THE DICOTYLEDOXES 



1895 



Fig. 181 1. — Cobaea scamiens. Flower. 



Fig. 1 8 10. — Fhinx. iierbaceous garden form. 

 These fa\ourite garden plants are mostly 

 hybrids of P. paniculata and P. )iiaculata. 



The Hydrophyllaceae are also mainly North American in distribu- 

 tion. The family contains about 200 species most of which are annual or 

 perennial herbs, with parietal placentation. Species of Nemophila are 

 grown in gardens. Hydrophyllum cauadense is used as an antidote for Poison 

 Ivy and for various skin diseases. 



The Boraginaceae are a large family with about 1,600 species, included 

 in some ninety genera. The plants are mostly annual or perennial herbs, 

 more rarely trees or shrubs, usually with simple, alternate leaves and flowers 

 which are arranged in scorpioid cymes. Rough bristles are a notable 

 feature of the vegetative parts. The flowers are hermaphrodite, only rarely 

 zygomorphic, and hypogynous. The sepals are five in number, usually 

 free or united into a bell-shaped tube. The corolla is tubular and composed 

 of five petals, and in Symphytum there is an inner corona formed of petal 

 lobes. The stamens are equal in number to the petals and alternate with 

 them. The gvnoecium is composed of two carpels which are initially 

 unilocular, but, by the growth of false septa, the ovary becomes divided 

 into four uniovulate segments with a single gynobasic style. The ovules 

 are more or less erect with orthotropous micropyles. The truit consists of 

 four nutlets, or more rarely drupes. The seeds may or may not be endo- 

 spermic and the shape of the embryo is variable. 



The family is represented in Britain by a number of genera. Among the 

 more important and best known are Borago (Borage), Myosotis (Forget- 

 me-not), Symphytum (Fig. 1812) (Comfrey), Anchusa{¥\g. 1813) (Alkanet), 

 Cynoglossum (Hound's Tongue), Echium (Viper's Bugloss), Heliotropium 

 (Heliotrope) (Fig. 1814). 



