^14 CXXVIII. ERICINE^. 



and equal usually coliering and irregular petals, sestivation valvate. Stamens 6, 



opposite to the calyx-lobes, inserted with the corolla on a ring which is often dilated 



into a disk crowning the top of the ovary ; filaments usually free from the corolla-tube, 



distinct at the base and cohering above ; anthers introrse, 2-celled, cohering into a 



usually curved cylinder. Ovaet inferior or semi-superior, sometimes 2-3-celled by 



the inflection of the edges of the carpels, or sub-1 -celled by the imperfection of the 



septa ; or of 3 carpels joined by their edges, 2 of which are placentiferous on the 



median nerves, and the third is narrower and sterile ; style simple ; stigma usually 



emarginate, or of 2 lobes girt with a ring of hairs ; ovules anatropous, numerous, 



generally horizontal, sessile, inserted on the inner angle of the cells, or on each side 



of the septum. Feuit indehiscent and fleshy, or capsular, dehiscence loeulicidal, 



longitudinal or apical, rarely transverse. Seeds numerous, small ; hilum marked by 



an orbicular pit ; raphe indistinct. Embrto straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen ; 



radicle near the hilum. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



* Clintonia. * Siphocampylus. * Oentropogoa. * Lobelia. 



Laurentia. *Tupa. * Isotoma. 



LobeliacecE are closely connected with Campamdacea, in which many botanists have placed them ; 

 they only differ in the irregular corolla, more complete cohesion of the stamens, and often fleshy fruit. 

 They approach Cichoracem, a tribe of Composites, in their milky j uice, epigy nous irregular corolla, synanthery 

 of the stamens, and stigmatic lobes furnished with collecting hairs ; they are separated from it by the 

 many-ovuled ovary, horizontal ovules and presence of albumen. We have indicated their affinities with 

 Goodeniaeem under that family. 



Some Loheliaceee inhabit tlie nortli temperate zone ; most are dispersed over tropical and southern 

 regions, nearly in equal proportions in America and in the Old World, especially in temperate Australia 

 and South Africa. They are very rare in tlie northern regions of Asia and Europe. 



Lobeliaceas contain in abundance a very acrid and narcotic bitter juice, which burns the skin, and 

 taken internally produces mortal inflammation on the digestive canal ; and they are hence amongst the 

 most poisonous of plants. Some are employed in medicine by American practitioners, but with the 

 greatest caution. Lobelia injlata (Indian Tobacco) is used as an expectorant and diaphoretic in the 

 treatment of asthma ; but from being incautiously administered has caused many deaths. The West 

 Indian Isotoma longiflora [a violent cathartic], also employed as a therapeutic, is as dangerous. \_LobeKa 

 syphilitica, once in great repute, has fallen into disuse. L. cardinalis is an acrid anthelminthic, and the 

 European L. urens is a vesicant. — Ed.] 



CXXVin. ERTCINEJE. 



(Eric^ et Rhododendra, Mssieu. — Ericace^, B.C. — Ericineje, Desvaiix.) 



Corolla mono- or poly-petalous, hypogynous, usually diplostemonous. Stamens 

 hypogynous, or rarely inserted at the base of the petals; anthers ^-celled, usually 

 opening hy 2 terminal pores. Ovart many-celled ; ovules anatropous. Fruit dry or 

 fleshy. Embryo albuminous, axile. — Stem woody. 



Shrubs or undershrubs. Leaves usually alternate, entire or toothed, exstipu- 

 late. Flowers 3 , axillary or terminal, solitary or aggregated. Calyx 4-5-fid or 

 -partite, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, 4-5-merous, usually monopetalous, in- 

 serted at the outer base of a hypogynous disk, sestivation contorted or imbricate. 

 Stamens usually double the petals in number, rarely equal, and then alternate with 



