T E T R A N D R I A Monogynia.
G en. C har. Cal. four-cleft. Cor. four-cleft, inferior
; its limb reflexed. Stamina very long.
Capf. with 2 cells, burfting all round.
Spec. C har. Leaves lanceolate, tapering at each end.
Spike ovate, naked. Stalk angular.
Syn . Plantago lanceolata. Linn. S f. PI. 164. Huaf.
64.. With. 196. Relh. 62. Sibt'h. 56. Curt.
Lond. fafc. 2. t. 10. Mart.->Fl. R u f. t. 67*
P. quinquenervia. Rail Syn. 314.
C o m m o n every where in meadows and, paftures, flowering
in June and July, and the root is perennial. The leaves
all grow from the root, and are for the moft part upright j
their form is truly lanceolate, pointed,' entire, each tapering
at the bafe into a long flat footftalk, fibbed like the leaf itfelf
with five ftrong prominent nerves ; they are of a dark green,
moft hairy beneath, and at their infertion invefted with long
white woolly hair fpringing from the crown of the root.
Stalks ereft, growing from among the leaves, and clothed at
their bafe with the fame kind of hair ; upwards they are
fmqothifh, Ample, round witji five deep furrows, twifted, a
little longer than the leaves, and terminated by an ovate
fpike, which is imbricated with black fcales, and enlivened by
the prominent cream-coloured antherse.
Some farmers have recommended this plant, by the name
of rib-grafs, as a good food for Iheep, or to be made into
hay for cattle in general. It yields indeed an abundant crop,
but it has been faid no domeftic animal will eat it, except mixed
with other vegetables; which, if true, is not much in its favour.
Mr. Woodward has obferved that the fpike is fometimes
furrounded by large leaves, inftead of the ufual fmall braftese;
and we know it to become fometimes an abortive panicle.