. Flowers of the field. Botany. 2o8 COROLLIFLOR^ stem, which is of a pecuhar dingy red hue, bearing no leaves, but more or less clothed with taper-pointed scales, which are most abundant about the swollen base of the stem. The flowers are large for the size of the plant, and in all British species are of nearly the same hue as the stem, and arranged in a spike not unlike a head of asparagus, with one or more scale-like bracts at the base of each flower. All the species are parasitical on the roots of other plants. The seeds, it is said, will lie buried for some years in the ground without vege
. Flowers of the field. Botany. 2o8 COROLLIFLOR^ stem, which is of a pecuhar dingy red hue, bearing no leaves, but more or less clothed with taper-pointed scales, which are most abundant about the swollen base of the stem. The flowers are large for the size of the plant, and in all British species are of nearly the same hue as the stem, and arranged in a spike not unlike a head of asparagus, with one or more scale-like bracts at the base of each flower. All the species are parasitical on the roots of other plants. The seeds, it is said, will lie buried for some years in the ground without vegetating, until they come in contact with the young roots of some plant adapted to their wants, when they immediately sprout and seize on the points of the roots, which swell and serve as a base to the parasite. There are but two British genera belonging to this Order, Orobanche and Latkrcea, of which some attach them- selves to particular species ; others infest particular tribes ; and others, again, have a wider range of subjects. Several of those be- longing to the genus Orobanche are very difficult of discrimination ; botanists, indeed, are not agreed as to the number of species, some uniting under a common name specimens found growing on various plants, others considering a slight variation in structure, joined to a difference of situation, enough to constitute a specific distinction. I. Orobanche (Broom-rape).—Calyx of 2 lateral sepals, which are usually 2-cleft, and often combined in front, with 1-3 bracts at the base; corolla gaping, 4-5 cleft, not falling off. (Name from the Greek, orobos,''a. vetch, and ancho, to strangle, from the injurious effects produced in the plants to which they attach themselves.) 2. (Tooth - wort).—Calyx bell- shaped, 4-cleft; corolla gaping, 2-lipped, the upper lip arched, entire, not falling off. (Name in Greek signifying concealed, from the humble growth of the plants among dead leaves.) I. Orobanche (Broom-rape) Bracts one to e
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbotany, bookyear1908
