exserted before the florets open. Capsule ovoid, 2-celled, transversely dehiscent; dissepiment finally free, bearing the seeds on its faces. Flowers spicate or capitate, bracteolate.

1. P. MAJOR, L. Leaves ovate or oval, smoothish, obscurely dentate, on long petioles; scape terete, smooth; spike nearly cylindrical, rather slender and very long; flowers somewhat imbricated; capsule about 6-seeded. Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. p. 641. Fl. Cestr. p. 110. ICON, Fl. Lond. 1.

GREATER PLANTAGO. Vulgo Common Plantain. Way-bread.
Fr. Plantain ordinaire. Germ. Der grosse Wegetritt. Span. Llanten.

Root perennial. Leaves 3 to 6 or 8 inches long, strongly 5 to 7-nerved with an elastic filament in each nerve, generally smoothish (sometimes quite pilose), abruptly contracted at base to a channelled petiole about as long as the leaf. Scapes several, 6 to 18 inches high (including the spike of flowers, which varies from 2 to 12 or 15 inches in length). Bracteoles lanceolate, keeled, appressed, shorter than the calyx. Corolla whitish, inconspicuous, ventricose below, contracted into a neck above, shrivelling and persistent. Stamens about twice as long as the corolla. Moist rich grounds; along foot paths, &c.: throughout the U. States introduced. Native of Europe and Japan. Fl. June-September. Fr. August-October.

Obs. This foreigner is very generally naturalized; and is remarkable for accompanying civilized man,-growing along his footpaths, and flourishing around his settlements. It is said our Aborigines call it "the white man's foot," from this circumstance. Perhaps the generic name (Plantago) may be expressive of a similar idea,— viz. Planta, the sole of the foot, and ago, to act, or exercise. It is rather a worthless weed,-but is not much inclined to spread, or be troublesome, on farm lands. The leaves are a convenient and popular dressing for blisters, and other sores; a fact which seems to have been known in the time of SHAKSPEARE,-as we may learn from his Romeo & Juliet, Act 1. Sc. 2.

"Rom. Your Plantain leaf is excellent for that.

"Ben. For what, I pray thee?

"Rom. For your broken shin."

The Plantain leaf continued in vogue, for that purpose, until a substitute was furnished by modern Experimenters, in their empirical attempts to regulate the national currency !

2. P. LANCEOLATA, L. Leaves lanceolate, acute at each end; scape sulcate-angled, long and slender; spike ovoid-cylindric, short; calyx deeply 3-parted; capsule 2-seeded. Willd. Sp. Pl. 1. p. 643. Fl. Cestr. p. 110. ICON, Fl. Lond. 1. [Plantain. LANCEOLATE PLANTAGO. Vulgo-English Plantain. Buckhorn

Root perennial. Leaves 4 to 8 or 10 inches long, hairy, narrowed gradually at base to a petiole 2 to 5 or 6 inches in length. Scapes several, 1 to 2 feet high, somewhat pilose with appressed hairs. Spike 1 to 2 inches long,-at first ovoidoblong, finally nearly cylindric, dense-flowered. Bracteoles ovate, acuminate, scarious on the margins and at apex,-the slender point at length reflexed. Ca'ye deeply 3-parted (or rather of 3 sepals),-the outer or lower segment or sepal oval, truncate, emarginate, with 2 green keel-like lines-the lateral segments or sepals rather longer, boat-shaped, acute, keel green, fringed with hairs near the apex. Corolla dirty white. Stamens several times longer than the corolla; anthers greenish-white. Seeds oblong, convex on one side, concave on the other, shining, brown or amber-colored. Pastures, and upland meadows: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May-August. Fr. July-September.

Obs. This species, also, is extensively naturalized, and is becoming particularly abundant in the upland meadows, or clover grounds, of Pennsylvania. The seeds being nearly the same size and weight as those of the red clover, they cannot readily be separated,—and thus the two plants are disseminated together, in the culture of clover. Nearly all kinds of Stock eat this Plantain freely,—and it has even been cultivated expressly for a Sheep-pasture: but it is generally much disliked, in Pennsylvania. I do not, however, perceive any mode of getting rid of it-or even of arresting its progress, -unless it can be choked down by heavy crops of Clover and the valuable Grasses.

ORDER LXXXVIII. BIGNONIACEAE. Juss. R. Br.

