LOBELIACE^:. 



697 



times on both ; uppermost leaves entire. Native of New Spain. 

 Cassini, diet. 12. p. 36. Rich. 1. c. p. 79. 



Woolly -stemmed Acicarpha. PI. prostrate. 



Cult. Being annual plants, the seeds only require to be sown 

 in the open ground in a warm sheltered situation. 



N. B. CEVA'LLIA SINUA'TA (Lag. gen. et spec. p. 11. with a 

 figure,) appears to be allied to the present order, but the charac- 

 ters of the plant are not sufficiently known. 



ORDER CXXXI V. LOBELI A'CEjE (this order contains plants 

 agreeing with the genus Lobelia in many characters). Juss. ann. 

 mus. 18. p. 1. (1811.). D. C. et Ditby, bot. gall. p. 310. (1828.). 

 Lindl. introd. nat. syst. p. 107. Campanulacea:, 2. R. Br. 

 prod. p. 562. 



Calyx superior, 5-toothed, or 5-parted, seldom entire, with the 

 tube adnate to the ovarium at the base. Corolla monopetalous, 

 irregular, inserted in the calyx, 5-lobed, or deeply 5-cleft. Sta- 

 mens 5, inserted into the calyx alternately with the lobes of the 

 corollas; anthers cohering; pollen oval. Ovarium inferior, with 

 from 1 to 3 cells, but usually of 2 cells. Ovula very numerous, 

 attached to the axis or parietes of the fruit. Style simple ; stigma 

 usually 2-lobed, surrounded by a cup-like fringe. Fruit cap- 

 sular or baccate, 1-2-celled, rarely 3-celled, many seeded, de- 

 hiscing at the apex. Seeds attached to the axis or parietes 

 of the fruit. Embryo straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen, 

 with the radicle pointing to the hylum. Herbaceous plants or 

 shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate. Flowers axillary or 

 terminal, of various colours. 



This order appears more nearly related to Composhce than to 

 Campanulcicece, in their cohering anthers, and in the irregularity 

 of the corolla ; the stigma is surrounded by hairs, which are 

 probably analogous to the indusium of Goodenovice, to which 

 order Lobeliacece approaches very closely. It participates in all 

 the affinities of Campanulacea. 



The plants contained in this order are* all dangerous or sus- 

 picious, in consequence of the acridity of their milk. Tilpa 

 Feulllei yields a dangerous poison in Chili. The most active 

 article of the Materia Medica of North America is said to be 

 Lobelia inflata ; it is possessed of an emetic, sudorific, and 

 powerful expectorant effect, especially the first. When given 

 with a view to empty the stomach, it operates vehemently and 

 speedily, producing, however, great relaxation, debility, and per- 

 spiration, and even death, if given in over-doses. Barton, 1. p. 

 189. The antisyphilitic virtues ascribed to Lobelia syphilitica 

 are supposed to have resided in its diuretic properties ; they 

 are, however, generally discredited altogether. Barton, 2. p. 

 211. Hippobrbma longijlbra, a native of some of the West India 

 Islands, is one of the most venomous of plants. The Spanish 

 Americans call it Rebentia Cavallos, because it proves fatal to 

 horses that eat it ; it acts as a violent cathartic, the effects of 

 which no remedy can assuage, and which ends in death. The 

 leaves are an active vesicatory. Lobelia cardinalis is an acrid 

 plant, which is reckoned anthelmintic. Barton, 2. p. 180. All 

 the plants contained in this order are very ornamental, and 



VOL. III. 



therefore well deserving the care of the gardener. The flowers 

 are very showy blue, white, red, scarlet, but seldom yellow. 



Synopsis of the genera. 



1 CLERMONTEA. Calyx tubular, 5-cleft. Corolla arched, 5- 

 cleft, almost regular. Stamens with combined filaments and 

 cohering anthers ; the two lower anthers bearded. Stigma 

 2-lobed, girded by hairs. Capsule baccate, naked at the apex, 

 indehiscent, 2-celled, many-seeded. 



2 ROLLA'NDIA. . Calyx 5-parted. Corolla compressed at the 

 sides, with an undivided tube, and a 5-parted, somewhat bila- 

 biate limb. Stamineous column adnate to the superior part of 

 the corolla. Anthers cohering, two lower ones bearded. Stigma 

 pilose. Capsule baccate, crowned by the calyx, 2-celled, many- 

 seeded, indehiscent. 



3 CYA'NEA. Calyx 10-furrowed, with oblong, foliaceous, 

 curled segments. Corolla tubular, arched, with a 5-parted, 

 somewhat bilabiate limb. Stamens, combined filaments, and 

 cohering bearded anthers. Stigma capitate ciliated. Capsule 

 baccate, 10-furrowed, indehiscent, crowned by the limb of the 

 calyx, 2-celled, many-seeded. 



4 DELISSEA. Limb of calyx 5-toothed. Corolla with an 

 arched undivided tube, and a 5-parted somewhat bilabiate 

 limb. Anthers cohering; 2 lower ones bearded. Stigma 2- 

 lobed, girded by hairs. Capsule baccate, crowned by the limb 

 of the calyx, indehiscent, 2-celled, many-seeded. 



5 PRA'TIA. Limb of calyx 5-toothed (f. 119. a.). Corolla 

 cleft on the back, even to the base, and therefore the limb is 

 5-parted, unilabiate, or all on the lower side (f. 119. &.). 

 Stamens combined above and the anthers cohering; the two 

 lower anthers mucronate (f. 119. <?.). Stigma 2-lobed. Cap- 

 sule baccate, crowned. 



6 TU'PA. Calyx spherical, 5-parted. Corolla cleft on the 

 back almost to the base, having the limb divided into 5 segments, 

 which are all united at their tips. Stamens combined almost to 

 the base ; anthers cohering, bearded. Stigma 2-lobed, protrud- 

 ing. Capsule 2-celled, many-seeded. 



7 SIPHOCA'MPYLUS. Limb of calyx 5-parted (f. 120. </.). 

 Corolla with a curved undivided tube, which is ventricose in 

 the middle, and a 5-parted bilabiate limb (f. 120. &.) Stamens 

 and anthers combined ; anthers bearded. Capsule 2-celled, 2- 

 valved, dehiscent. 



8 LOBE'LIA. Limb of calyx 5-parted (f. 121. a.). Corolla 

 with the tube cleft on the upper side, and thickened at the base, 

 and a bilabiate limb (f. 121. g.). Anthers cohering; 2 lower 

 ones usually bearded. Capsule 2-celled, 2-valved, dehiscent at 

 the apex. 



9 DORTMA'NNA. Limb of calyx 5-parted. Corolla with 

 the tube cleft on the upper side, a bilabiate limb, and a bearded 

 throat. Stamens with free filaments, and cohering bearded an- 

 thers. Stigma capitate, hairy. Capsule half superior, 3-celled, 

 3-valved, dehiscent, many-seeded, surrounded by the calycine 

 segments below the apex. 



10 PARASTRA'NTHUS. Limb of calyx 5-cleft. Corolla 

 4U 



