ECHIUM 
359 
superior, 2 — 16-loc., with 1 — 2 anatropous ovules pendulous in each 
loc. Styles 2 — 8, free or united below. Fruit usually a berry with 
fewer seeds than there were formerly ovules, sometimes dehiscent. 
Embryo straight or slightly curved, in abundant cartilaginous endo- 
sperm. Many of these trees yield valuable wood, e.g. Diospyros. 
Genera: Royena, Euclea, Maba, Diospyros, Tetraclis. Placed in 
Ebenales by Benth. -Hooker, in Diospyrinae by Warming. 
Ebenales. The 3rd cohort of Sympetalae in Engler’s system, the 6th 
in Bentham and Hooker’s system (pp. 131, 134). 
Ebenus Linn. Leguminosae (ill. 7). 14 sp. Medit. 
Ecballium A. Rich. Cucurbitaceae (ill). 1 sp. Medit., E. Elaterium 
A. Rich., the squirting cucumber. When ripe the fruit is highly 
turgid. As it drops from the stalk, a hole is made in its lower end, 
and through this the contraction of the pericarp squirts the seeds, 
mixed with a watery fluid. A powerful purgative (elaterium) is pre- 
pared from the fruit. 
Eccremocarpus Ruiz et Pav. Bignoniaceae (in). 3 sp. Peru. See 
order. The valves of the fruit hang together at the top. 
Echeveria DC. = Cotyledon Linn. 
Echidnopsis Hook. f. Asclepiadaceae (11. 4). 4 sp. E. Afr. Xero- 
phytes with succulent stems. 
Echinocactus Link et Otto. Cactaceae (1. 1). 200 sp. Texas to Chili. 
Ribbed cacti (see order). 
Echinocereus Engelm. =Cereus Haw. 
Echinocystis Torr. et Gray. Cucurbitaceae (iv). 25 sp. Am. Tuber- 
ous climbing herbs. E. lobata Torr. et Gray is often cultivated. 
Its tendrils are very sensitive and nutate very rapidly. The tendril 
becomes straight and erect as it comes round towards the main axis, 
thus avoiding contact. 
Echinophora Tourn. ex Linn. Umbelliferae (4). 8 sp. Medit. One 
cpl. is aborted. The umbel has one ? fir. in the centre, surrounded 
by 3 firs. The spiny stalks of the latter enclose the fruit. 
Echinops Linn. Compositae (xi). 75 sp. E. Eur., Afr., As. The 
spherical head is really compound, formed of a great number of small 
1 -flowered heads, each with its own involucre. The firs, are largely 
visited by bees. 
Echinopsis Zucc. = Cereus Haw. 
Echinopterys A. Juss. Malpighiaceae (1, but forming a link between 
1 and 2, as it has a flat torus). 1 sp. Mexico. Mericarp spiny. 
Echinospermum Sw. Boraginaceae (iv. 2). 50 sp. temp. E. Lappula 
Lehm. is often cultivated. The firs, change colour from white to red 
and blue (see order). Fruit hooked. 
Echites P. Br. Apocynaceae (11. 4). 40 sp. Am. 
Echium Tourn. ex Linn. Boraginaceae (iv. 5). 30 sp. Eur., Medit. 
E. vulgare L viper’s bugloss, in Brit. Fir. zygomorphic, protand- 
rous, visited by bees. 
