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. 
55. EBONY FAMILY. Order EBENACEJE. 
Of this small family, we have only one species, a tree, which deserves notice, viz.: — 
423 
Persimmon. 
425 
421 
422 
422. Fertile flower. 423. Corolla and stamens of the same, laid open. 
424. Fruit. 425. Section of the same. 
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-clefTt, 
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¬ 
taining 8 large and bony flat seeds. 
D. Virginiana . 
56. PLANTAIN FAMILY. Order PLANTAGINACEiE. 
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. Hairy, 
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. lanceolala. 
4. Seaside P. Smooth; leaves linear, thick 
and fleshy; seeds 2. Salt marshes on the 
coast. 
lid. 
429 
426 
... 426. Young spike of common Plantain. 427. A flower magnified. 428. Pis- 
j . mantima. til of the same. 429. Fruit, opening by a lid ; the withered corolla on the 
