172 



POPULAR FLORA. 



2- WiNTERBERRY IT. Of Black Alder. Leavcs thin and deciduous, serrate, veiny, obovate or ob- 

 long; peduncles very short; parts of the blossom often in sixes; fruit red. Shrub: low grounds. 



Tliis belonjrs to the section Frinos. 



/. verticillixicu 



65. EBONY FAMILY. Order EBENACE^. 

 Of this small family, we have only one species, a tree, which deserves notice, viz. ; — 



<23 * Persimmon. Diospyros. 



Tree with alternate thickish leaves; 

 -/ \^ ^ .^^ .^yf^ in their axils some trees bear clustered 



stamina^e flowers, with a 4-cleft corolla 

 and about 16 stamens; others single and 

 larger perfect flowers, with a 4-lobed 

 corolla and 8 stamens. Calyx 4-cleft^ 

 rather large, thickish. Corolla pale yel- 

 low. Pistil one, with 4 styles: the ovary 

 ripening into a plum-like fruit, which is 

 very astringent when green, but sweet 

 and yellow and eatable after frosts, con- 

 taining 8 large and bony flat seeds. 



D. Vinjinlanci. 



A2'i 425 <24 



Ail. Kertile flower. 421. Corolla und stamens of the same, laid open. 

 ^i. ir'itiil. 4'^. btclioii ut' the same. 



56. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order TLANTAGINACE^. 



Consists mainly of the genus of low stemless herbs called 



Plantain (or Rib-Grass). Plantago. 



.Flowers greenish, on a scape, in a close spike. — Calyx of 4 persistent sepals. Corolla 

 falver-shaped, thin, withering on the pod. 4-lobed. Stamens 4, generally with very long 

 fl.nd weak filaments, borne on the corolla. Style and stigma one, slender. Pod 2-celle(l, 

 opening crosswise, the top falling off as a lid, the loose partition falling out with the 

 seeds. Leaves generally with strong ribs. 



1, Common Plantain. Leaves ovate or 

 slightly heart-shaped, several-ribbed; 

 eceds 7 to 16. P. major. 



!J. Virginia P. Small (2' to 7' high), hairy; 

 leaves oblong, 3-5-ribbed; seeds 2. 



P. Mrr/inica. 



S. English P. or Pipple-Grass. Hairy, 

 with long lance-shaped or linear leaves, 

 nnd a short and thick spike or head, on 

 1° or 2° high; seeds 2. Com- 

 P. lanceolata. 



4L Seaside P. Smooth; leaves linear, thick 

 nnd fleshy; seeds 2. Salt marshes on the 

 coasL 



a ecape 

 men E. 



428 



427 



429 



4C6 



425. Youn» spike of common Plantain 427 A flow er mngnifieit, 423 Pn. 

 P. maHtima. til of the same. 4-.49. i'ruit, opening by a lid, tlie williered corolla ou ll»« 

 lid. 



