616 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Gratiola oficinalh, Officinal Hedge Hyssop, was formerly officinal in our 

 pliarmacopoBias. It possesses purgative, emetic, and diuretic properties, and 

 in large doses is an acrid poison. 



Scrophularia.—The fresh leaves of *Sf. nodosa are sometimes used in the 

 form of an ointment or fomentation, as an application in skin diseases and to 

 indolent tumours, &c. The leaves and roots of this species and of S. aquatica 

 are purgative and emetic, and are supposed to be slightly narcotic. 



Verbascum.—The. leaves of V. Thapsus, Great Mullein, have emollient, 

 demulcent, and slightly narcotic properties. Its seeds and those of V. ni- 

 grum are said to be employed by poachers to stupify fish in order that they 

 may be readily taken. 



Veronica. — The leaves of V. officinalis have been used in this country, 

 and on the Continent, as a substitute for China tea : hence the plant is 

 sometimes called Tld de VEurope. The root of Veivnica {Leptandra) vir- 

 gin ica is a celebrated eclectic remedy in the United States of America. 



Natural Order 178. OROBANCHACEiE. — The Broom-rape 

 Order.— Character, — Herbs of a more or less fleshy character 

 growing parasitically on the roots of other plants. Stems scaly, 

 but without any true green leaves. Cal?/x persistent, toothed. 

 Corolla irregular, persistent ; (sstivation imbricate. Stamens 4, 

 didynamous; anthers 1 — 2-celled. Ovary 1-celled ; its component 

 carpels being placed to the right and left of the axis ; placentas 

 2 — 4, parietal; style 1. Fruit capsular. Seeds very numerous, 

 minute, with fleshy albumen, and a very small embryo. 



Distribution, cf'c. — Principally natives of Europe, northern 

 Asia, North America, and the Cape of Good Hope. Examples 

 of the Genera: — Epiphegus, Orobanche, Lathrsea, There are, 

 about 120 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The presence of an astringent principle 

 is the most marked property of the plants of this order, but 

 they are altogether unimportant in a medicinal point of view. 

 The root of Epiphegus virginiana is called Cancer-root, from its 

 having been formerly used as an application to cancers. It 

 formed an ingredient in a once celebrated North American nos- 

 trum, called Martin's Cancer Powder, 



Natural Order 179. LENTiBULARiACEiE, — The Butterwort 

 Order, — Character, — Herbs, growing in water, marshes, or wet 

 places. Leaves radical, entire, or divided into thread-like filaments 

 bearing little pouches or air vesicles. Flowers irregular. Calyx 

 persistent, 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 2, included ; 

 anthers 1-celled. Ovary 1-celled; style 1, short; stigma bilabiate; 

 placenta free central. Fruit capsular, 1-celled, Seeds minute, 

 numerous, without albumen ; embryo minute, with the cotyledons 

 much smaller than the radicle. 



Distribution, ^'c. — Natives of all parts of the globe, particu- 

 larly tropical regions. Examples of the Genera: — Utricularia, 

 Pinguicula, There are about 180 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Of little importance. Pinguicida vul- 

 garis is termed Butterwort from the property its leaves possess 

 of coagulating milk. 



