PLANTAIN TRIBE 241 



■flower-stalks being branched below the middle into several erect 

 tufts of blue flowers. Not uncommon on the rocky sea-coast. 

 — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



3. 5. reticulata (Matted Sea-Lavender). ^Smaller than either of 

 the last ; the flower-stalks are divided almost from the base into 

 numerous zigzag branches, of which the lower ones are barren. 

 Salt marshes in Norfolk, Lincoln, Suffolk, and Cambridge. — Fl. 

 July, August. Perennial. 



Natural Order LXIV 



PLANTAGINACE^.— Plantain Tribe 



Calyx 4-parted ; corolla 4-parted, chaffy, not falling off ; stamens 

 4, alternate with the segments of the corolla, and having very long, 

 thread-like filaments, and lightly attached anthers ; ovary 2-, rarely 

 4-celled ; style 1 ; stigma hairy ; capsule splitting transversely ; 

 seeds i, 2, or many in each cell. Herbaceous plants of humble 

 growth, with many ribbed or fleshy leaves spreading horizontally 

 from the root. The flowers, which are made conspicuous by their 

 long stamens, grow in spikes. Several species are common in 

 Great Britain as wayside, meadow, and marine plants, and as 

 troublesome lawn weeds. The Order is distributed over most 

 parts of the world. The leaves are slightly bitter and astringent ; 

 the seeds abound in a tasteless mucilage, which is used in medicine as 

 a substitute for Linseed, and is said to be employed in France to 

 stiffen muslin. 



1. Plantago (Plantain). — Calyx 4-cleft, the segments bent back ; 

 corolla tubular, with 4 spreading lobes ; stamens very long ; capsule 

 splitting all round, 2- to 4-celled. (Name t)f doubtful origin.) 



2. Littorella (Shore- weed). — Stamens and pistils in different 

 flowers ; barren flower, stalked ; stamens very long ; fertile flower 

 sessile ; bracts 3 ; corolla tubular, contracted at both ends ; style 

 very long ; capsule i-seeded. (Name in Latin having the same 

 meaning as the English name.) 



I. Plantago {Plantain) 



1. P. major (Greater Plantain). — Leaves broadly egg-shaped on 

 long, channeUed stalks ; flowers in spikes, 2-6 inches long, the stem 

 of which is cylindrical ; cells of the capsule many-seeded. Well 

 known for its spikes of green flowers, the seeds of which are a 

 favourite food of canary birds. Borders of fields and waysides ; 

 abundant. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



2. P. media (Hoary Plantain). — Leaves broadly elliptical on short, 

 flat stalks ; flowers in a close cylindrical spike, 1-2 inches long, the 

 stalk of which is also cylindrical ; cells of the capsule i-seeded. 



