B. Bristles, but no true bract to each flower. Knautia; the corolla is 4-partite, the calyx cup-like, with many bristles or teeth on the edge.
Pollination is in many species effected by insects. The honey is secreted by a ring round the base of the style. The flowers in our native species are considerably protandrous. Gynodiœcious flowers also occur.—150 species; especially in the Mediterranean and the Orient; the order is not represented in the South Sea Islands, Australia and America.—The heads of the true Teasel (Dips. fullonum) are used for carding wool, on account of the elastic bracts, which are hooked at the point. The order has bitter properties; tanin, etc.; but no species are used in medicine or the household.—Scabiosa atropurpurea, etc., are used as ornamental plants.
Order 3. Calyceraceæ. This order resembles the Compositæ in the valvate æstivation of the corolla and the more or less united stamens, and the Dipsacaceæ in the undivided style, pendulous ovule and endosperm. The calyx is frequently composed of 5 distinct scales. An “epicalyx” is wanting.—20 species; America.
Family 35. Campanulinæ.
The flower is epigynous, perfect, with 5 sepals, 5 petals, and 5 stamens in regular alternation, and 3 (2–5) carpels. The sepals in all cases are distinct, but narrow and pointed, so that the æstivation is open. The corolla is gamopetalous with (as in the Compositæ) valvate, or slightly infolded-valvate æstivation. The stamens are nearly always situated on the torus without being united to the corolla (Figs. [601], [604]). The anthers adhere or unite and form a tube with introrse anthers from which the pollen is swept out by the projecting, brush-like hairs on the style (as in the Compositæ). The ovary is 3-(2–5) locular, many ovules in each loculus. The fruit is generally a many-seeded capsule (or berry). Embryo in the centre of a fleshy endosperm.—The majority are herbs with scattered leaves, without stipules. The presence of latex and inulin, together with the tubular formation of the anthers, the pollination, etc., indicate a relationship with the Compositæ.
The Cucurbitaceæ are by some authorities placed in this family as being most closely related to the Campanulaceæ. Although the corolla is most frequently gamopetalous, and other similarities to the Campanulaceæ are present, yet on account of the structure of the ovule, and for other reasons, the Cucurbitaceæ are here placed in the Choripetalæ. The Campanulinæ without doubt proceed upwards to the Compositæ, with which, in addition to the occurrence of inulin and laticiferous vessels (Cichorieæ), there are many corresponding features both in the structural and biological relations (epigyny, valvate æstivation of the corolla, tendency of the anthers to adhere or unite, protandry with a stylar-brush, etc.) The inflorescence of Jasione is almost identical with that of the Compositæ.
Order 1. Campanulaceæ (Campanulas). The flowers are regular and in some only semi-epigynous, 5-merous, except in the gynœceum which is 3-merous (the unpaired, median carpel being generally posterior), more rarely 2–5-merous, and has a corresponding number of stigmas and loculi in the ovary; the placentation is axile with a large number of ovules. The median sepal is posterior. The stamens frequently have broad, free bases (Fig. [601] H) which cover the nectariferous upper surface of the ovary; the anthers only fit loosely together, and become separated as soon, as the pollen is shed (Fig. [601] G), 1 long style, which is studded by sweeping-hairs (stylar-brush), which ultimately become invaginated; the stigmas do not unfold until the stamens have shed the pollen (Fig. [601] E, G). Fruit a capsule.—Herbs, more rarely under-shrubs or shrubs, with latex and scattered, undivided leaves without stipules. The inflorescence is most frequently a raceme or spike with terminal flower.
A. Capsule opening at the side by pores and small valves: Campanula (Canterbury-bell); the corolla is bell-shaped, rarely almost rotate; capsule obconical. The pores of the capsule are found near the top of the fruit when it is erect, and near the base when it is pendulous, so that the seeds are not liberated unless the capsule is forcibly shaken, and they are thus ejected to a considerable distance.—Phyteuma (Rampion) has free petals, which for a long time adhere at the apex and form a tube round the stamens (Fig. [601]); inflorescence compact, spike-like or capitate, in the latter case resembling that of the Compositæ, and frequently with an involucre similar to the one possessed by this order. Specularia (rotate corolla, prismatic capsule), Michauxia (flower 8-merous).—Symphyandra has syngenesious anthers.
B. Capsule with valves at the apex, loculicidal dehiscence: Jasione; the petals are almost free. The anthers are united at the base (syngenesious). The flowers are situated in capitate umbels with involucres.—Wahlenbergia; Platycodon.
