218 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



1. D. Yirginia'na, L. Leaves elliptical or ovate-oblong, obtusely acu- 

 ,minate ; parts of the flower chiefly in fours ; corolla subcoriaceous. 

 Virginian Diospyrcs. Persimmon. Date Plum. 

 Fr. Le Plaqueminier. Germ. Der Pseudo-Lotus. 



stem 20-50 or 60 feet Wgli, and 10-15 or 20 inches in diameter, irregularly branched. 

 Leav^ 2-3 or 5 inches long, subcoriaceous, green above, paler or somewhat glaucous 

 beneath ; petioles half an inch to near an inch long. Calyx of the fertile flower spreading 

 and persistent at the base of the fruit. Corolla ochroleucous or pale greenish-j^ellow, of a 

 thick leathery texture. Berry about an inch in diameter, reddish-orange color wlien 

 mature, soft and pulpy after frost. Seeds large, flattish. 



Rich bottom-lands, along streams : Middle and Southern States. Fl. June. F)\ Oct. - 

 November. 



Obs. The ripe fruit of this tree is sweet and luscious, after being sub- 

 jected to the action of frost ; but is remarkably harsh and astringent in 

 a green state. The bark is astringent and tonic. The Sty rax Family 

 (/,9(f2/rac«'c6<c,)isnearlyrelatedtotbeEbenace8e. It has perfect and regular 

 flowers, with the ovary more or less adherent to the calyx. Several 

 species of Styrax belong to the Southern States. The Hale'sia, or 

 Silver Bell, two species of -which, one with 2-winged and the other with 

 4-winged fruit, are common in cultivation, and belong to this order ; as 

 does the Symplocos (Hopea) tincto'ria, the "Horse Sugar" of the South, 

 the green sweet leaves of which being a favorite food of cattle. 



Order XLY. PLANT AGINA'CE^. (Plantain Family.^ 



Chiefly low, apparently stemless, perennial herbs, with radical, rosulate, strongly ribbed 

 Imves and small spicate ^oi^ers on scapes. Corolla membranaceous and persistent. Stamens 

 inserted on the tube of the corolla alternately with the lobes. Ova7-y 2-celled ; style single 

 Capsule membranaceous, circumscissed ; cells 1 -several-seeded. 



An Order consisting chiefly of the genus whose name it bears, and the species hero 

 described are those of chief interest to the agriculturist. 



1. PLANTA'GO, L. Plantain. 



[The ancient Latin name of the Plantain ; meaning obscure.] 



Calyx of 4 imbricated persistent sepals, with dry membranaceous margins. 

 Corolla salver-form, the border 4-parted, withering on the pod. Stamens 

 4, much exserted. Flowers whitish, small, bracted. 



* Pod 1-U-seeded. 



1. P. major, L. Leaves ovate or oval, smoothish, obscurely dentate, 

 on long petioles ; scape terete, smooth ; spike nearly cylindrical, rather 

 sleoder and very long ; flowers somewhat imbricated ; capsule about 

 6-seeded. 



Greater Plantago. Common Plantain. Way-bread. 



Ft. Plantain ordinaire. Germ. Der grosse Wegetritt. Span. Llanten, 



Root perennial. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches long, strongly 5-7-nerveil with an elastic 

 filament in each nerve, generally smoothish (sometimes quite pilose), abruptly contracted 

 at base to a channeled petiole about as long as the leaf. Scapes several, 6-18 inches high 



