Hydrocharitaceae, Frog-bit Family. 
Submerged aquatics with branching stems and leaves in whorls of 
three, or the lower opposite, sessile, very thin, l-veined, Flowers 
usually unisexual, axillary, arising from a tubular 2-cleft spathe, 
ALIS. 
staminate flowers 6 or 3 perianth segments and 9 stamens, minute, 
A 
breaking from their spathes and floating to the surface where they shed 
their pollen, Pistillate flowers arising from a narrower spathe, the 
tube of the perianth much elongated, resembling a pedicel, the limb 
floating with 6 perianth segments; stamens rudimentary, Perfect flowers 
similar to the pistillate but with 3-9 stamens, Ovary solitary, 1© =/ 
chambered, Fruit maturing under water, the seeds numerous, 
Anacharis Rich. 
Characters as described for the family, 
1. A. occidentalis (Pursh) Victorin. jiaterweed. Leaves lanceolate, 
narrowed at the base, 1-1.5 cm, long, 1-1.5 mm, wide, sessile, minutely 
spinulose along the margins, appearing entire, very thin and delicate; 
spathe of staminate flowers 10 mm, long, club-shaped, narrowed to a stipe 
like base 5-10 mm, long; sepals 5 mm, long, petals wanting; stamens 93 
spathe of pistillate flowers tubular, sessile; perianth tube 3-5 cm, 
long, the segments 5 ma, long, linear; stigmas 3, (Elodea occidentalis 
St. John). 
In warm shallow .ater of a lagoon, Lake Coeur d'Alene, Epling and 
Houck 10053; St. Maries slough, Evling and Offord 80343 Lake Chatcolet, 
St. John 9057, The staminate plant often has its leaves less crowded 
and even suggests another species, lor the change in generic name necesadsic. 
> 
7 
teted.byanapslicetion-ef thé Internattons?-Rutes-of—Botanice-Nemen- 
eteture see Weathsrby in Rhodora (34: 114-116, 1952.). 
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