Part 1
Transcriber’s Notes:
Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. The scale factor for the illustrations has been included in file, however this will be meaningless in an ebook since we have no control over how big the displayed image will be.
[Illustration: Mimulus Lewisii Pursh. (⅔ Nat.) Red Monkey-Flower.]
Alpine Flora of the Canadian Rocky Mountains
By Stewardson Brown
Curator of Herbarium Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia
Illustrated with Water-Colour Drawings and Photographs By Mrs. Charles Schäffer
G. P. Putnam’s Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press 1907
COPYRIGHT, 1907 BY G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
OFFERED TO THE LOVERS OF ALPINE FLORÆ IN THE MEMORY OF DR. CHARLES SCHÄFFER OF PHILADELPHIA, WHO WAS AMONG THE PIONEER BOTANISTS OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, AND WHO EARLY RECOGNISED THIS REGION AS A NEW AND INTERESTING FIELD FOR STUDY
PREFACE
The present volume, though prepared in manual form, is meant only as a guide to the rich and interesting flora of the Canadian Rockies and Selkirks or those portions traversed by the Canadian Pacific Railway between Banff and Glacier. While many of the plants herein described are found throughout the entire region, yet the species characteristic of the two mountain ranges are vastly different. For the most part those of the Rockies might be characterised as plants adapted to the withstanding of severe conditions of drouth and cold, being mostly low and tufted, with small surfaces of leaf exposure, either thick and leathery or in many instances with an ample covering of protecting hairs; while those of the Selkirks, owing to the more humid atmospheric conditions, are essentially moisture-loving forms, with a luxuriant growth of stems and leaves; it is only where the conditions are similar in the two regions that we find the same or similar forms existing. Few of the more characteristic Rocky Mountain species extend west of the divide, while of those of the Selkirks, few extend east of it, except where there is a luxuriant forest growth, with the consequent retention of moisture, and then only at altitudes of from 2000 to 3000 feet greater.
Contrasting the plants of this region with those of the European Alps it is interesting to note, that while the species are for the most part vastly different, yet there is a certain close resemblance in the families and genera which are represented; the Anemones are here, but not in the scarlets and crimsons, running more to whites and purples, and so are the Buttercups, dwarf many of them, but with large, showy flowers; the Saxifrages and Drabas are innumerable as are the Vetches and also the Heaths, but the latter with fewer and very different species. Some plants, however, like the White Mountain Avens (_Dryas octopetala_), the Butterwort (_Pinguicula vulgaris_), the Moss Campion (_Silene acaulis_), the Mountain Cranberry (_Vitis-idæa_) and the Low Cranberry (_Oxycoccus_), the One-flowered Wintergreen (_Moneses uniflora_), the Forget-me-not (_Myosotis alpestris_) and others are found on both sides of the Atlantic, yet we have no such array of Primroses or Gentians as our European brothers, though both genera are represented with us, while on the other hand they can boast of nothing comparable to our Indian Paint-Brush, found throughout the region on the river shores and bars during late June and early July and later through the summer in its innumerable forms and colours in the moist alpine meadows and slopes.
The ferns and their allies with the more striking of the trees and shrubs have been included in the present work, together with the majority of the herbaceous flowering plants, though some of the largely represented but less striking groups such as the Grasses, Sedges, and Willows have been entirely omitted, not seeming of sufficient general interest to warrant the space required for their intelligent treatment. The species are arranged in accordance with their scientific relationships, with keys to the genera and a general key to the families. Among the illustrations herein contained, many of the plants of the Northwest are figured for the first time.
Acknowledgment is here made to Messrs. David McNicoll, Robert Kerr, and other officials and employees of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company through whose courtesy was made possible the gathering of the data for the basis of this work.
S. B.
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA, October 28, 1907.
