FAMILIES OF FLOWEKING PLANTS 



239 



stamens 2 or 4, the anthers sometimes united. Ovary 1-celled, sur- 

 rounded by glands at the base. Fruit 1-celled, dry or succulent. 



The chief interest attaching to this family lies in their value as 

 ornamental plants for the greenhouse, most of them, such as Gloxinia, 

 Gesnera, Achimenes, etc., take kindly to cultivation and many beautiful 

 varieties have been developed from the original species. 



Family Columelliaceae. Columellia Family. Consists only of the 

 genus Columellia, with several Peravian species. They are evergreen 

 shrubs related to the Gesneraceae, but the flowers are remarkable in 

 having the two anthers with enormously elongated cells, which coil upon 

 themselves and form a globular mass. 



Fig. 206. Greater Bladderwort {Utricularia vulgaris'). 



Brown, 111. Fl. Northeast U. S. 



After Britton and 



Family Lentibulariaceae. Bladderwort Family. These are marsh 

 terrestrial or aquatic herbs, with perfect irregular flowers having a 2-5- 

 parted calyx, and a 2-lipped corolla, the upper lip 2-lobed, the lower 3- 

 lobed and spurred. Stamens 2 ; ovary 1-celled, capsular in fruit. There 

 are 4 genera and about 180 species ; the two important genera are Utri- 

 cularia and Pingnicula. The former comprises the three bladderworts, 

 most of which are immersed or floating aquatics with finely cut foliage, 

 supported by small inflated bladders, and erect scapes of pink or yellow 

 flowers. (See Fig. 207.) Pinguicula is common in the pine barrens of 



