THE BELL-FLOWER FAMILY 
[ORDER XLII. CAMPANULACE^E] 
CALYX of 5 SEPALS, united into a tube 
which adheres to the seedcase, and separat- 
ing into 5 teeth, remaining with the fruit 
(persistent). 
COROLLA of 5 PETALS, united into a 
tube and separating into 5 equal lobes, 
bell-shaped (campanulate) ; except in the 
genus Lobelia when the lobes are unequal, 
the corolla being then 2-lipped (bilabiate) ; 
remaining with the fruit (persistent), in- 
serted in the throat of the calyx-tube at the 
top of the seedcase (epigynous). 
STAMENS 5, alternating with the lobes of 
the corolla, filaments free in British species, 
anthers free except in the genera Lobelia 
and Jasione when they are united into a 
ring round the style ; inserted with the 
corolla, but distinct from it, at the top of 
the calyx-tube (epigynous). 
PISTIL of 2, 3, or S CARPELS, united 
into a 2-, 3-, or 5-celled seedcase (ovary) 
and tapering into 1 style which is sur- 
mounted by a 2-, 3-, or 5-cleft stigma, 
according to the number of cells in the 
seedcase. 
FRUIT a capsule, 2-, 3-, or 5-celled, many- 
seeded, crowned with the withered calyx- 
teeth and corolla, opening at the top by 
valves or at the side by clefts or fissures. 
FLOWERS blue, purple, or white in the 
British species, usually in elongated clusters, 
rarely solitary, and more rarely collected 
into heads. 
STEMS frequently full of a milky juice. 
LEAVES alternate, entire or toothed, with- 
out stipules. 
DISTINGUISHED from other plants bear- 
ing flowers with 5-lobed calyces and 
corollas by the 5 stamens inserted with the 
corolla at the top of the seedcase, by the 
capsular fruit opening at the top or side, 
and by the alternate leaves. 
A MONG the flowers with united petals the Bell-flower Family is easily recognised by the 
position and number of its stamens : — they are inserted with the corolla at the top of the 
seedcase, and they are always five in number, that is, equal to the lobes of the corolla, never twice 
their number, as is the case with some orders near akin. 
It is an extensive natural order, flourishing in temperate climates in both hemispheres and 
in mountainous districts even in the tropics ; its species are to be found scattered all over Europe 
and in the cooler parts of Asia and America ; they thrive in sheltered places, in copses and 
woods, and by river-banks, but are to be found even on the high part of the lower Alps, above 
the tree line as high as vegetation will flourish, where they add their share to the wonderful 
wealth of colour that carpets the mountain-side — the mountain-side that from below looks a 
quiet grey but close by unfolds a splendour of colour. The species native to our isles are 
all blue or white, but in foreign countries brightest blue, purple, scarlet, and yellow run riot. 
Many of these species are cultivated in gardens and greenhouses, such as the scarlet and 
blue Lobelias, and many different kinds of Bell-flowers (Campanulas). The stems and roots 
of this order abound in a milky or acrid juice, usually harmless, which in some of the more 
powerful foreign species is employed as a medicine, and in the Lobelia genus is a venomous 
poison. The roots of the Rampion (Campanula Rapunculus) were cultivated as a vegetable. 
VOL. 11 
B 
