Plantdgo .] 
LX VIII. PLANTAGINACEA2. 
353 
calyx ; we do not know what is preserved in the Linnean herbarium. 
The identity of the British plant with S. Cassia Willd. was pointed 
out in former editions of this Flora. 
Ord. LXVIII. PLANTAGINACEiE Juss. 
Sometimes monoecious. Calyx (of the perfect and 'staminate 
flowers) 4-partite. Corolla membranous, 4-lobed. Stamens 4, or 
rarely 1, alternate with the segments of the corolla. Filaments 
exserted. Ovary l-celled with 1 ovule, or 2- or 4-celled with 
1 or more ovules in each cell. Style and stigma simple, the latter 
rarely divided. Capsule opening transversely, 2- or 4-celled, 
with 2 — 4 or many seeds; or hard and indehiscent, l-celled, 1- 
seeded. Seeds peltate, inserted on the dissepiments or at the 
base of the cell, rarely erect. Embryo in a fleshy or horny 
albumen. — Slightly bitter and astringent. Seeds mucilaginous. 
1. Plantago. Flowers perfect. Stamens inserted upon the tube of 
the corolla. Caps, dehiscent, 2 — 4-seeded. 
2. Littorella. Flowers imperfect. Stamens hypogynous. Fruit 
bony, indehiscent, 1-seeded. 
1. Plantago Linn. Plantain. 
Flowers perfect. Cor. with an ovate tube; limb 4-partite, 
reflexed. Stain. 4, inserted upon the tube of the corolla. Caps. 
opening transversely, of 2 — 4 cells, 2 — 4- or many-seeded. — 
A classic name, the origin of which is unknown. All the 
species are mucilaginous and astringent. 
1 . P. major L. ( greater P .) ; leaves broadly ovate mostly on 
longish grooved foot-stalks, scape terete, spikes cylindrical, 
sepals with a prominent dorsal nerve, capsule 2-eelled with the 
dissepiment plane, each cell many seeded. — a. scape longer 
than the leaves, spike elongated dense many-flowered. E. B. t. 
1558. — microstachya ; scape shorter than the leaves, spike lax 
with 3 — 6 flowers. 
Pastures and road-sides frequent. — A Turf-bogs, Connemara, 
Ireland. y. 6 — 8. — Leaves all radical, more or less spreading, 
with 7 (or in A 3) nerves, entire or toothed, glabrous or pubescent. 
Petioles varying in length, sometimes as long as the leaf. At the base 
of each flower is a concave bractea. Cal. of 4 minute leaflets. Caps. 
ovate, with 4 — 8 seeds in each cell. 
2. P. media L. ( hoary P.) ; leaves elliptical pubescent sessile 
or tapering into short and broad foot- stalks, scape terete, 
spike cylindrical, sepals not keeled, capsule 2-celled with the 
dissepiment plane, cells 1-seeded. E. B. t. 1559. 
Meadows and pastures in chalky districts in England. Not 
