256 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
ditches, with a thick angular stem; the Balm-leaved Figwort (-S'. Scorodonia ), an insignificant weed; and the 
Yellow Figwort (-S', vernalis). The first three of these are perennials, and flower in July; but -S', vernalis is 
ornamental, and bears a considerable resemblance to a small-flowered Calceolaria. It is a biennial, and flowers in 
April and May. The name of Scrophularia is derived from scrophula , because S. nodosa was formerly supposed 
to be efficacious in the cure of that disease. The name of Figwort alludes to the knotted roots of the same plant, 
which look something like a heap of small figs. 
CHAPTER LXIY. 
THE BROOM-RAPE FAMILY. (Orobanche.®, Rich.) 
Character, op the Order. —Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. 
Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, irregular, persistent, with an imbri¬ 
cated activation. Stamens four, didynamous. Ovarium superior, one- 
celled, seated in a fleshy disk, with two or four parietal polyspermous 
placenta;; style one ; stigma two-lohed. Fruit capsular, inclosed 
within the withered corolla, one-celled, two-valved, each valve hearing 
one or two placentae in the middle. Seeds indefinite, very'minute; 
embryo minute, at one end of a fleshy albumen.—Herbaceous leafless 
plants, growing parasitically upon the roots of other species. Stems 
covered with brown or colourless scales. ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this order have the peculiarity of not growing in the ground, but 
on the roots of other plants. They are also without leaves, their stems being covered with scales ; and the flowers, 
though generally very ornamental, have a remarkable appearance, from the long, apparently withered, bracts 
with which they are generally enveloped. 
GENUS I. 
THE BROOM-RAPE. (Orobanche, Lin.) 
Lin.Syst. DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx one or two-parted, with from one to three bractete. Corolla tubular, ringent, four or five-cleft. Stamens four, 
didynamous. Ovarium surrounded by a disk at the base. Style one. Stigma capitate, cmarginate, two-lobed. (Dec.) 
Description, &c.— This is a genus of very ornamental plants, but very hurtful ones, as they destroy other 
plants, and generally useful ones, without being of the slightest service themselves. The generic name of 
Orobanche, is derived from two Greek words, signifying to strangle a vetch, in allusion to the mischief done by 
these parasites to leguminous plants, which they very frequently attack. The species are not absolutely either 
perennial or annual, as they change their habits in this respect according to those of the plants on which they feed. 
They are extremely astringent, and that appears the only property they possess. 
* Bracteas solitary. 
1.—THE COMMON BROOM-RAPE. (Orobanche major, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t.. 421 ; 2nd ed., t. 885. | slightly notched ; lower with acute, nearly equal segments. Stamens 
Specific Character. —Stem simple. Corolla inflated ; upper lip | quite smooth below. Style downy. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. — This is the most common of all the British kinds of Orobanche, and it is generally found 
on the roots of furze or broom, whence the plant takes its English name. The flowers are of a dingy brown or 
purple, and appear in June and July. The stem is succulent, and it grows from a foot to eighteen inches high. 
