Trees (rarely shrubs or vines, never so ours). Bark bitter and aromatic. Leaf buds covered by membranous or tough stipules. Leaves deciduous or evergreen, simple, alternate, pinnately-veined. Flowers perfect, solitary or clustered, usually large and showy, often fragrant, regular, floral axis typically elongate. Sepals 3 or more, petals 3 to many, perianth segments often similar, deciduous, imbricate in bud; stamens many, linear, anthers not well differentiated from filaments, deciduous, spirally arranged. Gynoecium superior, carpels free (at least at maturity), spirally arranged and covering the long receptacle; each carpel with 1 or 2 ovules, style and stigma often somewhat poorly developed. Fruiting structure a woody, conelike aggregate of follicles or samaras.

This primitive family has 7 genera and 200 species; 3 genera and 4 species in TX; 2 genera, each with one species, possible in our area.

Many species in this family are cultivated as ornamentals (especially the two described below) or for timber (Mabberley 1987).

1. Leaves 4-lobed, mitten-shaped; carpels maturing into indehiscent samaras .........................

Two species, one in the SE. U.S., the other in China. In our area the trees are not native, but ornamentals are sometimes found abandoned or persisting.

1. L. tulipifera L. Deciduous, pyramidal tree to 60 m or more. Trunk straight, to 3 m in diam., bark gray. Leaves stipulate, long-petioled, to 20 cm long and about as wide, tulip- or mitten-shaped: broadly retuse-truncate apically and with 2 acute lobes on each side (occasionally with additional smaller lobes or entire), base cordate to truncate, glabrous, somewhat aromatic. Flowers solitary at the ends of the branches. Sepals 3, pale green, 3.5 to 6 cm long, soon reflexed; petals 6, forming a cup, 4 to 5 cm long, green-yellow, with a large orange blotch at the base of each; stamens many, anthers extrorse; receptacle elongate, persistent; carpels many, coherent in bud, separating at maturity into woody, flattened, deciduous samaras 2.5 to 4.5 cm long; fruiting structure overall 3 to 5 cm long. Rich woods. FL to LA, N. to DE, MI, MO; becoming naturalized in E. TX. Spring. Fall color yellow.

This handsome tree is valued for its ornamental flowers and leaves. The wood is used for furniture, being similar to birch in grain but not as hard (Elias 1980).

Characters as described for the family. Leaves entire. Sepals 3. Petals 6 to 12. Fruit an aggregate of follicles, seeds arillate, often pendant on long funicular threads.

About 125 species, primarily in Asia; 4 species native to TX; 1 that may be found in our area.

1. M. grandiflora L. Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay. Pyramidal tree to 30 m tall. Trunk straight, bark smooth. Branchlets, buds, and petioles rusty-pubescent. Leaves evergreen but falling a few at a time throughout the year, elliptic, 10 to 30 cm long, 4 to 15 cm wide, rounded to acute apically, cuneate at the base, glabrous and glossy above, rusty-tomentose below, very leathery; petioles to ca. 4 cm long. Flowers large, to 20 cm broad, cup-shape, fragrant, bud coverings leathery and densely rusty-pubescent. Sepals 3, petaloid; petals 6 to 9 or 12, obovate to spatulate, 5 to 10 cm long and about as wide; filaments sometimes purplish. Fruiting structure ovoid in outline, 6 to 10 cm long and 5 to 6 cm broad, an aggregate of follicles, pubescent; seeds 1 or 2 per follicle, red obovoid, somewhat flattened or angled, ca. 1 to 2 cm long, hanging by a funicular attachment. Low, rich woods, especially near streams. E. and SE. TX, usually cultivated in our area but apparently persisting; VA to NC, SC, and FL, W. to LA and TX. July-Aug.

Cultivated for its beautiful flowers and foliage and its dense shade. The wood is used for furniture and railroad ties (Elias 1980).

Aromatic, evergreen or deciduous trees (occasionally shrubs or vines). Leaves alternate, simple, estipulate, entire to lobed. Flowers regular, perfect or unisexual, appearing before the leaves in deciduous species, usually in axillary inflorescences, 3-merous, perigynous, perianth undifferentiated or else interpreted as apetalous, the segments usually 6 in 2 whorls. Stamens generally 12 in 4 series of 3 each, often 1 or more of the series reduced to staminodia or absent, anther dehiscence by 2 or 4 valves or flaps. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 pendulous ovule, style simple. Fruit a 1 seeded drupe or berry.

About 45 genera and 2,200 species in warm and tropical regions; 5 genera and 5 species in TX; 2 genera, each with one species, here.

This family provides many spices and flavorings (e.g. cinnamon, bay leaf). Some species have wood suitable for timber (Mabberley 1987).

We have the one species found in Texas.

1. P. borbonia (L.) Spreng. Red Bay, Swamp Bay. Evergreen shrub or tree to 20 m tall or more, often smaller. Bark brown, tinged with red, purple, or gray, deeply fissured. Young twigs dark green and pubescent, later glabrous and light brown; winter buds densely rusty-pubescent. Leaves coriaceous, lanceolate to elliptic or elliptic-oblanceolate, 5 to 20 cm long, 2 to 8 cm broad, tapered to a grooved petiole to ca. 2.5 cm long, apically rounded to short-acuminate or acuminate, midvein impressed above, upper surface bright green, lustrous, lower surface glaucous, thinly tomentose to pubescent; leaves with a spicy-aromatic odor when crushed. Flowers perfect, in small, few-flowered, axillary panicles, peduncles to 7 cm long, usually 3 cm long or less, pedicels and peduncle usually pubescent. Calyx greenish or pale yellow, with 6 lobes in 2 whorls, the outer series widely ovate and puberulent, the inner members about twice as long as the outer but their upper 2/3 early-deciduous; remainder of calyx persistent. Fertile stamens 9, in 3 series, anthers 4-celled and 4-valved, the inner 3 stamens biglandular at the base and with introrse anthers; 3 staminodia commonly present inside the 3 fertile series. Pistil single, simple, with a slender style and discoid stigma. Fruit a blue-black, lustrous drupe, subglobose or slightly pointed; flesh dryish. Moist woods, swamps, watercourses an shores. SE. TX, in our area only in the far E. portion; MD and VA, S. To FL, W. To TX. Flowering Apr.-June; fruit ripening late summer-fall. [Includes forma pubescens (Pursh) Fern; P. palustris (Raf.) Sarg.; P. pubescens (Pursh) Sarg.].

The leaves can be used as a bayleaf-like seasoning (Tull 1987; Elias, 1980).

We have the 1 species found in E. N. Amer. The other 3 species are Asian.

1. S. albidum (Nutt.) Nees Sassafras, Filé. Dioecious, deciduous tree to 35 m tall, often smaller and shrub-like. Bark aromatic-spicy, trunk to 6 dm in diameter. Young twigs glaucous or nearly so. Leaves ovate to elliptic in overall outline, 6 to 12(18) cm long, to 10 cm wide, tapered to a petiole to 4 cm long, apex obtuse to acute, entire or with 1 or 2 lateral lobes (entire, right-, left- and 2-thumbed "mittens" occurring on the same tree), lower surface at first soft-pubescent or tomentose, usually becoming glabrescent. Flowers yellowish-green, appearing before or with the leaves, few to many in axillary panicles, subtended by scaly bracts, pedicels silky-pubescent. Perianth segments 6, ligulate to ovate-lanceolate, 3 to 5 mm long, spreading. Staminate flowers with 9 fertile stamens, inserted at the base of the perianth in 3 rows, the inner row with pair of stalked glands at the base of each filament (representing staminodia?), anthers 4-celled, 4-valved. Female flowers with 6 rudimentary stamens, ovary ovoid. Fruit a blue-black drupe, subglobose to ovoid, ca. 1 cm long, pedicel reddish, expanded at the apex, somewhat fleshy. Sandy woods, old fields, fence rows, and road cuts. E. 1/3 TX; N. Eng. W. to MI, IA, MO, KS, and AR, S. to FL and TX. Mar.-Apr. Fall color red, yellow, or orange. [Incl. var. molle (Raf.) Fern; S. officinale Nees & Eberm.; S. variifolium (Salisb.) O. Ktze.].

