1180 
LXXXIX. OHOBANCHACEiE. 
1. OROBANCHE, Linn. 
(Supposed derived from Orobos, Vetch ; and ancho, to strangle ; supposed 
to kill the plants on which they grow.) 
Calyx divided to the base on the upper side, and often also on the lower side, 
so as to form 2 lateral sepals, either entire or 2-cleft, either distinct from each 
other or more or less connected at the base on the lower side, and sometimes 
connected also on the upper side by the intervention of a small fifth lobe, and 
always pointed. Habit and other characters those of the Order. 
The principal genus of the Order, abundant in the northern hemisphere in the Old World, 
less so in North America, and a very few of the European species have also appeared in the 
southern hemisphere, and amongst them the only Australian one. — Bentli. 
1. O. cernua (drooping), Lceji.; Bent, iti DC. Prod. xi. 32; Bentli. FI. 
Austr. iv. 533. Stems stout, erect, simple, from about 6in. to above 1ft. high, 
of a pale-brown color more or less tinged with blue and loosely pubescent ; the 
scales ovate, the lower ones ovate, the upper ones acute or acuminate. Flowers 
of a lurid bluish-purple, pale or whitish towards the base, in a rather dense 
spike, occupying about one-third of the stem. Bracts acuminate, acute, shorter 
than the corolla. Sepals in the Australian specimens 2, entire, lanceolate, w’ith 
long points, nearly as long as the bracts. Corolla tubular, incurved, about fin. 
long, glabrous or minutely glandular-pubescent towards the top ; upper lip very 
concave, with two short broad lobes, not ciliate ; lower lip divided into 3 ovate 
shortly acuminate spreading lobes. Filaments glabrous ; anthers not mucronate. 
Style glabrous, with short very thick stigmatic lobes. 
Hab : Some years ago my attention was drawn to a plant of this species which was flowering 
in the garden at “ Coira.” the residence of Col. Lyster, Kelvin Grove. 
The species is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean region of the northern hemisphere, where 
it is found on several speeies of Artemisia, and extends to E. India. 
Order XC. GESNERIACEiE. 
(Cyrtandraceae, DC. Prod.) 
Flowers usually irregular. Calyx with 5 teeth lobes or distinct sepals. 
Corolla with a long or short tube, the limb 2-lipped or of 5 spreading lobes, 
imbricate in the bud. Stamens 2 or 4, in pairs, inserted in the tube, with 
the addition sometimes of a fifth barren one or staminodium. Anthers 2-celled 
or 1-celled by the confluence of the two, the cells opening longitudinally. 
Ovary superior or more or less inferior, 1-celled, with 2 parietal entire or lobed 
placentas, protruding more or less into the cavity, but not united in the axis. 
Ovules numerous. Style simple, with an entire or lobed stigma. Fruit a berry 
or capsule. Seeds small, numerous, with or without albumen. Embryo 
straight. — Herbs or rarely shrubs or climbers. Leaves opposite or whorled. 
A considerable Order, chiefly tropical, with a very few species from more temperate climates. 
The Order differs from Scrophularinece and Bignoniacece chiefly in the parietal placentation of 
the ovary. 
Tribe I. Cyrtandrese. — The ordinal character above given is narrowed to the species of 
this tribe. 
Scbtribk I. Didymocarpeae. — Capsule loculicidally 2-valved, often ultimately i-valved, 
placentas deeply intruded nearly meeting, not seed-bearing on their inner faces. Seeds without 
hairs. 
Stigma oblique, emargiuate. Stamens 2, perfect. Capsule frequently sub- 
follicular 1. Didymocarpcs. 
Capsule having the valves spirally twisted before dehiscing. Corolla-lobes 5, 
subsimilar, round . . 2. B.ia. 
Subtribe II. Eucyrtandrea;. — Berry indehiscent, succulent or membranous, breaking up 
irregularly. Seeds without hairs. 
Undershrubs. Corolla tubular. Stamens 2 perfect . . 3. Cxrtaxdra. 
