193 



land and the mountains of Europe, to the sterile volcanic regions of Cape Horn. 

 A few are found within the tropics ; of these Plumbago zeylanica extends 

 from Ceylon to Port Jackson, and iEgialitis grows among the Mangroves of 

 northern Australasia. 



Properties. This order contains plants of very opposite qualities ; part are 

 tonic and astringent, and part acrid and caustic in the highest degree. The 

 root of Statice caroliniana is one of the most powerful astringents in the vege- 

 table materia medica. Bigelow, 2. 55. The bruised fresh bark of the root of 

 Plumbago zeylanica acts as a vesicatory, and is applied in India to buboes in 

 ♦heir incipient state. Ainslie, 2. 77. Plumbago europasa is employed by beg- 

 gars to raise ulcers upon their bodies to excite pity ; and Plumbago scandens 

 is remarkably acrid. Plumbago europsa is said by Duroques to have been 

 used with considerable advantage in cases of cancer, for which purpose the ul- 

 cers were dressed twice daily with olive oil in which the leaves had been infused. 

 Ibid. 2. 78. Plumbago scandens is called, on account of these properties, Herbe 

 du Diable in St. Domingo. As garden plants, nearly the whole of the order is 

 much prized for beauty, particularly the Statices, many of which are among 

 the most lovely herbaceous plants we know. 



Examples. Statice, Armeria, Taxanthema, Plumbago, iEgialitis, Vogelia, 

 Theta. 



CLXXXIV. DIPSACEtE. The Scabious Tribe. 



Dipsacej;, Juss. Gen. 194. (1789); Dec. et Duby Bot. Gall. 255. (1829); Lindl. Synops. 139. 

 (1829) ; Coulter Mem. in Act. Genev. 2. 13. (1823). [Dec. Prod. 4. 643. (1830.)] 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with an inferior 1-celled ovarium, 

 capitate flowers, distinct anthers, and albuminous pendulous seeds. 

 Anomalies. Ovarium sometimes partly superior. 



Essential Character. — Calyx superior, membranous, resembling - pappus ; surrounded by 

 a scarious involucellum. Corolla monopetalous, tubular, inserted in the calyx ; limb oblique, 

 4- or 5-lobed, with an imbricated activation. Stamens usually 4 or 5, alternate with the lobes 

 of the corolla; anthers distinct. Ovarium inferior, 1-celled, with a single pendulous ovulum ; 

 style 1 ; stigma simple. Fruit dry, indehiscent, 1-celled, crowned by the pappus-like calyx ; 

 embryo straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen; radicle superior.— Herbaceous plants or 

 under-shrubs". Leaves opposite or whorled. Flowers collected upon a common receptacle, and 

 surrounded by a many-leaved involucrum. 



Affinities. The relation of this family is obviously in the first degree with 

 Composite, from which it differs in its distinct stamens and its pendulous albu- 

 minous seeds; and next with Calycereas, which have connate anthers and alter- 

 nate leaves. But if we compare it with Caprifoliaceee, different as it is in 

 habit, we shall find very little beyond the capitate flowers and the presence of 

 an involucellum to distinguish it absolutely. The same character of the capi- 

 tate flowers, and the presence of albumen, forms the distinction between Dipsa- 

 ceae and Valerianeee. What is called the involucellum is a curious organ, re- 

 sembling an external calyx, and is to each particular flower of the head of 

 Dipsaceae what the partial involucrum of Umbelliferse is to each partial umbel ; 

 and, accordingly, we ought to expect to find instances of more flowers than one 

 being enclosed within this involucellum ; and this is said by Coulter actually 

 to take place in the genus Gundelia. This is, however, not the only peculia- 

 rity of the order. Mr. Brown has the following curious remarks : 



35 



