L0EANTHACEJ3 — AKISTOLOCHIACEjE. 5*75 



viscid matter, like bird-lime, by means of which the seeds adhere to 

 trees. The seeds in. germinating send their radicles into the plant to 

 •which they are attached, and grow afterwards as true parasites, select- 

 ing certain chemical ingredients in preference to others. The bark is 

 usually astringent. Griffith has carefully described the nature of the 

 parasitism of those plants. He states that in Loranthus the ripe seeds 

 adhere firmly to the substance on which they are applied by means of 

 their viscid coating, which hardens into a transparent glue. In two 

 or three days after application, the radicle curves towards its support, 

 and as soon as it reaches it, becomes enlarged and flattened. By 

 degrees a union is established between the woody system of the para- 

 site and stock, after which the former lives exclusively on the latter, 

 the fibres of the sucker-like root of the parasite expanding on the 

 wood of the support. Before this occurs the parasite is nourished by 

 its own albumen, which is gradually absorbed. " As soon as the 

 young parasite has acquired the height of one or two inches, when an 

 additional supply of nourishment is perhaps required, a lateral shoot 

 is sent out, which is, especially towards the point, of a green colour. 

 This at one, or two, and subsequently at various points, adheres to the 

 support by means of sucker -like productions, which are precisely 

 similar in structure and mode of attachment to the original seminal 

 one." The fibres of the parasite never penetrate beyond their original 

 attachment ; in the adult the sucker-bearing shoots frequently run to 

 a considerable distance. " I have seeii," says Mr. Griffith, " such 

 shoots which had taken their course along a decayed branch become 

 replaced, and return in quest, as I may express it, of a part capable of 

 afibrding some nourishment." Viscum album, Mistleto, was called by 

 the Druids the Mistleto of the Oak, on which, however, it is rarely 

 found parasitic. It grows well on the apple-tree. The formation of 

 the ovule in the Mistleto, according to Schleiden, is described at 

 p. 253. Loranthus tetrandrus is used in OhUi to dye black. 



Order 155.— AEiSTOLOCHiACEiB, the Birthwort Family. (Apet. 

 Epigyn.) Perianth adherent, tubular, 3-cleft (fig. 809), regular, or 

 sometimes very irregular (fig. 808) ; aestivation valvate or induplicate. 

 Stamens 6-12, epigynous, distinct or gynandrous (fig. 811). Ovary 

 inferior, 3-6-celled (figs. 810, 812); ovules 00 (fig. 810), anatropal, 

 horizontal; style simple, short; stigmas radiating, 3-6 (fig. 811 s). 

 Fruit dry or succulent, 3-6-celled (fig. 813). Seeds (fig. 814) numer- 

 ous ; embryo very minute, at the base of fleshy albumen (fig. 815) ; 

 cotyledons inconspicuous; radicle next the hilum (fig. 816).- — Herbs 

 or shrubs, often climbing, with alternate, simple, often stipulate leaves, 

 and solitary axillary flowers. Found in abundance in the warm regions 

 of South America, and growing also in the temperate and cold regions 

 of Europe, Asia, and America. There are 5 known genera and 180 

 species. Examples — ^Asarum, Aristolochia. 



