196 



DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



anterior shorter ; stamens 4, attached to the base of the corolhi, in- 

 cluded; anthers arrow-shaped, attached at their backs, cells nearly 

 parallel; ovary 2-celled, each cell divided into 2 dry false partitions; 

 ovules many in each cell, arranged in a line ; capsule oblong oi- ovate ; 

 seeds numerous, small, triangular in outline, differing in color ; em- 

 bryo straight, radical, short, testa crustaceous. Leaves opposite below, 

 and alternate above, petioled, entire, incised or dentate, 3-parted or 

 dissected. Flowers pale, violet, solitary, axillary, nearly sessile. Whole 

 plant scabrous, erect, or prostrate. 



1 . S. Indicum, DC (Sesame.) Stalk 2 to 3 feet iu height, scabrous. Leaves 

 ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, aud alternate above, the lower ones S-lobed or 



3-parted aud opposite, couspicuously 

 feather-veined with yellow glauds 

 at the base of the peduncles. 

 Flowers resembling the flowers of 

 the foxglove in shape, color dingy 

 white to rose; capsule velvety and 

 pubescent, mucronate, 2-celled, de- 

 veloping in 4 cells ; seeds numerous, 

 ovoid, flat, varying in color, white, 

 brown, or black, rather smaller than 

 flaxseed. This species varies greatly 

 in the form of its leaves aud color 

 of its seeds. 



2. S. orientals, L. Larger leaves 

 than iu S. ludicum ; flowers white, 

 otherwise as in No. 1. 



Leaves of both species abound 

 in a gummy substance wliich they 

 yield to water, forming a pleasant 

 demulgent beverage. 



Geography. — The home of the 

 plant is believed to be the Sunda Isles, whence it was introduced into India, 

 and thence to western Asia, southern Europe, and northern Africa, and from 

 there* to the New World. To obtain the oil, the ripe seeds are first washed 

 to remove all mucilage, and the oil is obtained by expression ; the seeds yield 

 45 per cent of oil, as to weight. Its geographical zone is a tropical and sub 

 tropical belt extending both sides of the equator to the parallel of 35° all 

 around the globe. It grows sparingly in higher latitudes. 



Etymologij. — Sesamum is derived from a-rjadiwn, the Greek name of this 

 plant ; the specific name, Indicum, denotes the country where it is cultivated. 

 The seeds are known in commerce as Til, Gingeli, and Tingili, Sesame, and 

 Benne seeds. Onentale is from the Latin orientalis, and signifies " eastern." 



History. — The S. orientale was known in the Levant and southern Europe 

 and Egypt at least four centuries prior to the opening of the Christian era, 

 being mentioned by Xenophon. It was taken to the West Indies by Euro- 

 peans, and S. Indicum has found its way to Florida and other Southern States, 

 and has crept along as far north as the vicinity of Philadelphia. It was 

 detected by Judge Addison Brown in the ballast heaps at Communipaw, N. J. 

 It is known as the thunderbolt flower. It is also the potent legendary opener 



Sesamum Indicum (Sesame). 



