NYCTAGINACEAE, the Four-o'Clock Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves and flowers in small clusters surrounded by a broad open calyx-like involucre; the true calyx colored like a corolla; petals none (4-8 dm. high; flowers purple, in summer).

1a. Leaves lanceolate or narrower, sessileUmbrella-wort, Oxybaphus hirsutus.
1b. Leaves ovate, petioledUmbrella-wort, Oxybaphus nyctagineus.

ILLECEBRACEAE, the Knotwort Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, and minute flowers without petals. (Prostrate spreading or freely branched plants, 3 dm. high or less; flowers in summer.)

1a. Stipules none; leaves slightly connate at base, subulateKnawel, Scleranthus annuus.
1b. Stipules present, but small; leaves elliptical or oval (Forked Chickweed) [— 2.]
2a. Stems pubescent; internodes seldom more than 1 cm. longForked Chickweed, Anychia polygonoides.
2b. Stems smooth; internodes about 2 cm. longForked Chickweed, Anychia canadensis.

AIZOACEAE, the Carpet-weed Family

Prostrate herbs, with whorled leaves and small whitish axillary flowers without petals, in summer.

One species in MichiganCarpet-weed, Mollugo verticillata.