96 ELEMENTARY BOTANY 
The gynecium matures before the andreecium 
(p. 51) 
A comparison of the different genera shows that in this 
Order the stamens are often suppressed. The number that 
Pollination. 

Fies. 123 To 125.—FiLorau DIAGRAMS oF SCROPHULARIACER, 
123,—Fiewort, © 124:—Muietn. 125.— VERONICA. 
one would expect to find is five, for there are five sepals and 
five petals. Mullein has five stamens ; Figwort four and a stami- 
node; Veronica two only. Com- 
paring Veronica (Figs. 125 and 
126) with a typical scrophulari- 
aceous flower (Fig. 124), we note 
that the anterior petal is the 
smallest ; the posterior probably 
represents two petals. The pos- 
terior median sepal is missing. 
The fifth stamen, the posterior 
one, is naturally suppressed, as 

Vig. 126.—CoRoLLA OF ee aes of the Scrophulariacee, 
VERONICA, and in addition the two anterior 
ones. 
This Order is also characterised by its variety of corolla ; 
often it is two-lipped, as in Figwort, Cow-wheat, Rattles, 
Bartsia, Snapdragon, Toadflax, Foxglove, Eyebright. In 
Veronicas and Mulleins it is rotate ; Toadflax is spurred. 
Many are semi-parasitic plants, having green leaves, but 
swellings on their roots by which they attach themselves to 
other plants and obtain nourishment from them. Eyebright, 