Mostly trees, or climbing shrubby plants. Leaves usually opposite, sometimes simple but generally pinnately compound. Flowers large and showy. Calyx 5-parted, 2-parted or bilabiate, often spathaceous. Corolla with a large open throat, the limb irregular, 5-lobed or somewhat bilabiate. Stamens 5,-of which 1, and often 3, are reduced to sterile filaments or rudiments; when 4 are fertile they are didynamous. Ovary 2-celled, with the placentae in the axis,-the base surrounded by a fleshy ring or disk. Capsule woody or coriaceous, pod-shaped, 2-valved, many-seeded. Seeds commonly winged, destitute of albumen.

An Order of which there are but few species known in the U. States. They are chiefly remarkable for their large showy flowers; though some of the South American Bignonias are said to furnish valuable ship-timber.

TRIBE I. BIGNONIEAE. Bojer.

Fruit capsular, dehiscent. Seeds with a membranaceous margin.

SUB-TRIBE 2. CATALPEAE. DC.

Septum of the mature capsule opposite to the flat or convex valves; i. e. the valves septiferous, and therefore the dehiscence loculicidal.

115. CATALPA. Scop. Endl. Gen. 4113.

[A name said to be derived from our Southern Indians.] Calyx bilabiately 2-lobed. Corolla campanulate,—the tube ventricose-the limb unequally 5-lobed, sub-bilabiate. Stamens 2 fertile and 3 sterile or abortive (rarely didynamous). Style filiform; stigma bilamellate. Capsule silique-form, cylindric, long, 2-valved; septum thickish, opposite the valves. Seeds numerous, transverse, compressed, produced at each end into a membranous wing, which is fringed or comose at apex. Trees. Leaves simple, opposite or ternately verticillate, petiolate, without stipules. Flowers in terminal panicles.

1. C. BIGNONIOIDES, Walt. Leaves cordate, acuminate, entire,. pubescent beneath; panicles pyramidal, trichotomously branched; calyx-segments with a single mucronation. DC. Prodr. 9. p. 226. C. cordifolia. Duham. Fl. Cestr. p. 363.

Bignonia Catalpa. L. Mx. Sylva, 2. p. 63. Icon, tab. 64.
BIGNONIA-LIKE CATALPA. Vulgò-Catawba. Bean-tree.

Stem 15 to 25 feet high, with irregular spreading branches. Leaves 4 to 8 or 10 inches in length; petioles 2 to 6 inches long, terete, smoothish. Corolla whitish, tinged with violet-purple, the throat spotted with purple and yellow,-the lobes unequal, crenate and wavy. Capsule 6 to 12 or 15 inches long, and about half an inch in diameter, pendulous, persistent. Seeds lance-oblong, about half an inch in length,-apparently of 2 flat oval divaricate lobes, connate at base, with

a membranous covering which is extended at the margin, and especially at the apex, each apex terminating in a slender filamentous tuft or coma. About farm-houses, and along streams: Southern, Western and Middle States. Fl. June-July. Fr. October.

Obs. This small tree is said to be indigenous in the South and West, though it has the appearance of an introduced plant, in Eastern Pennsylvania, It is not of much value,-and has been cultivated chiefly as an ornamental shade tree: but it is rather objectionable, on account of the numerous suckers from its roots.

ORDER LXXXIX. PEDALIACEAE. R. Br. Lindl.

Herbs, often viscid. Leaves opposite, or nearly so. Flowers axillary, bibracteate. Calyx with 5 nearly equal segments. Corolla irregular,-the throat ventricose--the limb somewhat bilabiate. Stamens 4, didynamous, with the rudiment of a fifth. Ovary seated in a glandular disk; style 1; stigma divided. Fruit capsular or drupaceous, valvular or indehiscent, with 2 to 8 cells. Seeds rarely winged, destitute of albumen.

A small Order, and of little interest to the Agriculturist.

TRIBE II. PEDALINEAE. R. Br.

Fruit indehiscent or imperfectly dehiscent at apex, drupaceous or a hard woody capsule. Seeds few, never winged.

116. MARTYNIA. L. Endl. Gen. 4175.

[Named in honor of John Martyn, Prof. of Botany at Cambridge, England.] Calyx nearly equally 5-cleft, with 2 or 3 small bracts at base. Corolla irregular, campanulate, gibbous at base,-the limb unequally 5-lobed. Stamens mostly 4, didynamous, with a fifth rudimentary one,- sometimes all, sometimes 2 only, bearing anthers. Capsule somewhat 4-celled, 2-valved, woody with a coriaceous and finally deciduous coat, ovoid-oblong, terminating in a curved beak at apex, -the beak parting into 2 horns, but the capsule scarcely dehiscent. Seeds few in each cell, arranged in a single series along the septum, somewhat baccate, finally tuberculate-rugose.

