298 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



hybrids, are objects of cultivation on account of the peculiarity and 

 beauty of their flowers. They especially constitute what are called 

 " American Plants" by gardeners, the American Rhododendra, Azalece, and 

 Kalmife, &c. being those which first strongly occupied the attention of 

 florists. Some of the East-Indian Rhododendrons are epiphytes. 



EPACKIDAOE^E are closely related to Ericaceae, but are distinguished 

 by the one-celled anthers opening by a chink ; the filaments are also 

 commonly adherent to the corolla. The Order is commonly divided into 

 two Tribes : 1. Styphelieae, with one ovule in each cell of the ovary, and 

 fleshy fruits ; and 2. Epacreee, with numerous ovules in each cell of the 

 ovary, and capsular fruit. They are peculiar to Australia, the Indian 

 archipelago, and the South-Sea Islands, occurring in great abundance, in 

 the same way as the Ericece do at the Cape of Good Hope. They do not 

 appear to possess any active properties : many of them bear succulent 

 berries ; and some of them are eaten, as those of Lissanthe sapida, Astro- 

 loma humifusum, the Tasmaniau Cranberry, &c. Many of the Epacri- 

 daceae are in cultivation on account of the beauty of their flowers. 



PLANTAGINACE^E are chiefly herbs with undeveloped stems and 

 tufts of leaves spreading more or less on the ground ; flowers spiked, 

 regular, 4-merous, the 4 stamens attached to the tube of the hypogynous 

 dry and membranous sympetalous corolla, alternating with its lobes ; 

 the filaments long and slender, and the anthers versatile ; ovary simple, 

 but spuriously 2- or 4- celled by temporary adherence of the angles of 

 the free central placenta to the walls ; ovules 1, 2, or numerous, peltate ; 

 style and stigma simple, the latter rarely cleft ; capsule membranous, 

 dehiscence circumscissile ; seeds 1, 2, or many, perispermic ; the testa 

 mucilaginous. Illustrative Genera : LfttoreHa, L. ; Plantago, L. 



Affinities, &o. This Order appears to find its nearest relatives in Pluin- 

 baginaceee and Primulaceas, from which, however, the position of the 

 stamens, alternating with the lobes of the corolla, distinguishes it, in 

 addition to other characters noticed under those Orders. The affinity 

 to Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae does not appear well made 

 out. Baron von Mueller suggests an affinity with Loganiads. In Lit- 

 toretta there is a tendency to abortion in one or other set of essential 

 organs. 



Distribution. A not very extensive group, the species of which are 

 generally diffused, but most abundant in temperate climates. 



Qualities and Uses. The foliage is slightly bitter and astringent. The 

 seeds of many species ofPlantago, such as P. Psyllium^arenaria^ Cynops,fcc., 

 were much used formerly on the Continent, under the name of Semen 

 Psyllii and S. Pulicariae, or Flea-seed, for making mucilaginous drinks like 

 those prepared from linseed. The seeds called Ispaghulse are the product of 

 Plantayo decumbens j the spikes of the fruit of P. major are much gathered 

 in the green state under the name of Plantain, for feeding caged birds. 

 P. major, minor, and lanceolata, called Plantains or Road-weeds, are 

 among the commonest of our weeds on road-sides, in meadows, and all 

 undisturbed ground where the soil is not very light. They are sometimes 

 grown for sheep food. 



