506 LEtfTIBULARIACELE. 



are lilac, and grow in terminal very slender spikes. This 

 plant was held in great veneration by the ancients, being 

 used in sacrifices and at other religious ceremonies. The 

 cultivated species are showy plants, remarkable for the 

 brilliant colours of their flowers. They are readily 

 propagated by cuttings, which should be planted in fine 

 sand during autumn, and protected during winter. New 

 varieties are constantly being raised from seed. Fl. 

 July, August. Perennial. 



ORD. LXIV. LENTIBULABIACE^S. BUTTERWORT 

 TRIBE. 



Calyx divided, not falling off; corolla irregular, 

 2-lipped, spurred ; stamens 2, sometimes 4, 2 long and 2 

 short; -ovary 1-celled; style 1, very short; stigma 2- 

 lipped, the lower lip smallest ; capsule 1-celled, 2-valved, 

 many-seeded. Herbaceous aquatic plants, bearing either 

 undivided leaves, which spring directly from the root, or 

 compound root-like leaves, with numerous small bladders 

 or air-vessels. There are but four genera in the Order, 

 two of which contain British examples : Butterwort 

 (Pinguicula), small plants with handsome purple flowers 

 and concave leaves, of a texture which resembles greasy 

 parchment ; and Bladderwort ( Utricularia\ submersed 

 plants with finely divided leaves, bearing minute blad- 

 ders, and yellow flowers, which rise above the surface of 

 the water to open. " Pingmcula vulgdris (Common But- 

 terwort) has the property of giving consistence to milk, 

 and of preventing its separating into either whey or 

 cream. Linnaeus says that the solid milk of the Lap- 

 landers is prepared by pouring it, warm from the cow, over 

 a strainer on which fresh leaves of Pinguicula have been 

 laid. The milk, after passing among them, is left for a 

 day or two to stand, until it begins to turn sour ; it throws 

 up no cream, but becomes compact and tenacious, and 

 most delicious in taste. It is not necessary that fresh leaves 



