614 SYSTEMATIC BOTAKY. 



which are often twining or climbing, rarely herbs. Leaves ex- 

 wipulate, iisnally opposite. Inflorescence terminal. Flowers 

 irregular. Calyx entire or divided. Corolla 4 — 5-lobed. Sta- 

 onens 2 or 4 ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary seated in a disk, 2 — 4- 

 celled ; -placentas axile ; style 1. Fruit 2-valved, capsular, 2 — 4- 

 celled. Seids numerous, sessile, large, winged; albumen none; 

 embryo with large leafy cotyledons. 



Distribution, ^-c. — Chiefly tropical plants. Examples of the 

 Genera: — Bignonia, Tecoma, Jacaranda. There are above 450 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The chief interest of the plants in 

 this order lies in their beautiful flowers. "From the leaves of 

 Bignonia Chica the Indians of South America obtain a red dye 

 called Chica or Carajuru, which is used for painting their bodies 

 and arrows, and for other purposes. This Chica must not be 

 confounded with Chica or Maize Beer (see Zea Mays), and 

 other Chicas, which are common drinks of the Indians in South 

 America. An oil is obtained in India from the wood oi Bignonia 

 xylocarpa. It is reputed to be a vahiable external t.pplication 

 in cutaneous diseases. Some species of Tecoma have astringent 

 properties. The wood of several plants of the order is used in 

 Bi'azil. The bark of Jacaranda bahamensi^ is employed as an 

 anthelmintic in Panama. 



Natural Order 176. Acanthace.^. — The Acanthus Order.— 

 Character. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves opposite, simple, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers irregular, bracteated. Calyx 4 — 5 -parted, 

 oi' consisting of 4 — 5 sepals, persistent, much imbricated ; some- 

 times obsolete. Corolla more or less 2-lipped. Stamens 2, or 

 4 didynamous. Ovary seated in a disk, 2-celled ; placentas pari- 

 etal, although extended to the axis; style 1. Fruit capsular, 

 2-celled, with 1, 2, or many seeds in each cell. Seeds hanging 

 by hard cup-shaped or hooked projections of the placenta, with- 

 out wings; albumen none; cotyledons large and ^eshj ; radicle 

 inferior. 



Distribution, ^-c. — Chiefly tropical. Examples of the Genera : 

 — Thunbergia, Euellia, Acanthus, Justicia. There are nearly 

 1,-300 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unimportant. Many species are muci- 

 laginous and bitter. The dried stalks and root of Andrographis 

 paniculata are held in high esteem in India for their bitter 

 tonic and stomachic properties. From Euellia indigotica a blue 

 dye is obtained in China. The species of Acanthus have lobed 

 and sinuated leaves, and are said to have furnished tlie model of 

 the Corinthian capital. 



Natural Order 177. Scrophulariace^. — The Figwort Order 

 {fi IS. 1000 and 1001 ). — C h a r a c t e r. — Herbs or rarely shnibby 

 plants, with generally opposite leaves. Liflorescence axillary. 

 Flowers {figs. 1000 and 1001) anisomerous, irregular. Calyx 



