DICOTYLEDONS lO/ 



by some botanists included in the Campanula or 

 Canterbury-bell family. They differ by having 

 irregular flowers. 



The ovary is two-celled and inferior. The calyx 

 consists of five pointed sepals on the summit of 

 the inferior ovary ; the corolla, instead of having 

 its petals coherent into the bell-shaped structure 

 of Canterbury-bells, has it split down the posterior 

 side, to allow the stamens to pass through it. 

 These have their anthers united into a tube, and 

 not free as in Campanula. The style is provided 

 with a tuft of hairs just below the two flap-like 

 stigmas, which are at first pressed together. The 

 use of this contrivance is to sweep out the pollen 

 as the style passes up the anther-tube. Having 

 done this the stigmas separate. It is then ready 

 for the visits of insects. 



Like the Campanulas, Lobelias have a milky 

 juice. In both it is remarkably bitter and acrid, 

 but while the former are not regarded as poisonous 

 — indeed one species of Campanula called Rampion 

 was cultivated for its thick tuberous roots, which 

 are milky and eaten in salads — the Lobelias are 

 dangerously poisonous. We have only two species 

 of Lobelia to represent the family in England. 



Lobelia {L. Dortmanna and urens), — Of these 

 two British species, the former occurs in lakes 

 in Wales, and the latter is found near Axminster. 

 But numerous species from America are in cultiva- 



