THE FIGWORT FAMILY 133 



THE FIGWORT FAMILY (Scrophulariaceae). 



This large {amity does not contain many weeds. The plants 

 are remarkably variable in appearance and habits of growth. 

 The leaves present almost every form. The flowers are usually 

 in spikes, as the Mulleins, or in panicles, as the rank-smelling 

 Figworts, occasionally axillary and solitary, as the aromatic 

 Musk Flower, but never terminal. In no family, except perhaps 

 the Orchids, are there so many varieties of irregular corollas, 

 which generally have 4 or 5 divisions, either slightly united 

 at the base or completely into a tube. The fruit is a 2-celled 

 capsule, which opens when ripe and allows the numerous seeds 

 to drop out. The Scrophulariaceae are bitterish plants. Some 

 contain a narcotic poison, such as the Foxglove (Digitalis). 

 Among the weeds are the Mulleins (Thapsus); Toad Flax (Linaria 

 vulgaris Hill.); the Speedwells (Veronica), some species of which 

 are troublesome on lawns; Glandular Eyebright (Euphrasia 

 arctica Lange), and Red Bartsia (Odontites rubra Gilib.), intro- 

 duced, both rather common pasture weeds in Prince Edward 

 Island; and Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus Crista-galli L.), an annual 

 weed in low meadows. 



The Consideration of Weeds is very essential to the Husbandmen, because scarce 

 any of his Land escapes from being abundantly infested . with them; and none is ever 

 entirely free They utterly destroy some crops; and they never fail to injure others 

 in Proportion to their Number and Nature. 



Thomas Hale, The Compleat Body of Husbandry, 1756. 



And though theyr soyle be not verie frutefull, nor their aier very wholesome, yet 

 againste the ayer they so defende them with temperate diete, and so order and husbands 

 their grounde with diligente travaile, that in no countrey is greater increase, and plenty 

 of corne and cattell, nor mens bodies of longer lyfe, and 'subject or apte to fewer diseases. 



Sir Thomas More, Utopia, 1515. 