The dried leaves are used as a flavoring in gumbos and other Cajun cooking. The bark of the roots is used for tea, but recent evidence suggests it is carcinogenic in large amounts. The plant also has some medicinal, pest-control,and timber uses (Tull 1987; Elias 1980).

Perennial herbs, often of wet places, more or less aromatic, usually with rhizomes or stolons. Stems erect to ascending, jointed. Leaves alternate, simple, entire, usually petiolate, stipules adnate to the petiole. Flowers perfect, hypogynous to epigynous, in dense or lax spikes or racemes, inflorescence subtended by an involucre and sometimes resembling a single flower if the bracts are petaloid. Perianth absent. Stamens 4 to 8, free or adnate to the ovary at the base. Carpels 3 to 5, fused completely or only at the base. Fruit a compound capsule or a fleshy, capsule-like berry.

Five genera and 7 species of E. Asia and N. Amer.; 2 genera and 2 species in TX; we have only 1.

One species in N. Amer. and another in E. Asia.

1. S. cernuus L. Lizard's-tail. Colonial perennial from a fleshy or slender creeping rhizome; stems to 1 m tall, simple to few-branched, sometimes zigzag, often naked below and leafy above, pubescent. Leaves cauline, stipules indistinct, blades cordate-ovate, 5 to 12 cm long, 2 to 9 cm wide, longer than the petioles, acuminate at apex, the major veins arising at the base and converging toward the apex, lighter green below. Spikes or racemes terminal or at the upper nodes opposite the leaves, peduncled, erect, nodding or scorpioid, pubescent, 7 to 15 cm long and to 15 mm broad, showy basal bracts lacking. Flowers white, crowded, to ca. 300 in number, each with a small bract adnate to the minute pedicel. Stamens 4 to 8, filaments slender; carpels 3 to 5, united briefly at the base, stigmas recurved; ovules 1 or 2 per carpel. Fruit a compound capsule, somewhat fleshy, wrinkled. Muddy soil or water of lakes, swamps, and streams, often in dense shade. E. and SE. TX; SW. Que. and S. Ont., S. to FL, W. to MN, IL, MO, KS, and TX. (E. 1/3 N. Amer.)

Sometimes cultivated for the ornamental flower spikes; also an ingredient in some herbal medicines (Mabberly 1987).

Perennial herbs or vines, leaves basal or cauline, alternate, sessile to petiolate, estipulate, mostly cordate at the base and entire. Flowers perfect, regular or irregular, 3-merous, apetalous, the sepals fused below into a tube, the tube straight to curved, with flaring lobes, usually brightly colored. Stamens 6 to 12, anthers adherent or united with the style. Ovary inferior to superior, usually (4-)6-celled, syncarpous. Fruit a septicidal capsule or berry with numerous seeds.

About 400 species in 7 genera, mostly tropical. There is 1 genus with seven species in TX; 4 species in our area.

Perennial herbs or vines, leaves alternate, sessile to petiolate, palmately veined. Flowers perfect, irregular, solitary or in fascicles. Calyx tubular, corolla-like, S- or U-shaped and more or less 3-lobed apically or else straight and with a single terminal lobe on one side. Stamens 6, anthers sessile and adnate to the short, stout, 3- to 6-lobed style. Ovary partially inferior to superior. Fruit a 6-lobed or 6-angled capsule opening from the base or apex; seeds many, horizontal.

About 300 species of the tropics; 7 from TX; 4 here. This treatment is based, in part on the work of Pfeifer (1966).

Many species are cultivated as ornamentals or for their medicinal properties--uses range from treating snakebite to easing childbirth. Many species are poisonous. Other species are the sole food source for the larvae of certain butterflies. The flowers trap flies for pollination (Mabberley 1987).

1. Plants erect herbs; flowers from the lowermost nodes; capsule dehiscing from the apex with thevalves spreading. .........................................................................................................2

1. Plants vines, vinelike, or spreading or prostrate; flowers from the upper nodes; capsule dehiscing from the base or irregularly ......................................................................................3

This is an inconspicuous and often-overlooked plant. It is a main food of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly larva. It is often easiest to find these plants by looking for the beautiful black and blue butterflies or the long-horned black and red caterpillars (these often eat most of the foliage).

Aquatic, rhizomatous herbs, vessels present only in the roots. Leaves peltate, without a basal sinus, usually held above the water on long petioles, apparently alternate, but each node also with a scale leaf on the lower side of the rhizome and another next to the foliage leaf, wrapped around the petiole base; branches axillary. Flowers solitary from the axils of the upper-side scale leaves, emergent. Perianth of ca. 20 to 30 parts, spirally arranged, the outer 2 members more or less sepal-like, the remainder more or less petaloid, usually in 2 series. Stamens many, spirally ararnged, filaments slender, anthers introrse, anther halves separated by a narrow, leaf-like connective. Ovary superior, with 12 to 40 distinct carpels sunken into the spongy receptacle, each carpel with 1 large ovule. Fruting structure consisting of the dry receptacle with separate, hard-coated, 1-seeded nuts loose in its cavities. Cotyledons 2; perisperm none.

One genus with 2 species.

One species in each in the Old and New Worlds.

1. N. lutea Willd. Yellow Lotus, Water-chinquapin, Pond-nuts. Rhizomatous perennial rooting in mud; rhizomes slender or thicker and with banana-shaped lateral tubers. Leaves long-petioled, the blades floating or held well out of the water, blades orbicular, centrally-peltate, without a sinus, to 70 cm in diameter, the center depressed or cupped, margin sometimes undulate, the upper surface glaucous, persistently unwettable (water beads and runs off). Flowers solitary on stout peduncles, borne to about 1 m above the surface, showy, to ca. 25 cm across, pale yellow, hypogynous. Perianth segments many, intergrading, 20 or more total, ovate, obtuse to rounded, 2 to 12 cm long, the outermost green and sepaloid; stamens many, introrse, spirally inserted, anthers 1 to 2 cm long, with a terminal, hooked appendage, filaments elongate; receptacle obconic, to 10 cm across, pistils several to many, separate, sunken into pits in the receptacle, styles stout, stigmas capitate. Fruits ovoid, ca. 1 cm in diameter, each single-seeded, nutlike, hard-shelled and indehiscent, embedded but rattling loose in the receptacle. Still or sluggish water of ponds and streams. E. 1/3 TX; FL to TX, N. to MN, MA, Ont., W. to IA, NE. May-July.

The tubers and seeds are edible and were a major food of the plains Indians (Kindscher 1987). They may have extended the original range through cultivation. The dry receptacles and fruits are often used in floral arrangements.