CONTENTS
PAGE PREFACE v GLOSSARY xxv GENERAL KEY TO THE FAMILIES xxxiii ADDER’S-TONGUE FAMILY 1 FERN FAMILY 3 HORSETAIL FAMILY 14 CLUB-MOSS FAMILY 18 SELAGINELLA FAMILY 22 PINE FAMILY 23 YEW FAMILY 34 ARUM FAMILY 35 BUNCH-FLOWER FAMILY 36 LILY FAMILY 41 LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY FAMILY 45 IRIS FAMILY 52 ORCHID FAMILY 53 WILLOW FAMILY 68 BIRCH FAMILY 70 MISTLETOE FAMILY 72 SANDALWOOD FAMILY 73 BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 75 PURSLANE FAMILY 80 PINK FAMILY 81 CROWFOOT FAMILY 90 BARBERRY FAMILY 109 POPPY FAMILY 110 MUSTARD FAMILY 111 STONE-CROP FAMILY 125 GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS FAMILY 126 SAXIFRAGE FAMILY 128 GOOSEBERRY FAMILY 146 ROSE FAMILY 150 APPLE FAMILY 165 PLUM FAMILY 167 PEA FAMILY 168 FLAX FAMILY 182 CROWBERRY FAMILY 183 STAFF-TREE FAMILY 184 MAPLE FAMILY 185 ST. JOHN’S-WORT FAMILY 186 VIOLET FAMILY 187 OLEASTER FAMILY 191 EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY 193 GINSENG FAMILY 199 CELERY FAMILY 201 DOGWOOD FAMILY 205 WINTERGREEN FAMILY 207 HEATH FAMILY 211 HUCKLEBERRY FAMILY 220 PRIMROSE FAMILY 226 GENTIAN FAMILY 231 BUCKBEAN FAMILY 236 DOGBANE FAMILY 237 WATER-LEAF FAMILY 238 BORAGE FAMILY 240 MINT FAMILY 244 FIGWORT FAMILY 248 BUTTERWORT FAMILY 262 MADDER FAMILY 263 HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 264 VALERIAN FAMILY 271 BELLFLOWER FAMILY 273 CHICORY FAMILY 275 THISTLE FAMILY 283 INDEX 323
ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE FACING PAGE
Mimulus Lewisii Pursh. _Red Monkey-Flower_ _Frontispiece_
1 Pinus albicaulis Engelm. _White Pine_ 24 1 Pinus Murrayana Oreg. Com. _Jack Pine_ 24
2 Larix Lyallii Parl. _Lyall’s Larch_ 26 2 Thuja plicata Don. _Giant Cedar_ 26
3 Abies lasiocarpa (Hook) Nutt. _Balsam Fir_ 28 3 Pseudotsuga mucronata (Raf.) Sudw. _Douglas Fir_ 28
4 Tsuga Mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. _Mountain Hemlock_ 30 4 Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. _Hemlock_ 30
5 Picea albertiana. S. Brown. _Alberta Spruce_ 32 5 Picea albertiana. S. Brown. _Alberta Spruce_ 32
6 Zygadenus elegans Pursh. _Tall Zygadenus_ 38 6 Zygadenus gramineus Rydb. _Zygadenus_ 38
7 Stenanthella occidentalis (A. Gray). Rydb. _Stenanthium_ 40 7 Clintonia uniflora Kunth. _Clintonia_ 40
8 Tofieldia intermedia Rydb. _False Asphodel_ 42 8 Vagnera stellata (L) Morong. _Star-Flowered Solomon’s Seal_ 42
9 Erythronium grandiflorum. Pursh. _Snow Lily_ 44
10 Lilium montanum A. Nels. _Red Mountain-Lily_ 46 10 Kruhsea streptopoides (Ledeb) Kearney. _Kruhsea_ 46
11 Cypripedium passerinum Rich. _Small White Lady’s Slipper_ 54 11 Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. _Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper_ 54
12 Corallorhiza Corallorhiza (L). Karst. _Coral-Root_ 56 12 Lyschiton kamtschatcense (L.) Schott. _Western Skunk-Cabbage_ 56
