Tecoma. LXXXVIII. BIGNONIACEiE. 393 



4 — 5-lobed ; ovary seated in a fleshy disk ; capsule ovoid, acute, 1- 

 celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. — % Stems mostly simple. 



1. O. UNiFLORA. (O. biflora. Nutt.) One-Jinvered Broomrape. 



Scapes in pairs, naked, each 1-flowered. — A small, leafless plant, with the 

 general aspect of a Monotropa, found in woods and thickets. Can. and U. S. 

 Root short, thick, smooth, scaly, surmounted by a stem not exceeding J' in length. 

 This divides at its top, generally into 2, scape-like, erect, round, simple, naked 

 peduncles 4 — 5' high, downy, purplish-white, with a nodding flower at the top, 

 of the same hue. A dozen or more such flower stalks are often found clustered 

 together. June, July. 



2. O. Americana. Amcritan Broomrape. 



St. simple, covered with oval-lanceolate, imbricated scales ; spilcc smooth, 

 terminal ; corolla recurved ; sta. exsert. — Woods, Can. to Ga. and La. Stem 

 very thick, 4 — 6' high, very smooth, brownish-yellqw, leafless, closely imbri- 

 cated witli pale, polished, oval scales. The spikes are dense. Bracts pale and 

 smooth like the scales of the stem. Corolla tubular, bent downwards, the upper 

 lip vaulted, yellow. Calyx irregularly divided into jagged segments, with 2 

 bracts at ba.se. July. 



2. EPIPHEGUS. Nutt. 



Gr. cTTi, upon, (priyvs, the beech ; being supposed parasitical on the roots of that tree. 



Monoeciously polygamous ; calyx abbreviated, 5-toothed. c? Co- 

 rolla ringent, compressed, 4-cleft. lower lip flat. 9 Corolla minute, 

 4-tootlied, deciduous; capsule truncate, oblique, 1 -celled, 2-valved, 

 opening only on one side. — % with virgate, sivifle branches which are 

 Jloriferous their lohole length. 



E. ViRGiNiANUs. Eaton. (E. Americanus. Nutt and \st edit.) Beech-drops. 



St. branched, leafless ; fis. remote, alternate ; cor. 4-toothed, deciduous.- 

 This is said to be a parasitic plant growing from the roots of beech trees. 

 Woods, Can. to Car. and Ky. Root a scaly ball covered with stiff", short and 

 brittle radicles. Stem a foot high, with slender and irregular branches given 

 off the whole length of it. Instead of leaves it has only a few small, ovate scales, 

 one at the base of each branch. Flowers alternately scattered on each branch, 

 the upper ones barren, with recurved corollas, brownish-white, with darker 

 stripes above. Fertile ones smaller, deciduous. The whole plant is of a dull 

 red color. Aug. Sept. 



Order LXXXVIII. BIGNONIACE^.— Bignoniads. 



Trees, shrubs, or rarely herls, often cUmbing or twiniiifr. 

 Lvs. opposite, either simple or compoiiiul, without stipules. 

 FIs. terminal. Cal. divided or entire, sometimes spathaceous. 

 Cor.— Tube broad, witli an irregular, 5-lobed or bilabiate limb. 

 Sta. 5, 1 or 3 sterile, ulten didynamous. Anthe.is 2-celled. 

 Ova. 2-celled, seated in a fleshy disk. Style I. Stigma o^2 plates. 

 F;-.— Capsule coriaceous, 1— 2-celled. 2-valved, many -seeded. 

 ads. generally winged, destitute of albiunen. 



Genera 44, species 450, mostly North American. Others are diffused in all countries, particularly within 

 the tropics. Several of the Brazilian species of Bignonia afibrd a valuable timber. But this order is best 

 known for the beauty of its flowers. 



Genera. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Stamens 4, fertile. Climbingshrubs Tecoma. I 



Caly.x 2-parted. Stamens 2 fertile, witli 2 or three abortive. Trees Catalpa. 2 



1. TECOMA. Juss. 

 Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed ; cor. tube short, throat dilated, limb 

 5-lobed, subbilabiated or equal ; sta. 4, didynamous, with the rudi- 

 ment of a fifth ; anth. cells 2, diverging ; caps. 2-celled, 2-valved ; 

 seeds winged. — Trees or shrubs, often climbing. Lvs. opposite, digitate 

 or V7ieqvally jnnnate. 



