94 ELEMENTARY BOTANY 
Sea-milkwort (Glauwx maritima) is common on _ British 
coasts. 
aaa 1. Each whorl of the flower consists of five 
teristics of | leaves. : | 
ee 2. The stamens are opposite to, not alternate 
with, the petals, which are always joined. 
3. Gynecium superior ; placentation free central. 
4, Fruit, a capsule, usually dehiscing by teeth. 
| Chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere. Prim- 
roses and Cowslips are not found in the woods 
and meadows of tropical countries. 
Distribution. 
BORAGINACEAE, 
ComMON BoracE (Borago officinalis). 
A hairy plant, with simple oblong leaves. 
Inflorescence : a one-sided cyme (Fig. 52, p. 48). 
Flowers: blue, regular, hypogynous. 
Calyx (sepals) : 5, joined, inferior. | 
Corolla (petals): 5, jomed, hypogynous. The tube of the 
corolla is very short, with scales at the mouth. 
Andrecaum (stamens): 5, free, on the petals, and alternat- 
ing with them. ‘The anthers form a cone and dehisce 
introrsely. | 
— Gynecium (carpels): 2, joined, superior ; ovary four. 
divisioned. : 
Fruits: four nutlets, as in Labiatee. 
Borage is largely cultivated for bee-feeding. 
Other common plants belonging to this Order are: Viper’s 
Bugloss, Gromwell, Forget-me-not, Comfrey, Hound’s Tongue. 
They all have rough, coarse, hairy leaves, usually alternate 
and exstipulate. Alkanet and Heliotrope are commonly 
grown in gardens. 
The structure of the flowers shows adaptation 
for insect visits. The corolla tube is short, 
generally with scales at the mouth, so that the honey is 
protected. The corollas are conspicuous, being usually red, 
Type. 
Pollination. 