Aquatic perennial herbs from horizontal rhizomes. Floating or emersed leaves cordate, with a basal notch, involute in bud. Flowers solitary, axillary, perfect. Calyx of 4 to 6(14) green to petaloid sepals, distinct to slightly united. Petals in ours 3 to many, usually showy, sometimes intergrading with the stamens. Stamens many, commonly introrse, sometimes grading from petaloid to well-developed. Gynoecium superior to inferior, pistils 5 to many, united at least basally, each with many ovules. Fruit a many-seeded berry, irregularly dehiscent; seeds arillate, cotyledon 1 or 2.

About 60 species in 6 genera; 2 genera and 4 species are listed for TX; there are 2 genera and 2 species here.

Almost all members of the family have some value as ornamentals.

Rhizomatous herbs, rhizomes sometimes with lateral tubers. Leaves floating or just above or below the water surface, sub-peltate, more or less orbicular, with a sinus at the base extending to the petiole. Flowers solitary at or above the surface, usually opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon. Sepals 4, green, nearly completely distinct, spreading. Petals few to many, spreading, white, pink, blue, or yellow, the outer about equalling the sepals, the inner intergrading with the stamens. Stamens many, the outer petaloid; filaments broad, inserted on the sides of the ovary. Pistil compound, superior to nearly inferior, 12- to 35-celled, the top concave with a globose protrusion in the center from which the stigmas radiate, stigmas extended beyond the ovary and forming incurved sterile appendages. Fruit depressed-globose, berrylike, covered with the perianth bases, maturing underwater; ovules many, laminar, enveloped by sac-like arils. Usually growing in still, shallow water.

This largely-tropical genus has about 50 species; 3 species from TX; only 1 here. Many species are cultivated for the showy flowers; some have edible seeds (Mabberley 1987).

1. N. odorata Ait. subsp. odorata American Waterlily, White Waterlily, Fragrant Waterlily, Pondlily, Ninfa Acuática, Alligator-bonnet. Rhizomes horizontal, elongate, straight, generally 2.5 to 3 cm thick, without lateral tubers. Leaves arising from along the rhizome, blades suborbicular, to 25(30) cm broad, the sinus narrow, margins sometimes undulate, surface tinged reddish or purplish below. Flowers floating, very fragrant, to 12 cm broad. Sepals often purplish on back, elliptic to ovate or lanceolate, to 8 cm long and 2.5 cm broad; petals usually more than 25, white (rarely pink), thick, elliptic or somewhat broadened upward, nearly acute apically, 2 to 10 cm long; stamens numerous (generally more than 70), the petaloid outer ones 3 to 4 cm long; styles about 20. Berry generally 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter, the ellipsoid seeds ca. 2 mm long. Lakes, ponds, streams, and ditches in SE. TX; FL to TX, N. and E. to Newf., Man. and G.P. Mar.-Oct. [Includes var. villosa Casp. and var. gigantea Tricker; N. spiralis Raf.; N. lekophylla (Small) Cory; Castalia odorata (Ait.) Woodv. & Wood; C. lekophylla Small].

This is one of the species with edible seeds (Tull 1987).

20 species of temperate and cold regions. We have the 1 TX species.

1. N. lutea (L.) Sm. subsp. advena Kartesz & Gandhi Yellow Cowlily, Spatterdock, Yellow Pondlily. Perennial herb from procumbent, branched, cylindrical rhizomes. Leaves spirally arranged, petioles and peduncles with many small air cavities, petioles terete to flattened above, glabrous to pubescent. Leaf blades floating or emersed (in this subsp.), broadly ovate to suborbicular, to 30 cm long and 25 cm broad, with a deep basal sinus extending to the petiole in the center, basal lobes overlapping to divergent, glabrous to somewhat pubescent beneath; submersed leaves, if present, similar to emersed leaves but thin, translucent. Flowers solitary, at or just above the surface, sometimes fragrant, to 4.5 cm across and 2.5 cm high, hypogynous. Sepals usually 6, to ca. 2 cm long, rounded, concave, somewhat petaloid, the inner surface green to yellow or sometimes reddish; stamens many, the outer ones staminodial (representing petals but not petaloid), small, thickened, less than 1 cm long, yellow or reddish, oblong, emarginate; anthers 3 to 7 mm long, recurved, shorter than the stigmas, persistent; ovary compound, stigma with 5 to 25 rays, disklike. Fruit broadly ovoid, fleshy, slightly constricted below the depressed, sometimes reddish stigmatic disk, 3 to 5 cm broad, the stigma rays generally ending 1 to 2 mm from the margin of the disk, fruit irregularly circumscissile near the base; seeds many, broadly ovoid, 4 to 6 mm long, 3 to 5 mm wide, yellow to brown, smooth. Water or stranded on mud of ponds, lakes, streams, and springs. E. TX and on the Ed. Plat; the species throughout most of E. N. Amer.; also Mex., Cuba. Mar.-Oct. [Includes subsp. macrophyllum (Small) E. O. Beal and subsp. ozarkana (MIll. & Standl.) E. O. Beal; Nuphar advena (Ait.) Ait. f. and var. tomentosa Nutt.; Nuphar microcarpum (Mill. & Standl.) Standl.; Nymphaea microcarpa Mill. & Standl.; etc.].

Aquatic herbs, rhizomatous and with stems, vessels none. Leaves of two types, in Cabomba the submersed leaves deeply dissected and the floating leaves entire and linear; in Brasenia alternate, long-petioled, and ovate or elliptic, cordate to peltate; stipules none. Flowers solitary. Perianth of (2)3 to 4 segments in each of 2 whorls. Stamens 3 to 6 in Cabomba, 12 to 18 in Brasenia. Ovary superior, of (1)2 to 18 free carpels, stigmas terminal or decurrent, ovules (1) 2 or 3, attached near the dorsal suture. Fruit a collection of leathery, nutlike, indehiscent follicles. Embryo with 2 cotyledons.

There are 2 genera and 8 species in tropical and warm regions; 2 genera, each with one species in TX; 1 species here. However, Cabomba caroliniana Gray is found in E. TX and may eventually be found here--it has stems covered with gelatinous mucilage, submerged opposite or whorled leaves which are palmately dissected, few emergent leaves, and white flowers to about 12 mm long.

A monotypic genus.

1. B. schreberi J. F. Gmel. Purple Wen-dock, Water-shield. Stolons slender, rooting in mud. Stems slender, coated with a gelatinous mucilage. Leaves long-petioled, alternate, blades floating, elliptic to oval or suborbicular, rounded at both ends, centrally peltate, without a sinus, to 10(12) cm long and ca. 8 cm wide, the undersurface and petioles gelatinous. Peduncles axillary, flowers borne just above the water, small, to 2 cm broad, dull purple or reddish purple, hypogynous. Sepals and petals each (2)3 to 4, similar, linear to linear-oblong, 1 to 1.5 cm long, petals perhaps slightly longer and narrower than the sepals; stamens 12 to 36, filaments slender, anthers latrorse-extrorse; pistils 4 to 18, free, styles short, stigmas linear, ovules 1 to 4 per pistil, pendulous and parietal. Fruits indehiscent, clavate to ovoid, ellipsoid, or obovoid, beaked, (5)6 to 8(9) mm long including the style, 2.5 to 3 mm broad, each usually with 1 or 2 seeds. Ponds, lakes, and slow streams in E. TX; FL to TX, N. to Que., Ont., and MN, W. to B.C. and OR--most of N. Amer. except the G.P. and SW.; sporadic on all continents save Eur. Apr.-May in our area, collected with fruit as late as June.

