Order 85. Orobanchacece. 221 



ORDER 85. OROBANCHACE^l. Broomrapes. 



Succulent leafless herbs growing as parasites on the roots of 

 other plants. Stem scaly, corolla with curved tube and lobed 

 limb, more or less two-lipped, stamens 4, didynamous on the 

 corolla tube, ovary of 2 connate carpels, style long, fruit a 

 capsule. 



The few species of this order will always attract attention by their 

 strange appearance, and cannot well be taken for anything else. 

 The plants are generally of a uniform colour all over, either brown 

 (and then looking like withered plants) or else dull blue or purple. 

 Several species are found in England of the same general appearance 

 as those here given. 



1. ^EGINETIA. Flowers large, without bracts, calyx spath- 

 aceous deeply split in front, corolla tube broad, lobes nearly 

 equal, 2 upper united. 



2. OROBANCHE. Flowers in spikes or racemes, calyx divided 

 to the base, 2, 4 or 5-lobed, corolla 2-lipped, upper erect, lower 

 3-lobed, capsule 2-valved. 



1. JEOINETIA. 



JE. Indica. A curious-looking plant, all purple, like a 

 tobacco pipe standing on end, the large curved flower forming 

 the bowl, calyx about as long as the corolla tube, corolla lobes 

 very small, capsule smooth, round, jointed at the top. 



Dapoli, Khandala, Salsette, &c. (D.). Throughout India (#.). The 

 scapes grow 2 or 3 together. 



2. OROBANCHE. 



* 0. Indica (Plielipcea I. D.). Sometimes branched, scales 

 very few, calyx 4 or 5-toothed, corolla tube slender, funnel- 

 shaped, purple or blue, ciliate, bracts ovate, anthers woolly. 



There is some confusion about this plant, which is what D. and Q. 

 say is common on tobacco plants in the Deccaii ; but H. says 

 " throughout the plains of India, especially in mustard crops," and 

 Mr. Clarke confirms this. On the other hand H. has 0. nicotiana, 

 which D. and G. have not got, as common in and distinctive of tobacco 

 plants. He describes it as thick-stemmed, pale brown, many-flowered, 

 scales few acute, calyx of 2 distinct segments, corolla tube con- 

 tracted in the middle, lobes small, pale blue, crenate j bracts as long 

 as the corolla tube. 



Christisonia, calyx tubular, 5-cleft corolla, long-tubed, lobes 5, 

 nearly equal, stigma large. * C. Lawii, stems stout, thicker up wards, 

 clothed with scales, calyx dark brown, corolla much larger, pale 



