THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 9 



generally over the globe. There are two sub-orders: 1. Gentianese; 2. Menyanthese. 

 The general property of these plants is bitterness, and they are used as tonics. 

 Lindley mentions 60 genera, including 450 species. (Fig. 59.) 



128. Bignoniaceae, BIGNONIADS, or Trumpet-flower Family. Trees, shrubs, or 

 herbs, of tropical regions chiefly. The order has been divided' into four sub-orders: 



1. Bignoniae; 2. Cyrtandrcrc; 3. Crescentieae; 4. Pedalieaa. There are upwards of 

 100 known genera, and about 650 species. This order comprises many showy plants; 

 sonae are timber trees, others furnish dyes and articles of diet, and a few have bitter 

 and astringent qualities. (Fig. 60 ) 



129. Polemoniacese, PHLOX-WORTS. Herbaceous or climbing plants, of temperate 

 climates generally, abounding in the north-west of America. There are 17 genera, 

 and 104 species. Many of these plants have showy flowers, and some are remarkable 

 for their development of spiral cells. 



130. Hydrophyllaceaa, HYDROPHYLLS. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, of America chiefly. 

 Their properties are unimportant. Many have showy flowers, and some have stinging 

 hairs. The order has been divided into two sub-orders: 1. Hydrophylleae; 2. Diapen- 

 sienese. There are 18 known genera, and 77 species. 



131. Convolvulaceae, BINDWEEDS. Herbs or shrubs, usually twining, sometimes 

 parasitical, and with a milky juice. They occur chiefly in tropical and temperate 

 regions. The order has been divided into two sub-orders: 1. Convolvuleae, true Bind- 

 weeds, leafy plants; 2. Cuscutea}, leafless parasites. There are 45 genera, and upwards 

 of 700 species. The roots of many of these plants possess an acrid juice, which, 

 having purgative properties, is used medicinally. To this order belong the Jalap 

 plant, Convolvulus Jalapa (Fig. 61). and the Scammony plant, Convolvulus Scammonia. 

 The roots of some species are used as food, as Batatas edulis, the sweet Potato. 



132. CordiaceaB, SEBESTENS. Trees, natives chiefly of warm countries. Some yield 

 edible fruit; their bark is occasionally bitter, tonic, and astringent. There are 11 

 genera, and 1 80 species. 



133. Boraginacese, BORAGE-WORTS. Herbs, shrubs, or trees. The order has been 

 divided into three sub-orders: 1. Boragineae, natives chiefly of temperate climates; 



2. Ehretieae, of tropical climates; 3. Heliotropiea?, of both warm and temperate 

 countries. There are 67 known genera, and nearly 900 species. These plants are 

 generally mucilaginous and emollient. Some are astringent, others yield nitrate of 

 potash, 



134. SolanaceSB, NIGHTSHADES. Herbs or shrubs, natives of most parts of the 

 world, but most abundant in the tropics. The order has been divided into two sub- 

 orders: 1. Rectembryse; 2. Curvembryae. There are 66 known genera, and 935 species. 

 These plants have, in general, narcotic properties, and some are very poisonous. In 

 some species, certain parts of the plant have poisonous properties, while other parts 

 are harmless, and are used as food. Thus Solarium tuberosum, the Potato, has slight 

 narcotic properties in its leaves and fruit, but in the tubers there is an abundance of 

 starch, and when cooked they are wholesome and nutritious. To this family belong 

 Belladonna, Henbane, &c., also the Tobacco plant, Nicotiana Tabacum (Fig. 62), a 

 native of the hotter parts of North and South America. The species of Capsicum, 

 supplying Cayenne pepper and Chillies, and Lycopersicum esculentum, the Tomato, or 

 Love Apple (Fig. 63), likewise belong to this order of plants. 



135. Orobanchaceae, BROOM-RAPES. Herbaceous parasitical plants, having scales 

 in place of leaves. Natives of the southern parts of Europe, of Asia, North America, 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. Lindley mentions 12 genera, and 116 species. The 

 properties of these plants are, in general, astringency and bitterness. 



136. ScrophulariaceSB, FIGWORTS. Herbs, undershrubs, or shrubs, generally dis- 

 tributed over the globe. There are 176 known genera, and 1,814 species. These plants 

 are acrid and slightly bitter, and some are sedative and poisonous. The most im- 

 portant medicinal plant of the order is Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove (Fig. 64). Some 

 of the species of Linaria and Calceolaria are used for dyeing. 



137. Labiatae, LABIATES. Herbs or undershrubs, natives chiefly of temperate 

 regions. These plants are in general fragrant or aromatic, and none of them are in- 

 jurious. Many of them form agreeable condiments, although none are used for ordi- 

 nary food. Peppermint, Rosemary, Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Sage, and Thyme, 

 belong to this family. Lindley mentions 125 genera, including 2,350 species. 



138. Verbenacejfi, VERBENES. Trees, or shrubs, rarely herbs. The order has been 

 divided into three sub-orders. 1, Myoporineae, natives of South America, Africa, and 

 Australia; 2, Verbenae, natives of America, tropical and temperate, and found also in 

 Asia and Europe; 3, Selaginese, natives chiefly of the Cape of Good Hope, and found 

 also in Europe. There are 75 known genera, and upwards of 770 species. Many of 

 the plants are fragrant and aromatic; some are bitter, tonic, and astringent; and 

 others are acrid. The bark of Avicennia tomentosa is used in Brazil for tanning. To 



