Dicotyledones. 109 



inches long, the diameter of the corolla about equaling the tube. Capsule longer 

 than or equaling the calyx. In rich soil or dry woods. 



2. Ruellia ciliosa, Pursh. (L., cilium, an eye-lash.) HAIRY RUELLIA. 

 Rather stout, i to 2| feet high, beset with soft, whitish hairs. Leaves oval or ovate- 

 oblong, sessile or short-petioled. Flowers solitary or clustered in the axils. 

 Corolla blue to violet-purple, its tube i to 2 inches long. Capsule shorter than 

 the calyx. In dry soil. 



II. DIANTHERA. Water Willow. 



(Gr., dis, double; anther a, anther, alluding to the separated anther cells.) 



Mostly perennial herbs, growing in wet places. Leaves opposite 

 and entire. Flowers very irregular, purplish, in axillary, peduncled 

 spikes or heads. Calyx 5-parted ; corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip erect, 

 concave, 2-toothed ; lower lip spreading and 3-cleft. Stamens 2, 

 inserted on the throat of the corolla. Each cavity of the ovary 

 containing 2 ovules. 



i. Dianthera Americana, L. DENSE-FLOWERED WATER WILLOW. Erect, 

 smooth perennial, i to 2 feet high, with lanceolate or linear-lanceolate leaves. 

 Flowers violet to nearly white, in short, long-peduncled spikes. Tube of the 

 corolla shorter than the lips. In water and wet places. 



PLANTAGINACE^J. PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



Chiefly acaulescent or short-stemmed annuals or perennials. Leaves 

 mainly basal, with prominent parallel ribs. Flowers chiefly in spikes 

 or heads on long scapes. Calyx 4-parted. Corolla 4-lobed, membra- 

 naceous. Stamens mostly 4, inserted on the tube of the corolla and 

 alternate with its lobes. Ovary superior, i-2-celled, or falsely 3-4- 

 celled, with i -several ovules in each cavity. 



I. PLANTAGO. Plantain. 



(The Latin name.) 



Short-stemmed or acaulescent herbs, with mostly prominently ribbed 

 leaves and greenish or purplish flowers in spikes on slender scapes. 

 Calyx of 4 membranous-margined sepals, persistent. Corolla salver- 

 form or rotate, 4-parted, withering on the pod. Stamens mostly 4, 

 sometimes 2, exserted. Ovary generally 2-celled, with I or more 

 ovules in each cell. Capsule with circumscissile clehiscence. 



i. Plantago major, L. (L., major, larger.) COMMON or GREATER PLAN- 

 TAIN. Perennial. Scapes sometimes becoming 2 feet tall, longer than the leaves. 

 Spikes dense, linear-cylindric. Withered corolla not closing over the capsule in 

 fruit. Leaves on long petioles, mostly ovate, with 3 to n ribs, which remain free 