13 Cytherea bulbosa (L.) House. _Calypso_ 58 13 Orchis rotundifolia Pursh. _Small Round-Leaved Orchid_ 58
14 Limnorchis dilatatiformis Rydb. _Purplish-Green Bog-Orchid_ 62 14 Peramium Menziesii (Lindl.) Morong. _Menzies’ Rattlesnake Plantain_ 62
15 Ophrys borealis (Morong). _Northern Twayblade_ 64 15 Ophrys nephrophylla Rydb. _Heart-Shaped Twayblade_ 64 15 Cœloglossum bracteatum (Willd) Parl. _Long-Bracted Orchid_ 64 15 Limnorchis fragrans Rydb. _Fragrant White Bog-Orchid_ 64 15 Lysiella obtusata (Pursh) Rydb. _Small Northern Bog-Orchid_ 64
16 Comandra pallida DC. _White Comandra_ 74 16 Eriogonum subalpinum Greene. _Tall White Eriogonum_ 74
17 Claytonia lanceolata Pursh. _Spring Beauty_ 80 17 Claytonia parvifolia Moc. _Small-Leaved Spring Beauty_ 80
18 Silene acaulis L. _Moss Campion_ 82 18 Lychnis apetala L. _Nodding Lychnis_ 82
19 Alsine borealis (Bigel.) Britton. _Northern Stitchwort_ 86 19 Mœhringia lateriflora (L.) _Blunt-Leaved Sandwort_ 86 19 Arenaria capillaris nardifolia (Ledeb.) Regel. _Rock Sandwort_ 86
20 Caltha leptosepala Hook. _Caltha leptosepala_ 104 20 Trollius albiflorus (A. Gray) Rydb. _Western Globe-Flower_ 104
21 Aquilegia brevistyla Hook. _Small Blue Columbine_ 102
22 Aquilegia flavescens S. Wats. _Yellow Columbine_ 106 22 Aquilegia formosa Fisch. _Western Columbine_ 106
23 Delphinium Brownii Rydb. _Mountain Larkspur_ 108 23 Anemone globosa Nutt. _Wind-Flower_ 108
24 Anemone Drummondii S. Wats. _Alpine Anemone_ 92 24 Anemone parviflora Michx. _Northern Anemone_ 92
25 Pulsatilla hirsutissima (Pursh) Britton _Pasque-Flower_ 94 25 Pulsatilla occidentalis (S. Wats.) Freyn. _Western Anemone_ 94
26 Atragene columbiana Nutt. _Purple Virgin’s-Bower_ 90
27 Ranunculus saxicola Rydb. _Ranunculus saxicola_ 100 27 Ranunculus alpeophilus. A Nels. _Ranunculus alpeophilus_ 100 27 Ranunculus Eschscholtzii Schl. _Snow Buttercup_ 100
28 Ranunculus eremogenes Greene. _Ditch Crowfoot_ 98 28 Ranunculus Purshii Richards. _Pursh’s Buttercup_ 98 28 Ranunculus inamœnus Greene _Ranunculus inamœnus_ 98
29 Thalictrum megacarpum Torr. _Thalictrum megacarpum_ 96 29 Thalictrum occidentale A. Gray. _Western Meadow Rue_ 96
30 Delphinium Menziesii DC. _Blue Larkspur_ 110 30 Lithophragma parviflora (Hook.) Nutt. _Lithophragma_ 110
31 Physaria didymocarpa (Hook.) A. Gray. _Bladder-Pod_ 116 31 Smelowskia calycina (Desv.) C. A. Meyer. _Smelowskia_ 116
32 Draba oligosperma Hook. _Whitlow-Grass_ 112 32 Draba andina (Nutt.) A. Nels. _Mountain Whitlow-Grass_ 112
33 Draba glacialis Adams _Whitlow-Grass_ 114 33 Draba aurea Vahl. _Golden Whitlow-Grass_ 114
34 Parnassia montanensis Rydb. & Fern. _Marsh Grass-of-Parnassus_ 126 34 Ribes lacustre (Pers.) Poir. _Swamp Gooseberry_ 126
35 Mitella nuda L. _Naked Bishop’s-Cap_ 132 35 Pectiantia pentandra (Hook.) Rydb. _Mitrewort_ 132
36 Saxifraga cernua L. _Nodding Saxifrage_ 136 36 Saxifraga rivularis L. _Alpine Brook Saxifrage_ 136
