414 DICOTYLEDONES — COUOLLIFLORiE. 



and equal to them in number, rarely more. Ovary 4-partite, 

 4-seede(i ; or simple, 2 — 4-celied. Ovules definite, pendulous. 

 Achetiia 4, apart or united at the base, or a 4-celled drupe, or a 

 ierry with 2 — 4 nuts. Seeds witliout, or nearly without albu- 

 men. Radicle superior. — Herbs or Shrubs. Leaves alternate, 

 without stipules, usually scabrous. Flowers generally in l-sided, 

 more or less compound and circinnate spikes or racemes. — The 

 BoRAQiNEiE are mild, emollient and mucilaginous, sometimes 

 slightly bitter and narcotic. The roots of several species afford 

 a red dye. — Echium, &c. p. 73. 



Ord. LVIII. SOLANE^. Calyx 5- rarely 4-partite, per- 

 sistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, its limb 5-cleft, 

 equal or somewhat unequal, deciduous, with a plicate aestivation. 

 Stamens inserted into the corolla, alternate with its segments 

 and equalling them in number, 1 sometimes abortive. Ovary 1- 

 2- or 4-celled, many-seeded. Style 1. Stigma obtuse, rarely 

 lobed. Pericarp 1, 2- or 4-celled ; either a capsule, with a 

 parallel double dissepiment, or a berry, with the receptacles 

 united to the dissepiments. Seeds numerous. Embryo included 

 in a fleshy albumen, more or less curved, often out of the axis. 

 Radicle opposite the hilum. — Herbs or Shrubs. Leaves alternate, 

 loithout stipules, sometimes opposite, beneath the floivers. Br. — 

 Linnseus called this family Luridce, and fancied that their lurid 

 appearance indicated the dangerous properties, common to many 

 of them. They are acrid and narcotic, as the Deadly Night- 

 shade, Mandragora, Henbane, Thorn-apple, Tobacco, &c., whilst 

 the root of one, when cooked, affords a most important article 

 of food — the Potato ; and the fruits of the Love-apple, Winter- 

 cherry, and Capsicum are condiments. — We have, in Britain, 

 only — 1. Datura, p. 75. 2, Hyoscyamus, p. 75. 3. Solanum, 

 p. 75. 4. Atropa, p. 75. 



Ord. LIX. OROBANCHE^. Ca/?/.r variously divided, 

 persistent. Corolla irregular, persistent, with an imbricated 

 aestivation. Stamens 4, didynamous. Anthers 2-celled, the cells 

 distinct, parallel, often mucronate. Ovary in a fleshy disk, 1- 

 celled, with 2 — 4 parietal, many-seeded receptacles. Style 1. 

 Stigma 2-lobed. Capsule 2-valved. Seeds very minute. Em- 

 bryo at the apex of a ^e^hy albumen. — Herbaceous, dingy-colour- 

 ed, somewhat succulent, leajiess plants, glandular and scaly, gene- 

 rally j)arasitical on the roots of plants. — 1. Orobanchk, p. ; 

 226. 2. La-iir/ea, jt>. 224. 



Ord. LX. SCROPHULARINE^ (including Melampy- 

 RACEiE, Rich.) Calyx 4 — 5-lobed, persistent. Corolla mono- 

 petalous, generally irregular, deciduous, with an imbricated aesti- 

 vation. Stamens 4, didynamous, rarely equal, sometimes 2 or 

 5. Sti/le 1. Stigma 2-lobed, rarely undivided. Capsule (very 



