ss 
TETRANDRIA, MONOGYNIA. 
major. 
lanceolatar 
80. PLANTAGO, Gen. pi. 186. ( Plantagines. J 
Caiix 4 cleft. Corolla 4-cleft ; border reflected. 
Stamina mostly exserted, very long. Capsule 
2-ceiled, opening transversely. 
1. P. leaves ovate, somewhat smooth, and sub- 
dentate, with long petioles ; scape round ; flowers 
imbricated ; seeds numerous* Lam. EncycL Willd* 
Smith. 
Icon. Engl. Bot. 1558. FI* Dan. 461* Wood- 
ville’s Med. Bot. 1. 14. 
Common great- Plantane^ or Way bread. 
Every person knows this very common weed, which abounds 
In pastures, fields, grass-plots, and grassy-road sides, resisting 
injuries, and blooming while subject to daily pressure from the 
footsteps of passengers. It was formerly highly esteemed as 
a medicine, and has a place in \Vo(*dv filers Medical Botany, as 
a refrigerant and vulnerary. In this country it is still used as an 
external application, among the vulgar. The seeds, when ripe, 
are given to Canary birds, which are extremely fond of it. 
During their moulting, it is serviceable to them Introduced 
from Europe, but now perfectly naturalized, being found every 
where in the settled parts of our country, among grass. Per- 
ennial. From May till Autumn. 
2. P. leaves lanceolate, villous, spike short cylindric, 
bracteas ovate, acuminate ; scape angular with 
adpressed hairs. — Pursh. 
P. ianceolata, Willd. 
Ribwort. 
As common as No. 1. in similar places, and very easily 
known by its long ribbed narrow leaves . Pursh hints that our 
plant is specifically distinct from the European P, Ianceolata ; 
and gives as a reason, that the specimens of these which he 
examined in the Herbarium of Mr. Lambert, of London, had 
the bracteas oblong and acute. This difference is scarcely suffi- 
cient to justify the separation of the American from the Eu- 
ropean plant. Perennial. June to August. 
Since writing the above, I have received a specimen of P. 
Ianceolata, from the Herbaiium of Dr. Edward Barton, col- 
lected in Scotland. It is the very same as the American plant. 
