DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 211 



mostly sessile at the base, hairy-fringed. Flowers pale blue, solitary 

 or 2-3 together. Calyx-lobes bristle-shaped, half the length of the 

 corolla-tube. Tube of the corolla 2 in. long. Capsule shorter than 

 the calyx, smooth, 8 12-seeded. A very variable species, the flowers 

 often without a corolla. In dry woods and fields S.* 



II. DIANTHERA, Gronov. 



Perennial herbs ; stem smooth. Leaves opposite, entire or 

 toothed. Flowers axillary, solitary or clustered, irregular. 

 Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 2-lipped, upper lip erect, concave, 

 entire or notched, the lower prominently veined, spreading, 

 3-lobed. Stamens 2, inserted in the throat of the corolla. 

 Ovary 2-celled, 4-ovuled, style simple, acute. Capsule flat- 

 tened, narrowed below into a little stalk. 1 * 



1. D. americana, L. WATER WILLOW. Stem erect, slender, 2-3 

 ft. high. Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, taper-pointed at the 

 apex, narrowed below to the sessile or short-petioled base. Flowers 

 bracted, in short spikes, on peduncles as long as the leaves. Corolla 

 pale blue or purple, the tube as long as the lips, lower lip wrinkled. 

 Capsule about the length of the calyx. In water S.* 



94. PLANTAGINACEJE. PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



Annual or perennial scape-bearing herbs. Leaves usually 

 all radical, with parallel ribs. Flowers small, green, usually 

 spiked, regular and perfect (Fig. 21). 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 capsule, which splits open 

 transversely, the top coming off like a lid. 



PL ANT AGO, L. 



Characteristics of the genus as given above for the family. 



1. P. major, L. PLANTAIN. Perennial, from a very short root- 

 stock. Leaves ovate to oval, strongly 5-9-ribbed, acute or obtuse at 



