PLANTAIN FAMILY 



401 



almost to the base into 3 linear segments ; and solitary, axillary, 

 yellow flowers, with red spots on the lower lip of the corolla. 

 — Chalky fields in the south-east; rare. — tl. May — August. 

 -Vunual. 



IjUGA chaM-Ep;t^"S (^Ground P:>u~)* 



Ord. LX. Plantagi'ne.e. — The Plantain Family 



A small Order of herbaceous plants of humble growth, with 

 man)-, usually radical, ribbed or fleshy leaves . The flowers, which, 

 being mostly wind-pollinated, are conspicuous from their long 

 stamens, grow in spikes and are polysymmetric ; the calvx 

 4-parted, imbricate, persistent ; corolla 4-parted, chafty, imbricate ; 

 stamens 4, alternate with the segments of the corolla, and having 

 very long, thread-like, exserted filaments, and large, versatile anthers ; 

 ovary superior, i-, 2-, or rarely 4-chambered ; style i, slender; 

 stigma hairy ; fruit a capsule splitting transversely or not at all ; 

 seeds i, 2, or many in each chamber. Several species in the 



D D 



