191 



healiiiff the offensive sores which sometimes take place inside of the ears. It 

 is also supposed to be a useful remedy, poured up the nostrils, in cases of 

 ozama. Jiinslie, 2. 85. The root of Bryonia possesses powerful purgative 

 properties, but is said to be capable of becoming wholesome food if properly 

 cooked. The perennial roots of all the order appear to contain similar bitter 

 drastic virtues, especially that of the Momordica Elaterium, or Spirting 

 Cucumber. An extremely active poisonous principle, called Elatine, has also 

 been found in the placenta of this plant. It exists in such extremely small 

 quantity, that Dr. Clutterbuck only obtained 6 grains from 40 fruit. Ed. P. J. 

 3. 307. An ingenious explanation of the cause of the singular ejection of 

 the seeds of this plant will be found in Dutrochet Nouvelles Recherches sur 

 I'Exosmose, The root of Bryonia rostrata is prescribed in India internally, in 

 electuary, in cases of piles. It is also used as a demulcent, in the form of 

 powder/ That of Bryonia cordifolia is considered cooling, and to possess 

 virtues in complaints requiring expectorants. Jiinslie, 2. 21. The root of 

 Bryonia epigaea was once supposed to be the famous Colombo root, to which 

 it approaches very nearly in quality. The tender shoots and leaves of Bryonia 

 scabra are aperient, having been previously roasted. Ibid. 2. 212. The seeds 

 of all the species are. sweet and oily, and capable of forming very readily an 

 emulsion; those of Joliffia africana, an African plant, are as large as chest- 

 nuts, and said to be as excellent as almonds, having a very agreeable flavour ; 

 when pressed . they yield an abundance of oil, equal to that of the finest 

 Olives. Decandolle remarks, that the seeds of this family never participate in 

 the property of the pulp that surrounds them. 



Examples. Cucurnis, Biyonia, Cucurbita, Luffa. 



CLXXXII PLANTAGINE^E. The Rib-Grass Tribe. 



Plant agines, Juss. Gen. 89. (1789).— Plantagine.e, R. Brown Prodr. 423. (1810); Lindl. 



Sr/nops. 169. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous tetrandrous dicotyledons, with a regular corolla, 

 a superior 2-4-celled ovarium, a simple filiform stigma, spiked flowers, flaccid 

 filaments, and a membranous pericarp dehiscing transversely. 



Anomalies. In Littorella the flowers are solitary. 



Essential Chabacter. — Flowers usually monoelinous, seldom diclinous. Calyx 4-parted, 

 persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, persistent, with a 4-parted limb. Stawc7is4, 

 inserted into the corolla, alternately with its segments ; JUdments filiform, flaccid, doubled 

 inwards in aestivation ; anthers versatile, 2-celled. Ovarium sessile, without a disk, 2-, very 

 seldom 4-celled ; ovula peltate or erect, solitary, twin, or indefinite ; style simple, capillary; 

 stigma hispid, simple, rarely half bifid. Capsule membranous, dehiscing transversely. 

 ,V, , ds sessile, peltate, or erect, solitary, twin, or indefinite ; testa, mucilaginous ; embryo in the 

 axis of fleshyalbumen; radicle inferior ; ■plumida inconspicuous.— Herbaceous plants, usually 

 stemless, occasionally with a stem ; hairs simple, articulated. Leaves flat and ribbed, or 

 taper and fleshy. Flowers in spikes, rarely solitary. 



Affinities. By Jussieu this is considered apetalous, the corolla being 

 called calyx, and the calyx bractea?. But this appears so contrary to all 

 analogy, that it is impossible to adopt the opinion. The order seems to be 

 more near Plumbagineae than any other, agreeing with them in habit, and 

 also in the general structure of the flower, but differing in having a 1-celled 

 ovarium, with a solitary ovulum, and several stigmas. Mr. Don (Jameson's 



