CONVOLVULACE.K. 



571 



In maritime sands, in the temperate 

 regions of both the northern and south- 

 ern hemispheres, scarcely penetrating 

 into the tropics. Not uncommon on the 

 coasts of England, Ireland, and south- 

 ern Scotland. FL summer. 



f=^ 



Fig. 681. 



II. DODDER. CUSCUTA. 



Annual, parasitical, leafless herbs, with twining thread-like stems, 

 attaching themselves to the plants on which they grow by minute 

 tubercles ; the small, nearly globular flowers in lateral heads or clusters. 

 Calyx coloured like the corolla, deeply 4- or 5-cleft. Corolla with a 

 broad tube, and 4 or 5 usually spreading lobes, and as many small 

 scales inside the tube. Styles 2, distinct from the base, or in some 

 exotic species, united to near the top. Capsule globular, with 4 seeds 

 in 2 cells. 



A genus widely spread over the globe, comprising a considerable 

 number of species, and still more numerous varieties, remarkable as 

 showing great general similarity of aspect, but much diversity in mi- 

 nute characters derived chiefly from the size and form of the corolla 

 and of the scales, the constancy of which has not yet been satisfac- 

 torily ascertained. 



Corolla more than a line m diameter, with short, broad lobes, 

 and inconspicuous, appressed scales. 

 Calyx shorter than the corolla-tube, which is not much 



swollen when first flowering 1. Greater D. 



Calyx as long as the globular corolla-tube. Plant growing 



on Flax only 2. Flax D. 



Corolla usually less than a line in diameter, with pointed, spread- 

 ing lobes ; the scales prominent, and nearly closing the 

 tube 3. Lesser D. 



