Class XXI. Order VIII. 345 



fleshy, and has been used as food in times of scarcity. The 

 leaves are radical, large, smooth, and entire, very distinctly ar- 

 row shaped, with an acute point and lobes. Scape somewhat 

 triangular, bearing whorls of three flowers each, on simple foot- 

 stalks. Petals three, roundish, very thin and deciduous, and 

 difficult to preserve. Stamens in the upper flowers ; pistils in 

 the lower. Fruit in globular heads. Perennial. 



SAGITTARIA ACUTIFOLIA. 



Leaves lanceolate-subulate, sheathing at base, con- 

 vex on the back ; scape few flowered ; bractes dilated, 

 acuminate. 



Root fibrous, its branches white and reticulated, by numerous 

 transverse partitions. There is generally a tuber among these. 

 Leaves very small, linear-lanceolate, fleshy, concave. Petioles 

 six times as long, smooth, round, sheathing at the base. Scape 

 erect, round, simple, bearing its flowers in whorls of about three 

 together. Flowers monoecious petioled, with membranous brac- 

 tes. Calyx leaves concave, obtuse. Petals roundish, white. 

 Anthers short, roundish. Germs numerous, ending in small de- 

 pressed heads of acute seeds. Edges of Fresh pond. August. 

 Perennial. 



406. MYRIOPHYLLUM. 

 MYRIOPHYLLUM SPICATUM. L. Spiked Water Millfoil. 



Leaves all pinnate, capillary ; spike terminal, whorl- 

 ed, naked. Willd. 



This plant grows in deep ponds and rivers, where it is fre- 

 quently drawn up by the lines of anglers. Stems long, smooth, 

 floating. Leaves in whorls of four or five" together, finely divid- 

 ed or pectinate, always under water. The flowering spikes, 

 which are the only part that emerges, are solitary, bearing their 

 flowers in small sessile whorls. Bractes three to each flower, 

 ovate, acute, the middle one much largest. Calyx leaves short, 

 acute. Petals oblong, obtuse, brownish green, caducous, July, 

 August. Perennial, 

 44 



