546 



BOKAGINACEyE. 



pulate leaves, and flowers generally in scorpioidal (gyrate) cymes (fig. 

 274, p. 185). On account of the asperities in the leaves, the plants 

 have sometimes been called Asperifolise. The order is divided into 

 three sub-orders :— 1. Boraginese (figs. 770-772), with a basilar style, 



Mg. 770. 



Kg. 771. 



Kg. 772. 



4-lobed ovary, achsenium-like fruit, and exalbuminous seeds ; natives 

 chiefly of temperate climates. 2. Ehretiese, with a terminal style, a 

 quadrUocular, concrete ovary, a succulent fruit, and usually albumi- 

 nous seeds ; natives of tropical countries. 3. Heliotropiese, with a 

 terminal style, an entire or 2-lobed ovary, a dry fruit separable into 

 four aohsenia, and exalbuminous seeds ; natives partly of temperate, 

 and partly of warm climates. There are 60 known genera and nearly 

 650 species. Examples — Borago (or Borrago), Anchusa, Echium, 

 Myosotis, Cynoglossum, Ehretia, Heliotropium. 



The plants of the order are generally mucOaginous and emollient. 

 Some are astringent. Nitrate of potash exists in some, and imparts 

 coolness to the water in which they are steeped. Borago officinalis, 

 Borage, has been used for its mucilaginous emollient properties, as a 

 remedy in pectoral affections ; and with wine, water, lemon, and sugar, 

 its leaves form an ingredient in what is called cool-tankard. Attached 

 to the stamens in this plant, and others of the order, are scales, which' 

 may be considered as abortive stamens, formed by dUamination (fig. 

 344, p. 217). Anchusa tinctoria supplies alkanet root, which is used 

 as a reddish-brown dye. Some of the species of Heliotropium (as //. 

 peruvianum) are distinguished by their fragrant odour. The leaves of 



Kgs. 770-772. Organs of fructification of Anchusa italioa, to illustrate the natural order 

 Boraginaceas. Fig. 770. Diagram of the flower, with five imhricated divisions of the calyx, 

 five imbricated segments of the corolla, live stamens, and a 4-lobed ovary. Kg. 771. Ver- 

 tical section of the flower, c. Hairy calyx, p p> Corolla, e. Stamens inserted into the 

 corolla, a a, Staminal appendages or coroUine scales, o, 4-lobed ovary, two of its divi- 

 sions cut through vertically, s. Basilar style. Kg. 772. One of the carpels (achsenia) cut 

 vertically, p. Pericarp separable from the seed, t, Spennoderm or integuments of the 

 seed, e. Embryo with superior radicle and plano-convex cotyledons. . 



