plumbaginaoEjS; — plantaginacejE. 559 



arvensis is called Poor-man's Weather-glass, or Shepherds' Weather- 

 glass. By Lord Bacon it is called Nincopipe. Trientalis europcea is 

 the only British plant belonging to the Linnsan class Heptandria. 

 It is slightly acrid. In Samolus VaUrandi, Brook-weed, the calyx is 

 partially adherent to the ovary, and in Glmix maritima the corolla is 

 abortive, and the calyx becomes coloured (fig. 642, p. 367). 



Order 135. — PlumbaginacEjB, the Searpink Family. (Mbnopet. 

 Eypog.) Calyx tubular,; persistent, sometimes coloured; sestivation 

 plaited. Corolla monopetalous, or pentapetalous, regular. Stamens 5, 

 hypogynous when the coroUa is gamopetalous, attached to the base of 

 the petals when they are separate. Ovary free, 1 -celled ; ovule soli- 

 tary, pendulous from a funiculus which arises from the bottom of the 

 cell (fig. 517, p. 291) ; styles 5, seldom 3 or 4, each bearing a subu- 

 late stigma. Fruit a utricle. Seed pendulous ; spermoderm simple ; 

 embryo straight, in the axis of mealy albumen ; radicle superior. — 

 Herbs or undershrubs, with alternate or fasciculate exstjpulate leaves, 

 somewhat sheathing at the base ; flowers panicled or capitate. They 

 inhabit the sea-shores and salt marshes chiefly in temperate regions. 

 There are two tribes of this order : — 1. Plumbagineee, with a syn- 

 petalous corolla and connate styles. 2. Staticese, with a pentapetal- 

 ous coroUa and distinct styles. Authors mention 10 genera and 200 

 species. Examples — Plumbago, Statioe, Armeria. 



Some of the plants are acrid, others have tonic qualities. Arme- 

 ria maritima, Thrift, or common Sea-pink, grows both on the sea- 

 shores and on the top of the highest Scottish mountains. Its inor- 

 ganic chemical ingredients are said to vary in these positions (p. 132). 

 In Armeria the funiculus curves over the foramen of the ovule in a 

 young state, but slips off' at the period of fecundation, and allows an 

 ovular process to proceed from the exostome towards the placenta. 

 In this genus also the scaly bracts unite so as to form an inverted 

 cylindrical sheath below the heads or shortened panicles of flowers. 

 The root of Statiee earoliniana is said to be one of the most powerful 

 vegetable astringents. Plumbago europcea has been employed for the 

 relief of toothache, and has hence been called Toothwort. Its root is 

 so acrid that it is used in Eoumelia for causing issues. Administered 

 internally in small doses it is said to be as effectual an emetic as 

 Ipecacuanha. Some of the species of this genus act as vesicants. 



Order 136. — Plantaginace^, the Ribwort Family. (Monopet. 

 Hypog.) Calyx 4-parted, persistent, sestivation imbricate. Corolla 

 monopetalous, hypogynous, scarious, persistent, with a 4-parted limb. 

 Stamens 4, inserted into the corolla, and alternate with its segments ; 

 filaments long, filiform, folded inwards in the bud'; anthers dithecal, 

 versatile. Disk inconspicuous. Ovary free, 2-4-celled ; ovules soli- 

 tary, or in pairs, or 00 ; style simple, capillary ; stigma hispid, simple, 

 rarely bifid. Fruit an operculate capsule enclosed within the per- 



