PLATE XXIV.— FOX-GLOVE (Digitalis purpurea). 



t ♦J h {:-,P U -T le F< S? l0V u iS a ; ve , n - k " own P lant > comin g int0 flow er about June, and occuring usually on the rough and rugged slopes 

 of the hill-sides The shape of the flower has suggested both the common and the scientific name. Folk's-glove has reference to its 

 resemblance to the finger of a glove, and Digitalis (Lat. digitus, a finger) implies the same. The leaves are used in medicine, and the 

 flowers are adapted for insect-visitation The Anthers ripen first, and in doing so change from a transverse to a longitudinal position, 

 thus enabling the bee as it enters the bell to carry off the pollen, spread over a larger linear surface of its body 



There are several members of the same Order equally well-known and cultivated, such as Snapdragon, Musk, and Calceolaria, 

 while the Speedwells, usually blue, are among the commonest of spring, summer, and even autumn flowers. 

 Leaves and Flowers — 



Fig. 1. Inflorescence — a Raceme, and each flower in the axil of a bract 



The unopened flowers towards the top are more or less of a whitish colour, and occasionally the mature 

 flower remains white. It is no uncommon thing to find the axis, under cultivation, terminated by a flower which, 

 under these circumstances, develops its lobes at the margin of the bell regularly, and not irregularly, as in the lateral 

 flower. 



Fig. 2. Take a flower with the lips still closed, and make a longitudinal section, cutting from the base upwards. 

 Sepals, inserted on receptacle. 

 Petals, inserted on receptacle. 

 Stamens, attached to corolla, but traceable to their attachment beneath ovary. The filaments are bent, and the 



unopened anthers lie transverse to the filaments. 

 Ovary, superior, with a long style lying close to the petals. 

 Fig. 3. Take a fully expanded flower and lay open Corolla. 



Anthers are now open, and instead of being transverse they are longitudinal. 

 Diagram I. — Calyx of five Sepals, unequal in size and united at base. 



Corolla of five united Petals, the upper lip being slightly notched in the middle, representing two petals, and the 



lower lip three-lobed, representing three petals. 

 Andrcecium of four Stamens, two long and two short A rudimentary fifth stamen is found in the Snapdragon, 



sometimes developing into a complete one. 

 Gyncecium of two united Carpels, as indicated by the two-lobed stigma. 

 Fig. 4. Foliage Leaves, long-stalked towards the root, becoming sessile higher up. Bracts leaf)-. 

 Fig. 5. Sepal, or Calyx-lobe, broad base and pointed tip. 

 Fig. 6. Transverse section of Ovary (mounted in glycerine). 



There are two chambers, and a central axis between, to which the numerous Ovules are attached. 

 The united edges of the two carpellary leaves form the swollen axis, so that the Placentation is axile. 

 Fig. 7, and Diagram II.— Speedwell, or Veronica, shows a reduction in the number of parts. 

 Calyx of four Sepals, the posterior one being suppressed. 



Corolla of four Petals, united at the base, so as to form what is called a rotate corolla. The lower lip is three- 

 lobed, and the upper lip undivided. 

 Stamens reduced to two. 

 Carpels, two united. 

 Fruit and Seed — 



Fig. 8. Fruit of Speedwell entire, and in vertical section. 



Capsule is laterally compressed, the seeds are attached to a central axis and the two valves separate to allow seeds 

 to escape. 



Figs. 9 and 10. Fruit of Fox-glove entire, and in transverse section. 



Capsule is pear-shaped, and the two valves separate by splitting from the top downwards. 

 Fig. 11. Seed in vertical section. 



The embryo occupies the axis of the seed, and is surrounded by Endosperm. 



Fig. 12. The Capsule of Snapdragon opens by pores, and the Seeds are curiously marked with depressions, surrounded by walls 

 with jagged surfaces. 



CLASSIFICATION. 

 Class. — Dicotyledon 

 Division. — Gamopetalas. 

 Order. — Scrophulariaceae. 



Corolla, irregular. 



Stamens, four, two long and two short ; sometimes two. 



Ovary, superior, two-chambered. 



Ovules, numerous ; placentation, axile. 



Fruit, capsular. 



Seed with endosperm. 



