506 CXXIII. STYLIDIE^E. 



The genus Cynara contains many species, natives of the Mediterranean basin, the leaves of winch 

 are bitter and diuretic. The unexpanded capitula of the Common Artichoke (C. Scolymut) are eaten, 

 as are the leaves of the Cardoon (C. Carduncuhts) when blanched. 



Amongst the CarduacecB used in dyeing, the Safflower holds the first place ; it is an Indian plant, now 

 cultivated throughout the world, the flowers of which give a red dye (carthamitui), employed for dyeing 

 silk and cotton, and with which is prepared in Spain a much esteemed paint. The Dyer's Savory (Serratula 

 tinctoria) contains a yellow colour of some value. Marigolds contain a bitter mucilage, various salts, and a 

 little volatile oil ; they were formerly celebrated as sudorifics and resolvents in cancerous obstructions. 



The Liyuliflora or Cichoracea? possess a milky juice, which contains bitter, resinous, saline, and 

 narcotic principles, the properties of which vary according to their relative proportions. Many of 

 these, if gathered young, before the complete elaboration of the latex, are edible and have a pleasant taste. 

 Their medicinal properties differ according to their development and that of their organs ; thus the obser- 

 vations to be made on them must vary with the season. Amongst the medicinal Cirhoracete, there are 

 some in which the bitter, resinous, gummy and saline ingredients are united in such proportions that the 

 result is highly nutritive. In the first rank must be placed the Dandelion, which ia met with through- 

 out Europe and the Mediterranean region. The Wild Chicory (Cichorium Intybtts) possesses the same 

 properties. The root of the cultivated Chicory is an important article of trade ; it is employed, roasted, 

 powdered and mixed with ground coffee, or used instead of the latter. The blanched leaves are edible. In 

 Salsify ( Tragopogon polifolius) and Scorzonera hisjmnica, the bitter of the root is corrected by the mucilage 

 contained in the milky juice, and the root is edible. 



The species of Lactuca have a bitter acrid juice with a poisonous smell; they contain wax, india- 

 rubber, albumine, a resin, and a bitter crystallizable matter, with a peculiar volatile principle. It is to 

 these different substances that they owe their medicinal properties. The thickened juice of the cultivated 

 Lettuce, called thridace, is used as a narcotic, and preferred to opium in cases where there is reason to 

 fear the stupifying action of the latter. The young leaves of the same species, which do not yet contain 

 the milky juice, are much used as food. 



CXXIII. STYLWIEJB. 

 (STYLIDE..E, R. Br. STYLIDIACE^E, Lindl.) 



COROLLA epigynous, monopetalous, anisostemonous, aestivation imbricate. STAMENS 

 united to the style. OVARY with two many-ovuled cells ; OVULES ascending, anatropous. 

 EMBRYO albuminous. 



Annual or perennial PLANTS, usually herbaceous, sometimes woody below. 

 LEAVES simple, entire, exstipulate ; cauline scattered, rarely whorled; radical in tufts. 

 FLOWERS perfect, irregular, in a spike raceme or corymb, pedicels usually 3-bracteate. 

 CALYX persistent, usually bilabiate, lower lip 2-nd or -toothed, upper lip 3-fid or 

 -toothed. COROLLA monopetalous, irregular, tube short, limb 5-fid, 4 lobes large 

 spreading, the fifth (Up] smaller, spreading or depressed, at first anterior, then be- 

 coming lateral through the torsion of the tube, to which it is sometimes attached by 

 an irritable joint. STAMENS 2, parallel, inserted on a glandular disk crowning the 

 ovary ; filaments united into a column with the style, which is sometimes erect and 

 continuous, sometimes with two bends, the lower of which is irritable; anthers 

 forming 2 cells on the top of the column, and embracing the stigmas. OVARY in- 

 ferior,, more or less completely 2-celled, septum parallel to the calyx- lips ; stigma 

 obtuse, sometimes undivided, hidden between the anthers, sometimes divided into 



