74 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



herbs; Adhatoda, shrubs; Aphelandra, shrubs; Cros- 

 sandra, shrub; Fittonia, herbs; Graptophyllum (Cari- 

 cature Plant), shrubs; Jacobinia, herbs; Justicia, re- 

 ferred to other genera; Peristrophe; Ruellia, herbs or 

 shrubs; Strobilanthes, often used also for bedding 



206. Myoporaceae (from the genus Myoporum, sig- 

 nifying to shut a pore, in reference to the spots in the 

 leaves which are closed by a membrane). MYOPORUM 

 FAMILY. Fig. 54. Shrubs or trees: leaves alternate, rarely 

 opposite, usually glandular or woolly: flowers bisexual, 

 regular or irregular; calyx 5-cleft, persistent; corolla 

 5-lobed, gamopetalous, hypogynous; stamens 4, didyn- 

 amous, the fifth a staminodium, epipetalous; ovary 

 superior, 2-celled or falsely 3-10-celled; usually 1-2, 

 rarely 8, ovules in each cell; style 1; stigmas 1-2: fruit 

 drupaceous. 



There are 5 genera and about 90 species, of which 57 

 belong to Pholidia and 25 to Myoporum. They are 

 mainly natives of Australia, but scattered species occur 

 in the West Indies, Japan, China, Hawaiian Islands, 

 and elsewhere. The family is related to the Scrophulari- 

 aceffi and to the Verbenaceae. The few ovules, the 

 presence of oil-glands and the pendulous seeds are dis- 

 tinctive. 



Myoporum platycarpum is the sandal-tree or sugar- 

 tree or dogwood of Australia. From it, a kind of manna 

 is secreted; also a resin that is used like sealing-wax. 



Two species of Myoporum are grown as ornamental 

 plants in this country. 



55. RUBIACE<E: 1. Galium. n. flower; b, fruit. 2. Houstonia, 

 flower. 3. Bouvardia, floral diagram. CAPRIFOLIACE^E: 4. Loni- 

 cera, flower. VALEBIANACE.B: 5. Valeriana, flower. 



207. Phrymaceae (from the genus Phryma, a name of 

 unknown derivation). LOPSEED FAMILY. Fig. 54. Per- 

 ennial herbs: leaves opposite, simple : flowers bisexual, bi- 

 labiate; calyx 5-cleft, 2-lipped; corolla 5-lobed, 2-lipped, 

 gamopetalous, hypogynous; stamens 4, didynamous, in- 

 cluded, epipetalous; ovary superior, 1-celled; ovule 1, 

 sub-basal, straight (orthotropous); style 1; stigmas 2: 

 fruit dry, indehiscent, inclosed in the abruptly reflexed 

 calyx, the teeth of which are hooked. 



A single genus and species occurs in the eastern 

 United States and East Asia. The family is related to 

 the Verbenacese and was formerly united with that 

 family; but the peculiar, 1 -seeded fruit, with a straight 

 orthotropous seed is distinctive. 



Phryma Leplostachya (lopseed) has been in the 

 trade as an ornamental garden plant. 



Order 51. PLANTAGINALES 



208. Plantaginaceae (from the genus Plantago, the 

 Latin name of the plant). PLANTAIN FAMILY. Fig. 54. 

 Annual or perennial herbs: leaves alternate or opposite: 

 flowers bisexual, or rarely unisexual, regular; calyx 

 4-cleft; corolla 4-lobed, gamopetalous, hypogynous, scar- 

 ious, imbricated ; stamens 4, epipetalous or hypogynous, 

 exserted, alternate with the corolla-lobes; ovary 

 superior, 1-2-celled, rarely 4-celled; ovules 1 to many in 

 each cell; style and stigma 1: fruit a circumscissile cap- 



sule, or an indehiscent nutlet, invested by the persistent 

 calyx; seeds usually peltate. 



Three genera and about 200 species, of which all 

 but 3 belong to the genus Plantago, are distributed 

 over the whole earth. The centers of distribution are 

 the Mediterranean region and the Andes. This is a 

 very distinct gamopetalous family of doubtful relation- 

 ship, possibly allied to the LabiatEB. 



