Part 25
_Herbs, with 4-merous (sometimes 2--3- or 5--6-merous) perfect and symmetrical flowers; the tube of the calyx cohering with the 2--4-celled ovary, its lobes valvate in the bud, or obsolete, the petals convolute in the bud, sometimes wanting; and the stamens as many or twice as many as the petals or calyx-lobes_, inserted on the summit of the calyx-tube. Style single, slender; stigma 2--4-lobed or capitate. Pollen grains often connected by cobwebby threads. Seeds anatropous, small, without albumen.--Mostly herbs, with opposite or alternate leaves. Stipules none or glandular.
[*] Parts of the flower in fours or more.
[+] Fruit a many-seeded pod, usually loculicidal.
[++] Calyx-limb divided to the summit of the ovary, persistent.
1. Jussiaea. Petals 4--6. Stamens twice as many. Capsule elongated.
2. Ludwigia. Petals 4 or none. Stamens 4. Capsule short.
[++][++] Calyx-tube prolonged beyond the ovary (scarcely so in n. 3) and deciduous from it. Flowers 4-merous.
3. Epilobium. Seeds silky-tufted. Flowers small, not yellow. Lower leaves often opposite.
4. OEnothera. Seeds naked. Flowers mostly yellow. Leaves alternate.
[+][+] Fruit dry and indehiscent, 1--4-seeded. Leaves alternate.
5. Gaura. Calyx-tube obconical. Filaments appendaged at base.
6. Stenosiphon. Calyx-tube filiform. Filaments not appendaged.
[*][*] Parts of the flower in twos. Leaves opposite.
7. Circaea. Petals 2, obcordate or 2-lobed. Stamens 2. Fruit 1--2-seeded, bristly.
1. JUSSIAEA, L.
Calyx-tube elongated, not at all prolonged beyond the ovary; the lobes 4--6, herbaceous and persistent. Petals 4--9. Stamens twice as many as the petals. Capsule 4--6-celled, usually long, opening between the ribs. Seeds very numerous.--Herbs (ours glabrous perennials), with mostly entire and alternate leaves, and axillary yellow flowers, in summer. (Dedicated to _Bernard de Jussieu_, the founder of the Natural System of Botany.)
1. J. decurrens, DC. _Stem erect_ (1--2 deg. high), branching, _winged_ by the decurrent lanceolate leaves; _calyx-lobes 4_, as long as the petals; _capsule oblong-club-shaped, wing-angled_; seeds in several rows in each cell.--Wet places, Va. to Fla., west to S. Ill., Ark., and La.
2. J. repens, L. _Stem creeping, or floating and rooting_; leaves oblong, _tapering into a slender petiole_; flowers large, long-peduncled; _calyx-lobes and obovate petals 5_; pod woody, cylindrical, with a tapering base; seeds quadrate, in 1 row in each cell, adherent to the spongy endocarp.--In water, Ill. and Ky. to E. Kan., Ark., and Tex.
2. LUDWIGIA, L. FALSE LOOSESTRIFE.
Calyx-tube not at all prolonged beyond the ovary; the lobes 4, usually persistent. Petals 4, often small or wanting. Stamens 4. Capsule short or cylindrical, many-seeded. Seeds minute, naked.--Perennial herbs, with axillary (rarely capitate) flowers, through summer and autumn. (Named for _C. G. Ludwig_, Professor of Botany at Leipsic, contemporary with Linnaeus.)
[*] _Leaves all alternate, sessile or nearly so._
[+] _Flowers peduncled in the upper axils, with conspicuous yellow petals (4--8'' long), equalling the ovate or lanceolate foliaceous lobes of the calyx._
1. L. alternifolia, L. (SEED-BOX.) _Smooth_ or nearly so, branched (3 deg. high); _leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute or pointed at both ends_; capsules cubical, rounded at base, wing-angled.--Swamps, E. Mass. to Fla., west to Mich., E. Kan., and La.
2. L. hirtella, Raf. _Hairy_ all over; stems nearly simple (1--2 deg. high); _leaves oblong, or the upper lanceolate, blunt at both ends_; capsules nearly as in the last, but scarcely wing-angled.--Moist pine barrens, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.
