EXOGKXOUS OR DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



449 



(Fig. 408), or very rarely antheriferous, or often only two, one 

 pair being either suppressed or reduced to sterile filaments. Ovary 

 free, two-celled, with the placenta? united in the axis. Capsule two- 

 valved. Seeds indefinite, or sometimes few, albuminous. Embryo 

 small. — Ex. Scrophularia, Verbascum (Mullein, which is remarkable 

 for the almost regular corolla, and the five often nearly perfect sta- 

 mens), Linaria, Antirrhinum (Snapdragon), &c. — The plants of this 

 large and important order are generally to be suspected of delete- 

 rious (bitter, acrid, or drastic) properties. The most important me- 

 dicinal plant is the Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), so remarkable for 

 its power of lowering the pulse. Numerous species are cultivated 

 for ornament. 



874. Orel. YerbenaceflB ( Vervain Family). Herbs, shrubs, or often 

 trees in the tropics, mostly with opposite leaves. Corolla bilabiate, 

 or the four- or five-lobed limb more or less irregular. Stamens 

 mostly four and didynamous, occasionally only two. Ovary free, 



entire, two- to four-celled. Fruit drupaceous, baccate, or dry, and 

 splitting into two to four indehiscent one-seeded portions. Seeds with 

 little or no albumen. Embryo straight, inferior. — Ex. Verbena 

 (Vervain) is the principal representative in cooler regions. There 

 are many others in the tropics ; one of which is the gigantic Indian 

 Teak (Tectona grandis), remarkable for its very heavy and durable 



FIG. 979 and 980. Flower of a Verbena enlarged 9S1. The corolla laid open. 982. Pistil 

 983 The fruit. 984. Cross-section of the young fruit and the contained seeds. 985 Fruit 

 separating into its four cocci. 986 Cross-section of one of the cocci, and a vertical section of 

 the lower part, showing the surface of the contained seed. 987. A'ertical section through 

 the pericarp, seed, and embryo. 



38* 