A widespread family with 1 genus (2 if Podostemum is included rather than given its own family).

Submersed aquatic perennial herbs. Stems branched, the branches 1 per node, rootless, but lateral branches sometimes modified into anchoring rhizoids. Stems breaking easily and the pieces developing into new plants. Leaves whorled, sessile, generally 1 to 4 times dichotomously dissected into linear or filiform segments. Plants monoecious, flowers small, solitary and sessile in the axil of one leaf at a given node, each flower subtended by an 8- to 12-cleft involucre (perhaps representing the perianth?); perianth absent. Staminate flowers generally with ca. 4 to 16 stamens, filaments short and anthers with the connective ending in 2 or 3 sharp points or bristles. Pistillate flowers with 1 superior, unilocular, 1-seeded pistil. Fruit a warty or spiny to beaked or spineless achene, topped with the hardened style.

2 to 30 species, depending upon interpretation; 2 in TX; 1 here.

The plants provide some food and cover for fish, but also for mosquitoes and other pests (Mabberley 1987). Unequivocal identifications are often difficult without the achenes.

1. C. demersum L. Common Hornwort. Characters as described for the family. Stems to 3 m long, brittle to flexuous, often forming large masses. Lowermost leaves of the seedling simple, leaves of the main stem (3)9 to 12 per node, each usually forked 1 to 2(3) times, the segments capillary to linear, flattened, serrate along one margin, variable in length and width, but to about 1.5 to 2 cm long. Bracts of staminate flowers 1 mm long, stamens commonly more than 15, anthers 1 to 1.1 mm long, sometimes dotted with red glands. Bracts of pistillate flowers 1.2 to 2 mm long. Achene ellipsoid, compressed, 4 to 6 mm long, with 2 basal spines 2 to 5 mm long and a persistent style 4 to 6 mm long. Still water, lakes, ponds, and slow streams throughout TX, primarily in the E.; Que. to B.C., S. to Mex.; also Old World. Summer.

NOTE: C. muricatum Cham. (C. echinatum Gray) is found to our E. and may someday be found here. The leaves are usually forked 2 to 4 times, the divisions entire or serrulate along both margins; achenes have 3 to 5 lateral (not basal) spines.

Perennial (sometimes annual) herbs or occasionally herbaceous or woody vines or subshrubs. Leaves estipulate or with minute stipules, commonly basal, if cauline then alternate (in a few genera opposite or whorled), often with sheathing bases, entire to toothed, lobed, or compound. Flowers mostly regular, some irregular and hooded or spurred, solitary or in racemes or panicles, generally perfect, sometimes unisexual, most often with all parts free. Sepals usually imbricate, varying from small and caducous to petaloid. Petals present or absent, variable in number, often with nectaries. Stamens usually many, sometimes petaloid. Carpels superior, 1 to many, simple, free, style and stigma one, ovules 1 to many per pistil. Fruit a cluster of achenes, follicles, or berries (rarely pistils fused and fruit capsular--never so in ours); seeds with endosperm.

There are about 58 genera and 1,750 species in temperate and boreal regions; 11 genera and about 50 species in TX; 8 genera and 19 species here.

Many species have poisonous and/or useful alkaloids (Belladonna, Aconitum, etc.). Many, such as are grown for ornament--Buttercup (Ranunculus), Larkspur (Delphinium), Monkshood (Aconitum), Columbine (Aquilegia), Windflower (Anemone), and many more (Mabberley 1987).

Herbaceous (sometimes slightly woody) vines climbing by twining petiolules, or herbs. Leaves petiolate to sessile, opposite, simple or pinnately compound. Flowers perfect or plants dioecious, flowers axillary or terminal, solitary or in panicles, inconspicuous to showy, often nodding. Sepals 4(5 to 6), separate to slightly joined at the base, thin to leathery, white or variously colored, petaloid, valvate in bud, spreading to cupped. Petals absent or minute and passing into the stamens. Stamens many, the outer staminodial or all modified into staminodia in pistillate flowers of dioecious species. Pistils many, maturing into achenes, styles persistent, often long and pubescent to plumose or sometimes nearly naked.

About 250 species in temperate and subtropical zones; 11 species in TX; 4 here. Synonyms for parts of the genus include Viorna and Atragene.

Many species are cultivated for ornament, and some have been bred with enormous flowers (Mabberley 1987). These do not do very well in our area--our summers are too hot and Clematis prefer a cool-root run.

1. Flowers in cymose panicles; sepals mostly less than 15 mm long, whitish .............................

Small annual herbs from fibrous roots. Leaves in a basal tuft, linear-filiform or spatulate, entire. Flowers regular, solitary on scapes, yellowish or whitish. Calyx of 5 sepals spurred at the base. Corolla of 5 small, narrow petals, these clawed and with a small, nectariferous pit at the apex of the claw. Stamens 5 to 20. Pistils many, fruiting structure a slender spike (occasionally an oblong head in depauperate species) of many achenes, these somewhat 3- to 4-sided, crowded on the long, slender receptacle.

About 15 species in temperate regions; 1 known from TX; others perhaps to be found.

1. M. minimus L. Mousetail, Tiny Mousetail. Characters as described for the genus. Foliage 2 to 5 cm tall. Leaves narrowly linear to filiform, 1 to 10 cm long, 0.3 to 2.2 mm broad at the widest, equalling or shorter than the scapes, apically blunt, somewhat narrowed toward the base. Scapes 2 to 10 per plant, ca. 3 to 15 cm tall. Sepals oblong, (1.3)2 to 3.5(5.5) mm long, the acute, membranous spurs (0.7)1 to 3 mm long; petals linear to narrowly spatulate, 2 to 3.5 mm long, about equalling the sepal blades, often caducous and sometimes absent entirely; stamens (5)10(20). Fruiting receptacle (1.5)2 to 5 cm long and (1.5)2 to 3 mm thick, usually with many achenes. Achenes fitting closely together, somewhat quadrate-rhombic in face view, with a central stylar beak protruding from a short keel, rectangular or trapezoidal in side view, overall 0.9 to 2 mm long with beaks 0.5 mm long or shorter. Damp clay or calcareous soils, fallow fields; throughout TX but primarily the central region; FL to TX, N. to E. VA and S. Ont., W. to IL, MN, Sask., CA and B.C.; also Eurasia.

Naturalized annuals, stems simple to branched, leaves petiolate to sessile, pinnately or palmately divided, segments many, linear to filiform. Flowers in terminal, leafy-bracted or naked racemes, white to blue, violet, or pink (petals and sepals both colored), with a horizontal sepal spur, the other sepals 2 lateral and 2 lower; petals united. Gynoecium of a single carpel, maturing into a follicle.

About 40 species of the Mediterranean region and Europe; 2 species naturalized in TX; 1 here. Some or all of the species are sometimes referred to the genus Delphinium.

The flowers are said to have been used to garland mummies in ancient Egypt (Mabberley 1987).

1. C. ajacis (L.) Schur Rocket Larkspur, Espuella de Caballero. Erect, slender, branched annual to ca. 1 m tall. Stems crisp-puberulent, glandular at least in the upper portion. Leaves several to many, short-petiolate to sessile, pinnately or palmately dissected into numerous linear-filiform segments, usually pubescent. Terminal racemes spiciform, loosely 3- to 19-flowered, leafy-bracted or naked, lowermost bracts filiform-dissected, not simple. Flowers blue to violet, purple, pink, or white. Sepals 5, the uppermost extended backwards into a spur 1 to 2 cm long; lateral sepals rhombic to ovate to suborbicular, 6 to 11 mm wide; lower sepals 8 to 15 mm long; petals 2, united into a 4-lobed structure arching over the stamens and carpels and extending backwards within the sepal spur. Follicle ovoid, pubescent, 1 to 2 cm long; seeds covered with transverse broken ridges or ruffled scales. Roadsides, waste places, and old fields. Primarily Cen. and S. TX; native of Europe, escaped and spreading from cultivation in Can., U.S., and Mex. Apr.-Sept. [Delphinium ajacis L.; Consolida ambigua (L.) Ball & Heywood.].