37 Micranthes Nelsoniana (D. Don.) Small. _Nelson’s Saxifrage_ 140 37 Micranthes Lyallii (Engler) Small. _Lyall’s Saxifrage_ 140
38 Muscaria cæspitosa (L.) Haw. _Tufted Saxifrage_ 138 38 Micranthes rhomboidea (Greene) Small. _Mountain Saxifrage_ 138
39 Spatularia Brunoniana (Bong.) Small. _Tall Saxifrage_ 142 39 Leptasea austromontana (Wiegand), Small. _Common Saxifrage_ 142
40 Tiarella unifoliata Hook. _Western Foam-Flower_ 150 40 Lutkea pectinata (Pursh) Kuntze. _Cut-Leaved Lutkea_ 150
41 Rubus pedatus Smith. _Creeping Raspberry_ 152
42 Rubus parviflorus. Nutt. _Salmon-Berry_ 156
43 Fragaria glauca (S. Wats.) Rydb. _Wild Strawberry_ 158 43 Amelanchier florida Lindl. _Service-Berry_ 158
44 Dryas octopetala L. _White Mountain Avens_ 164 44 Dryas Drummondii Rich. _Drummond’s Mountain Avens_ 164
45 Geum strictum Ait. _Yellow Avens_ 162 45 Sieversia ciliata (Pursh) Don. _Long-Plumed Purple Avens_ 162
46 Phaca americana (Hook.) Rydb. _Arctic Vetch_ 172 46 Homalobus aboriginorum (Rich) Rydb. _Indian Vetch_ 172
47 Aragallus deflexus. (Pall.) Heller. _Drooping Vetch_ 176 47 Aragallus viscidulus Rydb. _Sticky Oxytrope_ 176
48 Aragallus Lamberti (Pursh) Greene. _Loco Weed_ 180 48 Lathyrus ochroleucus Hook. _White Vetch_ 180
49 Empetrum nigrum L. _Black Crowberry_ 182 49 Linum Lewisii Pursh. _Wild Blue-Flax_ 182
50 Pachystima myrsinites (Pursh) Raf. _Mountain Lover_ 184 50 Viola adunca longipes (Nutt.) Rydb. _Dog Violet_ 184
51 Elæagnus argentea Pursh. _Silver-Berry_ 190 51 Lepargyræa canadensis (L.) Greene _Buffalo-Berry_ 190
52 Epilobium luteum Pursh. _Yellow Willow-Herb_ 194 52 Chamænerion latifolium (L.) Sweet. _Broad-Leaved Willow-Herb_194
53 Chamænerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. _Fire-Weed_ 196 53 Berberis aquifolium Pursh. _Trailing Mahonia_ 196
54 Echinopanax horridum. (Smith) Dec. & Planch. _Devil’s Club_ 200
55 Cornus canadensis intermedia Farr. _Bunch-Berry_ 204
56 Pyrola asarifolia Michx. _Liver-Leaf Wintergreen_ 208 56 Pyrola uliginosa Torr. _Bog Wintergreen_ 208 56 Moneses uniflora (L.) A. Gray. _One-Flowered Wintergreen_ 208
57 Chimaphila umbellata (L.) Nutt. _Prince’s Pine_ 210 57 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. _Bear-Berry_ 210
58 Oxycoccus oxycoccus (L.) MacM. _Small Cranberry_ 212 58 Gaultheria ovatifolia A. Gray. _Ovate-Leaved Wintergreen_ 212 58 Vitis-idæa Vitis-idæa (L.) Britton. _Mountain Cranberry_ 212
59 Cassiope Mertensiana (Bong.) Don. _White Heath_ 216 59 Phyllodoce empetriformis (Smith) Don. _Red False-Heather_ 216 59 Phyllodoce glanduliflora (Hook.) Rydb. _White False-Heather_ 216
60 Ledum grœnlandicum Œder. _Labrador Tea_ 218 60 Azaleastrum albiflorum (Hook.) Rydb. _White Mountain Rhododendron_ 218
61 Menziesia ferruginea Smith. _Smooth Menziesea_ 220 61 Kalmia microphylla (Hook.) Heller. _Dwarf Swamp-Laurel_ 220
62 Vaccinium erythrococcum Rydb. _Alpine Bilberry_ 222 62 Vaccinium globulare Rydb. _Thin-Leaved Bilberry_ 222 62 Vaccinium ovalifolium Smith. _Blueberry_ 222
