CLXIX. SESAMES. 



607 



RiieJUa patula. 

 Seed (mag.). 



Ruellia. 

 Seed cut vertically (mag.). 



Adtiatoda. 



Pistil and disk 



(mag.). 



Ruellia. 



Capsular fruit with 

 2 cells, dehiscing 

 loculicidally 

 (mag.). 



Ruellia. 



Valve of fruit, semi- 



septiferous, showing 



the process supporting 



the seeds (mag.). 



Ruellia. 



Transverse section of 

 fruit (mag.). 



Ruellia. 



Transverse section of 

 seed (mag.). 



Acanthacea approach Labiata and Verbenacece in the irregular anisostemonous corolla and its 

 aestivation, and exalbuminous embryo with descending radicle and opposite leaves ; they are separated by 

 the curved ovules, capsular fruit with compressed valves, and retinacula. We have indicated their affinity 

 with Swophularinece and Bignoniacc<g (which see). 



This family almost exclusively inhabits the tropics. 



Acanthaceee furnish no species to European medicine. They contain, however, an abundant 

 mucilage, sometimes combined with a bitter principle ; others are somewhat acrid, others contain a 

 stimulating volatile oil. The mucilaginous Acanthacece are employed in India as emollients and bechics ; 

 the bitter species are reported tonics and febrifuges ; the acrid are considered to excite the functions 

 of the skin and of the mucous membrane. Some are dyes [especially a Bengal Ruellia, which pro- 

 duces the blue Room dye of India. Grndarussa vulyaris is in India a famed cure for rheumatism, 

 it is also a febrifuge, and its dried leaves preserve clothes from insects. The popular French tonic, 

 drogue amere, is the tincture of Justicia panieidata. ED.]. 



CLXIX. SESAMES. 



, R. Br. SESAMEJE, Kunth. MARTYNIACE^E, Link.} 



COROLLA hypogynous, monopetalous, irregular, usually anisostemonous, aestivation 

 imbricate. STAMENS generally 4, didynamous, inserted on the corolla ; anther-cells 

 2, shorter than the connective, glandular at the top. OVARY 2- 4- or 1-celled, girt at 

 the base by a glandular disk ; OVULES anatropous. FRUIT a capsule, drupe or nucule. 

 EMBRYO straight, exalbuminous or sub-exalbuminous. 



HERBS with vesicular glands. LEAVES opposite or alternate, simple, exstipu- 

 late. FLOWERS 5 , irregular, axillary, solitary, or racemed or spiked, usually 

 2-bracteolate. CALYX 5-partite or -fid, almost equal, sometimes split on one side 



