PLANTAGINACEJE. 249 PLANTAGO. 



ORDER LXXXV. PLANTAGlNACEiE. The Plantain Tribe. 



Cal. — 4-c!efi, persistent. 



Cor. — Membranaceous, the limb 4-parted, persistent. 



Sta.—4, inserted into the tube of the corolla, alternate with its segments. Anth. versatile. 



Ova. — 2-celled, sessile. Style single. 



jFV. — Pyxis membranaceous, cells 1 — 2 or several-seeded. 



A small order, but the species are scattered throughout all countries of the globe. They 

 are small and usually stemless herbs, with flowers in spikes. Properties unimportant. 



PLANT A' GO. 

 Calyx 4 (rarely 3)-parted; corolla marescent, with a 4-cleft, 

 reflected border; stamens mostly exserted and very longj 

 capsule ovoid, 2cclled circumscissile. 



The ancient Latin name, according to Pliny. Acaulescent herbs. Lvs. all 

 radical. Fls. spicate. 



1. P. MAJOR. 



icares ovate, smoothish, somewhat toothed, with rather long footstalks ; 

 scape round ; floioers imbricated; seerfs numerous. This species is a native 

 of Japan, Europe and America, is very common, always at the door and by 

 the wayside. The leaves are reputed a good external application for wounds, 

 «fcc. The seeds are eaten by sparrows and other small birds. The root con- 

 sists of long fibres. Leaves broad, flat, with about 7 ribs, each containing a 

 strong fibre, which may be pulled out. Scape about a foot high with a very 

 long (5 — 10 inches), cylindric spike. Flowers white, inconspicuous, appear- 

 ing in succession all summer. Per. Large Plantain, 



2. P. lanceola'ta. l. 



Leaves lanceolate, .tapering at each end; spikes ovate, naked ; seape angular. 

 Common in pastures and grass-lands. Easily known by its longer leaves 

 tapering at the base into a broad stalk, and with from 3 to 5 strong ribs; by 

 its shorter spike (1 — 2 inches long), with dark colored calyxes and whitish, 

 projecting stamens, and its slender, upright stalk (8 — 15 inches long) with 

 prominent angles. Flowering from May to October. It is freely eaten by 

 cattle. Per. Ribwort Plantain. 



3. P. MARI'tiMA. L. p. pauciflora. P. 

 Leaves linear, channelled, nearly entire, woolly at base; spike cylindrical, 



close ; scape round. Grows in salt marshes, It has a large, perennial root 

 Bending up a scape varying in hight from 3 inches to a foot, and numerous, 

 very fleshy, dark-green, linear leaves deeply grooved on the inside, and 6 — 10 

 inches long. Spike, slender, of numerous, sub-imbricate, whitish flowers. 

 Aug. Sea Plantain. 



4. P. me'dia. 



Leaves ovate, pubescent ; spike short, cylindric ; scape round ; secrfs solitary 

 in each cell of the pyxis. Grows in pastures and roadsides, N. Y., flowering 

 all summer. It has broad, flat leaves 2 inches long, covered with a hoary 

 down, and with short footstalks. Spikes shorter than those of P. major, 

 being 1 — 3 inches long and about half a foot high. Flowers white with pink 

 filaments and yellow anthers. Per. Hoary Plantain. 



5. P. corda'ta. 



Zcflr«s cordate-ovate, broad, smooth, somewhat toothed; spikes \ery \ong, 

 flowers somewhat imbricate, lower ones scattered, with ovate, obtuse bractea. 