63 Primula Maccalliana Wiegand. _Maccalla’s Primrose_ 228 63 Androsace carinata Torr. _Sweet Androsace_ 228
64 Trientalis arctica Fisch. _Arctic Star-Flower_ 230 64 Dodecatheon conjugens Greene. _Shooting-Star_ 230
65 Gentiana affinis Griseb. _Large Gentian_ 234 65 Romanzoffia sitchensis Bong. _Romanzoffia_ 234
66 Phacelia sericea (Graham) A. Gray. _Mountain Phacelia_ 238 66 Phacelia heterophylla Pursh _Phacelia heterophylla_ 238
67 Lappula floribunda (Lehm.) Greene. _False Forget-me-not_ 242 67 Lithospermum linearifolium Goldie. _Narrow-Leaved Puccoon_ 242
68 Collinsia parviflora Dougl. _Small-Flowered Collinsia_ 248 68 Elephantella grœnlandica (Retz.) Rydb. _Long-Beaked Elephantella_ 248
69 Pentstemon confertus Dougl. _Yellow Beard-Tongue_ 250 69 Pentstemon pseudohumilis Rydb. _Pentstemon pseudohumilis_ 250
70 Pentstemon fruticosus (Pursh) Greene. _Large Purple Beard-Tongue_ 262 70 Pinguicula vulgaris L. _Butterwort_ 262
71 Linnæa americana Forbes. _American Twin-Flower_ 266 71 Lonicera ebractulata Rydb. _Fly Honeysuckle_ 266
72 Lonicera involucrata (Rich.) Banks. _Involucred Fly Honeysuckle_ 270
73 Valeriana sitchensis Bong. _Wild Heliotrope_ 272 73 Lobelia Kalmii strictiflora Rydb. _Brook Lobelia_ 272
74 Hieracium umbellatum L. _Narrow-Leaved Hawk-weed_ 276 74 Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene. _Agoseris aurantiaca_ 276
75 Erigeron acris L. _Blue Fleabane_ 288 75 Erigeron salsuginosus (Rich.) A. Gray. _Large Purple Fleabane_ 288 75 Saussurea densa Hook. _Saussurea_ 288
76 Erigeron discoideus Rydb. _Cut-Leaved Fleabane_ 292 76 Erigeron melanocephalus A. Nelson. _Black-Headed Fleabane_ 292 76 Erigeron multifidus Rydb. _Cut-Leaved Fleabane_ 292
77 Aster Lindleyanus T. & G. _Aster Lindleyanus 298
78 Erigeron aureus Greene. _Golden Fleabane_ 302 78 Gaillardia aristata Pursh. _Great-Flowered Gaillardia_ 302
79 Arnica cordifolia Hook. _Heart-Leaved Arnica_ 304 79 Arnica louiseana Farr. _Pale-Flowered Arnica_ 304
GLOSSARY
ACAULESCENT: with stem so short that leaves appear to arise directly from root. ACHENE: a small, dry, one-seeded indehiscent, seed-like fruit. ACUMINATE: tapering gradually to a point. ACUTE: with an abrupt point. ADNATE: growing together as the stamens with the petals, or the anthers with the filament. ALTERNATE: (leaves) not opposite but arising at different points on the stem. Stamens are alternate with petals when they are situated in the intervals. ANTHER: the part of the stamen which contains the pollen. APICAL: pertaining to the top or apex. AURICULATE: with ear-like appendages at base. AXIAL: pertaining to an axis.
BILABIATE: two-lipped. BLADE: the expanded portion of a leaf. BRACT: a modified and usually small leaf at the base of a flower or flower-cluster. In the latter case it is usually associated with others. BRACTEOLATE: furnished with small bracts.
