396 RUBIACEAE (MADDER FAMILY) 



SANDWORT PLANTAIN 

 Plantago arenaria, W. and K. 



Other English names: Whorled Plantain, Sand- 

 wort. 



Introduced. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. 



Time of bloom: All summer. 



Seed-time: Until bloom is checked by frost. 



Range: Local in several states of the Middle 

 West. 



Habitat : Grasslands. 



This is the most lately imported member of 

 the Plantain Family, brought to this country in 

 clover seed from Central Europe. It is not yet 

 sufficiently well known to predict its character 

 as a weed, but, judging it by the qualities of 

 nearly related plants, its prompt destruction 

 wherever noticed may be strongly recommended. 



Stem six to fifteen inches tall, at first simple 

 but later diffusely branched, hairy, and some- 

 what viscid. Leaves opposite or whorled, linear, 

 entire, sessile, one to three inches long. Spikes 

 numerous, on slender axillary peduncles some- 

 what longer than the leaves ; small and bluntly 



FIG. 275. oblong. Capsule contains but one seed, which is 



Sandwort .Plantain . . , 111 i 



(Plantago arena- dark brown, canoe-shaped, and grooved on one 



ria). x J. side. (Fig. 275.) 



BLUE FIELD MADDER 



Sherdrdia arvensis, L. 



Other English names: Spurwort, Herb Sherard. 



Introduced. Annual. Propagates by seeds. 



Time of bloom : June to July. 



Seed-time: July to August. 



Range: Nova Scotia to Ontario and Michigan, southward to New 



Jersey and Ohio. 

 Habitat: Clover fields and meadows. 



An immigrant from Europe, brought to this country in impure 

 clover seed and increasing its range by the same agency. The fleshy 



