about ponds ; scape erect, rigid ; August. Of the other species,
V. gibba, Gron., with small yellow flowers, has been found in the
western part of this State. U. injlata, Walt., and purpurea,
Walt., are not uncommon ; U. striata, Le Conte, occurs near
Connecticut River. U. resupinata, Greene, was first detected by
Dr. B. D. Greene in ponds in Tewksbury, and has since been
found by the side of the ponds in Plymouth.
ORDER 210. OROBANCHEiE. T he B roomrape
T r ib e .
Calyx 1-leafed, divided, peristent; corolla commonly 2-lipped,
irregular, inferior ; stamens 4, 2 longer than the others ;
style 1, stigma 2-lobed ; on a fleshy disk sits the ovary ; fruit
capsular ; leafless, parasitic plants, growing from the roots of other
plauts ; stems scaly, whitish or brownish.
This order is found chiefly in the middle and northern parts
of Europe and Asia, North of Africa, and North America ; properties
of no great value.
O robanche. L. 13; 2. Broomrape.
From the Greek, for vetch and to strangle, because,being parasites,
they often destroy the plants they feed on. Some of the species
in Europe fasten upon the roots of broom, furze, clover, and leguminous
plants, and destroy them. In Flanders, O. major, L.,
has prevented the culture of clover in some places. Loudon.
The plants of this genus are found in the Middle and South of
Europe, North of Africa, and North America. About 4 species
are found in this country, and 2 in this State ; singular and curious
plants, found in woods and moist grounds.
O. Americana. L. Cancer Root. Because it has been used
as a remedy for this dreadful disease. Stem simple, covered
with scales ; flowers in a spike ; brownish yellow ; blossoms in
July, Common in woods of beech, in Berkshire County.
O. uni-flora. L. Small Cancer Root. Stem 1 inch to 4 or
5 inches high, 1-flowered, sometimes 2, pubescent ; woods ;
June.
These plants seem to be astringent and acrid, and offensive to
animals.
E p iphagus . Nutt. 13. 2.
Was taken from the preceding genus by Mr. Nuttall; bears
some flowers, which are not fertile.
E. Americana. Nutt. Cancer Root. Beech-drops. Stem
often a foot high, leafless, branched, with small scales ; flowers
small, alternate, fertile ones deciduous and smaller, striped ; in
beech woods ; July, August.
The plant has a drab appearance, and the bark appears to perform
the functions of leaves ; abundant in the western parts of the
State.
ORDER 211. SCROPHULARINEiE. T he F igwort
T r ib e .
A numerous and important family of plants, widely spread over
the world, from the hottest to the coldest regions where vegetation
can live. In North America, the species are about ^ of the
flowering plants, and in Europe 5'T.
Calyx divided and permanent, 1-leafed ; corolla 1-petalled, inferior,
deciduous, irregular, or very rarely regular ; stamens
sometimes 2, usually 4, and then 2 are commonly longer, sometimes
all are equal in length ; ovary superior, 2-celled, many-
seeded ; style 1, with a 2-lobed stigma ; leaves generally opposite.
Plants generally to be suspected ; many are acrid, bitter, and
produce dangerous symptoms on the human system ; some are
healthful, some have valuable medicinal characters.
S crophularia. L. 13. 2. Figwort.
Calyx 5-cleft; corolla subglobose, turned backwards, shortly
2-lipped. Supposed in former times to be a specific for scrophu-
lous tumors, because its roots remotely resemble such swellings ;
a genus of about 30 species, chiefly in the South of Europe, 2
only in this country, and 1 in this State. About 25 species introduced
into England.