PLUMBAGINE^. 115 



mucilaginous, and formerly used as an application to sores. 

 Small birds feed on its seeds, and probably some insects. Com- 

 mon over Europe ; introduced into the United States, and the 

 following species also. 



P. lanceolata. L. Ribwort. Has long and narrow leaves, 

 strongly nerved, with a short dense spike of flowers, and is usually 

 taller than the other ; stem often near 2 feet high ; upland mead- 

 ows and fields ; indigenous to Britain. 



P. maritima. L. Sea Plantain. Grows on salt marshes, 

 with short fleshy leaves, very variable in length, as well as in 

 abundance of flowers. Found along our coast ; but said to grow 

 on mountains also in Europe ; indigenous to both continents. 



ORDER 183. PLUMBAGINEiE. The Leadwort 



Tribe. 



Named from Plumbago, an important genus, which had the 

 reputation anciently of curing a disease of the eyes called plum- 

 bum ; but of the genus no species belongs to New England. 



The plants of the order have very opposite qualities ; a species 

 of some importance is in this State. 



Statice. L. 5. 5. 



S. limonum. L. Marsh Rosemary. Grows in salt marshes ; 

 rather showy, quite branching, full of small flowers ; radical leaves, 

 shorter than the stem. The root yields an important astringent, 

 and is much used by physicians ; Bigelow's " Medical Botany. " 

 About 30 species of Statice are cultivated in England, and are 

 considered quite ornamental plants. The species just mentioned 

 is indigenous to England as well as this country. 



Statice has its name from a Greek word, to stop, because it 

 stops certain diseases. Loudon. 



