A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



69 



with scales in the throat, ganioix'talous, liypogynous, 

 imbricated; stamens 5, alternating with the corolla- 

 lobes, shghtly epipetakius; liypogynous disk present; 

 ovary superior, l-celled, rarely ineomjiletely 2-celled; 

 ovules 2 to several; style 1; stigmas 2; fruit a 

 capsule. 



The 17 genera and about 170 species are found most 

 abundantly in temperate North America, less com- 

 monly southward to Patagonia. A very few are found 

 in south and east Africa, India, Japan, and the Hawai- 

 ian Islands. The family is most closely related to the 

 Boraginacea-, but lias a l-celled ovary; more distantly 

 related to the Convolvulacea" and Polemoniacea'. 



Eriodictyon gluliuosum (yerba santa) of California 

 has lately come into use a.s an expectorant in throat and 

 lung trouble. HydrophyUiim canadense has long had a 

 reputation as a remedy for snake-bites, poison-ivy 

 poisoning, erysipelas, and other skin troubles. 



About a half dozen genera are in cultivation in N. 

 Americaas ornamental plants. They are used principally 

 for outdoor bedding. Emmenanthe (California Yellow or 

 Golden Bells); Hesperochiron; Hydrophyllum (Water- 

 leaf); Nemophila; and Phacelia. 



193. Boraginaceae (from the genus Borago, an 

 ancient name having reference to the roughness of the 

 foliage). Borage Family. Fig. 51. Herbs, rarely shrubs 

 or trees: leaves usually alternate, very frequently 

 rough-hairy: flowers bisexual, regular, rarely irregular; 

 inflorescence usually circinate; calyx 4-5-cleft, persist- 

 ent; corolla 4-5-lobed, gamopetalous, hypogynous, 

 imbricated, often with scales or folds in the throat; 

 stamens 5, epipetalous, alternating with the corolla- 

 lobes; hj^jogynous disk usually present; carpels 2; 

 ovary superior, -l-celled, either entire and style terminal, 

 or 2-lobed, or more commonly deeply 4-lobed with the 

 style basal between the lobes; each cell 1-ovuled; 

 style 1; stigmas usually 2: fruit rarely a berry, usually 

 of 4 1-seeded nutlets, with the surface variously smooth, 

 pohshed, wrinkled, barbed, winged, or crested. 



There are 85 genera and about 1,500 species widely 

 distributed in the temperate and tropical zones, most 

 abundant in the Mediterranean region and in western 

 North America. The largest genera are Cordia with 

 230 species, and Heliotropium with 220 species. The 

 family is most closely related to the Hydrophyllacea; ; 

 also related to the Verbenace® and Labiatse. The cir- 

 cinate inflorescence, and 2-carpelled, 4-celled ovary 

 with 1 seed in each cell, are distinctive character- 

 istics. The fruit of the Boraginaceae is most diverse, 

 and very important in classification within the family. 



Many species, native in Europe, were formerly used 

 for medicine; for example, comfrej' (Symphytum offici- 

 nale), borage {Borago officinalis), hound's-tongue (Cy- 

 noglossum officinale), lungsvort. {Pulmonaria officinalis), 

 viper's bugloss (Echium vulgnre), bugloss (Anchusa offi- 

 cinalis), gromweU (Lithospermuni officinale), and helio- 

 trope ( Heliotropium europium) . Tournefortia vnibellatn 

 was used in Mexico as a febrifuge. The roots of alkanet 

 (Alkanna tinctoria) of South Europe and Asia contain 

 a red dye of commercial importance. The roots of some 

 species of Anchusa, Onosma, Lithospermum and Ar- 

 nebia also contain a red pigment. The wood of some 

 species of Cordia is of value, as are also its bast fibers. 

 The wood of several species of Ehretia is valuable, and 

 the fruit is edible. 



.\bout 30 genera are in cultivation in N. America, 

 mostly as hardy ornamental border plants. Among 

 these are: Amebia (Prophet's Flower, Arabian Prim- 

 rose); Anchusa (Alkanet, not the real); Borago (Bor- 

 age), used as a pot-herb or bee-plant ; Cerinthe (Honey- 

 wort) ; CjTioglossum (Hound's-tongue) ; Echium (Viper's 

 Bugloss); Lithospermum (GromweU, Puccoon, Indian 

 Paint); Myosotidium (Giant Forget-me-not); ^Iyosotis 

 (Forget-me-not); Mertensia (Virginian Cowslip, Vir- 

 ginian Lungwort); Omphalodes (Navelwort, Creeping 

 Forget-me-not) ; Onosma (Golden Drops) ; Onosmodium 



(False GromweU); Pulmonaria ^Lungwort, Bethlehem 

 Sage); and Symiihytum (Comfrey). 



194. Verbenaceae (from the genus Verbena, the Latin 

 name for any sacred herb; ap]iIication obscure). Ver- 

 vain Family. Fig. 51. Herbs, shrubs, or trees: leaves 

 opposite, rarely whorled or alternate, simple or com- 

 pound : flowers bisexual, rarely regular, usually oblique 

 or 2-Upped; calyx 4-5-, rarely 6-8-, toothed; corolla 

 4-5-lobed gamopetalous, hypogynous, lobes imbri- 

 cated ; stamens 4, didynamous, rarely 5 or 2, epipetalous, 

 hypogynous; disk present; ovary superior, of 2, 

 rarely of 4 or 5, carpels, 2-5-celled, but by false par- 

 titions 4-10-ceUed, entire or 2-4-lobed; ovule usually 

 solitary in each cell; style 1; stigma usually 1: fruit a 

 drupe or berry, often separating into drupelets. 



Verbenacea; has 67 genera and about 7.50 species, 

 mainly of tropical and subtropical distribution. Eleven 

 species reach the northeastern United States. Lippia 

 is the largest genus with 100 species; Clerodendron 

 has 90 species, and Verbena 80 species. The family is 

 closely related to the Labiata; and not clearly distinct 

 from that family. The predominatingly terminal 

 style, and not deeply lobed ovary are the only differen- 

 tiating characters. 



Many species have been used in medicine: Verbena 

 haslata as bitters; species of Lippia as tonics; jEgiphila 

 salutaris as a purge and remedy for snake-bites. Species 

 of Clerodendron have very sweet-scented flowers. They 



51. BoriAGiNACE.E: 1. Borago, pistil. 2. Symphytum, flower. 

 .3. Cynog!o:;sum, fruit. 4. Omphalodes, fruit. Verbenaoe.e; .5. 

 Verbena, flower. 6. Lantana. floral diagram. Labiate: 7. Mentha, 

 flower. 8. Thymus, pistil. 9. .Salvia, flower. 10. Lamium, floral 

 diagram. Nolanace.^:: H. Nolana, a, flower; b and c, pistils of 

 different species. 



are used as purges, diuretics, and for liver, stomach, 

 and lung complaints. Lippia citriodora yields a fra- 

 grant substance used in flavoring cream, and other 

 foods. Several species have been used as tea in America. 

 Duranta .Ellisia and species of Lantana have edible 

 fruit. Verbena officinalis of Europe is a tonic, but more 

 famous for its use in witchcraft. It was celebrated 

 among the Romans and Druiils of Gaul and used by 

 them in religious ceremonies. The very valuable teak- 



