524 PLANTAGINACE^E. 



the summit of the flower-stalk is cased in a brown mem- 

 branous sheath, and the flowers are intermixed with 

 chaffy bracts, or scales ; the fruit is almost winged by 

 the dry, chaffy calyx. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



2. STATIC^ (Sea Lavender). 



1. S. Limonium (Sea Lavender). Leaves oblong 1- 

 ribbed, tipped with a point ; flower-stalk from the root, 

 leafless, branched near the summit into many spreading 

 tufts. Muddy sea coast, not unfrequent. Very different 

 from the last, having broad leaves and angular flower- 

 stalks, which are branched at the summit into several 

 spike-like clusters of thin, scentless flowers. Fl. July, 

 August. Perennial. 



* 8. spathuldta or binervosa (Spathulate Sea-Lavender) 

 is not uncommon on the rocky sea coast ; it is distin- 

 guished by its leaves being oblong near the base and wider 

 above (spathulate), and by its flower-stalks being branched 

 below the middle into several erect tufts of blue flowers : 

 S. reticuldta or Caspia (Matted Sea-Lavender) occurs only 

 in the salt marshes of Norfolk ; the flower-stalks are 

 divided almost from the base into numerous zigzag 

 branches, of which the lower are barren. 



ORD. LXYII. PLANTAGINACE^:. PLANTAIN 

 TRIBE. 



Calyx 4-parted ; corolla 4-parted, ehafly, not falling 

 off ; stamens 4, alternate with the segments of the corolla, 

 and having very long, thread-like filaments, and lightly- 

 attached anthers ; ovary 2- rarely 4-celled ; style 1 ; 

 stigma hairy ; capsule splitting transversely ; seeds 1, 2, 

 or many in each cell. Herbaceous plants of humble 

 growth, with many ribbed or fleshy leaves spreading 

 horizontally from the root. The flowers, which are 

 made conspicuous by their long stamens, grow in spikes. 

 Several species are common in great Britain as wayside, 

 meadow, and marine plants, and many are found in 

 almost all parts of the world. The leaves are slightly 



