dipsace^;. 245 



ORDER XL— DIPSACE& 



Ilerbs or under-shrubs with opposite (or rarely whorled) leaves, 

 undivided or pinnately divided, without distinct stipules. Flowers 

 perfect, irregular or nearly regular, purple, lilac, ochreous, or vari- 

 egated, sessile in a head {anthode), on a floret-receptacle (clinanth), 

 surrounded by an involucre (pericline) of bracts (phyllaries) ; rarely 

 pseudo-verticillate ; each separate flower usually inclosed in a tubu- 

 lar monophyllous involucel. Calyx-tube more or less adhering to 

 the ovary, and contracted at the top above it ; limb often persistent 

 or accrescent, generally cupuliform, entire, lobed, or divided into 

 awned segments. Corolla monopetalous, tubular-funnelshaped or 

 salver-shaped, with the limb often sub-bilabiate or rarely bilabiate. 

 Stamens 4, free, rarely diadelphous. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled ; style 

 filiform ; stigma entire or bilobed. Fruit surmounted by the per- 

 sistent part of the calyx-limb, dry, indehiscent, 1-celled, 1-seeded, 

 inclosed in the persistent involucel. Seed suspended, adhering to 

 the pericarp ; embryo straight, inclosed in fleshy albumen. 



GENUS I.—D I P S A C U S. Linn. 



Fericline of numerous herbaceous generally spiny phyllaries. 

 Clinanth clothed with scales acuminated into spinous points. In- 

 volucel sessile, tetragonous, 8-ribbed, terminated by 4 very short 

 teeth. Calyx-limb cupshaped, quadrate or 4-lobed. Corolla funnel- 

 shaped or salver-shaped, 4-cleft. Stamens 4, free. Fruit crowned by 

 the 4-sided calyx-limb, and inclosed in the involucel. 



Biennial herbs, prickly or hairy. Leaves opposite, often connate, 

 toothed or cut. Flowers in ovoid or globose terminal heads or 

 anthodes, lilac or whitish. 



The name of this genus of plants comes from the Greek word Stifrcuros {dipsakos), 

 derived from <YJ.aw (dipsad), I thirst, because the leaves, from their hollow shape, hold 

 water to satisfy thirst. 



SPECIES I.— DIP SAC US SYLVESTRIS. Linn. 



Plate DCLXXIV. 



JReich, Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XII. Tab. DCCVII. Fig. 1397. 

 Billot, FL Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2860. 



Stem prickly. Root-leaves oblanceolate-elliptical, indistinctly 

 stalked, with scattered prickles with tubercular bases, crenate ; 



