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Dicotyledons with Gamopetalous Flowers — Boraginacece . 
Distribution.— A large and widely spread Natural Order, most numerous in Temperate climates, 
especially in countries bordering the Mediterranean and in Western Asia. The principal Tropical 
genera belong to a Sub-ordinal type characterised by more complete cohesion of the lobes of the ovary 
and a terminal style. 
Number of British Genera, 8 ; Species, 20. 
Inflorescence almost invariably a unilateral racemose cyme, as well shown in Forget-me-Not ( Myosotis ). 
Corolla usually regular, or the limb oblique in Viper’s Bugloss ( Echium vulgctre); rotate in Forget-me-Not 
and Borage (. Borago), or funnel-shaped in Comfrey (Symphytum); the throat naked in Bugloss, or with scales 
alternating with the stamens in Forget-me-Not and Comfrey. 
OVARY 4-celled, owing to the infolding of the dorsal sutures of the 2 carpels composing the pistil. 
Fruit usually of 4 one-seeded indehiscent and separate nuts, which are frequently wrinkled, bordered, winged, 
or covered with hooked prickles ; smooth, hard and porcelainous in Gromwell (Lithospermum). 
USES, &c.—Many of the commoner species abound in mucilage or a harmless viscous juice, and are used in 
rustic medicine. The root frequently affords a red-brown dye turned to account by dyers in Alkanet (Anchusco 
tinctorial), cultivated in South Europe. The Forget-me-Nots (Myosotis), especially two or three species with 
flowers of brilliant blue, are frequent in gardens, as are also the spring-flowering Omphaloclcs and the fragrant 
Heliotrope (Heliotr opium peruvicmum); the latter introduced from Peru. 
HYDROPHYLLACE^E.—A small Natural Order, differing from Boraginacece in the one-celled ovary with 
parietal ovules, and in the leaves, which are commonly lobed or pinnatifid. 
DISTRIBUTION. —Chiefly confined to North America. None are European. 
USES, &c.—The Order contributes several pretty border annuals to our gardens, as FemophilaEutoccc , 
Whitlavia, and Phacelia . Wigandia, cultivated for the sake of its noble foliage, is a near ally of this group, 
differing in the complete division of the ovary. 
