LESSONS IN BOTANY. 



::77 



The Plantayineumn are not baniahed from any climate, though 

 they especially inhabit the temperate regions of the northern 

 hemisphere, principally the Mediterranean region and 

 Aim-nca. Only few species grow in the low countries of the 



. although not unfre<{uent upon the mountains, 

 root and leaves of the plantains are slightly bit- 

 -.lit, occasionally a little Raline. The long-spiked plantain 

 "jo major), of which a representation is given in Fig. 202, 



seed dicotyledonous; embryo straight, in a fariasweoas ilhniMs* 

 radicle superior. 



The I'UmlHvjinacea are herbs or shrubs, having leave* which 

 are radical, fasciculated, or alternate, cauline, and ex-stipulate. 

 The flowers are complete, disposed in spike, or panicle, or dens* 

 involucrum. Calyx monosepalons, tubular, arranged in Sv* 

 folds, or else five-partite, persistent. The corolla is eompo*ed of 

 five petals, sometimes free, or nearly free, occasionally aggre 



197. GILL'S SELAOO (BELAOO GILUl). 19ft WILD SEWIA (GLOBULAR1A ALTPDM). 199. 8PEIO OF OTBICULAB1A. 200. LEAF OF CTBICTIABL* 



(MAGNIFIED). 201. VESICLE OF UTBICULAKIA (MAOMIFIED) 202. LOXO-SPIXED PLAITTAIH (PLAWTAOO MAJOB). 203. IXBUCATKD SKA 

 LAVENDEB (STATICE IMBRICATA). 204. FLOWEB OF 8TAT1CE IMBRICATA. 



gated, contorted, or imbricated in estivation. The fire stamen* 

 are opposite to the petals ; ovary with five carpels, joined by 

 their edges into one single cell ; ovnle wflexed. pendent from 

 a funiculus, or slender thread, springing from the lower part 

 of the cell; style divided into five stigmas; fruit sometime* 

 dividing into five valves at its summit, sometimes opening at 

 its base. 



A representation of the Statiee imbnfala, a native of Tene- 

 riffe, is given in Fig. 203. The little plant called thrift, fre- 

 quently used as an edging instead of box, is a member of this 

 natural order- 



and other species, were formerly remedies of great repute in I 

 the treatment of intermittent fever, but they have now fallen 

 into disuse. The stag-homed plantain (Plcmtago Coronopus) was 

 formerly employed by the ancients as a remedy for hydrophobia, 

 but it is only now used in certain parts of Europe as a salad. 



SECTION LV. PLUMBAGINACEJ2, OB LEADWOBTS. 

 Characteristics : Calyx free ; corolla hypogynous, monopetalons, 

 or polypetalous ; stamens inserted upon the receptacle of the 

 monopetalons species, and upon the petals of those which are poly- 

 petalous ; ovary unilocular, styles five ; ovule solitary, pendent ; 



