36 



off, or abrupt root. The ribs or thick veins on the leaves, five 

 in number, caused the name of Ribwort to be given to it. The 

 capsule is two-seeded, as in the last species. 



BUCK'S-HORN PLANTAIN. Plantago coronopus* 



Plate 2, Jig. 5. 

 Leaves deeply cut and branched. Spikes short and hairy. 



This plant, which loves dry, chalky, and gravelly places, 

 varies very much in the size and shape of the leaves ; but they 

 are always deeply cut and mostly hairy. The spike of flowers 

 is also hairy, and the capsule four-seeded. 



The only other species is Sea-side Plantain, which has strap-shaped 

 leaves, and is not uncommon on the sea shore. 



PELLITORY. PARIETARIA. 

 PELLITORY-OF-THE-WALL. Parietaria ojficinalis. 



Plate 2, fiy. 6. 



This plant, of little beauty or apparent worth, is found, as 

 its name implies, on wails and old buildings. The leaves are 

 ovate, pointed, and alternate, and from the base of each arises 

 a little leafy branch, upon which at different short distances are 

 bunches of small pink flowers, seven of them in a bunch. The 

 stamens are elastic, very curious, and well worth attention ; 

 they are jointed, and until the pollen is ripe they bend back 

 close to the petals, but as soon as the sun shines upon them 

 hotly, the stamens fly upwards, and the pollen, or fine yellow 

 dust that they have in their ends, or anthers, is scattered all 

 over the bunch of flowers it belongs to. This may easily be 

 seen on a bright summer's afternoon by shaking the plant a 

 little, or touching the stamens with a pin. 



HOLLY. ILEX. 



COMMON HOLLY. Ilex aquifolia. 



Plate 2, fig. 7. 



How often do children turn with dislike from the Holly, 

 because of its rough and thorny leaves, not knowing that it has 

 virtues and beauties which ought to make them look at it always 

 with pleasure. It affords a comfortable shelter to the poor 



