39 2 PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 



Scorphulariacea or Figwort Family. Herbs (Linaria, Verbascum, 

 Gerardia, Digitalis, etc.), shrubs (shrubby Veronicas, etc.), rarely 

 trees (Paulownia imperialis). Stem, branches and leaves usually 

 green and independently vegetating, but in Pedicularis, Gerardia, 

 Euphrasia, Buchnera, Rhinanthus, etc., the stem, leaves, and 

 branches are condensed from the development of a parasitic root 

 habit. Stems cylindrical to frequently quadrangular, especially 

 when leaves are opposite. Leaves alternate to opposite and decus- 

 sate, simple, exstipulate, often hairy, but becoming by drought or 



FIG. 229. Nightshade, or bittersweet (Solatium Dulcamara). (Gager.) 



parasiticism reduced to scales or almost absorbed. Inflorescence a 

 raceme of cymes (Paulownia) or a simple raceme (Foxglove, Linaria, 

 etc.) or spike (Verbascum Thapsus) or, if leaves are opposite, often a 

 whorl of axillary flowers or solitary axillary flowers. Flowers rarely 

 regular, mostly irregular; calyx of five sepals condensed in Veronica 

 to four through absorption of one sepal by fusion of two sepals; 

 corolla of five to four petals, deeply synpetalous, varying from rotate 

 (Verbascum Blattaria, etc.) to irregular tubular to elongate, irregular 

 bilabiate to funnel-shaped. In color, corolla varies from greenish 



