238 FAMILIES OF FLOWEEING PLANTS 



Famil}' Pedaliaceae. Sesame Family. This is not a large group, 

 containing only about 10 genera and 25 species. The plants are annual 

 or perennial, with simple leaves and rather large axillary or clustered 

 flowers. The calyx and corolla are each 5-lobed, the latter nearly 

 regular ; stamens 4, didynamous, with an abortive or rudimentary fifth 

 one ; ovary 1-celled, becoming a rather hard capsular fruit of variable 

 shape. The family is confined to the tropics, being most abundant in 

 Africa. Seeds in most of the genera are decidedly mucilaginous ; this 

 is particularly true of sesame {Sesamum Indicum) whose seeds, known 

 in the West Indies as "benny seeds," yield a fixed oil, and are much 

 used in making cakes and confectionery ; the oil is also used as an 

 adulterant for olive and almond oil. 



Family Marty niaceae. Marty nia Family. This curious family, 

 consisting of a single genus, with about 12 species, was formerly 

 included in the preceding, from which it is abundantly distinguished 

 by the irregular flowers, and the fniit, which is tipped with two long 

 curved beaks or horns, whence it is sometimes called the unicorn plant. 

 The species are all tropical American, and one occurs as an escape as 

 far north as New York City. Several species are in garden cultivation, 

 both for their interesting flowers, and for the young fruit, from which 

 very good pickles can be made. 



Family Orobanchaecae. Broom Rape Family. Contains about 

 11 genera and 200 species, of wide distribution. They are all root para- 

 sites, practically leafless, the leaves being reduced to small appressed 

 scales ; the flowers are perfect and irregular, either solitary or in ter- 

 minal spikes. Calyx 4-5-toothed, or cleft on one or both sides. Cor- 

 olla 5-lobed, 2-lipped. Stamens 4, didynamous, with the rudiment of a 

 fifth present. Ovary 1-celled, becoming a 2-valved capsule with numer- 

 ous seeds. 



The broom-rapes startle us by the ghostly spontaneity with which 

 they spring up in unexpected places. They are usually of one color 

 throughout, and the effect is sometimes rather pleasing. Thus the 

 small naked broom-rape {Thalesia uniflora) has a solitary long-pedun- 

 cled flower, and is pale Klac throughout. It grows rather abund- 

 antly in the spring in moist woods. Squaw-root (Conopholis), on 

 the other hand, is found in dense tufts at the bases of trees ; it has the 

 yellowish flowers in stiff spikes. Plants of this family possess tonic 

 and astringent properties, and have occasionally been used in medicine. 



Family Gesueraceae. Gloxinia Family. About 100 genera and 800 

 species, natives exclusively of the tropics, and particularly abundant 

 in South America. They are herbs or shrubs, frequently with tuberous 

 roots ; the wrinkled leaves are opposite, and the flowers are nearly 

 always showy. Calyx 5-parted ; corolla 5-lobed, somewhat irregular ; 



