CI.ASS iv. ORDER i.J PLANTAGO. 193 



English Botany, t. 1558. English Flora, vol. i. p. 213. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 169. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 70. 



Root of numerous long, stout fibres. Leaves numerous, radical, 

 broadly ovate, the margin toothed or waved, mostly smooth, large, with 

 from seven to nine prominent parallel ribs, united at the base into a 

 footstalk, mostly as long and frequently longer than the leaf. Inflores- 

 cence a long, cylindrical spike of very numerous flowers, closely imbri- 

 cated in the upper part, somewhat distant in the lower, supported on a 

 rather long, round, naked stalk. Florets small, each having at its base 

 a small, concave, lanceolate bractea. Calyx of four acute, membra- 

 nous, keeled segments, united at the base. Corolla of one piece, with 

 four reflexed, dry, thin segments. Capsules small, oval, acute, mem- 

 branous, each cell containing from six to eight small seeds. 



The variety (Fig. 245.) called by Ray the " Besome Plantain, or 

 Plantain with spoky tufts," has been noticed since the year 1632, when 

 it was found by Dr. Johnson in the Isle of Thanet, and has since been 

 occasionally observed in various parts of the country. The peculiarity 

 of their form is owing to the bracteas becoming foliaceous, which beau- 

 tifully shews that bracteae are only diminutive forms of leaves. Ano- 

 ther variety is sometimes found, called the " Rose Plantain," on account 

 of the bracteas forming whorls at the end of the scape, and expanding 

 so as to bear some resemblance to a Rose. 



Habitat. Pastures and road-sides ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering during the summer months. 



This species was formerly supposed to possess rare medicinal proper- 

 ties, but these arc now almost forgotten. The seeds are a favourite 

 food of small birds. The common name of way-bred is not inapplicable 

 to this plant, from its seeming to prefer way-sides for its situation of 

 growth. We are also informed by Buraet that it has "a peculiar ten- 

 dency to follow the migration of man, as if domesticated or sympathe- 

 ticall yattached to the human race. Thus, although not purposely con- 

 veyed, it has followed our colonists to every part of the world, and, 

 amougst the natives in some of our settlements, has been emphatically 

 named the " Englishman's Foot ;" for, with a strange degree of cer- 

 tainty, wherever it is found, there our countrymen have trod. 



2. P. me'dia, Linn. (Fig. 246.) hoary Plantain. Leaves downy, 

 sessile, or tapering into short, broad footstalks ; spike cylindrical ; 

 cells of the capsule single-seeded. 



English Botany, t. 1559. English Flora, vol. J. p. 214. Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 169. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 70. 



Hoot large and woody. Leaves spreading, pressed close to the ground, 

 ovate-acute, entire or slightly toothed, with about six ribs, and more 

 or less clothed with a soft pubescence, sessile, or on a short, broad foot- 

 stalk. Inflorescence similar to the last j the scape mostly long, slender, 



VOL, i. 



2 c 



