Plantago. | LX. PLANTAGINEA. 367 
usually closely spreading on the ground, more or less hoary with a short 
down, and marked with 5 or 7 ribs. Peduncles long and erect, bearing a 
dense cylindrical spike, shorter and much thicker than in P. major, but yet 
longer than in P. lanceolata, varying from 1 to near 2 inches in length. 
Flowers and capsules of P. lanceolata, except that the 4 sepals are free, the 
corolla more silvery, and the stamens pink or purple. Ovary with 2 seeds 
in each cell, but they often do not all ripen, and the capsule has then but 
3 or 2 altogether. 
In dry, close pastures, chiefly in limestone districts, in most parts of 
Kurope and western Asia, Abundant in similar situations in England and 
south of Scotland, but not in Ireland, except where introduced, 1. early 
summer, and often again in autumn. 
3. P. lanceolata. Linn. (fig. 828). Ribwort Plantain.—Rootstock 
short, but thick and woody, and often much branched, bearing tufts of 
woolly hairs among the leaves. Leaves erect or spreading, lanceolate, 
varying much in size, but usually 2 to 4 inches long, slightly hairy, with 3 or 
5 ribs, and more or less tapering into a stalk at the base. Peduncles longer 
than the leaves, erect and angular. Spike ovoid or oblong, usually 6 lines 
to near an inch ‘long, but sometimes very small and globular, or, in very 
luxuriant specimens, becoming cylindrical, and exceeding an inch. Sepals 
scarious, marked with a prominent green rib; the 2 lower ones often com- 
bined into one. Stamens more than twice as long as the corolla, with 
slender white filaments and yellow anthers. Capsule with 2 hemispherical 
seeds attached to the partition by their inner face. 
In meadows, pastures, and waste places, with the same widely extended 
geographical range as P. major, and equally abundant in Britain. JU. the 
whole season, [A variety, P. Timbali, Jord., with broad silvery margins 
of the bracts and sepals, occurs in fields, etc., but is not indigenous. | 
4, P. maritima, Linn. (fig. 829). Sea Plantain.—Stock often more 
branched than in the preceding species, with some long hairs in tufts among 
the leaves. Leaves narrow-linear, thick and fleshy, pointed, entire or 
slightly toothed, with scarcely prominent ribs. Peduncles cylindrical, 
_ longer than the leaves. Spike cylindrical, 1 to 2 inches long, not so dense 
or so thick as in the two preceding species. Flowers rather smaller than 
in P. lanceolata. Sepals all usually distinct. Capsules with two seeds 
only. 
On muddy sea-shores, and in salt-marshes, in Europe, central Asia, at 
the northern and western extremities of America, and in South Africa. It 
occurs also occasionally inland, especially in the principal mountain-ranges 
of Europe. Frequent on the British coasts and on some of the Scotch and 
Yorkshire mountains. 7. late in summer, and autumn. 
5, P. Coronopus, Linn. (fig. 830). Bucks-horn Plantain.—Rootstock 
short and thick, scarcely branched. Leaves spreading, in a dense tuft, 
linear or linear-lanceolate, or pinnatifid with linear segments, more or less 
_ hairy, with scarcely prominent ribs. Spikes cylindrical, 1 to 2 inches long. 
The flowers rather smaller than in P. maritima; the sepals broad and 
ciliate. Ovary with 4 cells, each with a single ovule, but it often happens 
that only 1 or 2 in each capsule attain their maturity. 
In dry, stony, or sandy situations, especially near the sea, in Europe, 
north Africa, and western Asia. Common in Britain. Fl. summer and autumn. 
