172 
POPULAR FLORA. 
2. Winterberry H. or Black Alder. Leaves thin and deciduous, serrate, veiny, obovate or ob- 
long; peduncles very short; parts of the blossom often in sixes; fruit red. Shrub: low grounds. 
This belongs to the section Prinos. I. verticillata . 
/V'N 
55. EBONY FAMILY. Order EBENACEiE. 
Of this small family, we have only one species, a tree, which deserves notice, viz. ; — 
423 Persimmon. Diospyros. 
Tree with alternate thickish leaves; 
in their axils some trees bear clustered 
staminate flowers, with a 4-cleft corolla 
and about 16 stamens; others single and 
larger perfect flowers, with a 4-lobed 
corolla and 8 stamens. Calyx 4-cleft, 
rather large, thickish. Corolla pale yel- 
low. Pistil one, with 4 styles: the ovary 
ripening into a plum-like fruit, which is 
very astringent when green, but sweet 
and yellow and eatable after frosts, con- 
422 425 424 taining 8 large and bony flat seeds. 
422. Fertile flower. 423. Corolla and stamens of the same, laid open. I). VivginiCLTlCL, 
424. Fruit. 425. Section of the same. 
56. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order PL ANT AGIN ACE J3. 
Consists mainly of the genus of low stemless herbs called 
Plantain (or Rib-Grass). Plantago. 
Flowers greenish, on a scape, in a close spike. — Calyx of 4 persistent sepals. Corolla 
salver-shaped, thin, withering on the pod, 4-lobed. Stamens 4, generally with very long 
and weak filaments, borne on the corolla. Style and stigma one, slender. Pod 2-celled, 
opening crosswise, the top falling off as a lid, the loose partition falling out with the 
seeds. Leaves generally with strong ribs. 
1. Common Plantain. Leaves ovate or 
slightly heart-shaped, several-ribbed ; 
seeds 7 to 16. P. major. 
2. Virginia P. Small (2' to 7' high), hairy; 
leaves oblong, 3 - 5-ribbed ; seeds 2. 
P. Virginica. 
3. English P. or Ripple-Grass. Hairj^, 
with long lance-shaped or linear leaves, 
and a short and thick spike or head, on 
a scape 1° or 2° high; seeds 2. Com- 
mon E. P. lanceolata. 
4. Seaside P. Smooth; leaves linear, thick 
and fleshy; seeds 2. Salt marshes on the 
coast. P. maritima. 
426 
426. Young spike ©f common Plantain. 427 A flower magnified. 428 Pis- 
til of the same. 429. Fruit, opening by a lid , the withered corolla on the 
lid. 
