708 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Fig. 408. Blueweed (Ech- 

 ium vulgare). Probably poi- 

 sonous. (Vasey-Selby). 



A large family which is found chiefly in tropical regions, there being about 

 1200 species. The wood of some of the tropical members of the family is 

 valuable. Among these is the Indian teak tree, (Tectona grandis), native to 

 India. The wood is hard, heavy and very durable and is used in ship-building 

 and for railway cars. The Vitex littoralis, a large tree, native of New Zealand, 

 produces a hard and heavy wood. The fragrant leaves of V. Negundo are 

 used to stuff pillows. 



This family includes many ornamental plants, the most commonly culti- 

 vated in green houses being the Clerodendron Thompsonae, which has a showy 

 crimson corolla and white calyx. The lemon verbena, (Lippia citriodora), a 

 stiff, branching shrub from Chili, is commonly cultivated in the south on ac- 

 count of its very fragrant leaves; an oil, from it, contains citral. The fog-fruit, 

 (L. nodiflora), is valued in Egypt as a lawn plant, proving a success where all 

 grasses or other plants tried for that purpose have failed, the lawns lasting 

 five or six years without renewal. The Lippia mexicana, used in medicine, con- 

 tains lippiol. The extensively cultivated verbena of our flower gardens is the 

 V. Aubletia, which is produced in many colors, the species being native from 

 southern Indiana to Texas. Lantanas are also cultivated. The French mul- 

 berry, (Callicarpa americana), is said to be poisonous. The vervains (Verbena 

 stricia and V. hastata)vfith blue flowers, are common pasture weeds. The white 

 vervain (V . urticaej olio) contains a bitter glucoside. 



LABIATAE. Mint Family 



Chiefly aromatic herbs, some shrubs and trees ; with square stems ; opposite 

 leaves without stipules ; flowers with cymose inflorescence, perfect, irregular, 

 more or less 2-lipped ; calyx S-toothed or 5-lobed ; corolla 4-5-lobed, commonly 

 2-lipped, upper 2-lobed or entire, the lower usually 3-lobed, stamens borne on 

 the corolla tube; ovary superior, deeply 4-lobed or 4-parted, in fruit forming 

 4 small seed-like nutlets or achenes surrounded by the persistent calyx ; usu- 

 ally exalbuminous or with some albumin. A large family of about 3000 species 



