PLANTAGINEiE. (PLANTAIN FAMILY.) 



667 



Order LXXX. PL,AI«TAOIWEiE. (Plantain Family.) 



Herbs, sometimes with sJirxibhy hase, and regular, 4- 

 merous, sjnked flowers (rarely dioecious), the calyx persis- 

 tent, and corolla scarious, fugacious ; the 4 stamens inserted 

 on the tuhe of the corolla, alternate with its lobes, the filaments 

 filiform, flaccid, indujplicate in the hud, the anthers %celled, 

 versatile ; the ovary free, l-4rcelled, 1-S-ovuled ; the style 

 filiform, erect, stigmatose on two lines along its length — The 

 ovules peltate, inserted on central placentse, adnate to 

 septa, or in 1-ovuIed cells by a basilar placenta. Fruit a capsule 

 or nutlet. Seeds with horny albumen. Embryo straight, in 

 the centre of the albumen. 



Fm. 312. 



1) a 



(a) Spike of Plantago major, (ft) Capsule, opening by a lid, which is crowned by the 

 fugacious corolla, (c) A complete flower, with calyx, 4-lobed corolla, 4 stamens alternating 

 with its lobes, and style rising between, (d) Capsule and style. 



PL.A1VTAGO, L. Plantain. Duweinat-el-Jidi. 



Flowers spiked or capitate, each sessile, subtended by a bract. 

 Calyx-lobes similar or unequal, the anterior pair sometimes united. Co- 

 rolla tubular, limb at length rellexed. Capsule a membranous pyxis, with 

 a free, 24-wiuged placenta, which divides it into 2-4 false cells — 

 Herbs or shrubby plants with alternate or opposite leaves. 

 * Stemless 'planU with leaves all radical, or caulescent mith altci'nate leaves. 

 t Capsule loitli tico, i-^-seeded cells. Seeds angled. Perennials. 



1 P. major. 



1 1 Capsule d-ceU'ed, cells 1-seeded, or rarely l-celled, 1-2-seed^d. Inner face 

 of seed grooved oi' loat-sTiaped. 



