228 



superior 1-celled ovarium, irregular unsymmetrical flowers, ai|d a minute 

 embryo inverted in the apex of fleshy albumen. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Coro//a monopetalous, 



hypog)'nous, irregular, persistent, with an imbricated sestivation. Stamens 4, didynamous. 

 Ovarium superior, 1-celled, seated in a fleshy disk, with 2 or 4 parietal polyspenr.ous pla- 

 centae; slyle 1; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit capsular, enclosed within, the withered corolla, 

 1-celled, 2-valved, each valve bearing 1 or 2 placenta; in the middle. Seeds indefinite, 

 very minute; embryo minute, inverted, at the apex of a fleshy albumen. — Herbaceous 

 leafless plants, growing parasitically upon the roots of other species. Stems covered with 

 brown or colourless scales. 



Affinities. Extremely near Gesnerese in character, although very 

 different in habit. They are distinguished by their seeds having a minute 

 embryo lying in one end of fleshy albumen, and spherical pollen, while 

 the embryo of Gesnereae is cylindrical and erect, occupying the axis of the 

 albumen, and the pollen elliptical, with a furrow on one side. In Gesnerese 

 the seeds are attached by rather long funiculi, while they are absolutely 

 sessile in Orobanchese. Moreover, there is a tendency in the latter to 

 become pentandrous, or even hexandrous ; but not only no such tendency 

 exists in the former, but the reverse takes place, in the occasional increased 

 sterility of the stamens. There is scarcely any trace of the glandular pro- 

 cesses of the disk of Gesnerese in Orobanche, or at least nothing more than a 

 thin glandular coating to the base of the ovarium. See Von Martins Nov. Gen. 

 et Sp. Bras. 3. 72. From Scrophularineas they are known by their 1-celled 

 ovarium and minute inverted embryo ; from Melampyraceae, by the former 

 of these characters; and from all that have been mentioned, by their habit 

 and parasitical mode of growth. In this respect they resemble Pyrolacese, 

 from which they differ in their ovarium being composed of 2, not 5 carpella, 

 and their irregular unsymmetrical flowers. According to the observations 

 of M. Vaucher, of Geneva, the seeds of Orobanche ramosa will lie many 

 years inert in the soil unless they come in contact with the roots of Hemp, 

 the plant upon which the species grows parasitically, when they immediately 

 sprout. See Ferussac, Feb. 1824, 136. 



Geography. Not uncommon in Europe, particularly in the southern 

 kingdoms, Barbary, middle and northern Asia, and North America; very 

 rare in India. 



Properties. The Orobanche virginiana is supposed to have formed, 

 in conjunction with white oxide of arsenic, a famous cancer powder, which 

 was known in North America under the name of" Martin's Cancer Powder." 

 It is thought to participate in the powerful astringent properties of Oro- 

 banche major. Barton, 2. 38. 



ExAiMPLES. Orobanche, Lathraea, Phelypaea, ^ginetia. 



CCXI. SCROPHULARINEiE. The Figwort Tribe. 



ScROPHUi.ARiyE, Juss. Gen. 11?. (17itO) ScRorniii.ARiNEVF., R. Brown Prodr. 43.3. 



(1«1())'; I.indl. Synops. 1«7. (Ifi2!)). — PEDicin.AUEs, Juss. Gen. !)!). (17fi9) «» 



part PERSONATii^;, Dec. Ft. Fr. '.i. 5T-i. (1«15) — ANTiRRniNE.E, Dec. and 



Duly, 342. (182H) — Hai.i.eriace.>., Link Ilandb. 1. Um. (I!i2!») a sect, o/ Per- 

 sonata; Scopariace^., lb. 822. the same — KRiNEyV., lb. 510. the same. 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with a superior 2-celled cap- 

 sule, irregular unsymmetrical flowers, albuminous seeds, and an orthotropous 

 embryo. 



Anomalies. Scoparia has regular symmetrical flowers. Leaves some- 

 times alternate. 



