212 



FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 



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 per- 

 fect. Stamens 4, projecting. Capsule ovoid, about twice the length 

 of the calyx. Common in dooryards.* 



2. P. lanceolata, L. RIBGRASS. 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. Cap- 

 sule longer than the calyx, 2-seeded. Introduced; 

 common in meadows.* 



3. P. aristata, Michx. LARGE-BRACTED PLAN- 

 TAIN. Annual. Leaves broadly linear, entire 

 or sparingly and finely toothed, narrowed below 

 into a margined petiole, smooth or 

 silky-downy. Scape longer than the 

 leaves, 6-10 in. high, spike dense. 

 Bracts linear, -1 in. long. Stamens 

 4 ; capsule 2-seeded, longer than the 

 calyx. Common on dry soil.* 



4. P. heterophylla, Nutt. MANY- 

 SEEDED PLANTAIN. Annual. 

 Leaves linear, fleshy, entire, or with 

 a few spreading teeth, smooth or 

 slightly downy. Scapes slender, 3-6 

 in. high, spike very slender, many- 

 flowered, the lower flowers often 

 scattered. Bracts ovate, longer than 

 the sepals. Stamens 2. Capsule 

 twice the length of the calyx, many-seeded. Common in cultivated 

 ground, especially S.* 



FIG. 21. Flowers of Plantain 



(Plantago), enlarged. 

 A, earlier stage, pistil mature, sta- 

 mens not yet appearing outside 

 the corolla. B, later stage, pistil 

 withered, stamens mature. 



95. RUBIACE^E. MADDER FAMILY. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves opposite and entire, with 

 stipules between them, or appearing whorled since the stipules 

 resemble the leaves. Flowers always perfect, frequently 

 dimorphous (as in Houstonia, Mitchella, and Bouvardia). 

 Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 3-6-toothed. Corolla 

 regular, inserted on the calyx-tube, as many-lobed as the 

 calyx. Stamens equal in number to the divisions of the 

 corolla. Ovary 2 or more celled. A very large and important 



