Wet meadows, valleys and prairies, in Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (Kearney &
Peebles) and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), May—July; Que. to Alas., s.
to B.C., Ind., EL, Mo., Okla., N. M. and Ariz.
12. Potentilla plattensis T. & G.
Low perennial; stems 1-2 (-3) dm. high, usually several, erect to ascending
or prostrate, glabrate to villous; leaves mostly basal, pinnately compound; leaflets
7 to 17, obovate-oblong, incised to near the midrib into linear or narrowly
oblong lobes, 6—8 mm. long, glabrous to appressed-strigose; stem leaves reduced,
the uppermost only 3-cleft; stipules large for size of plant, about 1 cm. long,
broadly ovate, subentire and often obtuse; cymes few- to several-flowered: calyx
strigose, the sepals 4—5 mm. long; bractlets narrower and definitely shorter than
sepals; petals 5-7 mm., long, yellow with an orange spot often present near base;
stamens about 20; anthers about 0.8 mm. long; styles long and filiform; achenes
glabrous.
In wet grassy meadows in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino
cos.), July—Aug.; Sask. and Alta., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Nev.
1029
-------
Fig. 495: Potenlilla Anserina: a, young achene, showing basal part of style, x 12;
b, mature achene, x 12; c, habit, x 73; d, stipules, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 252).
-------
13. Potentate Anserina L. SILVERWEED. Fig. 495.
Leaves and peduncles in a basal tuft from a cluster of roots (main stem almost
none) producing numerous runners 3-6 dm. long; leaves 1-2 dm. long, pinnate
with 9 to 31 larger leaflets and smaller ones interposed, spreading or flat on the
ground; main leaflets obovate to oblong, rounded, sharply and coarsely serrate,
usually 1-3.5 cm. long, silky and green above, white-silky and tomentose beneath;
flowers 1-2 cm. in diameter, with pedicels 3-10 cm. long; bractlets simple and
lanceolate or often broader and ovate-lanceolate, toothed or divided, generally
a little longer than the broadly ovate sepals; petals yellow, oval, 7—10 mm. long;
stamens 20 to 25; achenes numerous, corky, grooved at upper end. Incl. var.
concolor Ser.; Argentina Anserina (L.) Rydb.; A. argentea Rydb.
Marshy or springy places, wet meadows, pond and lake margins, mud flats
and stream banks, in N. M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino
and Greenlee cos.), May—Aug.; widely distributed in cooler parts of N. Hemis.
The sweetish roots are said to be edible either raw or cooked.
6. Geum L. AVENS
Perennial rhizomatous herbs with pinnate or lyrate leaves; flowers few, soli-
tary (in ours); calyx campanulate or deeply 5-cleft, usually with 5 small bract-
lets at the sinuses; petals 5; stamens numerous; achenes numerous, crowded on
a conical or cylindrical dry receptacle, the long-persistent styles forming hairy or
naked and straight or jointed tails; seed erect.
About 40 species, mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Sepals reflexed at anthesis; hypanthium saucer-shaped, usually lined with a
glandular disk at least on the lower half; styles strongly geniculate
and jointed, the persistent lower portion hooked at the tip (2)
1. Sepals ascending to erect at anthesis; hypanthium turbinate to bowl-shaped,
the lower half usually not disk-lined; styles often neither geniculate
nor jointed and hooked on the persistent portion (4)
2(1). Petals white or sometimes very pale-yellow; distribution in eastern Okla-
homa and eastern Texas 1. G. canadense.
2. Petals golden-yellow; distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona
(3)
3(2). Lower persistent portion of the style without glands, glabrous or slightly
hirsute near the base; terminal segment of the basal leaves some-
what larger than the main lateral lobes but similarly cuneate-based
2. G. aleppicum.
3. Lower persistent portion of the style somewhat glandular-pubescent; terminal
segment of the basal leaves many times larger than the main lateral
lobes and usually rounded to subcordate at base
3. G. macrophyllum.
4(1). Petals erect to convergent, the flower somewhat vase-shaped; cauline leaves
2 or rarely 4, opposite, their bases more or less sheathing
4. G. triflorum.
4. Petals spreading or at least not erect or convergent, the flower more nearly
rotate; cauline leaves 1 to several, alternate (5)
5(4). Style strongly geniculate and jointed, the terminal portion eventually
deciduous, the persistent lower portion hooked at the tip; hypan-
thium bowl-shaped; basal leaves lyrate-pinnatifid, the segments 7
to 15; plants mostly 4-6 dm. tall 5. G. rivals.
5. Styles straight or only slightly bent, not jointed, persistent on the achene;
hypanthium shallowly funnelform; basal leaves interruptedly
pinnatifid, with 9 to 31 segments; plants rarely over 3 dm. tall
6. G. Rossii.
1031
-------
Fig. 496: Geum macrophyllum: a, habit, x %; b, portion of calyx, 2%; c, top view
of corolla and stamens, x 2%; d, flower, x 2%; e, fruit, x 2^; f, achene, x 5. (V. P.).
-------
1. Geum canadense Jacq. WHITE AVENS.
Stem rather slender, to 12 dm. high, glabrous to sparingly hirsute, often minutely
pubescent or glandular-puberulent at summit; leaves of basal tufts long-petioled,
the petioles smooth or sparsely hairy, simple and undivided or with 3 to 5 (rarely
7) rhombic serrate leaflets; lower stem leaves similar to the basal leaves but short-
petioled to sessile, mostly with 3 leaflets; upper stem leaves ternately cleft or
simple, sharply serrate and acute; stipules ovate-oblong, 1-2 cm. long, subentire
or cleft; peduncles filiform, minutely pilose to glandular-puberulent; pedicels
velvety-puberulent; calyx lobes lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 4—10
mm. long; petals white, oblong to obovate, 5-9 mm. long, 2-4.5 mm. broad,
about equaling to longer than calyx lobes; fruiting head spherical, with numerous
achenes, 1.2—2 cm. in diameter; the upper segment of the style ascending or
spreading, only tardily reflexed; denuded receptacle densely white-villous.
In swamps, mud at edge of lakes and streams and in moist rich woods in Okla.
(Murray, McCurtain, Woodward and Bryan cos.) and in the e. third of Tex., w.
to Real Co., Apr.-July; from N. S. to S. D., s. to Ga. and Tex.
We have two variants of this species that may be segregated as follows:
1. Terminal segment of median cauline leaves usually acute; carpels 3-4 mm.
long, broadly ovate (G. camporum Rydb.)
var. camporum (Rydb.) Fern.
1. Terminal segment of median cauline leaves usually obtuse; carpels 2—3 mm.
long, narrowly obovate to cuneate var. texanum Fern.
2. Geum aleppicum Jacq.
Perennial with short rootstock and 1 to several simple stems to 1 m. tall, puberu-
lent below and spreading-hirsute above; basal leaves several, somewhat rosulate,
oblong-obovate in outline, to 2 dm. tall, interruptedly lyrate-pinnatifid; primary
segments 5 to 9, cuneate-obovate, strongly cleft and usually doubly dentate, the
terminal segment lobed for more than half its length; cauline leaves several,
the lower ones pinnatifid and with large leafletlike stipules, the upper ones be-
coming trilobed; flowers several in a leafy-bracteate unsymmetrical cyme; hypan-
thium saucer-shaped, 3-4 mm. long; sepals 5-8 mm. long, reflexed; petals yellow,
spreading, about equal to or slightly longer than the sepals; stamens 60 or more;
achenes flattened, elliptic in outline, 3-4 mm. long; style strongly geniculate above
mid-length, of 2 distinct segments, the lower brownish persistent and hooked
segment glabrous or slightly hirsute near the base and about 4.5 mm. long, the
hirsute upper segment about 1.5 mm. long and deciduous. G, strictum Ait., nom.
illegit.
Along streams, in marshes, swamps, wet meadows and wet woods in N. M.
(wide spread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Yavapai cos.),
June-Aug.; Nfld. and Que. to B. C., s. to Pa., W. Va., O., Ind., 111., la., Neb.,
Ariz., N.M. and Mex.; also Euras.
Arizona specimens are usually referred to var. decurrens (Rydb.) Kearn. &
Peeb., with leaf segments more or less decurrent on the rachis.
3. Geum macrophyllum Willd. var. perincisum (Rydb.) Raup. BIG LEAF AVENS.
Fig. 496.
Perennial herb with stout stems, erect, bristly pubescent, 3-10 dm. tall; stipules
broad, foliaceous; basal leaves petioled; leaflets incised and serrate, the terminal
leaflets very large and lobed to one third or one half the length, round-cordate,
6-10 cm. broad, the lateral leaflets oval or obovate, with smaller ones interspersed;
cauline leaves reduced, their leaflets usually shallowly cleft to deeply toothed;
flowers in open cyme; bractlets linear, minute; penduncles and pedicels strongly
glandular; sepals 3-5 mm. long; petals yellow, 4-8 mm. long; fruiting heads
1033
-------
globose or slightly elongate, 5-12 mm. long; achenes small, sparsely puberulent
to glabrous on faces, with a hooked beak. G. oregonense (Scheutz) Rydb.
Wet meadows in mts., seepage along streams and wet soil about lakes and ponds
in N. M. (San Juan, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino and Graham cos.), May-Sept.; Mich, to B. C., s. to N. M., Ariz, and
Calif.
4. Geum triflorum Pursh. OLDMAN-WHISKERS, GRANDFATHERS-BEARD.
Perennial with thick scaly rootstocks, forming clumps to 3 dm. across or more;
flowering stems to about 3.5 dm. tall, with a pair of opposite much-reduced
leaves with leafletlike stipules about midway its length; leaves mostly basal, oblong
to obovate, 5-15 cm. long, unequally and interruptedly pinnate to pinnatifid or
lyrate above; leaf segments as many as 29, unequal, the primary ones from
deeply cleft into linear or oblong ultimate divisions to cleft much less than half
their length and again 2- or 3-toothed, puberulent to hirsute or pilose, some-
what grayish; flowers as many as 9, mostly cymose; calyx narrowly to broadly
turbinate or campanulate to cup-shaped, reddish-purple to pink or nearly yellow
and only reddish-veined; sepals erect to convergent, valvate, 8-12 mm. long;
hypanthium almost hemispheric, 4-5 mm. long; bracteoles linear to narrowly
elliptic, somewhat spreading, simple to 2- or 3-cleft, shorter to longer than the
sepals; petals valvate, erect to convergent, light-yellow to strongly pinkish- or
reddish-purple-tinged, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, longer or shorter than calyx
bracteoles; achenes pyriform, about 3 mm. long; lower part of purplish straight
or tortuous style strongly pubescent and 2.5-5 cm. long, the terminal glabrous
segment 3-6 mm. long and often slightly geniculate at the point of juncture with
the lower segment and usually tardily deciduous from it.
In wet mt. meadows, pine forests and open hillsides in N. M. (Taos Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Gila cos.), May-Aug.; Nfld. to B. C., s. to
N. Y, 111., Neb., N. M, Ariz, and Nev.
5. Geum rivale L.
Perennial with short to elongate scaly rootstocks; flowering stems mostly 4-7
dm. tall, hirsute below, puberulent above; basal leaves several, somewhat rosulate,
to about 3 dm. long, lyrate-pinnatifid; leaflets 7 to 15, once or twice crenate-serrate,
1 to 3 of them larger than the others, the terminal one cuneate-obovate and to
1 dm. long; cauline leaves 2 to 5, alternate, with leafletlike stipules, the blades
pinnatifid below to deeply trilobed above; inflorescence open, mostly 3- to 7-
flowered, cymose but alternately branched, the flowers nodding in bud but soon
erect; calyx reddish-purple, the erect lanceolate lobes acute to acuminate and
about 1 cm. long; hypanthium broadly cup-shaped, shorter than the sepals; petals
yellow to pinkish, 2-3 mm. long; stamens 100 or more; achene elliptic in outline,
3^1 mm. long, strongly hirsute; styles strongly geniculate, the lower persistent
segment 6-8 mm. long, hirsute below, glabrous above and hooked at the tip, the
upper sparsely hirsute and soon deciduous segment 3—4 mm. long.
In swamps, wet meadows, bogs, and in seepage along streams in N. M. (Santa
Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.), May-July; Nfld. and Que. to Alta., s. to Pa., Ind.,
Mich., Mo. and N. M.
6. Geum Rossii (R.Br.) Ser. in DC. var. turbinatum (Rydb.) C. L. Hitchc.
Perrenial with thick scaly rootstocks, forming dense clumps to 3 dm. across;
flowering stems simple, mostly 8-20 cm. tall, sparsely pubescent to villous;
basal leaves many, noticeably marcescent, oblong in outline, mostly 4-10 cm.
long, interruptedly pinnate or pinnatifid into usually 15 to 25 main segments; leaf
segments varying from entire and linear to elliptic or broadly cuneiform and 3-
to 7-toothed or -cleft, from nearly glabrous and greenish to silvery-sericeous or
1034
-------
-villous and sparingly glandular-pubescent; cauline leaves several, alternate, much-
reduced; flowers 1 to 4; calyx usually strongly purple-tinged, subglabrous to pubes-
cent, the sepals 6-10 mm. long; hypanthium shallowly funnelform, 3-5 mm. long,
less than twice as long as broad, equaled or exceeded by the bracteoles; petals
spreading, yellow, obovate, 6-12 mm. long, occasionally retuse; stamens 50 to
70, inserted just below the petals near tip of hypanthium; achenes fusiform-
lanceolate, 2.5-4 mm. long, hairy, the straight glabrous style persistent and
about as long as the achene. G. turbinatum Rydb.; Sieversia turbinata (Rydb.)
Greene.
In wet meadows, talus slopes and cirques in high mts. in N. M. (Otero, San
Miguel and Santa Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-July; Mont, and
Ore. s. to N. M. and Ariz.
7. Rubus L. BRAMBLE. DEWBERRY. BLACKBERRY
Perennial shrubs or less often herbs, very often prickly, with simple or more
commonly compound serrate or lobed leaves and small to large perfect or uni-
sexual white to pink or reddish flowers; hypanthium small, flat to hemispheric;
sepals usually 5, valvate, spreading to reflexed, commonly ending in a short cau-
date appendage; bractlets none; petals as many as the sepals, erect or spreading,
spatulate to obovate or elliptic; stamens numerous; pistils numerous, inserted on
a convex to conic receptacle that often elongates in fruit; style filiform or clavate;
fruit a cluster of drupelets that fall together or sometimes separately, the recep-
tacle falling with the drupelets or remaining attached to the pedicel, usually edible.
In the shrubby species, the plant sends up from a perennial base a series of bi-
ennial stems, during their first year these are termed "primocanes" that normally
do not branch nor flower, during their second year they are known as "floricanes"
at which time they emit a number of short lateral branches with a few leaves
and usually with a terminal flower or inflorescence; leaves of the primocanes
compound; leaves of the floricanes often partly simple, regularly smaller and often
of a different shape than those of primocanes.
The taxonomy of Rubus is complicated by hybridization, polyploidy and apo-
mixis. More than 1,000 entities have been proposed in this genus. At present,
there exists no infallible method for properly categorizing these proposals.
Species of Rubus have a tendency to become entangled with shrubby vegeta-
tion in or in proximity to wet lands. It is quite possible that we should have in-
cluded additional entities, but for the present, considering the taxonomic plight of
this genus, we feel that to have done so would not have served any real purpose.
Practically all wildlife eat either the fruit or vegetation of most of these species.
The thorny brambles often make thickets where birds and small animals find
protection and nesting sites.
1. Stems prostrate, only the flowering branches erect; distribution in Arizona....
1. R. arizonensis.
1. Stems erect or high-arching; distribution in central Oklahoma and central
Texas eastward (2)
2(1). Main leaflets of mature primocane leaves long and narrow, attenuate at
apex, the length usually twice or more the width, narrowed to the
tip mostly in concave or sunken curves; floricane leaflets usually
also narrow 2. R. louisianus.
2. Main leaflets of mature primocane leaves typically ovate to elliptic, the width
distinctly more than one-half the length, the sides often convex
toward the apex; floricane leaflets similarly to but smaller than
the primocane leaflets 3. R. oklahomus.
1035
-------
1. Rubus arizonensis Focke. ARIZONA DEWBERRY.
Stem biennial, trailing, terete, glabrous, 1-6 m. long, armed with short recurved
flattened prickles, yellowish-green; leaves of the primocanes 5-foliolate; stipules sub-
ulate, adnate at the base, about 5 mm. long; petioles, petiolules, and midveins
sparingly pubescent, armed with strongly flattened recurved short prickles; termi-
nal leaflet ovate, irregularly dentate-serrate, acute at the apex, rounded at the
base, 4—5 cm. long, thin, sparingly pilose above, more or less softly pubescent
beneath, its petiolule about 2 cm. long; lateral leaflets ovate, short-petioluled,
the outermost lanceolate to oblanceolate, sessile, 2-3 cm. long; floral branches
5-10 cm. long; leaves 1- to 5-foliolate, 1-4 cm. long, more pubescent and
more sharply serrate than those of the primocanes; inflorescence 1- to 5-flowered,
corymbiform, leafy-bracted, villous and armed with recurved prickles; sepals
ovate, mucronate, 5-6 mm. long, villous-tomentose on both sides; petals white,
broadly obovate or oval, 8-9 mm. long; fruit globose, 10-12 mm. broad; drupe-
lets 12 to 25, large and juicy; putamen strongly reticulate, 3 mm. long. R. oligos-
permus Thornb.
In wet soil along streams, often in partial shade, Ariz, (widespread), Mar.-May;
also Son., S.L.P., Jal. and Dgo.
Because of its trailing habit this plant is considered to be a good ground cover
that protects the soil against erosion.
2. Rubus louisianus Berger.
Erect high-arching and stiffish glandless bramble to 5 m. high; canes sharply
angled and deeply furrowed, downy when young, eventually glabrous, green or
greenish-brown, adorned along the angles with scattered straight or curved
prickles; stipules subulate, ciliate; primocane leaflets 5, narrowly lanceolate to
oblanceolate, rather long-pointed at apex and somewhat narrowed toward the
base, bright-dull-green above, paler and sparsely soft-pubescent beneath, rather
regularly and sharply simply or doubly serrate; petiole rather stout, like the
petiolules pubescent or villous and with scattered curved prickles that extend to
the midveins; floricane leaves in threes or with the upper one simple and ovate-
deltoid, similar to but smaller than those of the primocanes, the terminal leaflet
2 to 3 times as long as wide; fruiting racemes pubescent, with 4 to 15 erect
pedicels that are pubescent and provided with a few curved prickles; flowers
rather large; calyx pubescent, the ovate-deltoid lobes tomentose inside; petals
white, oblong-elliptic to obtusely oblanceolate or obovate, 6-15 mm. long, 3.5-10
mm. wide; fruit oblong-oval, with numerous small drupelets, whitish, sweet. R.
texanus Bailey, R. ramifer Bailey, R. arvensis Bailey, R. abundiflorus Bailey, R.
argutus of auth.
In damp and sandy thickets, pastures and wet lowland areas, and along fence-
rows in s.e. Okla. and e. Tex., Apr.; from Okla. and Tex. to S. C., n. to Md.
and Va.
3. Rubus oklahomus Bailey.
Upright but arching very prickly glandless bramble to 2 m. high, with long
weak horizontal or depressed branches some of which tip-root; canes terete but
sometimes angular; prickles straight or curved, 3-6 mm. long, broad-based;
primocane leaflets 3 or 5, broadly oval or the lower lateral pair rhombic, essen-
tially obtuse at apex, rounded or expanded at base, about 7 cm. long and 4 cm.
wide or more, thinly pubescent above, somewhat grayish and densely to sparsely
soft-pubescent beneath, the margins dentate with obtuse-apiculate teeth; floricane
leaflets much smaller but otherwise similar to those of the primocanes, the upper
ones in the flower cluster sometimes simple; flowers 3 to 5, large, showy, project-
ing on short laterals that are leafy at base, the ascending pedicels pubescent and
armed; calyx lobes very broad, apiculate or sometimes with foliaceous tips,
1036
-------
becoming reflexed; corolla about 3 cm. across, the petals very broad and rounded.
R. largus Bailey, R. putus Bailey, R. valentulus Bailey.
In thickets, edge of woods, on slopes, in stream bottoms and along fencerows
in n.-cen. Okla. (Logan Co.) and n.-cen. Tex., Apr.; also Ark.
8. Agrimonia L. AGRIMONY. COCKLEBUR. HARVEST-LICE
Perennial herbs from stout rhizomes; leaves pinnate with crenate-serrate leaflets,
interspersed with smaller leaflets; stipules foliaceous; flowers yellow, small, spicate-
racemose; floral bracts 3-cleft; calyx tube (hypanthium) turbinate or hemispherical,
the throat beset with hooked bristles, indurated in fruit and enclosing 2 achenes,
the 5-cleft limb closed after flowering; petals 5; stamens 5 to 15; styles terminal;
fruit an achene.
About 15 species mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Axis of inflorescence conspicuously glandular and pubescent; main leaflets
11 or more per leaf, lanceolate; mature fruits 5 mm. long or less
1. A. parviflora.
1. Axis of inflorescence without glands, finely and densely short-pubescent; main
leaflets 7 or fewer per leaf, ovatish; mature fruits 6—8 mm. long
2. A. striata.
1. Agrimonia parviflora Ait.
Plant stout and tall, to 2 m. high, from long fibrous roots; stem densely and
divergently long-hirsute or villous; larger leaflets of middle and upper leaves 11
to 15, lanceolate-acuminate, sharply serrate, firm, veiny, copiously glandular-
dotted beneath; smaller interspersed leaflets very unequal, often 3 to 5 pairs on
the intervals of the hirsute rachis; axis of inflorescence glandular and finely pubes-
cent; fruits 4—5 mm. long, the hooked bristles borne on a horizontal flange and
spreading to ascending, the outer bristles strongly spreading; hypanthium tur-
binate, with deep rounded grooves.
In damp thickets and meadows and in marshy areas in Okla., the n. Panhandle
and n.e. Tex., July-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Conn., N. Y., Ont., O., Ind.,
111. and Neb.
2. Agrimonia striata Michx.
Fibrous-rooted rhizomatous perennial 5-10 dm. tall, papillate-hirsute below,
both hirsute and puberulent and occasionally somewhat glandular above; leaves
with 5 to 13 unequal primary leaflets; leaflets strongly serrate, somewhat strigose
on the upper dark-green surface, glandular-pubescent on the paler lower surface,
the upper leaflets to about 6 cm. long; stipules to 2 cm. long; racemes 5-20 cm.
long; hypanthium about 3 mm. long at anthesis, subequal to the ovate-lanceolate
calyx lobes, accrescent in fruit to become about 5 mm. long, crowned with 3 or
4 rows of subterminal ascending hooked bristles nearly as long as the sepals, the
sides distinctly 10-furrowed and lightly strigose.
In wet soil along creeks, in wet meadows often among willows and loamy
soils in conifer forests, in Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Apache to Coconino cos., s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), June-Sept.; Que. and
N. S. to B.C., s. to N. Y., la., Okla., N. M. and Ariz.
9. Sanguisorba L.
Several species in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Sanguisorba minor Scop.
Perennial from a usually branched caudex, often somewhat rhizomatous; flower-
ing stems generally with several scarcely reduced leaves, simple or branched above,
2-6 dm. tall, mostly sparsely pilose with multicellular more or less moniliform
1037
-------
hairs; leaves somewhat unequally pinnate; basal leaves several and somewhat
rosulate, with adnate stipules; cauline leaves several, reduced upwards but the
stipules becoming free and leafletlike above; leaflets mostly 9 to 17, oval to ovate-
oblong, 1-2 cm. long, coarsely serrate; spikes globose to ovoid, 8-20 mm. long,
about 10 mm. thick; bractlets ovate, ciliate; flowers mostly imperfect, the lower
ones staminate, the upper ones pistillate, a few often perfect; calyx greenish to
rose-tinged; in fruit the hypanthium urceolate, 4—5 mm. long, woody, very
prominently papillate-warty between as well as along the rather prominent ridges;
stamens about 12, the filaments filiform; pistils and achenes 2.
In wet meadows about lakes and in waste places, in N. M. (Otero Co.), June-
Aug.; nat. of Eur. that is introd. in various parts of N. A.
10. Rosa L. ROSE
Woody perennials, upright or trailing, usually with prickly stems; leaves alter-
nate, compound or rarely simple, typically with adnate stipules or these rarely
absent; leaflets 3 to 15, serrate or biserrate, often pubescent and glandular;
flowers perfect, solitary, corymbose or paniculate; sepals 5, rarely 4; petals 5,
rarely 4 or (by transformation of the stamens) numerous, obovate to obcor-
date; stamens numerous, inserted on a disk at the margin of the hypanthium;
ovaries numerous within the hypanthium; styles connate or free, included or
exserted; stigmas thickened; hypanthium urceolate or globose, contracted at the
mouth, becoming fleshy at maturity (the hip); fruit an achene.
Probably a little more than 200 valid cosmopolitan species that are native
mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Rose hips provide food throughout the year for most wildlife, and browsers
nibble the vegetation. Also, a tasty jelly said to be high in Vitamin C can be
prepared from the hips. Excellent nesting sites and protective cover are provided
by thickets of wild roses for game birds and songbirds.
1. Prickles of the stem straight or nearly so, typically very slender; rachis and
petiole densely glandular-puberulent; sepals sparingly glandular
dorsally 1. R. Fendleri,
1. Prickles of the stem mostly recurved, typically rather stout; rachis and petiole
finely puberulent; sepals dorsally glabrate, tomentose on the margins
2. R. arizonica.
1. Rosa Fendleri Crep.
Stem low, 1 m. high or less, reddish, terete, armed with a few prickles that
are slender, straight and 5 mm. long or less; stipules glandular-pruinose oni the
back, more or less glandular-dentate; rachis and petiole densely glandular-puberu-
lent and often somewhat glandular-hispid or with weak prickles; leaflets 5 or 7,
elliptic to oval or obovate, 1-3 cm. long, rather thin, green and glabrous above,
slightly paler, puberulent and glandular-pruinose beneath, often doubly-serrate;
hypanthium globose, glabrous, in fruit 8-10 mm. broad; sepals sparingly
glandular on the back; petals rose-colored, obcordate, about 1.5 cm. long. R.
Woodsii Lindl. var. Fendleri. (Crep.) Rydb.
On wet seepage banks along streams and on sandstone rocks in w. Okla.
(Panhandle), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Yavapai and
Cochise cos.), June-Aug.; Minn, to B. C., s. to n. Mex.
2. Rosa arizonica Rydb.
Stem low, much-branched, to 1 m. high or less, armed with small recurved
prickles 3-5 mm. long; bark in age becoming almost white and exfoliating; floral
branches 1 dm. long or less, often unarmed; stipules adnate, less than 1 cm. long,
the upper dilated, finely puberulent; rachis and petioles finely puberulent; leaflets
1038
-------
usually 5 or rarely 7, broadly oval, coarsely toothed, to about 2 cm. long, cuneate
at base, light-green, glabrous above, finely puberulent and more or less granuli-
ferous beneath; flowers mostly 2 or more, sometimes solitary; pedicels glabrous,
about 1 cm. long; hypanthium globose, glabrous, in fruit 7-8 mm. broad; sepals
broadly lanceolate, caudate-attenuate, 1—1.5 cm. long, tomentose on the margins,
glabrate dorsally; petals obovate, dark-rose-colored, to 2 cm. long; styles distinct,
persistent, not exserted.
Wet meadows and seepage banks along streams in N. M. (Valencia Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino cos., s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), May-
July.
Fam. 74. Leguminosae Juss. LEGUME FAMILY
Trees, shrubs, vines or herbs; leaves and branches alternate; stipules usually
well-developed and persistent; leaves usually compound (when simple then so
through reduction or fusion), the leaflets often with stipels; flowers rarely solitary,
usually in terminal or axillary panicles, racemes, spikes, heads or glomerules,
usually perfect and complete, perigynous (but the floral cup sometimes evanes-
cently short and the flowers essentially hypogynous), bilaterally symmetrical (in
the Mimosoideae, appearing radially symmetrical except for the gynoecium) and
often markedly zygomorphic (especially in the Papilionoideae); calyx valvate at
a very early stage of development or variously imbricate; sepals 5, these in most
genera fused at least partly and in some genera only 4 in number through fusion;
corolla basically of 5 petals attached at the rim of the floral cup, rarely fewer
through reduction (and in the Papilionoideae, often appearing to be only 4 be-
cause of fusion of the lower 2), in some genera of the Mimosa group the petals
neotenically connate; aestivation valvate or variously imbricate; stamens 1 to
numerous, separate or variously coalescent in groups or in some flowers of some
genera modified into staminodia; gynoecium of a single superior simple pistil
with a ventral placentary suture oriented upward in most flowers, the ovules 1
to numerous and attached in 2 alternating rows to the coalescent margins of the
placentary suture; style simple; fruit a "pod" or follicle-like usually dry structure,
either indehiscent or breaking up into 1-seeded sealed units or most commonly
splitting lengthwise both along the ventral suture and the dorsal "midrib" (when
thus dehiscent the fruit is said to be a "legume"); seeds 1 to numerous, with 2
thin integuments, essentially none or very little endosperm and large well-de-
veloped embryos. Fabaceae; Papilionaceae; Mimosaceae.
The Leguminosae comprise over 500 genera and well over 10,000 species and
are distributed in all parts of the world inhabitable by seed plants. They include
some of the extremely important economic plants such as beans, peas, alfalfa
and clovers.
This family posed one of the most difficult problems in regard to what plants
should or should not be included. For instance, perhaps more of the clovers
should have been included, but time limitation prevented us from pursuing this
further. Several woody species, namely, our huisache (Acacia Smallii Isely) and
retama (Parkinsonia aculeata L.) occasionally cover low, poorly drained or even
flooded areas, and sometimes they completely fill up tanks and ponds to the
point of causing complete desiccation of these habitats. Perhaps these should
have been included.
1. Leaves simple, linear to linear-oblanceolate 16. Alhagi
1. Leaves compound, with 2 or more leaflets (2)
2(1). Leaves (at least some) pinnately twice-compound (3)
2. Leaves pinnately once-compound or pinnate (6)
1039
-------
3(2). Flowers in open terminal racemes, usually deep-orange-yellow and brown-
ish; petals 4 mm. wide or more 4. Hoffmanseggia
3. Flowers in dense globose heads or in axillary spikes; petals 2 mm. wide or
less (4)
4(3). Large spiny tree; flowers in spikes usually more than 4 cm. long
3. Gleditsia
4. Prostrate or clambering viny plants; flowers in globose or ellipsoid heads (5)
5(4). Flower heads yellowish; roots orange-color; fruits abruptly narrowed at
the base to form a distinct stipe; plants unarmed 2. Neptunia
5. Flower heads white or pinkish; roots not orange-color; plants either armed
and clambering or unarmed and prostrate 1. Mimosa
6(2). Leaves (most of them) with 4 or more leaflets (7)
6. Leaves with 2 or 3 leaflets (23)
7(6). Perennial or annual herbs or herbaceous vines, the aerial stems dying
back each winter, any new stems arising from the previous year's
root or underground stem (8)
7. Shrubs, trees or woody vines, the stems of most of them persisting to produce
new growth each year (21)
8(7). Leaves palmate 5. Lupinus
8. Leaves (most of them) pinnate, the leaflets arranged alternately or opposite
on the rachis (9)
9(8). Leaves gland-dotted; fruit a prickly pod 1-2 cm. long 15. Glycyrrhiza
9. Leaves not gland-dotted; fruit smooth, not prickly (10)
10(9). Leaves with an even number of leaflets or bearing tendrils toward the end
of the leaves; leaf rachis not terminated by a leaflet (11)
10. Leaves not bearing tendrils and having an odd number of leaflets; leaf rachis
terminated by a leaflet (13)
11(10). Stems stiffly erect, 4-20 dm. tall; leaves without tendrils; leaflets 20
to numerous; flowers yellow, red or orange-color 12. Sesbania
11. Stems weak, ascending or climbing by tendrils; leaflets less than 20; flowers
blue, violet or purplish (12)
12(11). Style with a dense ring of hairs just below the stigma 19. Vicia
12. Style flattened, with a line of hairs down the inner surface 20. Lathyrus
13(10). Rachis of leaf 2-15 (-20) mm. long; flowers 1 to 3 (or 4), terminal
on slender peduncles, never racemose along a central axis; leaflets
3 to 9 (14)
13. Rachis of leaf 15-150 mm. long or (if shorter) then the flowers in several-
flowered racemes; leaflets 5 to numerous (15)
14(13). Stems and leaves appressed-pubescent or glabrate 9. Lotus
14. Stems and leaves densely pubescent with wide-spreading glandular hairs
17. Aeschynomene
15(13). Fruit a loment, indehiscent, breaking into 1-seeded segments at maturity;
stems stiffly erect, to 25 dm. tall; flowers 1 to 4 in axillary fascicu-
late clusters, short racemes or solitary 17. Aeschynomene
15. Fruits dehiscent or indehiscent but not breaking up into 1-seeded segments
at maturity; stems mostly 4 dm. long or shorter, but if longer and
stiffly erect then the flowers numerous in each raceme (16)
16(15). Plants perennial; stems erect or high-twining, 3-20 dm. long; legume
6 to 20 times as long as broad, not inflated (17)
1040
-------
16. Plants annual or perennial; stems prostrate to weakly ascending (often
acaulescent), if stiffly erect and more than 3 dm. tall then the
legume inflated and less than 6 times as long as broad (18)
17(16). Grayish-pubescent erect subshrubs, not climbing 10. Indigofera
17. Not grayish-pubescent, high-climbing vine 21. Apios
18(16). Peduncle of mature flowering racemes 8-30 cm. long 13. Astragalus
18. Peduncle of flowering racemes 1-8 (-9) cm. long (19)
19(18). Flowers when fresh brick-red or reddish (often fading to lavender
when in dried specimens); perennials 10. Indigofera
19. Flowers of various colors but not brick-red or reddish; annuals or perennials
(20)
20(19). Keel petals acute, blunt or rounded apically 13. Astragalus
20. Keel petals with the apex extending into a sharp erect point; plants acaules-
cent; flowers purple or pinkish-purple 14. Oxytropis
21(7). Leaves gland-dotted 11. Amorpha
21. Leaves not gland-dotted (22)
22(21). Rachis of leaf 1—8 cm. long; legume 15-35 mm. long; flowers 5-10 mm.
long 10. Indigofera
22. Rachis of leaf 8 cm. long or more; legume 30 mm. long or more; flowers
10 mm. long or more 12. Sesbania
23(6). Leaves with tendrils 20. Lathyrus
23. Leaves without tendrils (24)
24(23). Twining vines (often trailing when support is lacking) 22. Vigna
24. Herbs or shrubs with erect or trailing stems, never twining (25)
25(24). Leaflets dentate or denticulate at least near the apex (sometimes min-
utely so) (26)
25. Leaflets entire, not at all toothed (28)
26(25). Flowers in slender elongate racemes at least 4 to 8 times as long as
thick 7. Melilotus
26. Flowers in short thick racemes or umbels 3 times as long as thick or
shorter (27)
27(26). Fruit coiled or curved, longer than the calyx; leaves trifoliolate, not
palmate 6. Medicago
27. Fruit not coiled nor curved, shorter than the calyx; leaves usually palmate
, 8. Trifolium
28(25). Leaves (or at least some of them) with petioles 15 mm. long or more
18. Lespedeza
28. Leaves with petioles less than 14 mm. long (29)
29(28). Stipules minute, reduced to glands; fruit several-seeded 9. Lotus
29. Stipules not reduced to glands; fruit 1-seeded 18. Lespedeza
1. Mimosa L. MIMOSA. CATCLAW
Shrubs or lianes or (in 1 species) prostrate perennial herbs, in most species
the herbage and even the legumes armed with scattered recurved prickles; leaves
pinnately twice-compound with 1 to 14 pairs of pinnae; leaflets few to numerous;
stipules usually small and subulate, never spinescent; flowers small and aggregated
into white, pink to reddish globes or rarely short spikes; stamens 8 to 10
(usually exactly twice as many as petals), usually colored, free above the floral
cup; fruit a flattened (sometimes contorted) pod usually a few cm. long, with
1041
-------
a unique mode of dehiscence, the margins remaining more or less intact and more
or less persistent while the valves separate from them and often break up into
1-seeded sections somewhat like loments. Mimosopsis Britt. & Rose.
A large genus of about 400 species in tropical and subtropical regions, princi-
pally in North America and South America.
1. Plants with herbaceous prostrate unarmed stems 1. M. strigillosa.
1. Plants with clambering prickly frutescent stems, never prostrate
2. M. malacophylla.
1. Mimosa strigillosa T. & G. POWDERPUFF, VERGONZOSA.
Perennial herb with sprawling annual stems 1-2 (-4) m. long, usually copiously
furnished with stiff spreading bristlelike emergences, but these not noxious; pinnae
4 to 6 pairs, more or less; leaflets usually 10 to 15 pairs per pinna, linear,
usually 3-6 mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. broad; flowers in pink or purple globes; pod
oblong, 15-20 mm. long, 10-12 mm. broad, setulose, with 1 to few joints.
In marshes, wet grasslands and openings in forests on sandy loam, in s.e.
Okla. (Waterfall), e. and s.e. Tex. and coastal parts of Rio Grande Plains,
May-Oct.; s.e. U.S. w. to Okla. and Tex.; Tarn.; Parag. and Arg.
2. Mimosa malacophylla Gray. RASPILLA.
Liane climbing in trees or forming a tangle, usually 3-4 m. high, less commonly
a weak-stemmed shrub, the stems armed with recurved prickles; petioles and
rachises with prickles also; pinnae 3 to 5 pairs; leaflets 3 to 6 pairs per pinna,
pubescent or glabrous, ovate to oblong or obovate, the larger ones on any plant
10 mm. long or longer; flowers whitish, in heads 1-2 cm. thick; legume broadly
linear to oblong, 40-75 mm. long, 8-10 mm. broad, stipitate, several-jointed. Incl.
var. glabrata Benth., M. Wootonii Standl.
Rare in wetlands, depressions, about ponds and in woodlands along streams,
Rio Grande Plains of Tex., June—July; also Tam. and N. L.
2. Neptunia LOUR.
Perennial unarmed herbs with somewhat thickened woody orangish-colored
taproots and few to several sprawling prostrate or decumbent annual stems (rarely
floating); leaves pinnately twice-compound; pinnae 2 to 11 pairs, with or without
a gland between the lowest pair of pinnae; leaflets 8 to 43 pairs per pinna, usually
linear to oblong or somewhat tapered toward the apex; stipules well-developed,
lanceolate or lance-acuminate; peduncles axillary, several cm. long, often conspic-
uously bracteolate; flowers small, densely crowded in round or slightly elongated
heads, yellow or yellow-green, often the lower flowers of the head lacking func-
tional genitalia or at least functional gynoecia, the upper flowers perfect; sepals
and petals 5 each, free above the floral cup; stamens 10 (at least in the upper
flowers of the head), free above the floral cup, the anthers with a small gland
apically between the 2 cells; fruit a thin legume, definitely stipitate, 1-5 cm.
long, 6-17 mm. broad, flat, promptly dehiscent; seeds few to several, elongate,
oriented transversely in the pod.
A genus of 11 species, scattered in warm-temperature parts of the Americas,
Africa, Asia and Australia.
1. Petiole glandular; flowering peduncles bearing 2 large cordate bracts 4-8 mm.
long and 3-5 mm. wide; leaflets without raised reticulate veins;
plants semiaquatic or terrestrial 3. N. plena.
1. Petiole eglandular; flowering peduncles bearing 1 or 2 subulate bracts 1-3
mm. long and 1-2 mm. wide, or bracts absent; leaflets with raised
reticulate veins; plants terrestrial but sometimes in wetlands (2)
1042
-------
2(1). Flowers in head with stamens all alike, anther-bearing; flower heads (when
in bud) with 30 to 60 flowers, subcylindric; stipe of pod 4-15 mm.
long; leaflets 8 to 18 pairs; calyx 1-2 mm. long (including lobes)
1. N. lutea.
2. Flowers in upper part of head with anther-bearing stamens, those in lower
part smaller and with yellow (drying orange) petaloid staminodes;
flower heads (in bud) with 20 to 30 flowers, ovoid; stipe of pod
0-4 mm. long (rarely 5 mm.); leaflets 14 to 43 pairs; calyx 2-2.7
mm. long (including lobes) 2. TV. pubescens.
1. Neptunia lutea (Leavenw.) Benth. YELLOW-PUFF.
Pinnae 2 to 11 pairs; petioles and rachises glandless; leaflets 8 to 18 pairs per
pinna, with raised reticulate venation beneath; floral cup (plus sepals) 1-2 mm.
long; flowering peduncles with 1 or 2 subulate bracts 1-3 mm. long and 1-2 mm.
broad, or these absent; flower heads with 30 to 60 flowers, slightly elongate; stipe
of pod (4-) 5-15 mm. long. Incl. var multipinnatifida B. L. Turner.
Scattered or locally frequent in fields, meadows and wetlands in the e. half of
Okla. and over the e. half of Tex. s. to Aransas and Goliad cos., w. to n.-cen.
Tex. (one record for Runnels Co.), Apr.-Oct; Ala., Miss., Ark., La., Okla. and
Tex.
2. Neptunia pubescens Benth.
Pinnae 2 to 5 (or 6) pairs; petioles and rachises glandless; leaflets 14 to 43
pairs per pinna, with raised reticulate venation beneath; flower cup (plus sepals)
2-2.7 mm. long; flowering peduncles with 1 or 2 subulate bracts 1-3 mm. long
and 1-2 mm. broad, or these absent; flower heads with 20tto 30 flowers, essen-
tially round or ovoid; stipe of pod 0-4 mm. long (rarely to 5 mm.).
Frequent in marshes, grasslands and dry sandy places near the coast and inland
to Val Verde Co., Tex. Represented with us by 2 varieties as follows:
Var. pubescens. Stipe of legume longer than the persistent calyx; legume usually
tapering to the stipe; leaves with 3 to 6 pairs of pinnae. N. floridana Small, N.
Lindheimeri Robins. Coastal Plain of Tex. inland to Anderson, Leon and Gon-
zales cos., May-Oct.; Gulf Coastal States; W.I., Mex., C.A., Col., Peru, Parag. and
Arg.'
Var. microcarpa (Rose) Windier. Stipe of legume usually shorter than the
persistent calyx (shorter than 2 mm.); legume usually rounded to the stipe; leaves
usually with 2 to 3 pairs of pinnae. N. Palmeri Britt. & Rose. N. part of Rio
Grande Plains from McMullen and Atascosa cos. w. to Val Verde Co. in Tex.,
May-July; Tex., Coah., N.L. and Jal.
3. Neptunia plena (L.) Benth.
Terrestrial to semiaquatic; stems when in watery environment producing a
thick spongy indument; pinnae 2 to 5 pairs; petioles with a gland just below the
lowest pair of pinnae; leaflets 9 to 38 pairs per pinna, without raised reticulate
veins; flowering peduncles bearing 2 large cordate bracts about 4-8 mm. long
and 3-8 mm. broad; flower head ovoid; stipe of pod 3-9 mm. long, longer than the
persistent calyx.
Known from a single collection from a temporary lake just s. of Armstrong,
Kenedy Co. in s. Texas, Oct. 17, 1938, probably not a persistent member of our
flora; Braz. and Peru, n. to W.I. and Mex.; adv. in India.
3. Gleditsia L. HONEY LOCUST
A genus of 11 species in North America, South America, Asia and Africa.
The name is sometimes spelled "Gleditschia."
1043
-------
Fig. 497: Gleditsia aquatica: a, section of branch with flowers, x %; b, fruit, x
(V. F.).
-------
1. Gleditsia aquatica Marsh. WATER or SWAMP LOCUST. Fig. 497.
Tree to 20 m. tall or rarely shrubby, spiny; leaves pinnate to bipinnate; leaf-
lets 12 to 18, ovate-oblong, 2-3 cm. long, usually rounded to emarginate at apex,
slightly crenulate and often entire below the middle, glabrous except for a few
hairs on the petiolules; bipinnate leaves with 6 or 8 pinnae; petioles pubescent on
the edges of the grooves; flowers in axillary racemes 7-10 cm. long; pedicels
short; floral cup campanulate; sepals equal or subequal, free; petals 3 to 5, sub-
equal, 4-5 mm. long, very narrow, yellowish or greenish-yellow, the uppermost
internal in bud; stamens 3 to 10, the filaments free; ovary glabrous; pod ovate
to elliptic, 2.5-5 cm. long, flattened, long-stipitate; seeds 1 or 2, not embedded in
packing tissue.
Scattered in swamps, along rivers and in low bottomland forests, e. and s.e.
Tex., May-June; cen. U.S. to Fla. and Tex.
4. Hoffmanseggia CAV. RUSH-PEA
About 40 species in America and South Africa. The genus is sometimes in-
cluded in Caesalpinia.
1. Hoffmanseggia glauca (Ort.) Eifert. HOG-POTATO, CAMOTE-DE-RATON.
Stem 1-3 dm. high, glabrous or puberulent; stipules ovate; petiole and rachis
glandular; pinnae 5 to 11; leaflets 5 to 11 pairs, oblong to obovate, glabrous or
puberulent, 3-8 mm. long; inflorescence terminal, glandular, pubescent, 1-2 dm.
long, 5- to l;5-flowered; bracts ovate, caducous; pedicels 2-5 mm. long; calyx
pubescent and glandular, its oblong lobes 6-7 mm. long; petals 10-12 mm. long,
with long glandular claws; stamens shorter than the petals, glandular and pubes-
cent; pod falcate, 2-4 cm. long, 4-8 mm. broad, glandular, glabrous or puberu-
lent, reticulate-veined; seeds 4 to 8. Hoffmanseggia falcana Cav., H. densiflora
Gray, Larrea densi flora (Gray) Britt.
Along roadsides and in hard alkaline soils, especially where periodically flooded,
in w. Okla., w. Tex., N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Navajo to Mohave, s. to
Graham, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.), Mar.-Sept.; cen. and s.w. U. S. to
Mex. and w. S.A. A highly variable species.
According to Kearney and Peebles, "The tuberous enlargements of the roots
make valuable hog feed, and after roasting were used for food by the Indians."
Although the plant is a good soil binder, it can become a troublesome weed in
pastures and cultivated fields because of its habit of forming large colonies by
an underground root system.
5. Lupinus L. BLUEBONNET
A genus of perhaps 200 species in the temperate regions of both hemispheres;
not in Africa nor Australia.
1. Lupinus Kingsii Wats.
Annual or possible biennial; stems 5-20 cm. tall, branched near base, erect
to widely spreading, silky-villous with spreading often tawny hairs; leaflets 1—3
cm. long, oblanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, silky-villous; raceme dense and sub-
capitate, seldom over 2 cm. long; peduncles variable but flower cluster shorter
to somewhat longer than the leaves; calyx ciliate, the lips subequal, 4-7 mm.
long; corolla 7-10 mm. long, purplish or blue; fruit ovate to rhombic-ovate,
about 1 cm. long, not noticeably constricted between the 2 seeds, villous.
In mud and wet soil at edge of lakes, ponds and in meadows, also in dryish
soils, in N. M. (Grant, McKinley and Socorro cos.) and Ariz, (widespread),
June-Sept.; also Colo, and Ut.
1045
-------
6. Medicago L. BUR-CLOVER. MEDICK
A genus of about 120 species of temperate regions of the Old World, some of
the species widely cultivated and introduced in America.
Alfalfa or lucerne (M. sativa L.), though frequently cultivated under heavy
irrigation, occurs as an escape mainly in dryish, well-drained soils. This European
perennial is readily distinguished by its dense racemes of violet-colored flowers.
1. Medicago lupulina L. BLACK MEDICK.
Annual; stems and branches usually decumbent, 1-4 (-6) dm. long, usually pu-
bescent; leaflets broadly obovate or nearly orbicular to almost elliptical, pubes-
cent, 1-2 cm. long, 3-10 mm. broad; stipules lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5-10
mm. long, adnate to the petiole for about 2-3 mm.; peduncles 5-40 mm. long,
axillary, slender; racemes very compact, 10- to 50-flowered, 7-10 mm. long; petals
1.5-2 mm. long, yellow; pod dark-brown or nearly black at maturity, making one
partial revolution, vaguely reniform, prickleless, 2-3 mm. in diameter; seed soli-
tary.
Scattered and weedy along roadsides, in lawns and occasional along irrigation
ditches and in wet marshy fields, in Okla., the e. half of Tex., N. M. (Grant,
San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai,
Graham, Gila and Pima cos.) spring; nat. of Euras., now widely introd.
7. Melilotus MILL. SWEET CLOVER
Biennial or annual herbs, taprooted, 3-30 dm. tall, the stems erect and usually
nearly glabrous; leaves alternate, pinnately trifoliolate; leaflets usually oblanceolate
to obovate, serrulate on the distal margin, the terminal leaflet petiolulate; stipules
partially fused to the base of the petiole, obliquely ovate; peduncles axillary,
usually several cm. long; flowers usually only a few mm. long, papilionaceous,
white or yellow, in lax to crowded usually many-flowered spikelike racemes;
calyx campanulate, minute, with nearly equal subulate to lanceolate acute to
acuminate lobes; petals white or yellow, only a few mm. long, deciduous after
anthesis; stamens 10, diadelphous, 9 of the filaments coalescent, the tenth (upper)
one free; fruit ovoid to globose, straight or nearly so, usually 1-seeded and minute,
commonly reticulate, indehiscent or essentially so.
A genus of about 20 species native to the Old World, widely introduced in
the New World, valuable as forage crops. The genus is only very weakly distin-
guished from Medicago, and probably should be merged with it.
These ubiquitous plants are tolerant of habitats ranging from semidesert to
bog or marsh.
1. Flowers white; pod reticulate-veined, dark-brown to black at maturity
1. M. albus.
1. Flowers yellow; pod appearing cross-ribbed or smooth, gray or light-brown
to tan at maturity (2)
2(1). Flowers 1-3 mm. long; pod globose; stipules widened below with scarious
margins; annual 2. M. indicus.
2. Flowers 3-5 mm. long; pod ovoid (longer than broad); stipules not widened
below with scarious margins; biennial 3. M. officinalis,
1. Melilotus albus Lam. WHITE SWEET CLOVER, HUBAM.
Annual or biennial 3-15 (-30) dm. tall; racemes with 30 to 80 flowers; petals
white; banner 3-5 mm. long, somewhat exceeding the wing and keel in length;
pod 2-3.5 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad, about 1.5-2 mm. thick, glabrous, very
short-stalked, usually dark-brown to blackish at maturity, reticulate-veined.
Scattered as a weed over Okla. and Tex. (seemingly rare on Edwards Plateau
and in far e. Tex.), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz, (widespread), spring-summer;
nat. of Euras., now widely introd.
1046
-------
2. Melilotus indicus (L.) All. SOUR CLOVER, ALFALFILLA.
Annual 1-5 dm. tall; stipules lanceolate, those of the lower leaves widened
below the middle, scarious and partially encircling the stem and with a small
free basal lobe; racemes with 10 to 60 flowers; flowers 1-3 mm. long; petals
yellow; banner about 3 mm. long; pod flattened, nearly orbicular, 1.5-2.5 mm.
long, yellowish or reddish at maturity, very short-stalked, not reticulate-veined.
More often in dry situations but occasionally in wet ditches and boggy places,
scattered over Tex. (rare in Rio Grande Plains and higher parts of Plains Country,
infrequent in Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau), in N. M. (widespread) and
Ariz, (widespread), spring-summer; nat. of Medit. area, now widely introd.
3. Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. YELLOW SWEET CLOVER.
Biennial or rarely annual, 4-10 (-20) dm. tall; stipules lanceolate, acute, mostly
5-8 mm. long, entire, not widened below nor with scarious margins; racemes
with 30 to 70 flowers; flowers 3-5 mm. long; petals yellow; banner about 5 mm.
long; pod ovoid, 2.5-4 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad, about 1.5 mm. thick,
distinctly short-stalked, glabrous, usually light-brown to tan at maturity, the
transverse ridges more prominent than the longitudinal ones.
Frequent in Okla., n.-cen. Tex. and scattered elsewhere, N. M. (Dona Ana
and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai and Gila cos.), June-
Oct; nat. of Euras., now widely introd.
8. Trifolium L. CLOVER
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs; stems usually weak and with some of them
at least partially decumbent; leaves alternate, trifoliolate (either palmately so or
the terminal leaflet longer-stalked), typically obovate to nearly orbicular, serru-
late on the distal margin, rarely more than 3 cm. long; petioles well-developed;
stipules conspicuous, persistent and usually at least partially adnate to the base
of the petiole; inflorescence axillary and/or terminal, sessile or peduncled capitate
or spikelike racemes or umbel-like aggregations; flowers sessile or pedicellate;
calyx persistent, the tube campanulate or cylindrical and with 5 to 10 (to 20)
nerves, the lobes linear to deltoid and equal or unequal; corolla papilionaceous,
never blue nor purple; petals united below with the filament tube in some species;
stamens 10, diadelphous, 9 filaments coalescent into a tube, the tenth (uppermost)
one free; pod often enclosed within the calyx tube and typically enveloped by
the persisting petals, obovoid to oblong-linear, usually membranous, indehiscent
or opening by a suture, or more rarely circumscissile; seeds 1 to 4.
A large genus of 300 species of temperate regions of the world.
Many of the clovers, especially those introduced from Europe, Asia and
Africa, are cultivated for hay and forage. The foliage of nearly all species, both
indigenous and introduced, is grazed by domestic stock and wild animals. The
hard, small seeds, as well as the foliage, are important food for game birds,
shorebirds and marsh birds.
1. Heads involucrate (2)
1. Heads naked, without involucres (10)
2(1). Involucre a monophyllous irregularly lobulate or laciniate disk at base
of head (3)
2. Involucre not as above, with distinct lobes when they are present (8)
3(2). Lobes of involucre 7 to 10, ovate to triangular-ovate, acute to subacumin-
ate, with broad scarious margins 1. T. microcephalum.
3. Lobes of involucre more or less laciniate to linear-lanceolate and attenuate
(4)
1047
-------
4(3). Calyx silky-hairy, becoming much-inflated in fruit to increase the size
of the head 2 or 3 times 2. T. fragiferum.
4. Calyx not as above (5)
5(4). Flowers of head enclosed within 1 or 2 involucres; pod 1- or 2-seeded
3. T. pinetorum.
5. Flowers of each floral circle of the heads enclosed within a separate involucre;
3 to 6 involucres to the head; pod 2- to 6-seeded (6)
6(5). Involucre coarsely toothed or 10- to 12-lobed with their lobes 3- to 6-
toothed 4. T. Wormskjoldii.
6. Involucre with lobes not deeply cleft but 3- or 5-toothed (7)
7(6). Heads 2-4 cm. wide; corolla 12 mm. or longer; standard emarginate at
apex 5. T. Fendleri.
1. Heads 1-2 cm. wide; corolla less than 12 mm. long; standard obtuse and
entire at apex 6. T. lacerum.
8(2). Heads loose, few-flowered; involucre minute, rudimentary........7. T. nanum.
8. Heads compact, turbinate, globose or hemispheric; involucre evident (9)
9(8). Involucre glabrous, of 5 to 8 broadly obovate bracts at base of head and
an inner bract at the base of each flower 8. T. Parryi.
9. Involucre densely pubescent, the several lobes triangular-linear and attenuate
9. T. dasyphyllum.
10(1). Perennial (doubtful cases should be keyed under both alternatives), with
densely plumose linear-attenuate calyx lobes (11)
10. Annual or biennial (13)
11(10). Heads mostly less than 2 cm. high; rare in extreme southeast Arizona
10. T. amabile.
11. Heads rarely less than 2 cm. high; in eastern Arizona and/ or New Mexico
(12)
12(11). Stipules narrowly lanceolate, long-acuminate, glabrous; standard ovate-
lanceolate; pods glabrous, with 2 or 3 seeds 11. T. Rydbergii.
12. Stipules ovate, abruptly short-acuminate, somewhat pubescent; standard
elliptic; pods somewhat pubescent, with 2 seeds
12. T. neurophyllum.
13(10). Flowers sessile or subsessile in the heads; calyx more or less pubescent;
stipules oblong, conspicuously veined, the free portion triangular
with a setaceous point 13. T. pratense.
13. Flowers conspicuously pedicellate in the long-peduncled heads; calyx glabrous
(14)
14(13). Stem creeping, often rooting at nodes; leaflets obovate, usually with a
whitish crescent toward base, notched at apex 14. T. repens.
14. Stem erect or ascending; leaflets oval or ovate, without a white spot, rounded
at apex 15. T. hybridum.
1. Trifolium microcephalum Pursh
Sparsely to densely villous annual with prostrate to erect stems 1-7 dm. long;
stipules ovate to ovate-lanceolate, denticulate-serrulate, about one-half as long as
the leaflets; leaflets 3, obovate-oblanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; heads involucrate,
5-10 mm. long, 10- to 60-flowered; involucres villous, sometimes exceeding the
lower flowers, shallowly crateriform, with about 10 (6 to 12) nearly entire
acute cuspidate shallow lobes; flowers 4-5 (-7) mm. long; calyx usually either
hirsute or villous (rarely glabrous), the simple teeth setaceous and longer than
the tube; corolla white to pinkish; legume 2-3 mm. long, 1- or 2-seeded, usually
rupturing the calyx by maturity.
1048
-------
Wet meadows, wet sandy stream and river banks, and hillsides, Ariz. (Gila and
Final cos.), Apr.-May; Mont, to B. C., s. to Ariz, and Baja Calif.
2. Trifolium fragiferum L. STRAWBERRY CLOVER.
Perennial; stems branching, creeping and rooting at nodes, glabrous or nearly
so; petioles long; leaflets 6-30 mm. long, obovate, finely serrulate to subentire,
glabrous or sparingly long-hairy at base; peduncles 8-15 cm. long, exceeding the
leaves; head 1-1.4 cm. wide in anthesis, globose, with an involucre; calyx 3-4
mm. long, silky-hairy, the slender teeth about as long as the tube, becoming
much-inflated in fruit to increase the size of the head 2 or 3 times, becoming
reticulate-veined and often reddish-tinged; corolla 5-7 mm. long, pink to rose-
color; fruit 1-seeded.
In wet meadows and marshes, in N. M. (San Juan and San Miguel cos.),
June-Aug.; introd. from Euras. and N.Afr., now widely spread.
3. Trifolium pinetorum Greene.
Perennial; stems slender, reclining, glabrous, much-branched, to about 6 dm.
long; petioles slender, several times as long as the leaflets; stipules narrow, atten-
uate, entire or nearly so; leaflets obovate to elliptic-oblong, rounded or obtuse
at apex, cuneate at base, bright-green, glabrous, prominently veined with the
veins slightly prolonged beyond the low teeth; peduncles slender, 4-6 cm. long,
nearly glabrous but with a few long crinkled hairs, often tomentulose just below
the often few-flowered head; involucre short but distinct, one-third to one-half
as long as the flowers, composed of linear-lanceolate subulate bracts free almost
to their bases; calyx one-half to two-thirds as long as the corolla, the linear-
subulate teeth almost twice as long as the tube; corolla pale-purplish, to about
11 mm. long, the banner emarginate. T. longicaule W. & S.
In wet meadows, muddy seepage, edge of pools and along streams in N. M.
(Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz, (widespread in mts.), June—Oct.
4. Trifolium Wormskjoldii Lehm.
Glabrous taprooted perennial with decumbent-based and often rhizomatous
stems 1-8 dm. long; stipules 1-4 cm. long, lacerate-margined and usually acumin-
ate; leaflets 3, linear-elliptic to oblong-obovate, 1-3 cm. long, finely serrulate;
heads involucrate, axillary, 2- to 60-flowered, 2-3 cm. broad; involucres flared,
from as much as 2 cm. broad and lacerately 8- to 12-lobed to shallowly lobed
or toothed with the lobes entire; peduncles 3-11 cm. long; heads nearly globose,
15-25 mm. thick; flowers 10-18 mm. long, erect or spreading, reddish to purple,
often white-tipped; pedicels 0.5-2 mm. long; calyx glabrous, two thirds to three
fourths as long as the corolla, the tube 10-veined, about equaled by the 5 sub-
equal narrowly lanceolate-acicular (occasionally bifid) teeth; legume 1- to 4-
seeded. T. Willdenovii Spreng.
Wet meadows, stream beds and banks, in mts. of w. Tex. (Jeff Davis Co.),
N. M. (Hitchcock, et al.) and possibly Ariz., May-Sept.; Ida. to B. C., s. to
N. M., Calif, and Mex.
5. Trifolium Fendleri Greene. Fig. 498.
Perennial from slender roots; stems not fistulose, mostly erect, to 5 dm. tall,
glabrous, longitudinally striate; leaves long-petioled, glabrous, bright-green; leaflets
mainly elliptic to oblanceolate or (in the lower leaves) obovate, usually less than
3 cm. long, sharply denticulate to serrulate; stipules broad, oblong-lanceolate to
ovate, deeply and sharply toothed to laciniate; peduncles normally glabrous;
heads 2-4 cm. wide, more than 10-flowered, globular, borne above the leaves,
involucrate; involucral bracts not foliaceous, relatively broad and deeply cleft
with setaceous teeth, in a whorl and more or less united about a third their length
1049
-------
Fig. 498: Trifolium Fendleri: a, habit, x Vz\ b, leaf with stipules, x 5; c, flower
head, x 1],4; d, young flower, x 2%; e, mature flower, x 4; f, pistil, x 4. (V. F.)
-------
to form a cup-shaped basal portion; pedicels slender, about 1 mm. long; calyx
5-8 mm. long, thin, glabrous, the teeth longer than the tube; corolla 8-14 mm.
long, white to pink or rose-color; fruit 2- to 4-seeded.
In wet meadows, mud, boggy areas, edge of water along streams and about
ponds, and on slopes, in N. M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache to
Coconino, s. to Greenlee and Gila cos.), June-Sept.; also Colo, and Ut.
6. Trifolium lacerum Greene.
Stem much-elongated, reclining; leaflets narrowly linear to lanceolate or oblan-
ceolate, often conspicuously cuspidate and spinulose-serrate; stipules broad,
oblong-lanceolate to ovate, deeply and sharply toothed to laciniate; peduncles
normally glabrous; heads 1-2 cm. wide and more than 10-flowered, with a
manifest involucre; involucral bracts not foliaceous, relatively broad and deeply
cut, with setaceous teeth, united for about a third their length to form a cup-
shaped basal portion; corolla less than 12 mm. long.
Low wet meadows and wet places in N. M. (Grant, McKinley, Socorro and
Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino to Cochise and Pima cos.), Mar.-Aug.
7. Trifolium nanum Torr.
Cespitose perennial, 2-6 cm. tall, erect or spreading from woody branched
crowns of roots, acaulescent, glabrous; petioles slender, longer than the leaflets;
leaflets 6-15 mm. long, narrowly obovate to linear-oblanceolate or oblong, glab-
rous, slightly serrate to almost or quite entire; heads of 2 or 3 flowers, peduncled,
often borne somewhat above the leaves, essentially non-involucrate or with 2 or
3 small inconspicuous whitish cupulate involucres that are usually not over 1.5
mm. long; flowers ascending on slender pedicels 1-2 mm. long; calyx glabrous,
the campanulate tube 3—4 mm. long, with lanceolate to deltoid teeth about 2
mm. long; corolla 1.6-2 cm. long, reddish-purple or rose-purple, rarely whitish;
fruit 5- to 10-seeded.
Wet meadows in high mts., in N. M. (Mora Co.), summer; Mont., s. to N. M.
and Ut.
8, Trifolium Parryi Gray.
Glabrous to brownish-pubescent tufted perennial from a thick taproot; stems
numerous, 1-5 cm. long, covered with stipules that are thin, scarious, marcescent,
entire to toothed and rounded to acutely pointed; leaflets 3, broadly elliptic to
obovate, entire to serrulate or denticulate, rounded to acute at apex, 1-4 cm.
long; petioles 1-6 cm. long; head involucrate, subglobose, 10-35 mm. thick,
4- to 30-flowered; peduncles usually exceeding the leaves; involucral bracts 6 to
12, distinct, thin and scarious, entire-margined, purplish-brown, rounded to acute
or bifid at apex, usually about equaling the calyces; flowers 11-22 mm. long,
spreading to erect, the pedicels 0.5-2 mm. long; calyx glabrous, scarious, about
one half the length of the corolla, the tube from one half as long to as long as
the subulate to triangular subequal teeth; corolla dark reddish-purple, aging
brown; legume 1- to 4-seeded.
In wet alpine to subalpine meadows and on wet stream banks in N. M. (Mora
Gp.), June-Sept.; Mont, and Ida., s. to mts. of N. M. and e. Ut.
9. Trifolium dasyphyllum T. & G.
Cespitose acaulescent perennial, 5-15 cm. tall or more, from a woody branched
caudex; petioles elongate; leaflets linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1-3 cm. long,
cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, sparsely to densely strigose especially below,
entire; heads borne on peduncles above the leaves, globose, 1.5-2.5 cm. wide,
with 10 to 30' flowers, without an involucre or this obsolescent; pedicels short and
pubescent, about 1 mm. long; flowers reflexed or not in age; calyx 6-10 mm. long
1051
-------
or more, silky, strigose, the subulate lobes subequal and about twice as long as
tube; corolla 1-1.5 cm. long, purple to pink, usually bicolored, with wings and
keel darker; fruit 3- to 5-seeded. T. stenolobum Rydb.
In alpine wet meadows in N. M. (Bernalillo, Sandoval, San Miguel and Santa
Fe cos.), summer; also Colo.
10. Trifolium amabile H.B.K.
Plants caulescent, with large thick roots; stems prostrate, to about 2 dm. tall
or long, decumbent; leaflets cuneate-obovate, glabrous or glabrate; heads 1-1.6 cm.
in diameter and height, on villous peduncles; involucre vestigial, seldom more
than 1 mm. long; flowers strongly reflexed on villous petioles; calyx villous, the
lobes toothed; corolla equal to or a little longer than calyx; fruit 2-seeded.
In wet sandy soil about springs and along brooks, rare in Ariz. (Cochise Co.),
Aug.-Oct; also s. to C.A.
11. Trifolium Rydbergii Greene.
Stems usually erect and single, 2-4 dm. tall, glabrous below, somewhat strigose
above; leaflets linear-lanceolate to oval, 2-5 cm. long or those of the basal leaves
shorter and broader, usually acute, sharply denticulate, glabrous or somewhat pu-
bescent on lower surface; peduncles 4-10 cm. long; heads 2-4 cm. long, non-
involucrate; calyx pubescent, the tube about 2 mm. long, with subulate-setaceous
teeth 4-5 mm. long or more; corolla white to pinkish, about 1.5 cm. long.
Wet meadows and edge of pools in N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Coco-
nino Co.), July-Sept.; N. M. and Ariz., n. to Mont, and Ida.
12. Trifolium neurophyllum Greene.
Perennial; stems scattered from horizontal rootstocks, 1.3—2.5 dm. tall, erect
or decumbent, canescently villous, usually with a solitary peduncled head; leaf-
lets of lowest leaves obovate to oblong, 1-2 cm. long, these passing above to such
as are 4 cm. long, linear to narrowly lanceolate and spinescently acute, loosely
villous especially on the midvein, all very prominently transverse-venulose and
doubly spinulose-denticulate with the teeth incurved; head without an involucre,
at first flowering broader than high, eventually 2.5 cm. long and the flowers de-
flexed; calyx villous with long appressed hairs, with 5 equally slenderly subulate
lobes of at least twice the length of the turbinate tube; corolla deep-red-purple,
twice the length of the calyx.
Wet soils and wet edge o': pools and streams, N. M. (Grant and Socorro cos.)
and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache and Greenlee cos.), July-Sept.
13. Trifolium pratcnse L. RED CLOVER.
Sparsely soft-hairy, short-lived, taprooted perennial; stems several, 3-10 dm.
tall; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 1—3 cm. long, conspicuously greenish veined; leaf-
lets 3, lanceolate to oblong-obovate, 2-6 cm. long, very inconspicuously serrulate;
heads terminal, sessile or with peduncles shorter than the 2 subtending leaves,
50- to 200-flowered, globose-conic, 2.5-3.5 cm. broad and about as long, nonin-
volucrate but the stipules of the upper leaves often somewhat involucral; flowers
sessile, spreading to erect, deep-red, 13-20 mm. long; calyx one half to two thirds
as long as the corolla, short villous-hirsute, the teeth acicular, pubescent with
straight somewhat pustulose hairs, the 2 upper ones about equal to the tube, the
lower 3 nearly twice as long; legume 2-seeded.
Wet meadows and marshes, occasional in Okla., N.M. and Ariz., May-Aug.;
introd. from Eur., widely cult, and sometimes found as an escape.
14. Trifolium repens L. WHITE CLOVER.
Glabrous or very sparsely pubescent perennial; stems creeping and stolonous
to erect, 1-6 dm. long; stipules 3-10 mm. long, connate most of their length,
1052
-------
the free portion shortly acuminate; petioles from only slightly to many times longer
than the leaflets; leaflets 3, obovate but usually somewhat retuse to obcordate,
1-2 cm. long, finely serrulate; heads axillary, often long-pedunculate, 1.5-2 cm.
broad, nearly as long, noninvolucrate; flowers 5-9 mm. long, white or cream to
pinkish-tinged, pendulous at anthesis on pedicels 2-5 mm. long; calyx glabrous,
about half the length of the corolla, the teeth lanceolate-subulate, about equal to
the tube; banner much more erect than in the native clovers; legume 1- to 3-
seeded.
Wet meadows, marshes and in wet soil about ponds and along streams, in Okla.
(Waterfall), N. M. (Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos
cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai and Cochise cos.), May-
Sept.; introd. from Eur. and now widely established in w. N. A.
15. Trifolium hybridum L. ALSIKE or ALSATIAN CLOVER.
Perennial, glabrous or very nearly so; stems erect or ascending, 3-6 dm. tall,
branching, often stout and succulent; stipules ovate-lanceolate, 12-25 mm. long,
acuminate-attenuate, membranous; leaflets 12-25 mm. long, petiolulate, elliptic
to obovate, rounded and occasionally emarginate at apex, cuneate at base, serru-
late with sharp-pointed teeth; heads globose, long-peduncled, not involucrate;
flowers white and pink, turning brown after anthesis, 6-8 mm. long, reflexed; pedi-
cels slender, 5-10 mm. long; calyx glabrous, the linear-subulate teeth about equal-
ing the tube, 1.7-2.5 mm. long; corolla much-exceeding the calyx teeth.
In wet meadows, along irrigation ditches, streams and in marshes, in Okla.
(Waterfall), N. M. (Rio Arriba and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.),
July-Sept.; introd. from Eur. and now widespread.
9. Lotus L. DEER VETCH. TREFOIL
Annual or perennial leafy herbs, usually 1-5 dm. tall; leaves alternate, once-
pinnately 3- to 5-foliolate or by reduction palmately trifoliolate; petioles short,
often shorter than the rachis or not much longer; stipules in one species well-
developed and in the others nearly obsolescent and glandlike; leaflets small, rarely
more than 1 cm. long, linear to nearly orbicular, usually with appressed pubes-
cence, usually entire; stipules absent; peduncles usually several cm. long, emerg-
ing from the upper axils and longer than the leaves; flowers about 1 cm. long,
solitary or paired or in umbel-like groups at the end of the peduncle; calyx cylin-
dric to campanulate with more or less equal lobes at the end of the tube; corolla
papilionaceous, the petals usually basically yellowish or whitish but with red,
rose or purple areas; banner external to the rest in bud, ovate to obovate; wings
obovate or oblong and adhering to the incurved keel of usually fused petals;
stamens 10, diadelphous, 9 with filaments coalescent and the tenth (uppermost)
free, the filaments (all or part of them) expanded just below the anthers; ovary
sessile; legume linear, usually 1-3 (—4) cm. long, nearly straight, dark-brown,
thin-walled, promptly dehiscent, acute; seeds numerous.
A genus with about 120 species in temperate areas of the Old World and New
World.
As in the case of clovers, both the seeds and foliage of these species are relished
by wildlife.
1. Stems stout, erect or nearly so; leaflets 7 to 11, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic
or obovate, 1-3 cm. long; corolla 10-14 mm. long, purple-veined;
pods about 2 mm. wide 1. L. oblongifolius.
1. Stems slender, procumbent; leaflets 3 to 5, broadly obovate, less than 1 cm.
long; corolla usually 4—7 mm. long; pods 1—1.5 mm. wide
2. L. alamosanus.
1053
-------
1. Lotus oblongifolius (Benth.) Greene.
Herbaceous perennial; stems several, stout, erect or ascending from slender,
branched rootstocks, 1.5-4 dm. long; herbage appressed-pubescent to nearly gla-
brous; leaves with 7 to 11 leaflets, these linear-lanceolate to elliptic, acute, 7-20
mm. long, equally distributed on opposite sides of rachis, the stipules membranous;
peduncles exceeding the leaves in height; umbels 1- to 5-flowered, closely sub-
tended by a 1- to 3-foliate bract; calyx tube 2-3 mm. long, the teeth narrowly
subulate, about as long as the tube; petals 10-12 mm. long, the claws short and
little exserted from calyx, the banner yellow or orange, ovate, erect, the keel
and wings whitish to yellow, sometimes tinged with red; pods straight, dehiscent,
not beaked, remaining erect, 2.5-4 cm. long.
Wet places at elevations of 1,000-6,000 feet, Ariz. (Cochise Co.), May-Oct.;
also s. Calif, and n. Mex.
2. Lotus alamosanus (Rose) Gentry.
Stems procumbent, slender, rooting at the nodes, glabrous or the younger parts
with appressed hairs; stipules 4-8 mm. long, foliaceous, ovate, acute; leaves 3- to
5-pinnate; leaflets obovate, obtuse, 4-10 mm. long; peduncles slender, 5-10 cm.
long, 1- to 4-flowered (mostly 2); bracts 1, setaceous; flowers 4-6 mm. long;
calyx tube less than 2 mm. long, its lobes almost as long as tube and very narrow;
corolla yellow; pods 2-3 cm. long, terete, erect, 12- to 15-seeded; seeds turgid,
oblong, lucid.
Wet sandy soil along creeks, in seepage spring waters of canyons and in wet
meadows in Ariz. (Santa Cruz Co.), Apr .-May; also Son. and Dgo.
10. Indigofera L. INDIGO
Perennial herbs, usually gray-pubescent all over, the pubescence appressed
with the hairs often medifixed (with 2 ends free); leaves alternate, once-impari-
pinnately-compound; petioles short; stipules herbaceous, subulate to setaceous;
leaflets 5 to 15, usually oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, rarely linear, either
or not opposite on the rachis; flowers in axillary sometimes spikelike racemes;
calyx teeth 5; corolla papilionaceous, brick-red (less often pinkish or purplish);
banner orbicular or obovate, short-clawed; wings oblanceolate to oblong or linear,
short-clawed, slightly adherent to the keel, the blade forming a basal auricle; keel
petals united distally, the claws separate, the blades spurred or pouched; stamens
10, diadelphous, 9 with coalescent filaments, the tenth (uppermost) free, the
anther connective glanduliferous; pod not much if at all compressed, promptly
dehiscent, several-seeded, straight or falcate, linear or curvilinear; seeds usually
separated in the pod by partitions, not stipitate.
A genus of about 400 species of warm regions.
1. Mature pods with a small swollen reddish glabrous knob at the base; leaves
densely strigose on both surfaces 1. /. Lindheimeriana.
1. Mature pod acute at base, without a swollen reddish knob; leaves sparsely
strigose, the upper surface less densely so to glabrous
2. /. suffruticosa.
1. Indigofera Lindheimeriana Scheele.
Erect stems 5-10 dm. tall; leaflets 7 to 15, opposite or nearly so on the rachis,
densely strigose on both surfaces; racemes in flower somewhat shorter than the
leaves but in fruit slightly longer; calyx less than half as long as the corolla, the
teeth lanceolate or deltoid and not or only slightly exceeding the calyx tube; pod
20-25 mm. long, basally with a small swollen reddish glabrous knob.
Local in often wet alluvial soil of creeks in limestone hill areas, s. margin of
Edwards Plateau in Tex. from Crockett and Terrell cos. to Comal Co., May-Aug.;
also N. L. and Coah.
1054
-------
2. Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. INDIGO.
Erect stems 5-20 dm. tall; leaflets 9 to 15, opposite or nearly so on the
rachis, sparsely strigose; racemes shorter than the leaves; calyx less than half
as long as the corolla, the teeth lanceolate or deltoid and not or only slightly
exceeding the calyx tube; pods (when mature) 15-20 mm. long, acute basally.
Local in silty often wet alluvial soils in the Tex. Coastal Plains from Hardin
Co. to Cameron Co. and inland to Brazos, Gonzales and Wilson cos., July-Nov.;
nat. to trop. Am., now widely introd.
This species and /. tinctoria L. are the sources of the substances which are the
chemical precursors of the blue dye indigo, formerly important in commerce.
11. Amorpha L.
Unarmed erect shrubs, often rhizomatous, the herbage and calyx often gland-
dotted; leaves alternate, deciduous, usually 8 cm. or more long, once-imparipin-
nate with 7 or more leaflets; leaflets (4—) 5-30 mm. broad; stipules setaceous,
caducous; stipels present; flowers in dense spikelike racemes; calyx obconoid,
5-toothed, persistent; corolla very irregular, reduced to 1 petal (the uppermost
one, banner), the rest absent, this banner purplish, bluish or whitish; stamens
10, exserted; filaments all united briefly at the base, free for most of their length;
fruit 4-8 mm. long, gland-dotted, not much if at all compressed, slightly ex-
serted from the calyx, 1- or 2-seeded, very tardily dehiscent or seemingly
indehiscent.
A genus of about 20 species in the temperate regions of North America.
1. Branchlets and leaf rachis with pricklelike glands; calyx lobes triangular-
lanceolate, nearly equaling the tube 1. A. californica.
1. Branchlets and leaf rachis without pricklelike glands; calyx lobes mostly
short-triangular, much shorter than the tube (2)
2(1). Branchlets and the conspicuously veiny lower leaf surface tomentose;
flower spike usually 2-4 dm. long; fruit densely pubescent
2. A. paniculata.
2. Branchlets and the inconspicuously veiny lower leaf surface glabrous to some-
what pubescent; flower spike usually much less than 2 dm. long;
fruit usually glabrous (3)
3(2). Petiolules 3-5 mm. long, usually pubescent and conspicuously glandular;
calyx tube pubescent 3. A. texana.
3. Petiolules about 2 mm. long, not glandular-warty; calyx tube mostly glabrous
or glabrescent 4. A. fruticosa.
I. Amorpha californica Nutt. STINKING-WILLOW, MOCK LOCUST.
Shrub 1-3 m. high, the branches pubescent and beset with scattered prickle-
like glands; leaves 1-2 dm. long, ascending; petioles (about 1 cm. long) and
leaf rachis pilose and with scattered pricklelike glands; leaflets 11 to 25, broadly
oval to elliptic, rounded at both ends or retuse and mucronate at apex, 1-3 cm.
long, pilose throughout; racemes 5-20 cm. long, the rachis pilose; calyx 5-6
mm. long, densely pilose, 10-grooved, the lanceolate lobes nearly equaling the
tube; standard reddish-purple, obovate-cuneate, 5 mm. long; pod curved on the
back, 8 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, puberulent and conspicuously glandular-dotted.
Mostly along streams and in river valleys, in N. M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Yavapai, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.), June; also Calif, and Baja Calif.
2. Amorpha paniculata T. & G.
Stout shrub 2-3 m. tall; branchlets sulcate, tomentose; leaves 20-35 cm. long;
petioles 4-5 cm. long; leaflets 15 to 19, ovate or oblong, 3-8 cm. long, (15-)
20-30 mm. broad, rounded at both ends or rarely emarginate apically, when
1055
-------
young finely short-pilose above and densely tomentose beneath, at maturity
glabrous and glossy above and still tomentose on lower surface, with prominent
venation beneath; spikes of inflorescence (15-) 20-40 cm. long; calyx oblique,
narrowly companulate, pubescent, the lobes lanceolate and about half as long
as the tube; banner purple; pod 6-8 mm. long, more or less curved dorsally,
pubescent and with large resinous gland-dots.
Deep acid woodlands and bogs, e. Tex., May-June; Ark., La. and Tex.
3. Amorpha texana Buckl.
Shrub 1-3 m. tall, with spreading branches; branches, foliage and inflorescence
more or less pubescent to glabrous; leaves 10-15 cm. long; petioles 1-2 cm.
long; leaflets 7 to 15, broad-oblong or ovate, 15^0 mm. long, 15-30 mm. broad,
rounded at both ends or emarginate apically, firm, dark-green and glossy above,
paler and pubescent beneath at least along the inconspicuous veins; petiolules 3-5
mm. long, usually pubescent and conspicuously glandular; spikes of inflorescence
solitary or few, (5-) 10-15 (-20) cm. long, rather loosely flowered at least near
the base; rachis puberulent; calyx narrow-campanulate, 4-5 mm. long, uniformly
pubescent or glabrous, gland-dotted; calyx lobes all much shorter than the tube,
the 2 upper ones blunt or round, the 3 lower short-lanceolate and acute; banner
blue or violet; pod 6-7 mm. long, nearly straight dorsally, conspicuously gland-
dotted. Incl. var. glabrescens E. J. Palm.
Scarce along Edwards Plateau creeks and rivers in Bandera, Blanco, Comal,
Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr cos. in Tex., spring; endemic.
4. Amorpha fruticosa L. BASTARD INDIGO. Fig. 499.
Shrub 2—3 m. tall; branches and foliage more or less pubescent with short-
appressed hairs; leaves 1-2 dm. long; petioles (1-) 2-3 cm. long; leaflets 11 to
27 (to 35), oblong or elliptic, rounded or narrowed at base, rounded or rarely
abruptly pointed apically, 15-30 mm. long, 7-15 (-20) mm. broad, firm but
thin at maturity, dark-green and slightly reticulate-veined above, paler and spar-
ingly gland-dotted and more or less pubescent at least along veins beneath, not
crowded on rachis; petiolules short, not glandular-warty; spikes solitary or several,
8-15 (-20) cm. long, peduncled; calyx 3-4 mm. long, nearly glabrous or pubes-
cent; calyx lobes all much shorter than the tube, the upper 2 broad and obtuse,
the lower 3 triangular and acute, villous or ciliate along the margins; banner
dark-blue; pod 6-7 mm. long, slightly curved dorsally, glabrous and conspicuously
gland-dotted.
Widespread, on the edge of water of lakes and streams, depressions, boggy
places and floodplain woods, Apr.-Aug.; represented with us by 4 subtaxa:
Var. fruticosa. Leaflets broad, elliptic. Rare in e. Tex.; e. U.S.
Var. angustifolia Pursh. Leaflets narrower. Widespread in Tex. except absent
in Rio Grande Plains and rare in e. and far w. Tex.; widely scattered in U. S.
Var. croceolanata (P. W. Wats.) Mouillef. With densely pubescent leaves and
calyxes. Rare in s.e. Tex.; s.e. U. S.
Var. occidentalis (Abrams) Kearn. & Peeb. With oval or oblong glabrate leaflets
and mostly solitary spikes. Scattered in w. half of Tex. to Wyo., Calif., N. M.,
Ariz., Son., etc.
12. Sesbania SCOP.
Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs or weak deciduous shrubs, unarmed,
svith long green glabrous rarely branched branches and stems; leaves alternate,
remote, once even-pinnately compound, often 2-3 dm. long; petioles short;
stipules herbaceous, caducous; leaflets numerous, usually linear or narrowly ob-
1056
-------
Fig. 499: Amorpha fruticosa: a, upper part of plant with flowers, x ty; b, part of
plant with fruits, x %; c, young leaflets, x 2l/2', d, flower, x 5; e, pistil, x 5; f, cluster
Of fruit, x 21/2. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 500: Sesbania vesicaria: top of plant, x l/2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey.)
-------
long, often 2-3 cm. long, glabrous, green; stipels absent; flowers in axillary
racemes usually shorter than the foliage; peduncle 1-12 cm. long; each flower
subtended by a caducous bract; calyx closely subtended by a pair of caducous
bractlets, the broadly campanulate tube usually broader than high and regular
or nearly so; calyx lobes much shorter than the tube, nearly equal, deltoid, acute;
corolla papilionaceous, yellowish, red to orange, 6-20 mm. long; banner reflexed,
longer that the other petals, the blade suborbicular, the claw short; wing blades
oblanceolate to oblong, the claws a fourth to a third as long as the blade; keel
petals auriculate, strongly arching, with elongate claws about as long as the
blades; stamens diadelphous, 9 of the filaments coalescent basally, the tenth
(uppermost) one free; fruit a dry elongate linear 2-valved or 4-sided or 4-winged
dehiscent or indehiscent pod. Daubentonia DC.; Glottidium Desv.
A genus with about 40 species in the tropical and subtropical regions of both
hemispheres, usually growing in seasonally wet places, in river bottoms and
overflow lands. They are troublesome weeds in the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain
rice fields.
1. Peduncle 5-12 cm. long; flowers 6-9 mm. long; pods with 2 seeds
1. S. vesicaria.
1. Peduncle 1-5 cm. long; flowers 10—20 mm. long; pods with several to many
seeds (rarely 2 by abortion) (2)
2(1). Racemes of 2 to 6 flowers; pods elongate, linear, not winged
2. S. macrocarpa.
2. Raceme of 10 to 30 flowers; pods short, thickened, 4-winged
3. S. Drummondii.
1. Sesbania vesicaria (Jacq.) Ell. BAG-POD, BLADDER POD. Fig. 500.
Annual herb; leaves 10-15 cm. long; leaflets 20 to 40 (to 52), 1-4 cm. long,
3-6 mm. broad; peduncle 5-12 cm. long; flowers 6-9 mm. long; corolla yellowish
or tinged with pink or red; stipe of legume 1-2 cm. long, 1—1.5 mm. thick;
legume body oblong to ellipsoid, 25-80 mm. long, 15—20 mm. thick, the valves
separating at maturity into 2 layers (the outer thicker, the inner thin and papery-
membranous); legume beak about 5-7 mm. long. Glottidium vesicarium (Jacq.)
Harper.
Frequent, in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. third of Tex. w. to Palo Pinto,
Erath, Bastrop, Gonzales, Karnes and San Patricio cos., Aug.-Sept; Coastal
States, N.C. to Tex.; also W.I. Perhaps adv. on the continent from the W.I.
2. Sesbania macrocarpa Muhl. BEQUILLA, COLORADO RIVER HEMP. Fig. 501.
Robust annual 7-40 dm. tall, rather gracefully ascending with few or no
branches or occasionally with some wide-spreading branches; leaves 1-3 dm.
long; leaflets up to 70, mostly 1-3 cm. long and 2-6 mm. broad; peduncle 2-4
cm. long; flowers 11-16 mm. long, yellow; legume linear, glabrous, 1-2 dm.\long,
3-4 mm. broad, 1 mm. thick, with much-thickened sutures and a beak 5-10 mm.
long; seeds 30 to 40. Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) A. W. Hill.
Infrequent or locally abundant, in e. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. third
of Tex., w. to Denton, Tarrant, Travis, Hays, Comal, San Patricio and Cameron
cos., Aug.-Oct.; Fla. to Tex. and n. to Mo.; locally waifed in n.e. U.S.
3. Sesbania Drummondii (Rydb.) Cory. RATTLEBUSH, POISON BEAN, COFFEE BEAN.
Shrub (in the north extremity of distribution the branches often die back dur-
ing the winter, only the lowest part of the plant remaining alive and becoming
woody) 4-30 dm. tall; leaves mostly 1-2 dm. long; leaflets 20 to 50, mostly 15-35
mm. long and 4-7 mm. broad; peduncle 1-5 cm. long; flowers 13-16 mm. long,
yellow (often with red lines); pod often 5-6 cm. long, about 1 cm. broad, short-
1059
-------
Fig. 501: Sesbania macrocarpa: a, top of plant, x Mi; b, flower, x 4. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
stiped and short-beaked, the body 4-winged the full length, the wings about 3 mm.
broad. Daubentonia Drummondii Rydb.
Coastal Plain in Tex., inland to Denton, Williamson, Travis, Comal, Wilson,
McMullen and Starr cos., locally very abundant, June-Sept.; Coastal States, Fla.
to Ver. and inland to S.L.P.
The seeds are loose in the mature pods which rattle when the bush is in mo-
tion, hence the common name. The seeds, if eaten, are known to be poisonous
to sheep and goats.
13. Astragalus L. MILK-VETCH. Loco WEED
Unarmed perennial or annual herbs, caulescent or not, leaves once-impari-
pinnately compound, petioled; stipules present, often well-developed and forming
sheaths or other structures but never spinescent in our species, leaflets several
to many; stipels absent; flowers in axillary racemes (rarely single), often these
nearly spikelike; calyx with a campanuloid to cylindric tube and 5 equal to un-
equal deltoid to setaceous lobes; corolla papilionaceous, white, yellow to purplish
or lavender, never red; banner reflexed, the blade oblanceolate to broadly cuneate,
claw present; wings clawed, the blade auricled at the base on the upper side
and with a depression; keel petals coalescent distally, the blades auricled basally
and with a low prominence which fits into the wing's socket; keel petals obtuse
to acute; stamens diadelphous, 9 of the filaments coalescent, the tenth (upper-
most) one free; fruit a linear to globose dry to fleshy (often very tardily) dehiscent
legume exserted from the calyx; dehiscence sometimes occurs after the fruit has
fallen to the ground; seeds 1 to several.
A very large, difficult genus with about 1,500 species occurring throughout
the subtropical and temperate parts of the world except Australia. Many plants
of this genus accumulate selenium ions in toxic concentrations, and when ingested
in sufficient quantity by stock cause the symptoms known as "loco disease;" other
species which do not accumulate selenium are useful forage. The hard seeds of
many species are eaten by various game birds.
1. Flowers 7-12 mm. long, spreading or drooping in an elongate lax raceme,
shortly pedicelled; stipules deltoid 1. A. alpinus.
1. Flowers about 17 (13-19) mm. long, subsessile in closely crowded ovoid
heads; stipules linear to ovate 2. A. dasyglottis.
1. Astragalus alpinus L.
Sparsely to densely strigillose to silky (but usually greenish) perennial with
widespread rootstocks; stems slender, ascending to erect, 5-20 cm. long; leaves
5-15 cm. long; stipules 1-3 mm. long, deltoid, all except the uppermost connate;
leaflets 13 to 23, ovate to oblong-elliptic, often retuse, 5-15 mm. long, rarely
as much as 10 mm. broad; peduncles equaling or exceeding the leaves; racemes
closely 10- to 30-flowered, elongate, lax, often secund in fruit; pedicels about
1 mm. long; flowers 7-12 mm. long, pale-lilac to purplish, the keel usually darkest
in color (about equaling the erect banner, both longer than the wings); calyx
black-hairy, 3-4.5 mm. long, the teeth about half the length of the tube; pod
usually pendulous (spreading), with a slender stipe about equal to the calyx
teeth, the body black-hairy, membranous, narrowly ellipsoid, 8-12 mm. long,
cordate-triangular in cross section, the lower suture deeply sulcate and intruded
to form a nearly complete partition.
In wet meadows, on open grassy slopes and in open woodlands, in N.M. (Rio
Arriba, San Miguel and Taos cos.), May—Aug.; Mont, to Wash., s. to N.M. and
Nev.; circumpolar.
1061
-------
2. Astragalus dasyglottis Fisch. ex DC.
Low appressed-pubescent perennial with long rootstocks from a buried crown;
stems numerous, slender, decumbent to erect, 1-3 dm. tall; stipules linear to ovate,
usually basally connate; leaves 4-10 cm. long; leaflets 11 to 19, linear-lanceolate
to oblong-lanceolate, mostly retuse, 1-2 cm. long; racemes headlike, axillary, 7-
to 20-flowered, 1.5-2.5 cm. broad and not much longer (even in fruit); peduncles
shorter to longer than the leaves; flowers erect, about 17 (13-19) mm. long;
pedicels thick, scarcely 0.5 mm. long; calyx tubular-campanulate, about half the
length of the corolla, grayish- to blackish-strigose, the linear teeth somewhat shorter
than the tube; corolla usually purplish or the wings whitish, rarely more nearly
uniformly whitish and merely purplish-tinged; banner narrow, longer than the
slender wings which are about 4 mm. longer than the slightly acutish keel; pod
sessile, erect, about 1 cm. long, grayish- to blackish-hirsute, ovoid, cordate in cross
section, deeply sulcate, 2-celled by the complete intrusion of the lower suture.
A. goniatus Nutt.
In wet meadows, grassy alpine slopes and river valleys and plains, in N. M.
(Rio Arriba, San Miguel and Union cos.), May-Aug.; Minn, to Yuk., s. to la.,
Kan., N.M. and Calif.; e. Asia.
14. Oxytropis DC. CRAZY-WEED. PURPLE Loco
Perennial herbs, from a stout woody taproot and usually with a much-
branched crown; leaves basal or nearly so, odd-pinnate; flowers racemose, spicate
or somewhat congested, terminating a scapelike peduncle; calyx campanulate, with
subequal teeth; petals clawed; standard erect, ovate to oblong; wings oblong; keel
produced into a porrect beak; stamens 10, diadelphous; pods sessile or stipitate,
coriaceous or leathery, usually completely or incompletely 2-celled by the intrusion
of the upper suture.
A genus of about 150 to 300 species of north-temperate regions.
1. Leaves with verticillate leaflets 1. O. splendens.
1. Leaves strictly pinnate, the leaflets paired or scattered but never verticillate
(2)
2(1). Racemes 10- or more-flowered, usually elongating in fruit
2. O. Lambertii.
2. Racemes 1- to 5-flowered, subcapitate in anthesis and not becoming much-
elongated in fruit (3)
3(2). Leaflets 5 to 11; pods about 1 cm. long, inflated, ovoid, densely white-
villous 3. O. oreophila.
3. Leaflets 13 to 21; pod 1.5-2.3 cm. long, not inflated but coriaceous, cylindric
to oblong, black-hairy 4. O. Parryi.
1. Oxytropis splendens Dougl. ex Hook.
A nearly or quite acaulescent densely silky perennial with a branched caudex;
leaves 10-25 cm. long; stipules membranous, 10-15 mm. long, adnate to the
petiole for % of their length and tubular-connate; leaflets mostly in verticils of 3 to
6, lanceolate to elliptic, 5-20 mm. long; peduncles usually slightly exceeding the
leaves; racemes spikelike, densely 20- to 80-flowered, usually 5-10 cm. long but
sometimes more elongate (especially in fruit); flowers reddish-purple, 12-15
mm. long; calyx one half to two thirds as long as the corolla, the obtuse linear-
lanceolate lobes one third to one fourth the length of the tube; beak of the keel
straight to slightly curved, slender, to 1 mm. long; pod 10-15 mm. long, 3-4 mm.
long, 1-4 mm. broad, cordate in cross section because of the intrusion of the
upper suture, narrowed to a distinct beak about 3 mm. long.
Gravel bars and wet meadows, N. M. (Hitchcock et al.), June-Aug.; Ont. to
Alas., s. to Minn, and N. M.
1062
-------
2. Oxytropis Lambertii Pursh. LOCO-WEED. Fig. 501 A.
Perennial herb, often forming colonies by short rhizomes; stems several from
the crown, very short; herbage all pubescent with hairs attached in the middle
and with 2 free ends; petioles short; stipules broad, persistent, 7-24 mm. long;
leaves basal, alternate, once-imparipinnately-compound, lower leaves shorter than
the upper ones, 4-21 cm. long; leaflets (7 or) 9 to 19, narrowly linear to linear-
oblong, 10-35 mm. long, 1-3.5 (-5.5) mm. broad, thick, firm, basally asymmetric;
racemes 2-4 cm. thick at full anthesis, terminal on nearly leafless scapes 5-25 cm.
long and commonly surpassing the foliage; flowers usually 10 to 25 per raceme,
15-26 mm. long; calyx with a tube and 5 lobes, silky-pilose, the tube 6-8 mm.
long, the deltoid-subulate teeth 1.2-3 (rarely to 4) mm. long; corolla papiliona-
ceous, purple or pink-purple to almost white or various shades of rose or laven-
der; banner 18-25 mm. long; wings 15-26 mm. long, commonly much-dilated up-
ward; keel 14-19 mm. long, the keel petals apically extending into a sharp erect
point; stamens 10, diadelphous, 9 filaments coalescent, the tenth (uppermost)
free; pod sessile, stiffly woody, the body ovoid to cylindric or oblong-ovoid, com-
monly 7—25 mm. long and exserted, beaked; seeds several. Incl. var. articulata
(Greene) Barneby; var. Bigelovii Gray; Astragalus Lambertii (Pursh) Spreng.
var. abbreviatus (Greene) Shinners.
More or less ubiquitous, in wet meadows, calcareous muds, dry open slopes
and prairies, represented in our area by one or more described variants, wide-
spread in Okla., scattered mainly in cen. and n.w. Tex., through N.M. to Ariz.,
Apr.-July; also n. to Sask. and Man.
This species is one of the most dangerous of all the loco-weeds since it is
readily eaten by horses, cattle and sheep, especially when grass is scarce, often
with fatal effect.
3. Oxytropis oreophila Gray. ROCK-LOVING OXYTROPE.
Perennial with a much-branched cespitose woody eaudex, densely silvery-silky
pubescent throughout; leaves crowded at the apex of the eaudex branches, 1.5-3
cm. long; leaflets 5 to 11, lance-elliptic, 4-6 mm. long; scape slender, 2-7 cm.
long; racemes short, 1- to 8-flowered; calyx silky-villous, the tube 5 mm. long, the
teeth 1.5 mm. long; corolla violet-purple, 10-12 mm. long; pod inflated, ovoid,
about 1 cm. long, densely white-villous.
Rocky alpine ridges and wet slopes and meadows, Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-
July; also Ut., Nev. and Calif.
4. Oxytropis Parryi Gray,
Plants 1-10 (-15) em. tall, acaulescent pr nearly so; stipules adnate to the
petioles; leaves 3-5 cm, long; leaflets (9 to) 13 to 21, oblong-lanceolate, 3-10
mm. long, grayish-silky-strigose; racemes 1- to 5-flowered, short and not elongat-
ing in fruit; calyx cinereous-pubescent, some of the hairs black, the tube 3-5 mm.
long with teeth 2-3 mm. long; corolla about 1-5 cm. long, purple; fruit erect or
spreading, cylindric to oblong, not inflated but coriaceous, black-hairy, 1.5-2.3
cm. long, the suture well-intruded.
Alpine regions in wet meadows, N. M. (Mora Co.), summer; Wyo. and Ida.,
s. to N. M. and Calif.
15. Glycyrrhiza L.
A genus of about 15 species in the temperate and subtropical parts of the
world. Licorice of commerce is obtained from the roots of the European G. glabra
L.
1063
-------
Fig. 501A: Oxytropis Lambertii: A, habit, x V2; B, leaves, x 1; C, flower spike,
x ¥2; D, flower, x 1; E, legumes, x 1; F, seeds, x 4. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of
the United States, Fig. 114).
-------
1. Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh. LICORICE.
Perennial herb with tall (6-9 dm.) erect stems arising from stout sweet roots,
the herbage all glandular-viscid; leaves alternate, once-imparipinnately-compound;
stipules minute, slender; petioles short; leaflets 15 to 19, oblong-lanceolate,
mucronate-pointed, sprinkled with little scales when young and with correspond-
ing dots when old; flowers in spiciform axillary racemes; calyx somewhat 2-lipped,
the upper lip nearly entire (that is, the 2 upper lobes nearly completely coales-
cent), the 3 lower lobes not coalescent so high; corolla whitish, very much as in
Astragalus; stamens diadelphous, 9 filaments coalescent, the tenth (uppermost)
free, the anthers alternating large and small (shorter ones smaller); fruit dry
and indehiscent or scarcely dehiscent, laterally compressed, few-seeded, oblong,
beset with hooked prickles suggesting the projections of cockleburs.
Infrequent in alluvial and sandy soils, often in seepage and wet soils, stream
beds or roadside and irrigation ditches, in Okla. (Waterfall), in Tex. in the
Trans-Pecos and higher parts of the Plains Country, e. locally to Wichita Co.
along the Red River and N.M. (widespread), Apr.—June; widespread in U. S.
except the s.e. portion.
A good soil-binder but potentially a noxious weed.
16. Alhagi GAGNEBIN
A genus with perhaps 3 species of the deserts of central and western Asia, of
which 1 has been introduced in the deserts of North America.
1. Alhagi camelorum Fisch. CAMEL-THORN.
Much-branched thorny glabrous shrubs, spreading by rhizomes, to about 1 m.
high; leaves alternate, small, unifoliolate, with a distinct petiolule 1-3 mm. long;
blade linear or linear-oblanceolate to obovate, leathery, to about 3 cm. long and 7
mm. wide; flowers numerous in short racemes; calyx with a campanuloid tube
nearly truncate or with 5 apical teeth or lobes; corolla papilionaceous, purplish-
pink; fruit a slender brownish moniliform pod 2-3 cm. long and with 1 to several
suborbicular joints that do not separate from each other at maturity, indehis-
cent.
Established along drainage ditches and streams, often in gypseous soils, in
Culberson and El Paso cos. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and in Ariz. (Navajo,
Coconino and Maricopa cos.), June-July; introd. into Tex., Ariz., etc. from Asia.
A potentially pernicious weed. According to Kearney and Peebles this plant
is of great value as a browse in the desert regions of Asia, but it is a dangerous
introduction since it is extremely difficult to eradicate from cultivated fields,
having deep and extensive rootstocks. In Persia and Afghanistan an exudate,
similar to the drug manna that is obtained from Fraxinus Ornus, is collected from
the camel-thorn.
17. Aeschynomene L. JOINT VETCH
A genus of about 100 species of the warmer parts of the world.
1. Aeschynomene indica L. Figs. 502 and 503.
Perennial herb; stems erect, 5-25 dm. tall, much-branched, glabrous to hispidu-
lous; stipules peltate, appendiculate below the point of attachment; leaves alter-
nate, 5-10 cm. long; leaflets 19 to 63; flowers pinkish or salmon-color, papiliona-
ceous, 8-10 mm. long; stamens 10, monadelphous; fruit a loment, with 5 to 14
joints.
Local in wet coastal areas, Kleberg Co. to Jefferson Co. in Tex., Aug.-Sept;
N.C. to Tex., s. to Braz. and Arg.
1065
-------
Fig. 502: Aeschynomene indica: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, root system, x ^;
c, flower, x 2%; d, young fruit, x 2^; e, mature fruit, x 2%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 503: Aeschynomene indica: a, standard, x 4; b, wing, x 4; c, keel, x 4; d,
loment, x %; e, article of loment, x 4; f, mature seed, x 4. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
Our plants have fruits only 2.5-3.5 mm. broad, which would place them tech-
nically in the taxon A. evenia Wright, which replaces A. indica in much of
tropical America but seems not to be specifically separable from it.
18. Lespedeza MICHX. BUSH CLOVER
Unarmed annual or perennial herbs; leaves alternate, trifoliolate; stipules
persistent; leaflets entire; stipels absent; flowers borne in pairs on loose or con-
tracted racemes, often cleistogamous; calyx tube shorter than or equaling the
lobes, the 5 subequal lobes persistent in fruit, often the calyx of cleistogamous
flowers shorter than those of chasmogamous flowers; corolla papilionaceous (white
to purple with purple throats) or absent (actually vestigial) in cleistogamous
flowers; banner oblong to obovate or suborbicular, clawed, free or slightly ad-
herent to the incurved obovate keel petals; stamens 10, diadelphous, the uppermost
filament free; fruit a solitary flattened 1-seeded ovate or rounded indehiscent
pod, often reticulated; style persistent (though easily broken in dried material),
elongate on chasmogamous pods or very short and tightly recurved on cleisto-
gamous pods.
1067
-------
A genus of about 90 species of Asia, Australia and North America. Several
Asian species have been introduced for erosion control, forage and for use in
wild-life management, especially for quail and other game birds. A few hybrids
often occur wherever two or more perennial species exist in moderate numbers,
making identification somewhat difficult.
1. Stems upwardly appressed-pubescent; leaflets of the younger or upper leaves
conspicuously ciliate marginally; petioles of the principal leaves
mostly 4-10 mm. long 1. L. stipulacea.
1. Stems downwardly appressed-pubescent; leaflets not conspicuously ciliate;
petioles of the principal leaves usually less than 3 mm. long
2. L. striata.
1. Lespedeza stipulacea Maxim. KOREAN BUSH CLOVER.
Bushy-branched tap-rooted annual with stems under 4 dm. long, antrorsely
appressed-pubescent; stipules ovate to ovate-lanceolate, mostly 5-8 mm. long on
the mainstem; stalk of terminal leaflet not much longer than the petiolules of
the laterals (thus leaf subpalmate); petioles of the principal leaves mostly 4-10
mm. long; leaflets spatulate to obovate, mostly 1-2 cm. long, the upper or
younger (i.e., bracteal) leaves conspicuously ciliate on the margins; flowers and
fruits in short leafy racemes; corolla pink; pods about 3 mm. long.
Scattered on sandy and gravelly bars along rivers and streams, wet meadows
and roadsides in Okla. and e. Tex., June—Sept.; nat. of e. Asia, now widely introd.
inN. A.
2. Lespedeza striata (Thunb.) H. & A. JAPANESE BUSH CLOVER.
Bushy-branched taprooted annual with stems mostly under 4 dm. long, retror-
sely appressed-pubescent; stipules ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3—5 mm. long; stalk
of the terminal leaflet not much longer than the petiolules of the laterals (thus
subpalmate); petioles usually less than 3 mm. long; leaflets obovate to narrowly
oblong, not conspicuously ciliate on the margin; flowers and fruits in short leafy
racemes; corolla pink; pod 3-4 mm. long.
Abundant in sandy open areas, seepage slopes, in mud along streams, in Okla.
and e. Tex., infrequent w. to n.-cen. Tex., June-Sept.; nat. of e. Asia, now widely
introd. •'- N. A.
19. Vicia L. VETCH
A genus of perhaps 150 species in temperate regions of the earth. Some
species are important silage, pasture and green-manure legumes, and several have
been introduced for these purposes.
1. Vicia angustifolia L. NARROW-LEAVED VETCH.
Glabrous or glabrate annual; stems decumbent, ascending, 1-6 dm. long,
usually branched only at base; leaves with usually 4 to 10 (or 12) leaflets, those
of the lower leaves oblong and truncate, of the upper linear to narrowly elliptic
or lance-attenuate [in var. segetaUs (Thuill.) Koch leaflets of the upper leaves
oblong to oblong-obovate, 2-9 mm. broad, the apexes truncate or emarginate
and mucronate], 15-30 mm. long, 1-4 mm. broad; stipules semisagittate, serrate
or the upper entire, often lacking a nectary; flowers commonly paired in the upper
axils, 10-18 mm. long, blue or violet varying to white; calyx 7-11 mm. long, the
campanulate tube 4-6 mm. long, the linear-lanceolate teeth about equal and 3-6
mm. long, the 3 lower teeth bearing a usually inconspicuous pale-stramineous
nectary on the outer face; pod very dark-brown to almost black at maturity, terete.
Occasionally escaped in fields and wet meadows, in Okla. (Waterfall), e. Tex.
and N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.), May-June; Eur., now widely introd.
1068
-------
20. Lathyrus L. PEA-VINE
About 120 species in the temperate regions of the world (except Australia).
1. Lathyrus arizonicus Britt.
Stems slender, ascending; stipules linear-lanceolate, with an acute descending
auricle; leaves with 2 to 8 leaflets; leaflets elliptic to linear-elliptic, 2-4 cm. long,
less than 10 times as long as wide, occasionally more, glabrous to sparsely hairy;
tendrils slender, bristlelike, unbranched, not at all prehensile; flowers 2 to 4 on
a slender peduncle 2—3 cm. long; pedicels slender, about 3 mm. long; calyx 5-7
mm. long, the triangular-acute lobes shorter than the tube; corolla 11-14 mm.
long, white with thin pink lines, aging to tan or yellowish.
In boggy or seepy areas and on slopes along forested streams in N. M. (Taos
Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), May-Oct;
Colo, and Ut., s. to n.-cen. Mex.
21. Apios BOEHM. POTATO BEAN. GROUNDNUT
A genus of about 8 species of temperate eastern Asia and North America.
1. Apios americana Medic. AMERICAN POTATO BEAN.
Perennial from tuberous rhizomes; stems annual, 1—3 m. long, twining and
high-climbing; leaves alternate, once-pinnately 5- or 7-foliolate; petioles 15-70 mm.
long; stipules setaceous, soon deciduous, 4—6 mm. long; rachis stalk of terminal
leaflet and rachis internodes 1-3 cm. long; leaflets mostly ovate or lance-ovate,
acuminate, rounded at base, (15—) 20—70 (-100) mm. long, pubescent usually;
stipels 1-2 mm. long, deciduous; flowers in rather dense axillary racemes usually
shorter than the foliage; peduncles (2-) 3-5 cm. long; pedicels only 2-6 mm. long,
each with 2 minute promptly deciduous bractlets; calyx 5-11 mm. high, nearly
truncate or the 5 sepals distinguishable only as slight undulations at the rim of the
tube; corolla papilionaceous, about 1 cm. long; banner whitish dorsally, brown-
red ventrally; keel sickle-shaped, very slender, brownish-red; wings down-curved,
brown-purple; stamens 10, diadelphous, 9 filaments coalescent, the tenth (upper-
most) free; fruit a linear slightly flattened legume 5-10 (-12) cm. long, 4—6
(-7) mm. broad, with coriaceous valves. Incl. var. turrigera Fern.
In swamps, on seepage slopes and thickets in e. Okla. (w. to Woodward Co.),
infrequent in e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., rare in Edwards Plateau (Tom Green Co.),
usually in woods near streams, reported from Hemphill Co. in the Panhandle,
May-Sept.; s.e. Can. and e. U.S.
22. Vigna SAVI
A genus of about 60 species in the tropical and subtropical parts of the world.
One species, V. unguiculata (L.) Walp., is of great economic value; when the
peas are gathered very young they are called "cream-peas,'' when mature they
are called "black-eyed peas" because of the increased pigmentation near the
micropyle.
1. Vigna luteola (Jacq.) Benth. Fig. 504.
Perennial; leaflets ovate to lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, obtuse to broadly
cuneate at base, acute, 2-8 cm. long; peduncles usually several times longer than
the foliage; flowers closely clustered at anthesis (internodes elongating, separat-
ing the fruits), 15-18 mm. long; calyx with tube 2-2.5 mm. long, the lobes 1.5-
2.5 mm. long; corolla yellow; pods 3-7 cm. long. V. repens (L.) O. Ktze., not of
Baker.
Local in wet places, in Tex. in the coastal tier of counties and inland to Hi-
dalgo Co., Mar-Nov.; trop. Am. n. to Gulf States, rarely to N.C.
1069
-------
Fig. 504: Vigna luteola: a, habit, x H; b, flower, x 3; c, young fruit on elongate
peduncle, x \2', d, mature fruit, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Fam. 75. Geraniaceae Juss. GERANIUM FAMILY
Winter annual, biennial or perennial herbs; leaves alternate or basal, lobed or
divided, stipulate; inflorescence cymose or a solitary flower; flowers perfect, regular
or nearly so, 5-merous, hypogynous; sepals imbricated in the bud, persistent; glands
of the disk 5, alternate with the petals; stamens (counting the sterile filaments) as
many as or commonly twice as many as the sepals, when as many then opposite
the sepals; ovary at base with 5 equal lateral lobes; carpels 2-ovuled, 1-seeded,
when mature separating elastieally with their long styles from the elongated axis.
A family of about 5 genera and some 750 species of temperate and subtropical
regions.
1. Geranium L. CRANESBILL
Annual or perennial herbs with much-branched stems and pinnate or palmately
lobed petiolate leaves; flowers usually in pairs on a slender peduncle and slender
pedicels that are subtended by narrow bracts; stamens 10 or rarely 5, all with per-
fect anthers, the 5 longer ones with glands at their base and alternate with the
petals; stylar portions usually remaining attached by their apex to the summit of
the torus.
Consisting of about 500 species mainly in temperate regions; many are used
as ornamentals.
The seeds of geraniums are eaten by birds and rodents such as squirrels and
chipmunks while browsers eat the plant.
1. Stylodia 3-5 mm. long; petals whitish or purple-tinged; leaves sharply incised,
the lobes and teeth acute to acuminate; filaments reddish-purple
1. G. Richardsonii.
1. Stylodia 6-7 mm. long; petals purplish-pink to lavender; leaves usually not
sharply incised, the lobes and teeth obtuse to acute; filaments
pinkish-buff 2. G. eremophilum.
1. Geranium Richardsonii Fisch. & Trautv. Fig. 505.
Perennial; stems erect or ascending, 2.5-7 dm. high, usually simple, glabrous
or sparingly glandular-pubescent; leaves thin, 3-15 cm. broad, 3- to 7-parted; leaf
divisions incised to toothed or lobed, sparsely strigose on the upper surface and
on the veins beneath; pedicels slender, 1-2 cm. long, glandular-pubescent, the
glands usually purple; sepals awn-tipped, 8-12 mm. long, the outer ones more or
less glandular-pubescent at least below; petals white with pink or purple veins,
rarely flushed with pink, 1-1.8 cm. long, pilose within for about half their length;
filaments 6—9 mm. long, reddish-purple, short-pilose about three fourths their
length; mature stylar column 2-2.5 cm. long, pubescent and with interspersed
glandular-villous hairs; stylodia yellowish, 3-5 mm. long; carpel bodies sparingly
pubescent, glandular-hispid on the keels; seeds 2.5-3.5 mm. long, coarsely
reticulate.
Moist soils in coniferous forests, wet meadows, seepage areas about lakes and
along streams, marshes at head of lakes and crevices of boulders, in N. M. (wide-
spread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.),
Apr.-Oct.; S.D. to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and s. Calif.
2. Geranium eremophilum Woot. & Standl.
Perennial with a slender branched caudex; stems tufted, slender, weak, divari-
cately branching, suberect to decumbent, 4-7 dm. long, finely retrorsely pubescent;
basal leaves with retrorsely pubescent petioles 4-6 cm. long, pentagonal in outline,
2.5-4 cm. wide, finely appressed-pubescent, obtuse to truncate at base, 3- or 5-lobed
with the rhombic-cuneate lobes 3-toothed and obtuse to acute; cauline leaves
1071
-------
Fig. 505: Geranium Richardsonii: a, upper part of plant, x 1/2; b, basal leaves
and lower part of stem, x %; c, flower with petals removed, x 2%; d, petal, x 1%;
e, calyx and carpels, x 2a/2; f, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
smaller, thin, 3-lobed, more or less halberd-shaped, sparingly appressed-pubescent
above, the lower surface similar except for some retrorse pubescence on the veins;
stipules attenuate-lanceolate, to about 1 cm. long, puberulent, ciliate; peduncles
axillary, slender, 3-15 cm. long; pedicels paired, finely retrorsely pubescent and
often somewhat glandular, 1.5-3 cm. long; sepals 8-10 mm. long, oval-lanceolate,
appressed-pubescent, the mucro 1-2 mm. long; petals purplish-pink or sometimes
paler, 1-1.5 cm. long, obovate, retuse, pilose about half their length; filaments
pinkish-buff, to about 1 cm. long; mature stylar column 2.5-3 cm. long, appressed-
pubescent or glandular-pubescent; stylodia 6-7 mm. long; carpel bodies 4-5 mm.
long, sparingly short-strigose; seeds about 3 mm. long, reticulate.
Muddy seepage banks about springs and along streams, wet meadows and
wooded slopes in mts., in N.M. (Grant, Socorro and Dona Ana cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), June-Oct.
A closely related species, G. caespitosum James, that usually grows in dryer
habitats may occasionally be found in somewhat wettish places. It is an entirely
non-glandular plant.
Fam. 76. Linaceae S. F. GRAY FLAX FAMILY
Herbs or shrubs; leaves simple, alternate, opposite or whorled; stipular glands
present or none; flowers bisexual, regular, cymose; calyx 4- or 5-merous, imbricate;
corolla 4- or 5-merous, convolute, the petals distinct or rarely united basally, fuga-
cious; stamens commonly as many as and alternate with the petals, united at the
base, sometimes with diminutive intervening staminodia; pistil 1, ovary superior;
carpels 2 to 5, the locules often twice as many by the intrusion of false septa;
ovules 2 per carpel; styles as many as carpels, separate.or united; stigma capitate
or slender; fruit a capsule or rarely fleshy; seeds flat, oily.
About 200 species in ten genera, widespread in tropical and temperate regions.
Represented hi our area by a single genus.
1. Linum L. FLAX
Annual or perennial herbs, mostly with scorpioid cymes; flowers 5-merous
throughout; fruit a more or less completely 10-celled capsule, dehiscing into 10 or
(along the false septa) into 5 parts; otherwise with the characters of the family.
About 150 species, widely distributed in subtropical and temperate regions.
1. Margins of inner sepals with conspicuous stalked glands; mature fruit in dried
specimens usually adhering to the plant; leaves narrowly lanceolate
to oblanceolate 1. L. medium var. texanum.
1. Margins of inner sepals glandless or with very inconspicuous glands; mature
fruit in dried specimens usually soon shattering; leaves elliptic to
oblanceolate or obovate 2. L. striatum.
1. Linum medium (Planch.) Britt. var. texanum (Planch.) Fern. SUCKER FLAX.
Erect glabrous perennial, 2-8 dm. tall; leaves narrowly lanceolate, 1-2.5 cm.
long, the lower few opposite, otherwise alternate; stipular glands none; inflorescence
paniculate; sepals 2-3.5 mm. long, the outer entire, the inner glandular-toothed;
petals yellow, 5-8 mm. long; staminodia none; styles separate, 1-3 mm. long; fruit
depressed-globose or subspherical, about 2 mm. high, tardily separating into 10
segments; false septa nearly complete, eciliate; seeds about 1.5 mm. long.
Open fields, meadows, beaches and swales, e. Tex. and e. Okla. (Waterfall),
May-Aug.; Tex. to Fla. and Bah. L, n. to la. and Me.
2. Linum striatum Walt.
Glabrous perennial; stems usually several from the base, 3-10 dm. tall; leaves
elliptic to oblanceolate or obovate, 15-35 mm. long, the lower opposite, the upper
1073
-------
alternate; stipular glands none; inflorescence paniculate with spreading branches;
sepals 1.5-3 mm. long, entire or the inner with a few diminutive marginal glands;
petals yellow, 2.5^.5 mm. long; staminodia none; styles separate, 1.2-2 mm. long;
fruit depressed-globose or subspherical, about 1.75 mm. high, splitting freely upon
drying into 10 segments; false septa nearly complete, eciliate; seeds about 1.2 mm.
long.
Open or semishaded marshes, wet meadows, swamps, bogs and margins of
streams and roadside ditches, e. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall), May-Aug.; Tex.
to n. Fla., n. to Mich, and Mass.
Fam. 77. Polygalaceae R. BR. MILKWORT FAMILY
Represented in our region only by the genus Polygala that differs from other
genera in the family primarily by its 2-celled dehiscent capsular fruit that very
rarely has one of the cells aborted.
About 800 species in 12 genera of world-wide distribution.
1. Polygala L. POLYGALA. MILKWORT
In our region herbaceous annuals or suffruticulose perennials with simple entire
leaves; leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, sessile to shortly petiolate; flowers in
terminal or axillary racemes, subsessile to distinctly pedicellate; sepals 5, the 3
outer herbaceous or the 2 lower very rarely petaloid, free or the 2 lower connate,
persistent or deciduous; the 2 inner sepals (wings) usually petaloid, much larger
than the others, deciduous, persistent; petals typically 3, united at base, the lower
(keel) cymbiform, clawed, occasionally 3-lobed, unappendaged or usually with
an apical beak or crest; the 2 upper petals ligulate to ovate, sometimes galeate,
united to stamina! tube or keel (or both) at least at base; 2 lateral petals rarely
present, always minute; stamens 8 or rarely 6, the filaments united nearly to apex
into a sheath split on the upper side, adnate to keel and upper petals at base;
anthers usually confluently 1-celled, opening by an apical or introrse-apical pore;
ovary 2-celled; ovules solitary, pendulous from the apex of the central placenta;
style usually slender and often elongate, bent, more or less excavated at apex;
stigma 2-lobed, often tufted; capsule equally or unequally 2-celled, winged to
margined or marginless, compressed contrary to the partition, usually membranous-
herbaceous, the cells usually dehiscent; seeds globose to fusiform or conic, usually
pubescent and almost always arillate.
About 550 species of world-wide distribution.
1. Sepals not decurrent on the pedicels; pedicels not winged; flowers never truly
yellow, the racemes never compounded into a cymose panicle (2)
1. Sepals decurrent on the winged pedicels; flowers yellow or orange, often turning
green in drying, sometimes compounded in a cymose panicle (10)
2(1). Cleistogamous flowers present, borne on short leafless basal branches;
flowers bright rosy-purple, in loose racemes 1. P. polygama.
2. Cleistogamous flowers absent, flowers white to purple (3)
3(2). Wings less than half as long as keel; stem glaucous; aril cellular, equitant,
not obviously lobed 2. P. incarnata.
3. Wings equal to or exceeding keel, rarely slightly shorter; stems not glaucous;
aril 2-lobed, rarely obsolete (4)
4(3). Racemes cylindric or conic-cylindric or at least distinctly tapering above
4. Racemes capitate to ovoid or cylindric, obtuse or merely apiculate (7)
5(4). Wings 3-3.3 mm. long 3. p Hookeri,
5. Wings 1.2-3 mm. long (6)
1074
-------
6(5). Leaves whorled at least to middle of stem 4. P. verticillata.
6. Leaves alternate throughout or whorled only at base of stem..5. P. leptocaulis.
7(4). Wings broadly elliptic or oval, (2.8-) 4.5-6.3 mm. long, about twice as
long as keel; aril more than half as long as seed 6. P. sanguined.
1. Wings equal to or but little longer than keel; aril usually less than half as long
as seed (8)
8(7). Leaves all alternate 7. P. mariana.
8. Leaves whorled at least below (9)
9(8). Wings ovate to ovate-oblong, merely acute and short-mucronate; racemes
6-12 mm. thick 3. P. Hookeri.
9. Wings acuminate and strongly cuspidate from a deltoid base; racemes 10-17
mm. thick 8. P. cruciata.
10(1). Racemes solitary at tips of stems and branches, capitate or thick-cylindric,
9-20 mm. thick; bracts mostly deciduous 9. P. nana.
10. Racemes several or many, cymosely arranged at apex of stem and branches,
6-13 mm. thick; bracts persistent 10. P. ramosa.
1. Polygala polygama L.
Stems solitary to many from a biennial rootstock, erect or ascending, simple
or sparsely branched, 1.5-3 dm. tall, glabrous, bearing loose racemes of cleisto-
gamous flowers from the base or (in late season) from the axils of the leaves;
leaves all alternate or the very lowest sometimes opposite, the lower or sometimes
all spatulate to obovate and obtuse to rounded and mucronulate, slightly fleshy,
the longer upper leaves usually linear to spatulate-linear and acutish, 12-31 mm.
long, 2-8 mm. wide; peduncles 1-2 cm. long; racemes cylindric, obtuse, loose,
9-14 mm. thick, the axis 13.5 cm. long or less; bracts ovate to oblong-ovate,
glabrous, deciduous, 1—1.3 mm. long; pedicels 1-4 mm. long; flowers pink to
pink-purple, rarely pale-lilac or nearly white; sepals oval to oval-ovate, rounded
to acutish, glabrous, 1.3-2.2 mm. long; wings oval to oval-obovate, 3.2-6 mm.
long, 2-3.8 mm. wide, obtuse or rounded at apex, cuneate or clawed at base,
about 3-nerved, glabrous; keel 3-5 mm. long, the crest on each side of a lamella
and 2 or 3 divided lobes; capsule oval, margined, sometimes erose, plump, 2.5-4
mm. long, 2—3 mm. wide; seed ellipsoid, short-pointed at base, plump, pilose,
1.8-2.8 mm. long; aril 0.8-2 mm. long, the pilose corneous umbo terminating
the beak of the seed, the 2 linear-elliptic to oval cellular-scarious lobes appressed.
Incl. var. obtusata Chod.
In bogs, low sandy soil in open woodlands and along streams in open woods in
Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and e. Tex., Apr.-June; from Fla. to e. Tex., n. to N.S.,
s.w. Que., s. Ont, Mich., Wise, and Minn.
2. Polygala incarnata L. Fig. 506.
Simple or sparsely branched annual, about 35 cm. tall, the glaucous stem sul-
cate and sparsely leaved; leaves scattered (the very lowest often opposite or even
whorled), linear, 4-6 mm. long, 0.3-0.6 mm. wide, acuminate, cuspidate, glaucous;
peduncles 2-3.5 cm. long; racemes dense, 6-38 mm. long, 1—1.3 cm. thick in
flower, 5.6-6 mm. thick in fruit; pedicels 0.5 mm. long; flowers rose-purplish;
sepals oblong-ovate to lanceolate, rounded to subacuminate, serrulate, 2-2.5 mm.
long; wings linear-oblong, about 3 mm. long and 0.6 mm. wide, somewhat
undulate-convolute, obtuse to submucronulate, not clawed; upper petals 6.7 mm.
long; keel 7 mm. long, united with the staminal tube and upper petals into a
trough 5 mm. long; crest on each side of about 3 lobes, these variously lobed or
cleft; capsule suborbicular-ovate, cordate at base, 2.4 mm. long, 2 mm. wide; seed
1075
-------
plump, pilose, 2.2 mm. long; aril 1.1 mm. high, membranaceous-cellular, equitant,
erect, scarcely lobed.
In open grassy areas, savannahs and bogs, and open flat woodlands in Okla.
(Waterfall) and the e. third of Tex., May-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex. and Mex., n.
to L.I., N.J., Pa., s. Ont., s. Mich., s. Wise., la. and Neb.
3. Polygala Hookeri T. & G.
Slender erect or procumbent annual, papillose-puberulent above, 1-2.5 dm.
tall; leaves in remote whorls of 3 or 4 or the uppermost scattered, linear, 4-10
mm. long, 0.5-1 mm. wide, acutish, barely mucronulate, strongly revolute,
glanduliform-puberulous; peduncles mostly 3-7 cm. long; racemes conic-
cylindric, acuminate or at least apiculate, loose, 6-9 mm. thick, the axis 7-40 mm.
long; bracts triangular-ovate, ciliolate, spreading, persistent, 1 mm. long; pedicels
1.5-2 mm. long; flowers pink; sepals broadly ovate, short-mucronate, ciliolate,
1.1-1.4 mm. long; wings oblong-ovate, about 3 mm. long, 1.3—1.5 mm. wide,
inflexed and very short-mucronate at apex, rounded at the oblique sessile base,
stipitate-glandular-ciliolate on the upper margin, 7-nerved; keel 2.8 mm. long, the
crest on each side of a triangular lamella and 2 entire lobes; capsule orbicular,
plump, strongly winged beneath on the stipelike base, 1.4-2.2 mm. long and
wide; seed plump, ellipsoid, somewhat shining, short-pubescent, 1.2 mm. long;
aril equaling the seed, the 2 linear lobes appressed.
In low pinelands and wet savannahs, in e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; along the coast
from N. C. and Fla. to Tex.
4. Polygala verticillata L.
Erect single-stemmed glabrous annual, 5-40 cm. tall, usually freely branched;
leaves in whorls of 4 or 5 up to middle of stem or throughout, rarely with only
1 or 2 whorls below with the rest alternate, those of the branches scattered,
linear to narrowly elliptic, 5-30 mm. long, 0.7-5.5 mm. wide, acute to acuminate
at each end and cuspidate; peduncles to 9 cm. long; racemes conic to cylindric-
conic, acute to acuminate, dense or loose, 2.2-4.5 mm. thick, the axis 35 mm. long
or less; bracts subulate, glandular-denticulate, deciduous; pedicels 0.2-1 mm.
long, rarely to 2 mm. long; flowers whitish and greenish, rarely purplish-tinged;
sepals ovate, ciliolate, 0.9-1.1 mm. long; wings obovate-oval, 1.6-2 mm. long,
1.1-2 mm. wide, broadly rounded at apex, short-clawed, about 3-nerved; keel
1.2-1.5 mm. long, the crest on each side of a lamella and 1 or 2 lobes; capsule
oval, 1.8-2.1 mm. long; seed pilosulous, 1.5-1.8 mm. long; aril 0.7-1 mm. long,
the 2 lobes linear-oblong or obovate. Incl. var. isocycla Fern, and var. spheno-
stachya Penn. and var. dolichoptera Fern.
In prairies, marshes, wooded streams, sandy post-oak and pine woodlands in
the e. third of Tex. and Okla. (McCurtain Co.), May-July; from Fla. to Tex.,
Okla., Colo, and Ut., n. to Mass, and s. Man.
Plants found in our area with most of the leaves alternate or with only 1 or 2
whorls below have been segregated as var. ambigua (Nutt.) Wood.
5. Polygala leptocaulis T. & G. Fig. 506.
Slender annual, to 5 dm. high, glabrous, branched above; leaves all scattered,
linear to subfiliform, 8-25 mm. long, 1 mm. or less wide, acuminate, slightly
revolute; racemes cylindric, loose or rather dense, 5-5.5 mm. thick, the axis to
about 10 cm. long; pedicels 0.8-1 mm. long; flowers rosy, rarely white; sepals
ovate, obtuse, 1 mm. long; wings obovate, about 2 mm. long and 0.9 mm. wide,
rounded at apex, cuneate at base, 3-nerved; keel 2 mm. long, the crest of 2 or 3
lobes on each side; capsule oblong, often very slightly narrowed toward apex, with
a row of glands on each side of septum, 1.6-1.8 mm. long; seed subcylindric,
1076
-------
S-w,
Fig. 506: a-e, Poly gala incarnata: a, habit, x %; b, inflorescence, x 1; c, flower,
x 5; d, lobed crest, x 5; e, seed, x 8. f, Polygala leptocaulis: f, habit, about x %. g-k,
Polygala ramosa: g, habit, x %; h, flower, x 10: i, capsule, x 10; j and k, two views
of seed, x 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 507: a-f, Po/ygala sanguinea: a, habit, x %; b, capsule with wings, x 6; c,
flower, x 6: d, keel, x 5; e, pistil, x 7; f, seed, x 7, g-m, Polygala mariana: g, habit, X V<',
h, flower, x 6; i, capsule with wings, x 6; j, one petal, showing attachement to stamens,
x 5; k, stamens, x 5; 1, keel, x 5; m, mature seed, x 8. (V. F.).
-------
appressed-pubescent, 1.2 mm. long; aril minute, 2-lobed, about one tenth as long
as seed.
In wet savannahs and low open pinelands in e. Tex., May-June; along Coastal
Plains from Miss, to Tex., also Mex., C.A., Cuba and S.A.
6. Polygala sanguinea L. Fig. 507
Slender erect annual, 4 dm. tall or less, simple or branched; leaves all alternate,
numerous, linear to elliptic-linear, 7-39 mm. long, 1-4.5 mm. wide, acute to
acuminate and mucronulate, erect or ascending, papillose-serrulate on margin
with subglandular teeth; peduncles 3-30 mm. long; racemes capitate to thick-
cylindric, very obtuse and dense, 6-14 mm. thick, the axis 7-40 mm. long;
bracts subulate, 1—1.5 mm. long, at length deciduous; pedicels 1.1—1.5 mm. long;
flowers greenish and rosy or purplish, rarely white; sepals oval to elliptic-ovate,
acute to subacute, glabrous, 1.3—1.8 mm. long; wings ovate-oval, 4.8-6.3 mm.
long, 2.5-3.5 mm. wide, rounded at apex, short-clawed, 9-nerved; keel 2.5-2.7
mm. long, the crest on each side of a lamella and a cuneate lobe, or these connate;
capsule cuneate-suborbicular, with short flattened sterile base, 2.5-3 mm. long,
2-2.5 mm. wide; seed subglobose-pyriform, pointed at base, rounded at apex,
short-pilose, 1.5-1.7 mm. long; aril 1-1.3 mm. long, the 2 lobes linear or linear-
oblong, scarious, appressed. P. viridescens L.
In bogs and moist open flatwoods, wet meadows, edge of ponds and roadside
ditches, in n.e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), May-July; from N.S. to s. Ont. and
Minn., s. to Tenn., Okla., La. and n.e. Tex.
At anthesis the pedicels are 1.5 mm. long or less and the wing is more than
4.5 mm. long. These characteristics readily separate this species from P. mariana.
7. Polygala mariana Mill. Fig. 507.
Slender erect annual, 1.5-4 dm. tall, sparsely papillose-puberulent above;
leaves all alternate, linear or the lower spatulate, 6-24 mm. long, 0.5-2.5 mm.
wide, cuspidate, usually ascending; racemes capitate to short-cylindric, obtuse
to apiculate, 6—11 mm. thick, the axis 5—35 mm. long; bracts subulate-ovate, erose,
often ciliolate, deciduous; pedicels 1.8-2 mm. long or more; flowers pink or
purple; sepals elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to subacuminate, sometimes
ciliolate, 0.8-1.8 mm. long; wings broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 3-5 mm.
long, 1.3-3 mm. wide, slightly apiculate at apex, cuneate at base, commonly
6-nerved; keel papillose below, 2.3-3.2 mm. long, the crest on each side of a
lamella and a single lobe; capsule suborbicular to rhombic-suborbicular, with a
broad stipelike sterile base, about 2.2 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; seed subglobose-
pyriform, rostrate at base, rounded or apiculate at apex, short-pilose, 1.1 mm.
long; aril 0.4 mm. long, the 2 oblong cellular lobes fastened to the point of seed,
loosely descending and standing forward. P. Harperi Small.
In low moist open pinelands and savannahs, pitcher plant bogs, savannah-ever-
green shrub bogs and on seepage slopes in s.e. Tex., Apr.—Sept.; from Fla. to Tex.,
n. to N.J., Del, Md. and Ky.
At anthesis the pedicels are about 2 mm. long or occasionally longer and the
wings are rarely more than 4.5 mm. long. These characteristics readily separate
P. mariana from P. sanguinea.
8. Polygala cruciata L. Fig. 508.
Slender erect annual, 6-40 cm. tall, simple or usually cymosely branched; leaves
in whorls of 3 or 4 throughout or the uppermost scattered, linear to linear-elliptic,
the upper largest, 8-35 mm. long, 1-5 mm. wide, usually apiculate at the obtuse
to rounded apex, narrowed at base; peduncles to 5 cm. long; racemes thick-
cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, obtuse to apiculate, 1-1.7 cm. thick, the axis 6 cm.
1079
-------
Fig. 508: a-f, Polygala cruciala: a, top of plant, x %; b, flower, x 5; c, wings and
fruit, x 5; d, monadelphous filaments, x 5; e, pistil, x 5; f, mature seed, x 5. g-k,
Polygala nana: g. habit, x \->: h, flower, x 5; i and j, two views of keel, x 8; k, fila-
ments connected to petals, x 8; 1, pistil, x 8; m, mature seed, x 8. (V. F.)-
-------
long or less; bracts subulate-attenuate from an ovate base, ciliolate, spreading,
persistent, 1.5-2.5 mm. long; pedicels 2-2.4 mm. long; flowers rosy-purple to
greenish or rarely white; sepals ovate, obtuse to acutish, ciliolate, 0.8-1.4 mm.
long; wings broadly deltoid-ovate, 3.5-5.6 mm. long, 2.7-3.6 mm. wide near base,
subsessile or very shortly clawed at the truncate or slightly oblique base, acuminate
and strongly cuspidate at apex, about 9-nerved; keel 2.8-3.5 mm. long, the crest
on each side of a lamella and 2 or 3 entire or bifid lobes; capsule suborbicular,
very plump, strongly oblique and winged below on the stipelike base, 2-2.2 mm.
long, 1.8-2.1 mm. wide; seed ellipsoid, plump, short-pubescent, 1.1-1.3 mm. long;
aril 0.9-1.1 mm. long, the 2 linear lobes appressed.
In and on edge of bogs, on seepage slopes and in savannahs in e. Tex., May-
Sept.; from Fla. to e. Tex., n. along the coast to Va. and inland to Ky.
9. Polygala nana (Michx.) DC. Fig. 508.
Stems several from an annual or biennial rootstock, simple, erect to ascending,
7-17.5 cm. tall; basal leaves tufted, spatulate to obovate or elliptic-obovate,
15-43 mm. long, 3-17.5 mm. wide, rounded and sometimes mucronulate at apex,
narrowed at base, thickish, 3- to 5-nerved; stem leaves few, alternate, linear-
spatulate to oblanceolate or obovate, 1.3-4 cm. long, 1.5-8 mm. wide, rounded to
acuminate and mucronulate at apex; peduncles solitary, 23-75 mm. long; racemes
conic-capitate, becoming ovoid-ellipsoid or thick-cylindric, acute to very obtuse,
1-1.7 cm. thick, 1-3.7 cm. long; bracts linear-subulate, ciliolate, at length
deciduous or sometimes persistent, 5.5-6.5 mm. long; flowers subsessile, yellow
turning deep- or bright-green in drying; sepals elliptic-lanceolate to linear-subulate,
3-5.3 mm. long, cuspidate-acuminate, ciliate; wings elliptic, 6.5-7.5 mm. long,
1.8-2.8 mm. wide, acuminate and somewhat involute at apex into a cusp to 1 mm.
long, scarcely narrowed at base, sparsely ciliolate, 3- to 5-nerved; keel 4.5-5.8
mm. long, trie crest on each side of 3 linear entire to 3-parted lobes; anthers 6;
capsule oval to suborbicular-oval, 1.6-2 mm. long, 1.2-1.6 mm. wide; seed
ellipsoid to subpyriform, pilose, with a prominent thick blunt rostrum at base,
0.8-1.8 mm. long; aril 0.7-1.1 mm. long, the 2 linear scarious lobes appressed,
one third to nearly as long as seed. Pilostaxis nana (Michx.) Raf.
On seepage slopes, in wet savannahs and low open pinelands in s.e. Tex.,
Apr.-June; from Fla. to S.C. and Tex.
Plants of this species are sometimes confused with the more eastern P lutea L.
The cusp of the largest sepals of that species, however, is less than 1 mm. long
and the sepals are orange-color instead of yellow.
10. Polygala ramosa Ell. Fig. 506.
Erect glabrous annual, 1.5—4 dm. tall, fibrous-rooted; stems solitary, simple
or branched; basal leaves in a small tuft, elliptic to obovate, 7-20 mm. long, 2-6
mm. wide, rounded at apex, usually narrowed into a petiolelike base; stem leaves
linear to spatulate or elliptic, 7-24 mm. long, 1.5-8 mm. wide, acute to obtuse
at each end; branch leaves linear, reduced; racemes numerous, terminal and on
axillary branches forming a flattish cymose panicle to 14 cm. broad, the separate
racemes loosely flowered and 7-11 mm. thick and 18 mm. long or less; bracts
lance-ovate, ciliolate, spreading, persistent, 1.5 mm. long; pedicels narrowly
winged, 1.3-2.3 mm. long; flowers yellow, turning very dark-green in drying;
sepals ovate, ciliolate, acuminate, 1.1-2 mm. long; wings obovate to elliptic-
obovate, strongly cuspidate at the somewhat involute apex, 2.9-3.5 mm. long,
1.1-1.3 mm. wide, 3-nerved; keel 2.1 mm. long, the crest on each side of a
lobed lamella and a 2- or 3-parted lobe; capsule suborbicular, plump, 0.8 mm.
long and wide; seed ellipsoid, very plump, short-hairy, 0.6-0.7 mm. long; aril
0.2 mm. long, the 2 lobes oval, appressed. Pilostaxis ramosa (Ell.) Small.
1081
-------
In seepage areas of savannahs, open slopes, pitcher plant bogs, in mud about
lakes and in boggy open pinelands in s.e. Tex., May-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n.
to N. J.
Fam. 78. Euphorbiaceae Juss. SPURGE FAMILY
Herbs, shrubs or trees; leaves opposite or alternate or whorled, usually stipulate
(but stipules commonly very small or caducous); highly variable as to inflores-
cence and flower form but the flowers are always unisexual; petals can be present
or absent; a lobate "disk" is commonly present at least in the pistillate flowers;
the ovary is nearly always 3-celled and each locule has a separate style which in
some species is deeply dissected; the placentation is axile and the ovules pendu-
lous, anatropous, with a ventral raphe; seeds 1 or 2 per cell, when 2 then col-
lateral; the micropyle in many species is covered by a caruncle; the fruit is usually
a capsule, when ripe the dorsal walls of the locules usually separate septicidally
from the central placental axis called the columella; seeds liberated through the
ventral (axile) openings of the locules which are in many species eventually
loculicidal.
A vast and diverse family of over 200 genera and several thousand species. It
is said by some authors that most Euphorbiaceae are poisonous. A number of our
species are known to be toxic to livestock. The starchy, tuberous roots of Manihot
species replace grains as staple starchy crops in much of the hot, forested lowlands
of South America; these roots have to be specially treated, steeped, dried and
heated, before the edible materials (mandioca, cassava, tapioca) can be prepared
from them. The Brazilian rubber trees (genus Hevea) are widely planted in
Malaysia and Africa. The castor-bean (Ricinus) formerly was valuable for its oil.
Croton oil is prepared from species of Croton. Some species of the family are
valued as ornamentals (Breynia, Acalypha, Ricinus, Codiaeum, etc.)
1. Stems and branches glabrous or slightly scabridulous; leaves oblong to elliptic
or obovate, entire, 3 cm. long or less; ovules 2 in each of the 3 cells
of the ovary, collateral; capsules glabrous 1. Phyllanthus
1. Stems and branches with whitish more or less glandular-tipped spreading
hairs; leaves lanceolate, serrate, rarely less than 3 cm. long; ovules
1 in each cell; capsules glandular-setulose 2. Caperonia
1. Phyllanthus L. LEAF-FLOWER
Trees, shrubs or herbs; branches persistent or deciduous (in the latter instance,
leaves on main stem then reduced to scales); leaves entire; petioles short; stipules
deciduous or persistent; male and female flowers borne on same plant in ours;
flowers usually axillary, solitary or in cymules, apetalous, gamosepalous; disk
usually present; staminate flowers with mostly 3 to 6 stamens, the filaments free
or connate; disk usually dissected; pistillode absent; pollen grains colporate (in
local taxa); pistillate flowers pedicellate or subsessile; calyx lobes usually 5 or 6,
entire; disk continuous or segmented (rarely absent); carpels 3 (in ours); ovules
2 in each locule, hemitropous; styles free or united, bifid or variously divided
or dilated; fruits capsular and ballistically dehiscent (indehiscent in some exotic
taxa); seeds usually 2 in each locule, collateral; seed coat dry and crustaceous;
endosperm copious; embryo straight or slightly curved.
A polymorphic genus of some 700 species, best developed in the Old World
tropics.
1. Filaments free; stems terete, not winged; capsule 1.7-2 mm. in diameter; seeds
0.8-1 mm. long 1. />. caroliniensis.
1. Filaments connate; stems compressed-winged; capsule 2.9-3.2 mm. in diameter;
seeds 1.2-1.5 mm. long 2. P pudens.
1082
-------
1. Phyllanthus caroliniensis Walt.
Glabrous erect annual monoecious herb 1.3 dm. high; branches terete to some-
what compressed but not winged; leaves distichous, 'elliptic to obovate, obtuse or
rounded and sometimes apiculate at the tip, acute at the base, 5-20 (-30) mm.
long, 4-10 (-13) mm. broad; stipules lanceolate, acuminate, basally denticulate,
(0.5-) 0.8-1.3 mm. long; most axils in all axes floriferous; cymules bisexual, with
1 or 2 male and 1 or 2 female flowers; male flowers with pedicels 0.5-1 mm. long;
calyx lobes 6 (rarely 5), oblong to ovate or suborbicular, 0.5-0.8 mm. long; disk
segments 6 (5), more or less cuneate; stamens 3; filaments free, 0.2-0.3 mm. long;
anthers dehiscing transversely, about 0.3 mm. broad; female flowers with pedicels
becoming geniculate-reflexed and 0.5-1 (-1.5) mm. long; calyx lobes 6 (rarely 5),
linear-lanceolate to narrowly spatulate, greenish or reddish, with unbranched mid-
rib, 0.7-1.2 (—1.4) mm. long; disk patelliform, entire or nearly so; ovary smooth;
styles nearly free, spreading, bifid, 0.3 mm. long or less, style branches obtuse or
subcapitate; capsules oblate, 1.7-1.9 mm. in diameter; seeds fuscous-brown, verru-
culose (with verrucae in wavy lines), 0.8-1 mm. long.
In moist or wet alluvial soils and gravel bars along streams, wet thickets,
marshes, wet depressions and river floodplains in e. and n.e. Tex. (from Tarrant
and Harris cos. eastw.), June-Nov.; 111. and Pa., s. to Arg. and Urug.
2. Phyllanthus pudens Wheeler.
Erect annual monoecious herb 2-5 dm. high; stems compressed and distinctly
but narrowly winged; scabridulous; leaves distichous, oblong or elliptic, acute or
obtuse and apiculate at the tip, obtuse to rounded at the base, 1-2 cm. long, 3-10
mm. broad; stipules ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, basally more or less denticulate,
1.2-2 mm. long; most axils on all axes floriferous; cymules bisexual, with 1 to 3
male and 1 or 2 (rarely 3) female flowers; male flowers with pedicels about 0.5
mm. long; calyx lobes 5 or 6, ovate, 0.5-0.7 mm. long; disk segments 5 or 6, sub-
orbicular or cuneate; stamens 3; filaments completely united into a column 0.2-0.3
mm. high; anthers dehiscing horizontally, about 0.25 mm. broad; female flowers
with pedicels becoming geniculate-reflexed and (1-) 1.4-2.2 mm. long; calyx lobes
6 (rarely 5), oblong to ovate, often reddish at base, herbaceous with unbranched
midrib, 0.7-1.2 mm. long; disk patelliform, 6-angled, entire; ovary smooth; styles
horizontal, bifid, basally fused into a triangular platform 0.5-0.6 mm. across, style
branch tips subcapitate; capsules oblate, sometimes reddish-tinged, 2.9-3.2 mm. in
diameter; seeds yellowish- to fuscous-brown, verruculose (with verrucae in irregu-
lar wavy lines), 1.2-1.5 mm. long.
Coastal prairies, mainly in wet depressions of river bottomlands and marshy
areas, from Matagorda Co. to Chambers Co. and eastw. in Tex., May-Nov.; also
s. La.
2. Caperonia Sx.-HiL.
A tropical genus of about 40 species, of which we have one.
1. Caperonia palustris (L.) St.-Hil. Fig. 509.
Annual herb, (2-) 3-10 dm. tall, stout, mostly simple in the lower half, with
few ascending branches above, the upper stem and branches with spreading whitish
occasionally gland-tipped hairs; leaves alternate; blades broadly lanceolate or
elliptic-lanceolate, (3-) 5-15 cm. long, serrate, with numerous closely parallel
secondary nerves ending at the marginal teeth, the tertiaries percurrent; petioles
3-25 mm. long, pubescent like the adjacent stem; stipules triangular to subulate,
3-5 mm. long; flowers in lax secund androgynous spikes in the upper axils, the
peduncles about half as long as the leaves; each flower subtended by a minute
1083
-------
Fig. 509: Caperonia pa/ustris: a. top part of stem, x 1*; b, lower part of stem and
roots, x ]L>; c. flower, x 5; d, capsule, x 5; e, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
bract; staminate flowers 6 to 20 per spike, sessile; calyx 5-lobed, the lobes about
1 mm. long; petals spatulate-lanceolate, obtuse, slightly exceeding the calyx; andro-
phore columnar, bearing two whorls of short stamens and prolonged above the
upper whorl; stamens short, about 5 in each whorl; pistillate flowers 1 to 6 per
spike, essentially sessile; calyx deeply and unequally 6-parted, with 3 longer (2-3
mm. long) lobes opposite the carpels and 3 shorter ones opposite the petals, all the
lobes acute, the whole calyx glandular-setulose on the exterior; petals 5 or 6, shorter
than the longer calyx lobes, whitish, clawed, caducous soon after anthesis; disk
absent; ovary tricoccous, densely glandular-setulose; styles 3, laminar, each about
4- or 5-lobed about half the length; capsule deeply tricoccous, about 4 mm. "high
and 6 mm. broad, loculicidal and septicidal; columella short; seeds about 3 mm.
long, nearly spherical, foveolate.
Frequent in rice fields, ditches and other marshy areas, s.e. Tex. (Harris, Jeffer-
son and Matagorda cos.), July-Oct.; widespread in warmer parts of Am., s. to
Parag. and n. to Tex., La. and Fla. The species arrived in Tex. about 1920.
Fam. 79. Callitrichaceae LINK WATER-STARWORT FAMILY
Aquatic or terrestrial annual or perennial herbs with delicate stems, monoecious
or rarely dioecious; leaves opposite, entire, without stipules; flowers unisexual,
the perianth lacking, each flower subtended by a pair of falciform or obliquely oval
bracteoles (or these wanting); staminate flowers 1 to 3 in the axil of a foliage leaf,
consisting of a single anther on a slender filament; pistillate flowers 1 or rarely
more, similarly placed, composed of a single pistil of 2 carpels; styles 2, slender,
often much longer than the ovary; carpels splitting at maturity and usually forming
a fruit of 4 achenelike mericarps; mericarps flattened, winged, margined or smooth,
each bearing 1 seed.
A monotypic family.
1. Callitriche L. WATER-STARWORT. WATER-CHICKWEED
Characters of the family. A group of highly polymorphic species due to apomixis
in many of the species and to variations and different outward appearances result-
ing from the same species inhabiting diverse habitats, either amphibious or terres-
trial.
About 40 species distributed throughout the world.
The broad, floating leaves of most species, that arise from slender, rooted stems
provided with linear submersed leaves, form mats on the surface of water and
provide cover for fish and for some of their food population. Ducks have been
observed to eat the seeds and herbage. The often winged, suberous covered
mericarps are ideally suited for dispersal by water.
1. Leaves dark-bright-green, linear-lanceolate, narrowed to a clasping base, the
base not connected by a wing, all submersed; faces of mericarps
obscurely and irregularly pitted 1. C. hermaphroditica.
1. Leaves bright green, of various shapes; nodes with a narrow membranous wing
connecting the leaf-bases; faces of mericarps usually reticulate;
plants submersed or on mud (2)
2(1). Fruit as high as wide or a little higher, rarely slightly wider than high;
stigmas to 6 mm. long; stamens elongating to 1.5-3 mm. as the fruit
matures; anthers to 1.5 mm. wide; flowers with 2 whitish inflated
bracteoles at base; leaves of various types on different or the same
plant; plant amphibious, growing entirely submersed or with a
terminal rosette of floating leaves, or as a mat on mud (3)
1085
-------
Fig. 510: Callilriche hermaphroditica: a, leaf tip, x 12; b, mature carpel, showing
broad wing, x 20; c, habit, wholly submersed plant, showing the linear-lanceolate
notched leaves, the flowers and the short-peduncled fruits, x 4; d, mature fruit, x 8;
e, young flower, showing the long deflexed styles, x 40; f, young fruit (cross section)',
x 12; g and h, mature fruit (cross section), x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 256).
-------
Fig. 511: Callitriche verna: a, fruit (cross section), x 12; b, mature fruit, x 12;
c, habit, lower submersed part of plant, showing the short leaves and the sessile fruits,
x I1/,; d, mature carpel, snowing the longitudinal wing, x 20; e, reticulation of carpel
surface, x 40; f, habit, showing upper part of stem terminating in a rosette of spatulate
floating leaves, the submersed leaves linear, x 1%; g, apex of young leaf, slightly
notched, x 10; h, flowers, showing the winglike bracteoles, x 8. (From Mason, Fig.
255).
-------
2. Fruit broader than high; stigmas to 1 mm. long; stamens to 1.2 mm. long and
not elongating as the fruit develops; anthers 0.1-0.2 mm. wide;
flowers without bracteoles; leaves essentially uniform; plants mostly
terrestrial or on mud (4)
3(2). Height of fruit exceeding the width by 0.2 mm.; lower end of mericarps
curved outward so that the fruit is thickest at base 2. C. verna.
3. Height of fruit equaling width or not varying by more than 0.1 mm.; lower end
of mericarps straight so that fruit is thickest a little below the
middle; commisural grooves very narrow 3. C. heterophylla.
4(2). Fruit 0.3-0.8 mm. wide, more or less gibbous at base 4. C. peploides.
4. Fruit 0.5-1.2 mm. wide, not gibbous at base (5)
5(4). Fruit pedicelled; wing and thin margin of carpel turned outward at right
angles to the surface of the fruit or revolute and appearing like a
thickened margin 5. C. Nuttallii.
5. Fruit almost sessile; margin of carpel appearing as if not winged but under high
magnification showing a minute wing; styles usually deflexed
6. C. terrestris.
1. Callitriche hennaphroditica L. Fig. 510.
Fruit 1-2.5 mm. wide, about as high as wide; surface of carpels obscurely and
irregularly pitted; margins of carpels with a narrow wing but the outer part of
the carpel itself strongly compressed and winglike; style sharply reflexed from
between the mericarps, usually breaking and leaving the persistent base; floral
bracts absent; leaves lance-linear, uniform, dark-bright-green, with bases clasping
the stem.
Submersed aquatic in N.M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-Oct.;
Greenl., across Can. to Alas., n. U. S., s. in the w. to Ariz, and N.M.
2. Callitriche verna L. emend. Kiitz. Fig. 511.
Fruits sessile, suborbicular, 0.6-1.4 mm. wide, the height always exceeding the
width, the width greatest above the middle, the thickness at base greater than at
summit; face of mericarps sharply reticulate, the reticulations appearing more or
less clearly in vertical rows; margins of carpels widely spreading with a definite
scarious wing that is always widest at summit and runs a greater or lesser distance
down the sides; pale green submersed aquatic or sometimes terrestrial on the mar-
gins of ponds or streams; stems to about 5 dm. long; leaves very variable, the
lower submersed ones often linear, 0.3-1 mm. wide, 1-nerved, shallowly bidentate
at apex, the upper ones often dilated and the terminal leaves petioled and narrowly
obovate to spatulate and commonly in a floating rosette, various intermediate
leaves are present on many plants. C. palustris L.
In quiet shallow water or stranded on mud in e. and cen. Tex. through N.M.
(Catron, Taos and Sandoval cos.) to Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Pima cos.),
Mar.-June; from Greenl. to Alas., s. to Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; also Mex.,
Eur. and Asia.
Young fruits of C. verna, when pressed, sometimes widen as they flatten to
simulate in outline those of C. heterophylla.
3. Callitriche heterophylla Pursh emend. Darby. Fig. 512.
Fruit 0.6-1.2 mm. wide, the height equaling the width or not more than 0.1 mm.
greater or 0.1 mm. less than the width; carpels more broadly rounded at summit
than at base so that the outline of the fruit is slightly heart-shaped, convex on the
face and thickest just above the base; margins of fruits wingless or rarely with a
narrow wing at the summit; styles 1-6 mm. long, erect or spreading, persistent or
caducous; plants rather dark green; leaves of many types, often linear and one-
1088
-------
Fig. 512: Callitriche heterophylla: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 40; c, fruit, x 40;
d, mature carpel, x 50. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 513: a and b, Callitriche terrestris: a, habit, x 5; b, mature fruit, x 15. c and
d, Callilriche peploides: c, habit, x 5; d, mature fruit, x 1-5. (V. F.).
-------
nerved at the lower nodes with a rosette of floating obovate leaves, or (on plants
stranded on the mud) all linear or all obovate or oblong; linear one-nerved leaves
shallowly bidentate at tip with an enlarged but scarcely excurrent nerve ending.
In quiet waters and on mud throughout Tex. and Okla., N.M. (Catron and Taos
cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Gila, Pima and Santa Cruz cos.), Feb.-Sept.; from
e. Can. throughout the U.S., s. through Mex. to Guat.
4. Callitriche peploides Nutt. Fig. 513.
Fruit black when ripe, 0.5-0.8 mm. wide, not quite so high; mericarps nar-
rowed and elongate at base, pushing against each other so that each is bent at an
angle with the face and the fruit appears greatly thickened at base; stigmas about
0.2 mm. long, often persistent and loosely reflexed; filaments about 0.2 mm. long;
anther about 0.1 mm. wide; stems rooting below and apparently creeping, the
erect branches 1-5 cm. high; leaves only slightly crowded at the tips of the
branches, 2-5 mm. long, cuneate to spatulate-obovate, 1- to 3-nerved but often so
faintly so as to appear nerveless.
On mud and in wet sands throughout the e. half of Tex., Feb.-May; from S.C.
to Fla., s.e. Ark. and w. to Tex.; also e. Mex. to C.R.
5. Callitriche Nuttallii Torr. Fig. 514.
Fruit with pedicels of various lengths, buried in the mud at maturity, 1 mm.
wide, 0.6-0.8 mm. high, 0.3-0.5 mm. thick; mericarps with flat faces, the margins
with a thin wing that is curled toward the face to give the appearance of thickened
margins; stigmas about 0.8 mm. long, sometimes persistent and loosely ascending
or somewhat reflexed; filaments 0.2-0.5 mm. long; anthers 0.2-0.3 mm. wide; plant
a minute annual; leaves 3-4 mm. long, 0.5-1.5 mm. wide, oblanceolate-obovate,
very obscurely 3-veined.
In damp soil in fallow fields and flats in e. Tex., Mar.-May; along Gulf Coast
from Ala. to Tex., inland to cen. Ala. and Ark.
6. Callitriche terrestris Raf. emend. Torr. Fig. 513.
Fruit 0.6-0.9 mm. wide, 0.4-0.7 mm. high, with pedicels mostly 0.2 mm. long
or rarely reaching 0.6 mm. long; mericarps usually equally rounded at each end
but rarely broadly rounded above so that the fruit becomes slightly heart-shaped;
faces of mericarps flat; outer edges of mericarps appearing scarcely winged but
under high magnification showing a very narrow wing with radii but little anasto-
mosing of radii; stigmas 0.2-0.4 mm. long, usually persistent and deflexed; anthers
0.1-0.2 mm. wide, on filaments 0.1-0.2 mm. long; a minute annual with simple to
much-branched slender stems to about 3.5 cm. long; leaves rather uniform,
obovate-oblanceolate to spatulate, 2-3.5 mm. long, 0.6-1 mm. wide, very obscurely
3-nerved. C. Austinii Engelm., C. deflexa A. Br. var. Austinii (Engelm.) Hegelm.
On damp soil, moist pathways, wet open spots in lawns and other such places
in e. Tex. and e. Okla., Mar.-June; from N.E., s. to s.e. Va., w. Ala., La., Tex.,
Okla., Mo. and 111.
Fam. 80. Anacardiaceae LINDL. SUMAC FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or vines with resin-ducts in the bark and sometimes in the herbage,
with a resinous or milky and usually acrid juice; leaves alternate or rarely opposite,
simple to 3-foliolate or pinnate, deciduous or persistent, usually essentially exstipu-
late; flowers numerous, small, in terminal thyrses or axillary panicles, or rarely in
clusters of spikes, perfect or unisexual through abortion, mostly regular with
5-parted (less often 3- or 4-parted) whorls; receptacle various, flat, concave or
convex, sometimes forming a cushionlike gynophore, developing into a ring- or
1091
-------
Fig. 514: Callitriche Nuttallii: a, habit, x 5; b, mature fruit, x 25. (V. F.).
-------
cup-shaped disk; calyx inferior, rarely lacking; corolla seldom lacking; stamens as
many as and alternate with the petals, sometimes twice as many or partially abort-
ing; carpels 1 or 2 to 5 united; styles separate or more usually coalesced; fruit
various, dry or drupaceous, with resinous or ceriferous mesocarp and crustaceous
or bony endocarp (stone); seed with little or no endosperm.
About 60 genera and nearly 600 species, mostly in the tropics.
1. Rhus L. SUMAC
Shrubs or small trees, rarely vines; leaves alternate, simple or compound (in
ours); flowers polygamous, in axillary or terminal panicles; calyx lobes 4 to 6,
usually 5, persistent; petals imbricated in the bud, spreading in anthesis; disk
annular; stamens 5; ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled; styles 3, terminal; drupe small, sub-
globose or compressed, pubescent or glabrous, the exocarp persistent or deciduous;
seed solitary, inverted on a stalk that rises from the base of the ovary.
About 250 species of temperate and tropical regions, most abundant in South
Africa. The venacular name is commonly pronounced "shumac."
1. Leaflets 5 to 17; large shrubs or trees, always in wet habitats 1. R. Vernix.
1. Leaflets typically 3; small shrubs or vines of usually (but not always) dryish
habitats (2)
2(1). Terminal leaflet oblong-elliptic, with broad blunt apex; leaflets entire
or with shallow rounded lobes or broad blunt teeth; low creeping
shrub 2. R. Toxicodendron var. Toxicodendron,
2. Terminal leaflet ovate or rhombic, with narrowed apex; usually with some
leaflets deeply lobed or sharply toothed (3)
3(2). Petioles and lower surface of leaflets pubescent; low or high-climbing
vine, sometimes creeping and with erect branches to 18 dm. tall
2. R. Toxicodendron var. vulgaris.
3. Petioles and leaflets glabrous; low shrub usually less than 10 dm. tall, forming
beds from creeping rootstocks 2. R. Toxicodendron var. eximia.
1. Rhus Vernix L. POISON SUMAC, POISON ELDER, POISON DOGWOOD. Fig. 515.
Shrub or small tree to 7 m. high; branchlets glabrous, glaucous at first, gray
at maturity; leaves odd-pinnate, with glabrous petioles; leaflets 5 to 13, short-
stalked, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 4-10 cm. long, acuminate at apex, cuneate at
base, entire, slightly pubescent at first, becoming quite glabrous, with 8 to 12
pairs of veins; flowers greenish, in slender axillary panicles to 2 dm., long; fruit
subglobose, compressed, 5-6 mm. across, whitish or light yellowish-gray.
In swamps, bogs, on seepage slopes and in wet thickets in e. Tex., Apr.—June;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.E. and s.e. Minn.
The plant, at all seasons, is virulently poisonous to the touch. The leaves
turn to orange or scarlet in the fall and are most attractive but dangerous!
2. Rhus Toxicodendron L. POISON IVY, POISON OAK, HIEDRA. Fig. 515A.
Small shrub or vine with slender glabrate to densely pubescent or puberulent
stems and branches, sometimes with aerial root and/or subterranean stolons;
leaflets 3, very rarely with some 5, variable, at first more or less pubescent, later
glabrate (especially above) or somewhat pubescent beneath, ovate to elliptic
or rhombic to obovate, entire or irregularly serrate or dentate to regularly
lobate-dentate with 3 to 7 rounded blunt or rarely subacute lobes, rounded to
acute or acuminate at apex, rounded to cuneate at the base; terminal leaflet 3-20
cm. long, 1.5-13 cm. wide, with a petiolule 1-4.5 cm. long; lateral leaflets some-
what smaller than terminal one, inequilateral, often subentire on the upper margin
and 3- to 7-lobed on the lower margin, with petiolules 1-5 mm. long; inflorescence
1093
-------
Fig. 515: a-d, Cyrilla racemiflora: a, branchlet with flowers, x i/.; b, flower, x 5;
c, one raceme in fruit, x ];>; d, fruit, x 5. e, Rlws vcrnix: e, branch with fruit, x V>
(adapted from Sargent, Manual of ihe Trees of North America, fig. 599). (V. F.).
-------
composed of lateral panicles; fruit mostly whitish or cream-colored, subglobose,
5-7 mm. in diameter, glabrous or somewhat pubescent; seeds about 4 mm. broad.
An extremely perplexing and ubiquitous assemblage of variants make up this
"species." One or more variants are found throughout much of our region where
they occur from dry barrens to swampy or boggy habitats, spring-summer; N.S.
to B.C., s. to Fla., Ariz, and Oax.
The plants are commonly showy in autumn with the brilliant scarlet or orange
tint of their leaves that are very poisonous to the touch. The fumes from burn-
ing plants can also be very poisonous.
The following varieties, whose difference are given in the key, are in our region.
It is entirely possible that additional variants can be found in our area.
Var. eximia (Greene) McNair [Rhus verrucosa Scheele, R. radicans var.
verrucosa (Scheele) Fern, and var. Rydbergii (Small) Rehd., Toxicondendron
eximium Greene, T. radicans var. eximium (Greene) Barkl. and var. verrucosum
(Scheele) Barkl.] In uplands and on limestone outcrops.
Var. Toxicodendron [Rhus Toxicodendron var. quercifolia Michx., Toxico-
dendron quercifolium (Michx.) Greene]. In sandy woods and open area.
Var. vulgaris Michx. [Rhus Toxicodendron var. microcarpa Michx. and var.
radicans (L.) Torr., R. radicans L. and var. vulgaris (Michx.) DC., Toxico-
dendron radicans (L.) O. Ktze.]. Stream bottoms, swampy lowlands or hillside
woods or thickets, fencerows and disturbed soils.
Fam. 81. Cyrillaceae ENDL. CYRILLA FAMILY
Shrubs or trees; leaves alternate, simple, without stipules, usually borne at the
ends of the branchlets, chartaceous to coriaceous, entire, persistent, petiolate;
flowers small, regular, perfect, borne in narrow lateral or terminal racemes or
panicles; calyx usually 5- (rarely 4- to 8-) parted; sepals equal or unequal,
imbricate, persistent; petals hypogynbus, the same number as the sepals, sessile
or short'clawed, free (in ours), slightly convolute, deciduous; stamens hypogy-
nous, 5 or 10, when 5 alternate with the petals, when 10 those opposite
petals shorter; filaments subulate or flattened, distinct, sometimes appendaged;
anthers basifixed or dorsifixed, 2-ceIled, longitudinally dehiscent; disk annular,
subeupular or cylindric, confluent with the base of the ovary; ovary superior,
2- to 5-celled, terete or angled; ovules anatropous, 1 or 2 pendulous from the
apex of the cell or 3 (rarely 2 or 4) attached to a short placenta pendulous from
the apex of the cell; style elongate or wanting; stigma entire or 2- to 5-lobed;
fruit small, crustaceous or spongy, indehiscent, sometimes winged; seed usually
solitary in each cavity, elongated, with fleshy endosperm; embryo central,
elongated; radicle superior.
A small American family of 3 genera and about 13 species.
1. Cyrilla L.
A variable but apparently monotypic American genus.
1. Cyrilla racemiflora L. LEATHERWOOD, BLACK TITI. Fig. 515.
Usually small trees, to 10 m. tall, with a trunk to 3 dm. in diameter; leaves
alternate, petiolate, oblanceolate, chartaceous to coriaceous, usually widest above
the middle, entire, usually turning a rusty-red or -yellow in the fall; racemes
slender, lateral, clustered, arising at the base of twigs of current year, 6-18 cm.
long, spreading; flowers numerous, fragrant; pedicels 1.5-3 mm. long, basally
jointed, with 1 conspicuous persistent bract at base and 2 persistent bractlets
below the calyx; calyx small; sepals 5, equal, acute, coriaceous; petals 5, white,
1095
-------
Fig. 515A: Rhits Toxicodcndron: A, habit, x %; B, flower'panicle, x %; C. flowers,
x 4; D, drupe, x 2V>; E, stones, x 2U; F, aerial roots, x 2Va- (From Reed, Selected
Weeds of the United Stales, Fig. 126).
-------
lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-3.2 mm. long; stamens 5, equal, inserted at
the base of the corolla; filaments subulate; disk cylindric; ovary oblong, 2-celled;
style short, stigma 2-lobed; ovules 3 (rarely 2 or 4) attached to a short placenta
pendulous from the apex of the cell; fruit small, indehiscent, ovoid, subterete,
2-3 mm. long, 2-celled, pericarp spongy, cells 1-seeded.
In bottomlands, swamps, boggy areas and along streams in s.e. Tex., n. to
Trinity Co., May-July; from s. Va., s. to Fla., w. along the coast to Tex.
We have two noticeably distinct flowering forms; plants with racemes mostly
less than 10 cm. long and suborbicular-ovoid apically blunted fruits and plants
with racemes more than 10 cm. long and narrowly ovoid pointed fruits.
Fam. 82. Aquifoliaceae BARTL. HOLLY FAMILY
Shrubs or trees, usually evergreen, mostly polygamo-dioecious; leaves alternate,
simple, usually stipulate, petiolate, margin entire to toothed or sometimes
spiny; inflorescence normally cymose, pedunculate or sessile, axillary, solitary
or fasciculate, 1- to many-flowered; flowers regular, small, usually 4- to 6-parted,
sometimes more; calyx small, free from the ovary and drupe, persistent, the lobes
imbricate; corolla white or greenish, deciduous; petals imbricate, rarely valvate,
alternate with the sepals, free or united at the base; stamens usually 4 to 6,
inserted at the base of the corolla, alternate with the petals, all fertile; filaments
subulate, erect, shorter than the petals; anthers introrse, 2-celled, longitudinally
dehiscent; staminodia in pistillate flowers similar to stamens, smaller in size,
sterile; ovary free, superior, angled or lobed, sessile, usually 2- to 6- (rarely
many-)celled; stigma capitate or discoid, usually sessile, with as many lobes as
cells in the ovary; ovules 1 (rarely 2) in each cell, suspended, anatropous; ovary
in staminate flowers abortive; fruit drupaceous, globose to ellipsoid or rarely
lobed, usually containing 4 to 8 (rarely to 18) horny or crustaceous stones;
stones smooth, ribbed or striate, usually 1-seeded; seed suspended, the testa
membranaceous, the fleshy endosperm copious.
A family of three genera containing about 500 species.
1. Ilex L. HOLLY
Shrubs or trees; leaves alternate, petiolate, persistent or deciduous, entire to
dentate or spinescent; stipules minute, deciduous; staminate and pistillate flowers
on separate plants or occasional flowers appearing perfect, small, axillary, cymose,
fasciculate or solitary, usually pedicellate; calyx minute, 4- to 9-parted, persistent;
corolla rotate; petals 4 to 9, hypogynous, elliptic or oblong, obtuse, free or
united at the base, white or greenish, deciduous; stamens inserted on the base of
the corolla, as many as and alternate with the petals; filaments subulate; anthers
attached on the back, oblong, usually rudimentary in the fertile flower; ovary
free, sessile, subcylindrical, usually 2- to 8-celled, rudimentary in the sterile
flower; style usually wanting; stigmas as many as the cells of the ovary, distinct
or confluent; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, suspended from near the apex, collateral,
anatropous; fruit drupaceous, subglobose, crowned by the persistent stigma,
usually containing 4 to 8 bony or crustaceous stones; stones 1-seeded, smooth,
ribbed or striate.
A genus of about 400 species, widely distributed over the temperate and
tropical regions of the world, most abundant in China.
Many species are grown as ornamentals. Their usually brightly colored fruits
and mostly evergreen foliage are not only attractive to man, but many species of
birds and small mammals eat their fruits and seek their year around shelter.
1097
-------
1. Fruit red or black, sometimes yellow, with smooth stones; pistillate flowers
with usually 6 to 9 petals and calyx lobes (2)
1. Fruit red or purple, sometimes yellow, with ribbed or striate stones; pistillate
and polygamous flowers with usually 4 or 5 (rarely 7) petals and
calyx lobes (4)
2(1). Sepals ciliate; leaves thin, deciduous 1. /. verticillata.
2. Sepals not ciliate but sometimes obscurely ciliolate or erose-denticulate; leaves
coriaceous, persistent (3)
3(2). Young twigs velutinous-puberulent; leaves crenate or crenate-serrate
above the middle, the 1 to 3 marginal teeth closely appressed to
sinus, the apex not noticeably spine-tipped 2. /. glabra.
3. Young twigs glabrous or viscid-puberulent; leaves mostly spinescent-serrate
above the middle, the several teeth erect or spreading, the apex
spine-tipped 3. /. coriacea.
4(1). Leaves relatively thin, deciduous; inflorescence sessile, all the flowers soli-
tary or fasciculate; pedicels without bractlets at base (5)
4. Leaves coriaceous, persistent; inflorescence peduncled, the flowers in cymes or
solitary; pedicels with bractlets at base (7)
5(4). Pedicels 4-6 mm. long; leaf blades mostly spatulate to obovate, attenuate
at base, commonly emarginate at apex 4. /. decidua.
5. Pedicels 6-30 mm. long; leaf blades typically obovate-elliptic, cuneate at base,
acute to acuminate at apex (6)
6(5). Leaf blades short-hirtellous or puberulent along midvein beneath
5. /. longipes var. longipes.
6. Leaf blades hirsute along midvein beneath 5. /. longipes var. hirsuta.
7(4). Leaf blades essentially entire or rarely with several obsolescent teeth above
middle 8. /. Cassine,
1. Leaf blades coarsely toothed (rarely with some entire in /. opaca) (8)
8(7). Leaf blades only occasionally with some more than 4 cm. long
6. /. vomitoria.
8. Leaf blades usually much more than 4 cm. long 7. /. opaca.
1. Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray. BLACK ALDER, WINTER-BERRY.
Shrub or small slender tree to 5 m. high; leaves with a petiole 1-1.5 cm. long,
round-obovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, cuneate at base, more or less
abruptly acuminate at apex, serrate, appressed-pilose or downy to glabrous beneath,
dull above, thin-textured, deciduous, to 8 cm. long and 35 mm. wide; staminate
flowers clustered, 2 to 10, all short-stalked, 4- to 6-merous; pistillate flowers short-
stalked, 5- to 8-merous; calyx segments obtuse, ciliate; drupes bright-red varying
to yellow, 5-7 mm. in diameter; stones smooth on the back.
In or about swamps, pond-margins, river banks and damp thickets in s.e. Tex.,
Apr.-June; from Nfld. to Minn., s. to Ga. and e. Tex.
2. Ilex glabra (L.) Gray. INK-BERRY, GALLBERRY.
Shrub to 4 m. high, usually much smaller; twigs slender, angled, finely puberu-
lent; leaves persistent, rather crowded on the short twigs, with finely puberulent
petioles usually 2-5 mm. long, coriaceous, lustrous above, paler on undersurface,
oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, to 5 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, obtuse and
mucronulate at apex, acute to subcuneate at base, the margin distantly serrate
above the middle with 1 to 3 teeth on each side or rarely entire, punctate, puberu-
lent above along the elevated midvein; inflorescence axillary, peduncled, the stami-
nate with 3 or more flowers, the pistillate 1- to 3-flowered; peduncles slender,
puberulent, to 1 cm. long in staminate inflorescence, shorter in pistillate; pedicels
1098
-------
puberulent, those of staminate flowers 1-5 mm. long; flowers 5- to 8-parted; calyx
glabrous, subcupuliform, 2-3 mm. in diameter, the ovate-triangular lobes often
obscurely ciliolate; corolla in staminate flowers to 7 mm. wide; petals united at
base, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, to 3 mm. long, the margin subentire; stamens
and staminodia shorter that the petals; ovary in pistillate flowers suburceolate,
about 2 mm. long, 5- to 8-celled, the stigma discoid; drupe globose, black, 5-8 mm.
in diameter, 5- to 8-sulcate, crowned by the persistent stigma; stones up to 8 in
number, not ribbed, about 4 mm. long.
In low sandy soil, usually in pine lands, pine barrens and swamps in n.e. Tex.,
rare, Feb.-July; from N.S. and e. Mass., s. to Fla. and Tex.
3. Ilex coriacea (Pursh) Chapm. BAY-GALL BUSH. Fig. 516.
Shrub, usually arborescent, evergreen, to 5 m. high and a trunk 5 cm. in diam-
eter; twigs rather slender, subterete or inconspicuously angled, minutely puberulent;
leaves with rather stout puberulent petioles 3-10 mm. long, coriaceous, often
rigid, dark-green and lustrous above, paler beneath, elliptic to oblong-elliptic or
obovate-elliptic to oblanceolate, to 9 cm long and 35 mm. wide, the margin entire
or with several small spinescent teeth above the middle, not crenulate, the spines-
cent apex acute to obtuse or rarely subacuminate, acute or sometimes rounded at
base, the midvein puberulent above at first and beneath at base, punctate and
sometimes glaucous on the undersurface, the costa conspicuous on both surfaces;
flowers solitary or fasciculate, usually in the leaf axils, sometimes appearing race-
mose on short leafy twigs; pedicels without bractlets at base, those of staminate
flowers glabrous and 3-6 (rarely 10) mm. long, those of pistillate flowers puberu-
lent and 5-9 (rarely 15) mm. long; flowers 5- to 9-parted; calyx glabrous, the
triangular lobes acute and erose-denticulate, equaling or surpassing the tube; corolla
white; petals united at base, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, erose, in staminate flowers
to 3.5 mm. long, in pistillate flowers smaller; stamens fully three fourths as long
as the petals; staminodia about one half as long as the petals; ovary in pistillate
flowers depressed-globose, about 2 mm. long including the short thick style; 4- to
9-celled, the stigma discoid; drupe globose, black, to 8 mm. in diameter, crowned
by the persistent stigma; stones as many as 9, laterally compressed, smooth, to
4 mm. long.
In swamps, low hammocks and along streams in s.e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from Va.,
s. to Fla. and Tex.
This species is commonly confused with the usually smaller /. glabra.
4. Ilex decidua Walt. POSSUM-HAW, DECIDUOUS HOLLY, WINTER-BERRY.
Shrub or small tree to 10m. high, the trunk to 25 cm. in diameter; twigs terete,
pale-silvery-gray, glabrous or rarely puberulent, the lateral ones usually spurlike
and short, the vigorous shoots slender and elongate; leaves deciduous, usually fas-
cicled on the ends of the short spurlike lateral branches; petioles canaliculate,
densely puberulent above with incurved hairs, glabrous beneath, slender, 2-11 mm.
long; blades at first membranaceous, firmer with age, pale on undersurface, oblan-
ceolate to oblong-spatulate or obovate to broadly obov'ate-elliptic, to 8 cm. long
and 45 mm. wide, obtuse to rounded or obtusely subacuminate at apex, usually
emarginate, cuneate or narrowed and acute at base, the margin remotely crenulate-
serrulate, the small incurved teeth tipped with glands; flowers solitary or fasciculate,
usually aggregated at the ends of the lateral spurlike branches of the previous sea-
son, rarely solitary on the shoots of the year, appearing with the leaves; pedicels
without bractlets at base, glabrous, those of staminate flowers slender and to 12
mm. long, those of pistillate flowers to 6 mm. long; flowers 4- or 5-parted; calyx
lobes triangular, acute, entire or denticulate in staminate flowers, sometimes
obscurely ciliolate in pistillate flowers, equaling or surpassing the tube; corolla
1099
-------
Fig. 516: Ilex coriacea: a, flowering branch, x V*\ b, flower from the top, x 5; c,
calyx, x 5; d, fruiting branch, x UN e, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
white; petals united at base, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 3-3.8 mm. long; stamens in
staminate flowers slightly shorter than the petals; staminodia in pistillate flowers
about three fourths as long as the petals; ovary in pistillate flowers ovoid, about
1.5 mm. long, usually 4-celled; stigma large, sessile, capitate; drupe globose or
depressed-globose, bright-red or orange, to 7.5 mm. in diameter, crowned by the
persistent stigma, often persisting on the branches until the leaves appear the
following spring; stones usually 4, strongly ribbed, to 5 mm. long.
In woods, often bordering streams, swamps or ravines in e. and cen. Tex. and
e. Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; from Va., w. to 111., s. to Fla., Tex. and Kan.
5. Ilex longipes Chapm. GEORGIA HOLLY, CHAPMAN'S HOLLY.
Shrub or small tree, rarely to 7 m. high; twigs slender, subterete, glabrous; leaves
deciduous; petioles slender, canaliculate, puberulent above with minute incurved
hairs, 3-10 mm. long; leaf blades membranaceous or chartaceous with age, dark-
green above, paler beneath, elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate-elliptic, to 6 cm.
long and 3 cm. wide, short-acuminate to acute or obtusish at apex, minutely mucro-
nulate, subcuneate and acute at base, the margin subcrenulate-serrulate, the teeth
subappressed-mucronulate, sparsely short-hirtellous above along the midvein,
irregularly ciliolate, short-hirtellous or puberulent beneath along the midvein and
primary veins; inflorescence axillary, not peduncled, the staminate flowers fascicu-
late, the pistillate flowers usually solitary; pedicels slender, glabrous, usually 1-2
cm. long, sometimes to 3 cm. long; flowers 4-parted, small; calyx glabrous; stami-
nate calyx subcupuliform, about 2 mm. in diameter, the triangular lobes acute and
denticulate; calyx of pistillate flowers slightly larger; corolla rotate; petals united
at base, elliptic, to 3.3 mm. long, not ciliolate; stamens subequaling petals, the
staminodia a third shorter than petals; ovary in pistillate flowers ovoid, to 2.5 mm.
long, 4-celled, the stigma capitate; drupe globose, 5.5-8 mm. in diameter; stones 4,
inconspicuously striate-sulcate, to 5.5 mm. long.
In swamps, upland forests and often on sandy banks of streams in s.e. Tex.,
Mar.-May; from N.C. and Tenn., s. to Fla. and Tex.
The var. longipes is usually a larger plant than var. hirsuta Lundell. Characters
used in the key are the main ones for separating these two entities.
6. Ilex vomitoria Ait. YAUPON.
Shrub or tree, evergreen, to 8 m. high; twigs usually short, rather stout, rigid,
obtusely angled, densely puberulent; petioles puberulent, usually 1-3 mm. long,
sometimes to 6 mm. long; leaf blades coriaceous, dark-green and lustrous above,
paler beneath, elliptic to oblong or oblong-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, sometimes
obovate-elliptic, to 55 mm. long and 28 mm. wide, usually much smaller, crenulate
to crenate or crenulate-serrulate, the teeth mucronulate, obtuse and usually minutely
emarginate and mucronulate at apex, obtuse to rounded or rarely acuti-'.i at base,
at first puberulent above along the midvein and at base, glabrous otherwise; inflo-
rescences fasciculate in the leaf axils, the staminate usually 3-flowered, the pistillate
1-flowered; peduncle of staminate inflorescence short, usually puberulent; pedicels
1.3-3.8 mm. long, those of staminate flowers glabrous, those of pistillate flowers
puberulent; flowers 4-parted; calyx glabrous, the broadly ovate or rounded lobes
about 0.5 mm. long; corolla white; petals united at base, elliptic to oblong-elliptic,
2-3 mm. long, to 2 mm. wide; stamens subequaling the petals; staminodia shorter
than the petals; ovary in pistillate flowers conic-ovoid, 1.5-2 mm. long, 4-celled,
the stigma capitate; drupe globose, lucid, bright-red, to 6.5 mm. in diameter,
crowned by the persistent stigma; stones 4, striate, to 4 mm. long.
In low woods, hammocks and sandy pine lands, occasionally in swamps and
fioodplain woods, in s.e. and s.-cen. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall), Apr.-May;
from Va., s. to Fla., Ark. and Tex.
1101
-------
This is the most abundant of our hollies. The leaves, which contain a caffeine,
were used by aborigines to decoct a ceremonial drink.
7. Hex opaca Ait. AMERICAN HOLLY.
Tree, evergreen, usually small, sometimes to 16 m. high; twigs rather stout,
densely puberulent, subterete or striate-sulcate; petioles puberulent, usually 5-12
mm. long, sometimes to 18 mm. long, canaliculate; leaf blades variable, coriaceous,
sometimes rigid, dark-green above, paler beneath, elliptic to obovate, to 12 cm.
long and 6 cm. wide, acute to subacuminate and spine-tipped at apex, obtuse to
rounded or sometimes acutish or subcuneate at base, spinose-dentate or sometimes
nearly or quite entire, puberulent above at first along the midvein and at base, often
sparsely short-hirtellous beneath along the midvein; inflorescences scattered or
fasciculate in the leaf axils, the puberulent staminate cymes 3- to 10-flowered and
to 25 mm. long, the pistillate usually 1-flowered; peduncle of staminate inflores-
cence to 1 cm. long; pedicels puberulent, those of staminate flowers to 7 mm. long
and without bractlets, those of pistillate flowers 2-10 mm. long and bearing 2
bractlets near middle; flowers 4-parted; calyx sparsely puberulent or glabrous,
ciliate, the ovate-triangular lobes 1-1.5 mm. long and acute or acuminate; corolla
white or yellowish; petals united at base, usually elliptic, to 4 mm. long and 3 mm.
wide, sometimes sparsely ciliolate; stamens equaling or exceeding the petals;
staminodia shorter than the petals; ovary in pistillate flowers conic-ovoid, about
2.5 mm. long, 4-celIed, the stigma capitate; drupe globose or ellipsoid, red, rarely
yellow, to 12 mm. in diameter; stones 4, ribbed, to 8 mm. long.
In moist woods, hammocks, along banks of streams and in swamps in e. and
s.-cen. Tex., most abundant near the coast, Apr.-June; from Mass., w. to Wise.,
s. to Fla. and Tex.
The small branches of this species, loaded with red "berries," are everywhere
gathered for decorative use at Christmas time. Although usually found in well-
drained woodlands, the American holly is known to be tolerant of wet, swampy
woodlands.
8. Dex Cassine L. DAHOON, DAHOON HOLLY.
Small tree, evergreen, to 10 m. high; twigs rather slender, glabrous or pubes-
cent; petioles glabrous or pubescent, canaliculate, stout, to 12 mm. long; leaf
blades coriaceous, dark-green and lustrous above, paler beneath, obovate-oblong
to oblanceolate or oblong, to 14 cm. long and 45 mm. wide, acute to mucronate
or rarely rounded at apex, acute at base, the margin revolute, entire or sometimes
serrate above the middle with sharp mucronate teeth, puberulent above, at first
densely pubescent beneath but glabrous at maturity except for occasional hairs on
the lower surface of the broad midrib; inflorescence peduncled, to 25 mm. long,
produced from the young shoots or occasionally from branches of the previous
year, the staminate 3- to 9-flowered, the pistillate usually 3-flowered; peduncles
and pedicels pubescent, the peduncles to 15 mm. long but usually much shorter,
the pedicels to 6 mm. long; flowers usually 4-parted; calyx glabrous, 1.5-2 mm. in
diameter, the ovate-triangular lobes acute to acuminate and ciliate; corolla in
staminate flowers to 5 mm. wide; petals united at base, oblong-elliptic, to 2.5 mm.
long; stamens subequaling petals; staminodia in pistillate flowers shorter than
petals, the small anthers abortive; ovary in pistillate flowers conical, about 2 mm.
long, 4-celled. the stigma capitate; drupe globose, red, 5-6 mm. in diameter;
stones 4, ribbed, about 4 mm. long.
In swamps, hammocks and along streams in s.e. Tex., May-June; from Va.,
s. to Fla. and Tex.
Texas material is commonly referred to var. latifolia Ait.
1102
-------
Fam. 83. Celastraceae R. BR. STAFF-TREE FAMILY
Shrubs, woody vines or small trees; leaves simple, opposite or alternate; stipules
lacking or minute, fugacious; flowers with jointed pedicels, regular, perfect or
unisexual, 4- or 5-merous, the perianth parts imbricated in the bud; stamens
4 to 10, commonly as many as the petals and alternate with them, inserted on a
broad flat usually lobed disk that fills the bottom of the calyx and sometimes
covers the ovary; ovules anatropous; styles completely united; fruit 1- to 5-celled,
free from the calyx; seeds mostly arillate.
About 850 species in more than 50 genera, world-wide in distribution.
1. Euonymus L. SPINDLE-TREE
Shrubs or small trees with 4-sided green-barked branchlets; leaves opposite,
serrulate; flowers small, perfect, 4- or 5-merous, solitary or in loose pedunculate
cymes in the leaf axils; sepals united at the base to form a short flat calyx; petals
rounded, spreading; stamens short, inserted on the margin of a broad and flat
4- or 5-angled disk that coheres with the calyx to conceal the ovary and more or
less adhere to it; style short or none; capsule 3- to 5-lobed and -valved, loculicidal;
seeds 1 to 4 in each cell, enclosed in a red aril.
About 175 species, primarily in North America, Eurasia and Australia.
1. Leaves often essentially sessile, with petioles less than 5 mm. long; flowers
5-merous; fruits tuberculate 1. E. americanus.
1. Leaves with prominent petiole more than 5 mm. long; flowers 4-merous; fruit
smooth (2)
2(1). Leaves ovate-elliptic to elliptic, acute or abruptly short-acuminate, per-
sistently pubescent beneath....2. E. atropurpureus var. atropurpureus.
2. Leaves lanceolate, attenuate at apex into a long acumen, entirely glabrous
2. E. atropurpureus var. Cheatumii.
1. Euonymus americanus L. STRAWBERRY-BUSH, BURSTING-HEART.
Low erect or straggling shrub to about 2 m. high; leaves sessile or essen-
tially so, firm, bright-green above, pale beneath,, ovate to elliptic or oblong-
lanceolate, acute to acuminate, crenulate-serrulate, essentially glabrous, to about
1 dm. long and 35 mm. wide; flowers solitary or in few-flowered cymes, 5-merous,
1-1.2 cm. wide, greenish-purple; petals distinctly clawed; capsules rough-warty,
3- to 5-lobed, depressed, about 15 mm. thick, crimson when ripe, the aril and
dissepiments scarlet.
In mud along streams, swamps, river bottomlands and on forested stream
banks in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall), May-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to
N.Y., Pa., W.Va., Ind., Ill, Mo. and Okla.
2. Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq. BURNING-BUSH, WAHOO.
Erect shrub or small tree to 8 m. high; leaves with petioles 1-2 cm. long,
oblong-oval to lanceolate, acute to acuminate or long-attenuate, pubescent beneath
or entirely glabrous, 7-13 cm. long, serrulate; peduncles 7- to 15-flowered;
flowers dark-red or purple, 4-merous, mostly 6-8 mm. wide; ovules ascending, 2
in each cell; fruits red or purple, depressed-obovoid, about 15 mm. broad, deeply
4-lobed, smooth; seeds brown, with a scarlet aril.
Rich moist woods, bottomlands, swamps, thickets and ravines, mainly in
n.-cen. Tex. and e. half of Okla. (Waterfall), Apr.-July; from Ont. to Mont,
s. to N.C., Tenn, Ala, Ark, Okla. and Tex.
We have two variants as noted in the key—var. atropurpureus and var.
Cheatumii Lundell.
1103
-------
Fam. 84. Aceraceae Juss. MAPLE FAMILY
Trees and shrubs with watery saccharine sap, polygamo-dioecious; leaves oppo-
site, simple and palmately lobed or pinnately divided; flowers small, regular, with
or without petals; ovary 2-celled, 2-lobed; ovules 2 in each cell.
Three genera comprising about 200 species in the North Temperate Zone and
tropical mountains.
1. Acer L. MAPLE
Deciduous trees or rarely shrubs; flowers mostly 5-merous, in racemes, panicles
or corymbs; calyx colored, 5 (rarely 4 to 12) -lobed or -parted; petals either
none or as many as the lobes of the calyx, equal, usually with short claws, inserted
on the margin of a perigynous or hypogynous disk; stamens 3 to 12; ovary
2-celled, with a pair of ovules in each cell; styles 2, long and slender, united only
below, stigmatic down the inner side; back of each carpel bearing a wing, con-
verting the fruit into two 1-seeded eventually separable samaras or "keys."
Nearly 200 species in the Northern Hemisphere.
Most of our species are used as street and shade trees, the ubiquitous A.
Negundo being extensively used in arid regions. Their buds, flowers and fruits
are eaten by many kinds of wildlife.
1. Leaves compound, with 3 to 9 pinnately veined leaflets 1. A. Negundo.
1. Leaves simple, palmately veined and mostly palmately lobed (2)
2(1). Leaf margins smooth, not closely serrate; terminal and upper lateral lobes
of leaf with straight or concave sides, the lobes somewhat quad-
rate or squarish; base of sinus between lobes forming a rounded or
obtuse angle; the yellowish flowers and fruits produced along with
the leaves or after they develop; calyx bearded; fruit more or less
pubescent 2. A. barbatum.
2. Leaf margins more or less closely serrate; terminal and/or at least the upper
lateral lobes of the leaf with gradually rounded or tapering sides,
the lobes triangular; base of sinus between lobes forming an acute
angle; the reddish flowers and fruits produced before leaves de-
velop; calyx and fruit glabrous 3. A. rubrum.
1. Acer Negundo L. BOXELDER, ASH-LEAVED MAPLE, ARCE, FRESNO DE GUAJUCO.
Small tree with green pubescent to glabrous twigs and branchlets; leaves
pinnate, with 3 to 9 petiolulate very veiny and more or less pubescent leaflets,
when mature pubescent to glabrate beneath; leaflets 5-10 cm. long and 5-7.5 cm.
wide; terminal leaflet elliptic to obovate; lateral leaflets narrower and coarsely
few-toothed or entire; leaves of vigorous tips and sprouts with more numerous
often lobed leaflets; flowers greenish, unisexual, produced just before the leaves,
the staminate flowers fascicled and pendulous on filiform pedicels, the pistillate
flowers racemose; petals and disk absent; samaras 25-35 mm. long, yellowish,
strongly ascending, the seed prolonged. Rulac Negundo (L.) Hitchc.
River banks, edge of springs, along streams, floodplain woods, waste places,
fencerows mainly in the e. half of Tex., Okla. (Bryan and Caddo cos.), N.M.
(widespread) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.),
Feb.-Apr.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to w. N.E., N.Y., s. Ont., and s.e. Minn.; much
cult, and naturalized e. to Maritime Provinces and e. Que.
Those trees with the branchlets more or less permanently puberulent are
usually segregated as var. texanum Pax.
1104
-------
2. Acer barbatum Michx. FLORIDA MAPLE, SOUTHERN SUGAR MAPLE.
Tree to 20 m. high, with thin whitish-gray smooth bark that becomes furrowed
in age, the trunk to 7 dm. in diameter; branchlets grayish and purple-tinged,
glabrous to short-pilose; leaves with glabrous to pilose petioles to 75 mm. long,
3- to 5-lobed, minutely pilose to glabrescent and somewhat glaucescent beneath, to
9 cm. long and 11 cm. broad, truncate to subcordate at base, with entire or
slightly tabulate obtuse to acute lobes; flowers yellowish-green, with pedicels
elongating to 5 cm., in many-flowered nearly sessile corymbs; calyx to 2.5 mm.
long, with a conspicuous long white beard projecting from throat; corolla absent;
ovary long-setose; samaras 1.5-3 cm. long, fruit body to 1 cm. long, sparingly
villous while young, the wings to 9 mm. wide. A. ftoridanum (Chapm.) Pax,
A. saccharum var. floridanum (Chapm.) Small & Heller.
Along streams and in wettish flat woodlands in s.e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from
Fla. to s.e. Tex., n. to e. Va. and s.e. Mo.
3. Acer rubrum L. RED MAPLE, SCARLET MAPLE.
Tree to about 35 m. high, with spreading to ascending smoothish branches to
form a globular crown, the trunk to about 1 m. in diameter; branchlets red;
leaves with mostly reddish petioles to 1 dm. long, 3- to 5-lobed, to 1 dm. long
and wide, the margins coarsely serrate, broadly cuneate to rounded or subcordate
at base, the lobes triangular-ovate and short-acuminate, herbaceous to somewhat
coriaceous, dark-green and lustrous above, glaucous and subglabrous to densely
whitish- or tawny-pubescent beneath, mostly always pubescent on veins beneath;
flowers appearing before the leaves, usually reddish, on slender stalks; petals
linear-oblong, about 2 mm. long; samaras 15-25 mm. long, on pendulous stalks
to 1 dm. long, glabrous, the fruit body about 8 mm. long, the wings to about 12
mm. wide.
Usually in swamps, along streams or in alluvial woods in e. Tex. and Okla.
(Waterfall), Feb.-Apr.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Man. and e. Can.
The var. rubrum has, at most, hairs along the nerves on the lower surface of
the leaves, whereas the var. Drummondii (H. & A.) Sarg. and var. trilobum
K. Koch have the lower surface of their leaves densely and usually permanently
hairy. In addition, the leaves of var. trilobum have only three well-developed
lobes, with the smaller lateral basal lobes being suppressed.
Fam. 85. Balsaminaceae A. RICH. TOUCH-ME-NOT FAMILY
Herbs or undershrubs with bland watery juice; leaves alternate, opposite
or rarely whorled, simple, exstipulate; flowers irregular, perfect, hypogynous;
calyx petaloid, imbricated, spurred; stamens 5, with short flat filaments and
introrse more or less connivent obconic anthers; ovary 5-celled; fruit a capsule
or berry; seeds without albumen.
About 500 species in 4 genera, mostly in the tropics of Asia and Africa.
1. Impatiens L. TOUCH-ME-NOT. JEWEL-WEED. BALSAM
Annual or perennial herbs; stems fistulose, succulent; leaves simple, alternate
or whorled; flowers zygomorphic, in pedunculate clusters or 1 to 3 in leaf axils;
sepals (in ours) 3, the two upper ones (as the flower hangs on its pedicel) small,
the lower saccate one open in front and spurred at bottom of sac; petals 5,
appearing to be 3, the upper one often broader than long, each of the two lateral
ones lobed and regarded as 2 petals united; fruit dehiscing elastically into 2 valves.
About 400 species, nearly all of which are in the Old World.
1105
-------
Fig. 517: Impatiens capensis: a, habit, x *A; b, basal part of plant, showing roots,
\-,; c, flower, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 518: Impatiens pallida: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 1; c, stamens, x 3; d, ovary,
x 3. (V. F.).
-------
The rapid spread of these species when once they are introduced to a marshy
area is due to the explosive nature of the fruit upon dehiscence. This action pro-
pels the seeds for some distance from the mother plant.
1. Flower orange to reddish; spur gradually bent parallel with the sac and one
third to one half its length, the sac longer than broad
1. I. capensis.
1. Flower pale-yellow; spur bent at right angles to the sac and one fifth to one
fourth its length, the sac broader than long 2. /. pallida.
1. Impatiens capensis Meerb. SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT. Fig. 517.
Succulent annual, glabrous, bright-green, to 15 dm. high, the stems simple
or freely branched; leaves with petioles to 1 dm. long, broadly ovate to ovate-
elliptic, obtuse-mucronate at apex, broadly cuneate to rounded at base, pale or
glaucous beneath, to 12 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, coarsely crenate-mucronate;
flowers axillary or panicled, often both normal and cleistogamous flowers pro-
duced; bracts of inflorescence linear-subulate; flowers 2-3 cm. long, pendulous
on filamentous pedicels to about 2 cm. long, usually orange-color with crimson
spots; sepals apparently 4, the anterior sepal notched at the apex, the large
posterior saccate sepal longer than broad and its spur one third to half its
length and bent back parallel with it; filaments appendaged with a scale on the
inner side, the 5 scales connivent over the stigma; capsules about 2 cm. long,
the 5 valves coiling elastically and dehiscing explosively when touched or shaken.
/. biflora Walt.
In moist woods, along streams and in springy places in open or shade in e.
Tex. and Okla., May-Sept.; from Nfld. and Que. to Alas., s. to Fla. and Tex.
2. Impatiens pallida Nutt. Fig. 518.
Freely branched glabrous annual, to about 2 m. tall; leaves elliptic to ovate-
elliptic, to 13 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, rounded at base, crenate, the petiole to
6 cm. long; axillary panicles small; flowers 2.5-^4- cm. long, typically pale-yellow
and more or less dotted with red; saccate sepal obtuse, nearly or quite as wide
as long, the short (about 5 mm. long) spur abruptly deflexed; capsules 2-2.5 cm.
long, 3^ mm. in diameter; seeds dark-brown, ellipsoidal, 4-6 mm. long, the
inner seed coat blue.
Wet woods and meadows in e.-cen. Okla. (Cherokee Co.), May-Aug.; Que.
and N.S., w. to Sask., s. to N.C., Tenn., Mo. and Okla.
Fam. 86. Vitaceae Juss. GRAPE FAMILY
Shrubs or woody vines with watery acid juice, usually climbing by tendrils
opposite the leaves or on the peduncles; leaves alternate, essentially entire to
palmately 3- or 5-lobed or compound; stipules deciduous; inflorescences opposite
the leaves; flowers often unisexual and perfect on the same plant, small, regular,
greenish, 4- or 5-merous, with a minute or truncated calyx (its limb mostly
obsolete) and stamens as many as the valvate petals and opposite them; filaments
slender; anthers introrse; style short or none; stigma slightly 2-lobed; grape 2-celled,
1-to 4-seeded; seeds bony, with a minute embryo at the base of the hard albumen.
More than 600 species in about 20 genera widespread in tropical and tem-
perate regions.
1. Bark loosening and freely exfoliating in shreds and without lenticels; pith
brownish; leaves simple; inflorescence a compound thyrse; petals
separating only at base, falling without expanding; seeds mostly
pyriform { yitis
1108
-------
1. Bark tight, covered with lenticels; pith white; leaves rarely simple; inflores-
cence a dichotomous or umbelliform cyme; petals expanding, free
from one another, dropping singly; seeds trigonous (2)
2(1). Cyme dichotomous; flowers 5-merous; disk with entire or crenulate margins
2. Ampelopsis
2. Cyme umbelliform; flowers 4-merous; disk deeply 4-lobed 3. Cissus
1. Vitis L. GRAPE
Deciduous rarely evergreen polygamo-dioecious viny shrubs, climbing by ten-
drils; pith brown, interrupted at the nodes by a diaphragm; leaves simple, dentate,
mostly rounded and cordate, usually lobed, rarely palmately compound; flowers
fragrant, 5-merous, in a compound thyrse opposite a leaf; sepals minute or obso-
lete; petals cohering at the apex and falling as a whole at anthesis; disk hypo-
gynous, consisting of 5 nectariferous glands alternate with the stamens; ovary
2-celled; cells 2-ovuled; style conical, short; fruit a pulpy 2- to 4-seeded berry;
seeds usually pyriform, with a contracted beaklike base, with 2 grooves on the
ventral side.
About 60 species in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in temperate regions.
Most wild grapes provide food, protection and nesting sites for birds, and
food and cover for wild animals. Both fresh and dried fruits are eaten. The
shreddy bark of most species is also used in nest building.
1. Lower surface of fully grown leaves more or less covered with a permanent
indument or (if somewhat naked) either whitened to silvery-bluish-
green, covered with both short and long cobwebby hairs con-
tinuous or in patches (floccose) lying parallel to the surface;
younger shoots, petioles and peduncles thinly to densely woolly
or pubescent (2)
1. Lower surface of fully grown leaves (except usually the veins) green and
glabrous or rarely with short straight hairs erect-spreading from
surface; younger shoots, petioles and peduncles glabrous or thinly
woolly or with short erect-spreading hairs (3)
2(1). Leaves of flowering shoots unlobed or shallowly lobed with the lobes
toothed to the base; lower surface of leaves dull-green with a more
or less uniform continuous (though often thin) covering of gray-
ish cobwebby hairs 1. V. cinerea.
2. Leaves of flowering shoots shallowly or deeply lobed, the deeply lobed ones
with entire sinuses; lower surface of leaves usually with grayish or
reddish-brown cobwebby hairs, sometimes blue-glaucous and thinly
hairy 2. V. aestivalis.
3(1). Leaves (at least some) deeply lobed (4)
3. Leaves entire or (almost) shallowly lobed (5)
4(3). Axis of inflorescence sparsely and loosely long-pubescent or glabrous; fruit
gray-bluish and glaucous; margins of leaves often ciliolate
3. V. riparia.
4. Axis of inflorescence densely short-pubescent; fruit black, not glaucous; margins
of leaves scarcely or not at all ciliolate 4. V palmata.
5(3). Distribution in mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas and westward
5. V. arizonica.
5. Distribution in eastern third of Texas 6. V. vulpina.
1. Vitis cinerea Engelm. GRAYBARK GRAPE, SWEET GRAPE, PARRA SILVESTRE.
Lax high-climbing vine; growing tips and branchlets angled, permanently close-
pubescent with ashy-white or gray hairs; diaphragm 3-5 mm. thick; stipules 2-4
mm. long; leaves of fertile branches suborbicular to broadly ovate, with a prolonged
1109
-------
and tapering triangular apex, 1-2 dm. long above petiole, slightly less wide, the
basal sinus either narrow or broad, with irregular usually smallish and shallow
apiculate or short-mucronate teeth, either unlobed or with short shoulders or (more
rarely) with 2 or 4 prolonged lobes, the upper surface floccose but becoming gla-
brate, the pale-green or somewhat glaucous lower surface canescent-pilose or
grayish-floccose with cobwebby hairs, the looser hairs somewhat deciduous; petiole
shorter than the blade, canescent or floccose; thyrse slender, 6-15 cm. long, canes-
cent or gray-floccose, rather open; grapes 4—9 mm. in diameter, blackish or
purplish, with a slight bloom, finally sweet; seeds 4-5 mm. long.
River and creek banks, in marshes, about lakes, bottomlands and pond margins
in Okla. (Waterfall) and n.-cen. to s.e. Tex., fruiting Sept.-Nov.; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to Va., O., Ind., III., la. and Neb.
Those plants with suborbicular-cordate very shallowly toothed leaves that lack
the triangular or 3-lobed aspect of var. cinerea and whose lower surface is promi-
nently soft-pubescent or densely canescent instead of being cobwebby and/or floc-
cose are referred to var. canescens Bailey.
2. Vitis aestivalis Michx. SUMMER GRAPE, PIGEON GRAPE.
High-climbing vine; young branchlets and petioles with rusty or reddish persistent
to flocculent-deciduous tomentum or velutinous pilosity; diaphragm 3-4 mm. thick;
leaves of fertile branches suborbicular-ovate, cordate, 7-20 cm. long from top of
petiole, about as broad as long, the basal sinus mostly deep and prominent, the
margins irregularly and not deeply sinuate-toothed and the teeth often sharp,
unlobed or merely shouldered to deeply 3- or 5-lobed, upper surface dull-green and
essentially glabrous, lower surface with subpersistent but loose and flocculent
tomentum of cobwebby hairs, the prominent ribs and veins tomentose to velutinous-
hispid; thyrse 5—18 cm. long, the axis with cobwebby hairs; grapes 5—12 mm. in
diameter, dark-purple or blackish, with a thin bloom, persistent, variable in quality
and taste, sometimes sweet and pleasant-tasting; seeds 5—7 mm. long, 4—5 mm.
broad.
In sandy soils mostly along rivers and streams in the e. third of Tex. and Okla.
(Waterfall}, fruiting Sept.-Oct; from Ga. to Tex., n. to Mass., N.Y., O., Mich.
and Wise.
3. Vitis riparia Michx. RIVERBANK GRAPE, FROST GRAPE.
Vigorous high-climbing vine; new branchlets green or dull-red, glabrous or
pubescent and glabrate; diaphragm 0.8-2 mm. thick; leaves of fertile branches with
glabrous petioles, 8-18 cm. long from a petiole, about as broad as long, cordate-
ovate, with a prolonged acuminate apex, with a broad open basal sinus, the margins
with coarse acuminate teeth and usually conspicuously ciliate, glabrous or glabrate,
with 2 or more erect and prolonged lobes 1—4 cm. long; leaves of vegetative sprouts
similar or more deeply palmate-lobed; thyrse 4-15 cm. long, its axis and branches
sparsely and loosely long-pubescent to glabrous or essentially so; grapes crowded,
8-12 mm. in diameter, purple-black, with heavy bloom, acid; seeds about 5 mm.
long. V. vulpina of auth.
On trees and cliffs in open woodlands, in alluvial soils along streams and in
canyons in the Trans-Pecos, e. to n.-cen. Tex., Okla. (Waterfall) and (?) N.M.,
fruiting Aug.-Oct.; from Que. to Man. and Mont., s. to Tenn., Mo., Tex. and N.M.
4. Vitis palmata Vahl. MISSOURI GRAPE, RED GRAPE, CATBIRD GRAPE.
Slender high-climbing vine; shoots and flowering branchlets herbaceous, angled,
bright-red when fresh; diaphragm 4-5 mm. thick; stipules 3-4 mm. long; tendrils
red when young; leaves of fertile branches thin, ovate, long-acuminate, 7-12 cm.
long above petiole, about as broad as long, with a broad open sinus to almost trun-
1110
-------
cate at base of leaf, with little or no cilia on the margins, unevenly large-toothed
with sharp or mucronate points, with 2 prolonged acuminate erect lateral lobes;
leaves of vegetative shoots larger and with 3 or 5 long-acuminate lobes with broad
rounded sinuses; upper leaf surfaces shining dark-green and glabrous except on
veins, the lower surface pale and usually retaining pubescence on veins with tufts
in the axils; petioles red; thyrse 5-15 cm. long, long-stalked, rather open, its
rachis and branches copiously hirtellous; grapes 5-10 mm. in diameter, black or
bluish-black, without bloom, the skin thick, finally sweet; seeds 4.5-6 mm. long.
On margins of ponds or sloughs, or in low woods in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla.
(Waterfall), fruiting Sept.-Oct.; from La. and Tex., n. to Ind., 111. and la.
