either. Thus, in
the borders of richly cultivated fields in the neighbourhood of London I
have frequently gathered specimens of _Plantago major_ with a branched
spike provided with large leafy bracts, the branches of the spike being
but little less in diameter than the ordinary single spike. These
specimens would therefore seem to be intermediate between
Schlechtendal's bracteate and polystachyate divisions. Wigand[117] also
describes an anomalous specimen of _Plantago major_ similar to those
just mentioned, but having small lateral spikes in place of large ones.
The instance quoted from Professor Braun would fall under the roseate
section, as would also that of Kirschleger, though we are expressly told
that the tuft of leaves in this last case was not developed until after
the ripening of the seed-vessel. One of the characters of the roseate
group, according to Schlechtendal, is the absence of flowers, but most
persons who have had the opportunity of watching the growth of the rose
plantain must have observed the occasional production of flowers,
sometimes stalked, in the axils of the leafy bracts, and at the same
time have noticed that the internodes become elongated, so that an
approach is made to the ordinary spike-like form of the inflorescence.
The proliferous group would include such specimens as that of _P.
lanceolata_ mentioned by Dr. Johnston,[118] wherein were several
spikes, some sessile, others stalked and pendent, the whole intermixed
with leaves and disposed in a rose-like manner. I have myself gathered
specimens of this nature, occurring in the same plant, at Shanklin, Isle
of Wight (fig. 56).

[Illustration: FIG. 54.--_Plantago major_, with panicled inflorescence.]

[Illustration: FIG. 55.--Inflorescence of _Plantago major_, with bracts
partly replaced by leaves and spike branched.]

[Illustration: FIG. 56.--Inflorescence of _Plantago lanceolata_, bearing
a tuft of leaves and flowers at the end of the flower-scape.]

It is rather singular that each species of _Plantago_ seems to have its
own perverse mode of growth; for instance, the bracteate, polystachyate
and paniculate forms are almost exclusively confined to _P. major_, the
roseate form to _P. media_, the proliferous form to _P. lanceolata_.

The instances wherein flower-buds originate from the surface of an
inferior ovary, as in those cases where the top of the stem is dilated
so as to form part of the fruit, would be properly classed under th