432 THE PLiNTAnr FAMIIT. 



6 lines long; tlie lower branches of the panicle numerous, very much 

 branched, and usually without flowers, whilst the central ones bear nu- 

 merous short spikes of small flowers, with the bracts white and scarious 

 nearly from the base. 



In maritime sands, all round the Mediterranean and in western Asia, ex- 

 tending more sparingly up the west coast of France. In Britain, only in 

 the counties of Norfolk, Cambridge, and Lincoln. Fl. summer. 



II. THRIFT. AEMERIA. 



Flowers in a terminal, globular head, intermixed with scarious scales, 

 of which the outer ones form a kind of involucre, and the two outermost of 

 all are lengthened below their insertion into appendages forming a sheath 

 round the upper part of the peduncle. Calyx usually drier and more 

 scarious than in Statice, the petals scarcely united at their very base, and 

 the styles hairy in the lower part. 



A genus of very few species, separated from Statice chiefly on accoimt of 

 their inflorescence, which gives them a peculiar habit. 



Leaves narrow-linear, 1-nerved. Teeth of the calyx short 1. Common T. 



leaves lanceolate-linear, 3- or 5-nerved. Teeth of the' calyx long and fine 2. Flantain T, 



1. Common Thrift. Ariueria vulgaris, WLlld. 

 {Statice Anneria, Eng. Bot. t. 226. A. maritima, Brit. Fl.) 



The stock forms perennial tufts, with numerous radical leaves, all narrow- 

 linear, entu-e, with a single prominent midrib. Flowering stems simple and 

 leafless, glabrous or shortly downy, 3 or 4 inches to twice that height, each 

 bearing a globular head of pink or sometimes white flowers ; the petal-like 

 border of the calyx crowned by 5 very short, slender teetli. 



On muddy or sandy sea-shores, and on maritime rocks, in the northern 

 hemisphere, from the Arctic regions to near the tropics, reappearing in the 

 southern hemisphere beyond the tropics, and also at considerable elevations 

 in the high mountain-chains of Europe and Asia. Abundant on our British 

 coasts and on the tops of some of the Scotch mountains. Fl. summer. 



2. Plantain Thrift. Armeria plantaginea, WiUd. 



(Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2928.) 



Very near the last, and perhaps one of its numerous fonns, but the leaves 

 are much broader, usually marked with 3 or 5 parallel nerves, the flower- 

 stalk is often a foot high or more, and the slender teeth of the calyx are 

 mtich longer than in the common T. 



On sandy heaths and wastes, in western Europe, extending northward to 

 the English Channel and eastward to the Rhine. In our Flora only in the 

 Channel Islands. Fl. summer. 



i 



LX. THE PLANTAIN FAMILY. PLANTAGINEJE. 



Herbs, with radical, tufted or spreading leaves, and leafless 

 flower-stalks, bearing a simple spike or a single terminal flower 

 (the stem in some exotic species becoming elongated, branched, 

 and leafy) . Sepals 4. Corolla small, scarious, with an ovate 