[+][+] _Flowers small, sessile (solitary or sometimes clustered) in the axils, with very small greenish petals (in n. 5) or mostly none; leaves mostly lanceolate or linear on the erect stems (1--3 deg. high) and numerous branches; but prostrate or creeping sterile shoots often produced from the base, thickly beset with shorter obovate or spatulate leaves. (Our species glabrous, except n. 3.)_
3. L. sphaerocarpa, Ell. Minutely pubescent, especially the calyx, or nearly glabrous; leaves lanceolate or linear, acute, tapering at base, those of runners obovate with a wedge-shaped base and glandular-denticulate; _bractlets minute, obsolete, or none; capsules globular or depressed_ (sometimes acute at base), not longer than the calyx-lobes (less than 2'' long).--Water or wet swamps, E. Mass. to Fla. and La. Bark below often spongy-thickened.
4. L. polycarpa, Short & Peter. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, acute at both ends, those of the runners oblong-spatulate, acute, entire; _bractlets linear-awl-shaped and conspicuous on the base of the 4-sided somewhat top-shaped capsule_, which is longer than the calyx-lobes.--Wet places, E. Mass. and Conn. to Mich., Minn., E. Kan., and Ky.
5. L. linearis, Walt. Slender, mostly low; leaves narrowly linear, those of the short runners obovate; minute petals usually present; _bractlets minute at the base of the elongated top-shaped 4-sided capsule_, which is 3'' long and much longer than the calyx-lobes.--Bogs, pine barrens of N. J., and southward.
6. L. cylindrica, Ell. Much branched; leaves oblong- or spatulate-lanceolate, much tapering at the base or even petioled; _bractlets very minute at the base of the cylindrical capsule_, which is 3'' long, and several times exceeds the calyx-lobes.--Swamps, S. Ill. to Fla. and Tex.
[*][*] _Leaves all opposite; stems creeping or floating._
7. L. palustris, Ell. (WATER PURSLANE.) Smooth; leaves ovate or oval, tapering into a slender petiole; petals none, or small and reddish when the plant grows out of water; calyx-lobes very short; capsules oblong, 4-sided, not tapering at base, sessile in the axils (2'' long).--Ditches, common. (Eu.)
8. L. arcuata, Walt. Smooth, small and creeping; leaves oblanceolate, nearly sessile; flowers solitary, long-peduncled; petals yellow, exceeding the calyx (3'' long); capsules oblong-club-shaped, somewhat curved ({1/3}' long).--Swamps, Va. to Fla.
3. EPILOBIUM, L. WILLOW-HERB.
Calyx-tube not or scarcely prolonged beyond the ovary; the limb 4-cleft or -parted, deciduous. Petals 4. Stamens 8; anthers short. Capsule linear, many-seeded. Seeds with a tuft of long hairs at the end.--Mostly perennials, with nearly sessile leaves, and violet, purple, or white flowers; in summer. A large genus, many of its species of difficult limitation. The following provisional arrangement has been made by Prof. W. TRELEASE, mainly in accordance with Haussknecht's revision of the genus. (Name composed of [Greek: e)pi/], _upon_, and [Greek: lo/bion], _a little pod_.)
Sec. 1. _Flowers large, purple, in a long raceme; calyx-limb deeply parted; petals entire; stamens and style successively deflexed; stigma of 4 long lobes._
1. E. angustifolium, L. (GREAT WILLOW-HERB. FIRE-WEED.) Stem simple, tall (4--7 deg.); leaves scattered, ample, lanceolate, nearly entire.--Low grounds, especially in newly cleared lands; N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn. and E. Kan., and far north and westward. (Eu., Asia.)
Sec. 2. _Flowers mostly small and corymbed or panicled; calyx-limb 5-cleft; petals mostly deeply notched; stamens and style erect._
[*] _Stigma 4-parted; stem terete._
E. HIRSURUM, L. Densely soft-hairy, stout, branching (3--5 deg. high); leaves mostly opposite, lance-oblong, serrulate, sessile; flowers in the upper axils or in a leafy short raceme; petals 6'' long, rose-purple.--Waste grounds, Mass. to N. Y. and Ont. (Nat. from Eu.)
[*][*] _Stigma clavate; stem terete, without decurrent lines (or with traces in n. 2); leaves numerous, the lower opposite, subentire, with revolute margins._
2. E. lineare, Muhl. Usually much branched above and minutely hoary-pubescent, 1--2 deg. high; leaves linear-lanceolate, tapering to a short but distinct petiole, acutish; flowers numerous, pale; capsules hoary, on pedicels as long as the leaves. (E. palustre, var. lineare, _Gray_, mainly.)--Bogs, N. Eng. to Penn., Iowa, and northward.
