Pluntago.] PLANTAGIXE .£.' l "' 



centre of the albumen, straight: radicle inferior. — In the se- 

 parated flowers: Sterile Fl. Calyx and corolla as in the 

 perfect flowers. Stamens inserted upon the receptacle : rudi- 

 ment of the pistil minute. — Fektile Fl. Calyx none, unless 

 the bracteas be considered as such. Corolla urceolate, undi- 

 vided, contracted at the mouth, obsoletely toothed. Stamens 

 none. Ovary 1-seeded, with an erect ovule. Style and stigma 

 as in the perfect flowers. Capsule opening transversely. — 

 Herbs universal')/ dispersed. Stems generally short, or scarcely 



is spiked 

 bractea. 



1. Plantago. Linn. Plantain. 



Corolla 4-cleft, the segments reflexed, Stamens very long. 

 Caps. 2-celled, two or many-seeded, bursting all round trans- 

 versely. — Name of doubtful origin. — All the species are mu- 

 cilaginous and astringent. Tetrandria. Monogynia. 



1. P. major, Linn. Greater Plantain. Leaves ovate, smooth- 

 ish, somewhat toothed, on very long foot-stalks ; flower-stalks 

 round ; seeds numerous. Br. Fl. 1. p. 67. E. Fl. v. i. p. 213. 

 E. Dot.t. 1558. 



Pastures and road sides, frequent. Fl. June, July. %. — Leaves all 

 radical, spreading, somewhat erect, with seven nerves, entire or toothed, 

 glabrous or pubescent. Petioles varying in length, sometimes as long 

 as the leaf, ribbed. Spike dense. 



2. P. media, Linn. Hoary Plantain. Leaves ovate, downy, 

 with very short petioles; peduncles round; spike cylindrical; 

 seeds solitary. Br. Fl. I. p. 67. E. Fl. v. i. p. 214. E. Bot. 

 t. 1559. 



Dry limestone pastures. On the lands of Pea-hill below Feltruin ; 

 Mr. John White, but I have not seen Irish specimens. Fl. July. 

 %.— Stamens long, with dark purple filaments. Spikes shorter than 

 in P. major, and more silvery from the shining scariose_ corollas. The 

 most ornamental of the British species and very conspicuous when in 

 flower. 



3. P. lanccolata, Linn. Ribwort Plantain. Leaves lanceo- 

 late, entire, tapering at each end, woolly at the base ; flower- 

 stalks angular; spike ovate. Br. Fl. 1. p. 67. E. Fl. v. i. p. 

 214. E. Bot. t. 175. 



Meadows and pastures, common. Fl. June, July — %. — Leaves 

 plaited, erect, spike blackish with large cream-coloured anthers. 



4. P. maritima, Linn. Sea Plantain. Leaves linear, chan- 

 nelled, nearly entire; flower-stalks round, longer than the 

 leaves ; spike cylindrical. Br. Ft. \.p. 67. E. Fl. v. i.p. 215. 

 E. But. t. 175. 



