OROBANCHACE^E. 467 



In Capsicums irritant properties prevail, so as to obscure the nar- 

 cotic action. Their acridity is owing to an oleaginous substance called 

 Capsicin. Cayenne-pepper is used chiefly in the form of tincture as a 

 rubefacient and stimulant, especially in cases of ulcerated sore throat. 

 It acts on the stomach as an aromatic condiment, and, when preserved 

 in acetic acid, it forms Chilli vinegar. Mandragora officinalls (Atropa 

 Mandragord), Mandrake, acts as a stimulant on the nervous system, 

 and its forked root was long celebrated for its properties in this respect. 

 It is the n'N-m of the Bible. The species of Physalis are remarkable 

 for their accrescent calyx (fig. 280.) The fruit of some, such as P. 

 peruviana, Peruvian Winter Cherry, is eaten. The fruit of Lycopersicum 

 esculentum is the edible Tomato, or Love-apple ; that of Solanum Melon- 

 yena and oviyerum is the Egg-apple. 



A division of the genera of this order has been made by M. Fee 

 into 1. Those which contain species, all of which are more or less 

 poisonous, as Datura, Hyoscyamus, Atropa, Nicotiana, &c. 2. Those 

 which contain some species truly poisonous, and others innocuous or 

 stimulant, as Solanum and Capsicum. 3. Those having species which 

 are all innocuous, as Lycopersicum. Miers has revised the genera 

 included in the orders Solanacese and Scrophulariaceae, and he proposes 

 to institute an intermediate order Atropaceae. The general definition 

 ot these orders is : 



1. Solanaceae; Isomerous flowers with a valvate or induplicato- 

 valvate aestivation ; inflorescence extra-axillary. 



2. Atropacese ; Isomerous flowers or nearly so, with an imbricate or 

 a peculiar aestivation ; inflorescence extra-axillary. 



3. Scrophulariaceae; Anisomerous flowers with imbricate aestivation; 

 organs of inflorescence truly-axillary. 



962. Order 135. Orofoanchaccie, the Broom-rape Family. (Mono- 

 pet. Hypog.} Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopetal- 

 ous, hypogynous, irregular, usually bilabiate, persistent; aestivation 

 imbricated. Stamens 4, didynamous. Disk fleshy. Ovary free, 1- 

 celled, composed of 2 carpels which stand fore and aft, with 2 or more 

 parietal placentas ; ovules 00 ; style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed, each of the 

 lobes belong half to each carpel. Fruit capsular, enclosed within the 

 withered corolla, 1-celled, 2 valved. Seeds 00, minute ; embryo very 

 minute, at one end of fleshy albumen. Herbaceous parasitical plants, 

 having scales in place of leaves. They are natives of Europe, more 

 especially the southern parts, and of Asia, North America, and the 

 Cape of Good Hope. Lindley gives 12 genera, and 116 species. 

 Examples Orobanche, Lathraea. 



963. The properties of the plants of the order are, in general, astrin- 

 gency and bitterness. Some have been used as tonics, and as applica- 

 tions to indolent ulcers. The species of Orobanche are called Broom- 

 rapes, on account of the ravages they are supposed to commit on the 



