376 DIDYNAMIA AXGIOSPERMIA 



308. EPIPHEGUS. Mutt. Gen. 549. 

 [Gr. Epi, upon, k Phegos, the beech ; from its parasitic connection with that tree] 



Monoicouslt polygamous : Abortivb Fjl. above : Calyx 5-tooth- 

 ed. Corolla tubular, compressed, bilabiate ; upper lip sub-einarginate ; 

 lower lip 3-toothcd. Stamens about as long as the corolla. Style ex- 

 serted; stigma capitate, cmarginate; ovary abortive. Fertile Fl. 

 below : Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla small, rarely expanding, deciduous. 

 Style short. Capsule obliquely turbinate, obtuse, 1 -celled, opening at 



summit 



Herbaceous: parasitic; destitute of verdure ; leafless; virgately branching; 

 branches simple, Auriferous in their whole extent. Nat. 0*d. 210. Lindl. Oro- 



BANCHE.E. 



1. E. americanus, JSTutt. Much branched ; flowers alternate, rather 



distant, subsessile. Beck, JBoi. p. 260. 



E. virginianus. Bart. Phil. 2. p. 50. Eat. Man. p. 133. 



Orobanche virginiana. Willd. Sp. 3. p. 351. Mx. Jim. 2. p. 26. 



JPers. Syn. 2. p. 181. Muhl. CataL p. 59. Pursh, dm. 2. p. 431. 



Ell. Sk. 2. p. 136, Bigel. Bost. p. 245. 



American Epipheous. Vulgo— Beech-drops. Cancer-root. 



Plant pale yellowish brown. Root perennial 1 tuberous, fleshy, with numerous 

 short coarse coralloid fibres intermingled with scales. Stem 6 to 12 or 15 inches 

 high, aneular, striate, somewhat pubescent in lines, with numerous virgate bran. 

 ches. Flowers in the axils of lance-ovate scales. Calyx short, cup-shaped, often 

 with 1 or 2 subulate bracts at base. Corolla of the upper abortive flowers about 

 half an inch long, whitish, with purple stripes,— of the lower fertile flowers short, 

 not opening, apparently circumscissed below, and elevated on the apex of the 

 capsule. Stamens of the abortive flowers free,— of the fertile flowers short, the 

 anthers cohering with the stigma in the apex of the unexpanded corolla, which 

 crowns the ovary like the calypira of the mosses. Capsule obovoid, obtuse or 

 truncate, semi-bivalved. Seeds numerous, minute, elliptic, striate, shining, pale 

 straw-color. 

 Hab. Woodlands, under Beech trees: frequent. Ft. September. FY. October. 



Obs. This singular plant is remarkable for being found (like Virgil's Shep- 

 herd) "sub tegmine FugV ',— and seems to be exclusively confined to the roots, or 

 immediate vicinity, of Beech trees. It possesses considerable astringency ; 

 and was formerly in some repute as a remedy for cancerous ulcers, dysentery, &c. 

 It is the only species of the genus. 



309. OROBANCHE. L. JYutt. Gen. 548. 

 [Gr. Orobos, a vetch, & anchein, to strangle ; being supposed hurtful to that plant.] 



Calyx 2 to 5-cleft ; segments often unequal. Corolla tubular, sub- 

 ringent ; limb 4 or 5-lobed. Ovary seated in a fleshy disk. Capsule 

 ovoid, acuminate, 1-cclled, 2-valved. Seeds numerous. 



Herbaceous: parasitic? destitute of verdure ; leafless, or clothed with scales; 

 flowers in a terminal spike, or solitary. Nat. Ord. 210. Lindl. Orobancheje. 

 1. O. Americana,//. Stem simple, covered with ovate-lanceolate im- 

 bricated scales ; flowers in a thick terminal smooth spike ; calyx une- 

 qually 5-cleft, bracteate at base ; stamens exserted. Beck } But. p. 260. 



Axekicax Obobaxcue. Vulgo — S<juaw-root. 