5. Vitis arizonica Engelm. CANYON GRAPE, GULCH GRAPE, PARRA DEL MONTE.
Grayish more or less shrubby vine, mostly small and weak, much-branched,
usually not high-climbing; young parts ashy-gray from a tomentum to essentially
glabrous; diaphragm 2-4 mm. thick; stipules 2-3 mm. long; tendrils soon deciduous
if not attached; leaves broadly cordate-ovate to nearly reniform, with a triangular
apex, 5-12 cm. long above the petiole and mostly slightly broader than long, the
basal sinus from narrowly inverted U-shaped to broad and open, the margins with
rather small or rarely large sharp and mucronate uneven teeth, commonly obscurely
lobed or shouldered, rarely deeply 3-lobed, at first both sides cottony, with age the
upper surface becoming indifferently floccose and the lower surface more or less
permanently covered with grayish-white short erect hairs, the lower surface also
commonly becoming glabrous and somewhat glossy except.for a usual tuft of erect
hairs in the vein axils; petioles often pink-tinged and either slightly floccose or
glabrous; thyrse 5-10 cm. long, slender-stalked, the short peduncle and rachis
more or less floccose to subglabrous; grapes 6-10 mm. thick, black and sometimes
with a thin bloom, the skin thin, the pulp juicy and sweet; seeds 4-6 mm. long,
3-4 mm. broad, short-beaked.
Climbing on trees, shrubs and over boulders along streams and in canyons of
mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino
and Mohave, s. to Greenlee, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), fruiting Aug.-
Oct.; from Tex. to Ariz, and n. Mex.
The leaves of var. arizonica are usually smaller and their lower surface is more
or less permanently covered with short straight whitish hairs, whereas the var.
glabra Munson (V. Treleasei Munson) has leaves to 12 cm. long and their lower
surface is essentially glabrous or the vein axils are provided with small tufts of
short straight hairs.
Kearney and Peebles has the following to say about this species. "The berries
are of good quality for jelly and grape juice and are much eaten by birds. They
are also eaten, both fresh and dried, by the Indians. The vines are useful in check-
ing erosion along creeks. The leaves when chewed allay thirst."
6. Vitis vulpina L. Fox GRAPE, WINTER GRAPE, FROST GRAPE, CHICKEN GRAPE.
Vigorous high-climbing vine with stout trunk; young growth glabrous or soon
glabrate, the branchlets terete; diaphragm 2-6 mm. thick; stipules 5-8 mm. long;
leaves of fertile branches thick-herbaceous, broadly cordate-ovate, usually with a
long sharp apex, 8-18 cm. long from petiole, longer than wide, the basal sinus
prevailingly broadly inverted U-shaped, coarsely and sharply irregularly toothed,
unlobed or merely with angled shoulders, upper surface bright-green and lustrous,
lower surface lighter-green and usually glabrous except for short straight hairs on
veins and as tufts in the axils of veins; petiole shorter than blade, usually with short
straight erect or spreading hairs; thyrse loose and open, to 2 dm. long; fruiting
pedicels about 5 mm. long; peduncles sometimes with an early-deciduous tendril;
grapes black and shining, often glaucous, 5-10 mm. in diameter, persistent, edible
after frost; seeds 5-6 mm. long, 4-5 mm. thick.
1111
-------
Edge of woods and in woods, fields, along roadsides and on trees along rivers
and streams in e. third of Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), fruiting Oct.-Nov.; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., Wise, and Neb.
2. Ampelopsis MICHX.
Climbing or erect shrubs with tight bark and lenticels, the pith white, with or
without tendrils opposite the leaves; leaves thin, deciduous; inflorescence a dichoto-
mous cyme; flowers small, greenish, mostly 5-merous and perfect; calyx scarious,
saucer-shaped; petals free, spreading; disk cup-shaped, free from ovary except at
base, the margins entire or scarcely crenate; berry dry or pulpy; seeds 1 to several,
trigonous-obovoid.
About 25 species in North America and Asia.
1. Leaves simple or rarely only shallowly lobed, cordate to truncate at base
1. A. cordata.
1. Leaves twice-pinnate or ternate, the leaflets small 2. A. arborea.
1. Ampelopsis cordata Michx.
Plant nearly glabrous, high-climbing; leaves petiolate, broadly ovate to
suborbicular-ovate, cordate to truncate at base, acuminate at apex, to about 15 cm.
long and wide, typically smaller, coarsely and sharply toothed, unlobed or very
rarely with some shallowly 3-lobed, dark-green above, pale-green beneath; panicu-
late cymes lax; style slender; berries oblate, less than 1 cm. in diameter, bluish-
purple or greenish. Cissus Ampelopsis Pers.
In rich woodlands and bottomlands along rivers and streams in the e. half and
the Panhandle of Tex. and in Okla. (Waterfall), Apr.-June; from Fla. to Tex. and
Mex., n. to Va., O., Ind., 111. and Neb.
2. Ampelopsis arborea (L.) Koehne. PEPPER-VINE.
Plant nearly glabrous, bushy or high-climbing; leaves petiolate, triangular-ovate
in outline, twice-pinnate or ternate, 15 cm. long or more; leaflets ovate to rhombic-
ovate, acute to acuminate at apex, rounded to cuneate at base, the larger ones 3-7
cm. long, coarsely cut-toothed, dark-green above, pale-green beneath; cymes rather
short, mostly less than 8 cm. long; disk very thick, adherent to the ovary; berries
black, pulpy, subglobose to obovoid, 1-1.5 cm. in diameter. Cissus arborea (L.)
Des Moul.
Along streams, in and on edge of swamp forests, in fencerows and waste places,
mostly in s. and e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), lune-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex. and
n.e. Mex., n. to Md., III., Mo. and Okla.
3. Cissus L. POSSUM-GRAPE
A mostly pantropical genus with several hundred species.
1. Cissus incisa (Nutt.) Des Moul. MARINE-IVY, rvv TREEBINE, COW-ITCH, HIERBA
DEL BUEY.
A stout heavy vine with warty tight-barked stems to at least 10 m. long from
tuberous roots; pith white; leaves petiolate, fleshy-thickened and succulent, to 8 cm.
long and about as wide, deciduous or semievergreen, extremely variable, from
simple and broadly ovate or ovate-reniform to more or less trilobed or trifoliolate,
the margins coarsely and irregularly toothed; leaflets ovate to obovate, cuneate;
peduncle at first usually exceeding the subtending leaf, supporting an umbelliform
cyme; flowers 4-merous, perfect or unisexual; petals free, spreading; disk a deeply
4-lobed cup that is free from the ovary except at its base; berry obovoid, black,
6-8 mm. long, dry, beaked by the persistent style, on recurved pedicels, 1- to
4-seeded; seeds trigonous-obovoid.
1112
-------
Sprawling or climbing over rocks, trees and shrubs in chaparral, salt marshes
and open woodlands, in Okla. (Waterfall), throughout most of Tex. but rare or
absent in the extreme e. part and in the Panhandle, May-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex.
and adj. Mex., n. to Mo. and Kan.
Plants with simple undivided leaves are frequent in the Rio Grande Plains and
Valley. There seems to be no other difference, however, that would separate these
plants from the typical plants with trilobed or trifoliolate leaves.
Fam. 87. Malvaceae Juss. MALLOW FAMILY
Plants herbaceous or shrubby, rarely arborescent, with more or less mucilagi-
nous sap, usually pubescent with simple, stellate or forked hairs; leaves simple,
alternate, petioled, stipulate; flowers regular, perfect; calyx often subtended by
a calyxlike involucel; petals 5, hypogynous, convolute in the bud, asymmetric,
more or less united at base to the stamen column; stamens numerous, monadel-
phous; anthers 1-celled, reniform; pollen grains large, spiny; carpels 3 or more,
1-celled; style usually several-branched; fruit a loculicidal capsule or (in most
of the genera) the mature carpels separating from one another and from the
receptacle; seeds often pubescent.
About 1,000 species in about 75 genera in tropical and temperate regions
throughout the world.
A family of highly ornamental plants, with numerous species of Hibiscus,
Malva, Abutilon and Althaea under cultivation. It includes the cotton plants
(Gossypium spp.), the vegetable okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) and the marsh-
mallow (Althaea officinalis L.), of Europe, whose mucilaginous root is used
in making the popular confection.
Game birds, such as ducks and quail, are known to eat the seeds of some
species, especially in the genus Hibiscus.
1. Fruit capsular, loculicidally dehiscent or indehiscent, the cells 5 or fewer, the
carpels remaining attached to one another and to the axis; stamen
tube usually not filamentiferous at the apex, usually dentate or
lobed; involucel usually present but sometimes much-reduced (2)
1. Fruit a schizocarp, the carpels separating finally from one another and from
the axis; stamen tube commonly filamentiferous at and often also
below the apex (3)
2(1). Ovules solitary in each cell, ascending; capsule depressed, saliently 5-angled
3. Kosteletzkya
2. Ovules 2 or more in each cell; capsule not depressed or (if lightly so) not
saliently angled 4. Hibiscus
3(1). Involucel of 3 bractlets (4)
3. Involucel none (5)
4(3). Ovules and seeds normally 3 in each carpel; stems erect and tall
1. Iliamna
4. Ovule and seed normally solitary in each carpel; stems prostrate and spreading
on ground 5. Modiola
5(3). Style branches filiform, longitudinally and introrsely stigmatic; carpels
reniform to subreniform 2. Sidalcea
5. Style branches terminating in a capitate or truncate stigma (6)
1113
-------
6(5). Lateral walls of the carpels firm, persistent; seeds without an aril-like
envelope; flowers axillary and solitary or more or less aggregated
in racemes, spikes or heads; calyx usually angulate, sometimes
much-accrescent, the lobes commonly erect or connivent over the
fruit; carpels muticous or acute to birostrate or biaristate, often
rugose or muricate, indehiscent or slightly dehiscent at apex
6. Sida
6. Lateral walls of the carpels fragile, soon disappearing or becoming lacerate;
seeds usually more or less enveloped by an arilliform often
reticulate endocarp, this sometimes closely adherent to the seed
coat; fruit discoid to nearly hemispheric, depressed, the carpels
incurved and with a dorsal hispid spur 7. Anoda
1. Iliamna GREENE WILD HOLLYHOCK
About 7 species mainly in western United States.
1. Iliamna grandiflora (Rydb.) Wiggins.
Erect herbaceous perennial 1-2 m. tall, somewhat suffrutescent at the base;
stems glabrate at base, sparsely stellate-pubescent above; leaves 6-10 cm. wide,
deeply 5- or 7-lobed, sparsely stellate-pubescent, the hairs more scattered on
the upper surface than beneath; leaf lobes lanceolate to triangular, the midlobe
from slightly longer to twice as long as the lateral lobes, coarsely toothed with
rounded-triangular abruptly apiculate teeth; petioles to 15 cm. long; stipules
lance-linear, deciduous; flowers in small clusters in axils of upper leaves and
in an interrupted congested spicate or corymbose terminal inflorescence; pedicels
stout, 2-15 mm. long, densely pubescent with stellate hairs; involucellate bracts
lanceolate, 8-12 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide, less densely stellate-pubescent than the
calyx; calyx densely villous-hirsute with long-rayed stellate hairs, 1-1.5 cm. broad
at anthesis, the lobes broadly triangular-ovate and abruptly acute to short-
acuminate; petals broadly obovate, rounded, about 3 cm. long, pink, densely
villous on the margins of the claws; stamineal column stout, about 1.5 cm. long,
hirsute at the base with stiff long-rayed stellate hairs; fruit subglobose, 12—15 mm.
broad, about 10 mm. high, deeply retuse at apex; carpels membranous, oblong,
half as wide as high, smooth on the sides, pubescent on the back with coarse erect
simple hairs about 3 mm. long, dehiscent to the base or nearly so; seeds reniform,
2.5-3 mm. long, brown, muricate with scattered short simple hairs, usually 3 in
each carpel, the surface of the seed coat distinctly tesselated by the outlines of
the cell walls.
In damp or wet places in mts. of n. N. M. and Ariz., May-Aug.; also Colo.
and Ut.
2. Sidalcea GRAY CHECKER-MALLOW. PRAIRIE-MALLOW
Erect perennial herbs; leaves long-petioled, with orbicular crenately incised to
parted or divided blades; flowers in bracteate spikelike racemes, all perfect or with
perfect and pistillate flowers or unisexual; calyx without bracteoles; petals purple
to rose or white; stamens usually in an upper and a lower series on the stamen
column; fruit of 5 to 9 1-seeded indehiscent carpels.
About 25 species in western North America. Some of the species, namely S.
neomexicana, are reported to be used as greens by the Indians.
1. Petals white to cream-colored; inflorescence and calyx densely long stellate-
pubescent i S. Candida.
1. Petals rose-purple to mauve-colored; inflorescence and calyx sparsely hirsute
to glabrescent 2. S. neomexicana.
1114
-------
Fig. 519: a-f, Sidalcea Candida: a, lower part of stem, x %; b, upper part of plant,
x %; c, calyx, x 2%; d, stamen column and styles, x 2%; e, mature carpels, x 2%; f,
petal, x 2%. g-k, Sidalcea neomexicana: g, leaf from lower part of stem, x %; h, leaf
from upper part of stem, x %; i, calyx and bract, x 2%; j, stamen column and styles,
x 2y2; k, base of petal, x 2%. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 520: Kosteletskya virginiana: a, top of plant, about x V>; b, capsule broken
open, x 5; c, seed, x 10. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Sidalcea Candida Gray. Fig. 519.
Stems 4—10 dm. high, simple, erect, usually glabrous to the inflorescence; leaves
4-15 cm. wide, glabrous on upper surface, with a few stiff hairs on lower surface;
basal leaves orbicular, typically 7-lobed, coarsely rounded-dentate; cauline leaves
cut more than half way to base into 1 to 7 linear-lanceolate mostly entire segments;
inflorescence racemose, the rachis and pedicels stellate-pubescent; bracts 8-10 mm.
long, bifid; calyx 4-6 mm. long in anthesis, densely stellate-pubescent, the lobes
triangular-ovate; petals 10-15 mm. long, white or yellowish.
Wet meadows, edge of ponds and along streams in n. N.M., June-Sept.; Wyo.
to Nev., s. to N.M. and Ut.
2. Sidalcea neomexicana Gray. Fig. 519.
Stems 1-8 dm. high, hirsute to glabrescent throughout, occasionally a few gemi-
nate or stellate hairs on leaves and calyces; leaves orbicular, 1-6 cm. broad, crenate
to shallowly 5- to 9-lobed, the lobes crenate; upper leaves 3- or 5-divided, the seg-
ments entire or 2- to 5-lobed and ciliate; inflorescence racemose, many-flowered;
rachis glabrous to sparsely hirsute or stellate-pubescent; bracts 5—10 mm. long,
bifid; pedicels densely hirsute to glabrous; calyx 4-6 mm. long, more or less hirsute
and with a few intermingled stellate hairs in some specimens, the lobes triangular-
ovate, acuminate; petals 10-15 mm. long, mauve-colored to rose-purple; carpels
2.5-3 mm. high, nearly as wide, reticulate on the angles, the back usually smooth;
beak stout, obtuse, somewhat reflexed, hispid-tipped.
Mountain wet meadows, along streams, in seepage and about pools in N.M. and
Ariz., June-Sept.; Wyo. and Ida., s. to Calif, and Mex.
3. Kosteletzkya PRESL SALT MARSH-MALLOW
About 30 species, mostly in tropical America and Africa.
1. Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) Gray. Fig. 520.
Branched perennial herb closely resembling Hibiscus, to about 15 dm. high,
rather roughly stellate-hirsute or -tomentose throughout, greenish or somewhat
cinereous; leaves gray-green, densely pubescent, the lower ones cordate-suborbicular
to -ovate and angulate or coarsely toothed, the upper and bracteal leaves mostly
lanceolate and without or with hastately divergent basal lobes; pedicels capillary
to coarse and short, frequently equaling or exceeding the bracteal leaves; flower-
ing calyx minutely puberulent to densely pubescent, 5-lobed, 8-13 mm. long, its
linear-subulate bracteoles 6—10 mm. long; petals 5, roseate, 3-4.5 cm. long, 2-3
cm. wide; column (including styles) 15-25 mm. long; fruit prominently 5-angled,
depressed; carpels copiously villous-hirsute with hairs 1.5-2 mm. long; seeds
smooth, one in each carpel.
In brackish or nearly fresh marshes and along shores of lakes and ponds, and
in swamps, along coastal e. Tex., June-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va. and Del.;
also Cuba.
Our plant is usually referred to var. althaefolia Chapm. \K. althaefolia (Chapm.)
Gray], characterized by having its stems and calyces densely pubescent.
4. Hibiscus L. ROSE-MALLOW
Plants perennial or rarely annual, often shrubby; leaves merely crenate or den-
tate, or pedately cleft; flowers axillary, solitary, the petals 2 cm. long or more;
involucel usually present; fruit a loculicidal capsule, the carpels 5; seeds several in
each cell, essentially glabrous to long-hairy.
About 300 species mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.
1117
-------
1. Leaves and stems glabrous (2)
1. Leaves and stems more or less variously pubescent (3)
2(1). Bracteoles and calyx densely hirsute 1. H. dasycalyx.
2. Bracteoles and calyx glabrous or very sparsely hirsute 2. H. tnilitaris.
3(1). Stems usually with prickles; calyx lobes long-attenuate at apex; capsules
densely covered with long spreading simple tawny hairs
3. H. cubensis.
3. Stems not prickly; calyx lobes mostly acute-apiculate at apex; capsules short
stellate-pubescent to glabrous (4)
4(3). Leaves commonly elliptic-lanceolate and broadly cuneate to rounded at
base, with age usually becoming glabrous above, gray-pannose
beneath; capsules glabrous 4. H. Moscheulos.
4. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, rounded to cordate at base, permanently
pubescent on both surfaces; capsules more or less pubescent (5)
5(4). Upper surface of leaves bearing many simple or subsimple hairs; bractlets
of involucel ciliate with long simple hairs in addition to being shortly
stellate-tomentose; capsules usually densely villous-hirsute
5. H. lasiocarpos.
5. Both surfaces of leaves with a very fine and dense stellate pubescence; bractlets
without long simple hairs; capsules eventually glabrescent
6. H. leucophyllus.
1. Hibiscus dasycalyx Blake & Schiller. Fig. 521.
Herbaceous perennial to 15 dm. high; stem greenish, terete, glabrous, about 3
mm. thick above; upper nodes mostly 3—5 cm. long; leaves with slender petioles
3-5 cm. long. 3-lobed and hastate at base, 5-9 cm. long, 3-10 cm. wide at base
across the lobes, glabrous, the lobes linear-attenuate (3—6 mm. wide) and usually
irregularly incised or serrate; flowers 6 or 7, solitary in uppermost axils; peduncles
about 15 mm. long, articulate near middle, with spreading hairs above; bracteoles
about 12, narrowly linear-attenuate, the inner surface and margins densely hirsute,
hirsute to subglabrous on outside, about 15 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide; calyx about
25 mm. long, campanulate, densely spreading-white-hirsute on outside, densely
yellowish-pilose with subappressed hairs on inner surface, the lobes deltoid-apiculate
and about 7 mm. long; corolla white with a purple spot, when dry about 6 cm. long,
the apex spreading; ovary densely and subappressed yellowish-pilose; styles free
above and there pilose; fruit unknown.
Rare in marshes and along canals in Trinity Co. in e. Tex., May-July; endemic.
2. Hibiscus militaris Cav. SCARLET ROSE-MALLOW, HALBERD-LEAVED ROSE-MALLOW.
Fig. 522.
Herbaceous perennial, often tinged with red; stems to 25 dm. high, essentially
glabrous; leaves with slender petioles to 1 dm. long or more, triangular-hastate in
general outline, glabrous, the basal lobes (if developed) widely divergent, the
middle lobe long-acuminate and 2 to 6 times as long as the body of the leaf; bract-
lets linear-setaceous, tapering to a filiform point, to 3 cm. long; calyx glabrous or
very nearly so; petals obovate, pink or whitish with a purplish base, 6-8 cm. long;
capsule glabrous or nearly so; seeds pubescent with short reddish-brown hairs.
In marshes and shallow water of lakes, ponds and streams in e. and n.-cen. Tex.
and e. and n.-cen. Okla., reported from the Tex. Panhandle, May-Nov.; from Fla.
to Okla. and Tex., n. in the interior to O. and Minn.
3. Hibiscus cubensis A. Rich. Fig. 523.
Herbaceous perennial, to 3 m. high, densely gray-velutinous throughout (except
on corolla) with short stellate hairs; stem (sometimes also the petioles and pedun-
cles) remotely or rather densely aculeate with straight spreading (at length) corky-
1118
-------
Fig. 521: Hibiscus dasycalyx: a, top of plant, x %; b, corolla, x %; c, calyx spread
out, inner view, x %; d, calyx, x %. (From Blake & Schiller in Jour. Wash. Acad. Sci.
48: 278. 1958).
-------
Fig. 522: Hibiscus mililaris: a, branch with flower, x %; b, branch with fruit
l/2; c, anther, x 5; d, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
based prickles 3 mm. long or less, the prickles apparently sometimes lacking; leaves
with petiole 2-6 cm. long, triangular-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or ovate-oblong,
8-11 cm. long, 3.5-5 cm. wide, acute to acuminate, subtruncate to shallowly cordate
at base, the margin crenate-serrate throughout, not at all or only obscurely greener
above than below; peduncles solitary in the upper axils, to 35 mm. long, jointed
almost to the base; bractlets about 12, narrowly linear or (in age) somewhat
involute-margined and linear-filiform, 12-15 mm. long, to 1.5 mm. wide, sometimes
sparsely hispid as well as densely velutinous, in age reflexed; calyx (in flower) about
28 mm. and at maturity about 32 mm. high, sometimes more or less hispid outside
(especially on the nerves), the broadly triangular acuminate teeth about equaling
the tube; corolla 8-9 cm. long, purplish-pink with dark-reddish basal blotch, the
petals with spreading tips; capsule subglobose, abruptly apiculate, densely spread-
ing-hispid outside with ochroleucous hairs and between them minutely hispidulous,
glabrous inside; seeds densely and shortly rufescent-velvety, 2.5 mm. long; styles
united to apex; stigmas oblong.
In marshes and along canals in s.e. Tex., May-Oct.; also in temp and trop. Am.
4. Hibiscus Moscheutos L. SWAMP ROSE-MALLOW, MALLOW-ROSE.
Plants erect, to about 25 dm. high, the stems minutely stellate-pubescent to
glabrescent; leaves with slender petioles to about 5 cm. long, ovate to elliptic-
lanceolate or lanceolate, canescent-pannose beneath with minute and close down,
less so to glabrate and green above, broadly cuneate to rounded or subcordate at
base, acuminate at apex, to about 22 cm. long and 9 cm. wide, the margins coarsely
incised-dentate, unlobed or with the middle and lower leaves tricuspidate; with one
to several peduncles usually fused for as much as three fourths their length to the
subtending petiole; bractlets and calyx canescent but not hairy; petals 5-10 cm.
long, light creamy-yellow or white with a crimson-purple base; style branches gla-
brous or remotely hispid; capsule conic-ovoid, tapering to an erect beak, glabrous,
2.5-3 cm. long. H. incanus Wendl.
In marshes and low wet areas on edge of woods, in swamps and wet meadows in
e. Okla. and e. Tex., June-Oct; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Md., Va., W.Va., O and Ind.
5. Hibiscus lasiocarpos Cav. WOOLLY ROSE-MALLOW. Fig. 524.
Plants erect, to about 2 m. high, the stems pubescent; leaves with petioles to 1
dm. long, broadly to narrowly ovate, cordate to subcordate at base, acute to acumi-
nate at apex, the margins crenately dentate, occasionally some leaves angulate or
somewhat 3-lobed, 1-2 dm. long, more or less velvety-tomentose on both sides with
the upper surface bearing many simple or subsimple hairs, the uppermost leaves
often ovate-lanceolate; bractlets more or less ciliate with villous or hirsute cover;
calyx lobes at maturity prominently 5- or 7-nerved; corolla white to cream-color or
pale rose-color with a crimson or deep-purplish-red blotch at base, the petals
7.5-10 cm. long; capsule short-cylindric, subtruncate, usually densely villous-
hirsute.
In marshes, wet meadows, floodplains, ditches, on edge of lakes and along
streams and rivers in e. Okla. and from e. to n.w. Tex. and s.e. N.M., June-Sept.;
from Ga. to Tex., n. in the Miss, basin to Ky., Ind., 111. and Mo.
6. Hibiscus leucophyl'us Shiller.
Roots perennial, succulent; stems to 8 dm. high, somewhat branched upwardly,
densely puberulous with minute many-branched sessile stellate hairs; leaves numer-
ous, with petioles to 4 cm. long, densely puberulous like the stems, narrowly ovate,
to 14 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, rounded or the larger leaves subcordate at base,
sharply long-acuminate at apex, coarsely and bluntly serrate except at very base
and at apex, 7-nerved at base, the nerves raised beneath and impressed above, light
olive-green above, paler and ashy beneath, densely stellate-pubescent on both sides,
1121
-------
Fig. 523: Hibiscus cubensis: a, top of plant, x \'«, with enlarged detail to show
character of hairs; b, corolla, x V2; c, calyx spread out, inner view, x \fa d, calyx with
fruit removed, x !•'>; e. fruit, x '•>; f, seeds, x U, and enlarged to show detail x 4.
(From Blake & Schiller in Jour. Wash. Acad. Sci. 48: 279, 1958).
-------
Fig. 524: Hibiscus lasiocarpus: a, top of plant, x %; b, involucel of bractlets
from the base, x 1; c, capsule, x %; d, mature open capsule, x %; e, seed, x 9. (Cour-
tesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
the hairs beneath conspicuously whitish; peduncles axillary, one-flowered, shorter
than the pedicels; involucre of numerous linear free bractlets that are much shorter
than the calyces, densely tomentulose, lacking long simple bristly hairs on the mar-
gins; calyx 2-2.5 cm. long, the ovate lobes longer than the tube, densely stellate-
tomentulose externally; petals 7-8 cm. long, white with a purple blotch at the base;
capsule short-beaked, 2-2.3 cm. long, densely and minutely stellate-tomentose
when young, finally glabrescent although with some persistent hairs along the mar-
gins of the valves; seeds glabrous.
In sandy wet soils in s.e. Tex., May-July; also La. and Miss.
5. Modiola MOENCH
A monotypic genus.
1. Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don.
Low creeping diffuse chiefly perennial herb, hirsute with simple or geminate
hairs, to 6 dm. long or more; leaves with petioles to 3 cm. long, rounded, palmately
3- or 5-lobed and incised, to 6 cm. long and 4 cm. wide; peduncles commonly fili-
form and equaling or surpassing the petiole; flowers small, solitary on axillary
peduncles, subtended by a persistent involucel of 3 foliaceous bractlets; petals
small, salmon-color to purpish-red, obovate, 4-6 mm. long, little-surpassing the
calyx; stamens 10 to 20; stigmas capitate; fruit depressed, composed of 15 to 30
thin-coriaceous carpels; carpels reniform, much-compressed, more or less hirsute,
with a dorsal bipartite cusp and hispid at summit, eventually falling free from the
axis and tardily bivalved at the top, eventually becoming somewhat glabrate.
In water and mud on edge of lakes and in salt marshes, lawns and similar places,
s.e. Okla. and mostly in s. Tex., Mar.-Iune; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va. and s.
to Arg.
6. Sida L.
Plants mostly perennial, herbaceous or suffrutescent, more or less pubescent with
forked stellate or scalelike hairs; flowers axillary, solitary or in small cymules, these
sometimes assembled in terminal leafy panicles; involucel usually none; carpels
indehiscent or dehiscent only part way from the apex, more or less rugose and
often reticulate on the sides.
More than 200 species, mostly in warmer regions of the world, especially in
Latin America.
1. Involucel of 1 to 3 subulate bractlets; leaves suborbicular to flabelliform,
wider than long, densely stellate-canescent 1. S. hederacea,
1. Involucel none; leaves oblong to oblanceolate, longer than wide, at most
puberulent 2. S. rhombifolia.
1. Sida hederacea (Dougl. ex. Hook.) Gray. DOLLAR WEED, ALKALI MALLOW.
Plant with decumbent stems and branches to about 3 dm. long, scurfy-canescent
with stellate hairs; leaves with petioles about one half as long as blades, obliquely
subreniform or triangular-ovate, more or less cordate at base, broadly rounded to
bluntly obtuse at apex, to about 4 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, the margins variably
and irregularly crenate to acute-serrate; flowers axillary, with pedicels usually
slightly longer than the petioles; calyx 4—8 mm. long, the lobes ovate to triangular-
lanceolate and short-acuminate; petals whitish to cream-color or pale-brownish-
yellow, rose-color in drying, to about 15 mm. long; carpels 6 to 10, acutish, tomen-
tulose to glabrate, splitting into 2 valves. 5. leprosa var. hederacea (Dougl. ex
Hook.) K. Schum.
1124
-------
In rocky or silty soils, on alkaline floodlands, along irrigation canals and in
depressions in s.w. Okla., w. and n.w. Tex., through N.M. and Ariz., Mar.-Oct;
from Wash, and Ida., s. to Mex. and e. to Kan., s.w. Okla. and Tex.
2. Sida rhombifolia L. AXOCATZIN.
Plant herbaceous or shrubby, to about 2 m. high, the stems minutely stellate-
pubescent; leaves short-petiolate, varying from rhombic-oblong to ovate-cuneate or
oblanceolate, obtuse to rounded or subacute at apex, cuneate to rounded at base
and usually minutely cordate at the very base, to 8 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, pale
and cinerous-puberulent beneath, green and subglabrous above, serrate or serrulate;
stipules setaceous, caducous; pedicels more or less elongated; calyx 5-7 mm. long,
minutely cinereous-puberulent, the base (at maturity) with 5 to 10 callous-thickened
nerves, the lobes broadly ovate and acuminate; petals pale-yellow to orange-yellow,
about 6 mm. long, sometimes red at base; carpels 10, smoothish, subulate 2-awned
or merely acute. 5. alba Cav.
In sandy-clayey soils in meadows, brushlands, low open woods and alluvial soils
in s.e. Okla. and e. third of Tex., apparently isolated in s. Ariz., throughout the
year; from N.C. to Fla. and Tex.; widespread, mostly in the trop.
7. Anoda CAV.
About 10 species that are confined to the Western Hemisphere.
1. Anoda cristata (L.) Schlecht.
Plant branched from near base, erect, to about 8 dm. high, sparsely hirsute with
mostly simple hairs; leaves petiolate, deltoid to triangular-ovate or -lanceolate,
truncate to broadly cuneate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, occasionally hastate
or subtrilobate at the base, the margins either irregularly dentate or entire; flowers
solitary on long peduncles in the axils; calyx with triangular-lanceolate acuminate
spreading lobes to 15 mm. long, often purplish-red; petals purple, commonly cunei-
form and retuse, 1—2.5 cm. long; fruit depressed, hemispheric or disklike: carpels
15 to 20, rather conspicuously beaked, hispid, the dorso-basal portion wholly thin-
scarious and veinless and with slender midnerve. the sides or partitions wholly
obliterated in the breaking up of the fruit; seeds naked, puberulent. A. Javaterioides
Medic.. A. hastata of auth.
In moist meadows and along streams, on gravelly banks and in open woods from
w. Tex. to s. Ariz., July-Nov.; also s. to S.A.
The leaves of this species are exceedingly variable, even upon the same indi-
vidual. Our plant usually has the upper leaves elongated and conspicuously hastate.
Fam. 88. Sterculiaceae BARTL. CACAO FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes scandent, the pubescence chiefly of stellate
hairs; leaves alternate, simple or rarely compound, usually stipulate; flowers large
or small, mostly in axillary cymes, perfect or unisexual, regular or sometimes
irregular; calyx persistent, gamosepalous, usually 5-parted; petals 5 or none.
hypogynous, free or united with the stamen tube; stamens 5, connate at least at
the base, the tube commonly with 5 staminodia, the 2- or 3-celled anthers borne in
the sinuses; fruit dry or rarely baccate, usually 5-celled, variously dehiscent.
About 700 species in 60 genera, mainly tropical and Old World. The seeds of the
important tropical American tree, Theobroma cacao L.. are the source of cocoa
and chocolate. The Chinese parasol-tree, Firmiana simplex W. Wight, is cultivated
in central and south Texas, but it apparently does not occur as an escape.
1125
-------
Fig. 524A: Melochia pyramidata: a, upper part of flowering plant, x %; b, upper
part of fruiting plant, x %; c, petiole just below blade, x 1%; d, flower, partly spread
open, x 2JL>; e, style, x 2^4; f, young fruit, x 2l/2', g, mature fruit, x 2\'->. (V. F.).
-------
1. Melochia L. BROOM-WOOD
Shrubs or herbs, with pubescence of simple or stellate hairs; leaves dentate;
flowers mostly small, in cymes or dense axillary glomerules; involucel present or
wanting; calyx 5-lobate; petals 5, spatulate, marcescent; stamens 5, the filaments
connate at the base or higher; capsule 5-celled, loculicidally 5-valvate, the cells
1-seeded; carpels easily separating, sometimes indehiscent.
About 75 species in warm regions of both hemispheres.
1. Involucel of 3 or more bractlets; capsule subglobose, scarcely beaked, 5 mm.
or less wide 1. M. corchorifolia.
1. Involucel wanting; capsule angular or pyramidal, long-beaked, much more
than 5 mm. wide 2. M. pyramidata.
1. Melochia corchorifolia L.
Stem to 15 dm. high, glabrous or sparingly pubescent, virgately branched; leaves
with petioles to about 2 cm. long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, to 6 cm. long and 3 cm.
wide, irregularly serrate and sometimes lobate, usually entirely glabrous; flower
cluster dense; calyx lobes acute; petals purple or with the claw yellowish, 4-7 mm.
long; capsule subglobose, strigose with simple hairs, 4-4.5 mm. in diameter.
Old fields, in water of borrow pits and rice fields, cult, grounds and waste places
in s.e. Tex., Aug.-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex. and S.C., s. to Braz.; also Old World
tropics, where native.
2. Melochia pyramidata L. Fig. 524A.
Slender shrub to 2 m. high, often herbaceous, lightly pubescent to glabrate
throughout; leaves with slender petioles to 12 mm. long, rounded-ovate to lanceo-
late, obtuse to short-acuminate at apex, rounded to broadly cuneate at base, to 35
mm. long and 2 cm. wide, serrate, thin, green, glabrous or frequently sparsely
pubescent; flowers solitary or in axillary cymes, mostly pedicellate; calyx lobes long-
acuminate; petals pink or violet, about 7 mm. long; capsule broadly triangular in
outline, glabrate or sparsely puberulent, 5-6 mm. long and somewhat broader, the
lobes truncate or broadly rounded at base, acute and spreading, seeds dull-brown
to black.
In wet sandy or rocky soil in mesquite thickets, palm groves, stream beds, about
ponds, ditches and waste places in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, s. to the
coast in Tex., Apr.-Nov.; widely distributed in the warmer regions of both
hemispheres.
We have only var. pyramidata.
Fam. 89. Hypericaceae Juss. ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs; leaves with or without a basal articulation,
opposite, entire, glandular-dotted as seen under a lens with transmitted light, mostly
sessile, exstipulate; flowers perfect, usually regular and hypogynous; sepals 4 or 5,
imbricated in the bud, herbaceous, with or without a basal articulation, persistent;
petals 4 or 5, mostly deciduous, oblique and mostly convolute in the bud; stamens
many or few, sometimes grouped in 3 or more clusters or bundles; capsule 1-celled,
with 2 to 5 parietal placentae and as many usually persistent styles, sometimes 3- to
7-celled by the union of the placentae in the center, mostly septicidally dehiscent;
seeds numerous, usually areolate or reticulate.
Approximately 1,000 species in about 50 genera, primarily tropical in distribu-
tion.
1127
-------
1. Sepals 4, in 2 very unequal pairs; petals 4; stamens many, distinct
1. Ascyrum
1. Sepals 5; petals 5; stamens many to few, often in 3 to 5 clusters
2. Hypericum
1. Ascyruin L. ST. PETER'S-WORT
Low smooth pale essentially evergreen shrubs; stems simple or sparsely branched,
when young 2-edged or winged; leaves usually numerous, small; flowers solitary or
in small cymules, pedicellate, each subtended by a pair of bractlets; sepals 4, herba-
ceous, the 2 outer ones broad and leaflike, compressed and persistent, the 2 inner
ones usually much smaller; petals 4, pale-yellow, oblique, fugacious, cruciate,
spreading, convolute in the bud; stamens numerous, the filaments distinct and not
noticeably in clusters, marcescent; capsule 1-celled, ovoid, 2- to 4-valved, enclosed
by the sepals; seeds numerous, black, reticulate.
Five species, mainly in southeastern United States; merged with Hypericum by
some authors.
1. Styles 3 or 4; inner sepals only slightly smaller than the outer ones that are
to 2 cm. long and 15 mm. wide; leaves oblong-elliptic, the upper
ones somewhat cordate and clasping 1. A. stans.
1. Styles 2; inner sepals minute or obsolete; leaves mostly linear- to oblong-
oblanceolate, narrowed at base 2. A. hypericoides.
1. Ascyruin stans Michx. ST. PETER'S-WORT.
Plant with stems erect or suberect, mostly 3-8 dm. high; leaves oblong-elliptic,
rounded to somewhat acute at apex, the upper ones somewhat cordate and clasping,
coriaceous, to about 3 cm. long and 15 mm. wide; pedicels to 1 cm. long, with
lanceolate bractlets 3-5 mm. below the calyx; outer 2 sepals broadly ovate to sub-
orbicular, cordate at base, acute at apex, 1-1.5 cm. long, about as wide; inner 2
sepals lanceolate, 7-14 mm. long, to 4 mm. wide; petals showy, obliquely obovate,
commonly exceeding the sepals, to 15 mm. wide; styles 3 or 4; capsule exserted at
maturity, Hypericum stans (Michx.) Adams & Robson.
In sandy bogs, swampy woods and moist grasslands in e. Tex., June- Sept.; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to N.Y., N.J., e. Pa., Ky., Tenn., Ark. and Okla.
2. Ascyrum hypericoides L. ST. ANDREW'S-CROSS.
Plant with reddish-brown stems that are erect-ascending to decumbent and some-
what diffuse, simple or more or less branched from the base or above the base, to
1 m. or more high or long, the bark exfoliating in shreds; leaves linear to oblanceo-
late, more or less narrowed at the sessile base, rounded to obtuse at apex, to about
3 cm. long and 8 mm. wide, the margin somewhat revolute; pedicels 3-6 mm. long,
the bractlets borne near apex; outer 2 sepals ovate to elliptic, rounded-cuneate to
subcordate at base, obtuse to acute at apex, to 12 mm. long and about as wide;
inner 2 sepals minute or obsolete; petals narrowly oblong-elliptic, about equaling
the outer sepals, to 4 mm. wide; styles 2; capsule included or exserted at maturity.
Hypericum hypericoides (L.) Crantz.
Mostly in light sandy soils in open pine-hardwood and hardwood forests,
thickets, grasslands and in bogs in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and the e. third of
Tex., May-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex. and e. Mex., s. to Hond. and the W.I. n. to
N.E., Ky., Mo. and Okla.
This species is highly variable in the size and shape of its leaves and outer calyx
lobes, and some of our coastal material might eventually be segregated as a small
narrow-leaved variant. Not only decumbent plants with several basal stems and
oblanceolate leaves, segregated as var. multicaule (Michx.) Fern. [Hypericum
hypericoides var. multicaule (Michx.) Fosb.], are to be found in Oklahoma and
1128
-------
Texas but also the erect plant, segregated as var. oblongifolium (Spach) Fern.,
with rather broadly oblanceolate leaves and prominent basally cordate outer calyx
lobes that are up to 15 mm. long and 1 cm. wide. Var. hypericoides, our most com-
mon plant, is erect and freely branched above the ground level and has linear to
linear-elliptic leaves.
2. Hypericum L. ST. JOHN'S-WORT
Herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite, sometimes verticillate: flowers solitary or in
cymes; sepals 5, usually subequal, persistent; petals 5, oblique, usually convolute
in the bud, yellow, flesh-colored or sometimes reddish or purplish: stamens usually
numerous, mostly united or clustered in 3 to 5 fascicles, the filaments elongate;
styles abbreviated or elongate, separate or (at first) connate for most or part of
their lengths, more or less united below the middle, mostly persistent on the cap-
sules, the stigmas minute or capitate; capsules mostly 1-celled or sometimes 3- to
5-celled; seeds short-cylindric, mostly reticulate.
About 300 species that are cosmopolitan in their distribution.
Deer are known to browse tender shoots of some species while ducks and game
birds will eat the seeds.
1. Distribution in New Mexico and/or Arizona (2)
1. Distribution in Oklahoma and/or Texas (3)
2(1). Stems numerous, weak, slender, procumbent to ascending, rooting at lower
nodes, usually less than 2 dm. long; leaves not dotted: petals
salmon-colored. 2—4 mm. long 1. H. anagalloides.
2. Stems one or several, erect from a creeping rootstock, usually more than 2
dm. tall: leaves black-dotted on the margins; petals yellow, 7—14
mm long 2. H. formosum.
3(1). Stems woody throughout or at least on lower part; styles typically closely
appressed their entire length at maturity, the stigmas minute; trans-
lucent or pellucid-punctate glands present (4)
3. Stems herbaceous or rarely slightly woody at very base; styles either ap-
pressed or separate (11)
4(3). Mature leaves and sepals linear-subulate or needlelike, the leaf margins
essentially parallel 7. H. fasciculatum.
4. Mature leaves and sepals with expanded non-needlelike blades, the leaves
somewhat wider above the middle (5)
5(4). Leaves and sepals without a basal articulation or groove; inflorescence ap-
pearing naked due to the much-reduced bracts (6)
5. Leaves and sepals with a basal articulation or groove; inflorescence appearing
leafy due to the foliaceous bracts (8)
6(5). Leaves linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, less than 1 cm. wide, midnerve
beneath prominently keeled and running into a stem wing
10. H. cistifolium.
6. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, usually well over 1 cm. wide (7)
7(6). Inflorescence usually a many-flowered (rarely 3) dichasium: mature cap-
sules 3.5—7 mm. long. 3^.5 mm. wide; raphe of seed well-
developed, forming a conspicuous keel 8. H. nudiflorum.
1. Inflorescence a 3-flowered dichasium, sometimes 6- or 1-flowered; mature
capsules 6—14 mm. long, 4.5-7 mm. wide: raphe of seeds only
slightly developed, forming a low ridge but not a conspicuous keel
9. H. apocynifolium.
8(5). Largest leaves 1.5-3 cm. long; seeds 0.7-0.8 mm. long
6. H. galioides.
8. Largest leaves 3-7.5 cm. long; seeds 0.9-1.6 mm. long (9)
1129
-------
9(8). Mature capsules exceeding 7 mm. in length and 3.5 mm. in width, lance-
ovoid; flowers in 1- to 7-flowered terminal and subterminal dicha-
sia, the inflorescence usually narrow and compactly thyrsoid;
stamens 5-8 mm. long; seeds dark-brown or black, 1—1.7 mm. long
5. H. prolificum.
9. Mature capsules 6 mm. or less long and 3 mm. wide, slender-conic: flowers
in 7- to many-flowered terminal and subterminal compound dicha-
sia, the inflorescence presenting an obpyramidal aspect; stamens
3-4 mm. long; seeds reddish-brown, 0.8-1.3 mm. long (10)
10(9). All flowers with only 3 styles present....4. H. densiflorum var. densiflorum.
10. Some flowers with 4 or 5 styles present 4. H. densiflorum var. lobocarpum.
11(3). Petals yellow or orange-color, convolute in bud; stamens numerous or
few, distinct or united at base into 3 to 5 clusters without interven-
ing glands; flowers terminal or in terminal cymes (12)
11. Petals flesh-color to mauve-purple, imbricated in bud; stamens mostly 9,
strongly triadelphous, with 3 large orange glands alternating with
3 bundles of stamens; flowers clustered in the axils and at summit
of stem (16)
12(11). Stamens numerous, usually 20 or more: roots perennial (13)
12. Stamens usually less than 20; annuals or rarely perennials (14)
13(12). Stems and leaves copiously pilose; sepals ciliate; petals clear yellow....
11. H. setosum.
13. Stems and leaves glabrous; sepals glabrous; petals streaked with dark lines
3. H. piinctatum.
14(12). Leaves subulate or subulate-linear, appressed or strongly ascending; stem
fastigiate-branching; root annual 14. H. Dnimmondii.
14. Leaves flat, varying from suborbicular-ovate to linear-lanceolate, spreading;
stem simple or loosely branched, from a slightly woody base (15)
15(14). Diffusely branched; leaves ovate-oblong to shortly elliptic, rounded at
apex; capsule short-ellipsoid 12. H. miitihim.
15. Simple or nearly so, virgate, the cymes with ascending branches; middle and
upper leaves ovate-deltoid, tapering to apex; capsule slender-conical
13. H. gymnanthum.
16(11). Leaves tapering below middle to a distinctly slender petiole
16. H. Walteri.
16. Leaves sessile at the rounded to cordate-clasping base (17)
17(16). Leaves with translucent glands and dark-punctate on lower surface;
styles 2-3 mm. long 15. H. virginicum.
17. Leaves without translucent glands or superficial dots on lower surface; styles
1 mm. long 17. H. tubiilofum.
1. Hypericum anagalloides Cham. & Schlecht. TINKER'S PENNY. Fig. 525.
Weak annual with few to many erect or procumbent stems or forming dense
mats with ascending stems; leaves lanceolate to ovate, obtuse, 4—12 mm. long;
flowers small, terminal and solitary or in leafy cymose cluters or panicles; sepals
ovate, unequal in length, longer than capsule; petals orange-yellow (coppery);
stamens 10 to 20; capsule 1-celled.
About fresh-water streams and springs or in wet meadows or bogs in Ariz.
(Coconino Co.), May-Aug.; Mont, to B.C.. s. to n. Ariz, and s. Calif.
2. Hypericum fonnosum H.B.K. Fig. 526.
Perennial herb with horizontal rootstocks; stems 2-6 dm. high, simple at base,
sometimes branched above, erect: leaves oval to elliptic or sometimes oblong-ovate.
1130
-------
Fig. 525: Hypericum anagalloid.es: a, stamens, ovary and styles, x 8; b, mature
capsule (cross section), x 8; c, inflorescence, x 3; d, habit, the leaves sessile, ovate,
x %; e, mature seed, x 40; f, mature capsule in calyx, the sepals unequal in length,
x 6; g, capsule, showing septicidal dehiscence, x 6. (From Mason, Fig. 263).
-------
Fig. 526: a-g, Hypericum formosum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3; c, ovary, x 3; d
top of plant with fruit, x 11>; e, capsule, x 3; f, capsule split open, x 3; g, seed, x 20.
h-j, Hypericum mutilum: h, habit, x V>; i, top of plant showing branching, x \'z\ it
flower,'x 3. (V. F.).
-------
1-3 cm. long, obtuse, black-dotted beneath at least along the margins; flowers in
cymes; sepals 2—5 mm. long, ovate, black-dotted at least on margins, obtuse to
acuminate; petals 7-14 mm. long, with black dots or glands on margins; stamens
separate or nearly so, numerous (over 20); capsule about 8 mm. long.
Along streams, in seepage or in wet meadows in N.M. (Catron, Colfax, Lincoln,
Otero, San Miguel, Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Navajo
and Pima cos.), June-Sept.; Wyo. to N.M., Ariz., s. Calif, and Mex.
3. Hypericum punctatum Lam.
Plant erect, to about 1 m. high, conspicuously marked with black and pellucid
dots, the main stems mostly simple and with few to no branches below the inflo-
rescence; leaves sessile or somewhat clasping at the base, typically oblong to oblong-
elliptic but sometimes narrowly ovate-oblong, to 7 cm. long and 2 cm. wide,
rounded to obtuse or even retuse at apex; flowers crowded in small clusters that
terminate short branches at summit of plant; sepals heavily dotted and lined with
black, ovate-oblong to triangular-lanceolate, obtuse to subacute at apex, 2.5-4 mm.
long; petals pale-yellow, copiously black-dotted, 4-7.5 mm. long; styles 2-4 mm.
long, mostly persistent; capsules ovoid, 4-6 mm. long, conspicuously beset with
amber-colored glands; seeds less than 1 mm. long.
On open-wooded hills and on edge of woods and fields and low wet areas, in e.
Okla. (Haskell, LeFlore, McCurtain and Ottawa cos.) and n.-cen. and n.e. Tex.,
June-July; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Que. and Minn.
4. Hypericum densiflorum Pursh. Fig. 527.
Shrub to 2 m. high, much-branched above, the upright branches slender; leaves
linear to linear-elliptic or oblanceolate, obtuse-apiculate to acute at apex, tapering
at base to a short petiole, to 75 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, with smaller leaves in
axillary fascicles; flowers numerous in crowded compound cymes; sepals firm,
linear-lanceolate to elliptic, 2-5 mm. long; styles 3 to 5, persistent, somewhat con-
nate at base, either completely separate from the beginning or tardily separating,
2-3 mm. long; capsules lance-ovoid to slender-conic, more or less deeply lobed or
sulcate, the body to 6 mm. long and 3 mm. thick, composed of 3 to 5 distinct
carpels; seeds reddish-brown, 0.8-1.3 mm. long.
On pinewood slopes and in and on the edge of swamps, bogs and marshes, and
along wooded streams, in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain and Pushmataha cos.) and in s.e.
Tex., May-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.Y., N.J., W.Va., s. Ind. and s. Mo.
The usually 4 or 5 styles and the deeply lobed capsules of the more southern var.
lobocarpum (Gatt.) Svens. (H. lobocarpum Gatt.) set it apart from var. densi-
florum and H. prolificum. The leaves are also usually larger than those of var.
densiflorum whose leaves are usually less than 5 cm. long and 8 mm. wide. In our
material, where there is a preponderance of flowers with 4 or 5 styles these are
early separated in flower. However, in var. densiflorum and in those plants having
only a few flowers with 4 or 5 styles, the styles often remain tightly coherent or
even twisted together until the fruit is well-developed.
5. Hypericum prolificum L. SHRUBBY ST. JOHN'S-WORT.
Rather coarse diffusely branched shrub to 2 m. high, with sharply 2-edged twigs;
leaves typically narrowly oblong, 3-7.5 cm. long and to 15 mm. wide, narrowed at
base to a short petiole, obtuse at apex; cymes both terminal and in the upper axils,
contracted, the inflorescence thus interruptedly cylindric; sepals elliptic, 5-7 mm.
long; petals obovate, 7-10 mm. long; styles 3 (rarely 4); capsules lance-ovoid to
subcylindric-conic, 3-carpellate, 8-15 mm. long, 3-5 mm. thick. H. spathulaium
(Spach) Steud.
1133
-------
In meadows, dry or damp or rocky thickets, on seepage slopes, along wooded
streams and on slopes in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex., June-Aug.; from
Ga. to Tex. and Ark., n. to s.e. N.Y., Ont. and Minn.
6. Hypericum galioides Lam. Fig. 528.
Shrub 3-18 dm. high; leaves narrowly linear to linear-oblanceolate, narrowed to
the base, obtuse to acute at apex, to 3 cm. long and 5 mm. wide, usually noticeably
verticillate and marginally revolute in drying; flowers numerous, terminal or axil-
lary; sepals linear to linear-spatulate, 3-4 mm. long; petals bright-yellow, narrowly
cuneate, obliquely or almost laterally pointed, 4-7 mm. long; capsules triangular-
conic, subtruncate-rpunded at base, tapering to the acute apex, deeply sulcate, 5-6
mm. long, the persistent 3 styles about 2 mm. long.
In wet pinelands, swamps and depressions, about ponds and lakes, and along
ditches in s.e. Tex., May-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Tenn. and N.C.
7. Hypericum fasciculatum Lam. SAND-WEED. Fig. 528.
Shrub to about 1 m. high; bark dark-brown, spongy-thickened, exfoliating in
tissue-thin sheets; leaves verticillate, numerous, crowded, typically linear-filiform
or very narrowly linear, coriaceous, revolute, 1-2 cm. long, mostly about 1 mm.
wide, with a cluster of smaller leaves in the axils of the larger ones; flowers several
terminating the upper branches; sepals linear, 3-4 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide;
petals bright-yellow, obliquely apiculate, 7-8 mm. long; capsules ovoid to ovoid-
conic, 4-5 mm. long, 3-lobed. H. galioides var. fasciculatum (Lam.) Svens.
In wet places about ponds and lakes, in low pinelands and along forested streams,
in s.e., Tex., June-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C.
This species is closely allied to H. galioides. The juvenile leaves found on seed-
lings and sometimes on adult plants are very similar to the leaves found on that
species.
8. Hypericum nudiflorum Michx.
Shrub to 2 m. high, usually much smaller, the stems ligneous below, sending up
long subherbaceous brown-barked 4-angled flowering branches; leaves ovate-
lanceolate to linear-oblong, obtuse, thin, to about 7 cm. long, pale-green, minutely
punctate beneath, revolute in drying, usually without axillary fascicles; flowers
numerous, in open terminal dichotomous cymes; bracts lance-subulate, 2-3 mm.
long; sepals firm, linear to oblong, 2-5 mm. long; petals to 1 cm. long; styles 3;
capsules ovoid, to 7 mm. long, with 3 inwardly projecting placentae.
In moist sandy woods, thickets or swamps in e. Tex., June-Aug.; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to Va. and Tenn.
9. Hypericum apocynifolium Small.
Shrub 4-7 dm. high, the stems with red somewhat shreddy bark and the branch-
lets narrowly 4-winged; leaves essentially sessile, oblong to oblong-elliptic, more
or less cuneate at the base, rounded to emarginate at apex, 2-4 cm. long, thin,
bright-green, pale beneath, minutely punctate, rarely revolute; flowers 3 to 5 in
terminal cyrnes; sepals spatulate to elliptic or oval, obtuse, persistent, 3-5 mm. long,
at least one half as long as the petals; petals yellow, oblong, 8-9 mm. long; capsules
oblong-conic, thick-walled, to 14 mm. long, acute.
In swamps and marshes in n.e. Tex., June-Aug.; from Ga. and Fla. to Tex.
and Ark.
10. Hypericum cistifolium Lam.
Slender subherbaceous perennial; stem somewhat woody, reddish-brown, promi-
nently 2-winged and simple or very sparingly branched, to 9 dm. high; leaves firm,
linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, to 3 cm. long and 6 mm. wide, obtuse to sub-
1134
-------
Fig. 527: Hypericum densiflorum var. lobocarpum: a, top of plant, x ^; b, flower,
x 2%; c, anther, x 5; d, top of plant in fruit, x y>; e, fruit, x 2¥>; f, seed, x 20.
(V. F.).
-------
Fig. 528: a-d, Hypericum fasciculatum: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, bud,
4; c, flower, x 4; d, capsule, x 5. e, Hypericum galioides: e, capsule, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
acute at apex, the margins strongly revolute, sessile, subauriculate and clasping at
the base, the solitary midnerve beneath keeled and continuous into the wing on the
stem, with fascicles of smaller leaves in their axils; flowers numerous in terminal
or axillary dichotomous cymes, the bracts subulate and about 3 mm. long; sepals
ovate to elliptic or oval, to 3 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide; petals yellow, convolute
in bud, obliquely cuneate to obovate, 5-10 mm. long; filaments elongate; styles 3,
coherent, somewhat persistent, the stigmas minute; capsule globose to globose-
ovoid, to 7 mm. long, 3-lobed, 1-celled; seeds wrinkled.
In sandy soils in savannahs, evergreen shrub bogs and ditches, rare in extreme
s.e. Tex., June-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C.
The peculiar thin-tissued, somewhat auriculate-clasping base of the leaves, and
the keeled midnerve that continues into a stem-wing, distinguish this species.
11. Hypericum setosum L.
Plant herbaceous, scabrous-tomentose to -pilose throughout, the stem simple or
sometimes virgately branched, to 75 cm. high; leaves sessile, numerous, erect-
appressed, ovate to linear-oblong or lanceolate, acute at apex, the margins some-
what revolute, to 15 mm. long and 4 mm. wide, gradually reduced up the stem;
flowers few in cymes; sepals ovate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, acute to acuminate,
to 4 mm. long, conspicuously ciliate; petals yellow, 5-6 mm. long, obliquely oblong-
elliptic, obtuse; styles 3, subpersistent; capsule ovoid-oval, 4-5 mm. long.
In bogs and wet pinelands in s.e. Tex., June-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va.
12. Hypericum mutilum L. Fig. 526.
Plant annual or perennial, 3-9 dm. high, with weak slender erect to ascending
stems, widely branching above, sometimes forming extensive colonies, often with
leafy-bracted decumbent bases; leaves ovate to lanceolate or narrowly oblong,
sessile and partly clasping at base, rounded to broadly obtuse at apex, mostly
5-nerved, to 35 mm. long and 15 mm. wide; cyme in well-developed plants diffuse
and somewhat leafy-bracted, the ultimate bracts setaceous; flowers light-yellow,
about 4 mm. across; sepals variable in length and size, linear to linear-lanceolate or
elliptic-oblanceolate, equal to or much-exceeding the capsules; stamens 6 to 12;
capsules subglobose to short-ellipsoid, the rounded summit capped by the short
persistent styles that are about 1 mm. long.
On the edge of and in water of streams, ponds, swamps, marshes and other wet
situations in e. Okla. (Adair, Delaware, LeFlore, Mayes, McCurtain, Pushmataha
and Sequoyah cos.) and cen. and e. Tex., May-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s.
N.E., cen. N.Y., O., 111., Mo. and Kan.; introd. in Calif, (fide Mason).
Those plants with sepals broadly lanceolate to oblong and foliaceous have been
segregated as var. latisepalum Fern.
13. Hypericum gymnanthum Engelm. & Gray.
Plant herbaceous, almost simple, with strict stem and branches, to 9 dm. high,
usually much smaller; leaves firm, clasping, 5- to 7-nerved, deltoid-cordate, acute
to obtuse at apex, about 15 mm. long and 1 cm. wide below middle; cymes naked,
elongated, the floral leaves reduced to small subulate bracts 3-4 mm. long; sepals
thickish, erect, lanceolate, acuminate, 3-5 mm. long; petals 3-6 mm. long; stamens
10 to 12; styles 3, persistent, about 0.75 mm. long, the stigmas only slightly
dilated; capsule ellipsoid-conical, pointed, about 4 mm. long.
In sandy soils in bogs, savannahs, barrens or low ground in s.-cen. and s.e. Tex.,
June-July; from Fla. to Tex., n. locally to N.Y., N.J., Pa., W.Va., O., 111., Mo.
and e. Kan.
1137
-------
Fig. 529: Hypericum virginianum: a, top of plant, x %; b, base of plant, x %; Ci
flower, x 31:ji d, ripe capsule, x 3l/3; e, capsule ruptured, x 3%; f, seed, x 22. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 530: Hypericum Walteri: a, top of plant, x %; b, flower, x 5; c, flower begin-
ing to shed corolla, x 5; d, flower with corolla and anthers removed, showing united
filaments, x 2%; e, capsule with corolla still adhering to tip, x 2%; f, section of capsule
with young seed, x 2%; g, mature fruit, x 5; h, seed, x 20. (V. F.).
-------
14. Hypericum Drummondii (Grev. & Hook.) T. & G. NITS-AND-LICE.
Plant annual, to 8 dm. high, the stem and the alternate bushy branches rigidly
erect, mostly densely punctate throughout; leaves numerous, linear to linear-
subulate, ascending to nearly erect, not appressed, 1-nerved, 6-20 mm. long; flowers
short-pedicelled, mostly solitary in the axils along the upper part of the leafy
branches; sepals narrowly lanceolate, acute, 3-5 mm. long; petals orange-yellow,
withering before noon; stamens 10 to 20; capsules ovoid, 4-5 mm. long, reddish-
brown, barely as long as or but slightly exceeding the sepals; seeds oval, dark-
brown, strongly ribbed and rugose, about 1 mm. long. Sarothra Drummondii Grev.
& Hook.
In dry sandy or gravelly soils in fallow fields, about lakes and marshes, in open
scrub oak and cedar-oak flatwoods in Okla. (fide Waterfall) and cen. and e. Tex,,
July-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Md., W.Va., O., Ind., s. III., la. and s.e. Kan.
15. Hypericum virginicum L. MARSH ST. JOHN'S-WORT. Fig. 529.
Plants stoloniferous, the stem simple or bushy-branched (especially above), to
7 dm. high; leaves sessile and cordate or clasping at base, oblong-elliptic to ovate-
oblong, rounded at the retuse to apiculate apex, the principal leaves to 7 cm. long
and 3 cm. wide, dark-punctate beneath, dotted with translucent glands, often
purplish; flowers in small clusters in the upper axils and terminal; sepals linear-
elliptic to lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 4-7 mm. long; petals flesh-color or mauve,
7-10 mm. long; filaments free except near the base, the 3 fascicles alternating with
3 large orange-colored glands; capsule ellipsoid, tapering to the apex, about 1 cm.
long, the mature styles 2-3 mm. long; seeds tan-color, oblong, pitted, about 1 mm.
long. Triadenum virginicum (L.) Raf.
In or on the edge of water along streams, in bogs and swamps, and about lakes
and ponds in e. Tex., Aug.-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.S., s. N.E., N.Y., 0.,
Ind. and 111.
16. Hypericum Walter! Gmel. Figs. 530 and 531.
Similar in habit to H. virginicum but usually larger and more branched; leaves
oblong to oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse to rounded at the apex, tapering into the
slender petiole, to 15 cm. long and 35 mm. wide, yellowish-green above, pale-
glaucous and translucent-dotted beneath, often reddish-tinged; flowers in small
axillary and terminal clusters; sepals linear-elliptic, obtuse, 3-4 mm. long; petals
reddish, 5-7 mm. long; filaments united to about or above the middle; capsules
ellipsoid-cylindric, rounded to tapered at apex, 7-11 mm. long, the styles about
1 mm. long; seeds oblong, dark-brown at maturity, about 0.75 mm. long. H. petio-
lutum Walt., H. tubulosum Walt. var. Walteri (Gmel.) Lott, Triadenum petiolatum
(Walt.) Britt., T. Walteri (Gmel.) Gl.
In or on the edge of water along streams, in bogs and swamps, and about ponds
and lakes, sometimes on cypress knees and trunks, logs and occasionally on moist
sandy wooded slopes, in e. Okla. (fide Waterfall) and e. Tex., Aug.-Oct.; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to Md., W.Va., s. Ind. and s.e. Mo.
17. Hypericum tubulosum Walt.
Erect rhizomatous plant with stem simple or branched above, 3-8 dm. tall,
glabrous throughout; leaves sessile, ample, lacking translucent glands or super-
ficial dots on lower surface, oblong to elliptic-oblong or elliptic-oblanceolate, 5-15
cm. long, 2-5 cm. wide, scarcely tapered to a broadly rounded to truncate or
somewhat cordate base, obtuse to broadly rounded at apex; cymes axillary, few-
flowered, on peduncles to 3 cm. long; sepals oblong-lanceolate, acute, 4-6 mm.
long; petals pink, 5-8 mm. long; fruit 9-11 mm. long; styles 3, about 1 mm. long.
Triadenum tubulosum (Walt.) Gl.
1140
-------
Fig. 531: Hypericum Walteri: a, branch of plant, x %; b, capsule, x 3; c, seed,
x 32. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
In wet soil of wooded swamps, open floodplain woods and on lake shores in s.e.
Tex. where recently found in Newton Co., Sept.-Oct.; mainly on Coastal Plain
from s.e. Va. to s.e. Tex., n.w. in the interior to s. Mo. and s. O.
Fam. 90. Elatinaceae DUM. WATERWORT FAMILY
Low annual or perennial herbs with opposite simple leaves with membranous
paired stipules between them and small regular axillary flowers; the persistent or
marcescent sepals and petals imbricated in the bud; stamens as many as the petals
and alternate with them or twice as many; ovary 2- to 5-celled, the placentae axile;
valves of capsule alternate with dissepiments; seeds several to many, oblong-
cylindric, straight or curved, usually with a reticulate surface pattern.
A family of the following two genera and about 40 species of cosmopolitan
distribution.
1. Plants less than 1 dm. tall or long, creeping, glabrous; flowers 2- to 4-merous;
sepals obtuse, not scarious-margined 1. Elatine
1. Plants 1 dm. or more tall, erect-ascending, glandular-puberulent; flowers 5-
merous; sepals cuspidate, scarious-margined 2. Bergia
\. Elatine L. WATERWORT
Aquatic, amphibious or terrestrial dwarf annuals from the bottoms of pools or
slow streams or on wet sandy or muddy shores; stems erect or prostrate, flaccid-
succulent, to about 10 cm. long; herbage glabrous; leaves (in ours) opposite,
sessile or petioled, with hyaline entire or toothed stipules, the blade linear-spatulate
to oblong or orbicular-obovate, the margin obscurely and remotely crenate; flowers
1 or 2 to a node, sessile or pediceled, 2-, 3-, or 4-merous; sepals 3 or 4, or reduced
to 2, equal or unequal in size, in some species withering-persistent; petals mem-
branous, hypogynous, usually orbicular in outline, in terrestrial plants often campan-
ulately spreading, in aquatic plants often closely investing the ovary or in some
not evident; stamens as many as the petals or twice as many or (in some aquatic
forms) reduced to 1 or sometimes none; styles or capitate stigmas 2 to 4; capsule
membranous, 2- to 4-celled, several- to many-seeded, 2- to 4-valved, septicidally
dehiscent, the partitions left attached to the axis or evanescent.
A genus of about 20 species in fresh-water habitats in temperate and warm
regions.
The nomenclature of some of the species is in a state of flux, usually with no two
authors in agreement. The genus is in need of a thorough revision. These plants
form part of the diet of various ducks.
As Fassett (p. 250) points out, "The differentiation of species is based almost
entirely on mature seeds, which must be examined with a compound microscope.
Superficially all species look alike; in fact, members of the same species growing
on mud or in water will differ more in appearance than will species growing in the
same habitat. In other words, the general form of the plant is greatly influenced by
submergence or emergence, only the seeds remaining diagnostic."
1. Capsule 4-celled; pedicels elongating in fruit; seeds I- or U-shaped; stamens
8 I.E. calif arnica.
1. Capsule 2- or 3-celled, sessile; seeds slightly curved to almost straight;
stamens 3 or varying from 1 to 6 (2)
2(1). Seeds wilh 9 to 1 5 pits in each longitudinal row, the pits nearly as long
as broad; leaves not emarginate at tip 2. E. krachysperma.
2. Seeds with 16 to 35 pits in each longitudinal row, the pits much broader than
long; leaves commonly emarginate at tip (3)
1142
-------
Fig. 532: Elatine californica: a, bud, showing calyx, x 12; b and c, habit, x 2; d,
terrestrial form, showing apex of branch in flower and fruit, x 8; e, mature seed, x
40; f, mature capsule, showing 4 carpels, top view, x 12. (From Mason, Fig. 265).
-------
Fig. 533: Elatine brachysperma: a, flower, x 10; b, capsule in leaf axil, x 10; c,
mature capsule at dehiscence, x 12; d, young capsule, the stamens alternating with the
carpels, x 16; e-g, leaf variation, x 4; h, habit, aquatic form, x 1; i, mature seed, x 60;
j, terrestrial form, part of stem, showing roots, capsules and slender type of leaf, x 6.
(From Mason, Fig. 269).
-------
3(2). Seeds 20 or more in each cell; pits 25 to 35 in each row 3. E. chilensis.
3. Seeds 15 or fewer in each cell; pits 16 to 25 in each row 4. E. triandra.
1. Elatine californica Gray. Fig. 532.
Matted prostrate plant of muddy shores or erect aquatic; leaves short-petioled to
subsessile, obovate to oblanceolate, 4-12 mm. long; flowers on short pedicels, the
pedicel elongating in fruit to become 1 to 2 times as long as the fruit; sepals 4,
equal or subequal to one another in size, oblong, united at base and growing with
the fruit; petals 4, obovate; stamens 8; capsule with 4 carpels; seeds J- or U-shaped,
rounded at one end and truncate at the other with a subapiculate base.
In ponds, vernal pools, in wet mud on margins of lakes, streams and ditches, in
Ariz. (Coconino Co.). July-Sept.; Mont, to Wash., s. to n. Ariz, and Calif.
2. Elatine brachysperma Gray. Fig. 533.
Plant forming tiny low spreading mats to 5 cm. across, the branches somewhat
ascending; leaves to 6 mm. long and 2 mm. wide; flowers sessile, 3-merous; sepals
2 or with a third greatly reduced; petals 3, pinkish; capsule depressed, 3-celled;
seeds shortly oblong-ellipsoid, with 9 to 15 pits in each triangular row, the pits
separated by acute cross-ribs. E. triandra var. brachysperma (Gray) Fassett.
Rare on mud about vernal pools, ponds and in ditches, or in shallow water in
cen. Tex., Okla. (Comanche Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Gila cos.),
Mar .-Oct.; O. and 111. w. to Ore., s. to Okla., Tex., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Elatine chilensis Gay. Fig. 534.
Plants to about 10 cm. long, aquatic or when on wet mud creeping and rooting
at nodes; leaves obovate to broadly spatulate, rounded at summit, 3—4 mm. long,
1-3 mm. wide, narrowed at base to a petiole, with entire triangular attenuate
hyaline stipules; flowers solitary in leaf axils, sessile; sepals 2, oblong, sometimes
with a third much reduced one present; petals white to pink, orbicular; stamens 3,
alternate with the carpels; seeds 20 or more in each cell, borne at the base of the
placental axis, erect, cylindric, slightly curved, with 25 to 35 short broad pits in
each row, with the transverse ridges more conspicuous than the longitudinal ones
(the seed therefore appearing as though transversely rugose).
In mud on shores of lakes and ponds, Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Aug.; also
Calif, and S.A.
4. Elatine triandra Schkuhr.
Matted creeping plant; leaves mostly truncate or emarginate, to 7 mm. or more
long and 3 mm. wide; flowers sessile, 3-merous; seeds 15 or less in each cell,
borne along entire length of thickened central axis, horizontally divergent, slender-
cylindric and curved, with meandering obscure longitudinal ridges and somewhat
angular pits in each row, the larger seeds with 15 to 25 pits in each row. (?) E.
americana (Pursh) Arn.
In mud and shallow water in cen. Tex., Okla. (Comanche Co.), N. M. (Sandoval
Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), Mar.-Oct.; from Wise, to Alta. and
Wash., s. to Tex. and n. Mex.; also Euras.
2. Bergia L.
A small essentially tropical or subtropical genus of about 20 species.
1. Bergia texana (Hook.) Walp. Fig. 535.
Diffuse or ascending plant that is branched from the base, to 4 dm. tall, more or
less glandular-puberulent throughout; flowers shortly pedicelled, 1 to 3 in the axils
of the leaves; leaves elliptic-oblong to oblong-oblanceolate, tapering at base, serru-
late, to 3 cm. long; stipules lanceolate, deeply serrate; sepals 5, to 3.5 mm. long,
1145
-------
Fig. 534: Elatine chilensis: a, mature seed with conspicuous transverse ridges, x
60; b, branch, terrestrial form, x 6: c, habit, aquatic form, x 4; d, young flower, show-
ing the pair of large sepals, x 12; e, mature capsule, showing the third reduced sepal,
the petals and the stamens alternating with the carpels, x 6. (From Mason, Fig. 268).
-------
Fig. 535: Bergia texana: a, mature capsule at dehiscence, showing the denticulate
sepals, x 6; b, habit, prostrate form, x %; c, leaf axil with flowers, x 4; d, mature
seed, shiny brown, obscurely quadrate-reticulate, x 60; e, habit, erect form, x %. (From
Mason, Fig. 264).
-------
acuminate, with thickened greenish midnerve and wide scarious margins, roughened
on the keeled midnerve; petals 5, white, oblong, shorter than the sepals; stamens
5 or 10; fruit subglobose, 2-3 mm. in diameter, firm-textured, 5-carpellate; seeds
glossy, light-brown, elliptic-oblong, curved, obscurely reticulate.
In ditches, swamps, marshes and on mud about ponds and on wet banks in
Okla. (Waterfall) and s. Tex., June-Oct.; from Ark. to Tex. and s. Calif., n. to
s. 111., Mo., S.D. and Wash.
Fam. 91. Tamaricaceae LINK. TAMARISK FAMILY
Shrubs or small trees; leaves alternate, exstipulate, sessile, small and scalelike,
entire, commonly imbricated; flowers mainly perfect, regular, in spicate racemes
that are usually collected to form a panicle; sepals 4 or 5, imbricated; petals 4 or
5, distinct, somewhat imbricated; disk 5- or 10-lobed or obsolete; stamens 4, 5, 8
or 10, the distinct filaments free, the anthers opening lengthwise; ovary 1-celled,
superior, with 3 to 5 basal placentae; stigmas 2 to 5, distinct; ovules 2 to many on
each placenta; fruit a capsule; seeds erect, terminating in a sessile tuft of hairs.
More than 60 species in four genera, all natives of the Old World.
1. Tamarix L. TAMARISK. SALT CEDAR
Deciduous shrubs or small trees with irregularly and widely spreading slender
terete stems; the ultimate small branchlets deciduous with the leaves; leaves clasp-
ing or sheathing; flowers small, short-pediceled or sessile; petals pink or white,
inserted under the disk; capsule dehiscent into 3 to 5 valves; seeds numerous.
About 50 species in the Old World, many of which are cultivated for their
feathery foliage and profuse pink or white flowers. Occasionally planted for wind-
breaks and for sand binding. Most have become naturalized in such places as
along rivers, streams and irrigation ditches (especially if saline), about lakes, in
and about salt flats and in waste places generally. They flower periodically through-
out the year.
These attractive and ornamental flowering trees and shrubs provides abundant
shade and are excellent honey plants. In some regions they are considered to be
beneficial in preventing too rapid run-off after heavy rains. Because of their toler-
ance to alkaline and saline conditions, they are valuable as shade and ornamental
plants in such areas. In many regions, such as along the Pecos River, they have
become a rather serious problem because of having formed extensive stands along
its banks with consequent great loss of water from this important water course.
Adapted from Bernard R. Baum in Baileya 15(1): 19-25. 1967.
1. Flowers 4-merous, occasionally with more than 4 stamens 5. T. parviflora.
1. Flowers 5-merous, occasionally with more than 5 stamens (2)
2(1). Staminal filaments arising from the alternating disk-lobes (3)
2. Staminal filaments not as above (4)
3(2). Racemes mostly on last year's branches, 6-9 mm. broad (in dried material);
petals ovate to broadly trulliform-ovate, more than 2 mm. long
I. T. africana,
3. Racemes mostly on green branches, 4-5 mm. broad; petals elliptic to some-
what ovate-elliptic, less than 2 mm. long 4. T. gallica.
4(2). Staminal filaments inserted between the more or less retuse lobes of the
disk; petals caducous (sometimes 1 or 2 persisting)....2. T. aphylla.
4. Staminal filaments as above but with at least 3 of them inserted under the
disk near the margin; petals persistent after maturity (5)
1148
-------
5(4). Sepals more or less entire; petals ovate to elliptic; flowers of those
racemes that occur on green branches with 1 or 2 of the filaments
inserted between lobes of disk 3. T. chinensis.
5. Sepals denticulate; petals obovate; all filaments of all flowers inserted below
disk near margins 6. T. ramosissima.
1. Tamarix africana Poir.
Bark black to dark-purple; leaves sessile; racemes 3-7 cm. long, 6-9 mm. broad
(in dry material), those occurring on green branches of the current year somewhat
smaller; bracts longer than pedicels; flowers pentamerous; sepals subentire, the
outer 2 slightly keeled and longer than the inner more obtuse ones; petals ovate to
broadly trulliform-ovate, about 2.5-3 mm. long in vernal flowers, 3 mm. long or
more in aestival; staminal filaments inserted on gradually tapering lobes of disk.
Nat. of Eur. and the Medit. region; introd. in Cailf., Ariz., Tex. and S.C.
2. Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst.
Bark reddish-brown to gray; leaves vaginate; racemes 3-6 cm. long, 4-5 mm.
broad; bracts longer than pedicels; flowers pentamerous; sepals entire, the inner
somewhat larger; petals elliptic-oblong to ovate-elliptic, 2-2.25 mm. long, caducous,
sometimes 1 or 2 persisting after maturity; staminal filaments inserted between
the more or less retuse disk-lobes.
Nat. of Afr. and the Middle East; introd. in Tex., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Tamarix chinensis Lour. Fig. 536.
Bark brown to black-purple; leaves sessile; vernal inflorescences of many dense
racemes, aestival ones loose and of slender racemes; racemes 2-6 cm. long, 5-7
mm. broad; bracts equaling to slightly longer than pedicels; flowers pentamerous;
sepals subentire, acute; petals elliptic to ovate, persistent after maturity, about
1.5-2.25 mm. long; filaments inserted between lobes of disk but from its lower
part near the margin; in aestival flowers 1 or 2 filaments are inserted in the sinuses
between the lobes and the other 3 or 4 under the disk near the margin.
Nat. of the Far East; introd. and widespread in Can. and the U.S.
In regard to the insertion of the filaments either direct from the disk surface or
from the lower surface near its margin, the separation of this species and the poorly
known (not included here) T. aralensis Bunge is most tenuous.
4. Tamarix gallica L. TAMARISCO, ROMPEVIENTOS.
Bark blackish-brown to deep-purple; leaves sessile; racemes 2-5 cm. long, 4-5
mm. broad; bracts longer than pedicels, not exceeding the calyx; flowers penta-
merous; sepals acute, entire or subentire; petals caducous, elliptic to slightly ovate-
elliptic, 1.5-1.75 mm. long; staminal filaments inserted on apices of the gradually
attenuating lobes of disk.
Nat. of s. Eur.; introd. and rare in s. U.S.
Tamarix canariensis Willd., a species allied to T. gallica, is known to have been
introduced recently into Arizona. It has densely incised-denticulate sepals and the
rachis of the raceme is papillose.
5. Tamarix parviflora DC.
Bark brown to deep-purple; leaves sessile; racemes more often on last year's
branches, 1.5-4 cm. long, 3-5 mm. broad; bracts diaphanous, longer than pedicels;
flowers tetramerous; sepals eroded-denticulate, the outer 2 trulliform-ovate. acute
and keeled, the inner 2 ovate and obtuse; petals parabolic or ovate, 2 mm. long;
staminal filaments emerging gradually from the disk-lobes.
Nat. of the Medit. region; introd. and widespread in Can. and the U.S.
1149
-------
Fig. 536: Tamarix chinensis: a, flowering branch, x ^; b, twig with leaves, x 5;
c, portion of inflorescence in bud, x 5; d, young flower, x 7; e, portion of inflorescence
in flower, x 7; f, mature flower, x 7; g, ovary with stigmas, x 7; h, portion of inflores-
cence in fruit, x 5; i, capsule split open, x 7; j, disk, filaments and calyx, x 7; k, disk
and filaments, x 10; 1, seed, x 7. (V. F.).
-------
6. Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.
Bark reddish-brown; leaves sessile; racemes 1.5-7 cm. long, 3-4 mm. broad;
bracts longer than pedicels; flowers pentamerous; sepals more or less acute, eroded
to irregularly denticulate, the inner 3 broader than the outer; petals 1-1.75 mm.
long, obovate to broadly elliptic-obovate; filaments inserted under the disk near
the margin between the usually emarginate lobes.
Nat. of Euras.; introd. and widespread mainly in s. U.S.
Fam. 92. Violaceae BATSCH VIOLET FAMILY
Herbs, vines, shrubs or small trees with lobed or unlobed stipulate leaves; flowers
irregular, perfect, 5-merous, polypetalous, axillary; calyx with separate sepals, often
the two lowermost spurred; corolla bilaterally symmetrical, the lowermost petal
spurred or gibbous; stamens hypogynous, with adnate introrse anthers, the filaments
continued beyond the anther locules; ovary 1-celled, 3-carpellate, with parietal
placentation, free from calyx; fruit a 3-valved capsule. Reduced cleistogamous
flowers produced in most species during summer; with 5 sepals, 2 rudimentary
petals that are not exposed and 2 stamens; pollen tubes grow directly from anthers
into ovary.
About 800 species in 15 genera; cosmopolitan.
1. Viola L. VIOLET
Herbs (in our area) with large stipules; petals unequal, the lowermost spurred;
.5 stamens closely surrounding ovary but not fused, two lower ones bearing spurs
that are housed in spur of basal petal; cleistogamous flowers produced by all species.
About 450 species, cosmopolitan, but chiefly in temperate North America and
northern South America.
The seeds of violets are eaten by upland game birds, such as doves and quail,
and wild turkeys not only eat the seeds but they relish the succulent rootstocks.
1. Plants with leafy aerial stems 1. V. pubescens var. eriocarpa.
1. Plants without leafy aerial stems (2)
2(1). Petals white; stoloniferous (3)
2. Petals blue to violet; not stoloniferous (5)
3(2). Leaf blades ovate, 1.5 to 2 times as long as broad 2. V. primulifolia.
3. Leaf blades linear to lanceolate, 3.5 to 15 times as long as broad (4)
4(3). Leaf blades lanceolate, 3.5 to 5 times as long as broad
3. V. lanceolata subsp. lanceolata.
4. Leaf blades linear, 6 to 15 times as long as broad
3. V. lanceolata subsp. vittata.
5(2). Leaf blades divided (6)
5. Leaf blades entire (7)
6(5). Leaves pedately cut, with narrow lobes 4. V. septemloba.
6. Leaves palmately cut, with broad lobes 5. V. esculenta.
7(5). Leaves moderately to densely pubescent on both surfaces 6. V. sororia.
1. Leaves glabrous on both surfaces or with fine hairs on upper surface only (8)
8(71. Leaves glabrous on lower surface, bearing short stiff hairs on upper surface
of basal lobes 7. V. nephrophylla.
8. Leaves glabrous on both surfaces (9)
1151
-------
9(8). Leaf blades (at least some) broader than long, rather uniformly toothed
to the acute apex 8. V. papilionacea.
9. Leaf blades mostly as long as broad or longer, with somewhat attenuate apices
that bear fewer more widely spaced teeth than rest of margin (10)
10(9). Upper third of leaf blades with 10 to 14 teeth, narrowly triangular;
peduncles exceeding the petioles 9. V. Langhisii.
10. Upper third of leaf blades with 0 to 6 teeth, broadly triangular; peduncles
not exceeding the petioles 10. V. missouriensis.
1. Viola pubescens Ait. var. eriocarpa (Schwein.) Russell. SMOOTH YELLOW VIOLET.
Tall sparingly branched perennial, 1-4.5 dm. high, typically with 4 to 8 basal
leaves and 3 to 5 leafy aerial stems; leaves cordate, uncut, smooth to sparingly
hairy on all surfaces; stipules small and entire; flowers yellow; capsule glabrous to
soft-tomentose; seeds 2-2.5 mm. long. V. eriocarpa Schwein.
Rich moist or wet forest and floodplain woods or wet meadows, often by
streams, n.e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; n.e. Tex. to N.C., n. to Que.
and Ont.
2. Viola primulifolia L.
Acaulescent perennial with cordlike rhizomes, producing runners throughout
growing season (these take root at the nodes and form new crowns); leaves ovate-
lanceolate to broadly ovate, variously pubescent, the blade tapering to a petiole as
long as or longer than blade; flowers white with light-blue veins (especially on
lower petal), small; capsules green, borne on erect peduncles; seeds 1.5-1.7 mm.
long. Incl. var. villosa Eat.
Roadside ditches and open marshy fields, wet meadows, moderately abundant in
Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-May; Tex. to Fla., n. to N.S., n. Ind. and
Okla.
3. Viola lanceolata L. subsp. lanceolate. LANCE-LEAVED VIOLET.
Acaulescent perennial with cordlike rhizomes, producing runners through grow-
ing season (these root at the nodes and form new crowns); leaves lanceolate, gla-
brous, about 3.5 to 5 times as long as broad; flowers white with bluish veins;
capsules green, on erect peduncles; seeds light brown, 1.4—1.5 mm. long.
Roadside ditches and wet open fields, rare in n.e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; Tex. to Ga.,
n. to Que. and Minn.
Subsp. vittata (Greene) Russell. Fig. 537.
Acaulescent perennial, similar to subsp. lanceolata in most respects, differing in
having vittate leaves often 3-5 dm. long and 5 to 14 times as long as broad. Drain-
age ditches, marshes, bogs, savannahs and other wet open habitats, moderately
frequent in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; Tex. to Fla., n.
to s. Va. and s.e. Okla.
4. Viola septemloba LeConte.
Acaulescent perennial, reproducing vegetatively by fragmentation of the hori-
zontal rhizome; leaves spreading, with 3 to 6 narrow somewhat oblanceolate lateral
lobes, thin, sometimes purple-tinged in spring, overall leaf shape orbicular to ovate;
flowers blue-violet, on peduncles exceeding the leaves; lateral petals villous at base;
fruits green, on erect peduncles; seed with inconspicuous caruncle.
Wet lowland forests, often by streams, swamps and sandy pinelands, rare in
extreme e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; e. Tex. to s. Fla., n. to Va. and Tenn.
5. Viola esculenta Ell.
Acaulescent perennial, reproducing vegetatively by fragmentation of the fleshy
horizontal rhizome; leaves spreading, somewhat fleshy, with 4 to 6 broad palmately
1152
-------
Fig. 537: Viola lanceolate var. vittala: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2: c, capsule,
x 2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
cut basal lobes; leaf lobes with parallel margins, not oblanceolate nor obovate as
in V. septemloba; flowers pale-violet; sepals with emarginate auricles; spurred
petal slightly hairy; capsules cylindrical, green, borne on spreading peduncles.
Wet open land or swampy woods and thickets, in s.e. corner of Tex., Mar.-Apr.;
Tex. to s. Fla., n. to s. Va. and n. Miss.
6. Viola sororia Willd. WOOLLY BLUE VIOLET.
Acaulescent perennial, reproducing vegetatively by fragmentation of the thick
horizontal rhizome; leaves spreading, broadly ovate to reniform, entire, pubescent
on both surfaces with long hairs, sometimes villous; flowers varying in color from
light-lilac to reddish-purple or dark-violet-purple; sepals with short broad ciliate
auricles; peduncles of open flowers equaling or shorter than petioles; capsules large,
ovoid, purple or purple-spotted, prostrate or buried in leaves; seeds buff to brown,
ovoid, 1.75-2.5 mm. long.
In sandy alluvial soils along streams, wet meadows, rich woods, thickets or dryish
woodlands, sometimes a weed in cities, Okla. (Waterfall) and e. half of Tex., Mar.-
Apr.; Tex. to n. Fla., n. to Que. and N.D.
7. Viola nephrophylla Greene.
Acaulescent perennial, spreading from horizontal somewhat fleshy rootstocks;
leaves erect or ascending, orbicular to slightly reniform, entire, glabrous except
for a scattering of tiny hairs on the upper surfaces of the lobes; petioles about
2 cm. long in summer; laminas of young leaves often purple on lower surface;
flowers light-blue; sepals with short blunt glabrous auricles; spurred petal villous;
capsules green, slightly ovoid, borne on erect peduncles above the leaves; seeds
with pronounced caruncles.
Open wet fields, bogs, wet meadows, springy places, depressions in woods, willow
thickets and wet grasslands, rare in n.e. Tex., (?) Okla., N. M. (Rio Arriba, San
Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coco-
nino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Mar.-May; n.e. Tex. to Que. and Ont. w. to
N.D. and throughout Rocky Mts.
Represented in Arizona chiefly by var. arizonica (Greene) Kearn. & Peeb.,
characterized by sparsely pubescent or at least ciliate leaves; these glabrous in var.
nephrophylla.
1153
-------
8. Viola papilionacea Pursh. MEADOW VIOLET, COMMON BLUE VIOLET.
Plant glabrous; rhizome horizontal, stout, branching: petioles usually smooth and
glabrous, sometimes sparingly pubescent; leaf blades reniform to ovate in outline
above the cordate base, becoming as much as 13 cm, wide, acute or abruptly
pointed at apex, crenate with the teeth 2-7 mm. long and 0.5-2 mm. wide; flowers
shorter than or sometimes overtopping the leaves, usually rich-violet and white-
centered; corolla 2-3 cm. across, the spurred petal cymbiform; cleistogamous
flowers on horizontal peduncles, their capsules (1—1.5 cm. longl ellipsoid to
cylindric and usually purplish; seeds dark-brown.
In low alluvial soil bordering streams, ponds, wet ditches, fields and meadows,
thickets and low wet woods, in Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; Me. and Que. to
N.D. and Wyo., s. to Ga. and Okla.
9. Viola Langloisii Greene.
Acaulescent perennial, reproducing vegetatively by fragmentation of the hori-
zontal rhizome; leaves small, short, spreading, ovate, with cordate bases and slightly
attenuate apices, with 10 to 14 teeth in upper third of each margin, completely
glabrous; flowers blue-violet, borne on erect peduncles above the leaves; sepals
narrow, slightly sagittate.
River forests, wet or damp slopes and edge of streams, in Okla. (Waterfall) and
e. Tex., especially in the s.e., Mar.-Apr.; cen. Tex., and Okla., e. to cen. Fla., n. to
n. Miss.
10. Viola missouriensis Greene
Acaulescent perennial, reproducing vegetatively by fragmentation of the thick
horizontal rhizome: leaves large and numerous, often 20 to 30 produced from one
crown, ovate to orbicular, with cordate bases, triangular at apex, with 0 to 6
widely spaced crenations, glabrous; flowers light-blue, borne on erect peduncles
about same length as petioles; sepals broad, the auricles not pronounced; grading
into V. Langloisii.
In low rich alluvial woods, bogs, river forests, along streams and ledges, in
Okla. (Waterfall), cen. and n.e. Tex. and N.M. (San Miguel Co., fide Wooton &
Standley), Mar.-May; s. Tex. e. to Ark., n. to Minn, and Neb., w. to N.M.
Fam. 93. Lythraceae Si.-HiL. LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY
Herbs, shrubs or trees; leaves opposite, whorled or alternate, simple, entire;
stipules minute or wanting; flowers perfect, regular or sometimes irregular, solitary
or clustered, 4- to 7-parted, the peduncles usually bibracteolate; calyx tubular to
campanulate, persistent, 4- to 6-toothed and often with accessary teeth in the
sinuses, the toothlike lobes valvate; petals inserted in the throat of the hypanthium
between the lobes or rarely absent; stamens 4 to many, inserted on the hypanthium,
when as many as the petals then opposite the sepals; style simple or wanting, the
stigma capitate; fruit capsular, dry, 1- to several-celled.
About 550 species in 25 genera, mostly in the tropics.
Ducks are known to eat the seeds of some species, notably those of Decodon and
Lythrum, and it is quite possible that other wildfowl eat seeds of these plants.
Small mammals also eat the seeds as well as parts of the herbage of most species.
1. Erect or viny shrubs (2)
1. Herbs or only partially suffrutescent (3)
2(1). Flowers in cymes in leaf axils; aquatic shrub 1. Decodon
1. Flower solitary in leaf axils; not strictly aquatic 2. Heimia
1154
-------
Fig. 538: Decodon verticillatus: a, part of submersed stem showing adventitious
roots and sprouting shoots, x %; b, upper part of plant, x %; c, flower, x 5; d, seed,
x5. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 539: a-c, Peplis diandra: a, habit, x %; b, fruit, x 5; c, seed, x 5. d-h, Heimia
salicifolia: d, branch of plant, x 1.4; e, flower, x 5; f, capsule broken open, x 5; g, one
section of capsule, x 5; h, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
3(1). Flowers irregular; calyx gibbous or spurred at base; petals unequal
7. Cuphea
3. Flowers regular or nearly so, symmetrical (4)
4(3). Hypanthium elongated, cylindrical or tubular 3. Lythrum
4. Hypanthium campanulate or turbinate, becoming hemispheric or globose (5)
5(4). Flowers two or more in leaf axils; capsules bursting irregularly
4. Ammannia
5. Flowers solitary in leaf axils; capsules indehiscent or regularly dehiscent (6)
6(5). Petals wanting; capsules indehiscent; submersed aquatic plants 5. Peplis
6. Petals present; capsules dehiscent; terrestrial or marsh plants (7)
7(6). Flowers sessile; capsules septicidally dehiscent 6. Rotala
1. Flowers pedunculate; capsules variously dehiscent 2. Heimia
1. Decodon J. F. GMEL.
A monotypic genus.
1. Decodon verticUlarus (L.) Ell. WATER-WILLOW, SWAMP-LOOSESTRIFE. Fig. 538.
Perennial herb or suffrutescent, smooth or downy; stems 4- to 6-sided, to 25 dm.
long, recurved-arching and rooting at tips, the bark of submersed parts spongy-
thickened; leaves shortly petioled, opposite or whorled, elliptic-lanceolate to
lanceolate, acute to subacuminate, to about 1 dm. long and 4 cm. wide, the upper
ones with clustered pedicelled flowers in their axils; flowers trimorphous; calyx
with 5 to 7 erect teeth and as many longer and spreading terete hornlike processes
at the sinuses; petals 5, cuneate-lanceolate, magenta, crinkly, about 12 mm. long;
stamens 10, of 2 lengths, exserted; style filiform, about 14 mm. long; capsule glo-
bose, 3- to 5-celled, loculicidal, black, 3-5 mm. in diameter.
In swamps, shallow pools, in and on margin of ponds and lakes in e. Tex. (Wood,
Hardin, Madison and Cass cos.), July-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.E., N.Y.,
s. Ont. and s. 111.
The characteristic of the stems rooting at their tips enables the plant to spread
rapidly. They are thus capable of forming mats over water over which other plant
species may take root.
2. Heimia LINK & OTTO
Slender deciduous herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite or with some alternate,
exstipulate; flowers pedunculate, solitary in the axils of the leaves; calyx campanu-
late, with hornlike spreading processes between the lobes; petals 5 to 7; stamens 10
to 18; style slender, the stigma capitate; capsule 4-celled.
Three species from Texas south to Argentina.
1. Leaves tapering to a sessile or short-petioled base; peduncle stout, about 2
mm. long, the bracts elliptic-oblanceolate and about 4 mm. long
and 2 mm. wide; petals yellow 1. H. salicifolia.
1. Leaves auricled at base; peduncle filiform, more than 1 cm. long, the bracts
ovate and about 2 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; petals pink to
purple '. 2. H. longipes.
1. Heimia salicifolia (H.B.K.) Link & Otto. HACHINAL. Fig. 539.
Shrub to 3 m. high, forming clumps, usually much smaller, glabrous throughout:
leaves mostly opposite, sessile to short-petioled, linear-oblanceolate to linear-
lanceolate or lanceolate, to about 5 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, obtuse to acute at
apex; flowers solitary and short-pedunculate in the axils, inodorous; calyx campanu-
late, 5—9 mm. long, with triangular acuminate lobes that become closely connivent
over the capsule; petals 5 to 7, orange-yellow, oval, 12-17 mm. long, fugacious;
1157
-------
capsule about 4 mm. in diameter, loculicidal. Nesaea salicifolia H.B.K.
Along resacas, streams or in wet soil in brushlands in the Rio Grande Plains and
Valley of s. Tex., Mar.-June; from Tex., s. through Mex. to C.A. and S.A.; also
Jam.
2. Heimia longipes (Gray) Cory. Fig. 540.
Subshrubby to somewhat herbaceous plants with sprawling and trailing much-
branched slender stems to 9 dm. or more long, glabrous throughout; leaves sub-
sessile, linear, acute at apex, auriculate at base, with prominently revolute margins,
to 5 cm. long and 4 mm. wide; peduncles filiform, elongated, often about as long
as the leaves, bibracteolate below the flowers; calyx 5—7 mm. long, with short
2-grooved triangular lobes; petals pink to purple, obovate, 6-7 mm. long; style fili-
form, much-exserted; capsule about 4 mm. in diameter, opening by a little lid and
then splitting septifragally. Nesaea longipes Gray.
On seepage rocks and about springs in the Edwards Plateau and the Trans-Pecos
of Tex., May-July; apparently endemic.
3. Lythrum L. LOOSESTRIFE
Herbs or shrubs with 4-angled stems; leaves opposite, alternate or sometimes
whorled, entire; flowers usually solitary in the axils, often dimorphous, with a
short bibracteolate peduncle; calyx tube cylindric, 8- to 12-ribbed, 4- to 7-toothed,
with an equal number of appendages in the sinuses; petals 4 to 6, attached to the
rim of the calyx tube, rarely wanting; stamens 4 to 12, inserted rather low on the
calyx tube; style filiform; capsules cylindrical, included in the calyx tube, mem-
branous, 2-celled, usually bursting irregularly; seeds numerous.
About 35 species of wide geographical distribution.
Lythrum lineare L., a plant with mostly opposite linear-oblong leaves which is
found in and about brackish and saline marshes east to Florida and New Jersey
has been reported from Texas. We have seen no material of it from our region.
1. Stem leaves mostly widest at or above the middle, tapering or abruptly con-
tracted into a subpetiolar base (2)
1. Stem leaves mostly widest below the middle, somewhat rounded to subauricu-
late at the usually sessile to clasping base (3)
2(1). Stem leaves broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate, rounded to subobtuse at
apex; endemic in Texas Edwards Plateau 1. L. ovalifolium.
2. Stem leaves typically narrowly elliptic, acute to acuminate at apex; wide-
spread in eastern third of Texas and Oklahoma....2. L. lanceolatum.
3(1). Leaves of inflorescence typically linear-lanceolate; appendages of calyx
tube subulate and erect, much longer than the teeth; distribution
Panhandle and north-central Texas and Oklahoma
3. L. dacotanwn,
3. Leaves of inflorescence typically linear; appendages of calyx tube fleshy-
mammillate and curved outward, about as long as the teeth; dis-
tribution south-central and west Texas westward
4. L. californicum.
1. Lythrum ovalifolium Koehne. Fig. 541.
Perennial herb to 35 cm. high, the stem much-branched from near base; stem
leaves broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate, rounded to obtuse at apex, to 25 mm.
long and 8 mm. wide, abruptly contracted at base, membranous; leaves of inflores-
cence similar to stem leaves but much smaller; calyx tube 5-6 mm. long; petals
obovate, lavender, 3-4.5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide.
Rare along and in water of rivers and streams in the e. Edwards Plateau of cen.
Tex., Apr.-June; endemic.
1158
-------
Fig. 540: Heimia longipes: a, habit, x %; b, branch with flowers, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 541: a-c, Lythrum ovah'folium: a, habit, x %; b, branch of inflorescence, x 3;
c, flower split longitudinally, x 5. d-f, Lythrum californicum: d, branch, x %; e, branch
of inflorescence, x 3; f, flower, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
2. Lythrum lanceolatiim Ell.
Plant to 1 m. or more high, the stem usually much-branched (especially above),
often in large clumps; stem leaves elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, to 55 mm. long and
1 cm. wide, acute to acuminate at apex, tapering to a cuneate base with straight
margins; leaves of inflorescence similar to stem leaves but much smaller; calyx tube
about 5 mm. long, the slenderly subulate appendages much longer than the teeth;
petals obovate, purple or cerise-red to lavender-blue, 3-6 mm. long; ovary with a
thick ring at base. L. alatum Pursh var. lanceolatiim (Ell.) T. & G.
Rather frequent in meadows, prairies, marshes, about lakes and ponds, ditches
and depressions in the e. third of Tex., rare elsewhere in Tex. and Okla. (Johnston,
McCurtain, Haskell, Choctaw, Grady, LeFlore and Love cos.), Apr.-Oct.; from
Tex. and Okla., e. to Fla., Va. and Term.
3. Lythrum dacotanum Nieuw.
Perennial from a woody rootstock, to about 1 m. high, the stems mostly much-
branched, rarely simple; stem leaves elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or linear-
lanceolate, rounded to subauriculate at base, obtuse to acute at apex, to 35 mm.
long and 7 mm. wide; leaves of inflorescence similar to the stem leaves but much
smaller; calyx tube 5—6 mm. long; petals purple, obovate, 5-7 mm. long. L. alatum
of Okla. and Tex. reports (probably).
Mostly in prairies and meadows, seepage areas and about ponds and lakes, of
Panhandle and n.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Jefferson and Mayes cos.), May-July; from
Tex. and Ark., e. to Ga., Tenn. and Va., w. to Colo, and Wyo., n. to Ont.
4. Lythrum californicum T. & G. HIERBA DEL CANCER. Fig. 541.
Perennial with creeping woody rootstock, to 15 dm. high, usually much smaller,
pale-green and glabrous; stems mostly erect, paniculately and divaricately branched
above; stem leaves alternate, firm, narrowly linear to linear-oblong or the lower
leaves sometimes lanceolate, acute at apex, more or less rounded to somewhat
auriculate at the sessile base, to about 3 cm. long and 5 mm. wide; leaves of inflor-
escence linear, obtuse to acute, much smaller than the stem leaves; calyx tube
cylindric, 5-7 mm. long, the subulate teeth sharply acute; petals obovate, bright-
purple, 4—6 mm. long, 2-4.5 mm. wide; capsule oblong-clavate, the linear-
lanceolate seeds about 1 mm. long. L. alatum Pursh var. beviflorum (Gray) Wats.,
L. linearifolium (Gray) Small, L. parvulum Nieuw.
In moist ground or water along streams, marshes, about ponds and springs, in
depressions, and salt flats mainly in s.-cen. and w. Tex., Okla. (probably), N. M.
(Grant, Sierra, Don Ana, Socorro, Otero and Chaves cos.) and Ariz, (widespread),
Mar.-Nov.; from Tex., n. to Kan. and w. to Calif, and n. Mex.
4. Ammannia L.
Mostly low and inconspicuous glabrous annual herbs, the stems mostly 4-angled:
leaves opposite, sessile, entire, narrow and often elongated; flowers small, usually in
3- to many-flowered axillary cymes, usually 4-merous; calyx globose or campanu-
late, 4-angled, 4-toothed, usually with a little horn-shaped appendage in each sinus;
petals 4, small, deciduous, sometimes wanting; stamens 4 to 8, inserted on the calyx
tube; style somewhat persistent; capsule 2- to 4-celled, bursting irregularly; seeds
numerous, angled and minutely pitted.
About 30 species widespread in tropical and warm temperate regions.
1. Cymes decidedly pedunculate; mature capsule surpassing the calyx
1. A. auriculata.
1. Cymes sessile or essentially so; mature capsule equal to or shorter than the
calyx (2)
1161
-------
2(1). Style 1.5-3 mm. long; leaves linear to narrowly oblong, clasping stem at
the auriculate base 2. A. coccinea.
2. Style about 0.5 mm. long; leaves linear-oblong to oblanceolate, the lower
ones cuneate at base, the upper ones truncate to cordate-auriculate
at base 3. A. teres.
1. Ammannia auriculata Willd. Fig. 542.
Plant erect or with a few short ascending branches, to about 8 dm. high, usually
much smaller; leaves linear-lanceolate to linear, long-attenuate, to 5 cm. long and
7 mm. wide, all but the very lowest auriculate-cordate at base; cymes loosely 3- or
more-flowered on peduncles to 5 mm. or more long or with solitary flowers on
pedicels to about 3 mm. long; calyx 1.5-2 mm. long, with prominent triangular
teeth, 8-nerved, in fruit becoming subglobose and 2-4 mm. in diameter; petals
minute, purple to white, soon dropping; style filiform, 1.5-3 mm. long; capsule sur-
passing the calyx; seeds reddish-brown. Incl. var. arenaria (H.B.K.) Koehne.
In swamps, ditches and about pond margins throughout much of cen. Tex., rare
in the Panhandle (Lipscomb Co.), Okla. (Carter, Ottawa, Comanche, LeFlore and
Craig cos.) and possibly Ariz., May-Sept.; from Mo. and Miss, to N.M., (?) Ariz.
and Mex., n. to Ind. and S.D.
2. Ammannia coccinea Rottb. TOOTH-CUP. Fig. 542.
Plants rather stout, ascending or depressed-spreading, to about 5 dm. high, the
stem branched below and spongy when growing in water; leaves linear-oblong to
linear-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long and 15 mm. wide, mostly much smaller, cordate-
auriculate and clasping stem at base, acute to acuminate at apex; cymes closely
2- to 5-flowered, essentially sessile; calyx 2.5—5 mm. long, in fruit 3—5 mm. in
diameter; petals pink to purple, 1-2 mm. long, fugacious; style persistent, 1.5-3
mm. long; capsule about 4 mm. long.
In mud of ditches, ponds, marshes, lakes and streams in e., cen. and extreme s.
Tex., Okla. (Creek, Pittsburg, Mclntosh, Stephens, Jefferson, Johnston, LeFlore.
Craig and Nowata cos.) and Ariz. (Maricopa, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.),
Apr.-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex. and Mex., n. to O., 111., Minn., Neb., Mont, and
Wash.
Readily distinguished from A. auriculata by the compact, sessile whorls of
flowers and fruits.
3. Ammannia teres Raf. Fig. 543.
Plant erect, the stout stems simple or with few erect branches near the base, to
about 6 dm. high, usually much smaller, fleshy; leaves oblong to oblanceolate,
obtuse to subacute at apex, tapering at base or rarely subauriculate, the longer
leaves to 6 cm. long; flowers several in the axils, sessile; calyx teeth very short and
broad; petals pink, about 1 mm. long, fugacious; style thick, about 0.5 mm. long;
fruiting calyx about 5 mm. in diameter; seeds whitish-brown.
Swamps and tidal marshes in s.e. Tex., summer; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J.
5. Peplis L.
A monotypic genus.
1. Peplis diandra Nutt. WATER-PURSLANE. Fig. 539.
Aquatic or sometimes terrestrial herb, rooting in mud, glabrous, with slender
simple stems to about 4 dm. long; leaves opposite, those of submersed plants elon-
gated, linear, minutely refuse at the obtusish apex, thin and flaccid, closely sessile
by a broad base, to about 3 cm. long and 3 mm. wide, when emersed shorter and
contracted at base; flowers small, greenish, solitary and sessile in axils of leaves;
calyx without appendages, 2-3 mm. long, with 4 broad triangular pinkish lobes;
1162
-------
Fig. 542: Ammannia. a-c, A. auriculata: a, mature seed, x 40; b, mature capsule
(cross section), the placentation axile, x 4; c, peduncled inflorescence, the subtending
leaf auricled at base, x 3. d-f, A. coccinea: d, habit, the flowers sessile in leaf axils,
x %; e, flower, x 4; f, habit, basal part of plant, showing roots, x %. (From Mason,
Fig. 273).
-------
Fig. 543: Ammannia teres: a, seed, front view, much enlarged; b, seed, side view,
x 75. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
petals none; stamens 4; style abbreviated; capsule globose, 2-celled, indehiscent,
about 2 mm. in diameter. Didiplis diandra (Nutt.) Wood.
In shallow water and on margin of water of ponds, streams and lakes in e. Tex.
and Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va., O., Ind.
and Wise.
6. Rotala L.
Small annual herbs, glabrous or nearly so; leaves opposite, narrow; flowers regular
or nearly so, axillary, mostly solitary, small, bibracteolate; calyx with appendages
shorter to longer than the regular teeth; petals 4 or wanting; ovary ellipsoid; valves
of the capsule minutely transverse-striate.
About 50 species, widespread mostly in tropical or subtropical regions.
1. Bractlets usually shorter than the calyx; appendages half as long as to about
equal to the calyx teeth; ovary subovoid-globose 1. R. ramosior.
1. Bractlets often twice as long as the calyx; appendages often 3 times as long
as the calyx teeth; ovary ellipsoid 2. R. dentifera.
1. Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne. TOOTH-CUP. Fig. 544.
Small annual herb, low and sprawling to erect and spreading, with simple or
diffusely branched 4-angled stems, glabrous, to 45 cm. high, usually much smaller;
leaves opposite, subsessile to somewhat petioled, linear-oblong to elliptic or oblan-
ceolate, obtuse, to about 45 mm. long and 1 cm. wide; flowers regular or nearly so,
small, solitary in leaf axils, 4-merous, bibracteolate; calyx with appendages shorter
to longer than the teeth, the tube campanulate to globose; petals 4, attached to rim
of calyx tube, white or pink; stamens 4, attached low on calyx tube; capsule glo-
bose, 4-celled, enclosed in the membranous calyx, the valves minutely transverse-
striate, to 5 mm. long and 4.5 mm. broad, the somewhat persistent style about 0.5
mm. long; bractlets linear-lanceolate to subulate, to 4 mm. long.
In sandy or muddy soil in water or on the edge of ponds, lakes, tanks and in
depressions in the e. half of Tex., Okla. (LeFlore, Comanche, Johnston, McCur-
tain, Ottawa and Carter cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.), May-Oct.; from Fla. to
Tex. and Ariz., n. to N.E., N.Y. and the Lake States; also Wash, and Ore.
Most of our material is referable to var. interior Fern. & Grisc. This is a more
robust and upright plant than var. ramosior. The larger leaves are usually subsessile
and are 5-10 mm. wide, the capsules are 3.5-5 mm. long and 3.2-4.5 mm. broad,
and the linear-lanceolate bractlets are 1.6-4 rnm. long. These organs in var.
ramosior have smaller measurements.
2. Rotala dentifera (Gray) Koehne. Fig. 545.
Stems erect or ascending, 3-50 cm. long; herbage glabrous; leaves lanceolate-
elliptic to oblanceolate, narrowed to a very short petiole or subsessile, 2-4 cm. long;
flowers sessile and solitary in the leaf axils; bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, accres-
1164
-------
Fig. 544: Rotala. a-g, R. ramosior: a, fruit in leaf axil, showing the short bracts,
x 6; b and c, mature seeds, adaxial and abaxial views, x 40; d, mature capsule, x 6;
e, habit, x %; f, capsule (cross section), x 8; g, maturing capsule, top view, x 8. h and
i, R. indica: h, spikelike branch, the flowers solitary in the leaf axils, the bracts
slender, x 6; i, habit, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 276).
-------
Fig. 545: Rotala dentifera: a, fruit in leaf axil, showing the long bracts, x 6; b,
mature capsule (cross section), snowing axile placentation, x 6; c and d, mature seeds,
adaxial and abaxial views, x 40; e, habit, showing the flowers solitary in leaf axils,
x -.-,. (From Mason, Fig. 275).
-------
cent, longer than the flowers, 1 to 2 times as long as the fruit; appendages of calyx
2 to 5 times as long as the sepals, sometimes becoming reflexed; sepals long-
triangular, sometimes cuspidate; petals small, pink to white, elliptic, 1 mm. long;
style short or obsolete; ovary 4-celled (sometimes 3-celled).
In shallow water or at the margins of ponds or streams, probably in s. Ariz.;
also n. Son.
7. Cuphea P. BR.
Herbs or woody plants, mostly clammy-pubescent; leaves entire; flowers solitary
in axils or in terminal spikes or racemes; calyx tubular, 12-ribbed, gibbous or
spurred at base on upper side, the 6 lobes with small teeth in the sinuses; petals 6,
unequal; ovary with a curved gland at the base next to the calyx spur, 1- or
2-celled; style slender, the stigma 2-lobed; stamens 6 to 14, adnate to near the top
of the hypanthium; embryo with orbicular cotyledons; capsule ovoid or ellipsoid,
few-seeded, soon ruptured on one side.
About 250 species, primarily in the American tropics.
1. Perennial; stems thin and wiry, spreading-assurgent; stem leaves sessile or
essentially so, about 1.5 cm. long 1. C. glutinosa.
1. Annuals; stems stoutish and erect; stem leaves distinctly petiolate, usually
2 cm. long or more (2)
2(1). Mature calyx 5—7 mm. long, the limb subequally 5-lobed
2. C. carthagensis.
1. Mature calyx 8—12 mm. long, the limb noticeably bilabiate
3. C. viscosissima.
1. Cuphea glutinosa Cham. & Schlecht.
Perennial with slender rootstocks, the roots fibrous, the herbage more or less
glandular-viscid throughout; stems thin and wiry, spreading-assurgent, 1-3 dm.
long, simple or usually sparingly branched; leaves sessile or nearly so, ovate to
oblong-lanceolate, acute, about 1.5 cm. long or less; pedicel about 1.5 mm. long;
hypanthium 7-8 mm. long, curved, gibbous; calyx limb with 5 minute equal deltoid
lobes; petals deep violet-color, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 5-6.5 mm. long; seeds dis-
coid, about 2 mm. long.
Wet meadow about small woodland lake in s.e. Tex. (Tyler Co.), Sept.-Nov.;
also La.; nat. of S.A.
2. Cuphea carthagensis (Jacq.) Macbr. Fig. 546.
Plant annual, 2-9 dm. high, the stem and branches with scattered bristly hairs;
leaves short-petiolate, elliptic to oval or sometimes obovate, 2-6 cm. long, rugose
(especially with age); hypanthium and calyx 5-7 mm. long, usually with few
bristles; calyx lobes minute, broadly deltoid; petals pink or bluish, elliptic or nearly
so, 1.5-2 mm. long; capsule 4-5 mm. long.
On edge of low wet woods and swamps, rare in s.e. Tex. (Hardin Co.), July-
Sept.; from S.A., n. through C.A. and Mex. to Tex. and N.C.
3. Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. BLUE WAXWEED. Fig. 546.
Plant annual, viscid-hairy, 1-7 dm. high; leaves with petioles to about 15 mm.
long; blade lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 1-3.5 cm. long; hypanthium and calyx
8-12 mm. long; calyx limb prominently bilabiate, the upper lip much broader than
long; petals ovate, short-clawed, rose-purple, the upper ones 4.5-5.5 mm. long;
capsule 6-8 mm. long; seeds flat. C. petiolata (L.) Koehne.
Fields, roadsides, wet gravel bars of rivers, edge of streams and lakes, one Tex.
record without definite locality and in e. third of Okla. (Cherokee and McCurtain
cos.), July-Oct.; from Ga. to La., Tex. and Okla., n. to Kan., la. and N.E.
1167
-------
Fig. 546: a-c. Cuphea viscosissima: a, habit, x iA; b, flower split longitudinally, x
2y>; c, seed, x 21-!. d-f, Cuphea carlhagensis; d, branch of plant, x y>; e, flower, x 2^;
f, seed, x 2\2. (V.P.).
-------
Fam. 94. Melastomataceae Juss. MELASTOMA FAMILY
Trees, shrubs, herbs or rarely vines with simple opposite 3- to 7- or rarely
1-nerved leaves and commonly showy cymose flowers; flowers perfect, regular,
mostly 4- or 5-merous; hypanthium variously shaped; sepals valvate and petals
convolute in bud; stamens twice as many as petals, often dimorphic; anthers open-
ing by pores at the apex, commonly with an appendage; ovary superior; fruit a
capsule; seeds usually numerous, variously shaped and adorned.
A large tropical family of about 240 genera and 3,000 species.
1. Rhexia L. MEADOW BEAUTY. DEER-GRASS
Erect herbaceous or suffrutescent perennials, with one to several simple or
branched stems arising from the bases of previous shoots, from a woody crown,
from horizontal-spreading roots or from tuberous roots, essentially glabrous to
densely glandular-pubescent throughout; stems becoming woody or spongy below
(when growing in water), subterete about the middle with 4 well-defined faces
(sides) whose edges are inconspicuously to prominently winged; faces of stem flat
to convex and essentially equal or with one pair of opposing faces flat to concave
and much narrower than the other pair of convex or rounded faces; leaves opposite,
sessile to petiolate, suborbicular-ovate to linear-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic-
linear, with one to several palmate veins and with the margins ciliate to serrulate
or serrate; flowers usually showy, solitary or borne in cymes; petals 4, distinct,
oblique, cuneate to suborbicular, fugacious, mostly rose-color to purple, sometimes
white or yellow; hypanthium more or less urceolate, glabrous to variously glandular-
pubescent, the lower portion somewhat ventricose and enclosing all or most of the
capsule, constricted or narrowed above to usually form a neck, sometimes expanded
above the neck; calyx lobes 4, erect to spreading or strongly recurved, deltoid to
lanceolate, obtuse to acuminate or rarely aristate; stamens 8, isomorphic; anthers
1-celled at anthesis, basifixed, commonly with an appendage at base, yellow, smooth
to papillose, more or less lanceolate in outline, straight or curved to sigmoid, dehisc-
ing by a pore; ovary 4-celled; fruit a capsule; seeds strongly curved to cochleate,
variously adorned.
A small genus of about a dozen species that are centered in southeastern United
States.
1. Anthers straight, 1—3 mm. long, the pore nearly equaling the diameter of
the anther tip; neck of the hypanthium conspicuously constricted
at the base, abruptly expanded above (2)
1. Anthers curved, 4 mm. long or more, the pore only about one third the
diameter of the anther tip; neck of the hypanthium not constricted
at the base, gradually (if at all) expanded above (3)
2(1). Petals rose-color; stem glabrous; leaves ovate to oval or elliptic, less than
3 times as long as wide 1. R. petiolata.
2. Petals yellow; stem hirsute; leaves typically linear-elliptic, more than 3 times
as long as wide 2. R. lutea.
3(1). Stems glabrous throughout; hypanthium typically densely short glandular-
hairy; seeds wedge-shaped 5. R. alifanus.
3. Stems always more or less hairy especially at nodes; hypanthium not as above;
seeds cochleate (4)
4(3). One pair of opposing faces of the stem flat to concave and much narrower
than the other pair of convex or rounded faces; .stem neither con-
spicuously winged nor spongy-thickened below; leaves usually petio-
late; petals or mature hypanthium (or both) glabrous; flowers
white, rose or purple 3. R. mariana var. mariana.
1169
-------
Fig. 547: Rhexia peliolata: a, branches of plant, x \'-,; b, flower, x 5; c, fruit, x 5;
d, seed, about x 40. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 548: Rhexia lutea: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, fruit, x 2.
(V. P.).
-------
4. Faces of the stem flat to convex and essentially equal; stem with conspicuous
wings (to about 2 mm. wide) and spongy-thickened below or (if
neither) then with hairs on the abaxial surface of the petals and
on the mature hypanthium; leaves sessile or nearly so; flowers rose
to purple (5)
5(4). Roots tuberous; stem with conspicuous wings and often spongy-thickened
below; leaves frequently broadest near the base; hypanthial neck
rarely longer than the body of hypanthium 4. R. virginica.
5. Rootstock rhizomatous, nontuberous; stem lacking conspicuous wings and
rarely spongy-thickened below; leaves frequently broadest near the
middle; hypanthial neck usually longer than body of hypanthium
3. R. mariana var. interior.
1. Rhexia petiolata Walt. Fig. 547.
Plant to 6 dm. tall; leaves to 25 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, 3-nerved, somewhat
petiolate; hypanthium glabrous at maturity, 5-9 mm. long; calyx lobes to 4 mm.
long and 3 mm. wide, with serrate to ciliate margins; petals rose-color, elliptic, to
2 cm. long. R. ciliosa Michx.
In peaty or sandy soils of wet pinelands and evergreen shrub or pitcher plant
bogs, in s.e. Tex., July-Sept.; along coast from s.e. Va. to cen. Fla., w. to Tex.
The typically oval leaves and sessile flowers are characteristics of this species.
2. Rhexia lutea Walt. Fig. 548.
Plant to 5 dm. tall, the stems usually much-branched; leaves to 25 mm. long and
8 mm. wide, 3-nerved, essentially sessile; hypanthium at maturity glabrous or with
few scattered glandular hairs, 5-8 mm. long; calyx lobes to 3 mm. long and wide,
with glandular hairs on margins; petals yellow, elliptic, to 13 mm. long.
In wet savannahs and open pinelands, hillside seepage and bogs of s.e. Tex.,
May-June; along coast from e. N.C. to n. Fla., w. to Tex.
The yellow petals are distinctive.
3. Rhexia mariana L. var. mariana. Fig. 549.
Plant to 7 dm. tall, the stem with axillary branches; leaves petiolate, elliptic to
lanceolate, to 6 cm. long, the margins serrate, ciliate; calyx lobes triangular to
lanceolate, to 3 mm. long; petals obovate, to about 18 mm. long. Incl. var. exalbida
Michx.
In marshes, ditches, wet meadows, seepage bogs, savannahs, edge of thickets and
similar places that are wet or moist, throughout e. Tex. and e. Okla. (McCurtain,
Haskell, LeFlore and Pushmataha cos.), May-Sept.; from Mass. s. to Ga., w. to
Tex. and Okla., n.w. to Mo., III. and Ind.
The leaves narrowed to petioles readily distinguish this species from R. virginica.
Var. interior (Penn.) Krai & Bostick.
This is not an altogether clear taxon, especially since it has some characteristics
usually attributed to R. virginica. It may well represent a hybrid but for the present
we follow the most recent revisionists of this genus. R. interior Penn.
In water of ponds, marshes and lowlands; centered in the interior prairies of Mo.
and Kan., extending e. to Ind., Ky. and Tenn. and s. to La., Tex. and e. Okla.
(LeFlore, Adair, Sequoyah and McCurtain cos.).
4. Rhexia virginica L. COMMON MEADOW BEAUTY. Fig. 550.
Plant to 1 m. tall; leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, to 1 dm. long and
35 mm. wide, the margins serrate-ciliate, sessile or with petioles to 5 mm. long;
hypanthium to 1 cm. long, glandular-hispid at maturity; calyx lobes triangular to
lanceolate, to 2.5 mm. long; petals dark-rose-color to purple, obovate, to 17 mm.
long.
1172
-------
Fig. 549: Rhexia mariana: a and b, tops of two plants showing variation of leaf
appearance, x %; c, flower, x 2; d, fruit, x 2. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 550: Rhexia virginica: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, capsule, x 2; d, capsule
split open to show seeds, x 2; e, cross section of capsule, x 2; f, seed, about x 27.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
On open seepage slopes, ditches and in bogs of e.-cen. Tex., June-Oct.; through-
out e. U.S., excluding Fla., n. to N.S. and Ont., w. to Kan. and Tex.
5. Rhexia alifanus Walt.
Erect glabrous perennial with simple or basally branched wandlike stems to
about 1 m. high, from an enlarged spongy rootstock; leaves ovate-lanceolate or
narrowly elliptic, glabrous, 3-nerved, entire, to 1.5 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, acute
to acuminate at apex, cuneate to the sessile base; flowers few in a paniculate cyme;
sepals deltoid, 1—1.5 mm. long; petals rose-color or purplish, somewhat glandular-
pubescent on outer surface, 2-2.5 cm. long; anthers yellow, linear-lanceolate,
curved, 7-8 mm. long, short-append aged, with filaments 6-8 mm. long; mature
hypanthium 7-10 mm. long, glandular-setose, with a short neck; seeds lustrous,
brown, angled, 1-2 mm. long.
A plant of savannahs, bogs and peaty pinelands, in s.e. Tex. (Hardin Co.), Apr.-
Aug.; from e. N.C., s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.
This is one of the most distinctive of all species in this genus. It is an erect,
smooth plant with large, rose-color flowers.
Fam. 95. Onagraceae Juss. EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY
Herbs, sometimes woody near the base; leaves alternate or opposite, simple,
entire, toothed or pinnatifid; stipules minute or lacking; flowers actinomorphic or
slightly zygomorphic, perfect, 2-, 4- or 5- (rarely 6-) merous, borne in the axils of
usually reduced foliage leaves; hypanthium prolonged beyond the ovary or not;
sepals free; corolla white to rose-purple or yellow, the petals free; stamens as many
as the sepals and opposite them or twice as many; ovary 4- or 5-locular; fruit a
loculicidally dehiscent poricidal capsule or nutlike indehiscent structure.
About 650 species in 19 genera, world-wide but largely extra tropical; best
developed in subarid western North America.
1. Calyx persistent, divided down to the ovary 1. Ludwigia.
1. Calyx deciduous after flowering (2)
2(1). Flowers 2-merous; fruit indehiscent, obovoid, usually with hooked hairs
4. Circaea.
2. Flowers 4-merous; fruits various (3)
3(2). Seeds with tufts of hairs (coma) at one end 2. Epilobium.
3. Seeds without a coma 3. Oenothera
1. Ludwigia L. SEEDBOX. WATER-PRIMROSE
Herbs of wet places with alternate or opposite entire or minutely toothed leaves;
stems spongy when in water; stipules present, minute; flowers actinomorphic, 4- or
5- (rarely 6-) merous, borne in the axils of upper leaves; hypanthium not prolonged
beyond the apex of the ovary; sepals persistent in fruit; petals yellow or absent;
stamens as many or twice as many as the sepals; stigma capitate or globose, undi-
vided; fruit a loculicidally or poricidally dehiscent capsule; seeds lacking a coma.
Jussiaea L.
About 70 species, mostly of the tropics and subtropics and best represented in
tropical South America.
The seeds of the various species are eaten by wildfowl, especially ducks, and the
base of the stem of L. palustris is said to be eaten sparingly by muskrats.
1. Leaves opposite (2)
1. Leaves alternate (3)
1175
-------
Fig. 551: Lndwigia decurrens: a, part of plant, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, capsule,
x 21/i>; d, seed, x 36. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 552: Ludwigia octovalvis: a, top of plant, x %; b, flower, x 1%; c, style and
one stamen, x 1%; d, capsule, showing young seeds, x 1; e, mature seed.'x 10. (V.F.).
-------
2(1). Petals absent; capsule with a broad green band at each corner
12. L. palustris.
2. Petals present; capsule lacking green bands 13. L. repens.
3(1). Stamens twice as many as the sepals, in 2 series (4)
3. Stamens as many as the sepals, in 1 series (8)
4(3). Stems conspicuously 4-winged 1. L. decurrens.
4. Stems not conspicuously 4-winged (5)
5(4). Sepals 4; seeds in several series in each locule of the capsule, free
2. L. octovalvis.
5. Sepals 5 (rarely 6); seeds in 1 series in each locule of the capsule, sur-
rounded by woody endocarp at maturity (6)
6(5). Seeds each surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped (hippocrepiform) piece
of endocarp, readily falling free 3. L. leptocarpa.
6. Seeds fused in large masses of endocarp, the entire capsule tough and woody
(7)
7(6). Flowering stems erect; plants covered with long spreading pubescence;
petals 12-33 mm. long 5. L. uruguayensis.
1. Flowering stems usually decumbent; plants subglabrous; petals 7-14 (-24)
mm. long 4. L. peploides.
8(3). Capsule nearly globose, opening by a terminal pore; roots fascicled; stolons
lacking (9)
8. Capsules variable in shape, irregularly dehiscent; roots not fascicled or if so
the capsule not globose; plants with creeping stolons (10)
9(8). Plants hirsute; leaves sessile 6. L. hirtella.
9. Plants glabrous to puberulent; leaves petiolate 7. L. alternifolia.
10(8). Petals present 8. L. Hnearis.
10. Petals absent (11)
11(10). Plants glabrous to pubescent or strigulose; bracteoles less than 2 mm.
long or wanting (12)
11. Plants conspicuously pilose; bracteoles inserted above the base of the capsule,
2.5-4.2 mm. long 9. L. pilosa.
12(11). Capsule globose to subglobose, 2.5-5.6 mm. long 10. L. sphaerocarpa.
12. Capsule subcylindric, 2-8 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. thick 11. L. glandulosa.
1. Ludwigia decurrens Walt. PRIMROSE-WILLOW. Fig. 551.
Subglabrous erect herb to 2 m. tall, freely branched, the stems 4-winged; leaves
lanceolate to elliptical, 2-12 (-16) cm. long, 2-35 mm. wide, subsessiie; sepals 4,
7-10 mm. long; petals 8-12 mm. long; stamens 8; disk not elevated, with a sunken
white-hairy nectary surrounding the base of each epipetalous stamen; capsule 1-2
cm. long, 3-4.5 mm. thick, sharply 4-angled, irregularly and readily loculicidal,
the pedicel 0-1 cm. long; seeds in several series in each locule, free, 0.3-0.4 mm.
long, the raphe about one fifth the diameter of the body. Jussiaea decurrens
(Walt.) DC.
Swamps and wet places, in water of ditches and streams, about ponds and often
forming a vegetative mat in lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain, Mclntosh, LeFlore,
Johnston, Adair, Sequoyah and Choctaw cos.) and e. Tex., June-Oct.; s.e. U.S. to
e. Tex. and scattered to n. Arg.
2. Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) Raven subsp. octovalvis. Fig. 552.
Subglabrous to strigulose usually well-branched weedy herb to 1 m. tall or more;
leaves lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 3-14.5 cm. long, 4-40
1178
-------
Fig. 553: Ludwigia leptocarpa: a, top of plant, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, capsule,
x 2; d, seed, x 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 554: Ludwigia peploides subsp. peploides: A, habit, showing bladder on root,
x 12'. B, flower, about x 1; C, capsule, about x 1; D, seeds with endocarp, x 6; E, seeds
about ,\ 6. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 133).
-------
mm. wide, the petiole 0-1 cm. long; sepals 4, (6-) 8-13 mm. long; petals 5-16 mm.
long; stamens 8; disk slightly elevated, with a white-hairy sunken nectary surround-
ing the base of each epipetalous stamen; capsule thin-walled, 17-45 mm. long,
2-8 mm. thick, readily and irregularly loculicidal, the pedicel 0-1 cm. long; seeds
in several indistinct rows in each locule, 0.6-0.75 mm. long, free, each with an
inflated raphe equal in size to the body of the seed. Jussiaea suffruticosa L. [incl.
var. octofila (DC.) Munz. and var. ligustrifolia (H.B.K.) Griseb.j
In swamps, marshes and other wet places, widespread through s. half of Tex.,
July-Oct.; warmer regions of the world.
The presence in Texas of the closely related L. bonariensis (Mich.) Hara
requires confirmation. The ovary of this species at anthesis about equals the sepals
instead of exceeding them, the capsule is usually shorter than the pedicel instead of
longer and the petals are 20-35 mm. long.
3. Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt.) Hara. Fig. 553.
Usually robust hairy plants to 15 dm. tall, freely branched; leaves broadly lanceo-
late, 3.5-18 cm. long, 1-4 cm. wide, the petiole 2-35 mm. long; sepals 5 (rarely 4,
6 or 7), 5.5-11 mm. long; petals 5-11 mm. long; stamens twice as many as the
sepals; disk slightly elevated, with a depressed hairy nectary surrounding the base
of each epipetalous stamen; capsule 1.5-5 cm. long, 2.5-4 mm. thick, slowly and
irregularly loculicidal, the pedicel 2-20 mm. long; seeds in 1 series in each locule,
horizontal, 1-1.2 mm. long, each loosely embedded in an easily detached horseshoe-
shaped (hippocrepiform) segment of firm endocarp 1-1.5 mm. thick and about
1 mm. high. Jussiaea leptocarpa Nutt.
Wet places, as along ditches and in water about ponds and lakes, in Okla. (Mc-
Curtain Co.) and e. Tex., Aug.-Oct.; e. to Mo., Ga., n. Fla., s. to W.I., Peru and
Arg.; trop Afr.
4. Ludwigia peploides (H.B.K.) Raven subsp. peploides. VERDOLAGA DE AGUA.
Fig. 554.
Subglabrous sprawling or floating herb with somewhat ascending flowering
branches to 6 dm. long; leaves oblong to oblong-spatulate, 1-9 cm. long, 5-40 mm.
wide, the petiole 2-40 mm. long; sepals 5, 4-12 mm. long; petals 7-14 (-24) mm.
long; stamens 10; disk slightly elevated, with a depressed white-hairy nectary sur-
rounding the base of each epipetalous stamen; capsule 1-4 cm. long, 3-4 mm.
thick, very tardily and irregularly dehiscent, the pedicel 1-6 (-8) cm. long; seeds
in 1 series in each locule, more or less vertical, 1.1-1.3 mm. long, each firmly
embedded in a coherent cube of woody endocarp 1.2-1.5 mm. high, 1—1.2 mm.
thick, the endocarp firmly fused to the capsule wall. Jussiaea repens L. var. gla-
brescens O. Ktze. and var. peploides (H.B.K.) Griseb.
Ponds and streams, attached and floating as mats on water, in Okla. (wide-
spread), e.-cen. and e. Tex., locally w. to the Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Union Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai and Maricopa cos.), Apr.-Oct.; throughout warmer
portions of New World; the species as a whole also in n.e. Asia and temp. Austral.
and introd. elsewhere.
5. Ludwigia uruguayensis (Camb.) Hara. Fig. 555.
Long hairy perennial herb with decumbent rooting and more or less erect ascend-
ing branches to 1 m. tall, the floating branches subglabrous; leaves spatulate to
oblanceolate, 3-10 cm. long, 3-10 mm. wide, the petiole 1-5 (-25) mm. long;
sepals 5 (rarely 6), 6-14 mm. long; petals 12-23 mm. long; stamens twice as many
as the sepals; disk slightly elevated, with a depressed white-hairy nectary surround-
ing the base of each epipetalous stamen; capsule 13-25 mm. long, 3—4 mm. thick,
very tardily and irregularly dehiscent, the pedicel 5-50 mm. long; seeds in 1 series
1181
-------
Fig. 555: Ludwigia uruguayensis: a, habit, x To; b, twig showing variety in leaf
shape and a maturing capsule, x M;; c, stipules, x 1; d, flower, x 1; e, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 556: a-c, Ludwigia hirtella: a, habit, x %; b, capsule, x 5; c, seed, x 50. d
and e, Ludwigia pilosa: d, capsule, opened to show seed, x 5; e, seed, x 50. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
in each locule, more or less vertical, 1-1.3 mm. long, each firmly embedded in a
coherent cube of woody endocarp 1.2-1.5 mm. high, 1-1.2 mm. thick, the endo-
carp firmly fused to the capsule wall. Jussiaea urugiiayensis Camb., /. Michauxiana
Fern.
Wet places, as along ponds and ditches, in irrigation canals and in water in lakes
and ponds, in Okla. (Waterfall) and scattered in s.e. Tex., June-Oct; s.e. U.S.
and scattered s. to n. Arg. and introd. elsewhere.
6. Ludwigia hirtella Raf. SPINDLE-ROOT. Fig. 556.
Erect hirsute herb with fascicled ovoid to spindle-shaped roots, to 1 m. tall;
leaves narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-6 cm. long, 3-18 mm. wide, essentially sessile;
sepals 4, 7-10 mm. long; petals 10-15 mm. long; stamens 4; disk strongly elevated,
a depressed white-ciliate nectary surrounding the base of each epipetalous stamen;
capsule subglobose-cubical, 4-6 mm. long and thick, dehiscent by a terminal pore,
the pedicel 4-8 mm. long; seeds in several indistinct rows in each locule, about
0.6 mm. long, free.
Rare along wet places in pine woods, on seepage slopes, in bogs and wettish
savannahs, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e. Tex., June-Sept.; e. along Coastal
Plain to Fla. and N.J.
7. Ludwigia alternifolia L. SEED-BOX, RATTLE-BOX. Fig. 557.
Erect subglabrous or puberulent herb with fascicled spindle-shaped roots, to
12 dm. tall; leaves lanceolate, 4-8 (-12) cm. long, 8-15 (-24) mm. wide, the
petiole 3-7 (-10) mm. long; sepals 4, 7-10 mm. long; petals 8-10 mm. long; sta-
mens 4; disk strongly elevated, a depressed white-ciliate nectary surrounding the
base of each epipetalous stamen; capsule subglobose-cubical, 5-6 mm. long and
thick, dehiscent by a terminal pore, the pedicel 3-5 mm. long; seeds in several indis-
tinct rows in each locule, 0.6-0.7 mm. long, free. Incl. var. pubescens Palm. &
Steyerm.
Occasional along ditches and in wet places, in marsh-meadows, seepage areas,
in sluggish streams and on the edge of pools and lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain, Adair,
LeFlore, Haskell and Sequoyah cos.) and e. Tex., June-Aug.; Mass and Ont. to
n. Fla., e. Tex. and la.
8. Ludwigia linearis Walt. Fig. 558.
Glabrous to puberulent erect usually well-branched herb to 1 m. tall; leaves
linear to narrowly elliptical, 2.5-6 cm. long, 1.5-5 mm. wide, subsessile; sepals 4.
2.5-4 mm. long; petals 3.5-5 mm. long; stamens 4; disk elevated, glabrous,
prominently 4-lobed, the lobes opposite the petals; capsule elongate-obpyramidal,
6-8 mm. long, irregularly loculicidal, sessile; seeds in several indistinct rows in each
locule, about 0.6 mm. long, free. Incl. var. puberula Engelm. & Gray.
Occasional in wet places, especially in pine woods, on seepage slopes, in ditches
and wet savannahs, in ponds and bogs, in s.e. Tex., June-Sept.; e. to n. Fla.,
Tenn. and N.J.
9. Ludwigia pilosa Walt. Fig. 556.
Pilose erect usually well-branched herb to 12 dm. tall; leaves linear to elliptical,
2-10 cm. long, 3-15 mm. wide, the petiole 1-5 (-15) mm. long; sepals 4, 4-5 mm.
long; petals absent; stamens 4; disk elevated, glabrous, prominently 4-lobed. the
lobes opposite the sepals; capsule cubic-globose, 3-4 mm. long and thick, irregu-
larly loculicidal, sessile; bracteole 2.5-4.2 mm. long; seeds in several indistinct rows
in each locule, about 0.5 mm. long.
Occasional in wet places, especially in pine woods, in bogs, seepage areas,
marshes, wet savannahs and wet soil about ponds and lakes, in s.e. Tex., July-Oct.;
e. along the Coastal Plain to n. Fla. and s. Va.
1184
-------
Fig. 557: Ludwigia alternifolia: a, basal part of plant, x %; b, center section of
stem, x %; c, top of plant, x %; d, flower, x 4; e, capsule, split open, x 4; f, seed,
x 40. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 558: Ludwigia linearis: a, top of plant, x %; b, leaf, x 2; c, flower, x 5; d,
fruit, x 5; e, mature fruit, split open to show seeds, x 5; f, seed, x 70. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
10. Ludwigia sphaerocarpa Ell. Fig. 559.
Stems thickly spongy when in water, commonly much-branched above, to 1 m.
tall, glabrous or finely pubescent; leaves lanceolate to linear to narrowly oblong,
the larger commonly 5-10 cm. long, glabrous or pubescent, tapering to the base,
those subtending the flowers similar in shape but much smaller; flowers subsessile,
separated by distant internodes; petals none; capsules subglobose, finely pubescent,
2.5—4 mm. long, not angled; calyx-lobes deltoid; bracteoles attached near the base
of the hypanthium or below it, less than 2 mm. long, very rarely more than half
as long as the capsule.
Swamps and wet soil in savannahs and low pinelands, in Tex. (Angelina, Hardin
and Wood cos.), June-Sept.; Mass, to Fla. and Tex.; also Ind. and Mich.
11. Ludwigia glandulosa Walt. CYLINDRIC-FRUITED LUDWIGIA. Fig. 560.
Glabrous or minutely strigulose erect well-branched herb to 1 m. tall; leaves
lanceolate or elliptical, 1.5-10 cm. long, 4—20 mm. wide, the petiole 2-10 mm,
long; sepals 4, 1-2 mm. long; petals absent; stamens 4; disk elevated, glabrous,
prominently 4-lobed, the lobes opposite the petals; capsule subcylindric, 2-8 mm.
long, 1.5-2 mm. thick, irregularly loculicidal, sessile; seeds in several indistinct
rows in each locule, about 0.6-0.7 mm. long, free. Incl. var. Torreyi Munz.
Wet places, as along ditches and in swamps, in marsh-meadows, shallow water
and in mud on edge of ponds, streams and lakes, in Okla. (McCurtain, Love and
LeFlore cos.) and in e. Tex., June-Oct; n. and e. to s. 111., Va. and n. Fla.
12. Ludwigia palustris (L.) Ell. MARSH PURSLANE. Fig. 561.
Glabrous herb, creeping and rooting at the nodes, the stems to 5 dm. long; leaves
broadly elliptical or subovate, 7-45 mm. long, 4-23 mm. wide, the petiole 3-12
mm. long; sepals 4, 1.4-2 mm. long; petals absent; stamens 4; disk elevated, gla-
brous, prominently 4-lobed, the lobes opposite the petals; capsule elongate-globose,
(2-) 2.5-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. thick, fairly readily and irregularly loculicidal,
sessile; seeds in several indistinct rows in each locule, 0.6-0.9 mm. long, free. Incl.
var. americana (DC.) Fern. & Grisc. and var. nana Fern. & Grisc.
Wet places, as along ditches and in swamps, in marsh-meadows, shallow water
wet gravel bars, in Okla. (LeFlore, Ottawa, Sequoyah, Craig, Haskell, Comanche,
Mayes and Murray cos.) and e. and s.-cen. Tex. to the Llano area and in the Davis
Mts., and Ariz. (Pima and Santa Cruz cos.), June-Sept.; temp. N.A. except Rocky
Mt. area to Col.; also in w. Euras., N. and S. Afr. and introd. elsewhere.
13. Ludwigia repens Forst. FLOATING or CREEPING PRIMROSE-WILLOW, WATER
PRIMROSE. Fig. 562.
Glabrous to puberulent herb, creeping and rooting at the nodes, the stems to
5 dm. long; leaves very narrowly elliptic to subrotund, 9-40 mm. long, 2-20 mm.
wide, the petiole 3-25 mm. long; sepals 4, 2.4—4.2 mm. long; petals 4-5 mm. long,
fugacious; stamens 4; disk elevated, glabrous, prominently 4-lobed, the lobes oppo-
site the petals; capsule short-cylindrical, 3.3-7.5 mm. long, 1.9-4.5 mm. thick,
tardily and irregularly dehiscent, the pedicel 0.3-1.5 mm. long; seeds in several
indistinct rows in each locule, about 0.7 mm. long, free. L. natans Ell. and var.
rotundata (Griseb.) Fern. & Grisc.
Scattered in wet places as along streams and about ponds, in shallow water
floating on surface, wet mud on edge of water bodies, in Okla. (Alfalfa, Murray
and Johnston cos.) and in Tex., n. of the Rio Grande Plains but very rare in n.
Tex. and the Panhandle, and N.M. (Eddy and Guadalupe cos.), July-Sept.; N.C.
to Fla., Tex. and Okla., s. to cen. Mex. and W.I.; widely grown as an aquarium
plant.
1187
-------
Fig. 559: Ludwigia sphaerocarpa: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 6; c, seed, x 46.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 560: Ludwigia glandulosa: a, habit, x %; b, flower, from above, x 4; c, capsule,
x 4; d, seed, x 30. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2. Epilobium L. WILLOW-HERB
Perennial herbs of wet places, often flowering the first year; leaves opposite
below, alternate above, denticulate or serrate; stipules absent; flowers actinomorphic,
4-merous, borne in the axils of reduced upper leaves; hypanthium well-developed;
sepals not persistent in fruit; petals white to pink; stamens 8; stigma subclavate,
undivided; fruit an elongate loculicidally dehiscent capsule; seeds numerous, with
a coma, strongly papillose or smooth.
About 215 species of temperate and cold regions, extending into the tropics in
the mountains and world-wide.
We have adapted the ultra-conservative treatment used by C. Leo Hitchcock et al.
(1961) wherein several macrospecies accommodate the infinite individual varia-
tions found in this genus. For our purpose, their treatment would seem to be most
practical.
1. Stigma 4-cleft; petals usually more than 1 cm. long 1. E. angustifolium.
1. Stigma usually entire; petals rarely to 1 cm. long (2)
2(1). Plant with bulblike offsets (turions) present; seeds commonly papillate....
2. E. glandulosum.
2. Plants without turions; seeds various (3)
3(2). Stems seldom over 3 dm. tall, simple or with a few basal branches; rhi-
zomes usually well-developed and the plants matted; leaves seldom
over 4 cm. long, mostly entire; seeds smooth or the papillae very
small and not in distinct rows; coma usually dingy....3. E. alpinum.
3. Stems usually well over 3 dm. tall and commonly freely branched above the
middle; rhizomes short or lacking; leaves usually over 4 cm. long,
typically denticulate to serrate; seeds often conspicuously crested-
papillate in numerous parallel longitudinal lines; coma white or
brownish (4)
4(3). Coma cinnamon-colored; seeds abruptly rounded distally; mature flower
buds tipped with 4 projecting or divergent points (sepal tips)
4. E. coloratum.
4. Coma white or nearly so; seeds narrowed distally to a short beak; flower buds
usually obtuse or rounded at the summit, rarely somewhat pointed
5. E. Watsonii.
1. Epilobium angustifolium L. FIREWEED, BLOOMING-SALLY. Fig. 563.
Perennial from widespread rhizomelike roots that form adventitious buds freely;
stems usually simple, to about 3 m. tall, usually much smaller, glabrous except for
fine puberulence in the inflorescence and especially on the ovaries; leaves alternate,
subsessile, narrowly lanceolate, mostly 8-15 cm. long, subentire; racemes terminal,
many-flowered, small bracted, greatly elongate; flowers reflexed in bud, then
ascending; hypanthium essentially lacking; sepals 8-12 mm. long, short-clawed;
petals 1-2 cm. long, entire, spreading, rose-color to purple or rarely white; style
longer than the stamens, pilose on the lower portion; stigma 4-cleft; capsule 5-8
cm. long; coma dingy.
Bogs, edge of water in streams, wettish meadows, margin of woods, in N.M.
(Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino, Greenlee and Graham
cos.), May-Sept.; widespread from Alas, to Calif., Ariz, and N. M., eastw. to All.
Coast; Euras.
2. Epilobium glandulosum Lehm.
Perennial from slender to filiform rhizomes ending in globose turions, the scales
of previous offsets usually persistent through the season; stems simple to branched
at the base or above, erect, to about 9 dm. tall, glabrous to pilose, often crisp-
puberulent in lines, frequently glandular-puberulent in the inflorescence; leaves
opposite, from sessile and often somewhat clasping to petiolate with slender to
1190
-------
Fig. 561: Ludwigia palustris: a, habit, x 1/2; b, fruit, x 9; c, fruit split open, x 9;
d, cross section of fruit, x 10; e, seed, x 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 562: Ludwigia repens: a, part of plant, x l»; b, end of branch, about x 1; c,
flower, x 5: d. young fruit, x 5; e. cross section of fruit, x 5; f, mature fruit, x 5; g,
seed, x 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
broad petioles to about 6 mm. long, linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, to about
12 cm. long, entire to prominently denticulate, from crowded and overlapping to
remotely spaced, gradually reduced upward to the floral bracts; racemes few-
flowered; pedicels 5-30 mm. long; hypanthium 1.5-3 mm. long; sepals 2-5 mm.
long; petals pale- to dark-pink or purplish, notched, 3-10 mm. long; stigma entire;
capsules slender, 2-7 cm. long, from nearly glabrous to strigillose, glandular-
puberulent to glandular-pilose; seeds 0.5-2 mm. long, from nearly smooth to lightly
alveolate (with the borders of the alveolae appearing in silhouette as papillae) to
papillate-echinulate; coma white to tawny. E. Halleanum Hausskn., E. saximon-
tanum Hausskn.
Wet seepage banks along streams, wet or boggy places at high elev., N.M. (Taos
Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham and Greenlee cos.), June-Sept.; Alas.,
s. to Calif., Ariz, and N.M., e. to Atl. Coast; Asia.
3. Epilobium alpinum L.
Low usually matted perennial, spreading by rhizomes and stolons but not pro-
ducing turions; stems decumbent-based to erect, usually simple but sometimes with
a few basal branches, usually 5-30 cm. tall, entirely glabrous or mostly glabrous
below and with crisp-puberulent lines above or glandular-puberulent only in the
inflorescence; leaves sessile to short-petiolate, usually opposite but sometimes alter-
nate above, mostly about equally spaced, ovate to linear, mostly 1-5 cm. long,
entire to serrulate; flowers few, nodding to erect; pedicels 5-50 mm. long; hypan-
thium 1-2 mm. long; sepals 1.5-6 mm. long; petals white to deep-pink or lilac-rose,
notched, 3-13 mm. long; stigma entire; capsule 2-7 cm. long, linear to subclavate;
seeds about 1 mm. long, smooth to obscurely papillate, the coma dingy or some-
times white. E. oregonense Hausskn., E. Hornemannii Reichenb.
Wet meadows, bogs, seepage slopes and wettish open woods, in N. M. (Grant,
San Miguel and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Sept.;
throughout mts. of w. N.A., s. to Calif., Ariz, and N.M., e. to Atl. coast; Euras.
4. Epilobium coloratura Biehler.
Perennial herb with sessile basal rosettes, 5-10 dm. tall, usually well-branched
above, minutely strigulose above (especially along elevated lines decurrent from
the margins of the petioles); hypanthium about 0.5 mm. long; sepals 1.5-3 mm.
long; petals pink, 3-5 mm. long; capsule 3-4.5 cm. long; seeds about 1.5 mm.
long, the coma cinnamon-colored.
Rare in wet places, in Okla. (Waterfall) and Tex. High Plains (Hemphill and
Wheeler cos.), July-Oct.; Que. to S.D., s. to Ga., Okla. and Tex.; Hisp.
5. Epilobium Watsonii Barbey. Fig. 564.
Perennial but often blooming the first season, eventually spreading by short root-
stocks that produce rosettes of leaves but no turions; stems 3-10 dm. tall, usually
simple below but branched above, often glandular above (especially in the inflor-
escence), weakly to densely pubescent with the hairs either in decurrent lines or
more general; leaves opposite, short-petiolate to subsessile, narrowly lanceolate to
ovate-lanceolate, 3-7 cm. long, more or less serrulate; inflorescence mostly com-
pound; sepals 2-5 mm. long, often purplish; petals 3-10 mm. long, notched, white
or cream-color to deep purplish-red; stigma entire or if lobed the lobes mostly
coalescent; capsule linear, 4-8 cm. long, strigillose to glandular-puberulent; seeds
0.5-1.2 mm. long, distinctly crested-papillate in numerous parallel longitudinal
lines; coma white. E. adenocaulon Hausskn. and its var. perplexans Trel., E. cali-
fornicum Hausskn., (?) E. ciliatum Raf.
In wet meadows, marshes, seepage areas, in water of springs, ditches and ponds
and on edge of streams in mud or boggy areas, in N.M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Navajo and Coconino cos.), July-Oct.; rather generally spread over much of the
U.S., Can. and Alas.
1193
-------
We have two recognized variants.
Var. occidentale (Trel.) C. L. Hitchc. is glandular-pubescent in the inflorescence.
Var. Parishii (Trel.) C. L. Hitchc. has nonglandular somewhat appressed hairs.
3. Oenothera L. EVENING PRIMROSE
Herbs, sometimes woody near the base, with alternate entire to pinnatifid leaves;
stipules absent; flowers actinomorphic, 4-merous, borne in the axils of upper leaves
or in a more or less distinct inflorescence, opening either near sunset or near sun-
rise; hypanthium well-developed; sepals not persistent in fruit; petals yellow or
white to rose-purple; stamens 8; stigma deeply 4-lobed; fruit a loculicidally dehis-
cent or nutlike indehiscent capsule; seeds lacking a coma.
About 80 species of the temperate regions of North America and South America,
widely introduced elsewhere.
Oenothera sessilis (Penn.) Munz, distinguished by its yellow flowers and linear-
clavate subsessile to shortly stipitate capsules, was last collected in marshy place
near Galveston, Texas, more than 100 years ago. It is also found in Louisiana.
1. Capsule clavate, the lower part narrowed and stipelike; seeds clustered, not in
definite rows (2)
1. Capsule ovoid to cylindric; seeds usually in definite rows (5)
2(1). Petals rose-color; flowers opening near sunrise (3)
2. Petals white, fading pinkish; flowers opening near sunset (4)
3(2). Stigma usually elevated above the anthers; hypanthium 10-30 mm. long;
petals 20-35 mm. long 1. O. tetraptera.
3. Stigma surrounded by the anthers; hypanthium (5-) 20 mm. long; petals
10-20 mm. long 2. O. Kunthiana.
4(2). Hypanthium 15-21 mm. long; petals 12-21 mm. long 3. O. texensis.
4. Hypanthium 4-8 mm. long; petals 4.5-12 mm. long 4. O. rosea.
5(1). Capsule ovoid-pyramidal or oblong-ovoid, commonly indehiscent; low rhi-
zomatous or acaulescent herbs (6)
5. Capsule subcylindrical, readily dehiscent at maturity (at least at the apex) (7)
6(5). Acaulescent herb; leaves rosulate, more than 2 cm. long; hypanthium much
more than 20 mm. long 5. O. flava.
6. Low bushy plant; leaves cauline, less than 1.5 cm. long; hypanthium 5-15
mm. long 6. O. canesccns.
7(5). Seeds ascending, not sharply angled; capsule oblong-fusiform to subclavate
7. O. rhombipetala.
1. Seeds horizontal, sharply angled; capsule gradually tapered upward (8)
8(7). Petals 1-2 cm. long; styles mostly 0.3-1.7 mm. long 8. O. biennis.
8. Petals 2-5 cm. long; styles 20-60 mm. long (9)
9(8). Hypanthium 25-45 mm. long 9. O. Hookeri.
9. Hypanthium 60-120 mm. long (10)
10(9). Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas 10. O. Jamesii.
10. Distribution in Arizona 11. O. longissima.
1. Oenothera tetraptera Cav.
Well-branched strigulose to hirsute annual to 4 dm. tall; leaves sinuate to sinuate-
pinnatifid, the upper ones subentire, lanceolate to oblanceolate or occasionally nar-
rowly elliptic, 1-9 cm. long, (2-) 10-25 mm. wide, the petiole 2-20 mm. long;
flowers opening near sunset; mature buds erect; hypanthium 1-3 cm. long; sepals
2-4 cm. long, with free tips to 3 mm. long; petals white, fading pink, 2-3.5 cm.
1194
-------
Fig. 563: Epilohium angustifolium: a, habit, x l«; b, bud, x I1": c, flower, x
d, capsule, x li;. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 564: Epilobium Watsonii: a, habit, x %; b, perianth and top of ovary, x 5; c,
perianth split longitudinally, showing 2 rows of stamens, x 5; d, end of splitting capsules,
showing coma of seeds, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
long; pollen fertile; capsule obovoid, 1-2 cm. long, on a pedicel (4-) 10-45 mm.
long; seeds in several indistinct rows in each locule, 1.2-1.5 mm. long.
Gravel bars, wet alluvial flats and open places, rare and scattered, s. and w. Tex.,
Mar.-May; to Col. and w. Venez.; cult, and naturalized elsewhere.
2. Oenothera Kunthiana (Spach) Munz.
Similar in general to O. tetraptera; plants subglabrous to strigulose; hypanthium
(0.5-) 1-2 cm. long; sepals 5-20 mm. long, with tips coherent at anthesis; petals
1-2 cm. long; pollen approximately 50% sterile.
Gravel bars and wettish flat sandy often weedy places in the Trans-Pecos,
Edwards Plateau and s. Tex., Feb.-May; s. to C. R.
3. Oenothera texensis Raven & Parnell.
Well-branched strigulose or rarely hirsute perennial herb, flowering the first year,
to 5 dm. tall; leaves serrulate to sinuate-pinnatifid, elliptic to ovate, 2.5-4 cm. long,
8-18 mm. wide, the petiole 4-21 mm. long, flowers opening near sunrise; mature
buds erect; hypanthium 15-21 mm. long; sepals 15-18 mm. long, lacking free tips;
petals rose, 12-21 mm. long; pollen fertile; capsule obovoid, 8-14 mm. long, on a
pedicel 7-12 mm. long; seeds in several indistinct rows in each locule, 0.8-1 mm.
long.
Gravel bars and along streams in canyons, Jeff Davis Co., in the Trans-Pecos,
Tex., May-Aug.; s. to Sin., Coah. and Tarn.
4. Oenothera rosea Ait. ROSE SUNDROPS.
Well-branched strigulose or rarely hirsute perennial herb, flowering the first year,
to 4 dm. tall; leaves subentire or sinuate-pinnatifid, elliptic or rarely narrowly ovate,
2-5 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, the petiole 2-25 mm. long; flowers opening near
sunrise; mature buds erect; hypanthium 4-8 mm. long; sepals 7-12 mm. long, lack-
ing free tips; petals rose, 4-12 mm. long; pollen approximately 50% sterile; capsule
obovoid, 5-10 mm. long, on a pedicel 4—8 mm. long; seeds in several indistinct
rows in each locule, 0.7-0.9 mm. long.
Along creeks and river bottoms in low weedy places, and in permanent marshy
cienagas, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau and s. Tex., N.M. (Union Co.)
and Ariz. (Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Apr.-Aug.; s. to Arg., a
pan-trop. weed.
5. Oenothera flava (A.Nels.) Garrett.
Cespitose acaulescent rather sparsely strigillose to subglabrous perennial, with a
thick taproot; leaves in tufts or rosettes, oblanceolate, 5-20 cm. long, to about 15
mm. wide, deeply runcinate to runcinate-pinnatifid in the lower third, the terminal
lobe entire to undulate-dentate; flowers sessile among the leaves, vespertine; calyx
usually purplish, the free hypanthium slender, 2-12 cm. long; calyx lobes free or
slightly connate and turned to one side; petals yellow, aging to purplish, 1-2 cm.
long; anthers linear, 4—8 mm. long; stigma lobes linear, about 3 mm. long; capsule
woody, ovoid, 1-2 cm. long, conspicuously 4-winged; seeds numerous, dark-brown,
about 2 mm. long, minutely granular, cuneate-obovoid.
In wet meadows, wettish flats, in swales or in wettish soil around vernal pools
in N. M. (Colfax, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Socorro and Taos cos.) and
Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai and Gila cos.), Apr.-Sept.; Can. to
N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex.
6. Oenothera canescens Torr. & Frem. SPOTTED PRIMROSE.
Low bushy densely strigulose to canescent rhizomatous perennial with stems to
2 dm. long; leaves denticulate, lanceolate, 5-15 mm. long, 2-7 mm. wide, sub-
sessile; flowers opening near sunset; mature buds erect; hypanthium 5-15 mm. long;
1197
-------
sepals 8-14 mm. long, lacking free tips: petals pinkish or more rarely white on first
opening, 8-12 mm. long, red-spotted all over; capsule ovoid-pyramidal, sharply
4-angled, beaked, 7-8 mm. long; seeds in several rows in each locule. about 1 mm.
long.
Dried up ponds and lakes in clay soil, and on muddy banks of ponds, in Okla.
Panhandle (Waterfall], in the Tex. Edwards Plateau n. through the Panhandle and
N. M. (Union Co.), local. May-Aug.; n. on the Plains to Neb. and Wyo.
7. Oenothera rhombipetala T. & G.
Erect strigulose winter annual or biennial from a fleshy taproot, the stems to 1 m.
tall; leaves narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly ovate (broader above), 2-8 cm. long,
3-15 mm. wide, sinuate-pinnatifid to subentire; petioles short or absent; flowers
opening near sunset; mature buds erect; hypanthium 2.5-3 cm. long; sepals 1-1.8
cm. long, with free tips 0-1.5 mm. long; petals yellow, 1.3-2 cm. long; capsule
cylindric, 12-16 mm. long; seeds in 2 rows in each locule, about 1 mm. long.
In marshes, sometimes alkaline and in sandy and waste places, in Okla. (Alfalfa
Co.) and in e. half of Tex., June-Sept.; Ind. to Wise, and Minn. s. to Tex. and
scattered (possibly introd.) e. to the All. Coast.
8. Oenothera bieiinis L. COMMON EVENING PRIMROSE.
Weedy variously pubescent biennial to 2 m. tall; leaves lanceolate; rosette leaves
sinuate-pinnatifid to denticulate, 8-30 cm. long and 1-6 cm. wide, their petioles
long; cauline leaves denticulate, 5-16 cm. long, 15-35 mm. wide, subsessile; flowers
opening near sunset; mature buds erect; hypanthium 2-5 cm. long; sepals 1-2 cm.
long, the free tips 1-4 mm. long; petals yellow, 1-2 cm. long; capsule thick, cylin-
dric, 14—25 mm. long; seeds in 2 rows in each locule, 1.2-1.8 mm. long. O. pratin-
cola Bartlett.
Weedy places and woods, in wet meadows, and wet soil about ponds, lakes and
along streams, scattered, in Okla. (Adair and Johnston cos.) and n.e. Tex., Aug.-
Oct.; Alta. to Wise, and Mich., s. to Tex. and La. and e. to All. Coast; the species
as a whole ranges to Nfld., Que. and Ont.
Represented by several varieties.
Var. biennis. Hairs scattered on flowers and fruits.
Var. canescens T. & G. Hairs on flowers short and appressed.
Var. hirsutissima Gray. Some of the hairs on floral parts long and spreading.
9. Oneothera Hookeri T. & G.
Robust erect biennial or perennial to 2 m. tall; leaves oblanceolate to elliptic,
densely strigose and sometimes also pilose, entire to sinuate-serrulate, the rosette
leaves narrower near the base, 1-3 dm. long, 2-5 cm. wide, their petioles 5-18 cm.
long, the cauline leaves 5-15 cm. long and 8-25 mm. wide, short-petioled to sub-
sessile; flowers opening near sunset; mature buds erect; hypanthium 25-45 mm.
long; sepals 2.5-4 cm. long, with free tips 2-6 mm. long; petals yellow, fading
reddish, 2^4.5 cm. long; capsule thick, cylindric, 2-4 cm. long; seeds in 2 rows in
each locule, 1-1.6 mm. long.
S.e. Wash, and s. Ida. to Baja Calif., Kan., Tex. and Chih.
In our area represented by 2 subsp. as follows:
Subsp. hirsutissima (Gray) Munz. Pubescence largely loose with some spreading
hairs; free sepal tips 2-4 (-5) mm. long; seeds 1.2-1.6 mm. long. Rare in wet
places in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and in N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache and
Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), July-Oct.; Ut. and s. Colo, to w. Kan.,
Chih. and Son.
Subsp. Hewertii Cockll. Pubescence appressed; free sepal tips 3-6 mm. long;
seeds about 1 mm. long. Incl. var. irrigua (Woot. & Standl.) Gates, O. Simsiana
sensu Munz, Fl. Tex. 226. 1944. Rare in wet places in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and in
1198
-------
N.M. (Dona Ana, San Juan, Colfax and Bernalillo cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo. Coco-
nino, Graham and Gila cos.), July-Oct.; Nev. and s. Ut. to Tex. and Chih.
10. Oenolhera Jamesii T. & G.
Robust erect densely appressed-pubescent biennial to 2 m. tall; leaves elliptic to
broadly lanceolate, appressed-pubescent; rosette leaves narrower near the base,
sinuate-pinnatifid to denticulate, 6—20 cm. long and 2-4 cm. wide, their petioles
2-6 cm. long: cauline leaves denticulate, 5-12 cm. long and 2-3.5 cm. wide, short-
petioled below to subsessile above; flowers opening near sunset: mature buds erect;
hypanthium 6—11 cm. long: sepals 4-6 cm. long, with free tips 3-6 mm. long;
petals yellow, fading reddish, 3.5-5 cm. long; capsule thick, cylindric, 2—5 cm.
long: seeds in 2 rows in each locule. 1.5-2 mm. long.
On stream banks in wet places, scattered, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in the Tex.
Edwards Plateau and Llano area w. to the Trans-Pecos, July-Oct.; Okla. and w.
Tex. to Coah.
11. Oenothera longissima Rydb.
Biennial to short-lived perennial, simple to branched, erect. 1—3 m. tall, more or
less hirsute (especially above), somewhat muricate on the stems, the hair mostly
appressed. upper parts also glandular-pubescent: leaves of rosette oblanceolate:
blades 1-2 dm. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide, with winged petioles 5-10 cm. long; cauline
leaves linear-lanceolate, plane, stiffly spreading-ascending, gradually reduced
upward to sessile lanceolate bracts soon exceeded by buds: flower tube 8-12 cm.
long, more or less reddish: sepals 3.5-4.5 cm. long, the tips 3-5 mm. long; petals
obovate, about 4 cm. long: anthers 14-18 mm. long: capsules subquadrangular,
3.5-4.5 cm. long, about 5 mm. thick: seeds 1—1.5 mm. long.
In wet springy places, in Ariz. (Navajo. Coconino and Mohave cos.), July-Sept.;
also Ut., Nev. and Calif.
The typical plant has pubescence ashy-strigose. stems not muricate and inflores-
cence not glandular-pubescent.
Subsp. Clutei (A. Nels.) Munz has pubescence more or less hirsute (especially
above), stems somewhat muricate and inflorescence glandular-pubescent.
4. Cireaea L. ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE
About 7 species in North America and Eurasia.
1. Cireaea alpina L.
Perennial from slender rootstocks, 1-5 dm. tall, simple to freely branched, clear
green: stems usually glabrous on the lower half, often sparsely strigose to short-
pilose above and in the inflorescence; leaves opposite, thin, with petioles somewhat
shorter than blade, cordate-ovate to ovate, usually acuminate, 2—6 cm. long, sub-
entire to saliently dentate, sparsely to rather thickly strigillose (especially on lower
surface): racemes often with 1 or 2 linear bracts at the base, the small individual
flowers (1—1.5 mm. long) with a minute sometimes glandlike bractlet: pedicels
spreading to erect in flower, becoming reflexed and equaling or slightly exceeding
the fruit: hypanthium short, deciduous and with a ringlike disk within: sepals 2.
reflexed: and petals 2. white, notched: stamens 2. alternate with petals: fruits tur-
binate, nutlike, 1- or 2-seeded, obovoid, indehiscent, usually with hooked hairs,
about 2 mm. long. C. pacifica Asch. & Magn.
Moist or wet woods and mossy bogs, in mts. of N. M. (Socorro Co.). and Ariz.
(Apache, Coconino and Graham cos.); Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.Y., Tenn.. N.C.. Ind.
and S.D. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
1199
-------
Fig. 565: a-c, Pro.terpinaca peclinata: a, habit, x 1j; b, young fruit, x 5; c, mature
fruit, \ 5. d, Proscrpinaca palnslris: d, habit, x \^. (V. F.).
-------
Fam. 96. Haloragaceae R. BR. WATER-MILFOIL FAMILY
Aquatic or paludal plants with the inconspicuous symmetrical perfect or uni-
sexual flowers sessile in the axils of leaves or bracts; calyx tube (hypanthium)
adherent to the ovary that consists of 3 (or 4) united carpels; styles or sessile
stigmas distinct; limb of the calyx obsolete or very short in perfect or pistillate
flowers; petals small or none; stamens 1 to 8; fruit indehiscent, 3- or 4-celled, with
a single anatropous seed suspended from the summit of each cell.
About 120 species in 6 genera, cosmopolitan. The name is sometimes misspelled
"Haloragidaceae."
1. Flower parts in threes; leaves alternate, the emersed ones amply foliaceous
1. Proserpinaca
1. Flower parts in fours; leaves whorled or rarely partly opposite or alternate,
the emersed ones much-reduced and mostly bractlike (sometimes
enlarged in M. heterophyllum) 2. Myriophyllum
1. Proserpinaca L. MERMAID-WEED
Low herbaceous perennials with simple or sparsely branched stems that are
creeping and rooting at the rhizomatous base; leaves alternate, pinnately dissected
or the upper ones lanceolate and serrate, those on the same plant uniform or of
both extreme types and intermediate forms; flowers sessile and solitary in the leaf
axils, perfect; calyx 3-parted; corolla wanting; stamens 3; pistil 3-angled, with 3
stigmas; fruit nutlike, 3-angled, 3-celled, 3-seeded.
Several species in North America.
The fruits of these plants are eaten by waterfowl, especially ducks, and sparingly
so by muskrats.
1. Upper leaves lanceolate, serrate 1. P. palustris.
1. Upper leaves like the lower ones, pinnately divided 2. P. pectinata.
1. Proserpinaca palustris L. Fig. 565.
Plant repent and rooting along the stems at base; stems ascending or suberect,
occasionally trailing up into shrubs, to 1 m. or more long, the base submersed, the
summit becoming emersed; submersed leaves rufescent, sessile, finely pinnatified, to
6 cm. long, with 8 to 14 linear-filiform divisions on each side, the divisions to 3 cm.
long, commonly bearing minute black axillary spicules, the median portion linear and
about 1 mm. wide; amphibious leaves petioled, pinnatisect, to 7 cm. long, lanceo-
late, with the lanceolate middle portion to 1 cm. broad; emersed leaves lanceolate
to oblanceolate, to 85 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, serrate; flowers in leaf axils of
only the serrate leaves, solitary or in clusters of 2 to 5, subtended by minute lanceo-
late serrate bracts; calyx tube 3-angled, its ovate to deltoid lobes obtuse to acute;
petals rudimentary; fruit trigonous-urceolate or pyramidal, 2.5-6 mm. broad.
In shallow water, about springs, in ditches and along shores of streams and lakes
in s.e. Okla. (Pushmataha Co.) and e. Tex., spring-summer; from e. Can., s. to
Ga. and Tex.
Our plant belongs to var. amblyogona Fern., characterized by having the angles
of the fruits rounded or nearly obsolete, or to var. creba Fern. & Grisc., with
angles of the fruit subacute.
2. Proserpinaca pectinata Lam. Fig. 565.
Stem very slender, repent, with an ascending rufescent summit to 3 dm. high;
leaves all deeply pinnatifid, ovate-elliptic in outline, to 25 mm. long, with a linear
median portion about 1 mm. wide and 4 to 9 slender rather firm divisions (to 7.5
mm. long) on each side, sometimes bearing minute black spicules; flowers solitary
or rarely in twos or threes in the middle and upper leaf axils; calyx lobes acuminate;
1201
-------
fruit urceolate, with rounded or obtuse angles, 3-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad.
In peaty soils of swamps and savannahs and in shallow water, rare in s.e. Tex.,
spring-summer; mostly in the Coastal Plain from N.S. and s.w. Me., s. to Tenn.,
Fla. and Tex.
2. Myriophyllura L. WATER-MILFOIL
Perennial aquatics; stems mostly elongated; leaves usually whorled (in ours),
the submersed ones pinnately parted into capillary divisions; flowers unisexual and
perfect on the same plant, small, sessile, chiefly in the axils of the upper leaves or
bracts, usually above water in summer, the uppermost ones staminate; calyx of the
staminate flowers 4-parted, of the pistillate flowers 4-toothed; petals 4 or none;
stamens 4 or 8; stigmas 4, recurved; fruit nutlike, 4-celled, deeply 4-lobed.
About 45 species, cosmopolitan.
Wildfowl, especially ducks, are known to eat the fruits of these species, and they,
as well as muskrats, occasionally eat the herbage. Several species, especially M.
heterophyllum, M. brasiliense and M. exalbescens, frequently become a weedy nui-
sance. All of the plants form shelter and provide a breeding place for fish and
insects; the latter, in turn, provide food for fish and water birds. The lower stems
and roots are said to provide a nesting place for black bass.
1. Leaf whorls on middle and lower parts of stem mostly 1 cm. or more apart
(2)
1. Leaf whorls on middle and lower parts of stem usually much less than 1 cm.
apart (4)
2(1). Leaf divisions stoutish, mostly less than 6 mm. long; flowers borne in
clusters in the axils of leaves 1. M. brasiliense.
1. Leaf divisions filiform, typically 6 mm. or more long; flowers borne in whorls
on a slender terminal spike, mostly longer than the subtending
bract (3)
3(2). Lowermost bracteal leaves commonly exceeding the flowers and fruits,
pectinate to serrate; leaves of middle whorls usually less than 2.5
cm. long, with 12 or more segments on each side of rachis, the
segments rarely to 1.5 cm. long; stems reddish-brown to pinkish-
tawny in drying 2. M. spicatum.
3. Lowermost bracteal leaves not exceeding the flowers and fruits, serrulate to
entire; leaves of middle whorls usually 3 cm. long or more, with
11 or fewer segments on each side of rachis, the segments com-
monly more than 1.5 cm. long; stems whitish in drying
3. M. exalbescens.
4(1). Floral bracts pinnately dissected or lobed 4. M. verticillatum.
4. Floral bracts entire or only toothed (5)
5(4). Leaves mostly all in definite whorls; submersed leaves with 5 to 10 capil-
lary divisions on each side; bracteoles ovate to lanceolate, acuminate;
carpels with 2 smoothish dorsal ridges 5. M. heterophyllum.
5. Leaves whorled, subverticillate, opposite or alternate on the same plant; sub-
merged leaves with about 5 capillary divisions on each side; brac-
teoles obtusely triangular; carpels with 2 prominently tuberculate
dorsal ridges 6. M. pinnatum.
1. Myriophyllum brasiliense Camb. PARROT'S-FEATHER, WATER-FEATHER. Fig. 566.
Plants pallid or light-green, with the upper part emersed or trailing on mud or
seepage and erect-ascending; stems simple or sparsely branched; leaves all whorled,
oblong in outline, stiffish, 2-5 cm. long, puberulent when young, glabrous with age.
dissected into 10 or more pectinately arranged linear-filiform divisions on each side,
the upper divisions 3-6 mm. long, the lower divisions much-reduced; bracteoles
1202
-------
Fig. 566: Myriophyllum brasiliense: a, section of stem, showing whorl of leaves
with flowers in the axils, x 2; b, habit, the emersed part of plant erect, with flowers
in the leaf axils, and the submersed part of plant with roots arising at the nodes, x %;
c, pistillate flower, showing bracteoles, x 8; d, young pistillate flower of upper part of
plant, showing calyx lobes and bracteoles, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 280).
-------
Fig. 567: Myriophyl/um spicatum: A, habit, x \'-r, B, whorl of leaves, x 2; C, part
of flower spike, with pistillate flowers below and staminate flowers above, x 4; D,
immature fruits, x 4; E, mature fruit, x 4. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United
Stales, Fig. 136).
-------
filiform, 2- or 3-cleft; flowers unisexual, in the axils of the leaves; pistillate flowers
about 1.5 mm. long, conspicuous as a tuft of white or pinkish plumose stigma lobes;
staminate flowers not seen; fruit 1.5-2 mm. long, minutely glandular. M. proser-
pinacoides Gill.
Widely scattered in ponds, ditches, streams and on seepage slopes, introd. in
Okla. (fide Waterfall), mainly on the Edwards Plateau and in e. Tex., rare in
Ariz. (Final Co.), Mar.-May; nat. to S.A., tending to escape from cult, and per-
sistent in s. U. S.
2. Myriophyllum spicatum L. Fig. 567.
Plant rhizomatous with branching leafy shoots to 2.5 m. long; stems reddish-
brown to pinkish-tawny in drying; leaves in whorls of 3 to 5 mostly 1 cm. apart
or more on stem, those of the middle whorls usually less than 2.5 cm. long, simply
pinnate with 12 or more segments on each side of rachis; leaf segments rarely to
1.5 cm. long, regularly placed 1-2.5 mm. apart on rachis; spike to about 15 cm.
long, emergent, erect; flowers usually in whorls of 4 in the axils of bracts; all but
the lowest bracts essentially entire and shorter than the flowers and fruits, the
lowest pectinate to serrate and commonly exceeding the flowers; flowers progressing
from 4 basal whorls of pistillate flowers through 1 perfect flower to the upper
whorls of staminate flowers with reddish caducous petals about 3 mm. long; sta-
mens 8; fruit subglobular, 4-lobed.
In lakes, ponds and slow-flowing streams in s. and w. Okla. (Cimarron and
Comanche cos.), on the e. Edwards Plateau and in s.-cen. Tex. (Burnet, Hays,
Colorado and Fayette cos.), n. N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coco-
nino, Gila, Navajo, Pima and Yavapai cos.), Apr.-Sept; from s.e. Lab. to Alas.,
s. to W. Va., Tex., N.M., Ariz, and s. Calif.; nat. of Euras. and N. Afr.
3. Myriophyllum exalbescens Fern. AMERICAN MILFOIL. Fig. 568.
Stems simple or forked, purple, becoming white when dry; leaves in whorls of
3 or 4 mostly 1 cm. apart or more on stem, those of the middle whorls usually
3 cm. long or more, simply pinnate with 11 or fewer segments on each side of
rachis; leaf segments commonly more than 1.5 cm. long, rather widely and irregu-
larly spaced 2-4 mm. apart on rachis; spike almost naked, emergent, erect, to
about 15 cm. long; flowers in verticils, the lowermost pistillate, the upper ones
staminate, the bracteal leaves shorter than the flowers and fruits; petals oblong-
obovate, concave, about 2.5 mm. long;.anthers 8; fruits subglobose, very narrowly
4-sulcate, 2-3 mm. long, the mericarps rounded on the back, smooth or rugulose.
M. spicatum var. exalbescens (Fern.) Jeps.
In ponds, lakes, irrigation ditches and quiet streams, often somewhat calcareous
or brackish, in w. Okla. (Beaver Co.), through cen. Tex. to the Panhandle, N. M.
(Grant, Rio Arriba, San Miguel and Sandoval cos.) to Ariz. (Apache and Coco-
nino cos.), Apr.-Sept.; from s.e. Lab. to Alas., s. to W. Va., Tex., N. M., Ariz.
and s. Calif.
4. Myriophyllum verticillatum L. Fig. 569.
Stems simple or with few elongate branches to 25 dm. long, in autumn producing
crowded winter-buds 1-2 cm. long; leaves in fours and fives; submersed leaves to
45 mm. long, with 9 to 13 opposite or alternate pairs of capillary flaccid divisions
to 28 mm. long; emersed leaves and bracts smaller and with coarser divisions or
merely pectinate-pinnate; flowers in whorls of 4 to 6, perfect or the lower ones
pistillate and the upper staminate; bracteoles palmately 7-lobed, about 0.5 mm.
long; petals (merely rudiments in pistillate flowers) spoon-shaped, obtuse, about
2.5 mm. long; anthers 8 or 4, about 2 mm. long; fruit subglobose, 2-2.5 mm. long,
deeply 4-furrowed, the brown smooth or somewhat tuberculate (in ours) carpels
rounded on back.
1205
-------
Fig. 568: Myriophyllum exalbescens: a, diagram of staminate flower, showing
perianth segments in 4's, stamens 8, and 3 subtending bracts, with 2 of them shorter
than the third, x 10; b, young staminate flower, x 8; c, nutlet (cross section), x 8; d,
mature nutlet, rugose on back, x 8; e, spike, the staminate flowers at the apex, the
pistillate flowers below, x 4; f, mature fruit, top view, x 8; g, mature fruit, side view,
x 8; h, submersed leaf, x 2; i-k, bracts of inflorescence, x 6; 1, habit of plant entirely
submersed except for the spike, showing whorls of leaves, x %. (From Mason, Fig.
281).
-------
Fig. 569: Myriophyllum verticillatum: a, leaf form occurring at tip of stem, x 3;
b-d, emersed leaves, x 3; e, submersed leaf, each of its divisions with a globose tip,
x 2; f, mature nutlet, x 6; g, young pistillate flower, x 12; h, habit, plant developing
from a winter bud, showing the various leaf types, x %; i, habit, upper part of inflores-
cence, a winter bud in leafy apex, x 1%; j, fruit, showing rudimentary petals and
subtending bracteoles, x 6; k, fruit, top view, x 6; 1, leaf axil, the flower removed to
show the palmately lobed bracteoles, x 20. (From Mason, Fig. 283).
-------
In lakes in n.e. Tex., Apr.-June; a highly variable circumpolar species that
occurs in N.A. from Nfld. to B.C., s. to Ut. and n.e. Tex.
Plants referred here are typical in regard to leaves and floral bracts, but their
fruits are atypical in that they closely resemble those of M. heterophyllum. These
plants may eventually be found to represent a completely new entity. The closely
spaced whorls of leaves readily separate this species from M. spicatum, to which
it is referred by some authors.
5. Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. Fig. 570.
Stems rather stout; leaves whorled, in fours to sixes, the submersed pinnate
leaves 2-5 cm. long and with 7 to 10 flaccid capillary divisions on each side, the
divisions to about 2 cm. long, the amphibious leaves pinnatisect; emersed leaves and
bracts firm, lanceolate or spatulate-lanceolate to elliptic, entire or serrate, to 3 cm.
long and 1 cm. wide; spikes emersed, to 4 dm. long, usually much shorter; flowers
in whorls of 4 to 6, perfect or with the lower pistillate and the upper staminate;
bracteoles ovate, acuminate, serrate, 1-1.3 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 mm. wide; petals
(of staminate flowers) acutish, 1.5-3 mm. long; anthers 4, to 2.5 mm. long; fruit
subglobose, 1-1.5 mm. long and wide, minutely papillose, with the carpels 2-ridged
on the back but rounded on the sides and prominently beaked.
In ponds, lakes and streams, in s. Okla. (Murray and Pushmataha cos.) and
mainly on the Edwards Plateau and in s.e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex. and
N.M., n. to N.D.., Ont. and s.w. Que.
A large-bracted form of this species occurs in southeast Texas.
6. Myriophyllum pinnatum (Walt.) B.S.P. GREEN PARROT'S-FEATHER. Fig. 571.
Plant variable, either submersed or essentially terrestrial; stems rooting in mud
freely branched or becoming much-elongated when growing in water; leaves in
whorls of 3 to 5 or subverticillate or commonly scattered, to about 3 cm. long, the
submersed leaves with about 5 or more short or somewhat elongate remote capil-
lary divisions on each side; emersed leaves linear to oblanceolate, pectinate or
sharply serrate, to 2 cm. long; flowers in the axils of the emersed leaves, perfect
or unisexual; bracteoles bluntly triangular, about 1 mm. long; petals purplish, 1.5-2
mm. long, rounded above, with a short claw; anthers 4, about 1 mm. long; fruit
pale, ovoid, 1.3-1.8 mm. long, the carpels with flat sides and 2 tuberculate dorsal
ridges. M. scabratum Michx.
In swamp forests, on muddy shores or in shallow waters in e. Okla. (McCurtain,
Ottawa and Sequoyah cos.) and on the Edwards Plateau and in e. and s.e. Tex.,
Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s. N. E., W. Va., Ky., 111. and la.
Fam. 97. Hippuridaceae LINK MARE'S-TAIL FAMILY
Aquatic or amphibious plant with simple, sessile, whorled, entire leaves and
minute flowers in the upper axils to form a long terminal spike; flowers pistillate
or perfect, epigynous; hypanthium completely enclosing the ovary and bearing at
its summit in the perfect flowers a single stamen with short filament and large
2-celled anther; sepals and petals none; ovary 1-celled and 1-ovuled, terminated by
a filiform style; fruit hard, indehiscent, nutlike, 1-seeded.
A monogeneric family.
1. Hippuris L. MARE'S-TAIL
Characters of the family. A monotypic genus or sometimes as many as 3 species
are recognized.
1208
-------
Fig. 570: Myriophyllum heterophyllwn: a, end of branch, x 1; b, section of branch
under water, x 1; c, leaf, x 2; d, underwater leaf, x 1%; e and f, bracts, x 1%; g,
staminate flower, x 8; h, stamen, x 16; i, pistillate flower, x 12; j, fruits, x 3. (Courtesy
of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 571: Myriophyllum pinnatum: a, distal end of branch, x V&; b, central section
of branch, x 1->; c, leaf, x 1; d, variation in leaves, x 1; e, bracteole, x 10; f, bud, x 25;
g, male flower, x 13; h, perfect flower, x 13; i, face view of single mericarp, x 25.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Hippuris vulgaris L. Fig. 572.
Stems submersed or partly emersed, erect, simple, 3-6 dm. tall, hollow, arising
from a creeping horizontal rhizome; herbage glabrous, usually pallid; leaves simple,
6 to 12 in a whorl, linear-attenuate, 5-35 mm. long, thick; flowers sessile in middle
and upper axils, usually perfect; petals none; stamen 1, inserted on anterior edge
of calyx; ovary inferior, crowned with the rimlike entire calyx; fruit 2-3 mm. long,
1-celled and 1-seeded.
Rooted in mud of shallow water in ponds and streams, marshes and wet mea-
dows, in N. M. (Rio Arriba, Taos, Santa Fe and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
Co.), June-Aug.; widely distributed in the cooler parts of the Northern Hemi-
sphere.
The seeds and occasionally the foliage are eaten by wildfowl. The usually dense
colony of plants also provide shelter for small animal life.
Fam. 98. Umbelliferae Juss. PARSLEY FAMILY
Primarily herbaceous plants, acaulescent or caulescent, annual, biennial or
perennial, with commonly hollow stems; leaves alternate or rarely opposite or
basal, compound or sometimes simple, usually much-incised or -divided, with
usually sheathing petioles; flowers small, regular, in simple or compound umbels,
or the umbels sometimes proliferous or capitate; rays sometimes subtended by
bracts forming an involucre; umbellets usually subtended by bractlets forming an
involucel; calyx tube wholly adnate to the ovary; calyx teeth usually obsolete or
small; petals 5, usually with an inflexed tip; stamens 5, inserted on an epigynous
disk; ovary inferior, bilocular; styles 2, sometimes swollen at the base, forming a
stylopodium; fruit consisting of two mericarps united by their faces (commissure),
compressed or flattened dorsally (parallel to the commissure), laterally (at right
angles to the commissure) or terete, each mericarp with 5 primary ribs, one down
the back (dorsal rib), two on the edges near the commissure (lateral ribs) and two
between the dorsal and lateral ribs (intermediate ribs) and rarely with secondary
ribs, the ribs filiform to broadly winged and thin or corky; oil tubes obsolete or
present in the intervals (spaces between the ribs) and on the commissural surface,
rarely also in the pericarp; mericarps 1-seeded, splitting apart at maturity, usually
suspended from the summit of a slender prolongation of the axis (carpophore).
A cosmopolitan family of world-wide distribution consisting of at least 200
genera and perhaps 3,000 species.
(Adapted mainly from various works published by Mildred E. Mathias and
Lincoln Constance.)
1. Flowers and fruits borne in compound umbels or bracteate heads (2)
1. Flowers and fruits borne in simple noncapitate umbels; leaves small and
relatively simple (28)
2(1). Flowers and fruits (or some of them) pedicellate; fruits more or less
evidently ribbed; calyx minute or obsolete (3)
2. Flowers and fruits sessile or subsessile in dense bracteate heads or headlike
umbellets; fruits with obsolete ribs, crowned by the prominent and
persistent calyx and densely beset with scales or tubercles
4 27. Eryngium
3(2). Fruits terete to somewhat compressed laterally, the ribs not prominently
winged (4)
3. Fruits strongly flattened dorsally, some or all of the ribs broadly winged (24)
4(3). Fruits merely bristly-pubescent to glabrous (5)
4. Fruits armed with uncinate bristles or prickles, or tuberculate, papillate or
callous-toothed (22)
1211
-------
Fig. 572: Hippitris vulgaris: a, habit, x ^; b, node, x 5; c, single flower, x 5. (V. P.).
-------
5(4). Fruits oblong to ellipsoid, less than twice as broad as long (6)
5. Fruits linear to oblong, more than twice as long as broad (19)
6(5). Pericarp not corky-thickened; fruit ribs filiform to prominent, never corky
6. Pericarp of some or all of the fruit ribs corky-thickened (14)
7(6). Perennials; leaflets not pinnately dissected; stylopodium lacking (8)
7. Annuals or biennials; leaflets usually pinnately dissected; stylopodium de-
pressed-conic to conic (9)
8(7). Plants acaulescent; calyx teeth minute; seed face deeply sulcate
4. Tauschia
8. Plants caulescent, branching; calyx teeth prominent; seed face slightly con-
cave 12. Zizia
9(7). Involucre present; fruit ribs undulate, crenate; oil tubes very small, numer-
ous, irregular; stems variously spotted 14. Conium
9. Involucre lacking (sometimes a few bracts in Perideridla) (10)
10(9). Involucel lacking (11)
10. Involucel present; low diffuse annuals (13)
11(10). Flowers yellow; plants with aniselike odor 11. Foeniculum
11. Flowers white or pinkish; plants without aniselike odor (12)
12(11). Plants from slender elongate roots; umbels axillary or terminal; calyx
lobes inconspicuous 13. Apium
12. Plants from fascicled tuberous or fusiform roots; umbels terminal; calyx
lobes conspicuous 15. Perideridia
13(10). Fruit ribs filiform, rounded, subequally spaced; plants glabrous
3. Spermolepis
13. Fruit ribs acute, the lateral of the two mericarps contiguous and appearing
to form a single rib; plants roughened 5. Ammoselinum
14(6). Perennials; pericarp or at least some of the dorsal as well as the lateral
fruit ribs corky-thickened (15)
14. Annuals; only the lateral fruit ribs corky-thickened (17)
15(14). Fruit ribs obscure in the corky-thickened pericarp; plants stoloniferous
16. Berula
15. Fruit ribs prominent, corky-thickened; plants not stoloniferous (16)
16(15). Involucre prominent; rays few; fruit ribs subequal in cross section
17. Sium
16. Involucre inconspicuous or lacking; rays usually numerous; fruit ribs un-
equal in cross section 18. Cicuta
17(14). Leaves decompound with filiform divisions 20. Ptilimnium
17. Leaves entire, palmately parted or pinnate, with narrow elongate divisions
(18)
18(17). Fruit prominently beaked; cauline leaves palmately parted; petals with
a narrower inflexed apex 21. Cynosciadium
18. Fruit rounded at apex; leaves entire or pinnate; petal apex not inflexed
22. Limnosciadium
19(5). Fruits without secondary ribs (20)
19. Fruits with prominent corky or bristly secondary ribs, the primary ribs ob-
scure 9. Trepocarpus
1213
-------
20(19). Involucel lacking or inconspicuous; carpophore divided to the base; seed
face plane 6. Cryptotaenia
20. Involucel conspicuous; bractlets entire; carpophore bifid or 2-cleft above the
middle; seed face sulcate (21)
21(20). Annuals; fruits 4—8 mm. long, obtuse at base 10. Chaerophyllum
21. Perennials; fruits 10-20 mm. long, acute or caudate at base 7. Osmorhiza
22(4). Fruit with uncinate prickles along the ribs 8. Caucalis
22. Fruits glabrous or finely tuberculate, papillate or callous-toothed; petals with-
out an inflexed apex (23)
23(22). Fruit ribs filiform, rounded, subequally spaced; plants glabrous
3. Spermolepsis
23. Fruit ribs acute, the lateral of the two mericarps contiguous and appearing to
form a single broad rib; plants roughened 5. Ammoselinum
24(3). Lateral fruit ribs broadly winged, the dorsal very narrowly winged to
obsolete (25)
24. Lateral ribs and one or more of the dorsal broadly winged or the oil tubes
prominent but short (26)
25(24). Plants annual; lateral fruit wings thick and corky; leaves entire or pal-
mately divided 21. Cynosciadium
25. Plants perennial from fascicled tubers; lateral fruit wings thin, nerved dorsally
at the inner margins, the fruit thus appearing 5-ribbed; leaves once-
pinnate or reduced to bladeless phyllodes 25. Oxypolls
26(24). Leaves more or less dissected, without well-defined leaflets or with the
leaflets more or less cleft; ovaries glabrous 23. Conioselinum
26. Leaves with more or less definite, entire or toothed leaflets or a few with
irregular lobes; ovaries sparsely hispidulous or puberulent (Hera-
cleum lanatum sometimes has glabrate ovaries) (27)
27(26). Oil tubes extending only part way from the apex toward the base of the
fruit; herbage tomentose 26. Heracleum
27. Oil tubes extending to the base of the fruit; herbage glabrous to pubescent
24. Angelica
28(1). Leaves reduced to hollow cylindric jointed petioles 19. Lilaeopsis
28. Leaves with a definite blade, orbicular to round-reniform or ovate-cordate to
oblong (29)
29(28). Involucre of 2 conspicuous bracts; fruit with 3 primary and 2 reticulated
secondary dorsal ribs; petioles sheathing 2. Ceniella
29. Involucre multibracteate, inconspicuous; fruit without secondary ribs; petioles
not sheathing 1. Hydrocotyk
I. Hydrocotyle L. WATER-PENNYWORT
Plants low, glabrous or pubescent, herbaceous, perennial with slender creeping
stems or rootstocks, rooting at the nodes; leaves peltate or nonpeltate, entire or
parted to the base; inflorescence usually a simple umbel, sometimes proliferous or
an interrupted spike, the axillary peduncles obsolete to much longer than the leaves;
involucre inconspicuous, of numerous bracts; rays spreading to reflexed, sometimes
obsolete; flowers white, greenish or yellow, the calyx teeth minute or obsolete, the
stylopodium conspicuously conic to depressed; fruit ovoid to ellipsoid (broader
than long), strongly flattened laterally, the dorsal surface rounded or acute, the
dorsal ribs acute or obsolete, the slender lateral ribs conspicuous and acute or
rarely obsolete; oil-bearing cells conspicuous to obsolete, strengthening cells usually
surrounding the seed cavity, the seed face plane to concave.
A genus of about 100 species, chiefly of the tropics and the Southern Temperate
Zone.
The seeds and occasionally the foliage are eaten by wildfowl; H. umbellata is
considered to be especially desirable as duck food.
1214
-------
Fig. 573: a-d, Hydrocotyle umbellata: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 5; c, fruit, x 5;
d, stylopodia, x 5. e-g, Hydrocotyle bonariensis: e, habit, x %; f, young fruit, x 5; g,
mature fruit, x 5. h-1, Centella asiatica: h and i, two different plants showing variation
in size, x %; j, inflorescence, x 5; k, flower, x 5; 1, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 574A: Hydrocotyle verticillata var. verticillata: a, habit, x %; b, part of inflores-
cence, x 6; c, flower, x 10; d, fruit, x 12. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
1. Leaves reniform, not peltate, the petioles attached in a sinus at one edge of
the blade 5. H. ranunculoides.
1. Leaves peltate, the petioles attached to the middle of the blade (2)
2(1). Flowers and fruits in a simple (not proliferous) umbel 1. H. umbellata.
2. Flowers and fruits in a proliferous umbel or an interrupted spike (3)
3(2). Inflorescence profusely branched 4. H. bonariensis.
3. Inflorescence usually unbranched or only bifurcate (4)
4(3). Inflorescence often bifurcate; fruits sessile or subsessile
2. H. verticillata var. verticillata.
4. Inflorescence rarely bifurcate; fruits pedicellate
3. H. verticillata var. triradiala.
1. Hydrocotyle umbellata L. OMBLIGO DE VENUS. Fig. 573.
Plants glabrous; stems slender to somewhat thickened, floating or creeping;
leaves orbicular-peltate, to 75 mm. in diameter, crenate or crenately lobed; petioles
mostly slender, to 40.5 cm. long, usually much shorter; peduncles usually exceed-
ing the leaves, to 35 cm. long; umbels simple, many flowered; rays to 2.5 mm. long,
spreading and reflexed; stylopodium depressed; fruit orbicular to ellipsoid, 1-2 mm.
long, 2-3 mm. broad, the dorsal surface acute, the dorsal and lateral ribs evident
and obtuse; strengthening cells lacking.
In swampy areas in shallow water, bogs, edge of ponds, ditches, marshy ground
in Okla. (Waterfall} and in the e. half of Tex., Apr.-Oct.; from N.S., s. to Fla.,
w. to Minn, and Tex.; also Ore., Calif., W.I. and from Mex., s. to S.A
2. Hydrocotyle verticillata Thunb. var. verticillata. Fig. 574A.
Plants glabrous; stems filiform, creeping; leaves orbicular-peltate, to 6 cm. in
diameter, 7- to 14-veined, shallowly 8- to 13-lobed, the lobes crenate; petioles
slender, to 26 cm. long, usually much shorter; inflorescence an axillary simple
interrupted once- or twice-bifurcate (rarely tri- or quadrifurcate) spike, to 17 cm.
long, with 2 to 7 few-flowered verticils, the interverticillar distance to 6 cm., the
flowers sessile or subsessile; involucre of a few inconspicuous lanceolate bracts;
1216
-------
Fig. 574B: Hydrocotyle verticillata var. triradiata: a, fruit, strongly flattened later-
ally, x 12; b, bud, x 12; c, inflorescence, the stylopodia conspicuous at the summit of
each fruit, x 8; d, carpel, x 12; e, habit, x 1%. (From Mason, Fig. 285).
-------
Fig. 575: Hydrocotyle ranunciiloides: a, habit, x %; b, umbel of flowers, x 8; c,
flower, x 8; d, umbel in fruit, x 8; e, carpel, x 32; f, fruit, x 12. (From Mason, Fig.
286).
-------
fruit ellipsoid, 1-3 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad, the dorsal surface acute, narrowly
rounded to cuneate at the base, oblong in cross section, the acute dorsal and lateral
ribs distinct, the commissural surface constricted; oil-bearing cells conspicuous;
seed oblong-ovate in cross section.
Along streams and low muddy ground or in shallow water in Okla. (Waterfall),
in Tex. in the Timber Belt, Coastal and Blackland Prairies and the Edwards Pla-
teau, N.M. (Eddy Co.) and Ariz. (Widespread), June-Aug.; from Mass., s. to Fla.,
w. to Mo., Tex., s. Ut., N.M., Ariz., Calif., Mex. and W.I.; also in H.I. and
S. Afr.
3. Hydrocotyle verticillata var. triradiata (A. Rich.) Fern. Fig. 574B.
Similar in habit to var. verticillata; leaves to 6 cm. in diameter, 8- to 14-nerved,
shallowly 8- to 14-lobed; petioles slender, to 35 cm. long; inflorescence an axillary
interrupted simple or rarely branched spike to 22 cm. long, with few 4- to 15-
flowered verticils, the interverticillar distance to 4 cm., the flowers radiate, the
rays to 1 cm. long. H. Canbyi Coult. & Rose, H. australis Coult. & Rose.
In open marshes and wet areas in Okla. (Cherokee Co.), in Tex. chiefly in the
Timber Belt, Coastal and Blackland prairies, Rio Grande Plains and Edwards
Plateau, w. to Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Pima, Yavapai and Mohave cos.), May-Aug.;
from Mass., s. to Fla., w. to Nev. and Calif., also Mex., C.A., W.I. and S.A..
4. Hydrocotyle bonariensis Lam. SOMBRERILLO. Fig. 573.
Plants glabrous; stems slender, creeping; leaves orbicular to ovate-peltate, to
12 cm. in diameter, shallowly 12- to 19-lobed, the lobes crenate; petioles slender,
to 37 cm. long; peduncles exceeding the leaves; umbels proliferous, many-flowered;
rays to 2 cm. long, spreading and reflexed; involucral bracts lanceolate, acute;
flowers white to yellow; stylopodium depressed; fruit ellipsoid, 1-2 mm. long, 2-4
mm. broad, the dorsal surface acute, the acute dorsal and lateral ribs evident, the
commissural surface constricted.
In sandbar ditches, wet depressions, along stream banks and in streams, in the
Tex. Coastal and Blackland prairies, and on the Gulf side of the Rio Grande
Plains, May-Nov.; from N.C., s. to s. S.A.; S. Afr.
5. Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L.f. Fig. 575.
Plants glabrous; stems slender to somewhat thickened, floating or creeping;
leaves roundish-reniform with a sinus at the base, not peltate, to 8 cm. long and
wide, 5- or 6-lobed about to the middle, the lobes crenate or lobulate; petioles
mostly slender, to 34.5 cm. long; peduncles shorter than the leaves, axillary; umbels
simple, 5- to 10-flowered; rays 1-3 mm. long, spreading and ascending; stylopodium
depressed; fruit suborbicular, 1-3 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, the dorsal surface
rounded, the ribs obsolete; strengthening cells absent.
In shallow pools and muddy shores in Okla. (Waterfall), Tex. in the Timber Belt
and Blackland Prairies and Ariz. (Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz cos.), Apr.-July;
from Pa. and Del., s. to Fla., w. to Ark. and Ariz.; also from Wash., s. along the
coast to Pan., Cuba and S.A.
2. Centella L.
A genus of perhaps 20 species, chiefly of the Southern Hemisphere.
1. Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Fig. 573.
Plant perennial from slender creeping rootstocks, with stems 1 to several dm.
long, rooting at nodes; leaves ovate-cordate to oblong, obtuse, to 10 cm. long and
9 cm. wide, entire or repand-toothed; petioles glabrous to fulvous-pubescent,
usually with a tuft of hairs at the apex, to 35 mm. long, usually much shorter;
inflorescence of simple lax to subcapitate umbels; peduncles axillary, shorter than
1219
-------
to exceeding the leaves, to 11.5 cm. long; involucre of 2 conspicuous ovate to sub-
orbicular scarious bracts; rays 2 to 5, to 4 mm. long; flowers white or rose-tinged,
the calyx teeth obsolete, the stylopodium obsolete; carpophore entire; fruit ellip-
soid, 3-4 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad (broader than long), constricted at the com-
missure and flattened laterally, glabrous, the filiform primary ribs prominent, the
secondary ribs and reticulations evident, the seed face plane; an oil-bearing layer
beneath the epidermis, occasionally containing small oil tubes and a thick layer of
strengthening cells surrounding the seed cavity. C. erecta (L. f.) Fern.
Edges of streams and other wet places in e. half of Tex., May-Sept.; from Del.,
s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.; also W.I. and Mex. to C.A., S.A. and e. Asia.
3. Spermolepis RAF. SCALE-SEED
A genus of 5 species, three in the southeastern and central United States and
adjacent Mexico, one in southern South America, and the fifth in the Hawaiian
Islands.
1. Spermolepis divaricate (Walt.) Raf. Fig. 576.
Slender annual from taproot, erect, 1-7 dm. high; leaves oblong to oblong-ovate,
to 5 cm. long and 35 mm. wide, ternately or ternate-pinnately decompound; ulti-
mate divisions of leaves linear, acute; inflorescence of compound umbels, the ter-
minal and axillary peduncles exceeding the leaves; peduncles 1—5 cm. long; involu-
cre lacking; involucel of a few linear acute bractlets with the margins scarious and
usually callous-toothed; rays 3 to 7, divaricate, subequal, 5-35 mm. long; pedicels
1 to 6, to 3 cm. long or the central flower of each umbellet sessile; flowers white,
the calyx teeth obsolete; the stylopodium low-conic; carpophore 2-cleft at the apex;
fruit ovoid, compressed laterally, 1.5-2 mm. long, about 1.5 mm. broad, tubercu-
late, the filiform ribs rounded; oil tubes 1 to 3 in the intervals and 2 on the com-
missure, the seed face sulcate.
In swamps and moist woodlands in the Timber Belt and Blackland Prairies of
Tex., Apr.-June; from Va., s. to Fla., w. to Kan. and Tex.
4. Tauschia SCHLECHT.
A genus of about 20 species of the highlands of Mexico and northern South
America and western United States.
1. Tauschia texana Gray. Fig. 577.
Acaulescent perennial from a taproot, 1-4 dm. high, glabrous throughout; leaves
oblong, to 15 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, pinnate; leaflets sessile to petiolulate,
ovate, distinct, the larger ones pinnately parted or lobed, the divisions cuneate;
inflorescence of compound umbels; peduncles 1-4 dm. long; involucre lacking or
of a single foliaceous bract; involucel of several linear to lanceolate connate bract-
lets, shorter than the flowers; fertile rays 5 to 8, unequal, 5-25 mm. long; flowers
yellow, with pedicels 1-2 mm. long; calyx teeth minute; fruit oval, 3-4 mm. long,
2-3 mm. broad, slightly compressed laterally, glabrous, the ribs filiform; oil tubes
3 or 4 in the intervals and 4 on the commissure; seed face deeply sulcate. Muse-
niopsis texana (Gray) Coult. & Rose.
In alluvial thickets and wet woods in s. part of Blackland Prairies and in coastal
region in Tex., Feb.-June; endemic.
5. Ammoselinum T. & G. SAND-PARSLEY
A genus of 4 species of the south-central and southwestern United States and
adjacent Mexico; one species in southern South America.
1220
-------
Fig. 576: Spermolepis divaricata: 1, plant, x %; 2, fruit, side view, x 10; 3 fruit,
transverse section, x 10. (From Mathias & Constance in LundelFs Flora of Texas, Vol.
3, PI. 46).
-------
Fig. 577: Tauschia lexana: \. plant, x l/-r, 2, fruit, side view, x 6; 3, fruit, trans-
verse section, x 6. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3,
PI. 35).
-------
1. Ammoselinum Butleri (Wats.) Coult. & Rose. Fig. 578.
Annual from slender taproot, plant branching from the base, 4-5 (-12) cm.
high; leaves oblong, to 25 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, biternate or ternate-pinnate,
ultimate divisions of leaves linear, obtuse, mucronulate, glabrous; inflorescence
of compound umbels, umbels sessile in the axils; involucre lacking; involucel of a
few foliaceous bractlets, shorter than the pedicels; rays 2 to 6, unequal, to 2 cm.
long to obsolete; pedicels 1 to 10, unequal, 1-6 mm. long; flowers white, the calyx
teeth obsolete, the stylopodium low conic; carpophore 2-cleft at the apex; fruit
ovoid, compressed laterally, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. broad, glabrous to sparsely
roughened with callous teeth, the subacute ribs prominent, the lateral ribs of the
two mericarps closely contiguous and appearing to form a single broad rib; oil
tubes solitary in the intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face plane or
nearly so.
Principally in bottomlands and moist or wet woodlands along rivers in s.e. Okla.
(Waterfall) and in Tex. in the Timber Belt and the Blackland and Coastal prairies,
Mar .-Apr.; also Ark.
6. Cryptotaenia DC. HONEWORT. WILD CHERVIL
A chiefly circumboreal genus of about 6 species.
1. Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC.
Plant slender, erect, caulescent, branching, glabrous, herbaceous, perennial from
slender fascicled roots, 3-9 dm. high; leaves ternate, oblong-ovate, to 13 cm. long
and 15 cm. wide; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to obovate, to 13 cm. long and 8 cm.
wide, short-acuminate at the apex, cuneate at the base, closely and doubly serrate
or occasionally deeply 2- or 3-lobed; upper cauline leaves reduced to lanceolate
dentate bracts; inflorescence of compound umbels, the peduncles terminal and
lateral, usually paniculate; involucre and involucel lacking or of few inconspicuous
bracts or bractlets; rays 2 to 7, unequal, ascending, 1-6 cm. long, the 2 to 10
unequal pedicels ascending and to 35 mm. long; flowers white, the calyx teeth
obsolete or minute, the styles erect or reflexed, the stylopodium slender-conic;
carpophore divided to the base; fruit linear-oblong, compressed laterally, 3.5-8 mm.
long, 1.5-3 mm. broad, glabrous, the filiform obtuse ribs subequal and conspicuous;
oil tubes 1 to 4 in the intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face plane.
Deringia canadensis (L.) O. Ktze.
In moist woodland and in wet mud at edge of stream in woods in Okla. (Murray
and Adair cos.) and in Tex. in the Timber Belt., May; from e. Can., s. to Ga., w.
to Man., Neb. and Tex.; also Japan and s. China.
7. Osmorhiza RAF. SWEET CICELY
A genus of 11 species of East Asia and eastern North America, and of western
North America to South America.
1. Osmorhiza longistylis (Torr.) DC. ANISE-ROOT. Fig. 579.
Plant rather stout, 6-10 dm. high, villous or hirsutulous; leaves orbicular, 8-25
cm. long, biternate or ternate-pinnate; leaflets ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acute,
coarsely serrate, incised or pinnately lobed toward the base, hirsutulous especially
on the veins and margins; peduncles 5-13 cm. long; involucre of 1 to several
linear or lanceolate foliaceous, ciliate, sharply reflexed bracts to 15 mm. long; rays
3 to 6, spreading-ascending, 1.5-5 cm. long; pedicels spreading-ascending, 5-8 mm.
long, flowers white, the stylopodium high-conic; carpophore cleft about one third
of its length; fruit oblong-fusiform, 15-20 mm. long, acute at the apex, caudate at
the base, the appendages 4-6 mm. long, sparingly bristly on the ribs.
1223
-------
Fig. 578: Ammoselinum Butleri: 1, plant, x %; 2, fruit, side view, x 12; 3, fruit,
transverse section, x 12. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas Vol.
3, PL 44).
-------
Fig. 579: Osmorhiza longistylis: a, top of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant, x %;
c, flower with one bractlet, x 5; d, young fruit, x 2%; e, mature fruit showing the 2
mericarps, x 2%. (V. F.).
-------
Along streams and wet meadows in Okla. (the var. villicaiilis) and Tex. in the
Blackland Prairies and perhaps in the Timber Belt, N. M. (Colfax Co.), rare; from
e. Can., s. to Ala. and Tex., w. to Alta., Colo, and N. M.
8. Caucalis L.
A genus of about 5 species, native to Asia, the Mediterranean region and North
America and Central America.
1. Caucalis microcarpa H. & A.
Slender annual 1-4 dm. tall, simple or branched especially above, more or less
spreading-hirsute throughout; leaves chiefly cauline, the blade mostly 2-6 cm. long
and 2-5 cm. wide, pinnately dissected into small, narrow ultimate segments; inflo-
rescence of compound umbels; involucre of several fairly well-developed, scarcely
modified leaves; rays of the umbel 1 to 9, ascending, 1-8 cm. long; involucel of
several pinnatifid to entire bractlets; pedicels markedly unequal; flowers white;
calyx teeth evident; petals cuneate or obovate, with a slender inflexed tip; styles
short, the stylopodium thick and conic; fruit oblong, 3-7 mm. long, beset with
uncinate prickles along the ribs, those of alternate ribs larger and tending to be
confluent at the base.
Along streams and on open vernally wet slopes in Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave,
Gila, Pima and Santa Cruz cos.) Apr.-June; Ida. to B.C. s. to Ariz, and Baja
Calif.
9. Trepocarpus DC.
A monotypic genus of the southern United States.
1. Trepocarpus Aethusae Nutt. Fig. 580.
Plant slender, erect, 3-5.5 dm. high, caulescent, simple or branching, glabrous,
herbaceous, annual from slender taproots; leaves pinnately decompound, 8-10 cm.
long, the short divisions linear and acute; cauline leaves little reduced upward;
inflorescence of compound umbels; peduncles to 95 mm. long, lateral and opposite
the leaves; involucre of 1 to several foliaceous entire or divided bracts to 15 mm.
long; involucel of bractlets (3-8 mm. long) like the bracts; rays 2 to 4, spreading,
to 15 mm. long, the 2 to 8 pedicels very short; flowers white, the calyx teeth linear
and unequal, the stylopodium conic; carpophore divided to the base; fruit oblong-
linear, 8-10 mm. long, slightly compressed laterally, glabrous, the primary ribs
obsolete but 4 secondary ribs and the face of the commissure prominently corky;
oil tubes small, solitary under the secondary ribs and 2 on the commissure, more
or less imbedded in the seed and adhering to it, the seed face plane or slightly
concave.
