I.] 



CONVOLVULACE.E. 



189 



fleshy rhizomes of Batatas edulis, probably a native 

 originally of South America. 



Jalap and Scammony are well-known drugs, furnished 

 by the Order. The former (Exogoniuiri) is brought from 

 Mexico ; the latter (Convolvulus Scammonia) from Asia 

 Minor and Syria, where it is obtained by making oblique 

 sections through the root, and allowing the milky juice 

 to flow. This solidifies, and is the genuine Scammony of 

 commerce. 



The blue Minor Convolvulus of gardens (correctly C. 

 tricolor) is a native of the South of Europe. The Major 

 Convolvulus (Pharbitispurpurea), common in the Tropics, 

 is probably an American species. 



45. Natural Order Boragineae. The Borage Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Most numerous in South Europe and 

 Western Asia, occurring also between the Tropics and 

 southward in both hemispheres. British genera it, 

 species 21. 



Herbs. Calyx gamosepalous. Stamens same number as 

 corolla-lobes. Ovary 4-lobed. 



Type Forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris). 

 A perennial herb, with alternate entire leaves, and 

 scorpioid cymes of rotate bright-blue flowers. 



OBSERVE the inflorescence, resembling the indefinite 

 raceme, but perhaps, in reality, a one-sided-cyme, made 



