BIGNONIACEAE BIGNONIA FAMILY 739 



lipped, 5-cleft or entire; corolla tubular bell-shaped, 5-lobed, somewhat irreg- 

 ular; stamens inserted on the corolla; some of the stamens sterile or rudi- 

 mentary, inserted on the tube of the corolla, anther bearing 2 or 4; ovary 

 usually 2-celled; fruit a 2-valved capsule; seeds flat, winged; cotyledons broad 

 and flat. 



About 500 species mostly tropical. The trumpet creeper (Tecoma radicans), 

 native from Pennsylvania to Minnesota and southward, produces large scarlet 

 or orange flowers, and is much cultivated as an ornamental plant. It contains 

 narcotic principles. T. jasminoides, much cultivated in greenhouses for its 

 pretty white, pinkish or purple flowers, is a native of Brazil. Bignonia capreo- 

 lata, from Virginia to southern Illinois and southward, produces pretty orange 

 red flowers and is cultivated southward. B. venusta is a greenhouse plant 

 native to Brazil. The leaves of Caroba (Jacaranda procera) furnish a valuable 

 alterative. The Neivbouldia laevis is used in dysentery. 



Catalpa Scop. Catalpa 



Trees or shrubs; leaves opposite or verticillate, simple, petioled; flower 

 large in terminal panicles; calyx deeply 2-lipped; corolla bell-shaped with 

 spreading margin; some stamens with fertile anthers 2, the others sterile or 

 rudimentary; capsule large and slender, 2-celled; seeds numerous, winged. 

 Seven species in Asia, North America and the West Indies. 



Catalpa speciosa. Warder. Common Catalpa. 



A large tree with thick bark ; leaves large, heart-shaped, long, acuminate ; 

 corolla 2 inches long, white and mottled ; capsule thick with numerous seeds. 



Distribution. The common hardy catalpa (C. speciosa), a native to the 

 United States from Illinois to Arkansas, is a tall tree largely planted for its 

 wood, which is used for posts, and railroad ties. It is hardy as far north as 

 northern Iowa. 



Catalpa bignonioides Walt. 



Tree with thin bark, spreading branches; leaves strongly scented and broad- 

 ly ovate entire or 3-lobed acute or acuminate, deeply pubescent beneath ; flow- 

 ers in panicles, white mottled with yellow and purple; corolla tube, bell-shaped, 

 the lower lobe entire; capsule rather thin walled, drooping. 



Distribution. Commonly cultivated but less hardy than the preceding, native 

 to the Gulf States. 



Poisonous properties. The odor coming from the fragrant flowers is poison- 

 ous and Dr. White in his Dermatitis Venenata states that the flowers are ir- 

 ritating to many persons. Dr. Millspaugh, also, says that it is considered 

 to be dangerous to inhale the odor of the flowers for a long time, which, 

 however, is probably not generally the case. The allied caroba (Jacaranda 

 procera) contains the bitter principle carobin. The glucoside, catalpin, 

 comes from the bark and pod of C. bignonioides. The Oroxylon indicum con- 

 tains oro.vylin C ig H 14 O 6 (OH) . 



PLANTAGINALES 



This order contains but one family, the Plantaginaceae. 

 PLANT AGINACEAE Lindl. Plantain Family. 



Mostly stemless herbs; leaves, in species with stems, opposite or alternate; 

 flowers small, perfect, polygamous or monoecious; calyx 4-parted, persistent; 



