192 



Journal, Jan. 1830, p. 166.) refers Glaux to Plantagineae, " where it will form 

 the connecting link between that family and Primulacese." 



Geography. Scattered over the whole world, in almost every quarter of 

 which they are found in one situation or another. 



Properties. The herbage is slightly bitter and astringent, and they have 

 even been reckoned febrifuges. Their seeds are covered with mucus. Accord- 

 ing to Decandolle, those of P. arenaria are exported in considerable quantities 

 from Nismes and Montpellier to the north of Europe, and are supposed to be 

 consumed in the completion of the manufacture of muslins. The seeds of 

 Plantago Ispaghula are of a very cooling nature, and, like those of Plantago 

 Psyllium, form, with boiling water, a rich mucilage, which is much used in 

 India in catarrh, gonorrhoea, and nephritic affections. Jliiislie, 2. 116. 



Examples. Plantago, Littorella. 



CLXXXITI. PLUMBAGINE.E. The Leadwort Tribe. 



Plumbagines, Juss. Gen. 92. (1789).— PlumbaginejE, R. Brown Prodr. 425. (1810.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with regular flowers, a superior 

 1-celled ovarium containing a single ovuhun suspended from the apex of an um- 

 bilical cord, and a naked stigma. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character.— Calyx tabular, plaited, persistent, Corulla monopetaloos or 

 5-petalous, regular. Stamens definite; in the munopetalous species hypogynous ! inthepoly- 

 petalous arising from the petals ! Ovarium superior, single, 1-seeded ; oeulum inverted, pen- 

 dulous from the point of an umbilical cord, arising from the bottom of the cavity ; styles 5 ! 

 seldom 3 or 4 ; stigmas the same number. Fruit a nearly indehiscent utriculus. Seed in- 

 verted ; testa simple ; embryo straight ; radicle superior. — Herbaceous plants or under-shr-ubs, 

 variable in appearance. Leaves alternate or clustered, undivided, somewhat sheathing at the 

 base. Flowers either loosely panicled, or contracted into heads, flowering irregularly. 



Affinities. Distinguished from all other monopetalous orders by their 

 plaited calyx and solitary ovulum, suspended from the apex of a cord which 

 arises from the base of a 1-celled ovarium, with several stigmas. From Plan- 

 taginere they are otherwise chiefly known by their inflorescence not being sim- 

 ply spiked, and their albumen not fleshy. The economy of the ovulum is 

 highly curious ; before fecundation it is suspended from the apex of a cord, or 

 rather strap, which lies over the foramen or orifice through which the vivifying 

 influence of the pollen has to be introduced ; this foramen is presented to th< 

 summit of the cell immediately below the origin of the stigmas, but has no 

 communication with that part of the cell, from contact with which it is further 

 cut off by the overlying strap : but as soon as the pollen exercises its influence 

 upon the stigmas, the strap slips aside from above the foramen, which is enter- 

 ed by an extension of the apex of the cell, and thus a direct communication is 

 established between the pollen and the inside of the ovulum. This phenome- 

 non is obscurely hinted at by several writers, but was first distinctly shown me 

 by Mr. Brown, and has lately been beautifully illustrated by Mirbel Nouvelles 

 Rccherches stir tOmde, tab. 4. Nyctagineac are distinguished by their curved 

 embryo, want of petals, and coloured calyx, the base of which hardens and 

 contracts an adhesion with the pericarp, which is finally absorbed. 



Geography. Many arc inhabitants of the salt marshes and sea coasts of 

 the temperate parts of the world, particularly of the basin of the Mediterranean 

 and the southern provinces of the Russian empire ; others grow from Green- 



