BORAGINACE^: 



105 



Greater Dodder — Cuscuta europcea 



(Plate LXI) 



We have figured this plant as the representative 

 of a very curious genus of which we have several 

 British species. They are without proper leaves 

 or roots, and are entirely parasitic, consisting only 

 of a bundle of long bare reddish filaments, twining 

 round nettles, flax, and similar plants. The stems 

 twist round each other, as well as round the 

 plants which they infest. The pale reddish flowers 

 stand 10 or 12 together in small clusters at 

 intervals on the stems; they are without stalks. 

 Both the calyx and corolla are sometimes 4-lobate 

 and sometimes 5-lobate. The small seeds germi- 

 nate in the ground, and as soon as the young 

 filament touches a suitable plant it embraces it, 

 attaching itself by its sucking tubercles ; and the 

 lower part of the thread, by which it was at first 

 attached to the ground, withers away. It greatly 

 impedes the development of the plants to which it 

 attaches itself. Another species of Dodder {Cuscuta 

 trifolii) attacks Clover, and is often very destructive. 



Order LIV. Boraginacece (11 genera) 



The plants included in this family are generally 

 herbaceous, more or less hairy, with alternate 

 leaves, the flowers regular, with the calyx and 

 corolla 5-lobed, 5 stamens, and the ovary of 

 4 divisions, each containing a seed. The colour 

 of the flowers is most frequently blue. 



Large Wax Flower — Cerinthe major 



(Plate LXII) 



This handsome plant grows wild in Southern 

 Europe, and is naturalised here and there in some 

 parts of Central Europe, in waste hilly districts, 

 but it is not found in the British Islands. The 

 stem is upright, the leaves are sessile, long, oval> 

 or heart-shaped, and embrace the stem. They 

 are sea-green or bluish, and their borders are 

 smooth or hairy. The leaves are often spotted 

 with white, or studded with small white warts on 

 the upper surface. The flowers hang in terminal 

 clusters, and contain honey. They have bracts 



