3 12 
COLCHICUM 
soil is a large corm (fig. and description in most text-books). In 
autumn the fir. appears, projecting out of the soil. The perianth 
tube is long and the ovary remains below the ground, where it is 
protected from cold, &c. The fir. is visited by bees, and is proto- 
gynous. In the spring the leaves appear and at the same time the 
capsule is brought above ground by the lengthening of its stalk. The 
seeds and corms are used in medicine as a remedy in gout. 
Coleonema Bartl. et Wendl. Rutaceae (iv). 4 sp. S. Afr. 
Coleus Lour. Labiatae (vn). 60 sp. trop. (exc. Am.). Several 
hybrid forms, with variegated and coloured leaves, are in cultivation. 
Colletia Comm. Rhamnaceae. 13 sp. S. Am. The habit is very 
peculiar; in each axil are two serial buds, of which the upper gives 
rise to a triangular thorn, while the lower forms firs, or a branch of 
unlimited growth. 
Collinsia Nutt. Scrophulariaceae (11. 6). 17 sp. N. Am., often culti- 
vated as border-plants. The Hr. exhibits a close resemblance, both 
in shape and mechanism, to that of many Leguminosae. 
Collomia Nutt. Polemoniaceae. 18 sp. N. W. Am. and Chili. The 
seed coat has an outer covering of cells with mucilaginous walls which 
swell rapidly when wetted, thus anchoring the seed to a suitable 
place for germination (cf. Brassica, Linum, &c.). 
Colocasia Schott. Araceae (vi). 6 sp. E. Ind. Tuberous herbs or 
small shrubs. Monoecious. Sta. in synandria. C. antiquorum 
Schott, the Taro or Tania, is largely cultivated in the tropics for its 
rhizomes, which when boiled lose their poisonous nature and form a 
valuable food stuff. 
Columellia Ruiz et Pav. Columelliaceae. 2 sp. Peru, Ecuador. Shrubs 
with evergreen opp. exstip. leaves. Firs, in cymes, $ , nearly regular. 
K 5, C (5), A 2. Sta. short and thickwith irregular broad connective 
and 1 twisted pollen sac. No disc. G (2), imperfectly 2-loc. Ovules 
00 , anatropous. Style short and thick with broad 2 — 4-lobed stigma. 
Capsule, enclosed in calyx. Endosperm. 
Columelliaceae. Dicotyledons (Sympet. Tubiflorae). Only genus Co- 
lumellia (q.v.). This order represents an old and now isolated type 
(p. 120) and has been placed in many positions in the natural system. 
It is placed in Personales by Benth.- Hooker. 
Columnea Linn. Gesneraceae (1). 70 sp. trop. Am. Several are 
climbers and epiphytes. Anisophylly is frequent (p. 47). 
Columniferae (Warming). The 12th cohort of Choripetalae (p. 137). 
Colutea (Tourn.) Linn. Leguminosae (ill. 6). 10 sp. S. Eur. to 
Ilimal. C. arborescens (L. bladder-senna) is frequently cultivated. 
Its leaves have similar properties to those of senna (Cassia) and 
are used to adulterate the latter. The pods are inflated and burst on 
being squeezed. They may break off and blow about and thus scatter 
the seeds, or may catch the wind while still on the plant, and jerk 
out the seeds as they sway. 
