226 



KEY AND FLORA 



spiked, regular and bisexual (Fig. 28). Sepals 4, persistent 

 Corolla hypogynous, salver-shaped, thin and dry ; lobes 4, 



spreading. Stamens 4, usually 

 inserted on the corolla tube ; 

 filaments thread-like ; anthers 

 large and versatile. Ovary free, 

 usually 2-4-celled ; style thread- 

 like. Fruit a 1-4-celled, 1 or 

 more seeded membranous cap- 

 sule, which splits open trans- 

 versely, the top coming off 

 like a lid. 



PLANTAGO L. 



Characteristics of the genus 

 as given above for the family. 



FIG. 28. Flowers of plantain (Plan- 

 tago lanceolata), six times natural 

 size 



A, earlier stage, pistil mature, sta- 

 mens not yet appearing outside the 

 corolla; B, later stage, pistil with- 

 ered, stamens mature 



1. P. major L. PLANTAIN. Per- 

 ennial, from a very short rootstock. 

 Leaves ovate to oval, strongly 5-9- 

 ribbed, acute or obtuse at the apex, 

 rounded at the base into a long, 

 concave petiole, entire or toothed, 

 smooth or slightly downy. Scape 

 taller than the leaves, downy, spike 

 densely flowered; bracts short, ovate. Flowers perfect. Stamens 4, 

 projecting. Capsule ovoid, about twice the length of the calyx, 5-16- 

 seeded; seeds angled and with a netted outer coat. Common in 

 dooryards.* 



2. P. Rugelii Decaisne. Leaves as in P. major, but smaller and 

 thinner. Spikes less dense, usually drawn out to a slender point. 

 Capsule 4-10-seeded ; seeds oval, the outer coat not netted. In fields, 

 woods, and waste ground. 



3. P. lanceolata L. RIB GRASS. Biennial or perennial ; soft-hairy 

 or nearly smooth. Leaves numerous, lanceolate to elliptical, acute, 

 long-petioled, strongly 3-5-ribbed, entire or toothed. Scapes much 

 longer than the leaves, striate-angled, 1-2 ft. high ; spike short and 

 dense. Bracts and sepals ovate. Corolla smooth. Capsule longer 

 than the calyx, 2-seeded. Naturalized from Europe; common in 

 meadows.* 