3. E. strictum, Muhl. Erect, 1--21/2 deg. high, densely beset with soft spreading somewhat glandular white hairs; leaves broader, more obtuse and with evident veins, very short-petioled or sessile; pubescence of the capsule soft and spreading. (E. molle, _Torr._)--Bogs, Mass. to Minn., south to Va. and Ill.
[*][*][*] _Stigma clavate; stem somewhat quadrangular with 2--4 ridges or hairy lines decurrent from some of the leaves._
[+] _Tall and mostly branching, many-flowered; leaves rather large, toothed, not revolute, the lower opposite; seeds papillose._
4. E. coloratum, Muhl. Somewhat hoary-pubescent above or glandular, 1--3 deg. high; leaves lanceolate, sharply serrulate or denticulate, acute, narrowed to conspicuous petioles; flowers pale, more or less nodding; peduncles shorter than the leaves; seeds dark, unappendaged; coma cinnamon-color.--Wet places, common.
5. E. adenocaulon, Haussk. Differs in its more glandular pubescence above, the often blunter and less toothed leaves abruptly contracted to shorter petioles, flowers erect, paler seeds with a slight prolongation at top, and a merely dingy coma.--Wet places through the Northern States.
6. E. glandulosum, Lehm. Subsimple; pubescence above not glandular; leaves ovate-lanceolate, mostly abruptly rounded to a sessile base and more glandular-toothed; seeds larger.--Canada to the mountains of N. C. (_fide_ Haussknecht). (Asia.)
[+][+] _Mostly low, slender and simple (except forms of n. 10); leaves chiefly opposite, less toothed; flowers few, nodding; seeds appendaged at the apex._
[++] _Seeds areolate but not papillose; leaves not revolute._
7. E. anagallidifolium, Lam. Glabrate, a span high or less; leaves erect or ascending, about equalling the internodes, elliptical-oblong to narrowly obovate, entire or the upper denticulate, tapering to short petioles; flowers purple; sepals rather obtuse; capsules glabrous on peduncles exceeding the leaves.--White Mts. and Adirondacks (_fide_ Haussknecht). (Eu.)
8. E. lactiflorum, Haussk. Glabrous except the pubescent lines, 6--12' high, with elongated internodes; leaves elliptical or the lowest round-obovate, slightly repand-denticulate, obtuse, tapering into mostly elongated petioles; flowers smaller, white; sepals more acute; seeds more prominently appendaged.--White Mts., and northward (_fide_ Haussknecht). (Eu.)
[++][++] _Seeds papillose-roughened._
9. E. Hornemanni, Reichenb. Glabrate, 8--18' high; leaves mostly horizontal, ovate, the upper acutish, remotely denticulate, abruptly contracted to winged petioles, not revolute; seeds often only slightly roughened, short and shortly appendaged. (E. alpinum, _Man._)--White Mts., dells of the Wisconsin River (_Lapham_), and northward. (Eu.)
10. E. palustre, L. Slender, 1 deg. high or less, often branched, finely pubescent; leaves erect or ascending, about equalling or longer than the internodes, sessile, linear to linear-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, obtuse, with revolute margins; capsules pubescent to nearly glabrous, mostly shorter than the slender peduncles; seeds fusiform, with long beak. (E. palustre, var. lineare, _Man._, in part.)--Penn. to Minn. and the White Mts., north and westward. (Eu.)
4. OENOTHERA, L. EVENING PRIMROSE.
Calyx-tube prolonged beyond the ovary, deciduous; the lobes 4, reflexed. Petals 4. Stamens 8; anthers mostly linear and versatile. Capsule 4-valved, many-seeded. Seeds naked.--Leaves alternate. Flowers yellow, white or rose-color. (An old name, of unknown meaning, for a species of Epilobium.)
Sec. 1. _Stigma-lobes linear, elongated (except in n. 7); calyx-tube linear, slightly dilated at the throat; anthers linear._
[*] _Caulescent annuals or biennials; flowers erect in the bud, nocturnal, yellow, the calyx-tips free; capsules sessile, coriaceous; seeds in two rows in each cell._
[+] _Flowers in a leafy spike; capsules stout, oblong, slightly narrowed above._
1. OE. biennis, L. (COMMON EVENING PRIMROSE.) Rather stout, erect (1--5 deg. high), usually simple, more or less pubescent and hairy; leaves lanceolate to oblong- or rarely ovate-lanceolate (2--6' long), acute or acuminate, repandly denticulate, the lowest petioled; calyx-tube 1--21/2' long, the tips of the sepals contiguous; petals 1/2--3/4' long; capsule more or less pubescent or hirsute.--Throughout the U. S.--Var. CRUCIATA, Torr. & Gray, with small narrow petals, appears to be merely a rare garden (?) sport. E. Mass.
