288 MONOPETALEZ—HYPOCOROLLEZ. 
ria and P. Psyllium are emollient, and contain a large 
_ quantity of mucilage; they were at one time used for colly- 
ria. They are also used to prepare and stiffen muslins. P._ 
Ispaghula is much used in India, from the emollient quality ” 
of the seeds, 4 
There are no poisonous plants among the Plantaginee. 
ORDER L. 
+ 
PLUMBAGINEZ. 4 
Cuaracrers.—Herbs or shrubs, with alternate or radical — 
leaves sheathing at the base; inflorescence a spike, capitu- a 
lum, or sort of panicle; calyx tubular and persistent, plait- : 
ed; corolla of 5 divisions, (sometimes very deep, almost po- — 
lypetalous) ; stamens 5; ovary superior, 1-celled, 1-seeded, — 
ovule pendulous, attached to the apex of a filiform podo- — 
sperm, which rises from the bottom to the top of the cells 
styles about 5, with the same number of stigmas; pericarp 4 
capsule, covered by the calyx, sometimes indehiscent, or de- _ 
hiscing by 5 valves. 3 
Exampies.—Thrift (Statice Armeria, or Armeria vulga- 
ris); Armeria maritima (Sea. Gillyflower ), Leadwort 
(Plumbago europe a, Taxanthema. 
 Meprctnat Prorerties.—Many of the plants in this fa- 
mily are acrid and astringent; Statice caroliniana (Marsh 
Rosemary) is said to possess the latter property in a high 
degree. Armeria vulgaris is an active diuretic. The fresh 
leaves and root of Plumbago europea are extremely acrid 
and caustic; the leaves are employed in some cutaneous dis-_ 
eases. P. scandens is also very acrid, and is called Herbe du 
- Diable in St. Domingo.—Lindley. P. rosea has similar 
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aoe 
