242 



FAMILIES OF FLOWEKING PLANTS. 



have a 5-parted, persistent calyx ; a more or 

 less 2-lippecl corolla ; four didynamous sta- 

 mens, and a 2-4-celled ovary, becoming in 

 fruit a drupe or nutlet. The leaves are often 

 covered with transparent glands. 



Family Phrymaceae. Lopseed Family. 

 Consistsof a single genus and species, Phryma 

 leptostachya, a weed-like herb of the eastern 

 United States and eastern Asia. Though 

 formerly included in the Yerbenaceae, it is 

 abundantly distinct from other members 

 of that group. Fig. 209 well represents 

 the peculiar reflexed fniit from which the 

 name " lopseed " is derived. The calyx is 

 cylindrical and 2-lipped ; corolla 2-lipped, 

 irregular, stamens 4, didynamous ; ovary 

 1-celled, becoming in fruit a dry achene en- 

 closed by the persistent calyx. The plant ^^°- ^°9. The Lopseed (Phryma 



. - T ,1 . 1 leptostachya). One-third natural size. 



IS common m open woods and and thickets, original. 



CHAPTER XXXI. — Orders Plantaginales and Eubiales. 



The order Plantaginales comprises only the following : 



Family Plantaginaceae. Plantain Family. Contains 3 genera and 

 over 200 species, of almost world-wide distribution. The plantains are 

 herbs of characteristic appearance, the majority stemless, with a tuft of 

 basal leaves, the inflorescence being in a close erect spike or head, very 

 rarely solitary. The calyx is 4-parted and persistent , corolla dry and 

 membranaceous, 4-lobed. Stamens 4, Ovary superior, 1-2-celled, be- 

 coming in fruit a small nutlet or a pyxis. The latter is a thin capsule 

 splitting when ripe in a circular line around the middle. 



The common rib-grass {Plantago lanceolata) is a troublesome i)asture 

 weed, as also P. major and P. media. All three of these are European 

 species. The seeds of P. ma}o7\ the greater plantain, are frequently 

 used in bird seed mixtures. (See Fig. 210.) 



The large order Kubiales contains the families Rubiaceae, Caprifo- 

 liaceae, Adoxaceae, Valerianaceae and Dipsacaceae. These agree in the 

 following characters : Stamens as many as the corolla lobes and alter- 

 nate with them, or twice as many. The ovary is compound and infer- 

 ior, the tube of the calyx being adnate to it. In all the included families 

 the leaves are either opposite or verticillate. 



Family Eubiaceae. Madder Family. This very important and 



