218 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 
Ae _D. Vi trcinia’NA, L. Leay ay Sipe: or ovate-oblong, obtusely acu- 
nate ; parts of the flower chiefly in fours ; corolla subcoriaceous. 
Saar Dirospyros. Persimmon. Date Plum. 
Fr. Le same Germ. Der Pseudo-Lotus. 
20-50 or 60 feet high, and 10-15 or 20 inches in diameter, irregularly branched. 
Leaves 2-3 or 5 inches long, subeoriacoous, hep above, pars ‘or somewhat glaucous 
beneath ; h to near an inch — of the fertile flower spreadi 
and persistent at ‘es fom se the fr a soroleo ecerdieas 8 or pale greenish-yellow, of a 
thick leathery texture. Berry about an inch in Pamsier, reddish-orange color when 
mature, soft and pulpy after frost. Needs large, flattish. 
bottom-lands, along streams : Middle and Southern States, Fl. June. Fr. Oct.- 
_ Obs. The ripe fruit of this tree is sweet and luscious, after being sub- 
ted to the action of frost ; but is remarkably harsh and astringent in 
a green state. The bark is astringent and tonic. The Styrax Family 
ci 
pitas Bell, two species of which, one with 2-wi inged ‘and the other with 
it, are comm in cultivation, and belong to this order; as 
oti the Symplocos (H. oped) tincto’ ria, the “ Horse rse Sugar” of the South, 
the green sweet leaves of which being a favorite food of cattle. 
Orper XLV. PLANTAGINA’CEZ. (Praytarn Fammy. 
Chiefly low, aac sites ene perennial bees hte radical, rosulate, strongly ribbed 
leaves and small spiea’ scapes. nbranaceous and persistent. Stamens 
inserted on ee tube Pt the coro! rola alternately with ‘the lobes. hei 2-celled ; style single. 
Capsule membranaceous, circumscissed ; cells 1 ~sever: a seede 
_ An Order consisting chiefly of the genus whose na it cae and the species here 
1. PLANTA’GO, ZL. Pranratn. 
{The ancient Latin name of the Plantain ; meaning obscure.] 
Calyz of 4 imbricated arraria by aa eel th dry membranaceous ee ; 
Corolla salver-form, the borde: ® part, ee ng on the pod. Stamens 
4, much exserted. Flowers whitish, small ted. 
* Pod Sig ate 
1. P. ma’jor, L. Leaves ig or oval, smoothish, obscurely dentate, 
on long petioles ; ; Scape terete, smooth ; spike e nearly cylindrical, rather’ 
slender and very long; ace somewhat cated ; capsule about 
6-seeded. 
Greater Piaytaco. Common Plantain. Way-bread. 
Fr. Plantain ordinaire. Germ. Der grosse Wegetritt. Span. Llanten. 
Root perennial. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches long, strongly 5-—7-nerved with an 
filament in poe nerve, generally smoothish (oomotinies quite pilose), abruptly: b Heroer 
at base to a channeled petiole about as long as the leaf. . Scapes several, 6-18 inches high 
