231 



only character which I can find for this group, which Duvau calls " tres- 

 tranche et presqu'isole." The habit is peculiar; Chelone is the genus 

 among Scrophuiarineoe to which they most nearly approach. In my 

 Sy7iopsis I have followed Richard in distinguishing Melampyracea! from 

 Rhinanthacese, an'd placing the latter among Scrophularinete ; but I now 

 entertain a different opinion : see ScrophularincEe. Duvau says he has 

 observed that, in some species of Euphrasia, Bartsia, Rhinanthus, Melam- 

 pyrum, and Pedicularis, the base of the corolla is persistent in the form of a 

 collar ; and he suggests the possibility of this character, which he has also 

 remarked in Orobanche, being of importance. 



Geography. Natives of Europe, Asia, and America, particularly in 

 the more temperate parts ; also of the Cape of Good Hope, South America, 

 India, and New Holland. 



Properties.' Euphrasia officinalis is slightly bitter and aromatic, and 

 was formerly employed in diseases of the eye, but is now disused. Cows are 

 said to be fond of Melampyrum pratense ; and Linnaeus says the best and 

 yellowest butter is made where it abounds. The Pedicularises are acrid, 

 but are eaten by goats. Nearly all this tribe turn black in drying. 



Examples. Rhinanthus, Pedicularis, Melampyrum. 



CCXIII. SOLANE^. The Nightshade Tribe. 



SoLANE^, Jiiss. Gen. 124. (1789); R. Brown Prodr. 443. (1810); Lindl. Syiiops. 180. 



(1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a supe- 

 rior 2-ceIled ovarium, indefinite ovules, a plaited corolla, succulent fruit, and 

 alternate leaves. 



Anomalies. Verbascum has irregular flowers. The anthers of Sola- 

 num open by pores. Nolana has a deeply 5- or more-lobed ovarium. Nico- 

 tiana multivalvis has many cells in the capsule. 



Essential Character. — Calyx 5-parted, seldom 4-parted, persistent, inferior. 

 Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous ; the limb 5-cleft, seldom 4-eleft, regular, or somewhat 

 unequal, deciduous ; the cBstivation, in the genuine genera of the order, plaited ; in the 

 spurious genera imbricated. Stamens inserted upon the corolla,, as many as the segments 

 of the liml), with which they are alternate, 1 sometimes being abortive ; anthers bursting 

 longitudinally, rarely by pores at the apex. Ovarium 2-celled, with 2 polyspermous 

 placentae ; style continuous ; stigma simple. Pericarpium with 2 or 4 cells, either a cap- 

 sule with a double dissepiment parallel with the valves, or a berry, with the placentae 

 adhering to the dissepiment. Seeds numerous, sessile ; embryo more or less curved, often 

 out of the centre, lying in fleshy albiimen ; radicle next the hilunii — Ilcrhaceoiis plants 

 or shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided, or lobed ; the floral ones sometimes double, and 

 placed near each other. Inflorescence variable, often out of the axillae ; the pedicels without 

 bracteae. 



Affinities. Mr. Brown remarks, that this order is chiefly known from 

 Scrophularinese by the curved or spiral embryo, the plaited aestivation of the 

 corolla, and the flowers being usually regular, with the same number of sta- 

 mens as lobes. Hence the genera with a corolla not plaited, and at the 

 same time a straight embryo, should either be excluded, or placed in a sepa- 

 rate section, along with such as have an imbricated corolla, a slightly curved 

 embryo, and didynamous stamens. Prodr. 444. To this a third section 

 should be added for Nolana, which has a deeply 5- or more-lobed ovarium, 

 each lobe containing one or more cells, in each of which lies a single seed. 

 Nolana paradoxa has a considerable number of little dru{)es crowded one 

 above the other ; so that this section would appear to differ from true Sola- 