Perennial herbs from fibrous or tuberous roots or rhizomes. Stems 1 to several, erect or ascending, simple to branched. Leaves alternate, at least the lower ones petiolate, blades often reniform in overall outline, palmately or rarely pinnately cleft or divided into 3 to 7 main lobes, each lobe usually further divided, ultimate divisions broadly linear to rounded or cuneate (not linear-filiform), commonly white-apiculate. Flowers few to many in terminal spike-like racemes or panicles, zygomorphic, blue to violet, purple, white or pink. Sepals colored, 5, the uppermost prolonged backward into a slender, horizontal spur. Petals 4, free, the upper pair extending backwards into spurs enclosed in the sepal spur, nectariferous, lower petals short-clawed, blades elliptical to orbicular, often bifid, bearded. Stamens usually many. Carpels 3, distinct, maturing into many-seeded follicles.

About 250 species of N. temperate regions; 3 or 4 species in TX (depending on interpretation). Dr. M. J. Warnock, the most recent monographer of our species (Warnock 1981), has identified all local specimens as subspecies of D. carolinianum.

Many species are cultivated for ornament. Most contain toxic alkaloids (Mabberley 1987).

1. D. carolinianum Walt. Blue Larkspur. Plants virgate from unbranched, cormlike, vertical rootstocks or a cluster of several woody-fibrous or tuberous roots. Stems simple, to 1.5 m tall, variously pubescent throughout or glandular above and glabrous below. Leaves mostly near the base or distributed rather evenly along the stem, blades palmately divided into several primary segments which are entire to repeatedly divided, variously pubescent. Racemes lax to dense, flowers showy, white to dark blue-purple, pedicels erect to appressed or spreading, bracts subulate and inconspicuous to obsolete. Sepals ovate to ovate-oblong, rounded to blunt or acute at apex, 11 to 15 mm long, the spur straight or curved; blades of lower petals short, included, upper petals various. Follicles erect, oblong, pubescent, seeds echinate. FL to TX, N. to CO and MN, S. and E. to IL, KY, TN, and GA.

Warnock recognizes four subspecies from TX. Two of these can be expected in our area.

subsp. vimineum (D. Don.) Warnock Plants usually from a single, vertical, swollen rhizome, 1.5 to 10.5 dm tall. Stem pubescence various, sometimes glandular. Petioles 3 to 15 cm long on both upper and lower leaves. Leaves basal or evenly distributed, 5 to 9 cm broad, 3-parted with few subdivisions, segments to 4 mm broad or broader, glabrous to sparingly pubescent. Inflorescences from axils of the upper leaves, often much-branched, pedicels more or less spreading. Sepals blue to white, spur 11 to 15 mm long, usually crossing the axis of the inflorescence at about 45^o on the fully open flowers; upper 2 petals usually white (sometimes light blue), the lower pair blue or white. E., NE., Cen., and coastal TX; also LA (SW. AR?). Mar.-June. [D. vimineum D. Don; D. azureum Michx. var. vimineum (D. Don) A. Gray ex K. C. Davis; D. virescens Nutt. var. vimineum (D. Don) R. F. Martin].

This is by far our most common larkspur. M. J. Warnock has annotated all of our local specimens to this taxon.

subsp. virescens (Nutt.) Brooks White Plains Larkspur. Plants to 1.5 m, usually smaller, from a cluster of several deep-seated, woody-fibrous roots. Stems branched or unbranched, pubescent, often glandular. Petioles long on the lower leaves, reduced upwards. Leaves usually basal and cauline. Ultimate leaf divisions lanceolate or linear. Pedicels more or less appressed to axis of inflorescence. Sepals white or whitish to greenish or bluish, but not buff; spur 11 to 20 mm long, often curved upwards, crossing the stem nearly horizontally in fully open flowers; petals whitish. Sandy open slopes, woods, pastures, fields, and ditches. Ed. Plat. to N. Cen. TX and Panhandle, S. to Rio Grande Plains and coast; Alta. to MN and ND, S. to OK and TX. Apr.-July. [D. virescens Nutt. var. virescens and var. macroceratilis (Rydb.) Cory; D. macroceratilis Rydb.].

This plant usually occurs to our W. Included in this treatment on the basis of a hybrid between this subsp. and subsp. vimineum as annotated by M. J. Warnock--if a hybrid exists in an area, presumably both parents do also.

20 species of temperate Asia and Europe. Some species have digitalin-like alkaloids and some are cultivated for ornament (Mabberley 1987). We have the 1 ornamental established in TX.

1. A. annua L. Pheasant's Eye. Annual herb from fibrous roots. Stems (15)20 to 60 cm tall, much-branched. Leaves alternate, petioles with broad, sheathing bases, blades overall 2 to 5 cm long, much

dissected, the ultimate divisions linear-filiform. Flowers solitary, terminal, ca. 2 cm across, not opening wide but often pressed open in specimens, deep red with a dark center (color fading to yellow with purple-brown in some sheets). Sepals 5 to 8 in number, oblong, acute-cuspidate; petals 6 to 8, obovate, somewhat erose apically, concave, deciduous, longer than the calyx, but not much so; stamens many, filaments filiform. Gynoecium of many simple, 1-ovuled pistils. Head of achenes 1 to 2 cm long, cylindric. Achenes 3 to 5 mm long, glabrous. Native to Eur., cultivated for ornament and established in the E. 1/3 TX. Spring-summer.

Without flowers, this plant may easily be mistaken for an immature umbellifer such as Daucus.

Annual and perennial aquatic, terrestrial, or palustrine herbs, usually from fibrous roots. Stems erect to procumbent, branched or simple. Leaves basal and/or cauline and alternate, simple or more commonly ternate or variously lobed or divided, often variable on a single plant, petioles with expanded bases. Flowers terminal (sometimes appearing axillary), solitary or in a corymbiform inflorescence, regular, perfect, hypogynous, inconspicuous to showy. Sepals 3 to 5 (or more), green to yellowish. Petals commonly 5 (more in some species through conversion of stamens to petals), generally yellow or white (rarely reddish or green, not so in ours), each with a nectariferous scale and/ or pit near the inner base. Stamens (5)10 to many, anthers oblong or linear. Pistils (5)10 to many, usually many, uniovulate, gynoecium maturing into an ovoid-cylindric head of achenes, style short to long, straight to hooked, usually persisting as a beak on the achene, achenes variously glabrous to pubescent, muricate, and/or keeled.

About 250 species of temperate and boreal regions; 18 in TX; 7 here. Mature achenes are often necessary for positive identification.

All species are poisonous and are usually avoided by stock. Some species are weedy while others are cultivated for ornament (Mabberley 1987). The ornamentals are often from tuberous roots and frequently have double, brightly-colored flowers ranging from red and orange to yellow and white. According to childlore, if the glossy yellow of buttercup petals held under a person's chin is reflected on the chin, he or she "loves butter." Ranunculus is not to be confused with Oenothera (Onagraceae), often called Buttercup in our area.