Chiefly on river bottoms and terraces in wet ditches and ponds, and marsh-
meadows, in Okla. (McCurtain and Le Flore cos.) and in Tex. in the Timber Belt
and Blackland and Coastal prairies, Apr.-June; from Tex., n. to Ark. and e.
to S.C.
10. Chaerophyllum L. CHERVIL
Plants erect or spreading, caulescent, branching, glabrous or pubescent, herba-
ceous, annual or biennial from taproots or tubers; leaves ternate-pinnately decom-
pound, the ultimate divisions or lobes small; inflorescence of compound umbels,
the peduncles terminal and axillary or frequently obsolete; involucre usually lack-
ing; involucel of numerous conspicuous bractlets that are longer or shorter than the
pedicels and reflexed or spreading in fruit; rays few, spreading-ascending, the
pedicels spreading; flowers white (rarely red or yellow), the calyx teeth obsolete,
the stylopodium conic; carpophore 2-cleft part-way to the base; fruit linear to
1226
-------
Fig. 580: Trepocarpus Aethusae: 1, plant, x %; 2, fruit, side view, x 4; 3, fruit,
transverse section, x 4. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol.
3, PI. 43).
-------
Fig. 581: Foeniculum vulgare: a, part of top of plant, x
part of stem, x \?', c, flower, x 5; d, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
'o; b, leaf from central
-------
narrowly oblong, beaked or beakless, often narrowed toward the apex, rounded or
narrowed toward the base, compressed laterally, the prominent ribs unwinged and
narrower or broader than the intervals; oil tubes small, usually solitary in the
intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face sulcate; each rib with a large
group of strengthening cells.
A circumboreal genus of about 40 species, chiefly Eurasian.
1. Fruit elliptic to oblong, broadest at or near the middle; ribs narrower than the
intervals 1. C. procumbent.
\. Fruit lanceolate, broadest distinctly below the middle; ribs as wide as the inter-
vals or contiguous (2)
2(1). Ovaries and fruits glabrous 2. C. Tainturieri var. Tainturieri.
2. Ovaries and fruits conspicuously pubescent 2. C. Tainturieri var. dasycarpum.
1. Chaerophyllum procumbens (L.) Crantz.
Stems spreading, often weak, usually branched from the base, 2-6 dm. long,
glabrous or sparsely pubescent; leaf segments oblong to ovate, glabrous beneath
or with a few widely scattered hairs; primary rays 1 to 3; pedicels 2 to 6, at anthesis
very short, at maturity to 1 cm. long, filiform; fruit elliptic or oblong, broadest at
or near the middle, 5.5-10 mm. long, a fourth to a third as wide, convexly nar-
rowed to the summit; ribs slender, narrower than the intervals.
Moist or wet woods, alluvial soil along streams and in valleys, glades and thick-
ets, Okla. (Waterfall); N.Y. to s. Mich., la., and Kan., s. to Ga., Ark. and Okla.
2. Chaerophyllum Tainturieri Hook var. Tainturieri.
Plant erect, 1.5-9 dm. high, annual, the stems solitary and usually branching
near the base, sparsely hispid or hispidulous above and densely retrorsely hispid
beneath to glabrate; leaves oblong to ovate-oblong, to 12 cm. long and 10 cm.
wide, ternate-pinnately dissected, the ultimate divisions distinct or more or less
confluent, linear to ovate, obtuse to acute, glabrous to more or less hispid; pedun-
cles usually obsolete; involucel of several conspicuous ovate rounded to acute
ciliate-margined bractlets usually longer than the pedicels and spreading or reflexed
in fruit; rays 1 to 5 (usually about 3), to 75 mm. long; pedicels 3 to 20, to 1 cm.
long; fruit narrowly oblong, beaked or narrowed toward the apex, rounded to
narrowed toward the base, 4-8 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, the ribs narrower to
much broader than the intervals. C. texanum Coult. & Rose.
In prairies, wet woodlands and alluvial thickets, widespread in Okla. (Waterfall)
and in the e. half of Tex., Mar.-May; from Va., s. to Fla., w. to Kan., Mo., Tex.
and Ariz.
Var. dasycarpum Wats. Similar to var. Tainturieri in vegetative characters but
the ovaries and fruits are conspicuously pubescent. With the typical phase chiefly
in Okla. (Waterfall) and the e. half of Tex., Mar.-May; from Tex. e. to Ala. and
n. to Mo.
11. Foeniculum ADANS. FENNEL
A genus of about 5 species, chiefly of the Mediterranean region.
1. Foeniculum vulgare Mill. COMMON FENNEL. Fig. 581.
Plant rather stout, erect, branching, glabrous and glaucous, with a strong anise
odor, perennial or biennial from taproots, 9-21 dm. high; leaves ovate to ovate-
triangular, 3 dm. long, 4 dm. wide, pinnately decompound, dark-green, the ultimate
divisions filiform; inflorescence of compound umbels; peduncles terminal and axil-
lary, 15-65 mm. long; involucre and involucel lacking; rays 15 to 40, spreading-
ascending in flower, ascending to suberect in fruit, somewhat unequal, 1-6.5 cm.
long; pedicels several, spreading, 2-10 mm. long, subequal; flowers yellow, the
1229
-------
calyx teeth obsolete, the stylopodium conic; carpophore divided to the base; fruit
3.5-4 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, oblong, slightly compressed laterally, glabrous,
the prominent ribs acute or obtuse; oil tubes solitary in the intervals and 2 on the
commissure, the seed face plane or slightly concave.
Introd. in marshes and low areas in coastal and s. Tex., Mar.-May; a Medit.
species that is adv. throughout the W. Hemis.
12. Zizia KOCH
A genus of about 4 species, primarily of eastern United States and adjacent
Canada, but extending to the Pacific Northwest.
1. Zizia aurea (L.) Koch. GOLDEN ALEXANDERS.
Erect caulescent usually branching perennial from fascicled roots, 4-8 dm. high;
basal leaves petiolate, ovate to orbicular, to 1 dm. long and 12 cm. wide, biternate
or the middle leaflet pinnatifid; leaflets ovate to lanceolate, distinct, sharply serrate;
cauline leaves like the basal, becoming narrowly lanceolate and confluent upwards;
inflorescences of compound umbels; peduncles 5-15 cm. long; involucre lacking;
involucel of a few inconspicuous linear acute bractlets 1—3 mm. long, shorter than
or equaling the pedicels; rays 10 to 15, spreading-ascending, unequal, 1-3.5 cm.
long; pedicels 2-3 mm. long; the central flower of each umbellet sessile or sub-
sessile; flowers yellow; calyx teeth prominent; stylopodium lacking; fruit oblong-
ovoid, 2-A mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, compressed laterally, the ribs filiform; oil
tubes solitary in the intervals and 2 on the commissure; seed face slightly concave.
In wet sandy woodlands and sandy-clay floodplains in Okla. (Waterfall) and
the e. third of Tex., Apr.-Aug.; from e. Can., s. to Fla., w. to Sask., Mont, and
Tex.
Zizia aptera (Gray) Fern., with leaflets of stem leaves not more than 3, occurs
in Oklahoma, but it is usually in less moist areas than the habitat of Z. aurea.
13. Apium L. CELERY
Plants slender or stout, erect, ascending or prostrate, caulescent (usually),
branching, herbaceous, glabrous, annual, biennial or a somewhat woody-based
perennial from taproots or creeping rootstocks rooting at the nodes; leaves simply
pinnate to ternate-pinnately decompound; inflorescence of compound (rarely sim-
ple) umbels, the peduncles lateral and terminal or some umbels sessile; involucre
and involucel lacking to conspicuous; rays usually few, spreading-ascending, the
pedicels spreading to ascending; flowers white or greenish, the calyx teeth minute
or obsolete, the stylopodium short-conic to depressed; carpophore entire, shortly
bifid or more or less deeply 2-cleft; fruit oblong-oval to orbicular or ellipsoid, com-
pressed laterally and somewhat constricted at the commissure, glabrous or rarely
somewhat setulose, the prominent filiform ribs subequal and obtuse; oil tubes soli-
tary in the intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face plane.
A cosmopolitan genus of about 30 species.
1. Plant annual; leaves pinnately or ternate-pinnately decompound, the leaflets
filiform to linear 1. A. leptophyllum.
1. Plant perennial or biennial; leaves pinnate, the leaflets orbicular to ovate
2. A. graveolens.
1. Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F. v. Muell. Fig. 582.
Plant annual, alternately branched above, 5-60 cm. high; leaves oblong-ovate, to
10 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, 3- or 4-pinnately decompound, the leaflets linear to
filiform; umbels simple or compound, sessile or pedunculate, the peduncles to 2
cm. long; involucre and involucel lacking; rays 3 to 5, 1-2.2 cm. long; pedicels
2-8 mm. long; calyx teeth inconspicuous; carpophore shortly 2-cleft; fruit ovoid,
1.2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, glabrous. Apium ammi (Jacq.) Urban.
1230
-------
Fig. 582: Apium leptophyllum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 5; c, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 583: Apium graveolcns: a, top of plant, x V>; b, central part of stem, x %;
umbellet in flower, x 5; d, flower, x 10; e, umbellet in fruit, x 5; f, mature fruit, x
(V. F.).
-------
Widely distributed in moist or wet soil in Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Tex. in the
Coastal and Blackland prairies and the Rio Grande Plains, and Ariz. (Cochise,
Pima and Maricopa cos.), Mar.-June from s. U.S. and W.I., s. to S.A.; a pan-
trop. weed.
2. Apium graveolens L. WILD CELERY. Fig. 583.
Plant perennial, erect or ascending from a taproot, not rooting at the nodes,
5-15 dm. high; leaves oblong to obovate, to 18 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, pinnate
with few pairs of ovate to suborbicular leaflets that are usually 3-lobed to near the
middle; cauline leaves frequently cuneate, sometimes laciniate; umbels sessile or
short-pedunculate, the peduncles to 12 mm. long; involucre and involucel lacking;
rays 7 to 16, to 25 mm. long; pedicels 1-6 mm. long; calyx teeth minute but
evident; carpophore shortly bifid; fruit suborbicular to ellipsoid, about 1.5 mm.
long, 1.5-2 mm. broad. Celeri graveolens (L.) Britt.
A garden plant escaped from cultivation found in marshes and along streams
and other wet places in Ariz. (Coconino to Cochise, Final and Yavapai cos.) and
in Trans-Pecos Tex., June-July; a Euras. species widely adv. in the W. Hemis.
14. Conium L.
A genus of 2 species, one circumboreal in damp places, the other African.
1. Conium macularum L. POISON HEMLOCK. Fig. 584.
Plant slender, erect, glabrous, 5-30 dm. high, biennial from stout taproots, the
branching stems usually spotted; leaves broadly ovate, 1.5-3 dm. long, 5-30 cm.
broad, pinnately decompound, the ultimate divisions pinnately incised; inflores-
cence a compound dichasium of compound umbels, the peduncles terminal and
axillary; involucre of short ovate-acuminate bracts; involucel of numerous bractlets
like the bracts, with a conspicuous midrib, shorter than the pedicels; rays numerous,
subequal, 15-25 mm. long, spreading-ascending; pedicels spreading, 4-6 mm. long;
flowers white, the calyx teeth obsolete, the stylopodium depressed-conic; carpo-
phore entire; fruit broadly ovoid, 2-2.5 mm. long, about 2 mm. broad, compressed
laterally, glabrous, the prominent obtuse ribs undulate and crenate; oil tubes very
small and numerous, irregular, the seed face deeply and narrowly sulcate.
Sporadically introd. in wet places in Okla. (Waterfall), in the s. half of Tex.,
N.M. (Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Yavapai, Greenlee and Graham cos.),
May-Aug.; a Euras. species widely introd. throughout temp, regions in the world.
Fatally poisonous if eaten.
15. Perideridia REICHB.
Slender or stout caulescent branching glabrous perennial herbs from tuberous or
fusiform fascicled roots; leaves ternately, pinnately or ternate-pinnately compound,
with linear divisions; umbels compound; involucre absent or of few to numerous
entire bracts; involucel of usually scarious or colored bractlets; flowers white to
pinkish; sepals evident; stylopodium conical or low-conical; fruit compressed later-
ally; ribs filiform; oil tubes 1 to 5 in the intervals, 2 to 8 on the commissure.
An American genus of nine species, two in our area.
1. Fruits orbicular to suborbicular, 2-3 mm. long, the oil tubes solitary in the
intervals; bractlets usually setaceous 1. P. Gairdneri.
1. Fruits oblong to ovoid, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, the oil tubes 2 to 4 in the intervals;
bractlets scarious or scarious-margined, often conspicuous
2. P. Parishii.
1233
-------
1. Perideridia Gairdneri (Hook. & Arn.) Mathias.
Plants slender, to 12 dm. high, from a solitary fusiform tuber or a small fascicle
of tubers; leaf divisions to 15 cm. long, entire or toothed; involucre absent or of
one to several setaceous bracts; rays 8 to 20, to 6 cm. long; fruit 2-3 mm. long.
Wet heavy soil, in Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Navajo cos.) and N. M.
(Socorro Co.); B. C., Wash., to s. Calif., e. to Alta. and N. M.; June-Aug.
2. Perideridia Parishii (Coult. & Rose) Nels. & Macbr.
Plants slender, to 8 dm. tall, from a solitary tuber or a fascicle of fusiform or
ovoid tubers; leaves ternate, or sometimes simple or biternate, the leaflets to 10 cm.
long, the terminal often elongate; involucre usually absent; rays 8 to 15, unequal,
to 4 cm. long; bractlets conspicuous, scarious or colored; fruit 2.5-3.5 mm. long.
Usually in moist or wet meadows or moist soil in pine woods, in Ariz. (Coconino
Co.); Calif., Nev. and n. Ariz.
16. Berula HOFFM. WATER-PARSNIP
A genus of two species, one circumboreal, the other African.
1. Berula erecta (Huds.) Cov. Fig. 585.
Plants slender, erect, stoloniferous, perennial from fascicled fibrous roots, 2-8
dm. high; leaves narrowly oblong, to 3 dm. long and 1 dm. wide, pinnate; leaflets
oblong, distinct, subentire to serrate or lobed, those of the submerged leaves decom-
pound; cauline leaves reduced, the leaflets often linear; inflorescence of compound
umbels; peduncles terminal and axillary, 2—8 cm. long; involucre of 6 to 8 linear
to lanceolate unequal foliaceous scarious-margined entire to incisely toothed bracts,
5-15 mm. long; involucel of 4 to 8 linear to lanceolate acute entire bractlets, 1-5
mm. long; rays 6 to 15, subequal, spreading-ascending, 1—2 cm. long; pedicels 2-5
mm. long; flowers white, the minute calyx teeth subulate, the stylopodram conic;
carpophore divided to the base, the halves wholly adnate to the mericarps; fruit
oval to orbicular, 1.5-2 mm. long, compressed laterally, the filiform ribs obscure
in the thick corky pericarp; oil tubes numerous about the seed, the seed face plane;
strengthening cells lacking. B. pusilla (Nutt.) Fern.
In marshes, streams, seeping banks, edge of ponds and wet places in Okla.
(Alfalfa, Woods and Major cos.), Tex. in the Blackland Prairies, Plains Country
and Trans-Pecos, N. M. (widespread), Ariz. (Apache to Coconino and Yavapai,
s. to Santa Cruz and Cochise cos.), May-Nov.; throughout the U.S. and adj. Can.,
s. to Guat.; also Eur. and the Medit region.
17. Slum L. WATER-PARSNIP
A chiefly circumboreal genus, containing perhaps a dozen species.
1. Sium suave Walt. Fig. 586.
Plant stout, perennial, 6-12 dm. high, the corrugated branching stems arising
from fusiform fascicled roots; leaves oblong to ovate, to 25 cm. long and 18 cm.
wide, pinnate or rarely simple and serrate and incised, the submerged leaves usually
decompound; leaflets lanceolate to linear, 1-4 cm. long, 3-15 mm. wide, distinct,
remote, the lower frequently obsolete, finely to coarsely serrate or incised; pedun-
cles stout, 4-10 cm. long; involucre of 6 to 10 lanceolate or linear bracts 3-15 mm.
long that are acute, entire or incised, unequal and reflexed; involucel of 4 to 8
linear-lanceolate bractlets 1-3 mm. long, acute, entire; rays 10 to 20, slender, sub-
equal, 1.5-3 cm. long; pedicels 3-5 mm. long; flowers white; calyx teeth minute,
the stylopodium usually depressed; the halves of the carpophore adnate to the
mericarps; fruit oval to orbicular, 2-3 mm. long, 2-2.5 mm. broad, slightly com-
pressed laterally and constricted at the commissure, the ribs prominent, subequal,
1234
-------
Fig. 584: Conium maculatum: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, leaf, x %; c, flower,
x 5; d, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 585: Bern/a crccta: a, basal leaves, x '<>; b, top of plant, x V>; c, flower, x 5;
d, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
corky; oil tubes 1 to 3 in the intervals and 2 to 6 on the commissure, the seed face
plane; prominent group of strengthening cells in the apex of each rib. Slum cicu-
taefolium Schrank.
In swamps and marshes and other wet places in Okla. (Comanche Co.), s.-cen.
Tex. and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Sept.; from Nfld., s. to. S.C., w. to B.C.
and Calif.
This species, which superficially resembles the deadly poisonous Cicuta macu-
lata, may be distinguished from that species by its simply pinnate leaves and cor-
rugated stems. The primary lateral veins also are directed to the teeth instead of
the sinuses.
18. Cicuta L. WATER-HEMLOCK
Plants stout or slender, erect, caulescent, branching, herbaceous, perennial from
a tuberous base bearing fibrous to fleshy-tuberous roots; leaves 1- to 3-pinnate or
ternate-pinnate, the leaflets serrate to incised; primary lateral veins of leaflets
usually directed toward sinuses rather than teeth of the leaflets; inflorescence of
compound umbels, the peduncles terminal and lateral, exceeding the leaves; invo-
lucre usually lacking; involucel of several narrow bractlets or rarely lacking; rays
numerous, slender, spreading-ascending, the slender pedicels spreading; flowers
white or greenish, the calyx teeth evident, the stylopodium depressed or low-conic;
carpophore divided to the base, deciduous; fruit oval or ovoid to orbicular or
ellipsoid, compressed laterally and constricted at the commissure or not constricted,
the usually prominent ribs obtuse and corky; oil tubes solitary in the intervals and
2 on the commissure, the seed face plane to slightly concave.
A circumboreal genus of about 8 species, one Eurasian, the others American.
These plants, abundant in wet places, are notable for being virulently poisonous to
both man and animals. Although all parts of the plant of these species are poison-
ous, the roots and rootstocks are especially so, and the spotted cowbane (C. macu-
lata) is considered to be the most violently poisonous of any of the species in this
genus. If a strong emetic followed by a purgative medicine is given to anyone
known to have eaten any of the plant, recovery is very possible. The seeds of these
plants are eaten by wildfowl without any apparent harmful effects.
1. Fruit not constricted at the commissure; lateral ribs much broader than the
dorsals in surface display 1. C. maculata.
1. Fruit constricted at the commissure; lateral ribs about equaling the dorsals in
surface display (2)
2(1). Oil tubes large; seed oily, evidently channeled under the oil tubes
2. C. mexicana.
2. Oil tubes small; seed less oily, terete or only slightly sulcate under the oil tubes
3. C. Douglasii.
1. Cicuta maculata L. SPOTTED COWBANE, BEAVER-POISON. Fig. 587.
Plant stout, from a usually erect tuberous base bearing fleshy or fleshy-tuberous
roots as well as often some fibrous roots above (all of which are deadly poisonous
to man and animals), 6-18 dm. high; leaves ovate, to 3 dm. long and 26 cm. wide,
2- to 3-pinnate; leaflets lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 2-12 cm. long, 5-30 mm.
wide, sharply and coarsely serrate or incised; peduncles 2-10 cm. long; involucre
of a few narrow bracts or lacking; involucel of several linear to lanceolate acute to
acuminate scarious-margined bractlets, 2-5 mm. long, entire or denticulate, shorter
than the flowers; rays unequal to subequal, 1.5-6 cm. long; pedicels 3-10 mm. long;
fruit oval to orbicular, 2-4 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, not constricted at the com-
missure, the ribs low and corky, about as broad as the usually reddish-brown inter-
vals, the lateral ribs of the two carpels closely contiguous and forming a broad flat
1237
-------
Fig. 586: Sinin suave: a, top of plant, x ij; b, section of stem, x 1; c, lower stem
leaf, x 13; d, submersed leaf, x '3: e, section of petiole, x 2; f, flower, x 15; g, fruit, x 7.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 587: Cicuta maculata: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant and
basal leaf, x %; c, flower, x 5; d, petal, x 10; e, fruit, x 5; f, one mericarp, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
band and with much greater surface display than the dorsal ribs; oil tubes moder-
ate!}' large; seed not very oily, not sulcate or only very shallowly so under the
tubes, the face plane to concave.
Along streams, in marshes and other wet places in Okla. (McCurtain, Adair,
Murray and Washington cos.) and e., cen. and n. Tex., May-Sept.; throughout e.
U.S. and Can., s. to Ga. and La., w. to the Dakotas and Tex.
2. Cicuta mexicana Coult. & Rose. Fig. 588.
Plant stout, from a usually erect tuberous base bearing fleshy-tuberous roots,
9-24 dm. high; leaves ovate-deltoid, to 35 cm. long, ternate-pinnate or 2-pinnate;
leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 4-10 cm. long, 1.5-4 cm. wide, finely to coarsely serrate,
thick and strongly reticulate; peduncles 5-9 cm. long; involucre of 1 to several
narrow bracts or lacking; involucel of several lanceolate to linear acute scarious-
margined bractlets 2-5 mm. long, shorter than or equalling the flowers; rays very
unequal, 2-8 cm. long; pedicels 3-15 mm. long; fruit orbicular or nearly so, 2-3
mm. long, constricted at the commissure, the low ribs broad and corky, subequal
in surface display, broader than the intervals, the lateral ribs of the two carpels
separated by an interval; oil tubes large; seed very oily, deeply sulcate under the
tubes, the face plane or concave. Cicuta Curtissii Coult. & Rose.
In swamps and other wet places in e. third of Tex. and along the coast, May-
Oct.; from Middle All. U.S., s. to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mex.
3. Cicuta Douglasii (DC.) Coult. & Rose.
Stems stout, from a vertical or horizontal short or elongate tuberous base that
bears fibrous or fleshy-fibrous roots, 6-20 dm. tall; leaves oblong to ovate in gen-
eral outline; petioles 1-8 cm. long; blade 12-38 cm. long, 7-22 cm. broad, 1- to
3-pinnate; leaflets linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-10 cm. long, 6-35 mm.
wide, remotely to coarsely serrate or incised; peduncles 5-15 cm. long; involucre
of 1 to several narrow bracts, or wanting; involucel of several ovate-lanceolate to
linear acute to acuminate scarious-margined bractlets that are 2-15 mm. long; rays
2-6 cm. long; pedicels 3-8 mm. long; fruit ovoid to orbicular, 2-4 mm. long, 2-3
mm. broad, constricted at the commissure; ribs low, broad and corky, subequal in
surface display, broader than the reddish-brown or homochromous intervals, the
lateral ribs of the 2 carpels separated by intervals; oil tubes small; seeds not very
oily, not sulcate under the tubes, the face plane. C. occidentalis Greene.
In ditches, fresh-water marshes, swamps, shallow standing water or flowing
streams, in N.M. (rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and
Greenlee cos.), lune-Aug.; Mont, and Alas, to N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Chih.
19. Lilaeopsis GREENE
About a half dozen species of world-wide distribution.
1. Lilaeopsis recurvata A.W.Hill. Fig. 589.
Glabrous inconspicuous perennial; stems creeping and rooting in mud; leaves
reduced to fistulose cylindric petioles that are transversely septate, elongate when
growing in water; peduncles shorter than leaves; umbels simple; involucre of a few
small bracts; calyx teeth minute; corolla white; stylopodium depressed; fruit sub-
globose or slightly compressed laterally, 2-2.5 mm. long, the lateral ribs very thick
and corky, the dorsal ribs filiform, the oil tubes solitary in the intervals (2 on the
commissure), the seed face somewhat convex.
On mud in or about streams, ponds and lakes in s. Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz,
Pima and Final cos.), July-Aug.; known only from s. Ariz.
1240
-------
Fig. 588: Cicuta mexicana: rhizome, x %. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey;.
-------
Fig. 589: a, Eryngium prostralum: a, habit, x \'z. b-d, Lilaeopsis recurva: b, habit,
x ij; c, flower, X 5; d, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
20. Ptilimnium RAF. MOCK BISHOP'S-WEED
Plants slender, erect, caulescent, branching, herbaceous, annual, from a fascicle
of fibrous roots; leaves pinnately decompound with filiform ultimate divisions or
the leaves reduced to fistulose sheathing petioles; inflorescence of compound
umbels, the peduncles terminal and axillary; involucre of entire or pinnatifid bracts;
involucel of entire bractlets; rays few to numerous, spreading-ascending to spread-
ing, the pedicels spreading; flowers white, rarely pink, the calyx teeth small to
prominent, the stylopodium conic; carpophore bifid at the apex or cleft to the
middle; fruit ovoid to suborbicular, compressed laterally, the dorsal ribs filiform,
rounded or acute, the lateral ribs small to corky-winged, forming a band around
the fruit; oil tubes solitary in the intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face
plane.
A genus of five species of southeastern and south-central United States.
1. Leaf segments crowded, appearing verticillate; styles 1.5-3 mm. long; plant
robust, 8-15 dm. high 2. P. costatum.
1. Leaf segments not crowded; styles 0.2-1.5 mm. long; plants 2-8 dm. high (2)
2(1). Leaf segments usually 3 at a node on the rachis; bracts usually 3-cleft; styles
0.2-0.5 mm. long, not strongly recurved 1. P. capillaceum.
2. Leaf segments usually 2 at a node on the rachis; bracts usually entire; styles
0.5-1.5 mm. long, strongly recurved 3. P. Nuttallii.
1. Ptilimnium capillaceum (Michx.) Raf. Fig. 590.
Plant 1-8.5 dm. high; leaves verticillate at the nodes, polymorphic in submerged
forms, broadly oblong, to 13 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, pinnately decompound, the
segments usually filiform, 3 at a node on the rachis; peduncles 2.5—10.5 cm. long,
exceeding the leaves; involucre of several pinnately cleft or rarely entire bracts
about one half as long as the rays; involucel of filiform bractlets shorter than the
pedicels; rays 4 to 20, spreading, subequal, 1-3.5 cm. long; pedicels 5 to 20, 3-12
(usually 4-6) mm. long; calyx teeth small, persistent; styles 0.2-0.5 mm. long, not
strongly recurved; fruit broadly ovoid, 1.5—3 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, the
lateral ribs conspicuous.
In wet places in Okla. (Pushmataha and McCurtain cos.) and the e. half of Tex.,
May-Aug.; from Mass., s. to Fla., w. to Mo., Kan. and Tex.
2. Ptilimnium costatum (Ell.) Raf. Fig. 591.
Plant 8-15 dm. high; leaves oblong, to 14 cm. long and 7 cm. wide, pinnately
decompound, the ultimate divisions filiform, crowded, appearing verticillate; pedun-
cles 7-14 cm. long, exceeding the leaves; involucre of very short usually entire
bracts; involucel of usually entire bractlets shorter than the pedicels; rays about 20,
spreading, subequal, 1.5-4 cm. long; pedicels 15 to 20, spreading, 4-5 mm. long;
calyx teeth conspicuous, deltoid, acute to subacuminate, persistent; styles 1.5-3
mm. long; fruit ovoid, 2—4 mm. long, 2—3 mm. broad.
In swamps, boggy areas, savannahs and edge of moist woods in the e. half of
Tex., June-Oct; from N.C. to Ga., w. to Mo. and Tex.
Plants described as P. texense Coult. & Rose, formerly referred to P. costatum
by Mathias and Constance are considered by Easterly (Brittonia 9:144. 1957) to
be of possible hybrid origin, combining the fruit characteristics of P- Nuttallii with
the vegetative characteristics of P. capillaceum. The center of distribution appar-
ently is in Robertson County and the taxon is found through a large area of
eastern Texas in acid bogs and marsh land, flowering July to August.
3. Ptilimnium Nuttallii (DC.) Britt.
Plant 3-6 dm. high; leaves oblong, to 9 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, pinnately
decompound, the ultimate divisions filiform, usually 2 at a node on the rachis;
1243
-------
Fig. 590: Ptilimnium capillaceum: a, top and basal part of plant, x ',£; b, leaf from
central part of stem, x V[>; c, enlarged upper leaf; d, flower, x 20; e, fruit, x 16.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 591: Ptilimnium costatum: a, top of plant, x %; b, central part of stem, x
%; c, base of plant, x %; d, leaf, x 3; e, flower, x 5; f, fruit, x 5; g, one mericarp
viewed from center, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
peduncles 4-12 cm. long; involucre of filiform mostly entire bracts much shorter
than the rays; involucel of filiform entire bractlets shorter than the pedicels; rays
25 to 30, spreading, subequal, 15-35 mm. long; pedicels 25 to 30, spreading,
3-8 mm. long; calyx teeth conspicuous, linear-lanceolate, persistent; styles 0.5-1.5
mm. long, strongly recurved; fruit ovoid, 1—1.5 mm long, 1 mm. broad, the lateral
ribs inconspicuous, only slightly corky-thickened.
In moist sandy soil, in wet prairies and other moist places in Okla. (widespread)
and in the e. half of Tex., Apr.-July; from 111., s. to La. and w. to Kan. and Tex.
21. Cynosciadium DC.
A monotypic genus.
1. Cynosciadium digitatum DC. Fig. 592.
Plant slender, erect, caulescent, herbaceous, annual, 15 cm. high, dichotomously
branching in the inflorescence, from a fascicle of fibrous roots; basal leaves linear-
lanceolate, tapering at base, acute at apex, entire and septate, to 12 cm. long and
5 mm. wide; cauline leaves 3 to 5, palmately parted with narrow elongate divisions;
inflorescence of compound umbels, the peduncles (1.5-8 cm. long) axillary and
terminal; involucre and involucel usually lacking or the latter of a few linear
bractlets shorter than the pedicels; rays 2 to 10, unequal, slender, spreading-
ascending, 1-4 cm. long or some umbellets frequently sessile or proliferating;
pedicels 2 to 11, 5-20 mm. long, spreading-ascending; flowers white, the prominent
calyx teeth ovate, the stylopodium conic; carpophore bifid at the apex; fruit ovoid,
2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. broad, glabrous, prominently beaked at the apex,
rounded at the base, slightly compressed laterally or nearly terete, the narrow dor-
sal ribs prominent, the lateral ribs broadly corky-winged; oil tubes solitary in the
intervals and 2 on the commissure, the seed face plane.
In wet places in Okla. (LeFIore Co.) and the Coastal and Blackland prairies of
Tex., May-July; from Tex. n. to s. Mo. and e. to La.
22. Limnosciadium MATH. & CONST.
Plants low and diffuse to erect, slender, caulescent, branching, herbaceous,
annual, from a fascicle of fibrous roots; leaves entire and septate or pinnate with
narrow elongate divisions; inflorescence dichotomously branching, of compound
umbels, the peduncles axillary and terminal or some umbels sessile; involucre
lacking or of a few narrow entire bracts; involucel of several narrow entire bract-
lets shorter than the pedicels; rays few, unequal, spreading-ascending; flowers
white, the prominent calyx teeth ovate-lanceolate, the stylopodium conic; carpo-
phore shortly bifid at the apex; fruit oblong-oval to orbicular, rounded at apex
and base, slightly compressed dorsally, glabrous, the dorsal ribs filiform, the
lateral broadly corky-winged; oil tubes solitary in the intervals and 2 on the com-
missure, the seed face plane.
A genus of 2 species, inhabiting wet places in the south-central United States.
1. Plant erect or assurgent; calyx teeth 0.5 mm. or less long, attached well below
and shorter than the stylopodium; fruit oblong-oval, 2-4 mm. long,
1-2 mm. broad 1. L. pinnatum.
1. Plant low and diffuse; calyx teeth to 1.5 mm. long, attached shortly below and
equaling the stylopodium; fruit oval to orbicular, 2-3 mm. long, 2
mm. broad 2. L. pumilum
1. Limnosciadium pinnatum (DC.) Math. & Const. Fig. 593.
Plant erect or assurgent, 1-8 dm. high; basal leaves linear-lanceolate, acute at
the apex, tapering at the base, to 20 cm. long and 25 mm. wide, entire and septate
or pinnate, the terminal division elongate; cauline leaves pinnate or the lowest and
uppermost entire, with 2 to 9 linear to linear-lanceolate divisions, acute at both
1246
-------
Fig. 592: Cynosciadium digitatum: I, plant, x %; 2, fruit, side view, x 8; 3, fruit,
transverse section, x 8. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol.
3, PL 39).
-------
Fig. 593: Limnosciadiitm pinnatum: 1, plant, x V-i, 2, fruit, side view, x 12; 3, fruit.
transverse section, x 12. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Teras, Vol.
3, PI. 40).
-------
ends; peduncles 1-8 cm. long or some umbels sessile; involucre of several linear or
linear-lanceolate reflexed bracts 2-6 mm. long; involucel of several linear bractlets
1-5 mm. long; rays 3 to 12, slender, 5-35 mm. long; pedicels 4 to 20, 2-8 mm.
long; calyx teeth 0.5 mm. long or less, attached well below and shorter than the
stylopodium; fruit oblong-oval, 2-4 mm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, the dorsal ribs low,
the lateral corky wings slightly broader. Cynosciadium pinnatum DC.
In wet places, banks of ponds and lakes in Okla. (Comanche and LeFlore cos.)
and in the e. half of Tex., s. to the Rio Grande Plains, May-June; from Tex. and
La., n. to 111. and Kan.
2. Limnoscisdium pumilum (Engelm. & Gray) Math. & Const. Fig. 594.
Plant low and diffuse, 5-40 cm. high or long; basal leaves lanceolate to linear-
lanceolate, acute at the apex, tapering at the base, to 8 cm. long and 8 mm. wide,
entire and septate or pinnate, the terminal division elongate; cauline leaves pinnate
or entire, with 3 to 7 filiform to lanceolate divisions, acute at the apex, tapering
at the base; peduncles 5-75 mm. long or frequently some umbels sessile; involucre
lacking or of a few minute bracts; involucel of several linear to linear-lanceolate
bractlets 2-4 mm. long; rays 3 to 8, slender, 1-5 cm. long; pedicels several, 2-4
mm. long; calyx teeth to 1.5 mm. long, attached shortly below and about equaling
the stylopodium; fruit oval to orbicular, 2-3 mm. long, 2 mm. broad, the dorsal
ribs filiform, the lateral wings broad and corky. Cynosciadium pumilum (Engelm.
& Gray) Coult. & Rose.
In seeping meadows, bogs and other wet places in cen. and s. Tex., Mar.-June;
endemic.
23. Conioselinum HOFFM.
A genus of about 10 species of North America and Eurasia, mostly in boreal
or mountainous regions.
1. Conioselinum scopulorum (Gray) Coult. & Rose
Plants perennial from a cluster of fleshy roots, caulescent, nearly simple, 6-9
dm. high, more or less leafy, with puberulent inflorescence; lower leaves often very
large, twice- to thrice-ternate then once- or twice-pinnate; leaflets (sometimes
small) laciniately pinnatifid; upper leaves often ternate-pinnate or simply pinnately
compound; umbel of numerous rays, with involucels of several narrowly linear
elongated bractlets; rays (fruiting) 5-7.5 cm. long; pedicels 12 mm. long; flowers
white; calyx teeth obsolete; stylopodium conic; fruit about 6 mm. long; oil tubes
usually 1 in the dorsal intervals and 2 in the lateral, 2 to 4 on the commissural side.
In streams or on riverbanks in N. M. (Taos, Otero, San Juan, Bernalillo,
Socorro and Grant cos.), Ariz. (Navajo, Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.), Aug.-
Sept.; N.M., Ariz., Colo, and Ut. to e. Ore.
24. Angelica L.
A circumboreal genus of about 50 species.
1. Angelica pinnata Wats.
Perennial, glabrous or the leaves and inflorescences sometimes scabrous; stems
2.5-9 dm. high, rather slender; leaves once-pinnate or incompletely bipinnate;
leaflets lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-9 cm. long, sessile or nearly so, serrate to
rarely entire, some of the lower often lobed or nearly divided; cauline leaves with
rather conspicuously dilated petioles; peduncles exceeding the leaves; umbels com-
pound; involucre wanting or of sheathlike bracts; involucel wanting; rays 6 to 25,
ascending or spreading-ascending, unequal, the whole umbel somewhat flattened
above; pedicels 3-8 mm. long, spreading and ascending; flowers white or pinkish;
1249
-------
Fig. 594: Limnosciadium pumiliim: 1, plant, x 1; 2, fruit, side view, x 10; 3, fruit,
transverse section, x 10. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol.
3, PI. 41).
-------
stylopodium conic; fruit 3-6 mm. long, nearly orbicular, glabrate but hispidulous
when young, dorsal ribs narrowly winged, lateral ribs more broadly winged, these
nearly as wide as the body; oil tubes solitary in the intervals, sometimes in pairs,
2 to 4 on the commissure; seed face slightly concave, the seed remaining attached
to the pericarp.
In wet meadows, bogs and in wet mud in partial shade along streams in N. M.
(Taos, Rio Arriba and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.),
July-Aug.; n.w. Wyo., s. Mont., Ida., s. to n. N.M. and n. Ariz.
25. Oxypolis RAF. HOG-FENNEL
Plants slender, erect, caulescent, glabrous, herbaceous, perennial from fascicled
tubers; leaves simply pinnate to ternate or reduced to hollow acute septate phyl-
lodes; leaflets (when present) broad or narrow, serrate to incised, mostly distinct
and sessile; inflorescence of compound umbels, the peduncles terminal and axillary;
involucre of a few slender bracts or lacking; involucel similar to the involucre or
lacking; rays few to numerous, usually spreading-ascending, the slender pedicels
ascending to spreading; flowers white or purple, the calyx teeth prominent or
minute, the stylopodium conic; carpophore divided to the base; fruit oblong to
obovoid, strongly flattened dorsally, glabrous, the dorsal ribs filiform, the lateral
broadly thin-winged and nerved dorsally at the inner margin to give the appearance
of 5 filiform dorsal ribs; oil tubes large, solitary in the intervals, 2 to 6 on the
commissure, the seed face plane; strengthening cells beneath the dorsal ribs and the
nerves of the lateral wings.
A genus of about half a dozen species, chiefly of the eastern and southeastern
United States.
1. Leaves reduced to cylindrical or flattened entire septate phyllodes
1. O. filiformis.
1. Leaves pinnate; leaflets mostly toothed (2)
2(1). Leaflets entire or sharply-toothed; lateral wings broad; rays 15 to 45
2. O. rigidior.
2. Leaflets serrate to crenate-toothed; lateral wings narrow; rays 5 to 12
3. O. Fendleri.
1. Oxypolis filiformis (Wait.) Britt. Fig. 595.
Plant to 14 dm. high; leaves reduced to hollow septate phyllodes 2-6 dm. long;
peduncles 2-9 cm. long; involucre of several linear to lanceolate bracts 5-15 mm.
long; involucel of linear to lanceolate bractlets 2-4 mm. long; rays 8 to 14, spread-
ing, slightly unequal, 2-4.5 cm. long; pedicels spreading, 5-10 mm. long; calyx
teeth conspicuous; fruit oval or obovoid, 5-8 mm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, the lateral
wings thinner than the body.
Wet places in the Timber Belt and the Blackland and Coastal prairies, July-Sept.;
from Va. s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.; also Bah. I. and Cuba.
2. Oxypolis rigidior (L.) Raf. COWBANE, WATER-DROPWORT. Fig. 596.
Plant 6-15 dm. high; leaves oval to triangular or lanceolate, to 30 cm. long and
25 cm. wide, pinnate; leaflets 5 to 9, lanceolate or linear, remotely salient-dentate
or entire; peduncles 6-30 cm. long; involucre of a few linear bracts 1-2 cm. long;
involucel of a few linear bractlets 3-5 mm. long; rays 15 to 45, spreading, subequal,
3-12 cm. long; pedicels spreading, 5-15 mm. long; calyx teeth conspicuous; fruit
oval or oblong, 4—7 mm. long, 2.5-4 mm. broad.
Along streams and in other wet places in Okla. (Waterfall) and in Tex. in the
Timber Belt and the Blackland and Coastal prairies, Aug.-Oct.; from N.Y., s. to
S.C., w. to Minn, and Tex.
1251
-------
Fig. 595: Oxypolls filiformis: a, habit, about x %; b, section of phyllode sheath and
stem, about x 1; c, enlarged section near base of sheath; d, enlarged section at apex of
sheath; e, enlarged section of phyllode; f, flower, enlarged; g, fruit showing mericarps
attached to carpophore, x 3; h, fruit from dorsal side showing filiform ribs, x 3.
(Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
3. Oxypolis Fendleri (Gray) Heller. Fig. 597.
Glabrous caulescent perennial, 3-6 dm. high, from fascicled tubers; leaves with
dilated sheaths, oblong in outline, simply pinnate, 5- to 9-foliate; leaflets broadly
ovate to narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, crenate-dentate or incisely serrate, rarely
incised, 2.5-5 cm. long; peduncles 8-20 cm. long; inflorescence of loose compound
umbels; rays unequal, 5 to 12, 1-3.5 cm. long; involucre and involucels wanting;
calyx teeth conspicuous; corolla white or purple; stylopodium conic; fruit oblong
or oval, about 4 mm. long, glabrous, strongly compressed dorsally, the dorsal ribs
filiform, the lateral ones broadly thin-winged, the oil tubes large and solitary in the
intervals (2 to 4 on the commissure), the seed face plane.
In water of small streams, bogs or streamsides in partial shade in Ariz. (Apache
Co.) and N. M. (Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Socorro cos.), June-
Aug.; Wyo. to N.M., s.e. Ut. and Ariz.
26. Heracleum L. COW-PARSNIP
A circumboreal genus of about 60 species, only one native to North America.
1. Heracleum lanatum Michx. MASTERWORT. Fig. 598.
Coarse rank-smelling pilose to lanate perennial, 1-2.5 m. high, with fistulose
ribbed stems; leaves pinnately or ternately divided (especially above); leaf seg-
ments palmately cleft or parted, ovate, those of the upper leaves 1-2 dm. long,
serrate; petiole sheaths conspicuously expanded, 2-5 cm. wide when spread out;
umbels compound, axillary and terminal; peduncles tomentose to villous, 5-25 cm.
long; involucral bracts linear, 1-2 cm. long, deciduous; rays usually 20 to 30,
spreading to ascending, 3-10 cm. long; involucel similar to involucre; pedicels
7-18 mm. long; petals white, unequal, those of the perfect flowers ligulate to
obovate, lobed or bifid, 3-9 mm. long, those of the staminate flowers smaller,
more regular; fruit puberulent or glabrate, obovate, 8-12 mm. long; mericarps
strongly flattened dorsally, the 4 brown oil tubes clearly visible on the dorsal sur-
face. H. maximum Bartr.
Meadows, stream banks and other wet areas in Ariz. (Graham, Pima, Apache"
and Navajo cos.) and N. M. (Coifax, Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel and Santa
Fe cos.), June-Aug.; widely distributed in U.S. and Can.
27. Eryngium L. ERYNGO
Plants creeping to erect, caulescent or acaulescent, usually glabrous, herbaceous,
annual, biennial or perennial from stout taproots or rootstocks bearing fibrous roots;
leaves coriaceous or membranaceous, entire to pinnately or palmately lobed to
divided, often ciliate to spinose, the venation parallel or reticulate, the petioles
sheathing and sometimes septate; inflorescence capitate, the heads solitary or in
cymes or racemes; involucre of one or more series of entire or lobed bracts sub-
tending the head; involucel of entire or lobed bractlets subtending the flowers;
flowers white to purple, sessile; sepals ovate to lanceolate, obtuse to acute, entire
or rarely spinescent, persistent; stylopodium lacking; carpophore lacking; fruit glo-
bose to obovoid, scarcely compressed laterally, variously covered with scales or
tubercles, the ribs obsolete, the commissure broad; oil tubes mostly 5, inconspicu-
ous; seed face plane or slightly concave.
A genus of more than 200 species, in the temperate and warmer parts of the
world, with important centers of development in Brazil-Paraguay, Mexico, western
Asia, the Mediterranean region, and southeastern and western United States.
1. Leaves parallel-veined; plants with a monocotyledonous habit (2)
1. Leaves reticulate-veined; plants not monocotyledonoid (4)
1253
-------
2(1). Leaves with numerous marginal setae (3)
2. Leaves with no (or very few) marginal setae 1. E. sparganophyllum.
3(2). Leaves 10-30 mm. broad, the marginal setae usually solitary; bracts ovate-
lanceolate 2. E. yuccifolium var. yuccifoHum.
3. Leaves 5-10 mm. broad, the marginal setae usually in groups of 2 to 4; bracts
linear-lanceolate 3. E. yuccifolium var. synchaetum.
4(1). Cauline leaves conspicuously spinulose-pungent; bracts mostly broad, vari-
ously spinose-toothed, rarely entire, pungent (5)
4. Cauline leaves entire to pinnatifid, not spinulose-pungent; bracts very narrow,
sometimes pungent-tipped, entire or occasionally with 3 to 5 spiny
teeth (7)
5(4). Inflorescence a single head (rarely more); basal leaves on long petioles
4. E. phyteumae.
5. Inflorescence cymosely or paniculately branched (6)
6(5). Bracts bicolored, green or bluish beneath, yellow-white above
5. E. heterophyllum.
6. Bracts greenish above and below, not bicolored 6. E, Hookeri.
7(4). Plant erect; lower bractlets tricuspidate; basal leaves usually cordate
7. E. integrifolium.
1. Plants prostrate to ascending; bractlets entire; basal leaves not cordate (8)
8(7). Heads in a terminal branched inflorescence, subsessile, many-flowered;
bractlets exceeding the fruit 8. E. nasturtiifolium.
8. Heads solitary, on filiform peduncles, few-flowered; bractlets shorter than the
fruit 9. E. prostratum.
1. Eryngium sparganophyllum Hemsl.
Slender caulescent glabrous perennials, 4-12 dm. high; stems solitary to several,
_erect; basal leaves numerous, linear to linear-lanceolate, 1-9 dm. long, 5-15 mm.
wide, broadest at base, attenuate at apex, entire or obsoletely spinulose-dentate
with teeth 2 mm. long or less, axillary spines absent, venation parallel; cauline
leaves few and reduced; inflorescence branching; heads ovoid or ovoid-oblong,
15-25 mm. long, 10-15 mm. broad; bracts 8 to 12, much shorter than heads;
bractlets 5 mm. long, slightly exceeding fruit; coma wanting; fruit ovoid, 3-4 mm.
long.
Wet seeps and marshy ground, Ariz. (Pima Co.), e. into N.M. (Grant Co.), s.
into Mex.
2. Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. var. yuccifolium. RATTLESNAKE-MASTER, BUTTON
SNAKE-ROOT.
Plants stout, glabrous, 3-18 dm. high, perennial from a fascicle of tuberous
woody roots; stems slender, solitary, branching above; basal leaves rigid, broadly
linear, to 10 dm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, acute, remotely bristly with solitary (or
occasionally 2 or more) bristles, the venation parallel; sheaths short; cauline leaves
like the basal, reduced above; inflorescence cymosely branched, the pedunculate
heads large, the flowers numerous; heads globose-ovoid, 1-2.5 cm. in diameter;
bracts 6 to 10, spreading-ascending, ovate-lanceolate, to 15 mm. long, cuspidate,
mostly entire, shorter than the heads; bractlets like the bracts, entire or minutely
serrulate, exceeding the fruit; coma wanting; sepals ovate, obtuse,
-------
Fig. 596: Oxypolis rigidior: a, top of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant, x %; c
and d, showing variation in shape of leaflets, x %; e, flower, x 5; f, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 597: Oxypolls Fendlcri: a, top of plant, x V>; b, basal part of plant, x V'l c-
leaf, x !•>; d, fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
In water of ditches, swales and ponds and in open prairies in Okla. (Ottawa and
Pushmataha cos.), Tex. in the Timber Belt and the Coastal and Blackland prairies,
May-Aug.; from Conn., s. to Fla., w. to Minn., Kan. and Tex.
3. Eryngium yuccifolium var. synchaetum Coult. & Rose.
Plants slender; basal leaves to 35 cm. long and 1 cm. wide, remotely spinulose-
setose, with the weak setae in groups of 2 to 4 and to 1 cm. long; heads subglobose,
1-1.5 cm. in diameter; bracts 6 to 9, spreading or reflexed, linear-lanceolate, to 1
cm. long, entire or few-toothed; bractlets like the bracts but broader, about 5 mm.
long, entire, exceeding the fruit; sepals acute; petals oblong, 1.5 mm. long. E. syn-
chaetum (Coult. & Rose) Coult. & Rose.
In water of depression, wet savannahs in pine woodlands, in Okla. (Waterfall),
Tex. in the Timber Belt and in the Blackland and Coastal prairies, July-Aug.; from
Ga. and Fla., w. to Tex. and Okla.
Var. synchaetum is distinguishable from var. yuccifolium, if at all, with diffi-
culty; it may be an ecological variant, but it requires further study.
4. Eryngium phyteumae Delar.
Stem erect, slender, 3-6 dm. high, bearing a single head (rarely more); basal
leaves on very long petioles, oblong to narrowly oblanceolate, thin, slightly cre-
nate; stem leaves few, sessile, linear-lanceolate, acutely or spinosely toothed; head
ovate-oblong, about 12 mm. long, with involucre of numerous linear-lanceolate
spinose-tipped bracts (white within and green without) longer than the heads and
entire or sparingly spinose-toothed, and a conspicuous terminal tuft of exserted
bractlets resembling the bracts; ordinary bractlets narrow, with a long spinose
acumination; fruit with ovate abruptly cuspidate-tipped calyx lobes and long
slender styles.
In water, in low places and cienagas, s. Ariz. (Cochise Co.), southw. into Mex.,
Sept.
5. Eryngium heterophyUum Engelm. MEXICAN-THISTLE
Plants rather stout, caulescent, glabrous, 2-6 dm. high, perennial from a stout
taproot, the stems erect and branching; basal leaves rosulate, narrowly oblanceo-
late to oblong-oval, to 12 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, cuneate, acute or obtuse,
those of the sterile rosettes setose-dentate, the fertile leaves spinose-serrate to
pinnatifid or bipinnatisect, the teeth or lobes acute, pungent, callous-margined, the
venation pinnately reticulate; petioles narrowly winged, sheathing at the base,
shorter than the blades; cauline leaves numerous, like the basal, the lower
pinnatifid or bipinnatisect, the upper leaves opposite, sessile and palmately parted;
inflorescence paniculately branched, the numerous pedunculate heads rather small,
the flowers numerous; heads ovoid, blue to white, 7-15 mm. long, 5-10 mm.'
broad; bracts 8 to 14, rigid, spreading-ascending, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate,
to 25 mm. long and 5 mm. wide, pungent or acuminate, with 1 or 2 pairs of
spinose teeth or entire, green or bluish beneath and yellowish-white above, exceed-
ing or occasionally shorter than the heads; bractlets subulate, 3-5 mm. long,
entire, curved, exceeding the fruit; coma of 1 to 4 entire bractlets 5-15 mm. long
or occasionally obsolete; sepals ovate, about 1 mm. long, obtuse or truncate and
apiculate; styles slender, exceeding the sepals; fruit globose, 1.5-2.5 mm. in
diameter, with flat scales below the sepals and on the upper angles, the faces
papillate.
In sandy soil along creek and rivers, Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and e. Pima
cos.), N. M. (Grant Co.) and in Tex. in mts. of Trans-Pecos, Aug.-Oct.; from
w. Tex. w. to Ariz. s. to Oax.
1257
-------
Fig. 598: Hcracleum lanatum; a, leaf, x V>; b, top of plant, x y>; c, flower, x 5; d,
fruit, x 5, e, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 599: Eryngium Hookeri: 1, plant, x %; 2, fruit and calyx, side view, x 6; 3.
fruit, transverse section, x 6. (From Mathias & Constance in Lundell's Flora of Texas.
Vol. 3, PI. 54).
-------
6. Eryngium Hookeri Walp. Fig. 599.
Plants slender, caulescent, glabrous, 3-6 dm. high, annuals from fascicled
fibrous roots, the erect stems solitary and branched above; basal leaves obovate
to oblong-lanceolate, 6-9 cm. long, 2-3 cm. wide, acute, somewhat serrate or
dentate, the venation reticulate; petioles slender, sheathing at the base; lower
cauline leaves nearly sessile, lanceolate, laciniately toothed and spinulose with a
pair of small laciniate segments at the base; upper cauline leaves ovate, palmately
divided with 5 to 7 oblong laciniate or pinnatifid spinulose lobes 2-3 cm. long;
inflorescence cymosely branched, the pedunculate heads rather large, the flowers
numerous; heads amethystine, ovoid to cylindric-ovoid, 8-15 mm. in diameter;
bracts numerous, rigid, linear-lanceolate, 1-2 cm. long, spinulose-serrate, broadly
winged at the base, exceeding the heads; bractlets lanceolate, 4-6 mm. long,
pungent, entire, exceeding the fruit; coma of a few elongate bractlets or wanting;
sepals ovate-lanceolate, 2 mm. long, pungent-acuminate; styles shorter than the
sepals; fruit 1-2 mm. long, densely covered with flat tawny scales to 0.5 mm.
long.
In moist or wet limy soil in the Coastal and Blackland prairies of Tex., July-
Sept.; also La.
7. Eryngium integrifolium Walt. Fig. 600.
Plants slender, caulescent, glabrous, 3-8 dm. high, perennial from a fascicle
of tuberous or fleshy-fibrous roots, the erect stems solitary and branching above;
basal leaves oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, to 6 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide,
usually cordate at the base, obtuse, entire to shallowly crenate, the venation
reticulate; petioles sheathing at the base, lower cauline leaves like the basal but
short-petiolate to sessile, the uppermost leaves linear to oblanceolate or ovate,
acute, usually spinulose-serrate or rarely laciniate or subentire; inflorescence
branched, the pedunculate heads rather small, the flowers numerous; heads
amethystine, ovoid to globose, 5-15 mm. in diameter; bracts 6 to 10, rigid, linear,
1-2 cm. long, entire or usually with 3 to 5 spiny teeth, exceeding the heads;
bractlets tricuspidate, 3 mm. long, exceeding the fruit; coma lacking; sepals
lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm. long, mucronate; styles slender, exceeding the sepals; fruit
about 2 mm. long, the angles densely covered with rows of lanceolate white
scales 0.5-1 mm. long, the surfaces usually scaleless.
In moist woods and bogs in Okla. (Waterfall) and in the Timber Belt and the
Coastal and Blackland prairies of Tex., Aug.-Oct.; from N.C., s. to Fla. and w.
to Tex. and Okla.
8. Eryngium nasrurtiifolium Juss. HIERBA DEL SAPO.
Plants prostrate, ascending or rarely erect, 1-3 dm. high or long, glabrous,
biennial or perennial from a fascicle of fibrous roots or a slender taproot, the
leafy stems several and branched from the base; basal leaves spatulate to oblanceo-
late, to 10 cm. long, 1-3 cm. wide, cuneate, coarsely dentate to runcinate-
pinnatifid, the teeth or lobes mucronulate or spinose, the venation reticulate;
petioles broad, winged; cauline leaves like the basal, spinose-dentate or spinose
pinnatifid; inflorescence divaricately trifurcate or cymose, the lateral branches
often elongated and continuous to form a monochasium, the small heads numerous
and nearly sessile, the flowers numerous; heads ovoid to ovoid-cylindric, to 15
mm. long and 8 mm. broad; bracts 5 to 9, rigid, spreading, subulate to linear-
lanceolate, 8-20 mm. long, entire, pungent, about equaling the heads; bractlets
lanceolate to obovate, 4-9 mm. long, broadly scarious-margined at the base,
entire, exceeding the fruit; coma of several short bractlets 3-7 mm. long, resem-
bling the bracts; sepals ovate, 1-1.5 mm. long, obtuse or acute, mucronulate, serru-
1260
-------
Je
Fig. 600: Eryngium integrifolium: a, habit, x %; b, leaves to show variation; c,
flower with bractlet, x 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
late toward the apex; styles shorter than to exceeding the sepals: fruit ovoid-
globose, 2-3 mm. long, densely covered with elliptic to linear white or fiavescent
scales to 2 mm. long.
In moist heavy, usually wet soil in the Tex. Rio Grande Plains, Mar.-July;
Tex., Mex. and Cuba.
9. Eryngium prostratum DC. Fig. 589.
Plants low, prostrate or ascending, glabrous, 1.5-7 dm. high, perennial from
a fascicle of fibrous roots, the stems very slender and simple or somewhat
branched above; basal leaves ovate to lanceolate, to 55 mm. long and 25 mm.
wide, simple or palmately lobed, the margins entire or irregularly and remotely
dentate, the venation reticulate; petioles slender; cauline leaves like the basal,
reduced, clustered at the nodes, sessile above; inflorescence of elongated mono-
chasia bearing small numerous heads on filiform axillary peduncles, the flowers
few; heads often blue, ovoid to ovoid-cylindric, to 9 mm. long and 4 mm. broad;
bracts 5 to 10, foliaceous, reflexed, lanceolate, to 12 mm. long, acute, equaling
the heads; bractlets narrowly subulate, about 1 mm. long, acute, shorter than
the fruit; coma lacking; sepals ovate to semiorbicular, about 0.8 mm. long, obtuse,
mucronulate; styles exceeding the sepals; fruit subglobose, 2 mm. in diameter,
sparsely covered with low white tubercles.
In wet ditches, swales or moist soil in Okla. (McCurtain, LeFlore and Push-
mataha cos.), and in Tex. in the Timber Belt and the Coastal and Blackland
prairies, May-Sept.; from S.C., s. to Fla. and w. to Ky., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
Fam. 99. Cornaceae DUM. DOGWOOD FAMILY
Shrubs to large trees; leaves alternate or opposite, simple, entire or nearly so,
without stipules; flowers regular, small, perfect or unisexual, 4- or 5-merous; calyx
small or obsolete; petals (when present) 4 or 5; stamens 4 or as many as 12 in two
series; filaments elongate; anthers introrse; pistil 1; styles 1 or 2; ovary inferior,
1- or 2-celled; fruit a drupe.
About 120 species in 14 genera, chiefly in the North Temperate Zone but also
in the tropics of both hemispheres.
1. Large trees, mostly above 10 m. in height, leaves alternate; stamens 5 or more....
1. Nyssa
1. Shrubs or small trees, mostly less than 5 m. in height; leaves opposite; sta-
mens 4 2. Cornus
1. Nyssa L. TUPELO. SOUR-GUM
Trees with simple alternate deciduous leaves and greenish or greenish-white
flowers borne at the summit of axillary peduncles; leaves entire or rarely slightly
toothed, often crowded near tip of branchlets; flowers perfect or unisexual; stami-
nate flowers numerous, the calyx small and 5-parted, the small fleshy petals soon
deciduous or entirely lacking; stamens 5 to 12, inserted on the outer edge of a
convex disk; pistillate flowers solitary or as many as 8, sessile in a bracted cluster,
much larger than the staminate flowers; style simple, elongate; ovary 1-celled; fruit
an ovoid to ellipsoid 1-seeded drupe.
A small genus of about 10 species in North America and Asia. Placed by some
authors in the segregate family Nyssaceae.
1. Leaves usually much more than 1 dm. long, mucronate; staminate flowers sessile
in a capitule; pistillate flowers solitary; fruits 20 mm. or more long;
endocarp wing-ridged 1. N. aquatica.
1262
-------
Fig. 601: Nyssa aquatica: branchlet with fruit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 602: a-d, Cornus slolonifera: a, end of branch in flower, x V-i', b, flower, x 5:
c, end of branch with fruit, x ij; d, fruit, x 2''>. e, Nvssa sylvatica: e, end of branch
with fruit, x }?. (V. F.).
-------
1. Leaves usually less than 1 dm. long, not mucronate; staminate flowers pedicel-
late in an umbel or congested raceme; pistillate flowers 2 or more
on a peduncle; fruits less than 15 mm. long; endocarp smooth or
obtusely ridged (2)
2(1). Leaves obovate to broadly elliptic, typically about 2 times as long as broad,
usually thin-textured, when young with a densely long-pilose petiole
2. N. sylvatica var. sylvatica.
2. Leaves mostly linear to oblanceolate, typical 3 times as long as broad, usually
leathery, the petiole subglabrous or only sparsely short-pilose
2. N. sylvatica var. biflora.
1. Nyssa aquatica L. TUPELO, COTTON-GUM. Fig. 601.
Large tree to 30 m. or more tall, with the trunk somewhat swollen at base;
leaves with petioles to 6 cm. long, ovate to broadly oblong-elliptic, cuneate or
sometimes slightly cordate at base, rather abruptly acute to acuminate and mucro-
nate at apex, to 3 dm. long and 1 dm. broad, pale and usually downy-pubescent on
lower surface; fruit ellipsoid, bluish. N. uniflora Wang.
In inundated swamps and along sluggish streams in e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from
Va., s. Ind., s. 111. and Mo., s. to Fla. and Tex.
The source of an excellent honey.
2. Nyssa sylvatica Marsh, var. sylvatica. BLACK-GUM, SOUR-GUM, PEPPERIDGE.
Fig. 602.
Rather large trees to 30 m. tall, with horizontally spreading branches; leaves
with petioles to 2 cm. long, broadly rounded to abruptly acuminate at apex, lus-
trous on upper surface, smooth and glabrate or eventually glabrous on lower surface,
to 14 cm. long and 7 cm. broad; fruiting peduncle usually more than 3 cm. long;
fruits somewhat acid. Incl. var. dilatata Fern, and var. caroliniana (Poir.) Fern.
In swamps, low woods and sandy open woodlands in e. Tex. and e. Okla.
(Waterfall), Apr .-May; from Me., s. to Okla., Mo., Fla. and Tex.; also Mex.
Var. biflora (Walt.) Sarg. BLACK-GUM.
Large trees to 35 m. tall, with the base of the trunk swollen when submersed;
leaves rounded to acute at apex, glabrous or nearly so, to 12 cm. long or more and
rarely to 4 cm. broad; fruiting peduncle usually less than 3 cm. long; fruits bitterish.
N. biflora Walt.
In periodically inundated swamps, low wet woods and along streams in e. Tex.,
Mar.-Apr.; from Del. and Md., s. to Fla. and Tex.
The fruits are eaten by many different songbirds, ducks and game birds as well
as by most mammals, and deer and beaver eat the vegetative parts.
2. Cornus L. DOGWOOD. CORNEL
Shrubs or small trees with opposite (in ours) deciduous leaves and small flowers
in open cymes or close heads; flowers perfect; calyx minutely 4-toothed; petals 4,
oblong-elliptic, obtuse, spreading; stamens 4, the filaments slender; style slender;
stigma flat or capitate; fruit a small drupe, with a 2-celled and usually 2-seeded
stone.
About 40 species in the North Temperate Zone.
The fruits of these species are eaten by various birdlife, wildfowl and game birds
as well as by small mammals, while the vegetative parts are eaten by deer, beaver
and various other small mammals.
1. Distribution in New Mexico and Arizona 1. C. stolonifera.
1. Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas eastward (2)
2(1). Cymes elongate, laxly paniculate; pedicels usually bright-red; branches gray-
ish; fruit white or creamy-white at maturity 2. C. racemosa.
2. Cymes broad, compact, flat or only slightly rounded across the top (3)
1265
-------
3(2). Leaves more or less scabrous on upper surface, pilose-woolly on lower sur-
face; pith usually brown; fruits white at maturity..3. C. Drummondii.
3. Leaves glabrous or nearly so; pith white; fruits bluish at maturity
4. C. foemina.
1. Cornus stolonifera Michx. RED-OSIER DOGWOOD. Fig. 602.
Shrub 2-5 m. tall, erect, with reddish or purplish branches; pith white; leaves
deciduous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, shortly acute, 3-10 cm. long, the upper sur-
face dark-green and glabrate, the lower lighter green surface with prominent veins
and microscopically puberulent with appressed straight 2-branched hairs; cymes
2-5 cm. across, their peduncles and branches sparsely to densely pubescent; flowers
whitish, appearing after leaves; style glabrous; mature drupe subglobose, white to
bluish, the stone 4-5 mm. wide and smooth or furrowed.
Wet soil about springs, along streams and on wet seepy slopes, often with wil-
lows and alders, in N.M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino,
s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), May-July; Can. and Alas., s. to D.C., N.M., Ariz.
and Calif.
2. Cornus racemosa Lam.
Shrub or small tree to 5 m. high often forming thickets, the slender twigs reddish,
soon becoming grayish, the pith usually pale-brown; leaves narrowly ovate or
lanceolate to elliptic, mostly 4-8 cm. long, to about 4 cm. wide, abruptly long-
acuminate, cuneate at base, papillose and somewhat whitened beneath, minutely
appressed-strigillose on both sides; lateral veins 3 or 4 on each side; inflorescences
often numerous, usually paniculiform, to 6 cm. long; pedicels and branchlets red-
dish; fruit at first lead-color, becoming white with maturity, 5-7 mm. high, the
stone obliquely subglobose. C. candidissima Marsh., non Mill.
In moist or wet soil on seepage slopes, in swamps, thickets and on stream banks
in open woodlands in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Apr.-June; from
Me. to Man., s. to Fla. and Tex.
3. Cornus Drummondii C. A. Mey. ROUGH-LEAF DOGWOOD.
Shrubs or small trees to 5 m. tall; branchlets gray or sometimes dark-brown or
reddish, the pith brownish; leaves with petioles to 15 mm. long, ovate to elliptic-
lanceolate, usually abruptly acuminate-attenuate at apex, to 10 cm. long and 6 cm.
wide, more or less scabrous on upper surface, pilose-woolly on lower surface with
the hairs mostly spreading; cymes (or corymbs) round-topped, pubescent, to about
75 mm. across; flowers white or creamy-white, somewhat malodorous; corolla
cylindric in bud; petals 3.5-5.5 mm. long; fruits white, 5-6 mm. in diameter, the
stone globose. C. asperifolia of auth.
In damp woodlands and thickets, swamp at head of lakes and seepage areas,
occasionally on dry hills, in e. half of Tex. and Okla. (Jefferson and Woodward
cos.), Apr.-June; from e. Va., s. Ind. and s.e. Mo. and Okla., s. to Fla. and Tex.
4. Cornus foemina Mill. ENGLISH DOGWOOD.
Shrub or small tree to 4 m. tall; branchlets reddish or brown, smooth, the pith
usually- white; leaves with petioles 1 cm. or less long, broadly lanceolate to nar-
rowly ovate-elliptic, tapering to a narrow elongate tip, to about 10 cm. long and
4 cm. wide, glabrous or nearly so, dark-green on upper surface, paler on lower
surface; cymes round-topped, open; flowers creamy-white; corollas subcylindric in
bud; anthers bluish; fruits bluish, about 5 mm. in diameter, the stone longer than
broad and slightly furrowed. C. stricta Lam., Svida stricta (Lam.) Small.
Swamps, seepage bogs and low wet woodlands in e. Tex., May-June; from Ind.
and Va., s. to Fla., La. and Tex.
1266
-------
Fam. 100. Clethraceae KL. WHITE ALDER FAMILY
Shrubs with alternate serrate deciduous leaves, simple or stellate hairs and very
fragrant flowers in crowded terminal simple or paniculate racemes; flowers regular,
hypogynous, polypetalous, 5-merous; disk none; sepals separate, imbricate in bud;
stamens 10, the filaments elongate; anthers sagittate, extrorse in bud, their sacs
opening by pores at base and inverted at anthesis; ovary superior, 3-celled; syle
3-cleft near summit; capsule globose, 3-valved, the valves 2-cleft at maturity,
many-seeded, enclosed in the persistent calyx.
Only one genus.
1. Clethra L. SWEET PEPPER-BUSH. WHITE ALDER
Characters those of the family. Consisting of about 120 species that are found
mainly in Asia and tropical America; also in temperate America and Madeira.
1. Clethra alnifolia L. Fig. 603.
Shrub to 3 m. tall; leaves 5-12 cm. long, obovate-elliptic to cuneate-obovate or
occasionally elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to shortly acuminate at apex, tapering to a
petiole to 2 cm. long, sharply serrate above the middle, nearly entire below the
middle, straight-veined; racemes erect, to 2 dm. long, densely short-pubescent; the
deciduous bracts shorter than the flowers; flowers on short-pubescent pedicels 2-5
mm. long; calyx lobes triangular-ovate, acute, short-pubescent; petals white, oblong-
obovate, about 8 mm. long; filaments glabrous; style slender; capsule pubescent,
about 3 mm. in diameter, erect or ascending.
In swamps, about lakes and in wet woods and thickets in s.e. Tex., July-Sept.;
from Me. s. to Fla. and Tex.
In some regions this species is known as "poor man's soap"—the flowers when
crushed in water form a lather.
Fam. 101. Ericaceae Juss. HEATH FAMILY
Shrubs, trees or rarely herbs or vines, evergreen or deciduous; leaves simple,
alternate, or rarely opposite or whorled, exstipulate, leathery to thin-herbaceous,
entire or serrate; flowers perfect, regular or irregular, usually in racemes or pani-
cles, rarely solitary; calyx of 4 to 7 distinct or partially united sepals, usually per-
sistent; corolla of 4 to 7 distinct or united petals, commonly funnelform, campanu-
late or urceolate; stamens hypogynous, twice as many as the corolla lobes; anthers
bilocular, often appendaged, dehiscing by "apical" slits, clefts or pores; style single,
the stigma minute and discoid; fruit a loculicidal or septicidal capsule, drupe or
berry.
Perhaps 2,000 species in about 75 genera nearly world-wide in distribution. A
great many ornamental species occur in this family primary of which are the
rhododendrons.
1. Ovary inferior; fruit a juicy berry crowned by the persistent calyx teeth
1. Vaccinium
1. Ovary superior; fruit a dry capsule (2)
2(1). Corolla funnelform, elongate, the tube more or less glandular-stipitate;
capsule ellipsoid-conic, septicidal 2. Rhododendron
2. Corolla urceolate, ovoid or cylindric, short, nonglandular; capsule subglobose
to ovoid, loculicidal (3)
1267
-------
Fig. 603: Clethra alnifo/ia: a, habit, x \fa b, inner surface of sepal, x 5; c, inner
surface of petal with stamens, x 5; d, young style and stigmas, x 5; e, capsule with part
of calyx removed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
3(2). Inflorescence clearly elongate, racemose; sepals imbricate (at least in bud);
capsule ovoid, truncate, the margins not differentiated..3. Leucothoe
3. Inflorescence of corymbose clusters in axils of leaves or bracts of the same or
preceding season; sepals valvate or separated even in bud; capsule
subglobose-compressed, the carpel midrib not differentiated
4. Lyonia
1. Vaccinium L. BLUEBERRY
Shrubs or small trees; leaves alternate, entire to serrate; flowers usually solitary,
in clusters or racemes; corolla variously shaped, the limb 4- or 5-cleft; stamens 8
or 10; anthers awned on back or awnless, the cells opening by a terminal pore;
berry 4- or 5-celled, many-seeded, sometimes 8- or 10-celled by false partitions
extending from the back of each cell to the placenta, edible in most species.
A large genus of polymorphic species that are represented throughout the world.
The edible fruits of several species provide the "blueberry" of the market place.
The fruit of these plants, a much-appreciated item in the human diet, is one of
the most important foods for songbirds, some game birds and animal life. The
plants are also browsed by deer, rabbits and domestic stock. The species are
worthy of cultivation, not only to attract and feed wildlife but because of their
ornamental attractiveness.
1. Flowers on specialized lateral branches, subtended by foliaceous bracts (2)
1. Flowers not on specialized branches, usually at the first nodes of a normal
leafy branch (3)
2(1). Bracts of inflorescence conspicuously smaller than the foliage leaves, rarely
more than 1 cm. wide; mature leaves rarely less than 5 cm. long
1. V. stamineum.
2. Bracts of inflorescence one half to nearly as large as the foliage leaves, 1-2 cm.
wide; mature leaves to 5 cm. long 2. V. caesium.
3(1). Lower surface of leaves bearing small glandular hairs (4)
3. Lower surface of leaves nonglandular (5)
4(3). Plants mostly less than 10 dm. high; leaves 3-4.5 (rarely 5) cm. long;
corolla 6-9 mm. long 3. V. virgatum.
4. Plants 15 dm. or more high; leaves 4-5 (rarely 6.5) cm. long; corolla 9-12 mm.
long 4. V. amoenum.
5(3). Leaves serrate, rarely more than 3 cm. long 5. V Elliottii.
5. Leaves entire, rarely less than 5 cm. long 6. V. arkansanum.
1. Vaceinium stamineum L. DEERBERRY, SQUAW-HUCKLEBERRY.
Diffusely branched shrub to 3 m. high, commonly stoloniferous, the young
branchlets and leaves more or less pubescent to essentially glabrous; leaves sub-
sessile or with a petiole to 3 mm. long, ovate or oblong-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate
or elliptic-oblanceolate, subcordate to rounded or cuneate at base, obtuse to acute
and apiculate at apex, to 9 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, pale, often glaucous or
whitened beneath; flowers 6-10 mm. long, in loose bracted racemes, pendulous on
filiform pedicels about 1 cm. long; floral bracts similar to but usually much smaller
than the foliage leaves, obtuse to acute, usually much less than 1 cm. wide; calyx
glabrous or the lobes marginally ciliate; corolla white to greenish-white or purplish,
open-campanulate, with 5 spreading lobes; anthers much-exserted, their awns much
snorter than the tubular tips; berry juicy, tough-skinned, greenish to amber-color,
sometimes purple or blue, with or without bloom, about 1 cm. in diameter, drop-
ping promply; seeds soft. Polycodium stamineum (L.) Greene.
In sandy or clayey soils in pinelands, mixed forests, wet savannahs and bottom-
lands in Okla. (Waterfall) and s.e. Tex., rarely on wooded bluffs in n.e. Tex.
1269
-------
(Bowie Co.), Mar .-May; from Tex. to Fla., n. to Mass., N.Y., s. Ont., O., Ind.
and Mo.
This is a highly variable species and, east of Texas, a number of segregates have
been proposed based on the presence or lack of pubescence and glaucousness of the
leaves, stems, hypanthium and calyx. Most of these unstable variants can probably
be found in our flora but they are scarcely worth recognizing.
2. Vaccinium caesium Greene.
Small shrubs mostly less than 5 dm. high, pubescent to glabrate; leaves green or
somewhat whitened beneath, typically oblong-elliptic, rounded to subcordate at
base, usually bluntly obtuse-apiculate at apex, to 5 cm. long; bracts of inflorescence
similar in shape to foliage leaves and one half to nearly as long as them, 1-2 cm.
wide, noticeably exceeding the pedicels.
In wettish savannahs and open pine-hardwood forests in e. Tex., rare, Mar-
Apr.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to W.Va. and Pa.
This dubious species is distinguished from V. stamineum solely in having small,
bluntly rounded foliage leaves, and bracts of the racemes 1-2 cm. wide and one
half to nearly as large as the foliage leaves.
3. Vaccinium virgatum Ait.
Shrubs in rather extensive colonies, rarely more than 1 m. high; leaves decidu-
ous, green, the lower surface conspicuously glandular, pubescent along the midrib
or sometimes glabrous, spatulate to oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, narrowly
cuneate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, usually 3-4.5 (sometimes 5) cm. long
and 1-1.5 (sometimes 2) cm. wide, the margin sharply serrate; corolla cylindric-
urceolate, 6-9 mm. long, pink-tinged, often conspicuously so; fruit usually shiny-
black, 6-10 mm. in diameter, generally of poor flavor and texture.
Mostly along streams in open forests, in boggy areas and flatwoods in e. Tex.
and Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-Apr.; from n. Fla., Ga. and Ala., w. to Tex. and
Okla.
This species and V. amoenum are separated entirely upon size-differences of
certain organs as given in the key. Although such a basis for separating species
is usually eschewed, this particular characteristic for these two entities is remark-
ably constant.
4. Vaccinium amoenum Ait.
Plants suckering to form dense clumps that are occasionally a meter or more in
diameter at the base, sometimes crown-forming, 15-25 dm. high; leaves deciduous,
dark-green or rarely slightly glaucescent, the lower surface bearing conspicuous
glands, pubescent along the veins or rarely glabrescent, obovate to oblanceolate
or elliptic, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, 4-5 (rarely to 6.5) cm. long and
15-25 (rarely to 30) mm. wide, the margin sharply serrate; corolla narrowly to
broadly cylindric-urceolate, 9-12 mm. long, often deep-pink; fruit black or dark-
blue, 8-10 mm. in diameter, usually thick-skinned and of unpleasant flavor.
Usually along streams in woodlands and on edge of woods and in wettish savan-
nahs in e. Tex., Mar.-May; from S. C. to n. Fla., w. to Tex. and Ark.
5. Vaccinium Elliottii Chapm. ELLIOTT'S BLUEBERRY.
Plants crown-forming or sometimes in much-restricted colonies, 2-4 m. high;
leaves deciduous, usually thin-textured, green and shining, the lower surface non-
glandular, glabrous to puberulent or even pubescent, usually broadly elliptic, to
3 cm. long and 15 mm. wide, the margins serrate or rarely subentire; corolla nar-
rowly urceolate, 6-7 mm. long, usually some shade of pink; fruit usually dark,
sometimes black and shining but often dull and occasionally glaucous, 5-8 mm.
in diameter or larger in some forms, the flavor fair to poor.
1270
-------
In open flatwoods and ravines, rarely in swampy areas and occasionally in
cleared river bottoms that are subject to periodic flooding, in e. Tex., Feb.-Apr.;
from s.e. Va., s. to Fla., w. to Tex. and Ark.
6. Vaccinium arkansanum Ashe.
Large shrub, often with several stems, crown-forming or (if disturbed) sucker-
ing from a rather small base, 2-4 m. high; leaves deep-green, the lower surface
rather pale and nonglandular, pubescent, broadly elliptic, rounded to cuneate at
base, acute and apiculate at apex, to 8 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, the margin entire;
corolla cylindric-urceolate, 6-8 mm. long, greenish-white, often with pink or red
stripes or the whole surface suffused with pink; fruit dull-black or with a bloom,
7—10 mm. in diameter, of fine flavor. V. atrococcum and V. corymbosum of Texas
reports.
Sandy lake or stream margins or in swamps or marshes, occasionally in bogs
or open flatwoods, in e. and s.e. Tex., Feb.-Apr.; from n. Fla., w. to Tex. and Ark.
This species has excellent possibilities of being improved and commercially
grown for its tasty fruit on sour evergreen-shrub bog soils in southeast Texas.
Where found, it produces abundant deep blue fruits with a fine blueberry flavor.
2. Rhododendron L. RHODODENDRON. AZALEA
Shrubs or small trees, evergreen or deciduous; buds with several to many imbri-
cate scales; leaves alternate, entire or rarely serrulate; flowers pedicellate, usually
in umbellate clusters or corymbs; calyx small, 5-parted, persistent; corolla vari-
ously colored from white to purple or red, sometimes yellow, funnelform to
tubular or rotate to campanulate, usually with a 5-lobed limb, deciduous; stamens
mostly twice as many as the corolla lobes and greatly exceeding them, usually
declined; anther cells opening by a small apical pore; style elongated and mostly
surpassing the stamens, the stigma capitate; capsule septicidal, usually ellipsoid-
conic, the seeds numerous.
About 600 species in temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Our plants fall into the deciduous-leaved "Azalea" section of Rhododendron.
The genus, as a whole, is of great ornamental value. Species in the various sections
of the genus are easily hybridized, and numerous garden hybrids exist.
1. Outer surface of corolla lobes with stipitate glands extending up to or near the
apex; flowers appearing (or expanding) after the leaves have un-
folded; pedicels, calyx and capsules copiously stipitate-glandular;
filaments usually only slightly exceeding the corolla (2)
1. Outer surface of corolla lobes without stipitate glands to near the apex,
glabrous or at most puberulent or pubescent; flowers appearing
before or with the leaves as they unfold; filaments usually con-
spicuously longer than the corolla (3)
2(1). Shrubs 4-10 dm. high, rhizomatous to form colonies 1. R. Coryi.
2. Shrubs rarely less than 10 dm. high, not noticeably rhizomatous or colonial
2. R. oblongifolium.
3(1). Pedicels, young twigs, petioles, calyx and capsules all canescent-strigose,
rarely with a few short scattered inconspicuous glands
3. R. canescens.
3. Pedicels, young twigs, petioles, calyx and (to a lesser extent) the capsules all
copiously and conspicuously glandular-stipitate
4. R. prinophyllum.
1. Rhododendron Coryi Shinners.
Shrub 4-10 dm. high, with a woody rhizome, the branches more or less strigose;
leaves oblong-obovate to obovate-elliptic or oblanceolate, to 45 mm. long and
1271
-------
2 cm. wide, mostly marginally strigose; flowers produced after the leaves have
unfolded; pedicels pubescent and glandular-stipitate; sepals much-abbreviated,
pubescent and glandular-stipitate; corolla probably white, about 4 cm. long, the
lobes dorsally glandular-stipitate up to or near the apex.
In bogs, savannahs and low woodlands along streams in s.e. Tex., Mar.-June;
apparently endemic.
In Texas, this species replaces the similarly rhizomatous R. atlanticum (Ashe)
Rehd. of eastern United States. It differs markedly, however, from that species.
The pedicels, calyx and corolla of R. Coryi are not only adorned with stipitate
glands but are also more or less densely pilose while those of R. atlanticum are
essentially glabrous and only glandular-stipitate. The style of R. Coryi also is
only puberulent or minutely pubescent near its base whereas the style of R.
atlanticum is conspicuously long-pubescent in most or all of its lower half.
As in R. oblongifolium, the flowers in this species develop after the leaves
have unfolded, whereas the flowers of R. atlanticum appear before or with the
young leaves. There is little besides its rhizomatous habit and small stature to
separate R. Coryi from R. oblongifolium. A more realistic treatment might be to
consider it as only varietally different from R. oblongifolium.
2. Rhododendron oblongifolium (Small) Millais.
Shrub to 25 dm. high; branchlets finely villous to glabrous and more or less
reddish-strigose; buds grayish-pubescent; leaves short-petioled, obovate to elliptic
or oblanceolate, to 1 dm. long, cuneate or only slightly rounded at base, rounded
to acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent beneath to nearly glabrous and some-
times glaucescent; pedicels to 15 mm. long, hirsute to subglabrous and glandular-
stipitate; flowers white, produced after the leaves are developed; sepals ovate to
lanceolate, 1-3 mm. long, glandular; corolla tube usually stoutish, 2-3 cm. long,
rather abruptly dilated at the apex, villous and copiously glandular-stipitate on the
outside; corolla lobes dorsally glandular-stipitate up to or near the apex; styles
white or pink; capsule ellipsoid-conic, 1.5-2 cm. long, blackish and sometimes
shiny, profusely adorned with large stipitate glands. Azalea oblongifolia Small.
In sandy or light soils in boggy or seepage areas, savannah-evergreen shrub
bogs, along wooded streams and ravines, and in open low pine and pine-hardwood
forests in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex. and La., Apr.-July or even as late
as Sept.
In our region this species takes the place of the more eastern R. viscosum (L.)
Torr. (Azalea viscosa L.) which it closely resembles and under which name our
plant has been placed in the past. It is our most widespread and frequent
rhododendron, and it also begins flowering a little later than the other species
found in our area. The flowers are manifestly viscid or glutinous to the touch.
3. Rhododendron canesccns (Michx.) Sweet. HOARY AZALEA. Fig. 604.
Shrub to about 3 m. high, sparingly branched; branchlets canescent-pilose and
more or less strigose and sometimes with scattered small glands; leaves mostly ob-
lanceolate to narrowly obovate or oblong, subglabrous to grayish-pubescent or
tomentose beneath, to 11 cm. long, cuneate at base, rounded to subacute and
mucronate at apex; flowers produced before or with the leaves, slightly fragrant;
pedicels canescent-strigose, rarely sparsely glandular; calyx' lobes glandless,
canescent; corolla tube slender, 15-23 mm. long, usually pink, abruptly expanded
at the apex, about twice as long as the whitish glandless lobes; filaments mostly
about 3 times the length of the corolla tubes; style 4-6 cm. long; capsule dark-
brown, ellipsoid, about 15 mm. long, villous-setose, nonglandular. Azalea
canescens Michx.
1272
-------
Fig. 604: Rhododendron canescens: a, branch, x %; b, flower, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
In sandy or light soils in and on the edge of bogs, in seepage areas, along
wooded streams and in pine-hardwood flats in e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex.,
Mar.-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Del., Md. and O.
This species includes those plants from our area that have previously been
placed in R. nudiflorum (L.) Torr. (Azalea nudiflora L.). The name, var.
subglabrum Rehd., has been assigned to those plants with glabrous or glabrescent
leaves.
4. Rhododendron prinophyllum (Small) Millais. HONEYSUCKLE, EARLY-AZALEA.
Shrub to about 3 m. high; branchlets finely pubescent and more or less strigose
and glandular-stipitate; buds grayish-pubescent; leaves usually narrowly oblanceo-
late to elliptic, sometimes obovate, more or less dull-bluish-green in color, to
9 cm. long, obtuse to acute or short-acuminate, grayish-pubescent or short-pilose
beneath, more or less pilose above; flowers produced with the leaves, very
fragrant; pedicels with stipitate glands among the villosity; calyx lobes ovate, rarely
1 mm. long, glandular-ciliate; corolla glandular-stipitate and villous, bright-pink
varying to whitish or with the tube rose-color; corolla tube 1.5-2 cm. long,
gradually dilated upward, more or less glandular-stipitate on outside, pubescent
inside, about equaling the glandless lobes; filaments mostly about twice the length
of the corolla tube; style 4-5 cm. long, commonly purplish above base; capsule
dark-brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 1.5-2 cm. long, slightly puberulous and somewhat
glandular.
In sandy or light soils usually in moist or wet situations in swamps, along
wooded streams and in bog areas in s.e. Tex., late Feb.-May; from Me. to Que.,
s. and s.w. to Tenn., Mo. and Tex.
3. Leucothoe D. DON FETTER-BUSH. LEUCOTHOE
About 50 species mostly in the New World with several in eastern Asia.
1. Leucothoe racemosa (L.) Gray. Fig. 605.
Deciduous shrub to 4 m. high, with ascending branches; leaves alternate,
short-petioled, oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, acute to short-acuminate,
finely serrulate, to 8 cm. long, somewhat pubescent when young; racemes mostly
solitary, somewhat secund, ascending or divergent, mostly terminating leafless
branches of the previous year, to 7 cm. long; pedicels 2-3 mm. long; flowers white,
5-merous, scaly-bracted; sepals ovate-lanceolate, ciliate, about 3 mm. long, persis-
tent, imbricated in bud; corolla 7-9 mm. long, tubular, constricted at throat,
the short lobes spreading; stamens 10; anther-cells each 2-awned; capsules
depressed-globose, not lobed, 2.5-3 mm. long, 3-4 mm. thick, the style long-
persistent, the sutures not thickened; seeds angled and wingless. L. elongata Small.
Moist thickets, seepage areas, swamp forests and sunny lake shores, rare in
s.e. Tex. (Tyler Co.), spring-fall; from Tex. to Fla., n. to Mass., s.e. N.Y. and
e. Pa.
4. Lyonia NUTT.
Shrubs or rarely arborescent, deciduous or evergreen; leaves alternate, herb-
aceous to coriaceous, entire or serrulate; flowers white to rose-color, 5-merous,
long-pedicellate, in fascicles, racemes or panicles; calyx lobes valvate; corolla
cylindric-ovoid to globose-urceolate, with short lobes; stamens 10; filaments
basally dilated, hairy and often toothed or appendaged; anthers ovate to oblong,
awnless, opening by 2 terminal pores; capsule globose to ovoid, scarcely 5-angled,
the dorsal sutures with a thickened ridge that usually divides at dehiscence of the
capsule.
About 30 species in Asia and the New World.
1274
-------
Fig. 605: a-d, Leucothoe racemosa: a, branchlet in flower, x %; b, flower, x 5;
c, branchlet in fruit, x %; d, fruit, x 5. e-j, Lyonia ligustrina: e, branchlet in flower, x %;
f, flower, x 5; g, branchlet in fruit x %; h, new fruit, x 5; i, branchlet with fruit of
previous season, x %; j, remains of old fruit, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
1. Leaves serrulate; inflorescence paniculate; sepals triangular, 1—1.5 mm. long;
corolla globose- to ovoid-urceolate, white, about 3 mm. long
1. L. ligustrina.
1. Leaves entire; inflorescences umbellate-racemose; sepals oblong, 3-10 mm.
long; corolla nodding, cylindric-ovoid, white to pink, 8—13 mm.
long 2. L. mariana.
1. Lyonia ligustrina (L.) DC. HE-HUCKLEBERRY, MALEBERRY. Fig. 605.
Shrub to 4 m. high, sometimes arborescent, deciduous, the bark scaly; leaves
short-petiolate, thin, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate to obovate or oblanceolate,
acute to abruptly acuminate, to 95 mm. long and 45 mm. wide, serrulate to rarely
subentire; racemes borne in panicles terminating the branches or from the upper
axils, the bracts (in ours) foliaceous; sepals 1-1.5 mm. long, broadly triangular;
corolla whitish, globose- to ovoid-urceolate, to 3 mm. long; filaments flat, not
appendaged; capsule globose to subglobose, to 3 mm. long, about 4 mm. thick.
Incl. var. capreaefolia (Wats.) DC. and var. salicifolia (Wats.) DC.
In bog and seepage areas, and along wooded streams and in thickets on edge of
lakes, in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Apr.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to
N.E., N.Y., W.Va, Ky., Ark. and Okla.
2. Lyonia mariana (L.) D.Don. STAGGER BUSH.
Slender upright shrub, usually with stems naked below and with strongly ascend-
ing branches above, usually more or less pilose throughout, to about 2 m. high,
usually less than 1 m. high; leaves shortly petiolate, borne on new shoots, decidu-
ous, elliptic-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate or narrowly obovate, obtuse to acute, to
11 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, entire; inflorescences umbellate-racemose, fascicled
along leafless old branches; pedicels 1-2 cm. long, bracteolate at the very base;
flowers nodding; sepals narrowly oblong, to 1 cm. long, tardily deciduous; corolla
cylindric to cylindric-ovoid, 8-13 mm. long, white or pinkish; filaments usually
bidentate near apex; capsule ovoid-pyramidal, truncate at the contracted apex,
about 7 mm. long, surrounded by the finally appressed sepals.
Peaty or sandy pinelands and edge of evergreen shrub bogs, edge of water
about lakes and ponds, usually in moist soils, in e. and s.-cen. Tex. and s.e. Okla.
(McCurtain Co.), Mar .-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s. N.E., s.e. N.Y., e. Pa.,
w. Tenn., s. Mo., Ark. and Okla.
The foliage is considered to be poisonous to young grazing animals.
Fam. 102. Primulaceae VENT. PRIMROSE FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs with simple or rarely dissected leaves and regular
perfect usually 5-merous flowers; calyx free from or partially adherent to the
ovary, merely toothed or divided nearly to base; corolla gamopetalous, shallowly
lobed to deeply divided; stamens as many as the lobes of the corolla and inserted
opposite to them on the tube or at base of lobes; ovary 1-celled, with a central
free placenta rising from the base and bearing several to many seeds; style and
stigma one, the stigma truncate to capitate; fruit a 2- to 6-valved dehiscent
capsule.
About 1,000 species in about 20 genera that are widely distributed in the
Northern Hemisphere.
1. Aquatic plants with pectinately dissected leaves; flowers in whorls on the
conspicuously inflated floating peduncles 1. Hottonia
1. Marsh or terrestrial plants in wet habitats, with entire or merely toothed leaves;
flowers solitary, umbellate or racemose (2)
2(1). Ovary partially inferior, adnate to the calyx tube; inflorescence an elongate
naked raceme, the pedicels bracteate or ebracteate 2. Samolus
1276
-------
2. Ovary wholly free from calyx; inflorescence axillary flowers, umbels or leafy
racemes (3)
3(2). Plant scapose; leaves in basal rosettes; flowers in involucrate umbels (4)
3. Plant caulescent; leaves scattered along stems; flowers solitary in leaf axils
or in racemes (6)
4(3). Lobes of the corolla several times as long as the tube, sharply reflexed;
stamens protruding their full length 3. Dodecatheon
4. Lobes of the corolla less than twice as long as the tube, not sharply reflexed;
stamens usually included (5)
5(4). Flowers numerous in open inflorescence, usually less than 5 mm. long
4. Androsace
5. Flowers few in a rather close inflorescence, well over 5 mm. long
5. Primula
6(3). Flowers sessile in the leaf axils (7)
6. Flowers pedicellate in the leaf axils or terminal (8)
7(6). Corolla absent; sepals petaloid; ascending perennial with mostly opposite
leaves; capsules valvate 6. Glaux
1, Corolla present; minute prostrate annual with mostly alternate leaves; capsules
circumscissile 7. Centunculus
8(6). Leaves somewhat clasping, less than 2 cm. long; prostrate to ascending
annual; capsules circumscissile 8. Anagallis
8. Leaves not noticeably clasping, well over 2 cm. long; erect or arching peren-
nial; capsules valvate 9. Lysimachia
1. Hottonia L. FEATHERFOIL. WATER-VIOLET
Two species, the Eurasian H. palustris L. and the present one in the United
States.
1. Hottonia inflate Ell. AMERICAN FEATHERFOIL. Fig. 606.
Aquatic herb with the erect or ascending hollow leafless flower stems to 3 dm.
long, the internodes inflated; submersed stems to 5 dm. long; leaves oblong in
outline, to about 7 cm. long, dissected into filiform divisions, clustered at base
of flower stems and scattered along the rooting and floating vegetative stems;
flowers white, pedicellate, subtended by sepaloid bracts, several in whorls at the
nodes or joints to form an interrupted raceme; calyx and corolla subequal, 4-5
mm. long; calyx 5-parted, the divisions linear; corolla with a short tube, the limb
5-parted; stamens 5, included, the filaments short; capsule subglobose or obpyri-
form, many-seeded, the 5 valves cohering at base and summit; seeds anatropous.
In lakes, pools and ditches in e. Tex. (Liberty, Harrison and Red River cos.)
and s.e. Okla. (LeFlore and McCurtain cos.), Apr.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to
N.E., N.Y, O., Ind., s. 111., Mo. and Okla.
This species has the potential nuisance value of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia
crassipes).
2. Samolus L. WATER-PIMPERNEL. BROOKWEED
Perennial somewhat succulent caulescent herbs; leaves in basal rosettes and
then usually alternate on stem, entire; flowers on wiry pedicels in simple or
panicled bracted or naked racemes; calyx herbaceous, campanulate, 5-lobed,
persistent; corolla perigynous, white or pink, the tube short, the 5 rounded lobes
imbricated; stamens 5, included, adnate to the corolla tube, sometimes alternating
with 5 narrow staminodia that are in the sinuses between the corolla lobes; anthers
cordate, erect; ovary half-inferior, 1-celled, the stigma obtuse or capitate; ovules
1277
-------
Fig. 606: Hottonia inflata: a, habit, x l/2', b, corolla, x 5; c, corolla spread out, x
5; e, calyx and capsule, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
numerous, half-anatropous, in a subglobose placenta; capsule subglobose, 5-valved
at the thickened apex; seeds numerous.
About 10 species that are widely distributed, especially in the Southern
Hemisphere.
1. Racemes long-peduncled; pedicels bractless; corolla lobes usually much shorter
than tube, the staminodia wanting (2)
1. Racemes sessile or nearly so; pedicels with small bract; corolla lobes longer
than tube, with staminodia in the sinuses between the lobes (3)
2(1). Peduncles and racemes glabrous; corolla 6-9 mm. broad, the lobes
typically suborbicular 1. S. ebracteatus.
2. Peduncles and racemes glandular-pilose; corolla 4-6 mm. broad, the lobes
typically cuneate-obovate 2. S. cuneatus.
3(1). Stems erect or ascending, bearing several or numerous leaves; basal leaves
usually oval to elliptic; inflorescences several- to many-flowered;
bract borne near the middle of the pedicel; calyx lobes mostly
shorter than the tube 3. S. parviflorus.
3. Stems mostly procumbent, stolonlike, bearing few leaves; basal leaves obovate
to spatulate; inflorescence few-flowered; bract borne near the base
of the pedicel; calyx lobes equal to or longer than the tube
4. S. vagans.
1. Samolus ebracteatus H.B.K. Figs. 607 and 608.
Plant glabrous, bright-green or glaucous, to 55 cm. tall, the usually sparingly
branched stems solitary or tufted and erect or ascending; leaves spatulate to obovate,
sessile or with winged petioles, decurrent, rounded to obtuse and sometimes apicu-
late at apex, to 1 dm. long and 35 mm. wide, usually much smaller; racemes with
stoutish erect straight peduncles that usually exceed the stems, to 2 dm. long;
pedicels ascending, to 5 cm. long, usually much shorter; calyx lobes triangular-
ovate to triangular-lanceolate, acute, equal to or up to about twice as long as the
tube; corolla pink or whitish, 6-9 mm. broad; corolla lobes suborbicular, rounded
and often noticeably erose or retuse at apex, with a glandular tuft at base, shorter
than the tube; stigma subentire to notched; capsules 3-4 mm. in diameter.
In salt marshes and flats, in saline and brackish soil, and on dunes and in sandy
soil on the coast of Tex. and in w. Okla. (Waterfall) and Nev. (Clarke Co.), pos-
sibly in N. M. and Ariz., Apr.-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., Nev. and Mex.; also W.I.
2. Samolus cuneatus Small.
Plant deep-green, to 6 dm. tall, usually much smaller, the usually branched stems
more or less tufted and ascending or reclining; leaves obovate to oblanceolate or
broadly spatulate, the bases decurrent as broad wings, rounded and usually minutely
mucronate at apex, to 15 cm. long and 6 cm. wide; racemes with stoutish straight
peduncles longer than the stems, both more or less glandular-pilose; pedicels
slender, spreading or ascending, to 3 cm. long; calyx lobes triangular, acute, some-
what roughened in appearance and often purple-tinged, longer than or about as
long as the tube; corolla white, 4-6 mm. broad; corolla lobes broadly cuneate to
cuneate-obovate, somewhat coarsely toothed at the rounded to subtruncate apex;
capsules 3-4 mm. in diameter. S. ebracteatus subsp. cuneatus (Small) Knuth.
On wet limestone and in marsh and seepage areas or in moist soil along streams
and rivers from cen. to Trans-Pecos Tex., s. to the Tex. Rio Grande Plains, n. to
n. Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), the Tex. Panhandle (Collingsworth Co.) and w. to N. M.
(Chaves, Dona Ana and Eddy cos.), Mar .-Oct.; also n. Mex.
The characteristics used to separate this plant from S. ebracteatus are not too
strong. When revisionary work is undertaken it is quite possible that they will be
considered to be conspecific.
1279
-------
Fig. 607: Samolus ebracieatus: a, habit, x ^; b, outer surface of flower to show
reflexed petal, x l1^; c, corolla spread out, inner surface, x 2\<>', d, mature fruit with
pistil attached to one segment, x 2io. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 608: Samolus ebracteatus: a, flower, x 8; b, capsule, x 8; c, seed x 40 (Cour-
tesy of R. K. Godfrey).
3. Samolus parviflorns Raf. Fig. 609.
Plant light-green, glabrous, to 6 dm. tall, the stems simple or diffusely branched;
leaves obovate to spatulate or oblanceolate, sessile or narrowed into a winged peti-
ole, rounded to obtuse at apex, to 15 cm. long and 4 cm. wide; racemes sessile or
nearly so, the slender rachis straight or flexuous; pedicels filiform, spreading or
ascending, to 2 cm. long; calyx lobes ovate to triangular-ovate, acute, about as long
as or shorter than the tube; corolla white, 2-3 mm. broad; corolla lobes oblong,
rounded or emarginate at apex and longer than the tube; staminodia 5; capsule 2-3
mm. in diameter. S. floribundus H.B.K.
In wet soils and about various types of wet rocks, along streams, in marshes,
about lakes and seepage areas throughout Okla. and Tex., w. to N. M. (Chaves
and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Santa Cruz,
Final and Pima cos.), Mar.-Sept.; from Fla. to Calif, and Mex., n. to e. Can.,
Mich., 111. and B.C.; also trop Am.
4. Samolus vagans Greene.
Stems mostly procumbent, stolonlike; basal leaves obovate to spatulate; cauline
leaves scattered along stem, oval to elliptic to somewhat obovate; inflorescence
few-flowered; pedicels spreading, lax, bearing a small bract near its base; calyx
lobes equal to or longer than the tube; corolla less than 3 mm. long.
In wet sand in s.e. Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), May-Oct.
3. Dodecatheon L. SHOOTING-STAR. AMERICAN COWSLIP
Scapose herbaceous perennial from slender to thick rhizomes or very short
caudices, often with small bulblets among the roots, glabrous to conspicuously
glandular-pubescent; leaves petioled, entire to dentate; flowers showy, 4- or
5-merous, borne in terminal involucrate umbels or sometimes single, on recurved
slender pedicels; calyx short-tubular, the lobes lanceolate; corolla showy, short-
tubular, the white to purple lobes long and strongly reflexed, the tube very short;
stamens connivent around the style; filaments short, free or connected by a mem-
brane; anthers long and slender, basally attached, dehiscent on the inner surface,
the connective prominent, highly colored, smooth to transversely rugose; style
slightly exceeding the stamens; stigma capitate, sometimes rather conspicuously
enlarged; fruit a 1-celled capsule, valvate to the tip or the tip operculate with the
style and the walls valvate below; seeds numerous.
1281
-------
Fig. 609: Samolus parviflonts: a, flower, spread open, x 8; b, fruit, enclosed by
calyx, x 8; c, fruit (longitudinal section), x 8; d, capsule after dehiscence, x 8; e-g,
seeds, x 40; h, habit, x 75; i, flower, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 292).
-------
About 50 species in North America and Asia, of which about 14 are in North
America. All are worthy of cultivation and are easily grown, especially in rich
moist or even wet partially shaded situations. They readily seed themselves.
1. Flowers 4-merous; stigma enlarged, at least twice the diameter of the style;
connective rugose; filaments short, 0.5 mm. long, free
1. D. alpinum.
1. Flowers 5-merous; stigma not enlarged; connective smooth (sometimes rough-
ened in drying); filaments 0.5-3.5 mm. long, free or somewhat
united into a tube (2)
2(1). Capsule wall thick, ligneous, not flexible; distribution in Oklahoma and
Texas 2. D. Meadia.
2. Capsule wall thin, usually flexible under the slightest pressure; distribution in
New Mexico and Arizona (3)
3(2). Leaf blades gradually tapered into the petiole, with a cuneate base; anthers
lanceolate; corolla lobes usually magenta to lavender
3. D. pulchellum.
3. Leaf blades abruptly narrowed into the petiole, with a subcordate base; anthers
subulate; corolla lobes always white 4. D. dentatum.
1. Dodecatheon alpinum (Gray) Greene subsp. majus H. J. Thomps.
Plants usually glabrous, the upper part of the scape and inflorescence sometimes
glandular-pubescent; roots white, without bulblets; leaves including petiole 6-16
cm. long, 9-16 mm. wide, linear to linear-oblanceolate, acute to obtuse, the blade
gradually tapered into petiole and entire; scape 14-30 cm. tall; umbels 4- to
10-flowered; bracts to 1 cm. long, lanceolate, acute to acuminate; pedicels 1-3 cm.
long in flower, longer in fruit; flowers 4-merous; calyx tube 2-3 mm. long; calyx
lobes 4—6 mm. long, lanceolate, acute; corolla tube maroon, yellow above; corolla
lobes 9-16 mm. long, magenta or lavender, never white; filaments 0.5 mm. long,
free or united by a thin membrane, black; anthers 5-7 mm. long, linear, the straight
sides gradually tapered to the obtuse to blunt apex, the pollen sacs dark, the
rugose connective dark maroon to black; stigma enlarged, at least twice the diam-
eter of the style; capsule 6-8 mm. long, 3-4 mm. wide, ovoid, the wall thin, valvate.
In wet mt. meadows and along streams in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and
Greenlee cos.), June-Sept.; also Ore., Calif., Nev. and Ut.
2. Dodecatheon Meadia L.
Perennial glabrous herb with fibrous roots and a cluster of basal leaves from
which arise a simple naked scape to 55 cm. high that supports at the summit an
involucre of small bracts that subtend an umbel of showy flowers; leaves narrowly
elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate, blunt or rounded at apex, tapering from the reddish-
tinged base into the petiole, usually with entire margins, to 2 dm. long and 4 cm.
wide above middle; flowers few to many; pedicels slender, erect when young,
recurving in anthesis, ascending in fruit; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, usually about
5 mm. long in anthesis, slightly longer and persistent in fruit; corolla lilac to pale-
pink, with a very short tube and thickened throat, the 5 oblong-elliptic lobes to
25 mm. long and 1 cm. wide, strongly reflexed; tube of filaments 1-2 mm. long;
anthers linear, about 8 mm. long, connivent to form a slender cone; capsule ovoid,
dark-reddish-brown, to 18 mm. long, with firm ligneous wall, opening by 5 short
terminal valves.
On open slopes, swampy flatwoods, about lakes, base of bluffs, in cedar brakes
and in open moist woods in e. third of Tex. w. rarely to Travis Co, and e. and
Arbucklean Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; from B.C., w. to Wise., s. to Ga.
and Tex.
1283
-------
3. Dodecatheon pulchellum (Raf.) Merrill. Fig. 610.
Roots white, without bulblets; leaves including petiole 4-25 cm. long, 1-6 cm.
wide, oblanceolate to ovate or spatulate, acute to obtuse or rounded; blade gradually
tapered into petiole, usually entire, occasionally sinuate or crenate; scape 6-50
cm. high; umbel 3- to 25-flowered; bracts to 1.5 cm. long, deltoid to lanceolate
or spatulate, acute to obtuse; pedicels 1-5 cm. long in flower, longer in fruit;
flowers 5-merous; calyx tube 2-3.5 mm. long; calyx lobes 2.5-6 mm. long, lanceo-
late to subulate, acute to acuminate; corolla tube maroon, yellow above, the
magenta to lavender lobes 9-20 mm. long; filaments 0.5-3.5 mm. long, united into
a tube or nearly free, yellow, smooth or rugulose; anthers 3-8 mm. long, lanceolate,
obtuse or acute, the pollen sacs yellow or sometimes red or maroon; connective
dark maroon to black, rarely yellow, smooth (often longitudinally wrinkled upon
drying); stigma not enlarged; capsule 7-17 mm. long, 4-7 mm. wide, cylindric to
ovoid, the wall thin, valvate. D. radicatum Greene.
In seepage and wet meadows, wet stream banks, in N.M. (Rio Arriba, Lincoln,
Otero, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Graham Co.), June-Aug.;
from Alas, to Wise, and e. U. S., s. to Dgo.
4. Dodecafheon dentatum Hook, subsp. Ellisiae (Standl.) H. J. Thomps.
Plants glabrous; roots white, without bulblets; leaves including petiole 6-20 cm.
long, 1.5-4.5 cm. wide, ovate to oval, acute to obtuse; blade abruptly narrowed
into petiole, cordate to subcordate at base, dentate to entire; scape 1-3.5 dm. tall;
umbel 1- to 6-flowered; bracts to 8 mm. long, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute to
obtuse; pedicels 1.5-3 cm. long in flower, longer in fruit; flowers 5-merous; calyx
tube 2-3 mm. long; calyx lobes 2.5-4 mm. long, triangular to lanceolate, acute
to acuminate; corolla tube maroon, yellow above, the white lobes 8-15 mm. long;
filaments less than 1 mm. long, free or slightly united; anthers 6.5-8 mm. long,
lanceolate to subulate, acute to acuminate, the pollen sacs yellow or reddish-
spotted; connective dark maroon to black above, yellow below, smooth (often
longitudinally wrinkled upon drying); stigma not enlarged; capsule 9-12 mm.
long, 4-5 mm. thick, cylindric, the thin wall valvate. D. Ellisiae Standl.
Wet stream banks and wet meadowlands, rich moist soils in coniferous forests,
in N. M. (Bernalillo and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Graham, Greenlee and
Pima cos.), June-Aug.
4. Androsace L. ROCK-JASMINE
Small annual herbs with clustered radical leaves and very small flowers in an
umbel terminating a scape; calyx 5-cleft, the obconic tube short; corolla salverform
or funnelform, the somewhat inflated tube shorter than the calyx, constricted at
the throat, the limb 5-parted; capsule longitudinally 5-valved, enclosed in the
persistent calyx.
About 100 species in cooler parts of the North Temperate Zone.
1. Calyx lobes linear-elliptic to triangular-lanceolate, equal to or longer than the
tube; involucral bracts broadly elliptic-obovate to oblanceolate
1. A. occidentalis.
1. Calyx lobes deltoid to acerose, much shorter than the tube; involucral bracts
narrowly lanceolate to subulate 2. A. septentrionalis.
I. Androsace occidentalis Pursh.
Dwarf plants to 7 cm. tall, usually much smaller; rosette leaves typically elliptic-
oblanceolate, to 2 cm. long and 6 mm. wide, entire or somewhat coarsely dentate
above middle, white-pubescent above with mostly simple hairs; scapes one to many,
erect or recurved-asccnding, more or less equal in length, scabrous with stellate
hairs; involucral bracts elliptic-obovate to oblanceolate, to 6 mm. long; pedicels
1284
-------
Fig. 610: a-g, Centunculus minimus: a, habit, x %; b, stem, x 2%; c, flower, x 8;
d, corolla split open, x 8; e, capsule split, x 8; f, placenta with seeds, x 8; g, seed, x
25. h, Dodecatheon pulchellum: h, habit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 611: a-d, Androsace septentrionalis var. puberulenta: a, habit, x 1; b, flower
x 5; c, fruit, x 5: d, seed, x 5. e-h, Anagallis arvensis: e, habit, x %; f, flower, x 5;
g, fruit, x 5; h, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
erect or ascending, mostly less than 25 mm. long, stellate-pubescent; calyx tube
pale, campanulate, the bright-green pubescent lobes linear-elliptic to narrowly
triangular-lanceolate.
Dry soils in open country or in open rocky woods, sometimes in muddy soils
along streams and on edge of water bodies, in cen. and w. Tex., Okla. (Waterfall),
N.M. (Rio Arriba and Socorro cos.) and Ariz, (widespread); Feb.-Apr.; from
Ont. to B.C., s. to Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
A plant in southern Arizona, designated as var. arizonica (Gray) St. John, has
larger, green and foliaceous calyx lobes that are more spreading-recurved than in
var. occidentalis, with which it intergrades.
2. Androsace septentrionalis L. Fig. 611.
Plant to 3 dm. tall, glabrous to more or less puberulent with reddish glandular
or non-glandular hairs; rosette leaves linear-spatulate to oblanceolate, to about
35 mm. long and 6 mm. wide above middle, often with stellate pubescence, entire
or jagged-toothed; scapes usually several, erect, only the central one well-developed
with the others much shorter or wanting; umbels compact; involucral bracts mostly
linear-subulate, to 3 mm. long; pedicels strictly ascending or erect, to at least 55
mm. long, soon glabrate; calyx turbinate-campanulate, stramineous to green, with
short acerose to narrowly triangular or deltoid lobes. A. glandulosa Woot. & Standl.
A. pinetorum Greene.
In open rocky areas on mt. summits, in mud at edge of lakes and ponds, springy
places, on gravel bars and in seepage, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (Rio Arriba.
Bernalillo, Lincoln, Sandoval, Sante Fe, Socorro and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
and Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Apr.-Sept; in high mts. of s.w. U.S.
This species is represented in our region by several named varieties; namely, var.
glandulosa (Woot. & Standl.) St. John, the herbage puberulent with numerous
reddish glandular hairs; var. subulifera Gray (A. diffusa Small), with glabrous
herbage and calyx lobes slender-subulate to acerose; var. puberulenta (Rydb.)
Knuth, with puberulent herbage and calyx lobes narrowly triangular.
5. Primula L. PRIMROSE
Plants scapose usually herbaceous perennials, often tufted; flowers showy, in
involucrate umbels, 5-merous; calyx persistent, the tube elongated, angled; corolla
salverform, surpassing the calyx at anthesis, often with obcordate lobes, the limb
pink or reddish-purple, the open throat greenish or yellowish, fornices absent or
inconspicuous; stamens attached in the upper third of the corolla tube, included,
the filaments very short; ovary superior; style usually included; capsule opening
apically by valves or teeth.
Probably 200 species mainly in boreal or alpine regions in the North Temperate
Zone, especially abundant in south-central Asia.
1. Scapes with 1 or occasionally 2 flowers; plants 7 cm. tall or less
1. P. angustifolia.
1. Scapes with 3 or more flowers; plants 10 cm. tall or more (2)
2(1). Plants 25-40 cm. tall, stout; leaves 3-5 cm. wide, usually entire
2. P. Parryi.
2. Plants less than 25 cm. tall, slender; leaves less than 2 cm. wide, noticeably
denticulate (3)
3(2). Scapes about equaling the leaves; calyx 7 mm. high 3. P. Ellisiae.
3. Scapes twice as long as the leaves; calyx 4-5 mm. high 4. P. Rusbyi.
1. Primula angustifolia Torr.
Plants to about 7 cm. tall; leaves lanceolate-spatulate to linear-lanceolate, 1.5-5
cm. long, 2-7 mm. wide, obtuse, entire, not farinose but slightly short glandular-
1287
-------
hairy on some, rather thick; involucral bracts lanceolate, 1-7 mm. long: scape 1- to
ocassionally 2-flowered; calyx 5-8 mm. wide, the acute to acuminate lobes 2-3
mm. long; corolla tube 5-8 mm. long, the limb 5-6 mm. long and 1-2 mm. wide,
purple or sometimes white; capsule ovoid.
In wet mt. meadows and in seepage along streams in N.M. (Santa Fe and San
Miguel cos.), summer; also Colo.
2. Primula Parryi Gray. Fig. 612.
Scapose perennial; leaves oblong-spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate, obtuse to
acute, 6-30 cm. long, rather fleshy, often denticulate, often somewhat puberulent,
not farinose; scape 8-40 cm. high, erect; involucre bracts 3-12 mm. long, lanceo-
late; flowers malodorous, 5 to 12; calyx 7-15 mm. long, ovoid-campanulate, glan-
dular, its lanceolate acuminate lobes 5-8 mm. long; corolla 1.2-2 cm. long, deep-
red or purplish in drying, the tube about as long as or a little longer than the limb;
limb 1.5-3 cm. broad, the lobes notched; capsule ovoid, 7-11 mm. long.
In wet soil near snow banks, bogs, wet meadows and along stream banks, and
among rocks, N.M. (Santa Fe and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and
Apache cos.), June-Aug.; Mont, and Ida., s. to N.M., Ut. and Ariz.
3. Primula Ellisiae Pollard & Cockll.
Plants about 1 dm. tall, from a stout vertical caudex; leaves oblong-spatulate.
tapering to a scarious-margined petiole, obtuse to subacute at apex, minutely
scabrous, the upper half irregularly and sharply serrulate with salient teeth; scape
scarcely surpassing the leaves, bearing a dense umbel of rather large flowers; calyx
densely farinose but tending to become glabrate with age, the lanceolate lobes
exceeding the tube; corolla lobe twice the length of the calyx, the limb about 7 mm.
in diameter, lavender-purple with a yellow eye, the lobes truncate and retuse.
Rare in high wet mt. meadows in N.M. (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Lincoln and
Otero cos.), summer.
4. Primula Rusbyi Greene.
Scape slender, not more than 25 cm. long; leaves oblong-spatulate, 5-13 cm.
long, (including the margined petiole), more or less puberulent but not white-mealy
on lower surface, dentate with the teeth conspicuously glandular; involucral bracts
3 or more, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, thin; flowers 6 to 10; pedicels not
glandular-puberulent but more or less white-mealy; calyx tube white and as if
farinose at base, campanulate, longer than the ovate-triangular lobes; corolla limb
more than 1 cm. wide, the lobes obcordate, the tube surpassing the calyx.
Usually on seepy slopes and damp mossy ledges in N. M. (Socorro, Grant and
Sierra cos.) and Ariz. (Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), May-Sept.
6. Glaux L. SEA MILKWORT
A monotypic genus.
1. Glaux maritima L. Fig. 613.
Glabrous and glaucous perennial herb; rootstocks horizontal, slender; stems
slender, branched, ascending, 5-20 cm. long; leaves sessile, oval to linear-oblong,
4-10 mm. long, fleshy, obtuse to acute at apex, the lower ones opposite, the upper
ones usually alternate; flowers sessile or subsessile in leaf axils about midway
along stem; calyx petaloid, campanulate, 3-4 mm. long, 5-cleft, whitish; corolla
absent; stamens 5, inserted at base of calyx tube and alternate with its lobes, the
filaments as long as the calyx lobes, the anthers hairy; ovary superior, ovoid; style
filiform; stigma capitate; capsule about 2.5 mm. long, beaked by persistent style.
Saline or brackish shores, marshes and sandy soils, in N. M. (fide Fernald).
June-July; Que. to Va.. B. C. s. to Ore., Calif, and N. M.
1288
-------
Fig. 612: a-c, Lysimachia lanceolata: a, habit, x i/3; b, node enlarged; c, flower,
X 2. d-f, Primula Parryi: d, habit, x %; e, flower, x %; f, top of tube of corolla, x
1%. (a-c, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; d-f, redrawn from Hitchcock, et al., Vascular
Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Ft. 4, p. 56).
-------
Fig. 613: Glanx maritima: a, habit, unbranched plant, x --,; b, flowers at anthesis,
x 4; c, habit, branched plant, x %; d, young fruit, x 6; e-g, seeds, x 16. (From Mason,
Fig. 289).
-------
7. Centunculus L. CHAFFWEED
A monotypic genus that is sometimes included in A nagallis.
1. Centunculus minimus L. Fig. 610.
Annual, often forming mats or small clumps, the stems erect or ascending, to
12 cm. long; leaves subsessile, alternate, entire, obovate to oblanceolate or oblong-
spatulate, to 8 mm. long and 5 mm. wide; flowers sessile in leaf axils, ephemeral,
4- or occasionally 5-merous; sepals linear-lanceolate, about 2 mm. long; corolla
rotate, pinkish, about 1 mm. wide, with an urceolate short tube and ovate-lanceolate
lobes about half as long as the tube, withering on the apex of the capsule; stamens
4 or 5, inserted near corolla throat, included, the filaments beardless; capsule sub-
globose, circumscissile, to 2 mm. in diameter.
In damp sand and mud in depressions, bogs, along streams, grasslands and open
woods mainly in e. and s. Tex., Okla. (Johnston and McCurtain cos.), N.M.
(probably) and Ariz. (Coconino, Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
Feb.-May; from Fla. to Tex., Calif, and Mex., n. to N.S., O., 111., Minn., and
Sask., nearly cosmopolitan.
8. Anagallis L. PIMPERNEL
About 28 species that are cosmopolitan in distribution.
1. Anagallis arvensis L. SCARLET PIMPERNEL, HIERBA DEL PAJARO, POORMAN'S-
WEATHER-GLASS. Fig. 611.
Low spreading or procumbent annual herb with opposite leaves and solitary
flowers on axillary pedicels, forming loose prostrate mats, the diffuse 4-angled
stems much-branched and to 3 dm. long; leaves sessile or somewhat clasping the
stem, suborbicular to ovate or elliptic, to 2 cm. long and 1 cm. wide; pedicels
slender, exceeding the leaves; flowers variable in size and color, from scarlet to
salmon-color and sometimes almost white or blue [in f. caerulea (Schreb.) Baumg.]
with the petals more or less without cilia; calyx lobes lanceolate, 3-4 mm. long;
corolla rotate; petals 5, about equal to the calyx lobes, obovate to cuneate-obovate;
somewhat fringed with minute teeth and stalked glands at the obtuse to rounded
apex; stamens 5, inserted near base of corolla tube, the filaments bearded; capsules
about 4 mm. in diameter, globose, membranous, circumscissile, many-seeded.
Usually in moist places, wet depressions and wet sands in prairies and flatlands
mostly in e. and s. Tex., Okla. (Delaware Co.), N.M. (Sierra Co.) and Ariz.
(Maricopa, Cochise, Final and Pima cos.), Mar.-Sept; nat. from Eur.
9. Lysimachia L. LOOSESTRIFE
Leafy-stemmed perennials with entire opposite or whorled leaves and long-
pedicelled yellow to orange-color and sometimes purple-dotted corollas; calyx 5- or
6-parted, imbricate or valvate in bud; corolla 5- or 6-parted, rotate, convolute, in
bud or with each division convolute about its stamen; stamens 5, the filaments
distinct or nearly so on a ring at base of corolla or monadelphous at base, the
anthers ovoid to slender; capsule subglobose to ovoid, few to many-seeded, the
style persistent on one valve.
About 200 species of wide distribution, especially eastern Asia and North
America.
1. Stems of flowering branches arched-reclining or creeping, often rooting at
nodes; divisions of corolla 3-5 mm. long 1. L. radicans.
1. Stems erect, slender, arising from slender cordlike rhizomes and stolons; divi-
sions of corolla 7-13 mm. long (2)
1291
-------
2(1). Principal leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, with rounded or cordate base
with a distinct petiole 2. L. ciliata.
2. Principal leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, gradually tapering at base
3. L. lanceolata.
1. Lysimachia radicans Hook. Fig. 614.
Stem slender, soon reclined, to 1 m. long, laxly and diffusely branched, the
elongated branches often rooting at the nodes; leaves membranous, with a slender
narrowly winged bristly-ciliate petiole to 3 cm. long; blade ovate-lanceolate to
lanceolate, to 9 cm. long and 25 mm. wide, rounded at base, acuminate at apex;
pedicels filiform, to 3 cm. long; flowers nodding, to 12 mm. wide; calyx segments
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 3-5 mm. long; corolla segments obovate-cuneate,
erose-dentate and cuspidate; capsule exceeding the calyx. Steironema radicans
(Hook.) Gray.
In swamp forests, along streams and in moist pinelands in s.e. Tex., May-July;
from Miss, to Tex., n. to Mo., Tenn. and locally to e. Va.
2. Lysimachia ciliata L.
Stem erect, simple or branched, 12 dm. high from a slender rhizome; leaves
ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, broadly rounded to subcordate at the base,
the blades to 15 cm. long with long ciliate-fringed petioles; flowers on thin axillary
peduncles, mostly whorled, to 28 mm. wide; calyx segments firm, subulate-tipped,
to 1 cm. long; corolla yellow, not spotted, its broad segments cuspidate and erose-
dentate; capsule exceeding or shorter than the mature calyx. Steironema pumilum
Greene, S. ciliatum (L.) Raf.
Swamps, seepage, marshes, low ground, thickets, rich woods and shores in n.e.
Tex., Ozarkian Okla. (Waterfall), N.M. (San Miguel, Socorro and Grant cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Gila cos.), June—Sept.; from s. Can. to
Fla., Tex., Ariz, and Colo.
The plant with relatively narrow obscurely ciliolate leaves is usually segregated
as var. validula (Greene) Kearn. & Peeb. (Steironema validulum Greene).
3. Lysimachia lanceolata Walt. Fig. 612.
Stems slender and firm, from elongate slender cordlike rhizomes and stolons, to
7 dm. tall, simple or with ascending branches; basal leaves often rosulate and long-
petiolate, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, usually persistent; middle and upper leaves
linear or linear-lanceolate, to 13 cm. long and 15 mm. wide, attenuate to the usually
short-petiolate bristly-ciliate base, acuminate at apex, paler beneath; pedicels fili-
form, to 4 cm. or more long at anthesis, from upper axils; flowers to 2 cm. wide;
calyx segments firm, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, to 7 mm. long; corolla segments
suborbicular to broadly obovate, erose, cuspidate; filaments equaling or longer than
anthers; capsule shorter than the calyx. Steironema lanceolatum (Walt.) Gray.
Dry or moist open woods, in thickets, sometimes in or about water of lakes,
seepage and streams, swamps and wetlands generally, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e.
Tex., May-July; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Pa., O., w. to Mich, and Wise.
A plant segregated as L. hybrida Michx. [L. lanceolata subsp. hybrida (Michx.)
Ray] has been reported from our region. It is considered to be closely allied to
L. lanceolata from which it differs in having a thicker, more robust stem with
longer internodes, basal offshoots and nonpersistent essentially sessile basal leaves,
no cordlike rhizomes, and a more open-paniculate inflorescence. The leaves are
also green on both surfaces instead of being pale-green or somewhat glaucous
beneath as in L. lanceolata.
1292
-------
Fig. 614: Lysimachia radicans: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3; c, capsule, x 3. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 615: a and b, Limonium limbatum var. limbatum: a, habit, x V>; b, flower
cluster, x 2. c and d, Limonium limbatum var. glabrescens: c, branch, x '/>; d, end of
branch, x 2. (V. F.).
-------
Fam. 103. Plumbaginaceae Juss. PLUMBAGO FAMILY
Perennial herbs or shrubs, with basal or alternate entire leaves and perfect
and regular flowers; calyx inferior, 4- or 5-toothed, sometimes plaited at the
sinuses, the tube 5- to 15-ribbed; corolla of 4 or 5 hypogynous clawed segments
connate at the base or united into a tube; stamens 4 or 5, opposite the corolla
segments, hypogynous; anthers 2-celled, dorsally attached to the filaments, the
sacs longitudinal dehiscent; disk none; ovary superior, 1-celled; ovule solitary,
anatropous, pendulous; styles 5; fruit a utricle, achene or capsule, enclosed by the
calyx; seed solitary.
About 10 genera and 500 species of wide distribution, many in saline or semi-
arid situations.
1. Limonium MILL. SEA-LAVENDER. MARSH-ROSEMARY
Perennials with woody roots and petioled radical thick leaves, the nearly
naked erect flowering stems or scapes branched into panicles; flowers solitary
or 2 or 3 together in several-bracted spikelets that are approximate or scattered
on 1-sided branches; calyx funnelform, dry and membranous, persistent; corolla
of 5 nearly or quite distinct petals, with long claws, the 5 stamens attached to
their bases; styles 5 or rarely 3, separate; fruit membranous and indehiscent,
scarcely exserted from the calyx.
About 300 species that are widely distributed. This genus, in North America,
is sorely in need of a modern revision.
1. Calyx 4 mm. long or less, the short broadly triangular-ovate lobes spreading
at maturity; plants of alkaline flats in Trans-Pecos Texas, westward
1. L. limbatum.
1. Calyx 5 mm. long or more, the narrowly ovate-lanceolate lobes erect at
maturity; plants of beach and dune areas along the Gulf Coast (2)
2(1). Spikelets 1- to 3-flowered, mostly 3 mm. or less apart; calyx usually
prominently pubescent on ribs below middle, rarely glabrous
2. L. Nashii var. Nashii.
2. Spikelets nearly all 1-flowered, mostly 4 mm. or more apart at maturity; calyx
glabrous or sparsely short-pubescent near base
2. L. Nashii var. angustatum.
1. Limonium limbatum Small. Fig. 615.
Plant to 6 dm. high, bluish-green or glaucescent; leaves with petioles to 15 cm.
long, obovate to elliptic, rounded or retuse at the barely mucronulate apex,
narrowed into the petiole, thick, leathery, venose, to 16 cm. long and 65 mm.
wide; scape stout, much-branched from below the middle; panicle large, to 3 dm.
wide or more, the branches divergent-ascending, the 2-flowered spikelets densely
and distichously aggregated into 1—1.4 cm. long spikes on the ultimate branchlets
or somewhat elongated in var. glabrescens; outermost bractlet ovate-orbicular to
orbicular, acute to acutish, mucronate or apiculate, hyaline-margined, 1-1.4 mm.
long; middle bractlet oblong-oval, retuse at apex, hyaline with green midrib, 3 mm.
long; innermost bractlet very firm, elliptic, rounded to retuse at apex, hyaline-
margined, 3-3.5 mm. long; calyx trumpet-shaped, with wide-spreading limb, about
4 mm. long, with 2 or 3 of the ribs pubescent to the middle and the other ribs
generally pubescent only at the extreme base or not at all, the ribs glabrous or
nearly so in var. glabrescens; calyx lobes deltoid-ovate, obtuse to acute, about
0.7 mm. long; intermediate teeth depressed-deltoid, about 0.2 mm. long or obsoles-
cent; corolla bright-blue.
In wet meadows, saline flats and in depressions in the Texas Trans-Pecos,
reported from the Panhandle, N.M. (Guadalupe and Valencia cos.) and Ariz.
(Graham Co.), June-Aug.
1295
-------
The ultimate branchlets of the inflorescence in var. glabrescens Correll are
somewhat elongated and more laxly flowered than in var. limbatum. The calyx
ribs are also glabrous or are provided with only a few scattered hairs instead of
being densely pubescent as in var. limbatum.
2. Limonium Nashii Small. Fig. 616.
Plant 3-8.5 dm. high, the scape solid; leaves with a petiole to 16.5 cm. long,
linear-elliptic to narrowly spatulate or obovate, obtuse to rounded at the barely
mucronulate apex, narrowed into the petiole, to 17 cm. long and 45 mm. wide;
scape paniculately much-branched from near the middle; panicle 2-3 dm. across,
the somewhat fractiflex lax branches spreading-ascending or arcuate, the ultimate
branchlets compactly or loosely flowered; spikelets 1- to 3-flowered; outermost
bractlet ovate, acute to acuminate, mucronate, hyaline-margined, 1.8-2.5 mm.
long; middle bractlet ovate to oblong, somewhat erose at the obtuse to mucronate
apex, hyaline with a distinct midrib, 2.5-4 mm. long; innermost bractlet elliptic,
rounded to retuse or subacute at apex, hyaline-margined, 3.8-4.5 mm. long;
calyx obconic, glabrous to sparsely or rather densely pilose at extreme base and
often on one or two ribs for about half their length, 5-7 mm. long, the whitish
5-lobed limb erect; calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 1-1.5 mm. long;
teeth very short and bifid or obsolescent; corolla violet to lavender; capsule 5-7
mm. long.
On beaches, salt flats and marsh borders, in grasslands and in loose sand among
dunes along the Gulf Coast, June-Nov.; mostly from S.C., s. to Fla. and w. to
Tex. and n.e. Mex., rare n. of S. C.
The inflorescence of this species is more laxly and openly branched than in
that of the eastern L. carolinianum (Walt.) Britt. Plants ascribed to L. carolinianum
var. compactum Shinners belong to var. Nashii.
In our region var. angustatum (Gray) Ahles seems to be more southern in its
distribution than var. Nashii, being rather frequent on south Padre Island, Texas.
Its leaf blades are typically smaller than those of var. Nashii, being up to about
10 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide. L. angustatum (Gray) Small, L. carolinianum var.
angustatum (Gray) Blake.
Fam. 104. Styracaceae DUM. STORAX FAMILY
Shrubs or trees commonly with stellate pubescence; leaves alternate, simple,
exstipulate; flowers regular, perfect; calyx adherent to the ovary or at least
to its base, entire or with 4 to 8 valvate teeth or lobes; corolla with 4 or 5
(rarely more) petals that are (in ours) united at base or rarely more; stamens
as many as or several times as many as the corolla lobes, free or adnate to
corolla tube; anthers elongate; ovary inferior or partly inferior in Styrax; style
one; fruit a drupe or capsule.
A small family of about 180 species in 12 genera in warm temperate regions.
1. Calyx adherent to whole surface of ovary; corolla 4-lobed; fruit ellipsoid to
ellipsoid-obovoid, 2- to 4-winged 1. Halesia.
1. Calyx adherent only to base of ovary; corolla 5-lobed; fruit globular, wingless
2. Styrax.
1. Halesia ELLIS
Shrubs or small trees, with large veiny deciduous leaves and snowy-white
flowers drooping on slender pedicels in clusters or short racemes, the pubescence
partly stellate; calyx inversely conical, 4-toothed, the tube ribbed; corolla openly
campanulate; petals 4, white, united at base or sometimes to above the middle;
stamens 8 to 16; filaments united into a ring at base and usually a little adherent
1296
-------
Fig. 616: a-c, Limonium Nashii var. Nashii: a, habit, x %; b branch x Vo- c
three flowers, x 2. d and e, Limomum Nashii var. angustatum: d, branch x U- e end
of branch, x 2. (V. F.). ' ' '
-------
a> flowering twig- * %J b, flower, x 2; c, fruiting twig, x
-------
to the base of the corolla; anthers linear-oblong; ovules 4 in each cell; fruit large
and dry, bony within; seeds single, cylindrical.
A few species found in North America and China.
1. Corolla lobes shorter than the tube; fruit 4-winged 1. H. Carolina.
1. Corolla lobes longer than the tube; fruit 2-winged 2. H. diptera.
1. Halesia Carolina L. CAROLINA SILVER-BELLS, O'POSSUM-WOOD.
Large shrubs or small tree to about 12 m. tall; leaves broadly ovate to elliptic
or obovate, to 15 cm. long and 8 cm. wide, acute to acuminate, serrulate; flowers
in clusters of 2 to 5, with slender pedicels to 15 mm. long; calyx 5-6 mm. long;
corolla to 2 cm. long; filaments and styles glabrous; fruit 2.5-^4 cm. long, ellip-
soid to ellipsoid-obovoid, short-beaked.
In rich woods and along stream banks in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall),
Apr.-May; from Fla. to Tex. (fide Small), n. to Va., W.Va., s. O., s. Ind., s. 111.,
s.e. Mo. and Okla.
2. Halesia diptera Ellis. SNOWDROP-TREE. Fig. 617.
Small tree or shrub to 8 m. tall; leaves elliptic to obovate or sometimes ovate,
rounded to cuneate at base, abruptly acute to acuminate at apex, when mature
essentially glabrous, to 15 cm. long and 9 cm. wide, rather coarsely toothed; flow-
ers with pedicels about 1 cm. long; calyx 3-4 mm. long, pubescent; corolla 1.5-2
cm. long, copiously pubescent; petals broadly elliptic, obtuse; filaments and style
pubescent; fruit 3.5-5 cm. long, narrowly ellipsoid, prominently beaked.
Woods and along streams or edge of swamps, in e. Tex. and (?) s.e. Okla.
(Waterfall), Mar .-Apr.; from n. Fla. n. to S.C., w. to Tex. and Ark.
2. Styrax L. STORAX. SILVER BELLS
Shrubs or small trees with deciduous leaves and axillary or leafy-racemed white
and showy flowers on drooping peduncles; calyx somewhat 5- to 7-toothed and
sometimes glandular at truncate apex; petals soft-downy; stamens twice as many
as the corolla lobes; filaments flat, united at the base into a short tube; anthers
linear; fruit dry, often 3-valved; seeds globular, erect, with a hard coat.
Over 130 species found in warm regions of North America and Eurasia.
1. Leaves characteristically broadly elliptic to obovate; distribution in east Texas
1. S. americana.
1. Leaves characteristically suborbicular to broadly ovate; distribution in central
Texas 2. S. platanifolia.
1. Styrax americana Lam. MOCK-ORANGE. Fig. 618.
Shrub or small tree to 6 m. tall; leaves elliptic to obovate, tapering to base,
more or less abruptly acute to short-acuminate at apex, to 13 cm. long and 8 cm.
wide, subglabrous to pulverulent or somewhat scurfy on lower surface, the margins
(especially above the middle) irregularly serrulate to serrate-sublobulate; flowers
axillary or in several-flowered racemes to 7 cm. long, the racemes subglabrous to
scurfy-canescent, the pedicels usually about 5 mm. long; calyx puberulent; corolla
lobes valvate to somewhat convolute in bud, elliptic to elliptic-oblanceolate, obtuse
to acute at apex, to 15 mm. long and 5 mm. wide; capsule subglobose, about 1 cm.
long, apiculate. Incl. f. pulverulenta (Michx.) Perkins, S. pulverulenta Michx.
In moist woods, swampy areas and along streams in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla.
(McCurtain Co.), Apr.-May; from Fla., w. to Tex., n. to s.e. Va., s. Ind., s.e.
Mo., Ark. and Okla.
2. Styrax platanifolia Engelm.
Shrub or small tree to 4 m. tall, much-branched; leaves more or less pubescent
with stellate hairs, rarely subglabrous, strongly reticulate-veined, broadly ovate
to suborbicular, with the margins undulate to angulate or occasionally sinuately
1299
-------
Fig. 618: Stvrax amcricana: a. flowering branch, x 1^; b, flower, x 3V>; c, fruiting
branch, x V;.; d, fruit, x 21V, e, fruit (dried), x 2V>. (V. F.).
-------
lobulate, truncate to subcordate at base, obtuse to somewhat abruptly acute at
apex, to 1 dm. long and wide; flowers several in corymbose racemes, with
puberulent pedicels; calyx puberulent; petals elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute,
about 15 mm. long; capsule about 1 cm. in diameter, puberulent, apiculate. Incl.
var. stellata Cory.
Along streams and on seepage ledges in limestone canyons of Tex. Edwards
Plateau, Apr.-May; endemic.
Fam. 105. Symplocaceae DESF. SWEET-LEAF FAMILY
Tree or sometimes shrubs; leaves alternate, simple, without stipules; flowers
perfect, regular; calyx campanulate, adherent to the ovary, its lobes valvate or
imbricate; corolla with as many as 11 petals (5 in ours) that are united at base;
stamens in clusters at the base of each petal, in several series, free or variously
united at base; anthers minute, subglobose; ovary partly inferior, 2- to 5-celled;
ovules 2 to 4, pendulous; style 1; fruit baccate or drupaceous, crowned by the
calyx lobes, 1- to 5-celled, with a solitary anatropous seed in each cell.
Two genera of about 500 species, mostly tropical and subtropical.
1. Symplocos JACQ. SWEET-LEAF
Characters of the family. About 350 species, mostly in tropical regions of both
hemispheres.
1. Symplocos tinctoria (L.) L'Her. HORSE-SUGAR, YELLOW-WOOD. Fig. 619.
Large shrubs or small trees to 6 m. tall; leaves elliptic to elliptic-obovate or
oblanceolate, tapering to the short petiole, acute to shortly acuminate at apex,
subentire to obscurely toothed, usually subcoriaceous and evergreen or late-
deciduous, glossy on upper surface, pale and minutely pubescent on lower surface,
to 15 cm. long and 6 cm. wide; flowers 6 to 14 in close and bracted clusters on
the old wood, yellow, fragrant, the clusters axillary and sessile, opening before
or with the leaves; petals 5, obovate, 6-8 mm. long; drupes cylindric-ellipsoid,
about 1 cm. long.
In woods, Palmetto marsh areas where occasionally flooded, swamps and bot-
tomlands in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Feb.-Apr.; from Fla. to
Tex. and Okla., n. to Del.
The sweetish leaves are much relished by browsing animals.
Fam. 106. Olecceae HOFFMSG. & LINK OLIVE FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or rarely subherbaceous; leaves opposite or rarely alternate, simple
to pinnatifid or pinnate, exstipulate; flowers perfect or unisexual, regular, variously
disposed; calyx 4-lobed or -parted, rarely 5- to 16-lobed or wanting; corolla gamo-
petalous, 4-lobed or rarely 6- to 12-lobed, sometimes of distinct petals or wanting;
stamens 2 or rarely 3 to 5, adnate to the corolla and alternate with the lobes;
ovary free, 2-celled, with usually 2 ovules in each cell; style 1 or wanting, with a
simple or 2-lobed stigma; fruit a drupe, capsule or samara; seeds anatropous, with
large straight embryo, with or without albumen.
About 30 genera with over 600 species in temperate and tropical regions. Many
ornamental species; a few are of economic importance and some are valuable tim-
ber trees. Species of the Old World jasmine (Jasminum spp.) are commonly culti-
vated in our area, and Olea europaea provides the olive of commerce.
1301
-------
Fig. 619: Symplocos lincloria: a, flowering branch, x \->; b, flower showing branched
filamenls, x 2; c, flower showing calyx and bud scales, x 2; d, fruiting branch, x V>;
e, drupe, x 2V-. (V. F.).
-------
1. Fruit a samara; leaves pinnately compound 1. Fraxinus
1. Fruit a drupe; leaves entire (2)
2(1). Corolla lobes linear, many times longer than the tube, valvate; flowers in
pendulous panicles 2. Chionanthus
2. Corolla wanting; flowers in small axillary clusters 3. Forestiera
1. Fraxinus L. ASH
Deciduous trees or very rarely shrubs; winter buds often superposed, with 1 or 2
pairs of outer scales, usually brown or black and scurfy, the outer pair sometimes
foliar (that is, obscurely pinnate at apex); leaves opposite, petioled, odd-pinnate,
rarely reduced to 1 leaflet; male and female flowers on separate plants or occasional
flowers may appear perfect; flowers small, in crowded panicles or racemes; calyx
small, 4-parted or -lobed or wanting; corolla of 2 to 6 (usually 4) distinct petals,
rarely connate at base or wanting; stamens usually 2; ovary 2-celled; stigmas 2;
fruit a samara or 1-seeded nutlet with a usually elongated wing at the apex; seed
oblong, albuminous.
About 70 species in the Northern Hemisphere. Ornamental trees with handsome
foliage, some with conspicuous flowers; several species are important timber trees.
1. Plants in Oklahoma and the eastern two thirds of Texas from the eastern Pan-
handle through the central Edwards Plateau south to the upper
Gulf Coast (2)
1. Plants in the western third of Texas, mainly in the Trans-Pecos, western
Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Valley, westward (4)
2(1). Body of fruit compressed, its broad wing extending to the base; confined to
southeast Texas 1. F. caroliniana.
2. Body of fruit terete or nearly so (3)
3(2). Wing of fruit decurrent to about or below the middle of the fruit body;
leaves lighter green but not noticeably pale on the lower surface
2. F. pensylvanica.
3. Wing of fruit terminal or only slightly decurrent on the fruit body; leaves
usually pale-glaucous on lower surface, somewhat papillose on upper
surface 3. F. americana.
4(1). Leaves and branchlets glabrous; wing of the fruit decurrent to or near the
base of the somewhat compressed fruit body; in the Texas Edwards
Plateau and Rio Grande Plains and Valley 4. F. Berlandieriana.
4. Leaves and branchlets pubescent or glabrous; wing of the fruit (at most) decur-
rent to above the middle of terete fruit body; in the Texas Trans-
Pecos region westward 5. F. velutina.
1. Fraxinus caroliniana Mill. CAROLINA ASH, POP ASH, WATER ASH. Fig. 620.
Shrubby tree rarely more than 10m. high and trunks to 3 dm. in diameter, the
winter buds chestnut-brown; branchlets terete, glabrous or pubescent; leaves with
terete petioles; leaflets 5 or 7, with slender petiolules to 2 cm. long, ovate-lanceolate
to elliptic or oblong, to 12 cm. long, broadly cuneate or sometimes rounded at the
base, acuminate at apex, serrate or rarely entire, pale-green and glabrous or spar-
ingly pilose on the veins or rarely pubescent beneath; anthers linear, apiculate, on
slender filaments; samaras rhombic to elliptic or obovate-oblanceolate, 3-5 cm.
long, acute to emarginate, the fruit body compressed and surrounded by the wing,
sometimes 3-winged.
Usually in swamps and along rivers in s.e. Tex., Mar.-May; from Va. to Fla.,
w. to Ark. and Tex.
1303
-------
Fig. 620: Fraxinus caroliniana: in fruit, x \'». (V. F.).
-------
2. Fraxinus pensylvanica Marsh. RED ASH.
Tree to 20 m. high, with a trunk rarely to 5 dm. in diameter; branchlets and
petioles densely pubescent to glabrous; leaflets 5 to 9, with petiolules to about 1
cm. long, ovate to elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, to 15 cm. long, broadly cuneate
to somewhat rounded at base, acute to acuminate at apex, the margins entire to
serrate, bright-green above, pubescent to glabrous or pubescent only along midrib
beneath; panicle rather compact, tomentose to glabrous; anthers linear-oblong, on
short filaments; samaras 3-7.5 cm. long, brownish; fruit body slender, terete, to
3 cm. long; wing lanceolate to oblong-obovate, rounded to acuminate or rarely
emarginate at apex, decurrent to about or below the middle or very rarely nearly
to the base.
Along rivers and streams, in alluvial woods and swamps, and in depressions in
savannahs, in Tex. mainly e. of a line drawn from Victoria Co. on the coast to
Hemphill Co. on the Rolling Plains in the Panhandle, and Okla. (Craig and Alfalfa
cos.), Feb.-Apr.; from N.S. to Man., s. to Ga., Ala. and Tex.
Our plant is usually referred to var. subintegerrima (Vahl) Fern. [var. lanceo-
lata (Buckl.) Sarg.] which is essentially glabrous throughout.
3. Fraxinus americana L. WHITE ASH, FRESNO.
Tall tree to 40 m. high; young branchlets dark-green or brownish, glabrous and
lustrous; leaflets 5 to 9, usually 7, with slender petiolules to 15 mm. long, ovate to
ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, to 15 cm. long, cuneate to rounded at the
base, mostly acuminate but sometimes blunt at apex, usually entire or only slightly
undulate or dentate toward the apex, dark-green above, glaucous beneath and
usually glabrous; anthers linear to oblong, apiculate; samaras 3-5 cm. long, the
terete fruit body to 15 mm. long; wing narrowly oblong to spatulate, not decurrent,
4-7 mm. broad, emarginate or obtuse at apex.
Along streams and in damp or wet forests in the e. third of Tex. and in Okla.
(Waterfall), Feb.-Mar.; from N.S. to Minn., s. to Fla. and Tex.
4. Fraxinus Berlandieriana A.DC. MEXICAN ASH, FRESNO.
Small tree to about 10 m. high; leaves petiolate, grayish-green to bright-green;
leaflets 3 to 5, with petiolules to 12 mm. long, lanceolate to elliptic or obovate,
typically narrow, to 12 cm. long, narrowly to broadly cuneate at base, subobtuse
to acuminate at apex, nearly entire to coarsely serrate, pale and glabrous or hairy
in the axils of the veins beneath; samaras 25-35 mm. long, oblong-obovate to spatu-
late; wing decurrent to or near the base of fruit body, occasionally 3-winged.
Mostly along wooded streams and in canyons in Tex. in the Edwards Plateau and
on the Rio Grande Plains and Valley, s. to Cameron Co., Mar .-Aug.; also in adj.
Mex.
5. Fraxinus velutina Torr. VELVET ASH, ARIZONA ASH, DESERT ASH, FRESNO.
Small to medium-sized tree to 12 m. high and 3 dm. in trunk diameter, with
spreading branches to form a rounded crown; bark deeply furrowed into ridges,
gray, the light-brown wood soft and heavy; branchlets velvety-tomentose to gla-
brescent; twigs brown, glabrous to pubescent; leaves petioled, pinnately compound,
7.5-15 cm. long; leaflets 3 to 9, usually 5, short-petiolulate to subsessile, varying
greatly in appearance, elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, obtuse to long-pointed at
apex, 25-75 mm. long, essentially entire to somewhat dentate on upper margins,
varying from thin to thick and leathery and from glabrous to densely short-
pubescent beneath; flowers small, yellow (staminate) and green (pistillate), appear-
ing before the leaves, many in clusters; samaras numerous in dense clusters, 2-3.5
cm. long; wing oblong-obovate to elliptic or spatulate, shorter than the terete fruit
body and decurrent scarcely to the middle, 3-4 mm. wide. Incl. f. Toumeyi Britt.
and var. Toumeyi (Britt.) Rehd., F. Standleyi Rehd.
1305
-------
Fig. 621: a and b, Forestiera acuminata: a, branch with fruit, x Vi', b, fruit, x
I1!;, c-f, Chionantluts virginicus: c, flowering branch, x !•>; d, leaves showing size at
flowering time, x Vj; e, fruiting branch, x V-i; f, leaves showing relative size at fruiting
time, x 1'>. (a and b, Redrawn from Godfrey, Trees of Northern Florida, Fig. 174;
c-f, V.F.).
-------
In canyons and borders of streams, lakes and springs in the Tex. Trans-Pecos,
N.M. (Grant, Luna, Dona Ana, Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to
Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), spring; from w. Tex. to Ut.,
Nev., Calif, and n. Mex.
Similarly to most of our ashes, F. velutina is an extremely variable species that
has been given a number of names based on its variations. The plant with glabrous
branchlets and leaves has been designated as var. glabra (Thornb.) Rehd.
2. Chionanthus L. FRINGE-TREE
Two species, ours and another in eastern Asia.
1. Chionanthus virginica L. OLD-MAN'S BEARD. Fig. 621.
Low deciduous tree to about 10 m. high; branchlets stout, pubescent when young;
leaves with petioles to 25 mm. long, opposite to alternate, entire, oval to oblong or
oblanceolate, cuneate at base, acute to acuminate at apex, to 2 dm. long and 6 cm.
wide, usually much smaller, dark-green and lustrous above, paler and sometimes
pubescent beneath; panicles densely flowered, to 2 dm. long, usually leafy-bracted
at base; flowers delicate, white or greenish-white, on slender pedicels, opening with
or before the leaves, in loose and drooping graceful panicles from lateral buds in
the uppermost leaf axils, functionally unisexual; calyx 4-parted, very small, per-
sistent; calyx lobes triangular; petals 1.5-3 cm. long, about 2 mm. wide, narrowly
linear, acute, varying to 5 or 6 in number; stamens 2, subsessile on the base of
the corolla; style very short, the stigma notched; drupe purple, with a bloom, ovoid
to ellipsoid, fleshy, to 18 mm. long.
In damp woods, low wet depressions in flatwoods, in thickets or on bluffs in
s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-Apr.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., e. Pa.,
W.Va., s. O., s. Mo. and Okla.; spreading from cult, northw.
Those plants with pubescent panicles and pubescent lower surface of leaves are
usually referred to var. maritima Pursh.
3. Forestiera PoiR.
Shrubs or small trees; leaves opposite or subopposite, the phyllotaxis in some
species obscured by the foreshortening of the internodes of the twigs ("spurs" or
"short shoots"); leaf blades entire, simple, usually porulose (with darkish minute
craters scattered in the epidermis); stipules absent; male and female flowers borne
on separate bushes or an occasional flower appearing perfect; flowers inconspicu-
ous, borne in small axillary glomerules, unisexual; sepals minute; corolla absent;
staminate flowers comprising merely 4 (or 5) minute sepals and 4 (or 5) stamens;
pistillate flowers comprising usually 4 (or 5) minute sepals, 4 (or 5) staminodia
and a central stipitate ovary; ovary one-celled, uniovulate; fruit a slow-maturing
drupe, longitudinally ribbed prior to ripening, the mesocarp becoming juicy only
very shortly before maturity, the exocarp passing through shades of purple to
nearly black and with a whitish bloom, the stone thin-walled and made of a series
of longitudinal ribs; endosperm copious.
A genus of North America and Central America and the West Indies, of about
12 inclusive species or up to 20 finely divided ones.
Some species are among the most sought-after browse, and tend to disappear in
over-browsed areas. The ripe drupes are eaten by game birds and some waterfowl.
1. Leaf blades mostly more than 3.5 cm. long, acuminate; petioles 5 mm. long or
more 1. F. acuminata.
1. Leaf blades rarely more than 3.5 cm. long, obtuse to acute; petioles 1-3 mm.
long 2. F. pubescens.
1. Forestiera acuminata (Michx.) Poir. SWAMP PRIVET. Fig. 621.
Shrubs to about 3 m. tall or small trees to 10 m. tall, glabrous; leaves deciduous,
1307
-------
with a petiole 5-15 mm. long, ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 3-10 cm. long,
cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, light-green, slightly serrate, rarely somewhat
pubescent; flowers greenish, minute, the staminate in dense bracted clusters, the
pistillate in short panicles; fruit narrowly oblong, dark-purple, 12-15 mm. long.
Incl. f. vestita (E.J.Palm.) M.C.Johnst.
In swamp forests, edge of water of streams and ponds and lowland woods, in
s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), n.-cen., e. and s.-cen. Tex., spring; s.e. U. S., n. to
S.C., Tenn., Ind. and III, w. to Okla. and Tex.
The fruits of this species have been likened to soft, miniature, wrinkled sausages.
2. Forestiera pubescens Nutt. ELBOW-BUSH, SPRING HERALD, STRETCH-BERRY,
DESERT OLIVE.
Rounded shrubs with arcuate branches, to about 3 m. tall, with spiny glabrous to
soft-pilose branchlets; leaves simple, opposite or fascicled, with petioles 1-3 mm.
long, deciduous, ovate to obovate or oblong-oblanceolate, 1.5-4 cm. long, 6-11
mm. wide, cuneate at base, acute to obtuse at apex, the somewhat revolute margins
shallowly crenulate or serrulate, distinctly punctate-dotted beneath, either totally
glabrous fvar. glabrifolia Shinners, F. sphaerocarpa Torr.) or pubescent on both
surfaces (F neomexicana Gray and var. arizonica Gray); flowers pclygamo-
dioecious, in clusters, the staminate sessile, the pistillate pedicellate; scales of
flower buds obovate to suborbicular, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, yellowish, ciliolate near
base; stamens 2 to 4; anthers yellow, 0.5 mm. long, subglobose, the filaments
about 2 mm. long; drupes ovoid to broadly ellipsoid, blue-black, somewhat glau-
cous, 4-8 mm. long; style slender, 1-1.5 mm. long, deciduous.
On river and valley flats, canyon slopes, along streams, in open pastures and
brushy prairies where not too heavily browsed, Okla. (Arbuckle and Wichita mts,,
and Caddo Co.), cen. and w. Tex., N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache to
Mohave, s. to Graham, Gila and Yavapai cos.), Mar.-June; Okla. and Tex., w.
and s.w. to Calif, and mts. of Chih.
The plants of Oklahoma and most of Texas, including the mountains of the
Trans-Pecos, Coahuila and Chihuahua, have blades only about twice as long as
broad and are the more typical F pubescens. Those of the western states and from
the margin of Salt Flat in Culberson and Hudspeth counties, Texas, and of canyons
on the High Plains country have blades about three times as long as broad and are
referable to F. neomexicana. But there is complete intergradation in western Texas.
Alleged differences in pedicel length are unreliable and differences in pubescence
are found even in one population. There is no very meaningful way to recognize
two species in this complex.
Children are known to chew the fruits of this species with ordinary chewing-
gum to produce a sort of "bubble-gum."
Fam. 107. Loganiaceae MART. LOGANIA FAMILY
Herbs, vines, shrubs or trees (tropical) with opposite unlobed leaves and stipules
or a stipular line or membrane between them; flowers regular, perfect, 4- or
5-merous, gamopetalous, variously arranged; calyx deeply lobed or with separate
sepals; corolla salverform to tubular or campanulate; stamens perigynous, as many
as the corolla lobes and alternate with them; ovary 2-celled, free from calyx; fruit
a capsule or pod.
Traditionally, about 800 species in 30 or more genera in tropical and warm-
temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1308
-------
Fig. 622: Gelsemium sempervirens: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, leaves to show
variation, x %; c, flower, x %; d and e, dimorphic flowers opened, x %; f, anther,
enlarged; g, capsule, x %; h, seed on septum, x 2. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 623: a-f, Cynoctonum Mitrcola: a, habit, x '^; b, flower, x 10; c, calyx spread
out. x 10; d, corolla spread out, x 10; e, two-lobed capsule, x 10; f, dehiscent capsule,
x 10. g-k, Cynoctonum scxsilifoliiim: g, habit, x V>; h, flower, x 5; i, corolla spread out,
x 5; j, \oung capsule, x 5; k, two-lobed capsule, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
1. Twining woody climbers with semievergreen leaves; flowers yellow, axillary,
more than 20 mm. long 1. Gelsemium
1. Erect herbs; flowers white or pinkish, along one side of the branches of a
terminal peduncled cyme, less than 8 mm. long 2. Cynoctonum
1. Gelsemium Juss. YELLOW-JESSAMINE
Three species known; two in North America, another in eastern Asia.
1. Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Jaurrie St. Hil. CAROLINA-JESSAMINE, POOR
MAN'S ROPE. Fig. 622.
Smooth and twining shrubby perennial; stems high-climbing, wiry, brownish-
red; leaves with petioles about 5 mm. long, ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, semi-
evergreen, to 75 mm. long and 3 cm. wide; stipules minute, deciduous; pedicels
scaly-bracted; flowers 5-merous, fragrant, in axillary clusters of as many as 6,
sometimes solitary; corolla yellow, funnelform, 25-35 mm. long; anthers oblong,
sagittate; style long, slender; pod elliptic, 2-celled and 2-valved, to 15 mm. long,
flattened contrary to the narrow partitions; seeds numerous, winged.
Usually in sandy loam on edge of or in open woodlands but sometimes in
swamps, evergreen shrub bogs and floodplain woods, in e. Tex., Feb.-Apr.; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to s.e. Va. and Ark.
2. Cynoctonum J. F. GMEL. MITERWORT. HORNPOD
Annual smooth herbs with small stipules between the leaves and small whitish
or pink-tinged flowers spiked along one side of the branches of a terminal
peduncled cyme; flowers 5-merous; sepals ovate to elliptic, united at base; corolla
longer than the calyx, somewhat globose-funnelform with small elliptic several-
veined lobes; stamens included; ovary slightly adnate to the bottom of the calyx,
2-celled; capsule exserted, strongly bicornute or mitriform, opening down the
inner side of each horn, many-seeded.
About 6 species of warm-temperate regions.
1. Capsule 3-4 mm. high, its outer surface essentially smooth; leaves tapering to
a petiolate base, typically narrowly elliptic, thin, at least some 3 cm.
long or more 1. C. Mitreola.
1. Capsule 2-3 mm. high, its outer surface densely cellular-papillose; leaves
sessile, typically broadly oval, firm, rarely more than 2 cm. long
2. C. sessilifolium.
1. Cynoctonum Mitreola (L.) Britt. Fig. 623.
Stem simple or laxly slender-branched, to 75 cm. tall; leaves thin, petiolate,
ovate-elliptic to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to acuminate at apex, 2-8
cm. long; cymes on long slender peduncles, their branches loosening in fruit;
corolla about twice as long as the calyx; fruiting calyces slightly distant; capsules
3-4 mm. high, the outer surface smooth or rarely with few scattered papillae.
Mitreola petiolata (Walt.) T. & G.
In moist soil in seepage, along ditches and streams, in mud of marshes and
swamps, and about ponds and lakes in e. and cen. Tex., w. to Val Verde Co. and
s,w. to Victoria Co., and s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), May-Oct.; from Fla. to
Tex., n. to s.e. Va., Tenn., Ark. and Okla.
2. Cynoctonum sessilifolium (Walt.) J. F. Gmel. Fig. 623.
Stem stiffly erect, simple or with few erect branches, to about 5 dm. tall;
leaves firm, sessile, oval to elliptic or suborbicular-ovate, bluntly obtuse to abruptly
tipped, the margin usually noticeable papillose, rarely more than 2 cm. long and
wide; cymes more compact than in C. Mitreola; corolla only slightly longer than
the usually prominently keeled calyx lobes; fruiting calyces approximate; capsules
1311
-------
2—3 mm. high, the outer surface conspicuously and densely cellular-papillose.
On seepage slopes and in bogs and wet savannahs, in water of borrow-pits,
and along wooded streams, in e. Tex., June-Oct; from Fla. to Tex., n. to s.e. Va.
Fam. 108. Gentianaceae Juss. GENTIAN FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or essentially so, with simple exstipulate
entire opposite, whorled or rarely alternate sessile to occasionally long-petioled
leaves; flowers solitary or borne in clusters or in simple or compound cymes, 4- to
12-merous, regular, perfect, hypogynous, sympetalous; calyx persistent; corolla
tubular, salverform, campanulate or rotate; stamens on the corolla tube, alternate
and as many as the lobes; ovary 1-celled or essentially 2-celled by intrusion of
2 parietal placentae; style elongate to obsolete, the stigma entire to prominently
2-cIeft; capsule usually 2-valved and septicidal, many-seeded.
A large world-wide family of about 80 genera and 900 species, mostly in tem-
perate regions. By many authors segregated into 2 families, in which case the
genus Nymphoides, because of its alternate leaves and valvate aestivation, is placed
in the Menyanthaceae.
1. Leaves alternate, the petiole usually much longer than the floating blade;
corolla lobes valvate in bud; plant aquatic 9. Nymphoides
1. Leaves opposite or whorled, rarely alternate, sessile or with petiole much
shorter than the blade; corolla lobes never valvate in bud; plants in
wet habitats but not aquatic (2)
2(1). Corolla lobes imbricate in bud, without appendages or glands; leaves
reduced to opposite or alternate scales 8. Bartonia
2. Corolla lobes convolute in bud, with or without appendages or glands; leaves
ample, opposite or sometimes whorled (3)
3(2). Style filiform, usually deciduous from capsule; anthers either twisted or
prominently curved in age (4)
3. Style usually stout and persistent, rarely obsolete; anthers remaining straight
or only slightly curved (6)
4(3). Stigmas linear or nearly so, about as long as the style; corolla rotate, the
tube conspicuously shorter than the lobes; anthers merely recurved
or revolute 1. Sabatia.
4. Stigmas roundish, much shorter than the style (5)
5(4). Corolla salverform, the tube surpassing the calyx and exceeding or equal
in length to the lobes; anthers more or less spirally twisted
2. Centaurium
5. Corolla deeply campanulate, the tube much shorter than the calyx and the
lobes; anthers straight or only slightly recurved 3. Eustoma
6(3). Corolla rotate, the small tube much shorter than the lobes or the calyx
lobes (7)
6. Corolla tubular to funnelform or campanulate, the usually well-developed tube
as long as or longer than the lobes and calyx lobes (8)
7(6). Style well-developed 7. Swertia
1. Style none, the stigmas decurrent along the sides of the ovary
5. Lomatogonium
8(6). Corolla not spurred at base 4 Centiana
8. Corolla of well-developed flowers 4-spurred at base 6. Halenia
1312
-------
1. Sabatia ADANS. ROSE-GENTIAN
Erect glabrous annual or perennial herbs, with slender leafy stems and mostly
cymose panicled flowers; leaves mostly cauline but also basal in some species;
flowers perfect, regular, long-pedicelled or subsessile; calyx gamosepalous, 5- to
12-parted, the lobes slender; corolla 5- to 12-parted, rotate; stamens 5 to 12;
filaments slender, inserted on upper edge of corolla tube and alternate with the
lobes; anthers basally attached, soon recurved; style slender; stigmatic branches 2;
capsule ovoid to cylindric, with numerous seeds.
A genus of 17 species native to continental North America and the West Indies.
The name has often been misspelled "Sabbatia."
1. Flowers 7-to 12-merous (2)
1. Flowers 5- or rarely 6-merous (3)
2(1). Flowers several approximate, sessile or nearly so, subtended by foliaceous
bracts; annual 1. S. gentianoides.
2. Flowers solitary on long peduncles, without bracts; perennial..2. S. dodecandra.
3(1). Calyx tube very prominently 5-nerved and thinly membranous-winged;
lateral nerves of the calyx lobes much more strongly developed than
the midnerve; flowers 5-merous; annual (4)
3. Calyx tube smooth or finely nerved and lacking membranous wings; midnerve
of the calyx lobes almost equaling or even more strongly developed
than the lateral nerves; flowers either 5- or rarely 6-merous; annual
or perennial (5)
4(3). Leaves and calycine lobes thin and membranous, neither succulent nor
heavily cutinized; leaves broadest near the base, usually strongly
clasping the stem, the midvein at least prominently elevated beneath;
calyx lobes usually 2 to 6 times longer than the calyx tube, generally
4 to 8 times longer than broad; corolla lobes typically equaling or
exceeding the calyx lobes, usually longer than 1 cm. and wider than
7 mm.; stigmatic lobes over 5 mm. long; anthers longer than 2 mm...
4. S. campestris.
4. Leaves and calycine lobes thick and succulent, heavily cutinized; leaves broad-
est above the base, tapering somewhat to the sessile non-clasping
base, the venation obscure and flush with the surface; calyx lobes
usually less than twice the length of the calyx tube, generally less
than 4 times as long as broad; corolla lobes usually equaled or
exceeded by the calyx lobes, the corolla lobes usually less than 1 cm.
long and narrower than 7 mm.; stigmatic lobes less than 5 mm.
long; anthers shorter than 2 mm 5. S. arenicola.
5(3). Perennial with elongate rhizomes, sometimes stoloniferous; leaves oblong to
narrowly obovate; calyx lobes broadened above the middle
6. S. calycina.
5. Annual without rhizomes or stolons; leaves suborbicular to cordate-ovate; calyx
lobes narrowed above the middle 3. S. angularis.
1. Sabatia gentianoides Ell. Fig. 624.
Erect strict annual to 5 dm. tall; stem usually unbranched or only slightly
branched above the middle; leaves dimorphic, thick, the venation obscure, those of
the basal rosette wide-spreading and oblong tp orbicular-spatulate, to 3 cm. long
and 12 mm. wide; cauline leaves linear, strongly ascending or sometimes appressed
to the stem, to 1 dm. long and less than 3 mm. wide; flowers subsessile, 7- to
12-merous, borne singly or in clusters of several at apex of main stem or in axils of
uppermost leaves, subtended by 2 conspicuously long linear bracts; calyx tube
broadly campanulate, smooth and nerveless, to 8 mm. long, the subulate recurved
1313
-------
Fig. 624: Sabalia geniianoides: a, upper part of plant, x ',*>; b, basal rosette and lower
part of stem, x 'L.; c, flower, x 1; d, ovary, x 1; e, fruit, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
lobes to 15 mm. long; corolla pink to deep-rose-color; corolla lobes elliptic to
oblanceolate or spatulate, obtuse to acute, to 3 cm. long and 1 cm. wide; stigmatic
lobes 4-7 mm. long; capsule ovoid, to 10 mm. long and 6 mm. in diameter.
In boggy or wet pinelands, pitcher plant bogs and savannahs in s.e. Tex., May-
Aug.; from N.C., s. to Fla. and Tex.
2. Sabatia dotlecandra (L.) B.S.P. LARGE MARSH-PINK. Fig. 625.
Perennial to about 7 dm. high, rhizomatous and stoloniferous, with alternate
branches or dichotomous above the middle; leaves narrowly elliptic to lanceolate,
2-5 cm. long, obtuse to acute or subacuminate; flowers 8- to 12-merous; calyx
lobes lanceolate, 1—3 mm. wide, conspicuously 3- or 5-nerved; corolla lobes pink
or whitish, yellow at the base, narrowly oblanceolate to somewhat spatulate, 15-22
mm. long, 4-9 cm. wide.
In s.e. Tex., June-Aug.; from S.C. to Tex.
Our plants are referable to var. foliosa (Fern.) Wilbur, characterized by having
internodes that are equal to or shorter than the subtending leaves, stolons present,
and growing in depressions in open woods, marshy areas, about ponds and on
stream margins and in ditches. Var. dodecandra is typically coastal where it occurs
in brackish habitats on the Atl. Coast.
3. Sabatia angularis (L.) Pursh. ROSE-PINK, BITTER-BLOOM.
Erect annual to 7 dm. tall, with simple strongly 4-angled slightly winged stems
or bushy-branched; cauline leaves membranous, the lower suborbicular, the middle
and upper cordate-ovate, clasping, 3- to 7-nerved, to 3 cm. long and 25 mm.
wide; calyx tube about 1.5 mm. long, the thin lobes narrowed above middle and
about 1 cm. long; corolla pink or roseate, delicately fragrant; corolla lobes oblong
to obovate or elliptic, obtuse, to about 2 cm. long; stigmatic lobes slender, 3-6
mm. long; capsule to 8 mm. long and 5 mm. wide.
In open pine-hardwood flats, marshlands and edge of woods in e. Tex. and
Okla. (Waterfall), May-July; N.Y., w. to 111. and s. to Fla. and Tex.
4. Sabatia campestris Nutt.
Erect annual to 5 dm. tall, usually much smaller; stem with few or no branches
on lower half but with several simple or forking mostly alternate branches above;
leaves membranous, oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate-elliptic, obtuse to acute,
broadly clasping stem, to 45 mm. long and 2 cm. wide; calyx tube to 8 mm. long,
strongly pentagonal with 5 short wing-angles extending up to the sinuses, its 3-
nerved lobes linear-lanceolate and to 25 mm. long; corolla roseate to pale-pink or
rarely white; corolla lobes broadly obovate to elliptic, obtuse to acute, to 23 mm.
long and 15 mm. wide, their yellow basal spots 3- to 6-lobed with 1 or 2 middle
lobes longest; stigmatic lobes greenish, becoming yellow with age, 5-8 mm. long;
capsule to 9 mm. long.
In moist or dry soil in fields, prairies, cedar-oak flats and along streams,
on mud flats and in wet soil about ponds and lakes, and in roadside ditches, in
Okla. (Grady, Pushmataha, Jefferson, Stephen and Ottawa cos.) and in e. half of
Tex. and s.w. along the coast, Apr.-July; 111. and Kan., s. to Tex. and Miss.
5. Sabatia arenicola Greenm.
Erect or erect-spreading annual, to 3 dm. tall; stems simple or branching from
the base upward to form a globose intricate mass; leaves thick-succulent, widely
spreading, the venation obscured, varying from elliptic-obovate at base to oblong
or ovate-lanceolate above, obtuse, to 25 mm. long and 13 mm. wide, usually much
smaller; calyx tube to 8 mm. long, strongly pentagonal due to the thick costae or
ribs, the thick lobes triangular-lanceolate and to 15 mm. long; corolla roseate
1315
-------
Fig. 625: Sabatia dodecandra: habit, X y>. (V. F.).
-------
to sometimes white; corolla lobes about as long as or shorter than the calyx lobes,
obovate to oblong, obtuse; stigmatic lobes greenish, 2.5-4 mm. long; capsule to
9 mm. long. S. carnosa Small.
On beaches, depressions in dunes, salt flats, fields and wet savannahs in s. Tex.,
Apr.-July; in La., Tex. and n.e. Mex.
6. Sabatia calycina (Lam.) Heller.
Rigidly erect perennial with a slender or thick rhizome, to 4 dm. tall; stems
weak, simple or with either opposite or alternate divergent or somewhat ascend-
ing branches; leaves membranous, oblong to narrowly obovate, obtuse to acute,
to 1 dm. long and 2 cm. wide; flowers usually borne singly, 5- or 6-merous;
calyx tube thin, smooth or with the veins only slightly elevated, to 5 mm. long,
its thin foliaceous lobes oblanceolate to spatulate and to 3 cm. long; corolla white
or pale-rose to pink; corolla lobes oblanceolate to spatulate or elliptic, obtuse
or acute, to 15 mm. long and 6 mm. wide; stigmatic lobes 4-6 mm. long; capsule
to 1 cm. long and 8 mm. in diameter.
Ditches and shaded river swamps and bottoms in s.e. Tex., June-July; from
s.e. Va., s. to Fla. and Tex.; also Cuba and Hisp.
2. Centaurium HILL CENTAURY
Mostly low and small branching annuals but sometimes tall and showy; leaves
opposite; flowers light-pink to rose-purple or reddish; calyx 4- or 5-parted, the
lobes slender and appressed to the corolla tube; corolla funnelform or salverform,
with slender tube and 4- or 5-parted limb; anthers exserted, erect, spirally twisting;
style slender, single; stigma capitate or bifid.
A genus of about 45 species in temperate regions of the world.
1. Corolla lobes 7 mm. or more long, about as long as the corolla tube (2)
1. Corolla lobes rarely more than 6 mm. long, shorter than the corolla tube (4)
2(1). Some of the leaves oblong or oblong-elliptic; corolla tube and calyx lobes
about equal in length 1. C. calycosum var. calycosum.
2. All leaves typically linear; corolla tube conspicuously exceeding the calyx lobes
(3)
3(2). Plant without minute glands 2. C. Beyrichii var. Beyrichii.
3. Plant (especially the leaves) densely covered with minute glands
2. C. Beyrichii var. glanduliferum.
4(1). Distribution in central and southern Texas
1. C. calycosum var. breviflorutn.
4. Distribution in New Mexico and/or Arizona (5)
5(4). Basal leaves several approximate to form a basal rosette, obovatish, much
wider than the cauline leaves; corolla lobes 4—6 mm. long
3. C. nudicaule.
5. Basal leaves well-spaced, not forming a basal rosette, similar in shape and
size to the cauline leaves; corolla lobes 3—4 mm. long
4. C. exaltatum.
1. Centaurium calycosum (Buckl.) Fern. var. calycosum. ROSITA. Fig. 626.
Plant erect, simple or corymbosely branched, to 6 dm. tall, usually much
smaller; cauline leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic or sometimes narrowly lanceolate,
to 6 cm. long and 13 mm. wide; pedicels equaling or sometimes exceeding the
calyx; flowers pink to rose-color, rarely white; corolla tube about equaled in
length by the oblong to obovate or oval lobes (7-13 mm. long) and the calyx
lobes; seeds light-brown. Erythraea calycosa Buckl.
1317
-------
Usually in moist soil along streams, in marshes with willows and in seepage
areas, prairies and meadows, and on hillsides in cen. and w. Tex., N.M. (De
Baca, Grant, San Juan and Dona Ana cos.) and Ariz, (throughout state), Mar.-
Nov.; from Tex. to Mo., w. to Ut., Nev., N.M., Ariz, and n. Mex.
The var. breviflorum Shinners of central and south Texas is distinguished from
var. calycosum by its smaller corolla lobes (5-7 mm. long) and the calyx lobes
(6-10 mm. long) being shorter than the corolla tube. It occurs in similar habitats
but is also found in salt marshes along the coast.
2. Centaurium Beyrichii (T. & G.) Robins, var. Beyrichii. MOUNTAIN PINK.
Plant slender, to 3 dm. tall, at length fastigiately branched; cauline leaves
linear to very narrowly linear-oblanceolate, to 3 cm. long and 3 mm. wide, the
uppermost nearly filiform; pedicels about equal to or shorter than the calyx;
flowers numerous, pink; corolla tube equal to or somewhat exceeding in length
the elliptic to linear-oblong lobes (7-12 mm. long), about half again the length
of the calyx lobes; seeds dark-brown. Erythraea Beyrichii T. & G.
On rocky open limestone slopes and in seepage on granite boulders from n.-cen.
to w. Tex., where it is rare, and Okla. (Waterfall), May-Aug.; also Ark.
The var. glanduliferum Correll, of west Texas, is a small much-branched plant
about 15 cm. tall. It is distinguished from var. Beyrichii by the occurrence of
numerous minute glands, especially on the leaves. It also has blackish or very
dark-brown seeds.
3. Centaurium nudicaule (Engelm.) Robins.
Rather lax glabrous biennial; stems usually with less than 6 pairs of leaves,
to about 3 dm. tall; the branches, pedicels and often the leaves ascending-spread-
ing; basal leaves forming a rosette, obovatish, 8-16 mm. long, noticeably wider
than the cauline leaves that are linear to linear-lanceolate; flowers few on long
pedicels; corolla lobes pinkish, 4 or 5, oblong, obtuse, at most 6 mm. long, nearly
as long as the tube; anthers linear-oblong, slightly twisted.
Along streams, marsh areas and wet sand-gravel bars in stream beds, in Ariz.
(Pima and Mohave cos.), Apr.-Aug.; also Baja Calif.
4. Centaurium exaltatum (Griseb.) Wight ex Piper.
Plant glabrous; stems simple or usually branched, to about 3 dm. tall; leaves
ascending, oblong-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or oblanceolate, 1-3 cm. long,
obtuse to acute; flowers usually few, rarely solitary or many; pedicels strictly
erect, 1-5 cm. long, much-exceeding the subtending bract; calyx lobes 8-10
mm. long, subulate; corolla tube exceeding the calyx; corolla lobes pale-pink to
white, oblong, obtuse, 3-4 mm. long, usually about one-third as long as tube;
anthers oblong, about 1 mm. long, slightly twisted; stigma lobes flabellate; capsule
nearly twice the length of the calyx; seeds suborbicular, about 0.25 mm. long.
In marshes with willows and tamarix, and wet places generally, often alkaline,
in N.M. (San Juan Co.), June-Aug.; Neb. to Wash., s. to N.M. and Calif.
3. Eustoma SALISB. CATCHFLY-GENTIAN
Annual or short-lived perennial, more or less glaucous, with erect or ascending
leafy stems from a taproot and usually a rosette; leaves opposite, sessile and
clasping the stem, entire; flowers long-pedicelled, showy, solitary or paniculate;
calyx deeply cleft, the lobes long-attenuate, keeled; corolla deeply campanulate;
corolla lobes erect, convolute in bud, the apex entire or somewhat erose and some-
times apiculate; stamens 5 or 6, inserted on the corolla throat; anthers oblong,
versatile, straight or recurved; style slender, subpersistent, with a prominently
two-lipped stigma; capsule ellipsoid, 2-valved, many-seeded.
An American genus of several species, mostly in Mexico.
1318
-------
Fig. 626: Centaurium calycosum: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2%. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 627: a-e, Eusloma exaltalum: a, habit, x H; b, calyx, 1V>; c, petal, x I1!1', d,
stamen, x l1^; e, ovary, x l1^., f-i, Eusloma grandiflorum: f, calyx, x l1/^; g, petal,
x Pj; h, stamen, x l1^; i, ovary, x I'o. (V. F.)
-------
1. Corolla lobes 25 mm. long or less, less than 15 mm. wide 1. E. exaltatum.
1. Corolla lobes usually more than 30 mm. long, mostly 20 mm. or more wide
2. E. grandiflorum.
1. Eustoma exaltatum (L.) G. Don. Fig. 627.
Plants to 7 dm. tall, with one or several stems branched above; basal leaves
obovate, the cauline leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic and obtuse to subacute, to
9 cm. long and 3 cm. wide; pedicels to 1 dm. long; calyx lobes to 18 mm. long;
corolla blue to deep-lavender or white, the tube about 1 cm. long; corolla lobes
oblong-obovate, about twice as long as the tube or rarely to 25 mm. long; style
slender, about 5 mm. long; stigma lobes about 2 mm. long; capsule to 2 cm. long.
E. silenifolium Salisb.
In damp places in prairies and fields, along streams or in wet meadows, often
in alkaline or saline soils in s. and w. Tex., N. M., (Guadalupe, Socorro, Dona
Ana, Otero and Chaves cos.) and Ariz. (Mohave, Yavapai, Graham, Gila, Mari-
copa and Pima cos.), June-Oct.; in s. U.S., Mex., Br. Hond. and W.I.
The white-flowered plant has been designated f. albiflorum Benke.
2. Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinners. LIRA DE SAN PEDRO, BLUEBELLS. Fig.
627.
Plants very similar to E. exaltatum, to 7 dm. tall; leaves ovate to elliptic-oblong
or elliptic-lanceolate, noticeably 3-veined, to 8 cm. long and 3 cm. wide; pedicels
to 6 cm. long; calyx to 3 cm. long, the lobes subulate; corolla variously colored
blue-purple, pinkish, white or white and purple-tinged or yellowish; corolla lobes
3-4 cm. long, elliptic-obovate, at least 3 times as long as the tube; capsule to 2 cm.
long. E. Russellianum (Hook.) Sweet.
In moist places in prairies and fields and about tanks in most of Tex. and Okla.
(Waterfall), June-Sept.; Okla. and Tex., w. to Neb. and Colo., s. to Mex.
Several forms have been segregated based on the following flower-colors; white,
f. Fisheri (Standl.) Shinners; white with purple-tinged lobes, f. bicolor (Standl.)
Shinners; pink, f. roseum (Standl.) Shinners; yellow, f. flaviflorum (Cockll.)
Shinners.
4. Gentiana L. GENTIAN
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs from fleshy roots or slender rhizomes, mostly
glabrous; leaves opposite, petiolate to sessile and sometimes clasping; flowers soli-
tary to numerous in flat-topped to much-elongated cymose clusters, 4- to 5- or
rarely 6-merous (except the pistil), white or yellowish to bluish or purplish, often
with much green mottling; calyx tubular by fusion of lobes or divided to near the
base, sometimes lined with an inner membrane that projects above the base of the
often unequal lobes; corolla narrowly funnelform to salverform but usually closing
quickly, persistent, lobed for one-fifth to one-third its length, often either plicate
in the sinuses (with the plaits notched, rounded to acute or lobed or toothed) or
with setaceous scales at the base of the lobes on the inner surface; stamens adnate
to the corolla tube for one-third to three-fifths of its length, the adnate portion often
with free winglike margins, the free filaments often conspicuously flattened; anthers
versatile, erect to recurved; ovary stipitate to sessile; style usually short and rather
stout, ending in 2 stigmatose lobes or with enlarged crenate-margined stigmas;
capsules 1-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded.
Probably as many as 300 or more species, cosmopolitan except in Africa, mainly
in alpine areas. Many have beautiful, ornamental flowers.
1. Corolla without plaits or lobes in the sinuses; calyx without an intercalycine
membrane inside the tube, its lobes imbricate; nectariferous pits
borne well down on the corolla tube (2)
1321
-------
1. Corolla plicate in the sinuses, the plaits more or less extended into membranous
lobes or teeth, or rarely essentially entire; calyx with an inter-
calycine membrane inside the tube, its lobes valvate: ovary bearing
nectariferous pits on its base (5)
2(1). Flowers 4-merous, usually over 3 cm. long; inner sepals broader, mem-
branous-margined; corolla lobes fringed or toothed; corolla tube
without fringes on the throat (3)
2. Flowers 5 (4)—merous, less than 2 cm. long; outer sepals broader; corolla
lobes never fringed, rarely toothed; corolla tube with a fringe on
the throat (4)
3(2). Flowers closely invested by a bractlike pair of upper leaves; stems not
over 15 cm. tall; perennial 1. G. barbellata.
3. Flowers on naked peduncle and not invested by bractlike leaves; stems
usually over 15 cm. tall; annual 2. G. detonsa.
4(2). Flowers clustered; plants 3 dm. tall or more 3. G. Amarella.
4. Flowers solitary; plants rarely more than 1 dm. tall 4. G. tenella.
5(1). Dwarf annual or biennial; leaves broadly scarious-margined; flowers soli-
tary, terminal; anthers cordate, versatile; capsule long-stipitate and
exserted beyond corolla 5. G. Fremontii.
5. Perennials; leaves not scarious-margined; flowers short-pedunculate (at least
some of them axillary); anthers linear or oblong, extrorse; capsules
not long-stipitate nor exserted (6)
6(5). Cauline leaves linear to linear-lanceolate; floral bracts linear; plait between
corolla lobes plane or somewhat lacerate (7)
6. Cauline leaves ovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate; floral bracts ovate to
elliptic; plaits between corolla lobes somewhat erose or lacerate (8)
7(6). Corolla 3.5-5 cm. long, white with blue markings; bracts shorter than the
flowers; plant rarely more than 15 cm. tall 6. G. algida.
1. Corolla less than 3 cm. long, dark blue to purplish; bracts usually longer than
the flowers; plant usually more than 20 cm. tall 7. G. Bigelovii.
8(6). Corolla light blue to whitish; margins of leaves and calyx lobes con-
spicuously ciliolate; plaits about as long as corolla lobes, cut into
coarse broad segments 8. G. Saponaria.
8. Corolla deep-blue; margin of leaves and calyx lobes scaberulous; plaits con-
spicuously shorter than corolla lobes, cut into narrow fine segments
9. G. affinis.
1. Gentiana barbellata Engelm.
Perennial; stems single or in pairs from a slender fusiform root or caudex, 5-13
cm. tall; leaves rather thick and fleshy, obtuse, with rather rough callous margins;
basal leaves spatulate, 2-5 cm. long, slender-petioled; cauline leaves in 2 or 3 pairs,
linear-spatulate or the uppermost linear and connate at base; flowers 1 to 3, sessile
or nearly so between the involucrate foliaceous bracts; calyx lobes subulate-
triangular; corolla bright-blue, 2.5-3.8 cm. long, about twice the length of the
calyx, deeply 4-cleft; corolla lobes oblong, erose-denticulate above, conspicuously
fimbriate along the middle; capsule short and not stipitate; seeds squamulose-
roughened. Anthopogon barbellatus (Engelm.) Rydb.
In wet meadows, on alpine and subalpine seepage slopes, and open coniferous
forests, in N. M. (Colfax, Taos and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.),
Aug.-Sept.; Wyo. to N.M. and Ariz.
2. Gentiana detonsa Rottb.
Glabrous annual 1-4 dm. tall; stems usually several from the base, simple or
branched; leaves numerous in basal tuft, oblanceolate to spatulate, 1.5-4 cm. long;
1322
-------
cauline leaves in 2 to 4 pairs, narrowly lanceolate to oblong or oblanceolate, 1.5-5
cm. long; flowers 4- or rarely 3-merous, terminal on long naked peduncles and
usually also axillary on elongate peduncles with a pair of scarcely reduced folia-
ceous bracts at or below midlength; calyx 15-25 mm. long; calyx lobes acuminate,
subequal, alternately narrower and broader at the base, about equaling the tube;
corolla 3.5-6 cm. long, deep-blue to purplish, glandular at the base between the
bases of the filaments; corolla lobes subequal to the tube, oblong-obovate, erose-
lacerate at the rounded apex, more deeply lacerate on the sides, the sinuses neither
plaited nor appendaged; stamens slightly shorter than and inserted about midlength
of the corolla tube, the adnate portion broadly wing-margined, the free portion
thin and flat; anthers oblong, 3-4 mm. long; ovary stipitate; style relatively slender,
4-6 mm. long; stigma lobed, broad and flattened, pectinately fringe-margined;
seeds prismatic, terete, about 0.5 mm. long, dark-brown, finely alveolate. G. ther-
malis O. Ktze., G. elegans A. Nels., G. grandis (Gray) Holm, G. superba Greene,
Anthopogon elegans (A.Nels.) Rydb.
In marshes, wet meadows, bogs, seepage banks along streams and coniferous
forest slopes, in N.M. (Coifax, Mora, Santa Fe, Taos and Sandoval cos.) and
Ariz. (Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), July-Nov.; circumboreal, in N.A. from Nfld.
to Alas., s. to N.Y., Ind., S.D., N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex.
3. Gentiana Amarella L.
Annual or biennial 5^-0 cm. tall, entirely glabrous or sometimes with scaberu-
lous-ciliolate leaves and calyx lobes; stems simple to freely branched, lightly
angled; basal leaves usually several, mostly oblanceolate, 5-40 mm. long; cauline
leaves mostly in 5 to 8 pairs, from ovate-lanceolate and clasping-based to lanceo-
late, oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, as much as 6 cm. long and 3 cm. broad, not con-
nate at the base; flowers immediately subtended by bractlets or with pedicels 3-20
mm. long, 4- or 5-merous (even on the same plant), varying greatly in size according
to their position and the time of blossoming but mostly 1-2 cm. long, sometimes
few or even solitary but usually numerous, the plants often floriferous from near
the base, the axillary cymes sometimes very elongate; calyx one third to one half
the length of the corolla, lobed two thirds to four fifths of its length, often more
deeply cleft on one side, the unequal lobes linear to lanceolate; corolla salverform
but usually closed and apparently tubular, violet, dark purplish-blue, pale bluish-
purple, lavender or clear blue to pale yellowish and lightly bluish-tinged; corolla
lobes about one half the length of the tube, oblong to lanceolate, rounded to obtuse,
appendaged at the base with slender fimbriae one half to three fourths as long,
sinuses not plaited; stamens well-included in and attached to the lower third of the
corolla tube, the adnate portion not wing-margined; ovary sessile; style essentially
lacking; stigmatic lobes oblong, rounded; capsule slightly exceeding the persistent
corolla; seeds ovoid to spherical, yellow, nearly smooth. G. strictiflora (Rydb.) A.
Nels., Amarella strictiflora (Rydb.) Greene.
In wet meadows, marshes, seepage along streams, old lake beds and open conif-
erous forests, in N.M. (Catron, Colfax, Grant, Otero, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Santa
Fe, San Juan and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham, Yavapai and
Yuma cos.), June-Sept.; over much of N.A. from Alas, to Mex.; Euras.
Included here is an assortment of plants that vary from those that have numer-
ous, crowded, whitish or yellowish mostly short-pedicelled flowers to those that
have few, lax, blue to purplish or lavender distinctly pedicelled flowers. All types
of intergradation can be found between these two extremes.
4. Gentiana tenella Rottb.
Glabrous annual 4-15 cm. tall; stems simple to freely branched near the base,
very slender, 4-angled; basal leaves usually several, oblanceolate, 3-10 mm. long;
1323
-------
Fig. 628: a and b, Halenia recurva: a, habit, x V.; b, flower, x 2Vo. c-g, Genliana
Fremontii: c, habit, X 'j; d, flower with capsule, x 2\'->; e, dehiscent capsule, x 2\->', f.
corolla (outer surface), x 2'j; g, corolla (inner surface), x 2^. (V. F.).
-------
cauline leaves few, oblanceolate, 5-15 mm. long; flowers 8-15 mm. long, 5 (4)
-merous, single and terminal on long naked peduncles, or few to many from the
lower leaves on elongate pedicels as much as 10 cm. long; calyx half the length of
the corolla or longer; calyx lobes nearly distinct, slightly gibbous-based, the outer
2 broader and shorter than the inner, usually more rugose and with membranous
margins; corolla white to bluish-purple, tubular, not plicate in the sinuses; corolla
lobes about one third the length of the tube, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to acute,
each fringed within by 2 basal erect lacerate scales about one third as long; stamens
shorter than and freed about midlength of the corolla tube, the rather broad fila-
ments not wing-margined below the point of insertion; anthers sagittate-cordate;
ovary sessile; style very short, the stigmatic lobes oblong; capsule slightly exceeding
the corolla; seeds yellow, ovoid, nearly smooth.
In wet meadows, seepage about lakes and rocky places at timberline, in N. M.
(Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July-Sept.; circumpolar;
Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
5. Gentiana Fremontii Torr. Moss GENTIAN. Fig. 628.
Annual or biennial; stems simple or branched at or near base, 3-10 cm. tall;
leaves all broadly scarious-margined, mucronate; basal leaves orbicular to obovate,
5-6 mm. long; cauline leaves erect, oblong to linear, 4-6 mm. long; flowers ter-
minal, solitary; calyx narrowly funnelform, about 7 mm. long, the acute lobes
scarious-margined; corolla tubular, greenish-white, 5-7 mm. long, the tube shorter
than the calyx, the lobes with minutely toothed plaits in the sinuses; capsule at
maturity about 1 cm. long, exserted on an elongate stipe (to 2 cm. long), 2-valved,
dehiscent at the summit with the valves spreading to appear trumpet-shaped or so
as to suggest a large bilobed stigma; seeds 1 mm. long, ellipsoid, apiculate. Chon-
drophylla Fremontii (Torr.) A. Nels.
Boggy meadows and seepage about springs and along streams, in N.M. (Taos
and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), May-Aug.; Alta. to N.M., Ariz.
and Calif.
6. Gentiana algida Pall.
Cespitose perennial with 1 to several stems 5-20 cm. tall; basal leaves linear-
oblanceolate, 4-12 cm. long; cauline leaves in 3 to 5 pairs, linear-oblong to oblong-
lanceolate, 3-5 cm. long, mostly about 5(10) mm. broad, their bases connate for
5-8 mm., the subtending leaves of the usually 5-merous closely crowded subsessile
flowers often considerably broader, sometimes ovate-lanceolate; calyx narrowly
funnelform, mostly about 2 cm. long, usually purplish-blotched, the tube truncate
between the lobes; calyx lobes subequal, linear to lanceolate, from about half as
long as to subequal to the tube and somewhat carinate and more or less trans-
rugose; corolla usually about twice the length of the calyx, 3.5-5 cm. long, white
or pale-yellowish, purple-blotched and purplish-streaked from the back of the lobes
nearly to the calyx, strongly plicate between the acuminate short lobes; filaments
freed slightly below midlength of the corolla, the adnate portion broadly wing-
margined, free filaments about twice the length of the 3-4 mm. anthers; ovary
long-stipitate; style deeply 2-cleft, the stigmatic portion elliptic-oblong. G. Roman-
zovii Ledeb. ex Bunge, Dasystephana Romanzovii (Ledeb. ex Bunge) Rydb.
Alpine bogs and wet meadows, and on seepage banks along streams and about
lakes, in N. M. (Santa Fe, San Miguel and Taos cos.), July-Sept.; N.M. to Alas.
and e. Sib.
7. Gentiana Bigelovii Gray.
Perennial, glandular-ciliolate throughout (especially on the nerves, calyx and
leaf margins), to 3 dm. tall, the slender erect stem leafy; leaves thickish, oblong to
oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, to 35 mm. long and 1 cm. wide; flowers 5-merous, short-
1325
-------
pedicelled to sessile in upper axils to form a several- to many-flowered leafy-bracted
raceme; calyx nearly regular, the tube to 7 mm. long and the slightly irregular
linear-subulate lobes about as long; corolla violet-color, cylindrical-funnelform,
nearly closed in anthesis, 2-2.5 cm. long, the short lobes acutish; lobes of the plaits
triangular, 2-cleft, acute, about half as long as the corolla lobes. Dasystephana
Bigelovii (Gray) Rydb.
Rocky wet meadows and seepage slopes of high mts. in w. Tex., N. M. (Ber-
nalillo, San Miguel, Lincoln and Torrance cos.) and Ariz. (Graham, Cochise and
Pima cos.), Aug.-Oct.; from Colo, to w. Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
8. Gentiana Saponaria L. BOTTLE-GENTIAN, SOAPWORT-GENTIAN.
Perennial with a stout caudex and coarse roots, to 8 dm. tall, the stem glabrous
or sometimes slightly puberulent in lines; leaves narrowly elliptic to lanceolate,
obtuse to acute or occasionally shortly acuminate, abruptly narrowed at base,
ciliate, to 1 dm. long; involucre of 2 to 4 leaves, the outer to 6 cm. long and 2 cm.
wide; calyx lobes firm, oblong to oblanceolate or sometimes lanceolate, ascending,
to 12 mm. long; corolla blue or whitish, cylindric-oblanceolate, 3-5 cm. long,
1-1.5 cm. in diameter at the slightly open summit, the rounded to subacute lobes
erect and only slightly longer than the appendages.
In moist woods, thickets and sandy swamps in s.e. Tex. (Newton Co.) and s.e.
Okla. (LeFlore Co.), Sept.-Nov.; from Ga. to e. Tex., n. to N.Y., W. Va., Ind.,
Wise, and Minn.
9. Gentiana affinis Griseb. ex Hook.
Cespitose perennial from rather thick fleshy roots, without rhizomes; stems 1 to
several, erect to decumbent at the base, 1.5-8 dm. tall, minutely puberulent in lines
below the slightly decurrent leaf bases; leaves in 8 to 15 pairs, the lowermost
usually reduced to bladeless connate sheathing bases; middle cauline blades nar-
rowly lanceolate to oblong or oblong-oblanceolate to broadly lanceolate or elliptic-
ovate, 2-5 cm. long, 5-20 (-25) mm. broad, usually very finely glandular-ciliolate
(at least near their bases); floral leaves similar to the cauline ones or shorter and
broader; flowers 5-merous, few, closely crowded, often arising from the top 2 or
3 nodes only or the upper 3 to 5 nodes all floriferous; peduncles 3-25 mm. long,
bracteate at the summit; bracteoles foliaceous to somewhat scarious, linear to
ovate; calyx tube 3-9 mm. long, tubular-funnelform, greenish- to bluish- or
purplish-tinged, with an inner membranous lining projecting above the bases.of
the lobes and toothed inside them; calyx lobes usually unequal, from ovate to
linear and from longer than the tube to reduced to mere teeth or lacking entirely,
the tube then nearly entire to erose and from nearly truncate to oblique or deeply
parted once or twice; corolla tubular-funnelform, (2-)2.5-4(-4.5) cm. long, deep-
blue but usually variously mottled or streaked with green; corolla lobes (3-)4-6(-7)
mm. long, oblong-ovate to ovate, rounded to acute or abruptly pointed, the plaits
of the sinuses one half to three fourths the length of the lobes and usually laciniately
deeply cleft into 2 to 5 narrow segments (entire); stamens slightly shorter than the
corolla tube; filaments adnate to near midlength of the corolla, the adnate portion
broadly wing-margined; anthers 2.5-4 mm. long; ovary long-stipitate; style short,
cleft above, the stigmatic surfaces oblong-oval; seeds flattened and wing-margined,
very finely reticulate. G. Parryi Engelm., Dasystephana Parryi (Engelm.) Rydb.,
D.interrupta (Greene) Rydb.
In alpine and subalpine wet meadows, old lake beds, seepage slopes along streams
and about lakes, and wooded slopes, in N.M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Gila and Greenlee cos.), July-Oct.; Sask. to B.C.,
s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
1326
-------
5. Lomatogonium A. BR. MARSH FELWORT
One species in North America; about 15 species in temperate Eurasia.
1. Lomatogonium rotatum (L.) Fries ex Nyman. Fig. 629.
Slender annual glabrous plant with mostly simple stem to about 3 dm. tall;
leaves opposite, the basal ones oblong-oblanceolate to linear above, 2-3 cm. long;
flowers whitish or bluish-tinged, mostly axillary on long slender pedicels; calyx
7-12 mm. long, deeply parted to near base with usually 4 or 5 linear lobes;
corolla rotate, deeply parted, the acute lobes elliptic-oblong to ovate-lanceolate
and 7-12 mm. long, with a pair of scalelike appendages at the base; stamens on
short corolla tube; anthers versatile but sagittate at one end; style none; stigmas
consisting of decurrent lines on the sutures of the ovary; capsules narrowly ellip-
soid to ovoid-oblong, not stipitate; seeds numerous. Pleurogyna rotata (L.) Griseb.
In mt. bogs and wet meadows, sometimes saline, in N. M. (Taos Co., fide
Wooton), summer-fall; Greenl. to Alas., s. to Colo, and (?) N. M.
6. Halenia BORCKH. SPURRED GENTIAN
About 100 species mostly in America with several in Asia.
1. Halenia recurva (Sm.) Allen. Fig. 628.
Annual 2.5-5 dm. tall; stem simple, often branched above; basal leaves
elliptic-lanceolate to spatulate, less than 3.5 cm. long, about 6 mm. wide;
cauline leaves remote, lance-linear, 1.5-4 cm. long, about 3.5 mm. wide, obscurely
3-nerved, the midrib prominent below; inflorescence a loosely flowered subumbel-
late cyme; flowers on slender pedicels, 5-30 mm. long, often in sevens; calyx lobes
lanceolate, acute-attenuate, to 6 mm. long, 1-nerved, papillate; corolla bright-
yellow, 10—12 mm. long, the tube less than one half the length of the entire
corolla; corolla lobes ovate, subacuminate, delicately veined, papillate; spurs
curved, horizontal or ascending, to 16 mm. long from tip to tip; anthers broadly
oblong, mucronate, papillate; filaments slightly obovate; capsule ovate-lanceolate;
seeds yellow-brown, subglobose-ovoid, granular. H. Rothrockii Gray.
In wet mt. meadows, swampy ground, about spring-fed ponds and in moist soil
of coniferous forests, in N. M. (Socorro Co.) and Ariz. (Apache, Graham and
Cochise cos.), Aug.-Sept.; also n. Mex.
7. Swertia L.
More than 50 species; cosmopolitan but mainly in eastern Asia.
1. Swertia perennis L. FELWORT. Fig. 629.
Glabrous perennial with a short rootstock and a single erect simple stem 1-3
dm. high; leaves mostly basal, obovate to elliptic or oblanceolate, the lower 4-12
cm. long with blades about equal to the broad petioles; cauline leaves few, smaller
than basal leaves, alternate or the upper ones opposite and sessile; panicle or
raceme narrow, terminal, elongate, the lowest pedicels mostly 1-4 cm. long; flowers
5(4)—merous; calyx lobes lanceolate, 4-5 mm. long; corolla lobes oblong-ovate,
mostly deep slate-blue, sometimes white-veined dorsally, obtuse, 8-10 mm. long;
glands 2 on each corolla lobe, round-elliptic, fringed all around; capsules ellipsoid,
flattened, about 1 cm. long; seeds compressed, roundish, brown, winged about
three fourths way around, about 1 mm. wide. S. palustris A. Nels.
In wet meadows, bogs, edge of lakes and streams, grassy slopes, in N. M.
(San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), July-Sept.; Alas.
s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.; Euras.
1327
-------
Fig. 629: a-d, Swertia perennis: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, petal, x 3; d, gland,
x 3. e and f, Lumatogonium rolalum: e, flower, about x 2; f, enlargement of 2 petals
and stamen, (e and f adapted from Hitchcock, et al., Vascular Plants of the Pacific
Northwest; V. F.).
-------
8. Bartonia MUHL.
Plants annual or biennial, herbaceous; stem filiform, often somewhat spiraled
or twining, mostly green or yellowish; leaves reduced to subulate scales; inflores-
cence a terminal panicle or raceme of small white to yellowish or purplish
4-merous flowers; calyx cleft to or near the base; corolla campanulate, the lobes
about equaling the tube, imbricate in bud; stamens short, inserted at the sinuses
of the corolla; anthers oval; style very short and stout; capsule thick-cylindric,
flattened, 2-valved; seeds numerous.
Four species confined to the eastern half of North America.
1. Flowering in early spring (February and March); corolla 5-10 mm. long
1. B. verna.
1. Flowering in late summer and fall (August to October); corolla 5 mm. long
or less (2)
2(1). Calyx about 3 mm. long; corolla about 5 mm. long, the lobes lanceolate
and tapering to an acute to acuminate apex; capsule shorter than
the corolla, the style about 1.5 mm. long 2. B. paniculata.
2. Calyx 1.5-2 mm. long; corolla about 2.5 mm. long, the lobes elliptic and
obtuse to obtuse-apiculate; capsule usually exceeding the corolla,
the style about 0.5 mm. long 3. B. texana.
1. Bartonia verna (Michx.) Muhl.
Stems erect, purplish to rarely yellowish, 5-20 cm. high; leaves opposite
or subopposite, reduced to scales 1—3 mm. long; flowers solitary, racemose or
sometimes paniculate on robust plants; pedicels 5-20 mm. long, rarely more; sepals
triangular-acute, 2-3 mm. long; corolla white, rotate; petals oblanceolate to
obovate, obtuse, entire, 5-10 mm. long, 1.5-4 mm. wide; stamens about half as
long as corolla, ascending; pistil two thirds as long as corolla; capsule 3-7 mm.
long.
In pitcher plant bogs and low savannahs in s.e. Tex. (Tyler Co.), Feb.-Mar.;
from N.C. s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.
2. Bartonia paniculata (Michx.) Muhl. SCREW-STEM. Fig. 630.
Plant glabrous, to about 4 dm. high, with an erect or somewhat twining or
flexuous stem; leaves scalelike, alternate or sometimes opposite below; inflores-
cence usually a short-branched panicle, elongate; pedicels slender, ascending
or divergent, about 1 cm. long; flowers to about 5 mm. long; sepals lanceolate,
subacuminate, 2-3 mm. long; petals lanceolate, creamy-white, long-acuminate;
capsule ellipsoid, usually much shorter than the corolla, the persistent style about
1.5 mm. long.
In sandy bogs and meadows in e. Tex., reported (but not seen) from LeFlore
Co., Okla., Aug.-Sept.; mostly along the coast from N.S. and N. J., s. to Fla.,
Okla. and Tex.
3. Bartonia texana Correll. Fig. 630.
Plant inconspicuous, glabrous, to 3 dm. high; stem slender, usually rigidly
erect; leaves scalelike, alternate or rarely subopposite, about 1 mm. long; flowers
in a slender lax raceme or panicle; pedicels slender, ascending, to 15 mm. long;
calyx 1.5-2 mm. long, the lobes triangular-lanceolate and acute; corolla whitish,
about 2.5 mm. long, the lobes elliptic and obtuse to obtuse-apiculate; stamens in
sinus of petals; capsule ellipsoidal-subquadrate, usually exceeding the corolla,
dehiscent at apex by separation of the style, the persistent style about 0.5 mm.
long.
On sphagnum moss along wooded stream in Tyler Co., s.e. Tex., Sept.-Oct;
endemic.
1329
-------
Fig. 630: 1-5, Bartonia panicidata: \, habit, x 1; 2, flower with one sepal spread
out, x 5; 3, calyx, spread out, x 5; 4, corolla, spread out, x 5; 5, capsule, x 5. 6-10,
Bartonia te.\ana: 6, habit, x 1; 7, flower, x 5; 8, calyx, x 5; 9, corolla, x 5; 10, capsule,
x 5. (V. F.).
-------
9. Nymphoides HILL FLOATING-HEART
Perennial submersed aquatic plants with floating alternate leaves on long
petioles that bear near their summit an umbel of flowers and often a cluster of
short spurlike roots; calyx 5-parted; corolla almost rotate, 5-parted, the lobes
bearing a glandular appendage near the base; style short or none, the persistent
stigma 2-lobed; capsule few- to many-seeded, at length bursting, irregularly; seeds
papillate, the coat hard.
A genus of about 20 species; in America, Eurasia and Africa; often placed in
the segregate family Menyanthaceae.
1. Petioles slender, sometimes with clusters of roots just below the leaf blade;
leaves mostly basal; flowers white, in clusters on the petioles
1. N. aquatica.
1. Petioles rather stout, without clusters of roots; leaves mostly from branching
stems; flowers yellow, axillary 2. TV. peltata.
1. Nymphoides aquatica (Gmel.) O. Ktze. Figs. 1 and 631.
Plant coarse; leaves mostly basal, suborbicular to reniform, with a deep basal
sinus, heavy in texture, smooth and yellowish green on upper surface, dark-
punctate or pitted on lower surface, to 15 cm. wide; petiole slender, arising from
a cluster of fleshy roots, purple-glandular, to 25 cm. or more long; pedicels to 8
cm. long; calyx to 5 mm. long; corolla white, about 15 mm. broad; capsule
elongate, to 15 mm. long; seeds glandular-roughened. Limnanthemum trachy-
spermum Gray.
In ponds and sluggish streams in e. Tex., May-July; from Fla. and Tex., n.
locally to s. N.J. and Del.
2. Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Ktze. YELLOW FLOATING-HEART.
Plant coarse; stem stout, extensively creeping and branching; leaves subtending
the umbel, suborbicular, coarsely undulate-dentate, to about 15 cm. long and wide;
pedicel often 6 cm. long or more, stout; calyx lobes elliptic-lanceolate, subobtuse,
1 cm. long or more; corolla bright-yellow, 2-3 cm. broad, its segments somewhat
fringed; anthers 4-5 mm. long; capsule strongly beaked, to 25 mm. long; seeds
flat, narrowly winged, with fringelike margins.
In quiet waters of rivers, lakes and streams, and on wet sandy shores of lakes
in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain and Bryan cos.), n.-cen. Tex. and Ariz. (Santa Cruz
Co.), June-Sept.; introd. from Eur. for cult, but escapes and has become estab-
lished from N.Y. s. to Tex. and Ariz.
Fam. 109. Apocynaceae Juss. DOGBANE FAMILY
Trees, shrubs, vines or herbs, often with milky juice; leaves opposite or alternate
or occasionally verticillate, entire; flowers regular, perfect; calyx gamosepalous,
the 5 usually imbricate lobes mostly parted nearly to the receptacle, frequently
bearing various glandular appendages within; corolla gamopetalous, varying from
salverform or infundibuliform to urceolate or campanulate, the tube sometimes
bearing somewhat conspicuous faucal appendages within, the limb 5-parted, the
lobes sinistrorsely or dextrorsely contorted in aestivation; stamens 5, alternate
with the corolla lobes in the tube, the introrse anthers 4-celled; ovary bicarpellary,
the single style surmounted by a massive stigma of diversified structure; fruit
follicular (in ours); seeds naked or comose.
About 180 genera and 1,500 species of cosmopolitan distribution. The family
contains many ornamental as well as poisonous plants.
1. Leaves alternate 1. Amsonia
1. Leaves opposite or whorled (2)
1331
-------
Fig. 631: Nymphoides aquatics: a, habit, x %; b, corolla spread open, x 5; c,
capsule, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
2(1). Twining vines 2. Trachelospermum
2. Plant erect, never twining 3. Apocynum
1. Amsonia WALT. BLUE-STAR
Caulescent herbaceous perennials; leaves alternate or subverticillate, not glan-
dular; inflorescence thyrsiform, terminal or occasionally lateral, bearing several
to many flowers; calyx 5-parted, the lobes essentially equal, scarcely imbricate,
without squamellae; corolla salverform, the limb regularly 5-parted, the lobes
sinistrorsely contorted; anthers not connivent, without an enlarged connective,
wholly included; ovary apocarpous, without a nectary, containing numerous ovules;
follicles terete, continuous or more or less moniliform; seeds numerous, naked,
rather corky.