Var. grandiflora, Lindl., has petals as long as the calyx-tube (1--21/2' long).--Same range as the type, but not so common east.
2. OE. Oakesiana, Robbins. Annual, more slender, not hairy, the puberulence mainly appressed; calyx-tips not contiguous at base; otherwise nearly as in the typical form of the last. (OE. biennis, var. Oakesiana, _Gray._)--Dry places, E. Mass., R. I., and Conn.
[+][+] _Flowers in a leafy spike or axillary; capsules linear._
3. OE. rhombipetala, Nutt. Rarely branching, appressed-puberulent and subcanescent; leaves narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, denticulate, the lowest attenuate to a petiole and rarely pinnatifid, diminishing upward into the close, elongated, conspicuously bracted spike; calyx silky-canescent (tube 11/2' long); petals rhombic-ovate (6--10' long).--Ind. to Minn. and Ark.
4. OE. humifusa, Nutt. Stems decumbent or ascending (1/2--2 deg. long); _hoary-pubescent with short dense appressed hairs; leaves_ narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate (1/4--1' long), _sparingly repand-dentate or entire_, the radical leaves pinnatifid, the floral not reduced; capsule 1/2--1' long, silky, curved; seeds smooth.--On the sea-coast, N. J. to Fla.
5. OE. sinuata, L. Stems ascending or decumbent, simple or branched (1 deg. high or more), _more or less strigose-pubescent_ and puberulent; _leaves_ oblong or lanceolate (1--2' long), _sinuately toothed or often pinnatifid_, the floral similar; capsule 1--11/2' long; _seeds strongly pitted_.--N. J. to Fla., west to E. Kan. and Tex. Very variable.
[*][*] _Caulescent perennial; flowers axillary, nodding in the bud, white turning rose-color; capsules sessile, linear; seeds in a single row._
6. OE. albicaulis, Nutt. Stems erect (1/2--4 deg. high), simple or branched, white and often shreddy, glabrous or puberulent; leaves linear to oblong-lanceolate (1--3' long), entire or repand-denticulate, or sinuate-pinnatifid toward the base; calyx-tips free, throat naked; pods 1/2--2' long, often curved or twisted; seeds lance-linear, smooth.--W. Minn. to N. Mex., and westward.
[*][*][*] _Caulescent; flowers diurnal, yellow and erect in the bud (except in n. 11); capsules obovate or clavate, quadrangular, the valves ribbed and the angles more or less strongly winged (except in n. 7)._
7. OE. linifolia, Nutt. Annual or biennial, erect, very slender, simple or diffuse (6--15' high), glabrous, the branchlets and capsules puberulent; radical leaves oblanceolate, _cauline linear-filiform_ 1/2--1' long; spikes loosely flowered; corolla 2--3'' long; _stigmas short; capsules_ obovate to oblong-clavate, 2--3'' long, _not winged_, nearly sessile.--Ill. to E. Kan., La., and Tex.
8. OE. pumila, L. Biennial, puberulent, 1--2 deg. high; _leaves_ mostly glabrous, _entire_, obtuse, the radical spatulate, the _cauline narrowly oblanceolate_; _flowers loosely spiked_; corolla 4--12'' long; _capsule glabrous_, oblong-clavate, 3--6'' long, sessile or on a short pedicel, _slightly winged_. (Incl. OE. chrysantha, _Michx._)--Dry fields, N. Scotia to N. J., west to Minn. and Kan. June.
9. OE. fruticosa, L. (SUNDROPS.) Biennial or perennial, erect, often tall and stout (1--3 deg. high), villous-pubescent or puberulent or nearly glabrous; leaves oblong- to linear-lanceolate, _mostly denticulate; raceme corymbed or loose_; petals 9--12'' long; _capsule subsessile or with a pedicel shorter than itself_, prominently ribbed and _strongly winged_.--Common and very variable.
Var. linearis, Watson. Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate; capsule usually shorter than the pedicel, rather less broadly winged. (OE. linearis of _Man._, in part. OE. riparia, _Nutt._)--Conn. to Fla., west to Mo. and La.
