556 ACANTHACE^. 



The fruit of several species of Vitex is acrid and aromatic. Some 

 species of Lantana and Stachytarpheta are used for tea. The Vervain 

 (Verbena officinalis) was a sacred plant among the Greeks, and received 

 the name of h^oBoravri, holy-wort. It was also looked upon by the 

 Druids with superstitious reverence. The Verbenas of gardens are 

 chiefly varieties of Verbena Charamdrifolia. 



Order 132. — AcanthacejE, the Acanthus Family. (Monopet. 

 Sypog.) Calyx with 4-5 divisions, equal or unequal, occasionally 

 multifid, or entire and obsolete, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, 

 hypogynous, usually irregular, with the limb ringent or bilabiate, or 

 rarely unilabiate, sometimes nearly equal, deciduous. Stamens in- 

 serted on the corolla, usually 2, sometimes 4, didynamous, the shorter 

 ones being occasionally sterile ; anthers 1-2-celled, with longitudinal 

 dehiscence. Disk glandular. Ovary free, 2-ceUed ; placentas adher- 

 ing to the axis ; ovules 2 or more in each cell, curved ; style 1 ; 

 stigma 2-lobed, rarely entire. Fruit a 2-celled capsule, dehiscing by 

 2 elastic valves, in a loculicidal manner. Seeds 2 or many in each 

 cell, sometimes solitary, roundish, attached to hard, persistent, hooked 

 or subulate ascending processes of the placenta ; testa loose ; albumen 

 ; embryo curved or straight ; cotyledons large, leafy ; radicle 

 cylindrical, next the hilum. — Herbaceous plants or shrubs, with 

 opposite, exstipulate, simple leaves, and bracteated flowers ; 2 or 3 

 large leafy bracts accompanying each flower. They abound in tropical 

 regions. The order has been divided into three tribes : — 1. Thun- 

 bergieae, with the placental processes in the form of a hard cup, sup- 

 porting the seed. 2. Nelsoniese, with the placental processes contracted 

 into a papilla, bearing the seed, which is small and pitted. 3. Acan- 

 thiese, with the placental processes hooked. There are 168 genera, 

 according to authors, and about 1500 species. Examples— 1h.\m- 

 bergia, Nelsonia, Acanthus, Justicia, Kuellia. 



The plants of the order have mucilaginous and bitter properties 

 in general, but they are not put to important uses. The leaves of 

 Acanthus mollis, with their sinuated lobes, gave origin to the capital 

 of the Corinthian pillar. The plant has emollient qualities. The 

 seeds of Acanthodium spicatum have beautiful spiral cells in their 

 episperm (page 7). The style of Buellia {Ooldfussia) anisophylla ex- 

 hibits a peculiar irritability ; its curved stigmatic apex becoming 

 gradually straightened, so as to come into contact with the hairs of 

 the corolla upon which the pollen is scattered. A deep-blue dye, 

 called Room, is obtained in Assam from a species of Euellia. A 

 similar dye in China is procured from a species of Justicia. Many of 

 the species of Justicia, Euellia, and Aphelandra, are cultivated for their 

 showy flowers. Andrographis paniculata, a native of India, is em- 

 ployed as a pure bitter tonic, under the name of Kariy^t or Creyat. 

 Meninia turgida of Cochin-Ohina has febrifuge properties. 



