V. blattarid. L. Garden Mullein. This plant is named
from its supposed power of driving away the blatta or cockroach.
It is a rather handsome plant of the gardens, cultivated for its
flowers ; smooth ; flowers whitish; introduced from Britain ; it
has wandered, in a few instances, into the roads or fields, and
propagated itself.
A few species are said to be beautiful plants, and near twenty
have been introduced into England.
ORDER 215. PEDALINEiE.
Calyx in 5 nearly equal segments ; corolla of 1 petal, irregular,
limb 2-lipped, and swollen towards the upper part of the tube ;
stamens 4, 2 long and the other pair short ; flowers axillary ;
leaves opposite.
This order is named from Pedalium, a genus of the East Indies,
so called from its hard and prickly fruit.
Martynia. L. 13. 2.
Named in honor of J . Martyn, a distinguished English botanist;
found chiefly within the tropics.
M. proboscidea. L. Unicorn Plant. From the long, curved,
proboscis-like termination of the fruit-vessel; sometimes cultir
vated in gardens ; a low plant, with large leaves, and large yellow
flowers, and of nauseous, offensive odor ; a native of the Southern
States. .
S esamum. L. 13. 2.
S. Indicum. L. Oily-grain. Introduced from the East, and
cultivated occasionally in gardens. Upper leaves undivided, the
lower 3-lobed, serrate; flowers reddish-white ; seeds used in
cookery, contain much excellent oil. Leaves emollient.
ORDER 220. VERBENACEiE. T he V ervain T r ib e .
Calyx tubular, inferior, persistent; corolla 1-petalled, tubular,
deciduous ; stamens 4, rarely 2, one pair commonly shorter than
the others ; ovary superior, 2 or 4-celled ; style 1 ; leaves generally
opposite.
The plants are common in the tropics, but not in the northern
temperate zone ; generally of little use.
V erbena. L. 13. 2. Vervain.
The name in Latin and English is said to be from the Celtic
name of the plant. Anciently some species of this genus had
great reputation, but all that seems to be irretrievably lost. About
20 species have been described, and all belong to America except
V. officinalis ; 3 are found in this State ; more than a dozen have
been cultivated in England.
V . hastata. L. Common Vervain. Stem 2 —4 feet high,
with rough leaves, and small purple flowers in a crowded spike ;
leaves lanceolate, and those near the root hastate ; flowers purple,
tubular, with an unequal limb ; roads ; July.
V. urticifolia. L. Nettle-leafed Vervain. Much like the
last, rather pubescent, with small white flowers ; roadsides, with
the other ; common, but not abundant; July.
V. angustifolia. Mx. Narrow-leafed Vervain. Has linear-
lanceolate leaves, remotely toothed ; stem a foot high, hairy, with
blue flowers ; rocky grounds ; June.
V. officinalis. L. The only species common to Europe, and
supposed to be the plant so much used in medicine, in religious
offerings, and feasts, is now a neglected plant; rarely cultivated
in this country.
P hryma. L. 13. 2.
P. leptostachya. L. Lopseed. The reflexed seed-vessel is
a very distinct character; flowers in a long spike, with large
leaves below ; grows along hedges and woods ; July.
This is an American genus of only one species.