35 



tough and lasting that it is tho emblem of duration. . It blossoms 

 in the spring, bearing bunches, (cymes,) of white, star-like 

 flowers, at the end of the various branches. The leaves are 

 opposite, ovate, green on both sides, until the autumn turns 

 them to a full scarlet, like that of the ripening berries, and even 

 the bark of the younger branches is red also. Its wood was 

 once used for spear handles ; now its chief use is for butcher's 

 skewers. 

 O. S. Dwarf Cornel, a little plant found on Alpine pasture?. 



PLANTAIN. PLANTAGO. 

 GREATER PLANTAIN. Plantayo major. 



Plate 2, fig. 2. 



Leaves ovate, toothed, stalked, Fl." in spikes, six inches long. 

 On road-sides and in pastures. Known at once by its very 

 long and close spike of flowers, and its capsules being many 

 seeded. The leaves are generally smooth, sometimes with long 

 stalks, sometimes without often toothed, at other times entire. 

 They all rise from the root, and have seven deep ribs upon them. 

 The spikes are gathered in bundles, and hung up as winter food 

 for the canary birds and goldfinches, which are very fond of the 



HOARY PLANTAIN. Plantago minor. 



Plate 2, fig. 3. 



Leaves broad, ovate, entire, hairy. Spike round, two inches long. 

 This is a great plague to the farmers, whole fields being some- 

 times covered with it, particularly in the South of England. 

 The leaves are shorter, less stalked, more entire on the edge 

 than in the last species, and downy. The spike of flowers, 

 which has a silvery or hoary look, is also much shorter, and 

 the capsule bears but two seeds, instead of many. 



RIBWORT PLANTAIN. Plantago lanceolata. 



'Plate 2. fig. 4. 



Leaves lanceolate, pointed, entire. Spike half an inch long. 



But too abundant in pastures. Known from the rest of the 



genus by the shape of the leaves, very short spikes, and bitten 



