ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 223 



I 



generally dissent. As regards the gen\x^ Plantago^ I am disposed to coincide with Don and 

 Lindley, in considering it more nearly allied to Primulacece than to any other, by its agreeing 

 in so many points with the ovary and seed of that order. Endlicher and others consider 

 it more nearly alhed to PlumbagineacecE^ on account of the texture of the corolla, but it wants 

 one essential characteristic of both these orders ; the stamens are alternate not opposite the seg- 

 ments of the corolla, as in Plumbagineacece and Primulacece^ while as regards the structure of 

 the ovary and seed it is most distinct from the former but nearly agrees with the latter, so that 

 in place of being, as stated by Endlicher, far removed from PrimulacecB it only differs in the 

 position of the stamens. And the value of even that solitary distinction seems weakened by the 

 singular fact, noticed by Mr. Brown, that in most of the species the divisions of the tube 

 caused by the swelling of the fruit are alternate with those of the limb, which seems to imply 

 that the true lobes are split down the middle and the apparent ones each made up of 2 halves, 

 in which case the stamens are actually opposite the lobes, as in Primulacece, If this view of 

 its structure can be established, it will follow that its true station is next that order, with which 

 it further agrees in habit and scapoid inflorescence. 



Lindley, following Endlicher, assigns, without a doubt or qualification, in the character of the 

 order, a 2-celled ovary composed of a single carpel, the cells being caused by the angles of the 

 central free placenta abutting against the sides. I have endeavoured to make out this structure, 

 but not successfully. The ovary is 2-celled and, as it appears to me, the partition is formed in 

 the usual way by the introflexed margins of 2 carpels meeting in the axis and there forming 



the placenta. In this I may be wrong as the parts are very minute, requiring both skill and 



delicacy in the dissection, but such is the appearance they present to me. It results, if my 

 dissections are correct, that the opinions of Endlicher and Lindley, as to the ovary being 

 composed of a single carpel, must be wrong, and so must my view of its affinities. Analogy is in 

 favour of their opinion, so far as the freedom of the placenta is concerned, but not, I think, as 

 regards the solitary carpel. With this remark I leave the question to be decided by those more 

 skilled in minute anatomy than I am but, on the supposition that it is dicarpellary, place the 

 order between LahiatcE and PlumhaginecB^ as being its nearest relations. 



Geographical Distribution. Generally speaking, this is an extra tropical order, for, 

 though met with in the tropics, the species that occur within that zone, are nearly confined to 

 alpine stations where they enjoy a temperate climate. I have only recognized one species on 

 the Neilgherries, but there may possibly be others which I have overlooked. The one here 

 figured is very common on these Hills ; less so, if indeed it be really the same species, of 

 which 1 have some doubts, on the Pulney Mountains. Three or four have been found on the 

 Himalayas, but probably, if carefully sought for, more would be found. From Scinde, as 

 already mentioned, I have received three or four species. 



PaopERTiES AND tJsEs. Thcse are not important, slight bitterness and astringency are 

 found in the herbaceous parts of the plant, which have led to their employment in Europe in 

 domestic medicine. And one species, Plantago Ispagkula, is cultivated in some parts of India, 

 for the sake of the seeds, from which a mucilaginous emollient drink is prepared and prescribed, 

 hy both European and Native practitioners, in cases of cough, ardor urina;, and other affections 



requiring emollients. 



EXPLANATION 



1. Plantagi 

 size. 



7. Ovary, cut transversely. 8. Vertically, 



9. Full-grown capsule. 



10. Cut vertically to show the placenta and partition 



11. Capsule after dehiscence. 12. A seed. 



2. An expanded flower with its bractea. 



3. Corolla detached. „ . , 



4. Split open, showing the attachment of the stamens. 13. Cut transversely. _ 



5. Anthers, back and front views. 14. Longitudinally showing the embryo in s,tu 



6. Calyx and ovary. 15. Embryo detached. 16. Capsule dehiscing. 



