CU'SC UTA* *. 
Linnet* n Class and Order. Penta'ndria f, Digy'nia. 
Natural Order. Convolvula'cEjE, Dr. R. Brown . — Lindl. 
Syn. p. 167; Iutrod. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 218. — Rich, by 
Macgilliv. p. 442. — Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 526. — Convolvuli, 
Juss. Gen. PI. p. 132. — Sra. Gr. of Bot. p. 103. 
Gen. Char. Calyx (see fig. 1.) inferior, of 1 sepal (monose- 
palous), cup-shaped, in 5, sometimes only 4, broad, more or less 
deep, permanent segments ; its base fleshy. Corolla (fig. 2.) of 
1 petal (monopetalous) , with an elliptical tube; the limb divided 
into 5, sometimes Only 4, deep, spreading, equal segments, which, 
in some species, are accompanied at the base with as many in- 
flexed scales, alternate with the segments, and closing the throat. 
Filaments (fig. 3.) 5, sometimes only 4, awl-shaped, upright, sho. ter 
than the corolla. Anthers roundish, 2-lobed. Germen (fig. 4.) 
superior, roundish. Styles 2, sometimes 1 or 3, shorter than the 
corolla, spreading. Stigma simple or capitate (knobbed). Capsule 
(figs. 5 & 6.) membranous, elliptical, 2-celled, bursting all round 
towards the base. Seeds 2 in each cell, large, inversely egg-shaped, 
upright. Embryo without cotyledons. — Gertner observes, that 
the embryo is filiform, spiral, monocotyledonous, and yellow ; and 
that it makes about 3 convolutions round the central, globose, 
fleshy Albumen , (see figs. 7. & 8). Parasitical twining leafless 
plants, with thread-like stems, and nearly sessile lateral heads, or 
spikes, of pale flowers, each flower accompanied by a bractea. 
The monopetalous, inferior, bell-shaped corolla ; and the cap- 
sule of 2 cells, bursting all round transversely at the base ; will 
distinguish this from other genera in the same class and order. 
Two species British. 
CU'SCUTA EUROP2E'A. Greater Dodder. Hellweed. 
Spec. Char. Flowers nearly sessile. Corolla without any 
scales at the base of the stamens. Stigmas acute. 
Engl. Bot.t. 378. (not t. 55.) — Hook. FI. Lond. t. 67. — Linn.Sp. PI. p. 180. — 
Sm. FI. Brit. v. i. p. 282. Eng. FI. v. ii. p.24. — With. (7th ed.) v.ii. p.25t. — 
Lindl. Syn. p. 168. — Hook. Brit. FI. p. 112. — Sibth. FI. Oxon. p. 63.— Abbot’s 
FI. Bedf. p. 36. — Purt. Midi. FI. v. i. p. 139. — Belli. FI. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 108. 
— Hook. FI. Scot. p. 86. — Grev. F). Edin. p. 60.— Paley’s Natural Theology, 
with plates and notes, by Mr. Paxton, of Oxford, (2nd ed.) v. ii. p. 131. t. 36. — 
Walk. FI. of Oxf. p. 72. — Perry’s PI. Varvie. Select®, p. 24. — Mack. Catal. of 
PI. oflrel. p. 26. — Bab. FI. Bath. p. 31. — Cuscuta, Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 577. 
Cassytha major, Gray’s Nat. Arr. v.ii. p. 346. 
Localities. — On nettles, thistles, flax, beans, &c. Not common. — Oxford- 
shire ; Iffley, near Oxford : Dr. SiBTiioRn. Near Cassington, on the road to 
Church llandborough, in great abundance ; and on nettles, in a hedge on the 
south side of a lane, south of the church at Church Handborough, June 30, 
1833: W. B. — Berks; Near Newbury : Mr. Biciieno. Between South I link- 
sey and Childswell Farm : W. B. " In a hedge by the footpath leading from 
Oxford to South Hinksey, on the blackthorn ('Prunus spinosaj, the stems of 
Fig. 1 Calyx and Corolla. — Fig. 2. Corolla. — Fig. 3. Corolla cut open and 
magnified. — Fig. 4. Germen. — Figs. 5 and 6. Separate valves of the Capsule : 
5, lower valve ; 6, upper ditto. — -Figs. 7 and 8. Spiral Embryo, highly mag- 
nified. From Gehtm k. 
* Fhe same as Kassutha, Gr. probably from the Arabic Keshout, ( rh£is.) * 
Dr. Hook r r, in Br. FI. 
t The 5th class in the Linnean Artificial System; it comprehends all those 
plants which have perfect flowers, with 5 distinct stamens in each. 
