238 PLANTAGINACE^. 



also specimens of this plant from the Wensleydale hills, where 

 a sea breeze can hardly ever reach them. These plants have 

 five stamens and five styles ; the corolla is deeply cloven, the 

 calyces are funnel-shaped. 



There is a Plantain-leaved Thrift (S. plantagmea), peculiar 

 to Jersey, but I have not got a specimen. 



The Sea Lavender (S. limonium, Plate XIV., fig. 9), grows 

 in abundance on salt marshes near Clevedon, bending its 

 panicles before the tide twice in the day. The leaves are 

 broadly lance-shaped and fleshy, and the flowers resemble those 

 of our garden Lavender. They partake of the nature of the 

 everlasting, for you may keep the clusters many months 

 without their materially changing either form or colour. 



The Upright- spiked and the Matted Sea Lavender were sent 

 to me from the coast of Norfolk ; their distinctive peculiarities 

 are indicated in their names. 



The Plantain tribe is next in succession. Its two families 

 are the Plantain and the Shoreweed. 



The Plantain family has four stamens and one style, and the 

 corolla is divided into four segments, which are turned back. 

 The flowers are arranged in dense spikes. 



The Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima), has thick thread- 

 shaped simple leaves, and tall narrow spikes ; it abounds on 

 the cliffs about Looe. 



The Buck's-horn Plantain (P. coronopus), grows in similar 

 situations ; its leaf is toothed or pinnate, and downy. 



The Greater Plantain (P. major), is common on roadsides 

 and waste ground ; its large, broad, ribbed leaves are familiar 

 everywhere. Its chief use is for bird seed. 



The Hoary Plantain (P. media), has the most claim to beauty; 

 its oval spike of pink flowers is both pretty and fragrant. Its 

 leaves are ovate and downy. 



The Ribwort Plantain (P. lanceolata), or Rib-grass, forms 

 good food for sheep. Its leaves are narrow, and its stamens 

 black. "We used to call the spikes " Jack-straws," and many 



