PLANTAIN FAMILY . 225 
3-lobed. Stamens 2, inserted in the throat of the corolla. 
Ovary 2-celled, 4-ovuled; style simple, acute. Capsule flat- 
tened, narrowed below into a little stalk.* 
1. D. americana L. Water Wittow. Stem erect, slender, 2-3 ft. 
high. Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, taper-pointed at the 
apex, narrowed below to the sessile or short-petioled base. Flowers 
bracted, in short spikes, on peduncles as long as the leaves. Corolla 
pale blue or purple, the tube ‘as long as the lips, lower lip wrinkled. 
Capsule about the length of the calyx. In water, S.* 
I. RUELLIA L. 
Perennial herbs; stems swollen at the joints and often 
between them, somewhat 4angled. Leaves sessile or short- 
petioled, mostly entire. Flowers axillary, solitary or clustered, 
showy, white, blue, or purple. Calyx 2-bracted, 5-parted, the 
divisions linear and awl-shaped. Corolla tube slender, often 
much elongated, the limb spreading, nearly equally 5-lobed. 
Stamens 4 (2 long and 2 short), included or slightly projecting. 
Style slender. Capsule slender, narrowed below, 4-12-seeded.* 
1. R. ciliosa Pursh. Hairy Ruetria. Stem erect, rather stout, 
often few-branched above, covered with white hairs, 4-30 in. high. 
Leaves oblong to ovate, acute or obtuse at the apex, narrowed and 
mostly sessile at the base, hairy-fringed. Flowers pale blue, solitary 
or 2-3 together. Calyx lobes bristle-shaped, half the length of the 
corolla tube. Tube of the corolla 2 in. long. Capsule shorter than 
the calyx, smooth, 8-12-seeded. A very variable species, the flowers 
often without a corolla. In dry woods and fields 8.* 
2. R. strepens L. Smoota Rue. Stem erect, slender, usually 
simple, smooth or hairy, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves ovate to oblong, acute 
at the apex, narrowed below into a short petiole. Flowers solitary or 
in small clusters, sessile or short-peduncled. Calyx lobes shorter than 
the tube of the corolla, downy or fringed. Corolla blue, the tube 14-2 
in. long, the limb 1-11 in. wide. Capsule usually longer than the 
calyx, smooth, 8-12-seeded. The later flowers often without a corolla. 
On rich, dry soil.* 
94. PLANTAGINACEZ. PLANTAIN FAMILY 
Annual or perennial scape-bearing herbs. Leaves usually 
all basal, with parallel ribs. Flowers small, green, usually 
