SCROPHULARIACE.E. FIG-WORT TRIBE. 453 



* tracts 3 under each flower. 



3. 0. ramosa (Branched Broom-rape). Stem branched. 

 On the roots of Hemp, very rare. Distinguished 

 from the preceding by its lighter colour, and branched 

 stem. Fl. August, September. Annual. 



* 0. coerulea is another rare species, found in Norfolk, 

 Hertfordshire, and the Isle of Wight. It may be dis- 

 tinguished by its 3 bracts, and its bluish-purple hue. 



2. LATHR^EA (Tooth-wort). 



1. L. squamdria (Tooth- wort). The only British 

 species, growing in woods and thickets, on the roots of 

 the Hazel. The stem is branched below the surface of 

 the ground, or withered leaves among which it grows ; 

 it is of a lightish hue, and thickly clothed with tooth- 

 like scales ', each branch bears a 1 -sided cluster of droop- 

 ing purplish flowers, with rather broad bracts at the 

 base of each. Fl. April, May. Perennial. 



ORD. LXLSCROPHULABIACE.E. FIG-WORT 



TRIBE. 



Calyx 4 5-lobed, not falling off ; corolla irregular, 

 often 2-lipped ; stamens usually 4, 2 long and 2 short 

 (didynamous), sometimes 2 or 5 ; ovary 2-celled ; 

 style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed ; capsule 2-celled, 2 4-valved, 

 or opening by pores. A large and important order, 

 containing nearly two thousand species, of which some 

 are shrubs, but the greater number are herbaceous, in- 

 habiting all parts of the world, from the Arctic regions 

 to the tropics. The general character of the species is 

 acrid and bitterish, and some have powerful medicinal 

 properties. The powdered leaves of Foxglove (Digitalis 

 purpurea) lower the pulse, and, if taken in large doses, 

 are poisonous. Euphrdsia (Eye-bright), the ' 'Euphrasy* ' 

 of Milton, makes a useful eye-water. Among foreign 

 species, Gratiola is said to be the active ingredient in 



