LXXXV. PLUMBAGINACEZ. 389. 
% Can. to Ga. Common in pastures and grass-lands. Easily known by its 
longer leaves tapering at the base into a broad stalk, and with from 3 to5 
strong ribs; by its shorter spike (1—2’ long), with dark colored _calyxes and 
whitish, projecting stamens, and its slender, upright stalk (8—15’ long) with 
prominent angles. Flowering from May to Oct. Itis freely eaten by cattle. 
4, P.mepia. Hoary Plantain. 
Lvs, ovate, pubescent; spike short, cylindric; scape round; sds. solitary: in 
each cell of the pyxis.—2| Grows in pastures and roadsides, N. Y. and Penn., 
flowering all summer. It has broad, flat leaves 2’ long, covered with a hoary 
down, and with short footstalks. Spikes shorter than those of P. major, being 
1—3’ long and about half a foot high. Flowers white, with pink filaments an 
yellow anthers. 
5. P. Virernica. Virginian or Lesser Plantain. 
Lvs. obovate-lanceolate, hoary-pubescent, subdenticulate ; scape angular; 
spike cylindric, pubescent, with flowers somewhat remote.—A biennial species, 
on sandy or stony hills in the southern parts of N. England and N. Y. to La., 
much smaller than the preceding. The whole plant is covered with a soft, gray 
pubescence. Scape 4—8! high, very hairy. Leaves 2—3/ long, narrowed at 
base into the petiole, obtuse at the end. Corolla yellowish, with very acute seg- 
ments including the stamens. Jl. 
6. P. cucunuata. Lam. (P. maxima. Jacg.) Hood-leaved Plantain. 
Ivs. ovate, slightly denticulate, 9-veined, cucullate at base, contracted into 
a long petiole ; scape terete ; spzke cylindrical, short, dense-flowered ; sta. exserted. 
—In wet, rocky situations, Me., Pursh. aon 1—3f high, with a spike 2—3/ 
in length. Leaves large, conspicuously rolled in or hooded at base-—A doubt- 
ful native of this country. 
7. P. cuaBra. Nutt. Smooth Plantain. 
Iws. glabrous, ovate, denticulate ; scape slender, somewhat compressed, 
nearly as long as the leaves; fs. scattered; bracts ovate, acuminate.—In arid 
paces, Ohio, Frank., Mo., Nuttall. 
8. P. cnapHauidipes. Nutt. (P. lagopus. Ph. not of Linn.) 
Whole plant clothed with a long silky wool; lvs. linear-lanceolate, entire, 
very acute; spike long, cylindric and dense-flowered; sta. included; caps. 2- 
celled, 2-seeded.— Ark. 
B. Nutt. y aristata. Michz.) Bracts very long and spinulose.—Prairies and 
roadsides, Ill., Mead. 
* x Leaves linear. 
9. P. Maririma. (P. pauciflora. Ph.) 
Lvs. linear, channeled, nearly entire, woolly at base; spike cylindrical, 
close ; scape round.—Grows in salt marshes along the coast, Me.to N.J. It has 
a large, perennial root sending up a scape varying in height from 3! to a foot, 
and numerous, very fleshy, dark green, linear leaves deeply grooved on the 
inside, and 6—10’ long. Spike slender, of numerous, sub-imbricate, whitish 
flowers. Aug. \ 
10. P. pusttua. Nutt. ; 
Minutely pubescent ; Jvs. linear-subulate, flat, entire, somewhat fleshy ; 
scape terete, slender, longer than the leaves; spike interrupted, subcylindrical, 
loose-flowered below ; dracts ovate, acute, as long as the calyx.—@ A diminu- 
tive species, low grounds, Penn. Leaves crowded, about 1’ long the scape 2—3’, 
spicate 3 its length. 
Orver LXXXV. PLUMBAGINACE A%—Leapworts. 
Plants herbaceous or suffruticose, variable in appearance. 
Lvs. undivided, alternate, or sometimes all radical and the flowers on a scape. 
Cal. tubular; 5-toothed, plaited, persistent. 
Cor. regular, hypocrateriform, of 5 petals united at base or sometimes almost distinct. 
Sta. 5, hypogynous and opposite the petals or inserted on their claws. 
Ova. 1-celled, free from the calyx. Styles 5 (seldom 8 or 4). 
Fr. an utricle, or dehiscent by valves. Seed inverted. 
Genera 8, species 160, mostly seaside or salt marsh plants, found in all latitudes. 