1. M. PROBOSCIDEA, Glox. Stem branching; leaves orbicular-cordate, entire, petiolate,-the upper ones alternate; beaks longer than the pericarp. DC. Prodr. 9. p. 253.

LONG-BEAKED MARTYNIA. Vulgò-Unicorn Plant.

Plant pale green, viscid-pubescent and fetid. Root annual. Stem leaning or procumbent, 1 to 2 feet long, branching, fistular. Leaves 2 to 5 inches long; petioles 2 to 6 inches long. Flowers axillary; peduncles 1 to 3 inches long. Calyx slit on one side to its base. Corolla large, pale greenish-yellow or ochroleucous, with orange-colored or brownish spots within. Capsule 2 to 3 inches long, somewhat sulcate in front, with a bipartible crest-like fringe along the suture in the broad shallow groove, tapering to a beak which is 2 10 3 or 4 inches long, and finally split into two rigid horns, which are incurved like claws. South Western States: Gardens: cultivated. Fl. July--August. Fr. Sept.--Octo.

Obs. This plant-a native of the valley of the Mississipi, and the plains of Mexico-is much cultivated, of late, for its singular fruit,— which, in its young state-before it becomes hard and woody-is used for making that kind of condiment called pickles.

The Benni plant (Sesamum Indicum, L.)—which belongs to this natural Order-is cultivated, in the Southern States, for the sake of its oily seeds, and also for the bland mucilage afforded by the fresh leaves, when macerated in water.

ORDER XCI. SCROPHULARIACEAE. Juss. Lindl. Herbs, or sometimes shrubby plants. Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, without stipules. Calyx of 4 or 5 more or less united sepals, persistent. Corolla more or less irregular, bilabiate or personate, the lobes imbricated in aestivation. Stamens either 4 and didynamous-the fifth stamen sometimes appearing in the form of a sterile filament, or very rarely antheriferous,-or often only 2— one pair being either suppressed or reduced to sterile filaments. Ovary 2-celled, with the placentae united in the axis. Capsule 2-valved. Seeds indefinite, albu

minous.

An Order of nearly 150 genera,-affording many curious and rather handsome flowers,-some troublesome weeds, and a few plants of considerable medicinal powers-especially the purple Fox-glove (Digitalis purpurea, L.).

TRIBE I. VERBASCEAE: Benth.

Corolla with the tube short or subglobose,-the limb flat or spreading, 4 or 6-cleft, or bilabiate, not ringent. Stamens 2 to 5 fertile, often declinate. Capsule 2-valved, septicidal, the valves often bifid.

117. VERBASCUM. L. Endl. Gen. 3878.

[Quasi Barbascum: Latin, Barba, beard; from its bearded or woolly habit.] Calyx 5-parted, the segments nearly equal. Corolla with a very short tube; limb sub-rotate, 5-lobed,—the lobes nearly equal or the front one larger. Stamens 5, unequal, inserted on the tube of the corolla, declinate, exserted, the filaments (or some of them) bearded. Capsule ovoid or globose, 2-celled, 2-valved, septicidal,the valves inflected, bifid at apex. Placentae adnate to the septum. Seeds numerous, rugose-pitted. Herbaceous or suffruticose plants. Flowers in dense spikes, or paniculate racemes.

1. V. THAPSUS, L. Stem simple, erect, tomentose; leaves ovallanceolate or oblong, very woolly on both sides, the cauline ones decurrent; flowers in a dense terminal spike. DC. Prodr. 10. p. 225. Fl. Cestr. p. 134.

THAPSUS VERBASCUM. Vulgò-Mullein. Common Mullein.

Fr. Bouillon blanc. Germ. Das Wollkraut. Span. Gordolóbo.

Whole plant pale greyish-green or hoary-tomentose,-the pubescence much branched. Root biennial. Stem 3 to 6 feet high, rather stout, leafy, rarely branching unless injured. Radical leaves 6 to 12 inches long, the cauline ones smaller. Spike cylindric, 6 to 12 or 15 inches long; flowers bracteate. Corolla bright yellow. Stamens unequal,-the two lower ones longer, with smooth filaments. Neglected fields; road-sides, &c.: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. JuneJuly. Fr. Aug.-September.

