CATALPA. 201 



BICNONIACE^. 



Character of the Order. — Ti-ees, climbing or twining shrubs, rarely 

 herbs, with opposite, rarely alternate, simple or compound leaves and 

 showy, often trumi^et-shaped flowers. Calyx 2-lipped, 5-cleft or entire. 

 Corolla usually irregulai", 4- to 5-lobed, deciduous. Stamens 5, unoqiial, 

 one or two of them often abortive, inserted upon the corolla. Ovary free ; 

 style long ; stiuina 2-lipped. Fruit a 2-valved, often pod-like capsule, di- 

 vided by an expansion of the placeutie. Seeds generally numerous and 

 winged. 



An order of chiefly tropical plants, comprising few medicinal siiecies, 

 and these possessed of no very striking properties. 



BIGNONIA. 



Bignonia capreolata Linne. — Bignonin. 



Description. — Calyx somewhat bell-shaped, the margin wavy or slightly 

 5-toothed. Corolla irregular, bell-shaped, 5-lobetl, and rather 2-lippcd, 

 orange color, two inches long. Stamens unecpial, 2 long, 2 short, and 1 

 rudimentary and sterile. Pod 2-celled, flattened parallel with the valves 

 and partitions. Seeds in two rows, and provided with a mendjranous 

 wing. 



A shrubby climber, often ascending tall trees. Wood so arranged in 

 the stem as, in transverse section, to show a cross. Leaves of 2 oblong 

 or ovate loallcts and a brandling tendril, often with a pair of accessory 

 leaves in tlio axils, r(>sembling stipules. Flowers clustered, the peduncles 

 l-llowered, appearing in April. 



Habitat. — In rich soil from Virginia to Southern Illinois and south- 

 ward. 



Part Used. — Tiie root — not official. 



Constituents. — Unknown. 



Preparations. — Used in decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. —Bignonia is said to have been used as a 

 substitute for sarsaparilla. If it have active medicinal properties, tliey 

 are yet to be ascertained. 



CATALPA. 



Catalpa bignonioides Walter.— C«/r//y)«7, Indian Honn. 



Description.— Ciih' ■ 2-lipped, corolla bell sliaped, inflated, the border 

 spreading, 4- to 5-lobed, irregular, somewliat 2-lipped, \\uite, tinged with 

 violet, aud dotted with purple and yellow on the throat. Fertile stamens, 

 2 or 4 ; sterile and rudimentary, 1 or 3. Pod one foot long, slender, 

 nearly cylindrical, 2-celled. 



