Flora Vectensis, ed. by sir W.J. Hooker and T.B. Salter

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt: ...in the capsule were more or less villous, and some quite lomenlose, as they are said to be in a closely allied Neapolitan species, C. Imperali. Such as had fallen from the capBules, and were lying on the sand, were for the most part glabrous, and from the others the totnenlutn was easily detached by slight friction. Whether this appearance was natural, or the result of mouldiness contracted through a want of free circulation of air in the capsules, I am unable to say: both the soil and the season were unusually dry and warm. I state the fact to draw the attention of others to the subject. Order LII. Cuscutaceje. "Calyx inferior, persistent, 4--5 parted, with an imbricate Estivation. Corolla persistent, cut round at the base; the limb regular, 4--5 cleft, imbricated in aestivation. Scales alternating with the segments of the corolla, and adhering to them. Stamens equal to the segments of the corolla and alternate with them; anthers 2-celled, opening longitudinally. Ovary 2-celled, ovules twin, collateral, erect. Styles 2 or 0, sometimes connate; stigmas 2. Fruit capsular or baccate, 2-celled; cells 1--2 seeded. Seeds with a fleshy albumen, and spiral, filiform, acotyledonous embryo; radicle inferior.--Leafless, climbing, colourless parasites, with the flowers in dense clusters."--Lindl. Veg. Kingd. I. Cuscuta, Linn. Dodder. "Calyx 4--5 cleft. Corolla campanulate, 4--5 lobed, the tube usually furnished with scales on the inside. Styles 2 (rarely united). Ovary 2-celled, 4-ovuled. Capsule bursting all round transversely at the base, 2-celled."--Br. Fl. Parasitical leafless and succulent herbs, with twining filiform stems, found in all quarters of the globe, of which Europe possesses at least four and Britain three species, remarkable rather...