VOL, IV. ] Phyllospadix. 383 
zoma, and concealing the ascending flowering branches. Leaf- 
sheaths long, open as in Gramineze, but each nodal leaf-sheath 
completely investing the rhizoma and the distal terminal and 
lateral buds. 1 nodal sheaths on rhizoma and flowering 
branches rent by the expanding buds, leaving only the thicker 
portion to support the lamina. Laminz, linear, emarginate at 
the apex, smooth, 3-nerved, furnished when very young with 
“‘fin-cells,”’ along the margin. Ligule short of two auriculate 
appendages. 
Flowering stems ascending as lateral branches from the 
rhizoma,’ slender, naked below. They are from one-third to 
two-thirds of a meter to the summit of the upper spathes, and 
are continued to the height of a meter or more by means of the 
leaves and leaf-like tips of the spathes. Flowers without perianth, 
dicecious, arranged in a double row, on a spadix which is sessile 
within the spathe, but short peduncled below. Pistillate spadices 
in the axils of the stem-leaves and five or six centimeters in length. 
Staminate plants infrequent, their spadices eiaeae Spadix 
linear, flattened, somewhat channeled, provi along each 
margin with a row of oblong, obtuse, incurved, ohhauels ascend- 
ing, chartaceous appendages (retinacula), one for each ovary or 
pair of anther-cells, the whole closely invested when young by 
the membranous spathe. The acute apex of the spadix usually 
projects slightly beyond the spathe proper. 
Ovary cordate-sagittate affixed near the base to the spadix 
and terminated above by a very short style, and two thin, acumi- 
nate, irregularly-lobed stigmas which are soon deciduous. The 
ovaries of each row ascend, point obliquely inwards, and alter- 
nate with a pair of rudimentary anther-cells, appearing when 
young like the moncecious spadix of Zostera. At anthesis the 
stigmas only project from the spathe. The spadix and ripened 
pistils free at maturity from the spathe, but its retinacula never 
spreading or reflexed. Ovule single, pendulous and orthotropous. 
Each anther, a pair of oblong linear very distinct lobes point- 
ing obliquely upward and inward along the face of staminate 
spadix, the apices of each row closely adjusted to those of the 
- opposite row. Anthers maturing in acropetal order, the male 
retinacula at the same time successively and permanently recurv- 
