Class IV. Order I. 33 



TETRANDRIA. 



MONOGYNM. 



40. CEPHALANTHUS. 



CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALS. L, Button bush. 



Leaves opposite, or in threes. L. 



Button bush or river bush is a frequent ornament of the wa- 

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

 nests of the black bird (Oriolus phceniceus.) The shrub rises 

 five or six feet out of the water, its leaves are tough, spreading, 

 pointed, and entire. In the month of July it puts forth its spher* 

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

 ba$s of the plane tree. Receptacle globular, of the size of a 

 large pea, covered with whitish funnel shaped flowers. The 

 long projecting stamens give to the whole a bristly aspect. The 

 appearance of this shrub on elevated ground, often indicates the 

 presence of springs of water. 



41. PL ANT AGO. 

 PLANTAGO MAJOR. L. Large plantain, 



Leaves ovate, smootliish, somewhat toothed 

 with rather long footstalks ; scape round j flowers 

 imbricated ; seeds numerous. Sm. 



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

 the less for being trampled under foot, is in considerable re- 

 pute among many people as a refrigerant external application. 

 Leaves spreading on the ground, on channelled footstalks con- 

 taining 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 pro- 

 ceeds very gradually toward the top. Flowers most of the sum- 

 mer. Perennial. 



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