Stipule. Small often leaflike formations, confined to the base of the leaf.

Capsule. A dry seed-vessel, composed of more than one part and splitting open.

Akene. A small dry one-seeded fruit, not splitting open.

A KEY TO THE FAMILIES.

PAGE
A.Parts of the flower nearly always in threes; leaves almost always parallel-veined.
a.Ovary superior.
b.Leaves often arrow-shaped; pistils many, in a head. Alismaceae[2]
b.Leaves not arrow-shaped; pistil one. Liliaceae[4]
a.Ovary inferior.
b.Flowers regular; stamens three. Iridaceae[66]
b.Flowers irregular; stamens one or two. Orchidaceae[72]
A.Parts of the flower mostly in fours or fives; leaves mostly netted-veined.
B.Corolla absent; calyx mostly present, sometimes showy.
a.Ovary superior.
b.Pistils several to many, distinct. Ranunculaceae[126]
b.Pistil one, one to several-celled.
c.Flowers in long spikes with a white involucre at base. Saururaceae[80]
c.Flowers not in long spikes.
d.Stipules if present sheathing the stem; sepals three to six. Polygonaceae[86]
d.Stipules absent; sepals mostly five. Chenopodiaceae[96]
a.Ovary inferior or appearing so by the closely fitting calyx.
b.Ovary six-celled; stamens six to twelve. Aristolochiaceae[84]
b.Ovary one-celled; stamens three to five.
c.Leaves opposite; flowers often showy. Nyctaginaceae[100]
c.Leaves alternate; flowers not showy. Santalaceae[82]
B.Both corolla and calyx present.
C.Corolla of separate petals.
D.Ovary superior.
a.Stamens more than ten in number.
b.Pistils several to many, separate or united below.
c.Pistils separate and distinct.
d.Pistils enclosed in a hollow receptacle.
e.Leaves opposite; petals numerous. Calycanthaceae[158]
e.Leaves alternate; petals mostly five. Rosaceae[218]
d.Pistils not enclosed in a receptacle.
e.Stamens attached to the calyx. Rosaceae[218]
e.Stamens not attached to the calyx. Ranunculaceae[126]
c.Pistils united below into a lobed or beaked ovary.
d.Water plants with floating leaves. Nymphaceae[156]
d.Terrestrial or land plants.
e.Pistils forming a ring; filaments united. Malvaceae[284]
e.Pistils not forming a ring.
f.Pistils inserted on a convex receptacle; stamens attached to the calyx. Rosaceae[218]
f.Receptacle not convex; stamens not attached to the calyx. Papaveraceae[160]
b.Pistil one, the styles and stigmas often several.
c.Ovary one-celled.
d.Style and stigma one.
e.Fruit a drupe (stone-fruit.) Drupaceae[216]
e.Fruit an akene tipped with a tail. Rosaceae[218]
d.Styles or stigmas more than one.
e.Sepals falling as the flowers expand.
f.Sepals two or three; fruit a capsule. Papaveraceae[160]
f.Sepals four or six; fruit a berry. Ranunculaceae[126]
e.Sepals persistent; low shrubs. Cistaceae[304]
c.Ovary more than one-celled.
d.Water plants with floating leaves. Nymphaceae[156]
d.Plants not growing in water.
e.Leaves with smooth margins and with transparent dots. Hypericaceae[292]
e.Leaves neither smooth-edged, nor with transparent dots. Malvaceae[284]
a.Stamens ten or fewer in number.
b.Stamens of the same number as the petals and opposite them.
c.Ovary more than one-celled; calyx four- to five-cleft. Rhamnaceae[282]
c.Ovary one-celled.
d.Anthers opening by uplifted valves. Berberidaceae[152]
d.Anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Portulacaceae[120]
b.Stamens not of the same number as the petals, or if of the same number, alternate with them.
c.Ovaries two or more, separate or partly united.
d.Stamens united with each other and with the large thick stigma. Asclepiadaceae[374]
d.Stamens free from each other and from the pistils.
e.Stamens inserted on the receptacle.
f.Leaves and stems fleshy. Crassulaceae[192]
f.Leaves and stems not noticeably fleshy.
g.Lobes of ovary two to five, with a common style.
h.Ovary two- to three-lobed. Limnanthaceae[278]
h.Ovary five-lobed. Geraniaceae[274]
g.Ovaries with separate styles. Ranunculaceae[126]
e.Stamens inserted on the calyx.
f.Stamens twice as many as the pistils. Crassulaceae[192]
f.Stamens not twice as many as the pistils.
g.Stipules present. Rosaceae[218]
g.g. Stipules absent. Saxifragaceae[196]
c.Ovary one, the styles and stigmas one to several.
d.Ovary with one cell and one placenta.
e.Corolla forming standard, wings and keel; filaments mostly united. Fabaceae[242]
e.Corolla not of standard, wings and keel; filaments mostly not united.
f.Stamens ten or five; fruit smooth, slender. Cassiaceae[264]
f.Stamens three or four; fruit spiny, globose. Krameriaceae[268]
d.Ovary with one or more cells and styles, and two or more placentae and stigmas.
e.Ovary one-celled.
f.Corolla irregular; petals and sepals five. Violaceae[296]
f.Corolla regular or nearly so.
g.Ovules attached at the center or bottom of the ovary. Caryophyllaceae[112]
g.Ovules attached on two placentae.
h.Stamens equal; pod on a stalk. Capparidaceae[186]
h.Stamens unequal; pod without a stalk. Cruciferae[174]
e.Ovary more than one-celled.
f.Ovary three-celled; trees with palmate leaves. Hippocastanaceae[280]
