BORAGINEJE. 



307 



a definite number of pendulous ovula. Carpels 4, distinct, or 

 joined at bottom ; or a berry containing 2-4 pyrenae. Seeds 

 exalbuminous. Embryo inverted. Herbs or shrubs. Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate, usually rough. Flowers generally disposed 

 in secund spikes, but sometimes panicled and corymbose, and 

 sometimes axillary and solitary. 



The true Boragineae are chiefly herbaceous plants, with alter- 

 nate exstipulate leaves, the surfaces of which are covered with 

 minute asperities, and with flowers arranged in one-sided spikes 

 or racemes ; very rarely solitary. The fruit is generally com- 

 posed of 4 distinct carpels. Some, Echiums, and a few more, 

 are shrubs. The genus Tournefortia and Hfesserschmidlia 

 are chiefly composed of shrubs. Some of the plants of this 

 order are mere weeds, quite unworthy of culture ; others are 

 eminently beautiful, as many E^chiums, Onosmas, Onosmodiums, 

 Symphytums Mertensias, and others. In general they have 

 mucilaginous and emollient qualities, which are especially abun- 

 dant in the root of Symphylum and Cynoglossum. Pure nitre has 

 been found in several plants of this order. A red colour is given 

 out by Anchuta linctbria, Lilhospermum tinctorium. and Onosma 

 echioides, which is used in dyeing. Several plants of the same 

 order are employed on the same account in America. 



Synopfit of the genera. 



TRIBE I. 



BoRAGiE N i. Fruit of 4 distinct, 1-celled carpels, which are im- 

 perforated at the base. Corolla deeply 5-parted, with pointed 

 segments. Stamens usually exserted. Inflorescence diffuse. 



SUETRIBE I. 



BORA GEi. Nuts fixed to the bottom of the calyx, imper- 

 forated at the base. Corolla rotate ; throat furnished with 

 vaulted processes. 



1 BORA'GO. Corolla rotate ; throat furnished with emargi- 

 nate processes or arches. Stamens glabrous ; anthers oblong, 

 pointed, fixed by the inner side. Nuts turbinate, fixed to the 

 bottom of the calyx. 



2 TRACHYSTE'MOK. Corolla rotate ; throat furnished with 

 short, blunt, or emarginated processes or arches. Stamens with 

 lengthened, hairy filaments, and incumbent, pointless anthers. 

 Nuts fixed to the bottom of the calyx. 



SUBTRIBE II. 



RISDE'REJ;. Nuts adnate to the central column. This, with 

 subtribe Cynoglossece of tribe Buglossece, might with propriety 

 form a tribe to be called Cytioglossece, from the carpels being 

 fixed to the central column. 



1. Throat of corolla furnished n'tth vaulted procestes. 



3 MA'TTIA. Corolla angular, tubularly funnel-shaped ; throat 

 furnished with processes. Stamens exserted, but usually in- 

 closed ; anthers sagittate, connivent. Nuts furnished with a 

 membranous, emarginate, orbicular wing, fixed to the centre 

 column longitudinally. 



4 SOLESA'NTHUS. Corolla tubular, 5-toothed ; throat fur- 



nished with 5 arched processes. Stamens exserted. Nuts 4, 

 depressed, echinated, adnate to the central column. 



2. Throat of corolla naked. 



5 RISDE'RA. Corolla funnel-shaped ; throat naked. Anthers 

 sessile, between the segments of the corolla. Nuts margined by 

 a broad, striated, stiffish wing, adhering lengthwise to the thick 

 central column. 



6 TRICHODE SMA. Corolla subrotate ; throat naked ; seg- 

 ments subulate at apex. Anthers fixed together by hairs. 

 Nuts 4, half immersed in as many hollows or pits of a 4- winged, 

 central column, adnate near the apex. 



TRIBE II. 



STMPHT'TE*. Corolla tubular, truncate ; with very short 

 lobes. Stamens inclosed. Carpels or nuts fixed to the bottom 

 of the calyx. Inflorescence usually revolute. 



7 SY'MPHYTCV. Corolla tubularly campanulate ; throat fur- 

 nished with subulate or lanceolate processes, which connive into 

 a cone. Nuts 4, 1-celled, ovate, imperforated at the base. 



8 COLSMA'NNIA. Corolla cylindrically campanulate ; throat 

 naked. Anthers sagittate, distinct. Nuts 4, 1-celled, ovate- 

 triangular, perforated at the base. 



9 STOMOTE'CHICM. Corolla tubularly subcylindrical ; throat 

 closed by roundish, Seshy, muricated processes. Anthers ob- 

 long. Nuts 4, 1-celled, roundish, perforated at the base. 



10 OSOSMA. Corolla tubular ly-campanulate ; throat naked. 

 Anthers sagittate, connected by the lobes at the base. Nats 4, 

 1-celled, ovate, imperforated at the base. 



11 OXOSMODIUM. Corolla tubular ; throat naked; limb ven- 

 tricose ; segments conniving. Anthers sagittate, distinct. Nuts 

 4, 1-celled, turgid, shining, imperforated at the base. 



12 PVLMONA'RIA. Corolla funnel-shaped ; throat pilose. 

 Nuts 4, 1-celled, turbinate, imperforated at the base. 



13 MERTB'NSIA. Corolla tubularly funnel-shaped ; throat 

 naked. Nuts 4, 1-celled, ovate, smooth or wrinkled, imper- 

 forated at the base. 



14 CERiifTHB. Corolla tubular ; throat naked. Anthers 

 hastate, connected, having the lobes spirally twisted at the base. 

 Nuts 2, 2-celled, or 4, combined by twos, imperforated at the 

 base. 



TRIBE III. 



LITHOSPE'RMEX. Corolla open, tubular ; with broad, mostly 

 rounded lobes. Stamens inclosed or exserted. Nuts 4, dis- 

 tinct, fixed to the bottom of the calyx, imperforated at the base, 

 except in Stribila. 



15 LITHOSPE'RIUJM. Corolla funnel-shaped; throat naked. 

 Anthers oblong, inclosed. Nuts ovate, hard. 



16 BA'TSCHIA. Corolla salver-shaped, with a straight tube, 

 longer than the calyx, bearded by a ring of hairs inside at the 

 base ; mouth naked. Nuts 4, hard, shining. Stamens exserted 

 or inclosed. 



1 7 MACROICE'RIA. Corolla funnel-shaped ; lobes acute ; 

 R r 2 



