172- 



POPULAR FLORA. 



WiNTEEBERRY H. Or Black Alder. Leaves thin and deciduous, serrate, veiny, obovate or ob- 

 long; peduncles very short; parts of the blossom often in sixes; fruit red. Shrub: low grounds. 

 This belongs to the section PriTWs. 



I. verticillaia. 



55. EBONY FAMILY. Order EBENACEjE. 

 Of this small family, we have only one species, a tree, which deserves notice, viz. : — 



Persimmon. 



4 22 Fertile flower. 



424. Fruil. 425. SecliOD of tbe eame. 



425 424 



Corolla and stamens of the same, laid open 



Diospyros. 



Tree with alternate thickish leaves; 

 in their axils some trees bear clustered 

 staminate flowers, with a 4-oleft corolla 

 and about 16 stamens; others single and 

 larger perfect flowers, with a 4-lobed 

 corolla and 8 stamens. Calyx 4-cleft, 

 rather large, thickish. Corolla pale yel- 

 low. Pistil one, with 4 styles : the ovary 

 ripening into a plum-like fruit, which is 

 very astringent when green, but sweet 

 and yellow and eatable after frosts, con- 

 taining 8 large and bony flat seeds. 



D. VirginiaTW,. 



56. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order PLANTAGINACE.^. 

 Consists mainly of the genus of low stemless herbs called 



Plantain (or Rib-Grass). Plantago. 

 Flowers greenish, on a scape, in a close spike. — Calyx of 4 persistent sepals. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, thin, withering on the pod, 4-lobed. Stamens 4, generally with very long 

 and weak filaments, borne on the corolla. Style and stigma one, slender. Pod 2-celled, 

 opening crosswise, the top falling off as a lid, the loose partition faUing out with the 

 seeds. Leaves generally with strong ribs. 



1. Common Plantain. Leaves ovate or 



slightly heart-shaped, several-ribbed; 

 seeds 7 to 16. P. major. 



2. Virginia P. Small (2' to 7' high), hairy; 



leaves oblong, 3 - 5-ribbed ; seeds 2. 



P. Virginica. 



3. English P. or Eipple-Gkass. Hairy, 



with long lance'-shaped or linear leaves, 

 and a short and thick spike or head, on 

 a scape 1° or 2° high; seeds 2. Com- 

 mon E. P- lanceolaia. 



4. Seaside P. Smooth; leaves linear, thick 



and fleshy; seeds 2. Salt marshes on the ^'^ ^'^ „, . ,„ . , ''^ 



■^ ^ n • 426. Young apike of common Plantain. 427 Afloviern 



OOaat. P . maritima. til of the same. 429. Fruit, opening by a lid, the withered corolla on the 



lid. 



426 

 gnifie.l. 428 Pre 



