668 



BOTANY 



Family ti. Lentibulariaceae. Marsh- or water-plants with a spurred corolla 

 and only two (anterior) stamens. They capture and digest insects. Utricularia ( M ), 

 aquatic plants provided with bladder-like traps ; in the tropics also terrestrial and 

 epiphytic forms. Pinguicula, with a rosette of radical leaves, the margins of which 

 are inrolled (cf. Fig. 47 and p. 237). 



Family 7. Acanthaceae. Herbs with decussately arranged leaves and quad- 

 rangular stems. The fruits are bilocular capsules and spring open when mature. 

 Numerous species occur as undergrowth in tropical forests. Species of Acanthus 

 occur in the Mediterranean region. Their large, pinnately-lobed leaves, the lobes 

 terminating in spines, figure in Grecian art on the capitals of pillars, etc. 



FIG. 747.JH<jit(ilis i>urpurea. a, Flower ; b, corolla cut open and spread out ; c, calyx ;ui<l pistil ; 

 d, fruit after dehiscence ; e, transverse section of fruit (nat. size). OFFICIAL. 



Family 8. Plantaginaceae. Herbs with a basal rosette of leaves and long- 

 stalked spikes of crowded flowers. Flowers tetramerous, actinomorphic. Corolla 

 membranous. Ovary bilocular. Style long and papillate. 



GENERA. The native species of Planlago ( 66 ), the Plantain, are markedly proto- 

 gynous (cf. Fig. 241, p. 310) ; the young heads or spikes show the pale-coloured 

 stigmas projecting before the corolla has opened (Fig. 750). Transitional forms 

 from anemophily to entomophily are found. Litorella lacustris is an aquatic 

 plant with a spike of three flowers ; two female flowers are situated at the base, 

 while the male flower has a long stalk. 



Order 7. Rubiinae 



Plants of diverse habit with opposite leaves. In contrast to the 

 preceding order the flowers have a sympetalous corolla associated 