CÆSPITOSE: growing in tufts. CALYX: the outer whorl of floral leaves forming usually a green cup. CAMPANULATE: bell-shaped. CANESCENT: greyish-white, due usually to fine hairs. CAPILLARY: hair-like. CAPITATE: arranged in a head; knob-like. CAPSULE: a dry, dehiscent seed-vessel. CARPEL: a pistil-leaf. The pistil is regarded as being composed of one or more such carpels. CATKIN: the scaly, cylindrical flower-cluster of Willow, Birch, etc. CAUDATE: with a tail-like appendage. CAUDEX: the perennial rootstock of an otherwise annual plant. CHARTACEOUS: papery or parchment-like. CILIATE: fringed with marginal hairs. CINEREOUS: ashen or greyish. CLEISTOGAMIC: (flowers) never opening as the late flowers of violets, etc. CONNATE: united. CORDATE: heart-shaped. CORIACEOUS: leathery. CORM: a solid bulb. CORYMBOSE: with a flat-topped or convex flower-cluster, the flower-stalks of which arise at different points on the axis, and of which the outermost flowers are the oldest. CRENATE: with rounded teeth. CRENULATE: with small rounded teeth. CUNEATE: wedge-shaped. CUSPIDATE: ending in a sharp, hard point. CYME: a flat-topped or convex flower-cluster, the flower-stalks of which arise at different points on the axis, and of which the innermost flowers are the oldest.
DECIDUOUS: subject to fall, as leaves of most trees and calyx and corolla of most flowers before the fruit forms. DECUMBENT: (stems) reclining on the ground with summit tending to rise. DECURRENT: (leaves) with base prolonged below insertion and forming a sort of wing. DELTOID: broadly triangular. DENTATE: toothed, usually with teeth projecting outwards. DENTICULATE: with little, outwardly projecting teeth. DIŒCIOUS: having staminate and pistillate flowers on separate plants. DISC: the central part of a head as opposed to the ray, _e. g._, in the sun-flower. Also a fleshy expansion of the receptacle of the flower. DRUPE: a stone-fruit. DRUPELET: a small stone-fruit.
ELLIPTIC: with the outline of an ellipse. ENTIRE: with the margin even and not toothed, lobed, or divided. EROSE: irregularly margined.
FIMBRIATE: fringed. FLOCCOSE: with loose tufts of wool-like hairs. FOLIACEOUS: leaf-like. FOLLICLE: a fruit of one carpel (pistil-leaf) which splits only by one suture. FUSIFORM: spindle-shaped.
GALEA: a helmet-shaped body. GLANDULAR: with small prominences which appear to have a secreting function. GLAUCOUS: covered with a bluish or white bloom. GLOBOSE: spherical.
INCISED: sharply and irregularly cut into. INDUSIUM: the membrane covering the fruit-dots of ferns. INFERIOR: (side of flower) the one away from the axis of the flower-cluster; (ovary) united with the calyx tube, the other floral parts apparently growing from its summit. INFLORESCENCE: the mode of arrangement of flowers on the stem; the flower-cluster. INTERNODE: the portion of the stem between the places where the leaves arise. INVOLUCRE: a whorl of small leaves at the base of a flower or flower-cluster.
KEEL: the lower petals of the peculiar corolla of the pea, etc., which are united in the form of the keel of a boat.
LACINIATE: with deep, triangular, narrow lobes. LANATE: woolly. LANCEOLATE: narrow and tapering at each end. LATERAL: pertaining to the side. LEAFLET: one of the divisions of the blade of a compound leaf. LINEAR: narrow and flat with the margins parallel. LYRATE: lyre-shaped.
MONŒCIOUS: having the separate staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant. MUCRONATE: with a short, abrupt point.
NODE: the point of the stem from which one or more leaves arise.
OBLANCEOLATE: lance-shaped with the base tapering downwards. OBTUSE: blunt. ORBICULAR: circular. OVATE: egg-shaped (applied to flat bodies). OVOID: egg-shaped (applied to solids).
