202 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



crops. Scammony is the dried juice of Convolvulus scam- 

 monia of Asia. Oil of Khodium is ob- 

 tained from C. Scoparius and C. floridus of 

 the Canary Islands; from the scent of the 

 wood of these two, it is called " Kosewood," 

 and from it oil is extracted and used in 

 adulterating attar of Roses. 



8. Borraginaceae. The Borage family 

 (twelve .hundred species) are, for the most 

 part, hispid herbs, shrubs, or trees, with a 

 four-parted ovary. They are found all over 

 the world ; but few are of importance,- as 

 that whose roots yield the red dye Alka- 

 net (Anchusa tinctoria of Europe), and ornamental plants, 

 as Forget-me-not {Myosotis palustris) from Europe, and 

 Heliotrope (Fig. 317 ; Heliotropum Peruvianuni) from 

 Peru. Comfrey {Symphytum officinale) is supposed to be 

 medicinal. Many weeds belong to this family, as Stick- 

 weed, {Echinospermum), Hound's-Tongue, and Beggar's 

 Lice {Oynoglosswn), 

 Puccoou {lAthosper- 

 mum), etc. 



g. Loganiaceae. 

 This small family 

 (three hundred and 

 fifty species) of the 

 Tropics deserves 

 mention, as inclu- 

 ding the Strychnos 

 nux-vomiea of India, 

 which produces an 



Fig. 316. The Dodder or Cuscuta. Fig. 317. Heliotrope. 



