190 MONOGRAPH OF THE 
Lepidanche Compositarum is confined to Solidago, Helianthus 
and some other Composite. Yet several, like the European 
C. Epithymum, and the American C. Polygonorum, live promis- 
cuously on most of the vegetable productions within their 
reach, evidently preferring, however, some particular species 
or genus, and rarely seen, except in its immediate vicinity. 
I have, therefore ventured, so far as practicable, to name the 
Cuscute after the plants on which they grow ; in accordance 
with the nomenclature frequently adopted, of late, in the 
case of parasites, especially in the genus Orobanche, as 0. 
Galii, O. Eryngii, O. Scabiose, O. Salvie, &c. thereby desig- 
nating an important circumstance in the history of the plant. 
1. Cuscura. L. Dodder. 
Calyx monosepalous, 4-5cleft, persistent. Corolla cam- 
panulate or urceolate, 4-5cleft; styles 1 or 2. Capsule 
2-celled, 4-seeded. Am 
Twining parasitic plants ; stem filiform, simple or generally 
branched, whitish, yellow, or orange-coloured, with scaly — 
leaves. The inflorescence is a cyme, with a central flower 
opening first, and axillary or lateral flowers, expanding 
afterwards ; flowers whitish, sessile or pedunculate, more or 
less clustered and conglomerate in some species, and rather — 
lax (paniculate) in others. First or central flower mostly 
5-partite, lateral ones in some species regularly 4-partite, In 
others almost always 5-partite. Limb of the corolla erect — 
spreading or reflexed, and together with the stamens either cee 
persistent at the base of the capsule or more frequently 58- — 
parated from its insertion, and covering its summit: its 
texture in some species nearly membranaceous, in others. 
thicker and more fleshy. HD. 
Stamens united with the tube of the corolla up to the base | 
of the segments. Near their base, within the tube of the - 
corolla, they bear a scale which is evidently not a distinct — 
organ ; but only an appendage of the stamens. These are 
present in all the species I have examined ; sometimes consist- 