1. Cauline and basal leaves entire to dentate, serrulate, or undulate ........................................2

1. Cauline or basal leaves lobed, parted, or divided ...................................................................3

Similar to R. pusillus, but with larger, showier flowers and rarely with cylindric fruiting heads.

The sap of this species is said to cause blisters on human skin (Lampe 1985).

Many of our plants were erroneously identified as R. fascicularis because R. sardous was omitted from keys to the local flora or described with only papillate achenes. R. sardous is much more common in our area than previously thought, and our plants represent a westward range limit not described in many books.

Herbaceous perennials, sometimes rhizomatous, stems hollow. Leaves alternate, the lowest long-petiolate, the petiole bases often expanded; blades ternate or 2 or 3 times compound, the leaflets usually cleft or shallowly lobed, commonly petiolulate, paler beneath; cauline leaves similar but progressively simpler, uppermost leaves often short-petiolate to sessile, sometimes all the leaves so. Plants dioecious or polygamo-dioecious, flowers usually many, pedicellate, in panicles (umbels), not individually very showy, usually unisexual, small. Sepals 4 or 5, greenish to purple or whitish, caducous; corolla absent. Stamens many, exserted, yellow to purplish, the filaments filiform to slenderly clavate, often tangled; anthers slender, apiculate. Carpels about 4 to 17 (at least in ours), free, styles short to lacking, stigmas unilateral, persistent on the 1-seeded achenes; achene bodies usually longitudinally ribbed.

About 85 species, chiefly of the N. temperate regions, tropical S. Amer., and S. Afr.; 4 in TX; 2 here.

Most species contain alkaloids; a few are used in herbal medicines. Some are grown as ornamentals (Mabberley 1987). One of ours is a rare endemic.

While this plant is not officially listed as endangered, it is under study to determine if it should be listed as threatened or endangered (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Category 2.) It is certainly rare, and difficult to find even if being deliberately sought.

Perennial herbs from tubers or slender to thickened rhizomes. Stems erect. Leaves divided or nearly compound, all basal except for several, sessile to petiolate, borne in a whorl on the stem as an involucre below the peduncle. Basal leaves sometimes absent; if present, long-petiolate. Flowers solitary (as in ours) or in cymes or umbels, peduncles of all but the central flower sometimes with secondary involucres. Sepals petaloid, 4 to 20, usually showy, white, red, yellow, blue, or purple. Corolla absent or petals present as gland-like staminodia. Stamens and pistils many in a cylindrical or spherical cluster. Fruiting structure an elongate or compact head of achenes, these flattened, pubescent or glabrous, with short or elongate style beaks.

About 120 species nearly worldwide, especially in the N. temperate zone; 4 species are found in TX and 2 here. Reference: Keener (1975). [Pulsatilla Adans. formerly included].

Many species, some with "double" flowers, are grown for ornament and have the sepals brightly colored or marked.

Dioecious twining vines (elsewhere also scandent shrubs, rarely trees or herbs.) Leaves estipulate, simple, alternate, petiolate, palmately veined, entire to lobed. Flowers in racemes or panicles, unisexual, 3-merous, often small and inconspicuous, hypogynous. Calyx and corolla similar (at least in ours), free, in 2 to 4 whorls, imbricate in bud. Stamens 6 to 12(24), in some plants more or less connate (but not in ours.) Pistils free, 1 to 30, in our plants 2 to 6 (commonly 3), with only one maturing into a 1-seeded (by abortion) drupe (or nut); seeds often curved, coiled, or flattened.

About 78 genera and 520 species in tropical and subtropical areas, a few in temperate zones. Two genera and 3 species can be found in TX. We have 1 species.

Many species have alkaloid chemistries and are used in medicines, fish poisons, curare, sweeteners, etc. A few are grown for ornament (Mabberley 1987).

Largely as described for the family. Plants deciduous. Flowers in axillary or terminal panicles. Sepals, petals, and stamens each 6, in alternate whorls. Pistils 3 or 6, stigmas entire. Fruit a globose drupe; seed flattened, often rough.

11 species of the tropic, subtropic, and warmer temperate regions (excluding S. Amer. and Aust.); 2 in TX; 1 here.

Some species have edible fruit (not ours), some have medicinal uses; some are ornamental (Mabberley 1987).

1. C. carolinus (L.) DC. Red-berried Moonseed, Snailseed, Carolina Moonseed, Coralbead. Vine herbaceous to woody, stems usually climbing, to 3 or 4 m long, minutely pubescent. Leaves quite variable in shape, to 16 cm long and about as wide, ovate to cordate, entire or with a few shallow, sinuate or hastate lobes, apex mucronate, base truncate to cordate, lower surface sparsely pubescent or more commonly downy; petioles equal to or shorter than the blades. Panicles narrow,shorter than the leaves (except near the tip of the stem where the leaves are small), staminate panicles to 15 cm long, longer than the pistillate. Flowers greenish, 3 to 4 mm broad, petals in male flowers auriculate-inflexed basally around the filaments; pistils 3 (less commonly 6). Drupes in grape-like clusters, globose, red, yellow-pulped, 4 to 8 mm in diameter. Seed flat to bi-concave, the coiled embryo evident (hence "Snailseed"), often with radial ridges. Common in rich woods and thickets in the E. 1/2 of TX, rarer W.; KS, E. to WV., S. to NC, SC, FL, the Gulf States and TX. Flowering Jul.-Aug., often overlooked; fruiting in fall.

The curling vines and red fruit are pretty in arrangements. The fruits are variously listed as edible or poisonous and should probably be avoided (Tull 1987). Similar at first glance to Smilax (Catbriar, Greenbriar), but Smilax usually has glabrous leaves, black fruits typically in umbels, and prickles. Cocculus is never prickly.

In N. Amer. largely herbs (elsewhere sometimes shrubby), annual, biennial, or perennial, sometimes rhizomatous, glabrous to pubescent, with milky or colored latex in the roots, stems and leaves. Leaves in a rosette or alternate (very rarely opposite), simple, entire or pinnately or palmately lobed, estipu-late. Flowers solitary or occasionally clustered or paniculate, terminal or axillary, actinomorphic, perfect, hypogynous (a few species perigynous), sub-tended by bracts or leaves. Perianth 2- or 3-merous; sepals 2 or 3, sometimes slightly united below, enclosing the bud before anthesis and then commonly immediately deciduous. Petals twice as many as the sepals (sometimes 0, 6, 8, 12, or 16), free, often in 2 whorls, imbricate and crumpled in the bud. Stamens many, usually a multiple of sepal number. Ovary usually 1-celled with parietal placentation, carpels 2 to many; stigmas generally the same number as the carpels, fused into a discoid or lobed structure. Fruit mostly a valvate or poricidal capsule.

About 23 genera and 210 species, primarily in N. temp. regions; 4 genera and 12 species in TX; 2 species of 1 genus here.

The alkaloid chemistry of the plants gives some of them importance as drug or medicinal plants. From the latex of Papaver somniferum come opium and heroin, though the seeds are safe to eat and used in baking. Many species are grown as ornamentals. There are some oilseed crops (Mabberley 1987).

NOTE: Our poppies seem all to be white and fall into one genus. Should colored poppies be located in our area, they would likely be P. rhoeas L. if red, and Argemone sanguinea if lavender and moderately prickly (though our common A. polyanthemos may also rarely be lavender).

