BORAGE TRIBE 197 



beautiful species, growing only on the sandy sea-coast, and decora- 

 ting the sloping sides of sandhills with its large, pale rose-coloured 

 flowers striped with red. The stems are frequently almost entirely 

 buiied beneath the sand, and the flowers and leaves merely rise 

 above the surface. The flowers, which are nearly as large as those 

 of the preceding species, expand in the morning, and in bright 

 weather close before night. By some botanists these two plants 

 are placed in the genus Convolvulus. Fl. June to August. Per- 

 ennial. 



3. CUSCUTA (Dodder) 



1. C. Epithymum (Lesser Dodder). Stems parasitical, thread-like, 

 branched ; flowers in dense, sessile heads ; tube of the corolla longer 

 than the calyx ; style longer than the corolla. Parasitic on Heath, 

 Thyme, Milk Vetch, Potentilla, and other small plants ; but most 

 abundant on Furze, which it often entirely conceals with tangled 

 masses of red thread-like stems. The flowers are small, light flesh- 

 coloured, and wax-like. Soon after flowering the stems turn dark- 

 brown, and in winter disappear. Fl. August, September. Annual. 



2. C. Enropcea (Greater Dodder). Flower-heads sessile ; calyx of 

 blunt sepals ; corolla longer than the calyx, yellowish, enclosing the 

 stamens and styles. Whole plant greenish yellow, or sometimes 

 reddish. Parasitic on Thistles, Nettles, etc. Fl. July to Sep- 

 tember. Annual. 



3. C. Epilinum (Flax Dodder). Resembles the last ; flowers 

 somewhat larger and less numerous, and white. Parasitical on 

 Flax, to crops of which it is sometimes very destructive. Fl. July, 

 August. Annual. 



4. C. Trifolii (Clover Dodder). A variety with reddish stems and 

 white flowers. Parasitical on Clover, with the seeds of which it is 

 supposed to have been introduced. Fl. July, August. Annual. 



Natural Order LV 

 BORAGINACE.F:. The Borage Tribe 



Calyx in 5, rarely 4, deep divisions, not falling off ; corolla of 

 1 petal, 5- or rarely 4-cleft, frequently having valves or teeth at the 

 mouth of the corolla tube ; stamens 5, inserted into the corolla and 

 alternate with its lobes ; ovary 4-parted, 4-seeded ; style 1, rising 

 from the base of the divided ovary ; fruit consisting of 4, rarely 2, 

 nut-like, distinct seeds, each enclcsed in a pericarp. Herbs, or 

 rarely shrubs, with alternate leaves, which are usually covered with 

 hairs or bristles rising from a swollen base. This character was 

 considered by Linnaeus sufficiently constant to give to the Order 



