PLANTAGINE^. (PLANTAIN FAMILY.) 



667 



OrdeFw LXXX. PLAMTAOIl^EiE. (Plantain Family.) 



Herbs, sometimes with shrubby base, and regular, 4- 

 merous, sjnhed flowers (rarely dicecious), the calyx persis- 

 tent, and corolla scar ious, fugacious ; the 4 stamens inserted 

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

 filiform, fiaccid, indujplicate in the bud, the anthers %celled, 

 versatile / the ovary free, 1-ircelled, 1-S-ovuled ; the style 

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

 ovules peltate, inserted on central placentae, adnate to 

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

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

 -the centre of the albumen. 



Fig. 312. 



d c ha 



(o) Spike of Plantago major, (i) 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. 



PliAMTA^O, 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 reflexed. Capsule a membranous pyxis, with 

 a free, 2-4-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 with alternate leaves. 

 t Capsule loith two, 4:-S-seeded cells. Seeds angled. Perennials. 



1 P. major, 

 f t Capsule ^-celled, cells l-seeded, or rarely 1-celled, 1-%-seed^' Inner face 

 of seed grooved or hoat-shaped. ^^'^ 