f.Ovary more than three-celled.
g.Cells of ovary as many as the sepals.
h.Anthers opening by terminal pores; dwarf evergreen shrubby plants. Pyrolaceae[354]
h.Anthers opening by longitudinal slits.
i.Ovules and seeds one or two in each cell.
i.Herbs with lobed or cut leaves. Geraniaceae[274]
i.Evergreen shrubs with varnished leaves. Zygophyllaceae[268]
i.Ovules and seeds several in each cell; leaflets three. Oxalidaceae[272]
g.Cells of ovary twice as many as the sepals. Linaceae[270]
D.Ovary inferior or more or less so.
a.Stamens more than ten in number.
b.Plant spiny; leaves absent or soon deciduous. Cactaceae[304]
b.Plant not spiny; leaves persisting for the season.
c.Leaves three-sided, fleshy. Aizoaceae[108]
c.Leaves neither three-sided nor fleshy.
d.Herbs; leaves rough-hairy. Loasaceae[300]
d.Shrubs or trees.
e.Leaves opposite; stipules none. Hydrangeaceae[206]
e.Leaves alternate; stipules present. Pomaceae[214]
a.Stamens ten or fewer in number.
b.Ovules and seeds more than one in each cell.
c.Ovary one-celled; fruit a berry. Grossulariaceae[210]
c.Ovary with two or more cells.
d.Stamens four or eight.
e.Shrubs; filaments two-forked at the apex. Hydrangeaceae[206]
e.Herbs; filaments not two-forked at the apex. Onagraceae[312]
d.Stamens five or ten; styles two or three. Saxifragaceae[196]
b.Ovules and seeds only one in each cell.
c.Stamens mostly ten; ovary partly inferior. Hydrangeaceae[206]
c.Stamens less than ten; ovary wholly inferior.
d.Stamens five; fruit dry. Umbelliferae[332]
d.Stamens four; fruit fleshy. Cornaceae[338]
C.Corolla with petals more or less united.
E.Ovary superior.
a.Stamens more than five in number.
b.Ovary one-celled.
c.Placenta one.
d.Corolla very irregular; stamens not protruding from the corolla. Fabaceae[242]
d.Corolla nearly regular; stamens Mimosaceae[266]
c.Placentae two; corolla irregular. Fumariaceae[168]
b.Ovary two to several-celled.
c.Ovary two-celled; corolla irregular. Polygalaceae[278]
c.Ovary three or more-celled; corolla regular or nearly so.
d.Stamens not attached to the corolla.
e.Style one; leaves simple. Ericaceae[340]
e.Styles more than one.
f.Styles three; erect spiny shrub. Fouquieriaceae[294]
f.Styles five; low herbs. Oxalidaceae[272]
d.Stamens attached to the corolla, plants without green foliage. Monotropaceae[356]
a.Stamens five or fewer in number.
b.Corolla regular.
c.Stamens free from the corolla. Ericaceae[340]
c.Stamens attached to the corolla.
d.Pistil one.
e.Stamens of the same number as the corolla lobes and opposite them. Primulaceae[362]
e.Stamens alternate with the corolla lobes or fewer.
f.Ovary one- or two-celled.
g.Styles two or occasionally one.
h.Capsule usually many-seeded; sepals united. Hydrophyllaceae[402]
h.Capsule few-seeded; sepals separate. Convolvulaceae[380]
g.Styles one or none.
h.leaves opposite.
i.Trees with pinnate leaves. Oleaceae[366]
i.Herbs with simple smooth-edged leaves. Gentianaceae[368]
h.Leaves alternate.
i.Ovary one-celled; leaves with three leaflets. Menyanthaceae[380]
i.Ovary two-celled; leaves various. Solanaceae[458]
f.Ovary three- or four-celled.
g.Style one; ovary three-celled. Polemoniaceae[384]
g.Styles two; ovary four-celled. Boraginaceae[422]
d.Pistils two.
e.Stamens and stigmas united; flowers with hood-like appendages. Asclepiadaceae[374]
e.Stamens and stigmas not united; flowers without hood-like appendages. Apocynaceae[378]
b.Corolla more or less irregular.
c.Fruit a many-seeded capsule.
d.Ovary two-celled. Scrophulariaceae[466]
d.Ovary one-celled; plants without green foliage. Orobanchaceae[504]
c.Fruit of two or four seed-like nutlets.
d.Ovary four-lobed; plants mostly aromatic. Labiatae[434]
d.Ovary not lobed; plants rarely aromatic. Verbenaceae[434]
E.Ovary inferior.
a.Stamens eight or ten; evergreen shrubs. Ericaceae[340]
a.Stamens five or fewer in number.
b.Plants tendril-bearing. Cucurbitaceae[518]
b.Plants not tendril-bearing.
c.Stamens free, not united.
d.Leaves alternate; stamens free from the corolla. Campanulaceae[520]
d.Leaves opposite or whorled; stamens inserted on the corolla.
e.Stamens one to three. Valerianaceae[508]
e.Stamens four to five.
f.Leaves opposite, never in whorls nor with stipules. Caprifoliaceae[512]
f.Leaves opposite and with stipules, or in whorls and without stipules. Rubiaceae[506]
c.Stamens united by their anthers.
d.Corollas all strap-shaped and perfect; juice milky. Cichoriaceae[570]
d.Marginal corollas strap-shaped, never perfect; disk corollas perfect; juice not milky. Compositae[522]

FIELD BOOK
OF
WESTERN WILD FLOWERS

WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. Alismaceae.

A rather small family, widely distributed, growing in fresh-water swamps and streams. The leaves are all from the root, with long sheathing leaf-stalks, and the flowers are regular and perfect, or with only pistils or only stamens; the sepals three; the petals three; the stamens six or more; the ovaries numerous, superior, developing into dry, one-seeded nutlets.