A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



75 



or 4-5-fid; corolla gamopotalous, 4-5-lobcd, tubular or 

 rotate; stamens of the same number as the corolla- 

 lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous; ovary in- 

 ferior, 1-5-celled; each cell 1 to many-ovulcd; style 1 

 or obsolete; stigmas 1-.5: fruit a berry or capsule. 



The 1 1 genera and about 350 species are distributed 

 principally in the north temperate zone. The tropical 

 species are mostly confined to the mountains. A few 

 species of Sambucus and V'iburmun occur in the southern 

 hemisphere. The family is very closely related to the 

 Rubiacete but the leaves are exstipulate; also to the 

 Cornacete and Valeriauaoeae. Some fossil species have 

 been found. 



Many species of Honeysuckle exhale a sweet odor 

 after sunset. The berries of Lonicera Ca-prifoHum are 

 said to be diuretic; those of L. Xylosteum are laxative. 

 The berries of the European elder (Sambucus nigra), 

 and of the American elder (<S. canadensis) are cooked 

 and eaten and are also made into wine. The dried flowers 

 of eUler were formerly used in cases of fever. The roots 

 of the North American Triosleum perfolialurn furnish a 

 kind of ipecac. Other species are locally used in medi- 

 cine. Many are ornamental. 



Eight or 10 genera are in cultivation in N. America: 

 Viburnum (Sheepberry, Hobble-bush, Waj'faring Tree, 

 Arrowwood, High Cranberry, Snowball Bush); Sam- 

 bucus (Elder); Triosteum (Feverwort, Horse Gentian, 

 Wild Ipecac); Symphoricarpos (Snowberry, Coral 

 Berry); Abelia; Diervilla (Weigela, Bush Honeysuckle) ; 

 Linna-a (Twin-flower); Lonicera (Bush and Chmbing 

 Honeysuckles, Woodbine, Trumpet Honeysuckle). 



211. Valerianaceae (from the genus Valeriana, a word 

 of uncertain origin). Valerian Family. Fig. 55. An- 

 nual or perennial herbs, often strongly scented: lea\-es 

 basal and cauliue, the latter opposite, simple or pinnate: 

 flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular or irregular, 

 epigynous; calyx of 1-3 minute, but often accrescent, 

 sepals; corolla 5-, rarely 3-4-, lobcd, gamopetalous, 

 often produced into a spur at the base; lobes imbricated; 

 stamens 1-4, rarely 5, epipetalous, exsertcd; ovary 

 inferior, 3-celled, only 1 cell maturing; seed 1; style 1; 

 stigmas 3: fruit drj', indehiscent, 1-seeded. 



Eight genera and about 280 species are known, mostly 

 in the north temperate regions of the Old World, especi- 

 ally in the region just north of the Mediterranean, and 

 in South America, where the genus Valeriana is mostly 

 distributed. The familj' is related to the Dipsacacese 

 and the Caprifoliacca;, and more remotely to the Com- 

 positte. The epigynous, gamopetalous flower, separate 

 stamens, 3 carpels and 1-seeded fruit are distinctive. 



Valeriana officinalis is a powerful nerve sedative 

 with a peculiar odor. Many other Valerianacea; are 

 used as local remedies for the same purpose. The 

 foliage of various species of Valerianella (lamb's 

 lettuce, corn salad) is eaten as a salad, less commonly 

 as a pot-herb. 



In this country few genera are in cultivation: Patrinia 

 as a pot-herb; Centranthus (Red Valerian, Jupiter's 

 Beard) and Valeriana (Valerian) as ornamental plants; 

 and Valerianella (Com Salad, Fetticus) for food. 



212. Dipsacaceae (from the genus IHpsacus, derived 

 from the Greek lo thirst, in allusion to the water-holding 

 leaf-b;uses). Teasel Family. Fig. .50. Annual or per- 

 ennial herbs: leaves opposite, rarely whorled: flowers 

 small, bisexual, mo.stly irregular, epigynous, in dense 

 involucrato heads; each flower also surrounded by a 

 cup-shaped, more or less scarious, involucre, which is a 

 metamorphosed bracteolc; calyx of setaceous segments 

 or crown-like, or plumose, or various; corolla 4-.5-lobed, 

 gamopetalous, usually irregular; lobes imbricated; 

 stamens 4, rarely 2-3, mostly epipetalous; ovarj' 

 inferior, 1-celled, 1-ovuled; style 1; stigmas 2: fruit an 

 achene. 



The family has 10 genera and about 1.50 species, all 

 natives of warm-temperate regions of the Old World, 

 and mostly of the eastern Mediterranean region. The 



family is related to the Valerianacea-, and more dis- 

 tantly to the Composita". The gamopetalous corolla, 

 2 carpels, involucrate heads and involucrate flowers are 

 distinctive. 



Dipsacus and Scabiosa have been used in medicine. 

 The spiny hooked bracts of Dipsacus ferox (fuller's 

 teasel of southwestern Asia) have been used to full 

 cloth, whence the common name; and the plant was 

 once cultivated extensively for this purpose. The 

 connate leaf-bases of Dipsacus sylvestris hold several 

 ounces of rain-water until evaporated. This contrivance 



56. DipSACACE^: 1. Dipsacus, a, flower; b, fruiting head. 2. 

 Scabiosa, fruit. Cucurbit."-Ce.e: 3. Cucurbita, a, male flower; ' 

 6, female flower: c, cross-section fruit. Camp.\nulace.e; 4. Cam- 

 panula, flower. 5. Lobelia, a, flower; 6, floral diagram. 



may be of benefit in preventing the ascent of harmful 

 insects. 



Four genera are in cultivation in North America: 

 Cephalaria, Morina, and Scabiosa as ornamental plants; 

 Dipsacus ferox {D. fullonum), locally cultivated in 

 New York state for fulling cloth. 



Order 53. Campanulales 



213. Cucurbitaceae (from the genus Cucurbita, the 

 classical name for the gourd). Gourd Family. Fig. 

 56. Herbs, rarely shrubs, climbing, usually with 

 branched tendrils: leaves alternate, more or less 

 rounded; veins palmate: flowers usually unisexual, 

 perigynous, regular; stamens 5, rarely separate, usually 

 connate in 2 pairs and 1 free stamen (thus appar- 

 ently, stamens 3), or monadelphous, inserted at the 

 summit of the ovary; anthers 2-celled, the cells often 

 queerly curved and contorted; carpels usually 3, 

 rarely more or fewer; ovary inferior, mostly 3-celled, 

 many-ovuled: fruit a dry berry with thick rind and 

 spongy center (Pepo), or juicy with hard rind, very 

 exceptionally dehiscent. 



There are S7 genera and about 650 species, widely 

 distributed over the earth but most abundant in the 

 tropics; they are wanting in the cold regions. Several 

 arc wild in the eastern United States. The family is 

 related to the Campanulacea;, possibly also to the Passi- 