PALMATE: (compound leaf) with the divisions so arranged that they radiate from the petiole-like the fingers of the hand. PANICLE: a branched, flower-cluster with the older flowers outermost. PANICULATE: with much branched open flower clusters. PAPILLÆ: minute, blunt projections. PAPPUS: the bristles, awns, or hairs which crown the fruit of the Composites. PARIETAL: (placentæ) attached to the wall of the ovary. PEDUNCLE: a flower-stalk. PERENNIAL: lasting from year to year. PERFOLIATE: (leaves) having the basal part so extended and united as to make it appear as though the stem grew through them. PERIANTH: the calyx and corolla collectively. PETAL: a corolla-leaf. PETALOID: petal-like. PETIOLE: the leaf-stalk. PINNÆ: the primary divisions of a compound leaf. PINNATE: compound with leaflets arranged along a common axis. PINNATIFID: pinnately cleft. PINNULES: secondary pinnæ. PLACENTÆ: the parts of the ovary to which the seeds are attached. PLUMOSE: feathery. POLLEN: the fertilising powder of the anther. POLYGAMOUS: having both perfect and imperfect flowers. PROSTRATE: lying flat on the ground. PUBERULENT: covered with tiny almost imperceptible hairs. PULVINI: cushions or pads.
RACEME: a flower-cluster in which the stalked flowers are arranged along an elongated axis. RACEMOSE: raceme-like. RACHIS: the axis. RADICAL: arising from the root, or portion of the stem resembling the root. RECEPTACLE: the usually somewhat enlarged portion of the stem on which parts of a flower or of a flower-cluster are borne. RENIFORM: kidney-shaped. REPAND: wavy-margined. RETICULATE: arranged like a network. REVOLUTE: rolled backward. RHIZOME: an underground stem; a rootstock. RHOMBIC: having the shape of a four-sided figure with parallel and equal sides which may be either perpendicular or oblique to each other. RHOMBOID: of a somewhat rhombic shape. ROTATE: wheel-shaped. RUNCINATE: coarsely cut into with the segments turned backward.
SAGITTATE: shaped like an arrow-head with the lobes turned downward. SAMARA: a simple, indehiscent, winged fruit. SAPROPHYTE: a plant which grows on dead organic matter. SCALE: a minute, rudimentary leaf. SCAPE: a leafless or nearly leafless flower-stalk arising from near the ground. SCARIOUS: dry, thin, membranous. SCURF: minute scales on the epidermis (skin). SEPALS: the divisions of the calyx. SERRATE: with teeth pointing forwards. SERRULATE: with minute forward pointing teeth. SESSILE: (leaf) without any stalk. SHEATH: a tubular structure such as is formed by the lower part of the leaves of grasses, etc. SILICLE: a short and broad silique. SILIQUE: the elongated two-valved and usually dehiscent fruit of the Cress family. It is divided by a partition and the placentæ are parietal. SINUATE: with a strongly wavy margin. SINUS: the recess between the lobes of a leaf. SORI: the fruit-dots of ferns. SPADIX: a fleshy spike as in the Araceæ. SPATHE: a large bract or pair of bracts enclosing a flower or an inflorescence. SPATULATE: spoon-shaped. SPIKE: a flower-cluster in which the flowers are stalkless on an elongated axis. SPORANGES: the sacs containing the spores. SPORE: the reproductive body of ferns. SPOROPHYLL: leaf-like organ or receptacle containing spores. STAMEN: the organ of the flower which produces the pollen. STAMINODIA: sterile stamens or structures which are developed in the place of stamens. STELLATE: star-shaped. STIPE: the leaf-stalk of a fern. STIPULE: an appendage such as is found at the base of many leaf-stalks. STOLON: a trailing and rooting shoot. STRIATE: marked with slender, longitudinal stripes. STRICT: straight and upright. STYLE: (of pistil) the elongated portion at top of ovary. SUBULATE: awl-shaped. SUPERIOR: (side of flower) the one next the axis of a flower-cluster; (ovary) free from calyx tube.