A genus of about 25 species in North America and one in Japan.
1. Corolla glabrous externally 1. A. glaberrima.
I. Corolla pubescent externally (2)
2(1). Calyx glabrous; leaves thinly membranaceous, opaque above
2. A. tabernaemontana.
2. Calyx more or less pilose; leaves firmly membranaceous or subcoriaceous,
lustrous above 3. A. illustris.
1. Amsonia glaberrima Woods.
Stems to 8 dm. tall, wholly glabrous; leaves alternate, firmly membranaceous,
oblong-elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, to 8 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, acuminate,
narrowed at the base, wholly glabrous, opaque on both sides, the petioles 2-4 mm.
long; inflorescence rather diffuse, scarcely surpassing the foliage, bearing
several to numerous medium-sized azure flowers; pedicels 3—4 mm. long, glabrous;
calyx lobes ovate-triangular, acute, about 1.5 mm. long, glabrous; corolla wholly
glabrous externally, the tube 6.5-7 mm. long, about 1 mm. in diameter at the
base, somewhat dilated above the insertion of the stamens, not constricted at
the orifice, the lobes 6-7 mm. long, glabrous, somewhat spreading; follicles rela-
tively slender, continuous, 8-10 cm. long, glabrous.
In dense wet lowland woods, about pools, in wet savannahs and low pinelands
in extreme s.e. Tex., Mar.-Nov.; also La.
2. Amsonia tabernaemontana Walt.
Stems 3-10 dm. tall; leaves alternate, rather thinly membranaceous, ovate to
oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, 6-15 cm. long, to 5 cm. broad, acute to acuminate
at apex, obtuse to broadly acute at the base, wholly glabrous to finely puberulent
beneath, opaque on both sides, the petioles 3-6 mm. long; inflorescence barely
surpassing the foliage, bearing several to numerous azure flowers; pedicels 3-6
mm. long; calyx lobes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1-2 mm. long, glabrous; corolla
more or less pilose externally, the tube 6-8 mm. long, about 1 mm. in diameter at
the base, somewhat dilated above the insertion of the stamens, not constricted at
the orifice, the lobes 4-7 mm. long, spreading; follicles relatively slender, con-
tinuous, 8-12 cm. long, glabrous.
In sandy soil about lakes and along streams in n.e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall),
Mar.-May; from Pa., s. to Ga. and s.w. to Tex.
Those plants with lanceolate to narrowly oblong-elliptic leaves 6-15 cm. long
and 1-2.5 cm. wide have been placed in var. salicifolia (Pursh) Woods, (var.
Gattingeri Woods.)
This species, along with A. glaberrima and A. illustris, form an extremely close
alliance, and it is questionable as to whether or not they should be maintained
as separate species rather than variants of one complex unit. The degree of
1333
-------
pubescence or lack of pubescence on the corolla and calyx, that mainly separates
these entitites, is not an entirely reliable characteristic.
3. Amsonia illustris Woods. Fig. 632.
Stems erect, rather stout, from a woody rootstock, to 12 dm. tall; leaves
alternate, subcoriaceous to firmly membranaceous, rather narrowly lanceolate to
elliptic-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long and 3 cm. broad, acute to acuminate, cuneate at
the base, glabrous, the upper surface lustrous, the petioles 1-4 mm. long; inflores-
cence barely surpassing the foliage, bearing numerous pale-blue flowers; pedicels
2-8 mm. long; calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 1.5-3 mm. long, more
or less pilosulous; corolla more or less pilose externally, the tube 6-8 mm. long,
about 1 mm. in diameter at the base, slightly dilated at the insertion of the
stamens, not constricted at the orifice, the lanceolate lobes 5-10 mm. long,
spreading; follicles somewhat articulate to essentially continuous, slender, papyra-
ceous, 8-14 cm. long, glabrous.
In wet soil of swamps, coastal prairies, meadows, low woodlands, in mud about
lakes and in streams and ditches in the e. third of Tex. and s.e. Okla. (McCurtain
Co.), Mar.-June; from s. Mo. and e. Kan. to Tex.
2. Trachelospermum LEM. CLIMBING DOGBANE
About 30 species, all but the following in the Eastern Hemisphere.
1. Trachelospermum difforme (Walt.) Gray. Fig. 633.
Herbaceous twining plant, glabrous to variously puberulent; leaves opposite,
with petioles to 12 mm. long, extremely variable and not infrequently hetero-
phyllous on a single plant, thinly membranaceous, elliptic to obovate-elliptic,
occasionally linear-elliptic or suborbicular, to 12 cm. long and 75 mm. broad,
acuminate at apex (occasionally very shortly and abruptly so), cuneate to rounded
at the base; flowers numerous, small, in alternate-axillary thyrsiform inflores-
cences; pedicels 4-7 mm. long; calyx 5-parted nearly to the receptacle; calyx
lobes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 3—4 mm. long, minutely and rather sparsely
barbellate at the tips, bearing within alternate pairs of squamellae; corolla pale-
yellow, salverform or subinfundibuliform, the tube 5.5-6.5 mm. long, about
1 mm. in diameter at the base, somewhat inflated at the orifice, the 5 lobes
obliquely obovate, 3-4 mm. long, dextrorsely contorted, spreading; anthers con-
nivent and agglutinated to the stigma, with an enlarged narrowly 2-lobed connec-
tive; ovary apocarpous, containing numerous ovules, surrounded at the base by 5
separate or more or less concrescent nectaries; stigma fusiform, borne upon an
elongate style; follicles 2, slender, terete, obscurely undulate-articulate to essen-
tially continuous, 15-23 cm. long, glabrous; seeds many, truncate, comose.
Climbing on trees and shrubs along streams, in swamps and low ground, about
ponds, and on the edge of forests and in weedy areas in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla.
(Waterfall), Apr.-June; from Del. s. to Fla. and Tex., w. to III., Ind., Mo. and
Okla.
3. Apocynum L. DOGBANE. INDIAN HEMP
Herbaceous perennials, reproducing freely by horizontal gemmiferous roots,
with branching stems; leaves opposite or rarely verticillate, not glandular, often
mucronate-pointed; flowers small and pale, on short pedicels in terminal and
axillary cymes; calyx 5-parted nearly to the receptacle, without internal squa-
mellae, the lobes equal, scarcely imbricate; corolla campanulate to urceolate or
cylindric, the tube short, the limb regularly 5-parted, with small sagittate append-
ages at the base opposite the lobes, dextrorsely contorted; stamens on the very
base of corolla; anthers connivent and agglutinated to the stigma, with an enlarged
1334
-------
Fig. 632: Atnsonia illustris: a, top of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant, x %; c,
flower, x 2; d, corolla opened out, x 2; e, fruit, x %; f, one mature seed, X 3. (V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 633: Trachelospermum difforme: a and b, habits showing different leaf shapes,
x 'j; c, leaf, x 'j; d, inflorescence, x 2t:2', e, calyx split to show ovary and nectaries, and
anthers connivent with the stigma, x 5; f, open corolla, x 5; g, follicles, x '/>; e, seed,
x 1. (V. F.),
-------
narrowly 2-lobed connective; ovary apocarpous, containing numerous ovules,
surrounded at the base by 5 distinct ovoid nectaries; stigma usually virtually sessile,
variable in shape but essentially ovoid-fusiform; follicles usually 2, separate or
somewhat agglutinated at the tips, slender, terete; seeds numerous, truncate,
comose.
About 7 species in North America and 70 elsewhere in temperate and tropical
regions. The separation of species in this extremely complex genus is not too
satisfactory.
1. Leaves noticeably petiolate or only the very lowest sessile, narrowed to broadly
rounded at the base, pubescent to glabrous; bracts of inflorescence
scarious and aristate : 1. A. cannabinum.
1. Leaves sessile or nearly so, the lowest cordate at base and usually clasping
the stem, always glabrous; bracts of inflorescence more or less
foliaceous and laminate 2. A. sibiricum.
1. Apocynum cannabinum L. INDIAN HEMP. Fig. 633A.
Plant glabrous to variously pubescent; stems erect or ascending to 1 m. tall,
glabrous, with ascending branches; leaves petiolate or the lowermost sometimes
subsessile, ascending or only slightly spreading, ovate to oblong-elliptic or lanceo-
late, rounded to acute and usually apiculate at apex, narrowly cuneate to some-
what rounded at base, to 14 cm. long and 7 cm. broad, glabrous above, glabrous
to more or less densely pilosulous or tomentulose beneath; calyx lobes lanceolate
to ovate-lanceolate, 3—4 mm. long, glabrous; corolla cylindric to urceolate, 3-6
mm. long, white to greenish, the lobes erect or only slightly spreading; follicles
12-20 cm. long, glabrous, pendulous at maturity.
Usually in wet or moist sandy or clayey soil in ditches and along streams and
rivers, in marshy areas, about ponds, occasionally in fields and open woodlands
in e., cen. and n.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Osage, Ottawa and LeFlore cos.), Apr.-
Aug.; throughout the U.S. and s. Can.
Those plants that are entirely glabrous throughout are segregated as var.
glaberrimum A. DC., while those plants that are more or less tomentulose
throughout are segregated as var. pubescens (R.Br.) A.DC.
2. Apocynum sibiricum Jacq. PRAIRIE DOGBANE.
Stems erect or somewhat ascending to 7 dm. tall, glabrous throughout, with
ascending branches; leaves sessile or subsessile (especially on the main stem) and
often with a cordate-clasping base, those on the upper branches frequently shortly
petiolate, ascending or slightly spreading, oblong or oblong-lanceolate to oval
or rarely linear to linear-lanceolate, to 14 cm. long and 45 mm. wide, obtuse to
rounded or cordate at the base; inflorescence usually dense, the bracts usually
conspicuous and more or less herbaceous; calyx lobes lanceolate, 2—4 mm. long;
corolla urceolate to shortly cylindric, about as long as broad, 3-5 mm. long, white
to yellow or greenish, glabrous externally, the lobes erect or slightly spreading;
follicles 4-10 cm. long, glabrous, pendulous at maturity. A. hypericifollum Ait.,
A. Suksdorfii Greene.
Usually in sandy soil along creeks and on dunes, in marshes about lakes,
seepage along streams and about springs and in arroyos and gullies of badlands in
n.-cen. Tex., the Edwards Plateau, Plains Country and Trans-Pecos, Okla. (Alfalfa
Co.) and N. M. (Eddy, Dona Ana and Guadalupe cos.), Apr.-Sept; throughout
most of N.A.
Those plants with the main stem leaves ovate to oval-oblong and deeply cor-
date and clasping at the base are segregated as var. cordigerum (Greene) Fern.,
while those plants with very narrow leaves and corolla longer than broad are
segregated as var. salignum (Greene) Fern. [A. angustifolium Wool., A. Suksdorfii
var. angustifolium (Wool.) Woods.]
1337
-------
Fig. 633A: Apocynum cannabinum: A, habit, x \t>\ B, rootstock, x V2; C, flowers,
x 5; D, follicles, x TV, E, seed with coma, x 1; F, seeds, x 5. (From Reed, SelecleA
Weeds of the United Slates, Fig. 140).
-------
Fam. 110. Asclepiadaceae R. BR. MILKWEED FAMILY
Perennial herbs, vines or shrubs with milky juice; leaves opposite, whorled
or sometimes alternate, without stipules; flowers perfect, regular, usually umbellate,
commonly 5-merous; calyx deeply lobed, the lobes mostly imbricate; corolla
5-lobed or -cleft, the lobes commonly valvate in bud; a 5-lobed crown is usually
present between the corolla and stamens and is adnate to either or both; stamens 5,
inserted on the corolla tube usually near its base, the filaments monadelphous or
sometimes distinct; anthers united and tipped with a scarious membrane inflexed
on the summit of the stylar disk; pollen grains united into waxlike or granular
pollinia; carpels 2, with distinct superior ovaries and styles but united above by the
peltate discoid stigma; fruit of 2 follicles (or 1 by abortion); seeds many, com-
pressed, usually with long coma.
About 130 genera and 2,000 species widely distributed but most frequent in
warm regions.
1. Stamen column or its base with 1 row of flat thin appendages....2. Cynanchum
1. Stamen column or its base surrounded by 5 separate fleshy-inflated or fleshy-
thickened erect or spreading appendages (hoods) (2)
2(1). Stems prostrate to erect, not twining; base of corolla without a fleshy
disk under the separate appendages 1. Asclepias
2. Stems twining, at least toward tips; corolla with a fleshy disk at base under
the appendages 3. Sarcostemma
1. Asclepias L. MILKWEED. SILKWEED
Herbs, rarely fruticose or suffruticose, perennial or rarely annual, usually
laticiferous; leaves usually decussate, infrequently whorled or irregularly approxi-
mate; inflorescence terminal or interpetiolar, umbelliformly cymose, very rarely
reduced to a solitary flower; calyx lobes 5, equal, divided nearly to the receptacle,
bearing few to many minute glandular squamellae within at the base; corolla
rotate, the lobes 5, valvate, equal, reflexed, spreading or rarely erect; gynostegium
definitely stipitate to sessile; corona of 5 hoods attached to the column and
subtending the connivent anthers; hoods cucullate to clavate with various modifi-
cations, more or less stipitate to sessile and deeply saccate at the basal attachment
to the column, usually bearing an internal horn or crest; anthers 2-celled, with
more or less prominent corneous marginal wings enclosing the 5 stigmatic
chambers and with membranaceous apical appendages; pollinia paired and pen-
dulous from the translator arms, flat and uniformly fertile, enclosing granular
pollen with thin hyaline inline; anther head peltate, more or less pentagonal; fruit
follicular, containing many compressed comose or rarely naked seeds.
About 120 species that are native mostly to the Americas.
1. The complete hoods or only their apical portion widespread from the anther
head 1. A. speciosa.
1. The hoods erect to suberect, more or less parallel to and contiguous with
the anther head (2)
2(1). Leaves typically broad, suborbicular to ovate-elliptic or elliptic to oblong-
lanceolate (3)
2. Leaves typically narrow, lanceolate to narrowly triangular-lanceolate or linear-
lanceolate to filiform, sometimes ovate (5)
3(2). Hoods shorter than to only slightly longer than the anther head; corolla
white 10. A. texana.
3. In natural position the hoods extending at least a third longer than the anther
head (4)
1339
-------
4(3). Hoods noticeably dilated above the middle, repand to emarginate at the
broad apex; corolla greenish-white or yellow 2. A. oenotheroides.
4. Hoods not dilated above the middle, rounded and sometimes slightly notched
at the apex; corolla deep-rose 3. A. purpurascens.
5(2). In natural position the hoods extending at least a third longer than the
anther head (6)
5. Hoods shorter than to only slightly longer than the anther head (7)
6(5). Hoods acute to obtuse at apex; leaves ovate to lanceolate 4. A. rubra.
6. Hoods broadly rounded at apex; leaves linear-lanceolate 5. A. lanceolata.
7(5). Leaves more or less heterophyllous at the nodes, linear, all of them 4 mm.
wide or less 6. A. subverticillata.
1. Leaves not heterophyllous, mostly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, typically
most of them more than 5 mm. wide (8)
8(7). Hoods obovate, without horns 7. A. longifolia.
8. Hoods oblong to quadrate, with conspicuous acicular horns that more or less
arch over the anther head (9)
9(8). Corolla usually bright-crimson or scarlet, the lobes 5-10 mm. long
8. A. curassavica.
9. Corolla white to bright-pink, the lobes 3-5 mm. long (10)
10(9). Inflorescences usually paired at the upper nodes, solitary below; flowers
typically bright-pink 9. A. incarnata.
10. Inflorescences solitary at the upper nodes; flowers white, the corolla oc-
casionally tinged with purple on outer surface (11.)
11(10). Follicles erect on erect pedicels; seeds comose; distribution central and
west Texas 10. A. texana.
11. Follicles pendulous; seeds naked; distribution southeast Texas
11. A. perennis.
1. Asclepias speciosa Torr. SHOWY-MILKWEED.
Herbaceous perennial; stems usually very stout, simple, 6-10 dm. tall, densely
white-tomentose generally; leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, broadly ovate or oval
to rather narrowly oblong or ovate-lanceolate, usually very broadly obtuse to
rounded at apex, rather rarely acute, very broadly obtuse to rounded and some-
times broadly and shallowly cordate at base, 6-20 cm. long, 3-14 cm. broad,
firmly membranaceous, very densely white-tomentose beneath, more or less
glabrate above; petioles to 15 mm. long; inflorescences lateral and solitary at
few to several of the upper nodes, several- to many-flowered, densely white-
tomentose throughout; peduncles rather stout, to 1 dm. long; pedicels 2-3 cm.
long; flowers very large and showy; calyx lobes lanceolate, 5-6 mm. long, very
densely white-tomentose; corolla purplish-rose, the lobes 1-1.5 cm. long; gynos-
tegium pale-rose or pinkish-cream, subsessile; column very broadly obconic,
about 1 mm. long and 3 mm. broad; hoods very narrowly ovate-lanceolate,
gradually attenuate at apex, widely spreading, 1-1.4 cm. long; horn adnate
toward the base, falciform-acicular, sharply incurved, very much shorter than
the hoods; anther head broadly truncate-conic, about 3 mm. long and 4.5 mm.
broad; follicles erect on deflexed pedicels, broadly or rather narrowly fusiform,
abruptly or gradually attenuate, 9-12 cm. long, 2-3 cm. broad, densely spiny to
smooth, very densely white-tomentose; seed oval, 6-9 mm. long, the white coma
3-4 cm. broad.
Widely tolerant to habitat and becoming weedy in cult, fields, also in wet
meadows and wet alkali soils, along roadsides and railways on the High Plains in
1340
-------
Tex., Okla.. (Waterfall) and N. M. (Guadalupe and Sandoval cos.); May-Sept;
from s. Man. to B.C., Minn, and Tex., w. to the Pac. Coast.
This species has the most massive flowers of any milkweed.
2. Asclepias oenotheroides Cham. & Schlecht. HIERBA DE ZIZOTES.
Low herbaceous perennial; stems clustered from the thick rootstalk, ascending
or decumbent, moderately stout, more or less branched from the base or simple, to
45 cm. long, minutely puberulent; leaves opposite, rather long-petiolate, rhombic-
ovate to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to acute at apex, acute to broadly obtuse at
base and abruptly cuneate to the petiole, 4-12 cm. long, 1-6 cm. broad, firmly
membranaceous, pale-green, minutely puberulent particularly beneath; petioles 1-2
cm. long; inflorescences lateral and solitary from few to several of the upper
nodes, very shortly pedunculate or subsessile, several-flowered; peduncles 1-2 cm.
long or nearly obsolete, minutely puberulent; pedicels rather slender, 15-25 mm.
long, minutely puberulent; flowers mediocre; calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 mm.
long, minutely puberulent; corolla reflexed-rotate, greenish-white or yellow, the
lobes 8-14 mm. long; gynostegium very shortly stipitate, pale-greenish-cream;
column broadly obconic, about 1.5 mm. long and 2.5 mm. broad; hoods narrowly
obovate-flabellate, 7-10 mm. long, conspicuously narrowed to a narrowly laminate
stipe from somewhat above the middle, the tip broadly laminate and minutely
erose or repand; horn adnate to near the tip of the hood, the free portion falci-
form and incurved, usually accompanied by a smaller posterior appendage;
anther head truncate-conic, about 3 mm. long and 4-5 mm. broad; follicles erect
on deflexed pedicels, broadly fusiform or ovoid, shortly apiculate, 7-9 cm. long,
1.5-2 cm. broad, smooth, minutely pilosulose to glabrate; seeds oval, 6-8 mm.
long, the pale-tawny coma 2-2.5 cm. long. A. longicornu Benth., A. Lindheimeri
Engelm. & Gray.
Rocky, chiefly clay soil in llanos, mesas and hills, in dunes, salt marshes,
fields and thickets, long roadsides in much of w. half of Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall),
flowering throughout the year; also N.M., s. to C.A.
3. Asclepias purpurascens L. PURPLE-MILKWEED.
Herbaceous perennial; stem rather stout, simple, 4-10 dm. tall, minutely
pilosulose when young, becoming glabrate; leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly
ovate or oval to ovate- or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse to acute at apex, obtuse
to broadly rounded at base and very shortly and abruptly cuneate into the petiole,
6-18 cm. long, 3-10 cm. broad, firmly membranaceous, dark-green and glabrate
above, paler and densely and generally puberulent below; petioles to 25 mm. long;
inflorescences terminal and solitary or paired, several- to rather many-flowered;
peduncles rather slender, 1.5-9 cm. long, minutely puberulent; pedicels slender,
2-3.5 cm. long, minutely puberulent; flowers rather large and very showy; calyx
lobes ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 mm. long, minutely puberulent; corolla deep-rose.
reflexed-rotate, the lobes 7-10 mm. long; gynostegium deep-rose, very shortly
stipitate; column obconic, 1.5-2 mm. long, 2.5-3 mm. broad; hoods oblong-elliptic,
acute to acuminate, 6-7 mm. long; horn about half-adnate, falciform and sharply
incurved, much shorter than the hoods; anther head truncately conic, about 2 mm.
long and 3 mm. broad; follicles erect on deflexed pedicels, narrowly fusiform,
gradually attenuate, 10-16 cm. long, 1-2 cm. thick, smooth, minutely puberulent
to glabrate; seeds oval, 5-6 mm. long, the white coma 35-45 mm. long.
Thickets, swamps, alluvial woodlands and open woods, prairies and fields,
spreading to roadsides and railways, in n.e. Tex., Apr.-July; from s. Ont. and
N.E. s. to Va. and Tex.
1341
-------
4. Asclepias rubra L. Fig. 634.
Herbaceous perennial; stems rather slender, 4-10 dm. tall, simple, glabrous
or very inconspicuously pilosulose in decurrent lines from the nodes; leaves
opposite, sessile or subsessile, broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to
acuminate at apex, rounded to somewhat cordate at base, 5-16 cm. long, to 65
mm. broad, firmly membranaceous, glabrous, dark-green above, glaucous beneath;
inflorescences terminal and lateral from the uppermost nodes, commonly paired
when terminal, several- to many-flowered; peduncles 3-10 cm. long; pedicels
1-1.5 cm. long; flowers moderately large; calyx lobes lance-trigonal, about 3 mm.
long, glabrous; corolla reflexed-rotate, dull-red to purplish or lavender, the lobes
8-9 mm. long; gynostegium stipitate, usually pinkish-cream or purplish; column
cylindrical, about 2 mm. long and broad; hoods lanceolate, acute, 6-7 mm. long;
horn basal, narrowly acicular, somewhat shorter than the hoods, gradually arching
over the anther head; anther head narrowly conic, about 3 mm. long and broad,
with entire or very inconspicuously notched wings; follicles erect on deflexed
pedicels, rather narrowly fusiform, 8-12 cm. long and 15 mm. thick, smooth,
glabrous; seeds broadly oval, about 7 mm. long, the white coma about 4 cm. long.
Bogs, marshes, wet meadows and low pine barrens in e. Tex., May-Aug.; from
N.J., s. to Ga., Ala., La. and Tex.
5. Asclepias lanceolata Walt. Fig. 635.
Herbaceous perennial from rather tuberous rootstalks; stems relatively slender,
simple, 5-12 dm. tall, glabrous or essentially so; leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate,
narrowly acuminate at apex, acute to obtuse at the base, 7-25 cm. long, to 17 mm.
broad, firmly membranaceous, glabrous, somewhat glaucous beneath; inflores-
cences terminal, solitary or paired, few-flowered; peduncles 15-75 mm. long;
pedicels 1-2 cm. long; flowers moderately large; calyx lobes lance-trigonal, 2.5-4
mm. long; corolla reflexed-rotate, dull-red, the lobes 9-10 mm. long; gynostegium
stipitate, yellow, orange or reddish; column cylindrical, about 2 mm. long and
1.5 mm. broad; hoods broadly oblong, rounded at the tip, 5-6 mm. long; horn
basal, narrowly acicular, somewhat shorter than the hood, arching over the anther
head; anther head narrowly conic, about 3 mm. long and 2.5 mm. broad, the
wings conspicuously spurred at the base; follicles erect on deflexed pedicels, nar-
rowly fusiform, 8-10 cm. long, about 1 cm. thick, smooth, glabrous; seeds broadly
oval, about 1 cm. long, the coma about 35 mm. long. Incl. var. paupercula
(Michx.) Fern.
Brackish to fresh marshes, wet pine barrens and low glades in s.e. Tex., May-
Aug.; from s. N.J., s. to Fla. and w. to Tex.
6. Asclepias subverticillata (Gray) Vail.
Herbaceous perennial from rather stout woody rootstalks; stems to 12 dm. tall,
almost invariably with sterile dwarf microphyllous branches, occasionally simple,
more or less puberulent in decurrent lines from the nodes, occasionally quite
glabrous; leaves predominantly 3 to 5 in whorls but occasionally opposite above
on the flowering stems, shortly petiolate, linear, 2-13 cm. long, 1-4 mm. broad,
membranaceous, glabrous to inconspicuously pilosulose, those of the sterile dwarf
branches opposite and much-reduced and giving the plant a heterophyllous aspect;
petioles 1-2 mm. long; inflorescences usually solitary at the upper nodes, rarely
paired, several- to many-flowered; peduncle slender, 1.5-3 cm. long; pedicels
slender, 5-8 mm. long; flowers relatively small; calyx lobes narrowly trigonal,
1.5-2 mm. long, inconspicuously pilosulose to glabrate; corolla reflexed-rotate,
white, rarely slightly suffused with greenish-purple, the lobes 3-5 rnm. long;
gynostegium narrowly stipitate, white; column cylindrical, about 1 mm. long and
slightly narrower; hoods cucullate, oval, about 1.5 mm. long; horn basal, narrowly
1342
-------
Fig. 634: Asclepias rubra: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 635: Asclepias lanceo/ata: a, habit, x V>; b, flower, x 2%; c, incurved
2i.'. fV F i
x 2iL>. (V. F.).
horn,
-------
acicular, somewhat longer than the hoods, gradually arching over the anther head;
anther head cylindric, about 1.5 mm. long and broad; follicles erect on erect pedi-
cels, narrowly fusiform, 5-9 cm. long and 6-8 mm. thick, smooth, glabrous or in-
conspicuously pilosulose; seeds broadly oval, 7-8 mm. long, the white coma about
2 cm. long. A. galioides of Am. auth.
Sandy and rocky plains and flats, marshes, seepage along streams and about
springs, and along irrigation ditches, in the w. half of Tex., especially in the
Trans-Pecos, Okla. (Alfalfa Co.), N.M. (DeBaca, Dona Ana, Colfax and Taos
cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.), May-Sept.; from Tex., w. to Ut, Colo., Ariz, and
n. Mex.
This plant is known to be very poisonous to livestock.
7. Asclepias longifolia Michx.
Herbaceous perennial from a stout rather tuberous rootstalk; stems rather
slender, simple, 2-7 dm. tall, minutely pilosulose; leaves irregularly approximate,
sessile or subsessile, linear-lanceolate, gradually acuminate at apex, attenuate at
base, 6-18 cm. long, 2-10 mm. broad, minutely pilosulose to glabrate; inflores-
cences terminal and solitary and lateral from few of the uppermost nodes,
several- to many-flowered, rather lax and hemispherical, pedunculate; peduncles
slender, 2-6 cm. long, rarely obsolete, minutely pilosulose; pedicels very slender,
1.5-2 cm. long, minutely pilosulose; corolla reflexed-rotate, pale-greenish-white,
liberally tinted with purple (particularly without), the lobes about 5 mm. long;
gynostegium shortly but definitely stipitate, greenish-white tinted with purple
below; column about 1.5 mm. long and 1 mm. broad; hoods deeply saccate, obo-
void, about 2 mm. long, without a horn, much lower than the anther head; anther
head about 1.5 mm. long and broad; follicles erect on deflexed pedicels, narrowly
fusiform, long-attenuate, minutely pilosulose, 8-12 cm. long, about 1 cm. thick;
seeds rather broadly oval, about 1 cm. long, the white coma about 35 mm. long.
Flatwoods, swamps, wet savannahs, wet depressions and low pinelands in e.
Tex. and s.e. Okla. (LeFlore Co.), Apr.-Oct.; from Del. to Fla. and w. to Tex.
8. Asclepias curassavica L. VEINTIUNILLA.
Herbaceous annual; stems 3-12 dm. tall, frequently rather woody toward the
base, simple or branched, minutely arachnoid-tomentulose when young, soon
glabrate; leaves opposite, petiolate, elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate at apex,
acute to obtuse at base, 5-12 cm. long, 1-3 cm. broad, minutely pilosulose when
very young, soon glabrate, thinly membranaceous; petioles to 1 cm. long; inflores-
cences solitary at the upper nodes, several- to many-flowered; peduncles 3-6 cm.
long; pedicels 1-2 cm. long; flowers rather large and showy; calyx lobes narrowly
lanceolate, 2-3 mm. long; corolla reflexed-rotate, bright-crimson, rarely yellow or
white, the lobes 5-10 mm. long; gynostegium long-stipitate, deep-yellow; column
cylindric or conic, 2-3 mm. long and 1 mm. broad at the base; hoods cucullate,
distinctly stipitate, broadly oblong, rounded at the tip, 3-5 mm. long; horn basal,
narrowly acicular, 4—5 mm. long, slightly incurved over the anther head; anther
head cylindrical, 2-3 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. broad; follicles erect on erect
pedicels, narrowly fusiform, 6-10 cm. long, smooth, glabrous; seeds broadly oval,
5-7 mm. long, the white coma 2-3 cm. long.
In moist or wet soil in s. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; an almost ubiquitous waif of the
trop. and subtrop. of Am., also widely introd. in the trop. of the Old World.
9. Asclepias incarnata L. SWAMP-MILKWEED. Fig. 636.
Herbaceous perennial from rather short and superficial rootstalks; stems
usually fairly stout, 4—15 dm. tall, simple to copiously branched; leaves opposite
or very rarely certain nodes condensed to form a false whorl, petiolate, ovate-
1345
-------
Fig. 636: Asclepias incarnata: a, habit, x V>; b, basal part of plant showing roots,
i.i; c, flower, x 21/2. (V. F.).
-------
elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate at apex, obtuse to somewhat
cordate at base, 5-15 cm. long, to 4 cm. broad, membranaceous; petioles to 1 cm.
long; inflorescences usually paired at the upper nodes, solitary below, several- to
many-flowered; peduncles 1.5-7 cm. long; pedicels 1-1.5 cm. long; flowers rather
small; calyx lobes linear-oblong, 1-1.5 mm. long, pilosulose; corolla bright-pink
or rarely white, reflexed-rotate, the lobes 3-4 mm. long; gynostegium paler pink
or rarely white; column cylindric, 1-1.5 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; hoods
cucullate, rounded at the tip, about 1.5 mm. long; internal horn narrowly acicular,
slightly incurved over the stigma head, somewhat longer than the hood; anther
head about 1.5 mm. long; follicles erect on erect pedicels, fusiform, long-attenuate,
7-9 cm. long, to 12 mm. thick, smooth, glabrous to generally pilosulose; seeds
broadly oval, 7-10 mm. long, the white coma about 2 cm. long.
In moist or wet soil about water-bodies and in marshes, water of lakes and
along and in sluggish or clear-flowing streams from the Plains Country to s.-cen.
Tex., Okla. (widespread) and N. M. (Chaves, Colfax, Lincoln and Otero cos.),
June-Oct.; from e. Can., s. to Fla. and w. to Ut. and N. M.
The following two phases of this species are found sympatrically. Muskrats are
known to eat the rootstocks.
1. Plant scatteringly and inconspicuously pubescent to essentially glabrous; stems
usually repeatedly branching; leaves usually rather narrowly oblong-
to linear-lanceolate, the apex gradually acuminate, the base obtuse
to truncate, rather long-petiolate
var. incarnata (var. longifolia Gray).
1. Plant generally and conspicuously pubescent; stems simple or branching infre-
quently; leaves ovate- to broadly oblong-elliptic, the apex acute to
abruptly acuminate, the base rounded to somewhat cordate, infre-
quently broadly obtuse, rather short-petiolate
var. pulchra (Ehrh.) Fern.
10. Asclepias texana Heller.
Herbaceous perennial, becoming somewhat shrubby at the base after several
years; stems slender, to 5 dm. tall, usually branching, inconspicuously pilosulose
in decurrent lines from the nodes; leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly oval to
narrowly oblong-elliptic, obtuse to acuminate at apex, obtuse or rarely attenuate
at the base, 2-7 cm. long, to 35 mm. broad, thinly membranaceous, finely puberu-
lent upon the midrib and veins beneath; petioles to 1 cm. long, minutely pilosulose;
inflorescences solitary at the uppermost nodes, several- to many-flowered; pedun-
cles slender, 1-2 cm. long; pedicels 1—1.3 cm. long, finely puberulent; flowers
small; calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. long, minutely puberulent;
corolla reflexed-rotate, white, the lobes about 3 mm. long and widely spreading;
gynostegium long-stipitate, white; column cylindric, about 1.5 mm. long and 1.7
mm. wide at the base; hoods cucullate, about 2 mm. long, rounded at the tip;
horn basal, narrowly acicular, nearly twice as long as the hood, slightly incurved
over the anther head; anther head about 2.5 mm. long; follicles erect on erect
pedicels, narrowly fusiform, 9-12 cm. long, smooth, glabrous; seeds broadly oval,
about 8 mm. long, the white coma about 2 cm. long.
Canyons, arroyos, rocky hills and edge of water along streams in the Edwards
Plateau and Trans-Pecos of Tex., May-Aug.; also n. Mex.
11. Asclepias perennis Walt. Fig. 637.
Herbaceous perennial from rather short and superficial rootstalks; stems slender,
3-5 dm. tall, usually branching only from the base, very inconspicuously pilosulose
in decurrent lines from the nodes or essentially glabrous; leaves opposite,
elliptic-lanceolate to narrowly oblong or broadly oval to ovate-elliptic, acuminate
at apex, attenuate at the base, 5-14 cm. long, to 15 mm. broad, thinly mem-
1347
-------
Fig. 637: Asclepias pcrcnnis: a, habit, X 'V. b, flower, X 3. (V. F.).
-------
branaceous, glabrous; petioles to 15 mm. long; inflorescences solitary at the
uppermost nodes, several- to many-flowered; peduncles slender, 1—4 cm. long;
pedicels 1—1.3 cm. long, usually somewhat suffused with purple; flowers small;
calyx lobes oblong-elliptic, about 1 mm. long, sparsely and minutely pilosulose;
corolla reflexed-rotate. white and usually suffused with pale-pink, the lobes 3-4
mm. long; gynostegium stipitate. white; column cylindric, about 1 mm. long and
wide; hoods cucullate, rounded at the tip, about 2 mm. long, slightly longer than
the anther head; horn basal, narrow-acicular, somewhat longer than the hoods,
slightly arching over the anther head; follicles pendulous on deflexed peduncles,
rather broadly ovoid-fusiform with a rather long apical beak, 4-7 cm. long,
1-2.5 cm. broad, smooth, glabrous; seeds broadly oval, about 15 mm. long,
without a coma.
Low swampy ground, frequently with bald cypress, alluvial woods, sloughs and
ditches mostly in s.e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; from S.C., s. to Fla. and w. to Tex., s.
Mo., 111. and s.w. Ind.
2. Cynanchum L.
About 150 species mostly in the warmer regions of both hemispheres.
1. Cynanchum angustifolium Pers.
Vine slender, glabrous, somewhat succulent, twining, to 1 m. or more long;
leaves short-petioled, narrowly linear, acute, to 8 cm. long and 5 mm. wide; pedun-
cles slender, mostly shorter than the leaves: cymes several-flowered: calyx 2-2.5 mm.
long, the lobes ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate and acute; corolla purplish or greenish-
white. 6—8 mm. broad, the lobes ovate and acuminate; crown lobes 1.5-2 mm. long.
retuse: follicles slender, to 7 cm. long and 5 mm. thick. Lyonia palustris (Pursh)
Small, Seutera palustris (Pursh) Vail. Cynanchum pahistre (Pursh) Heller.
Climbing over shrubs and herbs in and on the edge of salt marshes and in moist
sandy soils, local along the Tex. Gulf Coast, May—Aug.; from N.C. to Fla. and
Tex.; also Bah. I. and W.I.
3. Sarcostemma R. BR.
A world-wide genus of about 10 species.
1. Sarcostemma cynanchoides Dene.
Stems twining or trailing to 1 m. or more long, much-branched, glabrous to
sparsely puberulent; leaves with petioles to 2 cm. long, broadly to narrowly ovate-
lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate or linear to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate
at apex, cordate to hastate or rounded-cuneate at base, to 6 cm. long and 35 mm.
wide, thin-membranaceous, sparsely puberulent on both surfaces, with one or
more glands on the midrib at the base; inflorescences umbelliform, as many as
20-flowered: peduncle slender, to 55 mm. long: bracts linear, minute; pedicels
slender, to 17 mm. long; calyx lobes 5, ovate to ovate-linear, 2-3 mm. long, pilosu-
lose without, glabrous within; squamellae absent to solitary or paired; corolla
rotate-subcampanulate, greenish-white to purple or pinkish, the tube 1-2 mm.
long; corolla lobes 5, ovate, acute to acuminate. 5-7 mm. long, glabrous within,
fimbriate-ciliate; ring of the crown thin, revolute. not adnate to the base of the
crown-vesicles that are 1.5 mm. long; follicles fusiform, to 7 cm. long, lanceolate
in outline, attenuate above, puberulent.
In sandy or rocky soils, usually climbing on shrubs, and in marshes and banks
of irrigation ditches, in the w. half of Tex., Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (Sierra Co.)
and Ariz. (Yavapai Co.), Apr.-Sept.; from Okla. and Tex., w. to Calif., s. to
cen. Mex.
1349
-------
Var. cynanchoides [Funastnim cynanchoides (Dene.) Schltr., Philibertella
cynanchoides (Dene.) Vail] is widespread in the western half of Texas and it
typically has broadly triangular-lanceolate leaves, whereas var. Hartwegii (Vail)
Shinner (S. heterophyllum of auth.), with linear to linear-lanceolate leaves, occurs
only in the Trans-Pecos. Few specimens have been seen that are intermediate
between these two varieties. The flowers of var. cynanchoides are also usually
greenish-white while those of var. Hartwegii are usually purplish or pinkish.
Fam. 111. Convolvulaceae Juss. MORNING GLORY FAMILY
Annual or perennial herbs, vines or shrubs (trees south of our area); leaves
alternate, simple or compound, entire, toothed or lobed (wanting in Cuscuta), with-
out stipules; flowers axillary or terminal, solitary or cymose, perfect, 5-merous;
sepals 5, equal or unequal (often overlapping laterally), separate or united in
basal portion; corolla gamopetalous, regular (rarely with curved tube or slightly
irregular limb), 5-angled to deeply 5-lobed; stamens epipetalous; ovary 2- (occa-
sionally 1- or 3- to 5-) celled, free from the calyx; fruit a 1- to several-seeded
capsule (indehiscent in some species).
About 1,600 species in about 30 to 50 genera, in tropical (chiefly) and temper-
ate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Leafless parasitic annual twiners, not ground-rooting by flowering time
6. Cuscuta
1. Leafy or leafy-bracted ground-rooting annual or perennial twiners, trailers,
erect herbs or shrubs (2)
2(1). Stigmas linear or oblong, more than twice as long as broad 4. Cafystegia
2. Stigmas globose to reniform or flat-topped, as broad as long or broader
(minute and scarcely larger than style in some species) (3)
3(2). Corolla shorter than or up to twice as long as calyx, with prominent lobes
one third to three fourths its total length, the lobes as long as wide
or longer (4)
3. Corolla more than twice as long as the calyx, shallowly lobed (lobes broader
than long) or merely angled (5)
4(3). Leaf blades orbicular-ovate to orbicular-reniform, cordate, becoming long-
petioled 1. Dichondra
4. Leaf blades elliptic to oblong-lanceolate or reduced to small bracts, very short-
petioled or sessile 2. Cressa
5(3). Style usually 2-branched (rarely with 1 branch suppressed); stigmas
minute, little larger than diameter of style 3. Stylisma
5. Style unbranched; stigma globose and undivided or with 2 or 3 subglobose
lobes 5. fpomoea
1. Dichondra FORST. & FORST. PONY-FOOT
Creeping or trailing perennials; leaves long-petioled; blades orbicular-ovate to
orbicular-reniform, entire; flowers very small, axillary, solitary or paired, long-
pedicelled; sepals 5, united at base; corolla shallowly funnelform, deeply 5-lobed,
light-green or white; fruit indehiscent or dehiscent, 2- or 4-seeded.
About 15 species, in tropical and warm-temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Pedicel straight; calyx lobes 2 or 3 times as long as wide 1. D. carolinensis.
1. Pedicel abruptly recurved near summit; calyx lobes 1.5 to 2 times as long as
wide (2)
1350
-------
2(1). Calyx 1.5—2 mm. long in flower (to 2.5 mm. in fruit); creeping stems
mostly less than 1 mm. thick 2. D. micrantha.
2. Calyx 2.5-3.2 mm. long in flower (to 3.8 mm. in fruit); creeping stems 1-2
mm. thick 3. D. recurvata.
1, Dichondra carolinensis Michx.
Rooting at the nodes, mat-forming, 1—12 cm. high, sparsely pubescent; pedicels
one third to two thirds as long as petioles in flower; corolla nearly as long as calyx,
light-green. D. repens var. carolinensis (Michx.) Choisy.
Damp open ground, in mud on edge of lakes and ponds, edge of swamps and
marshes, roadsides and lawns, s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and cen. and e. Tex.,
Mar.-June; e. and n. to Fla. and Va.
2. Dichondra micrantha Urban.
Rooting at the nodes, mat-forming, 1-6 cm. high, sparsely pubescent; pedicels
subsessile to one fourth or one half as long as petioles; corolla as long as calyx or
slightly longer, white.
Damp ground and lawns, bogs and wet meadows, s. Tex., Apr.-May; adj. Mex.,
W.I., Pac. Is., e. Asia.
3. Dichondra recurvata Tharp & M. C. Johnst.
Rooting at the nodes, mat-forming, 2-17 cm. high, rather sparsely pubescent;
pedicels one tenth to one half as long as petioles; corolla nearly one third longer
than calyx.
Gravelly or sandy open oak woods, wet meadows and wet sandy gravel along
creeks, cen. Tex., Mar.-May; endemic.
2. Cressa L.
Low densely appressed-pubescent perennials with deep vertical or oblique branch-
ing rhizomes, forming colonies, aboveground stems erect or partly decumbent,
freely branched; leaves sessile, small, entire; flowers axillary, solitary, short-
pedicelled; calyx bracteolate; sepals 5, united at base, laterally overlapping, elliptic;
corolla white, funnelform to subsalverform, 5-lobed, exceeding calyx; stamens
exserted; styles 2; stigma capitate; capsule 1- to 4-seeded.
About 6 species in warm-temperate to tropical regions of both hemispheres.
1. Leaf blades well-developed, broadly elliptic to lanceolate, the larger 5-12 mm.
long and 1.5-6 mm. wide, those on main stems crowded and over-
lapping 1. C. depressa.
1. Leaf blades very reduced, at flowering time the plant usually with only small
bracts 1-4 mm. long and 0.6-2.8 mm. wide, those on main stems
widely spaced 2. C. nudicaulis.
1. Cressa depressa Goodd. ALKALI WEED. Fig. 638.
Plant densely leafy, gray-pubescent, 8-25 cm. tall. C. truxillensis H.B.K. var.
vallicola (Heller) Munz.
In depressions or damp or wet strongly alkaline soil and in wet heavy soils of
river valleys and canal banks, in s.w. Okla. (Waterfall), the Tex Trans-Pecos,
N. M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave, Maricopa, Final and Yuma
cos.), Apr.-July; w. to Calif.; Mex.
2. Cressa nudicaulis Griseb. LEAFLESS CRESSA. Fig. 638.
Plant at first with a few very small leaves, appearing leafless or nearly so at
flowering time, with bracts only, 7—20 cm. tall. C. aphylla Heller.
On brackish clay banks and flats just above water and periodically wetted, in
coastal cos. of Tex. from San Patricio Co. s., Apr.-May or Sept.; also Arg.
1351
-------
Fig. 638: a-d, Crcssa truxillensis: a, habit, x v,; b, calyx, x 5; c, open corolla and
stamens, x 5; d, ovary, styles and stigmas, x 5. e-h, Cressa aphylla: e, habit, x Mi! f.
open corolla and stamens, x 5; g, flowers, x 5; h, ovary, styles and stigmas, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
3. Sfylisma RAF.
Six species, confined to southeastern United States.
1. Stylfcma aquatica (Walt.) Raf.
Stems prostrate or twining, short-pubescent, to 15 dm. long; leaves short-petioled:
blades oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, truncate or slightly cordate at base,
densely short-pubescent on both surfaces, 1-3 cm. long, 3-10 mm. wide: peduncles
exceeding leaves; pedicels shorter than calyxes; corolla lavender, 10-15 mm. long.
Breweria aquatica (Walt.) Gray. B. Michauxii Fern. & Shub., Bonamia aquatica
(Walt.) Gray, B. Michauxii (Fern. & Schub.) K. A. Wils.
Sandy open ground, in shallow water of ponds, depressions and lowlands, rare
in s,e, Tex., May—June; Tex. to Ark., Fla. and N.C.
4. Calystegia R. JjR. HEDGE-BINDWEED
About 30 species, chiefly in temperate regions of both hemispheres.
1. Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br.
Perennial from creeping rhizomes; stems trailing and twining, to 2 m. long;
leaves long-petioted; blades abruptly contracted to deeply cordate at base, acumi-
nate at apex; flowers axillary, solitary or paired; peduncle at first much shorter
(later becoming longer) than leaves, 1-flowered; floral bracts 2, elliptic-ovate,
laterally overlapping, 12—25 mm. long, about twice as long as calyx and concealing
it; corolla funnelform, 5-angled, 4—8 cm. longs' white; ovary commonly 1-celled;
style simple; stigmas oblong to linear, scarcely or not flattened, obtuse; capsule
mostly 2- to 4-seeded. Convolvulus sepium L,
In marshes and wet soil of stream branks and gravel beds, May-Get.; through-
out temp. N. A. and Euras.
Var. fraferniflora (Mack. & Bush) Shinners. Leaf blades deltoid-ovate to oblong-
ovate, glabrous to rather densely pubescent on both surfaces, mostly 4-8 cm. long,
23-5 cm. wide, the basal lobes rather widely spreading with the broad sinus open.
C. fratemiflora (Mack. & Bush) Brummitt^ Convolvulus fraterniflorus Mack. &
Bush, C. sepium var. fratemiflorus Mack. & Bush.
Rare in Okla. (Ottawa Co.) and in far n. and n.e. Tex. (known only from
Ochiltree, Cooke and Anderson cos.), N. M. (Dona Ana, San Juan and Rio
Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino cos.), May-Oct.; cen. U. S.
Var. repeus (L.) Gray. Leaf blades narrowly deltoid-ovate to deltoid-lanceolate,
usually densely soft-pubescent on both surfaces (rarely glabrate), mostly 4—9 cm.
long, 2.5—5 cm. wide at base, rather abruptly contracted above base to an oblong-
lanceolate main portion 1-2 cm. wide, the basal lobes directed backward (parallel
with petiole) or somewhat spreading with the sinus narrow to moderately broad.
Convolvulus sepium var. repens (L.) Gray.
Rare on Gulf Coast and lower Rio Grande of Tex., July; Gulf and Atl. coasts,
rarely inland.
5. Ipomoea L. MORNING GLORY
Annual or perennial herbs or woody vines, shrubs or trees: stems erect to trailing,
creeping or twining and climbing; leaves sessile to long-petioled, simple or palmately
compound (in one species pinnately cut almost to midrib, appearing compound),
entire or toothed or shallowly to deeply lobed; flowers axillary or terminal, solitary
to numerous; peduncles and pedicels various; sepals 5. commonly laterally over-
lapping; corolla 5-angled or shallowly 5-lobed, salverform to funnelform or cam-
panulate. usually large, variously colored, usually open for less than 24 hours
(morning, daytime or night); stamens included or exserted; ovary 1- to 3-celled;
1353
-------
style simple; stigma globose or with 2 or 3 globose lobes; capsule 1- to several-
seeded, variously dehiscent or (a few species) indehiscent.
Over 600 species (often referred to 6 to 10 unsatisfactorily distinguishable gen-
era), warm-temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres. (Incl. Batatas,
Calonyction, Exogonium, Merremia, Mlna, Operculina, Pharbitis, Quamoclit,
Turbina.)
Most of the species in this genus are weedy in character, and many are essenti-
ally ubiquitous. It is quite possible that additional species in our region should be
included here. The seeds of some species are eaten by game birds. The genus
includes the sweet potato (/. Batatas) as well as ornamentals and medicinal plants.
1. Corolla more or less strongly salverform, the long narrow tube only slightly
widened to near or above the middle, rather abruptly flaring near
summit, at mid-level 3-7 mm. in diameter, the maximum breadth
at summit (corolla rim) 5 to 20 times as great as mid-level
diameter (2)
1. Corolla funnelform to campanulate, with short to rather long tube gradually
expanding from below middle (but often more sharply flaring near
summit), at mid-level 4-20 mm. in diameter, the maximum breadth
at summit (corolla rim) 2 to 5 times as great as mid-level diameter
(3)
2(1). Calyx (5-) 6-8 mm. long 1. /. coccinea.
2. Calyx 4-4.5 mm. long 2. /. hederifolia.
3(1). Pedicels and peduncles with reflexed hairs (sometimes also some spreading
ones) (4)
3. Pedicels and peduncles glabrous or with widely spreading to ascending hairs
or soft spreading to slightly down-curved prickles (5)
4(3). Sepals soft-pilose or pubescent on back with slender hairs
3. /. acuminata.
4. Sepals hispid-pilose on back, the hairs (at least those toward pedicel) with
swollen bases 4. I. hederacea.
5(3). Anthers large and strongly spirally twisted when flowers have opened
13. /. sinuata.
5. Anthers large or small, straight or merely slightly curved (6)
6(5). Leaf blades divided to base, the lobes or leaflets narrow 5. I. Wrightii.
6. Leaf blades entire or with broad or irregular lobes, not divided to base (7)
7(6). Stems rooting at nodes, long-creeping (8)
7. Stems not rooting at nodes, trailing to twining and climbing (9)
8(7). Leaf blades mostly irregularly lobed; sepals oblong-lanceolate, much longer
than wide 6. I, stolonifera.
8. Leaf blades entire except for notched apex; sepals suborbicular, nearly as wide
as long or wider 7. /. Pes-caprae.
9(7). Sepals about equal in length (10)
9. Sepals markedly unequal in length, the outer three fourths to five sixths as
long as the inner (13)
10(9). Sepals suborbicular, obtuse to broadly rounded at apex (sometimes very
inconspicuously notched or mucronate) 10. /. amnlcola.
10. Sepals elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, strongly mucronate or acute to acuminate
at apex (11)
11(10). Sepals 15-22 mm. long in flower; corolla 5.5-9 cm. long
3. /. acuminata.
11. Sepals 6-13 mm. long in flower; corolla 1.8-5.5 cm. long (12)
1354
-------
12(11). Corolla 28-55 mm. long 11. /. trichocarpa.
12. Corolla 18-23 mm. long 12. /. lacunosa.
13(9). Corolla white with purple-red center; leaf blade cordate-ovate
8. /. pandurata.
13. Corolla all lavender-pink to red-purple; leaf blade sagittate 9. /. sagittata.
1. Ipomoea coccinea L. SCARLET CREEPER, STAR-GLORY.
Low-climbing annual essentially glabrous vine; leaf blades ovate, shallowly to
deeply cordate, entire or angled-toothed, acuminate, those on flowering branches
3-7 cm. long, 3-7 cm. broad; peduncles 1- to several-flowered; sepals with soft
spinelike tips; corolla salverform, 2-4 cm. long, to 3 cm/ broad, orange-red or
red with yellow tube. Quamoclit coccinea (L.) Moench.
Commonly cult., seeding itself and tending to escape to alluvial low ground and
muddy banks and wet gravel bars of streams, low thickets, fields and waste places,
hillsides and canyons, in Tex., Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (Santa Fe, San Miguel,
Sierra and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino, s. to Greenlee, Cochise.
Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), July-Nov.; nat. of s.e. U.S.
2. Ipomoea hederifolia L.
Similar to /. coccinea; leaf blades variable, commonly quadrate-ovate to quadrate-
reniform in outline, 3-lobed. /. coccinea var. hederifolia (L.) Gray, Quamoclit
hederifolia (L.) G. Don.
Damp or wet thickets near the Tex. coast, Orange Co. to Matagorda Co., N. M.
(San Miguel, Grant, Sierra, Dona Ana, Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz, (distri-
bution similar to that for /. coccinea), also cult, and escaped farther inland, July-
Nov.; Fla. to Tex. and w. to Ariz.; W.I. and Mex.
3. Ipomoea acuminata (Vahl) R. & S.
Low- to high-climbing perennial vine, glabrous or pubescent; leaf blades cordate-
ovate, acuminate, entire to deeply 3-lobed, glabrous to densely soft-pubescent
beneath, those on flowering shoots 4-16 cm. long, 3-12 cm. wide; peduncles long,
with reflexed hairs, several- to many-flowered; sepals narrowly ovate-lanceolate,
acuminate; corolla funnelform, red-purple, 6-9 cm. long. /. cathartica Poir., /.
congesta R. Br., /. Lean Paxt, /. mutabilis Lindl., Pharbitis cathartica (Poir.)
Choisy.
Damp thickets, wet depressions and waste ground, s. Tex.; also cult., Mar.-Nov.;
Fla. to Tex.; W.I., Mex., S.A. and Old World.
All of our collections are of the form with pilose stems and densely soft-
pubescent leaves and sepals.
4. Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. Fig. 638A.
Annual low- to high-climbing vine; stems moderately to densely pilose; leaf
blades cordate-ovate, entire or usually 3-lobed; peduncles 1- to few-flowered, it
(and pedicels) with reflexed hairs; corolla funnelform, lavender to blue with white
center in wild plants, varying to purple or red in cult, forms, 3-5 cm. long (slightly
larger in cult.) Incl. var. integriuscula Gray, /. barbigera Sims.
Gravel bars, wet stream banks, fields and lowland disturbed ground in Okla.
(Waterfall) and e. Tex. w. to West Cross Timbers, s. to Rio Grande, locally up
river to Big Bend, also commonly cult, and locally escaped, July-Nov.; s.e. U. S.
to W.I. and Mex.
S. Ipomoea Wrightii Gray.
Glabrous annual or perennial low-climbing vine with palmately compound leaves;
leaflets 3 to 5, narrowly lanceolate, 2-5 cm. long, obtuse to acute and mucronate
at apex; peduncles slender, 1- to few-flowered, short at first and on younger
1355
-------
Fig. 638A. Ipomoea hederacea: A, habit, x i{>; B, sepals, x l1,^; C, capsule, x 2;
D, seedi, x 5. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United Slates, Fig. 148).
-------
branches, becoming very elongate and spirally twisted or coiled; sepals broadly
ovate- to oblong-elliptic, about 5 mm. long, broadly rounded at apex; corolla nar-
rowly funnelform, lavender-pink, about 1.5 cm. long; capsule ovoid, smooth, about
1 cm. long. /. heptaphylla (Roxb.) Voigt, illegit. name, /. spiralis House, /. pul-
chella of auth., not Roth.
Alluvial or damp silty or clayey soil, in mud at edge of water of lakes and ponds,
locally abundant in cen. and s. Tex. and s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), June-Oct;
nat. probably of India, now widespread in warm countries around the world.
6. Ipomoea stolonifera (Cyr.) Gmel. BEACH MORNING GLORY.
Glabrous perennial; stems prostrate and rooting at nodes, not twining; leaf
blades rather fleshy or leathery, varying from oblong-ovate or broadly short-oblong
and entire with obtuse to truncate or emarginate apex to deeply and unequally 3- to
7-lobed, 2-4 cm. long, 1-4 cm. wide; peduncles 1-flowered; sepals elliptic-oblong;
corolla white with yellow center, 4.5-7 cm. long. /. littoralis (L.) Boiss., not Bl.
Beaches, wettish depressions and flats, and dunes along the Tex. Gulf Coast,
Apr.-Nov.; warm regions around the world.
7. Ipomoea Pes-caprae (L.) Sweet var. emarginata Hallier f. RAILROAD VINE, GOAT-
FOOT MORNING GLORY.
Glabrous perennial; stems prostrate and rooting at nodes, not twining; leaf blades
rather fleshy or leathery, suborbicular, entire but more or less deeply notched at
apex, 4-10 cm. long and wide; peduncles 1- or usually several-flowered; sepals
elliptic-orbicular; corolla rosy or purple, 5-7 cm. long. Incl. subsp. brasiliensis (L.)
v. Ooststr.
Beaches, wettish depressions and flats, and dunes along the Tex. Gulf Coast,
June-Nov.; warm regions around the world.
8. Ipomoea pandurata (L.) Mey. WILD POTATO.
Glabrous or pubescent, trailing or twining and low-climbing from woody tuber-
ous root; petioles 1-8 cm. long; leaf blades cordate or cordate-ovate, often with
indented sides and almost 3-lobed, 3-10 cm. long, 2-9 cm. wide, glabrous to
densely soft-pubescent beneath; peduncles 1- to several-flowered; sepals markedly
unequal, oblong-elliptic; corolla white with purple-red center, 5-8 cm. long.
Thickets, alluvial low wettish ground, along streams and edge of lakes and
ponds, fallow fields and roadsides, e. Tex. w. to Bexar, Blanco and Johnson cos.
and Okla. (Waterfall), June-Sept.; s.e. U.S.
9. Ipomoea sagittata Poir. Fig. 639.
Glabrous perennial, tightly twining, low-climbing, from creeping root; leaf blades
deeply sagittate, deltoid-lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate in outline, entire,
4-10 cm. long, 1-5 cm. wide (across base); peduncles 1-flowered; sepals markedly
unequal, oblong-elliptic, apex broadly rounded with an abrupt small point; corolla
red-purple, funnelform-campanulate, 6-9 cm. long.
Beaches and dunes, edge of marshes, in wet savannahs, in and about lakes and
ponds, and along drainage and irrigation canals, along the Tex. Gulf Coast, rarely
inland up the Rio Grande to Val Verde Co., Apr.-Oct; Tex. to Fla. and W.I.; also
w. Medit, where probably an early introd.
10. Ipomoea amnicola Morong.
Glabrous, twining, low-climbing, from creeping root; leaf blades cordate-ovate,
entire, 2-6 cm. long, 2-7 cm. wide; peduncles several- to many-flowered, rather
short; sepals oblong-orbicular; corolla white with purple-red center, funnelform,
2-4 cm. long.
1357
-------
Fig. 639: Ipomoca sagittata: a, vine on stem of another plant, x Vi>; b, flower
opened, x ai; c, capsule in calyx, x :!'j; d, one valve of capsule, x 3. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fields, wet depressions, ditch banks and roadsides, in Tex. common in lower
Rio Grande Valley, locally n. to Bexar Co., Apr.-July; nat. of Parag., introd. in
s. Tex., adj. Mex. and n. S.A.
11. Ipomoea trichocarpa Ell.
Perennial but flowering first year, from branched root, twining and low-climbing;
leaf blades very variable, cordate-ovate in outline, entire to deeply 3- or 5-lobed,
2-8 cm. long, 1.5-7 cm. wide; peduncles 1- to several-flowered; sepals noticeably
unequal, oblong-elliptic, acuminate; corolla rosy-lavender to purple-rose with dark
center (rarely white), 2.8-5.5 cm. long. /. commutata R. & S., /. Carolina (L.)
Pursh, not L.; has been incorrectly referred to the related tropical species /. triloba
L. and /. trifida H.B.K.
Thickets, fields, wet depressions and flats, roadsides and disturbed ground,
June-Oct.
Var. trichocarpa. Sepals hispid-pilose, at least on margins; stem and leaves gla-
brous to moderately densely hispid-pilose. Common in e. third of Tex. (but absent
from cos. near Red River), local w. to Medina and Menard cos.; s.e. U.S.
Var. Torreyana (Gray) Shinners. Sepals glabrous; stem and leaves glabrous. Com-
mon in cen. Tex., from Dallas, Throckmorton, Sutton and Val Verde cos. to lower
Rio Grande Valley, rare in e. Tex. (Cass and Nacogdoches cos., perhaps introd.);
also Mex.
12. Ipomoea lacunosa L.
Annual from slender taproot, sparsely to rather densely hispid-pubescent, twin-
ing and low-climbing; leaf blades variable, cordate-ovate to deltoid-ovate in outline,
entire or angled-toothed or 3-lobed, 2-10 cm. long, 1.5-9 cm. wide; peduncles 1- or
2-flowered; sepals markedly unequal, oblong-elliptic, acuminate; corolla white
(rarely rosy), 1.8-2.3 cm. long.
Damp thickets, stream banks and ditches, swamps, wet meadows and wet alluvial
soils in prairies, common in e. Tex., w. and s. to Tarrant, Travis and Matagorda
cos., and Okla. (LeFlore and Cherokee cos.), Sept. -Oct.; s.e. U.S.
13. Ipomoea sinuata Ort. ALAMO VINE, CORREHUELA DE LAS DOCE.
Trailing to low-climbing perennial; stem and petioles glabrous or spreading-
pilose; leaf blades ovate-orbicular in outline, 4—15 cm. long and wide, palmately
deeply 5- or 7-lobed, the lobes dentate to pinnatifid, obtuse; peduncles 1- or
2-flowered; sepals oblong-elliptic, mucronate; corolla white with purple-red center,
3.5-5 cm. long. /. dissecta (Jacq.) Pursh, not L., Merremia dissecta (Jacq.) Hallier
f., Operculina dissecta (Jacq.) House.
Stream banks, wet thickets and in wettish depressions, open ground and disturbed
places, s.-cen. Tex. (Travis to Galveston and Val Verde cos. and s.), also cult.,
May-Nov.; Tex. and Fla. to W.I., Mex. and S.A.
6. Cuscuta L. DODDER. LOVE-VINE
Plants leafless and rootless, herbaceous, parasitic; stems yellowish or orange-
color, filiform, fleshy-herbaceous, glabrous, twining; flowers small (mostly 2-6 mm.
long), sessile or short-pedicellate, in few- to many-flowered cymose clusters, com-
monly 5-merous but sometimes 3- or 4-merous; perianth parts mostly united;
corolla campanulate to cylindric, shallowly or deeply lobed; stamens inserted in
the throat of the corolla, alternating with the usually longer lobes; scalelike toothed,
fringed or fimbriate appendages commonly present at base of the corolla tube
opposite the stamens; ovary 2-celled; stigmas linear to capitate; fruit a capsule,
indehiscent or sometimes opening with a regular or irregular line of circumscission
near the base; embryo acotyledonous, filiform or more or less enlarged at one end.
About 170 species, mostly in the Americas.
1359
-------
Some species may exhibit a host preference, but most will grow upon a wide
range of herbaceous or woody plants including pteridophytes and grasses. A few
species show a predilection for cultivated crop plants, especially legumes and flax,
and sometimes cause considerable damage. In enumerating the host plants here
only those that grow in water or wetlands are cited. While commonly considered
to be wholly parasitic, many species show evidences of chlorophyll in the stems,
flowers or maturing fruits and are, therefore, at least partly autophytic. Additional
vernacular names to those above are "angel's hair," "tangle gut," "witches' shoe-
laces," "devil's gut," "strangle vine."
1. Capsules circumscissile (that is, easily separating near the base in a more or
less regular line of cleavage) 1. C. umbellata.
1. Capsules not circumscissile (that is, not separating in a regular line of cleav-
age), when forcibly separated either coming away entirely or break-
ing very irregularly (2)
2(1). Calyx gamosepalous; inflorescence not markedly bracteate or congested (3)
2. Calyx deeply divided to form distinct or nearly distinct sepals; inflorescence
with numerous bracts, loose or mostly compact (18)
3(2). Calyx lobes with fleshy hornlike projections; corolla lobes strongly inflexed
to essentially cover the capsule; flowers conspicuously papillate
2. C. Warned.
3. Flowers without all of the above characteristics (4)
4(3). Styles short and subulate; interstylar aperture comparatively large; calyx
lobes commonly unequal (5)
4. Styles longer and only slightly (if at all) subulate (6)
5(4). Flowers mostly 5-parted 3. C. obtusiflora var. glandulosa.
5. Flowers mostly 3- or 4-parted 4. C. Polygonorum.
6(4). Flowers 3- or 4-parted; withered corolla capping the capsule
5. C. Cephalanthi.
6. Flowers 5-parted; withered corolla rarely capping the capsule (7)
7(6). Calyx conspicuously 5-angIed by the projecting lobes where they overlap
at the sinuses 6. C. pentagona.
1. Calyx not obviously 5-angled (8)
8(7). Capsules depressed-globose or globose, not at all ovoid or evidently
thickened about the style bases, commonly about as wide as long
(9)
8. Capsules globose-ovoid, apically narrowed, mostly more or less thickened
about the style bases (11)
9(8). Calyx lobes overlapping at the base; withered corolla about the lower part
of the smooth capsule 7. C. campestris.
9. Calyx lobes scarcely overlapping; withered corolla surrounding the capsule
which is typically papillate about the top (10)
10(9). Calyx and pedicels not papillate 8. C. glabrior var. glabrior.
10. Calyx and pedicels papillate 8. C. glabrior var. pubescens.
11(8). Corolla lobes acute, with inflexed or erect tips (12)
11. Corolla lobes obtuse or rounded at apex (15)
12(11). Flowers commonly smooth, 5-parted; scales shorter than corolla tube;
capsules usually 1-seeded 9. C. salina,
12. Flowers typically fleshy, papillate; capsules mostly 2- to 4-seeded (13)
13(12). Flowers mostly 4-parted; scales represented by wings that are shorter
than the corolla tube 10. C. Coryli-
13. Flowers 5-parted; scales well-formed, reaching the filaments (14)
1360
-------
14(13). Calyx lobes triangular-ovate 11. C. indecora var. indecora.
14. Calyx lobes lanceolate 11. C. indecora var. longisepala.
15(11). Withered corolla about the top of the capsule (16)
15. Withered corolla not at the top of the capsule (17)
16(15). Calyx lobes denticulate, overlapping to enclose the corolla tube; scales
merely denticulate; corolla lobes erect 12. C. denticulata.
16. Calyx lobes not enclosing the corolla tube; scales deeply fringed; corolla
lobes widely spreading 13. C. Gronovii var. calyptrata.
17(15). Calyx lobes mostly about half as long as the corolla tube
13. C. Gronovii var. Gronovii.
17. Calyx lobes mostly about as long as the corolla tube
13. C. Gronovii var. latiflora.
18(2). Flowers pedicellate, loosely paniculate; sepals and bracts oval-orbiculate-
ovate 14. C. cuspidata.
18. Flowers sessile, in dense compact clusters (19)
19(18). Sepals and bracts acute 15. C. squamata.
19. Sepals and bracts obtuse 16. C. compacta.
1. Cuscuta umbellata H.B.K. Fig. 640.
Flower stramineous, smooth or infrequently slightly papillate, commonly with
some pellucid glandlike cells, mostly 2-2.5 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses,
rarely much longer, with pedicels varying in length from shorter than to much
longer than the flowers, in dense or loose compound cymose clusters, the ultimate
umbellate divisions of 3 to 7 flowers; calyx lobes scarcely overlapping, triangular-
ovate to sublanceolate, acute to acuminate, smooth or slightly papillate, the
margins even or sometimes irregular; scales reaching the filaments, oblong-
subspatulate, fringed with medium-length processes; styles slender and longer than
the ovary; capsule depressed-globose, with a thickened collar about the inter-
stylar apertures, commonly easily circumscissile but some specimens tardily so,
surrounded by the withered corolla. Incl. var. reflexa (Coult.) Yunck.
Mainly in the Tex. Trans-Pecos and Rio Grande Plains, Okla. (Cimarron Co.),
N.M. (Santa Fe, Sandoval, Union, Socorro, Sierra, Dona Ana, Valencia and Grant
cos.) and Ariz. (Final, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.); s. U. S., the W.I., Mex. and
n. S.A.; parasitic on a wide range of mostly low herbaceous hosts including
species of Polygonum, Atriplex, Suaeda, Amaranthus, Alternanthera, Sesuvium,
Trianthema and Portulaca.
2. Cuscuta Warned Yunck.
Stems filiform; flowers white, fleshy, 5-parted, about 2 mm. long when mature,
in few-flowered glomerules, on pedicels scarcely 1 mm. long; calyx strongly
papillate-hispidulous, reaching to above the middle of the corolla tube, divided
to about the middle into triangular-ovate lobes; calyx lobes thickened apically
to form a large prominent divergent acute cone-shaped or hornlike projection
0.5-0.75 mm. long, also with a small rounded corresponding projection at the
base; corolla papillate-hispidulous (especially downward); corolla lobes triangular-
ovate, acute, the margins slightly irregularly denticulate, suberect to strongly
inflexed-connivent, slightly projecting and angular at the base of the sinuses,
about half as long as the campanulate-suburceolate tube at maturity; stamens
shorter than the corolla lobes, incurved, the anthers ovoid and about as long as
the slightly subulate filaments; infrastamineal scales thin, oblong, sparingly toothed
at the truncate apex, bridged low, scarcely reaching the stamens; capsule globose,
indehiscent, rather thin and finely longitudinally striate when mature, with a
1361
-------
prominent thickened shallowly 4-lobed cuplike or collarlike apex, enveloped by
the corolla when mature; styles slender, scarcely exceeding the corolla, the
stigma globose.
Growing on Phyla cuneifolia about wet bank of shallow pond in Ariz. (Coconino
Co.), June-Aug.; also Ut.
3. Cuscuta obtusiflora H.B.K. var. glandulosa Engelm. Fig. 640.
Flowers 1.5-2 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, 5-merous, commonly
with numerous enlarged pellucid glandlike cells, subsessile in scattered moderately
open glomerate-cymose clusters; calyx lobes nearly enclosing the corolla tube,
commonly unequal (one smaller than the others), ovate, obtuse, scarcely over-
lapping at base; corolla lobes somewhat shorter than the tube, ovate to ovate-
oblong, obtuse to acutish, upright to spreading; scales about reaching the filaments,
oblong, fringed about the top, sometimes bifid or truncated; styles stoutish and
subulate, shorter than or about equaling the ovary; capsule depressed-globose,
interstylar aperture large, the withered corolla remaining at the base. C. glandulosa
(Engelm.) Small.
Occasional throughout Tex. but most frequent in the s.e. section, and Okla.
(Haskell and Muskogee cos.); also the Gulf States, W.I., Mex. and S.A.; most
frequently on species of Polygonum but also on other plants as Justicia americana.
4. Cuscuta Polygonorum Engelm. SMARTWEED DODDER. Fig. 640.
Flowers 1-1.5 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, mostly 3- or 4-merous,
subsessile in compact glomerulate clusters; calyx lobes triangular-ovate, often
unequal, not overlapping at base, as long as or longer than the corolla tube;
corolla lobes triangular, acute, upright, as long as or longer than the tube; scales
oblong, about reaching the filaments or commonly shorter, mostly bifid, the
processes mostly few and near the top; styles shorter than the ovary, becoming
subulate and divergent; capsule globose or obpyriform, commonly depressed,
appearing cubical about the maturing seeds, interstylar aperture large and rhombic.
From N.E. and Ont., w. and s.w. to Neb., Okla. (Waterfall) and Tex. (fide
Small); mostly on species of Polygonum but also on species of Penthorum,
Impatiens, Lycopus and others.
5. Cuscuta Cephalanthi Engelm. BUTTON-BUSH DODDER. Fig. 640.
Flowers about 2 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, 3- or 4-merous, rarely
5-merous, with numerous pellucid glandlike cells, sessile or subsessile in spicate
or paniculately cymose clusters, frequently originating endogenously in the
regions of the haustoria, the clusters at first open but soon becoming compact as
the capsules mature; calyx shorter than the corolla tube, deeply divided, the
ovate-oblong lobes obtuse and slightly overlapping at the base, the margins often
minutely irregular; corolla lobes much shorter than the tube, ovate, obtuse, erect
to spreading; scales narrowly oblong, about reaching the filaments, fringed with
scattered processes; styles slender, about equal to or slightly longer than the
ovary; capsule depressed-globose or globose, commonly only 1 or 2 seeds matur-
ing, more or less lopsided when but one seed matures, the walls thin, capped by
the withered corolla that is easily removed.
Rare in n.-cen. Tex., (?) Okla. and Ariz. (? Cochise Co.); from Me. and Va.,
w. to Wash., and Calif., less frequently s. to Mex.; parasitic on a wide variety
of woody and herbaceous hosts including species of Salix, Boehmeria, Justicia,
Teucrium, Physostegia, Cephalanthus, Vernonia, Solidago and Asler.
6. Cuscuta pentagona Engelm. Fig. 640.
Flowers 1-1.5 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, the protruding capsules
soon causing the flowers to appear larger, commonly with pellucid glandlike cells,
1362
-------
c
B
Fig. 640: A, Cuscuta umbellata; B, Cuscuta obtusiflora var. glandulosa; C, Cuscuta
Polygonorum; D, Cuscuta Cephalanthi; E, Cuscuta pentagona; f, Cuscuta campestrls.
In each figure: a, flower, x 5; b, opened corolla, x 5; c, opened calyx, x 5; d, infrasta-
mineal scale, x 10; e,matured capsule, x 5. (From Yuncker in Lundell's Flora of Texas,
Vol. 3, Pt. 2).
-------
A
B
Fig. 641: A, Cuscula Cory Hi', B, Ci/sci/ta glabrior', C, Cuscuta mdecora; D, Cuscuta
cuspidata'. E. Cuscuia compacia', F, Cuscula Cronovii. In each figure: a, flower, x 5;
b, opened calyx, x 5: d, infrastamineal scale, x 10; e, matured capsule, x 5. (From
Yuncker in Lur.dell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, Pt. 2).
-------
with pedicels about as long as the flowers or commonly somewhat shorter, in
loose cymose clusters; calyx mostly about as long as and loose about the corolla
tube; calyx lobes broadly ovate, obtuse, commonly as broad as or broader than
long, often unequal, widely overlapping at the sinuses to form 5 conspicuous
angles; corolla lobes lanceolate, about as long as or slightly longer than the tube,
spreading or reflexed, the acute tips inflexed; scales ovate-oblong, reaching the
filaments, prominently fringed; styles slender, about equal to or slightly shorter
than the ovary; capsule mostly more or less depressed-globose to somewhat ovoid,
frequently longer than wide, the withered corolla remaining about the lower part.
Frequent in the e. part of the U.S., w. to Okla., Tex., Colo., Mont, and Calif.;
parasitic on species of Justicia, Hibiscus, Solidago, Aster, Ambrosia, Artemisia
and many others.
7. Cuscuta campestris Yunck. FIELD DODDER. Fig. 640.
Flowers to about 2.5 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, appearing much
larger when in fruit, smooth or with scattered pellucid glandlike cells, with
pedicels mostly shorter than the flowers, in glomerate-cymose clusters; calyx lobes
about as long as the corolla tube, overlapping at the base but not markedly angled
at the sinuses, ovate to oval-ovate, commonly as long as wide, obtuse; corolla lobes
triangular to sublanceolate, about as long as the tube, spreading to reflexed,
often granulate, the acute tips inflexed; scales reaching the filaments, ovate-
oblong, abundantly fringed; style slender to slightly subulate, as long as or
longer than the ovary; capsule depressed-globose, the withered corolla remaining
about the lower half. C. arvensis Engelm.
Throughout Tex., Okla. (Craig Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai and Pima
cos.), distributed over the range of the genus; parasitic on a great variety of
mostly herbaceous hosts including species of Justicia, Xanthium, Penthorum,
Ludwigia and Tnfolium.
8. Cuscuta glabrior (Engelm.) Yunck. var. glabrior. Fig. 641.
Flowers about 2 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, white or often reddish,
commonly with numerous pellucid glandlike cells, subsessile or mostly with
pedicels no longer than the flowers or rarely longer, in compact or loose globular-
cymose clusters; calyx lobes as long as or somewhat shorter than the corolla tube,
ovate to oval-ovate, commonly not overlapping at base, the sinuses often obtusish;
corolla lobes triangular to sublanceolate, smooth or commonly more or less
papillate, about as long as the tube, spreading to reflexed, the acute to acuminate
tips inflexed; scales reaching the filaments, oblong-spatulate, abundantly fringed;
styles as long as or somewhat longer than the ovary that is more or less scabrous-
papillate; capsule depressed-globose, the interstylar aperture large, often with
numerous pellucid glandlike cells, scabrous-papillate at least above the middle,
rarely smooth, sometimes easily breaking loose from the calyx and thus may be
mistaken as circumscissile, surrounded by the withered corolla.
Frequent in Tex., ranging from N. M. (Chaves Co.) to Okla. (Waterfall) and
La., s. into n.e. Mex.; parasitic on a variety of mostly herbaceous hosts including
species of Amaranthus, Oenothera, Gaura, Verbena, Plantago, Aster, Ambrosia,
Bifora, Liatris, Phyllanthus, Asclepias and Justicia.
Var. pubescens (Engelm.) Yunck. All parts of the flower (including ovary
and capsule) and pedicel more or less densely papillate; otherwise similar to var.
glabrior.
9. Cuscuta salina Engelm. Fig. 642.
Flowers 2-4 mm. long, 5-parted, on pedicels mostly shorter than the flowers,
in umbellate-cymose clusters; calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate,
about as long as the corolla tube; corolla lobes about as long as the campanulate
1365
-------
Fig. 642: Cuscuta salina: a, fruit (longitudinal section), x 6; b, seed, x 8; c, seed
(longitudinal section), x 8; d, flower, spread open, x 4; e, habit, plant growing on
Salicornia, x 2. (From Mason, Fig. 294).
Fig. 643: Cuscuta squamata: a, flower, x 5; b, opened corolla, x 5; c, opened calyx,
x 5; d, infrastamineal scale, x 10; e, matured capsule, x 5; f, ovary, x 5. (From Yuncker
in Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 3, Pt. 2).
-------
or somewhat cylindrical tube, ovate-lanceolate, sometimes granulate, acute to
acuminate, upright or sometimes spreading, the edges frequently uneven, more
or less overlapping; scales narrow, oblong, shorter than the tube, fringed with
short processes, closely attached to the tube for nearly their entire length, bridged
below the middle; filaments subulate and about equal to or shorter than the
oval anthers; styles slender or slightly subulate, shorter than or about equaling
the globose pointed ovary; capsule globose, pointed, usually 1-seeded, surrounded
or capped by the withered corolla.
Ariz. (Final and Pima cos.); B.C. to Calif., Ut., Ariz, and (?) Mex. On
Atriplex, Allenrolfea, Cressa, Suaeda, Salicornia, Salsola and Nitrophila.
10. Cuscuta Coryli Engelm. HAZEL DODDER. Fig. 641.
Flowers fleshy, papillate, 1.5-2 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, mostly
4-merous, with pedicels shorter or longer than the flowers, in cymose-paniculate
clusters, sometimes the flowers originate endogenously in the region of the
haustoria and form dense glomerate clusters about the stem of the host; calyx
lobes about as long as the corolla tube, triangular-ovate, scarcely overlapping at
base; corolla lobes about as long as the tube, triangular-ovate to lanceolate,
upright, the acute tips inflexed; scales mostly reduced to toothed wings on either
side of the filament attachment, rarely free and bifid or toothed; styles slightly
subulate, mostly about as long as the ovary, becoming divergent in fruit; capsule
globose, enveloped by the withered corolla, the interstylar aperture rather large
and thickened.
From Mont, and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), eastw.; parasitic on a large variety of
herbaceous and woody hosts including species of Salix, Carya, Rhus, Callicarpa,
Stachys, Symphoricarpos, Solidago, Aster and Helianthus.
11. Cuscuta indecora Choisy var. indecora. PRETTY DODDER. Fig. 641.
Flowers variable in size, to 3 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, white,
fleshy, smooth or mostly granulate to papillate-hispid, with pedicels commonly
about as long as or shorter than the flowers or infrequently longer, in loose or
rather dense paniculately cymose clusters; calyx lobes mostly shorter than the
tube, triangular-ovate, slightly overlapping at base, acute to obtuish; corolla lobes
shorter than the tube, upright to spreading, triangular-ovate, inflexed at the acute
tip; scales reaching the filaments, oblong to subspatulate, abundantly fringed;
styles slender or slightly subulate, about as long as the ovary, capsule depressed-
globose, thickened about the interstylar aperture, surrounded by the withered
corolla which is eventually split by the enlarging capsule.
Throughout Tex., Okla. (Comanche Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai,
Graham, Gila, Maricopa, Final and Pima cos.); abundant in the s. states from
Fla. to Calif., n. through the cen. states to Minn., Mich, and S.D., also in n. Mex.,
the W.I. and S.A.; parasitic on a wide range of herbaceous and woody hosts in-
cluding species of Polygonum, Clematis, Sesbania, Cissus, Cephalanthus, Vernonia,
Aster, Baccharis, Iva, Pluchea, Borrichia, Helianthus, Helenium, Campanula and
Eryngium.
The size of the flowers, length of the pedicels and the proportionate size of the
calyx vary greatly, sometimes even on the same specimen. Most of the flowers
are more or less granulate because of the lenticular outer surface of the cells and
occasional specimens are papillate-hispid.
Var. longisepala Yunck. This variety has the characteristics of the var. indecora
with the exception of the calyx lobes that are lanceolate and mostly longer than
the corolla tube.
1367
-------
12. Cuscuta denticulate Engelm.
Flowers about 2 mm. long, subsessile, in shortened more or less bracteate
inflorescences of few flowers; bracts often 1 to 3, ovate-lanceolate, acute; calyx
deeply divided; calyx lobes orbicular, obtuse to rounded at apex, denticulate,
overlapping to enclose the corolla tube: corolla campanulate, becoming urceolate
in fruit; corolla lobes ovate to oval, somewhat overlapping, spreading, about
equaling the tube; scales denticulate, about reaching the anthers, oblong-ovate,
bridged at about the middle or below; anthers oval, shorter than the corolla lobes,
about equal to the filaments; styles shorter than the small conic ovary; stigmas
small; globose; capsule conic, bearing the withered corolla about the top, mostly
1-seeded.
Ariz. (Mohave and Yuma cos.); s. Ut. to Calif, and w. Ariz. Parasitic on
Tamarix, Nicotiana and Hymenoclea.
13. Cuscuta Gronovii R. & S. var. Gronovii. Fig. 641.
Flowers mostly 2-3 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, rarely smaller or
larger, commonly with few to many pellucid glandlike cells, with pedicels varying
in length but mostly shorter than the flowers, rarely longer, in loose or dense
paniculately cymose clusters, occasionally endogenously formed; calyx lobes
commonly reaching to about the middle of the corolla tube, mostly oval-ovate,
sometimes suborbicular or oblong, obtuse, overlapping at base, margins more
or less uneven; corolla lobes shorter than the tube, mostly oval-ovate, obtuse,
spreading; scales shorter than the corolla tube or reaching the filaments, oblong,
deeply fringed about the upper part, more shallowly so toward the base and on
the bridge; styles stoutish and sometimes somewhat subulate, mostly shorter than
or about equal to the ovary, occasionally longer; capsule mostly globose-conic to
obpyriform, surrounded by the withered corolla.
The most common species of Cuscuta found throughout the cen. and n.e. states
and the W.I., w. to the Rocky Mts. (Coconino Co., Ariz.), commonly in low wet
areas where it grows on a great variety of hosts including species of Boehmeria,
Helianthus, Myrica, Solidago, Salix, Hypericuin, Mi/niilus and Lycopus; occasion-
ally reported as damaging ornamentals or other nonweedy hosts.
Var. latiflora Engelm. The flowers are commonly smaller than in var. Gronovii,
the calyx lobes are more oblong-oval and less overlapping at the base and reach
the corolla sinuses, the corolla tube is broadly campanulate with the throat wider
than the tube which tapers toward the base and ordinarily is borne at the base
of the maturing and thus protruding naked capsule.
Var. calyptrata Engelm. In this variety the corolla tube is commonly somewhat
longer than in var. Gronovii and with the lobes less than half as long as the tube,
when mature the capsule carries the withered corolla about the top; otherwise
similar to the var. Gronovii.
14. Cuscuta cuspidata Engelm. Fig. 641.
Flowers membranous in texture, about 3 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses,
subsessile or commonly pedicellate in loose paniculate clusters, the whole inflores-
cence more or less bracteate; calyx shorter than the corolla tube, of distinct or
very slightly united segments, subtended by one or more ovate-orbicular obtuse to
acutish sometimes cuspidate bracts, or these rarely lacking; calyx segments ovate-
orbicular, obtuse to acutish and cuspidate, the margins commonly thin and serru-
late, sometimes globular-thickened along the median line, broadly overlapping;
corolla lobes oval-oblong to subovate, shorter than the funnelform tube, commonly
more or less acute and somewhat cuspidate, occasional lobes serrate near apex,
sometimes obtuse, commonly with a line of pellucid glandlike cells along the
middle, spreading; scales shorter than the corolla tube, oblong, fringed with
1368
-------
medium-length processes; styles slender, much longer than the ovary; capsule
subglobose, with a thickened ridge or collar about the interstylar aperture, com-
monly with giandlike cells, enveloped at the top by the withered corolla.
Through the cen. states from Ut. and Colo., e. to s.w. Ind., Okla. (Ottawa
Co.) and Tex., parasitic on a number of different species of herbaceous hosts
but seems to prefer members of the Compositae including species of Ambrosia,
Baccharis, Helianthus, Iva and Liatris.
15. Cuscuta squamata Engelm. Fig. 643.
Flowers about 3 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, sessile, in scattered
few- to several-flowered glomerules, or these densely clustered about the host,
subtended by 2 to several ovate acute often cuspidate serrulate closely appressed
bracts that are mostly shorter than the calyx; calyx lobes distinct or nearly so,
ovate, acute, often cuspidate, closely appressed and widely overlapping at base,
commonly serrulate, with pellucid giandlike cells along the middle; corolla lobes
ovate-lanceolate or slightly oblong, acute, sometimes cuspidate, shorter than the
tube, spreading to reflexed, more or less glandular along the middle; scales about
reaching the filaments, oblong, fringed with medium-length processes; styles
slender, longer than the ovary; capsule globose to subconic, more or less umbonate,
carrying the withered corolla about the top.
Rare in Tex. in the Trans-Pecos, Plains Country and Hardin Co. in s.e. Tex.;
also s. N.M. (Dona Ana and Chaves cos.) and n. Mex.; parasitic usually on various
weedy species of Compositae, such as Helianthus ciliaris.
16. Cuscuta compacta Juss. Fig. 641.
Flowers often greenish, to 4.5 mm. long from base to corolla sinuses, sessile
or rarely short-pedicellate, in few- to several-flowered scattered glomerules, or
these commonly closely clustered about the host, frequently originating endo-
genously and forming a dense ropelike cluster about the stem of the host,
subtended by 2 to several ovate-orbicular fleshy tightly appressed bracts; calyx
deeply divided; calyx segments distinct or nearly so, broadly overlapping, fleshy,
cupped, rounded, obtuse, tightly appressed about corolla, the margins fringed
with short slender filamentous processes; corolla lobes spreading to reflexed,
much shorter than the tube, oval-oblong, rounded, obtuse, sometimes fringed with
short filamentous processes; scales reaching the filaments, fringed with long
processes, small secondary scales often present on the bridge between the larger
ones; styles mostly longer than the ovary; capsule globose-conic, upper part with
giandlike cells and capped by the withered corolla, thickened at the top about the
interstylar aperture.
Extending from N.E. to Fla. and w. to Mo., s.e. Okla. (McCurtain and Leflore
cos.) and Tex.; parasitic on a wide range of herbaceous and woody hosts including
species of Carya, Alnus, Magnolia, Rubus, Rosa, Rhus, Ilex, Acer, Vitis, Cissus,
Clethra, Vaccinium, Tecoma, Cyrilla, Cephalanthus, Lycopus, Myrica and Boeh-
meria.
Fam. 112. Polemoniaceae Juss. PHLOX FAMILY
Perennials, biennials, annuals or rarely subshrubs; leaves either all alternate or
opposite, or opposite below and becoming alternate up the stem, undivided to
pinnately compound or rarely palmately dissected or lobed, the margin entire to
toothed; inflorescence of sparse cymes or glomerules in corymbose or paniculate
disposition, sometimes a solitary flower; flowers regular or sometimes irregular;
sepals 5, partly united into a herbaceous or scarious calyx; petals 5, convolute in
bud, partly united into a rotate, campanulate, funnelform or salverform corolla;
1369
-------
stamens 5, partly adnate to the corolla tube; carpels 3, superior, united up to the
linear stigmas; fruit usually a trilocular capsule, dehiscent loculicidally; seeds one
to many in each cell, rounded, angulate or rarely winged, in some species becom-
ing viscid when wet.
About 300 species in 15 genera, mostly in North America.
1. Leaves pinnatifid or variously lobed (2)
1. Leaves entire (4)
2(1). Leaves palmatifid into linear elongate segments 1. Linanthastrum
2. Leaves not as above (3)
3(2). Calyx tube of essentially uniform texture throughout, somewhat accres-
cent, not ruptured by the developing capsule 2. Polemonium
3. Calyx tube with green costae separated by hyaline intervals 3. Gflia
4(1). Calyx tube of essentially uniform texture throughout, somewhat accrescent,
not ruptured by the developing capsule 4. Collomia
4. Calyx tube with green costae separated by hyaline intervals 5. Microsteris
1. Linanthastrum EWAN
One or possibly two species of western United States and northern Mexico.
1. Linanthastrum Nuttallii (Gray) Ewan.
Taprooted fragrantly aromatic perennial woody-based herb to about 3 dm. tall;
stems numerous, slender, simple or branched, puberulent at least above; leaves
sessile, opposite, palmatifid into 5 to 9 linear elongate spinulose-tipped segments
to 2 cm. long, each usually with a fascicle of smaller leaves; flowers subsessile in
compact leafy-bracteate clusters at the ends of the stems; calyx 6-9 mm. long,
scarcely accrescent; corolla salverform, white or cream-color, the wholly-puberulent
tube about equaling the calyx, the limb about 1 cm. wide; stamens about equal
and inserted at the base of the short throat, the anthers just reaching the orifice
of the corolla; capsule 1-seeded in each locule, the valves persistent after dehis-
cence.
Mostly in open pine forests but also in seepage below dams and along streams,
in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Gila and Pima cos.),
July-Nov.; Ida. and Wash., s. to Chih., Ariz, and Baja Calif.
2. Polemonium L. JACOB'S LADDER
Erect, spreading, decumbent or rhizomatous annuals or perennials; stems simple
or branched; leaves pinnately divided; leaflets entire to palmately 3- or 5-parted,
narrowly linear to rotund; flowers in terminal or axillary cymes, solitary to capi-
tately congested, or in a sympodial raceme; calyx herbaceous throughout, accres-
cent, campanulate, the lobes deltoid to acuminate; corolla rotate-campanulate to
narrowly funnelform, with no sharp distinction between tube and throat; lobes
spatulate to rotund, white, yellow, pink, purple or blue; stamens equally inserted
on the tube, the level of insertion varying according to species; filaments of equal
length, included or exserted; pistil included or exserted; capsule ovoid, each locule
from 1- to 10-seeded; seeds sometimes becoming mucilaginous when moistened;
embryo orthotropic.
About 40 species, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is very possible that additional species should have been included here.
1. Corolla almost salverform, the lobes only about a third as long as the tube and
throat 1. p. pauciflorum.
1. Corolla funnelform-campanulate to rotate-campanulate, the lobes longer than
the tube and throat (2)
1370
-------
2(1). Distribution in eastern Oklahoma eastward 2. P. reptans.
2. Distribution New Mexico and Arizona (3)
3(2). Stem usually pubescent nearly or quite to the base, copiously so above;
leaflets elliptic to ovate-oblong, acutish; corolla lobes obtuse or
mucronulate 3. P. foliosissimum.
3. Stem glabrous or nearly so toward the base, sparsely pubescent above; leaflets
usually narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate; corolla lobes
acutish 4. P. filidnum.
1. Polemonium pauciflorum Wats.
Perennial to 5 dm. tall, musky-glandular above, the stem sparsely to copiously
branched; leaves alternate, to 15 cm. long, with basally expanded petiole and
oblong pinnately compound blade; leaflets 11 to 21, the terminal confluent, to 25
mm. long and 6 mm. wide; flowers paired or solitary, projecting horizontally, the
peduncle to 45 mm. long; sepals at anthesis about 15 mm. long, enlarging in fruit,
united one third their length, tapering to a callous tip; corolla yellowish or green-
ish, often suffused with purple, funnelform, the tube to 3 cm. long and the limbs
to 1 cm. long; stamens zygomorphic, about equaling the corolla tube, pilose at the
short-adnate base; stigmas exceeding the anthers; seeds usually fusiform and angu-
late, several in each cell of capsule. P. Hinckleyi Standl.
In wet soil along streams and in springy places, in wooded canyons of Davis Mts.
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, July-Aug.; also n. Chih.
The Texas plant has been segregated as subsp. Hinckleyi (Standl.) Wherry pri-
marily on the basis of its thinner stem-pubescence and longer sepals than in subsp.
pauciflorum.
2. Polemonium reptans L.
Perennial from a woody caudex; stems slender, erect, 2-4 dm. long, ascending
or eventually diffuse, branched above, pubescent or glabrous; basal leaves long-
petioled; cauline leaves short-petioled or the upper sessile; leaflets lanceolate to
oblong or elliptic, usually 2-4 (or occasionally 7) cm. long, those of the principal
leaves 7 to 17, of the upper 3 or 5; panicles few-flowered, loose and open; pedicels
at anthesis almost as long as or longer than the calyx; calyx mostly 5-6 mm. long,
the broadly triangular lobes nearly as long as the tube; corolla 1-1.5 cm. long,
lobed to about the middle with entire lobes; stamens subequal to or shorter than
the corolla.
In springy places, in wet alluvial soils along streams, wet meadows and grassy
slopes and rich moist woods in e. Okla. (Mayes and McCurtain cos.), Apr.-June;
N. Y. to Minn., s. to Va., Ala., Ark. and Okla.
3. Polemonium foliosissimum Gray. Fig. 644.
Stems 3-9 dm. high, erect, simple or terminally branched, villous to glabrous,
often glandular above; leaves little reduced upwards; leaflets 12-25 mm. long,
commonly confluent near tip, ovate-oblong or lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate,
acutish; inflorescence a broadly open corymbose cyme; calyx 6-10 mm. long, the
lobes as long as or longer than the tube, often glandular; corolla 8-20 mm. long,
funnelform-campanulate to rotate-campanulate, the obtuse or mucronulate lobes
about twice as long as the tube, purplish to white; stamens included. Incl. subsp.
albiflorum (Eastw.) Brand, P. grande Greene.
In wet soil along streams and about seepage slopes, wet meadows and woods,
in N.M. (Santa Fe, San Miguel and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino
cos.), June-Aug.; also Colo, and Ut.
The Arizona plants are commonly referred to subsp. robustum (Rydb.) Brand,
with violet corolla 12-15 mm. long, included styles and copious pubescence.
1371
-------
Fig. 644: Polcmonium foliosissimum: a, habit, x !.•>; b, flower, x 2. (V. F.).
-------
4. Polemonium filicinum Greene.
Stems solitary or few, stout, to 4 dm. long or more, with numerous leaves, gla-
brous or nearly so toward base, sparsely pubescent above; leaflets lanceolate (usu-
ally narrowly so), acute to acuminate, to 2.5 cm. long, thin, the uppermost ones
decurrent and confluent, not appearing verticillate; inflorescence several- to many-
flowered, narrowly thyrsiform, somewhat viscid; corolla funnelform-campanulate
to rotate-campanulate, 1.2-2 cm. long, the acutish lobes violet and longer than the
tube and throat.
In wet soils along streams and in springy places, in N.M. (Lincoln, Otero and
Sierra cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee and Cochise cos.), July-Sept.
3. Gilia R. & P.
Perennials, biennials or annuals; leaves alternate, borne mainly below midstem,
pinnately toothed or dissected, the segments herbaceous or rarely subacerose; flowers
in bracted glomerules, unevenly paired or solitary, terminating paniculately dis-
posed branches; sepals partly united, separated and bordered by scarious mem-
branes; petals violet-blue to lavender, often with yellow throat, partly united to
a regular rotate to funnel-salverform corolla; stamens even to moderately uneven;
seeds viscid when wet.
About 60 species in western North America and South America.
1. Leaves linear in outline, pinnatifid with numerous linear or narrowly oblong
segments 3-8 mm. long; inflorescence an open panicle; stems strict
1. G. calcarea.
1. Leaves with several narrowly lanceolate lobes; inflorescence 2- to 6-flowered
glomerules; stems often decumbent 2. G. gilioides.
1. Gilia calcarea M. E. Jones. Fig. 645.
Biennial or perennial; stems 1—5 dm. tall, usually single from a taproot, simple or
branching above the base, erect, glandular-puberulent and often viscid; leaves
mainly in a basal rosette, pinnatifid into linear or narrowly oblong segments 3—8
mm. long, glandular; inflorescence open-paniculate, often compound from branches
bearing flowers; calyx 2—3 mm. long, glandular, united for two thirds or more of
its length, scarious below the sinuses, the lobes with a green midrib; corolla 6-9
mm. long, blue to purplish or sometimes whitish, salverform, the often yellowish
tube about twice as long as the calyx; stamens conspicuously exserted. G. pinnati-
fida Nutt, not Moc. & Sesse, G. viscida Woot. & Standl.
In wet meadows and on gravel bars along streams in N. M. (Taos, Santa Fe,
and Bernalillo cos.), July-Sept.; Neb. and Wyo., s. to N.M.
2. Gilia gilioides (Benth.) Greene. STRAGGLING GILIA.
Erect or decumbent annual, often very much loosely branched, sometimes simple,
villous to glandular-viscid; lower leaves 2-7 cm. long, sometimes in a basal tuft,
3- to 9-lobed, the lobes narrowly lanceolate and entire or irregularly toothed;
cauline leaves 3- or 5-lobed, the terminal elongate, the lanceolate lobes entire or
irregularly toothed; inflorescence composed of glomerules of 2 to 6 flowers, either
terminal or on short lateral branchlets; pedicels 2-5 mm. long, often elongating
with the growing capsule; calyx 3-4 mm. long, the linear lobes acuminate, the
membranous pseudotube about one half the calyx length; corolla 5-10 mm. long,
about 2 times the calyx length, the tube and throat continuous and 6 mm. long,
the lobes 2-2.5 mm. long; capsules 3-4 mm. long, the locules usually 1-seeded or
rarely 2-seeded.
In moist or wet soil along streams in Ariz. (Gila and Yavapai to Pima cos.),
Mar.-May; Ore. to Nev., Ariz, and Calif.
1373
-------
Fig. 645: a-c, Collomia linearis: a, habit, x !,•>; b, flower, x 2; c, calyx opened out.
d-f. Cilia calcarea: d, habit, x Vi; e, flower, x 2; f, fruit, x 2. (V. F.J.
-------
4. Collomia NUTT.
About 13 species native to temperate North America and South America.
1. Collomia linearis Nutt. Fig. 645.
Annual, to 6 dm. tall, usually much less, finely puberulent or in part subglabrous
below, the pubescence becoming longer and glandular or viscid above; stems simple
and unbranched or with several or many short or elongate axillary branches, the
main stem and each of the branches terminating in a dense leafy-bracteate cluster
of essentially sessile flowers; leaves numerous, sessile or nearly so, nearly all alter-
nate, lanceolate to linear, entire, 1-7 cm. long, to about 1 cm. wide, those subtend-
ing the flower clusters often relatively broader than the others; calyx lobes narrowly
triangular, acute, herbaceous, 1.5-3 mm. long at anthesis, commonly 3-4 mm.
long in fruit; corolla pink or bluish to white, 8-15 mm. long, with slender tube
and short lobes 1.5—3 mm. long; filaments unequally inserted, about 1 mm. long
or less; ovules 1 in each cell of ovary.
In wet meadows and wet soil on edge of ponds and lakes, in N.M. (Rio Arriba,
San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino
cos.), June-Sept.; N.B. to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
5. Microsteris GREENE
A monotypic genus.
1. Microsteris gracilis (Hook.) Greene
Annual herb to about 8 cm. tall, much-branched at maturity, commonly as broad
as high or broader, puberulent or glandular-puberulent at least above; leaves mostly
opposite, linear to linear-lanceolate or elliptic, sometimes the lower ones obovate,
to about 5 cm. long and 8 mm. wide; flowers mostly in pairs at the ends of the stem
and branches, one subsessile, the other evidently pedicellate, or sometimes borne
singly; corolla salverform, 5-10 mm. long, the lobes 1-2.5 mm. long, with white
or yellowish tube and pink to lavender limb; stamens inserted at different levels;
ovules usually solitary in each cell of ovary. M. micrantha (Kell.) Greene.
Moist or wet soil about springs and along streams, in wet meadows and on
open grassy slopes, in N. M. (Bernalillo and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
to Mohave, s. to Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Feb.-June; Mont, to Alas., s. to N.M.,
Ariz, and Baja Calif.; S.A.
Fam. 113. Hydrophyllaceae R. BR. WATERLEAF FAMILY
Herbs, less commonly shrubs, with alternate or opposite entire to variously
divided or compound exstipulate leaves; flowers regular, perfect, 5-merous, gamo-
petalous, cymose to solitary; calyx deeply lobed; corolla tubular to rotate but
usually campanulate; stamens epipetalous, as many as the corolla lobes and
alternate with them, usually with a pair of scales at the base of each filament;
ovary 1- or 2-celled, usually free from calyx; fruit a few- to many-seeded capsule.
About 300 species in 18 genera, chiefly in the warm-temperate regions of North
America and South America.
1. Leaves (at least some) variously toothed, lobed or divided (2)
1. Leaves always entire (4)
2(1). Delicate annual herb; flowers solitary or several in a terminal non-scorpioid
cyme 1. Ellisia
2. Rather coarse perennials or biennials; flowers numerous in scorpioid open or
congested cymes (3)
1375
-------
Fie. 646: a-e, Pliacelia licterapliylla: a, base of plant, x \'->; b and c, upper branches
of pfanl, x '..; d, flower, x 2; e, part of open corolla, x 5. f-h, Nama xtenocarpiim: f,
top of plant.'x '•>; g, flower, x 2; h, fruit in calyx, x 2. i and j, Nama torynophyllum;
i, end of branch, x 2; j, flower, x 5. (V. F.J.
-------
3(2). Leaf blade and small basal lobes entire, neither toothed nor lobulate
'. 2. Phacelia
3. Leaf blade pinnatifid or pinnately lobed, the segments toothed or lobulate
3. Hydrophyllum
4(1). Terrestrial herbs sometimes in wet soils; capsule unilocular, often some-
what divided by intrusion of placentae; style solitary but usually
shallowly lobed to bipartite 4. Nama
4. Aquatic spiny herbs; capsules bilocular; styles 2, quite distinct 5. Hydrolea
1. Ellisia L. AUNT LUCY
Monotypic in temperate North America.
1. Ellisia Nyctelea L.
Delicate annual herb; stems very slender, retrorsely hispid; leaves mostly
alternate, oblong to ovate, 3-8 cm. long and 1-3 cm. wide, pinnately divided
into 7 to 13 oblong divisions; flowers small, white or bluish, solitary or several
in a terminal cyme; calyx normally unappendaged, accrescent in fruit; corolla
narrowly campanulate, shorter than to about equaling the calyx; stamens included,
a pair of minute scales at the base of each filament; styles cleft less than one
third; capsule globose, usually 4-seeded, 5-6 mm. in diameter, exceeded by the
strongly accrescent subrotate calyx; seeds globose, regularly reticulate, without
an appendage.
Damp soil, low pastureland, in wet alluvial woodlands, stream banks, weedy
along roadsides and in cult, land, reportedly introd. in Tex. (Denton Co.), Okla.
(Waterfall) and N.M. (Union Co.); from N. Y. and Pa. s. to Va., w. to Mich, and
Okla. and as a weed as far w. as Sask., Wyo., and N.M.
2. Phacelia Juss.
A polymorphic American genus of perhaps 200 species, mostly of the western
United States and adjacent Mexico.
1. Phacelia heterophylla Pursh. Fig. 646.
Biennial or short-lived perennial from a taproot, with one main stem and
sometimes several secondary erect or ascending stems to about 1 m. tall, usually
much shorter; herbage green or grayish with pubescence, the stems usually covered
with short loose or spreading often glandular hairs as well as spreading bristles;
leaves prominently veined, the lower petiolate, the uppermost ones essentially
sessile; blades elliptic to lanceolate and subobtuse to acute, to about 9 cm. long,
the upper cauline ones simple, the basal and lower cauline ones typically with
one or rarely two pairs of smaller lobes at base; inflorescence densely bristly and
short-hairy, usually elongate and narrow, somewhat virgate or sometimes openly
branched or short and compact; corolla dull whitish to purplish, 3-7 mm. long
and broad; filaments conspicuously exserted, hairy near the middle; ovules 4,
often with only 1 or 2 reaching maturity. P. magellanica of auth.
Usually on dryish slopes but also in marshes and wet meadows along streams,
in N.M. (San Juan, Rio Arriba, Union, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro, Otero and
Lincoln cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Apr.-
Oct; Alta. and B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.; S.A.
3. Hydrophyllum L. WATERLEAF
Erect pubescent to glabrate perennial herbs from horizontal rootstocks, bearing
fleshy-fibrous or tuberous roots; leaves basal and alternate, pinnately divided to
pinnatifid, the cauline leaves lobed or divided, petiolate; flowers several to many
in terminal open to capitate cymes, pedicellate; calyx divided nearly to the base,
1377
-------
Fig. 647: Hydropliyllum Fcndlcri: a, top of plant, x !/•>; b, base of stem, x V<\
c. flower, x 3; d, part of corolla spread out, x 3; e, stamen, x 3; f, overy with style,
x 3. (V. F.).
-------
the lobes subequal, the sinuses naked in ours: corolla greenish or whitish to
purple or violet, or white and marked with violet, deciduous, campanulate to
subpelviform, divided to the middle or below, longer than the calyx; stamens
esserted, equal and equally inserted on the corolla; appendages linear, a pair
bordering each filament, one edge free, ciliate; style exserted, shallowly bifid;
mature capsules membranaceous, unilocular, loculicidally dehiscent; ovules a
pair on the front of each of the 2 large parietal placentae; seeds 1 to 3, subglobose,
brown, reticulate.
About 8 species in the United States and Canada.
1. Distribution eastern Oklahoma eastward 1. H. virginianum.
1. Distribution New Mexico and/or Arizona westward (2)
2(1). Leaflets acuminate, the teeth usually 8 to 12 and acuminate; cymes lax in
fruit .' 2. H. Fendleri.
2. Leaflets obtuse to abruptly acute, the teeth usually 3 to 6 and obtuse to acute;
cymes compact in fruit 3. H. occidentale.
1. Hydrophylhun virginianum L.
Perennial to about 8 dm. tall, the upper portion of stem, cymes, pedicels and
back of sepals sparsely to densely strigose with appressed to ascending hairs to
about 0.5 mm. long; cauline leaves broadly ovate to broadly triangular in outline,
1-2 dm. long and a little wider, pinnately lobed almost to the midrib; leaf seg-
ments 5 to rarely 9. the terminal one and the basal pair often 2- or 3-lobed, all
with acute to acuminate apices and strongly ascending teeth; cymes very dense at
anthesis; sepals sparsely hirsute-ciliate; corolla white to pale-pink-purple, 7—10
mm. long: stamens long-exserted.
Wet meadows, moist or wet woodlands and open wet places generally, in
Ozarkian Okla. (Waterfall) , Apr.-June: Que. to N.D., s. to Va.. Ky., Okla. and
Kan.
2. Hydrophyllnm Fendleri (Gray) Heller. Fig. 647.
Perennial to about 8 dm. tall, the stems retrorse-hispid, the rhizome bearing
fleshy-fibrous roots; leaves petiolate. oblong to oval, 6—30 cm. long. 6—20 cm.
broad, pinnatifid. the principal divisions usually 9 to 13. ovate to lanceolate,
acuminate, 2-12 cm. long, the lower pairs usually distinct, the upper confluent,
all coarsely serrate to incised with ovate-lanceolate lobes, strigose on both
surfaces; cymes one to several, open; pedicels 2-6 mm. long; calyx lobes linear-
lanceolate, 4—6 mm. long. 1—2 mm. wide, sparsely strigose and often hispid on the
back, ciliate with flattened hyaline hairs, nearly equaling the corolla; corolla
white or violet, or white and marked with violet. 6—8 mm. long, the lobes 3-4 mm.
long; style exserted 5—7 mm.; capsules about 4 mm. in diameter; seeds 1 to 3,
light brown, 2.5—3 mm. in diameter.
Moist shaded soil, in water of marshes and in seepage along wooded streams,
in N. M. (Taos. Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Otero and Socorro cos.), May-
Sept; Wyo., Ida., Wash, and Ore., s. to Calif., Ut. and N. M.
3. Hydrophyllmn occidentale (Wats.) Gray.
Perennial to about 6 dm. tall, the stems densely short-pubescent to somewhat
retrorse-hispid, the rhizome bearing fleshy-fibrous roots: leaves oblong, 3-30 cm.
long, 3-15 cm. broad, pinnatifid; principal leaf divisions 7 to 15, broadly oblong
to ovate, 1.5—7 cm. long, all incised or lobed (rarely entire) with ovate lobes,
strigulose on upper surface, paler on lower surface with dense fine subappressed
hairs; cymes one to several, globose; pedicels 2-5 mm. long; calyx lobes narrowly
lanceolate, 3—4 mm. long, 1—2 mm. broad, strigulose on the back, hispid-ciliate;
corolla violet to white, 7—10 mm. long, the lobes 4-6 mm. long, oblong; style
1379
-------
exserted 5-8 mm.; capsules about 4 mm. in diameter; seeds 1 or 2, brown, about
3 mm. in diameter.
Along streams in shade, in wet thickets and in seepage areas, in Ariz. (Coconino
and Gila cos.), Apr .-Aug.; Ore. and Calif., e. to Ut. and Ariz.
4. Nama L.
Low, pubescent annual or occasionally perennial herbs with mostly alternate,
essentially entire leaves and conspicuous or inconspicuous white to purplish-violet
flowers in non-scorpioid terminal cymes or solitary; calyx usually divided nearly
to base, unappendaged, little-accrescent; corolla tubular to broadly funnelform
or campanulate, usually exceeding calyx; stamens included, usually unequal and
unequally inserted, filament base usually appendaged or dilated; style shallowly
bifid to bipartite; capsule ovoid to globose, often partially divided by intrusion of
placentae, many seeded; seeds minute, usually reticulate and sometimes shallowly
pitted.
A genus of 40 to 50 species principally of the southwestern United States and
northern Mexico, a few in South America, and one in Hawaii.
1. Calyx divided one half to three fourths distance to base, the tubular portion
adnate to the ovary which is thus inferior 1. N. stenocarpum.
1. Calyx divided to base or nearly so, not grown to the superior ovary (2)
2(1). Leaves broad, plane; petiole conspicuously decurrent on the winged stem;
hardened calyx lobes adherent to capsule 2. N. jamaicetise.
2. Leaves narrow, revolute and spoon-shaped; petiole not decurrent; calyx neither
hardened nor adherent to capsule 3. N. torynophyllum.
1. Nama stenocarpum Gray. Fig. 646.
Prostrate to ascending or erect sparsely hirsute annual, branching from base,
the leafy branches 1-3 dm. long; leaves alternate, oblong to spatulate, 1-4 cm.
long, 2-10 mm. wide, often undulate, sometimes clasping; flowers lavender,
solitary or paired at nodes; calyx lobes linear-spatulate, 4—7 mm. long, calyx tube
adnate to the inferior ovary; corolla tubular-campanulate, 5-7 mm. long, little
longer than calyx; stamen bases dilated into free-margined scales about equaling
the free filament; seeds yellowish, finely alveolate.
Mud of poorly drained clay soil, often alkaline, and along resacas, in s. and
s.e. Tex., Mar.-May; w. to Ariz, and Calif., s. to adj. Mex.
2. Nama jamaicense L.
Prostrate or ascending, strigose-hirsute, leafy annual, branching from base,
the branches 1-5 dm. long; leaves alternate, spatulate to obovate, 15-80 mm. long,
5-35 mm. wide, plane, conspicuously decurrent at base to form a winged stem;
flowers white, usually solitary in upper leaf axils; calyx lobes linear or linear-
spatulate, enlarging and adherent to ovary in fruit; corolla nearly tubular, 6-7
mm. long; stamen bases dilated into free-margined scales shorter than the free
filament; seeds brown, finely alveolate.
Moist places under shrubs, in wet clay along streams and about ponds, and
on brushy hills in s. and s.e. Tex., Apr.-July; e. to Fla. and s. to W.I. and C. A.
3. Nama torynophyllum Greenm. Fig. 646.
Prostrate, matted, leafy, densely villous annual, with very short branches;
leaves alternate, spatulate, revolute and spoon-shaped, 1 cm. long, 1.5-4 mm.
wide; flowers white or pinkish, numerous, arranged singly along the branches;
calyx lobes linear-spatulate, 3-3.5 mm. long; corolla tubular, 3-4 mm. long;
stamen bases not dilated, the adnate portion much shorter than the free filament;
seeds brown, shallowly pitted.
1380
-------
Fig. 648: Hydrolea ovata: a, top part of plant, x %; b> basal part of stem with
adventitious roots, x V>; c, corolla, x l1/^; d, stamen, x 3; e, ovary with calyx, x 1%.
(V. F.).
-------
Fig. 649: Hydrolca uniflora: a, habit, x H; b, corolla spread out, x 2fy, c, stamen,
x 5; d, ovary with less usual 3 styles, x 21-); e, capsule with usual 2 styles, x 21,-;.
(V. F.).
-------
On wet gravel-sand bars along the Rio Grande and tributaries in Brewster Co.,
Tex., Feb.-Apr.; also Coah.
5. Hydrolea L.
Annual or perennial, usually spiny, aquatic or marsh herbs with alternate
entire leaves and corymbose or cymose blue flowers; calyx unappendaged, not
conspicuously accrescent; corolla rotate-campanulate, exeeding or equaling the
calyx; stamens included or exserted; corolla scales 0; styles distinct; capsule ovoid
or globose, many seeded, often dehiscing irregularly; seeds minute, striate or
rugose.
Approximately 20 species, pantropical, but predominantly subtropical America.
1. Plants essentially glabrous; leaves lanceolate; flowers in small axillary clusters,
the calyx essentially glabrous 3. H. uniflora.
1. Plants conspicuously pubescent; leaves oblong to ovate; flowers in terminal
clusters, the calyx hirsute (2)
2(1). Foliage and inflorescence finely hirtellous; anthers slightly exserted
1. H. ovata.
2. Foliage and inflorescence hirsute and usually glandular; anthers included
2. H. spinosa.
1. Hydrolea ovata Choisy. Fig. 648.
Stout erect spiny hirtellous perennial, from rhizomes that form colonies;
leaves 3-6 cm. long, 15-25 mm. wide; flowers bright blue or occasionally white,
showy, 15-25 mm. broad; sepals shorter than corolla.
Edges of and in water of ponds, ditches and streams in Okla. (Atoka, Push-
mataha, McCurtain, Pittsburg, Sequoyah and Le Flore cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex.,
Sept.-Oct; La. to Tex., n. to Okla. and Ark.
2. Hydrolea spinosa L.
Stout erect usually very spiny perennial, hirsute and usually glandular; leaves
3-12 cm. long, 5-30 mm. wide; flowers showy, 1-1.5 cm. broad; sepals shorter
than corolla.
In water, Cameron Co., Tex., June; s. to Mex., W.I., C.A. and S.A.
3. Hydrolea uniflora Raf. Fig. 649.
Slender weakly erect spiny glabrous perennial; leaves 5-8 cm. long, 1.5-2 cm.
wide; flowers rather inconspicouous, 1-1.5 cm. broad; sepals equaling corolla.
H. affinis Gray.
Edges of and in shallow water of ponds and streams in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and
e. and s.e. Tex., Sept.-Oct.; n. Ark., Mo. and s. 111.
A colony of plants found in Red River County, Texas represents what is un-
doubtedly the product of crossing between H. uniflora and H. ovata. The plants
are strikingly intermediate between these two species in pubescence and corolla.
Fam. 114. Boraginaceae Juss. BORAGE FAMILY
Plants herbaceous, shrubby or arborescent, usually bristly; leaves simple, alter-
nate; flowers perfect, regular, solitary or cymose; cymes glomerate-racemose or
spicate, frequently unilateral and coiled (scorpioid), usually with bracts between,
to one side of, or opposite the flowers; calyx usually deeply lobed, somewhat irregu-
lar; corolla 5-lobed, commonly with folds or saccate-intruded appendages in the
throat; stamens 5, borne on the corolla tube alternate with the lobes; ovary superior,
bicarpellate, usually 4-ovulate, entire or lobed, becoming tough or bony at maturity;
fruit commonly breaking up into 4 single-seeded lobes (achenelike mericarps) or
remaining intact but the mesocarp becoming fleshy and the fruit thus drupaceous;
1383
-------
style lobed or entire, seated in the pericarp at the apex of the fruit or borne between
the fruit lobes (nutlets) on the receptacle, or on an upward prolongation thereof
(gynobase); endosperm absent or scarce.
The classification of this large family is based primarily upon the structure of
the fruit. In many cases it is very difficult to recognize the genus and almost impos-
sible to obtain a precise identification of the species if the specimens lack mature
fruiting structures. Numerous species are cultivated as ornamentals, notably in the
genera Heliotropium (heliotrope), Anchusa, Echium and Myosotis (forget-me-not).
1. Ovary entire or shallowly lobed, the style terminal 1. Heliotropium
1. Ovary deeply 4-lobed, the style borne on the gynobase and arising between
the lobes of the ovary (2)
2(1). Mericarps conspicuously armed with glochidiate prickles 2. Hackelia
2, Mericarps smooth and shining or rugose, lacking glochidiate prickles (3)
3(2). Leaves typically narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate; mericarps basally
attached to a flat gynobase, smooth and shining; corolla lobes
convolute in bud 3. Myosotis
3. Leaves typically ovate to lanceolate; mericarps obliquely attached to a convex
gynobase, rugose and not shining; corolla lobes imbricate in bud
4. Mertensia
1. Heliotropium L. TURNSOLE. HELIOTROPE
Annual or perennial, herbaceous or more or less shrubby plants; leaves small to
large, sessile or petiolate; cymes unilateral and generally distinctly scorpioid, with
or without bracts; corolla white, yellow or purple, variable in form, throat fre-
quently pubescent inside; anthers included, filaments extremely short; style present
or absent; stigma usually frustrumlike or conic, mostly sterile, receptive only in a
band around the base; fruit dry, at maturity breaking up into 4 1-seeded or 2
2-seeded mericarps; seeds usually with a thin endosperm.
About 250 species widely represented in the warmer parts of the world. The
species are particularly numerous in arid regions.
1. Mature fruit breaking up to form 2 2-seeded mericarps; leaves evidently
veined; cymes bractless (2)
1. Mature fruit breaking up into 4 1-seeded mericarps; leaves may or may not
be evidently veined: cymes with or without bracts (3)
2(1). Plant with simple hairs; leaf blades ovate to broadly lanceolate or some-
what cordate, 3-6 cm. long, 1-4 cm. wide; veins numerous, evident,
branched; fruit with a corky mesocarp; each mericarp with a single
sterile cell 1. H. molle.
2. Plant with malpighiaceous hairs on stems and leaves; leaf blades lanceolate,
2-4.5 cm. long, rarely'more than 1 cm. wide; veins few or none,
obscure, always simple; fruit lacking a corky mesocarp; each meri-
carp with 3 sterile cells of which the 2 larger are partially filled
with corky tissue 2. H. glabriusculum.
3(1). Plant very succulent, glabrous, usually somewhat glaucous (4)
3. Plant not noticeably succulent, hairy, never glaucous (6)
4(3). Corolla white, the limb 1.5-3 mm. in diameter: leaves 8 mm. wide or less
3. H. curassavicwn var. curassavicum.
4. Corolla white and often purple-tinged at throat, the limb more than 3 mm.
in diameter; leaves to 2 cm. wide (5)
5(4). Corolla limb 3-5 mm. in diameter 3. H. curassavicwn var. oculatum.
5. Corolla limb 5-10 mm. in diameter 3. H. curassavicum var. obovatum.
1384
-------
6(3). Perennial with numerous prostrate or loosely decumbent stems
4. H. Greggii.
6. Annual with typically erect stems (7)
7(6). Throat of corolla pubescent just below the limb; corolla lobes narrow and
acute; mericarps coarsely strigose 5. H. procumbens.
7. Throat of corolla glabrous; the shallow corolla lobes broad and rounded;
mericarps glabrous or at most puberulent 6. H. indicum.
1. Heliotropium molle (Torr.) I. M. Johnst.
Low perennial, occurring in colonies; stems decumbent, loosely branched, 1-3
dm. long, developing anew each year from the root or from a small weakly devel-
oped caudex, gray or tan, appressed hispid-villose; leaves numerous, with a petiole
1-3.5 cm. long, densely hispid-villose with appressed hairs, the margins moderately
to coarsely crenate and visually crisped, apex acute to obtusish, base usually broadly
asymmetric; inflorescence terminal on the leafy stems or opposite leaves, consisting
of 2 or 3 densely flowered scorpioid cymes borne at the apex of a naked peduncle
2-4 cm. long; calyx subsessile, at anthesis 2-3.5 mm. long, the lobes at maturity
3-5 mm. long, linear-lanceolate, hairy, embracing the fruit; corolla white or slightly
stained with purplish, in throat yellow, total length 6-10 mm. long, funnelform, the
lobes rounded and separated by well-developed plaited indexed sinuses; fruit dry,
ovoid-globose, 3.5-4 mm. high, dorsiventrally 4.5-5 mm. long.
Growing in valley soils, on flats, usually in places where water collects and stands
for a short time after rain storms, and most commonly in places in the vie. of
Upper Cretaceous outcrops, in Tex., only from Brewster Co. and from along the
Rio Grande in w. Presidio Co., Apr.—Sept.; also Coah. and Chih.
It is worthy of note that another Texan species of this genus, which also grows
on clay flats in places where there is a shallow pooling of water after rains, likewise
has what appears to be buoyant corky tissue developed in the mericarp. This corky
tissue in the mericarps of H. molle and H. glabriusculum may be useful in the
dissemination of the fruit by water and may be adaptations for the specialized
habitat these plants affect.
2. Heliotropium glabriusculum (Torr.) Gray. COLA DE ALACRAN.
Perennial, forming colonies; stems usually several, springing from the root crown
or from a small caudex, renewed annually, grayish strigose with the hairs all mal-
pighiaceous, loosely decumbent and branched, 1-3 dm. long; leaves numerous,
green, minutely and abundantly dotted, firm, usually glabrous except on the petiole
and along the prominent midrib on the lower surface, the margin weakly revolute
and usually more or less evidently crisped, apex acute, base narrowed into a petiole
1-6 mm. long; inflorescence terminal on the leafy stems and branches, consisting
of 2 or sometimes 3 densely flowered scorpioid cymes borne clustered on a naked
peduncle 1-3 cm. long; flowers fragrant; calyx sessile, 2-3 mm. long, the lobes
lanceolate, attenuate, moderately unequal, with a few malpighiaceous hairs down
the middle line and sparingly ciliate with simple hairs on the margin; corolla white
with a greenish-yellow throat when fresh, becoming cream-colored with a purplish
throat when dry, 4-5.5 mm. long, the sinus between the short corolla lobes simple,
closed with neither plaits nor lobules; fruit grayish from a dense pubescence of
minute simple hairs. Heliophytum glabriusculum Torr.
Growing on valley soils, usually on clay in limestone areas, and particularly in
places subjected to temporary flooding after rain storms, in Tex. it has been col-
lected most frequently in s. Brewster and s. Pecos cos., but it is also known from
Val Verde, Maverick, Webb and McMullen cos., May-Aug.; from Tex. s. to e.
Dgo. and n. Zac.
The malpighiaceous hairs readily distinguish H. glabriusculum.
1385
-------
3. Heliotropium curassavicum L. var. curassavicum. .SEASIDE HELIOTROPE, COLA
DE MICO. Fig. 650.
Perennial, usually with a deep rhizome; stems prostrate or laxly decumbent,
rubbery, to 4 dm. long and 5 mm. thick, ascendingly branched; leaves oblanceolate,
often narrowly so, thick and juicy, strongly compressed, to 4 cm. long and 8 mm.
wide, the apex obtuse or rounded; inflorescence terminal or extra-axillary and lateral
along the leafy stems, single or paired or rarely ternate, densely flowered, entirely
bractless, scorpioid cymes, in fruit elongating, becoming as much as 1 dm. long and
the rachis usually more or less broadened and flattened; calyx sessile or nearly so,
lobed almost to the base, the lobes lanceolate or oblong, equal or nearly so, fleshy,
at anthesis 1-1.4 mm. long, moderately accrescent in fruit; corolla white, small,
1.2-3.5 mm. long, entirely glabrous, the lobes rounded, the tube shortly surpassed
by the calyx lobes; fruit 4-lobed, 2-2.5 mm. high, 2-3 mm. thick, obscurely com-
pressed laterally, embraced by the somewhat accrescent calyx lobes, smooth and
glabrous; mericarps bearing a thick layer of firm vesicular exocarp which appar-
ently functions as a float-organ in water dissemination.
In sandy soil along beaches, about ponds, saline flats and similar areas through-
out Tex., Okla., N.M. and Ariz, most of the year; from Fla., n. to Del., w. to Okla.,
Tex., N.M. and Ariz., s. in the W.I., Mex. and C.A. to Surinam and Col. and
thence s. along the Pac. Coast of S.A. to Chile and Arg.; introd. in s. Eur.
Var. oculatum (Heller) I.M. Johnst. Corolla limb 3-5 mm. in diameter; fruit
1.5-2 mm. wide. H. oculatum Heller. Rather widespread in w. half of Ariz,,
throughout year; also Ut. to Baja Calif.
Var. obovatum DC. The corolla limb of var. obovatum is 5-10 mm. wide, at
most only purplish-tinged at the throat, and the fruit is 2.5 mm. wide. The oblan-
ceolate to spatulate leaves are also to 2 cm. wide H. spathulatum Rydb. Rare,
Dallam and Bailey cos. in the Tex. Plains Country in old buffalo wallows (playa
lakes) and N.M., June-July; w. U.S.
4. Heliotropium Greggii Torr.
Plant from a deep rhizome, strigose, pale-green; stems usually numerous,
prostrate or loosely decumbent, ascendingly branched, leafy, to 15 cm. long; leaves
numerous, thickish, lanceolate to linear, sessile or with petioles to 3 mm. long,
midrib prominent but veins absent, the margin revolute; inflorescence at first glo-
merate and then elongating into a loose racemose cyme to 5 cm. long, commonly
5- to 10-flowered; calyx lobes about equal, 2-3 mm. long, lanceolate; corolla white
with a yellow throat, fragrant, the limb 7-12 mm. broad, shallowly lobed with 5
broad rounded principal lobes and (alternating with these) 5 smaller somewhat
triangular incurved lobes, the throat with hairy inflexed plaits, the tube inside bear-
ing an inconspicuous nectariferous ring about 0.5 mm. above the base; fruit very
hairy, about 3 mm. thick and 1.5 mm. high.
Usually forming colonies in places where water collects temporarily, frequent
along roadside shoulders and ditches, in sand, gravel or on clay flats, lacking in
volcanic areas, frequent and widely distributed in Trans-Pecos Tex. and also e. in
Loving, Ward, Crane and Upton cos., with outlying stations in Knox and Medina
cos., and s.e. N.M. (Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy and Otero cos.), Apr.-Sept.; N.M.,
Tex., Coah., Chin., Dgo. and Zac.
5. Heliotropium procumbens Mill. Fig. 651.
Plant erect to loosely decumbent, 1-5 dm. tall, moderately to abundantly strigose
or apprcssed hispid-villose, pale-green or somewhat cinereous or even canescent;
stems one to several, when single usually loosely and ascendingly branched above
the base; leaves numerous, with petioles to 1 cm. long, narrowly oblanceolate to
1386
-------
Fig. 650: Heliotropium curassavicum: a, branch, showing semiprostrate habit, x %;
b, apex of inflorescence, x 3; c, ovary, x 3; d, nutlet, abaxial view, x 12;e, nutlet, adaxial
view, x 12; f, flower, with 1 lobe and 1 anther removed, x 6%; g, anther, x 12; h, pistil,
x 12; i, basal part of stem and stout root, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 297).
-------
Fig. 651: a-h, Hcliolropium indicum: a, habit, x \<±\ b, flower from beneath, x 5;
c and d, flowers, x 5; e, young ovary, x 5; fruit from top, x 5; g, one half of fruit from
center, x 5; h, one mericarp from side, x 5. i-n, Heliotropium procumbens: i, top of
plant, x 'j; j, leaf, x 2l->, k, flower, x 5; 1, ovary, x 5; m, strigose fruit, x 5; n, fruit
breaking into 4 mericarps. (V. F.).
-------
elliptic, plane or more or less evidently revolute, to 4 cm. long and 2 cm. wide,
apex usually acute, base cuneate, upper and lower surfaces consimilar in coloration
and indument; inflorescence consisting of usually numerous scorpioid cymes; cymes
solitary or geminate, densely flowered, borne terminal or extra-axillary along the
leafy stems, 3-10 cm. long, on naked peduncles 1-3 cm. long; calyx at anthesis
1-1.2 mm. long, the lobes unequal (especially in width), linear to broadly lanceo-
late, as long as or slightly longer than the corolla tube, at maturity nearly doubling
in size and becoming more unequal; corolla white, 1.5-3 mm. long, the tube sparsely
strigose outside, the limb 2-3 mm. broad; fruit 1-2 mm. thick, 1-2 mm. high.
A weedy species, usually growing in marshes or damp situations or on land
subject to flooding, in Tex., n. to Jefferson, Hays, Bexar and Brewster cos., and
s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Apr.-Nov.; in Fla., La. and Tex. and Okla., mostly
on the Coastal Plain, widely distributed in the W.I., C.A. and trop. S.A.
6. Heliotropium indicum L. TURNSOLE, ALACRANCILLO. Fig. 651.
Coarse, annual herb, villous to hispid or hispidulous, to 1 m. tall; stems loosely
branched, leafy, frequently fistulose; leaves with a petiole 4-10 cm. long, ovate
to elliptic, drying thin, to 15 cm. long and 1 dm. wide, the margin repand or undu-
late, apex acute, base obliquely acute to obtuse or subcordate; inflorescence a
simple very elongating scorpioid cyme to 3 dm. long, bearing two ranks of crowded
flowers and fruits; calyx broadly sessile, 1.5-2 mm. long, the lobes linear or linear-
lanceolate, unequal; corolla blue or violet (or rarely white), puberulent or strigose
outside, the limb to 4.5 mm. in diameter, the tube elongate, evidently surpassing
the calyx, usually about 3 mm. long, constricted at the throat; fruit miter-shaped,
glabrous or puberulent.
Along river banks and bottoms, ditches, lake shores, swamps and along creeks,
e. half of Tex. w. to Dallas, Bexar and Hidalgo cos. and e. Okla. (LeFIore, Hughes,
McCurtain cos.), June-Oct.; widely distributed in the warmer parts of Am. from
n. Arg. to s. U.S.; also in the trop. of the Old World; probably a nat. of Am.
2. Hackelia OPIZ STICKSEED
Coarse biennial or perennial or rarely annual herbs; leaves alternate, broad and
veiny; flowers in naked or inconspicuously bracted racemes paniculately disposed;
pedicels slender, recurving in fruit; calyx cut to the base into spreading ovate to
oblong or lanceolate lobes; corolla white or blue, with a short or elongate tube;
lobes rounded, imbricate, throat with trapeziform intruded appendages; stamens
included, affixed at middle of tube; filaments slender, short; anthers oblong to ellip-
tic; style slender, scarcely if at all surpassing the mericarps; stigma capitate; ovules
4; mericarps 4, erect, ovoid, affixed ventrally to the pyramidal gynobase by a
broad medial or submedial areola, margin with subulate glochidiate appendages
that are frequently confluent at the base, back smooth or with glochidiate append-
ages.
A genus centering in western North America with outlying species in South
America and Eurasia.
1. Mericarps subequally prickly over the whole back or face 1. H. virginiana.
1. Mericarps only marginally prickly 2. H. floribunda.
1. Hackelia virginiana (L.) I.M. Johnst.
Plant to about 1 m. tall, hirsute throughout, the stem freely branched above;
radical leaves broadly ovate to cordate, narrowed to a slender petiole, to 2 dm.
long; cauline leaves ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, taper-
ing to the sessile base, to 15 cm. long, progressively reduced above and passing
into the bracts; the numerous loosely paniculate racemes divaricate, with small
bracts; pedicels and flower each about 2 mm. long, frequently supra-axillary;
1389
-------
Fig. 652: a-e, Myosotis scorpioides: a, habit, x %; b, end of leaf, x 2V^; c, flower,
x 2'v d. calyx, x 2'j; e, seed, x 5. f-i, Merrensia franciscana: f, habit, x %; g, flower,
x 2U; h, calyx and young capsule, x 2'.;>; i, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
corolla whitish, about 2 mm. wide; mericarps of the globose fruit equally short-
glochidiate over the whole back, 3-4 mm. long.
In rich woods, swampy areas and along wooded streams and open thickets in
e. Okla., n.e. Tex. and the Tex. Panhandle, July-Sept.; from Que. and Me., w. to
S.D., s. to Ga., Ala., La. and Tex.
2. Hackelia floribunda (Lehm.) I. M. Johnst.
Plants, erect, stout, from a short-lived perennial root, 5-12 dm. tall, the rough
pubescence deflexed, mixed with some spreading hairs; leaves oblanceolate to linear
or oblong, hirsutulous-appressed, the basal leaves petiolate, with spreading hairs,
the stem leaves sessile above; racemes many, rather strict, densely flowered; pedicels
5-7 mm. long in fruit; corolla blue, 4-7 mm. broad; appendages small, obscurely
papillate, not closing the throat; mericarps 3-5 mm. long, face of mericarp with a
median ridge, muriculate, hirsutulous, without short glochidiate prickles, the mar-
ginal spines much-flattened at base, distinct or somewhat confluent, 4 to 6 on each
side, mostly exceeding in width the face of the mericarp.
Brushy slopes and edge of woods in Tex. Trans-Pecos and in wet meadows and
on seepage slopes in N.M., July-Aug.; mostly w. U.S. and Can., e. to Ont. and
Minn.
3. Myosotis L. FORGET-ME-NOT
About 50 species in Eurasia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
1. Myosotis scorpioides L. Fig. 652.
Perennial with slender rootstock or stolons; herbage thinly strigulose with
straight, pointed hairs; stems 1.5-4 dm. long, decumbent or ascending, rooting
at lower nodes; leaves oblanceolate to spatulate, 2.5-8 cm. long, the upper stem
leaves sessile, the lower ones narrowed to a winged petiole; racemes slender,
loosely flowered, in fruit to 2 dm. long, bractless; fruiting pedicels as long as or
longer than the calyx; calyx with straight, appressed hairs, its lobes equal in size,
shorter than the tube, more or less spreading in fruit; corolla blue with a yellow
eye, the tube longer than the calyx, 6-9 mm. broad; style longer than the nutlets.
In water of small spring and pond in Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Aug.; nat. of Euras.
that escapes from cult.
4. Mertensia ROTH BLUEBELLS
Glabrous to strigose or hirsute perennial herbs, the hairs not pungent; leaves
usually ample; flowers in modified bractless mostly small cymes that terminate
the stem and branches; calyx usually cleft to just above or well below the middle,
often to the base; corolla blue or sometimes white or pink, mostly tubular below
and abruptly expanded at the throat into a shallowly 5-lobed limb, the fornices
usually evident; filaments attached at or below the level of the fornices, often
conspicuously expanded; nutlets attached to the gynobase at or below the middle,
usually rugose.
About 35 to 40 species, native to extratropical Eurasia and North America.
1. Leaves strigillose on upper surface; pedicels strigose 1. M. franciscana.
1. Leaves glabrous or somewhat papillose on upper surface; pedicels papillose
or rarely with a few strigose hairs 2. M. ciliata.
1. Mertensia franciscana Heller. Fig. 652.
Stems erect or ascending, to about 10 dm. tall, usually several from each root-
stock; leaves strigillose on upper surface, glabrous to densely pubescent with
spreading hairs on lower surface; basal leaves oblong-elliptic to elliptic, to 15 cm.
long and 9 cm. wide, subcordate to cuneate at base, obtuse to acuminate at apex;
1391
-------
petioles longer or shorter than the blade; cauline leaves elliptic to narrowly ovate,
to 14 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, obtuse to acuminate, the lowermost petiolate,
becoming sessile toward the inflorescence; flowers paniculately disposed in an
ebracteate modified scorpioid cyme, the branches elongating in age; pedicels stri-
gose, to 2 cm. long; calyx 2.5-5 mm. long, divided almost to the base; calyx lobes
linear to lanceolate, 1-2 mm. wide, acute to obtuse, glabrous or pubescent on the
back, strongly ciliate; corolla tube 5-9 (mostly about 6) mm. long, glabrous or
pubescent within; corolla limb 4-9 (mostly about 6) mm. long, moderately
expanded; anthers 2.5-3 mm. long; filaments 2-2.5 mm. long, glabrous or with
spreading hairs; fornices prominent, usually pubescent; style 9-20 mm. long,
usually shorter than the corolla; nutlets rugose and papilliferous.
In the pine-aspen belt in seepage along streams and wet soil about lakes and
ponds, wet meadows and thickets and wet cliffs, widespread in the mts. of N.M.
and Ariz., June-Sept.; also Colo., Ut. and Nev.
2. Mertensia ciliata (James) G. Don.
Stems erect or ascending, to 12 dm. tall, usually with many stems from each
rootstock; leaves glabrous or somewhat papillose on upper surface and ciliate on
the margins; basal leaves variable, oblong- to lanceolate-subcordate, to 15 cm.
long and 10 cm. wide; petioles about as long as blade; cauline leaves lanceolate to
ovate, obtuse to acuminate at apex, narrowly cuneate to subcordate at base, the
lowermost short-petiolate, the uppermost sessile, often glaucous, thin; inflorescence
from axils of leaves, the peduncles elongated with age, in young plants the flowers
aggregated at the top of the plant with each peduncle terminated by a modified
ebracteate scorpioid cyme or sometimes umbellate; pedicels to about 1 cm. long,
glabrous to papillose or rarely with a few short strigose hairs; calyx lobes 1.3-3 mm.
long, glabrous on the back, ciliate to papillate on the margins, more or less strigose
within, obtuse to acute; corolla tube 6-8 (mostly about 7) mm. long, glabrous or
with crisped hairs within; corolla limb 4-10 (mostly about 6) mm. long, moder-
ately expanded; anthers 1-2.5 mm. long, about as long as filaments; fornices
prominent, glabrous to papillate or pubescent; style about as long as or exceeding
the corolla; nutlets rugose or mammillate.
On wooded slopes, in wet soil about springs and seepage along streams, bogs
and wet meadows, in N.M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.), June-Sept.; Mont, to Ore.,
s. to N.M.
Fam. 115. Avicenniaceae ENDL. BLACK-MANGROVE FAMILY
Shrubs or trees of maritime regions; branches and twigs usually terete, nodose,
articulate; leaves opposite, thick, persistent, petiolate, extipulate, entire; inflores-
cence axillary or terminal, spicate or subcapitate, the axillary ones mostly paired;
flowers sessile, perfect, hypogynous, small; sepals 5, nearly separate, ovate, im-
bricate, subtended by a false involucre of a scalelike bract and 2 alternate scale-
like prophylla slightly shorter than the calyx and imbricate with each other and
the sepals; corolla regular, gamopetalous at the base, campanulate-rotate, 4-parted;
stamens 4, inserted in the corolla tube, equal or subdidynamous; carpels 2; ovary
superior, compound but with a free central often more or less 4-winged placenta;
ovules 4, pendent, orthotropous, hanging from the tip of a central columella; fruit
a compressed oblique capsule, the exocarp juicy, somewhat fleshy, usually tomen-
tulose, dehiscent by 2 valves, usually only 1-seeded; seeds without a testa; embryo
viviparous.
A single genus.
1392
-------
1. Avicennia L.
Characters of the family. Composed of 11 living species, 5 varieties, and 4 fossil
species; one of the chief constituents of coastal mangrove belts throughout the
tropics and subtropics of the world.
1. Avicennia germinans (L.) L. BLACK-MANGROVE, MANGLE BLANCO. Fig. 653.
Shrub rarely over 1 m. tall in our area (to 16 m. in tropics); petioles 2-27 mm.
long, often farinaceous; leaf blades oblong or lanceolate to elliptic or obovate,
to 15 cm. long and 44 mm. wide, obtuse or acute at the apex, entire, acute to
cuneate at the base, usually grayish-mealy beneath, sometimes glabrous and punc-
tate; spikes to 65 mm. long and 15 mm. wide during anthesis, the axillary ones
usually only a single pair at the base of the terminal one and shorter than it or
a second pair in the next lower leaf axils; calyx lobes 3-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm.
wide, densely appressed-pubescent outside, glabrous within; corolla white, 1.2-2
cm. long, parted to about the middle, the tube equaling or shorter than the calyx,
practically glabrous, the lobes spreading, densely gray-pubescent outside and vel-
vety within; fruit obpyriform or ovate, asymmetric, to 2 cm. long and 12 mm.
wide, densely gray-hairy, A. nitida Jacq.
In mangrove lagoons and along tidal shores, s. e. and s. Tex.; very variable,
ranging from Fla. and Tex., Berm., Bah. I. and both coasts of Mex., through W.I.
and C.A. to the coasts of Braz. and Peru.
The fruits of the red mangrove, Rhizophora Mangle L. (Rhizophoraceae), of
southern Florida and tropical America, are commonly washed ashore (especially
near the mouth of the Rio Grande), where they have been known to sprout, but
no living plant has apparently thus far become established in Texas. This species
grows in habitats similar to those of the black mangrove but it is readily distin-
guished from that species by its aerial roots that arise from its trunk and branches,
its regular corolla, and the development of a conspicuous radicle to several deci-
meters in length.
Fam. 116. Verbenaceae ST.-HIL. VERVAIN FAMILY
Herbs, shrubs, woody vines or trees; branchlets and twigs mostly tetragonal,
not prominently nodose nor articulate; leaves mostly opposite, deciduous, extipu-
late, mostly simple, sometimes compound or 1-foliolate, the blades entire or vari-
ously dentate, incised or cleft; inflorescence axillary or terminal, determinate or
indeterminate, as cymes, racemes, spikes, panicles, thyrsi, heads or false umbels,
sometimes involucrate, the axillary ones mostly solitary; flowers sessile or pedi-
cellate, perfect or imperfect, hypogynous, sometimes heterostylous or polygamous,
large or small, mostly irregular, the individual ones not involucrate; calyx gamo-
sepalous, campanulate to tubular or salverform, persistent, usually accrescent,
mostly 4- (more rarely 2-, 5- or 7-) lobed or toothed or sometimes the rim sub-
entire; corolla regular or irregular, gamopetalous, mostly funnelform or salver-
form, usually with a well-developed tube with its limb 4- or 5- (rarely 7- or many-)
parted, often somewhat 2-lipped; stamens mostly 4 and didynamous or reduced
to 2, sometimes 4 or 5 and equal, inserted in the corolla tube; staminodes often
present; carpels mostly 2 (rarely 4 or 5), united, one sometimes aborted; ovary
superior, mostly compound, sessile, mostly somewhat 4-lobed, at first 2- to 5-celled
but almost invariably soon becoming 4- to 10-celled through formation of false
partitions, never with a free central placenta or columella; the axile placentae-
lobes each bearing 1 ovule, the unpartitioned cells 2-ovulate, partitioned cells
1-ovulate; ovules anatropous and basal or hemianatropous and lateral; fruit usually
a dry schizocarp separating into "cocci" at maturity or less commonly a drupe
1393
-------
Fig. 653: Avicenniu gemi'mans'. a, end of flowering branch, x %; b, flower, x 5; c,
part of fruiting branch, x \-<. (V. F.).
-------
or fleshy schizocarp, with a thin and dry or fleshy exocarp and more or less hard
endocarp, 2- to 4-celled and indehiscent when ripe or dehiscent into 2 (or rarely
4 to 10) 1- or 2-ceIIed pyrenes; seeds plainly testate; embryo not viviparous.
About 3,375 species and subspeciflc taxa in 76 genera, very widely distributed
almost throughout the world except in the Arctic and Antarctic.
1. Inflorescence determinate and centrifugal, cymose 1. Callicarpa
1. Inflorescence indeterminate and centripetal, racemose (2)
2(1). Fruit composed of four 1-seeded pyrenes, schizocarpous 2. Verbena
2. Fruit not composed of four 1-seeded pyrenes (3)
3(2). Fruit usually with a fleshy exocarp (rarely dry); calyx truncate or obscurely
toothed or lobed 3. Lantana
3. Fruit with a thin dry exocarp; calyx deeply 2- to 5-toothed or -lobed (4)
4(3). Erect shrub; spikes not usually elongating in fruit; bractlets ovate, often
more or less 4-ranked 4. Lippia
4. Herbs mostly with trailing or ascending stems, sometimes somewhat woody;
spikes elongating in fruit; bractlets cuneate-obovate to flabelliform,
not 4-ranked 5. Phyla
1. Callicarpa L. BEAUTYBERRY
A complex genus of 147 species, 54 named forms and varieties, and 1 known
hybrid, widely distributed in subtropical and tropical America, Asia and Oceanica,
a few species extending into temperate portions of Asia and the southeastern
United States; 1 in Madagascar; several are widely cultivated and tend to escape.
1. Fruit blue or pink to lilac, violet or purple 1. C. americana.
1. Fruit white 1. C. americana var. lactea.
1. Callicarpa americana L. AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY, FRENCH-MULBERRY, BER-
MUDA-MULBERRY, SOUR-BUSH, BUNCHBERRY, FILIGRANA, FILIGRANA DE MA-
ZORCA, FILIGRANA DE PINAR, FOXBERRY, PURPLE BEAUTYBERRY, SPANISH-MUL-
BERRY, TURKEYBERRY.
Bush or shrub to 3 m. tall, usually much-branched; branches densely stellate-
scurfy; leaves opposite or ternate; petioles to 38 mm. long, stellate-scurfy; leaf
blades very thin, ovate to elliptic, 8-23 cm. long, 3.5-13 cm. wide, acute or
acuminate, coarsely serrate or crenate-dentate except at base and apex, cuneately
narrowed into the petiole, stellate-scurfy with whitish tomentum (especially be-
neath and when immature); cymes 1-3.5 cm. long and wide, many-flowered,
usually shorter than the petiole, many times dichotomous; peduncles 3-10 mm.
long, stellate-scurfy or glabrate; pedicels 0.4-1.2 mm. long, scurfy or glabrate;
bractlets subulate or setaceous; calyx obconic or campanulate, 1.6-1.8 mm. long,
1-1.5 mm. wide, slightly puberulent-granulose, rim subtruncate, very shortly
apiculate; corolla small, bluish, pinkish, reddish or white, funnelform, the tube
2.6-2.9 mm. long, lobes about 1.5 mm. long and 1 mm. wide; fruit showy, rose-
pink or lilac to violet or red-purple, globose, 3-6 mm. long and wide.
Woods, moist thickets, wet slopes, low rich bottomlands, fencerows and the
edges of swamps, in e. and s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. third of Tex., June-
Dec.; also Md. to Fla. and La., Berm., Cuba and Coah.; also widely cult.
Var. lactea F. J. Mull, differs in having the mature fruit white; sandy open
woods, e. Tex.; also N.C. to Fla. and Ark.; sometimes cult.
This is an ornamental shrub worthy of cultivation, not only for its beauty
but also because it is an attractant to desirable bird life. Its clusters of bright red-
dish or purplish fruits are much relished by such birds as the robin, mockingbird,
catbird and brown thrasher.
1395
-------
2. Verbena L. VERVAIN
Herbs; stems and branches procumbent, ascending or erect, glabrous or vari-
ously pubescent; leaves mostly opposite, dentate (very rarely entire) or variously
lobed, incised or pinnatifid; inflorescence spicate, terminal, usually densely many-
flowered, often flat-topped and pseudo-umbellate, sometimes greatly elongate
with scattered flowers, very rarely also axillary; flowers small or medium-sized,
each solitary in the axil of a usually narrow bractlet; calyx usually tubular, 5-
angled, 5-ribbed, unequally 5-toothed, not at all or but slightly changed in fruit;
corolla salver- or funnelform, its tube straight or curved, often slightly ampliate
at the apex, the limb flat, weakly 2-lipped, lobes 5, usually rather elongate, ob-
tuse or rounded to emarginate at apex; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted in the
upper half of the corolla tube, mostly included; anthers ovate, with parallel or
slightly divergent thecae, the connective unappendaged or glandular-appendaged;
style single, usually short, shortly 2-lobed, the posterior lobe smooth, the anterior
lobe broader, papillose and stigmatic; ovary 2-carpellary, 4-lobed, completely 4-
celled, 4-ovulate; fruit mostly enclosed by the mature calyx, schizocarpous, readily
separating at maturity into four 1-seeded linear cocci.
A complex genus of about 206 species, 122 named varieties and forms, and
49 named hybrids, mostly of temperate and tropical America; 2 or 3 species native
to the Mediterranean region and introduced elsewhere in the Old World; many
are widely cultivated and tend to escape.
1. Heads or spikes crowded and short (at least during anthesis), not at any time
greatly elongate or open, generally disposed in compound cymes
(2)
1. Spikes slender and open or compact at anthesis, greatly elongate in fruit,
solitary or in simple cymes or panicles (3)
2(1). Leaves semiamplexicaul and subcordate at the base 1. V. bonariensis.
2. Leaves tapering into a' cuneate-attenuate subsessile or petiolar base
2. V. brasiliensis.
3(1). Spikes panicled at the apices of the stem and branches, subtended chiefly
by inconspicuous bracts; floral bractlets not prominent (4)
3. Spikes solitary or in 3's at the apices of stem and branches or panicled and
subtended by leafy bracts at the base; floral bractlets often con-
spicuous (9)
4(3). Spikes very slender, elongate and graceful, usually with remote fruits (5)
4. Spikes thicker and densely flowered, usually with contiguous fruits (8)
5(4). Leaves very scabrous above; fruiting calyx spreading; calyx lobes con-
nivent; stigmatic surface subtended by 2 sterile style lobes (6)
5. Leaves not pronouncedly scabrous above; fruiting calyx ascending; calyx lobes
not connivent; stigmatic surface subtended by 1 sterile style lobe (7)
6(5). Leaf blades ovate, to 5 cm. wide 3. V. scabra.
6. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, to 2 cm. wide
3. V. scabra f. angustifolia.
7(5). Lower leaf surface glabrous or scattered long-pilose 4. V. urticifolia.
1. Lower leaf surface uniformly and densely short-pubescent
4. V. urticifolia var. leiocarpa.
8(4). Leaf blades membranous, not conspicuously scabrous above, mostly glab-
rous or inconspicuously strigillose beneath '.5. V. hastata.
S. Leaf blades rigid, harshly scabrous above, often conspicuously pubescent be-
neath 5. V. hastata var. scabra.
1396
-------
9(3). Leaves serrate-dentate or shallowly incised 6. V. Macdougalii,
9. Leaves deeply incised-dentate to pinnatifid or 3-cleft (10)
10(9). Spikes conspicuously bracteose with somewhat foliaceous bractlets (at
least at the base of the spike) 7. V. bracteatu.
10. Spikes not conspicuously bracteose; bractlets not foliaceous (11)
11(10). Corolla mostly blue 8. V. Runyonii.
11. Corolla mostly rose-color 8. V. Runyonii f. rosiflora.
1. Verbena bonariensis L. SOUTH AMERICAN VERVAIN.
Stiffly erect, 1 m. or more tall, somewhat scabrous-pubescent; leaves sessile,
subcordate and semiamplexicaul at base, lanceolate or oblong, sharply serrate,
rugose and hirtellous above, spread ing-pubescent beneath; spikes compact, mostly
short, usually sessile and crowded in dense fasciculate cymes, not elongating;
bractlets lanceolate-acuminate, barely equaling or slightly surpassing the calyx,
pubescent; calyx 3 mm. long, pubescent, the acute lobes with short subulate tips;
corolla blue to violet or purple, the tube scarcely twice as long as the calyx,
pubescent outside, limb inconspicuous.
Sandy loam, ditch banks, wet or moist flatlands and along rice field fences,
in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. Tex. from Red River to Jefferson cos., Apr.—
June; nat. of Braz., Parag., Urug. and Arg.; introd. in W.I., s. U.S. and elsewhere.
2. Verbena brasiliensis Veil. BRAZILIAN VERVAIN.
Stems stout, to 25 dm. tall, acutely tetragonal, practically glabrous below,
somewhat scabrous-pubescent above, slightly contracted at nodes; leaves elliptic
or lanceolate, tapering into a cuneate subsessile or petiolar base, sharply serrate
or incised (at least above the middle), strigillose and somewhat pustulate above
with impressed venation, sparsely pubescent beneath; spike compact, mostly
short, not much elongating, usually sessile in open cymes, numerous but not
crowded; bractlets scarcely as long as the calyx, lanceolate-subulate, ciliate; calyx
2.5—3.5 mm. long or more, somewhat appressed-pubescent, the acute lobes with
short subulate tips; corolla purple or lilac, the tube a little longer than the calyx,
pubescent outside, the limb 2.5 mm. wide, inconspicuous.
Waste places, dry sandy soil, coastal prairies, in swamps and marshes about
lakes and on seepy banks of ponds, in Okla. (Woodward Co.) and mainly in s.e.
Tex., May-Oct., introd.; nat. to most of S.A.; naturalized from Va. to Fla. and
Gulf Coast, Ore., Calif., Jam., S. Afr. and elsewhere.
3. Verbena scabra Vahl. SANDPAPER VERVAIN. Fig. 654.
Stems to 1 m. tall, erect, solitary, simple or branched, hispidulous; leaves ovate,
3-13 cm. long, to 5 cm. wide, petiolate, acute or obtusish, serrate-dentate, very
rough and usually strigillose above, less scabrous and paler beneath, hispidulous
on the venation; spikes paniculate, slender, pedunculate, closely many-flowered;
bractlets ovate-acuminate, half as long as the calyx, hispidulous; calyx 2.5-3 mm.
long, ovoid, hispidulous, diverging from the rachis by 45° or more, the unequal
lobes acutely connivent; corolla blue, the tube about equaling the calyx, limb 2
mm. wide, lobes obtuse; stigmatic surface midway between 2 almost equal ob-
tusish sterile style lobes.
Mostly rich soil of low ground, marshes, swamps and edges of lakes and
streams, Okla. (Cherokee Co.) and throughout most of Tex. except Plains Coun-
try, N. M. (Eddy Co.) and Ariz. (Gila, Final, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Mar.-
Dec.; N.C. to Fla. and W.I., w. to Ariz., Calif, and n. Mex.
Forma anguslifolia Moldenke differs in having elliptic-lanceolate leaves only to
2 cm. wide; known only from Burnet Co., Tex.
1397
-------
Fig. 654: a-f. Verbena scabra: a, habit, x \<>; b, leaves, x 1; c, flower, x 7H; d,
open corolla, x 7'j; e, fruit, x 5; f, nutlet with style and stigma, x 7'X>- g-k, Verbena
Imstata: g, inflorescence, x \->; h, leaf, x '••; i, flower, x 5; j, fruit, x 5; k, style and
stigma, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
4. Verbena urticifolia L. WHITE VERVAIN.
Stems solitary, to 25 dm. tall, coarse, simple or branching from near the base,
hispid or hirtellous to almost glabrous; leaves petiolate, broadly lanceolate to
oblong-ovate, 8-20 cm. long, acute or shortly acuminate, coarsely crentate-serrate,
rounded at base and decurrent into the petiole, glabrous on both surfaces or
scattered-pilose with rather long irregular hairs beneath; spikes paniculate, slender,
pedunculate, rather sparsely flowered, often very elongate; bractlets ovate-acumi-
nate, very short, ciliate; calyx 2 mm. long, pubescent (especially on the veins),
the obtuse lobes not connivent, the short and subequal teeth subulate; corolla
white, very small, the tube scarcely surpassing the calyx, limb 2 mm. wide, lobes
obtuse.
Low rich or open woods, wet meadows, thickets, river floodplains and bottom-
lands, waste places, fencerows, pastures and streamsides, Okla. (Murray Co.) and
in Tex. from Bowie and Wilbarger to Newton, Brazoria and Gonzales cos., also
in Wheeler Co. in the Panhandle, June-Oct.; Que. and Ont. to Neb., s. to Fla. and
w. to Tex. and Okla.
Var. leiocarpa Perry & Fern, differs in having the lower leaf surface uniformly
and densely short-pubescent; known from Cass Co., Tex.; it occurs sporadically
almost throughout the extra-limital range of the species.
5. Verbena hastata L. BLUE VERVAIN. Fig. 654.
Stems to 23 dm. tall, mostly simple, stiffly erect, often branched above, mostly
rough-pubescent with short antrorse hairs; leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate,
occasionally ovate-lanceolate, petiolate, 5-18 cm. long, gradually acuminate,
coarsely serrate or incised, sometimes hastately 3-lobed at base, glabrous or slightly
pubescent, not scabrous; spikes usually numerous, paniculate, stiffly erect, pedunc-
ulate, compact, densely many-flowered; bractlets lanceolate-subulate, usually a
little shorter than the calyx; calyx 2.5-3 mm. long, pubescent, the acute lobes
with short subulate tips and more or less connivent; corolla purplish-blue, the tube
somewhat longer than the calyx, pubescent outside, the limb 3-4.5 mm. wide.
Moist fields, wet meadows, prairies, swamps, woods and streamsides, edge of
ponds, lakes and sloughs, often forming large conspicuous colonies in wetlands,
in Okla. (Ottawa Co.), the Tex. Plains Country, N.M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Yavapai cos.), July-Oct.; N.S. to B.C., s. to Fla., Neb. and Ariz.
In dry fields and pastures a field-form is developed with the leaves more canes-
cent-puberulous beneath and slightly rough above, the stem many-branched, and
the terminal inflorescences in many groups, all more or less equally dense.
Var. scabra Moldenke differs in its more rigid leaves that are conspicuously
scabrous above and often more or less conspicuously pubescent beneath; known
from Hemphill Co., Tex.; a western form of the species, B.C., Ida., Mont, and
N.D. to Calif., N.M. and Tex., e. to Wise, and Kan.
6. Verbena Macdougalii Heller. NEW MEXICAN VERVAIN.
Stems to 1 m. tall, stout, obtusely tetragonal, simple or occasionally branched,
ashy-green, hirsute-pubescent; leaves oblong-elliptic or elongate-ovate, 6-10 cm.
long, short-petiolate or narrowed into a subpetiolar base, coarsely and irregularly
serrate-dentate, hirtellous, rugose and minutely pustulate above, densely pilose-
pubescent and prominently veined beneath; spikes solitary or sometimes several,
thick, comparatively dense both in anthesis and in fruit; bractlets lanceolate-
subulate, usually longer than the calyx, pubescent, ciliate; calyx 4-5 mm. long,
rather densely pubescent, the very obtuse lobes ending in short subulate teeth;
corolla deep-purple, the tube scarcely surpassing the calyx, the limb 6 mm. wide.
On flats at high elev., in wet mt. meadows and valleys, w. Tex. (Culberson
Co.), N.M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Greenlee,
1399
-------
Yavapai and Pima cos.), June-Oct., also s. Wyo. and cen. Ut.
7. Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. PROSTRATE VERVAIN.
Stems usually several from a common base, diffusely branched, prostrate or
decumbent, rarely erect, coarsely hirsute; leaves 1-6 cm. long, pinnately incised
or 3-lobed (lateral lobes narrow and divaricate, middle lobe large, cuneate-obovate,
incised-dentate or cleft), narrowed into a short margined petiole, hirsute on both
surfaces, larger venation slightly prominent beneath; spikes terminal, sessile,
ascending, rather thick, conspicuously bracteose; bractlets much longer than the
calyx, spreading-ascending, recurved in age, coarsely hirsute, foliaceous, the lower-
most often incised, the upper linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate and entire;
calyx 3-4 mm. long, hirsute especially on the veins, the very short lobes connivent;
corolla bluish to lavender or purple, the tube slightly surpassing the calyx, very
finely pubescent outside, the limb 2.5-3 mm. wide. V. bracteosa Michx.
Low and newly cleared ground, in mud about lakes, ponds and along sloughs,
river bottoms, grassy places, waste ground and roadsides, in Tex. from the Trans-
Pecos and Plains Country through the Edwards Plateau e. to Newton Co., Okla.
(Waterfall), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz, (throughout state), Apr.-Oct.; almost
throughout the w. U. S. and s. Can., introd. and local eastw.
8. Verbena Runyonii Moldenke. Rio GRANDE VERVAIN.
Stems erect, coarse, to 14 dm. tall, green, rather stout, sharply tetragonal,
sparsely hirsutulous with short whitish divergent hairs especially on the angles
and the nodes, glabrescent in age but more or less scabrellous on the angles;
leaves sessile, clasping, 2-6 cm. long, 8-30 mm. wide, more or less 3-parted with
each division pinnatifid-incised with broad acute teeth, abundantly hirsutulous
on both surfaces with rather short whitish hairs that are bulbous-based, the upper
surface scabrous on older leaves; spikes compound, the branches slender, erect,
14-25 cm. long, rather closely many-flowered, often with 1 to 3 pairs of much
reduced leaves near the base; flowers with a faint odor, very densely imbricate
before and during anthesis, rather uniformly separated in fruit; peduncles and
rachis slender, sharply tetragonal, spreading-pilose and glandular, the hairs very
short; bractlets linear-lanceolate, 3 mm. long, equaling the calyx, sharply attenuate,
rather sparsely puberulent and glandular, sparsely and irregularly ciliolate toward
the base; calyx 3 mm. long, glandular-pilose with short spreading hairs; corolla
blue, 6 mm. long, tube puberulent at apex outside, limb 4 mm. wide.
Mostly in moist or wet ground, open fields, banks, resaca bottoms, ditches
and roadsides in Tex. from Hidalgo and Cameron cos. along the coast to Nueces
Co., Feb.-June; also N. L.; introduced in Ore.
F rosiflora L. I. Davis differs in having rose-colored corollas; known only
from Cameron Co., Tex.
3. Lantana L. LANTANA
A genus of about 160 species and 75 named varieties and forms, mostly
natives of tropical and subtropical America; a few also in tropical Asia and
Africa.
1. Lantana horrida H.B.K. TEXAS LANTANA, HIERBA DE CRISTO, CALICO BUSH.
Shrub to 2 m. tall, much-branched; stems and branches unarmed or with many
stout recurved prickles, glabrous to sparsely hirsute, the younger ones often more
hirtellous; petioles 2-12 mm. long, pilose-hirsute; leaf blades ovate or subrotund-
ovate, usually 3-5 cm. long and 2-4 cm. wide, acute or obtuse, usually truncate
or subtruncate at base, often very shortly cuneate-attenuate into the petiole, very
coarsely serrate from apex almost to base with large rather irregular widely sp'read-
1400
-------
ing acute or obtuse teeth, short-strigose and very scabrous above, subglabrate
to puberulent or hirtellous on the venation beneath, often sub-bullate above; pe-
duncles 3-9 cm. long, usually slightly surpassing the leaves, subglabrate to his-
pidulous; bractlets narrow-lanceolate or oblong, 4-9 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide,
acute, strigillose, the innermost usually one half the length of the corolla, the
outermost often larger and forming an involucre subequaling the corolla tube;
heads hemispheric, 2-3 cm. wide, densely many-flowered, not elongating; corolla
very showy, yellow to orange or red, the tube 7-10 mm. long, densely pubescent
outside, limb 5-9 mm. wide; fruit black or dark-blue, edible.
Fields, thickets, swamps, rich sandy woods, scrub, gravelly hills, flats, bank
of streams, chaparral and roadsides, often in large patches, almost throughout
Tex., except the n.w., N.M. (Moldenke) and Ariz. (Pima Co.); also cult, and in
Calif., n. Mex., and introd. in N.C. and Miss.
4. Lippia HOUST. LIPPIA
A genus of about 206 species and 44 named forms and varieties, widely distrib-
uted in subtropical and tropical America; a few also in tropical portions of the
Old World.
1. Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. BUSHY LIPPIA, ALFOMBRILLA, CIDRILLA, HIERBA
BUENA, OREGANO DE BURRO, SALVA DO BRASIL, SALVA COLORADO, TE DE CAS-
TILLA, TORONJIL DE ESPANA, HIERBA NEGRA, HIERBA DEL NEGRO.
Aromatic shrub to 2 m. tall, usually much-branched, with long rooting suckers
at base; branches elongate, slender, ascending, pubescent; leaves often ternate;
petioles 3-8 mm. long, gray-pubescent; leaf blades ovate or oblong, 2-7 cm. long,
12-23 mm. wide, acute or obtuse, serrate or serrulate except at base, cuneately
narrowed into petiole at base, puberulent or strigose-hirtellous and rugose (when
mature) above, densely short-pubescent or tomentose beneath; inflorescence ax-
illary, capitate, mostly much shorter than the leaves or only subequaling the petiole,
solitary or rarely paired in all the upper leaf axils; heads subglobose or short-
oblong, 8-12 mm. long; bractlets ovate, 3-5 mm. long, the lowermost 3-3.5 mm.
wide, nearly as long as the corollas; corolla purple to violet, pink or white, the
tube 4-5 mm. long. L. geminata H.B.K.
Woods, low wettish bottomlands, river banks and resacas, Hidalgo and Cameron
cos. n.e. to Wharton Co. in Tex., Mar.-Oct; widespread in W.I., Mex., C.A. and
S.A., introd. elsewhere, widely cult.
5. Phyla LOUR. FROG-FRUIT
Perennial procumbent or creeping herbs, with trailing or ascending stems,
sometimes somewhat woody at base or even shrubby, subglabrate or appressed-
strigose with more or less cinereous malpighiaceous hairs; leaves opposite, var-
iously dentate except at the base, flat or pinnately plicatulate above; inflorescence
spicate, axillary; spikes cylindric, very densely many-flowered, usually greatly
elongate in fruit, solitary or paired or ternate in the leaf axils, never aggregated
into corymbs or panicles; flowers small, sessile, borne singly in the axils of small
cuneate-obovate or flabelliform bractlets, not at all 4-ranked; otherwise with char-
acters of Lippia.
A genus of about 10 species and 10 named forms and varieties, widely distrib-
uted in subtropical and tropical America; a few introduced in the warmer parts of
the Old World.
1. Leaf blades mostly widest at or below the middle, toothed from below the
middle to the apex (2)
1. Leaf blade mostly widest toward the apex and toothed only near the apex (4)
1401
-------
Fig. 655: Phyla lanceolata: a, habit, x U. Phyla cunei folia; b, habit, x %. (V. F.).
-------
2(1). Leaf blades mostly oblong-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, mostly widest at or
near the middle, not plicatulate, the teeth antrorsely appressed,
extending below the widest part of the leaf 1. P. lanceolata.
2. Leaf blades mostly ovate or triangular-ovate to rhomboid, often plicatulate,
widest below the middle, the teeth coarse and divergent, not ex-
tending below the widest part of the leaf (3)
3(2). Mature leaves mostly to 75 mm. long and 20 mm. wide
2. P. strigulosa.
3. Mature leaves mostly less than 15 mm. long and 10 mm. wide
2. P. strigulosa var. sericea.
4(1). Leaf blades with 1 to 4 pairs of remote salient teeth (5)
4. Leaf blades with numerous pairs of small mostly antrorse teeth (6)
5(4). Bractlets 2-3 mm. long, closely imbricate, acute, not conspicuously re-
flexed; peduncles 1.5 to 4 times as long as the subtending leaf
during anthesis; heads 5-10 mm. thick, becoming elongate-cylindric
or oblong in fruit; fruit obovoid 3. P. incisa.
5. Bractlets 5 mm. long, wide-spreading, the apex long-acuminate and finally
reflexed; peduncles 0.7 to 1.5 times as long as the subtending leaf
during anthesis; heads 7-12 mm. wide, usually not elongating in
fruit; fruit oval 4. P cuneifolia.
6(4). Leaves uniformly elongate, to 5.5 cm. long, 4-10 mm. wide
5. P. nodiflora var. longifolia.
6. Leaves mostly shorter, cuneate-spatulate to rhomboid, 1-3 cm. long (7)
7(6). Midrib and secondaries usually prominent beneath, often very conspicuous,
often impressed above; blades often large and elliptic or rhomboid,
coarsely toothed 5. P. nodiflora var. reptans.
1. Midrib and secondaries usually obscure or indiscernible on both surfaces;
blades usually small and spatulate or cuneiform (8)
8(7). Plants usually densely matted, more or less densely strigose-canescent
throughout; leaves mostly very small and cuneiform, usually thin-
textured and few-toothed, sometimes entire or subentire
5. P. nodiflora var. rosea.
8. Plants usually creeping and wide-spreading, open in growth, often with
ascending branches, usually green and only finely strigillose; leaves
mostly larger, cuneate-spatulate or spatulate to obovate, thick-
textured, usually more abundantly toothed (9)
9(8). Teeth on leaf blades mostly rather large, coarse and salient-spreading
3. P. incisa.
9. Teeth on leaf blades mostly small and appressed, usually forward-pointing
5. P- nodiflora.
1. Phyla lanceolata (Michx.) Greene. NORTHERN FROG-FRUIT. Fig. 655.
Stems procumbent or ascending, to 6 dm. long, simple or somewhat branched,
often rooting at the nodes, glabrous or obscurely white-strigillose with closely
appressed hairs; petioles 5-10 mm. long or obsolete, obscurely appressed-strigillose;
leaf blades bright-green on both surfaces, oblong to oblong-lanceolate or ovate,
18-75 mm. long, 5-30 mm. wide, acute or subacute, sharply serrate to below the
middle, widest at or below the middle, narrowed to the cuneate base, rather
obscurely appressed-strigillose on both surfaces, venation flat but conspicuous
above, rather prominent and very conspicuous beneath; inflorescence equaling or
surpassing the leaves; peduncles 4—9 cm. long, rather sparsely and obscurely white-
strigillose; heads at first globose, later cylindric and elongating to 35 mm. and 5-7
mm. wide; bractlets obovate, closely imbricate, 3 mm. long, acute, appressed-
strigillose; corolla pale-blue, purplish or white. Lippia lanceolata Michx.
1403
-------
Moist soil of river bottoms, lake shores and coastal marshes, in swamps and
in and about water of sloughs, ditches and ponds, and savannahs, in Okla. (Mc-
Curtain, Mayes, Cherokee, Woodward, Ottawa, Grady and Alfalfa cos.), in most
of Tex. except in the extreme w., N. M. (Chaves Co.) and Ariz. (Pima and Mo-
have cos.), May-Oct; also Ont. to Minn., N.J., 111., Kan., Fla., Calif, and n. Mex.
2. Phyla strigulosa (Mart. & Gal.) Moldenke. DIAMOND-LEAF FROG-FRUIT, TURRE
MEMBRA, HIERBA BUENA MONTES.
Procumbent, freely branched from the base; branches rooting at the nodes,
to 2 m. long, often sulcate, often reddish to purplish toward the base, gray-
strigillose with closely appressed antrorse hairs, the tips ascending or erect; petioles
1-5 mm. long, mostly winged, rather obscurely canescent-strigillose or glabrescent;
leaf blades mostly broadly ovate or triangular-ovate to rhomboid or ovate-elliptic,
mostly conspicuously widest below the middle, to 75 mm. long and 2 cm. wide,
rounded or acute (in outline) and at apex, abruptly acuminate at base and pro-
longed into the petiole, conspicuously and regularly coarse-dentate from apex
to the widest part with sharply acute or apiculate broadly triangular rather di-
vergent teeth (their margins often thick and involute), both surfaces rather densely
but microscopically canescent-strigillose, often plicatulate, the larger venation white
and very prominent beneath; peduncles 25-55 mm. long, deeply sulcate, densely
canescent-strigillose or glabrescent; heads 4-8 cm. long, later elongating; bractlets
ovate to obovate, 3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, sharply acute or acuminate, densely
canescent-strigose, strongly costate; corolla about 3 mm. long, white, sometimes
lavender- or purple-tinged in age, limb 1.5 mm. wide. Lippia strigulosa Mart. &
Gal., P. yucatana Moldenke.
Fields, woods, open ground, swamps, sandy stream banks and muddy hollows,
in Tex. in the Rio Grande Plains and Valley, Feb.-May; widespread from Mex.
and Gr. Ant. through Virg. I., C.A. and S.A.
Var. sericea (O. Ktze.) Moldenke differs in having the mature leaves to 15 mm.
long and 1 cm. wide. Incl. var. parviftora (Moldenke) Moldenke. In Tex. in the
Rio Grande Plains and Valley, Feb.-May; also Mex., Bah. I., W. I., Trin. and
Venez.
3. Phyla incisa Small. TEXAS FROG-FRUIT.
Stems mostly prostrate, often swollen and rooting at the nodes, simple or
branched, often purplish, appressed-strigillose; branches decumbent to ascending
or erect, abundantly appressed white-strigose; petioles usually obsolete or 1-3
mm. and winged; leaf blades often thick-textured, narrow-oblong or cuneiform to
broadly obovate, very variable, 1-5 cm. long, 2-15 mm. wide, acute to obtuse or
rounded (in outline) at apex, usually with only 1 to 4 pairs of coarse and saliently
spreading teeth near the apex, cuneate from the middle or above the middle to
the base, appressed-strigillose on both surfaces with small inconspicuous white
hairs, secondary venation mostly obscure on both surfaces; inflorescence usually
much-surpassing the subtending leaves; peduncles 2-9 cm. long, appressed-strigil-
lose; heads at first globose, later cylindric and elongating to 3 cm., 5-10 mm.
wide; bractlets obovate, 2-3 mm. long, closely imbricate, acute, abundantly white-
strigillose; corolla white with yellow center, the tube 2-2.5 mm. long, limb 2 mm.
wide. Lippia incisa (Small) Tidestr.
Open ground, fields, pastures, wet clay or sandy flats, dry river banks and
bottoms, floodplains, damp or wet shady woods and seashores, in Okla. (Pittsburg,
Kiowa and Jefferson cos.), practically throughout Tex., N.M. (Dona Ana, Otero,
Luna and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Yuma and Pima cos.), Mar.-Nov.;
Colo., Okla. and Mo. to N.M., Ariz., s. Calif, and n. Mex.
1404
-------
4. Phyla cuneifolia (Torr.) Greene. WEDGE-LEAF FROG-FRUIT. Fig. 655.
Stems branching from a woody base, procumbent, often rooting at the nodes
to 1 m. long, sparsely appressed-strigillose with very short white hairs, fractiflex,
often with short erect branchlets at the nodes; leaves sessile, rigid, thick-
textured, often with a fascicle of smaller ones in the axils, linear-oblanceo-
late or cuneiform, often canescent when young, 1-5.2 cm. long 2-8 mm. wide,
acute or subacute, with 2 to 8 very sharp and often salient teeth above the middle
or rarely entire, gradually attenuate to the cuneate base, appressed-strigillose on
both surfaces, secondary venation indiscernible on both surfaces; inflorescence
shorter than or slightly surpassing the leaves; peduncles 8-50 mm. long, ob-
scurely appressed-strigillose; heads at first globose, later cylindric and elongating
to 2 cm., 8-12 mm. wide; bractlets conspicuous, obovate, 5 mm. long and 3 mm.
wide, abruptly long-acuminate, at least the tip soon wide-spreading and finally
reflexed scarious on the upper margins, densely appressed-strigillose; corolla whit-
ish or purplish, the tube 4-5 mm. long, limb 2^.5 mm. wide. Lippia cuneifolia
(Torr.) Steud.
Plains and low prairies, wet banks of irrigation ponds and ditches, playa lakes
and stream beds, in Okla. (Cimarron Co.), mostly in cen. and w. Tex., N.M. (Un-
ion, McKinley, Roosevelt, Quay and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coco-
nino, Yavapai and Cochise cos.) May-Sept.; also S.D., Neb. and N.M. to Ariz., s.
Calif, and n. Mex.
5. Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene. COMMON FROG-FRUIT, CAPE-WEED, TURKEY-
TANGLE, MAT-GRASS, HIERBA DE LA VIRGEN MARIA. Fig. 656.
Stems prostrate, to 9 dm. long, mostly rooting at the nodes; branches procum-
bent or ascending, glabrate or puberulent to appressed-strigillose; petioles obsolete
or 2-8 mm. long and cuneate-winged; leaf blades thick-textured, spatulate to ob-
lanceolate or obovate, sometimes elliptic or cuneiform, 1-7.2 cm. long, 6-25 mm.
wide, rounded or obtuse to subacute at apex, cuneate into the petiole, rather reg-
ularly sharply serrate above the middle with numerous appressed antrorse acute
or acuminate teeth, glabrous or strigillose-puberulent on both surfaces, secondary
venation practically indiscernible on both surfaces; peduncles usually much longer
than the leaves, to 11.5 cm. long, appressed-puberulent or strigose with antrorse
canescent hairs or glabrous; heads at first globose, cylindric in age and elongate
to 25 mm., 6-9 mm. thick; bractlets closely imbricate, obovate or subrhomboid-
cuneate, subequaling the corolla tube, often rather broadly membranous-margined
toward the apex, mucronate-acuminate or muticous, glabrous or finely ciliate;
corolla rose-purple or white, 2-2.5 mm. long, slightly surpassing the bractlets,
slightly strigillose outside, limb exiguous. Lippia nodiflora (L.) Michx.
Wet or moist soil, fields, clearings, hillsides, ditches, thickets and beaches, along
the Tex. coast from Chambers to Cameron cos., inland to Kendall, Tom Green
and Childress cos., May-Oct.; almost cosmopolitan in subtrop. and trop, regions of
the Old World and New World; Pa. to Fla., Ky., Ark., La., Okla. and Calif.
Var. longifolia Moldenke differs in having much more uniformly elongate
leaves, the blades being oblanceolate-cuneate, to 55 mm. long and 4-10 mm. wide,
and sharply spreading-dentate toward the apex; open sandy wettish flats near the
seacoast, Cameron Co., Tex.; also along the coasts of Mex., C.A. and w. S.A.
Var. reptans (H.B.K.) Moldenke differs in usually being more densely strigose
throughout and having the leaves thinner in texture, often rhomboid-elliptic, with
the teeth usually more spreading and the larger venation firmer and more or less
prominent beneath; low moist ground, shaded places, clearings, ditches, lawns and
roadsides, in Tex. from Presidio to Cameron and Chambers cos., n. to Dallas and
Wichita cos., Feb.-Sept.; occurring sporadically almost throughout the range of
the species.
1405
-------
Fig. 656: Phyla nodiflora: a, flower, x 12; b, pistil, x 12; c, nutlets, x 12; d, habit,
decumbent plant, the spikes in fruit x -,3; e, habit, prostrate plant, the spikes in flower,
x -V. f, bract of the inflorescence, x 12; g, flower, split longitudinally on adaxial side,
x 12. (From Mason, Fig. 298).
-------
Fam. 117. Labiatae Juss. MINT FAMILY
Plants herbaceous annuals or perennials with spreading rhizomes, occasionally
woody shrubs; stems typically square; leaves opposite; flowers variously arranged;
calyx usually more or less 2-lipped, the upper 3 teeth more or less joined, the
lower pair of teeth usually free, occasionally all teeth subequal, the tube mostly
enlarged in fruit; corolla obscurely to distinctly 2-lipped, the upper 2 petals usually
joined to form an erect sometimes galeate lip that includes the stamens or some-
times very short and deeply notched, occasionally with the 5 lobes subequal, the
lower lip usually spreading with its midlobe sometimes dipperlike; stamens 2 or
4, mostly in 2 unequal pairs, the connective sometimes strongly developed at
the expense of the filament; anthers parallel or divergent, with one cell sometimes
completely or partly aborted; style bifid at apex, arising between the quite distinct
lobes of the 4-lobed ovary or from near the apex of the ovary when the lobes
(and the cocci) are partly united below.
A large family of about 3,500 species in 180 genera of world-wide distribution.
The typically aromatic plants provide many herbs used as condiments. The
family contains numerous important honey plants.
1. Ovary 4-lobed; style not basal; cocci almost completely united, laterally or
obliquely attached 1. Teucrium
1. Ovary of 4 distinct or nearly distinct lobes; style basal; cocci essentially free,
basally attached (2)
2(1). Calyx 2-lipped, the lips entire 2. Scutellaria
2. Calyx regularly 5- (rarely 10-) toothed or 2-lipped with 3 teeth on the upper
lip and 2 teeth on the lower lip (3)
3(2). Stamens declined toward or resting on the lower lip of the corolla, 2 long
and 2 short; corolla declined, the upper lip with 4 entire lobes, the
lower lip saccate and abruptly deflexed at the contracted and cal-
lous base 3. Hyptis
3. Stamens not declined and resting on the lower lip of the corolla (4)
4(3). Fertile stamens 4, all with 2-celled anthers; upper lip of corolla usually
but not always galeate or concave (5)
4. Fertile stamens 2 or (if 4) the upper pair shorter than the lower pair and the
upper corolla lip neither galeate nor concave (10)
5(4). Upper pair of filaments longer than the lower pair (6)
5. Upper pair of filaments shorter than the lower pair (8)
6(5). Anther sacs parallel or nearly so; stamens evidently exserted, readily
visible 4. Agastache
6. Anther sacs widely divergent; stamens ascending under the more or less
galeately rounded upper lip of the corolla, scarcely or not at all
exserted (7)
7(6). Calyx regular or nearly so, with subequal teeth 5. Nepeta
1. Calyx strongly irregular, with the upper teeth much broader than the other 4
6. Dracocephalum
8(5). Calyx strongly 2-lipped 7. Prunella
8. Calyx not 2-lipped, the lobes essentially similar (9)
9(8). Tube of the calyx faintly nerved, inflated at maturity 8. Physostegia
9. Tube of the calyx prominently 5- or 10-nerved, not inflated at maturity
9. Stachys
1407
-------
10(4). Functional stamens 2, ascending and parallel, the upper pair wanting or
rudimentary; anthers mostly appearing to be 1-celled; corolla
strongly 2-lipped (11)
10. Functional stamens 2 or (if 4) with the upper pair shorter than the lower
pair; anthers always 2-celled; corolla scarcely 2-lipped, the upper
lip neither galeate nor curved (12)
11(10). Connective of the anther elongated, usually but not always bearing a
perfect sac at one end and a rudimentary sac at the other end, very
rarely 2-celled 10. Salvia
11. Connective of the anther short; anther sacs confluent 11. Monarda
12(10). Flowers in loose terminal racemes or panicles, slender-pedicelled
12. Perilla
12. Flowers in axillary whorls or clusters that sometimes form terminal spikelike
racemes or panicles (13)
13(12). Corolla regular or essentially so, with 4 or 5 equal lobes (14)
13. Corolla more or less 2-lipped; upper corolla lip erect, entire or emarginate
(15)
14(13). Fertile stamens 2; flowers white, clustered in the axils of reduced upper
leaves; foliage scarcely aromatic 13. Lycopus
14. Fertile stamens 4; flowers purplish to bluish or white, spicate or clustered
in upper axils; foliage strongly aromatic 14. Mentha
15(13). Stamens distant and straight, often spreading-divergent, never connivent
nor curved 15. Pycnanthemum
15. Stamens ascending or arched, commonly converging or ascending parallel
under upper lip of corolla (16)
16(15). Calyx with 5 subequal lobes, scarcely 2-lipped; leaves more or less
orbicular 16. Micromeria
16. Calyx distinctly 2-lipped, the lobes unequal; leaves of a linear type
17. Satureja
1. Teucrium L. GERMANDER
Perennial herbs to 15 dm. high, with simple serrate leaves and the flowers in
terminal slender spikes or smaller annual or perennial plants with at least some
of the leaves pinnatifid and with the flowers in the axils of the reduced upper
leaves; calyx saccate, toothed or deeply 5-lobed; corolla pinkish to bluish or
pallid, the upper lip very short and deeply notched, the lower lip conspicuous and
spreading, with small lateral lobes; stamens 4, paired, exserted from the deep cleft
between the 2 upper lobes of the corolla; cocci roughened.
About 300 species in temperate and tropical regions of both hemispheres.
1. Leaf blades toothed, pubescent on lower surface; flowers in a terminal brac-
teate spike; corolla lavender with dark spots 1. T. canadense.
\. Leaf blades noticeably lobed (especially the lower ones), glabrous; flowers in
the axils of the reduced upper leaves; corolla white with pink to
purple markings toward the base 2. T. cubense.
\. Teucrium canadense L. AMERICAN GERMANDER, WOOD SAGE. Fig. 657.
Perennial herb as much as 1 m. tall, with creeping rootstocks and erect stems
that branch chiefly in the inflorescence, the latter usually silvery with closely
appressed minute hairs, sometimes pubescent with fine appressed hairs, curled
hairs or hirsute with elongate spreading or deflexed glandular or eglandular hairs,
rarely glabrate; leaves prevailingly 6-10 cm. long and 2-4- cm. broad, narrowly
elliptic to oval or ovate, acute to acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, generally
narrowed below the middle but sometimes rounded at the base or even subtruncate,
1408
-------
Fig. 657: a-e, Teucrium canadense var. canadense: a, upper part of plant, x %;
b, lower part of plant, x Vz', c, part of leaf and stem, x 3%; d, veins of leaf, x 1; e,
flower split open, x 2%. f-i, Teucrium canadense var. occidentale: f and g, parts of
inflorescence, x %; h, fruit in the leaf axils, x 3%; i, nutlets, x 3%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 658: Teucrium cubcnsc: a, habit, x V>; b, top of plant showing variation in
leaf shape, \ ^>; c. calyx, x 2'j; d, flower, x 2; e, corolla opened longitudinally, x 2('z,
f, corolla, outer view, x 2; g, pistil, x 2'^; h, nutlets, x 2\->. (V. F.).
-------
obscurely or strongly toothed, the upper surfaces glabrous or variably pubescent
with curled or straight hairs or variably hirsute with elongate stifflsh glandular
or eglandular hairs, the lower surfaces silvery with minute closely appressed hairs
or pubescent with small curled hairs or even tomentose with longer curled hairs
or hirsute with glandular spreading hairs, rarely glabrous; median petioles to 15
mm. long; flowers subsessile, disposed in usually dense conspicuously bracteate
spikes 2—3 dm. long, the bracts usually exceeding the calyces; flowering calyces
5-7 mm. long, silvery with minute appressed hairs or pubescent with curled and
spreading glandular hairs or hirsute with elongate mostly glandular hairs, these
variably combined in some forms, the tube enlarged and cuplike at maturity but
scarcely saclike or inflated, the orifice oblique; calyx teeth deltoid, the three upper
more or less joined and tending to be obtuse or blunt, the two lower more or less
acute or acuminate and generally about 2 mm. long; corolla 11-18 mm. long, the
tube 4—7 mm. long; cocci glabrous, wrinkled. Inc. var. virginicum (L.) Eat., T.
virginicum L.
In water and mud along streams and canals, about lakes, in marshes and wet
grassy swales throughout Tex., Okla. (Alfalfa, Caddo, Haskell, Choctaw, Mc-
Curtain, Logan, Jefferson, Johnston and Murray cos.), N. M. (Colfax, Valencia,
San Juan, McKinley, Socorro, Dona Ana and Chaves cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo,
Yavapai, Graham and Pima cos.), May-Sept.; a variable species that occurs from
Que. to B.C., s. to Cuba and Mex.
The following varieties are found in our area.
1. Pubescence very fine and appressed var. angustatum Gray.
1. Pubescence not as above (2)
2(1). Hairs of the stem and lower leaf surface elongate, spreading, dense, more
or less glandular; calyx tomentose with short as well as long glan-
dular hairs (T. occidentale Gray)
var. occidentale (Gray) McCl. & Epl.
2. Hairs of stem and lower leaf surface minute, curling and eglandular; calyx
mostly thinly pubescent with nonglandular hairs var. canadense.
2. Teucrium cubense Jacq. Fig. 658.
Annual or perennial weedy herb; stems usually several from a taproot, branch-
ing at the base and often above, more or less bushy, as much as 7 dm. high,
usually much smaller, glabrous or cinereous with minute spreading or downwardly
curled hairs, sometimes pubescent in the inflorescence with longer somewhat curled
hairs; basal leaves oblong to obovate, shallowly lobed to crenate or entire, atten-
uate to petioles that are usually shorter than the blades, soon withering, these
passing into the cauline leaves that are variably lobed, these (in turn) passing
gradually into the leaves of the inflorescence that are sometimes subentire, some-
times lobed to the middle or sometimes lobed nearly to the base with the lobes
linear; flowers with slender pedicels 4—12 mm. long, usually in the upper half of
the stem, sometimes nearly to the base; flowering calyces campanulate, glabrous
or hirtellous with minute spreading hairs and glandular or sometimes pubescent
with longer somewhat curled hairs, 5-10 mm. long, the tubes 2-3 mm. long;
calyx teeth 3-6 mm. long, deltoid-lanceolate, closed over the cocci at maturity or
spreading; corolla white, often with purple lines in throat, pubescent, tending to
be bearded in the throat, 7-15 mm. long, the tube 1-2 mm. long, the lower lip
4-8 mm. long; stamens glabrous, the longer pair 6-8 mm. long; cocci pitted or
grooved lengthwise (the grooving may be a function of the degree of maturity),
glabrous or pubescent at the tip. Melosma cubense (Jacq.) Small.
In clay or hard sandy loams, along streams and draws, in wet soil along
streams, sand-gravel bars subject to flooding, in palm groves and low grassy soils,
1411
-------
in Tex. along the coast and Rio Grande Plains, w. to the Trans-Pecos, w to Ariz.
(Maricopa, Final, Santa Cruz, Pima and Yuma cos.), throughout the year; from
s.w. U.S., through W. I. to s. S.A.
The following varieties are found in our area:
1. Plant annual, pubescent along the stem and in the inflorescence with scattered
long coarse somewhat curled hairs; flowers disposed often nearly
to the base of the stems; cocci conspicuously pubescent at the apex
with a tuft of hairs; in the Tex. Trans-Pecos westward [T. depres-
sum (Small) McCl. & EpL] var. densum Jeps.
1. Plant annual or perennial, glabrous or sparingly puberulent along the stem
and in the inflorescence; flowers chiefly in upper part of stem;
cocci with globular glands or rarely minutely pubescent (2)
2(1). Median leaves irregularly lobed about halfway to the midrib or only deeply
crenate; floral leaves 3-lobed to the middle or entire [subsp.
chamaedrifolium (Mill.) Epl.] var. cubense.
2. Median leaves mostly 3- or 5-lobed nearly to the midrib, the lobes linear;
floral leaves 3-parted nearly to the base [T. laevigatum Vahl,
Melosma laevigatum (Vahl) Small]
subsp. laevigatum (Vahl) McCl. & Epl.
2. Scutellaria L. SKULLCAP
Bitter perennial or annual herbs or subshrubs, commonly rhizomatous or
tuberous, not aromatic; flowers 1 to 3 together on short peduncles or pedicels
in the axils or often in 1-sided bracted axillary racemes or terminal spikes or
racemes; calyx campanulate in flower, splitting to the base at maturity, strongly
bilabiate, the lips entire, the upper longer lip usually falling away, in fruit
with an appendage or scale; corolla with an elongated curved ascending tube ex-
serted from the calyx, dilated at the throat, the upper lip entire or barely notched,
the lateral lobes mostly connected with the upper rather than the lower lip, the
lower spreading lobe or lip convex and notched at the apex; stamens 4, ascending
under the upper lip; anthers approximate in pairs, ciliate or bearded, those of the
lower stamens 1-celled, those of the upper stamens 2-celled and cordate; cocci
variously marked.
About 300 species of wide geographic distribution.
Seeds of some species are eaten by birdlife.
1. Median cauline leaves oblong to linear-lanceolate, entire, tapered at base to
a short petiole 1. S. integrifolia.
1. Median cauline leaves deltoid-ovate to ovate-oblong, more or less dentate or
serrate, rounded to somewhat cordate at base (2)
2(1). Median leaves ovate-oblong; petiole mostly 3 mm. long or less; distribu-
tion in Texas Panhandle westward 2. S. galericulata.
2. Median leaves broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate; petiole usually much more
than 5 mm. long (3)
3(2). Stems strict and stiffish; calyx and triangular-ovate leaflike bracts sub-
tending the flowers coarsely ciliate on margins; galea and corolla
tube 13-22 mm. long; distribution in eastern Texas
3. S. cardiophylla.
3. Stems mostly weak and spreading; calyx and elliptic-lanceolate bracts subtend-
ing the flowers essentially glabrous or minutely puberulent; galea
and corolla tube 5-7 mm. long; distribution in northeastern Texas
and Oklahoma westward 4. s. lateriflora.
1. Scutellaria integrifolia L. ROUGH SKULLCAP. Fig. 659.
Perennial herb 3-7 dm. high; stems rather slender, 1 or several from a sub-
ligneous base, simple or with arched-ascending branches above, often with abbre-
1412
-------
Fig. 659: Scutellaria integrifolia: a and b, habit, x V2; c, flower, x 1; d, calyx, x 5;
e, stamen and style, x 5; f, calyx opened to show nutlets on gynophore, x' 5. (V. F.)'.
-------
Fig. 660: a-d. Micromeria Browneii: a, habit, x 11>; b, end of branch, x 2 Ms c,
calyx opened out, x 5; d, corolla opened out, x 5. e-j, Sculellaria galericulata: e, habit,
x ':.•: f, flower, x 2'L.; g, corolla and calyx split open, x 2!->; h, two calyces with mature
nutlets, x 2^-2', i. immature nutlets on gynophore, x 2'1>; j, nutlets, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
viated axillary branches densely incurved-pilose above, sometimes with divergent
hairs, with or without some glands; leaves 3 to 8 pairs below inflorescence; lowest
leaves ovate, slender-petioled, crenate; the successively narrower middle and upper
leaves mostly oblong to linear-lanceolate and entire, narrowed to petioles to 1 cm.
long, punctate, minutely hoary, 2-6 cm. long, to 1.6 cm. broad; lowest internodes
1-2.5 cm. long; inflorescence a terminal raceme or leafy elongate panicle of 6- to
40-flowered racemes, all but lowest flowers in axils of much reduced foliaceous
linear-lanceolate bracts; pedicels short; calyx 2.5-3.5 mm, long in anthesis,
becoming 5-7 mm. long in fruit, puberulent; corolla 2-2.5 cm. long, purple-blue
and whitish or rarely rose-pink, the large lips subequal; the lower stamens inserted
about 8.5 mm. above base of tube; cocci subglobose, blackish, 1.2-1.6 mm. in
diameter, covered with rosulate flattish subimbricated papillae.
Borders of woods, thickets and clearings, bogs, along streams, on seepage slopes
and about ponds in e. Tex., Apr.-June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.E., O., Ky.
and Mo.
The var. hispida Benth. has stems with numerous straighter and more divergent
hairs, and the transition from lower to median leaves more gradual than in var.
integrifolia. Plants with rose-pink flowers are designated as f. rhodantha Fern.
2. Scutellaria galericulata L. MARSH SKULLCAP. Fig. 660.
Perennial with slender creeping rhizome and mostly subterranean slightly
thickened stolons; stems ascending, simple or forking, to 1 m. high, minutely
pilose on angles above with recurved hairs; leaves sessile or shortly petioled,
oblong-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, crenate, rounded to cordate at base, to 8 cm.
long and 3 cm. broad, often somewhat rugose, veiny, minutely pubescent (often
canescent) beneath with recurving hairs; flowers solitary in the axils of reduced
upper leaflike bracts to form 1-sided interrupted racemes, very short-pedicelled;
calyx 3.5-4.5 (in fruit 5-6.5) mm. long, minutely pilose; corolla blue-violet with
whitish throat and tube, pilose, 15-25 mm. long, stamens inserted 8-10 mm.
above base of tube; cocci pale-olive, 1.5-2 mm. long, with broad low pebbling.
S. epilobiifolia A. Hamilt.
Gravelly, sandy or rocky shores, in mud on edge of ponds and creeks, in
sloughs, wet meadows, marshes, swampy thickets in n. Panhandle of Tex., N.M.
(Coifax, Mora, Sandoval, San Juan and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo
and Coconino cos.), June-Aug.; from Nfld. and Lab. n.w. to Alas., s. to Del.,
Pa., W.Va., O., Ind., Ill, Mo, Kan, Tex, N.M, Ariz, and Calif.
3. Scutellaria cardiophylla Engelm. & Gray.
Annual, 4—6 dm. high, rather strict and stiffish, branching freely above the
middle, the branches ascendent and strict, clothed with recurved appressed hairs
(particularly along the angles), sometimes with spreading glandular hairs in the
lowermost parts as well; basal leaves soon deciduous; median leaves deltoid, lightly
cordate, 2-5 cm. long, crenate-dentate, the lower ones borne on petioles as long as
the blades, the uppermost subsessile and subentire, gradually diminished upward,
the upper surfaces of all glabrous, the lower surface hispidulous with spreading
hairs, their margins usually ciliate with longer hairs; flowers produced in the
upper parts of the plant in the axils of gradually diminished leaves, the pedicels
clothed as are the stems; flowering calyces retrorse-pubescent and ciliate on the
margins, the lower lip 4-4.5 mm. long at anthesis but 5-6 mm. long at maturity,
the scale about 3.5 mm. tall and concave; galea and tube 13—22 mm. long, the
tube pilose within, the lip glabrous; lower filaments seated 7-13 mm. above the
base of the tube; cocci black, shallowly papillate.
1415
-------
Usually in sandy or rocky soils on the edge of woods and in grassy areas in
open woods, on banks, in seepage areas and old fields in e. fourth of Tex., w. to
Kaufman, Freestone and Madison cos., Apr.-Oct.; also Ark. and possibly w. La.
4. Scutellaria lateriflora L. MAD-DOG SKULLCAP. Fig. 661.
Perennial with filiform rhizomes and stolons: stem to 1 m. high, simple or
freely branched, smooth or minutely pilose on the angles with incurved-ascending
hairs; leaves with slender pilose petioles to 3 cm. long, ovate to deltoid-ovate,
acuminate, coarsely serrate or serrate-dentate, rounded to subcordate at base, thin,
glabrous or at most minutely pilose on veins beneath and on margin, to 12 cm.
long and 6 cm. broad: racemes 1-sided, axillary and terminal (occasionally reduced
to 1 flower), usually with 2 to 44 flowers in the axils of progressively smaller
leafy bracts, internodes of lateral racemes mostly 2-7 (rarely -10) mm. long;
calyx 2-2.7 (becoming in fruit 3—!•) mm. long, puberulent; corolla slender, blue-
violet, 5-9 mm. long, pilose; upper stamens inserted about middle of tube; cocci
pale, 1.4-1.7 mm. high, obtusely pebbled.
In alluvial thickets, meadows, marshes, swampy woods and on seepage slopes,
edge of water in lake, along streams and sloughs, in n.e. Tex. and n. Panhandle,
Okla. (Adair and Mayes cos.) and Ariz. (Yavapai and Coconino cos.), July-
Sept; from Ga. to s. Calif., n. to Nfld., Que., Ont., Man., Sask., Alta. and B. C.
3. Hyptis JACQ.
About 400 species, mostly in tropical America.
1. Hyptis alata (Raf.) Shinners. CLUSTER BUSHMINT, DESERT-LAVENDER. Fig. 662.
Herbaceous perennial from a woody rootstock: stem stout and elongate, to about
2 m. high, finely pubescent, simple or rarely branched; leaves ovate to rhombic-
lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, to about 15 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, coarsely
and irregularly serrate, cuneately narrowed into a petiolar base; flowers in dense
axillary glomerules about 2 cm. thick that are supported by peduncles to 5 cm.
long; calyx 6-8 mm. long, the tube strongly cross-ribbed at maturity, the lobes
subulate-lanceolate and short-hairy; corolla declined, 2-Iipped, white with lavender
dots, 8-10 mm. long, the upper lip with 4 entire lobes, the lower lip saccate,
abruptly deflexed at the contracted and callous base; stamens 4, declined or resting
on the lower lip, didynamous; disk entire or with a gland on the anterior side;
cocci oval, nearly 1.5 mm. long. Hyptis radiata Willd.
In low pinelands, seepage areas, coastal meadows, swamps and marshes in s.e.
Tex., May-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C.
4. Agastache CLAYT.
A North American genus of about 30 species.
1. Agastache nepetoides (L.) O. Ktze. Fig. 662.
Stems erect, 1-1.5 m. tall, branched above; leaves thin, green, ovate to ovate-
lanceolate, to 15 cm. long but much-reduced in size toward summit of stem,
acute to short-acuminate, coarsely serrate, rounded to subcordate at base, finely
pubescent on lower surface, the hairs evident with magnification; petioles of
larger leaves to 6 cm. long, those of the upper leaves progressively reduced to
5 mm.: spikes nearly cylindrical, to 2 dm. long, 1-1.5 cm. in diameter, commonly
continuous, occasionally somewhat interrupted at base: bracteal leaves incon-
spicuous, broadly ovate, acuminate; calyx at anthesis glabrous, about 6 mm. long;
calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm. long, obtuse to subacute; corolla greenish-
yellow: cocci ovoid, commonly smooth.
Along and on edge of slow-moving streams in forests in Okla. (Washington
Co.), June-Sept.; Que. to Ont. and S.D., s. to Ga., Ky., to Mo. and Okla.
1416
-------
Fig. 661: Scutellaria laterifiora: a, part of plant, x %; b, branchlet, x 1; c, flower,
x 5; d, corolla spread out, x 5; e, calyx, x 5; f, calyx opened showing nutlets on
gynophore, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 662: a and b, Agastache nepetoides: a, top of plant, x V>; b, flower, x 5. c-f,
Hyptis alala: c, top of plant, x i-; d, flower, x 5; e, calyx with fruit, x 5; f,' nutlet, x
-------
5. Nepeta L. CATMINT
A genus of about 250 species, all of which are natives of Eurasia and Africa.
1. Nepeta Cataria L. CATNIP.
Perennial erect herb with pale-green and densely canescent herbage; stems to
about 1 m. high, with ascending branches; leaves petioled, ovate to triangular-
ovate or oblong, to about 8 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, acute at apex, usually
cordate at base, coarsely dentate or crenate-serrate; flower verticils in the axis of
small foliaceous bracts to form dense or interrupted terminal spikes; bractlets
subulate; calyx urceolate, slightly oblique at apex, about 6 mm. long, very pubes-
cent, the 5 subulate teeth about half as long as the tube, short-pubescent on the
prominent 15 nerves; corolla white to pale-purple, dotted with dark-purple,
strongly 2-lipped, 1-1.2 cm. long, puberulent on the outer surface, the upper lip
erect and somewhat 2-lobed, the broad middle lobe of the 3-lobed lower lip
crenulate; stamens 4, all fertile, didynamous, ascending under the upper lip;
anther sacs 2, divergent; ovary deeply 4-parted; style 2-cleft at summit; cocci
ovoid, compressed, smooth.
In waste places, along streams and in water of spring branches, in e. and
cen. Tex., n.e. Okla. and Wichita Mts. (Waterfall), N. M. (widely established as
a weed) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai and Cochise cos.), May-Sept.; a
nat. of Eur. that is naturalized in various parts of N. A.
6. Dracocephalum L. DRAGON-HEAD
About 45 species, all but ours are Eurasian.
1. Dracocephalum parviflorum Nutt. Fig. 663.
Annual, biennial or short-lived perennial herb from a taproot; the solitary
or more often clustered stems 1.5-8 dm. tall, simple or branched, inconspicuously
strigose or hirtellous with retrorse hairs; leaves obscurely short-hairy, petiolate,
the lower small ones relatively broad and often soon deciduous, the other ones
with elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or broadly triangular-lanceolate blades
2.5-8 cm. long and 1-2.5 cm. wide, coarsely serrate or somewhat incised with the
teeth often spine-tipped; inflorescence dense and spikelike, 1.5-3.5 cm. thick,
often interrupted below, the terminal segment 2-10 cm. long; bracts subfoliaceous,
mostly 1-3 cm. long, nearly or quite sessile, aristately few-toothed; flowers short-
pedicellate, rather numerous in each verticil; calyx loosely hirsute or subglabrous,
about 1 cm. long, the tube equaling the aristate-tipped lobes; upper calyx lobe
broadly ovate-oblong, conspicuously wider but not much longer than the narrowly
triangular-lanceolate lateral and lower lobes; corolla purplish, scarcely surpassing
the calyx, villous on outer surface, with short lips; anthers nearly equaling the
upper corolla lip. Moldavica parviflora (Nutt.) Britt.
Wet meadows, along streams and on edge of marshy areas, open-wooded slopes,
N. M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Gila,
Maricopa and Final cos.), May-Aug.; Can. to N. M. and Ariz.
According to Kearney and Peebles, the Havasupai Indians are reported to make
flour from the seeds of this plant.
7. Prunella L.
About 7 species of world-wide distribution.
1. Prunella vulgaris L. COMMON SELF-HEAL, HEAL-ALL, CARPENTER-WEED. Fig.
663A.
Perennial herb with simple or several stems and slender rootstocks, tufted or
loosely ascending from leafy-tufted bases, to about 6 dm. high, usually much
1419
-------
Fig. 663: a and b, Dracocephalum parviflorum: a, habit, x y>; b, flower, x 5. c
i, Salureja arkansana: c, habit, x U; d, flower, x 5. (V. F.)-
and
-------
Fig. 663A: Prunella vulgaris: A, habit, x %; B, flower, x 2; C, persistent calyx,
about x 2; D, nutlets, x 4. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 156).
-------
smaller, glabrous or commonly pilose (especially above); leaves ovate to ovate-
lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 3-7 cm. long and about a third as wide, acute to
acutish or sometimes rounded at apex, narrowed to a short or elongate petiole,
entire or irregularly and remotely toothed; flowers in clusters of 3, sessile in the
axils of round and bractlike membranaceous floral leaves, imbricated in a close
spike 2-5 cm. long; bracts orbicular to broadly ovate, cuspidate, more or less
bristly-ciliate, green or often tinged with purple; calyx tubular-campanulate, about
half as long as the corolla, usually 10-nerved, naked in the throat, closed in fruit,
deeply 2-lipped, the upper lip truncate or with 3 short often ciliate teeth, the
lower lip cleft into 2 lanceolate often ciliate teeth; corolla 1-2 cm. long, violet
or rarely white, ascending, strongly 2-lipped, the upper lip arched, the lower lip
spreading and 3-lobed; stamens 4, didynamous, ascending under the upper lip, the
lower pair longer; filaments 2-toothed at apex with one of the teeth bearing the
anther, the other sterile; anther cells 2, divergent; ovary deeply 4-parted; cocci
ovoid, smooth.
In low meadows, open woodlands, on seepy banks and gravel bars of streams,
ponds and ditches, along roadsides and pasturelands in the e. fourth of Tex., Okla.
(Craig, Osage, Mayes and Pittsburg cos.), N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo and Coconino, s. to Graham and Pima cos.), Apr.-June; widespread
throughout the N. Hemis.
This species is represented in Texas by var. hispida Benth. with densely pubes-
cent stems and lower surface of leaves, and var. lanceolata (Bart.) Fern, with
narrow leaves.
8. Physostegia BENTH. FALSE DRAGON-HEAD. OBEDIENT-PLANT
Smooth perennial herbs with upright simple or sparingly branched stems; leaves
sessile or the lower ones sometimes petiolate, linear to lanceolate or oblong,
mostly crenate or dentate; flowers usually large and showy, opposite, scattered or
crowded in simple or panicled terminal leafless spikes; calyx regular, obscurely
10-nerved, short-tubular to campanulate, more or less enlarged and slightly in-
flated in fruit; corolla funnelform, the tube exceeding the calyx, with a much-
inflated throat, varying from white to rose-color and commonly spotted or
variegated with purple, 2-lipped; upper corolla lip erect, nearly entire; lower
corolla lip 3-parted, spreading, small, its larger middle lobe broad and rounded,
notched; stamens 4, ascending beneath the upper corolla lip; cocci ovoid, smooth.
About a dozen species that extend from Canada to northern Mexico.
The vernacular name, "obedient-plant," is derived from the fact that when the
flowers are moved laterally in the inflorescence they remain where placed. All
of these species have value as ornamentals.
1. Corolla rarely to 2 cm. long (2)
1. Corolla more than 2 cm. long (3)
2(1). Corolla less than 1 cm. long; calyx 3-4 mm. long 1. P. micranlha.
2. Corolla more than 1 cm. long; calyx 5 mm. long or more 2. P. intermedia.
3(1). Plant mostly slender and to about 1 m. high; leaves on lower half of stem
linear to linear-lanceolate, rarely more than 15 mm. wide (4)
3. Plant large, coarse, commonly above 1 m. high; leaves on lower half of stem
elliptic to oblong-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 20 mm. wide or
more (5)
4(3). Flowering from April to July 3. p. angustifolia.
