408 



THE SEA SHORE 



exist, and shall deal first with the division Gamopetalce or Mono- 

 petalce, in which the petals are united. 



Our first example of this division is the Seaside Plantain 

 (Plantago maritima), of the order Plantaginacece. This is a stem- 

 less herbaceous plant, with ribbed leaves and small green flowers, 

 common on many parts of the coast, and also found on the 

 mountains of Scotland, flowering throughout the summer. It may 

 be distinguished from the other plantains by its narrow fleshy 

 leaves. As in the other species, the flowers form a cylindrical 

 spike. 



The order Plumbaginacece contains several sea-side plants, 

 including the Sea Pink or Thrift (Armeria maritima) and the 

 various species of Sea Lavender (genus Statice). They are charac- 

 terised by a tubular membranous 

 calyx, persistent and often 

 coloured, a regular corolla of five 

 petals united at their bases, five 



FIG. 296. THE SEA-SIDE PLANTAIN FIG. 297. THE SEA LAVENDER 



stamens opposite the petals and attached at the base of the ovary, 

 and a free one-celled and one-seeded ovary. The well-known Sea 

 Pink, with its compact head of rose-coloured flowers, in bloom 

 throughout the spring and summer, and linear one-veined leaves, 

 may be seen on most of our coasts, as well as on high ground in 

 inland districts. The Sea Lavender, of which there are four British 

 species, have their flowers arranged in spikes. The commonest species 

 (Statice limonium) may be found principally on muddy shores. Its 

 leaves are narrow and one-ribbed, and the bluish-purple flowers 

 arranged in short dense spikes, the flower stalk being branched 

 only above the middle. One variety of it has its flowers in 



