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shortly bifid, stigma generally simple, entire, emarginate, or bifid, often flattened, occasion- 
ally double at the points of the divisions of the style. Fmit capsular, seldom berried, 
bicarpellary, 2-celled, sometimes with 2 entire or bifid valves, sometimes with 4 entire ones, 
sometimes opening by pores or lids, very rarely almost indehiscent ; dissepiment parallel or 
opposite to the valves, finally loose in the centre, or altogether. Placentce adhering to the 
dissepiment, sometimes when mature separate and forming 1-2 central columns. Seeds 
indefinite, rarely definite, albuminous ; embryo orthotropous, heterotropous or antitropous. 
— Herbs, under-shrubs, or sometimes shrubs, usually scentles, but sometimes foetid, rarely 
aromatic. Leaves opposite, whorled, or alternate. Flowers axillary, or racemose, rarely 
spiked. opposite or alternate ; sometimes simple and 1 -flowered, sometimes many- 
flowered in dichotomous cymes. Bentham. 
Affinities. The capsular moriopetalous genera of Dicotyledons, with a 
superior ovary, albuminous seeds, and irregular diandrous or didynamous sta- 
mens, were separated by Jussieu into two orders, which he called Scrophula- 
rise and Pediculares, distinguished from each other by the dehiscence of the 
former being septicidal, and of the latter loculicidal. Brown, in his Prodromus, 
pointed out the insufficiency of this character, which is often not even of ge- 
neric value, and he combined the orders of Jussieu under the common name 
of Scrophularinese. This opinion has been adopted by subsequent writers, 
with the exception of De Candolle, who, in Duby’s Botanicon Gallicon (1828) 
adheres to the old division of Jussieu, the names being changed into Antirrhi- 
nese and Rhinanthaceae. Notwithstanding this almost universal assent to the 
identity of the two orders of Jussieu, some separations having been made upon 
different principles from those of that learned botanist. Thus Orobanchaceas 
have been distinguished by himself ; Gesneracese by Nees Von Esenbeck ; and 
Melampyraceae by Richard. The two former are adopted by botanists with- 
out dissent ; the latter has not been so generally received. In my Synopsis I 
admitted it, upon the ground of its definite ascending seeds and inverted em- 
bryo ; but subsequent observation led me to think that by excluding from the 
character all consideration of the number and direction of the seeds, an order 
would be formed, agreeing in a peculiar habit, and in the radicle of the embryo 
not being presented to the hilum, to which the name of Rhinanthaceae might 
conveniently be retained. Upon this view of the subject, Scrophulariaceae 
would include no genus the embryo of which is not orthotropous, and in Rhi- 
nanthaceae it could be antitropous or heterotropous. The number of synonymous 
names above quoted, show into how many more supposed orders the old Scro- 
phulariaceae have been broken by one author or another. The whole matter 
has, however, been lately reinvestigated by Bentham, whose views appear to 
be so much more comprehensive than those of his predecessors, and who has 
treated the question in so philosophical and practical a way, that I have no 
hesitation in adopting his opinion : agreeing with him that in fact all the 
supposed orders are really some sections of one great natural order.) ^ From the 
observations of my learned friend upon the Scrophulariacese of India I extract 
the following useful remarks : — 
“ The nearest affinities to Scrophularinese are undoubtedly the Solaneae, 
through the medium of the tribe of Salpiglossideee ; so much so, that it be- 
comes necessary to separate them by a purely artificial distinction, considering 
as Solaneie such genera as have the plaited corolla and 5 stamina, and as 
Scrophularineae all those in which either the fifth stamen is wanting, or the 
jcstivation of the corolla imbricated. The line would thus be drawn between 
Petunia and Salpiglossis, two genera closely allied in habit. In the first, how- 
ever, the decidedly plicate corolla and 5 stamina shew it to be a true Solanea, 
whilst the slight irregularity of the corolla and the declinate very unequal sta- 
mina, indicate an approach to Salpiglossis, which, being always didynamous, 
with an imbricately aestivating, or obscurely plicate corolla, is a genuine Scro- 
phularinea. In the tribe of Verbasceae the genus Verbascum, as being pen- 
U 
