172 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



ago as a fodder plant, but is seldom now cultivated. Its mucilaginous leaves are 

 relished by sheep, and to a certain extent by cows and horses ; but it does not answer 

 as a crop unless on very poor land where nothing else will grow. Moreover, it is 

 bitter, and in pasture destroys the more delicate herbage around it, by its coarse 

 leaves. The seeds are covered with a coat of mucilage, which separates readily when 

 they are macerated in hot water. The gelatinous substance thus formed is used 

 for stiffening some kinds of muslin and other woven fabrics to a small extent. 

 The leaves contain a good fibre, which might be adapted to some manufacturing 

 purpose. 



SPECIES IV.— P LANTAGO MARITIMA. Linn. 

 Plates MCLXVI. MCLXVII. 

 IJcich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Ilelv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCXXXH. Fig. 1. 



Leaves all radical, without distinct petioles, strapshaped-oblanceo- 

 late or liiiear-strap.s]iaped or linear, generally 3- to 5-, more rarely 

 1- or 7-ribbed, fleshy, entire or remotely denticulate throughout. 

 Scape not furrowed, generally exceeding the leaves; flowerless part 

 of the scape generally longer than the leaves. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, 

 rather shorter than the calyx, not hooded at the apex. Sepals glabrous 

 (rarely slightly hairy), the 2 next the rachis keeled, the keel sharp 

 and denticulate, but not distinctly winged. Corolla tube downy. 

 Capsule imperfectly 2-celled. Seeds 1 in each cell, flat on the inner 

 surface. Plant glabrous, rarely pubescent; the scapes generally more 

 or less hairy. 



Var. a, latifolia. 



Plate MCLXVI. 

 Leaves strapshaped-oblanccolate, 3- to 7-ribbed. Plant glabrous, 

 or witli a few hairs on the scape at the crown of the rootstock, and 

 sometimes pubescent on tlie scapes. 



Var. 3, linearis. 



Leaves linear-strapshaped, 3-ribbcd, rarely with only 1 prominent 

 nerve. Plant glabrous, generally with hairs at the crown of the root- 

 stock, and sometimes pubescent on the scapes. 



Var. 7, hirsuta. 

 Plate MCLXVH. 

 Leaves linear-strapshaped or semi-cylindrical, 3- or 1-nerved. Plant 

 densely pubescent. 



Jn salt marshes and banks by the sea ; also by the side of streams, 

 on mountains. Rather common, and generally distributed. Var. y 

 I have seen only in Orkney, where I have gathered it on Houton 



