227 



Geography. Natives of marshes, or rivulets, or fountains, in all parts 

 of the world, especially within the tropics. 

 Properties. Unknown. 

 Examples. Pinguicula, Utricularia. 



CCIX. GESNERE^. 



Gesverie^e, Rich, et Juss. Ann. Mus. 5. 428. (1804); KunthinHumh. N. G. et Sp. 



2. 392. (1817) ; Lindley in Bot. Reg. 1110. (182?) Gesneriace^, Link Handb. 



1. 504. (1829) a 4rc^ o/Personatae. — Gesnereje, Von Martins Nov. Gen. Bras. 



3. 68. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with a half inferior ovarium, 

 parietal projecting placentae, a capitate stigma, irregular flowers, and an em- 

 bryo in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



Anomalies. Sarmienta is diandrous. 



Essential Character. — Ca/^.r half superior, 5-parted, with a valvate aestivation. 

 Corolla monopetalous, tubular, more or less irregular, 5-lobed, with an imbricate estiva- 

 tion. Stamens didynamous ; anthers cohering, 2-celled, innate, with a thick tumid con- 

 nectivum; the rudiment of a fifth stamen is present. Ovarium half superior, 1 -celled, 

 with 2 fleshy 2-lobed parietal polyspermous placentae ; surrounded at its base by glands 

 alternating with the stamens ; style continuous with the ovarium ; stigma capitate, con- 

 cave. Fruit capsular or succulent, half superior, 1 -celled, 2-valved, with loculicidal de- 

 hiscence and 2 opposite lateral placentae, each consisting of 2 plates. Seeds very numerous, 

 minute ; embryo erect, in the axis of fleshy albumen ; testa thin, with very close fine obUque 



veins Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. Leaves opposite, rugose, without stipulaa. 



Flowers showy, in racemes, or panicles, rarely solitary. 



Affinities. Nearly allied to Bignoniacese through Eccremocarpus, 

 from which they differ in their ovarium being 1 -celled and partly inferior, 

 in their apterous seeds, and in habit. Distinguished from Cyrtandraceae 

 only by their usually inferior 1 -celled ovarium, with simple placentae and 

 albuminous seeds, the testa of which is twisted in a singular manner. 

 From Scrophularineae they are known by the same characters, with the 

 exception of the albuminous seeds, in which respect they agree with that 

 order. They also approach Orobanchese, Acanthacese, and Pedalinece, with 

 all which they agree in the position of the pericarpial leaves being anterior 

 and posterior with regard to the axis of inflorescence, and consequently the 

 placentae right and left. 



Geography. Exclusively natives of the tropical parts of South Ame- 

 rica and of the West India Islands. 



Properties. Generally beautiful herbaceous plants, bearing flowers, 

 the prevailing colour of which is bright red, and having tuberous roots. 

 The succulent fruits are mucilaginous, sweetish, and eatable. A dye is 

 obtained from the calyxes and fruit of some of them for staining cotton, straw 

 work, and domestic utensils. 



Examples. Gesnera, Gloxinia, Hypocyrta, AUoplectus. 



OCX. OROBANCHEiE. The Broom-Rape Tribe. 



Ohobanche*, Juss. Ann. Mus. 12. 445. ^1808) ; Richard in Pers. Synops. 2. 180. (1807) ; 

 Dec. and Dnby Bot. Gall. 348. (1828); Lindl. Synops. 193. (1829) — Oroban- 

 CHiN^, Link Handb. 1. 506. (1829) a sect, o/ Personatae. 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous, colourless, parasitical dicotyledons, with a 