Obs. This plant, although abundant in all the older settlements, is undoubtedly, in my opinion, a naturalized foreigner. It is a worthless unseemly intruder, in our pastures and cultivated grounds. There is no surer evidence of a slovenly, negligent farmer, than to see his fields over-run with Mulleins. As the plant produces a vast number of seeds, it can only be kept in subjection by a careful eradication while young-or at least before the fruit is mature. When neglected, the soil soon becomes so full of seeds, that the young plants will be found springing up, in great numbers, for a long succession of years. There is a slender smoothish species, called Moth Mullein (V. Blattaria, L.), which is frequent in pasture fields, and altogether worthless; but it is not so much of a nuisance as the one here described.

TRIBE III. ANTIRRHINEAE. Chav.

Corolla tubular,-the limb personate or ringent, bilabiate or rarely equally lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous; anthers approximated in pairs. Capsule 2-celled, opening with teeth or lids, rarely of several valves-sometimes irregularly ruptured.

118. LINARIA. Tournef. Endl. Gen. 3891.

[Latin, Linum, flax; from the resemblance of the leaves.] Calyx 5-parted. Corolla with the limb personate, the upper lip bifid with the lobes folded back-the lower lip trifid, closing the throat by its prominent palate; tube inflated, spurred at base. Stamens 4, didynamous,-usually with a minute abortive rudiment of a fifth. Capsule ovoid or globose, chartaceous or membranaceous, 2celled, opening with several valves at apex, or sometimes with a lid. Seeds numerous, margined. Mostly Herbs, annual or perennial. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or verticillate. Flowers usually

racemose.

1. L. VULGARIS, Mill. Stem erect, simple; leaves lance-linear, acute, alternate, numerous; flowers imbricated, in a terminal raceme; spur of the corolla acute, about as long as the tube. DC. Prodr. 10. p. 273. Fl. Cestr. p. 368. Icon, Fl. Lond. 3. [Eggs. COMMON LINARIA. Vulgò-Toad-flax. Ranstead-weed. Butter and Fr. Muflier linaire. Germ. Das Flachskraut. Span. Linaria.

Plant smooth and somewhat glaucous. Root perennial, creeping, subligneous. Stem 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, slender, terete, leafy, sometimes branched at summit and bearing several racemes, generally growing in bunches or small patches. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, narrow, irregularly scattered on the stem, but very. numerous. Flowers pedunculate, in a dense bracteate raceme-the peduncles shorter than the bracts. Corolla pale greenish-yellow, smooth,-the palate of the lower lip bright orange-color, villous in the throat; spur subulate, about half an inch long. Style shorter than the longest stamens; stigma obliquely truncate. Capsule ovoid-oblong, thin, smooth, longer than the calyx. Seeds with a dilated, orbicular margin, roughish-dotted in the centre. Pastures; fence-rows, &c.: introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. June-Sept. Fr. Aug.-October.

Obs. This foreigner is extensively naturalized, and has become a vile nuisance in our pastures and upland meadows. Mr. WATSON, in his annals of Philadelphia, says it was introduced from Wales, as a garden flower, by a Mr. Ranstead, a Welsh resident of that city; and hence one of its common names. It inclines to form large patches, by means of its creeping roots,-and as far as it extends, takes almost exclusive possession of the soil. Although the flowers are somewhat showy, it is a fetid, worthless and very objectionable weed, the roots very tenacious of life-and requiring much persevering effort to extirpate them. The remarkable variety called Peloria with a regular 5-lobed ventricose corolla, 5 spurs, and 5 perfect stamens-is occasionally to be observed. Sometimes these Pelorias are tetramerous; i. e. the corolla 4-lobed, with 4 spurs, &c. They are frequently, if not always, late flowers,-situated at the summit of the raceme of full grown capsules, and apparently the latest floral developments of the plant.

ORDER XCII. VERBENACEAE. Juss.

Herbs, shrubs, and even trees within the tropics. Leaves mostly opposite, without stipules. Flowers variously arranged. Calyx tubular, 4 or 5-toothed, persistent. Corolla tubular, the limb 4 or 5-lobed, mostly irregular, sometimes bilabiate. Stamens mostly 4 and didynamous, occasionally only 2. Ovary free, entire, 2 to