224 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
GENUS I. 
THE CONVOLVULUS. (Convolvulus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx five-parted, naked, or with two small bractete at the base. Corolla campanulate, with five plaits. Stamens shorter 
than the limb. Ovarium two-celled, rarely three-celled ; cells two-seeded. Style undivided. Stigmas two, filiform. Capsule valvular. ( R. Br.) 
Description, &c. —The only British sjiecies left in this genus is the common dwarf Convolvulus 
(C. arvensis , Lin.), a beautiful little pink flower, which is abundant in gravelly soils both in cultivated and in 
waste ground. It is a perennial, and flowers in June and July. 
GENUS II. 
THE BINDWEED. (Calystegia, R. Br.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx five-parted, inclosed in two foliaceous Style undivided. Stigmata two, obtuse, (taper or round.) Capsule one- 
bracteae. Corolla campanulate, with five plaits. Stamens nearly celled. ( R. Br.) 
equal, shorter than the limb. Ovarium half two-celled, four-seeded. 
Description, &c. —There are only two species in this genus, viz. the common white Bindweed of the 
hedges (C. sepium, R. Br.), and the large pink Convolvulus (C. Soldaneila, R. Br.), which is found only on 
the sea side. Both are perennials, and flower from June till August. 
GENUS III. 
THE DODDER. (Cuscuta, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx four or five-cleft. Corolla roundish, 
urceolate ; limb four or five-cleft, with as many scales at the base. 
Stamens four or five. Ovarium two cells, each with two seeds. 
Stigmata two. Capsule dehiscing transversely. Embryo without 
cotyledons. Parasitical twining leafless plants, with thread-like stems. 
( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —There are two species of this very curious plant, but they differ very little from each 
other except in size. They both spring from the soil, and twine round any plant that may chance to come in 
their way. As soon as they have done this, the original root withers, and the parasite feeds entirely on the 
hapless plant it has seized. In the year 1843, Clover and other similar plants were attacked by this weed in 
Norfolk and some other counties, and whole fields were destroyed. Fortunately both kinds of Dodder are 
annuals, and die at the approach of winter. 
CHAPTER LI. 
THE CUCUMBER FAMILY. (Cucurbitace*, Juss.) 
Character of the Order.- —Flowers usually unisexual, some¬ 
times hermaphrodite. Calyx five-toothed. Corolla five-parted, 
scarcely distinguishable from the calyx, very cellular, rvith strongly 
marked, reticulated veins. Stamens five, either distinct, or cohering 
in three parcels ; anthers two-celled,very sinuous. Ovary inferior, one- 
celled, with three parietal placenta; ; style short ; stigmas very thick, 
velvety or fringed. Fruit fleshy, more or less succulent, crowned by 
the scar of the calyx ; one-celled, with three parietal placentae. Seeds 
flat, ovate, enveloped in an arillus, which is either juicy, or dry and 
membranous ; testa coriaceous, often thick at the margin ; embryo flat, 
with no albumen ; cotyledons foliaceous, veined ; radicle next the 
hilum. Roots annual or perennial, fibrous or tuberous. Stem suc¬ 
culent, climbing by means of tendrils formed by the abortive leaves. 
Leaves palmated, very succulent, covered with numerous asperities. 
Flowers white, red, or yellow. {Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —Tbe Cucumber not being a native of this country, the only genus of British plants 
belonging to this order is the Bryony. 