TERETE: cylindrical, circular in cross-section. TERNATE: in threes. TOMENTOSE: clothed with matted wool-like hairs. TORULOSE: knobby; swollen at intervals. TRUNCATE: as if cut off at the top. TUBERCLE: a small knob-like outgrowth. TURBINATE: top-shaped.
UMBEL: an umbrella-like flower-cluster. UNDULATE: wavy.
VALVATE: (leaves in bud) meeting by the margins, not overlapping. VERTICILLATE: whorled. VEXILLUM: the standard of the peculiar flower of pea, etc. VILLOUS: with long soft hairs.
GENERAL KEY TO THE FAMILIES
PLANTS WITHOUT FLOWERS
FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES
Leaves large, fern-like. Sporanges in a spike or panicle above the sterile leaf. =Ophioglossaceæ.= Sporanges borne in sori, on the backs or margins of the leaves. =Polypodiaceæ.= Leaves small, reduced to scales. Stems erect, hollow, jointed, rush-like; leaves reduced to sheaths at the joints; sporanges in the terminal, cone-like spike. =Equisetaceæ.= Stems not hollow, creeping; leaves numerous, scale-like; sporanges of one kind, solitary in the axils of the leaves. =Lycopodiaceæ.= Stems creeping, moss-like; leaves numerous; sporanges of two kinds in the axils of the upper leaves, which are formed into a quadrangular spike. =Selaginellaceæ.=
PLANTS WITH FLOWERS
WOODY STEMMED PLANTS; TREES, SHRUBS, AND VINES
TREES OR SHRUBS WITH RESINOUS JUICE; LEAVES USUALLY EVERGREEN. Fruit a cone, either dry or berry-like. =Pinaceæ.= Fruit a fleshy crimson berry. =Taxaceæ.=
TREES, SHRUBS, OR VINES WITH WATERY JUICE. Leaves deciduous. _Flowers in catkins._ Staminate and pistillate catkins on different plants; seed with white, silky hairs. =Salicaceæ.= Staminate and pistillate catkins on the same plant; fruit cone-like. =Betulaceæ.= _Flowers not in catkins._ (A) Trees. Leaves simple, not lobed; flowers white. =Drupaceæ.= Leaves lobed; flowers greenish-yellow. =Aceraceæ.= Leaves pinnate; flowers white. =Pomaceæ.= (B) Shrubs or vines. *Stems spiny erect or trailing. (_a_) Leaves simple or lobed. Flowers small in dense terminal racemes. =Araliaceæ.= Flowers few in axillary clusters or racemes. =Grossulariaceæ.= (_b_) Leaves pinnate or palmate. =Rosaceæ.= **Stems not spiny but with minute scales; fruit silver, scarlet or orange berries. =Elæagnaceæ.= ***Stems erect, smooth. (_a_) Petals distinct. †Leaves simple. Flowers small, in flat heads or clusters. Petals 4; stamens 4. =Cornaceæ.= Petals 5; stamens numerous. =Rosaceæ.=
Flowers in axillary clusters or racemes; petals 5; stamens numerous. Fruit a berry. =Drupaceæ.= Fruit a pome. =Pomaceæ.= ††Leaves pinnate; flowers yellow. =Rosaceæ.= (_b_) Petals united. Flowers small, short-campanulate in axillary or terminal heads. =Caprifoliaceæ.= Flowers large, funnel-form, in terminal or axillary clusters. (_Azaleastrum_) =Ericaceæ.= Flowers bell or urn-shaped, few, axillary. =Vacciniaceæ.= ****Stems creeping or twining, smooth or hairy. Flowers with distinct petals, blue or purple. (_Atragene_). =Ranunculaceæ.= Flowers with united petals. Corolla tubular. =Caprifoliaceæ.= Corolla bell-shaped. =Ericaceæ.= Leaves evergreen; shrubs or vines. Leaves pinnate; flowers yellow. =Berberidaceæ.= Leaves simple. Flowers inconspicuous; fruit a black berry. =Empetraceæ.= Flowers showy, open, campanulate or urn-shaped, white or pink. =Ericaceæ.=
HERBACEOUS PLANTS