Annual, biennial, or rarely perennial herbs; latex yellow to orange or red; herbage with prickly bristles, often somewhat glaucous. Stems 1 to several, simple or cymosely-branched, generally 3 dm tall or more. Leaves cauline, alternate, sessile to auriculate or clasping, often mottled or with lighter veins, slightly to deeply pinnately lobed, the margins commonly spinose-toothed. Inflorescence cymose, the buds on short peduncles. Sepals 3 (2 to 6), imbricate, each with a prominent terminal cusp or horn, generally prickly, caducous at anthesis. Flowers white (as in ours), yellow, or lavender, showy, petals 4 to usually 6(12) in two whorls. Stamens usually many, the filaments filiform and anthers coiling after dehiscence. Carpels 3 to 6, the style practically lacking, stigma 3- to 6-rayed or -lobed. Capsules prickly, elliptic, somewhat fluted on the sutures, 3- to 6-valvate at the top 1/3, persistent, with the vascular elements visible within. Seeds subglobose, crested, blackish-brown.

28 species in the W. hemisphere; 8 in TX; our material referable to 2. Reference: Ownbey (1958).

Some species have ornamental value (though they are decidedly not pleasant to handle!) or are used in herbal medicines. A. albiflora can be made to yield a tan dye (Tull 1987).

Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, erect or scandent, sap watery, foliage often glabrous and/or glaucous. Leaves basal or alternate, rarely sub-opposite, estipulate, commonly pinnately or ternately divided or dissected. Flowers 1 to several in bracted, terminal or axillary racemes or cymes, 2-merous, usually strongly zygomorphic. Sepals 2, small, bractlike, not enclosing the bud, often caducous, sometimes somewhat peltate. Petals 2 + 2, 1 or both of the outer petals saccate or spurred at the base, the inner pair connate apically over the stigma. Stamens generally 6, diadelphous, the two bundles of 3 each opposite the outer petals, 1 or both of the median stamens commonly spurred at the base and/or nectariferous; anthers of two types: the middle one of each group with four microsporangia and 2 pollen sacs, all others with 2 microsporangia and 1 pollen sac each. Carpels 2, superior, united, ovules 2 to many on 2 parietal placentae, style 1, stigmas 2 or 1 with several lobes. Fruit generally a capsule, sometimes with replum, dehiscing by 2 valves, rarely indehiscent or breaking into 1-seeded segments or, also rarely, fruit a nut.

450 species in 18 genera, primarily in the N. temp. region, some also in tropical and S. Afr.; 6 species in 2 genera in TX; we have 2 species of 1 genus here. The family is sometimes included in the Papaveraceae.

Some are cultivated, such as Corydalis (Scrambled Eggs) and Dicentra (Bleeding Heart.) Some species of Fumaria are weedy and may eventually be found here.

Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs from taproots, tubers, or rhizomes, stems 1 to several, erect, decumbent, or in some species scandent (not ours.) Foliage glabrous and/or glaucous. Leaves basal, cauline, or both, alternate, the lowermost (at least) usually petiolate, once or twice pinnately divided or dissected, the pinnae again divided and incised. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or raceme, crowded at first and becoming elongated, bracteate; flowers short-pedicellate, zygomorphic; cleistogamous flowers sometimes present. Sepals 2, minute, appressed, fugacious. Corolla yellow in ours, in others sometimes pink or purple; petals 4, outer pair free or slightly united basally, one of them with a blunt spur and the other at most sometimes gibbous at the base, both more or less with a hood or keel at the apex; inner petals alike, clawed, connate apically. Stamens as described for family. Style slender, distinct; stigma persistent, flattened, sometimes bilobed. Fruit capsular, many-seeded, 2-valved, with 2 persistent placentae, unilocular, often constricted between the seeds (torulose), topped with the persistent style. Seeds subreniform to circular, black, smooth to muricate, shiny, somewhat arillate or carunculate. Seedlings of some species have only 1 cotyledon.

About 300 to 320 species, primarily of the N. temp. region; 4 in TX, 2 here. This treatment is based, in part, on the work of Ownbey (1947).

Some are cultivated for ornament, many species have alkaloid chemistries, and some Asian species have edible tubers (Mabberley 1987).

There are 3 varieties in TX. All of our material seems referable to the following. Another subspecies, subsp. micrantha, grows in NE. TX. It has shorter racemes, smaller flowers, a globose-tipped spur, and stout fruits 15 mm long or less. It may yet be discovered in the far NE. portion of our area.

subsp. australis (Chapm.) G. B. Ownbey Chasmogamous-flowered racemes elongate, usually greatly exceeding the leaves. Spur of upper petal short, saccate, never with a distinctly globose tip. Fruits slender, erect, 15 to 30 cm long, seeds nearly smooth. Disturbed soils, commonly sands, old fields, roadsides, open woods, and waste areas. E. and SE. TX; S. MO and SE. KS, S. to TX, E. to NC. Feb.-Apr. [C. micrantha Engelm. & Gray var. australis (Chapm.) Shinners; C. campestris (Britt.) Rydb.; C. halei (Small) Fern.].

Deciduous trees, bark commonly exfoliating, branches often widespread. Leaves alternate, simple, generally palmately lobed and veined; petiole inflated and hollow at the base to enclose the axillary bud; stipules encircling the twig, membranous, early-deciduous and leaving a circular scar. Plants monoecious; flowers small, actinomorphic, unisexual, in dense, long-peduncled globose heads. Sepals and petals each 3 or 4(7), usually reduced or sometimes absent, sepals distinct or basally connate. Staminate flowers with the petals, if any, alternate with the sepals; anthers many, opposite the sepals, sessile to subsessile, subtended by minute scales, linear, 2-celled, the connective with a peltate appendage at the apex; sometimes vestigial pistils present. Pistillate flowers without a corolla, often with 3 or 4 staminodia; carpels free, (3)5 to 8(9) in 2 or 3 whorls, subsessile, each pistil 1-celled, the apex incompletely sealed, stigma unilateral along the inner face of the linear-subulate style, ovules 1(2). Fruits achenes or nutlets, indehiscent, single-seeded, interspersed in the head with linear bracts and tufts of hairs, the cluster globose, dangling. Fruits wind-dispersed; seeds within linear-fusiform.

One genus with 6 or 7 species in the N. hemisphere; we have the one species found in TX.

The wood of some species is used for timber; some are planted for shade, especially in urban areas where they are tolerant of pollution (Mabberley 1987).

This species common in much of TX.

1. P. occidentalis L. Pyramidal trees to 50 m tall, trunk to 30 cm in diameter. Bark of young trees mottled green-gray and white because of large exfoliating patches. Older trees with shallowly-furrowed, gray-flecked bark; twigs tan or brown, commonly tomentose when young, soon becoming glabrate. Leaves broadly ovate to reniform in overall outline, generally 10 to 20 cm broad, palmately 3- or 5-lobed and -veined, the lobes broadly triangular, acuminate, entire or with a few remote teeth, the sinuses round and shallow, surfaces more or less glabrous or else floccose or stellate pubescent on the main veins and/or below; petioles 1/2 the length of the blade or less. Perianth reduced or absent. Staminate heads 8 to 10 mm broad, yellow-green; staminodia often present in male flowers. Pistillate heads reddish, 10 to 12 mm across, female flowers without corolla. Fruiting heads long-peduncled, dense, 2 cm or more in diameter, often remaining on the tree through at least part of the winter, light yellow to tawny, at last falling apart readily to release the brownish, clavate achenes. Achenes 7 to 8 mm long; seeds inside ca. 6 mm long. Generally in bottomlands, common along streams. Throughout most of TX E. of Val Verde Co.; ME W. to Ont., NE, S. to N. FL, LA, and TX. Mar.-May, collected with fruit throughout the year. Fall color dull tan. [Includes var. glabrata (Fern.) Sarg. and forma attenuata Sarg.].

