PLANTIAN FAMILY 



PLANTAGINACE^E PLANTAIN FAMILY 



Plantago major, L. 



Dull white Rib Grass, Bird-seed, 



Greater Plantain, Broad-leaf, 



May-September Way Bread, Hen-plant, 



Dooryard Lamb' s-foot, 



Plantain, Healing-blade. 



Plantago: for derivation see lanceolata. 

 Major: Latin for greater. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry soil everywhere. 



THE PLANT: leaves and flower stems from an underground 

 stem; a root stock; flower stems four inches to fourteen 

 inches high. 



THE LEAVES: in a rosette on the ground; broad elliptic to 

 heart-shaped or ovate; two inches to ten inches long; 

 thick and leathery; hairless or sometimes with short, soft 

 hairs; acutish at the apex; the broad stem channeled; 

 the margin wavqd, or more or less toothed. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



One would blush to have to be introduced to this homely 

 weed, which has almost the persistence of a dandelion, 

 springing up cheerfully, no matter how close it has been 

 cut by the lawn mower. However the plant had its com- 

 pensations. Out of the thimble-shaped flower-spikes, the 

 herbalists made a concoction " highly spoken of for skin 

 diseases." The thick, leathery leaves, if bruised, were 

 considered "most useful when applied to wounds, ulcers, 

 and bites of poisonous insects," and a drug is still obtained, 

 valuable in the cure of toothache. 



Four other members of the Plantain Family have been 

 reported. 



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