226 



Orobanche, or at least nothing more than a thin glandular coating to the base 

 of the ovarium. See Von Martins Nov. Gen. et <S/>. Bras. 3. 72. From 

 Scrophularinea; they are known by their 1-celled ovarium and minute inverted 

 embryo ; from Rhinanthacese, 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 Pyrolaces, 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 Oro- 

 banche ramosa will he many years inert in the soil unless they come in con- 

 tact with the roots of Hemp, the plant upon which the species grows parasi- 

 tically, when they immediately sprout. See Ferussac, Feb. 1824, 136. 



Geography. Not uncommon in Europe, particularly in the southern king- 

 doms, 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 Orobanche 

 major. Barton, 2. 38. 



Examples. Orobanche, Lathraea, Phelypsea, jEginetia. 



CCXI. SCROPHULARINE^. The Figwort Tribe. 



Scrophulabi.e, Juss. Gen. 117. (1789).— Scrophularine^, R. Brown Prodr. 433. (1810); 

 Lindl. Svnops. 187. (1829).— Pediculares, Juss. Gen. 99. (1789) in part. — Personate, 

 Dec. Fl. Fr. 3. 573. (1815).— Antirrhinee, Dec. and Duby, 342. (1828).— Halleriace-e, 

 Ltink Handb. 1. 506. (1829) a sect, of Personate. — Scopariace.e, lb. 822. the same. — 

 EBLNE.E, 76. 510. the same. 



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

 irregular unsymmetrical flowers, albuminous seeds, and an orthotropous 

 embryo. 



Anomalies. Scoparia has regular symmetrical flowers. Leaves some- 

 times alternate. 



Essential Character. — Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopetalous, hypo- 

 gynous, usually irregular, deciduous, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 2, or 4, didy- 

 namous, very seldom equal. Ovarium superior, 2-celled, 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 opposite to, the valves. Placentae 

 central, cither adhering 1 to the dissepiment or separating from it. Seeds indefinite; embryo 

 included within fleshy albumen ; radicle turned towards the hilum (orthotropous). — Herbace- 

 ous plants, seldom shrubs, with opposite leaves. Inflorescence very variable. 



Affinities. The capsular monopetalous genera of Dicotyledons, with a 

 superior ovarium, albuminous seeds, and irregular diandrous or didynamous 

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

 lariffi and Pediculares, distinguished from each other by the dehiscence of the 

 former being septicidal, and of the latter loculicidal. Mr. Brown, in his Pro- 

 dromus, 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 Scrophularineai. This opinion has been adopted by subsequent 

 writers, with the exception of Decandolle, who, in Duby's Boianicon Gallimn 

 (1828), adheres to the old division of Jussieu, their names being changed into 



