OEDEB LXXIX. VEEBENACE^E. OEDEE LXXXI. BORAGINACE^E. 



119 



cato in prefloration. Stamens 4, didynamous, often with the 

 rudiments of a 5th, which is sometimes perfect ; oftener still only 

 2, 1 pair being sterile or Avantiug. Ovary free, 2-celled. Style 

 1. Stigma 2-lobed. Capsule 2-valved, many-seeded. 



A very large and important order, distinguished generally by bitter and 

 acrid properties, which are sometimes poisonous, and always suspicious. This 

 is especially true of Digitalis (Fox-glove), tho most important medicinal plant 



Fig. 23. 



Fig. 24. 



of the order, having a remarkable action on the pulsations of the heart. Many 

 of these plants are ornamental; nearly all turn black in drying. Other exam- 

 les are Verbascnm (Hfuttein), one species of which, V. Blattaria, is seen in fig. 

 , Linaria (Toad-flax), fig. 24, and Veronica (Speedwell). 



ORDER LXXIX. 'Verbenaceas. 



pl 

 23 



Herbs, shrubs ; or trees in the tropics. Leaves iisually oppo- 

 site, without stipules. Calyx tubular, free from the ovary, 4 5- 

 cleft, persistent. Corolla tubular; the limb bilabiate, or with 

 4 5, more or less unequal lobes. Stamens 4, didynamous, some- 

 times only 2. Ovary entire, 2 4-celled, rarely 1-celled, each 

 cell with 1 ovule. Style 1. Fruit separating into 2 or more 

 indehiscent 1-seeded portions, rarely a single 1 achenium. 



A large chiefly tropical order, represented hero chiefly by Verbena, of which 

 we have several native and exotic species. 



ORDER LXXX. Labiatse. 



Herbs, or slightly shrubby plants. Stems square, usually 

 with opposite branches. Leaves opposite or verticillate, usually 

 containing receptacles of volatile oil. Flowers axillary or ter- 

 minal, in whorls, which sometimes take the form of dense heads; 

 rarely solitary. Calyx tubular, free from the ovary, persistent, 

 4 5-cleft, or bilabiate. Corolla bilabiate, rarely almost regular, 

 with 4 5 subequal lobes. Stamens 4, didynamous, sometimes 

 only 2, the upper pair being abortive, or wanting. Ovary deeply 

 4-lobed. Style 1, central, arising from the base of the 4 lobes of 

 the ovary, which in fruit consists of 4, rarely fewer, little sepa- 



rate nuts or achenia, contained in the tube of the persistent 

 calyx. 



A very large and important order, almost universally pervaded by an aro- 

 matic, volatile oil, giving them their tonic, cordial, and stomachic qualities. 



Fig. 28. 



Such are the Sage (Salvid), Pennyroyal (ITedeoma), fig. 25, the Lavender 

 (Lavendula), Peppermint and Spearmint (Menfha), and many others. At fig. 

 26, Lamium amplexicaule (Ifenbit), is represented, showing the form of its 

 bilabiate corolla. 



Fig. 26. 



ORDER LXXXI. Boraginaceae. 



Herbs; sometimes shrubby plants. Stems round. Leaves 

 alternate, usually rough. Flowers often in 1-sided clusters, un- 

 folding spirally. Calyx free from the ovary, persistent, regular, 

 consisting of 5 sepals, more or less united at base. Corolla regu- 



