172 



PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



V. blattaria. L. Garden Mullein. This plant is named 

 from its supposed power of driving away the blatta or cockroach. 

 It is a rather handsome plant of the gardens, cultivated for its 

 flowers ; smooth ; flowers whitish ; introduced from Britain ; it 

 has wandered, in a few instances, into the roads or fields, and 

 propagated itself. 



A few species are said to be beautiful plants, and near twenty 

 have been introduced into England. 



ORDER 215. PEDALINE^. 



Calyx in 5 nearly equal segments ; corolla of 1 petal, irregular, 

 limb 2-hpped, and swollen towards the upper part of the tube ; 

 stamens 4, 2 long and the other pair short ; flowers axillary ; 

 leaves opposite. 



This order is named from Pedahum, a genus of the East In- 

 dies, so called from its hard and prickly fruit. 



Martynia. L. 13. 2. 



Named in honor of J. Martyn, a distinguished Enghsh botanist ; 

 found chiefly within the tropics. 



JM. proboscidea. L. Unicorn Plant. From the long, curved, 

 proboscis-like termination of the fruit-vessel ; sometimes culti- 

 vated in gardens ; a low plant, with large leaves, and large yellow 

 flowers, and of nauseous, offensive odor ; a native of the Southern 

 States. 



Sesamum. 

 ♦S*. Indicum. L. Oily-grain. 



L. 13. 2. 



Introduced from the East, and 

 cultivated occasionally in gardens. Upper leaves undivided, the 

 lower 3-lobed, serrate ; flowers reddish-white ; seeds used in 

 cookery, contain much excellent oil. Leaves emollient. 



ORDER 220. VERBENACE^. The Vervain Tribe. 



Calyx tubular, inferior, persistent ; corolla 1-petalIed, tubular, 

 deciduous ; stamens 4, rarely 2, one pair commonly shorter than 



