287 
fleshy 2-lobed parietal polyspermous placentae ; surrounded at its base by glands alterna- 
ting with stamens ; style continuous with the ovary ; stigma capitate, concave, h'ruit cap- 
sular or succulent, half superior, 1 -celled, 2-valved, with loculicidal dehiscence and 2 oppo- 
site lateral placentse, each consisting of 2 plates. Seeds very numerous, minute ; embryo 
erect, in the axis of fleshy albumen ; testa thin, with very close fine oblique veins. — Her- 
baceous plants or under-shrubs. Leaves opposite, rugose, without stipules. Flowers showy, 
in racemes, or panicles, rarely solitary. 
Affinities. Allied to Bignoniacese through Eccremocarpus, from which 
the order differs in the ovary being 1 -celled and partly inferior, in the apterous 
seeds, and in habit. Distinguished from Cyrtandracese only by the usually in- 
ferior 1 -celled ovary, with simple placentse and albuminous seeds, the testa of 
which is often twisted in a singular manner. From Scrophulariaceae the order 
is known by the same characters, with the exception of the albuminous seeds, 
in which respect it agrees. It also approaches Orobanchacese, Acanthacese, 
and Pedaliacese, with all which it agrees in the position of the pericarpial leaves 
being anterior and posterior with regard to the axis of inflorescence, and con- 
sequently the placentse right and left. 
Geography. Exclusively natives of the tropical parts of South America 
and of the West India Islands. 
Properties. Generally beautiful herbaceous plants, bearing flowers, the 
prevailing colour of which is bright red, and having tuberous roots. The suc- 
culent fruits are mucilaginous, sweetish, and eatable. A dye is obtained from 
the calyxes and fruit of some of them for staining cotton, straw- work, and do- 
mestic utensils. 
GENERA. 
Gesnera, L. 
Conradia, Mart. 
Pentaraphia, Lindl. 
Rytidophyllum, Mart. 
Codonophora, Lindl. 
Episcia, Mart. 
Besleria, Plum. 
Eriphia, P. Br. 
Nematanthus, Schrad 
Hypocyrta, Mart. 
Alloplectus, Marr. 
Crantzia, Scop. 
Orobanchia, Velloz. 
Drymonia, Mart. 
Tapina, Mart. 
Gloxinia, L’Herit. 
Paliavana, Velloz. 
Sinningia, Nees. 
Columnea, Plum. 
Trevirania, W. 
Cyrilla, L’Herit. 
Achimenes, Pers. 
Sarmienta, R. et P. 
Urceolaria, Feu ill. 
Mitraria, Cav. 
Corisanthera, Wall. 
Picria, Lour. 
Tussacia, Rchb. 
Dalbergia, Tuss. 
Quoya, Gaudich. 
Ramondia, Ricb. 
Myconia, Lass. 
Chaixia, Lass. 
Order CCXVL OROBANCHACE^. The Broom-Rape Tribe. 
OrobanchejE, Juss. Ann. Mus. 12. 445. (1808) ; Richard in Pers. Synops. 2. 180. (1807) ; 
DC. and Duby Bot. Gall. 348. (1828) ; Lindl. Synops. 193. (1829) ; Bartl. Ord.Nat. 
173. (1830). — Orobanchin^, Link Handb. 1. 506. (1829) a § o/ Personatae. 
Essential Character. — divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopetalous , 
hypogynous, irregular, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation. Stamens 4, didynamous. 
Anthers 2 -celled, the cells distinct, parallel, often mucronate or bearded at the base. Ovary 
superior, 1 -celled, seated in a fleshy disk, with 2 or 4 parietal polyspermous placentae; 
style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit capsular, enclosed within the withered corolla, 1 -celled, 
2-valved, each valve bearing 1 or 2 placentae in the middle. Seeds indefinite, very minute ; 
embryo minute, inverted, at the apex of a fleshy albumen. — Herbaceous leafless plants, 
growing parasitically upon the roots of other species. Stems covered with brown or colour- 
less scales. 
Affinities. Orobanchacese are extremely near Gesneracese in character, 
although very different in habit. They are distinguished by their seeds having 
a minute embryo Mng in one end of fleshy albumen, and spherical pollen, while 
the embiyo of Gesneracese is cylindrical and erect, occupying the axis of the 
albumen, and the pollen elliptical, with a furrow on one side. In Gesneraceee 