Var. humifusa, Allen. Low, decumbent, somewhat woody, diffusely branched, puberulent; branches slender, flexuous; leaves narrow; flowers few, small; capsules pubescent, about equalling the pedicel. (OE. linearis of _Man._, in part.)--Suffolk Co., L. Island.
10. OE. glauca, Michx. Perennial, erect (2--3 deg. high), _glabrous and glaucous; leaves ovate to ovate-oblong_ (2--4' long), repand-denticulate; _flowers in short leafy corymbs; petals 9--15'' long; capsule_ glabrous, ovoid-oblong, _very broadly winged_, usually abruptly contracted into a pedicel equalling or shorter than itself.--Mountains of Va. to Ala., west to Ky. and E. Kan.
11. OE. speciosa, Nutt. Perennial, erect or subdecumbent, finely pubescent; leaves oblong-lanceolate to linear, repand-denticulate, or more or less deeply sinuate-pinnatifid; _flowers large, white or rose_; capsule clavate-obovate, strongly 8-ribbed, rigid, acute, stoutly pedicelled.--Mo. to Kan. and Tex.
[*][*][*][*] _Capsule oblong to ovate or orbicular, broadly winged, rigid and sessile._
[+] _Acaulescent or nearly so; flowers white or rose-color._
12. OE. triloba, Nutt. Biennial or perennial, nearly glabrous; leaves 2--10' long, somewhat ciliate, long-petioled, runcinate-pinnatifid or oblanceolate and only sinuate-toothed; calyx-tips free, the tube slender (2--4' long); petals 6--12'' long; capsule ovate, 1/2--1' long, strongly winged, net-veined.--Ky. to Miss. and Tex., west to the Pacific.
Var. (?) parviflora, Watson. Flowers very small (1--2' long), fertilized in the bud and rarely fully opening; fruit abundant, forming at length a densely crowded hemispherical or cylindrical mass nearly 2' in diameter and often 2--3' high.--Plains of Kan. and Neb.
[+][+] _Low caulescent perennials; flowers axillary, yellow._
13. OE. Missouriensis, Sims. Stems decumbent; pubescence short and silky, closely appressed, sometimes dense or wholly wanting; leaves thick, oval to linear, mostly narrowly lanceolate (2--5' long), acuminate, entire or repand-denticulate; calyx-tube 2--5' long; petals broad, 1--21/2' long; capsules orbicular, very broadly winged (1--3' long).--Mo. and Kan. to Tex.
14. OE. Fremontii, Watson. Hoary with appressed silky pubescence; leaves linear, pointed, entire; calyx-tube 1--2' long; petals 1/2--1' long; capsule hoary, oblong, narrowed at base, 9'' long.--Central Kan.
Sec. 2. _Stigma discoid; calyx-tube more broadly dilated above; anthers oblong-linear; capsule mostly sessile, linear-cylindric; perennial, somewhat woody, with axillary yellow flowers._
15. OE. Hartwegi, Benth., var. lavandulaefolia, Watson. Stems numerous from a woody base, 3--6' high; _leaves numerous, hoary-puberulent_, mostly linear, 1/4--1' long; _calyx-tube 1--2' long_; capsule 8--10'' long.--Central Kan. to Col. and N. Mex.
16. OE. serrulata, Nutt. Slender (3--15' high), simple or branched, canescent or glabrous; leaves linear to lanceolate (1--3' long), _irregularly and sharply denticulate; calyx-tube broadly funnnelform (2--4' long)_, strongly nerved; petals broadly obovate (3--4'' long), crenulate; capsule 9--15'' long.--Wisc. and Minn. to Mo., Tex., and N. Mex.
5. GAURA, L.
Calyx-tube much prolonged beyond the ovary, deciduous; the lobes 4 (rarely 3), reflexed. Petals clawed, unequal or turned to the upper side. Stamens mostly 8, often turned down, as is also the long style. A small scale-like appendage before the base of each filament. Stigma 4-lobed, surrounded by a ring or cup-like border. Fruit hard and nut-like, 3--4-ribbed or angled, indehiscent or nearly so, usually becoming 1-celled and 1--4-seeded. Seeds naked.--Leaves alternate, sessile. Flowers rose-color or white, changing to reddish in fading, in spikes or racemes, in our species quite small (so that the name, from [Greek: gau~ros], _superb_, does not seem appropriate).
