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1. V. spiralis L. Leaves linear, thin, long and ribbon-like (3 to 18 dm. long), 
obscurely serrulate, obtuse, somewhat nerved and net-veined.—Common in slow 
waters, extending from New England to Texas. 
3. LIMNOBIUM Richard. (AMERICAN FROG'S-BIT. ) 
Stemless perennial herb floating in stagnant waters, with slender 
hairy rootlets, round cordate leaves which are spongy-reticulated and ° 
purplish beneath, dicecious flowers from sessile or somewhat peduncled 
spathes, sterile spathe 1-leaved, producing about 3 long-pedicelled flow- 
ers, fertile 2-leaved with a single short-pedicelled flower, 3-parted or 
cleft calyx with oblong-oval sepals, 3 oblong-linear petals, filaments 
united into a column bearing 6 to 12 linear anthers, 6 to 9-ceelled ovary 
forming an ovoid many-seeded berry in fruit, and the subulate 2-parted 
stigmas as many as the cells, 
1. L. Spongia Richard, Leaves 2.5 to 5 em. long, faintly 5-nerved: peduncle of 
sterile flower 7.5 em. long and filiform, of the fertile only 2.5long and stout.—Stag- 
nant waters near San Antonio. 
BURMANNIACEZ. (BURMANNIA FAMILY.) 
Small annual herbs, with minute and scale-like leaves or those at the 
root grass-like, perfect flowers with a 6-cleft corolla-like perianth whose 
tube adheres to the 1 or 3-celled ovary, 3 distinct stamens opposite the 
inner perianth-divisions, and pod with many very minute seeds. 
1. BURMANNIA L. 
Herbs, with 3 very short filaments, 3-celled ovary with thick axil- 
lary placentie, slender style, capitate 3-lobed stigma, and pod often 
3-winged, 
1. B. biflora L. Stems low and slender (5 to 10 em. high), 2-flowered at summit 
or soon several-flowered: perianth (5 to 7 em. long) bright blue, 3-winged.—Peaty 
bogs, extending from the Gulf States into eastern Texas, 
ORCHIDEA. (ORCHIS FAMILY.) 
Perennial herbs, with simple stems from fibrous or tuberous roots, 
mostly alternate leaves, perfect irregular flowers, 6-parted perianth 
united below with the 1-celled ovary, the 3 outer divisions (sepals) and 
2 of the inner ones (petals) similar but the third (labellum or lip) 
differing from the others, 1 or 2 gynandrous stamens with pollen-grains 
cohering in one or more waxy masses (pollinia), 3-valved pod with 3 
parietal placentie, and numerous minute seeds. 
*Anthers terminal, operculate; pollinia smooth and waxy, 2 or 4 in each cell and 
distinct: flowers racemose. 
+ Green-foliaged plants from solid bulbs, with solitary leaf. 
1. Achroanthes. Flowers minute, greenish: petals filiform. 
+ + Leafless, with coralloid roots: whole plant brownish or yellowish. 
2. Corallorhiza. Ilower gibbous or somewhat spurred, and lip with 1 to 3 ridges: 
sepals and petals 1 to 3-nerved. 
