172 



rOrULAU FLORA. 



2. ^VI^'TERBERRY H. OF Black Alder. Leaves thin and deciduous, serrate, veiny, obovate or ob- 

 long; peduncles verj' short; parts of the blossom often in sixes; fruit red. Shrub: low crounds. 

 This belongs to the section Priiios. I. vcrticillala. 



55. EBONY FAMILY. Order EBENACEiE. 

 Of this small family, we have only one species, a tree, which deserves notice, viz. 



Persimmon. Diospyros. 



423 



422 425 424 



422. Ferule flower. 423. Corolla and stamens of the same, laid open. 

 4^4, Fruit. 425. Section of the same. 



Tree with alternate thickish leaves; 

 in their axils some trees bear clustered 

 staminate flowers, with a 4-cIeft corolla 

 and about 16 stamens; others single and 

 larger perfect flowers, with a 4-lobed 

 corolla and 8 stamens. Calyx 4-cleft, 

 rather large, thickish. Corolla pale yel- 

 low. Pistil one, with 4 styles : the ovary 

 ripening into a plnm-like fruit, which is 

 very astringent when green, but sweet 

 and j^ellow and eatable after frosts, con- 

 taining 8 large and bony flat seeds. 



D. Virffiniana. 



56. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order PLANTAGINACE^. 



Consists mainly of the genus of low stemless herbs called 



Plantain (or Rib-Grass). Plantago. 

 Flowers greenish, on a scape, in a close spike. — Calyx of 4 persistent sepals. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, thin, withering on the pod, 4-lobed. Stamens 4, generally with very long 

 and weak filaments, borne on the corolla. Style and stigma one, slender. Pod 2-celled, 

 opening crosswise, the top falling oft' as a lid, the loose partition falling out with the 

 seeds. Leaves generally with strong ribs. 



1. Common Plantain. Leaves ovate or 



slightly heart-shaped, several-ribbed ; 

 seeds 7 to 16. P. major. 



2. Virginia P. Small (2' to 7' high), hairy; 



leaves oblong, 3-5-ribbed; seeds 2. 



P. Virginica. 



8. English P. or Eipple-Grass. Hairy, 

 with long lance-shaped or linear leaves, 

 and a short and thick spike or head, on 

 a scape 1° or 2° high; seeds 2. Com- 

 mon E. P. lanceolala. 



4. Seaside P. Smooth; leaves linear, thick 

 and fleshy; seeds 2. Salt marshes on the 

 coast. P. maritima. 



428 



427 



426. Young spike of common Plantain. 



til of t!ie same. 

 lid. 



429 



427 A flouer magn 



426 

 fie.l. 428 Pis. 



429. Fruit, opening by a lid, the withered corolla on the 



