528 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



prised the three "genera Calycera, Boopis and Acicarpha, the only ones 

 we retain. With us they constitute a second (?) series (Boopideai), 

 connecting the true Dipsacece with the Gompositce, and characterized 

 by the valvate prefloration of the corolla, the syngenesis of the stamens, 

 the absence of floral involucels and the alternation of the leaves. 



All the plants of this family have as constant characters the descend- 

 ing direction of the ovule,' which separates them from the Gompositce, 

 and the presence of an albumen ^ in the seeds, which distinguishes them 

 from the Gompositce and from the Valeiianacece. The Boopidece inhabit 

 all the extra-tropical regions of South America and are almost all 

 western and Andean • but some of them extend to the eastern coast 

 of tropical Brazil. The Dipsacece, on the contrary, are aU natives of 

 the old world and are not found in America (or in Oceania) except 

 where they have been introduced. They are found dispersed 

 throughout Asia, Africa and Europe ; but they abound especially in 

 the Levant and Mediterranean region. 



UsES.^ — These are few. The Fuller's Teazel (Dipsacus fullonum *) 

 is celebrated as an industrial plant ; it was introduced from the south 

 of Europe, where it is said to be indigenous, and has been long culti- 

 vated for its fructiferous capitules used for carding and combing cotton 

 and woollen tissues. In Russia, where it is also cultivated, an extract 

 is prepared which has the reputation of curing madness. A belief 

 existed that the water accumulated in the hollows formed by the union 

 of the leaves in several species of Dipsacus was a cure for sore eyes, 

 not to speak of other fables.' D. pilosus,^ laciniatus^ and sylvestris,^ 

 are described as diuretic and sudorific. Several Scabiosce have also 

 passed as remedies for madness. Scabiosa Succisa ' is said to be 



' It is never inserted exactly at the summit " L. Sort. Upsal. 25. — jAca. Fl. Austr. %. 



(i. e. suspended) but a little eccentric. 248. — DC. Prodr. a. 9. — Cephalaria pilosa Gk. 



- Thick or thin in the Dipsaccte. Cohrea et Godr. Fl. de Fr. ii. 69. — C. appindiculata 



discovered it in the Boopidece. Schead. (type of the genus Galedragon). 



» Endl. FiicMrid. 230.— Lindl. Veg. Kivgd. ' Link, Spec. 141.— DC. Prodr. n. 2.—D. syl- 



700. — KosBNTH. Syn. PL Diaphor. 256. vestris (var.) Coult. 



■* Mill. Viet. u. 1. — DC. Prodr. iv. 645, n. 4. » Mill. Diet. n. 2.— jAOa. Fl. Austr. t. 402. 



— Gren. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. ii. 68. — Guie. — Gren. et Godb. .TV. rfe Jr. ii. 67. — D. vulgaris 



Drog. Simpl. (ed. 7) iii. 66. — Caz. PI. Med. Indig. Gmel. 



(ed. 3) 276.— i). sativus Gmel.— 2). syhestris 9 L. Spec. 142.— DC Prodr. iv. 660, n. 38.— 



(vai.) Coult. Gren. et Godr. Fl. ge Fr. ii. 81. — Guib. loc. cit. 



*A caterpillar which ate the inflorescence 67. — Succisa pratensis Mcench, Meth. 489. — 



■was considered a cure for toothache. Cazin Asteroeephalus Succisa Walle. {Devii'i bit.) 

 states that he employed this remedy with success. 