4. Flowering from August to November 4. p. praemorsa.
5(3). Distribution in Val Verde County, Texas, commonly in flowing water;
rhizome large and elongate 5. p. Correllil
1422
-------
Fig. 664: Physostegia micrantha: a, habit, x
Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol. 2, pi. 17).
; b, calyx and corolla, x 2. (From
-------
Fig. 665: Physostegia angustifolia: habit, x V>. (From Lundell's Flora of Texas,
Vol. 2, pi. 18).
-------
5. Distribution in eastern half of Texas, in dry or wet soil; rhizome short and
thick (6)
6(5). Corolla very pale lavender-pink or whitish; mostly in sandy or gravelly
soils 6. P. Digitalis.
6. Corolla reddish-purple or deep lavender-pink, the lobes purplish; mostly in
wet clayey soils 7. P. pulchella.
1. Physostegia micrantha Lundell. Fig. 664.
Erect rhizomatous herb to 9 dm. high, slender, the internodes progressively
longer from base to apex, the upper nodes puberulent, otherwise glabrous below
the inflorescence; leaves small, glabrous, chartaceous, linear-lanceolate or oblong-
lanceolate, acute to acuminate, to 12 cm. long and 11 mm. wide, the basal leaves
petiolate, the medial leaves largest, sessile, clasping at base, the apical leaves
bractlike below the inflorescence; leaf margin repand to sinuate, rather remotely
and inconspicuously denticulate; inflorescence to 2 dm. long, slender, usually
simple, sometimes with 2 lateral branches at the basal node, densely puberulent;
bracts shorter than the calyx, puberulent; flowers subsessile, the puberulent
pedicels about 1 mm. long; calyx pellucid-punctate, puberulent, 3-4 mm. long, the
acute teeth slightly shorter than tube; corolla white, tinged lavender or pink,
puberulent, 5-7 mm. long, the campanulate tube shorter than the calyx; filament
glabrous.
Wet bottomland along creek in mud and water and about ponds in river flood-
plains, in Tex. (Grimes and Titus cos.) and Okla. (McCurtain Co.), May-June.
2. Physostegia intermedia (Nutt.) Englem. & Gray.
Slender, rhizomatous, 3-15 dm. high; leaves dark-green, linear-lanceolate to
linear, thickish, the larger 3-12 mm. broad, the margin repand-sinuate and
entire or rarely obscurely dentate, all but the lowest attenuate, the uppermost
greatly reduced; spike very slender, much-interrupted, the lateral ones (if devel-
oped) strictly erect, the rachis 5-35 cm. long; corolla lavender, purple-spotted in
throat, 1—1.5 cm. long, rarely more.
Usually found in wet periodically flooded areas or even growing as an aquatic
along ditches, in swamps, marshes and bottomlands in Okla. (Waterfall) and in e.
and most of s. half of Tex., Apr.-June; from Ky. to Kan., s. to Ala., La. and Tex.
3. Physostegia angustifolia Fern. Fig. 665.
Stem stiffly erect, with rhizomes to 3 dm. long, to about 2 m. high; leaves
rigid, sessile or the lower ones with slender petioles to 2 cm. long, grayish or
pale, linear to narrowly lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, the lower leaves obtuse
to subacute; median leaves attenuate and appressed-acerose-serrate, to 13 cm. long
and 12 mm. wide, rarely larger, the uppermost leaves passing rather abruptly into
the small leafy bracts of the inflorescence; spikes slender, virgate, solitary or
with few erect laterals, to 35 cm. long, remotely flowered; branches of inflores-
cence, bracts and calyces finely and densely pubescent with nonglandular hairs;
calyx 6-10 mm. long; corolla pale- to deep-purple or whitish, purple-spotted, 2.5-3
cm. long; cocci dark-brown, 3 mm. long or more. P. edwardsiana Shinners.
In marshy areas, on gravel bars, along streams, roadsides and fields and
meadows in e. and cen. Tex., Apr.-July; from 111. to Tenn., s. to Miss., La. and
Tex.
4. Physostegia praemorsa Shinners.
Perennial with rhizomes; stem glabrous, to about 12.5 dm. high; lower leaves
shortly petiolate, narrowly oblong to lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, 3-7
cm. long, 5-13 mm. wide, the margins sharply serrate except near base, gradually
reduced above to sessile linear-lanceolate bracteal leaves; inflorescence simple
1425
-------
or virgately branched, with the bracts and calyx densely and minutely pubescent
with glandular and nonglandular hairs; calyx 6-10 mm. long, the teeth narrowly
deltoid-lanceolate; corolla showy, light-lavender-violet to whitish, with rose-
purple spots, 22-32 mm. long, the tube 7-14 mm. long, often exserted from calyx;
cocci dark-brown, about 4 mm. long, sharply 3-angled. P. serotina Shinners.
Along streams and ditches, in moist grasslands in e. and n.-cen. Tex., with
a disjunct area in the Guadalupe Mts., Aug.-Oct.; also La. and N.M., probably
also Okla.
5. Physostegia Correllii (Lundell) Shinners. Fig. 666.
Plants erect, robust, somewhat succulent, to 22 dm. high, with thick creeping
rhizomes; stems simple or sparingly branched, to 25 mm. thick, glabrous, as
many as 20 nodes per stem; leaves decussately opposite, sessile, leathery and firm,
elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 5-13 cm. long, 2-6.5 cm. wide, short-acuminate at
apex, slightly narrowed at base and inconspicuously clasping, the margin con-
spicuously and sharply serrate-dentate to base, primary veins usually 2 or 3 on
each side, the upper leaves only slightly reduced; racemes spikelike, simple or com-
pound, short, leafy at base, finely pubescent, comparatively few-flowered; bracts
leafy, ovate, those at base of raceme equal to or longer than calyx, reduced above,
acuminate; pedicels very short, about 1 mm. long in fruit; calyx finely pubescent,
gland-tipped hairs abundant, subcylindric, 8-9.5 mm. long, the acuminate lobes
slender and subequaling tube, inflated at maturity; corolla lavender-pink, spotted
or streaked with purple, about 3 cm. long, sparsely pubescent; cocci about 2.3 mm.
long, sharply angled. Dracocephalum Correllii Lundell.
In water along streams and in irrigation ditches in Val Verde Co., Tex., June-
July; also N. L. and Son.
6. Physostegia Digitalis Small. Fig. 667.
Stems erect, to 2 m. high, stout, sharply angled; leaves several, sessile and
partly clasping at base, somewhat leathery-thickened, oblong to elliptic-oblong,
to 22 cm. long and 75 mm. wide, acute to subacute, the margins undulate or
repand-serrate above the middle; raceme simple or compound, finely pubescent;
bracts ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4—6 mm. long; pedicels very short; calyx
8-10 mm. long, the tube turbinate or cylindric-turbinate, the lanceolate lobes
acuminate and about one half as long as the tube; corolla pale-lavender to whitish,
commonly with reddish-purple dots, 2-2.5 cm. long, barely puberulent dorsally,
the upper lip slightly undulate, the lower lip spreading with the lobes oblong
(the middle lobe emarginate and about twice as long as the others). P obovata
of auth.
In sandy open pinelands, edge of forests, prairies, grasslands and swampy areas
in e. Tex., June-Aug.; from e. Tex. to La., Ark. and probably Okla.
7. Physostegia pulchella Lundell. Fig. 668.
Erect rhizomatous herb to 14 dm. high, slender or robust; stem to 15 mm. in
diameter near base; basal leaves chartaceous, usually with slender petioles to
8 cm. long, expanded and clasping at base, narrowed above, entire to subentire
or remotely dentate; leaves above base oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, to
12 cm. long and 25 mm. wide, tapering into a winged petiole, obtuse at apex, the
margin subentire to denticulate; leaves of middle stem rather firm, chartaceous,
pallid, oblong to oblanceolate-oblong or oblong-elliptic, 7.5-15 cm. long, 1-2 cm.
wide, sessile and clasping at base or with a broadly winged petiole below, the apex
acute or obtuse, the margin usually serrate to base or sometimes subentire below;
apical leaves bractlike below the inflorescence; inflorescence densely pubescent
throughout, simple or with two or more lateral branches from the basal bracts,
usually less than 3 dm. long, sometimes to 6 dm. long; flowers rather remote,
1426
-------
Fig. 666: Physostegia Correllii: flowering plant, x %. (From Lundell's Flora of
Texas, Vol. 2, pi. 23).
-------
Fig. 667: Physostcgia Dif>iialis: a, inflorescence and upper stem, x %; b, leaf, x
'->; c, inflorescence and upper 5 nodes of stem, x '•>; d, flower, x 7. (a-c, from Lundell's
Flora of Texas, Vol. 2, pi. 25; d, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
not crowded, subsessile, subtended by small ovate acuminate bracts 2-3 mm.
long; pedicels in fruit not over 1.5 mm. long; calyx tubular-campanulate, 6-7 mm.
long at anthesis, the pellucid-punctate acute teeth ovate-deltoid or ovate and
1.5-2 mm. long; corolla pink-lavender to deep reddish-purple, the lobes purplish,
the throat red-purple striped or maculate, finely pubescent, 2-3 cm. long, the
tube subequaling the calyx, the upper lobe entire, the lower lobes inconspicuously
emarginate and subentire; filaments villous below; anthers glabrous or sparsely
short-villous; fruiting calyx turbinate, 6-7 mm. long, about 5 mm. in diameter at
base, the rigid teeth slightly incurved; cocci brown, 3-angled, about 3 mm. long,
the ridges hyaline.
In wet soil of bottomlands along streams mostly in e. Tex., May-June; endemic.
9. Stachys L. HEDGE-NETTLE
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, mostly pubescent or hispid; flowers in
verticils to form dense or interrupted terminal racemes or spikes, sometimes in
the upper leaf axils; calyx usually campanulate, 5- to 10-nerved, 5-toothed with
the teeth nearly equal and erect or spreading; corolla mostly reddish or purplish,
the narrow tube not dilated at the throat and strongly 2-lipped; upper corolla lip
erect, often arched, concave, entire or emarginate; lower corolla lip spreading,
3-lobed, the middle lobe broader than the often deflexed lateral ones and some-
times 2-lobed; stamens 4, didynamous, ascending under the upper corolla lip, the
anterior pair the longer; anthers contiguous in pairs, the sacs divergent; ovary
deeply 4-lobed; style 2-cleft, the lobes subulate; cocci ovoid or oblong, obtuse.
Nearly 300 species mostly in the North Temperate Zone, with several in South
America and South Africa.
1. Leaves sessile to subsessile, the petiole usually much less than 1 cm. long (2)
1. Leaves distinctly petiolate, the petiole typically much more than 1 cm. long (3)
2(1). Calyx lobes three fourths to fully as long as the tube 1. S. palustris.
2. Calyx lobes about half as long as the tube 2. S. Nuttallii.
3(1). Annual or biennial with decumbent or weakly erect stems; leaves crenate;
mostly in central and south Texas 3. S. crenata.
3. Perennials with erect stems; leaves dentate or serrate; in eastern Texas and/or
eastern Oklahoma (4)
4(3). Plant glabrous or nearly so; inflorescence essentially glabrous; petioles
less than one fourth as long as the blades 4. S. tenuifolia.
4. Plant more or less hirsute; inflorescence puberulent or glandular-puberulent;
petioles one third to one half as long as the blades
5. S. floridana.
1. Stachys palustris L.
Rhizomatous perennial, simple or branched, 2-7 dm. tall, apparently hairy
throughout and often also glandular; stem typically with long coarse spreading or
somewhat retrorse hairs along the angles and shorter more slender frequently
viscid or gland-tipped hairs along the sides or all around; leaves sessile or some
near middle of stem short-petiolate (to 1 cm. long); lowermost leaves short and
deciduous, the others triangular-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, acute
to acuminate, broadly rounded to truncate-subcordate at base, 3.5-9 cm. long and
to 4 cm. wide, crenate; inflorescence a series of verticils, the lower often axillary
to foliage leaves, the others to progressively reduced bracts; calyx 6-9 mm. long,
pubescent with slender gland-tipped hairs and long stout glandless ones, the
narrow lobes three fourths to fully as long as the tube and tapering to a slender
firm point; corolla purplish, white-maculate, 1-1.6 cm. long, the tube only slightly
if at all surpassing the calyx, abruptly expanded on the lower side of the level
1429
-------
Fig. 668: Physostegia pulchella: habit, x V>. (From Lundell's Flora of Texas, Vol.
2, pi. 20).
-------
of the base of the oblique internal ring of hairs and often with a small saccate
gibbosity; anthers explanate. Incl. var. pilosa (Nutt.) Fern, and var. nipigonensis
Jennings.
In water of ditches, wet meadows, swampy open ground along streams and
sloughs, and on edge of lakes and ponds, in Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (Rio
Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Greenlee cos.), July-
Oct; Que. to Alas., s. to N.E., N.Y., O., Mich., 111., la., Mo., Okla., N.M. and
Ariz.
2. Stachys NuttaUii Shuttlew.
Plant coarse, with long rhizomes; stems erect, simple, 7-12 dm. tall, the angles
hispid, the sides glandular-puberulent; leaves sessile to subsessile, narrowly ovate
to oblong-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 8-13 cm. long, 2-4.5 cm. wide, cordate
at base, acuminate at apex, nearly or quite glabrous on lower surface except for
hispid nerves, crenate to crenate-serrate; verticils usually many-flowered; calyx
glandular and short-pilose, with tube 3.5-5.5 mm. long and deltoid acuminate
teeth about half as long as the tube; mericarps 1.9-2 mm. long.
In meadows and bogs, in Okla. (Gleason, Waterfall), June-July; w. Va. and
N. C. to Ark. and Okla.
This plant is closely allied to S. palustris, to which it may eventually be
referred.
3. Stachys crenata Raf. SHADE BETONY.
Annual or biennial, hirsute; stems usually branched at the base, the branches
erect or decumbent, to 3 dm. long; leaves ovate to oblong, to 4 cm. long, obtuse
at apex, crenate, truncate to cordate at base, the lower ones with petioles as
long as or longer than blade, the uppermost sessile; clusters few-flowered; pedicels
1-2 mm. long; bracts oval to suborbicular, subulate-tipped;, calyx 3-5 mm. long;
calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, with subulate tips, mostly shorter than
the tube, glabrous beyond the middle; corolla 5-6 mm. long, pink-lavender, pink
to blue or rarely white, glabrous except the bearded upper lip, the lobes of the
lower lip rounded or the middle one barely emarginate; cocci about 1 mm. long,
granular. S. agraria Cham. & Schlecht.
In shaded rocky or gravelly soils in woods, ravines in prairies, in mud on edge
of ponds and lakes and along streams, on banks and in open grounds in e., cen.
and s. Tex., Feb.-May; also n.e. Mex.
The plant with white corolla and green calyx teeth is segregated as f. albiflora
Benke.
4. Stachys tenuifolia Willd. Fig. 669.
Perennial, extensively creeping, glabrous or nearly so; the erect simple or
branching stems glabrous or at most sparsely hirtellous on the sides, smooth to
roughened or hirsute on the angles, to 13 dm. high; leaves with petiole 1-2 cm.
long, linear or linear-lanceolate to narrowly ovate, the principal ones 6 cm. broad,
glabrous or hirsute on one or both faces, with rounded to subtruncate or tapering
base, taper-pointed, sharply dentate to serrate, the middle and lower blades 4 to
11 times as long as their petioles; spike few-flowered, interrupted; calyx 5-6 mm.
long, glabrous or bristly along the angles, the lance-attenuate teeth soon out-
wardly curving; corolla about 1 cm. long, the tube surpassing the calyx, the lower
lip drooping and slightly shorter than the tube, the upper lip concave and glan-
dular-pubescent on the back; filaments villous at the base; cocci 2 mm. long,
somewhat lustrous.
Rich bottomlands, lake shores, muddy bayous, swamps, marshes, low woods and
wet meadows in e. fourth of Tex. and Okla. (Cherokee Co.), Aug.-Nov.; from
N. Y. to Minn., s. to S. C., Tenn., La., Okla. and Tex.
1431
-------
Fig. 669: Stacliys lennifolia: a, top portion of plant, x 'i; b, basal part of plant,
x i?: c. flower, x 4; d, flower opened longitudinally, x 4; e, fruit in the leaf axils,
x 4; f. nullet. x 5. (V. F.).
-------
5. Stachys floridana Shuttlew.
Plant spreading by means of elongate sometimes branching tubers; stem to
about 4 dm. high, hirsute; leaves elliptic to ovate, serrate or dentate, 1-4 cm.
long, the middle and lower blades shorter to slightly longer than their petioles;
calyx 5-7 mm. long, puberulent, the lobes lanceolate; corolla 1-1.3 cm. long, the
lower lip as long as the tube; cocci 1.5 mm. long or rarely smaller.
In wet sandy soils and in marshes, in s.e. Tex. (Tyler Co.), Mar.-June; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to N.C.
10. Salvia L. SAGE
Shrubs or herbs of varied habits, often aromatic; flowers commonly large and
showy, in interrupted spikes or terminal heads; calyx bilabiate, usually somewhat
laterally compressed, the upper lip commonly entire but sometimes 3-toothed or
3-mucronate, the lower lip usually 2-toothed; corolla mostly blue, red or white,
tubular, strongly bilabiate, the upper lip either plane and emarginate or galeate
and entire; stamens 2, exserted from the corolla tube beyond the limb or contained
within the galea, the connective strongly developed, often more prominent than
the filament, bearing a single terminal anther sac, either straight or projected
back into the corolla tube, sometimes geniculate; style usually exserted from the
galea or beyond the upper lip; cocci smooth.
About 700 species distributed throughout the world but mostly in temperate and
tropical regions, centered in South America.
1. Corolla violet-color or light-blue, 2-3 cm. long; leaves subentire to lyrate-
pinnatifid; widespread in eastern Texas and less so in eastern Okla-
homa 1. S. lyrata.
1. Corolla crimson, about 4 cm. long; leaves entire or obscurely denticulate;
endemic to Edwards Plateau in central Texas
2. S. penstemonoides.
1. Salvia lyrata L. CANCER-WEED, LYRE-LEAF SAGE.
Rosulate perennial from a somewhat tuberous root, more or less pilose through-
out, the scapiform stem to 8 dm. high or more; basal obovate to oblanceolate
leaves petioled, membranaceous, the vernal ones sinuate to repand or lyrate-
pinnatifid and to 3 dm. long, those of summer and autumn (holding over winter)
mostly subentire, usually sparsely strigose-hirsute, often purple-tinged; scape naked
or with 1 or 2 pairs of small leaves, simple or with virgate branches; whorls of
flowers 3 to 10, becoming distant; floral bracts oblong-linear, mostly shorter than
the calyx; calyx campanulate, membranaceous, to 12 mm. long at maturity, the
broad upper lip truncate and with 3 widely separated teeth, the lower lip with 2
longer lanceolate cuspidate-pointed teeth; corolla violet or light-blue with darker
blue markings, 2-3 cm. long, ampliate-funnelform, exserted, its straight upper lip
much shorter than the broad lower one; both forks of connective bearing fertile
anthers; cocci fuscous, obovoid, about 2 mm. long.
Sandy open woods, wet meadows and clearings, wet grassy swampy ground,
gravelly alluvial soils along streams, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. fourth of Tex.,
Dec.-May; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Conn., N.Y., N.J., Pa., W.Va., O., Ind.,
111., Mo. and Okla.
2. Salvia penstemonoides Kunth & Bouche. BIG RED SAGE.
Perennial, nearly glabrous or below sparsely hirsute; stems to 15 dm. high,
leafy to the summit; leaves thickish, linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, acute
to acuminate and mucronate, entire or obscurely denticulate and with ciliolate-
scabrous margins, the midnerve prominent beneath; lower leaves 7.5-13 cm.
long, with long margined petioles; upper leaves gradually much smaller and be-
1433
-------
coining essentially sessile; floral leaves and the similar persistent bracts and bract-
lets of the elongated racemiform or narrowly thyrsoidal inflorescence ovate-lanceo-
late to linear-lanceolate, cuspidate; cymules subsessile, 3- to 5-flowered; calyx
equaled by the hirsute pedicels, campanulate, strongly bilabiate, about 13 mm. long,
glandular-puberulent, the upper broad lip truncate and with 3 short and broad
cuspidate-mucronate teeth, lower lip 2-parted with its teeth lanceolate and cus-
pidate; corolla crimson, about 4 cm. long, slightly pubescent, its tube villous-
annulate towards the base inside, its large and nearly straight upper lip half the
length of the gradually enlarged exserted tube, the middle lobe of the small lower
lip concave and entire; style glabrous.
In seepage on limestone ledges and wet banks along streams in cen. Edwards
Plateau of Texas., June-Oct.; endemic.
11. Monarda L. MONARDA. HORSEMINT
About 20 species extending from Canada to Mexico.
Several other species, among which are M. austromontana Epl., M. punctata L.,
M. clinopodioides Gray and M. citriodora Cerv., are occasionally found in flood-
plains along streams but, since they are more likely to be found in dry or moist
loamy soils, they are omitted here.
1. Monarda fistulosa L. WILD BEROAMONT, LONG-FLOWERED HORSEMINT. Fig. 670.
Perennial herb to 15 dm. high; stems simple or usually branched, pubescent in
the upper parts with downwardly curled hairs, glabrous below, sometimes with
longer spreading hairs, rarely glabrous; leaves gray-green, firm (except in deep
shade), narrowly triangular-ovate to -lanceolate, or sometimes cuneate at base, the
straightish serrate-dentate sides tapering to tip, definitely petioled, spreading-
hirsute or -villous with long hairs along the nerves beneath, the larger blades
to 4 cm. broad and with petioles to 15 mm. long; uppermost leaves and foliaceous
reflexed bracts often pink-tinged; glomerules mostly terminal, to 3 cm. broad
(excluding the corollas); calyx 7-12 mm. long, puberulent with short spreading
hairs, the acuminate teeth usually 1-2 mm. long, the orifice hirsute with stiff
erect hairs within, sometimes bristling with similar spreading hairs at the base
of the teeth; corolla lavender, 2-3 cm. long, pubescent with short soft curling
hairs, the upper lip comose, the tube 15-24 mm. long and gradually expanded
upward; stamens seated about 1 mm. within the tube.
In dry open woods, old fields, wet meadows and ditches, alluvial thickets,
edge of woods and marshes in e. fourth of Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), May-Iuly;
from Que. and N.E., w. to Minn., s. to Ga., Ala., La. and Tex.
12. Perilla L.
About a half dozen species natives of Asia.
1. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. BEEFSTEAK PLANT.
Coarse aromatic annual, often purple or suffused with purple; stem erect,
branching, to about 1 m. high; leaves ovate-oblong to broadly ovate, to 15 cm.
long, short-acuminate at apex, coarsely serrate or incised, obtuse to rounded at
base but cuneately tapered into the long petiole; flowers small, purple or white,
borne singly in the axils of small bracteal leaves to form a loose elongate spikelike
1-sided raceme to 15 cm. long; bracteal leaves oval, folded, rarely greatly en-
larged; pedicels 1-3 mm. long; calyx campanulate, 10-nerved, bilabiate, the lips
lobed, at anthesis about 3 mm. long, in fruit distended on the lower side and
9-12 mm. long, hairy within; corolla white, tubular, about as long as calyx or
slightly longer; corolla lips about equal in length, the 5 lobes broadly rounded;
stamens 4, nearly equal, straight, not connivent, about as long as the corolla;
cocci globose, reticulated.
1434
-------
Fig. 670: a-c, Monarda fistulosa: a, top of plant, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, headlike
cluster of calyces with fruit, x 2. d and e, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium: d, top of plant,
x y2; e, flower, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 671: Lycopus virginicus: a, habit; b, four nutlets within the calyx; c, upper
surface of nutlet; d, inner surface of nutlet; e, outer surface of nutlet; f, diagrammatic
cross section of stem; g, uower showing included stamens, erect lobes of the corolla,
notched adaxial lobe and the position of the exserted style; h, middle cauline leaf; i,
portion of lower leaf surface showing pubescence. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
In damp woods, edge of water in streams, wet gravel bars in river beds, along
open-wooded streams and seepage areas in e. Tex. and Okla. (McCurtain and
Cherokee cos.), July-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.E., N.Y., O., Ind., Mo.
and Kan.; a nat. of India that locally often becomes a troublesome weed.
The seeds produce an edible oil that is used in commerce.
13. Lycopus L. WATER-HOREHOUND. BUGLE-WEED
Perennial mostly stoloniferous or tuber-bearing herbs resembling Mentha but
not fragrant; stem erect, simple or branched; leaves mostly toothed or pinnatifid;
floral bracts similar to leaves and much longer than the dense axillary whorls of
small mostly white flowers; calyx campanulate to ovoid, 4- or 5-toothed, naked
in the throat; corolla more or less campanulate; stamens 2, distant, the upper
pair either sterile rudiments or wanting; cocci with thickened margins.
More than a dozen species in the North Temperate regions.
1. Mature cocci exceeding the lanceolate to triangular calyx lobes and mostly
concealing them (2)
1. Mature cocci noticeably exceeded by the subulate or cuspidate calyx lobes (3)
2(1). Stem usually puberulent, rising from a slender base, with elongate mostly
non-tuberous stolons; calyx ovoid-cylindric; corolla tubular with
erect lobes; stamens and style included 1. L. virginicus.
2. Stem glabrate, from a tuberous base, the stolons bearing whitish tubers; calyx
campanulate; corolla with flaring lobes; stamens and style mostly
exserted 2. L. uniflorus.
3(1). Lower and median leaf blades sessile; plant tuberiferous 3. L. asper.
3. Lower and median leaf blades tapering to petioles or to subpetiolar bases;
tubers rarely developed (4)
4(3). Ridge of cocci entire, relatively soft and corky; lower and median primary
leaves typically incised or pinnatifid at least at base
4. L. americanus.
4. Ridge of cocci verrucose to tuberculate; lower and median leaves merely
serrate 5. L. rubellus.
1. Lycopus virginicus L. VIRGINIA BUGLE-WEED. Fig. 671.
Stem obtusely angled, usually puberulent with curved hairs, to about 8 dm.
high, rising from a slender (not conspicuously tuberous-thickened) base; stolons
filiform, mostly not tuberiferous; leaves dark-green or purple-tinged, ovate to
ovate-oblong or elliptic, firm, rather abruptly acuminate at both ends, coarsely
toothed, to 15 cm. long and 5 cm. broad; glomerules dense, often seemingly
compound, in maturity 8-15 mm. broad, the mature cocci usually concealing the
calyces; calyx ovoid-cylindric; corolla tubular, with erect lobes; stamens mostly
included; cocci asymmetrical, their summits deeply muricate.
Rare in marshy soils and along woodland streams, in alluvial thickets along
streams, sloughs and lakes or river floodplains, wet meadows and along ditches,
in s. e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), Aug.-Dec.; from Ga. to Tex., n. to N.E.,
N.Y, O, Ind., Wise., Minn, and Neb.
2. Lycopus uniflorus Michx. Fig. 672.
Plant from thick, often tuberlike rootstock and often stoloniferous from lower
nodes; stems erect, slender, simple or branched, 1-8 dm. tall; herbage green or
purplish; leaves sessile or subsessile, 2-7 cm. long, to 2.5 cm. wide, lanceolate to
ovate, acute, cuneate at base, unequally serrate to dentate-serrate, pubescent on
veins beneath; calyx lobes oblong-ovate to triangular, 1.3-1.5 mm. long, obtuse;
corolla 2-3 mm. long; stamens 2, rudimentary stamens absent or much-reduced;
1437
-------
Fig. 672: Lycopus uniflorus: a, flower clusters in leaf axils, x 8; b, flower
(longitudinal section), x IV,: c, flower, the calyx and corolla gland-dotted, x 12; d,
habit, the rootstock tuberlike, x -,-,; e, calyx containing mature nutlets, x 16; f, nutlet,
gland-dotted, adaxial view, x 20; g, nutlet, abaxial view, x 20. (From Mason, Fig. 299).
-------
Fig. 673: Lycppus asper: a, habit; b, inner surface of the nutlet; c, outer surface
of the nutlet; dapper surface of nutlet. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
filaments exceeding the corolla throat; nutlets slightly shorter than the sepals to
longer, somewhat irregular across the truncate tip.
Bogs, wet woodlands and swampy places in Okla. (Waterfall), June-Sept;
Nfld. to B.C., s. to N.C., O., Ind., 111., la., Okla., Mont, and Ore.
3. Lycopus asper Greene. Fig. 673.
Stem strict, rather stout, simple or slightly forking, to about 5 dm. high,
from elongate tubers, the internodes spreading-pubescent with long multicellular
hairs; leaves sessile, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, acute at apex, dark-green,
mostly longer than the internodes, appressed to spreading-ascending, scabrous, the
larger ones 5-8 cm. long with 6 to 12 sharp teeth on each side; bracts lanceolate,
nearly equaling the glomerules, dilated; calyx teeth triangular to ovate, acuminate,
2-3 mm. long, minutely ciliolate; corolla tube scarcely exceeding the calyx; cocci
about 2 mm. long and 1.7 mm. broad, with entire angles and oblique non-
tuberculate summit. L. lucidus of auth.
In wet meadows, marshes and wet shores, in mud of seepage, alluvial soils of
floodplains, in the Tex. Panhandle, N.M. (San Juan and Valencia cos.) and (?)
Ariz., June-Sept.; from Alas, to Calif., e. to Mich., 111., Mo., Tex. and N. M.
4. Lycopus americanus Muhl. Fig. 674.
Stem erect, slender, to about 9 dm. high, glabrous or very sparingly appressed-
pubescent with dark hairs, freely stoloniferous, without tubers; leaves petioled,
to about 1 dm. long and 3 cm. wide; lower primary leaves incised or pinnatifid
(especially at base), glabrous or minutely pubescent on veins beneath, glabrous
to scabrous-puncticulate above, lanceolate to narrowly ovate or oval; upper leaves
lance-attenuate, sinuate to sharply toothed; bracts short; calyx teeth with long
subulate tips; corolla white, the tubes scarcely or barely longer than the calyx
teeth, the filaments exserted; cocci 1-1.5 mm. long, 0.6-1 mm. broad, with entire
or barely undulate angles, the dorsal angular face relatively soft and dark, the
summit entire. L. sinuatiis L.
Low grounds, soggy meadows, marshes, in water of and on edge of ponds,
streams and ditches, wet soils about lakes and in canyons in n.-cen. Tex. and the
Panhandle, Okla. (widespread), N. M. (Colfax, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos,
Valencia, Bernalillo, and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo Co.) July-Nov.; from
Nfld. to B.C., s. to Fla., Ala., Miss., Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
Those plants whose leaves are scabrous-puncticulate on the upper surface are
segregated as var. scabrifolius Fern.
5. Lycopus rubellus Moench. WATER-HOREHOUND. Fig. 675.
Stem arising from slender stolons and rhizomes to about 12 dm. high; leaves
elliptic to elliptic-ovate or -lanceolate, petioled, at most sharply serrate or serrate-
dentate, acuminate, to about 15 cm. long and 5 cm. wide; bracts minute; calyx
teeth acuminate and sharp-pointed, scarcely subulate-tipped; corolla white, often
with purple spots, 3.5-4 mm. long, twice as long as calyx; sterile filaments
mostly included; nutlets 1-1.6 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad, firm throughout, the
low dorsal angle rounded and the lateral ones often undulate, the summit
definitely so.
In marshes, swamps, bogs, meadows, ditches, seepage areas and shallow water
in Okla. (Washington, Creek, Pushmataha and McCurtain cos.) and e. Tex.
(Marion, Tyler, Newton, Jasper and Hardin cos.), Aug.-Dec.; from Fla. to Tex.,
n. to N.E., N.Y., O., Mich., III., Mo. and Okla.
We have two variants in this species that are separated as follows:
1440
-------
Fig. 674: Lycopus americanus: a, calyx containing mature nutlets, x 12; b, flower,
x 12; c, nutlet, adaxial view, x 20; d, nutlet, abaxial view, x 20; e, corolla, showing
rudimentary .and fertile stamens and the pubescent tube, x 12; f, stem (cross section),
x 12; g, corolla, spread open to show rudimentary stamens and the pubescence in the
tube, x 12; h, habit, tip of the flowering plant, x %; i, habit, base of plant, showing
stout rhizome, x %; j, flower clusters in the leaf axils, x 1%. (From Mason, Fig. 300).
-------
Fig. 675: Lycopus rubellus: a, habit; b, inner surface of nutlet; c, outer view of
nutlet; d, top surface of the nutlet. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Primary leaves sharply serrate to serrate-dentate; stem glabrous or essentially
so; calyx teeth and tube subequal, glabrous, the teeth straight
var. rubellus.
1. Primary leaves with low and depressed teeth; younger internodes and lower
surfaces of leaves pubescent; calyx teeth often with recurving tips
var. arkansanus (Fresen.) Benner.
14. Mentha L. MINT
Odorous perennial rhizomatous herbs with erect or diffuse stems; leaves sessile
or petioled, usually punctate; flowers small, in whorls that are axillary or in
terminal congested or interrupted spikes, of two sorts as to the fertility of the
stamens in most species; calyx campanulate to cylindric, 10-nerved, regular or
slightly bilabiate, 5-toothed: corolla pale-purple or whitish, bilabiate, the tube
shorter than the calyx, the upper lip entire or emarginate, the lower lip 3-lobed;
stamens 4, equal, erect, included or exserted; filaments glabrous; anther sacs
parallel; ovary 4-parted; style 2-cleft at the summit; cocci ovoid, smooth.
About 25 species in the North Temperate regions.
The seeds are eaten by waterfowl and game birds, and the succulent rhizomes
are known to be eaten by muskrats.
1. Flower whorls all distant and in leaf axils; leaves exceeding the whorls
1. M. arvensis,
1. Flower whorls forming terminal spikes or some of the lower in the leaf axils
and somewhat distant (2)
2(1). Plants tomentose or villous-tomentose; leaves sessile 2. M. rotundifolia.
2. Plants glabrous or nearly so; leaves more or less petiolate (3)
3(2). Leaves short-petioled to nearly sessile; spike slender, more or less inter-
rupted 3. M. spicata.
3. Leaves all distinctly petioled; spikes thick and mostly dense 4. M. piperita.
1. Mentha arvensis L. FIELD MINT. Fig. 676.
Plant aromatic; stems stoloniferous, freely branching below or nearly simple,
to about 8 dm. high, more or less retrorse-pubescent (especially on the angles);
leaves oblong to ovate or lanceolate, rounded at base to a distinct petiole, usually
rather closely serrate, minutely pubescent or short-villous, the larger leaves to
about 5 cm. long, the upper leaves not much smaller than the lower ones; flower
whorls all axillary; calyx pubescent, about 3 mm. long, the triangular-subulate
teeth about equaling the tube; corolla pink to violet or white, about twice as
long as the calyx, nearly or quite glabrous. Incl. var. villosa (Benth.) S. R. Stewart
and var. glabrata (Benth.) Fern., M. Penardii (Briq.) Rydb., M. canadensis L.
In moist rich soils, cat-tail swamps, seeping wet meadows, marshes, about
lakes, springs and along ditches and streams, in w and n.w. Tex., N. M. (Colfax,
Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan, Sandoval, Union, Taos, San Miguel and Catron
cos.) and Ariz., (Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Santa Cruz and
Cochise cos.), May-Oct; circumboreal.
2. Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. APPLEMINT, ROUNDLEAF MINT. Fig. 677.
Perennial with leafy stolons, the herbage more or less tomentose and viscid;
stems mostly erect, to about 15 dm. high, simple or branched; leaves sessile
or short-petioled, elliptic to ovate- oblong, subcordate to rounded at base, obtuse
at apex, the larger leaves to 5 cm. long, crenate-serrate, more or less rugose-
reticulate beneath; flower whorls approximate or the lower especially somewhat
distant, forming rather slender spikes to 1 dm. long in fruit; bracts ovate-lanceo-
late to lanceolate, acuminate, usually shorter than the flowers; calyx campanulate,
greenish, velvety, barely 2 mm. long, the subulate teeth about as long as the tube
and connivent in fruit; corolla white or pink, about 4 m'm. long, puberulent.
1443
-------
Fig. 676: Mentha arvensis: a, habit, X %; b, corolla, spread open, x 8; c, flower,
x 8; d, stem (cross section), x 3; e, calyx, spread open to show the 4 nutlets, x 8; f,
nutlet, adaxial side, x 12; g, nutlet, abaxial side, x 12; h, inflorescence, x I'/o. (From
Mason, Fig. 305).
-------
Fig. 677: Mentha rotundifolia: a, flower clusters at nodes, x 4; b, flower, x 8;
c, nutlet, x 28; d, flower, spread open, x 8; e, calyx, x 12; f, calyx spread open to
show the 4 mature nutlets, x 12; g, habit, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 303).
-------
Along roadsides, in old fields, wet seepage areas, thickets and waste places
in cen. and w. Tex., N. M. (Dona Ana and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.),
May-Sept.; a nat. of Eur. that has become naturalized in various parts of N.A.
3. Mentha spicata L. SPEARMINT. Fig. 678.
Perennial with stolons, glabrous or sparingly pubescent at the nodes; steins
usually branched, to 12 dm. high, often purplish; leaves sessile or short-petioled,
oblong-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate at apex, obtuse to some-
what rounded to subcordate -at base, unequally sharply serrate, the larger leaves
3-6 cm. long; flower whorls in slender terminal leafless spikes often 6-8 cm. long
in fruit; bracts subulate-lanceolate, equaling or surpassing the calyx, green,
glabrous or ciliate; calyx teeth subulate, about equaling the tube, ciliate on the
margins, the inflorescence otherwise glabrous; corolla pale-lavender.
In moist fields and wet meadows, seepage bank of streams and about springs,
open marshes and about ponds and along ditches, mostly near settlements, in cen.
and w. Tex., Okla. (Murray Co.), N.M. (Dona Ana, Guadalupe and Santa Fe
cos.) and Ariz. (Mohave, Yavapai, Santa Cruz. Pima and Gila cos.), June-Oct.;
a nat. of Eur. that has become naturalized in much of N.A.
4. Mentha piperita L. PEPPERMINT. Fig. 678.
Perennial with underground sometimes leafy-bracted stolons; stems erect or
somewhat decumbent, branched, to about 8 dm. high, often purplish; leaves
petioled, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, sharply serrate, dark-green and
firm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the veins beneath; whorls of flowers in
terminal dense or interrupted spikes, to 12 cm. long in fruit; bracts narrowly
lanceolate, acuminate, not surpassing the flowers; pedicels elongate; calyx tube
glabrous, the teeth about equaling or shorter than the tube and hirsute (sometimes
sparingly so), ciliate; corolla glabrous, rose-purple to white.
In wet places about ponds, lakes and along streams, sloughs and ditches, wet
meadows and spring branches, mostly in w.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Adair and
Cherokee cos.), June-Oct.; a nat. of Eur. that has become naturalized in much of
N.A.
15. Pycnanthemum MICHX. MOUNTAIN-MINT. BASIL
Perennial erect herbs with a pungent mintlike flavor, corymbosely branched
above, the floral leaves often whitened; the many-flowered whorls dense, crowded
with bracts and usually forming terminal heads or close cymes; calyx about 13-
nerved, naked in the throat; corolla short, whitish or purplish, more or less
2-lipped, the lips mostly dotted with purple, the upper lip straight, nearly flat,
entire or slightly notched, the lower lip 3-cleft with its lobes all ovate to oblong
and obtuse; stamens exserted or included in different flowers; lower pair of
stamens rather longer than the upper; anther cells parallel.
About 21 species, mostly in eastern United States.
1. Leaves linear, entire, rarely more than 4 mm. wide 1. P. tenuifolium.
1. Leaves ovate to linear-lanceolate, subentire to remotely toothed, usually more
than 5 mm. wide (2)
2(1). Leaves typically linear-lanceolate, subsessile or with petioles less than 3
mm. long; flowers in tight globose heads 2. P. virginianum.
2. Leaves typically ovate-lanceolate, with petioles 4-12 mm. long; flowers in
irregular corymbs to form glomerules 3. P. albescens.
1. Pvcnanthemum tenuifolium Schrad. Fig. 670.
Plant to about 1 m. high, glabrous, forming dense colonies by horizontal roots,
usually bearing abundant sterile simple or forking axillary branches; leaves sessile,
linear, to about 6 cm. long and 5.5 mm. wide, tapering to apex, firm and some-
1446
-------
Fig. 678: a-e, Mentha spicata: a, upper part of plant, X %; b, tip of leaf, x 1;
c, flower, x 5; d, corolla spread out, x 5; e, ovary and style, x 5. f-i, Mentha piperita:
f, upper part of plant, x %; g, flower, x 5; h, calyx spread out, x 5; i, corolla spread out,
x5. (V. F.).
-------
times with revolute margins, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, entire; glomerules
solitary and terminal, disposed in rather crowded or open corymbs that are simple
or made up of several to many secondary corymbs; appressed lance-attenuate
bracts and glabrescent lance-subulate calyx teeth 1-2 mm. long, with firm sharp
tips; corolla white to pale-lavender, usually purple-spotted; corolla tube 3-4.5 mm.
long, pubescent within the throat, the upper lip 2-2.5 mm. tall..P. flexuosum of
auth.
In grassy moist open woods, bogs, savannahs, old fields, meadows and marshes
in the e. fourth of Tex. and s.e. Okla. (LeFlore Co.), May-Oct.; from Ga. to
Tex., n. to N. E., N.Y., Ont, O., Mich., Wise., and Minn.
2. Pycnanthemum virginianum (L.) Dur. & Jacks.
Stems to 1 m. tall, freely branched, above the middle, finely pubescent or
hirsutulous on the angles, glabrous or nearly so on the sides; leaves numerous or
crowded, linear-lanceolate, glabrous above, often puberulent on the midvein be-
neath, minutely scabrous on the margin, the principal ones usually 3-6 cm. long
and 3-10 mm. wide, the bracteal leaves similar in shape but much smaller than
the cauline leaves; lateral veins 3 or 4 on each side of the midvein, the uppermost
arising near the middle of the leaf; inner bracts thin, acute to short-acuminate,
densely canescent to tomentulose; calyx densely canescent toward the apex, the
deltoid lobes about 0.7 mm. long.
Wet meadows, swamps, wet ledges, moist ground along streams and spring
branches in Okla. (Waterfall), July-Sept.; Me. to N.D., s. to Ga. and Okla.
3. Pycnanthemum albescens T. & G.
Plant to 15 dm. high, branching in the upper parts, the branches ascendent
or divaricate-ascendent; median internodes about equal to the subtending leaves,
the upper internodes pubescent with short curled hairs and bearing a few longer
spreading hairs or pubescent with short curled hairs only; leaves with petioles
4-12 mm. long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, all but the lower strongly
whitened, paler and minutely pubescent beneath, serrate, 2.5-7 cm. long, 1-2.5
cm. broad; glomerules terminal and solitary or occasionally 2, loose, disposed in
irregular corymbs, the branches apparent, canescent; bracts of the involucre foliar
and strongly whitened, canescent, rarely with a few longer hairs; calyx canescent
throughout with minute appressed hairs, without bristles at the tip, 3.5-5 mm.
long, the lower pair of ovate or oblong teeth obtuse and 1-1.3 mm. long, the
upper deltoid teeth connate to the middle or more and obtuse; corolla white or
lavender, usually spotted; corolla tube gradually enlarged upward, 3-4.5 mm.
long, the upper lip 2-4 mm. tall.
In low open woods, often along streams, in wettish savannahs and in thicket
areas in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., July-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Mo.
and e. Okla.
16. Micromeria BENTH.
About 100 species widely distributed.
1. Micromeria Brownei (Sw.) Benth. var. pilosiuscula Gray. Fig. 660.
Weak plants with slender sprawling or diffusely spreading sparsely pilose-
pubescent stems, to about 4 dm. high or long; leaves petioled, suborbicular to
broadly ovate, obscurely crenate, the larger ones to 25 mm. long and 2 cm. wide,
thin, glabrous to sparingly pubescent; pedicels filiform, to 15 mm. long; flowers
1 to 3 in axillary one-flowered cymes; calyx sparingly pilose to glabrate, 4-5 mm.
long, somewhat villous in the throat; calyx lobes 5, subequal, ovate-deltoid,
1-1.5 mm. long, those of the upper lip abruptly acute or even acuminate; corolla
1448
-------
2-lipped, 7-8 mm. long, pink to lavender-pink or whitish, the tube much-dilated,
the midldbe of the lower lip about as wide as long and notched; stamens 4, more
or less exserted. M. pilosiuscula (Gray) Small, Satureja Brownei (Sw.) Briq.
In swamps, marshes, on stream banks, wet meadows, in woods and along
ditches in coastal and s. Tex., throughout year; from Fla. to Tex.
17. Satureja L.
More than 100 species mostly in warmer regions of the world.
1. Satureja arkansana (Nutt.) Briq. Fig. 663.
Perennial with odor of pennyroyal, freely stoloniferous, the repent stolons
usually with short ovate to elliptic leaves; stems slender, mostly erect, 1-4 dm.
high, simple or branching, glabrous or scarcely bearded at the nodes; cauline
leaves linear to linear-oblanceolate, nearly or quite entire, the larger ones to
25 mm. long and 5 mm. wide; cymes few- to many-flowered, their bractlets 3-5
mm. long; calyx tubular, about 3 mm. long, strongly ribbed, sharply toothed;
corolla about 1 cm. long, bluish; corolla with straight tube and an inflated throat,
distinctly 2-lipped, the upper erect lip flattish and entire or notched, the lower
spreading lip 3-parted with the middle lobes usually largest; stamens 4, somewhat
ascending; filaments very slender, 4 to 5 times as long as anther; style branches
both elongate, strongly curling. Satureja glabra (Nutt.) Fern., S. glabella (Michx.)
Briq. var. angustifolia (Torn) Svens., Clinopodium glabrum (Nutt.) O.Ktze.,
Cdlamintha arkansana (Nutt.) Shinners.
On calcareous rocks in ravines, on banks and in barrens, in wet meadows
along spring branches and in seepage of bluffs and about springs, gravel bars of
rivers, in Okla. (McCurtain and Murray cos.) and e. and cen. Tex., Apr .-Aug.;
from Ont. to Minn., s. to Ark., Okla. and Tex.
Fam. 118. Solanaceae Juss. POTATO or NIGHTSHADE FAMILY
Herbs, shrubs or trees; leaves alternate or fascicled, sometimes with some
opposite, entire to odd-pinnate; flowers in umbels, cymes or panicles, or solitary
and lateral, perfect, regular or nearly so, 4- to 6-merous; calyx usually 5-toothed
or 5-cleft (rarely 4-toothed), rotate, campanulate or tubular, usually persistent;
corolla tubular, campanulate, infundibuliform or rotate, usually more or less
5-lobed, with the lobes valvate or imbricate and usually plicate in bud; stamens
usually 5, distinct or slightly united by the anthers; filaments distinct, inserted
on the corolla tube alternate with the lobes; anthers opening by slits or pores;
styles 1; stigma entire or 2-lobed; ovary superior, usually 2-celled; fruit a berry
or capsule.
A family of about 2,100 species in about 90 genera, widely distributed but
mostly in the Western Hemisphere.
This family contains a number of important economic species, among which
are the potato (Solanum tuberosum), egg-plant (S. Melongena), tomato (Lyco-
persicon esculentum), red-pepper (Capsicum spp.) and tobacco (Nicotiana
Tabacum). As its somber vernacular name, "Nightshade," implies it also contains
a number of very poisonous species, among which are henbane (Hyoscyamus
niger) and belladonna (Atropa Belladonna), which are sources of the powerful
drugs hyoscymine and atropine, respectively. A number of genera have ornamental
species that are widely grown horticulturally, among which are Petunia, Solanum
and Nicotiana.
I. Corolla rotate to broadly campanulate 1. Solanum
\. Corolla f unnelform to tubular-campanulate (2)
1449
-------
2(1). Corolla 12 mm. long or more; plants ample, the strong stems and branches
erect or ascending 2. Nicotiana
2. Corolla about 6 mm. long; plant small, the weak stems and branches pros-
trate 3. Petunia
1. Solanum L. NIGHTSHADE
Herbs, shrubs or trees of various habit; larger leaves often accompanied by
a smaller lateral (rameal) one; peduncles mostly lateral (or becoming lateral)
and extra-axillary; calyx and corolla more or less 5-parted or 5-cleft (rarely 4- to
10-parted); corolla plaited in the bud, valvate or induplicate; stamens exserted;
filaments usually very short; anthers converging around the style, opening at the
tip by two pores or chinks; berry usually 2-celled.
A polymorphous and largely tropical genus of perhaps as many as 1,750 species.
1. Flowers large; corolla 6-11 mm. long from base to apex; anthers 2.6-4 mm.
long; style exserted about 2 mm. beyond the anthers; stigma very
slightly expanded; bushy perennial 1. S. Douglasii.
1. Flowers smaller; corolla about 3 mm. long; anthers 1.2-2.6 mm. long; style
barely exserted beyond the anthers; stigma usually enlarged and
capitate 2. S. nodiflorum.
1. Solanum Douglasii Dun.
Bushy perennial, often suffrutescent, sometimes to 3 m. high, usually much
smaller, sparsely to densely cinereous-puberulent or short-pilose, the hairs mostly
appressed or subappressed; leaves ovate, 2-10 cm. long, entire to variously
angulate-toothed; flowers commonly in umbelliform cymes or sometimes solitary,
these borne on peduncles nearly as long as or longer than the pedicels; corolla
white or purple-tinged, 1—1.8 cm. in diameter; fruiting calyx erect; berries black
at maturity, many-seeded, persistent.
In igneous soil or on sandy banks, streamsides and in swales in mts. of Trans-
Pecos Tex., N.M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz,
Pima and Yuma cos.), Mar .-Oct.; w. to Calif, and adj. Mex.
Plants here previously referred to the S. nigrum L. complex.
2. Solanum nodiflorum Jacq. Fig. 679.
Plant slender, annual or perennial, often tall, sparsely puberulent to strigose
or glabrate; leaves firm, entire to sparsely sinuate-dentate, acuminate; flowers
commonly in umbelliform cymes or sometimes solitary, these borne on peduncles
nearly as long as to longer than pedicels; calyx firm, the lobes all distinct and
reflexed in fruit; corolla white or sometimes tinged with purple, not more than
8 mm. wide; berries black at maturity, concretions of stone cells absent or few
(rarely more than 3).
A weed in marshes and on ditch banks on drying floodplains and wet gravel
of creek beds, in Ariz. (Mohave, Yavapai, Maricopa and Final cos.), May-Aug.;
Wash, to Calif., Ariz, and (?) Tex.
Plants here previously referred to the S. nigrum L. complex.
2. Nicotiana L. TOBACCO
Annual or perennial herbs or rarely small trees or shrubs, narcotic-poisonous
and heavy-scented, usually viscid-pubescent; leaves entire or sometimes repand or
panduriform, petiolate or sessile; flowers few to many in racemes or panicles;
calyx tubular-campanulate, 5-cleft; corolla funnelform or salverform, usually with
a long tube, the plaited 5-lobed limb usually spreading; stamens 5, variously
inserted on the corolla; stigma capitate; capsule ovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, acute
or blunt, 2-celled, 2- or 4-valved from the apex; seeds numerous, minute.
About 60 species in North America, South America, Australia and South Pacific.
Kearney and Peebles makes the following comments about these plants: "The
leaves of many species besides N. Tabacum contain nicotine and were smoked
1450
-------
Fig. 679: Solarium nodiflorum: a, habit, x %; b, inflorescence, x 4; c, seeds, x 6V>;
d, fruit, x iy2- (From Mason, Fig. 307).
-------
Fig. 680: a-c, Nicotiana glauca: a, end of branch, x %; b, leaf tip, x 1%; c, seed,
x 10. d-f, Nicotiana trigonophylla: d, end of branch, x %; e, leaf tip, x l1/^; f, seed,
x 10. (V. F.).
-------
by the Indians. N. trigonophylla is still used for this purpose, chiefly on ceremonial
occasions. Animals usually avoid these plants, but cases of poisoning in cattle,
horses, and sheep have been reported. Tree tobacco (N. glauca) contains an
alkaloid, anabasine, reported to be more efficacious than nicotine in killing
certain species of aphid."
1. Trees or large shrubs; leaves glaucous, glabrous; flowers yellow
1. N. glauca.
1. Plants herbaceous; leaves green, more or less viscid-pubescent; flowers mostly
white, often variously tinged with green, violet or red (2)
2(1). Leaves commonly repand or panduriform 2. N. repanda.
2. Leaves entire or the margins more or less undulate or crisped (3)
3(2). Corolla 12-23 mm. long, greenish; capsule 11 mm. long or less; native
to western half of Texas westward 3. N. trigonophylla.
3. Corolla 25 mm. long or more, not noticeably greenish; capsule more than
11 mm. long; introduced in south Texas 4. N. plumbaginifolia.
1. Nicotiana glauca Grab. TREE TOBACCO, MUSTARD TREE, RAPE, GIGANTE, BUENA
MOZA. Fig. 680.
Glabrous shrub or small tree to 8 dm. high; leaves long-petiolate, glaucous,
somewhat leathery, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 5-18 cm. long, cuneate to sub-
cordate at the base, obtuse to acute at the apex, entire to slightly repaid; flowers
in lax terminal panicles; calyx tubular-campanulate, 8-12 mm. long, 5-toothed,
the teeth much shorter than the tube; corolla tubular, greenish-yellow, 35-4^ mm.
long, minutely villosulose, the limb narrow; filaments inserted below middle of the
tubular portion of corolla; capsule ovoid, acute, 1—1.2 cm. long, 4-valved at the
summit; seeds reddish-brown, slightly shining, finely favose-reticulate.
In sandy or clayey soils along stream banks, wet river banks, edge of lakes
and canals, washes, roadsides, on talus slopes and ledges along the coast and in
extreme s. Tex., w. to the Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Sierra Co.) and Ariz. (Greenlee,
Gila, Maricopa, Final, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.), flowering throughout the
year; a nat. of S. A. that has become naturalized northw. to Tex. and Calif.
2. Nicotiana repanda Willd. FIDDLE-LEAF TOBACCO, WILD TOBACCO, TABACO
CIMARRON.
Annual, minutely pubescent or above glabrate, to about 9 dm. high, with loose
slender branches extending into open racemose or somewhat paniculate naked
inflorescences; leaves thin, ovate or the lower ones obovate and sometimes
panduriform, commonly repand, to 2 dm. long and 1 dm. wide, rarely larger, the
lowest leaves contracted into a winged petiole, the upper ones deeply cordate-
clasping; bracts minute or often wanting; flowers vespertine; calyx lobes slender,
fully as long as the short-campanulate acutely 10-ribbed tube; corolla with the
tube frequently 5-6 cm. long, somewhat clavate or funnelform at the open throat;
corolla limb spreading, white or sometimes tinged with rose, or dorsally brown-
striped, to 4 cm. in diameter, its lobes short and obtuse or acute; capsule ovoid,
about 1 cm. long, 4-valved; seeds brown, pitted-reticulate, shiny or dull. N.
Roemeriana Scheele.
In sandy or clayey soils along streams, on flats and in wet depressions, shelter
of boulders, thickets and moist wooded ravines on the Edwards Plateau and in
s. Tex., Feb.—July; also adj. Mex.
3. Nicotiana trigonophylla Dun. DESERT TOBACCO, TABAQUILLO. Fig. 680.
Biennial or perennial, viscid-pubescent, to about 9 dm. high, with a simple
or virgately branched stem; leaves all sessile or only the lower ones tapering
into a winged petiole and obovate-oblong, the upper ones elliptic-lanceolate
1453
-------
Fig. 681: Petunia parviflora: a, branch of plant, x
c, corolla spread open, x 2'/>; d, calyx with capsule, x 2',
x2'L.. (V. F.).
Mr, b, flower and leaves, x 2%;
; e, capsule open showing seeds,
-------
to oblong-elliptic with a broader cordate half-clasping base, some spatulate-
lanceolate with a dilated auriculate-clasping base, the largest leaves to about
22 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, rounded to acuminate at apex; inflorescence at length
loosely paniculate-racemose, with the later bracts very small or wanting and some-
what unilateral pedicels about the length of the calyx; flowers open throughout
the day; calyx lobes subulate-lanceolate but rather obtuse, shorter than or
equaling the campanulate tube, attaining the middle of the corolla tube, about
equaling the 4-valved capsule, somewhat callous-margined; corolla tubular-
campanulate, greenish-white or yellowish, 12-23 mm. long, somewhat pubescent,
a little constricted at the orifice, the tube slightly enlarging upward, the sinuately
5-lobed limb about 8 mm. in diameter; capsule ovoid, 8-11 mm. long; seeds
brown, shining, pitted-reticulate.
On breaks of arroyos and canyons, in wet or dry sandy-clay soils of river
beds and washes, in gravelly-sandy soils on slopes, at base of boulders and on
ledges of mesas and mts. in the Tex. Rio Grande Plains, South Plains and Trans-
Pecos, Okla. (Jackson Co.), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz, (almost throughout
state), Mar.-Nov.; from Tex., w. to Calif, and n. Mex.
4. Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv.
Annual to about 1 m. high, the erect stem slender and tuberculate-hispid, with
long basal branches; basal rosulate leaves few, spatulate to obovate-spatulate or
oblanceolate, hispid, to about 25 cm. long; cauline leaves progressively smaller
and becoming lanceolate or linear-lanceolate to the widely branched inflorescence,
sessile or clasping and auriculate at base, abruptly acuminate and somewhat
twisted at apex, usually strongly undulate-plicate; flowers few, vespertine; calyx
tubular, 8-13 mm. long, the long narrow segments subulate-filiform and about
equal to the tube; corolla puberulent on outer surface, the slender tube 25-35
mm. long, greenish-white and lavender or purplish-tinged, the limb about 1 cm.
wide and with ovate acute lobes; capsule narrowly ovoid, 8-11 mm. long; seeds
light-brown with wavy-reticulate surface.
In resacas on edge of water in the Brownsville region in s. Tex., Jan.-Apr.;
from Tex. through Mex., W.I. and C. A. to S. A.
3. Petunia Juss.
About 40 species, mostly in South America.
1. Petunia parviflora Juss. WILD PETUNIA, SEASIDE PETUNIA. Fig. 681.
Annual; stems leafy, prostrate and rooting at the nodes, diffusely branched
to form mats to 3 dm. wide or more, glandular-puberulent; leaves linear-oblong
to spatulate, fleshy, about 1 cm. long; flowers solitary, lateral, on very short
peduncles; calyx 5-parted to below middle; sepals in fruit to 11 mm. long and
1.5 mm. wide, linear-oblanceolate to linear-spatulate, obtuse; corolla funnel-
form, purple or reddish-violet, with yellow or whitish tube and 5 minute unequal
retuse lobules that are plicate in bud, the tube about .6 mm. long; stamens inserted
low in corolla; filaments 3 short and 2 longer; capsules 3—4 mm. long, ovoid-
ellipsoid, acute, 1-celled, bivalved, the valves leathery-chartaceous; seeds numer-
ous, angular and more or less raised-reticulate.
In moist or wet soil in beds of streams, about lakes, in water and shallow
streams, along beaches and on muddy flats in most of Tex., N. M. (Sierra,
Bernalillo and Dona Ana cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo to Mohave, s. to Graham, Pima
and Yuma cos.), Apr .-Sept.; from s. Fla. to Calif., n. to Va., s. to trop. Am.
Our plant is a "poor" relative of the showy cultivated petunias that are derived
from P. axillaris (Lam.) B.S.P. and P. violacea Lindl. of South America.
1455
-------
Fam. 119. Scrophulariaceae Juss. FIGWORT FAMILY
Mainly herbs, occasionally shrubs or rarely trees; leaves various: flowers
perfect, in racemes or panicles, never terminal (in ours); sepals 4 or 5, free or
united; corolla bilabiate or more or less irregular, rarely almost regular, the
4 or 5 lobes imbricated in bud; stamens didynamous, sometimes only 2 (rarely
5), inserted on the corolla tube; style single, the stigma entire or bilobed; capsule
2-celled and usually many-seeded, with the placentae in the axis; seeds anatropous
or amphitropous.
More than 3,000 species in about 220 genera of cosmopolitan distribution.
1. Corolla with the upper lobes external and overlapping in the bud (2)
1. Corolla with the lower lobes external and overlapping in the bud (13)
2(1). Stigmas wholly united, punctiform or capitate; seeds not simply reticulate,
either smooth, tuberculate, ridged or winged; stamens 4, didyna-
mous (3)
2. Stigmas distinct, usually flattened (except in Bacopa Monnieri); seeds reticu-
late, wingless; capsule walls membranous; inflorescence simply
racemorse, the bracts foliaceous and the flowers axillary; stamens
4, didynamous or reduced to 2; leaves opposite or whorled (4)
3(2). Capsule septicidal or 4-valved, its walls firm or woody; corolla not spurred
at base; erect or ascending perennial herbs or shrubs
11. Penstemon
3. Capsule loculicidal; corolla spurred at base, strongly zygomorphic, yellow;
repent annual herb 13. Kickxia
4(2). Cells of anther parallel; corolla with throat anteriorly rounded or flattened,
obscurely or not ridged within; sepals distinct; pedicels often bibrac-
teolate (5)
4. Cells of anther divergent; corolla with throat 2-ridged within anteriorly; sepals
often united; pedicels never bracteolate (11)
5(4). Anthers 1-celled by confluence; plants tufted or stoloniferous; stigma capi-
tate; leaves entire, long-petioled; flowers borne on scapelike axillary
pedicels; corolla whitish, nearly regular, rotate-campanulate
2. Limosella
5. Anthers distinctly 2-celled; plants caulescent; stigma flattened; leaves entire
or not (6)
6(5). Corolla carnpanulate, nearly regular, the lobes equaling or only slightly
shorter than the tube, the posterior lobes united a little farther
than the others; sepals unequal; stems creeping or floating, usually
ascending at apex 1. Bacopa
6. Corolla narrower than above, decidedly zygomorphic, the lobes distinctly
shorter than the tube, the posterior lobes united for over half their
length or throughout (7)
7(6). Leaf blades (at least some) pinnatisect, often bipinnatifid; pedicels not
bracteolate; seeds commonly pale-greenish-yellow, nearly colorless;
corolla pink or lavender (8)
7. Leaf blades entire or merely toothed; pedicels bibracleolate or (rarely in
Gratiola) with bractlet single or lacking; seeds yellow to brown or
blackish (9)
8(7). Plant terrestrial in wet soils, the short bushy-branched stem erect; flowers
numerous with slender pedicels 5 mm. long or more
6. Leucospora
8. Plant aquatic, the elongate sparsely branched stem floating; flowers few,
sessile 7. Limnophila
1456
-------
9(7). Anther cells separated on short arms of the connective; corolla violet-blue;
sepals uniform 5. Stemodia
9. Anther cells proximate; corolla yellow or white; sepals usually somewhat
unequal either in width or length (10)
10(9). Pedicels bibracteolate at the base; outer sepals much wider than the
inner; fertile stamens 4; leaf blades pinnately veined
3. Mecardonia
10. Pedicels bibracteolate at the apex; sepals nearly equal in width; fertile
stamens 2; leaf blades palmately veined 4. Gratiola
11(4). Filaments attached to the base of the corolla, always simple and both
pairs antheriferous; capsule loculicidal; seeds more or less reticu-
late; sepals united; corolla 1-4 cm. long 8. Mimulus
11. Filaments attached to corolla for most of their length, the anterior each with
a projecting knoblike process; capsule not loculicidal; seeds marked
with fine transverse lines or smooth; sepals distinct or. united (12)
12(11). Corolla violet-blue, 5-12 mm. long; the postero-lateral filaments present
and antheriferous; capsule 1-6 mm. long, ellipsoid to ovoid, 2-
celled, septicidal, the platelike septum persisting; sepals 5
9. Lindernia
12. Corolla white, 1-2 mm. long; the postero-lateral filaments lacking; capsule
0.5-1 mm. long, globose, 1-celled (by lack of septum distally),
rupturing irregularly; sepals 4 10. Micranthemum
13(1). Upper lobes of corolla flattened or widely arched, often spreading;
anthers all distinct (14)
13. Upper lobes of corolla narrowly arched to form a definite galea that encloses
the anthers; stigmas wholly united; anthers frequently cohering, the
pollen being shed in a mass; stamens 4, didynamous; capsules
loculicidal; commonly root-parasites (18)
14(13). Stamens 2, the postero-lateral pair alone developed; corolla 2-5 mm.
long, the posterior lobes wholly united; plants not parasitic (15)
14. Stamens 4, didynamous; corolla 7 mm. long or more, the lobes all evident;
root-parasites (16)
15(14). Stems scapelike, the larger leaves in a basal rosette, the cauline leaves
reduced and bractlike; flowers in dense cylindric spikelike racemes;
corolla bilabiate, cleft nearly to the base 12. Besseya
15. Stems leafy, the leaves opposite (at least below the inflorescence); flowers
axillary or in loose racemes; corolla nearly regular, rotate or nearly
so , 14. Veronica
16(14). Stamens with only one anther cell developed, the other wholly abortive;
corolla salverform, blue to violet-purple or white, the throat very
narrow and filled with short stiff hairs; filaments and style less
than half the length of the corolla tube; capsule nearly or quite
included in the calyx tube; pedicel bibracteolate 17. Buchnera
16. Stamens with both anther cells equally developed; corolla neither salverform
nor blue, its throat wide; filaments and style nearly as long as or
longer than the corolla tube; capsule partly or nearly wholly
exserted from the calyx; pedicel not bracteolate (17)
17(16). Anther cells glabrous or rarely with a few bristlelike hairs at apex;
corolla semirotate, 7-16 mm. long; stigma punctiform or capitate
15. Dasistoma
17. Anther cells villous; corolla semicampanulate, 10-60 mm. long; stigma
somewhat elongate 16. Agalinis
1457
-------
18(13). Cells of anther equal in size and position; seed coat close, not obviously
reticulate (19)
18. Cells of anther unequally placed, the upper one attached by its middle; seed
coat loose, evidently reticulate (20)
19(18). Capsule symmetrical, both cells dehiscing equally; anther cells mucron-
ate-tipped; stem leaves sessile and clasping 18. Parentucellia
19. Capsule asymmetrical, usually decurved, opening on the distal side; anther
cells not mucronate-tipped; stem leaves prominently petiolate
19. Pedicularis
20(18). Upper corolla lip (galea) much longer than the small 3-toothed or 3-
keeled lower lip; calyx tubular; plants perennial or rarely annual....
20. Castilleja
20. Upper corolla lip not (or not greatly) surpassing the inflated saccate lower
lip; calyx tubular-campanulate; plants annual 21. Orthocarpus
1. Bacopa AUBL. WATER-HYSSOP
Low succulent perennial herbs; flowers axillary; calyx 5-parted, the uppermost
divisions broadest, the innermost often very narrow; upper lip of corolla entire
to notched or 2-cleft and the lower lip 3-lobed or the limb almost equally 5-lobed;
style dilated or bilobed at apex; seeds numerous.
About 100 species, primarily in warm regions.
1. Leaves cuneate to narrow bases. 1-nerved; pedicels much-exceeding the sub-
tending leaves, conspicuously 2-branched below the calyx
1. B. Monnieri.
I. Leaves rounded to broad or more or less clasping bases, 3- or more-nerved;
pedicels mostly shorter than the subtending leaves (2)
2(1). Leaves ovate, pellucid-punctate; flower usually closely subtended by a pair
of minute bractlets; ovary surrounded by a slenderly 10- to 12-
toothed disk; upper lip of corolla obcordate 2. B. caroliniana.
2. Leaves suborbicular to broadly obovate, not obviously punctate; flowers not
subtended by bractlets; disk at base of ovary none or without
slender teeth; upper lip of corolla merely emarginate
3. B. rotundifolia.
1. Bacopa Monnieri (L.) Wettst. Fig. 682.
Plant with prostrate to decumbent or loosely ascending stems, forming mats,
fleshy, glabrous; leaves spatulate to cuneate-obovate, obtuse to rounded at apex,
entire or nearly so, to about 2 cm. long; flowers single in nodes, with 2 linear
bracts at base of calyx; pedicels to 25 mm. long, soon exceeding the subtending
leaves; larger sepals lanceolate to ovate, to 5 mm. wide; corolla campanulate, only
obscurely bilabiate, white to lilac or pale-blue, 8-10 mm. long, glabrous within;
capsule slenderly conic to ovoid, 5-7 mm. long, shorter than the calyx. Incl. var.
cuneifolia Fern., Bramia Monnieri (L.) Penn.
In mud and sand in depressions among dunes, about ponds, along streams and
ditches, in wet mud on edge of water, forming mats in water, in e., cen. and s.
Tex., Apr.-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va.
2. Bacopa caroliniana (Walt.) Robins. BLUE HYSSOP. Fig. 682.
Stems from creeping rhizome, floating or ascending, to about 4 dm. high,
lanate at summit; plant (when bruised) lemon-scented; leaves in subapproximate
pairs, ovate to ovate-elliptic, obtuse, clasping, to 25 mm. long, entire, pellucid-
punctate, fragrant, the nerves pedately radiating from base; flowers single, scarcely
exserted beyond leaves, with short pedicels; calyx often with 2 minute subulate
basal bracts, the outer sepals cordate; corolla blue, about 1 cm. long, pubescent
1458
-------
Fig. 682: a-d, Bacopa Monnieri: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2%; c, capsule, x 3;
d, seed, x 45. e-h, Bacopa caroliniana: e, habit, x %; f, flower, x 2%; g, capsule, x 3;
d, seed, x 45. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 683: a-cl, Bacopa rot undi folia: a, habit, x ^>; b, flower, x 5; c, capsule, x 5; d,
seed, x 20. e-i, Gratiola flava: e, habit, x \->; f, flower, x 5; g, flower spread open, x 5;
h, capsule, x 3; i, seed, x 20. (V. F.).
-------
within, its upper lip obcordate; ovary surrounded by a slenderly 10- to 12-toothed
disk; capsule ovoid, acute, about 5 mm. long. Hydrotrida caroliniana (Walt.)
Small.
On margins of ponds and streams, in swamps, forming mats in water, and in
bogs in pinelands in e. Tex., May-Oct; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va.
3. Bacopa rotundifolia (Michx.) Wettst. Disc WATER-HYSSOP. Fig. 683.
Plant creeping, with elongate and lax terminally pubescent branches to 6 dm.
long, forming mats on mud or attached and floating; leaves thin, suborbicular to
broadly obovate, with subcuneately narrowed but clasping bases, clearly palmately
many-nerved, the larger ones to 35 mm. long and 25 mm. wide; flowers usually
2 to 4 from upper nodes; pedicels 2 or 3 times as long as calyx, slender, pubescent,
to 2 cm. long; outer sepals ovate, 6—8 mm. long; corolla exserted, campanulate,
6-10 mm. long, the wide-spreading limb about as broad, white, with yellow throat;
capsule globose to subglobose, about as long as sepals. Macuillamia rotundifolia
(Michx.) Raf.
In mud and water in and about lakes, pools, ditches and ponds in Okla.
(McCurtain, Johnston, Washington and Comanche cos.), throughout Tex. and
Ariz. (Maricopa Co.), May-Nov.; from Miss, to Tex. and Ariz., n. to Ind., 111.,
Minn., N.D. and Mont.
2. Limosella L. MUDWORT
Small rosulate plants of aquatic or wet habitats, usually acaulescent; leaves
basal, erect, rarely cauline; flowers solitary on naked 1-flowered scapes, white
to pink or pale-blue; calyx campanulate; corolla campanulate, nearly regular,
the upper surface of petals minutely to sparsely papillate; stamens 4; style
terminal or subterminal; capsule globose to ellipsoid, 2-celled by a very thin
partition, many-seeded.
About 15 cosmopolitan species.
An Arizona species, L. publiflora Penn., known only from the type collection
(Cochise Co.) has oblanceolate leaves attenuate at base, obtuse puberulent corolla
lobes, globose-ovoid capsules, and seeds a little longer than wide.
1. Leaves linear to linear-spatulate, 2 mm. wide or less; corolla lobes rounded;
style 0.5-1 mm. long, straight or arcuately curved 1. L. acaulis.
1. Leaves with an elliptic-oblong blade and long petiole, 2-8 mm. wide; corolla
lobes acute; style 0.2-0.4 mm. long, usually sharply decurved at
base 2. L. aquatica.
1. Limosella acaulis Ses. & Moc. Fig. 684.
Cespitose, stoloniferous plants, often forming mats; leaves flat, linear to
linear-spatulate, 1-6 cm. long, the stipules somewhat auriculate; flowers solitary
on erect scapes; calyx campanulate; corolla nearly regular, white; petals oblong,
rounded, sparsely papillate on inner face; stamens 4; style 0.2-0.7 mm. long,
equal to or shorter than ovary; capsule ovoid, about 3 mm. long, 2-celled by a
thin partition; seeds many, ridged and reticulate.
Margins of ponds, lakes and streams, often in shallow water, in N. M. (Catron,
Mora and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Santa Cruz cos.),
June-Oct.; N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex.
2. Limosella aquatica L. Fig. 685.
Tufted annual 5-12 cm. tall, from threadlike rhizomes or stolons, rooting
at nodes; leaves on long slender petioles, 3-10 cm. long, the blades from linear-
spatulate to broadly oblong-elliptic, 1-3 cm. long, 3-12 mm. wide, with broad
sheathing base and conspicuous hyaline stipules; peduncles shorter than leaves,
1461
-------
Fig. 684: Limosella acaulis: a, mature seed, x 40; b, seed (cross section), x 40;
c, habit, showing stolon, leaves and capsules, x 2; d, mature capsule, x 6; e, corolla,
spread open, x 12; f, base of petiole, showing auriculate stipules, x 8; g, capsule (cross
section), x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 317).
-------
Fig. 685: Limosella aquatica: a, young flower, x 10; b, habit, showing the slender
rhizome, the long petioles and broad leaf blades, and the short peduncles, x %; c,
mature capsule, x 6; d, seed (cross section), x 40; e, mature seed, x 40; f, corolla,
spread open, the lobes sparsely papillate, x 10; g-i, bases of petioles, showing hyaline
stipules, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 318).
-------
1-flowered; calyx campanulate, regular; corolla scarcely longer than calyx; petals
oblong, acute, sparsely papillate within, white or pink, nearly regular; stamens 4;
style short, 0.2-0.4 mm. long; stigma obscurely 2-lobed; capsule ovoid, about
3 mm. long, 2-celled, many-seeded, ridged, reticulate; seeds much longer than
wide.
Along margins of pools, on stream banks, in irrigation ditches, in mud and
shallow water of ponds and lakes, in N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Coconino
and Final cos.), June-Sept.; almost throughout N.A. except s.e. U. S.; Euras.
3. Mecardonia R. & P.
Erect or diffuse much-branched glabrous herbs from a perennial root, often
becoming black upon drying; stems 4-angled; leaves opposite, narrowed to a
sessile base, toothed, glandular-punctate; flowers axillary in leaflike bracts; bract-
lets 2, at the base of the slender pedicel and much shorter than the bracts; sepals
5, unequal, the outer ones much wider than the inner ones; corolla bilabiate with
the lobes shorter than the tube, the posterior lip more or less united and pubes-
cent within at base; stigmas liplike; capsule cylindric to ovoid, acute, glabrous,
septicidal, the valves only slightly loculicidal at apex; seeds numerous, cylindric,
reticulate, wingless.
About a dozen species in warmer parts of America.
1. Corolla yellow, its upper bearded lobes essentially united or forming only a
slightly notched lamina; 3 outer sepals broadly ovate to ovate-
elliptic, more than 3 times as wide as the 2 inner sepals; leaves
typically ovate or oval, abruptly cuneate at base, less than 25 mm.
long; plant procumbent or ascending 1. M. vandellioides.
\. Corolla white, often with purplish stripes, its upper bearded lobes typically
separated at least one third their length; 3 outer sepals lanceolate,
rarely more than 2 times as wide as the 2 inner sepals; leaves
typically oblanceolate, tapering to the narrow base, more than 3
cm. long; plant erect or diffusely branched 2. M. acuminata.
1. Mecardonia vandellioides (H.B.K.) Penn. Fig. 686.
Plant very variable, glabrous throughout; stems procumbent to erect-ascending,
often branched and widely spreading from the base, to about 4 dm. long; leaves
opposite, sessile, ovate to oval or obovate to obovate-oblong, obtuse to subacute,
more or less serrate or serrulate above the middle, 1-2.5 cm. long; pedicels
axillary, solitary, usually noticeably exceeding the subtending leaf and the 2
small basal bracteoles; calyx 5-parted, the 2 interior lobes linear, the 3 outer
lobes broadly ovate to ovate-elliptic, acutish, sometimes serrulate above the
middle; corolla 6-12 mm. long, always longer than the calyx, bilabiate, yellow
with longitudinal dark veins on the essentially united upper pair of lobes; capsule
ellipsoid, about as long as or shorter than the calyx. M. procumbens (Mill.) Small,
M. peduncularis (Benth.) Small, M. viridis Small, M. montcvidensis (Spreng.)
Penn., Pagesia peduncularis (Benth.) Penn., P vandellioides (H.B.K.) Penn.
In mud and water of ditches, lagoons, ponds and streams, and in moist soils of
depressions, mostly in cen., s., and w. Tex., and Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), Mar.-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex., Ariz, and Mex., s. to s. S.A.
2. Mecardonia acuminata (Walt.) Small. Fig. 686.
Stems from a subligneous crown, erect or ascending, glabrous, simple to
branched, to about 7 dm. high; leaves oblanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, mostly
narrowly obtuse, tapering below to a narrowly cuneate base, firm, serrate above
the middle, mostly 2-4 cm. long; pedicels filiform, equaling or surpassing the
subtending leaves and 2 small basal bractlets; outer 3 sepals oblong-lanceolate,
broader than the lanceolate inner 1 sepals; corolla white, often tinged or lined
with purple, 7-10 mm. long, bearded within at the base of the upper obviously
1464
-------
Fig. 686: a-c, Mecardonia acuminata: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, capsule
split open, x 3; c, seed, x 15. d-i, Mecardonia vandellioides: d, habit, x %; e, flower
with corolla removed, x 3; f, corolla, x 3; g, corolla spread out, x 3; h, capsule split
open, x 3; i, seed, x 15. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 687: a-g, Graiiola brevifolia: a and b, two plants showing variation in habit,
x '..r c, flower, x 2V d and e, two corollas in different stages of growth, split open,
x 2V f, pistil, x 2V g. seed, x 10. h-m, Giaiiola pilosa: h. habit, x V i, flower,
x 2V j, corolla, split open, x 2V k, pistil, x 2'^; 1, fruit split open, x 2V, m, seed,
v- i A / \ / rr \
x 10. (V. F.).
-------
bilobulate lip. Bacopa acuminata (Walt.) Robins., Pagesia acuminata (Walt.)
Penn.
In ditches, bogs, wet depressions in fields and prairies, swamps and flat pine-
lands in Okla. (Pittsburg, McCurtain and Le Flore cos.) and in e. Tex., Aug.-
Oct; from Del. and Md., s. to Fla., Tex., Okla. and Mo.
4. Gratiola L. HEDGE-HYSSOP
Low mostly perennial or some biennial or annual herbs; leaves sessile; two
(rarely 1) bractlets usually at base of calyx; the 5 narrow divisions of calyx
more or less subequal; corolla tubular or narrowly canipanulate, bilabiate; upper
lip of corolla entire or 2-cleft, the lower lip 3-cleft; style dilated or bilabiate at
apex; capsule 4-valved, many-seeded.
About 20 species that are widely distributed.
1. Plant villous-hirsute; anthers with contiguous vertical cells; flowers subsessile;
calyx lobes very unequal; corolla only slightly exceeding the calyx
1. G. pilosa.
1. Plant glabrous or at most puberulent; anthers with a broad connective, the
cells transverse; flowers mostly distinctly pedicellate; calyx lobes
equal or nearly so; corolla much-exceeding the calyx (2)
2(1). Capsule 1-3 mm. long, much-exceeded by the calyx lobes; cauline leaves
clasping by a wide base, usually at least the upper with resinous
dots; rhizomes perennial, slender, stoloniferous 2. G. brevifolia.
2. Capsule 3-6 mm. long, equal to or only slightly exceeded by the calyx lobes;
cauline leaves narrowed to a sessile or scarcely clasping base, ob-
scurely glandular-punctate; roots annual, the main root thick and
producing many fibers (3)
3(2). Corolla golden-yellow (especially the limb); capsule ovoid-pyramidal, nearly
twice as long as calyx lobes; stem less than 1 dm. high, thin, not
fleshy; in central and south Texas 3. G. flava.
3. Corolla white (at least as to the limb); capsule globose to globose-ovoid,
nearly or quite equaled by the calyx lobes; stems usually more than
1 dm. high, relatively thick and fleshy, mostly in east Texas (4)
4(3). Pedicels slender, over 1 cm. long; hairs on upper side of corolla throat
clavate; capsule 4-5 mm. long, globose-ovoid, about equal to the
calyx lobes 4. G. neglecta.
4. Pedicels stout, mostly much less than 1 cm. long; hairs on upper side of
corolla throat filiform; capsule globose, usually slightly exceeding
the calyx lobes 5. G. virginiana.
1. Gratiola pilosa Michx. HAIRY HEDGE-HYSSOP. Fig. 687.
Perennial, the firm tufted stems from a subligneous crown, villous-hirsute,
to 75 cm. high; leaves sessile by broad rounded clasping bases, to about 2 cm.
long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, crenate-serrate; flowers subsessile or very short-
stalked in the axils; calyx segments very unequal; corolla white or purple-tinged,
5-9 mm. long, little-exceeding the calyx; anthers with contiguous vertical cells;
capsule 4-5 mm. long, slenderly conical. Sophronanthe pilosa (Michx.) Small,
Tragiola pilosa (Michx.) Small & Penn.
In bogs, swamps and moist sandy woods, in wet meadows at head of lakes and
forming colonies in water, in Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and in e. third of Tex., June-
Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., Md., N.C., Ky., Ark. and Okla.
2. Gratiola brevifolia Raf. STICKY HEDGE-HYSSOP. Fig. 687.
Annual or short-lived perennial, puberulent and somewhat viscid, to about
35 cm. high; leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, sparsely
1467
-------
and acutely serrate, to 35 mm. long and 1 cm. wide, equal to or shorter than the
pedicels; sepals and bractlets linear-subulate, much longer than the capsule;
corolla whitish, 1-1.2 cm. long; sterile filaments short. G. ramosa [var.] Drwn-
mondii (Benth.) Penn., G. DrummondJi Benth., Ilysanthes inaequalis (Walt.)
Penn.
In bogs, marshes, wet meadows and in and on the edge of water in ponds and
lakes, in wet savannahs, in Okla. (Pushmataha Co.) and in e. Tex., Apr.-Sept.;
from Ga. to Tex., Okla. and Ark.
3. Gratiola flava Leavenw. GOLDEN HEDGE-HYSSOP. Fig. 683.
Annual, glabrous throughout, less than 1 dm. high, the slender stems clustered
at base and erect-ascending; leaves few, opposite, linear-oblanceolate, entire or
with few obscure serrations, to 15 mm. long and 5 mm. wide, clasping at the
sessile base, obtuse at apex; bracteole 1, linear-spatulate, about as long as the
sepals; calyx lobes 3-5 mm. long, linear to linear-lanceolate, obtuse; corolla with
orange-yellow tube and golden-yellow limb, about 12 mm. long; capsule brown,
ovoid-pyramidal, noticeably exceeding the sepals; seeds brown, with coarse
reticulation. G. pusilla Torr.
In sandy wet soil in prairies and fields in cen. and s. Tex., Feb.-Apr.; also La.
4. Gratiola neglecta Torr. Fig. 688.
Annual with simple or loosely branched soft stem to 4 dm. high, the upper
internodes, pedicels and expanding leaves more or less clammy-puberulent; leaves
thin, rhombic-lanceolate to lanceolate, tapering to base and apex, undulate-
dentate or entire, to 55 mm. long; pedicels filiform, elongating to 25 mm. long;
bractlets foliaceous, equal to or exceeding the calyx; corollas honey-color to
creamy-white, with yellowish tube, the earlier ones 8-12 mm. long, the inside of
the throat with clavate bearding; sterile stamens minute or none; capsule 3-5 mm.
long, globose-ovoid; seeds thick-cylindric, about 0.5 mm. long. G. gracilis Benth.,
G. Torreyi Small.
In wet or muddy places about ponds, in water of swamps, marshes, and in
woods in e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. third of Tex., N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Mar.-Aug.; from Que. and Me. to B.C., s. through most
of the U. S.
5. Gratiola virginiana L. Figs. 688 and 689.
Rather coarse plant, the fleshy base often biennial; stems simple or with few
ascending branches, to 45 cm. high, usually glabrous; leaves lanceolate to elliptic
or oblong-obovate, shallowly undulate to sharply serrate, to 7 cm. long; pedicels
stoutish, usually less than 5 mm. long; calyx 4-8 mm. long; corolla milk-white
or pink-tinged to honey-colored, the earlier ones to 15 mm. long, with filiform
hairs inside at throat; capsule globose, slightly exceeding to shorter than the calyx,
4-7 mm. long; seeds slender-cylindric, about 0.8 mm. long.
In water of streams, lakes, ponds and ditches, often forming colonies in water,
in boggy areas and in open flats in forests in Okla. (LeFIore and Comanche cos.)
and e. third of Tex., Mar.-May.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., Md., W.Va., 0.,
Ind., 111., la. and Kan.
5. Stemodia L.
About 30 species, mostly in tropical regions.
1. Stemodia durantifolia (L.) Sw. Fig. 690.
Annual, glandular-pubescent, rather rigidly erect, often much-branched, the
branches slender, to about 9 dm. high; leaves sessile and amplexicaul, opposite
or several at the nodes, oblong-elliptic to linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate to
1468
-------
Fig. 688: a, Lindernia dubia: a, habit, x %. b and c, Gratiola neglecta: b, end of
branch, x 1; c, capsule, x 5. d and e, Gratiola virginiana: d, habit, x %; e, flower, x 5.
(V. P.).
-------
Fig. 689:
Godfrey).
Gratiola virginiana: a, capsule, x 4; b, seed, x 5. (Courtesy of R. K.
oblanceolate, the upper ones linear, acute to acuminate or obtuse at apex, serrate
or serrulate, those of the stem to 9 cm. long, with narrowed bases; flowers nearly
sessile, solitary in the axils or in spiciform leafy-bracted racemes; bractlets 2,
linear, shorter than the calyx; sepals about 5 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate;
corolla blue or purple, glandular-pubescent, longer than the calyx.
In wet soil along streams and about springs, and on edge of water, in s. Tex.
and Ariz. (Gila, Maricopa, Final and Pima cos.), Feb.-Oct; from Calif, to Tex.,
southw. in Latin Am.
6. Leucospora NUTT.
A monotypic genus.
1. Leucospora multifida (Michx.) Nutt. Fig. 691.
Low much-branched annual herb, diffusely spreading, to about 2 dm. high and
about as wide, puberulent throughout; leaves opposite, petioled, triangular-ovate
in outline, 2-3 cm. long, pinnately parted, the divisions oblong to linear-cuneate;
pedicels naked, solitary in axils, 5—10 mm. long; calyx 5-parted, the sepals linear;
corolla tubular, bilabiate, pale-lavender, about 4 mm. long, scarcely exceeding
the calyx, upper lip bilobed, the lower lip 3-parted; anthers approximate; stigma
bilobed, the lobes cuneiform; capsule ovoid, septicidal, many-seeded. Conobea
multifida (Michx.) Benth.
1470
-------
Fig. 690: a-e, Veronica Wormskjoldii: a, habit, x %; b, cluster of flowers, x 2%;
c, corolla opened out, x 2%; d, fruit, x 2%; e, seed and dried placenta, x 5. f-k,
Stemodia durantifolia: i, habit, x \'->; g, flower, x 2V&; h, fruit in calyx, x 2V2; i, fruit
with calyx removed, x 2%; j, capsule split open, dried placenta with seeds all fallen,
2i/2;k, seed, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 691: a-f, Kickxia Elatine: a, habit x Vn; b, branch, x V2; c and d, two leaves
showing characteristic shapes, x 1; e, two-celled capsule, each cell circumscissile, x 5;
f, mature ^eed. x 6. g-k, Leucospora multifida: g, habit, x l/>; h, flower, x 5; i, seeds
removed from capsule, x 5; j, seed, x 25. (V. F.).
-------
In mud and sand-gravel along streams and on shores, in wet seepage areas and
in stream beds, in Okla. (McCurtain, Stephens and Johnston cos.) and mostly in
cen. and e. Tex.. June-Oct.; from Ont. to la. and Kan., s. to Ga., Ala., La. and
Tex.
7. Limnophila R. BR.
About 30 species that are native mainly in Africa and Australia.
1. Limnophila sessiliflora Bl. Fig. 692.
Aquatic glabrous herbs with mostly branched leafy stems that are to 5 dm.
long or more: leaves 3 to 6 in a whorl, all pinnatisect or the uppermost opposite,
linear-spatulate and toothed, gland-dotted, usually 2-2.5 cm. long; flowers axillary,
solitary, sessile or very shortly pedicelled; calyx about 8 mm. long, with 5 ovate
acuminate lobes, the tube hemispheric in fruit; corolla about 12 mm. long, pink
or lavender-pink, bilabiate, the upper lip entire or bifid, the lower lip nearly
equally 3-lobed and spreading, the tube cylindric: capsule orbicular, swollen, about
5 mm. thick.
Attached to bottom of lake and in current of river at San Marcos (Hays Co.).
Tex. where it has been introd. and has become well-established, July-Nov.; a nat.
of Asia.
8. Mimuliis L. MONKEY-FLOWER
Herbs (in ours) with perennial rhizomes or stolons; flowers axillary; calyx
tubular, angled or prismatic, regular or irregular, the lobes shorter than the tube:
corolla irregular, bilabiate: lobes of upper corolla lip erect to reflexed; lobes of
lower corolla lip spreading or deflexed, arched in the throat or with 2 elevated
ridges partially or completely closing the orifice; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted
near middle of corolla tube, the anthers approximate in pairs with their sacs
divergent; style elongate, the stigmas 2 and platelike; capsule cylindric, loculicidal,
many-seeded.
More than 100 species that are world-wide in distribution, mostly in western
United States.
1. Calyx teeth equal or nearly so (2)
1. Calyx teeth unequal, the posterior tooth larger than the others (8)
2(1). Corolla lobes distinctly unequal (3)
2. Corolla lobes equal or nearly so (6)
3(2). Corolla throat nearly closed by the prominent palate (4)
3. Corolla throat broad and more or less open (5)
4(3). Leaves mostly sessile: pedicels more than one half as long as the leaves....
1. M. ringens.
4. Leaves distinctly petioled; pedicels mostly less than one half as long as the
leaves 2. M. alatus.
5(3). Corolla scarlet or carmine: calyx teeth 4—6 mm. long 3. M. Cardinalis.
5. Corolla yellow: calyx teeth less than 3 mm. long 4. M. floribiindus.
6(2). Annual: corolla yellow throughout or the lobes purple-red
5. M. rubelhis.
6. Perennials (7)
7(6). Flowers solitary, scapose: corolla yellow; plant small, rarely to 1 dm. tall
6. M. primuloides.
7. Flowers several, racemose: corolla scarlet or carmine: plant rather stout
7. M. Eastwoodiae.
1473
-------
8(1). Corolla throat open; flowers axillary or several in a lax terminal raceme
(9)
8. Corolla throat partly or nearly closed by the prominent palate; flowers mostly
numerous in a definite raceme (11)
9(8). Annual; stems usually erect; leaves oblong-lanceolate; calyx deeply cleft,
the upper tooth about equaling the tube; herbage viscid-villous with
long white hairs 8. M. pilosiis.
9. Perennials; stems low, creeping or procumbent; leaves ovate to suborbicular;
calyx shallowly cleft, the teeth all much shorter than the tube (10)
10(9). Leaves less than 1 cm. long, more or less covered with short stiff white
hairs; corolla laciniately lobed or erose 9. M. dentilobus.
10. Leaves 3 cm. long or more, essentially glabrous; corolla lobes entire
10. M. glabratus.
11(8). Upper calyx tooth rarely more than twice the length of the others, the
lower teeth at maturity usually folding over and only partly closing
the orifice 11. M. guttatus.
11. Upper calyx tooth about 3 times the length of the others, the lower teeth
in maturity folding over and nearly closing the orifice
12. M. nasutus.
1. Mimulus ringens L.
Perennial by stoloniferous rootstocks, glabrous; stems simple or branched, 4-
angled, to 13 dm. high; leaves thin, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long
and 3 cm. wide, acute to obtuse at apex, tapering to a broad often auriculate-
clasping sessile base, serrate to rarely entire; pedicels stout, to 35 mm. long,
mostly shorter than the subtending leaves; calyx tubular, 14-17 mm. long, strongly
angled, with slender subulate or aristate teeth about one fourth as long as tube,
with broad ciliate sinuses; corolla 25-35 mm. long, blue, rarely pink or white,
the exserted tube slightly funnelform, the throat nearly closed, upper lip erect
and strongly reflexed, lower lip longer and the stigma broadly bilamellate;
capsule included, broadly oblong; seeds oblong, papillate, spreading with the
margins erose; upper pair of stamens slightly exserted; style exserted, the stigma
broadly bilamellate; capsule included, broadly oblong; seeds oblong, papillate.
In wet places such as wet mud along streams, in marshes, swamps and sloughs,
in Okla. (Cleveland and Oklahoma cos.) and possibly in n.e. Tex., June-Sept;
from Can. to Fla., w. to N.D. and s. to Okla. and (?) Tex.
2. Mimulus alatus Ait. Fig. 693.
Stems stoloniferous, glabrous, simple or branched, to 7 dm. high, 4-angled, the
angles more or less winged; leaves broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute, to
15 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, serrate, tapering to a narrow-margined petiole to
25 mm. long; pedicels stout, mostly shorter than the calyx; calyx oblong, 14-17
mm. long, with sharp angles, the broad mucronate teeth about 1.5 mm. long;
corolla blue or violet, sometimes tinged with pink or rarely white, 2-2.5 cm. long.
the tube slightly exserted, the throat nearly closed, lobes of the upper lip erect
and strongly reflexed. the lower lip longer and spreading; stamens and style in-
cluded; capsule ovoid, obtuse; seeds oval, papillate.
In wet areas (especially along wooded streams), about lakes and in marshes,
in wet mud of ponds, in Okla. (McCurtain, Johnston, Pittsburg, Osage, Maycs,
Cherokee, Washington and Ottawa cos.) and in e. Tex., w. to Blackland Prairies,
June-Nov.; from Mass., s. to S. C. and w. to Tex. and Okla.
3. Mimulus Cardinalis Dougl. CRIMSON MONKEY-FLOWER. Fig. 694.
Coarse perennial from a thick rhizome; stems erect or ascending, 3-10 dm. tall,
1474
-------
Fig. 692: Limnophila sessiliflora: a and b, habit, showing emergent and sub-
merged leaves, x %; c, flowering shoot, x 1%; d, submerged leaf, x 1%; e, flower, x 5;
f, pistil, x 5; g, seeds removed from capsule, x 5; h, corolla spread out, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 693: Mimulus alatus: a, top of plant, x %; b, base of plant, x %; c, flower
opened, x l]'a; d, end of style, x 15. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
rooting where they touch the ground, sometimes much-branched; herbage viscid-
pubescent; leaves broadly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, dentate to entire; flowers
on slender pedicels in the leaf axils, the pedicels 2-8 cm. long; calyx tubular,
campanulate, the lobes nearly equal; corolla 3-5 cm. long, bright-scarlet, the
upper lip erect and 2-lobed, the lower lip with 3 reflexed lobes, the throat closed;
anthers 4, clothed with scalelike hairs; capsule ovate, acuminate.
Along streams and in bogs, rooted in water about springs and on canals, in
N. M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Apache, Graham
and Pima cos.) May-Oct.; N. M. and Ariz, to Ore. and Calif.
Var. verbenaceus (Greene) Kearn. & Peeb., of Arizona, has corolla tube nearly
twice as long as the calyx.
4. Mimulus floribundus Dougl. Fig. 695.
A viscid-villous more or less slimy annual; stems 8-50 cm. long, diffusely
branched from the base, somewhat weak, often climbing over moist rocks; leaves
scattered, thin, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-5 cm. long, 1—3 cm. wide, acute,
dentate with short salient teeth, ciliate, the base broad, mostly truncate or sub-
cordate, 3- or 5-nerved, usually shorter than the internodes; petioles longer or
shorter than the blade, sometimes slightly winged or occasionally essentially
lacking; pedicels filiform, frequently shorter than the leaves and more or less
spreading at maturity; calyx plicate-carinate, slightly campanulate, 4—7 mm. long,
broadly ovate in fruit and 6—10 mm. long, often spotted or tinged with red;
calyx teeth triangular, lanceolate, 1—1.5 mm. long, ciliate, equal; corolla cylindrical
to funnelform, 7—14 mm. long, yellow, tube slightly exserted, throat short,
ampliate, dotted or streaked with red, lobes unequal, mostly erect, short, rounded,
the lower lip sometimes slightly spreading; style and stamens glabrous, included,
stigma lips equal and rounded; capsule chartaceous, shorter than the calyx, oblong,
placentae completely adherent; seeds oval, longitudinally wrinkled.
In wet sand, growing in streams and in marshes, in N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.) and
Ariz. (Apache and Coconino, s. to Yavapai, Graham, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
Apr.-Sept.; Wyo. to B.C., s. to n. Mex. and Calif.
5. Mimulus rubellus Gray. Fig. 696.
Annual, glandular-puberulent to almost glabrate, the erect stems often much-
branched, to 2 dm. high; leaves sessile or with the lowest smaller and petioled,
elliptic-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, entire or only slightly toothed, 3-veined,
to about 2 cm. long; pedicels to 22 mm. long; calyx 5-9 mm. long, often reddish,
ridge- to wing-angled, its ciliate lobes low-triangular or its mucronate tips less
than 0.5 mm. long; corolla yellow throughout or the lobes purple-red, 7-9 mm.
long, the throat narrow, ventrally 2-ridged and puberulent, the orifice open and
the slightly spreading lobes notched; anthers glabrous; capsule 4 mm. long, not
dehiscing through septum apex.
In moist or wet places, seepage about springs, creek beds and in mud along
streams, in extreme w. Tex., N. M. (Sierra and Dona Ana cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Mohave, s. to Greenlee, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
Apr.-June; from w. Tex., N.M., Ariz., Wyo. and s. Colo, to Calif.
6. Mimulus primuloides Benth. Fig. 695.
A variable perennial, stoloniferous or reproducing by surface runners or by
bulbils attached to the underground stems, subacaulescent with radical leaves or
the stems 3-10 cm. high, bearing several pairs of leaves, internodes close together
or almost as long as the leaves, glabrous or viscid-pilose with long soft hairs;
leaves broadly obovate, oblong or sometimes cuneate, tapering to a narrow some-
1477
-------
Fig. 694: a and b, Mimitlus cardinalis: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 1. c and d,
Minntlus cardinalis var. verbenaceus: c, flower showing longer corolla tube than that
of var. cardinalis, x 'jj; d, flower, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 695: a-c, Mimulus floribundus: a, habit, x Vz', b, flower, x 2%; c, capsule,
x 2y->. d-f, Mimulus primuloides: d, habit, x %; e, flower, x 3; f, calyx with capsules,
x 3."(V. F.).
-------
what connate sessile base, 1-2.5 cm. long, 5-7 mm. broad, light-green to gray-
green, thin, entire or dentate, occasionally with an undulate margin, 3- or 5-nerved,
glabrous or with long white jointed hairs scattered on the upper surface; flowers
few, mostly solitary, scapose; pedicels 4-10 cm. long-, glabrous, slender, elongated;
calyx tubular, 4-8 mm. long, weakly angled, glabrous, often tinged with red; calyx
teeth broadly triangular-acute, frequently mucronate, equal, mostly ciliate; corolla
funnelform, 1-2 cm. long, yellow, sometimes with reddish-brown spots on the
lobes and down the throat below the lower lip, tube exserted and less than
twice as long as the calyx, throat ampliate, lobes spreading, emarginate or obcor-
date, the lower lip slightly longer than the upper; upper pair of stamens exserted,
anthers hispid or rarely glabrous, filaments glabrous; style exserted, glabrous,
stigma lips oblong and unequal; capsule included, placentae separating at the apex;
seeds oval, reticulate.
In wet meadows, bogs and marshes, in Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Cochise
cos.), July-Aug.; Ida. to Ariz, and s. Calif.
7. Mimulus Eastwoodiae Rydb.
Plants usually densely woolly-canescent; stems terete, short, more or less pro-
cumbent, from a creeping rootstock or from short stolons; leaves broadly obovate
or oblong, 2-5 cm. long, to 2 cm. wide, acute, coarsely and saliently dentate
along the upper half, tapering to a broad sessile base, the lower leaves sometimes
spatulate or cuneate, frequently reddish on the lower surface; flowers few, mostly
solitary; pedicels slender, usually longer than the leaves; calyx somewhat funnel-
form, 2.2-2.7 cm. long; calyx teeth triangular, acute or subulate, ciliate, slightly
unequal, 4—6 mm. long; corolla 3.5^t cm. long, crimson, tube broadly funnelform,
exserted less than twice its length, more or less tinged with yellow, throat ampliate,
upper lip erect, lower erect or somewhat spreading, lobes nearly equal, emargin-
ate; stamens much-exserted, anthers yellow and densely bearded; style and stigma
nearly as long as the corolla, stigma narrowly oblong to spatulate; capsule un-
known.
In wet shaded places such as seepage about springs, in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo,
Coconino and Mohave cos.), Apr.-July; also Ut. and Nev.
8. Mimulus pilosus (Benth.) Wats.
Plant to about 3 dm. tall, eventually much-branched, leafy, soft-villous and
slightly viscid, rarely glabrate, flowering from near the base; leaves sessile, lanceo-
late to narrowly oblong, entire, obscurely 3-nerved at base, the lower leaves
surpassing (the upper scarcely equaling) the pedicels; calyx oblique at orifice,
the tube somewhat 5-suIcate below the sinuses, the posterior tooth equaling the
tube; corolla 6-8 mm. long, rather obscurely bilabiate, the lobes nearly equal,
bright-yellow and usually with a pair of brown-purple spots on the lower lip;
capsule long-ovoid, acute.
Wet sandy soils along streams and about pools, in Ariz. (Yavapai, Graham,
Gila, Final, Maricopa and Pima cos.), Apr.-Aug.; Nev. and Ore., s to Ariz, and
s. Calif.
9. Mimulus dentilobus Robins. & Fern. Fig. 696.
Low creeping plants, rooting from the nodes and forming dense mats, the
terete stems nearly glabrous or sparsely pubescent, to 5 cm. high; leaves broadly
ovate to suborbicular, 2-7 mm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, dentate to crenate or nearly
entire, mostly with winged petioles shorter than the blade, more or less covered
with stiff white hairs; flowers few, axillary or terminal; pedicels slender, almost
filiform, pubescent, much-exceeding the leaves; mature calyx turbinate, 5-7 mm.
long, sparsely pubescent or rarely glabrous, with triangular acute teeth; corolla
1480
-------
Fig. 696: a-c, Mimulus dentilobus: a, plant showing position on seeping rock cliff,
x %; b, habit, x 1; c, flower, x 5. d-f, Mimulus rubellus: d, habit, x %; e, flower
cluster, x 1; f, flower, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 697: Mimiilus guttatus: a, calyx enclosing mature fruit, x I1/-; b, capsule, de-
hiscent by lateral sutures, x 2; c, seed, x 40; d, habit, basal part of plant, x %; e,
habit, inflorescence, x -3; f, pistil, showing the fimbriolate stigma lobes, x 2; g, cap-
sule, showing dehiscence, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 320).
-------
9-13 mm. long, the throat spotted with red below the lower lip, the lobes erose
or somewhat laciniate; style puberulent or glabrous; capsule oblong, less than
half as long as calyx, compressed; seeds brownish, oval, sometimes 3-sided,
longitudinally striate and often bearing stiff scattered hairs.
In permanently wet places such as seepage cliffs and ledges in mts. of the
Tex. Trans-Pecos (Presidio Co.), N. M. (Calron and Grant cos.) and Ariz.
(Pima co.), May-Aug.; from w. Tex. and Ariz, to n. Mex.
10. Mimulus glabratus H.B.K.
Low perennial, glabrous or nearly so, stoloniferous or with creeping stems
that root freely at the lower nodes; stems usually numerous, hollow, weak, to
75 cm. long; leaves broadly ovate to suborbicular, to 7 cm. long and 6 cm. wide,
irregularly dentate, sometimes shallowly lobed at the base, 3- or 5-nerved, the
basal leaves cuneate to subcordate or with margined petioles at base, upper leaves
subcordate at the sessile base; flowers axillary, mainly on upper part of stem;
pedicels slender, glabrous or pubescent, longer or shorter than leaves; calyx
campanulate, often spotted or tinged with red, to 1 cm. long, glabrous or pubes-
cent, larger in fruit, the broad short unequal teeth spreading; corolla tubular,
to 15 mm. long, the tube slender, lower lip heavily bearded, middle lobe much
longer than the lateral ones; style glabrous; capsule oblong, rounded, constricted
at the base but not stipitate, shorter than the calyx tube; seeds oval, longitudinally
striate. Incl. var. Fremontii (Benth.) Grant.
In shallow water of streams or muddy places with the stems often floating or
creeping and more or less procumbent, in Okla. (Alfalfa and Love cos.), in Tex.
on the Edwards Plateau and in the Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Otero, Mora, Lincoln
and Colfax cos.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and
Pima cos.), throughout the year; from Ont. and Man., s. to Tex., Nev. and Mex.
11. Mimulus guttatus DC. Fig. 697.
Annual or perennial herb; stems simple or branched, erect or declined, 1-6
dm. long; herbage glabrous or somewhat pubescent; leaves elliptical, irregularly
serrate to dentate or the blades lobed at base, the lower leaves short-petioled,
the upper ones sessile; flowers in terminal bracteate racemes on slender pedicels;
calyx campanulate, folded on the angles, the teeth connivent in age; corolla
yellow, with reddish-brown spots, sometimes conspicuously spotted, 2-4 cm. long,
the upper lip of 2 erect lobes, the lower lip of 3 reflexed lobes, with a con-
spicuous palate closing the throat; capsule ovate, flattened, 2-celled, incompletely
partitioned. Incl. var. puberulus (Greene) Grant.
The most common and most variable species of Mimulus in our area, occurring
almost everywhere where water stands on rich soil, principally in bogs, swamps,
marshes, and stream banks, widespread in N. M. and Ariz., June-Sept.; Mont.,
s. to Mex. and n. to Alas.
12. Mimulus nasutus Fisch.
Puberulent to nearly glabrous annuals, rarely pubescent; stem usually branched
from the base, erect or ascending, 1-6 dm. high, quadrangular, frequently winged,
fistulous when growing under very favorable conditions; leaves 3- or 5-nerved,
round-ovate or oblong, to 11 cm. long, nearly as broad, irregularly and coarsely
dentate or lobed, often with additional small lobes at the base of the blade, more
or less tinged with red on the lower surface, lower leaves with long broad clasping
petioles, the upper leaves sessile; inflorescence racemose; pedicels nearly glabrous,
2 to 3 times as long as the mature calyx, erect, becoming strongly recurved in
1483
-------
fruit; calyx appressed-puberulent, with short white hairs at the sinuses, frequently
tinged with red, much-inflated when mature, 6-18 mm. long, 3-11 mm. wide,
teeth acute, the upper about 3 times as long as the others, the latter folding over
and appearing as though truncate with a long index-finger pointing outward;
corolla varying greatly in size, from 7 to 23 mm. long; lower corolla lip densely
bearded, spreading and much longer than the upper lip, usually with a reddish-
brown blotch below the middle lobe and numerous smaller dots down the throat;
style puberulent, the stigma lips unequal; capsule short-stipitate, oblong; seeds
reticulate.
In moist or wet places generally, in wet meadows, on edge of streams, wet
rocks and springy places, in N. M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Graham, Gila,
Final, Cochise and Pima cos.), Mar.-Sept.; Ida. to B.C., s. to Chih., N.M., Ariz.
and Baja Calif.
9. Lindemia ALL. FALSE PIMPERNEL
Diffuse annual herbs; leaves opposite, denticulate to nearly entire; bracteoles
none; flowers in axils of most leaves; sepals 5, distinct; corolla blue-violet, bilabi-
ate, the upper lip with 2 short erect acutish lobes, the lower lip much larger and
spreading, with 2 hairy yellow ridges within the throat; filaments 4, didynamous,
the upper short and antheriferous, the lower forming the hairy ventral ridges of
the corolla and projecting from apex as sterile knobs; stigmas distinct, lamelliform;
capsule septicidal, ovoid to ellipsoid, the septum persisting as a thin plate; seeds
smooth or finely lined transversely.
About 80 species, mainly in warm regions of Asia and Africa.
1. Lower pedicels shorter than their subtending leaves; main leaves obovate to
elliptic or ovate, rounded or narrowed to base; capsule often
equaled or exceeded by the calyx lobes 1. L. dubia.
\. Lower and upper pedicels exceeding their subtending leaves; main leaves ovate
to elliptic, broadest at the rounded to cordate base; capsule mostly
exceeding the calyx lobes 2. L. anagallidea.
1. Lindernia dubia (L.) Penn. Fig. 688.
Plant glabrous, the simple or much-branched stems erect-ascending, to 35 cm.
high; leaves narrowly elliptic to oblong or obovate, to 3 cm. long, the lower ones
narrowed but the upper ones rounded and clasping at base, entire to remotely
dentate; pedicels 5-12 mm. long, stoutish; calyx lobes linear; corolla 7-10 mm.
long, those of the later flowers mostly falling unopened; style 2.5-3.5 mm. long;
capsule obliquely ellipsoid, about 4 mm. long. Incl. subsp. major Penn., Jlysanthes
gratioloides (L.) DC., I. dubia (L.) Barnh.
In mud of swamps and stream margins, in mud at edge of ponds and lakes,
and in pools along water courses, in Okla., (Alfalfa, Adair and Pushmataha cos.)
and in e. Tex. and (?) Ariz., June-Aug.; from throughout most of U.S., s. to S.A.
2. Lindernia anagallidea (Michx.) Penn. Fig. 698.
Plant glabrous, the slender stems diffusely branched, to about 2 dm. high;
leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, to 2 cm. long, broadest at the rounded or clasping
base, the lowermost leaves often slightly narrowed at base, essentially entire;
pedicels filiform, to about 25 mm. long; calyx lobes linear; corolla 7-9 mm. long,
apparently all opening; capsules 4-5 mm. long.
Sandy margins of streams and ponds, and in marshes, throughout most of Okla.
and Tex. except the Trans-Pecos, Apr.-Oct.; from throughout most of the U.S.,
s. to S.A.
1484
-------
Fig. 698: Lindernia anagallidea: a, flower (longitudinal section), x 6; b, capsule,
x 6; c, capsule after dehiscence, x 6; d, capsule (cross section), x 8; e, habit, x %',
f, seed,'x 60. (From Mason, Fig. 319).
-------
Fig. 699: Mitranthemum umbrosum: a, habit, x %; b, portion of plant, x 21/£;
c, flower x 10; d, calyx, x 10; e, corolla, spread out, x 10; f, stamen, x 20; g, pistil,
x 10; h, seed, about x 100. (V. F.).
-------
10. Micranthemum MICHX.
Two species in the Western Hemisphere.
1. Micranthemum umbrosum (Walt.) Blake. SHADE MUD-FLOWER. Fig. 699.
Stems repent, freely branched, to 3 dm. long or more; leaves sessile, opposite,
succulent, rotund, 4-9 mm. wide; flowers small, white or purplish, solitary in
the axils of some of the middle leaves; pedicels to 1 mm. long; calyx 1.5-2 mm.
long, equally 4-cleft into oblanceolate lobes; corolla obliquely salverform, barely
equaling the calyx, the 4-lobed limb longer than the tube with upper lip developed;
appendage of the 2 stamens a mere tooth, the filaments with an appendage;
stigmas short; capsule about 1 mm. in diameter, globose, thin, with an evanescent
partition, several- to many-seeded. Globifera umbrosa (Walt.) J. F. Gmel.
On mud or wet sand in low woods and along streams, in water of sluggish
streams, wet mud in swamps, often forming mats on edge of lakes, in e. Tex.,
Apr.-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va.; also trop. Am.
11. Penstemon MITCH. BEARD-TONGUE
Herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite, decussate, the lower often petiolate, the
upper sessile; pubescence (if present) glandular in the inflorescence, simple below;
inflorescence usually a narrow terminal panicle; sepals 5; corolla tubular, the
upper lip 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-cleft, the lower inner surface (floor) of the
throat and tube often with colored lines; stamens 4; staminode 1, filamentlike,
often bearded apically; anthers 2-chambered, these confluent if dehiscent across
the connective; capsules septicidal or else 4-valved; seeds many, usually multi-
angular, with a rough coat. Flowering from spring to fall.
About 300 species; indigenous to America from Alaska to Guatemala.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and/or eastern Texas (2)
1. Distribution in New Mexico and Arizona (4)
2(1). Floor of corolla strongly pleated; staminode densely bearded with golden
hairs for most of its length, exserted 1. P. laxiflorus.
2. Floor of corolla rounded; staminode more lightly bearded with yellow hairs,
included (3)
3(2). Corolla pink, 15-17 mm. long; leaves regularly sharply but shallowly
toothed 2. P. tenuis.
3. Corolla white, 16—30 mm. long; leaves subentire or unevenly toothed
3. P. Digitalis.
4(1). Leaves (at least a few of them) toothed; corolla glandular externally
4. P. Whippleanus.
4. Leaves always entire; corolla not glandular externally (5)
5(4). Throat of the corolla more or less distinctly 2-ridged within ventrally, the
ridges densely hairy about the orifice; leaves oblanceolate to
elliptic 5. P. Rydbergii.
5. Throat of the corolla rounded ventrally, lightly if at all hairy at the orifice;
leaves mostly linear 6. P. virgatus.
1. Penstemon laxiflorus Penn.
Plants 3-7 dm. tall, the stem and leaves glabrous to puberulent; leaves well-
toothed, those of the midstem 3.2-10.5 cm. long, 4—17 mm. wide, narrowly
lanceolate; inflorescence lightly glandular-pubescent; sepals 2-5 mm. long; corolla
white to pink, 22-30 mm. long, narrow, little-expanded, the floor prominently
pleated, lined within; staminode densely bearded with golden hairs for most of
its length, exserted; anther sacs cymbiform; seeds 1-1.5 mm. long.
1487
-------
Acid soils of the Gulf Coastal Plain, edge of marshes, in seepage areas, bogs,
about ponds and lakes and grassy flatwoods, throughout e. Tex., Mar.-June; Ga.
to Okla. and Tex.
2. Penstemon tenuis Small.
Plants 4-9 dm. tall, the stem very lightly puberulent; leaves sharply but
shallowly toothed, those of the midstem 7-10 cm. long, 1.5-3 cm. wide, oblong-
lanceolate; inflorescence glabrous; sepals 3-5 mm. long; corolla pink, 15-17 mm.
long, abruptly inflated, the floor rounded, with violet lines; staminode with yellow
hairs on apical half.
Uncommon in low poorly drained loamy soils, in water of shallow depres-
sions, and in low prairies and marshes, in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes in Tex.
and (?) Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Apr.-May; also La. and Ark.
3. Penstemon Digitalis Nutt.
Plants mostly 5-9 dm. tall, the stem and leaves glabrous; leaves subentire or
obviously toothed, those of the midstem mostly 9-12 cm. long, 15-25 mm. wide,
lanceolate; inflorescence glabrous or a little glandular; sepals 5-6 mm. long,
glabrous or a little glandular; corolla white, 16-30 mm. long, moderately ventri-
cose, the lobes extending, the floor rounded and commonly unlined; staminode
lightly bearded with yellow hairs; anther sacs cymbiform, spiny or hairy on the
backs; seeds less than 1 mm. long.
An Ozarkian species which has become widely spread as a weed in poorly
drained soils, in water of streams, in wet meadows, alluvial woodlands, in wet soil
on edge of ponds and lakes, occasional in Okla. (McCurtain and Atoka cos.) and
n.e. and e. Tex., Apr.-July; Me. and Que. to S.D., s. to Ala., La., Tex. and Okla.
4. Penstemon Whippleanus Gray.
Plants tufted from surficial branched caudex, 2-6 dm. tall, essentially glabrous
below, becoming strongly glandular-hairy in the inflorescence; leaves (at least a
few of them) toothed, the basal with elliptic to ovate blade to 6 cm. long and 3.5
cm. wide, longer or shorter than the petioles; cauline leaves mostly sessile, oblong
to lanceolate, to about 6 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; inflorescence of 2 to 7
verticillasters that are not very dense; calyx elongate, 7-11 mm. long, the lanceo-
late segments essentially entirely herbaceous; corolla glandular-pubescent exter-
nally, blue or violet to dull-purple or lavender to cream-color, sometimes vari-
colored, 18-28 mm. long, strongly inflated distally, mostly 7-11 mm. wide at the
mouth, strongly bilabiate, the lower lip much the longer; palate bearded; pollen
sacs broadly ovate, glabrous, 1-1.4 mm. long, wholly dehiscent, becoming op-
posite and eventually explanate; staminode noticeably exserted from the orifice
of the corolla, usually bearded toward the scarcely expanded tip; ovary and
capsule usually glandular-puberulent near the tip; capsule 6-9 mm. long. P. steno-
sepalus (Gray) Howell.
On seepage banks about small lakes, wet meadows and on conifer forest slopes,
in N. M. (Bernalillo, Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Mohave
cos.), July-Sept.; Mont, to N.M. and Ariz.
5. Penstemon Rydbergii A. Nels.
Plant more or less tufted from a loose or compact surficial woody rhizome-
caudex, 2-7 (-12) dm. tall, rather slender-stemmed, glabrous throughout or
sometimes puberulent in the inflorescence and along the stem; leaves entire, the
basal ones petiolate, oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, often forming distinct
rosettes, to 15 cm. long and 2 cm. wide; cauline leaves few and mostly well-
developed, usually sessile or nearly so, rarely to 10 cm. long and 2 cm. wide;
1488
-------
inflorescence of one to several rather dense verticillasters, the flowers spreading
at right angles to the stem; calyx usually 3-7 (-9) mm. long, the segments
obscurely to evidently scarious-margined and sometimes erose, tapering or abruptly
narrowed to the apex; corolla blue-purple, mostly 11-15 mm. long and 3-5 mm.
wide at mouth; palate bearded; staminode usually bearded at least at the ex-
panded tip, rarely glabrous; pollen sacs glabrous, ovate, mostly 0.6-1 mm. long,
dehiscent throughout and becoming opposite but seldom explanate; capsule 5-6
mm. long.
Wet mt. meadows and wet open forest slopes, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and San
Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-Aug.; Wyo. and Ida., s. to N.M. and
Ariz.
6. Penstemon virgatus Gray.
Plants minutely glandular-pruinose to glabrous; stem strict and elongate, 3-6
dm. tall; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 4-10 cm. long; peduncles short, 1- to
3-flowered; thyrse virgate; sepals ovate; corolla lilac with purple veins, about 2
cm. long, abruptly dilated into a broadly campanulate-funnelform throat about
as wide as long, distinctly bilabiate, the lower lip usually bearded, the broad lips
widely spreading; stamens nearly equaling the lips of the corolla; anther sacs
glabrous or finely scabrid on the sides, opening throughout, opposite, straight;
staminodes glabrous.
In wet meadows and in seepage areas, in N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache
to Mohave, s. to Cochise, Gila and Yavapai cos.), summer.
12. Besseya RYDB. KITTEN-TAILS
Perennial subscapose herbaceous plants; leaves alternate and mostly basal;
stem leaves sessile, bractlike and smaller than basal ones; basal blades cordate-
ovate to oblong, toothed, short-petioled; flowers in terminal spikes or spikelike
racemes, conspicuously bracted; sepals usually 4 and almost distinct but some-
times 1 to 3 and variously united; corolla wanting or when present irregular and
2-lipped, violet-purple, yellow or white, upper lip entire and concave, lower lip
shorter and more or less 3-lobed; stamens 2, exserted, the anther sacs parallel or
nearly so, adnate to corolla or when latter is lacking inserted on a hypogynous
disk; seeds several, flat.
About a dozen species, all in North America.
1. Corolla 5 mm. long or more, strongly exserted; capsules emarginate at apex,
5-6 mm. long; leaves typically subcuneate at base, to 20 cm. long
1. B. plantaginea.
1. Corolla not more than 5 mm. long, moderately exserted; capsules rounded
to somewhat acute at apex, not more than 5 mm. long; leaves
rounded to subcordate at base, not more than 8 cm. long
2. B. arizonica.
1. Besseya plantaginea (James) Rydb.
Plants more or less tomentose (especially at first); basal leaves 5-20 cm. long,
ovate to ovate-oblong, sometimes lanceolate-oblong, broadly to narrowly cuneate
at base, crenate; scapes usually 2-4 dm. high, sometimes shorter, with several
to many bractlike leaves below the inflorescence; sepals with lateral lobes united
at base for less than one third their length; corolla 5-8 mm. long, conspicuously
exserted, the lower lip with lobes over one third the length of the lip, white to
purplish-tinged; filaments not especially conspicuously colored; capsules emargi-
nate at apex, 5-6 mm. long.
On moist slopes and in wet meadows in N. M. (Santa Fe, San Miguel and
Otero cos.), and Ariz. (Apache and Greenlee cos.), June-Aug.; also n. to Wyo.
1489
-------
2. Besseya arizonica Penn.
Plant probably solitary, the flower stem 2-4 dm. tall and white-hirsute through-
out, with 10 to 16 narrowly ovate acute bractlike leaves; petioles 2-9 cm. long,
appressed-hirsute; leaf blades ovate to oval, rounded to subcordate at base, 5-8
cm. long, 4-7.5 cm. wide, undulate-crenate to crenate, tardily glabrate above and
pilose beneath, permanently pubescent on the principal veins; floral bracts
lanceolate to ovate, acute, white-ciliate, in anthesis 3-5 mm. long; pedicels
usually to 1 mm. long in anthesis, the lower ones sometimes to 5 mm. long; calyx
3-4 mm. long, the 4 lobes uneven in width and oblong-lanceolate to -elliptic,
long-ciliate, those lobes of each side united near base; corolla about 4 mm. long,
probably white, the tube short, the lips parted nearly or quite to the base, the
anterior lobes one third to one fourth the length of the basal portion of the
lip; filaments exserted; style 3-4 mm. long, deflexed from corolla; capsule 4-5
mm. long, equally wide, nearly circular, acutish or rounded at apex, to about 4
mm. long, minutely ridge-veined, glabrous.
In moist or wet meadows, marshy areas along streams and on coniferous forest
slopes, in N. M. (McKinley Co.) and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), May-
Aug.
13. Kickxia DUM. CANCERWORT
About 25 species from the Mediterranean region to India.
1. Kickxia Elatine (L.) Dum. Fig. 691.
Annual; stems prostrate, widely spreading, freely branched, villous, to 5 dm.
long; petioles 1-5 mm. long; leaves broadly ovate to triangular-ovate, 1-3 cm.
long, truncate at base, more or less hastate by the development of 1 to 3 low
teeth at the lateral angles; pedicels very slender, 1—3 cm. long, glabrous through-
out or villosulous near the base and summit only; calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate,
acute, 3-5 mm. long; corolla 6-8 mm. long, yellow, the upper lip purple within;
spur decurved, about 5 mm. long; capsule loculicidal, orbicular, about 4 mm.
high.
In moist sandy soil and cobbly areas along river sandbars and in river and
stream beds in Okla. (Cherokee, Ottawa, Delaware and Sequoyah cos.), May-
Sept.; N.Y. to Ind., Mo. and Okla., s. to Fla. and La.
14. Veronica L. SPEEDWELL
Erect or repent perennial, biennial or annual herbs; leaves mostly opposite;
bracteoles none; flowers in axillary or terminal racemes or solitary in axils of
leaves; sepals 4 or 5, distinct; corolla with very short tube, nearly rotate, 4-lobed
due to fusion of upper pair; stamens 2; stigmas united and slightly capitate;
capsule flattened, loculicidal; seeds flattened, smooth or rarely roughened.
About 300 species, mostly in the North Temperate Zone.
1. Main stem terminating in an inflorescence, its flowers either densely crowded
or more remote and axillary, the upper bract leaves usually alternate
(2)
1. Main stem never terminated by an inflorescence, the leaves opposite through-
out and the flowers all in axillary racemes (4)
2(1). Annual, fibrous-rooted; stem usually rather strictly erect; leaves typically
linear-oblong 1. y. peregrina.
2. Perennials: stems often from a creeping or procumbent rooting base; leaves
elliptic to lanceolate or ovate (3)
1490
-------
3(2). Capsules higher than wide; stem usually somewhat decumbent at base,
sparsely to densely villous-hirsute with laxly spreading hairs; leaves
glabrous or villous-hirsute like the stem; filaments 1—1.5 mm. long
2. V. Wormskjoldii.
3. Capsules wider than high; stem tending to creep at base and to produce lower
branches, finely and closely puberulent; leaves glabrous or nearly
so; filaments mostly 2-4 mm. long 3. V. serpyllifolia.
4(1). Leaves all short-petiolate 4. V. americana.
4. Leaves sessile (at least the middle and upper ones) (5)
5(4). Leaves 1.5 to 3 times as long as wide; fruiting pedicels mostly strongly
ascending or upcurved; capsules about as high as wide or a little
higher; flowers blue or violet 5. V. Anagallis-aquatica.
5. Leaves mostly 3 to 5 times as long as wide; fruiting pedicels divaricately
spreading; capsules mostly a little wider than high; flowers white
to pink or pale-bluish 6. V. catenata.
1. Veronica peregrina L. PURSLANE SPEEDWELL, NECKLACE WEED. Fig. 700.
Annual, erect, simple or with spreading branches, to 3 dm. high, glabrous
throughout or pubescent with gland-tipped hairs; leaves sessile or with the lower
somewhat petioled, usually linear-oblong, obtuse, dentate to entire; flowers in
spiciform leafy-bracted terminal racemes; pedicels 1-2 mm. long; sepals 4, linear-
oblong to oblanceolate, obtuse, about 3 mm. long; corolla white, 2-2.5 mm.
wide; filaments very short; style about 0.3 mm. long; capsule 3-3.5 mm. long.
In water of tanks and streams, open flatwoods, swamps, marshes, wet meadows,
about lakes and ponds, prairies and dune areas in Okla. (Waterfall}, throughout
most of Tex., N.M. (Otero, San Miguel, Taos, Catron, Lincoln, Sandoval, Rio
Arriba and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Pima, Apache and Santa
Cruz cos.), Feb.-June; throughout most of N.A., introd. in many parts of the
world.
Represented in our area by two variants.
1. Plant glabrous var. peregrina.
1. Plant pubescent with short gland-tipped hairs that are usually present even on
the capsules var. xalapensis (H.B.K.) Penn.
2. Veronica Wormskjoldii R. & S. Fig. 690.
Perennial from a loose or compact system of shallow rhizomes; stems simple,
erect or curved-ascending at base, 1-3 dm. tall, sparsely to densely villous-hirsute
with loosely spreading hairs, the inflorescence more densely so and somewhat
viscid or glandular; leaves all cauline, sessile, opposite or the uppermost ones
alternate, elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, 1-4 cm. long and to 2 cm. wide, rounded
to acute at apex, villous-hirsute like the stem or sometimes glabrous, slightly
toothed to entire; flowers with pedicels 2-4 mm. long, in well-defined terminal
racemes that are at first compact but later often elongate; at least the upper
bracts usually alternate; calyx lobes ovate-lanceolate to oblong, villous; corolla
deep blue-violet, 6-10 mm. wide when expanded; filaments 1-1.5 mm. long;
style 1-3 mm. long; capsules glandular-pubescent, broadly notched, 4-7 mm.
high and a little less wide; seeds numerous, about 1 mm. long.
In wet mossy areas, seepage bank of lake, bogs, wet meadows, upland marshes
and edge of stream, in N. M. (Taos, Santa Fe and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Aug.; Greenl. to Alas., s. to N. H., N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
3. Veronica serpyllifolia L.
Perennial from a loose or compact branching system of creeping rhizomes;
stems 1-3 dm. long, finely and closely puberulent, tending to creep at the base
1491
-------
Fig. 700: Veronica, a-d, V. peregrina: a, habit, x •*.-,; b, flower in leaf axil, x 6;
c. seed, x 32; d, capsule, x 6. e-g, V. americana: e, capsule, x 4; f, habit, x %; g, co-
rolla, x 4. (From Mason, Fig. 321).
-------
or to produce prostrate lower branches; leaves opposite or the reduced upper ones
alternate, elliptic to broadly ovate, 1-2.5 cm. long and to 1.5 cm. wide, rounded
to somewhat acute at apex, glabrous or nearly so, entire to slightly toothed,
the lowermost leaves sometimes short-petiolate; flowers pedicellate in definite
terminal racemes that become lax and elongate, at least the upper bracts usually
alternate; corolla 4-8 mm. wide when expanded; styles 2-3.5 mm. long; capsules
finely and sometimes sparsely glandular-pubescent, notched, 3-4 mm. high and
somewhat broader; seeds numerous.
In wet meadows and seepage about lakes and ponds, in N. M. (Taos, Santa Fe,
San Miguel, Rio Arriba and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino,
Greenlee, Graham and Cochise cos.), June-Aug.; throughout most of N.A.; Euras.
4. Veronica americana (Raf.) Schwein. AMERICAN BROOKLIME. 700.
Fleshy and more or less succulent glabrous perennial with creeping to decum-
bent bases; stems to about 1 dm. long; principal leaves of middle and upper part
of flowering stems distinctly petioled, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, somewhat
acute, to about 9 cm. long, the margins serrate to dentate; racemes lax, with
arching rachises, axillary below the prolonged tip, 6- to 30-flowered; pedicels to
about 11 mm. long, the lower mature ones filiform and divergent; corolla light
bluish-violet; capsule turgid, suborbicular.
In shallow water or wet sandy soil of gravelly streams, in marshes and about
springs in Okla. (Grady Co.), in the Tex. Edwards Plateau (Kendall Co.), N. M.
(rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s. to Gila and
Final cos.), June-Aug.; from Nfld. w. to Alas., s. to N.C., Tex., Mex. and
Calif.; also n.e. Asia.
5. Veronica Anagallis-aquatica L. WATER SPEEDWELL, BROOK-PIMPERNEL. Fig.
701.
Usually perennial, glabrous throughout or obscurely glandular-puberulent in
the inflorescence; stems shortly creeping and rooting at base, then ascending to
erect, to 1 m. high; leaves sessile, rounded to clasping bases, oblong-lanceolate,
acute, serrate to merely denticulate, those of autumnal shoots smaller and
rounded; flowers many in small-bracted axillary racemes; pedicels 6-8 mm. long;
sepals 4, lanceolate, acute, 4—4.5 mm. long; corolla 5-6 mm. wide, pale-lavender,
the lobes with violet lines; style 1.8-2.5 mm. long; capsule 4 mm. long, more or
less orbicular, obtuse at the narrowed obscurely notched apex; seeds about 0.5
mm. long.
Usually in water of streams and in gravelly-sandy soils, swamps and irrigation
ditches, in Okla. (Grady, Alfalfa, Caddo and Cimarron cos.), in cen. and n.-cen.
(Fannin Co.) Tex., N. M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to
Graham, Gila and Final cos.), Mar.-Oct.; throughout N.A., naturalized from
Euras.
6. Veronica catenata Penn.
Plant glabrous, very similar to V. Anagallis-aquatica; stems submersed or
distally emersed; leaves sessile, clasping, oblong-lanceolate, usually 3 to 5 times
as long as wide, essentially entire; racemes axillary, few-flowered; sepals broad
and obtusish; corolla white to pink or pale-bluish; fruiting pedicels divaricately
spreading; capsules obcordate, prominently apically notched, mostly a little wider
than high. V. connata Raf. subsp. glaberrima Penn.
Scattered in marshes and bogs, and in water of slow-moving streams and
ditches, in Ariz. (Yavapai Co.), June-Aug.; Mass, and Ont. to Sask. and Wash.,
s. to Pa., Tenn., Ariz, and Calif.; also Eur.
1493
-------
Fig. 701: Veronica Anagallis-aquatica: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 6; c, corolla, show-
ing stamen insertion, x 6; d, capsule, x 6; e and f, seeds, x 32. (From Mason Fig.
322).
-------
15. Dasistoma RAF. MULLEIN FOXGLOVE
A monotypic genus. Sometimes misspelled Dasystoma in some works.
1. Dasistoma macrophylla (Nutt.) Raf.
Annual, rather pubescent, to about 2 m. high, branched, said to be parasitic
on Aesculus; leaves opposite, ovate to lanceolate in outline, the margins subentire
to crenate-serrate, to about 3 dm. long and 1 dm. wide, the lower ones pinnately
divided and with the broad lanceolate divisions pinnatifid and incised, progres-
sively smaller up the stem with the uppermost ones narrowly lanceolate; flowers
in an elongate leafy spike; calyx slightly zygomorphic, about 1 cm. long, the tube
cup-shaped, the 4 lower oblong lobes obtuse and about equaling the tube, the
upper median lobe shorter and narrower; corolla tube narrowly campanulate,
incurved, about 1 cm. long, woolly within, the spreading limb about 15 mm.
wide; stamens 4, strongly didynamous; filaments villous, inserted near middle of
corolla tube and barely exserted; anthers oblong, completely dehiscent; style
somewhat dilated and notched at apex; capsule globose-ovoid, about 1 cm. long,
loculicidal, each valve terminated by a short flat triangular beak; seeds angular,
2-3 mm. long, the papery coat reticulate. Seymeria macrophylla Nutt.
In rich woods and on banks and edges of streams in Okla. (Murray Co.) and
n.-cen. Tex. (Dallas Co.), June-Sept.; from W. Va. to Wise., la. and Neb., s. to
Ga., Ala., Miss., La. and Tex.
16. Agalinis RAF.
Annual (in ours) or perennial herbs with usually thin stems and branches;
leaves linear, mostly entire, opposite, tending to become alternate on the
branches; flowers often large for the plant, arising from the axils of the some-
what reduced upper leaves to form a raceme or (by reduction) appearing to
be terminal, frequently only one flower of pair developed; calyx regular, gamo-
sepalous, the tube campanulate to hemispheric, usually much longer than the
lobes; corolla zygomorphic, membranous, pink to purple, sometimes white, com-
monly with yellow lines and reddish-purple spots in throat; corolla tube cam-
panulate, often somewhat distended on the lower side; corolla lobes all equally
distinct, commonly marginally ciliate, the lower 3 spreading, the upper 2 arched
and spreading or somewhat recurved; stamens 4, didynamous, the lowejr pair the
longer; filaments pubescent (at least toward base); anther sacs obtuse to cuspidate
at base; capsule typically globose or subglobose, loculicidal.
About 60 species in temperate America.
1. Pedicels mostly 1 cm. long or more, typically filiform and always much longer
than the calyx at an thesis (2)
1. Pedicels mostly less than 1 cm. long, stoutish or slender and about as long
as or shorter than the calyx at anthesis, rarely with some slightly
longer than the calyx (3)
2(1). Plant fleshy and succulent, bushy-branched below and with elongate sub-
scapose racemes above; leaves and calyx lobes obtuse or essentially
so; in saline habitats 1. A. maritima.
2. Plant not fleshy, more uniformly branched; leaves and calyx lobes acute to
acuminate; in nonsaline soils 2. A. tenuifolia.
3(1). Plant fleshy and succulent, bushy-branched below and with elongate sub-
scapose racemes above; leaves and calyx lobes obtuse; in saline
habitats 1. A. maritima.
3. Plant not fleshy, more uniformly branched; leaves and calyx lobes acute to
acuminate; in nonsaline soils (4)
1495
-------
Fig. 702: Agalinis maritima: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x- 3; c, flower, cut section,
x 3; d, capsule, x 3; e, seed, x 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
4(3). Calyx lobes nearly as long as to longer than the tube, the sinuses narrow;
leaf blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or sometimes linear, to
6 mm. wide, the lower occasionally 3-cIeft at base
3. A. heterophylla.
4. Calyx lobes typically much-abbreviated, much shorter than the tube, the
sinuses broad and open; leaf blades linear to filiform or subulate,
always entire (5)
5(4). Primary leaves to 4 cm. long, spreading or widely arcuate-ascending; stem
smooth to more or less scabridulous, commonly angled; stigma
2—3 mm. long 4. A. purpurea.
5. Primary leaves mostly less than 2.5 cm. long, erect-ascending or closely
arcuate-ascending, often somewhat appressed to stem, typically with
well-developed axillary fascicles; stem scabrous-puberulent, sub-
terete; stigma 3-4 mm. long 5. A. fasciculata.
1. Agalinis maritima (Raf.) Raf. SEASIDE GERARDIA, SALT MARSH GERARDIA. Fig.
702.
Plant to about 6 dm. high, usually much smaller, with short leafy branches
below, smooth; leaves fleshy, broadly linear, obtuse, to about 3 cm. long and
3 mm. wide; flowers few, in a more or less naked simple raceme; pedicels 2—10
mm. long, shorter to longer than the floral bracts; calyx tube broadly campanulate,
2-3 mm. long in anthesis, slightly longer in fruit; calyx lobes broad, short and
thick, 0.5-1 mm. long, very obtuse to acutish; corolla rose-pink, glabrous, 1.2-2
cm. long; anther cells mucronulate at base, 1.3-2.3 mm. long, villous to glabrous;
capsule globular to ovoid, 4-6 mm. long. A. spiciflora (Engelm.) Penn., Gerardia
maritima Raf.
In salt marshes and beach dunes along the Tex. coast, May-July; from N.S.
to Fla. and Tex., also Mex. and W. I.
Our material is usually referred to var. grandiflora (Benth.) Shinners, charac-
terized by having anther cells 1.8-2.3 mm. long and usually villous with long
white hairs; pedicels mostly equaling or longer than the bracts; calyx lobes
typically obtuse; corolla 1.5-2 cm. long.
2. Agalinis tenuifolia (Vahl) Raf.
Plant usually smooth, to about 5 dm. high, usually much smaller, paniculately
much-branched; leaves mostly narrowly linear and plane, spreading, to 6 mm.
wide, about equaling the lower but mostly shorter than the uppermost pedicels;
inflorescence racemose; pedicels filiform, widely divergent, commonly 1-2 cm.
long at anthesis; calyx tube 2-4 mm. long; calyx lobes broadly triangular to
subulate, usually less than 1 mm. long, rarely to 2 mm.; corolla pink to mallow-
purple or paler, 1-2.3 cm. long, glabrous except for the ciliate margins of the
nearly equal lobes, its upper lip arching over the stamens; anther cells cuspidate-
mucronate at base, densely to sparingly villous; capsules 3-7 mm. long. Gerardia
tenuifolia Vahl. and var. leucanthera (Raf.) Shinners.
In moist areas along streams, about ponds, in wet meadows, fields and low
flatwoods, in Okla. (Pittsburg Co.) and n.e. Tex., Sept.-Nov.; from Me. to Man.
and N.D., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Our material is usually referred to subsp. leucanthera (Raf.) Penn. character-
ized by having a corolla 15-23 mm. long and calyx lobes less than 1 mm. long.
3. Agalinis heterophylla (Nutt.) Small. PRAIRIE AGALINIS.
Plant to about 6 dm. high, the stem smoothish, paniculately branched or the
branches virgate; leaves rather erect, thickish or rigid, the lowest or primary
ones broadly linear (to 45 mm. long and 8 mm. wide) and 3-cleft or laciniate, the
others narrowly linear and mucronate-acute, those of the branchlets short and
1497
-------
somewhat subulate, scabrous above and on the margins; pedicels to 2 mm. long;
calyx tube 3.5-5 mm. long, the midvein keeled into the lobes; calyx lobes tri-
angular-lanceolate or subulately attenuate from a broad base, very acute, in age
spreading, 3.5-6.5 mm. long, almost always as long as or longer than the tube;
corolla deep-pink to white and lavender-tinged, 2.5-3 cm. long; capsule sub-
globose, about 8 mm. long. Gerardia heterophylla Nutt.
In prairies and plains, grasslands and fallow fields, in wet soil of water-
filled pits, wet gravelly soil on edge of lakes and ponds, sometimes on rocky
soils or in open woodlands, usually somewhat moist, in Tex. in a line from Gray-
son Co. to Cameron Co. and eastw., and in Okla (Love, LeFlore and Ottawa cos.),
June-Oct; from Mo. and Okla. to La. and Tex.
4. Agalinis purpurea (L.) Penn.
Plant to 12 dm. high, usually much smaller, smooth to scabridulous. commonly
angled, with virgate rather wide-spreading branches; leaves usually spreading or
widely arcuate-ascending, narrowly linear, to about 4 cm. long and 4 mm. wide,
either somewhat scabrous or smooth with merely scabrous margins; axillary
fascicles sometimes slightly developed; flowers few to many; pedicels 1-4 mm,
long, shorter than the calyx; calyx tube 2-4 mm. long; calyx lobes triangular,
acute to acuminate, 1 mm. long or more; corolla rose-pink to pink, 2.5-3 cm.
long; capsule globular, 4-6 mm. long. Gerardia purpurea L.
Moist sandy soil in bogs, seepage areas, moist prairies, open pinelands,
barrens and along shores in e. Tex., Aug.-Nov.; from N.S. to Minn., s. to Fla. and
Tex.; also Mex. and the W. I.
5. Agalinis fasciculata (Ell.) Raf.
Plant to about 7 dm. high, the stem scabrous-puberulent, nearly terete at
base, the branches angled; leaves erect-ascending to closely arcuate-ascending,
scabrous, commonly 1-2 mm. wide, the axillary fascicles usually well-developed;
bracteal leaves reduced, much shorter than the flowers; racemes elongate, 12-
to 30-flowered; pedicels 2-4 mm. long at anthesis; calyx tube 3-4 mm. long, with
subquadrate sinuses, the acuminate lobes to 2 mm. long; corolla 2-3.5 cm. long,
rose-pink, with rounded to truncate spreading lobes 7-10 mm. long; anther cells
2.5-3.5 mm. long, with acute to cuspidate bases; capsule globose-ovoid, 5-6 mm.
long; seeds to 0.8 mm. long. Gerardia fasciculata Ell.
In dry or moist soils in savannahs, open weedy areas, on edge of ponds and
lakes, open flatwoods and in dune hollows and tidal marshes, in e. Okla. (Ottawa
Co.), in s.e., e. and n.-cen. Tex., Sept.-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to Md., Mo.,
Okla. and Ark.
17. Buchnera L. BLUEHEARTS
Perennial rough-hairy herbs that turn black in drying, apparently root-parasitic;
leaves sessile, opposite or the uppermost alternate; flowers opposite in a terminal
spike, bracted and with 2 bractlets; calyx tubular, obscurely nerved; corolla with
a straight or curved tube and an almost equally 5-cleft limb, the lobes oblong to
cuneate-obovate. flat; stamens included, the anthers 1-celled; style clavate and
entire; capsule bivalved and many-seeded.
About 1 00 species, mostly in the Old World tropics and subtropics.
1. Leaf blades clearly 3-veined, ovate-lanceolate, sinuate-dentate to somewhat
lacerate; corolla lobes 5-8 mm. long; capsule usually 6-7 mm. long;
stem usually hirsute-pubescent 1. B. americana.
1. Leaf blades obscurely or not 3-veined, elliptic-lanceolate, repand-dentate to
entire; corolla lobes 2-5 mm. long; capsule about 5 mm. long: stem
pilose to glabrate 2. B. floridana.
1498
-------
1. Buchnera americana L.
Plant rough-hairy, the virgate stem to about 8 dm. high; lower leaves lanceo-
late to obovate-oblong, to 1 dm. long, the others ovate-oblong to linear-lanceolate,
sparingly and coarsely toothed, scabrous, veiny; spike interrupted; calyx pubes-
cent, 6-7 mm. long, exceeding the bracts; corolla deep-purple, the tube about
1 cm. long, the lobes 5-8 mm. long; capsule ovoid-oblong, about 7 mm. long.
In moist sandy soil of open woods, prairies, meadows and marshy areas in
e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., June-Dec.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., N.Y.,
Ont, Mich., 111., Mo. and Kan.
2. Buchnera floridana Gand.
Stem to about 6 dm. high, slightly pilose to glabrate above, commonly from
thickened roots; leaves rough-pubescent, the larger one elliptic-oblanceolate and
to 1 dm. long and 18 mm. wide; bracts 2-3 mm. long, spreading; calyx lobes
triangular, acute, to 1 mm. long, the anterior sinus the deeper; corolla violet to
purplish or rarely white, the tube 7-8 mm. long, the triangular-obovate lobes 3-5
mm. long; capsule about 5 mm. long. B. breviflora Penn.
In sandy or gravelly soils, bogs and coastal savannahs, throughout most of
the s. half of Tex., Apr .-Nov.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N. C.
18. Parentucellia Vrv.
Four species native to Eurasia.
1. Parentucellia viscosa (L.) Caruel. Fig. 703.
Erect glandular-pubescent annual, to about 5 dm. tall; stem simple or branched
above the middle; leaves opposite to subopposite or spirally arranged, 3-5 cm.
long, ovate-lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, acute, sessile and clasping at the
rounded base, saliently toothed, pubescent except between ribs on lower leaf
surface; flowers essentially sessile in spicate racemes terminating the main stem
and branches; bracteoles none; calyx with 4 lanceolate lobes; corolla golden-
yellow, 15-17 mm. long, 2-lipped with the upper lip galeate; capsule about 8 mm.
long, distally brown-hirsute; seeds 0.3 mm. long.
In moist to wet sandy soil and grassy-seepy areas along streams, in s.e. Tex.
(Jasper Co.), Apr.-June; an Old World species introd. in n. Calif., Ore. and Tex.
19. Pedicularis L. LOUSEWORT. WOOD-BETONY
Erect perennial herbs with (in ours) alternate leaves and a usually spikelike
raceme of yellow, purple, red or white flowers; bracteoles none; calyx with 5, 4,
or seemingly 2 lobes; corolla bilabiate, its upper lip galeate and often extended
into a beaklike process, its lower lip shorter and with the oblique lobes spreading
or appressed; stamens 4, didynamous; anthers glabrous, their cells equivalent,
obtuse to subulate-tipped; capsule flattened, glabrous, loculicidal; seeds several,
turgid, often slightly winged.
About 500 species in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas 1. P. canadensis.
1. Distribution New Mexico and Arizona (2)
2(1). Corolla bright-pink to red-purple; galea prolonged into a filiform beak that
is curved outward and upward and is as long as the remainder of
the corolla 2. P. groenlandica.
2. Corolla yellow-white or sordid-yellow; galea not prolonged into a slender
beak, much shorter than the rest of the corolla (3)
3(2). Corolla 1-2 cm. long, yellowish-white; galea falcate, the short stout beak
eonic and straight or slightly incurved 3. P. Parryi.
1499
-------
Fig. 703: Parenlucellia viscosa: a, habit, x ],<>; b, flower, x 2%; c, stamen, x 5;
d, fruit, x 2'j; e, seed, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
3. Corolla 2.5-3 cm. long, sordid-yellow, sometimes streaked with red; galea
strongly cucullate at apex, not beaked but with 2 lateral teeth just
below apex 4. P. Grayi.
1. Pedicularis canadensis L. COMMON LOUSEWORT. Fig. 704.
Perennial, hairy; stems simple, closely clustered, to about 4 dm. high; leaves
scattered, the lowest pinnately parted, the others pinnatifid, all or nearly all
petioled, the blade to about 15 cm. long and 5 cm. wide; large-bracted raceme
dense and short (3-5 cm.) in flower, elongated to 2 dm. in fruit; calyx 7-9 mm.
long, split in front, otherwise almost entire, oblique; corolla yellow or yellowish,
to 23 mm. long, strongly bilabiate, the incurved upper lip hooded and 2-toothed
under the apex; lower corolla lip erect at base, 2-crested above, 3-lobed; lobes
commonly spreading, the lateral ones rounded and larger; anthers transverse, the
cells pointless; capsule lance-oblong-flattened, several-seeded, twice as long as
calyx.
In open forests, on the edge of forests, on open seepage slopes and marshy
soils, also in clearings and prairies, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., Mar.-May;
from Me. and Que. to Man., s. to Fla., Miss., La., Tex. and n. Mex.
2. Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. ELEPHANT'S HEAD. Fig. 705.
Plant glabrous throughout; stems 3-7 dm. tall, exceeding the leaves that are
basal and on lower part of stem; leaves 10-15 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, with
12 to 15 pairs of pinnules (all cut to the narrowly margined midribs), each
linear-lanceolate and somewhat saliently and callosely serrate-dentate, the basal on
petioles usually shorter than the blades, the cauline short-petioled or sessile, the
upper much smaller; bracts of inflorescence shorter than the flowers, linear-
lanceolate, with a few pairs of slender lobes; pedicels 1—1.5 mm. long; calyx 4-5
mm. long, with 5 subulate entire lobes of which the uppermost is scarcely shorter
than the others, the calyx tube scarcely cleft ventrally; corolla 8-10 mm. long,
glabrous, bright-pink to red-purple, its tube straight, its upper lip arched and
decurved, dark-purple, terminating in a slender and side-curving dark-purple beak
4-8 mm. long, its lower lip deflexed-spreading, light mallow-purple, the middle
lobe somewhat the narrowest; anther cells acute; capsule 6-8 mm. long, dorsally
rounded and dehiscing throughout, ventrally less rounded and dehiscing distally;
seeds 3 mm. long.
In wet mt. meadows, seepage banks about lakes and ponds, in swamps and
marshy areas, in N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), June-Sept.; Greenl.
to Alas., s. in mts. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Pedicularis Parryi Gray. Fig. 704.
Plant glabrous or the inflorescence slightly pubescent; stem strict, to about
4 dm. tall, very leafy at base but slightly so above; leaves linear-lanceolate in
outline, the lower ones 4-10 cm. long, deeply pinnately parted into numerous
linear-lanceolate acute pinnatifid divisions 4-6 mm. long and closely callous-
serrate; uppermost leaves reduced to narrow linear bracts; spike dense, elongate-
spiciform, 4-20 cm. long; calyx 5-toothed, the teeth entire; corolla 1-2 cm. long,
ochroleucous or more yellow; galea strongly falcate, with decurved subulate-
conical beak of about the length of the width of the galea.
In wet mt. meadows, in and along boggy streams, N. M. (Rio Arriba, Colfax
and Mora cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee and Coconino cos.), June-Oct.;
Wyo. to Mont., s. to N.M. and Ariz.
1501
-------
Fig. 704: a-f, Peclicularis canadensis: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, stamen, x
2; d, pistil, x 2; e, fruit, x 2; f, seed, x 5. g-j, Peclicularis Parryi: g, inflorescence, X
'is h, basal leaves, x 'j; i, flower, x 2; j, pistil, x 2. (V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 705: Pedicularis groenlandica: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 2; c, anther, x 5;
d, fruit with corolla sloughing off, x 2; e, fruit, x 2. (V. F.).
-------
4. Pedicularis Grayi A. Nels.
Stems 4-10 dm. tall, fistulose, glabrous or pubescent above and in the inflores-
cence; leaves 2-6 dm. long, basal and cauline, glabrous or somewhat pubescent
when young, pinnately divided to the midrib with the segments pinnatifid into
serrate or incised lobes; inflorescence 15-40 cm. long, spicate, many-flowered;
bracts linear from an ovate-lanceolate base, the lower ones pinnatifid and often
longer than the flowers; calyx 1-1.5 cm. long, with 5 linear-lanceolate lobes;
corolla 2.5-3 cm. long, sordid-yellow or sometimes streaked with red; galea 9-15
mm. long, curving downward and cucullate, not at all beaked but with 2 lateral
teeth just below apex.
In damp woods, marshes and wet meadows along streams, in N.M. (widespread
in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee, Graham and Cochise cos.), June-Sept.;
also Wyo.
20. CastiUeja L.f. INDIAN PAINTBRUSH. PAINTED-CUP
Perennial or annual herbs, sometimes woody at the base; leaves alternate,
entire or pinnately lobed; flowers in bracteate spikes; bracts prominent, usually
more conspicuously colored than the flowers; calyx tubular, terminating in 4 or
(if wholly united laterally) 2 lobes; corolla extremely zygomorphic, with a long
narrow galeate (hooded) upper lip and a shorter often vestigial lower lip, the
tube long and narrow; stamens 4, didynamous, each pair of anther sacs unequally
placed; capsule ovoid, bilocular, loculicidal; seeds numerous, the testa loose
and alveolately reticulate.
More than 150 species, concentrated in western North America, Mexico and
Central America; 1 species in the West Indies, about 5 species in South America
and about 10 species in Eurasia. The common name "Indian blanket" is sometimes
loosely applied to this genus but that name should be reserved for Gaillardia of
the Compositae.
1. Distribution in eastern Oklahoma 1. C. coccinea.
1. Distribution New Mexico and/or Arizona (2)
2(1). Root annual, fibrous; stems solitary, simple or often branched from near
base; leaves and bracts linear to narrowly lanceolate, entire, usually
tipped with red or scarlet (3)
2. Root perennial, mostly woody; stems several clustered, sometimes decumbent
and rooting at the base; leaves entire or frequently the uppermost
with 1 or 2 pairs of small lateral lobes; bracts typically ovate-
oblong, entire or more often with 1 or more pairs of small lateral
lobes (4)
3(2). Stems typically slender, sparsely villous to glabrate (at least below); leaves
linear to linear-lanceolate; corolla with galea exserted from calyx,
the lower lip bright red and differently colored from rest of corolla
2. C. minor.
3. Stems typically stout, copiously villous nearly to the base; leaves lanceolate;
corolla with galea mostly included in calyx, the lower lip not
differently colored from rest of corolla 3. C. exilis.
4(2). Bracts bright- to dull-yellow, rarely streaked or somewhat tinged with red
or purple (5)
4. Bracts typically bright-red, crimson or scarlet, yellow only in rare individ-
uals (7)
5(4). Stems and leaves more or less densely tomentose; seed coat dark and often
pubescent 4. c. Uneata.
5. Stems and leaves glabrous to variously hairy but not at all tomentose; seed
coat light colored, never pubescent (6)
1504
-------
6(5). Plants 1-2 dm. tall, unbranched, strongly viscid-villous (at least in the
inflorescence); bracts sometimes streaked or tinged with red or
purple; typically in alpine situations 5. C. occidentals.
6. Plants mostly 2-5 dm. tall, often branched, glabrous to slightly viscid-villous;
bracts pale-yellow; mostly below alpine zones 6. C. sulphured.
7(4). Inflorescence commonly branched; primary lobes of calyx each with 2
linear-attenuate sharp segments 7. C. miniata.
1. Inflorescence simple; primary lobes of calyx each with 2 short blunt segments
8. C. rhexifolia.
1. Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng. PAINTED CUP, INDIAN PAINT-BRUSH.
Annual, more or less pubescent; stem usually simple, 2-6 dm. tall; principal
cauline leaves very diverse, varying from rarely entire to commonly 3- or 5-cleft,
the segments linear to narrowly oblong, the lateral ones almost always shorter or
narrower than the terminal one; spike at first dense and 4-6 cm. long, elongating
to as much as 2 dm. in fruit; bracteal leaves wholly or mostly scarlet, rarely
pale, commonly 3-lobed or occasionally 5-lobed; calyx 2-3 cm. long, thin and
membranous, often more or less scarlet, deeply divided into 2 lateral halves;
each calyx half gradually widened distally and at the summit broadly rounded to
truncate or barely emarginate; corolla greenish-yellow, little surpassing the calyx,
the minute lip less than a third as long as the galea.
In wet meadows, bogs, moist prairies and wet sandy soils in Okla. (Delaware,
Haskell, Mayes and Muskogee cos.), May-Aug.; Mass, to Ont. and Man., s. to
S.C., Miss., La. and Okla.
2. Castilleja minor Gray. Fig. 706.
Slender annual; stems erect, simple or branched from near base, 2-10 dm.
tall; herbage variously pubescent but with some gland-tipped hairs, occasionally
glabrate below, usually somewhat viscid or "clammy"; leaves linear to lanceolate-
attenuate, entire, 4-10 cm. long, minutely but densely pilose, interspersed with
gland-tipped hairs; bracts entire, linear to lanceolate-attenuate, the lower bracts
green, the upper ones red-tipped; flowers in spikelike raceme, pediceled, the lower
flowers remote; calyx cleft medianly into 2 ovate-attenuate lobes, these cleft or
notched at apex; corolla short, but the galea well-exserted, the reddish lower lip
included in calyx or barely exserted, the galea about ¥2 to nearly as long as
corolla tube; capsule included in growing calyx, 10-12 mm. long.
Subsaline to alkaline marshes and bogs, around springs and along streams, in
N. M. (Grant, Sierra and San Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino and
Mohave, s. to Greenlee, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Apr.-Aug.; also n.
Mex.
3. Castilleja exilis A. Nels. Fig. 706.
Slender to coarse annual; stems simple or with few branches from base, 3—10
dm. tall; pubescence various, often of coarsely hispid-pilose hairs intermixed with
fine hairs or sometimes with gland-tipped hairs; leaves lanceolate-attenuate to
linear, entire; bracts foliaceous, lanceolate, entire, erect and scarlet-tipped when
young, soon becoming green, entire; flowers in a stout spikelike raceme, the
flowers becoming more remote after anthesis; calyx green, 15-18 mm. long, cleft
medianly for about two thirds of its length into ovate-attenuate lobes, these
entire, toothed or emarginate at apex, rarely cleft; corolla 14-20 mm. long, in-
cluded within or barely exserted from the calyx, the galea about one half as long
as tube; capsule 8-12 mm. long.
Saline or alkaline bogs or marshes, cat-tail swamps, wet meadows and wet soil
near springs, in N. M. (San Juan Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Apr.-Sept.;
Mont, to Wash., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Nev.
1505
-------
Fig. 706: Casiilleja. a-i, C. minor: a, stem hairs, x 6; b, calyx and bract hairs, x
8; c, habit, x %; d, calyx, spread out, the cut tube extending from the base to the
dotted lines, x 2; e, corolla, side view, x 2; f, flower, x P,(.; g, seed, x 12; h, capsule,
x 2: i, bract, x 2. j-o, C. exilis: j, stem hairs, x 4; k, corolla, x 2; 1, calyx, spread
open, the cut tube extending from the base to the dotted lines, x 2; m, flower, x 1%',
n, bract, x 2; o, habit, x -,:,. (From Mason, Fig. 312).
-------
4. Castilleja lineata Greene.
Perennial; stems several, erect or ascending from a woody caudex, 1-4 dm.
tall, grayish'tomentose; leaves linear, 2-4 cm. long, usually with 1 or 2 pairs
of lateral lobes, tomentose; inflorescence narrow and elongating in fruit; bracts
broader than the leaves, 3- or more-cleft or pinnatified with narrow lobes, the
middle lobe broadest, dull-yellow; calyx 18-20 mm. long, yellowish or greenish,
subequally cleft to middle above and below and deeply cleft laterally; corolla about
2 cm. long, greenish; galea 4-7 mm. long, shorter than the corolla tube; lower
corolla lip not much over 1 mm. long.
In marshy meadows and in wet soil along streams, in N. M. (Colfax and Rio
Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache Co.), July-Sept.; also Colo.
5. Castilleja occidentalis Torr.
Perennial; stems clustered, erect or ascending from a woody base, 1-2 dm.
tall, unbranched, mostly purplish, more or less viscid-villous; leaves linear-lanceo-
late, typically entire but sometimes the upper ones with a pair of lateral lobes,
viscid-villous to -puberulent; inflorescence short and compact, predominantly
yellow but varying to streaked or tinged with red and purple; bracts ovate-oblong,
entire and rounded at apex or with 1 or 2 pairs of lateral lobes, viscid-villous;
calyx 15-20 mm. long, deeply and subequally cleft above and below, its primary
lobes again divided into 2 mqstly blunt segments 1-4 mm. long; corolla 18-25 mm.
long, its minutely puberulent galea much shorter than the tube and only 3 to 4
times the length of the prominent but scarcely saccate lower lip.
Wet mt. meadows and wet alpine slopes, in N.M. (Mora and Rio Arriba cos.)
June-Aug.; N. M. and Ut., northw.
6. Castilleja sulphurea Rydb.
Perennial; stems clustered, erect or ascending from a woody base, 2-5 dm.
tall, often branched above, usually glabrous or glabrate below, commonly viscid-
villous above, occasionally puberulent throughout; leaves linear to ovate-lanceo-
late, acute to acuminate, mostly all entire but the upper ones sometimes lobed,
glabrous to puberulent or finely villous; inflorescence conspicuous, pale-yellow,
at first short and broad but often elongating in fruit; bracts ovate-oblong, pale
yellow, mostly entire and rounded but sometimes acute or with 1 or 2 pairs of
very short lateral lobes, puberulent and villous; calyx 15-25 mm. long, deeply
and subequally cleft above and below, its primary lobes again notched or cleft
into 2 blunt or acute segments 1-3 mm. long; corolla 18-30 mm. long, its
minutely puberulent galea shorter than the tube and 3 to 4 times the length of
the dark-green thickened lower lip. C. septentrionalis of auth., C. luteovirens
Rydb.
Wet or moist meadows and slopes, on edge of lakes, ponds and streams, in
N. M., (Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Union cos.),
July-Sept.; Mont, to Alta., s. to N. M.
7. Castilleja miniata Hook.
Perennial; stems few, erect or ascending from a woody base, rarely creeping
and rooting at the base or decumbent, 2-8 dm. tall, often branched, glabrous to
short-pubescent or somewhat viscid-villous (especially above); leaves linear to
lanceolate, sometimes broader, usually all entire but sometimes a few lobed,
glabrous to puberulent or finely villous with simple hairs; inflorescence con-
spicuous, bright-red or scarlet, occasionally crimson or rarely yellow, at first
broad and short but often elongating in fruit; bracts ovate-oblong, more or less
toothed or cleft with acute segments, rarely entire, puberulent and villous, often
viscid; calyx 15-30 mm. long, deeply and subequally cleft above and below, its
1507
-------
primary lobes again divided into 2 usually linear segments 3-9 mm. long;
corolla 2-4 cm. long, its puberulent to pubescent galea three fourths to about
as long as the tube and 5 or more times the length of the dark-green thickened
lower lip. C. confusa Greene, C. trinervis Rydb.
Wet meadows, marshes and slopes in N. M. (Bernalillo, Colfax, Rio Arriba,
Sandoval, San Miguel and Santa Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Coconino cos.);
also Colo., June-Oct.
8. Castilleja rhexifolia Rydb.
Perennial; stems clustered, erect or ascending from a woody base, mostly 1-3
dm. tall, usually unbranched, glabrate to villous and sometimes viscid-villous;
leaves narrowly lanceolate, typically entire but sometimes with the upper ones
lobed, glabrous to puberulent or villous (-viscid); inflorescence mostly crimson
and drying purplish but varying to scarlet or infrequently somewhat yellow, at
first short and broad but elongate in fruit; bracts oblong-elliptic to ovate-oblong,
entire and rounded to sometimes acutish at apex, sometimes with 1 or 2 pairs
of short lateral lobes, villous-puberulent; calyx 15-25 mm. long, subequally
cleft above and below, its primary lobes again divided into 2 usually blunt seg-
ments 3-6 mm. long; corolla 20-35 mm. long, its puberulent galea usually much
shorter than the tube and 4 to 5 times as long as the dark green thickened lower
lip. C. lauta A. Nels.
In marshes, wet mt. meadows, seepage about ponds and lakes, and along
streams, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and Taos cos.), July-Sept.; Alta. and B.C., s. to
N.M. and Ut.
21. Orthocarpus NUTT. OWL CLOVER
About 30 species, in western North America; one in the Andes.
1. Orthocarpus luteus Nutt. Fig. 707.
Stems 1-3 dm. tall, erect, usually simple or branching near the top, more or
less pubescent; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 1-4 cm. long, usually entire
or rarely 3-cleft; inflorescence many-flowered, to 10 cm. long or more; bracts
leaflike, 10-15 mm. long, 3- or 5-cleft; calyx 5-8 mm. long, the lobes 1-2 mm.
long; corolla 10-15 mm. long, golden-yellow, galea apex obtuse, not inflexed,
lower lip about as long as and not much wider than the galea; seeds 1-1.25 mm.
long.
In marshes and wet meadows, in N. M. (Rio Arriba and San Miguel cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), June-Oct.; Man. to B. C., s. to N. M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
Fam. 120. Martyniaceae STAFF UNICORN-PLANT FAMILY
Coarse stout annual or perennial herbs with branching stems, viscid to glandu-
lar-pubescent and usually strongly scented; leaves exstipulate, simple, long-
petioled, opposite to alternate; flowers usually large and showy in loose terminal
racemes; calyx bibracteate, composed of 5 irregular sepals or spathaceous and
5-lobed; corolla sympetalous, 5-lobed and somewhat bilabiate; fertile stamens 4,
didynamous (the rudiment of the 5th usually obvious), or 2, the second pair
forming staminodes; filaments attached to the corolla; anthers gland-tipped and
with 2 divergent cells; carpels 2, united to form a 1-celled ovary with 2 parietal
intruded placentae expanded into 2 broad lamellae, the ovary apparently inserted
on an annular glandular disk; ovules anatropous; style 1, slender; stigma with 2
flat sensitive lobes; fruit a drupaceous capsule, bivalved and loculicidally dehiscent
or indehiscent, imperfectly 5-celIed, frequently crested and always terminated by
1508
-------
Fig. 707: Orthocarpus luteus: a, top of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant, x %
c, flower, x 2; d, corolla spread out, x 2; e, capsule in bract with part of calyx re-
moved, x 2; f, seed, x 10. (V. P.).
-------
a prominent incurved 2-horned beak; exocarp fleshy, separating in age from
the woody reticulate-sculptured or spinose endocarp; seeds 4 or many, the testa
corky-tuberculate or membranous-reticulate; endosperm none; embryo straight;
cotyledons large and fleshy.
About 20 species in 5 genera, native to the Western Hemisphere.
1. Proboscidea SCHMID. UNICORN-PLANT. DEVIL'S CLAW. CINCO
LLAGAS
About 12 species, most of which are confined to North America.
1. Proboscidea louisianica (Mill.) Thell. UNICORN-PLANT, COMMON DEVIL'S CLAW,
RAM'S HORN.
Coarse viscid-pubescent annual with prostrate or ascending opposite branches
to 1 m. long; leaves opposite or the upper ones subalternate, with densely short-
pubescent petioles to 2 dm. long and 5 mm. thick, orbicular-reniform to broadly
ovate, cordate at base, with entire or sinuate margins, to 3 dm. wide and slightly
shorter; flowers 8 to 20 in an open raceme; pedicels 2-3 cm. long in anthesis,
45 mm. in fruit; pedicel bracts linear, 5-10 mm. long; calyx bracts oblong-falcate
to ovate, 1 cm. long or less; calyx to 2 cm. long, the 5 lobes acutish to obtuse, one
half the length of the calyx, thick and green or somewhat membranous and
yellowish; corolla to 55 mm. long and nearly as wide, dull-white or somewhat
purplish or pinkish throughout, mottled or blotched with reddish-purple and yellow
or occasionally nearly clear reddish-violet, conspicuous reddish-purple spots ex-
tend internally the entire tube length, the cylindrical portion of the tube short (5
mm. or less), the remainder broadly campanulate, 15-25 mm. long, 15-17.5 mm.
wide at orifice, ventricose, the lobes 1.5-2 cm. long and 1.5-3 cm. wide; filaments
glabrous or sparsely villous or tomentose below their point of attachment, glandu-
lar on the arcuately curved portion; fruit body stout, to 1 dm. long, 3 cm. thick,
the horns one and one half to three times longer than the body. P Jussieui
Schmid., Martynia louisianica Mill.
In wet or dryish meadows, playa lakes, waste places and on stream banks, mostly
in cen. and n.e. Tex., Okla. (Waterfall) and N.M. (Chaves, Guadalupe and
Union cos.), June-Sept.; nat. to s. U.S. but spontaneous northw.; sometimes
cult, for its young pods which are made into pickles.
Fam. 121. Lentibulariaceae RICH. BLADDERWORT FAMILY
Aquatic, amphibious or terrestrial annual or perennial plants, commonly
possessing traps and insectivorous or carnivorous; leaves alternate, cauline or in
a basal rosette, simple or dissected: flowers 1 to several on an erect scape; calyx
bilabiate, 2- or 5-lobed; corolla deeply bilabiate, the lower lip often 3-lobed,
spurred at base in front and with a conspicuous palate; stamens 2; ovary free,
1-celled, the placentation free-central; capsule ovoid to globose, 2- or 4-valved,
often bursting irregularly; seeds minute.
About 170 species in 4 genera that are worldwide in distribution.
1. Plants mostly aquatic, rarely amphibious or terrestrial; leaves filiform-dissected
and usually bladder-bearing; flowers yellow or purplish in U. pur-
purea; calyx 2-lobed 1. Utrictilaria
1. Plants terrestrial in moist soil; leaves entire, in basal rosette, not bladder-
bearing; flowers whitish or pale-violet; calyx 5-lobed
2. Pingiticula
1510
-------
Fig. 708: Utricu/aria subulata: a, habit, x 1; b, bract, x 5; c, bract, dorsal view
showing attachment scar, x 10; d, trap, x 25; e, two views of corolla, x 5; f, capsule,
x 13; g, capsule, split open, x 13; h, seed, x 25. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 709: Utricularia cornuta: a, habit, about x 1; b, erect branch, x 4; c, prop
branch, x 4; d, leaf blades, x 35; e, basal bladder, x 70; f, inflorescence, x 1; g, flower,
x 3; h, capsule, x 5; i, seed, x 115. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
1. Utricularia L. BLADDERWORT
Perennial herbs, strictly aquatic, amphibious or in wet soil; stems slender;
leaves capillary-dissected and usually bearing bladderlike traps with a few
flagellae at their orifice and a valvelike action for trapping micro-organisms;
flowers 1 to several on slender scapes; calyx bilobed; corolla bilabiate, the lower
lip usually 3-lobed and with a conspicuous projecting usually bearded palate that
often closes the throat, the erect upper lip usually entire, spurred at the base
in front; stamens 2, the anthers convergent; capsule 2-valved.
About 120 species that are cosmopolitan in distribution.
Species of Utricularia are not only known to provide food but they also
provide shelter for fish and a habitat for minute animal life upon which fish feed.
These plants are incidentally eaten by wildfowl and muskrats. Some species
can become so concentrated in water bodies that, along with Myriophyllwn spp.,
Ceratophyllum demersum and Cabomba caroliniana, they become a nuisance and
hindrance to small boat navigation. With the lowering of water levels some of these
plants may die and foul the water with their decayed vegetation, contributing to
eutrophication.
1. Leaves minute and linear or none, always inconspicuous; vegetative branches
subterranean or horizontal and submersed, only the erect filiform
flowering scape aerial; bladders minute or none (2)
1. Leaves once to several times finely dichotomously branched, usually con-
spicuous on the submersed stems, the flowers arising above the
surface of the water (4)
2(1). Bracts at base of pedicels peltate, not accompanied by bractlets; pedicels
filiform, several times longer than the bracts 1. U. subulata.
2. Bracts at base of pedicels basally attached, accompanied each by a pair of
minute bractlets; pedicels stout, at most scarcely exceeding the
bracts (3)
3(2). Flowers approximate, the expanding lower ones overtopping the unex-
panded buds above; pedicels mostly exserted beyond the basal
bracts; corolla (from tip of spur to tip of upper lobe) 15 mm. high
or more 2. U. cornuta.
3. Flowers not crowded, the expanding lower ones not reaching unexpanded buds
above; pedicels exceeded by the basal bracts; corolla 15 mm. high
or less 3. U. juncea.
4(1). Leaves (at least the upper ones) in whorls of 4 to 9, the petioles often
inflated (5)
4. Leaves all alternate, the petioles never inflated (7)
5(4). Flowers rose-purple; petioles not inflated 4. U. purpurea.
5. Flowers yellow; scape provided about or below the middle with a whorl of
inflated petioles that act as floats (6)
6(5). Flowers usually 9 to 14; pedicels recurved in fruit; corolla spur notched
at tip; raceme bracts longer than broad, never lobed; each lateral
foliar unit with its primary basal division comprised of 2 unequal
forks; base of floats tapering gradually from the expanded central
portion toward the scape axis, terete in cross section, the tips much-
curved ventrally and submersed 5. U. inflata.
6. Flowers usually 3 or 4; pedicels rarely recurved in fruit, mostly stiffly erect-
ascending; corolla spur never notched at tip, rounded or with a
small terminal papilla; raceme bracts as broad as long or broader,
variable with respect to lobing; each lateral foliar unit with primary
basal division comprised of 2 equal forks; bases of floats uniform in
breadth, tapering abruptly only at the scape axis, flattened in cross
section, their tips scarcely curved ventrally, usually straight
6. U. radiata.
1513
-------
Fig. 710: Utricu/aria juncea: a, habit, x \'-i\ b, roots, shoots, leaves, traps, etc.,
x '•'>; c, leaf, x 30; d, trap, x 30; e and f, two views of corolla, x 6; g, capsule, about
x S:,h, seed, x 125. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 711: Utricularia purpurea: a, habit, about x %; b, bladder, x 7; c, two views
of flower, x 3%; d, view looking into the flower showing stamens and anther sacs,
X 10; e, capsule, x 5; f, seed, x 75. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
7(4). Floral bracts 3-6 mm. long; scape stout, usually bearing more than 8
flowers; leafy stems floating beneath surface of water
7. U. vulgaris.
1. Floral bracts 3 mm. or less long; scape slender-filiform, bearing fewer than
8 flowers; leafy stems creeping at the bottom of shallow water,
or more of them radiating from the base of a flowering scape (8)
8(7). Lower corolla lip 5-7 mm. long, distinctly exceeding the thick very blunt
spur; body of seed smooth 8. U. gibba.
8. Lower corolla lip 8-10 mm. long, about equaling or slightly shorter than the
conic spur (9)
9(8). Leafy branches from the base of the flower stalk dimorphic, some bearing
twice-dichotomous leaves and numerous bladders, others with thrice-
dichotomous leaves that lack bladders; body of seed rough-tuber-
culate 9. U. fibrosa.
9. Leafy branches all alike, bearing small dichotomous leaves with numerous
bladders 10. U. biflora.
1. Utricularia subulata L. Fig. 708.
Plants terrestrial, with filiform subterraneal branches and slender undissected
leaves, the minute traps borne on separate underground branchlets; scapes filiform,
to 2 dm. tall, bearing as many as 12 flowers; floral axis usually flexuous when
several flowers are developed; flowers with elongate filiform pedicels to about 15
mm. long; bracts at base of pedicels attached at or slightly below their middle,
tapering to base and apex, 1-2 mm. long; sepals elliptic to suborbicular, blunt,
about 2 mm. long; corolla yellow, 3.5—12 mm. long, the rounded-ovate upper lip
smaller than the 3-lobed lower lip, the prominent palate 2-lobed, the compressed
spur appressed to and about as long as the lower lip.
In wet peat, sands and on seepage slopes and pond shores in e. Tex., also
Winkler Co. in w. Tex., Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex. and Ark., n. to L.I., s.e.
Mass, and w. N.S.
Sometimes plants with cleistogamous flowers are found. These are known as
f. cleistogama (Gray) Fern.
2. Utricularia cornuta Michx. HORNED BLADDERWORT. Fig. 709.
Plants terrestrial or on floating mats; stem delicate, usually creeping under-
ground and bearing linear-filiform simple leaves (seen only by collecting sods and
gently washing away the soil); traps minute, borne along the leaf margins; scapes
erect, wiry, slender, to 35 cm. tall, 1- to several- or rarely as many as 9-flowered;
flowers subtended by an acute sessile bract to 2 mm. long and 2 smaller included
bractlets, very fragrant, at first approximate, the freshly expanding lower ones
over-topping the unexpanded buds above; pedicels mostly exserted somewhat
beyond the bracts; longer sepal yellowish, acuminate; corolla yellow, 15-25 mm.
high (from tip of long spur to tip of upturned upper lip), nearly as broad; the
larger lower lip helmet-shaped, with a projecting convex center and recurved
sides; spur subulate, turned downward and outward, 7-12 mm. long; capsule
covered by the beaked calyx.
In wet peaty, sandy or muddy shores or bogs, sometimes on edge of water,
in the e. half of Tex., May-Sept.; from Nfld. to n. Ont. and Minn., s. to Fla.
and Tex.
3. Utricularia juncea Vahl. Fig. 710.
Very similar to U. cornuta but smaller in all its parts, the more slender
scapes to 4 dm. tall and bearing as many as 12 flowers; flowers not crowded, the
expanding ones not reaching the unexpanded buds above; pedicels mostly over-
1516
-------
Fig. 712: 1-10, Utricularia inflata: 1, habit, small portion of plant; 2, lateral foliar
unit with tuber-bearing branches; 3, germinating tuber; 4, bladder; 5, corolla, abaxial
view; 6, corolla, adaxial view showing spur; 7, sketches showing variation in lower lip
of corolla; 8, fruiting raceme; 9, node of raceme with substending bract and outline
of bract; 10, seed. 11-18, Ulricularia radiata: 11, habit, small portion of plant; 12,
lateral foliar unit; 13, bladder; 14, corolla, abaxial view; 15, corolla, adaxial view
showing spur; 16, fruiting raceme; 17, three nodes of raceme with subtending bracts
and outline of bracts to show variation; 18, seed. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; Amer.
Jour. Bot. 49(3): 214. 1962).
-------
Fig. 713: Utriciilaria v/i/garis: a, capillary leaf segments with bladders, x 4; b,
habit, showing the erect flowering scape and the floating stems, leaves and bladders,
x -V c, calyx and pistil, x 4; d. corolla, x I1.-,; e, upper lip of corolla, showing stamens
in front of throat, x 4; f. throat of corolla, showing position of stamens, style and
stigma, x 4; g. mature seed, x 20; h, mature capsule at dehiscence, the seeds in a
tight mass, x 6: i. mature seeds, x 20; j, capsule (longitudinal section), x 4. (From
Mason. Fie. 324).
-------
topped by the bracts; corolla 1-1.5 cm. high, to 1 cm. broad; the lower lip
obovate, consisting mostly of the high-arched palate, without broad recurving
margin; spur 5-7 mm. long; fruiting calyx 5-7 mm. long.
In wet sand and on margin of ponds and streams in s.e. Tex., May-Sept.; from
Fla. to e. Tex., n. to L.I.; also W.I. and S.A.
4. Utricularia purpurea Walt. PURPLE BLADDER WORT. Fig. 711.
Stems submersed, to about 1 m. long; leaves numerous, in whorls of 5 to 7
separated by internodes to 5 cm. long, verticillately branched into filiform seg-
ments that often bear a terminal bladder; scape to 15 cm. long, 1- to 4-flowered;
corolla about 1 cm. long, rose-purple to violet, the upper lip flat or concave, the
lower lip adorned with a yellow spot at base, 3-lobed with the lateral lobes
strongly and separately elevated at base into a palate; spur shorter than lower lip
and appressed to it. Vesiculina purpurea (Walt.) Raf.
In pools and lakes of quiet water, s.e. Tex. (Hardin Co.), May-Sept.; from Que.
and N.S. to Minn, and n. Ind., s. along the Coastal Plain to Fla., La. and Tex.;
also W.I.
5. Utricularia inflata Walt. FLOATING BLADDERWORT. Fig. 712.
Plants free-floating, the elongated submersed stems with alternate leaves that
are 4 to 6 times dichotomous into delicate capillary segments and bearing small
ovoid bladders; scape supporting a whorl of 4 to 10 leaves that have inflated
petioles which serve as floats, from the whorl of floats to the lowest pedicel 7-25
cm. long, supporting as many as 14 (usually about 8) flowers; floats 4-9 cm.
long, the petiole 4-8 mm. thick, the basal divisions of their pinnately dissected
blades 0.5 mm. or more in diameter; floral bracts 3-4 mm. long; calyx lobes 4-7
mm. long; corolla yellow, about 2 cm. broad, to 25 mm. high, the lower lip
3-lobed and twice as long as the appressed spur; fruiting pedicels to 35 mm. long,
spreading or recurved.
In ditches, swamps, slow streams, lakes and ponds in e. Tex., Mar.—July; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to Del. and N.J.
6. Utricularia radiata Small. Fig. 712.
Very similar in habit to U. inflata; floats several, 2—5.5 cm. long, with inflated
petioles 2-4 mm. thick; peduncle 1.5-5 cm. long, supporting usually 3 or 4
flowers; calyx lobes 3-4 mm. long; corolla about 15 mm. broad; fruiting pedicels
1-2 cm. long. U. inflata var. minor Chapm.
In lakes, ditches, slow streams and ponds in e. Tex., Mar.-June; Fla. to Tex.,
n. to N.S., Tenn. and Ind.
7. Utricularia vulgaris L. COMMON BLADDERWORT. Fig. 713.
Plants rather coarse, with elongated stems to 2 m. long and 0.5 mm. or more
thick that are free-floating just beneath the surface of the water, the plumose
branches of foliage to 12 cm. in diameter; leaves elliptic to ovate-elliptic, to
4 cm. long, much-dissected, the coarser capillary segments slightly less than 1 mm.
thick, the numerous bladders large; scape erect, stoutish, to about 8 dm. high,
supporting as many as 20 flowers, naked at the base or producing slender small-
leaved stolonlike divergent offshoots; bracts 3-6 mm. long; corolla yellow, with
brown or orange vertical stripes on the large conspicuous palate, 15-25 mm.
high, the broad lower lip somewhat 3-lobed and slightly shorter than the curved
obtuse or acutish conical spur; fruiting raceme elongate, the arched-recurved
pedicels to about 2 cm. long; winter buds ellipsoid, 1-2 cm. long, their crowded
leaves hairy; seeds brown, lustrous, striate-reticulate. Incl. var. americana Gray,
U. macrorhiza Le Conte.
1519
-------
Fig. 714: Ulricutaria gibba: a and b, flowers showing lips more or less equal in
size, rounded palate, and short spur, x 3; c, habit, showing the erect flowering and
fruiting scapes and the floating leaves and bladders, x If,; d, capsule (longitudinal sec-
tion), x 4; e, mature capsule, x 4; f and g, mature seeds, the wings broad, x 24; h,
part of stem, showing bladders borne on the leaf segments, x 6. (From Mason Fig-
327).
-------
Fig. 715: Utricularia fibrosa: a, flower, the palate bent down to show stamens
and pistil, x 6; b, flowering scape, showing young bud and flower, the lips subequal
in size and the palate conspicuous, x 4; c, habit, showing dense mass of stems, leaves
and bladders, and the erect scapes, x 1%; d, calyx, x 6; e, capsule, x 4; f, bladder,
x 12 g, bladders on stems and leaves, x 3; h, mature seeds, x 12. (From Mason, Fig.
328).
-------
In deep or shallow quiet water, rare in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and s.e.
Tex. (also reported from the Panhandle), westw. through N.M. (Catron, San Juan
and Sandoval cos.) to Ariz. (Apache and Coconino cos.), Apr.-Aug.; from s.
Lab. to Alas., s. to Va., O., Ind., Mo., Tex. and Mex.
8. Utricularia gibba L. CONE-SPUR BLADDERWORT. Fig. 714.
Plant with delicate filiform creeping or floating stems and branches, the
sparsely leafy often intricately entangled plumes of foliage to 2 cm. in diameter
and 3 dm. long; leaves usually with 2 filiform segments and with few scattered
bladders; scapes to 1 dm. high, 1- to 3-flowered; larger sepal suborbicular, 2-3
mm. long; corolla yellow, 6-12 mm. high, 6-8 mm. broad, the nearly equal lips
projecting forward, the oblong-conic obtuse spur much shorter than the lower lip;
fruiting pedicels ascending, to 1 cm. long; capsule 2-3 mm. thick, about as long
as the sepals; seeds broadly winged, the body smooth.
In mud of marshes, bogs and seepage areas and forming mats and on floating
debris in shallow water in e. half of Okla. and mostly in the e. half of Tex.,
s. to Cameron Co. and w. to Val Verde Co., June-Oct; from Fla. to Tex. and
Mex., n. to e. Can., Mich., Wise., Minn, and Okla., w. to Calif.
9. Utricularia fibrosa Walt. Fig. 715.
Plant closely resembling U. gibba; stems creeping on the bottom in shallow
water, radiating from the base of the scape, dimorphic, some without bladders
that have rather crowded thrice-forked leaves to about 15 mm. long, the other
with smaller twice-forked leaves bearing numerous bladders; peduncles to about
15 cm. high, with 2 to 6 long-pediceled flowers; corolla yellow, the lower lip
8-10 mm. long and with a prominent palate; spur equaling or slightly exceeding
the lower lip; capsule globose; seeds broadly winged, the body rough-tuberculate.
Floating on mats of debris and rooted in shallow water of slow streams, ponds
and lakes in e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., June-July; from Mass, to Fla., w.
to Tex., Ark. and Okla.
This is our only Utricularia with dimorphic stems and leaves. The bladders
are borne mostly on stems and only occasionally on the leaves.
10. Utricularia biflora Lam. Fig. 716.
Plant closely resembling both U. gibba and U. fibrosa; stems all alike, with
bladders throughout, floating on mats of debris or creeping on the bottom in
shallow water; leaves very delicate, rarely more than 5 mm. long, usually with
3 or more segments; scapes erect, to about 15 cm. long, usually much snorter,
with 1 to 4 flowers; pedicels filiform, about 15 mm. long; sepals 2.5-4 mm. long;
corolla yellow, very similar to those of U. fibrosa, to 17 mm. high; lower lip 8-10
mm. long, with a prominent palate; spur about as long as or much shorter than
the lower lip; fruiting pedicels to 25 mm. long; capsule 3.5-4 mm. thick, slightly
exserted. U. pumila Walt.
In shallow water e. Okla. (Waterfall) and s.e. Tex., June-July; from e. Mass.
to Fla., Tex. and Okla.
2. Pinguicula L.
About 35 species, widely distributed.
1. Pinguicula pumila Michx. SMALL BUTTERWORT. Fig. 717.
Perennial terrestrial scapose herb with fibrous roots; leaves in a basal rosette,
soft-fleshy, greasy to the touch, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, obtuse to rounded at
apex, narrowed at base, 1-3 cm. long; scapes one or usually several, 1-flowered,
naked, very slender, erect, glandular-puberulent, to 2 dm. tall, usually much
smaller; calyx 5-lobed, more or less united and bilabiate; calyx lobes oblong,
1522
-------
Fig. 716: Utricularia biflora: a, habit, x 1; b, vegetative reproduction bud, x 12;
c, flower, x 5; d, flower showing spur, x 5; e, capsule, x 12; f and g, two views of
seed, x 20. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 717: Pinguicitla pumila: a, habit, about x \<>; b, flower, longitudinal section,
about x 2; c and d, flower, face and lateral view, x I1,-;; e, trichomes from palate,
greatly enlarged; f, trichomes from ridge on corolla behind the palate, greatly enlarged;
g, trichomes from inner walls of the corolla tube, greatly enlarged; h, capsule, x 8; i,
seed, about x 60. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
obtuse, 2-4 mm. long; corolla whitish or pale-violet, sometimes marked with
purple and yellow, somewhat bilabiate with the 5 lobes subequal, 1-2 cm. broad;
corolla spur subulate, about 3 mm. long, usually shorter than the saclike base of
the corolla, the palate (in ours) subulate or clavate, included in the tube; capsule
2- to 4-valved.
In seepage and wet soils of savannahs and low pinelands on the Coastal Plain
in s.e. Tex., Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex. and S.C.; also Bah. I.
Fam. 122. Acanthaceae Juss. ACANTHUS FAMILY
Herbs or small shrubs, usually with cystoliths appearing as minute short lines
on the vegetative parts; leaves simple, usually entire, opposite or sometimes
alternate or subopposite; flowers irregular to nearly regular, perfect; calyx persis-
tent, inferior, the segments 5 or occasionally fewer; corolla gamopetalous, the
limb 5-lobed or 2-lipped (rarely 1-lipped); stamens 4, didynamous or 2 only;
staminodes often present in the 2-stamened flowers; anther sacs 2 or 1, longi-
tudinally dehiscent; ovary 2-celled, the ovules 2 to 10 in each cavity; style filiform,
simple; stigmas 1 or 2; fruit a capsule, 2 celled, 2-valved; seeds usually flat, borne
on funicles which are papilliform in a few genera but usually hook-shaped, the
testa smooth or roughened, often mucilaginous when moistened.
A large pantropical family of about 2,500 species in 250 genera.
1. Corolla lobes contorted (convolute) at aestivation; stamens 4 (2)
1. Corolla lobes imbricate (3)
2(1). Corolla deeply bilabiate; flowers in axillary fascicles; capsule terete and
2-celled to the very base 1. Hygrophila
2. Corolla scarcely or not at all bilabiate, the 5 broad lobes rounded and spread-
ing 2. Ruellia
3(1). Placenta separating from the capsule wall at maturity; corolla with narrow
cylindric tube; anther cells usually rounded at base
3. Dicliptera
3. Placenta not separating; corolla with short non-cylindric tube (4)
4(3). Corolla subequally 4-lobed; anther cells muticous or rarely mucronate at
base 4. Yeatesia
4. Corolla deeply bilabiate; lower anther cell mucronate or calloused at base
5. Justicia
1. Hygrophila R. BR.
The genus is cosmopolitan. Of the numerous species described, only about 80
are now considered as valid.
1. Hygrophila lacustris (Schlecht. & Cham.) Nees. Fig. 718.
Herb to 8 dm. high, sparingly hirtellous to glabrate; stems obtusely quad-
rangular, branching; leaves lanceolate, 5-12 cm. long, 5-25 mm. wide, acute at
apex, entire; flowers sessile, clustered in the axils; bracts linear; calyx segments 5,
lanceolate, about 5 mm. long, white-margined, pilose; corolla yellow, puberulent,
the cylindric tube 5 mm. long, the bidentate upper lip 2.5 mm. long, the lower lip
3-lobed; stamens 4, didynamous or 2 perfect stamens and 2 staminodes, the
filaments of each pair united at base by a membrane; anthers 2-celled, muticous
or mucronulate; posterior stigma lobe abortive; capsules narrowly oblong, 8-12
mm. long, glabrous, 16- to 18-seeded.
In marshy regions along streams, swamps or on shores of ponds in s.e. Tex.
where its rhizomes form colonies, June-Sept.; from Fla. to Tex.
1525
-------
Fig. 718: Hygrophila lacustris: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 3; c, capsule, x 2%; d,
capsule split open, x 2\'$, e, seed, x 17. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
2. Ruellia L.
Perennial herbs or shrubs; leaves petioled, entire to undulate or rarely dentate;
flowers usually large and showy, solitary or clustered in the axils or borne in
terminal cymose panicles; calyx usually 5-parted, the segments often narrow;
corolla red, yellow, white or purple (usually mauve), funnelform or salverform,
sometimes saccate, the tube usually narrow below, the upper portion more or less
campanulate, the limb of 5 obtuse spreading lobes; stamens 4, didynamous, the
flat to tip( 2—4 mm. wide, villous-ciliate, villous to glabrate on back; corolla
A large genus containing upward of 200 species, a majority of which are
tropical or subtropical. The geographic center of distribution in the Western
Hemisphere is somewhere in southern Mexico or Central America.
1. Calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, flat to the tip, 2-4 mm. wide 1. R. strepens.
1. Calyx lobes narrowly linear, the prolonged tips very slender to almost bristle-
form 2. R. humilis.
1. Ruellia strepens L.
Stem to about 1 m. high, simple or with few ascending branches, minutely
pilose to glabrous; principal leaves membranaceous, ovate, rounded or tapering
to slender petioles at base, acuminate at apex, entire to barely undulate, to
18 cm. long and 9 cm. wide, short-strigillose to glabrous; peduncles borne from
1 to 3 median nodes, to 9 cm. long, terminated by 2 dilated leafy bracts that
subtend 1 to 3 showy flowers; calyx segments lanceolate to linear-lanceolate,
flat to tip, 2-4 mm. wide, villous-ciliate, villous to glabrate on back; corolla
pale-blue-violet, broadly expanding, 3-6 cm. long, with broadly funnelform
throat; capsule glabrous, 1-2 cm. long, usually overtopped by calyx segments.
In rich woods, talus slopes and low woodlands, seepage areas, gravel bars and
floodplains, commonly in calcareous areas, in e. and n.-cen. Tex. and Okla.
(Cherokee and Osage cos.), Apr.-May; from Tex. to S.C., n. to N.J., Pa., O., Ind.,
111., Mo. and Kan.
The var. cleistantha Gray has smaller cleistogamous flowers usually in cymose
clusters and from several of the axils, and a peduncle lacking or shorter than
that of var. strepens.
2. Ruellia humilis Nutt.
Stem coarse to slender, usually erect or rarely decumbent at base, to 8 dm.
high, in clusters from knotty shortened rhizomes, often strongly 4-angled, villous-
hirsute with whitish hairs or glabrescent, usually with slender elongate arched-
ascending to horizontally divergent or reclining branches; leaves of the main axis
as many as 36, coriaceous, to 8 cm. long and 45 mm. wide; main leaves with
petioles to 3 mm. long, ovate to lanceolate or broadly elliptic, subacute to acute
or mostly obtuse or rounded at apex, truncate to broadly cuneate and decurrent at
base, entire or slightly undulate, hirsute to villous or sometimes pilose-ciliate
on margins; bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate or oblanceolate to elliptic;
flowers usually few in the axils of the median and upper leaves, on very short
peduncles; calyx lobes linear-attenuate, 15-25 mm. long, villous-hirsute and
conspicuously ciliolate; corolla lavender to light-blue, 3-7 cm. long, the tube
to 45 mm. long, the limb mostly 2 to rarely 4 cm. broad, in cleistogamous flowers
the reduced corolla is tubular and closed; capsule brownish, to 15 mm. long and
5 mm. broad, glabrous, constricted at base; seeds few, ovate to suborbicular,
3 mm. in diameter. R. ciliosa of auth.
In open forests, savannahs and old fields, edge of streams and in mud about
lakes and ponds, primarily in e. fourth of Tex., rare on Edwards Plateau and in
the Panhandle, and Okla. (Atoka, Kay and McCurtain cos.), Apr.-Oct.; from
Pa. and W. Va. to Mich., la. and Neb., s. to Fla. and Tex.
1527
-------
Those variations in this species that are considered to be distinctive and that
have been named are segregated here.
Var. depauperata Tharp & Barkl. is characterized by its weak filiform stems
that are glabrescent to sparsely pilose, and its more or less oblanceolate sparsely
pubescent to sparsely pilose leaves.
Var. frondosa Fern, has internodes strongly villous-hirsute, the large usually
obtuse leaves of the primary axis ovate to oval-oblong or widely elliptic and
3.5-8 cm. long and 2-4 cm. wide, the corolla 3-5 cm. long and the tube 1.2-3
cm. long.
Var. longiflora (Gray) Fern, with stems villous-hirsute; leaves copiously villous-
hirsute on veins and margins; larger leaves of the main axis elliptic-oblong to
oblong-lanceolate, 3-6 cm. long, 1-2.5 cm. wide, obtuse to subacute at the apex;
corolla 5-8 cm. long, its tube 3-5 cm. long.
Var. expansa Fern, with stems to 85 cm. high, the internodes strongly villous-
hirsute; larger leaves of the principal axis ovate to oval-oblong or broadly elliptic,
obtuse at apex, 3-7.5 cm. long, 2.5-4 cm. wide, ciliate-hirsute; corolla 5-8 cm.
long, the tube 3-5 cm. long.
3. Dicliptera Juss.
About 150 species in tropical and temperate regions of the world. The species
are easily recognized by their hexagonal stems and flattened bracted reduced
cymes.
1. Dicliptera brachiata (Pursh) Spreng. Fig. 719.
Herb to 7 dm. high; stems more or less hexagonal in cross section, erect or
ascending, rather slender, with numerous spreading branches, from almost glabrous
to pilose-pubescent, rarely spreading-villous or hirsute; leaves oblong-ovate to
ovate-lanceolate, to 1 dm. long and 5 cm. wide, membranaceous, mostly acuminate
at apex, narrowed at base and decurrent on a slender petiole to 3 cm. long,
glabrous to pilose-pubescent; flowers clustered in the axils and more or less
paniculate, short-peduncled to subsessile; branches of the panicle subtended by
leaves similar to but smaller than those of the main stem; floral bracts varying
from broadly obovate to spatulate-oblong, to 7 mm. long and 4 mm. wide near
the middle, rounded at summit, narrowed at base; calyx subhyaline, 3-3.5 mm.
long, campanulate, papular-puberulous or glabrous toward base; corolla purple
or flesh-colored, finely pubescent, 1.5-2 cm. long; stamens partly enclosed by the
upper lip of the corolla and reaching to its apex, the filaments glabrous to
minutely pilose toward base; capsule ovoid, 5-6 mm. long, the solid stipitate
basal portion 1 mm. long, the tip of the capsule emarginate and apiculate, the
surface of capsule ciliate toward apex, the placentae separating elastically from
their walls and rupturing on dehiscence, sparsely pilose elsewhere; seeds 2 or 4,
brown, oval, flattened, about 2 mm. long and broad, essentially glabrous. Incl.
var. glandulosa (Scheele) Fern, and var. Ruthil Fern., Diapedium brachiatum
(Pursh) O. Ktze.
In shady and moist places, in water at edge of streams and about ponds, mostly
in cen. and s. Tex. and Okla. (Choctaw, McCurtain and Ottowa cos.), July-Oct.;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to Va., Ind., Mo. and Okla.
4. Yeatesia SMALL
A monotypic genus.
1. Yeatesia viridiflora (Nees) Small.
Perennial to 6 dm. high, puberulent to almost glabrous; stem erect, simple or
branched, slightly glaucous, when dry with a contracted ring above each node as
1528
-------
Fig 719- Dicliptera brachiata: a, habit, upper part of plant, x %; b, habit, basal
part of plant, showing roots, x !/2; c, flower, x 2%; d, capsule, x 2V2; e, open capsule
with seed x 2ty; f, seed and ovary, x 5; g, stem (cross section), x 5, V. F.).
-------
pan'shr^rx i •: catwerPPxr 2^' ^ S'em' X *: b'
style, x2':.:e. open capsule x 2^; f;'s^d» ?2^' (V F!). ' °Pe" CalyX W''(h
and
-------
if articulated; leaves large, to 12.5 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, bright-green, mem-
branaceous, ovate-lanceolate to oval, acuminate at apex, gradually tapering into
a short petiole, glabrous on lower surface, slightly hairy above; flowers numerous,
axillary and terminal, in oblong and somewhat strobilaceous usually short-
peduncled cylindrical compact spikes; bracts oval to obovate, with a narrowed
base, about 15 mm. long, mucronate, hirsute-ciliate; bractlets similar to bracts but
smaller, about half the length of the capsule; calyx sessile, somewhat glumaceous,
deeply 5-parted; calyx lobes setaceous-subulate, sparingly hirsute-ciliate, the inner-
most smaller; corolla white to flesh-colored, 3- or 4-toothed, almost salverform,
about 15 mm. long, the spreading lobes about 5 mm. long; stamens 2, with oblong
contiguous and similar anther cells that are muticous, with rarely one or both
mucronate at base; filaments slender, inserted and included within the tube of
the corolla; capsule clavate-oblong, firm-coriaceous, 4-seeded, the body longer
than the stipelike base; seeds glabrous, minutely rugulose. Gatesia laetevirens
(Buckl.) Gray.
In pinewoods, gulf prairies, marshes and swamps of e. Tex., July-Oct; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to Ga. and Tenn.
5. Justicia L.
Herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite, petiolate, entire; flowers solitary or in spikes
or panicles; bracts various, small, linear to subulate, distant, conspicuous and
imbricate; calyx segments 5 or (in some species) 4, usually narrow and nearly
equal; corollas usually white, pink or purple, sometimes with purple or white
markings in throat, the tube usually rather narrow, the limb 2-lipped, the upper
lip 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed; stamens 2, often slightly exserted but usually
not exceeding the corolla lips; anther cells 2, more or less superposed, one or
both cells apiculate or tailed, the connective narrow to broad, the lobes parallel
or obliquely affixed; capsules clavate, 4-seeded.
About 300 species, mostly tropical.
1. Flowers capitate, the heads dense, at length oblong 1.7. americana.
\. Flowers in spikes, lax on one side 2. J. lanceolata.
1. Justicia americana (L.) Vahl. AMERICAN WATER-WILLOW. Fig. 720.
Perennial glabrous plant, colonial by rhizomes, to 1 m. high; stem erect, sulcate-
angled, slender, usually simple, often rooting below; leaves linear to lanceolate
or narrowly oblong, gradually acuminate, narrowed at base into short petioles
or sessile, to 16 cm. long and 25 mm. wide; flowers borne in capitate spikes to
3 cm. long at ends of slender axillary stiffly ascending peduncles that are to 15
cm. long; calyx 5-parted, longer than the internodes above it; calyx lobes linear-
subulate, about 7 mm. long; corolla violet or nearly white, 1-1.2 cm. long, its
tube shorter than the lips, the base of the lower lip rough and palatelike, marked
with purple dots; stamens 2, the glabrous filaments attached at tip of corolla
tube and 6 mm. long; anther cells separating and somewhat unequal, the terminal
anther sac transverse; capsule about 12 mm. long, exceeding the calyx, its stipe
about the length of the slightly compressed body; seeds 4, densely verrucose, 3
mm. long, 2 mm. wide, Dianthera americana L. and var. subcoriacea (Fern.)
Shinners.
In shallow water and mud in e. and s.e. Tex., also on the Edwards Plateau
and in n.-cen. Tex. and Okla. (Adair, Cherokee, Comanche, Craig, Johnston,
McCurtain, Murray and Pushmataha cos.), Apr.-Sept.; from Ga. to Tex., n. to
Que., Vt, N.Y., Ont, Wise., Mo. and Kan.
2. Justicia lanceolata (Chapm.) Small. LANCE-LEAVED WATER-WILLOW. Fig. 721.
Perennial herb to 3 dm. high; stems erect or spreading, more or less branched;
1531
-------
Fig. 721: Justicia lanceolala: a, habit, x Mi; b, flower, x 3V'3; c, flower, partly dis-
sected to show attachment of stamens, about x 3; d, capsule with one seed removed,
x 313. (a and c, Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; b and d, V. F.).
-------
leaves sessile or nearly so, linear to linear-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, somewhat
acuminate, minutely puberulent, to 1 dm. long and 3 cm. wide; peduncles often
branching, longer than the leaves; spikes slender, 3-10 cm. long, the numerous
flowers scattered singly and quite evenly along one side; calyx segments narrowly
linear, 5-7 mm. long and less than 1 mm. wide; corolla about 1 cm. long, lips
nearly as long as the tube which is saccate near the base, the upper lip truncate
or retuse, the lower lip 3-lobed with middle lobe truncate or retuse and the
lateral lobe obtuse; stamens slightly exserted, the glabrous filaments attached
about midway in the tube and 3—4 mm. long; anther cells unequal, the upper
lobe 0.8 mm. long, the lower lobe 1 mm. long and apiculate, the connective
broad; ovary 1.5 mm. long, 2-celled, glabrous, ovules 2 in each cell; style 1 cm.
long, puberulent at base, the small stigma 2-cleft; capsule 1-1.5 cm. long, the
body as long as the stipelike base or shorter; seeds 4, disklike, 2 cm. in diameter,
with thickened margins and smooth surface. /. ovata (Walt.) Lindau var. lan-
ceolata (Chapm.) Gl., Dlanthera lanceolata (Chapm.) Small.
In wet and swampy grounds and edge of water along streams, in e. Tex. and
s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Mar.-June; from Fla. to Tex. and Okla., n. to Va.
Fam. 123. Plantaginaceae Juss. PLANTAIN FAMILY
Annual or perennial scapose herbs without or with an abbreviated stem; leaves
all basal or nearly so; flowers small, perfect or unisexual, hypogynous, regular
or slightly irregular in the calyx, in long-peduncled bracted terminal spikes; calyx
and corolla 4-divided or -lobed, persistent, usually scarious or scarious-margined;
stamens 4 or 2, distinct, inserted on the corolla tube; style filiform, stigmatic
for most of its length; ovary superior, 2- to 4-celled; fruit a capsule, 1 to few
seeds per cell.
A family of 3 genera and about 270 species, cosmopolitan in distribution.
1. Plantago L. PLANTAIN
Flowers in spikes or heads, each sessile or subsessile in the axil of a bract;
sepals 4, the 2 next to the bract often somewhat different from the 2 next to
the axis; corolla salverform, long-persistent after anthesis, its tube covering the
summit of the capsule, its lobes reflexed and spreading or erect and connivent;
capsule circumscissile at or below the middle.
More than 250 species, widely distributed.
Species of Plantago are not usually considered to be aquatic or even wetland
plants. However, the species we are including, many of which are weedy, are
found in springy places, seepage areas, some in salt marshes and in ditches and
streams in water or in wet situations, although most of the species may also be
found in dry areas.
1. Bracts scarious except at base and in center, ovate and abruptly narrowed into
a long scarious tip 1. P. lanceolata.
1. Bracts scarious-margined or wholly herbaceous, without slender scarious
tips (2)
2(1). Sepals and bracts glabrous; spikes 2^4 mm. thick in flower (3)
2. Sepals and bracts pubescent or villous; spikes 3.5-12 mm. thick in flower (6)
3(2). Leaf blades elliptic to ovate, more than 1.5 cm. wide; stamens 4 (4)
3. Leaf blades linear to narrowly oblanceolate, less than 1.5 cm. wide; stamens
2 (9)
4(3). Corolla lobes definitely more than 1 mm. long; bracts and sepals without
keels; capsules ovoid 2. P. eriopoda.
1533
-------
4. Corolla lobes less than 1 mm. long; bracts and sepals with definite keels;
capsules ellipsoid (5)
5(4). Capsules slenderly ellipsoid, about 4 mm. long, circumscissile far below
the middle; bracts triangular-lanceolate 3. P. Rugelii.
5. Capsules ellipsoid, usually less than 4 mm. long, circumscissile near the
middle; bracts broadly ovate 4. P. major.
6(2). Bracts at base of spike not keeled nor clasping; corolla lobes spreading or
reflexed after flowering and bracts rigid, scarious with green or
purple midrib 5. P. insularis.
6. Bracts at base of spike keeled and/or clasping (7)
7(6). Plant perennial, flowering in late summer; capsule usually 3-seeded
6. P. hirtella.
1. Plant annual, flowering in spring; capsule usually 2-seeded (8)
8(7). Bracts 1-2.5 mm. long; corolla lobes 0.8-2.3 mm. long; mature seeds
oblong, 1.25-1.75 mm. long, 0.7-0.8 mm. wide, yellow-brown to
black, deeply grooved ventrally, not transparent-margined
7. P. virginica.
8. Bracts 3-4.5 mm. long; corolla lobes 2-3 mm. long; mature seeds oval or
oblong-oval, 2.4-2.8 mm. long, 1.3-1.8 mm. wide, bright-red to
reddish-black, shallowly concave ventrally, with pronounced trans-
parent margin 8. P. rhodosperma.
9(3). Corolla lobes erect in age; capsule about twice as long as the calyx; seeds
10 to 30, somewhat asymmetrical 9. P. hybrida.
9. Corolla lobes becoming reflexed in age; capsule slightly surpassing the calyx;
seeds (2 to) 4 (to 8), symmetrical 10. P. elongate.
1. Plantago lanceolata L. ENGLISH PLANTAIN, RIBWORT. Fig. 721 A.
Glabrous or more or less pubescent perennial or biennial; leaves narrowly
lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute at apex, long-tapering at the petiolar base,
strongly several-ribbed, to about 5 dm. long and 35 mm. wide, entire or re-
motely toothed, essentially glabrous or pubescent beneath; scapes exceeding the
leaves, channeled, commonly strigose above; spikes very dense, ovoid when young
to long-cylindric and to 1 dm. long and 8 mm. thick when mature; bracts broadly
ovate, scarious, with a narrow herbaceous center and abruptly long-acuminate
hyaline tip, conspicuously surpassing the calyx; outer 2 sepals united into a broadly
obovate truncate lamina with 2 midveins, the inner sepals ovate; corolla lobes
ovate, acute, with a prominent brown midrib, 2-3 mm. long, usually spreading;
capsule ellipsoid, obtuse, 3-4 mm. long, circumscissile near the base; seeds 2,
black, semiellipsoid, 2-3 mm. long, cymbiform.
A common weed of lawns, roadsides, fields and waste places, also in wet soils
on edge of lakes, ponds and along streams, and in seepage about springs, through-
out much of the U.S. and Can.; introd. from the Old World.
