390 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



c. FAMILY COMPOSIT.E.— This is a large group of 

 plants, half of which are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, the 

 remainder including under-shrubs, shrubs, trees and twiners or 





Fig. i8oa. Part of stem and flowering top of the cardinal flower {Lobelia cardinalis). 



even climbers, as Climbing boneset (Mikania scandens). The 

 root is simple and spindle-shaped (Fig. 182), sometimes branched 

 and usually contains inulin, a constituent peculiar to this group 



