248 



FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Fig. 216. The balsam-apple {Momordica charantia). 

 One-half natural size. Original. 



weed of old fields, and is remarkable for 

 producing, like the violets, cleistogamous 

 flowers, which are fertilized in the bud and 

 never open. 



Another division of the family is repre- 

 sented by Lobelia, of which there are 225 

 species. In this group the flowers are ir- 

 regular, being 2-lipped, with the lips vari- 

 ously cleft. The anthers are united into 

 a tube or ring around the style. There 

 are many tropical allies of Lobelia, but the 

 ixreatest number occur in the Hawaiian 

 islands, and many are endemic there: Our 

 native Lobelias are superior in beauty to 

 those in cultivation ; important among 

 these are the cardinal-flower and the great 

 blue lobelia (Fig. 218). 



Family Cichoriaceae. Chicory Family. 

 Contains about 65 genera and 1400 species, 

 of wide distribution. They are almost all 

 herbs, with milky juice and alternate or 

 basal leaves. The flowers are borne in 

 heads subtended by an involucre as above 

 described. The flowers are all similar and 

 perfect, the calyx-tube completely adher- 

 ent to the ovary, the spreading upper por- 

 tion (known as the pappus), consisting of 

 scales or bristles or sometimes wanting. 

 The corolla is gamopetalous, its limb ex- 



A western species of bell- 

 flower (Campanula planiflora). One- 

 half natural size. Original. 