2. Plantago eriopoda Torr.
Perennial; rootstock stout, sometimes elongate, the crown more or less long-
villous with rust-colored hairs among the old leaf bases; leaves oblong-lanceolate
to elliptic or oblanceolate, acute, 6-25 cm. long, 3- to 9-nerved, narrowed to a
winged petiole about one half the length of the blade, glabrous and somewhat
leathery; spikes sparsely pubescent with septate hairs, loosely flowered, 8-18 cm.
long; bracts broadly ovate to rounded, the narrow scarious margins sometimes
ciliolate or erose, not keeled; sepals oval, scarious-margined, 2-2.5 mm. long;
corolla lobes ovate, 1-2 mm. long, often unsymmetrical; style much-exserted, as
long as or longer than the stamens; capsule broadly conical or ovoid, about 3
1534
-------
Fig. 721A: habit for all, x %. A, Plantago lanceolata: a, flower, x 2%; b, capsule,
X 3; c, seed, x 5. B, Plantago major: a, flower, x 2%; b, capsule, x 3; c, seeds, x 5.
C, Plantago Rugelii: a, flower x 2%; b, capsule, x 2%; c, seeds, x 3. (From Reed,
Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 171).
-------
mm. long or more, often tipped by persistent base of style; seeds 3 or 4, 2-2.5
mm. long.
In moist or wet meadows and saline marshes, in mud on edge of lakes in N.M.
(McKimey Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July-Aug.; Can. to N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.
3. Plantago Rugelii Decne. Fig. 721 A.
Annual or perennial; leaves erect or spreading, with thinnish pale smooth or
slightly hirtellous blades with red petioles, broadly elliptic to oval, to about 2
dm. long and half to two thirds as wide; spikes slender, dense to alternate-flowered,
attenuate to apex, up to 3 dm. long, about 5 mm. wide; bracts narrowly triangular-
lanceolate, keeled, shorter than the calyx; calyx lobes oblong to lance-triangular,
acutely keeled; capsules slenderly ellipsoid, 3-6 mm. long, circumscissile nearly
at base, 4- to 9-seeded; seeds black, oval, about 2 mm. long, not reticulated.
Damp shores, roadsides and waste places, along clear spring-fed streams, gravel
bars in streams, creek beds, edge of sloughs, in small ponds, in Okla. (Pittsburg,
Washington, Cherokee, Mayes and Ottawa cos.), May-Aug.; from Que. to N.D.,
s. to Okla.
4. Plantago major L. COMMON PLANTAIN, LANTEN. Fig. 721 A.
Glabrous or more or less sparsely pubescent stout perennial; leaves thickish,
strongly ribbed, spreading, ovate to broadly elliptic, rounded at apex, broadly
cuneate to subcordate at base, to 3 dm. long (including the broad channeled
petiole), undulate to sinuate-dentate or angular-toothed; scapes curved-ascending
or sometimes decumbent, commonly shorter than the leaves; spike dense, to about
2 (-3) dm. long and 8 mm. thick; bracts ovate, acute, shorter than to rarely
longer than calyx, brownish with a slender green keel; calyx lobes broadly ovate
to elliptic, 1.5-2 mm. long; corolla lobes 1-1.5 mm. long, reflexed; capsules ovoid,
broadly conic to rounded at summit, brown or purplish, about 3 mm. long, circum-
scissile below tips of sepals; seeds 6 to 16, angulate, reticulated, 1-1.5 mm. long.
In marshes, wet meadows, in water on edge of streams, ponds and lakes, wet
gravel bars along streams, and in seepage areas, introd. from Eur. to become
a weed in many places in the U.S. and Can. as well as elsewhere.
5. Plantago insularis Eastw.
Low annual with short erect stem and abbreviated ascending branches, villous
and tomentose throughout; leaves linear-lanceolate, acute, entire or with minute
callous teeth, to about 1 dm. long and 8 mm. wide, villous to lanate; scapes
numerous, axillary, erect or ascending, to 18 cm. high, more or less pilose to
tomentose; spikes many-flowered, erect, short-cylindric, to 2 cm. long and 8
mm. thick, villous to heavily tomentose; bracts oblong to ovate, scarious with
green or brown rigid glabrous to villous midrib, as long as the calyces or slightly
shorter; calyx lobes ovate to obovate, the midribs green or brown; corolla lobes
ovate, apiculate, concave, about 2 mm. long and 1.5 mm. wide, reflexed-spreading,
with a brown spot at base of each; capsule twice as long as the calyx, oval,
rounded at apex, about 4 mm. long and 2 mm. thick; seeds 2, brown, narrowly
oblong, very finely pitted, about 2.8 mm. long and 1.3 mm. wide, rim of face
thickened. Incl. var. fastigiata (Morris) Jeps.
On wet gravel bars in stream beds and on cobbly slopes of canyons in s. Trans-
Pecos Tex., and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave, Maricopa, Pinal, Pima and Yuma
cos.), Feb.-May; from s. Calif., Ut. and Nev. to w. Tex. and n. Mex.
6. Plantago hirtella var. Galeottiana (Decne.) Pilger.
Perennials with a short thick caudex covered with persistent leaf-bases and
long villous hairs; stems erect, 1.5-4 dm. tall with septate white hairs near the
1536
-------
apex; leaves thin, elliptic to broadly obovate, 5-22 cm. long, 1.5-8 cm. wide,
narrowed below to a winged petiole less than one half the length of the leaf
blades, the 5 to 7 veins of the blade continuing into the petiole, margin entire
or somewhat denticulate, pilose at least on the upper surface; spikes polygamous,
5—35 cm. long, 5—12 mm. wide, densely flowered except at the base; bracts ovate
to lance-ovate, a little shorter than the calyx, 2-2.5 mm. long, keeled, pubescent,
the margins scarious and ciliate; calyx lobes Obtuse, scarious-margined; corolla
lobes of perfect or staminate flowers spreading, about 2 mm. long, narrowly
obovate; corolla lobes of pistillate flowers erect in anthesis; stamens 4 with anthers
white; capsule oblong, 3-3.5 mm. long; seeds green-brown, minutely tuberculate,
usually 3, with one side flattened, about 2 mm. long. Incl. var. mollior Pilger.
Moist or wet ground along ditches and wet fields, in boggy and springy places
along streams in Ariz. (Cochise and Pima cos.), along the Pac. Coast from
Wash, to Calif, e. to Ariz., N. M. and cen. Mex.
7. Plantago virginica L. PALE-SEEDED PLANTAIN.
Annual with a slender taproot, glabrate or usually villous with septate hairs;
leaves spreading or ascending, oblanceolate to obovate, obtuse to subacute, entire
to coarsely but remotely repand-dentate, hirsutulous, to 2 dm. long and 4 cm.
wide, usually much smaller; scape to 3 dm long, usually noticeably exceeding the
leaves, short-hirsute; spikes dense or interrupted, to 2 dm. long and 8 mm. thick;
bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, about 2 mm. long, mostly shorter than the
calyx, hirsutulous, essentially without a scarious margin; calyx lobes oblong-
obovate, 2-2.5 mm. long, rounded at apex, the brownish keel hirsutulous, the
whitish scarious margin broad and glabrous; pistillate corolla lobes sharply acute,
erect and connivent after anthesis; capsules ovoid, about as long as the calyx lobes;
seeds 2, dull pale-brown to nearly black, to 2 mm. long, less than half as wide,
with no differentiated margin, cymbiform, the hilum nearly as long as the seed.
Incl. var. viridescens Fern.
In thin soil over rocks, along roadsides, in open thickets and flat woods, in
wet soil and gravel on edge of lakes and ponds, in salt marshes and dunes along
the coast and dry open slopes, rarely on caliche outcrops in e. third of Tex.,
Okla. (Murray Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Cochise and Pima cos.), Mar .-June;
from Mass, and N.Y., w. to Wise., la. and Kan., s. to Fla. and Tex.; introd.
farther w.
8. Plantago rhodosperma Dene. RED-SEEDED PLANTAIN.
Annual with slender taproot; leaves oblanceolate, long-cuneate at base, obtuse
to acute at apex, to 35 cm. long and 5 cm. wide, usually much smaller, grayish-
green, pubescent, entire to coarsely pectinate- or salient-dentate; scapes one to
several, hirsute, shorter than to much-exceeding the leaves; spikes to 2 dm. long
and 1 cm. thick; bracts and floral segments similar to P. virginica but the acute
to acuminate keels of calyx lobes extended beyond the scarious margin; seeds 2,
bright-red to reddish-black, 2-3 mm. long, more than half as wide, nearly flat
on both sides, with a thin pale margin, the central hilum less than a third as long
as the seed.
Usually in rocky soils in brushlands and on slopes, occasionally in sandy soils
and on gravel bars of washes and streams, in Tex. almost entirely w. of the Black-
land Prairies, Okla. (Waterfall) and Ariz. (Yavapai, Gila, Maricopa, Final,
Cochise and Pima cos.), Mar.-May; from Mo. and Tenn., w. to Kan., Tex. and
Ariz.; adv. farther w.
9. Plantago hybrida Bart.
Annual with numerous lateral fibrous roots as well as a taproot; leaves linear
to linear-subulate, narrowly obtuse to acute at the rigid callous tip, entire, to 15
1537
-------
cm. long and less than 5 mm. wide, not woolly at base: scape slender, slightly
pubescent, shorter than to conspicuously longer than the leaves: spikes slender
and elongate, cylindrical, to 13 cm. long and 5 mm. thick, rather loose to expose
the axis, the lower spikelets remote: bracts acute, equal to or about twice as long
as calyx; calyx lobes ovate, with narrow green midribs; corolla lobes triangular-
ovate, erect and somewhat connivent with age. less than 0.5 mm. long: stamens
only 2; capsule about twice as long as the calyx: seeds 10 to 30, blackish, asym-
metrically angular, less than 1 mm. long. (?)P- heterophylla Nutt.
In wet sands and shallow soils in rocky areas, fallow fields and flat woods,
occasionally in salt marshes and edge of wet meadows, in Okla. (Johnston Co.)
and the e. 'third of Tex., Apr.-May; rather widespread, especially in s. U.S.
10. Plantago elongate Pursh.
Annual with prominent taproot; leaves narrowly linear, 3-10 cm. long; scapes
several to many, commonly surpassing the leaves: spikes mostly 2-10 cm. long,
loosely flowered so as to expose the axis; bracts ovate to triangular-ovate, mostly
shorter than the calyx but sometimes equal to or barely surpassing it, glabrous
to slightly hispid, the central herbaceous portion about as wide as the scarious
margins, becoming saccate at base; anterior sepals inequilateral and with narrow
midvein and wide scarious margins, the posterior sepals similar but conduplicate
and sharply keeled: corolla lobes 0.5-1 mm. long, reflexed with age; stamens
only 2; capsules ovoid, rounded to the summit, 1.5-3.5 mm. long; seeds normally
4 or more, from 1.5 mm. in length (if many seeds) to 2.5 mm. long (if only 4
seeds). P. pusilla Nutt.
In moist or dry sandy soil, commonly shallowly covering flat rocks, and in
muddy soil about lakes and ponds, in Okla. (Waterfall}, rare in e., s. and n.-cen.
Tex., spring; from N.E. to the Lake States, s. to Fla. and Tex.
Fam. 124. Rubiaceae Juss. MADDER FAMILY
Trees, shrubs or herbs, rarely climbing; leaves opposite or whorled, simple,
entire; stipules often united to form a sheath, rarely leaflike; flowers perfect or
unisexual, regular, usually in panicles or cymes, sometimes solitary or aggregated
into heads; calyx tube more or less united with the inferior ovary, the segments
4 to 8, crowning the ovary and commonly persistent in the fruit; corolla funnel-
form, salverform or rotate, the 3 to 5 segments with valvate, imbricate or con-
torted aestivation; stamens 3 to 5, inserted on the corolla throat or at the throat,
the filaments free, the anthers introrse; ovary crowned by a more or less developed
disk, inferior or rarely half-inferior, 1- to several-celled; style filiform, often
divided above; fruit a capsule, berry, drupe or schizocarp (in Galium).
Probably more than 6,000 species in about 500 genera, world-wide in distribu-
tion. An important family that includes coffee (Cofjea spp.) and quinine (Cinchona
spp.)
1. Leaves verticillate, with foliaceous stipules 1. Galium
1. Leaves opposite or (if verticillate) large shrubs, with distinctive stipules (2)
2(1). Ovules few to many in each cell of the ovary (3)
2. Ovule solitary in each cell of the ovary (4)
3(2). Flowers 4-merous; top of capsule nearly always extending beyond the
hypanthium 2. Hedyotis
3. Flowers 5-merous; top of capsule included in the hypanthium 3. Pentodon
4(2). Shrubs; flowers in naked dense globular heads about 15 mm. in diameter
4. Cephalanthus
4. Herbs; flowers not as above (5)
1538
-------
5(4). Trailing glabrous evergreen herbs of dense woodlands; fruit a soft berry-
like scarlet drupe 5. Mitchella
5. Erect to ascending or rarely prostrate nonevergreen herbs mostly in weedy or
waste areas; fruit capsular, with 2 or more carpels (6)
6(5). Capsule splitting when ripe into 2 carpels with one carpel open on the
inner face, the other one closed 6. Spermacoce
6. Capsule splitting when ripe into 2 or 3 carpels, if tardily splitting then con-
spicuously 6-ribbed 7. Diodia
1. Galium L. BEDSTRAW. CLEAVERS
Slender annual or perennial herbs with 4-angled slender stems and whorled
sessile or short-petioled leaves, the roots often containing a red coloring matter;
stipules foliaceous; flowers perfect or in some species unisexual, mostly in axillary
or terminal cymes or panicles, occasionally solitary or few on simple branchlets,
the pedicels usually jointed with the calyx; calyx tube ovoid or globose, the
teeth obsolete; corolla rotate, 3- or 4-lobed, valvate in the bud; stamens 4, rarely
3, short; styles 2; fruit dry or fleshy, globular or ellipsoid, twin, separating when
ripe into the 2 seedlike indehiscent 1-seeded carpels.
About 400 species of wide geographic distribution.
1. Fruit smooth or (at most) granulose (2)
1. Fruit ornamented with hairs or occasionally verrucose, tuberculate or muric-
ate (6)
2(1). Plant glabrous throughout; pedicels short and stoutish; leaves in whorls
of 4 (3)
2. Plant more or less scabrous (on angles of stems and/or on leaves); pedicels
elongate and slender; leaves in whorls of 4 to 6 or 8 (4)
3(2). Leaves firm, with callous margins, mucronate at apex; flowers sessile in a
whorl of bracteal leaves; ovary and young fruits scabro-puberulous
or at length granulose 1. G. microphyllum.
3. Leaves fleshy-thickened, without callous margins, obtuse at apex; flowers on
short pedicels, the bracts fugacious; ovary and fruit smooth
2. G. Brandegei.
4(2). Corollas white, 2-3 mm. broad, typically with 4 acute to acutish lobes;
stems smooth, stiffish, erect or suberect, without matted basal
autumnal offshoots 3. G. obtusum.
4. Corollas greenish-white, 1.5 mm. broad or less, typically with 3 (sometimes 4)
obtuse lobes; stems scabrous, diffuse or weakly reclining, developing
prostrate matted basal offshoots (5)
5(4). Leaves linear to linear-oblanceolate, typically in whorls of 4; the filiform
simple peduncles or the 2 or 3 filiform arcuate pedicels scabrous,
5-30 mm. long; distribution New Mexico and Arizona
4. G. trifidum.
5. Leaves broadly oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate, those of the main axis in
whorls of 4, 5 or 6; the stiffer and straighter peduncles mostly
shorter than above, the 2 to 4 pedicels glabrous; distribution
Oklahoma and Texas 5. G. tinctorium.
6(1). Fruits tuberculate or with slender or bristly strongly hooked hairs (7)
6. Fruits with slender or bristly straight or only slightly curved hairs (8)
7(6). Plant densely pilose to hirsute throughout; leaves in whorls of 4
6. G. uncinulatum.
1. Plant not pilose nor hirsute, at most somewhat scabrous or hispidulous-
ciliolate; leaves in whorls of 5 to 8, usually 6
7. G. mexicanum var. asperulum.
1539
-------
8(6). Plant erect, to 9 dm. tall, typically smooth and glabrous; leaves in whorls
of 4; flowers bright-white 8. G. boreale.
8. Plant weak and reclining; leaves in whorls of 6 to 8, more or less scabrid or
hispid; flowers dull-white or greenish-white (9)
9(8). Leaves mostly oblanceolate, the margins retrorsely bristly; stems retrorsely
bristly on the angles, usually pubescent above the nodes; annual
9. G. Aparine.
9. Leaves mostly elliptic-lanceolate, the margins with ascending cilia; stems
smooth; perennial, stoloniferous 10. G. triflorum.
1. Galium microphyllum Gray.
Diffusely spreading or ascending perennial, smooth and glabrous but not shin-
ing; branches to 3 dm. long; leaves firm, shorter than the internodes and narrowly
linear, usually mucronate, with narrow midrib prominent beneath and callous
naked margins, to 12 mm. long, usually smaller; flowers solitary on a very short
or on a longer and pedunclelike axillary branchlet and sessile in its whorl of in-
volucriform leaves, or this proliferous and bearing a second whorl and flower;
ovary and young fruit scabro-puberulous or at length granulose, at maturity fleshy-
baccate. Relbuniwn microphyllum (Gray) Hemsl.
In canyons and rocky ravines and on ledges and talus slopes, mostly along
streams, edge of wet meadows, moist woods, cracks in boulders, in mts. of the
Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (rather widespread) and Ariz. (Greenlee to Coconino
and Mohave, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), May—Oct.; from Tex. to
Ariz, and adj. Mex.
2. Galium Brandegei Gray.
Plant glabrous throughout, low and simple to matted and freely forking, the
weakly ascending stems 5-15 cm. tall; leaves of primary axes in whorls of 4,
oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate, fleshy-thickened, obtuse at apex, 4-10 mm. long;
flowers solitary or sometimes 2 or 3, on simple or forking peduncles, these and
the straight to arching pedicels 3-10 mm. long; pedicels becoming stout in fruit;
fruits smooth, 1.5—2 mm. in diameter. G. trifidum var. pusillum Gray.
At edge of water of small ponds, along streams and in low wettish grounds,
in N.M. (Taos and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), May-Aug.;
Greenl. and Lab. to Alas., s. to N. M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Galium obtusum Bigel. BLUNTLEAF BEDSTRAW.
Stems erect, from capillary rhizomes, simply (not intricately) branched, to
about 8 dm. high, smooth, stiffish; leaves mostly in fours, rarely in fives or sixes,
elliptic-oblong to lanceolate or broadly linear, obtuse, those of the primary axis
to 3 cm. long and 6 mm. broad, loosely spreading, slightly scabrous on the
margins; cymes terminating stems and branches, their several flowers grouped
in twos or threes; the straight peduncles and pedicels ascending in anthesis, often
divergent in fruit; corolla white, 2-3 mm. broad, commonly with 4 acute lobes;
fruits globose, smooth, 2.5-3.5 mm. in diameter. G. trifidum var. latifolium Torr.
In low woods, bogs at edge of ponds, swamps and wet shores in Okla. (Water-
fall) and e. Tex., Mar.-July; from Fla. to (?)Ariz., n. to s.w. N.S., s. and w. N.E.,
s. Ont., Mich., Wise., Minn, and Neb.
4. Galium trifidum L. Fig. 722.
Weakly erect perennial from a slender rootstock, often freely branching to
form dense mats, to about 3 dm. high, smooth and glabrous except for the
retrorsely scabrous angles of the stems and usually more hispidulous and sparse
roughness of the midrib beneath and margins of the thin leaves; leaves mostly in
1540
-------
Fig. 722: Galium Irifidum: a, leaf, x 4; b, habit, x %; c, flower, x 20; d, fruit
(longitudinal section), x 8; e, fruit, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 329).
-------
fours, occasionally in fives or sixes, linear to oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate,
obtuse, to 2 cm. long; peduncles slender, scattered; flowers solitary or (when
terminal) in threes on capillary scabrous peduncles or pedicels to 3 cm. long;
corolla whitish-green, about 0.5 mm. long, its 3 or 4 lobes obtuse; fruit smooth,
annular in cross section.
In wet ground, mud, edge of pools, wet depressions in woods, marshes and
wet meadows, in mts. of the (?) Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Taos Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino Co.), summer; from Nfld. and Lab. to Aleutian Is., s. to (?) Tex., N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.; also Euras.
5. Galium tinctorium L. DYE BEDSTRAW, STIFF MARSH BEDSTRAW.
Perennial with stiff ascending or reclining stems, the younger internodes retrorse-
scabrous on angles; leaves of main axis mostly in fives or sixes, sometimes in
fours, broadly oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate, firm, to 2 cm. long; peduncles
stiff, straight or straightish, the longest ones 1-1.7 cm. long with 3 (sometimes
more) nearly uniform smooth short (to 8 mm. long) straight divergent pedicels;
corolla greenish-white, usually 3-lobed, less than 2 mm. broad; mature pairs of
fruit smooth, 2—3 mm. across.
In swamps and damp places, in bogs, and mud about lakes and ponds, in the
e. fourth of Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), reported from Ariz. (Kearney & Peebles),
Mar.-Aug.; from Nfld. to Ont. and Neb., s. to S.C., Ky., Mo. and Tex.
Var. subbiflorum (Wieg.) Fern. Many flowers on 1, 2 or 3 separate axillary
peduncles or a few peduncles 2- or 3-forked. Lab. and Nfld. to Alas., s. to N.E.,
N.Y., Mich., Minn., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
Some recent authors have considered G. tinctorium and G. trifidum to be
conspecific. We are, however, not entirely convinced that this is so.
6. Galium uncinulatum Gray.
Perennial herb to 3 dm. high, with spreading branches that form a dense
procumbent mass, rather densely pilose to hirsute throughout; leaves in fours,
narrowly to broadly elliptic to obovate-elliptic, mostly rounded and somewhat
mucronate at apex, averaging 1 cm. long or more; pedicels short, stout, rigid,
rarely more than 8 mm. long, more or less puberulent; corolla yellow or yellowish-
white, 2-3 mm. broad, the ovate lobes pilose; bristles of the fruit hooked. Incl.
var. obstipum (Schlecht.) Wats.
In wet gravelly soil along streams, on steep hillsides, ledges and canyons in
Brewster Co., e. to the upper Rio Grande Plains and w. Edwards Plateau in
Tex.; also in Mex.
7. Galium mexicanum H.B.K. var. asperulum (Gray) Dempst.
Stems erect or diffusely ascending but weak, 3-6 dm. high, from a slender
perennial rootstock, minutely retrorse-hispidulous to scabrous or nearly glabrous
on the angles; leaves 5 to 8, usually 6, lanceolate to oblanceolate, rounded-apicu-
late to acute at apex, 1-2.5 cm. long, vernicose on upper surface, the margins and
midrib beneath antrorsely or retrorsely hispidulous-ciliolate or more or less naked;
cymes twice- or thrice-dichotomous, with filiform peduncles and pedicels; corolla
white or turning purplish, to 4 mm. broad; fruit less than 2 mm. in diameter,
tuberculate, sometimes minutely hispidulous with slender hooked hairs. G.
asperrimiiin Gray.
In shaded moist areas, wet depressions and wet soils along streams and irriga-
tion ditches, rich conifer forests, in mts. of the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Santa
Fe. San Miguel, Bernalillo, Grant, Otero, Lincoln and Taos cos.) and Ariz.
(Apache and Navujo, s. to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), May-Oct.; from
w. Tex. to Calif., Wash., Mont, and Ida.
1542
-------
8. Galiuni boreale L.
Plant erect, to 9 dm. high, perennial, mostly smooth and glabrous, very leafy;
leaves in fours, linear to broadly lanceolate, blunt at apex, rather rigid, distinctly
3-nerved, often with fascicles of smaller leaves in the axils, the uppermost leaves
reduced to pairs of small oblong or oval bracts; flowers in numerous close cymules
that are collected in a terminal and ample thyrsiform panicle; corolla bright-white,
3-4 mm. wide; fruits small, typically villous-hirsute with long straight or slightly
curved hairs.
In shaded areas in moist wooded ravines, edge of wet meadows, possibly in
mts. of the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N. M. (Sandoval and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache
and Navajo cos.), May-Aug.; from Can., s. to Pa., (?) Tex., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif.; also Euras.
9. Galium Aparine L. CATCHWEED BEDSTRAW, GOOSE-GRASS, CLEAVERS. Fig. 722A.
Weak or reclining annual with a slender taproot; stem retrorsely hispid on the
angles, hairy above the joints, to 1 m. long; leaves mostly 6 to 8 in a whorl, linear-
lanceolate, tapering at the base, chiefly 2-7 cm. long, bristle-tipped, the margins
and lower midrib retrorsely hispid; peduncles 1- to 3-flowered; corollas white;
fruit bristly, 2-4 mm. in diameter. Incl. var. Vaillantii Koch.
In rich woods, thickets, prairies, seashores and waste ground, in seepage along
streams and about springs, in e., cen. and s. Tex., Okla. (Grady Co.), N. M.
(Dona Ana, Lincoln and Union cos.) and Ari/. (Navajo to Mohave, s. to Green-
lee, Graham and Pima cos.), Mar.-May; from Nfld. to Alas., s. to Fla., Tex..
N.M., Ariz, and Calif., both nat. and introd.; also Euras.
10. Galium triflorum Michx. FRAGRANT BEDSTRAW.
Weak perennial from slender creeping rootstocks; stems simple or remotely
forking, to 1 m. long or more, smooth; leaves mostly in sixes, thin, elliptic-lanceo-
late to narrowly oblong, cuspidate, the primary ones 2.8-5 cm. long, the upper
ones only slightly reduced, with minute ascending cilia on or near the margin;
peduncles axillary, rather short, terminally 3-flowered, the flowers all pedicelled;
corolla whitish or greenish-white, 4-lobed, 2-4 mm. in diameter; fruit densely
bristly.
Woods and thickets, seepage area along creeks and about springs, wet depres-
sions in shaded areas, in e. and n.-cen. Tex., Okla. (Waterfall), N. M. (Grant,
Socorro, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to
Coconino, s. to Yavapai, Graham and Pima cos.), May-Sept.; from Nfld. to Alas.,
s. through e. Can. and the n. states and more sparingly to Va., Tenn., La., Tex..
N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Mex.
The herbage is usually sweet-scented in drying.
2. Hedyotis L. BLUETS
Erect or prostrate herbs or rarely low shrubs; leaves opposite to infrequently
fasciculate, either sessile or petiolate, often linear; flowers large and colored or
small and white, 4-merous, heterostylous, homostylous or short-stylous only;
corolla salverform, funnelform or infrequently rotate; style slender, 1; stigmas 2;
ovary 2-ceIled; capsule didymous or less commonly globular or turbinate, opening
loculicidally across the summit. Houstonia L.
A diverse, largely pantropic genus of about 300 species best developed in the
Old World; occasional in temperate regions of the Western Hemisphere and Asia.
1. Corolla 4-7 mm. long, whitish to pale-purple; capsule about one-fourth in-
ferior; seeds crateriform, less than 20 1. H. pygmaea.
1. Corolla to 2 mm. long, white; capsule usually wholly inferior; seed angulate,
very numerous and small (2)
1543
-------
D
Fig. 722A: Galium Aparinc: A, habit, x !'>: B, enlarged leaf whorl, x 2; C, flowers,
x 12; D, fruits, x 10. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 173).
-------
2(1). Annual; stems usually hirsute; leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic....2. H. uniftora.
2. Perennials or annuals; stems usually glabrous; leaves linear to lanceolate (3)
3(2). Perennial; flowers solitary or in small clusters, subsessile; capsules short-
ciliate or glabrous; frequent in east Texas 3. H. Boscii.
3. Annual; flowers in 3-flowered cymes, occasionally solitary, the peduncles and
pedicels (when present) each to 15 mm. long; very rare
4. H. corymbosa.
1. Hedyotis pygmaea R. & S.
Cespitose perennial, 5-10 cm. high; numerous stems erect or spreading, scaberu-
lous or papillose; leaves linear, the lowest often spatulate, 5-25 mm. long, 0.5-3
mm. wide, usually scaberulous; flowers axillary or usually in terminal cymes, the
short peduncles recurved after anthesis; calyx lobes 1.5-2 mm. long; corolla
salverform, white to pale-purple, 4-7 mm. long, the lobes equal to or commonly
shorter than the tube, papillose within; capsule to 3.5 mm. in diameter, sub-
didymous, broader than long, minutely papillose, about one-fourth inferior, the
seeds crateriform. Houstonia Wrightii Gray, Hedyotis Wrightii (Gray) Fosb.
Open hillsides, rocky canyon slopes and sandy mt. streams, wet meadows, in
muddy seepage about springs, and chaparral, infrequent in cen. Tex. Trans-Pecos
and Ariz. (Pima Co.), June-July; from Tex. to cen. Ariz.; also Mex. (to Pue.
and Ver.)
2. Hedyotis uniflora (L.) Lam. Fig. 723.
Erect to usually spreading summer annual; stems often branched, 1-6 dm.
long, white-hirsutulous along the angles to less frequently glabrate; leaves ovate to
ovate-elliptic, 1-2.5 cm. long, the midveins and margins commonly white-
hirsutulous, the petioles 1-2.5 mm. long or rarely absent; flowers very small,
homostylous, axillary in small or large clusters or rarely solitary, subsessile; corolla
rotate, white, about 1 mm. long, shorter than the calyx lobes; capsule to 2 mm.
broad, usually densely white-hirsutulous, more or less wholly inferior, the angular
seeds very numerous. Oldenlandia uniflora L.
On wet sandy-loam banks, in shallow water of ponds and bogs, on floating mats
of vegetation in lakes, in e. Tex. and Okla. (McCurtain Co.), June-Sept.; from
Fla. to Tex., n. to s. N.Y., Okla. and s.e. Mo.
Var. fasciculata (Bert.) W. H. Lewis. Stems, leaves and usually capsules
glabrous; leaves sessile. Infrequent on Gulf Coast, Fla. to Tex.
3. Hedyotis Boscii DC. Fig. 723.
Prostrate or spreading perennial; stems branched and often cespitose, 1-3 dm.
long, glabrous to infrequently hirtellous; leaves mostly linear, 10-25 mm. long,
1-3 mm. wide, glabrous, sessile or subsessile; flowers very small, homostylous,
axillary in small clusters or solitary, subsessile; corolla rotate, white (lobes often
tipped pink), about 1 mm. long, shorter than the calyx lobes; capsule to 2.5
mm. broad, glabrous or short-ciliate, more or less wholly inferior, the seeds
angular and very numerous. Oldenlandia Boscii (DC.) Chapm.
Edges of ponds and rivers in lowlands and savannahs of e. Tex., rare in s.-cen.
Tex. and Okla. (McCurtain and LeFlore cos.), May-Aug.; from Fla. to Tex., n.
to s.e. Va., Tenn., s.e. Mo. and Okla.
4. Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. Fig. 724.
Erect or spreading summer annual; stems branched, glabrous; leaves linear to
lanceolate, 1-3.5 cm. long, 1-5 mm. wide, the margins scaberulous; flowers small,
homostylous, axillary, usually in 3-flowered cymes or solitary, the peduncles to
15 mm. long, the pedicels often as long; corolla more or less salverform, white,
1545
-------
Fig. 723: a-c, Hedyotis uniflora: a, habit, x 1->; b, node, x 2; c, fruit, x 5. d-f,
Hedyotis Boscii: d, habit, X 1; e, fruit, x 5; f, seed, x 50. (d, Courtesy of R. K.
Godfrey; all others V. F.).
-------
Fig. 724: Hedyotis corymbosa: a, habit, x 1,4; b, flower from top, x 65; c, flower
opened up, x 65; d, mature capsule, x 60; e, diagram of section through capsule, x
60; f, seed, x 135. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
about 2 mm. long, equaling or exceeding somewhat the calyx lobes; capsule to 2
mm. broad, glabrous, more or less wholly inferior, the seeds angular and very
numerous. Oldenlandia corymbosa L.
Introd. in lawns and in wettish soils in waste places, rarely in e. Tex. (also Gulf
Coast?), July-Sept.; occasional from Fla. to Tex., a widespread pantropic weed.
3. Pentodon HOCHST.
Two species; represented in both hemispheres.
1. Pentodon pentandrus (Schum. & Thonn.) Vatke. Fig. 725.
Annual glabrous herb, the 4-angled stems often diffusely branched and partly
creeping; leaves petioled, ovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse to acute,
2-5 cm. long, entire; flowers in axillary or terminal cymes; hypanthium clavate;
sepals 5, triangular-lanceolate to lanceolate, about 1 mm. long; pedicels thick,
3-4 mm. long; corolla white, funnelform, the tube 2-3 mm. long, the abbreviated
lobes ovate to lanceolate; stamens 5, the filaments adnate to above the middle
of the corolla tube; style columnar; capsule included in the hypanthium, 2-lobed,
2-4 mm. long. P. Halei (T. & G.) Gray.
In swampy ground in s.e. Tex., Aug.-Sept; from Tex. to Fla.
4. Cephalanthus L. BUTTONBUSH
Shrubs or small trees; leaves opposite or with some verticillate, petiolate;
flowers white or yellowish, densely aggregated into spherical peduncled heads; calyx
tube obpyramidal, the limb 4- or 5-toothed; corolla tubular-funnelform, the 4 or 5
teeth imbricated in the bud; stamens 4, inserted on the corolla throat; anthers
bicuspidate at base; ovary 2-celled, with one ovule in each cell; style filiform,
much-exserted; stigma capitate; fruit small, at length splitting from the base
upward into 2 to 4 closed 1-seeded segments.
About 17 species that are natives of America and Asia; sometimes placed in the
segregate family Naucleaceae.
Seeds of these plants are a source of food for various waterfowl and marsh
birds; beaver and muskrat nibble the wood while browsers occasionally eat their
twigs and foliage.
1. Calyx glabrous outside or the tube with a few long white hairs at the base
l.C. occidentalis.
1. Calyx densely pubescent outside with short appressed hairs 2. C. salicifolius.
1. Cephalanthus occidentalis L. COMMON BUTTONBUSH, HONEY-BALLS, GLOBE-
FLOWERS. Fig. 726.
Shrub or small tree, sometimes to 15 m. high, with a trunk rarely 3 dm. in
diameter, the branchlets slender, brown or grayish, glabrous or short-pilose;
stipules 2-4 mm. long, deltoid, acute to acuminate, usually with glands along the
margins; leaves opposite or ternate, sometimes 4-nate (but this varies on a single
plant), the stout or slender petioles to 3 cm. long, glabrous or pilose, ovate to
ovate-oblong or narrowly lanceolate, to 19 cm. long and 85 mm. wide, subcordate
to cuneate at the base, abruptly or subabruptly long- or short-acuminate at the
apex, bright-green above, glabrous or pilose beneath, with prominent lateral veins;
peduncles terminal and axillary, simple or branched, stout, to 1 dm. long, glabrous;
heads about 15 mm. in diameter; bractlets filiform-clavate, pilose above; hypan-
thium and calyx together 2-3 mm. long, glabrous or sparsely long-pilose at the
base; calyx about 1 mm. long, shallowly 4- or 5-dentate, densely pubescent within,
the lobes rounded, usually glandular; corolla 5-9 mm. long, glabrous outside, the
4 or 5 lobes ovate or oval, sparsely pubescent within, with a small black gland in
each sinus; capsule 4-8 mm. long; seed solitary, brown, with a large white aril.
1548
-------
Fig. 725: Pentodon pentandrus: a, habit, x %; b, flower, spread open, x 5; c,
capsule, cut open, x 5; d, seed, x 80. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 726: Cephalanthus occidentalis: a, branch, x ],o; b, single flower, x
corolla split open, x 2%; d, head of fruit, x 1; e, achene, x 2'/o. (V. F.).
-------
In swamps, marshes, about ponds and margins of streams throughout Tex. and
Okla. to Ariz. (Apache, Gila, Maricopa, Final and Pima cos.), June-Sept.; from
Fla. to Mex., n. to e. Can., N.Y. and w. to Calif.
Those plants with branchlets and at least the lower leaf surfaces soft-pubescent
are segregated as var. pubescens Raf., while those with short-petioled narrower
leaves arranged in whorls of three are segregated as var. californicus Benth.
2. Cephalanthus saUcifolius H. & B.
Shrub or small tree, the branches reddish-brown, glabrous; stipules 2-3 mm.
long, deltoid, acute or acuminate, often with marginal glands, glabrous; leaves
opposite and ternate, the stout petioles to 4 mm. long, glabrous, narrowly oblong
to elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, to 12 cm. long and 23 mm. wide, acute to sub-
cordate at the base, rounded and apiculate to long-attenuate at the apex, glabrous
or sparsely pilose beneath along the veins, bright-green above, lustrous; peduncles
mostly simple, 2-4 cm. long, glabrous, the heads 6-8 mm. in diameter, the
receptacle very densely setose; calyx and hypanthium 2-2.5 mm. long, densely
white-sericeous with short hairs; calyx 1 mm. long or shorter, shallowly 4- or
5-dentate, densely pilose within, the lobes minute, rounded, often glanduliferous;
corolla 6-7 mm. long, glabrous outside, the lobes oblong or ovate, sparsely pilose
within, often with black glands in the sinuses; capsule 4-5 mm. long, densely and
minutely sericeous; seeds brown, with a large white aril.
Wet soil in and about ponds, springs and along resacas, in Hidalgo Co.,
extreme s. Tex., Mar.-July; from s. Tex. to s.-cen. Mex., also Hond.
5. Mitchella L. PARTRIDGE-BERRY
Two species, the other Japanese.
1. Mitchella repens L. TWO-EYED BERRY, RUNNING BOX.
Small glabrous trailing evergreen herbs forming appressed mats of indefinite
size; leaves petioled, opposite or ovate to orbicular, rounded to cordate at base,
obtuse at apex, shining, pinnately veined and sometimes variegated with whitish
lines, 15—25 mm. long; stipules triangular-subulate; peduncle short, terminal, bear-
ing 2 flowers at its summit; flowers fragrant, white, often tinged with purple,
in pairs with their ovaries united, occasionally 3- to 6-merous, always dimorphous,
all flowers of some individuals have exserted stamens and included stigmas, all
flowers of other individuals with included stamens and exserted style; calyx 4-
toothed; corolla tube about 13 mm. long, densely bearded inside, surpassing the
oblong spreading lobes; style 1; stigmas 4, linear; drupes edible, 4-6 mm. in
diameter, bright-red or rarely white (f. leucocarpa Bissell), overwintering,
crowned with the calyx teeth of the 2 flowers, with 4 small seedlike bony nutlets
to each flower.
On dry or moist knolls in woods, sandy banks of streams, among sphagnum
moss, sandy bogs, low moist woodlands, in e. Tex. and s.e. Okla., May-July;
from Fla. to Tex., n. to e. Can., Ont. and Minn.
6. Spermacoce L. BUTTONWEED
Low spreading annual or perennial herbs; leaves opposite, their bases or
petioles connected by a bristle-bearing stipular membrane; flowers small, whitish
to purplish-blue, crowded into sessile axillary and terminal whorled clusters or
heads; calyx tube short, obovoid, the limb parted into 4 teethlike lobes; corolla
funnelform or salverform, 4-lobed, valvate in the bud; stamens 4, inserted on the
corolla tube; ovary 2-celled; ovules one in each cavity; style slender, the stigma
2-cleft; fruit a dry capsule, sessile, coriaceous or somewhat crustaceous, sometimes
didymous, splitting when ripe into 2 carpels, one of the carpels usually carrying
1551
-------
with it the septum and therefore closed, the other carpel open on the inner face.
About 100 species in the warmer parts of America.
1. Flowers numerous in a dense conspicuous head; corolla 2-3 mm. long, densely
white-bearded in the throat; fruit 2-4 mm. long, smooth, capped
by sepals 1.5-2 mm. long 1- S. glabra.
1. Flowers few in inconspicuous heads; corolla less than 2 mm. long, somewhat
pubescent at and above the throat; fruit 2-2.5 mm. long, mostly
puberulent, capped by sepals 1 mm. long or less 2. S. tenuior.
1. Spermacoce glabra Michx. SMOOTH BUTTONWEED. Fig. 727.
Glabrous perennial herb; stems simple or unbranched, spreading, 6 dm. long
or more; leaves elliptic to oblong-lanceolate or oblanceolate, acute to acuminate
at apex, to 8 cm. long; stipular sheaths with several filiform segments 2-3 mm.
long; axillary heads many-flowered; corolla 2-3 mm. long, slightly exceeding the
calyx, conspicuously white-bearded in the throat, bearing the anthers at its base;
filaments and styles short; fruit somewhat turbinate, smooth, 2-4 mm. long,
crowned by the conspicuous triangular-lanceolate spreading calyx teeth.
Damp shores, swamps, edge of lakes, ponds, sloughs and flooded areas, low
woodlands and in openings, in the e. third of Tex. and Okla. (LeFlore and Ottawa
cos.), May-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to O., Ind., 111., Mo. and Kan.
2. Spermacoce tenuior L. SLENDER BUTTONWEED.
Annual, glabrous or nearly so; stems simple and erect or more or less diffusely
branched from the base, to about 4 dm. long; leaves linear to oblong or oblong-
lanceolate, narrowed into short petioles, acute to acuminate at apex, more or less
scabrous, 2-5 cm. long; axillary heads with few flowers; calyx teeth subulate to
subulate-lanceolate; corolla white, about 1.5 mm. long, funnelform, somewhat
pubescent at and above the throat; fruit didymous-obovoid, mostly puberulent or
short-pubescent, 2-2.5 mm. long, somewhat crustaceous and crowned with the
4 calyx teeth.
In wettish clay soils along creeks in s. Tex., Sept.-Jan.; also Fla. and La., the
W.I. and cont. trop. Am.
7. Diodia L. BUTTONWEED
Spreading, decumbent, prostrate or ascending annual or perennial herbs; leaves
opposite, entire, mostly sessile; stipules sheathing, long-setiferous; flowers mostly
solitary or several and sessile in leaf axils, rarely aggregated at summit of
branches; calyx teeth 2 to 5, often unequal; corolla funnelform or salverform,
the lobes 3 or 4; stamens and style usually exserted, the stamens usually 4 and
inserted on the corolla tube, the style filiform and simple or cleft; fruit composed
of 2 or 3 crustaceous or leathery indehiscent carpels that usually separate.
About 50 species, mostly American and African tropics and subtropics.
1. Fruits leathery, strongly 6-ribbed, glabrous or villous, crowned by 2 prominent
calyx teeth, the 2 carpels rarely separated; corolla salverform, the
tube 7-10 mm. long 1. D. virginiana.
1. Fruits crustaceous, not ribbed, commonly hispid or hispidulous, crowned by
usually 4 calyx teeth, the carpels readily separated; corolla funnel-
form, 4-6 mm. long 2. D. teres.
1. Diodia virginiana L. Fig. 728.
Plant diffusely spreading or procumbent from a perennial root, the forking
branches to about 6 dm. long, nearly glabrous to villous-hirsute; leaves sessile
or essentially so. elliptic-oblong to elliptic-oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate,
usually tapering to base, obtuse to acute or acuminate at apex, the margins
slightly serrulate, mostly bright-green, to 9 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, usually much
1552
-------
Fig. 727: Spermacoce glabra: a, branch of plant, x %; b, cluster of flowers, x 5;
c, flower, x 5; d, coralla spread open, x 5; e, fruit, x 5; f, two views of mature seeds,
x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 728: a-e, Diodia tares: a, portion of plant, x 3; b, flower, x 5; c, open corolla,
x 5; d, fruit, x 5; e, two carpels, one with 3 calyx lobes, the other with only one,
x 5. f-j, Diodia virginiana: f, habit, x K; g, leaf base showing stipules, x 10; h, flower,
x 3; i, anther, x 6; j, fruit, x 3. (V. F.).
-------
smaller; stipular bristles few, strong and flat, sometimes sparingly hirsute; corolla
white, 7-10 mm. long, the slender tube abruptly expanded into the large limb;
style 2-parted: fruit ellipsoid, bicarpellate, 5-8 mm. long, to 5 mm. in diameter,
glabrous to villous, crowned with 2 or sometimes 3 lanceolate more or less
pubescent calyx teeth: carpels suberose-crustaceous, 3-ribbed on the back, held
together by a thin epicarp that rarely ruptures.
In swamps, wet meadows, marshes, coastal prairies and in mud along streams
and about ponds, in e. third of Tex. and Okla. (McCurtain, Latimer, Sequoyah,
LeFlore and Choctaw cos.), May-Oct.; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.J., 111., Mo. and
Okla.
2. Diodia teres Walt. POOR JOE, ROUGH BUTTONWEED. Fig. 728.
Plant diffusely spreading or ascending from an annual but sometimes lignescent
root, rigid, puberulent to hirsute; stems and branches to about 8 dm. long, terete,
rather quadrangular above; leaves linear to lanceolate, rounded to somewhat
clasping at the sessile base, acute to acuminate at the apex, rather rigid and often
with revolute margins, more or less scabrous, to 5 cm. long and 1 cm. wide,
usually much smaller; stipular bristles numerous, filiform, often reddish-brown,
usually equaling the flowers and surpassing the fruit: corolla funnelform, whitish
to pinkish-purple, 4-6 mm. long; style undivided; fruit obovate-turbinate, not
ribbed, commonly hispid or hispidulous, about 4 mm. long, bicarpellate, crowned
with usually 4 somewhat unequal ovatish ciliate calyx lobes, when carpels separate
often 3 lobes on one carpel and 1 on the other. Incl. var. angustata Gray.
In sandy soils in woodlands and open areas in mud along streams, in ditches,
swamps, bogs, in the e. two thirds of Tex., rare on the Edwards Plateau, and
Okla. (McCurtain and Ottawa cos.) to Ariz. (Greenlee, Gila, Cochise, Santa
Cruz and Pima cos.), May-Nov.: from Fla. to Tex. and Ariz., n. to N.E., O.,
ffl., Mo. and Okla.
Those plants with a slender apical seta on each young leaf are segregated as
var. setifera Fern. & Grisc.
Fam. 125. Caprifoliaceae Juss. HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY
Shrubs, vines or rarely herbs with opposite usually exstipulate entire leaves;
flowers perfect, gamopetalous. regular or irregular; corolla tubular to funnelform
or rotate: calyx tube adherent to the 2- to 5-celled ovary: stamens as many as the
corolla lobes and inserted on corolla tube: fruit a berry, drupe or capsule, 1- to
several-seeded; seeds anatropous.
About 12 genera and 450 species mostly in North Temperate regions and
tropical mountains.
1. Corolla rotate to open-campanulate, regular, deeply 5-lobed: style abbreviated.
the 1 to 5 stigmas sessile or nearly so; inflorescences terminal and
cymose (2)
1. Corolla elongate, funnelform to campanulate, often more or less irregular;
style 1, elongate, with a usually capitate stigma; inflorescences
lateral or terminal (3)
2(1). Leaves simple: fruit a 1-seeded drupe 1. Viburnum
2. Leaves pinnately compound; fruit a 3-seeded berry 2. Sambiicus
3(1). Corolla funnelform to tubular; ovary 2- or 3-celled; fruit a berry, many-
seeded 3. Lonicera
3. Corolla short-campanulate to salverform; ovary 4-celled; fruit a berrylike
drupe, with only 2 stones maturing 4, Symphoricarpos
1555
-------
1. Viburnum L. VIBURNUM. ARROW-WOOD
Shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and numerous white or rarely pink
flowers in compound cymes; petioles sometimes bearing appendages that are
apparently stipules: leaf buds naked or with pairs of scales; calyx 5-toothed; corolla
spreading, rotate to broadly campanulate. deeply 5-lobed; stamens 5, exserted,
the anthers oblong and introrse: style none, the 1 to 3 stigmas sessile on summit
of ovary; fruit a 1-celled 1-seeded soft-pulpy drupe with a thin-crustaceous tumid
or flattened stone.
About 200 species in the North Temperate Zone.
The fruits of most species of Viburnum are eaten by many kinds of wildlife,
and man even enjoys the sweet pulpy fruits of the non-wetland southern black-haw
(V. riifidithim Raf.)
1. Leaves somewhat lustrous above, the veins raised below and strongly curved,
gradually tapering or rounded to the apex, the margin revolute,
sometimes somewhat denticulate; twigs, petioles and lower surface
of leaves rusty-scurfy: anthers elevated 4—5 mm. above corolla;
pulp of drupe bitter; stone globose-obovate, smooth in cross section
1. V. nudum.
1. Leaves dull-dark-green above, the veins not noticeably raised below, usually
long-acuminate at apex, the margin only slightly revolute; twigs
smooth and glabrous; lower surface of leaves rusty-scurfy when
young, becoming light-green with scurfy dots in age; anthers ele-
vated 1-3.5 mm. above corolla; pulp of drupe sweet; stone oblong-
ellipsoid, ridged and grooved in cross section 2. V. nitidum.
1. Viburnum nudum L. POSSUM-HAW. Fig. 729.
Shrub spreading or somewhat erect and arborescent, to 5 m. tall; buds brown
or fuscous: leaves with a petiole to 1 cm. long, lustrous above, usually dotted
beneath, coriaceous, elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, rarely ovate, rounded
to abruptly acute at apex, the more or less crenate margin revolute, to about
15 cm. long and 75 mm. wide; cyme to 1 dm. wide, on a peduncle 15 mm. or
more long; corolla about 5 mm. wide; stamens long-exserted, the filaments 4-5
mm. long; drupe subglobose, bluish-black, glaucous, the flesh usually bitter; stone
typically globose-obovoid.
Along streams in swamp forests, bogs and in wet pinelands in e. Tex., Mar-
June; from Fla. to Tex., n. to N.E., Ky. and Ark.
2. Viburnum nitidum Ait. WITHE-ROD.
Shrub or small tree very similar to V. nudum, from which it differs primarily
in the narrower, long-acuminate, less coriaceous leaves without conspicuously raised
veins on their lower surface. V nudum var. angustifolium T. & G., V. cassinoides
var. niridum (Ait.) McAtee.
In swamps and wet woods in e. Tex. (Jasper Co.), Apr.-June; from Nfld. to
Man., s. to Fla. and Tex.
2. Sambucus L. ELDER-BERRY
Shrubby to arborescent or rarely herbaceous plants with a rank smell when
bruised; bark with lenticels clearly evident; leaves pinnate or rarely with some
bipinnate, the leaflets serrate and acuminate: flowers small, numerous in terminal
compound cymes; calyx lobes minute or obsolete; corolla rotate, with a broadly
spreading 5-cleft limb; stamens 5, inserted at base of corolla, the filaments slender;
stigmas 3; fruit a berrylike juicy drupe that contains 3 small seedlike stones,
usually edible.
About 40 species mainly in temperate and subtropical regions.
1556
-------
Fig. 729: Viburnum nudum: a, twig with flowers, x %; b, flowers, x 5; c, calyx and
ovary, x 5; d, twig with fruit, showing enlargement of leaves by fruiting time, x V>.
(V. F.).
-------
Fig. 730: Sambucits mexicana: a, flowering branch, x 'A; b, flower, x 5; c, duster
of fruit, x ';.; d, immature fruit, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
The fruits of some of these plants, especially those of S. canadensis, are a
favorite food of many species of songbirds and game birds. Not only the fruits
but also the twigs, foliage and bark are consumed by various small mammals and
browsers.
1. Inflorescence broadly short-pyramidal, with the axis extended beyond the
lowest branches; berries bright red, not glaucous....!. S. microbotrys.
1. Inflorescence flat-topped, with elongate compound rays, the axis not extended
beyond the lowest branches; berries dark-blue or blackish, com-
monly glaucous (2)
2(1). Distribution in eastern Oklahoma and throughout most of Texas (except
mountains in the Trans-Pecos) 2. S. canadensis.
2. Distribution in New Mexico, Arizona and mountains in Trans-Pecos Texas (3)
3(2). Leaflets narrowly lanceolate and gradually long-acuminate, usually thin,
the larger ones seldom less than 8 cm. long; inflorescence rather
lax and open 3. S. glauca.
3. Leaflets obovate to oblong-lanceolate or ovate, abrupt acute to acuminate,
thickish, usually less than 8 cm. long; inflorescence typically rather
compact 4. S. mexicana.
1. Sambucus microbotrys Rydb. RED ELDERBERRY.
Low shrub, rarely more than 1 m. tall, with strong-scented herbage, often
thickly branched and spreading; leaves thin and glabrous; leaflets commonly 7,
ascending on the rachis, ovate to ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, to 10 cm. long,
the margin serrate, the acute to acuminate apex entire; flowers white, in a conical
or pyramidal paniculate cyme to about 3 cm. across; berries bright red, 4-5 mm.
in diameter, reputedly poisonous; seeds ovoid, finely rugose. S. racemosa of auth.
Wet stream banks and about springs and lakes, usually at high elevations,
also on moist wooded slopes, in N.M. (San Juan, Rio Arriba, Lincoln, Otero,
.Grant, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee and
Coconino cos.), June—Aug.; also Colo, and Ut.
2. Sambucus canadensis L. COMMON ELDER-BERRY.
Stems scarcely woody, to 4 m. tall, with large white pith; leaflets 5 to 11,
ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, acuminate, to 18 cm. long and 7 cm. wide, sharply
serrate, glabrous to hirtellous or rarely canescent beneath (especially along the
veins); cymes flat, to 35 cm. broad, the branches and pedicels glabrous or rarely
hispidulous; flowers white, about 5 mm. broad, fragrant; fruit purple-black, 4-5
mm. in diameter.
In wet soil in low places, especially along streams and on edge of swamps,
mainly in e. and cen. Tex., rare in Panhandle, and Okla. (Woodward Co.), May-
July; from N.S. and Que., w. to Man. and S.D., s. to Fla. and Tex.
The edible fruits are used in the making of jellies, pies and wine.
Those plants with leaflets densely canescent beneath have been segregated as
var. submollis Rehd.
3. Sambucus glauca Nutt. BLUE ELDER-BERRY.
Shrub of clustered erect stems to 7 m. tall, rarely taller, sprouting freely
from the base, the main stems usually less than 15 cm. in diameter, the young
stems and branches brown and sometimes glaucous; leaflets 5 to 9, often long-
petiolulate, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, tapering at the acuminate
apex, rounded at the strongly asymmetrical base, to 16 cm. long and 35 mm.
wide, pale beneath, rather thick, serrate, glabrous or sparingly to densely tomen-
tose; cymes flat-topped, to 3 dm. broad; flowers pale-yellow or creamy-white, 5-6
mm. wide; fruit 5-6 mm. in diameter, dark-blue or blackish, when fully ripe
covered with a dense white bloom. S. caerulea Raf., S. neomexicana Woot.
1559
-------
Wet places in mts., mostly along streams and on talus slopes, in Trans-Pecos
Tex. (Brewster and Jeff Davis cos.), N. M. (Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz.
(Coconino to Graham, Cochise and Pima cos.), Apr.-Aug.; in mts. from w. Tex.
to Alta., Mont., Calif, and n. Mex.
4. Sambucus mexicana Presl. MEXICAN ELDER, TAPIRO, SAUCO. Fig. 730.
Trees or shrubs to' 10 m. tall, usually much smaller, with the main trunks
furrowed and to 3 dm. in diameter, the smaller branches glabrous or white-
tomentulose; leaflets 3 or 5 or sometimes 7, subsessile to petiolulate, ovate to
ovate-lanceolate or oval, abruptly acuminate or sometimes cuspidate at apex,
rounded to cuneate at base, to 12 cm. long, coarsely or finely serrate except at
base and apex, firm, green on both surfaces, glabrous to densely tomentulose;
cyme essentially flat, to 15 cm. broad; flowers pale-yellow or creamy-white, 5-8
mm. broad; fruits 5-7 mm. in diameter, dark-blue or blackish, when fully ripe
covered with a dense white bloom. S. caerulea van arizonica Sarg. and var.
mexicana (Presl) L. Benson, S. Rehderana Schwerin.
Along streams and river banks in wet soils, and on slopes in the Tex. Trans-
Pecos, N. M. (Dona Ana and Grant cos.) and Ariz, (widespread), Mar.-July;
from Tex. to Calif, and Mex.
3. Lonicera L. HONEYSUCKLE
About 200 species in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in eastern Asia. The
introduced, weedy Japanese honeysuckle (L. japonica Thunb.), with all leaves
distinct, is often found in floodplain woods.
1. Lonicera involucrata (Richards.) Banks. BEAR-BERRY, HONEYSUCKLE, INK-
BERRY, PIGEON-BUSH, TWIN-BERRY. Fig. 731.
Low shrub to 1 m. tall, freely suckering to form thickets; leaves 5-10 cm.
long, short-petioled, the blade ovate, more or less abruptly attenuate, pilose
beneath; peduncles 2-3 cm. long, borne in leaf axils and bearing at the summit
a conspicuous pair of connate (often purple) bracts which subtend the pair of
sessile flowers; corolla orange-yellow, 1—2 cm. long, tubular, the limb spreading,
its lobes subequal, the tube gibbous below; ovary of each flower in the pair
distinct; fruit fleshy, black; seeds several, flattened, irregularly ovate, bitter,
finely pitted, reputed to be poisonous.
High montane stream banks and marshy meadows, seepage slopes and thickets,
in N.M. (San Juan, Taos, Rio Arriba, Socorro, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Sandoval
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Graham and Cochise cos.), June-
Aug.; Que. to Alas., s. to Mich., Mex. and Calif.
4. Symphoricarpos BOEHM. SNOW-BERRY
About 20 species, all except one (in China) found in North America.
1. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench. CORAL-BERRY. INDIAN-CURRANT.
Shrub erect, to about 2 m. tall; branches leafy, erect or ascending, slender,
light-brown to purplish, bark on the older branches gray and shreddy; young
twigs densely villosulous-tomentulose to puberulent; leaves opposite, with petioles
2-4 mm. long, oval to ovate or suborbicular, rounded to slightly cuneate at the
base, obtuse to acute at the apex, rarely to 6 cm. long, dull-green and glabrous
to sparsely pilosulous on the upper surface, somewhat glaucescent and soft-
pubescent on lower surface; flowers in short many-flowered densely crowded
axillary spikes on the branches of the season; corolla broadly campanulate, villous
within, pinkish, 3-4 mm. long, turned obliquely upward, slightly ventricose on
the lower side, the lobes about as long as the tube; anthers 1 mm. long, shorter
than the filaments; calyx teeth 5, triangular, ciliate, persistent on the fruit; style
2 mm. long, pilose; fruit a delicate coral-red varying to pink or sometimes purple-
1560
-------
Fig. 731: Lonicera involucrata: a, twig with flowers, X %; b, twig with fruit,
x %; c, twin flowers, x 1; d, individual flower, x 1; e, twin fruits, x 1; f, connate bracts
with fruits removed, x 1. (V. F.).
-------
tinged, glaucous, ellipsoid, 5-7 mm. long, 4-5 mm. thick, the beak about 1 mm.
long; stones oval, flattened, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide, obtuse at each
end. S. vulgaris Michx., S. spicatus Engelm.
In woods and thickets, especially along streams, occasionally in marshes and
wet meadows, in e. third of Tex. and e. half of Okla., Apr.-July; from N.Y., s.
to Fla. and w. to Tex., n. Mex., Colo, and e. S.D.
Fam. 126. Valerianaceae BATSCH VALERIAN FAMILY
Herbaceous annuals or perennials with opposite exstipulate leaves; flowers
small, in cymes or capitate, perfect or unisexual; calyx annular or variously
toothed, often inrolled in flower and forming a feathery pappus in fruit; corolla
funnelform to rotate or almost salverform, 4- or 5-lobed, the base often saccate
or spurred on one side; stamens 1 to 4, inserted near the base of the corolla tube;
ovary inferior, mostly 3-celled, with 1 cell fertile and the other 2 cells sterile or
essentially wanting; ovule 1, pendulous; fruit dry, indehiscent.
About 13 genera and 400 species mostly in the Northern Hemisphere.
1. Plants perennial; distribution in mountains of the Texas Trans-Pecos, west-
ward 1. Valeriana
1. Plants annual; distribution east of the mountains of the Texas Trans-Pecos
and Oklahoma, eastward 2. Valerianella
1. Valeriana L. VALERIAN. TOBACCO-ROOT
Perennial herbs with thickened strong-scented roots or rhizomes and with leafy
or scapose stems; leaves entire to pinnate; inflorescence determinate, the cymes
clustered or paniculate; calyx at first involute, later spreading, the limb sessile,
hyaline, membranaceous, becoming setose distally, the setae plumose or the
limb short-cupuliform and more or less toothed or lobed; corolla rotate to funnel-
form, the tube straight or gibbous, the throat more or less hairy, the 5 lobes
subequal; stamens usually 3; anthers sessile or on filaments, 2- to 4-lobed; ovary
3-celled, maturing 1 fertile adaxial carpel with 1 pendulous ovule, the other
2 abaxial carpels vestigial; style 1, the stigma 3-lobed; fruit an achene.
About 200 species in temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Dried plants of the species in this genus are persistently malodorous.
1. Plants from rhizomes; leaves mostly pinnate or pinnatifid, sometimes un-
divided, petiolate, the blade of undivided leaves more or less
abruptly expanding; corolla infundibuliform or rotate; achene
smooth, more or less plane adaxially; flowers hermaphroditic or
gynodioecious (2)
1. Plants from a stout caudex and conical taproot; leaves mostly lingulate-
spatulate, gradually decurrent to the subpetiolar and clasping base;
cauline leaves frequently pinnate to pinnatifid and more or less
decurrent; corolla essentially rotate; achene transversely rugose or
smooth, adaxial ribs relatively prominent; flowers polygamo-dioeci-
ous (3)
2(1). Corolla infundibuliform, 4-8 mm. long; leaves more often oblanceolate to
obovate-spatulate I. V. capitata.
2. Corolla rotate to subrotate, 3-3.5 mm. long; leaves predominantly oblong
2. V. occidentalis.
3(1). Leaves undivided, elliptic to obovate-spatulate, glabrous; calyx limb 6- to
8-fid 3. v. texana.
3. Leaves divided and undivided, somewhat repand to undulate-lamellate or
entire, uniformly spreading-ciliate; calyx limb 9- to 13-fid
4. V. edulis.
1562
-------
1. Valeriana capitals Link.
Perennial 1.5-6 dm. tall; rhizome relatively stoui, 2-4 mm. thick; stem
glabrous or glabrescent; leaves predominantly basal, more often numerous and
forming a rather loosely tufted rosette, undivided or rarely divided, predominantly
oblong- to oblanceolate- or obovate-spatulate, 3.5-36 cm. long. 1.2-2.3 cm. wide,
short-acuminate or acute to more or less apiculate, glabrous or sometimes spread-
ing-ciliate toward the subpetiolar base; cauline leaves essentially sessile, pinnate
to pinnatifid, the lowermost sometimes undivided, 1.5-12 cm. long, usually
smaller, the lateral lobes in 2 to 5 pairs, linear to oblong-linear, grading smaller,
becoming more or less filiform, 1-3 mm. wide; petioles obscure; inflorescence
1.5-3.5 cm. wide in anthesis; bracts glabrous; calyx limb 10- to 14-fid; corolla
4-8 mm. long, glabrous or sometimes pilosulous toward the base of the tube
without; achenes ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-5 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. wide,
glabrous, frequently purple-maculate.
Wet meadows, along stream sides, open woods and grassy slopes in N.M.
(Catron, Mora, San Miguel and Santa Fe cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino,
Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), May-Aug.; also Wyo. and Colo.
Our plant is referred to subsp. acutiloba (Rydb.) F. G. Mey.
2. Valeriana occidentals Heller.
Perennial, mostly 4-9 dm. tall, relatively robust, from stoutish rhizomes 3-6
mm. thick; stem 3-6 mm. in diameter, glabrous or glabrescent, the nodes con-
sistently white tufted-pilosulous; leaves at the base forming a loosely tufted
rosette with the several adventitious shoots, petiolate, undivided or pinnate to
pinnatifid; undivided leaves oblong to narrowly ovate or more or less spatulate,
rarely suborbicular, 12-30 cm. long, entire or essentially so, glabrous; blades
and terminal lobe of the divided leaves 2-10 cm. long, 1.3-6 cm. wide, short-
acuminate or obtuse, the lateral lobes in 1 or 2 pairs, grading smaller; petiole
1 to 1.5 times the blade length, spreading-ciliate toward the base, sometimes
spreading to the blade and lateral lobes; cauline leaves in 2 to 4 pairs, the lower-
most short-petiolate, pinnate to pinnatifid or sometimes undivided, 4.5-14.5 cm.
long, the uppermost much-reduced and sessile, the terminal lobe oblong-linear to
ovate or obovate, 1.9-6.8 cm. long, 9-40 mm. wide, acute or obtuse, the lateral
lobes in 1 to 6 pairs, grading smaller; inflorescence 3.5-5 cm. wide in anthesis,
later diffuse (8-60 cm. long, 4.5-15 cm. wide), the nodes pilosulous, the inter-
nodes glabrous or sometimes scattered-pilosulous; bracts 5—6 mm. long, glabrous;
flowers gynodioecious; corolla rotate to subrotate, 3-3.5 mm. long, white, glabrous
without, the throat scattered-pilosulous within; stamens and style exserted; achenes
linear- to ovate-oblong, 3-5 mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide, sparsely to densely
pilosulous or glabrous, tawny, the abaxial ribs often rather prominent; calyx
limb 11- to 16-fid.
Wet meadows or grassy wet places among willows, aspen glens and yellow pine
woods, in rich loam or on open rocky hillsides, in Ariz. (Coconino Co.) May-
Sept.; S.D. and Mont, to Ore., s. to Colo., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Valeriana texana Steyerm. Fig. 732.
Plant to 3 dm. high, with a stout multicipital caudex and forked rugose conical
taproots to 2 cm. thick and much contorted in age; stems several, subscapose,
glabrous or sometimes sparsely pilosulous at nodes; leaves predominantly basal,
undivided, elliptic to obovate-spatulate, narrowly obtuse to acute, to 16 cm. long
and 3 cm. wide, tapering to the subpetiolar base, firmly membranaceous, glabrous,
usually somewhat marginate, the stem leaves similar to but smaller than the basal
leaves; inflorescence 2-6 cm. long in anthesis, later diffuse and to 12 cm. long
1563
-------
Fig 732: Valeriana texana: a, habit, x V,; b, flower, x 5; c, corolla spread out, x 5.
(V. F.)
-------
and 7 cm. wide, the internodes glabrous or sometimes thinly pilosulous; bracts
3-4 mm. long, reduced above, glabrous to spreading-ciliate; calyx limb 6- to 8-fid;
corolla rotate, 2.5-3 mm. long, whitish, thinly pilosulous at the base on outside,
the ovate lobes equal to or shorter than the tube; stamens and style exserted;
achenes oblong to linear-oblong, 2-2.5 mm. long and less than 1 mm. wide,
smooth, brownish, more or less keeled abaxially, the adaxial ribs evident.
On boulders in creek and on wet rocks, and on moist shaded limestone cliffs
in canyons of Guadalupe Mts. in the Trans-Pecos, Tex. and N. M. (Eddy Co.),
Apr.-July.
4. Valeriana edulis Nutt. ex T. & G.
Perennial to 12 dm. tall, robust; stem subscapose, from a large vertical
caudex and conical often forked taproot; leaves thickish, usually numerous and
glabrous, predominantly basal, oblong- to obovate-spatulate, entire or pinnately
parted, the lateral lobes of the divided leaves mostly distinct and sometimes
narrowly decurrent, the terminal lobe 4.5-9 cm. long and 7-20 mm. wide; cauline
leaves 2 or 3 well-developed pairs, essentially sessile, usually pinnately parted
with few elongate linear to spatulate divisions; inflorescence an elongate open
panicle to 75 cm. long and 14 cm. wide at anthesis; calyx limb 9- to 13-fid;
corolla yellowish or greenish, that of the perfect and staminate flowers 3-3.5 mm.
long, of the minute pistillate flowers 0.5 mm. long, the throat scattered-pilosulous
within; achenes 2.5-4.5 mm. long, glabrous to densely hirsutulous.
In wet meadows, marshes, old lake beds, wettish pastures, creek bottoms,
yellow pine and aspen woods and mt. slopes, in N. M. (widespread) and Ariz.
(Apache to Coconino, Yavapai, Graham and Cochise cos.), May-Oct; Mont.
and Ida. to N. M. and Ariz.
The roots of this species are said to have been boiled and eaten by the Indians.
2. VALERIANELLA MILL. CORN SALAD
Annual or sometimes biennial often disgustingly malodorous (when dry) herbs
with erect dichotomously branched stems; leaves more or less succulent, the basal
leaves tufted and entire, the stem leaves sessile and often dentate; flowers small,
cymose-clustered, bracted; calyx limb obsolete or short-toothed; corolla funnel-
form or salverform, white or pale-blue, equally or unequally 5-lobed; stamens
3 or rarely 2; fruit 2-celled or 3-celled with 2 of the cells empty and sometimes
confluent and the other 1-seeded.
About 80 species in the Northern Hemisphere. In northern Europe, V. locusta
(L.) Betcke is commonly used as a potherb in fall and spring.
1. Fertile cell of fruit about one third less than (often to one half) the combined
width of the sterile cells, when viewed dorsally it does not com-
pletely conceal the 2 sterile cells that extend outward
1. V. Woodsiana.
1. Fertile cell of fruit usually about equaling or wider than the combined width
of the sterile cells, when viewed dorsally it usually completely con-
ceals the 2 sterile cells (2)
2(1). Plants glabrous or sometimes with tufts of hairs on each side of the leaf
base near the nodes; fruit always pubescent (3)
2. Plants pubescent, sometimes only on the leaves and the lower part of the
stem, in addition to tufts on each side of leaf bases near the nodes;
fruit glabrous or sometimes puberulent or pubescent (4)
3(2). Fruit white-hirsute, 1.5—2 mm. long, the hairs uncinate; corymb compact,
the glomerate cymules many 2. V. amarella.
3. Fruit only sparsely short-pubescent, 1.7 mm. long; corymb open, with few
glomerules 3. V. ftorifera.
1565
-------
4(2). Fruits laterally compressed, strongly carinate, less than 1 mm. long
4. V. texana.
4 Fruit dorsiventrally compressed, never strongly carinate, more than 1 mm,
long (5)
5(4). Fruits ellipsoid; fertile cell rounded on the dorsal side (6)
5. Fruits ovoid; fertile cell flattened on the dorsal side (7)
6(5). Corolla 2-3 mm. long, conspicuous above the bracts
5. V. stenocarpa var. stenocarpa,
6. Corolla 1.5 mm. long, not conspicuous above the bracts
5. V. stenocarpa var. parviflora.
7(5). Sterile cells of fruit more or less divergent with a prominent groove be-
tween them, their combined width slightly less than or wider than
the fertile 6. V. radiata var. radiata.
1. Sterile cells more approximate with only a slight groove between them, their
combined width about half the width of the fertile
6. V. radiata var. Fernaldii.
1. Valerianella Woodsiana (T. & G.) Walp. Fig. 733.
Stem 1.5-5 dm. tall, rather stout, pubescent along the angles; leaves hairy
on the margin and on the midrib on the lower surface; the lower leaves spatulate,
entire, slightly connate; the upper leaves oblong-ovate with several coarse teeth
near the base, not connate; bracts elliptic-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, glabrous,
usually weakly glandularly fimbriate-serrulate toward the tip; inflorescence lax to
somewhat compact, corymbosely cymose; corolla white, 1.5 mm. long, funnel-
form; tube much shorter than the limb, a saccate gibbosity at base of throat on
the ventral side; stamens and style exserted; stigma lobes short; fruit yellowish,
subglobose, about 2 mm. long, glabrous or finely pubescent; fertile cell often
short-beaked, narrowly oblong to oblong-lanceolate, weakly one-nerved and flat-
tened on the dorsal side, much narrower than the inflated widely divergent sterile
cells which have a wide groove between them.
In moist low sandy or clayey soils in woods and on prairies and wet soil on
edge of ponds, lakes and along streams in e. Tex. and e. Okla. (Waterfall),
Mar.—May.
2. Valerianella amarella Krok. Fig. 733.
Stem 1.5-3 dm. tall, glabrous; leaves glabrous except for tufts of hairs on
each side of the base near the nodes, the lower obovate-spatulate and entire, the
upper oblong-obovate and sessile; bracts glabrous, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-
lanceolate, rounded to acute at the apex, usually hyaline-margined; inflorescence
compact, corymbosely cymose; corolla white, funnelform, 1.5-3 mm. long; limb
usually as long as the throat and tube combined, a saccate gibbosity at the base of
the throat on the ventral side; stamens and style usually long-exserted, sometimes
either stamens or style short and abortive; stigma lobes short; fruit 1.5-2 mm.
long, subglobose, ovoid, brownish, hirsute with rather long uncinate white hairs;
sterile cells much smaller than the large fertile cell, contiguous, groove between
them narrow and very shallow or inconspicuous.
On rocky calcareous open or wooded hills and in prairies, low wet grounds
and barrens, mostly in cen. Tex. and Okla. (Arbuckle Mts. and Caddo Co.),
Mar.-May; also e. Kan.
3. Valerianella florifera Shinners. Fig. 733.
Stem 9-18 cm. tall, glabrous; leaves entire, glabrous or the lower slightly
scabrous-ciliate especially toward apex; lower leaves oblong to oblong-spatulate,
sessile; upper leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate or narrowly deltoid-oblong,
1566
-------
Fig. 733: a-e, Valerianella stenocarpa var. parviflora: a, habit, x }i; b, inflorescence,
X 3; c, flower and fruit, x 3; d, fruit, front view, x 5; e, fruit, top view, x 5. f and g,
Valerianella stenocarpa var. stenocarpa: f, flower, x 3; g, corolla opened to show
anthers, x 3. h-j, Valerianella radiata: h, fruit, front view, x 5; i, fruit, side view,
x 5; j, fruit, top view, x 5. k and 1, Valerianella amarella: k, fruit, front view, x 5;
1, fruit, side view, x 5. m-o, Valerianella florifera: m, fruit, front view, x 5; n, fruit,
top view, x 5; o, fruit, back view, x 5. p-s, Valerianella Woodsiana: p, fruit, front view,
x 5; q, fruit, top view, x 5; r, fruit, side view, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
sessile; bracts lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, acute, glandular-denticulate or
even lacerate, glabrous; inflorescence rather open, the glomerules few but many-
flowered; corolla white, funnelform, the lobes 1.8-2 mm. long, throat 1.3-1.5 mm.
long, with basal gibbosity, the tube (below gibbosity) 1.4-1.5 mm. long; stamens
and style exserted; fruit narrowly ellipsoid, 1.7 mm. long, 0.6 mm. wide, rather
sparsely pubescent with straight erect hairs; fertile cell somewhat flattened dorsally,
with noticeable median line toward apex; sterile cells not diverging, their com-
bined width barely equaling that of the fertile cell.
In sandy moist soil in post oak woods and in wet depressions in s.-cen. Tex.,
Mar.-May; endemic.
4. Valerianella texana Dyal.
Stem 1-3 dm. tall, rather frail, pubescent on the angles; leaves hairy on the
margin and upper surface, the lower spatulate, the upper oblong-ovate, sessile;
bracts lanceolate, ciliate; inflorescence loosely and corymbosely cymose; corolla
white, funnelform, 2-2.5 mm. long; tube slender, about as long as the limb;
throat rather wide without a conspicuous gibbosity at its base; stamens and style
exserted; stigma lobes short; fruit yellowish, laterally compressed, less than 1 mm.
long, with four lines of short capitate hairs (2 down the dorsal side of the fertile
cell and one down the ventral side of each sterile cell); fertile cell narrowly oblong,
produced at apex into a prominent tooth, much narrower than the combined
width of the sterile cells which have a narrow deep groove between them with a
prominent nerve down the middle of the groove.
Wet stream banks in the vicinity of Kini Creek, Gillespie Co., Tex., spring,
endemic.
5. Valerianella stenocarpa (Engelm.) Krok var. stenocarpa. Fig. 733.
Stem 1-5 dm. tall, pubescent on the angles; leaves ciliate, the lower spatulate
with their bases connate, entire, the upper usually ovate with a few teeth on
each side near the base; bracts lanceolate, glabrous or rarely weakly glandularly
fimbriate-serrulate toward the tip; inflorescence loose, corymbose-cymose; corolla
white, 2-3 mm. long, funnelform; tube short, less than one half the length of
the limb, a saccate gibbosity at the base of the throat on the ventral side; stamens
and style exserted; stigma lobes short; fruit yellowish, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.5-2.3
mm. long, more than twice as long as wide, glabrous or pubescent; fertile cell
wider than the combined width of the sterile cells, rounded on the dorsal side,
sometimes with a weak nerve down the middle; groove between the slender
sterile cells narrow, rarely with a rather prominent nerve down the middle.
Rocky ledges and low moist grounds, wet seepage banks, often along rivers,
in cen. and e. Tex., Mar.-May, (?) endemic.
Var. parviflora Dyal. Corolla white, funnelform, 1.5 mm. long; fruit slightly
smaller than in var. stenocarpa. Light soils, barrens, and prairies, sometimes in
periodically inundated places, in e. and s.e. Tex., west to Calhoun, Bexar and
Dallas cos. and Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-May; also Mo.
6. Valerianella radiata (L.) Dufr. var. radiata. Fig. 733.
Stem 1.5-6 dm. tall, rather stout and pubescent along the angles; leaves hairy
on the margins and on the midrib on the lower surface, the lower oblong-spatu-
late, connate, entire, the upper oblong-ovate, often coarsely toothed at the base,
not connate; bracts lanceolate, the outer ones slightly ciliate, the inner glabrous;
inflorescence loose, corymbosely cymose; corolla white, funnelform, 1.5-2 mm.
long; tube shorter than the limb, a saccate gibbosity at the base of the throat
on the ventral side; stamens and style exserted; stigma lobes short; fruit yellowish,
ovoid, about 2 mm. long, glabrous or pubescent; fertile cell as broad as or broader
1568
-------
than the combined width of the sterile cells; groove between the sterile cells
narrow to rather wide and often rather deep, with a slight groove on each side
between the fertile and sterile cells.
Low moist or wet grounds in cen. and e. Tex. and Okla. (Waterfall), spring;
from Pa. to Kan., s. to Fla. and Tex.
Var. Fernaldii Dyal. Corolla slightly larger than in var. radiata; fruit more
elongate, usually pubescent; fertile cell rounded on the dorsal side, much wider
than the combined width of the slender sterile cells; groove between sterile cells
slight or wanting. Low moist places in e. Tex.; from Conn, and Pa., s. to N.C.,
w. to Mo. and Tex.
Fam. 127. Cucurbitaceae Juss. GOURD FAMILY
Plants herbaceous, annual or perennial; stems with tendrils, trailing or climbing;
leaves alternate, petiolate, simple or compound; flowers mostly unisexual, with
male and female flowers on the same or separate plants, regular or nearly so,
solitary to fasciculate or in racemose or corymbose inflorescences; calyx tube
wholly adnate to the ovary; corolla adnate at base to the calyx, usually 5-merous,
sympetalous or the petals nearly distinct; stamens 3 or 5, in the latter case
usually appearing to be 3, four of the anthers being united in pairs; style 1, the
stigmas usually 3; ovary 1- to 4-celled; fruits various.
About 650 species in about 110 genera throughout the world.
A family of great economic importance that produces the world's melons,
squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers and gourds. Most of our cucurbits can be found
at times in moist or even wettish situations. The ones given here, however, are
considered by us to be more tolerant of such habitats.
1. Seeds numerous in each fruit (2)
1. Seeds less than 10 in each fruit or (if more than 10) the fruit with spines
or prickles (3)
2(1). Corolla campanulate, 5-lobed to about the middle; fruit obovoid, hard-
shelled, to about 9 cm. long 1. Cucurbita
2. Corolla rotate to campanulate, deeply 5-parted to near the base; fruit ovoid
to ellipsoid, soft, 1-2 cm. long 1. Melothria
3(1). Ovary 3-celled, usually with a solitary ovule ascending to erect from the
base of each cell; fruit smooth, fleshy 3. Cayaponia
3. Ovary 1- or 2-celled; fruit with spines or prickles or (if smooth) with only
1 seed (4)
4(3). Fruit filled with a solitary seed, indehiscent 6. Sicyos
4. Fruit with several seeds, variously dehiscent (5)
5(4). Fruit dry, dehiscing by pores, the spines glandular-hirsute; seeds corru-
gated 4. Echinopepon
5. Fruit baccate, the apex irregularly lacerate, the spines not hirsute; seeds
smooth 5. Echinocystis
1. Cucurbita L.
About 15 species confined to America.
1. Cucurbita texana Gray. TEXAS GOURD.
Plant annual, producing slender long-running and climbing leafy stems with
abundant tendrils; leaves broadly ovate to subreniform in outline, angled to
distinctly lobed, pubescent, the margins sharp-serrate, to about 15 cm. long,
nearly as wide as long; calyx lobes short and slender; corolla yellow, usually
1569
-------
with prominent somewhat greenish veins, to about 7 cm. long, flaring above, the
lobes acute and cuspidate; fruit obovoid, hard-shelled, green and usually with
light-green stripes, to 9 cm. long and 6 cm. broad, the flesh bitter and inedible.
C. Pepo of auth.
In debris and piles of driftwood, often climbing into trees, along several rivers,
especially in floodplains of the Guadalupe that drains the Edward Plateau in cen.
Tex., rare but abundant where found, July-Oct; endemic.
2. Melothria L. MELONETTE
About 10 species in the warmer regions of the New World.
1. Melothria pendula L. MELONCITO.
Slender climbing vine from a perennial root; leaves more or less orbicular in
outline, with a cordate base, subentire to 5-angled or -lobed, more or less scabrous;
tendrils simple; male and female flowers on the same vine; flowers small, yellow
or somewhat greenish, the staminate flowers racemose or corymbose, the pistillate
flowers solitary or clustered; corolla rotate to campanulate, deeply 5-parted;
filaments free or barely coherent; ovary contracted beneath the corolla, with 3
placentae and many horizontal ovules, the style short and with 3 stigmas; fruit
ovoid to subglobose or ellipsoid, green or yellowish, becoming blackish, 1-2 cm.
long; seeds numerous. Incl. var. chlorocarpa (Engelm.) Cong., M. chlorocarpa
Engelm.
In sandy and moist rich soils, wettish thickets, banks of canals and streams,
climbing on shrubs and small trees, near the coast and in s. Tex. and e. two thirds
of Okla. (Waterfall), Mar.-Oct.; from Fla., w. to Tex. and Mex., n. to Va., s.
Ind., s. Mo. and Okla.
The seeds are reputed to be purgative.
3. Cayaponia S. MANSO
About 50 species mainly in tropical and subtropical America.
1. Cayaponia quinqueloba (Raf.) Shinners.
Climbing herbaceous vine from a perennial rhizome; stem slender, finely pubes-
cent; leaves long-petiolate, thickish, cordate at base, 5-10 cm. long, less than
1 dm. wide, 3-angled or -lobed, sparingly pubescent beneath, the petioles bristly-
villous; tendrils simple or branched; male and female flowers on same vine;
flowers rather large, in racemes or panicles; calyx campanulate, 5-cIeft; corolla
rotate or subcampanulate, greenish-white, 5-parted; staminate flowers 5-6 mm.
across, with 3 distinct stamens, the anther sacs flexuous, the rudimentary ovary
3-lobed; pistillate flowers often with 3 rudimentary stamens; ovary 3-celled, with
1 or 2 ascending ovules in each cell; style 3-cIeft, the stigmas dilated; fruit
reddish, ovoid to ellipsoid, somewhat fleshy, 12-14 mm. long; seeds 6-8 mm. long
and 2 mm. thick. C. Boykinii (T. & G.) Cogn.
In river bottomlands and wettish soils along streams in e.-cen. Tex., June-Aug.;
from Ga. to Tex.
4. Echinopepon NAUD. WILD BALSAM-APPLE
A small American genus.
1. Echinopepon Wrightii (Gray) Wats.
Climbing annual with forked tendrils, more or less pubescent throughout; leaves
reniform, broadly cordate at base, shallowly lobed or angular, scarcely denticulate,
to about 15 cm. wide; male and female flowers on same vine; flowers 5-merous,
the staminate flowers in long racemes or panicles, the pistillate flowers solitary;
1570
-------
calyx absent on staminate flowers; corolla rotate, 6-8 mm. wide, the lobes tri-
angular-ovate and glandular; fruit obovoid, rostrate, to 35 mm. long, less than
15 mm. in diameter, opening by apical pores, spiny with the prickles to 15 mm.
long and hirsute, 3-celled. Echitiocystis Wrightii (Gray) Cogn.
Climbing on shrubs along streams and in thickets in extreme w. Trans-Pecos
Tex., N.M. (Grant Co.) and Ariz. (Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), June-Oct.; from
w. Tex., s. N.M., Ariz, and n. Mex.
5. Echinocystis T. & G. WILD MOCK-CUCUMBER
A monotypic genus in North America, as interpreted here.
1. Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) T. & G.
High-climbing annual, essentially glabrous throughout; tendrils forked; leaves
suborbicular-ovate in outline, to 12 cm. long and wide, usually with 5 sharply
triangular serrulate cuspidate lobes; flowers 5- or 6-merous, greenish or white,
the staminate flowers in long racemes or panicles, the short-peduncled pistillate
flowers solitary or in small clusters and from the same axils as the staminate
flowers; corolla rotate, about 1 cm. wide, the lobes narrowly lanceolate and
acuminate; stamens 3, united by their filaments into a column, the nearly straight
anthers connivent; ovary 2-celled, with 2 erect ovules in each cell; style with a
broad-lobed stigma; fruit ovoid, 3-5 cm. long, to 25 mm. in diameter, bladdery-
inflated, somewhat beaked at summit and with weak glabrous prickles to about
6 mm. long, bursting somewhat irregularly at the summit; seeds flat, dark.
In moist or wet alluvial soils in thickets of the Tex. Trans-Pecos, n. Okla.
and Cimarron Co. (Waterfall} and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Aug.—Sept.; N.B.
to Sask., s. to Fla. and w. to Tex. and Ariz.; escaped from cult, and sporadic in
w. U.S.
6. Sicyos L. ONE-SEEDED BUR-CUCUMBER
About 15 species in the American and Australasian tropics and temperate
regions.
1. Sicyos angulatus L.
Plant clammy-hairy, with slender climbing stems; hairs weak and distinctly
articulated; leaves with petioles to 8 cm. long, suborbicular in outline, cordate
at base, to 2 dm. long and wide, shallowly 5-angled or -lobed with the lobes
pointed; calyx tube subrotate, 4-5 mm. wide; corolla lobes 3-4 mm. long; fruit
yellowish, ovoid, pointed, 1-1.4 cm. long, to 8 mm. thick, sparingly long-setose
and villous-tomentose.
In wooded areas along streams and rivers in damp or wet soils, in e. half of
Tex. and e. Okla. (Waterfall), May-Sept.; from s. Me. and w. Que. to Minn., s.
to Fla., La., Tex. and Okla.
Fam. 128. Campanulaceae Juss. BLUEBELL FAMILY
Perennial, biennial or annual herbs, mostly terrestrial but occasionally aquatic
or epiphytic; leaves exstipulate, simple or very rarely dissected, alternate and
usually spirally arranged; flowers usually perfect and 5-merous except the gynoe-
cium that consists of 2 to 5 united carpels possessing a common style with
usually distinct stigmatic tips; ovary inferior, 2- to 5-celled or rarely unicellular;
placentation axile or parietal in species with unicellular ovaries; calyx usually
5-parted to the summit of the ovary or its tubular portion forming a rim above
the ovary, the lobes alternate with the corolla lobes and opposite the stamens;
corolla gamopetalous at least at base, usually 5-parted or -lobed, only exception-
1571
-------
ally with apparently free segments; corolla and stamens inserted around the
periphery of the calyx tube at the summit of the rim; stamens as many as the
corolla lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous; seeds mostly small and numer-
ous, with fleshy endosperm.
About 2,000 species in 65 genera of world-wide distribution.
1. Flowers minute, sessile in dense leafless terminal spikes less than 1 cm. in
diameter; corolla white, about 2.5 mm. long; stamens inserted
about the middle of the corolla tube, distinct; capsule circum-
scissile 1. Sphenoclea
1. Flowers rather large, pedicellate or (if sessile or essentially so) in spikes with
foliaceous bracts; corolla typically more than 5 mm. long, red or of
various shades of blue and purple to dull-white (or clear-white in
albino forms); stamens inserted at the base of the corolla and free
from it, distinct or united; capsule loculicidally dehiscent (2)
2(1). Flowers radially symmetrical; corolla regular, campanulate; anthers dis-
tinct; capsule opening on the sides by outwardly curled elastic valves
or by longitudinal slits 2. Campanula
2. Flowers bilaterally symmetrical; corolla strongly irregular, two-lipped; anthers
united into a tube; capsule opening by apical valves (3)
3(2). Corolla tube slit down one side nearly to the base 3. Lobelia
3. Corolla tube entire, not slit down one side 4. Porterella
1. Sphenoclea GAERTN.
A monotypic genus of the Old World tropics; segregated by some authors as a
distinct family, Sphenocleaceae.
1. Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn. CHICKEN SPIKE. Fig. 734.
Coarse glabrous branched annual herb to 10 dm. high or more, with fistulose
stems; leaves entire, with a petiole to 2 cm. long, elliptic, somewhat pale on lower
surface, to 12 cm. long and 5 cm. wide; spikes erect, dense, cylindric, naked,
tapering at tip, to 8 cm. long and 9 mm. in diameter, on peduncles to 1 dm. long;
floral bracts spatulate, 2-3 mm. long, about 1 mm. wide; flowers small, sessile,
5-merous; calyx lobes imbricate in bud, triangular to suborbicular, erose at the
rounded scarious apex, to 2 mm. wide at base, deciduous with capsule; corolla
white, about 2.5 mm. long, the lobes triangular and obtuse, deciduous with
stamens after anthesis; stamens alternating with the corolla lobes, inserted below
middle of tube; anthers roundish, appearing peltate; ovary wholly inferior; capsule
bilocular, circumscissile; seeds ellipsoid, about 0.5 mm. long.
In wet places of lowlands and flats, especially rice fields, in e. and s. Tex.,
Aug.-Nov.; an Old World species that has been introd. in warm regions of the
W. Hemis.
2. Campanula L. BELLFLOWER
Perennial or sometimes biennial or annual herbs of various habit; radical leaves
often larger and more obtusely pointed with longer petioles than the cauline ones;
calyx 5-fid, the sinuses often with reflexed appendages; corolla usually blue or
purplish-blue, varying to white in the same species, 5-lobed at apex or 5-parted
but usually not parted below the middle, typically campanulate but varying to
rotate; stamens 5, distinct; filaments expanded and membranaceous at base;
anthers linear; ovary 3- to 5-celIed, opening by as many valves as there are cells,
the valves varying in position from very base to near apex of capsule.
About 300 species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
1572
-------
stem
Fig. 734: Sphenodea zeylanica: a, habit, x %; b, basal part of plant showing rooting
:m, x V>; c, spike, x 2; d, calyx and bracts, x 5; e, corolla opened, x 5; f, lower half
- - ~ J - --»r sir n \
of circumscissile capsule, x 5; g, seed, x 25. (V. F.).
-------
1 Calyx lobes entire; mature capsule nodding, the valves at the very base; basal
leaves orbicular or nearly so, more or less cordate at base; cauline
leaves linear and acuminate-attenuate 1. C. rotundifolia.
1. Calyx lobes typically with 1 or more callose teeth on each side; mature capsule
erect, the valves distinctly above the middle; basal leaves mostly
oblanceolate to obovate, tapering at base; cauline leaves narrowly
elliptic and obtuse to long-acute 2. C, Parryi.
1. Campanula rotundifolia L. BLUEBELL, HAREBELL.
Perennial to about 1 m. high, usually much smaller, the rootstocks slender
and elongate; stems erect or decumbent, scabrous, simple to freely branched;
leaves often in rosettelike clusters at or near base, long-petioled, round-cordate
to elliptic or oblanceolate, to 5 cm. long and wide, mostly toothed, early-wither-
ing; cauline leaves numerous, linear to narrowly lanceolate, smooth, to 1 dm. long
and 3 mm. wide; flowers as many as 15 in a lax raceme; calyx lobes narrowly
triangular to linear-subulate, usually entire, with sharp slender tips, erect to
spreading or reflexed in fruit, to 1 cm. long and 2 mm. wide; corolla violet-blue,
mostly 12-25 mm. long, the tube 7-15 mm. long; corolla lobes ovate-oblong,
abruptly pointed at tips, 5-8 mm. wide; filaments 2.5-4.5 mm. long, abruptly
dilated and ciliate on the basal portion; anthers 4-6 mm. long; capsule pendent,
obovoid to ellipsoid or subglobose, prominently ribbed, 4—8 mm. long, 2-4 mm.
in diameter. C. petiolata sensu Woot. & Standl.
In wet meadows, edge of streams and rocky wooded areas in canyons of mts.
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos (Culberson Co.), N.M. (widespread in the mts.) and
Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and Graham cos.), June-Oct.; across the n.-
cen. portion of N.A., s. in the mts. to Tex., and n. Mex.
Throughout its wide area of distribution this species is highly variable.
2. Campanula Parryi Gray.
Plant slender, to about 7 dm. high; basal leaves mostly oblanceolate to obovate,
to about 4 cm. long and 7 mm. wide, tapered at base; cauline leaves linear-
elliptic to linear-oblanceolate, to about 5 cm. long and 6 mm. wide, obtuse to
long-acute at apex; flowers rarely more than 3, usually solitary; calyx lobes lance-
subulate, to about 1.5 cm. long in anthesis, typically with 1 or more callose teeth
on each side; corolla bluish-purple, about 2 cm. long, divided to about the middle
into broadly ovate apiculate lobes; filaments broad and pubescent, about 2 mm.
long; anthers about 6 mm. long; style 1 cm. long; mature capsule erect, the
valves distinctly above the middle, usually two thirds to three fourths of the
distance from base to apex.
In wet mt. meadows in N.M. (rather widespread) and Ariz. (Apache and
Coconino cos.), July-Sept.; also Wyo. and Ut.
3. Lobelia L. LOBELIA
Perennial, biennial or annual herbs; leaves mostly of a lanceolate type; flowers
axillary or chiefly in bracted racemes, usually inverted before anthesis, the pedicel
twisted; calyx 5-cIeft, regular, parted to the summit of the ovary or the calyx
tube extending a little above the ovary; corolla variously colored, with relatively
narrow tube and spreading lobes, the tube usually cleft nearly to base between
the 2 lobes of the upper lip, the 3 lobes of the lower lip often somewhat united,
broad and conspicuous; stamens 5, usually free from the corolla; filaments free
at base, united distally into a tube; anthers united into a tube, the orifice of the
tube usually partly closed by the incurved tips of the 3 longer anthers, the shorter
anthers usually stifT-bearded at apex; corolla, stamens and style withering-persistent
on the fruit; capsule 2-celled, many-seeded, opening by apical loculicidal valves,
splitting at apex and the 2 halves recurved laterally.
1574
-------
A genus of perhaps 300 species, represented in the floras of all the continents
and on many oceanic islands; about 80 species in North America.
1. Flowers bright-red: corolla 35-40 mm. long or more; filaments 20 mm. long
or more; pedicels with a pair of green or yellowish glandular
bracteoles near base; seeds very rough (2)
1. Flowers blue, lavender, purple or white: corolla mostly not over 25 mm. long;
filaments 15 mm. long or less; pedicels and seeds various (5)
2(1). Filament tube 24-33 (usually 28-30) mm. long; anther tube 4-5.5 mm.
long; leaves usually coarsely and irregularly toothed, the blades 3
to 5 times as long as wide; eastern Texas and Oklahoma
10. L. Cardinalis var. Cardinalis.
2. Filament tube 19—25 (rarely 30) mm. long; anther tube mostly 3.4—4.5 mm.
long; leaves entire to coarsely toothed, the blades often 6 to 12
times as long as wide; western Texas (3)
3(2). Inflorescence appearing pedunculate, usually short, of 20 flowers or fewer,
not leafy-bracted; cauline leaves mostly 8 to 12 times as long as
wide, linear to linear-lanceolate; plants nearly glabrous; in the
Trans-Pecos 10. L. Cardinalis var. pseiidosplendens.
3. Plants leafy up to the inflorescence, the latter not appearing pedunculate,
usually many-flowered, often leafy-bracted: cauline leaves mostly
6 to 8 times as long as wide, lanceolate to oblong or ovate (4)
4(3). Plants densely short-pubescent throughout; leaves subentire to somewhat
toothed; in the Trans-Pecos 10. L. Cardinalis var. multiflora.
4. Plants glabrous or sparsely pubescent; leaves usually prominently toothed;
chiefly west of the 100th meridian and east of the Pecos River....
10. L. Cardinalis var. phyllostachya.
5(1). Filaments 12-15 mm. long: pedicels with a pair of gland-tipped bracteoles
at or above the middle; calyx lobes often 5-6 mm. wide, with
leafy auricles 2—5 mm. long at base; seeds very rough: northeastern
Texas and eastern Oklahoma 9. L. siphilitica.
5. Filaments 9 (rarely to 11) mm. long or less; pedicels, calyx and seeds various
(6) "
6(5). Filaments more than 5 mm. long; corolla tube 7 (rarely 6.5) mm. long
or more; seeds rough (7)
6. Filaments less than 5 mm. long; corolla tube 6 mm. long or less; seeds rough
or smooth (10)
7(6). Corolla short-pilose within at base of lower lip, the tube not (or very
rarely) fenestrate laterally; plants totally glabrous or puberulent
in the inflorescence (8)
7. Corolla glabrous within at base of lower lip. the tube fenestrate laterally near
base: plants rather densely and uniformly pubescent or (in excep-
tional forms) nearly glabrous in the inflorescence (9)
8(7). Leaves all basal or with a few small ones above the base; pedicels with
minute inconspicuous bracteoles at base 5. L. floridana.
8. Leaves mostly cauline, well-distributed along the stem; pedicels bibracteolate
well above base (usually about the middle or a little below), the
bracteoles often 1 mm. long or more, often green and denticulate
6. L. flaccidifolia.
9(7). Filaments mostly 6—7 mm. long: plants puberulent to glabrate or shon-
hirsute: flowers numerous, usually about 1 cm. apart; calyx lobes
narrowly triangular-lanceolate, not densely pilose at base
8. L. puberal a.
1575
-------
9. Filaments 8-11 mm. long; plants long-hirsute (especially the hypanthium);
flowers few and distant; calyx lobes broadly ovate-cordate at base
and abruptly tapered above, with a dense tuft of hair at the base....
7. L. Reverchonii.
10(6). Corolla tube evidently fenestrate laterally; seeds smooth, polished; annual
or biennial with a stout taproot and coarsely serrate leaves; in the
Texas Trans-Pecos 4. L. fenestralis.
10. Corolla tube not fenestrate laterally; seeds rough or smooth; annuals or
perennials with the leaves entire to irregularly dentate (11)
11(10). Plant with a perennial rootstock; cauline leaves linear to linear-lanceo-
late, acuminate; distribution New Mexico and Arizona
2. L. anatina
11. Plant annual; cauline leaves ovate to lanceolate, obtuse to acute; distribution
east of New Mexico and Arizona (12)
12(11). Seeds rough, cellular-reticulate; calyx lobes usually with at least some
vestige of triangular or foliaceous auricles at base; eastern Texas
and Oklahoma 3. L. appendiculata.
12. Seeds smooth, polished; calyx lobes without any auricles at base; southern
and southwestern Texas (13)
13(12). Calyx lobes ciliate; leaves mostly cauline; pedicels nearly upright, 4-10
mm. long in fruit 1. L. Berlandieri var. brachypoda.
13. Calyx lobes glabrous; leaves mostly in basal rosette; pedicels often incurved,
1. L. Berlandieri var. Berlandieri.
1. Lobelia Berlandieri A.DC.
Annual to about 6 dm. high; stems erect to decumbent, simple or with as many
as 20 ascending branches, glabrous to sparsely pubescent near base; leaves with-
out or with a marginal petiole to 25 mm. long, often near the base or in a basal
rosette but also cauline, thin, broadly ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, to 5 cm.
long and 35 mm. wide, rounded to cuneate at base, rounded to obtuse at apex,
glabrous to ciliate near base, the margins subentire to coarsely and irregularly
toothed; inflorescence to about 25 cm. long; pedicels to 2 cm. long in fruit,
glabrous or slightly bristly, nearly upright or usually incurved above the middle,
with a pair of tiny bracteoles at base; bracts linear to linear-subulate, 3-9 mm.
long, glabrous or ciliate; flowers 1-1.3 cm. long; calyx lobes linear-subulate,
entire, glabrous to sparsely ciliate, 1.5-3.5 mm. long; corolla pale- or bright-
purplish-blue with a white eye, glabrous or hairy within at the summit of the
tube; filament tube 2.5-3.5 mm. long; anther tube 1-1.5 mm. long, light-bluish-
gray; capsules ellipsoid, 3-6 mm. long.
In sandy, rocky or clay soils in fields, moist areas and along streams, spring-
summer.
The var. Berlandieri occurs in the Rio Grande Plains of south Texas and south
into Mexico. The var. brachypoda (Gray) McVaugh, with leaves mostly cauline,
occurs in Texas in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos.
2. Lobelia anatina Wimmer.
Plants with a perennial rootstock, to about 6 dm. tall, glabrous; basal leaves
oblanceolate, to about 7 cm. long and 1.5 cm. wide; cauline leaves linear to
linear-lanceolate, acuminate, to about 8 cm. long, less than 1 cm. wide, narrowed
at base, never clasping, shallowly dentate to subentire; calyx about 7 mm. long,
irregularly linear-subulate lobed to below the middle; corolla blue, about 2 cm,
long, divided to about the middle into elliptic-obovate lobes, the tube entire
except for the dorsal slit; filament tube 3.5-5 mm. long, the 2 smaller anthers
white-tufted, the 3 larger ones smooth or nearly so.
1576
-------
Fig 735' Lobelia fenestralis: a, basal part of plant, x i/2: b, spike, x V2; c, flower,
x 2%; d, corolla split, showing anthers, x 2%; e, stamen column, x 2%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 736: Lobelia flaccid if olia: a, habit, x y2; b, habit showing entire leaves and
fewer and larger flowers than in "a", x iv, c, flower, x 5; d, stamen column, x 7Vk
-------
Meadows, marshy places, seepage areas and stream banks in s. N.M. (Socorro
and Grant cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Navajo and Pima cos.), s. to
Dgo., July-Oct.
3. Lobelia appcndiculata A.DC.
Annual or biennial; stem erect, to 9 dm. high, simple or with few upright
axillary branches, glabrous except for sparse chaffy basal hairs; cauline leaves
very thin, sessile or with broad to clasping bases, oblong to ovate, obtuse to
acute at apex, essentially glabrous, to 8 cm. long and 3 cm. wide; raceme 1-sided,
to 3 dm. long; pedicels 4-8 mm. long, puberulent, with a pair of bracteoles near
base; bracts linear to narrowly lanceolate, callous-denticulate, exceeding the pedi-
cels; flowers 1—1.5 cm. long; calyx long-campanulate in fruit, subinflated, its
linear-lanceolate lobes bristly-ciliate, its conspicuous flat lanceolate auricles 1-3
mm. long, the auricles drying blue or purplish; corolla lilac or violet, pubescent
at base of lip inside, the tube 4-5 mm. long; filament tube 2-4 mm. long; anther
tube 2-2.5 mm. long, bluish-gray; capsule partially exserted, horizontal or nod-
ding.
In sandy open ground, often in moist places, in prairies, pinelands and old
fields in e. Tex. and e. Okla., Apr.—June; from Ala. to Tex., Ark., Okla., Mo. and
m.
4. Lobelia fenestralis Cav. LEAFY LOBELIA. Fig. 735.
Annual or biennial from a taproot, to 14 dm. high; stems erect, leafy, simple
or with several ascending branches, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the angles;
leaves sessile or somewhat clasping at base, lanceolate to oblong or oblanceolate,
acute at apex, coarsely and sharply serrate, glabrous or somewhat pubescent, to
7 cm. long and 12 mm. wide; inflorescence spicate, about 25 cm. long; pedicels
to about 5 mm. long, mostly concealed by the lanceolate bracts; flowers 12-14
mm. long; calyx lobes lanceolate to linear-subulate, often toothed, ciliate or
smooth, 2.5-6.5 mm. long; corolla blue with a white eye, the tube 5-6 mm. long
and long-fenestrate; filament tube 1.5-2.3 mm. long; anther tube 1.5-2 mm. long,
dark-bluish-gray or blackish; capsules 3-8 mm. long.
Meadows and swales in w. Tex. to Ariz. (Coconino, Cochise and Santa Cruz
cos.), southw. to Oax., Aug.—Nov.
5. Lobelia floridana Chapm.
Stem erect, to 15 dm. high, simple or with several stout upright or spreading
branches, glabrous; basal leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate, acute to obtuse at
apex, tapered into a margined petiole, to 4 dm. long and 25 mm. wide, usually
much smaller, entire to crenate or dentate with callose teeth; cauline leaves much
smaller and narrower; raceme to 5 dm. long, loosely or densely flowered; pedicels
stout, 3—6 mm. long in fruit, rough, with a pair of minute bracteoles at base;
bracts linear, glabrous, shorter than the pedicels; flowers 1.3-2 cm. long; calyx
lobes broadly lanceolate to deltoid, 2-6 mm. long, acute, glabrous, the triangular
auricles very small; corolla pale-purplish to nearly white, pubescent without, the
lower lip densely hirsute at base within, the tube 8—9 mm. long; filament tube
6-11 mm. long, strongly deflexed; anther tube about 3 mm. long, light-bluish-
gray; capsule 5—7 mm. long.
In wettish savannahs in s.e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; from N.C. to Fla., w. to Tex.
6. Lobelia flaccidifolia Small. Fig. 736.
Annual to about 1 m. high; stems erect, simple or with few ascending branches;
leaves essentially sessile or the lower ones short-petiolate, thin, lanceolate to
oblong or oblanceolate, to 11 cm. long and 15 mm. wide, often rather abruptly
narrowed at base, rounded to acute at apex, the margins subentire to incon-
1579
-------
spicuously crenate or serrate; inflorescence racemose, to 3 dm. long; pedicels
rough, slender, curved, 4—11 mm. long in fruit, with a pair of bracteoles near or
below the middle; bracts linear, denticulate, glabrous or puberulent, about equal-
ing the pedicels; flowers 14-22 mm. long; calyx lobes narrowly sagittate, 3-7 mm.
long, acute or attenuate at apex, glabrous or puberulent, often glandular-toothed,
the reflexed auricles rounded and about 1.5 mm. long or less; corolla lavender
or bluish-lavender to nearly white, with a white eye, pubescent or glabrous, the
tube 6.5-8.5 mm. long; filament tube lavender, 5-8 mm. long; anther tube 2-3
mm. long, bluish-gray; capsule 4-6 mm. in diameter.
In low moist pinelands, savannahs and prairies, wet places along streams and
in river swamps in s.e. Tex., Apr.-Aug.; from Fla. and Ga. in the Coastal Plain
to Tex.
7. Lobelia Reverchonii B. L. Turner.
Stems to 1 m. high, conspicuously pilose with white spreading hairs to 1.5 mm.
long; leaf blade typically linear to linear-oblanceolate, prominently toothed, to
14 cm. long and 15 mm. wide, mostly 7 to 10 times as long as wide; flowers 2-2.7
cm. long, usually 10 or fewer, rarely as many as 15, the lower ones 2.5-5 cm.
apart; calyx lobes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, deeply cordate with rounded basal
lobes, 3-5 mm. wide, with a tuft of hairs at base; hypanthium and pedicels
densely pilose with long white or brownish hairs; corolla tube 9-15 mm. long;
lower corolla lobes recurved, with 2 white lenslike markings following the vena-
tion between the lobes; filament tube 8-11 mm. long; anther tube 3-4 mm. long,
grayish-blue. L. puberula var. pauciflora Bush.
In bogs in e. Tex., autumn; e. to Ala.
8. Lobelia puberula Michx. DOWNY LOBELIA, PURPLE DEWDROP. Fig. 737.
Plant densely short-hirsute or puberulent throughout, rarely glabrate, mostly
to 16 (rarely to 27) dm. high; stem usually simple; leaves oblong to lanceolate
or narrowly obovate, sessile or tapering to base, obtuse to acute at apex, with
callous-tipped teeth or subentire, to 12 cm. long and 4 cm. wide, the upper ones
passing gradually into the floral bracts; raceme dense or somewhat interrupted
below, to 5 dm. long, commonly 1-sided, with as many as 75 flowers, the distance
between the lower flowers at most 25 mm.; pedicels stout, 3-5 mm. long in fruit,
the bracteoles basal or nearly so; bracts usually lanceolate, to 25 mm. long and
8 mm. wide; flower 15-24 mm. long; pedicels and base of calyx lobes glabrous
to thinly pubescent; calyx lobes lanceolate to narrowly deltoid-acuminate, with
revolute margins, to 15 mm. long and 4 mm. wide, the auricles small; corolla blue
to purple or rarely whitish, pubescent, the tube 5-8 mm. long, the lower lobes
not recurved, with a white eye extending across the venation; filament tube 6-7
mm. long; anther tube 3-3.5 mm. long, light-bluish-gray; capsule 4-7 mm. long.
In swamps, wet woods, bogs, prairies and open fields, usually in wet places,
often in strongly acid soils in partial shade, in e. Okla. and e. Tex., Aug.-Dec.;
in s.e. U.S., w. to Okla. and Tex.
9. Lobelia siphilitica L. BIG BLUE LOBELIA, GREAT LOBELIA, BLUE CARDINAL
FLOWER, LOUISIANA LOBELIA.
Perennial by basal offshoots, to 13 dm. high; stem simple, coarse, smooth or
sparsely hirsute on the angles; leaves thin, ovate to oblong or broadly lanceolate,
irregularly serrate, acute at both ends, strigose above, to 18 cm. long and 6 cm.
wide, the upper merging into the floral bracts; raceme dense, to 5 dm. long,
scarcely secund; pedicels 5-10 mm. long, with median bracteoles; bracts lanceo-
late, 1-2 cm. long; flowers 23-33 mm. long; calyx hirsute, with broad foliaceous
lobes to 14 mm. long and broad auricles 2-5 mm. long; corolla blue, white-
1580
-------
Fig. 737: Lobelia puberula: a, spike, x *£; b, basal and central part of stem, x %;
c, flower, x 2% d, corolla open, x 2%; e, stamen column, front view, x 2%; f, stamen
column, side view, x 2%. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 738: Lubelia cardinalis subsp. cardinalis: a. basal decumbent part of plant,
-\ '3: b, top of plant. \ 1-3; c, section of stem with leaves, x 'j; d, flower, \ 1: e, anther
tube and st\le, x 4; f, calyx and capsule, about x 2; g, cross section through calyx and
capsule, x 2: h, seed, x 25. (Courtesy of R. K.. Godfrey).
-------
striped in throat, the tube 11-15 mm. long, fenestrate, base of lower lip white
and with 2 tubercles; filament tube 12-15 mm. long; anther tube 4-5.5 mm. long,
bluish-gray; capsule 8-10 mm. long, partly exserted.
In moist woods and swampy places, low places in prairies, sandy or gravelly
margins of ponds and streams, and wet meadows in n.e. Tex. and e. Okla.,
late summer; from Me. to Minn., Man. and Colo., s. to Tex.
Our plants are referred to the var. ludoviciana A.DC. They are characterized
by being glabrous or nearly so, the leaves are mostly 15 mm. wide or less, and
the flowers are often fewer than 20.
10. Lobelia Cardinalis L. CARDINAL FLOWER. Figs. 738 and 739.
Perennial by short basal offshoots, smoothish, to 2 m. high; stem simple, erect,
coarse, glabrous or pubescent; leaves numerous, thin, glabrous or hirtellous, ovate
to lanceolate, irregularly serrate; raceme terminal, simple, to 5 dm. long, some-
what 1-sided; pedicels bristly-puberulent, much shorter than the leafy bracts,
bibracteolate near base; bracts linear or broader; pedicels seldom more than 1.5
cm. long In fruit; flowers 3-5 cm. long; calyx lobes foliaceous, ovate to broadly
lanceolate, to 14 mm. long and 6 mm. wide, undulate or crisped, ciliate and
serrate; corolla vermilion or deep-red, the fenestrate tube 1.5-2 cm. long; filament
tube 24—33 mm. long, long-exserted; anther tube 3-5.5 mm. long, bluish-gray;
capsule 8-10 mm. long.
In wet or moist soil, open places along streams, in meadows and along road-
sides, about springs and ponds, in swamps where shade is not too dense, through-
out Tex., except the s. tip, throughout Okla., w. through N.M. to Ariz., May-
Dec.; from Fla., n. to n.e. N.B., s. Que., S. Ont., Mich., Wise, and Minn., w. to
Nev., Calif, and Mex.
The subsp. graminea (Lam.) McVaugh (L. splendens Willd.) is represented in
our region by three varieties of which two, var. multiflora (Paxt.) McVaugh and
var. pseudosplendens McVaugh, occur in the Texas Trans-Pecos region only. The
remaining one, var. phyUostachya (Engelm.) McVaugh, is the prevailing cardinal
flower across the central part of Texas. Although the distinguishing characteristics
of each are given in the key, many intermediate forms occur, and it is often not
possible to assign individual plants definitely to any one variety; often only the
extreme forms are recognizable.
4. Porterella TORR.
A monotypic genus.
1. Porterella carnosula (Hook. & Am.) Torr. Fig. 740.
Erect, somewhat succulent, annual herb; stems branched, slender to stout, 6-30
cm. tall; herbage glabrous; leaves linear to lanceolate, sessile, 1-3 cm. long, the
tip acute or acuminate; flowers solitary in the leaf axils on slender spreading or
ascending pedicels; sepals linear-lanceolate, 3-10 mm. long; corolla blue to white,
bilabiate, the tube short-cylindrical to somewhat enlarged above, 4-6 mm. long,
the lower lip 3-lobed, rotately spreading, the lobes broadly obovate to nearly
orbicular, with a broad white area and a central greenish-yellow spot conforming
to 2 low ridges near the base of the lip, the upper lobes oblong-lanceolate, united
at base, somewhat divergent; stamen column united throughout, the filament tube
included, 3-7 mm. long, the anther tube 1.5-3 mm. long, the orifice subapical,
the anthers all tufted at tip, the 2 short ones each with a scalelike bristle; ovary
inferior, obconic to turbinate, 5-angled, bilocular, 8-14 mm. long.
Vernal pools, wet meadows and margins of streams in Ariz. (Coconino Co.),
June-July; Wyo. to Ore., s. to n. Ariz, and n. Calif.
1583
-------
Fig. 739: Lobelia cardinal!* subsp. graminea: a, seed, x 30; b and c habit x
d, capsule, x 3; e, flower, x IV,; f, stamen column, x 2^.. (From Mason, Fig. 342).
-------
Pig. 740: Porterella carnulosa: a, habit, x %; b, flower, front view, x 4; c, flower,
side view, x 4; d, capsule, x 3; e, seed, x 30. (From Mason, Fig. 344).
-------
Fam. 129. Compositae GISEKE SUNFLOWER FAMILY
Herbs, vines or shrubs; leaves alternate or opposite, exstipulate; flowers borne
in dense involucrate heads (the number of flowers in the head occasionally as
few as 1 or 2); axis and/or receptacle of the head usually thicker than its stem
(peduncle), globose, cylindrical, conical, convex, flat or concave, near its base
usually invested with 1 or more series of persistent or deciduous bracts ("phyl-
laries") which partly enclose the head as it develops (when 2 or more series
of phyllaries are present, only the innermost subtend flowers; any similar bracteal
structures subtending the inner flowers of the head are called pales), the recep-
tacle either smooth or usually rough or pitted and in many genera chaffy, i.e.,
with persistent or deciduous pales subtending some or all of the flowers (note
that bracteal structures subtending the most peripheral flowers are called phyl-
laries); flowers small, epigynous, protandrous, uni- or bisexual, fertile (producing
a viable fruit) or infertile; calyx absent or represented by a pappus (a series of
scales and/or bristles) at the tip of the achene near the base of the corolla if
a corolla is present; corolla sympetalous (composed of 4 or 5 coalescent petals),
rarely absent, quite diverse but usually taking one of the following forms or
types: (a) more or less radially symmetrical with a basal tube and a more or
less well-differentiated thicker (4- or) 5-toothed or -lobed limb; flowers with
such corollas are usually bisexual and are called disk flowers because they form
the central part ("disk") of the heads of the vast majority of the Compositae;
(b) bilaterally symmetrical, with a short basal tube and a flat beltlike or straplike
usually 3-toothed or -lobed ray-portion ("ray" is often used to mean the entire
corolla); flowers with this kind of corolla are pistillate, lack stamens and are
called ray flowers because when present they are peripheral in the head, the rays
projecting outward as extensions of the radiuses of the head, similar to spokes
of a wheel; (c) bilaterally symmetrical and more or less 2-lipped, with 2 teeth
and lobes on the ventral lip (the lip toward the center of the head) and 3 lobes
or teeth on the dorsal; such flowers are usually bisexual and are found exclusively
in the tribe Mutisieae (not in our area), which displays no other sort; (d)
bilaterally symmetrical, with a basal tube or funnel and a flat beltlike or strap-
like 5-toothed ray-portion ("ray" is often used to mean the entire corolla); flowers
of this kind are usually bisexual and are found exclusively in the tribe Cichorieae
(genera 49-52), to the exclusion of other sorts of flowers; androecium of (4 or)
5 stamens, alternate with the corolla lobes or teeth; filaments separate, adnate
to the lower part of the corolla limb and tube but free for part of the length
above (lightly coalescent to each other in Ambrosia, Xanthium and Iva); anthers
flat, elongate, 2-ceIled, coalescent to form a short tube around the style (loosely
coherent or nearly free in Ambrosia, Xanthium and Iva); pistil solitary, composed
of 2 carpels (1 being abortive), the ovary inferior, uniloculate; style columnar
and usually exserted late in anthesis, usually 2-branched, the branches often
arcuate-diverging, usually each slightly dorsiventrally flattened and often with
linear stigmatic areas (stigmatic lines) along proximal parts of the 2 thinner
edges, and near the stigmatic lines often with a variously rough or hairy portion
and occasionally distally from this an appendage (meaning that portion of the
style branch, if any, distal to the stigmatic line); fruit an achene, either columnar
or prismatic or conical or often flattened or compressed (the flattening or com-
pression said to be "lateral" when the plane of the achene is radial and includes
the axis of the head; "dorsiventral" when the plane of the achene is perpendicular
to a plane passing through the axis of the head, and in a dorsiventrally compressed
achene the side toward the center of the head is said to be "ventral", that toward
the periphery of the head "dorsal"); ovule solitary, basally attached, anatropous;
integument solitary.
1586
-------
BRACT ON
RECEPTACLE
DISC FLOWER
STAMEN TUBE:
'/ PAPPUS
ACHENE.
RECEPTACLE
INVOLUCRE
PHYLLAR1ES
DIAGRAM OF
COMPOSITE HEAD
RAY DISC FILIFORM
COROLLA TYPES
ACUTE OBTUSE
STYLE TIPS
DISCOID
L1GULATE
RADIATE:
HEADS
STAMINATE
PISTILLATE
RETRORSELY
BARBED
ALTERNATE AUNS
PALEACEOUS AWNED AND PALEAE
PAPPUS
BARRTI i ATE
BARBELLATE
ON CORKY RAY Dlsc
BEAKED STIPE WINGED DIMORPHIC
ACHENE5
IN TWO UNITED INTO UNITED INTO
SERIES IMBRICATE A CUP A BUR
PHYLLARIES
MASKED BY
INDURATED
LEAF BASES
ENFOLDING A
RAY ACHENE
LEAVES BASAL
RECEPTACLE LONG COLUMNAR
Fig. 741: Characteristic structures in the Compositae. (From Mason, Fig. 345).
-------
This is one of the largest families of flowering plants whose members are dis-
tributed over much of the earth. They consist of about 900 genera and 13,000
species, or about 10% of the total of flowering plants.
Key to Tribes of the Compositae
1. Corollas all of type "d" described above X. Cichorieae, p. 1592
1. Corollas not of type "d" (2)
2(1). Anthers with elongate cartilaginous mostly connate appendages at the tip
and caudate-appendaged basally; receptacle hairy-bristly or naked
IX. Cynareae, p. 1592
2. Plants not with combination of characters given above, occasionally with
caudate anthers or with hairy receptacle but not both (3)
3(2). Anthers caudate-appendaged basally (i.e., with slender tail-like appendages
hanging from the thecae between the filaments); ray flowers (type
"b" corollas) absent IV. Inuleae, p. 1590
3. Anthers not caudate-appendaged basally (in some genera such as in Tribe
Vernonieae the anthers narrowly sagittate basally and simulating
caudation); rays often present (4)
4(3). Corollas all of type "a" described above, usually white, red or purple or
blue, never yellow (see also Marshallia); stigmatic lines obscure,
present (if at all) only below the middle of the style branch (5)
4. Corollas either of type "a" or some of type "b", often yellow; stigmatic lines
otherwise than above (6)
5(4). Style branches long, slender, terete, threadlike, minutely hairy all over;
leaves alternate, scattered or basal I. Vernonieae, p. 1588
5. Style branches thickened upward or clavate, obtuse, very minutely and uni-
formly pubescent or nearly glabrous; leaves opposite, whorled or
alternate II. Eupatorieae, p. 1589
6(5). Style branches of the perfect flowers flattened and smooth, extended into
lanceolate or elongate-deltoid hairy appendages; those flowers with
type "a" corollas mostly yellow; receptacle essentially naked (except
in Xanthisma) III. Astereae, p. 1589
6. Style branches of the flowers with type "a" corolla not appendaged or with
a very short or slender appendage, or else the type "a" corolla
not yellow (7)
7(6). Pappus of soft very fine (capillary) bristles; involucre herbaceous, little
or not at all imbricated (i.e., phyllaries equal in length); receptacle
naked; stem leaves when present mostly alternate
VIII. Senecioneae, p. 1592
7. Pappus absent or of scales and/or awns and/or bristles (but when of bristles
these not extremely fine and soft); involucre diverse; receptacle
naked or not; lowermost stem leaves often opposite (8)
8(7). Phyllaries mostly scarious or papery; pappus absent; style branch tips
truncate; leaves alternate VII. Anthemideae, p. 1591
8. Phyllaries or at least some of them mostly herbaceous or membranous (occa-
sionally with hyaline marginal zones) (9)
9(8). Receptacle chaffy (merely with awns or bristles in Eclipta)
V. HeUantheae, p. 1590
9. Receptable naked or merely with persistent awns VI. Helenieae, p. 1591
/. Key to Genera of Vernonieae
Pappus of numerous coarse bristles 1. Vernonia, p. 1592
1588
-------
II. Key to Genera of Eupatorieae
1. Achenes with 10 to 20 (rarely 6 to 9) ribs; phyllaries indefinite in number
2. Liatris, p. 1595
1. Achenes normally with 5 (rarely 4 or 6) ribs or angles, prismatic or sub-
prismatic, rarely compressed; phyllaries definite or indefinite in
number (2)
2(1). Pappus a low irregular crown of connate scales 0.3 mm. long or less, or
essentially absent 3. Trichocoronis, p. 1599
2. Pappus much longer than 0.3 mm., usually of awns or bristles (3)
3(2). Phyllaries uniformly 4 per head 4. Mikania, p. 1599
3. Phyllaries more than 4 per head 5. Eupatorium, p. 1601
///. Key to Genera of Astereae
1. Heads unisexual; male and female heads on separate plants
6. Baccharis, p. 1606
1. Flowers (at least disk flowers) perfect (2)
2(1). Rays white, pink, violet or purplish, never yellow (3)
2. Rays yellow, sometimes pale-yellow, or absent (16)
3(2). Pappus of disk flowers absent or reduced to a mere vestige or paleaceous
crown less than 0.5 mm. long (4)
3. Disk flowers with a manifest nonvestigial pappus (5)
4(3). Phyllaries 0.8-1.6 mm. broad; upper herbage densely viscid-pubescent with
glandular-capitate hairs 16. Egletes, p. 1631
4. Phyllaries 0.4—1.1 mm. broad; upper herbage pubescence not viscid nor
glandular 13. Erigeron, p. 1626
5(3). Receptacle conical or hemispherical to beehive-shaped (6)
5. Receptacle flat to slightly convex (7)
6(5). Achenes with true ribs extending from base to summit, not winged
13. Erigeron, p. 1626
6. Achenes lacking true ribs but winged 15. Boltonia, p. 1630
7(5). Pappus of disk flowers at least partly of scalelike members, if bristlelike
then these not capillary but relatively coarse and basally dorsiven-
trally flattened 13. Erigeron, p. 1626
7. Pappus of disk flowers of numerous capillary bristles (8)
8(7). Pappus bristles manifestly in 2 series (9)
8. Pappus bristles in a single series or nearly so (10)
9(8). Achenes with 2 definite ribs 13. Erigeron, p. 1626
9. Achenes either unribbed or with several very weak ribs
12. Doellingeria, p. 1626
10(8). Phyllaries in 1 or 2 series (11)
10. Phyllaries in 3 to many series (12)
11(10). Tubular portion of ray corolla shorter than the remainder
13. Erigeron, p. 1626
11. Tubular portion of ray corolla longer than the remainder
14. Conyza, p. 1630
12(10). Pappus of ray flowers absent 9. Machaeranthera, p. 1609
12. Pappus present in ray flowers (13)
13(12). Base of plant distinctly woody 9. Machaeranthera, p. 1609
13. Base of plant not woody (14)
1589
-------
14(13). Rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennials 11. Aster, p. 1615
14. Taprooted annuals (15)
15(14). Leaves deeply serrate or pinnatifid 9. Machaeranthera, p. 1609
15. Leaves or most of them entire 11. Aster, p. 1615
16(2). Pappus solely of short or elongate scales, with no bristlelike members
either in ray or disk 7. Xanthocephalum, p. 1608
16. Pappus with at least some bristlelike members (17)
17(16). Leaf blades bristly-serrate, pinnatifid or pinnately parted
9. Machaeranthera, p. 1609
17. Leaf blades entire or merely toothed (18)
18(17). Stems strictly erect, topped by flat or roughly corymbiform aggregations
of stems and heads; heads 4—6 mm. high including the flowers
8. Euthamia, p. 1609
18. Plants not corymbiform or if somewhat corymbiform the heads larger
10. Solidago, p. 1610
IV. Key to Genera of Inuleae
1. Phyllaries mostly scarious 17. Gnaphalium, p. 1631
1. Phyllaries not mostly scarious (2)
2(1). Pappus members of the staminate (central) flowers of the head flattened,
whitish, bristlelike, near the tip discolored brownish and about
twice as broad as in the lower part 19. Tessaria, p. 1637
2. Pappus members not broadened upward 18. Pluchea, p. 1633
V. Key to Genera of Heliantheae
1. Ray flowers fertile but with corollas reduced to a vestige or a minute tube with
oblique orifice, or fertile heads burlike and lacking staminate
flowers (2)
1. Ray flowers when present with better developed corollas or else infertile (5)
2(1). Heads with both fertile ray flowers and staminate disk flowers, never
burlike (3)
2. Heads unisexual (4)
3(2). Receptacle chaffy throughout; involucral bracts in one or more series,
usually not enclosing the achenes 20. Iva, p. 1637
3. Receptacle chaffy only near the margin; involucral bracts uniseriate, equal,
strongly carinate, each enfolding a ray achene; heavy-scented
annuals 21. Madia, p. 1642
4(2). Phyllaries of staminate heads free from each other; pistillate heads burlike
23. Xanthium, p. 1646
4. Phyllaries of staminate heads coalescent partially 22. Ambrosia, p. 1642
5(1). Ray flowers absent; disk corolla white, cream or pale-lavender or pale-
purplish, deeply parted into 5 long linear obtuse lobes
36. Marshallia, p. 1675
5. Plants not having the same combination of characters (6)
6(5). Achenes markedly dorsiventrally flattened (7)
6. Achenes (at least those of the disk) flattened laterally or not flattened at
all (10)
7(6). Involucre uniseriate, green; depressed or sprawling yellow-headed perennial
herbs 32. Calyptocarpus, p. 1660
7. Involucre at least seemingly double; usually erect herbs (8)
1590
-------
8(7). Pappus of 2 barbless teeth, a mere crown or absent ......................................
[[[ 33. Coreopsis, p. 1660
8. Pappus mostly of retrorsely or antrorsely barbed or hispid awns or teeth
(essentially absent in Bidens aristosa and B. polylepis) (9)
9(8). Achenes beaked [[[ 35. Cosmos, p. 1672
9. Achenes not beaked [[[ 34. Bidens, p. 1663
10(6). Chaff of the receptacle merely awns or bristles, or pappus awn solitary
10. Chaff of concavo-convex or folded pales; pappus usually more than 1 awn
11(10). Rays very numerous, usually less than 3 mm. long; disk achenes
markedly corky-margined; ray achenes often abortive ....................
[[[ 24. Eclipta, p. 1646
11. Rays 5 to 10, 7-12 mm. long; disk achenes not corky-margined ....................
[[[ 25. Tithonia, p. 1649
12(10). Receptacle conic, subulate or columnar (13)
12. Receptacle flat or convex (16)
13(12). Ray flowers fertile and styliferous; style branches truncate or penicillate;
leaves opposite ................................................ 26. Spilanthes, p. 1649
13. Ray flowers infertile and styleless; style branches of disk flowers with acute
or obtuse appendages; leaves mostly alternate (14)
14(13). Receptacle conical [[[ 27. Rudbeckia p. 1651
14. Receptacle columnar, cylindric or conic-cylindric at maturity (15)
15(14). Receptacle cylindric or conic-cylindric; phyllaries 2- or 3-seriate, sub-
equal [[[ 27. Rudbeckia, p. 1651
15. Receptacle columnar; phyllaries 2-seriate, the inner ones half or less than
half as long as the outer .................................... 28. Dracopis, p. 1652
16(12). Disk achenes thin-edged, knife-edged or winged ......................................
[[[ 31. Verbesina, p. 1659
16. Disk achenes often somewhat flattened but the two thin edges not sharp nor
winged (17)
17(16). Ray flowers fertile; maritime rhizomatous subshrubs of saline habitats
[[[ 29. Borrichia, p. 1655
17. Ray flowers sterile [[[ 30. Helianthus, p. 1655
VI. Key to Genera of Helenieae
1. Phyllaries in 3 to 5 series, imbricated, the outer ones shorter than the inner;
receptacle bristly around the sockets ................ 38. Clappia, p. 1681
1. Phyllaries in 1 or 2 series, nearly equal in length, rarely with 1 to 3 small
outer calyculate ones (2)
2(1). Achenes columnar, 10-ribbed, rarely slightly flattened.... 3 9. Flaveria, p. 1683
2. Achenes distinctly 3- to 5-angled or if less distinctly so then obconic ................
-------
3(1). Heads solitary; mature achenes stipitate 42. Cotula, p. 1686
3. Heads in spikes, racemes or panicles; achenes not noticeably stipitate
43. Artemisia, p. 1689
VIII. Key to Genera of Senecioneae
1. Leaves opposite 44. Arnica, p. 1689
1. Leaves alternate (2)
2(1). Rays present 45. Senecio, p. 1689
2. Rays in the usual sense absent (3)
3(2). Marginal pistillate flowers present, their corollas filiform with slight funnel-
form throat and 3- to 5-lobed summit; annuals
47. Erechtites, p. 1693
3. Marginal pistillate flowers absent; perennials 46. Cacalia, p. 1693
IX. Key to Genera of Cynareae
Pappus bristles plumose, at least in the lower part 48. Cirsium, p. 1694
X. Key to Genera of Cichorieae
1. Achenes more or less strongly flattened; large coarse plants usually more than
4 dm. tall 49. Lactuca, p. 1698
1. Achenes terete or prismatic, scarcely flattened; relatively small delicate plants
rarely to 3 dm. tall (2)
2(1). Achenes spinulose or with some short processes near the summit of the
body, tipped by a slender beak 51. Taraxacum, p. 1703
2. Achenes smooth or nearly so, not evidently spinulose or muricate (3)
3(2). Plants with at least a few cauline leaves, these sometimes much-reduced;
heads several or numerous to rarely solitary 50. Crepis, p. 1703
3. Plants strictly seapose, with solitary heads 52. Agoseris, p. 1704
1. Vernonia SCHREB. IRONWEED
Perennial herbs; leaves alternate, pinnately veined, mostly narrow and willow-
like; heads in terminal corymbiform aggregation, usually 5-14 mm. broad; re-
ceptacle flat or convex, essentially naked; involucre usually campanulate-cylindric;
phyllaries in several series, strongly imbricated; ray flowers absent; disk flowers
numerous, perfect, fertile, the corolla mauve or purple or rose-colored, rarely
white but never yellow; anthers not caudate; style branches elongate, filiform-
subulate (not thickened upward), hispidulous throughout, with stigmatic lines
only near the base; achenes 6- to 10-ribbed, commonly resin-dotted between the
ribs; pappus fuscous-white or rusty-white, persistent, double, of numerous coarse
bristles.
About 1,000 species in America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Our species show
considerable evidence of genetic intercontamination; the determination of some
specimens is thus difficult if not impossible.
I. Phyllaries long-acuminate or prolonged into long filiform tips
1. V. crinila.
1. Phyllaries obtuse, acute or acuminate (2)
2(1). Principal cauline leaves ovate to lanceolate, mostly hairy or tomentose
beneath (5)
2. Principal cauline leaves linear-lanceolate to narrowly linear, mostly glabrous
and pitted beneath (3)
1592
-------
3(2). Principal cauline leaves usually 10-30 mm. broad 2. V. fasciculata.
3. Principal cauline leaves usually 1-6 (-8) mm. broad (4)
4(3). Leaves usually 2-6 mm. broad, scabrous; achenes 4-5 mm. long
3. V. marginata.
4. Leaves usually 1-1.5 mm. broad, smooth; achenes 3-4 mm. long
4. V. Lettermannii.
5(2). Lower surface of the leaves tomentose, at least along the veins; flowers 34
to 55 per head 5. V. missurica.
5. Lower surface of the leaves with straight or slightly curly hairs; flowers 13 to
29 per head 6. V. altissima.
1. Vernonia crinita Raf. Fig. 742.
Stems 1-3 m. tall, leafy, commonly glabrous and somewhat glaucous, occasion-
ally minutely puberulent; leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 10-18 cm. long, 5-20
mm. broad, acuminate, commonly denticulate or sometimes nearly entire, typically
glabrous, rarely thinly pubescent, impressed-punctate beneath; inflorescence very
irregular, the peduncles 1-5 cm. long, thickened at the summit; heads 55- to
90-flowered; involucre 10-12 mm. high; phyllaries glabrous or pubescent, linear
or narrowly lanceolate at the appressed base, tapering to a loosely flexuous filiform
tip; achenes strongly ribbed, glabrous or nearly so, 5-6 mm. long; pappus dull
purple.
On gravel and sand bars along streams, borders of sloughs, wet meadows,
prairies and moist open woods, in Okla. (Mayes, Craig, Ottawa and Cherokee
cos.), July-Oct.; cen. Mo. to e. Kan., Ark. and Okla.
2. Vernonia fasciculata Michx.
Stems to 2 m. tall, glabrous, often red or purple; leaves linear to linear-
lanceolate, denticulate to sharply serrate, glabrous on both sides, conspicuously
pitted beneath, the larger 1-2 (-3) cm. broad; inflorescence usually flat and
densely flowered, 4-20 cm. wide; heads 20- to 30-flowered; involucre 6-9 mm.
high, to 2 mm. wide; principal phyllaries rounded to subacute, entirely or sparsely
ciliate, commonly glabrous on the back; achenes glabrous or puberulent on the
ribs, resinous in the furrows, about 3 mm. long; pappus purple.
In wet prairies and marshes, wet river bottom meadows, along streams, and
in upland fields and rich moist soil, n. Okla. (Osage Co.), reported from Tex.,
July-Sept.; O. to Minn, and Sask., s. to Mo., Okla. and (?) Tex.
3. Vernonia marginata (Torr.) Raf. PLAINS IRONWEED.
Stems erect, simple or rarely branched below the head-bearing region, 4-10
dm. tall, glabrous or minutely puberulent; leaf blades firm-membranous, linear
to linear-lanceolate, 5-10 cm. long, 2-6 (-8) mm. broad, acute or acuminate,
entire or remotely denticulate, essentially glabrous, pitted underneath; involucre
broadly campanulate to thick-cylindric, about 8 mm. broad, 7-10 mm. high;
phyllaries appressed, closely and regularly imbricate, mostly acute, glabrous or
nearly so except in some specimens on the margins; flowers about 18 to 21 per
head; achenes 4-5 mm. long, glabrous, with resin-globules in the furrows. V.
tenuifolia Small.
In low open meadows near ponds, along streams, about pools in washes, dunes
and shallow swales, s.w. Okla. (Waterfall), the Trans-Pecos and Plains Country
of Tex., and e. N.M. (Guadalupe, Chaves and Quay cos.), summer; Kan., Okla.,
Tex. and N. M.
4. Vernonia Lettermannii Engelm.
Stem erect, simple except in the uppermost parts, 5-7 dm. tall; cauline leaves
1593
-------
Fig. 742: Vernonia crinita: a, habit, x %; b, flower, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
linear, to 10 cm. long, 1-1.5 mm. broad, entire, glabrous, minutely pitted;
inflorescence paniculate-cymose; heads about 12 mm. high, 4-6 mm. wide,
10- to 14-flowered; phyllaries appressed and imbricated, acute or acuminate,
glabrous or with short-ciliate margins, the inner ones purple; achenes 3-4 mm.
long, very slightly scabrous along the ribs.
In wet gravel along edge of rivers and at edge of lakes, in Okla. (Pushmataha
and McCurtain cos.) and Ark., July-Sept.
5. Vernonia missurica Raf.
Erect, 10-15 dm. tall, branched in the upper parts, pubescent; leaves numerous;
blades spreading, firm-membranous, sessile to short-petioled, lanceolate to ovate-
lanceolate, 6-15 cm. long, 1.5-5 cm. broad, long-acuminate, sharply and coarsely
serrate to nearly entire, acute or rounded at base, dark-green and scabrellate
above, tomentose beneath at least along the veins; involucre broadly campanulate,
short-cylindric or hemispheric, 6-8 mm. high; phyllaries appressed, closely and
regularly imbricate, purplish or greenish, broadly rounded-keeled (the midnerve
not narrowly prominent) or flat, glabrous or pubescent (in genetically contaminated
plants with some resin-globules), arachnoid-ciliate at the margins, rounded, obtuse
usually; flowers about 35 to 55 per head; achenes about 4 mm. long, resinous in
the furrows. V. Drummondii Shuttlew.
In standing water and wet ditches and ponds, along streams, low woods, wooded
swamps, low meadows, prairies and fields, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.), local or
locally abundant in s.e. Tex., infrequent to rare in e. Tex., and in N. M. (Lincoln
Co.), July-Sept.; Ont. and O. to la. and Neb., s. to Ala., Miss., Ark., Okla., Tex.
and N.M.
6. Vernonia altissima Nutt. Fig. 743.
Stems erect, 1-3 m. tall, branched above, glabrous or nearly so; leaf blades
thin, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate or lance-ovate, 15-25 cm. long, 3-7 cm.
broad, long-acuminate, gradually attenuate basally, sharply and irregularly serrate
to nearly entire, essentially glabrous above, beneath with short straight conic
projections or (in genetically contaminated plants) with some curly hairs along
the veins; involucre campanulate, 4-5 mm. high or rarely larger; phyllaries ap-
pressed, regularly imbricate, ovate to oblong-ovate, glabrous or puberulent,
sparsely ciliate or entire, obtuse or rounded to acute or short-cuspidate; flowers
(13 to) 21 to 29 per head; achenes usually with hispidulous ribs, often lacking
resin-globules, 3-4 mm. long.
In gravel bars along rivers and streams, low thickets, low woods, wet meadows
and prairies in s.e. Okla. (LeFlore Co.) and reported in e. Tex., Aug.-Oct; N.Y.
to O. and Mo., s. to S.C., Ga., La., Okla., and (?) Tex.
2. Liatris SCHREB. GAY-FEATHER. BUTTON-SNAKEROOT.
BLAZING-STAR
Perennial herbs from underground corms; leaves elongate, linear to ovate-
lanceolate, sessile, more or less conspicuously punctate with impressed and
resinous dots or not so punctate, the radical leaves usually much longer than the
stem leaves that diminish in length upwards; heads disposed in various ways,
usually in spiciform or racemiform arrangements, each head with few to many
flowers; ray flowers absent; disk flowers usually numerous, rarely as few as 4;
receptacle naked, essentially flat; involucre of several series of imbricated phyl-
laries; phyllaries variously shaped, usually firm throughout, often marginally
ciliate or erose; corolla typically purple, rarely white, never yellow, radially
symmetrical, the cylindrical tube usually exceeding the pappus or twice as long
1595
-------
Fig. 743: Venwnia altissima: A, habit, x JL>; B, flower head, showing the involucre,
x 3; C, flower, x 3; D, achene, x 5. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States,
Fig. 217).
-------
as the pappus, the throat scarcely or slightly perceptible as opposed to the tube;
corolla lobes 5, equal, ovate, acute, erect or more or less spreading; stamens 5;
filaments uniform, equally inserted in the middle of the corolla tube, glabrous
or with tiny outgrowths; anthers short, oblong, about half as long as the fila-
ments; style stiff, bifid, exserted late in anthesis, the style branches club-shaped;
achenes somewhat cylindrical but pointed basally, about 10-ribbed, pubescent on
the ribs and more finely between the ribs; pappus of 12 to 40 bristles, sessile, in
one or more series, plumose or barbellate.
About 40 species confined to North America.
1. Phyllaries acuminate and recurved at the tips, at least in some stage of devel-
opment, often ciliate on the margins 1. L. pycnostachya.
1. Phyllaries obtuse to acuminate, appressed and never recurved, glabrous (2)
2(1). Each head with about 12 flowers; outer phyllaries punctate except at the
edge, deltoid-ovate, purple 2. L. lancifolia.
2. Each head with 3 to 5 flowers; outer phyllaries few, appressed, not punctate,
acute, green or only purple-tinged 3. L. acidota.
1. Liatris pycnostachya Michx. Fig. 744.
Corm globose or more elongate and resembling a rhizome, often 1 dm. thick in
mature plants; stems 1 to many, 6-15 dm. tall, stiff, striate, generally hirsute,
sometimes glabrous; leaves numerous, linear, punctate, the lower ones 1 dm. long
and 4-5 mm. wide, hirsute or glabrous, gradually decreasing in length upward
and passing into bracts subtending the heads; heads with 5 to 12 flowers, cylin-
drical, about 1 cm. long, sessile, crowded in a very dense spiciform arrangement
that is 15-30 cm. long and 2-3 cm. thick with a generally hirsute axis; phyllaries
herbaceous or purplish, lanceolate-acuminate or oblong, with more or less acute
tips markedly squarrose and scarcely reflexed or merely lax and spreading, the
margin mostly ciliate when herbaceous but frequently merely crisped and some-
times petaloid; corolla phlox-purple, occasionally white, 7-9 mm. long, the tube
nonpilose or with very few hairs within; achenes 4-7 mm. long; pappus 6-7 mm.
long, barbellate.
Frequent in open sandy areas, moist depressions, often in or around moist
bogs, in Okla. (Pushmataha Co.) and e. and s.e. Tex., June-Oct.; Ind. to S.D., s.
to La. and Tex.
A local race in the east Texas piney woods with extremely hairy leaves and
flowering, on the average, later than the var. pycnostachya is called var. lasiophylla
Shinners.
2. Liatris lancifolia (Greene) Kittell. GAY-FEATHER.
Glabrous perennial to 6 dm. tall or more; leaves numerous, broadly linear, the
basal ones 2-3 dm. long, 10-15 mm. broad near the center (tapering to base and
to apex), upper ones shorter and bluntly lanceolate; heads in dense or loose
spiciform arrangement 15-30 cm. long, 2-3 cm. thick, each head with about 12
flowers; phyllaries erect, glabrous, punctate, the outer deltoid-ovate, the inner
oblong and acute, mostly herbaceous, with narrow purplish ciliolate margins;
corolla purple, 6 mm. long, glabrous within; achene 3 mm. long or more; pappus
barbellate, about 5 mm. long.
In wet grassland, on banks of spring-fed creeks and open slopes, infrequent
in the Tex. Panhandle (Hemphill and Oldham cos.) and N. M. (s. Lincoln, n.
Otero and Chaves cos.), June-Aug.; S.D., Neb., Kan., Wyo., N.M. and Tex.
3. Liafris acidota Engelm. & Gray.
Corm globose, slightly elongate, usually not more than 3 cm. thick, bearing
the remnants of previous basal leaves; stems slender, stiffly erect, 5-8 dm. tall,
1597
-------
Fig. 744. a and b, Liatris tennis: a, habit, x \'-i\ b, flower head, x 5. c-e, Lialris
pyciniskicliya: c. habit, x 'j; d, flower head, x 5, with bristle and hair, x 10; e, flower
split, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
glabrous or puberulent, solitary or in 3's or 4's; basal leaves very long, glabrous,
linear-lanceolate, 2-4 dm. long, 3-5 mm. broad; leaves of the slender spikes
narrowly linear, becoming abruptly shortened, erect and bractlike; heads numer-
ous, loosely covering 1-2 dm. of the erect spikelike head-bearing region, with
3 to 5 flowers, cylindrical but narrowed acutely to the tip when in bud, about
1 cm. long; phyllaries few, glabrous, appressed, the outer ovate, the inner oblong-
lanceolate, sometimes becoming purplish; corolla 8-10 mm. long, purple, lacking
any pilosity within the tube; achene 4-5 mm. long; pappus about 7 mm. long,
barbellate.
Frequent in often wet areas, e. and s.e. Tex., w. to Austin Co. and s. to Calhoun
Co., July-Dec.; also La.
3. Trichocoronis GRAY
Annual or perennial glabrous herbs 5-30 cm. tall, freely branching from the
base and rooting at the lower nodes; most of the leaves opposite, only a few
upper ones becoming alternate, sessile, 1-3 (-6) cm. long, often shallowly to
deeply incised into 3 lobes nearly to the tip but otherwise entire and oblong to
cuneate; heads singly terminating the branches; involucres hemispheric, 2-6 mm.
high; phyllaries linear or oblong, in roughly 2 subequal series, weak and thin
and each obscurely 3-nerved; receptacle slightly convex, naked; ray flowers absent;
disk flowers perfect, fertile, numerous, the corollas whitish or purplish-white,
sharply divided into a minute glandular-pubescent tube and an abruptly flaring
5-toothed limb; achenes 1-2 mm. long, slightly flattened, 5-ribbed at maturity,
glabrous, linear, dark; pappus essentially absent or of a few very minute fimbrillate
scales.
A genus of 2 species, both occurring in Texas.
1. Achenes about 1 mm. long and involucre about 2 mm. high
1. T. Wrightii.
1. Achenes about 2 mm. long and involucre about 5 mm. high 2. T. rivularis.
1. Trichocoronis Wrightii Gray. Fig. 745.
Depressed annuals (?) with fibrous roots, usually spreading so that the diameter
of the clump is greater than the height of the plant; leaves usually oblong, only
obscurely toothed near the apex; involucre about 2 mm. high; corolla about 1 mm.
long; achenes about 1 mm. long.
Local in moist swales, calcareous clay soil, Rio Grande Plains and s. part of
s.e. Tex. (also Gonzales Co.), spring; also Tarn.; adv. in Calif.
2. Trichocoronis rivularis Gray. Fig. 745.
Much-branched and rooting at the nodes, spreading or sprawling; leaves often
flaring and slightly lobed apically; involucre usually 5-6 mm. long; corolla 2-3
mm. long; achenes about 2 mm. long. Shinnersia rivularis (Gray) King & Rob.
Very rare and local in moist spring-fed swales and rooted and submersed in
streams in n.e. part of Rio Grande Plains and s. part of Edwards Plateau in
Tex., spring; also Coah.
4. Mikania WILLD.
An American genus of about 175 species.
1. Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. CLIMBING HEMP-WEED. Fig. 746.
Perennial twining vine; leaves opposite; blades elongate-deltoid, acute, (2-)
3-10 cm. long, marginally undulate or shallowly lobed, basally often slightly cor-
date; petioles about half as long as blades; heads in corymbiform aggregations at
the ends of the branches; phyllaries 4, lanceolate, a few mm. long, equal, often
1599
-------
Fig. 745: a-d, Trichocoronis Wrightii: a, habit, x %; b, flower head, x 2%; c,
flower, x 10; d, stamens, x 10. e and f, Trichocoronis rivularis: e, part of plant, x '/4;
f, phyllaries and receptacle, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
with a fifth one attached in an outer "series;" receptacle less than 1 mm. broad,
essentially flat, naked; ray flowers absent; disk flowers uniformly 4 per head,
perfect, fertile, the corolla whitish and 5-toothed terminally; achenes short-
columnar or slightly obconical, 5-ribbed; pappus persistent, of about 30 rather
stiff bristles. Incl. var. pubescens T. & G.
Frequent in river bottoms and other moist woods, swampy backwaters, in Okla.
(Choctaw Co.) and e. and s.e. Tex., rare in Rio Grande Plains and n.cen. Tex.,
late summer-fall; warmer parts of Am., n. to Sin., and to N.E. and s. Ont.
5. Eupatorium L. BONESET. THOROUGHWORT
Usually perennial herbs, also fairly commonly scandent elongate perennial
herbs, or a few species of shrubs; leaves opposite; heads often in roughly corymbi-
form aggregations either at the top of the plant or terminal on the branches;
involucre hemispheric or campanulate to essentially cylindrical; phyllaries more
than 4, in 2 to 6 series, either subequal (when few-seriate) or strongly imbricated,
usually with 1 or more vertical nerves, usually herbaceous (rarely papery) in
texture, occasionally somewhat indurate basally; receptacle flat to conic, naked;
ray flowers absent; disk flowers few to numerous, perfect, fertile, the corolla
equally 5-toothed terminally, whitish, bluish, purplish or roseate; style branches
long and clavate; achenes usually blackish, subcolumnar or gently narrowed to the
base, 5-ribbed (occasionally fainter intermediate stripes visible); pappus of slender
bristles, persistent. Conoclinium (L.) DC.
Primarily an American genus of about 1,000 species, a few in Europe, Asia
and Africa.
1. Leaves connate-perfoliate 1. E. perfoliatum.
1. Leaves not connate-perfoliate (2)
2(1). Most of the leaves whorled (3)
2. Most of the leaves only opposite, not whorled (4)
3(2). Stem deep-purple or purple-spotted, not glaucous; inflorescence or its
divisions flat-topped 2. E. maculatum.
3. Stems glaucous, solid, green with purple only at the nodes; inflorescence with
a rounded or convex summit 3. E. purpureum.
4(2). Most of the leaves deeply palmately 3- to 5-lobed and the lobes again
pinnately dissected 8. E. Greggii.
4. Most of the leaves unlobed (5)
5(4). Receptacle conical; corollas blue (rarely white) (6)
5. Receptacle flat or essentially so; corollas white, pink or purple (7)
6(5). Blades deltoid; stems scandent-climbing to 2 m. tall 4. E. coelestinum,
6. Blades oblong, usually 2 to 3 times as long as broad, the lower corners often
prolonged parallel to the petioles; stem not more than 1 m. tall,
much of it reclining and node-rooting 5. E. betonicifolium.
7(5). Weedy subshrub of southern Arizona; involucres broadly campanulate,
about 4 mm. high; head about 25-flowered 7. E. pycnocephalum.
7. Perennial herb of eastern Texas; involucre inverted-conical, about 7 mm. high;
head about 5-flowered 6. E. leucolepis.
1. Eupatorium perfoliatum L. THOROUGHWORT.
Rhizomatous perennial forming colonies; aerial stems (3-) 5-15 dm. tall, simple
below, branched in the upper part; leaves opposite, lanceolate, sessile, perfoliate,
(3-) 5-15 cm. long, serrate, softly pubescent especially on the underside; heads
numerous and crowded, 10- to 20-flowered; involucre obconic, 3-5 mm. high,
1601
-------
Fig. 746: Mikania scandens: a, section of vining plant, x M>; b, head of 4 flowers,
x 5; c, single flower, x 10; d, flower with corolla removed showing anthers united into
a tube, x 5; e, anthers spread out, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
softly grayish-pubescent; phyllaries in 2 or 3 size-classes, the outer much shorter
than the inner, oblong-linear, blunt (outer) to acutish (inner), the margins and
tips thin and whitish; flowers whitish.
Infrequent in moist sand, along streams in woods, ponds and swamps in Okla.
(Adair and Woodward cos.) and in e. Tex., late summer-fall; most of e. U.S.
2. Eupatorium maculatum L. JOE-PYE WEED.
Fibrous-rooted perennial, 6-20 dm. tall, the stem speckled or sometimes more
evenly purplish, viscid-puberulent above; leaves mostly in 4's or 5's, lance-
elliptic to lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, tapering to apex and to base, with a
short petiole or subsessile, mostly 6-21 cm. long and 2-9 cm. wide, pinnately
veined, sharply and rather coarsely serrate; inflorescence or its divisions flat-
topped or nearly so; involucre 6.5-9 mm. high, often purplish, its imbricate
obtuse phyllaries few-striate, or at least with prominent midvein; flowers purple,
9 to 22 (rarely only 8) in each head; corollas about 5 mm. long; achenes atomi-
ferous-glandular, 3.4-4.2 mm. long.
Damp thickets, meadows, edges of marshes, especially in rich or calcareous
soils along streams, in N.M. (scattered) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino
cos.), July-Sept.; Nfld. to B.C., s. to Md., O., 111., N.M. and Ariz.
Var. Bruneri (Gray) Breitung is found in New Mexico and some of the plants
from Arizona may well be this variety with seldom very large leaves but usually
firm in texture and covered with short spreading hairs underneath.
3. Eupatorium purpureum L. JOE-PYE WEED.
Fibrous-rooted perennial mostly 6-20 dm. tall, glaucous when fresh, green,
purple at the nodes, solid; leaves mostly in 3's or 4's, lanceolate or ovate to
elliptic, mostly 8-30 cm. long and 2.5-15 cm. wide, gradually tapering to abruptly
cuneate at the base, pinnately veined, usually sharply and coarsely toothed, loosely
soft-pubescent to subglabrous beneath, usually minutely atomiferous-glandular;
inflorescence a paniculate corymb rounded at the summit; involucre imbricate,
6.5-9 mm. high; heads 3- to 8-flowered; corollas 4.5-7.5 mm. long, creamy-white,
pale pink or purplish; achenes 3-5 mm. long.
On wooded slopes, low moist ground, swampy meadows and thickets, borders of
sloughs and streams, in Okla. (Waterfall), July-Sept.; N.H. to Minn, and Neb., s.
to Fla., Tenn., Ark. and Okla.
When this plant is fresh and is bruised it has a sweet vanilla scent.
4. Eupatorium coelestinum L. MIST-FLOWER. Fig. 747.
Rhizomatous perennial; stems weak, scandent, to 2 m. tall; leaves opposite;
blades pubescent, minutely resin-dotted, deltoid, 2-7 cm. long, serrate; petioles
3-20 mm. long; heads in roughly corymbiform aggregations at the ends of the
branches; involucres hemispheric, 3-5 mm. high; phyllaries in roughly 3 series
(the 2 inner series about equal, the outer a little shorter), linear-subulate, pubes-
cent, obscurely 3-nerved; receptacle conical, naked; flowers numerous, the
corollas blue or purplish-blue. Conoclinium coelestinum (L.) DC.
Frequently in moist sandy wooded areas, edges of ponds, along streams and in
seepage, in Okla. (Ottawa, McCurtain, Adair, Mayes, Osage and Pushmataha cos.),
e. and s.e. Tex. (s. to Kleberg Co.), less frequent w. to n.-cen. Tex., summer-fall;
NJ. to Kan., s. to Gulf States.
5. Eupatorium betonicifolium Mill.
Rather similar to E. coelestinum but plants usually not scandent, not more
than 1 m. tall, much of the stem reclining (and node-rooting), only the last 2-3
dm. of the flowering branch ascending and it having very few scattered nodes;
1603
-------
Fig. 747: Eitpatorium coelestinum: a, habit, x %; b. flowering head, x 5; c, re-
ceptacle with one flower, x 10; d, anther, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
blades slightly fleshy, not deltoid but oblong, usually 2 or 3 times as long as
broad and rather blunt, the lower corners often prolonged parallel to the petiole.
Conoclinium betonicum DC. and var. integrifolium Gray, C. betonicifolium (Mill.)
King & Rob.
Subsaline marshes and poorly drained areas, s.e. Tex. (n. to Refugio Co.) and
Rio Grande Plains, n.w. to Val Verde Co.
The plants farther inland (Val Verde Co., etc.) have less distinctly serrate
leaves, and perhaps deserve varietal recognition.
6. Eupatorium leucolepis (DC.) T.&G. JUSTICE-WEED.
Perennial herb from a short knotty fibrous-rooted stock; stems erect, 8-12 dm.
tall, minutely gray-puberulent; leaves opposite, firm and fairly thick, nearly sessile,
those of midstream 3-8 cm. long and 5-9 mm. broad, broadly linear or narrowly
oblong, dull-gray, bluntish, on each side in the upper two thirds to five sixths the
length with 7 to 12 appressed teeth; heads about 5-flowered, dirty-white, in a
roughly corymiform arrangement at the tip; involucre inverted-conical, about
7 mm. high; phyllaries in 2 or 3 series, sharply differentiated with a minute
outer series and the longer inner series, the longer ones subulate, acute, mostly
herbaceous, with a narrow white margin and white tip-portion (often as much as
a third the total length); corollas 3-4 mm. long.
Rare in e. and s.e. Tex. (Hardin, Jasper, Orange and Tyler cos.) in sandy
or boggy woods, Oct.; near the coast, N.Y. to Tex.
7. Eupatorium pycnocephalum Less.
A subshrubby weedy plant 3-8 dm. tall, with slender striate-puberulent mostly
herbaceous stems and sparsely puberulent opposite leaves; petioles slender, 1-3
cm. long; leaf blades deltoid-ovate, broadly cuneate to subtruncate at base,
acute to acuminate at apex, mostly 1-2 cm. wide, 1.5-5 cm. long, irregularly
crenate-serrate; heads 4-6 mm. long, nearly as wide, about 25-flowered, aggre-
gated in dense rounded corymbs disposed in leafy-bracted panicles; involucres
broadly campanulate to nearly hemispheric, about 4 mm. high; outer phyllaries
ovate and acute to acuminate, puberulent, 0.5-1.2 mm. long, middle and inner
phyllaries elliptic to oblong, rounded or obtuse at tip and nearly or quite glabrous
and striate-nerved; corollas pale-purple or rarely white, about 2 mm. long; achenes
1-1.4 mm. long, faintly angled and sparsely puberulent on angles; pappus bristles
whitish, slightly longer than achenes.
Rich soil along streams, mountain sides and canyons in Ariz. (Cochise, Santa
Cruz, Pima and Final cos.), May-Oct.; s. Ariz., s. to S.A.
8. Eupatorium Greggii Gray.
Perennial herb, the bases fibrous-rooted and occasionally subrhizomatous; aerial
stems weak, 3-8 (-12) dm. tall, often tortuous, sometimes semiscandent, the
uppermost 1-2 dm. of the branches few-noded; leaves opposite, nearly sessile,
ovate or deltoid in over-all outline but deeply palmately 3-lobed with the 3 main
lobes again pinnately dissected, pubescent and minutely resin-dotted; heads in
tight subcorymbiform clusters terminating the branches; involucre hemispheric,
4-6 mm. high; phyllaries in about 3 subequal series, linear-subulate, pubescent,
obscurely 3-nerved; receptacle conical, naked; flowers numerous, the corollas blue
or purplish-blue; achenes black, columnar, 5-ribbed; pappus persistent, of a num-
ber of stiffish bristles. Conoclinium Greggii (Gray) Small.
Frequent along stream beds and in overflow areas in the Tex. Trans-Pecos,
infrequent e. to Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains, N.M. (Dona Ana and
Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise Co.), spring-fall; Tex., N.M., Ariz, and n. Mex.
1605
-------
6. Baccharis L. GROUNDSEL-TREE
Unisexual shrubs or subshrubs, glabrous or hispid; branchlets usually striate-
angled or slightly striate and terete, smooth to glandular-scabrous; leaves subulate
to obovate, alternate, crowded to sparse, entire to serrate or dentate, 1- to 3-
nerved, sessile or petioled, usually reduced within the inflorescence (sometimes
to bractlike leaves); male and female heads on separate plants; heads in some-
what paniclelike, corymbiform or racemose aggregations; pistillate involucre hemis-
pheric to narrowly cylindric with outer phyllaries ovate to lanceolate; inner phyl-
laries lanceolate to narrowly linear and obtuse to acuminate, usually scarious-
margined, the midrib evident or obscure; receptacle pitted to nearly smooth,
naked or fimbrillate, flat; ray flowers absent; corolla filiform with 5 minute
distinct lobes or teeth, yellowish-white to brown in color; style bifurcate, style
branches usually glabrous; achene 5- to 10-ribbed, yellow to reddish, glabrous or
hispid, smooth or glandular; pappus of 1 to several series of numerous bristles,
flaccid or rigid, equaling or greatly exceeding the style; staminate involucre
hemispheric to cylindric with outer phyllaries ovate to lanceolate; inner phyllaries
lanceolate to linear and obtuse to acuminate, usually scarious-margined, the
midrib dilated and smooth or absent; receptacle pitted to nearly smooth, naked or
fimbrillate and flat; ray flowers absent; corolla filiform basally and either abruptly
or gradually enlarged and funnelform, white to yellowish-brown, its 5 lobes
lanceolate; style clavellate or bifurcate, its branches hispid; pappus not exceeding
style, usually one series of numerous bristles, rigid, more or less plumose-tipped,
the bristles more or less barbed, usually crisped; ovary abortive.
Plants of this large genus (about 400 species, all American) unfortunately often
superficially resemble plants of other asterean genera, and their determination is
enigmatic until the unisexuality of the plants and flowers is discovered.
1. Achenes 8- to 10-ribbed; leaves mostly less than 5 cm. long (2)
1. Achenes 5-ribbed; leaves 5-12 cm. long (4)
2(1). Leaves linear, entire, 25 mm. long or less; plants broomlike in appearance
1. B. sarothroides.
2. Leaves oblong to obovate, mostly toothed, usually more than 30 mm. long;
plants not broomlike (3)
3(2). Fertile heads hemispheric, 5-10 mm. broad 3. B. salicina.
3. Fertile heads cylindric or long-campanulate, 3-5 mm. broad
2. B. Emoryi.
4(1). Heads in a terminal large corymbiform aggregation; leaves 3-8 (-11) cm.
long, 10 (-20) mm. broad, not crowded 4. B. glutinosa.
4. Heads in several smaller corymbiform aggregations terminating lateral
branches; leaves 3-5 cm. long, 5 mm. broad, usually crowded
5. B. viminea.
1. Baccharis sarothroides Gray.
Glutinous shrub 1-4.5 m. tall; branchlets conspicuously striate-angled, densely
fastigiately branched, often crowded into broomlike masses; leaves on young
rapidly growing branches linear to lance-linear, 1-2.5 cm. long, 1.5-3.5 mm. wide,
acute at both ends, somewhat leathery, entire, early deciduous, those of the
branchlets reduced to minute bracts 1-2.5 mm. long; heads numerous, solitary
or in few-headed glomerules at tips of branchlets; pistillate heads about 1 cm.
long at anthesis; phyllaries in several series, narrowly ovate to oblong, or oblong-
lanceolate, slightly granular-glutinous on exposed portions, margins scarious,
slightly erose toward the tips; receptacle essentially flat, alveolate but naked;
pistillate corollas nearly filiform, about 3 mm. long; achenes about 2 mm. long,
1606
-------
cylindric, prominently 8- to 10-ribbed, glabrous; pappus of pistillate flowers elon-
gate in fruit to more than 10 mm., much-surpassing the styles, rusty to brownish;
staminate heads 3.5-7 mm. long; staminate corollas 3.5^ mm. long, about
equaling the narrowly clavate pappus bristles, the clavate portion slightly scaberu-
lous, lower part glabrous, often twisted.
Along streams, bottomlands and in saline periodically wet soils, in s.w. N.M.
and Ariz, (widespread), flowering throughout most of the year; s.w. N.M., to s.
Calif.; n. Mex. and Baja Calif.
2. Baccharis Emoryi Gray.
Glabrous glutinous shrub to 5 m. tall; branchlets striate-angled, sometimes
fastigiate and broomlike but often more open; leaves linear-oblong or oblong-
elliptic to broadly oblanceolate, 1.5-6 cm. long, 2.5-10 (-25) mm. wide, usually
coarsely few-toothed, the uppermost narrower and often entire, acute to obtuse
at apex, cuneate at base, 3-nerved from base; heads solitary or in small glomerules
at tips of branchlets, campanulate; pistillate heads 10—14 mm. long, narrower than
the staminate heads; phyllaries ovate to linear, imbricated in several series, central
area thickened, margins scarious, erose-ciliate toward tips, especially on longer
innermost phyllaries; pistillate corollas capillary-cylindric, about 5 mm. long, the
lobes minute; achenes about 1.5 mm. long, stramineous, finely but distinctly
ribbed; pappus of pistillate flowers 10-12 mm. long, silky, white or faintly tawny;
staminate heads 6-7.5 mm. long at anthesis; phyllaries ovate to lance-ovate;
staminate corollas 3.5-4 mm. long, the lobes slender and recurved or coiled;
anthers exserted nearly their full length; pappus bristles of staminate flowers
barely equaling corollas, subplumose and somewhat paleaceous toward the tips.
Along streams, arroyos, and other wet or moist areas in N.M. (Dona Ana and
Chaves cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave to Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.),
Sept.-Nov.; N.M., Ariz., s. Ut. and s. Calif.; n. Mex.
3. Baccharis salicina T. & G.
Shrub 1-3 m. tall; branchlets striate-angled, glabrous; leaves nearly sessile,
oblanceolate-oblong, obtuse to acute, 3-4 (-6) cm. long, 4-8 (-15) mm. wide,
serrate with salient teeth about 5 mm. apart, the broader leaves distinctly 3-nerved;
pistillate heads with 25 to 30 flowers; involucre campanulate, 6 (-8) mm. long;
phyllaries ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, reddish-brown-tipped, marginally
scarious, erose, spreading at maturity; receptacle flat, naked and slightly pitted;
corolla filiform, 3—4 mm. long, its 5 minute linear lobes to 0.3 mm. long; pappus
biseriate, flaccid, to 12 mm. long, basally united into a ring; achenes 1.2-2 mm.
long, glabrous, 8- to 10-ribbed; staminate involucre hemispheric, 3.5-4.5 mm.
long; phyllaries ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, marginally scarious and erose;
receptacle flat, naked, pitted; filiform corolla gradually funnelform, 3.3-4.3 mm.
long, its linear lobes about 1 mm. long; pappus equal to corolla, plumose-tipped,
3-4.5 mm. long, crisped; ovary abortive.
Abundant in the higher parts of the Tex. Plains Country, less so in the lower
parts, and in the Trans-Pecos of Tex., Okla. (Waterfall) and N.M. (Bernalillo,
Rio Arriba, San Juan and Valencia cos.), usually in disturbed places, often in
sandy wettish or dry subsaline soil, summer-fall; Okla., Tex. and N.M.
4. Baccharis glutinosa (R. & P.) Pers. JARA, SEEPWILLOW, WATER-WALLY, WATER-
MOTIE.
Shrub 10-35 dm. tall; branchlets striate-angled, glabrous, glutinous; leaves
punctate, sessile to indistinctly petioled, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, tapering
from middle to apex and to base, nearly entire to prominently serrate (teeth of
larger leaves usually 3-5 mm. apart), 3-8 (-10) cm. long, 1 (-2) cm. wide,
1607
-------
distinctly 3-nerved; heads in a terminal corymbiform aggregation, often on several
branches; pistillate heads with about 50 flowers or more; involucre hemispheric,
about 4 (-4.5) mm. high; phyllaries ovate or lanceolate, obtuse (inner may be
acute), stramineous, brown-purplish-tipped, the midrib distinct with its margins
scarious and erose; receptacle flat, nearly smooth, naked; corolla filiform, 2-2.3
mm. long, with 5 narrow linear lobes 0.2 mm. or less in length; style exserted,
bifurcate; pappus uniseriate, flaccid, 4-5 mm. long; achenes about 1 mm. long,
glabrous, 5-ribbed; staminate heads 10- to 20-flowered; involucre campanulate,
about 4 mm. high; phyllaries ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to acute, marginally scarious
and erose; receptacle flat, slightly pitted, naked; corolla 3^4 mm. long, filiform,
upper half funnelform, its 5 lobes lanceolate and about 1.2 mm. long; pappus 3-4
ram. long, plumose-tipped, crisped, not exceeding corolla; ovary abortive.
Along sandy watercourses in dry areas, often forming thickets along the Rio
Grande, in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains, Tex., in
N. M. (widespread, in river valleys), and Ariz, (common along watercourses),
Mar.-Dec.; widespread in Am., n. to Calif., Colo, and Tex.
5. Baccharis viminea DC. MULE-FAT.
Shrub; branchlets glabrous or glandular; leaves crowded, punctate, narrowly
elliptic, entire to minutely serrate, tapering acutely at both ends, 3-5 cm. long,
5 (-10) mm. wide, 1-nerved with 2 indistinct lateral nerves narrowly paralleling
the margin; heads in small corymbiform aggregations terminating numerous lateral
branches; pistillate heads with 50 or more flowers; involucres campanulate to
semi-hemispheric, about 4 mm. high; phyllaries ovate to lanceolate, obtuse to
acute, stramineous to brown-purplish-tipped, scarious-margined and erose; recep-
tacle flat, smooth, naked; corolla filiform, with 5 small lobes; pappus uniseriate;
achene glabrous; staminate heads with about 20 flowers; involucres broadly
hemispheric, about 3 mm. high, to 5 mm. thick; phyllaries ovate to lanceolate,
obtuse to acute, marginally scarious and erose; receptacle flat, naked; corolla tube
filiform, the limb funnelform, with 5 lanceolate lobes; pappus 3 mm. long,
plumose-tipped, crisped; ovary abortive.
Along washes and fioodplains of streams, rare and local near El Paso, Tex.,
through N.M. to Ariz. (Yavapai and Yuma cos.), spring-summer; Baja Calif.,
Calif., Wash., Ariz., N.M. and Tex.
7. Xanthocephalum WILLD. BROOMWEED. SNAKEWEED
An American genus of perhaps 30 species.
Some of the species are extremely common weeds that increase enormously
under the prevalent regime of abusive overstocking. The herbage of several species
is known to be toxic to livestock. The annual species are called "broomweed"
and the shrubby species "snakeweed."
1. Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides (Gray) Rothr.
Stout annual to 2 m. tall; branchlets often with stipitate glands; leaves alternate,
lanceolate, 3-15 cm. long, 5-30 mm. broad, glabrous, with entire or serrate
margins, acute, above shiny and somewhat glutinous; heads solitary at the ends
of the branchlets but clustered in subcymose aggregations; involucre campanulate,
glutinous, 3-7 mm. thick, 3-6 mm. high; phyllaries numerous in 2 loose series,
glabrous, appressed, usually with green midrib and tips, apically spreading;
receptacle flat or slightly convex, alveolate; ray flowers pistillate, 50 to 70, the
yellow rays 2^ mm. long and 1-1.5 mm. broad, about the same length as the
tube; disk flowers 150 to 200, 2 to 3 times as many as the ray flowers; corolla
about 4 mm. long, with a narrow tube and expanded throat; style with pointed
collecting hairs and these restricted to the short deltoid tips; pappus in some plants
160S
-------
a low crown, in others a few irregular awns up to half as long as the disk corollas;
achenes terete, glabrous or slightly pubescent, 1-2 mm. long.
Infrequent along arroyos and about saline swales in Tex. Davis Mts., Ariz.
(Final, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Aug.-Oct.; also Son., Chih. and Dgo.
8. Euthamia NUTT.
This genus is often considered as a section of Solidago, but its relationship
is apparently not that close. The genus, entirely American, is considered to
consist of about 6 species.
1. Euthamia camporum Greene.
Essentially glabrous often slightly glutinous rhizomatous perennial; stems erect,
3-5 dm. tall, freely branching in the upper half with the branches rather stiffly
ascending to form a somewhat corymbiform top to the plant, densely leafy; leaves
usually ascending, linear, entire, 3-ribbed, 3-8 cm. long; heads essentially sessile,
borne in fascicles; involucre 3-5 mm. high, somewhat campanulate, the outer
phyllaries acute to obtuse and wider than the inner ones; receptacle about 2 mm.
thick; phyllaries in 3 to 5 series, oblong; ray flowers few, pistillate and fertile,
the rays yellow and not exceeding the disk corollas; disk flowers perfect, fertile,
10 to 15 per head, with 5-toothed yellow corollas, only slightly exceeding the
involucre; pappus alike in ray and disk, of a single series of more or less equal
whitish capillary bristles.
In sandy floodplains of creeks and rivers, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in the Tex.
Plains Country (Lipscomb, Wheeler and Wichita cos.), Aug.-Sept; Kan., Okla.,
Tex. and Colo.
9. Machaeranthera NEES
Herbs; leaves alternate, essentially sessile (especially the basal ones), often
pinnately or bipinnately lobed but in some species merely toothed or essentially
entire; heads about 1-2 cm. in diameter, usually borne more or less solitary at
the ends of branches though occasionally the whole plant subcorymbose or rarely
the heads nearly sessile in the upper axils; involucre mostly hemispheric; phyllaries
usually linear to lanceolate or subulate, basally and laterally stramineous, the
midrib in the upper half herbaceous-green (or at least darker than the stramineous
base) and expended into a somewhat rhombic patch that in some species occupies
essentially the entire tip-region, the tip either erect or in some species spreading
or even squarrose and apically acute to very shortly acute or even blunt; receptacle
3-10 mm. wide, rough, flat or very slightly convex; ray flowers pistillate, fertile;
rays yellowish or white and often tinged with blue, violet and/or red; disk flowers
numerous, perfect, fertile; corollas yellowish, with a cylindrical tube that is not
distinctly delimited from the greatly ampliate limb (which is composed of a throat
and 5 usually short teeth); style appendages various; achenes narrowly turbinate
to broadly linear or clavate, rather densely antrorsely pubescent; pappus persistent,
in some species absent from the ray flowers but present in the disk flowers, in
other species present and alike in both disk and ray, composed of numerous
somewhat unequal usually sordid-white slender bristles, the larger ones often
slightly dorsiventrally flattened at the base. Haplopappus Sect. Blepharodon DC.;
Psilactis Gray, Eriocarpum Nutt.; Xylorhiza Greene.
An American genus of perhaps 50 or 60 species.
1. Ray flowers with evident pappus 3. M. phyllocephala.
1. Ray flowers with pappus none or vestigial (2)
1609
-------
2(1). Plants 5 dm. tall or more, erect, branched only above; stem below glabrous
or hirsute; leaves mostly entire or merely toothed
1. M. Boltoniae.
2. Plants usually about 3 dm. tall or less, diffusely branched from the base; stem
glandular-hispidulous throughout, usually also somewhat pilose;
leaves mostly laciniate-pinnatifid with spinescent-tipped lobes,
sometimes merely toothed 2. M. Coulteri.
1. Machaeranthera Boltoniae (Greene) Turner & Home.
Annual taprooted herb, erect and nearly simple below, to 1 m. tall or more,
with glandular-pubescence above or glabrate; leaves essentially entire, oblanceo-
late to linear, reduced above, with appressed hairs or glabrate; heads solitary,
not crowded; involucre hemispheric, 5-10 mm. across, 3-5 mm. high; phyllaries
0.75-1 mm. broad; flowers 75 to 100 per head (fewer in late-flowering heads);
disk yellow and pappus present; rays light-blue or violet-blue to white, never
yellow, (4-) 5-7 mm. long; pappus of ray flowers absent; achenes 2-2.4 mm.
long. Psilactis asteroides Gray, P. lepta Shinners.
Infrequent in alluvial sandy soil, in marshes, river bottoms and along roadsides,
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos (El Paso, Hudspeth and Presidio cos.), through N.M.
(widespread) to Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino, s. to Cochise and Final cos.), June-
Nov.; Ariz., N.M., Tex., s.e. to Michoac. and Pue.
2. Machaeranthera Coulteri (Gray) Turner & Home.
Divaricately branching throughout, 5-30 cm. tall, stipitate-glandular through-
out and usually hispidulous or pilose; leaves oblong to oblanceolate, mostly lacini-
ate-pinnatifid with the teeth spinescent-tipped; lower petiolate leaves 2-3 cm.
long; upper leaves closely sessile and appressed, becoming much-reduced, some-
times entire; involucre about 4 mm. high; phyllaries oblong-lanceolate, acute,
granular-glanduliferous except on the whitish chartaceous basal portion; rays 20
to 35, white to lavender, about 5 mm. long; achenes pubescent. Psilactis Coulteri
Gray.
In wet or dry saline soils and about playa lakes, in Ariz. (Maricopa, Final, Pima
and Yuma cos.), Mar.-June; also Nev., Calif, and Son.
3. Machaeranthera phyllocephala (DC.) Shinners. CAMPHOR DAISY.
Aromatic often glutinous annual herb, sometimes living over one winter, either
erect or near the coast usually prostrate, freely branched especially near the
base; leaves usually oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, firm or even fleshy, 15-50
mm. long, on each side with 5 to 8 prominent salient teeth or short lobes, only
slightly reduced toward the head, crowded even up to the base of the head; heads
solitary; involucre 9-11 mm. high, hemispherical; phyllaries in about 3 series,
not much-graduated, the largest ones in any mature head 1.3-1.7 mm. broad,
the tip-region often of a different texture from the base being more herbaceous
and sometimes spreading; disk and rays yellow; style branch appendages sub-
clavate, shorter and thicker than the stigmatic portion; pappus of ray and disk
similar; achene columnar, thick, about 2 mm. long, slightly compressed to plump
and subcylindric, fuzzy with whitish ascending pubescence. Haplopappus phyl-
locephalus DC., H. rubiginosus T. & G.. Eriocarpum megacephalum Nash.
Abundant in subsaline wet areas near the Tex. coast, s.e. Tex. and Rio Grande
Plains, spring-fall; coastal areas, La. to Tarn.
Represented by another variety in the highlands of Mexico.
10. Solidago L. GOLDENROD
Rhizomatous perennials; rhizomes sometimes short and forming merely a crown
or sometimes extensively creeping; aerial stems usually long and slender, ascending
1610
-------
gracefully, branched in the upper head-bearing portion, the branches in turn bear-
ing very many short-bearing branchlets which are often ascending; leaves alternate,
sessile, not lobed, the lower portions occasionally narrowed to a subpetiolar base;
heads rarely more than 1 cm. long; receptacle flat or slightly convex, not chaffy;
involucres usually narrowly campanulate; phyllaries in a few series, graduated,
usually linear-lanceolate or linear, mostly stramineous and chaffy in texture with
a slightly darker more herbaceous median strip which is slightly dilated near the tip;
ray flowers pistillate and fertile, several in number (in one species only 2 per
head), with yellow rays; disk flowers perfect and fertile, with yellow corollas;
pappus simple, of numerous essentially equal capillary bristles; achenes many-
ribbed, nearly terete.
Solidago is a large North American genus (with one species also in Europe). It
is one of our more difficult genera probably because of rampant hybridization.
1. Head-bearing branchlets few, borne on short branches about as long as to
shorter than the remote upper serrate leaves from whose axils they
arise 1. S. caesia.
1. Head-bearing branchlets usually borne on branches longer than the leaves
from whose axils they arise (2)
2(1). Plants perfectly smooth and glabrous, leaves fleshy or thinner, entire and
with inconspicuous venation or merely with finely reticulate pattern,
rarely with easily visible secondary nerves; basal leaves ascending,
often long and grasslike; head bearing portion of the plant often
elongate and slender but definitely one-sided and its branches nearly
always curly at the tip 3. S. sempervirens.
2. Plants usually pubescent, if nearly glabrous then the leaves usually with 2
fairly conspicuous lower secondary nerves and/or not entire margin
and/or not at all grasslike (3)
3(2). Upper half of the stem roundly quadrangular, the ridges usually narrowly
winged 2. S. salicina.
3. Upper half of stem not quadrangular nor 4-winged (4)
4(3). Leaves of midstem ovate, 1.3 to 2.5 times as long as broad, the lower sur-
faces with conspicuous and prominent pale network of nerves, each
side with 10 to 20 rather evenly spaced conspicuous marginal
serrations 4. S. rugosa.
4. Leaves of midstem mostly proportionally longer and narrower or if only 2.5
times as long as broad then broadest in the upper half and/or the
lower surfaces with less prominent nervation, the margins usually
with fewer teeth or the teeth concentrated toward the tip (5)
5(4). Most of the foliage and stems closely pubescent with microscopic hairs,
making parts of the plant cinereous or sordid green; stems 6-20 dm.
tall 5. S. altissima.
5. Most of the foliage and stems glabrous and yellowish or pale-green with the
exceptions of the margins of the leaves and often scattered pubes-
cence in narrow lines on the upper part of the stem or upper part
scabro-hirtellous (in S. spathulata) (6)
6(5). Plants with mostly short and stout rhizome or caudex; plants 5-20 cm.
tall 8. S. spathulata.
6. Plants with well developed creeping rhizomes; plants 5-25 dm. tall (7)
7(6). Leaves punctate; inflorescence ample in small glomerules, copiously leafy-
bracteate 7. S. occidentalis.
1. Leaves not punctate; inflorescence corymbiform; stem glaucous, becoming
definitely puberulent in the inflorescence 6. S. gigantea.
1611
-------
1. Solidago caesia L. BLUE-STEM GOLDENROD.
Glabrous perennial; stems slender and often slightly fractiflex, the internodes
even in the head-bearing portion of the plant 1-3 cm. long; branches about as long
as to usually shorter than the upper leaves in the axils of which they are borne
and in turn bearing a few head-bearing branchlets; upper leaves remote, spreading,
mostly broadly lanceolate, very thin, serrate most of the length.
Rare, in rich wettish woods along creeks in e. Okla. (Delaware Co.) and in e.
Tex., Sept.-Oct; e. U.S. and s.e. Can., w. to Wise, and Tex.
2. Solidago salicina Ell.
Plant coarse, glabrous, about 1 m. tall; upper half of stem roundly (obscurely)
quadrangular, often with narrow wings on the ridges; leaves of midstem mem-
branous, broadly lanceolate, to 14 cm. broad, about 3.5 times as long as broad,
in the basal third of the length narrowed to subpetiolar (but broadly winged) base,
marginally closely serrate on the upper two thirds of the length; terminal head-
bearing portion diffuse, somewhat one-sided with long whiplike branches, the
glomerules of head-bearing branchlets (or occasionally tertiary branches) definitely
secund on the outer half to two thirds of these whiplike branches.
Rare in moist loam or in swamps and bogs, in e. Tex. (Nacogdoches Co.), Oct.;
Coastal States, Va. to Tex.
3. Solidago sempervirens L. var. mexicana (L.) Fern. SEASIDE GOLDENROD.
Rhizomes often extensive; plants altogether glabrous and smooth; aerial stems
usually 1-2 m. tall: leaves often somewhat fleshy, perfectly entire, the inconspicu-
ous venation forming merely a fine reticulate pattern rarely with readily discerni-
ble secondary nerves; basal leaves ascending, often long, grasslike, terminally
rounded and narrowed to the subpetiolar base for most of the length; stem leaves
much smaller, grasslike to narrow elliptic, often ascending or appressed and
apically acute or rarely blunt; leaves of the head-bearing portion usually reduced;
head-bearing portion often elongate but definitely one-sided and its branches
nearly always curly at the tips. 5. stricta Ait., S. angustifolia Ell.
Frequent in marshy often slightly brackish swales and ditches, s.e. Tex. in-
frequent inland in e. Tex. to Austin and Gonzales cos.), fall; Coastal Plain from
Mass, to Ver. (the var. sempervirens from Nfld. to Va.)
This is somewhat variable in habit and size of head; plants with highly reduced
upper leaves, relatively narrow head-bearing region and small heads have been
segregated as 5. stricta; every conceivable intergradation occurs.
4. Solidago rugosa Ait. var. celtidifolia (Small) Fern.
Rhizomes creeping; aerial stems 8-15 dm. tall, shortly hispid; basal leaves di-
vided into an expanded bladelike portion and a linear subpetiolar base; leaves of
midstem dark-green or sordid, ovate or narrowly ovate, 4-1 (-10) cm. long,
1.3 to 2.5 times as long as broad, apically acute, somewhat wrinkled, essentially
penninerved, marginally with 10 to 20 conspicuous serrations on each side spaced
out rather evenly from the apex nearly to the base, often stiffly pubescent on the
nerves beneath and with very slight scabrosity on the upper surface which has the
nerves impressed and the internerve areoles slightly raised, on the lower surface
the nerves prominent and the areoles depressed; head-bearing region one-sided,
usually very diffuse with several long whiplike branches the outer portions of
which bear the markedly secund head-bearing branchlets. S. aspera Ait. Referred
here are some Texas plants which have been called S. idmifolia.
Frequent in sandy soil and seepage in s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e.
Tex., Scpt.-Nov.; Que., Ont. and e. U.S. w. to Mich., Ind., Mo., Okla. and Tex.
1612
-------
Many, many goldenrods show combinations of characteristics of this species
and others, especially S. altissima. While genetic mixing is not at all unusual in
goldenrods, still the abundance of the plants of hybrid origin is remarkable in
this instance. In fact, what has been called S. rugosa var. aspera (Ait.) Fern.
in Oklahoma and Texas is probably merely a group of such plants that are
primarily S. rugosa but contaminated to varying degrees by S. altissima genes.
5. Solidago altissima L.
Rhizomatous perennial, usually with numerous stems (6-) 10-20 dm. tall, the
stems and foliage totally more or less densely covered with a fine or microscopic
pubescence (thus cinereous or sordid-green) and roughish; leaves of midstem
broadest at or below the middle, lanceolate to lance-elliptic, (3 to) 4 to 5 (to 10)
times as long as broad, (5-) 10-16 mm. broad, usually triplinerved (i.e., with
2 of the lower secondary nerves nearly as prominent as the midvein beneath and
ascending nearly the full length of the blade), marginally usually with a few
close teeth (5 to 10) on each side in the upper half to two thirds of the length;
head-bearing portion of stem usually dense, somewhat one-sided, with a number
of crowded arcuate branches each for nearly its total length crowded with
definitely secund head-bearing branchlets, the total number of heads usually 150
to 500; heads small, the involucres usually only 3-4 mm. high. S. arizonica
(Gray) Wool. & Standl.
Open low areas nearly throughout Tex. but most frequent in e., s.e. and n.-cen.
Tex., N.M. (San Miguel, Chaves, Eddy, Socorro, Sierra, Grant and McKinley
cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Navajo, Gila, Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yavapai
cos.), (summer-) fall; Que., Ont. and e. U.S., w. to Wise., Neb., and Ariz.
The plants of stream margins on the Texas Edwards Plateau (east to Kendall
and Uvalde cos.) and of the Trans-Pecos (Brewster, Presidio and Reeves cos.),
even rarely the Plains Country (Oldham Co.), have proportionately narrower leaves
and smoother, canescent-pubescence, only obsolete marginal teeth and usually
looser head-bearing portions. These are the var. canescens (Gray) M. C. Johnst.
Plants of Cameron Co. (Brownsville region), Texas have dark-sordid, small,
narrow, crowded leaves and extremely crowded heads, up to 1500 heads on some
stems; these are the var. pluricephala M. C. Johnst.
6. Solidago gigantea Ait.
Rhizomes extensive; aerial stems 5-25 dm. long, 3-8 mm. thick basally,
glabrous or with scattered pubescence in vertical lines on the upper part of the
stem; leaf transition from midstem to upper stem very gradual and involving
mainly diminution in size; leaves of midstem smooth, thin-membranous, glabrous
or with only very slight pubescence on the nervation of the undersurface, bright-
green, triplinerved, elliptic or lance-elliptic, 5 to 10 (to 15) times as long as
broad, 6-15 cm. long, (8-) 10-19 mm. broad, on each side with 10 to 20 salient
teeth which are spaced out evenly from apex nearly to base; upper leaves just
beneath the head-bearing region 4 to 8 times as long as broad, smaller and less
prominently toothed than the midstem leaves; head-bearing region one-sided,
usually fairly dense and compact in relation to the size of the plant, with a
number of spreading arcuate branches which nearly to their bases are densely
beset with the decidedly secund head-bearing branchlets; involucres about 4 mm.
high. Incl. var. leiophylla Fern.
Frequent in tight moist or wet calcareous soil, along streams and in damp
thickets in Okla. (Waterfall}, in Tex. in Plains Country and n.-cen. Tex. and
Edwards Plateau, less frequent s.e. to e. and s.e. Tex. (s. to San Patrick) and
Karnes cos.) and N.M. (Lincoln and Otero cos.), (Aug.-) Sept-Oct.; s. Can.
and most of U.S., s. to Ut, Colo., Tex. and Gulf States.
1613
-------
Fig. 748: Sotidago accidentalis: a, disk flower, x 8; b, ray flower, x 8; c, rhizome
and base of stem, x 2/f,; d, habit, upper part of plant, x %; e-h, phyllaries, x 8; i,
flower head, showing involucre, and ray and disk flowers, x 5; j, achene and pappus
of scabrous capillary bristles, x 8; k, flowering head with mature achenes ready for
dispersal, x 5. (From Mason, Fig. 362).
-------
7. Solidago occidentals (Nutt.) T. & G. Fig. 748.
Rhizomatous perennial; stems simple, erect, 10-20 dm. tall, paniculately
branched in inflorescence; herbage glabrous; leaves numerous, linear, entire,
sessile, dark-punctate, 2-5 cm. long; inflorescence leafy-bracteate; heads small,
numerous, corymbosely disposed throughout inflorescence; involucre about 4 mm.
high, light-green or yellow; phyllaries linear-lanceolate, chartaceous; ray flowers
15 to 30, 1.5-2.5 mm. long, the disk flowers fewer; achenes turbinate.
Very common in marshes and along irrigation ditches in N. M. (Dona Ana
Co.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino and Cochise cos.), July-Sept.; Alta. to B.C.,
s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
8. Solidago spathulata DC. var. nana (Gray) Cronq.
Perennial from a caudex or short rhizome, 5-20 cm. tall, glabrous to scabro-
hirtellous in the inflorescence, usually more or less glutinous (at least the pedun-
cles and involucre); basal leaves spatulate or obovate, toothed or subentire,
blunt or rounded, to 15 cm. long (including the rather well-marked petiole) and
3 cm. wide, mostly persistent, the cauline ones progressively reduced and generally
few; inflorescence mostly short and compact, not secund, the heads often long-
pedunculate; involucre 4-6 mm. high; phyllaries evidently imbricate, commonly
blunt; rays 5 to 10, mostly 8; disk flowers about 13. S. decumbens Green.
In a variety of habitats but in the mountains often found along streams or on
seepage slopes or in wet meadows, in N. M. (Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel,
Santa Fe and Sandoval cos.) and Ariz. (Greenlee and Coconino cos.), June-
Sept; the species from Yuk. to Que., s. to Calif., Ariz., N.M. and Va.
11. Aster L. ASTER
Annual or usually perennial herbs, when perennial often with caudexes or
horizontal rhizomes; leaves when present alternate, not dissected, usually sessile;
perennial species usually with basal leaves dissimilar to cauline leaves and the
latter usually passing into the much-reduced leaves of the head-bearing branchlets
which are usually leafy to the summit; disk flowers present and perfect, their
corollas yellowish or less commonly tinged with blue, rose or violet; ray flowers
present, fertile, their corollas white or bluish-white or violet or even rosy at least
on the underside but never yellow; heads usually numerous and borne at the ends
of the usually leafy branches; head-bearing branchlets usually aggregated into
paniclelike inflorescences; receptacle of head flat or slightly convex; disk corolla
consisting of a basal cylindrical tube plus an expanded usually funnelform limb,
the limb consists of a throat plus 5 lobes; phyllaries in several series, imbricate,
the outer ones usually green at least near the tip and often on part of the midrib;
pappus of numerous capillary bristles in essentially a single series, similar in
disk and ray; achenes more or less flattened, with one or more ribs on the faces;
style branches usually subulate.
Aster has several hundred species, mostly in temperate regions. It is one of our
more difficult genera, both as to its over-all circumscription and the limitation of
the species contained. Only complete specimens, with rhizomes and mature flowers
(with anthers exserted), can be determined with any degree of confidence.
1. Distribution in New Mexico and Arizona, primarily montane (2)
1. Distribution in Oklahoma and Texas (13)
2(1). Upper leaves tiny, scalelike, entire; stems suffrutescent; plants tall, essen-
tially glabrous (3)
2. Upper leaves not tiny and scalelike; stems strictly herbaceous (4)
3(2). Heads discoid; stems intricately branched; achenes silky 4. A. intricatus.
3. Heads radiate; stems often spiny; achenes glabrous 1. A. spinosus.
1615
-------
4(2). Phyllaries glabrous on the back, sometimes ciliate on the margin (5)
4. Phyllaries more or less densely glandular or pubescent on the back (10)
5(4). Plants annual (doubtful cases should be keyed under both alternatives) (6)
5. Plants perennial (7)
6(5). Rays exceeding the not very copious pappus; phyllaries all linear or lance-
linear, acuminate, with a scarious margin; heads loosely panicled
3. A. subulatus.
6. Rays shorter than the very copious and soft mature pappus; outer phyllaries
narrowly oblong or linear-spatulate, obtuse or merely acutish,
herbaceous; heads usually numerous and crowded....5. A. frondosus.
7(5). Rays white, very rarely lavender 6. A. falcatus.
1. Rays violet or purple, rarely (in a form of A. foliaceus) white (8)
8(7). Plants normally tall, 5 dm. tall or more 7. A. hesperius.
8. Plants normally low (not more than 3 dm. tall) and simple or little-branched;
outer phyllaries narrowly spatulate to oblong-obovate (9)
9(8). Outer phyllaries narrowly spatulate, about 1 mm. wide; leaves normally
narrow (less than 1 cm. wide), not or scarcely clasping
8. A. chilensis.
9. Outer phyllaries broadly oblong-spatulate or oblong-obovate, 2.5-5 mm. wide;
leaves usually more than 1 cm. wide and definitely clasping
9. A. foliaceus.
10(4). Rays white; heads usually numerous and small, not more than 1.5 cm.
wide (including the rays); phyllaries never glandular, several seriate,
with a whitish coriaceous base and an abrupt usually rhombic
green tip, normally cuspidate or mucronate 6. A. falcatus.
10. Rays lavender or purple; heads usually larger; phyllaries usually glandular
(11)
11(10. Leaves grasslike, entire; phyllaries subherbaceous throughout or the inner
ones narrowly scarious-margined; leaves elongate-linear or the lower
ones narrowly spatulate; involucre densely stipitate-glandular, with-
out other pubescence 10. A. paucifloms.
11. Leaves not grasslike, usually toothed; phyllaries not subherbaceous through-
out (12)
12(11). Perennial; involucre not conspicuously many-ranked; leaf margins
usually hispidulous-ciiiate or serrulate 8. A. chilensis.
12. Biennial; involucre conspicuously many-ranked; phyllaries with a whitish
chartaceous base and an abrupt often squarrose herbaceous tip
11. A. tephrodes.
13(1). Distribution in Oklahoma (14)
13. Distribution in Texas (22)
14(13). Involucre and parts of herbage glandular 12. A. novae-angUae.
14. Plants not glandular (15)
15(14). Phyllaries with the midrib greenish but this greenish area not expanded
toward the apex or at the broadest part not more than twice as
wide as at the narrowest part, usually appearing linear, the marginal
areas pale and chaffy in texture; leaves when present usually sub-
ulate, tapered all the way from base to apex, rarely with a few
serrations, mostly entire and glabrous; head-bearing branchlets
nearly naked (16)
15. Phyllaries usually with a green splotch toward the apex formed by the lateral
expansion of the greenish area near the midrib; leaves variously
ovate to lanceolate or linear but usually serrate, rarely subulate;
head-bearing branchlets usually leafy (17)
1616
-------
16(15). Leaves small or nearly absent, often on some branchlets transformed
into green thorns; plants forming colonies from extensively creep-
ing rhizomes 1. A. spinosus.
16. Leaves well-developed at least in the lower part of the plants; rhizomes (if
present) not extensively creeping 3. A. subulatus.
17(15). Lobes of the disk corollas comprising 45 to 75 per cent of the limb;
leaves usually pubescent beneath (at least along the midrib) (18)
17. Lobes of the disk corollas comprising 17 to 45 per cent of the limb; leaves
typically glabrous beneath (19)
18(17). Plants with well-developed creeping rhizomes; leaves usually pubescent
over the lower surface 13. A. ontarionis.
18. Plants without well-developed creeping rhizomes; leaves glabrous beneath
except usually along the midrib 14. A. lateriflorus.
19(17). Heads very small, with involucre 2.5-3.5 (-4) mm. high and rays 3-6
mm. long, numerous, often unilaterally racemiform (20)
19. Heads larger than above or few, seldom unilaterally racemiform (21)
20(19). Rameal leaves much-reduced, seldom with any of them as much as 1.5
cm. long 15. A. vimineus.
20. Rameal leaves much larger than above, usually with many of them 1.5 cm.
long or more 16. A. simplex.
21(19). Veinlets of the leaf forming a conspicuous reticulum, the areolae mostly
nearly isodiametric; lobes of the disk corollas comprising 17 to
25 per cent of the limb; creeping rhizomes well-developed
17. A. praealtus.
21. Veinlets of the leaf forming an obscure reticulm or (if the reticulum is
evident) the areolae then clearly longer than broad
18. A. dumosus.
22(13). Phyllaries with the midrib greenish but this greenish area not expanded
toward the apex or at the broadest part not more than twice as wide
as at the narrowest part, usually appearing linear, the marginal
areas pale and chaffy in texture; leaves (when present) usually
subulate, tapered all the way from base to apex, rarely with a few
serrations, mostly entire and glabrous; head-bearing branchlets
nearly naked (23)
22. Phyllaries usually with a green splotch toward the apex formed by the
lateral expansion of the greenish area near the midrib; leaves
variously ovate to lanceolate or linear but usually serrate, rarely
subulate; head-bearing branchlets usually leafy (25)
23(22). Leaves small or nearly wanting, often on some branchlets transformed
into green thorns; plants forming colonies from extensively creeping
rhizomes 1. A. spinosus.
23. Leaves well-developed at least in the lower part of the plant; rhizomes (if
present) not extensively creeping (24)
24(23). Salt marsh and brackish mud perennial 3-6 dm. tall; heads numbering
only 3 to 30 per plant or per shoot, broadly turbinate; involucres
11-17 mm. broad at top 2. A. tenuifolius.
24. Annual forming colonies in poorly drained areas, (2-) 4—20 dm. tall; heads
numbering up to several hundred per plant, turbinate; involucres
7—11 mm. broad at top 3. A. subulatus.
25(22). Leaves of midstem linear, 10-25 (-34) mm. long, 1-2 mm. wide; leaves
of the head-bearing branchlets numerous, linear-subulate, ascending
18. A. dumosus.
25. Leaves of midstem usually averaging longer than 20 mm. and always broader
than 2 mm. (26)
1617
-------
26(25). Leaves of midstem with slight basal auricles which make it appear as if
the leaves clasp the stem more than half the circumference though
the scar involves only about half 19. A. scabricaulis.
26. Leaf scar commonly involving as much as half the circumference of the
stem but leaf auricles absent (27)
27(26). Mature disk corolla (that is, corolla from a floret with anthers exserted
or beginning to be exserted) 3-3.5 (-3.9) mm. long, consisting
of a tube 1-1.5 mm. long plus a throat 0.8-1.2 (-1.4) mm. long,
plus lobes 0.7-1 (-1.2) mm. long 14. A. lateriflorus.
27. Mature disk corolla 4-6 mm. long, consisting of a tube 1.3-2.5 mm. long
plus a throat 1.5-3 mm. long, plus lobes 0.5-1.1 mm. long (28)
28(27). Phyllaries relatively weakly graduated, the shortest outer ones about
half as long as the longest inner ones 17. A. praealtus.
28. Phyllaries relatively strongly graduated, the shortest outer ones about a third
as long as the longest inner ones (29)
29(28). Mature disk corolla 5-5.6 mm. long, with lobes 0.7-1 mm. long plus
throat 2.4-2.7 mm. long, plus tube 2.2-2.5 mm. long; in Trans-
Pecos Texas 7. A. hesperius.
29. Mature disk corolla (4.1-) 4.5-5 mm. long, with lobes 0.5-0.9 mm. long
plus throat 1.5-2.5 mm. long, plus tube 1.3-2.2 mm. long; in
eastern half of Texas 20. A. Eulae.
I. Aster spinosus Benth. MEXICAN DEVIL-WEED.
Colonial by rhizomes, essentially leafless or producing a few small leaves when
injured near the ground, with minute subulate leaves scattered in some stems;
axillary branches often transformed into thorns; heads as in A. subulatus (rays
short as in var. euroauster) but the phyllaries more strongly graduated and the
pale narrow margins narrower than the median dark stripe. Leucosyris spinosa
(Benth.) Greene.
Locally very abundant on roadsides and other weedy slopes and banks, about
streams and irrigation canals, in river beds, seepage areas and edge of water in
marsh, in Okla. (Payne Co., southw.) and s. and w. half of Tex., uncommon
n.e. to Brazos, Robertson and McLennan cos., N. M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino and Mohave, s. to Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.), summer-fall; C.R.
n. and w. to Calif., Ut., Ariz., N.M., Okla. and Tex.
2. Aster tenuifolius L. Fig. 749.
Relatively low turgid-succulent perennial; rhizomes apparently creeping in mud;
leaves only about 2 mm. broad, to 1 dm. long; heads larger (but fewer) than in
A. subulatus and A. spinosus (see below) but with most of the same characters;
each plant or shoot from the rhizome with usually only about 10 to 20 remote
heads.
Infrequent, salt marshes or brackish mud, s.e. Tex. (Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun
and Galveston cos.), June-Nov.; coastal areas n.e. as far as L.I. and N.H.
3. Aster subulatus Michx. HIERBA DEL MARRANO. Fig. 750.
Robust much-branched glabrous annual; leaves linear-subulate, rarely serrate,
mostly 1-10 (-20) cm. long, 2-4 (-7) mm. broad, much-reduced toward the top
of the plant; involucres turbinate, of a few series of linear phyllaries, each phyllary
pale but with a darker linear midrib (if laterally expanded then the widest portion
no more than twice as wide as the narrowest).
In shallow water of ditches and pools, wet mud flats, marshes and floodplains
and in coastal saline marshes, in Okla. (Love and Stephens cos.), throughout Tex.,
N.M. and Ariz.
1618
-------
Fig. 749: Aster tenuifolius: a, habit, x %; b, bud, x 2; c, head, x 7; d, style
branches, x 15; e, ray flower, x 4; f, disk flower, x 4; g, achene, x 15. (Courtesy of
R. K. Godfrey).
-------
Fig. 750: Aster snbiilatus: a and b, habit, x %; c, part of inflorescence, showing the
phyllaries imbricate in several series, x 4; d, ray flower, x 8; e, disk flower, x 8; f,
mature achene with pappus, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 347).
-------
Most of our plants belong to the var. ligulatus Shinners in which the ligules
are several mm. long, surpassing the disk corollas and the pappus; these plants
have long passed under the dubious name A. exilis Ell. It is an abundant weed
in ditches, swales, margins of ponds, lakes and streams and poorly drained places
in general, throughout our area, probably our most abundant Aster, summer-fall;
widespread in the warmer parts of Am., n. to S.C., Mo., Kan., N.M., Ariz, and
Calif. The var. euroauster Fem. & Grisc., characterized by its much-reduced to
essentially nonexistent ligules, is extremely rare in s.e. Tex. (Orange Co.) where
it grows about and in ponds, Aug.-Sept. It occurs from Conn, to Fla., w. to
Tex. One old Galveston collection is referable to the var. australis Shinners, in
which the ligules are about equal to the disk corollas and to the pappus in length.
It is widespread in C.A. and S.A. The var. subulatus is very near the coast from
Me. to La.
It has been suggested that A. spinosus, A. subulatus and A. tenuifolius should
be segregated as a genus. They do form a coherent natural group somewhat
different from our other Asters.
4. Aster intricatus (Gray) Blake. SHRUBBY ALKALI ASTER.
Shrubby perennial; stems 0.6-0.8 m. tall, rigidly and intricately branched,
glaucescent and essentially glabrous throughout; leaves linear, 1-2 cm. long,
1-2 mm. wide, entire, mucronulate, fleshy, those of inflorescence reduced, mostly
appressed, scalelike, 1-4 mm. long; heads solitary at tips of branches, discoid,
5-8 mm. wide, 8-10 mm. high; involucre turbinate-campanulate, 6-7 mm. high,
about 5-seriate; phyllaries strongly graduated, appressed, linear or lanceolate-
linear, acute or acuminate, the outer phyllaries cuspidulate, glabrous or obscurely
ciliolate, chartaceous, whitish, with green midline; corollas usually yellowish;
achenes terete, many-ribbed, appressed-pilose; style appendages lanceolate-subulate,
longer than the stigmatic region.
Alkaline meadows, in moist or wet soils, in Ariz. (Mohave, Maricopa, Final,
Cochise and Pima cos.), May-Oct.; alsoNev. and Calif.
5. Aster frondosus (Nutt.) T. & G.
Annual; stems 2-5 dm. tall, leafy, glabrous or nearly so; leaves linear to
linear-lanceolate, 3-10 cm. long, entire, acute to obtuse, glabrous but somewhat
ciliate; heads numerous, paniculate on the branches; involucre 5-8 mm. high,
campanulate; phyllaries in 2 or 3 series, almost equal in length, oblanceolate to
oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse to abruptly acute and often cuspidate, with a distinct
midrib, glabrous to somewhat ciliate; rays lacking or minute and shorter than the
pappus; achenes appressed-pubescent; pappus copious, white.
In wet to moist or dry usually saline soils, in Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and
Coconino cos.), Aug.-Sept.; Wyo. to Ore., s. to Ariz, and Calif.
6. Aster falcatus Lindl.
Perennial plants from rather long rootstocks; stems about 20-40 cm. tall,
branching from the base or above, the branches not especially recurved, glabrate
or sparingly strigose; leaves 2-5 cm. long, linear, entire, ending in a callus point,
crowded, glabrate to sparingly strigose; heads 1 to few on the branches, not
secund; involucres 4-6 mm. high, hemispheric to turbinate; phyllaries oblanceo-
late, acute to a callus point but tips little if any reflexed, rather thin, glabrate
to sparingly strigose; rays 3-5 mm. long, white to pinkish; achenes appressed-
hairy; pappus bristles many, whitish or tawny.
In water of cataracts below springs and in seepage area, in N.M. (rather wide-
spread in mts.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Aug.-Sept.; Mack. s. to Kan., N.M.,
Ariz, and Calif.
1621
-------
7. Aster hesperius Gray. MARSH ASTER.
Erect rhizomatous perennial; stem leaves linear to lance-linear with relatively
obscure venation pattern, to 16 cm. long and to 15 mm. broad; leaves of the fairly
numerous erect (not secund) head-bearing branchlets much smaller, oblong to
subulate; heads hemispheric; involucres 6-7 mm. high, with several rows of
strongly graduated phyllaries; rays several mm. long, bluish; mature disk corolla
with tube 2.2-2.5 mm. long, throat 2.4-2.7 mm. long and lobes 0.7-1 mm. long.
A coerulescens of many auth., not DC.
In marshy meadows and swampy soils, in seepage along streams and irrigation
ditches, rare in Tex. in the Trans-Pecos (at Muzquiz Swamp, Jeff Davis Co., and
Guadalupe Mts., Culberson Co.), N.M. (widespread in mts.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Navajo and Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.), Sept.-Oct.; Alta., N.D. and
Wise. s. to Calif., Ariz., Chin, and Tex.
This is exceedingly close to the A. praealtus complex (especially to A. coerules-
cens) and the merit of recognizing it as specifically distinct is doubtful.
8. Aster chilensis Nees.
Herbaceous perennial; stems slender, 3-6 dm. tall, usually erect, pubescent
all around below or only in lines above; lower leaves narrowly oblanceolate,
tapering to petiolelike base, the middle and upper leaves lanceolate to linear,
usually entire, somewhat clasping, rough-margined, glabrous to more or less
pubescent; heads few to many, in a nearly naked closed or open cyme or cymose
panicle about 2.5 cm. wide; involucre 4-7 mm. high; phyllaries usually strongly
graduate, erect, linear or linear-oblong, the outermost phyllaries usually spatulate
and obtuse to acute, the inner ones acuminate, ciliolate, glabrous or pubescent
on back; rays 22 to 35, violet or purple, about 8 mm. long. A. adscendens Lindl.,
A. vallicola Greene.
In wet mt. meadows, along streams and in seepy soils, openings in forests, in
Ariz. (Navajo and Coconino cos.), Aug.-Sept.; Sask. to Wash., s. to Colo, and
n. Ariz.
