229 • 



Essential Character Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopeta- 



lous, hypogynous, usually irregular, deciduous, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 

 2, or 4, didynamous, very seldom equal. Ovarium superior, 2-ceIled, many-seeded ; style 1, 

 continuous; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit capsular, very seldom succulent, with from 2 to 4 

 valves, which are either entire or bifid ; the dissepiment either double, arising from the 

 incurved margins of the valves ; or simple, and in that case, either parallel with, or oppo- 

 site to, the valves. Placenta central, either adhering to the dissepiment or separating from 

 it. Seeds indefinite ; embryo included within fleshy albumen ; radicle turned towards the 

 hilum (orthotropous) Herbaceous plants, seldom shrubs, with opposite leaves. Inflores- 

 cence very variable. 



Affinities. The capsular monopetalous genera of Dicotyledons-, with 

 a superior ovarium, albuminous seeds, and irregular diandrous or didyna- 

 mous stamens, were separated by Jussieu into two orders, which he called 

 Scrophulariee and Pediculares, distinguished from each other by the dehis- 

 cence of the former being septicidal, and of the latter loculicidal. Mr. 

 Brown, in his Prodromns, pointed out the insufficiency of this character, 

 which is often not even of generic value, and he combined the orders of 

 Jussieu under the common name of Scrophularineaj. This opinion has 

 been adopted by subsequent writers, with the exception of Decandolle, who, 

 in Duby's Botanicon Gallicon (1828), adheres to the old division of Jussieu, 

 their names being changed into Antirrhineas and Rhinanthacese. Notwith- 

 standing this almost liniversal assent to the identity of the two orders of 

 Jussieu, some separations have been made upon different principles from 

 those of that learned botanist. Thus Orobanchese have been distinguished 

 by himself ; Gesnereaj by Nees Von Esenbeck ; and Melampyracese by 

 Richard. The two former are adopted by botanists without dissent; the 

 latter has not been so generally received. In my Synopsis I admitted it, 

 upon the ground of its definite ascending seeds and inverted embryo; but 

 subsequent consideration has led me to think that by excluding from the 

 character all consideration of the number and direction of the seeds, a tribe 

 would be formed, agreeing in a peculiar habit, and in the radicle of the 

 embryo not being presented to the hilum, to which the name of Rhinan- 

 thacese might conveniently be retained. Upon this view of the subject, 

 Scrophularinees will include no genus the embryo of which is not orthotro- 

 pous, and in Rhinanthacese it must be antitropous or heterotropous. For 

 the distinctions of Gesnerese and Orobanchese, see those orders respectively. 

 Scrophularinese agree with Rhinanthaceffi, Orobanchese, Gesnerese, Bigno- 

 niacese, Cyrtandracese, Verbenacese, Myoporineae, Selagineee, Pedahneae, 

 Acanthacese, and Solaneae, in their ovariuoi being formed by the cohesion 

 of two carpella, which stand fore and aft with respect to the axis of in- 

 florescence ; or, in other words, the back of one is presented to the upper 

 lip of the corolla, that part in which the fifth stamen is abortive or rudimen- 

 tary, and the back of the other to the middle lobe of the lower lip between 

 the two anterior stamens ; a curious arrangement, by attending to which no 

 difficulty can be found in recognising Gentianese, which, when out of flower, 

 are exceedingly like. Scrophularinese differ from Bignoniaceae and Peda- 

 Hnese in their habit and albuminous seeds ; from Solanese in their dian- 

 drous or didynamous flowers, straight not curved embryo, and opposite 

 not alternate leaves ; from Verbenaceae and Myoporineae in their polysper- 

 mous fruit, which is usually dehiscent, or at least never drupaceous ; from 

 Selagineae in the same characters and their opposite leaves ; and from Acan- 

 thaceae in their flowers not being surrounded by imbricating bracteae, and in 

 the presence of albumen. Verbascum and Celsia, two genera usually re- 

 ferred to Solaneae, are by some botanists placed here ; they, and Digitalis, 

 which has alternate leaves, form connecting links between the two orders. 



GEOGRAniY. Found in abundance in all parts of the world, from the 



