BIGNONIACEjE — GESNEEAOE^ — POLEMONIACE^. 541 



colouring matter, witli which they paint their bodies. Crescentia 

 Ovjete (G. cuneifolia), the Oalabash-tree, is found in the tropical 

 regions of America, and produces a large melon-like fruit, containing 

 a slightly acid pulp, which is sometimes eaten. Its pericarp is hard, 

 and after removal of the pulp it is used as cups and bottles. Cala- 

 bashes are used in crossing the rivers in Africa ; a large Calabash can 

 support two men on the water. These Calabashes are two feet or 

 more in diameter. Teel seeds, the produce of Sesamum orientate, 

 supply a bland oil, called by the Arabs Siritch. It is used, under 

 the name of gingilee oil, to adulterate oil of almonds. Parmmtiera 

 cerifera,^ Palo de Velas, is the candle-tree of the Isthmus of Panama, 

 Kigelia pinnata yields excellent timber in Africa. The bark of K. 

 africana is used on the Gold Coast for dysentery. The succulent fruit 

 of Tanmcium lilaeinum is eaten. The fruit of the species of Mar- 

 tynia, the Unicorn-plant, is furnished with hooked processes. Tecoma 

 radicans and Eccremoea/rpus scaber are climbing plants often cultivated. 

 In the perfect fruit of Pretrea (Martynia) Zanguebariea there are 6 

 cells formed by the mode in which the placentas unite, and of these 

 cells two are seedless. 



Order 121. — Gesneeacej;, the Gesnera Family. (Mmopet. 

 Perigyn.) Calyx partially adherent, 5 -partite; aestivation valvate. 

 Corolla monopetalous,'tubular, more or less irregular, 5-lobed ; aestiva- 

 tion imbricated. Stamens 4, did3raamous, with the rudiment of a 

 5th, rarely 2 ; anthers dithecal, with a thick swollen connective. 

 Ovary partly free, unilocular, formed by two carpels with parietal 

 placentas, which are 2-lobed ; ovules indefinite, anatropal ; style con- 

 tinuous with the ovary ; stigma capitate, concave, glandular or annular. 

 Disk surrounding the base of the ovary. Fruit capsular or succulent, 

 1-celled, more or less adherent. Seeds 00, minute ; testa thin, finely 

 and obliquely veined ; embryo erect in the axis of fleshy albumen ; 

 radicle pointing to the hilum. Herbs or shrubs, often springing from 

 scaly tubers, with opposite or whorled, rugose, exstipulate leaves and 

 showy flowers. They are found principally in the warmer regions of 

 America, and are interesting chiefly on account of their beauty, for 

 they do not appear to possess any important qualities. There are 22 

 known genera and upwards of 120 species. Examples — Gesnera, 

 Columnea, Gloxinia, Achimenes. 



Order 122. — PolemoniacEjB, the Phlox Family. (Monopet. 

 Hypog.) Calyx inferior, in 5 divisions, persistent, sometimes irregu- 

 lar. Corolla regular, rarely irregular, 5-lobed. Stamens 5, inserted 

 on the middle of the tube of the corolla, and alternate with its seg- 

 ments ; pollen often blue. Disk lobed. Ovary fi:ee, 3-celled ; ovules 

 anatropal or amphitropal; style simple; stigma trifid. Fruit a 3- 

 ceUed, 3-valved capsule, with septifragal dehiscence. Seeds angular 

 or oval, or winged, 'often enveloped in mucus, containing spiral threads, 



