564 



CL. POLEMONIACE^. 



Polemonium. 



Stamen, inner face 



(mag.). 



Polemonium asruleum. 



Polenwnium, Diagram. 



Polenumivm,^ 

 Seed, entire and cut 

 Polexnoiimm. Fruit (mag.). vertically (mag.). 



PoUmomacem are closely allied to Convohulacecs ("which see). They approach HydrophylhcB in the 

 alternate leaves, hypogynous and isostemonous corolla, loculicidal capsule, axile embryo and copious albu- 

 men ; but in Hydrophyllece the Eestivation of the corolla is imbricate, the ovary sub-2-celled with parietal 

 placentation, the radicle superior, and the albumen cartilaginous. SydrohaeecB agnee and differ similarly; 

 besides which the styles are distinct and the ovules horizontal. Polemoniaceee are also distantly allied to 

 Gentianets (which see). 



Polemoniaceee mostly inhabit the west of extra-tropical America ; very few occur in the temperate 

 and cold regions of the Old World. The Jacob's Ladder, or Greek Valerian (Polemonium ecemleum), 

 is mucilaginous, nauseous in scent and bitter ; in some countries its leaves are applied to ulcers following 

 contagious diseases, and the Russians givs a decoction of it in cases of hydrophobia. 



