WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 310 



minute scales interposed, the lower of pistils, each ovary with a few SIMM!! 

 scales at its base, the whole ripening j,ito a spherical head .,f small i 

 which are wedge-shaped below and with a pointed tip. 



1. TYPHA, CAT-TAIL FLAG. (From Greek won! f,, r /, in whirl, 

 these plants abound.) FL early summer, y. 



T. latifolia, COMMOX C. or REED-MACE ; with flat leaves, these and the 

 stem 6- 10 high ; no interval between the sterile and fertile part of the spike. 



T. angUStifdlia, NARKOW-LKAVED C. Less common, smaller; leaves 

 narrower, more channelled toward the base ; commonly a space between the 

 sterile and the fertile part of the spike. 



2. SPARGANIUM, BUR-REED. (Name from Greek for a fillet, al- 

 luding to the ribbon-shaped leaves ) Fl. summer. Ij. 



S. eurycarpum, GREAT B. Border of ponds and streams, .3 -5 high, 

 with paniclcd-spiked heads, the fertile when in fruit l" thick, the' nut- hrad- 

 tipped ; stigmas 2; leaves j'-' wide, flat on upper side, keeled and eoneave- 

 sided on the other. 



S. simplex, SMALLER B. Only N. : in water; erect, sometimes floating, 

 l-2 high, mostly with a simple row of heads; leaves narrower; stigma 

 simple, linear, as long as the style ; nuts tapering to both ends and with a 

 stalked base. 



S. minimum, SMALLEST B. Mostly with leaves floating in shallow 

 water (6' -10' long) and flat; heads few; stigma simple, oval; nuts oval, 

 short-pointed and short-stalked. 



II. PETALOIDEOUS DIVISION. Flowers not on a spadix, 

 with a perianth (calyx and corolla), all or part of it usually colored. 



114. ALISMACEJE, WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY. 



Marh herbs, with flowers on scapes or scape-like stems, in pani- 

 cles, racemes, or spike , witli distinct calyx and corolla, viz. 3 se- 

 pals and 3 petals, and from 3 to many distinct pistils ; stamens on 

 the receptacle. Juice sometimes milky. The genuine Alismaceae 

 have solitary ovules and seeds, and wholly separate pistils. Some 

 outlying related plants differing in these respects are annexed. 



I. ARROW-GRASS FAMILY. Calyx and corolla colored 

 alike (greenish). Anthers turned outwards. Ovaries 3 partly 

 united, or a single 3 - 6-celled compound pistil. Leaves petiole-like, 

 without a blade. 



1. TRIGLOCHIN. Flowers perfect, small, in a slender spike or raceme, bract- 



less. Calyx and corolla deciduous. Stamens 3 or 6, with oval anthers or 

 short filaments. Ovary 3 -6-celled, splitting when ripe from the central axis 

 into as many closed and dry seed-like 1-seeded cells: stiirmas sessile. 



2. SCHEUCHZERIA. Flowers perfect, lew and rather small, in a loose bracted 



raceme. Sepals and petals oblong, persistent. Stamens 6, with linear an- 

 thers. Pistils 3, with globular 2-3-ovuled ovaries slightly united at base, and 

 diverging in fruit, forming 3 turgid pods. Stigmas llat, >essile. 



II. WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY PROIM.I:. Calyx of 3 

 persistent green sepals. Corolla of 3 deciduous white petals. An- 

 thers turned outwards. Ovaries many, tipped with short style or 

 stigma, 1-ovuled, becoming akenes in fruit. Leaves sometimes only 

 petioles, commonly with distinct blade, when the nerves or ribs 

 are apt to be more or less joined by cross veins or netted. 



