482 ORDER XCVII. PLANTAGINACE^. 



1. P. limo'nium, (L.) Root thick, ligneous, scaly toward the summit. 

 Radical leaves obovate, obtuse, narrowed at the base, on long petioles ; 

 those of the scape barely scales, embracing the stem and branches. 

 Flowers in panicles, consisting of second spikes. Involucre 8-Ieaved, 

 2-fiowered, the upper one colored. Calyx 10-toothed, pubescent at the 

 base. Petals obovate. Anthers purple. Capsule 5-angled, 1-celled, 

 1-soeded, seed angled. — Blue. 2{. July — Oct. Along the sea-coast. 



Marsh Rosemary. 



The root of this plant possesses decided medicinal properties. It is very astringent, 

 and may be used as a substitute for the most astringent medicines. In ulcerated soro 

 mouth it forms a most valuable gargle, in the form of infusion or decoction. 



Ordhs XCVIL— PLANTAGINA'CEiE. {Ribwort or Plan- 

 tain Family.) 



Calyx 4-parted, persistent. Corolla 4-cleft, persistent. Sta- 

 mens 4, inserted into the corolla alternate with the segments ; 

 filaments long ; anthers versatile, 2-celled. Ovary usually 2- 

 celled. Style simple; stigma hispid. Capsule membranace- 

 ous, with a transverse dehiscence. Herbaceous plants, with 

 flowers on scapes. 



Genus I.— PLANTA'GO. L. 4—1. 

 (From planta, the sole of the foot, from the resemblance of the leaves.) 



Genus same as the Order. 



1. P. ma'jor, (L.) Leaves broad-ovate, glabrous, on rather long pe 

 tioles, remotely toothed, 5-nerved ; petiole pubescent; scape pubescent. 

 Flowers in bracteate spikes ; segments of the calyx lanceolate, gla- 

 brous. Capsule 2-celled, the upper half falling off when the seeds are 

 mature. — White. 2£. June — Aug. Common. 8 — 12 inches. 



Plantain. 



2. P. Virgin'ica, (L.) Leaves spatulate, lanceolate, pubescent, spar- 

 ingly dentate, 5-nerved, the two marginal ones obscure ; scape tomen- 

 tose, angular, columnar. Flowers remote when mature. — Yellowish. 



$ . June — July. Common. 3 — 6 inches. 



3. P. lanceola'ta, (L.) Leaves long, tapering, laneeolate, # 5-nerved, 

 slightly pubescent, sparingly dentate; scape hairy. Flowers in a com- 

 pact spike ; bracts ovate. — White. 11. Through the summer. Intro- 

 duced. 1 — 2 feet. 



4. P. inteerup'ta, (La Marck.) Leaves long, narrow, lanceolate, 3 — 5- 

 nerved ; scape pubescent near the base, spike long, slender. Flowers 

 scattered, glabrous, occasionally in clusters. 



5. P. push/la, (Nutt.) Scape erect, minutely pubescent. Leaves 

 linear, entire, or with one tooth on each side near the summit. Spike 

 cylindrical, loosely flowered. Stamens 2 — £. — White. 0. April 

 Abundant about Macon. 





