CLXXVII. NYCTAGINE^. 625 



3-4-lobed, with silky edges (Bougueria). STAMENS 4, hypogynous and alternate 

 with the corolla-lobes (Littorella), or 1-2, inserted on the middle .of the corolla- tube 

 (Bougueria). OVARY rudimentary (Littorella), or obsolete (Bougueria). ? : CALYX 

 with 3 unequal sepals (bracts ?), the anterior larger (Littorella), or of 4 sub-equal 

 hairy sepals (Bougueria). COROLLA urceolate; throat short ; limb 3-4-toothed (Litto- 

 rella) or tubular, irregularly 3-4-lobed, with silky edges (Bougueria). STAMENS 0. 

 OVARY 1-celled ; ovule solitary, campy lotropous. NUCULE bony. SEED peltate, testa 

 membranous. EMBRYO straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen (Littorella), or curved 

 round the albumen (Bougueria). 



GENERA. 



Plantago. Littorella. Bougueria. 



Plantagineee, although very different in appearance, form a very homogeneous group ; they approach 

 Plumbayinece in their inflorescence, hypogynous generally isostemonous corolla, and the stamens some- 

 times hypogynous, sometimes inserted on the corolla, as in Statice and Plumbayo, and finally in their 

 dry fruit and albuminous embryo. Plumbayinece are separated from Plantayo by their 1-celled and 1- 

 ovuled ovary, from Plantago and Littorella by their many styles, anatropous ovule pendulous from a bsisal 

 ascending funicle, and farinaceous albumen. Plantayinece are allied rather closely with Primulacece by 

 the direction of the ovules, the circumsciss capsule, the ventral hilum, and the embryo parallel to the 

 hilum, as also with Veronica ; another analogy results from the isolation of the placentiferous septum in 

 Plantago, which, although only occurring at maturity, recalls the placentation of Primulacece. 



As to the different position of the stamens, opposite to the corolla-lobes in Plantayinece and alternate 

 with them in Primulaeece, this is of no account, if it be admitted (with certain authors) that in Plantayinece 

 the scarious and persistent corolla is a calyx, and the calyx an involucel ; in this case the Plantains would 

 be apetalous, as in Glaux, and the stamens would alternate with the sepals. 



There is yet another affinity which deserves to be noticed ; it is founded on the alternation of the 

 stamens with the calyx, an alternation which exists, if we admit, with Gnsebach, that both these 

 families are apetalous, and regard the corolla of Plumbayinece as a staminal crown, ,nd that of Plantayinece 

 as a true calyx. 



Plantayinece inhabit the temperate regions of both hemispheres, but principally the northern, and 

 especially Europe and America ; they are more rare in the tropics, where they only grow on mountains. 

 Many indigenous species of Plantain (Plantayo lanceolata, tncy'or, media) are employed in medicine ; their 

 leaves are bitter and slightly astringent. An eye-water is distilled from the whole plant. The seeds of 

 Plantago Psyllium, arenaria and Bophula contain an abundant mucilage in their testa, whence their use 

 as emollients in inflammatory ophthalmia ; and in Indian manufactures to stiffen muslins. Plantayo 

 Coronojnts was considered by the ancients, on account of its toothed leaves, to be efficacious against 

 hydrophobia, and was ranked amongst diuretics. It is cultivated for salad in some countries. 



CLXXVII. NYCTAGINE^E, Jussieu, 



FLOWERS 5 or diclinous. PERIANTH petaloid or coloured. STAMENS hypogynous. 

 1-celled, \-ovuled', OVULE campylotropmis, erect. ACHENE included in the per- 

 sistent base of the perianth. ALBUMEN farinaceous (rarely 0). EMBRYO curved, rarely 

 straight ; RADICLE inferior. 



TREES, SHRUBS or HERBS. STEMS knotty, fragile, branches often spinescent. 

 LEAVES usually opposite (that subtending a branch, peduncle or spine being smaller 

 than its pair), rarely alternate, or scattered, petioled, entire. FLOWERS 5 , or rarely 



8 3 



