TLANTAGINACEAB 177 



ers, which varies from 2 to 12 or 15 inches in length). Brads lanceolate, keeled, 

 appressed, shorter than the calyx. Stamens twice the length of the corolla. 

 JIab. Moist grounds; along foot-paths, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr.Aug. 

 Obs. A naturalized foreigner, remarkable for accompanying 

 civilized man; growing along his footpaths, and flourishing around 

 his settlements. The leaves are a convenient and popular dressing 

 for blisters, and other sores ; a fact which seems to have been known 

 in the time of SIIAKSPEARE, as we may learn from his Romeo and 

 Juliet, Act 1. Sc. 2. 



"Rfm. Your Plantain Ifnf is excellent for that. 

 lien. For what, I pray thee ? 

 Rom. For your broken shin.'' 



The Plantain leaf continued in vogue, for that purpose, from the 

 Elizabethan age down to our own times, when a substitute vfus fur- 

 nished by the officious Empirics who undertook to reform and regu- 

 late our national Currency ! 



f f Capsule 2- f ceded. 



. P. lanceolata, L. Leaves lanceolate ; scape snicate-angled, long 

 and slender; spike short, ovoid-cylindric, dense-flowered. 

 LANCEOLATE PLANTAGO. English Plantain. Buckhorn Plantain. 



Perennial. Leaves 4 to 8 or 10 inches long, about 5-ribbed, hairy, narrowed 

 gradually at base to & petiole 2 to 5 or 6 inches in length. Scapes several, 1 to 2 

 feet high ; spike of flowers 1 to 2 inches long, at first ovoid-oblong, finally nearly 

 cylindric. Bracts ovate, acuminate, the slender point finally reflexed. Calyx 

 apparently of 3 sepals, two being united into one. Stamens several times longer 

 than the corolla ; anthers greenish-white. Xeeds oblong, convex on one side, con- 

 cave on the other, shining, brown or amber-colored. 

 JIab. Pastures, &c. Nat. of Europe. FL May. Fr. July. 



Obs. This species, also, is extensively naturalized, and more 

 abundant than welcome, in our upland meadows and pastures. Al- 

 though eaten by Stock, generally, it is much disliked by the farm- 

 ers: yet, I apprehend, it will be found a very difficult plant to get 

 rid of, where once fully introduced. 



3. P. Virginica, L. Hoary -pubescent; leaves obovate-oblong, 

 on short margined petioles ; spike cylindric ; flowers rather distant. 

 VIRGINIAN PLANTAGO. 



Anniutl f Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, 3- to 5-ribbed ; petioles 1 to 2 inches in length. 

 Scajtes 4 to 6 or 8 inches high, very hairy ; Kptte at first short, finally elongated to 

 2, 3, or 4 inches. Bracts lanceolate, about a long as the calyx. Corolla yellowish, 

 in fruit the lobes involute, converging into a sort of beak. Stamens rather longer 

 than the corolla; anthers mostly large. Capsule ovoid. 

 JIab. Sterile, stony old fields : frequent. Fl. May. Fr. August. 



ORDER LVIII. PRIMULACEAE. 



Htrbt; Itavet simple, often verticillntc. or opposite, without stiputeg; flowers regu - 

 lar, perfect; culyx mostly free from the imtry; stamens as many as thefofe* of the 

 corolla, and inserted opposite them on the tube; capsule 1-celled, opening by 

 talves, or circumscissed ; seals several, with fleshy albumen. 



TRIBE J. PRIMULFAE. 



Capsule opening by taleet; tienu leafy ; corolla rotat*. 



