Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/439

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

223 generally dissent. As regards the genus Plantago, I am disposed to coincide with Don and Lindley, in considering it more nearly allied to Primulacece than to any other, by its agreeing in so many points with the ovary and seed of that order. Endlicher and others consider it more nearly allied to Plumbagineacece, on account of the texture of the corolla, but it wants one essential characteristic of both these orders ; the stamens are alternate not opposite the segments of the corolla, as in Plumbagineacece and Primulacece, while as regards the structure of the ovary and seed it is most distinct from the former but nearly agrees with the latter, so that in place of being, as stated by Endlicher, far removed from Primulacece it only differs in the position of the stamens. And the value of even that solitary distinction seems weakened by the singular fact, noticed by Mr. Brown, that in most of the species the divisions of the tube caused by the swelling of the fruit are alternate with those of the limb, which seems to imply that the true lobes are split down the middle and the apparent ones each made up of 2 halves, in which case the stamens are actually opposite the lobes, as in Primulacece. If this view of its structure can be established, it will follow that its true station is next that order, with which it further agrees in habit and scapoid inflorescence.

Lindley, following Endlicher, assigns, without a doubt or qualification, in the character of the order, a 2-celled ovai'y composed of a single carpel, the cells being caused by the angles of the central free placenta abutting against the sides. I have endeavoured to make out this structure, but not successfully. The ovary is 2-celled and, as it appears to me, the partition is formed in the usual way by the introflexed margins of 2 carpels meeting in the axis and there forming the placenta. In this I may be wrong as the parts are very minute, requiring both skill and delicacy in the dissection, but such is the appearance they present to me. It results, if my dissections are correct, that the opinions of Endlicher and Lindley, as to the ovary being composed of a single carpel, must be wrong, and so must my view of its affinities. Analogy is in favour of their opinion, so far as the freedom of the placenta is concerned, but not, I think, as regards the solitary carpel. With this remark I leave the question to be decided by those more skilled in minute anatomy than I am but, on the supposition that it is dicarpellary, place the order between Labiatce and Plumbaginece, as being its nearest relations.

Generally speaking, this is an extra tropical order, for, though met with in the tropics, the species that occur within that zone, are nearly confined to alpine stations where they enjoy a temperate climate. I have only recognized one species on the Neilgherries, but there may possibly be others which I have overlooked. The one here figured is very common on these Hills ; less so, if indeed it be really the same species, of which I have some doubts, on the Pulney Mountains. Three or four have been found on the Himalayas, but probably, if carefully sought for, more would be found. From Scinde, as already mentioned, I have received three or four species.

These are not important, slight bitterness and astringency are found in the herbaceous parts of the plant, which have led to their employment in Europe in domestic medicine. And one species, Plantago Ispaghula, is cultivated in some parts of India, for the sake of the seeds, from which a mucilaginous emollient drink is prepared and prescribed, by both European and Native practitioners, in cases of cough, ardor urinse, and other affections requiring emollients.

1. Plantago Asiatka (Linn.), a smallest plant, natural size.

2. An expanded flower with its bractea.

3. Corolla detached.

4. Split open, showing the attachment of the stamens.

5. Anthers, back and front views.

6. Calyx and ovary.

7. Ovary, cut transversely. 8. Vertically. 9. Full-grown capsule.

10. Cut vertically to show the placenta and partition,

11. Capsule after dehiscence. 12. A seed.

13. Cut transversely.

14. Longitudinally, showing the embryo in situ.

15. Embryo detached. 16. Capsule dehiscing.