3:8 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



78. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order, Plaktaginace^. 



Chiefly stemless Jierbs, with radical mostly ribbed leaves, 

 and small whitish spiked or capitate floivers, borne on a 

 naked scape ; calyx of 4 imbricated sepals, with scarious 

 margins; corolla salver-shaped, 4-parted, witliering; sta- 

 mens 2-4, included or exserted, inserted on the tube of the 

 corolla, and alternate with its lobes; anthers 2-celled, de- 

 ciduous; style slender; ovary free, 2-4-celled; capsule 

 2-celled, few-raany-seeded, opening transversely; seeds 

 attached to the deciduous partition; embryo straight in 

 fleshy albumen. 



PLANTAGO, L. Plantain. 

 Characters same as the order. 



* Floxjoer perfect. 



P. MAJOR, L. Leaves ovate or oval, smooth or pubes- 

 cent, 5-7-ribbed, mostly toothed, narrowed into a broad 

 concave petiole; scajye pubescent; sjnlce long-cylindrical, 

 densely many-flowered ; bracts ovate ; capsule many-seeded. 

 LoAv ground around dwellings. Scape 6-12' high ; leaves 

 4-6' long. 



P. LANCEOLATA, L. Leaves lanceolate, denticulate; acute, 

 long-petioled, and 3-ribbed, pubescent ; spikes dense, oblong 

 or ovate; capsule 2-seeded. Spikes 1-2' long; scapes 

 l°-2° high. 



** Flowers diacUms ; annuals. 



P. YiRGiNiCA, L. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, entire or 

 toothed; petioles short, 3-5-ribbed; stamens 4; capsule 

 2-4-seeded; spike cylindrical, densely-flowered; scapes 

 l'-l°; leaves J '-6' long. 



P. HETEROPHYLLA, Nutt. Smooth or pubescent ; scape 

 2-6' higli, longer than the leaves; leaves somewhat fleshy, 