9. Aster foliaceous Lindl.
Herbaceous perennial from a creeping rootstock, 2-5 dm. tall; stems commonly
reddish, glabrous below; lower leaves oblanceolate to obovate, 5-20 cm. long,
1.5^- cm. wide, narrowed to a conspicuously clasping petiolar base, the margins
entire, ciliate-appressed, the upper stem leaves sessile; inflorescence mostly
1-headed to corymbose or subcymose with 4 to 6 heads; 9-12 mm. high, to
3.5 cm. wide, usually pubescent below the involucre; phyllaries green, subequal
in size, with additional large foliaceous bracts sometimes present, glabrous on
the back, ciliate-margined, oblong, obtuse to broadly acute at apex; rays 15 to 60,
purple, 1-1.5 cm. long; achenes glabrous to sparsely pubescent; pappus white or
tawny to occasionally reddish.
In seepage areas, along streams, in wet mt. meadows and on moist wooded
slopes, in N.M. (Rio Arriba and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Navajo, Coconino,
Apache and Greenlee cos.), Aug.-Sept.; Alas., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
Represented in our region by several weak varieties.
10. Aster pauciflorus Nutt. MARSH ALKALI ASTER.
Perennial herb from creeping rootstocks; stems erect, simple or branched from
the base, 2-9 dm. tall, glabrous except for glandular inflorescence; leaves some-
what fleshy, with midvein not prominent, linear or lanceolate-linear, entire, sessile,
acuminate at apex, 6-12 cm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, reduced and bractlike on the
branches of the corymbiform inflorescence; heads 6-12 mm. wide, 6-8 mm.
long; involucre densely glandular-puberulent, the phyllaries linear-lanceolate,
1622
-------
herbaceous except for a narrow hyaline margin, rather loose, of 2 or 3 different
lengths but scarcely graduate; ligules pale-purple or whitish, 6-10 mm. long;
achenes appressed-pubescent A. hydrophilus W. & S.
In alkaline soil about springs and streams, in seepage along streams and about
lakes and ponds in N.M. (Bernalillo, Sandoval, San Juan, Sierra, Taos and
Valencia cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise and Pima cos.), May-Sept.; Sask. to N.M.,
Ariz, and Mex.
11. Aster tephrodes (Gray) Blake.
Erect biennial; stems simple below, often paniculately branched above, 2-8
dm. tall, stipitate-glandular and cinereous-puberulent or cinereous-pilosulous
with mostly incurved hairs; larger leaves oblanceolate or lanceolate, 3—10 cm.
long, 4—13 mm. wide, acute, the lower leaves tapering to a petiolelike base, others
sessile and often slightly clasping, shallowly toothed with spinescent-mucronate
teeth, pubescent chiefly along margin and often stipitate-glandular, more or less
distinctly triplinerved, the upper leaves gradually reduced to small entire bracts;
heads solitary at tips of cymosely or paniculately arranged branches, 2.5-4 cm.
wide; involucre hemispheric, 8-10 mm. high; phyllaries 6- or 7-seriate, graduated,
narrowly linear-lanceolate, with whitish chartaceous base, the tip herbaceous,
subulate-attenuate, mucronate, spreading or reflexed, cinereous-pilosulous; rays
23 to 40, violet or purple, 1—1.2 cm. long; achenes striate, finely pubescent;
pappus stiffish, scarcely graduate.
River bottomlands, alluvial soils and seepage areas in N.M. (Blake} and Ariz.
(Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s. to Graham, Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.),
Mar.-Oct.; also Nev. and Calif.
12. Aster novae-angliae L.
Perennial from a stout caudex or short thickened rhizome, with numerous
fibrous roots, occasionally with creeping rhizomes as well; stems clustered, 3-20
dm. tall, commonly conspicuously spreading-hirsute at least above and becoming
glandular upwards as well; leaves lanceolate, entire, mostly 3-12 cm. long and
6-20 mm. wide, sessile and conspicuously auriculate-clasping, scabrous or stiffly
appressed-hairy above, more softly hairy beneath or the upper becoming glandular,
the lower similar to those above but soon deciduous; heads several or numerous
in a leafy usually short inflorescence, the involucre and peduncles densely glan-
dular but scarcely or not at all otherwise hairy; involucre 6—10 mm. high, its
numerous slender phyllaries about equal, often purplish, with chartaceous base
and loose or spreading attenuate tip, the outer ones sometimes a little broader,
more foliaceous and less attenuate than the others; rays commonly 45 to 100,
bright reddish-purple or rosy, rarely blue or white, mostly 1-2 cm. long; achenes
densely sericeous or appressed-hirsute, their nerves obscure.
Moist, wet, open or wooded places, wet meadows, prairie swales, wet thickets
and along streams, in Okla. (Cherokee Co.), June-Oct.; N.E., s. to Ala., w. to
Okla., (?) N.M. and Wyo.
13. Aster ontarionis Wieg.
Somewhat resembling A. Jaterifloras but more colonial and spreading by more
elongate rhizomes and numerous stolons; stems coarser, usually 5—20 dm. tall,
with abundant spreading to subascending usually forked branches and racemose-
paniculate to diffuse inflorescences; leaves closely pilose beneath and sometimes
above; flowering branchlets or pedicels elongate, somewhat to not at all secund;
involucres 3—4.5 mm. high; phyllaries narrowly linear to linear-oblanceolate, acute,
usually puberulent on back, the green midrib slender; rays' 15 to 26, white, 5—7 mm.
long and to 1 mm. wide; disk corollas cream-color to purplish, 3—4 mm. long, their
1623
-------
spreading or ascending lobes about 1 mm. long or about one half the length of
the funnelform throat. A. pantotrichus Blake.
In alluvial soils in thickets, wet meadows, river bottomlands and in seepage
along streams, in Okla. (Water-fall), Aug-Oct; Que. to Minn, and S.D., s. to
Tenn., Miss., Ark. and Okla.
14. Aster lateriflorus (L.) Britt.
Perennial from subrhizomatous bases or slender short rhizomes; stems ascend-
ing or usually long-arching, semireclining, usually with several whiplike arching
secondary branches, the latter bearing in turn a number of very short secund
head-bearing branchlets; leaves of midstem usually membranous, elliptic or lance-
elliptic, serrate, to several cm. long and 15 mm. broad but usually smaller, sessile,
those of the distal head-bearing region still smaller and those few of the very
short head-bearing branchlets minute and subulate; heads not very crowded;
involucres turbinate to hemispheric, 4-5.5 mm. high; phyllaries in 3 or 4 rows,
strongly graduated, the shorter row only about a fourth as long as the longest,
mostly pale-stramineous, the dilated portion of the midrib rather smaller (so
nearly the whole involucre appears stramineous); rays few and only about 3 mm.
long, usually white; mature disk corolla 3-3.5 (-3.9) mm. long, with a tube 1-1.5
mm. long, plus a throat 0.8-1.2 (—1.4) mm. long, plus lobes 0.7-1 (-1.2) mm.
long. Incl. var. flagellaris Shinners and var. indutus Shinners, and Tex. plants which
have been through error determined as A. ontarionis Wieg.
In swamps, wet depressions in prairies, borders of streams, ponds and sloughs,
and in sandy usually moist or boggy areas in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. Tex.
(s.w. to Gonzales Co.), rare to s.e. Tex. (Harris Co.), Oct.-Nov.; other varieties
occur in s.e. Can. s. to Ga., Tenn. and Ark.
15. Aster vimineus Lam.
Perennial from long creeping or sometimes apparently short and stouter rhi-
zomes, the stem 4—15 dm. tall, glabrous or more or less puberulent in lines; leaves
glabrous on both sides or slightly scabrous above, linear or narrowly lanceolate,
acute, tapering to the sessile base, entire or slightly toothed, to 11 cm. long
and 10 mm. wide, those of the branches becoming much reduced; heads numerous
in an open ample inflorescence with long divaricate divergently bracteate often
recurved branches which tend to be secund, the minutely bracteate peduncles
short or sometimes as much as 1.5 cm. long; involucre 2.5-3.5 or rarely 4 mm.
high, glabrous; phyllaries imbricate in several series, their green tips mostly
elongate; rays 15 to 30, white or rarely purplish, 3-6 mm. long; lobes of the
disk corollas comprising about 40% of the limb; achenes few-nerved, sparsely
hairy.
Mostly in moist open places and along river bottoms, wet meadows, swamps
and alluvial soil about ponds and along streams, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.), Aug.-
Oct; Me. to Fla., w. to O. and Okla.
16. Aster simplex Willd.
Perennial from long often stout creeping rhizome, becoming densely colonial;
stem stout, commonly 6-15 dm. tall, glabrous below, pubescent in lines above,
sometimes very scantily so; leaves lanceolate or linear, serrate or occasionally
entire, glabrous on both sides or somewhat scabrous above, sessile or tapering
to a petiolelike base, sometimes a little clasping but scarcely auriculate, the
principal ones mostly 8-15 cm. long and 3-35 mm. wide, mostly not strongly
reticulate, the areolae (if visible) generally irregular and longer than wide; heads
usually more or less numerous in an elongate leafy inflorescence, the involucre
3-5.5 mm. high; phyllaries narrow, sharply acute to acutish, glabrous except
1624
-------
for the sometimes ciliolate margins, more or less strongly imbricate, with elongate
usually appressed green tips; rays 20 to 40, white or occasionally lavender or
blue, 4.5-12 mm. long; lobes of the disk corollas comprising 30 to 45 per cent of
the limb; achenes strigose, few-nerved.
Moist low places, wet meadows, prairie swales, ditches, edge of streams and
sloughs, alluvial soil in thickets in Okla. (Waterfall), July-Sept.; N.S. to Va.,
w. to N.D. and Okla.
17. Aster praealtus Poir.
Rhizomatous perennial with ascending stems and branches; stem leaves sessile,
generally lance-linear or very narrowly elliptic, the lower ones 4-10 (-15) cm.
long and about 1 cm. broad, those higher up gradually smaller and smaller; leaves
of the numerous short rarely somewhat secund head-bearing branchlets very
small and subulate or linear-subulate; involucres usually hemispheric, about 6 mm.
high, with a few rows of weakly graduated phyllaries, the outer shorter of which
are about half as long as the inner longest ones; rays several mm. long, usually
bluish white or less commonly pure-white; mature disk corollas 4.5-6 mm. long,
with a tube 1.5-2.5 mm. long, a throat 1.5-3 mm. long and lobes 0.5-1.3 mm.
long.
In marshes, seepage in wet meadows, prairie swales, and on usually moist banks
and in ditches, loamy soil, in Okla. (Waterfall), n.-cen. Tex. and lower Plains
Country, less frequent or rarely to e. and s.e. Tex., n. part of Rio Grande Plains
and e. part of Edwards Plateau, (Sept.-) Oct.-Nov., less commonly other seasons;
Que. and Ont. s. to Md., W.Va., and Ky., s.w. to la., Mo., Okla., Tex. and
Chin. (?).
18. Aster dumosus L.
Perennial from slender rhizomes; branches (at least the upper ones) usually
ascending and much-branched; leaves firm-membranous, those of midstem
linear, 10-25 (-34) mm. long and 1-2 mm. broad, usually falling before the end
of Sept. and leaving in Oct. only the numerous nearly uniform minute subulate
appressed leaves of the upper branches and of the head-bearing branchlets; head-
bearing branchlets not markedly secund; involucres 5-7 mm. high; rays a few
mm. long, usually bluish-white but variable; mature disk corolla with a tube
1.4-2.3 mm. long plus a narrowly funnel-form throat 1.4-2.3 mm. long, plus usually
erect lobes 0.4-1 mm. long, the proportions quite variable. Incl. var. subulaefolius
T. & G. and var. coridifolius (Michx.) T. & G.
In wet meadows and swampy open ground, and in loamy prairies, in Okla.
(McCurtain Co.) and s.e. Tex., rare inland in e. Tex., late Sept.-Nov.; s.e. U.S.
n. to Me.; other varieties inland as far as Ont., Mich and 111.
Some few specimens combine characters of this species and of A. lateriflorus.
19. Aster scabricaulis Shinners.
Perennial with rhizomes; stems ascending, weak, 14-18 dm. long, with branches
at middle or below to 35 cm. long, scabrous-pubescent throughout, with about 25
to 35 nodes, the middle and upper internodes 1.5-4.5 cm. long; stem leaves
withering early, oblong-lanceolate, acute, entire or very shallowly toothed, sessile
and clasping (i.e., basally slightly auriculate), scabrous-pubescent on both surfaces
or nearly glabrous beneath, about 7 cm. long and 2 cm. broad; leaves of branches
similar but much smaller, rather numerous and uniform; heads rather numerous
and crowded, the ultimate head-bearing branchlets 3-12 mm. long; involucres
7-8 mm. high; phyllaries in about 5 to 7 rows, subequal, loosely spreading or
squarrose.
Rare in boggy ground, e. Tex. (Tyler and Van Zandt cos.), Oct.; endemic.
1625
-------
20. Aster Eulae Shinners.
Rhizomatous perennial; stem erect and with many ascending or spreading
branches; head-bearing branchlets mostly 1-3 cm. long, usually somewhat secund;
leaves membranous; midstem leaves several cm. long (quite variable in size),
usually elliptic to oblanceolate but in their basal third broadly cuneate, usually
obscurely serrate; leaves in the upper branches similar in shape but smaller,
usually 15-30 mm. long, 3-6 mm. broad; leaves of the head-bearing branchlets
linear or linear-lanceolate, not crowded, 3-10 mm. long, about 1-2 mm. broad;
involucres hemispheric, 4-5 mm. high, of a few series of well-graduated phyllaries,
the shortest of which are about a third or even only a fourth as long as the
longest; rays 20 to 30, about 4 mm. long, usually white but less commonly bluish-
white; mature disk corollas (4.1-) 4.5-5 mm. long, with a tube 1.3-2.2 mm. long,
plus a throat 1.3-2.5 mm. long, plus lobes 0.5-0.9 (-1.1) mm. long.
Frequent in usually heavy clay or clay-loam soil, ditches, banks and openings
in river bottom woods, n.-cen. Tex., infrequent to the s. part of e. and s.e. Tex.,
perhaps as far s. as Nueces Co., Oct.-Nov.; endemic.
12. Doellingeria NEES
A monotypic North American genus.
1. Doellingeria umbellate (Mill.) Nees var. latifolia (Gray) House.
Rhizomatous perennial; aerial stems simple for most of their length, rising at
intervals from the rhizome, to 1 m. high; leaves alternate, the lowest leaves (near
ground level) actually smaller than those of the midstem, there being an increase
in size of the leaves proceeding up the lowest part of the stem; leaves in general
ascending or appressed, narrowly ovate-elliptic or broadly lanceolate, several cm.
long or reduced in the head-bearing region; upper 3—20 dm. of the plant
branched, the branches erect and forming a dense corymbiform grouping of
heads, each head on a short erect peduncle 3-10 mm. long; involucres about 4
mm. high, of perhaps 3 series of strongly graduated mostly stramineous phyllaries
with unexpended or only very slightly expanded green midribs; rays 2-3 mm. long,
whitish; disk yellow; pappus slightly double, of very unequal capillary bristles,
alike in disk and ray. Aster umbellatus Mill. var. latifolius Gray.
Rare in wet usually boggy ground, in Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and in e. Tex.
(Bowie, Freestone and Nacogdoches cos.), Sept.-Oct.; the species as a whole
occurs in s.e. Can. and e. U.S. s. to N.C., Ga., Tenn. and w. to Minn., la., Ark.
and Tex.
13. Erigeron L. FLEABANE
Herbs, usually pubescent; leaves alternate, essentially sessile (the blades often
narrowed to subpetiolar bases); heads solitary, terminating ascending branches
which are often somewhat pedunculiform; involucres usually hemispheric, usually
3-8 mm. tall; receptacle flat or often convex, essentially smooth; phyllaries in
only about 2 or 3 series, not or only weakly graduated, usually lance-subulate,
acute, mostly herbaceous with very narrow scarious margins; ray flowers present,
usually in about 2 series, pistillate, fertile; rays linear, white or pale shades of
bluish or rose, never yellow; disk flowers perfect and fertile (except sometimes
a few central ones abortive); corollas yellow, with a very short basal tube and
a slightly broader subcylindric 5-toothed limb; achene laterally flattened, strongly
2-ribbed (or the extreme peripheral ones often 3-ribbed), nearly glabrous; pappus
various, either essentially absent or a paleaceous crown or of fragile capillary
bristles and short scales or usually of unequal capillary bristles, these often in
2 size-classes (the pappus then said to be "double").
1626
-------
With about 200 species, nearly cosmopolitan, Erigeron is a difficult group of
daisy like plants.
1. Plants of east and southeast Texas and eastern Oklahoma (2)
1. Plants of central Texas and central Oklahoma westward (4)
2(1). Trailing plants of sandy soil or salt marshes near the coast; stems often
subrhizomatous 1. E. myrionactis.
2. Erect plants of various habitats (3)
3(2). Plants with superficial rhizomes; disk corollas 4.5-6 mm. long; rays 1 mm.
broad or broader 2. E. pulchellus.
3. Rhizomes absent; disk corollas 2.5-3.2 mm. long; rays 0.6 mm. broad or
narrower 3. E. philadelphicus.
4(1). Pistillate corollas very numerous, filiform, with very narrow short erect
rays; rayless pistillate flowers wanting; inflorescence racemiform,
the peduncles erect, or the head solitary 4. E. lonchophyllus.
4. Pistillate corollas few to numerous, the rays well-developed and spreading (5)
5(4). Cauline leaves usually much-reduced, mostly linear or oblanceolate; plants
relatively low and often spreading or trailing 5. E. flagellaris.
5. Cauline leaves ample, usually lanceolate or broader; plants when well-
developed tall and erect (6)
6(5). Hairs of the involucre with black crosswalls near the base; rays white;
leaves hairy; pappus simple or nearly so 6. E. Coulteri.
6. Hairs of involucre without black crosswalls; rays, leaves and pappus various
(7)
7(6). Rays mostly 2-4 mm. wide; basal leaves tapering to the petiole
7. E. peregrinus.
1. Rays mostly 1 mm. wide or less (8)
8(7). Rays very numerous (over 150) and narrow, about 0.2-0.6 mm. wide; disk
corollas mostly 2.5-3.2 mm. long 3. E. philadelphicus.
8. Rays not excessively numerous, about 1 mm. wide; disk corollas 3.5-4.4 mm.
long; stem and involucre glandular or viscid 8. E. formosissimus.
1. Erigeron myrionactis Small.
Perennial with stems stoloniferous or subrhizomatous in coastal sands, rooting
at the nodes, prostrate; stems often to 1 m. long; herbage with spreading hairs;
leaves obovate to spatulate or cuneate, 2-8 cm. long, 5-25 mm. broad, coarsely
few-toothed near the end; heads solitary, borne about 1 dm. above ground; rays
very numerous, white, 5-7 mm. long, about 0.3 mm. broad; disk corollas 3.5-4.5
mm. long; pappus of ray and disk essentially similar, simple, of about 20 to 25
fragile capillary bristles.
Frequent in coastal sand and salt marshes in s.e. Tex. and the Rio Grande
Plains, spring-fall; La., Tex. and Tam.
2. Erigeron pulchellus Michx. ROBIN'S-PLANTAIN.
Hirsute short-lived erect perennial, 15-60 cm. tall, with fibrous root system
and superficial rhizomes; basal leaves oblanceolate to suborbicular, tapering to
short subpetiolar bases, 2-13 cm. long, 6-50 mm. broad, shallowly toothed above
the middle or subentire; stem leaves lanceolate or oblong to more commonly
ovate, obtuse or rounded to slightly acute at apex, entire or nearly so, the middle
and lower leaves 2-7 cm. long and 6-20 mm. broad; heads few in a flat-topped
arrangement; disk corollas 4.5-6 mm. long or usually longer; rays 1 (-2) mm.
broad, 6—10 mm. long; pappus simple, of capillary bristles, alike in ray and disk.
Rare in open places and in woods on stream banks, deep sandy soil, e. Okla.
(Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., Apr.-May; most of e. U.S.
1627
-------
Fig. 751: Erigeron philadetphicits: a, habit, basal part of plant, x %; b, flower
head, showing the little-imbricate phyllaries and the numerous linear-filiform rays, x
2; c, achene and pappus, the bristles of one series short and those of the other series
long, x 12; d, habit, upper part of plant, x -/:,', e, ray flower, the corolla linear-filiform,
the stigma lobes linear and obtuse, x 8; f, disk flower, the corolla tubular, the stigma
lobes broad and triangular-tipped, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 355).
-------
3. Erigeron philadelphicus L. PHILADELPHIA FLEABANE. Fig. 751.
Short-lived erect perennial 2-7 dm. tall, with fibrous root system; rhizomes
absent; stems and leaves usually with spreading hairs; basal leaves narrowly to
broadly oblanceolate or even obovate, coarsely crenate-toothed or lobed, rounded
at the apex, tapering to the short subpetiolar base, mostly not more than 15 cm.
long and 3 cm. broad; stem leaves clasping basally, crenate to dentate or sub-
entire; head region not crowded; involucre 4-6 mm. high; disk corollas 2.5-3.2
mm. long; rays 5-10 mm. long, 0.2-0.5 (-0.6) mm. broad, never bluish; pappus
alike in ray and disk, simple, of capillary bristles (often shorter than the corolla
in the disk).
In many habitats but is occasionally found in bogs and marshes, widespread
in Okla., Tex. and N.M., spring; most of U.S. and s. Can.
4. Erigeron lonchophyllus Hook.
Weak-rooted biennial or short-lived perennial, erect, 2-60 cm. tall, the herbage
spreading-hirsute or the leaves glabrate; basal leaves mostly oblanceolate, to 15
cm. long and 12 mm. wide, the cauline mostly linear, often elongate; peduncles
erect or suberect, the lower generally surpassed by their subtending leaves or
the head solitary; involucre 4—9 mm. high, hairy, not glandular; phyllaries
imbricate, acute or acuminate, commonly purple-tipped; pistillate flowers numer-
ous, with erect inconspicuous mostly white rays 2—3 mm. long and 0.25-0.5 mm.
wide; disk corollas 3.5-5 mm. long, shorter than the 20 to 30 pappus bristles.
E. minor Rydb.
Meadows and wet ground, mostly in the mts. in N.M. (Taos Co.), July-Aug.;
s. Calif., s. Ut. and N.M. n. to B.C. and northw. and eastw.
5. Erigeron flageUaris Gray. RUNNING FLEABANE.
Short-lived perennial with few roots, the taproot pronounced and usually
ligneous and often a few other roots present; some branches long-trailing;
essentially all the hairs of the stem appressed or ascending; pappus of ray and
disk essentially similar, double, of about 10 to 15 capillary bristles and some much
shorter microscopic bristles.
Infrequent, low moist places in mts. of Trans-Pecos Tex., Okla. (Cimarron
Co.), N.M., (widespread) and Ariz, (widespread); S.D., Wyo. and Nev. s. to
Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
6. Erigeron Coulteri Porter.
Fibrous-rooted perennial from a slender rhizome or branching caudex; stems
1-6 dm. tall, usually amply leafy, spreading-hirsute at least above; leaves hairy, at
least the lower generally toothed, the middle cauline ones mostly broadly lanceo-
late to oblong or ovate, to about 9 cm. long and 3 cm. wide; heads 1 to 4, mostly
naked-pedunculate, the involucre 7-10 mm. high, its thin green phyllaries equal,
villous-hirsute, the hairs with black crosswalls toward the base; rays 5 to 100,
white, 9-24 mm. long, 1.2-1.7 mm. wide; disk corollas 3-4.4 mm. long; inner
pappus of 20 to 25 bristles, the outer obscure or wanting; achenes 2-nerved.
Meadows and streambanks, in the mts. in N.M. (Rio Arriba, San Miguel and
Santa Fe cos.), July—Aug.; n. Ida. and n.e. Ore. to Calif, and N.M.
7. Erigeron peregrinus (Pursh) Greene.
Fibrous-rooted perennial from a short rhizome or short stout caudex, to 7 dm.
tall, amply leafy or in small forms subscapose; heads solitary or few, the disk
10—25 mm. wide; involucre 7—11 mm. high; phyllaries linear, attenuate, loose,
mostly rather herbaceous and about equal, about 1 mm. wide; rays 30 to 80,
8-25 mm. long, 2—4 mm. wide; disk corollas mostly 4-6 mm. long; pappus of 20
1629
-------
to 30 bristles, occasionally with a few short and inconspicuous outer setae; achenes
asymmetrically 4- to 7-nerved, most commonly 5-nerved.
Moist meadows, streamsides or bogs in the mts. of N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.),
July-Aug.; mts. of Calif., Ut. and n. N. M.
8. Erigeron formosissimus Greene.
Fibrous-rooted perennial with a simple or branched caudex; stem 1-4 dm. high,
usually curved at the base, glandular at least above, often spreading-hirsute as
well; lowermost leaves oblanceolate or spatulate to oval, petiolate or subpetiolate,
to 15 cm. long (including the petiole) and 15 mm. wide, persistent; cauline leaves
progressively reduced upwards and becoming sessile but usually fairly ample,
mostly lanceolate or oblong to ovate; heads 1 to 6, the disk 1-2 cm. wide;
involucre 5-8 mm. high, glandular and often hirsute, the phyllaries about equal,
the outer mostly 0.7-1 mm. wide; rays usually 75 to 150, 8-15 mm. long and
1 mm. wide or a little wider, blue, pink or rarely white; disk corollas 3.5-4.4 mm.
long; outer pappus setulose and sometimes very scanty; achenes 2-nerved.
Moist meadows and wet seepage banks in the mts. of N.M. (Taos, Socorro,
Sierra, Grant, Lincoln and Otero cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Apache, Navajo,
Greenlee, Graham and Gila cos.), July-Sept.; w. S.D., Wyo. and Ut. to N.M.
and Ariz.
14. Conyza L.
More than 50 species, chiefly tropical and subtropical in both hemispheres.
1. Conyza Coulteri Gray.
Annual herb 2-10 dm. tall, rather rigidly erect, sparingly with ascending
branches; leaves narrowly obovate or oblong, with a few salient teeth or shallow
lobes, apically rounded, basally rounded or usually with auricles and somewhat
clasping; heads numerous and crowded in the upper 1-3 dm. in a subpaniculi-
form arrangement; heads about 4 mm. high; ray flowers in 2 or 3 peripheral rows;
achenes less than 1 mm. long, hispidulous, compressed; pappus a single series of
copious dull white capillary bristles about 3 mm. long. Eschenbachia Coulteri
(Gray) Rydb.
Frequent in wettish often alkaline soils, river bottoms, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos,
less common in Edwards Plateau and rare in Rio Grande Plains, N. M. (wide-
spread) and Ariz. (Coconino to Greenlee, Cochise and Pima cos.), June-Sept;
s.w. U.S. and Mex.
This plant is known to be toxic to livestock.
15. Boltonia L'HER.
Perennial herbs 2-10 dm. tall, essentially glabrous, with taproot plus fibrous
root systems and very slender creeping rhizomes (these easily broken off); stems
slender, branched, wiry, striate-angled, uppermost parts of the branches pedunculi-
form; leaves linear, those of midstem 1-3 (-12) cm. long, green, alternate, entire,
essentially sessile, grading upward into leaves as small as 1-3 mm. long; heads
small, solitary at the ends of the branches, 5-10 mm. across (excluding rays);
receptacle conic or hemispheric, naked; involucres hemispheric, 2-4 mm. high,
of about 3 series of slightly imbricated lanceolate appressed phyllaries with pale
scarious margins and darker midribs which are slightly expanded toward the apex;
ray flowers present, pistillate, fertile; rays white (or pink when dry) or lilac,
never yellow; disk flowers numerous, perfect, fertile; corollas yellow, the tube
not sharply demarcated from the gradually ampliate shallowly 5-lobed limb;
achenes laterally compressed, brown, with 2 wings (or in the ray achenes 3-
1630
-------
winged); pappus of a number of small pointed scales or broad bristles plus 2
(in ray flowers 3) longer awns over the wings of the achene.
About 7 species occur in North America; one in eastern Asia.
1. Phyllaries 0.5-1 mm. broad; rays 8-15 mm. long, lilac 1. B. asteroides.
1. Phyllaries 0.2-0.5 mm. broad; rays 5-8 mm. long, usually pure-white when
fresh 2. B. diffusa.
1. Boltonia asteroides (L.) L'Her.
Characters as in the key. B. latisquama Gray. Rare in low meadows, wet
prairies, edge of ditches and streams, in Okla. (Ottawa Co.) and in e. and s.e.
Tex., summer-fall; most of e. U.S.
2. Boltonia diffusa Ell.
Characters as in the key. Infrequent in low moist ground, swampy thickets,
wet woods, in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. and s.e. Tex., summer-fall; Ga. and Gulf
States, n. to Ky., 111. and Mo.
16. Egletes CASS.
A tropical American genus of about 10 species.
1. Egletes viscosa (L.) Less.
Taprooted herb, probably annual; stems subsimple on small plants or bushy
branched on larger ones, erect or ascending, 12-60 cm. tall, terete, striate, hispid
with widely spreading flat-jointed hairs 1-3 mm. long and pubescent with short
widely spreading glandular-capitate hairs 0.1-0.5 mm. long, very densely so in
the upper part and on the branches; leaves alternate, simple, the stem leaves
usually withering before flowering is over, oblong to obovate, 4-11 cm. long, 2-6
cm. broad, shallowly to deeply pinnatisect or bipinnatisect, the divisions coarsely
toothed, the lower ones with narrow clasping subpetiolar bases a third the total
length; leaves of upper branches smaller, relatively narrower, less deeply divided,
the basal third often entire; upper branchlets or peduncles short, to 2 dm. long,
shorter than the small leaves in whose axils they arise; heads rather numerous and
crowded toward the tips of the branches; involucre urn-shaped; phyllaries equal
or slightly unequal, in 2 or 3 series, 0.8-1.6 mm. broad, lanceolate to ovate-
lanceolate, acute, hispid, glandular-pubescent; receptacle conical, naked; ray
flowers in one series, 18 to 28, usually shorter or only slightly longer than the
phyllaries; rays white, oblong-elliptic, erect, 1.6-2 mm. long, 0.6-0.8 mm. broad;
disk flowers perfect; corolla yellow, tubular-funnelform, the limb 4- or 5-lobed;
achenes similar in disk and ray, more or less compressed, 2-ribbed, basally con-
stricted, 1.3-1.4 mm. long, glandular-pubescent, with a narrow uneven cartilagin-
ous ring around the summit representing the pappus.
Rare in loamy soils at the edges of resacas and lakes on the Rio Grande Delta
in Cameron and Hidalgo cos. of extreme s. Tex., summer-fall; Tex., s.e. to C.R.;
Cuba.
We have the f. bipinnatifida Shinners, characterized by its bipinnatifid leaves
having acute dentate lobes. The species is also represented by another variety in
Sinaloa.
17. Gnaphalium L. CUDWEED. EVERLASTING
Usually floccose-woolly taprooted annual herbs or rarely weak perennials; leaves
alternate, sessile, often decurrent; heads cymosely clustered or in dense glomerules
at the top; receptacle naked, essentially flat; phyllaries in several series, subequal
or more strongly graduated, nearly totally scarious but usually with a green
semirigid midnerve; ray flowers absent; disk flowers numerous, all fertile but
1631
-------
those toward the center of the head lacking the androecium; corolla linear with
5 minute teeth apically, with two basal tails (one on each theca); style branch
appendages absent; achenes terete or flattish, essentially nerveless; pappus of
numerous scabrous capillary bristles in one series, minute.
A cosmopolitan genus of perhaps 200 species.
1. Pappus bristles united at base and deciduous in a ring; heads spicate; phyllary
tips usually brownish or deep-purple 1. G. purpureum.
1. Pappus bristles not united at base, falling separately or in groups (2)
2(1). Heads very small, clustered and imbedded in wool, the clusters leafy-
bracted; involucre 2-4 mm. high, scarcely graduated, the scarious
tips of phyllaries relatively inconspicuous; low annuals seldom more
than 25 cm. high (3)
2. Heads medium size, not leafy-bracted; involucre 4-6 cm. high, strongly
graduated, the scarious tips of the phyllaries yellow or straw-
colored; plants usually more than 30 cm. high 2. G. chilense.
3(2). Plants thinly but closely woolly; leaves linear-spatulate to linear, 1-3 mm.
wide 3. G. Grayi.
3. Plants loosely floccose-woolly; leaves spatulate to oblong or obovate, 3-8 mm.
wide; heads at the tips of stem and branches, not spicately arranged
4. G. palustre.
1. Gnaphalium purpureum L. PURPLE CUDWEED.
Annual, usually 1-3 dm. tall, often with several ascending stems from the
base; leaves oblanceolate, lower surfaces closely white-pannose with the sub-
appressed hairs tightly enmeshed, upper surfaces much less densely pubescent,
usually green and sparsely pubescent; the few-headed glomerules of heads nearly
sessile in the axils of the upper dm. of the stems, thus in a spikelike arrangement;
involucre 4-6 mm. high, densely woolly only at the base; pappus bristles united
in a ring basally, deciduous as a unit.
On dry, open ground or in vernally wet areas in Okla. (Waterfall), in e. half
of Tex., most common in e. Tex. in sandy soils but as far w. as the Llano Region
of the Edwards Plateau, and Ariz. (Cochise and Pima cos.), spring; widely dis-
tributed in warmer parts of Am., n. to N.E., N.Y., O., Ind., 111., Mo., Kan. and
Ariz.; also Ore.
2. Gnaphalium chilense Spreng. COTTON-BATTING.
Annual, usually 25 cm. tall or more, often with several simple stems erect
or ascending from the base; leaves mostly strongly decurrent, gray-tomentose
above as well as beneath; heads in glomerules, 4-6 mm. high, campanulate-
subglobose; phyllaries graduated strongly, very obtuse, scarious nearly throughout;
tips of phyllaries scarious, yellowish or stramineous; corollas yellowish; achenes
smooth; pappus bristles not united basally, attached separately. G. sulphurescens
Rydb.
Open, often moist ground in valleys and low hills, along streams, frequently
in waste places, in Okla. (Comanche Co.) and in Tex. in Davis Mts. in the
Trans-Pecos, recently reported from Garza and Wheeler cos. in the Plains
Country (not seen), N. M. (widespread) and Ariz, (widespread), May-Oct.;
Mont, to Wash. s. to Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Gnaphalium Grayi Nels. & Macbr.
Annual; stems 8-25 cm. tall, erect and simple or branching from the base
with the branches erect-ascending or spreading, appressed-tomentose; leaves 1-4
cm. long, 1-3 mm. wide, linear-spatulate or linear, thinly but closely woolly;
heads very small, clustered and imbedded in wool, with the clusters subtended by
1632
-------
leaflike bracts; involucre scarcely graduated, about 3 mm. long, the scarious tips
of the phyllaries relatively inconspicuous. G. strictum Gray.
Moist or wet places, mountain meadows and at edge of ponds in N. M. (Union
and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Aug.-Sept.; Wyo. to N.M. and
Ariz.
4. Gnaphalium palustre Nutt. LOWLAND CUDWEED.
Annual; stems 5-20 cm. tall, many and branching from often decumbent base,
erect or ascending; herbage loosely floccose-woolly, the wool long and eventually
more or less deciduous; leaves spatulate, acute, 1-3 cm. long, tapering to a sessile
or subsessile base, the upper leaves oblong or lanceolate and little reduced; in-
florescences scattered; the densely aggregated heads in globose terminal and
axillary clusters, the latter at the tips of short or reduced branches, all clusters
leafy-bracted, the encircling leaves longer than the heads; phyllaries loosely woolly,
linear, the tips whitish, scarious; achenes smooth or scabrous; pappus bristles
falling separately, not hairy at base.
Stream beds, vernal pools, or low moist areas in N. M. (San Juan Co.) and
Ariz. (Coconino, Yavapai, Gila, Maricopa, Final and Yuma cos.), Apr.-Oct;
Alta. and B.C. to N.M., Ariz., Calif, and Baja Calif.
18. Pluchea CASS. MARSH-FLEABANE. STINKWEED
Aromatic annual or perennial herbs; leaves alternate; blades simple, unlobed,
usually crenate or serrate, ovate to linear-lanceolate, glabrous to glandular-
pubescent to floccose; petioles present or absent; heads usually crowded in
corymbiform terminal aggregations; involucre campanulate to hemispheric;
phyllaries, strongly imbricated, herbaceous to chartaceous; receptacle flat, naked;
ray flowers absent; disk flowers very numerous, a few central ones perfect but
infertile, the much more numerous outer ones pistillate and fertile; corolla rose to
rose-purple or creamy-white, tubular, the corolla of the staminate central flowers
5-lobed, that of the fertile flowers 3-lobed; achenes less than 1 mm. long, cylindri-
cal, dark-brown or reddish-brown, 4- to 6-angled or with prominent ridges, setose
to hirtellous or glabrous and with a minute white enlargement basally; pappus a
single series of fine barbellate bristles.
A genus of about 9 species of the Americas.
1. Leaves broadly elliptical to lanceolate or ovate to ovate-lanceolate, petiolate
or sessile, if sessile the bases of the blades narrowed to the midribs,
neither auriculate-clasping nor truncate (2)
1. Leaves oblong to oblong-ovate or oblong-elliptical to oblong-lanceolate, sessile,
the bases of the blades auriculate-clasping to truncate, not nar-
rowed to the midribs (3)
2(1). Leaves petiolate; phyllaries with resin-globules, only the outermost puberu-
lent and ciliate; the aggregation of heads characteristically elongate
and paniculiform, not flat-topped, each branch terminating in a
convex aggregation 1. P. camphorata.
2. Leaves sessile or petiolate; phyllaries glandular or not, the outermost and
median ones copiously puberulent and ciliate, the inner ones
sparsely puberulent on their summits; the overall aggregation of
heads cymiform, the younger branches elongating and exceeding
the more central ones, thus producing a flat-topped or layered
inflorescence 2. P. purpurascens.
3(1). Corollas creamy-white; heads 8-10 mm. high; outer phyllaries obtuse or
obtuse-apiculate 3. P. foetida.
3. Corollas rose-purplish; heads 4-6 mm. high; outer phyllaries acuminate
4. P. rosea.
1633
-------
1. Pluchea camphorata (L.) DC. CAMPHOR-WEED.
Annual or perennial herb to about 15 dm. tall; stems glabrate below, puberulent
on the upper portions and the head-bearing branchlets, leafy to the summit; blades
elliptical to oblong-elliptical, 6-15 cm. long, 3-7 cm. broad, marginally dentate-
serrate to repand-serrate or essentially entire, upper and lower surfaces with
sparsely distributed resin-globules, the lower surfaces puberulent; overall aggrega-
tions of heads characteristically elongate-paniculiform, the branches numerous
and terminating in smaller convex panicled cymose clusters, the central uppermost
"cymes" maturing first but the lateral ones not equaling them in height, occa-
sionally only one terminal "cyme" of heads developing on the entire plant;
phyllaries with resin-globules, the outermost sparingly pubescent and ciliate, the
median and inner not pubescent.
Frequent in moist places, sometimes salt marshes and alkaline soil in Okla.
(LeFlore, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Stephens cos.), e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex.,
N.M. (Chaves Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino, Mohave, Maricopa, Final and Yuma
cos.); summer-fall; Me. to Tex., Nev. and Calif., s. to Mex.
2. Pluchea purpurascens (Sw.) DC. CANELA. Fig. 752.
Annual herb to about 15 dm. tall; stems glabrate below, copiously puberulent
on the upper portions and on the cyme-bearing branches, the latter sometimes
cinereous or sordid, leafy to the summit; leaves sessile or petiolate, generally
short-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes lanceolate or elliptical, the apexes
generally obtuse varying in the more lanceolate or elliptical blades to long-acute,
the margins from evenly to unevenly serrate or serrate-dentate or entire; surfaces
of the blades varying from essentially glabrous or very sparsely puberulent to
copiously puberulent or essentially tomentose; overall placement of heads basically
cymiform, the central axis maturing first, the lateral branches equaling or exceed-
ing it in length, thus giving a flat-topped or layered structure; outer and median
phyllaries copiously puberulent and ciliate, the inner sparsely puberulent on the
summits.
In wet and muddy places in Okla. (Osage, Alfalfa, Logan, Murray, Carter,
Stephens, Comanche and Kiowa cos.) and throughout Tex., summer—fall; s. half
of U.S. s. to n. S.A.; W.I.
3. Pluchea foetida (L.) DC. STINKING FLEABANE.
Perennial herb 5-8 dm. tall; stems glabrate below, sparingly pubescent in the
median portions, densely pubescent and approximately lanate on the head-bearing
branchlets; leaves 3-10 (-13) cm. long, 1-3 cm. broad, sessile; lower cauline
leaves lanceolate or oblanceolate with cuneate or truncate bases; median and upper
leaves oblong to oblong-elliptical or occasionally ovate-oblong, rarely lance-elliptic,
typically shallowly auriculate-clasping but occasionally the median and upper
leaves as well as the lower with cuneate bases; leaf margins shallowly and unevenly
apiculate-serrate; leaf surfaces glandular above, pubescent below; overall arrange-
ment of heads usually loose panicle-cymelike tending to be flat-topped; heads
about 8 mm. high; corollas creamy-white.
Infrequent in mud, in ditches, marshes and savannahs, in e. and s.e. Tex., s.
to Aransas Co., summer-fall; s.e. U.S.; W.I.
4. Pluchea rosea Godfrey.
Perennial herb 30-55 cm. tall, gray-green; stems glabrate below; surfaces
of the stems, leaves and involucres with sessile hemispherical glands and resin-
globules, upper stems pubescent, the upper head-bearing branches and involucres
tomentose or sometimes rufescent; leaves sessile, the lower oblanceolate with
1634
-------
Fig. 752: Pluchea purpurascens: a, upper part of plant, x %; b, flower head, x
21/2; c, outer phyllaries, x 5; d and e, inner phyllaries, x 5; f, central flower, x 5; g,
central flower slit, x 5; h, outer pistillate flower, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 753: Tessaria sericea'. a, habit, upper branch, x %; b, flower heads, x 2;
outer pistillate flower, x 8; d, inner perfect flower, x 8. (From Mason, Fig. 360).
-------
truncate to cuneate-truncate bases, midstem leaves larger and wider, oblong to
ovate-oblong or elliptical-oblong with cordate subclasping bases or lanceolate to
oblanceolate with cuneate-truncate bases, 2-7 cm. long, 5-30 mm. broad; upper
leaves smaller but similar; margins of the leaves apiculate-serrate; involucres 4-6
mm. high; corollas rose-purple.
Infrequent in savannahs, ditches and low woods in s.e. Tex. (Hardin and Harris
cos.), summer; coastal areas, N.C. to Tex., S.L.P. and Q.Roo; W.I.
19. Tessaria R. & P. ARROW-WEED
American genus of 3 or 4 species, of which we have one.
1. Tessaria sericea (Nutt.) Shinners. Fig. 753.
Shrubs 1 m. tall or more with numerous erect branches, willowlike, gray-
green, with a "rank" odor; leaves alternate, simply sericeous, linear-lanceolate,
entire, essentially sessile, 1-6 cm. long, (2-) 3-5 (-6) mm. broad; heads crowded
into convex subcorymbiform aggregation 2-5 cm. across at the ends of the
branches; involucre campanulate, 4-5 mm. high; outer phyllaries ovate, obtuse
and tomentose; inner phyllaries linear, deciduous with the flowers; receptacle
slightly concave, naked; ray flowers absent; disk flowers very numerous, a few
central ones perfect but infertile (their corollas flared, purplish, 5-lobed), the
much more numerous outer ones pistillate and fertile (the corollas filiform,
4-lobed terminally); achenes of fertile flowers about 0.5 mm. long, brownish,
about 5-ribbed, nearly columnar or slightly flattened; pappus of infertile (sta-
minate, central) flowers persistent, of flattened whitish bristlelike members which
near the tips are discolored brownish and about twice as broad as the lower part;
pappus of fertile flowers white, bristlelike, persistent, not thickened nor dis-
colored. T. borealis T. & G., Pluchea borealis (T. & G.) Gray, P. sericea (Nutt.)
Cav., Polypappus sericeus Nutt., Bertholetia sericea (Nutt.) Rydb.
Locally abundant in river bottoms, forming dense thickets near streams in
the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (from Socorro Co. northw.) and Ariz, (widespread),
summer; Tex., N.M., Chih., Son., Ariz, and Calif.
Reported to be a good honey plant.
20. Iva L. SUMP-WEED. MARSH-ELDER
Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or pubescent; leaves alternate or opposite,
entire, serrate, lobed or pinnately divided; heads in a spiciform, spiciform-racemi-
form or paniculate arrangement, 2-8 mm. broad, containing both pistillate and
staminate flowers, the pistillate flowers peripheral, the staminate flowers repre-
senting the disk flowers in the center of the head; receptacle essentially flat,
paleaceous throughout; involucre hemispheric or turbinate; phyllaries 3 to 9,
sometimes imbricate, free or united; staminate (disk) flowers 3 to 20, their corolla
funnelform, 5-lobed, to 6 mm. long; peripheral pistillate flowers 1 to 9, the
corolla tubular, truncate, to 6 mm. long or in some species rudimentary; achenes
1-13 mm. long, cuneate to obovate, somewhat compressed, glabrous, resin-dotted,
tuberculate or pubescent at maturity.
A North American genus of 19 species.
1. Plant annual; leaves ovate or subcordate, coarsely serrate and sometimes
lobed 3. /. xanthifolia.
1. Plant perennial; leaves elliptic to obovate or lanceolate, never lobed (2)
2(1). Phyllaries united to form a cup 2. /. axillaris.
2. Phyllaries free; maritime plant 1. /. frutescens.
1637
-------
Fig. 754: Iva axillan's: a, habit, x %; b, central sterile flower, x 10; c, inflorescence,
x I1;;; d, marginal pistillate flower, x 10; e, flower head, the toothed involucral cup
enclosing flowers, x 6; f, involucral cup with distinct lobes, x 4; g and h, achenes, the
outer and inner sides with surface resin-dotted, x 10; i and j, chafflike receptacle
bracts, x 10; k, achene (cross section), x 10. (From Mason, Fig. 357).
-------
Fig. 755: Iva xanthifolia: A, habit, x %; B, inflorescence, showing staminate and
pistillate flowers in same head, x 2; C, achenes, x 5. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of
the United States, Fig. 208).
-------
I, Iva frutescens L.
Bushy perennial; stems 5-35 dm. tall, strigose above, glabrous below; leaves
4-12 cm. long, opposite below, becoming alternate in the head-bearing region,
ciliolate with usually 5 to 17 teeth on each side, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate
or elliptic to obovate, often petioled, 3-nerved, strigose above and below, 2.5 to 8
times as long as broad; bracteal leaves of the head-bearing region linear, mostly
entire; heads numerous in leafy panicles; involucre hemispheric, 4-6 mm. broad,
2-4.5 mm. high; phyllaries 4 to 6, free, obovate or ovate, sparingly strigulose on
the back; pales subtending the staminate flowers linear to narrowly spatulate to
oblanceolate; pales subtending the pistillate flowers broadly oblanceolate to oblong
or broadly spatulate to elliptic; staminate flowers 6 to 19, with corollas about
2 mm. long; pistillate flowers 4 to 6, corolla about 1 mm. long; mature achenes
brown, resin-dotted, 1-3.9 mm. long.
Infrequent in mud flats and shallow water in coastal areas, s.e. Tex., s.w.
as far as San Patricio Co., June-Oct.; the species as a whole occurs from N.S. to
Tex. along the coast.
Essentially all our plants are referable to the var. frutescens with their leaves
mostly 5 to 8 times as long as broad, the measurements of the flower and head
parts approaching the lower limits of those given in the general description and
the entire plant usually over 1 m. high. Another variety, the var. oraria (Bartlett)
Fern. & Grisc., has been collected rarely at Galveston, the specimens perhaps
representing casual introductions. It differs from var. frutescens mainly in being
a smaller plant with typically larger elliptic to broadly lanceolate leaves.
2. Iva axillaris Pursh. Fig. 754.
Perennial herb from creeping rootstocks; stems herbaceous or ligneous at base,
3—6 dm. tall, strigose to villous; leaves opposite or becoming alternate above,
subsessile, unlobed, at margins entire, ovate to elliptic or sometimes spatulate,
obtuse, indistinctly 3-nerved; leaves of the capitulescence smaller but similar;
heads short-peduncled, solitary in the upper bract axils; involucre hemispheric,
4-5 mm. broad, about 2.5-3 mm. high; phyllaries 4 or 5, united to the middle or
above to form a cup (rarely 1 phyllary free), the tips rounded; pales of staminate
flowers oblanceolate to spatulate, those of the pistillate flowers oblanceolate or
absent; staminate flowers 8 to 20; corolla 2-2.5 mm. long; mature achenes brown-
ish, 2.5-3 mm. long.
In and about playa lakes, edges of salt marshes and cultivated fields in Okla.
(?), the Tex. Panhandle (Bailey and Oldham cos.), N.M. (San Juan, Rio Arriba
and Quay cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Navajo cos.), Apr.-July; Man., Alta.
and Wash. s. to Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
3. Iva xanthifolia Nutt. Fig. 755.
Robust annual; stem 4-20 dm. tall, usually glabrous but sometimes pubescent;
leaves of midstem opposite, 7-30 cm. long, 3-nerved, usually scabrous above,
strigose or tomentose below, ovate or subcordate, coarsely serrate and sometimes
3- to 5-lobed; heads numerous in axillary spikes or panicles and naked terminal
panicles, sessile or pedunculate; involucre turbinate, 4-5 mm. broad; phyllaries 5,
obovate, acuminate, hispid on the backs; pales subtending the staminate flowers
subulate or filiform but sometimes absent in the center of the receptacle, those
subtending the pistillate flowers obovate, concave, ciliate; staminate flowers 8 to
20, corolla about 2.5 mm. long; pistillate flowers usually 5, corolla 0.5 mm. long
or represented only by a small flange at the base of the style; mature achenes
obovate, finely muricate, usually dark-brown, about 3 mm. long.
Infrequent in sandy stream beds and sandy stream margins, n.w. Okla.
(Waterfall) and Tex. in the higher parts of the Plains Country, N.M. (San Juan,
1640
-------
Fig. 756: Madia glomerata: a, habit, x %; b, tip of leaf, x 5; c, glomerule, x 5; d,
carinate phyllary closely enveloping ray flower, x 5; e, achene, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Bernalillo, Torrance, Taos, Colfax and Valencia cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache and Navajo cos.), late summer to fall; Que. to Alta, and s.
to D.C., O., Mo., Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
21. Madia MOL. TARWEED
About 17 species, native to western North America and in Chile.
1. Madia glomerata Hook. Fig. 756.
Glandular and hairy odoriferous annual, to about 8 dm. tall, usually much
smaller; stems simple or with ascending branches; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate,
usually 2-7 cm. long and 1-5 mm. wide; heads glomerate in 1 to many very
small clusters; involucre fusiform, 6-9 mm. high, about 3-5 mm. wide; rays
inconspicuous, yellow, about 2 mm. long, mostly 1 to 3 or wanting from some
heads; disk flowers usually several, fertile, their subtending bracts becoming like
those of the rays in few-rayed or rayless heads.
In wet meadows and marshes about lakes and ponds, in N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.)
and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), June-Sept.; Sask. and B.C., s. to n. N.M., n. Ariz, and
Calif.
22. Ambrosia L. RAGWEED
Annual or perennial herbs (when perennial usually proliferating from runner-
like roots), 2-30 dm. tall, leafy, resinous and aromatic with glandular trichomes;
leaves alternate or opposite at the lower nodes (in some species opposite nearly
throughout), entire or palmately lobed or (usually) pinnately lobed or dissected,
usually petiolate; ray flowers absent; heads unisexual, both staminate and pistillate
borne on the same plant; staminate usually in narrow elongate racemelike or
spikelike aggregations; pistillate clustered in axils of leaves and bracts below;
staminate heads nodding, usually hemispheric; phyllaries few, uniseriate, more
or less united; involucre frequently oblique by elongation of the portion away
from the stem; receptacle flattish, chaffy throughout (the pales narrow); flowers
several to many with rudimentary pistil (pistillodium) and wholly aborted ovaries;
anthers usually more or less separated at anthesis; pappus absent; pistillate heads
with one or few flowers; phyllaries fused about flowers to form a hard indehiscent
nutlike receptacle, the phyllary tips more or less evident as spiny processes that
project from the surface of the involucral body at maturity; flowers lacking
pappus, corolla and androecium. Franseria Cav.
A predominantly American genus with approximately 43 species, many of these
being desert shrubs. They are wind-pollinated, the pollen of all species being
highly allergenic.
1. Tubercles or spines of the pistillate head scattered in several series over the
body of the fruiting involucre 1. A. Grayi.
1. Tubercles or spines of the pistillate head in a single series (or absent) near
the apex of the fruiting involucre (2)
2(1). Plant annual; cauline leaves distinctly petiolate, lobed; staminate head
with 3 striations on distal lobes 2. A. trifida.
2. Plant perennial; cauline leaves subsessile, pinnatifid; staminate head without
striations on distal lobes 3. A. psilostachya.
1. Ambrosia Grayi (A.Nels.) Shinners.
Upright perennial herb, proliferating by adventitious shoots from runnerlike
underground roots, forming large colonies; leaves alternate; blades narrowed to
petiolar bases to 5 cm. long, with several small lobes below the main expanded
blade portion; main bladelike portion obovate-deltoid to lanceolate, to 1 dm. long
and 8 cm. broad, irregularly pinnately lobed, major basal lobes and terminal
1642
-------
Fig. 757: Ambrosia trifida: A, habit, upper portion, x %; B, portion of flowering
raceme, x 2%; C, achene, x 2. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig.
181).
-------
Fig. 758: Ambrosia psilostachya: A, habit, x %; B, raceme of male heads and
female involucres, x 2i/2; C, achene, x 3; D, seeds, x 3. (From Reed, Selected Weeds
of the United States, Fig. 180).
-------
lobe much the largest, large lobes lanceolate-elliptical, serrate, both surfaces (and
entire herbage) silvery gray-canescent; staminate heads in racemiform arrange-
ments; pistillate heads in small clusters (2 to 5) or singly in axils of lower leaves
and bracts; staminate involucres stalked, to 5 mm. broad, 5- to 9-lobed, the lobes
often somewhat irregular, shallow, the upper surface with fine dark striations along
the midveins obscured by pubescence; fruiting involucres to 7 mm. long and 4 mm.
broad, each 2-flowered; spines up to 15, scattered, narrowed to slender uncinate
tips. Franseria tomentosa Gray.
Locally abundant in wet or seasonally moist swales and buffalo wallows, and in
moist clay soils under cult., higher parts of the Plains Country of Tex. and Okla.
(?), summer -early fall; Kan., Neb., Okla., Colo, and Tex.
2. Ambrosia irifida L. GIANT RAGWEED. Fig. 757.
Tall erect annual taprooted herb, 1-3 (-5) m. tall; stem angled, striate and
scabrous; leaves opposite nearly throughout, scabrous on both sides, with petioles
5-15 cm. long, wingless or very narrowly winged; blades of lower leaves orbicular
in outline, 1-2 dm. long, usually deeply 5-cleft, the major divisions often 2- to
3-lobed, the upper commonly 3-cleft or simple, becoming rhombic or ovate-
lanceolate in outline, blades sometimes simple throughout, margin serrate;
staminate heads in racemiform arrangements, these often much-branched and
paniculate; pistillate heads in small to large clusters in axils of bracteal leaves
below the "racemes," subtended by (usually) lobed bracts; staminate involucres
saucer-shaped, 3 mm. broad, with 6 to 8 rounded lobes, the 3 outer lobes with
dark striations on the upper surface, hispidulous between the ribs, pales of the
receptacle rudimentary; fruiting involucres obovoid, about 4 mm. long, reticulate
and with 4 to 8 obtuse ridges and as many small or obsolete tuberculate spines,
the conic beak 1 mm. long or more.
Abundant in seasonally moist stream bottoms and overflow areas throughout
our area, late summer-fall; throughout the midwest, and cen. U.S. to the Rocky
Mts. and from s. Can. to n. Mex., adv. in N.E., Fla. and the far West.
Our plants are mostly of the form known as var. texana Scheele (A. aptera
DC.), characterized by relatively small fruiting involucres and exceptionally
scabrous indument. In the central and southern United States much of the fall
hayfever is correctly attributed to this species.
3. Ambrosia psilostachya DC. WESTERN RAGWEED. Fig. 758.
Erect perennial herb forming extensive colonies from runnerlike roots; stem
3-6 (-10 or more) dm. tall, often branched above, striate, hirsutulous with short
ascending hairs; leaves subsessile, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, pinnatifid with
the divisions linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, entire or the lower few-toothed
or weakly lobed, scabrous-hirsutulous and glandular-granuliferous, the hairs with
pustulate bases; inflorescence often much-branched; staminate heads in racemi-
form aggregations; pistillate heads in few- to several-headed clusters below;
staminate involucre oblique, broadly obconic, about 2.5 mm. broad, crenate at the
margins, often with 2 larger teeth at the distal side, hispidulous, the short hairs
with conspicuous pustulate bases; body of fruiting involucre about 2.5 mm. long,
obovoid, rugose, hirsutulous; beak nearly 1 mm. long, stout; tubercles 4 to 6,
short, acute or blunt. A. Lindheimeriana Scheele.
Along streams, roadsides, uncultivated lands and marshy flats, very abundant
on the Coastal Plain and much of the cen. part of Tex., rare westw., late summer-
fall; through most of the U.S. and s. Can. except the Rocky Mts. and e.-cen.
states, s. to cen. Mex.
1645
-------
23. Xanthium L. COCKLEBUR
Taprooted annuals, 2-20 dm. tall; leaves alternate (those at the very lowest
nodes opposite), petiolate, often irregularly toothed or even lobed, several cm.
long; heads axillary, nearly sessile, unisexual; pistillate heads in the middle axils,
burlike, the involucre nearly obovoid and completely enclosing the 2 pistillate
flowers, forming a conspicuous 2-chambered bur, prickly on the outside; flowers
without any corolla or pappus, the achenes solitary in the chambers of the bur;
staminate heads in the upper axils much smaller; involucre cup-shaped; phyllaries
in 1 to 3 series, separate, foliaceous in texture; the receptacle high-conic, chaffy
throughout; ray flowers absent; disk flowers several, with minute tubular corolla
and 5 free anthers and vestigial style and ovary.
An American genus (now widely distributed) of two dozen species or possibly
as few as 2 species depending on the criteria used. The fruits are known to cause
mechanical damage to animals while the young herbage, when eaten, is known to
be poisonous to pigs.
1. Most nodes with a trifid yellow lateral spine attached near the base of the
leaf 1- X. spinosum.
1. Herbage not armed, only the heads armed 2. X. strumarium.
1. Xanthium spinosum L. SPINY COCKLEBUR.
Stems erect or ascending, branching, 2-10 dm. tall, puberulent; leaves lanceo-
late, 4-8 cm. long, with a pair of long narrow lobes on lower half of blade,
sometimes with a few small lobes above middle, green above, densely white-
pubescent on lower surface, shortly petioled, each with a pair of long yellow 3- or
4-parted stipular spines at base; fruiting bur weakly spiny, tomentose, about 1 cm.
long, the beaks inconspicuous.
Abundant in waste fields, sometimes along dikes and edges of marshy areas, in
our area, summer-fall; occasional throughout the U.S.
2. Xanthium strumarium L. ABROJO. Fig. 759.
Stems erect, usually branched, 2-9 dm. tall; leaves thick, harsh, deltoid-ovate,
cordate at base or subtruncate, irregularly serrate to somewhat 3-lobed, green on
both sides, on petioles as long as blades; fruiting bur 1-2 cm. long, cylindric,
densely set with hooked yellowish prickles 3-7 mm. long, these often glandular
and sparsely pubescent at base, the 2 beaks strongly developed, hooked at tip.
X. orientate L., X. chinense Mill., X. italicum Moretti, X. pensylvanicum Wallr.,
X. saccharatum Wallr., X. speciosum Kearn., X. cenchroides Millsp. & Sherff.
Very abundant in low marshy lands and mud flats about lakes; a weed through-
out the U.S., nat. to Atl. Coast.
It seems useless at this point to try to recognize more than one entity in this
complex, for all the proposed segregates intergrade completely.
24. Eclipta L.
A genus of a few, perhaps only one, species, widespread in the warmer parts
of the world.
1. Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. YERBA DE TAGO. Fig. 760.
Annual with taproots and occasionally also rooting at the nodes, to 1 dm.
tall but mostly decumbent stems to 1 m. long, throughout with antrorse-appressed
stiff hairs about 0.3-0.5 mm. long; leaves opposite, short-petiolate; blades mem-
branous, 2-10 cm. long, linear-oblong to narrowly elliptic, usually remotely and
obscurely toothed; heads solitary at the ends of short axillary peduncles, about
1 cm. high; involucre broadly campanulate; phyllaries in roughly 2 series, outer
1646
-------
Fig. 759: Xanthium strumarium: a, habit, x Va; b, head of staminate flower, x
2; c, staminate flower, x 5; d, pistillate head (bur) of 2 flowers (note the exserted
style branches), x 2. (V. P.).
-------
Fig. 760: Eclipta alba: a, ray flower, x 10; b, disk flower, x 10; c, flowering head,
showing mature achenes, x 4; d, flowering head, the central flowers in bud, the mar-
ginal ones with styles exserted, x 4; e and f, achene of the thin-walled flattened type,
side view and cross section, x 10; g and h, achene of the thick-walled tuberculate type,
side view and cross section, x 10; i, habit, x %; j and k, leaves, x I1/). (From Mason,
Fig. 354).
-------
phyllaries about 6, oblong-obovate, apiculate, blunt, inner series fewer, shorter
and narrower; receptacle slightly convex, chaffy throughout, the linear pales
bristlelike; ray flowers numerous, pistillate, fertile, the linear rays minute and white;
disk flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, the corollas minute and whitish; achenes
laterally compressed, rhombic in transection, narrowed to the base, each side with
an elongate medial patch of verrucose projections; pappus absent or represented
merely by slight points above the corners of the achene.
In mud at the edges of fresh water bodies, nearly throughout our area though
rare in the Trans-Pecos and the higher parts of the Plains Country of Tex.,
summer-fall; warmer parts of the world.
Some authors claim that the species is indigenous to the Old World and intro-
duced in the New World.
25. Tithonia J. F. GMEL.
About 10 species in southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America and
the West Indies.
1. Tithonia Thurberi Gray.
Slender moderately branched annual to about 2 m. tall; stems whitish, striate,
sparsely to densely hispid-pilose with spreading tuberculate-based rather coarse
hairs interspersed with finer ones, eventually glabrate; lower leaves opposite,
the upper ones alternate; petioles 2-10 cm. long, the margin irregularly dentate
on large leaves; blades ovate to broadly triangular-ovate, acute to acuminate,
to 27 cm. long and wide, cuneately decurrent along petiole from a cuneate to
broadly cordate base, crenate-dentate with mucronulate teeth, deep-green and his-
pidulous with incurved hairs above, pale-green and sparsely granular or hispidulous
and hispid-pilose on veins beneath; peduncles striate, 1-3 dm. long, spreading
hispid-pilose and finely hispidulous; heads 2.5-3.5 cm. wide; involucres of gradu-
ated bracts in 3 series, 1-2 cm. high; outer bracts lanceolate to obovate, acute to
acuminate, pilose, indurated below, herbaceous at tip; innermost bracts broadest,
submembranaceous, obtuse to submucronulate at tip, only granular or strigose;
rays 5 to 10, orange-yellow, oval-oblong, 7-12 mm. long, 4—6 mm. wide; disk
corollas about 6 mm. long, hispidulous on lobes, the tube about 1 mm. long, the
throat cylindrical; receptacular bracts 1-1.5 cm. long, oblong, abruptly acuminate
with a small tooth on each side near tip, striate-ribbed, smooth; achenes oblong-
obovate, about 9 mm. long; pappus awn solitary on outer angle of achene, linear-
subulate, 5.5-8 mm. long; squamellae 4 to 8, unequal, lanceolate, 4 mm. long or
less.
In rich moist or wettish soil near and along streams and ditches, and in muddy
soil on margin of lakes and reservoirs, usually in shade, in Ariz. (Pima and Santa
Cruz cos.), Aug.-Sept.; s. to cen. Son.
26. Spilanthes JACQ.
A world-wide genus of about 60 species.
1. Spilanthes americana (Mutis) Hieron. var. repens (Walt.) A. H. Moore. CREEP-
ING SPOT-FLOWER. Fig. 761.
Perennial herb extensively creeping and rooting at many nodes, also rhizoma-
tous, only the flowering branches ascending; leaves opposite; blades narrowly
rhombic-ovate or deltoid-ovate, 2-4 cm. long, serrate; petiole 1-2 cm. long; heads
solitary, about 1 cm. high, on naked axillary peduncles 5-15 cm. long; involucre
about 5 mm. high, of 2 series of subequal linear phyllaries; receptacle very high-
conic, chaffy throughout, the pales enfolding the flowers and about equaling them;
ray flowers few, pistillate but infertile; rays only a few mm. long, yellow, irregu-
1649
-------
Fig. 761: Spilanthes americana: a, habit, x %; b, head, x 5; c, achene, x 6. (Cour-
tesy of R. K. Godfrey).
-------
larly 3-toothed terminally; disk flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, the corolla
yellow and 5-toothed; achenes somewhat laterally compressed but not flat (elliptic
in transaction and with 2 rounded edges), blackish; pappus absent or rarely of
one or two awns. S. repens (Walt.) Michx.
Local in mud along streams, bayous, lakes, ditches, etc., in Okla. (McCurtain
Co.) and s.e., e. and n.-cen. Tex., late summer-fall.
The var. repens occurs in s.e. U.S., other varieties occur in North America and
South America.
27. Rudbeckia L. BROWN-EYED SUSAN. CONE-FLOWER
Perennial or annual herbs; leaves alternate (the extreme basal ones sometimes
opposite); involucre hemispheric; phyllaries imbricated in 2 or more series; re-
ceptacle conical, chaffy throughout, the pales acute; ray flowers present, infertile
(styles absent); rays yellow or with a brown spot basally, rarely slightly reddish all
over, never white, vaguely 3-toothed apically; disk flowers numerous, perfect,
fertile, the corolla tubular, equally 5-toothed terminally and brown (at least
terminally), the style branches with blunt or subulate pubescent tips; achenes
truncate apically, 4-angled; pappus when present merely a toothed crown of 2
to 4 short teeth.
An American genus of perhaps 30 species.
1. Achenes with 4 nearly equal facets which are flat or convex, commonly ex-
panded by the mature ovules, typically truncate basally and basally
attached to the receptacle; pales of the receptacle characteristically
1.5 to 2 times as long as the achenes (2)
1. Not as above (3)
2(1). Style branches apically elongate, slenderly subulate 1. R. hirta.
2. Style branches short and blunt 2. R. julgida.
3(1). Leaf blades entire or merely toothed 5. R. maxima.
3. Leaf blades (at least those of the lower leaves) deeply lobed or divided (4)
4(3). Stem densely short-hairy (at least above the middle); leaves pubescent on
both surfaces; disk nearly always purple or brown, ovoid or hemis-
pheric, not elongating in fruit 3. R. subtomentosa.
4. Stem essentially glabrous; leaves subglabrous at least on upper surface or on
both; disk yellow or gray, often elongating to become subcylindric
in fruit 4. R. laciniata.
1. Rudbeckia hirta L.
Annual or short-lived perennial herb, with roughly pubescent herbage; leaves
narrowed to a subpetiolar base or nearly sessile, unlobed but often obscurely toothed,
variable in shape but nearly always longer than broad; rays yellow with red-brown
spots basally or in the lower half; style branches (of the disk flowers) apically
elongate, slenderly subulate (absent in ray flowers); achenes equally quadrangular
in transection, the sides flat or slightly bulging.
Usually growing in dryish situations but occasionally forming large colonies
in wettish meadows and marshy land; its several variants are found from Nfld. to
B.C., s. to Fla., Tex., and in the Rocky Mts. to Mex. We have 2 varieties.
Var. pulcherrima Farw. Annuals usually branching above the middle (if simple,
the peduncle not more than a third as long as the height of the plant). R. serotina
Nutt., R. flexuosa T. V. Moore. Nfld. to B.C. and s. to n. Mex.
Var. angustifolia (T. V. Moore) Perdue. Short-lived perennial, branching at or
near the middle (if simple, the peduncle at least half as long as the height of the
plant); leaves relatively narrow. R. divergens T. V. Moore. Frequent in sandy
wooded areas, e. and s.e. Tex., spring-summer; Ga. and Fla. to Tex.
1651
-------
Some plants in east and southeast Texas are intermediate between the two
varieties.
2. Rudbeckia fulgida Ait. var. palustris (Eggert) Perdue.
Stoloniferous perennial, most of the leafy tufts arising at the ends of the stolons;
herbage nearly glabrous to hirsute or strigose; basal leaves elliptical to ovate or
orbicular; stem leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, gradually reduced upward,
the uppermost bracteiform; pales apically ciliate; rays mostly 15-30 mm. long;
style branches short and blunt; achenes equally 4-faceted, facets flat or bulging.
R. Coryi Shinners.
On wet ledges, in wet and swampy meadows usually fed by seepage, and
along streams, in Okla. (Arbuckle Mts.) and in e. and n.-cen. Tex., to Edwards
Plateau, summer; Mo., Ark., Okla and Tex.; the entire species widely distributed
in e. U.S.
3. Rudbeckia subtomentosa Pursh.
Perennial from a stout woody rhizome; stem 6—20 dm. tall, glabrous below,
densely pubescent above with short usually spreading hairs; leaves firm, petiolate,
densely pubescent with short loosely spreading hairs, ovate to sometimes elliptic-
lanceolate, serrate, some of the larger ones deeply trilobed; heads several; disk
brownish or dark-purple, 8-16 mm. wide; involucral bracts narrow, spreading
or reflexed, subequal, green, more or less canescent-strigose; rays usually 12 to 20,
yellow, 2-4 cm. long; receptacle bracts obtuse to acutish, canescent near tip with
short viscidulous white hairs; style appendages short and blunt; achenes quad-
rangular; pappus a minute crown.
In low wet meadows and prairies, thickets and on stream banks, in e. Okla.
(Waterfall), reported from Tex., July-Oct.; Wise., la. and Kan., s. to La. and (?)
Tex.
4. Rudbeckia laciniata L. CUTLEAF CONEFLOWER. Fig. 762.
Plants 6-15 dm. tall, cinereous-pubescent, branched above; leaves petioled,
some or all of the lower ones 3-lobed or 3-parted, the terminal lobe elliptic to
lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, the lateral lobes smaller and narrower, the upper
stem leaves mostly undivided; heads numerous; phyllaries linear or nearly so,
acuminate; pales apically canescent; rays several, yellow, 2-3 cm. long.
In wet soil along boggy streams and sloughs and about lakes, in wet thickets
and swampy or marshy areas, in n.e. Okla. (Waterfall), e. Tex., N.M. (wide-
spread) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo and Coconino, s. to Cochise and Pima cos.),
summer-fall; Me. to Sask. and Ida., s. to Fla., Tex., N.M. and Ariz.
5. Rudbeckia maxima Nutt.
Plants 1-3 m. tall, smooth, glaucous; leaf blades unlobed, ovate to broadly
ovate or oblong, 6-20 cm. long, mostly obtuse, undulate to repand-denticulate
or entire, the upper sessile and partly clasping; heads large; phyllaries linear
or linear-lanceolate, acute, short; rays several, 15-40 mm. long; disks 25-60 mm.
long, oblong usually; pales abruptly short-pointed, apically pubescent; achenes
6-8 mm. long; pappus of small teeth.
Moist open places, especially in wet swales and marshy areas, in Okla. (Mc-
Curtain and Choctaw cos.) and in e. Tex., spring-summer; Ark., Okla., La. and
Tex.
28. Dracopis CASS.
A monotypic genus, closely related to the Ratibida-Rudbeckia alliance.
1. Dracopis amplexicaulis (Vahl) Cass.
Annual herb 3-7 dm. tall (rarely to 1.2 m.), usually branched above; leaves
1652
-------
Fig. 762- Rudbeckia laciniata: a, part of stem and leaf, x
J/2. (V. P.).
b, flower head, x
-------
Fig 763: Borrichia frutescens: a and b, top of 2 different plants to show leaf
variation, x %; c, phyllary, x 5; d, disk corolla, x 5; e, anthers, x 5; f, achene, x 5.
-------
alternate, simple, spatulate to oblong-lanceolate or ovate, sessile, clasping, 4-10
cm. long, often obscurely serrate; phyllaries biseriate, the inner ones half as
long as the outer, the outer ones few and somewhat foliaceous, 6-10 mm. long,
lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; receptacle columnar, slender; ray flowers present,
5 to 9, styleless, infertile; rays yellow or often red-brown or brown-purple
basally, 10-25 mm. long; disk oblong-cylindric at maturity; disk flowers numerous,
perfect, fertile, the corollas brownish and 5-toothed terminally; style branches
with small pubescent appendage; mature achenes terete, minutely transversely
wrinkled, about 2 mm. long; pappus absent. Rudbeckia amplexicaulis Vahl.
Moist or wet places in the e. half of Okla. (Water-fall) and the e. two thirds
of Tex., rare in Plains Country and Rio Grande Plains, spring-summer; Coastal
States, Ga. to Tex. and Okla.
29. Borrichia ADANS.
A tropical genus of perhaps 5 species.
1. Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC. SEA OX-EYE DAISY. Fig. 763.
Rhizomatous subshrub (2-) 4-8 (-12) dm. tall, much-branched but the branches
all rather stiffly ascending; leaves opposite, variable in size and shape, obovate
to oblanceolate or spatulate, 2-6 cm. long, sessile or narrowed to a subpetiolar
base, acutish or obtuse, entire or spinulose-dentate or even with small lobelike
teeth on the sides near the base, thick and somewhat fleshy, gray-green, densely
but minutely pubescent; heads terminating the branches on upwardly slightly
expanded peduncles 1-3 cm. long; involucre hemispheric, about 5 mm. high;
phyllaries rather indurate, in roughly 2 series; outer phyllaries about half to two
thirds as long as the inner, acute, in texture and pubescence and color much like
the leaves; inner phyllaries spinose-squarrose, nervate, less pubescent than the
outer; receptacle flat or very slightly convex, chaffy throughout; pales firm or
indurate, nearly linear but with a stout noxious spine-tip; ray flowers 15 to 30,
pistillate, fertile; rays 5-10 mm. long, yellow or orangish, 3-toothed apically; disk
flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, the corolla yellow and 5-toothed terminally;
achenes prismatic, those of the ray flowers trigonous, of the disk flowers tetra-
gonous; pappus a low crown of persistent brown scales, one over each angle of
the achene.
Extremely abundant in coastal areas of Tex. and inland in local areas of poor
drainage and salt accumulation to Gonzales and Webb cos., nearly all year;
coastal areas, D.C. to Ver.; also S.L.P.; much of W.I.
30. Helianthus L. SUNFLOWER
Annual or perennial herbs; stems simple or branched; leaves always opposite at
least at the base of the stems and usually alternate above (usually alternate for
most of the length of the plant, but opposite nearly throughout in some species),
usually coarse-textured, 3-nerved (this obscure in some species), at least the lower
ones usually narrowed to a petiole or a subpetiolar base; heads usually borne
singly at the ends of nearly naked terminal peduncles; involucre usually saucer-
shaped to hemispheric; phyllaries in 2 to 4 series, either subequal or strongly
graduated, often ciliate-margined; receptacle plane to convex, chaffy throughout;
pales folded around the disk achenes; ray flowers uniseriate, usually pistillate but
always infertile, the yellow rays 3-toothed apically; disk flowers very numerous,
perfect, fertile; corolla tubular, mostly yellowish but with 5 equal teeth terminally
which are yellow to brownish or reddish to purplish; disk achenes laterally com-
pressed but not thin-edged, often subrhombic in transection, often emarginate
apically as seen from the side; pappus usually of two elongated awns over the
1655
-------
thinner shoulders of the achene and often with a small accessory palea on each
side of each awn, sometimes with small intermediate scales between the 2 prin-
cipal awns, all of these pappus members readily caducous.
An American genus of about 67 species, made difficult taxonomically by the
tendency toward hybridization between many of its constituents or at least by
the evidence of past genetic intercontamination.
1. Plants blue-green, strongly glaucous; stems rarely more than 7 dm. tall; leaves
nearly all opposite; phyllaries obtuse to acute, glabrous dorsally,
white-ciliate, ovate to oblong, closely imbricated, shorter than the
disk 1- H. ciliaris.
1. Plants not strongly glaucous nor blue-green and not with the combination of
other characters given (2)
2(1). Disk corollas with red-brown to purple-brown lobes; leaves and the base
of the stem scabrous; involucre scabrous; rhizome a short erect
crown 2. H. angustifolius.
2. Disk corollas with yellow lobes (3)
3(2). Main stem glabrous; leaves narrowly linear-lanceolate, decurrent below
confluence of lateral veins into a winged petiole nearly one fourth
the length of the blade; rays 20-25 mm. long 4. H. Nuttallii.
3. Main stem scabrous-hispidulous or at least hirtellous; leaves lanceolate, grad-
ually acuminate to both ends, sessile; rays 25-35 mm. long
3. H. Maximiliani.
1. Helianthus ciliaris DC. BLUE-WEED. Fig. 764.
Perennial from slender rhizomes; stems 1 to several, 5-7 dm. tall, glabrous,
glaucous; midstem leaves opposite, sessile or very short-petiolate, linear to
broadly lanceolate, entire to somewhat pinnately lobed, glabrous and glaucous,
conspicuously 3-nerved when lanceolate; heads 12-25 mm. across; phyllaries
obtuse, ovate to broadly lanceolate, ciliate, glabrous or slightly puberulent dorsally,
5-7 mm. long, about 3.5 mm. broad; rays 12 to 18, about 1 cm. long; disk corolla
5-6 mm. long, basally puberulent and yellow, the lobes reddish or sometimes the
entire corolla red; pales entire to 3-cuspidate, the tips obtuse to acute and puberu-
lent; achenes about 3 mm. long, black or grayish at maturity; pappus of the disk
of 2 broadly ovate-acuminate scales; ray pappus absent or of 1 to 3 linear to
lanceolate scales.
Locally abundant near streams or canals, often in subalkaline desert soil in w.
Okla. (Waterfall) and Tex. in the Trans-Pecos and Plains Country, infrequent
in Rio Grande Plains, N. M. (Quay, Roosevelt, Chaves, Eddy, Otero, Dona Ana
and Socorro cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Cochise and Final cos.),
summer-fall; Kan., Okla., Tex., N.M., Ariz., Chih., Coah., N.L., Tarn, and
S.L.P.
2. Helianthus angustifolius L. Fig. 765.
Perennial herb; roots fibrous; rhizomes few, very slender, 5-15 cm. long;
stems 10-17 dm. tall, leafy, mostly simple, usually scabrous, hispid; leaves
mostly alternate, variable but mostly linear or narrowly lanceolate, 1-2 dm. long,
13-15 (-20) mm. broad, obtuse, sessile, very firm, very scabrous above, pubescent
beneath, often with resin-dots; upper branching open-paniculiform; phyllaries
narrowly lanceolate, slightly acuminate, usually shorter than the disk, very loose,
setose or scabrous, scarcely ciliate; pales 3-cuspidate; disk about 1 cm. across;
lobes of disk corolla purple, puberulent; achene slender, glabrous, about 4 mm.
long; pappus of 2 lanceolate awns, without intermediate scales.
Moist places, s.e. Okla. (Waterfall) and in e. and s.e. Tex., late summer-fall;
N.J. s. to Fla., w. to la. and Tex.
1656
-------
Fig. 764: Helianthus ciliaris: a, top of plant, x %; b, basal part of plant, x
phyllary, x 5: d, disk flower and achene, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 765: Helianthus angustifolium: a, habit, x %; b, ray flower, x 5; c, disk flowers,
x 5; d, bract, x 5; e, achene, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
A very closely related form, but with an entirely yellow disk and reputed to
be more robust with woodier rootstocks, is H. simulans E.E.Wats. It is rare in
boggy areas in east Texas (Robertson Co. and probably elsewhere) and Louisiana.
Its degree of distinctness needs further investigation.
3. Helianthus Maximilian! Schrad. MAXIMILIAN SUNFLOWER.
Stout perennial, with usually several mostly simple stems 3-30 dm. tall from
the woody crowns or short rootstocks, rarely with lateral branches near the top,
scabrous or with abundant short white hairs; leaves alternate, lanceolate, gradually
acuminate to both ends, mostly 14-30 cm. long, 20-55 mm. broad, marginally
entire, sometimes obscurely serrate, surficially with many short hairs imparting a
grayish-green color, sessile; phyllaries 10-15 mm. long, densely pubescent, mar-
ginally strongly ciliate, spreading; heads in a simple terminal racemose arrange-
ment, less commonly in a paniculiform grouping, 50-75 mm. across; disk
florets 10-12 mm. long, the base of the corolla puberulent; rays bright-yellow,
25-35 mm. long, concave; pale linear-acuminate, obscurely 3-cuspidate, apically
pubescent.
Frequently in seasonally moist ditches, depressions or prairies, in Okla. (Water-
fall) and in n.-cen. and s.e. Tex. and Edwards Plateau, infrequent in Plains
Country and rare in the Trans-Pecos, (late summer)-fall; most of s. Can., s. in
cen. U.S. to Tex. and in Coastal States to N.C.
4. Helianthus Nuttallii T. & G.
Perennial from short tuberlike fascicled roots; stem 3-10 (or -20) dm. tall,
simple or branched, smooth and glabrous, usually glaucous; leaf blades 5-15 cm.
longv about 1-2 cm. wide, narrowly linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, entire
to somewhat serrulate, tapering at base and gradually decurrent below confluence
of lateral veins into a winged petiole about one fourth as long as the blade,
scabrous or hispid, paler green beneath; heads few to several in a sometimes
many-branched leafy-bracted cymose panicle, the peduncles long or short, scab-
rous below heads; phyllaries 12-20 mm. long, lanceolate-subulate, gradually
tapered from base to apex, seldom hispid but often clothed with whitish hairs,
somewhat hirsute-ciliate on margins, the outer phyllaries often extending con-
siderably beyond the disk and loose but not reflexed; receptacle bracts linear,
straw-colored, glabrous below, brown and pubescent on the back (especially
toward the tip), entire or with 2 very obscure lateral teeth, the acute apex some-
times produced as a short mucro or awn from the distally somewhat keeled
midrib, shorter than or of almost the same length as the mature disk flowers;
rays 8 to 24, 20-25 mm. long; disk yellow, 15-20 mm. across; achenes glabrous;
pappus of 2 linear-lanceolate pales, rarely with some intermediate squamellae.
In springy or marshy places, sloughs, or on dry ground in valleys and plains,
N.M. (San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro and Rio Arriba cos.) and Ariz. (Apache,
Coconino and Yavapai cos.), Aug.-Sept.; Sask. to Alta., s. to N.M. and n. Ariz.
31. Verbesina L. CROWN-BEARD
About 150 species, native to America.
1. Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Gray. COWPEN DAISY.
Much-branched grayish-green or canescent-pubescent taprooted annual 1-9 dm.
tall; leaves chiefly opposite, with a roughly deltoid lamina portion (coarsely
dentate) and narrowed below to a broad subpetiolar base which usually clasps
the stem, rarely the leaves with true unwinged petioles (var. exauriculata Robins.
& Greenm.); heads solitary on the pedunculiform ends of the branches or rarely
2 or 3 fairly closely aggregated, each 2-3 cm. across (incl. the expanded rays);
1659
-------
outer phyllaries long, green, much-surpassing the disk or else subequal; rays about
1 cm. long; ray flowers fertile, yellow, showy, deeply 3-toothed terminally; wings
of the achene rarely narrow or nearly vestigial, usually broad and acutish sum-
mitally. Ximenesia encelioides Cav. and var. cana DC., X. australis H. & A., X.
exauriculata (Robins. & Greenm.) Rydb.
Very frequent in disturbed soils, especially common on floodplains and out-
washes of winter streams, essentially throughout our region, summer; Fla., Tex.,
s.e. through most of the warmer parts of Am., adv. in Old World.
32. Calyptocarpus LESS.
A monotypic genus.
1. Calyptocarpus vialis Less. HIERBA DEL CABALLO.
Perennial herbs, with weak often sprawling stems (1-) 2-6 dm. long but only
2-9 cm. tall; leaves opposite, with deltoid marginally serrate strigose blades 1-3
(-4) cm. long and petioles (or subpetiolar winged bases) about a third as long;
peduncles naked, axillary, 3-50 mm. long, topped by a solitary head; head less
than 1 cm. long; involucre obconical; phyllaries about 5, slightly unequal (the
inner ones shorter and narrower), leaflike in texture, obtuse and broadly over-
lapping; receptacle chaffy throughout, the scarious pales lance-subulate; ray
flowers pistillate, fertile, the yellow rays spatulate; disk flowers perfect, fertile, the
yellow corollas equally 5-toothed; achenes strongly dorsiventrally compressed,
subulate; pappus of 2 awns, one over each corner of the achene. Zexmenia
hispidula Buckl.
Frequent in low wettish woods, on edge of water of streams and sloughs, s.e.
Tex. and Rio Grande Plains, infrequent n. to e. and n.-cen. Tex. and Edwards
Plateau, nearly all year; Pan., C.R., Guat. and Mex., n. to Coah., Tex., La., Ala.
and Fla.; Cuba.
A troublesome lawn weed.
33. Coreopsis L. COREOPSIS. TICK-SEED
Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous or pubescent; leaves opposite or more rarely
(in the upper part of the plant) alternate, undivided and entire or dentate, or 1 to
3 times ternately or pinnately dissected; heads peduncled; phyllaries commonly in
2 or rarely iii 3 or 4 series, more or less connate at the very base (but not high
up); outer phyllaries commonly herbaceous or submembranous and appressed or
often spreading; inner bracts commonly larger, brown or yellow, membranous;
receptacle flat or slightly convex, chaffy throughout; pales flat or somewhat con-
cave, membranous, striate; ray flowers present, neuter or pistillate, usually in-
fertile; rays spreading, yellow (in some species with two shades of yellow, in
others with a red-brown spot basally), 3-toothed terminally; disk florets numerous,
perfect and fertile, the corolla yellowish (often with reddish veins) and equally
5-toothed terminally; achenes dorsiventrally flattened, orbiculate to oblong or
more or less oblong-linear, often 2-winged (the wings membranous or indurate-
thickened, entire or not, flat or incurved), glabrous or especially at the margin
villous; pappus usually present, usually of 2 awns over the two shoulders of the
achene and with or without intermediate scales, persistent.
A genus of probably 100 species widely distributed.
1. Achenes wingless, narrowly oblong, slender flattish 1. C. tinctoria.
1. Achenes winged (2)
2(1). Achenial wings entire 2. C. cardatninaefolia.
2. Achenial wings dissectedly fimbriate-pectinate 3. C. linifolia.
1660
-------
1. Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt.
Annual herb, erect, glabrous, 6-12 dm. tall; stems foliose, much-branched;
leaves opposite, subsessile or short-petiolate, usually 5-10 cm. long, 1- or 2-pinnate
or the uppermost ones undivided; segments (or blades) narrowly linear or linear-
lanceolate; heads numerous, 2-3 cm. broad, 4-6 mm. high; outer phyllaries about
8, more or less biseriate and imbricate, linear-oblong or more often triangulate,
about 2 mm. long; rays about 7 or 8, 7-15 mm. long, obovate, commonly
3-lobate apically, often with a red-brown spot near the base; style branches
apically obtuse; achenes wingless, black, 1.2-4 mm. long.
Abundant in seasonally moist or wet soils, in Okla. (Atoka and Craig cos.) and
in the e. half of Tex. and less frequently nearly throughout Tex., N.M. (San Juan
Co.) and introd. in Ariz., spring-early summer; Minn., Sask. and Wash. s. to La.,
Tex., N.M. and Calif.
2. Coreopsis cardaminaefolia (DC.) Nutt. MANZANILLA SILVESTRE.
Annual herb, glabrous, erect, slender, suberectly branched, 2-5 dm. tall; stems
subterete, foliose; leaves opposite, remote, shorter than the internodes, all but the
sessile topmost ones with petioles commonly 1—4 cm. long, the lower and midstem
leaves 1- or 2-pinnate with elliptic-oblong or widely or narrowly linear segments,
the upper ones sometimes pinnately few-lobed or sometimes simple; peduncles
glabrous, 1-5 cm. long; heads often numerous, 16-24 mm. broad, 6-8 mm. high;
outer phyllaries 6 to 9, more or less lanceolate and irregularly placed, often
subacute, 1-2 mm. long; rays about 7 or 8, about 1 cm. long, with a red-brown
spot near the base (or this absent and rays all yellow in a rare form known as
C. stenophylla Boynt); style branches obtusely conic; achenes strongly winged,
2-3 mm. long or occasionally less, the body black; awns of the pappus (one
over each of the two shoulders, between the wing and the body) minute or in a
coastal race (C. similis Boynt.) to 0.5 mm. long. C. stenophylla and C. similis
Boynt.
Abundant in seasonally wet or moist soil in Okla. (Jefferson Co.), essentially
throughout Tex., in N.M. (McKinley Co.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Yavapai
cos.), spring-early summer, occasionally again in fall; La., Okla., Tex., Neb.,
N.M. and Ariz., s. to Tarn., Coah. and Chih.
Some Arizona specimens are said to be C. Atkinsoniana Dougl. because of the
size of the achenes, but otherwise they are like C. cardaminefolia of the same
area.
3. Coreopsis linifolia Nutt. Fig. 766.
Perennial herb, glabrous, pale, erect, 5-7 dm. tall; stems slender, corymbosely
branched above; leaves opposite or the lower alternate, marginally entire but
indurate or calloused, the lower ones spatulate or oblanceolate, shorter than the
internodes (or the basal ones at times twice as long), 4-10 (-14) mm. broad,
apically rounded, basally petiolate (petioles usually 1-4 cm. long) or the other
ones sessile, linear, often truncate or exceedingly obtuse at the apex, much smaller;
peduncles usually 3-7 cm. long; heads few, 2-3 cm. broad, about 6-7 mm. high;
outer phyllaries about 6 to 11, glabrate, often irregularly placed, ovate to lanceo-
late-deltoid, lengthwise pluristriate, coriaceous, scarious at the margins, subacute
or rounded apically, 1-3 mm. long; rays 7 or 8, 10-15 mm. long, obovate, apically
3-lobed with the median lobe emarginate; style branches obtusely conic; achenes
winged, the wings lacerate or dissected-fimbriate-pectinate.
Rare in wet or boggy soil, e. Tex., spring-early summer; Va. to Fla. and w. to
Tex.
1661
-------
Fig. 766: Coreopsis linifolia: a, habit, x V2; b, flower head, x 1; c, ray flower, x
2'j; d, disk flower, x 5. (V. F.)-
-------
34. Bidens L. BEGGAR-TICKS. BUR-MARIGOLD
Annual taprooted herbs or less commonly perennial herbs with taproots or
fibrous roots; leaves opposite, entire or dentate or incised, or 1-, 2- or 3-ternately
or -pinnately dissected; upper leaves sometimes alternate; involucre usually cam-
panulate or subhemispheric; phyllaries commonly biseriate, at the base often very
shortly connate; outer phyllaries usually herbaceous in texture, sometimes short,
sometimes expanded into leaflike members; inner phyllaries usually membranous,
usually hyaline- or yellow-margined; receptacle fiat or convex, chaffy throughout,
the pales narrow and flattish; ray flowers present or absent, when present neuter
or less commonly pistillate but infertile; rays when present whitish or yellow or
less commonly rosy or a shade of red, usually shallowly 3-lobed apically; disk
flowers numerous or less commonly few, perfect, fertile; corolla equally 5-toothed,
usually yellow; style branches bearded above, tipped with short and acute or
longer and subulate appendages; achenes dorsiventrally compressed or less com-
monly triangular or rhombic in transection; pappus awns absent or 1 to 8 in
number and commonly persistent, usually more or less antrorsely or retrorsely
barbed.
A genus of possibly 150 species in the warmer parts of the world, often
separated on the most technical sort of characters, thus difficult to key out unless
with patience and a good lens; heads both in anthesis and in fruit. The kinds
with retrorsely barbed pappus awns are efficiently dispersed, becoming attached
easily in fur and clothing.
1. Rays yellow, at least 10 mm. long (sometimes absent in B. cernua and B.
laevis) (2)
1. Rays white or rosaceous to red (if yellow less than 10 mm. long) or absent (7)
2(1). Pappus of 2 to 4 retrorsely barbed awns (3)
2. Pappus awns smooth, antrorsely setose or absent (5)
3(2). Achenes flattened or 3- or 4-angled but the median keels not developed....
1. B. laevis.
3. Achenes cuneate, 4-angled in cross section, both margins and median keels
prominent or callous thickened (4)
4(3). Ray flowers 5 or 6; achenes black or dark-gray, more or less papillose
toward the base; awns 1.5-2.7 mm. long 2. B. aurea.
4. Ray flowers (when present) 6 to 8; achenes purplish, usually strongly callous-
thickened on the angles; awns 3-4 mm. long 3. B. cernua.
5(2). Achenes black, the body 2.5-4.5 mm. long; outer phyllaries 7 to 10
4. B. mitis.
5. Achenes brown or blackish, the body 5-7.5 mm. long (6)
6(5). Outer phyllaries mostly 8 to 12, glabrous or moderately ciliate, usually
shorter than the inner ones 5. B. aristosa.
6. Outer phyllaries 12 to 20, very ciliate or coarsely hispid, commonly longer
than the inner ones 6. B. polylepis,
7(1). Achenes broadly or narrowly cuneate, not narrowed below the apex (8)
7. Achenes linear or clavate but never manifestly cuneate, often attenuate above
(ID
8(7). Achene bodies striate; leaves simple or deeply incised (9)
8. Achene bodies not striate; leaves at least 1- or 2-pinnate, the terminal leaflet
commonly petiolulate (10)
9(8). Leaves sessile, undivided; achene body 6-9 mm. long, retrorsely barbed
on the angles 1. B. laevis.
1663
-------
9. Leaves borne on evident sometimes winged petioles up to 3 cm. long; achene
body 4—8 mm. long, often tuberculate 7. B. tripartite
10(8). Outer phyllaries 3 to 5 (commonly 4), not manifestly ciliate; pappus awns
erect-hispid or smooth 8. B. discoidea.
10. Outer phyllaries 5 to 8, regularly and copiously ciliate; pappus awns retror-
sely barbed 9. B. frondosa.
11(7). Achenes 5 to 9 (rarely 13) 10. B. leptocephala.
11. Achenes 14 to 50 (12)
12(11). Leaves all pinnately 3- or 5-parted with lance-oblong to rhombic-ovate
serrate to incised divisions 11. B. pilosa.
12. Leaves all once or twice pinnately dissected (13)
13(12). Outer and inner phyllaries more or less densely pilose or hirsute; leaves
2 or 3 times dissected into linear lobes 12. B. tenuisecta.
13. Outer and inner phyllaries glabrous or merely short-ciliate, rarely sparsely
pilose (14)
14(13). Achenes dimorphic, a few peripheral ones clavate with a body only 4-7
mm. long; body of inner achenes 8-13 mm. long after anthesis;
awns 2, sometimes 3 13. B. Bigelovii.
14. Achenes nearly all alike, the body often longer than 12 mm.; awns 3 or 4....
14. B. bipinnata.
1. Bidens laevis (L.) B.S.P. Fig. 767.
Annual or perennial herb, erect or procumbent at base, 3-10 dm. tall; leaves
sessile, undivided, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or rarely ovate-lanceolate, nar-
rowed at each end or at the base sometimes broad and connate, apically often
acuminate, regularly serrate with the teeth often slender and almost subulate,
glabrate or on the margin often sparsely ciliate, 5-15 cm. long; heads commonly
few, 3-7 cm. broad, 8-11 mm. high; involucre commonly hispid at base; outer
phyllaries 6 to 8, scarcely foliaceous, linear-lanceolate, apically obtuse or acute,
marginally subsparsely aciculate-ciliate, very rarely longer than the head; ray
flowers rarely absent, usually 7 or 8; rays golden-yellow, 15-30 mm. long,
obovate-lanceolate, apically rounded and often minutely 2- or 3-denticulate;
achenes narrowly cuneate, flat or 3- or 4-angulate, on the angles retrorsely barbed,
the body 6-9 mm. long; pappus awns 2 to 4, 3-5 mm. long, retrorsely barbed.
B. Nashii Small.
Scattered near and in water of sloughs, lakes and streams, in marshes, irriga-
tion ditches and wet meadowlands, in Okla. (Waterfall) and in e., s.e., n.-cen.
Tex. and Edwards Plateau, rare in the Trans-Pecos, N.M. (San Juan and Taos
cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Yavapai and Santa Cruz cos.), summer; most
of U.S. except higher mt. areas.
2. Bidens aurea (Ait.) Sherff.
Erect perennial herb but often flowering first season, with tetragonous simply
branched stems to 1 m. tall; herbage glabrous or sometimes pubescent on young
growth; leaves thin, linear to lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, 0.5-1.2 cm. wide, to
10 cm. long, sharply serrate-dentate, undivided or less commonly lower ones 3- to
5-parted, with petioles to 4 cm. long; heads radiate, 2-5 cm. broad, about 1 cm.
high; outer involucral bracts 8 to 17, linear, acute and somewhat indurated at
apex, hispid-ciliate on margins but glabrous on face, 3-6 mm. long, 1 mm. wide
or less; inner bracts thinner, slightly wider but about as long; ray flowers 5 or 6,
yellow; ligules 10-30 mm. long, conspicuous, obovate; achenes linear-cuneate,
slightly quadrangular in cross section, black or dark gray, often more or less
papillose toward base, body 4-7 mm. long, tipped with 2 yellowish retrorsely
barbed awns 1.5-2.7 mm. long.
1664
-------
Fig. 767: Bidens laevis: a, habit, upper part of plant, x %; b and c, disk flowers,
showing stages in anthesis of style and stamens, x 2%; d, ray flower and base of
adjacent phyllary, x 2%; e, mature achene, showing pappus awns and retrorse pubes-
cence x 4; f, flowering head, showing the outer and the inner phyllaries (rays re-
moved), x %.'(From Mason, Fig. 351).
-------
Fig. 768: Bidens cernua: a and b, disk flowers, showing stages of anthesis of
stamens and style, x 3; c, ray flower and base of adjacent phyllary, x 3; d, inner
phyllary, x 4; e and f, receptacle bracts, x 4; g, mature achene, showing the callous-
thickened margins, the 4 pappus awns, and retrorse pubescence, x 4; h, base of plant,
showing the fascicled roots, x -';-,; i, upper part of plant, showing leaves and inflores-
cence, x %; j, leaf, x -,:,. (From Mason, Fig. 350).
-------
In moist soil near and along streams, springs and ditches, s. Ariz. (Cochise,
Santa Cruz and Pima cos.) to Guat., spring-autumn.
3. Bidens cernua L. Fig. 768.
Annual; stems erect or ascending, 1-10 dm. tall, occasionally somewhat succu-
lent, glabrous to scabrous-hispid; leaves normally opposite, sometimes verticillate,
linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, unequally serrate, narrowed to sessile or subsessile,
with connate base, 4-17 cm. long; heads at first erect, becoming nodding, radiate
or discoid, in anthesis 1-5 cm. wide, 6-12 mm. high; outer phyllaries 5 to 8,
foliaceous, linear-lanceolate, sparsely acicular-ciliate or glabrous, unequal in
length, usually longer than the disk flowers (to 4 cm. long), the inner phyllaries
membranous, striate, orange-brown, ovate-lanceolate to obovate-Ianceolate,
scarcely longer than the disk flowers; receptacle bracts similar but narrower; ray
flowers when present 6 to 8, ovate-lanceolate, 10-15 (-20) mm. long, about 1 to
2 times as long as the disk; achenes often purplish, normally cuneate and apically
thickened, marginal and median angles mostly prominent and usually strongly
callous-thickened, the body thus more or less 4-angled and quadrate in cross
section (at least subapically), 5-6.5 mm. long, retrorsely hispid (especially on
angles); awns 4 (sometimes only 2 or 3), usually 1 at each angle of achene apex,
3—4 mm. long, retrorsely barbed.
Marshy ground, wet lowlands and along sloughs, in Okla. (Alfalfa Co.) and
N.M. (Colfax and Rio Arriba cos.), June-Oct.; N.B. to B.C., s. to N.C., Okla.,
N.M. and Calif.; widespread in Old World.
4. Bidens milis (Michx.) Sherff. Fig. 769.
Annual herb, more or less glabrous, 3-10 dm. tall; leaves petiolate (petioles
3-30 mm. long), including the petioles 4-12 cm. long, membranous, variable,
lanceolate or ovate, serrate, acute or acuminate, sometimes entire or more often
pinnately 3- to 7-parted, the terminal leaflet commonly very elongate, the blade
or segments linear and commonly entire or broader and incised-serrate, very rarely
decompound; peduncles 2—12 cm. long; heads 2-5 cm. broad; involucre glabrous or
sparsely hispid at the base; outer phyllaries 7 to 10, linear or linear-spatulate,
usually ciliate, acute or obtuse, 5-10 mm. long, the inner phyllaries often shorter;
rays about 8, golden-yellow, 12-27 mm. long, oblanceolate or elliptic-obovate,
entire or very minutely denticulate; achenes flattish or scarcely trigonal in tran-
section, broadly cuneate, black, the body 2.5-4.5 mm. long; pappus awns 0.6-1
mm. long, antrorsely setose.
Rare in wet places, especially brackish or fresh-water swamps, in s.e. Tex.,
in moist soil, spring-early summer; s.e. U.S. (Md. to Tex.).
5. Bidens aristosa (Michx.) Britt. TICKSEED SUNFLOWER.
Annual or biennial herb, glabrate or scarcely pubescent, 3-10 (-15) dm. tall;
leaves petiolate [petioles 10-15 (-30) mm. long], including the petiole 5-15 cm.
long, pinnate or bipinnate; blade segments lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acumi-
nate, incised-serrate or pinnatifid, membranous, ciliate, scarcely pubescent on the
lower surface; heads 2-5 cm. broad, 7-9 mm. high; involucre often hispid;
phyllaries subequal, the outer ones 8 to 10, linear, sometimes scarcely ciliate,
sometimes very ciliate, 5-12 mm. long; rays 6 to 10, golden, 10-25 mm. long,
oblong-oblanceolate, apically obtuse and entire or subdenticulate; achenes to 6.5
mm. long, flat or flattish, blackish or yellowish-black; pappus awns rarely absent
(var. mutica Gray), usually present and smooth or antrorsely ciliate.
In moist or seasonally moist soil, e. and s.e. Tex., infrequent, spring-early
summer; most of the e. U.S.
1667
-------
6. Bidens polylepis Blake.
Annual or biennial herb, glabrous, 3-10 dm. tall; leaves petiolate (petioles
to 25 mm. long), including the petiole 8-15 cm. long, commonly bipinnate; leaf-
lets lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrate, membranous, ciliate;
heads 2-5 cm. broad, 7-9 mm. high; outer phyllaries numerous, commonly 15 to
20, usually spreading or reflexed, linear-elongate, conspicuously hispid-ciliate,
dorsally hispid or glabrate, 10-27 mm. long; inner phyllaries lanceolate, shorter;
rays about 8, golden-yellow, 10-25 mm. long, oblong-oblanceolate, apically entire
or obscurely denticulate; achenes flat, brown or blackish-brown, 5.5-7.5 mm.
long; pappus awns nearly obsolete or slightly developed and with erect-hispid
teeth.
In wet prairies, low meadows, low swampy woods, borders of oxbow lakes, in
river floodplain and upland ponds, waste ground, sandy flats at edge of lakes in
Okla. (Creek, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, McCurtain, LeFlore and Ottawa cos.) and
e. and s.e. Tex., spring-early summer; midwest U.S. and s. to Tex.
7. Bidens tripartita L.
Annual, nearly or quite glabrous, 1-20 dm. tall; leaves simple, serrate, often
very sharply so, sometimes deeply tripartite, commonly 3-15 cm. long and
to 4 cm. wide, borne on evident sometimes winged petioles to about 3 cm. long;
heads erect, rayless or occasionally with rays to about 4 mm. long, broadly
campanulate to hemispheric, at least the terminal one generally more than 30-
flowered, the disk 8-20 mm. wide; outer phyllaries about 4 to 9, herbaceous, often
much-enlarged and leaflike; achenes cuneate or obovate-cuneate, flat or com-
pressed-quadrangular, commonly with a median rib on at least one face, glabrous
or somewhat short-hairy, brown or blackish to purplish, 4-8 mm. long, often
tuberculate; pappus of 2 to 4 awns.
A cosmopolitan weed of wet waste places, in Okla. (Waterfall) and reported from
the Tex. Panhandle (Hemphill Co.), Aug.-Oct.; otherwise known from Eur. and
adv. in Que. and N.H.
8. Bidens discoidea (T. & G.) Britt. Fig. 770.
Annual herb, 3-18 dm. tall; leaves petiolate (petioles 1-4 cm. long), including
the petiole 5-12 cm. long, membranous, tripartite; leaflets lanceolate or ovate-
lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, all commonly petiolulate, sometimes obscurely
ciliate; heads numerous, the disk finally 7-9 mm. broad and 6-7 mm. high;
involucre glabrous; outer phyllaries 3 to 5 (usually 4), foliaceous, linear-spatulate,
membranous, not distinctly ciliate, commonly surpassing the disk, 7-25 mm. long;
inner phyllaries oblong-lanceolate, membranous, subequal to the disk; ray flowers
absent; achenes blackish, flattish, linear-cuneate, often tuberculate, pilose-hispid,
the body 3-6.2 mm. long; pappus awns 0.2-2.2 mm. long, erect, hispid.
In swampy lowlands, alluvial bottomlands and sink-hole ponds, in Okla. (Mc-
Curtain Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., spring and early summer; Ala. to Tex., n. to
N.S., Me., Que., Ont., Mich., Wis. and Minn.
9. Bidens frondosa L. BEGGAR-TICKS, STICK-TIGHTS. Fig. 771.
Annual herb, more or less glabrous, paniculate-branched, 5-12 dm. tall; leaves
petiolate (petioles 1-6 cm. long), including the petiole 5-15 (-20) cm. long,
pinnately 3- or 5-divided, membranous, ciliate, on the upper surface commonly
glabrate, on the lower surface glabrate or obscurely and sparsely or even rather
densely clothed with minute setae; leaflets lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, the
terminal one slenderly petiolulate; heads about 1 cm. broad, 6 mm. high; involucre
basally hispid; outer phyllaries 5 to 8 or occasionally as many as 10, conspicuously
ciliate, often very long (even 3-5 cm. long) and foliaceous, linear-spatulate; inner
1668
-------
Fig. 769: Bidens mitis: a, habit, x %; b, section of stem showing undivided leaves,
x %• c ray flower x 2; d, palea, x 9; e, disk flower, x 8; f, head of fruit, x 3%;
g, achene, x 8. (Courtesy of R. K. Godfrey; f, V. F.)-
-------
Fig. 770: a-d, Bidens discoidea: a, top of plant, x %; b, head, x 2lfa c, bract,
x 2M>; d, achene, x 5. e-k, Bidens pilosa: e, top of plant, x %; f, head, x 2lfa g, disk
flower, x 5; h, interior involucre bract from side, x 5; i, interior involucre bract, x
5; j, inner achene, x 5; k, outer achene, x 5. (V. F.).
-------
phyllaries ovate or ovate-lanceolate, shorter (finally 5-7 mm. long); ray flowers
absent or if present minute, the golden-yellow ray 2-3.5 mm. long, cuneate-
obovate, commonly 2- or 3-denticuIate; achenes flat, narrowly cuneate, blackish,
subglabrous or pilose-hispid, on each face strongly 1-nerved, the body 6-10 mm.
long; pappus awns 2, retrorsely barbed, 3-4.5 mm. long.
In moist woods, swampy meadows, alluvial thickets, borders of streams, ponds,
sloughs, swamps, ditches, fields, waste ground, in Okla. (Mclntosh, Comanche,
Delaware, McCurtain and Cherokee cos.) and in e. half of Tex., recently reported
from Hemphill Co. in the Panhandle, N.M. (Bernalillo and San Juan cos.) and
Ariz. (Greenlee and Yavapai cos.), spring-early summer; e. Can., most of the U.S.
10. Bidens leptocephala Sherff. Fig. 772.
Annual herb, 1-5 dm. tall, branched; leaves petiolate (petioles 3-40 mm. long),
including the petioles 2-10 cm. long, 15-55 mm. broad, bipinnate, minutely
ciliate, hispid or glabrate, the segments sometimes linear or sometimes ovate;
peduncles 2-8 cm. long; heads 4-8 mm. broad, 3-5 mm. high (in fruit to 15 mm.
high); involucre subglabrous at the base; outer phyllaries 4 to 6, linear, ciliate,
10-25 mm. long, inner ones half again as long, lanceolate, glabrous or at the
apex pubescent; rays occasionally absent, usually 3, only 2.5 mm. long and 1.2
mm. broad, whitish, entire or bidentate; achenes 5 to 9, rarely to 13, subquad-
rangulate, linear, the inner ones blackish, 9-14 mm. long, some of the outer ones
sometimes shorter and browner; pappus awns 1-3 mm. long, retrorsely barbed.
Frequent in moist canyons, along streams, in the Tex. Trans-Pecos mts., N.M.
(Grant and Guadalupe cos.) and Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and Mohave cos.),
summer; Chih., Tex., N.M., Ariz, and Baja Calif.
11. Bidens pilosa L. Fig. 770.
Annual herb, erect, branched, 3-18 dm. tall; petioles 10-65 mm. long; leaves
including petioles 5-20 cm. long, membranous, on the margins ciliate and serrate,
on each surface subglabrous or scatteringly pilose with unequal and appressed
hairs or sometimes densely tomentose-pilose, the lowermost often simple, ovate,
apically acute, the midstem leaves 3- to 5- (or even 7-) partite, the uppermost
leaves simple and lanceolate; heads 7-8 mm. broad, 5-7 mm. high (at anthesis);
peduncles 1-9 cm. long; involucre basally hispid; outer phyllaries 7 to 9, linear
or linear-spatulate, indurate-apiculate, ciliate, 4—5 mm. long, shorter than the
lanceolate inner phyllaries; rays commonly absent or when present minute (2-3
mm. long) or well-developed (to 15 mm. long), white or pale-yellowish-white;
achenes linear, straight or the marginal ones incurved, obcompressed-quadrangulate
or flattish, glabrous below, tuberculate-strigose above, 4-16 mm. long, the inner
ones longer than the outer; pappus awns 2 or 3 (rarely to 5), yellowish, retrorsely
barbed.
Infrequently (probably repeatedly) waifed along sloughs and in resacas in
extreme s.e. and Trans-Pecos Tex. and Ariz. (Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.),
summer-fall; an exceedingly common weed of disturbed moist soil in all the
warmer parts of the world, not hardy in the temp, parts but repeatedly introd.
12. Bidens tenuisecta Gray.
Stems 2-8 dm. tall, more or less branched especially above, glabrous or sparsely
hairy; leaves at least basal petioled, usually 2- to 3-pinnately dissected into
narrowly linear ultimate segments 0.5-2.5 mm. wide; heads about 6-10 mm. high
and 4-10 mm. wide; outer phyllaries 6 to 12, about 5-7 mm. long, linear, inner
phyllaries subequal; rays inconspicuous, 4-6 mm. long, yellow or lacking; achenes
linear but tapering to apex, inner 8-15 mm. long, outer shorter and broader,
different; pappus of 2 or rarely 3 retrorsely barbed awns 1.5-3 mm. long, at
least on inner achenes.
1671
-------
Moist ground, wet meadows, seepage areas and along streams, in N.M. (Colfax,
Otero and Union cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Cochise and Pima cos.),
July-Oct; s.e. Ida., s. through Colo., N.M., Ariz, into Chili.
13. Bidens Bigelovii Gray. Fig. 772.
Annual herb, erect, almost glabrous, 4-10 dm. tall; leaves petiolate (petioles
10-25 mm. long), including the petiole to 8 cm. long, tripartite, the segments
3- to 5-partite, their lobes oblong or cuneate and pinnatifidly incised (with the
rather few teeth mucronate), membranous, more or less ciliate; peduncles to
15 cm. long; heads subsolitary, at anthesis about 6-9 mm. broad and equally tall;
involucre basally hispid; outer phyllaries 6 to 9, linear, dorsally glabrous, mar-
ginally ciliate, terminally sharp-apiculate, 5-7.5 mm. long; inner phyllaries
lanceolate, often shorter; rays absent or 3 to 5 in number, whitish, 5-7 mm.
long, oblong-obovate; achenes subquadrangulate, dimorphic, the 1 to 4 exterior
ones linear-cuneate, truncate, papillose-hispidulous and very scabrous, often cas-
taneous, the body 5-7 mm. long, the apex either essentially awnless or with 2 or 3
short retrorsely barbed pappus awns; inner achenes narrowly linear, black, glabrate
below but commonly erect-hispid above, the body 8-12 mm. long; pappus awns
2 or 3, retrorsely barbed, 1.5-3 mm. long.
Rather frequent in moist canyons, on wet stream banks and wet shady places
in the Tex. Trans-Pecos mts., N.M. (Dona Ana, Grant, Sierra and Socorro cos.)
and Ariz. (Apache, Greenlee, Gila, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), summer; Colo.,
N.M., Tex., Ariz, and Son.
14. Bidens bipinnata L. SPANISH NEEDLES. Fig. 773.
Annual herb, erect, commonly glabrous but rarely minutely setose-hispid,
branched, 3-12 (-17) dm. tall; leaves petiolate (petioles 2-5 cm. long), including
the petioles 4-20 cm. long, normally 2- or 3-pinnate, membranous, ciliate, the
ultimate segments often deltoid- (or rhombic-) lanceolate, toward the base
cuneate; peduncles to 1 dm. long; heads 5-7 mm. high, 4-6 mm. broad; involucre
pubescent at base; outer phyllaries 7 to 10, linear, apically acute (var. bipinnata)
or distally dilate (var. biternatoides Sherff), 3-5 mm. long; inner phyllaries linear-
lanceolate, half again as long; rays inconspicuous, yellowish-white, not exceeding
the disk florets, lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, apically entire or 2- or 3-lobulate;
achenes linear, tetragonal, the body commonly black, distally attenuated and often
sparsely setulose, glabrate below, 10-18 mm. long (the outer shorter and often
castaneous); pappus awns usually 3 or 4, yellowish, retrorsely barbed, 2-4 mm.
long.
In rich alluvial soils and other wet places in Okla. (Dewey and Ottawa cos.)
and e. Tex., rare (var. biternatoides} in moist canyons of Trans-Pecos mts. and
N.M. (Dona Ana Co.) and Ariz. (Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz cos.), summer;
most of e. U.S.; Mex.; Braz., Arg., Chile, etc.; widely adv. in Old World.
35. Cosmos CAV. COSMOS
A genus of perhaps 50 species of the warmer parts of America.
1. Cosmos parviflorus (Jacq.) Pers.
Annual herb, erect, slender, often branched above, 3-9 dm. tall; leaves
scarcely petioled or with petioles wing-margined and to about 5 mm. long, with
total length of about 3-7 cm., bipinnate; segments very narrowly linear, only
0.1-0.6 mm. broad, glabrous above and below, often strongly spinulose-ciliate,
apically acute or subobtuse, the rachis and its branches somewhat winged; heads
singly terminating peduncles 1-3 dm. long, 15-25 mm. broad, 6-9 mm. high;
outer phyllaries commonly 8, lance-acuminate or linear-elongate, often spreading
or even reflexed, on the outer surface green and marked with 3 to 5 black nerves,
1672
-------
Fig. 771: Bidens frondosa: a, inner phyllary, x 6; b, receptacle bract, x 6; c, disk
flower, x 6; d, mature achene, showing divergent pappus awns with retrorse barbs, and
margins of achene with ascending hairs, x 4; e, flowering head, showing the foliaceous
outer phyllaries, x %; f, habit, upper part of plant, x %. (From Mason, Fig. 352).
-------
Fig. 772: a, Bidens leptoccphala: a, habit, upper part of plant, x 1/2. b-k, Bidens
Bigeiovii: b. habit, upper part of plant, x \'»; c, head, x 2Va; d, inner and outer in-
volucre bracts, x 5; e, disk flower, x 5; f, corolla spread out, x 5; g, stamens spread
out, x 5; h. style branches, x 5; i and j, outer achenes (j, sterile), x 5; k, inner achene,
x 5. (V. F.).
-------
6-9 mm. long; inner phyllaries oblong, acute, a little shorter than the outer;
rays about 8, whitish to roseate, 5-9 mm. long, cuneate-obovate, apically 2- or
3-dentate; disk corollas yellow; achenes subfusiform, linear, 9-16 mm. long;
pappus awns 2 to 4, erect, retrorsely barbed, about 2 mm. long.
Infrequent in wet meadows, seepage areas and along streams and on shores of
lakes in the Tex. Trans-Pecos mts., N.M. (widespread) and Ariz. (Apache and
Coconino to Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), summer-early fall; Tex., Colo.,
N.M., Ariz., s. and s.e. to Pue. and Michoac.
36. Marshallia SCHREB. BARBARA'S-BUTTONS
Perennial erect herbs from caudexes or rhizomes with fibrous roots; leaves
alternate, simple, entire, 1- to 3-nerved, glabrous, sessile or contracted into
subpetiolar bases, the stem leaves somewhat clasping when present; heads solitary
at the end of the stem or branches; involucres hemispherical or campanulate;
phyllaries herbaceous, often with hyaline margins, subequal, in 1 or 2 series,
imbricated or merely approximate and not at all imbricate; receptacle convex or
conical, chaffy throughout; pales herbaceous, often hyaline-margined below, nar-
rowly linear in outline, longer than the achenes, semirigid; ray flowers absent;
disk flowers perfect, fertile; corollas white, cream-colored, pale-lavender or pur-
plish, never yellow, longer than the pales, externally pubescent, the tubes slender,
the 5 equal lobes of the limb long and linear-obtuse; achenes turbinate or clavate,
truncate, somewhat 5-angled, 10-ribbed, the achene-surface between the ribs
concave and usually beset with minute resin-dots, these rarely absent; pappus scales
5 (sometimes 6), erect or spreading, forming a crown at the summit of the
achene, membranous-scarious, white-hyaline or ferrugineous, ovate to ovate-
lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, sessile, the apexes acuminate or acute, the
margins regularly or irregularly serrulate or lacerate.
About 10 species, in southern United States.
1. Phyllaries and pales merely acute or obtuse, not subulate-tipped, glabrous;
phyllaries not winged; flowering in the spring and early summer....
1. M. caespitosa.
1. Phyllaries and pales strongly acuminate or subulate-tipped, pubescent; phyl-
laries usually winged below the middle; flowering late summer and
early fall 2. M. tenuifolia.
1. Marshallia caespitosa DC.
Perennial herb (1-) 2-4 (-6) dm. tall with a short rhizome; leaves entire,
gradually tapering below the middle into a winged subpetiolar base; lowermost
leaves when present 2-8 (-18) cm. long and (3-) 5-10 (-20) mm. broad, with
obovate to spatulate or oblanceolate obtuse blades; leaves of midstem when present
(4-) 5-15 (-16) cm. long and 2-10 (-12) mm. broad, linear or linear-lanceolate
with obtuse rarely acutish apexes; heads solitary on the stems; involucres (5-)
6-12 (-15) mm. high; phyllaries herbaceous, green except for the white-hyaline
margins below, glabrous, entire, subequal in 1 or 2 series, the outer usually but
scarcely imbricate, 5-12 (-15) mm. long, 1-2 (-3) mm. broad, linear-oblong or
linear-lanceolate with obtuse or merely acutish apexes; pales 5-8 mm. long, linear
with merely acute apexes, slightly dilated at the summit; corollas usually white or
cream-colored, only occasionally pale-lavender; pappus scales (1.5-) 2-3 (-4) mm.
long; achene (2-) 3-4 (-4.5) mm. long.
In marshland and in spring seepage areas, in s.e. Okla. and the e. half of Tex.,
w. to Taylor, Val Verde and DeWitt cos., Apr.-May (-June); Miss., Ark., Okla.,
Tex. and La.
We have two varieties.
1675
-------
Fig. 773: Bidens bipinnata: A, habit, x %; B, leaves, x 1; C, flower head, x 1%; D.
mature achenes, x 1%; E, achene, x 3. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United
States, Fig. 185).
-------
Var. caespitosa. Leaves all crowded near the base of the plant.
In s.e. Okla. and s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., s. to Refugio and w. to Navarro and
Bastrop cos.; Miss., Ark., Okla. and Tex.
Var. signata Beadle & Boynt. Stems leafy nearly throughout except for the
uppermost peduncular flowering portion.
Abundant on the Edwards Plateau and in limy cuestas of n.-cen. Tex., the Rio
Grande Plains and the e. part of the Plains Country, s. to DeWitt Co. and w. to
Val Verde and Taylor cos.; endemic.
2. Marshallia tenuifolia Raf.
Leafy-stemmed perennial (2-) 4-10 (-12) dm. tall from a caudex; stem usually
branched near the middle, the branches strictly erect; radical leaves spreading,
thin-textured, obovate or spatulate, obtuse; stem leaves numerous, gradually re-
duced upward, glabrous, entire, the lowermost ones (2-) 3-4 cm. long and
(4-) 5-10 (-13) mm. broad, mostly 3-nerved, spatulate to obovate or oblong-
obovate in outline, with obtuse sometimes emarginate bladelike portion gradually
narrowed basally into broad-winged subpetiolar bases shorter than the blades;
lower stem leaves elongate, linear to linear-oblong or linear-lanceolate, attenuate,
(2-) 4-20 (-22) cm. long, (1-) 2-13 (-14) mm. wide, broadest near the middle,
gradually tapering to obtuse or acutish apexes and more or less sessile somewhat
clasping bases, prominently 1- to 3-nerved; upper stem leaves narrowly linear,
attenuate, acute, gradually reduced in size upwards to the linear-subulate bracts
of the peduncles; heads singly terminating the pedunculiform upper portion of the
branches; involucres (5-) 10-15 (-20) mm. high; phyllaries herbaceous, subequal
in about 2 series, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or somewhat rhomboidal in out-
line, with strongly subulate apices, (2-) 4-5 (-6) mm. long; pales linear-attenuate,
strongly subulate-tipped, 4-7 mm. long, longer than the phyllaries; corolla purple
or pale-lavender, 6-14 mm. long; pappus scales (0.7-) 1-2 (-2.5) mm. long,
achenes 1.5-3 mm. long.
Infrequent in sandy usually wet or moist soil, in wet savannahs and on seepage
slope, occasionally in boggy soils with pitcher plants, and in wettish forests of e.
and s.e. Tex., late summer-Oct.; Coastal States, Ga. to Tex.
37. Helenium L. SNEEZEWEED
Annual or perennial caulescent herbs usually with taproots; stems 1-20 dm. tall,
usually simple below, ascendingly branched above; leaves alternate, usually
ascending, in some species decurrent, essentially sessile, the lowest ones often
pinnately lobed, the upper usually not, all beset with microscopic droplets of
resinlike exudate; peduncles monocephalous, terminal; receptacle usually globose
or prolate (or globose but basally truncate), naked or rarely with a few short
bristles in the peripheral zone; involucre usually flat or even inverted-saucer-
shaped; phyllaries about 16, in 2 series of about 8, lanceolate to subulate, herbace-
ous in texture, usually pubescent and resin-atomiferous, the outer somewhat
longer than the inner, usually reflexed at maturity; ray flowers absent or present,
about 8, pistillate or not, fertile or infertile; rays yellow (or red-brown with a
yellow tip), apically 3-lobed, often reflexed, dorsally often hairy and resin-
atomiferous; disk usually globose or prolate; disk flowers numerous, perfect,
fertile; corollas yellow mostly, with 5 moniliform-pubescent triangular lobes which
are either yellow or red-brown; style branches unappendaged, truncate, penicillate;
achenes obpyramidal, 4- or 5-angled, short and squatty, usually antrorsely hairy
at least in the basal part; pappus of 5 translucent scales each of which usually is
prolonged into an awnlike tip, occasionally the whole scale narrow and awnlike.
About 40 species, mostly in western America.
1677
-------
1. Cauline leaf bases not decurrent along the stem, the stem thus not winged;
plants subtomentose when young; leaves thickish 1. H. Hoopesii.
1. Cauline leaf bases more or less decurrent along the stem to form wings (at
least for several mm.) on the stem (2)
2(1). Rays absent (3)
2. Rays present (5)
3(2). Plants of southern Arizona and Mexico; annual or biennial; pappus scales
broadly ovate to suborbicular, obtuse or rounded, ribless and awn-
less 2. H. Thurberi.
3. Plants of Oklahoma and Texas; perennial or taprooted annuals; pappus scales
lanceolate or acute (4)
4(3). Perennial with short fibrous rooted caudex; disk red-brown; pappus scales
awned, about 1 mm. long 4. H. flexuosum.
4. Annual; disk reddish to yellowish; pappus scales acute, less than 0.5 mm.
long 3. H. microcephalum.
5(2). Ray flowers neutral, sterile (6)
5. Ray flowers styliferous, fertile (tardily so in some) (7)
6(5). Disk yellow; stem nearly simple 5. H. Drummondii.
6. Disk red-brown; stem branched 4. H. flexuosum.
7(5). Leaves not uniform; stem not winged throughout; disk more than 15 mm.
thick, the disk corollas tipped with purple several-celled hairs
7. H. arizonicum.
7. Leaves essentially uniform; stem almost entirely winged throughout; disk less
than 15 mm. thick, the disk corollas yellowish, not tipped with
purple several-celled hairs 6. H. autumnak.
1. Helenium Hoopesii Gray. ORANGE SNEEZEWEED, OWL-CLAWS.
Perennial with 1 or more leafy stems; stem 3—10 dm. tall, more or less puberu-
lent, pubescent or tomentose when young, soon glabrate; basal leaves 1-3 dm.
long, oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, entire, wing-petioled; upper leaves
lanceolate to lance-ovate, sessile but not decurrent; involucres 7-10 mm. high; rays
15-30 mm. long, subentire, golden-yellow to orange; disk flowers about 5 mm.
long; pappus about 2-3 mm. long; achenes about 3 mm. long.
In marshes, wet mt. meadows and in rich soil in conifer forests, in N.M.
(widespread) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Graham, Cochise and Pima
cos.), June-Sept.; Wyo. to Ore., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
This plant is poisonous to sheep causing "spewing sickness." It is poisonous
to cattle but not often eaten by them.
2. Helenium Thurberi Gray.
Ascending much-branched annual, 4-10 dm. tall, with slender puberulent
obviously winged stems and branches; lower leaves oblanceolate, 5-15 cm. long,
more or less puberulent and subentire to sharply dentate, narrowing to a slightly
winged petiole; upper leaves narrowly lanceolate to linear-spatulate, 2-7 cm. long,
entire; peduncles slender, 3-10 cm. long, striate; heads discoid, broadly ovoid to
subglobose, more or less corymbose, 5-12 mm. in diameter; involucral bracts
linear, 3-7 mm. long, granuliferous and slightly hirsutulous; corollas greenish
yellow, faintly tinged with purplish or brownish at tips of lobes, about 1 mm.
long, tube virtually lacking, throat campanulate, granuliferous; achenes barely
1 mm. long, hirsutulous along low ridges; pappus scales broadly ovate to sub-
orbicular, obtuse or rounded, ribless and awnless, about 0.2 mm. long, subhyaline.
Marshy places along streams, ditches and about ponds, in s. Ariz. (Final, Gila,
Cochise, Pima and Yuma cos.), Mar.-Aug.; also Mex.
1678
-------
3. Helenium microcephalum DC. SNEEZEWEED.
Taprooted annual (2-) 3-6 (-8) dm. tall, usually simple-stemmed basally, bushy-
branched above, the stems winged; leaves narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong-
elliptic, usually serrate or undulate-serrate-margined, blunt, ascending, decurrent;
peduncles short so that the heads usually just barely emerge above the foliage
mass; receptacle usually short conic-globular; rays entirely yellow, (1-) 2-3 (-5)
mm. long; disk pale-red-brown, usually slightly higher than thick; achenes mostly
0.8-1 mm. long; pappus scales 0.2-0.4 (-0.5) mm. long, ascending. H. ooclinium
Gray.
Abundant in overgrazed areas, especially in low seasonally moist areas of clay
soil, in seepage areas and along streams in s.w. Okla. (Waterfall) and w. half of
Tex., infrequently e. to Brazos and San Patricio cos., summer- (fall); also Tarn.,
N.L. and Coah.
4. Helenium flexuosum Raf. Fig. 774.
Perennial herb perennating by resetted offshoots at the crown; stems 3-10 dm.
tall, simple basally, profusely branched, winged below; radical leaves usually
withered by flowering time, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or oblanceo-
late to spathulate, entire to pinnatifid-incised, 3-21 cm. long, 4-30 mm. broad;
stem leaves mostly entire, linear-lanceolate, decurrent, much-reduced upward;
heads usually many, globose; receptacle subglobose to conical-subglobose; ray
flowers when present infertile (style usually absent); rays yellow, umber or suffused
with red or purple, 10-21 mm. long; disk red-brown to red-purple, 7-20 mm.
thick, 5-15 mm. high, the corollas predominantly 4-merous; achenes 1-1.5 mm.
long, columnar to truncate-turbinate; pappus scales usually 5, lanceolate, acute
and awned apically. H. nudiflorum Nutt.
Infrequent in moist sandy places, in swamps, swampy meadows, along ditches,
sloughs and streams and about ponds, in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and s.e. Tex.
(s. to Calhoun Co.), rare in e. Tex., spring (to first week in June); e. U.S. w. to
Mo., Okla. and Tex.
5. Helenium Drummondii Rock. Fig. 774.
Perennial herb perennating from rosette-leaved off-shoots of the crown; stems
(19-) 47-54 (-60) cm. tall, solitary, simple, subscapose, monocephalous, winged
below; radical leaves usually present at flowering time, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-
lanceolate or less commonly spatulate or oblanceolate, marginally entire to
repand, dentate to pinnatifid; stem leaves narrower, nearly linear, very strongly
reduced upward, the uppermost (near the middle of the stems) being mere bracts;
receptacle convex to hemispherical; ray flowers astylous, infertile, the yellow rays
12-22 mm. long; disk yellow, 9-14 (-18) mm. high, 12-22 mm. thick, the corollas
5-lobed; achenes columnar to truncate-turbinate, 1-1.5 mm. long, hairy on the
ribs; pappus scales 5 to 10, 2-3.5 mm. long, deeply divided into capillary seg-
ments.
Infrequent in poorly drained areas and seepy soils on edge of woods and
thickets, in s.e. Tex., rare in e. Tex., spring; Tex., La. and Fla.
6. Helenium autuninale L.
Perennial herb from a fibrous-rooted subrhizomatous base; stems erect, 3-10
dm. tall, branched above, winged; leaves mostly linear-elliptic, usually serrated,
3-15 cm. long, 3-18 mm. broad, acute, decurrent; peduncles 3-6 cm. long;
receptacle roughly globose; ray flowers pistillate, tardily fertile, the rays yellow;
disk globose, 8-13 (-20) mm. thick, yellow, the corollas 5-merous; achenes about
1.5 mm. long, hairy on the ribs; pappus scales lanceolate, erose-fimbriate, acumi-
nate, about a fourth as long as the tube. H. canaliculatum Lam., H. edwardsianum
Cory.
1679
-------
Fig. 774: a and b, Helenium fiexuosum: a, habit, x %; b, achene, x 10. c-e,
Helenium Drummondii. c, habit, x ^j; d, disk flower, x 10; e, achene, x 10. (V. F.).
-------
In moist usually calcareous places, in marshes along streams and along irriga-
tion ditches in Okla. (Waterfall), in n.-cen. and e. Tex. and the Edwards Plateau
and Plains Country, N. M. (Sierra, Taos, Chaves, Otero and San Miguel cos.)
and Ariz. (Navajo, Yavapai and Cochise cos.), (Aug.-) Sept.-Oct.; widespread
in temp. N.A.
7. Helenium arizonicum Blake. Fig. 775.
Root biennial, vertical, slenderly conic, about 10 cm. long, 1 cm. thick above,
with few strong rootlets; stem solitary, erect, stout, striate-angled and sulcate,
greenish-white, erect-branched essentially from base to apex, obscurely incurved-
puberulous below, nearly glabrous above, dotted with yellow-brown glands; lower
leaves 8-10 cm. long (including petiole, this about 2 cm. long, narrowly
margined, at base ampliate, purplish and about 7-nerved), 6-10 mm. wide,
triplinerved, essentially glabrous, densely glandular-punctate on both sides, pale
green; stem leaves numerous, semiamplexicaul and decurrent for 1-4 mm., the
uppermost jsmaller; peduncles solitary at tips of stem and branches, enlarged just
below the head, many-sulcate, 2-11 cm. long; involucre soon reflexed; phyllaries
about 14, narrowly triangular, acuminate, 7-9 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide at base,
sparsely pilose below, densely so toward tip, punctate; disk subglobose, 12-17 mm.
high, 15—20 mm. thick; submature receptacle 5 mm. long, 3 mm. thick; rays about
12 or more, cuneate, deeply 3-lobed (lobes blunt, 2.5-3.3 mm. long), 9- to
11-neryed, 12-13 mm. long, 6-7 mm. wide, densely gland-dotted outside; disk
corollas yellow, tipped with purple-brown, short-pilose on teeth with several-celled
hairs, 3.4 mm. long; disk achenes erect-pilose on the ribs with rufescent hairs,
sessile-glandular between the ribs, 2 mm. long; pappus scales 6 or 7, subequal,
1.8-2.3 mm. long, the body lanceolate or lance-ovate, gradually narrowed into the
awn.
In wet meadows and on edge of ponds, in Ariz. (Coconino Co.), Aug.-Sept.;
endemic.
38. Clappia GRAY
A monotypic genus.
It Clappia suaedaefolia Gray.
Subshrub from taproots, only slightly woody below, much-branched, the upper
third or fourth of the height being nearly naked fistulose peduncles; leaves opposite
on the lowest part of the stem but mostly alternate, crowded, confined to the lower
two thirds or three fourths of the plant, fleshy and almost terete, linear, rarely
with a lateral lobe or trifid in the distal half, often having lines of black (glan-
dular?) dots visible under a lens, grayish-green when fresh; heads solitary, on
the ends of the enlarged peduncles; involucre hemispheric, 8-10 mm. high;
phyllaries in about 4 or 5 series, strongly graduate, linear-oblong, definitely
rounded apically, rather firm-membranous with an exceedingly narrow scarious
margin, often with parallel dark or subglandular longitudinal striae; receptacle
convex, decidedly fimbriate-setose around the sockets but not chaffy; ray flowers
about 12, pistillate, fertile; rays yellow, linear, terminally 2- or 3-toothed; disk
flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, the corolla yellow and 5-toothed; style-branches
hispidulous, with ovate tips; achenes about 3.5 mm. long, columnar or slightly
tapered to the base, black, about 10-ribbed, the ribs hispidulous; pappus of 15 to
25 unequal coarse stiff slightly tawny dorsiventrally flattened persistent bristles
about as long as the achene.
Locally abundant in subsaline or alkaline poorly drained clay flats, Rio Grande
Plains, spring-fall, less commonly summer and winter; also N.L. and Tarn.
1681
-------
Fig. 775: Helenium arizonicum: a, basal part of plant, x %; b, upper part of
ant, x Vs c, head, x 1; d, ray, x 1; e, disk flower, x 10; f, disk flower spread open.
/. F.). "
plant.
(V. F.)
-------
39. Flaveria Juss.
Glabrous or puberulent herbs, usually annual; leaves opposite, narrow, entire
to dentate, sessile, often more or less connate; heads numerous, sessile or short-
pedunculate, in dense glomerules or cymelike clusters; involucre usually narrowly
campanulate to nearly cylindric; phyllaries 1 to 8 subequal and often 1 or 2
smaller outer ones; receptacle small, naked or setose; ray flowers solitary, pistillate
and fertile or absent; rays entire, emarginate or 3-dentate terminally, yellow, in-
conspicuous; disk flowers 1 to 15, perfect, fertile; corolla yellow, 5-toothed
terminally; style 2-parted, reflexed, obtuse; achenes oblong, somewhat compressed,
10-ribbed; pappus absent or in F. chloraefolia present and of 2 to 4 distinct
irregular scales.
A genus of about 20 species in the warmer parts of America.
1. Pappus of 2 to 4 scales; leaves connate-perfoliate, broad; throat of the disk
corollas elongate, funnelform 1. F. chloraefolia.
1. Pappus absent; leaves barely connate (2)
2(1). Phyllaries 3, rarely 4 2. F. campestris.
2. Phyllaries 5 to 7 3. F. oppositifolia.
1. Flaveria chloraefolia Gray. Fig. 776.
Herb to 2 m. tall, the herbage glaucous; leaves ovate-oblong to lanceolate,
25-100 mm. long, 10-35 mm. broad, glabrous, connate-perfoliate; heads in open
cymose clusters, 11- to 13-flowered; phyllaries 5, oblong, 6-7 mm. long, the
outer calyculate ones 2, lanceolate; receptacle naked; ray flower absent; disk
corolla 6 mm. long, glabrous; achenes 3 mm. long; pappus of 2 to 4 hyaline
unequal incurved scales, the larger about 0.5 mm. long.
Infrequent to rare in mud along creeks in calcareous or alkaline areas in the
Tex. Trans-Pecos, rare to w. part of Edwards Plateau, and N.M. (Chaves and
Guadalupe cos.), late summer-fall; Tex. to N.M., Dgo. and N.L.
2. Flaveria campestris J. R. Johnst.
Taprooted annual, the erect stems glabrous or pubescent only at the nodes;
leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, serrulate, 3-ribbed, narrowed basally, slightly
connate, 25-70 mm. long, 10-25 mm. broad; heads 4- or 5-flowered; phyllaries 3,
nearly equal, 5 mm. long, the outer shorter ones 2 and unequal, 1-3 mm. long,
linear-lanceolate; receptacle naked; ray oval, reflexed, 2.5 mm. long; disk flowers
3 or 4; corollas 3 mm. long; achene 2.5-3 mm. long, that of the ray slightly
larger than the rest; pappus absent.
Frequent in low waste ground or disturbed ground, in alkali flats, low moist
or wet prairies, in alluvial thickets along streams, and in seepage areas and about
ponds, in w. half of Okla. (Waterfall), the Tex. Plains Country and N.M.
(Valencia Co.), late summer-fall; Mo. to Colo., N.M. and Tex.
3. Flaveria oppositifolia (DC.) Rydb.
Taprooted annual 3-10 dm. tall, simple below; leaves glabrous, broadest at
the sessile base, nearly linear, entire or rarely spinulose-denticulate; heads of 10
to 15 flowers in ample rather open cymose clusters; phyllaries 5 to 7, oblong,
4 mm. long; receptacle naked; ray flower absent; disk corolla 3 mm. long,
glabrous; achenes 1.5 mm. long; pappus absent.
Locally abundant in poorly drained or marshy coastal areas, Rio Grande Plains
and s. part of s.e. Tex., late summer-fall; Tex., Tarn., N.L., Coah., Ver. and
perhaps elsewhere in Mex.
1683
-------
Fig. 776: Flaveria chloraefolia: a, upper part of plant, x V2; b, lower part of
plant, x i£; c, involucre, x 21/,; d, anthers, x 2%; e, style, x 2^; f, corolla split, X
2%. (V. F.).
-------
Fig. 777: Anthemis Cotula: A, habit, x %; B, leaf, x 2; C, flower head, x iy2;
D, disk flower, x 8; E, achene, x 8. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States,
Fig. 182).
-------
40. Anthemis L. CAMOMILE
A genus of several species, mostly European; one is adventive with us. A.
nobilis L. is the usual source of "camomile," a useful stomach drug. Maruta Cass.
1. Anthemis Cotula L. MAYWEED, DOG-FENNEL. Fig. 777.
Ill-scented taprooted annual 2-5 dm. tall, usually with several stems from
the base; leaves alternate, bipinnatifid, the divisions linear; heads terminal and
solitary on the branches which are naked for the upper 1-3 cm.; involucre
saucer-shaped, about 3 mm. high, 6-8 mm. broad; phyllaries in 2 series, subequal,
mostly scarious, elliptic, obtuse or acutish, pubescent; receptacle high-conic,
chaffy toward the apex, the subulate pales stiff; ray flowers 10 to 15, infertile;
rays white, 6-8 mm. long, about 2 mm. broad; disk flowers numerous, perfect,
fertile; corolla greenish-yellow, glandular-granuliferous, 2 mm. long, with 5 teeth;
achenes cylindric, 1-1.5 mm. long, nearly ribless or very weakly 10-ribbed; pappus
absent.
Scattered in waste places, sometimes in wet meadows and marshy lowlands, in
the e. half of Okla. and the e. two thirds of Tex., N.M. (Bernalillo Co.) and Ariz.
(Coconino, Yavapai, Maricopa, Final, Cochise and Pima cos.), escaped from cult.,
Mar.-July; a Eur. herb now widely adv. in the world.
41. Achillea L.
A large genus of north-temperate areas.
1. Achillea millifolium L. COMMON YARROW, MILFOIL. Fig. 778.
Perennial herb with 1 to several stems from the base, 2—10 dm. tall; leaves
alternate, bi- or tripinnatifid, variably pubescent, rather fernlike; heads with
about 10 to 20 flowers, in terminal corymbose rather dense clusters; involucre
turbo-cylindric, 4-5 mm. high, 2.5-4 mm. thick; phyllaries in about 4 series,
graduated, mostly scarious; receptacle chaffy, the stiffish pales oblong; ray flowers
present, 5 to 12; rays white; tube of disk corolla more or less flattened; corolla
whitish or yellowish-white, 5-toothed; achenes more or less obcompressed, sub-
rhombic to obliquely triquetrous in transection, oblong or obovate in outline,
callous-margined, glabrous; pappus absent.
Frequent in disturbed soil, more or less ubiquitous, sometimes abundant in
wet meadows, seepage areas and marshlands, in the n. half of Tex., throughout
Okla., N.M. and Ariz., spring-summer; nat. of Eur. and Asia, with varieties nat.
to nearly all of N.A.
Ours are the var. occidentalis DC. with rays about 2 mm. long, and the var.
lanulosa (Nutt.) Piper with rays 2.5 mm. long or longer.
42. Cotula L.
About 50 species that are native chiefly to the Southern Hemisphere, mainly
in the Old World.
1. Cotula coronopifolia L. BRASS BUTTONS. Fig. 779.
Low diffuse strong-scented glabrous perennial herb; stems many, decumbent,
to 3 dm. long; leaves alternate, 2-6 cm. long, entire to toothed or pinnatifid,
linear to oblong, sheathing stem at base; heads on slender naked peduncles, dis-
coid, bright-clear-yellow, depressed, to 1 cm. broad; phyllaries thin, scarious,
greenish, in 1 or 2 ranks; receptacle essentially flat, naked; ray flowers absent,
their places taken by 1 outer row of pistillate flowers which lack corollas and
are on stipes as long as the involucre; central (disk) flowers with 4-toothed
corollas, on shorter stipes; achenes pedicellate, compressed, papillate on inner
1686
-------
Fig. 778: Achillea millefolium: A, habit, x %; B, enlarged leaf and stem, x 5; C,
flower head, x 4; D, female and male flowers, x 5; E, seeds, x 6. (From Reed, Selected
Weeds of the United States, Fig. 178).
-------
Fig. 779: Cotula coronopifolia: a, habit, showing decumbent stems rooting at
the nodes, x 2-j; b, flowering head, showing phyllaries, x 3; c, outer pistillate flower
and subtending phyllary, showing the long stipe supporting the ovary, x 16; d and
e, mature achenes of outer pistillate flower, showing the inflated membranous coat,
the smooth abaxial surface, and the papillate adaxial surface, x 8; f, mature achene of
disk flower, showing smooth abaxial surface, x 8; g, disk flower, showing achene
with narrow membranous margin and papillate adaxial surface, x 8. (From Mason,
Fig. 353).
-------
face, smooth on outer face, those of the outer pistillate flowers with a loose
membranous coat which is expanded on the margins and extends over the back,
those of the central flowers with a narrow membranous margin; pappus wanting.
In wet saline soils and marshy situations, often almost aquatic, in Ariz. (Mohave
and Yuma cos.); weed introd. from S. Afr.
43. Artemisia L. WORMWOOD. SAGEBRUSH
A genus of a few hundred species in the cooler, drier parts of the world. The
plants are wind-pollinated and have toxic, allergenic pollen. The beverage absinthe
is made by steeping the leaves of A. absinthium L. in alcohol. Tarragon, an herb
used in cooking, is the herbage of A. Dracunculus L. The over-abundant "sage-
brush" of the western plains is A. tridentata Nutt. Most of our species afford some
low-quality forage for livestock, but only one is a wetland plant.
1. Artemisia biennis Willd.
Coarse essentially inodorous glabrous annual or biennial to about 3 m. tall;
leaves alternate, 5-15 cm. long, pinnatisect almost to the midrib into several
narrow lobes that are usually again sharply toothed or with the lower bipinnatifid;
inflorescence dense, spikelike or of several spiciform branches; heads numerous,
crowded, urceolate, scarcely pedunculate; involucre glabrous, 2-3 mm. high; flowers
all fertile, the outer pistillate; receptacle glabrous; phyllaries with very broad
scarious margins; achenes ellipsoid, 4- to 5-nerved, glabrous.
Edge of marshes, stream banks, river beds and waste places generally, in N.M.
(Rio Arriba, San Juan and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino and Final cos.),
June-Sept.; Can. to N.J., Ky., Mo., N.M., Ariz, and Calif., where native, else-
where naturalized.
44. Arnica L.
About 35 species of circumboreal distribution; most highly developed in western
North America.
1. Arnica Chamissonis Less.
Perennial from long nearly naked rhizomes; stems solitary, 2-10 dm. tall;
herbage variously pubescent but not silvery-tomentose nor pilose, becoming some-
what glandular above; leaves simple, opposite; cauline leaves mostly in 5 to 10
pairs, not much reduced upwards, lanceolate to oblanceolate, sessile or with
the lowermost connate-petiolate, slightly toothed to entire, 5-30 cm. long, mostly
1-4 cm. wide, rarely more; heads usually several, campanulate to hemispheric;
involucre mostly 8-12 mm. high, its bracts obtuse or merely acutish and bearing
an apical or internally subapical tuft of white hairs; rays commonly about 13,
usually pale, 1.5-2 cm. long; achenes shortly hairy and glandular to subglabrous;
pappus tawny or whitish, barbellate to subplumose. A. foliosa Nutt.
In wet meadows, alluvial soils, in wet soil along streams and about lakes, in
N.M. (Rio Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Coconino Co.), July-Sept.; Alas.
to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
45. Senecio L. GROUNDSEL. RAGWORT. SQUAW-WEED
Herbs or subshrubs; leaves alternate, often pinnatifid; involucre usually campanu-
late or obconic-campanulate (or urceolate at anthesis); phyllaries usually in 2 size-
classes; longer (inner) phyllaries 12 to 25, equal in length, in a double row, linear,
often acute, with a herbaceous median area and usually thin margins; outer
phyllaries much shorter, subulate-setaceous, forming a calyculum or in many
species entirely absent; receptacle slightly convex, essentially naked; ray flowers
present, pistillate, fertile; rays linear or elliptic-linear, yellow, terminally 3-toothed;
1689
-------
disk flowers numerous, perfect, fertile; corolla equally 5-toothed, yellow; achenes
columnar, nearly terete, several-nerved, alike in ray and disk; pappus of numerous
capillary bristles.
An enormous world-wide genus of between 2,000 and 3,000 species, reputed
to be among the several largest seed-plant genera.
1. Woody, moderately branched shrub; old bark gray, new bark reddish, youngest
twigs green and finely striate; ray flowers 2 to 8, ligules about 6
mm. long, pale yellow; southern Arizona 7. S. salignus.
1. Annual or perennial herbs (2)
2(1). Annual; terminal lobes of leaves in lower half of stem usually 1-3 cm.
wide 1. S. glabellus.
2. Perennial (3)
3(2). Plants of eastern Oklahoma; phyllaries purple tipped; achenes glabrous....
2. S. aureus.
3. Plants of New Mexico (4)
4(3). Cauline leaves well-developed, only gradually reduced upwards; no well-
developed tuft of basal leaves present (5)
4. Cauline leaves generally strongly and progressively reduced; basal or lower
cauline leaves well-developed (6)
5(4). Cauline leaves (at least in part) sessile, with broad more or less clasping
base; phyllaries with a blackish tip 3. S. crassulus.
5. Cauline leaves (except sometimes the reduced upper ones) petiolate or tapering
to a narrow base, the lower leaves triangular with deltoid to cordate
base 4. S. triangularis.
6(4). Basal leaves (or some of them) cordate or subcordate, sharply toothed;
cauline leaves laciniate-pinnatifid at least toward their bases
5. S. pseudaureus.
6. Basal leaves not cordate nor subcordate but rather elliptic or oblanceolate,
crenate or serrate to subentire 6. S. pauperculus.
1. Senecio glabellus Poir. BUTTERWEED.
Annual 1-4 (-10) dm. tall; leaves pinnately lobed, lateral lobes oblong, undu-
late-margined, basally (toward the axis) not or only slightly constricted, the
terminal lobe irregularly undulate.
Rare in sandy soil and moist or wet shady places in Okla. (Waterfall) and e.
Tex. (Gregg and San Augustine cos.), spring; s.e. U.S., n. to N.C., 111. and Mo., w.
to Kan., Okla. and Tex.
2. Senecio aureus L.
Perennial from a branched rhizomatous caudex or creeping rhizome, sometimes
with coarse and leafy offshoots; herbage lightly floccose-tomentose when young,
glabrescent; stem 2-12 dm. high; basal leaves long-petioled, cordate, suborbicular
to ovate, crenate or serrate; cauline leaves variously pinnatifid, usually reduced
and becoming sessile upward; heads few to many, with golden-yellow ligules 6-13
mm. long (rarely ray flowers absent), the disk 5-12 mm. wide; involucre 5-10
mm. high, the phyllaries often purple-tipped; achenes glabrous.
Swamps and wet or moist woodlands in Okla. (Delaware Co.), Apr.-Aug.; Lab.
to Ga. and Ala., w. to Minn, and e. Okla.
3. Senecio crassulus Gray.
Perennial plant; stem 2-5 dm. high, rarely less, mostly leafy to the apex; leaves
8-15 cm. long, oblong-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate or obovate, denticulate,
glabrous or essentially so, lower leaves cuneate to a winged petiole, the upper
sessile and partly clasping, sometimes strongly reduced; heads 10-15 mm. high,
1690
-------
erect, few to several, corymbose; involucres broadly campanulate; phyllaries fleshy
thickened on back and near base, blackish-hairy near apex; rays 7-10 mm. long,
yellow. S. semiamplexicaulis Rydb., S. lapathifolius Greene.
Wet meadows in mts. of N.M. (Rio Arriba Co.), June-Aug.; S.D. to Ida., s.
to N.M. and Ut.
4. Senecio triangularis Hook.
Perennial or biennial; stems erect, 1 to a few from a heavy horizontal root-
stock, 5-20 dm. tall; herbage tomentose when young, usually becoming glabrous;
leaves many, gradually reduced upward, lanceolate to triangular-ovate, 5-20 cm.
long, cordate, hastate or merely truncate at base, sharply serrate, dentate, denticu-
late or nearly entire, the lower leaves on petioles as long as the blade; heads
usually many in an open or dense corymbose terminal cyme; involucre 6-8 mm.
high; rays 6 to 12, 8-10 mm. long.
Bogs, marshy areas, and stream margins, in N.M. (Taos, Rio Arriba, San
Miguel and Santa Fe cos.), June-Sept.; Alas, and Yuk., s. to Sask., N.M. and
Calif.
5. Senecio pseudaureus Rydb.
Perennial plant with definite ascending or horizontal rootstocks; stems 3-7 dm.
tall, erect, glabrous or tomentose in axils of leaves or in inflorescence; basal leaves
1-10 cm. long, ovate-rotund to oblong-ovate, crenate to doubly serrate, usually
rounded at apex, some cordate at base, long-petioled; stem leaves more or less
lyrate-pinnatifid, short-petioled or sessile and clasping, reduced upwards, glabrous
or glabrate; heads 8-10 mm. high, erect, few to many in a corymbose cyme;
involucre campanulate, calyculate; phyllaries about 21, rarely as few as 13, 6-8
mm. long, glabrous except at apex; rays yellow, 10 to 13, 6-9 mm. long; achenes
glabrous.
Wet meadows and wet stream banks, N. M. (Rio Arriba Co.), June-Aug.; Sask.
to B.C., s. to N.M. and Calif.
6. Senecio pauperculus Michx.
Fibrous-rooted perennial with a rather short simple or slightly branched caudex,
occasionally with some very short slender stolons, 1-5 dm. high, lightly floccose-
tomentose when young, glabrescent except at the very base and in the leaf axils;
basal leaves petiolate, the blade oblanceolate to elliptic or occasionally suborbi-
cular, crenate or serrate to subentire; cauline leaves more or less pinnatifid, the
lower sometimes larger than the basal, the others conspicuously reduced and
becoming sessile, all relatively thin and not at all succulent; heads several, the
disk 5-12 mm. wide; involucre mostly 6-9 mm. high; rays mostly 5-10 mm. long,
or rarely wanting. S. flavovirens Rydb.
Swamps, meadows, stream banks in N.M. (San Miguel, Rio Arriba, Socorro and
Sierra cos.), May-Oct; Lab. to Va., w. to s. Yuk., B.C., Ore. and N.M.
7. Senecio salignus DC.
Woody, moderately branched shrub to 2.5 m. tall, glabrous throughout; bark
reddish-brown on younger branches, tawny to gray on old growth, youngest twigs
green and finely striate; leaves narrowly lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, to 1 dm.
long, 5-10 mm. wide, tapering gradually toward each end, usually serrate, the
teeth somewhat callous-tipped, dark green on upper surface, paler beneath; petioles
gradually merging with blade; inflorescence corymbose, cymes to 1 dm. wide; heads
radiate, 10-12 mm. high; involucres campanulate, phyllaries 7 to 9, broadly oblong
or oblanceolate, 5-6 mm. long, 2-2.8 mm. wide, obtuse or rounded at the tip,
somewhat hardened at the base, thin, with the margins scarious; ray flowers 2 to
8, sometimes wanting, ligules pale-yellow, 5-7 mm. long, about 2 mm. wide,
1691
-------
Fig. 780: Cacalia lanceolata: a, basal portion of stem and caudex; b, a midportion
of stem; c, portion of inflorescence. (From Krai and Godfrey, Quart, Jour. Fla. Acad.
Sci. 21(3), fig. 4. 1958).
-------
lightly rolled downward; disk flowers 15 to 25, slender, 7-8 mm. long, abruptly
expanded at base of tube, slightly expanded to a narrow throat, teeth narrowly
triangular-lanceolate (about 1.5 mm. long) and curled downward; achenes brown-
ish, 2.5-3 mm. long, weakly 8- to 10-ribbed, sparsely strigillose; pappus bristles
5-6 mm. long, white.
Rich soil along streams in Ariz. (Santa Cruz and Pima cos.), Feb.-Apr.; s.
Ariz, to Guat.
46. Cacalia L. INDIAN PLANTAIN
Strongly perennial essentially glabrous herbs; stems stout, 5-20 dm. tall, mostly
simple and erect except at the extreme top; leaves alternate, the blades lanceolate
or elliptic to rhombic-ovate or rhombic-oblanceolate, the lower ones usually long-
petioled, the distal margin often undulate or remotely dentate; unlobed heads in
a close corymbose arrangement at the tip of the plant; involucre short-urceolate,
5-10 mm. long; phyllaries about 5, broad, yellow-green; receptacle slightly con-
vex, naked; ray flowers absent; disk flowers few, perfect, fertile, the corolla pale-
yellowish or nearly white with its limb equally 5-toothed; achene columnar,
smoothish; pappus persistent, of numerous very slender white bristles.
About 50 species, mostly in eastern Asia.
1. Phyllaries wing-keeled; basal and lower stem leaves ovate or rhombic-ovate,
usually broadly so; plant usually flowering April-June
1. C. plantaginea.
1. Phyllaries not wing-keeled; basal and lower stem leaves lanceolate; plant
flowering July-October 2. C. lanceolata.
1. Cacalia plantaginea (Raf.) Shinners.
• Lower stem leaves ovate to rhombic, usually broadly so; each phyllary at least
by anthesis with a narrow median dorsal keel. C. tuberosa of auth.
Frequent in open areas, in water of marshes and in low depressions or swales,
in s.e. Okla. (McCurtain Co.) and e., s.e. and n.-cen. Tex., Apr.-June and less
commonly again in late Sept.-Nov.; widespread in e. U.S.
2. Cacalia lanceolata Nutt. Fig. 780.
Lower stem leaves narrower than in C. plantaginea, usually lanceolate; phyllaries
not wing-keeled even after anthesis.
Infrequent in wet mud about ponds and lakes, on edge of ditches and wettish
meadows, in e. and s.e. Tex., July-Oct.; coastal s.e. states. C. plantaginea and
C. lanceolata intergrade to some extent.
47. Erechtites RAF. FIREWEED. BURNWEED
A genus of about 15 species in America, Australia and New Zealand.
1. Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf. var. intermedia Fern.
Annual herb with stubby taproots and numerous adventitious roots, the lower
parts of the stem occasionally propped in the mud by adventitious roots at the
lower nodes, leafy, usually with one stem and few branches, to 1 m. tall; leaves
alternate, irregularly and often doubly serrate, the lower ones narrowed to a sub-
petiolar base and broadly oblanceolate, the higher ones semiamplexicaul and the
teeth tending to be incised very deeply almost forming shallow lobes; heads on
slender peduncles 2-18 cm. long; receptacle essentially flat, naked; involucre
cylindric or slightly urceolate at anthesis, becoming narrowly campanulate in
fruit; principal phyllaries equal, linear, about 13 or 14 in number, in a double
row, 9-13 mm. long; outer phyllaries few, setaceous, 1-3 mm. long, forming a
weak calyculum; flowers of 2 kinds; peripheral flowers pistillate, fertile, with a
1693
-------
yellowish-white filiform-tubular corolla which at the tip is microscopically un-
equally toothed with 3 of the teeth much longer than the other 2 (the 3 longer
teeth corresponding to the 3 teeth at the end of a ray and oriented to the outside
of the head); central flowers numerous, perfect, fertile, the corollas with basal
tube and a flaring equally 5-toothed limb; achenes all alike, columnar; pappus
of copious soft white capillary bristles.
Infrequent in muddy places, about seepage and lakes, along streams, in s.e.
Tex. and s. part of e. Tex., Aug.-Nov.; e. U.S.
48. Cirsium MILL. THISTLE. PLUMED THISTLE
Winter annual, biennial or perennial herbs; leaves alternate, entire or often
lobed, usually also irregularly serrate, the whole blade plus each lobe plus each
tooth usually ending in a spine-tip, sessile, often narrowed to a subpetiolar base,
often slightly decurrent on the stem, often with a thin floccose wool beneath or
on both surfaces; heads singly terminating the pedunculiform upper parts of the
branches; involucre ovoid or subcylindric to urceolate or nearly globose, usually
much broader and more saucer-shaped after anthesis and when the achenes are
mature; receptacle covered with soft hairlike bristles; phyllaries in many series,
strongly imbricated, mostly lanceolate and nearly always each one ending in a
spine-tip (not in C. muticum); ray flowers absent; disk flowers numerous, perfect,
fertile; corolla usually mauve, reddish-purple, purple or pink, rarely white or
yellowish (in C. horridulum), deeply and subequally 5-lobed; filaments separate;
achenes mostly oblong or elliptic-oblong, flattish, unribbed, attached basally to the
receptacle; pappus of numerous bristles united in a ring at the base, the lower
part of each bristle plumose, the entire pappus deciduous as a unit.
A north-temperate genus of about 150 species. Differing from Carduus only
in that each unit of the pappus is decidedly plumose in the lower part; probably
should be submerged in Carduus.
1. Distribution in eastern Texas and/or eastern Oklahoma (2)
1. Distribution in mountains of New Mexico and Arizona (3)
2(1). Flowers pinkish or yellowish; phyllaries of the true involucre all with weak
flat tips but the large heads (4-8 cm. broad) subtended and often
equalled or surpassed by a false involucre of large very spinescent
appressed bracteal leaves 1. C. horridulum.
2. Flowers purple or rarely whitish; outer phyllaries barely pointed, scarcely
prickle-tipped; inner phyllaries with broadly lanceolate tips; heads
essentially naked 2. C. muticum.
3(1). Corollas yellow or greenish-yellow; at least some phyllaries usually
pectinate-ciliate (4)
3. Corollas purple, pink, red or white; phyllaries typically not pectinate-ciliate
(6)
4(3). Phyllaries not densely arachnoid on backs 3. C. inornatum.
4. Phyllaries typically densely arachnoid throughout (5)
5(4). Inner phyllaries with dilated-lacerate tips 4. C. Parryi.
5. Inner phyllaries without dilated-lacerate tips 5. C. pallidum.
6(3). Outer phyllaries strongly reflexed for half their length, purple; entire plant
commonly tinged with brownish-purple 6. C. vinaceum.
6. Outer phyllaries not strongly reflexed for half their length, only the tips purple
at most; entire plant not purplish (7)
7(6). Inner phyllaries elongate, attenuate, plane 7. C. nidulum.
1. Inner phyllaries with dilated twisted frequently fimbriate tips 8. C. foliosum.
1694
-------
1. Cirsium horridulum Michx. BULL THISTLE, YELLOW THISTLE.
Winter annual or biennial, 1-10 dm. tall, rarely taller; stems commonly 5-10
mm. thick basally; flowering stem commonly solitary at the base, rarely much-
branched above, usually with a solitary terminal head; leaves in over-all outline
often broadly linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, pinnatifid with shallow spiny
lobes; heads subtended closely by a false involucre or calyculum of large very
spiny appressed bracteal leaves as long as or longer than the true involucre;
involucre 4-8 cm. broad; phyllaries of the true involucre all with weak flat tips;
corolla pinkish or yellowish. Carduus spinosissimus Walt.
In wet meadows and depressions, in water at edge of ponds and lakes, in Okla.
(Ottawa and McCurtain cos.) and e. and s.e. Tex. and coastal part of Rio Grande
Plains, Mar.-May; mostly on the Coastal Plain, Me. to Tex. and e. Okla.
2. Cirsium muficum Michx. SWAMP-THISTLE.
Biennial supposedly; stems thick and hollow, 4-30 dm. tall; leaves thinnish,
very deeply pinnatifid, the lobes almost half the total breadth; involucre ovoid-
cylindric, 20—35 mm. high; outer phyllaries blunt and merely subulate-mucronate,
not spiny-tipped; flowers purple or rarely whitish.
Very rare in moist sand, usually acid areas, in swamps and wet meadows and
seepage areas, in e. Tex., July-Oct.; s.w. Can. and n.e. U.S. s. to N.C., Tenn.,
La. and Tex.
3. Cirsium inornatum (W. & S.) W. & S.
Biennial about 1 m. tall; stem stout, simple below but above with a few ascend-
ing branches, striate, sparingly arachnoid, becoming nearly glabrous with age;
basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate, with remote triangular spine-tipped teeth;
lower cauline leaves linear-lanceolate, to about 18 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, with
a few remote triangular spine-tipped teeth, the margins beset with fine spines,
glabrous beneath except on midvein, sparingly villous above with long weak white
hairs; upper cauline leaves lanceolate to oblong, acute or subacuminate, sessile
and clasping the base, the auricles rounded, the margins irregular and bearing
numerous slender yellow spines; heads few, occasionally solitary at end of the
branches but usually in clusters of about 3, pedunculate, campanulate, about 2.5
cm. high and slightly less broad, subtended by numerous spiny reduced bracteate
leaves; phyllaries of involucre in several series, successively shorter outward;
outer phyllaries linear-lanceolate with long-attenuate tips, mostly glabrous on the
back, rarely slightly arachnoid, spine-tipped, the margins bearing weak yellow
spines; inner phyllaries broader, scaberulous, mostly abruptly dilated at the tips
into a lanceolate or oval often laciniate spine-tipped portion; corollas yellow;
achenes obovate, compressed, brownish, 4-5 mm. long, the pappus about 10 mm.
long.
In wet meadows, edge of streams and in seepage areas, in N.M. (Otero and
Taos cos.), June-Sept.; apparently endemic.
4. Cirsium Parryi (Gray) Petrak.
Perennial or (?) biennial 3-10 dm. tall; stems more or less arachnoid-pubescent;
leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, sinuate-dentate to sinuate-lobed, with
spines 2-15 mm. long, glabrate; heads solitary or 2 to 4 clustered at end of stem
and branches, occasionally in the upper axils, 2-3 cm. high and about as wide;
involucre phyllaries rather densely arachnoid, with a glutinous dorsal ridge;
phyllaries (at least some) spinulose-ciliate, with a terminal spine 1-5 mm. long,
with at least some of the inner phyllaries with a dilated fringed tip; corollas light
greenish-yellow.
In wet meadows, on seepage slopes and in conifer forests, in N.M. (Blake) and
1695
-------
Fig. 781: Cirsium vinaceum: a, top of plant, x ^A; b, basal leaves, x %; c, flower,
x IVo; d, flower with corolla spread open, x 2V&. (V. F.).
-------
Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Graham and Greenlee cos.), July-Sept.; also Colo, and
Ut.
5. Cirsium pallidum (W. & S.) W. & S.
Biennial 1-2 m. tall; stem simple, leafy, sparingly branched about the inflores-
cence, arachnoid above, becoming glabrate below, striate; lower cauline leaves
lanceolate, acute, attenuate to the base, irregularly serrate-dentate with the teeth
tipped with short weak spines; upper cauline leaves narrowly oblong to triangular-
lanceolate, clasping at the base, with rounded auricles, acute, irregularly dentate
or shallowly lobed, the margins spine-tipped, glabrous beneath, sparingly white-
villous above, lanate along midrib; inflorescence of few heads crowded when
young but racemose with age; heads stout-pedunculate or sessile, subtended by
reduced very spiny leaves, campanulate, 3 cm. high and about as broad or
smaller; phyllaries linear; outer phyllaries arachnoid on the backs and margins,
tipped with a long slender spine and usually bearing 2 or more slender lateral
spines just below the tip; inner phyllaries lanceolate, thick and firm, scaberulous,
with slender flat weak tips; corollas greenish-yellow; achenes oblong-obovate, dark-
brown, glabrous and shining.
In swamps, marshes, wet meadows and along streams, in N.M. (widespread in
mts.), June-Oct; also Colo.
6. Cirsium vinaceum W. & S. Fig. 781.
Robust biennial 1-2 m. tall, with numerous ascending branches; stems brownish-
purple, striate, slender, glabrous; basal leaves glabrous, green, 3-5 dm. long,
to 2 dm. wide, elliptic-oblong in outline, pinnatifid nearly to the midrib, the
overlapping segments laciniately lobed; lobes of leaf segments oblong-lanceolate,
acute, the teeth tipped with short slender yellowish spines; heads very numerous,
naked, campanulate, commonly nodding; phyllaries in numerous series, narrowly
lanceolate, with long flat weak spreading tips, deep-reddish-purple throughout,
glabrous on the back, scarcely keeled, ciliate or puberulent on the margins, tipped
with short slender yellowish spines; inner phyllaries with long slender twisted tips;
entire head about 5 cm. in diameter and 4 cm. high, sometimes smaller; corolla
lobes long and narrow, purplish; achenes obovate, brown, glabrous, with tawny
plumose pappus 1.5-2 cm. long.
In water and mud of springs and streams, in N.M. (Otero Co.), July-Sept.;
endemic.
7. Cirsium nidulum (Jones) Petrak.
Root perennial; stem erect, branched above, 5-8 dm. tall, arachnoid-tomentose;
basal leaves 2-3.5 dm. long, deeply and regularly sinuate-pinnatifid, the short
lanceolate lobes with long yellow spines; upper cauline leaves reduced, sessile,
very spiny; heads solitary, ovoid; involucre about 3.5 cm. high; phyllaries glabrous
except for the arachnoid margins, with a rather faint glutinous ridge; outer
phyllaries somewhat spreading-reflexed, these and the middle ones terminated
by yellow spines to 2.5 cm. long; inner phyllaries acuminate, not spine-tipped;
flowers light red-purple, well-exserted.
In marshes below springs and in wettish soils along streams, in Ariz. (Coconino
Co.), June-Oct.; Ariz., Ut., Nev. and Calif.
8. Cirsium foliosum (Hook.) DC.
Perennial with a taproot; stem to 6 (-10) dm. tall or sometimes much-
abbreviated, thick and succulent, edible, usually only slightly if at all tapering
above, more or less crisp-arachnoid; leaves more or less arachnoid-villous above,
rather thinly tomentose or subglabrous beneath, weakly spiny, pinnatifid or merely
1697
-------
coarsely toothed; heads clustered at the summit of stem or rarely solitary, usually
overtopped by the subtending leaves or the inflorescence sometimes elongate but
still dense; involucre 2-3.5 cm. high, usually glabrous or nearly so; phyllaries
rather broad, well-imbricate, the outer with a short mostly erect spine tip, the
inner innocuous and often with a dilated scarious fringed tip; corollas whitish to
pale-pink or purplish, unequally cleft, the deepest sinuses mostly 5-8 mm. deep,
the tube mostly 1 or 2 times as long as the throat. C. Drummondii T. & G., C.
acaulescens (Gray) Daniels.
In wet meadows, low woods along streams and seepage areas, in N. M. (Rio
Arriba and Taos cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino and Greenlee cos.), July-
Sept; Sask. to B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Calif.
49. Lactuca L. LETTUCE
Mostly biennial or winter annual herbs; leaves alternate, lobed or not, mar-
ginally serrate and often with each tooth slightly spinose, the upper ones (at
least) often clasping; stems tall, erect, mostly simple except in the upper (head-
bearing) region; involucre narrowly urceolate just before anthesis, usually after
anthesis becoming more or less campanulate; phyllaries well-imbricated, mostly erect
(tips sometimes spreading), ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or lance-linear, green
with narrow white margin; receptacle flattish, naked; flowers 5 to 35 per head,
perfect, fertile; corollas yellow, blue, white, rosy-white or lavender, bilaterally
symmetrical, the raylike portion terminally 5-toothed; achenes definitely flattened,
some extremely flat and even slightly winged, with a definite body portion below
which is usually obovate or elliptic in outline and abruptly narrowed to a long
or short thick or thin (or even filiform) beak, the microscopic apex flared as a
pappus pedestal; pappus of numerous white or whitish capillary bristles, persistent
or tardily deciduous as individual bristles (not as a unit).
An Old World genus of perhaps 100 species. Lactuca saliva L., the cultivated
lettuce, a native of Europe, is probably the best-known species of the genus,
but most of our species are native. Some of our species hybridize, thus making
determinations troublesome. The young leaves of all species are used for salads
and greens.
1. Achenial beak absent or stout, only 0.5-1 mm. long (2)
1. Achenial beak filiform, 2-4 mm. long (3)
2(1). Rhizomatous perennial; involucre at anthesis 12-15 mm. high
4. L. pulchella.
2. Annual; involucre at anthesis 9-10 mm. high 5. L. floridana.
3(1). Achene about a third as thick as broad, on each face with about 7 distinct
longitudinal nerves, the short wings of the upper sides being pubes-
cent 1. L. Serriola.
3. Achenes very flat, each face with 1, 2 or 3 longitudinal nerves the wings (if
present) not pubescent (4)
4(3). Lower leaves mostly linear, 10-33 cm. long, 5-12 mm. broad
3. L. graminifolia.
4. Lower leaves not linear or (if so) proportionately broader 2. L. canadensis.
1. Lactuca Serriola L. PRICKLY LETTUCE. Fig. 782.
Taprooted annual or winter annual; stems (3-) 5-20 dm. tall, erect, simple
except in the uppermost reaches; leaves usually pinnatifid (except the uppermost)
and usually clasping, the margins usually finely spinose-dentate; involucres 8-11
mm. long at anthesis, 9-13 mm. long in fruit, the inner (longer) phyllaries after
anthesis becoming filiform-involute for most of their length; corollas yellow
(often the extreme tip discolored bluish or purplish); achene body 2.5-3 mm. long,
1698
-------
Fig. 782: Lactuca Serriola: A, habit, x %; - a, upper part of plant, x %; b,
lobed lower leaves, x %; c, linear upper leaves, x 1%; d, root, x iy2; B, flower heads,
x 3; C, achenes, x 8. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 210).
-------
Fig. 783: Lactuca pulchella: A, habit, x %; B, involucre and flowers, x 1%; C,
achene, x 5. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United States, Fig. 209).
-------
somewhat compressed but still lenticular in transection and about a third as thick
as broad, brownish, oblanceolate or linear-obovate, on each face with about 7
distinct longitudinal nerves, not winged or only very shortly winged on the
upper shoulders near the junction with the beak and these thin shoulders micro-
scopically ciliate, the beak filiform and 3-4 mm. long.
Frequent in disturbed soil, especially if wet, in marshes and on edge of lakes
among Typha in Okla. (Grady Co.) and in n.-cen. Tex. and Edwards Plateau,
infrequent in e. and Trans-Pecos Tex. and Plains Country, N.M. (widespread)
and Ariz. (Santa Cruz, Final, Navajo, Coconino, Greenlee, Cochise, Pima and
Yuma cos.), June-July; nat. of Eur., now widely adv.
The name is sometimes misspelled "scariola."
2. Lactuca canadensis L.
Biennial (?) with crowns 1-3 cm. thick; stems 5-25 dm. tall, mostly simple
except in the upper fifth of the height where branched, most of the stem leafy;
lowermost leaves (in the lower fifth of the height) usually pinnately lobed (rarely
even up to half the leaves lobed) but usually most leaves nearly lobeless; upper
leaves usually narrowly obovate, acute and basally narrowed to a nonclasping
base; leaf margins not spiny-dentate, some with weak teeth; involucres about
1 cm. long at anthesis, later 13-15 mm. long in fruit, the larger outer phyllaries
about 1.8-2 mm. broad; corollas yellow; achene body obovate, 3.5^t.5 mm. long,
about 1.5 to 2 times as long as broad, very flat and somewhat winged, dark-
brown or usually black, each face with 2 or 3 longitudinal nerves and numerous
weak transverse ridges, the filiform beak 2.2-2.5 mm. long.
Infrequent in sandy soil, in marshes, alluvial thickets, muddy seepage banks
and on sandy-gravel bars along streams in Okla. (Waterfall) and e. Tex., rare in
n.-cen. and s.e. Tex., June-July (-Aug.); s.e. Can. and e. U.S.
3. Lactuca graminifolia Michx.
Biennial or weak perennial with taproots; stems erect, (3-) 5-9 dm. tall; basal
outer leaves sometimes runcinately pinnatifid but most of the lowest stem leaves
unlobed and linear, 10-25 (-33) cm. long, 5-12 mm. broad, remotely toothed or
entire marginally; leaves of midstem much-reduced upward, lance-linear or linear,
entire, tapered to a fine point; upper 1-2 dm. of plant essentially leafless,
sparingly branched; involucres 10-12 mm. long at anthesis, 15-16 cm. long in
fruit; corollas lavender or yellow; achene body very flat, about 5 mm. long, oblong
or oblong-elliptic in outline, 2 to 2.5 times as long as broad, black, with 2 or 3
longitudinal nerves on each face plus numerous weak transverse ridges, the
slender beak 2-4 mm. long, often drying flat.
Rare in moist canyons, on open seepy slopes and wet meadows in the higher
parts of Davis and Guadalupe mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (rather wide-
spread) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino, Yavapai, Greenlee, Gila and Pima cos.),
June-Sept.; s. U.S. from N.C. to Fla. and w. to Ariz., s. to n. Mex.
Not clearly separated from L. pulchella and probably grading into it.
4. Lactuca pulchella (Pursh) DC. BLUE LETTUCE. Fig. 783.
Perennial; rhizomes scaly, extensive, 3-5 mm. thick; aerial shoots erect, 3-8
dm. tall, simple and leafy for nearly the entire length; leaves not greatly reduced
upward (those at midstem more than half as long as those at base), mostly linear
and unlobed (in some specimens with very remote teeth marginally) or uncom-
monly nearly all the leaves runcinately pinnatifid; involucre 12-15 mm. long at
anthesis, 15-20 mm. long in fruit; corollas blue or lavender-blue; achene com-
pressed, the body oblanceolate, about 4 mm. long, about 1 mm. broad, fuscous-
black, with about 5 longitudinal nerves and very weak internerve-roughening, near
1701
-------
Fig. 784: Taraxacum officinale: A, habit, x %; B, flower, x 3; C, achene, x 7^;
D, achene with pappus, x 1. (From Reed, Selected Weeds of the United Slates Fig.
216).
-------
the top tapering shortly into the stout beak which is 1 mm. long and about 0.4
mm. thick.
In wet meadows and wet soils in ravines, in Okla. (Washita Co.) and very
rare if not extinct in the Davis Mts. in the Tex. Trans-Pecos, N.M. (widespread)
and Ariz. (Apache, Navajo, Coconino and Cochise cos.); widespread in Rocky
Mts. and s. to Mex. and Guat; also Mich., Wise., la., Mo. and Que. to Alas.
5. Lactuca floridana (L.) Gaertn.
Robust annual (5-) 10-25 (-33) dm. tall, the stem simple for nearly the entire
height or branched only very near the top; leaves nearly all deeply runcinate-
pinnatifid but with an extremely ample triangular terminal portion and only 1
(or 2) large lateral lobes on each side, marginally toothed; involucres 9-10 mm.
long at anthesis, to 10-12 mm. long in fruit; corollas bluish or white; achene
body oblanceolate, 4-4.5 mm. long, flattened but not at all winged, about 3 times
as long as broad, with 2 or 3 longitudinal nerves on each face and many weak
transverse internerve ridges, mottled black and brownish-gray, shortly tapered
apically to a stout somewhat beaklike cylindrical apex (0-) 0.5-1 mm. long and
0.5 mm. thick. L. villosa Jacq.
Along streams, in wet thickets and alluvial woods, swampy ground and in wet
sands in e. Okla. (Waterfall) and in n.-cen. and e. Tex., rare to s.e. Tex.,
Aug.-Oct.; e. U.S.
50. Crepis L. HAWK'S-BEARD
A genus of perhaps 200 species of the Northern Hemisphere and Asia.
1. Crepis runcinata (James) T. & G.
Essentially glabrous perennial from woody or slightly fleshy rootstocks to
5-10 mm. thick, these apparently branched well-underground; leaves all crowded
at the base, 5-12 cm. long, 15-30 mm. broad, oblanceolate, nearly entire or rarely
with a few teeth or shallow lobes, rather fleshy and glaucous, essentially sessile;
cauline leaves only 1 or 2 per stem and much-reduced to mere bracts, entire and
oblanceolate, appressed; scapelike stems sparingly branched, the branches ascend-
ing with each terminating in a head; heads few; involucre narrowly campanulate,
12-20 mm. long, an inner double series of subequal linear-subulate thin-mem-
branous scarious-margined phyllaries and 8 to 10 much shorter calyculate ones at
the base; receptacle convex, naked or with a few minute hairs; rays yellow,
5-toothed terminally; achenes 4-5.5 mm. long, slightly attenuate apically but not
beaked, nearly columnar or the outer ones somewhat compressed, with 10 to 13
ribs; pappus rather persistent, of a number of white fine capillary bristles which
are lightly coherent basally. C. perplexans Rydb.
Rare in open seasonally moist prairies and about playa lakes in the higher
parts of Tex. Plains Country (Dallam Co.), and N.M. (eastern half), summer;
very widespread in Great Plains and trans-Montane basins.
51. Taraxacum ZINN DANDELION
A Temperate Zone genus of perhaps 50 species. Hundreds of species have
been proposed, based largely on apomictic populations.
1. Taraxacum officinale Wiggers. COMMON DANDELION. Fig. 784.
Winter annual or perennial herb from deep taproots to 1 cm. thick; leaves all
crowded in a basal rosette, 5-15 cm. long, runcinately pinnatifid; stems scapose,
3-20 cm. tall, solitary or few, each topped by a solitary head; involucre broadly
obconic, 1-2 cm. broad and high; phyllaries in 2 definite size-classes; inner
(longer) phyllaries in 2 equal series, linear-subulate, thin-membranous with
hyaline margins, at anthesis appearing very slightly coherent at the overlapping
margins but with age pulling apart and eventually spreading at maturity of fruit,
1703
-------
each near the apex dorsally with a minute glandular spot which usually during
maturation of the fruit proliferates into a low crest or minute horn, making the
phyllary appear double-tipped or -appendaged; outer (shorter) phyllaries about
half or less as long as the inner, of the same texture and shape, spreading during
anthesis, calyculate; receptacle very slightly convex, naked; flowers all perfect,
fertile, in some races parthenogenetic and lacking functional stamens; corolla
yellow, bilaterally symmetrical, the raylike portion 5-toothed terminally; achene
very slightly flattened (the exterior ones sometimes roughly trigonous but plump
and rounded), the basal fusiform body with about 5 major rounded ribs and some
lesser intermediate ones, the one in the anterior portion often with a row of
antrorse spinose projections, the body giving way abruptly to the filiform beak as
long as or longer than the body and slightly flared apically; pappus of a large
number of whitish or yellowish-white fine capillary bristles which are either
persistent or break off separately but not falling together. T. erythrospermum
Besser, plus a number of other synonyms.
Locally abundant in lawns, roadsides and other disturbed favorable places,
common in wet meadows in mts., essentially throughout our entire region, spring-
summer; nat. of Eur., now widely adv.
A troublesome lawn weed whose leaves are used as a pot herb when young.
The color of the achene varies from grayish or buffy to rich-chestnut.
52. Agoseris RAF.
Perennial or rarely annual scapose herbs; leaves narrow, entire to pinnatifid;
heads solitary on long naked scapes; involucre usually graduated; receptacle naked;
corollas yellow, orange or purple; achenes subfusiform, ribbed, smooth, beaked;
pappus of soft white capillary bristles.
About 25 species that are native to North America and southern South America.
1. Beak of achene rather stout, nerved throughout; flowers yellow, with age
drying pinkish 1. A. glauca.
1. Beak of achene slender, not nerved throughout; flowers burnt-orange, with
age often drying to purple or deep pink 2. A. aurantiaca.
1. Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Steud.
Glabrous or nearly so and somewhat glaucous perennial, to about 7 dm. tall;
leaves linear to oblanceolate, to 35 cm. long and 3 cm. wide, entire or occasionally
with a few scattered teeth or shallow lobes; phyllaries imbricate or subequal,
mostly sharply pointed, sometimes purple-spotted; flowers yellow, often drying
pinkish; achenes 5-12 mm. long, often hirtellous-puberulent, the body tapering
gradually to a stout evidently striate beak to about half as long.
Wettish prairies and wet subalpine meadows, in N.M. (McKinley and San
Juan cos.) and Ariz. (Apache to Mohave, s. to Graham and Pima cos.), May-
Oct.; B.C., s. to N.M., Ariz, and Nev.
2. Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene.
Perennial, glabrous to somewhat villous, 1-6 dm. tall; leaves to 35 cm. long
and 3 cm. wide, rounded to acuminate at apex, entire or with a few divergent
slender teeth or lobes; phyllaries narrow, equal or somewhat imbricate, sharply
pointed or the outer ones obtusish, often purplish along the midrib and some-
times purple-dotted; flowers burnt-orange, commonly turning purple to deep-
pink in age; achene body 5-9 mm. long, abruptly narrowed to the slender
scarcely or obscurely striate beak that varies from distinctly longer to scarcely
more than half as long as the body.
In wet subalpine meadows and on seepage slopes, open conifer forests, in N.M.
(Rio Arriba, San Juan and San Miguel cos.) and Ariz. (Apache, Coconino,
Yavapai, Gila, Cochise and Pima cos.), June-Aug.: B.C. to N.M. and Ariz.
1704
-------
Glossary
(Based primarily on the compilation by Herbert L. Mason in "A Flora of the
Marshes of California" (1957); with permission.)
A-. A prefix denoting without, such as asexual.
Abaxial. Pertaining to the side of an organ away from the axis, such as the lower
surface of a leaf (fig. 256). Compare Adaxial.
Abbreviated. Shortened, as when one part is shorter than another.
Abscission. Act or process of cutting off. Abscising: to cut off.
Acaulescent. Seemingly without a stem; term applied to a plant which is appar-
ently stemless, the stem being very short or subterranean (fig. 789).
Accrescent. Becoming enlarged, as do certain parts of a flower after anthesis.
Accumbent. Lying against anything; applied to cotyledons having edges against
the radicle.
Acerose. With a sharp, slender, needlelike point.
Achene. A hard, dry indehiscent, one-seeded fruit with a single cavity (fig. 789).
Acicular. Needle-shaped.
Acropetal. Produced in a succession toward the apex, as applied to the develop-
ment of organs.
Actinomorphic. Exhibiting radial symmetry, as a regular flower.
Acumen. A tapering point. A point the margins of which are not exactly straight
but bow inward.
Acuminate. Tapering gradually to a sharp point at the end (fig. 787).
Acute. Ending in a point which is less than a right angle, but not so tapering as
"acuminate" (fig. 787).
Adaxial. Pertaining to the side of an organ toward the axis, such as the upper
surface of a leaf (fig. 256). Compare Abaxial.
Adnate. United to an organ of a different kind, as are the stamens in flowers of
the Scrophulariaceae (epipetalous), or stipules in certain members of Potamo-
geton (fig. 32).
Adventitious. Occurring out of regular order in either time or place; term applied,
for example, to a bud developing on a tree trunk.
Adventive. Applied to an introduced plant, not definitely established or natural-
ized.
Aerial. Epiphytic plants; plants or parts of plants living above the surface of the
ground or water.
Aestivation. The arrangement of the perianth in the bud.
Alate. Winged.
Alkaline. Of, pertaining to, or having the properties of an alkali (a soluble min-
eral salt present in some soils of arid regions).
Alliaceous. Having the odor of onions.
Alluvial. Soils deposited by running water.
Alpine. Strictly applicable to plants growing above timber line.
Alternate. Said of leaves occurring one at a node, those of successive nodes form-
ing a definite sequence around the stem; said also of members of adjacent
whorls in the flower when any member of one whorl is in front of or behind
the junction of two adjacent members of the succeeding whorl.
1705
-------
Alveolate. Pitted, honeycombed, as are the seeds in certain Scrophulariaceae.
Atnent. A lax, spikelike inflorescence, as in the willows or alders (fig- 788).
Amphibious. Capable of living on land or in water.
Amphitropous. Turned both ways; applied to an ovule with hilum intermediate
between the micropyle and chalaza.
Amplexicaul. Clasping the stem (fig. 481).
Anastomosing (-ed). Netted; particularly applied to veins so connected by cross
veins as to form a network.
Anatropous. An inverted and straight ovule, with the microplye next to the hilum.
Androedum. A collective term applied to all structures in the stamen whorl or
whorls.
Androgynous. Having staminate and pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence,
or in Carey, in the same spikelet, the former above the latter.
Angiosperms. Plants having their seeds enclosed in an ovary.
Annual. A plant which completes its life history within a year.
Annular. In the form of a ring.
Annulus. A ring-shaped part or organ, such as surrounds the sporangium in some
ferns.
Anterior. Pertaining to the side away from axis.
Anther. The pollen-bearing part of a stamen.
Antheridium. The male sexual organ of ferns; analogous to the anther.
Antheriferous. Anther-bearing.
Anthesis. The period during which a flower is open; the act of opening of a
flower.
Anthodiurn. A head which resembles a flower, as in the sunflower (figs. 741, 788).
Antrorse. Directed forward and upward.
Apetalous. Without petals (fig. 25).
Aphyllopodic. The lower leaves bladeless or nearly so.
Aphyllous. Leafless.
Apical. At the apex or tip.
Apiculate. Ending abruptly in a minute point.
Apomixis. Any form of asexual reproduction.
Apophysis. An enlargement or swelling of the surface of an organ; the part of a
cone scale that is exposed when the cone is closed.
Appendage. A lateral organ on a stem, usually at a node.
Appressed. Closely pressed against.
Aquatic. Living in water.
Arachnoid. Covered with long hairs so entangled as to give a cobwebby appear-
ance (fig. 785).
Arborescent. Treelike in tendency.
Arcuate. Curved as a bow (fig. 41).
Areolate. Bearing areoles, divided into distinct spaces.
Areole. A small angular pit on a surface, as may occur between the veins of a
leaf or on a seed coat.
Argillaceous. Clayey, growing in clay or clay-colored.
Aril. A process of the placenta adhering about the hilum of a seed. Arillate: with
an aril. Arilliform: bag-shaped.
Aristate. Awned; provided with a bristle, usually at the end. (fig. 763).
Aristulate. Bearing a short awn.
Arroyo. A water course, or channel or gully, often dry, carved by water.
Articulation. A joint; the area in a stem or in a leaf petiole where separation oc-
curs naturally.
Ascending. Directed or rising upward obliquely.
1706
-------
Asepalous. Without sepals.
Asexual. Characterized by reproduction which does not involve the fusion of a
sperm and an egg.
Attenuate. Gradually narrowed to a point at apex or base.
Atypical. Not typical; departing from the norm.
Auricle. An earlike appendage (fig. 25).
Auriculate. Eared (fig. 787).
Autumnal. Belonging to autumn; flowering at, or developing vegetative growth pe-
culiar to, that season.
Awl-shaped. Tapering gradually from the base to a slender tip, as does a needle.
Awn. A stiff, bristle-like appendage, usually at the end of an organ, (fig. 112).
Awned. Provided with an awn (fig. 741).
Axil. The upper angle between an organ and the axis which bears it, such as the
angle between the leaf and the stem bearing the leaf.
Axile placentation. Placentation in fruits the seeds of which are borne attached to
the placenta situated in the angles of the cross walls along the axis (fig. 789).
Axillary. Growing in an axil.
Axis. The main or central line of development of a plant, structure, or organ,
such as the main stem.
Baccate. Berrylike and pulpy.
Balanced hair. A hair seemingly attached at the middle (fig. 786).
Banner. The upper, broad, more or less erect petal of a papilionaceous flower;
standard (fig. 501).
Barbed. Furnished with reflexed projections (figs. 170, 364).
Barbellate. Finely barbed (fig. 741).
Barbulate. Having fine beards.
Basal placentation. The attachment of the ovule at the base of the ovary.
Base. Basal or lower part of a plant or organ; through growth this basal part may
eventually become uppermost.
Basifixed. Attached by the base.
Bayou. A creek, often slow-moving.
Beak. A long, substantial point, which may be terete or angular (fig. 741).
Beaked. Ending in a beak (fig. 741).
Bearded. Furnished with long, stiff hairs or bristles.
Berry. A fleshy fruit, few- to many-seeded.
Bi- or Bis-. Latin prefix signifying two, twice or doubly.
Bibracteate. Having two bracts. Bibracteolate: the diminutive.
Bidentate. Two-toothed (fig. 272).
Biennial. A plant requiring two years in which to complete its life history; the
first year the vegetative growth occurs, and the second year it flowers, seeds
and dies.
Bifid. Split into two parts; two-cleft.
Bifoliolate. A leaf composed of two leaflets.
Bifurcate. Forked; said of Y-shaped hairs, for example.
Bilabiate. Divided into two separate parts or lips (fig. 656).
Binomial. The combination of a generic and specific name to denote a given or-
ganism, as Ulmus americana.
Bipartite. Divided into two parts almost to the base; two-parted.
Bipinnate. Said of leaves wherein both the primary and the secondary divisions
are pinnate.
Bisexual. Having both sexes on the same individual; a hermaphrodite.
Bisulcate. Having two grooves or furrows.
1707
-------
PILOSE
HISPID
HISPID
PILOSE-HISPID
HIRSUTE
r\
- %_
VELUTINOUS
VILLOUS
HIRSUTE-VILLOUS
//I
EDGE OF
LEAF
,,>;-./:£?,', -J.H
-W-T'V' $81
^$'1 V?
-l"^*;f: •;'"•?'' EDGE VIEW
TOMENTOSE
DOWNY
J%^^-v
y^^^:
•4t v^-r^
ARACHNOID
FLOCC05E
ARACHNOID-
FLOCCOSE
5TRIG05E SERICEOUS
Fig. 785: Types of pubescence. (From Mason, Fig. 363).
-------
Biternate. Said of leaves wherein the three main divisions are themselves divided
into three parts.
Bladdery. Appearing as though inflated.
Blade. The lamina, or expanded part of a leaf (fig. 787).
Bloom. The white powder or dust covering stems, leaves, fruits or flowers.
Brackish. Said of water with a high concentration of dissolved substances, usually
somewhat salty.
Bract. A reduced or modified leaf, particularly the scalelike leaves in a flower
cluster. Also said of any bractlike emergence.
Bractiform. Having the form of a bract.
Bractlet. A small bract, or sometimes applied to bracts in secondary positions.
Bristle. A stiff, sharp hair (fig. 786).
Bulb. A much shortened axis bearing fleshy leaf blades.
Bulbiferous. Bulb-bearing.
Bulblet. A small bulb, especially one borne in a leaf axil.
Bulbose, bulbous. Having bulbs or the character of a bulb.
Bullate. Blistered or puckered.
Bur. A fruit or fruiting involucre bearing prominent spines or hooks (figs. 57,
741).
Bush. (Cf. shrub).
Caducous. Falling off early or prematurely, as do the petals of Rhexia.
Calcareous. Containing an excess of available calcium, usually in the form of the
compound calcium carbonate. "Limy".
Caliche. A crust of calcium carbonate formed on stony soils in arid regions.
Callus. A thick, leathery, or hardened protuberance, or part of an organ; new tis-
sue covering a wound (fig. 402).
Callous grain. Callus on perianth segments of Rumex.
Calycine. Resembling a calyx; said of involucres or involucels.
Calyculate. Having bracts around an involucre or calyx, these bracts resembling
an outer involucre or calyx, as in the common dandelion.
Calyx. The outermost whorl of the floral envelopes, composed of separate or
united sepals; it may sometimes be petaloid.
Campanulate. Bell-shaped.
Campylotropous. (ovule or seed). So curved as to bring apex and base nearly to-
gether.
Canaliculate. Longitudinally channeled or grooved.
Cancellate. Latticed, or resembling lattice construction.
Canescent. Gray-pubescent.
Capillary. Hairlike, threadlike, very slender.
Capitate. Aggregated into a dense, compact cluster or head.
Capsule. A dry, dehiscent fruit originating from two or more carpels.
Carinate. Provided with a longitudinal ridge on the lower, or abaxial, surface;
keeled.
Carpel. One of the foliar units of which a pistil is composed. If one carpel forms
the pistil the latter is simple; if more than one, the pistil is compound.
Carpophore. A prolongation of the floral axis between the carpels, as that which
supports the pendulous fruit of the Umbelliferae.
Cartilaginous. Hard and tough.
Caryopsis. An achene in which the pericarp is united with the seed; developed
from a superior, one-carpeled ovary (fig. 108).
Catkin. A deciduous, erect or lax spike, consisting of unisexual, apetalous flowers
(fig. 788).
1709
-------
Caudate. Having a long, soft, terminal, tail-like appendage.
Caudex. The trunk or stem of a plant; a term applied particularly to the persist-
ent stem of an herbaceous perennial.
Caudicle. Sterile stalk of the pollen mass of certain orchids (fig. 363).
Caulescent. Having an evident stem above the ground level (fig. 789).
Cauline. Pertaining to the stem (fig. 363).
Cell. A cavity of an anther containing the pollen, or of an ovary containing the
ovules. Cellulous, cellular, cellulose: made up of cells or marked off so as to
resemble cells.
Cespitose, caespitose. In little tufts or dense clumps; said of low plants of turfy
habit.
Chaff. Thin, dry scales or bracts. Chaffy: paleaceous.
Channeled. Deeply grooved longitudinally, like a gutter.
Chartaceous. Thin but stiff; having the texture of thin paper.
Choripetalous. Term applies to a corolla having its petals distinct from one an-
other.
Ciliate. Having marginal hairs that form a fringe (fig. 786).
Cilium (pi. cilia). Used generally in the plural to denote marginal hairs.
Cinereous. Ash gray.
Circinate. Coiled downward and inward, like the scroll of a fiddle (fig. 650). See
Scorpioid.
Circumpolar. Occurring around the pole, as of arctic plants mostly confined to
far northern latitudes.
Circumscissile. Dehiscent by a horizontal line cutting through the middle, the top
part falling away as a lid (fig. 789).
Cirrhose. Tendrilled; with a wavy hair-point.
Cladode. A branch of a single internode simulating a leaf; a cladophyll. Clado-
phyll: a branch assuming the form and function of a leaf; a cladode.
Clavate. Club-shaped; gradually thickened upward (fig. 35).
Claw. The narrowed, petiole-like base of some petals or sepals.
Cleft. Cut about halfway to the midvein (fig. 787).
Cleistogamous. Said of self-fertilized flowers that never open.
Clinandrium. The anther bed in orchids, that part of the column in which the an-
ther is concealed.
Coalescence. Union of similar parts or organs, as of petals to form a corolla.
Coccus (pi. cocci). A berry; in particular one of the parts of a lobed fruit with
one-seeded cells; part of a schizocarp or lobed fruit.
Cochleate. Coiled like a snail shell. Cochleiform: shaped liked a snail shell.
Coetaneous. Of the same age; existing at the same time.
Coherent. Having like parts united; said of two or more organs of the same kind
which are united in the same whorl by ontogenetic fusion.
Cohesion. The state of cohering.
Collar. Outer side of the grass leaf at the junction of sheath and blade.
Column. Structure formed by the union of filaments of stamens, or by the union
of stamens and pistils; term also applied to the receptacle structure around
which the carpels are situated in Malvaceae and related groups (fig. 519).
Coma. The tuft of hairs which is to be found at the end of some seeds (fig.
564).
Commissure. The line of meeting of the margins of carpels; the plane or face
along which two carpels adhere.
Comose. Said of organs, such as seeds, which have a tuft of hairs at one end.
Compound. Formed of several parts united in one common whole, as is a com-
pound pistil; or of leaves composed of two or more distinct leaflets (fig. 787).
1710
-------
Compressed. Flattened laterally.
Concavo-convex. Concave on one side and convex on the other, as an eggshell or
a lens.
Cone. The fruit of some fern allies, or a pine or fir-tree with scales forming a
strobile; an inflorescence of fruit with overlapping scales. Conlet: a small cone.
Conoid: conelike.
Confluent. Blending of one part into another.
Connate. United; a term especially applied to similar structures as the bases of
two opposite leaves joined through toral growth.
Connective. The tissue connecting the two "cells" of an anther.
Connivent. Approximate but not organically united.
Conspecific, Of the same species.
Contracted. Narrowed in a particular place, or shortened; the opposite of open or
spreading (inflorescence).
Convoluted. Said of flower parts when rolled in the bud with the edge of one
part overlapping the adjacent part.
Cordate. Heart-shaped, such as the base of a leaf (fig. 787).
Cordate-clasping. Said of sessile appendages the basal lobes of which surround the
stem (fig. 751).
Coriaceous. Leathery.
Corm. A solid, bulblike stem, usually found underground.
Corniculate. Furnished with horns or hornlike processes.
Cornute. Horned or spurred.
Corolla. The second whorl of the floral envelope, the units of which are petals;
frequently the showy part of a flower.
Corrugated. Crumpled or folded irregularly.
Corymb. A racemose type of inflorescence in which the lower pedicels are succes-
sively elongate, thus forming a flat-topped inflorescence in which the outer flow-
ers open before the inner ones do (fig. 788).
Corymbose. Said of flowers arranged in corymbs.
Costa (pi. costae). A rib; the midrib of a leaf. Costate: ribbed; having longitudi-
nal elevations.
Cotyledon. One of the embryo leaves to be found in a seed.
Crateriform. Shallowly cup-shaped.
Crenate. Having a margin with low, rounded lobes (fig. 787).
Crest. An elevation or ridge upon the summit of an organ.
Crisped, cristate. Irregularly curled (said of hairs or leaf margins).
Crown. The persistent base of an herbaceous perennial; the top of a tree; a cir-
cle of appendages on the throat of a corolla, etc.
Cruciate. Cross-shaped, used especially for the flowers of Cruciferae. Cruciferous:
cross-bearing; a flower with four petals placed opposite each other at right an-
gles. Cruciform: cross-shaped.
Crustaceous. Having a surface with a crustlike texture.
Cucullate. Hooded, or hood-shaped.
Culm. The aboveground stem of grasses or grasslike plants (fig. 93).
Cuneate. Wedge-shaped; tapering toward the point of attachment (fig. 787).
Cuneiform. The same as Cuneate.
Cusp. A sharp, rigid point. Cuspidate: tipped with a cusp, or short, rigid point.
Cymba, cymbiform. A boat or boat-shaped.
Cyme. A form of inflorescence in which the main axis terminates in a single
flower which opens before the lateral flowers arising beneath (fig. 788).
Cymose. Bearing cymes.
1711
-------
Cystolith. Mineral concretions, usually a calcium carbonate on a cellulose stalk,
occurring in special cells in the Urticaceae, etc.
Deciduous. Losing leaves seasonally.
Decompound. Said of compound leaves having divisions that are again dissected
(fig. 787).
Decumbent. Reclining on the ground, with ascending apex (fig. 108).
Decurrent. Extending down the stem below the insertion; said of leaves or ligules.
Decussate. With successive pairs of organs arranged at right angles to one an-
other, causing them to appear 4-ranked.
Deflexed. Turned back from point of attachment.
Dehiscent. Opening and shedding contents; said of fruits and stamens (fig. 789).
Deltoid. Triangular (fig. 787).
Dendritic hairs. Hairs that branch like a tree (fig. 786).
Dentate. Having marginal teeth pointing outward and not forward. Compare Ser-
rate.
Denticulate. Bearing minute teeth directed outward.
Depauperate. Much reduced and imperfect in structure and development.
Determinate. Said of an inflorescence (as a cyme) in which the terminal flower
blooms slightly in advance of its nearest associates; limited in number and ex-
tent.
Di-. Dis-. Greek prefix meaning two or double.
Diadelphous. Stamens united by their filaments into two sets.
Diaphragm. A dividing membrane or partition as that in the pith of grape vines
and the pith in Juglans.
Dichotomous. Repeatedly forking in pairs. Dichotomy: a condition of being di-
chotomous.
Dicotyledons (abbr. dicots). A class of angiosperms differentiated by possession
of two cotyledons.
Didymous. Twin; found in pairs.
Didynamous. With four stamens in two pairs of unequal length as in most Labiatae.
Digitate. Fingered; shaped as an open hand; compound with the members arising
from one point.
Dimorphic, dimorphous. Having two forms, as flowers with short stamens and
long styles or long stamens and short styles.
Dioecious. Having staminate and pistillate flowers in different plants.
Discoid. Disklike, in the Compositae, a head without ray florets. Disciform: flat
and circular like a disk. (fig. 741).
Discrete. Separate, not coalescent.
Disk, disc. A fleshy development of the receptacle about the base of the ovary; in
Compositae, the tubular flowers (disk florets) of the head as distinct from the
ray.
Disparate. Unequal; dissimilar.
Disposed. Referring to the ultimate arrangement, irrespective of point of origin;
thus, spirally arranged leaves may be disposed in two ranks so as to appear as
though coming from opposite sides of the stem.
Dissected. Divided into several to many separate parts; said, for example, of the
blade of a leaf (fig. 787).
Dissepiment. A partition in an ovary or pericarp caused by the adhesion of the
sides of the carpellary leaves.
Distal. Opposite the point of attachment; apical; away from the axis.
Distichous. In two vertical rows or ranks.
Divaricate, divaricately. Widely divergent.
1712
-------
Divided. Referring to the blade of an appendage when it is cut into distinct divi-
sions to, or almost to, the midvein, as though cut with scissors (fig. 787).
Dorsal, dorsally. Pertaining to the back; the surface turned away from the axis.
Dorso-: used in combination to denote the back of. Dorsum: the back or parts
of the flower that face the outside.
Dorsifixed. Attached by or to the back.
Dorsiventral. Having distinct dorsal and ventral surfaces.
Downy. Covered with very short, weak hairs (fig. 785).
Drupe. A fleshy, one-seeded indehiscent fruit containing a stone with a kernel; a
stone-fruit such as a plum. Drupelet: a diminutive drupe. Drupaceous: resem-
bling a drupe, possessing its character, or producing similar fruit.
E-, Ex-. Latin prefix meaning without, out of, from, as "ebracteate."
Echinate. Prickly, a hedgehog.
Ecology. The study of organisms in relation to their environment.
Edaphic. Pertaining to, or influenced by, soil conditions.
Elater. An appendage within the sporangium which aids in dispersal of spores; in
Equisetum, the clubbed hygroscopic bands attached to the spores.
Elliptic. In the form of a flattened circle, usually more than twice as long as
broad. Ellipsoid: an elliptic solid.
Emarginate. Said of leaves, sepals, or petals, and other structures that are notched
at the apex (fig. 787).
Embryo. Rudimentary plant within the seed.
Emersed, emergent. Raised above and out of the water.
Endemic. Restricted to a particular area or condition.
Endoglossum. A transverse projection from the dorsal wall of the carpel to make
it almost completely septate.
Endosperm. The nutritive tissue surrounding the embryo of a seed and formed
within the embryo sac.
Ensiform. Sword-shaped.
Entire. Having a margin devoid of any indentations, lobes, or teeth; said of the
margin of appendages such as leaves, bracts, stipules, sepals and petals (fig.
787).
Epetiolate. Without petals.
Ephemeral. Referring to an organ living a very short time, usually a day or less.
Epi-. Prefix meaning upon, such as "epiphyte."
Epigynous. Said of a flower having sepals, petals, and stamens that are borne on a
structure at the top of the ovary, the ovary thus being inferior.
Epipetalous. Said of stamens when they are inserted on the corolla.
Epiphyte, epiphytic. Characterized by growing on other plants or objects but not
parasitically, such as orchids, bromeliads and ferns.
Equitant. Said of leaves disposed in a plane parallel to the radius of the axis
clasping the stem, such as the leaf of Iris and some species of Juncus (fig.
321).
Erase. Uneven; said of margins that give the appearance of having been torn, or
of margins with very small teeth of irregular shape and size.
Escape. A cultivated plant found growing as though wild, dispersed by some
agency.
Estipulate. Without stipules. (Cf. exstipulate).
Evergreen. Retaining leaves throughout the year.
Excurrent. Projecting beyond the edge, as the midrib of a mucronate leaf or
nerve of a floral segment.
1713
-------
Exserted. Extending beyond (some enclosing part of the plant); said of any struc-
ture in respect to its position relative to another structure, such as stamens that
extend beyond the corolla.
Exsiccatae. Dried plant specimens, usually in sets for sale or for subscribers, or
for exchange.
Exstipulate. Without stipules.
Extrorse. Facing outward from the axis, as the dehiscence of an anther.
Face. That surface of an organ that is opposed to the back, usually the upper or
inner side.
Falcate. Curved like a sickle; said of appendages.
Farinaceous. Containing starch or starchlike substance; term applied to a surface
with a mealy or scurfy coating. See Scurfy.
Fascicle. Borne as though in bundles tied at base, or as though branching from a
common base (fig. 24).
Fastigiate. Clustered, parallel, erect branches.
Faucal. Pertaining to the throat of a gamopetalous corolla.
Favose. Pitted in a manner to give the appearance of a honeycomb.
Fenestrate. With transparent areas or windowlike openings.
Ferruginous. Rust-colored.
Fertile. Said of seed-bearing fruit or flowers capable of producing seeds, or of
pollen-bearing stamens; also applied, incorrectly, to female flowers.
-fid. A suffix meaning deeply cut.
Filament. The stalk bearing the anther, or any threadlike structure.
Filamentose. Having the character of a filament (fig. 182).
Filiform. Filament-like, long and very slender, (fig. 46).
Fimbriate. Lacerate into regular segments so as to appear fringed (fig. 786).
Fistulous (fistulose). Hollow; said of some stems or petioles, or of leaves such as
those of the onion.
Flabellate, flabelliform. Fan-shaped; broadly wedge-shaped.
Flange. A part that spreads out like a rim.
Flavescent. Yellowish, becoming yellow. Flavo-: used in combinations to denote
yellowish.
Flexuous. More or less zigzag or wavy (fig. 271).
Floccose. Said of pubescence which gives the impression of irregular tufts of cot-
ton or wool, the hairs usually loosely tangled, (fig. 785).
Flora. The aggregate of plants of a country or district, or a work which contains
the enumeration of them.
Floral. Of or pertaining to flowers. Floral tube (or cup): a more or less elongate
tube consisting of perianth or other floral parts.
Floret. One of the flowers in a close inflorescence of small flowers, such as in the
spikelet of a grass or in the head of a member of the Compositae.
Floricane. The flowering cane, usually the second year's development of the pri-
mocane, in Rubus, etc.
Floristic. Having to do with the composition and organization of a flora.
Floristics. That aspect of phytogeography that deals with taxonomic composition
and the geographic and quantitative relations of floras.
Flower. An axis bearing either functional stamens or pistils or both, these either
naked or subtended by a perianth.
Foliaceous. Leaflike.
Follicle. A fruit, usually developing from a simple pistil and dehiscing along one
margin (fig. 449).
