GA.MOPETAL.f:-II 123 



r 



about 208. a cwt. The leaves are collected in sj^ring or 

 early suininer. 



BoraginacesB. — The Comf rey Family. Most of the 

 members composing the BoraginacesB possess large, 

 rough, liairy leaves and blue or purple flowers; in all 

 cases the leaves are very large in comparison with the 

 flowers. The question as to whether a certain flower 

 showinpf these characteristics does or does not belong to 



the Boraginacea? can be definitely settled by an examina- 

 tion of the pistil. This organ is of practically the same 

 structure as in the Labiatse (fig. 77), this par- 

 ticular type being exclusively confined to 

 these two Natural Orders. The flower has 

 normally 5 fused sepals, 5 fused petals, and 

 5 stamens. As the flowers of Labiatfe have 

 only 4 stamens, and have an irregular corolla, ^ 



the two orders are readily distinguished from ^^i^ 77 _pistii 

 each other. The species included under the of Boraginace* 

 Boraginace^ possess soft mucilaginous juices, 

 which added to beverages impart to these a refreshing 

 taste. There are no poisonous plants in the order, but a 

 few have a medicinal or sub-medicinal interest. 



CoMFREY (Sy7nphytitm officinaley — This handsome 

 plant, with its yellow, pink or purple, drooping flowers, 

 and large, elliptical, hairy, pointed leaves, is common in 

 watery ''places and on the banks of rivers. Another 

 strikino- feature are the wings which line the upper part 



of the stem. 



The root of Comfrey is in great demand, the plant 

 being regularly cultivated, as herbalists use the roots 

 extensivdy. Comfrey has long been used as an old- 

 fashioned, domestic cough-remedy.^ 



• The chief constituent of the root is mnciluf/e, others being 'cuucl.i an.l 

 ofarch. The leaves are sometimes grown as an esculent vcsotable, but are 

 little valued except as food for horses. 