Sometimes planted for its shade and peeling bark, but in our area this tree generally prefers a moister environment and often succumbs to an anthracnose infection before reaching maturity. The wood has been used for furniture, boxes, and interior wood work, but it is not very strong. The fruits, though plentiful, have little value as a wildlife food (Elias 1980).

Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, simple, often palmately lobed, commonly with stellate pubescence; usually stipulate. Plants usually monoecious, some-times polygamous; flowers in heads, clusters, or spikes, perfect or unisexual, usually regular and wholly or partly epigynous, wind- or insect-pollinated. Calyx of 4 or 5(-10) sepals, small, free or connate, adherent to the base of the ovary, sometimes reduced or absent. Petals 4 or 5, small and narrow, inserted on the calyx, sometimes absent. Stamens 4 or 5(10), alternate with the petals, sometimes alternating with an equal number of staminodia or else stamens up to about 32; sometimes staminodia or petal bases nectariferous; anthers dehiscent by long valves or slits, the connective extended. Carpels 2(3), united at least below, styles separate, placentation generally axile, each locule with 1(2 to several) ovules. Fruit woody, capsular, septicidal at the apex (sometimes also loculicidal), 2-beaked, 2-celled, usually with 1 or 2 seeds per cell. Seeds with a hard testa.

About 28 genera and 100 species in the subtropical and warm temperate regions of both hemispheres, largely in E. Asia; 2 genera and 3 species in TX: 1 species in our area.

Some species are valuable for timber; others are aromatic and have extracts used in perfumes or medicines (e.g. Witch-hazel, Hamamelis, from which an astringent is obtained.) Some are cultivated as ornamentals for the flowers (e.g. Hamamelis, which blooms in winter) or for shade and fall color (e.g. Liquidambar) (Mabberley 1987).

Roughly 1 American and 2 Asian species.

1. L. styraciflua L. Sweet-gum, Gumball Tree. Deciduous, pyramidal tree to 40 m tall. Bark gray-brown, deeply fissured; branches sometimes with corky ridges; twigs greenish and minutely pubescent when young, becoming light brown and glabrous, often angled; buds sharply ovate, scales reddish-brown. Leaves on slender petioles to 12 cm long; blades somewhat leathery, fragrant when crushed, generally orbicular in overall outline, to ca. 18 cm long and 15 cm wide, palmately (3-)5- to 7-lobed, star-shaped, basal lobes the smallest, lobes acute (rarely rounded), margins usually glandular-serrate, base cordate to truncate, upper surface smooth and shining, lower surface paler, sometimes with small tufts of hairs in the axils of the major veins. Plants monoecious, flowers unisexual and apetalous. Staminate flowers entirely without perianth, filaments ca. 1 mm long, grouped with small scales into globose heads arranged in more or less upright racemes to about 6 cm long. Pistillate flowers crowded and somewhat coherent in globose, capitate clusters 2 to 3(4.5) cm in diameter, pendant on peduncles to 6 cm long or more, each with a short, lobeless calyx tube about as long as the ovary, some staminodia present; carpels 2, styles 2, stigmatic along the inner surface. Fruiting structure woody, brown, ca. 3 cm in diameter, each capsule splitting open between the 2 persistent, hard styles to give the cluster an overall mace-head effect; each capsule with 1 or 2 brown, winged seeds 6 to 9 mm long and numerous abortive flake- or sawdust-like seeds. Wet places, low or wet woods, often with pine, oak, or hickory. E., S., and Cen. TX, W. to Lee Co.; FL to TX and Mex., S. to Cen. Amer.; N. to CT, NY, WV, OH; W. to IL and MO. Blooming Mar.-May, fruits maturing in the fall, some usually persisting on the tree through the winter. Fall color yellow through gold, orange, red, and maroon to purple--often all on the same tree.

Trees valued as a source of timber, the somewhat weak wood used mainly for veneer and plywood and as a source of resin. Commonly planted for fall foliage; cultivars are available with selected colors. The sap or gum is supposed to be pleasant to chew. The hard, spiky fallen fruits can become a nuisance on lawns, but can be used in dry floral arrangements. The seeds are not an important wildlife food, but are eaten by some birds and squirrels (Elias 1980).

Trees and shrubs with watery sap. Bud scales imbricate. Leaves alternate (very rarely opposite and never so in ours), commonly 2-ranked, simple, the base often oblique, entire to commonly serrate or doubly serrate; stipules paired, deciduous. Plants monoecious and/or with perfect flowers, flowers usually in fascicles or racemes or solitary in the axils of leaves or bracts, on previous or current season's growth, regular to slightly irregular, hypogynous to perigynous, small, greenish, individually not showy. Sepals (2)4 to 5(9), free or commonly fused at least partially, persistent. Corolla absent.  Stamens usually as many as the sepals and opposite them (sometimes twice as many or up to 15), hypogynous or inserted on the calyx tube, filaments curved or sigmoid. Ovary superior, 2(3)-carpellate, 1-celled and 1-seeded (rarely bilocular and 2-seeded), style 2-parted and stigmas 2. Fruit a samara, drupe, or nutlet with a leathery coat.

16 genera and about 140 species from the tropics to temperate regions, especially in the N. hemisphere; 3 genera and about 12 species native to TX; 3 genera and 7 species in our region.

Some, especially elms (Ulmus), are important timber trees; others are cultivated for shade and ornament or have edible fruit (Celtis). A few species provide food for wildlife (Mabberley 1987).

Trees or less commonly shrubs; bark usually gray (sometimes pinkish in our C. laevigata), smooth or furrowed, often noticeably warty, branches sometimes spiny, winter buds small. Trees deciduous in our region. Leaves petiolate, with 3 main veins arising from the base, ovate to lanceolate, entire to serrate, sometimes coriaceous; stipules lateral, free, scarious. Plants monoecious and/or with perfect flowers; flowers appearing with leaves, produced on current season's growth; staminate flowers 1 to few in cymes or fascicles below, female or perfect flowers solitary or in few-flowered fascicles in the axils of the upper leaves. Calyx deeply to slightly (4-)5-(6-)lobed, the lobes imbricate. Stamens equalling the calyx lobes, inserted on the receptacle, incurved in bud, later exserted, anthers ovate, extrorse. Pistillate flowers usually with non-functional stamens; gynoecium of staminate flowers rudimentary, in female flowers with a 2-lobed style, the lobes entire to bifid, stigmatic on the inner surface, ovary unilocular, sessile. Fruit a glaucous, subglobose to ovoid drupe, thin-fleshed, somewhat dry, with a firm exocarp and a sweet to insipid pulp; seed bony, the surface smooth to rugose; maturing in fall and often persisting through the winter. About 60 mostly tropical species; 6 in TX; 2 here. No two sources agree on the classification of the species in the SE. U.S.

The fruits of many species are edible by humans and wildlife (Elias 1980) and were a common food of native Americans (Kindscher 1987). The wood is used for fuel and fence-posts. Some species will yield a yellow dye from the bark; ours yield tan from twigs and leaves. The flexible branches can be used for weaving baskets (Tull 1987). Some people are allergic to the pollen.