1714
-------
Form*, fornices (pi.). Small arched scales in the throat of a corolla.
Fovea (pi. Foveae). A depression or pit, as in the upper surface of the leaf base
in Isoetes, that contains the sporangium; the seat of the pollinium in orchids.
Fractiflex. Bending alternately and sharply in opposite directions; zigzag.
Free. Neither attached to a member of the same whorl nor to a member of an-
other whorl.
Free-central. Said of placentation when the seeds are attached to a column which
arises from the base and is not otherwise attached to the ovary wall (fig. 789).
Frond. Leaf of a fern, including the stipe and blade.
Fruit. The matured pistil or pistils and their accessory structures, bearing the ri-
pened seeds.
Fruticose. Shrubby; shrublike.
Fugacious. Falling soon after maturing, as do flowers or flower parts.
Funiculus. The stalk which connects the ovule to the placenta.
Funnelform. Having the shape of a funnel; said of corolla or calyx.
Furfuraceous. Scurfy; covered with branlike scales.
Fusiform. Tapering at both ends; term applied to any structure.
Galea. That part of an irregular sympetalous corolla (usually the upper lip) that
is extended as a spur or helmet (fig. 706).
Gametophyte. The gamete-producing form of the plant (as in ferns) contrasted
with the spore-producing form of "sporophyte."
Gamopetalous. Corolla with petals united. Same as sympetalous and monopetal-
ous.
Gamosepalous. Calyx with sepals united.
Geminate hair. Pair of hairs from a common base (fig. 786).
Genus, (pi. genera). The natural group containing distinct species; a group of
one or more related species.
Gibbous. Said of a calyx or corolla tube or segment which has a distended,
rounded swelling on one side.
Glabrous. Without pubescence of any kind.
Gladiate. Flat, straight or slightly curved, with acute apex and approximately
parallel edges; ensiform; swordlike.
Gland. Any special secreting organ; (as commonly employed) any regularly oc-
curring, anomalous, small protuberance anywhere on the plant (fig. 629).
Glandular. Bearing glands or having any glandular secretion.
Glaucous. Having a frosted or whitish waxy appearance from a waxy bloom or
powdery coating.
Globose. Shaped like a globe or sphere.
Glochidia. A barbed hair or process.
Glochidiate. Having barbs.
Glomerate. Gathered in compact groups; said of flowers occurring in small clus-
ters.
Glomerule. A small cluster of flowers consisting usually of a compacted cyme.
Glume. A member of a pair of bracts (often chaffy) subtending the spikelet of
the grasses (fig. 131).
Glutinous. Sticky.
Graduated. Said of phyllaries when the outer ones comprising the involucre are
successively shorter than the inner ones.
Grain. The seed or seedlike fruit of a member of the grass family; a small, hard,
often superficial structure having the appearance of a grain, such as the callous
grain in Rumex (fig. 400).
1715
-------
BALANCED
BARBED
PUSTULATE
DENDRITIC
GEMINATE
GLANDULAR
C LIATE
fLAGELLlFORn
BR1STLE5
STELLATE SQUAMELLATE
PECTINATE HONILIFORH EIHBRIATE HAMATE
Fig. 786: Types of hairs and processes. (From Mason, Fig. 364).
-------
Granular, granulose. Covered with very small grains or granules; minutely mealy.
Granuliferous: granule-bearing.
Gymnosperms. Plants with naked (uncovered) ovules, such as the conifers.
Gynandrous. Stamens adnate to the pistil.
Gynecandrous. Having staminate and pistillate flowers in the same spikelet, the
latter above the former.
Gynobase. An enlargement of the torus or receptacle to form a platform or disk
upon which the ovary rests.
Gynobasic. Applied to a style which adheres by its base to a prolongation up-
wards of the torus between carpels.
Gynoecium. That part of the flower in which fertilization takes place and in
which the seeds develop; the total of structures, including carpels and accessory
parts, occurring on the axis of the flower morphologically above the stamens or
androecium.
Gynophore. The prolonged stipe of a pistil, as in Cleome.
Habit. The growth form of the plant.
Habitat. The precise set of environmental conditions in which the plant occurs.
Halophyte. A plant of salty or alkaline soils. Halophytic (adj.).
Hamate. Said of a spine which is hooked at the tip. (fig. 786).
Hastate. Said of arrow-shaped leaves with basal lobes that spread or extend down-
ward and outward (figs. 424, 787).
Haustoria. The suckerlike attachment organs of parasites like Cuscuta.
Head. A dense globular cluster of sessile or subsessile flowers arising essentially
from the same point on the peduncle; capitulum. (fig. 788).
Hemi-. Prefix meaning half.
Herb. A plant, either annual, perennial, or biennial, of which the parts above-
ground are not woody.
Herbaceous. Having the structure or texture of an herb, not woody.
Herbage. All of the aboveground, non-woody part of a plant.
Hermaphrodite. With stamens and pistil in the same flower.
Heterogamous. Producing two or more kinds of flowers.
Heterosporous. Having spores of two sizes or shapes.
Heterostylic. Having long styles in some flowers and short styles in others on the
same plant, or in different plants of the same species.
Hibernacle, hibernaculum. A winter bud.
Hilum. The scar of the point of attachment of a seed.
Hippocrepiform. Horseshoe-shaped.
Hirsute. Clothed with long, shaggy hairs, often rough to the touch (fig. 785).
Hirsutulous. Minutely hirsute.
Hirtellous. Minutely hirsute.
Hispid. Clothed with stiffish hairs that are sometimes spinelike (fig. 785).
Hispidulous. Having fine, short, stiff hairs.
Homo-. A Greek prefix denoting all alike or of one sort.
Hood. Cf. cucullate.
Host. A plant that nourishes a parasite.
Hyaline. Of thin, membranous, transparent or translucent texture.
Hydathode. An epidermal structure, usually marginal or terminal, which excretes
water.
Hydrophyte. Partially or wholly immersed water plant. Hydrophilic, hydrophil-
ous: dwelling in wet places or water; pollinated by water.
Hygroscopic. Susceptible of extending or shrinking on the application or absence
of water or vapor.
1717
-------
Hypanthium. A cup-shaped enlargement of the receptacle on which the calyx,
corolla, and often the stamens are inserted; in perigyny the "calyx tube".
Hypogeous. Occurring below the surface of the ground.
Hypogynium. The perianthlike structure subtending the ovary in some genera of
the Cyperaceae.
Hypogynous. Said of flowers in which the perianth and stamens are inserted upon
the receptacle below the gynoecium.
Imbricated. Said of organs that are so placed as to overlap like the shingles on a
roof (fig. 741).
Immersed. Growing under water.
Imperfect flower. Having either stamens or pistils, but not both.
Incised. Having the margin deeply cleft.
Included. Not projecting beyond (an enclosing part of the plant); said of an
inner structure of a flower relative to an outer structure when the inner struc-
ture does not extend beyond the outer one or beyond some specified part of
the outer one; for example, of stamens included in the corolla tube (fig. 650).
Incrassate. Made thick or stout, as the leaves of some species of Sedum.
Incumbent. Lying upon anything; said of cotyledons when the back of one rests
against the stalk of the embryo.
Indehiscent. Said of fruits that remain closed and do not shed their seeds.
Indeterminate. Said of inflorescences in which the terminal flowers open last; also
said of conditions in which growth and differentiation are not arrested.
Indurate. Hardened and thereby often persistent.
Indusium. The scale-like covering that invests the sorus in ferns.
Inferior. Occurring below; said of the ovary when it occurs in such a manner as
to appear to be below the other flower parts (fig. 3b).
Inflated. Hollow and swollen in a manner to appear as if distended with air.
Inflorescence. An aggregation of flowers occurring clustered together in a particu-
lar manner which is usually characteristic of a given kind of plant (fig. 788).
Infrastamineal. Below the stamens.
Infrastipular. Below the stipules.
Infructescence. The inflorescence in a fruiting stage; collective fruits.
Insectivorous. Consuming insects, i.e., by digesting out the organic parts.
Insertion. The place of attachment of one structure on another.
Interlacunar. Between air spaces.
Internode. The part of a stem between any two adjacent nodes.
Introgression. Entrance; going in; used for hybridization and repeated back-cross-
ing which can result in genetic contamination of one taxon by another. Intro-
gressant: that which goes in; used for the organisms which show the results of
introgression.
Introrse. Turned inward, toward the axis.
Involucel. A secondary involucre, such as one subtending an umbellet in a com-
pound umbel, (fig. 788).
Involucre. A group of closely placed, free or united bracts that subtend or en-
close an inflorescence (fig. 788).
Involute. Said of margins that are rolled inward (toward the adaxial side), as in
a petal or a leaf.
Irregular. Said of the members of a given kind of structure when they are unlike
in shape or size, such as the unequal lobes of a corolla (fig. 3b).
Joint. The internode of a grass culm; an articulation, as in fruits of Desmodium.
(fig. 82c).
Jointed. Having one or more constrictions marking a point of articulation (fie.
420b).
1718
-------
Keel. The folded edge or ridge of any structure, alluding to its resemblance to the
keel of a boat (fig. 218); in papilionaceous flowers, the two united front petals
(fig. 503).
Key or Key fruit. A winged fruit, like the maples, samara (fig. 620).
Labia, labiate. Lipped; a member of the Labiatae.
Lacerate. Torn irregularly.
Laciniate. Deeply incised into irregular, pointed lobes.
Lacuna (-ae). An air space in the midst of tissue; said of the vallecular canals of
Equisetum; a hole or cavity.
Lamina (-ae). The blade or expanded part of a leaf, petal, etc. Laminar: of the
blade.
Lanate. Woolly, with long, intertwined, curled hairs (fig. 785).
Lanceolate. Much longer than broad; from a broad base tapering to the apex;
lance-shaped (figs. 414, 787).
Lax. Loose and often scattered; often said of flowers in an inflorescence.
Leaflet. A discrete segment of a compound leaf.
Legume. A one-celled fruit dehiscent on two sutures; specifically, the fruit of a
member of the pea family.
Lemma. The outer (abaxial) bract subtending a floret in the flower of a grass,
often chaffy (figs. 3a, 108).
Lenticels. Corky spots on young bark, arising in relation to epidermal stomates.
Lenticellate: having lenticels.
Lenticular. Shaped like a lens, having opposite sides convex (fig. 412).
Ligulate. Shaped like a ligule (fig. 741).
Ligule. An elongate, flattened structure; specifically, in monocotyledons, especially
grasses, the bractlike emergence from the top of the leaf sheath at the base of
the blade (fig. 108); in the Compositae, a strap-shaped corolla (fig. 741). (All
corollas are ligules in the tribe Cichoreae; in many other Compositae only the
marginal ray corollas are ligules.)
Limb. The spreading part of a sympetalous corolla or synsepalous calyx; usually
referring only to the corolla lobes (fig. 3b).
Linear. Long and slender, with more or less parallel sides (fig. 787).
Lip. The upper or lower part of a bilabiate corolla or calyx.
Littoral. Of a shore, particularly of the seashore.
Lobe. An outward projection from the margin of an organ, usually with the mar-
gin indented on either side of the projection, as in leaves.
Lobed. Characterized by having lobes.
Locule (loculus). A compartment or cell, such as that of an ovary or anther.
Loculiddal. Said of capsules that are dehiscent along the loculus or back of the
carpels (fig. 789). Compare Septicidal.
Lodicule. One of two or three scales at the bottom of the ovary, as in many
grasses (fig. 3a).
Lament. A flat legume that is constricted between the seeds, falling apart at the
constrictions when mature into one-seeded joints.
Lyrate. Lyre-shaped; pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe considerably larger than
the others.
Macrosporangium. The organ in which macrospores are produced.
Male (plant or flowers). Having stamens but no pistils.
Malpighiaceous hairs. Straight appressed hairs attached by the middle and tapering
to the free tips.
Marcescent. Withering, but remaining attached.
Marginal. Of, pertaining to, or attached to the edge.
1719
-------
Marine. Growing within the influence of the sea or immersed in its water.
Maritime. Occurring in an area near the sea that is strongly influenced by envi-
ronmental conditions imposed by the sea.
Marsh. A tract of wet or periodically inundated treeless land, usually character-
ized by grasses, cattails or other monocots.
Massula (-ae). A group of cohering pollen grains produced by one primary
mother cell, as in the orchids; pollen mass.
Medifixed. Fixed or attached by the middle.
Megasporangium. The sporangium in which megaspores are developed or con-
tained.
Membranous. Having a thin, soft, pliable texture.
Mericarp. One of the two seedlike carpels of an umbelliferous fruit.
Meristem. An area of actively dividing and growing cells, as at stem and root
tips.
-merous. A suffix indicating the number of members in any given structure or
whorl, such as a whorl of flower parts; for example, 5-merous or few-mercus.
Mesic. Characterized by or pertaining to conditions of medium moisture supply.
Mesophyte. A plant that grows under medium moisture conditions.
Micro-. Greek prefix meaning small.
Microsporangium. The organ in which microspores are produced.
Midrib. The conspicuous central vein in the vascular system of an appendage.
Monadelphous. Having the stamens united into a single structure. Compare Dia-
delphous.
Moniliform. Constricted so as to simulate a string of beads (fig. 786).
Monochasium -a (pi). A one branched cyme, either pure or resulting from the
reduction of cymes.
Monocotyledon. A plant the seeds of which bear only one cotyledon.
Monoecious. Having the stamens and pistils in different flowers on the same
plant.
Macro. A sharp, abrupt point or spiny tip.
Mucronate. Said of appendages that come to an abrupt point (fig. 787).
Mucronation. The abrupt point of an appendage.
Mucronulate. Coming to a small, abrupt point.
Muricate. Having a rough surface texture owing to many small, sharp projections
(fig. 459).
Muticous. Pointless, blunt, awnless.
Naked. Without vestiture of any kind.
Naturalized. Of foreign origin, but established and reproducing itself as though a
native.
Nectariferous pit. A depression or cavity bearing nectar, which may occur on a
sepal, petal, or stamen (fig. 463).
Nerve. A vein.
Net-veined. Having the veins intricately branched and anastomosing.
Node. The region on the stem where a leaf or leaves occur.
Nodose. With knobs or knots. Nodulose: the diminutive.
Nut. An indehiscent, one-seeded fruit from more than one carpel and having a
woody coat.
Ob-. Latin prefix signifying the reverse or contrariwise.
Obcompressed. Flattend at right angles to the radius of the axis.
Obcordate. Heart-shaped, with the notched part away from the point of attach-
ment (fig. 787).
Oblanceolate. Pointed at the apex, broadest above the middle, and tapering to the
base (fig. 787).
1720
-------
Oblate. Flattened at the poles,
Oblique. Said of a leaf having one side of the blade lower on the petiole than the
other (fig. 787),
Oblong. Longer than broad, the sides nearly parallel for most of their length (fig.
Obovate. Ovate in shape, but with the broadest part near the distal end (fig.
787).
Obovoid. Inversely ovoid.
Obsolete. Rudimentary or not evident; applied to an organ that is almost entirely
suppressed; vestigia!. Obsole^-cnt, becoming rudimentary or extinct.
Obtuse. Having a blunl or iDondea terminal part (fig. 787).
Ochrea (ocrea). A nodal sheath formed by the fusion of stipules, as in the Poly-
gonaceae. (fig. 413).
Odd-pinnate. Said of a pmnateiy compound leaf having a terminal leaflet, thus
having an odd, rather than an even, number of pinnae, (fig. 787).
Operculate. Having a lid.
Operculum. A lid.
Opposite. As said of leaves; occurring two at a node on opposite sides of the
stem. As said of flower parts; when one part occurs in front of another.
Orbicular. Circular in outline.
Orifice. The mouthlike opening of a tubular corolla at the junction of limb and
throat or tube.
Orthotropous. Said of seeds that are erect and having their micropyle at the apex.
Ovary. The part of the pistil bearing the ovules and maturing to form at least
part of the fruit which bears the seeds.
Ovate. Said of a plane structure having the shape of the outline of an egg (fig.
787).
Ovoid. Egg-shaped.
Ovule. An unfertilized egg.
Palea(e). A hyaline scale; specifically, in the grasses, the upper bract of two ste-
rile bracts, subtending a floret; in the Compositae, said of the scalelike pappus
(fig. 741).
Paleaceous. Scalelike.
Palmate. Having several lobes radiating from a common base like the fingers
from the palm of the hand (fig. 787).
Palmately compound. Said of a leaf divided into discrete segments to a common
basal area at the top of the petiole (fig. 787).
Palmately lobed. Said of appendages when the lobes are so disposed as to appear
to radiate from a common basal point (fig. 787).
Palmately veined. Said of veins when they radiate from a common basal point.
Paludal. Pertaining to marshes, wet all through the year.
Palustrine. Occurring in marshy places.
Paludose. Occurring in marshy places.
Panicle. A compound inflorescence, that is, one in which the axis is branched one
or more times (figs. 108, 788).
Pannose. Feltlike in texture or appearance.
Papilionaceous. Butterfly-like; said of the flowers of leguminous plants having a
corolla composed of an upright banner and two lateral wings, each representing
a single petal, and a keel comprised of two petals variously united (fig. 503).
Papilla (-ae). A short protuberance.
Papillate, papillose. Bearing papillae.
Pappus. The chaffy, scaly, bristle-like, or plumose structure at the junction of the
achene and the corolla in the Compositae (fig. 741).
1721
-------
SUBULATE i
OBLONG
OBLANCCOLATE
LINEAR ' LANCEOLATE ELLIPTIC OVATE SPATULATE
LEAf SHAPES
BLADC
DELTOID PELTATE
B1PINNATELY COMPOUND
APEX OF BLADt
ARISTATE
MUCRONATE
CUSPIDATE
ROUNDED
OBCORDATE
EMARGINATE
RETUSE
TRUNCATE
OBTUSE
ACUTE
ACUMINATE
BASE OF BLADE
CORDATE
TRUNCATE
ROUNDED
AA SAGITTATE
hASTATE
\jfj AURICULATE
CUNEATE
OBLIQUE
Fig. 787: Leaf characters. (From Mason, Fig. 365).
-------
Papule. A nipple-like projection.
Parallel-veined. Said of an organ in which the veins are so placed relative to one
another that they approximate parallel lines.
Parietal placentation. Said of ovaries in which the seeds are borne on structures
on the ovary wall, or on structures raised from the ovary wall (fig. 789).
Parted. Cleft to below the middle.
Pectinate. Said of an organ which is cleft into divisions in such a way as to re-
semble a comb (fig. 786).
Pedicel. Stalk or stem of a flower in a flower cluster (fig. 788).
Peduncle. The stem of a solitary flower or the main stem of a flower cluster (fig.
788).
Pellucid-punctate. Having translucent dots.
Peltate. Said of a plane structure that is attached at a point on its surface rather
than on the margin, such as the leaf of the garden nasturtium, Tropaeolum
(fig. 446) or Nelumbo.
Pendulous. Hanging.
Penicillate. Like a brush, such as the tuft of hairs on the style in certain vetches,
or at the tip of the phyllaries in certain Compositae.
Pentamerous. With parts of fives, as a corolla of five petals.
Perdurant. Very long lasting.
Perennial. Living three or more seasons.
Perfect. Said of flowers that have both stamens and pistils.
Perfoliate. Said of opposite or whorled bracts or leaves that are united into a col-
lar-like structure around the stem that bears them (fig. 787).
Perianth. The nonessential appendages of the flower situated outside the stamen
whorl, and including both sepals and petals or other segments homologous with
them.
Pericarp. The ovary wall as it matures in the fruit.
Perigynium. The sac or sheath enveloping the fruit in Carey, and often appearing
as though it were the ovary wall (fig. 264).
Perigynous. Said of flowers in which the perianth and stamens are inserted on the
receptacle around the gynoecium, or of flowers in which the ovary is partly
embedded in the receptacle, e.g., the flowers of cherries and plums.
Persistent. Said of an organ that remains attached after ceasing to perform its
usual biological function.
Petal. A unit segment of the corolla presumed to be homologous with a leaf.
Petaloid. Having the form and structure and sometimes also the arrangement of
petals.
Petiole. The stem or stalk of a leaf (fig. 787).
Petiolule. The stalk of a discrete segment of a compound leaf.
Phyllary. A bract of the involucre in the Compositae (fig. 741).
Phyllopodic. Having the lower leaves with well-developed blades.
Pilose. Having a vestiture or pubescence of scattered, long, slender, but not harsh,
hairs (fig. 785).
Pilosulous. Finely pilose.
Pinna (-ae). A leaflet or primary segment of a pinnately compound leaf.
Pinnate. Having a common elongate rachis or axis, with segments arranged either
oppositely or alternately along either side (fig. 495).
Pinnately compound. Said of structures the lateral segments of which are discrete
and arranged along a common axis (fig. 787).
Pinnatifid. Cleft in a pinnate manner.
Pinnule. A secondary pinnately disposed part of a twice or more pinnately com-
pound leaf.
1723
-------
Pistil. One of the essential organs of a flower, consisting usually of stigma, style,
and ovary, the ovary containing the ovule or ovules.
Pistillate. Bearing pistils only.
Placenta. The structure or tissue in the ovary bearing the ovules.
Placentation. Disposition of the ovules on the placentae within the ovary.
Plaited. With more or less equal lengthwise folds; plicate.
Plane. With a flat surface; projected in the manner of a plane from some desig-
nated point or level.
Plano-convex. Flat on one side and convex on the other.
Plicate. Repeatedly folded, usually lengthwise, though not necessarily so; plaited.
Plicatulate: the diminutive.
Plumose. With hairlike branches as in a feather; said of pappus segments and
sometimes of branched hairs (fig. 741).
Pollen. The powdery grains which bear the sperm nuclei and which are contained
in the anther.
Pollinium (pollinia). A mass of coherent pollen grains characteristic of orchids
and milkweeds (fig. 363).
Polygamo-dioecious. Polygamous but chiefly dioecious.
Polygamo-monoecious. Polygamous but chiefly monoecious.
Polygamous. Having perfect, pistillate, and staminate flowers on an individual
plant.
Polymorphous. Occurring in more than one form.
Polypetalous. With many distinct petals.
Primocane. The first year's cane (usually without flowers) of Rubus and similar
genera.
Procumbent. Trailing or lying flat, but not rooting.
Proliferous. Bearing supplementary structures such as buds or flowers, either in
an abnormal manner, or in a manner that is normal but from adventitious tis-
sues.
Prostrate. Prone, said of stems or leaves that lie on the ground.
Protandrous. With anthers maturing before the pistils in the same flower.
Prothalliwn (-a). A cellular, usually flat and thalluslike growth, resulting from
the germination of a spore, upon which are developed sexual organs or new
plants.
Pruinose. Having a waxy secretion forming a powdery covering.
Pseudo-. A Greek combining form to denote false.
Pteridophyta. The ferns and fern allies.
Puberulent. Covered with a pubescence of very fine, short hairs, not densely
spaced.
Pubescent. Hairy; the general term for hairiness (fig. 785).
Pulverulent. Dusted as with fine powder.
Punctate. With depressed dots scattered over the surface. Punctuate. Dotted.
Puncticulate. With very fine depressed dots.
Punctulate. Marked with small spots.
Pungent. Having a long, sharp point; or penetrating, as said of an odor.
Pustulate hair. Hair with a bulbous base (fig. 786).
Putamen. The shell of a nut; the hardened endocarp of stone fruits.
Quadrate. Four-angled in cross section.
Raceme. An inflorescence with a single axis, the flowers arranged along it on ped-
icels (fig. 788).
Racemose. Characterized by having its parts disposed as in a raceme.
Rachilla. The axis of a spikelet, bearing the florets in the Gramineac (fig. 83).
1724
-------
Rachis. The prolongation of the peduncle through a flower cluster, or of a petiole
through a compound leaf (fig. 121).
Radiate. Disposed in a plane from a common center like the spokes of a wheel;
also said of inflorescences in which the marginal corollas spread in this manner
(figs. 444, 741).
Ray. Any spreading segment of a radiate structure; often used specifically for the
marginal, ligulate corollas of the Compositae (fig. 741).
Ray flower. One of the marginal flowers in Compositae when the flower head
bears ligulate corollas, in contrast to the tubular disk corollas of the central
flowers (fig. 741).
Receptacle. The axis of a flower and its toral proliferation that bears the flower
parts; term also applied to the discoid platform which bears a group of flowers
in the headlike inflorescence of members of the Compositae (figs. 377, 741).
Recurved. Turned backward in a curving manner.
Reflexed. Turned backward from the point of attachment.
Regular. Said of a flower or of parts of a flower when the members within each
whorl are alike.
Remote. Separated from one another.
Reniform. Kidney-shaped (fig. 787).
Repand. Exhibiting a slightly uneven margin when viewed at right angles to the
plane (fig. 787).
Repent. Creeping (prostrate and rooting).
Replum. The marginate septum of certain pods that persist after the valves have
fallen, as in the fruit of Cruciferae.
Resaca. A former course or channel of a stream, commonly water-filled to form
narrow oxbow or meandering lakes.
Resupinate. Upside down, inverted by the twisting of the pedicel, as the flowers
of orchids.
Reticulate. Netted.
Retrorse. Having hairs or other processes turned or pressed toward the base.
Refuse. With a shallow, rounded notch at the apex (fig. 787).
Revolute. Said of margins that are rolled backward (toward the abaxial side), as
in some leaves.
Rhizome. A horizontal underground stem.
Rhombic. Somewhat diamond-shaped. Rhombiform: rhomb-shaped. Rhomboidal:
a solid with a rhombic outline.
Rib. A thickened structure, usually surrounding a primary vein on a leaf; also,
one of more or less parallel ridges on fruits, seeds, or stems
Ringent. Gaping, as the mouth of an open-throated bilabiate corolla.
Rootcap. Large cells that form a caplike covering for the smaller cells in rear
(growing point).
Rootstock. A horizontal underground stem bearing both roots and aerial stems
along its axis or from its tip.
Rosette. A group of organs, such as leaves, clustered and crowded around a com-
mon point of attachment.
Rosulate. Having the form of a rosette.
Rotate. Radiately spreading in one plane.
Rudimentary. Said of organs in which development has been arrested.
Rugose. With a wrinkled surface.
Runcinate. Deeply incised, with the segments directed toward the base.
Runner. A horizontal stem with long internodes that trails along the surface of
the ground (fig. 789). See Stolon.
1725
-------
TYPES Of INFLORESCENCE
PEDICEL
PANICLE: COMPOUND CORYMB DICHOTOMOUS COMPOUND UMBEL
CYME
SESSILE
FLOWERS
5CORPIOID CYHL
HEAD
SPADIX
VERTICIL AMCNT (CATKIN) 5PADIX HEAD (ANThODlUN)
Fig. 788: Types of inflorescences. (From Mason, Fig. 366).
-------
Saccate. Having a saclike swelling; said of petals or sepals and sometimes of sta-
mens and leaves (fig. 366).
Sagittate. Shaped like an arrowhead; said of the basal margins of a leaf which are
drawn into points on either side of the petiole (fig. 65).
Saline. Of or pertaining to salt; growing in salt marshes.
Salverform. Said of a corolla in which the tube is essentially cylindrical and the
lobes are rotately spreading.
Samara. A dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit bearing a wing, or two wings in a
double samara (fig. 789).
Scaberulous. Finely scabrous.
Scabrellate. Rough as a result of minute surface protuberances.
Scabrid. Slightly rough.
Scabrous. Rough; said of a surface that is rough and harsh to the touch.
Scale. A small, thin, platelike lamina arising from the surface of a stem or other
organ.
Scale leaf. A leaf having the size and form of a scale.
Scandent. Climbing without aid of tendrils.
Scape. An erect, naked peduncle of an acaulescent plant arising at the surface or
from below the surface of the ground (fig. 788).
Scapose. Bearing a scape.
Scarious. Thin and membranous, usually dry.
Schizocarp. A pericarp that splits into 1-seeded portions, mericarps.
Scorpioid. Said of structures that grow as though uncoiling (fig. 650).
Scurfy. Having flakes or scales adhering to the surface.
Secund. Disposed on one side of a stem.
Seep (s). A moist spot where underground water comes to or near the surface.
Segment. An ultimate natural division of an organ or whorl of organs.
Semi-. A prefix meaning half.
Sepal. One of the segments of the calyx.
Septate. Partitioned by walls (fig. 320).
Septicidial. Said of carpels dehiscing at their junction (fig. 789). Compare Loculi-
cidal.
Sericeous. Covered with soft, silky hairs, which usually point in one direction and
thus give the appearance of silk (fig. 785).
Serotinous. Produced or occurring late in the season.
Serrate. Having marginal teeth pointing forward (fig. 787).
Serrulate. Having very small marginal teeth; minutely serrate.
Sessile. Joined directly by the base without a stalk, pedicel, or petiole (fig. 27).
Seta. A bristle (fig. 786).
Setaceous. Bearing bristles.
Setose. Bearing bristles.
Sheath. The basal part of a lateral organ that closely surrounds or invests the stem.
Silicle. A short, two-celled fruit, usually broader than long, composed of two
valves which separate from the central partition; a shortened silique (fig. 789).
Silique. An elongate, many-seeded, two-celled fruit with two parietal placentae,
usually with two valves that separate from the partition on dehiscence, occa-
sionally indehiscent (fig. 789).
Silky. Having the appearance or texture of silk.
Simple. Neither branched nor otherwise compound.
Sinuate. Having a wavy margin in the plane of the blade (fig. 787).
Sinus. The angle between lobes, as between two sepals of a synsepalous calyx, or
petals of a sympetalous corolla.
Slough. A wet place or deep mud or mire; a sluggish channel.
1727
-------
Smooth. Not rough to the touch; cf. glabrous, without hairs, which may be either
smooth or scabrous.
Son (sorus). The clusters of sporangia appearing as dots on the back of a leaf of
a fern.
Spadix. The spikelike inflorescence enclosed in a spathe (fig. 788).
Spathe. A sheathing lateral organ or pair of organs usually open on one side and
enclosing an inflorescence (fig. 788).
Spatulate. Shaped like a spatula, that is, gradually widening above and rounded at
the tip (fig. 787).
Spheroidal. Shaped like a sphere or ball.
Spicate. Arranged in such a way as to resemble a spike.
Spike. A type of inflorescence in which the axis is somewhat elongated and the
flowers are numerous and sessile (figs. 26, 788).
Spikelet. The segment of the inflorescence of grasses enclosed by a pair of
glumes.
Spine. A rigid, sharp-pointed structure usually modified from a stem.
Spinescent. Bearing spines.
Spinose. Bearing spines.
Spinule. A diminutive spine.
Spore. The reproductive body of pteridophytes and lower plants, analogous to the
seed. Sporeling: a young plant from germinated spore. Sporiferous: spore-bear-
ing. Sporogenous: producing spores.
Sporophyll. A spore-bearing leaf.
Spreading. Diverging almost to the horizontal; nearly prostrate. Spreading hairs:
not at all appressed, but erect. Spreading lower lip: diverging from the main
axis of the flower.
Spur. Any hollow, elongate, pointed or blunt outgrowth of the corolla or calyx, as
in Delphinium (fig. 363).
Squamellate. Having a vestiture of scales (fig. 786).
Squamellae. Small scales.
Squarrose. Having thickly crowded but spreading rigid leaves, bracts, or other
processes.
Stalk. A short or elongate structure bearing or supporting another structure.
Stamen. The pollen-bearing organ; usually consisting of the stalk or filament and
the anther containing the pollen.
Staminate. Said of plants or structures bearing stamens and not bearing pistils.
Staminodium. A sterile organ in the stamen whorl, presumed to be of staminal
origin.
Standard. The broad, usually upright, petal in a papilionaceous flower such as
that of the pea (fig. 503).
Stellate. Star-shaped; said of hairs or scales that branch in such a manner as to
radiate from a central point of attachment (fig. 786).
Stem. The part of the plant bearing the foliar and floral organs and composed of
nodes and internodes, or the latter much reduced.
Stigma. That part of the pistil that receives the pollen and in which pollination is
effected (figs. 3a, 3b).
Sterile. Not fertile; said of flowers which for any reason are not bearing fruit.
Sometimes, but not correctly, applied to Staminate flowers.
Stigmatic. Pertaining to the stigma.
Stipe. The stalk of an ovary, or, in the Compositae of an achene (fig. 741).
Stipitale. Said of glands or of ovaries when they are borne on stalks.
Stipule. An appendage frequently occurring at the base of a leaf.
Stolon. A stem with elongate internodes that trails along the surface of the
ground, often rooting at the nodes. See Runner.
1728
-------
Stoloniferous. Bearing stolons, as in the strawberry.
Stramineous. Straw-colored.
Striate. Marked with fine parallel lines (fig. 292).
Strict. Erect and straight.
Strigose. Characterized by stiff, often appressed hairs, these usually pointing in
one direction (figs. 416, 785).
Strobilus, strobile. Conelike aggregation of sporophylls. Strobilaceous: relating to
or resembling a cone.
Strophiolate. Said of seeds having a strophiole.
Strophiole. An appendage at the hilum of some seeds.
Style. A short or long, simple or branched stalk arising from the ovary and bear-
ing the stigma or stigmas; the part of the pistil which connects ovary and
stigma (figs. 3a, 3b).
Stylopodium. An outgrowth from the base of the style and covering the top of
the ovary, as in the Umbelliferae (fig. 574).
Subacute. Between acute and obtuse.
Subcoriaceous. Somewhat leathery.
Submerged, submersed. Growing under water.
Subulate. Shaped like an awl or prong (fig. 787).
Succulent. Fleshy; composed of soft, watery tissue.
Suffrutescent. Woody, at least at the base, said of a subshrub.
Suffruticose. Woody at base and definitely herbaceous above.
Sulcate. Bearing grooves.
Superior. Wholly above and not adnate to other organs, as a surperior ovary (fig.
3a).
Surficial. Of or pertaining to a surface, as the face of umbelliferous seeds.
Suture. A groove marking the line along which a structure opens; any lengthwise
groove that forms a junction between two parts.
Swale. A moist meadowy area lower than the surrounding areas.
Symmetrical. Possessing one or more planes of symmetry (i.e., planes which di-
vide the object into mirror-image halves).
Sympetalous. A corolla in which the petals are united.
Syn-. Greek prefix meaning united; adhesion or growing together.
Syncarpous. Having the carpels fused to form a compound pistil.
Synsepalous. Having the sepals united.
Taproot. A single, main primary root bearing small lateral roots (fig. 789).
Tawny. Of the color of natural leather, light-brown with a dull reddish or yellow-
ish hue.
Taxon. A concept of a class of organisms at any categorical level that is predi-
cated on the similarity of the constituents to one another with respect to a set
of properties taken as the defining type of the class.
Tendril. A modified stem, leaf, or part of a leaf, in a climbing plant, that twines
around an object and thus supports the plant.
Tepal. Used in the plural for sepals and petals of similar form and not readily
differentiated, as in Amaryllidaceae.
Terete. Cylindrical or tapering and circular in cross section, as said of the stem
of a plant.
Ternate. Thrice-forked, -branched, or -divided.
Tessellate. Having a checkerboard appearance or pattern.
Thallus. A flat leaflike organ; used sometimes for entire plant in Lemnaceae.
Throat. The usually expanded part of the corolla tube immediately below the
lobes.
1729
-------
TYPES OF FRUITS
C1RCUMSCI.3SLE OPERCULATE
DEHI&CENCC OEHISCENCE
CAPSULE. CAPSULE
VALVULAR
DEHISCENCE
CAPSULE
5EPTICIDAL LOCULICIDAL
DCHISCENCE DETHI&CENCE
CAPSULE CAPSULE
ACHENE: FOLLICLE: LEGUME
PLACLNTATION
FREE CENTRAL
ROOT AND STEM VARIATIONS
CAULESCENT
ACAULE5CENT
WOODY rV
ROOT
tHEOHATOUS BULB
TUNICATED BULB TUBER. CAUDEX
Fig. 789: Types of fruits, and root and stem variations (From Mason, Fig. 367).
-------
Thyrse. A compact, compound panicle with an indeterminate axis (fig. 788).
Tomentose. Densely covered with short, matted hairs (fig. 785).
Tomentum. Pubescence of densely matted short hairs.
Toothed. Bearing teeth.
Torus. Specifically, the structure of a flower surrounding the gynoecium and bear-
ing the other flower parts on its margin; may be used for any tubular out-
growth that originates as a ring of growth from the meristem.
Tri-. A Latin prefix signifying three, thrice, or triply.
Trichome. A hair or hairlike structure.
Tricostate. Having three ribs.
Trifid. Cleft into three parts.
Trifoliate. Bearing three leaves, as does Trillium.
Trifoliolate. Having a leaf comprised of three leaflets, as does clover.
Trigonous. Said of an achene or other structure which is three-sided or triangu-
lar in cross section (fig. 222).
Triquetrous. Having three projecting angles.
Truncate. Cut squarely across, either at the base or at the apex (fig. 787).
Tube. The narrow basal portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous
calyx. Tubiform: tubular or trumpet-shaped.
Tuber. An enlarged, fleshy, underground stem, such as the potato (fig. 234).
Tubercle. A nodule on the surface, or a thickened, solid or spongy crown or cap,
as on an achene.
Tuberculate. Bearing tubercles on the surface.
Tubular. Cylindrical and hollow.
Tufted. With a dense cluster of elongate structures spreading from what appears
as a common point of attachment.
Tumid. Swollen.
Tunicated. Said of a bulb having its scales arranged in concentric layers as in the
bulb of an onion (fig. 789).
Turbinate. Inversely conical, or top-shaped.
Turion. A scaly, often thick and fleshy, shoot produced from a bud on an under-
ground rootstock, as in some species of Potamogeton.
Umbel. An inflorescence of few to many flowers on stalks of approximately equal
length arising from the top of a scape or peduncle (fig. 788).
Umbellate. Arranged like an umbel (fig. 223).
Umbellet. The umbel-like segment of a compound umbel (fig. 788).
Uncinate. Hooked at the tip. Uncinulate: the diminutive.
Undulate. Having a wavy margin; said of leaves, petals, or sepals (fig. 787).
Uni-. A prefix, meaning one.
Unisexual. In flowering plants, said of a plant or flower that either bears only sta-
mens or only pistils, but not both.
Urceolate. Said of a corolla with united petals and a tube that is expanded below
the middle and narrowed at the top.
Utricle. A usually one-seeded, indehiscent fruit with a thin, bladdery, persistent
ovary wall (fig. 789).
Vaginate. Loosely surrounded by a sheath. Vaginiform: sheath-shaped.
Valvate. Said of appendages (leaves, sepals, petals, or carpels) when arranged
margin to margin with adjacent structures in the bud, or in the fruit.
Valve. A rigid or semirigid segment joined to adjacent structures by its margin.
Vascular bundles. The elements of the conducting or vascular system of a plant.
1731
-------
Veins. The ultimate branches or divisions of the vascular system, as in leaves or
petals.
Velum. A veil; a membranous indusium, as in Isoetes (fig. 7).
Velutinous. Having pubescence which is velvety in texture (fig. 785).
Venation. The pattern of the veins in an organ.
Venous. Characterized by having more or less conspicuous veins.
Venter. Under part.
Ventral. Pertaining to the under (or front) side of a structure. See Adaxial.
Ventricose. Swelling unequally or inflated on one side.
Vernal. Occurring in springtime; said of pools that contain water in spring and
are dry in summer.
Vernation. The arrangement of leaves in the bud.
Verrucose. Having wartlike nodules on the surface.
Versatile. Turning freely on its support, as an anther attached crosswise at its
mid-point to the apex of the filament.
Verticil. A ring of organs or flowers at a node; a whorl.
Verticillate. Occuring in verticils (fig. 788).
Vespertine. Blossoming in the evening.
Vestiture. That which covers the surface, as hair, scales, etc.
Villous. Densely beset with shaggy hairs.
Virgate. Long, slender, and straight, like a wand.
Viscid. Sticky.
Viviparous. Germinating or sprouting from spores or buds while still attached to
the parent plant.
Whorl. A ring of leaves, flower parts, or flowers occurring at a single node (fig.
788). See Verticil.
Whorled. Occurring in a whorl (fig. 722).
Wing. A thin, flat extension from an angle or margin (fig. 503).
Woolly. Densely beset with wavy, curly, or twisted hairs (fig. 753).
Zygomorphic. Having the members of any whorl unlike; irregular (fig. 354).
1732
-------
Abbreviations and Signs
Adj., adjacent.
Adv., adventive.
Afghan., Afghanistan.
Afr., Africa.
Ags. or Aguasc., Aguascalientes.
Ala., Alabama.
Alas., Alaska.
Alt., altitude(s).
Alta., Alberta.
Am., America or American.
Arct., Arctic.
Arg., Argentina.
Ariz., Arizona.
Ark., Arkansas.
Assoc., association (s).
Atl., Atlantic.
Auct., auctor (originator).
Austral., Australia.
Auth., author(s).
Bah. I., Bahama Islands.
Baja Calif., Baja California.
B.C., British Columbia.
Berm., Bermuda.
Bol., Bolivia.
Braz., Brazil.
Br. Gui., British Guyana.
Br. Hond., British Honduras.
C.A., Central America or Central
American.
Calif., California.
Can., Canada.
Carib., Caribbean.
Cen., central.
Cf., compare, confer.
Chih., Chihuahua(n).
Chis., Chiapas.
Cm., centimeter (s), the 100th part of a
meter = about % of an inch.
Co. or cos., county (ies).
Coah., Coahuila.
Col., Colombia.
Colo., Colorado.
Conn., Connecticut.
Cont, continental.
Coir., corected, as "(Corr. Willd.)"
C.R., Costa Rica.
Cult., cultivated or cultivation.
D.C., District of Columbia.
Del., Delaware.
Descr., description.
D.F., Distrito Federal.
Dgo., Durango.
Disj., disjunct.
Dm., decimeter(s), the 10th part of a
meter = about 4 inches.
E., east or eastern.
Eastw., eastward.
Ecu., Ecuador.
E.I., East Indies.
Elev., elevation (s).
Emend., emendavit (emendate).
Eng., England.
Err., error.
Eur., Europe, European.
Euras., Eurasia(n).
F., filius, son, or the younger (when
following the name of an author);
form (forma), in relation to a plant
variant.
Fl., flower.
Fla., Florida.
Fr., France, fruit.
Ft., feet.
Ga., Georgia.
Gr. Ant., Greater Antilles.
Greenl., Greenland.
Gro., Guerrero.
Gto., Guanajuato.
Guat., Guatemala.
Gui., Guyana(s).
Hgo., Hidalgo.
H.I., Hawaiian Islands.
Hisp., Hispaniola.
Hond., Honduras.
I. or Is., island(s).
la., Iowa.
Icel., Iceland.
Ida., Idaho.
111., Illinois.
Illegit., illegitimate.
Incl., including.
Ind., Indiana.
Introd., introduced.
Ire., Ireland.
Isr., Israel.
It., Italy.
Jal., Jalisco.
lam., Jamaica.
Kan., Kansas.
Ky., Kentucky.
1733
-------
La., Louisiana.
Lab., Labrador.
Less. Ant., Lesser Antilles.
L.I., Long Island.
M., meter(s) = about 39.3 inches.
Madag., Madagascar.
Man., Manitoba.
Mass., Massachusetts.
Md., Maryland.
Me., Maine.
Medit., Mediterranean.
Mex., Mexico.
Mich., Michigan.
Michoac., Michoacan.
Midwest., midwestern.
Minn., Minnesota.
Miss., Mississippi.
MM., millimeter(s) = about %5 of an
inch.
Mo., Missouri.
Mont., Montana.
Mor., Morelos.
Mt., mts., mountain (s).
N., north or northern.
N.A., North America or North Ameri-
can.
N.Afr., North Africa.
Nat., native.
Nay., Nayarit.
N.B., New Brunswick.
N.C., North Carolina.
N.D., North Dakota.
N.E., New England.
N.e., northeast or northeastern.
Neb., Nebraska.
Nev., Nevada.
Nfld., Newfoundland.
N.H., New Hampshire.
N.Hemis., Northern Hemisphere.
Nic., Nicaragua.
N.J., New Jersey.
N.L., Nuevo Leon.
N.M., New Mexico.
Nom. conf., nomina confusa (confused
name).
Nom. rej., nomina rejicienda (rejected
name).
Northw., northward.
N.S., Nova Scotia.
N.w., northwest.
N.Y., New York.
N.Zeal., New Zealand.
O., Ohio.
Oax., Oaxaca.
Okla., Oklahoma.
Ont., Ontario.
Ore., Oregon.
Orthogr., orthographical.
Pa., Pennsylvania.
Pac., Pacific.
Pan., Panama.
Pantrop., pantropical.
Parag., Paraguay.
P.E.I.. Prince Edward Island.
Pen., peninsula(r).
Phil., Philippines.
Polyn., Polynesia.
P.p., pro parte (in part).
P.R., Puerto Rico.
Pue., Puebla.
Que., Quebec.
Queensl., Queensland.
Qro., Queretaro.
Q. Roo., Quintana Roo.
Ref., reference.
R.I., Rhode Island.
Russ., Russia.
S., south or southern.
S.A., South America or South Ameri-
can.
S.Afr., South Africa.
Salv., Salvador.
S.C., South Carolina.
Scot., Scotland.
S.D., South Dakota.
S.e., southeast or southeastern.
Sect., Section.
Sens, ample (or s. amplo), sensior
amplo (broad sense).
Sens. lat. (or s.l.), sensior latior (broad
sense).
Sens, str., sensior strictior (strict sense).
Sensu, in the sense of.
Ser., Series.
Sib., Siberia.
Sin., Sinaloa.
S.L.P., San Luis Potosi.
Son., Sonora.
Sp. or spp., species.
S.Pac., South Pacific.
Southw., southward.
Southwestw., southwestward.
Subg., subgenus.
Subsp. or ssp., subspecies.
Subtrop., subtropical.
S.w., southwest.
Tab., Tabasco.
Tarn., Tamaulipas.
1734
-------
Temp., temperate. Virg., I., Virgin Islands.
Tenn., Tennessee. Vt, Vermont.
Tex., Texas. W., west or western.
Trin., Trinidad. Wash., Washington.
Trop., tropical or tropics. Westw., westward.
U.S., United States. W. Hemis., Western Hemisphere.
Urug., Uruguay. W.I., West Indies.
Ut., Utah. Wise., Wisconsin.
Va., Virginia. W.Va., West Virginia.
Van, variety. Wyo., Wyoming.
Venez., Venezuela. Yuc., Yucatan.
Ver., Veracruz. Yuk., Yukon Terr.
Vic., vicinity. Zac., Zacatecas.
? = Indicates doubt.
X = Crossed with, the symbol for a hybrid.
Figures or words connected by the short dash indicates the extremes of variation,
as "5-10 mm. long; few- to many-flowered," i.e., varying from five to ten
millimeters in length, and from few- to many-flowered.
METRICllCM 2
110
INCHES
1735
-------
Selected References
Abrams, Leroy. Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States. Vols. I-III. 1940-1951; Vol. IV
(with Ferris, Roxana S.). Stanford University Press. 1960.
Arber, A. Water Plants: A Study of Aquatic Angiosperms. University Press, Cam-
bridge. 1920. Reprinted with an introduction by Stearn, W. T. as Historiae Naturalis
Classica, 1963.
Barkley, T. M. A Manual of the Flowering Plants of Kansas. Manhattan. 1968.
Bennett, George W. Management of Artificial Lakes and Ponds. Reinhold Publishing
Corp. New York. 1962.
Benson, L. A treatise on North American Ranunculi. Am. Midi. Nat. 40: 1-261. 1948.
Benson, Lyman and Darrow, Robert A. The Trees and Shrubs of the Southwestern
Deserts. The University of New Mexico Press. 1954.
Bogin, C. Revision of the Genus Sagittaria (Alismataceae). Mem. N. Y. Bot. Gard.
9(2): 179-233. 1955.
Boyd, Claude E. Vascular Aquatic Plants for Mineral Nutrient Removal from Polluted
Waters. Economic Botany 24(1): 95-103. 1970.
Correll, Donovan Stewart and Johnston, Marshall Conring. Manual of the Vascular
Plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Texas. 1970.
Correll, Donovan Stewart. Native Orchids of North America, north of Mexico. Walt-
ham, Mass. 1950.
Coulter, John M. Botany of Western Texas (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. Vol. 2). Wash-
ington. 1891-1894.
Coulter, J. M. and Rose, J. N. Monograph of the North American Umbelliferae
(Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. Vol. 7:1-256). Washington. 1900.
Daubs, Edwin Horace. A Monograph of Lemnaceae. Illinois Biological Monographs.
The University of Illinois Press. Urbana. 1965.
Fassett, N. C. Callitriche in the New World. Rhodora 53: 137-155, 161-182, 185-194,
209-222. 1951.
Fassett, N. C. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. University of Wisconsin Press. Revision
Appendix by Ogden, Eugene C. 1957.
Fernald, Merritt Lyndon. Gray's Manual of Botany. Eighth Edition. American Book
Co. New York. 1950.
Gleason, Henry A. The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern
United States and Adjacent Canada. 3 Vols. New York Botanical Garden. 1952.
Harrington, H. D. Manual of the Plants of Colorado. Denver. 1954.
Hermann, Frederick J. Manual of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado
Basin. Agri. Handbook No. 374. Forest Service, U. S. Dept. of Agri. 1970.
Hitchcock, A. S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States (2nd ed. revised by Chase,
Agnes). (U. S. Dept. Agri. Misc. Publ. 200). Washington. 1951.
Hitchcock, C. Leo, Cronquist, Arthur, Ownbey, Marion and Thompson, J. W. Vascular
Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Parts 1-5. University of Washington Press. Seattle
and London. 1955-1969.
Hotchkiss, Neil. Pondweeds and Pondweedlike Plants of Eastern North America. Circu-
lar 187. U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington. 1964.
Hotchkiss, Neil. Bulrushes and Bulrushlike Plants of Eastern North America. Circular
221. U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington. 1965.
Hotchkiss, Neil. Underwater and Floating-leaved Plants of the United States and
Canada. Resource Publication 44. U. S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Sport
Fisheries and Wildlife. Washington. 1967.
Ingram, W. M. and Tarzwell, C. M. Selected Bibliography of Publications Relating
to Undesirable Effects upon Aquatic Life by Algicides, Insecticides, Weedicides.
Publ. Health Bibliog. Ser. 13: 1-28. 1954.
Kearney, Thomas H. and Peebles, Robert H. Arizona Flora (2nd Ed. with Suppl. by
Howell, John Thomas and McClintock, Elizabeth). University of California Press.
Berkeley. 1960.
1737
-------
Krai, Robert. Xyris (Xyridaceae) of the Continental United States and Canada. Sida
2 (3): 177-260. 1966.
Krai, Robert. Eriocaulaceae of Continental North America north of Mexico. Sida 2
(4): 285-332. 1966.
Lundell, C. L. and Collaborators. Flora of Texas. Vols. I, II, III. Texas Research
Foundation, Renner, Texas. 1942-1969.
MacKenzie, Kenneth Kent. North American Cariceae. N. Y. Bot. Garden. New York.
1940.
Martin, Alexander C., Zim, Herbert S. and Nelson, Arnold L. American Wildlife &
Plants. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. New York. 1951.
Mason, Herbert L. A Flora of the Marshes of California. University of California
Press. Berkeley. 1957.
Matsumura, Y. and Harrington, H. D. The True Aquatic Vascular Plants of Colorado.
Tech. Bull. Colo. Agri. Exp. Sta. 57. 1955.
Mitchell, Richard S. Variation in the Polygonum amphibium complex and its taxonomic
significance. University of California Publications in Botany. Vol. 45. 1968.
Muenscher, W. C. Aquatic Plants of the United States. Comstock Publishing Co., Inc.
Ithaca. 1944.
Munz, Philip A. and Keck, David D. A California Flora. University of California
Press. Berkeley and Los Angeles. 1959.
Niering, William A. The Life of the Marsh. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. New York.
1966.
Pennell, F. W. The Scrophulariaceae of eastern North America. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.
Monogr. 1:1-650. 1935.
Rechinger, K. H., Jr. The North American species of Rumex. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot.,
Ser. 17: 1-151. 1937.
Reed, Clyde. Selected Weeds of the United States. Agri. Handb. No. 366, Agri. Res.
Serv., U. S. Dept. of Agri. 1970.
Reid, George K. Ecology of Inland Waters and Estuaries. Reinhold Publishing Corp.
New York. 1961.
Sculthorpe, C. D. The Biology of Aquatic Vascular Plants. St. Martin's Press. New
York. 1967.
Shinners, Lloyd H. Spring Flora of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area Texas. Dallas. 1958.
Shreve, Forrest and Wiggins, Ira L. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert. Stan-
ford University Press. 1964.
Small, John Kunkel. Manual of the Southeastern Flora. New York. 1933.
Standley, Paul C. Trees and Shrubs of Mexico (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. Vol. 23).
Washington. 1920-1926.
Steyermark, Julian A. A Flora of Missouri. The Iowa State University Press, Ames.
1962.
Waterfall, U. T. Keys to the Flora of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State University Press.
Stillwater. Ed. 3. 1966.
Willis, J. C. A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns (7th ed. revised by Shaw,
H. K. Airy). Cambridge University Press. 1966.
Wooton, E. O. and Standley, Paul C. Flora of New Mexico (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb.
Vol. 19). Washington. 1915.
Young, Gordon. Pollution, Threat to Man's Only Home. Nat. Geograph. Mag. 138(6):
738-780. 1970.
1738
-------
INDEX
(Page numbers in bold face indicate where the genus or species is treated. Names
in italics are considered to be synonyms in our area. In the case of multiworded
vernacular names the hyphen is used to denote sequence of words.)
Abrojo, 1646
Absinthe, 1689
Abutilon, 1113
Acacia Smallii, 1039
Acalypha, 1082
Acanthaceae, 1525
Acanthus family, 1525
Acer, 1104, 1369
barbatum, 1105
floridanum, 1105
Negundo, 1104
texanum, 1104
rubrum, 1105
Drummondii, 1105
rubrum, 1105
trilobum, 1105
saccharam
floridanum, 1105
Acera'ceae, 1104
Acetosella Acetosella, 798
Achillea, 1686
millifolium, 1686
lamilosa, 1686
occidentalis, 1686
Achyranthes philoxeroid.es,
868
Acnida, 857, 862
alabamensis, 864
cuspidata, 864
tamariscina, 864
Aconitum, 921
columbianum, 921
Acorus, 563
Calamus, 563
Adder's-tongue, 49
bulbous, 49
common, 50
Family, 47
fragile, 50
limestone, 50
Adiantum, 63
Capillus-Veneris, 63, 65
modestum, 63
pedatum, 65
tricholepis, 65
glabrum, 63
Adicea pumila, 795
Aeschynomene, 9, 1065
evenia, 1067
indica, 1065, 1067
Aesculus, 1495
Agalinis, 1495
fasciculata, 1498
heterophylla, 1497
maritima, 1497
grandiflora, 1497
prairie, 1497
purpurea, 1498
spiciflora, 1497
tenuifolia, 1497
leucanthera, 1497
Agastache, 1416
nepetoides, 1416
Agoseris, 1704
aurantiaca, 1704
glauca, 1704
Agrimonia, 1037
parviflora, 1037
striata, 1037
Agrimony, 1037
Agropyron, 208, 212
repens, 210
Smithii, 210
molle, 210
Palmeri, 210
subsecundum, 208
Agrostis, 226
alba, 231
exarata, 234
gigantea, 231
hyemalis, 228, 231
tenuis, 231
idahoensis, 231
palustris, 234
perennans, 231
scabra, 231
semiverticillata, 226, 228
stolonifera, 231
Ahuehuete, 82
Aizoaceae, 870
Alacrancillo, 1389
Alamillo, 745
Alamo, 738, 748
tem'blon, 751
vine, 1359
Alder, 779
1739
Arizona, 782
black, 1098
New Mexican, 782
smooth, 782
thin-leaf, 782
white, 1267
Aletris, 660
aurea, 5, 660
farinosa, 660
Alfalfa, 1046
Alfalfllla, 1047
Alfombrilla, 1401
Alhagi, 1065
camelorum, 1065
Alisma, 3, 7, 135
brevipes, 137
Geyeri, 135
gramineum, 135
angustissimum, 135
Geyeri, 135
parviflorum, 137
Plantago-aquatica
brevipes, 137
americanum, 137
Michaletti, 137
parviflorum, 137
subcordatum, 135
triviale, 137
Alismataceae, 133
Alkali
cordgrass, 265
-grass, 179, 650
mallow, 1124
weed, 1351
Allenrolfea, 836, 1367
occidentalis, 839
Alliaceae, 656
Alligator
-bonnet, 902
weed, 4, 11, 866
Allium, 655
canadense
canadense, 656
Geyeri, 656
mutabile, 656
Alnus, 779, 1369
incana, 782
rugosa
-------
occidentalis, 782
maritima, 782
oblongifolia, 782
rugosa, 782
serrulata, 782
Alopecurus, 236
aequalis, 236
carolinianus, 238
geniculatus, 238
myosuroides, 236
pratensis, 236
Alpine timothy, 240
Alsatian clover, 1053
Alsike clover, 1053
Alsine baicalensis, 894
Alternanthera, 11, 866,
1361
philoxeroides, 4, 11, 866
Althaea, 1113
officinalis, 1113
Altingiaceae, 1012
Amamastla, 801
Amaranth, 858
Family, 857
sandhills, 862
Amaranthaceae, 857
Amaranthus, 858, 1361,
1365
albus, 861
arenicola, 862
australis, 864
californicus, 858, 861
crassipes, 858
graeciians, 861
microphyllus, 861
Palmed, 862
spinosus, 861
tamariscinits, 866
Warnockii, 858
Amarcl/a slrictiflora, 1323
Amaryllidaceae, 664
Amaryllis
Belladonna, 664
Family, 664
Ambrosia, 1365, 1369,
1586, 1642
aptera, 1645
Grayi, 1642
Lindheimeriana, 1645
psilostachya, 1645
trifida, 1645
texana, 1645
American
beautyberry, 1395
brooklime, 1493
cowslip, 1281
featherfoil, 4, 1277
frog-orchid, 711
frog's-bit, 159
germander, 1408
holly, 1102
hornbeam, 778
manna-grass, 185
milfoil, 1205
pillwort, 57
potato bean, 1069
slough grass, 259
water-willow, 1531
winter cress, 981
Ammannia, 9, 1161
auriculata, 1162
arenaria, 1162
coccinea, 1162
teres, 1162
Ammoselinum, 1220
Butleri, 1223
Amorpha, 1055
californica, 1055
fruticosa, 1056
angustifolia, 1056
croceolanata, 1056
fruticosa, 1056
occidentalis, 1056
paniculata, 1055
texana, 1056
glabrescens, 1056
Ampelopsis, 1112
arborea, 1112
cordata, 1112
Amsinckia, 734
Amsonia, 1333
glaberrima, 1333
illustris, 1333, 1334
tabcrnaemontana, 1333
Gattingeri, 1333
salicifolia, 1333
Anacardiaceae, 1091
Anacharis
canadensis, 165
densa, 163
NiittalHi, 165
occidentalis, 165
Anagallis, 1291
arvensis, 1291
caerulea, 1291
Anchistea virginica, 67
Anchusa, 1384
Andropogon, 338
glomeratus, 338
virginicus
abbreviatus, 338
Androsace, 1284
diffusa, 1287
glandulosa, 1287
occidentalis, 1284
arizonica, 1287
occidentalis, 1287
pinetorum, 1287
septentrionalis, 1287
glandulosa, 1287
puberulenta, 1287
subulifera, 1287
Anemopsis, 737
californica, 737
subglabra, 737
Angelica, 1249
pinnata, 1249
Angel's hair, 1360
Angiospermae, 82
Anise-root, 1223
Annual hairgrass, 222
Anoda, 1125
cristata, 1125
hastata, 1125
lavaterioides, 1125
Antenoron virginianum,
810
Anthaenantia, 280
rufa, 283
villosa, 283
Anthemis, 1686
Cotula, 1686
nobilis, 1686
Anthopogon
barbellatus, 1322
elegans, 1323
Aparejo muhly, 248
Apios, 1069
americana, 1069
turrigera, 1069
Apium, 1230
ammi, 1230
graveolens, 1233
leptophyllum, 1230
Apocynaceae, 1331
Apocynum, 1334
angustifolium, 1337
cannabinum, 1337
glaberrimum, 1337
pubescens, 1337
hypericifolium, 1337
sibiricum, 1337
cordigerum, 1337
salignum, 1337
Suksdorfii, 1337
angustifolium, 1337
Apple haw, 1020
Applemint, 1443
Apteria, 689
aphylla, 5, 689
setacea, 689
Aquifoliaceae, 1097
Aquilegia, 917
chrysantha, 918
coerulea, 917
Hinckleyana, 917
longissima, 918
Arabis, 964
divaricarpa, 965
1740
-------
Drummondii, 965
hirsuta
pycnocarpa, 964
ovata, 965
oxyphylla, 965
Araceae, 556
Araucaria, 79
Arce, 1104
Arctic bluegrass, 189
Arenaria, 894
alsinoides, 897
confusa, 897
lanuginosa, 897
cinerascens, 897
lanuginosa, 897
obtusiloba, 895
patula, 995
patula, 895
robusta, 895, 897
rubella, 895
saxosa, 897
serpyllifolia, 897
Argentina
Anserina, 1031
argentea, 1031
Arisaema, 557
Dracontium, 557
quinatum, 560
triphyllum, 557
pusillum, 557
Stewardsii, 557
Arizona
-alder, 782
-ash, 1305
-dewberry, 1036
-sycamore, 1015
-walnut, 772
Armoracia, 7, 9, 979
aquatica, 979
rusticana, 979
Arnica, 1689
Chamissonis. 1689
foliosa, 1689
Aronia
arbutifolia, 1017
macrophylla, 1017
Arrow-arum, 560
Arrow-vine, 810
Arrow-weed, 1637
Arrow-weed family, 129
Arrow-wood, 1556
Arrowhead, 3, 4, 142
Arrowroot family, 686
Arroyo willow, 764
Artemisia, 1365, 1689
absinthium, 1689
biennis, 1689
Dracunculus, 1689
tridentata, 1689
Arum family, 556
Arundinaria, 175
gigantea, 175
Arundo, 202
Donax, 202
Asclepiadaceae, 1339
Asclepias, 1339, 1365
curassavica, 1345
galioides, 1345
incarnata, 1345
incarnata, 1347
longifolia, 1347
pulchra, 1347
lanceolata, 1342
paupercula, 1342
Lindheimeri, 1341
longicornu, 1341
longifolia, 1345
oenotheroides, 1341
perennis, 1347
purpurascens, 1341
rubra, 1342
speciosa, 1340
subverticillata, 1342
texana, 1347
Ascyrum, 1128
hypericoides, 1128
hypericoides, 1129
multicaule, 1128
oblongifolium, 1129
stans, 1128
Ash, 1303
Arizona-, 1305
Carolina-, 1303
desert-, 1305
Mexican-, 1305
pop-, 1303
red-, 1305
velvet-, 1305
water-, 1303
white-, 1305
Ash-leaved maple, 1104
Aster, 1362, 1365, 1367,
1615
adscendens, 1622
chilensis, 1622
coerulescens, 1622
dumosus, 1625
coridifolius, 1625
subulaefolius, 1625
Eulae, 1626
exilis, 1621
falcatus, 1621
foliaceous, 1622
frondosus, 1621
hesperius, 1622
hydrophilus, 1623
intricatus, 1621
lateriflorus, 1623, 1624,
1625
flagellaris, 1624
indutus, 1624
marsh-, 1622
marsh alkali-, 1622
novae-angliae, 1623
ontarionis, 1623, 1624
pantotrichus, 1624
pauciflorus, 1622
praealtus, 1622, 1625
scabricaulis, 1625
shrubby alkali-, 1621
simplex, 1624
spinosus, 1618, 1621
euroauster, 1618
subulatus, 1618, 1621
australis, 1621
euroauster, 1621
ligulatus, 1621
subulatus, 1621
tenuifolius, 1618, 1621
tephrodes, 1623
umbellatus
latifolius, 1626
vallicola, 1622
vimineus, 1624
Astragalus, 1061, 1065
alpinus, 1061
dasyglottis, 1062
goniatus, 1062
Lambertii
abbreviates, 1063
Atamosco
pulchella, 669
texana, 671
Athyrium, 67
asplenioides, 69
Filix-femina
asplenioides, 67, 69
californicum, 69
Atriplex, 849, 1361, 1367
argentea, 851
expansa, 853
hortensis, 851
lentiformis, 850
patula
hastata, 851
semibaccata, 850
Atropa Belladonna, 1449
Aunt Lucy, 1377
Australian saltbush, 850
Autumn bentgrass, 231
Avens, 1031
big leaf-, 1033
white-, 1033
Avicennia, 1393
germinans, 1393
nitida, 1393
Avicenniaceae, 1392
Avocado, 961
Axocatzin, 1125
1741
-------
Axonopus, 287
affinis, 287
compressus, 287
furcatus, 287
Azalea, 1271
canescens, 1272
early-, 1274
hoary-, 1272
nudiflora, 1274
oblongifolia, 1272
viscosa, 1272
Azolla, 3, 9, 57, 564
caroliniana, 59
filiculoides, 59
mexicana, 59
Baccharis, 1367, 1369,
1606
Emoryi, 1607
glutinosa, 1607
salicina, 1607
sarothroides, 1606
viminea, 1608
Bacopa, 1458
acuminata, 1467
caroliniana, 1458
Monnieri, 1458
cuneifolia, 1458
rotundifolia, 1461
Bag-pod, 1059
Bald cypress, 81
Bald rush, 489
Balsam, 1105
Balsam-apple, wild-, 1570
Bamboo-vine, 663
Barbara's-buttons, 1675
Barbarea, 981
americana, 981
orthoceras, 981
vulgaris
arcuata, 981
Barley, 215
foxtail-, 215
meadow-, 215
Barnyard grass, 329
Bartonia, 1329
paniculata, 1329
texana, 5, 1329
verna, 1329
Basil, 1446
Bassia, 842
hyssopifolia, 845
Bastard indigo, 1056
Bataceae, 868
Batatas, 1354
Batidaceae, 868
Bads, 868
maritima, 870
Bay
-gall bush, 5, 1099
-laurel, 5
red-, 961
swamp-, 961
sweet, 961
Bayberry family. 967
Beach morning glory, 1357
Beach panic, 320
Beak-rush, 467
Beaked sedge, 532
Beaked willow, 765
Bear-berry, 1560
Beard-tongue, 1487
Bearded
grass-pink, 5, 719
sprangletop, 253
wheatgrass, 208
Beardgrass, bushy-, 338
Beardless wild-rye, 212
Beautyberry, 1395
American-, 1395
purple-, 1395
Beaver-poison, 1237
Beckmannia, 259
Sysigachne, 259
Bedstraw, 1539
bluntleaf-, 1540
catchweed-, 1543
dye-, 1542
fragrant-, 1543
stiff marsh-, 1542
Bee-plant
Rocky Mountain-, 988
yellow-, 988
Beech, blue-, 778
Beech family, 783
Beefsteak plant, 1434
Beggar-ticks, 1663, 1668
Belladonna, 1449
Bellflower, 1572
Belvedere, 845
Bent-awn plumegrass, 336
Bentgrass, 226
autumn-, 231
creeping-, 234
redtop-, 231
spike-, 234
spring-, 228
water-, 228
Bequilla, 1059
Bergamont, wild-, 1434
Bergia, 1145
texana, 1145
Bermuda grass, 256
Bermuda-mulberry, 1395
Bertholetia sericea, 1637
Berula, 1234
erecta, 1234
pusilla, 1234
Besseya, 1489
arizonica, 1490
plantaginea, 1489
Betony, shade-, 1431
Betony, wood-, 1499
Betula, 778
fontinalis, 779
nigra, 779
occidentalis, 779
Betulaceae, 777
Bidens. 1663
aristosa, 1667
mutica, 1667
aurea, 1664
Bigelovii, 1672
bipinnata, 1672
bipinnata, 1672
biternatoides, 1672
cernua, 1667
discoidea, 1668
frondosa, 1668
laevis, 1664
leptocephala, 1671
mitis, 1667
Nashii. 1664
pilosa, 1671
polylepis, 1668
tenuisecta, 1671
tripartita, 1668
Bifora, 1365
Big
-blue lobelia, 1580
-cordgrass, 262
-leaf avens, 1033
-quaking grass, 192
-red sage, 1433
-shellbark hickory, 777
Bigtree hawthorn, 1020
Bitderdykia
Convolvulus, 813
cristata, 813
Bilsted, 1012
Bindweed, black-, 813
Bindweed, hedge-, 1353
Birch, 778
family, 777
river-, 779
water-, 779
Bishop's-weed, mock-, 1243
Bistorta vivipara, 817
Bitter
-bloom, 1315
-cress, 967
-cress, hairy-, 968
-dock, 805
-pecan, 775
Bitternut hickory, 775
Black
-alder, 1098
-bindweed, 813
-currant, 1010
1742
-------
-eyed pea, 1069
-greasewood, 842
-gum, 1265
-haw, southern-, 1556
-mangrove, 1393
-mangrove family, 1392
-medick, 1046
-sedge, 464
-snakeroot, 653
-titi, 1095
-willow, 757
Blackberry, 1035
Bladder pod, 1059
Bladderwort, 4, 1513
common-, 1519
cone-spur-, 1522
family, 1510
floating-, 1519
horned-, 1516
purple-, 1519
Blaspheme-vine, 663
Blazing-star, 1595
Bledo, 862
Blephariglottis
Blephariglottis, 697
Chapmanii, 700
ciliaris, 697
Blepharodon, 1609
Elite, sea-, 846
Bloodleaf, 866
Blooming-sally, 1190
Blue
-beech, 778
-cardinal flower, 1580
-elder-berry, 1559
-eyed grass, 673
-flag, southern-, 682
-hyssop, 1458
-jasmine, 923
-joint, 226
-lettuce, 1701
-star, 1333
-stem goldenrod, 1612
-vervain, 1399
-violet, common-, 1154
-violet, woolly-, 1153
-water-lily, 902
-waxweed, 1167
-weed, 1656
Bluebell, 1321, 1391, 1574
family, 1571
Blueberry, 1269
Elliott's-, 1270
-hawthorn, 1019
Bluebonnet, 1045
Bluegrass, 185
Arctic-, 189
bog-, 190
Canada-, 189
fowl-, 190
Kentucky-, 189
Nevada-, 190
Bluehearts, 5, 1498
Bluestem, 338
Bluets, 1543
Bluntleaf bedstraw, 1540
Boehmeria, 791, 1362,
1368, 1369
cylindrica, 791
cylindrica, 791
Drummondiana, 791
scabra, 791
Bog
-bluegrass, 190
-button, whitehead-, 5,
593
-hemp, 791
-marsh-cress, 976
-mat, 575
-orchid,
boreal-, 710
green-flowered-, 706
slender-, 709
sparsely-flowered-, 709
tall white-, 710
Thurber's-, 703
-rush, 606
Bogmoss, 5, 578
family, 578
Boltonia, 1630
asteroides, 1631
diffusa, 1631
latisquama, 1631
Bonamia
aquatica, 1353
Michauxii, 1353
Boneset, 1601
Borage family, 1383
Boraginaceae, 1383
Boreal bog-orchid, 710
Borrichia, 1367, 1655
frutescens, 1655
Bottle
-brush, 46
-caric-sedge, 527
-gentian, 1326
Bottomland post-oak, 785
Box, running-, 1551
Boxelder, 1104
Bramble, 1035
Bramia Monnieri, 1458
Brasenia, 3, 4, 909
purpurea, 909
Schreberi, 909
Brass buttons, 1686
Brazilian vervain, 1397
Breweria
aquatica, 1353
Michauxii, 1353
Breynia, 1082
Bristle grass, 332
Bristly sedge, 527
Briza, 192
maxima, 192
minor, 192
Broad
-beech fern, 72
-leaved pondweed, 117
-leaved twayblade, 713
-lipped twayblade, 713
Broadfruited bur-reed, 91
Brome, 175
Bromus, 175, 177
ciliatus, 177
japonica, 177
Richardsonii, 177
Brook
-feather, 915
-pimpernel, 1493
-saxifrage, 1002
Brooklime, American-,
1493
Brookweed, 1277
Broom-wood, 1127
Broomweed, 1608
Brown-eyed Susan, 1651
Brunnichia, 795
cirrhosa, 796
ovata, 795
Buchnera, 5, 1498
americana, 1499
breviftora, 1499
floridana, 1499
Buena moza, 1453
Bugle-weed, 1437
Virginia-, 1437
Bulbostylis, 400, 473
capillaris, 402
ciliatifolia, 400
Funckii, 402
juncoides, 402
ampliceps, 402
Bulbous adder's tongue, 49
Bull paspalum, 292
Bull thistle, 1695
Bulrush, 3, 4, 5, 344
giant-, 357
great-, 360, 363
hard-stem-, 360
river-, 349
salt-marsh-. 349
soft-stem-, 363
three-square-, 357
Bunchberry, 1395
Bunchflower, 655
Bur
-clover, 1046
-cucumber, one-seeded-,
1571
1743
-------
-marigold, 1663
-oak, 784
-reed, 3, 4, 89
broadfruited-, 91
-family, 89
Burhead, 137
Burmannia, 686
biflora, 689
capitata, 689
family, 686
Burmanniaceae, 686
Burning-bush, 1103
Burnweed, 1693
Burro weed, 836
Bursting-heart, 1103
Bush
-cinquefoil, 1025
-clover, 1067
Japanese-, 1068
Korean-, 1068
-palmetto, 556
pigeon-, 1560
Bushmint, cluster-. 1416
Bushy beardgrass, 338
Bushy lippia, 1401
Butomaceae, 153
Buttercup, 928
creeping-, 933
cursed-, 949
large-, 939
prairie-. 939
spring-, 941
Butterweed, 1690
Butterwort, small-, 5, 1522
Button
brass-, 1686
-hemp, 791
-snakeroot, 1254, 1595
Buttonbush, 4, 1548
common-, 1548
-dodder, 1362
Buttonweed, 1551, 1552
rough-, 1555
slender-, 1552
smooth-, 1552
Buttonwood, 1012
Cabomba, 4, 7, 906
caroliniana, 3, 906, 1513
Cacalia. 1693
lanceolata, 1693
plantaginea, 1693
tuberosa, 1693
Cacao family, 1125
Caesalpinia. 1045
Cakile, 981
fusiformis, 983
geniculata, 983
Calamagrostis, 224
canadensis, 226
canadensis, 226
robusta, 226
inexpansa, 226
brevior, 226
inexpansa, 226
Calamintha arkansana,
1449
Calamus, 563
Calico bush, 1400
Callicarpa, 1367, 1395
americana, 1395
lactea, 1395
Callitrichaceae, 1085
Callitriche, 7, 9, 1085
Austinii, 1091
deflexa
Austinii, 1091
hermaphroditica, 1088
heterophylla, 1088
Nuttallii, 1091
palustris, 1088
peploides, 1091
terrestris, 1091
verna, 1088
Calonyction, 1354
Calopogon, 719
barbatus, 5, 719
pulchellus, 5, 720
Caltha, 915
leptosepala, 915
Calyptocarpus, 1660
vialis, 1660
Calystegia, 1353
fraterniflora, 1353
sepium, 1353
fraterniflora, 1353
repens, 1353
Camassia, 657
angustata, 657
scilloides, 657
Camel-thorn, 1065
Camelina, 985
saliva, 985
Camomile, 1686
Camote-de-raton, 1045
Campanula, 1367, 1572
rotundifolia, 1574
Parryi, 1574
peliolala, 1574
Campanulaceae, 1571
Camphor daisy, 1610
Camphor-weed, 1634
Campion, 887
moss-, 887
Canada
-bluegrass, 189
-garlic, 656
-wild-rye, 212
Canaigre, 797
Canary grass, 268
Canary grass, reed-, 268
Cancer-weed, 1433
Cancerwort, 1490
Candle-berry, 769
Cane, Georgia-, 202
Cane, giant-, 175
Canela, 1634
Canna, 684
family, 684
flaccida, 684
glauca, 684
indica, 684
Cannaceae, 684
Canuela, 46, 47
Canyon grape, 1111
Cape-weed, 1405
Caper family, 987
Caperonia, 1083
palustris, 1083
Capparaceae, 987
Capparidaceae, 987
Caprifoliaceae, 1555
Capsella, 985
Bursa-Pastoris, 985
Capsicum, 1449
Cardamine, 9, 967
bulbosa, 968
cordifolia, 968
hirsuta, 968
macrocarpa
texana, 968
parviflora
arenicola, 971
pensylvanica, 971
Cardinal flower, 1583
blue-, 1580
Carduus, 1694
spinosissimus, 1695
Careless-weed, 862
Carex, 3, 4, 343, 489, 490
alata, 513
albolutescens, 512
albonigra, 540
alma, 504
amphibola, 554
globosa, 555
rigida, 555
turgida, 555
annectans, 504
aquatilis, 519
athrostachya, 508
atlantica, 508
aurea, 518
Bebbii, 512
bella, 540
Bicknellii, 513
blanda, 550
Bolanderi, 507
brevior, 515
Brittoniana, 515
1744
-------
Bulbostylis, 555
Bushii, 546
Buxbaumii, 539
canescens, 502
capillaris, 553
caroliniana, 547
cuspidata, 546
cephalophora, 502
angustifolia, 502
comosa, 527
complanata, 546
Crawei, 553
crinita, 518
brevicrinis, 518
Mitchelliana, 518
crus-corvi, 506
debilis, 552
decomposita, 502
disperma, 499
Douglasii, 496
eburnea, 538
Emoryi, 522
festivella, 511
festucacea, 512
fissa, 506
flaccosperma, 555
folliculata
australis, 532
Frankii, 524
gigantea, 535
glaucescens, 544
granularis, 553
Haleana, 553
Grayi, 532
grisea, 555
Hassei, 515
hirsutella, 546
Howei, 508
hyalina, 513
hyalinolepis, 525
hystericina, 527
hystricina, 527
incomperta, 508
inflata, 532
interior, 507
intumescens, 535
Joorii, 541
Kelloggii, 519
lanuginosa, 544
Leavenworthii, 502
laevivaginata, 507
leptalea, 489, 537
Harperi, 537
leptopoda, 507
lonchocarpa, 532
Longii, 512, 513
louisianica, 535
lupuliformis, 535
lupulina, 535
lurida, 529
media, 538
mesochorea, 502
microdonta, 554
microptera, 511
muskingumensis, 508
nebraskensis, 521
nigromarginata
floridana, 537
nigromarginata, 538
normalis, 512
nova, 541
oxylepis, 550
physorhyncha, 538
praegracilis, 499
reniformis, 515
rostrata, 532
scoparia, 511
senta, 518
serratodens, 539
Shortiana, 541
simulata, 499
squarrosa, 525
typhina, 525
stipata, 506, 507
maxima, 506
stricta, 521, 522
Thurberi, 529
triangularis, 504
tribuloides, 511
typhina, 525
uberior, 506
ultra, 522
verrucosa
glaucescens, 544
vesicaria, 529, 532
viridula, 547
vulpinoidea, 504
platycarpa, 504
vulpinoidea, 504
Caric-sedge, 489
Carolina
-ash, 1303
-jessamine, 1311
-silver-bells, 1299
Carpenter-weed, 1419
Carpet
-grass, 287
-weed, 872
-family, 870
Carpinaceae, 778
Carpinus, 778
caroliniana, 778
Carrizo, 202
Carya, 773, 1367, 1369
aquatica, 775
cordiformis, 775
illinoinensis, 774, 775
laciniosa, 777
Lecontei, 775
myristicaeformis, 774
ovata, 775
Pecan, 774
Caryophyllaceae, 884
Cassava, 1082
Cassytha, 962
filiformis, 962
Castalia
elegans, 902
lekophylla, 902
odorata, 902
Castilleja, 1504
coccinea, 1505
confusa, 1508
exilis, 1505
lauta, 1508
lineata, 1507
luteovirens, 1507
miniata, 1507
minor, 1505
occidentals, 1507
rhexifolia, 1508
septentrionalis, 1507
sulphurea, 1507
trinervis, 1508
Castor-bean, 1082
Cat
-brier, 663
-tail, 3, 4, 6, 11, 85
-family, 85
Catbird grape, 1110
Catchfly, 887
-gentian, 1318
-grass, 274
Catch weed bedstraw, 1543
Catclaw, 1041
Catmint, 1419
Catnip, 1419
Caucalis, 1226
microcarpa, 1226
Cayaponia, 1570
Boykinii, 1570
quinqueioba, 1570
Cebolleta, 669
Cedar, salt-, 1148
Celastraceae, 1103
Celeri graveolens, 1233
Celery, 1230
wild-, 1233
Cenchrus, 334
myosuroides, 334
Cenicilla, 876
Centaurium, 1317
Beyrichii
Beyrichii, 1318
glanduliferum, 1318
calycosum
breviflorum, 1318
calycosum, 1317, 1318
1745
-------
exaltatum, 1318
nudicaule, 1318
Centaury, 1317
Centella, 1219
asiatica, 1219
erect a, 1220
Centunculus, 1291
minimus, 1291
Cephalanthus, 1362, 1367,
1369, 1548
occidentals, 1548
californicus, 1551
pubescens, 1551
salicifolius, 1551
Cerastium, 889
arvense, 891
axillare, 889
brachypodum, 891
compactum, 891
nutans, 893
obtectum, 893
sericeum, 893
triviale, 891
vulgatum, 891
holosteoides, 891
Ceratophyllaceae, 912
Ceratophyllum, 3, 4, 9, 912
demersum, 913, 1513
echinatum, 913
echinatum, 913
Ceratopteris, 3, 9, 77
deltoidea, 79
pteridoides, 79
thalictroides, 77, 79
Cerothamnus ceriferus, 769
Chaerophyllum, 1226
procumbens, 1229
Tainturieri
dasycarpum, 1229
Tainlurieri, 1229
texanitm, 1229
Chaff-flower, 866
Chaffweed, 1291
Chain fern, 67
Virginia-, 65
Chapman's holly, 1101
Chara, 3
Chasmanthium, 202
latifolium, 202
Checker-mallow, 1114
Chenopodiaceae, 834
Chenopodium, 853
album, 853, 855
ambrosioides, 854
anthelminticum, 854
Botrys, 854
chenopodioides, 855
Fremontii, 855
farinosum, 855
Pringlei, 855
glaucum, 855
humile, 855
quinoa, 853
rubrum, 855
viride, 857
Watsonii, 855
Chervil, 1226
wild-, 1223
Chess, 175
Chicken grape, 1111
Chicken spike, 1572
Chickweed, 889, 893
family, 884
Indian-, 872
water-, 1085
Chico, 842
Chinese parasol-tree, 1125
Chintul, 432
Chionanthus, 1307
virginica, 1307
maritima, 1307
Chloris, 265
Chokeberry, red-, 1017
Chondrophylla Fremontii,
1325
Choristylis, 1008
Cicely, sweet-, 1223
Cicuta, 1237
Curtissii, 1240
Douglasii, 1240
maculata, 1237
mexicana, 1240
occidentalis, 1240
Cidrilla, 1401
Cinchona, 1538
Cinco llagas, 1510
Cinna, 234
arundinacea, 234
latifolia, 236
Cinnamon fern, 51
family, 51
Cinquefoil, 1021
bush-, 1025
shrubby-, 1025
Cipres, 82
Circaea, 1199
alpina, 1199
pacifica, 1199
Cirsium, 1694
acauhscens, 1698
Drummondii, 1698
foliosum, 1697
horridulum, 1694, 1695
inornatum, 1695
muticum, 1694, 1695
nidulum, 1697
pallidum, 1697
Parryi, 1695
vinaceum, 1697
Cissus, 1112, 1367, 1369
Ampelopsis, 1112
arborea, 1112
incisa, 1112
Cladium, 461
californicum, 464
jamaicense, 464
chinense, 464
Clappia, 1681
suaedaefolia, 1681
Clearweed, 792
Cleavers, 1539, 1543
Cleistes, 719
divaricata, 719
Clematis, 923, 1367
crispa, 923
Waited, 923
cylindrica, 923
virginiana, 923
Cleome, 987, 989
lutea, 988
multicaulis, 988
serrulata, 988
sonorae, 988
Cleomella, 988
angustifolia, 989
longipes, 989
Clethra, 1267, 1369
alnifolia, 1267
Clethraceae, 1267
Climbing dogbane, 1334
Climbing hemp-weed, 1599
Clinopodium glabrum,
1449
Clover, 1047
Alsatian-, 1053
alsike-, 1053
bur-, 1046
bush-, 1067
jackass-, 989
owl-, 1508
red-, 1052
strawberry-, 1049
sour-, 1047
sweet-, 1046
white-, 1052
Clubmoss, 5, 39
family, 39
southern-, 39
Cluster bushmint, 1416
Clustered field sedge, 499
Coastal dropseed, 252
Cocklebur, 1037, 1646
spiny-, 1646
Codiaeum, 1082
Coffea, 1538
Coffee bean, 1059
Cola
-de alacran, 1385
-de caballo, 46
1746
-------
-de mico, 1386
Colic-root, 660
Collomia, 1375
linearis, 1375
Colorado River hemp,
1059
Columbine, 917
longspur-, 918
Rocky Mountain-, 917
Commelina, 593, 595
communis, 595
diffusa, 596
virginica, 595
Commelinaceae, 593
Common
-adder's-tongue, 50
-bladderwort, 1519
-blue violet, 1154
-buttonbush, 1548
-cat-tail, 87
-dandelion, 1703
-devil's claw, 1510
-elder-berry, 1559
-evening primrose, 1198
-fennel, 1229
-frogbit, 4, 159
-frog-fruit, 1405
-green-brier, 663
-horn wort, 913
-lousewort, 1501
-meadow beauty, 1172
-mouse-ear, 891
-plantain, 1536
-poolmat, 117
-reed, 205
-self-heal, 1419
-water-nymph, 126
-yarrow, 1686
Compositae, 1369, 1504,
1586
Coneflower, 1651
cutleaf-, 1652
Cone-spur bladderwort,
1522
Conioselinum, 1249
scopulorum, 1249
Conium, 1233
maculatum, 1233
Conobea multifida, 1470
Conoclinium, 1601
betonicifolium, 1605
betonicum, 1605
integrifolium, 1605
coelestinum, 1603
Greggii, 1605
Convolvulaceae, 1350
Convolvulus
fraterniflorus, 1353
septum, 1353
fraterniflora, 1353
repens, 1353
Conyza, 1630
Coulteri, 1630
Coon-tail, 912
Cooperia, 669
Drummondii, 669, 671
Copper lily, 671
Coral-berry, 1560
Coral green-brier, 664
Cordgrass, 4, 259
alkali-, 265
big-, 262
gulf-, 262
prairie-, 265
saltmeadow-, 265
smooth-, 262
Coreopsis, 1660
Atkinsoniana, 1661
cardaminaefolia, 1661
linifolia, 1661
similis, 1661
stenophylla, 1661
tinctoria, 1661
Corkwood, 769
family, 769
Corn salad, 1565
Cornaceae, 1262
Cornel, 1265
Comus, 1265
asperifolia, 1266
candidissima, 1266
Drummondii, 1266
foemina, 1266
racemosa, 1266
stolonifera, 1266
stricta, 1266
Correhuela de las doce,
1359
Cosmos, 1672
parviflorus, 1672
Cotton
-batting, 1632
-grass, 363
-gum, 1265
Cottonwood, 738
eastern-, 748
lanceleaf-, 739
narrowleaf-, 742
plains-, 748
Rio Grande-, 745
smooth-barked-, 739
Cotula, 1686
coronopifolia, 1686
Cow
-itch, 1112
-lily, 4
yellow-, 906
-parsnip, 1253
Cowbane, 1251
spotted-, 1237
Cowpen daisy, 1659
Cowslip, American-, 1281
Crabgrass, 283
northern-, 283
Crack-willow, 760
Cranesbill, 1071
Crassula
aquatica, 994
Drummondii, 994
Crassulaceae, 994
Crataegus, 1017
abbreviata, 1021
arborea, 1020
berberifolia, 1020
berberifolia, 1021
edita, 1021
brachyacantha, 1019
Davisii, 1021
edita, 1021
microcarpa, 1019
mollis, 1021
opaca, 1020
pyracanthoides, 1020
arborea, 1020
uniqua, 1020
rivularis, 1020
spathulata, 1019
uniqua, 1020
velutina, 1021
viridis, 1021
abbreviata, 1021
velutina, 1021
Crazy-weed, 1062
Cream-pea, 1069
Creeping
-bentgrass, 234
-buttercup, 933
-foxtail clubmoss, 39
-primrose-willow, 1187
-spike rush, 381
-spot-flower, 1649
Crepis, 1703
perplexans, 1703
runcinata, 1703
Cress
American winter-, 981
bitter-, 967
bog marsh-, 976
hairy bitter-, 968
lake-, 979
rock-, 964
spring-, 968
water-, 971, 974
winter-, 981
yellow-, 971
Cressa, 1351, 1367
aphylla, 1351
depressa, 1351
leafless-, 1351
nudicaulis, 1351
1747
-------
truxillensis
vallicola, 1351
Crested fringed orchid, 5,
700
Crested shield fern, 77
Crimson monkey-flower,
1474
Crinum, 671
americanum, 671
bulbispermum, 671
strictum, 673
strictum, 673
Traubii, 673
Croton, 1082
Crow-poison, 653
Crowfoot, 928
family, 913
white water-, 957
yellow water-, 953
Crown-beard, 1659
Crucifer, 7
Cruciferae, 962
Cryptotaenia, 1223
canadensis, 1223
Cucurbita, 1569
Pepo, 1570
texana, 1569
Cucurbitaceae, 1569
Cudweed, 1631
lowland-, 1633
purple-, 1632
Culantrillo, 63
Cupgrass, 283
prairie-, 285
Cuphea, 1167
carthagensis, 1167
glutinosa, 1167
peliolata, 1167
viscosissima, 1167
Curled pondweed, 103
Curly dock, 802
Currant, 1008
black-, 1010
golden-, 1010
Indian-, 1560
Cursed buttercup, 949
Cuscuta, 962, 1359, 1368
arvensis, 1365
campestris, 1365
Cephalanthi, 1362
compacta, 1369
Coryli, 1367
cuspidata, 1368
denticulata, 1368
glabrior
glabrior, 1365
pubescens, 1365
glandulosa, 1362
Gronovii
calyptrata, 1368
Gronovii, 1368
latiflora, 1368
indecora
indecora, 1367
longisepala, 1367
obtusiflora
glandulosa, 1362
pentagona, 1362
Polygonorum, 1362
salina, 1365
squamata, 1369
umbellata, 1361
reflexa, 1361
Warneri, 1361
Cutleaf coneflower, 1652
Cycads, 79
Cylindric-fruited ludwigia,
1187
Cymodocea, 9, 120, 129
filiformis, 4, 120
manatornm, 120
Cymodoceaceae, 120
Cynanchum, 1349
angustifolium, 1349
palustre, 1349
Cynoctonum, 1311
Mitreola, 1311
sessilifolium, 1311
Cynodon, 256
Dactylon, 256
maritimus, 256
Cynosciadium, 1246
digitatum, 1246
pinnatum, 1249
pumilum, 1249
Cyperaceae, 341, 604, 606
Cyperus, 4, 9, 415, 416,
473
acuminatus, 438
albiflorus, 445
albomarginatus, 426
alternifolius, 447
amabilis
macrostachyus, 435
arenicola, 443
aristatus, 435
Runyonii, 435
articulatus, 432
bipartitus, 429
brevifolius, 422
cayennensis, 459
compressus, 449
cyrtolepis, 438
densicaespitosus, 423
difformis, 435
digitatus. 449
dissitiflorus, 459
Eggersii, 432
elegans, 451
major, 454
erythrorhizos, 447
esculentus, 456
angustispicatum, 456
macrostachyus, 456
ferax, 432
ferruginescens, 432
filicinus, 426
filiculmis, 451
flavescens, 426
poaeformis, 429
flavus, 459
giganteus, 447
globulosus, 461
Haspan, 445
americanus, 447
hermaphroditus, 459
angustior, 459
Houghtonii
Bushii, 451
huarmensis, 459
inflexus, 435
Iria, 432
juncoides, 447
laevigatus, 420
lentiginosus, 457
macrocephalus, 432
melanostachys, 429
niger, 429
capitatus, 429
castaneus, 429
obesus, 459
ochraceus, 441
odoratus, 429
onerosus, 449
ovularis, 461
cylindricus, 461
robustus, 461
sphaericus, 461
oxylepis, 454
Parishii, 451
phaeolepis, 445
polystachyos
leptostachyus, 426
paniculatus, 426
polystachyos, 426
texensis, 426
Pringlei, 459
pseudovegetus, 441, 443
reflexus, 438, 443
retrorsus, 461
rivularis, 429
rotundus, 454
rufescens, 445
seslerioides, 435
sesquiflorus, 423
setigerus, 456
speciosus, 432
strigosus, 457
1748
-------
gracilis, 457
surinamensis, 438
tenuifolius, 423
tenuis, 457
lentiginosus, 457
thyrsiflorus, 459
virens, 441, 443
vulgaris
teretifructus, 426
Wolfii, 461
Cypress
bald-, 81
southern-, 81
summer-, 845
Cyrilla, 1095, 1369
family, 1095
racemiflora, 5, 1095
Cyrillaceae, 1095
Dactylis, 202
glomerata, 202
Dahoon, 1102
-holly, 1102
Daisy
camphor-, 1610
cowpen, 1659
sea ox-eye-, 1655
Dallis grass, 292
Dandelion, 1703
common-, 1703
Danthonia, 224
intermedia, 224
Dasistoma, 1495
macrophylla, 1495
Dasystephana
Bigelovii, 1326
interrupta, 1326
Parryi, 1326
Romanzovii, 1325
Dasystoma, 1495
Daubentonia, 1059
Drummondii, 1061
Day-flower, 595
Death camus, 650
Deciduous holly, 1099
Decodon, 5, 1154, 1157
verticillatus, 7, 1157
Deer-grass, 1169
Deer vetch, 1053
Deerberry, 1269
Delphinium, 913, 918
andesicola, 919
amplum, 921
sapellonis, 919
tenuisectum, 921
amplibracteatum, 921
Deringia canadensis, 1223
Deschampsia, 222
caespitosa, 224
holciformis, 224
danthonioides, 222
elongata, 222
Descurainia, 967
californica, 967
Desert
-ash, 1305
-lavender, 1416
-olive, 1308
-tobacco, 1453
Devil's
-claw, 1510
common-, 1510
darning-needle-, 923
-gut, 1360
Devil-weed, Mexican-,
1618
Dewberry, 1035
Arizona-, 1036
Dewdrop, purple-, 1580
Diamond-leaf frog-fruit,
1404
Dianthera
americana, 1531
subcoriacea, 1531
lanceolata, 1533
Diapedium brachiatum,
1528
Dichondra, 1350
carolinensis, 1351
micrantha, 1351
recurvata, 1351
repens
carolinensis, 1351
Dichromena, 435, 464
colorata, 467
latifolia, 467
nivea, 467
Reverchonii, 467
Dicliptera, 1528
brachiata, 1528
glandulosa, 1528
Ruthii, 1528
Dicotyledoneae, 23, 734
Didiplis diandra, 1164
Digitaria, 283
adscendens, 283
diversiflora, 283
sanguinalis, 283
Diodia, 1552
teres, 1555
angustata, 1555
setifera, 1555
virginiana, 1552
Diplanthera
Beaudettei, 120
Wrightii, 120
Disc water-hyssop, 1461
Distichlis, 200
spicata, 4, 200
spicata, 200
stricta, 200
stricta, 200
Ditch
-grass family, 123
-polypogon, 240
-stonecrop, 999
Ditchmoss, 163
Dock, 797
bitter-, 805
curly-, 802
fiddle-, 805
golden-, 807
pale-, 801
sour-, 802
swamp-, 800
yellow-, 802, 805
Dodder, 1359
button-bush-, 1362
field-, 1365
hazel-, 1367
pretty-. 1367
smartweed-, 1362
Dodecatheon, 1281
alpinum
majus, 1283
dentatum
Ellisiae, 1284
Ellisiae, 1284
Meadia, 1283
pulchellum, 1284
radicatum, 1284
Doellingeria, 1626
umbellata
latifolia, 1626
Dog-fennel, 1686
Dogbane, 1334
climbing-, 1334
family, 1331
prairie-, 1337
Dogwood, 5, 1265
English-, 1266
family, 1262
poison-, 1093
red-osier-, 1266
rough-leaf-, 1266
Dollar weed, 1124
Downy lobelia, 1580
Downy shield fern, 74
Draba, 984
aurea, 985
leiocarpa, 985
Helleriana, 985
Dracocephalum, 1419
Correllii, 1426
parviflorum, 1419
Dracopis, 1652
amplexicaulis, 1652
Dragon
-head, 1419
1749
-------
false-, 1422
-root, 557
Dropseed, 250
coastal-, 252
mesa-, 252
Dropwort, water-. 1251
Drosera, 5, 990
annua, 993
brevifolia, 993
capillaris, 993
intermedia, 993
Droseraceae, 990
Drymaria, 887
pachyphylla, 887
Drymary, 887
Drymocallis
arizonica, 1029
glandulosa, 1029
Dryopteris, 75
cristata, 77
dentata, 74
ludoviciana, 77
normalis, 75
Lindheim£ri, 75
Duchesnea, 1021
indica, 1021
Duck-potato, 150
Duckmeat, 3, 4, 564, 565
Duckweed, 3, 4, 565
family, 563
Dulichium, 344
arundinaceum, 344
Dwarf palmetto, 556
Dye bedstraw, 1542
Eardrop vine, 795
Early-azalea, 1274
Eastern cottonwood, 748
Eastern gamagrass, 341
Echinochloa, 326
colonum, 326
crusgalli, 329
crusgalli, 329
cruspavonis, 329
frumentacea, 329
macera, 329
microstachya, 329
mitis, 329
muricata, 329
zelayensis, 329
cruspavonis, 329
paludigena, 329
polystachya, 332
Walteri, 329
Echinocystis, 1571
lobata, 1571
Wrightii, 1571
Echinodorus, 7, 137
Berteroi, 139
lanceolalus, 142
cordifolius, 139, 142
parvulus, 139
radicans, 142
rostratus, 139
lanceolatus, 142
rostratus, 142
tenellus
parvulus, 139
Echinopepon, 1570
Wrightii, 1570
Ech inopsilon hyssopifolius,
845
Echium, 1384
Eclipta, 1646
alba, 1646
Eelgrass, 161
Egeria, 3, 9, 161
densa, 161
Egg-plant, 1449
Egletes, 1631
viscosa, 1631
bipinnatifida, 1631
Eichhornia, 11, 598
azurea, 598
crassipes, 3, 4, 11, 598,
868
Eichornia, 598
Elatinaceae, 1142
Elatine, 1142
americana, 1145
brachysperma, 1145
calif ornica, 1145
chilensis, 1145
triandra, 1145
brachysperma, 1145
Elbow-bush, 1308
Elder
-berry, 1556
blue-, 1559
common-, 1559
red-, 1559
marsh-, 1637
Mexican-, 1560
poison-, 1093
Eleocharis, 3, 4, 366
acicularis, 372
acutisquamata, 399
albida, 393
arenicola, 399
atropurpurea, 384
austrotexana, 399
Baldwinii, 366, 390
bella, 372
Brittonii, 393
calva, 381
caribaea, 384
cellulosa, 381
compressa, 396, 399, 400
cylindrica, 396
elliptica
compressa, 399
elongata, 393
Engelmannii, 378
equisetoides, 378
fallax, 399
fistulosa, 375
flavescens, 381
geniculata, 384
interstincta, 378
lanceolata, 375
Lindheimeri, 372
Lundellii, 393
macrostachya, 381, 399
melanocarpa, 375
membranacea, 387
microcarpa, 390
minima, 366, 390
montana, 378
montevidensis, 396, 399
obtusa, 366, 375
detonsa, 378
lanceolata, 375
obtusa, 378
ovata, 378
ocreata, 384
olivacea, 384
ovata, 378
Palmeri, 396, 399
palustris, 381
Parishii, 396
parvula, 366, 384
anachaeta, 387
parvula, 387
pauciflora, 387
quadrangulata, 372, 375
radicans, 372
Reverchonii, 372
rostellata, 375, 387
tenuis, 399
verrucosa, 393, 396
tortilis, 387
tuberculosa, 369
Wolfli, 369
xyridiformis, 381
Eleogiton radicans, 372
Elephant's head, 1501
Elk's lip, 915
Elliott's blueberry, 1270
Ellisia, 1377
Nyctelea, 1377
Elm family, 788
Elm, water-, 788
Elodea, 3, 9, 163
bifoliata, 163
canadensis, 165
densa, 163
longivaginata, 165
Nuttallii, 165
Elymus, 210, 212
1750
-------
canadensis, 212
brachystachys, 212
robustus, 212
villosus, 212
Smithii, 210
triticoides, 212
villosus, 212
virginicus, 212
australis, 212
glabriflorus, 212
intermedius, 212
Enchanter's nightshade,
1199
English dogwood, 1266
English plantain, 1534
Epazote, 854
Epilobium, 1190
adenocaulon, 1193
perplexans, 1193
alpinum, 1193
angustifolium, 1190
californicum, 1193
ciliatum, 1193
coloratum, 1193
glandulosum, 1190
Halleanum, 1193
Hornemannii, 1193
oregonense, 1193
saximontanum, 1193
Watsonii, 1193
occidentale, 1194
Parishii, 1194
Epipactis, 716
gigantea, 716
Equisetaceae, 45
Equisetum, 45, 47
arvense, 46
caespitosum, 46
ramulosum, 46
variegatoides, 46
hyemale, 47
affine, 47
Drummondii, 47
robustum, 47
texanum, 47
kansanum, 46
laevigatum, 46
Funstonii, 46
laevigatum, 47
scabrellum, 47
prealtum, 47
robustum, 47
Eragrostis, 192
cilianensis, 196
diffusa, 196
Elliottii, 198
glomerata, 198
hirsuta, 196
hypnoides, 194
megastachya, 196
pectinata, 196
perplexa, 196
pilosa, 196
reptans, 194
Erechtites, 1693
hieracifolia
intermedia, 1693
Erianthus, 336
alopecuroides, 336
compactus, 338
contortus, 336
divaricatus, 336
giganteus, 338
laxus, 338
saccharoides, 338
strictus, 336
Tracyi, 338
Ericaceae, 1267
Erigeron, 1626
Coulteri, 1629
formosissimus, 1630
flagellaris, 1629
lonchophyllus, 1629
minor, 1629
myrionactis, 1627
peregrinus, 1629
philadelphicus, 1629
pulchellus, 1627
Eriocarpum, 1609
megacephalum, 1610
Eriocaulaceae, 588
Eriocaulon, 5, 588
compressum, 590
decangulare, 590
Kornickianum, 590
septangulare, 592
texense, 592
Eriochloa, 283
contracta, 285
punctata, 285
Eriogonum, 795
Erioneuron, 205
Eriophorum, 363
angustifolium, 365
polystachion, 363
Eryngium, 1253, 1367
heterophyllum, 1257
Hookeri, 1260
integrifolium, 1260
nasturtiifolium, 1260
phyteumae, 1257
prostratum, 1262
sparganophyllum, 1254
synchaetum, 1257
yuccifolium
synchaetum, 1257
yuccifolium, 1254,
1257
Eryngo, 1253
Erythraea
Beyrichii, 1318
calycosa, 1317
Eschenbachia Coulteri,
1630
Euonymus, 1103
americanus, 1103
atropurpureus, 1103
atropurpureus, 1103
Cheatumii, 1103
Eupatorium, 1601
betonicifolium, 1603
coelestinum, 1603
Greggii, 1605
leucolepis, 1605
maculatum, 1603
Bruneri, 1603
perfoliatum, 1601
purpureum, 1603
pycnocephalum, 1605
Euphorbiaceae, 1082
Eurystemon, 604
mexicanum, 604
Eustoma, 1318
exaltatum, 1321
albiflorum, 1321
grandiflorum, 1321
bicolor, 1321
Fished, 1321
flaviflorum, 1321
roseum, 1321
Russellianum, 1321
silenifolium, 1321
Euthamia, 1609
camporum, 1609
Evening primrose, 1194
common-, 1198
family, 1175
Everlasting, 1631
Exogonium, 1354
Fabaceae, 1039
Fagaceae, 783
Fagopyrum sagittatum, 795
Fall panic, 323
False
-asphodel, 650
-dragon-head, 1422
-flax, 985
-hellebore, 655
-nettle, 791
-pimpernel, 1484
-Solomon's seal, 657
Fan wort, 3, 906
Feather-geranium, 854
Featherfoil, 1277
American-, 1277
Felwort, 1327
Fennel, 1229
common-, 1229
1751
-------
dog-, 1686
hog-, 1251
Fern, 37
allies, 37
broad beech-, 72
chain-, 67
Virginia-, 65
cinnamon-, 51
crested shield-, 77
downy shield-, 74
hairy maidenhair-, 65
lady-, 67
southern-, 67
mosquito-, 57
royal-, 51
sensitive-, 65
southern marsh-, 72
water-, 3, 57
Fescue
nodding-, 179
perennial-, 177
red-, 179
Festuca, 177
obtusa, 179
rubra, 177, 179
Fetter-bush, 1274
Fiddle dock, 805
Fiddle-leaf tobacco, 1453
Field dodder, 1365
Field mint, 1443
Figwort family, 1456
Filigrana, 1395
-de mazorca, 1395
-de pinar, 1395
Fimbristylis, 400, 402
alamosa, 411
annua, 408
autumnalis, 405
Baldwiniana, 410
capillaris, 402
caroliniana, 407
castanea, 411
dichotoma, 408
miliacea, 405
puberula, 413
interior, 413
puberula, 413
thermalis, 407
tomentosa, 407
Vahlii, 411
Fire-bush, Mexican-, 845
Fire willow, 766
Fireweed, 1190, 1693
Firmiana simplex, 1125
Five-finger, 1021
Flatsedge, 415
Flaveria, 1683
campestris. 1683
chloraefolia, 1683
oppositifolia, 1683
Flax, 1073
false-, 985
family, 1073
sucker-, 1073
Fleabane, 1626
marsh-, 1633
Philadelphia-, 1629
running-, 1629
stinking-, 1634
Flecha de agua, 150
Fleur-de-lis, 676
Floating
-bladderwort, 1519
-fern family, 77
-heart, 1331
yellow-, 1331
-knotweed, 820
-primrose-willow, 1187
Florida ladies' tresses, 730
Florida maple, 1105
Flowering-rush family, 153
Foeniculum, 1229
vulgare, 1229
Forestiera, 1307
acuminata, 1307
vestita, 1308
neomexicana, 1308
arizonica, 1308
pubescens, 1308
glabrifolia, 1308
sphaerocarpa, 1308
Forget-me-not, 1384, 1391
Fowl bluegrass, 190
Fowl manna-grass, 183
Fox grape, 1111
Foxberry, 1395
Foxglove, mullein-, 1495
Foxtail, 236
barley-, 215
-clubmoss, 39
meadow-, 236
-muhly, 248
short-awn-, 236
water-, 238
yellow-, 334
Fragile adder's tongue, 50
Fragrant bedstraw, 1543
Fragrant-orchid, 710
Franseria, 1642
tomentosa, 1645
Fraxinus, 1303
americana, 1305
Berlandieriana, 1305
caroliniana, 1303
Ornus, 1065
pensylvanica, 1305
lanceo/ata, 1305
subintegerrima, 1305
StandIcy i, 1305
velutina, 1305, 1307
glabra, 1307
T o umey i, 1305
French-mulberry, 1395
French spinach, 851
Fresno, 1305
-de Guajuco, 1104
Fringe-tree, 1307
Fringed grass-of-Parnassus,
1008
Frog-fruit, 1401
common-, 1405
diamond-leaf-, 1404
northern-, 1403
Texas-, 1404
wedge-leaf-, 1405
Frog orchid, 711
Frog's-bit
American-, 159
common-, 159
family, 156
Frost grape, 1111
Fuirena, 365
breviseta, 365
hispida, 365
scirpoidea, 365
simplex, 365
squarrosa, 365
Funastrum cynanchoides,
1350
Gaillardia, 1504
Galium, 1538, 1539
Aparine, 1543
V ail Ian t ii, 1543
asperrimum, 1542
boreale, 1543
Brandegei, 1540
mexicanum
asperulum, 1542
microphyllum, 1540
obtusum, 1540
tinctorium, 1542
subbiflorum, 1542
trifidum, 1540, 1542
lalifolium, 1540
pusillum, 1540
triflorum, 1543
uncinulatum, 1542
obstipum, 1542
Gallberry, 1098
Gamagrass, eastern-, 341
Garden orache, 851
Garlic, 655
Gastridium, 243
ventricosum, 243
Gatesia laetevirens, 1531
Gaura, 1365
Gay-feather, 1595, 1597
Gelsemium, 1311
1752
-------
sempervirens, 1311
Gentian, 1321
bottle-, 1326
catchfly-, 1318
family, 1312
moss-, 1325
rose-, 1313
soapwort-, 1326
spurred-, 1327
Gentiana, 1321
affinis, 1326
algida, 1325
amarella, 1323
barbellata, 1322
Bigelovii, 1325
detonsa, 1322
elegans, 1323
Fremontii, 1325
grandis, 1323
Parryi, 1326
Romanzovii, 1325
Saponaria, 1326
strictiflora, 1323
superba, 1323
tenella, 1323
thermalis, 1323
Gentianaceae, 1312
Georgia cane, 202
Georgia holly, 1101
Geraniaceae, 1071
Geranium, 1071
caespitosum, 1073
eremophilum, 1071
family, 1071
feather-, 854
Richardsonii, 1071
Gerardia
fasciculata, 1498
heterophylla, 1498
maritima, 1497
purpurea, 1498
salt marsh-, 1497
seaside-, 1497
tenuifolia, 1497
leucanthera, 1497
Germander, 1408
American-, 1408
Geum, 1031
aleppicum, 1033
decurrens, 1033
camporum, 1033
canadense, 1033
camporum, 1033
texanum, 1033
macrophyllum
perincisum, 1033
oregonense, 1034
rivale, 1034
Rossii
turbinatum, 1034
strictum, 1033
triflorum, 1034
turbinatum, 1035
Giant
-bulrush, 357
-cane, 175
-helleborine, 716
-ragweed, 1645
-reed, 202
-spiral-orchid, 730
Gigante, 1453
Gilia, 1373
calcarea, 1373
gilioides, 1373
pinnatifida, 1373
straggling-, 1373
viscida, 1373
Ginkgo tree, 79
Glasswort, 835
Glaux, 1288
maritima, 1288
Gleditschia, 1043
Gleditsia, 1043
aquatica, 1045
Glinus, 872
Cambessedesii, 875
lotoides, 872
radiatus, 872
Globe-flower, 1548
Globifera umbrosa, 1487
Glottidium, 1059
vesicarum, 1059
Glyceria, 181
arkansana, 183
borealis, 183
elata, 183
grandis, 185
pauciflora, 185
septentrionalis, 183
striata, 183
Glycyrrhiza, 1063
glabra, 1063
lepidota, 1065
Gnaphalium, 1631
chilense, 1632
Grayi, 1632
obtusifolium, 435
palustre, 1633
purpureum, 1632
strictum, 1633
sulphurescens, 1632
Goat-foot morning glory,
1357
Gold-of-pleasure, 985
Golden
-Alexanders, 1230
-club, 560
-currant, 1010
-dock, 807
-hedge-hyssop, 1468
Goldenrod, 1610
blue-stem-, 1612
seaside-, 1612
Goose-grass, 1543
Gooseberry, 1008
Goosefoot, 853
family, 834
Gossypium, 1113
Gourd family, 1569
Gourd, Texas-, 1569
Gramineae, 169, 604
Grandfather's-beard, 1034
Grape, 1109
canyon-, 1111
catbird-, 1110
chicken-, 1111
family, 1108
fox-, 1111
frost-, 1110, 1111
graybark-, 1109
gulch-, 1111
Missouri-, 1110
pigeon-, 1110
possum-, 1112
red-, 1110
riverbank-, 1110
summer-, 1110
sweet-, 1109
winter-, 1111
Grass, 3, 4, 5
family, 169
-leaved ladies' tresses,
730
-of-Parnassus, 5, 1005
fringed-, 1008
-pink, 5, 720
bearded-, 719
Gratiola, 1467
brevifolia, 1467
Drummondii, 1468
flava, 1468
gracilis, 1468
neglecta, 1468
pilosa, 1467
pusilla, 1468
ramosa
Drummondii, 1468
Torreyi, 1468
virginiana, 1468
Gray sandbar willow, 761
Graybark grape, 1109
Greasewood, black-, 842
Great bulrush, 360, 363
Great lobelia, 1580
Green
-brier, 663
-dragon, 557
-flowered bog-orchid,
706
1753
-------
-hawthorn, 1021
-lip ladies' tresses, 727
-orchid, tall leafy-, 707
-orchid, tall northern-,
706
-parrot's-feather, 1208
-rein-orchid, 710
-sedge, 547
Groenlandia, 95
Grossularia, 1010
inermis, 1010
Grossulariaceae, 1010
Groundnut, 1069
Groundsel, 1689
-tree, 1606
Gulch grape, 1111
Gulf cordgrass, 262
Gum
black-, 1265
cotton-, 1265
sour-, 1262
Gut, Devil's-, 1360
Gut, tangle-, 1360
Gymnadeniopsis
clavellala, 111
Integra, 700
nivea, 703
Gymnospermae, 19, 79
Gyrostachys
gracilis, 730
odorata, 127
praec-ox, 732
Habenaria, 691
Blephariglottis, 697, 700
Chapmanii, 700
ciliaris, 5, 697, 700
clavellata, 5, 710
cristata, 5, 700
dilatata, 710
flava, 703
hyperborea, 706
integra, 700
lacera, 695
limosa, 703
nivea, 5, 700
Nuttallii, 697
quinqueseta, 695
repens, 9, 697
saccata, 709
sparsiflora, 709
brevifolia, 710
laxiflora, 710
viridis
bracteata, 711
Habranthus, 671
texanus, 671
Machinal, 1157
Hackelia, 1389
floribunda, 1391
virginiana, 1389
Hairgrass, 222
annual-, 222
slender-, 222
tufted, 224
Hairy
-bitter-cress, 968
-hedge-hyssop, 1467
-maidenhair fern, 65
-pepperwort, 55
-pipewort, 593
Halberd-leaved rose-
mallow, 1118
Halenia, 1327
recurva, 1327
Rothrockii, 1327
Halesia, 1296
Carolina, 1299
diptera, 1299
Halodule, 9, 120, 129
Beaudettei, 4, 120
Wrightii, 120
Halophila, 9, 129, 168
Engelmannii, 4, 168
Haloragaceae, 1201
Haloragidaceae, 1201
Hamamelidaceae, 1011
Haplopappus, 1609
phyllocephalus, 1610
rubiginosus, 1610
Hard-stem bulrush, 360
Harebell, 1574
Harvest-lice, 1037
Haw
apple-, 1020
pasture-, 1019
possum-, 1099, 1556
red-, 1017
Hawk's-beard, 1703
Hawthorn, 1017
bigtree-, 1020
blueberry-, 1019
green-, 1021
Hazel dodder, 1367
Hazel-nut family, 777
Heal-all, 1419
Heart-leaved twayblade,
713
Heart sorrel, 800
Heath family, 1267
Hedge
-bindweed, 1353
-hyssop, 1467
golden-, 1468
hairy-, 1467
sticky-, 1467
-nettle, 1429
Hedyotis, 1543
Boscii, 1545
corymbosa, 1545
pygmaea, 1545
uniflora, 1545
fasciculata, 1545
Wrightii, 1545
He-huckleberry. 1276
Heimia, 1157
longipes, 1158
salicifolia, 1157
Helianthium parvulum, 139
Helianthus, 1367, 1368,
1369, 1655
angustifolius, 1656
ciliaris, 1369, 1656
Maximiliana, 1659
Nuttallii, 1659
simulans, 1659
Helenium, 1367, 1677
arizonicum, 1681
autumnale, 1679
canaliculatum, 1679
Drummondii, 1679
edwardsianum, 1679
flexuosum, 1679
Hoopesii, 1678
microcephalum, 1679
nudiflorum, 1679
ooclinium, 1679
Thurberi, 1678
Heliophytum
glabriusculum, 1385
Heliotrope, 1384
seaside, 1386
Heliotropium, 1384
curassavicum
curassavicum, 1386
obovatum, 1386
oculatum, 1386
glabriusculum, 9, 1385
Greggii, 1386
indicum, 1389
molle, 9, 1385
oculatum, 1386
procumbens, 1386
spathulatum, 1386
Hemicarpha, 343, 415
micrantha, 415
aristulata, 415
Drummondii, 415
micrantha, 415
minor, 415
Hemlock, poison-, 1233
Hemlock, water-. 1237
Hemp
bog-, 791
button-, 791
Colorado River-, 1059
Indian-. 1334, 1337
water-, 862
-weed, climbing-, 1599
1754
-------
Henbane, 1449
Heracleum, 1253
lanatum, 1253
maximum, 1253
Heteranthera, 601
dubia, 601, 604
Liebmannii, 604
limosa, 604
mexicana, 604
peduncularis, 604
reniformis, 604
Hevea, 1082
Hibiscus, 1113, 1117, 1365
cubensis, 1118
dasy calyx, 1118
esculentus, 1113
incanus, 1121
lasiocarpos, 1121
leucophyllus, 1121
militaris, 1118
Moscheutos, 1121
Hickory, 773
big shellbark-, 777
bitternut-, 775
nutmeg-, 774
pignut-, 775
shagbark-, 775
water-, 775
Hicoria
aquatica, 775
cordiformis, 775
laciniosa, 777
minima, 775
myristicaeformis, 774
ovata, 777
Pecan, 774
Hiedra, 1093
Hierba
-buena, 1401
-buena monies, 1404
-de cristo, 1400
-de zizotes, 1341
-de la virgen Maria,
1405
-del buey, 1112
-del caballo, 1660
-del cancer, 1161
-del marrano, 1618
-del negro, 1401
-del pajaro, 1291
-del sapo, 1260
-negra, 1401
Hierochloe, 268
odorata, 268
Hilaria, 990
Hippuridaceae, 1208
Hippuris, 1208
vulgaris, 1211
Hoary azalea, 1272
Hoffmanseggia, 1045
densiflora, 1045
falcaria, 1045
glauca, 1045
Hog-fennel, 1251
Hog-potato, 1045
Holcus, 224
lanatus, 224
Holly, 5, 1097
American-, 1102
Chapman's-, 1101
dahoon-, 1102
deciduous-, 1099
family, 1097
Georgia-, 1101
-leaved water nymph,
126
Hollyhock, wild-, 1114
Holy grass, 268
Honewort, 1223
Honey-balls, 1548
Honey locust, 1043
Honeysuckle, 1274, 1560
family, 1555
Japanese-, 1560
Hooded ladies' tresses, 724
Hordeum, 215
brachyantherum, 215
jubatum, 215
caespitosum, 215
Horehound, water-, 1437
Horn, ram's-, 1510
Hornbeam, 778
American-, 778
Horned
bladderwort, 1516
pondweed, 117
family, 117
-rush, 471, 473
Hompod, 1311
Hornwort, 3, 912
common-, 913
family, 912
Horse
-brier, 663
-purslane, 875
-radish, 979
-sugar, 1301
Horsemint, 1434
long-flowered-, 1434
Horsetail family, 45
Hottonia, 1277
inflata, 4, 1277
palustris, 1277
Houstonia, 1543
Wrightii, 1545
Hubam, 1046
Huckleberry, he-, 1276
Huckleberry, squaw, 1269
Huisache, 1039
Hyacinth, water-, 3, 4, 11,
868
Hyacinth, wild-, 657
Hydrocharitaceae, 156
Hydrochloa, 280
caroliniensis, 280
Hydrocleys, 156
nymphoides, 156
Hydrocotyle, 1214
australis, 1219
bonariensis, 1219
Canbyi, 1219
ranunculoides, 1219
umbellata, 1214, 1216
verticillata
triradiata, 1219
verticillata, 1216,
1219
Hydrolea, 1383
affinis, 1383
ovata, 1383
spinosa, 1383
uniflora, 1383
Hydrophyllaceae, 1375
Hydrophyllum, 1377
Fendleri, 1379
occidental, 1379
virginianum, 1379
Hydrotrida caroliniana,
1461
Hygrophila, 1525
lacustris, 4, 1525
Hymenocallis, 666
caroliniana, 666
caymanensis, 666
Eulae, 666
galvestonensis, 666
Liriosme, 666
occidentals, 667
Hymenoclea, 1368
Hyoscyamus niger, 1449
Hypericaceae, 1127
Hypericum, 5, 1128, 1129,
1368
anagalloides, 1130
apocynifolium, 1134
cistifolium, 1134
densiflorum, 1133
densiflorum, 1133
lobocarpum, 1133
Drummondii, 1140
fasciculatum, 1134
formosum, 1130
galioides, 1134
fasciculatum, 1134
gymnanthum, 1137
hypericoides, 1128
multicaule, 1128
lobocarpum, 1133
mutilum, 1137
1755
-------
latisepalum, 1137
nudiflorum, 1134
petiolatum, 1140
prolificum, 1133
punctatum, 1133
setosum, 1137
spathulatum, 1133
stans, 1128
tubulosum, 1140
Waited, 1140
virginicum, 1140
Walteri, 1140
Hypoxis, 667
erecla, 667
hirsuta, 667
leptocarpa, 667
humilis, 669
leptocarpa, 667
rigida, 667
Hyptis, 1416
alata, 1416
radiata, 1416
Hyssop, blue-, 1458
Hyssop, hedge-, 1467
Ibidium
cernuum, 727
ftoridanum, 730
gracilis, 730
laciniatnm, 732
praecox, 732
vernale, 732
Ilex, 1097, 1369
Cassine, 1102
latifolia, 1102
coriacea, 5, 1099
decidua, 1099
glabra, 1098, 1099
longipes, 1101
hirsuta, 1101
longipes, 1101
opaca, 1102
verticillata, 1098
vomitoria, 5, 1101
Iliamna, 1114
grandiflora, 1114
Illysanthes
dubia, 1484
gratioloides, 1484
inaequalis, 1468
Impatiens, 1105, 1362
hi flora, 1108
capensis, 1108
pallida, 1108
India lovegrass, 196
Indian
-blanket, 1504
-chickweed, 872
-currant, 1560
-hemp, 1334, 1337
-paint-brush, 1404, 1505
-plantain, 1693
-shot, 684
-strawberry, 1021
-turnip, 557
Indigo, 1054, 1055
bastard-, 1056
Indigofera, 1054
Lindheimeriana, 1054
suffruticosa, 1055
tinctoria, 1055
Inflated duckweed, 573
Inflated sedge, 529
Ink-berry, 1098, 1560
Inland sea oats, 202
lodanthus, 964
pinnatifidus, 964
Iodine bush, 839
Ipomoea, 1353
acuminata, 1355
amnicola, 1357
barbigera, 1355
Batatas, 1354
Carolina, 1359
cathartica, 1355
coccinea, 1355
hederifolia, 1355
commutata, 1359
congesta, 1355
dissecta, 1359
hederacea, 1355
integriuscula, 1355
hederifolia, 1355
heptaphylla, 1357
lacunosa, 1359
Leari, 1355
littoralis, 1357
mutabilis, 1355
pandurata, 1357
Pes-caprae
brasiliensis, 1357
emarginata, 1357
pulchella, 1357
sagittata, 1357
sinuata, 1359
spiralis, 1357
stolonifera, 1357
trichocarpa, 1359
Torreyana, 1359
trichocarpa, 1359
trifida, 1359
triloba, 1359
Wrightii, 1355
Iresine, 866
celosioides, 866
rhizomatosa, 866
Iridaceae, 673
Iris, 676
brevicaulis, 682
caroliniana, 682
family, 673
foliosa, 682
fulva, 679
hexagona
flexicaulis, 682
missouriensis, 679
pallida, 676
Pseudacorus, 679
Shrevei, 682
tingitana, 676
versicolor, 682
virginica, 682
Shrevei, 682
xiphium, 676
Ironweed, 1592
plains-, 1593
Ironwood, 778
Isoetaceae, 41
Isoetes, 43
Bolanderi, 43
pygmaea, 43
Butleri, 45
lithophylla, 43
melanopoda, 43, 45
pallida, 45
Itea, 5, 1008
virginica, 1008
Iteaceae, 1008
Iva, 1367, 1369, 1586,
1637
axillaris, 1640
frutescens, 1640
fnitescens, 1640
oraria, 1640
xanthifolia, 1640
Ivy
-duckweed, 567
marine-, 1112
poison-, 1093
-treebine, 1112
Jack-in-the-pulpit, 557
Jackass clover, 989
Jacob's ladder, 1370
Jamesia, 1011
americana, 1011
Japanese
-bush clover, 1068
-chess, 177
-honeysuckle, 1560
-millet, 329
Jara, 1607
Jasmine, 1301
blue-, 923
rock-, 1284
Jasminium, 1301
Jerusalem oak, 854
Jessamine, Carolina, 1311
Jessamine, yellow, 1311
1756
-------
Jewel-weed, 1105
Joe-Pye weed, 1603
Johnson grass, 338
Joint-tail, 338
Joint vetch, 1065
Jointed rush, 631
Juglandiaceae, 769
Juglans, 772
major, 772
microcarpa, 773
Stewartii, 773
rupestris, 773
Jump seed, 810
Juncaceae, 604
Juncaginaceae, 129
Juncus, 606
acuminatus, 637
sphaerocephalus, 637
acutus
sphaerocarpus, 615
albescens, 631
aristulatus, 624
arizonicus, 621
curtiflorus, 621
articulatus, 631
badius, 634
balticus, 610, 612
littoralis, 610
mexicanus, 612
montanus, 610
biftorus, 624
brachycarpus, 637
brevicaudatus, 628
brunnescens, 628
bufonius, 615, 618
halophilus, 618
castaneus, 631
caudatus, 631
confusus, 618
Cooperi, 615
coriaceous, 612
debilis, 643
dichotomus, 621
diffusissimus, 643
Drummondii, 610
Dudleyi, 621
effusus, 606
brunneus, 612
exiguus, 612
solutus, 612
Elliottii, 645
ensifolius, 627
filiformis, 610
filipendulus, 624
interior, 621
arizonicus, 621
neomexicanus, 621
longistylis, 624
scabratus, 627
macrophyllus, 627
marginatus, 624
paucicapitatus, 624
setosus, 624
megacephalus, 637
Mertensianus, 634
mexicanus, 612
neomexicanus, 621
nodatus, 645
nodosus, 634
meridianus, 634
texanus, 637
parous, 628
polycephalus, 640
repens, 621
Roemerianus, 615
saximontanus, 628
brunescens, 628
scirpoides, 640
meridionalis, 640
sphaerocarpus, 618
tenuis, 618, 621
anthelatus, 618
Dudleyi, 621
texanus, 634
Torreyi, 631
Tracyi, 628
trigonocarpus, 628
validus, 643
fascinatus, 640, 643
validus, 643
xiphioides, 627
Jungle-rice, 326
Jussiaea, 1175
decurrens, 1178
leptocarpa, 1181
Michauxiana, 1184
repens
glabrescens, 1181
peploides, 1181
suffruticosa, 1181
ligustrifolia, 1181
octofila, 1181
Uruguay ensis, 1184
Justice-weed, 1605
Justicia, 1362, 1365, 1531
americana, 11, 1362,
1531
lanceolata, 1531
ovata
lanceolata, 1533
Kentucky bluegrass, 189
Kickxia, 1490
Elatine, 1490
King-nut, 777
Kitten-tails, 1489
Knotgrass, 298
Knotweed, 807, 816
family, 795
floating-, 820
Kochia, 845
alata, 845
americana, 846
vestita, 846
scoparia, 845
culta, 845
subvillosa, 845
Korean bush clover, 1068
Kosteletzkya, 1117
althaefolia, 1117
virginica, 1117
althaefolia, 1117
Kyllinga, 415, 416
brevifolia, 423
odorata, 423
pumila, 423
Labiatae, 1407
Lace-lip spiral-orchid, 732
Lachnocaulon, 593
anceps, 5, 593
Lactuca, 1698
canadensis, 1701
floridana, 1703
graminifolia, 1701
pulchella, 1701
saliva, 1698
Serriola, 1698
villosa, 1703
Ladies' tresses, 5, 723
Florida-, 730
grass-leaved-, 730
green-lip-, 727
hooded-, 724
nodding-, 727
spring-, 732
Texas-, 730
western-, 724
Lady fern, 67
Lady's thumb, 830
Lake cress, 979
Lamb's-quarters, 855
Lampazo amarillo, 902
Lampazos, 902
Lance-leaved violet, 1152
Lance-leaved water-willow,
1531
Lanceleaf cottonwood, 739
Lantana, 1400
horrida, 1400
Texas-, 1400
Lanten, 1536
Laportea, 791
canadensis, 791
Large buttercup, 939
Large marsh-pink, 1315
Larkspur, 918
Larrea, 988
densiflora, 1045
1757
-------
Lathyrus, 1069
arizonicus, 1069
Lauraceae, 961
Laurel
family, 961
-oak, 787
-oak, swamp-, 787
Lavender, desert-, 1416
Lavender, sea-, 1295
Leaf-flower, 1082
Leafless cressa, 1351
Leafy lobelia, 1579
Leatherwood, 5, 1095
Leavenworthia, 962, 984
aurea, 7, 984
Lechillo, 778
Leek, 655
Leersia, 271
hexandra, 274
lenticularis, 274
oryzoides, 274
virginica, 274
Legume family, 1039
Leguminosae, 1039
Leitneria, 769
floridana, 769
Leitneriaceae, 769
Lemna, 3, 4, 564, 565, 578
aequinoctiales, 571
gibba, 571, 573
minima, 570
minor, 563, 571
obscura, 571
perpusilla, 571
trinervis, 571
trinervis, 571
trisulca, 565, 567
valdiviana, 570, 571
Lemnaceae, 9, 563
Lemon lily, 657
Lens-scale, 850
Lentibulariaceae, 1510
Leptasea chrysantha, 1002
Leptochloa, 252
fascicularis, 253
filiformis, 256
Nealleyi, 256
panicoides, 253
uninervia, 253
Leptoloma, 283
Lepuropetalaceae, 999
Lepuropetalon, 999
spathulatum, 999
Lespedeza, 1067
stipulacea, 1068
striata, 1068
Lettuce, 1698
blue-, 1701
miner's-, 881
prickly-, 1698
water-, 3, 4
Leucospora, 1470
multifida, 1470
Leucosyris spinosa, 1618
Leucothoe, 1274
elongata, 1274
racemosa, 1274
Liatris, 1365, 1369, 1595
acidota, 1597
lancifolia, 1597
pycnostachya, 1597
lasiophylla, 1597
pycnostachya, 1597
Licorice, 1063, 1065
Lilaeopsis, 1240
recurvata, 1240
Liliaceae, 646
Lilium, 657
Parryi, 657
Lily, 657
Lily family, 646
Limestone adders'-tongue,
50
Limnanthemum
trachyspermum, 1331
Limnobium, 159
Spongia, 4, 159
Limnophila, 1473
sessiliflora, 1473
Limnosciadium, 1246
pinnatum, 1246
pumilum, 1249
Limonium, 1295
angustatum, 1296
carolinianum, 1296
angustatum, 1296
compactum, 1296
limbatum, 1295
glabrescens, 1295,
1296
limbatum, 1296
Mashii, 1296
angustatum, 1296
Nashii, 1296
Limosella, 1461
acaulis, 1461
aquatica, 1461
Linaceae, 1073
Linanthastrum, 1370
Nuttallii, 1370
Lindemia, 1484
anagallidea, 1484
dubia, 1484
major, 1484
Linum, 1073
medium
texanum, 1073
striatum, 1073
Lippia, 1401
alba, 1401
bushy-, 1401
cuneifolia, 1405
geminata, 1401
incisa, 1404
lanceolata, 1403
nodiflora, 1405
strigulosa, 1404
Liquidamber, 1012
Styraciflua, 1012
Liro de San Pedro, 1321
Listera, 711
australis, 713
convallarioides, 713
cordata, 713
Little quaking grass, 192
Little walnut, 773
Lizard's-tail, 737
family, 734
Lobelia, 1574
anatina, 1576
appendiculata, 1579
Berlandieri, 1576
Berlandieri, 1576
brachypoda, 1576
big blue-, 1580
Cardinalis, 1583
graminea, 1583
multiflora, 1583
phyllostachya, 1583
pseudosplendens,
1583
downy-, 1580
fenestralis, 1579
flaccidifolia, 1579
floridana, 1579
great-, 1580
leafy-, 1579
Louisiana-, 1580
puberula, 1580
pauciflora, 1580
Reverchonii, 1580
siphilitica, 1580
ludoviciana, 1583
splendens, 1583
Loco, purple-, 1062
Loco weed, 1061, 1063
Locust
honey-, 1043
mock-, 1055
swamp-, 1045
water-, 1045
Logania family, 1308
Loganiaceae, 1308
Lolium, 215
mitltiflorum, 218
perenne, 215
Lomatogonium, 1327
rotatum, 1327
Long
1758
-------
-bracted habenaria, 711
-bracted orchid, 711
-flowered horsemint,
1434
-horned habenaria, 695
-pedicelled willow, 760
Longspur columbine, 918
Longtom, 295
Lonicera, 1560
involucrata, 1560
japonica, 1560
Loosestrife, 1158, 1291
family, 1154
swamp-, 1157
Lophotocarpus calycinus,
145
Lorinseria, 67
areolata, 67
Lotus, 1053
alamosanus, 1054
oblongifolius, 1054
yellow-, 912
Louisiana lobelia, 1580
Lousewort, 1499
common-, 1501
Love-vine, 962, 1359
Lovegrass, 192
India-, 196
Lowland cudweed, 1633
Lowland purslane, 879
Lucerne, 1046
Ludwigia, 4, 5, 9, 868,
1175, 1365
alternifolia, 1184
pubescens, 1184
bonariensis, 1181
decurrens, 1178
cylindric-fruited-, 1187
glandulosa, 1187
Torreyi, 1187
hirtella, 1184
leptocarpa, 1181
linearis, 1184
puberula, 1184
natans, 1187
rotundata, 1187
octovalvis
octovalvis, 1178
palustris, 1175, 1187
americana, 1187
nana, 1187
peploides
peploides, 1181
pilosa, 1184
repens, 1187
sphaerocarpa, 1187
uruguayensis, 1181
Lupinus, 1045
Kingsii, 1045
Luzula, 645
bulbosa, 645
campestris
bulbosa, 646
multiflora, 646
multiflora
bulbosa, 646
parviflora, 646
Lycopersicon esculentum,
1449
Lycopodiaceae, 39
Lycopodium, 5, 39
adpressum, 39
alopecuroides
adpressum, 39
alopecuroides, 39
pinnatum, 39
carolinianum, 41
prostratum, 39
Lycopus, 1362, 1368, 1369,
1437
americanus, 1440
scabrifolius, 1440
asper, 1440
lucidus, 1440
rubellus, 1440
arkansanus, 1443
rubellus, 1443
sinuatus, 1440
uniflorus, 1437
virginicus, 1437
Lyonia, 5, 1274
ligustrina, 1276
capreaefolia, 1276
salicifolia, 1276
mariana, 1276
palustris, 1349
Lyre-leaf sage, 1433
Lysichitum americanum,
563
Lysimachia, 1291
ciliata, 1292
validula, 1292
hybrida, 1292
lanceolata, 1292
hybrida, 1292
radicans, 1292
Lythraceae, 1154
Lythrum, 9, 1154, 1158
alatum, 1161
breviflorum, 1161
lanceolatum, 1161
californicum, 1161
dacotanum, 1161
lanceolatum, 1161
lineare, 1158
linearifolium, 1161
ovalifolium, 1158
parvulum, 1161
Machaeranthera, 1609
Boltoniae, 1610
Coulteri, 1610
phyllocephala, 1610
Macuillamia rotundifolia,
1161
Mad-dog skullcap, 1416
Madder family, 1538
Madia, 1642
glomerata, 1642
Magnolia, 961, 1369
family, 958
glauca, 961
virginiana, 5, 961
australis, 961
Magnoliaceae, 958
Maidencane, 314
Maidenhair fern, 63
Malaxis, 734
unifolia, 734
Maleberry, 1276
Mallow
alkali-, 1124
checker-, 1114
family, 1113
marsh-, 1113
prairie-, 1114
rose-, 1117, 1121
Malva, 1113
Malvaceae, 1113
Manatee-grass, 120
Mandioca, 1082
Mangle bianco, 1393
Mangrove, black-, 1393
Mangrove, red-, 1393
Manihot, 1082
Manisuris, 338
altissima, 341
rugosa, 341
Manna, 1065
-grass, 181
American-, 185
fowl-, 183
northern-, 183
weak-, 185
Manzanilla silvestre, 1661
Maple, 1104
ash-leaved-, 1104
family, 1104
Florida-, 1105
red-, 1105
scarlet-, 1105
southern sugar-, 1105
Marantaceae, 686
Mare's-tail, 1208
family, 1208
Marigold, bur-, 1663
Marigold, marsh-, 915
Marine-ivy, 1112
Mariscus, 416
1759
-------
huarmensis, 459
Marsh
-alkali aster, 1622
-aster, 1622
-cress, bog-, 976
-elder, 1637
-felwort, 1327
-fleabane, 1633
-mallow, 1113
salt-, 1117
-marigold, 915
-pink, large-, 1315
-purslane, 1187
-rosemary, 1295
-St. John's-wort, 1140
-skullcap, 1415
Marshallia, 1675
caespitosa, 1675
caespitosa, 1677
signata, 1677
tenuifolia, 1677
Marsilea, 53, 56
Fournieri, 56
macropoda, 55, 56
mexicana, 55
mucronata, 55, 56
tenuifolia, 56
vestita
tenuifolia, 56
uncinata, 56
vestita, 56
Marsileaceae, 53
Martynia louisianica, 1510
Martyniaceae, 1508
Maruta, 1686
Masterwort, 1253
Mat-grass, 1405
Mat muhly, 248
Maximilian sunflower,
1659
Mayaca, 578
Aubletii, 5, 578
fluviatilis, 578
Michauxii, 578
Mayacaceae, 578
Mayhaw, western-, 1020
Mayweed, 1686
Meadow
-barley, 215
-beauty, 5, 1169
common-, 1172
-foxtail, 236
Meadow-rue, 957
purple-, 958
Meadow spikemoss, 41
Meadow violet, 1154
Mecardonia, 1464
acuminata, 1464
montevidensis, 1464
peduncularis, 1464
procumbens, 1464
vandellioides, 1464
viridis, 1464
Medicago, 1046
lupulina, 1046
saliva, 1046
Medick, 1046
black-, 1046
Melanthium, 655
virginicum, 655
Melastoma family, 1169
Melastomataceae, 1169
Melilotus, 1046
albus, 1046
indicus, 1047
officinalis, 1047
Melochia, 1127
corchorifolia, 1127
pyramidata, 1127
pyramidata, 1127
Meloncito, 1570
Melonette, 1570
Melosma
cubense, 1411
laevigatum, 1412
Melothria, 1570
cMorocarpa, 1570
pendula, 1570
chlorocarpa, 1570
Mentha, 1437, 1443
arvensis, 1443
glabrata, 1443
villosa, 1443
canadensis, 1443
Penardii, 1443
piperita, 1446
rotundifolia, 1443
spicata, 1446
Menyanthaceae, 1312,
1331
Mermaid-weed, 1201
Merremia, 1354
dissecta, 1359
Mertensia, 1391
ciliata, 1392
franciscana, 1391
Mesa dropseed, 252
Metasequoia, 79
Mexican
-ash, 1305
-devil-weed, 1618
-elder, 1560
-fire-bush, 845
-tea, 854
-thistle, 1257
Micranthemum, 1487
umbrosum, 1487
Micranthes
arguta, 1005
rhomboidea, 1005
texana, 1001
Micromeria, 1448
Brownei
pilosiuscula, 1448
pilosiuscula, 1449
Microsteris, 1375
gracilis, 1375
micrantha, 1375
Mikania, 1599
scandens, 1599
pubescens, 1601
Milfoil, 3, 1686
American-, 1205
water-, 1202
Milk-vetch, 1061
Milkweed, 1339
family, 1339
purple-, 1341
showy-, 1340
swamp-, 1345
Milkwort, 5, 1074
family, 1074
sea-, 1288
Millet, 332
Japanese-, 329
pearl-, 334
Mimosa, 1041
malacophylla, 1042
glabrata, 1042
strigillosa, 1042
Wootonii, 1042
Mimosaceae, 1039
Mimosopsis, 1042
Mimulus, 1368, 1473
alatus, 1474
Cardinalis, 1474
verbenaceus, 1477
dentilobus, 1480
Eastwoodiae, 1480
floribundus, 1477
glabratus, 1483
Fremontii, 1483
guttatus, 1483
puberulus, 1483
nasutus, 1483
pilosus, 1480
primuloides, 1477
ringens, 1474
rubellus, 1477
Mina, 1354
Miner's lettuce, 881
Mint, 1443
family, 1407
field-. 1443
mountain-, 1446
roundleaf-, 1443
Missouri grape, 1110
Mist-flower, 1603
Mitchella, 1551
1760
-------
repens, 1551
leucocarpa, 1551
Miterwort, 1311
Mitreola petiolata, 1311
Mock
-bishop's-weed, 1243
-cucumber, wild-, 1571
-locust, 1055
-orange, 1299
Moco de guajolote, 830
Modiola, 1124
caroliniana, 1124
Moldavica parviflora, 1419
Mollugo, 872
verticillata, 872
Monanthochloe, 198
littoralis, 198
Monarda, 1434
austromontana, 1434
citriodora, 1434
clinopodioides, 1434
fistulosa, 1434
punctata, 1434
Monkey-flower, 1473
crimson-, 1474
Monkshood, 921
Monocotyledoneae, 19, 85
Montezuma bald cypress,
82
Montia, 881
Chamissoi, 881
perfoliata, 881
Morning glory, 1353
beach-, 1357
family, 1350
goat-foot-, 1357
Mosquito fern, 57
Moss campion, 887
Moss gentian, 1325
Mountain
-mint, 1446
-ninebark, 1016
-pink, 1318
-sorrel, 796
Mouse-ear, 889
common-, 891
Mousetail, 924
Mud
-flower, shade-, 1487
-midget, 575
-plantain, 135, 601
Mudwort, 1461
Muhlenbergia, 169, 243
andina, 248
asperifolia, 248
filiformis, 248
frondosa, 249
mexicana, 249
minutissima, 246
pectinata, 246
racemosa, 249
Richardsonis, 248
Schreberi, 250
sinuosa, 246
sylvatica, 249
texana, 246
utilis, 248
Muhly, 243
Aparejo-, 248
foxtail-, 248
mat-, 248
nimblewill-, 250
pull-up-, 248
scratchgrass-, 248
wirestem-, 249
Mulberry
Bermuda-, 1395
French-, 1395
Spanish-, 1395
Mule-fat, 1608
Mullein foxglove, 1495
MuricaudaDracontium, 557
Museniopsis texana, 1220
Mustard
family, 962
tansy-, 967
-tree, 1453
tumble-, 965
Myosotis, 1384, 1391
scorpioides, 1391
Myosurus, 924
aristatus, 924
cupulatus, 924
minimus, 924
Myrica, 767, 1368, 1369
cerifera, 769
heterophylla, 767
Myricaceae, 767
Myriophyllum, 3, 4, 7, 9,
1202, 1513
brasiliense, 1202
exalbescens, 1202, 1205
heterophyllum, 1202,
1208
pinnatum, 1208
proserpinacoides, 1205
scabratum, 1208
spicatum, 1205, 1208
exalbescens, 1205
verticillatum, 1205
Naid, 3
Najadaceae, 117, 123, 129
Najas, 3, 6, 9, 10, 126
flexilis, 126
guadalupensis, 126
marina, 126
Nama, 1380
jamaicensis, 1380
stenocarpum, 1380
torynophyllum, 1380
Napier grass, 334
Narrow
-leaved cat-tail, 87
-leaved prairie willow,
766
-leaved vetch, 1068
plumegrass, 336
Narrowleaf cottonwood,
742
Nasturtium officinale, 974
Necklace weed, 1491
Needles, Spanish-, 1672
Neeragrostis reptans, 194
Nelumbo, 7, 900, 912
lutea, 912
Nepeta, 1419
Cataria, 1419
Neptunia, 1042
fioridana, 1043
Lindheimeri, 1043
lutea, 1043
multipinnatifida, 1043
Palmeri, 1043
plena, 1043
pubescens, 1043
microcarpa, 1043
pubescens, 1043
Nesaea
longipes, 1158
salicif olia, 1158
Nettle, 792
false-, 791
family, 788
hedge-, 1429
wood-, 791
Nevada bluegrass, 190
New Mexican alder, 782
New Mexican vervain,
1399
Nicotiana, 1368, 1449,
1450
glauca, 1453
plumbaginifolia, 1455
Roemeriana, 1453
repanda, 1453
Tabacum, 1449, 1450
trigonophylla, 1453
Nigella, 913
Nightshade, 1449, 1450
enchanter's-, 1199
family, 1449
Nimblewill muhly, 250
Ninebark, mountain-, 1016
Ninfa acuatica, 902
Nit grass, 243
Nitella, 3
Nitrophila, 842, 1367
occidentalis, 842
1761
-------
Nits-and-lice, 1140
Nodding
-bluegrass, 190
-fescue, 179
-ladies' tresses, 727
-nixie, 5, 689
Nogal, 772, 774
-morado, 774
-silvestre, 772
Northern
-crabgrass, 283
-frog-fruit, 1403
-manna-grass, 183
-reedgrass, 226
-wild rice, 277
Nuez encarcelada, 774
Nuphar, 3, 4, 7, 900, 906
advena, 906
lomentosa, 906
luteum, 4
macrophyllum, 906
ozarkanum, 906
polysepalum, 906
microcarpum, 906
ovatum, 906
polysepalum, 906
puberulum, 906
Nut-grass, 454
yellow-, 456
Nut-rush, 489
Nutmeg hickory, 774
Nuttall's water-hemp, 864
Nymphaea, 3, 4, 7, 900,
901
elegans, 902
ftava, 902
lekophylla, 902
mexicana, 902
microcarpa, 906
odorata, 902
gigantea, 902
villosa, 902
ovata, 906
puberula, 906
spiralis, 902
tuberosa, 902
Nymphaeaceae, 734, 900
Nymphoides, 7, 9, 1312,
1331
aquatica, 1331
peltata, 1331
Nyssa, 1262
aquatica, 1265
biflora, 1265
sylvatica
biflora, 1265
caroliniana, 1265
dilatata, 1265
sylvatica, 1265
uniflora, 1265
Oak, 783
bur-, 784
Jerusalem-, 854
laurel-, 787
overcup-, 784
pin-, 786
poison-, 1093
Spanish-, 785
water-, 787
willow-, 786
Oatgrass, 224
timber-. 224
Obedient-plant, 1422
Oenothera, 1194, 1365
biennis, 1198
biennis, 1198
canescens, 1198
hirsutissima, 1198
canescens, 1197
flava, 1197
Hookeri, 1198
Hewettii, 1198
irrigua, 1198
hirsutissima, 1198
Jamesii, 1199
Kunthiana, 1197
longissima, 1199
Clutei, 1199
pratincola, 1198
rhombipetala, 1198
rosea, 1197
sessilis, 1194
Simsiana, 1198
tetraptera, 1194, 1197
texensis, 1197
Okra, 1113
Old-man's beard, 1307
Oldman-whiskers, 1034
Oldenlandia
Boscii, 1545
corymbosa, 1548
uniflora, 1545
Oleaceae, 1301
Olive, desert-, 1308
Olive family, 1301
Ombligo de Venus, 1216
Onagraceae, 1175
One-seeded bur-cucumber,
1571
Onion, 655
Onoclea, 65
sensibilis, 65
Operculina, 1354
dissecta, 1359
Ophioglossaceae, 47
Ophioglossum, 49
crotalophoroides, 49
Engelmannii, 50
nudicaule
tenerum, 50
palmatum, 49
petiolatum, 50
pusillum, 49
vulgatum, 50
Engelmannii, 50
O'possum-wood, 1299
Opulaster monogynus,
1016
Orange sneeze weed, 1678
Orchard grass, 202
Orchid
American frog-, 711
crested fringed-, 5, 700
family, 690
frog-, 711
long-bracted-, 711
ragged fringed-, 695
satyr-, 711
small wood-, 5, 710
snowy-, 5, 700
water-spider-, 697
white fringed-, 697
yellow fringed-, 5, 697
yellow fringeless-, 700
Orchidaceae, 690
Oregano de burro, 1401
Orontium, 560
aquaticum, 560, 563
Orpine, 997
family, 994
Orthocarpus, 1508
luteus, 1508
Oryza, 271
saliva, 271
Osmunda, 51
cinnamomea, 51
regalis
spectabilis, 51
Osmundaceae, 51
Osmorhiza, 1223
longistylis, 1223
villicaulis, 1226
Ostrya, 778
Ottelia alismoides, 169
Overcup oak, 784
Owl-claws, 1678
Owl clover, 1508
Oxypolis, 1251
Fendleri, 1253
filiformis, 1251
rigidior, 1251
Oxyria, 796
digyna, 796
Oxytria crocea, 655
Oxytrope, rock-loving,
1063
Oxytropis, 1062
Lambertii, 1063
arliculata, 1063
1762
-------
Bigelovii, 1063
oreophila, 1063
Parryi, 1063
splendens, 1062
Pagesia
acuminata, 1467
peduncularis, 1464
vandellioides, 1464
Paintbrush, Indian-, 1504,
1505
Painted cup, 1504, 1505
Pale dock, 801
Pale-seeded plantain, 1537
Palm family, 555
Palmae, 555
Palmas del mar, 167
Panic
beach-, 320
fall-, 323
-grasses, 304
Panicum, 169, 304, 314,
326, 332
agrostoides, 317
ramosius, 317
amarulum, 320
amarum, 320
anceps, 317
Ashei, 312
barbulatum, 307
bulbosum, 320
capillare, 323
occidentals, 323
colonum, 326
commutatum, 312
condensum, 317
crusgalli, 329
cruspavonis, 329
dichotomiflorum, 323
dichotomum, 307
ensifolium, 310
geminatum, 312, 314
gymnocarpon, 314
hemitomon, 314
hians, 304, 317
Joorii, 312
lanuginosum, 310
leucothrix, 307
longiligulatum, 310
lucidum, 307
microcarpon, 307
nitidum, 307
obtusum, 314
paludivagum, 314
polyanthes, 310
polystachyum, 332
Ravenelii, 312
rhizomatum, 317
rigidulum, 317
scabriusculum, 312
scoparium, 312
stipitatum, 317
tenerum, 320
Thurowii, 310
virgatum, 320
Walteri, 329
Wrightianum, 310
Yadkinense, 307
Paniquesillo, 985
Papilionaceae, 1039
Parapholis, 218
incurva, 218
Parasol-tree, Chinese-,
1125
Parentucellia, 1499
viscosa, 1499
Parkeriaceae, 77
Parkinsonia aculeata, 1039
Parnassia, 1005
asarifolia, 5, 1005
fimbriata, 1008
grandifolia, 1005
parviflora, 1008
Parnassiaceae, 1005
Parra del monte, 1111
Parra silvestre, 1109
Parrot's-feather, 4, 1202
green-, 1208
Parsley family, 1211
Parsley, sand-, 1220
Parsnip, cow-, 1253
Parsnip, water-, 1234
Partridge-berry, 1551
Paspalidium
geminalum, 314
paludivagum, 314
Paspalum, 289
acuminatum, 301
bifidum, 290
projectum, 290
Boscianum, 292
bull-, 292
circulars, 295
dilatatum, 292
dissectum, 304
distichum, 298
indutum, 301
floridanum, 290
glabratum, 290
fluitans, 304
Hartwegianum, 298
laeve, 295
lenttferum, 295
lividum, 295
longipilum, 295
praecox, 295
pubiflorum, 298
glabrum, 298
repens, 304
Urvillei, 292
vaginatum, 301
virgatum, 292
Pasture haw, 1019
Pata de gallo, 256
Pea
black-eyed-, 1069
cream-, 1069
rush-, 1045
-vine, 1069
Peach-leaf willow, 759
Pear, 1017
Pearl millet, 334
Pearlwort, 897
Peat moss, 5
Pecan, 774
bitter-, 775
Pedicularis, 1499
canadensis, 1501
groenlandica, 1501
Grayi, 1504
Parryi, 1501
Peltandra, 4, 560
Tharpii, 560
virginica, 560
Penny, tinker's-, 1130
Pennywort, water-, 1214
Penstemon, 1487
Digitalis, 1488
laxiflorus, 1487
Rydbergii, 1488
stenosepalus, 1488
tenuis, 1488
virgatus, 1489
Whippleanus, 1488
Penthoraceae, 999
Penthorum, 999, 1362,
1365
sedoides, 1001
Pentodon, 1548
Halei, 1548
pentandrus, 1548
Peplis, 9, 1162
diandra, 1162
Pepper
-bush, sweet-, 1267
red-, 1449
-vine, 1112
Peppermint, 1446
Pepperwort family, 53
Pepperwort, hairy-, 55
Perennial
-fescue, 177
-smartweed, 826
-summer-cypress, 847
Perideridia, 1233
Gairdneri, 1234
Parishii, 1234
Perilla, 1434
frutescens, 1434
1763
-------
Peritoma. 989
integrifolia, 988
serrulatum, 988
son-orae, 988
Persea, 961
americana, 961
Borbonia, 961
palustris, 962
pubescens, 962
Persian wiregrass, 814
Persicaria, 808
bicornis, 823
coccinea, 823
densiflora, 826
Hydropiper, 830
hydropiperoides, 834
opeloi/sana, 834
lapathifolia, 826
Muhlenbergii, 823
orientalis, 826
pensylvanica, 820
punctala, 826
setacea, 834
vulgaris, 830
Perularia
bidentata, 703
scutellata, 703
Petunia, 1449, 1455
axillaris, 1455
parviflora, 1455
seaside-, 1455
violacea, 1455
wild-, 1455
Phacelia, 1377
heterophylla, 1377
magellanica, 1377
Phalaris, 268
angusta, 271
arundinacea, 268
caroliniana, 268
Pharbitis, 1354
calhartica, 1355
Philadelphia fleabane, 1629
Philibertella cvnanchoides,
1350
Philoxerus, 868
vermicularis, 868
Phleum, 240
alpinum, 240
pratense, 240
Phlox family, 1369
Phoenix, 556
Pholiurus incurvus, 218
Phragmites, 205
communis, 205
Phyla, 1401
cuneifolia, 1362. 1405
incisa, 1404
lanceolata, 1403
nodiflora, 1405
longifolia, 1405
reptans, 1405
strigulosa, 1404
parviflora, 1404
sericea, 1404
yucatana, 1404
Phyllanthus, 1082, 1365
caroliniensis, 1083
ericoides, 435
pudens, 1083
Phylloglossum, 39
Physocarpus, 1016
monogynus, 1016
Physostegia, 1362, 1422
angustifolia, 1425
Correllii, 1426
Digitalis, 1426
edwardsiana, 1425
intermedia, 1425
micrantha, 1425
obovata, 1426
praemorsa, 1425
pulchella, 1426
serotina, 1426
Phytolacca, 870
americana, 870
decandra, 870
rigida, 870
Phytolaccaceae, 870
Piaropus crassipes, 598
Pickerel-weed, 4, 601
family, 597
Pickle-weed, 839
Pigeon-bush, 1560
Pigeon grape, 1110
Pigmy
saxifrage, 1002
-weed, 994
water-, 994
Pignut hickory, 775
Pigweed, 853, 855, 858
spiny-, 861
Pilea, 792
pumila, 792
Deamii, 795
pumila, 795
Pillwort, 57
Pilostaxis
nana, 1081
ramosa, 1081
Pilularia, 57
americana, 57
Pimpernel, 1291
brook-, 1493
false-, 1484
scarlet-, 1291
water-, 1277
Pin oak, 786
Pinguicula, 1522
pumila, 5, 1522
Pink
family, 884
grass-, 5
mountain-, 1318
-smartweed, 823
Pinkweed, 820
Pipewort, 5, 588
family, 588
Pistia, 563
Stratiotes, 3, 4, 563
Pitcher plant, 5, 990
family, 990
Plains cottonwood, 748
Plains ironweed, 1593
Plane-tree family, 1012
Planer-tree, 788, 1012
Planera, 788
aquatica, 788
Plantaginaceae, 1533
Plantago, 109, 1365, 1533
elongata, 1538
eriopoda, 1534
heterophylla, 1538
hirtella
Galeottiana, 1536
mollior, 1537
hybrida, 1537
insularis, 1536
fasligiata, 1536
lanceolata, 1534
major, 1536
pusilla, 1538
rhodosperma, 1537
Rugelii, 1536
virginica, 1537
viridescens, 1537
Plantain, 1533
common-, 1536
English-, 1534
family, 1533
Indian-, 1693
pale-seeded-, 1537
red-seeded-, 1537
Robin's-, 1627
Platanaceae, 1012
Platanus, 1012
occidentalis, 1015
attenuata, 1015
glabrata, 1015
racem-osa
Wright ii, 1015
Wrightii, 1015
Pieurogyna rotata, 1327
Pluchea, 1367, 1633
borealis, 1637
camphorata, 1634
foetida, 1634
purpurascens, 1634
rosea, 1634
1764
-------
sericea, 1637
Plumbaginaceae, 1295
Plumbago family, 1295
Plumed thistle, 1694
Plumegrass, 336
bent-awn-, 336
narrow-, 336
silver-. 336
sugarcane-, 338
Poa, 185, 231
ampla, 192
arctica, 190
compressa, 189
glaucifolia, 189
Grayana, 189
interior, 190
juncifolia, 192
leptocoma, 190
nevadensis, 190
palustris, 190
pratensis, 189
reflexa, 190
Poaceae, 169
Podostemaceae, 993
Podostemon, 994
Ceratophyllum, 994
Pogonia, 716
divaricata, 719
ophioglossoides, 5, 716
rose-, 5, 716
Poison
-bean, 1059
beaver-, 1237
-dogwood, 1093
-elder, 1093
-hemlock, 1233
-ivy, 1093
-oak, 1093
-sego, 650
-suckleya, 849
-sumac, 5, 1093
Pokeberry, 870
Pokeweed, 870
family, 870
Polemoniaceae, 1369
Polemonium, 1370
filicinum, 1373
foliosissimum, 1371
albiflorum, 1371
robustum, 1371
grande, 1371
Hinckleyi, 1371
pauciflorum, 1371
Hinckleyi, 1371
pauciflorum, 1371
reptans, 1371
Polycodium stamineum,
1269
Polygala, 5, 1074
cruciata, 1079
Harperi, 1079
Hookeri, 1076
incarnata, 1075
leptocaulis, 1076
lutea, 1081
mariana, 1079
nana, 1081
polygama, 1075
obtusata, 1075
ramosa, 1081
sanguinea, 1079
verticillata, 1076
ambigua, 1076
dolichoptera, 1076
isocycla, 1076
sphenostachya, 1076
viridescens, 1079
Polygalaceae, 1074
Polygonaceae, 795
Polygonum, 807, 1361,
1362, 1367
amphibium, 7, 820
emersum, 823
stipulaceum, 823
arenastrum, 816
argyrocolon, 814
aviculare, 816
bicorne, 823
bistortoides, 817
buxiforme, 816
coccineum, 823
confertiflorum, 814
Convolvulus, 813
cristatum, 813
densiflorum, 826
Douglasii, 816
Hydropiper, 826
hydropiperoides, 830
hydropiperoides, 834
opelousanum, 834
setaceum, 834
Kelloggii, 814
lapathifolium, 823
incana, 826
longistylum, 823
natans, 823
opelousanum, 834
orientale, 826
pensylvanicum, 820
Persicaria, 830
punctatum, .826, 830
ramosissimum, 817
sagittatum, 810
scandens
cristatum, 813
setaceum, 834
texense, 813
virginianum, 810
viviparum, 817
Watsonii, 815
Polypappus sericeus, 1637
Polypodiaceae, 61
Polypogon, 4, 238
ditch-, 240
elongatus, 240
interruptus, 240
monspeliensis, 238,
semiverticillatus, 228
Pond-nut, 912
Pondweed, 3, 4, 95
broad-leaved-, 117
curled-, 103
family, 95
sago-, 95, 100
western-, 100
Pontederia, 601
cordata, 4
cordata, 601
lanceolata, 601
lanceolata, 601
Pontederiaceae, 597
Ponthieva, 723
racemosa, 723
Pony-foot, 1350
Poolmat, common-, 117
Poor joe, 1555
Poor man's rope, 1311
Poor man's soap, 1267
Poorman's-weatherglass,
1291
Pop ash, 1303
Populus, 738
acuminata, 739, 745
angustifolia, 742, 745
arizonica, 745
deltoides, 748, 751
occidentalis, 751
Fremontii, 745, 748
arizonica, 745
pubescens, 745
Hinckleyana, 742
Sargentii
Sargentii, 748, 751
texana, 751
texana, 751
tremuloides, 751
aurea, 752
Wislizenii, 745, 751
Porcupine caric-sedge, 527
Porterella, 1583
carnulosa, 1583
Portulaca, 881, 1361
coronata, 884
lanceolata, 884
oleracea, 884
umbraticola, 884
Portulacaceae, 879
Posidonia, 9, 129
Oceania, 4, 129
1765
-------
Posidoniaceae, 129
Possum-grape, 1112
Possum-haw, 1099, 1556
Post-oak, bottomland-, 785
Post-oak, swamp-, 784
Potamogeton, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9,
10, 95, 126
alpinus, 117
americanus, 114
amplifolius, 111, 117
angustifotius, 114
Berchtoldii
tenuissimus, 106
clystocarpus, 105
crispus, 103
diversifolius
diversifolius, 108
trichophyllus, 108
filiformis, 100
foliosus, 103
foliosus, 105
macellus, 105
gramineus, 114
illinoensis, 114
latifolius, 100
lucens, 114
natans, 117
nodosus, 7, 111, 114
pectinatus, 95, 100
pulcher, 108
pusillus, 105
Potamogetonaceae, 95, 129
Potato, 1449
-bean, 1069
American-, 1069
family, 1449
hog-, 1045
sweet-, 1354
wild-, 1357
Potentilla, 1021
Anserina, 1031
concolor, 1031
arguta
Convallaria, 1029
atrorubens, 1025
biennis, 1027
diversifolia, 1028
filipes, 1028
fruticosa, 1025
glandulosa, 1029
arizonica, 1029
gracilis, 1028
brunnescens, 1028
grabrata, 1029
pulcherrima, 1028
Macdougalii, 1029
monspeliensis, 1025
norvegica, 1025
hirsuta, 1025
paradoxa, 1027
pentandra, 1025
plattensis, 1029
pulcherrima, 1028
rivalis, 1027
Thurberi, 1025
atrorubens, 1025
Thurberi, 1025
Powderpuff, 1042
Powdery-thalia, 686
Prairie
-agalinis, 1497
-buttercup, 939
-cordgrass, 265
-cupgrass, 285
-dogbane, 1337
-mallow, 1114
-wedgescale, 218
Pretty dodder, 1367
Prickly lettuce, 1698
Primrose, 1287
evening-, 1194
family, 1276
spotted-, 1197
water-, 1175, 1187
-willow, 1178
creeping-, 1187
floating-, 1187
Primula, 1287
angustifolia, 1287
Ellisiae, 1288
Parryi, 1288
Rusbyi, 1288
Primulaceae, 1276
Princess-feather, 826
Privet, swamp-, 1307
Proboscidea, 1510
Jussieui, 1510
louisianica, 1510
Proserpinaca, 7, 1201
palustris, 1201
amblyogona, 1201
creba, 1201
pectinata, 1201
Prostrate vervain, 1400
Prunella, 1419
vulgaris, 1419
hispida, 1422
lanceolata, 1422
Psilacris, 1609
asteroid'es, 1610
Coulteri, 1610
lepta. 1610
Psilocarya, 489
nitens, 489
Psilotaceae, 37
Psilotum, 37
nudum, 37
Pteridophyta, 17, 37
Ptilimnium, 1243
capillaceum. 1243
costatum, 1243
Nuttallii, 1243
texense, 1243
Puccinellia, 179
airoides, 181
distans, 181
Nuttalliana, 181
Parishii, 181
pauciflora, 185
Pull-up muhly, 248
Purple
-beautyberry, 1395
-bladderwort, 1519
-cudweed, 1632
-dewdrop, 1580
-loco, 1062
-meadow-rue, 958
-milkweed, 1341
-rocket, 964
-wen-dock, 909
Purslane, 881, 884
family, 879
horse-, 875
lowland-, 879
marsh-, 1187
sea-, 875
speedwell-, 1491
water-, 1162
Pycnanthemum, 1446
albescens, 1448
flexuosum, 1448
tenuifolium, 1446
virginianum, 1448
Pycreus, 416
Pyrus, 1017
arbutifolia, 1017
Quackgrass, 210
Quail-brush, 850
Quaking
-aspen, 751
-grass, 192
-grass, little, 192
Quamasia hyacinthina, 657
Quamoclit, 1354
coccinea, 1355
hederifolia, 1355
Quelite, 855, 862
espinoso, 861
salado, 847
Quercus, 734, 783
aquatica, 788
Ashei, 785
digitala, 786
falcata, 785
laurifolia, 787
lyrata, 784
macrocarpa, 784
nigra, 787
tridentifera, 788
1766
-------
obtusa, 787
palustris, 786
Phellos, 786
rhombica, 787
rubra, 786
digitata, 786
leucophylla, 786
pogodaefolia, 786
triloba, 786
similis, 785
stellata, 785
pal-udosa, 785
Quillwort, 43
family, 41
Rabbitfoot grass, 238
Radish, horse-, 979
Ragged fringed orchid, 695
Ragweed, 1642
giant, 1645
western, 1645
Ragwort, 1689
Railroad vine, 1357
Rain-lily, 669
Rani's horn, 1510
Ranunculaceae, 734, 913
Ranunculus, 7, 928
abortivus, 945
acris, 933
apricus, 939
aquatilis, 955
capillaceus, 955
cardiophyllus, 944
subsagittatus, 944
carolinianus, 936
villicaulis, 939
circinatus
subrigidus, 957
Cymbalaria, 953
Cymbalaria, 953
saximontanus, 953
Eschscholtzii, 943
fascicularis, 939
apricus, 939
cuneiformis, 939
flabellaris, 952, 953
flammula, 946
ovalis, 946
glaberrimus, 945
ellipticus, 946
Gmelinii
Hookeri, 952
hydrocharoides, 946
stolonifer, 946
inamoenus, 944
laxicaulis, 949
longirostris, 957
Macauleyi, 943
Macounii, 936
macranthus, 939
muricatus, 941
parviflorus, 941
pedatifidus, 944
affinis, 945
pensylvanicus, 935
pusillus, 949
angustifolius, 949
ranunculinus, 955
recurvatus, 935
repens, 933
pleniflorus, 933
Sardous, 941
sceleratus, 949
septentrionalis
pterocarpus, 936
subrigidus, 957
tener, 949
texensis, 949
uncinatus, 933
Earlei, 935
Rape, 1453
Raspilla, 1042
Ratibida, 1652
Rattle-box, 1184
Rattlebush, 1059
Rattlesnake-master, 1254
Red
-ash, 1305
-bay, 961
-berried bamboo, 664
-chokeberry, 1017
-clover, 1052
-elderberry, 1559
-fescue, 179
-flag, 679
-grape, 1110
-haw, 1017
-mangrove, 1393
-maple, 1105
-oak, southern, 785
-pepper, 1449
-osier dogwood, 1266
-root, 862
-seeded plantain, 1537
-sprangletop, 256
-top bentgrass, 231
-willow, 760
Reed canary grass, 268
Reed
common-, 205
giant-, 202
-grass, 224
Reedgrass, northern, 226
Relbunium microphyllum,
1540
Retama, 1039
Reynoutria
Convolvulus, 813
scandens
cristatum, 813
Rhexia, 5, 1169
alifanus, 1175
ciliosa, 1172
interior, 1172
lutea, 1172
mariana
exalbida, 1172
interior, 1172
mariana, 1172
petiolata, 1172
virginica, 1172
Rhizophora Mangle, 1393
Rhizophoraceae, 1393
Rhododendron, 5, 1271
atlanticum, 1272
canescens, 1272
subglabrum, 1274
Coryi, 1271, 1272
nudiflorum, 1274
oblongifolium, 1272
prinophyllum, 1274
viscosum, 1272
Rhus, 1093, 1367, 1369
rod icons, 1095
Rydbergii, 1095
verrucosa, 1095
vulgaris, 1095
Toxicodendron, 1093
eximia, 1095
microcarpa, 1095
quercifolia, 1095
radicans, 1095
Toxicodendron, 1095
vulgaris, 1095
Vernix, 5, 1093
verrucosa, 1095
Rhynchospora, 4, 464, 467,
489
caduca, 487
capillacea, 474
capitellata, 475
corniculata, 473
corniculata, 473
interior, 473
macrostachya, 471
cymosa, 489
divergens, 473
Elliottii, 484
fascicularis, 478
filifolia, 478
globularis, 487
reoognita, 489
glomerata, 475
angusta, 475
glomerata, 475
gracilenta, 481
Grayi, 481
Harveyi, 481
indianolensis, 473
1767
-------
inexpansa, 484
intermixta, 474
macra, 475
macrostachya, 471
microcarpa, 484, 487
mixta, 484
nivea, 467
obliterata, 489
oligantha, 478
perplexa, 487
Plankii, 481
plumosa, 478
pusilla, 473
rariflora, 481
schoenoides, 484
semiplumosa, 478
Rhyncospora, 469
Ribes, 1008
americanum, 1010
aureum, 1010
inerme, 1010
mogollonicum, 1011
Wolfii, 1011
Ribwort, 1534
Riccia fluitans, 578
Ricciacarpus natans, 578
Rice, 10, 271
-cutgrass, 274
Richweed, 792
Ricinus, 1082
Rio Grande cottonwood,
745
Rio Grande vervain, 1400
River
-birch, 779
-bulrush, 349
-walnut, 773
-weed, 994
family, 993
Riverbank grape, 1110
Robin's-planlain, 1627
Rock
-cress, 964
-jasmine, 1284
-loving oxytrope, 1063
Rocket
purple-, 964
sea-, 981
yellow-, 981
Rocky Mountain beeplant,
988
Rocky Mountain
columbine, 917
Rompevientos, 1149
Rorippa, 9, 971
curvisiliqua, 976
hispid a, 976
islandica, 976
Fernaldiana, 976
hispida, 976
islandica, 976
Nasturtium-aquaticum,
971, 974
obtusa, 976, 979
palustris, 976
ramosa, 979
sessiliflora, 974
sinuata, 974
sphaerocarpa, 976
teres, 979
Walteri, 979
Rosa, 1038, 1369
arizonica, 1038
Fendleri, 1038
Woodsii
Fendleri, 1038
Rosaceae, 999, 1015
Rose, 1038
family, 1015
-gentian, 1313
mallow-, 1121
-mallow, 1117
halberd-leaved-, 1118
scarlet-, 1118
swamp-, 1121
woolly-, 1121
-pink, 1315
-pogonia, 5, 716
-sundrops, 1197
Rosemary, marsh, 1295
Roseroot, 997
Rosita, 1317
Rotala, 1164
dentifera, 1164
ramosior, 1164
interior, 1164
ramosior, 1164
Rough
-butterweed, 1555
-leaf dogwood, 1266
-skullcap, 1412
Round-fruited toad rush,
618
Roundleaf mint, 1443
Royal fern, 51
Rubiaceae, 1538
Rubus, 1035, 1369
abundifiorus, 1036
argutus, 1036
arizonensis, 1036
arvensis, 1036
largus, 1037
louisianus, 1036
oklahomus, 1036
oligospermus, 1036
putus, 1037
ramifer, 1036
texanus, 1036
valentulus, 1037
Rudbeckia, 1651
amplexicaulis, 1655
Coryi, 1652
divergcns, 1651
fiexuosa, 1651
Fulgida
palustris, 1652
hirta, 1651
angustifolia, 1651
pulcherrima, 1651
laciniata, 1652
maxima, 1652
serotina, 1651
subtomentosa, 1652
Ruellia, 1527
ciliosa, 1527
humilis, 1527
depauperata, 1528
expansa, 1528
frondosa, 1528
longiflora, 1528
strepens, 1527
cleistantha, 1527
strepens, 1527
Rulac Negundo, 1104
Rumex, 797, 798
Acetosella, 798
alluvius, 805
altissimus, 801
Berlandieri, 802
californicus, 801
chrysocarpus, 801, 802
conglomeratus, 805
crispus, 802, 805
ellipticus, 801
Engelmannii, 800
fueginus, 807
hastatulus, 800
hymenosepalus, 797
Langloisii, 802
maritimus, 807
fueginus, 807
mexicanus, 802
obtusifolius, 805
occidentalis, 802
pulcher, 805
spiralis, 801
stenophyllus, 805
triangulivalvis, 802
utahensis, 801
verticillatus, 800
violascens, 807
Running box, 1551
Running fleabane, 1629
Ruppia, 6, 9, 123
maritima, 123
Ruppiaceae, 123
Rush, 3, 5, 606
family, 604
-pea, 1045
Russian thistle, 839
1768
-------
Ryegrass, 215
Rynchospora, 469
Sabal, 556
louisiana, 556
minor, 556
Sabatia, 1313
angularis, 1315
arenicola, 1315
calycina, 1317
campestris, 1315
carnosa, 1317
dodecandra, 1315
dodecandra, 1315
foliosa, 1315
gentianoides, 1313
Sabbatia, 1313
Sabino, 82
Sacahuista, 262
Sacciolepis, 323
striata, 323
Sacred bean, 912
Sage, big red-, 1433
lyre-leaf-, 1433
wood-, 1408
Sagebrush, 1689
Sagina, 897
decumbens, 899
saginoides, 897
hesperina, 899
Sagittaria, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10,
133, 142
ambigua, 147
arifolia, 153
brevirostra, 153
calycina, 145
cuneata, 153
cycloptera, 145
Engelmannia
brevirostra, 153
falcata, 147
graminea, 145
platyphylla, 147
Greggii, 150
lancifolia, 147
media, 147
latifolia, 150
hastata, 150
latifolia, 150
obtusa, 150
pubescens, 150
longiloba, 150, 153
montevidensis, 145
calycina, 145
papillosa, 147
platyphylla, 147
pubescens, 150
Sago pondweed, 95, 100
Salad, corn, 1565
Saladilla, 835
Salicaceae, 737
Salicornia, 835, 1367
Bigelovii, 836
perennis, 836
utahensis, 836
virginica, 836
Salix, 752, 1362, 1367,
1368
amygdaloides, 759
amygdaloides, 759
Wrightii, 759
arctica, 763
Bebbiana, 765
Bonplandiana, 760
Toumeyi, 760
caroliniana, 760
caudata, 760
Drummondiana, 767
exigua
exigua, 761
nevadensis, 761, 763
stenophylla, 761
fragilis, 760
Geyeriana, 766
glauca, 764
Gooddingii
variabilis, 759
Humboldtiana, 757
humilis
rigidiuscula, 766
interior, 763
angustissima, 763
interior, 763
pedicellata, 763
irrorata, 764
laevigata, 760
araquipa, 760
lasiandra, 759
lasiolepis, 764
Bracelinae, 764
linearifolia, 763
longifolia, 763
longipes, 761
lutea, 765
monticola, 765
myrtillifolia, 765
nigra, 757, 759
Lindheimeri, 757
nigra, 757
stipulacea, 759
nivalis, 763
padophylla, 765
petrophylla, 764
phylicifolia, 766
monica, 767
pseudocaudata, 765
pseudomonticola, 765
rigida, 764
saximontana, 763
Scouleriana, 766
subcoerulea, 767
taxifolia, 761
microphylla, 761
Wardii, 761
Wrightii, 759
Salsola, 839, 1367
Kali, 839
tenuifolia, 839
pestifer, 839
Salt
-cedar, 1, 1148
-marsh
-bulrush, 349
-mallow, 1117
-gerardia, 1497
-sand-spurrey, 900
Saltbush, 849
Australian-, 850
silver-, 851
Saltgrass, 200
Saltmeadow cordgrass, 265
Saltwort family, 868
Salva Colorado, 1401
Salva do Brasil, 1401
Salvia, 1433
lyrata, 1433
penstemonoides, 1433
Salvinia, 57
family, 57
Salviniaceae, 57
Sambucus, 1556
caerulea, 1559
arizonica, 1560
mexicana, 1560
canadensis, 1559
submollis, 1559
glauca, 1559
mexicana, 1560
microbotrys, 1559
neomexicana, 1559
racemosa, 1559
Rehderana, 1560
Samolus, 1277
cuneatus, 1279
ebracteatus, 1279
cuneatus, 1279
floribundus, 1281
parviflorus, 1281
vagans, 1281
Samphire, Utah, 836
Sand
-parsley, 1220
-spurrey, 899
salt-marsh-, 900
-weed, 1134
Sandbar willow, 763
Sandhills amaranth, 862
Sandpaper vervain, 1397
1769
-------
S&ndwort. 894
thyme-leavecl-, S97
Sanguisorba, 1037
minor, 1037
Sarcobatus, 842
vermiculatus, 842
Sarcostemma, 1349
cynanchoides, 1349
cynanchoides, 1350
Hartwegii, 1350
heterophyllum, 1350
Sarothra Drummondii,
1140
Sarracenia, 990
alata, 5, 990
purpurea, 990
Sledgei, 990
Sarraceniaceae, 990
Satureja, 1449
arkansana, 1449
Brownei, 1449
glabella
angustifolia, 1449
glabra, 1449
Satyr orchid, 711
Sauco, 1560
Saururaceae, 734
Saururus, 737
cernuus, 737
Saiiz, 757
Saw-grass, 464
Saxifraga, 1001
arguta, 1002
chrysantha, 1001
debilis, 1002
Reevesii, 1001
rhomboidea, 1005
texana, 1001
Saxifragaceae, 999
Saxifrage, 1001
brook-, 1002
family, 999
pigmy-, 1002
Scale-seed, 1220
Scarlet
-creeper, 1355
-maple, 1105
-pimpernel, 1291
-rose-mallow, 1118
Schoenolirion, 655
croceum, 655
Schoenus, 464
nigricans, 464
Scirpus, 3, 4, 10, 344, 365,
415
acutus, 360, 363
americanus
longispicatus, 357
polyphyllus, 357
atrovirens, 352
atrovirens, 352
georgianus, 354
pallidus, 352
Bergsonii, 357
californicus, 357
chilensis, 357
cubensis, 349
cyperinus
cyperinus, 352
rubricosus, 349, 352
etuberculatus, 360
fluviatilis, 349, 360
fontinalis, 354
georgianus, 352
heterochaetus, 368
koilolepis, 355
lacustris, 363
condensatus, 363
glaucus, 363
occidentalis, 363
lineatus, 354
maritimus, 349
macrostachyus, 349
paludosus, 349
micranthus, 415
microcarpus, 352
molestus, 354
nanus, 387
Olneyi, 357
pallidus, 352
paludosus, 349
radicans, 372
robustus, 349
rubricosus, 352
saximontanus, 355
supinus, 355
Hallii, 355
saximontanus, 355
supinus, 355
Tabernaemontani, 363
validus, 363
Wilkensii, 355, 357
Scleria, 489
Muhlenbergii, 489
setacea, 489
Scoke, 870
Scouring-rush, 47
family, 45
smooth-, 46
summer-, 46
Scratchgrass muhly, 248
Screw-stem, 1329
Scrophulariaceae, 1456
Scutellaria, 1412
cardiophylla, 1415
epilobiijolia, 1415
galericulata, 1415
integrifolia, 1412
hispida, 1415
integrifolia, 1415
rhodantha, 1415
lateriflora, 1416
Sea
-blite, 846
-lavender, 1295
-milkwort, 1288
-oats, inland, 202
-ox-eye daisy, 1655
-purslane, 875
-rocket, 981
Seashore saltgrass, 4
Seaside
-gerardia, 1497
-goldenrod, 1612
-heliotrope, 1386
-petunia, 1455
Sedge, 3, 4, 5, 489
family, 341
three-way-, 344
Sedum, 997
pulchellum, 997
rhodanthum, 997
Rosea, 997
Seedbox, 5, 1175, 1184
Seepweed, 846
Seepwillow, 1607
Selaginella, 41
apoda, 41
ludoviciana, 41
Selaginellaceae, 41
Selenia, 983
dissecta, 984
grandis, 983
Jonesii, 984
Self-heal, common, 1419
Seneca grass, 268
Senecio, 1689
aurea, 1690
crassulus, 1690
flavovirens, 1691
glabellus, 1690
lapathifolius, 1691
pauperculus, 1691
pseudaureus, 1691
salignus, 1691
semiamplexicaulis, 1691
triangularis, 1691
Sensitive fern, 65
Serapias gigantea, 716
Sesbania, 9, 1056, 1367
Drummondii, 1059
exaltata, 1059
macrocarpa, 1059
vesicaria, 1059
Sesuvium, 870, 875, 1361
erectum, 879
maritimum, 876
Portulacastrum, 876
sessile, 879
1770
-------
trianthemoides, 876
vemicosum, 879
Setaria, 332
geniculata, 332
glauca, 334
lutescens, 334
magna, 334
verticillata, 334
Seutera palustris, 1349
Seymouria macrophylla,
1495
Shade betony, 1431
Shade mud-flower, 1487
Shadow-witch, 723
Shagbark hickory, 775
Sheep sorrel, 798
Shellbark, 775
Shepherd's purse, 985
Shinnersia rivularis, 1599
Shooting-star, 1281
Short-awn foxtail, 236
Short-beaked sedge, 499
Showy-milkweed, 1340
Shrubby
-alkali aster, 1621
-cinquefoil, 1025
-St. John's-wort, 1133
Shumac, 1093
Sibara, 965
virginica, 965
Sicklegrass, 218
Sicyos, 1571
angulatus, 1571
Sida, 1124
alba, 1125
hederacea, 1124
leprosa
hederacea, 1124
rhombifolia, 1125
Sidalcea, 1114
Candida, 1117
neomexicana, 1114, 1117
Sieversia turbinata, 1035
Silene, 887
acaulis
subacaulescens, 887
Silkweed, 1339
Silver
-bells, 1299
Carolina-, 1299
-plumegrass, 336
-saltbush, 851
Silverhead, 868
Silverweed, 1031
Silvery desert willow, 761
Sisymbrium, 965
altissimum, 965
Sisyrinchium, 673
angustifolium, 675
atlanticum, 675
bermudianum, 675
biforme, 676
Brownii, 675
cernuum, 674
demissum, 676
dimorphum, 676
exile, 675
gramineum, 675
graminioides, 675
laxum, 675
longipedunculatum, 676
longipes, 674
micranthum, 675
minus, 675
montanum, 675
rosulatum, 675
sagittiferum, 675
texanum, 675
Thurowii, 675
Sium, 1234
cicutaefolium, 1237
suave, 1234
Skullcap, 1412
mad-dog-, 1416
marsh-, 1415
rough-, 1412
Skunk-cabbage, 655
Slender
-bog-orchid, 709
-buttonweed, 1552
-clubmoss, 41
-hair grass, 222
-rush, 618
-water-nymph, 126
Slough grass, American-,
259
Small butterwort, 5, 1522
Small wood orchid, 5, 710
Smartweed, 4, 897, 820
-dodder, 1362
perennial-, 826
pink-, 823
water-, 820, 826
willow-, 823
Smilacaceae, 663
Smilacina, 657
stellata, 657
Smilax, 663
laurifolia, 663
rotundifolia, 663
quadrangularis, 664
Walteri, 664
Smooth
-alder, 782
-barked cottonwood, 739
-buttonweed, 1552
-cordgrass, 262
-scouring-rush, 46
-yellow violet, 1152
Smother-weed, 843
Smutgrass, 252
Snakeroot
black-, 653
button-, 1254, 1595
Snakeweed, 817, 1608
Sneezeweed, 1677, 1679
orange, 1678
Snow-berry, 1560
Snowdrop-tree, 1299
Snowy orchid, 5, 700
Soapwort gentian, 1326
Soft rush, 612
Soft-stem bulrush, 363
Solanaceae, 1449
Solanum, 1449, 145©
Douglasii, 1450
Melongena, 1449
nigrum, 1450
nodiflorum, 1450
tuberosum, 1449
Solidago, 1362, 1365, 1367,
1368, 1609, 1610,
1611
altissima, 1613
canescens, 1613
pluricephala, 1613
angustifolia, 1612
arizonica, 1613
aspera, 1612
caesia, 1612
decumbens, 1615
gigantea, 1613
leiophylla, 1613
occidentalis, 1615
rugosa, 1613
aspera, 1613
celtidifolia, 1612
salicina, 1612
sempervirens
mexicana, 1612
sempervirens, 1612
spathulata
nana, 1615
stricta, 1612
ulmifolia, 1612
Solomon's seal, false, 657
Sombrerillo, 1219
Sophronanthe pilosa, 1467
Sorghum, 338
halepense, 338
Sorrel
heart-, 800
mountain-, 796
sheep-, 798
Sour
-bush, 1395
-clover, 1047
-dock, 802
-gum, 1262
1771
-------
South American vervain,
1397
Southern
-black-haw, 1556
-blue-flag, 682
-clubmoss, 39
-cypress, 81
-lady fern, 67
-marsh fern, 72
-red oak, 785
-rein-orchid, 703
-sugar maple, 1105
-swamp lily, 671
-twayblade, 713
-water-hemp, 864
-wild-rice, 280
Southwestern black willow,
759
Spanish
-mulberry, 1395
-needles, 1672
-oak, 785
Sparganiaceae, 89
Sparganium, 3, 10, 89
americanum, 93
androcladum, 93
angustifolium, 93
emersum, 91, 93
multipedunculatum,
93
eurycarpum, 91
minimum, 91
multipedunculatum, 93
simplex, 93
Sparsely-flowered bog-
orchid, 709
Spartina, 4, 259
alterniflora, 262
glabra, 262
cynosuroides, 262
gracilis, 265
patens, 265
pectinata, 265
Suttiei. 265
spartinae, 262
Spatter-dock, 906
Spearmint, 1446
Speedwell, 1490
purslane-, 1491
water-, 1493
Spergula platensis, 899
Spergularia, 899
echinosperma, 900
marina, 900
platensis, 899
salina, 900
salsuginea
bracleata, 900
Spermacoce, 1551
glabra, 1552
tenuior, 1552
Spermatophyta, 79
Spermolepis, 1220
divaricata, 1220
Sphagnum moss, 4, 5
Sphenoclea, 1572
zeylanica, 1572
Sphenocleaceae, 1572
Sphenopholis, 218
intermedia, 220
obtusata, 218
Spider flower, 987
Spider lily, 596, 666
Spiderwort, 596
Spiderwort family, 593
Spike
-bentgrass, 234
chicken-, 1572
-trisetum, 222
Spikemoss family, 41
Spikemoss, meadow, 41
Spikerush, 3, 366
creeping-, 381
Spilanthes, 1649
americana
repens, 1649, 1651
re pens, 1651
Spinach, French, 851
Spindle-root, 1184
Spindle-tree, 1103
Spiny
-cocklebur, 1646
-pigweed, 861
-rush, 615
Spiral-orchid, giant, 730
Spiral-orchid, lace-lip, 730
Spiranthes, 5, 723, 730
brevilabris, 730
cernua, 727
cernua, 727
odorata, 727
gracilis
brevilabris, 730
floridana, 730
gracilis, 727, 730
graminea, 732
laciniata, 732
longilabris, 730
praecox, 730, 732
Romanzoffiana, 724
vernalis, 732
Spirodela, 3, 4, 564
oligorhiza, 564
polyrhiza, 564
Sporobolus, 169, 250
flexuosus, 252
indicus, 252
Poirclii, 252
texanus, 250
virginicus, 252
Spot-flower, creeping, 1649
Spotted
-cowbane, 1237
-primrose, 1197
-touch-me-not, 1108
Sprangletop, 252
bearded-, 253
red-, 256
Spreading pogonia, 719
Spring
-bentgrass, 228
-buttercup, 941
-cress, 968
-herald, 1308
-ladies's tresses, 732
Spurge family, 1082
Spurred gentian, 1327
Squaw-huckleberry, 1269
Squaw-weed, 1689
St. Andrew's-cross, 1128
St. John's-wort, 1129
family, 1127
marsh-, 1140
shrubby-, 1133
St. Peter's-wort, 1128
Stachys, 1367, 1429
agraria, 1431
crenata, 1431
albiflora, 1431
floridana, 1433
Nuttallii, 1431
palustris, 1431, 1429
nipigonensis, 1431
pilosa, 1431
tenuifolia, 1431
Staff-tree family, 1103
Stagger bush, 1276
Star-glory, 1355
Star-grass, 660
Starflower, 657
Starwort, 893
Steironema
cUiatum, 1292
lanceolatum, 1292
pumilum, 1292
radicans, 1292
validulum, 1292
Stellaria, 893
gonomischa, 894
longifolia, 894
longipes, 894
umbellata, 893
Stemodia, 1468
du ran ti folia, 1468
Stenophyllus, 400
Sterculiaceae, 1125
Stick-tights, 1668
Stickseed, 1389
Sticky hedge-hyssop, 1467
1772
-------
Stiff marsh bedstraw, 1542
Stinkgrass, 196
Stinking fleabane, 1634
Stinking-willow, 1055
Stinkweed, 1633
Stone-rush, 489
Stonecrop, 997
ditch-, 999
Stonewort, 3
Storax, 1299
family, 1296
Stout woodreed, 234
Straggling gilia, 1373
Strangle vine, 1360
Strawberry
-bush, 1103
-clover, 1049
Indian-, 1021
Streptopus, 659
amplexifolius, 659
Stretch-berry, 1308
Stylisma, 1353
aquatica, 1353
Stylites, 43
Styracaceae, 1296
Styrax, 1296, 1299
americana, 1299
pulverulenta, 1299
platanifolia, 1299
stellata, 1301
pulverulenta, 1299
Suaeda, 846, 1361, 1367
conferta, 849
depressa, 846
erecta, 847
linearis, 847
mexicana, 847
nigrescens
glabra, 847
Torreyana, 847
Sucker flax, 1073
Suckleya, 849
poison-, 849
suckleyana, 849
Sugarcane plumegrass, 338
Sumac, 1093
family, 1091
poison-, 1093
Summer
-cypress, 845
perennial-, 847
-grape, 1110
-scouring-rush, 46
Sump-weed, 1637
Sundew, 5, 990'
family, 990
Sundrops, rose, 1197
Sunflower, 1655
Maximilian-, 1659
tickseed-, 1667
Susan, brown-eyed, 1651
Svida stricta, 1266
Swamp
-bay, 961
-dock, 800
-laurel oak, 787
-locust, 1045
-loosestrife, 1157
-milkweed, 1345
-post-oak, 784
-privet, 1307
-rose-mallow, 1121
-thistle, 1695
Sweet
-bay, 961
-cicely, 1223
-clover, 1046
white-, 1046
yellow-, 1047
-grape, 1109
-grass, 268
-gum, 1012
-leaf, 1301
family, 1301
-pepper-bush, 1267
-potato, 1354
-spire, 1008
Sweetflag, 563
Swertia, 1327
palustris, 1327
perennis, 1327
Switchgrass, 320
Sword-grass, 357
Sycamore, 1012
Arizona-, 1015
Symphoricarpos, 1367,
1560
orbiculatus, 1560
spicatus, 1562
vulgaris, 1562
Symplocaceae, 1301
Symplocos, 1301
tinctoria, 1301
Syringodium filiforme, 120
Tabaquillo, 1453
Tall
-leafy green-orchid, 706
-northern green-orchid,
706
-scouring-rush, 47
-white bog-orchid, 710
-white northern-orchid,
710
Tamaricaceae, 1148
Tamarisco, 1149
Tamarisk, 1148
family, 1148
Tamarix, 1, 196, 845,
1148, 1368
africana, 1149
aphylla, 1149
aralensis, 1149
canariensis, 1149
chinensis, 1149
gallica, 1149
parviflora, 1149
ramosissima, 1151
Tangle gut, 1360
Tansy-mustard, 967
Tapegrass, 161
Tapioca, 1082
Tapiro, 1560
Taraxacum, 1703
erythrospermum, 1704
officinale, 1703
Taray, 763
Tarragon, 1689
Tarweed, 1642
Tassel-white, 1008
Tauschia, 1220
texana, 1220
Taxodiaceae, 79
Taxodium, 81
distichum, 81
family, 79
mucronatum, 82
Tea, Mexican, 854
Tearthumb, 810
Tecoma, 1369
Te de castilla, 1401
Tessaria, 1637
borealis, 1637
sericea, 1637
Teucrium, 1362, 1408
canadense, 1408
angustatum, 1411
canadense, 1411
occidentale, 1411
virginicum, 1411
cubense, 1411
chamaedrifolium,
1412
cubense, 1412
densum, 1312
laevigatum, 1412
depressum, 1412
laevigatum, 1412
occidentale, 1411
virginicum, 1411
Texas
-frog-fruit, 1404
-gourd, 1569
-ladies' tresses, 730
-lantana, 1400
-wildrice, 277
Thalassia, 9, 129, 167
testudinum, 4, 167
Thalia, 686
1773
-------
barbata, 686
dealbata, 686
Thalicirom, 957
dasycarpum, 958
dasycarpum, 958
hypoglaucum, 958
Fendleri, 958
hypoglaucum. 958
Thelyptris, 69
dentata, 74
hexagonoptera, 72
Kunthii, 75
normalis, 75
ovata
Lindheimeri, 74
palustris
Haleana, 72
quadrangularis
versicolor, 74
Torresiana, 72
versicolor, 74
Theobroma cacao, 1125
Thin-leaf alder, 782
Thistle, 1694
bull-, 1695
Mexican-, 1257
plumed-, 1694
Russian-, 839
swamp-, 1695
white-, 850
yellow-, 1695
Thorn, 1017
camel-, 1065
Thorough wort, 1601
Thread-foot, 994
Three
-square bulrush, 357
-stcrnr. d rush, 627
-way sedge, 344
Thurber's bog-orchid, 703
Thyme-leaved sandwort,
897
Tickseed, 1660
-sunflower, 1667
Tillaea, 994
aquatica, 994
Drummondii, 994
Drummondii, 994
Tillaeastrum
aquaticum, 994
Drummondii, 994
Timber oatgrass, 224
Timothy, 240
alpine-, 240
Tiniaria
Convolvulus, 813
crislata, 813
Tinker's penny, 1130
Tithonia, 1649
Thmberi, 1649
Tmesipteris, 37
Toad-rush, 615
Tobacco, 1449, 1450
desert-, 1453
fiddle-leaf-, 1453
-root, 1562
tree-, 1453
wild-, 1453
Tobaco cimarron, 1453
Tofieldia, 650
racemosa, 650
Tomato, 1449
Tooth-cup, 1162, 1164
Toronjil de Espana, 1401
Torreyochloa pauciflora,
185
Touch-me-not, 1105
family, 1105
spotted-, 1108
Tovara virginiana, 810
Toxicodendron
eximium, 1095
quercifolium, 1095
radicans, 1095
eximium, 1095
verrucosum, 1095
Tracaulon sagittatum, 813
Trachelospermum, 1334
difforme, 1334
Tradescantia, 596
canaliculata, 597
edwardsiana, 596
ohioensis, 597
reflexa, 597
Wrightii, 597
Tragiola pilosa, 1467
Trautvetteria, 928
grandis, 928
Tree tobacco, 1453
Treebine, ivy-, 1112
Trefoil, 1053
Trepocarpus, 1226
Aethusae, 1226
Triadenum
petiolatum, 1140
tubulosum, 1140
virginicum, 1140
Walter!, 1140
Trianthema, 875, 1361
Portulacastrum, 875
Trichachne, 283
Trichloris, 265
crinita, 265
Trichocoronis, 1599
rivularis, 1599
Wrightii, 1599
Tridens, 205
albescens, 205, 208
ambiguus, 208
strictus, 205
Trifolium, 1047, 1365
amabile, 1052
dasyphyllum, 1051
Fendleri, 1049
fragiferum, 1049
hybridum, 1053
lacerum, 1051
longicaule, 1049
microcephalum, 1048
nanum, 1051
neurophyllum, 1052
Parryi, 1051
pinetorum, 1049
pratense, 1052
repens, 1052
Rydbergii, 1052
stenolobum, 1052
Willdenovii, 1049
Wormskjoldii, 1049
Triglochin, 131
concinnum
debilis, 133
debilis, 133
maritimum, 131
elata, 131
palustre, 131
Trilliaceae, 659
Trillium, 659
pusillum
ozarkanum, 660
recurvatum, 660
Shayi, 660
texanum, 659
Tripsacum, 341
dactyloides, 341
occidcntale, 341
Trisetum, 220
montanum, 220
spicatum, 222
spike-, 222
Wolfii, 220
Wolfs-, 220
True fern family, 61
Trumpet, 990
yellow-, 990
Tuckahoe, 560
Tufted hair grass, 224
Tule, 89, 357, 360
-espadilla, 87
Tulillo, 454
Tumble-mustard, 965
Tumbleweed, 839
Tupelo, 1262, 1265
Turbina, 1354
Turkey-tangle, 1405
Turkeyberry, 1395
Turnsole, 1384, 1389
Turre hem bra, 1404
Turtle-grass, 167
Twayblade
1774
-------
broad-leaved-, 713
broad lipped-, 713
heart-leaved-, 713
southern-, 713
Twin-berry, 1560
Twisted-stalk, 659
Two-eyed berry, 1551
Typha, 3, 4, 6, 10, 85, 231,
1701
angustifolia, 87, 89
domingensis, 89
latifolia, 11, 87
truxillensis, 89
Typhaceae, 85
Ulmaceae, 788
Ulmus rubra, 435
Umbrella
-flatsedge, 447
-grass, 365
-plant, 447
Umbelliferae, 1211
Unicorn-plant, 1510
family, 1508
-root, 660
Uniola latifolia, 202
Urtica, 792
Breweri, 792
dioica
gracilis, 792
gracilis, 792
angustifolia, 792
holosericea, 792
procera, 792
gracilenta, 792
gracilis, 792
Serra, 792
viridis, 792
Urticaceae, 788
Utah samphire, 836
Utricularia, 9, 1513
biflora, 1522
cornuta, 1516
fibrosa, 1522
gibba, 1522
inflata, 1519
minor, 1519
juncea, 1516
macrorhiza, 1519
pumila, 1522
purpurea, 1519
radiata, 1519
subulata, 1516
cleistogama, 1516
vulgaris, 1519
americana, 1519
Vaccinium, 5, 1269, 1369
amoenum, 1270
arkansanum, 1271
atrococcum, 1271
caesium, 1270
corymbosum, 1271
Elliottii, 1270
stamineum, 1269, 1270
virgatum, 1270
Valerian, 1562
family, 1562
Valeriana, 1562
capitata, 1563
acutiloba, 1563
edulis, 1565
occidentalis, 1563
texana, 1563
Valerianaceae, 1562
Valerianella, 1565
amarella, 1566
florifera, 1566
locusta, 1565
radiata
Fernaldii, 1569
radiata, 1568, 1569
stenocarpa
parviflora, 1568
stenocarpa, 1568
texana, 1568
Woodsiana, 1566
Vallisneria, 161
americana, 161
spiralis, 161
Vanilla grass, 268
Vasey grass, 292
Veintiunilla, 1345
Velvet ash, 1305
Velvet grass, 224
Veratrum, 655
californicum, 655
Verbena, 1365, 1396
bonariensis, 1397
bracteata, 1400
bracteosa, 1400
brasiliensis, 1397
hastata, 1399
scabra, 1399
Macdougalii, 1399
Runyonii, 1400
rosiflora, 1400
seabra, 1397
angustifolia, 1397
urticifolia, 1399
leiocarpa, 1399
Verbenaceae, 1393
Verbesina, 1659
encelioides, 1659
exauriculata, 1659
Verdolaga, 884
-blanca, 875
-de agua, 1181
Vergonzosa, 1042
Vernonia, 1362, 1367,
1592
altissima, 1595
crinita, 1593
Drummondii, 1595
fasciculata, 1593
Lettermannii, 1593
marginata, 1593
missurica, 1595
tenuifolia, 1593
Veronica, 1490
americana, 1493
Anagallis-aquatica, 1493
catenata, 1493
connata
glaberrima, 1493
peregrina, 1491
peregrina, 1491
xalapensis, 1491
serpyllifolia, 1491
Wormskjoldii, 1491
Vervain, 1396
blue-, 1399
Brazilian-, 1397
family, 1393
New Mexican-, 1399
prostrate-, 1400
Rio Grande-, 1400
sandpaper-, 1397
South American-, 1397
white-, 1399
Vesiculina purpurea, 1519
Vetch, 1068
deer-, 1053
joint-, 1065
milk-, 1061
narrow-leaved-, 1968
Viburnum, 5, 1556
cassinoides
nitidum, 1556
nitidum, 1556
nudum, 1556
angustifolium, 1556
rufidulum, 1556
Vicia, 1068
angustifolia, 1068
Vidrillos, 870
Vigna, 1069
luteola, 1069
repens, 1069
unguiculata, 1069
Vine-mesquite, 314
Viola, 1151
eriocarpa, 1152
esculenta, 1152
lanceolata, 5
lanceolata, 1152
vittata, 1152
Langloisii, 1154
1775
-------
missouriensis, 1154
nephrophylla, 1153
arizonica, 1153
nephrophylla, 1153
papilionacea, 1154
primulifolia, 1152
villosa, 1152
pubescens
eriocarpa, 1152
septemloba, 1152, 1153
sororia, 1153
Violaceae, 1151
Violet, 1151
family, 1151
lance-leaved-, 1152
meadow-, 1154
smooth yellow-, 1152
water-, 1277
woolly blue-, 1153
Viorna crispa, 923
Virginia bugle-weed, 1437
Virginia chain fern, 65
Virgin's-bower, 923
Vitaceae, 1108
Vitis, 1109, 1369
aestivalis, 1110
arizonica, 1111
arizonica, 1111
glabra, 1111
cinerea, 1109
canescens, 1110
cinerea, 1110
palmata, 1110
riparia, 1110
Treleasei, 1111
vulpina, 1110, 1111
Wahoo, 1103
Wake-robin, 659
Walnut, 772
Arizona-, 772
family, 769
little-, 773
river-, 773
Wapato, 150
Washingtonia, 556
Water
-ash, 1303
-bentgrass, 228
-birch, 779
-bonnet, 563
-celery, 161
-chickweed, 1085
-chinquapin, 912
-clover, 53
-cress, 971, 974
-crowfoot
white-, 957
yellow-, 953
-dropwort, 1251
-elm, 788
-feather, 1202
-fern, 3, 57
-foxtail, 238
-grass, 326
-hemlock, 1237
-hemp, 862
Nuttall's-, 864
southern-, 864
-hickory, 775
-horehound, 1437, 1440
-hyacinth, 3, 4, 11, 598,
868
-hyssop, 1458
disc-, 1461
-lentil, 571
-lettuce, 3, 4, 563
-lily, 4, 901
blue-, 902
family, 900
white-, 902
yellow-, 902
-locust, 1045
-meal, 3, 573
-milfoil, 1202
family, 1201
-mode, 1607
-nymph, 126, 901
common-, 126
family, 123
holly leaved-, 126
slender, 126
-oak, 787
-parsnip, 1234
-pennywort, 1214
-pigmy-weed, 994
-pimpernel, 1277
-plantain, 3, 135
family, 133
-poppy, 156
-primrose, 4, 1175, 1187
-purslane, 1162
-shield, 3, 909
-smartweed, 820, 826
-speedwell, 1493
-spider orchid, 697
-star grass, 601
-starwort, 1085
family, 1085
-violet, 1277
-wally, 1607
-willow, 11, 1157
American-, 1531
lance-leaved-, 1531
Waterleaf, 1377
family, 1375
Waterpepper, 830
Waterweed, 3, 163
Waterwort, 1142
family, 1142
Wax-myrtle, 5, 767, 769
family, 767
Waxweed, blue-, 1167
Weak manna-grass, 185
Wedge-leaf frog-fruit, 1405
Wedgegrass, 218
Wen-dock, purple-, 909
Western
-dock, 802
-iris, 679
-ladies' tresses, 724
-mayhaw, 1020
-pondweed, 100
-ragweed, 1645
-wheatgrass, 210
Wheatgrass, 208
bearded-, 208
western-, 210
Whisk fern family, 37
White
-alder, 1267
family, 1267
-ash, 1305
-avens, 1033
-camas, 650
-clover, 1052
-fringed orchid, 697
-grass, 274
-sweet clover, 1046
-thistle, 850
-top sedge, 464
-topped umbrella grass,
467
-tridens, 208
-vervain, 1399
-water-crowfoot, 957
-water lily, 3, 902
Whitehead bog-button, 5,
593
Whitlow-grass, 984
Widgeon-grass, 123
Widow's-tears, 595
Wild
-balsam-apple, 1570
-bergamont, 1434
-celery, 1233
-chervil, 1223
-hollyhock, 1114
-hyacinth, 657
-mock-cucumber, 1571
-petunia, 1455
-potato, 1357
-rice, 277, 280
northern-, 277
southern-, 280
Texas-, 277
-rye, 210
beardless-, 212
Canada-, 212
-tobacco, 1453
1776
-------
Willow, 752
arroyo, 764
beaked-, 765
black-, 757
family, 737
fire-, 766
gray sandbar-, 761
-herb, 1190
long-pedicelled-, 760
narrow-leaved prairie-,
766
-oak, 786
peach-leaf-, 759
primrose, 1178
red-, 760
sandbar-, 763
silvery desert-, 761
-smartweed, 823
southwestern black-, 759
stinking-, 1055
water-, 1157
yellow-, 759, 764
yew-leaf, 761
Wind-bags, 573
Winter
-berry, 1098, 1099
-cress, 981
American-, 981
-grape, 1111
Wire rush, 610
Wiregrass, 816
muhly-, 249
Persian-, 814
Wislizenia, 987, 989
refracta, 989
Witch-hazel family, 1011
Witches' shoelaces, 1360
Witchgrass, 323
Withe-rod, 1556
Woe-vine, 962
Wolffia, 3, 4, 573
columbiana, 575
papulifera, 575
punctata, 575
Wolfflella, 564, 575
floridana, 578
gladiata, 578
lingulata, 4, 578
Wolf's trisetum, 220
Wood
-betony, 1499
-nettle, 791
-sage, 1408
Woodreed, 234
stout-, 234
Woodrush, 645
Woodwardia, 65
angustifolia, 67
areolata, 67
virginica, 65
Woolly
-blue violet, 1153
-rose-mallow, 1121
-sedge, 544
Wormseed, 854
Wormwood, 1689
Xanthium, 1365 1586,
1646
cenchroides, 1646
chinense, 1646
italicum, 1646
orientale, 1646
pensylvanicum, 1646
saccharatum, 1646
speciosum, 1646
spinosum, 1646
strumarium, 1646
Xanthocephalum, 1608
gymnospermoides, 1608
Xanthorhiza, 915
simplicissima, 915
Ximenesia
australis, 1660
encelioides, 1660
cana, 1660
exauriculata, 1660
Xylorhiza, 1609
Xyridaceae, 578
Xyris, 580
ambigua, 581
arenicola, 583
Baldwiniana, 581
tenuifolia, 581
caroliniana, 583
difformis, 587
Curtissii, 588
difformis, 588
elata, 588
Elliottii, 581
flexuosa, 583
iridifolia, 585
Jupicai, 587
platylepis, 583
tenuifolia, 581
torta, 583, 585
occidentalis, 585
Yarrow, common-, 1686
Yaupon, 5, 1101
Yeatesia, 1528
viridiflora, 1528
Yellow
-bee-plant, 988
-cow-lily, 906
-cress, 971
-dock, 802, 805
-eyed grass, 580
family, 578
-flag, 679
-floating-heart, 1331
-foxtail, 334
-fringed orchid, 5, 697
-fringeless orchid, 700
-jessamine, 1311
-lotus, 912
-nut-grass, 456
-puff, 1043
-rocket, 981
-star-grass, 5, 660, 667
-sunny-bell, 655
-sweet clover, 1047
-thistle, 1695
-trumpet, 990
-violet, smooth-, 1152
-water crowfoot, 953
-water lily, 3, 902
-willow, 764
-willow tree, 759
-wood, 1301
Yellowroot, 915
Yerba de tago, 1646
Yerba mansa, 737
Yew-leaf willow, 761
Zannichellia, 6, 9, 10, 117
palustris, 117
Zannichelliaceae, 117
Zephyr-lily, 669
Zephyranthes, 669
brazosensis, 669
Candida, 669
chrysantha, 669
Herbertia, 669
pulchella, 669, 671
refugiensis, 671
texana, 671
Zerna Richardsonii, 177
Zexmenia hispidula, 1660
Zigadenus, 650
densus, 653
elegans, 650
glaberrimus, 653
leimanthoides, 653
porrifolius, 653
virescens, 653
Zizania, 277
aquatica, 277
angustifolia, 280
texana, 277
Zizaniopsis, 280
miliacea, 280
Zizia, 1230
aptera, 1230
aurea, 1230
Zosterella
dubia, 604
longituba, 604
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1972
1777
------- |