226 KEY AND FLORA 
spiked, regular and bisexual (Fig. 28). Sepals 4, persistent. 
Corolla hypogynous, salver-shaped, thin and dry; lobes 4, 
spreading. Stamens 4, usually 
inserted on the corolla tube; 
filaments thread-hke; anthers 
large and versatile. Ovary free, 
usually 2-4-celled ; style thread- 
like. Fruit a 1-4-celled, 1 or 
more seeded membranous eap- 
sule, which splits open trans- 
versely, the top coming off 
like a hid. 
PLANTAGO L. 
Characteristics of the genus 
as given above for the family. 
1. P. major L. Phanrarn. Per- 
ennial, froma very short rootstock. 
Leaves ovate to oval, strongly 5—9- 
Fic. 28. Flowers of plantain (Plan- 
tugo lanceolata), six times natural 
size 
A, earlier stage, pistil mature, sta- 
mens hot yet appearing outside the 
corolla; 2, later stage, pistil with- 
ered, stamens mature 
ribbed, acute or obtuse at the apex, 
rounded at the base into a long, 
concave petiole, entire or toothed, 
smooth or slightly downy. Scape 
taller than the leaves, downy, spike 
densely flowered; bracts short, ovate. Flowers perfect. Stamens 4, 
projecting. Capsule ovoid, about twice the length of the calyx, 5-16- 
seeded; seeds angled and with a netted outer coat. Common in 
dooryards.* : 
2. P. Rugelii Decaisne. Leaves as in P. majsor, but smaller and 
thinner. Spikes less deuse, usually drawn out to a slender point. 
Capsule d-10-seeded; seeds oval, the outer coat not netted. In fields, 
woods, and waste ground. 
3. P. lanceolata L. Rin Grass. Biennial or perennial; soft-hairy 
or nearly smooth, Leaves numerous, lanceolate to elliptical, acute, 
long-petioled, strongly $3—S-ribbed, entire or toothed. Scapes much 
longer than the leaves, striate-angled, 1-2 ft. high; spike short and 
dense. Bracts and sepals ovate. Corolla smooth. Capsule longer 
than the calyx, 2-seeded. Naturalized from Lurope; common in 
meadows. * 
