DICOTYLEDONE^E. 77 



the chief ornaments of the mountains and meadows 

 of Europe. The round tubers of the Cyclamen, the 

 long- irregular one of the Auricula, both of which are 

 perennial ; and the annually increasing crown of the 

 Dodecatheon are all worthy of the attention of the 

 physiologist. 



The order Orobanchea contains but two genera, 

 both very curious ; namely, Lathrcea and Orobanche. 

 Instead of leaves they are furnished with bracteous 

 scales, foliage, it seems, not being necessary to them, 

 as they subsist on the roots of other plants. Broom- 

 rape (robber of broom ?) affects the roots of common 

 broom, and also those of the biennial red clover, 

 sometimes in such quantity as to form a considerable 

 part of the bulk of the second crop. It is seldom seen 

 on arable land except with clover. As it is cut, 

 carried, and thrashed with the clover seed, may it not 

 be sown with it ? The Lathrcea has an extensive 

 system of filamentous roots, and seems to seize on 

 dead vegetable matter, as well as on the living roots 

 of other plants. 



The succeeding orders of Acanthacece, Myopormce, 

 Verbendcece, Labiatce, and Scrophularince, contain 

 plants of various characters as to form, colour, and 

 essential qualities, many of which are cultivated as 

 pot herbs ; but exhibit no peculiarity in their struc- 

 ture worthy of notice. 



SoldnecB are an eminent subdivision of the vege- 

 table kingdom. In it both poisonous and sanative 

 principles are found. The deadly nightshade, intoxi- 