Many European species were formerly used in 

 medicine; the seeds as mucilaginous emollients in 

 inflammatory ophthalmia, and the like; the leaves as 

 bitters. The seeds are used in India to stiffen muslins. 

 Plantago lanceolata, P. Coronopus and P. major are 

 eaten as greens. The seeds of several species are sold 

 for feeding birds. P. lanceolata is used for early pas- 

 turage. 



The family is not cultivated in N. America, except 

 possibly for bird-seed, pasturage, or pond-border 

 planting. 



Order 52. RUBIALES 



209. Rubiaceae (from the genus Rubia, signifying 

 red, from the color of the roots of some species). MAD- 

 DER FAMILY. Fig. 55. Trees, shrubs or herbs: leaves 

 opposite or whorled, simple, usually entire: flowers bi- 

 sexual, rarely unisexual, regular, rarely slightly irregular; 

 calyx 2-6-cleft, or 0; corolla gamopetalous, 4-6-lobed, 

 mostly valvatc; stamens 4-6, epipetalous; ovary inferior, 

 1 to many-, commonly 2-, celled; ovules 1 to many 

 in each cell; style 1; stigma 1, capitate or several- 

 branched: fruit a capsule, berry, or drupe. 



Rubiacea: is a family of 343 genera and about 4,500 

 species, mainly tropical; about 34 species reach the 

 northeastern United States. The family is closely 

 related to the Caprifoliacea;, but usually has stipules or 

 whorled leaves; it is also related to the Cornacea;, 

 Valeriancea;, Compositso, and the like. 



A number of tropical Rubiacea; are myrmecophilous, 

 i. e., provide a dwelling-place for protective ants. The 

 whorled leaves of some species have probably been 

 developed from stipules. 



This is an important economic family. Coffea 

 arabica (Abyssinia coffee) is generally cultivated in the 

 tropics and used elsewhere as a beverage. Cinchona 

 Ledgeriana and C. succirubra of the Andes furnish 

 quinine. Uragoga (Caphselis) Ipecacuanha of Brazil is 

 the source of the emetic ipecac. Cephalanthus of North 

 America, and several species of Galium have been 

 used in medicine. Rubia lincloria (Mediterranean) 

 furnishes the red dye, madder. Roots of Asperula and 

 some species of Galium yield red dyes. Morinda 

 citrifolia (tropics) yields a yellow dye, morindin. 

 Ourouparia Gambir (Malay) yields the dye known as 

 catecu, gambir, or terra japonica. The foliage of 

 Asperula odorata has the fragrance of sweet grass, and 

 is used for a similar purpose, and for flavoring wines. 

 Galium Iriflorum has a similar odor. Galium verum, the 

 yellow bedstraw (Europe) contains a milk -curdling 

 ferment, hence the name, "galium;" also formerly given 

 to women to increase lactation. Berries of Mitchella 

 contain a saponin-like substance. The fruits of Van- 

 gueria edulis and several other species of Rubiacea; are 

 edible. The wood of many species is valuable. 



Forty to 50 genera and a great many species are in 

 cultivation in N. America, mostly in the greenhouse and 

 in tropical horticulture. Among these are Indian Mul- 

 berry (Morinda); Cape Jasmine (Gardenia); Bluets 

 (Houstonia); Manettia Vine (Manettia); Madder 

 (Rubia) ; Buttonbush (Cephalanthus, hardy) ; Bedstraw 

 or Cleavers (Galium) ; Coffee (Coffea) ; Cinchona (Cin- 

 chona); and Partridge Berry (Mitchella). 



210. Caprifoliaceas (horn the old genus Caprifolium, 

 meaning a goat-leaf, possibly in reference to the climb- 

 ing habit). HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY. Fig. 55. Shrubs, 

 very rarely herbs: leaves opposite, simple or pinnate: 

 flowers bisexual, regular or irregular; calyx 4-5-toothed, 



