246 PLANTAGINACEAE., ~ Vou. III. 
Plantago haléphila Bicknell, of saline situations along the Atlantic coast, is densely pubescent, 
but otherwise like this species. A similar race occurs about lakes in northern New York. 
Plantago asidtica L. is a boreal race with thinner 
nearly erect Jeaves. 
2. Plantago Rugélii Dene. Rugel’s or Pale 
Plantain. Fig. 3899. 
Plantago Rugeliti in DC. Prodr. 13: Part 1, 700. 1852. 
Similar to the preceding species, the spikes less 
dense, at least toward the base, usually long-atten- 
uate at the summit, sometimes 5” thick. Sepals ob- 
long, prominently keeled on the back, the margins 
green or scarious; pyxis oblong-cylindric, 2’-3” 
long, twice as long as the sepals, circumscissile much 
below the middle and entirely within the calyx, 
4-10-seeded; stamens 4. 
In fields, woods and waste places, New Brunswick to 
Ontario, South Dakota,>Florida, Kansas and Texas. 
Petioles commonly purple at the base. Usually brighter 
green and with thinner leaves than P. major. This 
species, or the preceding one, was known to the Indians 
as “ White-man’s-foot.” Silk-plant. June—Sept. 
3. Plantago lanceolata L. Ribwort. Rib- 
\ : grass. English, Buck, or Buckthorn 
Plantain. Snake, Lance-leaved, or Ripple Plantain. Fig. 3900. 
Plantago lanceolata L. Sp. Pl. 113. 1753. 
Perennial or biennial, more or less pubescent}; 
rootstock mostly short, with tufts of brown hairs 
at the bases of the leaves. Leaves narrowly ob- 
_long-lanceolate, mostly erect, shorter than the 
scapes, entire, acute or acuminate at the apex, 
gradually narrowed into petioles, 3-5-ribbed, 2’- 
12’ long, 3-12” wide; scapes slender, channelled, 
sometimes 24° tall; spikes very dense, at first 
short and ovoid, becoming cylindric, blunt and 
4’-4’ long in fruit, 4-6” thick; flowers perfect, 
proterogynous; sepals ovate, with a narrow green 
midrib and broad scarious margins, the two lower 
ones commonly united; corolla glabrous, its tube 
very short; filaments white; pyxis oblong, very 
obtuse, 2-seeded, slightly longer than the calyx; 
seeds deeply excavated on the face. 
In fields and waste places, New Brunswick to the 
Northwest Territory, British Columbia, Florida and 
Kansas. Bermuda. Naturalized from Europe; native 
also of Asia. Sepals rarely metamorphosed into 
small leaves. April-Nov. Black-jacks. Jack-straws.' 
Dog’s-ribs. Cocks. Kemps. Leechwort. Ram’s-tongue. Rattail. Windles. Long-plantain. Ripple- 
grass. Kempseed. Headsman. Hen-plant. Clock. Chimney-sweeps. Cats’-cradles. 
4. Plantago média L. Hoary Plantain. 
Lamb’s-tongue. Healing herb. Fig. 3901. 
Plantago media L. Sp. Pl. 113. 1753. 
Perennial, intermediate in aspect between P. major 
and P. lanceolata, the short rootstock clothed with 
brown hairs among the bases of the leaves. Leaves 
spreading, ovate, broadly oblong or elliptic, obtuse or 
acute at the apex, entire, or repand-dentate, densely 
and finely canescent, 5-7-ribbed, narrowed at the base 
into margined, usually short petioles; scapes slender, 
much longer than the leaves, 1°-2° tall; spikes ver 
dense, cylindric and 1-3’ long in fruit, about 3” 
thick; flowers perfect, white; sepals all distinct, ob- 
long, with a narrow green midrib and broad scarious 
margins; corolla glabrous; stamens pink or purple; 
pyxis oblong, obtuse, about as long as the calyx, 
2-4-seeded, the seeds merely concave, stamens 4. 
In waste places, Maine, Rhode Island, Ontario and 
New York. ‘Adventive from Europe. Native also of 
Asia. May-Sept. Fire-leaves. Fire-weed. Lamb’s-lettuce. 
