CAMPANULACE^— LOBELIACIlffi — ^VACCINIACEiE. 525 



apex. Seeds 00, attached to a central placenta ; embryo straight, in 

 the axis of fleshy albumen ; radicle pointing to the hilum (figs. 750- 

 752). — Lactescent herbs or undershrubs, with alternate, rarely oppo- 

 site, exstipulate leaves. The hairs on the style are said to be retrac- 

 tile, and seem to be connected with the application of the poUen (fig. 

 516, p. 290). The flowers in most instances belong to the cyanic 

 series. They are natives chiefly of northern and temperate regions. 

 They abound in the alpine regions of Europe and Asia, and are also 

 frequent in North America. It is stated that the species whose 

 capsule dehisces by lateral fissures are natives of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, while those with apicilar dehiscence are principally found in 

 the southern hemisphere. The milky juice found in the plants of this 

 order has acrid properties. The roots and young shoots of Campanula 

 Bapunculus, Eampion, are used as articles of diet. Authors enume- 

 rate 29 genera, including 536 species. Examples — Campanula, Phy- 

 teuma, Jasione. 



Order 103. — LoBELiACEiE, the Lobelia Family. {Monopet. Epigyn.) 

 Calyx superior, 5-lobed or entire. CoroUa gamopetalous, inserted on 

 the calyx, irregular, more or less deeply 5-oleft. Stamens 5, attached 

 to the calyx, alternate with the segments of the coroUa ; anthers 

 cohering ; pollen oval. Ovary inferior, 1-3-celled ; ovules 00, attached 

 either to central or parietal placentas ; style glabrous, with a fringe of 

 hairs below the stigma. Fruit a 1- or many-oeUed capsule, with 

 apicilar dehiscence. Seeds numerous ; embryo straight, in the axis 

 of fleshy albumen ; radicle pointing to the hilum. — Lactescent herbs 

 or shrubs, with alternate, exstipulate leaves. They are found both in 

 temperate and warm countries. There are 29 known genera and 386 

 species. Examples — Lobelia, Siphocampylus, Clintonia. 



Acridity prevails more or less in the order. The milky juice 

 of some, such as Lobelia urens, is said to be vesicant. Lobelia inflata, 

 Indian Tobacco, a native of North America, is used medicinally as a 

 sedative, expectorant, and antispasmodic. It is chiefly administered 

 in cases of asthma. The whole plant is active, but the root and cap- 

 sules are said to be most powerful. In large doses the plant acts as 

 a narcotico-acrid poison. It owes its properties to a volatile alkaloid 

 called Lobelina. The root of Lobelia syphilitica is acrid and emetic. 

 The milky juice of some of the plants of the order contains a consider- 

 able quantity of caoutchouc. 



Order 104. — VACCiNiACBiE, the Cranberry Family. {Monopet. 

 Epigyn.) Calyx superior, entire, 4-6-lobed. Corolla monopetalous, 

 4:-6-lobed; sestivation imbricated. Stamens distinct, 8-12, inserted 

 into an epigynous disk ; anthers bUocular, with two horn-like cells, 

 dehiscing by pores (fig. 367, p. 223). Ovary inferior, 4-5-celled ; 

 ovules 00 ; style simple ; stigma simple. Fruit succulent, crowned by 

 the persistent limb of the calyx. Seeds 1 or many in each cell, minute ; 



