ORDER 123. OXALIDEAL W ood S orrel T ribe.
Calyx of 5 sepals, equal, often slightly cohering at the base,
with 5 petals hypogynous and equal; stamens 10, monadel-
phous more or less, and the 5 inner or opposite the petals longer
than the others ; 5 filiform styles rising from a 5-angled ovarium,
of 5 cells ; seeds few ; leaves alternate, generally compound,
rarely whorled or opposite.
This order much resembles the preceding, and was taken from
i t ; embraces a considerable number of plants in the hotter and
temperate climes of America, especially, and at the Cape of
Good Hope. The plants are not very important. Many have
sour leaves ; some are astringent; an Oxalis in Columbia bears
tubers like a potato. Only one genus in North America, and
4 species in this State.
Oxalis. L. 15. 5. Wood Sorrel.
O. acetosella. L. Grows in open woods, on hills and mountains,
covers many parts of Saddle Mount, and makes a beautiful
show in the time of flowering. Leaves and flower-stalk grow
from the dentate ro o t; leaves ternate and broad, obcordate, beautiful,
and delicate; flower-stalk roundish, pubescent, 3 — 6 inches
high, bearing one flower, white with reddish veins ; blossoms in
June to July.
Pure oxalic acid is said to exist in this plant. Taken in quantity,
this acid is a deadly poison, but a little, of it is pleasant.
O. violacea. L. Sheep Sorrel, Violet Sorrel. A smaller
plant, stemless like the other, and with similar leaves, but red or
purplish flowers. Blossoms in May, in fields.
0 . stricta. L. Upright or Yellow Sorrel. Stem 4 — 8
inches high, with umhelliferous peduncles of yellow flowers, and
leaves like the other ; grows in sandy fields ; blossoms through
the summer. Both this species and the preceding probably contain
oxalic acid.
O. corniculata. L. Greatly resembles the last, but has a
decumbent stem, bearing umbels of flowers with peduncles shorter
than the petioles of the leaves. In Berkshire County ; this species
has probably been confounded with the preceding.
ORDER 124. TROPiEOLEiE. Nasturtium T ribe.
A small order, whose species are natives of South America.
One is commonly cultivated in our gardens, for use and ornament.
T rop.eolum. L. 8. 1.
T. majus. L. Nasturtium. The calyx and corolla both of
an orange color ; flowers irregular and spurred ; a running vine,
easily trained, and running several feet, bearing fleshy or leathery
sulcate nuts, often pickled. In hot climates it is said to be a
shrub ; in the colder, is a vine; was carried from Peru to Europe
in 1684. Admired for the flowers, leaves, and fruit. It is called
Tropaolwm from the- fancied resemblance of its flower to a
banner of triumph, — a trophy. If a branch of the plant is placed
in a phial of water, it will grow and run for weeks, and sometimes
blossom, and may thus be extended over a room. 11 species of
this genus are found in South America.
ORDER 126. BALSAMINEJE. Balsam T ribe.
This order bears irregular, 1-spurred flowers ; stamens 5,
hypogynous, or under the ovary ; fruit capsular, with 5 elastic
valves, by which the seeds are thrown about when mature. Some
are said to be diuretic, and some emetic. Only 2 species in
North America, and few on the globe.
Impatiens. L. 5. 1.
/. pallida. N. Touch-me-not, or Jewel Weed. Stem 2
feet high, branched, smooth, succulent, with rhombic-ovate leaves ;
spur recurved, on the shorter petal; flowers pale-yellow, 3 — 4
on a solitary peduncle ; blossoms in August; grows in wet grounds
and damp waste places ; its capsule bursts with great elasticity,
when ripe and dry, and the plant is hence often called Snapper,
and, from its pendant flower, Jewel Weed.