44 



SCROPHULARJACEiE. 



PjEDEROTA. 



13. P^EDEROTA. Linn. ; Endl. gen. 3980. pmderota. 



Leptandra, Nu.it.; Callistachya, Raf. 

 [An ancient name of a species of Acanthus, applied by Linnaeus to this genus.] 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla tubular ; the limb unequally 4-5 lobed, or somewhat 2-lipped. 

 Stamens 2, inserted into the upper part of the corolla, exserted : anthers 2-celled. Capsule 

 ovoid, acute, 2-celled, loculicidal ; the valves at length 2-cleft. Seeds numerous, obovoid 

 or terete. — Leaves opposite or verticillate, serrate. Flowers in terminal spikes. 



1. Pmderota Virginica. Culver s Physic. 



Stem erect ; leaves verticillate, mostly in fours and fives, lanceolate ; spikes aggregated ; 

 flowers unequally 4-lobed. — Veronica Virginica, Linn. sp. 1. p. 9 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 5 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 10 ; Ell. sd. 1. p. 10. Leptandra Virginica, Nutt. gen. 1. p. 7 ; Torr. 

 fl. l.p. 11 ; Bigel.fl. Bost. p. 6 ; Beck, bot. p. 263 ; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 6. Callistachya 

 Virginica, Raf. in. med. repos. 5. p. 60. 



Perennial. Stem strict, simple, 2-4 feet high, smooth. Leaves sometimes as many as 

 six, and rarely only three, 2 or 3 inches long, tapering to a long sharp point, acutely serrate, 

 smooth above, pubescent on the veins underneath. Flowers sessile, in long spikes, of which 

 the principal one terminal ; the others clustered and verticillate in the upper part of the stem. 

 Corolla white, pubescent inside. Stamens much longer than the corolla, at length diverging : 

 anthers cordate, whitish. Style finally exceeding the stamens : stigma capitate, somewhat 

 2-lobed. Capsule acuminate, opening about half way down by four teeth. Seeds numerous, 

 obovoid, compressed. 



Rich low grounds ; rather common. July. The root is cathartic and diaphoretic, and has 

 obtained some reputation as a domestic medicine. It is sometimes called Culver 1 s-root. (See 

 Wood <§■ Bache, U. S. Dispens. p. 688.) 



Tribe VII. GERARDIEJE. Benth. 



Corolla campanulate, funnel-form or tubular ; the limb 5-cleft, with flat rounded lobes. 

 Stamens four, all fertile and ascending. Anthers 2-celled; the cells distinct, often 

 acuminate. Capsule either loculicidal or septicidal. Seeds usually with a loose re- 

 ticulated testa. 



14. GERARDIA. Linn.; Benth. in Hook. comp. bot. mag. 1. p. 204 ; Endl. gen. 3996. 



GERARDIA. 



[ In honor of John Gerard, an old English botanist, author of "A General History of Plants."] 



Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed or 5-cleft. Corolla somewhat campanulate; the border unequally 

 5-lobed ; the segments rounded, flat, partly spreading, entire. Stamens 4, didynamous, 



