Dicotyledones. 109 



inches long, the diameter of the corolla about equaling the tube. Capsule longer 

 than or equaling the calyx. In rich soil or dry woods. 



:a. Ruellia ciliosa, Pursh. (L., cilium, an eye-lash.) Hairy Ruellia. 

 Rather stout, i to ■2\ feet high, beset with soft, whitish hairs. Leaves oval or ovate- 

 oblong, sessile or short-petioled. Flowers solitary or clustered in the axils. 

 Corolla blue to violet-purple, its tube i^ to 2 inches long. Capsule shorter than 

 the calyx. In dry soil. 



n. DIANTHERA. Water Willow. 



(Gr., dis, double; aitthera, anther, alluding to the separated anther cells.) 



Mostly perennial herbs, growing in wet places. Leaves opposite 

 and entire. Flowers very irregular, purplish, in axillary, peduncled 

 spikes or heads. Calyx 5-parted ; corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip erect, 

 concave, 2-toothed ; lower lip spreading and 3-cleft. Stamens 2, 

 inserted on the throat of the corolla. Each cavity of the ovary 

 containing 2 ovules. 



I. Dianthera Americana, L. Dense-flowered Water Willow. Erect, 

 smooth perennial, i to 2 feet high, with lanceolate or linear-lanceolate leaves. 

 Flowers violet to nearly white, in short, long-peduncled spikes. Tube of the 

 corolla shorter than the lips. In water and wet places. 



PLANTAGINACEiE. Plantain Family. 



Chiefly acaulescent or short-stemmed annuals or perennials. Leaves 

 mainly basal, with prominent parallel ribs. Flowers chiefly in spikes 

 or heads on long scapes. Calyx 4-parted. Corolla 4-lobed, membra- 

 naceous. Stamens mostly 4, inserted on the tube of the corolla and 

 alternate with its lobes. Ovary superior, 1-2-celled, or falsely 3-4- 

 celled, with i-several ovules in each cavity. 



I. PLANTAGO. Plantain. 



(The Latin name.) 



Short-stemmed or acaulescent herbs, with mostly prominently ribbed 

 leaves and greenish or purplish flowers in spikes on slender scapes. 

 Calyx of 4 membranous-margined sepals, persistent. Corolla salver- 

 form or rotate, 4-parted, withering on the pod. Stamens mostly 4, 

 sometimes 2, exserted. Ovary generally 2-celled, with i or more 

 ovules in each cell. Capsule with circumscissile dehiscence. 



I. Plantago major, I,. (L., major, larger.) Common or Greater Plan- 

 tain. Perennial. Scapes sometimes becoming 2 feet tall, longer than the leaves. 

 Spikes dense, linear-cylindric. Withered corolla not closing over the capsule in 

 fruit. Leaves on long petioles, mostly ovate, with 3 to 11 ribs, which remain free 



