192 



SCROPHULARIACE^E. 



[CLASS 

 The Scrophu- 



47. Natural Order Scrophulariaceae. 

 laria Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Widely diffused through both hemi- 

 spheres, from the arctic zone to the equator. British 

 genera 13, species 50. 



Herbs. Corolla irregular. Stamens fewer than corolla-lobes 

 (except Verbascuiri) . Ovary 2-celled. 



Type Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris). 



An erect perennial herb, with numerous alternate narrow 

 entire leaves, and a terminal raceme of irregular yellow 

 flowers. 



OBSERVE the spurred corolla of Linaria; there is nor- 

 mally one spur, but the corolla occasionally becomes 

 5-spurred and regular. Such regular forms of corollas, 

 normally irregular, are termed Peloria. 



Compare, as to form of corolla : Speedwell ( Veronica)^ 

 in which it is 4-partite, nearly regular and rotate ; Mullein 

 ( Verbascum\ 5-partite and rotate ; Foxglove (Digitalis), 

 inflated-tubular ; Snapdragon (Antirrhinum}, bilabiate 

 and personate ; Lousewort (Pedicularis), bilabiate and 

 ringent (gaping) ; Garden Calceolaria, cakeolate or 

 "slipper-shaped." 



Compare, as to number of stamens : Speed\yell, 

 diandrous ; Toadflax, didynamous ; Figwort, also didy- 

 namous, with a rudimentary fifth stamen (staminode) ; 

 Mullein, pentandrous. 



