60 Class IV. Order I. 



oblong four celled anthers. Style four sided, tapering ; stigma 

 minute, pubescent ; germ roundish, concealed within the spadix. 

 After the spathe decays, the spadix continues to grow, and with 

 it every part of the flower except the anthers. When the fruit 

 is ripe, the spadix has attained many times its original dimen- 

 sions, while the calyx, filaments, and style are larger, very 

 prominent, and separated from each other. Within the spadix, 

 at the base of each style, is a round, fleshy seed, as large as a 

 pea, white, tinged with green and purple, invested with a sepa- 

 rate membranous coat, and with a prominent corculum situated 

 in a depression at top. 



The leaves, which spring up some time after the flowers, 

 are numerous, large, and crowded, oblong heart shaped, acute, 

 smooth, with numerous fleshy veins of a paler colour. They 

 grow from the root on long petioles, hollowed in front, and fur- 

 nished with large oblong sheaths. They continue to increase 

 in size for a month or two after the flowering period is past, and 

 are conspicuous in summer in every meadow, swamp, and brook 

 side. 



The odour depends on a volatile principle not separable by 

 distillation. There is besides an acrid principle which remains 

 in the root when dried. This plant has been found useful in 

 asthma and some other diseases, but is not safe in large quanti- 

 ties. 



63. LUDWIGIA. 



LumviaiA ALTERNIFOLIA. L. Common Ludwigia. 



Erect, smooth ; leaves alternate, lanceolate, pale 

 beneath ; peduncles axillary, one flowered ; capsules 

 globose, four cornered, crowned with the calyx. 



Syn. LUDIVIGIA MACROCARPA. MX. 



Stem erect, round, with a tough, fibrous bark. Leaves scat- 

 tered, on very short petioles, lanceolate, entire, pale, and veined 

 underneath. Flowers on short, axillary stalks. Calyx uf four 

 ovate acute leaves, investing the germ at base, which is square 

 with winged angles. Petals orbicular, yellow. Shady swamps, 

 Cambridge, July, August. Perennial. 



