Class IV. Order I. 51 



TETRANDRIA. 



MONOGYNIA. 



54. CEPHALANTHUS. 

 CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALS. L. Button bush. 



Leaves opposite or in threes. L. 



Button bush or river bush is a frequent ornament of the water 

 side, its insulated thickets furnishing a safe retreat for the nests 

 of the black bird (Oriolus phoeniceus.) The shrub rises five or 

 six feet out of the water, its leaves are tough, spreading, point- 

 ed, and entire. In the month of July it puts forth its spherical 

 heads of flowers,- which at a distance appear not unlike the balls 

 of the plane tree. Receptacle globular, of the size of a large 

 pea, covered with whitish funnel shaped flowers. The long pro- 

 jecting styles give to the whole a bristly aspect. The appear- 

 ance of this shrub on elevated ground, often indicates the pre- 

 sence of springs of water. 



55. PLANTAGO. 



PLANTAGO MAJOR. L. Large Plantain. 



Leaves ovate, smoothish, somewhat toothed with 

 rather long footstalks ; scape round ; flowers imbri- 

 cated ; seeds numerous. Sm. 



This vegetable, which grows at every one's door, and not the 

 less for being trampled under foot, is in considerable repute 

 among many people as a refrigerant external application. Leaves 

 spreading on the ground, on channelled footstalks containing 

 strong fibres, like others of the genus, which draw out when the 

 stalks are broken. Spikes very long and close. As in others of 

 the kind, the flowering commences at bottom and proceeds very 

 gradually toward the top. Flowers most of the summer. Pe- 

 rennial. 



PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA. L' Ribwort or field Plantain. 

 Leaves lanceolate, tapering at each end ; spike 

 ovate, naked ; scape angular. Sm. 



