2OO 



FLOWERS OF THE SEA-COAST 



smooth scape, sometimes hairy. The anthers are yellow, on long 

 anther-stalks. The 4 sepals are not winged, the tube of the corolla 

 is downy, the placenta 2-winged, and the seeds are single in each 

 cell, the capsule being 2-celled. 



The plant is 6 in. to i ft. high. The flowers bloom in July, open- 

 ing in fine weather closing when it is wet, and the plant is perennial, 

 propagated by seeds. 



The flowers are complete, homomorphous, the tube of the corolla 

 downy, to catch pollen, and the stamens are long and thin, pale yellow, 



Photo. Messrs, Flatters & Garnett. 



SEA PLANTAIN (Plantago maritima, L. ) 



sensitive, easily shaken by wind. In Plant ago lanceolata the flower is 

 proterogynous, the stigmas maturing first, and the plant is gynodicecious, 

 with female and complete flowers on different plants, while P. media 

 is intermediate between them, being pollinated by the wind and also 

 by insects, and less proterogynous, being dimorphic, with two forms 

 of flower. Some of the species are cleistogamic with closed flowers. 

 This one is pollinated by the wind. The style has two lines of hairs. 

 The stigma is feathery. The anther cavity is small, and pollen is only 

 dispersed if the stamens are violently shaken. The anthers open 

 above. The pollen is a dry dust and is moistened by bees. 



The capsule when ripe splits across, and sets free the large seeds, 

 which fall around the plant, and being winged they may be blown some 

 little distance by the wind. 