[*] _Fruit sessile or nearly so._
1. G. biennis, L. _Soft-hairy or downy_ (3--8 deg. high); _leaves oblong-lanceolate_, denticulate; _spikes wand-like; fruit oval or oblong_, acute at both ends; 2--3'' long, ribbed, downy.--Dry banks, N. Y. to Minn., and southward. Aug.
2. G. parviflora, Dougl. Soft-villous and puberulent, 2--5 deg. high; _leaves ovate-lanceolate_, repand-denticulate, _soft-pubescent; spikes dense; fruit oblong-clavate_, narrowed to both ends, _4-nerved_, obtusely angled above, 3--4'' long.--Mo. to La. and westward.
3. G. coccinea, Nutt. _Canescent, puberulent or glabrate_ (6--12' high), very leafy; _leaves lanceolate, linear-oblong or linear_, repand-denticulate or entire; flowers in simple spikes, rose-color turning to scarlet; _fruit terete below, 4-sided and broader above_, 2--3'' long.--Minn. to Kan., and westward.
[*][*] _Fruit slender-pedicelled._
4. G. filipes, Spach. Nearly smooth; stem slender (2--4 deg. high); leaves linear, mostly toothed, tapering at base; branches of the panicle very slender, naked; fruit obovate-club-shaped, 4-angled at the summit.--Open places, Va. to Fla., west to Ill., Kan., and Ark.
6. STENOSIPHON, Spach.
Calyx prolonged beyond the ovary into a filiform tube. Filaments (8) not appendaged at base. Fruit 1-celled, 1-seeded. Otherwise as Gaura, which it also resembles in habit. (From [Greek: steno/s], _narrow_, and [Greek: si/phon], _a tube_.)
1. S. virgatus, Spach. Slender, 2--4 deg. high, glabrous, leafy, leaves narrowly lanceolate to linear, pointed, entire, much reduced above; flowers numerous in an elongated spike, white, 1/2' long; fruit pubescent, oblong-ovate, 8-ribbed, small.--E. Kan. to Col. and Tex.
7. CIRCAEA, Tourn. ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE.
Calyx-tube slightly prolonged, the end filled by a cup-shaped disk, deciduous; lobes 2, reflexed. Petals 2, inversely heart-shaped. Stamens 2. Fruit indehiscent, small and bur-like, bristly with hooked hairs, 1--2-celled; cells 1-seeded.--Low and inconspicuous perennials, in cool or damp woods, with opposite thin leaves on slender petioles, and small whitish flowers in racemes, produced in summer. (Named from _Circe_, the enchantress.)
1. C. Lutetiana, L. Taller (1--2 deg. high); _leaves ovate_, slightly toothed; _bracts none_; hairs of the _roundish 2-celled fruit bristly_.--Very common. (Eu.)
2. C. alpina, L. _Low_ (3--8' high), _smooth and weak; leaves heart-shaped, thin, shining, coarsely toothed; bracts minute_; hairs of the obovate-oblong _1-celled fruit_ soft and slender.--Deep woods, N. Eng. to Ga., Ind., and Minn. (Eu.)
ORDER 43. LOASACEAE. (LOASA FAMILY.)
_Herbs, with a rough or stinging pubescence, no stipules, the calyx-tube adherent to a 1-celled ovary with 2 or 3 parietal placentae_;--represented here only by the genus
1. MENTZELIA, Plumier.
Calyx-tube cylindrical or club-shaped; the limb 5-parted, persistent. Petals 5 or 10, regular, spreading, flat, convolute in the bud, deciduous. Stamens indefinite, rarely few, inserted with the petals on the throat of the calyx. Styles 3, more or less united into one; stigmas terminal, minute. Capsule at length dry and opening by valves or irregularly at the summit, few--many-seeded. Seeds flat, anatropous, with little albumen.--Stems erect. Leaves alternate, very adhesive by the barbed pubescence. Flowers terminal, solitary or cymose-clustered. (Dedicated to _C. Mentzel_, an early German botanist.)
[*] _Seeds few, oblong, not winged; petals 5, not large; filaments all filiform._
1. M. oligosperma, Nutt. Rough and adhesive (1--3 deg. high), much branched, the brittle branches spreading; leaves ovate and oblong, cut-toothed or angled, often petioled; flowers yellow (7--10'' broad), opening in sunshine; petals wedge-oblong, pointed; stamens 20 or more; capsule small, about 9-seeded.--Prairies and plains, Ill. to Kan. and Col., south to Tex.