PLANTAOINACF..^. (pi.ANTAIN FAMILY.) 277 



1. M. Ploridana, A. DC. Smooth; leaves obovate-oblong, entire, on 

 short ])Ctiolcs ; clusters fcw-flowcred ; lobes of the calyx and corolla 5 ; drupes 

 small, longer than the pedicels. — Soutli Florida. — Leaves 2' -3' long. Drupes 

 1" in diameter. 



2. ARDISIA, Swartz. 



Flowers perfect. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-cleft, convolute in the bud. 

 Stamens 5 ; the anthers mostly longer than the filaments, opening from the 

 apex downward. Ovary 1 -celled, many-ovuled. Style slender: stigma acute. 

 Drupe globular, 1-seeded — Leaves coriaceous. Flowers in terminal racemes 

 or panicles. 



1. A. Piekeringia, Torn •& Gray. Smooth; leaves oblong-obovatc, ob- 

 tuse, entire, narrowed into a short petiole, pale beneath ; panicles terminal, short; 

 corolla dotted with minute black globules. — South Florida. July. — Leaves 2' 

 long. Drupe 1^" in diameter, shorter than the pedicel. 



Order 85. PLAXTAGINACE^. (Plantain Family.) 



Chiefly stemless herbs, with radical mostly ribbed leaves, and small 

 whitish spiked or capitate flowers, borne on a naked scape. — Calyx 

 of 4 imbricated sepals, with scarious margins. Corolla salver-shaped, 

 4-parted, withering. Stamens 2-4, included or exserted, inserted on 

 the tube of the corolla, and alternate with its lobes : anthers 2-celled, 

 deciduous. Style slender. Ovary free, 2-4-celled. Capsule 2-celled, 

 few - many-seeded, opening transversely. Seeds attached to the de- 

 ciduous partition. Embryo straight in fleshy albumen. 



1. PLANTAGO, L. Plantain. 



Characters same as the order. 



* Flower perfect. 



1. P. major, L. Leaves ovate or oval, smooth or pubescent, 5-7-ribbcd, 

 mostly toothed, narrowed into a broad concave petiole ; scape pubescent ; spike 

 long-cylindrical, densely many -flowered ; bracts ovate ; capsule many-seeded. — 

 Low ground around dwellings. Introduced. May -Aug. — Scape 6'- 12' high. 

 Leaves 4'- 6' long. 



2. P. cordata, Lam. Smooth ; leaves broadly ovate or cordate, toothed, 

 7 - 9-ribbed, on long flat petioles ; spike long-cylindrical, rather loosely flowered ; 

 bracts roundish ; capsule 2-4-seeded. — Low ground, in the upper districts of 

 Georgia, Tennessee, and northward. April -June. H. — Scape 1° high. Leaves 

 3' -8' long. 



3. P. Rugelii, Decaisne. Leaves smooth or pubescent, oblong, entire or 

 obscurely denticulate, 3 - 5-ribbed ; spike cylindrical, rather loosely flowered ; 

 bracts acute, shorter than the smooth calyx ; capsule coni'-a1, 4-seeded. — Hills 

 near Decatur, Alabama. Riii/cl. — Plant small. Scape slender. 



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