582 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



the southern hemisphere, especially at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 A few species only are tropical. Examples : — Jasione, Wahlen- 

 bergia, Prismatocarpus, Phyteuma, Campanula, Specularia. 

 There are 29 genera, and 500 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The milky juice which they contain is 

 sometimes of a sub-acrid character, but the roots and young 

 parts of several species, especially when cultivated, are eaten in 

 different parts of the world, as the roots of Campanula Rapun- 

 cuius, commonly known under the name of Rampions ; those of 

 Cyphia ylanduHfera in Abyssinia; and those of Cyphia digitata 

 by the Hottentots, &c. Some species of Specularia have been 

 used in salads. One species, Campanula glauca, is reputed to 

 be a valuable tonic, and others are said to be aritisyphilitic. The 

 order, however, does not contain a single plant of any particular 

 hnportance, either in a medicinal or economical point of view. 

 Natural Order 131. LoBELiACEy^. — The Lobelia Order. — 

 Herbs or shrubs, with a milky 

 Fig. 961. juice. Leaves alternate, ex- 



stipulate. Calyx superior (Jig. 

 961). Corolla monopetalous, 

 irregular, valvate. Stamens 

 5, syngenesious (Jig. 961). 

 Ovary inferior (fig. 961), 1 — 

 3-celled ; placeiitas axile or 

 parietal; style 1 (fig. 961); 

 stigma surrounded by a fringe 

 of hairs (fig. 960). Fruit cap- 

 sular, dehiscing at the apex. 

 Seeds numerous, albuminous. 

 Distribution, Sfc. — They are 

 chiefly natives of tropical and 

 sub-tropical regions ; a few 

 only occur in temperate and 

 cold climates. Examples : — 

 Clintonia, Lobelia, Tupa, Si- 

 phocampylus, Delissea. There 

 are 29 genera, and 375 species. 

 Properties and Uses. — The milky juice with which they abound 

 is commonly of a very acrid nature, hence the plants of the 

 order should be regarded with suspicion, indeed some act as 

 narcotico-acrid poisons, as Lobelia inflata, Tupa Feuillai, &c. 



Lobelia inflata, Indian Tobarco This species is a native of North 



America. The flowering herb and seeds have been extensively employed, 

 especially In America, for their sedative, antispasmodic, emetic, and expec- 

 torant cfTccts. Lolielia resenibl('s tobacco in its action. Several fatal cases of 

 poisoning have occurred in North America, and in tiiis country, from its eni- 

 ]iirical use. 'I'hf seeds may be distin)?ui.shed under the microscope, by their 

 peculiarly reticulated charnctc^r. The root of /-. syphilitica possesses emetic, 



Eurgative, and diuretic properties, and as its specilic name implies, it has 

 een reputed to be ellicacious in syphdis. L. urcns has blistering qualities. 



Fig, 960. Stigma of Lobelia sj/phiU- 

 ticn Fig. 9(!1. Tlie essential or- 

 gans of tlie above, with the calyx. 



